knitting: commentary

24 march 2003

the bulky baby bathrobe is all done! well, it still needs seaming but i need to find a different yarn for the seams as elseways it will entirely too bulky; we're looking for just bulky enough.

and i've been knitting like mad on j's mother's sweater. i finished the back and have started on the left front. i made my first pocket! yay, me! i still don't like this yarn much, but i keep telling myself it is not for me, and it will get a lot of wear simply because she won't have to give it any special attention. the colours are nice though -- the blue and purple are so subtle in places, it's like jewels in the forest.

i leave wednesday for another business trip, this one in chicago. my schedule is pretty much jam packed wednesday through sunday, but i am hoping for at least a little quality knitting time in the hotel room in the evenings, after the meetings and dinners and cocktail parties. i have an idea in my head for a dress for sophie -- maybe i'll have time to work up some swatches to see if what i imagine in my head looks remotely attractive in the real world.

18 march 2003 david and goliath

not enough writing about knitting of late, but plenty of knitting. after much hemming and hawing, i finally decided that i was never going to alter the shell i made for jim's mom last year. so now i will finally add the neckline and will keep it for myself. of course, that means i owe jim's mom something so i've started on the hippy chic cardigan from the recent knit it! the pattern covers plus sizes so with a little luck, this one will fit her. she's definitely a chuck it in the wash kind of person, so i bought acrylic and am going to town. well, moseying to town, but i do have the pocket linings and the bottom band of the back done. pictures to follow once there is something to see.

i love the contrast of these two things i was working on last week -- the tiny stitches of the baby tube socks [dk] and the big bold stitches of the baby bathrobe [bulky].

the bathrobe is a bit of an experiment -- i had three balls of lion cotton thick & quick so i thought, hey! that might make a nice robe for a slippery wet baby straight out of the bath! we'll see.

and finally, i finished the layette 2 days before tom and stacey and the new baby moved to chicago. unfortunately, the baby was sick those two days so we did not hook up and the layette is still here. i need to pester him for an address so i can post it before koby is too big for it.

03 march 2003 visual aids

bloggers, we have a computer.

and while we don't have the ability to edit photos at home, as yet [must retrieve the photoshop disc from wherever i might have put it for safekeeping], i can edit at work! without further delay, the photos:

this is the set i made for my coworker, t. it hasn't even been properly cold here this winter, but she's from africa, so maybe she feels the cold more than i do. the truest representation of color is that in the mittens picture. i absolutely love this scarf pattern, easy garter stitch and the shaping makes for great drape.

the ubiquitous fuzzy feet. these are jim's. i love them so i must make another pair for me.

sophie's world: a red mitten [there are two but as mittens are wont to do, one has already gone missing], the hooded sweater, and a fair-isle-esque chart i am designing for her. i was inspired after looking through the pattern books by tone takle and lise kolstad. i started with sophie's initials and went from there. don't know exactly when i will make something -- i have visions of a series of items, all custom for her: a dress, sweater, leggings, cardigan, afghan...

and just because, sophie rediscovers the frog headband.

february 2003