Monday, August 24, 2009

"not everything is flat on the Prairies"...

...I used to have a t-shirt with that very slogan that went right across my chest. Yeah, that's right, I'm a classy lassy. (Though in my defence I never really wore it out in public).

Bet you thought you'd NEVER see these done:





They've been sitting over there on my toolbar under "hibernating" for about a year and a half now. One boot completely done, the other just the sole. And there they sat all this time until I finally just got so SICK of looking at it and cranked out it's mate.

And cranked I did. I seriously feel like it took about two seconds to knit so I'm all the more confounded as to why I put it off for so long.



pattern: Prairie Boots from Coco Knits
yarn: Patons Classic Merino in Olive (knit double-stranded) and some random Lopi (single-stranded) for the soles
needles: US #10
buttons: random. I really just wanted to get these done so I couldn't bring myself to go out and buy new and matching ones.

When I first bought this pattern I think I really fancied myself a pair of those "knit-style" uggs that were in all the stores at the time. Like these, but I didn't fancy the $150 price tag. I know, I know --Uggs?! uggs, you say?! It's a love/hate thing for sure. For the record, I've never owned a pair of Uggs. I did however have a cheap knock off set and Sweet Marie they were THE BEST. 40 below outside and need to warm up the car in ten feet of snow? No laces? Awesome. I am not ashamed. Fortunately the bloom fell off the rose before I forked out any money and I decided to knit myself the nearest facsimile.

The main problem with waiting a year and a half to finish a second boot: apparently my gauge is much MUCH different now. Boot number two is about two sizes bigger than the first. That sucks a little bit since boot #1 is pretty much a perfect fit! But no matter --they will pretty much just be worn as slouchy/warm/around the house booties anyway. (Though note to self: glue dots for the bottom of these as I'm wiping out LARGE on the hardwood floors).

Also on the sticks right now is a cabled pillow. After two sad attempts at using this Manos,

sad attempt #1:


sad attempt #2:


I'm going for a third and already fearing a lack of yarn. And I really, really don't want to buy more of it.



This is a free Drops pattern btw--already mine is looking nothing like the original (seen here PO-005), and I basically had to re-write it before I could even get going on it. It's been a while since I've knit from a pattern in "British" English (I'm Canadian --aren't we speaking the same language? or is this a Norwegian translation?) But I forgot how much more general or "assumed" things are. i.e K1 in the pattern --simple --"knit one" right? wrong. Knit seems to be used in a much more general way. Like "go" "make this sweater". Aye yi yi. But once I got into the mind of it again, all was right with the world. NOW I get it: purl means knit, knit means garter, up is down and hamburgers eat PEOPLE. got it!

I may just need to accept that this lumpy-ass yarn is quite possibly, cursed. Or really, scrap this pillow in favour of another.

10 comments:

kgirlknits said...

oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles with the Drops patterns! I was beginning to think I was challenged!

the prairie boots are awesome, go you :)

subliminalrabbit said...

oh my - this post just made my night! laughing my ass off over here!

Team Knit said...

those boots/slippers are amazing!! They look so awesome. I know what you mean about the manos yarn- sometimes it's sooo hard to find the perfect project for a yarn. Maybe do a Rav search with the yarn to see what others have made with it?

- Julie

Jes Lacasse said...

If you gave that shirt to Marnie, then I now own it - I'm fairly certain I got it from her at a clothing swap!

I would like to live in those boots.

Reckless Glue said...

that is too funny--it probably did go to Marnie (at least, I don't *think* I have it anymore!)

Julia said...

Way to finish! The boots are much cuter than my attempt. And for the record - I feel exactly the same way about Uggs - love/hate! I thought I could get a cheapo pair now that they're not the 'it' boot anymore - not the case! People still want $150 for suede boots that will look like crap the minute they get wet.

Good luck with the pillow. Some yarn just doesn't know how to be good! Those Drops patterns ARE pretty loosey-goosey translations. Maybe you need to read the directions with a Norwegian accent.

Virtuous said...

I LUV the prairie boots they have been in my que 4ever!

And luv the non-matching buttons even more..remind me of you LOTS of character ;o)

Annie said...

LOL! Thanks. I was just looking at the pillow pattern online, as I have some gorgeous wool I want to make something cuddly out of. Glad to know it's not as simple as it looks! Or ... the pattern, anyway. I'm all about designing my own stuff (I actually don't think I've used a pattern yet) so I'll probably end up going that route. :) Thanks for the heads-up.

Anonymous said...

Hiya, I don´t see the pattern of the hat in Drops designs. Could you please tell me the name of the pattern?

Ty! :)

Reckless Glue said...

soryy, neither of those hats pictured above are from Drops, not sure which one you mean?