Marie Grace Designs

Me too...

Yes, I am totally copying Elizabeth’s post today and showing you what is in my knitting bag. (They say imitation is the best form of flattery.)

See, I’ve mentioned before that I have issues with yarn and projects. Here’s the proof.

There’s a Gansey (kids sizes), a pieced raglan (girl’s and women’s sizes), a raglan with some Gansey-like detail (women’s sizes), a top-down winter raglan for the little kids (with a hat and maybe mittens), a few curiosity swatches and a renegade sock (for Mac Daddy).

Now, none of this is set in stone and I’ll leave it up to you to guess which is which. I have a really hard time imagining how something I plan will turn out so for me swatching is a start but isn’t enough. I’ve been known to get a project almost finished and rip out the entire thing because it just wasn’t what I wanted. On the same note I’ve also become completely addicted to some things that I thought would be all wrong.

The last thing I need are more vague ideas but I just can’t help it. I love to look through older knitting books. I got this armload at the library this week. I’m in love with the idea of updating some of the old classic styles but haven’t quite figured it out yet. All I know is Scandinavian knitting is way cool and there just aren’t enough Danish jerseys to go around.

So... what’s in your knitting bag?

BTW... rumor has it that the wool coat will be up at TGB any day now.

Holiday accomplishments...

- the turkey was yummy (and the leftovers have all been consumed).

- I made chocolate mousse and cookies (have all been consumed also).

- I ventured out on shopping-hell day to purchase a new tree at half price (not because I like to shop on that day but because there’s no way I’m paying full price for a fake tree).

I must admit, even though I think the whole Black Friday thing is a bit of hoopla, there is something quite liberating for me to be out and about in the wee dark hours of the morning while my entire family is at home sleeping. It’s a weird feeling.

While all the other people in line under the blaring lights looked all wide-eyed and were in a hurry to get somewhere I stood there thinking about how quiet and dark my house must be at that very moment. The kids all snuggled down in their blankets, their breathing slow and steady. The cats curled up on the end of someone’s bed. The dog snorting in his sleep. And Mac Daddy lying in bed alone wondering why he chose a woman who crawls out of bed at 5am to go buy a tree.

Anyway...

Later that day I spent some time like this:

It resulted in this:

It was absolutely blissful. The kids were occupied decorating the new tree (I tried to convince them to wait a week or two but I was outnumbered). I had the time to work out a few ideas I’ve had and finished a scarf (Noro...Noro...say it with me...Noro!)

BTW... that red cabled deal will certainly be available as a pattern at some point (along with a few other mysterious objects that I have tucked away here somewhere).

Is it just me...

or do I need a new camera? Because this sweater is seriously adorable and very red but I somehow managed to make it look like crap in every picture I took. Maybe its not the camera and I just need some lessons.

Anyway I was in the mood to do some cables. Something I could really sink my fingers into. I looooove the way heavily cabled yarn feels...very substantial... not flimsy...all thick and squishy.

So I went a little overboard but I am feeling very satisfied. It still needs washed and damp-blocked but I couldn’t wait to stand back and look at it.

Tater has had a cold and isn’t her sociable perky self so once she’s feeling better and the sweater is blocked we’ll do a photo-shoot. I think we’ll actually take pictures at our local library. I’ve always thought it would be a fun place to do photographs with the kids.

Other knitting...

Mac Daddy’s first sock is about 3 inches long. So far so good. Nothing exceptional and I haven’t felt any overwhelming urges to run out and buy more sock yarn.

I have a few thing in the works for the older kids again. The boys and I talked about some sporty ideas one of which is OTN and there’s a stock pile of wool for a second one. The Little Lady (who isn’t so little and has actually started scamming clothes out of my closet) has a few things in mind. The acrylic blend I blew a gasket over last week is for her and if all goes well will be a rather quick knit.

The things we do for love...

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not easy to live with. I’ve been known to drag home everything from stray critters to discarded furniture. I go from half-asleep to irate in a matter of seconds. I have no decorating sense and tend to talk before I think. Not to mention the yarn addiction.

So what can you say about the man that lives with me (on purpose)? Is he a saint? Exceptionally forgiving? Maybe he truly enjoys the roller-coaster ride that is our life.

All I know is he doesn’t ask for much and he doesn’t complain much. He’s been known to go to the yarn shop with me and honestly he’s just as touchy-feely with the yarn as I am. He’s always interested in what I’m working on, even though its rarely for him. He doesn’t complain about going to bed alone while I sit and chant just one more row, just one more row...

So when he mentioned the other day that there was this one thing he would really like... would really appreciate...how could I say no? Stuck between my love for him and all things yarn I was cornered. But did it have to be this? After all this time... of all the things he could have asked for... why did it have to be s-o-c-k-s?

You heard it right...I caved in and bought yarn to make s-o-c-k-s. For my man. Its all over but the cry’in.

Will I become addicted? Will I make it through both socks or will I get that crazed sock-knitter look and start collecting different balls of colorful stuff just to see what it looks like when its knitted in neat little rows? Will you ever again see pictures of anything here other than feet? I am afraid.

I know it will be worth it. He’s worth it. And if nothing else, while I’m up late at night all hot and bothered over the Camelina (that I ordered) and the cables (that I’m almost done with), at least Mac Daddy's feet will be warm.

Y is for yarn...

It just dawned on me the other day that there really are no babies in my house anymore and there never will be again. Tater is headed for the Big 3 (she was a turkey baby).

Last year when the older kids and I would do school work she was content to hang out and scribble on some paper or a coloring book. I’d let her watch some of those pre-school TV shows or pop in a movie.

This year she isn’t fooled by coloring books. She knows we are all doing something and she wants in on it. Of course, we all count and say ABCs with her. The older kids are more than happy to teach her goofy songs and let her help put puzzles together and laundry away.

I caved in and got her some of her own school stuff and she’s thrilled. I gotta admit I’ve been waiting for the chance to get the Handwriting Without Tears get-ready-for-school stuff. I’ve gone through the printing and cursive writing books with the other 3 kids but never really had a use for all the pre-school stuff.

In my opinion Handwriting Without Tears is the best thing going for the kids as far as number and letter recognition and writing skills. All of the pre-school stuff is geared toward getting the kids ready to write without stressing them out. The big wooden letter pieces make it possible for even very little kids to make letters all by themselves without needing to wait for those fine motor skills to catch up. Lots of extras like laminated letter cards and a song CD keep everything interesting. A workbook that begins with simple hand-eye coordination exercises and things like up/down, together/apart, above/below all using the wooden letter pieces.

The best part is it keeps Tater happy enough that I can sit at the table and supervise some letter building while I knit. Add a bag full of counting bears and you've got yourself an entire afternoon!

So there’s my fun-educational-stuff blurb for the week. Even if you don’t homeschool this stuff is great. Check it out here.

(Knitting) love is blind...

So, there’s been this sweater hanging in my LYS for a while now. Its one of those things I’ve looked at about a million times trying to decide if I like it or not. Something about it draws me to look one more time. I think its the stripes, which are something I’m not particularly fond of, that at the same time fascinate me. Maybe its the balance of purple and blue and green that are just right.

Its made with a rather bulky yarn, which again isn’t really my favorite. I like the idea of bulky yarn because something that will work up very quickly is enticing when you’ve been mired in never ending cables for a few days. But I always hesitate with the super bulky because I’m afraid I’ll end up with something that will wear me rather than the other way around.

Maybe it was the lazy Saturday afternoon that affected my judgement. Maybe it was the absolute fact that The Little Lady would love the colors and the bulky yarn. Maybe it was the temperature, which dropped low enough to cover the yard in a layer of frost and gave the fall leaves one great push.

Whatever it was turned out to be the needle that broke the knitters back because there I was stuffing 8 great balls of the stuff in my shopping bag. The deed done, I headed home to warm up and do some knitting.

I can’t explain myself. I’ve never been so irresponsible. My knitting karma is on the line here.....it all started last week when I bought yarn at the craft store. Then I realized I was so excited to finish the little wool coat that I put the buttons on the wrong front side....and now this. Here I sit.....with 8 great balls of colorful yarn.....colors that blinded me with knitting love....blinded me bad enough that I didn’t read the label....

its 28% wool....and the rest...the rest is...ac...acr.....ACRYLIC!

New knitting gadget

I’ve wanted one of these for a long time and finally gave in and ordered one. Why are wooly boards so hard to find? I had to order it from Camilla Valley in Canada! I’m glad I did, they were very friendly and it didn’t take long to get here.

If anybody has experience with one of these I’d love to hear some tips for getting the most out of it.

I guess now it needs a new sweater to block. Here’s some new swatches that are competing for the next project.

The bright blue has been a big hit with The Little Guy. It has little color flecks in it and I have a green that compliments it nicely.

Of course, the orange was suggested by The Big Guy and we have a really sporty idea for it...another one the teenagers will wear!

The gray twist sample (the one between the blue and orange) is something I’ve been thinking about ever since I finished Orange Twist. This time the twists will be the center of attention and intended for the girls.

The little yarn cake is A.L.P.A.C.A. (‘nuf said).

And my favorite, the red cables....who doesn’t love red cables?

Now all I need is a nanny, a tutor, a maid and a vacation.