October 2, 2005

• Here is Brooklyn in a crumpled heap. Or at least Brooklyn’s sleeve. The remaining pieces of Brooklyn are in my knitting basket in their own crumpled heaps. #1 son claims that they will all be ruined. I am not sure what sort of ruin he has in mind, but between his nagging about the level of care the parts are receiving and his nagging over my speed (or lack thereof) with knitting up this sleeve, I am beginning to look forward to finishing this jacket. I am doing the decreases on the raglan sleeve, but then there is sewing up and the collar and the finishing to do, so I am predicting another week. It will probably be longer. This is because — while I am really not doing any other knitting at all anymore — things always take longer than you expect them to.

  
  

  It is not Brooklyn’s fault that #1 son is nagging me, and the yarn has a really nice feel, so I am trying not to let the knitting experience be spoiled, but I do want it done. I have Christmas gifts to make, and a cardigan that I have been thinking about for a year, and a lace shawl neglected on the needles. Not to mention the quilt in its frame, and a half-finished prayer shawl.

  
  

  As all knitters know, it is dangerous to begin to wish to be finished with something. This is when you make mistakes. So I am trying not to hurry, though I do find myself thinking about other projects while I knit… 

  
  

  “Brooklyn” is the track jacket from Denim People. It is being made in Den-M-Nit on #3 needles. So far, it has been a very pleasant project, with no hard parts of any kind, and the yarn seems very suitable. I did have to get a second ball of ecru for the striping, so if you want to make it yourself, you might go ahead and start with two.

  
  

  I include this information because I know that when I happen by someone’s blog and see some nice knitting, but no details on what it is or where it came from, I am disappointed. So this is for the random reader of knitting blogs who might chance by.

  
  

  The novel Unraveled Sleeve described a needlework pattern by Beth Russell in such detail that I felt sure it was a real, extant pattern being described. I googled it. And indeed it was a real pattern, one of many at this website. The Arts and Crafts style is a favorite of mine, and I was greatly impressed by the beauty of these interpretations. In fact, I was thinking of making one — or more than one. I have two piano benches that need cushions, and only a dozen projects already planned, so it seemed like the right thing to do — until I checked the pricing. Knitters, if you want to feel good about the cost of your craft, check out what they pay for needlepoint kits.

  
  

  The HGP for this week is repeating the cooking and shopping from the past couple of weeks, making a guest basket for the bathroom, and thoroughly cleaning the kids’ rooms. At the moment, I don’t even want to think about that.

  • 8:27 am
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