Sat - April 5, 2008
This, is finally done
I was knitting frantically to finish this in December because I was visiting the twins but didn't quite make it. (I did wrap it up and give it to the twins mother but took it back again so I could finish.) Then it sat here for three months needing one sleeve sewn in and the buttons sewn on. I finally dug it out today and tomorrow it will finally go to the boys with its friend the Ladybug Sweater.
Fly away, bugs.
Posted at 07:50 PM
Tue - April 1, 2008
It Does Look Like Something
And not cat
yak.
It looks good in the sun, n'est ce pas?
Detail:
Swallowtail Shawl
Malabrigo Laceweight, color: Water Green.
I didn't screw it up, it's finished and it may make me go back to Icarus.
It is a little small, even for a scarf, but it may just lie around the house or go to my friend Daphne, the person who gets all of my too small knitting.
Next?
Good question. I'm still working (slowly) on the chicken sweater. I have the yarn to start Caroline again and there's some sock yarn I want to use--I just have to get out the swift and ball winder for those projects. I'd like to start the thrummed mittens again. Did I tell you about the thrummed mitten? I bought pattern, yarn and roving for a pair of thrummed mittens back in January or February when it was wicked cold (snowed yesterday, by the way) and none of my handwear was cutting it. It was Farmhouse Yarns, lavender and yellow (not a usual color choice for me but just beautiful) with plum colored roving and I knit the first one, twisting a 24 inch circular into a magic loop (since I don't knit many socks on a size 9 I don't own a longer one). Also, something happened to this poor needle once (actually two things)--it got sat/stepped on so there's a slight bend in the needle part, and something got spilled on it that corroded the finish somehow (it's an Addi Turbo). So this needle was both bent and sticky and also, too short. Making this mitten was painful--but it was a mitten, with big yarn, on big needles, so honestly, it's just not that many stitches and I put up with it because I wanted the mitten and I didn't want to go back to the yarn store. So finished this mitten, loved this mitten, so warm, beautiful colors, and did I mention thrummed? So cool and I was wearing it everywhere because who really cares if your mittens match, you can always keep one hand in your pocket. I was having dinner with the aforementioned Daphne and I wanted to show it to her so I stuck it in my jacket pocket. Can you see where this is going? I don't know why I didn't wear it. Anyway I got to Daphne's house--no mitten. I went back to my car--no mitten. When I got home--no mitten. Driveway, yard, street, no mitten. So my motivation for knitting the other mitten has been minimal. And the worst thing? I NEVER TOOK A PICTURE OF IT! I bought another skein (some Sheep Shop) and more roving to make some for Eli too but I'm a little bitter about thrummed mittens in general right now. But I digress.
So, I've decided I'm between projects here. It's that time of year.
It looks good in the sun, n'est ce pas?
Detail:
Swallowtail Shawl
Malabrigo Laceweight, color: Water Green.
I didn't screw it up, it's finished and it may make me go back to Icarus.
It is a little small, even for a scarf, but it may just lie around the house or go to my friend Daphne, the person who gets all of my too small knitting.
Next?
Good question. I'm still working (slowly) on the chicken sweater. I have the yarn to start Caroline again and there's some sock yarn I want to use--I just have to get out the swift and ball winder for those projects. I'd like to start the thrummed mittens again. Did I tell you about the thrummed mitten? I bought pattern, yarn and roving for a pair of thrummed mittens back in January or February when it was wicked cold (snowed yesterday, by the way) and none of my handwear was cutting it. It was Farmhouse Yarns, lavender and yellow (not a usual color choice for me but just beautiful) with plum colored roving and I knit the first one, twisting a 24 inch circular into a magic loop (since I don't knit many socks on a size 9 I don't own a longer one). Also, something happened to this poor needle once (actually two things)--it got sat/stepped on so there's a slight bend in the needle part, and something got spilled on it that corroded the finish somehow (it's an Addi Turbo). So this needle was both bent and sticky and also, too short. Making this mitten was painful--but it was a mitten, with big yarn, on big needles, so honestly, it's just not that many stitches and I put up with it because I wanted the mitten and I didn't want to go back to the yarn store. So finished this mitten, loved this mitten, so warm, beautiful colors, and did I mention thrummed? So cool and I was wearing it everywhere because who really cares if your mittens match, you can always keep one hand in your pocket. I was having dinner with the aforementioned Daphne and I wanted to show it to her so I stuck it in my jacket pocket. Can you see where this is going? I don't know why I didn't wear it. Anyway I got to Daphne's house--no mitten. I went back to my car--no mitten. When I got home--no mitten. Driveway, yard, street, no mitten. So my motivation for knitting the other mitten has been minimal. And the worst thing? I NEVER TOOK A PICTURE OF IT! I bought another skein (some Sheep Shop) and more roving to make some for Eli too but I'm a little bitter about thrummed mittens in general right now. But I digress.
So, I've decided I'm between projects here. It's that time of year.
Posted at 08:17 PM
Sun - March 30, 2008
FCS 3
So I'm still in the "I think I'll surf the
internet some more to see what I could buy" phase of the Favorite Color 3 Swap
but I've already gotten my package. Thanks Joanna
!
It was full of fun stuff--all blue and green and yellow. Hand made stitch markers, and gummy candy (including my favorite gummy peaches. Not that I got many of them since Eli appropriated them early on), handcream, note paper and pads, a book and a tabby cat magnet that didn't make it into the picture since I found it on the table after I took the picture (that's what happens when the eight year old opens the presents).
Here's the yarn:
This is Natrafibers Yummy in turquoise and white and I am carrying it around the house with me because it is so pretty.
There was also this:
Green, green, green Tofutsies. This is just the color I need these days as it snowed here yesterday.
Thanks again, Joanna!
It was full of fun stuff--all blue and green and yellow. Hand made stitch markers, and gummy candy (including my favorite gummy peaches. Not that I got many of them since Eli appropriated them early on), handcream, note paper and pads, a book and a tabby cat magnet that didn't make it into the picture since I found it on the table after I took the picture (that's what happens when the eight year old opens the presents).
Here's the yarn:
This is Natrafibers Yummy in turquoise and white and I am carrying it around the house with me because it is so pretty.
There was also this:
Green, green, green Tofutsies. This is just the color I need these days as it snowed here yesterday.
Thanks again, Joanna!
Posted at 07:59 AM
Wed - March 26, 2008
Apparently This Will Look Like Something When It's Blocked?
Other than cat yak I mean.
Speaking of cats . . .
I was wondering where he was.
Look what appeared:
Posted at 05:52 PM
Sun - March 9, 2008
Well, At Least We Got an Extra Hour to Stare at the Frozen Ground
I understand that if you live somewhere warmer it
might be nice to stay outside a little longer in the evening but I just don't
think daylight saving should start while I still have snow shovels on my
porch.
There is hope, however.
Knitting?
A bit. I'm really enjoying the Swallowtail Shawl but it takes a really long time to do all that careful knitting. And about those nupps.
It's getting there. Of course, I left the pattern in Vermont last weekend so it's stalled right now.
I started the Happy Hen Sweater from Lucinda Guy's Handknits for Kids. I'm using Classic Elite Summer Set (cotton/alpaca blend) instead of the specified Rowan wool cotton because I couldn't quite bring myself to knit a $70 sweater for a 2 year old. It was hard finding the colors in another yarn but the Summer Set colors match really well and I like the yarn. The gauge is slightly larger so I cast on about 14 fewer stitches for the back. I also eliminated the side cables. The picture looked to me like there was only the one pink cable up the center and after I carried that mistaken image around for awhile when I saw how it was really supposed to be I decided I liked it better the wrong way.
I love the little cable and garter stitch edging. The back is nearly done.
I started moonflowers today, pruned the autumn clematis, make a peach pie with the last of last summer's peaches, made acorn squash soup with the last of last autumn's squash and made bread (not with the last of last summer's wheat). It was nice to see the sun after all of yesterday's rain and last week's clouds but it's still wicked brisk here.
There is hope, however.
Knitting?
A bit. I'm really enjoying the Swallowtail Shawl but it takes a really long time to do all that careful knitting. And about those nupps.
It's getting there. Of course, I left the pattern in Vermont last weekend so it's stalled right now.
I started the Happy Hen Sweater from Lucinda Guy's Handknits for Kids. I'm using Classic Elite Summer Set (cotton/alpaca blend) instead of the specified Rowan wool cotton because I couldn't quite bring myself to knit a $70 sweater for a 2 year old. It was hard finding the colors in another yarn but the Summer Set colors match really well and I like the yarn. The gauge is slightly larger so I cast on about 14 fewer stitches for the back. I also eliminated the side cables. The picture looked to me like there was only the one pink cable up the center and after I carried that mistaken image around for awhile when I saw how it was really supposed to be I decided I liked it better the wrong way.
I love the little cable and garter stitch edging. The back is nearly done.
I started moonflowers today, pruned the autumn clematis, make a peach pie with the last of last summer's peaches, made acorn squash soup with the last of last autumn's squash and made bread (not with the last of last summer's wheat). It was nice to see the sun after all of yesterday's rain and last week's clouds but it's still wicked brisk here.
Posted at 06:23 PM
Mon - February 25, 2008
Sat - February 2, 2008
Blogger's Silent Poetry Reading 3
The Lanyard
The other day I was ricocheting
slowly
off the blue walls of this room,
moving as if underwater from
typewriter to piano,
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the
floor,
when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary
where
my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.
No cookie nibbled by a French
novelist
could send one into the past more suddenly—
a past
where I sat at a workbench at a camp
by a deep Adirondack
lake
learning how to braid long thin plastic strips
into a lanyard,
a gift for my mother.
I had never seen anyone use a
lanyard
or wear one, if that’s what you did with them,
but
that did not keep me from crossing
strand over strand again and
again
until I had made a boxy
red and white lanyard for my
mother.
She gave me life and milk from her
breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard.
She nursed me in many a sick
room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-cloths on
my forehead,
and then led me out into the airy light
and taught me to walk and
swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Here are
thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good
education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a
little help from a counselor.
Here is a breathing body and a beating
heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth,
and two clear eyes to read the
world, she whispered,
and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at
camp.
And here, I wish to say to her now,
is a smaller
gift—not the worn truth
that you can never repay your
mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took
the two-tone
lanyard from my hand,
I was as sure as a boy could be
that this
useless, worthless thing I wove
out of boredom would be enough to make us
even.
- Billy Collins
Posted at 12:49 PM
Thu - January 3, 2008
And the Winner Is . .
Swallowtail Shawl in Malabrigo Lace, Water
Green.
I do like this pattern and this yarn.
I do like this pattern and this yarn.
Posted at 08:02 PM
Tue - January 1, 2008
New Year, New Headgear
This year's New Year's Eve project was
Calorimetry.
There is something obscene about this. What's the feminine version of "phallic"?
I have been knitting a lot, in spite of not writing about it. I've finished: the Ladybug Sweater,
the Car Sweater,
Wonder,
Caroline
and
Kai's Cable Sweater (again)
since last we spoke.
The car sweater just needs to have one sleeve sewn in and then it and the ladybug sweater off to the new twins, Bren and Emory who were born on the last day of November and who we finally met last weekend. It will be awhile until those sweaters fit (apparently Norwegian babies are larger) so no hurry and Jenn, their mom, saw them in their almost finished state. They're both Dale patterns; Ladybug is true to the pattern, Cars is heavily modified--different edging (hem instead of ribbing), different colors, different patterning on the sleeves.
Kai 2 (from Natural Knits) went to someone I work with who is due in about three weeks.
Caroline (from Louet's website) was great fun to knit, not so much to crochet the edging. Euroflax may be lovely but it's like crocheting with garden twine. The sweater was also a fun experiment in felting. I've ordered more yarn to make it again and the original has found a new happy home with my petite friend Daphne. Actually, the problem had more to do with the fact that I have shoulders, and no sweater (or shirt, for that matter) with cap sleeves ever really fits me. The rest of it was fine, but the shoulders were uncomfortable. I'm going to make it again, probably a size larger, and modify the sleeves. The Louet Riverstone is wonderful yarn and this knits up very quickly.
Wonder is from Rowan #40 knit out of Lopi. It was an impulse knit, started in August when I had been working only on Baby Dale sweaters and socks and I wanted to work with bulky wool. Yarns in the Farms had Lopi on sale and the rest is history. It was an awfully fast knit, too, (anything is after a Baby Dale) and I enjoyed it though I think it looks weird on me. I haven't decided whether I'm keeping it yet or not.
Calorimetry was lots of fun to make, I love the yarn (Noro Kochoran in color 10, blues, greys and greens, from last week's sale at Woolcott) and kept me wicked warm last night during the First Night parade.
As always, check JoBleudeMaine on Ravelry for progress pictures.
I'm in the odd position of having nothing on my needles. Socks? Swallowtail Shawl out of some Malabrigo Lace that I also got last week at Woolcott? Roscalie vest from In the Hebrides? I spent the day reading patterns looking at other people's versions of those patterns on Ravelry, and sorting out all the needles that needed to go away after all the finished projects. Back to work tomorrow (where someone will undoubtedly announce her pregnancy as I have finally finished everything on my list of impending babies to knit for and make the decision easy). No more Baby Dales in the near future--Kai's Cable Sweater for everyone from now on.
There is something obscene about this. What's the feminine version of "phallic"?
I have been knitting a lot, in spite of not writing about it. I've finished: the Ladybug Sweater,
the Car Sweater,
Wonder,
Caroline
and
Kai's Cable Sweater (again)
since last we spoke.
The car sweater just needs to have one sleeve sewn in and then it and the ladybug sweater off to the new twins, Bren and Emory who were born on the last day of November and who we finally met last weekend. It will be awhile until those sweaters fit (apparently Norwegian babies are larger) so no hurry and Jenn, their mom, saw them in their almost finished state. They're both Dale patterns; Ladybug is true to the pattern, Cars is heavily modified--different edging (hem instead of ribbing), different colors, different patterning on the sleeves.
Kai 2 (from Natural Knits) went to someone I work with who is due in about three weeks.
Caroline (from Louet's website) was great fun to knit, not so much to crochet the edging. Euroflax may be lovely but it's like crocheting with garden twine. The sweater was also a fun experiment in felting. I've ordered more yarn to make it again and the original has found a new happy home with my petite friend Daphne. Actually, the problem had more to do with the fact that I have shoulders, and no sweater (or shirt, for that matter) with cap sleeves ever really fits me. The rest of it was fine, but the shoulders were uncomfortable. I'm going to make it again, probably a size larger, and modify the sleeves. The Louet Riverstone is wonderful yarn and this knits up very quickly.
Wonder is from Rowan #40 knit out of Lopi. It was an impulse knit, started in August when I had been working only on Baby Dale sweaters and socks and I wanted to work with bulky wool. Yarns in the Farms had Lopi on sale and the rest is history. It was an awfully fast knit, too, (anything is after a Baby Dale) and I enjoyed it though I think it looks weird on me. I haven't decided whether I'm keeping it yet or not.
Calorimetry was lots of fun to make, I love the yarn (Noro Kochoran in color 10, blues, greys and greens, from last week's sale at Woolcott) and kept me wicked warm last night during the First Night parade.
As always, check JoBleudeMaine on Ravelry for progress pictures.
I'm in the odd position of having nothing on my needles. Socks? Swallowtail Shawl out of some Malabrigo Lace that I also got last week at Woolcott? Roscalie vest from In the Hebrides? I spent the day reading patterns looking at other people's versions of those patterns on Ravelry, and sorting out all the needles that needed to go away after all the finished projects. Back to work tomorrow (where someone will undoubtedly announce her pregnancy as I have finally finished everything on my list of impending babies to knit for and make the decision easy). No more Baby Dales in the near future--Kai's Cable Sweater for everyone from now on.
Posted at 05:08 PM
Sun - November 4, 2007
A Day Meant For Knitting
We had the dregs of Hurricane Noel blow through
yesterday so what was there to do but knit? We made bread and chowder and pie
and lit a fire and had a lovely, cozy day. It does not, by the way, help bread
to cook for ten minutes, take a little twenty minute break while the power goes
out, and then cook the rest of the way but it was still fine. I've been using
the King Arthur Flour Baking Book for all my bread for the past couple of years
and mostly make the Oatmeal Maple Bread (also the Monkey Bread). It's a great
book both for recipes and technique. (I cannot spell the word recipes to save
my life; it took four tries in that sentence back
there).
Here's what I worked on:
It's Caroline in Louet Riverstone. Color: Aqua. It will be felted when it's done so now it's pretty loose. It's knits up quickly and the yarn is nice and soft. I started it Friday night and I'm about 16 rows from the armholes. I'm a little scared of the felting; I was waiting for some other guinea pig on Ravelry to begin but no one did so I jumped in. I'll let you know how it goes.
Here's what I worked on:
It's Caroline in Louet Riverstone. Color: Aqua. It will be felted when it's done so now it's pretty loose. It's knits up quickly and the yarn is nice and soft. I started it Friday night and I'm about 16 rows from the armholes. I'm a little scared of the felting; I was waiting for some other guinea pig on Ravelry to begin but no one did so I jumped in. I'll let you know how it goes.
Posted at 04:42 PM
Wed - October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
I think I liked it better when he was a cute ladybug.
Happy Halloween!
Posted at 09:15 PM
Mon - October 15, 2007
Swamped
For the first time ever my excuse is that I've
been consumed by work. Remember I started a new job in February? You know,
right before we bought a house and moved. Well last spring was just finishing a
lot of projects that someone else had started and basically getting through the
rest of the year until June. Now, it's all about deciding what projects I want
to do, and how to do them, and then doing them. It's not that I'm spending more
time working, it's just that I'm thinking about work when I'm not there instead
of thinking about knitting. This is new for
me.
Also, I fell into the Ravelry hole. I'm JoBleudeMaine if you feel like friending me. It took me awhile to friend strangers and I still haven't friended any big name people because that just feels too junior high somehow but I finally realized that the point is just to have a quick link to the projects of people whose knitting you like and it wasn't actually just a way to court rejection. (Think I'm stuck in junior high? You're glad I restrained myself and didn't blog about the whole "if you don't get any comments I don't know why you bother to blog" thread of last spring. I honestly don't care about comments but that whole thing brought out the worst in me.)
Anyway, Ravelry is great--it's fun seeing what everyone is doing with the same yarn and patterns and what people are hiding in their stashes.
Knitting? Why yes, a bit.
Another Baby Dale. This is a heavily modified pattern--changed ribbing to a hem, changed colors (this is meant to be navy blue background with different colored cars and I'm doing stripes like in the ladybug sweater.) Somehow I twisted it when I first joined it and didn't really catch it until I had finished the facing so it went into a heap for awhile. However, the baby is imminent so I started it again about a week ago and have been doing pretty well. I'm trying to use up the leftovers from the Lady bug sweater so I would be using more yellow and orange but I'm not sure I have enough left. (It's not that I'm cheap--most of these colors have been discontinued.)
It finally warmed up in late August so I got the urge to knit with bulky wool. I found this pattern in a Rowan book and Yarns in the Farms had Lopi on sale so I started this completely on a whim. I got a lot done until I put it aside for the baby sweater.
I'm partway through a sleeve as well. It goes very quickly after all that Baby Ull.
Here's a closeup of the collar.
Ladybug sweater is done but I haven't put it together as I want to sew for the steeks of both of these sweaters at the same time.
I seem to have temporarily lost my sock mojo though I did start the second Traveller's Stocking.
I just ordered the yarn to knit Caroline from Louet.
I noticed I was thinking about yarn this morning on my way to school so I imagine the tide is turning.
Also, I fell into the Ravelry hole. I'm JoBleudeMaine if you feel like friending me. It took me awhile to friend strangers and I still haven't friended any big name people because that just feels too junior high somehow but I finally realized that the point is just to have a quick link to the projects of people whose knitting you like and it wasn't actually just a way to court rejection. (Think I'm stuck in junior high? You're glad I restrained myself and didn't blog about the whole "if you don't get any comments I don't know why you bother to blog" thread of last spring. I honestly don't care about comments but that whole thing brought out the worst in me.)
Anyway, Ravelry is great--it's fun seeing what everyone is doing with the same yarn and patterns and what people are hiding in their stashes.
Knitting? Why yes, a bit.
Another Baby Dale. This is a heavily modified pattern--changed ribbing to a hem, changed colors (this is meant to be navy blue background with different colored cars and I'm doing stripes like in the ladybug sweater.) Somehow I twisted it when I first joined it and didn't really catch it until I had finished the facing so it went into a heap for awhile. However, the baby is imminent so I started it again about a week ago and have been doing pretty well. I'm trying to use up the leftovers from the Lady bug sweater so I would be using more yellow and orange but I'm not sure I have enough left. (It's not that I'm cheap--most of these colors have been discontinued.)
It finally warmed up in late August so I got the urge to knit with bulky wool. I found this pattern in a Rowan book and Yarns in the Farms had Lopi on sale so I started this completely on a whim. I got a lot done until I put it aside for the baby sweater.
I'm partway through a sleeve as well. It goes very quickly after all that Baby Ull.
Here's a closeup of the collar.
Ladybug sweater is done but I haven't put it together as I want to sew for the steeks of both of these sweaters at the same time.
I seem to have temporarily lost my sock mojo though I did start the second Traveller's Stocking.
I just ordered the yarn to knit Caroline from Louet.
I noticed I was thinking about yarn this morning on my way to school so I imagine the tide is turning.
Posted at 06:15 PM
Wed - September 19, 2007
Arrrgghh! Now We Be Eight, Mateys!
!
Happy Birthday, Eli!
And--
Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!
Posted at 09:50 PM
Thu - August 16, 2007
Sockpal Socks Arrived!
Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Nancy Bush's
Knitting Vintage Socks in Schaeffer Anne. I love them. The stitches are so
tiny and the knitting is so perfect. They fit perfectly, too. Thanks,
Christy!
In small world news, Christy's sockpal
was Sarah who was the pal I sent socks to in the
Hogwarts exchange. Just a big socky circle of sorts.
The cats only care about each
other:
Posted at 08:47 PM
Fri - August 10, 2007
It's My Party and I'll Buy if I Want To
Sorry, I couldn't
resist.
I think it's so thoughtful of Woolcott to schedule their annual sale on my birthday. I'll be there if you're looking for me.
Also, if you go to my local YMCA on your birthday and you scan your member tag to let you in the gate, the loudspeaker plays Happy Birthday and the people at the counter sing along. I'm oblivious enough that it took me a minute to figure out what was going on.
In Sockapalooza news, Johanna received the socks I sent. The best part is that she actually saw them on my blog way back in June when I was worried about them being too subtle and commented that she liked them so I knew it was all right to keep knitting. Go see them on her feet.
Off to Cambridge.
I think it's so thoughtful of Woolcott to schedule their annual sale on my birthday. I'll be there if you're looking for me.
Also, if you go to my local YMCA on your birthday and you scan your member tag to let you in the gate, the loudspeaker plays Happy Birthday and the people at the counter sing along. I'm oblivious enough that it took me a minute to figure out what was going on.
In Sockapalooza news, Johanna received the socks I sent. The best part is that she actually saw them on my blog way back in June when I was worried about them being too subtle and commented that she liked them so I knew it was all right to keep knitting. Go see them on her feet.
Off to Cambridge.
Posted at 12:41 PM
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Published On: Apr 05, 2008 07:50 PM
Published On: Apr 05, 2008 07:50 PM