The Novel Knit Girl Blog

I have a thumb cramp. I was up until after midnight finishing up a pair of fingerless gloves for Kid 1's teacher. It wouldn't have taken so long except that the thumbs were giving me trouble. I kept picking up and knitting the wrong way so there were purls instead of knits... all very  confusing and tiring when you are working on a deadline and listening to Seinfeld in the background. So.... what am I most excited about for Christmas?!? Having time to knit something for myself and opening up my sewing machine and giving a different craft a go.... I am pretty ambitious with my hobbies - sewing really scares me. Here are the fingerless mittens I've made so far. The colorful ones were for Heather's 40th birthday (a rented out theater for Star Wars - amazing) and the blue and grey are for the above mentioned teacher. I cheated for the teacher's aide for Kid 2's 4K class - she got my something gray cowl (Coquette) from a few months ago. I was just sitting aroun

Last night my husband asked me if I'm looking forward to Christmas just because then I'll be done knitting for so many other people. My answer? Yes. 100%. Although making hand-made gifts for friends and family is one of the main reason I started knitting, there just never seems to be enough time to get it all done (there is this pesky thing I call work - oh, and the fact that I like to hibernate in the winter). Time lines are not always my friend. So far... I'm on track to do okay. I'm definitely on the final countdown though. I ended up giving my son's teacher a pair of fingerless mittens that I originally made for myself (those chevron beasts that I worked so hard on) because they are just a bit too dainty for my hands. So, that helped in terms of time management. I made 2 pair of a different Chevron fingerless mitt pattern (below) for my brother-in-laws girlfriend (birthday) and my sister in Seattle - and I have several "in progress" progress with rou

I'm behind on everything lately. And tired. I've been running - up to 20 minutes on a treadmill a few times per week if I'm lucky (I won't be lucky this week), but having difficulty running for 10 minutes sprints outside. And I traveled to Texas and back - the getting back part always makes me happy. And most recently, Daylight Savings Time happened, which means I'm ready for bed at around 6:45 each night (yes, I know I gained an hour, but it gets dark so early now). And, it is almost the middle of November and I have not started my Christmas knitting. I've been trying to finish a wrap, which is so easy and hard all at the once -but I think I have to get down to business here. The first step would include not falling asleep on the couch before 8:15 each night. The second step includes putting projects for me on the sidelines until I get stuff made for other people. Seems reasonable. So... until the Christmas gift posts come pouring in (ha ha), here is my mos

A Tangent. I'm running. Like, really running. I've never gotten this far before. Today, if I go for a run after work, with my couch to 10K app, I will run for 10 minutes, walk 5 minutes and run 10 minutes again. If you don't know me, this is a big deal. As a figure skater, I never had to do anything without a break for longer than 4 and a half minutes. The last time I ran a mile was when I was 13-years-old and in 8th grade. This. Is. Big. For me, at least. So, I'm still knitting. And, in general I feel good. My app has me running for 20 minutes in just 3 more runs. I don't feel like I will be ready for that. But, maybe I will. My husband has offered to go for my first 20 minute run along with me - he does have some nice qualities. But, here are the Bellisima mittens that I made out of a Vampire Knits book. I know - you really don't have to say anything or judge me - but, when I saw these mittens, I had to make them. They are warm and it gets cold in Wisc

The kids are back in school. Kid 1 is in 2nd grade and Kid 2 is in 4-year-old kindergarten. And I'm more tired than ever. I had my first and likely only pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks yesterday. It was good, but for $5.25 it will not happen often. Also, I don't need the calories. I'm trying to run, which I can do with some success in the fall when it's not so hot out. And, I'm finally really succeeding on a my first pair of mittens. Of course I went with the difficult Bellisima pattern with cables and weird stitches. I'll see how I feel at the end about the final product. I wanted something warm and cosy and I'm not sure how these will be in the end. But, I'm getting it done. That seems to be a bit of my mantra lately. Getting it done! Speaking of getting things done, I finished the blanket I made for my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law for their wedding next month. I'm happy with it. Apricot/Pumpkin colored Lion Brand Thick and Quic

I made a pair of super soft gray socks. I used the My First Socks Class with Lucy Neatby on Craftsy and I made it through turning a heel and grafting the toe- which I did effectively enough, but there is room for improvement. Here they are - and here is to many more socks. (Photo note: It's more difficult than you would think to photograph your feet well).

Although it seemed for a while that I wasn't. Even though I was. I'm here. I'm knitting. This is the first summer where I feel like I've just taken on too much. I am the working mom who is barely coping - and I look like I'm barely coping. I'm so tired. No one is looking at me thinking "I don't know how she does it all!" If anything, they are whispering behind my back saying I should lay off the gin and tonics. We all have to cope somehow. So I was knitting, but in total disarray. My crazy-side took over and I suddenly had about 12 projects started and nothing finished. When this happens, I tend to go for what I like to call a small win. A smaller scale project where I can start and finish something in a few days or a week. This is good for me. A beginning with an end in sight. I had two small wins this week, and now I feel I can go back to the huge blanket that I must finish sooner rather than later. My first win.... I call this "My Som

Does anybody else get to the end of Season 3 of Downton Abbey and just want to go back to season 1? I do this over and over. I think season 5 was good and season 4 was okay - but every time I get to the end of season 3 I just want to go back - and it becomes a cycle. I want to watch Tom and Sybil fall in love again and the triangle of Mary, Matthew and Lavinia. I want to watch Edith's moments of growth and listen to Lady Violet and Lord Grantham make the world seem like an insightful and funny place. I want to laugh and cry at all the right moments. I don't want to be stuck in season 4. Yes, I end up rather fond of Rose in the end, but it takes a while and I don't quite get there in season 4. And so many plot lines seem forced. And, why do the characters always have to die? And so I think I'm going to go back to the beginning - to the scandal that begins it all (Kemal Pamuk). OK - now that that is out.... I have been knitting - I just have nothing to show for it

I've been having a tough time. To get through it, I've made hats. On for my son (kid 2), one for my husband, and one for me. They are all patterns by Stephanie Japel - one of my favorite knitwear designers - two Wheeler hats and a Sawtooth hat. I have enough of the grey and white ecological wool that I can probably make many (many) more hats. SAWTOOTH - Photo taken June 1, 2015 (it's still cold in Wisconsin)  A couple of Wheelers.... for the men in my life.... On the needles this week. Still working on the wedding blanket, but I've taken a bit of a break. I cast on for my first top-down sweater (grey, of course) and started a hooded top for Kid 1 in yarn I bought for a different project. I have 3 weeks to make hooded "Woodsie" tops for both kids before they go up north. With my mood lately, this task seems totally doable.

Well, I finished the Chevron Lace Mitts from The Chevron Knit Collection class on Craftsy - and I love them. After taking a break they came together very easily and the thumb gusset wasn't so bad after all. Now, I can take on all of the other mittens and fingerless gloves that I've put on the back burner because of my double pointed needle or thumb hole fear. My gateway gloves.... On my needles: Big project. Cromwell Blanket for my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law. It's a fast and slow project all at once.

It's spring. Finally. I know this because some days are hot and muggy while others still contain a pretty serious chill in the air. Both options are okay with me right now. I love warmth, but I'm not quite ready to be done with my cozy winter clothes. I've been working on my Lace Chevron Fingerless Mitts that I took a break from back in October. I've made two mitts, but in mismatched sizes - so I'm making two more. I've only managed one thumb hole so far, but there is a completed thumb hole, so I'm calling this success. I should have a picture to post shortly. My life has been hectic lately. I've been taking the puppy for two walks per day (with training that includes saying the words "heel" and "come!" so many times that I feel a little like "Rain Man") while attempting to fit three couch to 10K runs in per week - all while simply trying to keep my head above water with everything else that happens during the course o

A few weeks ago, well, I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but I went to work and left early and came home with a 9-month-old puppy. She's adorable. A Shih Tzu / terrier mix with an absolutely fabulous under bite. Here's Penelope. She's happy and trainable and so far a great family companion. This doesn't mean I haven't been knitting, it just means I've been crazy. I made a few headbands: A turban for my daughter and another one for me. Here are the headbands.... adorable kid 1 is my model. I've also bought a good amount of yarn in anticipation of some great knitting adventures in the coming months (wait, wasn't there a resolution about this? Shit). I have sweaters to knit! Ideas and more ideas for knitting projects! Just not quite enough time, ever, to complete them. I need to knit through some of the yarn I've accumulated though. (feeling shame) So, here is a pair of toast mitts. I love them and just need to perfect a

Sorry in advance, this entry will be writing heavy. It's been a difficult winter. I have a recent four-year-old and an almost 7-year-old and I work full-time and we live in Wisconsin. None of this is anything to complain about (except this living in Wisconsin in the winter part, but I'm not technically allowed to complain about that). But I'm the kind of person that when things get to be too much, I need a day to knit and watch Downton Abbey. I took that day this past Tuesday. Season 2 wartime Downton Abbey + knitting = happiness (or as close to it as I can come when it is less than 20 degrees outside). The weekend involved a trip to the circus with the kids which I have mixed feelings all around on the experience. I'd never gone, so I felt like I couldn't judge. Now that I've gone I can judge and never go again. We also had a 7-yr-old boy's bowling birthday party, which was fun - but if you don't know me, this is all a lot for me. Work on Monday m

No reasoning behind my title today except that Valentine's Day is coming up and I can't get the song "painting the roses red" from Alice in Wonderland out of my head. I've been in a knitting rut. I'm starting to think that mittens and fingerless gloves are just not meant for me to knit. I really want a pair of warm woolen mittens. I'm on attempt #7 for the left mitten. After that, I need to make a second one. And it isn't going well. It probably doesn't help that I choose a somewhat difficult pattern for a first go... but they look really  warm. I'm not giving up. I will post a pair of mittens and fingerless gloves yet. I finished a triangle scarf over the weekend that took much too long to complete. It was all in garter stitch and bored me, which resulted in an unsaved dropped stitch and slightly mismatched lengths. This is an example of  my need to complete something over powering my need for it to be done well. It's done. Check ma

Since January is nearly done, it's time to reflect on what I hope to accomplish this year (right?). Every year I have the same resolutions, which should tell you something about me. This year, I'm simplifying. 1) Knit with yarn I have. I am not allowed to buy any more yarn until I get through at least a good portion of my stash. It's a large stash. I have three projects in the works now, and a few quickies I hope to breeze through this weekend. I love yarn. I love the possibilities. Sometimes my excitement gets ahead of my time and talent availabilities. (This also means that I need to use up yarn that I don't like. So I've returned to a project that was one of the first "kits" I bought after graduating from swatching. It involves a not beautiful burgundy-colored "homespun" yarn and a shrug that seems like a bad idea now. But it will be finished - and possibly donated. Or maybe it will be fabulous. That's the great thing about projects.

I get it. You don't want to read my blog unless there are pictures. I'm so late in finishing this post and I haven't photographed everything I was going to include... but here is what I have to show for my attempt at homemade Christmas gifts this year. (NOTE: WORKING ON MY PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS) Craftsy November knit-along cowl with cables, which I messed up. I misread the pattern. Luckily the final product works just fine. It has a few mistakes, because sometimes that's how I roll...  I plan to re-do the pattern to include the additional stitches that I forgot on this one, but for someone in the Pacific Northwest, I think it will be great (and this way my sister and I won't have the exact same cowl). This is the Knit and Tonic Lucky Ribs Cable Cowl (a "modified" version). And here are the nephew scarves - Go Go Gryffindor and the Meandering Rib scarf Go Go Gryffindor - no pattern used. Just garter stitch. Pattern source: Meanderin