Hope

The last project of 2008, is one more hat! Improvised this one. My son wanted a "cool" hat like skate boarder's hats. Wanted to give him hope for a bright new year. Its going to be on the forefront of his head all winter. He better not lose this one!

Malabrigo worsted merino, less than one skein of the blue and some scraps.
Addi circ US 6 and 7
A note to remember: when doing stranded knitting, its bound to pull the knitting in, and be a lot less stretchy.

Wishing us all a Happy New Year and Beyond!!

The Hats of 08

2008 was the year of the hats. it was all I could do later in the year, when the global crisis was taking shape. Some hats I loved so much, I repeated more than once... I gave most of them to "needy" heads. Lots of knitting from my stash. Alpaca stash, Noro stash. Lots of soft Malabrigo, and behold, my own handspun!

There are still a few days left, will I knit any more hats this year??????

2007 was the year of the socks.
I wonder what 2009 shall inspire?
Maybe Cowls?

French emergency situation

Back in May 08, I visited my brother in Paris to deliver Babbette to his baby, and of course I visited La Droguerie and purchased a scarf kit. Its a wonderful kit with delightful yarn but oh NO! I ran out of the bamboo. How can this happen???????? La Droguerie's web site does not sell yarn, so I called my brother and emailed him all the appropriate photos. Lets see how long it takes him to get it.... (the wife is not a helpful option.) I did stress to him that it is AN EMERGENCY!!

ETA: As of Christmas day 2008, the yarn has NOT been secured. I am officially launching an international complaint.... If only my SIL was not so "busy." But I said nothing.
Thanks for the offers to help!!!! I will mention it to my brother and SIL. Perhaps that will "shame' her to action? Keep ya' all posted, and Merry Christmas to all!

Gentleman's Fancy Hat

Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted. less than one skein purple and a third for the green.
Addi circs 16" us 6 and us 8
DPN us 8 for top
I used the Gentleman's Fancy socks pattern by Nancy Bush.
2 days hat! Easy!!! You can see detail of the construction here (Ravelry link).
Its warm and soft. Surprise! The inside looks great as well!
In this version, I wanted to finish it so fast, I did not think enough about the decreases, so I am not crazy about the way it looks. (I just did the 5 section thing).
I will knit another version, to test it, since I have been asked to write it as a pattern.
This year seems to be the year of the hats. I have learned a few things about how I like my hats- I like them deep, covering the ears, and I need a double layer over the ears as well! This hat is perfect...

Just in time for today's "in the teens" temperatures!

Holiday lights

Despite the bad global economy, the "holidays" seem to proceed as "usual". I hope you are getting in the festive mood, and enjoy health, family, friends and lovely stash......

From spin to hat

Slim Striped Scarf

Needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm

Yarn: Bamboo Alpaca kit(Scarf kit from La Droguerie Paris.)

Colorway: Rainbow
Reason to knit: Desperately seeking tranquility.

The hat just flew off the needles!

3 Color Seed Stitch Coronet (from knitty.com)
Decadence (alpaca,) knit picks.
Addi US9

Mindless Scarf

Another mindless project. That's all I could wrap my fingers over the past 2 months. Its been emotional. You may have heard.........
So here is the mind-less scarf:
3 color seed stitch
Knit Picks Decadence (now sadly, discontinued)- alpaca- from stash.
Add circs US9
Button from stash!
It is shorter, because Neck-Warmers (cowls) are the new it thing! its soft and toasty.

Fibonacci alpaca scarf for Jon Stewart

Sajama Alpaca
All 7 colors- undyed.
Addi circ US 5
Finished (after blocking) @ 64" x 8"
Stripes based on the Fibonacci numbers sequence. (0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13, etc)

Spooky Halloween.............

I LOVE this season!

Autumn winds always drift me into yarn shops...............

Alas, not much shopping has been done at the stores this Fall season. The global financial crisis is starting to take its toll on NYC. The bright side? I got HOPE and stash!!!

Rhinebeck 2008

It was a glorious day!! I came with my 6 years old son, so it was not exactly the fiber filled ecstasy I was dreaming of (...) but it was great! I did not get a chance to smooze much, but I did meet in person the Master! Adrian of Hello Yarn! I bought only one little skein of alpaca, but that's ok.
:-)
Thanks A.M of sit n knit NYC for organizing the bus, (even if we only saw you shooting (pix) after the bus as we were leaving.......) and for Tina and Christina for making sure it was all smooth sailing. I just hope I did not snore too loud on the way back......... I was exhausted.

And this is a great time of year to wear hand knits! The world is in turmoil. We don't know how world economies will work out, but one has to be able to stop and count one's blessings. I for one, am going to count (inventory) my stash..... And go "shopping" in my stash.

Update from NYC

I have been caught up in the global unrest. I have taken it very hard, and life seems to be a little suspended at this time. I take care of the basics, although don't get enough sleep. Too much information to absorb. And worse- not much knitting. Darn, I miss my knitting........

I have knits 3 red squares for a communal flag afghan. A group of The Colbert Report fans is knitting for Stephen.


A neck warmer for sit n knit cowl exchange. The Good Luck Cowl, in Lorna Lace sock yarn. This yarn is really nice to work with. I have some left over, I might have to use some for myself.........


And made some progress on my 007, in Rowan Feted Tweed. I was hoping for a Rhinebeck debut, and I hope to get to the sleeves tonight. There is not much time.



So I'll be in Rhinebeck on Sat 10/18. Hope to see some of you there!

Going Green

Again. It was too hot to work with Felted Tweed, so I stash busted my Louet Euroflax Originals (linen) to create another Green Market Bag. The first one, taught me how much this yarn can stretch. While Stretchability is desirable in a market bag, too much is not... So this time around, I gave it a solid bottom and a smaller needle for the lace part. Its just the right size. it feels great, strong, and very organic.

Green Market Bag. [take 2] (my own improvised pattern)
Louet Euroflax Originals
size 2 circs inox needles

Eye Candy Friday

Its been a while. Central Park. 6:30 am. Have a nice day ya' all!

Comfort Knits

Based on the Child's Rainbow Scarf. Its a really easy pattern.
Noro, silk garden sock S84, 2 skeins.
Addi circ lace us4

The yarn feels lush and the fabric drapes beautifully. Softer on the neck than Kureyon.

Modification:
I CO75
I slipped the first stitch of every row, to give a nicer edge.
I used 2 skeins of the same colorway, in stripes.
This is a fun pattern and the surprise of the yarn keeps you going! Its what I call "comfort knits." Knitting projects with yarn and pattern familiar and easy. You slip into it with very little thought, and it is immediately satisfying.

WIP into the night

Working on my WIP and trying to start some new projects I found myself staying up way too late the past few days. It all looked like a big blur. Today I feel very disoriented. Lucky its Sunday.

Silk Garden Sock Yarn.

Very highly anticipated, and finally here! Silk Garden Sock Yarn. But I was not going to knit socks with it, its too interesting to just be in the shoes. So what to make? A scarf is really like a giant swatch. I have wanted to make a zig-zag scarf, but when I started it, it did not "talk" to me. While I was frogging it, I knew what I will knit! The Child's Rainbow Scarf! I made 2 last year for my cousin's daughters, with Kureyon, but it turned out they are alergic to wool! (who knew?) They gave the scarves to friends, who I think liked them. But I remember how enjoyable knitting it was. And now with the new SGS, in the lovely colrway S84- it will be great. To get the striping I am using two skeins of the same color. I am running back to knit it, to see the surprises the yarn will reveal. Notice how different the yarn photographs in day light and indoor light. Its the same yarn. I love Noro with all the quirky stuff that comes with it. The knots, the straw, the white fluff from the silk. You name it. But the magic of Noro, the colors with the textures- is unique and addictive.

Who am I?

or


or

And who are you? Get you own here.

Who loves tweed???

I do I do I do!!! Rowan Felted tweed. It is a lovely yarn to work with, and an easy pattern. I am experimenting a bit with shaping adding additional mini cables in the next few rows. I also added a ribbing. I want it to be a bit longer.

Felted Tweed gets some quality time

"007" from an old Rowan book. (number 12). Its a Louisa Harding design. Doing it in the round. will it work? All modified for yarn.
Rowan Felted Tweed in "ginger" which is kind of rust.
Right now its on a size us4 circular addi.

Noro Sock Yarn goes a long way!!!

All three hats from the same skein.

doll size
baby size
adult size

I

Noro!!

WWKIP Day June 14 2008

Sit n Knit NYC, (we rock!) Kipped in Central Park! It was a nice day, if a bit humid, but it did not stop 60 of us from spreading out our projects. We were such a curiosity, that some tourists took pictures and videos of us. My T-shirt that said "I love to knit" was not the kind that would get you a date, but got lots of chuckles... In true NYC spirit we had an after party in a bar. Minty, (who was the official event photographer, links to more photos soon) did warn me that alcohol consumed in a cool bar turns you a notch happier when you are back in the scorching sun, but just one frozen margarita???

I finished the baby Noro Hat for a friend's baby.
I did not make changes to the pattern, just knit in a thinner yarn with smaller needles.
0.25 of a skein of Noro Sock yarn
Noro Hat
Size US3 addi cir.
It took two days.

Where have you Kipped on June 14 08?