Stephieface

So I have finished the Diaper Bag Sweater. While I agree with sunneshine that the results are worth the effort, I must admit I have never in my life knit that much seed stitch before. Add to that, that halfway during its knitting (I had just got to the neck shaping) I discovered that for the last 5 years I have been twisting my purl stitches when knitting straight (rather than in the round). It happens alot, I’ve discovered, for self taught knitters to twist their purls. When I went through the book I learned from (from the Boye ‘I Taught Myself To Knit’ kit) I discovered that this could and will happen to anyone because that is how the book teaches you to purl. So, while I was feeling defensive when messageboard warriors were telling me I was wrong, wrong, wrong (doing their dance in my imagination)- when I sat down and thought about it, I felt better…. I’m not wrong for someone else teaching me incorrectly. So, why the Diaper Bag Sweater was becoming hard for me was this…. after getting halfway (and discovering this fact about my purls) I would then have to knit the remainder incorrectly, knowing with every purl that it was incorrect. So I still had to knit the front, the rest of the sleeves, and the hood all incorrectly or more accurately… twisted. But, here it is (in all its hard to photograph knitted black glory):Once I get some unfinished wooden buttons, I’ll see how well they’ll go, paint them whatever color my heart desires, and then knit on a button band. That is what I have always loved about unfinished wood buttons, you can make them match anything. Here is a size comparison pic of the Diaper Bag Sweater with the Quickie Baby Sweater I made before (also with twisted purls but I like how it turned out anyway):It’s about the same size-ish. The body is longer, the sleeves are longer, and not as wide it appears. I’ve been thinking about knitting another of the Quickies in red maybe, possibly green. Hopefully, now that I metered through it once, I can do it better in reruns. I’ll still do my little add on as well, where I add stitches to the sleeve to make it a little poofier- I really really can’t stand the sleeves in the pic on the pattern.

I also have to acquire another 1lb cone of Peaches&Cream so that I can try out my idea. My idea is to go to this site, get a couple of the dishcloth patterns (like the frog, dragonfly, bear, duckie, heart… who knows?! the madness!), knit a bunch, then sew them all together like a big patchwork blankie. I figure that because they are dishcloth patterns they won’t take forever -AND- they can viewed from either side unlike intarsia. The best part is, these patterns are all written by the same lady and all have the same Cast On number so they should be all close to the same size after knitting (which makes for easier sewing).

The funny thing is, I only allow myself one project at a time on the needles… this helps keep my “unfinished objects” (UFOs) to a very very very bare minimum. Hopefully time travel will be perfected before all these babies are born so I can go back in time and find pockets of time to knit in, THEN deliver the FO (Finished Object) before the baby is a FO.

Edited To Add: A BIG thank you to Donna who scored me the punk baby patterns from Knit1. You rock!!

On Sam’s birthday last October, The Mister bought Sam this ginormous box of regular average sized legos (this was of course before we found out about Beans), the box being ginormous, not the legos. Every day since, I question my decision to walk about my home without shoes. Why? Because, as if my children were little pull-up festooned ninjas, the smallest of the lego pieces are left about like caltrops for me to step on. Especially if it is night, and if I am on my way to bed without my contacts in.

I’ve finally returned to the Seed Stitch Nightmare known as the Diaper Bag Sweater, having finally procured the second ball of yarn the pattern waits until halfway through to tell you that you need. Sure, its says it needs 3 skeins of Laine Borgesia dal 1850 (which you can find nowhere- ETA 3/27/08: that is because this yarn is discontinued), but it waits until you’re committed to mention multiple balls. So as mentioned here, the Mister offered to go to Walmart to procure more of the needed yarn- they were out, both times he checked. I’m not sure why there was a sudden run on black Bernat Softee Chunky at the non super Walmart on his way home from work, but there you go. I finally went and did it myself at a Super Walmart. He did try though. Here are my progress pics so far, I’m on the hood….Yup… lots and lots of seed stitch. The front bit is a bit too open though. The pattern calls for little i-cord ties by the base of the hood, but I feel “eh” about that. When I finish the hood and the weaving in of ends, I may consider adding a button band to the front to close up that open bit- and I like buttons more than I like i-cording.

Also, while at the super Walmart, I was able to score a skein of Bernat’s CottonTots on clearance for a mere $2. It was the only non fun fur/non eyelash yarn in the clearance bin there. The colorway is called Verry Berry. (sorry for the crappy pic, it was the only way to get the colors semi-accurate, the pink is still too dark in this pic [but everything else is on-weird])Isn’t it awesomely pretty? The Mister says I should quit hedging my bets that Beans is a girl until we find out for sure in two weeks. He doesn’t want me to be dissapointed if she turns out to be a he. The Flying Diaperini Brothers have also expressed an interest in “coming with” to the appointment. I sat down with them and told them what would happen, showing them videos of what they would see on the “TV” at the doctor’s- and what they would see the doctor doing to me. By the way, this explaination usually is described as the doctor rubbing the TV remote on my belly covered in daddy’s hair gel…. you gotta use what your kids know. So far they seem pretty stoked about going, I’m just not sure if I can handle dragging the circus in there with me…. wait… let me rephrase that… I’m not sure the docs can handle me dragging the circus in there with me. I mean, seriously, the aren’t the Flying Diaperinis for nothing.

So, while I am still on knitting experimentation kick, I decided to plunk down and try out the Diaper Bag Sweater pattern I listed the other day. The entire thing is done in seed stitch. I love seed stitch, I really do- its just starting to get on my nerves. It could totally be worse, I could be knitting in nothing but stockinette………eeew I think you can just read me cringing here. After 5 hours this is my progess so far (its about equal time wise with the other sweater so far): It’s just the back and part of the arms so far, after I get done knitting 3.25 inches of sleeve I get to do some neck shaping. Woohoo. Once again I’m knitting this up with all my US10s and Bernat Softee Chunky yarn (in black).

In other news, I’m kinda sad. If you remember I recently posted a pattern for a dishcloth. I discovered today that I am not the only person to think they are clever enough to come up with that design as I found it listed as five other names and credited to 5 other people. Oh well.

So, I went shopping the other day at the grocery store, and found this is the tea aisle:The reason I mention this is because, well, its weird. There is a small notation on the canister that says “20 silken tea pouches”, and this intrigued me. I mean, its generic brand tea released by the grocery store, even the name brands I buy aren’t “silken”. So I popped it open to check it out…. Damn if it isn’t downright silken, as if it were a potpourri favor from a wedding. Seriously. I don’t know that I can make tea with something so pretty.

Sunflowerfairy got me thinking about the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival already (first weekend in May). I really wanted to go last year, but couldn’t (I even tried to force my parents to go and buy me yarn- they didn’t). I’d like to go this year, I will however be 8 months pregnant by then. Oh yeah, you heard me, 8 months. I would be super easy to spot if there was Blogger Bingo… just look for the waddling short girl possibly dragging a train of kids (on the upside, I could strap my purchases to the kids like wee little alpacas and have them carry my goods around the fair). Anyone else toying with the idea of going?

ETA: A few people have mentioned to me about the punk worthy baby pattern in the Knit1 magazine. Is there anyone who can make a copy or scan of said pattern and send it my way? I have checked 4 stores already and have had no luck finding that issue.

My last post chronicled the making of a sweater for Bean. If you recall, even a little further past, I posted about how I have 2 SILs and a Sister who are all expecting as well.

I’m still thinking and looking for patterns for gifts (the knitted converse booties pattern will stay right at home though…muhahahahaha nanny nanny poopoo… the benefits of being the only knitter people know!!). Since I rather enjoyed the Quickie Sweater (now with teeny purple buttons [those buttons are the size/area of a pencil eraser])…I decided to go looking for a similar pattern. It was about yesterday that I discovered that the Quickie Sweater I knitted was one of many urban legended “5 Hour Baby Sweater” patterns. They are all quite similar in shape and make, some have different bells and whistles (like hoods), some have different stitch patterns, all in all though they are quite similar. I also discovered the misnomer of the 5HBS, it’s rarely ever done in 5 hours. Whoever initially named it that must have had some of the fabled knitting oompa loompas that knitters hear fairytales of, because most of the comments I read about the different assorted 5HBS patterns was that it took much longer than the fabled 5 hours- 9 hours being the average. Still, 9 hours for a whole completed baby sweater still isn’t bad if you ask me. Seriously, I look at other sweater patterns (like Interweave’s Pead Pod baby set) and the needle size makes me gag. Babies grow fast, I’d hate to spend countless days making something for the tyke that they might wear once ever. 9 hours is like I tried making the baby knitty’s calorimetry without knowing that 120 CO was too big and having to frog once or twice… otherwise known as “something not too overly committed”.
Then came hurdle #2….. one of my partners in gestation (yeah, there is nothing I could find pregnancy wise that rhymed with Crime) is having a boy, and it will be some time before we discover what the others are having. The patterns I found right away are generally girly looking. Like, if done in a boyish color I’m sure the wee babe could probably pull it off…. but its still kinda girly. So I endeavored to find a just as quick pattern that had no girly frills. I’m pretty sure I found one, or at least a few…. you could check them out if you are in the same situation as me (having to look for baby gifts… and not the knocked up bit)….
Five Hour Baby Sweater from yarn tootin the pattern is a pdf located in her sidebar
The Diaper Bag Sweater from Fran Knits this pattern is hooded and in seed stitch
The Jimmy Beans Baby Sweater Set from Jimmy beans Wool this is a pattern for sweater, hat and socks
5HBS with Bonnet, Bootie, and Hood patterns also lists the legend of the 5HBS, but the hood pattern is knitted before the sweater and you just start the sweater on the last hood row

Personally, I think that sweater patterns should have a pic of a real live baby in the sweater and not a doll. I equate a picture of a doll with “tiny” or “no chance in hell it’s gonna fit”. I wanna a see a real 9 pounder in that getup so I know it will work. However, if you do get corraled into a baby shower, its nice to know you can give up a weekend and get a buttload of things made without too much hassle (like a sweater and a set of 5S washcloths).
That would be the weekend to finally sit down and watch that entire series of your choice DVD box set that you have, but never crack open except for the odd episode here and there. Firefly/Angel/Buffy are awesome choices, massive menu manipulations aside (you’ll have to fiddle with the remote a bit). For me, Deadwood, because I think I get a small bit of perverse glee knitting something for a baby with all that cussing and sex going on. Princess Bride/Rocky Horror/Kevin Smith Movies/Jim Henson Puppet movies (labyrinth and darkcrystal) are all excellent movies because you can just listen and repeat the lines along with the movie (you KNOW you do, don’t deny it).

So…. yesterday I had my 14 week appointment. I got to listen to Bean’s heartbeat (still awesome cool) and the babe clocked in at 154 bpm. Sam and TJ were both super active babies in utero, never once clocking in at anything less that 165 bpm. The doc apologized for doubting my calenderific knowledge of when me and the Mister do the nasty. I feel somewhat vindicated. They also signed me up to get THE sonogram, you know the one, the one we’ve been waiting for – the appointment for that is on 2/12, and don’t think for a second I won’t come on here and blab it all out…….. with pictures. You can check the countdown to THE sonogram below.

If you are under 21, you can stop reading now and skip down because you will most likely have no idea what I am talking about next- not being mean, just saying….

When we were younger, do you remember watching the Bugs Bunny/Chuck Jones cartoons? Where whenever any woman was pregnant, they would be sitting and knitting some sort of baby accoutrement when their husband walked through the door. Then the husband, seeing the knitting, would have his eyes bug out of his head and pass out.
While I was saved the whole to do of the Mister’s eyes bugging out of his head (this is his FOURTH kid after all, you’d think he’d be used to it), I did finally do what it was I even learned knitting for….

I knit something for my Bean in the oven (yes, I know its Bun, but we decided to call it Beans while it’s in there… remember?).

If you recall a bit ago I posted about how and why I learned to knit, involving a pregnancy (Sam) and a revoloution that would happen someday. While I started the whole business of knitting to make by yet unborn baby some clothing, it never ever happened. Sure, I’ve knit stuff for the kids- mostly toys- yet I never ever did do the very thing I bothered to learn knitting for. I know, am I lame or what? So, I sat down and decided that since Beans will be our last (and you better BELIEVE ME when I say last) that I should end my baby bearing career by actually ponying up that little knitted something for the fruit of my loins to wear. Its 2007, a new year, our last baby, I better get knitting.

And get knitting I did……

Mind you, I haven’t had the middle of the pregnancy sonogram where they can tell you what sex it is (and oh yes, we find out in this family- especially since there are many hopes on me by the inlaws that its a girl), I did however just go with my gut, and my gut said…………………………pink.Pink…..pink….pink….pink. I have yet to add buttons, I have to find some I really like that will work first. So project details….oooooooo……

Pattern: Quickie Baby Sweater

Yarn: I’m not sure, but I think it was Bernat Softee Chunky whatsit. Something acrylic, but soft

Needles: The pattern called for US10.5 of which I have none, so I used US10 instead. I know this will make it smaller, it turned out a size that my other kids could have worn from birth into their 6th month or so. The pattern just says 10.5, but it doesn’t tell you if its straights, circulars, DPNs, or pinky toes. It makes a vague reference in parenthesis on the second page of the pattern to a circular needle and that’s it. In truth, I ended up using every US10 needle I own…. circular, 14″ straights, 10″ straights…. I even toyed with the idea of trying to see if I owned US10 DPNs because I would most likely end up needing them as well.

Notes: It says in the pattern notes that it takes about 4-5 hours to make…. this is a lie. I was knitting fast and hard and I think maybe I got it in 9 or 10… maybe. Its a pretty easy pattern, until row 32 where it gets kinda fiddley (and is also where I ended up using every US 10 needle I own). It shows buttons in the picture, but there are no button holes- you’re supposed to push the buttons through the garter stitch edge. The pattern pic’s sleeves looked funky to me, I can’t explain how or why- it just did (maybe they aren’t girly poofy enough?). So on the sleeves, in the pattern where it says work in St st for 16 rows, after row 3 of the St st on row 4 I increased (kfb) the first 2 stitches and the last 2 stitches and worked everything else the same (ignoring the stitch count). I ended up knitting most of it on the 14″ straights, using the 10″ straights for the sleeves, and the circular needle really as more as a giant stitch holder since its easier to move stitches around on. It was the first time I did a picot edge and I kinda dug it. As well, the pattern prints out on 2 sheets and I put them in little page protector sleeves…. I wrote the directions for rows 5, 8, and 9 on the bottom of the second sheet because in directions on the 2nd sheet is just says things like “Same as row 5″- and I HATE flipping through patterns back and forth.

In any case, it wasn’t terrible (except for row 32) and I may very well make Knitty’s Baby Tart to go with it. The Bernat Softee Chunky made it turn out kinda thick and heavy, which is cool since Beans is due to come around midJuly- I now have a little something to slip on Beans on one of those cool nights…… unless of course Beans surprises me utterly (fooling my instincts and whatnots) and comes out a boy……. then it may get gifted or sold. I, however, have a hefty feeling that the sweater will stay around. I’m just saying.

First off, the Pattern…. (inspired by the Bunny Blanket Buddy from Lion Brand which I thought would make a kick ass dishcloth/facecloth/washcloth/whatever)Stephieface’s Super Simple Scrubby Scrap

(man, I love me some alliteration)

Materials:
Cotton Yarn, I used Peaches & Cream in the Daisy Ombre
US10 Straight Needles

Skills Required:
Casting On (CO)
Increases by knitting into front and back of stitch (Kfb)
Yarn overs (YO)
Decreases by knitting two stitches together (K2tog)
Binding Off (BO)

Pattern:

Cast On 1 stitch

Rows 1 – 6: Knit into the front and the back of the very first stitch, then knit the remaining stitches to the end of the row. You will have 7 stitches at the end of Row 6

Rows 7 – 39: Knit 3, YO, knit the remaining stitches to the end of the row. You will have 40 stitches at the end of Row 39

Rows 40 – 73: Knit 2, K2tog, YO, K2tog, then knit the remaining stitches to the end of the row. Continue until you 7 stitches remaining

Rows 74 – 80: K2tog, then knit remaining stitches. Continue this until 1 stitch remains

Cut yarn, then Bind Off by pulling yarn tail through last remaining stitch. Weave in your two yarn ends. Options: You can weave a ribbon through the eyelet holes created by the Yarn Overs or leave as is.

The S5 (above) took only a couple of hours, and that was a couple hours of me knitting, then setting it down and forgetting where I put it, watching Stargate(s), then remembering I was knitting, looking for it, finding it, knitting on it some more, then repeating. Your time may vary depending on your power of forgetfulness.
Speaking of Stargate(s)….. I have a guilty pleasure… I watch Stargate Atlantis for this guy…. Its not who you think…….Its the Scottish Doctor. I could listen to him talk nonsense medical jargon all day… and in fact, I did. He’s like the average man Gerard Butler….. nice.

Anywho, I was thinking recently that meme I last filled out was interesting. It was the 6 Weird Things Meme that I was tagged by pinsandneedles for. Then it got me to thinking, I’m not just weird now, I’ve always had weird things. Then I got to really thinking, and I wondered about the weird things I did as a kid and why. I mean… now you know why you did stuff then… right? So, same rules, 6 Weird Things You Did As A Kid and Why…….. I’ll start, I’m not afraid……. anymore ……….

1. I used to align myself to sleep in the exact middle of my bed which was the top bunk. I would spend forever getting just right so that if my little sister in the bottom bunk turmed into a tentacled monster… she couldn’t reach me with her tentacles and pull me to my death.

2. I had a blankie til I was ohhhhhhh 14 (shut up). BUT, when I was a kid I would fold my blanket up into a long rectangle, then place it over my neck so that it looked pretty much like a teddy bear patterned neck brace. I then slept with my head under the pillow. Why? So that if a monster looked into my bed it would appear as if there was no kid there (nevermind that kid shaped lump beneath the covers, right?). But if the monsters weren’t fooled by the pillow trick… at least I was safe from vampires… because my neck was covered by the blankie.

3. I would make this amazing leap from the bunk bed ladder to the doorway (going up and down) because, very much like #1 I wanted to avoid being dragged to my death by my little sister who was surely a tentacle monster in disguise.

4. When walking to school I would streak across the front lawn avoiding the bushes right in front of my house…..because I was certain that something evil resided in there- most likely a werewolf. I even used to secretly carry a flashlight in my backpack that I would whip out on the front porch, and shine into the hollow of the bushes. Hopefully the C battery powered beam was strong enough to keep the growling snarling vicious drool dripping werewolf at bay until I could run to the safety of the sidewalk- 15 feet away. As I ran past, I know I heard it start to come after me and I would tear off like my ass was on fire. Truth be told, I did this until 8th grade, where I finally looked behind me and saw that I was indeed being chased by a growling snarling vicious drool dripping….. possum…. which chased me to the complex’s parking lot and a bit beyond. I was still wary of the bushes for a long time after that, but I was somewhat comforted by the fact that should it come back out I could attempt to beat it to death with my Social Studies book.

5. I disliked sleeping on the floor at my Grandma’s house becuase I was sure evil demonic mice that lived beneath the couch would get me…… because I was certain I could see the sulphurous glowing of their infernal eyes under there. I hated going into the basement by the steps because I was certain that something beneath the steps would grab my foot between the slats of the step. And I left the bathroom door cracked open to make a quick and hasty retreat after I went so that the things right outside the bathroom window couldn’t get me….. unbeknowest to me at the time, it was simple accoustics that I was hearing, and not a slavering pack of monstorous hillbeasts outside the almost always open window.

6. After having read numbers 1-5…. know this….. my parents never allowed me to watch scary movies or shows. All that scary stuff I got on my own.

So there you go, if you want to be tagged consider yourself so.