Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Monica (the first)
As I was knitting the Anouk for little Skyler, my thoughts wandered occasionally to sweet Frances who is happily toddling around Tacoma.
Frances is the daughter of a dear friend who I don't get to see often enough. She is adorable. Her hair is striking auburn red and she has brown eyes that twinkle when she smiles.
Frances has been due a special little something from me since her birth and the deep eggplant and grassy green seemed like the perfect colors for her, so I ordered more Pima Tencel with Frances and the Monica pattern in mind.
Modifications: I'm not sure why the pattern calls for knitting two short straps from the front and back pieces and seaming them at the top of the shoulder. Instead, I attached the straps under the top of the ruffle at the back and front. I chose to knit them sideways (by getting my gauge and measuring) with a garter stitch ridge at each edge and smooth Stockinette in the center and I knit them 6 stitches wide instead of 3.
Happy 15 month birthday, sweet Frances!
Pattern: Monica designed
Source: Knitty Spring 2007
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pima Tencel
Needles: US 6 bamboo straights
Size: 2 yrs
Source: Knitty Spring 2007
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pima Tencel
Needles: US 6 bamboo straights
Size: 2 yrs
As I was knitting the Anouk for little Skyler, my thoughts wandered occasionally to sweet Frances who is happily toddling around Tacoma.
Frances is the daughter of a dear friend who I don't get to see often enough. She is adorable. Her hair is striking auburn red and she has brown eyes that twinkle when she smiles.
Frances has been due a special little something from me since her birth and the deep eggplant and grassy green seemed like the perfect colors for her, so I ordered more Pima Tencel with Frances and the Monica pattern in mind.
Modifications: I'm not sure why the pattern calls for knitting two short straps from the front and back pieces and seaming them at the top of the shoulder. Instead, I attached the straps under the top of the ruffle at the back and front. I chose to knit them sideways (by getting my gauge and measuring) with a garter stitch ridge at each edge and smooth Stockinette in the center and I knit them 6 stitches wide instead of 3.
Happy 15 month birthday, sweet Frances!
Labels: monica
¶ 9:44 PM 7 comments
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Knee Highs for a Baby
I bought a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock yarn that looks like this:
It was meant, at first, to become a little fine-gauge baby hat. Then I got a mental flash of hand-knitted knee high socks on a baby. That, I thought, would surely be the cutest thing I have ever seen. They would remind me a little of the Baby Legs I adore, except with so much more old-fashioned charm.
Haven't I seen hand-knitted baby knee highs on a rerun of my beloved Little House on the Prairie?
I have a baby in mind to knit them for, but my busy schedule may prohibit the knitting of little socks just now. We shall see.
A little detail of current knitting sweetness:
I love Berocco Touche. It's soft and plump and drapes nicely. The colors are pretty and it's affordable. I will have to withhold details for now, as the little gem you see here has not quite been gifted.
Thinking about Seattle
I've been savoring summer in Albuquerque, but as I approach the anniversary of last summer's vacation, I find myself longing for Seattle.
Here's what I'm thinking about:
My longing has been intensified recently by the discovery of Orangette. Molly, the site's proprietress, writes so beautifully about Seattle that she makes me wish I was there.
There are plenty of things that I love about our city. Really. But I'm not thinking about those this week.
Alas, this summer, we won't be taking any big trips.
Instead. Our limited time and money is going toward improving things around the house. Over the past 3 months we have constructed the slowest fence in the history of fence construction. It's almost done, however, and we are so gratified to have done it ourselves. (With considerable help from dad. Thanks dad!).
Now we're shifting our energy to laying flagstone in the backyard, crafting a functional sandbox cover, and hanging strings of globe lights for late night get-togethers under the arbor.
Stay cool.
I bought a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock yarn that looks like this:
It was meant, at first, to become a little fine-gauge baby hat. Then I got a mental flash of hand-knitted knee high socks on a baby. That, I thought, would surely be the cutest thing I have ever seen. They would remind me a little of the Baby Legs I adore, except with so much more old-fashioned charm.Haven't I seen hand-knitted baby knee highs on a rerun of my beloved Little House on the Prairie?
I have a baby in mind to knit them for, but my busy schedule may prohibit the knitting of little socks just now. We shall see.
A little detail of current knitting sweetness:
I love Berocco Touche. It's soft and plump and drapes nicely. The colors are pretty and it's affordable. I will have to withhold details for now, as the little gem you see here has not quite been gifted.Thinking about Seattle
I've been savoring summer in Albuquerque, but as I approach the anniversary of last summer's vacation, I find myself longing for Seattle.
Here's what I'm thinking about:
- Walking along Ballard Avenue eating a hot deli sandwich from the Other Coast Cafe.
- Strolling through Discovery Park and feeling like I'm deep in the woods, right in the middle of the city.
- Eating breakfast at Le Pichet.
- Going to Port Townsend and drinking beer on a deck by the water.
- Spending long, leisurely hours wandering through the best yarn shop in any city anywhere.
My longing has been intensified recently by the discovery of Orangette. Molly, the site's proprietress, writes so beautifully about Seattle that she makes me wish I was there.
There are plenty of things that I love about our city. Really. But I'm not thinking about those this week.
Alas, this summer, we won't be taking any big trips.
Instead. Our limited time and money is going toward improving things around the house. Over the past 3 months we have constructed the slowest fence in the history of fence construction. It's almost done, however, and we are so gratified to have done it ourselves. (With considerable help from dad. Thanks dad!).
Now we're shifting our energy to laying flagstone in the backyard, crafting a functional sandbox cover, and hanging strings of globe lights for late night get-togethers under the arbor.Stay cool.
Labels: life in general, monica, socks
¶ 11:58 PM 5 comments
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
I love to knit in the car
Almost nothing makes me happier than knowing that the family is going on a road trip. It's so sweet to have both kids strapped (that is, restrained) in their seats, my husband driving, and me with nothing to do but knit. It's lovely. Now that so little of my time is my own, these moments of peace are rare and delicious.
Here's an example of how my standards have changed. A friend of mine was telling me about her honeymoon. She and her new husband took a trip to Hawaii, but on day one, after several hours of sunbathing, my friend was bitten by a spider. This alone sounds like a terrible way to begin one's honeymoon, but what followed was much worse. She developed giant hives over her whole body. She was rushed to a doctor, who instructed her to get daily adrenaline shots until the symptoms subsided. She was also told to stay out of the sun. The adrenaline caused her to tremble visibly and talk continuously and rapidly, much to the horror of her somewhat frightened new husband.
So while her husband enjoyed the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, she spent each day stripped naked on the hotel bed with the fan on full blast, trembling and murmuring to herself. To pass the time, she read book after book after book.
When I heard her story, all I could think of was how nice it sounded to be in a hotel room, alone, reading books.
Speaking of small pleasures, I got a pretty new barrette.
It was crafted by Chris and sadly since this picture was taken it has fallen prey to dismantling little hands and sits on my kitchen windowsill in two pieces...nothing a little hot glue won't fix. Isn't it cool?
My sad inattention to the lovely Surplice Lace Top KAL is no doubt frustrating to a small handful of you. I have not forgotten and I do plan to begin soon. Part of the delay has been due to diligent gauge swatching being done by Heather in an attempt to find the perfect substitute yarn to replace the gorgeous (but ouch!) Nashua Ecologie Cotton. I have several balls of Tahki Cotton Classic in ivory that I'm seriously considering. Mostly because it's free. Does anyone have yarn suggestions? I'd love to hear your ideas.
We are thinking of officially beginning the sweater next week. I promise something more official soon.
Are you tempted Mona?
Almost nothing makes me happier than knowing that the family is going on a road trip. It's so sweet to have both kids strapped (that is, restrained) in their seats, my husband driving, and me with nothing to do but knit. It's lovely. Now that so little of my time is my own, these moments of peace are rare and delicious.
Here's an example of how my standards have changed. A friend of mine was telling me about her honeymoon. She and her new husband took a trip to Hawaii, but on day one, after several hours of sunbathing, my friend was bitten by a spider. This alone sounds like a terrible way to begin one's honeymoon, but what followed was much worse. She developed giant hives over her whole body. She was rushed to a doctor, who instructed her to get daily adrenaline shots until the symptoms subsided. She was also told to stay out of the sun. The adrenaline caused her to tremble visibly and talk continuously and rapidly, much to the horror of her somewhat frightened new husband.
So while her husband enjoyed the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, she spent each day stripped naked on the hotel bed with the fan on full blast, trembling and murmuring to herself. To pass the time, she read book after book after book.
When I heard her story, all I could think of was how nice it sounded to be in a hotel room, alone, reading books.
Speaking of small pleasures, I got a pretty new barrette.
It was crafted by Chris and sadly since this picture was taken it has fallen prey to dismantling little hands and sits on my kitchen windowsill in two pieces...nothing a little hot glue won't fix. Isn't it cool?
My sad inattention to the lovely Surplice Lace Top KAL is no doubt frustrating to a small handful of you. I have not forgotten and I do plan to begin soon. Part of the delay has been due to diligent gauge swatching being done by Heather in an attempt to find the perfect substitute yarn to replace the gorgeous (but ouch!) Nashua Ecologie Cotton. I have several balls of Tahki Cotton Classic in ivory that I'm seriously considering. Mostly because it's free. Does anyone have yarn suggestions? I'd love to hear your ideas.
We are thinking of officially beginning the sweater next week. I promise something more official soon.
Are you tempted Mona?
Labels: monica, Surplice Lace Top
¶ 5:26 PM 3 comments
