MilesToGo

2012-01-16T08:54:00.004-05:00

To Frog, or Not to Frog?

As part of my New Year's resolution to knit from my stash, I've been organizing and reorganizing my stash, trying to confine it to one room. I've prioritized the projects I want to finish, but of course, found a new idea while "organizing". I ended up with four skeins of Cascade 128 Superwash in Ruby after Christmas and matched it up with Jared Flood's Wool Leaves. The pattern has been languishing in my Ravelry library waiting patiently for a project.

The pattern calls for two strands of worsted knitted together at a gauge of 10 stitches = 4". I appear to be getting 10 stitches to 3"; the width unblocked is 24" after I completed the moss stitch border and one repeat. The blocked width is supposed to be 26" so I may be okay; however, I've been looking at other projects on Ravelry and it appears other knitters went a lot wider (I cast on 91 versus 71 stitches).

I should admit that I've already cast on and ripped back three times. The first time, I thought I miscount in the pattern but later learned the pattern shifts because of decreases. I cast on again and then thought I messed up the four border stitches on each side. And then cast on again and realized that I misread border rows 5 and 6 and ripped back AGAIN.

So I'm a little reluctant to frog once again, but don't want to knit up a puny blanket. What's the right size blanket for a baby? And does Cascade 128 soften up? What would you do?

2012-01-02T16:01:00.007-05:00

2012: The Year of Finishing and Using Up Stash

Happy New Year! May 2012 bring health, wealth and happiness to you and yours.

I had the week between Christmas and New Year off and had a very long list of projects that I intended to finished, however, I didn't make much of a dent. I did finish this Gingerbread Sweater for my niece. The sleeves are mega-long, so hopefully she can wear it next year, if she's not too cool at 12.

Meanwhile, I've got a gorgeous sweater using Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky in progress based on a Rowan pattern out of one of the new books. Actually had to rip back the Prism Plume and Stuff hat I started from a recent issue of Knit N Style.

And I'm taking a mitten class. I did try to make one earlier in the break but ended up with too many stitches and didn't know why, so I ripped that back and enrolled in the Shaina Bilow Knitting School. We're using Chunky Alpaca and I've got both mittens knitted to the point where decreases are started. Next week we're measuring and shaping and we're starting thethumb gussets.

So busy, busy, busy. What's on your needles?

2011-11-27T09:25:00.004-05:00

Christmas is Coming

Going to make an effort to finish the KAL this year. My plan is to use life lines and to skip patterns that stump me. I gave up some where in the first week last year because the bobbles threw off my stitch count more times than I care to remember--this year, if I have to rip back more than 3 times, I'm waiting for the next day. The scarf will be plenty long unless I run into trouble more than once a week.

On the more positive side, I have some Karabella Lace Merino in a beige color. I'm going to use beads; I have some metallic beads from Twisted Sistah that are shades of browns and tans that should show up very nicely. I have some reds that I could use too and would be more festive for the holiday theme, but no yarn for that. I do have some natural lace weight that I could use with crystal beads. I guess I should swatch?

2011-10-25T10:06:00.008-04:00

Taking A Compliment

One of the many things I love about events likes Stitches is seeing what other knitters do with their yarn.

There were an abundance of knitters and crocheters wearing their handmade garments throughout the weekend. I am amazed at how well done some of the designs are and its wonderful to see many of the patterns that I've coveted come alive. I saw the Kaffe Fassett Floral Jacket and the February Lady Sweater executed impeccably (the fit of the FLS across the shoulders was perfect!). I also saw someone wearing the Belvedere sweater I'm working on and it renewed my excitement about the sweater. It also made me glad I was taking classes so I too could produce a fantastic piece of work.

This is important to me because, before I packed, I chose what I would wear each of the four days carefully so I could show off my work among people who will appreciate it.

However, when I was dressing each day, I hesitated. One sweater looked too short, one of the top-down raglans has horrific batwings and my beautiful cotton Katydid sweater is suddenly short and shapeless and missing a button already. So I wore my Noro top-down raglan every day.

I love this sweater. It fits, or rather, it fits me the best of all my handknits. There is a batwing effect too, just not as pronounced as the other raglan. And I do not benefit from horizontal stripes.

But it's knit well, there are no hidden mistakes and it was warm, a significant attribute in the over-air-conditioned classrooms in October. If anyone noticed flaws, they didn't mention it. In fact, I got quite a few compliments.

Which is a fascinating dynamic. I was taken aback by the number of women who responded to compliments about their work by pointing out the flaws (obvious only to the knitter) or by belittling their work.

Ladies, it’s not necessary to draw attention to mistakes. And it is excruciating to hear you belittling a garment I know you labored over lovingly. I know we’ve been raised to be modest but when you’re among your knitting peers, I think it’s appropriate to be proud and to accept praise for your accomplishment. No one is going to think you’re boasting. After all, we’re Knitters.

2011-10-24T10:42:00.008-04:00

Back from Stitches East

What a wonderful time! I got up super early on Thursday, packed and hit the road. The weather was gorgeous in Hartford, although I was indoors most of the time. After checking in at the Marriott (highly recommended), I had a great lunch at Vivo and went to class.

Susanna Hansson taught me how to knit stripes in the round without getting an unsightly jog. It's very humbling not being able to master a new technique right away. This skill will be useful for making the Holly Jolly Bag from Creative Knitting. Too tired to visit the Market on Thursday evening (can you imagine?).

Friday began with a great class on necklines with Chris Bylsma. I love Chris' designs and her teaching style. Spent the afternoon with Drew Embrosky, The Crochet Dude, for Beyond Beginner Crochet. This is exceptionally useful and he's a great teacher. Will look for him in the future.

Saturday was devoted to The Sweater Map with Shannon Okey. I've taken classes with her before and learned a lot and this time was no different--she is a fount of information as well as entertaining. My measuring partner Denise was great during that portion of the agenda. Net net, I've got a basic sweater designed but may not use the cashmere I brought with me--too many variables.

I'll be honest, by Sunday, I was tired and blew off the classes I had scheduled (I am trying not to think about how much yarn I could have bought with the price of the classes). I gave my Grand Prize tickets to some lucky strangers in the Market and shopped a little before traveling home.

I was shocked at how much smaller the market was this year and wandered around looking for the new BIG things. Not much was new and there were some conspicuous absences. My favorite is Glitterati from Pagewood Farms (see photo). The yarn is gray and there are pink, black and silver sparkly things and sequins all over it!

I picked up Jean Frost's book Custom Fit Knit Jackets: Casual to Couture. While it features Jean's designs, there's a detailed tutorial up front to help me find my perfect size and shaping. I swatched the Gabrielle sweater last night--I'm not there yet, but working towards it.

Meanwhile, I cast on the Floating Checks cardigan, also from Jean but not in her book. I'm using black and white Zara. This involves a lot of slip stitches, which I'm enjoying.

I bought a lot of beads from Twisted Sistah Beads & Fibers; I really like Leslie and she was able to answer all my questions. I also picked up some buttons that look like peppermints for holiday knitting and little mink balls for decoration. I'm thinking in lieu of pom-poms. I got some Cascade 220 for the Holly Jolly bag from The Yarn Barn of Kansas and then I went to The Yarn Lady. I just love their booth.

Laura Bryant's Prism yarns just slay me, however, I didn't do too much damage--I bought the Glitteri there (didn't know I could get it from the Pagewood Farm booth!), ordered two skeins of Plume so I can make the hat featured in the December issue of Knit and Style (is it out yet?)and I ordered the kit for the Shona vest. This is a pattern Jane Slicer-Smith did for Trendsetter and uses Merino VIII. I ordered the same green as the sample--hope I like it!

I did make significant progress on the Venezia sweater. Better keep those needles clicking.

2011-09-26T15:06:00.008-04:00

Christmas is Coming

QVC devoted the entire day to Christmas yesterday. It's in three months. Realistically I should have started my holiday knitting MONTHS ago, but I think I can still make a signficiant impact.

I'll be honest. I spent a lot of time on Saturday watching QVC as well. One of the items offered were Samsonite umbrellas with LED lights. What attracted me were the different prints. I ordered 3 with prints and 3 in black because my brainstorm/revelation/epiphany was that I could give people these umbrellas with hats. Hats are easy, right?

There were also shawls offered and ordered some of those as well. The plan would be to give hats and umbrellas, hats and shawls and for the really special and lucky folks I could give hat, umbrella, shawl and throw in a pair of gloves. I would like that, wouldn't you?

I have to dig up the pattern for the double-faced ski hat knit in mohair. Dropped by Creative Knitworks yesterday and picked up some mohair for two hats.

The incomparable and amazing Keith fixed a pull in the Marias sweater (I haven't even worn it yet!) and helped me get started on a knitted Angry Bird.

These hats will go with one of the umbrellas and one of the shawls. I'm committed

Or I should be.

PS: Stupid green pigs.

2011-09-23T11:18:00.006-04:00

The Great Bulky Yarn Clean Out

I'm convinced. After years of accumulating bulky weight yarn with the intention of actually completing quick-to-knit projects, I realize that these are not necessarily flattering to my particular figure. I read about this in one of the Big Girl Knits books and didn't want to believe this is true so I resisted parting with the luscious fibers that promised warmth, extraordinary stitch definition and a good chance of finishing a sweater.

I've got Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky, Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande (in two colors!), some Tahki Montana and a lot of Rowan Cocoon that I am still debating whether it can be knit without a lot of bulk. I have had my eye on the Classic Elite pattern Duchess for quite some time.

I've been reading some style guides as I evaluate my wardrobe for the fall and the indications are clear: no bulky knits. Lighter weight fibers and vertical lines are the things for me.

The back and fronts of the sweater in Venezia are almost done. It's a wide rib pattern. I've also started Eadon in RYC Silk Wool DK and although I ripped back the first attempt, I'm motoring through the Sally Melville gray cardigan using Suri Merino. All vertical stripes.

Back to the clean out. I'm trying to find patterns for the bulky fibers because I want to give my nieces and nephews ski sweaters for Christmas. Will be swatching away so I can work on measuring gauge. Wish me luck!

2011-08-23T12:46:00.002-04:00

That Damned Tulip
I thought it was going to be the death of me. I've learned to add lifelines more frequently. I've only used one skein of Setanova so far and I'm through row 46 on the Half Pi. All set up for the Heart motif. Baby steps, JB, baby steps.

2011-08-18T20:01:00.006-04:00

Works in Progress

The top picture is a front for the cardigan I'm knitting in Venezia. I wish I had a better camera to show the beauty of the stitch definition. As it is, I'm wondering if I'll wear it right side or wrong side out. This is great knitting for the bus--portable and easy pattern to follow (K3, P1).

The next picture is the Half Pi destined for my sister. She's going to celebrate a milestone birthday in a few days and she gave me a fantastic party last year for mine. I hope this gift makes her as happy as the party did me.

This Pi started when the talented Shaina Bilow wrote the pattern for a full Pi for me based on design elements I chose. Each is symbolic of some part of my sister's life.

I started out strong, but then it was slow going. I happened to have started a half Pi separately and started thinking I could adapt the full Pi to a half and that the half moon design was probably more practical.

I LOVE IT.

This is Setanova on size 4 needles. The first two sections are regular stockinette then the following sections are the Trinity stitch, because she is one of three and the Little Shell Stitch because one of her loves in life will always be the beach. I'm working on a section of tulips--when we were young, she added a tulip to every picture she drew and it became her signature.

After that, there will be a row of hearts which represents her love and life with her husband and then a row of Shamrocks which are symbolic of her children.

I'm not sure how long this will be and whether there will be room for additional sections. My options are paw prints for their dog, Noelle, or diamonds, because that's what she said she wanted for her birthday. Big Fat Diamonds.

I had ordered Swavorski crystals to add in certain sections, mostly to separate the patterns in longer areas. They turned out to be the perfect color but the hole isn't large enough to string on the Setanova. Now I'm thinking gray pearls. The search continues!

2011-08-18T09:47:00.017-04:00

Ode to Silk Blend Knitting

I was able to purge a great deal of yarn from my stash and donate it to a local charity in Bergen County. I was pleased to be able to put it to good use because I wasn't going to get to it any time soon and there were some projects I had lost interest in after a few inches of knitting. I hope there's a lot of warm and cozy people in Northern NJ as a result.

During this process, I decided that I don't like working with cotton. A significant portion of what was donated was 100% cotton. However, I've been working on two projects lately (among the many, I haven't gotten THAT disciplined) that contain silk. I've worked with 100% silk before and although I loved the feel of it, wasn't crazy about the fit/drape. Silk blends appear to be the way to go for me.

One is Setanova from Lana Grossa--it is 60% silk and 40% cotton. I love everything about it. The way it feels in my hands, the drape, the stitch definition. I'm using this for a half Pi shawl for my sister's birthday.

The other yarn I recently discovered I love is Cascade Yarns' Venezia. I started a sweater for myself in it and then had read in Big Girl Knits that plus size women shouldn't use bulky yarn, so I set it aside for a while. I love the color and rediscovered my stash during the purge and felt like I needed to do something with it, especially since I found some great buttons at Creative Knitworks in Westwood, NJ.

I found Sally Melville's With-A-Twist Turtleneck in Book 2: The Purl Stitch and with heavy modifications, began a cardigan in Venezia. This has the same wonderful properties as the Setanova: great hand feel, great stitch definition and the bonus is that because it is a bulky yarn, it's moving along quickly!

A word about Sally--I love her patterns and the fact that she includes notes like "Shorten or lengthen here" to encourage customizing the patterns. How great is that?

2011-07-19T10:25:00.010-04:00

Out of Focus

I can't seem to be able to focus on one project long enough to finish anything. I was stymied by running out of Zara Chine so I couldn't finish the Marias sweater. My first online order fell through (they had Zarina, not Zara). I have ordered a skein directly from Tahki so here's hoping. It's knit with some Koigu so dyelot shouldn't be a big deal (here's hoping!).

I've left the Katydid sweater at the LYS for finishing. I took that thing to the frog pond so many times, I'm sick of the sight of it. But we found pretty buttons, so maybe I'll be forgiving. For God's sake, I hope it fits.

Also on the needles: newborn baby sweater in Rowan Cotton Rope; the Garden of Alla shawl in Kudo and LaLa's Simple Shawl in Sublime Aran--all from stash!

I'm also working on a KuKu doll and a Irish Step Dancing dress for an American Girl doll.

Finally, I did finish the Baby West sweater. It's now in the cabinet in my office waiting to be mailed to hand delivered. Baby steps...

2011-06-15T19:52:00.003-04:00

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Months ago, I came across the Debbie Abraham's mystery knitting blankets, although I didn't know it was a KAL at the time. I missed the Under the Sea theme by a year but Debbie was lovely and tried to find a kit for me. Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

I had no idea Debbie is a big deal designer and has published books! So I order the afghan books and started a hybrid of a few of them to create my own version of a seaside-themed blanket. Here are the first four squares. So pretty!

2011-06-15T19:36:00.009-04:00

Finishing Rampage

Finally found the camera so I can share the projects I've been working on. The stash has been creeping out of the closet and I've been making a concerted effort to FINISH some of the things I've been working on.

First up is the Harlequin Sweater from Jane Slicer-Smith. It's so much fun! I was a little intimidated by the directions at first, but I've got the general idea down now. I'm making it in Trendsetter Merino VI in Charcoal and Slate. So pretty.

Next is a Chris Bylsma pattern for a cardigan I'm making in a chunky Noro with a subtle self pattern and assorted novelty yarns. It's going very quickly.

I've been mooning over a lace shrug I saw in the Fall or Winter Vogue and finally picked up some Sublime in a worsted weight. I love it so far.

I'm also making the Hooded Jacket by Rebecca Taylor, also from Vogue. I'm using something called Cotton Rich doubled--dreamy.

Last but not least, I've been working on the Belvedere cardigan. I've discovered I need to use lifelines, but otherwise I'm enjoying it very much. I'm using Covington for this and I love the way it is knitting up.

There are of course other projects in progress, but these are the main focus. I'm also trying to finish the Marias sweater but I'm waiting for more Zara Chine, the Katydid sweater which I've ripped back more times than I care to tell you about and The Baby West sweater that I'll post a photo of after it's blocked. Okay, back to knitting.

2011-06-04T07:02:00.004-04:00

Where Is My Camera?

It's not that I haven't been working on projects. I certainly have been busy, but I can't find my digital camera and can't upload pictures.

I'm focused on finishing these days. Not the "sew it together" kind; mostly getting the bits and pieces done so the projects can be completed and hopefully worn.

I am very close to finishing the Marias sweater. The pattern is for Manos, but I'm using Koigu and Zara Chine. It was a big production finding enough Koigu when I was buying the yarn, but it turns out I have a lot of Koigu leftover and will be short on Zara. And although I can't find a ball band, I think I am using a discontinued color. It looks like I'm going to be switching to the trim color using Pure Merino about 10 rows sooner than expected. I'm telling myself it's making the pattern my own. Right?

2011-03-27T10:01:00.002-04:00

Interesting Squares and An Afghan

2011-03-27T09:43:00.003-04:00

Spring Projects

The first day of Spring arrived the other day. It's still fairly cold here in the northeast but we have had a lot of sunshine and I yearn for lighter clothes and pretty projects. I notice that a lot of the fashion magazines are featuring "crocheted" garments and have found several knitting patterns that will fill the bill.

So although I am not done with the many winter projects I have in progress, I've started the Belvedere Cardigan by Debbie O'Neill published in the winter/spring 11 issue of Knitscene. I'm using Covington, a mercerized cotton from Plymouth. This is going to be the most economical sweater I've made in a long time because I got a whole bag for $40 at the Going Out of Business sale at The Skein Attraction (oh, it still pains me!). I swatched it (there's proof in the photos) and have begun the back. Ribbing looks a little tight to me, and the pattern looks larger than the swatch, but I have faith. (Of course, I will have it checked the next time I'm in a yarn store.)

I went to the dentist in Scotch Plains yesterday and stopped at Knit A Bit in Westfield. They are so nice and they remember me. This is a big deal because so many of the shops in the NY/NJ area are staffed with very grumpy people. Note to other shops: I may not be your best customer but if I'm spending money, you can at the very least respond politely to my questions.

Anyway, the Knit A Bit team helped me find yarn for the hoodie on the cover of the latest Vogue Knitting. More to follow on that!

2011-02-03T21:00:00.002-05:00

Cupcake, Cupcake, Who Got the Cupcake?

I bought two balls of pure merino and two balls of plush to make my cupcake (my color combo is brown merino with pink plush to represent the frosting). Seemed like I was motoring along fine, and gave one of each to my mother with the pattern so she can make a second hat (hoping of course that she will make 2 red pompoms since I don't know how....). But I'm running out of plush for my hat. Will I never learn?

2011-02-02T19:51:00.002-05:00

Be My Valentine

This may end up in the overly ambitious category but I'm trying to make hats for my two nieces and two nephews in time for Valentine's Day.

They are all skiers. The first hat is reversible, made with two different colors of mohair. It's double thick so this should keep my niece warm.

I've got a cupcake hat in progress for the other niece, a balacava for one nephew (although my mother says they're not legal because they're used in hold ups) and I think I'll make another reversible hat for the other nephew.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to finish the "Stella" shrug on the same schedule for my aunt's birthday which is on the 13th. It's done but I'd like to crochet around the arm openings and I'm trying to add beads to the cuffs.

As I said, overly ambitious.

2011-02-01T22:30:00.003-05:00

New Year, New Day, New Project

I've kept all my resolutions so far, except the one about not buying new yarn. I saw some Mission Falls 1824 wool at my local yarn shop and got started on a Log Cabin blanket for a baby. It's so pretty, if I do say so myself.

Then I read the terrible news that Mission Falls is going out of business.

I found someone on Ravelry with some 1824 available and bought it. She graciously packed it up and shipped it to me and it arrived from across the country in two days. My check to her however still has not arrived. Very very embarrassing.

I sent a new check yesterday and am having the PO track this one.

But the worst news is that I just found out my local yarn shop, The Skein Attraction, is closing. I'm bereft. It took me a long time to find a nice shop with quality yarn and friendly and knowledgeable staff. I've grown to depend on their counsel and support through my projects and I have also truly enjoyed the friends I made there.

Is this bad kharma for breaking the resolution, or just bad luck? When will the madness stop?

2011-01-14T22:50:00.006-05:00

New Year. New Day. New Project(s).

2010 wound down quickly and 2011 is off to a great start.

The big snowstorm after Christmas here in the northeast gave me an excuse to rest, relax and to organize my stash. Unfortunately the hard drive of my laptop crashed and I lost a lot of photos and data. Well, I traded the PC in for a MAC, took new photos and almost have all my WIPs and stash yarn photographed and catalogued on Ravelry. My knitting books are next.

2010-12-05T08:21:00.009-05:00

Oh By Gosh, By Golly

I'm following the 24 Days of Christmas

Advent Calendar Scarf knit-a-long graciously posted by Wollkistchen at http://von-stroh-zu-gold.de/muster/?p=40.

Today is Day 5 but I have ripped back 3-4 times already because Day 2--NUPPS--proved challenging. I've developed the need for perfection over the past few years and needed the NUPPS to be uniform. I started out producing something closer to bobbles, but that was time consuming and less fun. My NUPPS were slightly better until I broke out additional stitch markers so I could differentiate between the yarn overs and the 7 stitch NUPP on the wrong side.

I'm using Lorna Laces Shepherd Sport Solid--it's undyed, so the color is natural and I had some pearlized beads for the yarn. The pattern calls for very small beads (9/0 appeared to translate to 2 mm)--I could not manage them with this weight yarn (the pattern calls for laceweight but I'm {virtuously} using yarn from my stash. Plus, I'm already on size 2 needles for yarn--I would hate working smaller!).

I've got Day 1, the spacer section and one repeat for Day 2 done. Hope to finish Day 2 and 3 today. Since it's lace, I will only be able to work on this in the evenings. Very exciting!

2010-11-12T19:20:00.002-05:00

Christmas is Coming

In less than 6 weeks! And I, overambitiously, want to give a scarf appropriate for Christmas for each of my Thanksgiving guests. Only one scarf is done so far...wish me luck.

2010-11-12T19:10:00.005-05:00

Happy Halloween 2010

This is the first sweater that is completely my own design. I used measurements for a girl's size 10 although the recipient seems to be thinner and taller than average. This started as a scarf but quickly evolved into something more substantial. I love the sleeves. The pumpkin, bat, spider and trees are all from Barbara Walker's books. That spider was nearly the end of me--I made good use of the YouTube instructional videos for this one! I ordered the buttons online and also found some in NYC. Can't wait to hear the reviews!

2010-10-04T22:38:00.005-04:00

So Many Projects, So Little Time

I've started a cupcake hat for my favorite niece in New Jersey and my Christmas sweater. It's the Northern Lights cardi from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on Top of the World. And I'm also working on what I'm calling my Silk and Sari Shell. I've carefully planned out what I'm going to work on from now until the end of the year in order to maximize productivity. I want to have a few things done in time to wear for Stitches East at the end of the month. I also want to finish several Christmas scarves in time for Thanksgiving. I think it will be nice to have them done in time to wear before the holidays.

But I'm obsessed with cashmere. I've had some Cape Cod cashmere in my stash for years--it was originally intended for a Boyfriend Sweater but I was unwilling to work on a size 5 needle at the time. I recently found the Classic Chic Pulli pattern for a top down sweater. I started it last week. I can't put it down...it's gorgeous. It feels like heaven. I can't wait to finish it!

2010-09-12T22:30:00.011-04:00

That Nicky Epstein

My non-knitting friends (95% of my universe) think it's funny when I refer to famous knitters as "Rock Stars". My recent idol is Nicky Epstein. I've got several of her books and have been reading them--the Tuscany book just makes me long for warm sunshine and good olive oil. I'm dying to make the sequined wrap using Disco Lights.

Knitting on Top of the World has been sooooo inspiring... I'm making my first Fair Isle project out of that book using Rowan Cocoon from my stash, although I did need to buy a few new skeins with contrasting colors. I started with the cuff on one sleeve first; it is turned up over the regular sleeve. I love the diamond pattern. I'm wondering if I will ever memorize the pattern so I don't have to use the chart!

In the meantime, I started a scarf using some Pure Merino from my stash which reminded me that I love working with it. So when I saw the Northern Lights sweater, I decided I MUST make it in Christmas colors. I like that it has a pattern on the bottom which will keep me interested. The sleeves are three quarter length, which I am particularly fond of, since I read that your wrists are the smallest bone in your body and that length is slimming. Haven't cast on yet, because I've been obsessed with the Rowan Earth Stripe Wrap today. Beauteous!

2010-09-11T19:17:00.000-04:00

Say Good-bye to Summer
It went far too quickly. There are Fall, Halloween and even some Christmas decorations sneaking into stores. Don't rush me!

I've been working on quite a few projects (of course) but my favorite by far at this moment is a Halloween sweater for my youngest niece. This started as a scarf--I had been flipping through one of the Barbara Walker books and found the lace bat. That lead to discovery of several more Halloween-related images and the purchase of some Mission Falls 1824 Wool. I didn't like the way the reverse side looked, so I converted it to a cardigan.

I started with the sleeves which were easy to finish. Then I started the right side--that's a bat in green on the bottom and a Jack O'Lantern in orange. I have to find the label for the fringe I used to join them (it will also be the trim).

The right side features Barbara Walker's spider--I used some New Smoking to add some shiny-ness and some sequined yarn to enhance the "webs" I put in above her. Let me just say for the record that I don't think I've sweated so much over a stitch as much as I did the left twisted purl...yikes. Thank goodness for YouTube and KnitPurlHunter.

I started to put a cat on the back using the Mission Falls as well as Trendsetter Aura but wasn't loving it. So I switched to twin trees--the branches are bare and intertwined (more cables!). I have some buttons that look like animal eyes that I'll use in pairs to look like creatures hiding in the woods. I hope this isn't too scary! I've ordered more cute buttons to help lighten up the mood as well as buttons for the front closure that look like hard candy.

It's been difficult working with black AND cables, but it is going to be worth the effort.

2010-08-10T14:46:00.000-04:00

I Thought I Was on a FO Kick, But I Wasn't

I breezed through the Summer Flies "shawlette"--it's a free pattern from Donna Griffin on Ravelry. It involved lace, but bits at a time and it's relatively easy to follow. I used some handpainted merino reclaimed from another UFO and I'm delighted with it.

I found this top down sweater using Manos Serena doubled but I don't know...

I'm also working on one of the Lutz and Patmos sweaters deatured in Vogue with Big Wool. It's double seed stitch and cables--I like it a lot!

2010-06-13T19:12:00.000-04:00

Babette, Baby

I think the title of this post is apropos because my blanket looks like it is going to be small and more appropriate for a baby. Sewed together sections 1, 2, 3 and 4. Have sewed section 5 together but need to add to the blanket. I have sections 6 and 7 done as well but need weave in ends and sew together. I love the colors, though. Unfortunately have not made significant progress on the Mondo Cable shell or the Katydid cardi. Plugging along.

2010-05-30T10:28:00.000-04:00

Button, Button, Who's Got The Button

Sometimes the "accessories" I find inspire design. The first photo features a spectacular zipper I found at Stitches one year; I'm pairing that up with a silk and sequin clutch I'm knitting. The button and Nicky Epstein inspired the concept of a flower that will adorn the purse. Easy knitting; will need professional finishing!

The blue buttons are just gorgeous. They are for a winter cardigan using Manos Silk and Trendsetter Aura. This will be slow going because I'm using size 5 needles so I've started now...

The pink buttons are for the Katydid cardigan I posted about earlier. They inspired the entire project. I just love them.

The brown buttons are for the Mission Falls striped sweater. I don't love them as much as the original ones I bought, however, I can't get enough in any one colorway. I have to reknit the sleeves any way so this one is on hold.

2010-05-30T10:26:00.000-04:00

I'm Just Proud

2010-05-30T09:19:00.000-04:00

Back to Normal

It's been a wild half a year. I work in advertising and we launched two products in October, then again in February and finally updated all materials for the new sales cycle in June. Unfortunately three quarters of our team has been freelance and I had to fire someone very nice who couldn't handle the job, All this translates to stress, very long hours, and more stress.

I have been knitting all along but making little progress on any one project. I took this past week off so I could focus on deep cleaning and organizing my home, which of course, includes my knitting projects.

I'm happy to report I've got two FO! I've got to weave in ends, then I'll post them.

Meanwhile, I've made progress on several other projects. First, I just love the pattern for the Mondo Cable Shell. I'm using Covington from Classic Elite. It's a mercerized cotton and tends to split easily so I switched to a lace needle. It's knit from the top down but you start with the back yoke, then the fronts, left then right, then you join the entire piece and knit in the round. It's mindless knitting except for the shaping and cable cross but otherwise it's going quickly. You knit in the edging for the neckline and sleeves, so minimal finishing. What could be better?

The next project is a cardigan using Katydid, a cotton ribbon from the Verde collection also from Classic Elite. The pattern is was written for me at The Skein Attraction in Teaneck, NJ and was designed around some wonderful buttons I found there. It's a straightforward knit with some shaping for me, so I can knit on the bus. I finished the back last night.

Next is the Ishbel shawl, pattern from Ysolda Teague. I'm making the small size using some fingering weight merino from No Two Snowflakes by Nicole Feller Johnson. I got this in a Secret Pal exchange and the color is called "Lovely Lady". It knits beautifully and I'm enjoying a project that moves quickly!

Finally, I picked up the sock I began for one of my nieces months ago. I'm using an 8" needle instead of DPNs and they are size 0 which is incredibly difficult for me. I only agreed to do this because she and her brother stood in my LYS shouting "Socks. Socks. Socks." Oh, the things we do for love.

2010-03-05T09:51:00.001-05:00

Hip, Hip, Crochet!

I apparently crocheted as a child--I have a dollhouse size blanket and pillow to prove it. I've been trying to pick it up and it doesn't appear hard but I guess you need to practice. I'm feeling like I need someone to work with me on it. To that end, I've picked up a couple of books--Hip to Crochet (I have Hip to Knit and like it), 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet--which looks fun--and the adorable Creepy Cute Crochet--this is beyond my skill set so far but I'm hopeful.

I was going to crochet a tank top from Plymouth's new yarn Sprout, but that first row is very difficult, regardless of the project or the yarn so I've set it aside (although I fully intend to knit the Sprout using the tank top pattern in Hip to Knit). I have some ribbon in my stash that I'll try to crochet when it's warmer and I don't have Spring cleaning on my mind.

It was a gorgeous day today and I used it to deep clean. I put everything that was not stored away into the guest room, which brought to mind my grandparents, who had a bedroom that they used for storage when I was young that they called the "spare room." My guest room is looking pretty similar these days (and this is NOT a good thing).

I'm on a kick to finish the many many projects I have going. I mad

e a list and have enough projects for two to three years--no exaggeration. I just can't seem to prioritize anything. I had taken the Stella Shrug to The Skein Attraction yesterday for advice on how long to make it--the patterns calls for 57 inches from cuff to cuff. I'll need make it 64 inches wide to have it at the wrist, so I need another skein of Kidsilk Haze which is delaying progress on that.

But I finished knitting a bag from Manos del Uruguay and Touch Me this morning--I have to take it to my sister's to felt--she has a washer with a disinfectant setting that felts beautifully. If I ever find the charger for my camera, I'll post a photo of it.

2010-03-05T09:24:00.000-05:00

I Won! I Won! I Won!

I went to Shirley Paden's book signing at Lion Brand Studios last night. What a lovely woman.

The ladies on either side of my couldn't praise her teaching skills highly enough. There's no space in her Master Class this coming Sunday but I'm definitely planning on finding classes that she teaches.

Interesting talk and inspiring environment--I couldn't help drifting off as I planned colorways from the thousands of skeins of yarn on the walls.

And, as an added bonus, I won lighted knitting needles--I've always wanted them specifically for use in movie theaters (got to keep these hands busy). This comes at a great time. Both my parents won door prizes at the Cape May Knitting Retreat, so we have a trifecta for the week.

2010-03-05T06:34:00.001-05:00

Cape May Finds

There was, of course, no way to resist buying some special items at Fiber Arts. The first purchase was this beautiful bulky yarn called Handspun Bouquet from Pagewood Farms. One skein is 50 yards/5.5 ounces and it's recommended to knit on size 15-19 needles. Eight stitches and I don't know how many rows will produce a nice scarf. Can't wait.

The second item is a kit from Knit One Crochet Two. There are two skeins of cotton--one fuchsia and one mango--and that's enough to make two "fishy" bath mitts. The kit includes a bar of homemade soap that smells great. This will be a filler project but for evenings because there's a pattern to follow.

Lastly, I found these tubes of beads. I want to make the Gleam Evening Wrap from Silky Little Knits and have more than enough Kidsilk Haze for it, but I need 1700 beads. I couldn't tell how many beads are in a tube at the craft stores or online and when I was pricing them out, it got extremely costly so I was delighted when I saw a bin with several tubes of beads at the Fiber Arts shop. Voila! Two tubes of 1000 beads each. Now if I can just talk someone into helping me string these! ; )

2010-03-05T06:33:00.000-05:00

Stella Shrug
This is the Kidsilk Haze shrug I'm knitting from Silky Little Knits. It's knit cuff to cuff in the round, flat then round again. The grey at the top is the back and knit flat. The fabric made from knitting Kidsilk Haze doubled is absolutely heavenly--so soft and delicious--like a cloud. I can't believe how much I love it. It's a little difficult to fix mistakes but so worth the effort!

2010-03-04T15:21:00.000-05:00

Been So Long

Yes, yes, I know, I've been remiss about keeping up with the blog. But between work, vacation, work, knitting retreat, I haven't had much time.

I've been focused on a good inventory of my WIPs and the projects waiting in my stash so I can get a handle on what I have and what I need to get done. I donated three large boxes of yarn recently and still don't have room to store everything (I refuse to go beyond one room!).

We had a wonderful time at the Fiber Arts Knitting Retreat in Cape May, NJ this past weekend. Despite a rocky start with the blizzard-like conditions and a three-hour shoveling episode, once on the road, travel was easy. I'm listening to Pat Conroy's South of Broad and the miles flew by....

We stayed at Congress Hall, which is the nicest hotel in Cape May (IMHO) and we were greeted by some yarn ladies. There was a banquet and fashion show on Friday night, classes on Saturday and some events on Sunday too. First class, Margie taught us Crochet for Knitters (not my strong suit...yet), then Jim taught Button Making--that was a whole lot of fun. Finally Afton taught Knit One Below (the brioche stitch) after lunch. I did a lot of frogging but finally got it.

There was a trolley tour of the town scheduled in the evening, but we walked around town then went back for cocktails in The Brown Room and dinner at The Blue Pig Tavern.

The one thing that could have been better for me would be availability of coffee at an early hour. The coffee shop didn't open until 7:00 and room service and the dining room didn't start until 7:30--I'm an early riser under most circumstances, so I put on my coat and ventured outside the hotel looking for coffee. Unfortunately there's not a lot of options in February, so after admiring the ocean for a few windy moments, I went back to the hotel and got a cup at Tommy's Folly.

We were pretty much on our own Sunday, so we had breakfast at the Blue Pig then went to the Cape May Day Spa for hand reflexology. What a delight that was! We also wandered around town and of course shopped for pretty little things here and there. We could have visited an alpaca farm which was part of the retreat, but the weather looked rough and we ended the trip with a visit to the Fiber Arts store. I'll have to photograph what I bought so I can show you.

Progress report on my needles: I'm working on a shrug from Silky Little Knits by Alison Crowthers Smith. I'm using Rowan's Kidsilk Haze doubled in five colors. You knit 20 rows with AA, then 20 with AB, then 20 with BB and so on. It's knit cuff to cuff, sleeves in the round and back flat. I'm on the back right now. As part of my organizational attempts, I hope to have this project down this weekend, so I can finish the Prism Stuff Shrug next week. I'll let you know how that goes...

2010-02-15T20:55:00.000-05:00

Home Again

I'm back from my knitting adventure on the high seas. Lots to tell but not enough time now. I started my Ravelympics sweater this past Saturday and have half a sleeve done. Need to rip a bit now but I'm loving it!

I'll tell more about my trip later.

2010-02-02T08:46:00.000-05:00

Knitting While I Work

I'm in Chicago for almost a week on business. I've been actually too busy to do much knitting but I was able to make some progress on my Prism Stuff Bolero. I started the neck shaping and am moving along on the back. Need 7" then can add stitches for the left side. I'd like to get that done because I'll be traveling tomorrow and will need a project to occupy my mind...I hear there will be snow in the tri-state area, so I'm preparing myself mentally for delays.

Only five more days until I set sail with the knitters.

2010-01-20T13:06:00.001-05:00

Woe, Woe

I have been cruising along with my Noro Top-Down V-Neck Sweater and was excited to work on the neck and button bands. The first band went fine. I picked up the same exact number of stitches in the same exact way (pick up three, skip 1) but it was about 3 inches longer than the first.

So I frogged it and started again. It's still about 1-1/2" too long. I don't know what's happening? Do buttonholes through it off? I am flummoxed.

2010-01-15T20:09:00.000-05:00

I'm Sailing Away

I have been working 20 hour days this week and there was nothing but madness last week. At around 3 AM one night, I decided I needed to go away and made a list of potential destinations. Atlantis is a favorite of mine and they don't seem to charge a penalty for single occupants. Club Med can be reasonable if you take advantage of the last minute deals but there's no guarantee that a destination I'm interested in is available and there is a penalty (they call it a "single supplement"). And I also considered that traveling alone to these places truly means being alone.

I had found a knitting cruise through a couple of links to http://www.greatballsofyarn.com/. Voila! A seven day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to the Carribean (San Juan, PR; St. Kitts and St. Martin) aboard the Celebrity Solstice with a group of knitters and classes led by Barry Klein from Trendsetters Yarn and Chris Bylsma. I've taken classes with both and learned so much so this was a no brainer, even though I haven't seen a bit of information on the classes. Based on my "back of the envelope calculations", the cruise was cost $1000 more than my next option when I totaled in taxis to and from airport, cat care and, ahem, liquor.

Around 4 am one day this week I decided that didn't matter--great destinations, great people and I will be out of cell and email range for 7 days (I can get cell service in Puerto Rico but I'm not telling anyone that).

Despite being exhausted when I got home last night, I did the very important inventory of appropriate footwear and found a nice pair of black pumps for evening wear that I did not know I had. I really don't remember when or where I bought them; it apparently wasn't for a particular occasion because they've never been worn.

I got a roundtrip flight on JetBlue through Expedia and selected my seats today. I splurged on the extra $$ for the seat with more legroom--I am a decadent girl!

I also signed up for two excursions--both beach days in St. Kitts and St. Martin. Not sure what I'll do in Puerto Rico--I've already toured the city and the old fort--I guess it will depend on the weather. Next, need to look into the specialty dining options and beverage packages next.

I have to assess my current knitting projects--I've been working on two Noro sweaters for myself but I have three sleeveless shells from last summer that need fronts (I run out of steam after I complete a back) and two sleeveless shells that need to be finished. One is made from Tessa's Silk Merino and the armholes are way too deep, so the top needs to be frogged to the armhole. The other is a tank made from Rowan Cotton. It's the first garment where I used short rows so it should fit nicely.

I'm waiting for some Mission Falls wool to come in to my LYS (The Skein Attraction, Teaneck, NJ and highly recommended) because it is supposed to be the basis of my Ravelympic sweater. The Ravelympics kick off toward the end of the cruise week so I'll have to have some of the project with me. I can also bring a WIP that I can register to be my "event". Prior to that, I thought I might work on socks for my niece and nephew, who insisted I knit socks for them despite that fact that I told them I don't knit socks. I've made one sock in my knitting career and that worked out well because I fractured my foot in cold weather and needed a nice cozy sock to protect my foot in the orthopedic (and oh so comfy) sandal-esque shoe I had to wear.

Need to go to The Skein Attraction to pick up 8" needles for gauntlets and the sleeves of a top down sweater. Soooo close to done.

I vow to finish the Mission Falls striped sweater this weekend.

2010-01-10T20:01:00.000-05:00

Pretty and Warm

Finally finished the Prism scarf--it was a kit; two skeins of Symphony and one skein of an angora. Really pretty. Not too long (I'm sure it will grow). And wide enough to double around my neck. Since we're having artic weather, that's a VERY good thing.

I have been investigating the Great Balls of Yarn cruise in February...oh could use the warm weather. Can I be that lucky?

2010-01-04T10:13:00.000-05:00

A Piece of Pi

Clearly I am not good at focusing my energy on one thing at a time. I unearthed some Koigu KPPPM destined for a sweater with the Noro Kureyon I'm using for the Catwalk sweater and found several more skeins packed away with the holiday knitting from last year. The dye code is 315--cream, taupe and greys--very neutral and subtle. So I started a Pi shawl. After a few false starts with other Koigu colorways, I think I'm going to start with the traditional Pi. The only yarn overs will be the increases. I started on size 3 needles last night and finished five sets of increases (I'm up to 144 and working on the 24 rounds) but had to change to size 4 because I didn't have a larger needles in 3. It's very Zen working straight stockinette in the round. I'm trying not to think about how to finish it off....

I have two other Pi shawls that I need to rip out--they were practice Pis--one is in pink KPPPM and the other in blue KPPPM. There is a third that I started in some delicious Karabella silk merino DK--I think I need to frog half of what I have done...ribbit ribbit.

2010-01-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

Top Down Appeal

I was only introduced to top down sweaters in the last year and I am a big fan. Not only do these patterns eliminate the need for seaming and require little finishing, the seem to move a whole LOT faster. Plus, with minimal to no shaping, the knitting is kind of mindless, which is a welcome relief sometimes. Here's my Noro top down--it's growing quickly!!! The picture is a lot brighter than it appears to me in real life--the darker stripes are more dominant. I think there's about 4-5 more inches to go, then I start on the sleeves and the neck and front bands. Have to think about what buttons to use.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to decide what project to work on for the 2010 Ravelympics. One month one week and two days until the Winter Olympics begin. I am considering the WIP Wrestling event--that would be smartest....but...I have the new Vogue Knitting and there is a cardigan I love--Tanis Gray's XOX Raglan Cardigan. I have some natural colored cashmere I've been saving for a long time as well as some gray suri merino. But...I've always wanted to make the DNA Sweater from Simply Brilliant Knits. It's made with Mission Falls 1824 wool and I've ordered the yarn from The Skein Attractions. Decisions, decisions.

Today I'm going to inventory the smaller projects I have in progress. I need to balance the projects that require thinking/tracking/shaping with straight knitting for bus rides to and from work.

2010-01-01T09:42:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

I enjoyed a lovely New Year's Eve with my family. We had dinner at Legal Seafoods and played Sketchy and reviewed the monumental events of our lives in 2009. Now we have a brand new year--365 days and a blank slate to do whatever we want and live however we want.

I'm making simple resolutions this year. I'm not tweezing my eyebrows for 6 months in the hope they will fill in. I will try to take better care of myself (okay, that one's not so simple but I'm using the "schedule time with yourself" technique). And I will not feel guilty about abandoned WIPs or the size of my stash. In fact, I'm going to start being honest about whether I will go back to the WIPs and I am going to donate a whole bunch of yarn.

I would like to finish at least one project a month. For January, I'm hoping it's my top down Mission Falls 1824 striped sweater. I just have the sleeves and front bands left.

But I've started a Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown Cardigan (#221) for my sister. I had some Koigu KPPPM, Frog Tree Alpaca and Kidsilk Haze that I'm knitting up around these heart-shaped buttons. If she doesn't like this, I also have Neat Stuff and Symphony in "Shadow" (grey) from Prism for a shrug, Brown Sheep Wool in a bright pink and some Wedgewood blue Encore and dark blue Kidsilk Haze that I've swatched--very pretty too.

And I'm working on two Noro sweaters for myself--the Kureyon I posted about before and a top down in Silk Garden. So much fiber, so little time!

Well, here's to 2010--best wishes that you all are happy, healthy, wealthy and wise in this new year!

2009-12-22T12:43:00.000-05:00

Holiday Knitting

I never seem to be able to get ahead of holiday knitting. I bought more festive holiday-ish yarn with the intention of supplying loved ones with scarves by Thanksgiving that they could wear throughout the holiday season. When productivity on that idea slowed to nil, I changed my idea to hats. But can't seem to get the assembly line momentum going. I have been bouncing back and forth on knitting projects for myself. The newest addition comes from the second edition of the Noro Catwalk patterns. It calls for Silk Garden Lite--I'm using Kureyon and my friends at The Skein Attraction helped me choose the appropriate size. They ordered yarn in a different colorway for me but I couldn't wait so I started knitting with Kureyon #149. I ordered additional yarn from someone on eBay. That turned into something scary--the lot of 9 skeins should have been around $72 plus S&H. They ended up multiplying $72 x 9--I nearly fainted when I got the PayPal receipt! Luckily I was only charged the appropriate price. I've already finished the left front. Now I just need to figure out what to do with the other Kureyon.

2009-10-13T09:51:00.000-04:00

Work Work Work

It keeps me in fiber and nice shoes, but it also keeps me too busy to knit as much as I'd like. I think I've finally found things I like to do most--I was warned away from bulkier yarns because of the bulk they add, but I am a loose knitter and I will simply not finish a worsted weight project knit on #6 needles or, Heaven forbid, a DK weight project unless it's for a child. I'm also a lot better at top down, minimal finishing pieces than I am at knitting all the pieces individually.

I finished the Plymouth Mulberry Merino shrug for my sister's MIL and am now concentrating on a couple of treats for me. I saw an adorable baby sweater at The Skein Attraction knit in Mission Falls 1820 and have started a top down striped cardigan for myself. I learned to add stitches on the ends of my work in the middle of the project--woo hoo--shout out to Carol who showed me how.

I'm also making a pink Mulberry Merino shrug for myself--knitted doubled and it will be trimmed with Cha Cha from Trendsetter. It's supposed to ruffle--can't wait to see that. While I was at Skein, one of the ladies was finishing a pretty fall sweater--the pattern is called Nimbus and it's from Berrocco. I think she used Peruvia as called for but I am doubling a new Colinette worsted weight and also knitting in some Kidsilk Haze. There's not much of an aura from it but it transforms the ombre yarn, which is grays and browns and a little umber/orange.

I'm also trying a new boucle from Plymouth--I've always wanted to knit a "Chanel"-like jacket for myself but was confounded by the loops of boucles in the past. This is pretty easy so far--I'm also working it doubled so I'm getting a nice fabric from it. It will have to be finished at the LYS though--I'm having troubling "reading" the work and I'll never be able to pick up stitches for the edgings.

Finally, I dug out a project from last year--it was going to be a shawl alternating 2 rows of Touch Me with four rows of Tilli Tomas Disco Lights knit in a seafoam-esque pattern. I was on #5s but the Touch Me still wormed. So I frogged it and swatched the Touch Me on smaller needles. I'm down to a size 2 (they suggest 8s or 10s on the band!) and the fabric looks great but I'm waiting to see if the worms pop out later. Now the dilemma is whether to start the shawl again, or make something else. Such problems! : )

2009-09-02T09:43:00.000-04:00

I Cannot Resist

I love Debbie Bliss. Her patterns, her yarn and now her new magazine. There are so many projects I would love to knit... Started the Moss Stitch Jacket last night. You heard me.

Stopped at The Skein Attraction in Teaneck for needles and stitch markers. I started the Kim Hargreaves Tender sweater on Saturday but the points of my Addi Turbo Lace needles are scratched and I needed new ones. I also have misplaced my tool bag and cannot find small stitch markers and need them for the Koigu Pi Shawl.

Skein had just received a shipment of new yarn which included some Blizzard from Plymouth. I've worked with it before and grabbed 20 skeins in a faded red, almost tomato color and cast on last night. I got 13 rows done last night and added another 3 this morning before leaving for work. It's a bit fuzzy and I'm hoping it won't pill. Otherwise I'm loving it.

2009-08-31T18:16:00.000-04:00

I couldn't be more proud

My niece learned to finger knit at Girl Scout Camp and on Saturday night, I helped her braid three super long strands together to make a scarf.

We spent some time together yesterday and I taught her a rhyme (left to right, around the back, through the window, off jumps Jack), then I gave her needles and some Zara and she picked it up right away. She's thinking of being a Gingerbread person for Halloween and will need a pink scarf. She was a little disappointed with some of the stitches but I convinced her that they should be considered design elements!

2009-08-27T15:33:00.000-04:00

On the Road Again

Still traveling and making very little progress on my CPH--which is an AUGUST KAL with the ample knitters' group on Yahoo. Oh well. I do have the back done.

I had delusions of knitting on the plane to Chicago and Miami and then to Dallas and then San Diego, but no such luck. I'm feeling like I need to be on a strict knitting regimen to work through this. Some of the ladies zipped on through theirs! How do they do that?

Meanwhile, I've purchased some Koigu and have started another Pi Shawl using it. I've not done anything fancy with the stitches and it is zipping along. I started on size 4 needles but realized that was going to take forever so began again with 8's.

I discovered Kim Hargreaves while buying the Koigu at Patricia's Yarns in Hoboken (love Margo and her enthusiasm!). I bought her pattern books "Nectar" and "Breeze" and have been trying to find "Precious" because of the designs I've seen. Oh so pretty. And I think I can use many of these patterns to stash bust. I have some really nice cashmere and a big lot of alpaca crying to be used. But of course I'm drawn to "Tender" which is made with Kidsilk Haze. I'd need 7 skeins for me and wouldn't you know I have 5. I do have some Suri Merino that I'd like to see if I can substitute--it won't be as airy but maybe I can use needles larger than #2! I have these cute cat and mouse buttons that I could use.

2009-07-27T14:13:00.000-04:00

Summer Reading, Some Are Not

There's nothing like a warm sunny day and a good book, although my ideal scenario would be a shady spot at the pool with a book on tape and my latest knitting project.

I have given up on the idea of a customized Pi shawl for the niece who is getting married and am focusing on finishing the Tilli Tomas shrug for her. I'm almost done with the second sleeve and took the body to The Skein Attraction for some help. The neckline on each side was different; turns out I used armhole shaping to make the neckline on one of them. Ooops! Any way, it's coming along nicely.

The other niece demanded (oh yes, she did) a rainbow sweater like the one I made for a family friend's daughter. We could only get two skeins of Kudo in the colorway she wanted (EXACTLY like the other one) and here's hoping I have enough left over from Project 1 to successfully complete Project 2. Meanwhile, I told her that I would not get to her new sweater right away (this is the girl I made the two pink shrugs for!) and she replied "What am I going to do with a sweater in the summer?"

Meanwhile, she found a pattern book for little characters called Pocket Pals--they are 3" tall. These are made on #1 needles with DK weight yarn. I knitted one last night; need to add the detail and hair--her hair is curly so this is going to be a challenge--fun, but definitely a challenge.

Finally (honestly there is much more to add but I haven't taken pictures)--I am doing to do a KAL in August--the Central Park Hoodie. I'll be honest, I've been looking at it for a while although I don't think I want a hood per se. I decided to use Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran--I had twelve skeins at home for a project I didn't get very far on and thought this would be a good stash buster (stop laughing). However, I needed 25 skeins total. It was my good luck that the ladies at The Skein Attraction found the extra yarn on site and--wait for it--it's the same dyelot. How lucky is that? The photo shows my chosen color--Noisette. I'm using #6 Addi Turbo lace needles...people who made it say that it's lots of fun, so I can't wait to start.

I'm trying to finish Purple Passion (Giotto and Banyan shell) while on the bus these days. So pretty! The colors match so well.

2009-06-21T18:50:00.000-04:00

On My Way to Cape May

On Thursday. Can't wait. I have assemble several "almost" done projects to work on for a long weekend at the shore.

I have to finish Hannah's Rainbow Shrug (she's expecting it this weekend; I promised).

I also have the Tilli Tomas Shrug for my niece who is getting married in August.

And I have a third shrug that I am making with Wild Stuff Half and assorted other yarns (of course, my intention was to work with leftover yarns but "had" to purchase new skeins to make it beautiful).

And then there are three shells for me!

I found my camera and will post photos shortly!

2009-06-06T18:41:00.000-04:00

Knit Faster!

I wish I were able to knit a lot faster than I do. There are so many projects I want to work on. I keep buying yarn, but things take a whole long time to make. I have to go find my camera so I can post what I'm working on now.

2009-05-20T11:17:00.001-04:00

Crazy Days

I've been busy at work and I'm not complaining because, as I like to say, consider the alternative. But I have been lucky enough to be able to make a few visits to The Skein Attraction on Wednesdays, which is their late night. On my first trip, I found some Prism "Stuff" and Shaina wrote a pattern for me to make a pullover for myself. We added in some additional yarns like Colinette Giotto, Trendsetter Dolcino and Charm, Louet Euroflax and Luisa (can't remember who makes this). I'm using a cotton blend from Plymouth for the ribbing and am happy to report that I love it! It's so soft and I love the feeling. I'm knitting this on size 11 needles so it's going quickly--in fact, I started on Wednesday night and had the back done by Friday night. I love the play of different colors and textures--the "Stuff" is the color "Sky" which you can see in the photo here.

I went back last Wednesday to have them measure the back for safety and Adina helped me design a shell using Colinette Giotto. My vision was cotton on the bottom, Giotto on the top. They had something called Banyan from Colinette in stock--it's also a cotton blend and the colorway matches the Giotto exactly. I'm doing my shell in purple passion which is a surprising choice--I'm more of a beige/neutral person, but the purple is sooooooo pretty.

I need to post photos of the two shrugs I made for my younger niece--she made her First Communion a few weeks ago and her dress was sleeveless, so I made a shrug using Tilli Tomas Disco Lights. I loved it but later learned her dress had rhinestones on the top, so I quickly made a second version in Pure Merino. I think I liked the merino better because the stitch definition is so good. And my niece reported that the sequins on Disco Lights were scratchy.

I'm still working on a similar shrug in Disco Lights for my older niece who is getting married in August. I'm doing hers in Natural. I'm hoping to finish soon so I can have the shrug lined so we don't repeat the itchy problem.

I've also started another shrug for another young friend. Her color request was "rainbow" so I got a new yarn from Plymouth called Kudo. It's a cotton blend with rayon and silk and it's self striping (yippee-I didn't' want to stripe different colors and have to weave in all those ends). I like the feel of it and am considering something for myself too (I know, I have to finish the above mentioned projects plus a boatload of others first).

And if that's not enough, I've been working my way through Elizabeth Zimmerman's knitting workshop book. I have made half a hat so far, and cast on twice for a sweater, although I'm reconsidering which yarn to use for what. I really like the jerkin but with sleeves--I have a lot of Noro Silk Garden I can use. And some Manos. Or Brown Sheep. I did cast on for the Pi shawl using some Koigu KPPPM that I had originally bought to make a Charlotte shawl. The first 48 rows went quickly but my enthusiasm is already waning. I'm looking for lace patterns to work into it to keep my attention. I'm having a hard time imagining what this will look like after it's blocked and may be on a needle that's not large enough. But maybe it will be fine. Just worried about all that work and having it be a mistake, you know?

One of the challenges I'm facing is finding portable projects--with shaping and patterns, it's difficult to knit on the bus or a plane. Well, I'll just have to soldier on!

2009-03-16T11:04:00.000-04:00

Two Rows of Fish

I finished the "Mother-of-Pearl" color and "bubble" lace for the seashore shawl and started the darkest blue. I knit two rows in garter and six rows in Stockinette then started the lace pattern for fish--got one row in pattern and one purl row done. I should listen to my instincts more often--I don't love the spacer rows but there are too many stitches to frog unless I make a mistake.

2009-03-14T11:50:00.000-04:00

I Am a Process Knitter

I read somewhere that some people are project knitters--they want to work on something because they like the progress, and other other process knitters--people who like the planning and starting etc. That's me. Which accounts for the inventory to over 100 started and unstarted projects in my closet. I gave the two baby sweaters pictured here as gifts recently so there is evidence that I actually do finish things--eventually. The neckwarmer has been done for months now but I just recently weaved in the ends. I bought the yarn, which is silk cashmere from Elsebeth Lavold several years ago in Dallas, TX. It's almost too pretty to wear.

2009-03-14T11:42:00.000-04:00

Tiny Bubbles

I haven't had a whole lot of time to work on my new seashore inspired shawl but I have been having fun with it. The first photo shows how large it is--290 stitches! The second is a close up of the "bubble" lace pattern I started for the bottom edge. The bottom few rows do look like bubbles, but then I put it down for a few days and when I continued, forgot I was spacing each YO row with three additional rows (P K P). I thought it would look more frothy but am getting a mesh feeling from it. Since the next row will be fish, still will work, right? Have to clean up around the house and also have work work to do, so I'm not sure how much progress I'll make this weekend. I'm hoping to at least finish the bubbles and get in a couple of rows of fish!

2009-03-09T15:38:00.001-04:00

In the Mood

I've been so busy at work that I haven't been able to spend any time online and have had precious little time to knit, much less update this blog. Well, can't complain considering the alternative, right?

I need a better storage system for my yarn--I have a problem working on one thing at a time and I'm always pulling out multiple projects at once and somehow they don't get put away...I like to keep them close at hand. I thought I might get a handle on the projects I have by assembling a list of projects on needles as well as yarn in my stash. There are over 110 items on the list--time for a purge, I think.

I hae been looking for a KAL to participate in and really liked the Yahoo group for the Creatures of the Reef shawl. You work at your own speed, which is entirely up my alley. However, finding the pattern has been a problem--it's not the cost of the pattern (which is about $12.), it is the S&H (which is about $10.50!). Frustrated, I checked my LYS. They don't carry the Fiddlesticks line but said they would look into it for me. But they also suggested that I could design my own shawl, which we are doing...I'm so excited.

We're using Mica from Berrocco and I'm knitting on #4 Addi Turbos for lace. I bought the second Barbara Walker book because that has most of the patterns although I also bought another pattern for a shawl that had nautical themes as well as one of the Great American Afghan booklets. I feel like I shouldn't say too much about it because it will jinx my progress, but I can't resist.

The final size should be about 60" long x 20" tall. I cast on 290 stitches in Mother of Pearl last night and started a shell pattern but got all jumbled up, so I switched to bubbles. I got through 12 rows which is just about a full skein of Mica (108 yards). I hope to get through another 12 rows of bubbles, then I'll switch to Vivianite, an almost navy blue and knit in some fish. After that, I'll use Abalone, a silvery gray, to knit fish hooks out of the BW book and then I'm switching to a nice sandy beige (can't tell which it is from the color card) to represent the shore. I really really really liked the starfish in the Reef shawl but couldn't find a pattern but found one yesterday--I ordered Ocean Breezes: Knited Scarves Inspired by the Sea from Barnes & Noble and hope to have it in hand later this week. I need to decide whether to switch colors for the starfish or if I want to use the same beige I'll use for the sand. I have some Tilli Tomas Disco Lights in beige as well as one skein of brown---I'm a sucker for sequins anyway. Or I could just get some brown and have it represent wet sand.

Shaina from The Skein Attraction found a pattern for a gingerbread house in the BW book--I'm going to put that in the middle of the back in the sandy color and I am making applique crabs and snails from the Great American Afghan booklet in Cinnabar and Purple Pectin. Then I'm finishing it off with an edging pattern from one of Nicky Epstein's books--I'm using a blue called Lazulite, which is meant to represent the sky, but I'm using a pattern that looks like a wave.

In other news, Adina (also from Skein) wrote a pattern for me so I can make my youngest niece a shrug with some Tilli Tomas Disco Lights--I only have two skeins in a very light pink--gives me 450 yards. I started this yesterday so I can work on it on the bus--there's no shaping for anything to keep track up so should be easy enough to commute and work on it.

I'm also trying to make the Aran sweater for the American Girl doll. Berrocco had a free pattern online recently, however, I haven't been able to find Comfort in DK weight and I'm struggling to get gauge.

Finally, Shaina was wearing a great sweater on Saturday and I had to get the pattern and some Euroflax in Terra Cotta for myself. I started it but frogged it because I don't like the increases...need to give that some attention.

2009-01-20T16:52:00.000-05:00

What A Day

We have a new president! I was watching coverage on NBC news and the anchors were joking about how they became emotional as they watched President Obama being sworn in. Well, me too. I'm hoping this is the being a wonderful new era for us.

Sadly enough, another era ended for me and my family yesterday--we said good-bye to my grandfather who was 101 years old. You can't be sad too long when you think about it but it's still hard. I had made a list of all the wonderful things he saw in his lifetime when he turned 100--too bad he didn't get to see this day.

What does this have to do with my knitting? Well, I still haven't finished my inauguration day scarf that I started in February 2008 and was supposed to finish and wear today. But I did give my youngest niece a new pink scarf made from a fuzzy polyester called Cocoon from Universal Yarns. I'll post a picture of it later.

Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to take pictures of my nieces and nephews before the funeral yesterday. Aren't they a great bunch?

2009-01-04T12:42:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted, but considering how hectic the holiday season can be, I shouldn't be surprised. Thanksgiving was at my house and I had decided to make everything from scratch this year--delicious but very ambitious and I have a tendency not to read recipes through completely in advance of cooking. Good thing my mother was here to help.

I am the eternal optimist and convinced myself that the year end at work would be quiet and I would be able to accomplish much of my holiday goals in the weeks before. Wrong, again. It was however a wonderful holiday and I can't complain. I took a cooking class at the Institute for Culinary Education, spent Christmas day at my sister's home, where everyone gathered and unfortunately we didn't take pictures! and went to Hershey Park in PA for a few days.

The photos with this post show my Muses, a wildly successful store-bought Christmas gift and a handknitted one--the neckwarmer is the Elsbeth Lavold pattern I posted about previously.

I visited my LYS several times over the holidays and that is always fun. I am making a few things that I will post later.

2008-11-10T12:15:00.000-05:00

Back from Baltimore

I've been tremendously busy of late. I changed jobs on October 1 and also signed up for several writing classes. Between work and my homework assignments, I haven't had much time to blog but will make an effort to bring this up to date especially since I've been working on many new projects.

I decided, perhaps too ambitiously, that I would make scarves and neckwarmers for everyone in my family and present them at Thanksgiving (which is, you know, two weeks from yesterday!). I've got three versions of neckwarmers for the ladies: a cabled design with ruffle from Elsebeth Lavold, a pattern from a recent holiday knit magazine (details to follow with photo) and simple circular knits. I'm using a silky blend (new yarn--need to update with the details) with two strands of Koigu for the ruffled neckwarmers--I did one with only one strand of Koigu already and it's okay but a little too short. I got Torino in bright red and greens for the magazine pattern--I have two darling buttons that look like candy cane stripes for the red and got red glass buttons for the green version. The simple neckwarmers are my own (extremely simple) design--I'm using Zara mixed with New Smoking for red and white stripes for one and red and white baby alpaca for the other. I bought some tiny red and green bells to knit into the second one for holiday cheer. I also have some fancy white yarn with little beads that look like snowmen already wound in for one of my nieces.

The scarves for men are going to be more challenging just because they need to be longer. I am making a seed stitch scarf with alternating colors of Frog Tree Alpaca for my dad. You start with 3 strands of color A for 5" then switch to 2 strands of A and 1 strand of B. Then 1 strand of A and two of B, then three of B, etc. I have red alpaca for my brother-in-law and green alpaca for my niece's fiance. And red wool for both nephews. I'm toying with the idea of red and green stripes--need to see how it goes.

I didn't really didn't buy much yarn at Stitches although I did get a kit to make needle felted elves for Christmas as well as molds for needle felting little shapes. I got roving in holiday colors and the molds are leaves and berries and snowflakes--you've picked up on the holiday theme, no doubt. I'm thinking of a red sweater for my youngest niece and embellishing it with these things--but I feel like gifting something like that on Christmas is a waste because the time to wear it is so short. Maybe I'll make it a Valentine's Day theme...

I did snatch up some nice black yarn that has silver flecks in it--knitted up into a shawl, it looks like there are spots of silver on it--very nice for evening wear and it's knit on BIG needles. I also got some new Colinette Zanziba and Fandango. I loved the sample but didn't realize that the pattern was One Size Fits Most. I ordered extra of each yarn (they are knit together) so I could size up a little but have gotten bogged down in the math. The pattern calls for size 19 needles. I'm a loose knitter in general and tend to go down two needle sizes for regular needles and at least one size down for the larger needle sizes. I don't like the look on #19s as it is too loose but can't get gauge on #15 and #17. I'll put that down for a while and focus on other things.

I got some beautiful sweater picks from the Great Yarns booth at Stitches to gift along with the neckwarmers and lovely beaded handles for a bag from the same place.

I had a hard time selecting classes for Stitches this year. There are several teachers who I enjoy very much--Melissa Leapman, Lily Chin, Chris Bylsma (sp?) and Gwen Bortner are a few. One of the things I've found is that the class description doesn't always accurately communicate what the class is about. For instance, last year I took a color class--I thought we were talking about theory and in reality it included intarsia knitting, which I do not know how to do, which frankly blew. So I'm pretty careful. I was signing up for a Saturday afternoon class with the same teacher as the class for Sunday morning. I'd never taken a class with her before and knew it was a risk and (unfortunately) threw caution to the wind and signed up anyway.

What a CRAB!!!!!!!

Our classroom was at the back of beyond and I was a few minutes late. She didn't greet me but was compelled to shriek at me to sit upfront. I don't know if you have ever been to one of these classes, but they are typically set up classroom style and in the manner of first come, first served, people spread out and move their chairs. I was not interested in sitting squished between two people who are already nesting or getting stuck by the table leg and sitting uncomfortably for three hours. And that was just the first three minutes.

After much consideration, I bagged the class Sunday morning and will eventually get around to sending Rick Mondragon a strongly worded letter about this experience.

We had incredibly gorgeous weekend in Baltimore and I set off for home at around nine in the morning; stopped in East Brunswick to pick up my coats that were in winter storage and drove right up to The Skein Attraction in Teaneck, my LYS. There, of course, I was greeted warmly. They were holding a copy of the new Mason/Dixon book for me and I bought more holiday yarn as well as some Manos to make the bag to match the handles I bought at Stitches.

I had seen a lot of ruffles at Stitches and wondered if there were an easy way to accomplish this. They came up with an awesome idea to use Touch Me in between the Manos to create that effect after felting. I'm so excited to see how this turns out. The colors of the beads on the handles are different shades of pink, black and maroon. The Manos is pinky maroon and the Touch Me colors are wine, a similar maroon-ish color and light pink. It might get a bit tedious because I have to increase 50% of stitches when I go from Manos to Touch Me then decrease those stitches when I go back to Manos and I'm going to do it three times. but I think it will be worth it. I ordered the mesh to put in the felted bag from the Yarn Lady today and still need to find someone to line the bag for me and attach the handles, but I'm excited--can you tell?

I'll try to get pictures up this weekend so show you what I've been up to.

2008-09-29T10:41:00.000-04:00

I Love Sparkly Things

Unfortunately I'm having a problem keeping track of my projects. I started this Artful Yarn shrug--it's brown silk mohair with beads and sequins, but I can't find it! Have to make my way through the piles of summer clothes set aside for the semi-annual closet turnover to try to uncover it as well as my pearls (yes, I'm on a roll--in a downward direction!).

So in the meantime, I started a bolero using Trendsetter Aura. I thought it was a beige color but it ends up being gray. I like it a lot and it's going fairly quickly. However, I only have three skeins and will need more. I haven't checked to see if the color is available--oh I like living on the edge. I'm going to need a metallic yarn in light worsted weight for the trim.

2008-09-23T15:45:00.000-04:00

It's Fall

And where has September gone? I can't really say I've been excessively busy so I have no good excuse for not posting. To catch you up, I mailed the last package to my SP 12 recipient. I'm not sure she liked the last package--she never alerted me that she received it but did mention it on her blog. This time I gave her a hand-dyed purple nubby skein that would make a nice scarf, a skein of ombre sock yarn--I forget the name of it but I was intrigued because the fiber is impregnated with some kind of lotion that rubs off on the knitter's hands to moisturize them and then also moisturizes the feet of the wearer of the socks--so clever! I also put in a tiny skein of novelty yarn--it's beaded and purple. The yarn is rounded out with a purple tape measure, needle sizer pendant and some NYC souvenirs. I hope she likes it as much as I liked my SP 12 packages.

Actually, I LOVED my packages--every single one of them. The last package had some beautiful ombre fingering weight yarn and three (yes, I said THREE!) skeins of Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere--oh so beautiful. I swear I went and washed my face so I could rub them on my cheek--they are so soft and fluffy--I love them! There were also other goodies in the package, like a really nice knitting journal and some KnitPick needles and chocolate--a wonderful bar of Godiva chocolate that I ate on the spot and something very unusual--its called Brix. At first I thought it was a bar of soap because it comes packaged elegantly in a box. On closer inspection I realized that it is a bar of chocolate specially formulated to enhance the flavor of red wine. Now that is a wonderful idea, don't you agree? Thank you, Barb (sipknitter)!

Since I cannot ever work on just one thing, I have made some progress on my Rowan Cocoon pullover, the Tahki Bianca/Blue Sky Suri Merino cardigan and that (darned) Log Cabin blanket. I have also started a Snuggle for the Sit and Knit NY group, a hat for Hat Attack 2 and a neck warmer for the Sit and Knit NY exchange.

I love the neckwarmer--I had gotten the pattern in Dallas, TX a while ago and have some yarn to make it with, but never got the chance (or was motivated--I think I was daunted by the cables and ruffles involved). The woman I was assigned wanted cables so I found the pattern, bought some Frog Tree merino at Modern Yarn in Montclair, NJ and cast on. The cable is actually a "mock" cable so it was pretty quick to knit the main body. The first ruffle is knit on the bottom and then a second ruffle is knit along the cast on edge. I finished the first ruffle last night and picked up the stitches for the second ruffle and started working the increase rows early this AM. I'm a little confused because I picked up the 130 stitches on the RS but you're supposed to start on the RS--my fault for not understanding the instructions. So I had made it through four rows of the second ruffle and wanted to finish the last three and bind off at lunchtime today, but realized that I was making the ruffle backwards! So I ripped it back--luckily I just went down to the first row and didn't have to go through the pick up exercise again (that was a little tricky!). So I'm now where I thought I was this morning. Hopefully I can finish it this evening. The exchange meeting isn't until early October, but I do want to wash it and block it nicely. I'm debating whether to crochet on loops for buttons or not.

I have taken two classes at the Skein Attraction in Teaneck, NJ recently. The first one was to make a scarf with a reversible cable in Touch Me. I struggled a bit with the pattern on either side of the cable and realized I was working too loosely. Touch Me has a tendency to worm and even though I'm going to felt the scarf, it would be obvious. So that had to be frogged.

I did much better at the Charlotte's Web class. This is lace knitting using Koigu. I had originally bought yarn in blue colorways and tried making it on my own with limited success. I opted for new colors in an autumnal (browny-beige-greenish) colorway and with the wonderful instructions from Adina at Skein, was able to "get" it. I don't always pay close enough attention and have to do a lot of counting and tinking to ensure I have the right number of stitches but I am in love with it. The colors are gorgeous, if I do say so myself, and this is going to be a work of art (again, if I do say so myself).

The other things I'm excited about the new spiral hat I'm making myself with Kureyon and novelty yarn and the cardigan I'm going to make in Suri Merino in a gray colorway called Fog. I am toying with the idea of cat buttons--I have several that are rather small and each has a mouse dangling from it. I guess I have lots of time to decide since I haven't cast on yet.

And finally, I am dead. I received the death blow from my assassin in Hat Attack 2 yesterday. I have to say though that I am delighted. She knit it in brown and white which are excellent colors for me and the hat is large enough for me to wear (unlike the weapon I got in Hat Attack 1). Unfortunately for my assassin, redhead1968, I haven't made much progress on my hat so I'm mailing it off to her today so she can finish it and "off" my target. I have to say, I didn't mind getting killed when I got the hat!

2008-08-29T13:54:00.000-04:00

More SP 12 Questions

The first question was something about your proudest knitting moment. For me, this was when I was showing my mother a spiral hat I knit with Kureyon and novelty yarns. She said "Your grandmother would be so proud of you."

The second question was about the best thing you ever received in the mail. This is a hard one. I love love love getting packages of yarn and chocolate and books and make up. I also like getting postcards and letters from people traveling, especially my nieces and nephews. I'm going to have to think about this some more.

2008-08-25T08:23:00.000-04:00

Postscript

The first photo is the beginning of the hat for my younger niece--it's made of Kureyon which is a bit scratchy for a child but we'll see if she likes it. I selected this colorway because it's got a lot of pinks in it. She's a big big fan of pink. She has told me that red is the darkest pink. I'm not sure I agree but don't see the value of arguing that one!

We're all excited because my older niece just got engaged. What kind of knitting does one do for a bride? I'll have to do some research.

Meanwhile, I found a Rowan pattern book for Cocoon. I have two colorways in my stash and love working with it, however, the first project was going to be a lace knit lap throw and I couldn't get past the first 20 rows and the second one was going to be a cabled sweater but I got stuck on the "meandering" part of the meandering cable. There are plenty of really nice patterns inside and they are sized appropriately for me. You have to love that. I'm not sure which manufacturer I love more--Rowan or Blue Sky Alpaca. Luckily I don't have to choose!

2008-08-25T07:34:00.000-04:00

Fall is Coming

I've been pondering the state of my wardrobe for the fall as well as the many, many WIPs I have stashed around the house. Inspired by a review of my knitting books, I pulled out some old old old Takhi Bianca yarn originally intended for a sweater for me. This was back in the day when I didn't understand the value of gauge and ended up with something ginormous and promptly frogged it and have been saving the yarn for something new. Sally Melville has a pattern called "not your mother's suit jacket" (or coat) in her Purl book and I've begun knitting away.

The pattern calls for a super bulky yarn mixed with a bulky yarn knit on a size 13 needle at 7 stitches to 4". Bianca is technically super bulky and I swatched it on 13s and 15s by itself and got about 9 stitches to 4" on both. Not sure how that is possible but off to the LYS I went. I went to Modern Yarn in Montclair, NJ. They are open Sundays, have very cool yarn organized nicely and the owners are very nice and helpful. I finally chose Blue Sky Alpaca Suri Merino to mix in--it's 60% baby suri and 40% merino. The color is called "fog"--a very pale gray. It's super soft and a little fuzzy (but not so much that I am picking pieces of it out of my mouth--I hate working with that kind of yarn). Anyway, it's luxurious--it actually says "Opulent meets orthodox."

I started knitting last night. You can't really see the suri knit it because it blends with the black, white and gray of the Bianca. You see a very faint haze right now--I'm wondering if that increases over time. In either event I love it. I'm winding up with a very stiff fabric. I'm making size Large which should be big on me, but I believe if it doesn't work out for me, it is beautiful enough for a gift. Look at the progress I made in one night! I have to admit my hands got sore but I love that there's so much progress. That's about 42 rows. I'm still on the first ball of suri and started the 4th ball of Bianca.

Truth be told, I ordered more suri in "Dusk" which is a charcoal gray, for a sweater for me. More on that another time. I also picked up some red and green Cascade for a holiday pillow I saw online and a ball of Kureyon for a hat I saw online that I'm trying to size for my niece.

Now for my confession. I did not finish a single item that I intended to complete during the Ravelympics. Not one. Never even looked at them. Had the best intentions. Planned and planned and planned to do it. Oh well. There's always 2012. I hear Michael Phelps will be there.

2008-08-18T11:58:00.000-04:00

SP 12 Question 10

This week's question is: What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style? Is there a Stop 'n Start event? I actually signed up for the Ravelympics in the WIP Wrestling category and have not touched a single project that I registered in the event. I have, however, started a brand new project using Blue Sky Organic Cotton for a cardigan for me--I need to look up the pattern--I got a slew of new knitting magazines last weekend and have been salivating over the different styles.

And I made some progress on my Rowan Handknit DK top from BGK--it's a tank top. I'm very proud to announce I used short row shaping for the first time. I watched Cat Bordhi's video instructions on YouTube a few times before I went off on my own to do it. I think it turned out pretty well. Now I just have to keep going...it's going to be time for woolens before I'm done!

2008-08-13T08:30:00.001-04:00

I have the best SP in the world!

Seriously. I do. My August package arrived from Bram and it is spectacular! She remembered my birthday is this month and I think she went through my profile and found wonderful wonderful treats to honor each of my preferences. There's a book on dreams, a relaxation CD and scented candle plus some Chanel No. 5 (my favorite!), chocolate biscuits (it took a lot of willpower to not open the package last night), a 2009 datebook, a bookmark (I'm a big reader) and some clean linen scented potpourri. The yarn she sent is magnificent--some Malabrigo--that's something I have always wanted to try--I'm going to make a hat with it because the color matches my coats. It looked like Manos to me but is so so much softer--I kept rubbing it against my face (is that weird?). And then there is some baby alpaca called Fable--I had never seen it before. It too is oh so soft and I love the color. I'm thinking I should make a scarf with it--the color will bring out the color of my eyes.

I love it, Bram. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2008-08-07T07:34:00.001-04:00

Finder's Keepers

I brought an aran scarf back from Ireland for my brother. My cat Lucy has adopted it for herself so I'm not sure it is ever going to make it to him. She's actually very shy and well behaved so it was a surprise that she kept pulling it down and wrapping herself in it--I couldn't catch a shot of that but I assure you, it's hilarious.

2008-08-06T13:29:00.000-04:00

New SP Question

This week's question is about whether we have ever entered our knitting (or anything else) in the fair and/or would we ever consider it? No, I've never entered anything of mine in a competition for judging. I would however consider it. As you can see, I'm rather pokey in terms of trying to get a project done, but these days, my work is fairly nice. Perhaps not Stitches Fashion Show nice, but nice.

2008-08-05T06:46:00.000-04:00

Aran Sweaters

These are awe-inspiring purchases from Ireland. I bought them in a store called Standun in Spiddal in the west--it's outside Galway City on the coast road to Connemara. As previously posted, the prices were great and the sweaters beautiful.

I got the scarf for my brother and the sweaters are for each of my nieces and nephews. There was a very helpful sales woman at the store, which was lucky because the sizes are exactly true because they are handknit sweaters. I think only one of these had the name of the knitter on the tag--how cool is that?

2008-08-05T06:41:00.000-04:00

Recent Projects

I made good headway on a felted bag while in Ireland. People were so impressed with the project because of the ombre pattern--I'm using Manos for this. The actual production is monkey work--straight knit on circs which is why I brought the project--it was easy to pick up on the plane and bus.

I also made a little bit of progress on the Rowan ribbon shell. There's a close up of the Artful Yarn ribbon so you can see the colorway.

2008-08-04T05:38:00.000-04:00

SP 12 Question 8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening? This is a hard one. Ideally it would be a bowl of steamers enjoyed with a pint of cold beer on the patio of a seafood restaurant off the ocean. From a practical perspective, it is probably grilled steak and vegetables on my patio--I'm in a heavily wooded area and although its very shady, I get the late afternoon sun out there and the light is beautiful. It's pretty quiet around where I live and the river is in my backyard, so I still enjoy the water element.

In knitting news, I'm working on a shell for me (there's a surprise, huh?). The predominant yarn is Rowan Cotton Ribbon although I'm mixing in some ArtYarn fibers--they're all in the same colorway but different weights of silk--ribbon, plain silk and then silk with beads. I just cast on using my own measurements and we'll see what happens. I need to find another needle though--I'm using #6 ebony circulars and one of the joins isn't smooth enough--I keep having to tug which interrupts the rhythm once I get going. I'll photograph it later today.

I also have photos of my trip to Ireland last week. I searched far and wide for Irish wool and let me tell you, it was not easy. Apparently, most of their lamb and a lot of their fleece are exported and there are few mills left. I did get several skeins of brown worsted in a town called Doolin, where Irish is the main language. And I did find a nice kit for making an Aran sweater in a store called Standum in Spiddal--however, the kit was almost 40 Euros and a handknit sweater was almost 40 Euros, so I opted for the sweater rather than the yarn. I bought one each for my nieces and nephews and am now trying to design a sweater for myself. My last name is English in orgin and I'm trying to figure out what the elements of our family crest represent so I can find corresponding cable patterns to develop a pattern for our own.

2008-07-23T19:54:00.000-04:00

SP Question #7

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? At the beach (notice a theme?) or in the living room in an upright chair. A nice comfy couch is always nice too. What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting? For me, a good glass of red wine in a Waterford double old-fashioned tumbler--less chance of spills that way.

2008-07-19T18:15:00.000-04:00

SP 12--Question 6

I seem to have missed question 4 (1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”? 2) What yarn do you never want to be without? so my count on questions is wrong.

My answers to question 4 are Cascade Venezia--I swatched some one the Stitch and Bitch cruise at the yarn tasting and just loved it. I haven't seen it in any LYS but will have to look it up to see who stocks it in my area. Not that I need to add to the stash!

It's hard to choose one yarn I wouldn't want to be without--I have so many favorites. Sincerely. It may be a toss up between Zara, Pure Merino and Cocoon.

So my previous post on question 4 should actually be labelled question 5 and now I will address question 6: What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation? This is a hard one. It can't be too bulky or cumbersome to pack or to work on in transit (although I'm not known for being conservative in this regard). I generally will pack two projects--one small and portable like a baby sweater or a scarf and one larger project, like a sweater or top for me. My biggest fear is finishing the project before I return home and have nothing to work on during travel time, so I tend to overpack. I'll be honest though--I never seem to work on things that diligently when traveling or on vacation.

2008-07-10T21:55:00.000-04:00

SP 12--Question 4

My preference for a vacation spot has always been a beach location. I'd love to visit Nice and Capri and several European spots, but at the end of the day, I like going to Cape May, NJ.

My niece, however, thinks the beach surf is too "risky" and prefers the pool. That's her, registering her complaint.

2008-07-08T22:03:00.000-04:00

Life is Hard, Yard by Yard

I'm in physical therapy for my knee three times a week. I signed up for Aquacise at my community pool twice a week--this is not the elegant synchronized swimming I seemed to have imagined it is. And the pool is open late two nights a week so I have plenty of time to get there. That's an awful lot of working out for me. PT and Aquacise are kicking my butt. Need to ice my knee and my foot (separate problem) every evening.

I'm also in organization mode--well honestly, I hired someone else to organize me. She's a wonderful young woman who is working toward her MBA. She's energetic, enthusiastic and she has not uttered the words "you don't need any more yarn." (That's a keeper!) She actually found the patterns for several of my WIPs. So I can resume knitting on them.

Even better, she found the cable for my camera. I'll be uploading some updated photos soon. It was an eye opening experience for me to update my Ravelry pages--I have three times as many projects in progress than I have different kinds of yarn in my stash. Amazing, really.

Things are a bit uncertain at work so I haven't been focused on my knitting. Well, hopefully I can change that soon, right?

Right?

That's Indie, BTW, guarding the beginning of a lap throw made of Rowan Biggy Print.

2008-07-05T16:00:00.000-04:00

My Secret Pal 12 Package!!!

I went out to run errands--much to my surprise, a lot of businesses are closed today for the July 4th holiday--my drycleaner and my nail salon. I had to get some good sneakers for physical therapy and wanted to also find shoes that were decent enough to wear on business--this is a big procedure because I need to get a bigger size to accommodate new orthotics--the right foot swells and is tight and the left foot is usually too loose.

So, I was a little depressed coming home but there was a package by the front door. It was from Bram, my Secret Pal 12 person. She sent me some of the most beautiful yarn I've ever seen. There's a skein of Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere in a soft pink and a skein of Baby Llama from Elsebeth Lavold in a creamy white. Both are so soft and luxurious, I'm sure I'm going to love knitting them up into something beautiful. And there is a skein of No Two Snowflakes merino wool in fingering weight--it's a hand-dyed yarn is very soft pinky peachy melony color--so so beautiful!!!!! Bram also sent some Addi Turbos--I'm going to use the No Two Snowflakes to make a lacy scarf for myself--it's so pretty. I'm also going to enjoy the Chocolate Truffles she sent from Utah.

So very kind! A big thanks to Bram.

2008-07-02T14:41:00.000-04:00

What a Nice Surprise

I was contacted by three people on Ravelry because I put some yarn up for trade or sale but I ended up just sending the yarn to them. I've got so much yarn to knit through and didn't see myself using these particular yarns any time soon and was glad to be able to give them to people who would use them. Well, guess what. One of them sent ME a lovely package filled with Rowanspun 4-ply along with extra goodies like Blackberry jam, tea and chocolates. It was totally unnecessary but such a nice surprise!

2008-06-30T21:49:00.001-04:00

On the Way to Cape May!!!!!!

Actually, I'm home. Spent a lovely long weekend in Cape May, NJ. It's a Victorian seaside resort--apparently the oldest in the USA. The weather was beautiful and I went to the beach with my younger niece and nephew--both are characters in their own ways. My niece and I visited the Fiber Arts Shop (http://www.yarnsrus.net/) in town and we bought just a couple of things--some carded novelty yarns--I can make at least two spiral hats for Christmas presents. I also bought a Berrocco pattern book--they had a really pretty sample of a pullover knit in Seduce and Lumina but they didn't have enough of any one color combination for my size.

My niece found Hello Kitty buttons. We bought all of them and then looked for a pink cardigan--yes, I know it's cheating, but it seems to me it will be much quicker to buy a sweater and just replace the buttons.

I'm participating in Secret Pal 12 and we had fun buying gifts for my pal. I'm going to do a holiday theme and started with "seaside holiday." I got her some "beachy" colored sock yarn--it came with a pattern--and some needles. We found earrings in a similar colorway that looked like beach glass, saltwater taffy and a mermaid doll kit...very adorable. I hope she likes them!

Still plugging away on the Log Cabin blanket.

2008-06-26T14:09:00.000-04:00

So Slow

I've misplaced the cable from camera to computer so I've lax about posting, but now I'm behind on the Secret Pal 12 weekly questions. So, in answer to question 2, I looked forward to reading all summer...preferably at the beach.

And for question 3, (What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?), I firmly believe a stash is an ongoing process and there's no way or even a need to quantify the amount. I know this is a vague answer, but I think the beauty of the stash is adding to it, sorting through it, touching it and all those wistful plans we make around it.

2008-06-12T15:47:00.000-04:00

SP 12 Question 1--Favorite Summertime Drink

This is a funny one. I always have at least one Gin and Tonic during the summer season. But the drink I really enjoy is brewed iced tea. I like it sweetened with Sweet and Low with lemon over ice. Funny how it's limited to summer time.

In knitting news, nothing very exciting has been happening. My Log Cabin project is going to turn out to be one of the most expensive baby blankets in history but I'm enjoying it. I've been traveling for a few days so I haven't made much progress. Will pick it up again tonight and over the weekend--I'll be out and about in support of World Wide Knit in Public Day on Saturday.

Meanwhile, I've been trying to track down additional skeins of Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande in the same colorway that I already have. I had originally bought some of it to make myself a sweater, then bought Big Girl Knits and read that big girls shouldn't wear chunky yarn, so I gave the yarn to my mother who has started a beautiful, luxurious throw for me. We need 5-6 more skeins but the colorway appears to be sold out in a lot of places. I have to say Plymouth was very responsive in getting back to me and accurate as well about where I can find more. It's soooooo gorgeous.

2008-06-09T10:35:00.000-04:00

Secret Pal 12

Very exciting!!! Something fun to do and something to look forward to. I've been contacted by the pal who has me already and sent off an email for the woman I'll be spoiling. Following is the result of my questionnaire.

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Worsted weight pure merino or baby alpaca. I'm make something with Sirdar Sublime that is a DK weight and I love it anyway.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have several nice cases but end up using plastic bags anyway.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for over 20 years and consider myself intermediate.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
no
5. What's your favorite scent?
Chanel #5, ocean breeze, clean linen
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Love Hershey's with Almonds
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Needlepoint
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'm eclectic. I like R&B, class rock and some classical too.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I tend to like beiges, tans, browns, and things in that family. Florescent (sp?) colors unnerve me.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm single, live alone with two black cats.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Hats and scarves for sure; no mittens or ponchos.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Tank tops for me
13. What are you knitting right now?
Log Cabin baby blanket in Wool Cotton, tank top for me in Rowan Handknit Cotton, a cardigan for me in several colors of Sublime
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Love them!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Addi Turbos
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
both
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Oh my! Five years?
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. Pretty lights, warmth and good cheer, good smells, good foods.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Snowglobes
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I like it all. I usually buy my magazines at Barnes and Noble--I gather up as many as I can and have a field day going through them.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Short rows are my next challenge, and intarsia.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not so much
23. When is your birthday?
August 22
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
jb07094

2008-05-05T18:24:00.000-04:00

Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder

My home computer is giving me trouble otherwise I would be posting more. I've been knitting a lot but on several different projects. I am 3/4 up the back of the Cherry Bomb shell I'm making from Rowan DK Handknit Cotton and 1/4 up the back of the Norah Gaughan tank.

I've also started the Charlotte's Web shawl--unfortunately I can't get more than 2 rows at a time done--I swear I've ripped 40X more stitches than are currently on the needles! I'm doing mine in shades of blue Koigu. I had a fantasy of giving the shawl to my mother for Mother's Day--perhaps next year's celebration at the rate I'm going.

I've picked up materials for a navy blue tank--it's ruffled around the hem and the neckline. I was more excited by sample than I am by knitting it--it's using Venezia--a rayon-ish ribbon and it is not sliding smoothly off the Addis. I am using lace needles because they are pointier but of course they are not as slippery as the regular ones.

I also picked up some cotton silk for a tank top--I saw a design in an ad in the knitting magazines and have a modified pattern to try.

I also (I know, can you believe me?) picked up some Berrocco Comfort for a short sleeve raglan cardigan. It's knit top down and it is going fairly quickly. I messed up a row and had to take it back to the LYS for help because after all the frogging on Charlotte's Web, I was not going to the frog pond with this one. It's a plain beige but I think I'll get a lot of use out of it.

Finally, I had picked up some Baby Ull and my mother has knit a baby sweater for someone dear to me at work. He and his wife are expecting their first child in November and I'm planning all sorts of Aunt Judy knitted items like said sweater and a blanket. The Baby Ull items are white and will be well done because my mom is doing them. I am playing around with other ideas. I started a blanket patterned with hearts but I bought Zara which is handwashable or dry clean only so I've scrapped that (a cardigan for my sister's very generous mother-in-law, perhaps?) and am now playing around with the idea of a Log Cabin baby blanket using Rowan Wool Cotton--I have a bunch of random balls that I've picked up because I like the colors. I was going to use it for a variation on the wildly colorful baby blanket featured on Knitty.com but think the Log Cabin will be easier for me to keep track of and they both need to be lined so there's little difference to me (again, I hate the way the pick ups look in garter! I'm sure I've mentioned this).

Anyway, I had also bought Pure Merino in navy blue to match the red blanket so I'm going to have to think about what else can be made. I don't really go for patchwork colorwork.

And I'm patiently waiting for some Zarella (I think this is what it is called). The local LYS had an adorable baby blanket knit on the diagonal with alternating stripes of basic ombre and then novelty yarn in the same colorway. Must try this some day. The diagonal knitting will be good prep for the Sandy Cardigan from BGK.

Speaking of which, I joined the BGK Yahoo group. I'm unclear what our next KAL will be. Must investigate further. Not that I've ever finished a KAL project.

2008-04-14T20:45:00.000-04:00

Pulse Check

My mother mentioned that a friend of the family may be interested in helping me finish some of my UFOs. So I went through my UFO list and came up with about 10 different things I could just hand over--a black cardigan, a beige alpaca cardi, a throw made of Biggie wool and a sweater for my nephew--and several others. Worth looking into!

The top photo shows the progress on my Inaugural Scarf I'm working on in a KAL. I knit a few rows about once a week on the bus to work. I'm at the end of the first two skeins of Silk Garden and I'm loving it.

The second project is the Cherry Bomb from Big Girl's Knit--I love the help with sizing and this will be the first time I'm trying short rows for bust shaping. I'm using Rowan Handknit DK cotton in a color called Fruit Punch and I'm really enjoying the hand.

I picked up the orange Stain Glass Swing Sweater from my LYS--they put it together for me. It's okay--the color is just not at all appropriate for Spring and the sleeves are a little tight-ish. The thing that really aggravated me though was that they didn't sew on the button--there is only one and I provided it to them and for $75.00 to sew the sweater together, they omitted the button. The yarn itself was over $200 (used Manos and La Gran Mohair) plus the cost of finishing--you would think the button would be included, wouldn't you?

The other potential problem I have is the Panel Jacket I started as part of the Yahoo Group Ample Knitters KAL--I'm using Vanna's Choice which is knitting up nicely. I'm going to have to change needles--it's just not smooth--I've been trying to knit this on the bus too--it's straight garter stitch so it's easy and portable but no so much fun so far. The sweater is made with 10 panels plus sleeves and collar and I'm only on the first panel so that gives you an idea of how it's going. I'll try a different pair of needles before I decide whether to proceed.

2008-04-12T16:33:00.000-04:00

Memories of the Stitch and Beach Cruise

It's hard to believe that I got back from the cruise more than six weeks ago. We left out of NY on February 27 and sailed to the Caribbean. While we were at sea, we had knitting classes with Debbie Stoller and Shannon Okey, pictured here below the photo of Bitty and the contents of the goody bag we got for attending.

One of the more interesting people I met was a woman named Laurie who was actually in the service--she is the staff photographer for General Petraeus in Iraq. I didn't know that in the beginning and the other women in the classes referred to her as Laurie, the Photographer. It was only later that I learned why. The group got together quietly and knitted or crocheted squares that Debbie sewed together into the blanket she is holding in the photo. We gave it to her the last night at sea during the final Stitch n Bitch to remember the trip. Very nice work for under a week I think.

2008-04-09T09:02:00.000-04:00

Back in the Groove...of Blogging, at Least

I finally found the cable for my camera so I could download (or is it upload?) the photos from the knitting cruise. Here's the cardigan I started in one of the classes I took--it was a Design Your Own sweater class so this will be custom fit for me. I'm using a yarn called Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK. I originally bought the yarn to make a Log Cabin throw for myself but I hated the reverse side of the garter stitch pick up.

I made up the "design" as I went along using several of the slip stitch patterns I learned on the cruise and augmented additional stitch patterns from some design books I had at home. The rest of the rows are 4 rows of stockinette and 2 rows of garter stitch in each colorway. There are a zillion ends to be sewn in but I love working with this yarn--of course I'm using Addi Turbos so I'm sure that helps. I've started the right front and hope to motor through.

I took the Orange Stained Glass sweater to my LYS for finishing and they've called so I hope to be able to go pick it up today--if it fits and nicely done, I'll wear it tomorrow to a Client meeting.

Meanwhile, I've joined the Big Girl Knits Yahoo Group and am enjoying the discussion of the new designs. There will be a KAL soon--we just don't know what pattern yet. I have my favorites I'm hoping for--they're good for the "butt and belly" girls like me. But of course I need to finish the cruise cardi. I also need to decide whether I want to continue the Ample Knitter KAL--it's a nice jacket but it's all garter stitch and it's boring...I may need to switch to Noro or something that will be more interesting for me--it's made in panels so it should be easily portable for the bus and train.

Photos from the cruise to follow shortly!

2008-04-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

I Know, I Know

I've misplaced the cable for my camera (I don't make it easy for the cleaning service!) so I haven't been able to update the blog with photos from the cruise or any of my new projects. I will make an effort this weekend to find it and begin posting.

2008-02-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

My New Traveling Companion

This is Bitty Baby. She belongs to my niece, Caroline. My parents were going to join me on the Stitch n Beach cruise coming up at the end of February but cannot make it. So rather than sending me off alone, Caroline packed up Bitty with several changes of clothes, including a bathing suit, and has sent her off with me.

I'm fairly certain Bitty won't be knitting but I plan on doing a "roaming Gnome"-like travelogue, photographing Bitty and myself on the cruise and sightseeing. I have signed "us" up for excursions at each port--snorkeling near a coral reef and swimming with stingrays in Turks and Caicos, visiting the Baths in Virgin Gorda on Tortola; seeing both the French and Dutch parts of St. Maarten (trying to fit in two tours--one to a butterfly farm); visiting the historic sites, including a pirates' stronghold, and the beach on St. Thomas and a drive to the rain forest in San Juan. We're going to be very busy girls, Bitty and I.

I'm also signed up for many knitting classes on the tour--provisional cast on, slip stitches, double knitting, felting, learn to crochet, making a capelet, sea socks and basic sweater design as well as a stashbusting sweater class.

There is also a culinary center sponsored by Food and Wine magazine on the ship and I will want to take some classes there too, I'm sure.

Well, Bitty is all packed. I better get started too.

2008-02-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

The Weapon That Did Me In

This is the hat that my assassin, dorkasaurus, sent to me. I had been having a sleep study and it just wasn't working for me so I left the sleep clinic at around 2:30 AM and when I arrived home, found the hat from Hat Attack in my mailbox. What a way to go.

2008-02-11T08:35:00.000-05:00

Hat Attack!

What did you do this weekend? I'm signed up for Hat Attack, a take off on the Sock Wars game where you knit a hat as fast as you can and mail it off to your "target". If you get a hat from an "assassin", you are "dead" and need to send your WIP to the assassin who presumably finishes it and sends it to your target. I used Noro Kureyon to knit up mine--I got gauge before I started knitting but it looks small to me but maybe I'm comparing this against my own big head. I'm mailing this off to Irish99 in Indiana this morning and will be nervously checking the mailbox later in case dorkasaurus, my assassin, finished her hat on Saturday--it was amazing how many knitters finished their hats and mailed them the same day. BTW, that's Lucy inspecting my finished product.

2008-02-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

Inauguration Day Scarf-Along

What a great idea! I'm repurposing the entrelac scarf I started with Noro Silk Garden because I don't like how the "wrong" side of it looks--it would be fine for a sweater, hat or bag but definitely not for a scarf when you can't control which side gets seen. I got the idea for the new pattern--a 1x1 rib knit with two different skeins at one time, 2 rows at a time, from brooklyntweed's blog. Rib knitting gets tedious after a while so a year-long knitting project will be ideal for this.

2008-02-06T18:40:00.000-05:00

Another FO for a Darling Little Lady

This is Lucianne--she'd 4-1/2 months old and the cutest little thing. She's wearing a merino hoodie with the zipper down the back--my mother gave me the pattern and said that the mothers of babies love the design because it's easy to get it on and off the baby. Luci has been tooling around Europe in hers!

2008-02-05T17:41:00.000-05:00

FO for a Young Friend

I don't remember who the yarn is from but it's a worsted merino knitted with a mock cable. See how the blue matches this charming fellow's eyes?

2008-02-03T10:25:00.000-05:00

Unfocused But Happy

I think it's well established that I tend to bounce from one project to the other without finishing any one thing. This week's projects are Lace Latte from Summer 2007 Knitting Universe--I'm making it in Elsebeth Lavold's Cable Cotton in color 09--it's a goldish hue. I apparently skipped the swatch process (I don't recall making that decision) because when I finished the lace edging the first time, it was incredibly enormous. I could have joined it and knit it in the round. So I frogged and restarted on #5 needles which are two sizes down from the pattern recommendation. I like the edging and now it's just a 3 X 3 rib so I can take the project on the bus and train with little difficulty although I do have to figure out the decrease to take it from 2X on the bottom to 1X toward the top of the piece. The pattern is by Norah Gaughan and is designed with an open front that is laced closed. I'm also going to try to modify the design so this becomes a pullover. I'm going to need help with the lace edging--hopefully my mother can help and I can wear this on the Stitch and Beach cruise at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, I finally found the Melissa Leapman book in the piles and piles of papers I've accumulated and have cast on for Audrey, a cardigan with a meandering cable design that kind of gives you an hourglass shape. I'm knitting this in Rowan Cocoon--the color is Tundra which is a sort of milky brown. I'm about to start the meandering part of the cable and I hope it works out well because I love love love this yarn. It 80% merino and 20% kid mohair--I think I've knit with combinations like this before but the hand on this yarn is so soft and silky, it's luxurious. I'm sure I'll live in this sweater when it's ne--and it's knitting up quicky on size 10.5 needles.

I've been trying to find patterns to go with the rest of the yarn in my stash--I've got some Rowan DK cotton, Mondial Splendid, Evita and Rowan Wool Cotton (or Cotton Wool?) but seem not to have enough of it for a project for me. Well, I can always design something for myself, right?

2008-01-20T08:44:00.000-05:00

It's Moving Along

I love working on size 13 needles. You can see from the photo that I've finished the back of the Stained Glass sweater. That's Indie inspecting my work.

No additional progress on any of the other projects but since I've got half the right front done too, I'm pretty pleased.

Since I've been "organizing" the stash, I've been swifting skeins into balls before storing them. Here's Lucy surpervising the squirrels as well as my activity.

2008-01-16T15:37:00.000-05:00

Focus, or Lack Thereof

I can't seem to concentrate on one project at a time. Last night I tried to start the Hemlock Ring again for the Ready Set Knit KAL to no avail. Then I knit a few rounds on the angora hat. And then knit about 10 rows on the "stained glass" Manos sweater. Oh, and I started a cup cosy with some Kureyon. I'm wondering if it's adult ADD.

Speaking of angora, how do you avoid getting it in your mouth? I certainly don't put the fiber in my mouth but I always seem to end up either angora or mohair in my mouth when knitting with it. And will this be a problem when I'm wearing the garment?

Well, I need to get busy finishing a baby sweater for a friend who is coming to town at the end of January. I certainly have enough of them started so it should be (relatively) easy. Meanwhile I have a list of dog sweaters I need to do too. My original list was 2 dogs, but it's up to four. Luckily three are small and only one is medium. I am amazed at the selection of patterns. I have a pattern for a cabled shrug. I'm going to try felting too.

2008-01-14T14:01:00.001-05:00

Can't Get It

I've ripped out the Hemlock ring. Again. I don't know what it is about it. It's a challenge!

2008-01-13T14:06:00.000-05:00

I Have No Self-Control

The stash still sits in the dining room in all it's glory. The cats have taken to stealing parts of baby sweaters and dragging them all around the house. This, of course, is my fault for leaving out there and not finishing them. The children for whom they were intended are surely too big for them now.

I went to my local LYS yesterday to pick up my Tilli Tomas Disco Lights sweater where they finished it. It's gorgeous!! And it fits! I couldn't believe it. Success. So riding the wave of those good feelings, I succumbed in a BIG way. I bought some Kureyon to work on the Sandy sweater from Big Girl knits--I'm always about a year behind on KALs and just discovered this--I have a load of Brown Sheep from a KAL I never finished so I figured, I have half the yarn already. And you know what--I'm glad I bought it in the LYS because I got advice on the colorway. If I was on my own, I would have gone too matchy matchy.

And then I spied a basket full of new yarn called Rowan Cocoon--it's a heavy worsted in natural colors and is a blend--there's mohair in there. It's beautiful. And since I want to participate in the WEBS Hemlock Ring KAL, I had to buy some. I think this was much more costly than the yarn that was recommended but I LOVE it. I started it twice last night but had problems--need to start again in daylight. I was watching the Clive Owen movie Shoot Em Up at the same time--not a good mix because my attention was divided.

So while I was at it, I bought more of the same yarn in a different colorway for a sweater--the shop had done a sample of a cable cardigan from Melissa Leapman's Hot Knits. And Addi Turbos. Now if I could only find the book.

But that's not all. I wanted to make myself a hat and saw a pretty angora and sequin sample on display. Had to get it for myself--choose black angora and silvery sequin on black thread. I've got a good 2" done already.

And then a mother/daughter team came into the shop and sat down to work on their projects. One of the ladies was working on cardigan designed at the shop. It's a swing silhouette and made on size 13 needles using Manos del Uruguay and Lana mohair. I selected an orangish-ombre-ish (color V) colorway and have at least 4" done. I'm loving this too.

I resisted purchasing two skeins of Disco Lights in Parchment--I already have two and don't really know what I'm going to do with them.

And finally I just pulled out the Noro Silk Garden entrelac scarf--I think I already posted about how I don't like the reverse side of entrelac. I'm going to knit it in a rib pattern, alternating two rows of different colorways. It's nice and portable too.

2008-01-07T21:51:00.000-05:00

Stash and Burn

I moved everything into the dining room to force myself to manage my stash. And here everything sits since Saturday. And I can't find my wristwatch. Oh, well.

2008-01-06T19:56:00.001-05:00

January KAL: AmpleKnitters

I've joined the AmpleKnitters group on Yahoo. We're doing the pattern called Oblique from Knitty.com. The official cast on isn't until next week but I needed to try this out a bit to make sure I could handle the yarn overs etc for the lace knitting (my foray into lace didn't work out on the SOTS or Mystic Waters). I'm enjoying it very much and like the look. I'm using Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton in Nut. I'm a slow knitter, so hopefully a ton of people will get to the cuffs sooner than I--I don't like the turned back cuffs and will need to modify. More on this to follow, I'm sure!