Cheshire Cat Knits

New pattern -- and it's free!

2009-08-05T16:19:00.005-04:00

I just posted a pattern in my ravelry store. It's for the Mermaid's Tail scarf. Another of those projects I have been busily finishing lately. This one is free simply because it is a scarf pattern using a rather common lace design. All I did was choose yarn and a simple edging treatment, do a little math and voila! A really pretty summer-weight scarf. So think of it as my birthday present to you. I had a great day on my birthday and wanted to share the good feelings. Besides the scarf turned out really nicely, and it is yet another example of the way I can't seem to follow rules. You know the one, "Thou shalt block lace." I didn't, and I am really happy with the results. The yarn (Bamboo by SWTC) has a fabulous texture that I thought would block out if I tried to block it. I love the drape of the fabric as is, and even with the texture the stitch pattern shows up very nicely.

Here is a pic of the finished project:

I kinda love it!

Current WIPs:

The Hanne vest from Spring 2009 Knitty
lace sock design
mom sweater design

I guess turning 44 was not the kiss of death for my creative spirit after all :)

Happy Knitting!

Productive Days

2009-07-30T14:10:00.003-04:00

When I get rolling, I am a little bit unstoppable. I wrote up another of my patterns and posted it to Ravelry. Another sock pattern -- Basket of Yarny Goodness socks

These are great socks (in fact, I am wearing them now). Soft and cushy with a simple basketweave pattern on the leg and instep. I love the way the basketweave sets off handpainted yarn. You get texture that doesn't interfere with color, and the great color patterning doesn't overwhelm the textured stitch. Best of both worlds, I think.

Today, I am doing some swatching for a pair of lacy socks. As usual, the color was an inspiration for me, and I took the patterning from there. These will definitely be a bit more intricate than the first two patterns.

I am also working on a sweater design for mom. She has yarn picked out for it, but if the sweater works as I imagine it, it could be done in several different weights of yarn. We'll see.

I have also been on a finishing kick, having completed three UFOs and a pair of plain socks in the last month. I'll post pics of those as soon as they are taken.

Life is good :)

News from the Long Lost Knitter

2009-07-28T19:44:00.004-04:00

So, it's been a year, and during this year I have started a new job, graduated a daughter from high school (Go Emma!!!), buried my grandfather, and generally taken a long hard look at my life. You know what? I am pretty darn happy. I fret about money, worry that my new principal will like me, start exercising, stop exercising -- and through it all I knit. So, finally, I decided to start looking at the things I knit, most of my own design, and try to get those designs on paper. OK, not paper so much as .pdf files, but you get my drift.

I am going to start with my favorite pair of socks: the Lemonade Lace Socks, knit with Ray's Down Home Art Yarns Socks from Knitivity. Ray's yarn is simply the most luscious stuff around. We'll put it this way -- I have sock yarn galore in my stash, yet if I want to knit something new I will go to Knitivity for inspiration. I have started the process of offering this pattern for sale on Ravelry. I'll let you know when it is available. In the meantime, here is a pic of the finished socks

OK, so they are sideways. I'll get it figured out eventually! In the pattern the picture is right side up :)

Tour de Fleece

2008-07-04T10:31:00.003-04:00

Well, I've been wanting to start spinning again so here's my opportunity. The Tour de Fleece starts tomorrow . . . and the best part is it's a stash busting project! My goal is to choose some fiber from the never-ending stash and spin it . . . all of it. Maybe I'll get back into the swing of things this way. I stopped spinning when my kids got big enough and interested enough in my spinning that they would stand on the treadle while I was working. Now that they are 17, 15, and 13 I don't think they'll still do that :) I think I'll work on the Louet today, get her all ready to go and then take some pictures of her and the fiber I choose. I love external motivation, don't you?

Almost Over

2008-03-28T20:51:00.003-04:00

I can't believe that spring break is almost over! I have so enjoyed lounging, relaxing, attempting not to stress. I think I can actually face heading back to work on Monday without feeling like I am coming unglued.

On the knitting front: I have finished chart two of Guinevere and started on chart three. I may actually be the slowest knitter on the planet. And why is it that when you have something you need to finish, and it is a complex yet lovely project, all these other projects come rushing in taunting you because you really don't have time to do them? I'm not talking about projects for me or even my family, but projects for people who have done nice things for me, projects for new babies, projects I'd really like to do but feel like I can't because of the lace. Now, don't get me wrong . . . I love the lace, feel pretty passionate about it really, but I am not a monogamous knitter by nature. This is really hard!!!

Lace Musing

2008-03-16T16:52:00.002-04:00

So, what is it about lace? When I first started knitting, I remember a friend working on a lace shawl for her mother in Indonesia. It was one that started with a center motif on DPNs and just kept growing and growing. I remember she stopped bringing it into the store when she had over a thousand stitches on her needles. As I sat there working on a sleeveless vest on size 10 needles, I thought there was no way in hell I would ever do anything like that. For one thing, lace is not exactly me. Too frilly and girly, I thought.

A decade or so later, I embarked on sock knitting. Little needles, fine yarn. I love socks, and now I have been captured by lace knitting. I have visions of knitting stoles for my windows (I am still not the lace-wearing type). And beading! Don't get me started!

Why does it appeal to me so? It is incredibly labor-intensive and time consuming. I just finished row 102 of Guinevere (SoS1) and there is precious little finished knitting there. The thing is every time I finish a pattern row, I get a huge rush of satisfaction. I love it when all the YOs and dec's work out. Something very mathematically satisfying there. Lace knitting is all about balance between those increases and decreases, between the concentration it takes to complete a pattern row and the mindlessness of the purl back row. There's also a yin yang thing about how carefully I count those rows and stitches and the danger of lace knitting. Anything that suggests the use of a lifeline must be inherently dangerous, no?

Speaking of which, I have yet to put in a lifeline. I am tempting fate, I know, but if you could see how careful I am with this knitting. The way I count and mark my pattern, the way I carefully cover the knitting and hide it from my cats, the way I never, ever leave it in the middle of a row. I sound like it is a child I am nurturing. If it were for me, I doubt I would be so careful with it, but it is destined to be a gift for a dear friend. The next one will belong to me . . . or maybe my living room window :)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho . . .

2008-03-13T17:14:00.002-04:00

It's back to work I go. . . well, went, I guess. The day is over and I am thinking about settling in for a nice evening with my stole. Thanks, DK, for the well-wishes. I love working on this lovely lace pattern. Something about it soothes my mathematical need for balance (I always liked algebraic equations because they had to balance). I know that the recipient will be absolutely pleased, surprised, and joyful. That already makes me happy.

I am counting down the days until Spring Break. A week from tomorrow, folks, and I will have a beautiful, glorious week of knitting and writing days. I can sleep in, stay up late, drink too much wine, eat too much food, and just be a happy girl. Spring Break is not for kids; it's for teachers who need to re-charge to get us through the last precious weeks of school before test season.

Sick days are good for something

2008-03-12T08:29:00.002-04:00

I am home from school with the worst cold I have had in five years. I feel like crap, and since I can't find a cold medicine that doesn't keep me awake I got up early and decided to finish a pair of socks that have been languishing. Pictures later after I get more batteries for the camera.

These are just a simple pair of cuffed socks made in Tofutsies. As much as I like how they look and feel, I don't think I will use this yarn again. It splits so easily, which was a minor pain when I was knitting, but a major one when it came to grafting the toes. When the first one was all splitty and irritating, I chalked it up to me being uptight and anxious to finish, but the second one was just as bad. I don't need anything to make Kitchener-ing more stressful!!!

The good news is that I have another FO under my belt and more ChoreWars points to rack up :) Oh, how I love Ravelry and Lime 'n' Violet! Now if I can just get rid of this nasty damn cold I'd be happy. I worry about it moving into my chest. I am so congested now I can't get a full breath without working for it.

I think I will grade papers and work on the Secret of the Stole project I started last fall. I became disenchanted when I realized it wasn't going to work for its original purpose, but I have decided who I will give it to now, and I feel inspired again. I fear it will seriously cut into other knitting, but the recipient is a very special person so I can take that into account while I spend hours with beads, little needles and tiny thread :)

Grrrrr, cats!

2008-02-14T18:23:00.002-05:00

So, I finally decided to get back to work on my Secret of the Stole pattern the other day. The gorgeous cone of yarn with four inches of knitting yumminess and beautiful Options wood needles from Knit Picks has been sitting in the same out of the way place since December. I was finishing up grading some papers and was eyeing the yarn, thinking about an afternoon of lace knitting when suddenly Spatswiggle, the enormous tuxedo cat, knocked the cone of yarn to the floor and broke my needle!!!!!!!

That is the second pair of ruined needles attached to this project. I refuse to believe that was some sort of karmic message. I love the pattern, the beads, the yarn, and I finally have a recipient in mind. I have, of course, ordered more needles. I resisted the yarn sale, but did enhance my stash at the closing sale of Rocktown Yarns. Like I needed to do that!

I also need to knit up a quickie baby present for a co-worker who will soon be going on maternity leave. The shower is in a week. I am guessing I can get them done by then. I used to crochet pretty layettes in about two weeks so I guess I can get a pair of booties done. I'll post pics when they are done.

Oh, and I'll hide everything from the cat.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

2008-01-27T12:13:00.000-05:00

OK, it was actually Saturday that was bloody, but the title works better with Sunday. My boys are both wrestlers and were competing at a tournament yesterday. Well, there we were in the second period, and Adam was wrestling his brains out when he took a knee to the face, and his nose started gushing blood. It took them about four minutes to get the bleeding under control, and they wrapped his whole head in bandages. He looked like a mummy. The best part is that he then popped his headgear back on and went back to the mat! When the match was over as the two boys were disentangling themselves, the other kid managed to step on, squash, or otherwise kick my kid in the nuts. I assume it was accidental, but nonetheless incredibly painful. Adam, being the stoic kid he is took it all in stride, and got through the rest of the day. I, on the other hand, wanted to take him home the minute the match was over. From what I saw (lump on the bridge of his out of alignment nose), it is probably broken. So, I am expecting two black eyes when he gets home from his dad's today.

Is it really only Wednesday?

2008-01-23T18:42:00.000-05:00

I realize that I do the majority of my blogging and anything else fun on non-school days. Hence, that feeling that I could scream because it is only Wednesday. Will someone please let me know how I can spend my life knitting, writing, and good stuff like that, and still have a roof over my head. Please?

Anyway, I love my Cratchit gloves. Of course, the morning I wore them it was about 16 degrees and my hands were numb by the time I got back to my class, gloves or no gloves. My hands actually hurt all day, and when I mentioned it to my dad on the phone, he hinted . . . ok, he said something like "It could be arthritis, you know. You're getting to the age for that now." Thanks, Daddy! That's all I need.

My darling D is sick, sick, sick. So, I think I will spend my evening knitting on a simple cuffed sock and making tea for her. I brought her some forced mini daffodils, but I don't think they cheered her up. There's something about spending the day with one's head in a bucket that even cheery flowers won't fix :(

Oh well, tomorrow is another day . . . . .

One down . . . Then two . . . Now Three . . . Four and Five!!!

2008-01-20T13:16:00.000-05:00

OK, I know it's stupid, but I hate doing the fingers on gloves soooo much that I am posting about each damn finger in order to encourage myself. So, it's 1:15, and the pinky is done!! Woohoo!

2:50 and another finger is done! I wasn't just knitting all that time, I swear! I raveled a bit and waited on Broken Toe Girl :)

4:21 the middle finger is complete. I wrote up a draft of my Lemonade Lace socks, and wrote a review of The English Teacher's Companion on Amazon.

5:47 the Patriots are winning (huge shock!) and I am moving on to the thumb :)

7:38 the thumb is complete, and I will have warm hands for bus duty on Tuesday! As an experiment this worked pretty well. I don't know if it was the bloggy fun or the guilt that motivated me to finish, but either way, I am done :)

I fought the law . . .

2008-01-20T09:25:00.000-05:00

Ok, the laws of physics, not the guys with guns . . . So, once I fought off the inertia yesterday, I actually got a lot accomplished. I did some planning for my Bobby Kraft novel, I cooked a little, and I knit all day while watching season two of the L Word. I stopped watching the show about halfway through season two and then only watched sporadically through season three. So, I have no idea how we got to the crazy place we are now in the show. But I digress . . .

I reached the spot in my Cratchit gloves where it is time to do fingers. (I should mention at this point that I really am a slow knitter. I did knit all day, but I am interrupted frequently by dogs wanting to go out, etc.) Now, this is the place where I am sorely tempted to put away the gloves and work on something else because I hate knitting the fingers. No, I will resist the temptation because I want my gloves for bus duty Tuesday morning.

On an ouchie note . . . last night, the lovely D decided to go out to get some soda as we were all out. She slipped and fell down our icy, treacherous front steps, and this was the result:

It actually looks worse than that. One very broken toe, and huge bruises in places I tastefully chose not to photograph later, my girl is in a lot of pain today. :(

So, today the plan is to finish the glove and do some bookkeeping. I'd like to start a draft of one of my sock patterns too. I am thinking the Lemonade Lace socks made from Ray's Knitivity yarn. They turned out better than I had expected, and the yarn is scrumptious.

what to do?

2008-01-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

It is so quiet here today. I keep telling myself I should get something done. The kids are all out. It's just D and the cats and me. So, I could work on my second Cratchit glove or I could work on my new story or I could spend some more time on my resume or I could lesson plan for next week. I think I have too much to do.

This is always a problem for me. I am that weird combination of person who has several interests but is a linear do-er by nature. I would love to start a project and finish it before starting another, but a) my attention span is too short and b) I have too many interests. So, I constantly am switching from thing to thing and feeling like I am not getting anything done.

Fortunately, I am a mom and a teacher. Both of those things have taught me that I don't have to be a linear do-er in order to get anything done. In fact, when you are either a mom or a teacher you soon discover that you can't be a linear do-er and patience becomes a highly sought after commodity. Nevertheless, it goes against my basic nature to dabble in my various pools. I want to spend a whole day knitting or a whole day writing, not a bit here a bit there.

Patience, Grasshopper

Can you say idiot???

2007-10-13T16:49:00.000-04:00

I have always given myself credit for being a pretty smart cookie. I was never one of those people who thought I was invincible. So, it may come as a surprise that this morning I was prepping some jalapenos before freezing them, and I didn't wear gloves. I was careful not to touch my face, and I used a spoon to scoop out the seeds and the membranes. The minute I felt anything resembling heat in my hands, I quit. Too late. My right hand burns like nobody's business. I can't knit; I can only type one-handed, and I feel like an idiot. It's a little scary to be honest. You can't see anything except a slight redness, but it burns like crazy under the skin. I keep dipping my hand in sour cream. And ice water. And taking Advil. And smacking myself in the head!!!

Deadlines Loom

2007-10-03T18:25:00.001-04:00

I am desperately trying to finish my Basket of Yarny Goodness Socks before Secret of the Stole starts. Right now, i resent every minute I am at work and not knitting . Ok, I realize if I didn't work I wouldn't be able to knit either, but . . . but that's not the point!!! I want a month off . . . say the month of November so I can NaNoWriMo and knit to my heart's content.

I have chosen yarn, needles, and beads for the stole. I have chosen yarn for the SockWars socks. I have the first at least 20K words of my novel planned for November. So, now a month off is in order. I guess not really practical for a school teacher, but hey, I can dream!

I wish I did this more often

2007-09-30T08:37:00.000-04:00

The fact is I love writing here. It is good to have a place where I can collect my thoughts on different things. I have tried to maintain a blog several times, but I always seem to let it go. In fact, I found an old blog of mine this morning that has been sitting there since 2005. If I could remember what my e-mail was at the time I could get rid of it :)

Anyway . . . my knitting life has been seriously curtailed this week as I am having some trouble with my hands. I occasionally get stiffness in my hands and fingers if I have been knitting or typing a lot, but this one is different. It is specifically my left hand, along the outside edge, down near the base of my hand. It is a little swollen too. Typing doesn't seem to bother it much, so I am writing instead of knitting at the moment.

I missed my deadline on the Frank Tank, which was ok, because I ran into some charting difficulties. The image is rather more complex than I had originally thought. I think I will try to submit it to Knitty for their summer issue. I am still thinking aout my salad days socks. I want a stitch pattern that reminds me of lettuce leaves, so I am playing around with that. I would like to get another pair of socks done this week before the Secret of the Stole KAL starts, and then there's SockWars. Have I lost my mind? Don't answer that! All of which becomes back burner to NaNoWriMo in November. This year I will win. I haven't since 2001 so I really want to kick this into high gear.

::sigh:: so much to do. . . sleep and work really get in the way!

Sunday, Sunday

2007-08-12T15:23:00.001-04:00

Well, I can tell the school year is beginning. I am feeling the Sunday Blues. I have spent most of my knitting energy today working on a new design in Classic Elite Classic Silk. I love this yarn. It is a cotton/silk blend with a beautiful hand. I finished the swatch process yesterday, and today I broke out the graph paper to chart the intarsia design that will grace the front of this little sweater. It isn't quite done, but I should meet my goal of having this proposal ready to send out in a week.

Ah yes, another benefit of Ravelry: I have discovered Lime n' Violet. I know, I know . . . where have I been? I don't know but now that I have found them I will never let them go. Go to the website. Listen to the podcast. Read the Daily Chum. Shop!

OTN: Basket of Yarny Goodness Socks

Thank you, Ravelry

2007-08-11T23:14:00.000-04:00

If you haven't been to Ravelry yet, run. I know the waiting list is long, but it is so worth it. My stash is getting organized. My knitting is getting done. I am even inspired to get back into designing my own patterns after a very long hiatus. I love the knitting community! I find constant inspiration and encouragement from my knitsibs. Ravelry has added a new dimension to my knitting . . . fun. I have always loved knitting, but it was something I did alone. Ravelry is like the biggest stitch-n-bitch ever. In addition, it's an invaluable resource for patterns and yarns. So, yes, I am a huge fan.

OTN: Basket of Yarny Goodness Sock #2 in Knitivity Down Home Art Yarns - impact

FO: swatch for a new design in Classic Elite's Classic Silk