Summer trying to put in the last word.

Don't they looks a Whirling Dervishes in the morning sun?ISE scarf is on its way to my pal. Wow! It was so much fun to knit with the alpaca again!! My pal wanted a long scarf (72") and likes turquoise and brown. So when I made the swatch I came up with 450 sts per row. When it came off the needle it is 82". I forgot to calculate for the drapiness of alpaca, but it is even warmer now! Sorry about the pics quality, it’s late, and I wanted to post it.

The yarn is Country Alpaca:
100% Superfine Alpaca, 2 skeins, approximately 300 yards per skein, Approximately 4 ounces per skein it is 5" x 82" and 10"x 82" when streched. Started Sat 9/9, finished Mon 9/25. Pattern is my own after a Noro hat and scarf I made few years ago. Fun to make and fondle. The long rows seemed shorter as I got better at it. It feels so soft around the neck, and one can even wrap it around the head and neck. yumm!
Also on its way- the Knitters Tea Swap 2. I had fun trying different teas for my pal. Nothing like going to a tea salon to try new teas and knit for a while...
I am now waiting for my packges from the swaps. The antispation is fun too!! And just saw this week, Tweeding Along ... OK, I want to tweed! I love tweed! I especially want an excuse to buy the new Rowan Scottish tweed... I have two projects for tweed, the Knucks, and the ribbed cardi. and you guseed it, there are KAL for the knucks and for the ribbed cardi.

Not enough time folks, not enough time!

ECF- Honey, does this sweater make my hips look big?

The fashion world has been very charmed by big knits.
Check out this fashion show.

Amigurumi.

Coming soon to a KAL near you!

Clarification: I love Stephanie the Yarn Harlot; she is our hero and role model. I just don’t need to justify my knitting and I don’t agree with her that knitting is a sport. That’s all.
Have a great weekend everybody!
☺

Obsession escalation!

I used to knit at home, occasionally. With some small projects, (like socks) I’d take a little something in my bag to knit out on commutes, but NOW! How many WIP are in this little knitting bag? (8x10 page for scale). The razor shell socks the sea silk lace scarf, the Lopi in alpaca and the ISE alpaca scarf. Wait, wait, did you say lace? Ya’p! I made the plunge. Sea silk, its all Dave’s fault. If he had not written about the ISE, I would never have seen sea silk, or happen to stumble upon it. (I really did not know LYS had it, honest, I went in for a 40” circ for my scarf) So here I am, proudly lacing away. Ok, so its not heirloom pattern, ok, but I am getting the ideas behind it. It’s a starter project. And I know enough now, (I have not been reading blogs for nothing) to wait untill it is blocked to see the full effect. By the way, at harlem purl, suggestion I let my son help with winding the yarn, and they may be a bit uneven(...) they it was team work!! Just to clarify, yarn that is used right away for a project is not stash enhancement, its a WIP; so that was a minor one. Besides, I am not a stashoholic, I am a Collector! ( next time I will tell you about some irresistible stash enhancements! I am surprised when people are not comfortable Knitting with many colors together, for me, it’s natural, yet they lace so well, and I don't (yet. Cause practice makes perfect, kids)! Anyway, I am doing it! I feel after this I will be more ready to attempt the VK scarf I have wanted to make. Also on the agenda is the bird’s nest shawl from Folk Shawls. I got the book, and it was my first favorite out of the book, AND I saw the one Elaine (blogless) made at the 2006 Knit-Out Crochet too in NYC’s union square.

You do know that working on a few WIP at the same time is GOOD for your brain. It keeps the brain challenged, not just the project, but the texture, needle size, etc. now, I am NOT talking about the UFO rolling in dust in that basket you got in the corner. You got to have them IP. And that stocknitt in the round we all crave from tiem to time? That is excellent for you at times as well. It lowers blood pressure, lowers heart beat, calms your stress and helps you get a grip on the day, so both are good.
By the way, the 2006 Knit-Out Crochet too event was great. Our group of sit n knit had a great time. Blog buddies Annie, Patty, Necia and more, were there. Check out some photos (scroll down to see the fashion show of dogs and knitters...).
Some discussion centered on the obsessive nature of our crafting. For instance, how many stops on the bus will you miss if you are in the middle of a row?? Cause you know you are not supposed to stop knitting in the middle (my grandma was ADAMANT about that!!) or, how about, you rush out of the house to work, grab your bags, and when you get to work, you realize you forgot your work bag, but not the knitting bag (for lunch time folks) but the sick thing- you think, it could have been worse, I could have forgotten the knitting bag! ☺
And this one- I am sorry Stephanie, knitting is not a sport. You can argue: “is it a craft, or an art form?” (Personally I think these days the line has been erased. I believe many of us are Fiber Artists.) What do you think?? But a sport?? Apparently the Yarn Harlot is going all over the country and telling knitters that its ok to knit, cause its like a sport. NO IT IS NOT! It appears she and other young hip knitters have been mocked for loving to knit, and they feel the need to explain. Well, maybe I am older than Stephanie, or I have been knitting longer, I am not sure- but I never feel I need to explain it to anybody. Actually, even when I was younger I did not. It was hip to be ME, why do I (or YOU) need to explain? How do you feel about this?
London. OK folks, I am not rolling in dough, hopping to London for a knitting show. It’s my first vacation by myself in 4 years! My wonderful brother will come and stay with my son, and I will go and have some me time. I am long due this sort of mini vacation, for me. (Read here-Why is me time such a big deal?) Speaking of London, I signed up for 3 classes (Sasha Kagan- Intarsia De-mystified, Lucy Neatby Knit Savvy, Ruth Lee Knit & Turn (short rows) and a knitting Opera (Tete a Tete: Odysseus Unwound). I wanted to take Di Gilpin's Creative Colour Work in Knitting, but all the sections are sold out already, I guess I’ll just have to get the book… Di Gilpin ‘Shorelines’, the book which launches the new Scottish Tweed yarns. Maybe they'll have a spot last minute.

Please join the Red Scarf Project. (please feel free to take the button, to your own bandwidth)

Blogging takes a long time... I better get back to all my WIP, to give my brain some exercise.
At least some part of me will do it today...

A job fit for super heroes

A minor stash enhancement calls for super heroes to help with the swifter action.

The KnitPicks alpaca Decadence is for a Lopi sweater for my son. The Lopi yarn is too scratchy for him. Main color will be the green. (from The Best of Lopi).

ECF- Inside, Outside, Upside Down

Kousa Dogwood
(Cornus kousa)

London anyone??

I need to re-group. Lots going on here at work and knitting wise. I don’t know what it is, maybe the cooler weather, but I just seem to all of a sudden want to knit 20 projects at once. (More than usual…) also there has been a little “pattern over-downloading” and a little bit stash enhancements (no pix yet) so we need to slow down here, take a deep breath, take a yarn inventory (!!) and make a priority list.
In the mean time, I want to tell you about a great little trip I will be taking in October (October12-15) to the Knitting & Stitching Show in London’s Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace). It is rumored to be the definitive stitching exhibition in the UK and Ireland. Galleries of work from leading International textile artists and groups, over 350 exhibitors selling specialist supplies plus over 100 workshops!
So- London in October anyone?

9/11

There's a hole in my soul.

I took the events of the 11th of September 2001 very personally. I knit this image in the days following the collaps of the towers. I simply HAD to work this in my hands to come to terms with the reality of it. I had cast on and went with it, using odds and ends. I did have to buy the metalic yarn.
This image was included in the exhibition Here Is New York- a democracy of photographs. The image is also included in the book Here Is New York. Please visit the site today and remember.
My image # is 2344
The world will never be the same.

Too much of a good thing can be bad for you!

I have spent the past few evenings blog hopping and its got my head spinning. One blog leads to the next and I find I just can’t stop. I have also been sleep deprived, it took my son a good 6 days to get over the jet leg, and I don’t do well with too little sleep (I don’t normally get much, but less than “not much” is NOT good) I have declared a 36 hour curfew. Can’t leave my blog for 36 hours! It’s the only way………… I’ll be back Sunday night.☺

I did find some interesting items:
The Ribby Cardi. I got the pattern and I HAVE to make it!!
Pink Crafts: October is breast cancer awareness month so make something pink and wear it, donate it etc. the whipup link has a few options!
I also stumbled upon the Yarnival! Volume 1, Issue 1 That got me blog hopping for about 2 hours, so follow the link if you are free. Make tea/coffee…. Relax. You’ll be there and around for a while ☺
Scarf exchange- not doing so well. I have not heard from my knitter yet. Where oh where can my knitter be? I have made contact with my receiver and read her blog. I was happy to read she does like alpaca, and when I saw she likes turquoise, browns, grays, I immediately thought of my Country Alpaca, and the Rainy Day scarf but as you can see, its not working. I also tried a simple basket weave stitch (sometimes simple is best) but no. So back to the drawing board. You either pick a pattern and find yarn or have a yarn in mind, and must get a pattern that will work. Any suggestions for this gorgeous alpaca?
Speaking of ISE3 I saw this post about a new yarn (to me) Seasilk, made with silk and seaweed. I’ll have to try it one day. Sounds interesting.
Anyone wants to write the pattern to this interesting top? Found it in a store window in NYC one night and thought it will be very chic.
You never know what you might find in The City. A casual stop in Borders bookshop landed me this book I have been wanting forever and not being able to find, especially for this pattern of the mermaid socks. Got to go. too much to do. Life does get in the way of knitting. I don't know how ya' all do it.

ECF- What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare!

As usual, I can't pick just one...And The true amazing Lace:

I am very excited to be part of two swap/exchanges. I joined the International Scarf Exchange 3 and the Knitters Tea Swap 2. I have never done those before, and for the scarf, I am so nervous, as if I have not been knitting for, lets say- "over a few years" I have been digging around scarf books and patterns. I have my pal's info, and I think I got an idea. Keep ya' posted.
Oh, and please, if you are visiting, take a second and say hi (i.e.- COMMENT!)

The best part of going away is coming back HOME!

Ya'! I'm back home in NYC. It was a very busy and intense week, lots of family, which is good and bad. I could see some of my father’s not so attractive traits starting to materialize in me and it put me on mental notice.

I did not get much knitting on the trip, although the first flight was promising, since I finished the mini-me trekking 101 socks; here they are pre-blocking (they are soaking as we speak), and started the razor-shell socks. I found the tag at home. The yarn is from Curious Yarn, and the tag says Autumn Earth colorway,
(how perfect for the season) but the photo on the website looks different, color wise. Don't get me wrong, I love the colors. But I did do a lot of reading. I am not fond of taking my knitting to rough camping conditions; its easier to take a book. My son had a great time with his cousins, and that was worth the whole big schlep.
What made coming home even more special is this little package from Sundara. The second installment in the Petal Collection. I have not been able to do much with it yet, since I promised myself to get all the chores out of the way first. Its good to be home, but if only I had someone to do the laundry, put the clothes away, put all the bags away, do a little food shopping and make a nice dinner for us tonight so I could relax after the trip (it was intense, to say the least) it would have been Sooooooooooo great...
I guess I need either a “wife” or a housekeeper...
I also received from my cousin some Noro yarn that belonged to her mother, (who passed away a few years ago and they finally got round to dealing with her stash! Miles and miles of yarn) 12 skeins of Ginga in a very lovely purple (alpaca, silk, mohair, wool) it must be very old Noro, since I can find no reference to it. I quarantined it in the freezer for a few days. How long do you need to freeze it, in order for it to kill all possible moth eggs?
The blogging is my break from the chores. Tomorrow- back to reality… and catching up with mail, email, blogs (come to think of it, a personal secretary could do all that…)
Ha!
I am very excited to be welcomed here in NYC by lovely Fall weather. Low 70’s breezy, crisp- ahhhh- delicious. I love Fall.

Away

They say art is good when it makes us react either way, so I guess the "Brides" is doing its job. It is located in The Lever House, in NYC on Park Ave (between 53rd & 54th Streets). We are very lucky in NYC to have such a great variety of art to experience first hand.
So I am away for a week or so since Friday. I was very upset that I did not receive my Petal collection package on Friday before I left. It was going to be my trip project. I have limited PC access here, (can't use all the time and can't upload pix) which is good and bad. Sorry can't pix the post.
On the plane, I finished my son's trekking XXL 101 socks (from the yarn I had left over from my pair, ) which I started last week. I love the idea of mommy and me socks Ala sock pron.
I started the razor shell socks, with yarn I had in the stash but could not find the tag before I left. I sort of packed in a hurry, since I was fully expecting to take the new petal collection socks with me. The razor pattern is flowing for me now, since I made the Razor Cami not even 2 weeks ago.
The new air regulation allow you to bring all your knitting stuff on board (for which I am very greatfull!), but not water... a travel tip, if you are a water drinker, bring an empty bottle with you, with a cap, and have them fill it for you as you get on the flight. its really annoying to have to constantly ask for water and have to either finish a whole cup at once, or risk the spills... If you fly business or First, they give you indi bottles...

ECF- Explosive Brides

ECF- Fields of Fiber

Noro Blossom

Lace by any other name.

Its lace, and I wore it in public today. Hooray.

Pattern: Razor Cami
Yarn: Classic Elite Premier (50% cotton, 50% tencel) in Keylime (3.5 skeins)
Needles: US 5 and 7
The pattern is easy to follow, and although I made a few mistakes- it survived...
Modifications: I knit the next size up and made the straps much shorter. It was tough to measure for the straps all by myself, but I got it somehow.
What I have learnt: Lace is not that scary. There is “nothing to it” really. Its “just” YO here, K2tog there. Knitting with a cotton blend is good to help you see the structure of the lace to understand it better, but it is not as flexible. Mohair or other more hairy yarns will be more forgiving. I can see lace can be very forgiving.
When you have many sl1K2tog psso columns in the fabric, you can only stretch them in the blocking so much. It will stretch more in length, but not the width.
Knitting lace in the round is not the same as knitting it back and forth (as you do here, when you divide for the front and back.)
When you hold your arms on your hips just so (as I do in the photograph) you can hide all the extra...
Things I knew but “forgot”-
I am a tight knitter. I should ALWAYS go up at least one needle size, if not two. Ok, so I should have swatched, but knitting lace in the round is not the same as knitting it back and forth (as you do here, when you divide for the front and back) so what is the point?
I was also reminded that I am not selnder anymore- I need to knit things "up"..........

Am I ready for more lace? Sure. Bring it on baby! I may be ready now to try my VK lace shawl. I think I will swatch with a cotton blend, just to see the structure, so I can "get it," before I use the intended yarn.

Thanks for your kind words on my pottery. When I had time to do it, it was great and I loved it. Very absorbing and great to clear the mind and center the self. When you throw on the wheel, you have to be very centered or the pot collapses. I’d love to get into handbuilding and Raku as well. One of these days…
Oh, my blog was nominated for Best New Knitting Blog (wow)among others. So please go vote for me, and other favorite blogs, here...hahaha...

Fall weather in August!

I am sooooooo delighted with this Fall weather in August. Fall is my favorite season, and I have so many more knitting plans this year than last year. This belonging to the international family of knitters/bloggers has certainly escalated this knitter’s fiber addiction!
Thanks for your kind words about my photos. Karenk and "I Need Orange" are right; the answer to "And what have we here?" from ECF is indeed: Duckweed, (also known as water lentils).

So after my post last Saturday, I rushed to Purl Soho, and got 3 skeins of Classic Elite Premiere in keylime for the Razor-Cami. They only had 3. I hoped the yardage would work. I found out I needed more so I had to go back… They got more this week, dye lot similar enough. (And they wound it up for me, for free). Going to Purl is always fun, alas costly… They truly specialize in luxury (natural fibers) yarns. No “basics” there, and that is what they are good for. They open at noon on Saturdays and by 12:05 pm the store was packed! Sure enough they got a few more items in... I was really good about buying only the yarn intended last week, but yesterday, ahmm…. I got some fab colors of Terra, of the The Fibre Company. about 10 of them, for a secret project. I scouted some other fab yarn of The Fiber Company’s Road to China, (content: 65% alpaca, 10% cashmere, 10% camel, 5% yak, 10% Soya) for a sweater for my son, but this will have to wait... a little. Other great yarns I spied: Rowan Tapestry and Rowan Harris Tweed (known as Scottish Tweed 4ply).
I bought the new Vogue knitting and IK magazines and spent a lovely lunch at Once Upon a Tart looking through them. My friend is a none knitter, but even she got excited about the new crop of designs; it’s been a while since I felt it was worth to buy the magazines for more than one project. Each has a few great ones.
Afterwards we went to The Jewish Museum to see a sculpture exhibit by the very talented Eva Hesse. They do not allow photography, but you can see most of the images on the two websites.
A few other yarns that have come to my attention are Taos from Crystal Palace Yarns. It’s kind of Noroish ( and I LOVE that) and apparently felt really well, (although I am not into that). And has anyone heard/seen/touched/tried O-Wool™ Classic? Organic wool seems to be a new trend.
I have been really enjoying my Razor-Cami. Its fun, fast and very soft! There have been one or two mistakes (maybe 3, so?????) but I didn't frog, I improvised. My grandma would not approve, from wherever she is, but I like the challenge of fixing...
What else is on the agenda? Well, sooner or later, I’ll have to tackle my lace “issues”… does the Razor Cami count as lace? Maybe I am getting closer…

I joined the International Scarf Exchange. Ya’! my first swap/exchange and I am very excited. I have so many scarves I want to try. What will my pal wish for?

And finally- Recently there have been many discussions about needles, following the introduction of the KnitPick set, how sharp each needle is, Kathy, aka Grumperina, has been leading a campaign to encourage Addi to produce sharper needles, etc. Ever wonder what the sharpest human-made object looks like under a super-high-powered microscope? Here is a picture of the sharpest needle, the Sharpest Manmade Thing!! Honest.
Last week was a stressful one for me, and I am facing some challenges at work dealing with staff issues again, next week. The global unrest and craziness is not good for my mental health, so I wanted to remind myself of calm. Before I became a parent, I had life (ha, ha…) and part of that life was pottery. On the wheel, things spiral- and I hope we are on our way to the end of this spiral to find peace soon, everywhere! So here is to life.