Red

Today is the end of March and, as such, the end of red and pink month for Project Spectrum. In the past few days, many other Project Spectrum participants paused to reflect on red and pink. It seemed like a good idea – especially since, in my earlier list I left off my most favorite red of all. Stinkerbelle!

'Nuff said! Have a great weekend!

Knitting for Tweens

Aubergine and the Jet Pontoons are moving right along but there’s really no bloggable changes to report. I also don’t have any really great kid stories to relate. What can I say – it was a very boring hump day. The weather was gorgeous. It was so beautiful in fact that I ate lunch outside while I worked on the sock. That still doesn’t really qualify as bloggable news.

What about if I said that it’s been over a week since I bought any yarn? Now that would be bloggable news wouldn’t it? It’s true! I haven’t even bought any needles, notions etc in over a week. I am trying really hard to exercise a little restraint. Have I suddenly become a responsible adult? No. I’m plotting my next (not so secret) move. Yesterday Bruce noticed my countdown to Maryland Sheep & Wool that I tucked in at the bottom of the blog. He was frightened! I, on the other hand, find the counter motivating - it’s only 5 weeks away and I must save up.

I’m also pondering two projects that are not socks. I really want to cast on for Seraphim but I’ve got an idea in my head about the yarn I want to use and, sadly, it doesn’t actually exist. I’m working on that though. I have a plan.

I also saw this in the new VK and I knew immediately that it would be perfect for Lindsey. (sorry about the photo quality)

I find that it’s so hard to find patterns for tweens that are both interesting to knit and age appropriate. There are frilly, yucky, cutesy things. There are boring things. There are things that are nice but inappropriate for school and camp and life in general.

This sweater appeals to both me and her (we agree!). The details are nice (although I question the flower thingy’s) and the construction of the lace piece and how it fits in to the sweater looks like fun. There is just enough challenge to keep it interesting and yet not so much that she’ll grow out of it before I finish. Hooray! I just need to find the right yarn and then I can dive in. I’m thinking of a lavender body with 2 shades of green for the trim. What do you think?

Pontoon Covers

I can’t believe that I resisted sock knitting until this past January. It’s addictive and really satisfying in its own way. I’m currently working on Jet socks for Bruce which really look more like pontoon covers. They’re enormous! Every now and again I look down at them as I knit and I feel certain that they must be way too big. Thankfully I’m knitting these toe-up - so I can slip them on his feet at regular intervals just to convince myself that they really are the right size.

This is what they look like so far. (See the quarter placed as a reference. At this point these barely cover the ball of his foot.)

After finishing the toe, I looked at a bunch of neat patterns for the insole and leg and even considered plain stockinette before settling on the Lace Rib pattern in Sensational Knitted Socks. He really wanted Jaywalkers and I thought about doing a chevron pattern to achieve something similar but I was afraid that they wouldn’t have much give. This pattern is easy to remember which makes it perfect for on the go knitting and the rib makes the sock pleasingly stretchy. I also think it works well with deep, rich colors in the yarn. Very manly! Don’t you think so?