a simple yarn

 Way deep down inside, I’m a bohemian wannabe…

…but in reality, there’s no way that’s gonna happen. (Actually, I have great hopes for Daughter-Kate as I think it’s more instinctive.)

Anyway, every once in a while I’ll delude myself into thinking that I can indeed pull this off and buy an article of clothing that pushes the envelope of everyday traditional fashion sense. And such was the skirt made of this…

Once the wannabe fog cleared, I realized that this would never do. It looked…

a) hideous

b) ridiculous

c) outrageous

d) disastrous

e) all of the above

In fact, I think it made me look a little like this…

I believe the technical term for this look would be ‘pudgy-with-a-hint-of-dumpy.’ But, still liking the fabric, it sat in a hopeful pile of other ‘fabrics-I-like-on-styles-that-will-never-do’ discarded purchases.

But now, it’s been rescued from the Island of Misfit Fabrics to become the backing for the long-awaited wonky-square-intarsia-experiment-cushion-cover.

Yep, ‘wearing’ the fabric in the best way to preserve everyone’s vision!

To offset the onslaught of winter boredom, I’m workin’ without a net…starting with posting a knit project and it’s not even Monday…

Following the glut of Christmas knitting for others, it’s time to turn the attention of the needles to myself. Have begun a new jumper…

Vogue pattern*…cute…love the cabling.
And feeling quite thrifty, am using up the stacks and stacks of Kilcarra wool, but…

What’s wrong with me?
I’m….bored.
Having trouble staying interested through the twisted rib.
Kilcarra, again…
Yawn.
Need a little excitement.
And breaking free from the ‘one-project-at-a-time-cuz-I’m-anal-that-way’ thinking, I’m casting on a new one.

Handknit Holidays pattern…cute…love the eyelet cabling.
And again feeling quite thrifty, am using up the cone of…hmmm….what yarn is it?

I have no idea.
Gift from my Craftspun friends.
Certainly wool, but what else?
Guess I should find out what the contents are.
But, no…not gonna do it. Wanna to be reckless, not in an ‘Elizabeth-Zimmermann-break-free-but-still-use-common-sense’ type of way, but in the ‘I-just-feel-like-using-this-yarn-cuz-I-like-it-regardless-of-what-it-is’ sort of way. Risking the massive amounts of time in the knitting with perhaps only a short amount of wear, I’m ploughing ahead. Haven’t even done a gauge swatch yet, so I don’t even know if it’ll work, but I’m feelin’ dangerous. Oh sure, I’ll swatch it cuz I’m not that reckless, but I might not knit the entire 4 inches…

Even thought about shifting the pattern to be regular knee-length socks, just so I’d have to adjust the pattern, but having more than enough yarn, I’m going the whole way.

Yep, there are dangerous times ahead…

*Postscript to Answer Enquiries: Right, so being of a ‘reckless’ nature and to prevent information overload, I tend not to keep complete knitting magazines, but rather rip out the patterns I like (or think I might even remotely like) and store them in an inspiration binder. Okay, I know this horrifies Sara, but if I let knitting magazines pile up, I will never look at them again. So, when looking for a pattern, the binder is where I go first. And yes, it’s organised into categories—Clothing, Accessories, Socks, Bags, Scarves, etc. And such is the story with this Vogue pattern. But enough have enquired about this pattern…

I believe it came from the Winter 05/06 Vogue Knitting (sigh…wishing Vogue would label the bottom of the pages with the issue number). It’s called ‘Yoke Pullover’ found in a segment they called ‘winterwonderland’. The pattern is No. 13 and instructions were found beginning on page 111.

Oh sure, there are other yarns in the stash, but it seems to be a Kilcarra tweed theme in the run up to Christmas.

Well actually, this began in the summer months.

Warning: Brief Summer Retrospective Ahead:
Holidaying in the US, West Virginia to be precise…
Visit to Tamarack, a centre to highlight Appalachian arts and crafts…
Bought cool wooden loom…
Or thought it was a loom…
Turned out to be not unique at all…
Plastic ones to be found in any craft shop…
Arg…

Although the process is mind numbingly boring, I like the finished-just-in-time-for-cold-weather-with-loopy-chain-mail-esque-effect end result.

Okay, Kilcarra is pure wool, scratchy for some, and perhaps not the best yarn pick for scarves, but I suppose the powers-that-be have left me impervious to the irritation factor and it’s a great addition to the winter scarf collection!

Knitting a ‘tried-and-true’ pattern is like visiting an old friend.

Daughter-Kate has worn out her miniaturized-for-petite-hands Fetchings. Time to make another pair…winter’s here and hands get cold!

Her choice? Blue of course.

Pattern: Knitty.com Fetchings
Pattern Adjustment: Took out 5 stitches, casting on only 40 for 11-Year-Old-Petite-Hands
Yarn: Inca Fiber Concept, made in Peru and purchased at Craftspun Yarn, no label of what the contents are, but cute picture of an alpaca. Figure an alpaca/wool combination. Very soft!
Colour: 023 Blue

If everyone has one bit of inspiration waiting to be set loose, then this would be mine.

In a brief moment of clarity, I could see the design. After that, an endless stream of prototypes. Then deciphering cryptic notes on bits of paper. Can’t imagine doing anything three-dimensional…
But it’s done and it’s published and I’m happy.

You can find the Knitty.com pattern here.

Warning: Shameless Ireland Promotion Ahead

The coolest thing about doing this was the opportunity to promote Irish wool. Say what you will about other new-to-the-market tweeds, but Kilcarra’s an original and simply the best. I get mine from Friends-Warren-And-Jenny at Craftspun Yarns in Co. Kildare. And lest I forget, many thanks to Mandy, who works with Knitty, for her technical editing wizardry.

So, what d’ya think the family are getting for Christmas?

Postscript for Neck Preferences:

I happen to like things close and tight around my neck. Baggy necklines? Not for me…nope. But the thought has occurred to me that not everyone likes that same degree of firmness around their windpipe…perhaps giving them noose nightmares and I wouldn’t want to feel responsible, so…

If you use 5mm/US8 needles (the recommended needle size for aran weight yarn), you will gain a few extra inches in the length and then make it as tight or as loose as you desire with the button placement.

Whew, I feel better now.

Well, we didn’t make it into the Knitty.com calendar this year…

…but pleased as punch that we made it into the honorable mentions list on Amy’s Flickr site.

Son-Alex models the skull embellished Knucks in fine Dublin-Inner-City-Youth-Style. Have to say I’m chuffed. Here’s a reprint of the photo.

Have you ever begun a project with great enthusiasm, only to have it repose on the shelf in a state of hopeless unfinished-ness?

Okay, so I’m a few months tardy, but I’ve finally finished the Autumn Vertical Stripe Messenger Bag intended for the Dublin Knit Collective October Show n Tell. Well, sort of… While the pattern is not complete, I’m calling this one done and moving on. I had great hopes of creating a pattern for this felted messenger bag to prove that the first one I had made was not a fluke. But feeling like a sprinter in a field of long-distance runners, I’ve run out of steam and so I post this almost-complete-pattern with absolutely no step-by-step pictures…

Autumn Vertical Stripe Messenger Bag

Yarn:
Lamb’s Pride worsted weight, used double strand
2 skeins – Spice
1 skein – Oregano
1 skein – Rust
1 skein – Gold
1 skein – Purple
1 skein – Turquoise

Needles: US 11/8mm straight needles
Gauge: 12 sts x 17 rows – 4 inch square

CO 96 sts
Knit in stockinette stitch until work measures approximately 18 inches, changing colours at random intervals for striping.
Bind off (BO) all sts.

With right side facing, turn the work sideways and along a short side of the work, pick up 68 sts.
Knit stockinette for approximately 6 inches. With right side of work facing:
K12, Bind Off (BO)10, K24, BO10, K12
P12, Cast On (CO)10, P24, CO10, P12
Knit garter stitch for 6 rows.
Bind off (BO) all sts.

FLAP and TABS
With right side facing, pick up 68 sts on other short side.
Knit 6 rows in a garter stitch.
BO12, K10, BO24, K10, BO12

For each tab—
Knit garter stitch for 12 rows.
Next row SSK, K6, K2tog
Knit 1 row plain
Next row SSK, K4, K2tog
Knit 1 row plain
Next row SSK, K2, K2tog
Knit 1 row plain
Next row SSK, K2tog
K2tog

GUSSET & STRAP
CO 7 sts
Knit stockinette, for first side of gusset, with random striping or in a solid colour if you choose, until piece extends about 1 inch past the side of the bag—approximately 16 inches.
End with a wrong side row.

To knit strap, slip work to dpns of the same size as working needles.
With right side facing, K4, yarn forward, slip next 3 sts purlwise to right hand needle
Turn work
K4, yarn forward, slip next 3 sts purlwise to right hand needle
Turn work
Repeat until strap measures approximately…..

Warning: Great Unfinished Diversion Ahead
Right, so I didn’t measure how long the strap should be. Arg. Anyway, in pre-felted form, it was long, REALLY long—60 inches perhaps? But the Lamb’s Pride shrinks quite efficiently and ended up the right length. So, here is where you use your best judgment and you have my apologies for being air-headed…

So, after making your strap as long as you like, then knit the 7 sts in stockinette for the second gusset, working until it is like the first side of the gusset, approximately 16 inches long. Make sure that the right side of your work is oriented to the same side as the other side of the gusset.

CONSTRUCTING THE BAG
Before washing, using the same yarn in whatever colour choice, stitch the gusset into the sides of the bag. For extra definition, using a contrasting colour, I did a single crochet around the side edges of the bag.

Single Crochet Instructions
Work from right to left with the right side of the knitting facing you. Insert hook into knitting stitch, yarn over hook, pull loop of yarn through the knitting to the front, yarn over hook, and pull it through the first loop. *Insert hook into next stitch of knitting yarn over hook, pull loop of yarn through stitch, yarn over hook, and pull through both loops on hook. Repeat from * to end.

FELTING
I tossed the whole lot into the front loading washer, threw in some old tennis shoes for good agitation, added a small amount of wool wash, put it on 60° C and let it go. When it comes out in all its shrunken glory, let air dry. Add snaps to the tabs for closures and it’s done.

And here’s hoping that someone is able to finish one!

To mis-quote some toothless old coot, ‘It’s cold in them thar hills!’

It is definitely getting chilly up in the mountains. Misty. Foggy. And yes, most of my autumn and winter wear is still packed in boxes at the bottom of an unreachable mound of yet more boxes. So, what’s a girl to do to keep herself warm? Right, whip up a quick pair of handwarmers, of course!

Went out to Craftspun, Home-Of-Fibre-Friends-Warren-And-Jenny, and picked up a skein of Kilcarra. This time the colour choice was grey, to minimize country dirt and grime, but still sporting a few interesting flecks of blue, orange, gold and white.

The obvious choice was to do another pair of Fetchings. Have done enough of ‘em in the past that it would be a very quick knit indeed. But, hang on….what about the Fraternal-Version-Of-The-Handwarmer-Called-Dashing? They’re certainly longer, which is a feature I really like.

That’s it then. A pair of Dashings for me. Have one done in no time and am beginning the second. As with its Fetching-Sister, it’s a quick knit. Just an bit of adjustment here and there for smaller female hands. But I really like the longer and less frilly cabling. And that cabling is placed in such a way as to fit snugly at the wrist. Yippee!

Yep, toasty hands are on the horizon!

The hand of Providence is a mighty thing.

During the summer, I began a quick-and-easy knitting project and no, it was not a pickle.

It was, however, a pair of Fibertrends Felted Clogs for me.

A new pair of slippers for the new house. No worries. I’ve done this many times before. Had loads of scrap yarn with me. Thought I’d do something a little fun and different. Spotty slippers. Knit up a normal pair and then hand-embroider spotty dots on ‘em. Yippee! Can’t wait to wear ‘em!

Warning: Complaint About Top Loading Washers Ahead
I have never had any measure of success with US-built-top-loading washers when felting, or rather fulling, a knitting project. It takes a minimum of two runs and still the projects look limpy and wimpy. By contrast, European front-loading washers, which are a pain for any normal size load of regular laundry, are an absolute dream for shrinking wool! One run and presto, it’s done! Love that! So, because of my obvious bias toward the Irish washing machine, I decided to do one more wash of the slippers when we got back.

Another Diversion: Brief Irony Ahead
In the meantime, Daughter-Kate has been asking for a new pair of slippers. ‘Sure, sure, dear,’ I heard myself say, assigning it to the foggy gray matter of things soon to be forgotten.

Righty-o. Final wash of my new spotty slippers.

You realize that my US Size 8 (Irish Size 6) slippers shrank to an unbelievable US Size 3 (Irish Size 1) which, of course, was a perfect fit for Kate. Interestingly, with the myriad of slippers I have made in years past with similar/identical yarn, I have never, ever had a pair shrink at such a rate. Ever.

You can’t fight what is meant to be.

The best intentions don’t always make the deadline.

In the midst of all the ‘hoop’ and ‘lah’ of moving, there’s been a bit of knitting. I had hoped to join in the Autumn Show ‘n’ Tell knitalong sponsored by Diane at the Dublin Knit Collective. Felted handbags. Right up my alley. Easy enough. Pick a free pattern. Provide the URL. Let Diane know. Everyone participating can then pick the pattern they want to knit. Post progress. Have a cool handbag finished project.

Got bit by the inspiration bug in the US and decided to do my own pattern. A smaller version of my felted computer bag to prove that it wasn’t a fluke and I could indeed reproduce it. Trouble is I can’t get it finished to write up the pattern by 1 September (which was a couple of days ago). And so, I readjust my expectations and will knit along from the sidelines and post my progress.

What this hopes to become is a messenger bag in autumn vertical striping. Very easy to do. Will post the pattern when I get it done.

Hopefully, my intentions will meet the the next show ‘n’ tell dates.

Really a mish mash of things, but alliteration makes me feel better…

Fibre
I’m hunting for cotton warp for the loom. I’m driving around Ohio. My search brings me to a real tip of a place. A little building stuck in the middle of nowhere. An arts and crafts dive. Giving it up as a lost cause. Sigh. Might as well go in as I’ve driven all this way though.

No cotton for weaving. Even if there were, I wouldn’t be able to see it past all the other rubbish on the shelves and in the aisles. ‘If you happen to be lookin’ for that fancy yarn, try the next row over, says the owner, who I might add is more than a little creepy. ‘What a dump,’ I think to myself.

And then, like an eerie game of I Spy, I see the corner of a very familiar label. Lamb’s Pride. Oh wait! Noro. Crikey! Cherry Hill Yarns. Blimey! (as Isobel would say) Lopi. And boxes upon boxes of sock yarn…Regia. Not only that. They’re cheap! I’ve stumbled onto a treasure trove of yarn.

When my eyes recover from glazing over, I slowly realise that my suitcases are already bulging, and so I content myself with one reasonable purchase…teal cotton from Brown Sheep Company. That made me happy!

Fads
A little postcard for my Irish friends. Now I think that I can safely say that I’ve seen everything…

Fun
It does my heart good to see smiles as a result of something so simple. A tree. A tire. A rope. Fun in the country…

Hope you’re all having a wonderful summer!

…by the light of the silvery moon.

The brief flick through Vogue’s Silver Anniversary issue looks like it will cover all the bases…vintage, retro, outrageous, hideous, stunning.