Here is Brooklyn in a crumpled heap. Or at least Brooklyn’s sleeve. The remaining pieces of Brooklyn are in my knitting basket in their own crumpled heaps. #1 son claims that they will all be ruined. I am not sure what sort of ruin he has in mind, but between his nagging about the level of care the parts are receiving and his nagging over my speed (or lack thereof) with knitting up this sleeve, I am beginning to look forward to finishing this jacket. I am doing the decreases on the raglan sleeve, but then there is sewing up and the collar and the finishing to do, so I am predicting another week. It will probably be longer. This is because — while I am really not doing any other knitting at all anymore — things always take longer than you expect them to.
It is not Brooklyn’s fault that #1 son is nagging me, and the yarn has a really nice feel, so I am trying not to let the knitting experience be spoiled, but I do want it done. I have Christmas gifts to make, and a cardigan that I have been thinking about for a year, and a lace shawl neglected on the needles. Not to mention the quilt in its frame, and a half-finished prayer shawl.
As all knitters know, it is dangerous to begin to wish to be finished with something. This is when you make mistakes. So I am trying not to hurry, though I do find myself thinking about other projects while I knit…
“Brooklyn” is the track jacket from Denim People. It is being made in Den-M-Nit on #3 needles. So far, it has been a very pleasant project, with no hard parts of any kind, and the yarn seems very suitable. I did have to get a second ball of ecru for the striping, so if you want to make it yourself, you might go ahead and start with two.
I include this information because I know that when I happen by someone’s blog and see some nice knitting, but no details on what it is or where it came from, I am disappointed. So this is for the random reader of knitting blogs who might chance by.
The novel Unraveled Sleeve described a needlework pattern by Beth Russell in such detail that I felt sure it was a real, extant pattern being described. I googled it. And indeed it was a real pattern, one of many at this website. The Arts and Crafts style is a favorite of mine, and I was greatly impressed by the beauty of these interpretations. In fact, I was thinking of making one — or more than one. I have two piano benches that need cushions, and only a dozen projects already planned, so it seemed like the right thing to do — until I checked the pricing. Knitters, if you want to feel good about the cost of your craft, check out what they pay for needlepoint kits.
The HGP for this week is repeating the cooking and shopping from the past couple of weeks, making a guest basket for the bathroom, and thoroughly cleaning the kids’ rooms. At the moment, I don’t even want to think about that.
Oh how I try to not wish things were finished! You are so right, that is when the mistakes happen, and not the simple to fix mistakes. No the “I can’t wait to be finished” mistakes usually involve ripping out copious amounts of work.
I left a note on my chatterbox about what the battle of the books is about, here is a list of this years books. The competition is in March and the kids must have these books all read by then. (the list changes some each year) Battle of the Books
2005-2006 List
Ballad of Lucy Whipple – Cushman
The BFG – Dahl
Brady – Fritz
Breadwinner – Ellis
Bridge to Terabithia – Paterson
Castle in the Attic – Winthrop
The Cay – Taylor
City of Ember – Duprau
A Different Kind of Hero – Blakeslee
Dog of Discovery- Pringle
Esperanza Rising – Ryan
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler – Konigsburg
House of Sixty Fathers – DeJong
In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson – Lord
Jennifer Murdley’s Toad – Coville
Julie of the Wolves – George
Kokopelli’s Flute – Hobb
The Landry News – Clements
Lilly’s Crossing – Giff
Long Way From Chicago – Peck
The Magician’s Nephew – Lewis
Maniac McGee – Spinelli
Me & My Little Brain – Fitzgerald
Midnight Fox – Byars
Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH – O’Brien
Night of the Twisters – Ruckman
Number the Stars – Lowry
Ruby Holler – Creech
Search For Delicious – Babbitt
Shades of Gray – Reed
Shakespeare Stealer – Blackwood
Shiloh – Naylor
The Sign of the Beaver – Speare
Small Steps – The Year I Got Polio – Kehret
13th Floor – Fleischman
Time Stops For No Mouse – Hoeye
True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle – Avi
Trumpet of the Swan – White
The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 – Curtis
Where the Red Fern Grows – Rawls