Category: knitting

Jan 15

Knitting: Pink I heart Cables Hat

I took J to the yarn store a few months ago to pick out a new project. She gravitated immediately to the bubble gum pink Cascade Superwash 220, no surprise there, and after perusing Ravelry, I found a free cabled hat pattern to make out of it. She is in a phase where she doesn’t want to wear anything that’s not pink.

That thong th thong thong thong. Or earflap.

“Actually,” she says if you suggest an alternative hue, “pink is my favorite color.”

I used to be staunchly anti-pink. I’ve learned my avoidance of the color is just as silly as wanting to wear only that color. It’s a color, not an anti-feminist doctrine.

“Your favorite color is pink,” J said to me the other day.

“No, actually I like blue.”

“It is! You have a pink book and a pink cover!”

I opened my mouth. Shut it. Logic. “You’re right, kid. You have me there.” We discussed that one did not always have to wear one’s favorite color. Or release books in one’s favorite color, for that matter. Sometimes it’s good to change it up. For instance, mommy’s first book was blue.

So anyway, since J also likes to strip off her warm clothes and we are deep in the throes of winter, I decided to go pink, pink, pink to try to get her to wear coats, hats, and mittens. It’s working. Mostly. I also hoped that if she picked out the yarn she might deign to wear the hat (unlike the sweaters I knit!). She’s already worn it a few times, so I count that a success!

getting ready to riiiiiiiiip

I had some troubles not keeping close track of where I was in the pattern, so I had to rip half of it out. Twice. As my grandmother used to say, “As ye knit, so shall ye rip.” It was painful, but this happens to me a lot. I lose track of what row I’m knitting, and before I know it, I have to unknit hours of work. Knitting is very meditative until that point.

*sob*

The pattern itself was fairly easy, if you are familiar with cables and double pointed needles. The only thing left to do is make pompoms for the top and tassels. Voila! A hat to keep off the bitter frost in splendid fashion.

Success!

 

 

Comments Off on Knitting: Pink I heart Cables Hat
comments

Jul 20

Cast on: Oslo Walk Shawl

On my birthday I cast on my first knitting project in almost a year. I developed mommy thumb last year and had to give up knitting (and picking up the baby and typing and other Important Duties). The surgery in January to loosen the tendon sheath was successful, and though I fully recovered after a few months, I haven’t had time to myself for a long, long time. The writing deadline thing is a real craft killer. 😛 But this year for my birthday I decided I couldn’t ignore that knitting itch any longer. It was time to cast on, and it was long past time to cast on something for me. I have a love of lace shawls, but hadn’t knit one before. In true Ciara fashion, I chose to jump in over my head. Not only will I knit a very holey, airy, lace shawl for the first time, but I’m going to do it with beading! This is also the first time I’m making something from the Interweave Knits magazine, which I’ve subscribed to for quite a few years. In another first, I’m actually following the pattern and picking the exact yarn and yarn color the pattern calls for.

So far I’ve cast on and started the first row of the lace pattern. Then, of course, I had to get back to writing. Once the edits on book 2 are turned in, I hope to make more progress and share pictures.

Oslo Walk Shawl from Interweave Knits Winter 2010

Oslo Walk Shawl from Interweave Knits Winter 2010

 

Comments Off on Cast on: Oslo Walk Shawl
comments