Swatchless

So…..today I got a rower friend with big hands to try on the pogies I knit (using this pattern but maybe I didn’t follow it to the letter since they are not quite right).  Now….these are not just knit, these are fully finished, which is what is making me a little mad with myself for not trying them on man-hands earlier.

There is a certain frustration in the “knit first, try on later” kind of attitude, specially when you try things on a non-knitter and ask for their opinion on sizing.  I always hold my breath as they consider how things should really fit.  I hold my breath, hoping that if there is something that needs fixing, it is an easy fix.  For instance, making a mitten cuff longer is easy, but making it wider is not so easy.

It was decided that these pogies will fit oars fine-the opening might be a tad big but that can be adjusted.  The width of the pogie is fine, but it might not be long enough to fit a man’s hand as it goes through the rowing motions.  Hopefully I can rip out the cast-on edge and extend the cuff a few inches, and that will clear up most of the issue.  The ribbing on the oar hole should also be extended a bit too so pinky fingers don’t end up getting exposed and cold.  I think I’ll do these cuff extensions in white because I don’t have enough blue left.

A few hours and several inches of ribbing later, and–I hesitate to say–that these pogies are done!  I hope they are up to the rowing standard.

For those curious, I ripped back the cast off edge at the oar hole and knit one more inch in white.  I didn’t rip out the cast on edge at the cuff because the last time I did that it was a very tedious process.  My work around was to cast on 48 sts and knit several inches of ribbing then use a darning needle and a long tail of white yarn to graft the live ribbing stitches to the cast on edge–it is lumpier than if I had re-knit it, but it’s not too bad.

Ever since my friend showed me the pattern for a knitted pigeon, I had to make one….

Today was the day that Percy meets Bernice and Bernie.  I’m not sure what they think of each other, but I think my Percy pigeon looks pretty good.

If you want to make your own Percy, here’s the pattern [Ravelink]

Let me introduce you to my newest buddy!

The lego man that I knit earlier this month (Some Assembly Required), is now decked out in WAFFLES and K-Botics gear!  I had such fun making the teensy tiny clothes….that once I made a hat, I couldn’t stop!  The WAFFLES shirt was knit from yellow baby weight yarn (very light fingering yarn) from the top down with raglan sleeve shaping.  The shirt needed a row of ribbing at the bottom to keep it from rolling.  The WAFFLES motif was stitched on later in chain stitch.

I used acrylic yarn (bits and pieces left over from knitting robot hats) to make the purple and blue clothing, but I needed to split the yarn up, and use a single ply, and sock needles (2.0mm DPNs).  The hat was knit from the crown to the brim in stripes incorporating the K-BOTICS and 2809 colourwork section before a row of ribbing and casting off.

The sweater is knit from the collar down, raglan style ending with a row of ribbing.  Sleeve stitches were picked up and knit to the cuff, then I picked up the neck stitches and improvised a hood that would fit over a lego head–significantly different proportions than a human head!  I embroidered K-BOTICS and our logo on the sweater using light blue, to match our team hoodies.

This little guy is looking for a new friend.  I may have to make one or two more when I get a bit of free time!

What should his name be?

These days I’m talking a lot about pigeons… a friend of mine noticed, and found this great knitted pigeon pattern for me.

image source: www.areyoubeingbullied.com

Percy The Pigeon Pattern available for download from the “areyoubeingbullied.com” website.  I think I may have to make one to keep my pigeon buddies company.

Pigeons on a sunny Monday

Pigeons on a snowy Tuesday

What should I name my pigeons?

percy

This weekend I got a chance to wander around in the woods for a while and look at the flowers and the leaves as they burst forth from their buds.

Red Trillium	lacy maple leaves
White Trillium	birch leaves

It was nice to get a chance to be outside on such a lovely day!  I can feel myself getting inspired by the delicate colours all around me.

In spring knitting…here’s the first of one of the strangest mittens I’ve ever seen.  They are called “pogies” and are for rowers.  There is an opening for the oar to go inside the mitten.  I’m following a pattern, but I’m not sure how well they will fit this particular rower or their oars.  One down, one to go!

I got home to find my pigeons are getting fluffier these days

saturday pigeons

And for those of you who don’t believe that they click at me…. here’s proof!

Now…is that an angry clicking noise?  What do you think?

I’m enjoying watching these little birds as they grow.  Not much difference from yesterday, but they were left all alone and quivering to keep warm.  I hope their mom doesn’t leave them for too long–it’s going to be a cold weekend.

As for the seeds I planted inside….they are growing too!

I think those are the radishes that are growing so quickly.

As far as knitting goes, I’m starting on “Some Assembly Required“.

image source: ravelry.com

I have the head completed, and have started deciphering the leg instructions.  It is fiddly work, but turning out well so far.  I’m knitting it in sock yarn on small needles (the pattern calls for worsted weight on 4mm needles) so perhaps I’m making it extra fiddly–I tend to do that!

Look forward to progress pictures after the weekend.

I want to thank everyone for the great birthday gifts….and well wishes yesterday.

On the knitting front, my aunt gave me a book I’ve eyed at the library for a long time.

It is full of great basic instructions to knit many different garments.  I’m excited to read about the different kinds of seamless sweater construction methods.

Check it out at your library, or order yourself a copy.  It is a good read.

I’m fond of Zimmerman’s witty side comments that punctuate her instructions.  She must have been an interesting woman!

It was a very productive weekend.  Not only did I sing in a choir concert, but somehow time was also dedicated to this little sweater which is now just about completed!  It needs a few ends sewn in, and a good blocking, and it will be good to go.  I love the yarn Life DK; it feels like wool, but is a machine washable blend of 75% acrylic and 25% wool. In case you are wondering, this colour was 2346 “Mixtures Blue Haze”

This little sweater vest will fit a 2-3 year old, but in the mean time, it is long enough to be a sweater dress for a 6-9 month old.  I polled several mothers who agreed with my measurements and my logic.  Can’t you imagine a darling baby girl wearing this over tights?

I might just have to get another colour and test knit my pattern!  The entire sweater vest took less than 100g of yarn, and the pattern is only 90 rows, but each row is different from the last.

The pattern will be available later this spring.  If any patient knitter with an eye for detail would like to test knit the pattern, please contact me!

The torch is lit again, and red mittens are on hands everywhere.

Paralympic red mittens are similar to the Olympic red mittens, but with the Paralympic logo on the back of the hand.  Did you know that it is impossible to purchase a pair of these mittens?  HBC isn’t selling them.    Why not knit a pair of 2010 mittens, with proceeds going to the Penguins Can Fly swim team for disabled children.  Maybe sometime in the future, there will be Penguins in the summer Paralympic games!

The torch relay is continuing until the Paralympics start on March 12th.  I hope to catch some of the sports on TV.  I’m intrigued to learn more about the sports, and various adaptations that are incorporated to allow a great variety of athletes to participate.

An update on the Red Mitten fundraising….

thanks mom for the pizza!

We’re at the $1600 mark.  Thanks to the generous knitters out there who are supporting some very amazing children, and helping them achieve great things.

Thanks to all the twitter knitters out there for your great pattern suggestions.

The popular patterns were:

The Fae Folk Hat [Ravelink]

image source: ravelry.com

and Ishbel [Ravelink]

image source: ravelry.com

but….I am not in the mood for something fiddly like lace right now.  I seem to be in the mood for something totally different and fiddly in another way entirely.

image source: ravelry.com

This is a pattern called “Some Assembly Required” [Ravelink]

As soon as I read the pattern blurb, I knew it was PERFECT for me!

“Warning! Some Assembly Required is extreme knitting! This is not suitable for beginners. Please review the techniques list before purchase. The pattern may be hard, but it will be worth it.

Some Assembly Required is a pattern that will enable you to make an adorable toy that can be taken apart and put together again. The head, torso, and legs are independent pieces, so you could make multiple pieces in different colors and they would be interchangeable.”

I’m not sure WHEN I’ll get the chance to knit this….maybe a paralympic knitting project?  I am comforted by the fact that it is in smallish pieces, so I will feel the thrill of accomplishment many times as the project grows.

Thanks again to yarn piggy from flying pig knits for giving me the pattern!