Bubble Gum Pink

This baby sweater is finished. I thought it would need interesting buttons, but I was mistaken; simple pearl buttons in a matching shade of bubble gum pink look just fine with the textured stitch pattern. This pattern is from Pingouin layette book #98.

Preparations for moving continue apace. I can't believe how much junk has accumulated in this house. I have made many, many trips to donate useful things that we don't really need and I keep finding more. Will it ever end?



We are having an extraordinarily beautiful spring this year. With the above-average rainfall we've had this winter in California, we are having more spring flowers than usual as well. My yard is filled with little blue lupines and monkey flowers. All around us the bright orange poppies have begun blooming, enticing us out to enjoy the weather when we can.

It's the beginning of the season for knitting in public out-of-doors!

I hope you all enjoy these lovely spring days in your neck of the woods.

Packing and TV Knitting

Packing continues for the move next month. So much has been done, but so much is left to be done. I hate packing, doesn't everyone?

The timing of our move is rather inconvenient for my knitting schedule. I have friends and family who have recently become new parents or are expecting soon. This seems to be the year for babies. I have many, many baby things to make.

I have some new layette books to inspire me. There is only one problem with a new pattern, you don't know exactly how it will turn out. The proportions may make the garment look like clown clothes. The pattern stitch may be awkward to execute and make your carpal tunnel thing flare up. The finishing details may not work out quite right, or may look cute in the photo but ridiculous in person. You just don't know until you've tried it out.

And so, I'm trying out some patterns. I really don't want to have to rip out and reknit that lovely Lang yarn that I paid way too much for, it looks a little delicate, like the plies may separate and not survive too much frogging. So, I'm using that acrylic yarn they sell at the dollar store. If I don't like the way it's going, I can break the yarn and throw the piece away without feeling guilty. If it turns out well, then I can donate the test garment to a worthy organization who collects layette items. A win-win situation.

I don't mind the extra knitting time, I like to knit while I watch TV, it gives my hands something to do. If the project is small, then it is easy to put down quickly to chase the toddler.



This is the piece I've been working on this week. It's turning out pretty well, we'll see what it looks like with sleeves. The cotton-candy pink color just grows on you, doesn't it? I think it will look best with interesting buttons. Plain buttons would just make it too boring and blah. This simple little sweater needs some little ribbons and rosebuds, that sort of thing, to dress it up a bit and make it more special.

Have a wonderful week and happy knitting!

Post Stash Flash

I have really enjoyed looking at other people's stash photos. It would seem that most are able to keep ahead of the yarn accumulation and actually get it knitted. There are some out there like me who can't resist the urge to get just a little more yarn. You know I'm good for it, I'll knit it up eventually. Maybe. Don't pay any attention to that basket full of Donegal Tweed that's been sitting on a side table for 5 years. Hush you, that is 'decor' and a valid use for yarn I should think!



I have been so very busy with packing and preparing for the move that I haven't had much time for knitting (or posting either). I've managed to pack the stash into 2 rather large boxes. I will need a 3rd box for the projects in progress, but not until the last moment.



The blue striped sweater has a few more inches added to the back. The argyle now has a sleeve. The Dale has a back to match the front and should have sleeves finished soon.

I'm trying to finish all of the machine knitting so that I can pack the machine. One thing I have learned over the years, do not pack the knitting machine with projects unfinished. You will lose all your notes and won't be able to remember what machine settings you were using and will have to start over and frog and reknit. I hate having to frog and reknit a perfectly good sweater just because I've forgotten what tension/needles I've used in the first place, don't you?

Flash Your Stash

As promised, here is 'the good stuff', that portion of my stash comprised of natural fibers. I seem to have retrieved just about all of it from various nooks and crannies around the house. Filling the cubbies on the left are wool yarns, on the right a combination of cotton, silk and wool yarns. Some of my favorites:



On the left, Alafoss Lopi in a nice medium gray for a bomber jacket. On the right, Tahki Donegal Tweed in assorted colors just because they were so beautiful.



Merino: some Lane Borgosesia Merinos Extra Fine, GGH Merino Soft and some GGH Taj Mahal with silk and cashmere added. Purchased to make wonderfully soft fairisle tams.



As previously posted, cotton Sonata from Elann in a variety of cool colors. 25 balls in all. I have no idea what I will be making with this yarn yet, but for now I'm really enjoying petting it.



Assorted wools: Nature Spun and Creme Brulee for making hats; 7 Settembre from the sale bin for small projects; Cascade 220 for felted bags; and 10 balls each of Dale Baby Ull in white, charcoal and red for baby things.



Sock yarns: Lang Jawoll, Brown Sheep Wildfoote; Silja, Limbo, Opal; Froelich Blauband; Fortissima and Regia.



Assorted novelty yarns. Fushia/purple/turquoise color group; odd balls of textured cottons; slubbed/furry/eyelash types.

There is a lot of cotton too. Tahki Cotton Classic, Lion Cotton and Sugar'n Cream in many colors for baby afghans and other mitered projects, most of which is in a big project bag.



Don't forget the acrylic and acrylic blends, detailed in my previous post...



The recycled yarn...



or the recycled-yarn-to-be.



That's the stash, but not all the yarn-the rest is in project bags everywhere. Yes, my family thinks I have too much yarn. No, they haven't seen it all. How's your stash?

Progress

When I'm done with the chores for the day, I'm making progress on the blue striped cardigan. The stripe pattern really takes on a different character with higher contrast yarns, especially with the complimentary colors of blue and orange. This sweater is definitely too bright for any child who isn't a toddler hehe.



Here's a little bit of web fun, you never know what kind of quiz you'll find next:



Which of Henry VIII's wives are you?

this quiz was made by the lycanthropes at Spookbot



You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.

What kind of yarn are you?

Brought to you by Quizilla

Acrylic Yarn

I hope you're all enjoying this fine Easter day. Church is over, the eggs have all been found, and the children are in a sugar-induced semi-comatose state in front of the TV. A few moments of peace for blogging.

I'm beginning work on another striped cardigan. This time it's for a little boy and I'm using worsted weight yarn.



Yup, that's good ol' Red Heart Super Saver. I'm going to test my baby cardi pattern with the worsted weight and see what changes I need to make for a toddler size 2 or 4 sweater. I'll keep you posted.

And speaking of acrylic yarn, here's a sneak peek at one of my Flash Your Stash photos.



This is most of my acrylic and acrylic blend yarn stash. You don't have to worry about the moths eating it, so I keep it in these cubbies in the closet. Very easy to get to.

The upper left and upper right cubbies contain 40 balls of Patons Beehive Shetland Chunky (75% acrylic/25% wool) and a few odd balls of other stuff, like Brunswick Limeric (93% acrylic/7%wool), Brunswick Fore-'n-Aft Sport (100% Orlon Acrylic), Brunswick Heather Boucle (75% Orlon/18% wool/7% nylon), and Lion Brand Wool-Ease (80% acrylic/20% wool).

The center left and lower left cubbies are filled with Red Heart Super Saver (100% acrylic) and a few skeins of Caron Gold Sayelle (100% acrylic).

The center right and lower right cubbies have my Lion Brand Homespun stash (98% acrylic/2% polyester). And, no, that isn't the 'Regency' color that is used in the Martha Poncho, that is 'Edwardian' that I bought to make a nice, thick prayer shawl.

Not shown in the photo is the basket sitting on top of the cubby that holds some more Red Heart being used in a project, a playmat for my toddler. There are project bags in various other spots strategically located around the house that hold the rest of my 'squeaky yarn' projects. These projects are mostly sweaters or playthings for little children.

You'll have to wait until April 1st to see the 'good' stuff!

The Poncho Question

It's been a busy week without a lot of knitting going on, just some afghan squares I have been working on while watching tv.

I can't believe the hubbub about The Poncho. First Bernat posts a pattern, then Lion Brand announces that they will be posting one. My first reaction was this:

What about the woman who created it in the first place? Has anyone talked to her? Give her credit! Have the woman write up her pattern in her own words and pay her for it for crying out loud! Deposit some cash into her prison account so she can buy more yarn! Heck, give her a lifetime supply of yarn! Sheesh!

We hear all the time about copyright. Give credit where credit is due and all that. As knitters, we all enjoy free patterns on the web. We all know it's wrong to post someone else's pattern on the web, especially commercial patterns. If anyone posts a pattern from a pattern company they can expect all kinds of nastiness from the company's legal department.

I have heard arguments that the woman who created the poncho pattern is a criminal and shouldn't profit from it. I say hogwash. Criminals are not allowed to profit from their crimes, and the poncho has nothing to do with her crime. Everyone has the right to their intellectual property, even prisoners. Besides, whatever happened to rehabilitation? If people enjoy her designs, should she not be able to profit from them?

Since then, Lion Brand has posted their crochet and knit versions of the pattern and Interweave has posted one as well. Interweave is giving credit to the original designer and donating books and magazine subscriptions to the women at the prison. Bravo!

I certainly have not heard all the news about how these companies are dealing with the poncho maker. I do hope they are all doing what's right and respecting her copyright the same way they want the rest of us to respect theirs.