A New Head Cover

I've recently been knitting out of a fabulous new book, Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin. So far I've knitted 4 patterns from this book and have loved each one. They all have a vintage look. I'll talk about the Side Slip Cloiche first. My choice for yarn? Ella Rae Shibu in shell pink and I pared this with a single strand of Kid Seta mohair in white. I love this combination - extremely soft, and still texturized. Worked on a size 6 needle, the stitch is not too compact, but still looks firm. The mix of these really gives an aged look to this hat. I suppose it looks similar to the cover photo, but since I haven't seen that in person, I'm going to go out on a limb and say, . . . it's similar, but different.

New Sweater for the Jaz man

I've finished a sweater for Jasper - the kids almost alway say they don't want anything hand-knit, but if you keep your pattern books around long enough, they'll check them out and let you know if they like anything they see. It's better to let them call the shots on patterns and colors. The chances they'll actually wear it is a hundred times higher. Jasper chose the "Hacky Sack Hoodie" It's built like a sweatshirt, and is knit from the top-down. It is easy, easy, easy - that is, unless it didn't fit at the end. (It did) He picked out the yarn and the colors, so he won't have any recourse, but to wear it when it's done. He chose Lamb's Pride Worsted in Roasted Coffee and and a Noro Kureyon yarn # 207. It's taken from the book "Son of a Stitch and Bitch" which seems to be a good book for him. I've also made the "Half-Pipe Hat" for him. In fact, that will be a class in February at Wild Purls. I'll tackle that in a later post.
I added a couple of things that weren't in the pattern; namely a thumb hole, which seems to be a necessity, and ribbing at the pocket and hood/neckline.
For a kid who said "I probably won't be wearing this much, I haven't been able to get it off him to go get it cleaned!

I VOW TO FINISH THIS SWEATER!

Yeah, my husband's heard this before. I know I've said that a million - no - bazillion - times before. But I mean it this time! Yes, I've been working on it for over a year now. Yes, I've put it down and picked it up at least 5 times through out the year.
It's the sleeves. I've reworked the sleeves - oh, I don't know - maybe 3 or 4 times.
I've finally landed on the real problem. Any real knitter would have figured this in on day one, but I never said I was a real knitter. The problem is not the stitch gauge, it's the row gauge. My #5 needle is perfect for stitches per inch, but too tiny for the rows per inch. With this needle, my sleeves are too wide and too short. Common problem, I'm sure, but not for an idiot like this one. I . . . think . . . I've got the problem worked out (on paper and in my head) so pray for the Mister that he'll get his 2007 Christmas present in 2008.

The Knewest Knit

Well, as usual I can't knit just one project, but many, many projects! There have been hats, pillows, mini-bags, a felted bag, socks, and some things only because I loved the yarn. And I know I"m committed to more: mittens, another baby bottle. I'm vowing right now to finish a sweater soon - no firm deadline though - for my husband. But I suppose the project that has taken the most time and thought process is this bag, called the "Lucy Bag". Essentially, it's quite simple and plain really, so I felt inclined to add to it. I thought leaves vining up the handle might look good. I've been quite busy putting together
a new window display for Wild Purls, and had come up with the idea of growing an apple orchard in the window. The apples required their own embellishments so knitted leaves were created. which led me to believe I could also use these leaves for the Lucy Bag. The bag itself is knit from Lamb's Pride Worsted. This yarn is quickly becoming my favorite for felting. It has a touch of mohair, which lends it some fuzzy appeal. The leaves are knitted from some stash yarn, a Rowan Felted Tweed, in green and purple and done on a size 1 needle.. The leaves are a variety of sizes for a somewhat realistic look and were appliqued on both handles.

Lot's of new little projects!

Wow - I haven't touched my blog for over a month  - Lots of things happening - My mom went into the hospital with double pneumonia - she was there for over a week and we weren't really sure what was going on, but she's finally home! She must be doing better cuz she just had to go get her nails done! 

Maddie came home twice! We knew she was coming the first time, but she totally surprised us the second time. Her motive was Alice's 18th birthday - Maddie flew in around midnight, just when Alice and her friends were gathered around the firepit. Jim said he's never seen me look so dumbfounded when Maddie walked into the house. And when Alice realized her sister was home, she lost it and turned into a blubbering idiot! Maddie stayed 5 days - her job and school and  real life in Seattle was calling. We had so much fun.

Knit-wise: I've been knitting up storm - when don't I? 

I needed to get started on class projects - I taught 3 classes this summer - The beanie class was especially good, I guess because it's a beginner class and it teaches a few basic techniques which will be used in many other projects - knitting in the round, decreasing, changing or adding another color, and moving to double points. 

I also taught a beret class, which went much better when we split it into 2 classes, instead of 1  four hour class. We needed to master two important techniques: provisional (or invisible) cast-on, and short rows before moving on to the 3 needle bind-off. The break between the two classes let the students get comfortable with recognizing the wrap and turns of the short rows. This beret is a good learning as well as a creative project, since the size and feel of the hat can vary widely depending on the needle and yarn choice. 

My final class of the summer was the Rusched Pillow class. This was incredibly easy - the pattern is "Penelope's Pillow" from the book "Knitters Stash". The August class went especially good, since the gals taking it were visual people and could see the expansive possiblities. One gal is making the pillow, one is making it into a shawl, and the other an afghan. Mine morphed from a pillow to a scarf back to a pillow, but much different than the first. The front will remain pretty much the same, but different colors and the flipside will take on a totally different vision. I'll be using the same colors but it will be a fair isle pattern. If I get it done, it will be fabulous!

I also knit 3 little bags, two of them are an evening-size bag and one is more wallet sized. The pattern is the "Pleated Denim Bag" out of the Fall 08 Knitscene and a book called "Boutique Knits".  I used totally different yarns in all of them.
The wallet-sized one is out of Pagewood Sock Yarns, one is Ella Rae Shibu, and the other is a mix of Rowan Felted Tweed, Mountain Colors Barefoot and a metallic mohair. I went to the bead store and took a class and constructed a necklace that could be use as a handle for this last one.

Currently I'm working on the "Lucy Bag" for a class this fall, and I'll be teaching the Target Wave Mitten, by Norah Gaugan. I still have to work on Jim's sweater - Eeerrrggg! I feel like I'll never finish that!

I call this a Sandwich Day

Yesterday, I kind of had a melt down. Not sure why. I'm thinking it was one of those days when lots of little things piled up to form one crap-filled sandwich. Of course, it started out early, and my own fault, too. As usual, I think I keep track of my appointments, but I don't really. Thought the first one was at 9:30 so I could ride my bike, but, no, it was at 9 (I realized at 8:45) No time for the bike and . . I still had to do my hair. Late for the first one by 5 min. My next appointment was for a cut and color at 11:00 (or so I thought), got a reminder call during the first meeting at 10:10. Apparently missed my 10 o'clock. Got there in time to get cut, so I'm flashing lots of grey today. The next few errands I can't discuss openly yet because they have to do with my husband's 25th anniversary gift, but suffice it to say - bad customer service - not pleasant when you are planning to drop $$$$. Errands with my children followed in a hot car on a hot day, and you know you only scream at the ones you love. . . and of course, after wasting a couple of gallons of gas, the stuff I needed to buy is no longer available to buy . . . Finally got to ride my bike to work. I'm loving my bike rides - especially needed on this "sandwich" day. I was forced to breathe and think only about the heat and the breeze and my legs pedaling up hills. 

While I was working, my daughter called to say SHE was making homemade mac & cheese plus peanut butter cookies. Oooooh, goody!  Cuz I was hearing some loud  and noisy hunger pangs on the way home. I rolled into the garage, sweating and  practically ran to the kitchen, but NO sign of any food. . . . Apparently, in Alice's opinion, both turned out horrible, so. . . . she . . . threw . . them . . . away. . . . . What did she say?

 I made a fried egg sandwich.

A Busy Month

Whew! What a month! So much happening - School's been out for the month now, the kids have gone and come back from their respective camps, 3 knitting classes, plus alot of work.,Alice started her new job teaching swim lessons, weddings planned and gone to, Old friends visited. And my Maddie turns 21 TODAY!

My college friend, Carol, came through Montana. Memories came flooding back - too many - I was told. I can't help it I have a good memory for certain things! I haven't seen Carol for over 25 years, the last time I helped her move to Washington D.C. to live. She looked great - the same really - her daughters are gorgeous with intense eyes like their mom's. Thank you to Carol for making the first step to reconnecting our lives.

Some Knitting has been taking place - I taught 3 classes in June (and will again in August) Two hat classes and the pillow class. The beanie class was the most popular. The Urchin hat class was more challenging than anticipated, so I'm glad the August class will be split into two classes instead of one. Here is a pic of the Camo Beanie.

I also finished a couple of fun projects - One is a gift and one is for me. I started this sweater in March with some totally fab yarn from a shop in Seattle. Incredible colors that reminded me of the sunset colors from R.C. Gorman prints ( I worked for him in the 80's when Jim and I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico.) This is the project for me! And by the way, I haven't made something for me to actually wear since I first started knitting 25 years ago!)