February 27, 2006
Detour This Way --->
The oddest thing happened during my attempt to win a gold medal in the Knitting Olympics. As you know, the plan was (as always, “the plan was”—never a good sign) for me to focus 100% of my knitting attention on Olympic Squirrel and use this multi-colored-baby-sweater pattern as my easy-peasy “Ye gods! Have we moved even an inch?” commuter knitting. So how is it that Olympic Squirrel looks like this (plus a few more rows since this picture was taken)...
...and the multi-colored sweater looks like this, despite the fact that my commutes were no better or worse than normal?
Even the buttons have been sewn on—and we all know that's positively unAmerican. It’s almost as if I had made it half-way down the 125-meter ski jump, had reached maximum velocity, and then took a sharp right and tootled on down the bunny slope instead. So, what can I be awarded for this? A pink, yellow and green plastic medal? Something fake and tacky, maybe with Hello Kitty on it?
I do have to say, however, that I don’t think I’ve ever had as much fun knitting something as I did the multi-colored sweater. Every time that small, nagging feeling of boredom started to tickle my brain, it was time to change colors and—poof!—the boredom disappeared. And it didn’t hurt that I knit this in my new favoritest-ever yarn, Cascade Quatro. (Upon closer inspection of the Quatro, I’ve figured out why there’s so much kicky depth and variety in its color: Each of the 4 plies is a slightly different color, for example, dark pink, medium pink, light pink, and cream. Even the yellow is three different shades of yellow plus the cream. Finger-lickin’ good!) As always, this sweater is off to Mongolia.
On the spinning front, thanks to neighbor Melinda and her swift and winder, TMK was able to wind her skein of Higgledy-Piggledy into quite a respectable-looking ball, here being guarded by our ever-faithful watch-camel Mongol LEE:
Then, as swiftly (pardon the pun) as the yarn was wound into a ball, the center strand was pulled out again and I cast on for The Great Swatching Experiment. (Hey, I just noticed how funny the interaction is between the hands on the cover of the book behind the swatch and the swatch itself.)
Thank you everyone for your suggestion about what to do with the Higgledy-Piggledy, my favorite being, of course, Jayme's suggestion that we use it for sock cuffs and then use manufactured sock yarn for the feet. However, this yarn is now well on its way to being one, or maybe two, hats for Dulaan. At first, TMK wasn’t sure she could bear to send her “first-born” to Mongolia, but has since acceded fully and wholeheartedly—especially now that she, fickle woman that she is, has a new fiber-love in her life, but more about that on Wednesday.
In the meantime, remember this bear that was given to me at the hospital? She has now officially been baptized "Ivy." Can anyone guess why?
Nice sweater! REALLY NICE YARN all swatched up! Wow! Who knew TMK had a spinner inside waiting to come out??!!
I'll take a guess - is Ivy the bear named Ivy for Intra-venous?
Posted by: Patti on February 27, 2006 11:50 AMTMK must have some major karma to burn off if she's sending her truly lovely firstborn off to cold Mongolian orphans.
As for the bear, I have no idea. Ivy colored writing on the bow? The nurse who gave it to you was named Ivy? That whole time you were in the hospital someone kept telling the joke Ivan's Working On the Railroad, but you thought it was a girl bear? That's where Frankie hides it when you're not looking?
Yeah knitting (wahoo sweaters!!) yeah quatro.. yeah spinning yarn making someone warm..
IV=ivy? hmm.. you two are the kid of sickos I like!
Posted by: anj on February 27, 2006 12:01 PMAre you the Lindsay Jacobellis of the Knitting Olympics?
Posted by: Kat on February 27, 2006 12:09 PMThe bright sweater is too cute, Ms. Ryan. I really like it.
TMK, you are a brave woman to send your first yarn off to Monfrickengolia, but also very kind to do so. I salute your bravery and your heart.
My guess for the bear is also IV=Ivy. It's cute and definitely beats naming the poor thing Bedpan.
Posted by: Stalker Angie on February 27, 2006 12:31 PMI KNOW I KNOW! :) IV = Ivy. Cute :) I love that yarn, it's just beautiful. My commendations to TMK.
Posted by: Karlie on February 27, 2006 12:32 PMThat sweater is absolutely adorable! I've *gotta* get some of that yarn. The bear -- I didn't get it until I read the answer above. How silly of me. And the squirrel hat? It looks gorgeous, even if it isn't finished. Good job, ladies!
Posted by: Carol on February 27, 2006 12:47 PMMaybe TMKs yarn would make a good sweater for Ivy? I think the squirrels look great, and can't wait to see the finished product.
Posted by: Elaine on February 27, 2006 01:04 PMBy the way, my computer and I are being stupid today - is that baby sweater pattern for sale, or did it come with the Plymouth yarn? I think I must have it. It is way cute. WAY.
Posted by: Carrie on February 27, 2006 02:55 PMCarrie, the pattern is for sale. I bought mine at my LYS. It's a great pattern, too, nary a mistake, and good, detailed explanations of what you need to do.
Posted by: Ryan on February 27, 2006 03:04 PMWhere is the chart for that squirel chart- it's so cute!!
Posted by: Diana on February 27, 2006 03:31 PMWhere I live, when someone says *Ivy* the rest of us automatically think *POISON!! Glad to be wrong.
Posted by: marylee on February 27, 2006 03:38 PMDiana, the squirrel chart (and, in fact, the whole pattern) comes from the book Small Sweaters: Colorful Knits for Kids by Lise Kolstad and Tone Takle. There are some great sweaters in this book!
The sweater is ADORABLE. I must do one just like it. What color'd you choose for the back?
Posted by: Norma on February 27, 2006 04:39 PMNorma, I used the pink for the back. This sweater only uses three colors but then it mixes them up in fun ways (for example, see that the left cuff is a different color from the rest of the ribbing).
A fun, fun, fun pattern!
Posted by: Ryan on February 27, 2006 04:49 PMI love that multicoloured sweater!!! The pattern looks straight forward and simple. Where did you get the pattern? It looks like it might be a good way to get rid of some of my stash .. . if I can find colours that match.
Love your blog.
Ivey:
IV - the Intravenious (sp) that you "received" during your hospital say. Glad that you're up and around.
Judy
Posted by: Judy on February 28, 2006 07:38 AMCelticKnitter, I bought the pattern at my LYS, although I'm sure you can find it online. The pattern number is P293.
And to everyone who guessed that Ivy is named after the I.V. in the hospital, you hit it right on the nose! (TOLD you I name EVERYthing.)
Posted by: Ryan on February 28, 2006 08:30 AMI was thinking: "i. v.--why?????"!
Posted by: Janine on February 28, 2006 10:18 AMOh, dear. Yup, I'm in the "poison ivy" region as well, and my first thought was "she got poison ivy so bad it sent her to the hospital????"
But yeah, I.V. makes sense. (I name everything too)
Posted by: Amie on March 2, 2006 06:51 AMRyan, I want to make that sweater -- I'm trying to find it with pattern number, but not very successfully. Can you let me know whose pattern it is? I have yarn and I have buttons. . .
Posted by: Elizabeth D on March 2, 2006 11:53 AM