"Muppet Pelts"

Over at the Yarnpath there was a discussion about using fancy pattern stitches with self-patterning yarn. Does this make the socks too busy? Does it do a disservice to both the pattern and the yarn? My thought was that the idea is to have great looking socks, not great looking stitches, and if you liked the way a particular pattern worked with a particular yarn, that’s all that mattered.

At the same time, there was a discussion going on Knitlist as to whether or not knitting had been “dumbed down.” Several instances of this possible dumbing down were brought up, including “muppet pelts” – those frou-frou, fuzzy scarves that are all the rage right now. [1]

These things relate. Stay with me.

There are some things I make that the stitches – individual stitches – are very important. Lace shawls, the occasional fancy sock pattern, cabled sweaters. So, in that way, my statement is false: sometimes the idea is to get beautiful individual stitches. Those immaculately made stitches contribute to the beauty of the work.

But there are other things I make that the stitches aren’t so very important: the Evil Easter socks. The sleeveless turtleneck. The yarn or color or pattern or what have you make a harmonious whole, but the stitches themselves – each little tiny loop – don’t matter as much.

Sometimes I think we get too caught up in the craft of knitting, and not so much on what we want to make. My stitches are, generally speaking, fairly evenly tensioned, and usually made properly. But sometimes, it doesn’t matter. The idea is to get a harmonious whole – a piece of clothing or other knitted item that I want, or that I want to give someone else. While I take pride in my workmanship, not everyone else has to. I know that I made it properly, and I don’t feel the need to hold it up and say “do you see the 22,408 stitches I made, all the same size?” Instead, I say, “hell, yeah! Check out this sweater!”

I will buy a ball or two of yarn that I think is fun, glitzy, furry, and sparkly, and make myself one of those scarfs. And I will remember that the finished project is dictated by my own sense of beauty and aesthetics, no one else’s. And I will not tell you how many stitches it contains, perfect or otherwise.



[1] To be fair, there were other arguments put forth as to why or why not our knitting is less intricate than the days of yore. Check out the archives for some great discussion. I've just elected to focus on the "everyone starts with muppet pelts" argument in this post.

Friday update - now with pictures!

The people at work are convince I'm nuts. Absolutely out of my mind. See, I've seen the "art shots" others post. And I think to myself "gee, I wonder if people are tired of seeing my couch?" But I live in a townhouse, with no yard to speak of. So today, I toted my various projects to work with me.

This is the courtyard where I work:


See the two guys on the bench? They're convinced I've lost it.

But here's what you get:



I finally started my sockpal-two-za socks. Er. Again. This is about the third pattern I've tried. I've now got a decent amount of rib done. Now what? I still haven't found a pattern I like.



The front of the sleeveless turtleneck from "Knitted Sweaters for Her." I've heard that photographing in sunlight makes the colors more true. Nope. This is about as far from the color of the yarn as it can get, and that's after I doctored the photo. But at least you can see the shape. Er -- moving on...

Remember the Landscape Shawl I had on hold? This was it's fate:


My more elusive child, Willow

I think it's destined to be the Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl. In fact, it's calling me now...

Oh my stars and whiskers!!

When I came home from work today, the FedEx man had left me a door hanger. So I rushed right down and picked up my package.

And lo and behold...secret pal goodness!!!


Lookie! My secret pal loves me!

Aren't you excited to see what's in all those beautiful packages? Me too!!


After I ripped into it...


close up of stitch markers

The total:

• 2 skeins of Classic Elite Inca Print in "Orchid"


• Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNs (size 6)


• A set of 5 red and celtic knot stitch markers


• Stitch N Bitch design journal


• The Yarn Harlot's bookbookbook


• And a bar of lavender soap

Thanks so much, secret pal! I'm off to figure out what to do with the Inca print. It's soooooo yummy!

Nothing to do with knitting

le sigh...

I wanted to be able to do a Friday update for y'all, but the alternator in my car just died a horrible messy death, so I'm here at work early (yawn!), and don't have my camera with me.

On the flip side of fate, I'm going to a musical (Movin' Out) tonight, so I won't be able to update then, either.

I can tell you that I'm working on the Sleeveless Knitted Turtleneck from "Knitted Sweaters for Her" (Leisure Arts) and, while the yarn is lovely, the directions are completely bizarre. All went well until I got to the armhole shaping. For some reason, they have you doing decreases that slant wrong (right armhole with right slanting decreases, etc), and the trim on the edges - if followed as written - gives you one sleeve edged in seed stitch, and one sleeve edged in a simple half-rib type thing. While they are both pretty, not on the same sweater m'thinks! So I pretty much trashed that part of the pattern, choosing to make the decreases slant the way they should (in my head, at least), and going with the half-rib type edge, since the bottom and collar are ribbed. I'll let you know how it turns out.

And the gypsy socks got worn, as promised. They were....well, they were warm. My feet tend to stay warm anyway, and it wasn't enough for me to consider not wearing them, but they were incredibly warm, and just a little scratchy. We'll see if anything changes once they're washed. And, lords, do they need to be washed. We're not even going to talk about the smell once I took my shoes off...

Of objects, finished and sent

I’ll be honest. Yesterday was a terrible day. I had an awful toothache, work had been rotten, and the heat was enough to make you melt. </whine>

But! Then my dishcloth partner made it all better. Because I received a lovely package in the mail containing this:





Leia is convinced that Mom bought her a new blanket

Thank you so much! It’s lovely, and I think your cables are perfect!

I spent the evening knitting for once (seems I haven’t done that in far too long), and finished the newly christened Gypsy Socks.



Specs:
Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripes in colorway “Purple Pattern”
Pattern: Well, this was really just cobbled together in my head. I cast on 64 (US #1 needles), and knit the cuff in k3, p1 ribbing. This wasn’t really stretchy enough for my apparently ample calves, so they were short out of necessity. However, I think they’re a good length, considering I’m going to be wearing them at Fest, and don’t really want long, hot socks. The heel is a band heel, which is supposed to be great for self-striping yarns. It was nice to not have to pick up a gusset, but I’m not sure that it had any noticeable impact in the striping of the yarn. And I’m a little concerned about how the “band” on the bottom of the heel is going to feel when I’m wearing them.



Closeup of band heel

I hope to wear them tomorrow, so I’ll let you know.