Knitting Wench

Birch is finished! Happy New Knitting Year

Cast off Birch just before the bell on January 1, 2007 at 11:30 PM. I wanted to start the new year with a finished object. Pre-blocked:

 

Blocking in action (wires from KnitPicks).

I belong to the "stretch the crap out of it" school of lace blocking. When I finished this thing was elevated 1" off the floor from the tension.

The wires are well worth it. They allowed me to pull each side to a very even line and adjustments were easier. Been eying these things for a while, but wasn't sure they were worth the money. I vote yes.

Did add to the kit by ordering fork pins today. This kit didn't have enough long straights and my sewing pins on hand didn't hold up well to the task. Also, as the tension increased the wires would jump the pin. Learned to turn them perpendicular so the T-top caught, which helped some, but I think the U shape will be better.

OK, another gratuitous shot, but I'm amused.

Post blocking shots to come when I'm appropriately dressed for modeling. Need to stop wearing my red bathrobe as a "house coat" but I'm not really compelled. I've always felt a certain connection to The Dude on this matter.

Kids have been off two weeks and we've all taken to spending inordinate amounts of time in our pj's. Four days in a row of playdates coming over have been the only thing knocking us into regular clothes (and not always then, as shown here).

The rill is serving its purpose as our personal woodland stream. As long as no not too much (I'm a realist) foreign matter gets added they can play. Yesterday Ems put on her swimsuit for a while until even she had to admit is wasn't that warm.

I'm enjoying putting this post together. Last week found me in a mood. Decided it was better to keep things to myself so I hibernated. In our world of "get it out there" I've found some things are better kept close. Things you can't change, or don't want to - really - but want to today. Things for which radical change would actually not be an improvement, but minor, manageable change is not immediately interesting (because your mind is having more fun with thoughts of radical change). Experience ... not grand wisdom per say, but just plain ol' years alive ... has taught me that when I feel this way I'm better off taking a wait and see approach. If I call every friend, startle every acquaintance (way too much information thanks) or bore strangers - or blog readers - with my frustrations I'll regret it. With some things talking is great. Therapeutic. Beneficial. The path to understanding. But with things like this I know that next week I'll find my way to that manageable change, but if I've talked, everyone around me will be expecting an explosion. No explosions forthcoming. 

To some degree I might attribute some moodiness to the time of year. I know I'm not alone (chin up Moni), but most of it's related to my own personal calender rather than the Gregorian one. We all have those moments of change - events that redirect our lives forever. If the work of countless poets and writers is any indication, I'd say I'm not alone in this human condition of melancholy reconsideration. Makes me envious of August and Raven. Cats understand what's important.

Yes, the photo is accurate. Raven is getting little white hairs all over her body. My vets haven't seen anything like it and they noticed it at the animal shelter too (took her back to get fixed). Her face has remained the darkest - she's gone pepper with a good dash of salt on her back. And yes, I'm such a sucker for this cat that I let her sleep on my swatches. Found her yesterday at the top of my shelves in another basket full of yarn. This kitten is no fool.

So, since I can't live lying around all day like a cat or dog, I'm a crafter. If the brain's running in circles, one might as well put the hands to work.

Ariann (in Rowan Kid Classic) progresses. Seeing the lovely finished ones all over blogland (Risa and Cara both love theirs) has spurred me on.

River (in Rowan Kidsilk Haze) is flowing again.

I've found for whatever reason I can't watch TV and knit this pattern. The back and forth movement is not a hard pattern, but I found myself, to abuse the metaphor, swimming against the current.

Still undecided about the beaded scrunchy thing Rowan shows holding the wrap across the front. Did any of you River knitters make one? Do you use it?

From the lost and found files:

I was connecting the blocks on the new Christmas quilt before my little hand surgery, but five days after Christmas it just wasn't compelling. Why bother?

Jan had great thoughts on starting the new year off fresh. Well worth the read. I like her attitude. Though you must finish those blocks Jan - if only to show the rest of us what the whole quilt top looks like.

So, in the spirit of new beginnings I went to put it away and found this. Oh. Would you look at that... an unfinished Christmas quilt. At least four years old! Guess I'll finish them both in 11 months. This one makes me proud of how far I've come. Cut this fabric about 4-5 months after I got my machine. No one told me it was hard to sew to points on bias cut flannel (what's bias?). I was going to do Christmas trees - how difficult could it be? Cut out a bunch of triangles and sew right? Who needs a stinking pattern? I ended up just crazy piecing all my bits and pieces after I discovered the pack of fat quarters I'd picked up didn't necessarily add up to a full quilt top. But you know what? I kind of like it for its naive energy. It will get finished in due time.

This one's time will come sooner. My first quilt top. (That box in the bottom of the closet held so many secrets!) What really makes me laugh now is remembering how I thought that dark green with the light flower stencil print was so ... bold! This from the woman taking a Kaffe Fassett class this coming weekend.

It reminds me of fields seen from the air. I even found it with the borders already cut. Fear of quilting stopped me then and ... well here we are. I intend to overcome my fear of free-motion on this one. It's not a showpiece. It's been languishing all this time. No fear.

For those of you who don't do both, quilting and knitting patterns share common phrasing at the end ... "bind and quilt as desired" and "finish and block as desired". Time-consuming, technically challenging and often tedious processes all wrapped up in five simple words. Make-or-break steps referenced with a vague wave of the hand. Run along now, this pattern is finished. It's taking me several years of knitting and quilting to even being to understand my "desires" for finishing. ... Please know I type this stuff innocently, but see my own allusions and metaphors when I proof. Too much art. Wow, that phrase takes me back! After a semester full of lit, art and philosophy classes EVERYTHING became symbolic. "Too much art," was our cry for release from the mortal coil. Time to go out to the bars kids - there's a good band playing.

BTW, I understand now why patterns end the way they do and I know there are myriad books to fill in those technique gaps, but that's an understanding developed over time. In the beginning this self-taught knitter/quilter went numb when the pattern ended ... What now? Lot's yet to learn, but at least I'm no longer frozen.

Happy New Year!

Birch is leaving me in a Trance

This is such a beautiful color that I almost don't want to finish knitting it. I love to watch the sun play across the yarn as I'm working. But finish it I must. I WILL have a FO before year's end and I've only got 4 days.

No, the universe doesn't operate at a different speed for me, but that would be nice. Especially since I've not quite finished wrapping either. I'm not exactly orderly in my approach, but it gets under the tree somehow.

Guess that time shifting dream is almost universal - from Adam Sandler's remote control to Hermione's Time-Turner. Anyway, the day after Christmas I'm having a little cyst cut off my middle finger, so there will be no typing or knitting for me for a bit (hence Birch deadline and the astounding two posts in two days). It's on the palm side of my left hand at the base of the finger. Doc says it could be left there, but it starts to hurt when I grip things like the broom and garden tools, so my DH demanded it out (very much joking here). Easy peasy except that I'm left handed. For all my back stuff, I've never actually had my body cut except wisdom teeth and the 9 1/2 pound baby with the bowling ball head (there's a reason Emily's adopted). Hope I get to watch.

This morning the working dude left at the crack of dawn so he could take off early. The dentist worked me it today so I can have new temporaries for Christmas (better than coal in my stocking I guess). The kids were sleeping soundly, visions of sugar plums and Nintindo DS's dancing in their heads. All was well and I was in dreamland when the phone rang. The mulch was being delivered in 45 minutes. All thirty yards of it! A very nice man in a very large truck managed to fit this on our short drive. Sure beats hauling it one bag at a time from Home Depot, but now it has to be spread. Know what my darling man is doing this weekend!

I know I've not shown pictures of the yard, mainly because it's not completely done. Also, so many of these 1' tall plants will eventually be 6' tall or more - it's more of a vision than reality at this point. These photos were taken about a month ago. We've since planted the pomegranate and plum trees in the black pots here and added San Diego red bougainvillea behind the fountain which will totally fill that space and spill over the walls. Both the Tipu and the Jacaranda trees will eventually grow to 40'x40'. Give me two years and it'll look good. Five years an you won't recognize it.

 

A questionably healthy passion has developed for David Austin roses around here. My only one so far, bought at an end of season sale, is a bit punky right now, but the blooms I've gotten please me to no end and smell like heaven. I'd never given it much thought, but in my mind I would have always said I love roses, yet whenever I saw tea roses they just didn't sing for me. The plants don't appeal and the individual planting style seemed to sterile for my cottage gardening tastes. Then I discovered old roses and David Austin and it all feel into place. These were the roses of my Art History classes. Of museums. I've got ten on order for Jan delivery.

Next summer the house will have large, overflowing arrangements. Until then, the one-offs bring their singular beauty to the hallway.

To end on a completely silly note, here's me as a South Park character. Notice the crazed eyes and half-gloves. My hands are cold as I type this and I need more coffee. I look like the new teacher who ... I'm afraid to think what they would do with me. Reminds me that I'll have to show you my new glasses soon.

Thanks to Carole (via Be*mused, who always has the best links!)for pointing me to this little diversion. I don't always watch it, but when I'm in the mood those boys can certainly make me laugh. I owe Trey, Matt, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for lots of out-loud laughs this past year.

We're pretty darned ecumenical around here, so please accept my good wishes for whatever celebrations you and your family enjoy. Good Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and and a very Happy New Year!

Funky Monkey & Daizez Quilts, Mason Dixon strikes again and Birch gets drunk

I'm going to reveal a little something ... you will either see yourself or think I'm a nutcase. When I log on to typepad and look at the date of my last post I wonder what happened. I think of things to post all the time while driving, doing the dishes, sewing, knitting or any other activity that engages the body while leaving the mind to wander its own labyrinth. Of course these posts are witty, engaging, informative ... etc etc. Don't be nice and suggest I carry a notebook or some such thing - I'd never use it. I've decided my brain uses "Hey, write this in the blog ..." as its internal dialog starter. You are all my imaginary friends and I talk to you about inter-connectivity in the universe and quarter inch seams. Not to imply in the least that you're not real individuals with real lives of your own, but in my little dialogs, no, make that monologues, you're just a quiet, rapt audience. I just realized ... I miss Spalding Gray. Wow, that man could tell a story.

OK, some photos to share. I took these yesterday, but am only now sitting down at 9 PM the next day. Today I cleaned the entire garage. Not just tidied. Rearranged. Sorted. Organized. Vacuumed. CLEANED. We had some mice out there recently. Enough said if you've ever cleaned up after mice. The lengths I will go to to get my husband to put up one of those mop/broom handle bracket thingies. He claimed it was not required - that it was just too messy out there. I require it darnit and I deserve it. I am tired. Yes, I know I could put it up myself, but that would disrupt the powerful tool-use separation force in this household. I get the washer, dryer and sewing machine. He gets the power drill and all PCs (fixing, not using). I'll hammer nails with abandon, but I don't do drywall anchors or operating systems.

First, a quilt top. Two or three years ago I bought four one-yard pieces of tumbling sock monkey fabric in red, orange, lime green and white. I was young and stupid. I didn't know that not much in the way of quilting can be done with four yards of the same print. Then the sock monkey line was no where to be found and those lonely monkeys were hidden deep in my stash. This spring Moda revived Funky Monkeys. Oh joy! Bought a fat quarter pack and a story panel. Problem is that they went pastel on me. The lime became minty. The orange got soft. They introduced baby blue, yellow, pink and lavender. I pieced it anyway. This is a square Turning Twenty. The story blocks plugged right into that formula so it was very fast to piece. Just today I received some Chenille-it ribbon to join the story blocks. Will try it tomorrow and share.

Earlier in the week I'd leafed through Mason Dixon Knitting for a light diversion after a long day. Didn't really walk away with anything concrete, but that was ok. The book is so fun. So funny. You all have it, so you know what I mean. If you don't have it, go buy it now. Anyway, yesterday morning I cleaned out some of my stash closet. Yeah, some weird cleaning urge has come over me - I have to honor it because it will go away soon and may not return for many moons. Spent some time coming up with a stash recycling plan (more on that next post) and was moving along nicely when this chenille stopped me. You know those yarns you've never gotten rid of because they're so pretty, or soft, or expensive? Or pretty, soft and expensive? Bought four colors of Blue Heron Yarns handpainted chunky chenille way back when. Not to abuse my naive stupidity excuse, but I, with my new knitter zeal, thought an 8 oz hank of each would be enough to make a sweater. I mean, they looked so big. And those stripes wouldn't make my butt look huge, right? And cotton chenille worked tightly enough for a sweater wouldn't break my hands would it? So now I have four colors and not enough to do anything ... or maybe ... Log Cabin Knitting saves the day! Thank you Kay and Ann. And in the middle of the block? A vacation purchase of three hanks of recycled silk. I wasn't a naive knitter by then, but like I said, I was on vacation. We all know how that can happen.

My field of flowers is growing too. A little slowly, but surely.

 

The bias sewing was kicking my ass. That big blue one in the first row was the worst but I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Cool thing with these Daizez is that bad is still good. Ok with me. There's a great moment at the end where this whacked up bunch of strips gets squared off and suddenly ... blooms. (couldn't resist)

I will make a non-kid quilt. Really. But I've needed this sewing 101. 1/4" seams, joins, bias stretch ... I'm getting there. In the meantime my kids are reaping the benefits.

Have been thinking blue. Still can't decide on a pattern though.

Birch is kind of blue. Does that count? I've been knitting poolside while the kids play, but found out last Friday evening that Stoli, lemonade, Limoncello and lace don't mix. Well, those first three do quite nicely, but the lace gets all mucked up. Spent Saturday AM dance class undoing what vodka did.

Love the difference in to colors of these two photos taken just seconds and a puff of breeze apart.

Have a great weekend everyone.

The Race is ON!

Judging by your comments on commenting I'd say many of us are trying to find the ultimate balance of connectivity and sanity. With that in mind, I'm declaring the next 38 days my personal Race to Sanity.

Sanity:  A legal term denoting that an individual is of sound mind and therefore can bear legal responsibility for his or her actions. It is generally defined in terms of the absence of insanity. It is not a medical term ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanity

And just how am I going to achieve sanity in just 38 days? (Yes, the implication here is that I am not of sound mind now.) Well, let us consider situations that may foster sanity:

(1) Experiencing the absence of small children within a 50' radius of ones body.

(2) Going on vacation.

(3) Spending three days alone with ones spouse on said vacation without small children (see #1).

(4) Listening to Stephanie, aka Yarn Harlot, read from her book, then buying another copy and actually reading it, as one was a benevolent daughter and gave ones copy to ones mother before finishing even half of it. Again, without small children (see #1). 

(5) Looking a the sun (or candlelight) shining through a glass of red wine, then looking down to admire ones completed knitting project being worn on ones body. Obviously #1 in play.

Now, in 38 days I've got numbers 1-4 lined up. We're all heading up to Portland Oregon. We'll spend the first day exploring Portland with the kids, then drive to my in-laws' home in the Redmond/Bend/Sisters triangle. Then, for four days and three nights in the middle of that visit we will drive away ... alone! Back to Portland and the Willamette Valley wine country. On the very day I turn 40 I will visit a winery or two, a yarn store or three, art galleries, restaurants and Powells where Harlot is scheduled to read. This may take some of the sting out of the day.

So that just leaves #5. Which requires at least one COMPLETED knitting project. Because I'm currently insane, I'm going for three, maybe four ... or seven. What drove me to this craziness? Yesterday I knitted three different swatches and looked through countless books and magazines. I bounced around and felt so frustrated I couldn't settle on anything or even knit on open projects. The gnawing anxiety that this trip would arrive and I'd have 10 unfinished projects sitting home - half of them off-season - while I wore my new clothes sans knitting actually kept me up last night. Let's not discuss this - I know it's pathetic; you know it's pathetic; it's pathetic. Yes, I know there are much more important things in the world that should keep me up every night that don't. What can I say, this happens to fit my personal profile for anxiety-producing situations. I even dreamed I'd missed a plane flight - you know, running lost through the strange airport, etc etc. The classic Freudian metaphor for anxiety about unfinished knitting.

To resolve #5 I'm throwing down my (yet to be knitted) gauntlet - this is war. Such violent terms for such a gentle (and gentile) sport, but I'm trying to get the needles fired up around here. Here are the seven projects with their corresponding new skirts. I haven't bought summer clothes in several years so my wardrobe was truly frayed around the edges. A little spree was required.

High priority

- Rowan Deli
- Koigu Shawl (pattern to be determined)
- Colinette Wrap

 

Medium priority

- Shapely Tee w/Sleeves by White Lies Designs in Rowan Handknit DK. (Thanks for the pattern idea Sydney!)
- Rowan Birch in Kidsilk Haze

Low priority

- Maggi Knits Linen something ???
- Cobweb in Rowan Kidsilk Haze
- Pi Shawl

For the next 38 days I will knit (along with my other duties - you know - wife, mother, etc). I will update this blog with progress photos, but little else. For the new projects listed above details will be forthcoming at CO. General comments of support will be read and thoroughly enjoyed, but only questions answered. I'll be reading blogs, but not commenting much. Saving my wrists and arms for battle.

Let the race begin!

Chapter II - In which our knitter learns the true meaning of Swatch

Last week was a very long week on the mommy front. Not worth taking precious post time to describe (and anyway, you don't really want to know since excrement was involved). Suffice it to say I was busy trying to raise two young humans to adulthood without committing myself to an asylum.

But I did knit. I'll start with WIP updates:

Front and back of Klaralund are finished. Realized while doing the bottom border of side two that I'd knitted one ridge too few on side one, so I just adjusted down. Ripping the entire side one flitted through my mind only to be blasted away with a crazy laugh. Not even I would commit that knitting madness. Without these being blocked you can't really tell, but I did slight shaping on the waist.

Also picked up Rowan Birch again. It's just starting to feel like it's going faster thank goodness - these top rows are a long haul. LOVE the Bryspun needles for this and highly recommend them with Kidsilk Haze, which is basically a fuzzy thread. But what lovely thread it is (click this pic to see the shine close-up). This mohair can't be ripped, so it's imperative to get it right the first time and I'm finding that the cream color of the Bryspun helps me see the yarn and the points are perfect for picking stitches. I wrote before I thought they'd be good ... now I know it for sure.

Now, about those swatches...

Here was Rocktorp on Friday. Doesn't it look like a nice basket?

And like a nice basket, it is woven so tightly it could hold water! During all that swatching and deliberating over the stitch pattern I never took gauge. Let's not go there - I've already beaten myself enough. And I entered that knitter's delirium where you lie and delude yourself for far longer than any reasonable person should. I was using the specified needle. It did look like the photo. But, re-read that top paragraph and imagine what my knitting was like last week...

stitch Emily stitch STOP stitch hitting stitch your stitch sister stitch stitch stitch Rachel stitch I stitch don't stitch want stitch to stitch hear stitch that stitch out stitch of your mouth again (looking up from knitting) ...

And so on and so forth. Ad nauseum (my stomach at least - they seem to bounce right back don't they?) I kept telling myself to loosen up as my arms would start to hurt. Finally, some still sane part of my brain demanded I take gauge. Guess I was running just a little tight. Moved up a size and got gauge perfectly. Just a slight difference eh? Well at least I know this stitch pattern by heart now. Haven't ripped or cast back on, but will soon. Needed to take a little time apart.

With my new respect for gauge I took on Gloria. Thanks for all your very thoughtful comments and recommendations to do a swatch and thanks even more for not adding idiot after (I forgive anyone who even thought it - I did). Hey, it was midnight when I posted and I'd had a margarita. Between comments and emails some of you suggested following the pattern and alternating the yarns. OK, I hadn't actually read the pattern yet (what do you expect from me huh?) and didn't have the book with me at the LYS. Did get gauge on the recommended US 8's.

After taking this shot I got very disciplined (for me) and even knitted some rows with 8's for the Bliss and 7's for the Noro just to check the Noro's tension (being chenille and all). Even did a few rows with both on 7's. Now, my new-found discipline didn't actually extend to going upstairs to find free 7 needles when these were so handy.

See, I do know my WIP and where it's living in my stash, I just choose to ignore it. Going to stick with the 8's.

Please note:  Just spent some time updating my photo albums. Going to start putting yarn specs and pattern info in the finished work album and sometimes the WIP album. Once I define a new project it will be often be referred to by name only, so look in the photo albums and the category list for details. Old items won't have all the details, probably because i don't know them myself any longer. Was googling my heart out yesterday looking for something and I kept being teased by blogs with the yarn/sweater, but not the stats. Decided not to make that pattern, but would have loved to figured out the info sooner. So I will try to do my part to add useful content to the blog world.

Rowan's Birch returns

Funny thing happens when I need needles that aren't in my needle box... I have to start thinking about forgotten projects.  Hummm, what's using 40" 5mm Addis? Oh my yes, Birch! Just where is Birch?

Found it stashed in my closet, and true to form, spent this morning working through a pattern repeat. I'm kind of a CSNY knitter (Crosby Stills Nash and Young to you kids) - I love the one I'm with. Now, I should add I was in my paddling pool in the summer of '69, but I grew up in the land of classic rock radio and I knew every popular Led Zepplin and Who song by heart at age 13. Add to that my mom's stack of Elvis 45s and the neighbors love of Southern rock and Hank Williams (Sr. thank you very much) and you've got a good 'ol Amurican musical upbringing. Yes, Zep and the Who are Brits, but tell that to a bunch of stoned long-haired hippie-wanna-be suburban punks singing Teenage Wasteland at the top of their lungs around the pool table in someones basement rec-room circa 1978. And no Mom, I was not stoned, but you know who I'm talking about (picture Kevin N in his huge red hair phase).

So, that segue down memory lane over, here's Birch, though I've added another two rows since taking this an hour ago (I'm fickle, but passionately so). This pattern is written for either stockinette or garter - I'm doing garter. It actually seems to make the 2tog stitches tougher to pick, but I like the cobweb look of it. Pleased to say it's even softer knit up than in the ball. The silk shines so nicely in person. Will try to get a natural light photo next time, but it's too dark now.

Birch in Rowan Kidsilk Haze

One reason I'd stopped knitting back in September (that long ago?) is that the lovely shiny, silvery thread (almost too thin to be called yarn) was impossible to see against the shiny, silvery addi needles. Recently bought these Bryspun to try them out and they're perfect for this. I highly recommend them! The tapered tips dip into the lace stitches beautifully. They flex well - another big plus when knitting lace. This yarn slides even better on the plastic than on the metal. No cord to catch the delicate stitches when pulling them onto the left needle. And finally, the light color shows the yarn. Plus they're about $5! My only complaint is the end cap is way too heavy. Considering pulling it off - let you know if I do.

When I first started knitting I couldn't figure out why there were so many different kinds of needles. Now I try each project on several types if I have them and I find I always have a distinct preference. These are my new favorite for lace work.

K2Tog tlb, K1, K2Tog, YO, K1 YO etc

Finished the Rowan neckline. Size 3 needles made for tight stitches, but it did pull the over-large opening together. Once I got past my issues with the neck I flew along. It needs to be blocked to get the stitches all pulled right, but it's looking like a sweater now. Taking a break before starting the sleeves.

Spent yesterday working with lace stitches. Worked on the fan scarf (no photo, next time...) in the morning, then these two in the evening. Was a bit concerned about my yardage of Summer Tweed for Cozy, but it looks like I'll squeak by. It's actually too rough and inelastic for the pattern, so the stitchwork isn't easy, but I'm liking it. Will have to spread the work so my arms don't start to bother me.

Switched to the Birch in Rowan Kid Silk Haze later in the evening. Talk about contrast. Same type of stitches (pull together, fall apart, though the Cozy has that diagonal thing happening), so the rhythm was similar, but the texture was so different it took 20 minutes to get used to "seeing" the mohair. I love this yarn (thread almost) - it's so soft for mohair.

This is what it should look like finished. I'm doing the garter version (K on WS) shown in this photo. The st st version looks more classic, but I'm planning other lace shawls, so I wanted the different look.

The rain has finally blown through and we're having beautiful weather. The gardens are all confused and grass is sprouting and flowers blooming. We've had more rain in the last two weeks than all of last season. Still, the signs of winter are here, including no light on our back patio (that's why my knitting is up the hill on the rocks for these photos). Gotta get crackin on my tucked away sweater projects!

Today we've been out all afternoon, first down to IKEA for shopping and lunch (the kids love the meatballs and veggies), then on to the huge Japanese grocery in that area. DH has plans for dinner and enfant terrible is asleep (bless her little conniving two-year-old heart, but she's been a terror lately) Since the house is wonderfully quiet and I'm alone, I'm going to knit. Yeah.