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.