An Epic Journey

I read once that socks are the short stories of the knitting world.  If I were to name a literary metaphor for this sweater I would pick an epic poem.  Specifically the Odyssey because I felt like I might never finish.

Initially I thought I wouldn't have enough yarn for this sweater at all.  But I found an extra skein and breathed a sigh of relief.  Until I got near the end.  I ran out of yarn halfway through the button band.  But I wasn't going to be defeated, oh no.  I would finish this baby.  Here were the options:

A) Probably the easiest:  Find yarn in my stash of the same weight as the yarn I used for the rest of the sweater and knit a new button band from it.  It wouldn't be gray like the rest of the sweater but it would be a finished sweater.  Except, I didn't want a gray sweater with a different color button band, I just wanted a gray sweater.

B) Possibly easy: Track down another skein of the yarn.  It wouldn't even need to be the same dye lot - I could just reknit the button band from the new skein and if the dye lot was noticeably different I could live with it.  Except even if they still make that color it will involve buying yarn and you know you can't just buy one skein.  Well I can't. I'm trying to use up my stash, not make it bigger.

C) The hardest: Rip out and re knit sections of the sweater shorter to reclaim enough yarn to finish the button band and for the making up.  Of course, this is what I chose to do.  I ended up re-knitting both sleeves (just the arms, not the cuffs) and having to claim a little yarn from the body as well.  It worked out, the sleeves probably would have been too long as they were and I discovered I bound off wrong on the fronts.  Sometimes doing things the hard way does pay dividends.

While the actual knitting turned out to be a longer journey than expected, the buttons were a miracle.  I've no idea if I picked them up with the intention of using them with this yarn but I found buttons of the perfect size and color in the button box and I had enough of them.  And we know that never happens.  I'm always one short or they are the wrong size or color.

 So was it worth it?  Yes! I love this sweater and wear it almost daily.  I'd much rather go the extra mile and rip and reknit to get something I want, love, and wear all the time.  Sure, completing a project is good, but a finished object that gets used and loved is so much better.  This is why I also rip out or give away sweaters when I no longer use them.  I don't like the idea of something that took hours of my life hiding in a drawer or trunk when it can be out in the world being useful.  Even if it takes me more hours to make it that way or someone else is wearing it now.

The pattern is the "Trimmed with Roses" cardigan from A Stitch in Time Volume 2.  I skipped the color work be cause I wanted something plain. The yarn is Dale Garn Baby Ull.  I would recommend both the pattern and the yarn.  Ravelry link.

Because I needed another beret*

I'd been on the fence about the book Knitting Vintage.  While I am all for reissues of original vintage patterns I sometimes find "Vintage style" patterns not all that interesting.  I found a used copy and looked through it and while some things I will very likely never make there were enough patterns I wanted to make to justify the price tag.  My first project ended up being the Hollywood Style Beret.  I love berets.  They are quick knits that use little yarn.  They are also warm, easy to wear in a variety of ways, and great for packing.  I mean I love fancy vintage toppers but you can cram like a dozen berets in the same space one hat would take up and no worries about crushing anything.  Or at least that's what I tell myself when I cast on for yet another beret.

I used yarn left overs which somewhat limited my color choices so I lucked out in finding two colors so eye searingly bright. 

Related to the business of using leftovers I've come to the conclusion I am not a stasher.  I mean, I have a stash and it's handy and all but I like to shop for yarn and visit my LYS and well having all that yarn around kind of stresses me out.  It's like some sort of to do list hanging over my head and it isn't like I don't have lots of other things to do.  Knitting should be fun, not stress, yanno?  So I am trying to use up what's there.  But even with my tiny stash it might take awhile.  Especially since I have a habit to ripping out whole projects if I no longer use the sweater or hat or whatever. 

I am absolutely certain that I made a few mistakes here and there - sometimes I had a pesky extra stitch but I just added it into the decreases.  I can't see/don't care to notice those mistakes so it looks fine to me.  The lace pattern is super simple and the results look all fancy and impressive.  Which is pretty cool.  I like a challenge.  I also like mindless travel/tv knitting.  Ravelry Link.

*Yeah, not really.

Handmade gifts for Christmas 2014

Since most of my crafty/knitting post have been cosplay related lately I decide to share some of the little gifts I made this year.  I set myself the challenge of working only from the stash and I am proud to say I met that challenge.

When it comes to making gifts it can be very time consuming so I like to make sure that what I make is a winner out of the gate.  I prefer knowing someone specifically wants something so when being observant fails I just flat out ask.  That was the case with my brother this year.  He told me he wanted little Jawa named Blizz.    I found a few crochet patterns but none knitted ( Please know I don't hate crochet I just can't do it, and yes I've tried) so I had to make this up as I went.  Having knitted plenty of little dolls/animals - it wasn't that hard.  There was some ripping out here and there.  And now I realize he's not wearing a cape.  Oh well, my brother loves it so that's what's important.

Second up is for my dad.  This is the fourth hat I've made him.  It's super boring 2x2 ribbing but sometimes you just want boring.  This yarn was leftover from this sweater.  It seemed a little light so I dug up the Kool aid I have stashed from when I used to dye things with it.  For the hat I used one green packet, two blue packets, and about one third of a grape packet.

Next is a cowl for a friend.  It's leftover sock yarn and done entirely in seed stitch with some little yarn overs here and there.   I wanted something light enough to be worn indoors because I didn't want her to have to remove it every time she goes inside.  Plus, living in southern NM, making it light weight means she can wear it for a much longer time than the few days/weeks a year it's actually cold.

Finally, the one sewn one.  Again, for a friend.  She has just gotten into sewing and was lamenting she couldn't find a big pincushion.  I could have bought her one but I figured I'd try making one instead.  I used this tutorial.  Or rather I read it through once and then had at it.  It's not perfect, but it should do the job.

Reason number #56 why I love knitting

Seriously cute sweater, crappy pics.  My photographer (brother) was busy.

You know how it is, it's not that you have nothing to wear it's just that there's this one hole in your wardrobe that needs filling.  That one piece that would make a third of your closet more wearable. The great advantage to knitting (and sewing) is not having to chose just from what can be bought.  If the style, size, or color I have in mind isn't there I can just make it myself.  And while I would never say that knitting saves money I will say it is quite possible that the sweaters I can afford to knit are nicer than the ones I can afford to buy. 

What is up with the color in this image?  All other pics are closer to the true color of this yarn.

So, anyway, my wardrobe hole just happens to be small shrug/bolero type sweaters that can be tossed on for added warmth and interest.  Preferably in a color that goes with most of my wardrobe.  This wool/alpaca blend yarn started life as a cape. But after months of just hanging on Myrna the cape remained unfinished.  One day I finally realized it was time to move on and reclaimed the yarn.  I'm very glad I did.  Not that I won't make a cape some day, just not in this yarn.

Myrna, modeling the ill fated cape.

I did search my patterns for something just right but I have relatively few patterns that were even close to what I had in mind.  Ultimately I ended up casting on and making notes along the way.  I knit cuff to cuff so all I really had to do was mirror things for the second half: decrease as many times as I increased, cast on the same number of stitches I bound off, etc . . .  If this were a pattern I think a beginner could manage it.  Increase, decrease, knit, purl, cast on, and bind off were really the only skills needed. Ravelry link

Myrna, kindly modeling the back of the much better received sweater.

The resulting sweater fills the hole perfectly and has gotten lots of wear - unfortunately it is still too warm to wear it most days.  That aside, I predict lots of future use and it really does go with most of my wardrobe.  And I definitely want to play around more with this method of construction. 

I really do love this sweater.  Even if my expression looks a little off.

As Promised

Still figuring out how to show off the costume and the shield at the same time.  Also, still working on that salute.

 So, like it says in the title, as promised.  Here are better pictures of me as Cap.  Complete with updates.  My brother was nice enough to take pics and quite a few of them were in focus!  To be clear -I blame the camera and not him.  I will buy a new camera.   Some day.

Serious face.

 The updated version was a huge hit.  Some dude came over and asked if he could touch my shield - which was a new one.  Yes, I let him.   One of the cosplay ladies complimented my costume and then I later found out she was a judge at the the costume contest - which I didn't enter.  Darn.  Also got a compliment from another pro who was a fab Harley but I forgot to ask for a pic.  What is wrong with me?  Oh yeah, didn't I mention I was a volunteer the first two days?  And was out past midnight both nights?  By Sunday I was exhausted and running on fumes so I blame that for me not being more on the ball about pics.  But I don't mind because my exhaustion and sore feet are proof that the con was a success and since it was the first year that's a huge deal. 

Best of the full length shots. 

 Details on the updates:

The cartridge belt, suspenders, and first aid kit I bought as a set from World War Supply.   I ordered on a Monday and got it Thursday - so I totally recommend.  The set was a little musty when I got it but I just washed it like I wash sweaters (soak and spin in the washer using Eucalan wash) and then shoved it in my ceder chest for about a week and it was fine.  I loved that I didn't have to carry a purse.   The set was pricey but it was cheaper in time, money, and sanity to buy than make.  Besides the "no purse" advantage I think it just makes a costume I already loved even better.

Ooh, I've gone all old timey here.

The gloves are just plain knit fingerless gloves.  So boring and simple I didn't even bother with a pattern.  I used Cascade Yarns Heritage Silk which is a wool silk blend and wonderful to knit with.  The previous gloves were satin and made it awkward to do much of anything with my hands when they were on.  I could have just cut the fingers off the original gloves but I am a knitter and I knew the one's I made would be better.  It was nice to only have to remove my gloves to use the restroom.

My first attempt. 

And finally, the Garrison Cap.  Or Cap's Cap as I couldn't resist calling it.  I used this pattern here.  I had some difficulty printing it correctly so my test square was off (totally my fault).  I adjusted it some and made a cap with fabric leftover from the skirt.  Everyone I showed it to thought it looked good but I found the crown to be too high and the cap itself was super tight so I made some more adjustments to the pattern and cut out another cap (luckily I had enough piping and fabric for another) and it came out huge, so I did a little ripping and cutting and managed to create a hat that fit.  The wings and "A" are just white felt I cut and sewed on by hand.  I still like the wing barrettes but I love my cap.  But you already knew that, right?

Somewhat blurry close up of the wings.

So, is it perfect now?  Is it ever perfect?  No, but I'm very proud of it and pleased that I can be Cap whenever I want.  Or you know, I'm needed.  To lead the Avengers or to take down Hydra.  Or whatever.

I already know who I want to tackle next but I'm having trouble sourcing the right fabric.  I like to make my costumes as good (or better) than regular clothes.  I have several reasons for that: I wear the costumes over and over and they can get a lot of wear and tear over the course of a con,  I do wear some of my costume pieces outside of cosplay,  and, most importantly, life is too short to sew with fabric you don't love.

Anyway, if you're still reading this, my self imposed deadline for that costume is actually Halloween.  Hopefully I'll have something awesome to show then.  If my camera battery doesn't die.  As it does.  Every.  Single.  Halloween.  Or at least the last five.

Another Serious face, my brother was being goofy, but I think it came out good.  Kind of action-y.

Some of what I've been up to lately

Recently bleached my roots and went blue (again)

Blurry teaser of some of my Cap cosplay updates

I've been busy lately with a few things, including prepping for Las Cruces Comic Con.  It's their first year so go out and support them if you can this weekend.  I'm volunteering on Friday and Saturday.  Sunday I'm going to be Captain America again.  I plan on getting better pics of me in the cosplay - but plans don't always work out.  If they do I promise to share.

Just Call me Cap

One of the many reasons for radio silence for most of June was because I was hard at work on a new cosplay.  I only started cosplaying officially a year ago - though I've always loved any chance to wear a costume.  While some people do anything to get out of wearing one it's pretty easy to convince me to do something if it involves a costume.

My initial concept sketch

Since I would be attending the event at which I first cosplayed I wanted to do something special.  I was back and forth on who exactly - I know that St. Trinian's girl was a strong contender at one time.  But the truth is Captain America has been a dream of mine for awhile.  I'd been making all these notes and looking at tons of reference photos.  I had all these elaborate plans and had intimidated myself into believing I lacked the skills to even begin to put together the cosplay I imagined.  But then I realized I was being silly.  It didn't have to be my dream version and if I didn't love it the first time - I could change it.


So I set out to put together the cosplay with a few definite guidelines:

1. It had to be '40s style with the heater shaped shield. (BTW I just learned what a heater shape was while putting this cosplay together - cosplay: you learn all the time.) because that's part of why I love Cap.

2. It had to be comfortable - this a rule for all my cosplays because I wear them all day and I don't want to be in agony.

3.  It had to be something that it looked like I could fight evil in it - partially because I hate it when female superheroes wear things that are impractical for fighting in and partially because I wanted to BE Cap and not Cap's girl or biggest fan or something like that. Of course I wouldn't be offended if someone mistook me for American Dream.

Here's the breakdown -

Things I made:

Suitable for non-cosplay occasions as well

The sweater I didn't have a pattern.  I looked on Ravelry for inspiration - here's a great one.  I knew I wanted something that was almost identical to the top of the uniform. I pretty much made it up as I went so I did a lot of ripping.  In fact, the day before we left town I tried the whole thing on and realized I hated the sleeves.  So I removed them and put some red ribbing instead - making it more of a vest. The colorwork on the star isn't perfect but it is way better than my last go at colorwork - so I'm happy about that. Ravelry Link

The Skirt I've made this skirt five times.  Three of those times for cosplays.  I initially didn't know if I would have time to make it so I bought a navy blue pencil skirt.  I did have time to make it so I did - then I couldn't decide if I should wear the pencil skirt or it.  Eventually I fell on the side of the one I made.  The pattern is Simplicity 4044.  The only adaption I made was to make it straight across instead of putting the little dip thing at the waist.

The Wings I initially planned on making a big white felt star to put in my hair.  Then I was thinking of doing the "A".  Finally I settled on the little wings.  They are made with felt stuffed with fiber fill.  They were pretty easy and quick to make.

Arm Sock With out sleeves (and even with the ones I had before I ripped them off) I didn't have anything to protect my arm from the leather straps of my shield, so I used the extra yarn from my sweater to knit a little sock/elbow cover thing - it got loose during the course of the day but did it's job.  My arm was unscathed.

Thing I just painted:

Photographing a shield is hard

The Shield If you want a round Captain America shield it's super easy to buy something.  If not - well it's tough.  I almost bought a rather pricey replica because I was desperate.  I do have a friend whose father can make one but this was less than a month to go and I didn't want to rush it.  I needed something good for now.  Finally it hit me that LARPing shields would be a good idea.  I did several searches and found this one. It was covered with stretch canvas so I just pulled out my oil paints and had at it.  It worked quite well.

Things I bought:

Leggings from Kohls, gloves from Sock Dreams, shield necklace from SilverThink, and boots from Zappos.

No amount of photo editing could save this one of only three photos of me in the costume.  And this is the only one that shows the whole thing.

So, how was it?  I've never cosplayed as such a well known character so I was a little nervous but people were so nice and it was loads of fun.  I'm sure there are more photos of me on other people's cameras but I don't mind.  I had a blast being Cap and will be Cap again for certain and next time I will definitely make sure to get more photos.  I do want to make some changes but what I have here is a great start.  I do promise better photos when I premiere the second version.

 I think I need to plan a little less and do a little more. 

Also, who next?  Hmm . . .

Pictures of Yarn

I was going through my pictures in search of a stash photo and the most recent one was from 2011.  The good news is I had knit nearly all the yarn in the photo.  The bad news is, if I had knit all the yarn, what on earth was in those bins under the bed?  So I decided it was time to take a new stash photo.  Pretty sure "Flash your Stash" is in April ( far too lazy to look it up - I already pulled out all my yarn today) but I decided to post it anyway. 

It's not as bad as I had feared.  It didn't cover a full-sized bed and many yarns have plans for them.  Some are leftovers.  That pink cotton in the middle bottom is actually leftovers.  I knit a whole sweater out of it and I still have more yarn left than what went into the sweater.  The shoebox is also leftovers and really full.   I probably should sort through it and see what I am keeping for repairs and what I can use for tiny projects.

I like to take these photos because I am a very visual person and while I can pull out the bins or even get all fancy and keep track of my stash on Ravelry (I'm so behind on documenting my projects so if I have 'extra time' for Ravelry I will be doing that instead.) I like being able to see everything all at once.  It's a nice way of seeing everything I have and reminding myself of what I can knit next.  Also, it's fun to cross out yarns when they are gone.  And it's interesting to see how the stash changes over time.

This is the last stash photo:

I haven't crossed off everything I used up but very little of what is there is present in the 2014 photo.  Some things have lingered though.

Does anyone else use photos to keep organized?  How?

Knitting

Knitting is something I learned the basics of from my mom when I was six or seven.  For years I'd do it for a bit and then lose interest.  I only knew the knit stitch and how to cast on and bind off so that was probably part of it.  Post college it took me three and a half months to find a job ( miracle, I know) and in between the job hunt I had some time on my hands and I decided it was time to learn to purl.  That was my downfall.

One of the reasons I love knitting is one of the reasons I love dressing like it's 1938 (or '28 0r '48, etc . . .).   It's a way of connecting with and better understanding the past.  Not just in a "people used to knit more" way but in a personal way.  I never met my paternal grandmother.   In fact I think I've only seen pictures of her once - though I am told I look like her.  I do know some about her, including the fact she was a master seamstress and an excellent knitter.  I can't ever get to know her personally but I like the idea that the simple act of putting one loop of yarn through another is something else that we share.

I just finished Dinah's Lacy Jumper from A Stitch in Time Vol. 2.  There are only six other projects on Ravelry which surprises me since it's a rather cute sweater and the lace pattern is pretty but not complicated. Right now it doesn't have button or button hole, but I may change my mind later.