Better Living Through Literature
Words + Projects + Stuff I Like
I was very close to finishing one of the socks that’s been going along in the background for months now, so I took it to Doc’s family gathering and followed the instructions…
However, that was the day after the Greek wedding and clearly I was a little foggy, because I don’t think socks need an extra little growth at the toe end.
Time to pull it out and try again!
I said last month that I was knitting hats and socks because I was disillusioned with sweater projects that I don’t wear or that don’t fit. After the Magic Tidying Up of the closet, I realized that nearly none of the sweaters I’d made over the years brought me joy (and thus have moved on to find a new home). But socks? They are small and they fit and they don’t make you itchy. They’re ok.
(Self-striping sock yarn, “Simple Sock Recipe” pattern.)
Ever since I packed up a lot of my handmade sweaters that don’t get worn because of fit issues, I’ve been sticking to little projects, like hats (and now socks). I made myself a hat, I made my nephew a hat, and because Doc declined a hat, I made this hat for my friend’s little boy. He’s the one who got a tiny owl sweater back when he was born, so I thought a return to that motif would be nice.
(Specs: I used this pattern in the kid size; yarn was Cascade superwash in my stash.)
Those owls get me every time. They’re so fun to make!
I needed a project to work on for November so decided on a hat for my nephew. I used yarn I already had (in Thomas the Tank Engine colors) but decided to make it a silly shape, so went with a long, pointy elf hat.
(Yarn is Cascade superwash and pattern was adapted from this one. I see the point of the purl rows now; without them, you can see my decreases at the top and bottom of every stripe.)
I didn’t mean for this to be a Christmas present–just a fun winter hat–but timing means he’ll be getting it with the rest of his Christmas loot. I’ll try to get a picture of it on.
Much like cowbell, I think you always need more pompom. However, this was what my biggest pompom maker could do. 
I may have to look into a bigger pompom maker, but other than that, now I have a very chunky and pink hat to wear on winter hikes.
Ever since I packed up all the handmade sweaters I’ve knitted over the years and put them into permanent storage this spring, I’ve been trying to stick to small knitted items. They sweaters I’ve made have all had a weird fit, or a weird style, or are too small or too itchy now. The thinking part of my brain knows that if I knit a poncho, it will probably fall into the “weird fit/weird style” category and also won’t get worn. But does that stop me from thinking I need to make one? Of course not.
Creature Comforts Cardi pattern
I’d blame my inner hippie for this poncho fever, but I’ve been listening to lots of Fleetwood Mac lately–I think my inner Stevie Nicks is responsible for this one. Just add about twelve scarves and some fringe.
You may think they’re dated (and sing this song in your head), but legwarmers are really nice for layering over yoga tights when it gets cold. Last fall my mom admired the pair I made, so she got her own this year:
(Easy care Bernat yard from Jo-Ann; pattern invented as I went.)
If the shift in the light and the rainy weather we’re getting weren’t enough to remind me fall is coming, I’m feeling a renewed desire to knit things–the final sign that yeah, maybe I won’t be able to hang on to maxi dresses and sandals all year and had better get something warmer going.
The first thing I want to make? A new hat for hiking in cool weather, inspired by (copied from) the author of the blog The Noisy Plume.
Are you reading this blog? It is beautiful. Written by a jewelry designer/photographer/backpacker/yogi/all around luminous person, her blog is how I want my life to be. That picture above? It’s not a catalog; it’s her weekday!
But until I can move to Idaho or Montana and hike around with my dog and make beautiful things in my studio, I’ll have to copy her hat shown here. I think this pattern (with a pom pom) will be pretty close.
(Image taken by Jillian from The Noisy Plume, pulled from this post, with thanks for the inspiration.)
When I cleared out the dresser drawers for the painting project, I ended up going through all the winter clothes and pulling out spring ones–and I realized I have half a dozen sweaters I’ve knit over the years that I never wear but can’t get rid of because they took so long to make.
So my new goal is to only knit small things, starting with what was going to be a sock but turned into a legwarmer. Here it is in the backseat of the car on the drive down to Moab (I was also showing off the nail art stickers for Instagram):
It has lots of colors and it’s not going to take up a lot of space in a drawer. Double win!
There’s been no time for sewing capes this past week, but there’s always time to talk about yarn. Here’s the latest:
I haven’t knitted a pair of socks since 2008 but I suddenly wanted some sock yarn, so that’s the variegated blue stuff. The gray yarn was going to be a pair of boot toppers, but then I realized I haven’t worn a dress and boots to work in the last year, so I think I’ll keep going and make some legwarmers.
My yarn, let me show you it.
