Pischi Days

What Time is It??

Holy Cow! Where do the days go? They are flying by and I can't keep up. My last post was in May with news from September. How lame is that?
Lets have a quick roundup of news.

• I graduated with an AA, a huge accomplishment for me.
• Went back to school to earn a certification in Medical Billing and Coding. The big board exam is this Saturday. Hope I pass.
• Netflix and knitting have kept me sane!

Let's round up some projects, mostly old, mostly socks.Here we go...

Coralicious Socks, an easy, lacy pattern that's free on Ravelry, knit from a skein of my coveted Sundara Sock Cerulean Seas. These socks and the ones below were donated the a charity auction to raise money for school scholarships. I hope that they fetched a decent amount of money.

My first foray into socks using Zauberball Frische Fische. While watching the colors change was enjoyable, knitting with a single unplied yarn was not. My tension is tight and this yarn is not forgiving, not to mention splitty. Oh, the pattern is called Peacock, fitting, wah? Janel Laidman writes awesome sock patterns.

These were a quick knit. I love the colors and the fabric pictured with them is a vintage sari that I scored at the thrift for $4! The yarn was a gift, Gypsy Girl Creations and the colorway is called Floridian. The pattern, Dragonfly Socks, is free.

Knitting black fingering yarn can diminish your eyesight! Really. Black is so versatile and I would like more socks knit from black yarn, but my eyes...my eyes...

The pattern is free and called Clover. It's a great combination of cables and lace. Very classy. The yarn is JaWoll Solid Superwash. This is the yarn that comes with a spool of reinforcing thread for heels and toes. Too bad, I forgot to use it!

Pom Pom Peds are my current obsession. I could knit these day and night. Well, I do knit these in between projects. The yarn is something random out of the stash. It could be Lion Brand Magic Stripes, but who knows. The great thing about these socks is that you I use up all those remnants from larger sock projects. I wear mine to the gym and they are the socks that I get the most use out of. These are for my son, a Christmas gift. Since he never reads this blog, it's safe to say he will still be surprised.

I still have a plethora of projects and things to share. Stay tuned!

The ShawlWashclothBlankie Post

Catching up is such a process. This is the shawl post in which I will attempt to chronicle three months of shawl and miscellaneous knitting that took place in the latter quarter of 2010. Without further ado…
I will start with Saroyan x 2! The last two years I was smitten by Sundara's yarns, mostly because they were so unobtainable. This made made want to own skeins and skeins of the stuff. I would join the clubs just to make sure that I received a good assortment. While beautiful, it is now out of my budgetary wheelhouse but I enjoy folding and knitting it up…very slowly, you know, to make it last. Saroyan is a great pattern to use for small batches of luxury yarn. I has three skeins of the Silk Aran in Orange Blossom. The first shawl I knit used up just one skein. I made some adjustment to repeats and the result is still a generously sized shawl. This one made its way to the UK with my friend Annie. Hi, Annie, hope you like it !

I loved this pattern so much, I had to try it using beads. This one is slightly longer and is part of an upcoming charity auction for the SPCA. Someone on Ravelry has figured out how to add little dangly leaves to the ends. I tried this and didn't have the patience to follow through. I must preserve because I love the look so much.

When I visited Stitches South in Atlanta last April, Citron was on every ones shoulders. You could see every colorway and yarn imaginable. I made mine using a Cranberry Zauberball. My only regret, not having made it larger. This one was knit on the September trip to Toronto. Since that trip was so jam packed, it will need a post to itself. Stay tuned.

 
Next up, Classic Washcloths. These are the classic numbers from the Mason Dixon book. I used the same yarn called for, Crystal Palace Chenille culled from a Ravelry stash. This stuff does not worm! You've got to love that. The trio were part of a wedding basket filled with cleaning necessities. I hate gift registries and prefer to do my own thing. Who can't use Method and Mrs. Meyer's cleaning supplies? So pretty and smells good, too!

Florida has been in the grips of some pretty cold weather….again. I am not an afghan fan, especially those ziggy zaggy ones that seem to be a prolific sight on the backs of sofas here in the South. Really, any throw draped on furniture, other than a bedroom chaise is a turn off for me.

Despite turning up my nose at knitted blankets, I was smitten with this one. It's the Hemlock Ring Blanket, a modern take on a doily pattern. This was Jared Flood's brainchild, which some charting assistance from the Rainy Sisters. Again, I used the called for yarn, Cascade Eco Wool In tarnish purchased from a Ravelers stash. I loved this knit as it flew right along. I was actually sad when it was finished. Blocking was a bear and I definitely recommend blocking the center as it will bubble. The feather and fan portion will still bubble a bit, despite heavy blocking. That OK, though. Another regret, the color. This grey is so boring. Go check out some of the ones in the Ravelry database. The orange one is just spectacular. Eco Wool comes in colors…..

Gifts in Season

Yes, yes..there has been some knitting going on. The summer here has been brutal, although not as brutal as in other parts of the country. After all, we're geared for hot weather. The temperatures have been in the 90's with high humidity and this makes for knitting small items in lightweight yarns.
My projects have been geared towards gift giving with several birthdays in mind.I love the idea of being able to make something special for a friend. I am always surprised when I'm told by the recipient that this is their first hand knitted item.
Here is my laundry list of gifts so far.
Pom Pom Peds are on the top of my gift giving list. They encompass stash busting, they arequickly completed, suit almost anyone from teen to senior. The pattern is very easy to memorize once a couple of pair have been made. I completed these out of leftover Socks That Rock and gave them to my good knitting buddy, Rene'e, who claims that as a nurse, socks are one of the few clothing items she can wear and express her individuality
Although hats aren't necessarily the "must have" accessory in Florida, every man should have a hat to pack on trips north. Although, it did get pretty cold last winter and maybe I sohould make a few for the upcoming season.

I traded some Meilenweit sock yarn from the Dizzy Spin Off BOK…(watch the website daily if you're curious). Two skeins of Classic Elite Lush resulted in the Brioche Stitch Hat. This was my first brioche adventure and I cast on and ripped seven times. Each try resulted in holes in the fabrics, not the lovely rib that was present in all the pictures that I viewed. I finally gave in and watched a youtube video that explained every step including the caston in detail. Finally, success.

Sundara's  yarn, always in demand, was something that I bought and stored because it seemed too precious to knit with. What if I failed and had to rip up the project, ruining this expensive yarn? Coming to my senses, I caved and knit a scarf that I've long admired, Saroyan. This is a great pattern and can be customized to suit any desired length or width. My goal was to use just one skein of the Silky Aran Merino. The result is a generous scarf that can be wrapped or pinned. I have two skeins left over and want to try a larger version for myself using beads in the leaf stems.
So, there is the gift roundup for the month. I am currently knitting another gift hat and challenging my self to complete my WIPS during the month of August.

May Day, May Day

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday week. I treated myself to a trip to Stitches South in Atlanta. It was a quick drive up I-95 with one of my knit sisters for a two night stay at the Hyatt. We baring slung the bags into the hotel door before we headed to the show. Then barely made it in the door when the WEBS booths hit us squarely in the pocketbooks. The show was filled with many exotic goods that we just don't get to fondle very often. I also loved the jaw dropping samples that were on display to try on. 
I succumb to the Berroco Kirri sweater, the same on the Yarn Harlot is knitting. I finally got my hands on some Habu Stainless yarn, tencil from Just Our Yarn, and my favorite purchase, a quirky kit from Coloratura. It's a simple garter knit scarf in silk merino aran, hand dyed with a generous silk scarf to match. The scarf is knit with several button holes through which the silk scarf is threaded. Then, its up to you to create a look. I wasn't allowed to take any photos at the show, but here is a peek at the scarf.   

Tom whipped up my favorites for breakfast, Sour Cream Pancakes with blueberry syrup and fresh strawberries. My big present was a new bicycle basket for last years present a retro Trek Navigator. He also treated me to a much need set of Knit Picks Options, so I won't have to borrow Bonnie's anymore.
I headed out the door for the first of my four finals for the semester, a 6000 word history essay, chronicling America's political challenges in the 19th century. All to be whipped out in 90 minutes, notes allowed.
After that head splitting exercise, I headed over to Rene'es to play in her yarn. We spent a blissful afternoon logging her massive stash into the Ravelry database. It was fun to see what other knitters buy. She has envious collection of delectable yarn. My reward was a bottle of my favorite, Lindeman's Framboise Lambic and a Salmon on Naan sandwich.
Have to dash, my doorbell just rang and it's off to the Spanish River Grill with some of my favorite friends and knit models, Carolyn and Kathryn. Wish me luck, three more finals to go and graduation…phase one is over!

Spring has truly sprung and with the cool and unusual weather, we have poppies in our garden.

       

The Big Sock Post

Golly, I checked the dates on the blog and realized that there has been no knitting posted since December and do Korknisse really count? This is the big sockknitting post, were I catch up on what I've made in the last few months. Socks, socks and more socks. September came and went and the Lacy Rib Socks were an SKA project that didn't quite make the deadline. These are pretty flashy in citrus colors. I had seen the EllieBelly Sea Wool online and couldn't resist the Florida colorway.   As I resolved to be more active in Ravelry's Sock Knitters Anonymous and was semi-successful. There was an October reprieve where knitting a single sock, Christmas stocking, was acceptable. I jumped right in with Claire Kellogg's, My Christmas Stocking. I used Jo Sharp Classic DK and scraps of baby alpaca for the "kitten heel". 
A detour from the sock knitting to a quick little November project that I just loved knitting. Just Enough Ruffles was knit from Marks and Katten's Dream and matches my Sitcom Chic. The scarf gives just enough warmth on a cool day. Unfortunately the yarn is very soft, not enough sproing, and doesn't hold the ruffle as well as I would have liked.

December had me knitting a pair of socks for Tom's birthday. These were also SKA entries whose deadline I failed to meet, yet again. I didn't quite make the birthday deadline either, but it was close. They are Anne Hanson's Lighthouse Gansey Sock knit up in Regia Silk 4-ply. This is some of the finest commercial sock yarn that I've knit in a long time.  Onward to a January quickie, Leigh Radford's Cable Footies, from One Skein. I used some rustic marled wool from Germany. We've had a fairly cold winter and all our floors are tile. There may be more of these cranked out in favor of warm toes.I made this purchase over twenty years ago and have never quite figured out what to make with it. Its pretty course for sweaters and we're not vest people. I still have two skeins left and I'm sure I'll figure out something to make with the rest. 
A special request from one of Tom's colleagues, a handknit golf club cover for a new driver with a head as big as a beach ball (or so it seems). I hope its cozy and warm and not suffering from hyperthermia while riding in the trunk from course to course.
Here we are in February and it's Valentine's Day and in the early stages of the Winter Olympics, my favorite Olympics. I am knitting for Canada and have chosen Baktus, a Norwegian pattern, German Zauberball and JaWoll yarn, in Canadian colors of red and white covering three great Winter Olympic countries! So bring on the Lefse, Schnitzel mit Pommes, Nanaimo Bars and Butter Tarts. Stock up on firewood and hand me my Olympic knitting, a glass if wine, and transport me to the slopes.  

Hamina, Hamina

First I fell in love with the yarn and then I waited for the perfect pattern. The yarn, Neighborhood Fiber Company's Penthouse Silk, was featured on Mimknits, Miriam Felton's blog. I just took a sneak peek at what she's knitting with it. No  photos yet but it's called the Anthemion Wrap and the pattern will be published in December. I can't wait.   
Anyway, run, don't walk to a shop or a site that carries Penthouse Silk. You won't regret the splurge. My choice of pattern was Pink Lemon Twist's Hanami Shawl. I love the contemporary look and the story behind it. There is a tiny error as to how many beads to use that I made notes on my Ravelry project page. 

Originally I cast on using #5 circulars and quickly frogged the too loose lace. My new needle size, a #3 was so much more pleasing. I won't say that this shawl was a walk in the park. The yarn is very fine and the basket weave pattern demands a bit of attention. Once in the groove, it was smooth knitting all the way. I chose silver lined beads to resemble water droplets. Instead of using a crochet hook I threaded the correct number of beads for the edge. 

 

 

  

  

 

I really wanted to showcase my shawl with water as a background. Unfortunately the weather was so windy and when we walked out onto the pier over the Indian River, the sky opened up. I think the pictures in the backyard came out very well.

A small modification on the ruffle was that I added an additional knit 1 through the front and back loops to give the ruffle…well, more ruffle. I also made the ruffle wider, wider, wider.
This was a great project with well written instruction. The scarf is very versatile. Dress her up or down. I will be wearing this a lot next year!
On a side note, Kathleen (entrepreneur extraordinaire) is opening up a new yarn shop in Daytona Beach called She Sells Yarn. Its smack dab in the center of Beach Street and across from the headquarters of the Chicago Cubs affiliate, the Daytona Cubs. Daytona is the yearly host to Biketober Fest and Bike Week in March. Don't forget the Daytona Speedway. Now there is a fabulous new yarn and fiber shop as well. So, if you're in Daytona Beach, stop by and say hi to Kathleen. Check out her fabulous stock of sock yarns, spinning fibers, and more Maybe I can talk her into carrying some fabulous Penthouse Silk. 

Dear Kate Gilbert!

Dear Kate,

I have been lurking your blog since 2004 and while you were living in France. I journeyed with you through marriage, moves and children. You are the high priestess of the Clapotis, Sunrise Circle Jacket, Union Square Market, Peapod, Marina Piccola (I've knit this one), and my nemesis, Arwen. Clapotis has 5000+ hearts om Rav. Your patterns are known far and wide and come in such a wide variety; socks, tops, shawls, mittens, baby togs. The list goes on and on. Your patterns were some of the first that I fell in love with when I discovered knitting in the blogosphere.

All I ever wanted was to knit Arwen. I remember buying and downloading the pattern, searching for just the right color of the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and investing in Addi Turbos, to allow the stitches to fly off the needles.


I swatched for the first time in my life! I colorcoded all the appropriate stitch numbers on the pattern with a yellow highlighter. My only concession was that I wanted to modify the hoodie and  change it to a middy collar. This fifty year old woman wasn't going to wear a hoodie, not in Florida anyway. I had scoured the library for books on how to miter a cabled corner and found just the perfect instructions in a book of Viking Knitting. I remember the day that I cast on my first stitch, a sultry July Saturday morning, after having chosen just the right size and I let the knitting begin. I have a love affair with cables and the sweater was progressing well. I was even memorizing the cable pattern. I knit both sides and plodded through the garter stitch square that was the back.

I seamed and all came to an abrupt halt when I realized the sides were uneven. I frogged both sides to beyond the sleeves and reknit. Again, failure. The jacket bits landed in a dark corner while I knit other things. Months later the bag was retrieved from its dusty corner. I revisited my Arwen but I just couldn't get thing to line up. After much trepidation, I took the plunge and ripped the whole thing out. Thats right, I enlisted the help of my son and ripped while he wound the many yards of Cashmerino into semi-fresh cakes. So, there I sat with hours and hours of knitting wasted. I read the Ravelry forums and notes in the completed Arwens, those successful and not. This sweater was just not to be.

I got over my sorrow and was determined to move on! I had the Ravelry search engine smoking with every variation of cardigan and sweater in Cashmerino Aran, searching, searching for the dream sweater that I knew this yarn could become.
After what seemed like hours and hundreds of sweater patterns later, despondency set in. Was there no sweater suited to my yarn, figure, climate and knitting talents? One more search. I can't remember what combination of words or tags I used or if I searched by yarn type...but there it was the sweater of my dreams staring at me on the body of a model leaning against a barren tree, sleeves that were much to long for her arms. Wisteria! Just the name was magic and those cables, wild and unpredictable. Sure, the sleeves could be shortened. This was it, the sweater that would be my knitting destiny. Then I glanced the designers name, it was you, Kate. I hesitated, just for a moment. I broke down, giving a sweater design of yours a second chance and bought the pattern that will consume me for the next few months. I cast on and have (hopefully) successfully completed the yoke. Did I mentioned that I love the cables? Please, wish me luck. While I will never knit a Clapotis, your other sweaters are in my queue-. Should I fail, I going over to Nora Gaughan!
All is fair in love and knitting.

Dream of a Cardi

Just when I thought that I couldn't produce a proper sweater, I find that its best to get back to basics. With one of my oldest friends coming to visit, I had to clean out the craft closet and the guest room. Among my 4 boxes of yarn were several skeins of Marks and Kattens Dream in a light shade of blue. With Arwen in tatters and my sweater mojo along with it, high time to shake off the bad karma and cast on a "no fail" project. I chose Bonni Marie Burns Sitcom Chic.

I shlepped this sweater everywhere and, yes, I had my set backs. After attaching the sleeves and merrily knitting along, I stopped to count front, sleeve, and back stitches.  I missed several decreases somewhere and was forced to rip out a days worth of knitting. Here I actually captured a stitch way down in the center some where.
Not to be deterred I used my new found math skills and paid closer attention to my count in round two. Success. I added an invisible hook and eye closure to the front. It’s a  little sweater in a nice basic color. It looks as though this sweater is available on the ChicKnits site as a top down version called Eyelet Cardi.

The skirt is a quickie from deep in the fabric stash. The pattern is from Favorite Things Cute Skirts and will also be a nice wardrobe staple.

I want to share my newly discovered summer drink. Framboise Lambic from Belguim. Easy to drink, just pop the top and uncork.  Pour into a frosted Pilsner glass and enjoy. It is like drinking a basket of the sweetest raspberries. Sip slowly, though. It's pricey and, oh, so easy to drink. Savor with a good bar of the darkest chocolate.… I have been buying mine at our newly opened ALDI. The Moser-Roth brand tastes wonderful and the $1.89 price tag offsets the lambic.
Now, back to my regularly scheduled sock knitfest!

The End of May

It's been a graduation turmoil at the Claybaugh household. Our one and only child experiment finally completed high school and will hopefully be out of the nest and into the wild blue yonder courtesy of the USAF. Good bye and good luck. Be well, do good work and keep in touch. 
There have also been parties upon parties, graduation and otherwise. This is the aftermath of one of my oldest friends half centennial. I can't believe I'm saying this, but WHERE has the time gone. I first started asking this when Erik turned 18 earlier this year. Among the assembled were friends that numbered 25+ years and their children. I suppose that we need to brace ourselves for what comes next? No, no...segue and onto knitting.
Here is the birthday girl wearing Cat Bordhi's Cashmere Moebius, albiet not cashmere by Fiesta La Boheme. This was caston on impulse in front of a YouTube video explaining the crazy on in rapid repetition. Had it been film, it would have worn out. Once on the 40" long circular needles, I completed it in a day.
As Memorial Day weekend and the last couple of weeks were filled with rain and thunderstorms, I finally sat down at the sewing machine and made fitted sheets out of flat sheets. While in the sewing mood I was able to whip out some small project bags from the stash. They are modeled after the Japanese Knot Bag from this site and are reversible. I added buttons so that I can tell them apart.

 

Since time has been on my side the Hedera sock that I started in January are also complete.The yarn is Fleece Artist's Sea Wool and the pattern is from Cookie A. via Knitty. I am in love with semisolid yarn. No more variegated yarn for me. I still have some in my stash and hope to find just the right patterns for them.

 

Today, sans child, we hit the beach. Me, with my current sock in cute new project bag, iPod, and book. Tom with coffee, newspaper and his Siruis radio. We spent a quite 3 hours until the march of the families with kiddies arrived en mass loaded to the hilt with all the kiddie beach accessories. Now that we are just two again, we travel lightly and early to avoid the humans and catch the bird parade. 

Mutti's Days

I am spending my Mother's Day in pajamas reflecting what my mother meant to me. I was adopted and as my mother loved to say, "Selected, not expected."  I suppose that this was said to elevate my self-esteem. My mother had high expectations and while she did her best, nature often defied nurture. She struggled with who I evolved into, just as I  struggle with my son's personality. I left the family nest at the unripe age of 16 and left the country at age 19. Our relationship improved across continents. We spoke on the phone almost every week and we visited one another about every other year. 
I lost my mother in 2001 and no day goes by without a flicker of a memory. Although we said many things to one another, many things were left unspoken.  Now that I am the mother of a teen, her frustrations are more salient. I wish I could tell her that I finally understand. Here she is in pre-Pischi days with our schnauzer, Purtzel.
Summer is quickly approaching and my spring term has finally ended. I earned high marks in all my classes and that included a well deserved "C" in algebra, a grade that I am most proud of. I was thankful for Susan and David always there to tutor my way through chapter after chapter of math problems. While spending last few weeks  with my nose in the books and a pencil in hand, I was also able to work the phlebotomy clinicals in the lab at our local hospital. Of course knitting has taken a back seat but I have managed to turn out a couple of projects and I look forward to casting on several items while enjoying my freedom until the fall semester begins.
I knit the Shetland Triangle using a skein of Brooks Farm Primero scored through Ravelry. This is the second project that I have made using one of Evelyn Clark's patterns. This shawl is already on its way to Germany and will grace my aunt's shoulders during the chilly evenings. Carolyn was bribed with wine in exchange for modeling duty. See, it fits!
Also complete are the No Purl Monkey socks using Impulse of Delights merino/silk sock yarn. The colorway is called Lost Lake and evoked memories of Lake Louis in Alberta. The socks are on my feet as I write and then on their way into the wash and my sock drawer. As you can see, Dorrit is quite at home now. He rules the roost and is the first cat I owned where yarn vigilance is mandatory.

 
A wonderful surprise that the three items that I entered into out county fair took all the blue ribbons including Best of Show and Best of Division. The prize included a check that will help pay for a new iPod and there should be some leftover to splurge on yarn. I miss listing to podcasts since my old faithful black Nano died.
I am now ready to trade my jammies in for something motherly to attend Erik's baccalaureate. Happy Mother's Day!

A Couple of Cookies, a Cat, and a Shawl

The little visitor that walked into our life a few weeks ago has taken up permanent residence. Little Dorrit, as I've named him, had  taking refuge in our courtyard under the porch glider. He smelled and was fairly thin, but his playful personality was not affected. After a 13th hour trip to the SPCA for shots, deworming, and neutering, he is now part of the family. Our other two cats still haven't warmed to the idea. His life here has been full of challenges. A further vet visit uncovered an upper respiratory infection and one of our girls took a nip out of his left flank. In spite of these deterrents, he is holding his own and will soon assert himself. He loves to lounge in the sun and play with errant shoelaces.

Since flinging Arwen into a corner I had to reaffirm my ability to knit a satisfactory project. Digging deep into the yarn basket out came an oatmeal skein of Fleece Artist Sea Wool. A second plunge yielded a rich skein of silk and merino in shades of turquoise and celery from indie dyer Impulse of Delight. I was on my way to knitting a pair of Cookies. The Sea Wool is one sock away to a lacy pair of Hedera. The yarn is subtly shaded strands of grey and the lace pattern is easy to remember. I will wear these often. Kathleen from Threads of Time, Ormond Beach challenged the Knead to Knit group to a Monkey KAL. I am the absentee knitter of an undetermined amount of participants. I have only seen Kathleen's in the forum. My Monkey's are no purl and I now understand the popularity of this method. It makes the pattern easy to memorize. No shlepping papers around.

In the spirit of knitting affirmations, another project quickly sprang to life. I had seen a scarf at the local Cocoa LYS. It turns out to be a free pattern on Ravelry. Its a faux braid and the look really appealed too me. It called for a type of mohair, yarn that I did not have. After a brief search on Ravelry, I came across a great deal on Primero from Brooks Farm. Funny, I had visited SAFF twice and always passed up the Brooks Farm booth in favor of other vendors. The skein was a bargain and I had it on my doorstep the same week. I cast on and started cabling long runs of 20 stitches and quickly became impatient with the lack of shape. Out came the needles and the yarn was quickly a large ball of mohair again. Not to be deterred, I poured over possible patterns and settled on Evelyn Clark's Shetland Triangle. This is another easy project that flies off the needles. The body pattern is easy to memorize and the project is small enough to transport. I love the topography that appeared of the back side.

Will I get back to Arwen and sweater knitting? I don't know. It doesn't seem to be something that I have a proclivity for. For now, finishing a couple of Cookies are on my menu.

The Bizzy Post

Sooo, what have I been up to since the last post. Burning the candle at both ends! My days start when the alarm rings at 4:30 and most days I head to the bakery. As soon as the work is done I head home to stick my nose into my homework. Right now I have a pathophysiology and pharmacology class and an algebra class that I elected to take because I thought that I had some down time and, hey, who doesn't want to brush up their algebra skills. I have had my "what was I thinking" moments. I am wading through chapter after chapter polynomials, exponents and the like but not without the help of Super Susan and Dynamic David, my super tutors! Just to keep life interesting, my phlebotomy unit started and after I cram in homework, I jump into green scrubs and head to the hospital where class starts promptly at 5 pm, lab ends at 9 pm. After that, I drive home, peel off clothes, and fall between the sheets. Tom has been pinch-hitting in the house and garden. Needless to say my sheets are no longer ironed! We had to let go of something.
My spare time is still spent with needles (syringe or knitting)in my hand and I have managed to complete a small project, frog a few and start a couple just for good measure.

Last year I knit for the Gilcrest Foundation, a local educational charity. The Icarus Shawl went to auction and fetched a modest sum. I was pleased to hear that the scholarship went to a friends young son. There is no better feeling than to know that your efforts directly benefit someone you know.
This year, when asked, I panicked. What could I knit that would be a desirable auction item and fit into my busy schedule? The yarn had to be from my stash. We are still pinching pennies. While cleaning out the stash a few months ago, I came across 5 balls of Plymouth Sinsation in a lovely champagne color. There lay the answer. I would knit the knockoff version of Lisa Daniel's Vintage Velvet, a reverse cable scarf that I have knit twice before. I have decided not to felt the scarf. Instead it will be sold as is with instructions for felting included with the description.


Along the lines of simple knitting from my stash, I have knit my first pair of fingerless gloves. My Tante in Germany has complained bitterly about the cold weather and how the wind whistles up the coat sleeves on her dog walks. I dug out more stash yarn. This time two year old merino sock yarn from Knitting Notions, purchased at SAFF. The pattern is a German one and has my favorite detail cables. The first mitten flew off the needles and I have almost completed the right mitt. Happily, mitts are not difficult at all and are a great sock alternative. I see many mittens and fingerless gloves in my future.

Several of us from ou small knitting group have entered our work into this years county fair. I decided to pick a piece for all three categories. For the seamed event I chose DaCapo; flat knitting, Swallowtail Shawl and for non-seamed shaped knitting, Winter's Eve sock. Judging will be next week and I have free passes to the last days show.

Yarn purchases have been very sparse. I did see a scarf that I fell in love with. The Cable Scarf 1 was on display at our local LYS. They were offering a class to teach the technique, my favorite, cables. I decided to hunt down that pattern through Ravelry and found it was free. The trouble was that I had no yarn, I found a terrific buy through Ravelry of a 500 gram skein of Brooks Farm Primero for a fraction of the price that It now sell for. I cast on and hated the results. Back to Ravelry for more inspiration. I cast on Evelyn Clark's Shetland Triangle and am very pleased with the results. The pattern is easy to memorize and I am already through several pattern repeats.
Sooo, that's what I have been up to. I think I'll go pur myself a second cup and catch up on what you all are up to!

Seeing Green and Some Red

I thought I was powering through the Arwen's body. At least thats what it looked like two posts ago. Then I started to sew the sleeves seams and ground to a halt when the lower cast on edge overshot the cast off edge. Kate Gilbert, you're killing me! Bested by an elven sweater. I was ready to cast the cashmerino into the flames of hell. Then I came to my senses and ripped both fronts back to below the sleeves, took a deep breath, reread the instructions, consulted Ravelry, said a prayer, and cast on the right sleeve...again. Form what I read on Ravelry, I completely misunderstood short rows, misinterpreted the instructions and thereby botching the sleeves. I didn't realize that you pick up the horizontal bar that wrap the stitch and place it on the left needle and knit them together. I thought that you knit the wrapped stitch together as a K2T. Foolish me. See the blob in the middle of the right front? Bad, bad splicing. Give me socks and short rows, please. I live in Florida, so why am I knitting sweaters?

Here are socks that can be worn. Inside and out! I made these for Erik. My only disappointment was that the cables were a bust. Yes, I had to rip these back as well. The cables made the ankle too tight and difficult to pull over the heel. They look fine without the cables and my son is happy with his first pair of knit socks. The yarn is Blue Moon Fibre Arts Monsoon and the pattern is aptly called Inside Out, a Rockin' Sock Club pattern.

Here are some shots with the cables.

Not to vanquished by a sweater, I have cast on Cobblestone, the fabulous Jared Flood design from one of my favorite Interweave Knits magazines. You know, the one with the Tilted Duster on the cover. It is another brainless knit in the round and sure to succeed. I only hope  that my son stop eating and start swimming or else this sweater will be destined for the back of the drawer.

In the spirit of positive knitting tales, I am making a third plushy scarf in the style of the Vintage Velvet. This is made with Plymouth Sinsation, a heavier Touch Me wanna be. It may be a very expensive novelty lux fiber, but is the comfort food of yarn. Soft, silky, and quick to knit. It is going to be a charity auction item to benefit education. Sad, isn't it that we have to have silent auction benefits to augment learning? That's fodder for another post.

As if I don't have enough to knit, on impulse I bought the Briggs and Little yarn for Sylvi. One of the gals in our little knitting group is prodding me to cast on. I am resisting. She has her yarn and hopes to learn from my missteps. Did I mention that I'm in Florida? Why do I need a Sylvi sweater?

Here is a fresh new knitter's accessory from Finland, in todays mail at a great price, $12 includes shipping. A precision tooled needle gauge made from recycled plastic. You can buy your own helping hand here. Check out the lego stitch markers and the cool sock blockers.
A skunk footnote: The smell is gone. I have shampooed the last vestiges of scent from my dining chair upholstery. It was a good thing that we believe in hard surfaces. No rugs, drapes, or cloth upholstery. My yarn is also safe and we have not forgotten to lower the cat doors at night. Today I heard that the skunk couple have moved across the street into the neighbors garage.

The Serpent Arwen

Arwen has been in progress since July.  I have been knitting this sweater far too long and really should have made more headway. Garments like Arwen make me appreciate socks (here, on my feet on this chilly Florida morning).

Although one knits two, socks yield particular pleasure for me. The yarn can be luxurious without breaking the budget, colorful and loud without drawing too much attention when worn. This also speaks for the little knitting mishaps that may happen. They just don't show when worn so close to the ground. Socks are portable. I can sling a pair into my handbag and have a knit fix at will. They are quick, although I have had a pair in my WIP collection for a tad longer than need be, most of my knit socks are completed within thirty days of their conception.
Back to innocent Arwen. The yarn is a favorite of mine, DB Cashmerino Aran. I love the color as well. The appeal for me were the cable plackets and the sweater has no closures, the temptation is to slip it on and go. So why is this sweater kicking my behind? I find the construction awkward. Each sleeve is knit part of the front and one knits a large square for the back which then is patched in with a mattress stitch. I have since sewn up and picked apart the sleeves twice. I also forced myself to rip out half of the sleeve progress because I overshot the right front by about eight rows. As of this writing, I am back on track or else I am deluded or lulled into complacency thinking that I am moving forward. Crafty Arwen.
Here is the offending sleeve innocent in the dappled sunlight laying in wait for me to pick up the needles and then strike.

I have not told the sweater that I plan on changing the hood into a collar. I am biding my time and girding my defenses to prepare and strengthen for the dangerous maneuvers that  lay ahead.

Lessons in Thrift

Thrift doesn't come easily. It's a work in progress. The urge to splurge is always lurking and I avoid shopping as much as possible. My car is on autopilot from home to work, home again and to school. Tom has been gracious enough to shop for groceries and take ove the day to day finances. This cuts down on the anxiety.
In the spirit of thrift, I have been using yarn that has not seen the light of day for months, sometimes years. Finding patterns for these hidden gems has been much easier since Ravelry.

Here are two examples. Both are knit with Noro Silk Garden Light and Alpaca With A Twist Baby. Both are found on brooklyntweeds blog. The scarf is the Noro Striped Scarf, a simple K1, P1 and change yarns every other row. The fabric is plumb and soft and the result looks as though far more thought has gone into knitting it.
I still had leftover material and so I Turned a Square and made a matching hat. Now this doesn't seem a practical choice here in Florida and so I may have to stash it away for wear at a later date or maybe send it across the ocean to a chilly friend or relative.
Susan was a kind and patient model as we pranced around the yard in search of decent light. Susan is doing well after her last round of chemo and radiation. Her hair is growing back quickly and I think that it suits her. She looks wonderful. I was able to wear the scarf on our annual family outing to Cracker Christmas at Fort Christmas.
With Christmas is just around the corner and I have just received my first present. A new Reisenthel Carrybag mini. Only a fellow knitter would know what a great project  bag this is. I have two larger baskets and had no idea that this mini existed, and with closure up top and my name in pink! The bag the basket is came in is perfect for light laptop protection on the go. I love my new basket and will be retiring the old Boardwalk basket for a while.

While on the subject of yarn totes, I was playing around with "yarn" and "knitting" on craigslist and up popped this little jewel. A vintage knitting basket/table. I took a 35 minute trip north and picked it up for a few dollars. It is solid cherry and in great shape. The fabric is pretty tacky and has to go. I will do some further stash diving into the fabric bins to see what I can come up with to replace the bag. I'll share when the liner is replaced. 

Although these items are not in the spirit of thrift, it's a subscription purchase that I made in better times. The second round of Sundara yarn has arrived. This time I received Fingering Silky Merino. Three 500 yards skeins of gorgeous colorful yarn. On a tip from a knitterly friend, I immediately put the two pink skeins, Sugar Plum and Flaming Flamingo up for trade on Ravelry in favor of two more skeins of The Aquatic Life. At least I will have more options as to what to knit with 1500 yards. Now I am crossing my fingers that they will all match!

Feet First

Every now and then a bit of blogging lethargy sets in and  the words just won't commit themselves to paper, or screen in this case. Sure, plenty of opportunities and events have presented themselves that I have failed to record. Now I sit tongue-tied, wondering where to jump in. So, I will just burst in feet first.
When the most of the country experiences chilly weather and have their toes propped up on the hearth,
we, in Florida, are still able to stroll around in sandals and shorts experiencing this.

Finished and on my feet are October 2007's Rockin' Sock Club socks Lenore, a pattern  by Stephanie Pearl McPhee. The yarn was the first in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Raven Clan series. Knit on extra long #1 circular needles, the pattern was a breeze to memorize once the lace cuff was complete.
An impulse buy early in my stash enhancement turned into an impulse knit as well. This skein of Great Adirondack mohair ribbon yarn lingered in my stash for almost three years. I couldn't find the right pattern for the yarn. With the type of yarn, that it is and the short yardage it's only destiny could be a scarf. I finally settled on a simple chevron pattern found by trawling Ravelry for pattern used with this type of yarn. I knit the scarf in an evening. Knit on size 11 needles, the pattern was another easily memorized and quickly executed. The scarf is now living a few mile north an Ormond Beach yarn shop where Kathleen has just ordered Great Adirondack yarn for the first time.

I first met Kathleen over a year ago  in a local eatery. I was knitting while lunching. She stopped me on my way out after recognizing the Monkey socks. We've kept in touch through Ravelry.  Recently, Bonnie and I met up with Kathleen on a chilly Sunday over some Chinese food and knitting. We hope to take a trip up the Ormond to check out the yarn and retrieve the scarf.

We're Cheap but Never Easy

I'm having bout with nostalgia these days. What with the economy jettisoning my meager savings back into numbers I haven't seen since the '80's. I'm back to clipping coupons scouring sale flyers for grocery bargains. Dining out has become a distant memory. I did partake in an all-you-can-eat salad and soup binge at the local Olive Garden for $5.99.
Yarn acquisitions have not taken a vow of poverty. I have long coveted Sundara Yarn. My Petals subscription ran out after Dahlia and I never bothered buying any more.It was available, accessible. Sundara said so in frequent email updates. When I did get serious, I found a feeding frenzy at her site every time she posted an new batch. Servers crashed, my shopping cart filled with a skein of a color and weight I didn't want emptied at checkout. The yarn was only available to those who had some to trade. I have a lousy unknit skein of Dahlia. No clout here.
After several attempts at equal opportunity sales online, the site announced that the yarn would only be available by subscription. Fine. I promptly clicked my way into three seasons. The amounts removed from my meager checking account to pay for the first 3 skeins could keep our family in food for a week or two or three. I received my first installment last week. Socks yarn, superwash merino in Cerulean Seas, Deadly Nightshade and Beach Glass. Is it worth it? Oh, probably not. Does it comfort me? Certainly. Maybe there's some nutritional value in the yarn, should times get really, really hard. 

In the spirit of nostalgia and frugality, I present to you my latest creations. Our friends host an annual Hallowine party. You read it correctly. The premise is to dress a bottle of wine instead of wearing a costume. We have been slackers for the past two years but I pulled out all the stops this year. I am bringing two entries. The theme is animals. My first idea was passed on to Tom. I had knit a lobster that I saw on Ravelry with the brightest skein of Red Heart in WalMart diminished crafts aisle. Nothing like cheap acrylic yarn to inspire crustacean creativity. I knocked out the lobster in less than a week. 

While lingering over wine with my hostess friend, we discussed the party and who was making what. I had a sudden flash of inspiration. Deep in my childish past, my parents and their friends has these crazy knitted poodles that covered drinks bottles in the home bar. I had a flash of my mother, high in heels and poured into a blue and silver lace cocktail dress, my father in his suit complete with pipe. The cocktail wieners were always wrapped in dough and Dino was on the Hi-FI. My brother and I in footie pyjamas peeked through the spindles down to the basement romper room were the adult hijinks took place.I asked Lisa if she had similar memories. She burst out laughing. The trend must have been awake in New England as well as in the prairie Provence's during those madcap '60's. That's my  inspiration, a poodle it is!

 

I found a Paton's pattern online and searched Ravelry as well. Erika Knight beat me to the punch. There was the exact same pattern in her book "Simple Knits with a Twist". Erika used fancy Rowan yarn. I knew better. I actually stepped into WalMart for the second time in a month to purchase, you guessed it, Red Heart Super Saver Acrylic in Petal Pink. No Dye Lot. Poodle perfect. Those poodles are authentic '60's kitch and to update a little I fashioned a black beret out of felt and what swinging French woman in the '60's wouldn't be smoking a Gaulios or Gitane. This is a French poodle with the soul of a gypsy. She keeps good company, n'est-ce pas?

Footnote: Fifi tied for first place with a winecork armidillo! Go, Fifi, go!

Sari Silk Shawls and Sows Ears

A good friend of mine had the opportunity of visiting New Orleans pre Katrina. While there she discovered a small yarn shop in the French Quarter and purchased several skeins of Mango Moon recycled sari silk. In 2005 this was still a novel yarn and something that I had not glimpsed before. I had just reentered the world of knitting and was greedy with yarn lust. The idea that the Mango Moon Company supported impoverished women in Indonesia was appealing to me and I splurged to purchase a few more skeins through eBay. After that the skeins sat because I couldn't seem to find the right pattern. Now and then I would haunt the Knitter's Review forums and the Knitty boards to  ferret out more info on what to make with this stuff. The more I read, the more I became discouraged. It seemed that sari silk was plagued with inconsistencies in the ply, plenty of unwanted add-ins in the form of small twigs, spinner's hair, and even toe nails. To add to other owners opinions, the smell is enough to drive the most hardened knitters away. My bubble burst. The skeins looked lovely in a wood bowl and I had plenty of other stuff to knit.

On a trip to Orlando and a visit to the local Sip and Knit, I found that they carried Mango Moon. Perfect, I hoped for some help finding a pattern. I left the shop with a skein of Capelli, a thin carrying yarn, elastic in nature and reminiscent of wooly thread used in sergers. This yarn would help give the heavy silk some bounce and elasticity. Without this stretchy thread, anything that I made would just hang limply. I also bought a Fiesta Yarns pattern for the Tassled Shawl along with a pair of hot pink size 15 needles.
I cast on and soon found this pattern poorly written and the shawl a disaster. Sick of the whole mess, I packed everything away into the back of the closet.

Fast forward to 2008. Our county library has improved their online card catalogue to resemble Amazon. I could search for knitting title by publication year and see the covers. I quickly had mass quantities of books from outlaying libraries on hold at my local branch. Among the titles was a books called Knitting With Ribbon Yarn. I first dismissed this as a book for knitting novelty yarns. However the book was filled with wonderful patterns and I also found the pattern for the Luxury Shawl, perfectly suited for the sari silk that was hibernating in the closet.

I soon cast on and made tremendous progress barring the modifications that I made for the front panels. I wanted them a bit longer and I decreased every 6 rows instead of every 4 rows. I finished this shawl in less than two weeks.
I am pleased with the results. The shawl is ferral looking with its massive color changes and ragged threads protruding from the back lace panel. The size is generous enough to keep shoulders warm over a light jacket. The tassels provide the needed weight to keep the shawl anchored in place. It's a casual look that will work with jeans or a little black dress. Knitting with this yarn was a novel experience, one that I will not repeat. I am happy with the result albeit the smell after blocking it is tough to take. Ah well, there's always Fabreze and a good airing.

Hello October!

Wednesday is my day to complete homework assignments and to study. I am so mired in my work and keeping up with school that my blogging and reading of blogs has taken a back seat. Keeping up with what everyone is making and what they are doing is so important to me. When I visit my favourite blogs and find that they have been updated and I've not kept up, I get frustrated with myself and how I manage my time.  One of my classes is a College Success class that is currently a requirement for all students. At first I resented having to shell out the money for this class but have since come to benefit from the various time management skills, study tips, and insight that I have gained. So I am plugging along with midterms just around the corner. I have interview every professor and program coordinator at the school. I am trying to balance time and,scholastic progress and the likelihood that I will be accepted into the program of my choice. My goal is to become employed as soon as reasonably possible so that I can take advantage of some tuition reimbursement. Yes! What looks good and might work for me is the phlebotomy program in January coupled with the surgical technical program starting in August. That's the plan du jour. Any changes along the way will be revealed as they happen.
I have found time to knit. My WIPS have grown from only 3 project to 8. I have 3 socks, 2 sweaters, 1 pair of booties, 1 shawl, and a lobster (don't ask) on the needles. I am enjoying them all and pick up what I feel like knitting with minimum guilt. I am pleased to report a few modest finishes for the month of September. Can you believe it's already October?
I am teaching a neighbour the art of knitting. What a pleasure she is to teach. I taught her how to cast on, knit, purl and cast off. She ran with it and next day presented me with a long swatch of various knit and purled rows. Now she's on her way to knitting the Modern Cabled Baby Bib. I wish everyone would catch on this quickly.
These socks are for her mom who is in a nursing home. She suffers from Alzheimer's and poor circulation leave her with cold feet. These great bed socks are knit using Marks and Katten's Dream, an acrylic, nylon, and angora blend. The yarn is soft and I hope will last through the rigours of the institutions laundry. The pattern, Bunny Hop Socks,  is a freebie and knits up quickly using a worsted weight yarn.
Here are my Summer of Lace socks in a whopping size 11. Erik is my foot model in case you are wondering about the hirsute legs. They are for my friend Krista who is in dire needing of foot covering. She knits too but can't seem to wrap her needles around a pair of socks. Socks will be the order of the day in damp and nippy Washington. She will be moving as soon as the economy improves and her house sells. Maybe in the next decade?
So, now I've had my break, changed my Ravelry avatar to something autumnal, checked my email and must go back to cramming my head full of medical terms pertaining to epithelial, muscular, connective, and nervous tissues and their various cell structures. Are you snoozing yet?

Southwest Meets Southeast

Last week Bonnie and I took a trip beach-side to knit at All Strung Out, Cocoa Beach. Gail hosts a lively knit night every Wednesday and was a trip that we wouldn't forget. When we arrived the tables were almost full. No matter; more chairs were found and we were pulled into the chatter. There was one lone male at the far table. It was Joe, the owner of Southwest Trading Company. He came to visit Gail and travel around Florida to visit other LYS owners. His trip was to end with the launch of Hat Attack. Think Sock Wars.
I had a million questions. How does a former engineer become founder of a yarn company? I'll leave you in suspense but will say it's a great tale. Visit the "Where's Joe" group on Ravelry to find out if he will be in your town.
SWTC was the first to pioneer soy, bamboo, and corn based yarns. TOFUtsies rings a bell, right? That's the sock yarn that incorporates soysilk and Chitin, an antibacterial material made from shrimp and crab shells.
Joe broke out his magic suitcase bursting with sweaters and accessories made from SWTC yarns. Eryn from Turtle Cove Farm was a willing model. We took lots of pics using Bonnie's camera. I brought mine but left the memory card home. The sweaters are fabulous and easy to wear. The yarns are equally wonderful and there is something for everyone. Perfect blends for Florida and great should you favour alternative fibres.
The next day Joe was made the trip north to our fair city and shlepped his Koffer up the stairs to restart the show all over a gain. We found another willing model and enjoyed the sweater show all over again. Here are my favourites.

This is a tee that is knit sideways using 5 random balls of TOFUtsies. It looks like an impressionist painting.

 This wrap looked pretty clever. I think that its made from Therapi, SWTC's new yarn made with jade.

This little sweater makes me want to throw it on over my pajamas on a Sunday morning and curl up with the newspaper. It's knit using Pure.

Very cute twinset! I think the yarn is Terra. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

This was my favorite cardi. The yarn is Phoenix and the extra touch came from pulling a piece of yarn through to make the x's.

Cute pullover using Karaoke. The yarn reminds me of Noro.

I have a few more pictures on Flickr. Bonnie's peepshow is here. Those were all taken at All Strung Out.
I want to thank Gail for making us feel so welcome and for sharing Joe with us. We are truly stuck away in hinterland and having the opportunity to view yarns and sweaters knit from them, not to mention hobnobbing with the owner, was a real treat! The yarns are beautiful and the patterns seem easy to knit. I'm putting the yellow wrap in my queue and purchasing Phoenix for the February Lady Sweater.
Here's to some great Florida fall knitting!