Christmas Craziness

The Christmas season is in full swing chez sturdygirl. Husband and I are headed out of town this weekend for Family Holiday #1 with his family. Family Holiday #2 will be over Christmas Day with my family. Needless to say, the gift-buying, trip planning and organizing is intense! Luckily, I have been very cautious on the gift knitting or else I would be a basket case by now. As it is, I have had upset stomach and have been very cranky to my co-workers...so maybe I just need the basket. :)

Anyway, I did find time to make a warm scarf for myself. It will come in handy this weekend in Minnesota! Again, here's a cell phone pic:


I made this from Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky Hand Dyed in Lilac. This was SUCH a pleasure to knit. Very smooth and soft yarn, subtle shading, and fast! Nine stitches on US 15s, seed stitch. I love the look of seed stitch but I find it tedious - so this is a less taxing way to enjoy it. It took just a couple of leisurely evenings to finish. Three skeins and it's plenty long for wrapping around and tying if you want.

I've been trying to knit with alpaca lately to see if I'm allergic to it. I got a weird tingly feeling when I started a project with Berroco Ultra Alpaca, which made me sad because it's such a versatile, great yarn. So I knit this scarf, and I knit a swatch in a different color of the U. Alpaca. So far, no problems! I'm really glad, because after seeing myself modeling the hot new Ariann, I think I need that yarn! The alpaca gives it a great drape, and the yardage! Oh, the yardage.

Anyway, have a great weekend! Hopefully I will be back to posting more regularly soon.

Random Post for a Random Day

Hello all! I got a little sidetracked last week, but let me be sure to say a huge THANK YOU for all the compliments on my gold 'n' leafy sweater. Thanks for applauding my first riff on a pattern...maybe one day there will be a full-fledged sturdygirl design effort. Who knows?

Things have been crazy, though mostly in a good way. Wednesday, I went on a business trip to D.C. (well, Alexandria), which was great because I got to see my best friend A. My boss and I were supposed to leave on Friday, but got snowed out. I say snowed out because DC was a lovely 70 degrees - while Chicago was getting buried with snow and ice. So I got to hang with A. not once, but twice in three days! I also got some goodies at Stitch DC - no pic yet, but I will share soon, because the yarn I picked up is cool.

As far as knitting goes, I somehow find myself sucked into the vortex of holiday knitting. I did my best to avoid it, but it happened anyway. Right now I'm working on some dishcloths which will probably be gifts for my co-workers. It's never good to be caught empty-handed when a colleague gives you a gift! Here's a really bad pic from my cell phone:


(knitting at work - sshhh!)
The other thing I wanted to share is more knitting news. Have you ever heard of Colorsong Yarns? They have the best selection of Fleece Artist and Handmaiden yarns I've ever seen, which is great in and of itself - but now they've launched NatureSong, an online shop of natural yarns. Did you know Habu makes cashmere yarn? Check it, friends.

Anyway. That's pretty much all I have to say, except for this:


A stealthy shot of Benetton's yarn tree decoration. Kinda cool, but shouldn't someone be knitting with that stuff?!?

Thanks-knitting

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was very nice - a great meal with great conversation. We stayed in town, so the only transportation was a Chicago city bus. Suits me since I hate traveling on Thanksgiving. Anyway, it was a nice day and a relaxing long weekend.

I have two knitting news items for today:

1) Have you ever used the Yarn Search feature on Elann? Elann is a great source for discounted yarn, but the Yarn Search feature is terrific for holiday gifts. For instance, I am looking for some gold yarn to make a small scarf for a family friend. The Yarn Search feature lets you pick fiber content (e.g. cotton, wool, wool blend, natural fibers generally, etc.), gauge, color, season, and yarn brand. I chose the color, and let them do the rest. I found Elann Champagne, the perfect yarn at the perfect gauge! It's inexpensive, too!

2) Finding the perfect yarn brings me to my second item: finding the perfect pattern. Surely you have someone on your list who would love a handknitted item. And just as surely, your knitting list is already overflowing, so you are looking for quick yet beautiful projects.

Look no further! Shobhana has a great lacy scarf pattern that will whip up quickly. (click on her name to see how fabulous hers looks!) And through Dec. 31, she's donating a huge chunk of the proceeds from pattern sales to the Mongolia Project at F.I.R.E., the folks who ship all of your fabulously warm Dulaan items to their needy recipents. They need mucho cash to ship to Mongolia. So buy a pattern, knit it up, and keep your loved ones and the people of Mongolia warm this season.


Besides, everybody's doin' it....

Breaking Radio Silence

Hi all,

I've been away for a while. I've been knitting quite a lot...but this last week at work was a total bear. My bloglines has tons of new posts to read. I feel like I am limping toward Thanksgiving.

Anyway, at long last, I have pictures of the gold & leafy sweater. Here's the hanger shot:



And the being worn, headless shot:



The yarn is Cascade 128 Tweed in the color Maize. (the color in the first picture is pretty accurate.) I highly recommend this yarn. It's really soft and sproingy, and a great value (at least where I purchased it, Loopy Yarns).

I was worried about the neckline, since I didn't plan out the decreases very carefully. But it turned out fine! I just cast off each piece, picked up stitches and knit one row, and then bound off.

So, there you have it. I'm working on another sweater too, a top-down cardigan. I have to admit - the lack of seams is intoxicating! It seems like my progress is super-fast with this method, and it seems to use less yarn. Is this true? Anyway - I was going to try to use a different color for the neckline, hem and button bands, but then I chickened out. Maybe on my second cardi - I've actually never done a buttonband before.

This reminds me of a knitting realization I recently had: The two most difficult things I've tried to knit are both unfinished. They rank high in difficulty (for me) because one is my first two-color project (the felted bag), and the other is the Norah Gaughan hoodie with the lace border. Do you have this problem too? Or, when you're working on a challenging project, do you just plow through until you're finished? I know knitting is supposed to be fun, and it is. But I can't help but feel like I should try to push myself more.

Anyway, catch up with you later! Hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to the holiday.

Some Knitting News

It seems like there is so much going on in knitting, and I am forever learning about more cool things - so I imagine some of you feel the same way. So here are a few tidbits I've come across lately:

Knitalongs:

• Knit lace in Lacevember! http://lacevember.blogspot.com/


• Knit with Noro this month in Norovember. Sign up at http://minxknits.blog-city.com/

Lion Brand now has luxury yarn! They are offering three new yarns, one in cashmere, and two mohair/silk blends (the latter are even hand-dyed)! What is the world coming to?! (grin) Check it out here.

I love shopping online at Purl in New York City. Now they have a blog, the Purl Bee, that explores all kinds of quilting and knitting projects, techniques, new products, and even reviews of art exhibits and books. Recent posts have discussed vintage quilt designs and the work of Elizabeth Zimmerman.

I have been waiting for this! Vermont Organic Fiber Company is offering organic knitting wool, called O-Wool.This yarn is spun from 100% Certified Organic wool and is processed in accordance with the Organic Trade Association's Fiber Processing standards. They have a policy of not buying wool from farms where sheep are mulesed, meaning this yarn is cruelty-free. O-Wool comes in a great set of rich colors and has good yardage.

And a special newsbite for Chicagoans: The MCA, will be hosting Stitch n Bitch once again, on the first Tuesday of every month from November through May from 5:30-8 pm in the café. I went once and had a great time - I'd love to do it again.

And in my personal knitting news, the gold and leafy sweater is done! It just needs ends woven in and a photo shoot! Very exciting...

Election Day

Washington, DC - Election Day, 2004
If you have hopes and dreams for this country and the world, please vote today.

What I've Been Up To

Blogger hates me! I posted this week, I really did! But I don't think anyone could see it.

Anyway, that just gave me more time to make progress on my sweater. Here's what I've been up to:


This is the front, pre-blocking; I've also finished the sleeves. I'm now working on the back, and then it will be time to sew up this puppy!

This is not my own design by any stretch - it's more of a 'pinch of this, ounce of that' from a number of inspirations. This project has given me an even greater appreciation for people who design their own patterns from scratch! If I were to do it again, I would move the lace panel over so I could have done another decrease or two at the neck. (I didn't really think about that beforehand.) I'm still not sure how the neckline is going to pan out - I wanted a simple boatneck, maybe a row of crochet - but if it falls off my shoulders I will have to do something a bit higher to cover up the decreases.

So, I should have an FO shot for you soon. This weekend, though, I will be occupied: my best buddy M. is coming to visit from San Francisco! So I am really looking forward to that. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

(Blogger, don't eat this post!)

Nothin' but Knit

Hope everyone enjoyed the interview with Shobhana. I think Yarnplay is a stellar book, and you should all run out and get a copy - or make your local library buy one so you can borrow it.

Other than the interview, it's been a little quiet here on the blog. I've had a little startitis, because I had thought I'd be making tons of knitted holiday gifts at this time. However, upon further reflection, I've pretty much made all the gifts I'm going to this year, for the people I know will appreciate them, and that's about it. No need to break my neck on something that's beautiful to me, but not to the recipient. Onward!

This is what's new in my corner of the world:


1) A ribbed scarf, in Malabrigo Tuscan Sky. Wow, is this stuff great! It's a completely different animal than Manos...so much softer, more evenly spun (although thinner over all), more yardage...it's awesome. And the color in this picture? Competely accurate - like a beautiful blue sky with light, puffy clouds. I thought this would be a gift, but we'll see about that...


2) Jo Sharp Shawl Collared Cardigan. I've just started on the fab cardi pictured on the cover of this magazine. Here's a better picture. I'm using Jaeger Luxury Tweed. It will take forever to finish, so I've started on another project:


3) Swatches for a chunky sweater. It's heavily inspired by the Rusted Root pattern from Zephyr Style. I'm using Cascade 128 - but not tweed, in a color called Maize (the bottom swatch). This yarn is so soft and springy. Should make a nice, cozy sweater.

BTW - The red yarn above is Berkshire from Webs Valley Yarns line. I bought some to try out this new yarn, and I thought I'd make a Red Scarf at the same time. I think it's meant to be like Lamb's Pride and it sort of is, but it's softer. Very smooth to knit with and less hairy than Lamb's Pride. Good price, too!

Well, that's all I've got for tonight. Hope all your projects are flying off the needles!

Knitting in Color! Yarnplay author Lisa Shobhana Mason

Today I am so excited to be talking with Lisa Shobhana Mason. You may know her by her Big Bad Baby Blanket pattern in Stitch’n’Bitch, or by her blog, My Life in Stitches. And now, with her new book Yarnplay, there’s even more of Shobhana to love! The title Yarnplay is apt – Shobhana encourages her readers to play with beautiful fibers and striking colors to create fabulous projects. She combines these fibers and colors with modern shapes, creating cool, wearable designs.

Regular Knitting Aloud readers will know that although I love color and rarely knit with neutrals, I’m a little shy about mixing things up. So when I had the chance to talk with Shobhana about her book, I wanted to talk about color and how to work with it for the best results.

I'm pretty new to mixing colors in my knitting projects. Where would you recommend I start?

There seem to be two groups of knitters, those who are into color and those who are into intricate stitch patterns. Working with color is so second nature to me that I'm often stunned when I find someone struggling with color. (similarly, my friends are shocked when I reveal my lack of patience and skills when it comes to intricate lacework.) I've seen some really dreadful color combinations. It makes me wonder if some people are hard of color perception. Seriously. where to start? The more intricate the design, the less color you want. If it's a really simple pattern you can go crazy with color. Depending upon the intensity of the design, choose a few colors that you like. Take them out into the sunlight. Colors tend to look much different outdoors than they look in the shop or at home. Give yourself a few days to hang out with the colors that you've chosen. Chances are you'll make a few changes before settling upon a final selection. Get feedback from a friend whose taste you trust. If you can't even get started than you probably need a little inspiration. I find that quilts and wallpaper are good resources for color.

I love pastels (think duck egg blue), but I think an all-pastel sweater would be too blah. What are some ways to spice up a pastel/light colored garment?

Try using a different color for the trim. You could use a crocheted border around the neckline, cuffs, and hem. Or you could use a contrasting color for the first couple of rows at the hem and cuffs. I love duck egg blue with fire engine red, baby pink with black, powder blue with dark brown, and both pale yellow and peach work well with charcoal. As for seafoam green -- I don't have much use for that with or without a contrasting color!

When selecting a color palette for a project, is it all trial and error? What is your process for doing this?

It depends on my mood and what I feel drawn to at the moment. My personal preferences seem to change about every 6 months or so. I try to go for combinations that I’ve never worked with before and that I haven't seen anyone else work with lately. I start with one or two colors that I like and then I try to add a color that is unexpected. For example, when I started the 'Everything but the Kitchen Sink' sweater I was really into blues and greens. I added lavender to shake things up a little.


When mixing colors, I'm never sure how to deal with warm and cool tones. Is okay to use both in one project?

Sure! I think it works well with 2 colors, like violet and lavender, or with a few pairs of warm/cool combinations.

The color combinations in your book are modern without being overly trendy. How can I select colors for knitting projects that will still look great years from now?

That's tough. I find that color dates garments just as much as style. When I see grass green, I immediately think of summer / autumn 2004. When I see certain shades of pink I think of 2003. I'm sure that a couple of years from now when I see plum I'll think of autumn 2006 (and, if the runway shows are any indication, spring 2007). If we're talking about anything beyond red, navy, and your basic neutrals, color dating is hard to avoid. My advice is to choose colors that you know you'll still feel comfortable wearing in a few years.

I love seeing kids' knits in more modern colors, as in your "Baby A" design. It seems we're moving away from dressing kids like crayons! At the same time, it can be hard to choose colors for kids that aren't too 'grown up'. What colors and shades are you enjoying in kids' designs right now?


I like anything that makes kids look like people and not like dress up dolls. I really like to see kids dressed in blacks and charcoals and greys, but I’m just goth that way.

The holiday season is approaching! Although I love to give hand-knit gifts, sometimes it's hard to select a color for another person. How can I think about color when I'm making something as a gift?

This can be tough. Not tough to figure out, but tough to execute. What I mean by that is that you can observe what colors a person tends to wear and make your decision pretty easily. Unfortunately, I find that when I knit for someone the colors that they wear are usually colors that I find pretty boring to knit with. There's nothing worse than having to endure a whole project's worth of knitting in a color that doesn't inspire you. Choosing a color for someone that you think they should like or that you think that might look good in, but that you haven't actually seen them wear is usually a big mistake.

What do you think about sweaters made entirely of striping, bright yarns like Silk Garden?

The key is that the pattern needs to be really simple. Otherwise, it just gets a bit too noisy if you know what I mean.

Is there such a thing as too much color?

No! I knit a Koigu coat with about 65 different colors! If you're going to work with multiple colors or yarns you need either 7 or 37. Seriously. A weird thing happens when you have like 11 or 18. Somehow it just doesn't seem to work. Again, with something like this you need to keep in mind that the project is meant to showcase the colors and not the pattern. Keep it super simple!

I love how your Poppy pattern uses color to shape the silhouette of the wearer. How can I choose colors and combinations that show off my figure like this?

Honestly, I have no idea. I'm on the skinny side and I design sweaters that I want to wear. I, mostly, like garments that are fitted. I think it's sexier. I don't like to see anyone wearing a tent. I think bigger women look fabulous in sexy, fitted sweaters. The key is that the gauge needs to be fine. Chunky sweaters make you look bigger and nobody wants that!

Thanks, Shobhana for your wonderful book and your thoughtful comments. I can’t wait to get started on some of these fabulous Yarnplay patterns! You should too. Pick up a copy of her book -- Amazon link here-- and then hop over to Lolly Knitting Around on Monday for more discussion about the book.

Because I never do these...

...and I'm trying to distract you until I can upload some pictures! Besides, everybody's doin' it....

48 Things You Could Care Less About

1. FIRST NAME? Dana

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, although my parents found out after they named me that I had a great-great aunt with the same first name.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Mmm. Can’t remember. Probably at my wedding, 4/1?

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I LOVE my handwriting, mainly because I can change it at will.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Corned beef

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Tough question! Probably sometimes.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes, but the entries are infrequent.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Um...no.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Fruit Loops, as a snack food.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes, most of the time.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes – hence my handle, sturdygirl.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Coffee.

14. SHOE SIZE? 10.

5. RED OR PINK? Definitely pink!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? That sometimes it is hard for me to be optimistic and worry-free.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandma Ginny, who passed away when I was 14.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No thanks! But I would be curious to see other people’s answers.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Grey pinstripe pants, white shirt, and black shoes (with purple stripes).

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Coffee (this morning), movie popcorn (last night)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The heating ducts in my office.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Periwinkle!

23. FAVORITE SMELL? My husband’s laundry/facewash/deodorant/general aroma. Second place: lemon verbena.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My little brother David.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? The smile!

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? YES! Hi Bonne and Lisa!

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Gin and tonic (with extra lime, please!).

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Speed skating. But since I can’t watch it very often – next choice is baseball.

29. EYE COLOR? Brown.

30. HAT SIZE? Don’t know!

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Used to, and will again – but right now, I am 4-eyes.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? A toss up between fettucine alfredo and asparagus

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings all the way!!

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Definitely summer.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Definitely hugs.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Crème brulee.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No idea!

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Surprise me!

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Billy Phelan's Greatest Game by William Kennedy (author of Ironweed)

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Don’t have one

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? I didn't, I was at a private screening of a new movie, Bobby

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Waves/water, the slurping sound mac & cheese makes when you stir it :)

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Stones

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Honduras

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Coming up with theories about stuff that I know nothing about

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Ohio

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nabbed from Bonne Marie’s blog

News Flash!!!

I have some very exciting news!!


I’m kicking off the blog tour for Shobhana’s new book, Yarnplay! On October 22, Shobhana will be featured here at Knitting Aloud. We’ll be talking about color – how to choose it, how to mix it! – as well as discussing some of the amazing designs in the book. So tune in next Sunday! Tell all your friends! Also, check out the rest of the blog tour – see below for a list of Shobhana’s blog visits next week:

Monday, 10/23: Lolly Knitting Around
Tuesday, 10/24: Knit And The City
Wednesday, 10/25: Purl Jam
Thursday, 10/26: Hook & Needles
Friday, 10/27: Serendipity
Saturday, 10/28: Scout's Knitted Swag

Yee-Hah!

I was in the Big D this weekend...Dallas. We were there for a wedding which was mostly Vietnamese with a little Texas thrown in. Exhibit A:


Me on the mechanical bull. On my first try, I was on for all of 4 seconds. On the second try (shown here), I made it to about 35 seconds. Putting an arm up in the air seemed to help, but that thing can really whip you around!

And last week, I finished a hat! This one is notable because it actually fits me! See?



This pattern is from Exquisite Little Knits by Iris Schreier and Laurie Kimmelstiel. In the book, it's done with Karabella Aurora 8 and a Blue Heron Beaded Rayon - I subbed an orphan skein of Koigu Kersti for the latter. I think the seed stitch makes it stretchy enough to fit easily. It's done on pretty large needles, too - so this could be a good pattern for holiday gifts.

That's all for now - I'm off to enjoy the last gasps of the holiday weekend. Ciao -

Projects

In sewing class yesterday, we...USED A SEWING MACHINE! This was the first time in my life that I have ever operated a sewing machine. It was fun, but a little like a 16 year-old driving a fancy sportscar - you want to go fast, really REALLY fast, but it probably wouldn't be a great idea. I was a little slow this week, so I didn't start seaming; I just finished the edges on my pieces. Can't wait for the next class!

I am also starting on Christmas gifts. This holiday season will be "FFF" - Full Frontal Family! We'll be seeing about 80% of my husband's family a couple weeks before Christmas, and about 80% of my family on the holiday. I don't expect that everyone will get knitted gifts (if so, I should have started in March), but I think some people might really enjoy one, so I plan to whip up a few things.

To that end, I started a scarf. This is Manos in the Wildflowers colorway, 30 stitches on a US9. K1, P1. Lather, rinse, repeat.


(Take another look at this colorway here. I think this is their most beautiful one.)

I made a scarf just like this a couple years ago and in the process felt my heart sing right along with my needles. Yesterday while knitting on the current one, I thought to myself: this is not just any scarf...for me, this scarf is l'essence of knitting. A simple pattern; a beautiful yarn made with a conscience; smooth, strong needles; combine all of these things with a few quiet moments and This, my friends, Is Why I Knit.

I'm planning to make at least three or four more of these this holiday season. I don't know how most of my friends and family feel about hand-dyed, multi-colored, thick-thin yarn...but I'm going to encourage a few of them to broaden their horizons by giving them scarves like this. We'll see how it goes!

Hope everyone is well. I, for one, will be glad when this work week is over! It's already busy...

Guess What?

I'm sewing!


I've taken the plunge, but I'm NOT going over to the dark side, or any other side for that matter! I am a knitter first and foremost - but I have other crafting interests and I'm not ashamed to admit it. (grin)

I'm three weeks into an eight-week beginning sewing class at a local fabric store. It seems a little weird that we haven't touched a sewing machine yet, but I think it's all in due time. In the picture above you can see one of my cut pieces and some of the fabric I'm using. It's a dark-ish grey Thai silk.

Although I've just started, I can see how sewing could be a very challenging task. I'm increasingly impressed with people (hi Mary!) who can create a garment out of a piece of fabric. There are a lot of steps and many opportunities to make mistakes if you are not careful.

I'm getting ready to sew, but I'm always ready to knit! Here's what I've been up to lately:


The Lindy bag has one side gusset done. It wasn't too bad, just a little shortrowing. The grey blob is a sleeve of the Lucy in the Sky cardigan from Cosmicpluto Knits. I'm using Berroco's new yarn Ultra Alpaca. It's very soft, increasingly so after washing. I've just gotten started on the body and learned that I hate buttonholes. But if you want buttons - c'est la vie, right? The cookbooks denote another topic on the brain lately...healthy eating! Husband and I have renewed our efforts to eat healthily and pay more attention to fat and sodium content.

Anyway, hope everyone is well. Fall in Chicago has definitely started. Perfect knitting weather! Catch you later...

Double your color, double your fun

This is a momentous day on the blog. Today is the day that I reveal my FIRST EVER two-color project! (I showed one other multi-color thing once, but it was a swatch.)

Behold, the Lindy bag:


Well, it's not a bag yet, but --it's drinkin' milk! You'll see, one day it's going to be a handbag! If you want to get the pattern, it seems like the best thing is to go here and email the designer, Amy Swenson. She can tell you which stores carry her patterns. (I bought it in Moorhead, MN.)

I haven't learned to knit continental, so I just change colors by dropping one yarn and picking up the other (first color over, second color under). Tension seems pretty good, although I'm told that blocking helps color work quite a bit. (It looks kinda twisty because this was a before-work picture and I didn't have time to smooth it out all arty-like.) And even if it's not perfect the darn thing's getting felted, so I'm not going to get in a knot about it. I'll let you know how it goes.

So that's all I've got to report for today! TGIF!! Party at Loopy tonight, maybe I'll see you there? If not - have a good weekend, everyone!

A Screeching Halt

My knitting has ground to a total stop this week. I had been waiting for my Oxblood Elann Peruvian Highland Wool, which came yesterday. This yarn is definitely not what I think of when I think of the color oxblood. Of course, I can't show you a picture because 1) it has not been photography weather here in Chicago and 2) it's out of stock at Elann. To me, this yarn is rust, or russet, or maybe even maroon - it's just got sooo much brown in it. No way I can wear this color. So I'll be sending it back. I did keep one ball, since I was curious about the yarn; I started swatching with it last night and it is s-c-r-a-t-c-h-y. So I'm not sure that I want a go-to-work cardigan out of this stuff. Maybe I should finish the swatch tonight and wash it before I make my judgment, though.

Loopy Yarns is having a party on Friday (woo hoo!) so I think I'm going to hold out until then for a suitable Lucy in the Sky yarn. They've got Cascade 220, the new Berroco Ultra Alpaca, and I'm hoping they'll have a couple of other worsted weight, non-scratchy choices. I'm looking for a burgundy/wine color, or perhaps an aubergine. Burgundy/wine would be better, so then I'll have a (gasp!) Christmas sweater.

Until then, I'm just about project-less! I've got some finishing to do on a little sweater - but no actual knitting. I've got one UFO I could work on, but - the weather's already turned a little chilly to really focus on that project. I've sorted out the small-quantity, hat-suitable yarns in my stash, and I bought Hip-Knit Hats - but hats still make me nervous. That, and I really need something I can sink my teeth into! A nice big project...I'll mull it over. Maybe I'll be back tomorrow with some news to report.

Oh! I almost forgot. The soap is fabulous! It's a lovely minty-lemon scent, and it has a rich, creamy lather. Go here to get some. (Mine is the greenish one second from the right.) Thanks, again Susan, for having a fun contest!

What? Who, me?

Awww shucks. I'm just a baby sweater.



I finally finished this little sweater for my two-month old cousin. His name is PJ! (Ordinarily I wouldn't put a child's name on the blog, but since initials could be just about any name, I figure it's okay. Right?) I've never even seen a picture of him - but my mom has seen him and held him so I know he is out there, just waiting for his handknit sweater (ha ha). Of course, I am only too happy to oblige.

Continuing from my last post: I had been thinking about making the Hourglass sweater, but then realized that I didn't have enough of the yarn I'd planned to use. Luckily I was saved from knitting bewilderment (what to knit next?) by Laura, who posted the awesome "Lucy in the Sky" cardigan. This is totally my next project! So much for stash-busting - I took this as an opportunity to try out Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool. I heard Oxblood is the color to get. $25 for a whole sweater! Sweet.

Also, thanks to the anonymous commenter for the suggestion to combine my 2/8 mill end with a third strand of a similar yarn to make a chunky sweater. That should do the trick!

Another 'who, me?' moment: Susan recently had a contest on her blog, and I won! Which means I get hand-made soap! I never win anything - and not only did I win, but I won something I actually like! Very exciting.

Well, that's all I've got for today. Hope everyone is doing well. We've gotten through Wednesday - so it's time to look forward to the weekend.

Happy Fun Knitting

I've been having so much knitting fun lately! Finished projects, compliments on finished projects (thank you!), seeing friends and meeting new knitters Jenny and Katie at KIPs around town, stashbusting, Japanese knitting books...I can hardly contain myself these days!

And so, as I wrap up the first baby sweater (pics later), I'm thinking about my next project. I've been wanting to make an Hourglass Sweater, but did not want to shell out for Noro Cash Iroha (as beautiful as it is). Once I made the OSW using two strands of fingering weight yarn, I remembered some mill end 2/8 merino/cashmere in my stash. I got really excited thinking it would be enough to make an Hourglass - so excited that I brought the cones to work to weigh them on the postal scale. :)

Weight of cone 1: 7.6 oz. Weight of cone 2: 9.9 oz.
Total weight: 17.5 oz.
This weight includes the cardboard cones. The yarn is supposed to be 1660 yds per pound, so...if it is used double, I will have at most 800 or so yards at my disposal. Not quite enough. So what to do with the mill end? What to DO?

I don't really like short-sleeved sweaters. (To me, that defeats the purpose of a sweater, which I like to wear when I am cold.) I could probably do a vest or something, or maybe a shawl? But I don't know how a double-stranded shawl would work...

I dunno. Let me know if you have any ideas. If it helps, the yarn is black.

And it's the weekend! A long weekend, for many of us in the U.S.! Have a happy weekend and holiday, everyone!

Whoa.

Pretty Sweater:



Not so pretty:


I wish I could show you just how complicated this pattern is! But I don't want to infringe on copyright - hence the fuzzy pic. I guess the key with Japanese patterns is that any information that can be reduced to a symbol or a short series of numbers is presented that way. There is no text, just lots and lots of arrows, lines, numbers for measurement, stitches and decreases, and...Japanese. I think if I saw a similar pattern in a language I speak, it would be daunting. But throw the Japanese in there and it's - just -

whoa.

Once, twice - nope, just two times an FO.

I had a great weekend! Two friends of ours were married on Saturday. It was a happy occasion and one that called for new duds. For the Friday night get-together, I went with a patterned dress - but needed a little shoulder covering to make it an "outfit." My fellow KIPpers saw the Glampyre One Skein Wonder come together and near completion. Well, I finished! Here it is with the dress:


The color of this yarn is incredibly difficult to photograph - but suffice it to say, the color coordinates very nicely in person. I used Handmaiden Sea Silk in Berry - held double to achieve the worsted gauge. The pattern is fab - if you haven't made one, hop to it already!

Also, you may recall that I was working on a shawl while I was on the West Coast - I finished it last week. Continuing my Cavalcade of Bad Hair Days:


I used Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb in Ravenswood. I wasn't sure I liked the colorway, but I LOVE this yarn. So soft and smooth to knit with. This aqua-colored tank top seems to go pretty well with the shawl colors; I may have to get creative to coordinate the shawl with other clothes this fall/winter.

Anyway - I'm just working on some baby sweaters now. Two friends have recently delivered, and another reminded me that she was "still waiting" for a sweater for her second child, who is now five months old. Better get knitting! Yes, ma'am.

Hope everyone is well and looking forward to the Labor Day holiday!

Variety is the Spice of Knitting

Lately, I have been focused on knitting through my stash. I haven't decided not to buy any more yarn, just to try to knit up what I have. This is mostly because I'm tired of looking at the same yarn, not because I don't want to have a stash (although a smaller one would be preferable). Also, it's been a little demoralizing to keep looking at things that were (to me) bad purchases - the 'what-was-I-thinking-I-don't-wear-this-color' skeins, the 'it-looked-good-in-the-store' yarns, etc.

I went to a yarn swap at Arcadia last weekend, where my goal was to get rid of everything I brought and not bring anything else home. Given that the yarn store owners also planned to donate the leftovers, I figured this would be easy to do. Not so. The yarn swap was very formal (I thought): everyone laid out their items, and then walked around to see what they might want from others. If you wanted something, a bartering process would begin and the yarn would be traded.

Since I had brought Koigu and some other name brand-y yarn, lots of people wanted to trade with me. So - I ended up with some new-to-me yarn! I got some Noro Silk Garden and some Misti Alpaca Sportweight in these colors:


It was such a fun experience, because I never could have predicted getting these yarns! And although I love them both, I never would have picked these colors. Now I will have to think of something I can make with them. (just not together!) I think I will use the alpaca double-stranded and make a cozy hat. Any ideas for 300 yards of Silk Garden?

My West Coast Booty

You may recall that I was planning a serious yarn crawl while Hubby and I were on the West Coast. Well...as you might expect, I didn't end up doing that much yarn shopping.

While in Portland, I visited Knit Purl. What an incredible store! It struck me as a very "zen" yarn shop - soothing sage green walls, calming music and minimalist design. They carry a lot of local yarns, which means the current fave Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Loom In Essence (colored with natural plant dyes) and Oregon's Own (can't seem to find web sites for those last two). They also carry Handmaiden kits - which I have admired from afar but never seen in person. Here's what I chose:



On the left is the Angel/Rumple Scarf Kit from Handmaiden - on which I've already made great progress! It comes with a silk boucle and a thin kid mohair, hand dyed to match. The fabric they make together is SOOOO soft! The colorway is a blue/periwinkle (although it looks sort of aqua on my screen).

The item on the right is very interesting. Knit Purl has a store brand of yarns called ShiBui. I think they are working on distributing the brand more widely, since I saw an ad highlighting ShiBui Knits in the last Interweave. (I also overheard an intense meeting in the store leading me to believe this) I bought the sock yarn in a moss green color, which has a twist and sheen like Koigu, but in saturated, nature-inspired, elegant mostly-solid shades. There are other ShiBui yarns available too, from DK to bulky weight.

And lest you think Knit Purl is not fully stocked - they have Noro, Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Koigu, Brown Sheep, lots of cashmere and tons of other things. They also have their own line of beautiful patterns, which have a modern, somewhat Asian feel.

So, although I can't speak for Portland's (many!) other knitting stores, I can say Knit Purl is REALLY worth a visit.

The weather in Chicago is beautiful today - so I'm going back outside! Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Knitting where you least expect it

Thanks, everyone, for the kind wishes on my blogiversary and honeymoon. I really appreciate all your good thoughts winging their way to me through cyber-land.

At one point on our trip, I was trying to look for sea glass to take back home. We had been on the same beach the day before, where I'd seen tons of it - but this time I just wasn't finding any. And then - I saw one piece. And then I couldn't STOP seeing it!

Knitting is kind of like that. If your eye is looking you'll find it. Like this item at the Lewis and Clark National Historical Site, which we visited last week - a knitting kit for a historically accurate hat.

And then sometimes when people know you're a knitter, they show you knitting stuff. My husband's aunt showed me this:


A book called "Make it with Mademoiselle," as in the magazine, circa 1977. The intro is pretty entertaining:


I, too like designs that don't "demand a lot of coin." Still, it's pretty cool that the editors came up with all of the patterns themselves. There are tons of cool patterns for knitting, crochet, sewing and crafting projects. There are even instructions for cool ways to tie a head scarf. I'll leave you with two of my favorite patterns from the book:





The bottom photo is labeled "Crunchy Sweaterjack and Cap." Never heard of a sweaterjack, but I like it!

You can get your own copy at www.abebooks.com. Leave me one, though!

Later, y'all!

My Blogiversary

Today's my blogiversary! I missed it last year, so I wanted to be sure to post about it this time.

Blogging has added so much to my life. I've met people from all over the U.S. and other countries, read about knitting projects and life's work, visited places I may never see in person, and learned about recipes and cultural traditions. I've given and received encouragement and support on knitting and beyond, from careers to family to life's twists and turns. The more I share through blogging, the more the world and all the viewpoints and people in it keep expanding.

None of this would be possible without those who write blogs, and those who read them. I am so grateful for getting the chance to be a tiny part of your lives and to share part of my life with you.

Hubby says it's time to stop blogging and get back to honeymooning. So, here's a pic from Portland, with my latest project. (for the sticklers among you, it's a shawl in Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb in the Ravenswood colorway)


My best to all of you!

Tidbits

Hi all! It's been a while since my last post. I don't have pix to share, so I guess that's the reason.

Last night my husband and I went to see The Roots (and Talib Kweli) in concert. Aside from the poor sound quality at the venue it was jammin'. It was a late night for a Monday but well worth it. I was even tempted to go to the aftershow, a DJ set with ?uestlove - but given how tired I was the next day I guess I was kinda glad we didn't!

I've continued to work on my Ribby Shell - it looks pretty much the same as my last pic. I've also been working on a ribbed wool hat from some Morehouse Merino Chunky wool - it turned out pretty well, though a little small for the hubby. No matter - for some reason, hats are a challenge for me, so every time I make one I just hope to get a little better at it.

Fall Interweave Faves

Did y'all get the new Interweave? I LOVE this issue. There are so many things I would like to make, and even the things that don't suit me personally are still really good patterns. (I don't always think this about Interweave.) I made a collage of my favorites.

Two more days and we're off on our honeymoon! It will be a much needed break from work, as well as some bonding time with the hubby before he gets busy with the fall semester. I'll try to keep the yarn store-hopping to a minimum (grin), but Portland is just overflowing with them! I've picked out a few that seem neat and that also have local yarn brands: Lint, Knit Purl, and Mabel's Cafe and Knittery.Not to mention the one at the beach, Siren Song Stitchery (love the alliteration). Anyway, I'll try not to overdo it.

I may not get to post before I leave, but I plan to blog at least once while I'm away. In the meantime, happy knitting! Ciao bellas!

Weekend, Part II

I've already said there was no knitting last weekend - but did you honestly think that meant no YARN??!? Before we left on Friday, I scoped out the yarn store options in Moorhead, MN. Turns out there's this awesome store, called The Knitty Gritty Cafe. It is, in fact, a cafe as well as a yarn shop. It's BEAUTIFUL. See for yourself:



One of the store's employees is an artist, and her work is all over the walls of the shop. Plus, there's yarn everywhere (see that lamp in the far right of the picture) - including the bathroom! (don't worry it's not for sale, just decoration)

It's a pretty compact store, but don't let that fool you - there were a bunch of things in this store I've never seen before, such as: Mango Moon Mohair and something called Bali Sky, and another one that's like hand-dyed strips of t-shirt; Ironstone Yarns of many fibers and hues; patterns by Lucy Neatby; and all kinds of smaller brands whose names I can't recall (I should have taken notes!).

The store was super friendly as well - I had a nice chat with Tricia, who was working that day. I also talked to these ladies, who knit but who were actually in for a coffee! Plenty of space to sit, knit and enjoy a latte...



...so if you're ever in Moorhead, check out The Knitty Gritty Cafe! And now, for my goodies:



I knew indigirl had patterns, but this was the first yarn store where I've seen them. If you can't make it out - the bag has a houndstooth pattern on the front and back. The yarn is Ironstone Yarns Harmony - again, never seen it before, but Tricia says it's great for felting. It's reasonably priced and soft, so I got enough for the purse and some in a beautiful heathery dark teal/navy (in the foreground). I'll let you know how it works out.

So that was my weekend. Now that I'm back all I can think about is the next time I'm going away - we are going on our honeymoon a week from Saturday! I'm very excited. Anybody have any yarn store/alpaca farm-type recommendations for Seattle or Portland/Oregon Coast? Let me know! Later y'all...

Things I learned this weekend

1. Floating in a swimming pool is truly relaxing.


2. Lots of people, not just knitters, like handknit dishcloths.


3. Marriage, if done right, really does give you a second family.

I spent the weekend with my husband’s dad’s family in Minnesota. I spent two days with almost no internet, knitting, email or watching TV – that would never happen at home. Instead, I hung out with my new relatives, drank margaritas, played in the pool, and just generally relaxed. It was a wonderful and unique weekend.

Stay tuned for more about my trip.

P.S. July

Thanks, everyone, for the kind birthday wishes! They were a nice surprise and very much appreciated. It's been a busy year, what with the moving, job search and new job, wedding planning and wedding. After all that, I plan to focus on relaxing this year. :)

The Norah Gaughan lace hoodie is in time-out right now. I just don't have the heart to try the lace-flipping again for a little while! I've already ripped out my mistakes at least three times.

So I decided to work on a quicker project, and bust some stash:



The lovely Bonne Marie's Ribby Shell! And in a snappy lavender color to boot. The yarn is Classic Elite Provence, purchased from last year's Webs Anniversary Sale. If you've never knit with this yarn - run out and track some down...it is so beautiful. You know how when you use fabric softener on your clothes, and they come out of the dryer all soft and cushy feeling? That's how this yarn feels when it's knit up (although it feels pretty normal in the skein). It's multi-plied so it evens out your stitches too. The only bad thing is that it retails for $12.50 a skein - ouch! Maybe Webs will put it on discount again.

Anyway, that's all I've got for now. Thanks again for the good wishes - here's to another great year.

July 8

July 8 was my birthday! And it was indeed a kick-a$$ birthday.

It started on Friday with a surprise delivery of flowers, and Garrett's Caramel Crisp popcorn - my favorite treat and a Chicago tradition!


I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure on Saturday morning. So relaxing! I now have hot pink toes. Later in the day, my husband and I did something I've always wanted to do: we went to afternoon tea. Check out these treats!


They really did taste as good as they look...wow.

Lest you think the day was over, we had dinner at a great authentic Mexican restaurant called Maiz - they have been written up as having the best margaritas in the city! So being a 'rita lover, I had to check them out. See for yourself:

The food at this place is wonderful - so fresh and flavorful, as well as reasonably priced. We had chicken with mole, and lots of other things whose names escape me now.

A few months ago, I found out that my favorite musical artist was going to be in Chicago on my birthday! So naturally I had to go. Her name is Nanci Griffith - and the fact that she was headlining the Chicago Irish Fest did not stop me from seeing her! (yes, you may chuckle) Actually, the festival thing worked in our favor - the tickets were only $8 for a nearly two-hour performance. Later we waited by her tour bus, in the hopes that we could meet her and get her autograph - I did get her autograph (her manager took my liner notes - and Sharpie - to her on the bus), but didn't get to meet her. Anyway, it was still a special moment!

So that was my day. I'm 31 now! Wee.

No knitting progress, as I keep screwing up the flipping lace. (Flipping as in minor curse word, as well as the maneuver where the lace flips from one side to the other to go up the other half of the sweater's front.) Hopefully I'll get the rhythm going again soon.

Later, y'all! Hope everyone had a nice weekend.

Challenge: Week 4

I missed doing a week 3 update, so it's week 4 now. I'm doing pretty well on the sweater, but it's pretty clear that the pieces won't be done in four weeks. Here's where things stand:



On the left we have the back with two sleeves on top (2nd sleeve is nearly complete), and to the right we have 50% of the front. You can see the part where I flip the lace to go the opposite direction; unfortunately, the ribbing for the other side of the front is on the wrong side, so I have to frog back. I did what I thought the directions told me, but - as Elizabeth pointed out - the RS becomes the WS, and vice versa, so I'll have to read them again in that light.

I still think that had I not had two weeks of work from H-E-doublehockeysticks, I could have at least finished the knitting in 3-4 weeks. But I'm still proud of my effort, and even more proud of my stick-to-it-iveness: this is the only thing I've knit on in the last month! I never have that kind of focus, so it's been refreshing. I should try being a 'one-project woman' more often.

Have a great weekend, everybody! I have some special activities planned for Saturday ...more on that later.

Oh, and P.S. - y'all know Webs? Well, they have launched a full line of yarns under the name Valley Yarns, and it's similar to KnitPicks in that they source them direct from the mill and sell them for low low prices. And Webs is a great company - family run, community-minded...very cool. Check it out!

Saturday

Today was all about me! I had a great day being on my own schedule, doing what I wanted to do for as long as I felt like. The best thing I did today was go to the Marimekko exhibit at Illinois Institute of Technology. There was a brief period in my life in high school when I wanted to be a textile designer – so this was a great thrill for me.

I knew a little about Marimekko, but I learned a lot at the exhibit. The vision guiding the company came from a woman, Armi Ratia. In 1949, her husband bought a company called Printex that made plain old cotton fabric. In order to help market the product, she hired young designers to design new prints for the fabric and make a small collection of clothing from them. Beginning with a 1951 fashion show of these designs, Marimekko was born.

I’m no historian – so go here to read more about Marimekko’s history. Unfortunately, the exhibit doesn’t have a catalog – so that’s the best I can do. For Chicago folks (or visitors! come visit!) - the exhibit will be open until July 28.

I've made a set on Flickr of some of my favorite images from the exhibit. Enjoy the feast of color!

Up next in 'day of me' day activities: Tivo'd episodes of Knitty Gritty.

Challenge: Week 2

Well. Those sticklers among you will note that this is technically week 3, even though this is the week 2 update. My progress to date:



From left to right: one sleeve, one teeny-tiny bit of a sleeve, the back, and (gulp) half of the hood and a teeny bit of the front. Clearly, I have my work cut out for me! But I haven't given up hope yet - at least to have the pieces done by June 30. I've finally gotten the hang of the lace pattern, so it's going more quickly now - and having a stockinette sleeve to work on is great stress-relief knitting. (not that I need stress relief knitting or anything...ha!)

Well, it's back to knitting for me. But before I go, I want to plug a new magazine that you should run out and buy: Adorn Magazine. I bought the premiere issue, and it's a really fun magazine. Perfect for you multi-craft multi-taskers out there! Lots of stitching, sewing, paper arts and beading. Plus, I love the tag line: The Crafty Girl's Guide to Embellishing Life.

That's what I need: some embellishment.

Later, y'all.

Challenge: Week 1

The sweater continues...I've finished the back piece and have started on the front. It starts at the middle of the hood, and you knit down to the shoulder, then down to the hem - you turn the lace border (it's reversible), cast on more for the other side of the front, and continue back up the other side. I guess I'm being so descriptive because what I have so far is this:


Kinda small!
It's a little bigger now, since I took this picture yesterday. It's going okay, but it's pretty time-consuming. Also, I realized that this is my first real lace pattern, and I have no idea how tightly or loosely to knit the lace section so that it stays the right size once the sweater is finished. I don't think it's supposed to be blocked very much, if at all - so it's anyone's guess.

Work is kicking my butt this month, so finishing the sweater will be even more of a challenge than I anticipated! But I guess that's why I don't decide to make a sweater a month, every month. I love seeing it take shape, so that keeps me going. I might also cast on a sleeve to carry around, for those times where I can't break out a chart and concentrate but want to knit.

Anyway, that's all I've got for tonight. I'm tired! Hope you are all well. Thanks for stopping by...

Big Post!

BLOG POST PART 1: In which I recap my Mass. trip and stash flash.
I'm back! I had a great time at my college reunion, in spite of myself. Everyone was so happy to see each other that the competitiveness vibe seemed to have worn off...leaving us free to have fun and reminisce about our younger days. As for myself, I had a number of happy reunions with college friends, and a few that left me wistful - and still more that showed me how I've grown as a person since college. I always think that seeing old friends is a time to evaluate where you are in your life, and even more importantly - how authentically you are living your life. Are you still the person your friends once knew? Is that good or bad? Are you living in a way that reflects more or less of who you really are? Big questions...

...on to the yarn. I made it to Webs! In fact, I drove there straight from the airport. Believe it or not, I was not the only person attending my school's reunion who had done exactly that! Webs was all I hoped it would be. Everyone talks about the warehouse, which led me to believe that's what the whole store was like. In fact, it has a beautiful, large "retail" space before you even get to the warehouse part. I think they have just about every brand of yarn there is (except for Rowan). Anyway - you can find any color, any fiber, any weight of yarn in this place. And the friendly staff will help you do it. Here's what I got:



Tahki Willow in a mottled beige-y color, and some Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton. The Tahki Willow is becoming the Norah Gaughan hooded pullover from VK Spring/Summer 2005. I've already started; this cotton/linen blend makes a beautiful fabric. (here's a closeup.) The DB w/c is for a hat for my little bro. The Tahki was discontinued - combine that with the Webs volume discount and it was a super deal. The DB wool/cotton is also discontinued - a very nice yarn; too bad. I also got some ebony wood circulars - they are so smooth. It's like they're not even wood. And the best part about these is that they are recycled remnants from the manufacture of musical instruments.

BLOG POST PART II: In which the Gauntlet is Thrown.
So I was waiting for an appointment the other day, and decided to knit for a few minutes. The receptionist noticed what I was doing.

Nice Receptionist Lady: What are you making?
Me: A sweater. This is just the back, not too exciting.
NRL: How long do you think it will take you to finish it?
Me (thinking): Maybe about 3 weeks. But it all depends on how much time I spend on it, how busy I am...

We continued chatting. NRL told me how she had tried knitting, but didn't have the patience for it. She went on, "My grandmother did embroidery - oh! she did the most beautiful work! And my aunts, well - they can look at what you're wearing and go and sew something just like it. My daughter crochets, my sister and my nephew both knit; and then there's me." Apparently she's the only person in her close family who doesn't do anything with needles.

So I was listening and talking, but then I was also thinking: how did I come up with a timeframe of three weeks? What went into this calculation by gestalt, as it were? And - could I do it? Would I get bored? Would my hands cramp uncontrollably? Would I have a finished garment by June 30?

You're about to find out.

Knitting Reading

I have a fairly healthy library of knitting books. (this might be a gross understatement.) It started about eight years ago with Vogue Knitting and Debbie Bliss’ Knitting Workshop, and has continued at varying degrees of frenzy ever since. I’ve bought my share of titles lately, so I thought I’d tell you what I think about a few of my newest reads.


Knitting Nature
Although I always gravitate toward Norah Gaughan’s designs in VK and Interweave, I didn’t even know she was writing a book until I read about it over at Lolly’s. I ran out to get it after work the same day, and it did not disappoint. It is full of unique yet eminently wearable designs, from tanks to sweaters to skirts and accessories. There are at least five patterns I would start right now, if time permitted. I loved reading about the patterns in nature that inspired her designs. I was a biology major in college too – but I never thought about it this way! It just goes to show that there is always a way for a person to blend her passions and talents. I’ve read at the knitalong that there are problems (some minor, some major) with some of the patterns. I haven’t tried any myself, but I kind of hate to hold that against the designer. Maybe that’s crazy. It’s also crazy how hard it is to find out anything about Norah Gaughan on the internet. Berroco recently posted a Q & A with her about the new book, for subscribers to its KnitBits e-newsletter, but as far as I can tell, she flies below (or above) the radar. Her book was a window into her mind – I only wish she had a blog or website to continue the story.

Yarn Girls Guide to Beyond the Basics
Okay, I’m a sucker for buying this book. Or am I? After all, the patterns are all the kind of thing you could come up with by using The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, a worsted gauge, and body-conscious measurements. But the Yarn Girls do the hard work for you! The book is filled with classic yet modern, simply constructed garments with easy-to-follow patterns. There are winter weight sweaters (a beautiful cabled turtleneck is at the top of my project list), summery tanks and short-sleeved sweaters for in between, as well as accessories and throws. The yarns are fairly common - Berroco, Karabella, Filatura, Blue Sky, to name a few. This book has many more patterns in smaller gauges as compared with their first book - a welcome change for those of us who shudder at the sight of anything bigger than 4 sts to the inch. But, some of the patterns are a little too simple – for example, there’s one for a moss stitch scarf. There is also a section of patterns for ponchos, and personally - I think that ship has sailed. Still, if you want patterns for wardrobe staples you will actually wear, I would recommend it.

The Purl Stitch
I think I was the last knitter on earth who didn’t how to increase in ribbing, but not anymore! In the two weeks since I bought this book, I have found answers to knitting problems I could not find anywhere else, or that I could not understand in any other book. Sally Melville has a way of explaining things that makes them seem so logical and easy. And even though the book has a fairly instructional style (not to mention the fact that I usually just look at the pictures), I enjoyed reading the short anecdotes between the patterns and lessons. I apologize to all the Sally Melville fans, but I really only bought this book for the great Kersti ribbed pullover pattern! So it has been the surprise knitting book hit of the year for me.

I’m at a little bit of a project crossroads, so forgive me for the lack of knitting progress stuff! I’m headed to Mass. this weekend, so hopefully Webs can help me embark on a new zingy project.

Awww....

So, I think a certain someone won't like this very much, but it was too sweet not to post. I got home from SNB (can't say the full name!) in Wicker Park last night, and found this on our message board at home:


(name erased to protect the cute)

It's always nice to know you've been missed...

Anyway, projects! I've been working on a baby sweater, for my coworker who is about to be a dad for the second time. The pattern is from Reynolds, but I'm using Blue Sky Dyed Cotton which is sooo soft. It will look pretty much like this sweather I made last summer. Hopefully I'll be done tomorrow.

Also, I just discovered that there's a knitalong for Norah Gaughan's book, Knitting Nature. I looked at some of the projects people have already started, and it makes me want to start on a big ol' wool sweater instead of making summer knits! I've been feeling a pull toward Manos, Cascade 220 and other wooly yarns...maybe I should just do it! I can always save a cotton project for Knit in Public Day (June 10). My wrists get a little sore with the cotton, so maybe a wool project would be just the thing.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

...Actually, it's THIRTY-EIGHT DEGREES AND RAINING! I have to say, for the first time since we moved here in July, I would like to revoke my Chicago residency. This is just TOO COLD for May. However, I did break out my Lara sweater today, which was a nice suprise since I thought I wouldn't see her again until next fall/winter. Sadly, no Orange Peel outing this week.

Speaking of Madame Orange Peel - thanks so much for your compliments! It's great to get the feedback. This was my first top-down raglan (really!) and I'd love to make another. Probably not for a while, though - all the stockinette hurt my hands.

I've settled on my next project. Although I bought the new Norah Gaughan book, I've picked one of her older patterns, from Vogue Knitting last summer. There's a photo here. The only dilemma is, which yarn to use? The pattern calls for Trendsetter Spiral, which is a) discontinued and b) acrylic. I'm hoping to find a reasonably priced cotton (or linen or silk) blend that has some texture (or variegation) but won't stretch out too much over time. Tall order! I'm thinking of something like Classic Elite Flash, Artful Yarns Olympic, or GGH Linova. Linova is really hard to find online in a color I want, and the Flash and Olympic are both multicolored (or "marled,"I guess) but you can't tell from the photos online how they'll knit up.

What's a girl to do? Well, that brings me to my next topic: my college reunion. This summer is my 10th college reunion and for some crazy reason I have decided to go. All of my friends are going too, so that will be lots of fun...but then it hit me: I can go to Webs! My alma mater is very close to this yarn mecca, but I've never been there! But I read Stephanie's post and saw her photos - so I think this will be just the place to find some awesome summer yarn for this project.

There may be more angst about the reunion as it approaches (at the end of the month). But for now, there is only anticipation about the fibery goodness and friends in my future!

One last thing - I put up a few wedding photos on my flickr account here, in case anyone is interested. (There are none of my sweetie, though, because he likes being anonymous in the blog-o-sphere.)

Ta Da...

I give you...

Orange Peel!



Why the name? Because after seeing this photo - the shirt looks so tight, you'd have to peel it off!! Ha ha. It's actually not tight, just very fitted. I was trying to make it as fitted as possible, in case the yarn stretches out.

Project Specs:


• Green Gable pattern, for sale at Zephyr Style
• Yarn: 4 1/2 balls of Lang Lyra, 54% Cotton, 46 % Silk - purchased at Loopy Yarns
• Gauge: approximately 5.5 sts=1" on US 6s
• Modifications: I added waist shaping so the shirt would go over my tummy! Also, I made the torso a LOT longer. (Note: I am 5'8''.)
• Time to knit: About 3 weeks

All in all, a fun knit! I would recommend this pattern. I would also recommend the yarn, at least to knit with - we'll see how it holds up.

Hmmm...what's next? I have sock yarn for May Project Spectrum - but I need another larger project. I like the idea of having a sock (or other portable) project and a big project going at all times. I'm still finishing the shrug project from the last Interweave, so I have some time to think. There's some cute tops in the new Interweave, but I need to check the stash first. Plus, the lovely Shobhana has a GREAT sleeveless top pattern out...that might be next on the list. So many possibilities! It's a fun dilemma.

Happy knitting, all! Check you later.

Snap back to reality

Oh there goes gravity
-Eminem

The last few weeks have been quite an adjustment for me. Now I know why people go on honeymoons right after they get married. It sort of postpones the inevitable return to earth after so much time spent focusing on your family and friends and minute details of event planning. We aren't able to go on a honeymoon for another couple of months, so the aftermath of the wedding has been a sort of general sagging feeling. Now what?

We're happy and everything, that's not it - it's just that the whole consuming focus of your life is over and you have to take some time to re-balance. So that's what I've been up to. One thing I'm planning is to get trained to be a literacy volunteer. Also, I (hopefully) will be selected to serve on the board of a nonprofit I'm really excited about. Basically, I'm trying to get off the couch and rejoin the human community, where everything is not about me and what color napkins I want. (grin)

That said - the Green Gable, she is almost finished:



She needs a new name since she is SO not green! I won't quite make the April P.S. deadline - but I'm close. Hopefully I can finish this week. For next month - I actually broke down and ordered some yarn from MamaE! But I justified it because I started the second sock for a pair I started last winter. After carrying the sock around in my briefcase for the last week, I gained new appreciation for the easy portability of a sock project. So, we'll see if I finish in the month of May! It will be a challenge not to be distracted by summer knitting projects.

Well, that's it for now. Hope all is well in blogland...

Hey from Dallas

Hi all,

I'm writing tonight from a hotel room near the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Yee-hah! I'm at a conference, and we had a banquet tonight at the Historic Stockyards in Fort Worth. Of course, I didn't take my camera! So I'll have to regale you with some funny signs I saw along the roads of DFW:

• TCU: Horned Frogs Explore


• Lt. Ralph Swearingin for Justice of the Peace, Tarrant County


• Bud Sellers (what do they sell exactly? it looked like used cars, but who can be sure?)


• Awesome Transportation (across the road from Bud's, which might explain the *awesome* name of this limo service)

I guess that's enough giggles for one night. Of course, air travel and hotel rooms mean only one thing: copious knitting time! I am working on the Green Gable top from Zephyr Style. After a few false starts (those pesky YOs!), it is swimming along:




I love this yarn! It is sooo bright - I even toned down the color a bit before posting this photo, so as not to blind you all! I think I bought way more than I need for this project, so hopefully I can exchange the remainder for a different color of this yarn to make another cute spring/summer top. On second thought - I should probably see how it wears first.

Anyway, not too much else to report here. Hope you are all enjoying the spring which has come your way, whether a lot or a little!