Happy World Wide Knit in Public Day! Big day for us crafters--a political act of how we have come to view this world. A group of 70 odd people knitted at Central Park, courtesy our wonderful knitting group, Sit N Knit. I got to hang out with some of my most favorite people, did some progress on my version of the cropped cardigan, and solved one big casting off mystery. More news in the weeks to come. And oh, the last picture. I was too buzy eating the lemon bars that Amy (left) had made. Not one, not two, but three lemon bars.
Today's featured project is Elfie. Yap... you can "just call me Elfie". My colleagues at school had an almost impromptu baby shower for our friend and fellow dissertator, Rachel. I now live in NYC and miss all the school related gathering-celebrating (and whining-crying-"why is my life so sucky") fun; Anyway, I had to mail something handmade for the baby-to-be. And I had to come up with it really fast.
So I decided to make a baby set with a hat and booties (baby booties--I never seize to wonder who in the world could wear such small shoes?). I found the pattern on the Lion Brand website and I was done in under three hours. I took another hour or so figuring out how to embellish the gift, but that is just me, Ms. "I really want to drive myself crazy before I commit". I have a small button collection, mostly comprised of the extra buttons received with Suketu's shirts, buttons snipped off "undonatable" clothes, buttons found in forgotten corners of drawers and dressers. Basically, "vintage" quality buttons. I think they are special--each button has a story...something to say. With all its chipped corners, it wants to tell you where it came from and where it is going to go.
This is also my personal philosophy about handcrafting (and about many other things in daily living). (Maybe I am thinking more about this today given the nature of the day). Every handmade project is alive (forever) with a story. Every handmade project, filled with imperfections, split stitches, signs of frogging and frogging again, wants to tell you something. Anyone who is seeking something "perfect"/store bought (aka "superior") is missing the point--it is perfect because I made it. It is perfect because I was thinking of you while making it. It is ours forever because it has something of you, and something of me.
Getting back to Elfie. This would have worked in less than three hours if I had enough sense to first check Ravelry. Many complaints that the hat works out too small, even with gauge. See modifications below.
Pattern: Just call me Elfie is inspired by the Baby Elfin set, Lion Brand website.
Yarn: Bernat's Denimstyle in white
Crochet Hook: 4.5mm
Accessory: Neutral colored buttons from personal collection
Modification for hat: By the time I finished all the rows before the flaps, something looked terribly wrong. Not even a cat's head would fit that. So I changed plans and continued to increase. Stopped increasing when the diameter was about 2.5 inches less of the goal diameter. Continued without increases until desired length. No flaps. Hat done.
Modification for booties: I am a "visual" knitter. I need a photograph (yes, it helps me wing things too). Anyway, by the time I was done with the first set of increases, I could visualize it. I was getting a sole length of more than 4 inches, so I skipped a few rows here and there, and made it approximately 4. I skipped the cuffs and single crocheted the bootie opening. Added buttons for extra happiness.
