Girl Who Knits

You know big purchases are worth it when they result in memories like this:

Niece Ellie and I demonstrating "scary" in sign language. Her face is my favorite.
We also love being comics:


That's Kara in the upper right corner with baby Ryan.
I am not quite sure what we are doing in this picture but Emma and Ellie are sure cute all night vision-y:


Yes, I bought a MacBook. And he is my new best friend. (Yes, I really feel as if it is a he--blame the commercials.)
I imagine the built-in camera with all the crazy settings will get old soon. But not yet:

The Summer Interweave Knits preview is up.

Tuxedo Shirt anyone?

(I also love the Ogee Lace Skirt, Spiral Boot Socks, and love, love, love the web project, Pomegranate Blouse.)

Around 1:15 AM last night, I finished the hands down cutest project I have ever knit. 

Baby Booties.

Perhaps it was the late hour, or perhaps it was my biological clock, but when the booties were done I squealed with delight.  Yes, I actually squealed.

I don't think I ever imagined such cuteness existed. I mean look...pom poms! 

Kind girl that I am, I brought the booties with me to work today so everyone there could also enjoy the cuteness.  The booties are a gift for a recently born girl baby named Lizzie.  If she doesn't like them I am taking them home and displaying them in my room.  I hope that's not strange.

Stats:

Pattern: Posy Booties

Source: Jaeger JB29

Yarn: Lang Jowell, color 162, hot pink, gifted to me by the lovely Heather for my last birthday

Needles: US 2

Mods: None

Notes: Easy to follow pattern but did take longer than I expected.  The finishing is what took the most time.  But I am SO pleased with the result.  Would knit again and again.  In fact, I just might.  I could become baby bootie knitter specialist.  Now that would be the cutest job ever. 

Words are a powerful tool.  I was reminded of this through several events recently--the last being Imus and his ignorant, racist, and sexist words said on the radio.  Words mean something.  They can hurt, heal, uplift, degrade, clarify, mislead, and empower.  After some reflection on words this week, I am resolved to use mine more carefully. 

There.  I said my peace about the heavy stuff.  Now onto the knitting. All this talk about words...for some things however, I have no words.

(Sigh.)

 And close up:

I think Kim Hargreaves should be my new best friend.  You hear that Kim?  BFF's forever.

So I had this great idea for a FO post on my Phildar Zip Cardigan.  I am not sure if any of you out there watch America's Next Top Model--I'll admit it if you will.  If you have watched it you may have noticed that the photo shoots are a tad out there and often verge on the ridiculous.  I love it.  Last week all the girls were tasked with taking pictures that reflected different sides of their personalities.  So while Kara and I were taking pictures of my new cardi we thought, hey why not steal an idea from Tyra--it might be fun.  We thought, let's do the different sides of my personality which would then totally show off the sweater.  Sounds like a great idea right?

Problem #1: I have no model instinct.  Once we came up with the brilliant idea we stood there for minutes trying to pick a side of my personality. Finally Kara said, "Smart."  So I stood there for a minute, "how do I model smart?" 

Smart=thoughtful finger on chin

Problem #2: I don't commit.  Miss Tyra Banks commits.  That woman will act the fool and own it--which is I guess why she is Tyra Banks.  I, on the other hand, will give a seriously displeased face when asked to stick my tongue out and "be silly." 

Turns out I don't do silly, I just do awkward. 

Problem #3: Most people won't get how funny I am when they see my lame attempt to "model funny." 

Get it, double guns is funny..since it's not funny..that makes it funny.  Get it?

Problem #4: What does me showing people I am independent through my "modeled art" have to do with the new sweater I just knit?

Answer: nothing.  But by the time I realized this idea was pretty lame I had already taken the pictures. 

So on to the sweater.  I really quite like it.  I think it turned out to be well fitting and it is a great basic color, it is comfortable, wearable, and pretty.  There are many great things about this sweater.  Like the really long ribbing on the sleeve.  I love that.  And the ribbed bands around the neck--love that too.

However, this sweater was not without its hard knocks.  It is knit all in ribbing and reverse stockinette.  I was dumb and didn't study the best increase and decrease methods for reverse stockinette which resulted in some tiny holes and some areas that don't meet my standard of perfection.  But this is minimal and not enough to make me unhappy with the sweater.  I love all the ribbing on the sweater but as I have shared before, this makes for 12, count them, 12 pieces of sweater to seam together.  12. 

Seaming was by far the most difficult challenge I faced on this sweater.  I had never seamed reverse stockinette before and I had to redo it several times until I was satisfied with the finished product.  Then there was seaming all the different bands and collars and such.  It took me a couple weeks until I was satisfied with the seaming job.  But I am satisfied now which is all that matters.  In other words, extra time spent to do or re-do this right was totally worth it. 

The zipper...as many of you know I was dreading the zipper.  Turns out, all you have to do is answer your phone right when your friend is about to show you how to sew it and then she just magically does it for you.  So I can't take credit for the zipper.  But it turned out fabulously well.  She made the seam align with the first ribbed valley so it is hidden by the ribbing.  Looks awesome.

the stats:

Pattern: Phildar Zipper Cardigan

Source: Phildar Tendances, Spring 2005

Yarn: Phildar Licorne

Needles: US 2 & 3 straights

Mods: Like with most knits, I made it a couple of inches longer by increasing the straight rows in the waist area.

Notes: This really is a great knit.  One that I think I will enjoy for a lot of time to come.  Just if you knit it, be prepared.  12. seamed. pieces. 

You should know by now that I can't sew.  I want to learn but I have serious doubts as to my ability to do so.  There are just certain things I can do and others I can't.  And I can't sew in a straight line.  It is actually kind of embarrassing.  My rep as a crafty person is perilously endangered when people find this out and my self esteem suffers.

Unfortunately for me, I have friends who like to remind me of my inadequacies.  Last night my buddy Ann came over to help me finally put the Zip on my Phildar Zip Cardigan.  A kind friend would have helped me with the sewing and then never said another word about it but not Ann.  Not only did we finish the cardigan (FYI: FO post coming up next) but she just HAD to bring a gift to taunt me with all her sewing skills. 

Yeah, Ann made me a quilt.  I know right?  What a jerk.  But a crazy talented one.  I guess I should admit I knew the quilt was coming.  She told me I was getting it on my last birthday--a gift to soften the blow of getting older.  Consider the blow softened.

You want details?...

This is the back corner.  The back is all brown except for one edge of stripes.

A close up of the squares.  All the different fabrics are in beautiful greens and browns.

Here is a close up of the quilting on the back.  I LOVE the blue thread and the flower pattern.

A close up of the front corner.  I believe the edge is an Amy Butler fabric.  I heart Amy Butler.

It is beautiful.  Must. Learn. to. Sew.  My insecurities aside, I do have one thing to console myself with--I get to keep it.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Ann.  Turning 31 was so worth it.