Binding Off: January Update

This has been a very, very busy month. Last week was full of work deadlines, which got in the way of knitting, but I’m still happy that in January, I finished two projects and read five books (lack of reading last year got me kind of down).

So, my first Binding Off update of the year…

I started out working on the cable cardigan, but what do you know, another project intervened. It’s on my list, though, so at least I’m making some progress. With all the games, practices and waiting around car shops that have made up my life lately, the only project I could easily tote were the ribbed socks. I couldn’t finish before the month ended, but I’m close. Plus, I still have the rest of today. Stranger things have happened than me finishing a sock before midnight.

This past Saturday found me in a sunny spot on the back patio working the leg...


...and after much frustration with a gusset that didn't want to cooperate, finally found me on Sunday working the foot. The finish line is in sight, so with any luck, you'll soon see a finished pair.


Fellow Binding Off participants, how did January go for you?

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weekending

Joining in with Amanda's weekending...

There were jelly beans to sort (and eat)...


...new books to read. Not "new" as in recently published, but new to me. This might be just the one to get me back into gothic horror. I can't explain why I love reading about the English countryside, old manor homes and general creepiness so much, but I do...


...not nearly enough knitting, but some. At least the first sock is done.


There was also:

: : A soccer game
: : A football game
: : Fireplace coziness
: : Saturday morning breakfast
: : Sunday morning sleep-ins (until 7:30? That's sleeping in)
: : Sunday night chocolate cake -- yum

How was your weekend spent?

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Stripe Love

Pattern: My own, adapted from guidelines in Knitting Without Tears
Yarn: Valley Yarns Superwash DK from WEBS in Colonial Blue and Silver
Needles: US 3 DPNs (3.25 mm)


Conversation, a few weeks back:

“Mom, can you sew me socks?”
“You mean knit you socks?”
“Yeah. Knit.”

Previously, my sock knitting policy for kids was: Don’t do it.

Their feet are still growing, they’re going to run holes through my precious yarn,they’ll lose them, etc. Not to mention the interference with my Binding Off challenge -- child, I have a cardigan to finish and check off my list!

Well…things change sometimes. The Dimpled One asked me for socks and knowing about his “issue” with socks (he likes them tight around the foot; we’ve had meltdowns when our socks didn’t fit properly) and my desire to design more of my own things, I figured, why not? We ordered yarn together; he chose his colors because he wanted stripes. My requirements were only that it wasn’t my usual sock/fingering weight because it would take too long for me to knit and that it had to be machine-washable.


We found a nice DK weight and I cast on Monday. Using EZ’s guidelines, I designed a pattern myself. He’s six, a smallish six, and has these skinny heels and ankles that make shoe-shopping a challenge.

I cast on 32 stitches, ribbed for over an inch, increased to 36 sts and introduced stripes, and zoomed along from there. Knitting these socks was so much fun! I was able to add customizations like only decreasing the foot back to 40 sts after the gusset because he tried them on and they were a little tight at 36 sts. Not following a pattern but making things just right for me has really re-inspired me where the needles are concerned.


If I hadn’t had to rip back, one sock would’ve been finished in a day. As it is, it took me all of three days to finish. This yarn is soft soft soft. The softness kind of worries me, though, because it’s superwash merino and 100% merino usually pills (I can already see it starting on the one sock he insisted on wearing as soon as it came off the needles). However, knowing the Dimpled One’s track record for socks, one will undoubtedly be lost before it gets a chance to pill too badly, so I’ll be saved the disappointment for sure.


Two FOs down this year -- more to come.

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EZ and Me

It took seven years, but I finally got Elizabeth Zimmermann.

I don’t know if there are any knitters who peruse the ‘net who’ve never heard of EZ. I certainly can’t remember the first time I heard the name, but she’s an icon, a name that crops up again and again and again in these circles. Over the years, I’ve thumbed through Knitting Without Tears about a dozen times. I read a few pages, but never understood what the hype was about. Her writing voice didn’t bother me at all, but I just didn’t get what she was trying to say.

I finally decided that I was one of those knitters who didn’t get it, and I was okay with that. We can’t all like the same things.

A couple of weeks ago, I was in the bookstore, thumbing through the book again, not feeling that anything would change but something did. I can’t even explain it. I don’t know if my sudden understanding coincided with my recent resolve to start custom designing patterns so that they’re perfect for me…I just don’t know. All I know is that it was a lightbulb moment. The writing that I’d perused before that didn’t really make a whole lot of sense – well, suddenly, it made sense.


So, I quickly ordered The Knitter’s Almanac, which I couldn’t find locally, and am now the proud owner of Knitting Without Tears as well. I breezed through KWT in a day, but am slowly making my way through the Almanac, doing my best to savor it because I don’t really want it to end.

In pattern news:

I published my bookmark pattern at Ravelry. After writing it up, publishing it via PDF (that was the part I was most afraid of, but it turned out to be the easiest!) and all that it involved, I’m more sure than ever that knit and crochet designers are an under-thanked bunch! It took me awhile to write, rewrite, check and double-check instructions. And I mean, a long while.

Anyway, I’ve created a new page here if you look up top – Patterns, etc., where I’ll put any patterns and tutorials for your easy reference. I named the bookmark Victoria – Angela at Peach Coglo said that it reminded her of Victorians and so that’s where the name came from. Thank you, Angela, for that inspiration!

I include a link for Ravelry and non-Ravelry readers, in an effort to be convenient to all (and the pattern includes both US and UK instructions).

And thank you, everyone, who left such nice comments in my last post about my first crochet pattern.

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So Many Ideas, Only One Brain...

Do you see this?


This is terribly ugly, but this is often what gets used as bookmarks around my house. I don’t use new papers, see, I’m all into recycling, but this is taking recycling to a ridiculous new level. I shouldn’t have such ugly bookmarks like torn newsprint and old envelopes.

With that in mind, I decided to design one. It was one of those afternoons where I should’ve been doing something else, but I had to design a bookmark and I had to do it right now.

I had a picture in my head and with some starts, stops, ripping back and forging on, this is what I came up with.


A fan shape, a little lacy, not too big, not the usual longish bookmark shape and great for those who like a feminine touch in their place holders.


I’m pretty darn thrilled with it. I’m working on a pattern, but I want to publish it in PDF form, so this may take a little while, as I’m not very good with anything technical. Also, while I’d like to publish it via PDF, that just may not happen. In whatever form, I’ll get it up and running as soon as I can, and let you all know about it when I do.

There are others in the works, experimenting with hook size and different yarn weights…


In the meantime, torn newsprint and old envelopes have been replaced. Saving my place is much more enjoyable now.

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Plans Derailed

I spent most of my weekend flat on my back. Forced to rest when that was one of the last things I wanted to do. Normally, I welcome rest. As a mother of three, I often feel I don't get enough rest. But when your back gives out and you can't raise your arms above your head without excruciating pain, when you can't even turn your head comfortably, you have to rest.

So the plans to travel out of town to a dear nephew's birthday party were derailed. Knitting my cable cardigan? Derailed.

I did make it to the Dimpled One's first soccer game ever (wasn't going to miss that, although I couldn't decide whether sitting or standing was more uncomfortable), but that was as busy as my weekend got. Beyond that, my weekend was full of rest and heat, two things that I normally crave, but just weren't as openly embraced as usual because they were supposed to be in short supply.

Ah well...I'm feeling much better now, though I would have loved to have gotten this package on Friday or Saturday -- it would've helped my recovery quite a bit, I think.

 
My back is now sufficiently better for me to dive right into this box.


I’ve been anxiously awaiting its arrival, ever since some sweet family members asked for hats and socks and other things.


Plus, I’ve been dying to get this book (more on EZ next time, when I have Knitting Without Tears in my hot little hands, too).


For now, I’m getter better acquainted with my new friends finds. And enjoying the rest.

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Binding Off Strategies

Okay, when I started this challenge, I didn’t really have a plan in mind, but since I’ve had a week or so to think about it more, I’ve come up with a strategy. Anyone taking part in this with me can follow whatever strategy works for them.

At the beginning of each month, I’ll earmark a project for completion, though I may not finish it that month. In my last post of the month, I’ll do a progress report and tally up what I completed or how close I am to finishing.

So I’ve decided to tackle one languishing project at a time instead of flitting between projects. Naturally, the one I’m working on now isn’t what I’d call languishing or long-term because I started it right before the new year. It’s a basic cardigan (I'm thinking of adding simple cables to the front) and I’m using general guidelines from The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. I’ve never knit a cardi for myself and this is the first time I’m not following an exact pattern.

I’m making notes, calculating stuff, remembering to make selvedge stitches? Moi??


I want to do a lot more custom designing in the future and move away from exact patterns, so this is a big step for me.

With Binding Off, though, while I’m tackling one old project at a time, I know I can’t stay away from new ones. (This is the first step in acceptance, knowing that you have a problem.) I have a list of smaller projects -- at the request of family -- so I’ll try to fit them in between each larger project I work on.


Still, this working on one major project at a time? It should be obvious that if you keep working at something, it eventually gets done, but I’m only now realizing how much my current dedication is paying off. A complete back and nearly half a sleeve in a week?


For this slow knitter -- unheard of! There just might be something to sticking with it.


How do you like this “mood lighting”? It’s courtesy of the rain, which has been falling all day long – not good for walking the dog, but perfect for sitting in bed and knitting away.

Thanks, rain.

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Recipe Box Makeover

One of my kitchen organization plans was to do something about my recipe box. It’s just an index card holder made for 5x7 cards. I probably didn’t pay more than a dollar for it, but I like the size and wanted to see if I could make it over instead of chucking it and buying a brand new box. I’ve outlined this little makeover here because I ended up being pretty happy with it –- and if anyone out there ever wanted to do something similar, hopefully this step-by-step can help.

Let’s get started, shall we?

The Before:



 

 

I know. Nasty Wasty.

 

 

 

 



First, I cleaned it all up. And I could have left it  alone because  it looks much better once I  scrubbed it, but I wanted something just a little nicer.

 

 

 
So I pulled out some patterned paper and some coordinating paint.

 

 



 

I started painting and let it dry overnight.
What an improvement! But we’re not done yet.

 

 



 

 

 

Mod Podge improves almost everything. I love this pasty stuff.

 

 


Because this recipe box has some rounded corners, I cut my paper to fit and then used this corner punch to create nice, rounded edges without having to rely on my unreliable cutting skills. Ta da!

 



Papers are all cut out, so now it’s time to Mod Podge.

 

 

 

The great thing about this paste is that it dries clear, so sponge away, it won’t leave a trace!

Next time, though, I’ll know to use a lot more paste than I did this time because I ended up with quite a lot of air bubbles, which I'm pressing out here. When Mod Podging, I slathered some on the box, stuck the paper on, then sponged more on top of the paper, pressing here and there as I went. More paste would’ve eliminated more of these bubbles.

 

 


You can see some of the bubbles in this side shot, so it’s not perfect by any means, but this box isn’t going any further than my kitchen.

And this finished product is a 100% improvement over what I started with, I like to think.

The After:

Now all I have to do is put those recipes in order and put them back into my old recipe box, which looks pretty new again. I finished this up New Year’s Day, so it’s my first craft project of the year. Hopefully, there are many more to come!

P.S. I'm still accepting participants for Binding Off 2011 (and will be all year long!), so if you want to join in and challenge yourself to finish allthose UFOs sometime this year, now's a great time.

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