2007, the Rest of the Year

The back half of 2007 was quite productive.

July
No pictures didn't mean no progress. With 7 posts in July I was surely busy with something. Besides computer hell! Readjusting to life int the US, exposure to real knitting books (through the courtesy of the Marin County Public Libraries, the final installment of Harry Potter, work on Arietta and attending my first real-world knitting group with the ladies of Uknitty at the Mill Valley Starbucks most Sundays kept me busy, indeed. Not to mention my Ravelry invite!

August

Ravelry changed my world and I was a true devotee. In addition to uploading everything I had to the site, I met up with some Ravelers in San Francisco and went on my first Yarn Crawl. Knit wise, I added the Tooth Fairy pillow for my niece and nephews to my ever growing list of FOs. I work on Arietta, of course, and started another Argosy: no. 6! I also found time to leave the beauty that is Marin County and move to NJ. The reasons were many and may not make sense if you aren't acquainted with my lifestyle, but they made sense at the time, and still do.

September

As I tried to settle in to my new, albeit temporary home, I looked forward the the new year, and all that it entails. Rosh Hashana was spent with family in Edison and I made my first dishcloths as a house warming present. I continued with gifts for the kids and my finished Miss Kitty Kat for my nieces 5th birthday. I also began my love/hate relationship with socks. I also put away Arietta for the duration of winter.

October
Yom Kippur and Succos took up much of the month, as did the birth of two little cousins. Tiny knits were called for in celebration: Saartje's Bootees and High Energy Baby Socks. Rounding out the footwear them were my Felted Clogs and my acceptance of the Jaywalker fiasco. (Either I am very devoted or a glutton for punishment, but I've got those babies back on the needles!)

November
Hat season officially began, and lesson were learned about big heads, lots of curls and relative hat sizes. Another toy was created but has yet to fly off to CA.

Odessa, Chevron Hat, and the Golden Snitch.

December

The final month of 2007 was prolific indeed, knitting many accessories, most of which were presents and were modeled by the lovely New Roommate. Lots of hats, a successful pair of adult socks and the journey back to scarves, starting with Tudora. I also made Koolhaas, an Unoriginal Hat and her pale, twin sister hat Foo Foo on You, as well as Odessa sequel: Odessa II, for the bigger head. I also discovered Lynne Barr's Knitting New Scarves which accompanies me into 2008 and many projects to come...

Of course, 2008's first FOs were started in 2007: Peacock Picot socks, H-J J's Very Exciting Gray Clogs, and Flower Power Mittens as well as some of the current WIPs that I've been holding back on like New Wave, Jeanie as well as Argosy VI (alive and kicking) and a couple of newbies...

Hatmandu

In the last of my remote posts from Edison, NJ (I have been assured I may finally return home tomorrow,) I leave you with my latest hats. Just in case you're thinking, "Whoa, deja vu," they are indeed repeaters.

First, my Odessa II, for the larger head. Same bat color, same bat beads.
You may remember I had made the original for my own very self, but when it wouldn't go over my curl laden, big ole head, I gave it away to Sari in Jerusalem. (BTW her brother is getting married tonight so a big, big Mazel Tov. I wish I could be there!) And even though it would be knitting the SAME EXACT THING, I REALLY wanted this hat. And, anyway, I had 3 more ball of the same yarn. So I knit it up again, just wider and taller. I'm hoping one day to transform those last two balls into matching gloves. We'll see...

Odessa II, for the bigger head

close up of stitch pattern

And then there is Foo Foo on You. Another Unoriginal hat in the Little Bunny Foo Foo colorway, made for D in Edison. And once again modeled by the lovely New Roommate.

For next time... I have made some real progress on Jeanie. I plan on posting some pics once I get home. Ahhh, I am in love...

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Closet

Remember that I forgot the finished Unoriginal Hat in Edison. That not only would New Roommate have to wait for her Chanukah present but there were also no pictures. Wrong.

It seems I attract uber-tidiers into my life. First my grandmother, then my mother (always tidy, her uber tidy gene only kicked in a couple of years ago) and now Marta, our cleaning lady. Does this mean I am a slob? No, don't answer that. In any event, Marta is an excellent cleaner but sometimes her uber tidy gene gets the best of her, the best of us all, with interesting results.

You see, I had just returned from Edison and Marta was already here. I barely put down my things and then ran out again to go grocery shopping, because when you've been away the better part of two weeks, don't have a car and it's snowing outside when the man with car says it's time to go shopping, you go shopping. It was when I returned and came down from the post Marta high that I also realized the hat was missing. I was sure I had left it behind. It was only later, while I was re-rearranging my things that I found it, with overnight bags and a pile of folded laundry sitting on my closet floor. Of course I mean, it had to go somewhere so Marta could vacuum, right?

Anyway, it is with great relief that I can now present:

An Unoriginal Hat

Modeled by: New Roommate.

a bit closer...

and from the top

And her sister hat, in progress:

Foo Foo on You

This time using the Little Bunny Foo Foo colorway.

Close up of stitch work

About 80% complete.

If I get my "chores" done like a good girl, I could easily finish this up tonight. And I already boasted about being cable needle free. Right? Woo hoo!

Now, there is one more hat (a surprise for someone...) in the queue, but the yarn is still en route so until then I'm thinking Odessa II is deserving of a bit of attention.

With the Right Tools...

You can do anything! So, when last I wrote, my needles had just arrived from Hong Kong. And now, now it's done. I cast on about 11pm Monday night and knit up about 10 rows. Then next morning, on my train ride to Edison, and my subsequent wait at the station for my ride, I finished everything but the decrease rows. Then, of course, I worked my fingers to the bone with "real" work. But, when we left at 4:30 to get home for candle lighting I got a reprieve. Whilst waiting for the men folk to make it home I whipped out my WIP and decreased away. I was determined to finish it and I did. All done. And without a cable needle! I have mastered cabling without a needle. Yeah me!

Of course, by six I was back to work until about 10:30. I woke up yesterday not feeling so great and though I worked as hard as I could, I really didn't accomplish much and there wasn't as much work to be done as we had anticipated anyway. So we left the office at 6:30, a somewhat normal time and I took to my bed. I tried to knit a bit on my Peacock Picot Sock but, alas, I just couldn't do it. So now I am back home, practically writing you from my sick bed and I was all excited about giving New Roommate her hat and as I ripped my bag apart looking for it I realized, I left it in Edison! I'm supposed to go back to work in a week and a half and I guess I'll get it then which means there won't be any pictures for a while. Then again, maybe there will. My friend's daughter was so taken with the completed Unoriginal Hat that I offered to make her one. This time in Little Bunny Foo Foo colorway. I can't wait!

Hats Off to Unoriginality

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, The Yarn Harlot
Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Knit Picks
Skacel Addi Needles

November 30, 2007

Dear Sirs and Mesdames,

I thought I would be finished making An Unoriginal Hat, this morning. Blocking and posing it so I could snap some pictures and show it off before it goes to its intended recipient for Chanukah next week. And just as the finish line came into sight, with only the final decreasing rows to complete, I realized this wasn't going to work, and I must start over. Though I am currently hatless, I was, nevertheless, delighted with most of the process and since I will be waiting a few days for my new needles to arrive I would like to take this opportunity to write to you, who all play such a vital role in this project, and share my thoughts on the process.

To Ms. Pearl-McPhee, our favorite harlot and knitting hero, I say thank you. Thank you for your words, thank you for your humor and thank you for your "go to it"ness which brought me this fun and funky pattern right to my Bloglines doorstep (Bloorstep?) In an effort to retain its unoriginalness, (and because I had nary a bulky bit of yarn in my stash) I even used the same yarn and color way as you. You are the best.

To Blue Moon Fiber Arts I also say thank you. You are artists, indeed. I have been lusting after your yarns for some time now and the aforementioned Harlot's pattern finally pushed me over the edge. Not only is the Leticia lovely to knit with and the Rooster Rock colorway divine, I am practically swooning over the STR lightweight I allowed myself in the Nodding Violet colorway. I am now looking for that perfect pattern which will do it justice.

To Knit Picks, my main source for needle goodness, I say I'm so sorry. You let me down. I can, and do, wax poetic over your needles. Your Nickel Plated, Harmonies, Options and Fixed are all amazing. The tips, slicks and joins can't be beat. Your cables, to die for. Without you I would never haven taken the sock knitting plunge. Two socks on a pair of circs? True Magic. And when, occasionally, the cables have failed me, you have sent me out replacements quickly and with a virtual smile. But your sizing, oh your sizing... I sent you an email just recently requesting you give millimeter sizing along with your US sizing, but alas. The US sizing is so arbitrary and though this is NOT YOUR FAULT, you do perpetuate the problem by sticking with it. Imagine my surprise when the pattern was printed, the yarn balled and I check my needles for the requisite 7mm and the were NONE TO BE FOUND. Oh, I tried to make it in the 6.5mm but I am not a loose knitter nor a tight one, as you will soon understand. Just a knitter who knits to gauge. Woe is me. At about 6 rows in I knew that the 6.5mm needles would never work. So off I frogged and tried the next needle size up. 8mm! Why on earth do needles sizes jump from 6.5 to 8mm in on fell swoop. So I thought, I can knit tight. But I can't and the hat was too big. And thus I was forced to defect to the Addi side.

And finally to Skacel, I'm counting on you. I just ordered a pair of 7mm, 40cm (16") Addi circulars and they weren't cheap. But that won't matter if they live up to their reputation. I hope they come soon, for all our sakes.

Best regards,

Tante J