I Wanna Be Popular!

One of my favorite features in Ravelry is searching the most popular patterns. It is surprising, because I generally eschew the popular for the obscure and unique. But in knitting, patterns are popular for very good reasons: a simple stitch pattern used to good effect (Jaywalkers), a universally flattering sweater (Hourglass), or it is just plain cool to knit (Clapotis).

I was looking down the list of popular socks, and I was surprised to find many great sock patterns that I had not yet knit. So in my constant search to keep up with the popular kids, I knit a pair of Hederas in honor of Project Spectrum's EARTH element.


I used Shibui sock yarn and let's just say it once and for all: Shibui pools. Big wedge-shaped striped pooling. On the lace portions of the sock, it isn't so noticeable, but look at the sole:

Yeah. That's some pooling.

Hedera socks are one of those patterns that are popular for a good reason: the stitch pattern is easy to memorize, and it creates a pretty sock. The only modification I made was to shorten the heel flap, which I think was written for a very high instep.

I'm thinking my next sock might be Charades, yet another popular sock pattern.

Evil Giant Space Mitts

I'll explain the title later ...

R has three preschool teachers: Jean, who is also the preschool's director; Anne, who is currently the love of R's life; and Michelle, who works on Mondays while Jean attends to whole school business.

Since this is R's last year at the preschool, the teachers get knitted presents: the sideways ribbed hat is for Jean, the syncopated cap is for Anne, and now for Monday Michelle:


I was going to title these Monday Michelle's Mitts and then I caught a good look at this picture. Do you see the terrified Play Mobile people in the picture? Huddled against the horrific mitted beast bearing down on them from the sky? Now you can see (against all other reason) why these are called ...


Pattern: Evil Giant Space Mitts (improvised)
Yarn: Patagonia Nature Cotton by Araucania
Notes: I've had this yarn in my stash forever. I mean forever. I've been knitting for maybe 5 years now (is that right Liz?) and I think this was some of my very first stash yarn bought maybe 4 years ago.

I needed to get rid of it and I thought it would fit with Project Spectrum and make some nice mitts for Michelle. These are much like the Maine Morning Mitts but a 2x2 rib and the gauge is totally different.

And these are far more evil.

Dramatic Stash Reduction

My stash lives in our guest room. I have a large dresser full: one drawer for wools, one drawer for cottons, and one mostly of odds and ends and leftovers. There's also an old china cabinet with all the books, sock yarns and other special yarns jammed in there. I keep sweater quantities in the closet, along with lots of other craft supplies. It's been a easy way to keep organized, but this summer we anticipate some longer visits from various family members. And this fall, we'd like to do some remodeling to the master bedroom and bath, so Mr S and I will have to move into the guest room during the duration of the construction.

So this Spring, I have been reorganizing the yarn room, making more room in the closet for our guests and their things, and getting rid of some other, unused things. But as I was working in there the weekend before MSDW, my husband got a full-on view of the stash. He saw all of it. At once. His eyes bugged out in shock, but just for a moment. He didn't say anything except something about my plans to buy more yarn at MDSW the following weekend.

Later, he acknowledged that I do knit a lot. And knitting a lot requires a lot of yarn. He really did understand. He was just surprised that it was that much. I've never hidden any of my purchases from my husband. I stay within the budget, and since he pays the bills every month, he knows how much I spend. And although he didn't get at all angry or even seem annoyed, I realized it was time to really reduce the stash. It has gotten a little unwieldy.

Dramatic stash reduction was called for. I not only had to make room for my guests, but I had to prove to my generous and understanding husband that I really did intend on using all of that yarn, that my abundance had a purpose. There was only one thing to do: crochet a huge scrapghan. Being a crochet project, it would use up a ton of yarn, clearing a lot of space in the yarn dresser, and it would create a useful item for the whole family.

I cleared out all of the worsted-ish woolen leftovers, singletons, or random yarns bought for unrealized projects from the wool drawer. I stuck them in the basket and began Bella Dia's Vintage Vertical Stripe Blanket.

Week One: 27 rows

I have been crocheting at a feverish pace for two weeks, and currently have 56 rows of double crochet, or a blanket about 70" long x 20 " wide. The rows are long but simple, as this pattern has you crochet into the space created by the row below, instead of having to insert your hook into the V's of another stitch. As a crochet beginner, it is a great project. I'm trying to crank out as much as I can while I am still enthusiastic about the blanket and before the weather gets too hot to have a huge wool blanket on my lap.

Week 2: 56 rows

I'm still working of different knitting projects as well, all from stash. But for now, it's all about cranking out those long double crochet rows and using up all this yarn.

Out With The Old

I need structure when in an overwhelming situation. So I often make arbitrary limits just to bring some order and control to the chaos. Therefore it seemed only natural for me to create some kind of absurd rule for MDSW 2008 purchases: I couldn't buy yarn from any vendor from which I had bought yarn in 2007 that was still in my stash.

So no Brooks Farm. No Tess. But I was able to buy from The Fibre Company due to these quick knits just before we left ...

Pattern: Sideways Ribbed Cap by Cathy Campbell
Yarn: Terra from The Fibre Company (sunflower and light indigo)
Needles: US 7s
Notes: Thank you Liz for your inspiration! This hat is an end of the year present for another of R's teachers. We thought the lightest yellow of the sunflower was reminiscent of sunshine and the indigo evoked a clear blue sky. Perfect for our lovely outdoorsy preschool teacher.


It took me a while to find buttons that would work until The Yarn Lounge got some Danforth Pewter's buttons. I didn't realize until I got home that I've actually been in their store in Middlebury, VT. The business is wonderful and they are right near the Vermont Organic Fiber Company. Sounds like a fun day of shopping next time I'm up in the area!

Terra is 60% Merino, 20% Baby Alpaca, and 20% Silk. That equals 100% delicious. And at 100 yards a skein, these are better than some of the skimpy yardage skeins that I saw this year at MDSW.


Pattern: Ruffles Scarf by Amanda Blair Brown from Scarf Style
Yarn: Terra (Sunflower) from The Fibre Co.
Needles: US 7s
Notes: I had a skein (and a bit more) leftover from the hat, so I tried a Ruffles Scarf. These short rows were actually a lot of fun to knit. I didn't have enough for a long scarf, but it's just enough for R!

And now may I present my new Fibre Company yarn ...

Organik

Limited Edition Longhorn

MDSW 2008 Round Up - Picture Heavy

I am terribly late blogging about MDSW, and since Ann did an excellent write-up herself here, I'll just share the spoils of the day.

Row 1: Indie hand-dyes: Woolarina, C*EYE*BER Fibers, and Brooklyn Handspun, all procured from the Cloverhill Yarns booth; Fibre Company Terra in Cochineal (50% off, y'all!), Dancing Leaf Farm Handspun

Row 2: Fibre Company Road to China (did I mention 50% off?), Brooks Farm Acero, Spirit Trail Fiberworks Toci

Handspun thrummed mitten kit by Stefania

I got some Socks that Rock, but I didn't wait in line to get it. I left that to Ann.
STR Lightweight Rare Gems Colorway, a prize hand delivered by Jenna!

The best part, of course, was getting to spend the day with Ann, my co-blogger, sister-in-fiber, and dear, dear friend.

MDSW Fun and Some Syncopation

Phew! What a weekend! It was such tremendous fun hanging out with Liz on Saturday -- and extra special fun meeting her Montco Sit and Knit friends! I keep thinking about how much fun it would be to take a trip up to Philly just to hang out and knit with these people.

The BackBou did a great job of just taking the kids away to look at dogs and sheep and funnel cake while I was browsing stalls with Liz and standing for an hour in the Socks That Rock line.


But now I have my first skeins of STR! There are some rockin' BSJs are in my future ...

I won't bore everyone with a stash enhancement report (I did well), instead I'll show you the great picture from the day ...


Aileen, Sally, Lolly, Isel, Liz, a mystery guest, and Jenna. As you can see from the "Rabbits" sign, we were at the packed Ravelry meet-up.

And now for a FO!



Pattern: Syncopated Caps by Kate Gilbert, Interweave Knits Summer 2007
Yarn: Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool Co
Needles: US 4s
Notes: No pattern mods even though I thought I would need to add some length. However, I knit the women's size and it fit me perfectly. The yarn, as I've said before, is a dream. Knit with it. Love it.



I had bought the yarn so that R and I would have matching caps, but she really, really wants this to be an end-of-the-year present for one of her teachers. I can't say no since I love her almost as much as R does.

Will I See You at MDSW?

Look for me; I'll be the girl in the knitted skirt!

Pattern: Indigo Ripples Skirt, IK Spring 2007 (Rav link)
Yarn & Needles: Elann Den-M-Nit, 9 balls indigo, US5
Pattern Mods: I lengthened the stockinette portion and I only knitted 50 rows of the lace pattern. I also added a few shorts rows right below the waistline but before the first hip increase to account for my apple-ish bottom. I've added all the details in my Rav notes, and included some stats about shrinkage. If you're not on Ravelry, um, why?


I never thought I would knit a skirt for me (I did knit one for Rosebud), but a few in the last year really caught my eye. Jody's. Eunny's. Elspeth's. (Interestingly, they were all designed by Kat Coyle, who I guess we have to thank for the resurgence of the knitted skirt.) The return of Elann's Den-M-Nit this fall sealed the deal for me, and I've been single-mindedly knitting on this skirt to finish it time for MDSW.

I've knit with denim before, and didn't much like it. Knitting the denim can be a chore. I am not usually bothered knitting with cottons, but denim is really hard on my hands and wrists, and the indigo dye rubs off on my hands (but not on my clothes, which was a good thing). But the fabric it creates is perfect for a skirt. It is an extremely comfortable garment, but it feels substantial, like woven denim cloth, especially after shrinking, which firms up the fabric nicely and evens out the stitches. This weightiness keeps the skirt from grabbing and bagging around one's bottom. Instead it skims the curves and when it starts to droop, just stick in the washer and dryer!

This pattern is extremely simple to knit; from the top down, with simple increases through the hips and then some easily memorizable lace at the bottom. The ruffle at the edge takes a long time, and it took me all day to bind off. But it was so worth it. It creates a lightness and movement on a substantial garment, and makes it really fun to wear. I find myself twirling and twisting and walking with an extra swing in my step just to enjoy the swirl!

Minty posted pics of her finished Snapping Turtle Skirt this week, and as I read through her comments, I saw a lot of knitters who loved it (it is gorgeous, and looks great) aren't sure about the knitted skirt. I, too, was once a knitter dubious of the knitted skirt. But I am now a believer. I am not a particularly skinny gal, and my lower half is curvy and womanly and reflects my age and my status as a child-bearer. I have hips and ass and a poochy tummy, and this skirt looks and feels great.

So if you are still not sure, ask me about it at MDSW this weekend. Or even if you believe in the knitted skirt, come on up and say hi! Ann and I will be together for another XRK meet-up, and we'd love to say hello!