The Knit Geek

Just a heads up that I have several types of this fabric available through my auctions right now. Some of these are a bit hard to find, so if you like this sort of stuff, check it out!

Why is it that I can never have just one project? I now have 4 WIPs on needles in my bags….no, wait - 5. I am so tangled and scattered, I don’t know what to work on more! One project is briefly on hold as I wait for circular needles I had to order, due to the fact that the stores near me don’t seem to believe in 16-inch circulars. Luckily I got them on discount, so even with shipping, they will cost pretty much the same as full price at the local places. However, the other 4, well we have:

• 1. A lighthouse dishcloth - only one of several pieces to redo my kitchen linens.
• 2. The Lion Brand Homespun Hooded Knit Sweater (which is what I need the 16-inch circs for - I’m converting it to in the round, since my finishing abilities are a little ‘off’).
• 3. The Picovoli T-shirt from MagKnits which is painstakingly long for me. These are the smallest needles I have ever used!
• 4. Another skinny scarf - w00h00!
• 5. And a self-made pattern for a sleeveless shell/t-shirt in Lion Brand Suede yarn. I couldn’t find a pattern I liked with the Lion Brand Suede, so I opted to create my own. We’ll see how that goes. I hear Lion Brand Suede is evil…

At least I find knitting enjoyable….most of the time! I really want to make a Mr. Bean Teddy Bear too, but that will have to wait a bit.

I made this top this week, and think it turned out okay. I am still new to making tops, so my finishing is not always brilliant, but it’s only a matter of time and practice. I chose this pattern because I like stylish clothes that don’t accentuate my imperfections, and thought this would be ideal. There are 6 different versions you can make, varying with sleeves and without.

The completed piece looks exactly like the envelope image. It was easy to follow, but the neckband gave me some trouble - but this is probably due to my inexperience, as I have had difficulties with every neckband I have done thus far. The sizing is fairly generous, although mine is a little snug at the hips, and a little big across the bust. I have a very hard to fit body, since my bust is 36-inches, but my hips are 42-inches. I am basically between two pattern sizes. Next time I will make the size 14 (for the 36-inch bust), and simply flare out the lower portion of the top.

I used a polyester, linen-look fabric. It is probably a bit heavy for this style, but still looks okay. A light cotton would be ideal.

I do recommend this top. It is a wonderful staple for Spring and Summer, and is generally quite easy.

I have made three pairs of these pants for my son, but the most recent pair is my favorite. Not only is it Spongebob Squarepants, but it came out the best (practice makes perfect), and I even made the matching top this time! This was my first sewn top, and it gave me a bit of trouble with the V-neck, but I am fairly happy with how it turned out. He loves it, and has even worn the top to school. Instead of fleece, I used lightweight jersey knit so he could wear it out, and it wouldn’t be too warm or constricting.

The pattern is very easy to follow, and easy to adjust for size. Karl is very tall, and very thin, so I need to make size 5 for height, and size 3 for width, which was easy to manage on this pattern. It looked pretty much like the pictures on the envelope. I followed the instructions except for adding pockets. I did add pockets on the second pair I made, but not the other two. The last thing he needs are tiny treasures shoved in his pockets while sleeping.

I recommend this pattern if you want a nice easy pattern for toddler PJ’s - and I would even go so far as to use heavier cotton and make play pants. The style is very basic, and thus very versatile.

And here is Karl in his brand new pajamas!

Imagine my surprise and delight last night when we were watching 30Rock, one of my absolute favorite shows, and Kenneth the Paige is shown talking to Tracy Jordan and knitting a bikini FOR HIS GRANDMOTHER. I had tears in my eyes, I laughed so hard. It was just so great!

The night before, hubby and I were watching an animated German movie for the popular German comic ‘Werner’, and there was a bulging biker that everyone was afraid of, who was knitting while hanging out one night drinking beer. Can it get any better than this?

Sometimes media can be a wonderful thing.

I am on a skinny scarf kick. We watch a lot of German television programs, and they are quite popular wardrobe staples for many of the hip, young, female characters, so I had to have one. Then two, and then three. And now I’m working on number four. I just love doubling up pretty yarns that compliment each other. And they are so quick and easy! Mostly mindless knitting, except the one I dubbed ‘Hex Code’ - the vibrant, multicolored one. And now for your review, Three Skinny Scarves!

And closeups:

Hex Code:

Turquoise & Chocolate Heaven:

Industrial:

These are really fun to make. I have a few more in mind, and am considering selling them. I’m not sure how popular they would be, but I certainly can’t wear all of them!

I was fortunate enough to get three huge boxes of fabric for free from a local freecycle, and of these three boxes, at least one box worth is various colors of ‘knit suede’. I had no idea what it was even, but then a trip to the local Rag Shop opened my eyes. It is 100% polyester, soft, and fuzzy. The problem now? Trying to figure out what you use this type of fabric for.

Any ideas?

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Edited to include a pic of this magical fabric. There is no stretch to it, and it is fairly non-flowy like real suede.

This is my first ‘official’ Knit Geek blog post. I know you’re excited…don’t try to deny it.

I love sewing and knitting, and finding cool, unique fabrics. I sell some things on eBay, mostly interesting, but some great staple type fabrics and yarns as well.

I have no professional training, and just sort of muddle through. My son is 3 and a half, and happily wears all that I make him. I have pledged to not buy any brand new clothing, and to only make new pieces or refashion old for two months, at Wardrobe Refashion. I love that blog!

Why am I a Knit Geek? Well, I guess because weird knits appeal to me - Dr. Who’s scarves, Space Invaders socks, Firefly hats - and I am kind of a geek. Not the ‘I’m really good at math’ kind, but more the ‘I love video games like Final Fantasy, have seen The Lord of the Rings Trilogy more times than I can count, Rowan Atkinson is my God, PBS station rocks’ kind of geek. And I love yarn and fabric more than the actual clothes. Yes, it’s true. I would happily fill a room with jumbled up yarn and fabric, and dig into it like some wild animal, and curl up for the Winter. Issues…I know.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some fabric to roll around in…