Quick & Easy... ya, right!

The initial intention on this project was to do something quick and easy to cover the couch for the dogs. We had a crochet afghan on if for many years (ya, that's a very young Jake in the photo), but Gena kept catching her toes in the holes.

Solution? Let's throw together a quick scrappy quilt! From stash! No problem!

Let's just say that this project wasn't quite quick or easy. First, I had to order more fabric (there goes the "use stash"). I also have never done free motion quilting before (and very little quilting in general) and it was hard. Not just in technique, but in physical requirements.

However, the ending result is pretty much what I had intended. The quilting isn't going to win any blue ribbons, but the dogs don't care. It's bright, cheery, scrappy and machine washable.

Of course I could've just popped out to the store and bought a cheap washable cover. Ya, that's not how we roll in this house (why buy a cheap sweater when you can spend lots o' money on yarn then spend weeks knitting it? Looks like couch covers fall into the same category!)

There are a lot of things about quilting that I enjoy (mainly: fabric), but I am never going to be a super quality quilter. I don't have the patience for the precision, but isn't going to prevent me from doing more.

If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it badly. ― Bill James

Recent Activity

So while I take a mini-break from my knitting (it's not like I'm not knitting at all, I'm just not concentrating on any specific project) I've been working on a new couch cover.

We've been using a crochet afghan to cover the couch in our family room (it's much easier to throw an afghan in the washing machine to get rid of the dog hair/stink than the actual couch). However, Gena is having issues with her toes getting caught in the afghan. She's now around 11 years old, so we obviously don't want her hurting herself.

The solution? A quilted couch cover.

The problem? I'm not much of a quilter.

I've been sewing my whole life, but quilting wasn't ever something that clicked with me. There's a precision involved that doesn't really suit my personality. However, I love playing with the colors and fabric. I've done small Project Linus quilts and I even have a queen size top that's partially quilted (started 16 years ago). It's not like I didn't have some fabric...

Well, I did have to get a little more fabric to finish it. I just used some 2-1/2" strips to make an easily pieced scrappy quilt. The piecing went quickly and I am now doing the actual quilting.

This is my first attempt at free motion quilting... and while there are things that I love about it, I find it physically grueling. Doesn't help that my cheap (but effective) sewing machine doesn't have an auto needle down option (so anytime I stop the machine I have to either hit a button or turn the wheel. Let's just say that I forget... a lot).

I will say that by now I should be better at it (I'm better than halfway with the quilting), but I'm not. For this project, it's no big deal, as it's more important  for it be sturdy than anything. That's why I'm doing such tight stitching). This is really just a practical/practice project.

I do have the next quilt planned (of course), but I'm going to dig out one of my other sewing machines to see if they work a little better for this type of project.

Wanna see a sneak preview? Of course you do! We read blogs to look at photos!!!

Why, yes it's for Matt...

A Crisis of Faith

I have to admit while I have been knitting very consistently, nothing is getting done. I've been working on many many different projects without really focusing on any one in particular.

Today I decided I needed to do a little organization, put away some projects that I'm not working on and maybe abandon ones that aren't working.

I realized that I have a lot of projects that aren't working.

A depressing amount.

Almost every single one is for me.

Either there are sizing issues. Or fitting issues. Or I just don't like them. Or there is a huge mistake that needs to be fixed.

(and now we know why Matt gets more finished projects.)

I'm realistic enough to know part of the problem is that I don't really like the way anything fits me right now (it's not like I'm buying clothes either). I also wonder if I'm lazier with my own projects that I am with Matt's so I make fewer mistakes? I do know he's easier to fit. He also might be easier to please...


No matter how I look at it, I'm now in a knitting funk questioning why I have all these projects going (and it might be why I don't care if anything gets finished. Chances are I'm going to be disappointed anyway).

Ed note: this is why nothing has been blogged for a while... notice the lack of the Cables & Eyelet Cardi that was blocking in my last post? Ya, it has some serious shaping issues so it's not done.

Block!

The Eyelet & Cable Cardi is blocking. Finally. For some reason I struggled a bit finishing this up. I kept finding reasons to put it aside; there was some button issues... and since the buttonholes are knit during body construction, I wanted to have them for when I did the right front.

Ya, it was all the right front's fault. First it was the buttons. Then I got distracted by a new pattern booklet (we know that means swatching) then I finally got it done... and had to frog the right back down to the armhole.

I should be able to seam it up tomorrow and hoping to get this baby done and on!

Frog!

Confession: I am lazy. This means that I am a bare minimum type girl. I barely swatch. I always look for steps that I can remove to get things done faster and easier. Sometimes this does come back to haunt me.

I admit that I usually just frog my yarn into balls and just reknit it. For the most part, this isn't usually a big deal for me (the uneven reknit sections usually block out). However, it's sort weird knitting with the crinkled yarn. The knitting doesn't usually look very nice. Sometimes that reknit section doesn't block out properly.

So I finally bought a niddy noddy. I am currently frogging my Ultra Alpaca Rhinebeck (see how crinkly the yarn is?). Hopefully after a bath the yarn will be as nice as it was before I knit an almost entire sweater with it.

(Editor's Note: this yarn will be made into something other than Rhinebeck, as I have recast that on in a cotton/wool/silk blend yarn. Just need to decide what this beautiful Ultra Alpaca will become?)

Sublime MCN

These socks have been mostly done for a bit, but the ends needed to be woven in. So now they're done (and keeping my toes nice and cozy).

The yarn is to die (dye?) for! It's a merino/cashmere/yarn from Fearless Fibers. Sadly, no longer dyeing... good thing I have a nice stash of her yarn! However, this was the only MCN I purchased before Deb closed up her Etsy shop. Colorway is called Sublime, one of my faves (and really really hard to photograph).

The pattern is an other of my favorite. A great looking pattern stitch for with these rainbow dyed yarns. 

Project Stats:

Pattern: Charade by Sandra Park (no relation, btw)

Yarn: Merino Cashmere Nylon Sock Yarn by Fearless Fibers

Problems with the pattern: one of my favorite sock patterns (yes, the gauge listed on the pattern is "meh"). Easy and clear.

Changes to the pattern: I knit them as written (yes, I even did a heel flap. I usually do an afterthought heel, but the color repeats on this yarn is so short that the flap didn't throw the colors out of wack).

Overall impressions: a lovely combination of luxury yarn with a simple, yet interesting sock pattern. Not sure how they'll wear (the nylon might help balance the cashmere content), but my feet are feeling very pampered (and toasty) with these babies on.

I spent some time this morning ripping back a bunch of started socks. Part of the problem with me and socks? I don't have a good feel for needle/gauge. Just don't have enough experience with knitting socks that I can't just grab a set of needles, cast on some stitches and go. Even with patterns, there is such a wide variety of what knitters use (I've seen the same yarn used by different knitters where one used a size 0 and the other used a size 3. For the same pattern. Now I just need to figure out where I fall in the gauge scale). So I'll do the good ol' try and error system for the next pair.

Welcome to the Sock Side

I've always said that I am not a sock knitter. There are many reasons I don't like knitting socks, but one of the main reasons? I never wore them (it's like shawls. I actually like knitting shawls, but I do not have the panache to pull off the look).

Of course there are several other reasons I don't like knitting them: I don't particularly like knitting with double pointed needles (however, I've tried all the other sock knitting techniques and I like them even less). Plus, I have to knit two of the Exact Same Thing (like sleeves. Not a fan).

However, it always comes back to me not finding them comfortable to wear. Well, that used to be the issue. It's already been a cold winter and I've been living in my small stash of hand knit socks. I've worn a pair every day until I ran out.

To be honest, I do like having socks that fit. I have short and wide feet (I wear a size 5.5W shoe) and women's socks are way too large for me. Girls socks are too narrow, so I buy boys athletic socks. Knitting my own I can get the fit I want, especially for around the house socks. My wide feet do make hand knit socks and shoes an issue, as they are usually thicker than commercial socks, adding even more width to my already wide feet. They work fine with my house shoes however, and keep my feet nice and warm!

So I just washed all my hand knit socks and realized that I need more! So 2013 might be the year of hand knit socks.