Vampires and Other Rants

This summer has been a great reading summer for me; I went through the Harry Potter series again (in honor of the last film’s debut) and attacked several books on my “To Read” list including Dune, The Hunger Games series and Twilight.  I’ve always enjoyed a good Sci-Fi/ Fantasy read, and as a chronic middle school teacher, I thought it would be good to read some teen literature.  While I found The Hunger Games to have some vivid, assertive characters and an engaging story (albeit written for a teen reading level) Twilight was pretty bad.  Really bad.  Let me rephrase that, it was like word-vomit.  I’m left totally astonished that Stephanie Meyer could take a potentially interesting idea for a story (vampires) turn it into utter garbage, get it published and develop an international following!  I’ll leave the excessive story bashing to other reviewers (there are some hilarious ones on Amazon, which you can find here) but my main issue with the book is that it is an example of poor writing, with a limited vocabulary, transparent attempts at foreshadowing, under-developed characters and a boring, predictable plot.  (I also disliked the book’s insipid “heroine”, Bella, and found her relationship with the vampire, Edward, eerily similar to the Police song “Every Breath You Take”; complete with bad boyfriend flashbacks from my own horrible dating history!)

Moving on…

Vampire Knits

At the same time that I picked up Twilight at the library, I also checked out Vampire Knits by Genevieve Miller, a collection of vampire-inspired knitting projects.  Some of the patterns are Twilight-specific; mittens modeled after Kristen Stewart’s mittens in the first film, knitted totes with expressions from the book (“Be Safe”, “Team Edward”, “Team Jacob”) etc.  Others are more loosely inspired and range from the ridiculous (blood type beer cozies and a “Got Blood? pillow) to the sublime (scarves, hooded capes and socks).  My favorite knit was the Lore Hoodie (featured on the cover) by Cirilia Rose. 

The sweater is knit flat, from the bottom up with the sleeves worked separately in the round (cuff to underarm) and then attached with decreases evenly spaced across the garment as in the yoked variation of raglan shaping.  The ribbed border is knit separately (which felt like it took forever, since you're knitting 90 some inches of ribbed border) and then seamed on all around the front edges.  The leaf lace pattern was really simple to knit, and was outlined in a chart (yay!).  All in all, the sweater-coat would be a good first sweater for the beginning knitter.

I knitted the small size and started with 7 skeins of Di.ve Autunno yarn (100% merino, in color 25761) but realized when I got to the hood that I needed a few more balls to finish the project.  So, I did a few searches on the yarn with the horrible realization that this particular color was not only not being manufactured, but also was impossible to find (admittedly, I brought this on myself, starting a project with a smaller amount of yardage than the pattern called for, and using yarn that I bought 5 years ago).  Fortunately, I found that WEBS Yarn was still carrying Autunno yarn in a similar color (25762) which I used to complete the sweater.  I split the hood with every other row in the new yarn, and used it by itself for the ribbed band.  You can see the slight difference in shading because of the different yarns (which my camera didn't pick up) but I don’t think it looks unpleasant. 

Apart from the “do I have enough yarn panic?!” Di.ve Autunno was wonderful to knit with (why, oh why is Cascade discontinuing it?!).  The wool is so soft on your hands that it almost feels like knitting with clouds, although you may split the yarn if you aren’t careful.  (I didn’t have too many problems with this, but a beginner knitter might.)  The finished sweater is relatively lightweight, but warm, and soft enough that you can wear it against the skin without itching or scratching.

The button loops were crocheted and then sewn on to the garment (the pattern calls for them to be 5 inches long, but I found that to be too long, so I knotted them) and the buttons were from Color in Stitches, Inc.; I saw them at Stitches Midwest over the weekend (they have some fantastic designs and materials). 

Halloween Quilt

Searching through my stash one day last fall, I came across a Halloween print featuring children dressed in a variety of costumes: vampires, cowgirls, pirates and princesses!  It was so cute, that I thought it should be put it a whimsical, child-like quilt!  At the same time, I was working through Coffee-Time Quilts (by Cathy Wierzbicki), a quilting book featuring coffee-inspired quilts and quilted projects as well as coffee related recipes.  I happened across the Cappuccino Crossroads pattern (pg. 28) which features blocks of print, Nine Patch blocks and Rail Fence blocks.  The original pattern features four fabrics; a print, a light, medium and dark.  It seemed that this could be the perfect pattern to use for the Halloween print, except that my fabric stash didn’t include enough of one particular color way for all the blocks.  For this reason, I chose to break the quilt up into sections of green, orange and purple.

To keep the quilt from becoming too much of a color-splotion, I bordered the blocks with a sparkly black over which I hand appliquéd the “Trick or Treat” and the Halloween objects.  I printed up some patterns using Microsoft Word’s Cooper Black font at 400 pt. for the text, and then surfed the internet for fun Halloween images.  These patterns seemed to work really well, and (best of all) were free!  To finish them, I did a blanket stitch around the edges in different colors using DMC embroidery thread.  (In hindsight, I would have done the appliqué on the black strips and squares before sewing the border on to the quilt; the border seemed to be distorted perhaps because of the tensions I put on it when doing the hand sewing). 

The quilting was done using a free-motion foot, and features pumpkins and leaves on the body of the quilt, and stars on the borders.  I had the idea for both designs from The Free Motion Quilting Project (a fantastic blog by Laura Day) which has a wide variety of free-motion designs and tutorials in varying difficulties.  I’ve really come to enjoy free-motion quilting, except that when I’m at it for too long, my back really hurts (not sure if this is because my sewing table is at the wrong height or if I have a bad chair). 

The binding bias tape is from a striped green and black fabric (courtesy of my mom’s fabric stash; guess how big it is!  Hint: the sign over her stash reads “She who dies with the most fabric wins”).  I’ve lately found myself making all the bias tape bindings for my projects; I think they give a more original touch than using Wright’s and sometimes it’s cheaper (if you find a good sale fabric).  Once you’ve got the knack for cutting the strips for the tape, it becomes a simple matter of sewing them together, and then slapping it on the quilt! 

I suppose that before I call the quilt finished, I should stick a label on it (although I kind of want to wait to title it until I know what I’m going to do with it).  This has been drummed into my head for years by my mother and her quilter/appraiser friend; knowing who, where and when a quilt was created adds to its value.  However, once the binding is done, I’m not very motivated to add anything more to it.

The backing fabric features a purple Halloween crow print (the crows have little hats and carry pumpkin buckets!) and the same star print as is used for the cat applique.  Both fabrics are thanks to my mom's stash again (she has so much fabric!).  It all makes for a finished quilt of 59 ½ inches squared Haloween fun!

Summer Socks

I learned to knit in middle school.  My mother taught me, probably because she was trying to occupy me, so I wouldn’t bug her/dad/my sister, or maybe because I thought it was cool; I don’t really remember.  My first project was a horrible navy blue acrylic scarf, complete with random increases and decreases, all in garter stitch.  Possibly, because the scarf was so horrible, I didn’t knit much until the end of high school, when I took another stab at it with a very warm scarf and hat set.  This turned out very well, so when I went off to college that fall, I took some needles and yarn with me, in hopes of starting other projects for Christmas presents for my family (all scarf and hat sets).  I also took a skein of acrylic sock yarn with in hopes of teaching myself to make a pair of fuzzy warm socks in which to roam the dorms.  My plan only half-worked, though; I learned to knit socks, but when finished they were too small for my feet.  By this time, I was too irritated to go back and fix them, so I gave them to my mom.  She adored them.  And begged me for more!  So, for every Christmas (and most Mother’s Days and Birthdays) since, I’ve knitted her another pair of socks.

Hand-knitted socks are wonderful; even when knit with a lacy open pattern, they keep your feet warm and snuggly all winter long.  They are also comfortable, being entirely knit cuff to toe (or visa versa) with no seams.  Best of all (for the instant gratification seekers) they are small, knit up quickly, and travel well as projects!

Knitting Vintage Socks

This particular sock project started with Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush, a great sock resource featuring multiple vintage (mostly lace) patterns worked out for modern children’s, women’s and men’s sizes as well as a good smattering of knitting history.  I’ve knitted up 3 of her women’s sock patterns to date (including this one) with different sock yarns, to find that the women’s socks seem to run on the large size (at least for a size 6/7 foot they do).  The patterns have fairly simple lace and/or cable stitches, but I do wish that she had included a chart version of the pattern instructions (99 times out of 100 I prefer a chart to written out instructions; it just seems easier to visually manage the chart, and to understand how the pattern works).  Also, she titles some of the patterns as child’s or man’s socks, but then the directions are for a woman’s sock.  I understand that this is because she got the pattern from a child’s or man’s sock, but it is confusing when you are looking for a specific sock pattern size.

These socks were knit from the Child’s First Sock in Shell Pattern (pg. 61) in Tofutsies by the South West Trading Company #856, a superwash wool, soysilk fiber, cotton and chitin blend.  Chitin, scientifically, is a polysaccharide found in the shells of crabs, lobsters and other delicious crustaceans.  It is used as a fertilizer in farming, a stabilizer and thickening agent in food, and as a strong fiber in surgical thread.  What this means for knitting is that the chitin fibers act like nylon in the yarn, strengthening the wool against wear (an important feature in sock yarn).  The yarn itself, is very soft on the feet, but splits easily when knitting (especially with the small sized needles used for socks) so I wouldn’t recommend it for a first-time sock knitter.  The turquoise color, though, is fantastic, especially for an ocean-y pattern like shells!

The shell pattern itself is a very simple lace, but I found it hard to keep track of the number of pattern repeats (vertically).  I’m not sure if it was because the pattern sort of twists, or if I was just having trouble counting.  The toe and heel were worked with a double thickness of yarn for added durability (I’m not sure if I would do this again, it was kind of a pain to knit the double thickness with the small needles).

Overall, I’m very happy with the resulting socks, especially as these ones are mine!

Summer Knitting

I’ve heard that there are some knitters out there who actually put down their needles all summer long.  (Insert dramatic pause of horror here.)  To that I say, what is wrong with you, people!  I mean, I understand why you might not start a merino gansey, or even an acrylic afghan in the middle of July, but there are other options!  There are some great (affordable) cottons, bamboos and silks which you can always substitute for heavier wool for the summer months.  Or, you could work on small projects like socks, baby clothes or mittens, where even if you are working with wool, the project is too little to smother you.  On that note, here are a couple summer knitting projects that I’ve completed. Enjoy!

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2010

One of the best things about my birthday is that (since about sophomore year in college) I receive lots of yarn as presents!  This is true, especially of my mom’s friend (whom I have called Auntie since age 2, and has been a sort of fairy godmother of sewing and knitting to my sister and me).  Her last birthday present to me was a brown basket and 6 or 7 colorful skeins of Catania yarn by Schachenmayr Nomotta.  Having a fall birthday, I didn’t really fancy starting on the Catania right away as it is a 100% cotton yarn, and so it ended up in the bottom of my stash, until two weeks ago when I looked at it and the Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2010 issue and realized that the yarn was destined for one of the patterns within. 

Since the beautiful sleeveless tunic (by Star Athena) was calling my name, and since the pattern called for similarly textured yarn (albeit a wool-cashmere blend instead of cotton) I cast on.  The tunic is knit bottom up in two flat pieces and is sewn together at the sides and shoulders (although if you really are seam-phobic you could probably work the first 5 or so inches flat of each piece, and then work in the round until the arm-holes).  I knit both the front and back at the same time to ensure an even tension across both.  This may seem strange if you are like me, and are a chronic instant-gratification-knitter, but it is worth it to have both pieces knit slowly at the same time, thereby avoiding late nights spent trying to decipher how and why you knit four pattern repeats with six decreased stitches on one side and 5 on the other. (Believe me, I’ve been there!)

As I’ve knit along both sides, I’ve come to appreciate the beautiful drape and stitch definition the Catania yarn has.  This is especially important with all the cables, ktb’s and the twisted stitch bunches, which border the hem and bust.  (Side note: the twisted stitch bunches look complicated, but were actually really easy to knit and add such a cool textural element!)  With the cotton yarn, the finished garment is breezier for summer, and softer on the skin.  I’d definitely knit with it again (if I had more of it, especially a solid color) probably something lacy or cable-y as it seems to show both techniques well. 

Harry Potter Knitting

Growing up with a librarian mother, I have always been a book-lover.  I fondly recall the hours spent in the basement-children’s section of her library with my good friends Bilbo and Frodo, Charlie, Peter Pan, Alice, Bastian and of course Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy.  Unsurprisingly, my favorite birthday presents were books and bookstore gift cards.  It was just after my eleventh birthday, that I convinced my parents to take me to the local Borders where I first picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  I remember reading the cover and being interested (having read, quite indiscriminately, any fantasy or science fiction book I could get my hands on) so much that I had read the first chapter before leaving the store.  After tearing through the story at super-human speed, I discovered (to my great delight) that there was more!

Now, of course, both Harry and I are grown, he defeating the evil Lord Voldemort, and I… well… I read about him defeating Voldemort, does that count?  And, with the final installment of the Deathly Hallows due in theaters this July, we are finally at the end of a rather magical era; no more waiting in line for midnight movie showings, no more Harry Potter costume parties, and sadly, no more books!  I therefore offer up this knitting experience to you as one last Harry Potter hurrah.  Raise your goblets (filled with pumpkin juice and butterbeer, no doubt!) and join with me in a toast to the Boy Who Lived, and the Woman Who Brought Him to Life!

Harry’s Christmas Socks

As most Harry Potter fans who are also knitters will tell you, Rowling includes characters who knit in almost every book in the series.    Mrs. Weasley sends Harry and Ron lovely knitted sweaters every year for Christmas, Hermione learns how to knit wooly hats and scarves for the Hogwarts House-Elves and even Hagrid knits some sort of yellow circus tent (in the Sorcerer’s Stone if you were wondering).  It should come as no surprise, then, that house-elves, those creatures most gifted in cleaning up after humans and practicing the domestic arts, are accomplished knitters!

Dobby now handed Harry a small package, which turned out to be --- socks. 

“Dobby is making them himself, sir!” the elf said happily.  “He is buying the wool out of his wages, sir!”

The left sock was bright red and had a pattern of broomsticks upon it; the right sock was green with a pattern of Snitches.

“They’re … they’re really … well, thanks, Dobby,” said Harry, and he pulled them on, causing Dobby’s eyes to leak with happiness again.

(Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter Twenty-Three: The Yule Ball, by J.K. Rowling)

I get the feeling that Harry might have found those socks a bit strange (can’t imagine why) but they sounded delightful to me, so I was thrilled to discover a pattern for them in Alison Hansel’s book of knits based on those described in the Harry Potter books and films, Charmed Knits (pg. 104-108).   Her pattern features two repeats of a Fair Isle snitch and broomstick patterns on each cuff with identically worked short row toes and heels.  Her instructions were easy to follow (although, the explanation for the short row toe/heel was not with the snitch/broomstick sock pattern, so you do need to skip around in the book a bit) and the short row toe/heel knit up quickly.  I am not a big short row toe/heel fan because the heel does not end up being particularly reinforced (and we all know that socks are the only knitted clothing items that wear out) and because you end up using the Kitchener Stitch to graft together 32 stitches to finish the toe, which takes a lot longer than grafting 8 stitches for a conventional toe.  However, if you are an apprehensive first time sock knitter, the short row heel would probably be the easiest heel to work.

For the second pair of Harry's Socks that I knitted, I decided to knit them my way,  with a longer cuff on each sock featuring only one repeat of the broomstick motif, and two repeats of a shortened snitch motif (for this I skipped working rows 10, 11 and 12 of the snitch chart on pg 108).  (I think the snitches look more “snitch-ly” with a more round golden ball).  I also worked the heels and toes in gold for both socks (because they look pretty!) knitting a heel flap, turn and gusset, as well as a more conventional toe (scroll down for directions).

When knitting Fair Isle motifs, I usually like to use only one kind of yarn for a uniform look.  However, for these socks I ended up using Aussi Sock by Oasis Yarn (an Aussi Merino/Nylon blend in Oak Moss, Natural and Cherry Tomato that is super soft) with either Trekking XXL or Opal (both are wool/nylon blends as well, in gold and variegated brown).  (I actually don’t know which brand of yarn I used for the gold and brown colors because I started these socks a long time ago, and either lost or ate the ball bands, but I have a suspicion that both yarns are Trekking XXL because they look/feel like it).  The Aussi is a little bit fluffier than the Trekking, but I think that for the Fair Isle pattern, the combination of yarns looks really good.

For more Harry Potter-inspired knitting check out Hansel’s book or click here for a great (free!) listing of patterns and links.  Also, Opal created a line of variegated sock yarns based on Harry Potter characters (which is out of production, but you might find is floating around at your yls!).  Happy Knitting!

My Heel and Toe Directions:

Heel Flap:

Work sock until it is the desired length to the heel.  Then knit 16 stitches past beginning of round and turn work (knitting flat) knitting the heel flap on the next 32 stitches (starting with a WS row) with alternating rows of RS: sl 1 k 1, WS: sl 1, P to end. 

Turn Heel: 

When heel flap is desired length (14 or 15 slipped stitches at the side of the flap), on RS, K 17, ssk and K1, turn work, Sl 1, p3, p2tog, p1 and turn, continue to work as follows, knitting to 1 stitch before gap and ssk k1 on the RS rows and purling to 1 stitch before gap and p2tog p1 on WS rows until all stitches of the heel flap have been worked.

Gusset:

Needle 1: Knit across all heel flap stitches and then pick up and knit 15 stitches on the side of the heel flap.  Needle 2: Knit across the stitches for the top of the foot.  Needle 3: Pick up and knit 15 stitches from the other side of the heel flap, then knit 9 stitches of the heel flap. This is where each round now begins.  Row 1: Knit on needle 1 to the last 3 stitches, k2tog k1, knit all stitches on needle 2, k1 ssk then knit remaining stitches on needle 3.  Row 2: knit.  Repeat these two rows until 64 stitches remain total.

Toe Decrease:

Row 1: On needle 1, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1, on 2^nd needle k1, ssk knit to last 3 stitches k2tog k1 and on needle 3 k1, ssk knit to end of needle.  Row 2: knit.  Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 16 (or desired amount of) stitches remain.   Then, using the Kitchener Stitch, graft the toe together.   (My favorite explanation of the Kitchener Stitch is from Knit Christmas Stockings edited by Gwen Steege, page 93, because of the easy to follow illustrations!  That book is how I learned to knit socks.)