Prayer Shawl

I started knitting one. Well, I don't pray aloud while working on it, don't light candles or recite some fixed mantra, but I'm using a pattern I found on a website dedicated to prayer shawls. Really, any shawl can be a prayer shawl if you're making it for someone who needs some comforting. Just pray silently as you work on it that it brings the comfort intended.

I do pray, talk to God while I knit. Usually silently. He's omnipotent, he knows I'm talking to him even when my lips don't move. Do I always get answers? No. But that in itself is an answer. I'm being told to wait. Non-answers aren't always negative.

Anyway, back to the shawl. It's an interesting and simple pattern. Simply cast on a multiple of three (I CO 60). Then work in k 3, p 3. On following rows you simply knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches. The pattern emphasizes that it should not look like ribbing. What it does look like is columns of garter stitch. I find it a refreshing change from normal garter stitch, which is knitting every single stitch in every row until you have a shawl. Now, tell me you won't get bored to tears doing that and put it down very often and possibly not finish it, knowing how boring it is to knit. However, this is very refreshing. You're knitting and purling and still getting garter stitch and it isn't nearly as boringly repetitive as knit, knit, knit, knit, knit...well, you get the idea.

I'm also using a method called combined knitting, where you make your purls 'backwards' and then orient them correctly in the next row by working the backwards stitch through the back loop. This also keeps things less boring. It also tells me which stitches I need to purl. The 'backwards' stitches are the ones that need to be purled, so they get purled through the back loop to orient them correctly.

I don't even know what the pattern itself is called, the site just calls it a prayer shawl and then gives the instructions. I think I read something about it being compared to vertical blinds, and that's a pretty close description. So, I think that's what I'd call it. Vertical Blinds. Or more simply, 3x3 Garter.

I'm also using the pattern on some legwarmers I'm attempting. I'm knitting them flat and will seam them when done. It's the same pattern, but will have 1x1 ribbing on each end. I'm just using some recycled light pink yarn I pulled from an old afghan that was coming apart. It's RHSS, acrylic, so will be washable. I ended up with two big balls of it and didn't know what to do, so it's now becoming a shawl and legwarmers.

Hey, the yarn is still in decent shape, might as well re-use it rather than throw the afghan out.

My switch to continental knitting

It's been awhile since I wrote that I was switching to continental style knitting. You know, where you hold your working yarn in your left hand like a crocheter does. Since I've been a crocheter as long as I've been a knitter I decided to try it. See, the knitter who taught me knitted English style, and she simply held the yarn in her right hand and threw it around the needle to make the stitch. So, that's how I knitted for most of my life.

Then I decided "Well, I already hold my yarn like that for crocheting, how hard can it be to hold it like that while knitting and pick up the stitches?" Turns out it was a bit awkward-feeling at first, until I found a rhythm that suited me. Now I'm knitting quite smoothly. I can't say that my gauge is quite consistent, but I never make things where gauge is so crucial that being off just a little would be a disaster.

I've also just started trying the combined method of knitting. This is where you make your purl stitches 'backwards' by wrapping the yarn in the opposite direction of how you're taught when you make it. This leaves the stitch backwards in the following row, so you work the stitch through its back leg to orient it correctly when you slide it off the needle.

On a funny aside note: I can just see myself knitting like this in a public place and having some random knitter walk up to me and tell me "You're doing that wrong!" To which I can just shrug and say "Just because my style doesn't match your style doesn't mean it's wrong, it just means it's different."

Or ask where the knitter's book of laws is so I can read it and not get arrested for 'doing something wrong'. And then point them to the many sites which describe combined knitting ;)

Laughable, isn't it? But it happens. I haven't had the displeasure, but I've read enough about other knitters or crocheters being accosted by these 'snobs' to know it happens.

I'm not sure if anyone even reads my ramblings due to no comments, but that's okay. I just like to ramble, and if it means rambling to myself, then I'll ramble to myself.

Speed Knitting/Crocheting

This I am not. But there are some out there who are. People who knit or crochet at such a blinding speed that the normal eye cannot keep up with it. Now, I'm not criticizing this, I'm just acknowledging it. I would never criticize another style that's different from mine, just as I would expect someone else not to criticize my style. But that's another subject entirely.

Me, I like to knit and crochet at a more sedate pace. I will never be able to knit or crochet at Olympian-like speed, and I don't want to. Knitting and crocheting is very relaxing to me and I don't think it's very relaxing to be knitting or crocheting at a speed that would make a NASCAR driver envious. But, if you're one of these, and you find it relaxing, then that's great.

As an example. I once looked up entralec (probably didn't spell that right) knitting videos, and while one such video described what to do perfectly, her hands moved so fast that I couldn't see what she was doing. It exhausted me just to watch it.

I think I'll call these types of people the hares. You know, like in the tortoise and the hare story? Me, I'm a tortoise. I'll get to the finish line....eventually. But I don't expect I'll ever keep up with the hares. Frankly, I'd like to sit and watch one knit a sock at that blinding speed. Or crochet one, for that matter.

Wearable doilies

Yes, doilies are wearable. If you check older posts then you'll find I've made a wrap from a chair doily pattern.

Now I've found a free pineapple doily pattern from Freepatterns. The Starburst and Pineapple one is perfect to make a capelet from. Just chain a chain big enough to fit over your head and sit on your shoulders, join into a ring and make 180 dc in it and join that. Then you just start from rnd 9 on the pattern and follow it. You'll skip 4 dc between shells on rnd 9 and have 36 shells when you're finished. I've only just started the pineapple bases on mine, so no pics yet, but it's looking really good. It does look a bit untidy after putting the rnd of dc in, but it straightens out pretty quickly on subsequent rnds. I'm using sport/baby yarn and a size G hook.

In other news, I've mastered the Continental style of knitting and even like it now that I can do it effortlessly. I'm still working on the scarves and cowls, but I'm still a notoriously slow finisher, so it could be Christmas before I finish them. Just wanted to let anyone who's reading this know that I'm making progress. There are some pictures up on my Facebook page, but none here yet.

Another Practice

I found a pattern for the knit Dimple Stitch and I think it will make a fantastic scarf or baby blanket. I'm doing it in a scarf first, practicing my continental knitting. Since this pattern naturally tends to curl I'm putting in a four stitch garter border.

For the scarf, I've cast on 31 stitches to accommodate the pattern and the edge stitches. I've already figured out that if I slip the first stitch of each row, it's much easier to knit the next ones. And since it's a garter border, slipping that stitch won't make much difference.

I just don't know how I'm going to fare when I get to the pattern part, but we'll see. I'm using an off-white yarn, I think it's RHSS.

Practicing

I did say that scarves are a good way to practice stitches and knitting techniques, so I'm doing just that. I'm working on a mobius scarf in seed (moss) stitch. For those who don't know what this is, a mobius scar is a loop that has a half twist in it. You can make one easily by knitting a scarf and then sewing the two ends together after putting the half-twist in. This is what I am doing this time. You can also make a seamless one by using a long circular needle and using any of a number of methods that you can simply Google. It's best to make a mobius scarf in a reversible stitch (such as ribbing, moss or double moss) because you will see the front and back of it when it's done.

As for seed stitch (our European friends call it moss stitch). It is simply 1x1 ribbing done on an uneven number of stitches. You can do it on an even number of stitches if you remember that on the second row you need to start with a purl stitch instead of a knit stitch. This gives that bumpy texture that resembles seeds scattered over it. Just remember to knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches on each row and you'll do fine.

I'm doing this to practice knitting continental style (yarn in left hand). I've knitted English style (yarn in right hand) for over forty years (close to fifty), so this will be a challenge. The biggest challenge will be purling. Knitting is easy continental style, but purling requires a bit more practice. What better practice than to do seed stitch and make a pretty wearable in the process?

I'll let you know how it goes.

Day one:

I cast on 45 sts for my uneven number. This way I can just mindlessly k1, p1 the whole time without trying to remember if I'm on row 1 or row 2 of the pattern.

The first row was a bit difficult, as I predicted. The second row was a bit easier. I'm sure I'll become a bit more proficient as I progress, I've only been trying this style for a few days, so it feels kind of clumsy still.

Continental vs English

Or Picking vs Throwing.

What is it? It's two different styles of knitting. Picking involves wrapping the yarn in your left hand and 'picking' it through the stitches. There are several ways to do this, just google some youtube videos.

Throwing involves holding the yarn in your right hand and 'throwing' it around the working needle to make the stitch. You can also google youtube videos of this method.

So, which method is right for you? Only you can decide that. If you're a long-time crocheter who has wanted to learn to knit, I'd say try Continental. I learned to knit and crochet at roughly the same time, and the person who taught me to knit used the English, or throwing method, so that's what I did for over forty years. It was just a few days ago that I decided to give Continental a try. Again, actually. I usually gave up on it because purling Continental-style, is harder than knitting. It takes a bit of a different approach to pick a purl stitch, but this time I think I've got it, after a couple days of practicing on a partially-finished scarf someone gave me. Scarves are perfect projects to practice knitting techniques on since they don't require a gauge.

The only thing I had to do was figure out how to do the end pattern rows. I had to look at the front and back, and then I tried a swatch with some more needles and yarn and figured out that it was a two-row repeat of an odd ribbing pattern. It went on the right side like 1x1 rib, but on the back, you would purl across. This gave the rib a different and more decorative look.

Anyway, Continental style knitting lends itself well to doing ribbing, seed (moss) or moss (double moss) very well. The pattern goes much faster, once you master the two basic knit and purl stitches.

I even had a way to compare the two on the scarf. I did the first end pattern English style and am doing the second repeat Continental style. There is a definite gauge difference between the two. The Continental method makes the gauge a bit tighter and neater.

I'd say I would use Continental for a lot of my knitting now, but I would switch to English style for colorwork, unless I figure out how to knit with yarn held in both hands. Which would be quite a feat.

The things we notice

When we're watching a tv show or a movie. That is, it depends on your hobby or interest. Mine happens to be crafting. Specifically, knitting and crocheting, not necessarily in that order.

When you're an avid crafter, whether or not you make a lot of things or just a few things a year, you begin to notice things when you watch tv, and not necessarily anything having to do with the plot.

For instance, one of the tv stations ran Wayne's World yesterday and I couldn't help but notice the afghan on the couch they used during their broadcast. It's made out of large hexagons, each in a different color. I focused on that to the point that I googled images of Wayne's World to find a still of it. Then I tried making one. After several failed attempts, I got something similar by using clusters and chain spaces. I got an eight inch across motif out of some blue.

Now I'm determined to make a similar afghan by rummaging through my yarn and using whatever I find. I know it won't be just like it, but since that's what inspired it, I think I'll call it Wayne's World Inspired Afghan, or WWIA.

Now, onto other things. I knit and crochet both, so when, in an early season one episode of CSI: NY, a lady at a dog show told Mac that she had knitted the afghan in her lap for her dog I immediately said "No way did she knit that." It was a granny square afghan, and you can only get granny squares by crocheting them. The prop person obviously wasn't a knitter or a crocheter or they would have at least acquired a knitted afghan for the lady to brag about. I'm pretty sure most people didn't see that goof, but I did and was very amused by it. A quick look at the ep "Recycling" on Imdb shows that someone else did. I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw it.

Now, every time I watch tv (which isn't often anymore since most stuff is boring these days) I tend to notice when an actor/actress is wearing a handknit/crocheted item, and I will sometimes look up pictures of it (or attempt to), to see if I could possibly duplicate it. I've seen hats, vests, sweaters, scarves, etc.

You know it's bad when you're more interested in props/costumes than you are in the show itself...

Socks

You know, just when you think you've seen it all, along comes something you haven't seen. Or, just when you find a favorite heel method, along comes another method that's just 'that' much better.

What am I speaking of?

Fish Lips Kiss Heel

Funny name for a gorgeous heel. The pattern is only $1, and since I had a couple dollars in my paypal, I bought it today. I haven't tried it yet, naturally, but after reading it and checking the pic tutorial at the end, it looks like this is going to be my new favorite heel. Now all I'll need is to make some cardboard feet.

The only thing that bugged me about short row heels doing them with YOs, is that it left a ridge of sts inside the sock that I could sometimes feel. This method doesn't use any kind of extra stitches and it looks like it would be easy to do once you memorize the method.

Of course, I have been knitting for most of my life, so just about anything would be easy to me once I've done it at least once or twice, but still, even beginner sock knitters should be able to do this. For them, I would recommend the linked videos from the pattern. Or I'll just provide them here.

Sox Therapist

That will take you to her two vid tutorials for the short row method she uses in her sock heels.

Seriously, this pattern is worth it if you make a lot of socks. You can use it on any sock pattern and throw away the heel flap/gussets forever.

Then people will start asking you where you bought your socks at ;)

Seriously, I would be flattered if someone asked me that.

Toe Up vs Top Down

Now that I've actually completed a pair of toe up socks (on double pointed needles) I think I can compare them to top down.

I like both methods, but I think toe up edges out top down in that, when you're finished, all you need to do is hide two yarn ends. I'm not a fan of the figure eight cast on, probably because I haven't practiced it enough. Really, since I like the looks of the short row toe, there's no need to master the figure eight unless it's for ego purposes to say "I can do it."

Anyway, in my opinion, any sock pattern can be converted from top down to toe up, the pattern will just run upside down, unless it's something symmetrical like a diamond pattern. I don't see much problem with that. If it's a case of stranded knitting, then following the color chart upside down should fix that.

So, yes, I like toe up socks, the short row toes and heels look very neat. The biggest plus to toe up socks is that it appears to me that they're also faster to knit, and to a slow knitter like me, that's a big plus.

So, if you're not a fan of doing kitchener stitch, and it's kept you from giving socks a try, then I say look up some toe up sock patterns and give them a try.

If you're not doing socks because you're leery of trying knitting in the round on double pointed needles, then look up some tutorials on using magic loop or two circulars. With two circulars, you can drop the project onto the cables and not worry about losing stitches. I can do either, but since I haven't completed anything using magic loop, comparing the two methods is something that will have to wait for another day. However, making socks using two circulars means that I can make the entire pair at the same time by using two balls of yarn. I wouldn't say it's any faster than making them one at a time, but when you're finished, well, you're finished.

Now, someone will probably ask me how would I do two toe up socks on two circular needles. Well, the answer is simple. Since I do short row toes, which requires a provisional cast on, I would do one toe on one circular and the other toe on the other circular needle and then, very carefully, transfer both sets of live stitches to one circular (making sure the working yarn ends are both pointing in the same direction. Then I would unzip the crochet chains (that's the provisional method I prefer) and place those live stitches on the empty circular needle. Voila! I can then do both socks at the same time up to the heel. Then you would do one heel at a time (Placing the other sock on the cable until you're finished with the first one. Once you're finished with the heels, you then do both legs at the same time. Doing socks this way makes sure that your gauge will be the same on both socks.

Boy, I start off comparing two sock methods and end up talking about four. Go me.

Found a new hat pattern

Well, the pattern is new to me.  I found while browsing other patterns like I do on occasion, and I ran across this one:

Braid-Edge Hat

I've started one in dark blue Simply Soft yarn and another in a dark red RHSS. The pattern is not difficult and is giving me practice in making cables without cable needles.

What is cables without cable needles? Exactly what it says. Here's the link:

Cable without cable needles

As I said, the pattern is not difficult and you should memorize the repeat by the end of the first one. I did make one adjustment-I'm using stitch markers so I don't have to do so much counting. One marks where the braid goes and the other marks the short rows so I don't have to count stitches. It makes for much easier and faster knitting of this pattern.

I give up

Yeah, I posted that I wanted to do a pair of socks using the double knit method on dpns. Well, I quit.

Knitting is supposed to be fun, double knitting socks is not. I hadn't even gotten the 12 rounds of ribbing done before I started running into trouble, culminating in two needles somehow getting pulled out of the stitches. And once I pulled the two socks apart, I also had crossed yarns.

Therefore, I have concluded that the knitting Goddess does not want me to do double knit socks. Therefore, I have started a pair of toe-up socks instead using the yarn I was using for the double knit ones, Bernat Softee Baby in Sweet n Sunny.. I'm going to use the Tadpole pattern, which is one of my favorite sock patterns to do because the pattern is easy, yet not mindless and boring. Yes, I know this pattern is done top down, but it's easily done toe-up too, the pattern will just swirl up instead of down. Neat, huh?

I used a provisional cast-on, using a length of crochet chain and picked up half the number of stitches I would need, which was 32. I then made a short row toe using the YO method, which is m favorite method of doing short rows. I'm not up to the foot, have frogged the crochet chain to expose the live stitches and have started the tadpole pattern. One word of advice. You will always have one less stitch on the newly-exposed stitches than you need, so you'll have to m1 to get the correct number of stitches. Easy enough to do on the end. That way, you have 16 stitches on each of four needles for a five needle set (which I recommend). Otherwise, you could also use two circular needles. It would be possible to do both socks on the circulars, you'd just have to do each toe separately, then proceed to do both together.

Anyway, as I said at the beginning, I've given up on doing double knit socks, I'll stick to the tried and true methods that don't have nearly the opportunities for errors as that method does. I prefer to have fun with my knitting, and that's what I'm gonna do from now on.

Still haven't done anything with the Brown Sheep Wildfoot yarn

I'm a notorious procrastinator. I'll start a project, put it down and start something else. I might pick up the other one days, weeks or months later, sometimes years.

You could call me a really good starter and a very poor finisher. Sometimes I'll end up frogging a project if I can't remember what I was knitting or if I don't really want the project.

I'm sure there are others out there like me. Sucks, but such is the nature of human beings.

I will finish projects if I'm making them for someone else, though.

Double Knitting

Every knitter knows what this is, creating a two-sided fabric using two balls of yarn. A baby blanket pattern by Eleanor Roosevelt uses this technique. But there is also another use for it. Creating two identical items using one set of needles.

Case in point-socks. Knitty has an article on the technique and how to do it using double pointed needles (which is the only way you could knit a pair of socks with them). I've adapted the method to my personal style of knitting, however, I've not finished a pair of socks using the technique. It's so easy to cross the threads and I sometimes don't catch it until I've done several rounds, and then just fixing the one crossed stitch as indicated in the instructions doesn't account for if you continue to use the wrong yarn end on the socks. The only method of fixing crossed threads is to carefully un-knit back to the crossed threads and uncross them, then continue. This is tedious and usually has me putting the project down or simply frogging it and redoing on separate needles.

Okay, to avoid having to un-knit a bunch of rounds in the case of crossed threads, I would recommend that you check every few rounds by pulling the inside sock up and out, then check between them. Crossed yarns are easy to spot. While this will slow you down a bit, it's not much different from checking your pattern every few rounds on more complicated patterns. Still, overall, the process is much slower than doing a pair on circulars.

So, why am I making another post about double knitting? I'm still determined to do a pair of socks to completion. Would I recommend this technique to do a pair of socks regularly? No. Why? Because doing a pair of socks on two circulars or using the magic loop method is tons easier. To alleviate the 'Second Sock Syndrome' I do recommend doing both socks together.

To be able to double knit a pair of socks, the knitter would need to work on them with no distractions (this is not a mindless project to be done while watching tv). The knitter must keep their mind on their work or else they will cross their yarns. To have to remove the heel stitches and put them on separate needles to do the heels is also tedious, and this is where using two circulars or magic loop and keeping the socks separate is the superior method. Because once you get your heels knitted (and I recommend short row heels for this), you then must arrange them all back on one needle to continue in the round (tedious again)

Then there's the matter of the toes. Again, you have to divide out your stitches and put them onto separate needles (in my opinion) and finish them individually, as you did the heels.

So why am I doing this? Like most who comment on the technique, just so I could say I did. Once I finish a pair doing this I will likely not do this technique again, unless I'm making double-sided baby blankets, throws or potholders where crossed yarns won't be a problem. It's just a method for those who want to draw attention to themselves by doing it out in public so they can act smug and superior as they explain what they're doing. Personally, I wouldn't act so smug about this technique, you'll more often than not make mistakes that will likely be tedious to undo. You'll make fewer mistakes using the other two techniques for knitting a pair of socks at the same time. And the last plus about the other two methods? You can use any pattern you want and make fancy-schmancy socks. double knitting is best done using a basic, no-frills, plain knit sock pattern.

However, your socks will go quicker by doing them on two circulars or using magic loop and keeping them separated the whole time. You'll still have to do the heels individually, but not the toes.

An addendum: While you can get into a rhythm with double-knitting socks, don't be fooled into thinking it's mindless knitting. One little moment of inattention and you have crossed yarns. So, unless you're doing as the article recommends and knitting with two contrasting colors, I wouldn't recommend letting yourself get distracted while doing it.

Crochet cables vs knit cables

Yes, you can make cables in crochet. They don't look exactly like knit cables, but you can do as much with them as you can do with knit ones, and if you don't knit then it's nice to know that you can still make nice-looking cables.

You're basically using post dc stitches to make the basic rib for your cable. When you go to twist them around each other, you'll use post tr stitches to keep your work flat. It's a bit more involved than making knit cables, but the end result is the same, you're twisting a number of stitches around each other, the way you do it will determine what your cable will look like.

All you really have to do is Google 'crochet cables' to find any number of written or video directions on how to do this.

I like the option to be able to put cables on my crochet things too.

Red Heart Super Saver

I've heard (or rather seen) a lot of people posting across the internet about how icky RHSS is. I'll concede that, years ago, it was pretty rough. But, then again, it was also the only affordable yarn for knitters/crocheters who had very little money to spend.

Now, RHSS has softened over the years into something much more workable. And to tell the truth, most people want an item that they can just throw into the washer and dryer without worrying about it losing its shape.

Now, I'm not disrespecting quality yarns at all, I love to use them when I can afford them, as long as they're items for myself so that I know I'll take care of them properly, but for gifts I would use a good quality, soft acrylic.

These days, there are many, many brands of acrylic yarns, but I have no way to get to them except online, so I use mostly what my local W-M offers (sucks, I know, but that's how life is.) When I can afford to get some money into my Paypal I'll shop around for the good stuff, usually on Ebay since they take Paypal and I can usually find something nice at a good price.

Such as the three skeins of sock yarn I purchased a few days ago. I hope this link works.

Brown Sheep Wildfoote

It's in the color Ragtime, which is different colors of purples and plums, some of my favorites.

I can't wait to knit up a pair of socks from this yarn, it's very soft and cushy. But I have other projects that must be finished first, so it will likely be after Christmas.

Twenty pairs of fingerless mitts

Well, three-fourths of them. I have five more pairs to make before the end of the week. They turned out really nicely and I even found something to store them in to keep them clean, a blanket bag. You know, one of those clear plastic zippered things that some blankets come in when  you buy them. It'll hold all twenty pairs nice and neat when I deliver them. I hope everyone who gets a pair will enjoy them.

I truly enjoyed making them, even though it got boring with all those repetitive, sc ribs. I'd have to stop sometimes and switch projects just to keep from getting bored to death. Hey, you sit and crochet nothing but sc rib for days on end and see how bored you get ;)

Still, that's what other projects are for.

Ruffled scarves

They're all the rage, and rightly so. Soft and squishy and ruffled, you can have one to match every outfit if you like.

The only problem with them is that they're a pain in the backside to knit. You're using a net-like yarn that's about 2-3 inches wide and knitting through the edge of it. You have to stretch it out as you go (or unroll it, stretch it out and re-roll it onto a piece of cardboard). Either way, it's a pain to do that.

The upside is, once you adapt to the netting, things go a bit more smoothly and faster. There are any number of youtube vids about how to do this, along with any number of brands of the netting yarn.

I'm making my first one with Red Heart Boutique Sashay in the Waltz colorway. Take my word for it, it'll look crappy when you first start, but give it a foot or so and it'll start looking really nice. I'm going to give this one to a friend for Christmas, she likes the browns and blues in this particular colorway, so it goes to her.

Crochet hook case

I just received an order of bamboo circular needles and crochet hooks. Knowing me, if I didn't do something, the hooks would end up somewhere that would result in them getting broken, so, I went to Crochet Pattern Central and found a beautiful pattern for a crochet hook case and I made it within a few hours. I used some Caron Simply Soft in a butter yellow color that I have no idea what they call it since I don't have the wrapper for it anymore. You should be able to complete one of these with yarn leftover since this skein was a partial skein and I still had plenty leftover.

Anyway, here's the picture:

As you can see, the openings are roomy and I doubled up on the smaller sizes. The largest one on the other end is a 10mm, a US P, I think.

I intend to make more of these for my aluminum hooks and figure out how to make a holder for my straight knitting needles and my circulars.

More to come when I get that done.

Armwarmers galore

Or it will be, soon. A friend asked me to make 20 pairs of my ribbed fingerless mitts yesterday. She wants to give them to some friends for Christmas.

Good thing these things are so customizable, she likes the length a bit longer, to keep the arm warm as well as the wrist/hand.

Good thing too that it only takes a few hours to make a pair, give or take. I have plenty of time to make them for her.