the most beautiful thing i have ever made

i don't even know where to begin on this one. i mean, some projects are just so intense and wonderful that you can't regard them in the same way you do say... a hat. or even a sweater for yourself.

that is more or less how i feel about this one. my Dad tried to ask me how much i would sell Collin's christening shawl for (of course. he sees most things in $.), and he didn't believe me when i said i could never sell this one. and i think that is true. i could be paid thousands of dollars to knit another one, but i could never ave sold the one right off my needles.

it means too much.
it has in it all my hopes for him, and his family. all the happy thoughts i had while making it, and all the frustration too. (all the sweeter for being a little bitter!) i think about the project and i think about all the great things that happened while i was working on it--my cousin's trip out to visit me on the spur of the moment, the oohs and ahhs from other knitters when i pulled out the piece in progress, how thrilled my cousin's husband sounded on the phone when he told me Collin had arrived, the compare and contrast my mum and i had with our various projects for the baby to be, the trip out for the shower.

probably best of all was the reaction from the proud parents when i handed it over. i love when i can make something that makes people happy.

Collin's Christening Shawl
based on the Celtic Knot Stole
designed by Sarah Kendra Hughs
published in I Dream of the Sea

knit in 5 skeins of Rowan 4-ply Soft (#376 "Nippy", 100% merino wool) purchased at K+S=B and knit on size US 4 addi Lace circular needles.

started: april 17, 2008.
finished: november 27, 2008.

if you want the complete glamour shots and work in progress photos, they can be viewed in the picasa album posted below. there are 2 mistakes that are visible in the final project, but they are relatively small. if you want to stay on my good side, you will keep them to yourself.

finally, here is the link to my ravelry page for the project. other ravelry members can read all about the knitting trials there.

Collin's Christening Shawl

same project, different yarn

i can finally reveal my first finished project of the year. these are the fingerless mitts i knit for penguingirl's birthday. i call them the "30 and fabulous" mitts. because every girl needs something happy and frivolous when she meets a milestone.

if you want to read about the pattern and such, go have a look at the previous post i did on the 2nd version of this project.

i'm so lazy. not doing full project details anymore. but i am trying to cut myself a little slack. 'tis better to post pretty pictures to share than to go silent all together.

in other news.... facebook is strange.

a friend i really wanted to get in touch with again lured me in, and now loads of folks are adding me as a friend.... and i am way lame at doing up the features. maybe because i don't entirely "get" the point of some of it.

i find it sort of funny that facebook baffles me (myspace, on the other hand, freaks me out) yet i love ravelry. just add yarn and i am good to go.

project-wise i am back on the cashmere scarf until i can more time to return to the gathered pullover... which i still hope to finish this month. keep your fingers crossed for me.

knitting help 101

i have been getting a rash of questions and comments about my cross-stitch scarf on ravelry lately. it seems like the pattern is not clear enough for a lot of people, and i have been explaining what i did t people who are drooling of this stitch. in the interest of helping out people with questions, i am posting a reply i wrote to one such knitter.

i hope this helps anyone who is having problems with this pattern. it is beautiful and totally worth the effort--even if it just a scarf.

first, when they tell you to place markers to separate the edge stitches from the pattern stitches--do it! at least for the first few rows until you can really see the pattern forming.

to do the pattern stitch....
knit the edge stitches.
then insert your right needle into the 2nd stitch on the left needle through the back loop (the back leg of the stitch) and knit it.
leave that stitch on the needle.
then insert your right needle into the first stitch on the left needle and knit it as you normally would.
then slide both stitches off the left needle.

on the purl side....
knit the edge stitches.
then insert your right needle into the 2nd stitch on the left needle through the back loop and purl it.
leave that stitch on the needle.
then insert your right needle into the first stitch on the left needle and purl it as you normally would.
then slide both stitches off the left needle.

this is one of those patterns that you have to hang in there to get the pay off. things i learned....

*the first row WILL be ugly, awkward and difficult to work.
* the puring row is actually faster and easier to work than the knitting row.
*because manos is a sticky wool, you may need to tug this baby into shape to really get the pattern to "bloom". pull down firmly then pull side to side firmly to help the crossed stitches not crunch up on themselves.
* if you are a tight knitter, go up a needle size. your fabric will be dense in this stitch, and if you are too tight, it will be impossible to work the pattern stitches.
* after you knit the first 4", pull it all out and restart the scarf. i promise it will look better in the end if you restart (or swatch) because once you have the pattern stitch down, your gauge will probably relax. your first row will also be prettier if you restart.
*wet block it. i know, it is a scarf and it seems like a lot of trouble, but it really helps the manos have a nicer drape and softer hand. and the stitches really pop once they have had to sit in cold water for 30 minutes.

this was really long, but i hope it helps!
i think this pattern is totally worth all the effort. i get so many compliments when i wear my scarf. =)

best!
kitty

crisis averted

i am pleased to report that my downstream swap pal did in fact get her package. and she liked it! yay!

that being said, i don't know if i will do more swaps. this is not because of the ladies involved (they were great) but because the mailing and worrying and finger crossing involved. i also don't think i can devote the proper time to really using the swaps to full advantage for making new pals and such. i am all about my 2 new pals, but i really only had the time to get to know 2 people out of the more than 50 people involved in this swap.

i'm lame.
i mean, i am this way about ravelry too. it is neat and all, but i log on maybe every 10 days. i'm even worse with my crochet me account.

all this being said... i have a "casual" swap to introduce soon. stay tuned.

and just to show i really am making progress on the holiday gifts....

my father's second sock! yes, that is a turned heel you see. very much so. it is just begging for a gusset. i plan to give it one tonight at my stitch'n'bitch.

in!

i got my invite to ravelry today. i discovered it when i was working at the store and talking to some of the other ladies. a customer (a male knitter who was already in ravelry) was so happy for me that after he made his purchase, he congratulated me.

sweet.

i only played for about 20 minutes so i could say i used it, but i already have one complaint. because, you know, i am obviously ungrateful. i don't use flickr, i use picasa, and all photo sharing has to be done through flickr. i hope they decide to hook up picasa because it is attached to google/gmail/blogger.... the things i use.

we'll see.

otherwise, seems neat.

where my stitches?

i checked my wait list position on ravelry yesterday as part of my once a week opportunity to be self-indulgent. i was in the top 500, so i decided i should keep an eye on my spam box and that i would be allowed to check it again today without seeming a little too obsessed.

would you look at that?

Found you!

• You signed up on July 29, 2007
• You are #21487 on the list.
• 68 people are ahead of you in line.
• 16708 people are behind you in line.
• 55% of the list has been invited so far

guess it looks like tomorrow! just when i have a design project to complete, and i'm not allowed to play.

in related news....
i don't know how i feel about the relaunch of Crochet Me. i can see why she may want to get away from the online magazine format, but i don't know about this interactive business.... and willy nilly pattern posting. this used to be the Knitty for crocheters. now... i don't know.