SojournKnitting

WIP It!

2011-11-12T18:05:00.001-05:00

Starting a project is so very therapeutic. Finishing, not so much.
This my second Kepler sweater in progress. The first, made from luscious Frog Tree Merino, shrank a bit and was gifted onward. Kepler the second is being knit with oh so soft Madeline Tosh Merino in the Tannehill colorway.

I have a love-hate relationship with her yarns. There. I said it publicly. And it felt good.
Any who. Her color dyeing is awesome. My beef is that there is precious little consistency in the dye lots and they are small. Small as in, too bad, so sad big girls. No sweaters worth of MadTosh for you! That sucks dinosaur eggs.

So this was the best that I could do for a MadTosh sweater. 3/4 sleeves and ill matching parts. Sigh. It only took me a year and a half to get over the anger to two seams away from completion. Just wait until I learn to dye my own yarn. Just wait!

Festival Sweaters

2011-10-30T23:22:00.000-04:00

The last fiber event in my area is this coming weekend.
It's the 2nd Annual Fiber Festival of New England, located in West Springfield, MA.
While I'm not 100% certain that I'll make it this year, the urge to finish a new sweater in time weighs heavy on my mind.

Rather than start something new from my Ravelry queue, Kepler out of my WIP bin seemed like the smartest way to go. I only have the sleeves left to go. Sleeeeves. Ugh! Trying to work smarter this time around by doing two at a time on my fast N pointy glass circs. Cable bands. check. Picked up stitches. check. Time enough to finish? Ummm...Wish me luck!

Oh, Snap!

2011-04-26T02:41:00.000-04:00

A heel flap!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is my first pair of socks in the making!
I would not have gone this far without the encouragement of fellow knitter and sock enthusiast, SharonV. Thanks!
This is a relatively easy pattern from the wonderful book, 2-at-a-Time Socks, by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. They are called Ragg Hiker and I am using Ella Rae Classic Superwash. Nothing could be more soothing for my first time out than this simple pattern in worsted weight yarn.

I am so excited to also get this done using this method. Both socks are made using only one long circular needle...at the same time!!!! Love the built-in UFO prevention. For this to all come together, I had to learn the magic loop technique which I picked up at a Market Session class during the Stitches South Knitting Expo a couple of weeks ago.

Alright, more sock updates later on this week and I'll share a bit about my trip to Stitches in Atlanta.

A Perfect Fit

2011-01-11T20:05:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year all!
Hope that it is well with you in body, mind and spirit in 2011.

Are you ready to knit?!
Can't wait to spin up the fluff?!
Let's get this party started!

I'm starting the craft year off with inspiration from knitting mentor and friend, SharonV. These Monkey Socks were a gift from her needles. A perfect fit. Thanks SharonV!!

Fitted Garter Vest

2010-10-23T16:14:00.000-04:00

In the afterglow of a wonderful fall day out, I thought I'd share at least one project off my needles this year. Creative Knitting's Fitted Garter Vest made it's debut today.
This pattern is also free on the DROPS Design Studio website as 117-43

It's knit up with less that one hank of BriarRose Fibers Abundance yarn on size 8 glass circular needles by Sheila & Michael Ernst. Buttons are from M&J trimming.
I love the stand up collar! Bonus - I finally learned how to do short-rows. Hooray!

2010-10-12T20:52:00.001-04:00

I Can Haz Yarn?

2010-10-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

Purple Rain! Purple Rain...

2010-10-11T23:32:00.002-04:00

The softest skein yet of my 2010 spinning. It's 186 yards of 60/40 cormo/alpaca from Foxhill Farm.
The singles for this fingering weight yarn were...uh, shall we say...rustic? I found the near pencil roving of this fiber to be full of nepps. Is that a word? Any way, it was not overwhelming but surprising and was remnisciant of carded fiber destined to be a tweed yarn. This is not what I expected when I bought it, but figured that I'd make peace and continue on.

Interestingly enough, the plying cancelled out most of the nepps and gave me an almost buttery yarn. Mind you, this has not been washed so I look forward to seeing what other possible transformations could occur.

What else is left to spin? Sigh. I have the second 4 oz braid of both the sunflower merino (slooowwww) and SpinABit BFL in the masquarade colorway. I got the bright idea that if I began half of this and half of that, my fiber stash would dwindle significantly in the shortest amount of time before, you know when.
Rookie mistake! Basically this is what I've done with my knitting. I cast on for about five projects at the same time months ago and to this date only one of them has been completed.
My remedy for the fibers? Getting more bobbins. Top of my list!

2010-10-10T12:28:00.002-04:00

Funnel cake for breakfast and this in anticipation...

Falkland!

2010-09-26T19:08:00.002-04:00

Quick post before the season premiere of The Amazing Race comes on.
Between rows of the Salem Hooded Jacket from New England Knits and my second Kepler sweater, this:

It plied up to about 149 yards, 13 wpi, sport weight-ish yarn.
There's lots more Sunflower merino to spin because...well because I've been knitting all week instead.
Happy, happy! Joy, joy! A finished object is off the needles! Yes, Virginia. There are unicorns.
Film at eleven....

Autumn's Here!

2010-09-23T20:48:00.000-04:00

Progress of Necessity

2010-09-21T12:47:00.000-04:00

Three weeks, three days left until the next splurge at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival.
That means two things: obsessive list making and furious speed spinning! Queue flying monkey theme music from the Wizard of Oz!
Can I really spin at least two ounces per day until the festival? Here's my progress this past weekend.

First up, easy peasy merino spinning. This is three of 8 ounces of multicolored merino in the Sunflower colorway by Cloverleaf Farms. These braids remind me of the "colonial" wool, whatever that means, that I purchased at my very first Rhinebeck. It seems highly processed with no noticeable crimp in texture. In order to keep the singles from snarling, it required that I draft way faster and treadle a lot slower. This is not easy coming from bfl pace.

Not fur nothin' though, I totally would have had an even four ounces done on Sunday were it not for having to give my cat his semi-annual bath. That's right. I said it.
Don't judge. His claws are really sharp!

Now Saturday was all fiber, all the time. I came dangerously close to finishing a vest that may be nice to wear for the trip. There is just the right front to finish and it's done. Your FO vibes are welcome, please send them my way!

When I was all knitted out I made quick work out of four ounces of purple falkland wool from Woolens Bullens. I had forgotten how smooth and luscious this fiber is to spin. Yum!

Just Craptastical!

2010-09-07T23:36:00.002-04:00

A whopping 85 yards!

Alls I got from that beautiful batt of Grafton Fibers Corriedale (so far) is 85 yards of snarly attitude. Hmph!
Even though I halved the batt, the bobbins were wildly uneven. Another navajo ply candidate on the to do list. Great. If that wasn't bad enough, just as I was finishing the ply on junior, my jumbo bobbin broke apart!

Now when I fancied another jumbo bobbin for my Rhinebeck shopping list the other day, little did I know that it would become an actual need instead of ~~lust~~ want....

I'm going to go knit something!

Weekend Spinning Finale

2010-09-06T22:58:00.003-04:00

Wish that I had a chance to take this photo of the finished skein in the daylight. The colors are lighter in reality. Then there is my problem of capturing an accurate shade of purple. This ain't it. There's fushia, gold and bottle greens from the 4 oz batt. Love it! OK, the stats: approximately 119 yards of tweedy randomness. It is thick to thin, mainly dk to worsted weight yarn. The sections that I measured mostly ranged from 13 to 10 wpi.

What didn't make the cut? 3 oz of baby camel. Only a smidge was spindle spun. That's going to be a while before its yarn. Then there is a scant bit of light blue angora, which weights less than an ounce. How will I spin that any way? Lastly, a dark red 1 ounce pouff of carded wool. All unspun. I grabbed all my odd n'small amounts of yarn for the challenge. Batches of fiber that are 4 ounces or less that I wouldn't mind rushing though because they'd wind up being knitted to a hat, collar or cuff.

I'll continue spinning like a maniac in the weeks to come because it's all most time for NYS Sheep and Wool. Gotta make room!

It's 10:57p. Putting my hands up and waving them in the atmosphere!

Ready to Concede

2010-09-06T19:06:00.000-04:00

It is hours away from the challenge deadline and I think that I am about ready to wave the white crocheted doily... The 4 oz of Black Cherry BFL from Susan's SpinningBunny has been spun and skeined.

From that fiber: 151 yards of 16 wpi, dk weight yarn.
The color looks complementary to the Crosspatch singles that are still marinating on their bobbins.
Is it possible that they may have a future together?...Things to ponder, over holiday ribs and Asti...
Hopefully, my headache will have subsided and I can ply that tonight before 11:00pm.

What is most doubtful to be plied tonight is the 4 oz batt of Grafton Fibers Corriedale.
I loved, loved, loved the colors. Too bad that by late last night I hate, hate, hated to spin. My wrist hurt and I got real crabby, real fast. I confess, 16 ounces was more than I could handle. There, I said it. Sniff, sniff.
It showed up in my spinning too. Plying will be hellish as I try to get the over spun kinks out along the way. Howmever, it is spun and I'm counting those 4 oz towards the challenge goal. So that's 12 oz from the 16.

Stats on these singles will be posted tomorrow. Meanwhile, it's time to eat, drink and ply some more.

And Then There Were Three

2010-09-05T17:04:00.003-04:00

Three bobbins down and a smidge on the spindle. This challenge is hard, but I will be grateful to have more space in the nether regions of the fiber abyss for new things in the fall.
The BFL was a comfortable jumping off point. Starting this effort out with purple was the icing.

Next up, I grabbed this beautiful 4 oz bag of Crosspatch Creations fiber in the Wolf Creek color way.
The label calls this a signature blend, composed of corriedale wool, rambouillet, cvm, tussah silk, viscose, bombyx silk and silk noil. When I bought this, I was attracted to the predominant copper/purple colors. Interestingly, when I opened the bag to spin and unfolded the batt, I saw that the actual predominant color was bottle green. Lucky for me that I didn't mind. Note to self: in future, open bags if necessary to see what the real deal is before purchasing.

That aside, it is a hoot to see the color combinations that pop up as it's spun. I held off spinning this fiber for so long because I treasured it so. It's basically one of a kind, so the controlling side of my personality wanted to plot and plan it's use to perfection. Spinning with no plan and in a hurry is proving to be a wonderful lesson in how to relax and let go, enjoy the journey. I can imagine how this yarn might be used and not get all hyper because I don't have the perfect answer right away. It's nice just to spin.

Treadling Along

2010-09-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

It's a bit comical to see me get reacquainted with the wheel after a loooong hiatus.
I did manage to get some of this bfl done this afternoon. One bobbin down!

Ante Up!

2010-09-03T20:26:00.000-04:00

Bronx Knitter has accepted the challenge AND upped the ante!

The goal has been boosted to 16 ounces by 9/6/10. I will do my best to spin it all by the deadline.
Here is my entry for the 8 ounces

And the bonus 8

Psst!

2010-09-03T16:59:00.004-04:00

I challenge you to a duel!!!

8 ounces of the fiber of your choice spun by 9:00 pm EST, 9/6/2010
At 9:01p, put your hands up and wave it in the atmosphere.

What's at stake? The glory of completion and the elusive space for new Sheep & Wool stash!

Here are the rules of engagement:

This fiber must not have been previously predrafted before today, 3:00 pm EST
Spun on wheel or spindle
Your entry must be photographed and posted by today, 9/3/2010, 11:00 pm EST
Finished yarn must be photographed and chronicled by the deadline and posted at the prescribed coordinates.

Should you choose to accept this mission, holla!

From Festival to Festival

2010-05-03T22:36:00.012-04:00

This year's Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival was quite a different experience for me.

The big news was not only the yummy new fibers and precious animals, but da heat!!

I never thought that I would have wished for rain at a sheep and wool festival until Saturday, May 1st. The high for West Friendship, Maryland was a reported 88 degrees!!

88 degrees+hoards of wool+three hours of sleep and scant snacking=The spontaneous combustion of a spinner! My head still hurts. Oy!

This was my first time joing the Park Slope Knitting Circle on a trip. Everyone was super nice.

We even saw two great movies that I'd missed in the theater! Giggity! Organizers, you did us a wonderful service. Thanks! I could not have asked for a more convenient and pleasant trip.

I'm also grateful to the vendors at the festival. In particular, the guy at the ice cream stand who met my desperate plea for a makeshift supersized chocolate cone and fist full of money with a merciful, ''don't worry I'll take care of you''. Dude, you're the best!

Okay, Okay. Yes, despite the stifling heat in the barns, I did manage to buy a thing or two. It was the best that I could do under the circumstances ya see...

Behind Cat Number One....

Imagine what that pile would look like if I weren't shopping in slow motion? A little slide show is over on the Flickr page. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T21:46:00.001-05:00

But of Course, Just Throw it in the Bag

2009-10-20T22:50:00.016-04:00

It's that most wonderful time of the year again. Where fiberistas get their craft desires fulfilled. This past weekend at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival did not disappoint.
Look at how gorgeous the day was!

Just to mix things up, my shopping was not the result of acquiring stash for specific projects or to obtaining the new and unfamiliar fiber. No, the whole time was dedicated to picking up whatever my eyes and hand found fetching and to throw it in the bag. It was my theme song for the weekend! Here's how it went:

Besides a huge amount of lovely fiber, I splurged on this Golding spindle called, Midnight Sky. Not sure when it happened, but I seem to be smitten with owls. Whoo knew?

Thanks to all the wonderful animals, farmers and artisans represented at the festival, we knitters, crocheters, dyers and spinners have once again been reminded of the foundation of our craft. Thank you!!

Ah, to revel in the works of creation. It makes me appreciate the Creator more and more. We are loved in profound depths of care and beauty. Things to think about as we stitch...

Laughter is Good Medicine

2009-09-02T21:35:00.003-04:00

And I've got jokes!

Hahaha, wipe your tears. Actually, that was my random attempt at learning to crochet while traveling. Without benefit of pattern or instructor,...or wine, honest!

I just made it up as I went along. A chain morphed into a bowl, into a vase, into a...hey! that kinda looks like a mitten. Wonder how can I make a thumb and how do I go back to the cuff without breaking the yarn... A mind is a terrible thing.

June Review

2009-07-04T10:11:00.005-04:00

While June wasn't the busiest month for me craftwise, I'm not sorry. The rest led to a renewed focus on that other thing I used to do. What was it now? Ah, knitting! That's right.

Even though I was not terribly excited about the colorway from this BFL, it was pretty cool to see my handspun yarn become the Edgar cravat found on Knitty. T'ain't easy working 98 yards of worsted weight into something usable. This clever pattern was just the ticket.

My most recent project is the Altered Austin Jacket from Sally & Caddy Melville's new book, Mother Daughter Knits. They chose Needful Yarn's (now discountinued) London Tweed. The label says that it is 95% wool, however the feel is more like cotton. Given the short sleeves and the character of the yarn, I'd say this jacket is sure to get lots of wear in spring and fall.

There was some spinning going on the month of June. Lace!

I don't know about you, but I can't rush through any lace spinning. It seems to go on forever and when forever arrives, the razzen frazzen fiber in my basket seems to have multiplied.

Here's the singles from 2 ounces of merino/tussah that I scored half price at The Yarn Tree.

120 yards when 2-plied.

Finally, here's the yarn that drained my soul dry for a good week and a half. From 4 ounces of Frabjous Fiber's BFL in the tapestry colorway, I spun up, slooooowwwly, 210 yards of 2-plied lace with 18-20 wpi.

May Spinning

2009-05-31T21:22:00.006-04:00

All spinning, little blogging, that sweet tart of a distraction called Ravelry, all lead me to this summary post of projects completed in the month of May.

Last Wednesday, I completed a wheel workshop at Downtown Yarns. It was a tremendous help in learning about different drafting methods, draws and gaining confidence in what I'd previously caught on my own. Most valuable of all was the practice. Previously, my wheels sat in a lot of dust in the two years that I've owned them. It was good motivation to spin so that I'd have intelligent questions before starting classes. Now my goal is to spin almost all of my current fiber stash before the next NY Sheep & Wool Festival.

Now, on to the yarns. They are all cozied up together in the Senegalese basket that I bought from the Dance Africa Bazaar on my birthday. If it's purple, it is mine :P

You may recognize the tweedy purple and green skeins from a previous post. From the pound of mystery wool, came 312 yards of aran weight yarn. I'm going to have to incorporate it into a design for a jacket or sweater.

My next two biggest skeins come from the English wool noted earlier in the olive colorway and at the top right of the pile, Tamerak & Spruce targhee roving.

The targhee from Spinning Bunny is exactly one year old. Not bad for fiber hoarders, eh? That hank is 160 yards of everything from sport to heavy worsted weight sections of spongy soft gold and green fiber.

Three small skeinettes. Resting above the Old E, is 25 yards of Mountain Colors targhee. That is my attempt at navajo ply. In truth is mostly faux boucle. In the middle is 49 yards of a 2oz red wool from a batt prepared by Suzanne Higgs. Top of that is less than 2oz of merino/tussah blend from Three Waters Farm. Poor 'lil skein is waaayy over-plied.

At the left is a 98 yard hank of brown BFL. Easy to draft, easy to spin. From 4 oz, I expected to get a lot more out of that fiber. To be honest, I only bought it for practice since I'd not touched the stuff since last year at least. There was a distinct halo that was pronounced during plying. Yuck! What is your experience with BFL? Does it want to only be spun worsted to prevent the 'fro zone?

While targhee has my heart, falkland is it's newest rival for my affections. The blues/purples/browns at top comes from Bullen's Wullens that sold this wonderful wool at this year's MDSW. 3.5 oz for only $10. I thought sure that all my fine spinning of it would yield a sport weight that I could use for socks (like I'm actually going to knit socks, lol) It is 106 yards of DK. Hmmm. Can I get a hat from it?

What do you all do with a skein of this, and a hank of that?

Old E

2009-05-19T23:21:00.009-04:00

I just had to share this finished spinning project from some braids purchased at Rhinebeck 06. The label called the braids "English Wool". (Hence the Old E tag.) Anyone know what kind of wool that is? Me neither. I fell in love with the olive colorway. Looks like every color in the rainbow is in there. Originally, I had two 8oz. braids to work with. In my head I imagined that I would perhaps have enough to make a sweater with. Maybe a vest? That was naive. After mangeling the first braid, this was the one that survived.

What the 8oz. produced was only a whopping 153 yards of two-ply aran weight yarn. Please, tell me what I should make with it.
Here's the Old E in more hopeful times. Check out the colors!

Maryland, Good Times

2009-05-03T23:17:00.010-04:00

This past Saturday was my third visit to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Howard County Fairgrounds! Fellow fiber enthusiast BronxKnitter joined me on this trip and it was big fun! Thanks for introducing me to funnel cake! Yum! As is my tradition, here are the highlights:

There were cute as a button animals, of course

Lots of wonderful fibers to try out,

Fabulous gadgets and products: WooLee Winder for my Victoria wheel, (a spin control card not shown),Goats milk soap for some aroma therapy later on,

Plus, corn dogs and chocolate ice cream for Seemore. A good time was had by all. Hopefully, I will behave myself until I do this all over again at Rhinebeck!

Skein! We Have Skein!

2009-04-25T21:40:00.002-04:00

This is 4 oz of plied heavy worsted/tab bit of bulkyish yarn. It came out to about 81 yards. Hope with me that when all is said and done, I can at least get a vest out of this deal. Will have to swatch and see....

The Purple Green Project

2009-04-25T14:36:00.004-04:00

Yarn! Not sure if this will knit up marled or tweedy or both, but I'm excited! I had this left over on the lazy kate because my plying bobbin overfloweth.

These were the singles. It is mostly fingering with some worsted here and there. Hoping to get more consistent with practice.

Familiar story?

2009-04-23T23:49:00.012-04:00

In the beginning...
But what had happened was...

And at some point, like a thief in the night...all will be revealed.

Some Spinning

2009-04-22T01:20:00.006-04:00

Finally, I'm back at the wheels in anticipation of another trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival coming up in just two weeks. The original goal was to spin up whatever was in my basket and then to go for stash busting "practice" fibers.
That worked for a little while until I followed whimsy and tried my hand at the wheel to spin silk, baby camel and bamboo. The easiest and dreamiest to spin was the camel. I heart it. Didn't want to stop spinning it. Camel is the potato chip of fibers in my book.
On the otherhand, the bamboo and silk gave me the blues. I had the hardest time attaching the bamboo to the leader yarn. It is very slippery and seemed to want to be thick singles. As for the silk, perhaps spinning from gummy hankies is not the best form. Much of it matted together before I got twist into the section. Hopefully, there'll be a nice blend to redeem the experience at the festival.

My bottomless bag of turquoise merino top is almost exhausted. A smidge is plied with some dark coopworth. Here's a small hank of my beginner-again yarn below. Next up...purple and green wool. Wish me luck that I make way for other goodies by show time.

Unintentional Swatching

2009-04-07T21:33:00.005-04:00

Is what happens when you make a square for gauge that is accurate, cast on for the back and still come up with a project that is five times too big. Grrrr. This is what I get for not spinning every chance I get before the next wool festival.

I am attempting to make the Drop Collar Jacket found in the premire issue of the Debbie Bliss magazine. It had better work out, shoo. This yarn, Wool-ease Chunky, has already been frogged from a wretched Vogue Knitting pattern that I gave up on. Hoping...

What's new knitty cat?

2009-04-05T12:54:00.000-04:00

Hot off the needles is the Ursula shrug that I first saw at NY Sheep and Wool Festival 08 at the BriarRose Fibers booth. I've knit the pattern in their awesomely dyed Charity yarn.
It feels great to have used yarn bought within the last twelve months.

My only modifications were to the sleeve length. I steam blocked as I knit along and bound off at 66 inches. I still need to wash the shrug, so I anticipate it being a tad bit longer in the back once dried. This project was so easy and enjoyable. I can't wait to do lots more lace this year.

Spinning Memories

2008-11-30T16:45:00.006-05:00

The holiday and cold left me worn out. Not enough to keep me away from fondling fiber though!

Yesterday, I decided to reminisce on my few spinning ventures. Seems that I'd made some progress from the snarled hanks done when I first purchased the Wheel of Fortune. The best of it all was from my first spindle spun ever, in the autumnal colorway to the left and the more recent turquoise and brown hanks on the right spun on the wheel.

In the spirit of frugality, I've decided to knit up virtually everything that I've spun. Into anything. Anything at all. Coming up with just the right pattern would take me forever so I just grabbed some needles and cast on. With the snarled blue hanks, I am currently working on a mat of some sort. Perhaps it would be suitable for a small animal or maybe a footmat for a car in inclement weather. Since there is a bit of older brown coopworth spun, I've knit that in for striping.

The snarly green "english wool" hanks might make a nice felted bag. That's worth taking a few minutes to either find or create a pattern for. The other balls and hanks are too nice to rush and knit. I'll take a day or two to devise a plan. Maybe, just maybe, there'll be a garment in the making? Hoping.

On that little note pad holder, I would wind on miscellaneous bits of spun yarn from time to time. Even those bits are getting used. I saved a tiny ball of coopworth to make a felted bowl like in the One Skein book. I used a few strands of colorful handspun as an accent and to bind off. It reminds me of a bird's nest. Wish that I knew how to needle felt. I'd make a few robin's eggs to go with.

While on vacation for my birthday last year, I tried my hand at spindle spinning baby camel. Wasn't able to do very much. I just wound what I did around the little note pad.

Even though I had a mind to chuck it because it wasn't very much, I couldn't. It's soooo soft.

I got a pair of sized 3 needles and cast on eight stitches and just knit. Lightbulb. Made a yarn over. Ohhh. Now if there's enough, this'll become a bracelet! Yeah! I did some decreasing, tied the end into a knot and attached these cowrie shells to the end as an ornament. This might be nice with jeans and a t-shirt? If I were to do this again, and I may, I would begin with a little ruffle, then button hole. If the yarn were spun a bit thinner, perhaps a cable in the middle? We'll see.

Effort counts, right?

2008-11-25T20:21:00.004-05:00

Between being sick with a cold and cleaning for Thanksgiving, I made a poor attempt at plying.

The cat was not impressed...

Yes, mistakes were made. I had the bobbins on the lazy kate in different directions. My slidy hook wouldn't stay where I put it. Getting the wheel to spin counter clock wise was miserable. I will never mock Fred Flintstone driving his car again!

All in all though, this, for me, is a good beginning again. It matters not that I've made craptastic yarn, It matters that I've spun at all. Viva bliss!

Evidence of Things Rarely Seen

2008-11-23T21:09:00.003-05:00

I've spun!!!!

Two quirkily inconsistent bobbins of dark brown coopworth roving.

I'm going to let them marinate for a day or two to help set the twist before I attempt to ply.
Oh, joy! Yesterday and today are my new spinner's beginning. I've been on hiatus for quite some time. Fiber has been multiplying in my stash so I've got to make a dent in it before it rivals the yarn reserves. Even just a few minutes a day would be fantastic!

Previously, I'd worked with a bit of fiber that perhaps was in a batt? (Need to learn the terminology). The fibers weren't all in the same direction, made me miserable. In contrast, the coopworth is wonderful! As a beginner, I appreciate the length of the fiber more as I'm learning to spin. It gives me an opportunity to control what's going on much better than before. Only thing that creeps me out is that this fiber is not pretty and feels like hair. Seriously, it resembles something that was clipped off the undead.

Updates

2008-11-10T01:01:00.016-05:00

Last week was nothing short of stellar. Amidst economic and political angst came movement motivated by hope.

Remember when at everyone's graduation for like a decade, speakers waxed poetic to inspire those in attendance to be 'agents of change'? Agent of change, change agent, it became cliche. Laughable.

On November 4, 2008, citizens voted to elect what we, with great anticipation, hope to be one of the best and brightest agents of change that this nation has seen in a very long time. Pioneering... Palpable... Change.

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America.

It was like New Year's Eve and Fourth of July all rolled up into one where I live. Listen...

{Insert video clip of jubilant neighborhood that will not, after numerous attempts, upload to Blogger. Grrr.}

Rhinebeck 08

Another wonderful trip. The weather was nippy. (Sigh. I used to say, "It's a little Nipsey Russell outside." He will be missed.)

The perfect weather to have debuted my newly completed Sunrise Circle Jacket that was cast on ages ago:

It's knitted in Patons Classic Merino in Rich Red. I poured over local button selections and came up with these as the better choice.

Somehow they never made it on. I've been using a wooden cat pin that I've had for years instead.

Time.

Time flies when you're having fun at a sheep and wool festival. This is the loot that I managed to score as I made like a ninja between barns on the fairgrounds.

Two awesome Ghanaian african baskets, a wonderfully soft skein of American cashmere, some braids of bfl, a couple of sweet lace patterns, a turkish spindle, and a giant hank of Briar Rose yarn called Charity came home with me to Brooklyn. That's it...

I must be slipping.

Stitches East 08

Perhaps because my Rhinebeck purchases were comparatively light this year, I felt compelled to attend Stitches East this past Saturday. So glad that I went. The beauty of the fall colors on the way down to Baltimore was inspiring. I believe that they prepared my palate for the dessert feast of beautiful yarns and hand dyed delectables that were on display at the convention center.

Here's my 'make up shopping'

This is make up shopping, you ask? It looks like just a few skeins. Did she travel all the way to Baltimore for that?

Can't be. Is she hiding the rest?

Yup! Make up shopping = Big booty (the pirate kind, of course)

Odd bits were a lace blocking kit, stylish n' reasonably priced shawl pin and sized 2 -40" Addi circs.
In your mind's eye, add thirty-nine balls to that pile! I got enough yarn to make four sweaters.

The nine comes by way of Berroco's Jasper. When I saw the Sept. 08 Creative Knitting Magazine, I just had to make that vest! It's the first time that I ever wanted to make a project in the exact same yarn and colorway as printed. I've already cast on. Should be a quick knit.

Would it be too matchy, matchy if I wore it with this?

With the darker purple Di Ve Zenith yarn, I hope to make a lovely ribbed cardigan, like so:

Not sure which pattern, but the lavender Zenith may be a gift sweater for mom. What to choose, what to choose? The yarn is incredibly soft. WEBs had sold it as a bag sale. Just $37 for ten balls! Seriously, I could have emptied my bank account at that one stop. The selection was off the chain.

My next yarn to try from them will most likely be the Shepherd's 12 ply Lambs wool yarn. It reminded me of Frog Tree Merino, only heavy worsted/chunky-ish. Devine.

I'm taking the plunge into new techniques with the Noro Kureyon. I've been admiring this mitered jacket from Knit Simple Magazine for a while.

This may be a challenge. Wish me luck.

The sock yarn shown above may actually become socks. Shhh. Don't tell anyone that I'm assimilating. That lovely brown hank of yarn is from a vendor that BronxKnitter told me to look out for, Miss Babs. I've got to order some of her roving. Beautiful.

The other hank of sock yarn is from Yarn Love hand-dyers. The colorway that I chose seemed cheerily retro. It taunted, 'Marsha, Marsha, Marsha'. So very Brady. Those socks are destined to be paired with cords and clogs.

Two very talented hand dyers with such a wonderful eye for color. You must try them.

What I love about Stitches are the classes. In the midst of my sashay through the garden of yarn, I took time to add to my skillz. Joyce Wyatt taught a good one hour Market Session course in slip stitch knitting. Swatch is pictured there with my new stash. I almost laughed out loud in the middle of class when I realized that the scrap yarn that I brought matched my outfit. It's confirmed. I have a purple problem.

MDSW 08!

2008-05-04T16:52:00.018-04:00

What is baby goat for welcome to the farm???

This year's trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival was wonderful!
We were really fortunate to have such great weather. Saturday's crowd was intense. Being from the city was a big help in keeping sane in such a situation. There were a couple of times though in the barns that I felt there was no way out of a vendor booth. Merchandise and shoppers were jammed up everywhere I turned!
Being around cuties like these certainly helped to lower my blood pressure in all the excitement.

They're what it's all about at the festival. Sheepy goodness.

Here's the obligatory new stash shot. Not much compared with previous trips. I am very thankful for the strength to resist going overboard. There was soooo much yarn to choose from. Even though this was my fifth trip to one of these types of events, I was seriously overwhelmed!

As a novice, I am being purposeful to try new fibers. This undyed cormo top from Stony Mountain Fibers made me particularly giddy. Looked for processed cormo last year at Rhinebeck but found nothing. The braid of Wensleydale in periwinkle and gray came from Flying Fibers. Last, but not least in fiberous entertainment, the intoxicatingly purple "Crazy Ball" of roving was from Spinner's Hill. (I cannot tell you how happy I am that my camera is finally showing purple so close to the actual color.)

This time around I didn't have any real mission in terms of things to buy except for the book Spinning for Softness and Speed and a heavier weight 3 inch spindle. This is my second Bosworth in a canarywood that resembles carmel fudge swirl. Yum!

That's all folks! Until next festival, the end .....

Finished Kepler

2008-04-02T21:43:00.004-04:00

Finally, a finished project. Kepler was a challenge because I am new to cables. It was good practice. Other than that, a joy to knit. The yarn is Frog Tree Merino. It is oh so soft to knit AND to wear. I present to you, Kepler. Welcome to the wardrobe!

What had happened was...

2008-02-02T11:13:00.004-05:00

So, the holidays are well over and New Years resolutions have come and gone.

I counted myself as one of the rank and file knitter elves, dutifully churning out gifts and resolving to clean up all the WIPs from years past. Knit I did, too. The WIP list was treated as public enemy number one. One after the other I tackled, or in one case frogged, the most urgent items (among 17).
Among them, I finally, finally finished Klaralund! After much grief, I am very pleased with the results.

The yarn used was Artyarns Ultramerino, color way 214 using Ernst glass sized 7 circs. Between my camera and dimly lit apartment, it's hard to see what the true colors are. This is photo is from an older post. See, the colors are much brighter!

There were a few modifications to the pattern. Sleeves were lengthened and fewer body garter ridges were knit. Most significantly, I felt as though the garter pattern that lay on the upper arm made me look like an armadillo. Instead, stockinette was knit up to the top of the shoulder.

Lessons learned? a) varigated yarn will give a whole different look to a striped pattern sweater, duh. b) do not be cheap. Always buy more yarn than the pattern calls for. c) if you make modifications, for the love of craft, mark your changes EVERYWHERE.

Really, it was an easy pattern. I just seem to specialize in rookie mistakes. :)

Now that was all the pleasant stuff, but what had happened was in all the knitting like a machine that I did over the holidays, I developed a pinched nerve in my shoulder. It's been a month and a couple of my fingers are still numb. Can you imagine an entire month of not being ABLE to knit?! Please, I beg of you to get up and stretch. Do arm circles or something to break up your knitting time. Pausing to read blogs doesn't count. Get up! Go for a walk. Your body will thank you for it.

It's Easy Being Green

2007-11-22T22:41:00.001-05:00

I present to you, The Peapod Baby Sweater:

This is the serendipidous gift that I mentioned last post, sans buttons. I loved this yarn at first sight when I saw it at Webs during Stitches East in October. The color seemed perfect for this IK pattern. Typical me, I grabbed the worsted instead of DK weight. Playing fast and loose with gauge did not work. I may have to submit to the rules from now on. Any way, I'm hoping that it's newly intended recipient can fit the sweater this winter. It's about a 9 month size with the gauge of the yarn and having knitted some elements from the 3 mos. and 6 mos measurement or stitch count.

The pattern...pretty as punch. When I picked it out I was hoping for a mindless and quick pattern. IMHO, it should have been. Wasn't. Grrrrrr. I was able to follow the leaf chart just fine. The bottom rib was another story. Between it's chart and the written directions, I couldn't follow either. I felt abandoned after the first row reading "...continue in pattern...". Uh, huh. Pattern my eyelets. Maybe it's me. I do like things spelled out for "quick" projects, but it was just not very clear. After much novice knitter mojo, I came up with this for working the bottom rib section:

Row 1 K2, p1 (*p7, k2, p1)*

Row 2 P2, (*k1, p2, k3, p2, k2)*

Row 3 (*p2, k1, y o, k1, p3, k2, p1)*, k2

Row 4 P2, (*k1, p2, k3, p3, k2)*

Row 5 (*p2, k3, p3, k2, p1)*, k2

Row 6 P2, (*k1, p2, k3, p3, k2)*

Row 7 (*p2, [k3rd st, k first two sts tog, drop all three], p3, k2, p1)*, k2

Row 8 P2, (*k1, p2, k7)

I worked it out on a scrap swatch and it definitely looks like the photo.

Sigh. Now that I've gone through pattern grief, I can definitely say that I'd like to do it again...

with the correct weight of yarn.

Verdant Baby Gear

2007-11-12T23:25:00.000-05:00

I seem to be drawn to the color green for baby gifts.
Nature, vibrant, fertile -green.

Here's a little cardigan from the Minnies pattern book by Jil Eaton.
This 3 month size was knit up in Classic Elite's Angora Lush. How spot on are it's Beatrix Potter buttons! Rabbits...angora... What a match!

My answer to SASC

2007-08-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

SASC- short attention span crafting.
It occurred to me that for maximum craft happiness, I need to give myself permission to start as many new projects as I desire! All those sweaters listed on the side-bar, I gleefully cast on or resumed knitting in the past week. Tee, hee. Feeling naughty, but I also feel empowered, if that makes any sense?

Another method to my madness is that I have undertaken the sleeves first, if the garment is not a one-piece. Like scarves, these are nice and portable. They are perfect for commuting, lunch hours or phone calls! Amazingly, they dont feel like the knitting abyss as when knitted as the last part of the project.

If I am tired of looking at the same color, feeling the same yarn, using the same technique, day after day, problem solved! As long as I am making progress on something, I'm happy.
Is this the definition of a process knitter that the Yarn Harlot speaks of? :)

What I did over summer break

2007-08-26T12:14:00.000-04:00

With my desire for yarn hoarding finally satiated, I've been trying to make a dent in some of my WIPs. It's been quite rewarding to finish the Knitty Kyoto sweater that I began eons ago.

Next up is another baby sweater and blanket. If I have the sticktoitiveness, then perhaps the Klaralund sweater and my Oscar the Grouch Pouch will follow.

Most proud of this baby sweater for my sweet cousin. Hope that she gets a couple of seasons wear from it. The Knit N'Style April '07 Flower Garden Sweater was so cute that I put everything on hold once I got the right yarn. Used Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece, two skeins as the main color. Unfortunately, I ran out of yarn and did not get to complete the crocheted edging. Misc. cotton and cottonblend yarn was used for the flowers.

My First Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Frolick

2007-05-06T21:12:00.000-04:00

She who buys the most wool wins.
Clearly, I've lost this challenge.
Plain and simple.

So, I'm toting two XL Ziplock bags back to the bus thinking I did well. Got enough yarn and fiber to last me until Rhinebeck '08. Gonna enjoy my corndog that I splurged on when I get to my seat. Life is good. Just need to get these bags into the bus storage space.

Arrive at the bus and throw my bags down. Bending over to seal them up when someone behind me says, excuse me. I turn around to see the sheep on a lead. Hello. It didn't hit me right away that -animal crate in the bus, plus sheep behind me equals very interesting ride home. Hank, didn't fit into the crate so guess where they wanna put 'em. Yup. On the bus! Nice.

What a wow at the Festival! I was totally overwhelmed.
All in all it didn’t seem way bigger than Rhinebeck when it came to yarn and fiber. I believe that there was a lot more livestock. Maybe MDSW had more food vendors?
If I had to choose, Rhinebeck is my favorite. It is cozier, closer, and had a great mix of vendors supplying anything your hands desired.
At several places, I picked up some sundries like wooden cable needles, extra bobbins for the wheel of fortune, yarn bras (stop snickering), and fancy bent tipped tapestry needles.
Yeah, yeah, yeah on with the show…
Here’s the haul

Found a couple of dream tools in the Main Exhibition building. I scored a Bosworth Midi-spindle in a beautiful Gabon ebony whorl with tulipwood shaft, an ornamental spindle pin by Blue Moon Fibers and sweet glass circs in the Amber Passion color-combo from the Ernst’s.

Next, the yarn haul…Tops on the list was hank of autumnal green and plum Slubby Nubby from Ellen’s Half-Pint Farm. Got more Mountain Colors, but this time I’m trying worsted weight Moose Creek and Yellowstone.
I’d heard prior to coming to MDSW about long lines for popular yarn sellers. Well, I don’t stand in line for anyone- except Tess’ Designer Yarns. From her, I bought two hanks of an intense periwinkle sockyarn and one lighter hank of superwash lace. Thankfully, I didn’t have to stay in line for long. Someone went around taking customers with cash or checks first. Yesss!

Drum roll please….The fabulous fiber! To be adventurous, I bought some baby camel and coopworth roving. Outside of that I bought undyed, turquoise, black and chocolate brown merino. For a little spice a giant ball of green/purple roving plus two braids of handpainted BFL followed me home.

Weeeeeee! All this should hold me until Rhinebeck.

Baby Sweater number two...

2007-04-14T21:04:00.000-04:00

Baby sweater number one...

2007-04-13T11:07:00.000-04:00

This is the sweater from Red Heart's Happy Baby pattern. My seaming of the pants were a disaster. They shall never see the light of day unless I frog and reknit.

A Shout out to my local Pathmark!

2007-04-01T13:44:00.000-04:00

Thanks for stocking this really cool bag! Say knitters, what do you think?
I found this over the weekend in a bin with manly tools and gear for $9.99.

It is a light weight heavy duty nylon tool bag with pockets all along the inside and outside, carry handles and rings for shoulder strap. Would have been sweet if it actually came with a strap, but that's ok. I'm going to use the one from my laptop bag.

It's perfect for the subway!

My hands are totally free for knitting. When one of my four trains come, I can easily shove my project in and take it out again because of the cool framing at the top.

Look how much room there is. I know I can fit a sweater's worth of yarn in there.

Celebrate Yarn! Flash Your Stash 07 is Here!

2007-03-31T23:57:00.000-04:00

Only had a chance to bring you the highlights this year.

We've got a little Noro, some Newton Country cashmere/merino,

Lisa Souza's Sock! Merino in Black/Purple,

SWTC Bamboo, a dash of Debbie Bliss silk, Koigu, Artyarns, Harvest Tweed,

Kidlin Pixie, Lang's Silk Dream, Diakeito, and most splendid...

Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Elderberry. Yum!

Stashology

2007-03-24T23:47:00.000-04:00

The study of stash. This is what I am majoring in. There, I said it.

Think that it has become necessary to transition into a more project oriented yarn shopper.

From the astute observations of the Yarn Harlot in her new book Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off, I learn that I am very much a process knitter. Suppose this means that I shop as a process as well. But it's got to stop!

Whenever a knitter is unhappy with his/her stash, even though it is the cat's meow, changes need to be made. I personally have been dissatisfied with the over abundance of onesies and twosies. You know, you see some yarn that is attractive, but you can't imagine committing just yet. You just buy one or two skeins declaring that, "it'll make a nice hat or even a hat/scarf set. Yeah, that's it"!

I'm totally o.k. with having more shawl yarn than I'll ever care to knit, but that onesies stuff has got to go!

The transition will begin with a cataloging of my stash. Gotta put the cards on the table. If I don't bad things will happen next time I'm tempted to purchase from the next awesome online sale and duplicate what I've got. Hey, if it can happen with my book collection, it's not a stretch to see this coming with yarn...

So check it out,

this is the hopelessly odd yarn. Everything else has been mated and slated for projex!

2007-03-11T19:31:00.000-04:00

I don't know how many times I've turned over my yarn and projects in the past three months or so. When the new year arrived I, with so many others felt the energy of new beginnings.

One of my ongoing quests is to strip away unnecessary clutter, habits and such. Now that I have become a "Knitter", my first line of attack in these things is always the stash.

First from the Wall of Shame, the "why did I buy this" yarn:

Plagued with not having enough to make a project, or can't find the right pattern, or no longer "in like" with the yarn... were the ills of this stack.

In order to make lemonade of the situation, they've been earmarked for charity knitting. They'll be hats n' scarves, bags, vests, and crazy quilt pieces. The rest will be given to creative knitters who'll work their magic on it.

Now I know exactly what my charity projects will be for the year. Org-an-i-za-tion. Woo, hoo!

Sweater Progress

2007-02-26T00:43:00.000-05:00

Everybody in the pool! Sigh.

I just laid out what was finished so far on the Jawbreaker. Not any real blocking as yet. Lo and behold, I've knitted a pool of color in one of the fronts....Fellow knitters, this may be the last time I use variegated yarn for such a project. Perhaps I just wont use this type of yarn ever again... Oh, well. I'll knit on. And by gum, if the sweater won't fit me, I'll just have to gift it. I gotta go now.

Willy is attacking my knitting.

When the Going Gets Tough...

2007-02-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

A). Buy more yarn
B). Cast on something else
C). Knit a washcloth
D). All of the above!

I've never knit with linen before. Thought that I would give it a try since seeing it used as washcloths in the book Knitter's Stash recently. The aqua would be lovely in the eyelet swirls pattern that I used for the cashmere scarf. Hopefully, I'll get two cloths from each hank of yarn.

Once I sober up from three sweater blues, I'll return to the Jawbreaker for starters.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

2007-02-19T18:27:00.000-05:00

Long time coming Klaralund...Sigh.
It's the classic knitter's drama. You wait for months before you find the perfect yarn. Then, some more months pass by until you feel the time is just right to cast on (you finally finish other needy projects).
Stitch, stitch, stitch.
All is well. Almost finished the second sleeve and I'm done.
Double bam. I run out of yarn AND the first sleeve is hideous.

I so don't like the garter stitching around the top of my arms. In this yarn, Artyarns Ultramerino, which is not the recommended striping yarn, but a variegated one, the garter makes me look like an armadillo. Me no likey. Must find a different stitch pattern for that section. A couple more months pass by until I can get more of this luxury (shockingly expensive) yarn. ONLY to find that as I make progress on that final sleeve, I notice that the colors aren't pooling in the same way as the older ones. Boo, hisssss.

What once was a simple knit is now a slip of stitch. Grrr. I must rip the first sleeve and use that old yarn for the top of the sleeves where it meets the body. The new yarn will be used for the forearms. Seems to be the most consistant thing to do and hopefully all will blend in well. Sigh.
I must say that working with my new Lime and Violet glass circs have been an absolute pleasure. Once I got over the fear of breaking them with hulk hands grip, it's been a smooth ride on the short yellow bus. Hee, hee. The lunch box style cookie container was the perfect carry-all for my sleeve/glass needle knitting projects. No worries.
Tune in in another month or so when the Klaralund should finally be finished.

A Project from the Way Back Machine

2007-02-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

From time at home getting over a cold and a three day weekend, I dug up this.

It's the Seed Stitch Jacket by Twinkle from VK Winter 04/05.
The yarn is Brown Sheep Burley Spun, body in black and the ribbing in Moutain Majesty.

I was a very new knitter back then and became intimidated by the prospect of doing pockets which come up right after the bottom ribbing in this pattern. Now I've figured them out and of course had to make a more elementary mistake. I've been using the wrong sized needles! Ugh! Not ripping back. No way.
This'll be a very close fitting jacket. Think that I can increase the size of the button band ribbing to make up the difference. I hope. Trying to be optimistic about the sleeve caps.

I think that I can finish this week. Then I can get back to my other five WIPs.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T20:06:00.000-05:00

2007-02-04T16:29:00.000-05:00

Maybe if I knit with some of my bulkier stash yarns, it'll look like I don't have as much?
Worth a try. It's cold out. The Jawbreaker Cardigan from Interweave Winter '06 might be relatively quick. Here's what I've got so far. This Debbie Bliss Soho was one of the few things that I picked up at Stitches East in Baltimore. Something about this colorway that woos me...

Looking Back, Looking Forward

2007-02-02T12:27:00.000-05:00

I'm still in the process of sorting myself out for the New Year.
Eleven months to go, Lord willing, so I had better sort a little faster to make the most of it.

Knitwise, I've got way too many projects that I'd like to tackle in the near future.
As an added distraction, I've picked up spindle and wheel spinning. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a whirl. Once you get the hang of it you'll probably find it as soothing as I do.

Last year I finally learned to do cables, but haven't done a project since this dishcloth.

Cashmere!

2006-06-11T19:14:00.000-04:00

I've been busy... either finishing up the notorious W.I.P.s or taking a break from knitting.
Had to, just had to post this entry for a spa knitting project of sorts. Wanted to do something luxurious for my birthday last month. This is the type of thing that should accompany a chocolate bubble bath and vino, but dark rosewood needles made do instead.

Behold!
Hand-painted 100% Italian sportweight cashmere. A.L. de Sauveterre's , Estelle in the Cornish Pixie colorway.
The pattern - Eyelet Swirls from Vogue Stitchonary, Vol. I
The scarf is about 33 inches from one 200 yard hank. Not bad. It looks really pretty with a periwinkle blouse and tops off a denim jacket very nicely.

Flashdance!

2006-04-01T00:39:00.000-05:00

SABLE revealed!
Hope you enjoy the accompanying arrangement of eye candy and quotes n' themes from some of my favorite films. Feel free to sing along where ever possible. Sing, sing out loud, sing out strong... A'hem, I digress... Let's get this party started...

She's a maniac, maniac on the floor,
And she's stashing like she's never stashed before...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's a Bill Sled?

Turn six, (turn six)

Turn seven, (turn seven)

Cool Runnings!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Climb every mountain of yarn, Search high and low,

Follow every by-way, Every path you know

Climb every mountain of yarn, Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow, 'Til you find your dream

A dream that will need, All the love of knitting you can give,

Every day of your life, For as long as you live...

Raindrops on roses

and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings,

These are a few of my favorite things...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To Dye... for Me...

Aslan the Lion

Aslan the Lamb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sigh, enough stash fantasy. Back to work...

Prequel - WIP Appeal

2006-03-13T11:38:00.000-05:00

Between the stash and FOs are WIPs. In the spirit of Knitty's upcoming 2nd Annual Flash Your Stash Day on April 1, 2006, I thought it would be fun to share my WIPs (works in progress) and offer this challenge to all you great puzzle solvers.
How many WIPs do you think are pictured here?
Bonus question. How many months/years will it take me to finish them all? And for the elite Mensa types, how many other projects will I start before that time?

Guess

2006-03-13T11:19:00.000-05:00

What the knitting...? Well, no. It's crochet.
Stop laughing! Guess what it is.
No, it's not a denture cozy. Guess again.
No, it's not a fiber representational construct of a horse shoe.
Third time's a charm... come on...
Alrighty then.
It was my sincere, but misguided attempt at a single crochet square. Clearly, there was no point in continuing past the third row. Fiddle-dee-dee. Tomorrow is another day and I shall try again.

From Small Scale to Large Scale

2006-03-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Working on a baby-sized sweater successfully has given me the courage to dig out the various pieces of this jacket that I began last summer. Had no clue how to sew in sleeves and just dropped the project until last week. My gauge- smadge attitude had indeed caught up with me. My sleeves were only half the needed width because of my yarn sub. I had to do math and everything to get this right. Pout, pout. Frogged and knitted the sleeves again. Even learned the mattress stitch for seaming. Tedious, but the results were great once I got the hang of it.

Had the bright idea to make some buttons. Lo and behold, my craft stash had the perfect shade of periwinkle clay to make these calla lily toggles and pin. Oh, yes! I'm gonna wear this to the Philly Flower show on Wednesday. Oh, yeah! By the way craft novices, it is NOT a good idea to multitask when you have jewelry in the OVEN. My first batch turned chocolate brown. But you didn't hear that from me...

A Keepsake for the Little One

2006-02-28T19:44:00.000-05:00

Another precious addition to the family has arrived and I wanted to make him something really special. Shhh. Don't tell him about the photo. I still have to wash and block this. A heritage sweater in Pan-African colors, with an Africa intarsia on the back. Wooden buttons from M&J Trimmings in Manhattan. The Frog Tree yarn is like buttah! 100% merino wool. Yup, I'm doing a test swatch before the real thing hits water!
Confession, this is gift attempt number two. The first was a pant and sweater. Cousin Randall, Jr. was growing too fast for my knitting skills. So no time to waste. I'm signing off to launder now.

Three Sketches a Week

2006-02-27T00:41:00.000-05:00

Thought it would be nifty to do three sketches per week to see if I could come up with a design or two that I could execute. This is the first attempt using Tahki's Bongo yarn in the olive colorway. I've since blocked it and shortened the tassels a wee bit.
Wore this on a casual Friday at the office, but was terribly self-conscious. Had my inner Flintstone gotten the best of me or was this an OK thing to wear in public? One thing is for sure, I was one warm woman on the way home. The winter wind was merciless!

Alright, there is another finished object waiting in the wings that I would love to post. Only got buttons for it today and haven't taken care of that yet. So tomorrow I must post again...

During the Hiatus...

2006-02-27T00:23:00.000-05:00

Many projects were cast on, a bunch were shuffled to the depths of my the WIP bushel bag, and few were finished. Here's one that made it to the recipient before they entered grade school. A dashing cardigan for my new cousin Thurston!

New Year, New Knitting Assistant. Meet Slick Willy

2006-02-27T00:07:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's been while since I've posted anything. My new assistant has been delegated various tasks, only he's been no help at all. Well, except he's so darn cute. Guess that's why I'll keep him around.
I
Like
Black
Cats and I can not lie...

2005-12-17T19:53:00.001-05:00

Ella Fini

2005-12-17T19:23:00.000-05:00

Though I haven't posted in a month or so, I've not stopped knitting. Quite the opposite in fact. I am glad to report that on Thanksgiving Day, my Ella was completed and worn for the very first time.

So very pleased that I'm using my recent yarn purchases up right away. In fact, my New Year's resolution is to use up all my stash yarn by June.

Don't laugh. I'm serious. Really.

Ella

2005-10-04T01:33:00.000-04:00

http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTella.html

First Attempt At Real Lace Shawl -Ella

2005-10-04T01:05:00.000-04:00

This shot is after the first set of increase rows.
I'm using Decadent Fibers' Pulled Taffy wool/mohair yarn.

The Chocolate Diva Capelet

2005-10-02T23:00:00.000-04:00

I "modeled" it today at the Knit Out. Scarified I was. I am a train wreck when it comes to public speaking so for me to have done that means I really am possessed by the knitcraft.
Can't wait until it's actually cool enough to wear.

New York Knit Out 05

2005-10-02T22:40:00.000-04:00

Another Knit Out at Union Square Park with stellar weather.
The area was jam packed with crocheters and knitters of all ages and stripes.

Hips huddled at yarn company booths clamouring for their latest pattern and book offerings. If you have an interest in getting something, come early and tag team with your friends!

Hmm, not sure if they offered such a variety of demos last year. I was glad to have the opportunity of learning from Nicky Epstein as she showed us some great new tricks from her latest book, Knitting Over the Edge. My only hope for improving the demos next year is to provide a better time. Right in the middle of her demo, the fashion show commentary began blaring.

I also enjoyed watching the spinning demo. Looks like such a soothing thing to do. The attraction is totally the flower child within me. I keep her under wraps most times.

Stitches Loot

2005-10-02T22:18:00.000-04:00

Manos, Cherry Tree Hill, Decadent Fibers, Artyarns, Prism...Yummy ultra merino, scrumptious wool/mohair, nummy novelty yarn! Would it be obscene to fill up the bath with such treats and dive in?

Stitches East

2005-10-02T21:55:00.000-04:00

I had a blast a Stitches East 05 in Atlantic City!!!
Lucked out with the hotel. Booked a room, but got a scenic suite. Woo, hoo! Enjoyed the last day of summer on the boardwalk and beach.
This was my second time going. Last year I'd just gone to the Market Place. Figured now was the time to take some classes. Took four. Basic Pattern Drafting, Short Row Savvy, Learning to Cable, and Double Knitting with Color. They were all amazingly helpful. I've been trying to review what I've learned this past week so as not to forget a thing.

Uh, well, not the pattern drafting cause I can truly leave the algebra for another day. My heart says guage, smadge. My head says I'd better act like I know if I don't want to waste my time...

Whole sweater. Sorry about the blurrrrr.

2005-09-28T20:10:00.000-04:00

Bernat Cottontots one piece sweater trimmed with Lion Brand ribbon yarn.

Sydney's Sweater

2005-09-28T15:51:00.000-04:00

From my Firefly Collection