projects

Usually, after I finish a deadline I feel tired. This time was no different. I have things I really need to work on but instead I took this week to start three new projects. Does anyone else ever feel actual fear when they think about what they're SUPPOSED to be doing? When anxiety strikes, I get knitting!
What better way to relax than slip into the imaginings that come with making a child's toy? I couldn't resist knitting the unicorn from Dream Toys by Claire Garland. We have a little friend who I think will LOVE it. I'm thinking ahead here for Christmas presents.


From one of my favorite sock books Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, I cast on for the Fancy Silk Sock. These too will be a gift, but for an October birthday. I'm working with Trekking pro natura yarn; really like the color a lot (#1605), but the yarn doesn't feel soft I hope it's not too itchy for my friend. Maybe it will soften up after a wash.


And finally, I started to design a lace shawl in a triangle shape. The yarn feels like a wool rayon blend. It's from a large cone I bought years ago and I can't remember what it is. I'm excited about this one; I just love knitting lace so much. My first knitting love is lace.

self portrait challenge

I've only participated once before in SPC. I don't remember what the theme was but I took a photo of myself in my bathroom. Weirdly, I was in the mood to do another SPC and when I checked on the theme it was: bathroom.
The bathroom has been a place of a few battles lately; since I've been trying to potty train my kid. His new argument against using the potty is "I'm Scared OF the MONSTERS".
It took me a long time to get used to this mural. It's been two and a half years now and I can honestly say it's growing on me. And the bathtub is fantastic. Maybe, I'll take a portrait there next week.
For more self portraits go here.

dolly

Yesterday, I made another doll. Felix asked me, "what's her name mommy?" I told him to come up with one and the first thing he said was Freddy. But, he changed his mind to Dimples. In the evening when we sat down for a marathon imaginary tea party and (imaginary) video game session with the dolls he decided on Dolly. Dolly it is.

Her little dress is made of two hand knit rectangles with a centered cable. Dolls don't have shoulders so I just ran a drawstring around the top ribbing to shape it. The hem is a crocheted shell edging. I was thinking about embellishing her some more with big heart hair ornaments and some beaded necklaces but Felix was opposed to the hearts. He grabbed the heart out of my hands and tried to rip it in half. Boys!

The best part of making these little dolls is when Felix plays with them. He wants me to talk to him through the dolls. He says "talk to the dolls mommy" which means make the dolls talk to me. I love that. Before I had Felix I didn't spend a lot of time around kids so I forgot what goes on during play time.

pirate kitty

My days this week are spent playing with Felix, running errands and making a new toy, Pirate kitty for our little friend who has a birthday this coming Saturday with a pirate theme.
Nights are spent working furiously towards my fast approaching deadline for Interweave Knits next spring issue. I don't like knitting on work projects with Felix around because I tend to make a lot of mistakes that have to be ripped out. So, I've been knitting from 9 pm until 3 or 4 in the morning. After one in the morning I usually get a second wind, and as long as I don't have to think too hard I can knit without falling asleep in my chair. The pattern writing part has to happen much earlier in the night.


Pirate kitty without her hat and eye patch, you can see her earring made from an I-cord in two shades of gold crochet cotton.
Felix and I looked at Jack Sparrow’s costume for some sash and jewelry inspiration. Her eyes and nose are from my vintage button collection.


Pirate kitty with her hat and eye patch, Johnny pitched in and built the hat with felt fused to a plastic form. He painted the skull and crossbones.
While digging through my drawers looking for scraps to use for the costume I realized that I have A LOT of knit swatches that will make fantastic doll clothes. I’m excited about making more dolls and dressing them up in knitted skirts. Most of my finished skirts have swatches that are miniature versions of their grown up selves.

shapes

My concentration is not very focused these days. I think the Internet has my brain hungry for more and more instant images and I'm feeling mentally restless and lazy at the same time. Or at least that's the excuse I'm using today. Felix and I stepped outside the house for a short walk and I noticed that the cactus garden is in bloom. Usually, I don't pay attention to this area because of the harsh sun and the wasps. But, today I took notice and the view captured my attention.
The organic action of blossoms on spiny dry cactus against the curvilinear rusted security bars is our version of Arts and Crafts. Not as refined or lush but not without its charm.


Outside on the sidewalk I took a second look at what I usually regard as ugly, the fence, and another welcome security feature. Maybe the rose offset its ugliness but for a second I saw the diamonds of the fence and thought how much I love diamond patterns in lace knitting.


The diagonal movements of the yarn overs and decreases never cease to amuse me while I'm knitting.

book crush

Knitprovisation by Cilla Ramnek
I'm crazy in love with this book I picked up Monday at a local bookstore. Felix and I were wandering around town looking for air-conditioned rooms trying to pass the day as cool as possible. Anyway, I found this gem and it's the kind of book that feels like home. The mixing of old and new in creative ways is how I naturally work and maybe I’m missing that freedom of improvisation right now as I am writing patterns.

scarf hat

The Nomad Hat in its original form:


Cooked up in 2003...I think. The yarn is Mondial Prestigio, (lace weight mohair) and the stripe on the hat is an old dk Rowan wool.
And, the swatch I sent in to IK.


The swatch looks so dreary today. I must have been going through a grey phase. I do like grey a lot. The swatch yarn is Knit One Crochet Too Douceur et Soie and the stripe is Classic Elite Inca Marl.

nomad hat

The new Interweave Knits is available, and it's a good fall issue filled with lots of interesting sweaters. I really want to make the Tangled Yoke cardigan. I'm pleased to be a part of the issue. My scarf hat pattern renamed more poetically Nomad Hat is featured in the Minimalist Knits section.


Just for fun, I thought I'd show you the sketch for the design submission. Occassionally, I get asked about what goes into a submission. I'm not sure if this is the right way to do it, but so far it's been working out. This particular design changed a bit from the original idea because the weight of yarn went from dk to bulky and from two colored stripes to one color textural stripes. I think the garter/stockinet stripes on the hat look great (oops if I do say so myself). Blogging is funny that way, I find myself feeling like such a show-off.

busy hands

Keeping my hands busy in this summer heat.
Last week I sent off a design for Classic Elite and I'm waiting for yarn for a project for Interweave Knits. That's my business report: in between projects for spring 2008.


Here is a finished pair of socks for a friend's birthday.
It is so hot outside I decided to hold the socks in my hands, for fear my feet might melt if I modeled them. The yarn is pretty cool though, it's Tofutsies from SWTC. And the pattern is obviously just a basic one; cast on 60 sts on US size 1 needles. Okay by me to keep it simple, it's knitting to pass the nervous moments away and bad moods too. I wait for everyone to sleep at night then I make small paintings as a way to climb out of the ordinary.


It works for me.

pink kitty

Here is another version of Cat from Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori; this one went to a friend who just had her fourth birthday princess party. I had so much fun embellishing the kitty with vintage buttons and ribbon and of course sewing the pants with a hole cut out for the tail was just too cute. I love how different boots kitty and pink kitty are even though they came from the same pattern.

boots kitty

The pattern for this little stuffie is from the delightful book Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori. I can't recommend it enough. The photography is lovely, the styling simple and charming and the instructions clear and easy to execute. Maybe because I've been knitting so much and knitting is so slow and involved this was a fun diversion (when I should have been working...oops).

I had my sewing machine serviced recently and have been dreaming up projects but decided to break myself back into the sewing game gently with a sock toy. I have to admit that there was a tense moment where I said aloud "now I remember why I hate sewing!" but it passed quickly.
Felix was very sweet and I have to tell this short story. He was yelling for me in his usual manner "MOM I NEED YOU". I ignored him as I was busy sewing. After the third or fourth time of him screaming MOM I NEED YOU, he finished his sentence with MOM I NEED YOU TO BE HAPPY, and then he ran into the room I was in and said "Mommy, I love the kitty you're making".

Tagged

I've been tagged by Carlene at knitsquirrel, to list 8 random facts...

1) As a kid I would spend all day in the summertime barefoot, running around town on the hot asphalt. My goal was to have feet with soles like leather. Now, I hate to be barefoot. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve lost my courage and am too squeamish. Granted, in my mid-twenties I stepped on a bee and discovered I was allergic, so maybe I’m just wiser.

2) I cry very easily while watching movies. It’s embarrassing and I try not to. I also cry at parades, sports events, and the opera. Parades aren’t so bad because my eyes are hidden behind sunglasses and I’m not sad just overwhelmed; the same goes for sports (which I hate), it’s just the hugeness of the crowd that moves me to tears. I’m easily embarrassed.

3) I used to love the flavor of orange juice and toothpaste together, not anymore.

4) When I’m working a lot and am very tired I sleep in my clothes.

5) In writing this list I’m aware that the only things I can think of about myself is stuff from my past. I’m drawing a complete blank about myself in the present, which makes me think that I don’t know who I am in the present. I’m just me.

6) One of my chores as a kid was to pick up the mail from the post office box, a walk of about 6 blocks. I would often drop letters during my walk home, and not notice, because I was too busy daydreaming. I had to train myself to hold the letters in both hands in front of me while telling myself over and over to not let go. I’ve had the same type of experience as an adult with all sorts of tasks, like leaving the house with my keys in both hands so that I wouldn’t lock myself out of the house or the car.

7) My hair is very long, like 3 feet long.

8) I’m not very organized. I don’t think I’m lazy but I do have a lazy streak when it comes to housework. Luckily, my boyfriend is the exact opposite. He also likes to cook which I do not. This reminds me of one of the reasons why I knew my boyfriend and I would stick it out for the long haul (ten years now). About twenty years ago I had a kind of vision, anyway I was standing in my then backyard and imagined carved totem like sculptures. It was like I knew that one day I would meet a man who could carve like this. And I did. On the other hand I also believed that I would live in a castle in Spain, and I don’t.

I'm tagging: Edna, Connie, Beth, Mary-Heather, Gudrun, Janet, Diane, Marnie

lion flower

Happy Birthday to me! My dad wrote me today with this tidbit from the day of my birth:

"I just spent about 10 minutes daydreaming about Santiago, Chile, on July 26, 1962, Exact Spot: the Clinica Alemana. I'm standing outside the delivery room in a kind of side room when the doctor walks in holding you by the feet. You're bawling, He washes you under the sink faucet. I had just arrived after running up the stairs, out of breath. My timing was excellent. I'd just had an incredibly rush-hour drive across town after inaugurating a series of performance by the Chad Mitchell Trio." Dad

wrist dance

My offering to the goddess of the wrist.

linen top pattern

I posted a photo of this linen top to my flickr page and had a couple of people ask about the pattern so I thought I’d offer it here. It’s a good summer knitting project (no heavy wool here) and a good summer top to wear. The work is done from side to side and stretches open quite a bit after blocking.

Finished Size: about 50” (127 cm) circumference, and 17” (43 cm) long, measured from shoulder to hem.

Yarn: Louet Sales Euroflax Sport Weight (100% Linen; 270 yd [246 m]/ 3.5 oz [100] g), 2 skeins. I made this quite a few years ago when the skeins were bigger and used one skein but I think you will need just a bit more than one. The top weighs 116 g.

Needles: Size 9 (5.5-mm)

Gauge: 11 sts and 19 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St st AFTER BLOCKING.

Eyelet Ridge: First row (WS) Knit. Next row (RS): *Yo, k2tog; repeat from *. Next row (WS): Knit.


Pattern: (Make 2) With the long tail method, loosely CO 46 sts. Starting with a purl row, work in St st for 24 rows. Next row (WS) work Eyelet Ridge. Continue in St st for 64 rows. Next row (WS) work Eyelet Ridge. Continue in St st for 24 rows. Bind off loosely.

Finishing: Wet block to desired measurements. Sew sides 8“ (20.5 cm) from hem. Sew shoulders 5“ (12.5 cm) from edge. If you want a firmer neckline, single crochet around neck edge. Weave in ends.

summer knitting

Last Saturday I went to the DMV to renew my license. Naturally, I had to visit a yarn store in the area. I don't need any yarn! But, I was drawn in by the silky blue and green shades of this sock yarn, Tofutsies from SWTC. A friend has a birthday coming up in August and I think these will make a perfect gift.
Progress on my shrug is moving along but now that it's about two feet long I'm feeling the heat of summer more and more. Knitting with that much wool in my lap is not very comfortable and another good reason to knit a pair of socks.


So much of Los Angeles is kind of flat. In the summer even more so, this view from my back door is not very interesting but I like it because it feels so typical of my town.

Thanks for all the input on wrist injuries it was really helpful.

Shrug

In celebration of finishing my last sweater for the Spring 2008 issue of Knitscene I decided to cast on for a shrug for myself. The pattern is called the Pimlico Shrug and is in Knit 2 Together. I'm substituting the yarn used for the sample, Koigu Kersti for Rio de la Plata and Manos del Uruguay. I think the two will go very well together. I didn't swatch them together (I made a gauge swatch OF COURSE, but only with the Rio) because I just wanted to get knitting and worry abut any possible problems LATER.
When I'm knitting for a job my brain gets very tired, so when I'm knitting for fun I really prefer to wing it and see what happens. So much more enjoyable but often the results are spotty. That's okay. I'm only a part time perfectionist.



My recent self portrait: wrist brace. Too much knitting? I can't face the truth. I try to take breaks and stretch but still, I want to KNIT! I can manage knitting with this on if the needles are at least as big as a size US 8 otherwise, my thumb gets sore. I kind of like it's corset lacing and I really like how my wrist doesn't hurt after knitting or writing. Must buy another one for the left wrist too. Does anyone have wrist issues and remedies? I would love to hear about them.

big sunglasses

I'll never grow up since I still believe that when school's out for summer it means nothing but good times. Now that I have a kid I'm realizing how much I hated school! I hope my disappointments don't rub off on Felix. We'll see.
Meanwhile, my Internet connection was down for two weeks. I took the opportunity to read a book (Factotum...loved it), and visit with friends.



I'm finishing a sweater for Knitscene; as usual it will be in the mail at the last minute. Something always comes up and puts me behind schedule. This one is looking pretty pretty (yay!). They sent me some yummy yarn, the kind you can knit with in any weather, with amazing drape and in a very optimistic color.
I've also been swatching for a lace shawl. I love lace knitting so much. Oh, on ravelry I saw that a knitter, Grace Yaskovic, made a triangle shawl using the Lace Chuppah charts. The link is to her blog which has a great photo of her shawl being blocked. Don't we all need someone to block for us?
And, I’ve been making lots of sketches. Life without the Internets is a little lonely but productive.

hand wash

The last two days I've been working on clearing out my giant basket of hand wash. I love the fresh air smell that clothes get from hanging on the line. Hanging hand knits on the line is certainly breaking the rules for blocking but I did do with a few items. I told myself it was okay because it is very hot and dry so the knits will dry super fast and therefore won't stretch out. I know, another rule broken: don't put your hand knits to dry in full sun.
I'm happy to report that everything survived in good form.
This jacket that Felix is helping me to model is the top half of this skirt. After I cut the skirt off I picked up stitches along the front of the jacket and worked asymmetrical flaps in seed stitch. An antique silver pin keeps it closed. I made this at least six years ago when I was going through a Victorian bed jacket phase.


Out of nowhere, Felix says to me, "I'm cold". Mind you, it's about 90 degrees. Quickly, I wrapped him in this candle flame shawl and snapped his picture. He's such a good helper. This is another knit from years ago. I used Brown Sheep bulky and a free pattern off the Internet. And, shocking, I hung this on line too.



Finally, in today's show and tell, one of my favorite sweaters Raspy from Rowan's Denim People.

summer stars

This is a painting I made a few years ago that hangs on the wall facing our front door. Welcome!



Recently, I bought many balls of sparkly yarn (Louisa Harding Coquette). It has multi colored sequins strung all over it that look like tiny summer stars. I felt like whipping up something really simple to wear at night with a t-shirt for our 4th of July holiday.
Here I am standing at the front door modeling the sweater tied at the waist. It’s the only way I can wear it because the fabric slants on the bias.



Here you can see the dramatic bias of this sweater. What is up with that? I knew going in that everything was slanting and that blocking had no effect on the fabric. Why did I continue? I’m stubborn.
Maybe one of you yarn experts can tell me why this happens. I'm assuming that the 100% polyester nature of the yarn is why it absolutely will not block.

Lace Top

Once I decide to knit something I try to make it as fast as possible, otherwise I’m in danger of never finishing it. This top, full of interesting knitterly details (short row shaping, nubs, eyelet cast on, three needle bind offs…) took me two years to complete! I knit the majority of it within a week, put it away for six months to work on my own designs, picked it up between work projects, put it away for another year and finally brought it out of hiding last week and completed the last bits. It’s designed by Mari Lynn Patrick and is in the Holiday 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting magazine.


Maybe, I’ll wear it this weekend to a wedding reception. Knowing myself, I’ll probably wear it everyday, sleep in it, and then put it away for a few months. Will I ever change?
I substituted the yarn for GGH Molina, which seems to have been discontinued. Hmm, oh well. Otherwise, it’s exactly as the pattern is written for size medium. That issue is full of pretty and romantic designs.

Red Link Bracelet

Wooly bracelet from Gooseflesh boutique.
The artist, Helle Jorgensen is hard at work crocheting wonderful sea creatures from plastic bags. She will be showing her work in Los Angeles in 2008 at LACE.

Kusha Kusha felted

This morning, and by morning I mean noon, I soaked the scarf in hot soapy water. After a bit of rubbing and rinsing, I rolled the scarf in a towel and inspected the wad of wet wool. Not a pretty sight. As promised, my fingers pulled on the fabric and after much prodding the lump started looking like a scarf again. It was dry within an hour. And, I love it! What you can’t tell from the last photo was the way the scarf actually draped on me. When I put it around my neck the scarf limply rolled in on itself. Now that it’s been felted it has much more body, lays flatter showing off its wiry nature, and has a kind of deconstructed texture that I love. Also, it shrank about ten inches in length.


Thanks again Janet for such a thoughtful gift.

Kusha Kusha knitted

It's hard to resist playing with this scarf. The fabric is so fun to pull and pinch. My hands are obsessed with stretching the end part made of stainless steel/silk; I hope it's strong enough to stand it. I've decided to go ahead and complete the pattern’s directions and felt the scarf, which just means more play time for me.

swatch

This is a scan of the swatch I did for the Lace Chuppah. It's just a small portion of the stitch work in the pattern but you can see some of it up close and also the hint of silver from the carry along yarn. Click the photo to see it bigger.

Kusha Kusha

I received the nicest gift a few days ago from Janet, a scarf kit from Habu. I love it. The color and texture are perfect for my mood. One strand of merino wool and one strand of a stainless steel/silk mix are knit together, the feel is soft with a subtle, almost sticky body and in the grey color it has a chain mail effect. I think I messed up the pattern a bit since I cast on with both yarns and maybe should have only used the stainless steel/silk yarn to begin with. After the knitting is done the scarf is to be slightly felted with warm water and soap. I have mixed feelings about felting hand knitting so we'll see if I complete the final step.
I hope to finish it in a couple of days. It looks great with my faded denim skirt.

Witches Britches in action

britches two, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Ta da. Witches Britches from Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark. Never mind, that I dreamt last night of being at a two-day party of Alice in Wonderland characters. I was Tweedledee being chased by a lion and falling down a pink staircase looking for my key; I think I'll wear these britches!
Modifications: Yarn (Naturelle Cotton from the stash), stripes 6 rows deep, longer leg length, shorter waist (turned down the waistband after short row shaping), and provisional cast on with knitted on border (instead of sewing the border on) and the waistband stitches are sewn down as live stitches.