Vacating ….

I’m sure to be knitting, making, thinking, and so on … but from places of silence and repose near and far.   To be certain, there will be plenty to share after the summer holidays.

Here’s hoping your summer is as productive as I’m hoping mine will be.

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Animating Fiber 6: monsters & horror!

Monsters and horror night at the aknitmation festival!

Japanese filmmaker Mai Tominaga combined live action, animation and knitted puppetry in his  award-winning animé fantasy, “WOOL 100%.”

And to take it into the wee hours, a few more suggestions:  Attack of the Killer Crochet Hook, Killer Crochet, and Yarn Monster Walk.

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Animating Fiber 5: poetical puppet

Perhaps its time for a bit of “high culture”, and crochet.  The next feature in this aknitmation festival mixes needlework techniques and literature: “Poetree”, by Castlegardner, in which the crocheted and knitted puppet was made by Ceri Watling, and Don Carlson declaimed “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe.

My fingers are twitching.

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Animating Fiber 4: domestic dramas

And what about aknitmated music and drama?  Here is a music video by Max Alexander for the tune ‘I am Ahab’ by Not-Too-Distant-Future.  As described by the maker:

After a fight with his girlfriend Ahab becomes overcome with madness and takes drastic action to change himself. But things only get worse when he encounters a blood hungry rat monster. Ahab’s quest takes him across turbulent seas and through strange watery worlds on his hunt for a better life. Will he find what he’s looking for or will the monsters get the better of him?

And another:  “the wool” (2003), by German animator Ali Soozandeh:

Partners beware!

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Animating Fiber 3: the erotics of knitting

If the nostalgic “Ball of Wool” was sweet, and the activist “Don’t Let it All Unravel” savory, then perhaps it’s time for something spicier. Here’s an example of the art of intimate communication by redknittingannie.

Perhaps we might call it “in-knit-imacy”?

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March-ing through the WIPs

Yes, some days are bitter cold.  Or wet and bitter cold.  But others are mild, a bit steamy.  The afternoon sun is warm on our shoulders as we do weekend errands.  So it’s been time to pull out the unfinished winter projects – the last pair of mittens for the nieces, the remaining hats – for me, and one to send off to the Sioux elders.

Wanting to study twined knitting this year, I’ve been working on a couple of pairs of mittens that draw on a variety of twining and colorwork techniques.  I finally finished a pair of mittens for the youngest niece-let (finally, because I seemed to have been knitting on fumes after the winter holiday rush to finish so many gloves and mitts).  No pattern for these little dainties (but guided by those shared by other generous knitters here and here), some skeins of Araucania pink and magenta, US 3 (3.25 mm) dpns, and online discussion of twined knitting techniques.  Somehow, I managed to include most of the technical elements I’d set out to study:  multi-color casting-on (3-strand braided cast-on) and corrugated ribbing (on the cuffs), bands of twined “crook” or chain stitches (above the wrists).  This project was a delight to research: twined knitting resources abound on the net (here and here, for instance), and it’s easy to find powerful inspiration from amazing twiners like Anna-Maj’s and Asplund.

A pair of multi-color

Wintergreen mittens (pattern by Kate Gilbert) finally came off the needles, a bit later than planned.  Worked in a niece’s favorite earthy colors (Araucania Nature Wool Multi, US 2 / 2.75 mm – would go up a size next time around), these were a challenging treat to execute.

1. Recharted the leaves, to turn them so that they point towards the fingers now;
2. revised some of the twists so that they lay flatter, using decreases and increases instead of 3 st twists; and
3. worked a thumb gusset at side instead of inset thumb on palm. Wish I’d gone up a size on the needles, but soldiered on, having frogged the cuffs once.

detail of the surface – compare twisted sts with dec and increase techniques

Vertigo hat by Kerstin Michler, just in time for the vernal equinox. A straightforward little pattern, which made a wonderful hat with the colors I anticipate from spring.  Noro Silk Garden and US 6 (4.0 mm) needles (16″ circulars and dpns).  Worked with 40 sts (instead of 45) for woman’s hat. Used just over 1 skein of yarn to knit the 11 sections required.

KOB Ying Yang Beret IV,

Ying Yang Beret by Nancy Marchant

Noro Silk Garden, US 4 (3.5 mm) needles

Just because I love this pattern. Just because I want to try KOB instead of brioche. Just because I love Silk Garden yarns. Just because I could use a Noro hat to match my scarf. Just because my US 4/3.5 mm dpns are empty. Just because I could manage another rehearsal project.Nb. substituting KOB for brioche worked just fine. Made double increases in similar manner (k1, yo, k1 in same st), and decreases also work similarly. But, on next round, I worked sl1, k1 (to make only 1 yo in back instead of 2) in preparation for the decrease (next row), and then kkob to k2tog. Helped to place both strands on the needle before knitting. And, did a double braid at edge (I like it firmer). Otherwise, the beret seems indistinguishable from its traditional “brioche” twin.

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Love Potion #9

We usually keep things pretty quiet for Valentine’s Day, trying to spread the lovethroughout the year.  But this year there was knitterly inspiration.

A figleaf (thong) … (Men’s Thong-th-thong by Joan McGowan-Michael, Cascade Fixation; my own pattern for the giant fig leaf)

And a Dr. Seuss-inspired willie warmer …. Wee Willie Warmer by Victoria Bales, Plymouth Encore remnants).  Still can’t figure out how it’s to be worn. But the Greeks set Priapus statues in their gardens … we’ll call  it “Middle Age Mistletoe”, hang it over the bed, and hope for the best!

Post Valentine’s Day addendum (4.4.09):

Couldn’t resist trying to give him a heart (he’s had mine for 33 years), after the enthusiastic response to the knitted intimates.

Size:  incredibly full
Pattern:  Heart by Kristin Ledgett
Materials: Araucania Nature Wool Solids, US 4 / 3.5 mm dpns

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Simple Soap Sweaters

The need for  a few additional holiday and birthday gifts prompted an unexpected foray into felt-able soap socks.  Inspired by soap socks by Designated Knitter  (pattern here), mine were quickly executed with Boku wool (a Noro look-alike) and US 7 (4.5 mm) dpns.  These will shrink around their scented soap filling (Green Tea, Lavender and Oatmeal soaps from Trader Joe’s); I’ll have to try to make a re-fillable version next time around.

Here’s my recipe for making simple soap “sweaters” for rectangular soap bricks (approximately 2.5″ x 4″ x 1.25”):

• CO 24 using 2 dpns and Turkish cast-on (or Magic 8), 12 sts on each side.
• K 2 rows straight
• Increase 1 st each side twice (28 sts total)
• knit straight until the piece reaches the top of the bar of soap (for me, 32 rows total); unwrap the soap as needed and try it on to be sure
• k2 tog each side over next 2 rows; the cozy should now fit entirely over the bar of soap
• work a 3 needle bind-off to the last 4 sts
• work 3-4” in I-cord on the last 5 sts; bind off these remaining sts and break yarn (leaving 8-10” tail for sewing).
• sew the handle to the other side of the cozy.

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After the pre-holiday mitten and mitt marathon, it’s been hats all around in January.

I can’t decide if this hat was more fun to make than to wear … the alpaca yarn (Misti International Misti Alpaca Hand Dyed Worsted, worked on US 4/3.5 mm needles) is unbelievably silky and soft, so knitting it was continuous pleasure, and challenge (to keep on the needles).  I modified the Drops pattern, Basque Hat with wavy pattern, a lovely feather and fan design, to make the  hat a bit wider:  I added an extra set of increases, then decreased rather more rapidly.

We always seem to be flirting with sock monkey mania in our family.  After starting, and frogging, a pair of sock monkey convertible cycling mitts for one son, I found my way to a bit of quick monkey business: a hat (my pattern) based on the  cable from Knitty’s infamous  Monkey socks by Cookie A.  This was a quick knit with a skein of Courtelle Chunky Ragg Yarn and Size 10 (6.0 mm) needles dpns.

I’ve long wanted a Russian-style Persian lamb hat, and finally found the right yarn for it (Lana Grossa Cucito) at a price (discount) I could afford. A Papakha is the traditional Russian fur-brimmed, cloth-crowned hat (standard fare for military officers).  My “Papakha Fur Hat”  is loosely based on surveying the basic designs of Russian fur hats (try here for inspiration), drooling over Paula Lishman’s fur yarns, and headband and hat yarns and kits, and the Russian-Style Hat in Runway Knits (here’s a close cousin.

I used Lana Grossa Cucito for the “fur” (Karabella Fur runs $17/yard!) and and Paton’s Classic Wool – the Cucito is a bulky, Persian lamb-style yarn, made of merino wool, but Lion Brand Homespun (acrylic) would also work, doubled, and US 9 (5.5 mm) and 13 (9.0 mm) dpns.   It’s been hard to take it off since tying the (inauthentic) topknot at the breakfast table a few mornings ago.

Mittens and gloves haven’t been forgotten entirely, though.

With these “Opposing Targets” (Target Wave Mittens, from Knitting Nature), worked in the round, I managed to use most of the yarn left from the first pair of Target Waves made earlier in the season as a holiday gift.

I also managed to finish a pair of fingerless mitts for myself (finally!).

These “Slashed Doublet Mitts” were inspired by a long-standing interest in medieval and Renaissance illuminations and costume.  The “slashed” texture of pattern stitch is basically Barbara Walker’s “Jewel Cross-Rib”, Treasury #1, p. 27 (called Cross-Stitch Block pattern and Swish with a Twist by others); how the stitch reminds me of the design of Renaissance slashed sleeves and doublets).  The variegated Koigu PPM goes nicely with my Noro striped scarf.

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Catching Up 5: november (post-election reality check)

During the final days before the election, my empty hands itched during the final campaign efforts.  Late at night there was a bit of time to start the holiday knitting for family and friends.  This year I started with a focus on mittens – with and without fingers.

For the family of an old friend, I finished a quartet of mittens and mitts:  red Fetching fingerless mitts for the oldest teenager, a pair of Berry Hill fingerless mittens (JoJoland Rhythm, worsted) for the middle daughter, and a pair of Target Wave mittens (Norah Gaughan’ pattern, from Knitting Nature, in fairly traded Ejido 160) for the youngest (boy).

For their  father, a set of “buddy” mittens (Jojoland Rhythm and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes) to warm the daily walk to school with his little one … one for Dad (Basic Men’s Mitten, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes), one for son (Afghans for Afghans Basic Mittens, Child’s L), and one to share (inspired by Paarhandschuh and Lovers’ Mitten).

For the niece-lets, yellow Nalu Mitts (a Ravelry download by Leila Raabe, in Araucania Nature Wool Multy), pink scrunched mitts (Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi) and rose cabled Kyla mitts (pattern by Monika Steinbauer, in Jojoland Melody Superwash, doubled).  The knitted ruching is pretty much the stitch described in Mary Thomas’s Book of Knitting Patterns (“Welting Fantastic“, pp. 168-169, Fig.s 178 A and B).

For their mother, a pair of Genmaicha fingerless mitts. My sister and I share a love of Japanese design, film and literature. Genmaicha (“brown rice tea”) is the Japanese name for green tea combined with roasted brown rice (source). So though I rarely purchase patterns, the delicate cables on this pattern by Kirsten Kapur tempted me as a gift for my sweet sister. (This was a much less ambitious project than the Clapotis I made for her 40th birthday). This skein of Jojoland’s Melody superwash fingering comes pretty close to the real deal.

Other handwarmers in progress include a pair of herringbone fingerless mitts (Queensland Collection Rustic Wool DK).  I started great guns on these, but since they require close concentration (and I decided to modify the size without a chart), I’ve had to set them aside until the holidays are over.   There’s also the “slashed doublet” mitts I’m making for myself (finally!) – a pair of Koigu PPPM mitts to coordinate with my scarf.

With so many delicate mitts flying off the needles for the family females, I realized that it’s been too long since I knit for all the men. So for the men in the family it’s been hats all around.  It seems I’ve been on something of a cable crusade.  For one, I tried the Camille cabled hat by Mary Joy Gumayagay (another Ravelry download).  This is an especially interesting pattern, for its unusual construction (knit vertically front to back from the middle, then in the round from the provisional cast-on).

My husband’s a pretty hairy guy, but knitting for his increasingly bald pate has been a challenge; everything itches. After three unsuccessful attempts in the past decade, I’d sworn off trying again. But then I stumbled across  Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk Aran … The combination of cushy cables in Jared Flood’s latest pattern, Habitat (aka Brooklyn Tweed; in) and this sublimely soft and lofty mix of merino, silk and cashmere appear to be keeping my  “Prince and the Pea” sublimely warm and comfortable.

Finally, there were my sons.  They chose cabled patterns (bold cabled earflap for the younger, simple cabled beanie for the elder) and the yarns – wbut changed their minds as the hats took shape (lucky for me they live nearby and stop in often).  In the end, the younger got an earflap-free urbane Karma Cap (Cap Karma Hat by SmarieK, in Handspun Bulky from Handpaintedyarn.com ) – the cables are nearly invisible (he’s so cool, his cables barely undulate in the urban jungle), and the elder went for a simple, cable-free flapped helmet (Thorpe by Kirsten Kapu, modified – I departed from Brooklyn Tweed’s modifications for the crown. Instead, I made my decreases by a k2tog in the cables (3 times every 4th row, in pattern, then every other row to thefinal close).

Overdue on a birthday gift for one of the nieces, I let her choose a hat to match her (Nalu) mitts.   She selected Rose Red by Ysolda Teague, and

ultra-soft yarn (Classic Elite Yarns Fresco, a mix that includes angora and alpaca) – I’m only concerned the stuff will melt in the snow.

And somehow, with all else going on, I managed to (finally) finish my other sister’s shawl – a Storm Water Shawl (Mystical Creation Yarns Rayon Boucle), begun last March for her April birthday.

A productive month. The election won, and the holiday knitting nearly completed.

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