"What Is This?" Sunday

In good old tradition we hereby proceed to the well beloved feature...

What Is This?

I am certain you should have no problem with this, and I also think I should pick trickier stuff.
Last week it was, of course, a tea bag. Jhadur, Fame and Honor to you!

Today is a very exciting day for me. Family from the USA is coming to visit, for 2 weeks and I can't wait for them to finally get here. Richard is picking them up from the airport, and of course he could not help himself and had to take Elijah with. They haven't seen him since he was 7 months, and they are going to be so amazed to see how much he grew and how much he learned. He now walks, semi talks and eats anything he can get his little hands on. And then there is the firm believe that he is a mountaineer, nothing is to high for him to climb on. (A new set of challenges, diving head first of the bed did not do him all that good. The bruise is slowly getting better though...) But we do practice, and it is quite a blast to see him walk now.

Socklettchen Adaptation

I was digging through some dark corners of my stash storage system (system, ha...) and discovered the sample sock my Mama knit for me and the description she wrote out so I would know what to do and finally conquer my nemesis sock. For years I was struggling with the concept, I had conquered lace and twists (not all that good, but who is perfect then?) and the sock just was something I so badly wanted to knit, but just could not get my head around. I also found the first sock I ever knit, and yes I only knit one first sock. No second one to make the first pair...
It is nice to see how people influence you. I never asked her for this, I was living in the USA at the time and Germany was a long way off. And just one day this package arrived. Some candy, a German book, this sock. Awesome.

Since I put out "Socklettchen" I got really nice comments. Thanks to everyone, I find that very encouraging and it does make me feel good. I do tell people how much and why I like their designs, after all we all do this out of a passion for knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning....

One person said she would have loved to see the pattern in different sizes. She specifically was looking to make this for a little girl, so I did actually write an adaptation. Just some notes.
I did think about this "in different sizes" thing, and decided that for now I'll go case by case. Patterns generally can be adapted, and it is hard to satisfy everyone as there is a lot of different feet or body shapes or heads out there. We will see.

Here is the adaptation, written to fit a girl of about 7 years of age.

Work everything as in the Pattern but make following changes:
-cast on 16 st, work increases as described until you have 40 st.

-then you would knit only 5 pattern repeats, not 10.

-the gusset you work the same way, except you increase until you have 20 st for the front of the foot and 34 st for the bottom of the foot.

work heel as follows:
-k12 st, k10 st, turn work.
1.row: slip 1st st, then purl 8 st, k1, turn work.
2. row: slip 1st st, k9 st, turn work.
repeat row 1-2 until you have knitted 10 rows, you'll end on a purl row. turn work.
-sl 1 st, knit to end of row and then pick up 5 st on the side of the heel flap. complete the row in pattern, and pick up 5 st on the other side of the heel flap. (You have now 20 st on your heel flap + 12 st on each side of the heel flap)
-setup row: k to end of heel flap, p2tog (one from the heel flap and one of the extra stitches), turn work.
1. row: p19, k2tog (one from the heel flap and one of the extra stitches), turn work.
2. row: k19, p2tog (one from the heel flap and one of the extra stitches), turn work.-continue until all st on each side of the heel flap are knitted. you should end with a purl row.turn work so the front is facing you.
-work 2 rows in pattern, then start to work pattern around the whole leg. This should fit 8 times.
repeat rows 1-6 two times.repeat rows 1-3 one time.

Then you just continue knitting like the instructions say, except that you have a bit less on your needles.

I hope this works out, I really have no clue about children's sizes (yet). But this is about half the sock, and in the same way the pattern was adapted now it is possible to vary the sizes by adding or removing pattern repeats etc. So I hope this works out.

Please do not use this pattern for commercial purposes. You may print a copy for your personal use. © Knittiana!

Secret Socks Finished

Elijah is now gone for 2 days. Man, I never thought it would be this quiet in the house, I'll still tiptoe around thinking the little Guy might be sleeping, or I'll wake up at night wondering why he's not hungry and screaming.... But he's with his Daddy visiting his Grandparents, so I don't have any worries. And just like a good husband he called me yesterday to report any and each detail of the long trip, and seems like Elijah is doing better than his Dad, he was barely impressed by the plane ride, and even less by the time warp one is hit with when all the sudden the day starts 7 hours later. Elijah also laughs and smiles at everyone, even at the dog, and he's just sometimes getting quiet and then he asks:" Mama... mama?"

I am holding up pretty well, considering. It's just so darn quiet in the house, I keep sneaking around thinking Baby sleeps, and each night so far I woke up at around 5 am wondering why he's not waking up for bottle and early morning cuddle. (I said that twice, didn't I?)
Pffft, only 12 more days. I can handle that, or?

One thing this means though is that I get a lot of knitting time extra. The red Secret Socks are for Becke, my husbands Sister. She hasn't been getting a lot of homemade things yet, and this is just to spoil her feet a bit. (And the pictures are really bad, but the good fancy camera went with over the big waters to document Elijahs adventures...)
After all, I have no choice, I got to keep busy, right? So I'm catching up on some I.O.U.'s, some extra socks and maybe I get my Heart Cardi done. And there of course is Ravelry, I can organize my groups and browse the forums, catch up on some blog reading and, well, miss by Baby.

Happy Easter!

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter, enjoy the days with family and friends. My little son and my husband are going to miss out on these little secrets in my Mom's pantry, and the cake is bought but very good with a cup tea.
This morning at 4:30 AM they left for Amsterdam to catch a plane that will take them to the second set of Grandparents in Illinois. I admit I am sad that I can't go, and I already miss Elijah, but I am also excited for my family over there as that is only the second time they get to hold him and see how much he's grown. They will make eyes.....

So enjoy.
Eat cake.
Drink tea.

Happy Birthday Mama

Happy Birthday Mama, another year of your life just started and oh do I wish you a year filled with joy and cherished moments.

You had so much to suffer last year, yet you always laugh, have a hug for anyone, love the moments with your grand children, and you just have soo much love to give.

Even your own sickness can not break your spirit, you ignore the pain and just note that 'one can't change things sometimes, why be upset all day?' You love your roses and your garden, and you can't help but spoil us with your wonderful cooking and baking. And you make my day, every day. Thank you for your strenght and care.

Special Someone

Sometimes one just meets a special person. In this case it is a wonderful 86 year old, Aunt Dini. Rarely have I met someone so extremely sweet, always nice and very happy person... Not to say that she did not have a lot of pain in her life, she did. Not to say that she did not have a lot of heartache in her life, she did. Yet she just radiates a grace and a calm that one can only admire, she always has a loving word and a comforting touch. And so as it was her birthday a couple of days ago I had made her a little pin, as she never wants anything for herself but will wear it with appreciation. Although I might have to convince her that it is not too special and can be worn for daily occasions.

Update

Well, hello again... the good news is that I started to knit something again. A blanket for myself, I seem to need something soft, warm, big and safe to snuggle up into. Beautiful Alpaca, very nice and good to knit with.

Bad news: I had an MRI last week. The damage to my heart is a lot worse than we thought. Life will be scary and very uncertain for some time to come. We are trying to find out what exactly happened, and we are hoping that medicines will fix the problem eventually. The alternative does not bear thinking about.

Thankfully I have this. A lot to live for. And friends that think of me.

Disclaimer: this blog was never intended as a personal forum, merely as a knitting blog for informative purposes. Things change. What can I say...

We Did It!

Oh I know I promised knitting photos, and you shall get them soon... but first things first: welcome Elijah! After a very dramatic return to hospital and an emergency C-Shection on July 21st he was delivered at 18:13 PM, at 4 pounds, 15 ounces and 18". Or 2.24 kg, 47 cm. He was born at 36.1 weeks, and had to spend 6 days in Neonatal Care. I was not very well myself, but it was very hard to be separated from Elijah and when we finally got home yesterday evening bliss just took over.... And the 3 hourly feedings. But knitting will not be forgotten.

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments and wellwishes. I will find time to write everyone soon... I hope.

Happy Birthday Tante Lotte!

Tante Lotte is my favorite Aunt. She is one of my Mom's older sisters and somehow totally different than the rest of the family, I always felt a connection with her and now as she is getting old and frail I just wish I could visit her once a month. Just to make sure I see her and get to talk to her and get to learn from her... But then Germany is a bit far away for that. So I resort to spoiling her and writing her and sending her cards. And socks to keep her feet warm, such as these Bed Socks for her.
I knitted them from the toe up but I did knit a reverse Dutch Heel instead of a short row heel. I also used EZ's Sewn Bind Off and found it to be very suitable. It is nice and stretchy, and I am sure it will look even better once I blocked the socks...

Tante Lotte was born in the same town than me, Hildesheim, which is pretty and nicely small (not so small anymore...) and is situated close to Hannover in NW Germany. She was born just before WW II and has seen and experienced a lot of hardship, she witnessed the daytime raid on Hildesheim in March 1945, just about 3 months before Germany surrendered. She does not talk much about what she saw, but the bit she did share contained horrific memories. Most of the town was destroyed, and mostly civilians died.
I love to learn from my relatives, but growing up German has always been a mixed batch. My Mom's Dad was in a concentration camp as a political prisoner (he was a communist) but one of my uncles was in the SS and changed his name after the war to avoid persecution. I don't know details of what he did, I would love to find out even though learning of his past has made me feel very upset. I loved that particular uncle very much and was only told after his death. My Father-in-Laws Dad was in the Polish resistance after the Germans forced him to join the Hitler Youth and he escaped. A Lady that used to baby sit me told me how she had to make clothing out of news paper, and how everything with the back to the sun was fit for eating. It is so sad to see that all these memories are disappearing, no matter where one stands on the political front it is imperative for the future that we remember and learn from the past.

A little note: her birthday was last week. But because I was in the hospital she has not received the socks yet. But they are being blocked as we 'speak' and will be in the mail tomorrow....

A Family Tradition

Family traditions mean a lot to me. Maybe that is because we live so spread out around the globe that anything connecting us takes on a new meaning, and we cherish even the silly and the minuscule.
Knitting socks has been one tradition. (As you can see on the photo, and that is only the socks that where clean, not traveling with the husband, worn or to be fixed up. 2 generations of women represented, in no particular order.) My Mother has always knit socks for me and my sisters, and then they started as well. I was the last one to learn, socks have been my nemesis for years and years and man was I bursting with pride once I cracked the code! We all ended up in a sort of competition, with my Mom dropping out first because she just can't with her joints and is simply to dignified for such silliness, and then my oldest sister just produced so much that I was wondering if she secretly hired some other people to help her... she won hands down.
And then she died this February, barely 7 years older than me and with no apparent cause she was just gone, and her socks sit in my dresser drawer just to be taken out and looked at , cuddled and put back once in a while. Knitting is like a connection, I inherited her wool and her needles, her knitting books and her tricks. And of course there is so much more to be remembered and cherished about her, but the love she made our socks with just makes them special and knitting socks a tradition worthy to be mentioned.

Hand Crafted Tea Set.

This is the tea set we bought while being lost in Wales this summer. The pottery we came across was so well hidden we would have never found it had we been on the right path...