Not So Fancy Nancy

Caught in the middle of so many things

"Nothing is exciting if you know what the outcome is going to be."

Joseph Campbell, 20th Century Philosopher & Mythology Expert, from A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living

I'm trying to hold on to that thought. I'm not sure how this knitting is going to work, but I'm still excited:

Pattern:  Surplice Lace Top from Nashua Handknits N. Am Designer Collection #4

Yarn:  Classic Silk by Classic Elite, color 6955

Size:  My gauge is a touch large with the courser yarn, so doing a bit of customizing. Switched to knitting in the round and added a tapered panel to each side to reduce the hip to waist measurement. Planning to start the top below my bustline and do bust darts for shaping. Almost to that point. Cast on a different yarn, but halfway through the first repeat it was obviously not going to work. Got gauge with the swatch, but it bit me when I switched to the pattern work. At least I'm getting faster at recognizing my mistakes.

This last month has had a strange quality. While very busy, nothing particularly horrible or fantastic has happened to me personally, but boy, the world at large has been, well, all over the map. So many things seem to be up in the air right now. Sometimes it feels overwhelming to me. Having a 10-year-old means you have to try to explain natural disasters, food shortages, war, inflation, energy issues and presidential and world politics to someone with no knowledge base, but who is old enough to be thinking about these problems. You have to put away your flippant shorthand used between adults and try for real answers because this is a person to whom you feel an obligation not to offer pat, party-line (whichever one), Pollyanna answers, and yet you do not want to offer unvarnished truth so raw as to make her totally jaded and despondent. I'm always trying to find thoughtful and balanced ways to say humans are self-destructive animals, but chin up honey, we're capable of great things too. "Children are our future" offered up in song, speeches and slogans sounds a bit saccharine sometimes, but right now I'm putting my hopes on a girl who likes math and science, loves animals and wants to work to develop alternate energy sources.

Being around 6-yr-olds can help too. I went to Em's classroom to help make a quilt for her newly married teacher. The kids did a great job making their squares and it was so much fun to watch them color. I'll post more on that next time.

Another way I deal with news overload is gardening and being outdoors. I know this isn't revolutionary, but it works wonders for me. I'd never gardened until we bought this house, so I'm learning all the time. All that talk about "the garden teaches you what it needs" is pretty true. It's educated me to say no to the siren song of a some oh-so-pretty plants at the nursery. This spring there's been some dashing upon rocks and tossing into the compost heap, but overall things are taking root. This view is starting to please me:

Between the tree on the right, the shrubs in the middle and the just planted pepper trees and mallow on the slope (you can't really seen them yet) this whole fence line should disappear within 2-3 years. Not soon enough for me! One of my big goals with this garden is to blur all the edges. The bone dry rock-filled slope makes that a little more of a chore than just putting in some shrubs, but we're getting there.

There's now a bit of dappled sunlight to mark the afternoon. Finally! I adore trees and the lack of them this past two years has been challenging. A changing play of light through the day is a big deal to me, so mitigating the flat bright sun out there has been a priority.

 

The Pittosporum tenuifolium silver sheen are fantastic in the afternoon sun and photos can't do them justice. Like miniature aspens, it's the play of wind and light that make them sing. Right now they've grown to about 6', but they can go up to 15 feet. I like my neighbors a lot, but I think we'll both we happy when we can't see each other's houses!

 

My roses are doing pretty well after a scary start. We had two different record setting heat waves and the second one topped out at 98 F in my backyard! Newly budded plants don't like that and neither did I. It looks like one crape myrtle tree won't be blooming this summer because it sent out it's buds over that time and they got fried. Today it's overcast and in the chilly low 60's. I don't mind the delay of summer heat. Ever changing bouquets have started gracing the table. I generally take roses growing close to the ground, through the middle or on weak stems and I fill with whatever else is blooming, so my arrangements are a bit ... casual, but they do smell great.

This one is a day or three past prime, but the lamb's ear is proving itself useful. I swear it kept growing in the vase. There's a lot more going on in this one, but you really need 3D to see it all.

This is a no spray garden, so we've got birds, bees, butterflies and a world of insect life out there. Last year things weren't balanced yet, but so far this year we've not had a major infestation. I'm not an expert, but I've done a bit of research on plant mixing. The trick is creating a diverse enough eco-system and accepting the ebb and flow. Last year the bronze fennel was covered in caterpillars, wasps, bees and ladybugs.

This year those caterpillars brought a banner spring of hummingbird moths. Very cool.

They love the Cedros Island verbena out front. Our front yard is tiny, so we skipped grass completely. Our property is at the base of a hill and on a curve, so the house sits far forward on the lot. I don't mind because we have a good sized backyard relative to the neighborhood and I prefer to garden in my ratty clothes and without making small talk. There are drought tolerant, very low maintenance plants out here, so it only takes a few minutes a month to clean thing up. I'm loving the chartreuse euphorbia with the gray artemisia, red flax and purple verbena in the background.

Yesterday for Mother's Day we went out for burrito bowls at Chipotle, then a latte at Barnes and Noble and closed with a trip to Home Depot for irrigation supplies -- do I lead a romantic life or what? Came home and tried to sneak a nap. The defining moment? "Mom?" Closer "Mooom? Mom?" A little closer "MOOOMM?" Silence. Wait for it... Feel the breath from the small face two inches from my previously napping face ... "Mommy? Are you awake? Look, I made you a card!"

The best part was definitely a late afternoon family hike (with dog) up in the reserve behind us. It's a rocky climb, but one rewarded with ocean and lagoon views. And wildlife. We had a peaceful encounter with a full grown rattlesnake across our path and the girls were excited to tell everyone about it at school this morning. It certainly gets your adrenaline going, but the snake doesn't want you, so the trick is seeing them in time so you can back off. You stand still and the snake relaxes and slides away - everyone's happy. We even found a geocache after a bit of backtracking and much mumbling at the borrowed GPS from my husband. Having a goal certainly helps keep the kids engaged on a two hour hike. Sorry, no photos because we forgot the camera ... and a phone, which we both noticed after the snake meeting. Next time.

Let's see ... what else has kept me away from the PC? All the normal stuff, plus two different in-law visits, softball playoffs, home projects and this twin sized quilt. Almost done, but wrestling with the machine quilting takes a certain mindset and I haven't been in that place these past few weeks. Add the challenge of moving a 20lb orange mass and it's impossible.

Cats are masters of the pretend nap. "What? I can't hear you ..." But I must say he looks lovely on it.

 

Also, I've found a great local knitting group. I really enjoy blogging, but it's wonderful to sit in person and chat about fiber things. One kind and brave member opened her house for a dying session. Between all the Kool Aid and Mexican Agua Fresca powder in the air it was very fruity smelling for a while. Throw in margaritas and alcohol laced cupcakes (oh my) and fun was had by all. Everyone's yarn looked fantastic hanging out to dry on the patio umbrella, but yet again I forgot my camera. This is becoming an issue! Thankfully Kelie was on top of it. She even captured my henna-looking dyed hands (only two days to wear off). And no, not a spec of dye on my white shirt! Of course that's because it's a baggy old gardening shirt. Had I worn something I liked I would have looked like a drop cloth. When you pop over to Kelie's to look at those photos be sure to scroll down to see her FABULOUS Central Park Hoodie. The color, yarn, buttons, fit --- everything about it is absolutely perfect and I can tell you it looks even better on her in person.

Here are my KnitPick's lace fingerling weight hanks after drying. (Added later:  This yarn is Knit Picks Bare Sock Yarn, natural, 75% superwash/25% nylon, 462 yds/100 gs, $5.99. We ordered as a group, so I didn't have it locked in my mind) I started with Klass Agua Fresco flavors: Pina, Guayaba, Mango, Sandia, Jamaica, Melon and finally Tamerindo (kind of a brown yellow). I got mine at a Mexican grocery story over in San Marcos. Finished with an over-dye of Kool Aid Strawberry and Black Cherry. The Mexican flavors seem to have subtler shading -- less of the technicolor intensity of Kool Aid. Not bad or good, just differnt.

Now I have to figure out what to do with this. (Added later:  Maybe socks huh?) Hope to find some inspiration on a new Ravelry group Maria posted about. If you're on Ravelry and knit lace, check out Seasons of Lace, Summer 2008. A final bit of inspiration, go look at Maria's silk and bead lacework ... oh my! I can't wait to see where that goes.

Rowan Flora Quilt Finished!

Doing the finished quilt dance! Here's Flora just out of the wash. Drug-free mood enhancement in fabric form. We've got a heavy marine layer today, but this quilt's colors still glow in the gloom.

Yep, that's little black cat's tail disappearing under there. She's always such a help - knocked this off three times at least as I was trying to get it artfully draped. It got noticeably gloomier in just the few minutes I was taking photos, but I'm just so excited that I had to take pictures today.

The details...

Pieced in Oct 2007 and quilted and bound in April 2008. Approx 54" x 63".

Pattern:  Flora by Valori Wells
Fabric:  All Rowan except solids
Quilting Thread:  King Tut multicolored cotton color 922 (I LOVED working with this thread)

I must admit I liked it so much I was afraid to finish it. Then in a big jump, I decided this past week that I would learn to free-motion flowers on it and play with binding ideas. When I get brave it's always just-this-close to stupid.

Started safe by stitching in the ditch down each side of the narrow color lines. Almost stopped there, but knew I had to break out of my funk and conquer my fears. Thought a curving line with pansies down each patterned block line would look simple and fun. Because the narrow color strips are made up of blocks the same length, but the placement is staggered, they made an easy way to keep the pansies spaced evenly, yet appear randomly placed along the patterned blocks.

For the binding I fudged the "right" way, probably to the point of giving a classic quilter hives. I sewed the strips to the back, the turned them to the front and zigzagged it down. I use standard methods for joining the strips as well as for turning corners and joining the final edges, but I just don't care to hand sew the binding when this is just a fun throw quilt. Anyway - and this may be a massive rationalization - I like the playfulness of the multicolored zigzags.

Sometimes I went round and round inside a flower, sometime not. I kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I only practiced once or twice before getting bored and starting on the quilt, so I learned as I went. My darling eldest daughter comes by her bad habits naturally. Anyway, they're fun to make and as in nature, no two are alike.

 

Here's what the quilting looks like from the back:

Here's a larger view of the back. It's a Kaffe print I bought last year. I found it just after I'd pieced the whole top or it would have been on the front too. I love it on the back, but I was kind of bummed when I found it so soon after finishing the front because it's so perfect with the other prints. It probably would have been the lead fabric. Have to admit I considered ripping and splicing it in, but even I deemed that insane and put the seam ripper down and backed away.

We've lived here over two years, and all this time the kitchen table has been pushed to the side of the room and loaded with the PC, then the fish tank too. Of course it became the instant magnet for piles of crud (not the first word my fingers typed I admit). I'd gotten to the point of looking past that area, even though I walked through it every day. Funny how you can do that huh? Anyway, finally got a bookshelf for the fish tank and a small desk for the PC and voila, it's like a new room appeared! I even cleaned the fish tank (whoo hoo) -- with sparkling clean glass we found out that our fantail girls are fertile Myrtles.

For now the maps of the world and US are just tacked up because my DH has plans to install a wall-sized metal sheet as magnet board for the maps plus postcards, kid's artwork, etc. I think it will be cool, so I hope he gets time soon. When I was in my twenties a boyfriend and I house-sat for two UCSD profs who loved hiking. They had their entire kitchen nook wall covered in raised topo maps of the Sierra. We'd eat our cereal and plan hikes. I've wanted to do something like that ever since.

The girls are on Spring Break this past week and next so we all went to the Carlsbad Farmer's Market on Wednesday. We bought the best strawberries of the season so far and I let the girls pick three colors of gerbers. They choose well didn't they!

Now I LOVE my kitchen nook!

Seeing this quilt on the table makes me want to get started on a table runner and bench pads.

Soon... 

Belle of Kaffe's Parade - new quilt top

OK, totally cheesy title, but I couldn't quiet resist. Sue me. But the quilt is certainly not cheesy. I think it's more annatto ... "slightly peppery with a hint of nutmeg."

Pattern:  Kaffe Fassett's Parade from Quilts in the Sun
Fabric:  Amy Butler's Belle plus Kaffe's shot cotton for the sashing

This is pure stash-busting goodness; nothing new was purchased in the making of this quilt! Two weekends ago I was digging around my AB fabrics, musing about a patchwork tote bag, when this quilt just demanded to be made. Picked the fabrics quickly and started working last Monday. Thought I'd include the following photos because I know I like to get a peek into other people's creative process. This sounds a little silly after saying that, but I've struggled with sharing my own process on this blog. We all have our ways and I generally don't ask for input while I'm working. I often don't show my interim renditions even to family because, to be honest, I'm not taking votes. I like to let things percolate in a vacuum. So many self-deprecating places I could go with the vacuum/brain metaphor, but basically, I don't want to be influenced while I'm creating. And after, well, it's done so nothing to be gained from sharing options that were dismissed. Yep, I HATED group projects in school and still avoid committees like the plague. I'm not being at all snarky or sarcastic when I say I'm very thankful that many people are good in groups so I don't have to be.

Anyway, my creative process generally starts small with me kneeling on the floor with a couple of fabrics placed to one side while I dig for more. My fabric hiding place storage is in the armoire on the right. When the mood is right ideas start flowing and soon I'm tossing fabrics left and right to test the combinations. I often start "safe", then go looking for interesting outliers that will move it beyond matchy-matchy. I'm not so perverse that I eschew coordinating fabrics, but one goal is to keep it from feeling so balanced that it's bland. This quilt is going on our bed and that room needs some good, strong colors to dominate the room.

My fabric is sorted by general vibe and color, so I didn't realize the fabrics I ended up with were almost all from Amy's Belle group until I opened the fabric and started cutting. I'm perfectly willing to mix and match designers and lines, but this one just worked this way. I wanted big, loud, dramatic prints, very little white, minimal negative space, and this strong color mix of orange, blue, chartreuse and olive. That orange peacock fabric framed by a striped fabric was used in the book as the center of another pattern, but I wanted to use the Parade pattern because I've been thinking about a quilt with large prints and solid sashing, so I combined the two. Tested several colors of Kaffe's shot cotton, but this one took the lead immediately. What's interesting is that the cinnamon color is not actually matched in a single one of the fabrics I ended up using, but I think it holds the orangey, brighter fabrics together with the darker, earthier tones. Not too dark, not too light ... just right. I am well aware this is not a palette to everyone's taste, but boy is makes me happy.

Started cutting last Monday morning. Took a little planning because the pattern calls for a bunch of 5/8ths cuts and I only had 1/2 yard or less of most fabrics. Analyzed the pattern to get a feel for the weighting of the prints - how many big and small blocks of each fabric are used. Because I used more fabrics I was on my own from there, so after getting the measurements I didn't use the pattern again. By the end of the week I had this first version:

When we rearranged the living room I lost my mantel-as-design-wall, but it turns out I like this set up even better. Laundry pins clip the batting to the tops of the window cornices to make a workable, if temporary, quilt design wall. I've said this before, but it really is so much easier to design vertically.

I was pretty set on this layout, even to the point of taking it down in sewing order, but the next morning I looked at this photo and just didn't like the blue geometric pattern just below the right corner of the center medallion. It technically has the right colors and even had the cinnamon of the sashing, but it just stuck out as too sharp to me. Once I took it out, it's sister (bottom row, second from right) had to go too. Went back to my rejects and decided to jack up the yellow side of things by adding the blue/yellow eyelash fabric. For the other new blocks I sorted through my remaining scraps to pull in certain colors for balance. Rather than struggle to keep the layout with so many color changes I started over. You easily can see some of the additions in the photo below because I didn't add the sashing until I was sure about the changes. Took this photo at the end of the night then slept on it.

This is an example of a point when I don't ask for input, even from family. The fabric I took out was safe and the quilt would have been just fine with it. The one I put in is kind of loud and probably doesn't appeal to many people, but I like it. I wanted to brighten the overall design and provide a little tonic to the bigger motifs. Photographs flatten colors, but in person everything moves and blends nicely. In the morning I still liked it, so I cut more sashing and started joining the blocks.

Finished the quilt top over the weekend (OK, 12:15 AM on Monday) but I'm not ready for quilting yet. This baby is large - about 90" x 90", so I'm having to piece the back from several fabrics. The pattern's worked out but I'm still cutting and sewing. Planning simple stitch-in-the-ditch quilting with some free-motion in the middle.

When I have the free-motion foot on the machine I'll quilt the story block (upper right) I missed on the Funky Monkey quilt, but otherwise it's done. The chenille-it behaved as advertised and after washing fluffed up nicely. This is the third time I've tried to photograph this. Finally found some good spots for quilts that are big enough with bright, indirect light. I have to stand tiptoe on the edge of our squishy mattress to get the best angle, so if I fall and crack my knees it will be in the service of this blog.

Of course I still have my helpers, who waited until I was perfectly situated on a step stool before running in from stage right like sword fighters in a Shakespearean comedy to literally tear up the scenery.

Here's a quick update on a few other active projects:

Yo yo's are multiplying like tribbles (if only!) ...

Blocks are tumbling...

The geraniums are finally potted ...

 

Those poor geraniums sat neglected in nursery pots for months and months. Man those plants are tough! There's "limelight" licorice in there with them that will tumble down the sides in a few months. I've been grooving on the lime/chartreuse and red combo every time I go out the door.

Orchid fever has struck again! The tell me this guy, paphiopedilum pinocchio, is ever-blooming. Bought him back in February with one bloom and the other developed a week or two later. Apparently when the oldest one drops another will come on and you can already see another bud on the right stem.

Put it in this very cool pot weighted with beach stones, but I still fear for it's life between cats and kids.

The best light for it is also in the highest traffic spot in our house, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

On imitation, flattery and inspiration

Wow, lofty title huh? Sorry, I'm not planning a dissertation or anything, but this is a post I've thought about writing periodically. Whenever I read blogs that dismiss popular patterns - Oh, I won't make that. It's so ... pedestrian - I get a little miffed. I'm not much for personal attacks (getting enough of that in the presidential race thanks), so I never comment, but since this is my blog, well, I get to let it out here without directing my ire at anyone individually. I'm also frustrated with those of us who are making a popular pattern, but feel we must apologize for for it. That's a "we" because I've done it too. The old "I know, it's all over the blog world/Ravelry, but I think it's cute ..." intro. So today, let me praise imitation, for it is indeed a fine form of flattery.

Photo break. Lizard Ridge is a perfect example of an immensely popular pattern that I'm happy to copy. I LOVE knitting these squares. Blocking is not as much fun, but it makes them sing.

Intending to block about every five squares so it's not overwhelming. Not worrying about outliers until further along.

Of course many crafters join KALs or copy a pattern down to the yarn color or fabric pack and go happily about their way without a worry. This is a hobby. It's supposed to be fun (as we remind ourselves when ripping out). Many times a little mindless activity is far preferable to reinventing the wheel. Other times we question jumping on the bandwagon of an immensely popular pattern. Still, we leap on because that cart is going somewhere we want to go, and we're hoping it's not hell in a handbasket. Yeah, that's stretching the container metaphor, but I couldn't help myself! I've always loved that phrase! It's so visually evocative. Wikipedia says it's of unknown origin, but thought to be mid-century Midwestern, which given my KY background explains why I heard it so often in my young life that I assumed it was Shakespearian.

Then there are some who get awfully snippy about the idea of doing a popular pattern. I have no problem if you only want to knit or sew completely original work - more power to you on your creative journey - but I've never quite understood the need to turn that impulse into indirect indictment of those who choose to be inspired by someone else's creation. Isn't that why we troll Ravelry for endless hours? Isn't that why we read blogs? To be inspired. To see something so intriguing, so beautiful that we just have to make THAT. NOW. And sometimes we see a person who seems to have gotten it just right. The perfect pattern. The perfect color. We don't want a modified version of it, we want THAT. Why not copy it? We'll still get the joy of the creative process.

Here's my in-progress copy of the Flutter Cardi from the new Interweave.

Must admit I've stopped knitting on it over the last week or two since we've had warm weather, then rain. Spent days and days cleaning the old growth from the garden and replanting for spring. February is our April and haste must be made if one wants spring flowers. When my husband came home last week and found me planting by porch light at 9 PM he questioned my sanity, but I crowed the next day when we woke up to rain. For those of you who don't know, here in San Diego County we get 10" or less rain per YEAR. Some years 5" or less. Gardeners here rejoice at the sound of rain. And yes, I am obsessive.

Still looking for a pattern for this Lavold Silky Tweed, but at least I found a good use for Asian pear wrappers. They were almost in the trash, but I held my hand closed thinking There must be a use for these foam nets? ...

Not much in the veggie garden right now, but the greens are still coming on. Kaffe Fassett found chard inspiring and turned it into fabric. I am thankful. My husband put a few stalks in a vase one day to brighten the bookshelf and I just had to photograph them with my Farmers Market quilt.

   

Separated at birth?

I'm honored beyond measure to tell you that my quilt has a doppelganger. I grabbed that photo on the right from Julie's blog, but there are other larger ones at the link. If you appreciate costume sewing you must scroll through the rest of Julie's blog because she and her daughters do simply amazing Renaissance Faire outfits. Julie was very thoughtful and asked if she could make her quilt in a similar colorway. Of course! I'm so sorry it's taken me so very long to say thank you publicly. I just hope that one day our quilts meet for a party.

My newest quilt was inspired by the $700 Ethan Allen Rosette Quilt from last year. It's not on their website anymore but I found this photo from the catalog on a home decorating blog (yes, also copied to my server). For once I'll be able to tell my DH that I'm saving money with my crafting! OK, truth is I cut the pattern down from a 98" x 95" bed quilt to a 60" x 40" wall hanging, but I'm sticking to my $700 price point.

Over the weekend I happened onto the torn out catalog page stuck between pattern photocopies and suddenly knew it was the handwork I was looking for to take to softball and gymnastics. I'd bought this yo-yo maker a while back with this quilt in mind, but it had fallen off my radar.

These are gilded Asian themed fabrics from my stash cut to 5.5" squares. I'm changing the colorway to match my fabric, but following the rhythms of the EA quilt. 14 yo-yos down, 240 to go.

To finish this:  Artists have copied Mother Nature and each other forever. Yes, great artists produce groundbreaking work, but they build on inspiration. Art isn't created in a vacuum. Knitting and quilting are perfectly suited for sharing creativity. Any work you make will be both individual and part of a greater whole. Don't worry about copying someone. We go out shopping and buy clothes and shoes that literally thousands if not hundreds of thousands of other people in the world are wearing. Even if you're a boutique shopper, there are probably more people wearing that "unique" shirt than have made almost any knitting pattern, Clapotis aside. And why not make a Clapotis? Who cares if 5000 other people have? Isn't it wonderful that a knitted object can identify you at just a glance to other knitters around the world? If it came off your needles, hook or machine, it's yours. Enjoy.

Stash busting goodness

Back in January I started scrapbooking our last San Francisco trip. I found myself working in a constricted area and had to move the sewing machine to claim any possible flat space. Still I kept loosing the photos under paper scraps. This photo doesn't show the real mess off to the right, but you get the idea. I knew it was time for a clean up.

It's been getting easier each time (is there a lesson there?) and I've been able to keep some level of organization, but things always pile back up far too quickly. With the everything in its place mantra I dug into the deep and hidden corners this round. Entertaining fantasies of actually keeping a semblance of order now. Time is the revelator.

For now, the sewing machine has its spot back and the desk is usable. Even the bags full of projects stuffed under the desk are gone! All logged and stored properly. Miracles never cease.

One goal for '08 is to use Ravelry's pattern and yarn database to match every (OK, almost every) yarn in my stash to at least one pattern and build a queue arranged by gauge to keep me on track. A big problem in the past has been buying the suggested yarn for a pattern, only to find my gauge didn't work. Changing needles only alters about 1 stitch per 4" for me and I've learned the hard way that if I have to knit too tightly on too small a needle to get gauge I won't be able to hold that tension throughout the project or my hands will start to get scary sore. The gauge needs to be there naturally. Decided doing it bassackwards is the solution, so now I'm making swatches for every yarn and then looking for patterns that match the gauge, fiber content, weight and yardage. I did some more swatches and a lots of potential marriages have been arranged. Here are the cast ons so far...

This is Sienna from IK Fall '06. Spec'd in Blue Sky worsted wool, but I got the 16/4" gauge with Blue Sky worsted cotton. Every pattern I have for this yarn has an 18/4 gauge, but I found knitting this thick cotton tightly on smaller needles made my fingers ache.

I suspect like many of you, I generally ignore row gauge, but of course it's there for a reason. After getting up to the shoulders on the front panels, I had to rip back and cut the top cable repeat in half so the neckline would start low enough. Tried a few other solutions, but this one looks best without huge frogging. Now it's time to refigure the sleeve caps.

Still waiting to see Knitting Daily's gallery of the new IK Spring '08 patterns, but I think the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan will work on me. This Lavold Silky Wool has been languishing for far too long. The texture and color are a good fit for the pattern. I can get the label gauge of 22/4 using US 5's, but on 6's my gauge relaxes to 20+, which is what is called for in this pattern.

Had a long wait for car servicing yesterday, so I settled into an armchair with a latte at the coffeeshop next door and cast on. Given that the other shopping opportunities at that strip mall are TJ Maxx and Bev Mo I think I made the right choice. Last time I had a long service appt I spent more than the car repair on remaindered housewares, shoes and liquor. Using stash feels positively thrifty. The color above is accurate in low light, and below is pretty close in bright light. This is one of those yarns that changes tone quite a bit depending on the light.

This beautiful verdigris color of Lavold's Silky Wool is also from stash. The yarn is perfect for our weather here, so it's criminal not to use it. This one will be slower going, but I love the Cable-Down Raglan pattern from IK Spring '07.

Finally, I must have a truly mindless project for late night, carpool and social knitting and none of the above qualify. Enter the Lizard Ridge throw from Knitty. I've got ten different skeins of Kureyon I scored on sale. I'll wait until they're knitted up before I add any more colors. I went to my first knitting/crochet Meetup last Saturday and made good progress on one of these blocks. It was really nice get out with other knitters, so I think I'll be going back when I can get free of the family on Saturday mornings.

Quilting alert! Yes, I still love that too. Next time there will be final photos of the Funky Monkey quilt. I sewed the binding on Sunday afternoon. Just need to pull in the loose threads and stage a photoshoot. Whenever I'd stop to fidget with the corners Miss Raven would try to make a nest on the quilt. I'm thrilled to report that the Moda chenille tape really works. You can see it lying flat here (the blue line), but after a wash and dry it fluffed up just as advertised.