Adventures in Baby Knitting (and Other Types)

Knitting is not technically a new hobby for me. I started to learn it over ten years ago, but at the moment, I am more active in the hobby than I have been for quite a while. I've gotten discouraged in the past, because I never seem able to move beyond basic stitches. I also for the life of me still can't get a project started in the round, because I can't join that first stitch together. However, I have a bunch of projects recently completed, planned, or "on the needles" right now. If I keep up this momentum, maybe I can go on to more difficult projects.

The first thing that got me on a knitting kick was the news that one of Mr. BTEG's co-workers, and his wife, were expecting a baby. We've hung out with the couple as friends often, and we were invited to the "drive-by" baby shower. I made them a baby bib, and a washcloth. The baby's father has this thing about collecting duck items; indeed, he wore his ginormous duck slippers at the shower. So I put duck themes into the items that I knit.

It's becoming a thing of mine to knit an orange-colored bib for new parents, because strained carrots stain things like you wouldn't believe. I would like to make another orange one for another young woman that I know who is expecting a baby, as well as a blue bib, because she's having a boy.

I made a Christmas dishcloth in red, white and green dyed yarn for a co-worker of my daughter. I may have let that one get out of the house without taking a picture of it, but there may be pictures on my camera card. If I find them, I'll put one up.

I'm working on a Barbie doll size sweater. I've had problems working with this size in the past, but so far, this project seems to be coming along okay.

I started a baby blanket as an after-baby gift for the couple that I made the duck stuff for, but the new baby is already about a month old, so who knows if I can get this blanket done in a reasonable time frame.

I'm working on an afghan for me that I think is just going to be plain old garter stitches, with some purl rows every now and then to add interest. I'm in no hurry for that one. In fact, since Mr. BTEG always likes the house cold, I can pretty much use an afghan all year round.

Lastly, I have some projects to work on that came in a kit. I got a really great deal on the kit; it's an interesting story about internet companies and branding, I think. Once upon a time, there was a website called Craftsy, which offered classes on things like quilting, sewing, knitting and crocheting, for a fee. They also offered patterns by independent designers, some which were free, some which were a small price to buy. I had a Craftsy account myself, until... someone decided to change Craftsy to Bluprint. I *think* Bluprint added some classes in other types of creative endeavors, but everything went to pay-for classes, and all the independent designers were gone. Bluprint also sold crafting kits, as you'll see. Suddenly, I see Bluprint kits for bargain prices on the webpage of one of my favorite fabric stores, and The Real Craftsy is advertising on Instagram. Yep, Bluprint has gone back to Craftsy. Even the Wayback Machine (archive.org) redirects Bluprint to Craftsy. Alas, the independent designers are still gone, and the classes that were advertised with the kit, to help me learn to knit and how to make the three projects that came with the kit, would now cost me $69.99 for the 17 sessions, 4 hour and 26 minute total set of classes. Or, I could join Craftsy for $7.99 a month, or $79.99 a year. Good thing that I already know how to knit! I may poke around the classes on the Craftsy site, but at the moment, I'm also looking at SkillShare. I signed up for a free trial with them, but I made the mistake of signing up right before Christmas, when I wasn't up to watching a lot of teaching videos. SkillShare caters to mostly different class types, but I was interested in things that were offered there as well.

Anyway, I did at least get a super good bargain on some nice knitting supplies. I paid $20 plus shipping for the kit below; I presume my fave fabric store bought all or most of the Bluprint kits for fantastic prices when Bluprint stopped being a brand. I got all the yarn and needles necessary to make the three projects, three patterns, a canvas bag, and a small case that contained the knitting needles, plus four yarn needles, a pair of scissors, and some stitch markers. The only thing that worries me is that the super bulky yarn up top is labeled as "roving." I'm pretty sure that roving yarn is yarn that hasn't been spun, and thus will fall apart after a short time of any kind of use, much less a hand wash. Roving is super popular at the moment, and I don't know why. I would think once people figured out that the item that you put some much time and/or money into, was going to fall apart after the second or third use, the roving fad would have soon been over. Never underestimate the silliness of the latest wine mom fad, I guess.

I hope you enjoyed reading this, maybe even if you're not a knitter? A gold star for you if you read this small novel, and a silver walker if you got the movie reference in my title. :)

Tales of Learning

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to the Musician about her high school classes, and she mentioned that she was only one of two people in her physics class who knew what the definition of "work" was. I thought about it for a few seconds, then gave the definition. Then I laughed, and said the only way I knew the definition was because I remembered it from teaching the Musician science back when I was homeschooling. The Musician said that's how she knew it too, because she remembered our talking about it. A lot of homeschoolers dislike the style of teaching that I was using at the time, which was the usual public schooling method; I was using books that covered a lot of science topics (physics, biology, earth science) that became more complex in presentation each new school year. But obviously, some of it stuck with both her and me!

On the other hand, I tried Exploring Creation with Botany with the Dancer when she was in third grade or so. She didn't strictly remember a lot of what I read to her, but when she studied plant development in the fifth grade in public school, some of what we had talked about came back to her, and helped her digest what she was learning in fifth grade, better.

I used to read the education blog, D-Ed Reckoning, when it was still active, and many of my experiences as a mom of two students taught in various ways over the years reflect what he says in his last post. The kids who are easy to educate will learn. Find what works for you and go with it. In my case, my daughters have learned from a more traditional homeschooling style, from a more Charlotte Mason style, and from the regular public school approach. In fact, although my eldest daughter fought against the "school-at-home" method I tentatively started with as a new homeschooling mom, she told me only last week that she prefers the more rigid style of public school now.

Some of what I taught them didn't "take." They don't remember much from our course on Ancient Egypt besides learning to write their own names in hieroglyphics. I doubt they remember anything from our study of Ancient Israel besides making a model of an ancient Israeli house. Are you sensing a theme here? They also will never forget the carnation and food coloring experiment, and feel sorry for kids who never did that in school. On the other hand, I doubt they remember much of anything from the museums in Chicago to which I, as a dutiful mom, took them when Mr. BTEG was living there as a consultant. But they did learn things, and I think both of them are poised to do whatever they want with their futures.

Light in the Darkness

I promised that I would update once I got my light box, to let you know how it is working. Obviously, I can't peg my emotions to my environment exactly, but I can say that I am starting February in a much better place than I have for several years. I had a pretty good January as well, taking into account how much I am held back by this giant boot I have to drag around, and by not being able to drive. I am eager for new knitting projects, took tentative steps towards having my own website(s), and while I only did research on some of the other things I want to pursue, I still have the interest to follow up. I realize some of this might sound rather vague, but I don't want to reveal too much about my goals in case I don't accomplish too much. But mentally, I am doing very well.

On the Domestic End

After four and a half years of knitting, I think I'm ready to try to learn how to knit on circular needles. I got my pattern from Ravelry; you can find it here. I wanted to pick something small and simple for my first project. So far, I'm getting better and better at using Judy's Magic Cast On, as I've been casting on over and over and over due to the unraveling I need to do everytime I mess up and have to start over. I just keep reminding myself that it took me a while to learn how to knit, so I am mostly sure that I will be able to figure this out. Mostly. It's a very gloomy day in the Hundred Acre Wood Northeast Ohio, so it's a good day to curl up and knit.

I had to order the main skein of yarn that I need online. My imaginary Internet friend Naomi suggested I could just use any yarn that had the correct gauge, but this particular cotton yarn is wrapped, which is supposed to keep the yarn from stretching as much. I imagine that would be a good thing for a bag.

Oh, and I'm not going to provide a link for Judy's Magic Cast On, as there are many videos and articles describing how you can do this. Just do a search and take your pick as to what works best for you.

Projects

I think I've mentioned before that my attention span is something akin to a toddler's. I also need to have more than one thing going on. I have an awfully hard time getting projects done. I generally only knit, for example, while the Dancer is in one of her classes, because I can multi-task. Watching the Dancer, listening to the music and knitting occupies all of my mind. Just sitting and knitting would bore me immensely. I have two projects I ought to get done before the Easter weekend, as they are birthday gifts that are already rather belated. It just occurred to me the other day that I should make myself a case for my glasses. I have to take them off when I am doing anything close up. Isn't that the opposite of what is normal? Anyway, a case would give me someplace safe to put them. I don't like to just stick them in my purse where my keys and so forth are.

I also do better even at household chores when I have music to listen to. I'm so thankful for satellite radio. It's not that expensive, and I can listen to it on my phone. It is hard to pick up radio stations out here, even though we're definitely part of metro Cleveland. And talk radio, you guessed it, bores me. Plus, the quality of "old school" radio is decreasing. Like so many other things, there is less offered for what I'd imagine is the same amount or more in advertising intake.

Speaking of music, I find it funny and heart-warming that the girls like older music and not just the current pop stuff. The Musician likes AC/DC and GNR, and we can rock out together to "Don't Stop Believing." The Dancer is singing "Footloose" as part of her school concert, so she's all "Been workin', so hard, I'm punchin', my card." It's nice to have things that bring us together. :)

Over My Head

The Evil Genius family picked up a few magazine subscriptions when the girls were selling them in the fall to raise money for their schools. I just got my first issue of Threads the other day, and boy, do I feel out of my league. Not that I thought I was a couture artist or anything, but it's something else to see it all laid out in a glossy magazine. Of course, for me there are not only the skills required to overcome, but the expense. I can't afford couture materials at this time any more than I have the skills to do couture sewing. Nor do I have a couture figure. :D One of the reasons I like sewing for dolls is that I can dress them much nicer than I do myself.

I also was reminded of a weird lack of faculty I have as a sewer. I can't picture sewing directions in my head. When I read that you need to do A, B and C, I have to sit down and carefully puzzle my way through them with the materials. I can't work it out in my mind.

I do wonder if I could take my sewing up to another level, just as I wonder whether I will ever have the knitting skills to sew an entire sweater, or even a pair of socks. I mean, just because you can master the basics, doesn't mean you can do advanced level things, right?? I know I'd be cheating myself if I didn't at least try to take on more advanced projects, if I really want to do them. But it can feel intimidating!

Accomplishment

I haven't felt much like communicating, and that includes Facebook. It's not like I am ignoring this blog while pouring out my heart over there. Not sure why I am feeling less sociable lately, but going incommunicado will not help me in the long run.

So I'm going to brag that I actually got a project done in time for the event it was planned for! I ended up skipping the Simplicity pattern and using the book I have instead, and the pattern went together very smoothly, so the Dancer and her doll were both able to be dressed up for Fourth of July. I'm sure all of you who sew or do other crafts will know how gratifying this felt, beyond the joy of creativity.

Kids at Work

Thursday was yet another Take Your Kid to Work Day. During the morning, they were a test audience for pilot episodes of television shows. Alex had PastaPalooza for lunch, which she loves. You pick vegetables and/or meats to go in your pasta and choose from several types of sauces, and the chef makes it all up right in front of you. In the afternoon, there was face painting and lots of crafts. The girls also came home with large goody bags. It was another nice day with Daddy.

Nifty Knit Kit

We were at Jo-Ann Fabrics and the knitting set in this picture caught the Dancer's eye. As you can see, there is a pattern book with instructions to learn how to knit and several princess-y projects. There are also two sets of size 8 princess needles, two crowns to go on the end of needles, a pair of scissors, two yarn needles, and pink and blue stitch markers. We got it with our super-special Jo-Ann coupon (waves at Deb) and so we even saved some money on it. As you can also see, the Dancer has learned how to cast on. She is still learning how to knit stitches from there. This set really caught her imagination!

Concentration

I'm frustrated. I enjoy knitting while the Dancer is in dance class. It's nicer than reading, since I also like to watch the Dancer. However, I've found it hard to knit successfully during dance class. I was working on a dishcloth with a basic knit/purl pattern, but somehow I managed to mess up several rows. Then I switched to a scarf I'm knitting to match the hat I made, and I made a mistake just in straight knitting. Of course, I was working with suede yarn which has been tricky for me. I tried doing embroidery before, but I need more practice doing it to get better first, and the light wasn't always good at dance class. Sewing, unfortunately, is best done in my sewing room. I need to find time there this week!

January, Higher Still

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was on television last night, and I really empathized with the scenes where the girls were singing about all the months of cold and snow. The weather has gotten warmer (relatively) here, but that just meant that it became warm enough for us to get a few more inches of snow. The roads were not so great driving to church this morning; we came very close to being involved in an accident with other cars. As in, I think the cars ahead of us were braking because an SUV was sliding across three lanes of traffic kind of close. As in the drivers were just getting out of their cars as we drove by kind of close.

I'm working on a knitted bib for my niece, but I got kind of stuck on that and so I got tired of it for awhile. I'm knitting a striped dishcloth from this book, still trying to knit that fluffy scarf, and considering what else I can knit.

I haven't been doing sewing as I'd like to do. It's easier to knit; I can do it while watching television or while the Dancer is at dance class. Sewing takes up bigger pockets of time, even if I only do a step or two at a time. Plus, it's easier for me to get interrupted in the middle of knitting, and with two girls at home all day, interruptions happen. Mr. BTEG's car is going into the shop this week, so hopefully I won't be driving him to work much longer, which hopefully will free up more time for me.

Burn Out

We had a good time at my sister-in-law's shower yesterday. She received a lot of nice things for her long-awaited daughter. However, I have been worn out all day today. Am I just getting old? It was a very dull day. Even the knitting I attempted did not go well. I have some very fluffy yarn that I have attempted several times to start a scarf out with. However, every time I get to about the second row, I find I have picked up an extra stitch. I have knitted with fluffy yarn before but that yarn wasn't quite as fluffy and I had an easier time telling the strands apart. I have a hard time getting started anyway so perhaps the curve is just steeper here. The first few rows are usually the hardest for me. Although...

I have also worked and worked on a dishcloth on which I have made absolutely no progress. The idea is to create a lacy effect around the edge by doing a yarn over at the beginning of every row. However careful I am to make sure I start the row with that yarn over I get close to halfway through, look back and see places where the "hole" is not there. And my perfectionist self won't let me just go on. I'm sure every time I used the dishcloth my eyes would seek out the mistakes. I did make one successfully for my sister-in-law, but it seems beyond me this time.

And while I'm on the subject of burn out, I am becoming less and less enthusiastic about homeschooling. This even though I am only schooling one. I'm not sure I'm actually soliciting advice here, because I think one would have to actually know my daughter and I for any advice that would suit us. I will say that my goal in homeschooling is to get her through a high school degree. Also to make sure she can get into college if she decides she wants to go. And that her interests are dancing and bunnies. We have a book about ballet that she has been reading out loud to me to practice and improve her reading skills, which I thought would be great to feed into her interest, but to tell the truth, *I'm* getting bored with it. I'm bored with all this stuff she's supposed to be learning, because it has nothing to do with what *I'm* interested in. I guess I'm tired of teaching grade school. Is that terrible?

Snowed In

Road conditions are probably not at their best. The snow is falling fairly heavily and staying inside is looking a lot nicer than going outside and braving the weather. I really wish we had garage space to keep our car in at the moment. Our car, the one that's currently drivable, hates the cold. And I'm not enjoying watching it get buried under the snow. We do have a two-car garage, but it's currently full of stuff, both woodworking stuff and things packed away from our last move.

People talk about McMansions and how bad it is that the garage is featured so front and center in many homes. My take on the garage thing is that the closer the garage is to the road, the shorter the driveway and the less snow to shovel! Seriously, I don't mind the garage-next-to-the-house plan, although the garage-behind-the-house might be nice to have. The garage must be attached, however, in my mind. I'm starting to wish we could enter our home through the garage, to avoid coats and shoes piling up at the front door. I used to completely dislike the idea of coming in through the garage, as some people dislike the garage-shoved-to-the-front of a house plan. But if you're using the garage as your everyday entryway you may prefer it that way.

Mr. BTEG is snowed in here with us. He stayed home from work today, because he is still getting his Crohn's medication sorted out, and he was not feeling at all well last night and most of today. I offered to teach him to knit to give him something to do, but he declined. The gastroenterology office adjusted his meds this afternoon, so hopefully this will improve things.

Speaking of knitting, I am working on a cell phone sock for myself. I'm using wool, for the first time, and I'm noticing the yarn seems to be thinning itself out as I pull it off the skein and use it. It's noticeably thicker on the tail than what I'm putting on my needles. Does this "stretching out" happen with wool, or is the wool I'm using just not up to the highest standard or what? I don't think I'm pulling on it overly hard.

Making It Work

I've got another project in the "done" list, a cell phone sock for the Dancer. Her previous cell phone had an extended leave of absence -- outside. I'm hoping the cell phone sock will help keep her current phone protected.

I'm hoping I'm not coming down with something, since I've had a sore throat on and off the past couple days. I'm also afraid Mr. BTEG is having a bit of a hard time transitioning from his proton pump inhibitor medicine to his Crohn's medication.

School starts tomorrow!! :O Or at least it should. Maybe we'll have a transition back?

Achievements for 2009

If you've read this blog long enough, you know that my husband (and our family, to a certain extent) are big fans of LEGO building blocks. We had the pleasure on Thursday of giving our great-nephew his very first LEGO set, DUPLO specifically, since he is not quite two.
I know my sister-in-law reads my blog, so this may sound like sucking up ;), but we had a really great time at her house. Even if I had to drag myself out of bed to kiss Mr. BTEG at midnight on New Year's Eve. She's an excellent hostess, which I think she inherits from her grandmother.

I also finished a project I should have done ages ago. I made a Christmas dishcloth for the Hen as part of a pay-it-forward blog contest from all the way back in April. I started with another project; you may notice I said the things I made would be sewn. I ran into all kinds of roadblocks on the project I was working on, such as losing the floss I was using, twice! Since I have improved my knitting skills, I ended up knitting dishcloths for both people to whom I had to give a project. I hope Charity doesn't mind getting hers so late.

Time and Money

There are some people with more money than time; there are some people with more time than money. Most people, I think are in the middle. Sometimes it's easier to save time and spend money; sometimes it's more practical to save money and spend time. Christmas is one of those occasions when there may not be as much money to spend as you want, and so you may have to contribute some time as well.

All this to lead up to one of the projects I am currently working on, which is some cloth blocks as a Christmas gift for a baby boy. Since I have been blessed with a fabric stash, an embroidery machine, and the ability to sew, it helps stretch the Christmas funds to make these blocks. You don't even need a pattern. They will be different blue prints and solids, with an alphabet letter on each.

Of course, one can buy cloth blocks, but then that's just that bit more money added to the Christmas budget. I did find blocks as cheaply as $9.99, but there's only 4 blocks in this set. I also found a 9-block set which I think is outrageously priced at $36.00, even if the blocks are different shapes. Any sewer with decent skills could put this set together. Actually, I think it's amazing what quality toys sell for. I suppose that is where the money over time comes in. If Dad and Mom are both working, perhaps they can afford the pricey kids' toys. Perhaps there are well-off grandparents. But I don't know how some of these places can sell enough of the ultra-expensive toys to stay open. I'm glad quality toys exist, though, even if they exist beyond our budget most of the time.

I'm also knitting a small purse for myself, out of slate blue cotton yarn. Another place where I can save big money. I have the fabric to make myself larger quilted winter and summer purses, but I got bogged down halfway through and haven't finished. I've just recently got started on the winter purse again, which will be fitted in between sewing projects which need to be done before Christmas.

Cookie Craze

As cookie mom, it was my responsibility to pick up 43 cases of Girl Scout cookies this morning. Good thing we own a minivan! Then my two girls carried them into our home and helped me sort them out so the right cookies can go to each girl. What a job! And the girls used math skills! :)

The cookies were picked up at a warehouse in a rather shabby neighborhood. I especially realized this when I drove past the Park-n-Pawn. Yes, really, there was a pawn shop called Park-n-Pawn. Never seen one of those before.

Little Gardens

Since I can't have a garden outside, I'll have to have my little spots of color where I can find them. For example, the pot of miniature daffodils I bought at the grocery store.

Unfortunately, I discovered that the little daffodils had little bugs on them, so the pot went outside. Not sure where to go from here. I think it's too cold to keep the pot outside permanently, as yet.

Also, here are some rock gardens, one of the girls' art projects from last week. They got the idea from a book that my sister gave them ages ago. The markers recommended by the book with which to color the rocks were $16 for a set of six, and I had to wait to get a sales associate to get them for me as they were locked on the wall to prevent theft. One reason why I don't do a lot of the projects in that book is that many of the projects seem to need items not readily available and perhaps on the expensive side, at least if you don't have a big art budget. I suppose the girls might have just used tempera paint, but I wasn't sure how well that would stay on, so I preferred to use the markers suggested in the book.


This book seems to have possibilities; the girls have already done some projects from it. It touches on some of the basics of art, such as value, texture and space, some of the lessons teach about famous artists, and the projects don't require a lot of expensive materials. All pluses for me!

Zzzzzz

I have a post swirling in my head, but I'm too tired to type it out in a coherent form. So you'll have to wait until tomorrow to read the Latest Adventures of the Evil Genius. Nothing that exciting, just a lot of soul-searching about my job as teacher and the role of handcrafts in today's society -again.

House and Home

Since what we're doing is mainly school-related lately, I'm going to share this picture of an ancient Israelite house the girls have been working on as part of our study of ancient history. The floor is sandpaper, to simulate dirt, and it contains an oven, two bowls, an oil lamp, and a grinding set. My husband's former college roommate, who has his PhD in Old Testament studies, and who has been on an archeological dig in Israel, approved of our design. :)

We're using this book right now. Overall, I like it, even though it is written from a secular viewpoint. The author's unwillingness to believe that Baal worshipers of the time committed some horrific acts, even though it was documented not only by the Israelites, but also by the Greeks and Romans, is interesting.

It's sweet that even though we spend so much time together, family dinner is still important enough to Wildchild that she cleared the table off so we could have it. To put this in context, Wildchild usually needs to be told (and told) to do household chores, so for her to put in the effort to clear the table says something. The girls both pitched in with making the meal tonight, too. I like that they have an interest in cooking, and the time to pursue it.

I've been good about walking, and fairly good about eating, although we've made a couple of batches of chocolate chip cookies this past week. But I haven't been a pig with them, and at least homemade are better for you, right? :) I also can't give up the carbs like Kate has been able to. For example, the delicious beef stew I made tonight contained not only tender beef, but also potatoes and corn. And of course a dinner roll or two with the stew really tasted good! Right now, I'm trying moderation in my meals, and exercise. We'll see how it goes.