Peaceful Knitter

Vacation Knitting

While on our trip through the White Mountains, I did a lot of hiking, picture taking, knitting, and (gasp!) crocheting. First, the knitting: I took one existing work in progress along, and was able to finish it pretty quickly.

• Pattern: Sunday Market Shawl
  
• Yarn: Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo
• Needles: US 10 1/2
• Mods: None. Can you believe it?!

This is a great mindless knitting project, perfect for travel or knitting on the go. It did get a little cumbersome toward the end when I had to pull out several feet of wool each time I wanted to knit, but it was well worth it. And the yarn held up remarkably well to all the abuse I put it through between being used next to the campfire and being repeatedly dropped on the sandy, pine needle-covered ground.

Keep in mind that, with the exception of the first and last rows, this baby is knit entirely in stockinette stitch. That being said, it knits up quick on big needles, and it was very fun to let those stitches drop in the end. I love the effect; the scarf turned from boring to a spectacular, drapey accessory.

While away, I also started a new pair of socks. This was something I wasn’t sure I would be doing this summer at all; the idea of knitting socks was not appealing to me in the least a month ago, for no apparent reason. Perhaps I had over done it with trying to complete so many in the spring. So I knit a couple of tops and washcloths to clear my mind, and set out to knit a pair of Hedera socks.

This is one of Cookie A.’s amazing sock patterns (available for free online) in my new favorite yarn, Araucania Ranco Multy.

The pattern is cruising along quite easily and quickly, which is keeping me engaged. But once my simple scarf was finished, I needed something else I could work on in the dim light of a campfire. That is where my friend, CrochetingKate came along. You see, Katie is a prolific crocheter. Over Christmas, she taught me how to make a granny square, and I showed her a little about knitting. In the intervening 6 months, neither of us did much with this knowledge. But I was determined to grab her on this camping trip and make her re-teach me the ways of the granny square. For some reason, I have been convinced that I need to make myself a good old-fashioned acrylic afghan!

So, one night after dinner we got out our respective yarn and needles/hooks and shared our knowledge with one another. It all came back to me pretty quickly, and before long I had a decent size square. And I haven’t been able to put it down since!

Here I am sitting outside the yurt enjoying a cold root beer and crocheting up a storm! I cannot believe how fast this blanket has grown! Knitting a blanket to this point would probably have taken me weeks, not hours. I cannot say whether or not I am a true crochet convert quite yet, but it is enjoyable and rhythmic and I am loving the results.

The LYS Search

I tried to find signs of a Local Yarn Shop everywhere I went. Aside from a few hot tips in my last post about the apparent dearth of yarn shops in New Hampshire, I was on my own. Address in hand, I set out to find the Woolen Rabbit in Conway, NH. I found the address, and it seemed like a private home. Okay, maybe I misunderstood….is this an Internet business? I was feeling too shy to go up and knock on the door, so we drove on.

Things started looking up when we decided to take the scenic route home through Maine. We were just cruising along on 302 when I saw a sign for a yarn shop that had an arrow pointing left and said 8 1/4 miles. Yipee! Sweetie turned the car so fast I was tempted to think for a second that maybe she is catching on to this whole yarn thing! After several minutes on a very bumpy, windy road, we ended up here:

I was skeptical to say the least. But, there were a couple of other cars there, and a flag that said “Open”, so we decided to brave it. Inside, I found one of the smallest yet finest collections of yarn I have ever seen. Jan Friend, the owner of Naturally Fuzzy Yarns in Harrison, Maine, says that she is moving toward carrying all organic and/or New England made yarn. She is off to a great start with Green Mountain Spinnery, Farmhouse Yarns, Valley Yarn, Decadent Fibers, Cherry Tree Hill, and Schaefer Yarn Co., to name a few. And she has quilting fabric, books, and accessories in there too, all neatly and beautifully organized. I came away with some great finds, and a bit of a wild look in my eye.

Here’s a peek at my favorite purchase, Nancy from Schaeffer Yarn:

Later on our scenic trip home, we found ourselves out on Cape Cod. I know, it’s not really on the way back to Connecticut, but neither of us had ever been there and we are always keen to cross destinations off our lists of places to see. Again, Sweetie pulled a James Bond-like maneuver with the Subaru and soon I found myself looking at a very non-descript yarn shop. It is, in fact, attached to the Ace Hardware store, and you wouldn’t know it was there if there wasn’t a sign pointing right at the door.

That’s my favorite yarn purchase from this store, Yarn Basket, in Eastham Mass. It’s more of the previously mentioned Araucania Ranco Multy. Check this yarn company out if you haven’t already; it’s sublime. Anyway, this store was a bit bigger and carried standard fare as well as a great sock yarn selection.

I made it home with such fine enhancements to my stash…it is all I can do to stop myself from casting on half a dozen new projects. But I will refrain, at least until I am done with my first Hedera…speaking of which, she is calling my name from across the room. Time to knit!

We are off to the beautiful White Mountains for a week of fun and frolic. This will include camping in a yurt, hiking, kayaking, and LYS hunting, as well as plenty of reading, games, and knitting by the campfire. I will be sure to take lots of pictures and make you read all about it when I return…

I found these vintage knitting pattern books last weekend at a flea market. They were cleverly hidden under other crafty publications, but once I glimpsed that angora stole I was on a mission. After rifling through and finding these gems, I went to pay. The seller was clearly excited that someone was buying them. When I told her it was WWKIP day, she said “You know, me and my friends used to think we were hot s#!* taking our knitting into the movies. We’d all be knitting sweaters for our boyfriends.” I love that-just casually knitting boyfriend sweaters at the movies with the girls!

The first publication is more of a stitch dictionary than a magazine. The cover is missing, so I’m not sure when it was published, but the message is clear: variety is the spice of knitting. This resonates with me right now; with the exception of a few small items, I can’t stand to knit the same pattern more than once. Why not try out some of these stitch patterns in a new project?

The next magazine, Bernat Handicrafter Angora Book No. 166, is from 1953. The ladies in this one are spectacular.

An excerpt: “Every woman has her own preferences in colors, based on the colors which are most flattering to her and will harmonize with the rest of her wardrobe…let your own individuality express itself…”

These women are stunning. I can’t help but wish just a little bit that I could pull off that short, elegant hair, flawless lipstick and full skirt. Can you picture her leaving this photo shoot and stepping back into real life in anything but this look? The patterns seem straightforward enough; they include gauge and yarn suggestions, separate the different elements of each project, and only provide one glamor shot of the item. Oh, and most of the patterns are written for a size 12 woman. Love it!

And my final find is from Bear Brand Bucilla Yarns, copyright 1942. This one is loaded with similarly coiffed ladies sporting intricately cabled cardigans, perfect colorwork, and the most amazing dresses and skirt suits. Each pattern is written for a size 16 and has a jaunty name like Peppermint or Resorter.

“Sunday Morning–Trim molded lines, with a plunging neckline makes this dress a perfect foil for your dickies.”

“Volunteer–A grand type of sweater dress knitted…for the busy Miss or Matron. The bateau neckline, the bracelet sleeves and the gored skirt make for smart simplicity.“

From the inside cover: “That handknit look is so important in fashion, yet handknits cost so little if you knit them yourself…On these pages you’ll find instructions for garments that reflect the up-to-the minute trends of fashion. You’ll knit them with pleasure and wear them with pride…”

Still true today, I think. Yet I can’t help wondering if these looks are truly representative of what real women were wearing–and knitting–at the time. Or are these booklets like today’s Vogue Knitting, examples of high fashion and impossible designer knitting for the average person to gawk at? What do you think?

Saturday morning dawned, and with it came two great events: Worldwide Knit in Public Day, and the local Strawberry Festival. I thought it only appropriate to combine the two events into one great day.

I didn’t see anyone else knitting, and no one seemed to care that I was knitting, but the strawberry shortcake was good and the Army brass band was even better.

We kept running into knitting-related things

An historic house was open to the public for the day, and while Sweetie and I were entrusted to give ourselves a tour, we also snapped a few illicit action shots along the way. Who could resist?

I also unearthed some knitting magazines from the 40s and 50s at the flea market section of the festival…more on these treasures next time.

So it was a relatively quiet and unobtrusive day knitting in public for me. It was kind of fun carrying my knitting with me everywhere, pulling it out whenever I had the opportunity. This is not something I’m used to doing. Fun as it was, I’m not sure it’s a practice I am going to adopt on a daily basis; I kept getting my yarn tangled up with the car keys and camera strap inside my purse!

Do you knit or crochet on the go? How do you keep yourself organized?

I have cast on for a couple of new projects in the past 48 hours, looking for that balance between simple and satisfyingly challenging. For simple, I started the Sunday Market Shawl in Classic Elite’s Wool Bam Boo. It’s a very simple drop stitch wrap; you only have to be awake for the first and last rows, otherwise it’s straight stockinette!

As for the more complex project, I have ambitiously chosen the Essential Tank Top from the book Lace Style. This has been brewing in my mind for the past couple of weeks as I searched for the perfect yarn. The pattern calls for 2 strands of fingering weight alpaca held together, and that just doesn’t work for me. I wanted something decidedly un-wooly for this project; yesterday I found the most beautiful, supple, shimmery bamboo yarn:

This is Eden, a 100% Bamboo yarn from Madil.

I also spent some time thinking about potential modifications before getting started. The pattern calls for knitting the front and back pieces separately and then stitching them together. Since the dimensions for both are identical, I’ve decided to attempt knitting it in the round in one piece. Why sew it together if you don’t have to? Especially when a seam would interrupt the beautiful lace pattern?!

So I have gone about casting on 174 stitches thrice now, which I hope is not a bad omen for the whole project. The first time I ran out of yarn before I had enough stitches on the needle. (This happened at Stitch ‘n Bitch last night, and the ladies told me about casting on using 2 balls of yarn so you’d never run out of yarn. Have you heard of this?) The second time I got as far as knitting the second row of lace before I realized I should have been knitting stockinette. So I ripped it out and cast on for the third time a few minutes ago. Frustrated with the slow progress, I took a break to sweep and rearrange the deck.

This photo is really just here for my mother, to entice her to come for a visit. Doesn’t that look nice, mom? Don’t you want to come over for some ice tea and yarn crafting?!

Hope you have a great weekend!

It’s not easy to do much more than lay on the floor and moan when it’s this hot. The Northeast has seen record high temperatures the past 2 days, with a decent amount of humidity mixed in. We’re talking 95-100 degrees here, and when you don’t have central air conditioning, it feels like a steam bath. It’s so hot my citronella candles are melting.

In the afternoons we have been retreating to our Super Den, that cool haven in the basement where we can lie still like vegetables and watch TV or nap. I also have been knitting halfheartedly. The heat has done something to my will to knit. My hands want to knit, but my heart isn’t quite in it. I can’t seem to focus on anything besides my internal temperature for more than 15 minutes. In order to satisfy the need to knit something on auto pilot to take my mind off the sweat trickling down my back, I turned to an old friend, the Ball Band Dishcloth.

• Pattern: Ball Band Dishcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting
• Yarn: Peaches ‘n Cream
• Needles: US 8
• Mods: I just knit until I was tired of it and bound off.

I know, I know…another dishcloth. I finished it this afternoon, and instead of feeling elated and excited to start something new like I usually do, I practically tossed it aside in favor of laying on the couch. Is knitting too much exertion in heat like this? Is the fiber too much extra warmth? Is my brain slowly melting?

I think Big Martha knows just how I feel…

This past week has been one of uninspired knitting. You saw the washcloths; while fun and instantly satisfying, they did little to feed the fire that is my need to knit. Those washcloths were like fast-burning twigs, and I wanted something a little more substantial. While I waited for inspiration, I decided to try to tackle some of my works in progress.

1. Windowpane socks from Interweave Knits Summer 08.

I gave these a valiant effort, I really did. The color combination was killer, and I really liked the effect they were creating with the stitch pattern. But I knew almost immediately that the gauge was too tight to fit my foot. I proceeded stubbornly, hoping that if I stuck to it something would magically eventually change.

Someone at my knitting group suggested making the leg of the sock ankle length so there would be less sock to stretch over the foot. I thought this was a brilliant solution for my predicament, and began knitting a heel flap immediately. All was looking well until I got home and looked at the situation for what it truly was: a knitting flop.

I couldn’t even get the sock over my heel! So it is with sadness and a little bit of relief that I bid farewell to these socks. I may go back to the pattern later, and I will definately use the yarn again at some point. I am still in love with that Miss Piggy hot pink and Kermit green!

2. Funky Sock Monkey from Blue Moon Fiber Arts

I’m not going to give this too much attention other than to say that I was temporarily infatuated with a pattern I saw on the internet because it was popular and the Yarn Harlot raved about it….and when I got it felt disappointed. I cast on for the small sock monkey, and discovered quickly that a couple of things were not done in the most efficient manner. It all came to a head when I was working on the mouth and read that I was to put 8 stitches on waste yarn, turn the head inside out, put those stitches back on the needles, and do a 3 needle bind off. Fussy! If I hadn’t still been a little drunk/blind from drinking the Blue Moon Kool-Aid, I would have realized there was an easier way to deal with seaming his mouth shut. Instead, I followed the instructions, faltered at getting the stitches back on the needle, and ended up with this, after a brief and fantastic tantrum:

Should have Kitchener stitched the thing shut and moved on!

So all of this brings me to Friday when I knew I wanted to knit something with my loveley Araucania Pomaire pima cotton.

I spent far too long on Ravelry trying to find the perfect top to make with this yarn, only to come to the disappointing realization that I didn’t have enough yardage on hand. It was then that I discovered a blogger friend’s entry here. A one skein shrug, free pattern, and an endoresement from Sweet P was all I needed to cast on immediately!

• Pattern: Shrug This from One Skein Wonders available free here
  
• Yarn: Araucania Pomaire in color 4, 1 skein
• Needles: US 10 1/2
  
• Modifications: I cast on 63 stitches instead of 53. This was probably not enough; the front panels could have been wider to accomadate the girls and to add a button, and I could have used a little more room around the arms! I also made it a few inches longer than called for in the pattern.
  

This is an incredibly easy pattern, knit flat in one piece on straight needles! Perfect for the adventurous beginner or someone who wants a relatively quick project to highlight that single skein of beautiful yarn that’s been calling to be knit.

The Friday Night Shrug, as I’m calling it, definitely satisfied my need to knit with a particular yarn and finish something quickly. I think that is what my criteria are for summer knitting: light, colorful yarn paired with a relatively easy and quick pattern. That said, I have no idea what to knit next! Any suggestions?

Here are a couple of quick knits I have managed to knock out during the past week of moving and unpacking.

• Pattern: Baby Fern Stitch Dishcloth
• Yarn: Sugar ‘n Cream cotton
• Needles: US 6
• Modifications: I pretty much knit this up as written, stopping when the color patterning seems symmetrical.

I really enjoyed this pattern. I think the simple lace is beautiful and elevates the dishcloth to a more special face cloth! The colors match my new bathroom, so it will be put to good use there.

I made a companion washcloth with the remaining yarn. I ran out with an inch or so to go, so I just kept knitting with some white cotton I had on hand.

• Pattern: Flying Geese Dishcloth
• Yarn & Needles: see above

This pattern and I never seemed to understand each other. I guess you could say I never had the Oprah “Ah-ha” moment with the stitch pattern and had to refer to the directions for each row. Not what I necessarily needed while trying to relax after a day of unpacking and entertaining house guests. Did I mention my mother-sister-and grandmother-in-law were all here this week? Right after we moved in? On the bright side, it was nice seeing them and it helped push me to get things put away lightening quick. On the flip side, I’m tired and feel like I haven’t been able to relax in my own house since we moved in!

Needless to say, I haven’t been able to spend as much time knitting or thinking about knitting as I usually like to. So my plans for future projects are kind of nebulous at the moment. I did start the Funky Sock Monkey using leftover sock yarn, not a kit. There are plenty of patterns out there for funny little critters made out of fingering weight yarn, and this one caught my eye on the Yarn Harlot’s blog. I think it’s a great way to use up some of those leftovers. So far he just looks like the finger on a glove, but I imagine once I start the mouth and appendages he’ll start looking more lifelike. Here are the colors I’m working with:

What do you do with your leftovers?

My new craft room is still a work in progress, but I got a key piece of the puzzle this week. We found this cabinet at Hey Day Antiques is Clinton, CT a couple of weekends ago. The craftsman makes new furniture out of recycled antique pieces and reclaimed wood. So this is an amalgamation of a Victorian table, some tongue and groove, and various other wood. After it’s put together, he does a decorative finish on the outside to unify everything, but leaves the wood inside as is.

And so it has become the keystone of my room, with all my yarn stored comfortably inside. Sock yarn on the top shelf, of course.

I think my stash is very happy in its new home, and after a week of settling in, so am I. Now, the boxes are calling me…