Lest You Think I've Disappeared. . .

To tide you over until July 20, when my whirlwind summer semester ends, a bullet list of what's going on:

• Harry has slept through the night the last two nights: hallelujah!
• Urinalysis is way more interesting than I expected. Also, stinkier.
• $200 profit at the garage sale!
• World Cup soccer, people. . . Go, watch some right now.
• The Little Lebowski is finished (!) and on Day 5 of drying after a good handwashing. Will it never be dry?

Love (or Hate) Reading About My Knitting?

Well then, good news! I've started another blog, Nothing Fancy Knits, to chronicle my knitting escapades. (Did I just put a Janet Jackson song in your head? Sorry.) For the Dear Reader who wants to keep up on what I'm knitting, what I'm knitting it with, and how I'm knitting it, mosey on over. For the Dear Reader who couldn't care less about my latest yarn, just stay put.

A Little Luxury

I had a bit of organic cotton left over after knitting sweaters for my nephew and decided to put it to some good (and selfish) use. I ended up with a loopy, lovely, luxurious spa-style washcloth:





Materials:
-about 45 grams sport-weight cotton
-size US 4 needles
-scissors
-tapestry needle
-crochet hook in similar size to knitting needles (optional)

Gauge:
-6 sts/inch in stockinette . . . But really, it's a washcloth, so don't worry! If you're getting a nice fabric and it's washcloth-size, shouldn't you just be happy?

Finished size: About 10" x 10"

Note: I used an organic cotton yarn known for shrinking, particulary losing height. To end up with a square washcloth, I knitted an additional 15% in height. (For a 10" square washcloth, I knit until work measured 11.5".)

Instructions:
Cast on an odd number of sts. I used 51.
Work in seed st for five rows: *k1, p1*, ending with k1.
Row 1: *K1, p1* twice, k1, *k1 and leave st on LH needle, bring yarn to front and wrap clockwise around L thumb to make a loop, bring yarn to back, k into back of same st and remove from needle as per normal knitting, k1* to last four sts, *p1, k1* twice.
Row 2: *K1, p1* twice, p1, *p2tog, p1* to last four sts, *p1, k1* twice.
Row 3: *K1, p1* twice, k2, *k1 and leave st on LH needle, bring yarn to front and wrap clockwise around L thumb to make a loop, bring yarn to back, k into back of same st and remove from needle as per normal knitting* to last six sts, k2, *p1, k1* twice.
Row 4: *K1, p1* twice, p2, *p2tog, p1* to last five sts, p1, *p1, k1* twice.
Repeat rows 1-4 until work measures almost 11".
Work in seed st for five rows.
Bind off but do not cut yarn. Use crochet hook and chain 3", then attach back where chain began to form a loop for hanging. (This could also be done using DPNs and knitting I-cord.)

I'm working on worsted-weight version, too. All the same principles, of course, but I'm using size US 8 needles and casting on 31 stitches.

Ravelympics!

What, you may be asking yourself, are the Ravelympics? So glad you asked! The Ravelympics are a two-week fiber art extravaganza that happen to coincide with the Olympics. Those who knit, crochet, or weave challenge themselves to complete a project - or many - between Opening Ceremonies and Closing Ceremonies. The "host country" is Ravelry, which is a social networking site for knitters. I've been told it's Facebook for knitters, but as I avoid Facebook like the plague, I can't really verify that statement.

Anyhow, my challenge to myself was to knit this little sweater. As you may have surmised, I did in fact finish this before Closing Ceremonies. It's organic cotton (love!) and size 18 months, so while it would probably fit Harry and look adorable, it is intended for my adorable nephew Silas.

Maybe the coolest thing about the Ravelympics is the fact that I got medals. Nothing tangible, mind you, but look! Here they are!

My Ravthlete badge! (Probably the equivalent of "Participant" but I'll take it!)

My Junior Olympics badge, because the sweater was knit for a tiny person:

My Cable Cross-Country badge, cable being the twist up the front of the sweater:

And my Sweater Board Cross badge, because, well, I knit a sweater:

I won't even tell you how tickled I was to get these because it reveals me to be the dork that I am. (Did I just give it away there?) This was, however, the bright spot in an otherwise crap day. Full disclosure: I have a head cold, my folded laundry has been staring at me for three days, and I got a 67% on my hematology quiz. Anyone who wants to comment and reassure me that I'm not a complete and utter moron is welcome to do so.

Brobee Sweater

Brobee Hooded Sweater

© 2010 by Kate Schoren – This pattern is based on the character Brobee from Nick Jr’s Yo Gabba Gabba. This pattern is not for sale, and sweaters made from this pattern are not to be sold. For personal use only.

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The inspiration:

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The less-than-thrilled recipient:




MATERIALS
Size US 7 needles (circular and DPNs)
Size US 4 needles (DPNs)
350 yards worsted-weight yarn in MC (light green)
140 yards worsted-weight yarn in CC1 (dark green)
20 yards worsted-weight yarn in CC2 (red)
14" separating zipper
Stitch markers
Waste yarn
Scissors
Tapestry needle
Sewing needle and thread
Polyfil or scrap yarn

MEASUREMENTS

Gauge: 4.5 sts and 6 rows = 1" in st st
Chest circumference: ~24" (loose fit for 18-24 months)

ABBREVIATIONS

1x1 rib -- *k1, p1* repeating
k2tog -- knit two stitches together
p2tog -- purl two stitches together
pm -- place marker
st st -- stockinette stitch
st(s) -- stitch(es)
tbl -- through the back loop

NOTES

Body and arms are worked in 10-row stripes of MC and CC1. Once body and sleeves are joined, all knitting is in MC.

When working first row of new color in stripe, I suggest knitting all stitches (even those that should be purled in 1x1 rib) to prevent weird color bumps of the color not being used.

BODY

Using tubular cast on and size US 7 needles, cast on 56 sts in CC1. This will result in 112 sts once cast on is complete. Decrease by 1 st on last row by k2tog last 2 sts -- 111 sts. If using a different method, simply cast on 111 sts.
Work in 1x1 rib for 6 rows. (Work 8 rows if using a different cast on).
Row 1: *K1, p1* twice, k to last 4 sts, *p1, k1* twice.
Row 2: *P1, k1* twice, p to last 4 sts, *k1, p1* twice.
Change to MC. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 five times (10 rows).
Change to CC1. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 five times (10 rows).
Work in 10-row stripes until there are three complete stripes of CC1 and 2.5 stripes of MC (stop after row 6 of third MC stripe) -- about 8.5". Cut yarn.

SLEEVES (make 2)

Using tubular cast on and size US 7 needles, cast on 12 sts in CC1. This will result in 24 sts once cast on is complete. If using a different cast-on method, simply cast on 24 sts.
Work in 1x1 rib for 6 rows. Work 8 rows is using a different cast-on method.
Transfer sts to three DPNs. Join in the round and pm. (Seams of cuffs will be sewn later.)
***Remember to change colors every 10 rounds.
Work in st st for 4 rounds. (Change to MC after 2 rounds of st st.)
Increase 2 sts on Round 5 as follows: K1, inc, k to last st, inc, k1 -- 26 sts.
Work even in st st but inc as in Round 5 on Rounds 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 -- 38 sts.
Work even in st st until sleeve measures same length as body. Now work 4 more rounds in MC to complete a 10-round stripe -- about 9".
Place last 5 sts before marker and first 4 sts after marker on waste yarn. Cut yarn.

JOIN BODY AND SLEEVES

With right (knit) side of body facing and using MC, *k1, p1* twice, k 19, place 9 sts on waste yarn, pm, k 29 sts from Sleeve 1, pm, k 47 across back of body, place 9 sts on waste yarn, pm, k 29 sts of Sleeve 2, pm, k 19, *p1, k1* twice -- 151 sts.

Joining Body and Sleeves: All live stitches have been knit onto circular needles. White yarn is waste yarn, holding 9 sts from each sleeve and 9 stitches on each side of the body. When directed, place these stitches back on needles and graft together for a seamless underarm.

Work back and forth in st st, maintaining 1x1 rib at edges, 3 rows.

Decrease as follows on every RS (knit) row: *Work as established to three sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk.* Repeat between *’s until last four stitches and *p1, k1* twice.

Next row: Work even.

Repeat these two rows (one with decreases and one even) until there are 5 sts remaining from each sleeve, 23 sts on the back, and 11 sts on both left and right fronts – 55 sts. You should end with a purl row.

Place a safety pin or stitch marker at each edge. This marks the beginning of the hood.

HOOD

Bind off 2 sts, knit to last 4 sts, *p1, k1* twice – 53 sts.

Bind off 2 sts, purl to end – 51 sts.

Row 1: Knit 25, inc 1, pm, k1, pm, inc 1, k to end.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, slip marker, m1, k to end

Rep the last two rows 6 more times – 65 sts.

Work in st st for 40 rows – about 8.5 - 9”.

Short-row shaping:

· Row 1: Knit 38, k2tog tbl, turn

· Row 2: Sl 1, p12, p2tog, turn

· Row 3: Sl 1, k12, k2tog tbl, turn

· Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until 14 sts remain. DO NOT CUT YARN.

Pick up and knit 52 sts along side of hood. (For me, this was one stitch for every row). Turn.

Purl across all stitches, then pick up and purl 53 sts – 119 sts.

Work on 1x1 rib for 4 rows – about 1”.

Bind off in pattern.

POINTS (make three)

Using size US 4 needles, cast on 21 sts in CC2. Tubular cast on not recommended for this step. Leave a long tail at the cast-on edge and it can be used to sew points onto sweater. Place on DPNs (7, 7, 7) and join in the round.

Knit 10 rounds in st st.

Round 1: *k5, k2tog* to end.

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: *K4, k2tog* to end.

Round 4: *K3, k2tog* to end.

Round 5: *K2, k2tog* to end.

Round 6: *K1, k2tog * to end – 6 sts.

Cut yarn and draw it through remaining sts.

Stuff with Polyfil or scrap yarn. Pin points in place on top of hood (use picture as reference). Sew in place.

FINISHING

Move stitches from waste yarn onto needles. Graft (Kitchner stitch) underarms, where body and sleeve stitches have been on hold.

Sew bottom edges of the hood to the two bound-off stitches at either neck edge. See below.

Sew cuffs.

Sew zipper into place.

Weave in ends.

See this gap? Fix it. This is the notch where the hood ribbing (top) and cardigan edge must be sewn together.

I would love comments, suggestions, and links to any finished projects.

The Dude: Fini

I realize it's two days after Christmas, and I have a toddler, and my sister's family is in town for the holiday (yay!), but this is not a Christmas post. That will come later, when I have more than three minutes. What I can tell you in three minutes, Dear Reader, is that I finished The Dude and gave it to Brian last weekend. He has promised not to try to wash it himself (100% wool, people!) and allowed me to take a picture of him wearing it, so I let him keep it. It fits great, and it looks pretty good if I do say so myself.

The Dude: Progress

As you may or may not remember, I took on a massive knitting project earlier this year. If you haven't seen The Big Lebowski, or perchance do not remember the sweater in question, here is the movie poster/DVD case image. It's been about eight weeks since the project began, and I'm pleased to report my progress here:



All major pieces are knit (large back piece, two smaller front pieces, two sleeves). I have yet to knit the collar and the long, skinny facing pieces that will go down the center, onto which the zipper will be sewn. And speaking of zippers, if you have a 25-inch zipper, preferably metal and preferably ugly, that you would like to give me, please let me know! (My back-up plan is to find an XL sweatshirt at Goodwill and poach the zipper.)

Above picture is for scale. Not really: Harry just likes to sit on my knitting. But yes, this an incredibly large sweater: 30 inches long, and 50+ inches around. As soon as this sweater is done I go back to knitting for tiny people.

Unexpected Pleasures

It's just been that kind of day. I was at the grocery store today and ran into a friend of mine from our knitting group. Since we both have husbands and kids and housework, neither one of us makes it to Saturday knitting all that often, but it was just fun to actually see someone I know, to talk to an adult for a few minutes.

Harry and I also went to the hospital pharmacy today (employee discount!) to pick up what we hope will be the silver bullet for Kevin's migraines, and one of the little old lady volunteers said, "Doesn't that baby look just like his mommy?" After hearing that Harry looks just like Kevin about one thousand times, it felt pretty good to think that someone believes my adorable child favors me, even in the slightest.

I also finished knitting Christmas Item #3 this afternoon, which means I can get back to working on The Dude this weekend!

Edited to add a few more bits of wonderful:

Pumpkin pancakes: I made these for dinner and only wish your computer came equipped with Smellovision so you could understand how unbelievably good my kitchen smells.

AND my sister and brother-in-law were informed today that they will be traveling to Ethiopia in December to meet their son and bring him home!

Feelin' Groovy

I'm feeling pretty grateful and upbeat today. Not sure what's put me in this positive mood, but I'm not going to question or knock it.

Harry and I had a really nice playgroup today, which involved tiny cupcakes and messing up someone else's house for a change.

I'm plugging along on The Dude Sweater, and a friend from my knitting group graciously offered to put her math skills to work on some modifcations I was desiring. I'm halfway done with the back piece, (also the biggest piece!), so that's a feather in my cap right now.

We've got fun family plans for the weekend, too. Kevin's parents are in town so Harry will have an extra dose of Grandparent Attention. Kevin and his dad have tickets to a football game Saturday, and Kevin and I are going to a concert Sunday night: more on that next week.

Finally, everyone in my house remains happy and healthy, swine-flu free, which is definitely something for which to be grateful.

What are you grateful for right now?

It's Been A While

I've let a few weeks slip by. . .

I went back to school a few weeks ago, so on top of that and work and Harry and the house, the juggling is pretty intense. I think I'm handling it pretty well, if I do say so myself, but I'm also honest enough to admit that housework particularly has been slipping. And I may be letting Harry watch an extra episode of Blue's Clues every now and then. (Don't tell, okay?)

But I've got a lot of things to look forward to in the near future: a trip to Kentucky, playgroup at the museum, and a chance to knit The Dude's sweater from The Big Lebowski! It's a gift for a friend, and since he's probably the only person I know who doesn't have a computer (or even an email address, for that matter), I feel pretty safe blogging about it. It will be the biggest project I've undertaken in a while (read: since Harry came along) but I ordered the yarn last night, so there's no going back now. If nothing else, it will be a great excuse to watch The Big Lebowski again.

Out with the Old

Our gigantic annual neighborhood garage sale was Saturday, and while the weather could have been better we did manage to make over $200. After giving Mom and Dad their cut for a few big items they sold, Kevin and I each had a pretty good chunk of change to spend however we saw fit. Kevin, of course, went out immediately to buy Leonard Cohen's Live in London and a Primus DVD. I will absolutely listen to Leonard Cohen, but it will take a chair, some rope, and Scotch tape to my eyelids to make me watch Primus. Kevin, for some reason, is a superfan of Les Claypool, and I refuse to even argue with him anymore on the subject: we agree to disagree.

I spent my money on something Kevin doesn't have any interest in either: knitting! I bought a fab-u-lous set of interchangeable knitting needles and some laceweight yarn. The colorway is Jewels: isn't it yummy?

I have a 13-month-old, a job, and a house to clean (or not clean), so lace is a dream for the future. It requires counting, and concentration, and being able to finish a row in one sitting, and that probably won't all come together for at least five or six years, but it's nice to know that I have a stash of lovely wool waiting for me.

KIP

I made a little time this weekend to attend a Knitting In Public event. About a half-dozen of my regular knitting compatriots were there too, as well as about 20 other knitters. The point of today's event was to bring attention to the art and encourage others to try it out. During our three-hour public knitting four people asked to learn and sat down with us, needles and yarn soon pushed into their hands. The event organizers rounded up door prizes, including needles, books, and some really gorgeous yarn: I was totally coveting some bright blue yarn, but alas I did not win anything.

The KIP was at a local coffee/tea/chocolate cafe with a fabulous patio,which we filled to bursting with knitters, overlooking the creek. We ate chocolates and drank tea and drooled over the last cream puff in the dessert case, and pledged that we would return soon with more money and emptier stomachs.

I wish every day of my life involved this picture.

One Week Later. . .

. . . and Harry has been successfully sleeping through the night again. The only word to describe this is "relief." Monday night, our first night of letting him cry while checking on him every five minutes for whispered praise and gentle touch, was kind of rough, but since then he's fallen asleep within 10 minutes every night. His naps are going much more smoothly, too, and this has made it a lot easier for me to get some transcription done during the day.

My only nagging worry is that Harry now only sleeps on his stomach. This makes me incredibly nervous as he's only six months old and "Back to Sleep" has been drilled into my head by doctors, nurses, authors, et cetera. Kevin says reassuring things, specifically that if Harry is strong enough to roll ON to his belly, he's also strong enough to roll BACK if necessary. I tried to have faith in this but found myself sneaking into Harry's room three times the first night to make sure he was still breathing. And I don't care if Kevin (or anyone else) wants to make fun of me for it.

The new bedtime routine for Harry is also leaving Kevin and me with about two hours every night to finally take some time for ourselves. Some nights we watch TV together, some nights I work, and on really good nights I am finally knitting again. I finished a pair of socks last night, which I am embarrassed to admit I started in April. I'm also kind of proud because I designed the pattern myself. It's kind of simple, but that's okay because I'm only kind of proud.

New Respect for Single Parents

I had Harry to myself for 26 hours this weekend, and while I always suspected that single parenthood was rough stuff, I've had a taste and realize I was underestimating the degree of difficulty.

Kevin left yesterday morning around 10, and by 3 o'clock I was already feeling a tad bit overwhelmed. On any weekday Kevin's out the door at 8:30 and comes home between 5 and 6, so I had actually been on my own with the baby for less time than usual, but knowing that Kevin wouldn't be home that day was looming large for me. It also didn't help that Harry was on his third onesie of the day, having spit up on himself (and me, naturally) twice.

Harry is generally happy, easygoing, and otherwise a very good baby. He's never been much for daytime naps, and certainly will not consent to sleeping alone in his crib during daylight hours, but yesterday the best I could get out of him was 10 minutes of light napping right after nursing, which didn't provide any real rest for him (or me) and left me a little foggy about when he might want to nurse again.

Dad came by around 4 to take us out for late lunch/early dinner and, bless him, hung out until 7:30, bouncing Harry and watching TV so I could knit a few rows on a pair of socks that I started back in (gasp!) April. Knitting is probably the thing I really miss doing from the pre-Harry era. It makes me feel good to look down at my project and see that actual, physical progress has been made. Taking care of Harry is the hardest job I've ever had, and I do love doing it, but at the end of the day I can't look at him and see tangible results. . . other than the fact that he's still in one piece, I guess.

Knowing that someone is going to be home in the evening to give me a chance to take a shower, or eat something for dinner besides crackers, or let me crawl into bed before Harry falls asleep, makes getting through a long day easier. Big ups to single moms (and single dads) who do it all by themselves.

Crunch

The planets have aligned in such a way that I have three exams on Tuesday: skeletal and muscular systems in human anatomy, CPR and airways in EMT, and the urinary system in medical terminology. Add studying for all three to the ever-growing pile of laundry, the fact that I haven't been grocery shopping in almost two weeks, and plans to attend a retirement party for one of Kevin's coworkers this afternoon and I am one busy chick.

I had hopes of finishing a sock today. It's been on hold while I knit some cold-weather gear for my 3-month-old niece, but now my Harmony needles from Knit Picks are calling to me. They're a happy medium between the not-slippery-enough birch needles and the too-slippery metal needles already in my possession. Hopefully I can find a few minutes to scratch this itch. . .

I recently bought Marcia Lewandowski's Folk Mittens with the idea to knit a pair of Gotland Island mittens in red and white (and a little bit of green). I overestimated my skill, or my level of patience, or both. Left with oodles of fingering weight wool, I decided that no one I know would appreciate a pair of socks that have to be handwashed, no matter how soft or pretty said socks might be.

But, good news! There are people out there actually LOOKING FOR 100% wool socks! If you're a knitter with too much time to knit and not enough people to spread the finished product to, check out this website: http://childrenincommon.org/. This group raises money and collects donations for orphanages in the former USSR. They ask that knitted garments be at least 80% animal fiber, as many of the orphanages are poorly heated or unheated.

I'm going to see just how many pairs of wee socks I can get out of nine balls of Knit Pick's "Palette." I'm not sure I'm going to be able to tolerate knitting as many socks as that might be, but I'm willing to take a stab at it.

I found the most adorable book of baby hat patterns: Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson. I made three before reining myself in and returning to the much less cute socks that I had oh-so-quickly abandoned when this book popped up.
From left to right, Upside Down Daisy, Rosebuds, and Bunny Ears.

Finally finished with the lacy socks. Pardon my big fat calves; obviously, these socks were not meant for me.

This is a little embarrassing, but I finally got around to reading Brave New World. Okay, okay, so I'm not quite finished with it. I'm glad I didn't read it in high school, though. . . it might have made me a little paranoid.

I haven't started Kevin's sweater yet (bad wife!) because stupid socks come in stupid pairs of two. I have made a resolution to avoid UFOs (Un-Finished Objects, for you non-knitters) in my knitting basket, so that wonderfully soft and cheap yarn will have to wait a little longer.

I finally found work as an MT, and pending the installation of some software, I will be gainfully employed once again. Ten straight rainy days here, so good news is welcome, since good weather doesn't seem to be forthcoming.

I'm working on yet another pair of socks, but I found some great denim/cotton yarn, for $2 per ball at a local discount store, to dive into next. Nobody tell Kevin, but he's getting a new sweater!