Knitting in 2011 Photo Recap

The Knitting Journal – May to December 2011

It is time, in fact way overdue, for the end-of-month housekeeping. I’ve completed 32 projects – 1 pair of mittens, 2 shawls, 2 bibs, 2 blanket squares, 5 pairs of socks/booties, 5 dishcloths, 6 hats, and 9 baby garments:

Ribbons & Lace Christening Ensemble (dress, booties, and two bonnets) by Margaret Jones knit with Malabrigo sock. Started February 13, 2011; completed June 18, 2011.

Matching shawl that is a hybrid of Cute ‘n’ Cozy Shawl by Monarch Yarns and Multnomah by Kate Ray. Started May 27, 2011; completed June 18, 2011.

Maile Sweater by Nikki Van De Car knit with Malabrigo sock (lettuce). Started June 24, 2011; completed June 26, 2011.

Matching lace hat in the same yarn knit the following day.

Mini Micro no purl Monkeys by Janine Steingasser, also knit in Malabrigo lettuce. Started July 16, 2011; completed July 17, 2011.

Garter Stripe Baby Socks by Jennifer Hoel knit with Sandnes Garn Lanett. Started and completed July 2, 2011.

Hedera socks by Cookie A knit with Sandnes Garn Sisu. Started July 3, 2011; completed July 15, 2011.

Five Textured Dishcloths by Priscilla Hewitt chrocheted with Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids. Started July 19, 2011; completed July 20, 2011.

eiki shawl by Janel Laidman knit in Malabrigo Sock (velvet grapes). Started July 23, 2011; completed August 6, 2011.

Blossom Bib by Joan Barnett chrocheted with Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit. Started August 7, 2011; completed August 9, 2011. b17-25

Bib in garter st in ”Safran” by DROPS design knit with Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit. Started August 10, 2011; completed August 13, 2011.

The First Lady mittens by Randi K Design knit with Cascade 220 wool. Started September 21, 2011; completed October 6, 2011.

Baby’s Pullover by Bernat Design Studio knit in Garnstudio DROPS Muskat. Started September 11, 2011; completed October 13, 2011.

Djevellue by May B. Langhelle (4th one!) knit in Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull. Started October 11, 2011; completed October 12, 2011.

Hermine Infant Set (the romper) by Dale of Norway / Dale Design also knit in babyull. Started  June 29, 2011; completed October 30, 2011.

Toddler Raglan Hoodie by Megan Goodacre knit in Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Lerke. Started August 27, 2011;  completed October 31, 2011.

b16-25 Knitted dress, bolero, and socks in ”Fabel” and ”Alpaca” by DROPS design knit in Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca and Fabel.  Dress started September 14, 2011; completed October 31, 2011. Bolero started November 15, 2011; completed December 31, 2011.

R2D2 hat knit with motifs from “Fairisle Patterns from the Movie Star Wars” by Sarah Bradberry in Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Free Style. Started October 21, 2011; completed October 31, 2011.

#1925 Heil dress i dobbelt 2-tråds garn (the Nostebarn suit) by Kathrine Gregersen knit in Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply).  Started October 16, 2011; completed October 31, 2011.

#1938 Barnelue med øyreklaffar by Kathrine Gregersen. Knit in the same yarn as the suit and on the following day.

Two 5 in squares for the group welcome blanket for Genevieve Danger Knitmore aka the shark bean. Knit in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash on November 25. 2011.

Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee knit in Garnstudio DROPS Fabel. Started Started December 18, 2011; completed December 31, 2011.

b18-3 jacket with overlap at front in ”Fabel” by DROPS design knit in Garnstudio DROPS Fabel. Started August 13, 2011; completed December 31, 2011.

Toddler Toe-up Ribbed Sock Pattern

This is my goto toe-up sock pattern for keeping small feet warm. I knit them one or more pairs at a time on one 80cm circular needle (magic-loop).

Size: 12-24 months (elastic and flexible fit)

Needles: 2.5mm

Yarn: Dalegarn baby ull (superwash fingering wool), about 25g / 80-100m

Abbreviations: m1 = pick up and knit yarn from previous round tbl

Toe: Start with a 12-stitch Turkish cast-on, and then increase to 40 stitches (all in stockinette).

Foot: Work stockinette on sole needle and p1 (k2, p2)* k1 on instep needle until work measures 6-7cm.

Gusset: Increase at the beginning and end of the sole needle as follows:
Row 1: k1, m1 , knit until 1 stitch remains, m1, k1 – knit across instep in ribbing pattern.
Row 2: Work stockinette on sole needle and ribbing on instep needle.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for a total of 6 times (52 sts).

Turn heel: On sole needle, work short-rows back and forth 3 times with 4 center stitches:
K22, kfb, k1, wrap and turn
P15, pfb, p1, wrap and turn
K13, kfb, k1, wrap and turn
P11, pfb, p1, wrap and turn
K9, kfb, k1, wrap and turn
P7, pfb, p1, wrap and turn

Knit across heel, knitting the wrapped stitches. Knit across instep needle in ribbing.

Heel flap:  Knit across heel (knitting the wrapped stitches) until 10 stitches remain. Decrease back to 20 stitches as follows:
row1 (RS) ssk, turn
row2 (WS) sl1, p18, p2tog, turn
row3 (RS) sl1, k1 to 1 stitch before gap, ssk, turn
row4 (WS) sl1, p to 1 stitch before gap, p2tog, turn
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you reach the end of the RS row (21 stitches remain)

Work across instep needle in ribbing. k2tog first 2 stitches on sole needle (completing the decreases) and knit across sole needle (40 sts).

Leg: work p1 (k2 p2)* k1 on both needles until desired length (about 7,5cm). Bind off loosely.

Finishing: Weave in ends.

Toddler Top-down Ribbed Sock Pattern

This is my goto top-down sock pattern for keeping small feet warm. Or maybe more an outline than a full-blown pattern. I knit them one or more pairs at a time on one 80cm circular needle (magic-loop).

Size: 18-24 months (elastic and flexible fit)

Needles: 2.5mm

Yarn: Dalegarn baby ull (superwash fingering wool)

Cuff + leg: Cast on 42 sts, join in the round, and work p1, k1 tbl ribbing for 7.5cm.

Heel: Work short-row heel in stockinette over half the stitches (21): Work 14 decrease rows (decrease untill 7 stitches remain in the middle), and then work 14 increase rows.

Foot: Continue in ribbing on the instep needle and work stockinette on the sole needle for ca 7.5 cm (untill the foot measures ca 10 cm).

Toe: Decrease row = (k1, ssk, knit to 3 sts remain, k2tog, k1) twice. Work toe decreases every other row 3 times, and then every row 4 times (until 7 sts remain on each needle). Kitchener remaining stitches.

Finishing: Weave in ends.

Growing a Pair: Blowout at the Pharmacy

Yesterday, I went to the pharmacy to stack up on wet wipes for the diaper bag. After a rather loud arguement at the checkout, I walked out announcing “I will never shop here again!” Not few heads turned among the other customers.

But hey, no one messes with a Mother shopping with and for her baby! I could not have been more certain that I was right and that the two employees at the checkout were wrong.

The core of the dispute was a membership deal on Dr Greve Pharma baby producs with a major pharmacy chain. How can you misinterpret the following:

“3 for 2 on Dr Greve Pharma products (baby oil, zink creme, and wet wipes) valid from July 1st to end of 2011. Buy 3 and pay for 2 – you get the cheepest product for free. You may combine all products in this offer, mix and match as you like.”

..and further:

“You can get these products in all our pharmacies. You can also shop with membership discount online.”

I picked 3x wet wipes and gave my membership card to the lady at checkout. When I looked at the receipt, it showed that I had paid for all three so I went back in the store to correct it. This is when the arguement starts.

Pharmacy employees:

• No, there is no 3 for 2 offer.
• Our offer is “buy 1 baby oil and 1 zink creme – get 1 wet wipes for free”.
• No, you cannot mix and match as you like.
• You have to get one of each, not 2+1 or 3 alike.

OK, see where this is headed?

• You must be talking about an internet deal. Internet deals are not the same as shop deals.
• Look at this advertisement (she points to it), it clearly says “…”

My side of the story?

• I signed up for the membership in July because of this great deal on the wet wipes, which we just so happen to be using anyhow.
• I have shopped at four other pharmacies in this chain over the past three months and received the 3 for 2 mix-and-match deal. I have bought both 3x wet wipes and 2 zink + 1 baby oil. The former multiple times.
• I asked the lady to check their website. She did and claimed there was no info about this deal. (The info is there, on multiple pages. Hint: look under “current deals”, “membership deals”, or “membership advantages”.
• I asked her to read the membership folder. She did and upheld her claim.
• I asked her to read the adverticement in the leaflet on the counter. She did and claimed that the above quoted text means “buy x and y – get z for free”. (Hello? You, should not work in a pharmacy if you cannot read your native language..)
• She claimed that those four other pharmacies must have misunderstood the deal and that I had gotten lucky with them.

At this time, frustration was building. I took my bag, my receipt, and walked away. I feel rather proud that the strongest word I used was “bullshit”.

About 4-5 minutes later down the hall outside another shop, the lady came looking for me. She had called HQ.. I have no idea what they told her, but this ended with me getting a cash refund for the third package of wet wipes. “We want happy, returning customers”, she said, following up with “I see how the text of this deal can be misleading, I will ask management to make new signs for the store specifying that the offer is buy 1 baby oil and 1 zink creme – get 1 wet wipes for free.”

Oh, Lord! The woman still cannot read!!! Or maybe she is too proud to admit to herself, her coworkers, and me that she is wrong.

Bottom line:

I got the deal this time, but I will probably not use the local pharmacy for membership deals anymore.  A day later, I am still thrilled that I had the guts to fight for my rights, and doing so without becoming rude. I do not think that she would have dragged me back into the store to give me the refund if I had called her names (even if she had earned them..)

The Knitting Journal – May 2011

It is time for the end-of-month housekeeping. I’ve completed 1 project – a cardigan:

Hermine Infant Set – the cardigan – knit with Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull. Started April 23, 2011; completed May 7, 2011.

I have also spent a lot of time working on Amalie´s christening ensemble and a matching shawl for me. Remaining work mostly limited to seaming, edgings, and darning in loose ends.

Knitting in 2010 Photo Recap

	Yarnharlot socks, photo missing	DROPS slippers, photo missing	DROPS slippers, photo missing

The Knitting Journal – Playing catch-up (2011)

And here is the 2011 update From January through April this year, I completed 10 baby projects – two hats, a pair of mittens, two vests, two onesies, a hooded cardigan, a blanket, and a romper:

Two Djevellue by May B. Langhelle knit with Baby Ull by Dale of Norway/Dalegarn.

Yellow started December 30, 2010; completed January 12, 2011. White started January 4, 2011; completed January 12, 2011.

b14-18 Mittens in Alpaca by DROPS design knit with Tynn Alpakka by Du Store Alpakka.

Started January 26, 2011; completed January 29, 2011.

All three pieces of #1902 Babyundertøy by Kathrine Gregersen knit with Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply).

Started August 7, 2010; completed February 10, 2011. (Quick knits, but I postponed seaming and buying buttons.)

Fuglemammas omslagsbody by May B. Langhelle knit with Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply).

Started August 21, 2010; completed February 10, 2011. (Also a quick knit, but again I postponed the finishing work.)

#1921 Veksejakke, rillestrikka hettejakke by Kathrine Gregersen knit with Du Store Alpakka BabySilk.

Started October, 2010; completed February 9, 2011.

#1904 Babyteppe by Kathrine Gregersen  knit with Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply).

Started November 12, 2010; completed March 22, 2011.

#1940 Rillestrikka sparkebukse i 2-tråds garn by Kathrine Gregersen knit with Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply).

Started April 2, 2011; completed April 22, 2011.

The Knitting Journal – Playing catch-up (2010)

Oh dear, oh dear! I´m such a slacker when it comes to updating the knitting journal. From August through December last year, I completed nine projects – three pairs of socks, two pairs of slippers, two hats, a pair of mittens, and a scarf:

Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee knit with Garnstudio DROPS Fabel. Started December 7, 2010; completed December 12, 2010.

Newborn Toe Up Jaywalkers by Christina Cartwright
knit with Garnstudio DROPS Fabel. Started and completed December 12, 2010.

Baby mittens based on Dale of Norway / Dalegarn #127 knit with Garnstudio DROPS Fabel. Started December 12, 2010; completed December 18, 2010.

2 pairs of 111-31 Knitted slippers in 2 threads ”Fabel” by DROPS design knit with Garnstudio DROPS Fabel. Black pair started December 18, 2010; completed December 21, 2010. Green pair started December 27, 2010; completed December 29, 2010.

Newborn Toe Up Ribbed Socks (modified version of the above jaywalkers) knit with Garnstudio DROPS Fabel.
Started December 21, 2010; completed December 22, 2010.

Baby bonnet Liten lue by May B. Langhelle knit with Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply). Started December 22, 2010; completed December 25, 2010.

Baby scarf #1912 Scarf by Kathrine Gregersen knit with Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply).  Started December 28, 2010; completed December 29, 2010.

Djevellue by May B. Langhelle knit with Baby Ull by Dale of Norway/Dalegarn. Started December 29, 2010; completed December 30, 2010.

Sorry, no photos of the slippers and adult socks at the time of writing.

How many twitter accounts does a man need?

According to Computerworld magazine, 460 000 new twitter accounts are created each day. Seriously? I don’t believe that that’s close to half a million unique humans a day. So who, or, rather what, are all these new identities?

For starters, there’s the autobot retweeters. Have you noticed that as soon as you mention some keyword that you haven’t put in your tweets before, you are retweeted by someone.

Keywords also draw attention to weird followers, some who stick to you, and some who unfollow the very next day. For example, in one of my early tweets, I talked about unfinished objects in ravelry.com, abbreviated UFOs by knitters. And lo and behold, I get followed by someone looking for unidentified flying objects. They’ve still not figured out that that’s not my semantics.

And then there are spammers and other attention seakers. Just because I might need carpal tunnel surgery, I do not need, or want, plastic surgery or enhncement of some body parts. Also, women do not have that kind of parts.

“If you follow me, I’ll follow you back.” Well, you start, and if I find you interesting, then I’ll happily follow you back. You don’t walk up to a girl at the bar and ask her to ask you out on a date…

Happy fifth anniversary, Twitter!