You know that thing when you’re cleaning a closet or a drawer, where things get much worse before they get way better? I think my pre-holiday life is like that right now. There’s lists and post-its and presents and wrapping paper and yarn over every inch of this house, and thus far, all attempts to corral the disaster only seem to make things worse. Every task I take on seems to take me deeper into the abyss, and only the spreadsheet and what can at this point only be loosely termed “a plan” are keeping me from falling over into disorganized despair. I keep making bigger and bigger messes, and muttering foul things while I putter around, trying to pull it all together. (Moments ago, the beautiful string of snowflake lights I managed to hang in the living room came crashing down.) I’m hoping that this is the chaos before the calm, and not the cruel backlash of an overly ambitious system, but tomorrow should have the worst of it over. At least now I can re-make the bed upstairs and get that room ready.. because Indian Feathers is finished blocking, and it, at least, is fabulous.
I modified this shawl/scarf pretty heavily. I had an abundance of yarn and a good attitude at the time, and a little screwing around yielded me a personalized version I like a lot. I loved the fabric I got when I knit this on 3.5mm needles, but worried that it would be too small. (The original was knit on 4.5mm.)
I wasn’t too worried about the length, but didn’t want it to be too narrow – I solved this by repeating a pattern row a few times. (I did rows 18 and 19 three times each) and by eliminating a double decrease in row 27, and replacing it with a regular decrease every other feather.
I knit a few plain rows after that, then did all the short rows (more or less) as I was told. (Obedience isn’t something that comes naturally to me.) I finished the whole thing off with a three stitch i-cord bindoff.
The end result was just what I’d hoped for. A slightly taller, far less circular version – mine’s more of an arc than the original, which means it curves less that the designer intended, which is awesome, because I didn’t use the cast on she suggested at all. There’s less stretch in my edge, but I don’t need it, because it doesn’t need to stretch as much.
That bad boy also has extra beads. The original had beads in a little V at the bottom of each feather, and mine has some up at the tops of the motif, as well as one every 5 stitches along the top. The kit from Holiday yarns had more than enough yarn for my version, but not enough beads for me to go nuts like I did, so the top ones are little crystals from my own stash.
I also skipped the row of yarn overs at the top. I didn’t mean too, but it’s worked out fine. It’s so very pretty, I could have taken pictures of it all day, but for the waning patience of the World’s Top Knitwear Model. There’s more going on here knitting-wise, but I’m trying to run a few projects sort of stealth, so bear with me. Can I distract you?
What’s did Luis hang today?
The Gingerbread man, or as Lou terms him “Señor de galleta” which, if am to take seriously the comments from yesterday on the use of the word “Senor”, translates more like “The Lord of the Cookies” than gingerbread man, but I tried to learn to say “ginger” in Spanish, and I’m willing to go with Lou’s version.
I was going to tell you that there wasn’t really a pattern for this one, since to knit this little guy, I dragged out my old (rather very) copy of The Canadian Living Christmas Book, but the internet is an amazing place, and it turns out to be available online. I modified the pattern, using fingering weight wool instead of Sayelle (I told you it was old) and decreased the number of stitches I cast on (from 32 to 22) and shrunk the number of rows to go with. A little embroidery for the icing and face, and whammo. Lord of the Cookies indeed.
Gifts for Knitters, Day 9
There’s lots of knitters out there with amazing tattoos that speak to the love of their craft, but for those of us who lack the nerve to permanently etch anything on them (or worry about how it will look should they live to be 97) how about tucking some fun temporary tattoos into their stocking? These great tattoos from Soak (while you’re there, these Soakboxes would make a great gift too, if that looks like your type of knitter) are a hoot, and I’m completely in love with the ones from Tilly Flop. Who wouldn’t love “Half Human half knitting machine” or this rather cheeky one? This set would be good for a knitter who sews too. I don’t know how these go on, or how they work (and I know they’re not strictly tattoos) but aren’t these nail decals neat? (Ok, wait. These nail decals are good, and these ones are great, and these ones fit right in with the current trend for gradients. Nail decals might be a thing.)
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Steph, I was so moved by your post about the tea lights and the darkness of the season. I feel the same way and have candles everywhere. What is even better is that, in just a few short day, the candles of Chanukah will fill my home for 8 glorious nights. The tradition of everyone in my family gathering together to light their own menorahs as well means that, by the eighth night, I will have 45 candles blazing brightly. Nothing like that to banish the winter darkness!
The shawl looks stunning on Sam….color matches her eyes. Gingerbread (Señor de Galleta) is cute. I can see why Lou is having so much fun with his calendar….we are too.
Love the Holiday Yarns Kit!
Thank you for everything !
Or, if your knitter is an actual tattoo person, and would love to emblazon their craft on themselves in a permanent fashion (like myself- my tattoo makes a great conversation starter at parties…) a gift certificate to the artist of their choice would be greatly appreciated!
That’s a lovely piece and a beautiful color for Sam. Perhaps it should find its way to her stack of presents…
I love the methodical way he’s going through the calendar ornaments! It’s right and fitting that he choose the order in retrospect, and I hope it’s the same every year. 🙂
Lord of the cookies indeed! Love your calendar and watching which piece (or who?) will be selected next!
Ooh, pretty! I’m not much of a shawl-maker (yet) and so I have a hard time picturing how something will look on the wearer. I think my default mind-picture is a babushka…
But the real question is: Did you find the right non-penile hat??
I LOVE that Canadian Living book! Every year on Christmas Eve we have an amazing Reveillon Tourtière from the recipe in that book. It begins the holiday (and the holiday eating festival) for us. My favourite part of Christmas is that tradition carries on year after year. Makes me feel at home even though I’m far from family…. The advent calendar is sure to become a lovely tradition for Luis and his family – I’m very much enjoying his choices and the Spanish lessons along with them. Also loving the gifts for knitters, a tradition I can’t miss!
I remember Sayelle from the 1970s when I knitted my very first Aran sweater out of it. The cables weren’t crossed properly, but I learned a lot and a cousin wore it for years after. I might have committed the heresy of knittin my first yoke sweater from Sayelle too, even while using Elizabeth Zimmermann’s directions. I know better now. The shawl, and the model, are both stunning. Can’t get anything in the photo line from my daughter until exams are over, and even then, it’s hard.
Hard to say whether Sam or Indian Feathers is more beautiful.
mmmm….popcorn….
Also: Hi, Sam! You’re looking gorgeous as always!
Those Soakboxes are awesome. In my family we don’t do presents for each other, we do presents for charity. I wish I could think of some justification for buying a Soakbox for myself but so far I can’t. Maybe if I leave the computer open to that page for about a week someone in the household will notice? Sigh.
I have used the Jamberry nail decals – they are great! Last a week or more. They also have a blue “sweater” design that looks like knitting.
Jamberrys are great! I love wearing them all the time – I enjoy looking at them while I knit. If you want to support a young business woman, my daughter-in-love is an independent consultant for Jamberry. You can order from her website at: http://www.maribethhinton.jamberrynails.net Thanks!
I love “Lord of the Cookies” – such grandeur!
That shawl is GORGEOUS. I think it turned out very well, as well – be proud, but just remember that not all things go that well when you’re knitting to the 12th hour next year. 😉 (Although I know we all wish they would. I just had to rip out 6″ on a baby cardigan because it was *definitely* the wrong size… ;( )
Katie =^..^=
I suppose if you focus on one project at a time, it will feel like you are falling behind? For me, seeing finished projects would help me feel like I was making progress. Wishing you and your sanity well. For your sake, and the sake of your housemates.
Perhaps “gentleman of snow” and “gentleman of cookie?” Though I like “Lord of the Cookies” quite a lot. 🙂
Love the shawl excellent work! Now for the question I’m throwing it out to everyone. I am highly allergic to yellow food coloring (can’t breathe, makes restaurant dining an adventure!) but would love to try the temporary tattoos. Does any one know if this would be a bad idea?
Indian Feathers. Beautiful. I might have to do another one of those. With extra beads. Love the mods you did. 🙂
The scarf/shawl thing is gorgeous, and so is the model. The color is highly flattering to Sam (hint to Sam’s mom!), and she picked the perfect top to show that color off!
And, is it just me, or does Sam bear a passing resemblance to Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Adele in these pictures??? (Less a ton of false eyelashes, mascara, and eyeliner, of course. Adele overdoes those sometimes.)
Look how it sets off the blue in her eyes in that second photo! Such a pretty shawlette and it looks so good on her.
The shawl is beautiful–I didn’t know much about it, and I’d seen previous peeks of it, but when I saw it after blocking just now I thought–oh wow! Braille! She did Braille with the beads! But then just as quickly realized I was mistaken. However, would that be a presumptuous idea to pursue? Or would that be somehow demeaning or weird to sightless people who couldn’t really read it with their fingers? I agree it’s a gorgeous color on Sam!
Jamberrys are great! I love wearing them all the time – I enjoy looking at them while I knit. If you want to support a young business woman, my daughter-in-love is an independent consultant for Jamberry. You can order from her website at: http://www.maribethhinton.jamberrynails.net Thanks!
That’s one beautiful shawl. 🙂
The scarf is stunningly pretty as well as your daughter. I also am loving the advent calendar! You are truely very talented!
Sayelle – my mother used to knit with that.
As for “obedience” to a pattern, thank you for your admission. I don’t think I have ever followed a knitting or cooking recipe completely ( with some, ah, *interesting* results). Perhaps you could spearhead (maybe I should write “needle”?) A group – Disobedient Knitters?
Gorgeous shawl! “Lord of the cookies” might be my new favorite thing.
Sam looks stunning in the Indian Feathers Shawl!
Jengibre: Hen HE Bray.
You can do it!
it’s beautiful!