The Splendor Continues or Noro is Stellar
Look at this basket of goodness. 
Take a moment and envision diving right in (you know you want to). I will state for the record that I am naming this 
my ‘Happy Basket’. (this is the small rice basket that we carry – I may have to upgrade to the large) I have made excellent progress on this coat in a week. I keep thinking of it – my very own Einstein Coat! For anyone who isn’t familiar with this pattern, here are the basics:
It is made entirely with garter stitch. Yes, knit every stitch. After all, the book is called Book 1: The Knit Stitch. Everything in the book is made with the knit stitch. Plain, simple, back to basics knit stitch. (And it all looks fantastic) The coat is knit in pieces, starting with the lower body. Each subsequent piece is picked up and knit off of a previously knit piece. It is a puzzle, albeit a simple one. It really is a perfect knitting project. The actual knitting is so mindless; it is perfect for tired-at-night knitting (which I do a lot of with a 5 year old transitioning to kindergarten). You make a big piece of garter stitch fabric. You count and knit the right number of ‘ridges’ and then you cast off. You pick up and knit the next piece to the correct number of ridges and bind off. And so on and so forth. The pattern is written for a bulky gauge so the knitting flies along on a size 10 or 10.5 needle. What’s not to love?? Add Noro Yarn to the mix and I can barely control myself.
A Stellar Book, a Stellar Yarn, a Stellar Project; it really is just too much! Of course my funk is lifting. (take another gander at the Happy Basket). I will only go so far a
s to say ‘lifting’ because what me and my girl are going through is hard. I’ve said it before in the last few weeks – parenting is hard. I am single momming it and have been since Meredith was 5 months old. (that’s when her Dad died.) Doing double duty when I don’t have a double portion of patience is trying to say the least. I do realize under the exhaustion (deep under the exhaustion) that she is worth it. Even given my mothering woes, I would choose this again. But knowing that doesn’t make me any less tired or frustrated or low on patience. Hence the Happy Basket! This amazing coat and my fall television shows coming back on track will certainly go a long way toward further funk-lifting. What are you guys watching? Are there any Grey’s Anatomy fans among you? I am a brand new convert since just this summer. I don’t know what took me so long – except that I don’t usually go in for hospital dramas. Anyway, I’m on board now, with a vengeance. There will be much happy TV knitting tonight.
This is a crazy piece of stuff to take a picture of but here is my progress so far. Stay tuned!!
4 Responses to “The Splendor Continues or Noro is Stellar”
By Cyndy on Sep 27, 2009
Your Noro Einstein is beautiful and inspiring. I think that the transition to kindergarten is one of the hardest for kids. They are very tired by it even when they have previously been in daycare or preschool. K is “real school” and it wiped mine out. Knitting nearby helps me when the homework griping starts(ah high school).
By lilobell05 on Sep 28, 2009
Beautiful
By Beth Winter on Oct 5, 2009
Gwynn,
I’m just finishing my Einstein coat…unfortunately I knit it in Lopi and it is so scratchy, I’m not sure I’ll wear it. I love that you’re doing yours in Noro.
Keep your chin up with the mothering thing. It is hard, don’t let anyone tell you girls are easier, they are not!!
Beth
By Melody Draves on Oct 29, 2009
Noro would definitely help the single-momming-it funks. There is no way out but through and the foundations you are building with your girly-girl will pay off plenty in ten years. Keep the board games and knitting projects going, she will love both. My eldest son now works for me in the yarn shop, and teaches classes to boot. Keep your chin up and remember this too will pass.