On Knitting

I've been meaning to write this for awhile, but I couldn't find an appropriate moment. Now that I successfully completed the Fireman Sweater it might be time.

I've always been drawn to craft, particularly things involving yarn. No one in my family knit, and I have an Aunt who crochets, but not avidly. My mom was crafty for a time. She used to sew, and make decoupage, and before I was born she did some macrame, and made all of our Christmas ornaments. But then alcoholism took her away from all of that and me for a very, very long time.
You see there was no particular reason for me to be "crafty", but I would walk through the aisles of the Ben Franklin 5 and 10, of later Frank's (which was a nursery and craft store) and I would be drawn particularly to the yarn, but also the cross stitch kits, and needlepoint kits, and really anything that wanted to be made into anything else. It wasn't long before I was asking my parents for acrylic yarn (so many colors!) and a learn how to crochet kit, or a learn how to knit kit, and I taught myself. I particularly remember a little booklet printed on the 50s or early 60s, that another aunt gave to me with the basic instruction for how to knit, how to crochet, and I believe how to tat. That book was my bible and by looking at the pictures and reading the words, and thinking I taught myself how. And I could knit a passable scarf or crochet the same (nevermind that until recently I only crocheted through the front loop of the stitch, not both!) I also did some cross stitch, embroidery, and needlepoint. I was fascinated by making things in "an old fashioned way" like I imagined they would have in little house on the prairie, or Anne of Green Gables, or the accomplished girls in the Jane Austen books. I was fascinated, but I could only take it so far and by the time I was in college I didn't do any of it.
Then I was in grad school, and my sister was expecting her first child. And I went to the local Barnes and Noble and perused the craft section. By this time the knit revolution was happening, and there was a Debbie Bliss book of baby knits that looked approachable (and ever so pretty). And I picked up the needles again. I made a couple of baby things for my nephew, all in acrylic based yarns. They really were pretty awful, but I didn't know better yet. But I had taken my knitting to another level, I had knit actual garments.
Then perusing through the local Barnes and Nobles I picked up Jacqueline Fee's Sweater Workshop This book takes a heavy nod from Elizabeth Zimmerman, but frankly explains how to knit the basic raglan sweater using EPS (Elizabeth's percentage system) in every detail one would want. This was my introduction into circle needles (yeah! I never new how ackward straight needles were until I discovered circle ones), knitting in the round, and eventually wool. It also has a wonderful tutorial of basic knitting skills needed for a sweater. In short although the sweater's in the book were dated and not very inspiring, it taught me so much about knitting.
This is the book I turned to when I asked Pizza what color he wanted his sweater to be. Initially he said "red, with yellow stripes," but I got him to change his mind to black with yellow stripes, and I added in the grey (he already has a play firecoat in red, with yellow, and I was envisioning something I a little easier on the eye). My goal with this sweater was to make a fireman's sweater that looked like a serious sweater, but still respected what he wanted. I think I accomplished it. It has an obvious nod to a fireman's coat, but it isn't over the top and hopefully isn't too campy. I feel there is a serious dirth of little boy's sweaters that aren't overly cutesy, so I'm attempting to fill that void.
So here is the result knitting completed,still needing lots of ends sewn in and buttons. Next it will be completely finished and I'll write down the details.

But it fits well, and I'm very pleased. As always crafting along on or about Tuesday with Keep Calm Craft on

This post is brought to you by the indulgence of the non-napping baby which is to say I'd better be brief.

Last week finished BSJ, slight miss match right to left due to a mistake in my stitch count, and picking up too many stitches on one side.

the first is how it is knit, the second how it folds up.

This week the fireman sweater is almost there. In fact I need to start thinking about the neck finishing.

I had a little help (someone is starting to wiggle around, I thought I had placed him far enough from the knitting when I briefly left the room!) This one has been quick and I seemed to have forgotten how nice it is to knit a simple raglan sweater.

Will it fit? I think so, but I'm worried the sleeves will be short. I will have Pizza try it on today and see. I could rip out it need be.

We started seeldings (yes, that is our christmas tree still hanging out in the living room, maybe by easter we will put it away) And I'm getting excited about the gardening, but I still need a ton of dirt. And my constant companion is 6 months old! My how time flys and babies grow as fast as weeds!

As always keeping calm with frontier dreans KCCO Have a lovely week!

Two Stitches off

Well, maybe its more like ten or so, but the title reminded off an old Fugazi song, so I couldn't really help myself (sigh, how old am I? and how far have I come?). The BSJ number two is coming along, but I messed up my stitch count somewhere along the way. I am optimistic it will turn out okay. There seems to be a little fudge room in this pattern, which is a good thing because apparently I tend to lose track real easy when it comes to rows and rows of garter stitch. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I won't being showing you three balls of yarn next week as my "Progress"

Next up the swatch and sketch for the fireman sweater. It will be a simple raglan with stripes under the arms as sketched. I haven't decided up two or four or asymmetric rows of grey. I'm leaning to the asymmetric, but we'll see. The button band will be picked up on the edge, in black, in garter stitch. Deciding whether it is worth the effort to try a steek so I can knit in the round. I would need to practice first..... It might be too challenging, but it would be kind of interesting.

I bought some bird's egg blue yarn for a spring sweater for me, and it came. It would seem I'm not the only one whose color choice is inspired by the season!

And last, but not least. Pizza's boy #2 with googly eyes. He's starting to draw more. They've been working with him gently at school too. Seems I worry about nothing. I need to work on that.

As always crafty on Tuesday's with Keep Clam, Craft on

This post is being brought to you from my iPad, sleeping babe on my lap. Well, I've done it. I placed the garden order. I am both excited and terrified. This could be a huge failure, big waste of money. It's not that I expect this garden to feed us. It's more of an educational adventure. And I'm excited because for the first time we have a backyard for a vegetable garden, But that first season is so damn expensive, and in the end we'll probably only end up with Very well feed deer! but here goes! I'm planning both containers and a 4x4 raised bed ( maybe should have planned two 4x4 beds) And I ordered lots of seeds and some plants, and seed starting pellets. The lettuce and greens will grow on our upper deck in self watering containers. Winter squash, cucumbers, some tomatoes, bush beans, summer squash in beds. everything else in containers on the patio or the front catwalk. I will need new watering cans. I will need a lot of dirt. Wish me luck cause Sping is coming!