Month: December 2023

Finally, A Year Of Socks

Karen

As of today, I’ve made 6 pairs of socks this year! (And it may end up being 7; I just have toes and heels on one more.) I wanted to really get into sock knitting in 2021, but I kept getting tendonitis flare-ups. I finally did something about it in August of this year and started getting medical massages. Not only did I knit half the year’s socks in the time since then, I’m back to trying to do a real pull up at the gym–highly recommend this practitioner if you’re local.

Other numbers-based milestones for the year? I finally hit 100 pounds on bench press in November (also thanks to the medical massage); Doc had 3 hospital stays and 1 surgery (and is doing great); and Toby turned 16 (and is also doing great after his vet brought in a pet nutritionist and we got him different food).

I guess the lesson I’m taking from 2023 is… pay for a specialist to fix your problems! Easy! Seriously, though, I’m grateful we could afford our specialists and that their expertise helped us all feel better.

Happy New Year, friends. Stay warm and knit on.

New Hobby? Make Some Gifts!

Karen

The family didn’t escape getting bookbinding presents–Altair got a gardening journal and Skyler got a photo album. Both were quick projects because Hollanders had the text blocks ready to go.

I was pretty pleased with the casing-in on the garden journal. I’m sure it helped that I practiced with mine but this is my best job yet:

I didn’t get a good picture but I put in a loop of foldover elastic between the back cover and end paper to hold a pencil, and then I tried covering a pencil in matching paper for good measure (extremely fun and easy; everyone almost got a bunch of pencils, too).

 

The photo album needed a “hollow back tube” binding style, which I hadn’t done before. It definitely turned out as instructed, but it’s not the cleanest job (the tube got a little creased on the side).

But it works, and this was an ancillary gift anyway. Skyler’s in the Civil Air Patrol, so I went with their colors in case he wants to do an album of his flights or something.

Christmas Sewing Roundup

Karen

I’m posting at a weird time but I’m here, mostly because I’m feeling antsy to wrap up the year. So let’s go over the holiday sewing!

I give the coaches at the gym a nice bottle of booze, but the coach at the gym who doesn’t drink got a onesie for his new baby:

The pattern is the Brindille & Twig Hood Zip Coverall and I had the check fleece and ribbing in my stash from when I thought I wanted to make a sage green short-sleeve sweatshirt? Fortunately I thought better of the sweatshirt; the fleece is really cute for a babby.

 

Next up, Doc got some more undies:

These are the trusty Walbrook Boxer Briefs from Greenstyle in some knits from L’Oiseau Fabrics (ordered when I got my sweater knit for that big blazer; love to shop for fabric for others and end up getting some for me, too).

 

And finally, the biggest project, another vest for my dad:

He wears the vest I made him last year a lot, but I was never happy with how the zipper turned out and I noticed he always turned the collar down. So I found a vest pattern for wovens, with no collar, and then went all-in on technical materials.

The outer shell is a blend of recycled poly and oyster shells, of all things, called “Seawool.” It claims to be anti-static, anti-odor, anti-bacterial, quick drying, and soft to the touch–I can only substantiate the “soft” claim but it was nice to work with.  For the lining, I went with Thinsulate (“inch for inch it is the warmest insulation around”) and quilted it to a nylon taslan, which claims to be breathable, wicking, and odor and mildew resistant.

I used the Wardrobe by Me Ozark Vest pattern, which is pretty much a knockoff of a Carhartt vest. I was really impressed with it–beautiful, precise drafting and a really nice bagged lining with the facings attached. Plus a zipper guard!

I know there have been years where I’ve sewn a lot more gifts for people, but this December just got so busy with work that it felt hard to fit the sewing in. But I got it all done, with five days to spare!

Friday Links

Karen

It’s my last workday of the year, hooray! I haven’t decided whether I’ll post next week or not–on one hand, I have sewing and knitting to round up for the year, but on the other hand, I could let every routine slip, forget language, and go feral. Hard choice.

1. Need some new Christmas music? I just found out about The 25th Day of December from The Staple Singers. As Rolling Stone tells us:

Recorded in 1962 but then out of print for decades, this is a forgotten classic: Christmas-themed gospel sung by three amazing sisters (the mighty Mavis Staples was only 23), backed with just organ, drums, and “Pops,” their father, playing funky electric guitar.

 

2. Need the most unhinged Yule log video you’ll ever see? I got you:

The Shortest Day

Karen
Rockwell Kent Moonlight, Winter c. 1940

We’ve made it to the Winter Solstice! Here we are in the wheel of the year and the upward spin begins after today.

To celebrate, you could listen to this 1978 album (which includes a reading of Susan Cooper’s “The Shortest Day”). You could do some of the rituals suggested here. As that post says:

The Winter Solstice is a portal. It is a yes/and. It is saying goodbye to the year. We process the hard, hard lessons we learned. We welcome in light, spirits, and all forms of kinship so that we may stay safe, in service, and attuned to gratitude. After Solstice, we welcome in the New Year.

What do you want to come forth out of the unknown?

Tuesday Project Roundup: Birthday Shirt

Karen

As per tradition, Doc got a new cat print shirt for his birthday:

I’ve had the fabric since the summer, when I saw it in a Miss Matatabi email (it sold out fast). Did I get a head start on it? Of course not. So when it was crunch time, I decided to go with the slightly simpler camp collar New Look pattern I’ve made him a couple times, vs the tried-and-true McCalls pattern with a full collar stand that I usually use.

I didn’t do front pockets, both for time and for lack of fabric to make them perfectly match. But I think letting that fabric shine was a good choice–you really don’t want anything to interrupt the joy of kittens rock climbing (their little feet!).

The Most Spoiled Cat

Karen

It was now or never for gift sewing on Sunday–except there were also errands to do. Doc offered to handle those so I could sew, but there was still one problem: After four years of working from home, if someone isn’t on the couch or at least in the same room with him, Prince Toby absolutely loses his shit. (Not literally, thankfully, but his yowls and cries and angry yodels are relentless.)

So Doc went out and I moved the sewing machine and ironing board down to the main room, where I could keep His Highness company.

Was it convenient? No! Is our kitty very old and very stubborn so it’s just easier to indulge him? Yes! And it was nice to have the record player going while I was sewing (after someone stopped meowing to tell me there were new! things! in his main room, of course).

Happy Almost Birthday, Doc

Karen

SOMEONE has a birthday tomorrow and, while I know he hates to be the center of attention, I can’t not do a birthday post. (Uh, and presents. And cake. But at least I stopped trying to make a party happen!)

I’ve called him my rock before, but he’s really more like a buttress: He gives people support to help them grow on their own. I’ve seen him do it with coworkers and friends and family; definitely with me.

I’ve never met anyone as conscientiously caring, whether that takes the form of “buttressing” or recurring donations to causes he cares about or checking in daily with his social network or just showing up twice weekly at his parents’ house to help with what needs helping.

My time with him has made me a better person and I know his friends would agree. Happy birthday, honey. I love you!