Author: -N-

Tommy’s New Year’s Hat

We last saw our friends Jerry and Raka over a year ago when they came in from Japan for a post-wedding reception in the U.S.  Raka was about five months pregnant at the time, and in December 2009, their son, Tommy, was born.  For the Christmas season, they all flew in to spend the end of the year with family and friends, many of whom only got to meet Tommy for the first time.  Within a few days of arriving here stateside, Tommy got the chicken pox – kids don’t get that vaccination until they are a year old.  When we saw them, Tommy was pretty much recovered, but still all spotty.  Poor kid!

In Japan, red and white are colors of good fortune for the New Year.  And, I happened to have some red and white Wool Ease in my stash, so it seemed to be a perfect color combination, not only for welcoming 2011, but also for the Christmas season as well.  So this pattern is dedicated not just to the now-recovering Tommy, but to our friends Jerry and Raka, and to a happy, prosperous 2011 to family and friends, one and all.

Man Sweater, a.k.a. Josh’s Cardigan

I’ve done a lot of swatches, and the fact is the yarn I have for Josh’s sweater is simply too weirdly plied to allow for any texture to come through when knit up.  The end result is pretty awful – a lot of work and nothing to show for it.  However, this does not mean this yarn is not worth knitting up – it really is beautiful, has a soft feel to it when washed, and so the design process will ultimately be very simple – but not without adventures.  I may do diagonal slash pockets and saddle shoulders.  That should keep me busy!  Cast-on is done, and 1×1 ribbing is commenced.  This will carry up the button bands as well, with stockinette in between.

Boyfriend Sweater vs. Man Sweater vs. Dogosaurus Rex

Once upon a time I had a boyfriend.  He liked the idea of my knitting him an Aran sweater.  He wanted to design it.

And so he did, and I began to knit.  And knit.  And knit.

He decided he wanted to make some changes.  So I ravelled.  And then I knit.  And knit again.

The design was not to his liking.  “Let us change this, and this, and this,” he said.

I dumped him.

Now, many years later, I have yet to endeavor upon another sweater for a member of the opposite sex older than three, but since I’m now an old married woman, perhaps it is time to reconsider.  It is a gamble, as the esposo doesn’t tend to wear sweaters.

“What would you like?” I ask.

“Oh, anything is fine,” he says.

“Do you want a pullover?”

“No.”

“A cardigan?  Cables?  No cables?  Pattern stitch?  Nothing stitch?”

“How about a cardigan, and Nothing certainly sounds Perfect.  You know me, I like Dull.”

And I know me, I don’t like dull.  But I do like simple, and tailored.  I also like color, but I am the magpie, not he.  He likes dull.  Not even slightly shiny.

So the search is on for something which will not bore me to death, and will not offend the esposo’s need for dull.  I am considering ribbed cables, knit through the back loop.  Attractive, tailored, flat, won’t put me to sleep in the process, and I can do while listening to an audio book.  A pattern tailored in appearance.  I am also considering an incredibly simple rib, but one with a slightly different edge to it, one which is vertical, simple, and with a wee amount of texture.

The yarn is from a fleece I had spun into a medium-weight two ply.  I have tons of it, and the color is a lovely chocolately brown.  (Mmmmm.  Chocolate.)

Swatching is begun; the design process is percolating.  One piece knitting, cutting?, saddle vs raglan sleeves.

On the other hand, knitting for the other main man in my life, Wicket, would be easy.  He would gladly wear the Dogosaurus Sweater, but I’m afraid that when I get it done, he will die. Wicket is very old, and I am superstitious.

Boxing Day

This year our Christmas seems to have been especially nice.  Perhaps it is because we put up a tree and had family over, without a lot of rushing around and expense.  We bought simple presents, enjoyed everyone’s company, and ate good food.

Priscilla, for whom Priska is named, liked her hat, and looks great in it.

Josh enjoyed his Highwayman Armwarmers, from The Knitting Pirate.  He chose a blue-green rendition of City Tweed by KnitPicks.

Today, we head down south for a bit of celebration at my sister-in-law’s to enjoy their annual tradition of gumbo and rice as the big family meal.


Eyelet Rib Beret – Updated and Expanded!

At last, an updated version of the original Eyelet Rib Beret! A few changes and additions have been done.  First, stitch count and directions for the original pattern have been updated, with advice to make the ribbing on smaller needles if it seems too big for your head.  A second beret has been added, with new shaping to create a traditionally shaped beret, with decreases to allow for a more tidy fit if worn high on the head – maybe more like a tam, really.  Thirdly, a slouch version of the traditional beret is included.  And, hopefully, all mistakes have been caught – but I admit, I had a hard time reading my notes, and there could be errors.  Ah, well.  It’s still for free!

The original pattern used Lamb’s Pride by Brown Sheep, which is a rather heavy yarn.  The new versions used Paton’s Classic Wool in Aran Tweed, and is knitted on size 6 and 7 needles.  Truthfully, I like this version a lot better – not as baggy – but some people like the bagginess of the original beret, so I have kept it, along with these newer versions, all in the same pattern, which is now 7 pages instead of two.  You may go to the Patterns page to download it.

Merry Christmas!