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Razzle turns 8 years old today.  He rescued us when he was 4.  I don’t know how I ever got by without him.  Tonight we are tailgating with him at Holy Cow Ice Cream.

Happy Birthday, Razzle!!

Oh if only that were true!  But it is not.  I make plenty of mistakes and many of them involve yarn and needles.  Nonetheless, I am grateful for the experience and nothing keeps me humble like unraveling 50 rows of color work.  I have shared photos of the socks I am making for my son; no need to revisit the scene of the crime.  I am now entering version 3.0.  I really don’t mind because I went into the project knowing that there would be a HUGE learning curve.  I love patterns.  I love well written patterns.  I love following well written patterns.  I am not a modifier by nature. I have never modified a pattern to this degree.  Fortunately, it is springtime in New York, and I have time to tinker with this endeavor before they will be worn.

The cuff was ok.  It was downhill from there.

I don’t necessarily consider this next experience a mistake rather, a lesson in common sense knitting.  I am making the Spindrift Shawl by Helen Stewart.  This is a great pattern!  (thank you, Helen!)  I had the presence of mind to utilize life lines in this pattern (for the first time in my life)  What I failed to do was track what rows contained a life line.  Fortunately, Helen uses a chart which makes it easy to count stitches on the needles to determine the row you are knitting.  Now I place a line every 25 rows.

Have you used life lines before?  I would love to hear how you apply them in your work.

It is funny.  If I wear a knitted sweater, people always ask me if I made it.  Chances are, I did not.  Actually, 100% of the time, I did not.  I knit myself one (1) sweater (which I inadvertently felted!).  I can tell you that I enjoy knitting mittens, cowls, or socks for myself more out of necessity.  Anyone I work with will tell you that I walk at least one mile during my lunch hour under any and all weather conditions, so dressing warmly in wool is a must!  When it comes to knitting nice but not utilitarian projects for myself, it is damn near impossible for me to do.  That being said, the one thing I get immeasurable delight from is knitting for others.  I don’t know.  People of all ages love receiving something hand-made and infused with love!  Knitters just love knitting; it is a win-win situation.  That brings me to this recent project.  I work in a middle school.  Every year, our art teacher (jfam on Ravelry) initiates an outreach project for students and adults alike to participate in.  The Knitting Art Club begins meeting in November with a brief explanation of 1. the art of knitting, and 2. the value of giving to people in need.  The Knitting Art Club has made hats, mittens and scarves in the past, but this year, our focus is blankets to be donated to the NICU of our local hospital.  So many people experience the unfathomable joy of childbirth, but at the same time, that euphoria comes with the experience of knowing the fragility of life first hand due to giving birth to a child whose life is in the balance.  How profound.  Given that personal experience, knitting a blanket for a newborn brings the love, faith and support of so many people…known and unknown.  No matter what your faith, the power of having the unconditional and anonymous support of others can be life changing.  Since this project began, I have been humbled by comments from people who have had a traumatic delivery.  So many people live their lives in quiet gratitude for the people who brought their heartache a glimmer of peaceful closure or joy.  This is what life and living is all about.  Sharing experiences.  Reaching out.  Bringing hope to the hopeless and love to those who feel all is lost.  While I would love to knit some of the amazing sweaters I see online, nothing will compare to the joy of knitting a blanket for one of these infants!  Knitters, keep one of these projects in your bag at all times!  Knitters, keep your thoughts and prayers focused on each and every stitch that will make the blanket whose purpose is meant to wrap a child in crisis or adorn their tiny bodies at baptism.  As knitters, we can give no greater gift than a part of our lives…prayers, time, and love.

As I mentioned on Ravelry, these socks were made for a sweet little 12 yr old girl who loves to bake and cook.  She is a bonafide FOODIE!  Since my projects are all named after some type of video game reference, Cooking Mama was a no-brainer.

I decided to use the pattern “Coquette” found in the book 2-at-a-time Socks.  While I did not knit the socks by the book’s method, I stayed true to the pattern itself.  

Here are a few thoughts on this project in general:

I followed the pattern for the smallest size: 5.  I had the correct gauge after dropping down to smaller needles than stated in the pattern.  I knit one sock at a time, on a set of 5 dpns.  I began the first sock in the spring, and the second one in mid to late summer. (got married and did NOT do much knitting on the honeymoon.  Sorry yarnies!).  Upon completing the cuff for sock #1, I did not think it resembled the picture in the book.  I reworked it two more times with the same result.  When I completed the cuff for sock #2, it came out exactly as the first, but still did not resemble the photo.  At that point I did not care; I liked the outcome.

I knit the socks according to a template I made on cardboard of Jule’s foot.  Sock #1 was huge.  I mean, loose on me and I am an 8.5!  When I completed the second sock, it was equally huge.  I could not bear to rework these, so I hoped that the blocking process would resolve some of the problem.  It did not.  So, here is what I did to produce the adorable socks you see in the photos…
I hand washed them both, then tossed them into the dryer (gasp!) for about 5 minutes.  I checked them in 5 minute intervals until I obtained what I thought was the perfect size, based on her template.  The socks felted slightly, but not enough to lose any of the stitch definition and ease.  Then I laid them flat to finish drying.

I am pleased to say that they are now a sock I feel proud of giving as a gift.  I know they will fit her snugly and perfectly and not slip down inside her boots.  The yarn is Knit Picks Palette in Caribbean, a color she picked out over lunch one day.

I just want to add that the photo here: (Coquette) that accompanies this pattern on Ravelry look enormous on the wearer as well.   Knitters, be aware of this.  If I were to make these again, I would work with fewer stitches if making the small size, or knit one size down.  

Oh, there is one more thing.  After losing progress on these socks twice after leaving them within reach of my plucky 92 yr. old mother-in-law, I switched over to the ‘magic loop’ method.  Not bad…not bad at all.  I had fewer gaps, and never dropped a stitch!  While I am not giving up on dpns, I do recommend learning this technique for projects that travel with you.  I cannot guarantee that the magic loop is mother-in-law proof…you are on your own there!

“I formed you to open the eyes of the blind, and to bring out from the dungeon those who live in darkness”…Isaiah 42:6-7

Jesus defends Mary from Judas and her other detractors, as he defends the lowly, the brokenhearted, the captives of every kind.  For their sake, he will not defend himself.

Happy Holy Week!
It seems like an eternity since I have written anything knitting related, or otherwise for that matter.  I know what you are thinking:  “What heck happen, Miss Regina?”  Well, if you read some of my earlier posts, you will have learned a little something about me…when things get nutty for me, knitting tends to take a back seat. A back seat to what, you ask? Well, to life, boys and girls.  And let me tell you, I have had a lotta life in the last year! Fortunately for you, I will not revisit all the good, the bad and the ugly, but I will babble on about the present.

I started this post with a wonderful quote from the Bible.  Doesn’t Isaiah just hit the nail on the head? C’mon! It is the last line of the paragraph that follows that really just took my breath away.  Can you imagine a love so powerful?  The lowly, brokenhearted and captives of every kind.  There isn’t a soul on this planet who hasn’t found themselves in one or all of those categories at some point, right?  That brings me to what motivated me to write in the first place.

I am knitting a Prayer Shawl.  Having been the recipient of one during daddy’s final weeks, I know the comfort they bring.  Death, illness, heartache.  These are all things that make us captives of suffering and prayer is the only thing that brings that deep abiding comfort of the love of God who became a ‘prisoner’ of the human condition in order to share in that suffering, and to bring us hope and knowledge of the peace to come.  Can I get an ‘Amen’?

Today I cast on for the Lace Prayer Shawl.  I am using a cotton/acrylic blend worsted that was a gift from a friend.  It is soft and yummy and machine washable (in case your mascara isn’t waterproof…just sayin’!)  I cast on 57 stitches on size 8 aluminum circular needles.  I am not crazy about how slippery this yarn is on my needles, but really think the small number of stitches will make it manageable enough.  Here is a photo of the first few rows. Check out the cosmetic case I am stylin’.  My mom, in her absolute awesomeness gave this to me with the “I’m sure you can find some use for this…you’re clever that way” compliment.  Naturally, if it’s portable, it is a suitable vessel for my knitting.  Check it out! Can you stand it? A Blessed Holy Week and Passover to all my friends, and remember Keep Calm and Pray!

The Cast On

Ready to bind off

Close up of stitch pattern…lovely!

After a brief knitting drought, my friend’s request for a Christmas gift for her daughter got me to pick up my needles.  A slouchy hat was the request.  The yarn?  Orange Malabrigo.  My heart said “yummy”, but Mom’s heart said “there has to be another color to tone down that orange!”  Whatever!!  Enter Blue Malabrigo! 
What to do?? What to do??  I was tickled with a solid orange hat, but now that blue was invited to the party, how should I incorporate it without producing an overly sporty cap?  For those not in the know, blue and orange are NY Mets colors!  :SQUEE:
I found the Spring Beret pattern on site here.  I loved the fact that the pattern repeats lend themselves to the color changes perfectly, and the pattern was written with varying degrees of ‘slouchiness’.  Once I obtained gauge, it was smooth sailing.  The pattern was well written and easy to commit to memory.  Given the hustle and bustle of Christmastime, the hat was a quick knit.  Amen!!
I wish I could have taken better pictures, but I was without my 8.0 megapixel dual flash camera on my htc Incredible.  Long story…
P.S.  The Elite Beat Agents don’t wear berets, but if they did, they would be this cool…

I do this every time.  Things get a bit zany for me and suddenly my knitting is put on hold.  Since I am an equal opportunity kinda gal, my yoga, reading and walking also get put on hold.  You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or Captain Obvious to realize that this habit leaves me very little in the way of fun things to do!  As a young girl, my mom could always gauge my stress by looking at my nails; gnawed stumps were harbingers of a bona fide ‘sitting-down talking-to’!  OK, so I have progressed away from the nails.  In fact, I actually feel rather proud of the way I handle my stress.  What I can’t quite figure out is how to juggle it all, you know, throw a few happy plates in with the mix. 
Well, here is the latest project in the “should have been done weeks ago” category.

Baby Yoshi

As you know, I enjoy naming my projects after video game characters.  Who does not LOVE a blue Baby Yoshi?  The size is medium with an 11″ leg opening for yummy baby thighs.  I elected to omit the cuff around the leg, giving it a ‘boy’ vibe.  I have another one in the works in ‘viola’.  I think a crocheted or eyelet trim would be so dainty and delicious, don’t you?  Assuming I don’t hit the stress skids in the meantime, I should have photos posted soon.  If not, send reinforcements or the Red Cross!

I am adding additional photos and notes on this pattern:
I knit one for a little girl.  The color is ‘viola’ and the garment boasts an adorable picot border around the leg openings.

Now, for the little boy’s bum!  Black soaker with a skull and crossbones design in duplicate stitch.  After casting on, I knit a few rounds of stockinette stitch before beginning a 2×2 rib.  This gave the waist a bit of a roll.  I like that!  Having much experience with cross stitch and embroidery, the duplicate stitch pattern on the bottom was relatively simple.  Knitters, just make certain your yarn is colorfast before attempting a white design on a black background.  Just sayin’…

Thoughts?  Comments?  Personally, I am delighted with how they all turned out.  I Love Babies!