Overconfidence in knitting speed makes mommies stupid

My 3-year old loves anglerfish. That was my main motivation in buying Hansi Singh’s Amigurmi: the anglerfish pattern.
I went through my stash and chose colours that would work together and please the 3-year old dictator, and then started up. I literally had cast on 8 stitches when Sacha looked at me and said: “Is it done yet?”
So by day 2, I had the body done and it was stuffed. Sacha really wanted me to finish it, but alas, I have to take care of my other child, 2-year old Kees. So I promised him that as soon as Kees went to bed, I would start working on his anglerfish and finish it, then put it in his bed so that he would see it first thing when he awoke in the morning.
By 12:30 am, after 4 hours of knitting damn fins and such, the anglerfish still had no teeth or eyes, but I was so tired that I said screw it. I put it in Sacha’s bed as it was. I went to bed and hoping to regain feeling in my arms by morning.
At 5:00 am, I heard him call out: “Mommy! Mommy!”

I stumbled to his room, tired, but excited, thinking he was going to thank me. All he said was: “Mommy, you forgot to put on his teeth!” I rolled into his bed and went back to sleep.  Two minutes later, he told me to go back to my bed. BAH!

I drank about 5 coffees when I woke up and finished the eyes and teeth by 9:00 am that morning.
The Anglerfish

Sacha christened him Spike.

Not just in the deeo blue sea anymore

Just wondering

Is it sad that I just spent, oh, an hour and a half looking up logo and button making freeware so that I can make cool labels for my knitted items RATHER than actually kntting the baby hat I am supposed to finish and block and wash (and let dry) in time for a baby shower on Sunday?

No?  Good.  Just checking.

NcKnits

Image by Cool Text

The Pelle-Hydraulique Sweater

This was Sacha’s birthday present.  He knew I was knitting this sweater for him, but due to some yarn shortages, I had to put it on the back-burner for the last month leading up to his birthday, so he managed to forget about it until he opened it. The pattern is from Handknits for Kids, knit in KnitPicks Swish DK yarn (merino).

I feared that after all this work, he would only wear it once.  So I made sure to get his 3-year old photos taken wearing the sweater.

Sacha 3 year photo

Knit Happens

It is finished.

After 4 months of work, which began basically when I found out that I was pregnant, I have completed my first sweater!

So you may all be wondering, why does Sacha have an H on his sweater? What’s his middle name? What is the Mustard’s real last name? Well, I am sorry to tell you that the answer to the H lies in none of those questions. Sacha wears an H as homage to Harry Potter.

I bought this knitting book in the summer, determined to learn how to make a sweater and that Sacha could wear it this winter. It was going really well until I started getting sick from the pregnancy. I then put down my needles and didn’t touch then until late October. I had almost completed the sweater when I decided to try it on him: the damn thing wouldn’t fit over his head. Aw crap. I think it was partially from the pattern, partially from my binding-off too tight. So I had to take apart the collar and make it larger than the pattern asked, then I was able to sew the piece together and voilà!

Knit Happens

Pretty cute, if I do toot my own horn. And I have been known to toot on occasion…

The most posh socks you can find

I finished my first pair of REAL socks. Admire their beauty!

My feet are in heaven

Look at the fine detail on the baby cables! You’re drooling, I know you are.

Look at those baby cables!

Now, before you all start e-mailing me requesting your own pair, I feel I must explain their tremendous value.

Yarn: Socks That Rock 100% superwash merino in Metamorphic colourway, $25.99
Time and labour: 20 hours (approximately) at $30/hr, based on how much money I could be making if I was teaching piano instead of knitting.
Total time and labour = $600

Grand Total for one pair of custom made socks = $625.99

It’s a total bargain! Don’t wait another second to order YOUR custom made foot nirvana!

Marley Hat, The Conclusion

Despite having NO time for myself yesterday, I somehow had the urge to knit last night and finally finished the top part of the Marley hat. Here, Sacha is sporting it while he watches Miffy and Friends (Miffy! A sweet little bunny. Miffy! A smart little bunny…)

Marley hat


I think this is one of my favourites. It will be going to one very lucky Baby Boy Marc when I meet him in a couple of weeks.
I would very much like to knit for a girl, sometime. Every baby that has been born in my family or circle of friends lately is of the male persuasion. Seriously, can I NOT just use some pink??

Marley, dude

Here is my latest yarn creation.  Well, in progress.  I have yet to make the “Marley toppers” as they are called in the pattern.  A sort of pompom, if you will, made to look like a Bob Marley hat.  Don’t you just hate weaving in ends?!

ends.jpg  marley-hat.jpg