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A Strange Occurrence

Posted on April 5, 2011 by auburnchick

Something strange has been happening in Chez AuburnChick.

Now, now.  Don’t you dare start in with, “That’s nothing new.”  This is something I already know.

However, I find it my purpose in life to tell you how much stranger my world is than the one in which you live.

Take, for instance, the latest occurrence.

Way back in December, after I put away my Christmas decorations, I noticed that some of my hand towels were missing.

I hunted through every single Christmas storage box and closet, but I simply could not find them.

I finally quit looking, figuring that I’d find them next year when I start decorating again.

Not too long after, I couldn’t locate some of the dishcloths and washcloths that I knit.

Now this, my friends, was not good.

I knit those babies during the last summer Olympics…

You can view more pictures in the posts I wrote here and  here.  Knitting with Sugar ‘n Cream is not easy on the hands, which magnifies the tragedy.

I queried Rooster, but he claimed he didn’t eat them or throw them away in a fit of knitophobia.

I finally quit looking.

I figured that something things are better left unknown.

And then, the final straw.

This morning, when I changed my mind about what I was going to wear to work, I realized that I could not find one of my favorite pair of pants…light brown Hollister pants that fit me to a “T.”

You guys…it’s not easy being petite…finding pants that fit in the length and the waist.

I am not very big, you see.

And yet, I could not find these pants.

Oh.

My.

Word.

Something is happening in Chez AuburnChick.

Things are beginning to disappear, and I am beside myself.

I don’t have time to be looking for stuff.

I have lesson plans to write, books on diversity to read, and…um…oh yeah…classes to teach.

Before too long, I’m going to be nekked (that’s Redneck for “naked”) and dirty (no washcloths), and I’ll have a sinkful of dirty dishes, and that is simply not going to do.

Whatever should I do?

Do I have a Hollister-loving, knit washcloth-loving thief in my home?

Sigh.

If only I could knit some fancy thief trap to catch the perpetrator in the act.

But alas, I don’t have time.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Filed under: Knitting, This-n-That | Tagged: | 4 Comments »

A New Hat for AuburnChick

Posted on December 23, 2010 by auburnchick

As you might be aware, I have a small passion for a little hobby…knitting.

I’ve also had this little thing called a j-o-b that has kept me mostly away from my beloved knitting needles.

Mostly, but not completely…

I present to you my latest project…

The Brattleboro Hat…

This pattern was published in the book New England Knits.  It was also published in the Fall 2010 issue of Interweave Knits.

I fell in love with the hat the moment I saw it in the magazine, and it is the primary reason why I bought the issue.

I have a little secret to tell you.

This is the second one I knit.

I finished the first one the weekend of Thanksgiving.  I made Chicky try it on because her hair was straight and this hat definitely looks better on smoothed-out hair.

As soon as Chicky put it on, she told me, “Mama, if you ever want to make me one, I’ll take it.”

If your child had never asked you to make her anything hand-knit…had, in fact, scoffed at most of the things you’d made, what would you do?

Yeah.

I thought so.

I gave it to her, same as you would have.

I can’t publish the pictures I took of her.  Let’s just say that it looked tres cool on her.

Which led me to my quest to make another one.

Thankfully I have a decent yarn stash.  A quick hunt turned up another skein of the lovely Malabrigo in the same colorway – Bijou Blue (Malabrigo feels like what clouds in heaven must feel like, if you’re not a yarnie).

I started knitting, but work got in the way.

I finally finished up a few days ago and had a photography session yesterday morning (yay for tripods and self-timers!)…

Now, let me tell you about the decreases.

They

Were

Not

Fun.

Oh no, not one little bit.  The first hat sat, unfinished, for weeks simply because I could not figure out what to do!  I’ve been knitting for several years, but the instructions did not mesh with the pattern.

So I finally emailed the designer after receiving no help on Ravelry.

The designer finally got back with me.  She tried to help, but her answers were vague, and she never really did answer my questions.

I did take one thing she said and gave it another go.  I knit a few rounds, figured out my mistakes, took notes, tinked back, and reknit.

Voila!  The decreases worked perfectly with the pattern!

Here’s what I did, in case you’re a knitter and have been struggling with this part of the pattern:

Round 17: Decrease per instructions, but do a knit stitch after the first decrease (to keep with the pattern as established)

Round 18: Begin the round with a PURL stitch. Then, work the moss pattern (next stitch is a knit, etc…).

Round 19: Decrease, knit one, then follow the instructions for the decrease rounds.

I found that I usually had to do a knit stitch after the decrease to keep the moss pattern going.

Round 20: Do exactly as Round 18.

The odd rounds are exactly the same each time. So are the even rounds.

Trust me. This works exactly as I’ve written. I totally ignored the moss stitch instructions in the pattern during my decreases except to make sure that I had two rounds that resembled each other (two stacked knit stitches and two stacked purl stitches, etc.) and then reverse.

Here’s a picture of Chicky wearing the hat.  You can see the decreases really well…

Ok…so let’s talk needle size.

For the first hat, I used size 8 (5 mm).  The hat seemed a little large, but Chicky liked the hat as it was.

For the second hat, I went down one needle size to a 7 (4.50 mm), and what a difference!  The hat is a much snugger fit, and it still covers my ears…

The side has the cutest faux button band…

I chose simple, “earthy” buttons so they wouldn’t compete with the yarn…

The entire project (one hat) required only 65 grams of yarn.  I think I might have enough leftovers between both skeins to make a matching pair of fingerless gloves!

But, they will have to wait.  I have a busy few months ahead of me.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »

A Cookie Delivery

Posted on November 22, 2010 by auburnchick

The mailman nearly got tackled today when he brought me this…

Who was the package from?

Here’s a hint…

I gingerly opened the package.

Oh, who am I kidding?

I tore into it like a ravenous wolf, where I found this inside…

Uh huh…can you see what’s peeking through the wrapping?

In case you’re wondering, that’s more wrapping that is protecting the much-awaited and much-longed-for package.

Here it is in all of its glory…

Yep.  It’s Cookie A’s newest book…the one that I had the honor of test knitting for!!!!

Now, I was already walking on cloud nine, but when I opened the cover, I found this…

She even spelled my name right!!!

And her message…well, it is simply perfect!  My love for socks and sock knitting is always growing, even though I don’t have any time to do any of it right now (although I am wearing my precious knit socks now that the weather has turned cold).

One other neat thing (besides the patterns in the book) is that Cookie has an entire spread giving credit to the test knitters (that’s me, in case I haven’t mentioned it).  So, my name is now in one of HER books!

This ranks up there with one of the neatest things I’ve been able to do in my life (after giving birth to my precious babies, of course).

Although I’ve only had time to casually thumb through the book, I can tell that when I do, I am going to have a very difficult time settling on a pattern to make.  Every single one of them is simply divine…a work of art in itself.

I cannot wait for the summer to get here.  I am going to be doing some serious Cookie sock knitting.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

Secret Project Revealed

Posted on October 25, 2010 by auburnchick

Oh my goodness, but I have been sitting on a secret for several months and can FINALLY tell you about it!

It all started early last summer when I responded to an email requesting test knitters.

I eagerly responded and crossed my fingers.

Much to my surprise, I was selected, and the instructions and pattern followed shortly afterward.

What resulted was this…

So, I’ll bet you want to know more information, right?

Ok.  Hold onto your horses.

The test knit…

Was for…

Cookie A!!!!!!

Can you believe it?

Her new book, Knit. Sock. Love., is now available for pre-ordering (she has cleared me to finally post pictures and other info)!!  It has a whopping nineteen (19) patterns and comes out on November 20th.

Now you KNOW how much I love Cookie A. and her patterns.  To have the opportunity to test knit a pattern for her was, quite honestly, the experience of a lifetime.

I was assigned In and Out, and the pictures above were taken of the right sock that I was asked to knit.

I used Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock.  The colorway is Periwinkle.  I used size 0 needles, and the entire pair took me just over two weeks to finish…

If you’ve never been a test-knitter before, I highly encourage you to give it a try.  It was really interesting to work with other knitters and the designer (Cookie A.) as we worked out some kinks and fine-tuned the language.

This pattern was surprisingly easy, but then again, I love intricate designs…

You want to know what else is so cool about this experience?  Well, there are actually two things.

First, I get $10 off of her new book.

More importantly, my copy will be AUTOGRAPHED by her!!!  I hope she says something like, “To my sweetest, most faithful fan.  Love, Cookie A.”

heehee

I hope you’ll indulge me while I post a few (ahem) more pictures…

I should probably get my rear in gear and make lesson plans to take me through Christmas.  I want to have time to knit up the other patterns in her book!

BTW, if Cookie just happens to read this, I promise you (Cookie) that I am not a stalker.  I am simply one who appreciates brilliant pattern writing.

And don’t go asking the Yarn Harlot if I’m a stalker…just because I already have plans for her youngest daughter to marry my Rooster.

But, that’s another tale for another day…

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

Star-Crossed Lovers

Posted on October 7, 2010 by auburnchick

My Dearest Knitting Needles and Yarn,

The first time I saw you, it was love-at-first-sight.  We did everything together.  We laughed, we cried, and we even fought.

You were with me through thick and thin.

You allowed yourself to be humiliated while you went through airport scanners.  You even covered for me by lying low, under the seats of my car, until I could sneak you into the house without being seen.

And how have I repaid you?

I’ve ignored you…for another love…my students.

Oh, the shame of it.

I pass by you many times a day, and I see you longing for me.

What you might not see, as I make frenetic runs past you, is the desire in my eyes.

Oh yes.

You still make my heart go thumpity-thump.

You and I – we make beautiful music together.

It is not a fact lost on me, despite the fact that I can’t remember which end is up half the time.

I can only ask for your forgiveness and pray that we make the most of the fleeting moments we have together.

It will only be a short time before we can take a much-needed vacation together.  Please know that I long for the day when we can retire and grow old together, spending long days simply enjoying each other’s company.

Until then, we will have to remain star-crossed lovers.

In honor of our relationship, I dedicate the following song to you…

Strangers in the night exchanging glances
Wond’ring in the night what were the chances
We’d be sharing love before the night was through

Something in your eyes was so inviting
Something in you smile was so exciting
Something in my heart told me I must have you

Strangers in the night
Two lonely people, we were strangers in the night
Up to the moment when we said our first hello little did we know
Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away

and

Ever since that night we’ve been together
Lovers at first sight, in love forever
It turned out so right for strangers in the night

Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away

Ever since that night we’ve been together
Lovers at first sight, in love forever
It turned out so right for strangers in the night

With fondest love,

AuburnChick

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »

Traveling Woman

Posted on September 14, 2010 by auburnchick

As you know, my knitting has suffered.

I’m not complaining…much…mind you.  I am extremely thankful to have a job after searching for so long.

A couple of months ago, my friend, Rabbitrescuer, mentioned that she would be casting on for her 1,000th project (I exaggerate by two).  She asked if I would be interested in joining her and our mutual friend, Rae.

After taking a look at the pattern, I jumped on board.

I had the perfect yarn…

I believe I purchased that lovely skein of Ella Rae Lace Merino, color #103, at a yarn store in South Florida during a soccer trip two Springs ago.

I was eager to begin, and so on July 14, I cast on the Traveling Woman Shawl.  You can find the free pattern here.  I used size 6 needles.

Let me tell you…getting to the end was not all that easy.

First, there was the issue of time, which I’ve already mentioned.

I did manage to grab a few free hours during the trip to take Chicky to college.  I got in a few more when I went to her game a couple of weeks ago.  Hence, I think the name, “Traveling Woman” is quite fitting.

Second, there was the issue of the yarn.

After completing four repeats of Chart A, I started to realize that I just might run out.

I was in angst over the situation, but I didn’t put in a lifeline (why would I ever do a smart thing like this) and pushed on.  I had, after all, done my research.  I had read about others who had discovered they could have eked out another pattern repeat, and I didn’t want to let my yarn go to waste.  This stuff is not cheap!

And so I knit…

And held my breath…

And knit some more…

Before the awful truth finally slapped me in the face…

With two rows and the bind off left, I had come to the end of the line…

This is every knitter’s fear.  In fact, I think I am not the only person who’s had nightmares about just such an event happening.

One thing I knew for sure.  I was not about to tink back 19 rows.

Not when you’re talking about lace knitting.

No way, no how.

I don’t think even the Yarn Harlot would do this.

She would figure something out.

And that’s what I did.

I went online and scoured Ravelry, hunting for others who had this yarn, in this colorway, and had knit with it.

I sent out several SOS emails begging for scraps.

Less than 24 hours later, I had several responses.  A couple of gals turned their houses upside down in search of their leftover yarn.  One knitter found her’s and offered to send it the next day.

If I could bestow blessings, I would totally shower this kind soul with at least a hundred or so.

And so the stalking began.

I felt a little sorry for the mailman.  He didn’t know what or who was lying in wait for him.

But he was sneaky.  When I was out running errands, my package “magically” arrived…

Looks like she sent me her gauge swatch plus a little extra.

Woo Hoo!

After unraveling the yarn and removing the beads, I discovered that I had 15 grams of yarn.

Would it be enough?

I held my breath as I resumed my knitting.

Lo and behold, I finished, with about five grams left.

Talk about cutting it close!

I eagerly blocked my shawl…

Today, I could hardly wait to get home from work.

It was time to have a photography session!

Rooster retired after taking only four pictures.

I wasn’t satisfied, so I set up the tripod and took a bunch more…

One thing I like about having a larger shawl is the versatility.  I actually watched the following video to get some ideas…

And so I played…and took a few more pictures…

I wanted you to get the full effect of just how pretty the pattern is…

Do I like my shawl?

You betcha!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »

Skewed Socks

Posted on June 29, 2010 by auburnchick

Oh man, but I am LOVING the summer break (although my bank account is crying foul).  I’ve had so much time to knit!!

My newest project is called Skew. The pattern is free, and you can find it here.  A shout-out to Susan, who found the pattern for me and thought it would be a perfect marriage with the yarn.  She’s a good matchmaker, eh?

The socks look simple enough…stockinette stitch; however, this pattern called for a bit of a unique construction.

This construction, along with the endless increases and decreases, lends to the tilted affect. It also made for interesting heels…

I really love the lines that are created by the increases/decreases…

The yarn is Cascade Heritage Paints, and the colorway is #9906. It’s the last of what I bought myself for my birthday in March. It was WONDERFUL to knit with…no splitting or anything! It was perfect for this pattern.

I knit this pattern on size 1 (2.5mm) needles, but I changed to 0’s (2.00mm) for the ribbed cuff. It took me slightly over a week, so it is a fast knit.

Here are more pictures that I took…

What’s my next project?

Well, I can’t tell you.  It’s a super-duper-secret project!  Hopefully, I’ll be able to share it soon!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 7 Comments »

Small Projects

Posted on June 23, 2010 by auburnchick

Last week, I finished knitting a couple of small projects…wash cloths!!

The blue/green one is the Ballband Dishcloth.  I used size four needles to work up my Lily Sugar ‘n Cream in Cornflower and Hot Green.

Yeah, I know.  I know what the name says, but I am going to use it as a wash cloth because that’s what I need more of!

While I was entering my project into my projects database on Ravelry, I saw another pattern…the Mitered Ballband Dishcloth, a free pattern offered here, through Ravelry.  Of course, I had to knit this version too!

It’s a great take on the original version!  For this cloth, I used Hot Orange and Hot Green.

Both cloths were super-quick, itsy bitsy projects that bought me time to hunt for my next project (which is already on the needles and 1/4 finished).

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

Kai-Mei Socks

Posted on June 16, 2010 by auburnchick

If I were Catholic, I might find myself needing to go to confession:

“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned (against my blog).  It’s been three days since my last post, but I had a very good reason.  You see, I was working on a new pair of socks…”

These are called Kai-Mei, and the pattern is from Cookie A’s book, Sock Innovation.

The yarn was a gift from a dear online friend, Susan.  It’s called Socks that Rock, and the color is Jade.

She sent me the yarn for my birthday, and when I saw the label, I was psyched!  I’ve always seen patterns that used this yarn, so to actually get to knit with it…ahhhhh…sweet happiness!

Susan asked if I would be interested in knitting a Cookie A pattern together, and I happily jumped at the chance.  Susan is a wonderful sock knitter, so I thought it would fun.  I figured if we had any problems, we could bounce ideas off of each other.

I began this project on June 8th, and finished around 12:30am on June 16th.  Yeah, I know, but once I got going, I couldn’t seem to stop!  But see, the second sock was the fastest one I’ve ever knit…finished in just two days!!!!

I had to play around with the needle sizes a bit.  I originally started out with 2.5mm, but I freaked a little after trying on the sock after only eight rounds.  It looked way too large.  So, I frogged and started over on size 0 (2.00mm) needles.  I think this was perfect because my knitting is very loose.

So, let’s talk about the pattern.  Cookie’s patterns can seem intimidating, if you’re only looking at the finished product and not reading the pattern line-by-line.  This was a pretty easy one.  It’s true that the panel of lace stitches runs down the side of each foot, but once I understood this construction, I literally flew through those rounds.

Pattern Notes:  I completed 60 rounds of the leg, 20 rounds of the heel flap, and picked up 12 stitches on each side of the heel.  I finished by knitting seven rounds of the lace panel.  I used 115 grams of yarn.

The finished pair is very warm, thanks to a deceptive thick yarn.  These are going to join the other pairs of hand knit socks…perfect for cold winter days.

A shout-out goes to Chicky who endured flying, biting bugs in 90+ heat and humidity with a minimal amount of complaining to take these photos.  She did a great job!

Oh, and Susan, I can’t wait to see your finished pair!!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , | 6 Comments »

Casting On

Posted on June 11, 2010 by auburnchick

I came across a devotion this morning.

It is titled Casting Your Cares, and you can read it here.

The message is about giving God your worries…casting them upon Him.

As a knitter, the phrase “cast on” struck me.

This is what we knitters do when we begin projects.  We “cast on” the stitches – placing the yarn upon the needles.  These stitches are what we use to create our fibery works of art.  The needles are the tools that we use to make the patterns interesting.  Our hands are what ultimately hold those needles, controlling whether we’re knitting a knit or purl stitch, or even doing a yarn over.

I looked up the word cast, and it literally means to throw.

The Bible commands us to throw our concerns to God.

Boy, do I need to do this…daily.  I need to put my worries squarely on God’s shoulders (what I might consider the needles) and trust that in His hands, those stitches – the good and the bad (as knitters, we’re known to mess up) the pattern WILL be perfect and beautiful in the end.

Filed under: Christian, Knitting | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

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