Making Miscellany 2:2
Indecision, butt triangles, new favorite trousers, and saying bye to my making foreman
Dear reader,
Hello, hello and happy 29th of February! This morning I was wondering why I had no memory of the last leap day, then I remembered: on 29th February 2020, I had a four month old baby and we were on the cusp of a global pandemic. I keep feeling I should do something to mark this once-in-a-four-year occasion (as does, it turns out, every company I’ve ever bought something from; note to self for the millionth time: pare down those email subscriptions), but what do you do with a bonus day? In a world unconstrained by practical considerations, I’d run away to a spa (one where I could comfortably knit, too) or perhaps spend the whole day making a leap year dress, just because. But its already midday on a rather (weatherwise) unpromising Thursday. So instead, I’ll write to you during my wee one’s nap, hope to knit a few rows, delight in some toddler snuggles later and eat enchiladas for dinner. And consider myself very lucky to do those things, too!
On My Needles
What do you do when you’ve finished a big knitting project? Writing this monthly newsletter over the last year, I’ve observed I tend to fall in a bit of a rut once I’ve finished a garment. I’ve been in one of those, let’s not call it a rut, but a fallow period ever since finishing (well, the buttonband fix is still in-progress) the Calix Cardigan I wrote so much about last month. I had thought I’d had my next project all lined up: I’d bought some beautiful tweed yarn, my first substantial yarn purchase in ages, for a Peninsular Vest (Ravelry link) and had been planning to cast on pretty much as soon as my Calix was done. But then I was working on a little ballet wrap for an excited four year old, so I decided to wait a bit. I cast it off (a picture below — so happy with how it turned out!) and did the massive gauge swatch the pattern (understandably) suggests and … I just wasn’t feeling it.
The yarn is still lovely, I still want to have the vest in my wardrobe, but I think, with the days feeling more and more springlike, a tweedy cabled vest just hasn’t seemed quite the thing for my needles (even though I’m sure my eyes would thank me for taking advantage of lengthening days to better see my dark stitches). I also think there’s a tiny bit of me that loves a plan, loves direction, then, at the critical moment, rebels (even if it’s just against my past self); it’s the same part of my indecisive self that will ask someone to help me choose between two things, then immediately opt for the one they haven’t chosen. Which is all to say, in one of the most responsible crafting moments I’ve ever had, I put my swatch away, with a bit of paper pinned to recording my needle size and suspected* gauge, and gave myself permission to find a different project. (*I say suspected because … have you tried to measure a tension square with reverse stockinette and cables, knit in dark yarn lately? It is a task to try a maker’s soul. And I’m still not sure I’ve cracked it …)
More swatching, with different yarn, has ensued, and, I have to say, lots and lots of indecision. I think I’ve just about settled on making a colourblock cardigan, to use up some much loved yarn bought for this pattern many years ago, which I’ve never knit. Inspired by this cardigan, which I’ve also loved for a long time, I *think* I’m looking forward to a simple knit, dictated by the yarn quantities I have available. But goodness, it is amazing how many questions even a simple cardigan poses: top down or bottom up? raglan sleeves or something else? steeked and cut, or knit flat? All questions that require a bit of thought, a bit of math, and above all else, a bit of concentrated time. And that, as always, has felt in short supply. So, perhaps I’ll more to share next month … or perhaps I’ll have cast on something else entirely instead.
Though I often find my indecisiveness frustrating, one thing I have been enjoying is thinking about the possibilities in my stash, in my pattern books, in the things I have to hand; that, and working on a new sock, in new yarn, sent to me as part of the loveliest swap with my crafty penpal. And if my indecision carries on, well, I’ll end up with a new pair of beautiful socks that much faster!
On the Sewing Table
Last (checks notes) May (!) I made some Bob Pants, and loved them, and intended to (in my common refrain) make some more very soon. Well, at last I’ve done it, and I couldn’t be more pleased with them. Meet my corduroy Bobs! I’d been wondering about making a pair out of cord for ages, unsure if a more structured fabric would work with the balloon shape of the pant. After getting some cord on a wonderful trip to Fab Mill Works last autumn, I did a lot of hashtag trawling to see if I could find any cord examples. I didn’t turn up much, but then just before Christmas saw a beautiful cord sample made up at Cool Crafting (a localish to me fabric and yarn shop), which gave me the confidence to just give it a go. I cut the pattern pieces in January, but have only just gotten around to sewing them up, and gosh, I ADORE them! The cord is a medium warm brown, a color I always struggle to name. Is it tobacco? Deep caramel? Warm chestnut? Whatever we call it, it’s one of those forever favorite colors … one that I am consistently drawn to, and have been for at least fifteen years, a great candidate then for making a pair of trousers I hope to wear and wear and wear. For this pair, I went down one size from the tencel pair I made last year and removed about 2 cm from the rise. And I’m so happy with them! I have some linen earmarked for another pair and think I’ll just crack on with making them, ready for spring (it helps that they’re in an olive-y brown, which means, bonus: no changing my overlocker thread — this seems as good a method as any for charting my next few sewing projects! )
The only changes I’ll make for my next pair are raising the pockets (because as they are, I can barely reach them!) and perhaps anchoring them in the waistband if I can be bothered. I’ll also *possibly* take a wee bit a width out of the top back. I like to resist the urge to nit pick every thing I make, especially when I feel happy and comfortable and confident in a finished item. BUT, when I asked Nick to take some pictures of these, I did notice this weird Bermuda’s triangle of fabric situation. What’s going on in there? I certainly don’t know! I don’t have to walk around looking at my bum, and to be fair, I don’t think the—I don’t even know what to call it, is it bunching?—is happening or particularly obvious when I’m moving. But, if it’s something I can fix … maybe I should try? I noticed a few more knowledgeable sewing people commenting on the width of the back of these, so I might try shaving off a little width from the back center rise … or maybe just trust that in lighter linen, whatever is going on will be even less visible. TBD! (And I know the responsible think to do would be to make a toile with the adjustments but …. I probably won’t do that.)
On My Table
That was a lot of knitting AND sewing waffling, but never fear, I’ve got a short and *SWEET* recommendation for you today. I made these oatmeal cookies this week and, and I don’t say this lightly, I think they’re the best oatmeal cookie, maybe cookie fullstop, I’ve ever made. As is my want with almost every baked good recipe, I reduced the sugar, slightly, (by about a fourth a cup). I’ve been baking these a tray at a time, and still have some dough left to enjoy in the fridge. Hoorah!
On My Mind
All my waffling and project indecision (only a fraction of which I’ve shared with you here, if you can believe it!) has had me thinking about making, and process, and productivity. When I was planning this month’s miscellany, my thoughts were initially swirling around my “slump” — the fact that I’ve not got a bigger project underway this month. I was thinking about my “workflow”, about how I had a project planned that I didn’t “progress” with, what “strategies” I might put in place in future to ensure a seamless transition from one garment project to the next … and then I stopped and thought why am I obsessed with productivity??? Not only is it, well, counterproductive when you’re thinking about a hobby that’s meant to be fun, but also, I think in my constant pursuit to be making, getting through the big projects, the yarn, the fabric I have (and don’t ask me why I feel like working on little things doesn’t count), I could be missing out on making things I’d like to make, but that require a bit more thought and time. If I’m always trying to just keep going, to maximize minimal time, I’m never going to, say, get a little hand quilting project underway, or work on that sweater I want to try to recreate, or luxuriate in some creative stash diving, or any number of other things. So, I’ve decided to officially put the tiny making foreman in my head on notice; maybe you’d like to join me in this too?
And with that, friends, I’ll leave you with hopes you’re doing well, and an invitation to share any thoughts or your plans for next month below. After what felt like a neverending cycle of being ill, then being behind on things this month, I’ve got big hopes for the next, what I’m hopefully dubbing Marvellous March! I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to — for me, it’s doing some work on our little garden. Perhaps a new segment for this newsletter? Til next time!
Katherine
Love the wrap, swatching and the corduroy pants! Indecisive knitting is a thing. :)) Some days the only knitting that gets done is socks for my husband.
I think you've accomplished a lot this month. Love the ballet wrap, and your new corduroys. You are not alone in the knitting indecision. I managed to dither the entire month of February about what cardigan I want to knit for my April/May trip and instead cast on a procrastination shawl. That cardigan (whichever one it's going to be) needs to be cast on now. Or (gulp) I'll have to buy ready-made!