Monthly Archives: July 2013

Giving It Away

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If you’ve been knitting for more than a hot minute (especially in public), you probably have had someone request that you make something for them.  It’s always kind of awkward, especially if you don’t really know the person.  I am not opposed to making things for other people, but my response is governed by how I’m asked.

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Here are some responses that I’ve come up with:

1.  “Oh, you knit?  Make me a scarf.”  In my brain I immediately reply “No! You rude person.”  But what I say is:  “Sure!  I’d love to make you something.  If you pick out a pattern and get buy the materials, I’d be happy to make it for you!”  I have never had anyone go through the hassle of actually buying the yarn, so they get no scarf from me.

2.  “I love the socks that you’re making!  Could I pay you to make some for me, too?”  This is trickier, because they are actually willing to put forward some money/effort to get you to make them something, which I approve of.  But, most non-knitters don’t realize how much effort goes into a pair of socks (or any other project).  Let’s say that it takes 10 hours to knit a pair of socks (which is crazy fast, but I like round numbers).  And, minimum wage in Washington is about $9 an hour.  That comes to $90 for labor, plus another $10-20 for materials, so you end up with a $100 pair of socks.  The point is, you’re not going to make money knitting.  If I am actually interested in making the project, I’ll usually will give them the same deal that I give folks from the first group (although they are much more likely to follow through).  If I don’t want to make the project, I usually laugh awkwardly try to change the subject.

3. “Allison, would you be able to make me a very special hat to match the color of my coat, and could it have a pattern so that it goes with those mittens I got for Christmas last year?”  These requests I almost always fulfill.  It’s clear that they have really thought about what they are looking for, and they are very polite about asking for it (weird, right?!).  Usually, though, I’ll keep these projects secret until birthdays or Christmas when I need to pull out a really great present.

Pattern Spotlight: The Baby Surprise Jacket

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EZ was sort of the original knitting blogger, so I have a bit of a soft spot in my heart for her.  She published a quarterly knitting newsletter in the sixties that you could get delivered to your house for 25 cents.  (A deal, if you ask me.)  She has a ton of really clever patterns to her name, and they’re all written in an interesting “conversational” style, which I really enjoy (although I’ve heard some people complain about it).

In my opinion, her most interesting/clever/cool pattern is her “Baby Surprise Jacket” originally published in Fall of 1968 (though it’s been republished in many places now).  It’s a little garter-stitch baby cardigan knit all in one piece.  As you knit it up it looks like nothing more than a random pile of knitting.  But, when you bind off and execute a couple simple folds and sew in two short little seams (along the shoulders), you end up with an adorable little sweater.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis sweater is one of my favorite things to knit for my friends that are expecting.  Here’s why:

1.  It’s easy to adapt the pattern for either boys or girls, or for babies whose parents refuse to tell you if they are going to have a boy or a girl. (Jerks)

2.  I’ve probably made half a dozen of these sweaters, and I still get excited when I get to the final step and get to fold up the sweater.  It’s like magic.  Or origami.  Or magical origami.

3.  This pattern uses just about the same amount of yarn that a grown-up pair of socks uses, so one 100g skein of sock yarn will make an entire sweater.  And, depending on the brand of yarn, you might have a little extra to make a matching pair of bootees or a little stuffed animal or something.  AND, this pattern looks really cool when you use self-striping sock yarn.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASo, go get yourself a copy of this pattern and make a bunch of baby sweaters.  (Even if you don’t have any babies/preggo ladies in your life, it’s a fun pattern to try just for the heck of it.)

Inspiration: It’s hot as balls

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I don’t know about you, but it’s hot as bejesus out here in Seattle.  (And I don’t mean “it’s hot for Seattlites who are used to putting on shorts when it breaks 50 degrees.”)  It’s actually in the 90s, and there’s no air conditioning anywhere within the surrounding 50 miles.  It’s kind of hellish.  There’s been a run on window air conditioners and fans:

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So, while we’re all sitting around stewing in our own sweat, why not knit a totally useful (and useable) swimsuit!

You could go oldschool with:

The Call of the Sea, by Susan Crawford

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You could go scantily-clad with:

BVI Bikini by Joanne Yordanou

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Or, you could go actually functional with this cute cover-up:

Balos by Laura Birek

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And, word to the wise (although I’m sure you know this already because you are reasonable people…I assume), don’t actually go swimming with a knit swimsuit.  It would only go all soggy and droopy the moment you stepped into the water.  Gross.

Inspiration: Subway

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As you guys know, I watch a stupid amount of TV.  And with great amounts of TV comes great numbers of commercials.  (I think Spiderman said that… right?)  Here’s a silly commercial that they’ve been showing for Subway, which apparently has avocados now (or at least I think that’s what they’re saying).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDB5H1GSjUM

Want to show your love of avocados?  Try one of these patterns:

Avocado Fruit, by Melbangel

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Avocado Dish Cloth, by Carly Zimmermanavocado dish cloth