Category: Knitting

Knitting · life

Yes, I am still alive.

Jen4 Comments

I’m not sure exactly what it is that has kept me from blogging lately. It just seems that by the time I’ve checked all my email accounts (and then FaceBook and Ravelry and the news and blogs) in the morning, there’s housework to do (load the dishwasher, get the laundry going, general tidying and dealing with children and such). Then it’s out to run errands or to make lunch and unload the dishwasher. Another quick check of the email, and then it’s time to make dinner. Then bath time and bed time for the kids and some quiet knitting (after I make the email rounds again of course). Perhaps I should give up email (and Facebook and Ravelry and the news and blogs)?

And my knitting, a true reflection of my life, is boring too.

Here’s some endless knitting:

[ravelry]

And here’s some endless knitting with the occasional YO thrown in:

[ravelry]

And here’s some endless knitting with a few purls thrown in:

[ravelry]

(Note to self: in your next life, marry a man with smaller feet.)

Knitting · life

What?!

Jen4 Comments

I see it’s been an entire week since my last post. Good Lord, what is this world coming to? And to think that only a couple of weeks ago, I was considering making August my NaBloPoMo month (guess that’s not going to happen). In my defense, this week has been busy busy busy. We went to the lake 2 times this week, as well as the sprinkler park one day. Throw in the weekly marketing and a trip to the library and boy-howdy if that doesn’t make me too busy for blogging, well, I don’t know what else does. Whatever. You aren’t here for stories about my boring life, you come for my awesome knitting insights and hilarious witticisms. Sadly, I’ve none of those either. Not today, anyhow. I do have a photo of some finished knitting.

[ravelry]

These are a set of sand dollar washcloths I knitted up as part of a thank you gift. I cast the first one on yesterday at the lake and finished the third one this morning while enjoying The Daily Show over a cup of coffee.

Now, guess who got a bunch of lace books at the library today! Me, that’s who! I’m off to learn (from a book) the art of designing circular lace shawls. I may not post for another week, so… cheers!

Knitting · Lace

Watch out for the lace bug, it bites!

Jen3 Comments

I’ve spent a lot of knitting time over the past couple of weeks, poring over circular shawl projects on Ravelry. And stitch dictionaries. And old doily patterns. Because I am crazy. I want to design my own circular shawl, even though I am lace noob. So consumed am I by my passion for this, that I made a special trip to a bookstore to pick up another copy of book I already own (but is in storage). And now, this morning, in the light of day, I see that the yarn I have selected will not work for this project (it’s too stripey, too pooley), so I am shopping for alpaca laceweight (knitpicks has a nice selection, but I think I want something in a natural color). O lace! Thou temptress! Thy siren song enchants, thy holey stitches entwine! Now, if you will excuse me, I have an itch that must be scratched.

cute kids · Knitting · life

No Post Title This Time.

Jen2 Comments

Dear Blog, I know it’s been a few days since my last post. Things around here have been busy. Over the weekend we all went to the Shore, staying with Mr. Interrupted’s aunt and uncle (and a couple of cousins) in their gorgeous house a mere block from the beach.

It was like a dream. Imagine rolling out of bed into your bathing suit and strolling down to the ocean after a quick breakfast. Lunchtime? Just pop back to the house for a quick bite to eat and maybe a nap before heading back. Everything about it was just wonderful. The boys had a marvelous time.

I7 learned how to boogie board (and he doesn’t even know how to swim!) and E3 and I had a grand time playing in the surf together and collecting shells. The boys dug a great big hole.

(down to the water table, which, frankly, I didn’t know was possible)

I knitted.

I couldn’t ask for a more perfect vacation.

Knitting

The Details are Raveled.

Jen6 Comments

At last, the sad fate of the Feather & Fan cardigan will taunt me no more. I frogged it, tried the Harumi Cardigan and then frogged that too. I think I’ve outdone myself this time, though. Which shot do you prefer? The classic “Sweater in Repose”?

or the more artsy, more edgy macro shot?

I couldn’t be more thrilled with my decision to frog the Feather & Fan (and subsequently the Harumi) cardigan.

I think what I’ve got now is just fabu! The lesson, dear Reader, should you decide to take one away, is to forge on fearlessly and don’t get discouraged if you aren’t happy with the project you’re working on (or have finished completely). Perseverance will prevail. I swear.

Knitting · life

Knitting is Therapy

Jen8 Comments

While I am not going to blog about what has been going on here at Chez Interrupted, I can show you this:

Beautiful and useful socks, born from a shit-storm. It will never ever cease to amaze me how the comforting act of knitting produces an object that is, itself, comforting. And while I will probably always remember these as the socks I knit while riding an emotional roller coaster, I will also remember how they brought me perfect moments of peace and stillness.

Also, they are sparkly.

Knitting · life

O Hai!

Jen6 Comments

So it’s been nearly a month since I last posted here. Anywhere really. Not only have I been feeling sarcastically uninspired, but there has been a sarcastic amount of family drama over the last couple of weeks. Also, Michael Jackson died. Thank god for knitting.

Knitting · tutorial

A Tutorial for Adrienne

Jen1 Comment

Or, How I Knit MLTU* Socks.

I use Judy’s Magic Cast On to cast on 16 stitches (8/needle). After I knit the first round as per the instructions, I begin increasing for the toe as follows:

K1, YO, k across to last st, YO, K1 (needle 1) then K1 YO k across to last st, YO, K1 (needle 2)

Repeat this for EVERY row (being sure to knit the YOs through the back of the stitch to close up the holes) until I have 1/2 of the total number of stitches (32 for a 64 st sock, for example) and then for EVERY OTHER ROW until I have the total number of stitches needed (e.g., 64).

I work the foot until it is about 1-1/2 to 2″ SHORTER than the total length of the foot I am knitting for. If I am doing a stitch pattern, I work it only on needle 1 (the instep stitches). I work the heel on needle 2 (the heel stitches. See what I did there?)

Then, I make a short row heel. This way, for example, is not the exact method I use, but it is very well explained and less fiddly.

After I have completed the heel, I work the leg until it is long enough. 3 inches seems about right for me.

Then I add some ribbing so the sock doesn’t fall down. I like 1×1 rib, but 2×2 or twisted 1×1 is also good.

Finally, I do a stretchy bind off, perhaps a surprisingly stretchy bind off, and celebrate because I have turned plain old string into useful clothing once again!

*MLTU=Magic Loop Toe Up

Knitting · yarn

6 Months of Yarn Compulsion

Jen6 Comments

Knitting

Dear Harumi Cardigan,

Jen5 Comments

I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but I think it’s time we went our separate ways. Your lace pattern, while perfectly lovely and very well explained, simply requires far more attention than I am able to give you. I blame the ADHD. It’s not you, it’s me. Really. I admit to browsing the other cardigan patterns on Ravelry and, honestly, I haven’t felt good about it. But now, it’s out in the open and I can flirt with other, more mindless projects shamelessly.