Squares I have Known

This past week, my knitting has centered around squares. I'm making afghan squares for the Rebuilding Greensburg project. I've knit these simple garter stitch squares while focusing on the people of this town. I am thinking so hard, it's like I'm trying to 'beam' my thoughts there, to give them the strength they will need to have in order to rebuild.


It's also been fun to use up small amounts of yarn left over from other projects. On the left is Rowan Kid Classic. A great yarn - very soft but still substantial. The burgundy is Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool. Even though this yarn is a little scratchy, it has a really nice 'bounce.' I've put this yarn back on my mental list of ones to use in the future. The light blue is Malabrigo. Incredibly soft, but it doesn't seem to pill too much. The last one is Karabella Aurora 8. I have a hard time getting gauge with this yarn because it's so sproing-y, but for something like this, it was perfect. This is a very smooth yarn to knit with. The big honking ball of red yarn is a full skein of Valley Yarns Berkshire. I should get a few squares out of it.

I wonder how many squares people will knit. I think it's possible that Laura (the afghan project organizer) will end up with a LOT more than she planned on. I guess it's enough to hope the response will meet the need.

Happy knitting, all!

A Few Things

Looptopia is this Friday! Are you going? Let me know! As one knitter pointed out, any event with 'loop' in the name should definitely have knitters in full force! The Windy City Knitting Guild is sponsoring a knit night from 10 to midnight..but there are plenty of other things happening too!

Also, thank you THANK YOU for the nice comments on my sewing project! They were so fun to read. Yes, I do feel like I've come along way - definitely in my confidence with sewing, and somewhat in my technique.

In other news - my knitting world is somewhat monotonous of late. I finished the knitting on Flair, save picking up the neckband, so that's set aside for some quiet couch-side knitting. Other than that, the only project I have going is the lacy Kidsilk Haze shawl. It keeps getting longer, but there's really no reason to post a pic.

So, I'll share some fun colors instead. I am planning to make a scarf for my mother-in-law. She requested blues and purples, so here's what I've got:


This is Dream in Color yarn - the left Colorway is Nightwatch and the right is Some Summer Sky. It doesn't show up so well on my monitor, but the darker one has plummy purples in it. I'm thinking about making a LMKG Chevron scarf...but I'm looking for other ideas as well. I'm also thinking about whether these are the right colors...I may need to look for something with more purple since that's what she asked for. On the other hand, she does have beautiful blue eyes, so maybe I should stick with these.

Also, I have a new toy:


I bought this Ashford niddy noddy so I could reskein some previously-knitted yarn - I know you don't need a tool to do this, but my back-of-chair attempts were wholly unsuccessful. And, the niddy noddy was under $15 from Webs. Plus, who could argue with how beautiful this yarn looks against the smooth wood?

One other thing - I'm madly in love with this cardigan. I may have to rip this off for fall. We'll see if the swingy sweater trend continues!

Hope you are all enjoying spring!!

More Sewing!

Okay, I sewed again this weekend. Now I see what some people mean about sewing providing 'instant' gratification' - in this case, a few hours of sewing and pressing and I have this great bag!


Basted & Pinned


Taking Shape


All Over but the Hand Sewin'
It's not perfect, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry it, either. This bag is the perfect size for a weekend 'go bag' - snacks, sunscreen, book/magazine, knitting - all your necessities! The shoulder straps are the perfect length too.

As a sewing newbie, I give this pattern two thumbs up. The main challenge for me was stitching around a curve - but the more I practice, the easier it is. It also helped me figure out how many fabric layers my sewing machine will go through before it starts whining. :)

I look forward to making a few more of these bags. I would love to give some as gifts, with the fabric colors/patterns customized for the recipient.

I have also been knitting! The lion's share of a sweater has materialized this week - I'll post pics when the sleeves are done!

Hope everyone had a terrific weekend!

The Money $hot

This is no surprise to those of you who are stylists and/or know how to make things look beautiful...but it's so interesting how the way a knit design is styled can affect your perception of the pattern. For example...

...Blue Sky Alpacas' Eyelet Cardigan pattern. I saw the picture they are using to sell the pattern, and I thought, hmm - does that woman have really broad shoulders? Or is it the pattern? Since I'm kind of a linebacker, maybe that's not the pattern for me. Plus, I think it's a v-neck and I like round necklines.

Later, I ran across this image on the store blog for Loop. Whoa! Now THAT'S a sweater I'd like to knit and wear. The color and the head-on shot really help to sell the design - I don't even mind that it's on a mannequin and not a person. Money in the bank! I will definitely buy this pattern, and I will buy Dyed Cotton for the project.

I was surprised to find out that the sweater pictured on the Loop blog is actually from a Blue Sky trunk show. Unfortunately, most of us will not get to see the sweater in person. I love Blue Sky yarns, especially the Dyed Cotton used for this project. It's so soft and has a beautiful pearly luster. It does pill somewhat, but that's the trade-off for the off-the-charts softness. If you've never used it, maybe this project will tempt you!

Updated to add: it's been pointed out to me that I never said that these two photos are of the same pattern! That was really the whole point of this post. How embarrassing, that I edited my post to the point of not making sense. *Sigh*

Sewing Weekend

I spent my crafting time this weekend sewing. I can't help but feel a little guilty - sorry if you stopped by to see knitting! Anyway, I thought I'd post a pic of the top I'm working on - it's not finished because I seem to have misplaced the elastic. (And it needs a hem.)


It's just a little peasant blouse - I made it longer so it's more of a tunic. The sleeves are going to be a little poufy too (hence the need for the elastic). The red is a little blinding but, for spring and summer I love color! I'm considering adding some embellishment but I don't know what yet. I think this will look great with a pair of fitted white or dark denim capri pants and ballet flats (or espadrilles), and a chunky beaded necklace.

I also picked out fabric and a pattern for my second sewing project. I got the fabric from a cool store here in Chicago called Quiltology. Here I've started on Amy Butler's Swing Bag. I haven't gotten very far, but the pattern instructions seem fairly straightforward. The bag will be reversible - but I plan to use it with the polka dots on the inside most of the time.


Since they're focused on piecework, all of their fabric is cotton but they've got Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Denyse Schmidt and other beautiful fabrics. I am planning to take their beginning quilting class, but just haven't freed up the mental space and physical time to do it.

I consider learning to quilt to be one of my lifetime goals. When I was in college, my parents lived in upstate New York (near the Finger Lakes - a very crafty part of the country). One of their neighbors was a quilter, and my mom and I briefly discussed having her make us a quilt. Sometime after that, it occurred to me that I could learn to quilt, and pass on my own family heirlooms. One day I'll make quilts for my children, and some day long after that they will hand them down to their children. It's a dream right now, but one that I can definitely make real.

Have a good week, everyone!

Yarn Choices

The Ott-Lite is really helpful for seeing the true color of yarn or fabric. The other day I mentioned that I had bought two kinds of yarn in a pool green/blue color. The second batch finally arrived in the mail, and I was trying to decide which to use for my project. I decided to put them under the Ott-Lite and photograph them to see which color I liked best. Here's what I saw:


The yarn on the top clearly has more blue in it, while the yarn on the bottom is much more green. In natural light - especially under a camera's flash - their shades look almost identical (even though the Blue Sky is darker). I'm going with the Blue Sky...and debating whether to return the Cameo Cotton from Ram Wools. Is it too seafoam-y? Should I keep it for baby gifts?

I love the Ott-Lite! I'm going to use it to choose/match/sort colors from now on. I'm also planning to use it this weekend while I'm sewing - so hopefully I will have pictures of my new garment soon.

I'm already focused on the weekend because hubby is going out of town today and won't be back until Sunday night. What's on the agenda for me? Knitting, sewing (and hopefully finishing my first solo garment) a trip to the spa...which is plenty to keep me busy. But after the sad events at V. Tech, it seemed harder to let him leave. It just seems like a time for holding your loved ones close.

Take good care, everybody!

Le Weekend

Some great things about this weekend:

• WE MIGHT GET THE OLYMPICS! GO CHICAGO!!
  
• Cupcakes from Sarah's Candies. This place has some of the best cupcakes I've ever had. My husband and I are regulars - they even know our order. :)
  
• A movie. We saw The Lookout. That Third Rock kid was pretty good. Definitely fun to watch.
  
• A sale at Joann's! See below for my great deal.
  
• The Bleeding Heart Bakery, which I discovered while waiting for the bus this afternoon. It is the only USDA-certified organic bakery in the country! Tasty ginger scones, too...
  
• Sunshine! It seems spring may have finally come to Chicago.
  

So, what did I get at Joann's? This, for 50% off:


Tabletop Ott-Lite! Sewing seems to strain my eyes, and I've heard lots of good things about these. We'll see if it helps.

The Kidsilk Haze shawl project is going great. I've gotten more comfortable working with the yarn, so my tension is evening out. I am totally addicted to this project...I can't put it down! I've knit about 12 inches so far:


Adrienne asked what size needles I'm working on - I'm using US 7s. The pattern called for 8s, but mine were not pointy enough. Even though the yarn is very fine, visible progress is much faster than I would have thought. I guess the mohair fills it out a bit. I will have to block it though - it won't be long enough as is. And it will look better anyway once blocked, just to even out the stitches.

Anyway, hope everyone is currently having a great weekend. Happy knitting!

Easy Lace

I have this book called Exquisite Little Knits by Iris Schreier and Laurie Kimmelstiel. It has beautiful patterns for accessories in moderate to luxury yarns. I feel like I should review the book and post some pattern pics - it's not a title you hear much about in the blogosphere. Anyway, there are couple of really nice designs for Kidsilk Haze. For some reason, I have really been wanting to try knitting with this yarn. I think it's because one day I'd like to make Melissa's Granny Smith! So, I'm taking the plunge!



You can barely see the pattern, but I found some pics of the full stole here. The pattern is only a two-row repeat, so I've got it memorized. The needles are Suzanne's Ebony, which are just pointy and rough enough to work perfectly. And, since it knits up just like it looks in the book, I think minimal blocking will be required. Add the fact that the yarn is so compact-able that I can easily fit everything in my (overstuffed) purse, and you have all the makings of a perfect on-the-go project!

Re: Flair - I found what looks to be a nice, inexpensive cotton from Ram Wools. It's called Cameo Cotton, and I ordered the Oriental Blue shade. However, then I went to Nina (a local LYS), and somehow managed to buy Blue Sky Cotton in Azul, a nearly identical color. I guess I just really like that color. So, I'm waiting to receive the Cameo Cotton to see which yarn I like better for this sweater. Plus...it's not nearly as portable as my Kidsilk Haze project.

Happy knitting, everyone!

Checking In

Just stopping in to say hi, even though I am not feeling all that bloggy...partly because last week, I took the time to write a review of Amy Singer's book, but Blogger and Bloglines conspired against me and failed to let people know it was there.

I haven't been knitting, but I have been working on a sewing project - my first since the class I took last fall. So far it's going pretty well. I just finished the neckline, and I tried it on - it's exciting that it actually fits! If it turns out well I will post pictures. I think I like sewing, but it is seriously time-consuming. Maybe I will get faster at it the more I do it.

Otherwise, I have plans to design a top in Euroflax Linen (sportweight). It was such an amazing experience to knit a swatch with this yarn, wash it, and see it turn from something like steel wool into a drapey, soft fabric.



I can't believe the weekend is over already. I'm headed into week three of my return to work. There are big changes going on in my office, requiring all of us to step up a little more. (okay, a LOT more) I would love another day in the weekend but barring that, an easy and satisfying knitting project would be a great stress reliever. Since I find myself almost totally project-less, I'm trying to decide on a yarn to make Flair. I love this jacket - the retro shape, the modern asymmetry, the total springiness...sigh. The problem is finding something that will 1) keep its shape, 2) be in a color I want to wear as much as I want to wear this sweater and 3) be easy to knit with (i.e. NOT linen). So far my top choices are Valley Yarns Goshen, Rowan Calmer, Online Linie 12 Clip, or maybe the Blue Sky Dyed Cotton in the pattern. I'm also thinking about a lightweight wool like Karabella Aurora 8. Choices, choices! I think finding the perfect color is more important to me than the yarn. Do you think that way too?

Anyway, Happy Easter, if that is your holiday, and hope everyone had a nice weekend. Later...

Book Review: No Sheep for You

**Hey! Long time no post. Since I heard that Amy Singer is coming to town to promote her new book, I thought I would post a review and some snaps of designs from the book. Happy knitting!**

It was desperation that drove me to pick up a copy of Amy R. Singer's No Sheep for You. I had purchased some Louet sportweight linen yarn for a loose-fitting spring top. Upon bringing it home, I was horrified to discover that according to Louet, "This yarn is more suitable for pattern knitting than for plain knits. Small areas of plain knitting are fine, though." Since I had planned a nearly all-stockinette garment, I was really worried that this was not the appropriate yarn for the project at all. I was seeking Amy's advice (and hopefully reassurance) about my choice.


Amy begins with a fairly exhaustive discussion of each type of fiber, where it comes from, and its properties. Manufactured fibers from natural materials (e.g. like rayon and corn) and synthetic fibers are covered as well. She also talks about how fibers are combined with others to produce stronger, softer, lighter or drapier yarns. Amy's casual writing style makes even the most arcane yarn production detail interesting and clear. The only fiber I would have liked to read about is milk fiber, a component of one of Vickie Howell's new yarns. Maybe it will be included in a sequel (Still No Sheep for You?).

I read the section on linen carefully. Although she discusses Louet’s warning and some gentle advice from Sally Melville on not knitting linen in stockinette, her advice reads, “But what if you don’t expect perfection in your stockinette? What if quirky is just what you wanted? Then knit on!”

The next section of the book is all about swatching. Amy stresses the importance of getting to know a non-wool yarn before embarking on a project. Some fibers, especially linen and cotton, can behave very differently after a "bath." She even suggests hanging a swatch for a day or two, so as to compensate for the "sag factor" common with non-wool yarns.




Of course, there are patterns. Amy's book is filled with glorious patterns for sweaters, tops, socks and accessories, and a beautiful silk shawl. (There is even a tank knit in linen, with a lacy back and a front that is – gasp! – all stockinette! More reassurance that my project will look great.) There is a heavy emphasis on intricate colorwork;perhaps this is what knitters miss most when using wool is out of the question. One particularly impressive pattern mimics the woolliest of Norwegian sweater designs! The book's designs show that non-wool projects can be comfortable year-round.



Amy Singer’s sheep-less book adds something that was definitely lacking from the knitting book scene. She has offered a great resource for non-wool knitting, with consideration of every aspect of the process including fiber history, substituting yarns, swatching, and ultimately knitting some beautiful designs in a wide variety of natural and manufactured fibers.

Amy will be at Loopy Yarns in Chicago on April 4.

The Wearin' o' the Shawl!

It's Saturday, so it's time for a husband-enabled photo shoot! I couldn't seem to get good pics of the shawl by myself (no eyes in the back of my head), but today I got some help. See if this works - I'm just putting the thumbnails so you can click to see the big images.








I'm so happy with the way this turned out. I'm thinking about making another shawl for spring/summer, maybe out of silk. I bought Lace Style for some ideas and techniques, and I have a few other patterns stashed away as well. I particularly like Ella, Lace Leaf Shawl, Polly's Kiri shawl, and this lace shawl pattern by Meg Swanson (scroll down).

Next topic: St. Patrick's Day in Chicago! I'm not really up for braving the crowds downtown, but I'm celebrating in my own way:

Just regular coffee, folks! There will be actual Guinness later...

Have a great St. Patty's Day and a great weekend, everyone!

Blocking is Hard!

I decided to block my first-ever lace project today. It was hard! Even though the shawl was damp, it was really difficult to get the top edge to be straight and totally perpendicular to the center stitch column. Sigh. Oh well! For my first effort, I'll take it! It was really fun to knit lace, and even better to see it stretch out. The Dream in Color yarn did very well, I think. I see another shawl in my future, even though I'm not crazy about the pointy parts at the bottom edges.

I also want to say a huge shout-out and THANK YOU to my knitting buddies who sent me the sweetest get-well card! It was such a suprise! (and I heard my hubby was in on it too - sneaky!) I really miss getting together to knit. But it won't be much longer before I can rove the city in search of knitters and more yarn, as usual!

Another fun thing: I sold some yarn on the Destash blog! It was my first time de-stashing and I have to admit, it was kind of thrilling. Plus - stuff really moves on this site! I sold each lot I posted in less than 24 hours. Apparently I have good taste, if an overactive buying habit!

And one more fun thing before I go: my friend has started a new blog with an awesome name: Knit Crit. The focus of her blog is knitting pattern reviews, and with your input, it will turn into a real resource for us to "look before we knit." So, check her out!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Another FO

I got an awesome get-well gift from my dad: yarn! His wife's sister runs a yarn shop, so he had a little help with the selections. He sent a sweater's worth of Froehlich Wolle Bergschaff - a very soft, chunky, slubby and yet machine washable yarn - and a skein of Trekking for some socks. I wanted to hurry up and knit up a sweater to show Dad that I really appreciated his gift. So here's what I made:


It's a top-down raglan with a stand up garter stitch collar, garter stitch trim and three-quarter sleeves. Here's a close-up of the fabric:


All in all, a quick knit from a great yarn.

I'm also working on finishing a few languishing projects: 1) the two-color felted purse; 2) a pink cardigan that needs buttonbands; 3) the Norah Gaughan lace hoodie; and 4) the grey-navy raglan.

I've been watching many, many episodes of my favorite daytime shows, including Clean House, Get Color, How Do I Look?, and What not to Wear. Although some of these shows are about fashion and some are about the home, a common theme is CLUTTER. Although I am not in need of Clean House's services - our clutter is manageable and you can walk in our apartment - I have been thinking a lot about how I could better organize and use my things, get rid of things that are not working for me, and generally have a more harmonious life. So, I think getting rid of my knitting clutter by finishing projects is a good way to start that while I am resting. We shall see!

Projects

My mom has gone back home and my husband is at work. The healing process is going smoothly, and so I am just knitting away at home and trying not to get sick of TV. Thanks again for your greetings back to blogland! It's good to be (mostly) back.

I have progress pics to share! First up, I have a hat that was made from a kit from Cloverleaf Yarns. It was purchased a loooong time ago, so I'm not sure about the colorway - but they still sell them here. It turned out beautifully:


The picture's a little overexposed; the colors are actually a smidge deeper. It was fun to knit, alternating between chunky boucle, mohair/wool blend and heavyweight mohair in light to dark shades. It's double-stranded, so I knit it in an afternoon. It fits me, and it's warm - but they aren't my colors. Must figure out a suitable recipient for the hat...

...and, the shawl is finished! This took about a week and a half of solid, monogamous knitting (the hat came after). I love the Dream in Color yarn, and Susan's pattern was a perfect start for this lace newbie. Check it out:



And a close up:

Obviously it's not blocked, but I'm not quite up to that yet. Since I had extra yarn, I added one pattern repeat. I'm so excited to see how big it will get! All in due time...

I'm still knitting on my gray and navy sweater, too. I'm well into the yoke and am figuring out what lace pattern I'm going to use for the neckline. The lace is going to be hot pink, I think. My husband thinks the sweater will be "busy." We'll see! There may be another FO soon...

Later, y'all!

Me again

Hi everyone! I'm on the other side of surgery and happy to say that everything went very well. Thank you all for your good thoughts and well wishes. I know they helped keep me safe.

I am at home and on the mend. The pain is manageable, and my mom and my husband have been taking good care of me. I'm spending about 98% of my time in bed, but so far I'm not too bored...I've watched a LOT of DIY, HGTV and TLC. I'm also totally hooked on Top Design! (Why didn't Ryan get kicked off this week instead of Elizabeth??) I'm also knitting, but the turnaround time for photo shoots has lengthened substantially. :) I'm working on the Forest Canopy Shawl in the Dream in Color yarn I showed last week. It's beautiful so far! It's my first lace piece, so I'm excited to see it come together.

Also, I couldn't have been more surprised to receive lots of flowers! And since it is February and snowy, I thought I'd share some happy flower photos. Looking forward to catching up with all of you since I am back home and online.

New LYS

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful comments and well wishes. I accept them gratefully and I trust that everything will be fine.

Just a brief post today, partly because I didn't want the surgery post to be the only thing up here for the next two weeks! I wanted to mention an AWESOME new knit shop here in Chicago. It's called Knitwerks, and it's run by Cherrl Harmon. She is just the kind of person you imagine should have her own knitting store. She's competent and creative, welcoming and funny...and the store is a reflection of that.

I wish I'd taken my camera the first time I visited Knitwerks, but her website's got some pics. And, my stash enhancement will give you some idea of the selection:



Top right is a basket from Lantern Moon. Beautiful silk lining and a drawstring closure. I thought this would be great for knitting while prone - so I don't have to worry about runaway balls of yarn. Bottom right: Noro Kureyon. She's got Kureyon! I'm planning a multidirectional scarf with Karen Baumer's free pattern. Left hand side: this yarn is new to me. It's called Dream in Color, and it comes from Aurora, IL. It's springy and soft, with subtle mottled color effects. I'm going to make a Forest Canopy shoulder shawl with the berry color, and socks with the blue color.

So, what didn't I buy?! Cherrl's also got Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Fiesta, Interlacements, Blue Heron, and more! Plenty for you if you visit.

Later, y'all. See you soon...

UPDATED TO ADD: In case you've been wondering whether to pick up one of the two new novels about knitting, here's a review of both from the Christian Science Monitor.

Busy

Busy times around the sturdygirl household of late. I've been really busy at work, and busy attending to personal stuff too. It's all in an effort to get things squared away before I have surgery and am home from work and resting for four to six weeks.

Yes, you heard me. I'm having surgery on February 8. It's somewhat scary but I think it will be okay. I've never had surgery before, or had a reason to rest long-term for anything other than a broken bone (and that was when I was 6). I think the inactivity and temporary loss of my independence is almost scarier than the surgery.

On the plus side, I should have some quality knitting time to look forward to. When I first found out about this, I was wracking my brains for a special project to start and finish during my recuperation: a lace shawl, a cabled afghan, etc. But then I decided...screw it. It's too much pressure, and I'm not sure I want an item that just reminds me of a scary and painful time. I'm just going to do whatever I feel like and finish old projects, start new ones, swatch, practice crochet, or anything that comes to mind. My brain - and my body - need a break from deadlines and projects.

Oh, knitting? Right. I've been steadily working on my sweater, but realized through trial and error that it did _not_ need waist decreases. In fact, adding in waist decreases created a significant 'pooch' on the sides of the sweater. Not attractive. So after all this work...


(about 14 inches of fabric)
...I'm back to the picture you saw in the last post. Sigh. Oh well, knit and learn! Later, y'all...

Projects

I've been knitting, really! I've just been working on scarves, so I haven't posted any pictures. I've just finished one for the Red Scarf Project, and will send it off as soon as it's sufficiently blocked. I also made two scarves for Food and Friends in Washington, DC. If you have a scarf surplus, or just feel like making a scarf, you might think about making one for their Scarf Drive. They are a great organization. They are really in need of unisex, non-novelty yarn scarves.


I've also started on a sweater. It's going to be a raglan, with a sort of slouchy fit - and it's going to have (gasp!) a third color yet to be determined. I'm excited to see how it turns out. I'm using two colors of Berroco Ultra Alpaca, and after my work so far I can confidently say I am _not_ allergic to alpaca. Yay!

I have a lot of energy for knitting, but not for much else after work today. I realized late on Sunday that my weekend did not have nearly enough time for just lying about. Apparently I normally use the weekend to really relax, physically - and I was paying for it Sunday night and today. Anyhoo, I'll just try and slow things down a bit this week.

Hope you are all doing well!

Art

"You ask how I know of Toledo, Ohio? Well I spent a week there one day. They've got entertainment to dazzle your eyes: go visit the bakery and watch the buns rise."

-John Denver

Some of you may know that I am from Toledo, Ohio. I was there at Christmas this year, for the first time in a long time. It was great to go back to my hometown and see how it's changed (or hasn't). It's not the most exciting city (see above quote), but it does have a world-class art museum. When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time there, taking Saturday classes almost every term. My mom likes to tell the story of how, in order to get me signed up for my first classes (I was 6), she had to wait in line for hours on the first day of registration. She was about seven months pregnant with my brother, and she says she stood for a long time before someone brought her a chair.

I can't say I was the star of any of my art classes, but in high school I began to show a little promise. Unfortunately, my family relocated after my sophomore year, and I wound up going to a school with almost nothing in the way of an art program. After that, I did very little with visual art, although I did get more involved in music. My college degree is in biology. My current work (which, incidentally, does not involve biology in the slightest) requires very little in the way of creativity, especially with regard to the visual arts.

Not sure why I felt like talking about this; I just started writing and it came out. What got me on the topic was that I wanted to share some pictures from my Christmastime visit to the museum. I guess going there reminded me of a time in my life where I felt a world of creative possibilities. I'd like to think that through developing my knitting and (nascent) sewing skills, I'm entering another creative era of my life.

So anyway...here are some pictures from the collection at my hometown museum. I should also say that Toledo is the glass capital of the world, having been home to several of the largest makers of fine glass, the Libbey Company, as well as other industrial glass companies. The museum has a new Glass Pavilion which displays its vast collection of glass from antiquity to today.


Stegosaurus by Calder and the Museum


1st cent B.C. Roman bowl, mosaic ribbon glass technique


Libbey Glass punch bowl


Lalique bowl


Campiello del Remer #2 by Chihuly, inside the Glass Pavilion

An FO

These are my feet.


I made these socks from Sweetgeorgia Yarns Speed Demon yarn (which is approximately sport weight) in the colorway Viola. I got it from here (great service!). I loved working with this yarn - it knits up smoothly and the colors are dappled and don't pool.

My only (small) complaint is that owing to my large (US 10) feet there was not quite enough yarn to finish the toe of the second sock. I had a small remnant from the one other pair of socks I've made, so I just used that.

I asked my husband what he thought. "Well," he said, "it would have been cooler if both toes had that other color." Nice, but no dice. The remnant was insufficient for both toes. And I didn't want to dip into a full skein of something else to have matching toes for this pair, only to cause the same problem down the line. And it goes without saying that ripping both socks and making them shorter was out of the question.

Have you seen those shoes where they are mated but not matched? Look here. And so I have socks from the Camper school of design. Sort of.

Later, y'all!