my secret project ...

So I've been talking about drowning in paperwork and being vague about what I've been up to, but I guess now is as good a time as any to spill the beans.

A.K. and I are in the process of adopting a kid!

I haven't been very forthcoming with this detail because right now, it's just paperwork and the kid part (a.k.a. the fun part) won't happen for quite a while and I just didn't really want to deal with all the 'How's the adoption stuff going?' because it doesn't look like anything right now.

But in prepartion, it's time I did some destashing. Because what is now my crafting room will become the baby's room.

And this is where you can help me out. I set up a store on Amazon. The highly coveted Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt is amongst the items for sell. I would really love to keep it, but adopting a kid ain't cheap and it's a big book and takes up some valued real estate.

So if you have been wanting this book, a really pristine copy of this book, or any other really pristine copies of the books and magazines listed in the sale, feel free to email me and we can work something out. Or you can order through Amazon.

My seller site through Amazon.


And if you have some adoption tips or info, I would LOVE to hear them. Any wisdom you can pass along would be wonderful.

So as my friend Beverly pointed out ...

I haven't blogged in a while. To update you on what's been happening ...

A.K. got his wisdom teeth pulled. Except for some funky reactions to the Percocet, he did well. A thousand times better than I when I got mine taking out. I think the difference is having it done by an oral surgeon (the way A.K.'s had his taken out.) rather than by a Filipino dentist who's office is next door to a sandwich shop. (the way my parents' handled my dental care needs.) I was awake the entire time and can remember every painful detail of the extraction and the week of not being able to swallow my own spit.

Okay, that may have been too much information. Sorry.

I've been working on a sweater, but its one of those blanket-type sweaters that look like a long scarf with holes in the middle until you actually finish it, so really not picture-worthy at this point.

And...

I signed up to take a couture knitting class with Catherine Lowe! I'm super-excited, because I hope it means I'll be able to have all my knitting turn out awesome, instead of so-so when I put the sweater on because of my lack of knitting talent. You should check out some classes. But you have to hurry, because they are filling up fast.

Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat


Also, my brother started his own blog. If you like surfing or surf boards or cute pics of my nephew and neice, you should check it out.

Just one more green thing

A.K. got his wisdom teeth (all four!) taken out a couple of days ago and I stayed home to help him get better. So I got to finish a Clapotis scarf and Lilly begrudgingly agreed to model.

Not green.

Lately everything I've been knitting has been green, and I thought I needed to break the green habit, so while I was in Portland a few weekends ago visiting a friend who just had a baby (a really adorable one), we took a short jaunt to a yarn shop and I got 10 skeins of the some pink yarn. Anytime I visit Portland I feel like I'm getting a deal, since there is no sales tax and the yarn was 40% off, so I thought I really couldn't pass it up, but now I'm not sure it is the right color for me.

You be the judge...



What do you think? I mean, it isn't green, so it has that advantage, but I'm thinking it would look fabulous if my skin color was a deep, rich mahogany, but since I am no Diana Ross, I'm not sure I can pull it off.

And what should I do if the color isn't right? eBay? Overdye?

What? I author a blog?

Really? Because you would think I would dust this thing off once in a while.

So the Telegraph Cove sweater. I was going to show you buttons. I thought I would show you buttons a lot sooner, but when I sewed them on and tried on the sweater, the fit was off. Then I looked at the sweater and realized I didn't do an entire set of decreases on the back. I'm such a dork.

So after ripping it back and fixing it, I present the Telegraph Cove sweater ...





and with buttons ...



I am still swamped in paperwork and have tons of things I should be doing other than knitting, but I'm going to make more of an effort not to ignore you.

Anticipation

Its September and this is what my tomatoes look like. This year is the first garden A.K. and I had since moving to Seattle and I am just not use to waiting so long for a ripe tomato. In North Carolina, I would be up to my eyeballs in red tomatoes, trying to can them as fast as I could to make sure none rotted. In the Northwest, I've been waiting all summer to have ONE, tomato to stick in a salad. My lettuce went like gangbusters, but the tomatoes have been slow. REALLY S-L-O-W.

Luckily, being from the South, I know how to make a fried green tomato. This is probably the part of the blog where I would include a recipe for fried green tomatoes, but really the name is really the recipe. You fry slices of green tomato. You may use flour or your favorite fry batter, but I think corn meal is best.


Speaking of green things, I finished the Telegraph Cove Sweater except for the buttons. Why are the perfect buttons so elusive? I've been looking everywhere for a great button, but I always end up using a mother-of-pearl button. I'm so boring. Here's a preview.




And I started a Clapotis with Garden Party that I got from Sundara.



I don't know why I started the scarf. I can't say I was particularly taken with the pattern, but I do like Kate Gilbert's work. I think I just needed a break. I've been drowning in paperwork.

I think I might have mentioned my secret project, which is a professional side venture, and A.K. and I are also working on a personal secret project. If either progresses, I'll share more, but for now I will keep things secret. So I just mention these things to explain why my blogging is erratic and why my photos are littered with paperwork.

Stitch 'N' Pitch at Safeco Field

The best thing about Stitch 'N' Pitch night is that it brings together two things I love. Baseball and yarn.




Best non-yarn, non-baseball related reason to see a Mariner's game. GARLIC FRIES!







And the M's managed to win.
RAAAAAAUUUUUULLLLLLL!

STAY-CATION all I ever wanted ...

I need a vacation from my vacation. I know all of you are rolling your eyes, and I know I would be calling my self a BI-OTCH right now, but I could use a week to just hang around my house and do a lot of nothing.

I even had an extra day in theory to 'do nothing,' but I had to do a week's worth of laundry and deal with insurance companies refusing to pay for my teeth cleanings. And, of course, I had to organize, tone and post photos from the trip. If I didn't have that extra day, lord only knows when that would get down.

Having some sympathy for me yet? I didn't think so. So as long as you still hate me, let me show you some pictures of my trip.















So now some knitting. Normally, I would have spared you the vacation photos and start with the knitting, but I needed them to explain why the following are photos of the High Neck Cable sweater and not the Feather and Fan sweater that I dubbed the 'Telegraph Cove' Sweater.




It was COLD. I know many of you are experiencing record heat, and again, the amount of sympathy you can extend to me is zilch. But I'm just trying to say I had no desire to pick up a holey, hemp sweater. I needed warmth. The kind you can get from wool. Specifically Manos Silk Blend. Or at least gore tech, which I failed to bring. The space in the luggage I should have packed a jacket I packed a bathing suit.

I hope this news brings a little smugness to your hearts. And soon I have faith, this will bring our relationship to a stronger place.

What I've been up to.

I have done a little knitting. I started the Feather and Fan sweater from Classic Elite Make It Modern booklet. Here's a shot of my progress.




In the rest of my life, there has been a flurry of activity.




This past weekend, A.K. and I had a little housewarming, since it was a year since we closed on our house. Actually, it was just a coincidence that the housewarming was on the anniversary of our closing. We are so bad at recognizing anniversaries, the only way we remember our own is it is only a few days after my birthday. (Our fifth was two weeks ago)

Anyway, the above photo is a before and after of our dining/living room. I know it's hard to see a difference except for paint color, but we ripped up the carpet, refinished the original oak floors, added a gas log fireplace, took out the radiator in front of the picture window and put a window seat with storage and cushions, took out the weird, built-in television hole and replaced it with custom bookcases on either side of the fireplace and right before the party, we just finished painting after smoothing the texture off the walls. That paint job signifies the end of a year-long renovation! I wish the photos look as dramatic as I feel about the room, but what can you do?

A.K. and his dad built a deck on the back of our house and A.K. made a great L-shaped bench to go with it. I'm pretty proud of us. If the weather in Seattle would just remain warm and sunny I could take beauty shots of the house. Maybe I'll be able to post some soon.

Malabrigio fans

Did you hear? The building where they keep the yarn went up in flames. I think we need to mourn the passing of some wonderful fiber.

You can see what happened here.

Crushing on Blithe

In sixth grade, I sat behind this boy who had curly, sandy blond hair and these mesmerizing blue eyes. I spent a good portion of my day wondering what it would be like to loop one of those curls through my fingers. This boy had no interest in me other than to give him a copy of my science homework, but I think Blithe is giving me a taste of what those sandy locks may have felt like.

(On a side note, I ran into this boy later in our lives, and his hair had darkened and thinned quite a bit. He wouldn't shut up about "living in the shadow of his older brother." It's nice to know Blithe will never become bitter and bald.)

Kim Hargreaves is my frenemy?

I finally got Blithe in the mail. All the way from England. There she was wrapped in brown paper, just the way Fraulein Maria from the "Sound of Music" would prefer her packages sent.

But what made my day was when I turned it over and saw the custom declaration.


Yep, that says K. Hargreaves. I think Kim Hargreaves package this herself and sent along to the post. (Okay, I admit, there is a strong possibility that someone picked it up from her office and it is actually one of her minions or maybe "Kristin Hargreaves," Kim's well-intentioned, but good-for-nothing-but-signing-customs-declarations, who is responsible, but don't ruin this for me.)

I also love how the return address is from Intake Cottage. Alright, I've been watching a lot of PBS lately, but the idea is charming. Kim doesn't reside/work at some numbered square on some numbered street (like I do). Kim sits in a comfortable chair, with a roaring fire at Intake Cottage and gets up every so often to mail packages with yarn to pathetic Americans who have the misfortune not to live in a cottage or Pemberley.

Inside the package is pretty good too.



Yeah, that's an envelope that contains buttons and a label. Again, charming, but this is where my Blithe love hit a snag.

Although I agree that Kim is the genius behind the garment, I'm knitting the damn thing, I should get some credit there somewhere.

And this my friends is when I realized why the colonists fought the Revolutionary War.
Knitting without representation.

Fixation

So here's a photo of the Eggplant in her corrected form. I'm glad I went back to fix her, but my enthusiasm for her has definitely waned. I'm generally in a funk these days, so maybe she is just suffering from my mood.
Sorry to be such a downer these past posts, maybe I'll be able to cheer up this weekend.

Loser

The Gators failed to be the N.I.T. champs (you know, the 'loser' bracket), and I failed to finish the eggplant sweater.

I know, I'm a loser.

I did finish the wrap cardigan for the baby to be named later. But that accomplishment feels a bit empty.

I admit, part of why I haven't finished Eggplant is because I decided to rip back to fix the messed up cable. So I would show you a photo, but it would look almost like the photo from before. I'll take some photos when I'm feeling up to it.

The Gators move on, and so do I

But there is a potential bracket buster.

So the Wrapped Baby Cardigan is looking good...



(Sorry that it looks like a knitted blob. I'm too lazy to place the stitches on a holder.)
I'm using Rowan Silk Wool DK in Greenwood, which I bought at Gene Ann's in Barrington, IL when I was visiting the inlaws last year. I used a skein of it to knit a pair of mittens.
I have a friend who is having a baby, so I thought it would make a lovely Wrapped Cardigan. And with that, I took the remaining three skeins and casted on.
The sleeve alone took almost a skein! I was shocked. I unraveled the mittens that I knitted earlier and added it to the sweater (which is why the yarn is curled).

If you read about my orange sweater, you know I have a history of running out of yarn.

But in my defense, it's a sweater for a 12-month-old. Should it really take 5 skeins of yarn?

Well, we'll see, I guess. I have a skein left. I may have to get another skein. I hope it matches the dyelot I have now.

NIT!

It's March Madness and my bracket is already busted!

As a alumna of THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, I always pick Florida to win, and my Gators have done so the past two years. (Which has allowed me to win some fiber money at the expense of my coworkers' gambling habits.)

But, alas, this year, the Gators are a 2 seed in the NIT.

Which is fine with me, since it sounds like KNIT.

So in honor of the NIT, (and the NCAA tournament, which I have UNC winning, as I used to live in the Triangle of North Carolina) I will finish the eggplant sweater and the wrap cardigan by April 3 (which hopefully will be when Florida once again whomps Ohio State)

So Go Gators! Go Heels and let the kNITting begin!

Anyone with me?

On the road

I have a friend who is studying to be an esthetician. I highly recommend having an esthetician as a friend because you get fabulous facials, one of which I received this morning.

(If you don't have one, and you live within the Puget Sound region, might I suggest you have an esthetician-in-training give you a fabulous facial at a very reasonable price here. )

On the way back home, I ran into this.



I know, total bummer. But this is the reason I, and all knitters, lug around a bag stuffed with unfinished projects.

So we can turn off our engines and have 20 minutes to knit.



I got to say, after the facial, and the progress I made on 6.5 stitches baby wrap cardigan, I was glowing!



Also, I was extremely grateful that I wasn't these unfortunate souls.

Welcome to my new home!

I hope you like it. Things aren't exactly where I would like them to be right now, but you know what it's like when you just moved in.

Please remember to update your bloglines!

Taking the leap

So ...

I decided to cast on a sleeve to see how I liked it, and here's what it looks like.

I want to thank all of you for giving me your advice for the High Neck Cable sweater. It gave me a lot to think about.

As you can see from my reaction, I'm a little skeptical, but what the hell, it's only a sweater.

And now for something completely different...

I have a good friend who is pregnant! So I knitted this from Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Knitter's Almanac."

Elizabeth refers to it as "Baby Sweater on Two Needles; Practically Seemless" but I used Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool and I'm going to modified the name to "Baby Sweater on Two Needles; Practically Seemless and Practically Done with One Skein of Yarn."

Doesn't that sound nice?

Anyway, I didn't knit the Gull Pattern stitch used in the original, because it wouldn't have shown up very well in this green tweed, and my friend is having a boy, so I thought the stockinette would be more appropriate.

I was going to put some white buttons on, but A.K. (in his most vocal opinion on my knitting EVER) said 'No' and so I found these coconut shell buttons.

What do you think?

[ Insert Jeopardy theme music here ]

Unfortunately, I don't know the answer.

I bought the Blue Sky Alpaca High Neck Cable pattern with the intention of making it using the Suri Merino yarn in the color shown above (listed in the pattern as no.421 Garden), but went to the yarn store to find, no Suri Merino. (I also went looking for this, and didn't find it either)

So instead, I found Louet Gems in Eggplant.

(Let me interject and declare my love for eggplant. In fact, I would admit that a very important reason I married A.K. is because he makes THE BEST EGGPLANT PARMESAN EVER.)

Needless to say I fell in love with the color, and Gems has this lovely pearly sheen. Also, it's machine washable AND dryable. So I gathered up 7 skeins and left. (and left to go to the grocery to pick up some eggplants so A.K. could make said eggplant parmesan for dinner)

The whole ride home, I started thinking maybe I made a mistake. Would the eggplant be too dark? Do I even look good in this color? Gems is fingering weight. Did I want to knit an entire sweater with such a fine gauge?

So I need your help. Should I use the Gems for the sweater, or will I just be disappointed?

 

For all you Seattle-ites

Hilltop Yarns on the top of Queen Anne is closed for a while because of a fire in the basement. Bummer.

My Wicked

So this is my finished Wicked. I got to say, I think this may be the first top-down sweater that I will wear. I knitted it pretty tight, and it is pretty form-fitting when I wear it.

Pattern: Wicked, from Zephyr Style
Yarn: Louisa Harding Grace Silk and Wool, bought from Weaving Works
Color: 5
Needles: 3.5mm
Started: December 2007, finished January 2008

Wicked Awesome

This is my friend Julie's version of Wicked (minus sleeves).

It's her first sweater, and it looks amazing on her, don't you think?

(I love that you came and looked at the new digs!)

Wicked

B. has made an appearance at work. I wish she could go to work and I can stay at home, but she has no arms, no head and no legs, so how's a dressform suppose to make a living? (B. is at work because I need to use her to shoot some clothes for the paper, just in case you were wondering.)

Anyway, while she was here, I thought I'd take a quick shot of my current project. It's sort of a knit-a-long with some friends, but one friend started a while ago, and another friend has yet to start, so I'm not sure that qualifies since we are just knitting at our own paces.

I love the knitting sweaters from the top down. I love how you can try on the sweater as you knit to make sure it's fitting right. I love how there is so little finishing involved.
But so far, I've HATED the way the sweater looked on me when I finished. Oh sure, it took a while to come to hate them, mainly because I loved everything else about the project, I must love the final product, right? WRONG.

This will be my third sweater, and I really hope it turns out well. Check back soon for the results.

Oh, I forgot to mention the yarn. It's Louise Harding's Grace-Silk & Wool in Color 5. Nice handle, lovely sheen, but it's made with 50% silk and 50% merino (thus the name) but I think there is too much silk. It is a singles yarn, spun fairly loose, so it falls apart if you make any mistakes. And as you knit, it gets pretty nubbly. I'll let you know how it washes.

In defense of Christmas

Sweaters , that is

Sorry for the long absence. I have been playing alot of Scrabulous.

But I've been in holiday gift-making mode.

What I've been up to...

• I sewed a quilt for a soon-to-be-born niece.

• I finished up the knitted dress/top for another niece.
  
  
• I sewed some tote bags for a craft fair at work.

• And I working on a plain-ol' 2x2 ribbed scarf out of some lovely green Malabrigio that I got from Maryland Sheep and Wool like 3 years ago. This is for my mom, but I think it will have to wait until next Christmas, because I'm super bored with it.

Also, if you have yet to send out holiday cards (like me), you can download some free cards.
They were a work assignment, and even though I made one, I need to print some myself to send out.
Or they might also have to wait until next year.

I wish you luck on all your handmade presents and hope you and your love ones a happy holiday season!

I thought this day would never come

I'm not even sure where to start with this, except maybe to just praise Jesus that this is finished.

Maybe bullet points would be best (if you don't want to rehash the history, skip the bullet items to my thoughts of the sweater)

* I started this because I knitted the cover sweater from Hollywood Knits back when the book first came out. I loved the sweater on the model on the cover of the book (apparently the Velma sweater from the memorable live action version of Scooby Doo) and why wouldn't I? The model looks so great, they put the photo on the cover to sucker me in.
* My version made me look like an orange linebacker. Which is impressive because I'm a very meek looking, not even five feet tall, granny-glasses wearing Asian.
* So tired of spending so much money on a sweater I hate wearing, I read Domesticat's blog and saw what she called Cabled Toad but what Adrienne Vittadini called Natasha and what I unpoetically refer to as "The Orange Sweater." Now if you clicked on Domesticat, you can see why I feel in love with the sweater.
* After almost completing the sweater, like a year ago, I discovered to my shock I didn't have enough yarn to finish.
* Thus started my adventures in dyeing.
* I didn't get a perfect match, but enough to fake it (you can see the difference on the bottom photo where there are striations on the back of the sweater.
* I bought a house and remodel plans happened and the sweater got put in bag and placed in some box in the corner of a room.
* I got sick and bored and from one of my days off from work, I went through some stuff and found the orange sweater.
* And I finished it.
* Thank god!

Thoughts about the sweater.
I like the sweater alot and it's definitely in the wardrobe rotation. But I'm not in love with it. Mainly because of the sleeves. They are a little bat wingish. I can modify patterns in stockinette stitches, but when any knitterly details are involved, I'm just not very smart. I would consider it suitable for someone who wanted to learn cables, but it has to be someone who isn't afraid of doing some tinking in order to get it right.

Oh, and it is a must to wear something underneath, unless you are Angelina Jolie. But I think she can wear anything she wants.

Nirvana

I think Kurt Cobain is messing with me from the afterlife. I look at my closet and all I want to wear is a flannel shirt and a green Mr. Rogers-esque cardigan.

Okay, so I probably have these urges because ...

-Seattle weather has been nothing but rain, gray and cold.
-Heating guys have a part on order so they can't turn on the radiators in my house.
-I'm reading Charles Cross's biography of Kurt Cobain, "Heavier Than Heaven." (I got to hear Charles Cross speak about Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee as part of the P-I's Writer in Residence series. Every now and then, my job gets some pretty good perks.)

Instead of the cardigan, I decided to knit up a hat instead. Something that makes me think of the Pacific Northwest.



I decided on Brenda Zuk's Seaman's Cap pattern. I knit is using one skein of Debbie Bliss's Donegal Chunky Tweed. I wanted a more substantial hat, since it has been so chilly, so I knit with 5mm (US8) needles, instead of the 7mm (US10.5) that was recommended on the label. I love it, mainly because it was a fast knit and it keeps me warm, but I guess it's been a while since I wore anything 100% wool because I notice it irritates my forehead.


I don't consider myself allergic to wool, rather, I think my forehead may be a sensitive spot. I also didn't block it yet (IT'S BEEN CHILLY). So maybe after a good soak it will soften up a bit. Or maybe I'm in denial.

If it doesn't, maybe I'll sew a lining into it.

Speaking of which, I have a dilemma. I need to do some sewing for some cushions.



(I picked the green pattern, I'll use the yellow for something else, and just in case you are wondering, I'm really not over my beige phase, when I bought these, I was trying to find some gray fabric. These are the runner-ups)

I've blogged about my mom's sewing machine which I've sort of adopted and it is totally fine, I just find myself trolling craigslist and ebay looking at Husqvarnas and Berninas.

So what do you guys think? Should I be happy with my mom's 25+year-old Kenmore that she bought at Sears (I know this, because I remember being there when she bought it.) or get a fancy new-ish machine that practically sews everything for me? (Which I think could be helpful since I am lacking in sewing skill.)

(Little background about me that may or may not be helpful ... I drive a 10-year-old Honda Civic hatchback, I am easily swayed by shiny electronic objects and I have a big-fat mortgage on my 95-year-old house.)

(Oh, and I don't plan to give up the Kenmore, it would become my backup.)

(And, if you have any suggestions for a new machine, they would be much appreciated. I realize this sounds like I already made a decision, but I really haven't.)

Entrelac

I never thought my little foray into knitting backwards would turn into this, but here I am.

I received many great suggestions on projects that had entrelac, but I discovered something about entrelac as I was swatching.

I'm not a fan.

As a knitter, I'm not really into the finished objects, which you might have discovered if you read this blog with any regularity. I'm much more into just the process of knitting, having something in my hands while watching television or listening to the radio.

So entrelac, and for that matter, lace knitting, forces me to have to pay way more attention to my knitting rather than paying attention to say "Lost" or "This American Life."

With this being said, I decided to create a pattern which would showcase the entrelac, while allowing me some good TV watching time (since the fall season has started).

When I started, I meant for it to be a baby dress that as the girl got older, it could be used as a cute top. Right now, it's more of the latter. Mainly because I didn't add any stitches for the "skirt" portion of the dress. I was tempted to go back and add stitches, but I decided that if I did that, I may have nothing to show for all my entrelac effort.

So I'll figure out that stuff later. Hopefully I'll be done in the next couple of days to show the finish top.

Oh, and by the way, you guys were right! Knowing how to knit (and purl) backwards is totally helpful when doing entrelac.

How to avoid knitting a steeked bag

If you are wondering to yourself 'what steeked bag is she talking about,' here's a recap ...

I decided to dust off the summer 2000 Interweave Knits and knit a bag Kristin Nicholas designed using steeks. But the truth is, I'm afraid to cut into my knitting, and since finishing the Calla Lily socks, I really have had no excuse not to finish the bag.

I thought the colorwork was going to take up a lot of time, but it really goes much faster that I was anticipating.

So above is what I've done with my time, since I wasn't picking up the steeked bag.

I went to see the Raconteurs live at the Moore.
If you ever get the opportunity to see them, you really must. I'm in my early to mid-thirties now and thought rock shows were behind me, (i nodded off during the opening act), but when the Raconteurs came on, all of a sudden I remembered how to bang my head and pump my fists in the air.
When Jack White (yes, that Jack White) picked up his guitar and started jumping around the stairs, man, I couldn't stop screaming. And I was totally crushing on Brendan Benson. (don't tell A.K.)

When the ringing stopped in my ears, A.K., Lilly and I went camping at Alder Lake with some friends. It was a bit cold, but the lake was beautiful.

Also trolled the internet and the Local Fabric Shop for solids for the quilt. Spent last night washing and ironing all the fabric I bought. I'm of the belief that all the washing and ironing didn't do much, but since I've never sewed a quilt before, I'm going to follow the directions.

When I went to check out my mom's sewing machine, I thumbed through the manual, and noticed my mom recorded the date of purchase in it. And noticed that the machine had a 25 year warranty that expired in April. My mom's too cute. (The machine checks out fine, and should be ready to fire up once I get all the pieces for the quilt cute)

And I found some time to make some bath salts for me and some friends. No particular reason, except I didn't want to pick up the steeking.

Before anyone out there starts mistaking my distractions as having a life, I'm going to be good and start back on the steeking tomorrow. (or maybe the next day, but not saturday night because I have to see Talladega Nights, the Ballad of Ricky Bobby).

Is this enough yarn?

for two sleeves?

i didn't think so either, so i searched frantically for some more of this (since this used to be another sweater that I knitted a couple years ago and never wore, so i ripped it out and i'm sure the color has been discountinued) and i bought, what is described as 'rusty red' from somewhere in england. it should be to my house sometime next week, so progress on sweater is on hold, which means ...

(insert psycho music here)

STEEK, STEEK, STEEK

One of my favorite local yarn shops had a great sale, and when there is yarn on sale, you have to go, no matter how long you were trying to put off "a color decision" (read the air quotes as meaning I was trying to put off actually knitting the project)

a friend suggested i use pink, instead of the orange, but the pink at the store was a little too pepto bismo-y, so i went with this lilac instead ...

i guess if i really hate the combination, I could exchange the yarn ... oh, whatever, i can't fool you people. i really am dragging my feet with this. i'll do some knitting and show you the progress in the next day or so. at least this blog is keeping me an honest knitter.

by the way, my friend beverly found a place online to get 'Road to China' but it seems to cost a lot more than I remembered paying for it. If anyone is interested, I suggest just calling Gene Ann's.

Is it safe to come out?

I'm just peeking my head out to say the bag isn't felted, but you have to put in a lining to prevent it from dropping down to your feet the minute you put any knitting in it.

The pattern is from Kristin Nicholas and she used Classic Elite Montera (half llama, half wool). I've used Montera before, for a co-worker's hat. It's nice yarn, but a bit on the rough side, which I guess is fine for a bag.

I wonder if she used it because most things that are steeked are wool and I've read that part of the reason the steek shouldn't unravel (i'm still not convinced the whole thing won't unravel) is that it should be slightly felted (i think the official term is 'fulled', but don't quote me on that).

I wanted to sub some really great yarn, but I think I should just stick with the Montera for now.

I doubt they will have the same color combo, but if they don't, give me your two cents.

(The color combo now is a burnt orange, and a mocha with a lima bean green as accent, which i like, but any advice is welcomed)

Knitting with the enemy

So I've been knitting for about 7 years now, and in that time I've learned a lot. One project at a time has taught me something new, and in the process I've faced my knitting fears: yarnovers, cables, socks, intarsia, you get the point. But now, now I present to you the biggest, baddest mother-effing, knitting fear of all time (*for me*) ...

steeking.

there are plenty of techniques that I have yet to tackle, if I tackle them at all. (entralac, i'm looking in your direction) but if you feel like you've seen the model of this bag before its because she's the Interweave Knits model, who I guess is Pam Allen's daughter and if you're saying to yourself "she looks like she's got some work done" it's because this photo was taken six years ago.

I've been coveting this bag for six years!!!! A.K. will be the first one to tell you how I need another bag like I need a hole in my head. In fact, I just splurged (and with the help of a sale and a gift certificate bought this looker ...

... but all that is besides the point. This is about facing the fear of knitting something, then ... i can hardly bring myself to write it ... *cut* it.

i have to crawl under my desk and curl up into a ball now. i'll post more when i my spine grows back.

so purr-dy

Went to see the inlaws this past weekend for Father's Day, but I managed to get a little yarn hunting in between Cubs games and dinners (inlaws live in the greater Chicago area.)

Seattle has quite a few yarn shops herself, and I usually see most yarn brands within a 30-mile-radius of where I live, but Gene Ann's in Barrington, IL had The Fibre Co.'s "Road to China."

I am in love with The Fibre Co.'s yarns. I'm telling you their yarns are so luscious you just want to make out with them.

Granted I don't get out much, but I've managed to see this yarn brand in Portland (at Lint) where I bought "Terra" and now Gene Ann's, which had the lovely "Road to China" and "Khorma".

I mean, look at it knit up, and listen to the fiber content: alpaca, cashmere, camel, yak and soy. That's crazy talk.

If you every lay your hands on this stuff, you won't want to give it up.

Okay, I'll stop with the yarn gushing.

----

On another note, I just wanted to say thanks to all you great knitters who've taken the time to read my ramblings. I was so amazed when I saw all the welcoming comments when I came back from my vacation. You guys rock!

 

'The Principles of Knitting'

You know the book, the one that's out of print and cost way more than it should.

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I bought it.

No. 5 on list to 'Knitting Crazy-ville' ... check.

I'm estatic that I will be in possession of this book, and all those nasty thoughts about 'losing' the library's copy of it can now be erased, but I don't understand why the publisher of the book, or another publisher, or June Hiatt herself, doesn't reprint the damn book.

MELANIE FALICK are you hearing this!!!!!

INTERWEAVE, I'm looking in your direction.

MEG SWANSEN, make a call, drop your name, drop your mom's name, use your connections, MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Let me be the last sucker.

Lopez Island

Sorry I haven't posted this past week, my husband A.K., my dog Lilly and I headed out to Lopez Island in the San Juans for a quiet getaway. And I mean very quiet. You could hear my tapestry needle drop. But all that downtime gave me time to dream up some new projects, which I'll share with you once I get all my trips out of the way. (A.K. and I are heading to the Windy City this weekend to catch some Cubs games and visit with his family, mine are in Florida and out of the country)

What I will share right now are highlights of our trip...

Day 1, after unpacking the car and giving Lilly a bowl of water.

Found container to display yarn I brought with me. Some people might bring some flowers to cozy up a vacation rental, I bring yarn.

Scoped out a place for my yarn stash if for some reason we would move into said vacation rental.

Checked to see if we got the Stanley Cup playoff game on TV. No such luck. Found DVD player with some DVDs. 'Far From Heaven,' made for TV movie of Jon Krakauer's 'Into Thin Air', 'America's Sweethearts.' and 1994's 'National Lampoon's Last Resort' starring Corey Feldman and Corey Haim. Whoa, where did they find that gem. And yes, it is THAT BAD.

Found bar with satellite dish to watch Game 1. Canes win!

Day 2

Took a hike and saw some seals.

Rented some bikes

Ate some salmon with red pepper sauce.

Stayed up and watched 'The Patriot' on a Canadian network

Day 3

Rode bikes around the island.

Went to same bar to watch Game 2, Canes win!!!

Celebrated our third anniversary with pasta and fish

Day 4

Rained all day, stayed in

Day 5

Packed up and left.