Unintentional Failure

o·ver·sight [oh-ver-sahyt] – noun

1. An unintentional failure to notice or do something.

That pretty much sums up this project. I just finished blocking a Christmas stocking for my mother in law, and I was feeling pretty smug that I was almost done with it. But, I really should have given more thought to the whole "knit stocking" thing. Given how popular knit stockings are, it never once occurred to me that knitting is stretchy.

I just tested it out by filling it with her stocking stuffers, and it sagged. A LOT. All of the gifts slid into the foot of the stocking and bulged out every which way. Surprise!

Why I didn't think of this before, I'll never know. It really needs a lining, something I didn't anticipate in my timeline. Between travel and holiday commitments, I'm not sure if it's going to get done in time to celebrate Christmas Eve. Oops.

Estate Sale Bounty

One early Saturday morning in November, I got a call from my mom asking if I wanted her to purchase a bunch of knitting supplies she had just found at an estate sale. There were some of those "joined needles," a case of "regular needles," and a bunch of pattern booklets all for $20.00.

I was half-asleep at the time, but, of course, I said "sure!" I'm sure glad I didn't pass it up because I found a few interesting treasures.

One of my favorite things is a handwritten pattern for a "Man's Knit Shoe" that I found tucked down in the needle case. It really excited me because I have dozens of similar slips of paper with sock and hat patterns on them. Anyone have any idea what kind of slipper this is?

My other favorite thing is this groovy crocheted dress pattern. I'm sort of afraid I'm going to "have to" make it at some point.

Though, I think I'll have to pass on the Tiger-Tiger sweater.

I'm not dead, really!

Sorry for the prolonged silence around here. There's a really good reason for it: I didn't knit a stitch for months. I just fell into a uninspired funk and stopped knitting. Seriously, I didn't even buy any yarn! It was that bad, folks. But, the weather started to change, and well, I've got a little blog fodder again...

Over the Thanksgiving break, I started a Skinny Empire t-shirt from the incredibly awesome Custom Knits. It's not seasonally appropriate in any way, but I'm pretty excited about it.

I recently set it down, however, when I heard that a family friend had her baby boy. Since they didn't find out the gender, I've been waiting and waiting to knit something for this baby. I received word that the baby was born on a Tuesday morning and by the afternoon I was casting on for a Baby Sophisticate sweater:

I've got a few more projects on the needles, so I promise it won't be three more months before my next post. Really.

DIY Stitch Markers

I've been coveting a set of pretty beaded stitch markers for at least a year now, and last weekend I finally decided to do something about it. Being a do-it-yourself-er (and exceedingly cheap), I consulted some rudimentary instructions I found via Google, picked up some beads on sale at Michael's, and fashioned a handful of my own stitch markers.

Despite not knowing the first thing about beading, I think they turned out alright. I especially love the gray opalescent ones. (How pretty will those be on a lace project?) I haven't had a chance to test them out to see if they snag and hold up to use, but I can't see any major problems looming.

Plus, for a less than $20, I ended up with a ton of them, easily enough for a couple of sweaters or a big project. I'm tempted to cast on another project just to try them out.

Back at It

So, I've holding out on ya'll. I've been over my knitting funk for about a week now, and I've started plugging away on Swish Steeples again.

While it's not a very popular pattern on Ravelry, the pattern is very well written, and it's been smooth sailing so far. I've always knit raglan sweaters, and this marks my first bottom-up sweater. I'm a little anxious to see how the sleeves will fit into the armhole shaping, but so far it's going very well.

I only wish that I'd picked a more subtle color as it's a little--okay, very!--loud. I always get a little carried away when picking out yarn for a new project.

Sale Yarn

Today is one of my favorite days of the summer: downtown Lawrence's sidewalk sale. For the first time ever, I made it downtown first thing in the morning and was at the Yarn Barn shortly after they opened. (Nice to see you Dee Anna!)

I tried to remain sensible in the face of so much discounted yarn, and I only ended up with three cones of Harrisville Shetland, which seems to be popular among the Knit Lawrence crew. While it's meant for weaving, I've heard that it blooms up nicely after washing, and I think it will make a sturdy, woolly sweater.

I'm planning on using it to make an Elizabeth Zimmerman inspired fair isle yoke cardigan. Right now, I'm envisioning blue snowflakes or flowers around the yoke and contrasting button bands. But, that's very likely to change by the time I actually get around to knitting it up.

I probably went a bit overboard quantity-wise. I brought home a pound and a half of the stuff, which works out to about 1350 yards. At least I don't have to worry about running out!

Knitting Funk

For the first time in years, I just don't feel like knitting. I don't know if it's the heat or the fact that I'm in a terrible knitting rut (another turquoise sweater anyone?), but I just don't feel like picking up my knitting needles these days.

Despite the lack of knitting, I have been busy crafting up a storm. A couple of weeks ago I was bitten by the origami bug and suddenly had the crazy urge to make a lot of paper cranes. I ended up stringing dozens and dozens of paper cranes into a giant mobile.

Besides lending some whimsy to our apartment, the cats find it highly entertaining.

I've also been busy making dozens and dozens of tissue paper flowers and luminarias over the past few weeks. My grandmother's 85th birthday party is late next month, and we're planning on decorating my parents' home with copious amounts of these in one of my grandma's favorite colors: pink. They're cheap, cheerful, and perhaps most importantly, easy to make.

I've actually lost count of how many of these I've folded now, and I've still got a good deal of tissue paper to use up. Since the party is back in Texas, I'm planning on shipping them folded up and fluffing them out once I arrive. I've got my fingers crossed that this plan will work out alright.

I've also been doing a lot of sewing this summer, mostly to prepare for the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. After attending various Renaissance festivals for most of my life, this is the year that I'm finally embracing ye olde inner nerd and dressing in costume. While not it's not historically accurate, I'm making Simplicity 3809. I'm actually planning on combining both costumes, making the skirt and bodice on the left and the short-sleeved blouse/chemise on the right.

So far, I've got the skirt and the blouse completed and plan to start piecing the bodice together later this week. Not surprisingly, H. isn't entirely on board with dressing up (yet!), so I'm not sure what I'm sewing for him, if anything.