the blue blog archives: a productive weekend

First, we found our way out of a maze. We made our annual trip out to the Davis Mega Maze to get lost and have some fun!

We love this place. If anyone out there is a Boston local and hasn't visited this awesome corn maze before, I really recommend it. They make it especially fun to do with the kids.

Speaking of the kids, the very next day the boys learned how to ride bikes! They got bicycles with training wheels for their birthday back in July.

Suddenly last week, B started saying that he wanted a bicycle. I said, 'you got a bicycle for your birthday.' He said, 'nooooo, I mean one with two wheels.' I explained that the little wheels on his bike were training wheels that could come off when he was ready to ride without them. He said, 'I don't want to wait for that. I just want a bicycle now.' I think he thought the training wheels were like baby teeth or something, falling off when "it was time." I kept explaining that daddy could take them off anytime and he kept insisting that he couldn't wait. So hubby got out the wrench and voila, B gets a bike. After a couple of falls, he was off like he'd been doing it forever.

S couldn't let his brother have all the glory, so he took a few tumbles and then set off on his own.

And while all the boys were out with the bikes, I was at home making friends with magic loop. It's not like we were enemies, but I hadn't ever warmed to it. I like my dpns. I like doing socks on dpns. A couple of years ago, everyone talked about the magic loop like it was some sort of great revelation. I tried it and there was no epiphany, so I went back to my dpns. As I started wee one's pinwheel jacket on dpns - it's knit in the round from the center out - it was looking like crap on a stick (well, crap on three sticks actually!). So I snuck into the (napping) baby's room to get different dpns, but in the dark all I managed to find in the right size was a long addi circular. Desperate times and all that. I gave it a shot.

I might even consider doing socks this way. As long as I can get me some of those fab Addi Lace needles! Hee, hee.

Yes, it's all done, (the other sleeve too, you skeptics!), it fits and wee one likes it. It's blocking now, so I'll see you tomorrow with all the finished pictures.

posted by alison at 10:53 am | in just blogging 2007 , ready for rhinebeck

Comments

Awesome job boys! Little kids learn stuff like that so quickly, its amazing. :)

The pinwheel sweater looks great! :)

Posted by: Samantha at September 4, 2007 10:59 AM

Wow, that was fast! What a great look for Rhinebeck.

I'm looking forward to more biking photos. One of my fantasy rides is retracing Paul Revere's ride.

Posted by: Ina at September 4, 2007 11:06 AM

A productive weekend indeed! The boys look like they're having great fun with their new skill. And wee one looks gorgeous as ever! Love the colors in the sweater.

Posted by: yarndancer at September 4, 2007 11:08 AM

It is amazing what can happen when we listen to our kids as they tell us what they need! Yay moms! Wee one looks so happy in her sweater!

Posted by: Kristy at September 4, 2007 11:32 AM

That's a fast knit! Great job!

Posted by: wendy at September 4, 2007 11:46 AM

Daaaaang that was fast. It took me forever to knit the i-cord edge...you are my idol. Congrats to the boys and their new bike riding skills.

Posted by: Heather at September 4, 2007 12:05 PM

Wholey Crap! You finished the whole thing! I've got no excuse now to not finish mine by Rhinebeck.

Posted by: Johanna at September 4, 2007 12:36 PM

I thought I was fast!! And that is great that the boys took off the trainers. My daughter was like that. She got the knack right away. My son is still unsure and won't try with them off yet. Sounds like a perfect weekend!!

Posted by: Rachel at September 4, 2007 12:53 PM

Totally terrific job! And that is one of the cutest babies I seen in a long time. Is she always that happy?

Posted by: Katherine at September 4, 2007 1:02 PM

Wow, I am SO impressed that you finished a sweater in a weekend!!! I love the magic loop, it's the only way for me! :) The sweater looks so cute on her, what a darling wee one!

Posted by: Kim at September 4, 2007 1:24 PM

Good lord, you are the fastest knitter EVER! It looks adorable on her!

Posted by: Bertha at September 4, 2007 1:55 PM

very cute pinwheel - I love the colors together. We're big Davis fans too, my kids also love the farm side -- and me, I'm a magic loop gal. Welcome to the Other Side!

Posted by: thea at September 4, 2007 2:07 PM

I want to love magic loop, but that damned loop is always flopping around and getting in my way when I'm knitting socks. Am I the only one with this problem? Anyway, I much prefer the two circs method. If you're going to abandon your dpns for socks, I would suggest trying out two circs.

Posted by: Kristin at September 4, 2007 2:13 PM

Pinwheel looks adorable on her! I just ordered the Swish for mine today. Looks like a fun knit.

Posted by: Carol at September 4, 2007 2:36 PM

A productive weekend indeed!

Posted by: Julie at September 4, 2007 2:38 PM

Love wee one's sweater- it is fabulous!

You really had a full weekend, huh? Sounds like a great one!

Posted by: Sarah at September 4, 2007 2:39 PM

That's not really the Magic Loop, and I suspect the main reason many people think they hate it is that they assume it's the technique where you have just one loop that you keep pulling out over and over. I'd hate that too. The Magic Loop technique employs two loops, so you don't have to keep pulling a new loop out. It's easier and less fiddly than using one loop. (I know that doesn't really make sense, why would 2 loops be better than 1, but try it: http://www.az.com/~andrade/knit/mloop.html -- for me it works best on needles 40" or longer )

Posted by: Kristi at September 4, 2007 3:14 PM

A big WAY TO GO! for the newest bicycle riders.

Posted by: claudia at September 4, 2007 3:25 PM

I recently figured out how to do that, too (completely by accident) and now it's my favorite way to knit socks. Since I have a toddler, dpns are used at the risk of my life and sanity!

Posted by: Rachel at September 4, 2007 3:30 PM

My older grandson has been asking about having the little wheels on his bike removed (he's a few months younger than B & S) but unfortunately Daddy is spending every free minute working on remodeling their kitchen. Maybe I should ask if he wants us to teach B to ride a 2 wheeler. That sweater looks adorable on Wee One. I'll have to start on Baby M's as soon as I finish the 3rd grand's dinosaur sweater. His BD is Friday (mine is tomorrow - he was due on my BD but born a couple of days late) & I promised I'd try to get it finished by then (he is also getting a Radio Flyer Speedy Pedal Car & a new helmet from me). The oldest & youngest grands have BD's less than 2 weeks apart in November (1 & 12) & I'd like to get sweaters knit for them too by then. Good thing I've got the first 2 seasons of Weeds & Sleeper Cell to watch!!

Posted by: Donna at September 4, 2007 3:47 PM

That is an awesomely productive weekend. Glad you have been able to make friends with another technique. It is nice to have many available for whatever situations arise.

Posted by: Sarah at September 4, 2007 4:23 PM

c'mon...those boys are just naturals at everything...or maybe it's D's teaching skills?? I'm gonna have to send scout over there to learn to ride her bike...and that pinwheel sweater...too stinkin' cute. can't wait for rhinebeck!!

Posted by: lisa b at September 4, 2007 4:29 PM

Thanks for the link Kristi, but I am doing magic loop. I just can't photograph the pinwheel circle when both loops are pulled out and the thing's folded in half.

As I said, I'd tried out the magic loop way back when when it became such a hit, but I simply liked my dpns more. I really like the rhythm of going across one needle and across the next and the next. I don't find the stopping and pulling needles through as satisfying as the unending across, across, across of the dpns.

But yes, the "real" magic loop is waaaaaaaay better than simply pulling one loop out. Haaaate that! :)

Posted by: ALISON at September 4, 2007 4:32 PM

WOW you are FAST! The sweater looks amazing!

Posted by: Sarah at September 4, 2007 4:36 PM

We've spent the summer looking for other boys in yellow Crocs (someone told my son that his were "girl's shoes") so we're adding B to our list of many boys with yellow Crocs!

Posted by: Jo in Boston at September 4, 2007 4:36 PM

Um, how cute is the wee one?! I mean, seriously, that is one cute baby. It's so great that the boys took to bike riding with such aplomb. Good for them! I have to go try the magic loop now....

Posted by: Erika at September 4, 2007 4:41 PM

Good lord, woman! You're a machine! I'm so impressed!!!!

Posted by: Elinor at September 4, 2007 4:50 PM

Hee! I love that big, grinning baby smile! The sweater looks great. Congrats to the boys on learning to ride with two wheels!

Posted by: kelly at September 4, 2007 4:59 PM

Oh, the cuteness! And such a huge smile from that wee one :-)

Posted by: Kathy at September 4, 2007 6:38 PM

I've been to that maize maze!! It is great fun--must go with the kids (ya, just me and hubby went while dating I admit it).

I love my dpns too and haven't tried magic loop--I may never try it--doesn't interest me.

Wee one looks so happy--she's beautiful!!

That's fantastic that your boys have learned to ride bikes!

Posted by: BerryKnitty at September 4, 2007 7:01 PM

I would be happy too, if I had a sweet cardi like that.

Posted by: colleen at September 4, 2007 9:33 PM

I've been experimenting with socks on one long needle, and kind of really like it, although after reading a comment above, maybe it's not really magic loop...

anyhooo, I wanted to suggest trying out Knit Picks circs. 32 in is the longest they make for the sock knitting size needles, but the cable is super flexible and the needles are sharp and the join is like butter. I used to be Addis all the way, but since discovering KP (and their $4.99 price tag) I'm a convert. :)

Posted by: the Procrastinatrix at September 4, 2007 10:10 PM

Holy crap, batman. When the hell did she get so big?

She's the third most adorable baby I've ever seen. (I have two kids). Seriously though, what a happy happy looking baby and family. :)

Posted by: Lynn at September 4, 2007 10:35 PM

WOW! That was a quick sweater to knit! So cute on little one!

Congratulations on the boys on the bikes! Now you can go walking with the baby in the stroller and the boys on the bikes--some of the funnest days I had with my three kids!

Posted by: Julie at September 4, 2007 11:58 PM

talk about a quick knit. My gosh.

Posted by: Nik at September 7, 2007 3:42 PM