Just One More KOTOTW Project to Go!

I finally finished the Lisbon Lace Jacket!

Can you say, WOO HOOOO!!!!!!!  For those of you who are counting, that leaves only the Great Plains Blanket Bag, number 50!  On Thursday night, I knitted the very last stitch on the matching fronts and backs, but now have a load of yarn-ends to weave through.  And I'm leaving at noon to take a trip to the east coast through Sunday, Jan. 20- and this is not a great travel project.   Not sure how the TSA feels about scissors, but I don't think I'll risk it.  I'll finish it when I return.

For me, the Lisbon Lace Jacket was the toughest project in the book -- not from a technical standpoint, but from a motivational standpoint.  I guess every knitter has their most and least favorite techniques; what I have learned is that I am not crazy about projects which involve lots of individual bits that you have to piece together.   Fiddly.

Other such multiple-piece projects that I have worked on like this in the past include this one:

Adorable.  But fiddly.  Every little mousie's body, tail, ears, ear insides, hands, feet, legs, arms, to be made and attached separately - that is 14 pieces per mouse, times 5 mice, plus 6 pieces per flower, and leaves.  A project where the finishing work takes 3 times as long as the knitting.

The scarf is done - but making all those bitty leaves and leave fringe, and then sewing them on?  Somehow this hasn't been accomplished yet...

My nephew's stained-glass afghan.  Started when he was 16.  He is now 21, but somehow only one of the bajillion colors of squares is crocheted.  (I blame this somewhat on the fact that I can't crochet on the bus as I have to look, and get seasick, but really - I should get it done while he still has his original teeth.)

So, I guess in terms of self-knowledge, I now know that I should think twice before embarking upon the "lots-of-tiny-pieces-to-be-painstakingly-combined-into-something-much-larger" type of project.  Note to self, baby!

Happy New Year!

For New Year's Eve, my ex-husband and I took Nathan to the 11:00 PM "Improvaganza" show at Brave New Workshop.  It was FREEZING outside, so Nathan begrudgingly agreed to wear the sweater I had made for his dad before we got married:

I love that look - it just says it all about being a teenager, and having your mom insist on taking a picture of you wearing something knitted.  I still think he is a cutie-pie, however, even though I can no longer put him in embarrassing knitted baby hats. 

Our Italian feast for New Year's day was truly wonderful. 

Geoff is sauteeing mushrooms at the stove to top polenta, while Mary starts slicing up the world's largest lasagna.  The flatter one in front was this really unusual butternut squash lasagna, with ground-up almond amaretto cookies and sage in the filling.  It was sweet and rich, and somehow very dessert-like.

 

For our January knitting night, we met first at Bella Lana, where they were having their own weekly knitting nights.  One of the participants was a truly skilled knitter; I have forgotten his name though it started with a K (Kevin?  Kenny?).  Anyway, he generously allowed me to photograph his beautiful intarsia sweater, as well as this beautiful aran, which he had made for himself but which was appropriated by his friend, along with its matching scarf:

 

He says that intarsia is his most favorite kind of knitting, never mind the ends; he was currently working on a glorious Kaffe Fassett pattern called "Foolish Virgins," and I'm going to have to start visiting Bella Lana on Thursdays so I can see it when it is finished!

Here is a picture of one on Ravelry knitted by "Knitingagain":

The star attraction of this month's knitting night, was the chance to spend a little time with Kristin and her new 3-week-old baby boy, Sullivan:

Note the monkeys on his toes!  Doesn't she look radiant?   He apparently yowled all the way to the restaurant in the car, but apparently had gotten it out of his system, because he kindly allowed all of his "knitting grandma posse" to hold him and give him cuddles while mom enjoyed her dinner in peace.

Here is Renay (giving us a good view of the matching monkey on  his backside!)

Ann held him for a bit; Kim graciously declined as she had held her own newborn grand-daughter all day, so I selfishly hogged him for most of the evening, walking him around the restaurant to admire the sparkling Christmas decorations so that everyone else could eat.

I

What a little pumpkin!   He is still at that age where he is kinda curled up, and likes his feet held close (kinda like he was still on the inside, so to speak).  He went fast asleep for awhile.  Mmm, that new baby scent.  No joy so sweet as to hold a newborn in your arms...

Oh yeah!  I do happen to be wearing the Great Bear Zip Jacket - what a cozy, wonderful garment for a cold winter's night!

But enough of this reveling in knitting and baby joy -- time to get cracking on my packing!  I still have two loads of laundry to do, a house to clean (sigh- don't I always), and a bag to pack.  I'm going to spend a few days in New York with Nicky (WHEEEE!!!).   She is really busy with another book due in March, and photo shoot on Tuesday.  I'm hoping there will be something I can do to help with the book she's working on, and will probably spend a day at the museums while she's on the photo shoot -- don't want to add to her stress level.  And then I'll go to New Jersey, visit my parents, and if the weather cooperates I will drive them to Worcester, Massachusetts to see my nephew Eric play basketball.  Should be  a whirlwind trip!  I'm going to be out of town the following weekend as well for a winter retreat with my cousin Michele and girlfriend Laurie, so it may be the end of the month before I have a chance to catch up with you.

I'm hoping I'll have a finished KOTOTW project to show you by then, as well as whatever knitting I manage to accomplish during my travels!

XOXOXO, Mar.

 

Comments

[Charlotte]

Beautiful knitting ... and such progress! You are to be commended on your accomplishment.

[Linda]

I hate having to sew up all the little parts of my knitting or crocheting. I have admired the stained-glass afghan in catalogs before, but I never bought it because of all the little squares!

Nathan looks great in that sweater. Maybe he'll appreciate it when he is older. :)

Happy and safe travels. By the way, I think you're okay with scissors on the plane, as long as they are under three inches long. I would stay away from pointed scissors (just in case).

Have you decide on another grand project after you're done with the KOTW projects?

[Cynthia]

WOO HOO!!! Your lace jacket is gorgeous! As is everything you do. I love the little mouse thing. I know how fiddly those things can be. I agree there is no joy so sweet as to hold a newborn in your arms... Great Bear Zip Jacket is really fabulous! Sure hope your trip went wonderfully! :):)

[Barb]

Oh your knitting never ceases to amaze & impress me! Just incredible!

Now I can't wait to hear about your trip. Hope it was wonderful!