My Husband, Some Hot Shot.....

Here's his ancient Chinese secret: taking me yarn shopping all over Chicago. He is SO sweet. When we planned to go to Chicago, the first thing he did was get on the internet and search out the yarn shops for me. We stopped at 2 of them on the way up, and he actually picked things out for me. There's a new one, only a few months old, called Knitwerks. The owner, Cherrl, is very nice, as is the shop. Though the selection was small, I was able to find some things I wanted. Like this Interlacements yarn, with about 100 million yards for $30-some dollars.



Next on the list was Loopy Yarns. This was a nice sized shop with lots of different things to choose from. There I found some clear clogs to wear with hand-knit socks, like the boots I've seen before. I was about to leave with only that, when I overheard the lady tell another customer that anything with wool in it was 25% off. Well, if I had known that, I would have done some more serious shopping. As it was, I went back and picked up some Hand Maiden Great Big Sea Silk, some Schaeffer Anne, and some Fleece Artist Nova Socks yarn. Did I mention I hate knitting socks? But, boy is this some beautiful yarn! And at 25% off, it's even more beautiful.





The next morning, we headed first to the Knitting Workshop, located in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago. They had LOTS of yarn, and it was everywhere. Their prices were clearly displayed with most of the yarn, though not on the skein itself. I bought several patterns from Jade Sapphire, a ball of some OnLine stuff to put with Katia Sevilla ribbon for a pretty scarf they had displayed, which uses the purse stitch (yo, p2tog on all rows), and finally a lovely laceweight soy silk yarn I'd never seen before. The two gals in there were quite nice.



After that, we next went to Knitters Niche, which is a bit further north. We were not greeted when we entered, though there was a woman sitting at the table where my husband sat, who was knitting away on something. I assumed someone would pop their head out from the back and say hello, but that did not happen. After a few minutes of looking around, the woman at the table said, "Can I help you find something?" I was a bit startled. I said, "Oh, I thought you were a customer." She said, "No, I was just in the middle of something." When I saw the lace pattern she was working on, I understood. But still, it was not a nice feeling. She wasn't the owner, just a worker. I looked all around and couldn't find anything I couldn't live without, but when I told my husband I was ready to go, she finally spoke up. Mind you, we were in there for about 15 minutes with only the one peep from her. Sitting right thee on the table in front of my husband was some beautiful mauve colored Misti Alpaca laceweight yarn, which was like 400 and some yards for only $7. Suddenly, I felt that was too good to pass up. So, I bought 3 skeins, and she became chatty Cathy. I was over her and the shop though, so it's not a place I will likely return to.

From there, we grabbed a cab and went to Knit 1. Though their webpage said they'd be open, they did not look open, so I jumped out and went to look. It appeared that their front window had been broken out and was boarded up, and the lights were off inside. It is still operational, apparently, as it still looked like a knitting shop on the inside, just a closed one!

We hopped back in the cab and went over to the one place I just had to see, Nina. I had seen the shop on the web, and it looked like a sushi bar. Very stream-lined, very minimal, clean lines, ultra sleek. The owner, aptly named Nina, jumped up from the couch to greet us when we came in, and offered to be of help. I've never seen a more lovely display of yarns than this place had. It was not overwhelming. It was all take-in-able. Do take a look at their website and you'll see what I mean. There, I bought a new Della Q large striped tote knitting bag, which I love. It is really pretty, in the yellow/gold colorway. I also bought a nice skein of Misti Alpaca Hand-Dyed in the pinks and browns colorway. It is gorgeous, and I'm knitting Lucy Neatby's Lettuce scarf with it, the pattern having been bought at Knitwerks on Day 1 of the Chicago Knit Shop Attack.

PassioKnits: The Stars at Night Shine Big and Bright

PassioKnits: The Stars at Night Shine Big and Bright

The Stars at Night Shine Big and Bright

I surprised my sister with this sweater last Fall, knit from a pattern in the Philosophers Wool book, "Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified," with a bunch of different yarn from my stash. (Actually I mixed these two patterns together, STARS and KILIM JACKET, so she could wear it as a jacket instead of a pullover). Her son's team name is the Stars, so I thought it would be perfect to wear to cold Friday night football games. She was totally surprised when I showed up at her office and bestowed this upon her. It was great! It truly was better to give than to receive in that case!

If you ever want to do a Fair Isle sweater, I STRONGLY recommend that you take a look at the two-handed method shown in a great little video on the Philosophers Wool website. It made it SO much easier to do in the round than the front and back piece method I was using for a Classic Elite Fair Isle sweater. After learning this method, the Stars sweater only took me about 3 weeks to knit, and afterwards, it took me a year to go back to the half-done Classic Elite sweater and finish the pieces! Luckily, I was able to do the sleeves in the new method, so that made finishing it bearable. I really can't begin to tell you what an impact this little video had on my knitting! I have no affiliation, I'm just a VERY satisfied consumer!

Shetland Tea Shawl

I've been so busy over at my other blog, Yarnswatch, that I haven't posted here in ages. So, I thought I'd post some finished objects which have been long neglected.





Yes, you've read those dates right. I finished this gorgeous shawl back in October! I first posted a photo in this post back in July, when it was still in its cobweb form. It is from Meg Swansen's A Gathering of Lace book, and is called the Shetland Tea Shawl. The yarn is Suri Alpaca from the Alpaca Yarn Co., and I must say, it was like heaven to knit! I couldn't wait to get the thing done so I could curl up in it! It is SO soft and so yummy. I really loved it!

FREE THE NEEDLES

Wow, it's been so long since I've posted that I forgot my password. I've had both kids home since the end of May, so we've been a bit busy. We've spent most of our time at a lake in northern Indiana, and it has been great. We've been with family and the kids have been able to play with cousins, so that has been good. However, today is a rainy day, which is not a good time at the lake to be stuck inside with all of us having cabin fever. I would be content to sit and knit all day, but alas and alack, my children actually want my attention. The noyve of them!

FREE THE NEEDLES
I have so many projects going, I've decided to have a little Free the Needles action.

Currently I am working on a cute little bag made of a thick variegated cotton by Lang called Filo Color. Best of all, I got it in the Clearance Sale Room at Mass Ave Knit Shop for just $4 each. Mine is a mix of orange, salmony pink, and white, and it is turning out nicely. Just need to finish the handles and sew them on. I saw it made on Knit One, Purl Two on DIY, but the directions on their website are scanty at best. They tell you what pieces to make, but not how to put it together, nor can you tell from their half a picture how to do it. I had to use my imagination on this, but it looks good. And here it is:



Also on the needles is a beautiful little scarf for my dear mother-in-law for her birthday next week. It is made of a lovely Koigu yarn, my first use of it, and it is, as they say, a true joy to work with. The pattern is from a book called Knit Ponchos, Wraps, and Scarves, by Jane Davis, though it is listed in searches as Knit Scarves & Shawls. Go figure. Anyway, the scarf has a lovely flared bottom on each end, to which I have added beads, another first for me. It will be off the needles soon, as her birthday is coming quickly. Here is one half. The other is hiding in the container.




I am also working on the last pattern section for a beautiful laceweight shawl from Meg Swansen's A Gathering of Lace book. This one is called the Shetland Tea Shawl, and is shown in red, though mine is being done in a cream colored Suri Alpaca from the Alpaca Yarn Co. It is so wonderful to work with that this will definitely not be my last rodeo with this yarn. It's a giant cobweb right now, and I can't wait to get it done and get it blocked.

When I am done, it should look something like this one I found on another blog by a girl named Sydney called As the Yarn Turns. Quite lovely, don't you think?

One of the Seven Wonders of Knitting: Blocking Lace

Who'd a thunk it?
I can't believe this:


could turn into this:

Ah, the wonders of blocking....I never cease to be amazed.

This is the amazingly simple, amazingly beautiful (in my humble opinion) shawl I made for my aunt. It is from the Wrap Style book, and it truly could not have been an easier lace pattern. With only 10 rows to repeat, half of which are simply to purl every stitch, it was a breeze. My aunt mentioned that her shoulders get cold sometimes, which, or course, set my mind to working. It is a smallish shawl, so I think it will be just the ticket. She has no idea this is coming, and I can't wait to hear what she thinks.

LACY LEAF COCOON JACKET

No, it is not a giant doily. It is my progress thus far on the above named jacket by Annie Modisett, from the current Interweave Crochet (see link 2 posts ago). This shows the back of the jacket, including armholes, and a little progress on the lapels. I did it in a single color, and so far, I am really enjoying it.

Carnival Shawl

Finalmente, the shawl is done. Es todo. It is all put together, but I haven't tucked ends and fringed it. But the hard part is over. The sewing together was an odious task, but, alas, it is done. That is all for tonight. There's another tornado warning, so I'm off to huddle in safety. Bon soir.

Cross-Stitching: Knitting AND Crocheting

"It's a beautiful day for a motor car race." Actually, it was a beautiful day for anything! Half a day off from school for my son meant a half a day filled with fun with friends, while the kids played and the moms chatted. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had a good one of those. I didn't have to think about lunch, it was all prepared for me. My kids were entertained, I was set with some good girl talk, and all the while the sun was shining and the breeze was blowing. And that was just HALF the day! I got to spend the other half knitting with some other friends. Well, actually, they knitted and I crocheted, as I'm working on the Lacy Leaf Shrug by Annie Modisett in the latest Interweave Crochet. Yes, I'm a cross-stitcher. That is, I knit AND crochet. Not the stuff with the 14 count Aida cloth and a needle and floss. I quit that years ago. Those supplies I just had to have now languish near the tubs full of yet-to-be-used-yarn. I haven't had the heart to break it to the cross-stitch stuff that it will never see the light of day again. I figure if I leave it there in the same room with the yarn, it can at least go on hoping that I will someday pick it when I do my search and seizure (not the kind where you fall to the floor and writhe. I leave that for my husband to do when he enters that room and sees how much yarn I have.)

I got one more strip of the Carnival Shawl put together tonight, but it doesn't look different enough from the photo I posted yesterday, so I didn't bother to post one tonight. Actually, I've renamed this project. For me, this is actually the Nautilus Shawl. I opened the new Knitty today, and there were some knitted "Nautie" toys, and low and behold, I found the Nautilus shell I kept trying to think of name of to describe the motifs of the Carnival Shawl. That is EXACTLY what I meant, but for the life of me, I couldn't come up with it. Thanks Knitty!

Carnies Unite

Two words for you, Wendy. Carnival Shawl.
I got all the motifs done and started putting it together today. You are looking at the right half, minus 1 motif on the left most strip, which will be added to the bottom tomorrow, because it is 11:30 p.m. here in the Midwest. The putting together might be worse than making the motifs. I strongly advise you to lay it out on the floor, or other flat surface, so you can see what you're doing. Intuitively obvious maybe, but you could end up playing Twister with it if you don't. Good luck, and may the force be with you!

TWO WEEKS

It was two long weeks without a babysitter and without any knit-togethers with my friends. Now I've had two nights in a row and I'm feeling nicely sassified. After getting together with my friends last night, I felt it had done me as much good as taking a nice long deep breath. Just feel yourself doing it. Ahhhhh.... I felt reconnected and good. It was so nice to see everyone and share a drink and a tink (I had to make it rhyme!). I come home refreshed and ready to be a better mom and a better me. I'm easily pleased.

SLACKER

While no one could ever acuse me of being a slacker knitter, I certainly have been a slacker blogger. But that's because I've been busy knitting. Too busy to write about it. And here's the proof:

I finally finished Annie Modisett's Circular Cocoon Jacket from the Fall 2005 Vogue Knitting. I didn't do all the twisted stitches and just used a varigated yarn, recycled from an ugly silk and cashmere sweater. I knew it could be something pretty if I freed it from the ugly sweater. And because my friend, Cathy, pictured below, says I never wear anything I make, I actually wore it last night to her birthday dinner.

And this is the Isolde sweater from Twisted Sisters, which I called Strip Tease, since it is made up of strips and then set on the bias, then picked up and gusseted and skirted and....Actually, it's easy and fun and different. However, the sleeves ended up looking a little Victorian the way I blocked it, so I'm going to try to reblock it, and if that doesn't work, I'll try to take them in a bit. I've been working out, but my guns are not that big yet!

Ah, the first day of spring and we're snowed in. Well, not exactly. It's a choice. I love it when it gets so snowy that you have to stay home. We were expecting 6-8 inches but only got about 3 or so, but we're having a stay in day anyway.

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted, but I've been quite busy knitting. I'm finishing up lots of projects, such as the circular sweater from the previous Vogue Knitting magazine which I got done last week, and now am finishing up on the Twisted Sisters Isolde sweater. When that is done, I'll have yarn I can return and exchange in time for the big sale at my LYS later this week. This buying hiatus is killing me, but it is forcing me to use up stash, which is always a good thing. Photos to follow....

Vacation

What I Did on My Not-So-Summer Vacation
There are my sons having a blast on the beach. The weather was glorious, and it was so nice to be together as a family. I was able to do lots of knitting, too.

I worked on the Am Kamin, which is coming along nicely. I have since started the first sleeve, and plan to join it all together at the raglan decreases. We shall see......

I also knitted up a cute tank top, modeled here by my friend, Cathy. I thought it fit me great till my two twig friends tried it on and it fit them. Let's just say I have a little more frontal real estate than they do. Maybe this will turn into a gift. Speaking of bust, on the stash-busting front, I actually bought the materials for this as my second project of my knitting career, back in March of 2004. Two years later, I finally got it out of my stash and made it. I based it on a pattern found at Spun Magazine . I used Crystal Palace Mikado Ribbon and Berrocco Candy FX held together. I added garter stitch edges at the bottom and around the armholes, as the holes were quite large and would not cover my bra. I think it turned out nicely.

Today was finishing day. I finally finished the few inches of sleeve I had to do on my son's Tomten Jacket, by Elizabeth Zimmermann. The Malabrigo yarn I used is SO soft, and the color, Azul Lindo, is appropriately named (pretty blue).

These boots are made for lounging. The UGG boots are finally done. I based it on this pattern, seen on Knitty Gritty, "Das Boot." I used moccassin bottoms instead of high-heeled shoes, and the moccassin bottoms I picked up at Hobby Lobby already had the holes in them, so I didn't have to drill anything. I used GGH Velour, which looks and feels like suede. The fluffy white stuff at the top is Gedifra Chapello. They're not pretty, but they're done, and at this point, that's all I'm shooting for!

Prepare for Absence
I am off to sunny Florida for a few days soon, so the ole blog will be dormant for a bit. But, I just thought I'd leave you with proof of my dive off the deep end. As if it wasn't enough to be knitting a complicated Aran pattern in Japanese, I am now translating and about to bite off another Aran, this time in French (Pull Col Roule). Some call it crazy, I call it industrious/adventurous. Lest my brain go to mush, I must feed it with some exercise. I'll let you know how the mental gymnastics go.

BORED, BORED, BORED
I am bored, bored, bored with all my projects. Not just one of them, all of them. I don't feel like doing any of them. I finished my first pink sock yesterday and promptly put it on and wore it with a non-matching black sock. Okay, they were inside my boots, so it doesn't matter. I wish I could say I was a believer now, but I don't know that I have the energy to start, let alone finish the mate. I worked on 1 row of my CIT sweater and now I'm bored with that. I've worked on the Strip Tease for days, now I'm bored with that. None of my umpteen other projects is calling me either. I think I need a nap. I'm feeling snarky....

BALLS GALORE
My son helped me make "knit balls," as he calls them. This is Cottage Craft wool that I got for my mom for her birthday, which was yesterday. The wool was a little scratchy, so I washed it all and am winding it for her, since she doesn't have a swift or a winder. She's not hard-core like me. I've got to have a swift and winder in every corner. Anyway, the washed hanks did get a little twisty, which I'm finding every 15 seconds while we are winding. Wind, wind, STOP, untangle, untangle. Okay, go. STOP! Untangle. My son thinks we're playing Red Light, Green Light.

I have nearly had it up to my baby blues with blogspot. For the last 2 days, I've done nothing but try to get photos posted, buttons on my button bar, etc., etc., but the &$@*)ing thing has not been cooperating. People tell me they cannot get my site to come up. What is up with that? I change something and it looks great in preview, then, VIOLA, it's not there when I republish for real. So alas and alack, I've had it for now. Today I will leave you a link to some great tips for knitters, especially those participating in the Knitting Olympics, on how not to muff your body up in the process. Here it is:
PT Tips for Knitters

Superbowl of Knitting

Strip Tease
Yesterday was the Superbowl of Knitting for me. We watched several episodes of 24 on DVD, finishing the second season, then, of course, the superbowl, so I got lots of knitting time. DS2 got the tummy bug from DS1, so between pukes, there was plenty of sitting and knitting. I worked on the Twisted Sisters Isolde sweater, which is done in strips, which you see pictured here. It is coming right along. You've never seen knitting fly faster than it did when DS2 started vomitting right beside me, mid-row. It (the sweater I was knitting) landed across the room while I grabbed for the bowl in record time. I'm not sure a whole second ticked off the clock. It was that fast. I wish I'd had the video camera going. Well, for the fast move, not for the upchuck. That I could go a long time without seeing again.

No Knitting for the Last 2 days!!!?????

No Knitting for the Last 2 days!!!?????
You heard it here, folks.  I have not touched the needles in two whole days.  Am I sick?  No, but my son is.  Poor guy tossed his cookies all night long, and has laid on the couch all day.  I could have tossed my own cookies yesterday when I got the news that his school will no longer provide elementary classes next year, and we now have to scurry to find him a new school AFTER the application dates have passed.  Great timing, huh?  I’m sure this was meant to be, in some odd way, but for right now, it is a pain in the tushki.  I don’t do well with uncertainty.  I will have to learn to do so for the next couple of months, as I will have no choice.  So, anyway, I’ve not had the opportunity nor the gumption to knit for the last couple of days.  But maybe I will tonight.  Wish us luck in the school department…..