Knitters and Nutkins

Now that I have a new charger and I'm back in laptop business, I need to update the universe on Worldwide Knit in Public Day, last Saturday. I was invited to join my new knitting pals from Ancient Pathways at Borders, where we sat and knitted for a few hours. Most of us were working on our socks from the KAL I'm doing at Ancient Pathways.

Lisa, her daughter Abby (who was reading "The Mitten" and also knitting at age 5), Angela (of TrueLove Fiber fame), and Janice (of French 75 fame) smiling for the camera.

I'm sure you noticed how I'm cozying up to the sock yarn dyers. I assure you my motives are pure, mostly, even though a skein just happened to jump into my knitting bag. The skein on the top is what I'm referring to, and the skein on the bottom is the one I had to take home with me last Tuesday. The ladies are actually very charming knitters, as are the rest of the Ancient Pathways gang. I'm having a REALLY good time joining them on Tuesday nights for this knit a long. I know I'm living on borrowed time since the schedule gets a little crazy during the school year, but for now I'm hooked.

Plus, I finished my first Nutkin sock! Tracy this morning at Knotty Knitters volunteered to be my sock model. I knit this sock per the pattern using the cuff I hadn't done before, and their short row heel, but I cheated and used my own regular toe. The sock is a quick knit, but it does twist a little. I also don't know if I like the cuff, it doesn't really hold the sock up. It does make a nice finished edge though.

Isn't the yarn pretty? Very Van Gogh. This is a True Love Fiber sock yarn, wool and tencel. Nice! Now for the second.

Stork's Nest Scarf

Finished the scarf - and blocked it too, using my blocking wires I bought awhile ago but had not broken in yet. They worked well, but boy, it takes a long time to thread each stitch onto them! I don't have patience for blocking apparently.

Specs - Stork's Nest Scarf by Nancy Bush, from Piecework Magazine. I need to subscribe to Piecework, I really like the historical articles and they always seem to have Nancy Bush patterns.

Next up - back to the scratchy Noro sock, and starting tomorrow I start a knit a long at Ancient Pathways. We are making the Nutkin sock. I'll post more about that later.

Giant Weekend

Look who popped back into the family--
Hey, we survived May!

At times, I was not so sure.

We capped off the "month o'craziness" with a trip to SF. Of course, you see the Blackberry is never more than inches away.

Recognize this?

We were here-

Although the game wasn't very good (lost big time), being there was fun and it was nice to get out of town.

Enjoyed some gelato-

and went yarn shopping. I was waiting to see if Imagiknit or Article Pract had the Rowan Pure Wool DK I was looking for. No luck. Although Article Pract said they could order it. Such a hard decision, support the LYS or save on tax and order online? Haven't decided yet.

I need to take photos of the yarn I did console myself with. I was actually good at finding yarn for Mom (Panda Silk in reds, perfectly her) and Carey (multicolored alpaca, perfectly her too). I did get a little tiny bit for me too. I have been contentedly knitting Stitches yarn for the past few months, and I didn't go crazy wild , but I did find some sock yarn....

Happy Birthday to Alexander - He's 13 !!

Grace turns 7 on Father's Day.

And Bella starts Puppy School tomorrow night. My babies are growing up!

Doughnuts!

In honor of national doughnut day, I felt it was my duty to pass along this link. You simply must check this out. And, while you're there, do some exploring. I just love this site.

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/06/felt_doughnuts_tutorial.html

Two four-letter words!

Lace!

Can you see some yarnovers in there? Such an easy pattern, amost as relaxing as straight stockinette.









Work!

A photo of me, with a bunch of cute kindergarteners at the first annual BOOKtastic day at our school. The best school ever, I might add. (Hi Kim!) Two more weeks of school, not that I'm counting or anything.
I was also tagged to do a meme, and if you want to read about me, click here.

Decisions, decisions

Can't decide between socks and lace?

Do both!

What's a little "startitis" between friends? I am trying out my Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn. Now if you don't know about Noro, it is this Japanese yarn that has fabulous color changes. Their yarn in my opinion is scratchy, even Silk Garden, which I used for my entrelac scarf. It even has bits of "organic matter" for good measure, mostly bits of hay I guess. I used Noro Kureyon worsted weight for my Chevron Scarf that has gotten lots of "hearts" on Ravelry, but it is so scratchy I have never even woven in the ends and worn it.

Anyway, the sock yarn is scratchier than ever. I can't believe it is supposed to be a sock that is worn on human skin. Why did I buy it? I guess I wondered what all the hype was about. Why am I knitting it? I don't really know. I have looked at all the projects with it on Ravelry and some people think it is great, and some don't. I guess I'm seeing for myself.

Then, just to shake up the sock production line a bit, I am using sock yarn (Pagewood Farms Yukon, color Navajo) to make the Stork's Nest Scarf by Nancy Bush from Piecework Magazine, issue Jan/Feb 2008. I haven't done lace in awhile, and it is fun. This is the first time I'm using sock yarn, so it will be a little more substantial than my normal Zephyr.

Anyway, I knew you would all be dying to know what I chose, so I thought I'd let you get back to wondering who the Bachelor chooses, if Kristi Yamaguchi can win Dancing, and which David wins American Idol. Too much suspense isn't good for the soul.

Time Warp Socks and Don't Sheep Get Hot?

Hey -- it finally happened. The entrelac socks are finished. I feel like I worked on them FOREVER. Two months. That's a long time in sock knitting land.

They are tight. Entrelac doesn't stretch well. But since I spent an eternity on them I will MAKE them fit. Of course, once they are on, I may be wearing them awhile since I can't get them off, and since it will be 102 degrees here today, I pried them on for a quick photo and then pried them back off. They can stay in the drawer for awhile.

I've gotten myself some new reading material. I finally got my copy of Irresistible Gifts to Knit from England (notice my chicken as cover girl?) and now want to make everything on every page.

Carey brought me two books (aren't sisters great!). One was a mother's day gift (although I am not her mother, so she scores extra) and the other a "here have this". Either way, I'll take it.

The Harlot book is of course, funny so far, and I like it better than her last one. The other book is knitting with fine gauge yarns, and they have some nice designs. Especially these legwarmers/leggings that have cables and are very pretty. I do not need legwarmers. It is 102 degrees. But they are nice. Anyone with cold legs out there? I need to stick to knitting chickens and such things one does not have to wear.

Next on the knitting agenda is to finish my scarf I have started and find something else to knit. Here is where the ADD kicks in. I spent some time this morning thinking "Oh, maybe I'll make a pair of socks with the Cherry Tree Hill that has been staring at me for a few weeks." Then I think I'll knit them plain, then I decide that's too boring, then I look at patterns on Ravelry awhile, then I think "Ooo, how about lace?" Then I go look at the yarn from Stitches, then I see my Socks That Rock, then the cycle repeats itself. Verdict, nothing. I have basically rotated the yarn a little.

I have learned from this so far is that Ravelry is the best thing ever. I need a Ravelry for every other thing in my life. Ravelry for Librarians, for moms, for cooks (not that I cook, but it would be handy). All the possibilities are right there in front of you, linked to everything. FABULOUS. Now if I could just make a decision.

My So Called Month of May

Quick update-

1. Socks are coming along at a snail's pace. I turned the heel on sock #2, and am coming up the leg. Not a lot of knitting time lately. Lots of distractions (remember the puppy?).

2. I'm all hot and bothered over the Kaffe Fassett cardigan in the new Vogue Knitting. Received part of the yarn. Haven't exactly ordered the rest. It calls for the background in Shamrock, but I'm thinking Black, so it is on hold until I'm in the shower and have a revelation. That's usually where they hit.

3. The sewing bug hit me a little. (Jean's fault) I found a cute pattern for a purse. I have now pulled out fabric and am letting that marinade in the brain.

4. While all that gets settled, I'm working on a "My So Called Scarf" in Manos Silk/Wool. The texture of this stitch pattern is amazing. If I set it down for more than a day I forget what I'm doing.

This is Stitches yarn, specifically door prize yarn. Three skeins, so it will be nice and long. Love it!

May is such a crazy month for everyone around here, if I can make it till the end I will be rewarded with a trip to SF for a Giants game and trip to my favorite LYS's. That's where I plan to look more closely at the Rowan Pure Wool DK that I need to get going on the cardigan. Big plans!

Meanwhile, entrelac awaits. These socks have been fun.

Meet Bella!

Look what we did this weekend!

Our first dog! A collie/border collie mix, 4 months old, named Bella.

I'm now a dog and a cat person.

Whoa.

Isn't she cute? Can I knit her a sweater?

We interrupt this knitting blog for some sewing

...not of my own free will. It was a "mommy" project, one that I used to enjoy but now that I am working and time is precious, sewing a costume is not something I look forward to. I read in the paper the other day that "sewing is the new knitting." That sounded to me like when you hear ____ is the new black, but that never really happens, black always rules. Likewise, knitting will always be better than sewing. No contest. Right?

It did turn out pretty nicely. Alex made a dashing "lord" for the medieval feast for school, complete with a jaunty hat with peacock feather, and doublet jacket that called for eleven buttons and button loops down the front. I did sew buttons on, but the time consuming loops were replaced with hidden velcro to hold it together.

He even looks good with his "lady" sitting at the feast rehearsal. The entire class had nice costumes, it was impressive. Although I don't think real medieval courts had so many jesters. Ha.
Good Things met at Tracy's the other day. She made herself a brown button tree, and had it on display. Nice.

We made two cute magnets for the frig out of the cardboard coasters that you get at bars. Carey did the dirty work of visiting all the bars to collect them. Ha again. Why doesn't my camera take good close up photos? Is it me?

Tracy did her usual fabulous job with dessert.

Now it is time to get back to business on the entrelac socks. My sock needs a sibling.

Oh, one last thing. Tracy got the socks. I think she knew that the minute she saw them. You couldn't ask for a better "knitting gift receiver." She knows just when to show them off, and she wears them proudly. Looks like this won't be the last time.

Just don't ask me to sew.

Blog Spring Cleaning!

It's time for a breath of fresh air for spring! I made a floral banner to lighten up the blog. Enjoy.

- Emily

Socks galore!

Now, don't fall over from shock that I am posting again. Miracles happen, especially when there are sock picture to post.




As promised, here are the finished Sauvie Island Socks -



Not too shabby. They were the most fun socks to make, and I could easily make more. I would substitute my own short row toe and heel and find a different bobble, but the fair isle parts were great. I can think of a lot of color combinations that would be awesome. Black and something would be fun.

Here is the up to the minute progress on the entrelac -



The foot looks very very long, but when it is on, it fits. I guess because it is not that stretchy width-wise. Anyway, I am liking it overall.



Today is the last day of Easter break! Back to real life tomorrow.

Aloha!

We just got home from a week full of knitting and not knitting.

I started the vacation in an airplane trying to remember Cat Bordhi's magic cast-on to start a pair of toe up socks. By the middle of the short flight to LA I had this -

Not exactly an entire toe, but a start. This was to blossom into an entrelac sock, pattern from Interweave Knits, Spring 2007 by Eunny Jang. I am using two colors of "Toe Jammies" one is Olive and the other a blue color that I forget the exact name. I bought them both at Stitches. Yay for knitting with Stitches yarn! Double yay for knitting backwards while doing entrelac!

I spent the week here --

looking at this from our room window (distracting me from knitting). We spent a lot of time by the beach/poolside, in which I was the only one it seems knitting a wool sock! Imagine that. Now, entrelac in the round is slow business, especially since I had never done it before, and I had the magazine close at hand pretty much all the time.

Here is the poolside shot of the sock in progress. By the flight home I was doing the short - row heel. No photo of that. Sorry. Now two days later I am only about two inches above the heel.

Our trip included a visit by the Easter Bunny to the beachside lawn, a little known perk of Easter in Hawaii is that you don't have to fill and hide your own eggs.

There are some other perks to spending Easter vacation in Hawaii, including getting to kiss a dolphin (and swim in dolphin-christened water, a fact they left out of the brochure.).

Now, in case you were wondering about the fair aisle socks I was working on, never fear. I have finished them, but they have yet to be photographed properly. More next time, including an updated photo of entrelac.

I haven't forgotten you blog

I have been turning this "door prize" yarn - won at Stitches at the student banquet- into the sock I first saw on a knitter named Peg two years ago when we went to see the Yarn Harlot in Los Altos. It is the Sauvie Island Sock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. This is my first attempt at fair isle socks.



Verdict, love the sock. Hate the bobbles. The corrugated ribbing isn't stretchy enough and I can barely get it over my foot. But once it is on, it is a very cool-looking sock. Don't know how it fits into my wardrobe, but it is cool.



Of course, I have encountered little issues along the way. The biggest being that I am about to run out of the orange yarn. I then quickly consulted the internet and ordered a skein which is on its way to me. That turns the free socks into not-exactly free sock. Meanwhile, I am knitting along on the little ball I have left. I did the short row heel as the pattern said, but think I like Lucy Neatby's heel better. I'll try that one next time.

I also forgot to blog the pair of socks I started at Stitches as my "easy sock on the go" socks. These are made from Panda Wool, a bamboo/ wool blend in the Basil Curry colorway. I liked the yarn and the drape of it, excepting for that one knot! Argh. This pair was spoken for by my lovely sister, and since I really just knit them for the heck of it, sure, take them sister! Wear them in good health!

Now I know of a person or two which would like to put their name on the other pair, but I'm saving those for me I think. I'm a process knitter, but I do have my limits.

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....

Jean stays warm!

hat & mitts
Originally uploaded by yarnpaperscissors

Yes, more proof that my knits get out more than I do. I haven't seen anything like snow at all this year. Here is Jean showing her mitts and hat in Wisconsin. Brrr.

Let's send a little springtime her way. I won't tell her that the trees are blooming here. We miss you Jean!

Hooray for the camera!

I got my new camera. Yay! I'm still learning how to use it, so sorry these photos aren't the greatest.

Finished my fuzzy drop stitch scarf/wrappy thing. It is now entitled "Drop Stitch Scarf". This was made with one ball of Artfibers Tsuki in a really deep teal color that does not show up on this new camera very well.

It took me a LONG time to finish this. Lets just say that this was started after I went to Stitch n Pitch. In 2006. I dug it out during the great Yarn Organization of 2008 (hooray for spacebags!). I used up every smige of yarn I could, while ending on the correct row of the pattern repeat. For Tracy, who secretly thinks I cheated and ended early because I was whining so much, here is the proof-

I am on a Stitches countdown. I leave Wednesday. I think I will be leaving my computer at home this year. It will give me a little more down time if I don't have to upload photos and post to the blog. Last year I had a major case of "too much stimulation" and my brain got overloaded from all the classes, people, and yarn to look at. This year I am going to try to relax a little more. Maybe even sleep. I will take the camera and post when I get home.

I won't be finishing any more knitting between now and then I'm sure, but maybe I'll sneak another post in before I go.

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.