I've Been Knitting, a month in pictures

My words are a little stopped up these days.  Perhaps I’ve let my story-tap subscription lapse?*  Or perhaps I’m distracted by the human tragedy that is occurring in Haiti right now.  If you haven’t already, please consider making a donation to one of the organizations that is trying to provide relief to this battered people.  

CharityWatch.org has a list of highly rated charities working in Haiti right now if you’d like some ideas. 

While I seek out my words, here are some photos of what I’ve been knitting in December. 

Half-Pipe Hat by Debbie Stoller from Son of Stitch ‘N Bitch for Sonar X9

Sonar X9 wanted a knit cap with a brim right before Christmas.  We had a few days of actual winter, so I tried to accommodate him.  This is made with a strand of Oxford Grey Lion Brand Woolease and a strand of something else in black (ball band swallowed by the furies of entropy), held together to make a thick, sturdy cap.  The front is sewn in place to hold the brim, but the sides and back will fold down to cover the ears and the top of the neck.  Sonar X5 is modeling in the absence of his brother. 

Half-Pipe Hat before the brim is sewn inHalf-Pipe Hat after brim sewn in

Helmet Liners by Bonnie Long via the Citizen Sam Helmet-Liner Project for My Brother and His Battle Buddies

I made three of these from one skein of Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool.  Hopefully they will warm my brother and his comrades.  This was a very satisfying project.  

Sonar X5 with Helmet Liner #3 and the remains of the skeinSonar X5 demonstrating alternate wearing options for the helmet linerTempest Cardigan by Weaverknits from Knitty, Spring 2008 for ME!

I’ve been hankering (that’s more fake-Texas talk) for a lightweight cardigan for sometime, and this sweater has been in the back of my mind.  I flipped the stash and came out with a few things.  One abandoned project was frogged.  One unsatisfying project was frogged.  A few other things were scattered about.  I thought of buying new yarn, but then there was that earthquake.  I counted my blessings, sent the yarn money to the folks at OxFam, Doctors Without Borders, and The Red Cross, and started swatching with what I had.

The K’nex swift is holding a partial skein of Tofutsies, resurrected from another project, and a partial skein of KnitPicks Gloss lace, also lifted from obscurity.  I liked this combination on the swift, but was less certain about it (and gauge) in a swatch.

Frogged yarn on the swift.

I made a crazy-long swatch of several yarns, trying to work out what I liked.  This is what survived.  The top half is two strands of the KnitPicks Gloss Lace (Celery) held together.  The bottom is a strand of the Celery held with a strand of AlpacaWare superfine (Pale Pink).  Gauge is as close as it’s ever been for me.  Maybe this sweater will actually fit me. 

The winning swatch

After an hour or so of measuring myself, measuring my favorite tops, and worrying over the pattern, I cast on last Thursday (thereabout).  I finished the back piece on Monday night, so it’s going pretty quickly.  I cast on the first of two front pieces this morning. 

The back of the Tempest Cardigan, among other things on my mind

My Future Knitting

I’m looking forward to several baby projects for different friends who are expecting.  In the meantime, I’m pondering possibilities for the yarn the Sonars gave me for Christmas. 

And what shall I do with this? I have an idea. *Don’t miss the veiled reference to Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie.  Great book.