Stitches!!!

I just love Stitches. For 5 days I get to just be Cindy the Knitter. Not Mom, Wife, Librarian, Brownie Leader, etc...but Knitter. I walk into the hotel and instantly I'm amongst my peeps. I'm sure my kids are rolling their eyes at that, but it is true. People knitting everywhere you look, people complimenting what everyone is wearing, people openly gawking at cables or lace walking by, people touching other people's clothes in elevators without hesitation and it all makes SENSE.

Tracy and I had our lovely day Wednesday shopping at Santana Row, this time joined by Janice. We had a nice lunch and made our way to the hotel, and then ate sushi for dinner while we sat and knitted in the hotel bar. (Okay, there were also mojitos involved. That was fun too). Tracy spent the night then departed just as the action began at Stitches. We somehow have to get that girl to stay. I'll work on that.

Then came the knitting fun. The opening session was intarsia, with such heavy hitters as Lucy Neatby (two different color shoes), Nicky Epstein and Jane Slicer Smith. Very cool. Then came the classes - this year I took intermediate cables with Melissa Leapman, Edgings and Flowers with Nicky Epstein, Fiendishly Difficult Stitches, and Harnessing Hand-dyed Yarns. So much fun. Made a lot of swatches. Learned a lot of building blocks to make my own designs on sweaters, etc. Should maybe try that sometime.

The evening events were fun too, punctuated by bad food as usual, and lots of knitting everywhere. What was different this year was how many people I knew! I was no longer by myself the entire time, it seemed like everywhere I went I recognized people from previous years and they remembered me too. I hung out with Janice for the most part, and we met up frequently with Wendy (now from Portland) and Diane came up for a day or two. One big knitting party!
Of course I visited the market too. I came back with yarn for a sweater for me, two for Alex, and a few (ahem) pair of socks. So many pretty yarns!

I did finish my February Lady Sweater and wore it to Stitches. I picked out my buttons on Thursday Night Market Preview (cost all of $1.50) and sewed them on in the hotel room.
Mom and Carey came up on Saturday night and met me then we shopped together until midday Sunday and then drove home. Sad to leave the knitting bliss behind. See you next year knitters!

Bits and Pieces

I started a new Jared Flood pattern - Druid (Green Autumn) mittens from Vogue Knitting. Lots of cables, bobbles, interesting stitch patterns. Just love his patterns, as you may have noticed. I'm using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in a nice chocolate brown that matches my Celtic Cable Neckwarmer of not long ago. The only problem thus far is the alpaca is fuzzy and obscuring the pattern goodness. I don't want to stop and change yarn, but I may want to make this pattern again out of something that will show off the pattern more.

I am also making a pair of plain socks, just 'cus. These are out of True Love Fiber, in the Navajo colorway. It is striping nicely, and I like the red/turquoise combination. These I'm planning to donate to Emily's school's silent auction. I donated a pair of socks last year and they asked me again, so here I go.

I got the new Debbie Bliss magazine, and it is NICE. Then the new Knitty for fall was up, and there were lots of nice patterns there. Then I got the Interweave FELT issue, and there is this stripey purse....I'm suffering from too many patterns, not enough time syndrome. This week has been crazy busy and the knitting time is taking a huge hit. Sigh.

The Stitches West 09 brochure is up at their website, and I'm all decided on what I want to sign up for. Last year I took the "heavy hitters" meaning Cat Bordhi and Lucy Neatby, and this year I seem to be more interested in the techniques classes, like short rows, and cables, and finishing, and stitch patterns. Nicky Epstein is going to be there, and maybe I can get into one of her classes. The one on knitted edges and flowers looked fun. Registration is Wednesday morning. Wish me luck!

Stitches Report

I'm back!

Whew! What a whirlwind of sock knitting! Here is the blow by blow-

Wednesday

Tracy and I head north. We stop at Santana Row in San Jose and shopped at Anthropologie, H & M, the Container Store and Paper Source. We have a nice little thin crust pizza, and soon we were headed to Santa Clara, just one exit farther on the 101. We pass giant Yahoo! corporate headquarters and see the rollercoasters of Great America. We get rained on slightly. That was the last time I felt fresh air until Sunday afternoon.

At the hotel, we check in to our lovely little contemporary hotel room, and then go check out the pre-knitting scene. We see lots of Silicon Valley businesspeople in suits hanging out in the lobby, and as time passed, they were replaced with women carrying lots of tote bags, one with a "got gauge?" t-shirt on. We see where registration will take place the next day, but it is quiet. We eat sushi, bring out the knitting in the bar area, and talk with the few knitters we start to see. We are in bed around 9. Party on!

Thursday

We have a coffee bar breakfast, and notice we are surrounded by a lot more knitters than yesterday. No businessmen, every chair being occupied by knitters. We go to registration, and are 3rd in line. So excited!!

Tracy walks me to the theater, site of the opening day event, and then says good-bye, having to get back home to her kiddos. I miss her, but then the day begins.

The opening session is Cat Bordhi, Lucy Neatby, and Sandi Rozner talking socks. So excellent. Sorry for the fuzzy photo, it was kind of far away. I am instantly in sock heaven. Lunch was okay, and then after a short break, classes start. I LOVED learning to knit backwards. No turning when doing entrelac, etc. I am so ready to make entrelac socks! I loved Candace Eisner-Strick. She has such a hysterical sense of humor. I would love to take more classes from her.

After class it was time for the Ravelry meet - up. I got my "Hello my name is" button, and meet up with a few local folks that I knew from Ravelry but had never met in person. I also got to meet Jess and Casey, the brains behind Ravelry. They were so young! And seemed quite overwhelmed by the tremendous response they are getting. Here is Casey--

Then it was time to get in line for the Market Opening! Yarn overload! I dashed to the Ravelry booth and got a totebag and then went straight to Blue Moon Fiber Arts to replenish the Socks That Rock stash. Me and lots of others, the line was crazy.

Here is my score from the first night --

Friday

Six hours of Cat Bordhi. What else can I say. I took a photo of her teaching me Judy's Magic Cast-on, but for some reason it didn't copy onto the computer. I will try again. I met up with my friend I met last year, Kathryn, who I sat with at the fashion show and dinner. She made this awesome Swallowtail Shawl, and is getting me the instructions to make mine bigger, since I'm using teeny yarn and mine will end up being up the size of a bandana if I don't.

I also had a lunchtime session with Vickie Howell. The session was boring, but it was fun spotting her all over Stitches each day. I like her hair color.

Saturday

Six hours of Lucy Neatby, the other sock genius. Here is the table of her socks, and the photo of her vest she wore. She also wore a hand-sewn jumper of rainbow cats and vertical stripes, a green t-shirt underneath, and two different birkenstocks, one orange and one with daisies. She had tiny sock earrings, and purple hair. And a British accent. Cool. I loved her. I learned so much from her, it was easy to overlook the clownish exterior. I bought two of her DVD's, both about socks of course.

Saturday night brought the student banquet, which was kinda boring, but I won a door prize! 100 dollars at the Knitting Arts booth, which I had fun spending.

Sunday

I was met by Mom and Carey and I ditched my last class in favor of sleeping later (7) and hitting the market sooner to spend my 100 dollars. We shopped till we dropped and then loaded up the car and headed home. I got home around 7, exhausted, and so not ready to face another week.

I had a really nice time at Stitches and am ready to try my hand at designing socks to enter XRX's sock contest. Now I just need an idea....

Use your imagination

Hi guys -

Still no camera, so pretend you are seeing photos of my nearly completed teal fuzzy scarf.

Isn't it lovely? The Willy Wonka everlasting ball-o-yarn may actually be shrinking.

Now pretend you are seeing the Swallowtail shawl, but thinking to yourself, "I swear it looked like that last time." Not much progress. Why? Because I'm trying to get the other project DONE.

And, I am doing my Stitches homework. The borders class has five different swatches. That one is done. I also finished the swatch for the Thursday class, "The art of knitting backwards." I just love the thought of that. It is so Knit Geek-like. Two more classes to go and those are the sock classes. They recommend using non sock yarn and I'm having trouble pulling that together without buying yarn specifically for the class, which I'm not that excited about doing. But I need to get it in gear since Stitches is COMING SOON!

I am looking forward to going to the Ravelry meeting at Stitches, and getting myself some Ravelry stuff.

I'm also looking forward to getting myself a new camera. Soon. Then you won't have to use your imagination.

Evidence of Knitting Revealed

I have been knitting! Not as much as I would like, obviously, and I feel like I am not making much progress.

In the process of going through my knitting stuff, I encountered a lovely mohair/silk scarf I started knitting around a year and a half ago. I recall being driven crazy by not being able to see what was a knit and what was a purl due to the nature of the fuzzy thin yarn, and I eventually lost interest.

I've pulled it out again, and am dealing better with the visual thing, and am almost done. This little skein of Artfibers Tsuki is lasting forever, though, and I feel like I knit forever and nothing changes. Logically I know I will finish eventually.

Here is the up close--

As I mentioned before, I have started a lace project, this time the Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Fall 2006. I have been wanting to do this one, and since I found the magazine, it made it much easier to start (no snickers, please).

This one is not going very well. It seems like the simple lace pattern in the beginning is driving me crazy. I guess I am out of lace practice. I am plugging away, but not very quickly.

I am afraid of starting another project, although I'm dying to start a sock. I know my brain can only handle keeping two projects going or I am sure to mix them up and disaster will strike. So I will keep my tortoise pace going until one gets finished.

On the exciting front, I have received my Stitches packet, and am looking forward to going more than I can put into words. I really need a break from things around here. There is going to be a Ravelry meet-up, and I am going to connect with a few people I met last year.

September Socks for School

I'm taking a complicated sock break. I'm actually cheating, since I need to finish a pair of socks in September and the Twisted Flower socks take so long I may be in danger of not finishing in time. I decided to finish up the pair of plain Koigu socks I started when I went to the Teacher retreat in August.

There is something very satisfying about plain stockinette after a run with lace and cables. Interestingly, I feel the same in reverse. I guess I crave variety.

These socks are on their way to be a silent auction item for Emily's high school auction fundraiser. Being low in self esteem, I'm terrified no one will bid on them. Not everyone understands the joy of the handknit socks from handdyed merino. Maybe I can pay Lisa or Tracy to bid on them just to save my ego. Don't you love friends?

In other news, today was the red-letter day for registering for next year's Stitches West. I was poised at the laptop at 7 am this morning and of course couldn't get through on the internet so was reduced to phoning them over and over until I finally got through at 7:26 on the cell phone on the way to school (my co-pilot Alex did the dialing). I signed up for classes from Cat Bordhi, Candace Eisner Strick, Melissa Leapman, and Lucy Neatby. Two full days of sock knitting classes, plus a half day of knitting backwards (totally cool) and a half day of knitted borders. Plus a ticket to see Vickie Howell. Plus, I got in at the good hotel this time. Total knitting heaven. I wish it were February now.

Twelve little socks all in a line

Here is how day #3 started:

with a lot of vintage socks.

Taking a class from Nancy Bush was a great experience. She was very down to earth and well spoken, and had a wealth of knowledge to pass to us. I am very lucky to have my only sock class be from the sock master.

Here she is with all her socks (not the best photo of her),

and here are the socks again, along with the copy of Weldon's practical Needlework, the 19th century book that she used as inspiration for the vintage socks.

We made a little sock in class, enough to do the cast on, (double yarn long tail caston, which makes the edge very stretchy) do a few rows in pattern for the leg (using a "seam stitch" down the back that was common during those times), heel flap, Welsh heel (lots of holes), picking up stitches (now I know how to do this better), foot, and finally, a three pointed toe. This sock predates kitchener stitch,so the yarn is just pulled through the final stitches to end. I chose not to end becausing I was using my new Socks That Rock in Puck's Mischief, and didn't want to save this little creation.

The Student Banquet was fun. I met some fun people, Brenda and Cindy and Frank, who I sat with at the table along with Lily Chin (who was dressed as Madeline). For those of you who don't know, Lily Chin is a knitwear designer and also the world's fastest crocheter (she was on Martha) The banquet featured a fashion show by anyone who wanted to show off what they had made. There were some very incredible creations to be seen. (Lots not on the runway too). It was a fun night.

Russian Lace

Day 2.

Six hour class on Russian Lace. Taught by the expert on Orenburg shawls, Galina Khmeleva. It was very interesting and I enjoyed it throughly. She has a heavy accent, which I loved, and told stories that made the day feel like you were transported out of California and into Russia.

I even made some lace. Here it is along with my cable samples from yesterday I forgot to show you.

I now want to become a lace expert. Yesterday I wanted to become a cable expert. Tomorrow is sock class, I will I'm sure want to become a sock expert. I'm fickle, yet predictable.

The Market is very overwhelming. I try to carry on, despite the temptation lurking around every bend. There are lots of bends to lurk around too, it is huge! I found some potential lace shawls disguised as yarn today at lunch time. They give you 2 hours for lunch, just in case you want to pop in to the Market for a spot. Or skein. Nice of them, really.

Tonight is the fashion show and dinner. I will try to take my camera, but they don't allow photography in the market, but maybe they will at the show.

Anyhow, wish you all were here with me. Spending money is more fun with a friend (or sister or mom). I really need someone to steer me away from the purple and green. When I step back and look at the photos it is funny. Did anyone else notice it?

Lace, yarn and two monkeys jumping on the bed

I'm so tired.


I've seen Jane Sowerby talk about Victorian Lace Today. Beyond awesome. Fabulously awesome.

I've seen Melissa Leapman teach cables. Wow. I want to make everything in her book (that she signed for me).





I had lunch (I needed the protein boost like you wouldn't believe). I met Karen, a knitter who had made a beautiful lace scarf. It was incredibly beautiful.



















I walked back and forth a lot. I saw a lot of knitters. Lots. I waited in line to preview the Market.
I found a little yarn there.





I saw Cookie, designer of mind blowing sock patterns. She signed them for me.

I got some SeaSilk, some Socks That Rock, and a few other things.




I finished my Monkey socks (I will graft the heel after I post this).





Not bad for day number 1.

Look What We Found

The two sisters set out for Santa Clara. Carey was my driver, as we were spending the day doing "sister" stuff on the way to Stitches. On the agenda was a trip to the Stanford Mall and an adventure to check out the store that bears the name of our blog.

We had the name first. Honest. We had no clue a store would open a few months later three hours from home that would be very like the store we would have. A good supply of yarn, a good supply of paper, and a heck a lot of creativity.

It was nice. They had a nice open space for scrapbooking, a cozy space for knitting, and a sewing room and lockers for use. Interesting concept.

I did not buy any yarn. I bought a little thing for Tracy, and a cable needle.

I would add more yarn to their stock (of course), but they had a lot of kits (including a Noni bobble bag kit for $85) and interesting things. They did not have a lot of paper.

They do have a cool name.

Along the roadside today we saw an abundance of creatures. Sheep, cows, goats, chickens, alpacas, horses, long horn cattle, deer, two dead skunks, and vulture-like birds circling over something. It was very entertaining. Also along the roadside were dozens of daffodils. I love spring. Especially when it happens in February.

Bad Blogger, Busy Knitting and Packing

I'm so sorry I have been absent from the blog front for a few days. I am getting ready for Stitches, which is the first time in over 13 years I have been away BY MYSELF. Which means I spend 20 percent of my energy getting myself ready, and 80 percent getting everyone else ready to be without their "personal assistant".

I am ready. I think.

I am excited. I am knitter, hear me, uh, click.

I will hopefully be able to blog from the road. I'm taking the laptop, camera, and cord. I don't know if they allow photography, but I will hopefully be able to post some highlights, and at the very least, photographs of yarn purchases and other spoils.

Half a Pair of Monkeys

It is very hard to get a photo of your own foot!

I finished the first Monkey sock this morning. I really enjoyed this pattern, and I think it looks lovely in this yarn. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Color Douglas Fir, Size #1 needles.

Project Spectrum Project #2 halfway done.

I want to wear these to Stitches. Cookie A., the designer, is going to have a booth there, and I'm so excited!

I just have to hurry and do the second one.

I have been spending some time working on finding patterns that I want to make so that I can look for yarn with a purpose at the Stitches Market. I got the new Interweave Knits today and I have been cruising the old magazines and books on my shelf for inspiration. I did see a very nice cardigan pattern in the new No Sheep for You book. I have my eye on that book! It had some very nice patterns in it.

Decisions have never been easy for me, and I have a feeling I am going to be very overwhelmed by all the choices I will see, but I'm trying to go in with a game plan.

Still Sewing on Sunday

I FINALLY finished my new knitting bag.

Pink and chocolate. I love this fabric. I had a problem finding coordinating fabric. I had purchased a couple of other prints, but they looked icky with this one, WAY too busy, so I set out to find solid fabrics, and that was actually much harder than it should have been.

You can't really tell, but there is beaded trim on there. I made the pocket on the front in the same fabric and matched it exactly to make it disappear. Sneaky, huh? I put a magnetic closure on this bag, and changed the needle holder pocket and made it smaller, and added a second pocket next to it. Details.

I also made the matching needle holder roll. I have been putting my needles in this ceramic pitcher next to my spot of the sofa (don't mess with mom's spot) but this needle roll is to transport my needles to stitches and Naughty/Knotty Knitters. Must be portable you know.

I'm taking a break from the sewing machine now. I still have a few items left to do, but enough is enough. I'm going to concentrate on the mittens. I'm a few rows away from starting the decreases, so if I get to work, I may have one finished today.

Furry Finishing Friday in February

Cuppy and I got down to business and finished the corded bag I knitted a few weeks ago. I tend to put off sewing, but today got busy and added a lining and zipper to create a fabulous bag that I can use for makeup or knitting goodies or something.







Cuppy thought the lining looked great.


For some reason, she hasn't left me alone all day and really wanted to be my model.















Remember the fabric from Tracy's bobble bag? So frugal, I am.

Check another thing off the finishing list.

On the Anemoi mitten update -- I got home from the kids orthodontist appointment (Alex gets his braces off next time!) and was missing a needle. Argh. Fixed that situation this morning, so I'm off and running (or knitting) again.

I have also been working on my swatches for homework for Stitches. Not hard, just need to get them ready. I'm SO excited.

Tracy, Mom, and I (Crafters Gone Wild) got together yesterday and played with felt. I'm close to finishing a little needle holder that I will photograph soon. It is cute!

It is still January

I know. I can't get away with anything around here. I went to Knitter's Haven and came home with two very innocent skeins of yarn. I just swore I wouldn't buy any more. (I seem to have a slight problem that some may call addiction, but bear with me while I rationalize It).

It is not February. That is next week. I just bought some gray/blue/white items to get a running start with Project Spectrum. And one is sock yarn. Doesn't count. The other was way cheaper than Prism Stuff that is like $60 a skein, this was $9. And it was black and white and gray. Very practical. I was very saintly to only buy these two little items. I usually am much worse. Ask Mom.

Now, I must admit to doing a little slipping at the fabric store. The heart fabric was so hard to resist, and it was already in packs of little squares. So cute. I can't resist a heart. I LOVE Valentines' Day. I also had a coupon. Work with me here a little, a coupon cannot be ignored, it is savings after all. I got a book on scarves, hats, and gloves, since that is what I have been doing a lot of lately, and everyone around me seems to want to make a hat. It is like research.

I also had a little fun at Starbucks. They have the cutest stuff for Valentines Day. I got the chocolate with pink mug yesterday, and spent the rest of the day debating with myself whether I should have gotten the pink with chocolate. So today I did. And the pink teacup too.

Look what I got in the mail today!

I got all the classes I signed up for originally, which is good. I also got a list of HOMEWORK I have to do. Yikes!

February is for Finishing!

I just saw a new Knit a Long for February and it got me thinking....(scary, yes). This upcoming month would be dandy to finish some things I have started. Hopefully the cardigan will be done by Feb 1, but I do have a couple of things I have started that I have tried to forget about, hoped my knitting friends forgot I was doing (to avoid the nagging), or yarn I bought but never quite got around to starting.

Since I am going to Stitches and plan to acquire a few (ahem) items to knit once I get home, I need to get as much done as possible to clear the path. Does that make sense?

My rules for February is for Finishing

1. No yarn purchases until Stitches
2. Clear out any long forgotten projects and finish them or frog them

Simple, yes. If I concentrate on this for a month, I should be able to finish a few things and get rid of things I will honestly never do.