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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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?

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

Mission Accomplished!!!

I've finally worked my way through two UFOs--the novelty hat I got from FinePoints and the Simple Fair Isle Hat from Diane Soucy at http://www.knittingpureandsimple.com/ (it was a free pattern). I used cashmere yarn I picked up at AC Moore for the Fair Isle and love the color combination if I do say so myself, but the final product is gigantic--I clearly didn't pay enough attention to gauge. I'm going to try to felt it tomorrow. The novelty hat is very cute although I'm still unclear how the top was supposed to be finished. It's supposed to have a pom pom or some other ornament on top. I used Noro--I think it was Kureyon and it's nice and warm. I just wish there were a way to avoid hat hair.

Been Too Long

Haven't made much progress on anything lately. First I was busy working on a new business pitch at work, then I got a sinus infection, then the stomach bug going around and then the holidays hit. I'm still trying to organize my stash. I've given my mom several small batch of yarn for hats to donate and I still have more yarn than I know what to do with. I'm a slow knitter so although I'm in the midst of several sweaters, I wonder if I should start on a cotton shell for the Stitch and Beach cruise at the end of February.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to stitch more and bitch less...I figure both will make me a better person. I imagine I may have more time for this since my boss informed me yesterday that although we won the business as a result of the presentation I mentioned above, they don't care to work with me. And since only 35% of my time is covered by client business, she suggested I may want to consider other options. Outside the agency. This was a tremendous blow because I had a wonderful job offer just three months ago and they talked me into staying--I didn't hold them up for money or title or anything else. Well, lesson learned, right?

I have finished two hats that were in progress--I need to get someone to photograph me in them so I can share them. The first is a cashmere hat made in a pattern I got online (I'll provide all the details with the photos) but it is enormous, which is some feat given that I have a fairly big head and am hard to fit with hats off the rack. I'll try felting it. The other is the spiral hat I got from Liz at FinePoints at Stitches in Baltimore. I couldn't follow the instructions on finishing the top, but did the best I could. Had to wear that hat today because it's about 24 degrees here in the NY/NJ area with wind chills in the below zero area. They are predicting temperatures in the 50s next week. Crazy...

Just in Time

I finished two hats last weekend and just in time--we've got the first snowfall today. The original hat was supposed to be for my nephew who requested an alpaca hat after his family visited an Island Alpaca on Martha's Vineyard to get some yarn for me. I used a pattern from Knitted Gifts. Unfortunately the child's size was too small for him, so I made him a second hat using adult sizing. Much better.

My sister tried the first hat on my niece and it fit her, but the colorway was exactly "girly" enough for a 7 year old. She brought the hat to me and asked "Can you add some hearts and flowers and unicorns?" Well actually, I could handle the hearts and flowers with needle felting from AC Moore. But a unicorn? We're waiting for buttons from eBay for that.

I Need a Scarf for Winter

I can't find my winter scarves and gloves which is kind of unfortunate since the weather has turned. So I've started an entrelac scarf. I got the pattern at Stitches East and the yarn at my LYS--I'm using Noro Silk Garden. I just love the color variations. Not so sure about picking up all those stitches or the way it appears on the reverse side. I'm hoping blocking will smooth it out.

In other news, I'm going to my parents' house for Thanksgiving. I usually cook because my sister and her family go to the parade and then they come back here. But since my knee surgery, I'm not able to keep up with all of that. I'm taking a pile of UFOs with me and spend a few days finishing them.

I really should come back and work on my home organization. I enjoyed the help of a professional organizer but she seems to misunderstand--I don't actually want to participate in this process beyond saying "yes" or "no." Well, things are too busy at work to worry about it so I'll ignore it and knit away. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Alpaca Hat for My Nephew

My sister has in-laws on Martha's Vineyard. I asked for alpaca yarn since I know there's a farm close to their house. One rainy day they visited the farm and purchased one skein of rich brown yarn. My mom is currently working on a hat for me.

Meanwhile, my nephew, who is 10, very very bright and a really nice young man too, asked for an alpaca hat for himself. He didn't really specify style or color however my sister was very clear--the hat needed to match his black ski jacket. So off to my LYS I went. I picked up several skeins of Frog Tree Alpaca in sport weight. I started with two strands of black then switched to black and charcoal. Then two strands of charcoal. I think you can see the variations if you look for them in the photo. Next will be a strand of charcoal and a strand of flannel grey, then two strands of flannel and then flannel and ecru, if the length is short of what I need. The decrease rows with be red, perhaps with thinner stripes in reverse order. I hope to finish it before Thanksgiving so I can give it to him.

Back in the Groove

My knitting progress seems to ebb and flow...I'm not sure why although I suspect it's related to how much pressure I'm under at work. I think one of my New Year's resolutions needs to be to channel the energy and anxiety more productively--whether it's knitting, writing or another craft. I had signed up for the NaNoWrite November novel writing challenge. The goal was to write about 1700 words per day so you end up with a full length work at the end of the month. Well, here it is, November 18 and I've written 87 words in total. My TMJ is raging these days; I've seen a new dentist referred me to an oral surgeon who uses Botox to help relax the jaw muscles. Worth a try, I imagine.

I also bought the special stop-snoring pillow from Brookstone since I've been recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. I'm hoping this helps improve my level of fatigue, especially because I don't want to repeat the sleep study using the CPAP machine (this is a whole OTHER story).

The good news is that I'm rev'ving up and have made some headway on a couple of key items. This project will be a sweater for me. It's baby alpaca knit in a K6 P2 pattern. I'm actually designing the sweater based on the lessons I learned from Sally Melville and Lorna Misner at Stitches East. And, to tell the truth, I'm designing it around the buttons--I got the buttons at Stitches Midwest back in August. The yarn has been in my stash for a year or so--it was originally intended to be part of an afghan but I had so many different gauges going on, I divided up the yarns for other projects. Hopefully I'll have enough for sleeves too, otherwise this will be a nice vest. I'm using a modified set in sleeve from Lorna's class which should make seaming a whole lot easier and the lines smoother.

My parents visited today. My mom had been joking that she wasn't going to buy any new yarn until we worked through my stash. She had made a cardigan for my niece but the sleeves were too short. She said she was going to use bulky yarn and I happened to have pink chunky baby alpaca in the stash. I'm not sure what she'll do with it because she thinks it's too dear for a child's sweater. It was with very little regret that I deleted the photo of the yarn from my stash folder. She's also going to try the Christmas stocking hat pattern I picked up at my LYS "The Skein Attraction." I'm generally a loose knitter, but have been increasing sizes and still can't get gauge. Hopefully she'll have more luck.

I've found two new patterns for which I may need additional yarn. So far I've been very good about NOT ordering more--I still have more stash organizing to do and hope to uncover some suitable candidates. Although I'm making an entrelac scarf with Noro Silk Garden and I love it......

One funny story. The Professional Organizer I'm working with suggested that I finish one project before starting a new. I laughed and said "You're not a knnitter, are you?"

When's the Anesthesia Wearing Off?

Ever since I had my knee surgery, I've had a very short attention span, little interest in knitting (or food) and a craven desire to sleep. It's been 10 days! I should be over this, shouldn't I?

I have so many projects I want to work on--I need to finish that novelty spiral hat and the entrelac scarf because it is getting cold here. I also want to work on the Elsbeth Lavold cashmere collar I picked up in Dallas and a couple of the other hats from Stitches. And there is a very pretty sweater in the newest issue of Cast-On that I want to start on. It's knit 3 rows, purl 3 rows so I think it's the perfect commuting pattern. I'm just trying to make sure I stick to stash yarn for that.

I'm a little depressed being so far behind on the SOTS and Mystic Water KALs. I haven't even made a dent in my cable knits either. And one of those projects includes some yummy cashmere.

I tried to talk my mom into sewing the Tilli Tomas sweater together...we'll see what happens with that.

Oh, well. I'm hiring a professional organizer to help me straighten things out at home--perhaps that will be the boost I need.

Mystery Swap!!!

It's Christmas in November. My mystery swap gift arrived last week but I couldn't retrieve it until my parents kindly ferried me around to run errands while my knee recovers. What a wonderful surprise. The themes I gave were cats, spa and holidays. All my gifts were individually wrapped in Christmas paper and how wonderful they are! Tofutsie sock kit and some lovely Regia--it's a black/gray mix which matches everything I wear. There were needles, darling holiday stitch markers and stockings filled with candy and a holiday bracelet. There were also a Christmas ornament to knit myself and reindeer antlers--my Swap partner could not have possibly known that I typically wear some kind of holiday headband when decorating for the holidays. Well, there was also a lovely CD of holiday tunes to listen to while I knit away. Everything was so thoughtful and creative and a lot of fun. My dad teased me that he was relieved there was yarn in the package because he was worried I didn't have enough (LOL). Can't wait to get started...neither can Indie, as you can see.

Meanwhile, I have gotten started on an alpaca vest I designed myself. It's actually pretty simple--button down with a K2 P2 rib and then a K6 P2 pattern. I bought great porcelain buttons that look like cats a while book--this will be a great showcase. It's going pretty quickly (of course I started today and didn't have anything else on my agenda) so I'm excited about this too. Photos to follow.

A Few Too Many Trips to the Frog Pond

I haven't made much progress on my projects. I've been busy at work and had knee surgery earlier this week. Unfortunately, too, I ordered some extra Zanziba and Fandango for my sweater and instead of Tapis, they sent me Lapis. Have to get that straighted out.

I've been bouncing from project to project. These include the Secret of the Stole--I ripped out both points and have begun again. And the Mystic Waters KAL--thank goodness for lifelines. I'm using Koigu for that. I have a gift certificate to a LYS in Manhattan which I could have used and my LYS in NJ has recently begun to offer it. I love the variations in color. But I'm having difficulty with the pattern.

I have been working on the spiral novelty hat I picked up at Stitches. I had to rip out some of that because the some of the novelty yarn was difficult and I ended up with too many stitches. Now I've misplaced the direction--this is what happens to me when I try to get organized! I lose track of things. To ensure I'll really have a nice warm hat for the winter, I've ask my mom to make me a hat from the alpaca my sister brought back from the Vineyard. Which reminds me, I need to get started on the hats for my nephew and my niece. Oh my!

And I've started the feltable snowman project--I actually picked that up at Stitches Midwest--it's fairly easy to do. I figure I need to get started on holiday ornaments if I want to make enough of them to decorate a tree (albeit a small one!). Hopefully I'll have more energy this weekend. I need to finish sorting my needles and log them and the rest of my stash on Ravelry. OOOh, and I mailed my Mystery Swap gift--can't wait to see what comes in the mail for me.

I'm a Swatching Maniac

Okay, I don't like knitting swatches any more than anyone else but I appreciate how this can prevent future problems--like hating the whole thing after it's done and sewn together. So I'm swatching some of the yarns I have before I get started.

But I'm not getting gauge. I usually have to go down one or two needle sizes from what's suggested to get gauge, but now I find myself going up in size. And I don't necessarily like the density of the resulting fabrics. This means I've been spending more time thinking about the knitting than actually knitting things.

I still haven't made much progress on yarn and needle organization which is unfortunate given how messy everything looks, but since I've been approved on Ravelry, I have a good process to go through.

I'm also having trouble prioritizing which projects I want to work on--it seems I love all my "children". I recognize the value of variety so I know I definitely need to have more than one WIP available to me. I'm trying to bucket them in terms of degree of finish, degree of probability of getting finished, yarn weight consistency the weather and my overall interest in the project. Then I'm going to have to put a lot of the yarns, patterns and needles AWAY.

I finally found a project I can be excited about for my Mystery Swap partner--I had the ladies from my LYS involved and they had great ideas. I'll have to get that off this weekend--I'm having knee surgery on the 29th and may be less mobile after that.

I also bought some Noro Silk Garden for an entrelac scarf that reminds me a lot of the Lady Eleanor stole. I have to go down a needle size or two so I ripped back, but it's been fun. It will go well with the spiral novelty hat I picked up at Stitches.

Photos of all these fine projects will follow.

Why, oh why?

Work is overwhelming. I've worked until 3 AM several days this week so I can't knit during the day, or night. Started the spiral hat from Stitches. Haven't made any progress on the SOTS or any of my other project. Oh well.

Greetings from Stitches East

I arrived late on Thursday. I unfortunately missed the class I had scheduled but it was an easy trip from NJ by train. Had a nice steak and crab cake dinner and watched some TV and got ready for the next day.

I took a full day class on Friday--You can design your own sweater! Really! It was taught by Lorna Miser, who is the Lorna of Lorna's Laces. There was a lot of math but I got a lot out of it. I have a terrible habit of not reading, or perhaps understanding, the class descriptions and instructions so I didn't bring the yarn I was planning on using but I did have some yarn for today's class, so I used that and went through the exercise--I imagine I'll be able to work my way through it again. I've got some really soft baby alpaca I can use--it's beige which is kind of boring but I've previously purchased some large ceramic buttons that look like a Siamese cat and they will all go well together.

Today's class was Concentration on Color with Brandon Mably. I'd met a woman in the bar of my hotel yesterday who told me she walked out of the class last year so I was nervous. I've never done intarsia or fair isle so I had a lot of problems joining colors and carrying it too but I stuck with it. I bought Brandon's book--there are illustrations on color techniques in it and some really nice patterns too.

I need more yarn like a whole in the head so I've been resisting. I did, however, buy yarn and patterns for 3 hats. One of them is a spiral pattern--you use two skeins of Noro and you do 6 rows in stockingette and then 6 rows of reverse stockingette with the Noro and a novelty yarn--there are nine different novelties! It's going to be so wild. The other two are more sedate and will match my shearling and my mink--both are dark brown.

I picked up some Touch Me in a dark green for my green striped cardi--I wanted that for the wrists and collar. I also got some green Lurex thread and Trendsetter Dune from Great Yarns. I got some green beads from Twisted Sister too.

I've got my eye on some cashmere from Hunt Valley...I'd like the red if it were thicker. Thought about beading it for the holidays. I've also picked up a lot of patterns which can help me work my way through the stash.

The most exciting things I found have been shawl pins--I got a starfish for myself. There was also a stickpin topped with crystals--it looks like a crystal sea anemone. I picked up a couple for Christmas gifts.

But the best find was about two seconds before the market closed tonight. I was at the Yarn Barn buying patterns and was looking for something for the Mystery Swap I signed up for...the themes I got for my swap partner were turtles, moose and gnomes. I have to admit it's been difficult--I found a pattern for a knitted gnome, but its only available from the UK and they haven't answered my email yet. I looked for buttons but no one had anything close. I've even asked the ladies from my LYS to think about it--they have some great ideas I can check out when I get home, but I found the perfect pattern just as the market closed. Can't say anything more...she may be reading this. LOL

One more class tomorrow. It's a Sally Melville class on First Choices. I'm looking forward to it. Then it's back to reality. I'll have to work all the way home and into the evening. But the fun here was worth it.

I have to plan my knitting schedule now.

Slow Going Again

I don't know what the barrier is but I can't seem to finish things. I did finish the second sleeve for my Disco Lights sweater but haven't sewn it together. I have several baby sweaters I need to assemble because they are gifts--I even bought a blocking board. I also have some hats that need crowns and then need to be felted. What am I waiting for?

I started the first point of the Secret of the Stole on Friday night. That went well. However, I went to my local meetup on Saturday and ripped back several times. I picked it up again on Sunday and am still have problems with the second point. Time is getting away from me--I don't want to fall too far behind!

I picked up the new cotton wool shell I started so I am making progress on something.

Off to Stitches East on Thursday. I'm taking Round Up on Thursday, a design class on Friday, a color class on Saturday and First Choices with Sally Melville on Sunday. I can't wait. I really like taking these classes because I'm engaged both mentally and physically and can't dwell or worry about other things, so it's a real escape for me. And being out of town is a real plus too--I love not being responsible for anything but me sometimes. I won't even have to feed the cats. Just get up, get ready and go to class.

I've printed out information about Baltimore and will choose some restaurants tonight and tomorrow. I'm back on Weight Watchers although I've switched to the Core Plan, which is new for me. I've promised myself I'll do preplanning on food choices so I keep to the plan.

Got to pack.