Peaceful Knitter

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This is one of my favorite holidays, not only because I love spooky, creepy decorations and scary movies, but because those little trick-or-treaters are just too precious!  Last year we handed out pencils and Play-Doh, this year I caved and bought some actual candy.  We’ll see which goes over better.  I like being a little bit different in general, and holidays are no exception!

This year’s decorating theme was Spiders & Skeletons.  Sweetie and I debated whether this was “Man Eating Spider” (like on Fear Factor) or a Man-eating spider (more like National Enquirer).  Looks like the spider won, don’t you think?

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

I’m enjoying a quiet morning at home.  I’m sitting here at the computer with a cup of tea, thinking about the days ahead and all I have to get done in order to be prepared and/or productive.  What is that about?  Do you feel like you have a never ending To-Do List, and no matter what you’ve accomplished the day before, there is always more to do?

I’m really feeling lately like I should be doing More, like I want to be contributing to the world in a bigger, better way.  I’m just stumped as to how to accomplish this.  Life has taken my plans and made me go on a big detour, and at this point I’m not sure if I’ll be arriving at my intended destination any time soon. So what to do in the meantime…?

Knitting, for starters!  Now that the craft fair is over, I have regained an open schedule with regards to my knitting.  I have been working monogamously on the Show-Off Stranded socks, and they are coming along quite nicely.  The pattern has a new-to-me way to make a heel: you knit the sock from the cuff down, and when it’s time to make a heel, you increase every other row to create a gusset.  You are simultaneously knitting the heel, the top of the foot, and the gussets. Then you turn the heel and keep knitting along.  No heel flap!

I have some holes along my gussets, but they match on both sides so I have elected to call them “design features” or “learning experiences”!

Bells has me feeling inspired to knit a little something lacy; she’s in a country where it’s almost summer now, and what a better thing to knit than lace in the summer?  I just want to knit something delicate, and some time ago the Hanami Stole caught my eye.  I have some luscious apple green cashmere lace-weight in the stash, and it seemed like a perfect pairing.

Then last night at Stitch ‘n Bitch I decided I would make a swatch.  This is uncharacteristic of me, but something was telling me that this yarn and pattern combination were to be taken seriously.  Maybe it is the 12-page pattern.  Maybe it was the fact that the yarn kept breaking as I handled it.  Both, I guess.  So I got started knitting a swatch, and after several rows…snap!  The yarn broke.  I don’t know if I can, in good conscience, continue knitting with this yarn.  Could I double it up?  Should I set it aside?  Will being worried or paranoid at the beginning of a project doom it to failure?  Can some of you experienced lace knitters advise me on what to do?!  Help!

Sweetie and I are heading out of town on a much-needed long weekend together, a trip born out of a culmination of things.  So I will be out of touch for several days.  I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, with more than enough time to create and be peaceful.

P.S. Squirrels love corn!  This one munched on a cob tabletop before trying to carry it in its mouth through the spindles on the deck.  Horizontal corn and vertical slots do not mix!  S/he eventually switched tactics and pushed it through.  Lucky squirrel.

It’s true: I was among the masses at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday.  And it was my first fiber festival ever, let alone my first time to the infamous Rhinebeck.

Was it everything I had imagined it to be?  Yes, and then some. Where else can a person pose with bipedal sheep?

Sweetie and I arrived just after 10 o’clock in the morning.  There were still acres of parking and we walked right it without waiting.  After entering the gates we both just stood there for a moment, taking it all in.  I was a little overwhelmed, and couldn’t decide where to go or what to see first.  Sweetie guided me into the nearest building and said “Let’s just go up and down through all of them.”  Quite a statement for a non-knitter, wouldn’t you say?!

Before lunch I didn’t buy any yarn at all.  There was just so much to see that I couldn’t really focus on any one thing.  Other knitting accessories did catch my eye however, and I came home with a new sock project bag and a circular needle case from go-Monkey Design.  Sweetie and I picked out a great print from the artist Conni Togel called ‘Dare to Be Different‘.  I also picked up this beautiful, completely unnecessary sock needle holder from Autumn House Fiber Works:

It’s already proven useful while knitting my Show-Off Stranded Socks (rav link).

The atmosphere at this festival was one of friendship and mutual excitement over all things wooly.  There was a plethora of Ravelry swag roaming around, and I was constantly scanning people’s buttons to see if I recognized anyone’s user name.  There was even a moment when I said to a complete stranger: “I need to touch your sweater.”  Under normal circumstances this could get a person punched in the face, but at Rhinebeck she just smiled and proceeded to tell me all about the pattern and the colors she chose.  Wonderful.

Lunchtime brought us to the Ravelry meetup, where I ran into some friends from my Stitch ‘n Bitch group.  After several polite photos were taken, I asked people to pose silly for me.  Thanks gals!

From left to right we have: Yankee Lagniappe, Mad Knitter, Me, KnelleyKnits, WifeMomKnitter, Kim, Denise, and CostumeChick

This was the place where another woman and I were eyeing each other’s Ravelry buttons when we simultaneously smiled and recognized one another.

It’s reader Lizzzknits! Isn’t her Kauni sweater beautiful?  She was very nice, and encouraged me to go ahead and take that leap into sweater knitting.  I hear November is Knit a Sweater Month, so I might just give it a try.  Hope you made it home safely, Liz!

Then we had a large group photo, complete with Ravelry Royalty down in front: Casey, Jess, and Mary Heather.

Are you in this photo?  If so, please leave a comment and say hi!

I eventually was able to buy some yarn.  I was hoping to see something that I’d like to knit a sweater out of, but it was difficult to take your time and really look at things as the fair got more and more crowded.  I did come away with 3 single skeins of gorgeous yarn:

Martha smells sheep and rabbits!

Clockwise from the front: Holiday Yarns Flock Sock Sock Yarn in Bubble Gum, Cranberry Moon Farm Homespun, and Jamie Harmon handspun/dyed merino & angora.

Overall my first time at Rhinebeck was a great success.  I saw a lot, but left a lot unexplored for next time.  Yes, there will definitely be a next time! For now I am content with the experience and looking forward to utilizing my new yarn and accessories.  It just may take me a year to recover from all the fun I had!

**All photos that had me in them were taken by the infinitely patient and supportive Sweetie, who is welcome at Rhinebeck or Stitch ‘n Bitch anytime**

I spent Friday morning making the final preparations for the craft fair on Saturday.  I packed my largest suitcase full of supplies: baskets, label maker, Styrofoam heads (with custom stands crafted by Sweetie), tape, scissors, a knitting wip, bags, tissue paper, and more.  In my car I had a table, some camp chairs, an orange chrysanthemum, some fake pumpkins, and some real cornstalks.  Those things are a mess, but worth it to create that autumnal feel in our booth.

Putting it all together on Saturday morning was a little hectic, but NutmegKnitter and I (with the help of TheatreKnitter) ended up with a great booth.  We were fortunate to have a clear, sunny day even though it was a bit chilly.  That fall chill probably made people even more interested in our warm wool accessories!

It was satisfying to see all of my work laid out on a beautiful table in the fall sunshine.  This day was the culmination of many ideas for both NutmegKnitter and myself.  From brainstorming ideas over knitting at Stitch ‘n Bitch to designing and knitting original neckwarmers, it was a challenging creative process.  I had to push myself through the roadblocks of boredom, knitter’s block, sore hands, and the temptation to start other projects.  But in the end I am so glad that we did this, and proud of the results.

And as a reward for all that hard work, a trip to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck was in order.  More on that next time…for now I need to go get a hot drink, rest, and wipe my nose–being outside for two days straight took its toll!

I was just sitting at the computer, minding my own business, when Martha approached me with her favorite toy.  Loofa Dog is a popular plush dog toy that can be found at Petco.  It is soft, with a long, flexible body, little arms, legs, and ears to chew on, and a squeaker at each end.  Martha loves them.  In fact, we have been through several of these in the past couple of years.  She loves them in the roughest way, disemboweling them, dismembering them, disengaging the squeak toy.  It is not a durable toy by any means, but we keep buying them for her, sometimes two at a time.  You know, so there’s always a backup.

A couple of weeks ago, we presented Martha with a new Loofa Dog.  Don’t ask why it has a headband and a basketball.  The toy has taken an unfortunate turn into “themes”: it also has blue high-top sneakers.

Old on the left, new on the right.  Interestingly enough, she was equally enamored with both of them.  Sweetie snuck the oldie off to the trash when Martha wasn’t looking.  With a toy like this, you simply cannot throw it away without offering a replacement.  It would be like asking a knitter to destash her favorite yarn and then telling her she couldn’t buy new yarn.  Unthinkable!

I don’t know about you, but I’m about finished with all these neckwarmers.  Knitting them, designing them, photographing them, and blogging about them.  I thought today I would catch up on a project I finished a few weeks ago that got eclipsed by other knitting: the One Day Beret. Or, as I’ve come to call it, the Not Very beret.

This pattern is straightforward and can easily be adapted for knitting with just about any yarn.  I decided to use 2 strands of fingering weight sock yarn held together for mine.  My first top down hat started out great.  I followed the instructions completely, doing the recommended lengths on increases and decreases.  It was looking great: slouchy but not too baggy, pretty yarn, perfect for the project’s intended recipient, a girl.

But then I got into the home stretch and decided to blatantly ignore the pattern’s instructions.  I should have known this would end badly.  There’s always a moment when you make a decision where it either feels right or it feels like you know you should have gone another direction.  Guess how I felt? ! You are supposed to go down a needle size before knitting the ribbing.  I thought things were small enough already, what with the yarn and wee needles.  I thought a twisted rib would help bring in the band a little bit.  Knitters, was I wrong!

So I have this beautiful beret with a not very functional band.  Ha-rumph.  Instead of a hipster raspberry beret, I have a pink tube on my head.  I guess it pays to trust the pattern and just have faith it will turn out.  If you want to make this great pattern, take the time to switch needles.  Otherwise, disappointment.

• Pattern: One Day Beret from Through the Loops

• Yarn: Claudia’s Handpainted Sock Yarn in Passion Fruit, 2 skeins
  

• Needles: US size 3 dpns and a 12-inch circular needle
  

• Mods: picked up 3 stitches at the top center of the hat and knit an inch of i-cord.  Oh, and completely ignored some of the instructions.  But you knew that already!

I look forward to trying this pattern again with a bulkier yarn and more attention to the details!

In a strange turn of events, I find myself in the unusual position of procrastinating working on my craft fair knitting.  It’s 9:30 in the morning and I have been baking, cleaning, and doing laundry.  Not knitting.  Anything but the knitting for just another hour or two, please!  So here I am, blogging.  Thing is, I’m not really feeling the urge to delve into a detailed post.  That means I’m also procrastinating writing about knitting.  This is bad.

Some interesting things I did this weekend instead of knitting:

• Went on a double-decker bus tour in Manhattan. Didn’t knit for the 4 hours we were trapped.

• Operated a spotlight for a musical performance at a local theater. Couldn’t knit: too dark.

• Ate fast food in my car while listening to NPR’s ‘Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me’. No knitting while eating!

• Saw a hot air balloon yesterday morning while walking the dog.  Wished I was in it not knitting.

I guess this means perhaps knitting shouldn’t be my full time job.  Something about having a deadline and selling my wares for money has me in a twist.  This activity that I turn to for relaxation, metal stimulation, and escape has become something I am doing for Others.  And that changes things.  Maybe it’s the rebellious black sheep in me.  Maybe I don’t like putting constraints on my knitting.  Perhaps it’s just wanting to remain selfish with this one activity in my life. But I just want to knit my way, dammit!

This is similar to how I felt during the Ravelympics in August; after about a week, I wanted to knit anything BUT the socks I had committed to working on.  Now I find myself making lists of the things I dream of knitting when this is finished. A Hanami Stole, a sweater, new socks, something lacy with that ball of Kidsilk Haze I have lying around…

Don’t get me wrong: I am thrilled to be participating in the craft fair.  It has been a fun learning experience, to be sure, and I am so glad I decided to go through with it.  But the last week or so has presented me with these new feelings, and I am really looking forward to this whole thing being in my rear-view mirror.

The above photos were of my hand-stamped tags I will be attaching to each piece.  The knit is a garter stitch neckwarmer I made out of a skein of handspun yarn from fuzzyfibers1960 and half a skein of Cascade Tuscany Grande.  With a vintage button, of course!

I have knit socks on trains and airplanes, in the car and in waiting rooms, at Stitch ‘n Bitch, while waiting for dinner to be ready, watching television, listening to podcasts, trying to clear my head, procrastinating housework.  I knit socks because I love the simultaneous necessity and luxury of it.  Who else but a knitter, or one beloved by a knitter, can wear merino, alpaca, or cashmere on her feet everyday?  I knit socks to solve the puzzle that is a sock pattern, to see how all those symbols and abbreviations will translate into my knitting.  I knit socks to play with beautiful, sumptuous yarn in vibrant, rich, beautiful colors.

Since last October I have knit 7 pairs of socks; I’ve only knit 8 pairs total!  So there was a big learning curve, and with each sock came a new skill or understanding.  It’s hard to believe now, but before I knit my first pair of Monkey socks, I had never done a yarn over!

With Ravelry I am able to look back and see exactly what I knit each month, which is a pretty interesting exercise. In order of appearance, my year in socks:

1.  Monkey Socks, Claudia’s Handpainted Superwash Merino

2.  3 x 1 Rib Socks, improvised pattern, Cascade Fixation

3.  Yarn Harlot’s Basic Sock Recipe, Cherry Tree Hill Superwash Merino

4.  Embossed Leaves, Favorite Socks, Oceanwind Knits sock yarn

5.  Diagonal Cross-rib Socks, Favorite Socks, ONline Linie 3 Supersocke 100

6.  Hedera, Arucania Ranco Multi

7.  Spring Forward, Shibui Knits

Knitting these socks has been an exercise in patience, self-education, and planning.  What pattern will best show off a variegated yarn?  What stitch pattern would look best in a semi-solid colorway?

Lest you think it has been all rainbows and butterflies around here, let’s remember those socks that went to the great frog pond in the sky:

Jaywalkers, Knit Picks Felici

Denial was a strong force while knitting this sock.  You can see I got over 50% finished with the first sock before I was finally able to admit to myself it was too small.  Some of you suggested I rip back and turn it into a pair of wrist warmers.  Those would have been pretty neat, but an anger within me rose up and one day I ripped the entire thing out.  I still haven’t knit anything with that yarn!

Windowpane Socks IK Summer 08, Shibui Knits and Cherry Tree Hill

Again, a case of Gauge struck me and these were knitting up too small.  I loved the color combo, and the pattern was quick and simple, but for some reason I have not been able to face this pattern again.  It’s at this point that I had to ask myself: should I knit a gauge swatch for socks? Do you?

Basic Sock Recipe, Sockotta and Cherry Tree Hill

This is my most recent sock to hit the skids.  It looks good in the picture, great even.  I got as far as turning the heel, which I did in the solid cream yarn, before I was able to admit that the gauge was too big.  This is a change for me!  But you could actually see through the stitches when I held the heel up, and I think that would make for a weak, uncomfortable sock.  I haven’t ripped it out yet, so it’s fate remains undecided.

All in all I am satisfied with my sock knitting over the past 12 months.  There have certainly been ups, downs, and cases of Second Sock Syndrome, but I kept on knitting.  And collecting sock yarn!  That could be a whole post on its own… If you would like more information on any of my sock projects, please visit my Ravelry profile for details.

Next time, where are these socks now?  Have a great weekend, everyone!

I am still hard at work on my collection of neckwarmers, neck socks, cowls, and little scarf thingies for the upcoming craft fair.  Only 10 days to go–yikes!  This is one of my new designs, born out of a desire to knit something simple and quick but with some visual interest.  Inspired by the subtle beauty of this sage green yarn, I cast on a simple rib pattern, staggering the ribs as it grew.

• Pattern: Ribbed for Your Warmth, now available on Ravelry!

• Yarn: Malabrigo worsted merino in Vetiver, approx 100 yards

• Needles: US size 8 16-inch circulars

Ribbed for Your Warmth

Materials:

Approximately 100 yards of the softest worsted weight yarn you can find.

US Size 8 16-inch circular needles, or size needed to get a cozy gauge.

1 stitch marker & a tapestry needle

• Cast on 120 stitches.

• Join stitches to knit in the round, placing a marker to indicate the beginning of the round.

• K2 P2 to marker.  Repeat for a total of 10 rows in pattern.

• P2 K2 to marker.  Repeat for a total of 10 rows in pattern.

• Repeat these 2 instructions twice (for a total of 40 rows) and bind off loosely.

• Use tapestry needle to weave in ends.

If you want your cowl to be a little larger, repeat pattern until desired length.  I made mine with 50 rows and it is long enough to tuck into your coat and still have plenty of warmth around the neck.  To adjust the circumference, simply add or subtract stitches in multiples of 4.

Knitters love our cats, don’t we?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as I’m sure you’ve been able to surmise through all the television ads, posters, and pink products popping up all over the place.  This saturation of pink got me thinking about something I have been putting off for far too long.  Knitting another washcloth!  Oh, and going to the gyno to get my boobs checked.

It turns out that at the tender age of almost-thirty, you can’t just call up and ask for a mammogram.  You have to call your doctor’s office twice, pleading for an appointment.  Only after you cry “Lump” on your second call will they try to work with you.  Then you have to wait in your OB/GYN office with approximately half a dozen very pregnant women for over an hour to see your doctor.

Once I finally got in to see my doctor, he confirmed what I already suspected: a mass in the “left upper outer quadrant” of my left breast.  I have an appointment this week to get an ultrasound to see what is really going on in there.  The good news is he suspects it is a common fibrous mass and nothing to worry about.  I couldn’t help thinking that I would prefer a large fiber-ous mass (i.e. tons of yarn), but am hopeful that he is indeed correct.

So with all of that weighing on my mind this weekend, I decided to pick up my knitting needles and whip up something pink.

• Pattern: Awareness Ribbon Washcloth, on Ravelry here.

• Yarn: Peaches & Creme Worsted Cotton, Strawberry Cream 144, 1 ball

• Needles: US Size 8 (the pattern calls for size 7, but I couldn’t find mine)

• Mods: I cast on 45 stitches instead of 43 so I could have a 4-stitch border. Then I worked the border in garter stitch instead of moss stitch, just to keep it as simple as possible.

This yarn was a blast to knit up.  Lately I’m a sucker for self-patterning yarn, especially when it’s in pretty shades of pink like this!  The pattern was incredibly fast to knit.  There is no chart for the ribbon, just written instructions, but I found them simple and intuitive to follow.  I always use a Post-It note to track my progress line by line in a pattern like this, moving it each time I complete a row.  You could also put the pattern inside a plastic sheet protector and use a dry erase marker to cross off the rows as you complete them.

I share this with you not to get attention, but to remind you to pay attention to your own body. Please remember to check yourself this month.  Make an appointment with your doctor if you suspect anything is not normal with your body.  Support your friend, sister, or mother if she is going through treatment or is a breast cancer survivor.  Knit up this washcloth, then use it as a reminder to do monthly self exams.