knit and tonic

If I had the Guts

Sahara is here. In case you don't know, I did a design for Stitch Diva Studios and this is the sleeveless version.

I was surprised how long the process took, this being my first time to work with a "real" operation like this. I did a pattern some time back for Interweave Press, and it feels like that was ages ago, but I just saw the "No Sheep For You" book advertised here and there, so I know the publication is on the horizon. But let me tell you this: I think I finished the pattern and the sample the summer before last...or something like that!

These things, they take time.

Luckily we have the Internet. Luckily, we have self-published items available, too. Luckily, I discovered a new gal leaving the gym all gussied up with high heels, a be-jeweled purse, and tight jeans--but wearing a big, fluffy towel around her head on her way out.

I'm easily impressed, let me tell you.

(All I can think is that she was experiencing some bad, bad hair. But heck. Give me bad hair before I jaunt through the joint with a towel around my head wearing high heels. Shoot, I could probably do it in my normal gear, but high heels and tight jeans and dangly jewelry? A be-jeweled purse? A swing in my step?)

And I'm thinking, if I had guts like that, I'd be on the moon by now, or beyond. Well, maybe not on the moon or even in the greater Los Angeles area. But, I would have knit some underwear by now. Or maybe I would have finished that knitted bathing suit I dreamt of while under some sort of "I-lost-a-pound" spell. If I had guts like that, I'd wash my hair at the gym and wrap it all up in a white fluffy towel stolen from some Las Vegas hotel and leave with panache. I'd leave with panache and not care that that woman over there--the one who dresses for the gym everyday whether or not she actually works out--takes one look at me, hits the emergency stop button on the treadmill, and immediately grabs her little memo pad and pen.

If only I had the guts.

Oh, and check out the Garter Belt. There are three new patterns available, among them Drive-Thru, and the cool thing is, there's a boy's pullover pattern by Elizabeth and a cute dress coat for little girls by Marie Grace. Both are top-down patterns and both look quick. If you are quick and gutsy, you might be able to eek out one of these numbers by the New Year.

BTW: The toilet downstairs is still on the fritz. Please, send HWWV your Handyman good-thoughts...

Yarn Talk

HWWV is downstairs doing something I never thought he'd do: fix a toilet. I can also hear Girlfriend whining about something and there is all manner of clanking and chaos down there. All I can say is, there's no way in heck I'm going to open the door to my "studio" and venture out. And anyway, there's some Serious Yarn Business going on in here.

Well, at least that was where my mind kept wandering to today while I was pedaling, considering different ideas for a post. But nothing came to mind. I guess all the Serious Yarn Business going on lately has something to do with it.

I'm actually beginning to think that all this knitting, spinning, knitting, pattern writing, knitting, pattern reading, knitting and talking about knitting is emptying my head just a tiny bit. Or hey! Maybe it's not emptying my head. Maybe it's filling my head.

Could it be, those of us Serious Yarn Business people are so chock-full of yarn, knitting, more yarn and yarn talk that we don't have room for much else?

First of all, Serious Yarn Business people must knit. A lot. They also must buy a lot of yarn or at least pile it up in an Internet shopping cart late at night, you know, something akin to the ages-old drunken late-night dial. And talk: They need to talk a lot about yarn, too, and if they are Super-Serious Yarn Business people, they'll discuss fibers in detail the likes of which can only make non-Serious/Non-Yarn Business people's faces twitch like mad before the shivers finally make it down their leg, to their foot, and gets punctuated with a big, giant kick in the Serious Yarn Business person's rear.

But that, of course, is beside the point. I want to talk about yarn. I want to talk about Yarn Talk.

Just today, I got a whole earful of serious Yarn Talk while at the LYS. It was mostly about wool. What I found out, is that certain people (me, among them) don't like wearing wool too close to the skin unless it's super cold outside. But someone, someone who takes her yarn Very Seriously informed us all that she even checks the humidity outside before she'll pull anything made of wool over her head.

I asked her if she had some sort of a humidity gauge or did she lick her finger and stick it out the window to find out?

After a few blinks, a mid-line chuckle and a squinty sideways look, she said: "All I know is, If the humidity isn't high enough, it'll make my hair all 'staticky.'"

Another lady, while knitting up something in Noro
Transitions, informed us all that she will not wear wool. Ever. But, she will most definitely wear jeans with lace sewn all over them. Especially if she has a matching jacket and a frilly blouse to complete the ensemble.

BTW: While I was apparently working on some Serious Yarn Business this weekend, I worked up a top out of some (more) Malabrigo. You know, something for Girlfriend. Reminds me of those Senor Lopez's we used to wear. (Mine was white and I only stopped wearing it when my brother ripped the pocket off in some sort of brotherly rage.)

Yarn in Trees

Although I never understood why people pose their yarn in trees, I did it once. Well, to be truthful, it was HWWV who did it once but I didn't protest. I suppose, after awhile, and especially if you bring yarn home more often than "from time to time" a tree might make a decent prop. Because, let's face it, there have to be places to prop yarn on other than grass, the barbeque or the patio chair or the table.

Come to think of it, I have yarn in a bag in my car right now. It has been sitting in the garage for about seven hours, now--nine hanks of the Atacama Hand-Painted Alpaca and the book, Sexy Little Knits by Ashley Paige--and I haven't even gone to retrieve it. It's not like I don't like the yarn or anything because I do. It's just that, when I came home earlier, Bobby the housekeeper was here and I didn't want to walk in with more yarn. The poor guy has been cleaning around my yarn for years and I wouldn't want these nine new hanks to send him over the edge.

Plus, I had a six-inch submarine sandwich stuffed in my purse, and I wouldn't want him to think that I'm some sort of hungry, crazy yarn lady or anything.

Speaking of hungry crazy ladies. I finally got back into the gym after a few days' hiatus. I've been dreading going in there. This time of year it gets so crowded, what with all the turkey and stuffing and hams and homemade Chex mix with real butter. I figure by February or March it will cool down again, and I sure hope the influx brings in a few new faces. In the past, I had my hands full, what with the guy who'd show up with selected afro wigs and the other guy with the Superman outfit. So, today I settled for the not-so-sensationalistic guy who is rumored to be a female impersonator. As I trotted behind him, I kept thinking to myself that he looked pretty dang manly to me and who'd he impersonate? Janet Reno? I trotted and trotted and kept thinking that If I had any guts at all, I'd clear up all the rumors and just ask him straight out.

But when I spotted his French manicure, I gave up the dream. Let's just hope that there will be more to report after the holiday rush.

The yarn there is the Lanas Puras Fingering weight hand-painted I got from One Planet Yarn and Fiber. The colorway is Desert Bloom and it is to die for. It feels just like the Malabrigo...(and, rumor has it, they'll be carrying a DK weight, but I'm told they don't know for sure, yet.)

 

Drive-Thru, a.k.a., "The Quicko-Cheapo"

I love knitting for kids because projects for kids usually go quicker than others. Plus, if you're a really fast knitter, you might get lucky and see them wear the thing you've knit at least twice before it's too short, too tight, or so full of smudges and whatnot that they can't wear it anymore.

Enter the Drive-Thru sweater.

Also known as the "Quicko-Cheapo," and sized two thru 16, this cardigan/pullover pattern is quick because it calls for a worsted weight yarn that knits up so speedily that once you're done, you'll want to cast on for another one, right away. And the great thing about this is that, although there are a few color changes, there isn't a particular technique involved. In fact, even though the yoke pattern looks a bit like Fair Isle, it really isn't. It's just a couple of colors mixed on one row, then a few plain-colored rows that follow.

Better, if you don't want to work this in wool, you can use a worsted weight cotton. Shoot, you can even find some yarn for the main color, then work the yoke portion with odd-ball yarn from your stash. There aren't any rules here, except to have fun.

Cardigan or Pullover for Ages: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 [12, 14, 16]

Chest Sizes: 21, 23, 25, 27, 28.5 [30, 31.5, 32.5] inches

Approximate Finished Chest Circumference: 22.5, 24, 26, 27.5, 29 [31, 32.5, 33.5] inches (cardigan slightly larger)

Gauge: 20 sts and 22 rows=4 inches on US Size 8 (5mm) needles

Materials:
Plymouth Galway/Highland (100% wool, 100gms/210yds)
MC: 2, 2, 3, 3, 4 [4, 4, 5] skeins
CC1: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 [1, 1, 1] skein
CC2: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 [1, 1, 1] skein
CC3: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 [1, 1, 1] skein
Or, MC plus several yards of different odd balls for yoke treatment

US Size 7 (4.5mm) and 8 (5mm) circular needles, or size to obtain gauge

Stitch Markers, Scrap Yarn, Buttons for Cardigan Version

Difficulty: Easy. You’ll knit in the round, do some decreases and simple color changes. Beginners might need help with 2 short rows that are worked at the back neck.

Possible Yarn Substitutions: Marlabrigo, Elann Peruvian Highland Wool, Cascade 220, Lion Brand Cotton Ease or Wool Ease, Misti Alpaca Worsted, Karabella Aurora 8, Plymouth Encore

Click on the button below to buy a copy. It will be sent to you in a zipped PDF file via email once payment is complete.

$5.50

Poll Ended

I don't know how to close the poll, so I'll just call it. "Drive Thru" wins at 8:55 p.m. over "Done, Dirt Cheap" by 9 votes.

ETA: I just removed the poll, see the top three below. Will publish the pattern in a day or so! Happy Thanksgiving! (And thanks for voting. Personally, I liked the original Quicko-Cheapo, but heck, "Drive-Thru" it is.)

(Oh, and did I tell you we'll have guests, soon?)

Kind of like my hair in the 80's and 90's (well, mostly the 90's), I've teased this one to death. But honestly, I'm sick, I'm thinking about deadlines, and my creativity has been spent. I'm all dried up.

(Except for my nose.)

But anyway. Other than a few details, the Done-to-Death Sweater is ready for publication and I'm still short of a name. I figure--and since I never do this sort of thing--that I would take a poll. Yeah, Polls. Yeah, Memes. But since I have never done a poll and I have done maybe one or two memes, I deserve a pass. Plus, I'm so loaded up on cold medication I don't know if "the cure" is worse than feelin' bad.

ETA: Results of Top Three at 8:55 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 21st. 542 - Drive Thru 533 - Done Dirt Cheap 346 - Try on For Candy

BTW: On other news, I just did a square for Kaitlyn. Look at Ariane's blog if you have an hour and some pink yarn for a little girl. I used some of the pink yarn I used for Girlfriend's Yet-To-Be-Named.

Need a Name

If it weren't for the heat and the fact that I can't think of a good name for the Quicko/Cheapo, I'd have the pattern ready today.

Plus, I woke up with what appears to be a head cold. Although things like head colds don't affect me that much, well, the heat.

The heat. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. Plus, how am I supposed to be thinking about sweater patterns when its in the 90's outside? At least Girlfriend seems to be unaffected. HWWV dressed her in a corduroy skirt and a long sleeved Henley today. I guess he's starting her early on the After Labor Day, No White or Patent Leather Shoes Rule.

Come to think of it, that roommate of mine, the one who ran off to Greece and became a famous TV model and ended up in the middle of a scandal involving a love child and a tragic suicide used to tell me that I shouldn't wear sandals or anything with a hint of Nautical after Labor Day. She had the goods, I tell you what. Among her other mantras: Purchase just one or two wardrobe staples and accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Another one: Sprinkle water on your popcorn instead of butter before you salt it and you won't add extra calories. (I tried it, but let's say that one wasn't her best.)

So, no pattern today. Must think of a name other than Quicko/Cheapo. Because, let's face it: Being Quick and Cheap in some circles is all right. In others, well, it's not something to brag about.

Knitting for Knitting's Sake

The thing that I keep thinking about is that the holidays are coming. Girlfriend has FIVE teachers and I don't know what to do.

Last year at this time, she had three teachers, and I didn't do a heck of a lot. Rather, I didn't know I should do a heck of a lot. Then, the last day before the holiday came and next thing I know, I walk into the classroom where there are piles of elaborate gifts stacked here and there for the teachers. I was empty handed except for maybe a McDonald's coffee with three creams and two sugars, and a mouth shaped like a big "O"(hhh).

This year, I don't know if I can make that same mistake. And don'tcha suspect that teachers don't really get much of consequence, or expect anything, anyway? Maybe a lotion or maybe a votive, or if they're lucky, a gift certificate for some tea or coffee (or a nice crayon picture from a student). I do have to say, however, there was a rumor that one of the main teachers at the co-op scored a mani-pedi.

If I have to compete with a mani-pedi, I'm not sure what I can do. Especially if the mani-pedi she received had hot rocks, essential oils and a toe-hair shave involved.

I picked up some Malabrigo today. I had to. I had to because it is soft and it has a gorgeous hue and well, I'm a big sucker for this kind of thing. Gosh knows I won't ever wear a garment out of it because it's 87 degrees today and if what they say about global warming is true, next year it will be 87.000013 degrees on November 16th. Either way, I'm pretty sure I won't be wearing anything made out of the stuff. But, I will be knitting something made out of the stuff.

Because--and I'm ready to admit it--I don't knit for any other reason than to knit.

Oh, and hey! Do ya think the teachers would want some yarn?

The Badge

I haven't knit a whole heck of a lot of garments, socks, scarves or other stuff for boyfriends in the past. Come to think of it, I haven't knit a heck of a lot of garments, socks, scarves or stuff for guy-types like husband, father or brother, either.

(Worse, I didn't really ever knit until recently. So, don't mention the boyfriend part to you-know-who.)

It could be that I have a little girl, and girl stuff is sort of top of mind, but truth be told, if I had a choice, I'd knit for just about anyone with a bit of flair. You know, just about anyone who will wear the garment, the pair of socks, the scarf or some other type of thing with aplomb and a flick of the wrist. Or possibly the hopeful, "Still Hungry" look us knitters eeek out when we finally don a finished item for the first time...

You might know it as the Sweaty Look looking back at you in the mirror, the "I just knit this and I'm not quite sure" look we get from time to time. Or, the "Don't you dare look in the back there, where I accidentally dropped a stitch and didn't notice it until 12 more inches into the pattern but dang it I'm wearing it anyway....to the PROM" look.

Because, isn't this the Badge?

And I'll be honest about the stuff up top. I'm not a fan of the Fair Isle. All that multiple yarn-strand action rattles my brain. Sometimes I wonder if the whole problem stems from being blind on one side but I figure that's just a big excuse.

I just don't like performing the Fair Isle. So I faked it.

Enough said. Except to say, I finished the pullover version of the Cheap-o. Pattern will be available soon. (But don't get mad at me if the Fair Isle is not-so-fair. I just couldn't be bothered with all those strands. Just too many strands everywhere. Ugh.)

And I wanted to show you the cap-sleeved version of Sahara. I'll be sure to tell you when Stitch Diva makes it available, but this particular version blew me away.

Doesn't she have that hungry look?..Or is she begging you to look deeply into her eyes and not at that particular dropped stitch there under the left arm? (Just kidding.)

Sahara should be ready in a week or so. We're (I'm) just ironing out some particulars and trying to revive ourselves (myself) from the excitement of it all.

Quick-o not so Quick

I must be losing my touch. This is all I accomplished on the second Quick-o/Cheap-o this past weekend. I got the yarn on Friday and sat on it until yesterday. And then last evening when I noticed there was a Rocky marathon on cable, I decided I had no other choice but to sit and knit and watch poor Rocky get beat up.

But halfway into the third Rocky, I couldn't take it any longer. Maybe I'm a bit jaded, but I tell you what, after two and a half of those Rocky's I couldn't help but notice they were re-using the same smashed up prosthetic eye for his fight scenes.

I mean, I suppose I can sort of believe that if a guy gets hit in the same eye in the same fashion that his eye might swell in a similar way. But three times in a row? Shoot, I wake up with puffy eyes every morning and believe me, I can always count on a slightly different nuance of puff.

So I wonder what it is with me that I get anxious to complete a project but find other things to do, instead?

Instead of working on Quick-o this weekend, I painted the front doors to our house (tall, double-wide ones--two coats), I washed all the exterior windows, sprayed the plants for bugs, and cast on and completed a knit purse, completed a knitted winter head scarf, cast on for a baby hat with no recipient in mind, and lay on the floor while dreaming of rearranging my closet.