kmkat and her kneedles

Smokey likes to solve a problem by buying a car. I prefer to knit a solution.

Although today's post is about something I had to buy to accommodate my knitted solution.

I think I have mentioned that I live in Merrell clogs. Several different pairs and colors over the years.

So comfortable, plus there is a slight heel counter at the back so that my arch supports stay in place. The downside is that, although these are perfect for three seasons, the mesh is not very warm in the the winter.

I have made thick socks either from worsted weight sock yarn or by double-stranding sock yarn. These socks are toasty warm (well, the ones from Berrocco Vintage are not nearly as warm as the ones from all wool, but work with me here, m'kay?) but rather too thick to fit comfortably into my clogs (or shoes, for that matter).

Inspiration struck -- I need a pair of winter clogs! Leather for warmth, rather than mesh, and a half size bigger to allow clearance for the socks. Zappo's to the rescue!

Behold, the clogs I found:

As I was about to click on "Submit order" I noticed a similar pair in the sidebar that said Suregrip. Huh. Given my uneasy relationship with gravity, I thought to check them out.

Behold the clogs I actually bought:

I be stylin' and warm and sure on my feet this winter!

Alternate uses for yarn.

We all use the tools we are familiar with. Smokey uses a screwdriver to tighten a screw, I will sometimes use a knife. Real gardeners use a wooden or bamboo stake to keep a houseplant upright, I use a knitting needle. Others might have used string or twine to hang the political signs on their car in parades last summer, I used yarn.

Yarn is very handy.

The zipper tab broke off one of my fleece vests several years ago. Eventually I figured out that a coilless safety pin worked perfectly as a substitute tab.

But the appearance was makeshift and non-pleasing, although I did appreciate being able to zip up the vest again. I dug in my sock yarn stash and came up with some yarn that [almost] matched the vest.

Yarn to the rescue!

Nothing like a couple fuzzy photos to liven up a blog.

The other alternative use for yarn actually involved knitting. I have an oversized denim workshirt that I love because it is perfect for layering when a t-shirt isn't enough but a sweater is too much. Over the years, however, it had acquired a couple of rips.

This is the larger hole. The smaller one is smaller and unphotographed.

 

Those rips have been there for a l-o-n-g time and never really bothered me. But suddenly inspiration struck. I grabbed my needles and a crochet hook and...

...voila!

 

Related: I once did something kinda similar for a favorite fleecy top. Fleece with new cuffs.

A fabulously useful new invention.

 

What is it? 

It is the magnebutton from The Grommet, two shankless buttons backed with strong magnets.

They are the perfect thing to keep a shawl or scarf in place. The magnets are strong enough, according to the description, to hold through five layers of thin cotton. I think that may be an understatement; I have found them to hold perfectly through two layers of fingering weight wool garter stitch plus a cotton t-shirt.

Here is today's demonstration:

The second magnebutton is inside the black t-shirt. No need for a safety pin or a bulky knot, the scarf stayed exactly where I wanted it all day. 

$18/set of two. This is an unsolicited testimonial; I have no connection to the site or the product except being a satisfied customer.

Olympic fashion review.

There were, of course, some notable knits in the Olympic opening ceremonies. Really, what good is a winter olympics without knitwear? I combed a multitude of blog posts and *news* articles critiqueing the fashion statements made by the various nations' designers, which revealed to me that opinions are likeassh- navels; everybody has one.

Including me. 

The knits (hover over each photo for my comment):

Andorran sweaters (that look Norwegian to my Norwegian eye).

 

Canadian mittens!

 

Belarusian hats and scarves.

 

Estonian hats and mittens (of course).

 

Serbian hats and scarves.

 

Slovakian hats and scarves.

 

Polish hats.

 

 
Latvian hats, scarves, AND mittens.

 

Swedish hats, scarves, AND leggings.

 

The Russian women's coats. Not knit, but fabulous.


Tongan hats.

 

USA's... things.*
 

On behalf of the knitters of the world, all I can say is, Show us the patterns!

 

 

* I almost didn't include the USA because those sweaters are so eye-blazingly ugly, but the senile aunt comment made me do it.

 

Stuff.

The shirt Elder Son was wearing when he left.

Slayer is one of his favorite groups. He said the name was an acronym, standing for Some Lads Always Yearn to Experience... [Younger Son jumped in to help] ... Ravelry.

* * * * *

As I have mentioned, Younger Son has been working for us on the weekends. This weekend he finished straightening the attached garage.

 
Use your imagination to put these two photos together.

Previously, I was taking my life in my hands to attempt to walk through here. Now there  is a clear path, plus they moved that car* on jackstands about a foot and a half to the right -- not only can I put my car in the garage this winter, I can open the door to get out of it. This is the first time I have been able to put my car in the garage in at least ten years. Baby steps...

Other highlights:

Part of cleaning always involves throwing out crappe.

 

Misha and Percy always get along better outside. This was the best photo I could get
of the two of them... running at top speed.

 

YS admires the shelves he filled.

 

Heavy stuff is heavy because batteries.

 

Remember Picasso's Blue Period? This chair is from YS's Stenciling Period.
"Put your butt on Dubya."

* The car is a 1990-something Subaru SVX that Smokey bought about ten years ago to be my winter car. It has 4WD :-) plus it is zippy and sporty and fun. But it needed some work done to the rear end (I think, can't remember) and has been up on jack stands nearly its entire life with us because the repair coincided with the time when Smokey's back and RA began to get really painful. Now that I have the AWD Volvo I have little interest in the SVX. 

 

Garment NA08. With signature pin.

Anyone want to create a knitting pattern? Video found here.

Get 'em while they are hot.

Get yours here.

First person to locate a source for a pair of 3-mile-long purple shoelaces gets a prize bragging rights.

The magic of photography.

As I was standing in front of our renewable energy table chatting with the vendor next to us, I noticed a fourth-grade girl wearing shoes I would have killed for in fourth grade. I sneaked my camera out of my pocket and Kinneared her as best I could, but this shot... sucks. I could have killed that kid with the red soles for stepping in front of her.

I know that an overexposed photo is more susceptible to computer correction than an underexposed one, but I thought it was worth a try to see what I could do with this dark mess.

Behold!

The photo will never win any prizes, but at least you get to see the awesomeness of knee-high Cons with purple laces.

Friday fun.

Just like Kym, I got a fund new pair of shoes. (Note the hand-knit socks peeking out.)

.

Alex and Matthew came to visit last Sunday. Percy The Enthusiastic came along, and I showed Alex how to sew on a button. (She lamented the poor quality of her high school home ec class.)

I went shopping.

A few weeks ago I made a foray into a department store, something I do about once a year. What I found was appalling. Who decided that every woman in America needed to dress in baby doll tops? That is definitely not my style, so I left the baby dolls in the store, found some pants that fit, purchased same, and left.

On my flying trip into Minneapolis last Thursday I had a couple hours to spare between my real estate tax errand and meeting Younger Son and GF for dinner, so I cruised through the sale racks at Macy's in Southdale. And discovered that when that baby doll thing is done in black linen by a master -- in this case, Ralph Lauren -- it works better.

This is what I got:

and that is what I wore, with black pants and the gray alpaca shawl, on Friday night. (I buttoned my blouse all the way up. Boring, I know.)

I would never, ever pay full price for a designer label, but this was 40% off, plus another 25% off when I got to the register. Score!

The other thing I got -- with those same discounts, yay! -- is a white shawl-collared blouse, cotton so finely woven it feels like satin, with long, French-cuffed sleeves and pearl cuff links. The blouse fit except that the sleeves were much too long, so today I removed the cuffs, cut 2-5/8" off the sleeves, and sewed the cuffs back on. Perfect!

Sometimes it is really, really handy to be able to sew.