stalled

So a funny thing happened. First the not so funny.

I decided to rip back the sock I was knitting because it didn't fit anyone. I usually just eyeball socks because I knit toe up and maybe I'm stupid or whatever. Anyway no one in the house could get it over their heel. Rather than leaving it as a Cinderella sock, I ripped it and made it bigger. Then i was knitting along during a baseball game when suddenly the DPN I had in my hand fell apart.

It is my weekend for broken things.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Jun 3, 2018 at 12:48pm PDT

I mean it isn't the end of the world, I know some superglue will fix that right up but MAN. Not so the second thing broken--our windshield experienced some major damage either during that game or a chip that we hadn't noticed decided to majorly expand in the night. No superglue in the world will fix that.

But on to the funny part--the knitting.

So, when I last wrote I was considering a scrappy sweater. I dug out like almost all of my scrap yarn and weighed it and approximated measurements and.... decided I needed more yarn. Sigh. But in the deep stash dive I also emerged with enough Knit Picks Comfy sport in a bright red that seems to be discontinued, to make a short sleeved or lacy sweater. And so I spent many a long day searching ravelry for just the right project. And I also swatched to see what type of gauge I'd be dealing with.

Swatch is still drying from it's run through the washing machine, so I haven't measured it yet. I also haven't picked a pattern either so that works. Here is what I'm thinking though, so maybe if anyone has any suggestions, or opinions they can weigh in.

And I'm sorry, I can't figure out a good way (without stealing every image and plastering it on blogger anyway) to show thumbnails of what I'm thinking.

First up is this beauty from DROPS. I don't love DROPS patterns, they seem overly fussy to me. But I really liked the lace detailing on this one.

Low tide is a little bit longer than I was imagining, but again, that lace detail is divine.

I'm actually leaning really heavily towards CeCe by chic knits. It seems to have everything I'm looking for: lace, 3/4 sleeves, and looks good on nearly everyone. I'm torn because the pattern calls for thicker yarn than I have.

Also in the running is Miss Lemon I love love love the lace on this. I worry about the snug fit as I wasn't looking for such a fitted piece.

Another one that I like is Greensleeves, but I'd have to adapt it to make it shorter sleeves and ironically I hate the pockets. Even though I love pockets, those look a little out of place. Plus, I don't have quite that quantity of yarn.

My real issue is finding something in a sport weight and an adult size. Most of what I found is DK weight. And I know this is my fault because I searched either DK or sport before I did my swatch.

So that's where I am--still knitting the same sock as I was a month ago--trying to find a sweater to knit. Feels like I've made zero progress.

Do you have a favorite lacy summer cardigan that would look good in BRIGHT red? Tell me about it in the comments.

thinking

I must confess that if the ONLY item not crossed off my weekly to do list was "blog" I would probably not be writing this.

My knitting is going eh. I am nearly done with a sock and I tried it on and because I do not ever swatch socks and just eyeball my toe up numbers it does not fit. It fits my foot, but I struggle to get it over my heel. In fact it doesn't fit the smallest feet in the house even. I KNOW I need to rip it out. Or more likely since that section had two knots that were a pain to deal with, I'll rip and probably use that section of yarn for leftovers and just start a new sock. Except I find myself a little tired of socks.

Instead because the heat is nearly upon us and I am starting to very slowly wash out my sweaters for storage (And then I'll start washing the cardigans I keep out all year long--also must remember to buy more wool wash*) I really really want to start a sweater.

I was initially thinking that maybe I should FINALLY tackle the dollar and a half cardigan. Which I KNOW I say that at least 3 or 4 times a year every year since the pattern was published which means I've had that in the queue for um maybe 10 years. But the reality is that every time I look at finished versions of that sweater on ravelry, I see women my shape wearing it and I just don't like the look. I will never be that shape, even if I diet myself to that size. And while I think I can look good in a lacy sweater, I'm not convinced that is the one.

But, I do own a sweater's worth of brown cotlin and so I was thinking a brown cotton linen sweater would be nice. Also I could wear it on the chance I finish it before fall (assuming I start it before fall).

I also own a sweater amount of leftover yarn. I have a baby blue ultra alpaca from that time I tried to adjust a pattern and failed. I have some green Quince and Co Lark leftover from a green central park hoodie I made. (as an aside, I wish I could write out in the open the longer story of that sweater and how it has come full circle for me, if you know me--ask me about it sometime). And some of the same yarn in purple from Estelle. I wondered if I got out all those yarns out and weighed them if I would have enough for something striped.

But trying to find a scrap yarn project on ravelry is HARD. I think made harder by what I ALWAYS do. I always seem to have a picture in my head about what I would like. In this case I want:
a cardigan
probably raglan
with a zipper
long sleeves
ideally knit in one piece so I will be SURE of stripes matching on the body
I don't mind paying for a pattern, so that's not a problem, although ideally free or already own the pattern would be a plus. Of course I may be going about the searching all wrong. I could probably try just looking for a zippered raglan cardigan and then making it striped--instead of looking for patterns specifically designed to use scraps. Or I could go the disaster in the making route and just cobble together my own pattern.

So to sum up: I'm sick of socks, I'm giving up on ever making the dollar and a half cardigan and I could make a summer cotton/linen sweater instead OR a scrap yarn cardigan. It's like a cliffhanger as to what will happen! * I prefer Soak. I realize this is controversial. I use it for non-wool items too.

knots

Sometimes when I'm just knitting along I don't feel like I have enough to really write about. And I am just knitting along. And yes, still the first sock (it seems like some people in my life ask this regardless of when the last time they saw me knitting and asked this SAME question).

I did stop knitting on it for a few days because I was so frustrated. I found a knot! And I hate weaving in ends in socks! It actually took two tries at a russian join to fix it and even now I can still see where it was. Then! I found a second knot. (insert eyeroll here). I tried another russian join, when it slipped out, I just gave up and started the new yarn. And now that I'm knitting, I'm wondering if it is going to mess up the pattern of colors. Not that my socks have to perfectly match, but it would be nice if they were close you know.

The SECOND knot in this skein and I haven't even finished the first sock! Swipe to see the first one I fixed via Russian join (inelegantly) this one I tried and failed to fix so I'll just weave the end in.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on May 1, 2018 at 4:00pm PDT

I don't want to say that I'm tired of knitting socks, but I have been itching to take on a bigger project. Like sweater big. And yeah I know I say that a lot but it's about time to start washing sweaters and putting the ones I won't wear away for the summer. (I usually leave out a couple of cardigans) And I want a new sweater. Of course I don't have yarn for a sweater sized project*. I do though, have lots of leftover yarn all in about the same weight. And I was thinking stripes would be REALLY cute. It wouldn't be all the same material--like some Ultra alpaca which is 50/50 wool and alpaca and some 100% wool, but then I wonder if it would work.

*Ok, I do, but I am kind of saving that for the dollar and a half cardigan even though every time I try swatching for the dollar and a half cardigan I get all wigged out because it seems hard to follow the stitch pattern AND I don't really get gauge and I love that sweater so much I don't want to mess it up, but it WOULD be the perfect summer sweater.

Regardless, it seems as if there is some swatching and or searching ravelry for patterns in my future.

Cast OFF!

First I should start with two "cast offs" as it were. First--I got the cast on my foot off--and I have graduated to a "walking boot" There are several good things about it over the cast: 1) I can take it off to shower, and to put on clothes, so I don't have to worry a bunch about if my pants will fit over it. 2) I can walk a little easier in it 3) My socks peek out! This is good because I finished the rainbow socks!

Pair of #rainbowsocks complete. The magic is self-striping yarn and the work is making sure you knit the second sock so it looks just like the first. This is as close as I can get.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Mar 24, 2018 at 8:59am PDT

I love them and have worn them a couple times. I had a great time seeing the toe peek out of my boot this week--it's the little things.

And of course because I think I just am going to knit socks forever, I started another pair.

I wasn't sure I wanted to start another sock but for some reason I love this color way.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Apr 13, 2018 at 12:25pm PDT

This one is a yarn I got at my LYS's clearance sale on my birthday a monthish ago. I think the colors are terribly ugly but somehow I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I can't even really explain it. And it is a workhorse yarn (Online supersock) so I am guessing they will last forever.

I also bought three skeins of Debbie Bliss Bluefaced Leicester and I really want to use it for... something. 300 meters isn't a lot to make something substantial--so sweater is out. Even a shrug is probably out. That leaves scarves, cowls, hats, maybe mittens. And I'm being fussy. A cowl would be nice but sometimes when I wear cowls or scarves, I feel like I'm wearing a bib. I don't really wear hats (I'm an earmuff person). So I'm stuck.

Bought on sale. Only had 300m -- what to make?

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Apr 13, 2018 at 12:26pm PDT

It's really pretty though, so maybe a lacy cowl? Maybe a small scarf/shawl thing? I don't know. In the meantime, I'll be plugging away at the socks.

The ultimate "cast on"

So much has happened since I last wrote! Seriously, I figured out a way to get socks from needles to feet twice as fast!

Ok, I did this by getting one foot put in a cast and thus unable to wear a normal sock, but still--bright side people! I can wear the same sock twice as long! (Ok no, it is really that I can't stand to just have one of every sock int he washer, so I'm wearing one the first day and the second the next.)

The whole story is this. I've been battling plantar fasciitis for YEARS. I wear night splints, orthotics, and I have an ice bottle that I use on bad days. I've even gotten cortizone shots for it. All of this has helped, and after the last shots I had some relief. Well about six weeks ago, I had a really bad flare up. Despite not changing anything. At first I thought it was because I needed new shoes. So I bought some, only to have the pain worsen. It was bad enough I called the doctor who had previously done the shots. While I was waiting for that appointment, I had a few times when after work, I was so sore, I wasn't sure I was going to make it back to my car.

When my appointment came around, I was kind of excited to think that if I got another shot I would be sore that day but I'd feel so much better. So you can kind of imagine the look on my face when instead of shots, he said--I'd like to put your leg in a cast for 3weeks to see if we can get the inflammation down that way.

After blinking like Dora the Explorer waiting for you to repeat whatever she just asked you to repeat, I asked when would they do that. Well turns out right NOW was the answer.

It is my left foot so I can drive. I can walk on the cast and I have a boot for it (which was good because we got 2 inches of snow that mostly fell while I was getting the cast). I also have a scooter that I can rest my cast on and scoot. Let me tell you, that was more difficult than I thought it should be. Turns out that you can rent them! And your insurance might even pay for it--although the foot doctor was dubious but the medical supply place says--blue cross? sure (we shall see, but I don't even care). I know it is a place of privilege that allows me not to worry about $50, but it makes work so much easier.

Bonus: My cast matches one of my favorite handknit sweaters

When your knitwear *almost* matches your cast.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Mar 15, 2018 at 12:52pm PDT

I have also been told to stay off my feet, and so I've been doing a little more reading, and little more knitting. And thus have nearly finished the second of the rainbow socks.

Ready to #bindoff

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Mar 22, 2018 at 10:44am PDT

I'd probably have finished except that I need to look up the bindoff, and I never seem to have both a computer and my knitting by my chair. Probably after I finish this sock, I'll start another sock for traveling and baseball and waiting rooms, and something else for all the other times. Except I'm not sure about the something else. And yes, I have already looked and Ravelry does have a pattern for a toe sock you can knit for over your cast. Am seriously considering.

unraveled

One of the dangers of travel knitting or purse knitting is that sometimes you drop stitches. Usually this isn't a huge deal for me because I also carry a small crochet hook and can easily fix dropped stitches--I can even fix them without a crochet hook, but it is easier with one.

However last week, I grabbed my rainbow sock mid heel and headed for what was going to be a long band concert night. four high school bands playing, both my girls in different bands, with a band between them. Lots of time between bands while stands were re-arranged and students came and went. When I pulled it out, I had dropped a whole needle full of stitches, and so carefully picked them up. Except heel. Some of those were yarnovers, which had raveled to the point of disappearing. I did my best and knit away. Then came red flag number 1--I had more stitches on one side of the heel than the other. Then came red flag number two: I had a fairly large hole on the one side. Then red flag or strike three: I couldn't fix the hole.

Of course I kept knitting through all of those. I knit for about 10 rows of heel and four rounds of regular knitting. I was BORED. People watching is really bad at high school band concerts.

When I got home though, I knew what had to be done. I ripped out the heel.

I knew I wasn't ever going to be happy with the hole. I knew it would bug me forever. I KNEW I should have done that AT the concert, but it was dark.

I'm not taking this project anywhere until I've finished this heel.

Sometimes it's better to unravel and start again (just the heel this time)

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Feb 22, 2018 at 11:53am PST

And PS, I really haven't spent nearly enough time on this. Everyone has been sick and while I did not get as congested sick as everyone else, I just got bone weary- whole days where all I wanted to do was read. We're all in the homestretch and my energy is returning so hopefully I'll finish this soon.

rainbow socks

I am steadily working on my weekly to do list. Last week the only thing I didn't get to cross off was "new blog post." This week I'd like to finish it, although "sign children up for Driver's ed" seems to be the one that may be beyond my control.

Anyway. Last time I wrote, I had a sweater pattern and yarn and had decided to take a break from the sock I was working on and tackle the sweater. Like all good things, this was maybe too ambitious. I looked a lot closer at the pattern and realized a few things:
* The yarn called for is a worsted weight
* The yarn I have is maybe sport
* I have no idea what size to make
* I don't know if I have enough yarn to make the longer sleeved version I was imagining.

Clearly there are solutions. First solution is obviously to swatch. I have started this, but I feel like maybe my swatch isn't nearly large enough. The second is of course to measure me and the swatch and do some hocus pocus math and just figure the dang things out. As far as having enough yarn? I don't really have a solution other than maybe don't make long sleeves. The one part I was most worried about regarding the pattern itself was the actual stitch pattern, but the swatch has shown me that it is a relatively simple pattern--as long as I follow the cart. And boy am I ever glad I learned to read a chart.

So, instead of deciding any of that, I decided to finish the rainbow and clouds socks. Just because I feel like they may be knit a little too loosely doesn't mean that I don't love them and won't wear them. If someone wants to buy me the sock monkey colorway, I'll knit those at a smaller gauge.

Sock 1 done. ✅ sock 2 begun.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:57am PST

I've even started the second sock. And yes, I did actually try really hard to start in roughly the same place in the color run.

In which I am bored

First, I just want to start by saying, I am LOVING the socks I'm wearing today. Which happen to be socks I designed my own pattern for and knit this summer. I keep seeing them on my feet and it is really brightening up my day--way more than usual.

That said, the socks I'm knitting now, while I am loving the yarn, I am being really worried that I didn't knit them tight enough. So, I want to set them aside. Because somehow continuing to knit them--and I am nearly done with sock #1 is just making me more anxious. And of course it is cold outside. Which you know what that means? Sweater time.

I remembered that I had a shrug pattern and yarn for it that I was going to make a "while back" and thought I'd dig that pattern up and see what it entailed. So Tuesday night, I decided I'd do that. An hour later....

Ok, I knew the pattern was in my "yarn cupboard" so I started there, but boy howdy was that a mess. I found the yarn first--still in its bag from the yarn store with receipt and everything, but I could NOT find the pattern. So I dragged lots of stuff out, threw things away (including ball bands from socks I no longer own and projects I can't remember and swatches and gasp even some small bits of yarn (because honestly, do I need 10 yards of dishcloth cotton or 5 yards of some sock yarn that I don't even have the socks anymore?). I even recycled a few patterns I had printed from the internet and will not make (toddler sweaters!). I put yarn all away (some in new bins because I had outgrown the cupboard) and have a library box full of magazines that were loose and FINALLY, I found the pattern. It was shoved between the yarn bins and the wall. Or maybe it had fallen. I don't know. All I know is that I had found both the yarn AND the pattern (and 6 other sock yarns I had forgotten about).

Of course after I found it, and looked at it I was so overwhelmed with having spent an hour digging through things and casually discarding things that I didn't have time to look at the pattern. Then last night I was way too tired to tackle anything new. So today, I got it out and thought I'd write about finding it. I started by taking a picture all artfully arranged.

I think this might be next in the queue. You know 3 years after I bought the yarn.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Jan 18, 2018 at 10:35am PST

And the receipt, as I said, is still in the bag. So, after arranging the picture and taking the picture, I dug out the receipt. I bought that yarn on 1/23/2015. Almost exactly three years ago. The yarn (Classic Elite Magnolia) is discontinued.

I feel like I should start this project on the 23rd. Perhaps I'd best get swatching.

Insert witty title here

First up some housekeeping from previous entries.

I mentioned last entry that I couldn't remember what yarn I made the double pom pom hat out of and I hadn't taken a picture of the cowl. So. I dug through the trash can in the tv room where I do most of my knitting and found the ball band. (I'm a terrible person I know). The yarn is Lion Brand Wool Ease thick and quick in "constellation". The yarn has sparkly bits in it that don't really show up well in pictures--and honestly even in real life they occasionally look a bit like lint. The cowl is just "cast on enough stitches in a multiple of four to be the length you want, k2, p2 ribbing until you are nearly out of yarn or it is big enough, BO."

Matching hat and cowl.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Jan 5, 2018 at 2:08pm PST

Funny side note: My kids both have an instagram account (actually one of them has a a second nail account but I digress). At any rate, whenever one of them wants to post a photo they can spend hours (days occasionally) writing the perfect caption. They will ask everyone in the house "is this a good caption?" I am like the opposite because back when they would ask, "what should I caption this?" (which they never ask anymore) I would always reply something like "delicious dinner" if it was food or "my favorite selfie of the 200 I took today." And I tend to write captions like that. So I captioned the above "matching hat and cowl" because I am boring and what else would I say? (Although the children would have searched for something poetic about stars or the cold or something). Turns out to be good because It's lying flat and looks strangely enough like doll clothes, which I hadn't realized until Karen pointed it out! Perhaps I owe you a picture of it being worn--which honestly is how I would prefer to display my knits even as circumstances prevent it.

At Christmas, when we started the ill fated trip, I asked Facebook to tell me what I should knit. I went totally against the grain and pulled out this brightly colored sock yarn, i purchased a while ago called " Clouds and Rainbows". I just now went to look to see if I could point you to the Etsy shop listed on the tag, and discovered she doesn't do Etsy anymore, but has her own page so yay! You can find lots of different self-striping yarns At Artistic yarns by Abi. I might need the sock money sock yarn, I'm just saying. I had purchased this at my LYS and after looking at her page, I also got a pretty good deal as the price has risen.

Anyway, I'm loving the sock, but I'm feeling I'm knitting it too loosely on my smaller size 1s. I don't want to rip and try the size 0 though. Maybe I'll try it with sock #2 and eventually I'll have three socks?

Clouds and rainbows by #knitpurlgurl I am loving these so much

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Jan 10, 2018 at 9:39am PST

The next time that I ask what I should take to knit in the car, I should really just take all the socks that need darning, because I hate darning, and being trapped in the car with nothing to do but mend might mean it actually gets done.

Catching up on december

Every week I add "blog entry" to my to do list and obviously it never seems to get crossed off. And now it's been a whole month so I should have gobs and gobs of finished projects right?

Well, I do have a few and I'll get to that in a minute. First, I wanted to note just how crazy December was for me. Usually, I attempt to finish all my Christmas shopping before school lets out for the holiday. That way, everything is purchased and hidden before noseybutt children are home asking 1million questions. Plus then, I can help them get their things ready. Also in past years, I've baked lots of sweet treats to give as small teacher gifts. I send out holiday cards, but they often get sent out late.

This year though. I did finish my shopping for the children before they were out of school but only because I spent MUCH of that last three days shopping and paid really crazy shipping so things would arrive before Christmas. Holiday cards got mailed Dec 23. And teachers got NO gifts. Seriously. I was sick and felt that maybe the real gift was not making marshmallows that had been coughed upon.

I did make marshmallows and salted caramel, but it was really late (like after school let out) because that's the point I felt I could not cough long enough to get things made. (like I was pretty well over things). So all those are still sitting on the counter slowly getting eaten. Thus the real reason I did the big giveaways. And yes, I suppose I could make up goodie bags for the teachers now but really? Not gonna happen--maybe next year.

We joked this year that I also dropped the ball in figuring out what I wanted to receive this Christmas. Was there yarn I wanted? a New sock club to join? No not really--I'm feeling overwhelmed right now with yarn. Then there was the joke that the one thing I wanted, i bought for myself because I broke down and bought a pom pom maker. I've never had good luck making my own pom poms with cardboard, but I love this little plastic thingy.

I bought a #pompom maker. Yes I know you can make your own #easierthanDIY

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Dec 11, 2017 at 4:15pm PST

I put it to good use, first making a pom pom for the white hat I finished in the last entry. And then making TWO pom poms for the second hat I made. (Remember--two girls means two hats).

When you don't have time to take a better picture of the hat you just finished because the recipient grabbed it

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Dec 18, 2017 at 6:16pm PST

I had extra yarn after finishing this hat, so I made a simple scarf to go with it. I haven't photographed it yet.

The pattern for the hat is Creative super twist chunky hat and it was free (that link is a PDF) but that's about the best thing I can say for the pattern--it was free. I had to math out to figure out size, and I think I made mine a bit too big. I had to google what a TW2 was as I had NEVER seen that notation. And it turns out, never done that stitch (but it isn't hard--in case YOU don't want to google it This you tube video explains it well enough.) The yarn is something I picked up at a big box craft store and I'm trying to finish this entry and post it before I got to zumba otherwise I'd go look for the ball band.

So--next on the to do list: take picture of the scarf cow and find the ball band! That and travel knitting gives fodder for another entry--so rejoice!

TWO finished objects

I have not one but TWO finished objects to show off today.

First, i finished my kerchief. Officially Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief knit in Noro silk garden sock on size something needles. I'm officially terrible at remembering these things or writing these things down. 8 or 9 I'm sure. I STILL haven't blocked it, but I've worn it!

Selfie with a finished object #knitters #finishedobject

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Nov 21, 2017 at 12:19pm PST

Then I had a Thanksgiving trip planned and nothing to knit. I asked my kids and my facebook friends and got well.... Let's just say that I got a lot of great ideas but nothing sparked my attention. Then finally I had one girl say, "you promised to make me a cute photogenic cabled hat with a furry pom on the top." And while I don't remember promising this particular thing, I did have yarn to pull it off. And also time, as ten hours (round trip) of car knitting gets at least a good start on things.

She picked Sultana Cabled hat and I picked some yarn I had leftover: Loops and Threads Impeccable. This is an acrylic yarn, but it isn't squeaky. I have to say that usually when I plan car knitting, I am usually very good about a) reading the pattern over and bringing everything I'll need to finish the project even if that is seemingly impossible and b) bringing a backup project. I did neither. Heck, I didn't even bring page 2 of the pattern! I didn't bring DPN for finishing and I didn't read close enough to realize I'd need 2 cable needles! I'm honestly surprised that I remembered to bring the needle change I needed. In fact, I brought both of my interchangeable sets quite by accident.

Even with all that, I ended up having a second cable needle stashed in my bag, and I improvised DPN using interchangeable needles. I was able to pull up the second page of the pattern on my phone even. I did jinx myself by saying to my husband as we were within an hour of home--Wow this has gone so smoothly even with all the weirdness. Instantly a demon from another dimension snatched my cable needle. (actually it slipped right out of my knitting and fell so deeply between the car seats that I didn't find it until I had a sunny day that I could pull the car out and pull the front seat all the way up. My car had a very thorough cleaning.) Then I lost track of what row I was on and could not for the life of me figure it out. In fact the only thing that stopped me from finishing this hat in the car was that mistake. I put it down for 5 days even! Until Friday I was stuck in the waiting room at the car dealership. I pulled it out, and went over it backing up (tinking) until I figured out that I had actually conflated two rows and was finally able to find where I was. A very nosy lady in the waiting room eventually asked me what I was making and I told her and told her I'd spent the first 20 minutes undoing a mistake and she blithely informed me she would never have ripped just to find a mistake. (Insert Eyeroll here). And you know usually, I am pretty tolerant of my mistakes. This however, would have thrown off the last cable pretty significantly. I did finish it Friday night though. And the girl is happy. I need to buy a fur pom ("You know you can make that." said my nosy fellow car dealership waiting room lady. Indeed I do--she asked for something specific, which I will buy). I'm pleased with how it turned out.

My thanksgiving car #knitting was this hat! I did a row twice on the decreasing and it took me all week to figure out the problem-- but I did!

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Dec 1, 2017 at 4:41pm PST

Now, I guess I need to make the other child a hat they can look cute in for pictures.

picture post

I promised some pictures, so here goes

First up a picture of all three costumes I made this year. Faces blocked because internet.

Next, I promised to show comparison pictures between the FIRST time I made pooh and piglet costumes--2005-- and the second time. Girls tried to recreate pictures, but you know.

And last--my current knitting project. Which is "Age of Brass and Steam kerchief" That I am knitting out of Noro Silk Garden Sock. I decided to run another pattern repeat and I'm not sure I'll have enough yarn. This has actually progressed enough that I may finish it soon.

Current WIP. #knitting #noroyarn

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Nov 9, 2017 at 12:53pm PST

I think that's all the pictures I was too lazy to pull together last time. Now back to my sewing machine....

Halloween wrap up

It's November so it must be time to talk about the costumes!

As I mentioned int he last entry on October 19--I had not started Halloween costumes. Or maybe I had, I don't remember. I didn't mention it anyway. At any rate, I did mention that I was making three. Which is kind of a story in itself. You see, my daughters started high school this fall (you may now pause for a moment to hum Sunrise, sunset) and they weren't sure if a) they wanted a costume for school or b) trick or treating or c) both. Then they decided a group costume was in order. Then they decided that they wanted option c. BUT only if they could talk someone else into going along. They managed to twist their BFF's arm and ended up with: Winnie the pooh, Piglet and Eeyore.

The hitch was, that they wanted me to make them all "onsie style" costumes. BUT, I did have a pattern because I made the same thing last year.

Usually I compare my costume making with Project Runway. This year felt even more like that. I had a design meeting, an epic trip to a fabric store, picky clients, and a deadline that seemed impossible. Of course unlike project runway, I also had a pattern (two actually), unlimited access to most of my models, and no Tim Gunn.

Let me just say--I know next year will probably be more hectic, but MAN... someone stop me when I say--Oh yeah that should be EASY.

One thing I did different than the pattern last year--I purchased a different pattern that had an attached hood and I used THAT pattern to model the hoods after so I could make the hood attached. I thought this might be hard, but I picked a good "easy" pattern and honestly, I might actually use it to make a jacket later. The hoods were a little big for my costumes, but I just added darts.

One thing that both helped and hurt, I aimed for Friday. I knew we wouldn't need them until Tuesday, but I figured if I aimed for Friday and missed, I wouldn't be in a panic on Monday. And yes, and no on that. I had Pooh and piglet completely done Sunday. Eeyore needed to be hemmed and we couldn't do that until Monday late afternoon when everyone got home from school (including me because I had to work all day--boy howdy are little kids excited about Halloween).

Anyway, I don't have a good public picture of Eeyore right now, but I do have Pooh and Piglet:

They were trying to recreate a picture from when they were two and a half and dressed as "winnie and a pooh and piget" Again, I may have to do a separate picture entry because that costume pre-dates my use of Flickr.

Anyway, they did trick or treat with a group--and no they weren't the oldest trick or treaters--our first group included a guy who put out a cigarette before coming to the door and a guy with a (real) beard. Yes, unlike my stick up the ahem neighbors, I didn't hassle them, and I gave them candy. Maybe not the handfuls I gave later groups but that's the price you pay for hitting the door at 6pm on the nose. Come at 8:15 and I may dump what's left in your bag--regardless of how old you are.

They also wore them to school and were sweltering because that's a whole fleece suit--perfect for cold, possibly snowy Halloween. Not so perfect for overheated classrooms.

Oh and I started knitting something. I'll put that in my future picture entry.

Finished scarf

Maybe I should lead with the sort of good stuff. I finished something! First, before I get into the picture, or how I feel about it--let me just say that this is HEAVY and WARM and the weather is unseasonably warm for late October and so my plan for wearing this to show school pride on the big crosstown rivalry game is also in question. I'm sure no one sweats to death in the stands at late October football games and I don't want to be the first.

Scarf! Finished but way too heavy

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Oct 19, 2017 at 5:33am PDT

This is a scarf that I started as football knitting. I wanted a scarf on school colors but As I said in the last entry, this isn't quite the finished product I was envisioning. Yarn choice was really the downfall. And here's the kicker--I really don't have any desire to make the scarf I was envisioning. I mean I COULD go back to the big box craft store (or another one--we have two) and find more appropriate yarn for the project and crank out another scarf. But I'm feeling very eh about it.

Which brings me to kind of the bad news on the blog front. I haven't started knitting anything since I finished this over the weekend.

Seriously.

I'd like to say that it's because I'm so busy with other things, but the reality is--I don't have anything I want to knit. I mean I do have other things too--halloween costumes, which are going to be a major crunch this year as the costumes were decided upon late and I'm making an extra one for a friend so they can all go as a group. But by in large, I am just feeling very uninspired.

I poked around on ravelry for a bit the other day, but it felt like everything was a shawl or wrap and I just wasn't feeling it. I have a small metric ton of sock yarn I could dive into, but after knitting socks all summer, I'm wanting something different. I have yarn for a sweater that would be perfect to knit if I could focus on it (the infamous dollar and a half cardigan that's been on the to be knit list for nearly a decade). Maybe I need to stash dive. Or maybe I need to go the craft store and get the yarn to make the scarf I want (for next year? for playoffs? For basketball season?)

Or maybe I just need inspiration from you--Tell me about what you are knitting!

scarf

I know, I said in my last entry that I had another knitting conundrum and I was going to write about it the very next day. HAH! That is like the funniest thing ever that I would think that I would have time.

First, I do want to mention for future me that I did manage to buy the peaches from the orchard I prefer and I did get them all canned in early September. I've also been worried about tomatoes since I didn't join my usual CSA this year. I've been doing ok with vegetables at farmer's market, but I really miss their tomatoes. I did find a tomato vendor the day after my last entry who had bushels reasonably priced that looked a) ripe and b) delicious. They were good but small and somewhat watery. I canned them as regular crushed tomatoes. I didn't pressure can as the drop in liquid of those wigs me out. I still have a few pints from last year to use up so I think I'm going to be happy with having canned less this year.

Ok, so the conundrum. You see it got cold here (and then hot but that's a whole other story) and I got this brilliant idea in my head: What if I knit a scarf (or two) in gang school colors for the big cross town rivalry game, which is the last game of the season?

I had in mind a scarf in stripes, done in the round. Basically you knit a really long tube and then make it flat by putting fringe on the ends to hold it shut. So off to Joann's to find the right yarn.

I don't know about you, but when I go yarn shopping be it at a LYS, or a craft store, I get a little overwhelmed with all the choices. Craft stores are generally easier for me though because I don't get so distracted thinking about other projects, but when your project calls for something that is in abundance.... well usually that does me in. Joann's had SO MANY different choices. There was already striped yarn, there was novelty yarn, there was just plain red heart in the right colors, and there was Hometown USA which is a bulky but very soft acrylic.

Yes, I did basically choose it because of how squishy it is.

The more astute of you may actually see my problem coming before I even tell you.

Yes, a double thickness in this yarn was WAY too thick.

Yes, I did knit about 8 inches before deciding that

Yes, I did set it aside for nearly a week

Yes, I did rip it out and start over.

So here was my problem. I really really really wanted this yarn. I really really wanted a scarf that looked like stockinette stitch without the curling. I really really wanted stripes that looked effortless.

I could not decide what to do. My choices seemed to boil down to a) continue on and be unhappy b) return unused yarn to the store, get different yarn and be unhappy or c) start over with a garter stitch one layer scarf and be less unhappy. So I chose C. I ripped, and I started over with a garter stitch scarf that isn't perfect. The back shows the color changes, my stripes are so wide, I can't carry up the yarn and am having to do a lot of end weaving. But, I am going to have a scarf that I can knit at the next two football games and wear at the "big game" and it's going to be soft and squishy.

I probably won't make two though. If I decide a second one is needed, I'm getting thinner (scratchier) yarn and making the tube.

School color scarf (no not u of m thankyouverymuch)

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Sep 25, 2017 at 6:18am PDT

Finished objects

Sometimes when it has been a while since I posted I worry about the fact that I have no finished objects to show off. I mean what possibly could I have been doing?

Today I have two finished objects and a whole quandary that is most likely a post in itself. I'll type that up if I have a chance today too.

In the meantime--on to the FOs!

First up the "secret project I was knitting was a pair of socks for my mom! Back in June when she came to visit, she heaped on me 5 balls of sock yarn (seven actually, but enough for 5 pairs of socks) and said--it would be nice if you (hint hint) made some socks for me. Well one ball is pink, one is purple, one is blue, one is alpaca (and would probably felt immediately) and the other became this:

Surprise socks for my mom! #handmadewithlove #handknit

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Sep 8, 2017 at 11:09am PDT

The yarn is Cascade yarns Heritage handpaint in dark sunset. Which I can see is discontinued. I'm pretty sure I used my smaller sized ones for these. See this is the problem with knitting something and then waiting to write about it until I mail it, and am sure it has arrived. I can't remember what I did. Mostly I knit these at baseball games--and it is a plain toe up pattern that I've memorized over the years, but is from an article in Interweave Knits that Ann Budd wrote. My plan was to finish these before she came to visit this fall, but then due to scheduling, there is no fall trip planned. So instead I mailed them.

But baseball season wasn't over (still isn't if you follow the majors, but this is high A ball we're talking about and they didn't make playoffs, so over) so I started what I was calling "Rally socks" and they almost worked as our team was one win shy of breaking .500.

I really cranked these out--even though technically I finished them after baseball season. I didn't have enough left to knit on these as my first football season as a band parent kicked into gear. Again, the same basic toe up pattern. Knit on 2.25mm needles. The yarn is Modeknit sock yarn in a limited edition colorway called Purple Rain.

Finished socks in time for the weather to cool down

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Sep 12, 2017 at 9:40am PDT

I love this yarn. It is squishy and pretty. I'm sad that I finished except that I have a great new pair of socks.

Now that the weather is turning, I'm trying to decide some things about my next project or projects and am running into some issues. I'll write about those in another post.

purple socks

I honestly have to go look to see when it was that I last posted. I was thinking I had skipped July entirely. I didn't. but I did start working on a project that is now finished that I still can't tell you about... YET.

So I'll tell you what I can tell you.

First the jam/preserving update. I'm struggling this year to get peaches in enough quantity to can. The orchard that I use must have had a bad spring because they stopped cherry sales WAY early this year and I had to find another vendor. And they aren't promising peaches in quantity until MAYBE after labor day. Timing wise that's ok for me. Kids go back to school and I have time to sit and peel peaches. It's the maybe part that is frustrating me. If I wait until labor day, then I pass up other vendors, probably. If I don't, I might miss out on my very favorite orchard. In the meantime, I made one batch of peach vanilla jam with mostly peaches bought from another vendor. I'll be making regular peach jam as soon as the 1/2 peck on my counter ripens. I may can a pint or two too if they get to ripening faster than we are eating.

And knitting... after I finished the secret project, I cast on immediately for a pair of socks for me.

Knitting on the road. Ok the parking lot as I wait.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Aug 24, 2017 at 11:17am PDT

The yarn is "Purple Rain" by Modeknit yarn. This was a special colorway designed after the death of the Artist formerly known as Prince. I bought it then and have been admiring it on the shelf where I out it after I wound it (because it was so pretty!).

You can't tell in that picture, but I am knitting this in the car. This has been the week my girls started marching band and I've spent more time waiting for practice to be over this week than I care to admit. In addition, before band season started, I had my knitting time back! Every night we have been watching a little tv again, only instead of this being quiet adult time that it used to be after kids were in bed, it has become family time. We like reality shows like Face Off and Chopped, but are anxiously awaiting the second season of Designated Survivor. I'd also like to share project runway with my kids, so I'm looking forward to that. I think when school starts up again, that will slack off simply because of time. But car knitting will almost certainly continue. Also, I'll need to figure out if I can knit during high school football games. I don't know how cold it will get before I'll need mittens. But I could knit mittens and then I'd be prepared I guess. Heck, I have always wanted to learn to make Thrummed mittens.

FINISHED SOCKS

Every year I write some variation of "summer is kicking my butt" and I guess I should stop thinking of it that way. Summer is a time for me to be present with my kids (and they are 14 so you know that if they want to hang with me, I should take that!), and just enjoy not having to be up at 6:30 and rushing around until we fall into bed at 10:30.

Summer is also a time when I think many people don't want to knit sweaters or blankets, because they are so big they are hard to drag places, and also it is hot and you don't want a huge blanket ON you when it is 90 degrees. A few summers ago, I declared it to be sock summer--in which I was going to darn and knit only socks. Last summer I finished sweaters.

This summer--I'm just taking things as they come. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Last summer I knit all summer on a pair of socks and boy howdy. The first sock was too narrow. So I knit the second sock a bit wider (and it is still snug), and I ended up ripping the narrow sock out. Then I um put it aside.

Then in November, I started another pair of socks. And this one gave me such fits. After, I finished that I also set it aside...

So with the last two sock projects ending up as single socks, You can understand why I was super excited to actually FINISH a whole PAIR of socks!

Finished #socks swipe for a closeup.

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on Jul 8, 2017 at 7:33am PDT

I actually finished them on the drive to our vacation destination. And was doing the bind off as we decided every morning what we were going to do. But of course that meant that we still had an eight hour drive home (which turned into a lot more because of traffic). Things had been so hectic in us trying to get going on vacation (a mere week after school ended and children were still comatose from the stress relief after finals--and right in the middle of a short strawberry season) that I simply had no time to plan a new project. So I grabbed the ripped sock, needles I thought I had used and went with it.

And I spent 4 hours knitting a sock that was way too big.

So, another rip, another start (which thankfully was all in the car so no options for starting something else) and now I actually have most of a sock. No pictures though because again summer...I'm living it not photographing it. Plus, I have to save something else to write about maybe while girls are at camp. I'm actually thinking about digging out the OTHER pattern for the OTHER single sock and perhaps this can be second sock summer.

So, I also mentioned strawberries. I made 6 batches of strawberry jam this year. And a double batch of strawberry lemonade because I accidentally bought enough lemons to make that happen (go me). Today I picked up sour cherries at farmers market so, cherry jam is happening today! Sour cherry jam is one of the grossest things for me to make, but also it is one of the tastiest.

second sock

It's Saturday morning, the kids are still asleep because it has been a terribly long week (And I'm letting them so I have time to write).

Last weekend we saw my favorite niece (she's my only niece) graduate from high school. We went a few years ago and watched her brother graduate and I wore a shrug I knitted especially for the occasion . On this trip I did indeed wear a knitted shrug, but one I made a few years ago. While lots of people oohed and ahhed over the sock I was knitting no one said anything about my shrug. I think they thought it was store bought. And yes, I'm still not decided on what I think of that--compliment or not. I'm trying to go with compliment.

It was a long car ride there and back which was great for me because I've been having HUGE issues with "second sock syndrome." You see last summer i knitted two socks, but they weren't a pair. After each I was so tired of knitting that particular sock, that I didn't cast on the second sock. So when I realized I was really close to finishing my current sock, I decided not to pack any other yarn or needles FORCING me to cast on for the second sock.

It worked. When we got to our final destination, I had finished the first sock and cast on for the second. Of course knitting such a tiny toe up sock looks very comical, but it was fun to sit with my niece, her boyfriend, my nephew and my kids while they played exploding kittens and knit and listen to them. They are all great kids (and I say kids even though we are talking about ages 20, 18, 16 and 14) Makes me want to make that a whole weekly knitting get together.

I've been trying too to carry my knitting to places where I might have time to knit. And while I totally failed on the band concert where I had to drop my children off an entire HOUR before the performance (and I snuck a comfy seat in the school library instead of the bleachers), I did manage a break at work.

Had an unexpected break today and amazingly enough I also had my knitting

A post shared by Jodie (@ja_gardner) on May 23, 2017 at 5:47pm PDT

I don't usually bring my knitting when I work, because of what I do, the breaks I get are few and far between. But I sometimes find the teachers lounges to be a little cliquey and thought if it was bad, I could knit. Instead the children I was in charge of had a whole afternoon of art, music and gym and all I can think is it must be the regular teacher's usual planning time. Usually one break like gym class just gives me enough time to catch up on what I'm supposed to do after (find papers, grade papers, review math or whatever), three nearly in a row gave me time to do all that and knit.

I also finally tried the first sock on, worried all this time that it would be too big and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually a little snug even. I don't have a picture because I've had some not so great experiences posting pictures of my socks on my feet. And also it has been so rainy and dark here lately that I've not had great light. I'll probably photograph it and post it later this week without hashtags and if I start getting weird comments or favorites I'll take it down.