Unwinding Knitter

Favorite Projects

2008-03-31T08:04:00.005-04:00

These chilly spring temperatures are allowing me a few more days to wear my cabled poncho.

This was one of my first projects after reviving my knitting skills that had hibernated for 25+ years. And it's still one of my favorite pieces. It's still the "if-the-house-was-burning-and-all-living-creatures-were-out-what-would-I-grab" piece. Made from Lopi Lite in my favorite shade of green, it always makes me smile.

The cabled panel was not difficult and I enjoyed my first venture into that aspect of texturing. The ribbed panel was long and laborious and caused me to set aside the project for several months. Pull your hair out boredom. That was before I started enjoying the process.

This past weekend left very little knitting time. Any free moments I found in the afternoon were spent napping as both Saturday and Sunday required early morning wake ups. But I did manage to finish the OLD lace scarf that was sitting around on needles for several years.

I really like this scarf, because it's Mission Falls cotton which means light weight and super soft. I cannot even tell you where I found the pattern. The 6 rows of instruction had been quickly scrawled onto an index card and that is it. No name, no designer, no reference as to gauge, no suggested length. Just a lace pattern to do with as I deemed fit.

One quick non-knitting story.
Yesterday when I got to church and settled in beside some of my favorite people, a woman came up to me and said, "You're Charlotte's mom!" (I tell you that dog has more friends that I have!) It turns out that the woman is the wife of a man we visit at the local adult day stay on Fridays. I met her on a couple of occasions, but was unaware that we went to the same church. She is very sweet, but so burdened with watching her husband's decline from dementia and parkinson's. He is a gentle, kind man who likes to give Char a scratch behind the ears. I am humbled when I think of their daily struggles.

Here's to a good week of happy knitting!

ADD Knitting

2008-03-24T21:03:00.005-04:00

As a knitter I find myself jumping around. Case in point, this:

My FIRST lace project which really turned out NOT to be my first lace project. Since starting this scarf, about 3 years ago, I have completed many, many projects—socks, baby clothes, hats, sweaters, hand warmers, and the list goes on. And I also managed to complete another lace project: the Kitchen Curtain Lace Panel from Knit Picks.

So this little scarf was set aside for other, more exciting projects. Why? I'll admit that it's the new yarn that always gets me. If I have new yarn, the force to start knitting right away with it is usually too much, and I'll drop any WIP to start something new. (Does anybody else feel their mouth watering over new yarn???) I mean I could be sitting in a room with Elizabeth Zimmerman herself, being personally tutored on the seamless yoked sweater. And if an order of yarn came in, I would probably spend the next few minutes coming up with an excuse to put down my needles and leave the room (with new yarn tucked safely in my pocket). I can practically see the look on EZ's face as I fail to pull a fast one on her.

So what's so bad about knitting this lace scarf? Nothing! The yarn is Mission Falls 1824 cotton in a lovely shade called lentel.
It's soft and easy to work up. The 6-row pattern is repeated three times across. There was no sane reason to turn my back on this scarf. This weekend as our eyes met, and I realized just how pretty this was going to be, I found my place in the pattern and pressed on. It feels good, comfortable to be with this dear old friend. The anticipation about what lies ahead for us leaves me a bit giddy as I now turn my back on the mitten and the sweater vest to pledge my true allegiance to the lace scarf. (Can anyone else hear "America the Beautiful" playing quietly in the background?)

This being said, I have sock yarn coming from Knitnpurlgurl. So we'll see where I stand after that arrives! Somedays, being wishy-washy is my only consistency. :-)

No Stitches to Report

2008-03-19T08:53:00.002-04:00

It's already Wednesday, and I haven't made one stitch since the weekend. Even though I would categorize myself as a devoted knitter, some weeks my craft takes a back seat. Don't we all have those periods when the "to do list" gets so long or so complicated that our projects get bumped? And quite frankly, some nights when I get home, I'm just too darned pooped to pick up the needles.

I'm waiting for a Knit Picks order to arrive. My tracking through the USPS shows that it arrived in Cincinnati on the 13th, but was "missent" and is still no where in sight. I want to call the post office and say, "Please, don't put it on another incorrect truck. Just tell me where it is and I'll come and get it. It's being shipped to Paul's office which is no more than 2 miles from the main post office. And now 7 days later, we still haven't received it. I wish you could use UPS as a free shipping option with Knit Picks.

As soon as that order arrives, I will be happy to show what new stuff I splurged on. Let's just say there are socks in my future done two at a time the magic loop way. No more clues!

Some knitting, some stuff

2008-03-12T19:28:00.004-04:00

Work continues on the Bird in Hand mitten #2. It's looking good and I'm almost to the end of the thumb gusset. Little goals, little victories.

Also on the needles is a button-down sweater vest for my better, nicer half. I'm using Cascade 220 in a rich dark blue. You can't tell from this picture, but the color is really nice. There are tiny bits of green, teal and red. But not enough as to seem heathery or feminine. Hubby likes this kind of vest, and so far it seems to be pretty much a no-brainer. The pattern comes from Knitting the Easy Way, which I found for $5.99 in a local book store. This project is what I work on when I'm visiting with someone or in the car or when my brain is past its prime. The stitch pattern is super easy; knit a row followed by one row of k1p1. So far, so good.

Just a couple of non-knitting items.

First, my boss sent me this little blurb from the newspaper. I'm probably the only knitter who didn't know this tidbit of info. "Help birds build nests by giving them leftover yarn. Cut the yarn into 3-inch strips and put them in a netted bag, similar to the ones garlic or onions come in. Hang the bag in a tree to attract nest makers." I thought this was very clever, and will now start stock piling all those tiny scraps. Think of how beautiful these new birds' nests will be with some shots of Noro Kureyon and other fun striped sock yarns.

Finally, while wandering alone in Hobby Lobby last week, I ran across a fairly large display of bandanas. Char likes to get a bit dressed up when we go places, so I indulged her. Here are just a few that I selected for her.

No more news from this end of the needles.

Back to Knitting

2008-03-09T15:35:00.004-04:00

With all that crazy snow management, there was no time or energy left to do even one single stitch. Today is much better for sitting with a project. I have started Mitten #2, and am pleased with the progress. I bought a 47" Addi Turbo Lace needle to use for the magic loop method. I like the magic loop so much better than dpns. It seems less cumbersome, and I feel like it's going faster. Here's where I am so far.

On Friday my tiny, but very important, order from Schoolhouse Press came. I now have patterns for Aspen-Yoke Sweater, EZ's Rib Warmer, Baby Surprise Jacket and a Top-Down Seamless sweater. What a little treasure!

I think the Baby Surprise Jacket will be the first to tackle. How exactly does it go together? I cannot wait to find out.

One Last Snow, Hopefully!

2008-03-08T20:30:00.007-05:00

Here are some picks from today. It started snowing here about 9 a.m. yesterday morning and finally stopped today about 3 or 4 p.m. I had shoveled about 3 inches off the driveway yesterday afternoon. And, of course, you couldn't even see that anything had been done by the time Paul and I got out there today. It's lovely, but cabin fever is setting in. We were on a level 3 snow emergency which means "Stay put!" You know it's bad when the malls close!

Char spent an hour in search of one lost tennis ball. It was like she was trying to find her keys. She worked and worked but to no avail.

Finally, she sat in front of me to ask me to help her look. Isn't she just so beautiful?

More Cold Temps - a good thing

2008-03-05T19:46:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I finished weaving in the ends on the Fake Isle Hat. I like the finished product and am happy with the few slight changed I made to the pattern. I'm still thinking about adding a little tassle braid at the top. Anyway, it was nice to see the temps dip again so that I could wear it today. Wearing brand new knitted items is ALWAYS so pleasant. Even if it meant yet another day of winter.

I'm still trying to figure out all the formatting and what size pictures should be. But you get the drift of how the hat turned out. So just for the record, the ribbed edge got changed to a rolled stockinette edge. And I don't think you can really tell from these pics, but I added one row of purl right before I started the very top. For my odd-shaped head, I needed just a bit of separation between sides and top.

Not much else to report from this end. I bought a long addi turbo to try the second bird in hand mitten. But am kind of ignoring that right now. For some strange reason, the dpns really annoyed me this time around. That's never happened before and now I'll try the magic loop. That kind of scares me just a bit. Oh well, nothing ventured and all that.

Tonight I got home and listened to David Reidy's latest podcast. I really enjoy listening to his show. He just sounds like such a nice guy, and he always picks great things to share (words and music).

That's it for now.

Big day at work tomorrow. Our corporate spelling bee which is loads of fun, but lots of work. We've been planning since last year.

The Search is Over!

2008-03-03T19:00:00.002-05:00

Today felt like spring just might be right around the corner. For the first time in many months, I didn't need a coat, hat, gloves or even a light jacket. I managed to get a short walk in at lunch. Not enough real exercise to do my body any noticeable good, but it was definitely good for my soul. I won't even mention tomorrow's forecast; much too depressing.

Okay, on to knitting. Ever since Paul gave me Elizabeth Zimmermann's The Knitting Workshop book and DVD for Christmas, I have been on a hunt. Her Aspen Leaf yoke sweater caught my eye and I wanted, no make that NEEDED to find that pattern. I've asked my other knitting friends and looked in several of her books. Finally, I crawled out from under my usual rock and found what I was looking for.

If anybody reading this happens to be a clueless as me (which I highly doubt could ever happen!), let me share what I just learned this week. When EZ's Wool Gathering newsletters sell out, Schoolhouse Press reprints the original design in a 1-page leaflet called Spun Out. Each of these designs costs only $1 (except for famed Baby Surprise Sweater which is $3). All the designs are listed on the website. And hallelujah, there was Aspen Leaf Yoke Sweater! That design also comes with her wonderful Rib Warmer. I ordered them and the Baby Surprise Jacket. (Incidentally, David Reidy has a pretty picture of his version of this on sticksandstrings.com in case you're interested in seeing it.) Lastly, I ordered Neck Down Sweaters. I'm excited to get them and learn more from our Grand Dame of the pointy sticks.

Speaking of EZ, I just have to say how much I really, really, really love watching her lessons. Her easy manner and no nonsense approach to our craft makes learning new techniques so easy and fun. I had previously attempted to learn continental knitting on countless occasions over the course of at least three years. Then in December as I watched Elizabeth demonstrate her speedy stitches in the very first lesson of the Knitting Workshop, everything clicked. I picked up the needles, made her suggested swatch hat and have not returned to throwing the yarn. Very cool and very satisfying.

Okay, that's it for this Monday.

Shopping

2008-03-01T16:07:00.004-05:00

Today was a most excellent day. Knitting friends, Tami and Mary, agreed to do a mini road trip up to Hamilton to our new favorite LYS called Lambikins Hideaway. We really love this store and look for excuses to go. (Know the feeling?) And to make the day even better, today was the start of their BIG Semi-annual SALE! Time is truly everything. Here are a couple of pics that do not do this store justice.

I bought another skein of Noro Kureyon for my hat, just in case. Two balls of Crystal Palace Maizy and one ball of Sockotta. In case you're asking, no I don't need anymore sock yarn but it was 40% off. No one should be expected to resist Sockotta at such a savings!

Anyway, we all loved our little trip and left with huge smiles on our faces. Now I'll settle into some laundry, knitting and thinking of the next excuse to visit this knitters' haven.

Leaping

2008-02-29T10:48:00.004-05:00

Happy Leap Year Day! I'm trying to think of people I've known who have birthdays today. But only one comes to mind. Whoever you are, have a GREAT day!

Here are two of my projects. The first is Bird in Hand that was designed by Kate Gilbert.

One finished, but I'm honestly thinking about starting all over. I couldn't get my gauge right and finally settled for 1.5 needles as "close enough." Usually a very loose knitter, this didn't seem like a bad decision at the time. However, as the mitten progressed, my stitches got tighter and tighter. You can see how the fingertip sort of goes into a point. It was fun and only took a week to do, so it's not so bad if I do start again. I'm going to buy a long Number 2 needle tomorrow and try it with the magic loop method as opposed to DPNs.

The second project is the Fake Isle Hat from MagKnits.

The pattern calls for a ribbed edge but I look really dumb in that type of hat. So I'm trying it with a rolled edge. I'm hoping it will make the end result a little more feminine. The pattern may have to be adjusted just a big, like adding another small pattern of black before starting the top decrease. Not sure yet. Sometimes I wish I'd just stick to the patterns, but then something inside me likes that edge of experimentation.

Tomorrow is a BIG DAY! Some of my knitting friends and I are going to our favorite LYS, and it's the first day of their BIG SALE! We love this store. It's called Lambikins Hideaway in Hamilton Ohio. So it's a bit of a drive for us, but well worth it. I love everything about the store; their yarns (they have their own line of wool and silks!), the people who work there, all their knitted up samples. The atmosphere is cozy, warm and welcoming. It's like we have found a home! In my fantasy world of Kimmyland, I would work there and be surrounded by that all day, every day. I'll post some picks of our little road trip when we get back tomorrow.

Fridays is when Charlotte and I visit our friends at the adult day stay a couple of miles from here. She loves to go, because we get there right after lunch. Usually there are bread crusts and other little leftovers awaiting her arrival. She makes her rounds cleaning up any crumbs that hit the floor. It's funny to watch her scoping out the slow eaters.

Launching

2008-02-27T20:28:00.003-05:00

Here's a pretty face to start this blog. Our sweet Charlotte taking a sunbath. So even though this blog is technically about knitting, other important topics (like DOGS) will often arise.

You don't have to twist my arm, I'll admit it. I am hooked on knitting. The feel of the yarn, the anticipation of a new project, finding a great local yarn store, meeting yet another knitter. All that is just the best.

Right now I have 3 projects on the needles. A sweater vest for my husband (something I can knit without much thought), the Fake Isle Hat from MagKnits (looks impressive, but oh so easy), and Bird in Hand mittens by Kate Gilbert (one down and one to go). Pictures will come as soon as I figure out how to add them.

Okay, short and sweet is how I want to do this. More later.