Slipper Season

Last night, I went out for dinner and shopping with Kyle to buy his birthday presents. Today, he's sixteen. I'd ask how that happened and most of you would totally understand. Time does seem to move at warp speed. It's hard to believe that I am almost done - a couple more years - the main job of raising children. Not that you're every completely done however, I've been in this stage for twenty three years now and very soon, there will be an end.

We had a great time shopping. He knew exactly what he wanted which really helps. In one store, I picked up the movie Twenty Seven Dresses to watch on my holiday in a week and these fuzzy slippers to keep my feet warm. The days, and especially the nights, are starting to get cooler. It's slipper season.




The socks are finished. They look huge and my feet are not. I know it's the thick and chunky wool. I really love the colors but I'm not too sure how often I'll wear these. They feel VERY BIG and really hot. Most likely on those frigidly freezing days when slippers aren't enough.

After all the learning I've done around knitting socks, they're no fun to make. I knit using a form of the continental style. It's not as conducive to knitting in the round as other styles. Instead of smoothly passing the stitches from needle to needle, the stitch I make is what most knitters would consider a twisted stitch except that I'm untwisting it. The motion is awkward and not as much fun as knitting back and forth in rows. I doubt I'll make too many pairs of socks. LOL - maybe just this one pair.




Work in the studio is starting to find a flow using what I have. Any purchases I make are to finish a project as opposed to beginning one by buying all the supplies. That means I'm buying things like a zipper or a pattern as opposed to yardage or yarn. The three balls of Stampata yarn below were left over from a sweater I made last year. They are...

... enough to make the Library Capelet in one of Lion Brand's booklets. I bought the booklet yesterday and then, later in the day, was slightly annoyed to discover that the pattern is available as a free download if you join their on-line club. Obviously the booklet takes time and money to compile, produce, and market but it does seem that the patterns in it should not be available somewhere else for free. Oh well. I'm glad it wasn't too expensive and that I prefer the published format to a loose piece of paper or I'd take it back.

A lot of women are knitting shawls. That's SO NOT ME. This is the first "shawl-like" garment I've seen that I think is doable. It's perfect for warming the shoulders without overheating the rest of the body - like when I'm reading in my curl-up chair - right next to the window in my studio. I'll start the capelet after I finish the child's red sweater. I've finished the back and about four inches of the fronts so far. I've a lot of knitting to go still.

I was in and out a lot yesterday and didn't spend too much time in the studio so I still haven't decided which pattern to sew although I'd like to start later today. This Butterick 5388 top intrigues me because of the collar. It balances the raglan sleeves otherwise I can't wear them. I particularly like the version with short sleeves. When I bought it, I thought the garment was made using a knit but it's not. It uses a woven fabric which gives me more options to choose from. I would try the longer version with the belt. I haven't worn a belt in well over twenty years but I tried one on recently and it was fun so I'm leaning in that direction.

I bought this Vogue 8392 pattern last year after I saw it reviewed on a blog. She had made the white version with only two layers of ruffles in a deep cranberry color. I'm interested in making the pink one with the bell sleeves, again longer so that I could wear it with a belt.

This is the pattern I'm leaning the most strongly toward. It's the OOP (out of print) Vogue 8451. What I like about it is the shaping. It's close fitting with bust darts and curved seam lines. It would fit nicely under the jacket and the longer sleeve would show below the 3/4 ones of the jacket. So far, it's the one. I have another eye appointment this morning and when I get home, I'll decide and start.

This morning's appointment is a fitting for new contacts - mono vision ones. One eye will be for distance and one will be for close-up vision. Apparently those of us who can't tolerate progressive lenses can often tolerate mono vision. A friend had laser eye surgery and her eyes are permanently set this way. She says it's fabulous. I hope so. It would certainly cut down on all the eye equipment I carry when I travel and allow me to wear contacts more often. I'm not sure if glasses can be set for mono vision as well. I'm going to ask when I'm in. That would cut down on constantly looking for and changing to my other pair of glasses. If it works, this could be perfect.

There's not too much time left to sew before I need to start packing for my holiday. I'm leaving next Friday. Hopefully I'll be able to sew one blouse and one t-shirt over the next few days although my Tuesdays are already full of knitting. We'll see how it goes. There isn't any rush. I'd just like to take my new clothes with me.

Have a great weekend - Myrna

Grateful - Kyle