My neighbors must think I’m a loon. Actually, they might not be too far off. If you were in my neighborhood yesterday, you might have been taken aback as well. So what on earth was I doing?
Well let’s just say that I had a little dog photo shoot involving baby knits…
No Schnauzers were physically harmed during this photoshoot, although emotional damage may have occurred.
"did you say treat? you better deliver!"
"Arrrr! shiver me timbers, I’ll get you for this! Arrrr, dArrrrr, dΘ"
I would explain, but there’s really nothing to explain. Some good friends of mine just had their second baby, and seeing as I have had lots of time, I cranked out a few hats for their adorable new son. I wanted to get some pictures of the hats before I gifted them, but wanted something more than an ordinary lightbox shot. I thought about using a comforter (like brooklyntweed does for baby knits) to model the hats, but then I realized that I had something even better. Live models with furry little heads. Next thing I knew, I was laying in the grass, saying “Treat!” over and over, trying to get my poor humiliated dogs to look at the camera. The things I do for the blog…
You have to admit though, these pictures are darn cute.
Dallas is wearing a very lovely Top Down Bonnet in some red Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky. I loved this pattern, but I wasn’t paying attention and increased too much, so I ended up making the child size instead of the baby size. It’s all good though, because I promised my friends a hat for their daughter over a year ago, and now I can finally deliver on that promise! Sorry it’s taken so long guys!
Emma is wearing a Children’s Cotton Hat, from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, knitted up with less than 1/2 of a skein of Patagonia Nature Cotton. It was leftovers from another baby hat, and I didn’t have too much, so this hat turned out to be more of a baby skull cap. I also knitted another one with some Manos Cotton Stria, but it wouldn’t stay on Emma’s head. I really like that hat pattern, it’s quick and simple, and makes a very cool looking baby knit.
So congrats on the new baby Sam and Rosemary, he’s absolutely adorable! Hopefully there’s not dog hair on the hats, but Schnauzers don’t shed, so they should be hair free! ;)
In other news, the yarn for my Seamless Hybrid came yesterday. It came in a USPS shoe box, which prompted me to wonder why I was receiving shoes that I hadn’t ordered, until I opened it and was greeted with the sweet smell of wool. Ahhh, Cascade 220, how I love thee. This color is so great too, it looks like a mixture of coffee and red wine, with a bit of chocolate thrown in. I’m planning to use the olive green to do the sleeve hems, and possibly the neckband too. I can’t wait to get started on this!
I also wound up my Tree Scum Handspun, to begin the project planning phase. I’m such a planner when I knit, and I want to be especially conscientious with this yarn since it’s so nice. The project planning phase (or PPP) usually involves making a swatch or two with different needle sizes, washing and blocking those swatches, then measuring them to get accurate gauge. Of course, this all gets written down in my yarn notebook, so that if I ever use a particular yarn again, I can just "check my notes". Then I pick a pattern, and usually adapt it in some form to suit what I’m looking for. Then I can finally cast-on! There’s also obsessive amounts of trying on and measuring during the knitting phase, to ensure that the item comes out perfectly.
I know my process is a bit obsessive, but what else would you expect from an engineer? And one benefit is that I can almost always guarantee that my knitted objects will fit well. The few times I have strayed from this process are the few times where things have gone horribly wrong. So I take comfort in perfecting my art through the use of my calculator, ruler and notebook. Someday I hope to pass the knitting bug onto my kids, and leave them all of my notebooks so they can know what a weirdo their Dad was. As if the dogs in hats pictures aren’t proof enough ;)
So what’s your process? Are you like me, or do you prefer to be a bit more free form? No judgment here, I’m just interested to know if there’s other obsessive knitters out there! Besides Grumperina of course, because she totally rocks the math skills too.
Oh, and if you have any pattern ideas for my handspun, please toss them into the hat! I’m thinking something Nancy Bush, or Anne’s Smokin’ Socks, but I’m open to suggestions!
Hey that is way too cute. How did you get your dogs to pose so expertly and modelesque?
that’s a feat if I ever saw one.
hi Adam, great models!!!
as to technique, well I am not such a stickler as you. but I do write out patterns to cover increases/decreases, especially when the design is lace/cabled.
have a good weekend
snork!
How the heck did you get your dogs to sit still with crazy humiliating hats on while you were taking pictures? Treat, schmeat, I would say If I were a dog. :) You do realise that their reputation among the other dogs in the neighborhood is ruined now. There needs to be some serious stick throwing, barking and tree peeing to restore that.
That yarn looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m the complete opposite of you when it comes to planning my knitting. I ususally just pick a size in the pattern and go with it. The only thing I take into account is that I’m a really tight knitter, so I always knit a size bigger than I wear. If the knitted piece comes out too small or too big, I just give it away to someone who can wear it (has only happened once so far). I also hate swatching! I just want to dive in and start knitting the real thing as fast as I can. :)
Too, too cute! They don’t look at all humiliated to me! They’re posing like professional models, looking oh so casual and way cool, despite your rolling around in the grass. The red hat rocks, and the blue “skull” cap just cracks me up the way it sits on top. Hope the baby’s head fits it better.
I have finally started a large notebook with plastic page holders for my internet and other instructions, and a section for swatches, measurements, notes and pics — after resisting this scenario for too long. Two projects that didn’t come out right have made me finally do this. The disappointment is too great when something comes out way differently than I wanted. And besides, I have a perfectly good calculator, so, no problem!
Ok, at least you know that if the whole engineering/grad school thing doesn’t pan out you have a career as a photo pet stylist!
And every free-form attempt on my part has resulted in huge wip(e) outs…
Those poor babies! You can just about hear them, ‘Dad, you are just SO embarrassing. Emma, just pretend you don’t even know him.’ Like teens, really. I swear I’ve seen those looks on my kids’ faces more than once :0) My dad used to say that it was his job to humiliate his kids, and you know, he took his job very seriously.
Love the Cascade 220 colors! Can’t wait to see the project.
The dogs are sooo cute!
Oooh your Cascade 220 is gorgeous! And that tree scum. Hoo boy. Gorgeous.
And if you didn’t pose your pets with your knits what fun would you be?
I try to plan out my project but most of the time I fly by the seat of my pants. It results in a lot of frogging and a few items that didn’t fit. That’s why I really only knit socks anymore. I know what I need to do to get a perfect fit (for me of course!).
Oh. My. God! Hoe cute are they??!!! Hehehehehe…
The “guy appeal” of Tree Scum baffles me, but I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with it. I’ve been following the progress of Scummy at Anne Hanson’s Knitspot. When she said her husband loved the color, I showed it to my husband, who loved it, too. There’s just no accounting for tastes. :-)
Those poor dogs! I’m totally digging that tree scum yarn, yum!
So cute! That seamless hybrid is going to be fantastic! I totally like figuring out the math on projects too - doesn’t mean that I’ll actually follow them though.
Adorable pictures, but if there was dog counseling and therapy, I’d pity your bill!
Can’t wait to see what you do with that handspun…
LOL! They’re being VERY good. Much better behaved than cats. Adorable knits, too.
i wish my dog would be still enough for that…too cute!
Thanks so much for the hats for the babies!! They are so great! We will take a picture of them with their new hats and you can share it if you like. They fit perfectly with room to grow (except for the baby skull cap, it just sits on top of his head right now :).
I love the photos of the dogs! Too cute! As for the PPP, I most implement that process when I’m going to knit a sweater. If I’m knitting a shawl I just let it all hang out, I mean there really aren’t many sizing issues with a shawl. I also tend to wing it with socks, but I’m also obsessively trying the sock on as I knit it. Plus I’m at the point of sock knitting where I just know what works for me.
Congrats on the dogs making it on to Cute Overload! :D
So I’ve been meaning to comment for awhile now but I had to be reminded by your dogs appearance on CUTE OVERLOAD!!
Wanted to say thaat my boyfriend is ALSO an Electrical Engineering M.S. student and a knitter! His projects can be seen in my Ravelry/Flickr accounts…it all started here and now he is dutifully knitting my scraps into an afghan!
http://skrillaknits.blogspot.com/2005/11/yeah-yeah.html
Squee!!! You’re a CO star!!! OMGPONIES!!1!
You ARE NUTSO!
Have my yarn ready yet? ;)
Congrats on the Cute Overload spot!!
HI Adam,
I came to say your dogs are adorable. Congrats on making it on to CuteOverload.com
Your Knitting is Fab.
I also came because I know another Adam (Used to be our neighbor) who knits. Thought you might be him. Hmm two Adams who knit. There has to be a song or something in there.
Your dogs are incredibly well behaved! Poor things. They do look cute though so it’s all good.
Love the Tree Scum yarn. The name makes me snicker though.
They look so adorable…I’m sure Emma hated every minute of her modeling job! I’m sure she pouted at you the rest of the day, and gave you the silent treatment! She can be so snobby when she doesn’t get her way! The hats are adorable…I hope I get to see the new baby before he outgrows his new hat.
Love ya~
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Adorable pictures, but if there was dog counseling and therapy, I’d pity your bill!
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Ah, but there is! And it’s really expensive…
Try knitting them coats: my small pup loves his and actually brings it to me to have it put on.
Someday, maybe Calvin with make CO too. Until then, we have Dallas and Emma to squee over!
HEEE! They’re on Cute Overload! That (along with many, many knitting blogs) is one of the sites I obsessively check every day.
The Cascade 220 is gorgeous, mature reddish brown that’ll look great in some sort of textured pattern. I look forward to seeing it knit up!
your.dogs.are.my.heros.
Beats using my Buddha cookie jar as a model… all to hell.
SOOO CUTE~~
I even show your kids pic to my friend!!They also like this cute pic!
Buying yarns are always fun!!
By the way…
Finally, my interview is OUT~~ at “Knitting time Together:
Check out my blog to listen!
Thanks!
Hey Adam! Got back late last night, sick with mom’s cold…boo hoo. Saw THREE schnauzers flying about with their owners. Plane on Friday waited on tarmac in Alburqueque for that same hail storm you mentioned…I think. New Mexico was lovely! (we were in Santa Fe and surrounds for a bit, then in Alb for about 10 minutes). Am nearly done with one sock of the peat bog, it is lovely. Will post (including pics) later today or tomorrow….depends where this cold has me, in bed or in the chair! Oh, and I’m pretty obsessive too. Except I generally don’t wash the swatches. Guess I should, but I am sometimes not sure I’ll have enough yarn, so I undo the swatches. I started with that notebook of swatches, but I found that different colors of the same yarn sometimes knit up very differently. So I abandoned that. (I also have a chemistry notebook full of beer recipes I’ve made, with details on times for each step). Now I just make a big long swatch, starting with one needle size and changing up or down depending on the drape of the fabric…with garter ridges between. Somehow the last time I did that (for a sweater), I ended up with a different gauge when I actually started knitting…so…RIP. What gauge is your handspun? It is really beautiful, and I love its color name. I would want a nice hat or scarf out of it, but do you really need those there? Do you have enough?
Found your blog through a comment you made on Fricknits. Really enjoyed this post. Your dogs are adorable. My girls (two mutts) will never pose for babyhat pictures for me (if the hats don’t fit my son I have to use teddybears or other stuffed toys). However, my girls do pose nicely with any softies I’ve made. Anyway, can’t wait to find out what you decide to make with your lovely yarn. I wish I was as patient about planning new projects. I get so excited I tend to jump right in–sometimes with iffy results. I will try to be inspired by your process.
Hi :)I found you via Anne’s blog. I am another Anne and I too am a dog nut and guess what we have two schnauzers called Islay and Skye and we adore them, so I JUST had to post a comment Aern’t they just the cutest mutts you can get & the funniest ?. I can’t be cross with them for long not when they look at you under those eyebrows;)
Dogs are adorable. My dog would never pose for a knitting shot. She is too busy sleeping. Your part about the math thing made me realize I am so mathematically challenged it isnt even funny. I still continue to knit though.
I am completely envious of your ability to knit red hats. Completely. I am now going to go sulk.