I just wasn’t satisfied with each end result.  Apparently, neither was Gram.  I have the feeling he hates wearing hats… so I’m wondering.  What was I thinking knitting him one?  It either appeared too long, too big, or the shaping appeared mis-shapened.  This little hat has been a bit of trial and error.  So rather than being dissatisfied, I’ve decided to rip back and maybe revisit the yarn at another time.

During the same time, I decided to try and finish the sockhat I had started before the Olympics (first pic).  If I don’t finish Gram’s hat, I reasoned, at least I’ll finish something.   Continuous stockinette on fingering weight yarn at 32sts to 4inches.  It was a lot of knitting and of course, there was a bit of ripping back also.  A bit ambitious?  Apparently so.  I didn’t finish this either, but at least, progress has been made.  I knitted.

Lately, we’ve had a bit of trouble putting Gram in his bassinet for his naps.   The problem lay in the transition from arms to bassinet at which point he would wake up and the process of getting him back to sleep began again (and again and again and again).   Bedtime is dreadful.  We’re not sure what to do.  Rather than trying for the uptenth time to put him to sleep, I opted to wrap him up in the sling.  He fell asleep instantly, and I spent the afternoon knitting.

And making bread.  The recipe can be found here.

There was a tinge of guilt when I casted on, knowing full well that this project was so small, it may indeed get completed well before the Olympic flames go out.

When we decided to take a short road trip down South, I felt even guiltier.  An unexpected last-minute decision to visit my parents in Arkansas over the weekend had afforded me some well-deserved knitting time on the road… and a jumpstart on the hat.

But then we came back.  And my free time was over.  Needless to say, I didn’t feel so bad anymore.  In the last three days, I accomplished this:

Oh, and my hairstylist said road trips were great for kids this age.  Apparently, they sleep most of the way.  Not Gram.  He slept his usual nap amount (i.e., 2-3 hrs) and proceeded to wail and try to get out of the carseat for the remainder of the time.

I will admit that not every spare moment was devoted to this project because well, it’s a hat… for Gram.  Surely, I can complete it before the 28th.  Surely.  I could be working on it right now, but then I wouldn’t have a story to tell you.

In Gram news,  the little kangaroo is growing bigger by the day.  My mom informs me, “The bigger he gets, the stronger you become.”  Boy, is she right.   These arm muscles aren’t so flabby anymore!

Gram is about 10 wks old.  He’s drooling and making bubbles like there’s no tomorrow.  My husband threatens to glue a bib to him for life.  I just pat his cute little mouth with a tissue.  Gram also talks and babbles so much more and absorbs everything like a sponge.   He loves seeing himself in the mirror and watches with interest short videos of himself.  He must wonder who that little person waving his arms and legs and making cute coos is.  Love the sheep icon?

He loves sucking on his hands.  Did I mention he loves sucking on his hands?  They’re in his mouth every minute of the day.  Sometimes his little thumb sticks out and makes its lone way into his mouth too.  As of late, we’ve resorted to removing his mittens off during the day because within minutes, he gets them (and his chin) sopping wet.

More recently, he has begun to pull himself upright.  “I want UP!” he says.

A needle case to hold my dpns.

I’ve needed a case for my dpns for some time, and frustration got the best of me last week and so, I created one.   The needles were initially stored in a small pink pouch along with most of my notions.  The single pocket container left little room for storage so with the needles out of the way, my notions now have room to breathe.

A consequence for not drawing one’s plans out at the onset resulted in an omitted top flap to help secure the dpns in place.  My solution: wrap the darn thing as tightly as possible, be extra-careful when handling (yeah, right), and perhaps, make a second case that will include the flap… when time again permits.

In Gram news, the little guy is nearly two months old and growing like a cornstalk - I didn’t want to say “weed” because, frankly, no parent, at least not I, wants to compare their child to a weed.  Gram now weighs a hefty 12 lbs (my arms and back are feeling it!) and has grown two full inches, from 21.5 in to 23.5. He currently spends a lot of time talking to himself, mommy, and daddy.  He laughs and chuckles.  He also found some buddies - his hands, which spend most of the time in his mouth.

Join us on Sunday, Jan. 31st, 1pm-6pm, for a celebratory potluck!

Though I won’t be casting on anything new this time, I will, however, be busy knitting mittens.  Two (actually, three) pairs of mittens are waiting to be finished and now is as good of a time as any to finally be done with them.  Finishing these will mean I’ll have knocked three more UFOs off my list!

The first pair is the Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang.  These were started by our friend, Ariel, last winter and sadly left in the basket until, well, now.  Aren’t they pretty?  Prettier finished, I should say! This pattern is a wonderfully easy fair isle knit, requiring only two colors, and is a small enough project to achieve immediate gratification.

Two summers ago, while attending Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp, I fiddled around with EZ’s Brioche Hat pattern and made it reversible in two colors.  Since, I thought I would try my hands at figuring out how to create reversible brioche mittens/handwarmers.   Why not, right?

The first mitt was created last winter.  I’m proud to say that I diligently kept notes so that a pattern could be written up.  Was it so successful that I decided to knit another pair?  Um, not quite.  The second mitt, started last summer, was an attempt to make sense of those notes which looked a lot like a bunch of gobbledygook.  Even I couldn’t understand my own notes.

After a bit of editing, I think we’ll be ready for the third attempt which is the finish both of these and to make sure the pattern isn’t heiroglyphic.  What will you be working on?

I love the coziness of this cowl.  The Blue Sky Alpaca sportweight was perfect for this piece given that the alpaca fiber blooms after blocking.  Cast on100 sts and work in brioche until desired length or, in my case, the yarn runs out.  Brioche stitch is the wonderful stitch that creates an incredibly elastic, vertical, ribbed fabric without using up too much yarn.  A skein of each color (approximately 200 yds total) was used.

Brioche Stitch (multiple of 2)
Set up round (MC): K1, yo, slip 1
Round1 (CC): Yf (yarn is placed over needle to back), s1, (move yarn over needle from back to front), p2tog
Round 2 (MC): K2tog, yf, s1

The stitch is a bit tricky to get the hang of, but once you do, the pattern is rather simple and moves along fairly quickly.  Work the stitch in a single color, two colors, or even a solid and a variegated together for interest.

In actuality, there is not just one form of the brioche stitch, but rather, many many many.  B. Walker, in her A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, informs us that the “Brioche Stitch is the basic member of a large family of patterns of Eastern origin (i.e., Double Brioche, Waffle Brioche, Syncopated Brioche, Tunisian Brioche, etc.,).”  There is even a website devoted to this interesting stitch.  Should you want to knit a brioche sweater, turn to EZ’s The Opinionated Knitter!

This Feather & Fan cowl was casted on during my stay in the hospital while I was waiting for the cervidil to take effect.  Knitting this cowl achieved two purposes: it gave me an opportunity to do a bit of lace knitting and helped to use up stash yarn. This pattern was selected because despite its popularity, I had yet to knit it.  It’s actually enjoyable, looks very pretty, and is so simple!  Yarn: Kidsilk Haze.  I casted on 144 sts.

Feather & Fan Stitch (multiple of 18)
Round 1 (RS): Knit
Round 2: Purl (knit, if working in the round)
Round 3: (K2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times
Round 4: Knit (purl, if working in the round)

New Year Resolution #1. Finish all my UFOs. 
Much like the 12 Socks in 12 Months Challenge, I shall try (NO, I SHALL) finish at least one UFO or a project a month.  I’m not sure there are 12 UFOs for the year - I’m deathly afraid to count them, but I know there are a lot… and some are large UFOs like blankets and sweaters and bags.  One UFO, in particular, was brought to my attention the other day.  While browsing the pics on my laptop, Eric noticed a pic of a two-color fair isle bag I had begun and asked whatever happened to it.   “Oh, that bag?  Yeah, I need to finish it,” I responded.  He gave me a funny look, “Did you know the date on this picture is April of 2008?”  Hmmm.  No, I didn’t know that, but it sounds about right…. That’s one of the UFOs sitting in Gram’s room.

New Year Resolution #2: Finish off those pesky scrap yarns.
You know those skeins of yarn leftover from projects.  You know, the remnants of a (or more) sock yarn or the remainder of the million Cascade 220s skeins from the Dr. Who scarf.  Well, I don’t know about you, but my baskets and bags are full of leftover yarn, and I keep telling myself not to get rid of them because they’ll eventually be put to use in a future project.  Well, eventually is now.

New Year Resolution #3:  Knit down my stash.
Truth be told, I’m not finishing off every bit of my stash.  That’s just silly talk.  Silly talk.  And no way would I ever refrain from getting new yarn.  That’s even sillier talk.  But I will finally knit with that beautiful lace yarn, and I will use up those ten or so skeins I had bought on sale years ago with no idea of what to do with, but I will come up with something.  And the numerous skeins of sock yarn… you guessed it.  They will finally become socks!

What is going to be extremely helpful are the knit-alongs and challenges we’re starting at the shop this year.  The consensus at the shop is that winter’s knit-along should be mittens which is great because I have UFO mittens I’ve been avoiding as well as mittens I’ve been wanting to start.  Casting-on begins Sunday, Jan. 24th, at 1pm.

Join us also for the Knitting Winter Olympics.  This is a 14 day knitting marathon where we’ll be casting on and finishing a project during the length of the Winter Olympics.  Dates are February 12th-28th.  I’m not sure just yet what I’ll be working on, but as you can see, there won’t be a lack of ideas to choose from.  Remember.  Knit nights are Thursday evenings, 5pm-8pm and all day on Sundays, 1pm-6pm so come by and join us!

Knitty Couture Event Calendar Winter & Spring 2010!