A Swift, A Wool Winder, and A Merino Blend

Today I experienced a few minutes of unadulterated joy. I wound my first ball of yarn.

Papa gave me this beautiful swift and a wool winder for Christmas. (That, a blues harmonica, and a gift card for my favorite fabric store--I mean seriously, what a man.)

Other than marvel at its simple beauty, I hadn't used the swift before today--I am typically a winter knitter and a summer sewer. But a knee injury has been demanding I sit more, and when I do, my hands start yearning for needles. So after dropping the boys off at Grammy's this morning for their first summer Monday pool date (thank you!), I stopped at a new local yarn haven for a bit of soul comfort. I decided then and there to knit myself a pair of socks. It seems appropriate, as I'll be knitting while propping my feet up--two birds, one stone, taking care of my body and soul.

I splurged for two skeins of this absolutely gorgeous kettle dyed silk-merino blend. This afternoon, as the rainbow maker was in full force and the afternoon sun was sinking low into the sky, I wrapped a skein of it around the swift.

The boys were riveted, and for good reason--the simplicity and gratification of these two tools together are really beautiful. I threaded the winder and got to work. Big B took this next picture, mid-spin.

Little b was anxious to give it a try, cinnamon stick and all. He did a fabulous job.

After a few minutes of heaven, I had a perfectly wound ball of ready-to-knit yarn, and I held it like a newborn babe. So much care has been infused into this little bundle already, from the shearing to the spinning to the dyeing. Now it's my turn.

Quick Holiday Knits

I've been a knitting fool lately. We've experienced record lows here in the Sunshine State, and as Rose says, there's just something about chilly weather that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a couple of sticks and a ball of yarn. I knitted a total of eight gifts for the holidays. They flew off the needles so quickly I didn't even catch some of them to take their pictures. Here's what I did manage to capture.

The standard K2,P2 rib pattern hat was a staple of holiday gifting. I used variations of Alex Zorn's Hot Head pattern from the original Stitch 'n' Bitch book for each of four hats. Here's one I made for PawPaw using super chunky yarn. I adapted the pattern to include about an inch and a half of garter stitching at the base, to keep it nice and snug.I made the same hats for Big B and little b using the colorway I used on my very first knitting project for Papa. I also made a hat for Noni using this pattern, but in a gorgeous homespun green yarn. The same yarn also contributed to a simple stockinette hat I made for The Girl's second birthday. I didn't get pictures of either of these, but I had so much fun knitting with the homespun!

For my stepsister, who lives in a colder place than I do, I made these awesome fingerless mitts. I used chunky yarn in the interest of time, and though I absolutely LOVE the color, I think next time I'll use a worsted weight yarn--and there will be a next time, because I must own a pair of these for myself!...and my latest completion was this scarf for Grammy, made with 2 skeins of Angel Hair yarn--easily the most luxurious and soft fiber I've ever worked with. It was such a pleasure to knit this scarf that I may just have to make another one. I didn't use a pattern, but CO 28 stitches onto size 10.5 needles and knit until it was the right length for her. I also made my first fringe, which was so easy and gratifying I must do it again!!Now on the needles is a red chenille hat for Mimi. I got nice and familiar with chenille when I made a black neck warmer for my next door neighbor a couple of weeks ago (the eighth gift, also not pictured). Working carefully with this brittle yarn is worth it; the results are velvety smooth.

Not to worry, sewing machine, I will visit you soon...there are quilts to be finished and baby gifts to make. But for now, I will soak up the cold weather, curl up on the couch, and grab a couple of sticks and a ball of yarn.

Yard Sale Score: Vintage Christmas

Check out these adorable vintage snowglobes we found at an estate sale this morning! ...and I couldn't resist* this tutorial, circa 1941.
A great way to start our pre-Christmas weekend!

(*Edited to add: I was immediately drawn to this book, and something familiar about it has been nagging at me all day; I finally realized what it was! Mama Bird's mama, author of Hello Sunshine and a fabulous watercolorist, blogged about her copy of this book, which belonged to her mother or grandmother, in her post about re-learning to knit. What a coincidence!)

Shalom: Complete, Perfect and Full

The Hebrew word shalom is understood around the world to mean peace, but when traced back to its root verb, it means something less definable: the feeling of being complete, perfect and full. A wise woman once told me that mothers must take the time to fill up our own cups, so that we have more to give to our children and to others. Knitting is one of those things that just fills my cup.

Since I learned to knit last year, there have been several patterns I've seen with others in mind, and each completed gift was a joy to create. But when I saw The Shalom Cardigan on the mother of all blogs, it was the first time I knew I wanted to make something for myself. So today I went to our local fancy yarn store and bought Cascade 220 worsted weight wool yarn in chocolate and maize, which I'll double up. I can't wait to get started tomorrow, when we embark on our annual Thanksgiving trip to South Georgia.

Thursday will mark the tenth time I've been a guest at my grandmother-in-law's Thanksgiving table. I could not be more blessed to be included in this holiest of southern traditions. I am thankful for the company I keep, thankful for the road that lies ahead of me, and thankful for four brand new gorgeous skeins of yarn with which to fill my cup. Shalom, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Summer Knits: Heads Up on Infant Mortality

I haven't felt the urge to knit in months. It's hot. It's humid. Almost sticky, Florida summer heat. But when I saw Orlando midwife Jennie Joseph's campaign to raise awareness about infant mortality in the United States, I knew it was time to pick up the needles. I cast on 64 stitches and alternated knit and purl rows for about an inch, creating a garter stitch. I switched to stockinette until the hat measured about 4", then began my decrease, K8, K2TOG, then K7, K2TOG, etc.

If you have the itch to knit for a good cause, please knit a simple baby hat and mail it to:
The Birth Place
1130 E. Plant Street
Winter Garden, Florida 34787

Jennie's goal is to collect 1,687 hats by September, which is National Infant Mortality Month. 1,687 represents the number of babies that died in Florida in 2007 alone.

Mission Organization: Sewing Station

I have finished organizing my disaster of a sewing space, in honor of the new fabric chest I scored a couple of weekends ago. It was so much fun. I organized every notion and tool. I organized the buttons, the ribbons, the rick-rack, the thread. I personalized the lid of the chest with the fabric I won from Sew, Mama, Sew. I can't stop opening up the drawers.I organized the fabric by type, size and color. I have several drawers for cotton fabric, a drawer for flannel, a drawer for corduroy, and a drawer for upholstery fabric. I even have a drawer for tiny scraps and selvages. Oversized backing, batting and polyfill are neatly stored in stacked bins next to the desk, creating a bit more surface area.
This move may be detrimental to my career--all I want to do is sew. At least I'm making an effort to sew responsibly: I have joined Spring to Finish at Tallgrass Prairie Studio, with the goal of finishing half-completed projects before beginning new ones.

For now, I am satisfied with a workspace that is efficient and lovely, the perfect environment for my chosen creative outlet. On a child-sized desk, I have enough space for one current project, my iron, my sewing machine, my cutting mat, and my knitting basket. I owe it all to the fabric chest. Thank you, yard sale gods. Thank you.

Seventh Knit: A Spring Kerchief, for Mama

I am definitely addicted, and I know why. Sure, the satisfaction of a completed handknit is lovely, but it is fleeting. Almost instantly, the finished knitter wants more. Knitting is not so much about the destination as it is about the journey. And isn't that the goal of meditiative practice: the living in the moment, the joy of the present? As soon as that last baby hat was off the needles, I searched for my next project. I decided to celebrate spring with a nice cotton kerchief. I have worn bandanas since childhood and there is something intrinsically nurturing about them for me. So this project filled my well twofold: both the practice of knitting, and the end result, take care of my soul a little bit.

Having said that, I almost waved this little white flag in surrender. This project was my first experience with increasing, and I had to start over at least half a dozen times. I just assumed (of course, you know what that gets you) that an increase was the opposite of a decrease, and that, mathematically, I should increase every other stitch on every other row. My little triangle quickly became unmanageable. Then I did some research and found that increases are typically done at the ends of the rows. I found this pattern and was able to finish the project. LESSONS LEARNED: While this pattern was helpful in teaching me the basics of increasing, the finished size doesn't suit me perfectly; it makes those wingy thingys near the top that are rather nun-like (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not me). So I will definitely be trying again, perhaps with this pattern, which looks a bit more challenging.

6th Knit: Baby School Spirit, Pom Pom and All

Remember that yarn I had pleasantly warming on the dashboard this week? It has now morphed into a gift for a new baby in the village, one whose parents share our alma mater. In tribute, I upsized this baby hat a bit, to be wearable during the autumn months (football season!). I cast on 60 stitches with the orange and blue varieties of the self-striping yarn I'm in love with, and garter stitched for about an inch or so. I switched to a stockinette stitch until the piece measured about 3.75 inches, then I started my decrease. When it was finished, the top didn't quite jive with the rest of the hat, and I realized why: of course, such a spirited hat needs a pom pom! I learned how to quickly make one with this tutorial, and am happy with this handmade gift.

Accidental Knitting Advice

If you leave your knitting on the dashboard of your car, it will be pleasantly warm when you pick it up again.

Fifth Knitting Project: It Fits...Sort Of

I tried again with a simple hat for Big B, and it fits! It's not quite long enough to cover his ears though, so we tried it on little b, and of course it's perfect. Big B is happy and loves to wear, and share, the hat. Maybe a third time will be the charm for him. That will have to wait though, as a new little baby to be born in April has ears that must stay warm. The pattern for this hat was my own, but adapted from the advice of a seasoned knitter. I'll refine it and post it for the next project, a very similar baby hat.

Thirty Minutes of Zen

This afternoon, through a serendipitous series of events, I found myself at home, alone, with my current knitting project and a Cinnamon Dolce Latte. At home. Alone. For thirty minutes.

I looked down at the coffee table and saw the juxtaposition of these two luxuries in my life and couldn't help but try to capture it, just in case I don't get another half-hour like this one for a while. I missed my boys, but this little pause was welcome. Probably because it was completely unexpected.

Fourth Knitting Project: This Hat is Too Small!

Remember that Gnomey Hat I made for my midwife's little one? On our trip to the yarn store, Big B picked out a skein of that same self-striping yarn in a cool blue palette. I got to work on a hat for him, following this pattern, shortly after the Gnomey was finished.

The dark side: I realized late last night that something had gone awry. I finished it anyway, and it doesn't even come close to fitting Big B's head. Was it my needles? The yarn? I suppose a good lesson is to measure the circumference of the head upon which you'd like the hat to sit.

The bright side: Without my suggestion, Big B immediately offered the too-small snuggly to his little brother, who was reaching curiously for it. Papa helped little b put it on. It fits, barely and tightly. This knit just might have to find its way on a plane to Sweden...
I still owe Big B a hat. If any knitters reading this have a great relatively easy pattern to share, I'd be very grateful!

Third Knitting Project: Baby Gnomey Hat

The birth of a baby is a universal call to knitters. This is something I have only very recently understood. So when I saw this post on the holy mecca of blogs, just a week after my midwife had her first baby, I decided to challenge myself and do my first knitting-in-the-round project: The Gnomey Hat. I went to our finest local yarn shop for the occasion and picked out this gorgeous self-striping yarn.
Apparently I am not the only one who is enamored with the little gnomey! At a Florida Friends of Midwives event over the weekend, two other mamas were caught knitting the same hat. See, Soule Mama? You are spreading joy, one set of needles at a time. I finished the hat last night and decided not to add the pom-poms (you're welcome, Rio). I like it just the way it is, and I'm sure the sweet little man will look adorable in it. I thought he might be asleep when I gave it to his mama (and he was), so little b's Ernie ball had to pose for me. ...and here is the actual little head that the hat will keep warm. Sweet dreams, darling one!

2nd Knitting Project: Happy Birthday, little l

Big L and little l came for a visit! These are Big B and little b's cousins and two of the loves of my life. Part of the reason for their visit was that we hadn't seen each other since well before Christmas, and had not yet exchanged gifts, nor celebrated little l's sixth birthday (which falls the day after Christmas).

Little l wanted to see snow for his birthday, so Aunt S and Uncle S packed up their converted 'karma' bus and headed north . In that spirit, I packaged him up some snow of my own, and to go with it, I made him this scarf, using the same colorway as Papa's hat.

This scarf went everywhere with me. I knitted 12 stitches per row, which in that chunky yarn was just the right size for a six-year-old neck. A row or two at the drive-thru at Starbucks...
...and getting ready to knit a few more rows out by the fire Friday night. So cute on him, dontcha think?

First Knitting Project: National Championship Hat

Just after Thanksgiving, I decided to learn to knit. I liked the idea of a creative outlet that mandated sitting still for a few moments. So Rose poured me a cup of tea and taught me how. After much post-kid-bedtime swearing, I finally got the hang of it.I was ready to try a pattern. I decided to make a hat for Papa--he sort of got the short end of the crafty stick at Christmas. Besides, I knew he'd love all of my first-knit mistakes. I began this project when he was invited to the BCS National Championship, in hopes that he'd wear it to the game (because you need a skull cap in Miami, of course). I realized I had screwed up irrevocably, would never finish it in time, and unraveled the whole thing (which was oddly gratifying). I started over as we cheered our alma mater to victory, he from the stands and I from the couch. I finished it on an unexpected road trip over the next few days. It provided the perfect chicken soup for my soul.I used Alex Zorn's Hot Head from Stitch 'n Bitch, The Knitter's Handbook as a springboard. This is a simple K2, P2 rib that was very forgiving with the chunky yarn. I adapted her colorway in the name of school spirit and changed the pattern a bit.

MATERIALS USED:
--1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky yarn, charcoal
--1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky yarn, indigo
--1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky yarn, pumpkin
--size 10-1/2 knitting needles
--yarn needleSo here it is, wonky mattress seaming and all. Papa loves it, and promises to keep his ears warm on his next nighttime four-wheeler ride up north.