So, what did you DO today?

Well, Gentle Readers, we made it to the end of week one of self-employment.  I wish I could say I had a lot to show for it, but maybe it's more than I think.  I was worried that being alone all day would be too weird for words, but I had sick children home with me for three of five days.  So while still weird, it wasn't exactly lonely.  Who knew I would leave the hospital only to become a full time nurse?  I'm happy to report that the patients have improved, even if the patience hasn't.  Who are these people, anyway, and why are they so small, and needy?

Every summer, Phillip has the honor of staying home with our children for three months.  As an educator, he has the same school vacation schedule as the smallies.  So while they have what could be loosely described as a "system", their stay-home experience has not, in my judgment, been long on the "Daily Chores" or "Ambitious Projects" experience.  This used to cause me no end of consternation (make your face look surprised here).  I never could understand how three bipedal creatures with opposable thumbs could manage 90 days of freedom, without even accidentally cleaning out the garage.  I used to come home after a long day at the office, survey the carnage, and demand to know of them all; "But what did you DO all day?"

So far, Phillip has kept the smirking to a respectable minimum.  He has even been sympathetic, when I worried that the sick children might put me around the bend.  I have the sense he's waiting for the proper Told Ya So moment.  Which I have decided I will not begrudge him, when the time comes.

So in answer to the question, which I now have to demand of myself,  I did this:

Two sleeves and the lower body of the Catkins Cardigan.

I also:

Went to the doctor's office, followed by the pharmacy.  Twice.

Waved goodbye to the school bus 5 times (at least one kid went to school every day).

Let my dog take me for a walk.

Made the bed.

Challenged the summit of Mount Washmore.

Took someone's temperature seven million times.

Woke up in the night with small sick people.  A lot.

Wondered at the miracle of being Home.  Not just for the weekend.  Not just for a vacation (previously known as my one-week, office-sanctioned, Annual Housework Interlude).  Really home.  So little time have I spent here that it doesn't even really seem to be my space.  Not like the office was.  For all its penitentiary qualities, I felt that my cubicle belonged to me.  But here, I feel as if I have have yet to emotionally unpack my bags and move in.  Twisted notion, no? 

Pretty sure I'm up to the challenge, though.
 

Swatchy McSwatcherpants

I once took a class for which the instructor (the lovely and talented Arenda Holiday) had pre-knitted all the class swatches.  She had decided early in her teaching career that in order for her students to be successful in the technique she presented, the swatches they worked on had to be dependable, which is to say, all made by the same person.  She liked making swatches, and could knock out bunches of them while watching tv, etc.  It was no hardship for her, and ensured that her students had every advantage. 

For us students, it was pure luxury.  I can't tell you exactly why, but those little knitted squares (perfectly blocked, too) and knitted by someone else brought a level of ease and decadence to the experience that I can scarcely describe.  I promised myself that I would do the same for my class one day, when the opportunity was right.

My Madrona students are being asked to make an entire neckwarmer for their homework.  In light of that lofty goal, I could hardly expect them to make practice swatches, too.  The time had come for me to become a benevolent swatchmaker.

Now, you know that my relationship with math is casual, at best, so when I figured out all by myself that 24 students needed 3 swatches each, for a total of...well...a LOT of swatches, I realized that I should start banging them out, and soon. 

I am normally a reluctant swatcher.  I really only do it because I'm usually writing directions that other people have to follow, and they might come and find me if I'm at all cavalier about things like gauge.  Picky lot, you knitters.  Left to my own devices, I hardly ever bother swatching.  I just kinda use the Force.

But these swatches are different.  They aren't trying to prove anything.  There are no right dimensions to achieve.  If I get a wee square of stranded fabric at the end, then my work there is done.  Little 4-inch success stories; that's what these are.  I couldn't be more smug.  Yes, they are the stranded colorwork equivalent of boiled water.  But you know what?  Some days boiled water is a pretty impressive achievement.  So I'm taking my validation wherever it's offered. 

Appreciating the humble swatch solely on its own merits is a new idea to me.  When the swatch is relieved of all responsibility for informing us of what a garment will be (totally unrealistic notion, by the way), it's really just a cute little mini-project.  Do I want to do this all day?  Not really.  But when I asked myself what there was to be learned from this exercise, I was surprised by the answers.

Swatch On, Dear Friends.
 

Mark Me

I realized the other day that while I am always telling people to use stitch markers, I have not illustrated my favorite kind. 

Because of the way I use (and lose) my markers, I have learned that the best way to keep enough around to both find and share, is to make my own.  I have some rules about my stitch markers (try to contain your surprise):

    1.    Small Enough.  Most stitch markers are way too large for the gauge I usually work with (size 0-4 needles).  Using markers that are too large in diameter is not only awkward, it will actually leave vertical valleys in your knitting if the stitches have to stretch around them.  This is exacerbated when you change colors adjacent to a marker (which I do a lot).  You have to use the smallest possible marker (that you can still see and manipulate).

    2.    Snagless.  I have yet to see any markers available in stores or online which are made the way mine are.  When you make a stitch marker from a metal ring (preferable to a plastic one, because it will be finer, see above), the join where the ends of the ring meet will always be a point where the yarn can catch and snag.  Undesireable.  I have solved the problem with simple craft-store jewelry findings.

    3.    Pretty.  When you are going to hold a tool in your hands for hundreds of hours, why settle for anything ugly?  Making your own markers also allows you to have any and all the different colors, shapes and sizes you want.  They are inexpensive, and make really good presents for your knitting friends.

When I first made my own markers, a few years ago, it was not possible to buy anything but plain round rings, or the safety-pin type that separate.  You can now get really pretty markers very easily, but I still have not seen any that are made the way I do mine:  Guaranteed Snagless.  The secret is really simple, and today I'm sharing it with you.  First, assemble the following:
 

The most important item in this collection is the small bracelet toggle.  They are perfect for stitch markers because they are made in one single piece, with no join.  I bought a package containing 9 sets of these yesterday, for $1.99.  You'll be using the ring side of the set (you can save the bar side of the set for some other use.  And when you find that use, please tell me what it is so I can divest myself of a million toggle bars I have saved).  The other bits are readily available, and possibly already in your house.  If you don't have the round nose pliers, it's really worth picking up a cheap set - I am not a jewelery or beading person, usually, but I have found many uses for mine.  Have fun picking out your beads - just be careful not to have them too large or they will get in your way when you knit.  10 mm or smaller is a good guideline.  I like to make my markers in sets of 2 because I use them to mark either side of a steek.  So a typical project for me might have 3 sets of 2 markers (center steek, & two armholes), with each set in a different color so I can tell where I am in the round of knitting.

Arrange your beads in a pleasing order on the head pin.  I like using bead caps on my markers because they remind me of tiny hats.

Use your round nose pliers to make a loop in the top of the head pin.  Make sure to leave a little space between the top bead and the loop.  You'll need it for the final step.

Slide the ring from the bracelet toggle set onto the loop you made in the head pin.

Hold the marker by its top loop in one set of pliers, and use the other set to snugly wrap the tail of the head pin around itself.  Two or three times around is fine.  Trim the end of the tail with your cutters, and gently smoosh it up against the core of the head pin so it can't catch on your yarn.

Finis!  Keep making these until you are sick of it, or run out of one or more components.  Having enough markers around is crucial so you won't cry or throw things when they get lost.  I keep mine in a little clear box in my knitting bag.  I bet at the moment there are 20 of them in there, just in case.  Of what, I'm not sure.  Global stitch marker shortage?  Not now that you all know the secret!