Wee Kilty

I picked up the lil man's kilt today! Photo taken by daddy with socks and a bottle of wine for 'scale' (we couldn't use something more relevant than a bottle of wine????)

I had forgotten to show how the socks looked on the lil man's feet, so here's a photo captured while he giggled and kicked his nice new 'soft' socks...I think he likes the socks.

I can't wait to see how this outfit pulls together for the wedding :) Is it wrong to keep a toddler up later than normal bedtime to try on an outfit????

Knitting Nightmares....

I kept meaning to blog this week, but ended up being distracted by yet another knitting 'issue' that I thought needed more attention...so I now sit with things 'resolved' but no blog entries to share my turmoil...


So let's summarize what I can 'remember':


1) Sept 3rd - My toddler is no longer satisfied with 'his knitting' - ie since 18 months he's had a bobbin with some yarn to play with as his 'knitting' while momma knits. He now realizes he needs needles to click with - here he is with his NEW knitting...
You do see this correctly - two large knitting needles and TWO bobbins now (supposedly there has to be yarn on each needle) I tried to find something that wouldn't be a hazard in my needle inventory, but even these scare hubby (and me). At least these were the largest needles I had, so don't figure he'll put them in his mouth (yeah, choking is the least of my worries with these weapons...)
His knitting has disappeared (ie bottom of momma's knitting bag) to no avail...he remembers he has knitting when he wants to knit - so I look for new options still, but have to observe him while he knits (momma does NOT take her eyes off boy and knitting!)

2) Spinning wheel dilemma - went to the Saanich Fair last weekend, most especially for the toddler to see animals, and for momma to see the Sheep to Shawl demonstration by the local Spinners' Guild - toddler and momma enjoyed watching the demo - so much so that ds was happy to sit on my lap when one of the spinners offered for me to sit beside her at one of the vacant wheels (someone went to get food). He was very, very well behaved...but where's the dilemma you ask??? Well, momma is ITCHING to get her wheel in working order and start spinning, and although I have happily loaned my wheel to the daycare as a 'natural display' piece - I want to work on it....NOW dear little boy is complaining that we (ie me, and the daycare staff) are not USING the wheel and that it needs to be fixed....nothing worse than being pressured by a toddler to get over one's procrastination...

So I have spent a good number of hours trying to find out what to call my wheel, where to find parts, where to even know the name of the parts since my wheel has absolutely no markings on it (I bought it used knowing the treadle was missing the treadle connector - this I learned in my research last week, before I knew only that the foot thingy wasn't attached to the thing that hung from the big wheel).

This is an exact picture of my wheel! Someone else got one I see - and has a name for it and everything!!! http://theboogerblog.blogspot.com/2004/07/day-outwho-says-i-dont-get-out-of.html So now I have a hold at our local library for the same book to see if that will help me out. However, I am only 1/2 an hour from Cowichan, and could just drive up to the cultural centre and ask for help...maybe that'll be a task for next week...

3) My 2nd clapotis is back in full swing again (it was a Christmas gift that got somewhat delayed!!!) I am near completion, the end is in sight, and....
I RAN OUT OF YARN!!!! GROAN!! I have now posted to 3 local and some not-so-local LYS, dropped by one LYS; googled, found out it is discontinued and someone is selling a lot of 10 balls (I need maybe 1/4 of a ball to complete this thing)...and since DH said no to buying the lot and using the 'extra' yarn for something else, I emailed a few of my friends on yahoo :) I received a few emails of where they saw online retailers selling the yarn, and have now since placed an order...now, shipping for one ball of discontinued yarn makes for a pricey yarn...so that means YARN SHOPPING!!!!! well, I guess no-one would see THAT as a dilemma...except when I dropped into the LYS looking for the one ball, I already did end up buying some sock yarn that was 2 for 1....now really, how could I resist buying 2 for 1?? and it's bugging me that I left the rest of those 2 for 1 balls there....

4) Now that I have more sock yarn, I want desperately to knit some new socks....however, I'm still working on the new set of socks for my friend...DH just does NOT understand the lure of multiple projects - it eases some of the monotony of repeating patterns....I made the mistake of saying I get bored easily and he now thinks knitting bores me....NOOOOOOOo that is not what that means!!!! geez.... as YH would say "damn muggles"...

Sock Solutions...

I knit my friend's sock, started the second one then realized I didn't have enough yarn...silly me was doubling a fingering weight to create a dk weight for the pattern, but 'duuuuh', the pattern required just over 1 ball, and I was doubling...that means I should have had 3 balls in my stash at the very least!!! So, I have options:

1) frog, wind and use the yarn for standard sock pattern

2) frog just the length to fit MY foot, and make a second sock in another colour so I have a mismatched pair of bedsocks (no problem to me!)

3) use the single sock for another purpose?

but, after chatting at our Knit Night (every 2nd Monday evening at the Bent Mast), everyone agreed I should make a second sock in another colour and give them to my friend because they are boot socks afterall and then she can wear 2 colours (it's a anthroposophical colour thing that I don't understand yet). Her daughter had stopped by Knit Night and agreed that I should give her 2 different coloured socks... she also commented on the knitting as looking interesting - so, I gave her a set of needles, some cotton yarn to get started on a cloth for the daycare...she's now hooked - one of the others in attendance mentioned to me that her facebook comments said "What HAVE YOU DONE TO ME - I'm hooked - need to go out and buy myself knitting needles!!!" Interestingly, each new knitter makes their first few discloths for the daycare, then when they get good, they start making them as gifts for friends/family so the daycare has some misshapen cloths, but it doesn't matter, it's all good for washing little faces!

BTW, I did go out and buy some dk wool/nylon yarn to make a different pair of socks for my friend - I don't know about mismatched socks yet....maybe for her birthday it'll be funny...

Playdates and boot socks...

We had a playdate this morning (lil k and I). Met up with the friend who had knit lil k his socks (see post) and her dd. I thoroughly enjoyed myself having someone to chat with at the park watching toddlers doing their thing in the playground. She said she hasn't knit since dd was born and is sorely missing it!!! Strangely enough, I've been knitting MORE since ds was born!

I had finished ds's socks last night, and he had them on this morning for a brief stint until I asked that we put his slippers on to keep the socks from getting dirty - silly momma, he now is afraid to get the socks dirty so took them off :( Didn't get a chance to even take a photo of them on the feet! (will do that tomorrow!)

So now that my other friend asked for a pair of boot socks like lil k's, I've spent a good chunk of time stash sifting and pattern surfing to decide to make her a pair of the 'International Socks of Doom' from last year's Sock Wars. It took me 3 cast-ons, but I'm now knitting happily along using 2 strands of Paton's Kroy that I picked up from the church thrift shop (2 skeins for $1 ).

But now I'm feeling guilty - I've now made 2 pairs of socks for lil k, one for me, one for a complete stranger in sock wars, a pair for my dad, then now I'm going to make a pair for a friend before I make a pair for DH? He's already bugged me about the fact this coming September will be 10 years since we met and I have YET to knit him a sweater (or even a vest he pleads!). I have made him one pair of felted slippers in all the time we've known each other...so I look at these socks on the needles in this 'odd' brown colour (not quite brown, not taupe, not sure what it is, depends on the light)....and I think to myself that this sock is a unisex pattern, so perhaps I should make them for him? I knit along and think about it more, I could knit my friend a different pair of boot socks. I knit some more and know that I really don't want to knit the same thing twice. I know, I'll make them for dh, and find another pattern for her, besides, I think she'd prefer the turquoise wool/mohair I have peeking out the top of my laundry basket (yes, I have a laundry basket with yarn in it! Another complaint of DHs, but that's a story for another day).

Boats and socks

My friend Ralph has a boat. He likes to fish. I've been in the boat once, we spent all of 11 minutes fishing, and instead spent the rest of the day playing good samaritans to 2 other boaters in distress. That was about a month ago. Yesterday morning (Wed), he invited me out in the boat to fish again. He managed to catch one pink and lost 5! Weather was cloudy but very nice and even though I didn't get a fish, I managed to get 3/4s of a toddler sock done!

Last night I finished the sock, but dear lil k was sleeping and even though I was very tempted to try his sock on his sleeping tootsie, I decided it wasn't worth the consequences of him waking up at 10:30pm!!!

So at breakfast this morning, we tried on a sock and lil k went "ooooooh, where's my other sock?" He's only 2.5yrs old...

Unfortunately, the sock is slightly too short to be a 'knee sock', and I don't want to rip apart the toe and reknit (anything to avoid frogging), so instead I'm almost finished the second sock, will let him wear them once they're done, and in all likelihood, I'll start knitting another pair, slightly longer, for the wedding...

Oh, and btw, ended up knitting 2" with the Galway on Tues night, and knew toddler tender tootsies would NOT wear that sock, so frogged it, and wound the skein of purewool crudo into a ball. It is so very, very, very soft and lovely to knit with. I originally didn't want to use it for fear of the sock felting - but oh well, better he be willing to wear soft sockies, than complain about itchy feet...

I now have requests to make adult versions of these socks...I've been carrying them around with me - it's amazing how much knitting time one can find waiting in lines, sitting chatting with friends, sitting on a boat waiting for the fish to bite, etc

Wee kilty ordered

Well, lil k has a kilt ordered for him to wear at my brother's wedding! It's only a 12" long kilt it'll be sweet! Now he needs white knee socks. The lovely lady at Touch O' Tartan said we should not try to dress him like an adult with jacket, kilt shirt, kilt hose, etc...but...this gives me an excuse to start a new project!!!! Wee kilty hose!??

So yes, DH is away, I dove into the storage and fished around looking for all my plain wools, wondered about using the Galway Irish Wool, the 100purewool Crudo, or the Henry's Attic Kona Sock yarn that I haven't gotten around to dying yet....

I came out with two skeins (decided against the Kona). No, I'm not going to make mini kilt-hose - instead I'm just using my Galway irish wool in the toddler spiral tube sock pattern In plain wool, they'll look so perfect with his kilt!

Shhhhhhhhhhhh, I'm not supposed to start a new project...but then, that's what DH gets for going away to volleyball

Socknitters are the nicest, most creative people

I have these socks for lil K, love them, they're so soft, and were a gift at my baby shower. A friend made these (one of the first pairs of socks she had knit after taking a sock knitting class). But lil people get such little wear out of the beautful baby things made for them (case in point, the bunting bag I made for bringing baby home - at least it was too big for him when born, but he quickly outgrew it in his first month!!!)

Anyways, I was debating what to do with the socks when I was clearing out outgrown clothing. I didn't want to give them away, but didn't want them sitting inside a baby album (again, case in point, what the heck am I going to do with the shoes that *I* had as an infant, totally didn't fit lil K, that's for sure??)

I thought long and hard, and wondered about re-using the yarn in a spiral tube sock for toddlers so that they would get more wear, and still he'd have his handknit socks...so I posted to the group to get feedback before asking my friend (in case it would have been outrageously rude!!!)

Some thought it was a great idea, some thought it should be saved for my son's son, but someone came up with a wonderful idea that really works for us!!! Putting them on our Christmas Tree!!! Now considering the fact I'm singing Jingle Bells year round, I love the holiday season, nearly kill myself coming up with surprises and tokens of holiday spirit in unusual places, why didn't I think of this????

I must be getting old...

Did I ever tell you about the time I played Santa in our apartment building and left a stocking with goodies on everyone's door??? It was a small complex, so I didn't break the bank, but no-one ever figured it out (I got a gift too ). Hmmm, perhaps mini-socks with candycanes would be nice on my tree this year.....DRATS!!! I now have another new project....

Russian join

Oh I'm really beginning to like joining my balls of yarn this way!!! There's nothing that depresses me more than finishing a project, I'm all excited, and then I have to weave in the ends So from one of the many knitting lists I belong to, I decided to search out this method of joining, and wow, this makes my excitement in finishing a project all that much better 'cause as soon as I cast off - quick glance at the item and it can be worn/used immediately!!! I love it!

And for those of you in my little world who don't knit, this means anything that I knit for you that involves more than one ball of yarn can be yours as soon as the item comes off the needles!

Guild Newsletter

Got an article published on my knitting and how knitting is incorporated into the curriculum in a waldorf school...however, it was in the Victoria Knitter's Guild June 07 newsletter Unfortunately they aren't at a point of posting their newsletters on the website. I've had a number of people comment on how they liked the article...I was just more impressed in my research that my darling toddler will one day be able to say knitting socks for his momma is actually "Homework" .

http://www.victoria-daycare.com/VKGNewsJune07.pdf - we posted the newsletter to the daycare website for now.

Down at the Station

We've finally deciphered the "song" Keiran learned at daycare this last week - momma finally looked it up - we hear it constantly now...although it took awhile to figure out poppabelly was 'puffer-bellies' - Song is Down by the Station by the Four Preps - Keiran sings the last verse over and over and over and over again - followed by "I like that song"...


Down by the station early in the morning
See the little puffer-bellies all in a row
See the station master pull the little handle
Chug, chug, woo, woo, off they go

Breakfast at Keiran's

My little man is a huge breakfast fan...good news since I'm not, but because of him, I make breakfast for him and eat with him each morning :)
Cereal, toast, fruit, juice and then he still asks for more!!! Maybe it's because it's all over his face??
Was thinking perhaps we should knit 'dinner shirts' (aka bibs) for the daycare - we are knitting facecloths to wipe the children's faces/hands after snacks/lunch, perhaps the dinner shirts could be knit too??hmmmm, I think I have a project to create this weekend - need to replace the bibs at home anyways, he's been destroying the velcro tabs and I do not have a snap press to ooooh, maybe I can do that too...
Off to create :)

Eric the Octopus

Well, the octopus was a hit with the boy!!! He even took him to bed with him :) Keiran chose the colour out of my choices of spare yarn (100purewool in Aquisgran colour). We named the octopus "Eric" in memory of a rubber octopus that sat on hubby's old beater Volvo - eventually someone stole the rubber octopus, but his 'spirit' remained with the car (we figure Eric was the only reason the car still ran!)

Now I can work on finishing some other things - Keiran was very happy with the knitting fairies and didn't ask for anything else yesterday!


Eric is done without seams, with 8 i-cord tentacles knit into the body - I may have made it more difficult than necessary, but when a 2 yr old is playing with it, I didn't want to sew on the tentacles and risk having them pulled off. Believe me, knitting the tentacles into the body was like knitting with a porcupine in my lap (I knit socks with dpns, but having the extra dpn with the tentacles on it was cumbersome!).

Farm Animals

I'm playing catchup on my posting - been doing alot of reading/experimenting on knit toys for the daycare (www.victoria-daycare.com). One great book I've been working with is Toymaking with Children by Freya Jaffke - we made some wonderful knitted lambs for the daycare 'spring display', however as soon as the children saw them, they had to play with them. Even Keiran didn't want me to take them to the school so I made a set for him, along with a duck. Keiran now would like the 'Knitting Fairies" to make him an octopus - so I'm now creating a pattern and will post once I finish experimenting and obtaining the 'test results' (ie once Keiran critiques it!!)

Birthday weekend

Hubby & I both celebrated our b-days this weekend - although celebrate is not a good word to use for my mood!!! But finally managed to get myself some time to knit up a cute little make-believe crown for my little prince (who's turning 2 on Feb 7th!) Going to make more for the daycare as soon as I find some more 'royal' colours for the little princes and princesses...

gifts update

Finished felted purse, just need finishing touches and it goes in the mail :)

Happy New Year!

I attempted to write a summary of our 2006 (aka christmas card newsletter), but it was so full of 'new things' I just couldn't get it all down. Having a toddler learning new things really motivated me to learn new things too!

I got inspiration from SockKnitters about focussing on what were the top NEW things we did in 2006!

Momma:
1) Knitting: I started knitting socks; learned a whole bunch of new knitting techniques like twisted german cast-on, 2socks on 2 circulars; found some awesome yarns (although it's now become a new addiction for me), learned about different types of needles, and met some wonderful new friends online, at the knitting guild, and at the Knit-Out. As well I played in SockWars 2006 where I was assasinated by a lovely grey wooly pair of socks, but not before I sent my killing shot out with a green pair of superwash socks that I managed to knit in one weekend!

2) Daycares: I learned more than I probably wanted to learn about daycares, private schools, montessori, waldorf, etc. I became president of the daycare society, and am busily putting my MBA back to work to do a feasibility study on opening a second location as well as funding models for the current location.

3) Geocaching: I started another new 'hobby' called geocaching - well actually, that was Ralph's (coworker, friend, co-conspirator) fault, he kept talking about it and going out at lunch on these missions that I just had to tag along. I now have my own GPS unit and have found 17 'caches'. www.geocaching.com

4) Charities: I've been doing more charity and volunteer work - from donating items for auction, to donating my time, to running for the cure, to running Tupperware fundraisers. In fact, to help do fundraising for the daycare, I got myself a Tupperware account in order to eliminate the commission part of the fundraising and have all the proceeds go to the daycare!

Keiran:
Well, let's say the list is very long on new things this little guy did - walking, turning 1, starting at daycare, talking, running, visiting places like Butchart Gardens, Santa Claus, etc...

As for next year, it's anyone's guess, but doing new things will be a priority! I love this line borrowed from Linda Edgecombe "when was the last time you did something for the first time?"

So hope you have a wonderful 2007, with lots of 'new things' to see/learn/do, while still appreciating the old (like keeping in touch with me )

Lost my original posting so reposting so everyone has something to 'open' on Christmas from us!

Recap:

Julie & Darrin - Felted slippers

Lily - already shipped - ballet slippers + BB stuff

Sara - Lopi Sweater

Nelli - Scarf/Shawl

Susan - felted purse

Ben - Sony gift card

Unfortunately, I didn't stay awake long enough for me to grab Santa's help, but I LOVE the following poem!

Knitters Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me

There was unfinished knitting not under the tree,

The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care

'Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

But I had not finished the caps for their heads.

Dad was asleep---he was no help at all.

And the sweater for him was 6" too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I put down my needles to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash.

Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow

Reminded me how far I still had to go.

When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,

I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired--my brain a bit thick,

I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.

Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed

For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!

Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite!Move over!

Lopi, don't circle around, just stand there in line.

Pay attention you sheep and you'll work out just fine!

I know this is hard as it's just your first year

But I'd hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."

I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:

Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door

Santa's big boots stomping on the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.

As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his heat to his toe

And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.

A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.

And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace

A beautiful frame for his rosey red face.

The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,

And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.

And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:

"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.

So I asked, "Hey, Nick, did YOU knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.

I learned how to knit when I was just a kid."

He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,

And I laughed to myself, for I'd thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,

And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap

Where I had laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He began then to knit, first one cap then 2--

For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,

While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his needles they flew,

Good Grief! He was finished by two!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,

And over his shoulder he looked back at me.

I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,

"Next year, start your knitting sometime around JUNE!"

Dec 24th Drying Slippers

Felted slippers for Erika, Julie and Darrin (yes I had alot of red wool!) Since I only managed to wash/felt them yesterday, they are still drying!!! I'm hanging them up near the fireplace now!
 

Dec 24th works in progress

See our tree - no presents underneath, that's because Mama thought she'd knit them all - well I got myself into trouble for all the yarn buying I did this year, so when Daddy asked why I needed more wool/yarn, I kept saying "but it's for Christmas presents!!!" Unfortunately, that meant I had to knit up the stuff I bought since Daddy figured there was no shopping to have to do!
Sara's Lopi Sweater (which originally I started in 2002?)

Nellie's Clapotis Scarf/Shawl - not all the ladders have fallen yet. 

Dec 24th madness

Okay, I overextended myself - at the moment, knitting is no longer fun for me - I gave up on socks for my brother because I had to frog all the work I did yesterday when I tried the leg on this morning , then attempted 3 more times to restart and finally gave up. He's getting Tupperware instead!

And, as for all the projects for Ontario, well, they are in progress - being that the little guy and I were so sick throughout Nov/Dec, I didn't get in as much knitting time as expected - so as of last weekend I had to prioritize to the 'children'. Managed to whip up a pair of white ballet slippers (Knitty's Twinkletoes) for Lily on Sunday last week - then proceeded to work on Keiran's hat (which again is not finished).

So I'll be posting an email to the family with photos of their 'gifts to come'...guess once I finish them I'll start next year's gifts so I don't have this issue again!!! Although I figure since Sara knits, I'll give her a pattern and yarn next year and let her knit her own!!!!