Patti Purls

2008-03-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

Aquarius could have been my new Easter Dress!

If I had paid attention to the groundhog, or simply learned from experience, I'd have realized this. There is no way I will want to wear one of the pretty summer dresses they're advertising for Easter Sunday on March 23. Had I put the pedal to the metal (or, in this case, bamboo) Aquarius could have been ready for an Easter debut. I think I'd look a tad silly wearing just a back and one and a half sleeves, which is exactly what I have done as I write this.

I am still saving the fronts for last as I am undecided about making a cardi out of her, or going with the pullover. I'll probably take a stab at the cardi and then maybe rip the whole front out and reknit it if I don't like how it comes out. Of course, there is always the Possibility of Doom, which is permanent UFO status if it gets to the point that "I Just Can't Face It." But, I'll deal with that later.

The thing is, I now have more UFOs than I did when I knitted out of necessity and frugality. Now knitting is entertainment and a process, not a means to an end. I wonder if other people have this same situation, where increased income had changed the role of knitting in their lives? Of course, the projects that I do finish are nicer because I use better materials than when I was, um, "thrifty." (That's code for "poor." Not broke, because broke can be fixed. Not that I'm rich, but I can better afford to use nicer materials than I used to). I'm not sure how many UFOs I do have since I don't keep track... despite what I report on Ravelry.

How many UFO's do you really have? Why are they unfinished? I think I'll do some navel contemplation about this over the next few weeks, and I'll tell you mine if you'll tell me yours.

2008-03-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

Aquarius Growing!

Here's the back of the Age of Aquarius sweater, almost done. Sometimes it seems like the last few inches grow the slowest and no matter how many rows I've done it is still the same length. I'm still enjoying the pattern of cables, but wonder if I'll finish this before it is too warm to wear it. Let's see, when I cast it on it was a Thursday, um, February 21st and it is now March 1. It took nine days to get this big, some of which I couldn't use for knitting because of having to work for a living. Perhaps ten days per section is reasonable, if I don't get distracted, and the front is a section and the sleeves *could* be one section so the whole shebang could be over around the end of March. Hmmmm, maybe.

2008-02-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

Age of Aquarius

An Aran sweater in "New Denim" Patons Classic Merino for me. Age of Aquarius by Kathy Zimmerman from Interweave Knits, 2001 or so. I'm thinking of knitting this as a cardigan, we'll see how it goes.

Showing above is an evening's work on the back. I like the ribbing since it doesn't suck in the body like a gathered bag and I love the way the cables work together to create such an intricate pattern.

2008-02-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

Two shawls

This is Mom's Litka Dimnum shawl from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls book. It was her Christmas present. It is triangular, not whacked off as it appears here. I used Elann.com's Alpaca fina in "spiced claret" which is a rusty red with castings of dark blue. I'm really happy with the way it came out.

Sarah Blanch shawl is knitted to look like hairpin lace. It is for ME and is made of the beautiful alpaca that I got for the Icarus shawl. It was spun and dyed by Birgitta Nostring of All Strings considered. It is even softer than the stuff from Elann, but that was from Peru and this grew originally in Michigan, I think.

2007-11-14T19:12:00.001-08:00

Black Alpaca with Nepalese Recycled Sari Silk!

Well, it is done, and I almost really like it. The silk has no elasticity so it needed some reinforcement to look "right" and I did that by gathering it up on a piece of alpaca. Then I added the pearly buttons. I didn't set out to make a button front cardi but added them after the fact, when the drape of the sweater begged for buttons.

I think I read somewhere that there are about 45 knitting days until Christmas... I began my mother's shawl before Halloween and have made negative progress on it due to a miscount. I restarted it a few days ago. Tomorrow I have many meetings to attend, so I hope to make Great Progress on it. No pictures of that since Mom occasionally looks at this. She picked out the pattern and asked me to surprise her with color and content. Well, I'd better go knit now...

2007-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Bridemaid's Second Choice

Or, should I say, Bridemaid's Choice, the Second? Be that as it may, I am once again knitting on this underappreciated, versatile pattern from IK Knits, summer 2001. This one has Nepalese recycled sari silk for the neckline and the entire body is black alpaca from All Strings Considered. I bought this stuff last summer at the Scandinavian Folk Festival. I showed it to Birgitta when I saw her at the Fingerlakes Fiber Arts Festival and she heartily approved. (Of course she would, she is a vendor). But, I do think that the materials are suited to the design in that the sari silk is rather rigid and creates a firm neckline, and the body of the sweater is lightweight and thin and in Alpaca will be warm with a nice drape.

That teeny photo doesn't really do it justice. It is hard for me to get a good photo of the black alpaca because it does not have the gloss or shine of merino. It wants to absorb all of the flash the camera wants to muster and other photos end up over exposed. Oh, give me my plain old 35 mm with automatic nothing!

Soon, the sleeves will be off of stitch holders and I can try this on in daylight. That will be a better photo op.

2007-09-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Loot from the Fingerlakes Fiber Arts Festival!

I brought home many hours worth of spinning pleasure in the form of ready to spin rovings:
The blue and white, above, is alpaca with tussah silk (the blue is the silk) purchased from Birgitta Nostring, All Strings Considered. It is softer than velvet and the blue has a sheen to it.

Merino Tencel blend
The camel colored stuff is just a little hank the vendor gave me to practice with. The purpley, shiney ball is a future pair of socks!

This pretty mix is a wool blend with streaks of yellows, greens and bluish purples. I look forward to seeing how that spins up. Mostly, I picked that one to see what happens with colored roving.

This is still part of the original roving Debi got me started wtih. The skein on the left is the second skein, all ready to fondle, knit or simply admire.

2007-09-22T19:27:00.001-07:00

Fingerlakes Fiber Arts Festival

Look at how much fun Sue is having knitting on the World's Largest Sock. I wonder what she is thinking about as she smiles so radiantly? Perhaps she is smug that she seems to be the youngest knitter on the job at that point in time. Her birthday is looming.

I worked on the big boy, too, at the Fingerlakes Fiber Arts Festival in Hemlock, NY. We enjoyed a scenic two and a half hour drive there on a beautiful Sunday. We arrived shortly after the opening, say about 10:30 AM and stayed until they were closing the place down after 4 PM.

The industrious guild members worked on a sheep to shawl project. It looked quite promising at the start time of 11 AM.

I must confess that I did not see the finished product but have no doubt that it was a beautiful sight. I got swept away supporting the vendors. More on that, next time. The festival was a delight of demos, classes, vendors and like-minded people. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and will definitely attend again.

Which of these looks like lunch?

Actually, both look like they COULD be lunch, but the actual lunch is on the right and was as big a treat as the fiber festival for me. It was Artichoke French over Beans and Greens with a couple of slices of baguette. Loved, loved, loved it.

The salad on the left is only mulberry leaves for the silkworms squirming on it. Not MY lunch.

Next time: Acquisitions and RAVELRY! Yep, I'm in! Look for Pattipurls. Well, after I get my act together there. I wonder if there is a knitting group on Ravelry for fans of Dr. Who?

2007-09-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

Please Mr. Postman!

You signed up on July 8, 2007
You are #15138 on the list.
3952 people are ahead of you in line.
15547 people are behind you in line.
36% of the list has been invited so far

Remember Mr. Rogers' song, "What do you do while you're waiting, while you're waiting for something new to do? Let's thing of something to do while we're waiting..." One of my sons used to finish the song at that point with, "let's just sit, sit, sit." Yep, I know. He missed the point.

What SHOULD I do while I'm waiting? Photograph my stash? List my WIPs? Take more portraits of FOs and try to recall where the patterns came from? I fear that by the time I get my invite, I won't have time to enjoy the pleasure that is Ravelry! Please advise how I can best spend my waiting time!

2007-09-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

Monkey Mess

The other day I smugly and fearlessly knitted on my current Monkey socks on the needles without checking on the pattern to see where I was because I was "certain" I knew I was finishing the gusset. As it happens, I was finished with the gusset and went on to decrease too much. I've ripped back, and now and working on sorting out the stitches on the four needles. Ugh.

Then, the Pea Pod baby sweater measurements went awry for me and I will now be reknitting the sleeves to fit the body which managed to come out as a 24 month size. That's typical for me. The gage was really okay when I started, but I didn't check it as I went along and managed to loosen up as I went along. It is not an insurmountable problem. Actually, in this size, I can take my time since Baby C is only two months old.

One thing that has been going well is SPINNING!

Here is my first skein hanging in my kitchen following a plying, twist setting and fulling session at Debi's home. Next time, I will not twist it QUITE so much. This has a tad too much desire to turn.
My Darling Husband, who had no idea what to expect from this spinning thing I've been doing, looked at the skein in astonishment and said, "It's like you just pulled it out of the bag!" He was referring to the bag of bats I got from Debi. You know, if you know wool, that the bag looks as though it has just as much in it as when I started. Actually, this two ply skein weighs one ounce and has 26 yards of wool before fulling. It probably has a bit less length, now, but I am not sure I will use it in a project or just save it for my own astonishment.

Look below and you will see that plying was a good thing for this skein since my product was uneven. It has a nice spring to it, thanks to the romney blend and also due to my twist.

Oh, but it is time for more plying. See the ball I wound off today, having spun it since Saturday. It is, I am pleased to say, more even than the first.

This is so much fun. I'm hooked.

Tomorrow I must go back to earning a living. That means less time to spin and knit and other fun stuff, but it does mean more filthy lucre to spend on supplies. I'll be needing my own niddy-noddy and a lazy kate and certainly some more roving...

2007-08-29T03:37:00.001-07:00

Bitten and Smitten!

For years I have wished to learn to spin but hesitated because I knew it would probably mean a redirection of my limited resources such as time, money, space and the like. It also seemed to mean travel time and so, I held back. I reasoned that I was content with the quality and consistency of commercially available fibers.

Well, that's over. I lost my spinning virginity at a friend's house last night and I can't wait to do it some more! The drop spindle, left, shows some of my first yardage. Isn't it slubberly?

Here she is, my friend Debi, ready to lead me down the road to ruin! She did a great job of indoctrinating me. She is showing me one of her many drop spindles. She has a few (wink! wink!)

Debi and I have known each other for about a dozen years, give or take, and used to pursue quilting together in a big way. Our husbands are friends, too, but we kind of lost touch when our kids grew up a bit, I returned to the paid workforce and picked up a master's degree. While I was learning about library management Debi learned to spin. How handy is that? Now she's teaching me.

Here is some silk Debi spun on this lovely little spindle. And the china basket, among other things, holds some other samples of her work. (Then there were the dressers, the gentleman's chest, the former china cabinet, the bags on the floor...)

I hope Debi knits this up soon. I found it incredibly tempting. Maybe a Baby Surprise jacket? Debi has a bit more fiber and tools than you see here, and all of it enviable.

We were together for about two hours, we spun and knit, and never got around to using any of her three spinning wheels. We need to get together again, soon, to do it all again.

Now, I proudly present, my first attempts:

TA DA!

My spindle, filling up, with my first spun yarn!
Debi is a good spinner and teacher. Her url says it all: spinsagoodyarn.com. Look her up!
THANKS DEBI!

2007-08-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

I'm a Cast On Knitting Scout!

Brenda Dayne continues to be my favorite knitting podcaster and she has a camp theme going on right now on her site and podcast. Sign me up, Brenda!

"Wherein it is acknowledged that members are:

Not opposed to alcohol.
Into badges.
Mostly in agreement that there is no right way to knit.
Committed to diligent positive and accurate presentation of knitting and knitters, to editors, producers, directors, and those generally presumed to be part of “The Media” in an effort to close the gap of Public Knitting Literacy."

Here are my badges earned so far:
This MacGyver Level I badge symbolizes my knitting cleverness using non-knitting objects in a knitting related scenario. Well, lever back pierced earrings have shown up in my stitch count in a pinch. Paper clips, too. I've also used short bamboo skewers or mini golf pencils for cable needles when mine has disappeared down the cushions of a chair or between the seats of the car.

MacGyver Level Two represents my use of a knitting tool in a non knitting scenario. Well, that would be my resourceful use of size 2 DPNs to unlock the bathroom door. We do not even own a key. If you needed a key to my bathroom door I would hand you a size 2 knitting needle.

Proselytize Knitting Badge: Every scout must earn this one. According to our scout leader, Brenda, "the recipient must do his or her bit to present knitting in a positive light, whilst at the same time avoiding all references to “hipness”, grandmothers, and yoga." Well, I blog positively about it, do it in public, do it in private, talk about it and politely try to wait until others have inquired about before I start going on about it. I believe my behavior is a positive display of knitterliness and I hereby accept my badge and will do my best to honor it.

Knitting Under the Influence Badge. This summer's official drink of our Thirsty Knitters Club (the alternate name of our DKC) seemed to be Long Island Iced Tea, best when consumed by the lake while knitting with the club. Co Founder and Co President Susan and I even have official DKC glasses for use at our gatherings. (Where are they, anyway?) Why, Susan even makes award winning wines! Cheers!

Take a look at the Order of Cast On Knitters' links to see about potential further achievements. I might submit a pattern to a knitting magazine just so I can earn one of those sassy rejection buttons!

By the way, go here to wish Susan best of luck at the New York State Fair where she has gone to collect medals for her wines!

2007-08-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Pea Pod is an expeditious knit! What you see here was cast on one evening and knitted on, off and on, the next day.

I wouldn't have selected the pale blue for this particular knit had I thought it through. Maybe a cozy red since Baby C ought to wear a 6 month size sweater at Christmastime. I do like it, though. It may come off too dressy or delicate, but that will be Stacy's problem, not mine.

My pictures have not improved with my new, fancy camera. I would say they've gotten worse. Go ahead, say it!

Here is my little wool pig. After taking a few photos in my usual location (on a white bed spread under a skylight) I folded up the baby sweaters and set them on top of the Pea Pod in progress. Miss Figgit found them and tossed them about until she reached the piece with the highest wool content, and then sat down on it. The red white and blue is 100% cotton, the two arans are mostly acrylic and the blue Pea Pod is Plymouth Encore DK, 75% acrylic, 25% wool.

She knows what she likes.

2007-08-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

More Golden Oldies

Knitting cotton is like working with mop string but cotton sweaters are nice to wear. This sailboat sweater is probably my first foray into mop string knitting, 1986 I believe. It measures about 14" long and Son1 wore it when he was 2-3 years old. The pattern probably called for something smooth but I had this textured cotton yarn and made do.
It is a delight to see your child wearing something you made by hand. This is the picture from the Hayfield pattern book that I used so often when the boys were small. The cover says, "Hayfield Make Prettier Babies" number 7062.
Here are two of the sweaters that I made from it. I purchased yarn to make one as a gift for Stacy's baby, but yesterday, when I went to cast on for it, I revisited the pattern. No chart! Just prose. I had a cup of coffee and thought it over. I have come to prefer charts over prose when it comes to cables and such. I considered graphing my own chart. I knew I had enough time and ambition to cast on OR graph, but probably not both. It didn't occur to me that I certainly could have used one of my own sweaters as a chart...
Instead, I changed patterns and cast on the Pea Pod baby set. I found it attractive that the back and front are knitted together without seams and the sleeves are expeditiously done in stockinette. I don't see it as laziness but as taking a realistic view. I've go to go back to earning a living in another week and that is so seriously going to cut into my knitting time.

2007-08-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Grand Duchess Patti Purls the Decent of Old Tonbridge Wafers
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

2007-08-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

Monkey socks past, present and future!

How I love knitting these socks! On the left are the Trekking XXL that I entered in the county fair, on the needles are Fortissima Colori Disco Socka Color (With metallic silver flecks! Funky!) and patiently waiting above that is my latest acquisition Austermann Step "mit Aloe Vera und Jojoba Ol." One quick fondle of that in a yarn shop today and I was smitten. I chose a subdued color in shades of gray. Should be a lovely pair of Monkeys!

Another acquistion is this nifty Viking Safety Pin, more commonly called a "penanular brooch" that I bought from a viking metal smith in the Viking Village at the local Scandinavian Festival this year. This one is stainless steel and quite simple. Others are more ornate. It works really well on this sweater and I hope it will be even niftier on the Arwen. And, I really look forward to wearing it on this next show and tell piece:

Not my mother's Clapotis!

At last, my own Clapotis! It was only a matter of time and money, really. (Isn't everything?) I had wished to knit one for myself and wanted it to be slinky and a bit shimmery, as opposed to my mother's worsted wooly one. I got my wish when I met this Lang Oasis yarn at a shop in Snyder (Buffalo area). It has white, seafoam green and periwinkle flecks of color and is smooth and silky to the touch. It drapes nicely! It scrunches up for a scarf and spreads out for a stole. I love it. I cast on for it about two weeks ago. It accompanied me to various concert venues and helped me through a day-long workshop (not a knitting one!) I used about 8 and a half balls of it, between 800-900 yards, I think.

Back to this little blue sweater with the pin, for a moment. I showed it last summer but almost never wore it because of a problem I created. Originally it had a self made button which looked quite cool until I put it on. Then it would flop, drag down the buttonhole and draw lots of attention to the design flaw that it was. It offended me, so I cut it off and attached the new pin. Now it is my new favorite .
I love what the yarn overs and short row shaping look like in the shoulder. It is called "Bridemaid's Choice" from Interweave Knits Summer 2001 and was designed for mohair. I knitted it from this mop string type of summer yarn that is nicer to wear than it is to knit and trimmed it in a linen yarn. Yeah, I mixed unknown yarns, but how often should I need to wash a little cardi like this?
Looking back over this post, I really SHOULD have joined the knit blue blog.

Oh, yeah, and now I'm moving up on the Ravelry waiting list:

You signed up on July 8, 2007
You are #15138 on the list.
5716 people are ahead of you in line.
11407 people are behind you in line.
34% of the list has been invite

2007-08-05T05:19:00.000-07:00

Ravelry
Just sittin' and knittin' while I wait.

You signed up on July 8, 2007
You are #15138 on the list.
7213 people are ahead of you in line.
7937 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far

2007-07-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

Knitting Glory at the County Fair!

The blue tank on the left is my Brioche Bodice from IK Summer 2006 and that won a second in "women's pullovers." My Equestrian Jacket from IK Fall 2006 is next to it, sporting a blue ribbon in "women's cardigans, plain." The lovely tan pullover next to it isn't mine, but rounds out the picture, nicely. Mysteries and suspense abound! Will Harry live or die? Is Snape good or evil? Will Sue or Patti win the blue for socks?

Here are Sue's Jaywalker socks, wearing their blue ribbon! It is a shame that the entry tag obscures the zig-zag pattern on the cuff.
Here are my Monkey Socks wearing their blue ribbon! Oh, the red/white/blue was a mistake and actually belongs with the antique needlework, below.
It seems that she entered hers in the "bedsocks or slippers" while I entered mine in "any other not named" since there really wasn't a separate category for "socks." Mystery solved. I suppose that the judge could have decided to move one pair to another category but I prefer to think that she left things as they were so as to award a blue ribbon to each pair of deserving socks.

My fun Harry Potter "Weasley Sweater" won a third honors ribbon in men's pullovers. It was deservedly trounced by two nicely executed pullovers by Sue and another friend. It was fun to show it off during all of the Harry Hysteria.
Here is the entry that really won the special ribbon. These are two doilies that were entered in "best example of old family needlework" and won the judge's choice. These doilies were handed down to me from my husband's mother and they were made by two old Swedish aunts.

Last winter I purchased some Filatura Di Crosia Pom Pom at a posh yarn shop at Buckhead, in Atlanta. This became the button band, cuffs and neck of this pretty little yellow cardi for my little niece. It will probably fit her by next spring. It has a red ribbon for "children's knitted sweater."

This is how my lovely Arwen was displayed. I think they had someone new in charge of such things and I suspect that she wasn't a knitter. Arwen is wearing a second place ribbon for "Women's knitted cardigan, fancy." Last Friday night I purchased the perfect pin for this cardi. It is a penanular brooch that I purchased from a "viking" craftsman at the local Scandinavian Festival. Now, if I hadn't been all sleep deprived on Saturday I would have had that attached as a closure on the cardi and perhaps made the display of it easier for the person in charge. Oh, well.

I entered this felted bag I made last summer with yarn purchased on vacation in Kentucky as "shoulder bag" and it is happily wearing a blue ribbon.

I made these mittens on a road trip to Ohio last week. They are double knitted with a slipped stitch pattern that was passed along to me about twenty years ago when we lived where it is very, very cold. I modified it to have my name on one cuff and the year on the other and I use the two long tails from a two color cast-on to chain a loop on each mitten. This is very handy for hanging them up to dry. I love making these mittens and have made them almost annually for at least one or two members of the family for the past 20 years.

Here, again, the entry tag is obscuring significant parts of the pattern on the article.

My only other entry was a cranky sock knitting machine that won a blue ribbon in Antiques. I had hoped for a "most unusual entry" which would have garnered a special cash prize, but it is hard to beat a metal lamp/statue of a WWI doughboy holding a lightbulb aloft. Sorry, no pictures.

Husband entered many antiques and collectibles which also received glories and honors.

Monday we retrieve our entries. I'll try not to spend all my winnings in one place, unless it is at a yarn shop.

2007-07-20T13:02:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter goes to the County FairHere is one of the projects getting a good soak and block before going to the County Fair tomorrow. With Harry hype at an all time high I thought it would be fun to show my pullover. I may also wear it, at least across my shoulders, to the Harry Potter book release party tonight. There will be games and festivities at our local Waldenbooks leading up to the 12:01 AM release. I stopped in there this morning to "get in line" and am now sporting an orange bracelet noting that I am #45. Woo hoo!

Next week I shall post pictures from the fair!

2007-07-16T03:47:00.001-07:00

Everything Old is New Again!

When I explained to this little peanut that the thing I had in my hand was a sock, she tried it on right away. She is a clothes-horse-in-training, and has learned much.Have you ever seen a more adorable sock model? Oh, yes, the second sock is off the needles and both have been blocked and are patiently waiting for a ride to the county fair.

Now, when these children arrived from Atlanta they were fresh out of a southern heat wave and can be forgiven for not knowing it would ever be chilly again. The fact that their Ohio born and bred mother neglected to pack anything with sleeves when visiting Western New York only gave me an excuse to get out these golden oldies for another romp on a new body when temperatures dipped into the 60's:
Little Peanut is warming up in one of Son2's sweaters that I probably knitted around 1991. I know I made this one in every size the pattern offered because I really liked it and it looked good on my boy back when we lived in Northern New York. It MIGHT have been out of a Hayfield Baby knitting magazine. If I ever get my invitation to Ravelry I will look it up and document the whole family of them!
The Incredible Hulk is showing off a beautiful cardigan that my mother-in-law knitted for Son1 in about 1988 and both sons wore when they were about four years old. My late mother-in-law knitted beautifully and was especially fond of cables and knitting for grandchildren. I'm sure she was very, very pleased to look down from heaven to see this great-grandson keeping the chill away in a sweater she made! It was perfect for him and matched his eyes, too.
This guy isn't a sweater guy. Our family has two kinds of people: Sweater People (SP's) and Non-Sweater People (NSP's). Son2 was an SP when we lived up North but changed to an NSP down here in balmy WNY. This guy didn't really need the sweater, but he followed the program and put it on since everyone else was doing it. Unfortunately for him, I couldn't find the appropriate sweater for a six-year old son (it was a red aran, as I recall, from a Brunswick leaflet, not that remembering THAT could keep a child warm) and so he obliged and put on the one that I made for a ten year old son back in about 1993 (knitting ahead a year).He took it off right after the picture. Can't say that I blame him. He was a good sport about the whole ancestral sweater episode!

2007-06-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

There, my friend, is one of the best lookin' socks you'll ever see. Your blue ribbon is mine! (You know who you are. Mwahaha!)

Some Shady Business

The elusive, camera shy equestrian blazer is in pieces, waiting for blocking before assembly.
This represents about five skeins of Brown Sheep Nature Spun in "Beet Red." It is a bit pinker than the red of the oriental carpet. It has a navy haze to it, as well, but it is the color of beets. I love beets. Nature's candy. I love this color, too. It will look good with everything in my fall and winter wardrobe.
First, a good soak in the tub. Everything feels better after that. People are a lot like sweaters that way, don't you think? This soaked while I prepared lunch and went about my business for oh, say, 30 minutes. Then it was blocking time.
I consulted the measurements in the IK magazine and came darn close. I used a sewing pattern layout board thing to pin the pieces to. Now the blazer is sitting in the shade on this warm, breezy day. Usually I pin things out on the carpet in the family room. (My pets do respect the work and tiptoe around it!) Then I set up a fan and come back later. Well, that fan went to camp yesterday but with fewer people at home no one is complaining about loss of the table.
Well, it is not dinner time yet...

2007-06-23T13:33:00.001-07:00

Here is the clapotis, made for my mother for Christmas, being modeled by its owner. That was a fun thing to knit and I would like to make one for myself. Currently, I am ready to block the pieces of the Equestrian Blazer and have a nifty pair of Monkey socks in progress, too. No, not those gray and red things, monkey as in "get the monkey off my back!"

Now that school is out I resolve to be a Better Blogger and post regularly. Imagine that!

2007-06-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Don't ask me why I did this, I just did this. Maybe I've been doing too much time in middle school, lately...

Try it yourself, following the link below and find out
what finger you are!

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird.
A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone.
You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are.

You get along well with: The Ring Finger

Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?

2007-04-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Unfinished Business --- Finished Objects!

Posting pictures of finished objects makes them real, doesn't it? Sometimes I simply start using new garments that I've made and few people I see on a day to day basis even realize that they are the product of my own two hands. Here are two things that I finished recently and not so recently.

Meet my Otis, with my own modifications. With apologies to designer Rebecca Hatcher, I wanted Otis to be a bit longer, perhaps to wear with a tank top and pants. I also made kimono sleeves as I do not like anything snug on my arms in warm weather. I knitted a flat band for my ties that I tapered to icord where they met at the right side. I really like it.

I used eight balls of Rowan Summer Tweed in Blueberry. It took about two weeks to produce. I really like the icord bind off at the back of the neck, a nifty finishing touch. I think my newest project has that -- the Equestrian Blazer by Kate Gilbert in the Interweave Knits Winter 2006. No pictures of that yet, it is just the back in progress.

This is the Brioche Bodice from Interweave Knits Summer 2006. I finished it late last summer, but wore it throughout the winter with a spiffy navy blue suit. The Schaffer "Miss Priss" yarn is 100% wool. What WAS I thinking? I was seduced by the color and wasn't thinking about the impracticality of a sleeveless wool top. On the other hand, it does work well with the suit and keeps me warm without being too warm. The colors are gorgeous! It has blue, navy, purple and bits of green. The yarn pooled in the back on the broiche, which is worked flat and seamed at the sides. I kind of like the pooling there. On the front there are diagonal stripes! Then, on the yoke back the colors magically seeded while still in brioche. I really like the garment and might make it an inch or so longer if I make it again. Maybe it would be good in one of those microfiber summer yarns?

2007-04-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Wonderful Husband!

See the cake? For a delicious, rich chocolate cake, you really can't beat the Hershey recipe right on the cocoa can. I bet you have all the ingredients you need right in your cupboard.

The jaywalkers enjoyed the birthday festivities. The blue and purple are mine, of course, and you can see that I frogged out the wooly nylon that looked so diseased. The greens and orange are Sue's. Ideal colors for each of us.

I've been thinking of putting these purty purple socks in the county fair this July. Sue pointed out that I couldn't wear them until after the fair. Point taken, however, at the rate they are growing, that won't be a problem.

2007-03-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

Riiiiiiiipped!

Those socks ripped so fast I felt no pain for the time I had invested in them. Forget that nasty looking reinforced heel. It's history. They are shaping up to be the coolest socks I've ever made. They might be my sock entry in the fair this summer.

Easter is coming and my new project is a spring cardigan from Knitty called "Otis." I am using Rowan Summer Tweed silk and cotton blend in "blueberry" that I got in Pittsburgh last fall for another similar yet abandoned project. Maybe it will be the centerpiece of my Easter Sunday ensemble. Then again, maybe not. It has been my public knitting project now for a couple of weeks having represented knitters at shows, public lectures and faculty meetings.

2007-02-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

Now what?

I am making the niftiest socks EVER using the softest stuff: Artyarns Ultramerino4 that I purchased on vacation in Kentucky last summer. I love how the handpainted yarn looks in this pattern. I love the simplicity of the pattern. It was a perfect travel project: compact, easy enough to work on when slightly distracted by the parade of humanity in the airports and yet interesting enough to want to keep at it. I HATE how the reinforcement looks on the heel. I think that in order to sustain my love and interest in these I really must rip it and use something other than wooly nylon as my reinforcement. This yarn is just too nice for that.

As much as I am enjoying knitting these I think I shall abandon them until I can get to a shop for something better for reinforcement. Maybe I'll start another pair in another sock yarn until then -- something that doesn't require reinforcement!

2007-02-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

Inspirational Skeins

When I was in Atlanta I purchased a few inspirational balls of yarn at a lovely shop called Why Not Knit?
Two balls of Rowan kidsilk spray in "Pebbles" which is a sort of rosy tan could be a lovely scarf or small shawl.

The Filatura Di Crosa Baby "Pom Pom" would make a cute trim on a hat or jacket for a certain baby in Atlanta.

The next time I go to that shop I will allow more time and a bigger budget!

2007-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

Arwen is finished!

Cast on: January 1, 2007
Cast off: February 13, 2007
Yarn: Berroco "Pleasure"

I'm proud of the hood grafting and the cables. I'm okay with the cuff grafts. The sleeves are just too long and its a good thing that the cables are reversible since I have to fold back the cuffs. I made the body a larger size to make sure she wouldn't gap in the front but should have kept the smaller size for the sleeves. The seams went very well thanks to the advice of another member of the knit along who recommended the Knitty.com article on mattress stitch. I took Arwen to Atlanta and have been too busy to post this great news! If you like her, have a look at others at http://www.acardiganforarwen.blogspot.com.

2007-02-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

This was a stupid thing to do
I made this great "Pink Lady" bag to give as a gift. (Not stupid, not yet). I knitted it up in Lamb's Pride Bulky, felted it and it turned out really cool! It has a nap that is like dog fur and yet the fabric is dense and "just right." The stupid thing is that I took a "before" picture and forgot to take an "after" picture. It has been gifted and is enjoying its new life in Atlanta.

2007-01-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

Arwen's progress

Where did I read the term, "creative loafing?" I've been on the mend and when the spirit and the flesh were both up for it, I either knitted or read and that term rather describes my knitting. Here is Arwen's left front growth:

I am in awe of the designer, Kate Gilbert, for her new (to me) construction of a cardigan so that it will hang so fluidly, as if knitted by the folks at Rivendell. I am saving the back for later, which I believe is a tip I read on the Arwen Knitalong here on Blogger. I have been trying to join, they have welcomed me with an invite, and in time it will work.

The braids of the cable show up so beautifully in shadow and my kitty was so sweet to help out with this picture. Berroco "Pleasure" is so appropriately named. It is probably spun at Rivendell especially for Arwen. Oh, yeah, while I was on the mend I also knitted while watching a "Lord of the Rings" marathon. It was a great way to recover.

2007-01-03T17:05:00.000-08:00

A Cardigan for Arwen

LOTR fans will know who that is, and others will now learn that Arwen is the elf princess from the Lord of the Rings who inspired the designer of this pattern from the Winter 2006 Interweave Knits. I am in love with the two sided cable, never ever having knit one before. The yarn is ever so soft Berroco Pleasure (66% Angora, 29% Merino and 5%Nylon) purchased ON SALE at one of my favorite new and relatively local yarn shops, Clicking Needles Studio at the Art Trunk, in Dunkirk. This cardi is for ME!

2007-01-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

Lots to cover

And I'm knitting to do so!
First, the feet. The red slippers are the fibertrends clog knitted up in Cascade 220, before felting, and after. I later added a black suede sole I made myself out of a huge black suede vest purchased at Salvation Army for about $3. My feet and warm and cozy.

Next, the body. My body is also warm and cozy in the Weasley sweater knitted up in Plymouth Galway. I used the pattern at that link and had this ensemble ready for Halloween! No it wasn't for the boys, it was for the librarian! It was a big hit, K-12.

I had purchased ten skeins, so as to avoid disaster. I had four left over. These I used to cover and warm up my mother. I had enough left over (four skeins) to make the clapotis for her for Christmas. This picture shows it unblocked, but it was even lovelier and bigger once it was blocked. That was fun to knit, such a clever pattern, and I will definitely knit it again for those reasons and also because I want one for myself!

The grey scarf and headband are some of that ever so soft and warm alpaca I purchased last summer at the scandinavian folk festival. I had very good intentions of making the scarf for my wonderful husband but I forgot that his coat is a sort of khaki olive and this gray just looked like a dog's breakfast with it. Too bad for him, I absolutely had to keep it for myself as it looks stunning with my black coat. The scarf pattern can be found here and the headband here, and the mitts here.

And, of course, my favorite socks to wear, so far. These are from yet another Opal yarn. They appear to be covered in pink confetti, so cheerful.

A baby sweater and hat with matching big sister mittens was camera shy and gifted before I realized what had happened. That consumed the better part of a Cascade 220 Superwash in a rather hot shade of pink.

2006-08-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Prime Rib or Brioche BodiceLook at the beautiful colors of the Schaffer "Miss Priss" yarn and the color has its own name that I forget. This is the brioche or prime rib stitch. It makes a wonderful textured rib that doesn't curl. This is another pattern from the Summer 2006 Interweave Knits. After an entire evening of unsuccessful starts on this pattern I started rummaging through books trying to find something somebody once wrote about this pesky stitch. I KNEW I had seen it, just couldn't remember where. Then, there it was. In Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman, sympathetic detailed information on making this stitch work! And, work it did. You are looking at one evening's (the NEXT evening's) work.

Oh, the blue and white socks are done! Successfully, too. I look forward to wearing them, if not to the weather that requires them. For my next pair of socks I will try the Magic Loop Method. The brioche top is to keep me busy until some Plymouth Galway comes in to my LYS for my Weasley Sweater. Every librarian and Harry Potter Fan needs one!

I really needed a successful project. Oh, yes, I made the tissue box cover for the bathroom but back in July (those halcyon days) I had so many very successful projects that I was quite stopped in my knitting tracks by Icarus and those red mitts. Oh, Icarus and I need to figure out what to do. I told myself I liked the substitute yarn on the last lace chart. I really thought I did until I saw it in the strong daylight. Now, would I ever wear the shawl in strong daylight? Or is it something for soft evenings?

2006-08-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Knitting by the lake

This is looking out across lake Erie toward our neighbors in Canada. The second meeting of our DKC convened at a LYS known for catering to summer people. It was a cute shop in a lovely setting but they had no sock yarn. They had many lovely things for weavers and lots and lots of mohair.

Here is a close up of my friend's knitting. This is her eldest son's official "off to college" sweater, a green cotton Aran. It will be suitable for that balmy Ohio weather.

Lake Erie provided fresh air and entertainment for us in the form of kayakers and sailors. We have decided that knitting near bodies of water is very relaxing.

2006-08-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

On the needles:

Icarus, now sprouting feathers. Notice the slightly toasted hue of the outer plumage. That is the Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud. The texture is smoother than the domestic alpaca that I started with which is more like mohair while the Knit Picks product is silkier. I WILL be satisfied with the outcome.

Also on the needles:

Ubiquitous socks. Handy to have as a portable project and very handy as a finished product. These are from the very nice, basic sock instructions in Nancy Bush's Folk Socks book and made from Opal "Tutto," a satisfying blue and white. I believe that is the color name. The entire label, including the free sock pattern, is in German so I am not entirely sure.

Coming to a ball winder, soon:

Knit Picks Shadow in "Vineyard," just as soon as I can round up a human swift. Shadow is 100% Merino, very fine laceweight, destined to become the Adamas Shawl. It will be a lovely coverup for a rather strappy purple dress I wear sometimes at our ballroom dance club.

In limbo:

The mitts from the cover of the fall Knitty. Yes, there is a warning about needing to use every scrap of yarn in the ball of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and yes, I knit loosely anyway, and I liberally added a row here and there... and inevitably ran out of yarn before the second one was off the needles.

The solution I am currently entertaining is to frog them completely and knit again on smaller needles. They don't need to stretch to slip on in their current state and it only took a couple of evenings to knit these cuties up. I look forward to wearing them in the fall, while cheering on my favorite high school band.

2006-08-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no pictures. However, the laceweight alpaca I was awaiting from Knit Picks arrived on Saturday so I could move on in my Icarus Shawl. The color works with my current color. It is as if someone took the rusty red and toasted it a little darker. I think it will make a nice final chart. It is actually much finer than the alpaca I've been using and so I decided to double it, which made it a bit bulkier than the first yarn and so I went up a size in needles, too. I am very happy with the way it is turning out and will share it with you, soon. Right now the rows are so long that it takes me about 30 minutes to knit across one.

Last Friday, my knitting friend and I met at the Vikings to knit by the lake. Later, our families came up to have dinner with us. I started the mitts on the cover of the new Knitty in cashmerino aran. I had them nearly done the next day, but only nearly as I ran out of yarn. I should have known better than to short myself. I knit very loosely and used up the whole thing. I'm trying to decide if I should just frog the entire project and knit again one needle size down or go buy more yarn. Thing is, I purchased that in East Aurora, someplace I don't go every day.

2006-08-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Another Shawl
Icarus was not yet ready to go out to dinner last evening, so I wore what I consider to be my learning shawl. It is really The Aran Weight Victorian Lace Shawl which I knitted beginning in May and finishing at the end of June. It is true that lace items on the needles are larger than they appear. I unintentionally made this shawl absolutely huge. In the following picture I actually have the shawl folded in half down the center back so it is doubled. We were sitting on a boat, not strolling around, so I was safe from tripping on it!

I took evasive action when I finally admitted that I would not have enough of the lovely alpaca to finish Icarus. After contacting my original vendor and not getting any I looked at Knitpicks online and ordered another lovely alpaca in a heathery version of the rusty red. Or, I do hope that's what it is when it arrives. It is my intention to use that color for the fourth and final lace chart. I am nearly done with chart 3 and am very pleased with the emerging feathers! The order should arrive by the end of the week. Since I was ordering from them anyway, I decided to get a few more things. I expect to be making the Adamas Shawl in a lovely deep purple called "vineyard." Someday.

2006-08-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the Thorn and Thistle tank in use for your viewing pleasure while you wait for me to finish the Icarus shawl. I slowed down on it for a couple of days since I am starting to fear running out of yarn. I emailed Birgitta at All Strings Considered in hopes she might have more but she doesn't. I've seen pictures of the same shawl done with a deeper shade for the final chart of lace and that seems acceptable to me. Now I need to find some...

2006-08-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

Knitting Icarus is like playing a video game

Because of this the only knitting I have done is the Icarus shawl. Here are a couple of pictures of the progress. A friend noted last evening that it keeps getting larger and more involved, "kind of like playing a video game, eh?"

Yep. That's right. And JUST as addictive, too.

The broccoli-like plant is sedum "Autumn Joy" and I hope that by the time it is in its fall glory that Icarus will be off the needles.

2006-08-10T05:01:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to say that I am now a member of the Icarus Knit Along! See what I mean.

2006-08-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

The alpaca Icarus shawl thoroughly enjoyed the last Municipal Band Concert of the season. Friends came over after and introduced us to Mojitos, the national drink of Cuba. What with all the disruption down there I hope they have access to these things, as they are a very refreshing summer libation. I am on the 4th repeat of the first chart of Icarus. As I have about 675 yards of alpaca laceweight I think I may do only four repeats of chart one instead of the five.

2006-08-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Friends are friends forever

What is it about handwork that draws us together and keeps us industriously producing? Knitting with friends is a delightful simple pleasure. Here you see the beginnings of the Thorn and Thistle sweater on my needles, next to me a baby blanket gift is growing chain by chain and another baby blanket is flyng off the needles in the next hands. We ARE created in His image to be like Him: CREATIVE!

2006-08-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Bridemaid's Choice
This cotton/rayon cardigan is based on the lovely design called Bridemaid's Choice by Jill Wolcott in the Summer 2001 Interweave Knits magazine. It is not at all like the elegant mohair number she designed but it fits a niche in my wardrobe. The stone colored portion of the sweater is called Linnen by Neveda and while it felt like string as I worked with it, I like the way it feels to wear. I had used this yarn to make a lacy tee shirt that is see through a bit more revealing than I intended and with this sweater it makes a great twinset. This cardie got to go to hear Peter, Paul & Mary a couple of weeks ago at Chautauqua Institution and received many compliments from complete strangers.

Thorn and Thistle Twinset

The Summer 2006 Interweave Knits featured this twinset designed by Joan Forgione. I opted to skip the bolero and I knitted my way to a second prize ribbon at the Chautauqua County Fair using Berroco Softwist rayon/wool blend. I cast it on around the 4th of July and used the fair as incentive to get it done. I knitted it travelling across five states, too. Done is good!

See the thorns and thistles in the detail:

On The Needles: ICARUS!

Like so many others, I have been seduced into thinking I can fly with this buttery soft alpaca I am knitting into Miriam Felton's beautiful pattern from the Summer 2006 Interweave Knits. I'm thinking I should join the Icarusalong. The yarn is from All Strings Considered who usually shows at fiber festivals but I fell for it at our local Scandinavian Folk Festival. The alpaca lives in Michigan, I was told!

2006-08-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

A Souvenir of Kentucky

When I visited the lovely, welcoming shop A Stitch in Time in Lexington, Kentucky I purchased Brown Sheep Burly Spun in "Mountain Majesty" to knit this nifty shoulder bag for felting. Pictured with it for scale is At Knit's End Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, The Yarn Harlot. My much-loved autographed copy was a gift from a friend who attended the Canadian Book Festival last year. The pattern is The "Pristine" Shoulder Bag by Shelly Boardman.

Before felting:

After felting:

2006-08-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Oh, my happy feet! The self striping Opal sock yarn in "Rodeo" on the right is my second prizewinning entry in the Chautauqua County Fair. My friend and coworker won first and one cool day this fall we shall conspire to distract all who work with us by wearing them ON THE SAME DAY!

Soon to come: pictures of my other knitting exploits from this knitting-obsessed summer.