I feel ashamed. It is so easy to be swayed by other projects these days. Especially now that it is hot and I’m generally cranky and tired. Most of my knitting time is also limited to knitting by the pool or during my commute in the car. Which, I’ve rationalized, is too hard for working on a large project by my brown ripple afghan. So it’s been easy to leave it alone.
But, the fact is that I have to get this done. Lots of people have contributed to it by knitting in stitches or rows. It even survived a major disaster. Now, the fact is that I just need to get it done. And I will. I’m just not sure when. But soon, ok? I’ll keep plugging away.
So I’ve never really done major baby knitting. A couple of blankets, but this is my first time attempting a sweater. I’ve never made a sweater of any kind, so I figured I’d better start small. I’m basing the method of construction for this sweater on the February Baby Sweater, except that my gauge is different, and my yarn is different, and, in the end, I don’t like the stitch pattern that was used. Well, ok, I do like the stitch pattern, but what if the baby is a boy? In that case, then not so much.
So I will use the concept of the sweater, in the use of the percentage system and the overall design. But I am still uncommitted as to which stitch pattern to use. Something that says, “Yeah, I’m a boy and I can still wear this sweater, even though it has pink in it,” but that would be ok for a girl, too.
I so wanted to kick off Summer of Socks 2008 in high fashion while knitting by the pool on Saturday evening. But alas, we were all tired, and I had trouble getting started. Earlier in this evening, I cast on for about the 10th time my first pair of real socks. I don’t know why I have such a hard time getting started, but I can’t seem to do the toes until I’ve started at least half a dozen times. So this is all I have to show. Whoop-dee-do.
I recently bought a Namaste Cali Malibu bag in Hollywood Pink. But I also found a mini sewing kit that nearly matched. I don’t really sew at all, but it’s good to have an extra tape measure, scissors, buttons and thread on hand. It matches the bag, and is SOOO cute. For that reason alone, I had to have it. Shallow? Don’t answer that!
Here are two views, one with the kit closed and one with it open.
I’ve been so tired all weekend after Friday’s Stitch n Pitch, that I haven’t had the energy to lift my fingers and type much, let alone blog. But I don’t want the scenes from my fabulous time to go unblogged any longer. So here I am. (Apologies in advance that this post contains LOTS of photos!)
The Washington Nationals were hosting the Texas Rangers, and the game went to 14 innings, with the Nats victorious! John and I had gotten up early for work that day though so I confess only surviving to the bottom of the 10th.
The first photo is me with my new friend Bonnie, who it seems of late I run into at just about every knitting event I go to. We sat next to each other at the Yarn Harlot’s visit to Annapolis and ran into each other again at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and Ravelry party. I should have guessed we’d be sitting next to each other for the Stitch n’ Pitch, since we were in the wheelchair seating area that was part of event seating.
The Ballpark is like Disneyland inside! Upon entering we were greeted with loud music provided by some DJ’s, and this HUGE restaurant right inside the gate.
There are tons of restaurants, a Build-a-Bear Workshop, a Play Station arcade, and a playground for the kiddos.
My hubby took a panoramic view of the ballpark from where we were sitting:
And the Capitol was sorta behind us.
Of course, there were LOTS of knitters!
And here’s a view of where I was sitting (I’m the blur in the aqua sweater at the top left.)
There was a touching tribute to Tim Russert at the beginning:
And here’s the pitch:
I made my DH hold the knitting so he could be in the blog, too… He’s not a knitter and he doesn’t love baseball, so all the silliness of the evening was somehow below his radar. But I think he had a good time.
One of the funniest things was the Racing Presidents, that would have Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Teddy Roosevelt rolling over in their graves. But truly, the race was one of the most entertaining moments.
This is Radhika, who I was thrilled to meet along with her good friend and her guide dog (who scored a hot dog from one of the workers, lucky dog!). She is a new knitter and went to the Stitch n’ Pitch table for lessons on increasing, decreasing, and intarsia.
The scoreboard is pretty at night:
And last but not least, the Washington Nationals’ unofficial mascot:
The Washington gnats! (those white streaks in the black photo are a teeny sampling of the literally thousands of buggies that looked like snowflakes in the night sky.)
It was a great night, and I can’t wait for next year. See you there, Bonnie! 🙂
*Mark with bold the things you have done, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest plain*
Afghan I-cord Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl Stockinette stitch Socks: top-down Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn Mittens: Cuff-up Mittens: Tip-down Hat Knitting with silk Moebius band knitting Participating in a KAL Sweater Drop stitch patterns Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn Domino knitting (=modular knitting) Twisted stitch patterns Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting Charity knitting CardiganToy/doll clothing Knitting with circular needles Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting Designing knitted garments Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran) Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book Scarf Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money Button holes Knitting with alpaca Fair Isle knitting Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Olympic knitting Knitting with someone elses handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns Holiday related knitting Teaching a male how to knit Bobbles
Knitting for a living Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously Fulling/felting Knitting with wool Textured knitting Kitchener BO Purses/bags
Knitting with beads Swatching Long Tail CO Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards Machine knitting Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn Stuffed toys Knitting with cashmere Darning
Jewelry Knitting with synthetic yarn Writing a pattern Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies Tubular CO
Freeform knitting Short rows Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Pillows Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug Knitting on a loom Thrummed knitting Knitting a gift Knitting for pets Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair Hair accessories Knitting in public
