Insert Theme Song Here

 I have been watching old seasons of the Great British Bake Off because this is 2020 and the warm, comfy, fuzzy feels that Mary Berry and Mel and Sue provides is just about perfect.  I am on Collection 2 as Netflix  orders in a completely odd and random way (and as they call it the Great British Baking Show), which is the season that Frances The Overachiever was on, with her jam sandwich cake in the shape of a sandwich and her hidden squirrel tree trunk cake.  She gets called out for style over substance a lot over the season, if memory serves me correctly.

Which is why I am thinking "stupid substance over style anyway, Paul" as I work on a Bob's Burgers Louise Hat for an infant.

I knit the ears rather tightly, hoping that a stiffer and thicker fabric wouldn't have quite enough drape to droop.  But I couldn't think of safe way to ensure that rabbit ears on an infant hat would be both Upright and Safe.

They seem to stay up, if held Just So.  Knees make reasonable head-shaped objects when needed, because this hat certainly doesn't fit my giant head or the dog's head.

Since infants tend to grow and I am me, I am making additional hat(s).  We shall see how many hats I can get from three balls of superwash wool.  (Baby stuff = superwash.  Most of the time.)

For the large toddler/small adult hat, I used US 6s (4mm) needles and 90 stitches.  Provisional cast on, knit 10-ish rounds, then knit the ear flaps with waste yarn while purling the rest of the round, then another 10-ish rounds before I knit the provisional cast on with the current round, to create a nice folded brim.  Standard swirl decreases for the top of the hat, and I just finished the ear flaps.  Because picking out the waste yarn also results in one extra stitch on one side, one decrease, then basic ear flap to decreases, with the last four stitches becoming the icord cordy thing that Louise has on her hat.

My original idea (from LSG, actually) for the ears was the plastic canvas for needlepoint, cut to shape.  Unfortunately, it seems that the extra plastic - which weighs about half a gram - is too much weight for the narrow base.  Sewing the ears as wide as I could, with a bend in the bottom as well, worked best, but lacking a good way to attach the plastic canvas to the main part of the hat, it just didn't quite work.  And I am not sure how well that would stand up to a kid chewing on the hat they have ripped off their head, as kids tend to do.

I'm working on the ears now for the second hat and again have dropped a needle size to US 5s (3.75mm) needles to hope that they stand up on their own.  I think laundry starch might help.

I am Annoyed because normally, I put all this shit in Rav but Ravelry TPTB are being assholes about their site redesign and I don't like adding to their database.  But that means I'm still struggling to find a good place to put yarn and needles and notes of how many rounds to knit before starting decreases on an ear flap.  

And hence this post.

I am also annoyed because I have a google photos album of knitting and yet, I cannot find it when Blogger (a google product) is looking at my google photos albums and thus, I have to dig through dog pictures to find the knitting pictures.

Clearly the solution is to make sure the dog is in all the knitting pictures and vice versa, yes?

FO: Fire Truck Scarf

 The Specs:

Pattern: Frugal Haus Knitting Fire Truck Neck Scarf
Yarn: Berocco Vintage
Amount: 1 skein
Needles: whatever the ball band recommended
For: nephew!
Notes:  Ugh. This was the project that never ended.  Too fiddly to be fun without being fiddly enough to be pleased with progress. 

I do not like how it is knit in garter stitch, as that makes it one-sided.  And it is a scarf.  I believe I have complained about this before, but time has not lessened my grump factor in this regard.

If I made this again, it would be a stockinette tube.  Still would lay flat, but would be easier to add the adornments and the like.

I cheated and used large black buttons for the wheels.  I could not bring myself to seam a wheel that was knit flat.

I ended up making an icord tube for the cab partition for the back part of the scarf.

To make it reversible, I attached a ladder to both sides, as well as truck window, headlight, emergency light, and wheels. The garter stitch part meant that the ladder rungs had to be afterthought, rather than knit into the scarf itself.  I ended up crocheting a chain up at certain parts.  I could carry the yarn across the bottom, and make both chains run up the side, so I could get two rungs with only two ends to weave in.  The icord makes for a good place to hide ends, so I was very grateful for that.

I am not super pleased with it.  It looks a bit wonky and not very polished.  Attaching the ladder sides was difficult because of the double-sided aspect and the garter stitch and not wanting to make things too lose or too taut. 

But it is for a kid who loves fire trucks, so I don't think he will much care.  Better pictures to come when I can bare to face it.  I am terrified to give it a bath and have the red yarn bleed onto the white.  Should have swatched, but I was on vacation!

Georgia On My Mind

 I have been slowly plugging away on a fire truck scarf.  I am not enjoying the process, so I have to force myself to work on it.  It is the last of the Required GiftMoose presents, so I want it DONE.  I want to mail most of my GiftMoose presents back to friends and family in the states in the next week or so, which gives me a dead line.

Fire truck scarf is knit flat, garter stitch.  Color changes to denote the cab vs the rest of the truck, and small strips of white for the rungs of the ladder.

I think, if I ever knit a fire truck scarf again, I will knit a stockinette tube.  As written, the pattern has a VERY clear wrong side and right side and that bothers me because it is a scarf.  A fire truck scarf, so most likely for children.  Which means the wrong side is going to be seen just as often as the right side.

I have figured out how to manage the ladder for both sides, but the color change for the cab is bothering me.  It is two rows of grey in a sea of red and looks great on the one side, because that ridge of garter is grey.  Not so nice on the other side.  I might do an icord tube and sew it in place. 

I am about 75% done the ladder.  So close.  And yet...

I also started a sock for a friend a few weeks ago and then got measurements and realized the sock would not fit the intended foot for said foot is giant.  So the sock has been in timeout while I brain and math and accept that I will have to frog.

Today was a Good News Day and that seemed to require happy knitting, not a project I resentfully peck away at, so happy rainbow socks came back out of time out. 

I measured our Soda Stream bottles and they are about an inch shy of the intended's foot, so I figure if I can get the sock on the water bottle and get about an inch of stretch, they ought to fit.  Since the feet are across an ocean, I don't want to knit two socks and then have to start all over.  I also don't want to knit one and ship it over and then have them ship it back so I can make sure they match perfectly.

FO: Underwater Leaves Socks

 The Specs:

Pattern: Woodland Walk Socks by This Handmade Life
Yarn: Teton Yarn Company Handdyed Sock in Mermaid

Amount: 0.75 of a skein, or about 74gm, or about 324 yards
Needles: US 1, 2.25mm circular with magic loop
Size: Women's 8.5ish
For: me!

Start to Finish: Sept 20, 2020 to Oct 13, 2020
Notes: I started these on the drive to Scotland for our anniversary/my birthday trip.  They made excellent car knitting once I had memorized the leave pattern, which didn't take too long.

I, of course, knit toe-up, so the leaves fall up my socks instead of down, as the pattern is written for cuff-down.  Standard star toe with increases on right of first stitch on one sock and to the left of the first stitch on the other sock.  I admit that I have to look really closely to determine that there is a difference between the toes, but I still try to do that with every pair of socks.

I also either reversed the chart or I started halfway up the chart for the second sock.  

I had 66 stitches on the needles for these.  No idea what the pattern called for, but that's the beauty of socks with a decorative pattern up only part of the front - extra stitches do not need to be accounted for.  Standard shadow wrapped short row heel, 10 rounds of ribbing for the cuff before I used JSSBO.

If I were to knit these again, I'd add 4-6 stitches of plain stockinette between the pattern and the heel turn, to push the decorative part more to the top of the foot and not the side.  They are perfectly fine as they are, but it would make for a slightly more polished sock.

These knit up fast - I knit the first sock on the drive to/from Scotland, while finishing the cuff during a Zoom baby shower for a friend.  Second sock was started on Saturday the 10 and I just had to finish the last repeat and the cuff today, as well as weaving in ends. 

I really love the colors of this yarn and it knit up beautifully.  Super glad I like the yarn as I am fairly certain I have another 5 skeins of different colors in the stash...

I've got a bad feeling about this*

 We're gonna need a bigger hat.  I think.

I followed instructions for the adult sized hat.  I thing I got gauge-ish.  (No, I didn't swatch.  It is a hat.  Hats are swatches in and of themselves.)

But this seems to be about the right size for a toddler and not an adult. It kinda sorta can be shoved onto my giant head, but it doesn't stay - it pops back off.

I am also not super pleased with my floats.  They need to be loser, I think.  The stretches of 7+ stitches is not helpful.

So, while I think 11pm is a little late to start a second hat... I think I will wind yarn tomorrow to be able to hold two strands double for the hat.  And maybe only go up one needle size.  This fabric seems a little looser than I'd like. 

I am also debating knitting a double-knit hat.  But I am not sure how I feel about a black stormtrooper helmet.  Would it look weird?

Digging through other project notes, I've knit a sock-yarn hat that fits my giant head with only 4 more stitches.  And I used a size 2 needle for that - not a size 4.  So floats are definitely an issue, me thinks. 

I also think it is too short.  So a few more rounds of plain between the colorwork sections, and maybe a second repeat of small spaceships above the stormtroopers?

*Han Solo, of course

What's the point in ignoring the plan

 ... if you don't bother to make one in the first place?

Let's talk knitting goals, shall we?  (Or rather, let me write them down so I have a fighting chance at figuring out what the knitting plan was supposed to be, the better to ignore it.)

First up, GiftMoose.  I have one firetruck scarf for an 7/8 year old, one Paw Patrol sweater for a toddler, and one Star Wars hat for a nearish to 9 year old.  T

he firetruck scarf is going wellish.  Icord for the sides of the ladder and I figured out how to attach them so that both sides of the firetruck have a ladder without showing signs of sewing stuff on.  I need to figure out how to do the rungs.  I fear a lot of seaming in my future.  The wheels and cab window should be easy enough to do, even if fiddly. 

I think, ideally, the firetruck scarf should be knit in the round.  Garter is squishy and nice, but double layer is also nice and warm and easier to make things line up.  Having a nice, neat color change on one side of garter stitch means the other side is less pretty and I am not so pleased with that. 

The Star Wars hat will be fingering weight yarn and three colors, but I think it will go pretty fast.  I have two of the three colors and I think I have the third as well.  If not, that should be fairly easy to get some of the correct color.

Paw Patrol sweater should go fairly quickly as well.  I have yarn for it, at least.   Again, toddler size.

There's also a chance for a Hufflepup sweater for a large black lab.  That one might be a bit late, not sure I can get it done by GiftMoose

Friends have been busy reproducing, so I have one baby hat, one baby sweater, and one baby pair of jeans planned.  Due dates vary from Thanksgiving to late January, so I foresee some post GiftMoose knitting happening.   There are a few other things I'd like to knit as well, but time might be an issue. 

While in Scotland, I got some West Yorkshire Spinning Croft yarn to make an Aran sweater for the Weirder Half.  That ought to be on the list as well, as he seemed pretty excited about it.  That is scheduled for next year already and I am not expecting to be super fast. 

A friend recently cleared out her stash by shipping it to me, so eventually, I shall need to make her a cardigan.  But there's a lot of other yarn in the to-knit list right now.  Because I would be shocked if a few socks didn't end up showing up between now and then.

And I have a lot of sock yarn to make into garter bias squares for a leftovers blanket...

It has nae lugs!*

 We spent a week driving around Scotland because Scotland is pretty and we have so far always had nice weather while there.  (Sometimes nicer weather in Scotland than the neighbors report back at home.)  And also because back in March when we had to cancel our planned April trip to Scotland with friends, we had higher hopes for September.   Guess we really didn't know yet what a shitshow 2020 would be.

I managed to knit most of a selfish sock in the car - we drove around 1500 miles.  I'm debating mirroring the chart for the second sock.  The pattern is written for top-down but I evidently have gone to what earlier me would consider the dark-side and knit socks toe-up now.   However, I think the personality traits that has me debating a mirroring of the charts would have done the same thing for top-down socks, even if I hadn't gone to the dark side.

Sock is the delightful Teton Yarn Company's sock in Mermaid.

I also managed to knit the entire skein of red Berocco vintage that I got for a firetruck scarf.  I like that it is garter stitch, I do not like that it is not reversible as the pattern is written.  So I am trying to figure out how to knit or crochet a ladder (well, two, actually) so I can sew it on both sides.  The fact that there is a crochet stitch called ladder stitch is not super helpful.  But that's one of the three remaining GiftMoose presents I have to knit, so progress.  And a garter stitch scarf is simple enough to knit while gaping at the beauty of Scotland.

I also finished knitting, since we got home, a tiny Flax sweater for the incoming baby of friends', as I was able to talk them into purchasing the Whisky in a Teacup colorway from Gauge Dye Works and shipping the yarn to me.

There's just enough yarn left over that I am now knitting a tiny Barley Light hat for their sprog as well.  The sweater did not go to Scotland with us, as I had finished the body the day before we left and didn't think two sleeves would take long enough to bother with the packing.

I've asked someone on Etsy to make custom cloud buttons from polymer clay, as that seemed the perfect button for an adorable (but not twee!) rainbow sweater.  I am debating if the hat will need a button as well?

*related to the ram statue in the center of Moffat, one of the delightful places we stayed in Scotland.

FO: GiftMoose Socks

 The Specs:

Pattern: None
Yarn: Regia 4-Ply Color, sock yarn that is 75% wool and 25% nylon
Color: 03655, Fall, dyelot 188

Amount: 1.52 skeins, 349.6 yards, 76.95 grams

Size: Women's 8.5/8

Needles: US 0 - 2.0mm, Kollage square DPNs.

For: GiftMoose 2020

Start to Finish: 02Sep2020 to 09Sep2020

Notes: I have not knit with DPNs for a while.  I forgot how I can't have a hairband on my wrist because the DPNs will hit it.

Standard sock pattern for me - toe-up, cast on 6 stitches with JMCO, increase 6 stitches every other round til big enough.  In this case, big enough was 66 stitches.  Plain stockinette foot, short row with shadow wrap heel over 33 stitches, 22 of them wrapped.  K4P2 ribbing on the legs, JSSBO at the cuff.

Since these were self-striping, I went to my normal lengths to make sure they matched as much as possible.

I was pretty much exactly spot on.  I had recorded in my notes that I was 2 stitches into the start of the round where I increased to a total of 24 stitches when the red started on the first sock and the same thing happened on the second.  I also started the heel when I finished the blue stripe just before the heel, regardless of where I was in reference to the toe.  Same for the bind-off - I finished the black and started with the two stripe white section.  This confirmed that JSSBO takes about two rounds worth of yarn, which is not a huge surprise.

Regia is not the softest yarn, but I have found that it tends to wear very well, so I don't expect these socks to require mending any time soon.  I am slightly concerned about fit, but I think they will be alright.  I can get them on my feet, even if they are smidge too small for me and I don't find the cuffs super tight.  I often don't wash socks before giving them to their intended recipient, but I like to wash Regia (and Opal) socks with a bit of hair conditioner to soften them up a little bit.

This is the last Required pair of GiftMoose socks.  I might make one or two more pairs, just because it is September and I have some measure of time.

There You Go*

 In retrospect, doing an arm workout and then sanding a door wasn't the smartest move.  But it did mean that a dirty, dusty self wasn't doing pushups and getting dust all over the new-to-us antique rug we just got.  So I guess some points for planning there?  (I probably lose an equal, if not more, number of points for vacuuming up the sanding dust without making sure there was a bag in the shop vac.)

I am trying to make a coat tree thing from an old door.  Sanded the flat parts, trying a paint and varnish stripper on the nooks and crannies that would be a nightmare to sand by hand.  Might have to try another one, as the first attempt with this one didn't do a lot.

I've gotten UFOs all over the house.  Door coat tree is taking up space in the garage.  We're building a custom crate topper for the pupperdo's crate.  I need to get something for the top, cut it (or have it cut) to size, attach it, then fill all the nooks and gaps, sand, and paint.  That's taking up space in the conservatory.

We also picked out a cool old beam that will become a custom, narrow table for behind the couch.  It just needs to be cut in half and lightly sanded, then finished with something like 17 coats of poly.  It has a beautiful old patina that I don't want to sand off, but it also is a bit rough.  I figure enough coats of poly and it won't snag on the fabric on the back of the couch.  Oh, and I need to find and order legs for it.

We also picked up a cool, old writing desk shortly after we first got here.  Someone removed the old, small knobs and installed big brass handles on the drawers along the side.  They did a crappy job filling the holes left from the knobs and of course drilled new holes for the handles.  It won't look perfect, but we've got replacement knobs.  I need to take one of the drawers with me to get stain for the knobs and possibily the drawer fronts.  I plan on wood filler, light sand, re-stain, and ignoring the patch job.  Worse case, we have to paint the desk.  I hate painting beautiful wood, but some people are jerks.

Thinking of the number of wood-based projects that are lounging around the house...  The two pairs of socks, one tank top, and hat that are languishing in the WIP pile don't seem like a major deal at all.

I am also more than halfway done the cuff of the second sock of one of those pairs, so that's close to being finished. 

*Johnny Cash, the man in black

Party Pit*

 I've already knit about half of the list for GiftMoose this year, but it is suddenly September and I feel like I am way behind.  Admittedly, time is very weird in 2020, but I also need to worry about shipping times and well, 2020 is weird in multiple, BINGO-game-ending ways.  The goal is to have everything done by the end of October.  I just ordered yarn from WEBS this week for the last few things, so there might be some deadline knitting this year.

I just started a new pair of socks last night.  About a year ago, I was wandering around Caernarfon, Wales one morning while it seemed that the rest of the city was watching a ruby game.  I stopped into the British Heart shop, just to see what they had, and found two skeins of matching color AND dye lots of Regia sock yarn.  I think they were about £1.50 each, so these were an excellent find.

While I took careful notes of exactly where I started the toe (and where I was when the next obvious color change took place), I have little faith in my ability to make a perfectly matching pair.  

I also can never decide if K1P1 ribbing is better at keeping the look of the self-stripping pattern, or if something like K5P1 would be better.

Knowing that the intended recipient of these socks likes to have roomy sock tops, I've gone with K4P2 for the leg, since I have a multiple of 6 stitches. 

I also had Some Level of Concern last night about the length of the foot.  I was about halfway through the bigger band of white and blue when it was time to start the heel.  Should I continue and finish that before starting the heel?  Should I frog and start the heel on start of the blue/white? 

Obviously, I opted to not frog and I think it was the correct decision.  This is when I almost wish I had a cast of each of the 'normal' recipients of socks, so I could make sure things fit before having finished both socks.  

Also, that ruler sticker was one of my better ideas ever.  (And I am lucky to have a friend who agreed enough to buy it for me.)  I am still sad it doesn't fit on the inside of the laptop, but there's not quite enough room between the trackpad and the keyboard or the trackpad and the edge.

This is the first pair of socks I've knit on DPNs in quite a while.  I've found that a long circular and magic loop makes trying on socks a hell of a lot easier and using US 1s means the math is the same a lot of the time.  But Regia is a thin enough yarn that I wanted to use US 0s and I don't have a circular in that size.  The downside to using DPNs is that I have a lot of DPNs, so I don't have to finish this pair before I start another pair...

*the Hold Steady