The Husband Sweater: Yarn!

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My husband picked out the pattern for his sweater, and the yarn, too. And here it is:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAKnit Picks Comfy Sport in Planetarium and Whisker (AKA, navy blue and gray).

Let’s just take a moment to remember the example pictures on the pattern:

img_4328_medium2_medium[1]I wonder where he got the idea for a blue and gray sweater?  A sweater with stripes is far enough out of his comfort zone, so I’m not going to raise a stink about the color choice.  (And, he is a Ravenclaw, so I suppose blue and silver is pretty on point.)

The yarn is a cotton/acrylic blend, which I usually wouldn’t use for a sweater.  But, my husband runs super warm, so anything with even a touch of wool doesn’t get worn, except on vacation to the Great White North.  So we’ll see how it works as a sweater.  Have any of you knit a sweater out of cotton?

I worked up a little swatch on size 5 needles:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI got gauge with size 5 needles, not size 7, like the pattern suggests.  Which is weird.  I’m usually a pretty average knitter, but I guess I won’t argue with the swatch gods.  Maybe it has to do with the fiber content?  Cottons don’t really stretch, but wool (like the pattern asks for) is quite stretchy.  We’ll just have to see.

Cross your fingers for me!

 

 

300!

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300[1]Do you guys remember this movie?  300?  It’s about a bunch of Spartans back in ye-olde-times, running around in way too little armor and being bad-ass fighters?  I really liked it when it first came out back in college.  I just saw it again, and, sad to say, it doesn’t hold up.  Like, at all.  Oh well.  (Also, it is sadly lacking in the knitting department.)

Anyway, this is all a round-about way of saying that this is my 300th post!  Awesome, right?  To be honest, I never expected to get to this point.  But that’s pretty great.

Since starting this blog, I’ve learned a lot about writing, knitting, and the fact that I watch way too much TV.  I learned how to tweet (follow me @on_the_needles), or at least I’m learning how.  Sometimes writing to a deadline is a little stressful (even a self-imposed one), but I like having a structure that I need to follow.  It keeps my mind busy while I wallow through acres of stockinette.   And, it just tickles me pink that I get to talk about my favorite subject to hundreds of like-minded people.  I couldn’t be happier!

Thanks again for following me, and reading my yarn-induced ramblings!

So Sew Buttons

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I love buttons.  I always have.  When I was little, my mom had this big tin filled with all the buttons she had collected over the years.  One of my favorite things to do was to take the Button Box from the drawer of her sewing desk and spill them out on the kitchen table.  I’d sort them by color, or texture, or size.  I’d make pictures with them, and arrange them in patterns.  I liked everything about them, even the feeling of the little buttons running through my fingers and the sound of them plinging back into their tin.

Not much has changed, to be honest.  I have my own button collection now, but it’s in a little zippered felt bag, not a tin.  And I don’t have nearly as many buttons as my mom did.

But over Christmas, I added a few more to my collection.  They are really special buttons that I’m super excited about.  My family took a little expedition to North Chicago to visit a button shop that we had heard about over a year ago.  And, I have to say, it was totally worth the wait.

The shop is called Soutache, and it sells thousands (and thousands) of buttons, miles of ribbons, and piles of rhinestones and feather trim.  I could spend an entire paycheck there if I wasn’t careful.

soutache-headerThey had buttons made from bone, from stone, from wood, from brass.  They had bright pink buttons, and inky black buttons.  Square buttons, spheres, and buttons shaped like shoes.  They had new buttons and vintage ones.  And they were all gorgeous.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI came home with these little guys.  They’re vintage half-inch brass buttons.  They almost glow in the light, and have a surprising amount of heft.  I can’t wait to put them on the slightly cropped cardigan that has been bouncing around in my brain for a while (of course, I’ll have to knit it first).   They’re pretty much perfect.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnd these buttons are so cool!  They look like hand-formed aluminum, or maybe tarnished silver.  But, they’re actually made of plastic, which sounds lame, but is actually kind of perfect for a sweater.  These buttons are so light, they won’t make the front of a cardigan droop from their weight, even though they are large and impressive.  Cool, right?

In conclusion, if you’re ever in Chicago, make a point of going to Soutache.  And bring your check book.

Do you have any special buttons in your collection?

It turns out, cats really DO like yarn…

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I’ve never had a cat (or a dog), and I don’t know how you knitters with animals manage it.

For real.

I spent a week at my in-laws’ house, and every time I got out my knitting, this was what happened.

WP_20141229_015*pat pat pat*

It was all cats, all the time.  They were fascinated by my knitting, and kept trying to steal my ball of yarn.  One of them even tried to eat my circular needles.

I had to be very very careful to always put away my knitting securely whenever I got up.

WP_20150101_003At one point, I had to re-skein some lovely grey sock-weight, and the cats insisted on “helping”.  I don’t even know how they figured out what I was doing.  They were on a totally different floor of the house, then, suddenly, they were there.  They must  have some sort of cat RADAR.

They are pretty dang cute, though.  So they have that going for them.

Do you have an animal trying to help with your knitting?  How do you keep your projects safe from little claws and pointy teeth?

Husband Sweater: The Beginning

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This year, I didn’t even try to get my husband’s Christmas present finished in time.  I didn’t even have time to start it before Christmas.

(Sorry, Tristan.)

Instead, when we did our gift exchange, I told him my plan.  I am going to make him a sweater of his choice.

And, because the last one I made for him never gets worn (except when we go back to the Midwest for Christmas Break), I asked him to pick out everything about the project, so that he would end up with exactly the sweater he wants.

He’s typically pretty simple in his clothing choices, so I suggested a few patterns for him to start from.  He’s a big cardigan guy, so I started there:

Cambridge Jacket by Ann Budd

I could see Tristan wearing this sweater all the time.  It’s simple (almost too simple), and very manly.  No goofy colors or weird stitches.  Not even a button band.

3500883460_570d467ee9_z[1]Ranger by Jared Flood

I really like this sweater, even though it’s a little fancier.  (I actually might make this for myself.  I guess just like Jared Flood Sweaters… I’m actually wearing my Cobblestone, right now.)

Ranger1_medium2[1]But, no.  Tristan would have none of the sweaters I suggested.  He went down to his office in the basement, and looked at Ravelry for more than an hour.  (I thought he was playing Diablo… apparently not.)

And he picked out this one:

Émilien by Ariane Caron-Lacoste

img_4328_medium2_medium[1]I know!  Crazy!  Colors! Stripes! A hood!

But, as surprising as it was, he was very sure about what he wanted.  So, here we go!  A stripey, zip-up hoodie for my husband.

My Backwards New Year’s Resolution

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I always like New Year’s resolutions.  It’s easy to be cynical about them, but there’s something really nice about everyone trying to improve their lives all together.  Trying to get healthy, eat better, read more, or watch less TV, it doesn’t matter, as long as you have something to work on.

I feel pretty healthy.  I eat fairly well.  I read a lot (although, I suppose I could always read more).  And there’s no way I’m watching less TV (as I said the other day, I just started another watch-through of the X Files.  So that ain’t happening.)

But one thing I’ve been meaning to do for the blog is increase my “social media presence.”  Which is a phrase that makes me kind of want to gag.  As a big introvert, being constantly in contact with other people makes me a little nervous.  And, frankly, I can’t imagine who would want to hear me mumble about the knots in my yarn and complain when I accidentally spill my tea over the shawl I’m working on.

twitter-logo[1]But, I’ve been told that Twitter is important these days, so I figure I’ll make a go of it.

So, follow me on Twitter @on_the_needles.  And I’ll try to be funny?  Or something.  It’s all very mysterious, how the whole thing works.  (And can someone explain how hashtags and stuff work?  I’m basically an 80-year-old woman when it comes to technology… so bear with me.)

I’ll give it the old college try for a couple months, and we’ll see how it goes.  Do you guys use Twitter?  If so, what do you use it for?  I’m still not clear on how it works (again, because I’m 80).

Do you have any other interesting (or non-interesting) resolutions this year?  I’d love to hear about them!

I’ve been a busy little bee

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But I also have to be an enigmatic little bee.  (Sorry!)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhat with Christmas, traveling, and work deadlines,  it’s been a hectic month.  I’ve been working my little fingers to their nubs on a super secret surprise project, that I can’t tell you about…  yet.  But let me just say, it’s going to be AWESOME!  Or, at least I think it will be.

So, thanks for sticking with me, and the moment I can tell you about my project, I totally will.  And, I’ll get back to my regularly scheduled updates on my projects, knitting tutorials and patterns this month.  But, in the meantime, can I appease you with a picture of a really adorable little lamb? (You can’t be angry with me if you’re too busy going “Awww!”)

cute-lamb-wallpaper[1]

 

 

Inspiration: Fireworks

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Happy New Year’s Eve!   Do you have cool New Year’s Eve plans?  Are you going to some fancy party where men wear tuxes, women break out their diamonds and everyone drinks expensive champagne?  Or are you going to sit on the couch in you PJ’s with a bowl of popcorn and a mug of $5 “sparkling wine” from Trader Joe’s?

Bet you can’t guess which one I’m going to do!

Whichever direction you go, I hope you get to see some New Year’s fireworks (even if they’re only on TV).

I’m not really into crochet, but this firework-y granny square might encourage me to break out my hooks.

Fireworks Surprise by Amy Schwab

101_0159_medium[1]Or, you could add sparkly beads to a teeny-tiny sock (just the right size for a kitten, or, if you want to be practical, you could use it as a key chain).

Wee Tiny Fireworks Sock by Meg Bakewell

4901564945_da6bf05bc4_z[1]And, supposedly these are chrysanthemums, but they look like fireworks to me!

Chrysanthemums by Regina Rioux

2177375724_dfddd2b245_z[1]See you in 2015!

Inspiration: X-Files

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I am a big nerd.  And, I grew up in the 90s/early 2000s.  Therefore, I am a giant X-Files fan.  I’ve probably watch the whole show through three or four times (I’ve got to do something to keep my mind busy while I knit).

xfiles[1]When I was really little (when the show was still new), I was a giant scaredy-cat, and didn’t watch the X files.  In fact, when my folks wanted me to go to bed on Sunday nights, they’d tell me that the X-Files were coming on, and I’d run off to bed, scared.

But, in high school, I discovered the X-files, and started staying up late to watch reruns with the volume turned way down so that I wouldn’t wake up my parents.  Sometimes, I’d tape them (on the VHS tape that I’d bought specially to tape episodes) and watch them later with my dad.  Still whenever I hear the theme song I think of my dad whistling along while we sat on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.

(I’m re-watching the series again (because why not).  I found a new podcast from Kumail Nanjiani (a comedian that I like-he’s on the HBO show, Silicon Valley) called the X-Files Files, where he goes through the series and talks about the show with various guests.  It’s kind of great.  If you’re a nerd like me, I’d recommend checking it out.)

You know what else is great?

Scully’s fashion sense.

I’ve never noticed how many boxy suits and sensible shoes she wears.tumblr_lgck2x6W6J1qdaotno1_1280[1]Look at those shoulder-pads.  Amazing.

If she had time to sit down and knit between fighting off the Flukeman and conducting alien autopsies, maybe she’d make herself a blazer like this:

The Season’s Smartest Blazer by Meg Black

img093_medium2[1]But, you know what?  I don’t think those shoulders are quite big enough for Dr. Scully.  This is better:

Midnight Blazer by Xandy Peters

Blazer08130504_medium2[1]But, on her days off with her man-eating puppy Queequeg, she’d probably wear a comfy, slouchy sweater like this one.  (In fact, I’m 90% certain I’ve seen her wear a sweater just like this in one of the episodes… I just can’t remember which.)

Simple Summer Tweed Top Down V-Neck by Heidi Kirrmaier

3526321597_b611db4970_z[1]

Inspiration: Charity Knitting

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Congratulations!  You made it through Christmas!  You’re probably heading out to buy batteries for your kids’ Christmas presents and nursing a hangover from too many sugar cookies.

(Also, it’s my mom’s birthday!  Happy Birthday, Mom!)

But the day after ftsChristmas is not just a day for regretting that fifth cup of eggnog.  It’s Boxing Day!  We don’t really celebrate Boxing Day in America, but I learned about it when we lived in the UK as a kid.  Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, and was the day when the wealthy folks (think Lord and Lady Crawley) gave gifts to their servants and the other poor folks in their town.

Sure, it sounds patronizing when you put it that way, but it’s a good idea.  If Christmas is all about getting gifts, then Boxing Day is all about giving.

And, since you’ve all finished your Christmas knitting, you’ve got plenty of time for some Boxing Day charity knitting?

These beautiful (and simple) little hats would be perfect to drop off at a hospital for preemies (and their mothers).  Just be sure to check your local hospital’s regulations before you start knitting.

Preemie Hats for Charity by Carissa Browning

870859826_2e671d29fd_z[1]Up for something a little more challenging?  Think about contributing to the Mother Bear Project.  These darling little teddy bears are sent to kids around the world whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS.  (And the bear pattern is pretty cute, too.)

Mother Bear Project Teddy Bear by Amy Berman

Mother_Bear_in_Liberia_1_medium2[1]Maybe you want to do something a little different?  Think about knitting a prosthetic breast or two and dropping them off at your local hospital (or local knitting shop… my LYS is having a breast drive right now, which is pretty cool).  These prostheses are lighter and more comfortable on healing skin than the medical-grade ones, and don’t require complicated undergarments to stay in place.  And they can come in cashmere, which is pretty cool.

408379437_68c70c53f4_z[1]Do you do any charity knitting?  What groups do you give to?