KnitBrit

Ben went to overnight camp yesterday. With much protest, and not an inconsiderable amount of bribery. As we were leaving, (we snuck out - bad mommy, bad daddy!) he was carrying around a poster which read, “Warning! No girls allowed” He made a point of showing this to all the girls! (nuff said!)

So, I’m at a bit of a loss. I should be enjoying myself, rather than watching my phone waiting for it to ring - camp telling us to come get him. I kinda don’t know what to do. Should I do housework? Should I relax and spend some time knitting? 

The beautiful Marie took my mind off things this morning, when I dropped off some hats and stuff for her. I love getting to know new people, and she is a complete babe - as is her hubby, however, I kept feeling as if something was missing, there was something I should have been doing. I know I’m missing the Bunje, and I hope I get over this quickly and enjoy our respite. 

So - suggestions on what I can do this week (or as long as it lasts) to keep my mind occupied……….

Meanwhile - check out this beauty - 

I wanted to share this pattern for a chemo hat. It has a nice flared brim, more “cloche-y” than brimmy, really, but a very cute hat and a very quick knit. The first photo is done in Cascade 220 superwash, the second photo is done in Malabrigo Kettle-dyed Worsted. 

You are welcome to knit this pattern - after all, it’s a freebie, however, please take the time to knit a second hat for someone you love, or know who may need it. Please don’t knit this pattern for resale - bad karma will track you down and crush your goolies!

(so there!)

Cozy Chemo Hat 

by andi smith for knitbrit.com

©knitbrit.com

Materials

1 skein Malabrigo Kettle-dyed Worsted

I pair 5mm needles

Measurements

to fit 20 (22) inch head

Hey Mom!

Now that you’ve read my blog, how about a comment?

Shannon gave me Mooi. I am in love. 15% Bison, 15% cashmere, 70% bamboo, 100% drool! This is such a delicious yarn. I spent forever winding it into a very pretty ball, and then just holding it. I foresee a lacy, cobwebby doodad in it’s immediate future, however, it’s one of those skeins that is almost too scrumptious to actually knit or crochet. I won’t do anything until I have just the right project for it, and my thoughts are leaning towards some old-fashioned lace. I picked up a really old book of lace projects at YarnMarket in Columbus last year, it was discounted to all hell and old as dirt, but it has some lovely motifs in it, although they are all in the round. I see some major adaptations happening, then a lovely challenging project. 

Thanks Shannon. I can’t wait to get my teeth into this baby! 

I designed this for Shannon’s book, How to Knit in the Woods, which is a really sweet book. The patterns are diverse enough to be interesting, and the whole concept is intriguing. The hoodie is SWTC bamboo, and I have to admit, it is one that I’m also knitting for myself. 

Somewhere along the road, (and I’m taking the blame here) wrong figures got put into the book. I feel absolutely dreadful, firstly because it’s one of my patts, but mainly because it’s Shannon’s book. However, being the total babe that she is, she is offering the pattern as a free download on Ravelry. My guess is it’s going to be up there in the next couple of days. As you can see by the photo, it’s beautifully drapey, and has a flatteringly shaped waist. 

A word of caution, however, we’ve noticed as time goes on, that the jacket grows. Because of the “heaviness” of the bamboo, I’d recommend throwing a linen st in here and there and will probably knit the sleeves a couple of inches shorter than specified in the pattern. 

Don’t let that put you off though, this is really a beautiful jacket, and looks equally good dressed up or down. 

ETA - A free download of the pattern is available on Ravelry here and on Shannon’s errata page here. 

I feel the need to rant about my morning. It’s not particularly knitting related, although I did have time to finish one sock, cast on another and work the welt, even though I didn’t have knitting on my agenda at all this morning. 

Most mornings for us are scheduled to the minute - or as near as we can. This week, Ben is scheduled to be at Rotary Camp. For me a great break after the last week of Ben “having his flap on”. The driver was supposed to pick him up at 8.50, which in our world means that Ben comes off his precious computer at 8.40, gets sprayed with bug spray and watches out the window for a couple of mins until his driver arrives. Doesn’t sound like that big a deal, however, for a kid with autism, deviations from routine are not good things, and can very easily lead to meltdowns that last for hours/days/weeks. 

This morning, there was no driver. I called them at 9.20, very calm, very understanding to be told that the driver was picking another kid up five mins away and would be with me very soon. All the while, I’m keeping Ben calm, telling him five more mins, that they haven’t forgotten him, that he’s still going to camp, etc. So at 9.45, I’m more than a little ticked off when I call again to find out exactly what the fuck is going on. The reply I get? “Oh, hasn’t he been picked up yet?” 

If you break that answer down, it translates to either - we don’t know what the hell we’re doing, or YOU don’t know what the hell you’re doing. 

So, she puts me on hold for 15 mins (can I mention how much I dislike tubular bells muzak????) then tells me some cock and bull story about how there was an administrative error and someone should be there within the hour to pick him up. WHAT????

We end up driving Ben to camp, with me chuntering all the way there, working up a full head of steam, and having to keep it all inside, cos I’ve got to keep Ben as calm as I’m able. 

A million phone calls later, everyone blaming each other and my confidence in the transportation service pretty much demolished it’s now 12.02, and I’m starting my work day. 

Thanks so much gobshite people. I’m feeling so confident trusting you with my child. I’m stuck with either keeping him home for the week - which really isn’t an option if I want to work at all this week - or watching you take him to camp each day and waiting on tenderhooks until you bring him home. I would really like to tear one on, and swear at them the way only my hubby, Shannon and Amy know I love to do, but, hey, they’ve got my kid, so that’s not an option :( 

I guess the plus side is that I got a  bunch of knitting done while on hold………

ok - back to work - with the promise that I’ll post knitting pics in a little while 

Hope your day is going much better than mine……

My beautiful baby is 16 today! Hard to believe how quickly he is growing up. I’m very proud of who he is becoming. Happy Birthday Corey!

I guess I should post about all the work I didn’t do this week, as well as the phenomenon that seems to be sweeping the blog world - frogging. Hands up if you’ve tinked this week? 

But before I do, I’m going to post some piccys of my Mitrebox Jacket. Not the best pictures, but pictures non the less.

So, back to the procrastination. This week, Ben was at camp and Corey was pretty much doing the teenage thing hiding in his room being all emo, so I _should_ have got some stuff done. In fact, I should have got a lot of stuff done. I may have got some yard work done, and I may have spent a little time on Ravelry (and I may have thanked Casey for not inventing a widget to let us all know exactly how much time we spend on Ravelry) 

I think the most productive thing I did this week was take photos for the Ghost Knitters with Carrie. However, I didn’t get away from my frogging issues there - the heel I had to completely knit for photos had to be frogged. I thought the red and black gloves I’m knitting were facing frog overload, however, they mocked me mightily this afternoon and I tinked the thumb three times before I was happy. 

I’m hoping that the upcoming week is both productive, and tink free. (for all of us!)

It’s always a huge ordeal for Ben to have surgery. I get tired of explaining his autism to doctors time after time after time. Ben is usually very wound up, verging on a meltdown and I have to take time away from keeping him calm and not afraid to explain stuff to stupid people who, if only they would actually LOOK at his chart, wouldn’t waste my time. It doesn’t matter how many phone calls I make before hand to take care of all that stuff, it’s a total waste of time. 

So when this latest surgery came up, my blood pressure went through the roof. I was advised to talk to the ChildLife Specialists at Children’s and was somewhat mollified when they actually seemed to listen to me. Infact, Ben and I went on a tour of the surgical dept last week and I was amazed at his level of comprehension, his calmness and his willingness to participate. I don’t know why I always imagine the worst is going to happen - this child never ceases to amaze me and make me feel totally humble - he really is the most astounding child. I feel very lucky that he is mine

So. Yesterday, the day starts off very well - Ben agreed to take his seizure meds with water. Ok, admittedly, it was 5am, but this is an absolute first. To make a long story a little shorter, he was a complete star throughout the day. Worked with his childlife worker - the phenomenal Alysa -who is also an avid knitter - I knew she was cool, but damn! She knits too! wow! Ben had his surgery without meltdown, without seven people pinning him down, without all the fuss and nonsense and without me yelling at anyone! I think this is definitely a first, and I am just so proud of him. 

He has been totally cuddly since, and just a little drowsy, but fingers crossed we are rapidly on the road to recovery

Last week I bought a new pair of shoes. Nothing earth shattering, or that big of a deal. I tend to wear shoes out pretty quickly, so a new pair always feels extra good. 

These are very comfortable, no blisters, no red marks, just shoes that felt good from day one. Except for one thing. The left one felt a little “slobby” It looked a bit big, my foot kinda flobbed around in it. It has taken me nine days to connect the dots and actually _look_ at the shoe sizes. The right one is an eight, the left is a nine. No wonder it felt so funny. And aren’t I a complete dunderhead not to have noticed before now? Of course, it’s all the stores fault. They were boxed, I didn’t bother to try them on. It was pretty much a drive-by shoe purchase. But now I’ve worn them for nine days and the newness is a very distant memory. The store says tough luck. Meanwhile, I’m flobbing around in a clown shoe and won’t have time to do anything about it until next Wednesday! Duh!

For those of you the same age as me, and from England, here’s an appropriate joke….. 

Bill and Ben go shopping for shoes, 

Bill - are those new shoes comfortable?

Ben - yeah, but they sure do flob-a-lot!