These Boots Are Made for Walkin'

Snugs Complete
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

All finished with Jackson's snugs, and they fit like a dream.
Pattern: Little Snugs, size 8-10 years (the largest)
Yarn: 2 skeins Nashua Creative Focus Worsted, color Marine; 3 skeins Misti Worsted Alpaca, color orange

I knit it exactly as written, this time. There is an embossing detail that doesn't really show up because of the alpaca content in the Nashua. I am going to make these for a couple of babies, and I will probably adjust the pattern a bit to eliminate some of the sewing (ugh!).

Happy Halloween!

The obligatory pic of our Trojan and Ariel.











It's starting to look a lot like fall, too! That means I've got lots of mittens and hats on needles. And also these:



These are "snugs" - they'll be felted to look like uggs. You can't tell from this picture, but there is a separate lining that is knit from alpaca in a contrasting color. It's already sewn to the inside, but I promise better pictures of the second one in progress. The alpaca will felt up really soft for extra coziness. This is the largest size the pattern is written for, knit up in Bears colors for Jackson. It is also written for tiny sizes, so I can't wait to try some in self-striping yarns for the babies I know. Happy November!

Two, Two, Two Finished Projects

Cable/Lace Finis
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

You can't see the really beautiful cable/lace details on this sweater, but I posted better pictures of that before. What you can see here is how great the fit is, and how the neckline is wearable. It's a little tighter than I envisioned, but as pretty as the open boat neck looked, it wasn't very practical. This is a sweater I can wear...a lot (thanks for the yarn, Mom!).

Socialist II

Socialist II
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

Prototype the second is finished!

Socialist, Take 2

Socialist II_b
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

A slightly larger and more gender-neutral version of the pink and purple sweater modeled by Noelle. I'm almost finished with this and then it will be off to Dream In Color. On the one hand, I'm awful tired of all this garter stitch, but it is nice how quickly these suckers knit up. I'm almost (almost) tempted to knit up the adult versions, too. We'll see...

Fall at Last

Bike Mitts
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

When you're a recipient of my knitting, it's apparently feast or famine. Another little project for Doug (I've got yarn for the rest of the family, too). Now that it's finally starting to feel like fall my attention has turned to making sure everyone has their extremities covered.

Manly Anklets

Chocolate Socks
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

So....I knew when I started these that the skein is notoriously short on yardage. And I warned Doug about that when he chose this yarn for his socks. Trying to outsmart the yarn (and his ridiculously large feet), I started these from the toe, figuring at least they'd fit his feet and I'd cross the leg bridge when I came to it. Well, I'm at it. By weight, it appears as though I've reached the halfway point of my skein. This sock is going onto a holder while I start the next sock, then I can divvy up the remaining yarn and see how much of a leg I really get.

Happy Columbus Day

Jack&pumpkins
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

We don't have many traditions in our young family, but our Columbus Day trip to the pumpkin patch is something I really look forward to all year. It's actually an apple orchard (Honey Hill Orchard) in Waterman, IL. We go on Columbus Day because Doug has the day off and we can take advantage of the lighter Monday crowd. We harvest the pumpkins ourselves, then stop by the barn to pick up apples, cider, doughnuts and honey. The crop this year was totally awesome! Usually the pumpkins are fairly picked over by Monday, but it appears as though they doubled the size of their patch this year. We came home with about 80 lbs worth of pumpkins!

Noelle&pumpkins
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

Another pic at the patch

Future Knitters

koolaid
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

If you have a hobby you love but things like life tend to stand in the way of your ability to participate in that hobby, I suggest involving your children in that hobby. If your genetic influence is strong enough, they may even become nearly as enthusiastic about said hobby as you are. Case in point, Jackson has mastered the knit stitch and does enjoy sitting and knitting with me for a few minutes at a time. Noelle doesn't quite have the fine motor skills required for knitting, yet, but I found a way to plant the seeds: dyeing yarn with kool-aid! That's right, turning her into a fiber junky before she even knows what to do with it.

But it was the first day of school...

School07a
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

I've been absent for so long because we had the first day of school this week. You would think with both the kids in preschool I would have plenty of time for blogging, but I've been knitting, instead.

And another...

Ma Belle 026.jpg
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

I know, I know, it seems like I only knit for Noelle. This is another pattern that will be available from Dream In Color soon. It's currently in the works in adult sizes, too. I will have many more finished objects to display soon!

One down...

socialist complete
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

Here is the Socialist sweater I was working on. The pattern will be available via Dream In Color Yarn in the near future. I have one on the needles now for Jackson in blue and purple.

Fun with Kool-aid

kool-aid yarn
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

I don't remember the last time I had kool-aid. But I took a class last Sunday about how to use it to dye yarn. You see two skeins of sock-weight here. No idea what I'm going to do with them, yet. Ideas?

Finally...Knitting

I thought I had finished my beautiful cable/lace pullover, only to discover that the neckline was WAY too big (as I had really suspected it would be) even after using smaller needles for the finishing. So I pulled the neckline back and have a plan to decrease significantly all the way around in hopes of keeping the sweater on my body. It is supposed to be a boat neck, but the way it is designed it will not stay on a person who has to move to, say, breathe. The rest of the sweater fits beautifully, so I can't wait to finish it and wear it!


This is a new pattern I'm working up. The title at the moment is "The Socialist - one sweater for all." I have plans to make this pattern in sizes infant thru adult (men included). More details forthcoming.

I have other knitting, too, but it is gift knitting so I can't blog about it as that would ruin the surprise.

Stash Enhancement and Other Weekend Activities

Funbyall
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

Friday we got to see Ozomatli in Chicago's Millennium Park. Way cool, since we're all big fans. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better for the kids, the band asked the audience to introduce themselves to each other and piped in the "Mr. Rogers" theme song. You should have seen them squinting at the stage trying to get a good look at Mr. Rogers! Couldn't get any decent shots of the band, so the happy family picture will have to suffice. We've also got the obligatory "bean" pics:


































Saturday took us to the Renegade Craft Fair, where I exercised EXTREME self-restraint and came home only with this:

...some handspun corriedale plied with flower-dyed wool. It will probably be a pair of mittens. Or maybe a hat.

All in all, not a bad weekend.

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Pirate Jack
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

So Jackson is 5 years old today. Yesterday he decided to play pirates, so he fashioned the costume you see pictured. All on his own...no suggestions from anyone. The white strip across his forehead has an eye patch attached to it, and he's holding a telescope in addition to the flag (and that's a map in his lap). What can you say about a kid like this? I just hope that he uses his powers of creativity and resourcefulness for only good...

Slow Children

Slow Children
Originally uploaded by piecesofstring

...I may be biased, but my children are anything but slow. Food for thought from my son, who will turn 5 this week:

Jackson: Why are there slow children here?
Me: Well...there aren't really slow children here, the sign is just telling people to drive slowly because there are a lot of children around.
Jackson: But that's not what the sign says.
Me: I know, but that's what it means.
Jackson: They should really make the sign say what it means.

And in another weekend exchange:

Jackson: That sure is a big house!
Me: I think it's a church.
Jackson: Oh...what's a church? (aside - he's been to church, but we haven't attended regularly since he learned to throw things...like the hymnals and bibles in the back of the pew in front of us)
Me: It's a place where people think about their lives and what it means to be a nice person and what it means to help other people.
Jackson: Shouldn't people do that at other places, too?

I know I'll always carry that conversation with me, and I hope my children will, too.

There was knitting, too:

I know, I know, and I did make significant progress on the second sleeve for the cable/lace pullover. But I couldn't resist this brand new yarn at the LYS, Shi Bui Sock. They're going to be the cutest fingerless mittens, ever, and I actually own no mittens with fingers or otherwise. Besides...they'll make a great model at the store. They'll be all done in a day or so and then I PROMISE I'll finish the pullover.

Happy Birthday, Noelle!

My beautiful daughter, Noelle, is 3 years old today.











Here is what's on the needles for her:


The pattern is called Blue Lagoon, from the book "Paintbox Knits" (...I think). The yarn is Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. It's not a birthday present, so it doesn't matter that it's not finished yet. What does matter is that I'm having a hard time staying focused on it when I've got other things on the needles:



Cable/Lace Pullover from VK Spring/Summer 2005



Mystery Stole #3 in progress

Getting My Feet Wet

Hello! I've just created this thing, and am not quite sure if I even have the technology to do it well. But it's a start...check back for knitting (and life) updates.