One-Page Comic (Framed!)

I've been doodling a lot more than usual lately, I blame it on my drawing and design classes that a) force me to, and b) give me the confidence to. I've been talking about making comics for a few years now, I even keep a notebook of comic strip ideas. However, I never actually drew them. I have this notebook filled with characters and plots and events and no doodles to back them up! That's all about to change. In the last two weeks I have been in comic heaven, I started by drawing homemade postcards of funny memories with friends and sent them off to the Northwest where they were well received. Next, I created this short, one-page comic for my friend Meri. Then I framed it. Boom! Instant, one-of-a-kind, sentimental gift that's so cheap, you don't even need a reason to give. Check out Meri's amazing blog here.

Wrap Cardigan

 My friend Jeannie had this beautiful wrap cardigan--it was exactly the type of sweater I'd been wanting to make for myself, and had yet to find a pattern for it.  I was desperate--you know how you know there is something you want to make, but just can't find someone who's designed it?  That's how it was.

So I borrowed it from her and laid it out.  I measured it, and decided what sort of alterations I'd like to make.  I bought some yarn, about 10 skeins of Cascade Yarns 220.  I measured out my guage on size US 8 needles, and then I did some algebra to figure out how often to decrease and increase.  Then I started.

It's basically one back panel, two large triangular side panels, and two sleeves.  It was monotonous.  I think for each side panel I cast on 90 sts.  It hits me mid-thigh, and that took a lot of knitting, a lot of time, a lot of note-taking, and a LOT of tally marks.  But my figures didn't let me down, and I am thrilled with the results.  You can bet I won't be throwing this one in the washing machine any time soon.

I love this sweater.  I wear it all the time.  It's the first thing I pull on when I wake up in the morning, or when I get home from work.  I wear it out over leggings or jeans.  Super warmy.  Who needs to pay a heating bill now?

I knitted a belt for it, and I also sewed some buttons on the side--I'm still deciding on my favorite closure.  I love the way it drapes around; it's very snuggly.

Thanks to my sis Jess who came over today to take some pictures of the sweater for the blog.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Winter Hat with Welted Brim

 Having lost all his hats, and feeling the cold of winter come on, my sweetie asked me to make him one.  On of my many favorite yarn stores, The Textile Arts Company, was having a sale a few weeks ago so I headed over.  Among other things, I found this lovely variegated 100% wool:  Wisdom Yarns Poems in Olive Grove.  I bought two skeins and got to work.

On US 9 needles, I cast on 60 sts holding the yarn double, and knit one round, followed by one round of purl.  I continued this, knitting alternate rounds of knit and purl, for about 12 rounds, then went to stockinette.

When it was long enough, I started decreasing every other round, starting by knitting two together every 14th & 15th sts (six decreases per round).  And then it was done!  The wool is very soft, not itchy, and the color variation turned out really pretty.  Hopefully this one won't get lost until winter is over...!

Got Sole?

 We had a visitor from California recently for whom I had previously made a pair of felted clog slippers.   Our floors are cold up here in the Pacific Northwest in October and we wanted her feet to stay toasty, so we reminded her to bring her slippers along for her visit.  Unfortunately, when she got here, she found that her slippers were a slippery combination with our oak floors, and didn't want to wear them.  When faced with a situation like this, I know to turn to my sailmaker's bag.

Out came the cutting mat, the awl, the hammer.  Out came the waxed thread, the curved needle.  Out came the scrap leather, the heavy duty Gingher shears, the sailmaker's palm.

I traced the bottom of her slippers onto the leather, then cut about 1/4" inside the line to accomodate the "bumper" on the edge of the slipper.  I marked another line on the leather just inside of the edge.  Along this line I punched holes with my awl and hammer, spaced about 1/4" apart.  Then with my palm on my hand, I sewed the soles on.  It took a little work to get my hand inside the slippers, and coordinate the curved needle.  But they turned out perfectly, and she was thrilled with the result.
Now she not only has non-skid slippers, but they will last so much longer with the leather in place.  I wish I had thought of doing this sooner to my own pair, whose soles are so far gone that I'm in the process of making a replacement (more on that later).

Sure is a nice time of year to have thick wool slippers on hand (or foot...)!