Halu-Halo

Dividing for the sleeves

I love knitting sweaters from the top-down. For you non-knitters (I must bring you over to the dark side!), that simply means knitting a sweater starting from the collar or neck, and then working your way down to the yoke. The sleeves, then, are put on "hold" (on a scrap piece of yarn), until the body is completed. Finally, the sleeves are knit in the round. 

Knitting Pure and Simple has wonderful step-by-step pictures here: http://knittingpureandsimple.com/resources/knitting-your-first/

 

(I apologize  for this horrible, super processed picture)

I am currently working on a cardi for Baby J, using this pattern. And I have divided for the sleeves (the sleeves are now on hold, and I'm on my way to finish the body of the sweater).

This is a big deal; I'm now committed.

By moving on, I am affirming that:

1.I believe in this pattern (I have read through it and understand the designer's directions. I've made my notes, looked at pictures of completed projects by other people, researched suggested modifications).

2. I love the yarn enough to make a garment with it (I've put it up to my face and neck to make sure it's soft enough. I've read reviews that this yarn holds up, and doesn't stretch or lose its form).

3. I have the stamina to get through to finish this project (I want for me/my child/my friend to be able to wear it in the end).

Can I change my mind and have the poor mess sit in my WIP basket forever and ever? Of course!  But after I've decided to divide for the sleeves, I'm pretty sure I want to get to the end of it. Through hell or high water, skipped stitches and wrong stitches, I will bind off the project, somehow.

I've recently divided for the sleeves, also, in my writing life. After months of stitching my outline together, trying on my plot, feeling it against my heart, and gauging it against my hopes and dreams, I finally felt I was ready. And I've moved on to query.

The reality: finding an agent to represent me could take months. Years!

But I've picked my story, chosen my words, rewrote them (and again, and again), done my research, and hoped that I perfected my query letter. Now it's all about stamina, and belief, and in my case, a little (A LOT) of prayer. 

Am I scared? Yes! Do I feel vulnerable? Extremely! 

But I would have never completed this dress for Sweet R had I let it intimidate me. I would have cried myself into a corner during deployments had I not been strong enough to endure those lonely nights. Surely, I will survive this too, right?

I will. I will. 

I will.

To everything - turn, turn, turn

I do believe that I gravitate towards projects I really need.  That of all the Works In Progress I have sitting in my craft space, or laid out in front of me on my computer, I choose what I think is most therapeutic.

These last two weeks, it's been this:

Infinitude 

I used size 8 needles instead of the 9 it called, but it was the only long circ I had on hand that was large enough.  Yarn is Cestera, with the colorway Erica, dyed by KimberlyR. 

The picture above is at its full length...it actually reaches below my waist.

This is Infinitude doubled:

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And above: tripled

This was a wonderful pattern.  Just enough texture to give the cowl interest, but not too complicated that I couldn't get lost in the stitches.  

It brought me just enough zen so I could enjoy my family circling around me, enough challenge so I could have a conversation with my husband, and just enough silence so that I could hear myself think.

I modified the pattern a bit to I took out some of the repeats in the end.  I only had one skein of Erica, and I was intent on using as much of the 220 yards the skein promised.

I'm proud to say that I only left two yards unused.  

Life is so much about knits and purls, and the dips and bumps they create.  Patterns call for purposeful eyelets and cables, and yet sometimes there are those unmistakable holes and missed stitches.  But so long as we recover from these - increasing a stitch here and there, K2Tog, or even just grabbing our darning needle and sewing the hole closed - the garment will still come to be, as imperfect as it should be.   And that modifications in the prescribed pattern is completely allowed, but getting the most out of your pattern, and the yarn that you have is what counts.

I wear it in comfort.  

And a time for every purpose, under heaven

 

p.s...for those in your wonderful 40's...do your yearly mammograms! It will save your life!

p.p.s...please keep my friend in mind.  She lost her two nephews yesterday. 

This elf has been busy

(and I'm not talking about the one on the shelf - I'm talking about the bonafide creator of the Christmas spirit here in our house - ahem...)

There are only 3 days till Christmas, after all.  In three days, my Bigs and Littles will be up at 5 in the morning, tearing open whatever Hubby and I had haphazardly lovingly wrapped the night before, and we get to celebrate another year of blessings.

I This elf has been good this year.  If you remember, I sent out my last 2010 Christmas gift *in* February of 2011. The year before, even much later, in March.  This year, I'm proud to report that the last package will be mailed in the next few days - a record.

(See me bow)

Yes, commence the applause.  Enjoy the  moment.  It may not happen again.  

I would like to thank the Academy, and Groupon and Living Social for providing great gift-giving options this year.  

Also, the last of the handmade has been completed today.  Impressed?

 (I'll imagine you squealing in delight.)  

Pattern: Shilling, knit on sz 4 16-inch circs, sz 7 16-inch circs and dpns

Yarn: Cascade 220

It was so much a perfect fit for me, that I seriously contemplated not wrapping it up, and instead just stashing it in my own dresser drawer.  But I didn't, and it's now hidden with the rest of the kids' gifts; it's going to my Biggest, who lost his knit hat earlier this year.  

G used his sweet beanie, which I knit for him when he was 5 (the blue and brown), every winter for almost 5 years.  While I'm grateful that he was able to hang on to it for so long, I finally had to accept that it had disappeared, and decided he needed another one, a completely different one.

Shilling is a very handsome pattern! It's hard to see the texture and cables in my pictures, but it's definitely fitting for an older boy.  I think he's going to love it.  

And the final handmade completed is for my sweet R, for her special American Girl Doll, whom she lovingly named Claire...

A ticker tape quilt!

I decided to do larger scraps, even on this tiny quilt.  R is quite my helper and right hand woman when I sew, and I knew she loved these fabrics.  In fact, she had separated many of these scraps as her favorites.

I did a second round of quilting, adding flowers to it.  I can't tell you how excited I am to give this to her.  I am expecting a doll bed in the mail at any moment, and this quilt will be gracing it.  She is going to jump and giggle absolutely.freak.out when she sees the entire ensemble on Christmas morning.  

The back - pieced fabrics shared by Natalie (thanks, woman!) the last time we were at her place for our Nova Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  R tagged along to the last couple of meetings, and on that day, she actually picked these out the stash.  

This elf will now celebrate with a little bit of chocolate, and maybe even a glass of wine.   While she won't be hanging on the chandeliers or  doing such shenanigans (she is 36 after all), tonight, she will be watching this movie and eating kettle corn like it's going out of style.

Have a great night, everyone!

Easy does it

I looked through my knitting archives here on my blog, and my jaw almost hit the floor: My last FO (finished object) was back in March! 

Bad, bad knitter!  

Well,  it's time to break that desolate-and-shameful-knitting-hiatus.

Pattern: Easy Fingerless Mitts

Needles/Yarn: Sz 7 doublepointed,  Cascade Lana D'Oro

These mitts are for C for Christmas.  He currently loves his pair of super tiny fingerless fleece mitts that his grandma gave to him a couple of years ago.  Can you imagine a 9 year old trying to shove his fingers through gloves made for a 5-6 year old?  It's hard being a witness to it, I promise you.  But, without fail, every morning he tries to fit his fingers through, only for me to tell him that he.just.can't.  

But he loves having his fingers free...just as I do...I wear the mitts I made for me all the time.  A lightbulb went off in my head: "Why not make him a pair!"  I felt like a genius!  Now, having finished, I feel like a fool - why did I wait so long?

(that last link takes you to an older blog by-the-way. Goodness, I have been writing for a while, haven't I?)

Anyway, this took me a very short time to make, probably 2 1/2 hours total.  What a satisfying knit!  Just enough to get my juices flowing, that I headed over to Ravelry and started to browse at the beautiful new patterns out.   

I can't wait to see C's face when sees what I've made for him.  I think it's a homerun :)

I hope that your holiday shopping and prep has been going well! My advent calendar is telling me that time is moving MUCH faster than I think it does!

Monsters in its wake

Please excuse my bleary eyes and my lack of concentration.  I've had a monster of a hangover the last couple of days.

But it's not the - I.knocked.back.a.few.too.many.drinks - type of hangover...it's more the - i'm.really,starting.to.show.my.age - version.  The version stemming from G's birthday sleepover.  Send me some props!  We, our should I say, our house, survived a small herd of 10 year olds overnight.  Except for a slight mishap with someone's glasses, no one needed a trip to the emergency room or an armed escort home.

But really, it was fun.  Ten year olds are witty and even slightly sarcastic, but still very sweet and polite.  Or is it my boy and his friends?  There wasn't one moment of disrespect to the grown ups or to each other.  Whatever it is, I count myself lucky.

And I come to you today, as a mama to a ten year old, grateful to have a chance to mother G, because he is a model of a First Son.  I've always said, that G is my Conscience, my mirror.  So, despite my residual grogginess from staying up listening to their pillowfights, getting up early to make their pancake breakfast, and mopping up all of the mess afterwards, I would do it again.

Another monster crept up from our house as well, first showing itself after our bout with the stomach flu  a couple of weeks ago.  That stomach bug ended up taking down half our family, mimicking this legendary scene from Stand By Me.  Although it wasn't as funny at the time.

Yet somehow, it found its way out of its threads in the last few days, and I finished him just in time for a dear friend's son's first birthday.

Pattern: Abigail the Middle-Sized Monster

Yarn: Three Irish Girls

Needles: size 3

I hope you all have a great day! I'm off to face the monster laundry I have waiting for me.

Taking care of our babies

My two youngest babies were sick this weekend.  Both of my girls were down and out, not eating and bedridden with a fever, and all I could do was to try and feed them often and snuggle with them, in the hopes that I could hug the fever away.  

I feel so helpless when any of my children are sick.  Though technically prepared to deal with sick folks, my heart breaks nonetheless, most especially if it's one of my own.

I am eternally grateful, however, that this winter has been kind to us.  If you recall, two years ago, we battled with both the regular and stomach flu non-stop, with each child taking their turn, one at a time. This year, the sickness has been few and far between.  Both girls, I can report, are back to their active selves today.

Forced to stay home this holiday weekend, I caught up with some knitting for R's own baby.

Another Little Kina, this time in pink, knit with size 6 needles, which made for a great fit for R's American Girl doll.

 

R picked out a vintage button I've had in my stash for a while.

And here, my now-well daughter, so happy to have something hand knit for her own baby.  

It's amazing how these small things can put such a great big smile on a little girl's face.  I wish I could have bottled up the moment, to open in the future when she is a teenager and won't be so easy to please. (or so this is what my girlfriends with teenage girls tell me, anyway)

I hope that you all are having a peaceful night, taking care of your babies.  Though mine are now well, I'm taking the opportunity to jump in and spend the night with R and her baby in her little sweater.

Fourth wind

One of my BFFs turned 40 the other day; I called her first thing in the morning so I can scream "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE 40!" on the phone.  "THE BIG 4-O!"  We had a good laugh, because at one time 35 and 40 seemed so decrepit, and now here she and I are.

Most of the time I don't notice the gray hairs starting to peek through, or that the wrinkles are starting to come in around my eyes, or that now, it takes for.ever. to shed those couple of pounds.

But I definitely notice that I need more sleep.  So when I am burning the midnight oil and alternately nursing Baby J, I am left pretty darn tired.  

And then I really, really feel like a 35 year old with 4 young children.

At least I have finished.

...cutting and putting together the Valentine craft for R's class...

 

...and finally finishing a knit monster for my godson...

Abigail the Middle-Sized Monster

sz 3 needles, using magic loop method

worsted weight yarn

 

What's funny, is that now that it's time to turn in, I've achieved my fourth wind, now feeling like a young 35, especially after watching my favorite Thursday night show.  What to do?

I'm going to be a "Tita" (n) - Aunt

I grew up with an abundance of Titas, some who were blood related, and others who were my mom's most favorite girlfriends.  My mom and my Titas would gather around together and chat and gossip and cackle at family parties.  They talked about everything under the sun, all the while with food and drink in front of them. Mostly drink.

Fast forward two decades and now, I am one.  Of those women that is = chatting and gossiping and cackling with the best of 'em.  I love my girlfriends, I hold them close to my heart, as close as family.  And their children have become part of me too.

And I love being a Tita.  Witnessing these babies grow.  I hope I get them to smile, or teach them something new.  Maybe they'll get to know me as that crazy crafting Tita Tif.  The one that talks too much. She's the one that sends us all of those kitschy presents.  Ah, would I be proud!

Currently, I have nominated myself a Tita to quite a few children to include one beautiful niece.  I wish she lived closer to us, to play and grow up with her cousins, she can even join my children in eating all of my food experiments.

Well, this year, I will be a Tita again.  My brother and his wife are expecting their first babe, and friends, am I excited.

Before I sent my bro and sis-in-law their Handmade Holiday presents, I wanted to include a little something for their little peanut.  They aren't finding out the baby's gender, so I had to hold back my excitement at diving into the colorful yarn I have here.  I opted to knit up an off white yarn I had handy.

Pattern: Gooseberry Hat, knit on sz 3 needles.  It called for sz 4, but I was going for a smaller cap.

Yarn: Millamia Sport : color: Fawn.  Lovely yarn! super soft merino

 

It's so little! I couldn't find a bowl to fit under it, so I stuffed it with fabric in order to take pictures!  It's such a cute hat, and the i-cord on top of it is, literally, the icing on the cake for me.  

It's times like these when living away from family is the toughest!  To be able to see my sis-in-law's belly grow, to watch my bro become a dad, and to feel the family grow by another two feet...it is and will continue to be surreal from across the country.  

I want my future niece or nephew to always know that Tita Tif will always be there for him/her.  So I'm warning you now, J & C, you'll be getting even more handmade stuff from me. :)  

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you had a productive week!

"We must use time creatively" - MLK Jr.

I finished Odessa today, a quick but satisfying knit for a good friend of mine.  She remarked once that she liked one of the ribbed beanies I made, and I thought this made for a more feminine look that I knew seemed more like her.

Odessa's original pattern called for beads to be knitted with the yarn, but I opted not to include the beads, since she has a little tot at home and I didn't want to send over a choking hazard!  I do think however, that when I knit this hat again, I will definitely include it!  The pattern itself is not that difficult.

Peek-a-boo!  I see you!

It's a slouchy version of Odessa.  I knit the body using size 7 needles and knit it a little deeper before decreasing at the top of the hat.  I used Knit Picks Cotton Linen, which I think will be more appropriate for her part of the country.  It will be a great spring hat!  

I spent a great deal of this weekend and today knitting this hat, reading this book, and reflecting on the privilege of when I was born and my life in this country.  That my life would have been so different had I been born even 25 years before or if my family had emigrated elsewhere when I was a child.  My Filipino-Chinese-Scotch-Irish-butulimatelyAmerican children are constant reminders of the successes of social changes, changes led by fine Americans, such as Martin Luther King Jr.

Social changes, of which, I am so eternally grateful for.

"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now" - MLK Jr.

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Kumbaya

Lots of discombobulation these days...environment, economy, politics.  And all at once it seems; I dread reading newspaper and online headlines.  But I do my best to stay informed for I have a responsibility to try to leave this place better than how I came into it.

Some days though, I just can't take any more of the madness, and I chose to bury my head in the sand yarn.

I realize that the world is always in a state of flux.  Our generation is not the first to encounter war, political unrest and natural disasters.  Nor will it be the last.  But as I knit into these mitts, I thought about our need to take care of one another.  We are one family after all.

I realize that I sound like a simpleton, thinking the world's problems can be solved by us being nice to one another.  I know it's not as easy as this.  But it sure makes me feel better, because it's something I can do from here.   

Just as one cannot knit a garment out of nothing.  It must be done one stitch at a time.  And even if one simply knits easy fingerless mitts, that is one more good thing created in this world.

Pattern: 75-Yard MMmalabrigo Fingerless Mitts

Yarn: Cascade Eco

Needles: Size 7 and 8 double pointed needles

Knit for a friend as part of handmade holidays, modeled by hubby