The Hairy Knitter

https://linktr.ee/jamiemccanless He/him. I publish knitting patterns of my designs and promote them here. Some are modeled by men. If you don’t want to see men’s bodies, don’t look.

[jamiemccanless]

Pride

Thirty-four and one-half years ago. This is the only Pride shirt I’ve ever gotten at a Pride event. I had just finished my twenties, and I was thoroughly, comically excited to be planning my move from one of the most dismal places I’d ever lived to Madison WI. Even there, however… the Berkeley of the Midwest… the “rights and pride march” omitted the bisexual B and transgender T. 2S and QIA were years away.

More than a generation later, many people have grown into a more comprehensive, deeper understanding of orientation and identity. Many have not. If there is ever to be broad acceptance of the differences among people, I doubt that I will be alive to see it.

Suffice it to say, 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride histories and futures live beyond any one month. Our narratives are heartwarming and heartbreaking. Our successes always follow setbacks. We persist and protest, celebrate and commiserate. We are not going away.

I’m not wise. I’m just hanging on.

Happy Pride

Design on the shirt includes text “dickey lee” and “GALVAnize”

[jamiemccanless]

Spring Knitting: The finishing of things

Slipper socks

Slipper socks, my last spring knitting project. Obviously, they're a pair of short socks knit in bulky yarn to fit my sock-clad feet. Nevertheless, they are perfect for chilly rooms and sore soles.

Yarn: Tahki Imports Donegal Bulky Tweeds colorway 313

[jamiemccanless]

Spring Knitting: The finishing of things

Ribbed Cap

The last ribbed cap I knit this spring. The colorway seemed dark and murky until I looked and saw gorgeous eggplant colors - stem, flesh, seeds, skin, calyx. The yarn is heavier than usual, so it's wonderfully thick and squooshy. The ribbing makes it a good fit.

I ran out of yarn, of course, and ripped back to hide a dark green stripe behind the brim. It looked so good that I let it peek out above the edge.

[jamiemccanless]

Spring Knitting: The finishing of things

Short socks

My first short socks of the year. Top down, heel flap, and gusset. They're 100% cotton, a little heavier weight than usual, and a little stiff (for now). They fit my feet exactly, though, so they are very comfortable! Bring it on, summer!

[jamiemccanless]

Spring Knitting: The finishing of things

Ribbed Cap

I've knit a ribbed cap from leftover yarn for practically every mood. This one merges misty rainy colors of the Pacific Northwest — subdued shades of blue, green, gray, and purple — into cozy comfort for chilly days of early spring and late autumn.

I'll be publishing the pattern as my Furrow Cap, sooner rather than later.

[jamiemccanless]

Spring Knitting: The finishing of things

Ribbed Cap

I sometimes knit things personally that I'd never put into a published pattern. I liked the K3p2 right side of this hat's brim much more than the k2p3 wrong side. When the brim is folded, however, the wrong side is what normally shows.

I turned the brim inside out to show the former right side when folded and continued in the opposite direction. 😋

[jamiemccanless]

WIP Wednesday

This week's work in progress is the first of a pair of short socks for summer. Socks are still my favorite knitting to bring along when I may be waiting or biding my time. I'm about halfway through the gusset on this sock. Time for some ferry knitting!

Universal Yarn Filly, 101 Bloom (46/33/12/9 Cotton/Superwash Merino/Polymide/PBT

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Closeup Photography

I tried my clip-on lens kit for the first time today. Imagine my glee and "d'oh" at finding that I wasn't holding my phone close enough. These are my attempts with plants and yarn and geodes and a bit of pottery.

Things I've already learned:

My hand has a mind of its own 😮

Dust is not my friend 😋

[jamiemccanless]

Spring Knitting: The finishing of things

Ribbed Cap

This is the first of four ribbed caps I've quietly finished. I was "meh" about the first pass at this one in early March. This time I used helical knitting with a second strand except for the red stripes. I'm very happy with the result.

In related news, I have a new head! It's roughly the same circumference as my own, and there is a certain resemblance above the ears. I got it to photograph my hats more easily, without realizing I can use it to design new headwear! 🙄

[jamiemccanless]

A Pile of Hats

Most of the fourteen ribbed caps in this pile reflect changes I made for the fit and aesthetic I wanted. The rest are steps along the way, each one nice enough but not quite what I was aiming for.

My designs are usually things I can't find. It might be a matter of size, yarn weight, or practicality. Sometimes I wander into surprising projects like jockstraps without elastic, a counterweight basket, and a knitted balloon dog.

Designers, how do you choose what you will publish next?

[jamiemccanless]

WIP Wednesday

Furrow Cap

Sitting on my porch, knitting the pattern sample of my Furrow Cap. I knit at least one project from my instructions before publishing to check that they’re correct and usable. This time that means inches and inches of ribbing in fingering weight yarn on DPNs. 🤪

[jamiemccanless]

Furrow Cap

I’ve stress knit a dozen ribbed caps this year, settling into shaping and decreases that work for me. Knitters have asked for my tweaks, but they amount to an entire pattern.

So, my idea is this. Publish the hat as my Furrow Cap for some price with notes about using leftover yarn, but make it free with the purchase of any of my other patterns.

Here is the sample cap I’m knitting for design specifications, instructions, etc. Back to work I go.

Yarn is Red Heart Heart & Sole fingering weight 70% Superwash wool 30% Nylon in colorway 3960 Spring Stripe

[jamiemccanless]

Slipper Socks

Swatchy swatchy

For a new pair of slipper socks. I've always knit them in acrylic to use yarn I don't otherwise knit, but they wear in ways that my wool socks never do. I hope that a pair made of wool will last longer.

Yarn: Tahki Imports Donegal Bulky Tweeds colorway 313

[jamiemccanless]

House Plants

I am loath to discard pieces of plants that could take root. I thought this bit of Dieffenbachia had died, but last night I found a small, pale leaf at its tip. This morning I spied a second, teeny tiny leaf on the side. Yes, it’s silly of me, but even the smallest wins count these days. May the force be with you.

[jamiemccanless]

Spring Knitting

Short socks

Time for toes! I'm glad this first pair of the year will be finished soon. I have two more 50-gram balls of the DK cotton yarn, but I think I'll use them for wash/dish cloths.

Yarn: Scheepjes Granada Colori, colorway 7481

[jamiemccanless]

Wildlife

Here, have a snail.

Found this one on one of my iris

[jamiemccanless]

Interior Design (sort of)

Maybe I procrastinated today, but I've been wanting to paint the wall of my stairway for years. It's as drab as this graphic. First step: a scale diagram.

Lately I've been inspired by the murals of Kathleen Dieux (@atdieuxart on IG).

I adore nineteenth century botanical illustrations, and I'd like a Pacific Northwest design. Maybe a madrona tree with its signature orange-red peeling bark. Time to search for stock photos.