Perfectionism: a blessing and a curse

Have I mentioned that I'm a perfectionist?  I can't stand good enough.  This applies to all aspects of my life - school, work, and especially crafting.  With knitting, I am constantly unravelling and reworking rows - changing needle sizes, yarns (yes, plural), or even re-knitting entire pieces with alterations to make them better.  It is time consuming, not to mention curse inducing.

I mainly knit at night in front of the t.v. and my husband has learned that it is best not to ask if he hears a prolonged angry groan or an emphatic "Ai yah!".  When my Asian heritage starts to bubble over, he knows that it's time to duck and cover.

Fortunately for me, he totally gets it.  Doug, a woodworker, is meticulous with his craft.  He has created beautiful furniture for our home and certain flaws, which are invisible to the untrained eye, still bother him. I suppose errors in woodworking are more permanent and costly to change or redo. 

So, yesterday, I finished Vickie's cowl (Color Theory Cowl - by Xandy Peters) and I've already started thinking about ways to improve it.  It's not that there's anything really wrong with it, it's just that the edging isn't quite the way I want it and the yarn I used isn't all that soft.  I'm not satisfied with the colours either.  Bottom line, it looks a bit amateurish and I'm not overly thrilled about it.  I think that I can make it better and that's what I am going to do.  

I've already started casting on a new and improved version: Color Theory Cowl 2.0    

Winter is Coming...

No, this post has nothing to do with The Game of Thrones.  Although, I do wonder whether or not "Winter is coming" will become the new "You had me at hello" or "Keep calm and carry on" catch phrase.  There is something about August that inspires me to start knitting again.  It happens every year.  Something triggers and I start searching for new patterns for cozy shawls, cowls, scarves, and the like.  This year is no exception.  Why, you ask?  Well, with the onslaught of back to school advertisements and the hint of cooler weather to come, I can't help but think, "Winter is Coming" and what better way to accessorize than with customized knits.

Of late, I have been working on three projects - all scarf-like cowls.  The first, a birthday present for my best friend Melana; the second, a thank-you gift for my friend Karina; and the third, a 40th birthday gift for my friend Vickie.  Of the three, I only finished one on time.  I always underestimate the time it takes to knit a project.  It's terrible, really.  Full disclosure: Vickie turned 40 last December - her gift will be 9 months late!  It will be completed today, I swear!  Granted, last December I had a newborn baby.  Oh, and I should disclose that the yarn I purchased (in her favourite colour, purple) has experienced 3 incarnations.  

In December 2012, I started a chunky double stranded scarf.  About 10 inches in, I got tired of fighting the tension so I pulled it out.  The yarn was speaking to me and it was saying, it wasn't meant to be this kind of scarf.  So, in February, I decided it was destined to become a shawl with a ruffled edge.  I finished the body of the shawl only to realize that it wasn't going to be something that Vickie would wear.  Arghh...  What to do?  

And that's the thing.  When knitting gifts, it's more than the thought that counts.  Why give a knitted gift to someone if it'll likely end up in the bottom of a drawer or in a donation bag to Good Will?  I don't want to be compared to the kooky spinster aunt who gifts matching Christmas sweaters for the entire family!   

My motto is that it's better late than never!  So I have transformed the purple yarn into a striped cowl.  I'm hoping it's something that she can throw on with a light jacket when she's out for walks with her family.  The diagonal stripes give the piece a youthful funkiness.  Best of all, I used the purple yarn and was able to add black worsted yarn that's been in my stash for ages (originally purchased for one of many sweaters that I never completed).  I will include a picture of the finished product in an upcoming post.

Knitted Baby Hat with Earflaps: My Signature Gift

Two of my favourite baby hat patterns come from Zoe Mellor’s Adorable Knits for Tiny Tots.  The hats truly are adorable and have become one of my signature baby shower gifts.  One of the patterns has cables and the other is striped.  I have used a number of different double knit yarns for the hats.  

When my son Mackenzie 4 months old, I used Debbie Bliss’ washable Baby Cashmerino in the round on Addi Turbo US 5 circular needles.  The hat was silky soft and did not irritate his skin in any way.  Prior to Mackenzie's hat, I often used Wool Gatto. The  Wool Gatto knit up well but had less stretch than Baby Cashmerino.  However, from what I understand, Wool Gatto has been discontinued - what a shame.

I have also made these hats using Sirdar Snuggly.  The acrylic Sirdar Snuggly is surprisingly soft and knits up well.  I love that it does not squeak on my needles like other acrylics.  Not only is it affordable, but II love using Sirdar Snuggly for baby projects because it is so easy to care for.  If it accidentally ends up in the dryer, no problem!  God forbid if a wool gift ends up accidentally felted.

For Christmas of 2010, I whipped up the striped ear flap hat in red, green and white Sirdar Snuggly.  It was a hit!  I have kept that hat and plan to use it for Christmas pictures with my second-born son, Adrian (who will be a year old in December).  Now, I just need to find a cute Christmas hat pattern for Mackenzie, who is now 3!  It's August, I have time!