baby finds a kazoo

Friday, January 11, 2008

Monsters and Good Guys

I had a conversation with my 2 year old today. It went like this:

him: Mommy, I see a monster!
me: where?
him: (eyes wide) Over there! I seeeee it!
me: I don't think we have any monsters here. I think we are safe in our house.

(Long pause, Then a tentative search around the living room drapes.)

him: Do you know what, mommy?
me: what?
him: I looked around and there are no monsters, and no parakeets, and no Tigers.
me: That's a relief.
him: yes. I think that a good guy got them.

The Lightning Bolt Sweater (with racing stripes)

Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Children's Tunic
Size: Age 6-8
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Cranberry, Avocado, and Blue Ink
Also, wool felt from various sources for appliquéd stripes and lightning bolt.
Needles: US size 7 and 9
Modifications: I added a kangaroo pocket because I love kangaroo pockets (and so does the big boy). I edged it in seed stitch instead of garter and made the hood entirely seed stitch to give it more body. I love the way the hood turned out.

This sweater was SO quick to knit. It languished for almost 2 months in a knitting bag while I avoided adding the lightning bolt. I fretted over the perfect shape, color and placement and engaged all my knitting friends in endless analysis on the subject.

Finally, one night, I (rather frantically) grabbed the scissors and hacked out the perfect bolt and sewed it on. I couldn't let myself think about it anymore.

I sewed the stripes and lightning bolt onto the sweater with a very small, sharp needle and teeny, tiny stitches. Ooooh, I love the details! I was so calm and happy as I made those little stitches.

One thing I don't care for: The Wool of the Andes yarn is super pilly. After only two wearings, the sleeves and sides are not looking so hot and I had envisioned a really solid, wears-like-iron sweater. Ah well, I guess that's what you get for 1.99/ball. Also, it probably doesn't help that I knit it on size 9 needles. Next time I'll knit it with Peace Fleece or some really nice, scratchy tweed.

The other sweater is nearly finished. Stay tuned.

Labels: two racing stripe sweaters

¶ 9:31 AM 5 comments

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Hello Camera!

Thanks to sweet birthday pampering from my husband and my dear dad, I am no longer without a camera. My new camera is the prettiest and best camera I've ever owned and it does all sorts of mysterious things I'm not even beginning to understand yet.

I had an exceptional birthday all around. My husband prepared a giant falafel feast, and a big batch of carrot, orange and ginger soup. Then he set the table with pretty dishes and wine, invited some of my very favorite girlfriends over, packed up the kiddos and....he left!
Seriously. He left and he was gone for hours.

It was so civilized and wonderful to sit around the table with my beautiful friends, laugh, drink wine and all the while there were no jarring interruptions from our (adorable, but) crazy little offspring.

I got more sweet handmade gifts this year than ever before.

The lavender soft drawstring pouch was made for me by my dear friend Alison. It's knit with Blue Sky Alpaca Silk and it has a gorgeous bar of French soap inside. Divine!

Marcie (who I miss so much), surprised me with this beautifully crocheted scarf with fluffy white edging. It reminds me so much of her. And THEN, as if I deserved more, lovely Heather made me the prettiest Fetching gloves in my favorite cranberry red. So much sweetness. Thank you. Thank you.

Also, my wonderful in laws got me this book as a gift. I'm dying to make the the crepe paper crown for every adult and child I know.

All these gifts have put me in the mood to make some gifts of my own.

When this bear is finished she will be about 4 inches high and she will hang from the Christmas tree of a very good 4 year-old friend of mine. I've already named her, but I won't give it away now. The pattern comes from my new favorite book, The Knitted Teddy Bear. Cuteness beyond description. I have other great handmade gifts planned for the holidays, but I can't reveal them here and now.

I've been knitting the Racing Stripe, Lightning-Bolt sweaters madly and they are nearly finished. Just one sleeve left, and get this: I've run out of yarn! I'm avoiding the inevitable: $2 ball of yarn + $6 shipping.

While I stew over the yarn shortage, I'm working on the perfect designs for lightning bolts and sleeve stripes. My big boy has many opinions on this subject, so I've begun pulling the sweaters out only after bedtime to avoid lengthy debates about precisely where and how the lightning bolts should be placed.

During my long absence from the blog, I got my much anticipated Ravelry invitation and I've been having so much fun browsing around and adding dozens of projects to my queue. If you're on Ravelry, you can find me under the name mollykazoo.

I'm so glad to be back.

Labels: life in general, two racing stripe sweaters

¶ 2:24 PM 5 comments

Monday, October 08, 2007

Check out the cute!

I wish I could take credit for knitting the striking and beautiful cape above.

I can't.

You can see why I had to feature baby Skyler in her deliriously cute cape. Not once but twice. It took all my restraint not to create a mosaic of 25 pictures of only baby Skyler wearing her cape. I was so focused on the little girly that I totally neglected to take a picture of her mama. A tremendous oversight, since Kelena is my consistent and delightful Wool Festival companion. Don't you agree that Kelena deserves serious kudos for that fantastic cape?

Above, you can also see a shot of me with my lovely and hilarious knitting girlfriends Mari, Mona & Carmela. It was so nice to see them there. All of us were giddy and exuding a glow that comes only from being without our children and shopping for yarn.

Yes, I went to the festival without my kiddos. Which made me alternately weepy and exhilarated. I bought many skeins of yarn from Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool (I LOVE that stuff) and Brooks Farm Yarn. I also bought a beautiful drop spindle and some little balls of roving. This fills me with delight. We'll see where it leads me. For now, I'm just enjoying looking at it and wondering how the hell it works. It's so beautiful and simple, I can hardly believe it makes yarn.

During the trip, I began the big boy's racing stripe sweater exactly 6 times. I had gauge difficulties. And pattern difficulties. And giant gaping hole difficulties. It's not really fun anymore, but I'm praying that effort number seven will lead to success and it will become fun soon. I've settled on the Knitting Pure & Simple Children's Tunic pattern. I will add a kangaroo pocket, racy vertical stripes down the sleeves and one big lightening bolt front and center. The little boy gets a big red star on his.

They are sure to be fabulous. I'll be posting progress shots soon.

Sadly, for my knitting, I have an increasingly demanding running schedule in the early mornings that's forcing me to bed earlier than I would like. My prime knitting time has always been the late hours of night. I love to knit after everyone is asleep and the house is finally quiet.

But, what began as an excuse to get a little exercise has gotten completely out of hand. Now, without my understanding how it happened, two of my girlfriends and I have decided to run the half marathon (!?!) It's totally crazy, but it's true.

After the 21st, you can picture me propped up and knitting wearily with ice packs surrounding my ass and swollen limbs.

Pray for me.

Labels: Taos Wool Festival, two racing stripe sweaters

¶ 2:16 PM 9 comments

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Oh Pretty Cardigan, How I Covet Thee.

I Love it.
Love everything about it. Except maybe the yarn, which isn't really my color. Otherwise, classic loveliness personified. Simple and flattering. The perfect pattern to show off some really special yarn.

The perfect pattern to have in mind as I wander blissfully around the Taos Wool festival.
The sweater was designed by the fabulous Amy Swenson. Find it here.

Meanwhile, I'm planning two sweaters for the boys using the Incredible Custom-Fit Raglan Sweater Pattern. The sweaters will be top-down with hoods, kangaroo pockets and vertical racing stripes on the sleeves. Each will be a combination of 4 bright colors. I just spent exactly $31.56 on yarn for BOTH sweaters at Knitpicks.

Knitting is really for EVERYONE over at knitpicks. You gotta love those prices.

Also, thanks to a recommendation from Kelena, I've been completely seduced by the Knitpicks podcasts lately. After listening breathlessly to the first one, I began to mentally rearrange my livingroom to make space for a spinning wheel.

I don't know the first thing about spinning, but I feel sure it will change my life for the better someday. sigh.

I have recently completed a few small things: A pretty headband for a 12-year old.
A pair of adorable mittens with a string for my little kiddo. A knitted bracelet with a flower for a teenage cousin.

I will take pictures someday soon and post. These days life offers little time.

For now I'm focused on beginning the boys' sweaters so that I have ample mindless knitting on the drive up to Taos. It's essential to be productive during this (unprecedented) kiddo-free weekend. All of my creative energy must be available for the yarn shopping.

Good lord I'm excited.

Labels: two racing stripe sweaters

¶ 1:30 AM 3 comments

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