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.

Wednesdays are for Planning

Today was more a day of planning than a day of actual progress on any of my projects.

The cat bed has grown quite a bit, and is a little less than a repeat away from having finished edges. In response to Woolwinder, yes the basket will be felted. I think felting it will give it the body and sturdiness it needs, and make it safe for little claws. I have not yet decided how the base of the basket will be knitted. Should I continue the chevron, of switch to a simple one color base, preferably knit with one of the darker colors in the pattern, which will help hide the results of dirty paws?



In the felted category, I have yet another project that needs just a final touch. I knit these slippers for A. my oldest daughter. I used a Fiber Trends pattern, and Ella Rae Classic Wool in a really warm, luscious chocolate brown color. I had a lot of fun shaping them. I just need to attach 2 buttons, and a little bit of elastic, and they will be done. The only problem is that the buttons I had purchased for it have gone missing since I started organizing my studio. Isn't it funny that as long as things are stored in the wrong places, they can be found easily, but as soon as they are put away in the right place they are basically lost?



I am still working on my studio, and today picked the color for the hutch. It was red, and it will become Pear Green to match the little bit of green that will be in the curtains. The curtains for the bookshelves are up, and my next job is to orgnize the shelves. Maybe I will start the painting of the hutch tomorrow.

Thoughts on the Cat Basket and Motherhood

Thank you for the nice feedback on S.'s sweater. The best of knitting it, was actually to see the glorious smile on S's faces as she saw it, and tried it on.



I started knitting on the cat basket last night, and as you can see, chevrons I said there would be, and chevrons there are. I decided to knit the bed in the round (no seams! which after my previous project will be a very enjoyable thing), and all in garter stitch as the thicker fabric will give the bed some added firmness.
I am working with 2 strands of lamb's pride worsted, held together, on a size 13 circular needle. I am so used to working with small needles that the switch to the large needles was odd, but my hands are now comfortable and knitting away.

What I like best about chevrons, apart from the fact that they look really great is that they allow you to do just that, knit away. Chevrons are an almost thoughtless pattern, and they make the knitting interesting. The stripes add a little fun, and I always find myself wanting to get to the next color.

I am about half way done with the sides... It's amazing how fast this kind of knitting goes. That means it will soon be time to think about my next project, or maybe I could just give the final push to the socks.
The pair of socks that I blogged about recently have become my subway project, so they have been growing, but since I have been staying at home a little more, their progress has been less impressive than I would like.

I am also busy working on this week's new colorways. This week's SockPixie colorways will be dedicated to the mothers of the world. Mothers are universal. Their love for their children, their care, and their hopes for them transcend all geographical, and political borders. Each colorway will be named with the word mother but in different languages. The colors that will accompany each name will be an interpretation of the colors that come to my mind when I think of each region.
I can hardly wait for Sunday to show them to you...

Mission Accomplished

S.'s Sweater is FINISHED! I stayed up way too late last night adding the edging, and weaving in all ends. To motivate myself I put a classic on, Hithcock's Psycho. Let me tell you, you are not about to fall asleep watching this movie, you are actually so alert that you do not even make mistakes. I was so alert that I started listening with anxiety to every noise in our old victorian house, and when my husband called me to bed, I just about fainted I was so scared!



Let's talk about the sweater. I eventually decided on a crocheted edge, and here are my reasons. Speed was one of them, the fact that I could not put my hands on a long enough circular needle, the fact that I really like picot crochet edges, and that after trying a few things, I thought it really flattered the classic/romantic look of the sweater. I crocheted the edge in the same color as the body of the sweater as I thought it would complement the general simplicity of the sweater. The sleeves are also crocheted in the same stitch. I know that a lot of my friends are nervous about adding crochet to their work, but I really recommend it. Crochet being a little stiffer, it can add a nice firmness to the edge of a sweater, it is also really easy. Here is what I did: slip stitch 1, chain 3, slip stitch 1 in same space, slip stitch again but not into next hole, rather in following hole, and voila!
As the final touch I picked a little "Vichy" ribbon, and seamed it on.




I really recommend this sweater (Ella Rae, book 4, Sophia), as I said in my previous post the pattern is very nice, and with the added edging it takes on a classic look which I love for little girls.



So now that the sweater is done, it's on to another project. This time I am going to design something new. My oldest daughter has 2 cats who just love to lounge wherever she is. So the kitties will be the recipients of the new projects. My plan is to design a felted cat basket. I am very fond of chevrons and will be included them in the pattern. I picked the color, and of course having been on a binge of yellow and blue for my design studio, I chose colors in these very ranges.
I think they should create a lovely chevron.

The third news of the day, is that I have just agreed to work a few hours a week at my favorite local yarn store Windsor Button in downtown Boston. Considering how busy I have been with everything else this is kind of crazy, but I really could not resist. See I used to own a yarn store in California before we moved to Boston, and I miss it. I miss talking with people, and helping them with their projects, so when Susan ( the owner of the store) asked me if I was interested, I said yes. I even smiled all the way home I was so happy! Windsor Button is a huge store, with lots of great yarns in all possible gauges, and materials, as well as knitting accessories. They have a fabulous collection of sock yarns too! They also carry ribbons, beading supplies, sewing supplies, needlepoint and embroidery supplies. Considering that I like all these arts, I will be in heaven.

Progress

Progress! I am done knitting all the pieces for S.'s jacket. They have been pressed, and are waiting to be seamed together.
I really loved the pattern (Sophia, Ella Rae Book 4). It was easy, and mistake free. The pattern could have been a little more explicit with how to continue the pattern as the sleeves were getting wider. I recommend drawing a chart of the stitch pattern as the sleeves get wider.
I now have to decide on an edging, because as I expected the pieces roll quite a bit, in particular the front panels, and the neck line will look unfinished without a little je ne sais quoi. I am torn between a knitted edge, and a crocheted edge. The advantange of the crocheted edge would be the speed. The knitted edge would look finer. What do you think?
If all goes well, I will be done on time for S. to take the jacket with her to France.

On the garden front there was very little progress this week as the weather was really ugly. I focused instead on a project which turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I had, up till now, been working on my colorways, and pretty much everything else (except actually dyeing the yarn) from the table in the dining room. The temporary set up pretty much claimed the whole table, and credenza, and I was starting to resent it. So I decided it was time to create a space just for me, and my knitting related work. I claimed the underutilized library room. I moved a lovely Louis XIII desk in it, a smart Louis XVI chair to accompany it, a hutch with glass doors. I moved all my works in progress, and supplies in the hutch. I also picked some great fabrics. I painted the walls a soft greyish blue.



I picked fabrics with a blue and yellow theme with a touch of black for punch.The soft buttery yellow fabric is for the book shelves. I have decided to make panels to cover the lower sections of the bookcases. That will become a perfect spot for office and school supplies, for the printer, and other less visually pleasing items. The top of the shelves will be for art books, our favorite novels, school books, and zillions of children's books.
The panels are already sewn,and just awaiting the tension rods.



The plaid fabric will be used to make a cover for the chair. That should be fun and an adventure as I have never made a cover for a chair!
The bold floral fabric will be for the windows. I will make simple roman shades. I have fallen very much in love with this simple type of window treatment, and it is so easy to make.
The hutch will have to be repainted. It is now red, and will become a lime green to match the green accents in the floral fabric.
Today I started using the room, and worked on my shop update at my desk. I felt so happy, and relaxed. Being there made my work feel so easy! It is amazing how having this space has already changed things for the better for me.

The room still needs some work, and I think I will have a busy week!

It's Off to Trouville...

This Sunday, SockPixie is taking you to Trouville. All my colorways are the fruit of cherished memories of my vacations spent in this little French ocean town on the coast of Normandie. The colors are really different, they reflect the softness of the air, and most of all the incredible light that I love so much. I have been thinking a lot about Trouville, as I do every spring. My children will be going there soon to spend time with my family, and I hope will create magical memories of their own. My family has been vacationing in Trouville since the 1930's when the Front Populaire gave all French workers paid vacations. It was a town close enough to Paris, just a few hours away by train or car, and it became a favorite for many families. My parents met there, I fell in love for the first time there, I learned to swim there, I learned to knit on the beach sitting at my grandmother's feet, I was a teenager there always forgetting it was time to go home...
I hope you will enjoy this trip to Trouville!