Knitting Bandit

3 P's for T

Even though I swore I wouldn't do Holiday knitting, I did. I'm weak.

Maybe stupid, too.
The further I got into these socks the more I wanted to keep them for myself.  But then I had to ask, "would I truly be able to enjoy wearing them when I knew they were intended for another?  WHat if I actually had them on and the intended recipient admired them?"  Oh...could you imagine the guilt?

So I did the stupid.  The inevitable.
I gave them away.  To my sister.  It's okay.  Really.  She's a non knitter, but does she appreciate hand knits.  Even more so after I told her that if I were paid $10 an hour to knit this particular socks they would cost at least $400. (Seriously.  This famous pattern threw me for a loop.) I also felt the need to make sure she knew I had to stay up all night just to buy some of this yarn in the crazy world of Wollmeise stalking.  I swear she likes them for what they are---not the guilt I gave her to make sure she wore them!

 Here's my "Three P's for T"

Pretty:

 

Purple (actually Wollemeise Veichlen in dark intensity): 

Perfectly Pomatomus :

Hold Your Applause

Seriously,when I told you in my last post that I was giving my SAS mittens away I didn't think it would be interpreted as how generous or sweet I was.  Really...it was more like: "Look at how clever I am! I nipped and tucked a disappointing knit and  found someone who could enjoy it (without having to dig into beloved stash or precious knitting time)".  Boy did that girl get excited! She actually squeed!  Maybe I'm not used to teenage girls, but this girl was tickled pink!  It was fun to give someone something knitted and have them be so excited!

One more gift knit from the Bandit who swears she hates gift knitting.  An unfinished Christmas present for my sister.  She wasn't expecting it.  I cast on  too close to Christmas, put it aside when I knew I couldn't finish.  I picked them back up this weekend and knit the last two hours of it.  I was going to wrap it up and give it to her now.  Everyone loves an unexpected present, but then I thought:

"Are you nuts?  Save it for next Christmas!  There's no expiration date!"  So eleven months ahead of schedule I present to you my first Christmas 2008 knitted gift:

Arm Socks

Yarn:  Black Bunny Fibers

Color:  Blue Coral

Pattern:  Elegant Gauntlets by Sally Melville (Book 2 The Purl Stitch)

It's the second time I've knit this pattern.  It's easy and the shaping is fun. The Copper Beach gauntlets I knit last year have been one of my most used knits.  I love them.

The yarn was one of my first Etsy purchases  and I'm sorry it took me a year to knit it!  I'm pretty sure it was a superwash merino.  400 yards...so I still have 1/2 skein left.  It was nice yarn.  I'll buy more someday.

Mitten Nip and Tuck

I finished my SSAS mittens.

They are okay.  I'm a little bummed that the "Funk Factor" didn't look quite like I pictured it in my head.  I thought by doing some color reversal they'd be really funky and fun.  I think I should have started the thumb color change at the thumb gusset instead of where I picked up my stitches.  Still not bad for my first mitts.  I'd  been wondering if I'd wear them much when a perfect opportunity presented itself. 

Monkey Boy told me that his "long distance" girlfriend of two months mentioned the hand knit mittens that she thought I might be making her. What?  Then I vaguely remembered a conversation with Monkey Boy and his girlfriend where something was said about those disastrous fingerless keyboard gloves that were were knit for him.  I was teasing him because he never wore them, when this quiet girl I'd only met a couple of times, spoke up and said "I'd wear them if you knit me some."  I said, "Okay".  Then promptly forgot. She didn't. 

A few nights after his announcement about her waiting for her mittens he saw me knitting my newest movie theater knitting socks called "The Enchanted Bucket of Sweeney Juno". He claimed the color in these would be perfect for his girl because she likes orange.

I love this sock!  I has been knit almost completely in the dark during several movies in heavenly Socks That Rock Heavyweight.  I decided I would just end these socks here near the ankle for shorties socks and then I'd have enough for mittens.  That kinda bummed me out. 

She could dump him tomorrow.  Bye bye prized socks.  But I know that her mother passed away a year or two ago (I know no details).  That'd be tough for a young teenage girl.  She has three older brothers and a dad.  Maybe she doesn't have much female presence in her life (maybe she does)and the idea of someone "motherly" (oh God! Tell me I didn't just describe myself that way) making mittens handmade mittens really did mean something to her?  Suddenly  I looked at my SSAS mittens.  Orange.  Wooly.  Warm. Slightly funky. I took out my scissors for my first ever cut into my knitting... a little nip and tuck to make them the perfect fit!

I think the SS (super skinny) can now be removed from the name. The half inch I took out really made the mittens much cuter, still not funky, but warm and handmade with motherly love. 

My Smartest Gift Knitting

My Smartest Christmas knitting was given as a note..."I'd love to knit you a scarf.  What would you like? Long? Short? Thin and sexy?  Warm -n snuggly?  Pink or Purple?" This allowed me to knit the perfect scarf for an Aunt, AFTER Christmas.  It's now done and I'm pleased.

Yup.  Another Chevron.  What can I say?  It's my mindless, go to knitting.

This one is done with only one color.  I used a skein of Socks That Rock Medium in Lucy. 

She wanted a long skinny brown scarf to go with her coat.   This fits the bill! I wanted it to be long enough for two extra wraps around her neck with some length left over. I used every inch of my skein which allowed for only one extra wrap around her neck. 

I was sure that a Chevron scarf knit with STR Heavyweight would be heavenly. I was wrong.  I cast on with high hopes, however after several inches I could tell the resulting fabric just wasn't what I dreamed it'd be.  It felt too heavy and not "drapey" enough.  In my usual "quick rip", I frogged it, causing me to wonder almost immediately if I should have knit just a few more inches.  Hmmm...now I have two big balls of STR heavyweight enhancing my stash.  Maybe big socks?  Hats?  Or mittens?  I seem to be smitten with mittens lately, though I have yet to knit a pair, I keep thinking about knitting them.  Why?  I don't even like to wear mittens.  Hard to figure the rambling thoughts in this knitters mind.

I Swore I Wouldn't Do It

I did it.  Even though I swore I wouldn't.  I kinda knew I would.  Even though I didn't want to. 

I Gift Knitted!!!!

But... Not a lot.

Pretty boring stuff that people needed.

The only thing my mother-in-law wished for was 3 knitted dishcloths.  3?  What an odd number.  I refuse to post a boring picture of dishcloths.  Though they are really nice.  A soft cotton from the clearance bin two years ago at Threadbear. 

More stash busting for the Holidays. Yea!

Some Lorna's Laces I wasn't excited about was knit into fingerless socks gloves for the girls in my office. Some days it is so darn chilly at work.

They are thin and lightweight.  Definitely functional.

Exactly what I wanted to give. 

I don't really care for the red color.  I dislike it so much I almost don't want to give it away but I think the recipient will like it.  It's called Miata. The lighter color is Somerset.

These took about 3/4 skein for each set knit on Knit Picks 2.25mm.

I was pleasantly surprised by how soft these were after they were washed and "blocked".  I didn't think I liked this yarn, but now I'll probably use it again if the right color tickles my fancy.

Log Cabin O'Love

Finally, I'm back with the Moderne Log Cabin Details.

The pattern:

Mason Dixon Knitting

Yarn:

Tahki Cotton Classic in silver and black

Butterfly Super 10 in red and dark grey

I,of course, did not pay attention to how much I used.  Though if I was an anal knitter, I could go back and pull my receipt and check (if I could find it).  But then again, if I was an anal knitter I wouldn't have to because I would have it written down or logged somewhere.

Needles:

#6 Addi turbo (man did that needle get a workout!)

Now here's the Log Cabin I knit like a crazy woman in only 3 months (during this three months I also cast on the the Moderne one above--I'm whacked):

Pattern:

Mason Dixon Knitting

Yarn:

A combination of 16 shades of Butterfly Cotton.

Needle: 

#8 (maybe #7) Addi turbo

Started on a crappy Mothers Day 2006 as a gift to myself (the yarn and knitting part--it was always intended for Gorilla Boy).  He loves the color orange and I loved the shades of greens and browns opposite it.

Gorilla Boy is 6' (though he probably wasn't that tall then).  he has always loved to wrap himself up from head to toe in blankets even in the heat of summer.  He has mastered walking and eating all smothered in a blanket.  Well, this Log Cabin " Love covers him and then some.  If I truly wanted to measure my insanity I would measure the blanket.  It is probably 7 foot by 7 foot.  Or close to it.

I finished it July 31st 2006 in time for a customer showing at Threadbear.  I had only been knitting for a little over a year when I made this commitment.  I had not yet knit with cotton.  Overall, I would say the blanket is a success as a well used and well loved FO.  From a knitters perspective, not my finest work (but hey! I was a "newb". Or practically). The fabric of the Moderne Blanket is much more desirable. This blanket is HEAVY!  The Log Cabin O' Love is showing much strain at some of the picked up stitches.  (Not to mention Gorilla Boy did get a hole in it that I have yet to repair).

It still makes Gorilla Boy smile and that makes me smile.  I think I love this Log Cabin O' Love.

Endless Knitting

My endless knitting has ceased.  Whew.  I have been absent for awhile, as an incentive to get this project done, I denied myself blogging priveledges until I finished the bloody thing. Really not an incentive. Obviously, I had nothing to blog about when all I was doing was endless knitting, garter stitch row, after garter stitch row.  If it's not exciting knitting how in the world can it make for exciting reading?

Now it's exciting!  I am done!  This baby will be wrapped pretty and gifted.  Two years late.

The good news though, it's been so long I'm sure my sweet sister-in-law has forgotten. She won the Family Pickle Prize that Christmas.  A gift I had somehow forgotten was my turn to give (becasue I had won it the prior year).  All the stores were already closed and being the clever little monkey that I am, I wrapped up a card gifting her with a  knitted blanket for whatever room she chose.

I'll post petinent details later, this little monkey has gotta run...

Don't Stone Me....

Hey, guess what I finished? 

My Watermelon Farmhouse Chevron Scarf!!

I hate to say this, but....

Guess what I'm giving away?

My Watermelon Farmhouse Chevron Scarf.

I know.  I know.  I deserve a good old fashioned stoning in the village square (LYS parking lot in the knitting world).  After I bitched and moaned and whined and cried last week, I'm giving another one away. This won't be a hasty give away.  I'm not even sure who I will give it to.  I have three ladies in mind. This scarf I won't cry over.  It's surprising.  It's the color combo I drooled over for weeks from Dogged Knits, until I finally broke down and bought the same yarn, the same colors and the same book.  It is lovely.  The colors are bright and gorgeous, but ... my original "second choice"  color combination  SocktoFoo Chevron has ruined my chances of true love with the Watermelon.  I must find another that makes me feel like SocktoFoo did.  I think I'm halfway there....can't stop thinking about that Banded Agate at BMFA.  Just trying to find it's soul mate now.

I Gave My Chevron Away

Call it a moment of weakness.  Craziness.  A moment of foolish generosity.  I don't know what.  But I gave my Chevron Scarf away...and I want it back!

Why did I do it?

I'm not a gift knitter.  I've tried that.  Outside of the Neanderthals in my Man-Cave, it mostly goes unappreciated.  Or rather misunderstood.  The time.  The cost of the yarn  (I'm not using Lion Brand, Baby).  Mostly the time.  Once, I saw my nephews lovingly hand knit alpaca hat, dirty on the floor of his garage--- in May. That sucked.

So why did I give it away?   Especially when three days later, a crisp air on back of your neck, chilly day, when I wished so bad I was wearing it, I saw it at the recipients house.  Folded neatly in the chair where she laid it after I gave it to her.  She wasn't home.  She was out in the chilly air.  Bare necked.

I actually wondered, would she know if I took it back?

Evil thought.  Bad Knitting Bandit.

I've now started another one for me.  Unfortunately, I know how long it'll take to knit.  Since I'm whining and feeling sorry for myself, I'll tell you that I don't think I'll like the colors as much as the first one.  I loved that scarf! 

Poor.  Sad.   Knitting Bandit.

Sockin' It in pink to Maggie

Pretty Pink Elegant Ribbed Stocking for Maggie

When I read Kelly's request for knitters to start "sockin It to Maggie, she mentioned that Maggie would love crazy colored socks.  Now, I realize these are not a crazy color. Bright, but not crazy. The design isn't really crazy.  Tall, but not crazy. But, I was half way through a pair of my own (in a totally un-crazy mauve).  I was in knitterly love with my unfinished socks.  I knew we'd spend many happy days together.  My decision was made.

I loved the squishy Koigu Kersti Merino I was using for my own and I could visualize this happy colored yarn sitting on the Koigu shelf at Threadbear. I thought these would be cozy and warm and of course "Elegant", but still fun socks for Maggie. 

Plus, what if Maggie was in the mood for pretty, not crazy? 

I had wanted to get "crazy" ribbons for the socks, but couldn't pass up these perfect matches.  I also couldn't decide which I liked better so I sent both to Maggie.

An ironic twist to knitting these socks:  In the week that it took me to knit these I found myself with unexpected "waiting room" knitting time as I sat through unexpected doctors appointments and a corruted artery ultra scan on my own teenage Monkeyboy.  While at this point there's not anything serious to worry about (well...a mother always worries), we still have a Cat-scan ahead of us (MRI canceled because of his braces), I couldn't help but think even more about Maggie and her mother as I knit through my own worry.  I can't imagine being Maggie's mother.  I'm not going to get all sappy and talk about life and parenting and love, but man, oh, man...

The Knitting Details:

Koigu Kersti 3.5 skeins

100% Merino

I chose this yarn after consulting Kelly.  She assured me that Maggie has a great appreciation for hand knits and hand washing these socks would not be a problem.  I hope not.  I felt bad sending socks with "special care" needs to a family so busy fighting this disease called Histiocytosis.

Elegant Ribbed Stockings from Interweaves 25 Favorite Socks  (no modifications--GREAT pattern)

No decreases in the pattern.  All decreases/increases are done via needles size changes. (Perfect for knitting a two circular interchangeable needles).  I used #7, #6 and #5.  That's almost like cheating for sock knitting.

That funky bulge mid calf?  Sock blocker marks.  It's hard to block knee highs or maybe even, over the knee socks.  I did swatch this yarn, but did not wash my swatch.  Shame on me. They did seem to grow a little after washing so I am concerned they may be too big. I wish I had finished my own first so I would've known, but I was anxious to get these baby's on Maggie's feet, it's getting cold in Michigan.