My Little Miche

I need to take a moment and stop to reflect on the last few days. Family matters kept me busy over the last 2 weeks. Finally as things were settling down, our little world was shaken again. It is so hard to express my sadness at the loss of our little cat Miche. Miche passed away last night in our oldest daughter's arms with all of us around him. We will miss you Miche. Thank you for all the love you gave us. You will remain in our hearts forever.

Of Bicycles and Yarn...

I have made some knitting progress on the secret sweater today. I am done with the body section that is knit in the round, and am now working back and forth on the back. Another 2 inches and the back will be finished. I will bind off the neck stitches but I will put the shoulder stitches on holders and reserve them for a three needle bind off. The front will have a high v-neck.
Talking about the sweater brings me to the topic of this post.
I actually got myself tangled in a situation that I should have clearly avoided having given plenty of advice to many of my knitterly friends on what to do in that exact situation.
Last night, my husband was in the basement. He was working on his newest bike. See he already has 2 others...I was standing there, amused. I asked him a few questions about the new bike, and in particular what the difference was with the other bikes. And then suddenly, out of the blue I got myself tangled in a conversation no knitter should put themselves into. I said "Do you think you have enough bikes?" Mr. SockPixie, stopped working on the bike, and with his striking, gleaming blue eyes, and a little smile, said "Do you think you have enough yarn?" Well he got me there. What was I to do, I have boxes of yarn everywhere, downstairs in the basement, in every closet, in every bag, in every basket.
All I could do was give no answer, just smile and climb back up the stairs...
Morality: Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones!

It is Sunday...on Colors, Husbands, and Cats

This Sunday's SockPixie update is ready, and exceptionally this week, I decided to bring back some colors. You have been asking me to do that for a while, and I was ready. I had a lot of fun deciding which ones I would bring back. I hope you will like the selection.Feel free to send me a note through the contact us link on the website, I love to hear from you.

On the knitting front, I have made a lot of progress on the sweater for Mr. SockPixie who is not supposed to know anything about it. Since he usually does not read my blog, I feel pretty safe posting pictures, though he is being a little too curious about the project. Last night, I was knitting on the project and he said "What are you knitting?". My evasive answer: "Something to felt". His next question "What is it going to be?" My bored answer:"Something, you know...for the cats..." Next he said, "Is it something fo me?" My final answer: " Darling, a knitter is entitled to a little bit of privacy, don't you think?!"
My oldest daughter helped a little today and confirmed that it was indeed a new cat basket, that would be felted. He did not seem too convinced, but there were no more questions.
The body is almost at the armhole, and it is going to be time for me to knit front and back separately. It takes time to knit for a giant husband! At least this yarn is thicker and I am knitting on a size 9 needle. I do like the yarn. It does not split which makes the knitting very smooth. As far as the pattern is concerned, I decided to stay simple. So it is in the round, mostly in stockinette, but with "accidental" sections of garter. I really like the more informal look. I think that will be a great weekend sweater for my husband. I am on my 4th ball. I hope I will have enough yarn, and will be able able to finish the project without getting too creative!

If I do run out though, I can get it at Windsor Button. I started working there last week. Now that I know the store a little better, I can assure you that even if I run out of yarn, I will be able to find the solution to my troubles there. They have the largest selection I have ever seen. Susan, the owner of the store is wonderfully helpful, and is always happy to check in her storage room for a matching dye lot!
I had so much fun being in a yarn store again! I met some amazing knitters. We talked about everything, from sock yarns, to how to cast on, and completely unrelated topics, like May 1968 in France. I am really looking forward to going back this week.

I wanted to also give you some updates on This Little Piggy, the thumb sucking help, and on Chaton Minet, the cat basket. They are both working out perfectly. S. loves her Piggy, and has stopped sucking her thumb! The basket has been claimed by my daughter's second cat named Cat. Isn't it good to be a Cat?...

A new Sweater

Thank you for the nice comments about the Chaton Minet basket.
There were a couple questions one pertaining to the basket the other to Miche.
I just want to clarify that the basket is knit using 2 strands of the yarn held together throughout the pattern.
As far as Miche is concerned, we think he is about 2. Miche actually became our cat thanks to one of my customers at the store. He somehow had ended up on her doorstep. Her older cat really did not share her joy at finding a kitten, so she asked me if I knew anyone who wanted a kitten. We did! Miche soon came home with us, and got his name in memory of the cat my husband grew up with. He is the sweetest, and smartest cat. He rings a bell to go out, and says hello when he is on the wrong side of the door, and he is a shameless purring machine enjoying every moment
.



Being done with the basket, I am off to knitting another project. This time it is a sweater for my husband. I picked Cascade 128 Tweed in a lovely rusty color. It will be knit in the round,my favorite way to knit sweaters. I have a design in mind. I want something simple and masculine and at the same time interesting.
I have cast on, and the edge is done...it's on to the design!

Mothers of the World Collection

Before I start telling you about my Mothers of the World Collection, I want to wish you a Happy Mother's Day. I wish you lots of flowers, hugs, and kisses.
I got lots of hugs and kisses this morning, and my husband got me a special gift, a vintage mounted Singer Sewing machine. He has to go pick it up, and I can't wait to find a special place for it in the house, probably in my design studio.

My Mothers of the World Collection is done. I loved the colorways so much that I had to show everyone in the house each and every skein. What I love about them is their harmonious nature. I was so inspired by the theme of the universality of motherhood, that it transpired in the colorways themselves. Each colorway is unique, but at the core of each one is one identical color. That identical color disappears but remains at the core of the soul of each colorway.

This picture above is a collage of some of this weeks' colorways, and I hope that you enjoy them.

Chaton Minet - Free Cat basket Knitting Pattern

The cat basket is finished. The lovely boy in the basket is Miche. Chaton Minet is the name I ended up giving to this cat basket. It is also the title of a famous French Nursery rhyme. I thought the name suited the whimsical spirit of the basket. I really like the chevrons, and the edges which I curled into shape.






The basket is knit in the round, and there is no seaming to do! The basket is then felted.
I hope you will have fun knitting it, and that your feline friends will love it!

Chaton Minet

Materials: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, 2 of each color: M-18 Khaki, M-13 Sun Yellow, M-52 Spruce, M-120 Limeade.
Needle: 29" US 13
Finished size after stretching and shaping 17" diameter

Chevron Pattern:
R1: *K1 f&b, K9, SL2, K1, P2SSO, K9, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Purl





Please note that the whole basket is knit in garter stitch using 2 strands of yarn held together. The garter stitch felts thicker, and gives the basket a firm texture.

With Spruce, CO 161 stitches. Join round. Knit 6 rows in garter stitch.

Start chevron pattern above in following order of colors:
*4 rounds limeade, 4 rounds khaki, 4 rounds sun yellow, 2 rounds spruce* This forms 1 color pattern repeat. Knit a total of 3 color pattern repeats. On the last color pattern repeat replace the last 2 rounds of spruce, with 6 rounds of plain garter stitch with no chevron in Spruce.


Base decreases:
Base is knit in Khaki.
R1: K2tog, *Knit8, K2TOG* Repeat from *
R2: and all even rounds purl
R3: Knit
R5: Knit
R7:*K7 , K2TOG*Repeat
R9: Knit
R11:Knit
R13:*K6, K2TOG*Repeat
R15: Knit
R17: Knit
R19:*K5, K2TOG* Repeat
R21:*K4, K2TOG* Repeat
R23:*K3, K2TOG* Repeat
R25:*K2, K2TOG* Repeat
R27:*K1, K2TOG* Repeat
R29:*K2TOG*
Repeat R29 until 5-7 stitches remain. Gather remaining stitches with a darning needle.
Weave in ends.



Put the basket in a zippered pillow case, and throw in wash in hot water with laundry detergent, monitoring the progress.
The basket will be crumpled, and somewhat wavy because of the chevron and will need to be shaped, pulled, and tugged on. If you don't believe me look at this picture.I find that paying a lot of attention to the shaping really pays off, and our feline babies deserve only the best!



Copyright, Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer 2008. This pattern is for personal use only.

This Little Piggy... (FREE PATTERN)

Yesterday, I was talking to one of my old friends. As we both are mothers, the conversation always ends up on the children. I started talking about my unsuccessful attempt at making S. stop sucking her thumb. (She is 7). She sucks it even during the day. My friend said that she heard of this new device that could be installed in the mouth of the child, and would prick the child's thumb if they tried putting their thumb in their mouth. I was horrified! I know sucking one's thumb is not the best, but it is a soft, comforting thing. I thought there had to be a better way. So I thought up This Little Piggy! The idea is simple, this is basically a single finger glove secured to the wrist with a knotted i-cord. This Little Piggy is knit mostly in the round using Cascade's Fixation in colors 4545, and 7382. The quantities used are ridiculously small, so if you have some yarn walnuts left over from some Fixation project, they will be perfect, or you can purchase the 2 colors, knit This Little Piggy, and then knit yourself a pair of striped socks. I chose Fixation because it is so readily available, it is cotton and lycra, and it is stretchy. I placed the Piggy's face on the top of the thumb, this way whenever S. has the urge to suck her thumb, though the urge is frustrating, she sees the happy little pig. She has already named the piggy Mercy Watson (the wondrous pig whose adventures she adores!)I think This Little Piggy is best for children 7 and older.

Here is the pattern for This Little Piggy (this is a really, really quick project!)



Materials: Cascade Fixation color 4545, and 7382
Needles: 2 16" US 3 needles
Gauge:6 sts/inch in st st

FLAP:
With Pink cast on 3 stitches. Increase every other row at beginning and end of row with bar increase until you have 7 stitches.
Knit even in garter stitch until flap is 1 1/2 inch.

THUMB:
Using knitted cast on, cast on 7 stitches. Transfer 7 stitches to a second circular, and join round. Knit in st st for 1 inch.

SNOUT OPENING:

With front of flap facing you ( the thumb whole will be hidden under your work)on needle 1: K2, put 3 sts on holder, CO 3, K2. Knit all stitches on needle 2.
Continue knitting even for 3/4 inch.

THUMB CLOSING:
Needle 1: K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1
Repeat on needle 2.
With a darning needle gather remaining stitches, and weave in end.

SNOUT:
Go back to the stitches on holder. Slip them back onto a needle. Rejoin yarn, K3, pick up and knit 3 stitches with other needle, and knit in round for 2 extra rounds. Gather remaining stitches with a darning needle, and weave in end.

EARS:

Pick up and knit 2 stitches on left side of head. R1: knit. R2: K2tog, tie off.
Repeat on right side of head.

EYES, NOSTRILS, MOUTH:
With brown and a darning needle, make 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, and a mouth. Weave in ends.

WRIST CORD:
With pink, make a 3 stitch 11" I-cord. With pink and a darning needle attach flap to cord, so that cord may be knotted on inside of wrist.

Copyright, Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer, 2008. This pattern is for personal use only.