ohmygoodknits! » zimmermann

the smell of loved woolies

Lisa — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:32:51 +0000

The first Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern I ever made was ‘Ganomy’ from Knitters’ Almanac. It’s also been the most used pattern in my repetoire. My copy of KA is in bad shape. It lived in the bottom of my bag for a while. I haven’t knit everything she gives pithy directions for, but I HAVE read the whole book–some parts more than others.

Anyway, what I meant to blog about is how much I love wool. I’m sorry you have to wash your handknit hat. I’m sorry you accidentally put it in your hamper and it’s a ball of fluff. I’m sorry it itched you when you first touched it and now lives in a box in your closet. Fact of the matter is: you never gave wool a chance! It took me longer to knit your hat than it will for you to wash it. You should not put something beautifully made in a hamper. If you would have given it a soak, it wouldn’t be itchy.

That first Ganomy was a rather quick knit. It isn’t perfect, as I was a newbie to knitting, but it fit and was pretttyyy in all its Noro Kureyon glory. It was also lost in a hamper, almost-felted, and hella itchy. But I kept putting it on my little one’s (now, 4.5) head, hanging it on a hook, or shoving it in my bag, when he wasn’t wearing it. I even soaked it in warm water + lanolin (the same tube I got at my baby shower–thank heavens for an easy start to my breastfeeding career) + baby shampoo to wash it when it got really dirty one day.

Three years later, it is the hat I love most. Soft, pilly, smelly. It’s never gotten quite as dirty as the first time it warranted a cleaning. Heck, it’s only needed a wash once since then. And because of that, it smells wonderful. It smells like their heads. A lovely mixture of baby shampoo and baby sweat. No, don’t wince! Babies’ heads smell gooood. I promise.

This hat has been loved. It will continue to be loved for the rest of winter and perhaps into Spring. Maybe Easter will be cold and Andy will wear it one last time, on his second celebration of the holiday, like Nate did in 2007.

Won’t you give wool a chance? In a few years, when my boys undoubtedly become obnoxious the way I was when I was little, I bet someone will find me crying on a closet floor, deeply inhaling the scent of my babies from this hat. It’s just a fact.

Christmas knitting detour

Lisa — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:00:23 +0000

I started gift #9 on Tuesday, but put it down on Wednesday (yesterday) to start a woolly hat for my four year old. His woollies have been passed down to his brother, so his ears are quite cold when we’re out. And that is just not acceptable.

I chose one of my all-time favorite hat patterns, Ganomy by Elizabeth Zimmermann. It’s found in the best $7 knitting book out there, Knitter’s Almanac. I’ve read it cover to cover, but I’ve only made a few items (mainly the babies’ things and hats). It’s a good read, with a bunch of classic patterns.

I used Paton’s Classic Wool in the “that’s blue” colorway. It matches Nate’s school colors and compliments his [brand new] jacket that’s a few shades of gray. I modified the pattern a bit, to compensate for the thinner yarn. I changed the cast-on to 98 stitches, stopping front increases at 4″, back increases at 6″, and then adjusting the decreases as necessary . Size US 8 needles. Less than two days. Success!

He didn’t really want to pose for me, this afternoon. He said he would “sleep through it.” It being my snapping pictures of him. He gave up and started playing with cars soon after.

Let sleeping gnomes lie.

Andy hates my knitting.

Lisa — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:08:48 +0000

Since my last post, I started knitting a sweater for Andrew. All the while, I’m hoping it fits because the last 3 were outgrown very quickly and/or never fit (just 1; it was sad when I realized it). Today, I’m moving some stuff around and I happen upon the Noro BSJ (Baby Surprise Jacket, an Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern) I made almost a year ago. I made it in the summer and thought it would be perfect for Andrew’s first winter. Little did I know, my child would continue his monstrous growth spurts well into his first year. By the time winter came along, he was practically outgrowing his 18 month clothes (at 7 months!!). I put the sweater on him a maximum of 3 times and could barely get the buttons closed. When I picked it up, this afternoon, I immediately wanted to try it on him. He wasn’t in the best mood (tired as a result of waking up early from his nap), but I really wanted to see it in action one last time. And what do ya know, the sucker fit!
Like, perfectly fit. The sleeves are supposed to be short (I chose not to pick up the sleeve stitches to lengthen them). The buttons don’t look too stressed and only the bottom one pops open when he sits. Fabulous, huh? The only problem is he pretty much cried the entire time he wore it. Apparently, he HATES long sleeves! He kept tugging at them. He was also tired, so the tears were my fault. Next time I’ll be sure to have some treat for him while he has to endure wearing my hideous sweaters. I hope that since he’s walking (and climbing, and trying his darndest to run), he’ll slim down even further by the time cold weather approaches and will still fit into this. It’s so cute! I love this Noro Kureyon colorway. I made a top-down bonnet from it for my cousin’s first baby “back in the day.” I think it’ll always be my favorite.
Moving on, let’s talk about the NEW sweater I’m working on. I decided to go with the Offset Wraplan (ravelery link). Instead of applique-ing something to the front, I decided to insert a cable pattern. I really loved the one on Knitty’s Trellis, so I used that. It looks pretty neat, so far. I took this photo yesterday, and today I’ve already reached a bit past the sleeve split. The reason so much work has been getting done on this is that I’ve been knitting past my bedtime. Instead of going to sleep when a normal (i.e. sane) mother-of-two would, I’ve been going to bed around 2am. I feel like a zombie most mornings, but the sluggishness is nothing my b-complex can’t take care of.

365.69: my almanac

Lisa — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:29:05 +0000

the pinwheel blanket I am working on is so monotonous and downright BORING. so, I plucked my handy knitter’s almanac off the bookshelf and started a "february baby sweater" [in March, no less!]. I love Zimmermann. This is definitely my most used knitting book.

BSJ finally done!

Lisa — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:54:08 +0000

As many of you know, southeast Texas just got hit by a hurricane. I live in Houston, so my family and I “hunkered down” at my aunt’s house. Power went out before midnight, Friday evening, and isn’t predicted to come back on until after next Monday. That’s going to be a whole 10 days and 11 nights without power. They actually said it may be later, so who knows. Fortunately, my mother-in-law got her power back on Sunday afternoon. We’ve been here since Sunday evening. The boys and I only had to spend 2 nights in hot sticky weather. We are so thankful! My heart goes out to all those who lost their homes and/or loved ones as a result of the storm. Everyone in this area–be well!

Anywho…I brought 2 projects with me for hurricane fun. I sewed the buttons on the BSJ the first night. The next day, when the power was out, I brought out my embroidery project only to discover my embroidery floss had been chopped in various places. Guess who did that. Nathan! I remember the other day, finding my scissors where I never leave them (under my chair!). He must have climbed on the desk and fished them out of their container and tried to “cut” things. the floss is a mess and not salvageable. It’s in little hanks, so one cut makes like 30 pieces of string or something.

I can’t wait for more fall-like weather, so Andrew can wear his new sweater!

coconut buttons!

banana bootsies

Lisa — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:18:24 +0000

Pattern: A Good 2-Needle Garter Stitch Slipper, with Cuff by Elizabeth Zimmermann

Source: Knitting Without Tears

Yarn: Knit Picks Bare – Superwash Merino/Nylon Fingering Weight dyed with kool-aid, coffee, and food coloring

Needles: 3.0 mm

these are so teensy! I’m not quite sure they’ll fit my newborn (coming in May!) for more than a few days. They were a lot of fun, though. I was going to use this yarn for some baby socks, but I am just so bored with plain stockinette. The shaping in this pattern definitely kept my interest. I finished the entire set in about 2 hours!

Baby Surprise Jacket

Lisa — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:19:51 +0000

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket from Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: Paton’s Classic Wool in grey mix and Elsbeth Lavold Classic AL in black
Needles: US 6 circular
for the fetus! [which, by the way, we found out is a boy! another son, guys! this is too exciting.]

I used an i-cord cast-off that took way too long, but was waaay too easy! I thought I was doing it wrong, it went so well. hah! my fetus will be 6-9 months when the weather is ready for it, so I hope it fits him, then. I may have to elongate the sleeves a bit, but that’ll be easy. I’m going to save a ball of the Elsbeth Lavold AL for when the time comes. I need to decide what buttons to use.

I got this book from my mother-in-law for Christmas. best gift! I had originally planned to dye some yarn, but I got too impatient and picked up 2 coordinating wools for this project. maybe I’ll dye that yarn someday. if the jacket seems too small, the closer it gets to next winter, perhaps I’ll knit another in a bigger size.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! 2008 is going to be great!

Ganomy #2

Lisa — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:37:13 +0000

I wrote an entry, then left for lunch and returned to publish, but I didn’t think to back it up. I hit “publish” and was prompted to login. The internet ate my entry and now I have to start over!

The jist of it is I’ve been either too sleepy or nauseated to do much of anything, the past month or so. I’ve reached 16 weeks in my pregnancy and I’m finally starting to feel human again. The week before Thanksgiving I actually decided to start knitting again! I went with an oldy but a goody–Ganomy.

I first knit it in January. I made it for Nathan out of a single ball of Noro Kureyon. It got some good use, even being worn on an unusually (for Houston!) cool Easter.

Unfortunately, I LOST this amazing hat and so my Nathan needed a new one. I didn’t have any Noro in my yarn stash, so I chose a random ball of Cascade 220.

Pattern: Ganomy from The Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: Cascade 220 in Straw
Needles: 16″ US8 circular
Modifications: I changed the cast-on to 98sts and had to adjust the decreases accordingly, so I wouldn’t end up with an insanely long hat.

Of course, I love it. it’s floppy and wonderful. I don’t have any good action shots because apparently posing is just not cool for 2 and half year-olds. *sad mommy face*

Zimmermann Leggings

Lisa — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:48:16 +0000

Pattern: heavily modified “February Baby Leggings” (longies from The Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann)
Yarn: Paton’s Classic Wool (100% Merino) in “Denim Marl” and “Worn Denim”
Needles: Boye 16″ circular in size US 6
Mods: CO 88; only worked 20 rnds between short rows and hip increases; increased to 128; left 18 sts at crotch; no decreases on the [shorter legs], rolled cuff.

I love this pattern. It’s the second time I’ve used it; the first ones I made were for my son and they were only used sporadically. I recently gave them away to a friend. These blue ones are for a trade. I hope they get lots of wear!

Toddler Seamless Hybrid

Lisa — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:07:50 +0000

it’s missing its buttons, but Nathan was being cooperative, so I took some photos anyhow.

window

he wore it around

bed

silly

stairs

specs-
pattern: Seamless Hybrid from E. Zimmermann’s Knitting Without Tears
size: i measured nate’s chest, arms, and torso length, then added a few inches for growth. I had 110 sts for the body and 36 sts for each arm.
gauge: 5 sts/in
yarn: Cascade 220 in silver grey over-dyed with many many packs of tamarindo kool-aid (2 skeins with just a smidge leftover) for the body/sleeves and azure for the button bands and hems (less than one skein). I probably have enough to make a fair isle-ish hat. oh the possibilities!
needles: US 8 (5mm)
cool things i learned: steeks! StSt hems! one-row buttonholes! raglan-saddle hybrid sweater decreases that RULE.

i used steeks to turn it into a cardigan and added hems to the body and sleeves. the sleeves are obviously a tad long, but the hem makes a perfect turn upward.

i dig it.