Hey! Isn’t this a knitting blog?
Why, yes. Yes, it is.
As promised, the answer to that eternal question: “What’s on the needles, lady?”
I have been knitting. Slowly, because I only get to do it while Thumper naps, and there are any number of other things that also have to happen while Thumper naps. Things like doing the editing by which I earn my portion of our living. And blogging. Etc Etc. But yes, there has been knitting.
I’m catching on to the fact that now that my knitting time is so short, I can’t flit from project to project quite as much as I used to, or nothing will ever get done. So now I work on two sweaters at a time–one for me and one for Thumper–and then allow myself a few smaller projects to pick up when my hands crave something different.
Most of my knitting time is now focused on my Sunrise Circle Jacket. (Color not even close to true. In person, it’s a fantastic deep red with flecks of bright red and gold.)
I’m using coned yarn purchased a couple years ago from WEBS. It’s 80% merino, 20% cashmere. It’s coated with all kinds of industrial yarn goo, and I’m knitting it straight from the cone, so I don’t get an especially soft, pleasurable experience in the knitting, but the lack of ends to weave in at the end balances that out. Knitting with the oils still on means I had no choice but to swatch and wash said swatch (extreme, I know) and the swatch washed up so so soft and with a nice dense gauge, as befits a jacket like this. Which is my way of explaining why the yarn looks less than great now but will be stellar when washed.
I’m in love with this pattern. Kate’s a genius. I mean, look at that. Isn’t it gorgeous?
When I need knitting that doesn’t require row-by-row pattern reading (such as on the few car trips we’ve taken recently) I’m working on the Debbie Bliss Donkey Jacket for Thumper.
The oatmeal color is the lining, which is finished. The chocolate brown (a richer color in person) is the outside of the jacket. That’s the body there, nearly done. Then we need a hood, some sleeves, and two ears and he’ll have an insanely cute little jacket that will hopefully be too big on him for a while yet.
I’m nearly done with a pair of Trekking socks for my mother-in-law:
Plain rolltop st st socks. Perfect for when the baby is happily playing on his floor mat because at this point I could knit this pattern with my eyes closed and brain completely turned off and it will still come out just fine.
I had this weird sort of fit last week where Billy came home from work and I reallyreallyreally needed some time to myself and not just time to myself but time to myself with colorwork and I handed the baby off and dug this mitten out of the stash. I’d knitted the cuff while pregnant and then set it aside. I did six or so more rows the other night and now it’s been set aside again. At this rate, the mittens will be finished just in time to drop Thumper off at college.
See above anecdote, but insert lace. Every once in a while I’ll work a row (or less) on a flared smoke ring. I’m using School Products cashmere. Mmmm. Cashmere. This is a very simple lace pattern, but the most complex I can manage right now with the knitting time I get and the fact that all knitting must be of a nature that I can put it down at a moment’s notice. Therefore, short repeats and stitch markers between each repeat. But I haven’t touched this in nearly three weeks. It’ll get done when it gets done. It’s just nice to have some cashmere on the needles for when you really really need it.
I have a few projects on the needles from before Thumper was born, and I do want to get back to them. There’s a ribby cardi, with a finished back and a barely begun front, which is mindless enough knitting that I’ll probably pick it up again soon. There’s a Rogue with just one sleeve done that will probably sit for a while longer. There’s a Kimono Shawl that’s more lace than I can manage with the baby right now. And then there’s my Corset Pullover, which needs only its sleeves. Though I’m back in my pre-preg jeans now, I’m not back in my pre-preg tops and won’t be as long as I’m nursing. The Corset Pullover, as fitted as it is, will not contain what we lovingly refer to around here as “Thumper’s Diner.” So that one can wait another year or so.
Up next, when I finish the MIL socks I’ll be casting on for a pair of Here There Be Dragons socks for me. I’ll be using this lovely stuff, Vesper sock yarn in Algae:
I’ll also be knitting socks from handspun, hopefully before too long. Spinning photos in the next post.
(Now to publish and see if Bloglines decides to update me.)
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I don’t know about bloglines but newsgator loves ya. You’ve got osme lovely stuff going there. It’s good that you’ve been able to find at least some snatches of time to knit and help maintain some balance in your life.
Posted by: Jenna
It’s been lovely to have so many posts to read, darlin’. I really love the colors in the mitten. So cheerful!
Posted by: Michelle
Everyone needs a little cashmere on the needles!
Posted by: Toni K.
The little baby face in picture number one is an amazing touch of cuteness. A nice mix of appealing projects, especially the circle cardi.
Posted by: claudia
Knitting aside — I love that groovy mixed media (it appears, anyway) table!
Posted by: Allison
I thought you had been strangely quiet, but i just assumed you were busy.
Wonderful array of projects! I love the Sunrise Circle jacket and agree that Kate is scary-brilliant. Those mittens are particularly eye-catching. I hope you get to finish them before too long. I miss you and I want to see you! I must get out there soon.
Posted by: regina
I don’t know about bloglines but newsgator loves ya. You’ve got osme lovely stuff going there. It’s good that you’ve been able to find at least some snatches of time to knit and help maintain some balance in your life.
Posted by: Jenna
It’s been lovely to have so many posts to read, darlin’. I really love the colors in the mitten. So cheerful!
Posted by: Michelle
Everyone needs a little cashmere on the needles!
Posted by: Toni K.
The little baby face in picture number one is an amazing touch of cuteness. A nice mix of appealing projects, especially the circle cardi.
Posted by: claudia
Knitting aside — I love that groovy mixed media (it appears, anyway) table!
Posted by: Allison
I thought you had been strangely quiet, but i just assumed you were busy.
Wonderful array of projects! I love the Sunrise Circle jacket and agree that Kate is scary-brilliant. Those mittens are particularly eye-catching. I hope you get to finish them before too long. I miss you and I want to see you! I must get out there soon.
Posted by: regina
I used to read your blog and think ‘Why is she so obsessed with knitting socks?’.
Then, this last week, I finished my first pair.
I understand. 🙂
Posted by: Raychel
Love the Sunrise. I keep forgetting how much I want to knit one, and then here you go reminding me. The yarn may not feel so great now, but it does look beautiful…
Posted by: J Strizzy
Bloglines seems to love you again.
I can’t wait to see that jacket once it’s been washed.
Posted by: Cookie
Looks like Bloglines is getting their act together – finally! Beautiful knitting projects. You’re sounding just like me with the “something I can put down on a moment’s notice”! hehe Just wait until he starts taking the needles out of your socks. 🙂
Posted by: Laura
yep, another fully-updated bloglines reader here.
Posted by: karen
I feel for you and your knitting. I can’t finish anything these days. I have a pair of plain old, stockingette stitch socks I’ve been working on for SIX MONTHS. This is partly because they are boring and I keep getting sidetracked with more interesting projects, but also because every time I pick them up to work on them, the baby starts screaming. I don’t know what she has against my knitting. . .
Posted by: Charissa
I used to read your blog and think ‘Why is she so obsessed with knitting socks?’.
Then, this last week, I finished my first pair.
I understand. 🙂
Posted by: Raychel
Love the Sunrise. I keep forgetting how much I want to knit one, and then here you go reminding me. The yarn may not feel so great now, but it does look beautiful…
Posted by: J Strizzy
Bloglines seems to love you again.
I can’t wait to see that jacket once it’s been washed.
Posted by: Cookie
Looks like Bloglines is getting their act together – finally! Beautiful knitting projects. You’re sounding just like me with the “something I can put down on a moment’s notice”! hehe Just wait until he starts taking the needles out of your socks. 🙂
Posted by: Laura
yep, another fully-updated bloglines reader here.
Posted by: karen
I feel for you and your knitting. I can’t finish anything these days. I have a pair of plain old, stockingette stitch socks I’ve been working on for SIX MONTHS. This is partly because they are boring and I keep getting sidetracked with more interesting projects, but also because every time I pick them up to work on them, the baby starts screaming. I don’t know what she has against my knitting. . .
Posted by: Charissa
What Claudia said. It’s almost surreal, and at first I thought it was a magazine picture just sitting there on the table — bizarro that it’s in focus, even! Then I said to myself, Is that…??? Yes, I do believe it IS. You sneaky thing, you.
This is quite the knitting update. We won’t need one for another six months now. 😀
Posted by: Norma
HOLY CRAP that’s a lot of projects to juggle with work and infant care!!!! I am impressed at how resourceful you are!!! Finding itty bits of time to knit is the key, I guess. They all look fabulous!
Posted by: Elinor
The close up pic of your sunrise circle is gorgeous!
Posted by: brooke
Love the color of your Sunrise Circle! It all gets done in the end.
Posted by: Carol
oooooh. I have that coned cashmere/merino in deep chocolate with gold/tan flecks. I forgot about that.
Visions of sweaters are dancing in my head.
Posted by: Juno
How many nights of babysitting would it take for you to part with that table?
All joking aside, where did you get that table and what is it made out of? It is gorgeous.
Posted by: Heather
What Claudia said. It’s almost surreal, and at first I thought it was a magazine picture just sitting there on the table — bizarro that it’s in focus, even! Then I said to myself, Is that…??? Yes, I do believe it IS. You sneaky thing, you.
This is quite the knitting update. We won’t need one for another six months now. 😀
Posted by: Norma
HOLY CRAP that’s a lot of projects to juggle with work and infant care!!!! I am impressed at how resourceful you are!!! Finding itty bits of time to knit is the key, I guess. They all look fabulous!
Posted by: Elinor
The close up pic of your sunrise circle is gorgeous!
Posted by: brooke
Love the color of your Sunrise Circle! It all gets done in the end.
Posted by: Carol
oooooh. I have that coned cashmere/merino in deep chocolate with gold/tan flecks. I forgot about that.
Visions of sweaters are dancing in my head.
Posted by: Juno
How many nights of babysitting would it take for you to part with that table?
All joking aside, where did you get that table and what is it made out of? It is gorgeous.
Posted by: Heather
In the words of Borat: wow-whoa-whee-wa! Productive! And I LOVE that yarn. It was such a sleeper, people pass it right by, neglecting the amazing swatch we’ve hung beside it. They really can’t believe it’s the same yarn.
Posted by: Cirilia
P.S. I’d be totally shocked if you don’t use a spit splice when knitting with non-coned yarns…say it isn’t so!
Posted by: Cirilia
I would normally talk about knitting, but, that table! I used to have a lamp that matched it, and I wish wish wish it still existed. I had no idea there was a table to match it . . .
Posted by: lanea
You have a lot of really nice things on the needles right now. And you’ve made a lot of progress on the circle jacket! It looks great.
I can’t wait to see your spinning pictures!
Posted by: Karen
Many projects! I love the table in your photos!
Posted by: Kim P
Yep, you’re updated. Look at all this knitting! Nice to have so many choices when you find yourself with a little knitting time. It all looks great.
Posted by: alison
In the words of Borat: wow-whoa-whee-wa! Productive! And I LOVE that yarn. It was such a sleeper, people pass it right by, neglecting the amazing swatch we’ve hung beside it. They really can’t believe it’s the same yarn.
Posted by: Cirilia
P.S. I’d be totally shocked if you don’t use a spit splice when knitting with non-coned yarns…say it isn’t so!
Posted by: Cirilia
I would normally talk about knitting, but, that table! I used to have a lamp that matched it, and I wish wish wish it still existed. I had no idea there was a table to match it . . .
Posted by: lanea
You have a lot of really nice things on the needles right now. And you’ve made a lot of progress on the circle jacket! It looks great.
I can’t wait to see your spinning pictures!
Posted by: Karen
Many projects! I love the table in your photos!
Posted by: Kim P
Yep, you’re updated. Look at all this knitting! Nice to have so many choices when you find yourself with a little knitting time. It all looks great.
Posted by: alison
Whooooaaaa!! How do you do all that? I’m impressed. Wish I could be half that productive. My WIP’s tend to morph into UFO’s and stay that way. And I really covet that table!
Posted by: Steph Bolinger
Hey Cara, how did Proust change your life?
Posted by: LeAnne
Ahhh…Kimono Shawl…mine is sitting in a pile as well waiting for the day when I can devote all of my attention to it. Sigh.
Posted by: Knittripps
I’ve started my first pair of socks on the trekking yarn! It looks like yours might be the same color as mine. 🙂 Yay for yarn.
Posted by: Steph
Whooooaaaa!! How do you do all that? I’m impressed. Wish I could be half that productive. My WIP’s tend to morph into UFO’s and stay that way. And I really covet that table!
Posted by: Steph Bolinger
Hey Cara, how did Proust change your life?
Posted by: LeAnne
Ahhh…Kimono Shawl…mine is sitting in a pile as well waiting for the day when I can devote all of my attention to it. Sigh.
Posted by: Knittripps
I’ve started my first pair of socks on the trekking yarn! It looks like yours might be the same color as mine. 🙂 Yay for yarn.
Posted by: Steph