Do I?

I probably ought to just hightail it over to a bookstore and check it out for myself, but have any of you seen Knits Men Want: The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man~ Plus the Only 10 Patterns She'll Ever Need? Your thoughts, other than nonfiction book titles are ridiculously long?

I found out about the book last November. It's been in release for a month and a half, but with my knitting have slowed to a standstill of late, I hadn't been reminded of it until now.

What I've seen seems reasonable enough, although some of the humor/insight seems awfully reductive. I'm also wondering if the patterns aren't so basic that they're already out there for easy pickings. (The severest of the Amazon.com commenters calls the patterns "utterly basic, shapeless, and uninspiring". Err, that sounds like a selling point to me.)

Knits men want

Next year brings the book Knits Men Want: The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man~ Plus the Only 10 Patterns She'll Ever Need. Obviously it remains to be seen if this paperback, like so many others, features patterns that I'd actually wear rather than some of the nonsense that these books try to pass off.

One line in the description jumps out at me, though: "Men aren’t being intentionally cruel; they’re just not comfortable in knitwear made with bright colors, itchy yarn, or flashy designs." That sounds like a pretty good starting point to me.

Then again, the publication date is April 1st.

Cubed

Anybody out there read/flipped through Woolly Thoughts: Unlock Your Creative Genius with Modular Knitting?

A knitter profile--he's not one of the "so many silent ones"--shows a couple examples, and I'm suitably impressed. That cube blanket sort of blows my mind, especially since I picked up the habit of doodling three-dimensional cubes and such from my grandmother.

I'm not crazy about the colors, but seriously, look at that thing.

What's up

Turns out the owner of the newest local yarn shop in town is also the co-author of a new knitting book (see the second item). I've not seen or read Pints & Purls: Portable Projects for the Social Knitter, but I pass it along for your information. Actually, I only bring it up so that I have something here today.

You may be wondering why the site of late has become a mini knitting news service rather than being about my own knitting. The sad truth of the matter is that I haven't knit in ages. It's not that I'm stopping or don't enjoy it or anything like that. Simply put, I haven't felt like I've had the time for it. Part of it could be that I'm not really jazzed about what I'm working on--or not working on--and don't have the slightest idea what to do next, but the time crunch is the main thing.

So yes, I know I'm being boring and whatnot. I imagine the lull will turn around one of these days, although going out of town next week probably doesn't mean any sea change in my knitting activity for the next week and a half. Time will tell.

Uncertain is the nicer way to put it

So I've started this new sock for the third time. I knitted eight rounds of the leg and began to worry that the sock still might not be big enough. I couldn't try it on because the dpns get in the way, so I took the project off the needles and pulled it on. I could get my foot through it. If I were to add any stitches or go up a needle size, it seems like it might be too big. I'm good to go, right?

I cast on for a third time and have knit back to the point where I frogged the WIP after trying it on this morning. And you know what? I look at it and think that it doesn't look like it should fit. It's a strange position to be in. I have empirical data that should have convinced me I'm fine, but I continue to fear that I'll invest hours into it and discover it is too small.

Maybe it's because the cuff isn't stretched out yet. Maybe it's because it will be too small. Whatever the case, I've put the sock aside for the rest of the night.

As for my adverse reaction to sweater vests, I am willing to soften my hardline stance after being given potential project links in the comments. This and this seem like they'd be OK in theory, although I'm not so sure about wearing a short sleeve shirt with the latter. These appear more stylish than what I see senior citizens wearing on football Saturdays. Also, it comes down to thinking I'll look like an idiot and sticking to the conservative instead. Like most men, it's fair to say that I don't think I have a style or confidence in an individual fashion sense.

The new Mason-Dixon Knitting book was released last week. After flipping through it at a bookstore, I'm glad I didn't order it blindly. I have zero use for the preponderance of women's and kids' clothing patterns. The Fair Isle section might be instructive as colorwork remains a mystery to me. The steeking instructions might also be worthwhile if I ever do that insane technique. Despite the photographic evidence, I have a hard time believing it doesn't create a disaster. It's counterintuitive.

I'm sounding really skeptical these days, aren't I?

Filler

Knitting on the hand towel continues. I finished a skein of the red while having a fair amount of the yellow left. Not sure what happened there other than a significant discrepancy in the size of each skein.

Knit Picks is having their 40% off summer book sale. Any favorites, old or new, worth considering?

Sorry, that's all I have today.

The ballband dishcloth

Sitting in the wind yesterday must have made me sick because I don't know how else I would have picked up a sore throat and started feeling lousy otherwise. My illness is your gain in that it means I'm going to write about knitting, something that has been infrequent lately.

I didn't want to work on the blanket, so I thought a dishcloth might be the answer. I decided that I would try Mason-Dixon Knitting's ballband dishcloth. I know, everyone has made one, but I haven't. And you know why? Because I can't figure out how they're knitted.

My previous course of attack has been simply not to bother trying. In other words, when in doubt, don't. But I'm not feeling well, so I can't feel any worse if I don't figure it out, right?

OK, I can't figure it out. Or I can't figure out what to do now that I've made it to row 4. Specifically, I don't understand this yarn forward and yarn back business. I've checked Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book and googled the terms, but I've yet to find a satisfactory explanation of what exactly I'm doing here. (I found something for yarn forward. Is this what I want to do?)

The other question is, am I supposed to rejoin color A regularly, or does it get carried somehow when I get to row 7? In row 3 I'm supposed to join color B and knit with it. When I get to row 7 it says nothing about rejoining, but I'm not sure how color A got there. The thought of lots of ends to weave in makes me feel sicker.

Is that clear? I'm sure enough of you have either made the pattern or have the book to explain what isn't exactly clicking in my brain. Keep in mind that I had to start over twice, once because I didn't leave enough of a tail and the second time because I realized I should have been starting with the contrasting color instead of the primary. What I'm saying is that if you think you're spelling it out too much, you're not. Trust me. Stupid mode is back and thriving.

Thud

The aftereffects of my film festival attending and sleep deprivation were liable to catch up with me. I'd peg the moment when they hit at 5:45 p.m. while struggling to stay awake through 10,000 BC. (Yes, I'm catching up on movies for the show despite having just seen an obscene number of films over the last four days.) Since I'm ready to crash, here's a quick post with a knitting update and information about a new knitting book.

I finished the second skein for the Ruggles Reversible Scarf last night. I estimate that I knitted seven inches during the festival, which isn't bad considering that I did it in fits and starts. A few minutes here, a few minutes there. Although I have the pattern memorized, it was difficult to see in the theaters, so that slowed me down a bit. I received a few words of knitting approval during the event, but mostly I think I confused everybody.

As far as knitting in the festival movies themselves, it was seen briefly in a documentary about Ethiopian women with medical problems stemming from childbirth injuries and in a scene from an old William Castle film with Joan Crawford working the needles.

One area where I don't expect interests to cross is knitting and indie rock, yet there it was today on Pitchfork. The music site featured a story about an upcoming knitting book by Kelley Deal of The Breeders. (And there's the Ohio connection too.) Bags That Rock: Knitting on the Road with Kelley Deal is due in October.

Different for guys

I've had Son of Stitch 'n Bitch: 45 Projects to Knit & Crochet for Men for awhile, but with as busy as I've been, it sat there being ignored with several other books I've been meaning to get to. Now it's time to weigh in on it.

The introductory section about knitting for men isn't intended for me, but the information about obtaining measurements for a sweater was helpful, even if after looking through this book I expect I'm a lot farther away from making one. Seriously. I look at the instructions, and my brain turns to mush.

I was glad to find instructions for how to wash handknits. I've been doing my own laundry for years, so I know my way around a washer and dryer. (Granted, I've shrunk some items because I didn't pay careful attention, and I prematurely destroyed a sweater I liked from drying it in a machine.) I have not been sure how to proceed with anything that yarn labels say must be washed by hand. Now I know.

As for the patterns, there is more in it that I liked or could see myself wearing than upon initial review. The first time flipping through it I must have been distracted by stuff I wouldn't waste my time on. I have no use for kitsch projects, such as pillows shaped like alcohol bottles and the dead teddy bear with a stinging bee stuck in its stomach (complete with a pool of blood). I have my doubts about how many men would wear knit ties despite them being adorned with robots or skulls and bones. The same goes for the sweater vest with an anchor motif. And a scarf with a stripper and pole done in shadow knitting? Really?

One of the book's best pieces of advice to women knitting for their men is to keep it simple, and a fair number of the projects stick to that maxim. I could see myself wearing the Speed Racer and High Fidelity sweaters and might attempt to make them if I can muster up the courage eventually. Mr. Stripey and the Ernie Sweater would probably be fine if done in colors different than the garish ones pictured in the book.

I haven't made anything from the book, but one potential complaint I might offer is how many projects seem to require sewing skills. I'm intimidated enough to attempt a sweater. Sewing in a zipper for the Cobra sweater? You must be kidding.

Especially considering the dearth of books with knitting projects for men, Son of Stitch 'n Bitch has enough worthwhile patterns for me to recommend it. OK, so it makes me think I'm not capable of making a sweater, but that's my problem.

Christmas knits

Knitted gifts were given, knitting books were received, and I taught my mom how to knit. A little Gorilla Glue appeared to fix the cables separated from the joins. It's a Christmas miracle!

The gifts seemed to be received appreciatively. (It can be hard to tell with my brothers.) One of the hats was worn outside today, so I'll take that as a sign of approval.

I've flipped through both books Santa brought me. Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book looks to have plenty of information that I can really use. Now that I feel like I know what I'm doing, the tips should be helpful and somewhat understandable. The stitch dictionary has given me a few ideas for future projects. I might even be able to use the instructions to figure out the crochet work I need to do to finish those long-delayed secret projects.

Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters may prove to be an indispensable addition to my knitting book library. I'm certainly good enough at the problem creating part of the equation.

As for me putting on the teacher's hat and showing my mom how to knit, it went fine. She had already purchased a beginner's kit and a couple of books. When I started, reading the books was more confusing than seeing someone else knit. My mom seemed to be having trouble learning from the printed page, so it was up to me to provide illumination. I showed her the knitted cast on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, and binding off. I demonstrated the long tail cast on but advised her that perhaps the knitted cast on was best for now.

She wanted to learn the English method. I use the continental method, but I tried to instruct her as best I could. I was soon reminded of why I wrap the yarn with my left hand. I have a terrible time holding both needles with it.

My mom struggled at first and lost a stitch somewhere in her first knitted row. She slowly knitted row after row. She got the hang of it faster than I did. This is not to the credit of my teaching skills. (Apparently she kind of knew how to knit years ago but didn't remember how.) I showed her what to do and explained to the best of my ability. She was knitting very tightly, which I cautioned her about, but otherwise the stitches were looking good. Her practice piece looked nothing like my atrocity.

I let her knit and purl while I played euchre with my dad and brothers. After my team claimed victory, I showed her how to bind off and weave in the ends. By now it was after 11 p.m., but she wanted to get started on a scarf with her variegated Red Heart yarn. I pointed out how to read the yarn label, especially when it comes to gauge, and let her decide how many stitches to cast on for her first project. I thought she could do a basketweave scarf, but she's content to knit one in garter stitch for starters.

I don't know that I really gave her that much help in picking up the craft. Although slow, she understood what to do without much prompting. I was probably more valuable as an inspiration than as an educator. I'll take it, though.

I used the Gorilla Glue to reattach one end on all four cables to the joins. I went ahead and did the rest of the job separating the last remaining cable that had not pulled out all the way. It was headed there. Since I was gluing the others, I figured I might as well do this one too. I'm hoping they hold.

When all was said and done, I didn't do much knitting of my own. I cast on for another hat, one for me. I don't mind that I didn't get to knit. I got to share the products and knowledge of the skill I learned just more than a year ago. That seems like a fair trade for one day. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too.

Success and stuckness

And now, the continuation of Knitting Confidential...

When last we left, I was fretting about the crochet work for the secret project. Before calling it a night I looked at the instructions for chain stitch in Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet and decided it didn't look so hard. I may have done the first stitch in the chain by accident, but I understood the concept and finished what I needed to do in the chain. That wasn't so bad.

Emboldened by this small success, I hoped to learn how to do the single crochet edging and be ready to call the secret project finished. In addition to providing edging, the single crochet will seam the sides. The book wasn't as helpful in this instance. Jenn gave me a good explanation, but for the life of me I can't figure out how you get two loops on the hook so I can pull the yarn through both of them. I'm stuck and not sure how to progress from here. With the finishing on hold, it's time to begin secret project #2.

Soon I'll be headed out of town for vacation. (Yes, there will be knitting.) I'd like to have a project in mind for knitting on the road but am short on ideas. I thought about making a satchel for my notebook computer, but the dimensions after felting are too small. I expect it will be hot, so working with wool might not be the brightest idea either. I'm open to suggestions. Bring 'em on.

I've added another knitting book to my small collection and have another on the way. I've been making my way through the first Stitch 'n Bitch book from the library. It's time for the loaned copy to be returned since I found it for the right price at a bookstore. Borders also had Knitting Rules! in a "great reads" display, alongside Michael Chabon's first book and other novels. That was unexpected. The Knit Picks summer book sale--40% off!--enticed me to get Mason-Dixon Knitting, so it should arrive this week along with another skein of yarn for the socks it seems like I've been knitting forever.

High Tension

I guess I touched a nerve writing about gauge and swatches. Thanks for your comments.

I haven't attempted anything where failure to knit a swatch and obtain gauge was critical, so my swatch spurning hasn't been costly...yet. Well, maybe that isn't quite true. The first pair of slippers I made were too big, and this hat is kind of tight. (For the hat I blame my knitted cast on. If I'd known the long tail cast on then, it would be fine. As it stands, the ribbing is imprinted on my forehead for awhile.)

I read more of Knitting Rules! last night. As it turned out, I was at the section about, you guessed it, gauge swatches (or, as the book clarifies, tension squares for my Canadian readers). It was good to read that I've not been knitting dangerously by avoiding this part of the needlecraft, but I took note of the reasons for making swatches and washing them. When the day comes that I start a sweater, I promise to knit a swatch. You all are witnesses. That doesn't mean I have to like the idea of wasting yarn on a swatch, but I accept it as a necessary part of the process.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee writes how state of mind can affect gauge, that knitting in different moods will change what you get. I find something really fascinating in that idea. The soul of the knitter truly is in the hand-knit item's DNA. Things acquire meaning based on the individual's perspective. Hopefully everyone can see the love and care put into knitting for someone else, but in the end, putting ourselves into projects is what makes knitting special. Even the mistakes become more precious because they're an expression of who we are. I imagine that's worth remembering when we're not talking about yarn and needles too.

Dyed in the wool

I'm reading Knitting Rules! and finding good information and more than a few observations that I can relate to, even if I haven't crammed every corner of my apartment with yarn. (That space is reserved for those boxes I haven't unpacked yet.) I took like a duck to water upon learning to knit, so I don't think there was any doubt that the craft was going to catch on with me. Thanks to many of you who have been reading since the early days of this blog, I was accepted as a fellow knitter right away. It's been nice to find a new community of friends along with the hobby.

So it might sound strange for me to say that it's only recently that I realized how much I am, excusing the pun, a dyed in the wool knitter. In her book Stephanie Pearl-McPhee writes, "If you never leave the house without your knitting, and only a house fire would make you think twice, your knitting 'hobby' may have become a lifestyle." I can't confess to taking my knitting with me every time I leave home, but I have it with me more often than not despite circumstances usually keeping me from working on it. This sentiment and the attendant awareness of how closely it comes to describing me drove home what I've felt: I'm a knitter and unapologetic about it.

I no longer get nervous knitting in public on my own. OK, maybe a little bit sometimes, but for the most part I can go anywhere and take out my knitting and not worry about what others might think. (It's harder to be self-conscious when most people act as though there's a bubble around me and avoid coming near.)

I'm even getting somewhat lax in guarding my secret. At work I was using one of the cozies to hold a coffee cup. A student admired it and asked about it. I let slip that I made it. Oops. I did follow up by saying that such information wasn't anything I cared to have spread around, and I trust that this student doesn't see it as something freakish. I acknowledge that I'm probably tilting at windmills, though. We are talking about a small college campus, even if I've managed to keep the secret from practically everyone at work.

You know what? If the secret does leak out, I'm not as concerned about it as I once was. I inadvertently dropped the secret with someone else when talking about getting free things. (I mentioned receiving the gift certificate for a free book, something which I couldn't explain without talking about knitting.) The person's reaction was more of the quietly stunned surely-you're-joking variety, but again, I don't really care if he thinks I'm certifiably crazy. I understand it regardless of if it doesn't make sense to non-knitters. Trust me, I know it doesn't make sense to non-knitters.

If this sounds like the lead-in to an announcement that I'll be posting under my name, you're wrong. I'm still going to keep my nom de blog because of the freedom and minor security it affords me. I don't foresee any switch there. That'll be our little secret as I continue on this journey. After all, who knows knitters better than other knitters?

Booking it

On those occasions when I flip through knitting books, I do more flipping than looking. In other words, there's a lot in them that isn't for me, doesn't interest me, or appears too difficult. I'm well aware that the majority of these books aren't written with my gender in mind. That's fine. I'm not asking for special treatment, but it would be nice to find a book that has more than one or two things in it that meet my knit-worthy criteria.

I think I've found one. I've seen Mason-Dixon Knitting mentioned quite often, and my favorite color swap secret pal sent me a ballband dishcloth made from the pattern in it. I placed a reserve on the book at the library and picked it up this afternoon. Ordinarily I'll page through and glance at the pictures, but I read the first few pages of this book. Then I took my time going through each pattern and checking what was involved.

I liked several of the patterns I saw, so I might have to order a copy for myself. I'm already having insane thoughts of making log cabin blankets for Christmas gifts. If I do that--and that's a big if--I better get cracking soon.

What are your favorite knitting books? Also, what are you reading at the moment? I'm ready to dig into A Thread Across the Ocean: The Heroic Story of the Transatlantic Cable. Despite the title, it has nothing to do with knitting.

Quick knits

I've barely been able to keep my eyes open since getting home tonight, so I'll make this a quick entry.

My first adult-sized sock looks to be coming along nicely. I wanted to work on it more tonight, but four rounds was all I could manage. It was so cold in my office today that I wore a coat to combat the chill. Sitting in that for most of the day has obviously sapped my energy.

I'm very pleased with the cuff's stretchiness. I cast on too tightly for my first practice sock, but my WIP seems to be exactly how it should be. I almost didn't leave a sufficient long tail for the cast on--I doubt I could make one more stitch--but everything worked out.

The variegated yarn may create slanted circular stripes. We'll see once I've knitted more of it.

Depending how tomorrow goes, I might also cast on for a different pair of socks. I'm anticipating receipt of my Knit Picks order.

I bought my first knitting book the other day. Stitch 'n Bitch Nation came in today's mail. I'm not sure how much of it I'll use, but at 80% off at Amazon, it was worth adding to my library.