FO Friday – Newborn Vertebrae

On September 20, 2018September 21, 2018 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Nephew, Sweater4 Comments

My little nephew has been on the outside now for two months! Of course, that is a milestone marked with a new sweater!

I thought I was making a cute and tiny sweater. I was nervous that he’d outgrow it before I got it sent off. I’m pleased to report, he received it and he’s got some room to grow! Yay! Not as tiny as I thought!

Sorry, no pics to share since he’s not my kid to plaster all over the internet but, my sister did send me a pretty funny picture of him crying while wearing the sweater. I’m definitely keeping it, so I can remind him, in the future, how much he loved the sweaters his auntie made him.

The sweater is a free pattern, Newborn Vertebrae by Kelly van Niekirk. It’s a pattern where one size is free, the smallest in this case. The remainder of the sizes, you pay for. Despite making the smallest size, I was able to get a sweater closer to the six month size! For once, having a loose gauge paid off! The yarn is KnitPicks, Felici in color Hawaiian Shirt. So cute!

It was a simple knit. Aside from gauge, I didn’t change a thing. It’s the perfect little baby sweater…frontless, so it doesn’t get spit up on. Also, facilitates skin-to-skin contact. That might be my favorite part. This isn’t just some cute thing that I wanted to do…it’s got an important developmental function! It’s necessary, even! Yay Knitting!

Up next, something tweedy for the little man. Perfect for fall…

I’m definitely about to binge start 6 projects! It’s gonna be so good!

No Finish Friday

On September 14, 2018September 14, 2018 By FogKnitsIn Socks, Sweater, WIP12 Comments

Didn’t manage to finish anything but at least, I made progress. Nephew sweater now has two sleeves! Only the front bands are left. That’s not too much. I’m aiming to have it in the mail Monday. I can make that happen.

Then it’ll be time for Vogue Knitting Live homework. I’m taking Franklin Habits Zipper & Steek class. Both techniques I’m comfortable doing but I’m always happy to add polish. That’s always my goal with classes, little finishing tips that elevate a garment. I suspect Franklin is great for that stuff. He seems like an attention to detail guy. I’m looking forward to everything he has to say. My expectations are high. I have a feeling Franklin is an exceeds expectations kinda guy!

With that in mind, let’s talk about sock details! I’m not a sock knitter so when our yearly knitting group swap rolls around, socks are the obvious answer. This year I got another pair of fun rainbow socks.

The interesting detail here is the Fleegle Heel. It’s a short row heel, touted for leaving no holes. It results in a little triangle shape at the back of the heel, where a heel flap would normally be rectangular.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was how long these socks were. No one wants to criticize a gift before it’s out of the box but they were clearly too long for my feet. I said something like ‘huh, is my foot really this big?’ To which the response was, ‘um, yes. you said it yourself’ Ok, let’s give it a try. To my surprise (and relief), they fit perfect.

I don’t know how to describe the most comfortable sock in the world. Until I put these socks on, I didn’t realize other socks were even lacking. This is the most comfortable heel I’ve ever worn. I’ve never felt like a heel flap was uncomfortable but somehow this heel shape, contours my foot perfectly. I could tell instantly. It’s amazing.

So, all you sock knitters out there, I highly recommend trying out the Fleegle Heel. I’m a convert! If I ever tackle another pair of socks, I’ll give it a go!

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

All the WIPS Wednesday

On September 12, 2018September 12, 2018 By FogKnitsIn Sweater, WIP5 Comments

Remember this sweater? I started it waaaay back in June. At the time, I wondered, ‘which can I do faster…get a job or knit a sweater?’ It’s now September and I’ve done neither, so the debate rages on…

I found out, last night, I did not get the job and, that’s okay. It wasn’t a great fit. It was a really good practice interview though. I’ll be dialed in when the next one comes. Plus, now there’s still time to knit a sweater! It probably won’t be mine but this little nephew sweater is rapidly coming to a conclusion…

The pattern is Newborn Vertebrae, with KnitPicks ‘Hawaiian Shirt’ Felici self striping yarn. It’s the cutest darn thing! I’ll be finishing it ASAP! Turns out babies grow quick and I want him to get plenty of wear out of this sweater. I got this picture of the newborn size socks I made him…

Time for new socks too! So much knitting, so little time between growth spurts! Of course, there’s non-baby knitting too…

Nothing motivates me like nearly losing my free time to work. After all the recent interruptions, it’s been especially nice this week getting yarn into my hands again. I think, my annoyance at the Wonder Woman wrap has subsided and I’ve decided to press forward on it.

I’m starting to remember what set me off in the first place. It’s a garter stitch pattern, which one typically assumes to be all knit stitches. Well, You know what they say about assumptions. Turns out, in order to maintain the stripes properly, a portion of this pattern is the oft-forgotten all purl garter stitch. m*$@F*$^er. I was so pissed when I got there. There was a lot of cursing that day. To say I did it begrudgingly was an understatement. And there’s no way around it, in order to construct the iconic stacked WW, it has to be done. It was immediately following that section, the project went into the timeout corner.

I mean, c’mon…all purl garter stitch??? Who does that? Clearly not me. UGH. I’m never in the mood for all purl garter stitch. NO. Never. I’ve finished working that portion of the pattern. It’s done so hopefully, I’ll get over it mentally, too. :) Maybe it won’t be as disastrous as I thought last week. The yarn is an amazing 50 silk/50 merino blend and the colors perfect together, even if they aren’t classic Wonder Woman. Or I could just put it back in the timeout corner! I want to finish my Dragon Fade Match & Move. I’m getting really close now!

FO Friday…Here I come!!

Yay Friday!!

On August 31, 2018August 31, 2018 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Uncategorized7 Comments

Happy Friday! It’s time to put this week to bed! I’m ready — I feel like I’ve been focused and productive. I got a good start on my interview prep and my pile of handmade nephew goodies has really grown! It’s the perfect time for a weekend!

Because nothing makes one feel accomplished, quite like listing those accomplishments, here’s what all my procrasticrafting got me this week…

I finished up the leg warmers – two pair, one small, one large, one that matches, one that doesn’t. The large size might become a pair of matching arm warmers for Mom.

I really liked working with this yarn, KnitPicks Felici. It’s soft but still has a bit of structure to it. I’m still thinking about the worsted weight version and a sweater with stripey sleeves. Maybe my recently cast-on Newborn Vertebrae will cure me of that. It’s grown since yesterday, I’m up to the sleeve divide already! Baby sweaters are the best!

What can I say, I’m a sucker for a good stripe. I’m also a sucker for a cute animal toy, these days. My Tubby Wubby stitch & stuff felt toy subscription has come to an end. Mr. Giraffe is the last to join the menagerie. I stitched him up, in about an hour, last night. He’s extra goofy. I couldn’t resist.

3 Months was the perfect subscription length for these cute little kits. They were well put together and the results are super cute but I’m ready to knit critters now. Knitting is really my thing. I can see myself stitching more of these Tubby Wubby kits, in the future, but for now, it’s back to Rebecca Danger cuteness.

I whipped up this little Hippo from ’50 Yards of Fun’ for an instant gratification fix. I love her designs. Rather than knit pieces and sew them together, you pick up stitches on the body and knit the limbs out from there. It can be fiddly but definitely worth it. I’m always pleased with my critters. I didn’t even have to fuss too much to give this guy a cute face!

And so, he join the growing pile for my next care package…

I’ll send this stuff off when I finish his sweater. Maybe a few more stuffies too…my goal is definitely to re-create that scene from E.T. with knitted toys! :)

And, now, I’ve committed to doing some real work this afternoon. Nothing boosts the confidence like putting the time in. Back to interview prep for a few hours and then, it’s the weeeeekend!!! Wooooo!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

It was fun while it lasted.

On August 30, 2018August 30, 2018 By FogKnitsIn cross stitch, Sweater, WIP9 Comments

Procrastiknitting in full force! I worked on the dragon tail fade yesterday (it still looks the same though.) Then, I started a new nephew sweater.

It’s a Newborn Vertebrae, in KnitPicks Felici. It’s the cutest little sweater and for once, my loosey goosey gauge is going to benefit me. The Vertebrae series of patterns spans from newborn size all the way up to adult. It’s a really cute ‘frontless’ cardigan with raglan shaping.

The newborn size is actually too small for my nephew. It’s a 0-3 month sort of size but my little buddy, at six weeks old is easily fitting into a 3 month onesie. My plan is to knit the newborn size (aka the free size of the pattern) and hope my loose gauge gives something closer to a 6-9 month sweater. It should be perfect for the cooling fall weather.

I think it’s going to work out. Gauge should be 7 sts/in, I’m about 6 sts/in, giving me a slightly larger FO. It’s almost like I planned it!

Procrastiknitting is in full force! I worked on the dragon tail fade yesterday too (it still looks the same though.) Might as well procrastiblog a bit more too! Here’s my latest cross stitch project…

MoviePass has really put the FUN in funemployment. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a subscription service that offers one basic movie ticket, per day for the low monthly fee of $9.95. No Imax or 3D, which was perfect because I don’t like those enhancements.

I joined at the beginning of the year and promptly started seeing movies. It was awesome. I saw almost every Oscar nominated film…I’m talking all the down ballot movies too. I only missed Blade Runner and Roman J. Esq. It was certainly the most interested I’ve ever been in the Oscars.

Over time though, MoviePass has eroded it’s service. Turns out their business model sucks. Today, that same $9.95 buys you 3 movie tickets per month, you can only see a movie once and only movies that they happen to be offering on any given day (aka the shittiest movies out).

After getting significant enjoyment out of my MoviePass, I was finally fed up with their horrible treatment of customers so I quit. Now that my MoviePass time has come to an end, I miss the good old days already. It was only a few months ago but it was a great reminder of how much I like going to the theater.

I saw Oscar nominated films. I saw big budget action flicks. I saw a boatload of documentaries. I even got to see a special anniversary showing of the Dark Crystal and a director Q&A of the documetary ‘The King’. Of course, I also saw some shit. MoviePass was financial permission to enjoy seeing shit though.

The company is still in business but by all accounts they won’t last long. So I had to memorialize my fond MoviePass memories in cross stitch. I haven’t decided exactly how to finish the bottom. Perhaps simply “it was fun while it lasted.”

While I decide, here’s a run down of what I saw. As far as I’m concerned, Call Me By Your Name was robbed at the Oscars. It’s an absolutely gorgeous movie about a sweet and touching love story. If you have the chance, I highly recommend seeing it. And now, here’s the full list…

The Best of the Bunch: Call Me By Your Name (4x), I, Tonya (3x), Thor: Ragnarok, Dark Crystal, Isle of Dogs (2x), RBG, Sorry to Bother You, 3 Identical Strangers

The Really Good Ones: Lady Bird, Darkest Hour, The Post, Get Out, Coco, Jumanji, Faces Places, Love, Simon, The Party, A Quiet Place, Deadpool 2, Filmworker, Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist, Hearts Beat Loud, Eating Animals, Incredibles 2, Whitney, The Cakemaker, 8th Grade, Love, Cecil, Blindspotting, Miseducation of Cameron Post, Blackklansman, Skate Kitchen, Puzzle, The Meg

The Just Ok: Downsizing, 3 Billboards in Ebbing, Mo, Proud Mary, Dunkirk, Winchester, Molly’s Game, Black Panther, Thoroughbreds, Game Night, Final Portrait, Kings, Lives Well Lived, Bad Samaritan, Avengers, Ready Player One, Always at the Carlyle, House of Tomorrow, Solo, Hotel Artemis, Ocean’s 8, American Animals, Jurassic Park, The King, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, The Misandrists, Ant-man and the Wasp, Hotel Transylvania, Generation Wealth, McQueen, Dark Money, Leave No Trace, Support the Girls, Happytime Murders

Why Did I Bother With These: Greatest Showman, Pitch Perfect 3, Shape of Water, Annihilation, Wrinkle in Time, Tomb Raider, Death of Stalin, Journey’s End, Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami, Overboard, Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean Michel-Basquiat, Mountain, Heredity, Gauguin, Mamma Mia 2, Mission Impossible Fallout, Nico, 1988, Mile 22

I Left Early: Super Trooper 2 (turns out this was NOT Super Bad 2, d’oh), Life of the Party (actually had to google to remember what this one was, at least I was able to block it from my mind!), Action Point

The Absolute Worst: Phantom Thread

I hated Phantom Thread, it’s terribleness is unrivaled. UGH. I can’t believe this was someone’s vision?!? If I can save even one person from wasting two hours on that shit, it was worth for me to sit through it.

And so, now that I’ve procrastiblogged. I really have no excuse. I should go do some job interview prep! UGH!

Can’t Win ‘Em All

On July 3, 2017July 3, 2017 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Shawl10 Comments

I’ve created a monster and for once, I’m NOT talking about the cat. No, I’m talking about that big, weird splat behind him. I was foolishly optimistic that blocking would improve my latest FO, the Vee Vee shawl.

It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever knit but it’s certainly not the best. It has some good parts.

But, it’s got some wonky parts too.

It’s also got some green splotchy parts. Thanks KnitPicks. <- sarcasm.

The yarn is KnitPicks Chroma Worsted and it bled. Green. Ugh. I’d care, if this thing wasn’t such a monstrosity already.

I’m kinda over it. Oh well. You learn just as much from failed experiments as you do successful ones. The lesson here: Good intention isn’t enough. Sometimes, planning things in advance actually helps.

And so, for my next trick, I’ll knit a sweater from a pattern! Hard to believe but so far, I’m mostly on pattern with this one.

Cat Sweater #1 is nearing completion! This one is for my sister, who’s a smaller size than I am. I couldn’t resist trying it on anyhow. I think it’s going to be perfect! I can’t wait to start mine. I think instead of making a larger size, I may just go up a couple needle sizes for myself. (because while I can follow a pattern, I can’t do it for long!)

FO Friday – Fuck Cancer

On February 16, 2017February 16, 2017 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Hat6 Comments

If there’s one thing I like as much as knitting, it’s profanity. I just love that four little letters can be so naughty. The whole thing is just ridiculous.

‘Don’t say that word, it’s unbecoming of a lady’

Fuck that!

The jolt of joy that comes from uttering one little taboo word is more than enough to keep me going back. I’m like that rat that keeps pressing the button for more food!

Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck

Even as I type that, I’m giggling. I see nothing wrong with it. It’s a victimless crime. I refuse to deny myself the pleasure.

And that’s before the whole cancer thing.

Fuck THAT!

Cancer stinks. A dear friend, often referred to as a fucker, (Yes, even my favorite term of endearment towards my friends is profane. there’s no stopping now. I’m all in with the F-word.), is undergoing chemo at the moment. The prognosis is good but still, fuck cancer.

In reality, I know too many people dealing with cancer at the moment. There will be more of these in the near future.

Check out my Ravelry page for details!

Pattern: F*ck Cancer Hat

Yarn: Knitpicks Chroma

Needle Review: KnitPicks Foursquare Interchangeable Set

On February 4, 2017February 4, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Misc, Shawl, Teaching8 Comments

KnitPicks popped up in my news feed at exactly the right moment with their new square interchangeable blue, green and purple needles. I could not resist buying them. Had they been a blonde finish or an orange/red/yellow sunburst color, I would not have even looked twice. They got me this time though, exactly the right product at just the moment I was having an impulse to buy something!

So far my only complaint…KnitPicks slow ‘free’ shipping. I was optimistic that it would be different this time, the warehouse seems to be shipping quicker. The FedEx SmartPost USPS conglomeration is a cluster fuck though. UGH! WHY?? The USPS without FedEx involved actually does a decent job. Mail service blows but their package handling is much better. So, I’m annoyed at KnitPicks. You should do better by your customers, KnitPicks.

These needles are softening me up though! I’m enjoying them. They’re laminated birch, which is new to me. My preference has always been super slick metal needles.

They’re also square, which is really why I bought them. They’re theoretically better for RSI. Having suffered from knitting related hand/wrist/arm issues in the past I’m always interested ways to avoid going through that again.

The idea is, a square needle barrel is easier to grip, it doesn’t roll around the way a circular needle can. That seems logical enough to me to give it a try.

It’s February though, I’m resisting the cast on. I’m trying really hard to be good and get stuff finished. I’ve given myself the allowance of a hat or two. These needles are long barreled. They don’t come with a 16″ cable. I’m okay with that. I prefer a long barrel and I have plenty of 16″ needles for hats already. Rules is rules, though. I made my one allowance. This isn’t the gov’t, I can’t just change the rules on a whim. No, unlike our current executive branch, I have some standards. I’m following my completely self-imposed rules, dammit.

I did come up with a work around though. One of my beginning knitting students is interested in shawls! And so in the vein of 5 Shawls, 5 Days or the 5 Basic Shawl Shapes, I’m putting together an Intro to Shawls primer for next week’s class. Perfect justification! It’s already finished so no guilt hanging over my head and lots of instant gratification! I knit 4 shawls this morning! That is a good morning! Oh yeah!

One of the big differences between my shawl summary and others…I’ve included a Sequence Knitting inspired triangle (the orange one!) I love Sequence Knitting. Once my students give it a try, I think they’ll love it too!

It also gave me an opportunity to try out the different needle sizes. Each shawl sample is knit from the same yarn (Lett-Lopi, from my trip to Iceland!) It made for the perfect study of my new needles. Much to my glee, these needles tighten my gauge up! A LOT!

I’m an incredibly loose knitter, going down typically 3 needle sizes to get gauge and recently even going down 4 size. Yikes! I like slippery metal needles and I like to knit fast. Loose stitches are the only way to do that. I happen to like loose fabrics so I’m okay with it. But it’s not without problems. Tighter stitches wear better & pill less. Some patterns require tighter fabrics — socks for instance, or anything knit for warmth. The wind wastes no time biting through loose fabrics. There are lots of reasons to knit tighter.

And, so, I’m giving these new needles the FogKnits Seal of Approval! They’re pretty. They’re light weight. I like the cords, just the right balance of flexibility without being floppy. They’re easy to hold. The verdict is still out on whether they help with arm aggravation. I need some more time before I can comment on that but…so far so good.

My last concern: they screw together. I’ve always used Addi-Clicks. I hate the join, it’s awful but I like the click. You know your needle is secure. It will not come apart. I like that security. The KnitPicks Options come with a little pin for securing the needle to the cable. I’m not going to use it though. I’m hoping the square nature of the needle makes hand tightening enough. I don’t like extra tools, if they can be avoided. I figure, if I never tool tighten, I’ll never have to use to the tool to loosen them.

Thus far, my decision to blatantly ignore the manufacturer’s instructions has not come back to bite me in the ass. I’ll let you know that progresses. I’ve only done small stretches of knitting, lemme get a 450 stitch shawl on one of those cords and see if they still stand up to all that work with just a hand tighten of the screw.

I’m optimistic about the squareness. I think it’s a real benefit for knitting needles everywhere. I hope this trend continues! I’ve always known it’s hip to be square! :)