Through the Loops!

Happy Belated Mother's Day

As I write this post it is 12:01 am.  Mother's Day is over.  Sorry I'm a bit late.  Hope you had a good one, whether you are a mother of the child of a mother.

It was a good weekend.  My kids were in a show.  It was my son's last with the group he's been working with for the past 3 1/2 years.  We've watched him blossom from an awkward 7th grader to a confident young man in those years.  That was in no small part due to all of the amazing opportunities he has had to perform with this program.  Now it is time for him to move on and explore new interests and create music of his own, on his own terms.

He went out with a bang.  The kids did a production of the musical "Hair" and he was one of the leads.  The kid put his heart and soul into the role of "Berger" and it payed off.  Mama was proud.

DD#2 was also in the show.  As always when she sings, she gives her mom the chills.  I will never tire of listening her. 

It was fun creating the costumes for the show.  DD#2 was well prepared except for the "dire" need of a crochet scarf at the last minute.  That was easily remedied on Thursday night with a 6 mm crochet hook and some bulky yarn from the stash.

I improvised the pattern on this.  It is based on my memory of a pattern in the Stitch and Bitch crochet book "The Happy Hooker".  I say "based on my memory" because I was too lazy to run upstairs to find  the book and get the actual pattern.  Wasn't it enough that I dug through the stash for the yarn?

Happy Monday.

Eloise

Eloise was originally designed for the Chewy Spaghetti Blue Plate Special Sock Club.   I am now able to make the pattern available to the public.

Eloise is one of my favorite children’s book characters.  Her spunk and carefree style are something all adults could do with a bit more of.  When Khris sent the yarn for me to design this sock with, I fell in love with the color name, “Impudent’.  The most impudent little girl I could think of is Eloise, and so I named this sock for her.  Be a little naughty when you wear these!

Materials:
Two pairs US size 1 circular needles, 24 inch.
Spare DPN in US size 1 (or size to obtain gauge.)
Tapestry needle.

Yarn: Chewy Spaghetti ’08 Blue Plate Special -
April (60% Superwash Merino, 30% Bamboo, 10% Nylon)
Colorway:  Impudent.  1 Skein.

Gauge:  32 stitches = 4”(10cm) in stitch pattern

Finished Measurement: 8” (20 cm) circumference at leg and foot.

Price:  $5.50

Yes, We Are Blurry

But:

1. It was before 7 am when these photos were taken
2. It was very foggy
3. We only had about 5 minutes to take the photos
4. I hadn't finished my coffee

Will you forgive us?
Thanks.

 

Wildly Staccato Hoodie

Pattern:  My Own

Yarn:  Cascade 220

Zipper:  Mood Fabrics (What is up with M&J Trimming not carrying zippers?  I swear I used to be able to buy them there back in the 80's before they were the Mecca they are now.)

Coffee:  Latte w/ 1% - Made as a bribe to get him to model so early in the morning.

Started in January, finished on May Day with much harassment/guilt from the recipient.   If I didn't love this kid so much I never would have been able to get through the weaving in of those ends.
His sisters have designs on stealing this.  Perhaps I should take advantage of the Cascade 220 on sale at Webs and make a few more.

Now, if you haven't already seen it, go have a look at the striped Tomten Nova made for her rock star.   I feel a kinship with her over these projects, not just because of all of the ends that we both had to face, but also because Little Sir reminds me so much of my son at that age.  Seeing him in those stripes is like a time machine.

Hey Nova, guess what his first comment was when he tried the finished hoodie on?
"Where are the pockets?"  They never change.  The only difference, the trains are now Metro cards, random guitar picks and a cell phone.

Off to Maryland Sheep and Wool tomorrow.  The weather report looks great!  I can't wait of meet some of my blog friends.

Chickadee Cowl

Since a number of you asked, I wrote the pattern for the cowl from yesterday's post.  I'm calling it the "Chickadee Cowl" since DD#1 says that the linen stitch looks like little birdie feet close up.  It's available as a freebie in my sidebar.

Enjoy.

Fourty @#*!#%! Six

At least I can still do this:

(Inspired by these talented ladies.)

However, it is advisable after a certain age to apply makeup before taking photographs in bright light.  (Tidying up the background is a nice touch too.)

"The cowl?" you ask.  I had to make the cowl because Ms. Fricknits says they are the new scarf, and I am a follower.  It is a basic linen stitch.  I'll write up the pattern if anyone wants it.

(Gratuitous close up of stitch pattern and the glorious Plucky Knitter's colors. [Colorway: Janis])

It was an all about me weekend.  First there was the cowl.  Then 18 holes of golf.  Then dinner with my golf buddy/tax preparer/sommelier/tech support/the only guy who'd stick with me for 20+ years.
The next day there was the spinning of 4 oz. of Scout's Superwash Merino Roving.   (Colorway: Power Couples)

The fiber arrived on Friday.  Admit it, you wouldn't have been able to just tuck it away in your stash either.

Along with the spinning, there was more golf.  Since I now have a locker at the golf club I had to crochet a key chain for my shiny new key.  You know "had to".  That bag full of sock yarn scraps does come in handy from time to time.

The weekend was nicely rounded out with Indian take out last night.  One would think that I had all the free time in the world.  I don't.  I'm just really good at neglecting the things I should be doing.  It also helps to have a fantastic family who indulges me.

Off to get a pedicure!  ;)  Hey, I can, it is my birthday after all.

Heavenly Shawl

To keep the peace in this house, I'll need to make two more of these.  Luckily Blue Sky makes this yarn in a lot of gorgeous colors.

Pattern:  None.
Yarn:  Blue Sky Worsted Hand Dyes, Color #2013, purchased at Angelfire Studios, Basking Ridge, NJ
Needles:  US 15 (like knitting with Lincoln Logs
Movie viewed during knitting:  There Will Be Blood
Photographed at the Cross Estate Gardens.

Crochet Love

Before we begin, jump over for a visit with Ms. Frick and learn how to become a Ravelraiser!  There are some pretty sweet prizes being offered just for supporting Ravelry!  Go ahead, I'll wait.

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled blog post.  I've gotten myself on a crochet binge again.  I think I've been visiting Kinokuniya a bit too much.

Normally I only need to make one of any given project.   My girls each have such different styles/preferences that we seldom have arguments about to whom a new FO should go to.  This crochet hat was the exception.  I made the yellow-green hat first and there was much dueling for ownership.
 

I quickly made another.  Luckily crochet is a fast craft.  At least there were no battles for color.
Reunited, they were able to return to the usual activities.

DD#2 continues to plaster pumps with newspaper.  There has been much searching of sale racks for the perfect shoes.  She's made three more pairs, one for each of her favorite music teachers.  Headlines and images are carefully chosen for each individual.  The pair that she is spraying here goes to her vocal teacher.

DD#1 busied herself examining signs of spring on the maple trees. 

Specs
Pattern:  From a Japanese Crochet book, ISBN  #978-4-277-17207-3.  It's the hat on the cover.
Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora
Hook:  3.5 mm for green hat, 4 mm for aqua hat
Mods:  My yarn was much heavier than the yarn used in the pattern, so I did fewer increases.  The pattern uses a crochet brim.  I picked up stitches and knit a twisted rib to make the hat fit a bit snugger.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who have offered to test out my New Math.  I haven't responded to anyone yet because I want to read through all of your notes carefully.  A number of you have body types for which I am very curious to see how the formula works.

Things That Make Me Giddy

1. Buying new yarn.

Farmhouse Yarns, Fannie's Fingering, Colorway:  Harvest
Purchased at Purl Soho

Farmhouse Yarns, Fannie's Fingering, Colorway:  Old Roses
Also purchased at Purl Soho

    2.  Finding fabulous fabric for a new bag.

Just look at that pig, that rabbit, that beetle, THOSE SKULLS!  Love.
Both pieces from Purl Patchwork, of course.

    3.  Finishing a project more than a year in the making.



Pattern:  New Math Cardi, my own design using a formula I thought up to customize the sleeve and bust measurements.  Those of you who have been reading this blog for a long time and also posses exceptional memories, will remember that I started this last winter.

 

I am one of those girls whose measurements aren't "typical".   I am also a HUGE fan of top down sweaters, but the percentage method doesn't always work for me.  The idea behind this sweater is to separate these two numbers in the calculations.   Small chest, largish, peasant girl arms?  Customize it!  Large bust, willowy arms?  Customize it!   Buff, athletic body?  Customize it!  Here's where I need some help.  I am one of the peasant girl types and I only know that the formula works well for me.  I'd love to have a few willing knitters, with various body types try out my formula and see if things work out as well for them as they have for me.  It would be great to have some guys/people making sweaters for guys too.   The details of the sweater are up to you; cardigan, pullover, cropped, longish, neckline variations, body shaping, just like your typical topdown anything goes.  The formula involves simple algebra and I will write the instructions to walk you through the numbers.  If you are interested, send an e-mail to throughtheloops at gmail dot com.  Please put NEW MATH CARDI in the subject line.   Thanks.

Freebie: Burning Rings of Fire

Happy Spring, Equinox, Easter, Passover (a month or so early) or whatever you choose to observe.
Since I am a spring baby, this is my favorite time of the year.  In celebration of new beginnings, I've added the Burning Rings of Fire pattern to the sidebar.  I hope you enjoy it.

Burning Ring(s) of Fire

Worked from the top down on two circular needles.

Materials:
Two pairs US size 1 circular needles, 24 inch.
Spare DPN in US size 1 (or size to obtain gauge.)
Tapestry needle.

Yarn: Pigeonroof Studios Superwash Merino Sock (100% Superwash Merino), Colorway:  Pink Lady.  2 Skeins.

Gauge:  30 stitches = 4”(10cm) in stitch pattern

Finished Measurement: 8 (9)” (20 cm) circumference at leg and foot. 

A New Bonnet

Since Easter is so early this year, a girl needs a different sort of bonnet.

Perhaps something a little woolly that covers the ears will do the trick.  There are still some bitter winds to guard against here in Northern NJ.

I can never manage to get an entire hat out of a 50 gram ball of yarn.  This irritates me to no end.  I hate having to buy extra just for the last few rounds.  Besides, there was only one ball of the glorious green Berroco Pure Merino Nuance in the 50% off bin.  Luckily there are so many talented knitters to inspire me.  Scraps of yarn from the stash gave me that all important last inch to keep the ears warm.   

The colors of this hat have me thinking about fresh Spring grass, warm fertile earth ready for hopeful seeds, and brilliant sunny skies.  In the hat I see the potential of things to come.

And in the potential lost category:  boiled eggs - never to be chickens.  They are delicious though.

Ever since I was a kid, we've dyed brown eggs.  The rich saturated colors are not generally what one associates with Easter, but they are my preference over the saccharine sweetness of dyed white eggs.

Thanks again to all who have given support, donations and kind words about Dr. G's Memory Vest.   Every effort has been appreciated beyond words.  As of this writing, we have raised $955 for Alzheimer's and dementia research.  Just a little push and we could reach the $1000 mark.  Another way that you can help is to link to the vest on your blog, add it to your Ravelry queue or favorite it on Ravelry.  Spread the word and help raise money for those who's mission it is to eradicate these devastating diseases.  Feel free to swipe the button in my sidebar and link to the Dr. G's post.