Jon's Knit Blog

Our Fingers Are Crossed

Another co-worker is pregnant, and she's due on the 3rd. But Friday is her last day at work before she goes on Maternity, and I thought that since I'm making a baby hat for her, that I should borrow some time from the complicated baby afghan to whip out a quick hat.

But there are problems. For example, I really don't know what size a new-born head is. And while I did find a link to a document which shows average head circumference, well... I still had a lot of fudging to do, because there are really few baby hat patterns on the internet that tell you what size head you're doing this for. So fudge I did.

But I think I ended up with a really cute hat. It helps that the Koigu I picked is positively delicious, but the 6 x 2 rib looks so cute, the way it gently flairs at the cast on edge. And I love the way the fold worked out.

Now, everybody, cross your fingers with me and hope that once the new baby boy comes around, that the hat fits.

A Little Help?

I have some Koigu. I need to turn it into a hat for a newborn. I get about 25 stitches over four inches.

The problem? I don't really even know what size a baby head is. And all the patterns out there I've found so far are for big-ass yarn.

Anyone have any quick free patterns they can help with?

[Ed. Note: Gawd, I feel like a troll asking for free pattern help. But I need it!]

It's Not Easy, Being Green

But it's fun to knit. And it's minty fresh!

I know, it's sideways... but it hasn't been blocked yet, and it's easier to look at this way.

The next square, which knit up a lot more quickly, also didn't compress as much horizontally, but I think it's rather pretty:

I finished that square this afternoon, around 6 or 7:00pm. The hole you notice in the lower left corner is where I joined in the new ball (I actually posted this photo upside-down from how the square was knit, as it turns out). Once I start in with the finishing, that hole will disappear. Anyhow, after I finished that square, as I posted earlier in the day, I wasn't sure which square I would start tonight. I was debating between two in particular, one of which was noted in the book as being among the five easiest, and one of which was noted as being one of the five most difficult.

Being the kind of knitter I am, I guess you won't be surprised to find out that I chose the tougher one:

Although so far, I don't think this square is all that difficult. I've learned a lot from doing it - I used a new technique for provisional cast on, and I also did short rows and wrapped stitches for the first time. Even though they're not perfect, they'll look just fine to the "non-knitting" eye, so I'm really not stressed out about it. I guess they think this square is more difficult because once I knit this much more border, I'll have to graft the two ends together, pick up a ring of stitches around the center, bind it off and then pick up another round (why twice? I'm guessing it's to make a more decorative line, but I'm not entirely sure yet...), then knit seed stitch in to the center where I'll graft it together.

I've learned a lot of fun techniques on these Aran squares in general. I've never twisted stitches before, and I even tried cabling without a cable needle, although I found I didn't seem to like doing it. I also learned that I did know the proper way to purl through the back loop of a stitch, and that's a good skill for a boy to have! Know what I mean?

Quick Little Update

The Dagmara Berztiss square is finished, and I'm off to get a bit of dinner before starting the next one. I think I'm going to make the Barbara Selesnick Hearts Square, but I also kind of want to make the Kathleen T. Carty square. I've never done any short rows with the whole wrapping situation but I figure it can't be all that terribly difficult.

I guess there will be a photo of something interesting later tonight... I'll let you know!

Feeling (Un)bloggy

Sorry, guys and gals. I just haven't felt particularly in the mood to blog lately. I think it's been something to do with just getting back into the swing of things after the trip - jet lag, going back to work after vacation, that sort of thing.

I have, though, been doing some knitting. I finished the Hanna Burns square for the GAAA and I started the Dagmara Berztiss one. It's really bizarre: I'm not sure if the instructions are written in a way that I just don't understand or if I'm just on another planet, but I've had to restart each square at least once. I've knit the first few rows of the Berztiss square twice now, and that's before even getting to the cable-y part, which is rather frustrating! Especially since I'm now moved into the "Get it Finished" mode since the baby is here.

Speaking of the baby, I met her on Sunday evening. She's lovely in a way that only a five day old baby can be. She's very strong - she can almost hold her head up by herself already - and she's a very, um, windy lady. But she's a baby and I love babies and her mom is a dear friend and what can you do but be thrilled? Know what I mean?

The "Get it Finished" mode got frustrated on Sunday night, though, after I got home from visiting the baby. I was in the mood to watch some TV but I just didn't feel like having to pay attention to a cable pattern, even if it was one I had already memorized, so I spent an hour or two knitting on my simple (yet lovely) Koigu scarf. It's good to have an ultra-mindless project around to work on every now and again!

Anyhow, I have to go get ready for work now. I'll talk to you soon, and hopefully even work up the motivation to take a photo or two of some of the stuff I've been knitting!

Sorry, Grateful

For those of you who aren't musical theatre buffs, the title of today's entry made warrant a brief explanation: simply, it's the title of a Stephen Sondheim song.

And it's appropriate because I need to apologize to Emma for my joke, and I'm also grateful to be home.

All I will say about the joke is, I was drunk when I thought it up, I was drunk when I typed it, and I apologize for offending Emma and, potentially anyone else. Sometimes jokes are offensive; I know that I have heard a lot that have offended me over the years, too. Anyhow, Emma said she didn't want to start a row, and neither do I, so I hope that we're all good here.

Anyhow, I'm glad to be home. I can actually sit in front of my TV now and knit! I didn't get much knitting done while I was on holiday. I knit a couple inches on a Koigu scarf that is in the pile of "stupidly easy mindless knits" (it's a stockinette tube), and I knit four rows of a square of the Great Green Aran Baby Afghan. And, in the wee hours of this morning, the sweet little baby for whom this blankie is intended entered the world. She weighed in at over 9 and a half pounds! Yow. But she's in great health, mother and child are both doing quite well, and I'm told that she's gorgeous to boot! I can't wait to meet her. And I have got to go get knitting on her blankie... I'll post a progress photo of the current square tomorrow when it actually will resemble something.

What Do We Do With the Drunken Knitblogger Early in the Morning...

So I had a lovely evening here in London tonight. And a bit too much to drink. But I'm not going to complain about that.

I will, however, tell you the funny joke I "invented" this evening. A friend was discussing those corny "theme" hotels where every meeting room and toilet in the hotel has a name related to the name of the theme hotel (think "Outback Steakhouse where the ladies' room is called "Sheilas").

So she was talking about a hotel where the name had something to do with a deer. The ladies room was called "Does" (rhymes with goes, not with because), and gents was called "Stags." Her question was, what do they call the handicap accessible restroom in a hotel like that.

I knew the answer right away.

"Bait."

{Finally, they all say, a joke even Dick Cheney can appreciate! And to think that all I had to do to come up with it was to drink a bit of gin!)

Crap! Crap! Crap!

So I was so excited by the fact that I was (and still am) on vacation that I totally neglected, among other things, my two year blogiversary! Them's exciting times here at Jon's Knit Blog.

Anyhow, I was in Prague this past week, and saw many people wearing nordic-y stranded sweaters. So I promptly started coveting one. Of course, I have the fixin's (and one sleeve) back home, so maybe after Zauberflote, the Baby Blanket I need to finish (because she was due yesterday!), and who knows what else, perhaps I can pick up my Norge 2000 again. That body chart looks pretty scary (one chest = one pattern repeat) but if I can do Zauberflote and Rosetta, who's to say I can't do anything?

What else to say about Prague? I noticed two knitting stores - or at least stores which sell yarn - one of which was around the corner from the hotel, and the other of which only had acrylic in the window. I mean seriously, folks, you want people to come in the store, show the good stuff! So needless to say, we bought no Czech yarn.

We (yes, the Royal We) are back in London, now. We will be making some sort of yarn purchase here because my cousin (she who gave birth to the Rosetta Baby and her big brother, for whom I made the Elephant Vest) has proclaimed a desire to learn to knit! So that (along with seeing London and getting some more work done on the current Aran Square) is on the list for the next five days.

Also on the list: Liberty of London (home of amazing fabrics including the Kaffe Fassett line, as well as about every Rowan and Jaeger yarn currently available [ed. note: well, at least they did the last time I was there and here's hoping!]; "Billy Elliott" and "Mary Poppins" in the West End; and at least a day to spend with the beloved kiddos. And anxiously awaiting news from my pregnant colleauge back in NYC to find out if she waits til I get home to go into labor. Hopefully I don't have to add "apologizing to you all for forgetting my blogiversary, much less for not blogging for 10 days." And to anyone who complains about my not blogging? I'm on vacation. So **** *** *****************!

No Big Surprise

Well, the Knitting Olympics are over. I doubt anyone will be shocked to find out that my sweater isn't finished. I came pretty close - the main knitting is done, and what's left to do is seaming, a few details on the front and back shoulder area, and the button band. That'll all have to get done after the trip.

The trip knitting will be a friendly revisit to my mint green version of the Great American Aran Afghan. The baby for whom I am making this is due while I'm away, so I figure the least I can do is spend some time working on more afghan squares. Plus, it'll be an exciting change from stockinette and fair isle... and it's easily portable travel knitting! So I'm off to put it in my suitcase, and I'll talk to you soon!