Electron Jam: Crafts!

Ahh, this week has been refreshingly different. I seem to be just able to get things moving from a point of stagnation to a point of done-ness. Well, not everything, obviously. But my knitting stuff has just been brilliant. Over the weekend there was enough sunlight and Tom felt well enough to help me photograph my (burgeoning) stash pile. I had gotten a bag of bargains in Oswestry in October that I put in my Ravelry stash without photos. Then I got a treasure trove of awesome yarns from S. including some amazing hand-spun skeins. There were a lot of brands that I’ve read about in exalted tones that I had never seen in person and now they’re even in my own stash. Will have to force myself to knit with them! And then there were a couple of other yarns I’d bought myself from Babylonglegs.

So there was obviously a lot of yarns to take pictures of. And a few finished items, like Tom’s red scarf and the bonnets I’d recently done and even my aborted sweater attempt from November. We spent a long afternoon doing a photo shoot on some of Tom’s lovely art paper collection and then I spent the evening putting my stash and projects pages on Ravelry back to rights. That felt so good. I love browsing through my stash and dreaming of future projects. And I also love browsing through my finished projects and feeling accomplished.

Then I was working on my Kindle cosy. It has kind of annoyed me to have the Kindle for over a week and not have anything to carry it around in. It felt naked. When I decided last week to use my special Ingeborg Michels Gernsbach Naturwolle Handgesponnen that Tom bought for me in Bern, it felt right. But I wasn’t sure what design to do. I wanted to definitely make it side opening rather than top opening, and I thought at first that I would want it as a shoulder bag. Finally this week, I cast on and went through a few days of angst. But it was done and my Kindle is now cosy.

After that, I wasn’t sure what to work on. Tom wants a scarf to go with his green bonnet and I’ve now decided how that might work out (since there isn’t much yarn yet). I haven’t cast on because I want to make myself another scarf before doing yet another one for Tom.

Then I decided I had to finish some mobile cosies that were sitting around for a couple of months with just a little bit needed. One of three cosies needed a button loop and I hadn’t been sure how to do it. I made a decision and found the right button for it, and whoosh, another WIP converted to an FO.

I’d also been eyeing my old octopus project from last summer and considering that it needed to be done. Then a conversation with a co-worker, in which she’d told me about a dream that I knit a giant octopus (how weird, I exclaimed, I have been knitting an octopus, albeit not a giant one…!), spurred me on to pull out the project and actually work on it. I seamed up the legs quickly one evening, then read through the directions and figured out the next step. I got out the right needles and the next day put the leg assembly  together. It wasn’t as hard as I’d originally thought it would be, but I think it was also easier now than it would have been if I’d tried it six months ago before I had the last six months’ of knitting experience. Then this morning, I’ve stuffed the octopus’s head and figured out how to fake graft the head to the assembly. I’m so pleased with the result!

Hopefully this won’t be the end of my period of getting things done. I’m not quite sure what to cast on next. I have so many ideas and plans that I can’t decide between them. I may try to get a few other nagging projects out of the way before jumping into a new big knitting project (after all I do have two unfinished quilts and a cardigan repair to do). And I’ve got a big organising job ahead of me, since we’ve bought a wardrobe for my office where all the crafty things are supposed to live. We have to build the wardrobe and then put everything into it, which I envision will be a lot of work. But it will be worth it to have everything sorted and in its own home.

I had an unexpected call from work the other day (on one of my days off), and I was worried when I saw who was calling that there was some kind of urgent request that I would have to go in to deal with. Instead it was one of the art workers, who said, “We’re cutting up pumpkins and have a big bowl of pumpkin flesh. Do you want it?” Now, I have to admit, I did hesitate. I had no idea how to cook down fresh pumpkins, and in fact have never even cooked with pumpkin from a can. I don’t really like pumpkin pie (the only thing I can think of that is regularly baked with pumpkin), and I think I’ve had otherwise in my life: pumpkin ravioli (a couple of times), pumpkin soup (once or twice?)… and that’s probably it. Unless I once had a risotto with pumpkin. It’s not a flavour that’s used often, especially here in the UK, and I’m not entirely sure I like it all that much.

But I did say yes, and by the time I got to the office – which had become a major pumpkin processing installation – there was even a second big bowl of pumpkin flesh for me to take. They had 2 dozen or so medium sized pumpkins they were hollowing slightly to make jack o’lanterns on Halloween for a participatory arts project. They had separated out the seeds and most of the string and left the rest for me. It’s nice to be known as the resident baker sometimes.

That evening, I went through the larger bowl and found that there was quite a bit of the stringy bits still left in the mix. I separated it all out and cut the flesh that was left into chunks. After researching extensively on the internet, I decided to boil it down on the stovetop with water covering it. I was surprised how long this took. I cooked it until the pieces were quite soft. I think the first pot took over 40 minutes. Despite all that I threw away, the bigger bowl filled about a third of my large stockpot.

However, this didn’t mean I was going to get to bake anywhere near the number of different ideas I had accumulated through my internet searching. In the end, the big pot yielded only 2-1/2 cups of pumpkin puree. I refrigerated it, and sorted/cut up the smaller bowl, leaving the cooking down until the next day. That ended up just over a cup.

Looking over the recipes, that’s not going to be much in the way of pumpkin pies. I know that it wasn’t the full pumpkins, so I’m hopeful that the pumpkin I bought and didn’t turn into a jack o’lantern will yield maybe about as much as the larger bowl. A pie seems to need about 1-2 cups, depending on which recipe you follow. But I’ve done a half-batch of the pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe I found online. They’ll be brought to work tomorrow as thanks for the flesh.

And I’m going to try some pumpkin cheese scones, which sounds unusual. I’ve got just over a cup in the freezer from the second batch of puree to make a Thanksgiving pie at the end of the month.

Of course I didn’t have to gut the pumpkins myself, but it didn’t see all that hard to cook down the pumpkin to puree. I may try to do some more recipes, depending on how these come out. The muffins are actually in the oven right now, though they smell more of chocolate than pumpkin. And when I do our pumpkin processing, I may try the bake it in the over and scoop the flesh out later method to make the puree, which may be a bit easier.

Last week, I went to a knitting group for the first time. I’ve belonged to writers’ groups for many years, and I was struck by the different sort of atmosphere. Knitting groups are different than writing groups first because you sit and do the knitting while you’re there but you can also have conversations. Knitting, as opposed to writing, is also very tactile and visible. It’s easier to experience and enjoy someone’s work, even in an early stage of the project, because you can see the yarn, discuss the pattern choice, share knowledge of the techniques.

Some writing group members do come and write during a meeting, but usually we discuss our writing, or read it aloud, critique work or play word games or do exercises. It is all about writing, but not necessarily doing writing. But knitting groups, from what I can tell, are mainly to give you time out of your busy week to practise the craft you love. You can socialise and discuss many other topics, while eagerly clicking your needles and picking up stitches. There is definitely talk about the craft, discussion of projects, help from the more experienced knitters. But more importantly, there is the knitting itself.

The one thing the two types of groups have in common is passion. The people who feel it’s important enough to spend a few hours a week/month with a group also have a strong commitment to the craft of choice. The knitters I met have all been eager to share and enjoy with other knitters, just like the writers I have met over the years at different writers’ groups.

I’ve gone back to another meeting this week, and met a few more people that weren’t there the week before, but there were also many of the same faces back again, some on the same projects as last time and some doing something different. I’m looking forward to seeing the projects grow into finished objects, and learning the different knitters’ styles, and learning who choses what kind of project or yarn.

Over the weekend, I also attended a knitting workshop, Professional Finishing. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m glad I decided to go. The cost of the workshop included lunch and a full day of learning (10am-4pm), and of course the opportunity to shop in the LYS. It was at the Threads of Life in Castle Donington, with the Rowan teacher Emma King.

There were about ten of us at the table, with various numbers of years experience, though I think I was the only one who hadn’t attempted a garment at all. However, I think it was perfect that I took this course now, before I can teach myself too many bad habits! A few of the women (yes, no men braved the workshop) were really adamant that they wished they had known of these techniques years ago, and that it would have made things much easier for them on their previous projects. Some of the things we learned about and practised were: picking up stitches, short row shaping, decreasing/increasing, mattress stitch seams (on both side to side and side to cast on edges), and buttonholes. Although I’d learned mattress stitch before, Emma’s way of teaching it made it much easier to remember.

I was excited to make my very first buttonhole! All of the things we learned have given me the confidence to attempt a cardigan – once I decide on a pattern, colour and yarn, of course.

The other nice thing about the day was meeting and chatting with other knitters. A few even live close to Leicester, so I hope to meet up with them again in future. Perhaps even at the local knitting group. You never know.

When knitting class finished, I decided my summer project was going to be teaching myself sock knitting. However, I mainly procrastinated.

Procrastinating a knitting project is easy. First you need to decide on a pattern. Then you need to decide on a yarn that will work with that pattern. Then you need to buy the yarn (or dig it out from the stash). Then you need to wind that yarn from a skein into a ball. Then you need to cast on.

I had some Wendy Happy bamboo/nylon yarn I’d bought in May. I wasn’t sure what I would do with it, but couldn’t resist. I loved the blues, pinks and purples. I was originally going to use some Skitches yarn for my first pair of socks, but I figured I would be better off using a cheaper yarn in case I really screwed up.

Unfortunately, the winding stage of this project was a real pain. I guess partly from being a bargain bin skein, and partly from my ‘dump it in’ stash philosophy, this skein was a right mess. It took Tom and I several days of headache and cursing to finish the ball, and even then it ended up as one main ball and a smaller ball that I just couldn’t get the tangle out of and had to cut the thread. We worked from both ends of the skein, we de-tangled until we were cross-eyed, and we used the kitchen towel holder to hold it, which was a stroke of genius, since it could stand on the table in between de-tangling sessions. We pretty much tag-teamed it until it was done. Days.

For the sock pattern, I came up with something I like. After a few false ideas and some recommendations that seemed like a good choice, I ended up with ‘Slip Up Socks’, a free pattern on the poshyarns site (via Ravelry, of course). The name of the pattern is a good joke, as I figure I will ’slip up’ at some point in the process. The thing I liked about it, aside from the very straightforward descriptions of how to do the socks, is that the pattern is a simple 3×3 ribbing on all but one row, which adds an easy slip1+yarnover combination that really makes the socks look special.

I’m slightly concerned about sizing, since my feet are not a dainty women’s medium, which is what every pattern seems to be. But I’m going to follow the pattern for now, and hopefully just make the foot a bit longer to fit.

Sam suggested using dpns, as did Silver’s Sock Class tutorial. I read up a few tutorials online, but Silver’s seems the most basic and clearly laid out. While I’m not following hers exactly, I will be relying on it for the extra-scarey bits.

Playing around with the dpns while I first tried to cast on was frustrating, and I nearly gave up. But eventually it all worked out, and after the third try, I cast on and was away. The pattern looks great. The biggest problem is the yarn, which has been stranding quite a lot, especially the first few rounds.

I finished the gusset on sock1 last night, now on the slow slog to the toe! Have been told that since I’ve done a mitton, the toe shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll see!

I am liking the yarn better now that I’m in the middle of the ball, and it’s fun to watch the colours and pattern emerge. Really hope the sock fits when I’m finished.

My sewing machine doesn’t seem to have been used lately. In fact, the thread and bobbin on the dusty machine match a project I started last year, and haven’t touched since last September or so. Evidence of neglect.

I plunge in. I’ve decided I cannot live without a knitting project bag to carry around my current WIP, my Happy (?) Socks. I’m attending a knitting event this week, and believe the project bag to be a must-have accessory. I will be out in public as a knitter for the first time outside of a classroom. I’m nervous. It’s probably silly to be nervous, but that doesn’t stop me from wondering if I can skip out on the event.

I really want to go, but at the same time, I wonder if it’s going to be worthwhile. As a new knitter, I feel like I will expose myself as a fool, but then I feel proud of myself for starting the sock project, and I know the coordinator, so I should go. And having the perfect project bag will help me feel confident. I’m sure of it.

There are a few designs I was contemplating.

• happythings’ simple drawstring bag
• happythings’ lined drawstring bag
• my little mochi’s origami pocket pouch
• Craft and Fabric Links’ drawstring bag
• Buzzle’s quick drawstring bag

I’ve had these links (and other now-dead ones) in my bookmark folder for a while. Finally, I will use them! I decide I want a lined bag, which puts most out of the running. I mostly use the happythings tutorial, with the added feature of a pocket for any knitting notions I want to carry with the project (scissors, measuring tape, needle point covers, darning needle).

My measurements are based on the fact that I have a fat quarter of the fabric I want to use and I want the project to fit well inside the bag. The outside fabric I decide on is a cute ’sweets’ theme, with lollipops and cakes, a quilting cotton that I’m not sure I had a project in mind for when I bought it (possibly at the Leicester Quilters’ meeting I attended years ago). The inside fabric is a large piece of thicker orange cotton with light striping that I’ve had for a while (in fact, I think I bought it at a fabric sale when we lived near Wandsworth Common). I’m very pleased with the combination so far. To add the pockets, I decide on a simple extra piece inside the lining connecting to the bottom and sides, with a sewn line to separate it into two pockets.

Before I get too involved, I need to also make sure I have a ribbon I can use for the drawstring. While I have a lot of random ribbon pieces, I don’t have many that are long enough. Each of the two ribbon pieces need to be long enough to double the width of the bag, with enough left over to pull at each end. I find a couple of tan-coloured ribbons, including a Fortnum and Mason’s from a gift basket we once had, and a dark maroon thin ribbon cord I recently got in a sale with many other colours. I have choices at least.

The sewing goes well, the pocket seems to make sense. I am diligent about ironing between each step – which I’m usually lax about. The pocket is a bit fiddly because I decide to save time by not sewing the bottom and edges since that seam will be repeated when I have to go around the whole bag anyway. I also remember to use one of my labels “Handmade by Tricia”. I top stitch it around in the same thread on the inside lining. It’s too big to really be used on the outside, even folded in half.

Turning the whole thing right side out goes well, too, and I am feeling really good. I top stitch the bottom lining closed, and test the size. My knitting fits perfectly. Now I have to decide on a ribbon, and after consultation (with Tom), I decide on the F&M ribbon. It’s a good use of it, the colour works beautifully, and I’ll be using and enjoying it often, unlike when it is kept unused in a cabinet. I finish off the drawstring, and the bag is complete. I love it!

Carried away, I make two more bags of a slightly bigger size (using half of a fat quarter to give it a bit more room). The fabric I use is really fun but crisp, and I decide one of the them is an Xmas present, so I won’t have a picture here yet. But I’m really excited. Next I will have to make something bigger to hold my straight knitting needle projects. But for now, these are perfect for sock projects, or even a small crochet project.

Over the summer I was on a smoothie kick. Drank them every day, sometimes twice a day. At that time, I started buying fruit to keep in the freezer for them. One of the packs I bought of already frozen fruit (probably a few months ago), was a summer fruit mix. Read more

Where to begin? At the beginning, I guess. I know nothing about knitting. I never held knitting needles in my hand until the day of my first knitting class, last Tuesday. I signed up on a whim. I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, but I like other crafts so it was a safe bet I would have fun even if I don’t turn into a prolific knitter. Other people I know knit, tell me I should try it.

So I’ve signed up for this class. Read more

Oh these are delicious! Read more

This week was one of my turns for pottery class. (My husband and I share the class, since he is away so often.) I had a piece to finish up from last term, so at least I had someplace to start. I always find inspiration difficult to come by for pottery projects. I love doing it, the feel of the clay, the hynotic soothing smoothing actions. Read more

Knitty Gritty: Knitting for the Absolute Beginner by Aneeta Patel


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book suits me perfectly, considering I’ve never even held a knitting needle before. The writing is fast paced and easy to understand – so far (given that I still haven’t picked up my needles to try to follow the instructions)! I will give an update when I have a chance to see how I get on with trying to cast on and start my first project, but Patel makes it sound straightforward and interesting, so I’m looking forward to knitting some scarves soon.