"Free" night

"Free night"

Our Thursday night knitting group is not meeting this week so I have an extra night at home. I miss not going. Especially since I rarely get to see any of that group except on Thursday. But I will be knitting.

I started a pair of mittens last night using some of the yarn left from the sweater. I'm just about to put the thumb stitches on a string and to knit the hand. I couldn't find the dpns that I wanted to use. I know they're here somewhere but they're probably in some mittens I started a few years ago. So I'm working a DK weight yarn on size 3US. They'll be a lot warmer, that's for sure. And I think that's the whole point of the Dulaan project.

I've only been working on the 2nd Time Cotton top while I'm at Skein so the progress is less than I would like but there is progress. I had to start over because of yarn problems but I'm almost back to where I was when I restarted. The weather has suddenly taken a turn for summer so I need to get this one done.

Long day

Long day

Even though I've been doing it for a while I'm still not used to working a nine hour day on Wednesday and getting home close to 8:30 in the evening. By the time I get organized, have dinner and check email it's an hour later. And I still have to play with the cat.

Yesterday I was very busy at Skein but today there were only a couple of students. A friend came in to knit for a while and she brought me some home made pickled jalapeños. I can tell you this much. I won't need any decongestant for a while. And Ann Mary sent me home with a couple of apricot rugulas. Fresh and delicious!



In a total non sequitur, here's the Dulaan child's sweater I've been working on. Unblocked and underexposed. I used some Sirdar Country Style Tweed that I've had in stash for ten or so years. The pattern is from Ann Norling and is a basic top down raglan. Worked on a size 6US in the round.

I have three skeins of this yarn left over so I think I'll try some simple mittens and maybe a hot or two. I'm still working a bit at a time on the red cotton version of the sweater. I may not finish it in time for the July 1st shipment but I'll have for the next one.

Really big

Really big

Yarn. Look at what I got in the mail.



Remember, a few months ago, when Stephanie organized the fund raiser for the tsunami victims? And lots and lots of kindly folks sent contributions? Well, little did I know, or perhaps notice, that there were rewards for doing this. This is the yarn that I received for being a part of that enterprise.

Susie, in Virginia, sent me six skeins of Schulana Bando. It's a bit darker in real life than the photo shows. What's really spectacular about it is that it works on a 20mm (US35) needles at 7 stitches to 10cm (4"). It's a blend of merino, acrylic and nylon. The ribbon is 20cm (3/4") wide and 25m (27yds)long. I haven't thought much about what I'm going to do with it. Most likely a shawlette or scarf. But I'll have to see. Thanks, Susie.

I didn't quite finish the Dulaan project sweater yesterday. I still have to pick up stitches for the neckband. I would have stayed up to finish it but actually I was too disappointed in how it looked. Everything looks good except the 1X1 ribbing. It sort of biases, probably because it was knit in the round. I'm sure it will look okay when it's worn and will keep someone warm but still it's a little loving hands at home looking. Maybe it will block straight. And maybe I'll have a photo tomorrow.

I had such a nice relaxing three day weekend that it was tough to get back into the swing of things. But it was a good day. Well, for me anyway. Almost everyone had a problem that needed some help. Unfortunately, we're still looking for the source of that extra stitch on one project. It's really critical as it's a drop stitch pattern and if you don't have everything lined up just right the drops will go through the cast on instead of being stopped by the yarn over at the beginning. Maybe you just had to be there.

Sticking to my knitting

Sticking to my knitting

Literally. Yesterday it was in the mid eighties and humid to boot. I'm working on a child's sweater right now that has a bit of wool in it and the sweater is just big enough to cover most of my lap. And it makes for some sticky hands. I'm thankful that it's much cooler today because I'm almost done and I hope today's the day.

I've pretty much decided that I don't like the look of top down raglans. Plus the sleeves, which were worked in the round on dpns, look slightly different from the yoke and body which were worked on Addi turbos. It's subtle but it's there. I'm going to convert the pattern to be in the round from the bottom up and will probably work the sleeves flat. If that doesn't work I'll just stick to knitting in pieces and sew.

I meant to spend some time organizing and documenting my stash this weekend. The more I thought about it the more I realized that that would be depressing and would probably distract me from my current project which is only one of several that I need to finish and ship off before the middle of next month. So I decided to just stick to my knitting and leave the stash undisturbed for a while longer.

Away

Away

I've been away. Not Paris, Phoenix or Palm Springs kind of away. Just away. I'm still sort of away but I'm coming back. It's just that sometimes more of the same is just that and it's not easy to write when everything is just the same.

There has been progress on some of my projects, but not PROGRESS. Worked on some socks, did a bit on the multi-directional scarf and the latest Dulaan sweater is at the point of adding the sleeves.

My student load has been good this week. Sometimes very good. Except for the one schizophrenic that comes in and disrupts not only the students but everyone else in the store. It's hard to know how to handle this kind of situation. Especially when you can't hear both sides of the conversation.

Down for maintenance

Down for maintenance

When I got home today and sat down to open Blogger, I got a screen that said "Down for maintenance." I wish I could do that. And I do have to do something like that. I need to cut back on my knitting and/or take more frequent breaks. Like every fifteen minutes or so. My arms are much better for having done very little knitting yesterday and, so far, today.

I could also use a sign that says "Take a number." Ann Mary always makes a big deal about having a teacher and drop-in classes. And I really appreciate that. What is a problem though is when everyone does drop in, at the same time. It was pretty slow most of today. Even our usual Tuesday lunchtime crowd didn't show. But around the middle of the afternoon we got very busy and three students showed up, all within about fifteen minutes of each other. One brand new and two with problems. I did have one other student in the morning. Actually she just needed me to fix her railroad yarn scarf. But when she started working on it I noticed that she purled combination style but made her knit stitches western. So we got that fixed as well.

I've been re-reading Annie Modesitt's Confessions of a Knitting Heretic. It's been very helpful. I don't think I would have spotted the problem my morning student was having if I hadn't been working through some of the same issues with other students, ones who learned to knit in Mexico or some of the eastern Mediterranean countries. I'm still sorting through some of the changes that need to be made when knitting combination and using a pattern written for western style. I'm even considering switching to combination as Annie says it's easier on the wrists.

Anyway, it ended up being a pretty good day for me and for Skein.

Knitting cotton

Knitting cotton

Oy! the pain! It does seem that almost every day there's some new ache or pain associated with either my age or my knitting. This one is new to me. My upper arm on both sides is sore and feels like I've been working out and using muscles that have lain dormant for many years. I'm pretty sure it's from knitting cotton for several hours at a stretch over the past few days.

I worked on the 2nd Time Cotton top for about three hours on Friday night. Half way through the second skein I noticed a big difference in how the stitches looked. I hadn't noticed before because I was so wrapped up in making progress. I took the work to Skein to show to Ann Mary before I ripped it out. I re-wound the skein from the opposite end. It made no difference. I looked at the other three skeins and they all seemed to be like the one I had just ripped out. So I'm concluding that the first skein was the aberration.

I was too busy on Saturday to get much done. Basically I just cast on and worked three or four rows. I tried to get a bit more done in the evening but I was too tired and a little depressed about having to start over. Meanwhile, I've been thinking about getting some more knitting done for the Dulaan project. I think I'm seriously behind here. So I cast on for a top down child's pullover using some Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton that I've had in stash for a couple of years.

It was at this point that I began to notice the pain in my upper arms. But I kept going for a couple of hours. Stopped for a nap and then continued for another two or three hours. It's not unusual for me to knit that long at a stretch but I'm rarely working with cotton although it's one of my favorites. It was time to stop for the day and get ready to go to dinner on the other side of LA.

By the time I got home I was really feeling the pain. It has subsided a lot overnight but it's still there. I'm pretty sure it was caused by knitting with cotton which although nice to work with requires a slightly more aggressive handling of the knitting. I've heard of and read that some people find kntting with cotton causes them pain. So I'm going with this for now.

This is really bad timing since today is one of my days off and I would like to continue on the two projects. I think I need to let my arms and hands rest for a while. I'm going to try working with a softer fiber and see what it feels like. I do have a doctor's appointment in the middle of the day which will take about three hours so there won't be any marathon going on. Or maybe there won't be any if it hurts when I start.

The second time

The second time



Here's my progress to date on the 2nd Time Cotton top. For those of you with really good eyes there is a checkerboard border of St st and seed stitch across the bottom edge. The rest of you will just have to take my word for it. I'm really surprised at how easy it is to work with this yarn. I had expected it to split like anything but so far that is not happening. I don't know if this is a true marl yarn or not. There are four plies, each one a distinct color, that are evenly twisted to make a tweedy looking fabric when knit. But I'm happy with how it looks so far.

I forgot one of my needles when I took the sweater to Skein so I borrowed one from Ann Mary. I stopped at home on my way to Mendy's last night to get the second needle. I got distracted and forgot the needle again so I borrowed one from Mendy. That's the second time. I also forgot my pattern and my box of knitting tools when I left Mendy's but she caught me in time. I hope this isn't going to become a permanent part of my repertoire.

Dark before the rain

Dark before the rain

It's dark here. Five o'clock in the morning dark. Even though it's already eight thirty. More than one person has commented about how odd the weather is this year, at least for Southern California. It's not supposed to be raining this late in the year but it is. Maybe we'll break the record for most precipitation in a single year. It's going to be very close and if the thunderstoms predicted for today actually materialize we should be good for the gold.

But all this rain and gloom does not make for good picture taking. And I don't have a lot to photo anyway so I'll just wait until I finish something. Like the second of the current plain ol' sock. I finished the first one on Wednesday morning. That's the quickest I've ever made a sock. Started on Monday and finished on Wednesday, all in the same week. I have cast on for the second one. I'm not superstitious but why take risks. I read somewhere that it's bad luck to not start the second sock immediately after you finish the first one. So don't finish a sock if you don't have time to start the second one as soon as you've woven in the ends of the first one.

I do have a second pair of socks in the works, the Swizzles that I started a few weeks ago. I'm about half way through the gusset of the second sock. I was sort of saving this for teaching heels but no one showed up that was interested in making socks so I just spent part of yesterday working on it. Didn't make much progress as I was super busy for most of the day. And that was without the Monrovia Moms. No, they didn't show at all. Maybe Friday.

Skein has some Second Time Cotton from K1C2. I've been wanting to do something with this yarn ever since it came in. I have to say it's not moving off the shelves very rapidly. I think only one person has bought any and that was just a couple of days ago. Anyway. I like the idea behind the yarn. Recycling cotton fiber that didn't make it through the first cycle. I think it would be considered "virgin" if things were still labeled that way because it's never been used. I have noticed that when I'm knitting at Skein and people get to see how a yarn looks once it's worked up that sales pick up. I'm making a summer top for Lisa but I will work on it at Skein and see if that gets more attention for the yarn. Not enough progress yet to photo. Plus, there's the dark and rain I mentioned above.

I got RAOKed!

I got RAOKed!



And it feels so good. Some really nice, large, ring markers and a now defunct bar of Godiva chocolate. Bob in Cincinnati sent these along. (And, Bob, they're not quite big enough for a 35US needle. Close but not quite. I noticed you were wondering.) Bob makes these markers and I gather is working on some other products that he'll be retailing through his LYS. He has lots of pictures of other styles on his blog. Scroll down a ways. Thanks a bunch, Bob.

The week is off to a good start at Skein. We were very busy during the lunch hour and through the afternoon. I had four students that I spent most of the afternoon with. I really enjoy watching all these students who come from so many different backgrounds interact with one another.

I didn't have much time to work on my new sock but I'll be able to finish it tonight, I think.

Shrug it off

Shrug it off

It all started because Alissa mentioned that she was going to make a shrug and was going to use one of the patterns that can be downloaded from Interweave. So, I thought, that's a good idea and should go pretty quickly. I also thought it would be a good thing for Lisa to wear in her air conditioned office.

I have some Classic Elite Poet. I've had it a long time and it looked like it had the appropriate gauge etc. that would be perfect for the shrug that I'd chosen. It wasn't. After a few hours of knitting the long, long rows for the sleeve ruffle, and starting the sleeve itself, it became painfully apparent that the yarn was way too heavy and the gauge was just not a match. So, that yarn has been rewound and is still waiting for the right project. And besides. Lisa says she doesn't really need a shrug for her office.

I really want to make a shrug though so I'm searching the stash for the right yarn for one of the other patterns, or maybe the same one. I have lots of choices so something should work out.

Since I couldn't make the shrug I cast on for the Conwy socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road. I'm using some Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Multiringel. I didn't think to check the yardage requirements or gauge. I've tried to make this particular pattern before. It's pretty easy and straight forward. The first time I tried it I ripped it out because the yarn was too dark for the cable pattern. This time I ripped it out because the yarn is too heavy and I don't think there's quite enough yardage. So I'm making a plain ol' pair that will probably be better anyway given the self-striping nature of the cotton yarn.

I'm going to work on the socks until it's time to go pick up my car. It's been a couple of weeks since I have had to go see the mechanic. This time it's not the motor or anything vital like that. One of the door locks quit working yesterday. I had to tie it closed, using my belt, so that I could drive home from the market. The lock has to be special ordered and won't be in for a couple of days. So the mechanic is fixing the current lock at least to the point that the door can be closed. I hope I remember not to open it until the new lock is installed.

Souffle

Souffle

Here it is at long last!



The shop sample poncho worked in K1/C2 Souffle. It's taken almost forever to get this done. But at last it's here and on display just as you come in the door. It does look a lot better once it's finished than I thought it would. So now I can knit with a clear conscience on my own stuff.

It was a bit slow today so I worked on my Swizzle socks. I'm just about to begin turning the heel on the second sock. I should be done some time this coming week. Tonight I think I'm going to start a shrug. One of the ones from the current Interweave Knits. I just have to figure out which yarn and which pattern I'm going to use.

Better but not all

Better but not all

My wrist is much improved today, not that it's perferct, mostly due I think to how busy I was yesterday and didn't have time to do much knitting. I do have an appointment with my doctor for next week though. By then I'm sure she's just going to say "Why are you wasting my time?" Well, she won't actually say that but maybe she'll be thinking it. Seriously, it hardly hurts at all anymore.

I was freakin' busy yesterday. The Monrovia Moms were there, bright and almost early. We had lots of oo-ing and ah-ing over the new Katia "Jamaica" yarn and the accompanying pattern book. And then another student who knew of but hadn't met all the Moms came in. So I had a full table already when a couple of other newish students came in for their fix. The whole day progessed at about the same pace. I was really tired by the time we left at eight.

And then it was time to play with Patrick. He's usually pretty docile, even when we play, but he was ferocious last night. I would not have liked to be his scratching post. I thought he was going to tear it open. I was told that Ragdoll cats do not have a self-defence instinct. I don't think that's entirely true. There was cat hair and carpet fuzz all over the place.

I finally had some time to work a bit on my current sock project. Patrick was sleeping in my chair and was just too sweet and comfortable looking for me to move him. So I sat in his chair until he woke up and decided I looked to sweet and comfortable so he'd better get me to walk him to the kitchen for a couple of nibbles of kibble.

So it was a good, if long, day. I'm glad it's only five hours today. Oh, it rained so hard during the night that it woke me. The sun was out a few minutes ago but it's dark and gloomy right now.

Snapped!

Snapped!

It finally happened. Last night, as I was innocently washing a few dishes, I felt something snap in my left wrist. It really hurt. This morning it feels like a bruise but I don't see any swelling or discoloration. But it does cause me to cringe when I move the wrong way. So I'm feeling my way around this and figuring out what to avoid. I knit for a while last night and it didn't seem to bother me unless I turned my hand a certain way. I may have to call my doctor.

Madeleines

Madeleines



Mmmm! So good and buttery. And hand-carried from Paris by one of my students. We had them after lunch today.

We had a knitting luncheon. It was lots of fun and very productive for me. I reworked the bind off of the first Zigzag scarf and finished one of my current socks. And got the second one started. And I worked a few rows on the shop sample poncho.

I spent most of yesterday working on the multi-directional scarf. One more skein and I'll be done with that. I'm feeling good about my knitting projects right now, even though I still have lots to complete. If I can just keep going I'll soon be able to see the top of the table next to my knitting chair.

Multi-directional as all get-out

Multi-directional as all get-out

My mom used to say things like "He's as something,something as all get-out." I was never sure what the "as all get-out" meant exactly but I got the idea that it was somehow related to extreme or exaggerated behavior. That's kind of how I feel lately.



Not that there's anything odd going on. It's just that I'm involved in more diverse things than I'm really comfortable with. When I'm trying to get to sleep my mind just keeps going over and over all the piddly things I have to do in the next few days. None of them are biggies, just stuff that will keep me from sitting quietly at home and enjoying my knitting time. It should all clear up by the end of next week. And I'm going to try to keep from getting in a similar place.

Anyway. That's the latest multi-directional scarf. I was surprised at how much of the color actually showed up in the photo, even if it is a bit inaccurate. I'm using Kureyon color 51. I like the subtle color shifts (it's as subtle as all get-out) but I'm not sure the receipient will. It's going to be a Christmas gift so I'll have to wait a while to find out.

One more day

One more day

and then it will be Sunday. This has been a very long week. Mostly because it's been very slow for me at Skein. I spent most of Wednesday and Thursday working on the shop sample poncho. It's basically stockinette and mindless but the Souffle yarn is tricky so I have to keep an eye on it. But I am almost done with the fifth skein which means I should be at the end but I'm going to have to use one more to get the width called for. I worked so much on it that my left thumb is acting up again.

Today was a lot busier. Three of the Monrovia moms came in. That is always a fun time. One finished piece and two that are in the finishing stage. I love the way these women relate and support each other. And they're unafraid to try new things. And even though they complain when they have to rip back they do it.

I also had a crochet student. She's struggling with her second poncho. Neither of us could figure out where she went awry so she's starting over and promised not to come back until she had figured it out. I think she left off a chain a few rows back. I don't know enough about crochet to fake it.

And then there was one man who has been working on a vest for a few weeks. He had lost some stitches but couldn't see where. He's using a black tweed yarn so it is hard to see. I ripped a couple of rows before I found them and got him going again. He got started on the neck shaping and lost some more stitches as well as knitting from the wrong ball of yarn. He went home to rip most of what he had done this afternoon.

As I was saying, it's been a long week. And uneventful in the extreme. I haven't started anything new. Well, I did start another multi-directional scarf. The Kureyon I'm using is so dark that I'll have to wait for a very sunny day to try to get a picture. And I swatched for a top for Lisa. I need 5.5 sts/inch and I'm only getting 5. I went down two needle sizes and am still getting 5. I'm even using the yarn called for so I can't figure out why this is happening. I'm going to try again and if it still isn't right I'll rewrite the pattern.

Zigzag Two

Zigzag Two

It's done. I spent most of yesterday finishing this scarf. It took a lot longer than I thought it would. Of course I had a few naps along the way and had to re-do the final triangle because I forgot one of the increases or something.



The silk/wool Scheffer yarn is wonderful to work with and easy to rip. I used a different bind-off from what the pattern calls for. I think it is easier to do and looks more like the cast-on end. I'm going to re-do the bind-off on the first scarf, just as soon as I can get around to it. This scarf is just over three feet long. A little short by today's standard but that's all the yarn I had. I had about fifteen inches left. Anyway, I think it will be a nice accent scarf.

So what to finish next? Some socks, maybe. I have two pair on needles. Some hats for the Dulaan Project. I have three going. I'd better stop there. It's too depressing.

Glove weather

Glove weather

Well, it's not really but today is a lot cooler than yesterday. It's cloudy and overcast. I may have to close some of the windows. These gloves might come in handy.

These are my first, and possibly only, ever pair of gloves. I finished them a couple of weeks ago but have been waiting for Lisa to come over to try them on and model them for me.

I used Dale of Norway Daletta and one of their patterns from a book of accessories. Doing the fingers was more than a bit fiddly and I'm not really happy about the gaps between them but since the pattern itself is pretty holey I figured a few more holes are going to make that much difference. The lace pattern continues around under the palm so they're very cushioned. We'll have to wait and see if that's a problem. There's another pattern in the same book that has a smooth palm that might be more comfortable.

So. It's my day off and I don't have to do anything or go anywhere. Patrick has already had his early morning play and is off taking a nap somewhere. I'm planning a whole day of knitting. If I have enough yarn I'll be finishing another Zigzag modular scarf (the one I showed on Friday) and then spend some time on any of another ten or so projects.

Not much

Not much

It isn't much but here's what I've got:



The latest incarnation of the Zigzag Modular Scarf from an Art Yarn pattern. I'm using the Schaeffer Helene that Mendy gave me for my birthday. It's a very nice wool/silk blend. It took me three tries to get this one started. Kept losing my place and not changing directions at the appropriate stitch. Now I hope there's enough yarn in this skein to make a reasonable length. I'll have to email Unraveled and see if they have more or can order another skein. I'm not good at estimating how far I can go with only 218 yards. I'm surprised and pleased at how close the photo is to the actual colors. On my monitor anyway.

The week started out just fine but went rapidly downhill from there on. Some stress inducing news from my brother and then hearing about the death of a close friend, not unexpected but so final. It's been very busy at Skein and then there was the whole tax thing. But today looks promising. I have a little time to work on a new scarf that I started a couple of days ago. Haven't talked about that one yet. And the Monrovia Moms are coming in today, or at least some of them. I'll have to tell you about them another time. But they do cheer me up no end.

Knitting night was good with several kinds of cakes and tarts to try. I don't care what anyone says. Strawberries are deceptive and foul tasting. How could anything so pretty be so ick? Coating them with chocolate is a waste of good chocolate. Other than that I enjoyed myself.

Eyelet it happen

Eyelet it happen

It's very hard for me to resist really bad puns.



This is the Eyelet Rib Scarf from the Box of Scarves. Super easy. I added a few more pattern repeats. The yarn is the Grignasco Top Print, 100% alpaca, that I got on Sunday. It's pretty nice but not as soft as I thought it would be. But I'm more used to baby alpaca. I may need to get a couple more skeins. And I definitely need to block this one. It's hard to see the pattern without stretching the scarf open.

The week started with a flock of newbies waiting for help but only one turned out to be a paying student. I did have another student in the afternoon who always pays double, just because she thinks I'm worth it. Isn't that nice? And I have three lined up already for tomorrow. As Ann Mary says, ad infinitum, "Knitting is coming back."

I'm trying to interest people is something a little more challenging that a garter stitch scarf. Hence, the recent spate of scarves using smaller needles and more traditional yarns. Only limited success so far, but I'm pushing.

Sometimes you're the bug

Sometimes you're the bug!

I could hardly wait to get started on the Grignasco Alpaca that I bought yesterday. I could just see how it was going to look. I cast on and worked the first triangle of the next Zigzag scarf. At that point I could tell that the yarn was way more subtle in the stripe department than I had thought. So I put that aside for a while.

I went with Mendy to A Stitch in Time today. I told her about the alpaca disappointment and she reminded me of some yarn I had in my stash that she thought might work. So I started planning what I would do with that yarn. Make the scarf a little wider. Just need to figure out how more stitches would impact the zigzag.

I didn't buy anything at Stitch in Time. Well I got some Mango Moon needles for the birthday of one of my students but that doesn't really count. The shop has lots of stuff to choose from but it's mostly novelty yarn and I'm more than a little tired of that. But that was okay. You can't always find something that has to come home with you. We went to lunch and had our Evil Jungle Thai Pasta Salad. (That's the only thing I've ever had at this particular restaurant. Why mess with a sure thing?)

So, anyway. I came home and started my laundry and sat down and cast on the stitches for the first triangle. I had figured out how to account for all the extra stitches. And everything was looking pretty good. Then I noticed how much the yarn was pooling and I could tell it was going to be that way the whole length of the scarf. Not what I had in mind. So I ripped that and put it aside. I think I'll try it again with fewer stitches and see what happens.

So I look through some patterns and find a lace rib that I think will be good for that alpaca. I've done a couple of repeats and so far it's okay. Meanwhile I find out that the washing machine isn't going through the whole cycle and my clothes are soaking wet. I didn't tell you that the same thing happened the last time I did laundry. The service people have been out three times and still haven't figured out the problem. I think they're related to the mechanics that work on my car.

So I'm the bug today. But it's okay. I'm enjoying playing around with the pattern and I have plenty of yarn choices if the ones I'm trying don't work out. Oh, I forgot to mention. I went to the market. I had no idea so many people went shopping at Ralph's at six o'clock in the evening.

Smooth as silk

Smooth as silk

I just finished the La Luz Zigzag scarf that I started on Friday. It looks pretty much the same as what it did last week except it's about three feet longer. I enjoyed every minute of working with the La Luz. I do have some of the solid colors and have a couple of ideas about what I'm going to do with it. I made a top last year but ripped it out because I didn't like the way it looked. So I'll have to see if a second try, using a different pattern, will be better.

I drove over to Burbank today to see if I could say hello to Annie Modesitt between classes. She was teaching at Unwind Yarn this weekend. I couldn't take any of her classes but wanted to at least say hi while she was here. We were able to get away for lunch for an hour. She had rented a convertible and was having a grand time driving around with the top down. Burbank doesn't seem to have any chic little places to have lunch so we ended up at a coffee shop named Corral Cafe. We had to hurry but we managed to cover a lot of stuff. I'm glad I went.

While I was at Unwind I picked up three skeins of Grignasco Top Print, 100% alpaca. Very soft. I'm planning to make another of the Zigzag scarves but I'll see if I can find another way to end it. Not too happy with the way the silk one looks.

La Luz

La Luz

That's the name of the yarn I'm using for this Zigzag scarf. It's from Fiesta Yarns.



It's 100% silk. It's incredibly soft and, well, silky. The sensation of it moving through my hands is wonderful. The colors in the actual fiber are much more subtle and varied that what you can see in the photo. There's soft sage, pale salmon and a steely blue/grey that you can't really see here.

The variegated colorway is something new for this yarn. Only the solid colors are shown on the Fiesta Yarn page. Mendy brought this one skein to me from her last trip to visit her dad in New Mexico. (Mendy is very thoughtful, kind and generous. We love her lots and lots.) I'm using a modified version of the Zigzag modular scarf from Art Yarns. I'm not sure how long the scarf will be and there's no yardage label on the one skein. But it'll be long enough. Did I mention how silky this yarn is?

I walked to work yesterday. Right. My car was in for it's bi-weekly visit with the mechanic. Just a little sputtering and nearly cutting out when I was driving to Monrovia on Thursday night. The mechanic couldn't find anything definite that would be causing the problem although he experienced the same phenomenon when he took my car for a long drive. It seems I don't drive enough and don't accelerate as fiercely as the car needs. So I'm supposed to really gun it when I go up the ramp to get on the freeway. And start using a higher, more expensive, grade of gasoline. Gas is already $2.499/gallon for the 87 octane. The next higher grade is another ten cents per gallon. Let me see if I have this right. I'm supposed to drive more, which I don't really need to do, spend more money on fuel and waste it getting on the freeway so my car will run smoothly? I'm not sure I follow.

And in other depressing news. I finally got around to completing my income tax stuff. I'm trying not to think about it. Let's just say that what I owe would have been at least six or maybe seven sweaters. Or ten if I shopped at Michael's. But it's done and electronically transmitted. Pat the Cat was very patient with me while I worked on it, only occasionally coming over to see it I was done yet and would like to play Snake for a while.

Annual Amaryllis

Annual Amaryllis



These blooms are a little post-peak but they're still sensational. There are lots more stems that are about to bloom but this stalk is first and seems to have the largest blossoms. The original three bulbs that my sister sent me for Christmas five or six years ago have multiplied to seven or eight. I think they thrive on neglect.

Not much really on the knitting front. I did start a new pair of socks with the Reynold's Swizzle and am just starting the foot on the first.



The color's a bit washed out here but you can see some of the subtle stripes as well as the brighter red and gold. I'm just ribbing, K6, P2, for the legs and the top of the foot. The yarn is pretty nice although there are a few slubs that I don't think are supposed to be there.

Palm Monday

Palm Monday

I know I've written before about how much I like the palm trees that line my street. I love the long, elegant line of their trunks and the raspy rustling of the fronds. When the breeze is just right the trees sway in a classic tropical paradise sort of way. Of course, like in most things, there's a downside. These particular trees don't actually bear fruit, except for the crunchy, messy seeds that drop from them once in a while. And on days like today when the wind is pretty fierce the dead fronds are blown off and into the street and yards. There have been several that have blown onto my roof where they land with a loud, unsettling bang. Patrick is freaking out. The street is a hazard for the cars parked along the curb or even just driving by. But it's fascinating to watch the trees and how much they can bend without actually breaking.

It's been great having two days off instead of the one day weekend that I'm used to. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend who is moving home to Michigan and then I came home and cleaned house for a while. Lisa came over for the evening. She needed to use my sewing machine and it was our bi-weekly dinner. I had finished one and half pair of gloves, the ones I showed early last week, and she tried them on. I was pleased with how they looked and she said they're really be perfect for her late-night keyboard sessions. I'm hoping to finish them tonight or sometime this week at least.

Today I've been yarn shopping. Went to Velona's in Anaheim Hills with one of my students. It's about a forty five minute drive but so worth it. I wasn't planning to buy anything but ended up with eight skeins of Kureyon and two hanks of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock yarn. After we had lunch we went to Unraveled in Monrovia and I got a skein of Reynold's Swizzle Sock Yarn and a circular needle. I'll probably have pictures tomorrow or later in the week.

Three years and counting

Three years and counting

That's right! I've had this blog for three years. Actually a few days longer but I didn't know about archiving when I first started so I don't know the exact date. Somewhere around the middle of March but I observe April 1 as the date since that's as far back as I can document. Anyway, it's three years. That's almost all the time since I've been officially retired.

I'm the person for whom the phrase "the unexamined life" was coined. I don't spend a lot of time wondering about why I do or don't do things, or like or don't like things. I tend to just go with what feels good or seems right at the time. I don't watch television or listen to any music other than classical so I'm almost totally out of touch with a lot of pop culture stuff. I've never seen a reality program, or wondered what they're all about. Well, I've wondered but haven't been interested enough to find out. I have a few special friends that I really care about but most people fall into the acquaintances category. I am more reclusive than most people I know. When I do go out it's usually because someone has asked me and I go so as not to disappoint them. So it's really unlike me to have a blog. Something so public is just not what I'd expect of me.

The whole blogging thing has really expanded from where it was when I began, especially the knit blog community. I do read some blogs that aren't related to the knitting world but mostly I read knitters' blogs. On average I spend two or more hours a day just reading blogs. I leave comments occasionally. Lots of times I think about leaving a comment but hesitate out of a fear of rejection or think that it would be presumptuous. Yet I love getting comments and seeing my blog listed as a daily read or favorite on someone else's blog.

My blog is pretty plain when you come right down to it. There are some pretty fancy blogs out there and some that are very witty and entertaining. These people are either inately gifted or spend a lot of time thinking about what they're going to write. I am more likely to start a post not knowing what I'm going to say. I do take care not to offend or post anything that would intentionally hurt someone. I don't talk a lot about what goes on at Skein because someone was using what I wrote in a negative and destructive manner.

I've made some really good friends because of my blog. And I've actually met some of these people. And if my summer travel plans work out I'll be meeting more.

But three years is a long time. I'm probably going to cutting back on the amount of time I spend reading blogs as well as the frequency of my posts. I don't have any definite plan in mind. I love having a blog and I love it that people take the time to read it.

So I celebrated today. Instead of plain oatmeal I had oatmeal with brown sugar, raisins and real butter. I'd have added milk but the milk I have is so old that I'm afraid to open the container.

Patrick grazes

Patrick grazes



I brought this grass home on Sunday night. It was part of the Easter table arrangement at Robert's house. He told me it was cat grass. I didn't know how Patrick would react or if he'd even know what to do with it. Less than a minute after I put it on the floor he was there and chomping. Now he spends a lot of time just burying his face in it. I don't know what it really is but he loves it. Pat the Sheep.

I finished the first glove last night. Well, I finished the knitting. Now I have all those ends to find a place for. Some of them will have to be used to close up some of the holes around the base of the fingers. I was sort of expecting a few ends to weave in but had no idea there would be so many. Just not thinking, I guess. Anyway, any hints on how to add fingers to gloves without all that joining and picking up. I need to cast on for the second one and get it started at least.

Instead of that I started a new pair of socks. The Feather and Fan socks from Socks, Socks, Socks. I think I finally got the German Twisted Cast On figured out. Since the socks start with garter stitch I needed a cast on that would have plenty of stretch and this one seems to be good. My friend Lammia had tried to teach me before. I could do it but it wasn't stretchy. There was an article by Meg Swansen in the last Vogue Knitting that showed how to do it. I think I was picking up the stitch on my finger backwards, underneath instead of over. Whatever I was doing wasn't working and it is now. I'm still baffled by the Austrian Twisted Cast On that is in the current issue of Vogue.

In case you're wondering, that Brillo box on the floor behind Patrick was just there while the plumber was here to repair my kitchen sink. Well, actually, it's still there but I'll get it put away along with the rest of the stuff sometime this weekend.

What's a yarn tasting?

What I've finished and what I've started

.

Here are the completed Waffle Top socks. I only show them as evidence that I've actually completed something, and in a relatively short time. Only two weeks. Also, this is the best match, sock to sock, that I've ever achieved in self-patterning yarn.

Before the needles had even cooled off I started these:



My first ever gloves. I made some mittens a few years ago but they were made flat and stitched up later. These are done in the round and will have demi-fingers. The pattern and yarn are from Dale of Norway. The yarn is Daletta. It splits if you're not extra alert. But the pattern is easy. I'm a little concerned that these will be too big but since it's my first pair I'm just following the pattern. Later, when I'm more familiar with glove structure I'll make some changes.

What's a yarn tasting?

A couple of people have asked this question so I guess I'd better explain. Each person paid $10.00 to participate. That fee was deducted from any purchase made that evening that totaled $75.00 or more. The event was organized like a multi-course dinner. Each "course" consisted of several different yarns that were chosen by the shop owner, mostly from yarns that are new this season. Really it was just a chance to try out yarns that we might not have otherwise been able to test. I've never heard of another shop that has done this, and I don't know if Unwind will repeat it, but it was a lot of fun for everyone

Yarn Tasting

Yarn Tasting

The Yarn Tasting at Unwind was nothing short of a hit. Everything was well organized and flowed smoothly. We had the opportunity to sample fourteen different yarns. The yarns were presented as courses starting with appetizers: Kid Merino by Crystal Palace, Cotton Patine by Elsebeth Lavold and Optimum from Southwest Trading. The Kid Merino, a blend of merino, mohair and nylon was nice and worked up easily on size 3US. The Cotton Patine was my favorite. I bought seventeen skeins in an off white. The Optimum was pleasant to work. It's supposed to feel like cashmere and it pretty much does. I've heard that it doesn't hold up well though so I decided not to buy any.

The first course was Velourine by Fonty, Bamboo by Southwest Trading and Majorque by Fonty. I didn't care much for the Velourine. It's sort of like a thin chenille and is wrapped with a shiny viscose thread. Not my kind of yarn. But it was pretty easy to work. I'd worked with Bamboo before and liked it. I would have bought some of it but there were no colors that I would personally wear. But it's pleasant to knit. The Majorque is a blend of cotton and linen. I thought it might split easily but it didn't. If you like working on really small needles you'd probably like this yarn.

I began to get behind along about here. The Sorbet course was Jewel FX from Berroco. I've never worked with this yarn, alone or as a carry-along. Worked alone it's harsh and unpleasant. It's mostly rayon but the 6% metallic was scratchy.

The Main Course was Cotton Angora from Debbie Bliss, a very nice, soft yarn that felt good in my hands. Good yardage and at $8.00 a ball a pretty good deal. Then I tried the All Hemp from Hemp for Knitting. Very stiff yarn. I didn't like the way my cast on looked as I couldn't get it even. I understand the hemp is good for kids things because it's so durable. I might go back and get a ball of it to get a better sense of it. There were three more yarns in this course: Amerino by Laines du Nord, Glace by Berroco and Rapture from Reynolds. I didn't have time to knit with these. The Amerino is a bit of a novelty yarn, two strands plied that look like they'd be a nuisance to knit. Glace I've used before. It's okay for a ribbon but it's easy to pierce. The Rapture is a lofty silk and wool blend that would make a beautiful sweater or jacket. I will swatch this one before I buy.

And then there was Dessert. I only sampled the Isis from FFF. Another not my kind of yarn. It's a flat tapelike yarn that works on a 5US. Very hard to see the stitches in the swatch but not particularly difficult to knit. The other two yarns were Cherio from Skacel, a paper yarn that's printed with playful stylized flowers. It looked pretty stiff in the sample that I saw worked up. People were comparing it to Handi-wipes. The Macao yarn from KFI looked like a larger version of the Isis but it has a slightly softer hand.

There wasn't much time to shop. But I did get that Cotton Patine. I've been wanting to use if since I first saw it last year. I had a generous gift certificate left from Christmas so I used that and a little of my own money. If I had had more time I'm sure I would have bought more.

There were about twenty five people. A few of them I had met before at Skein. It was very enjoyable and I'd probably sign up for another Tasting if there is one. We were each given a hand out that had all the pertinent information about the yarns and most of us taped small pieces of the yarn next to the names. Each sample had enough yarn to make a decent size swatch. I don't think anyone did though. Too anxious to get on to the next course. I will work up the yarns I didn't have time to try. And see what kind of pattern I can come up with for the Cotton Patine.

Technical difficulties

Technical difficulties

It's been a real techie nightmare here today. I've seen more blue screens than I care to remember. Generally I only have problems in the morning while I'm reading blogs. Some days everything is fine. But I persist.

No rain today but it's pretty cold, by LA standards. Skein was good today, busy but not overwhelming. And I had my Thursday night knitting group to look forward to. And that was good too. I have a triangle and a half to go on my multi-directional scarf and I'm about half way through the gusset on the second waffle sock.

Tomorrow night I'm going to a Yarn Tasting at Unwind Yarn in Burbank. We get to sample fourteen different yarns and all we have to do is bring our own needles. I have a gift certificate from Christmas that I'll be able to use while I'm there. Woo yay! I've lost the list of yarns but I remember there's some Bamboo from Southwest Trading and some of their merino that's supposed to be softer than cashmere. Most of the list was yarns we don't have at Skein so I'm looking forward to seeing them and trying them out. No problem there.

Weather or not

Weather or not

Yesterday I decided I'd walk to Skein. Showers were predicted but it didn't look like it to me. It was cloudy but not gloomy. So I walked. It started to rain around the middle of the day. So I walked home in the rain. Those showers were pretty intense, lightening and thunder. Not what I'd call showers. Rain was predicted for today so I drove to work. It was gorgeous all day. But since it was my late night I'm glad I drove. It's supposed to rain again tomorrow. I think we're close to breaking some kind of record.

The past two days have been very busy for me. Five students yesterday and seven today. I even taught crochet to a couple of people today. One of them already knew how but she was running into trouble understanding the British terminology and it had been a number of years since she had done any crochet. So I played translator while she worked the hook. I still haven't committed to actually making anything but I can tell it won't be long. Some of the Rowan patterns are interesting.

I've started the heel flap on the second waffle sock. There hasn't been much time to work on it but I still think I'll be done this week. I'm already debating which pattern to try next. I should probably go back and finish the Fiber Trends Peak Performance sock I started a year or so ago. I wonder where I put it.

Waffling or waffle-ing

Waffling or waffle-ing

It is with some trepidation that I try to post again. Will just have to see how Blogger behaves today.



Here is sock one and the start of the second. Here's the pattern I'm not using but it's very similar. It's almost the same except I'm only using 64 stitches and I'm not continuing the pattern on the foot of the sock. I saw the socks that my friend was making and thought they looked cute and would be easy to knit. She's the area rep for Plymouth Yarn and she was using their Sockotta, a yarn I've used before and which I like. So I bought a skein and cast on last Thursday. I should be able to finish these this week. The sock pattern is called Waffles, hence the corny title.

Just wondering

Just wondering

What's up with Blogger? I never used to have problems and now it happens all the time. I just lost my post. Not that it was a biggie but still.

Anyway, I'm just about done with the first sock of the current pair, only 8 rows to go. And then I'll cast on immediately for the second one. And that's about it for the knitting content.

Don't bother me

Don't bother me!



Patrick wants to take a nap. Every morning, after he's had his breakfast, he crawls back in bed. He gets cranky if I disturb him so lots of mornings I don't make the bed. Today though I'm on a quick clean up bender so he'll have to move for a bit. Lisa's coming over this evening so it's time to pick up stuff and tidy a little. Cats don't understand this. They'd rather you just leave stuff where they're used to it being. I'd do that but I'm losing track of where stuff is.

It rained yesterday morning and it was unusually quiet at Skein. I was just beginning to enjoy making some progress on the shop sample poncho when my first student arrived. Ugh! Don't bother me! But she's one of my favorites and we had most of the next hour just to fix a few problems and chat. I'm writing a pattern for her to make a sweater for her husband.

The day got busier after the sun came out a little after noon. I had six more people before it was all over. Of the six, three had problems that were caused by errors in the pattern. Real errors, not just problems with interpretation. (This is happening way more than it used to, or so it seems to me.) So it turned out to be a good day for me. Well, there was that one lady who came in five minutes before closing that wanted me to teach her to knit. And we actually made it. She kept referring to the slip knot as a peace sign. Stuck in the 60s, that one. Well, if you try real hard, it does sorta look like a peace sign.

I only have two more Sundays to work, including today.

Kinda gloomy Friday

Kinda gloomy Friday

Last night was Thursday night knitting. Small group but still fun. I worked on a couple of my many mini-projects, the current socks and the brown Araucania multi-directional scarf. And we had freshly made key lime pie and strawberry cake and equally freshly made lemon muffins. No wonder I don't get much done or lose much weight.

It's been a little slow this week at Skein. I wonder if other shops are experiencing the same thing. The whole week the weather people have been warning us that there's going to be rain all weekend and it looks like they might be right. It's not raining yet but it looks like it could start any time. So this slow thing might continue for a while. Overall, not many students this week. But it's hard to predict. I could have big batch today. It's one of those it's not over 'til it's over kind of things.

Updated

We do indeed have rain. And I had seven students today. All at the same time.

Erin go meow!

Erin go meow!

It's me nameday. Thanks, but I'm really not a saint, just yet. Been feelin' a little under the weather but I think I'm recovered. Spent a lot of last night just running all over the house, making lots of noise and clawing the one good chair that's left.

I need to tell you what the Old Guy did. He was working with that whirly, squeeky machine that he puts his yarn on and he did this really dumb thing. He was trying to get one of the wads of yarn ready to put on the squeeky thing. He figured he'd give the yarn a few whacks so that it wouldn't stick together so bad. What he forgot though was that the chandelier over the chair he was using to whack the yarn on was really low. (He ought to fix that.) Anyway, he was just whacking that yarn good and proper and it got caught on the chandelier and knocked a couple of crystals off and one of them broke. He didn't say any of the words that I would have. He just stood there looking stoopid. I went over to see if I could help but he made me go away. All I wanted to do was help pick up the broken crystal. Anyway, that's what happened.

Pink Gift

Pink Gift

Perks are a good thing. Like my lunch is always provided courtesy of Skein. And I receive nice gifts from different students quite often. Today, for example, I got a bottle of plum wine from one student who is just returning from a business trip to Japan and Hong Kong. And last week there was a bottle of Shiraz from another student who knew it was one of my favorites. Most of the time I get candy, cookies or wine. I've never, that I recall, received yarn. (Yarn that I get from my Thursday night group not included.) Until yesterday.



A few weeks ago an elderly lady came in to see if I could help her. Her daughter had died and left a number of unfinished afghans. Unfortunately the piece that she brought was crocheted. I explained that I really didn't know much about crochet and didn't think I could help her. She was so disappointed. So I said I'd try. It turned out to be a fairly simple fix, just some double crochet clusters. So I showed her what I thought she needed to do and walked her through a few repeats. She left with her multi-colored afghan having thanked me over and over.

Yesterday she came back. I only vaguely remembered her. She brought me a gift bag containing this yarn and the needles. Then she reminded me that her daughter had died leaving all those unfinished afghans. She had been saving the yarn and needles and thought I would appreciate having them. They were part of a floral tribute from her daughter's funeral.

Quiet, please. The cat's asleep.

Quiet, please. The cat's asleep.

(I'm trying to re-create the post that just evaporated into the mind of Blogger.)

Monday was a stay-at-home and do laundry kind of day. And some time for serious knitting. Well, not serious, but intense. And I did that. Mostly though, I watched Pat the Cat sleep. He isn't feeling his usual stop-everything-and-come-and-play-right-now self. He seems to be eating okay. He's just not very active. So I played nursemaid which mostly consisted of patting him on the head or scratching his chin when he wanted. I wonder if he has allergies. He's been sneezing a little more than usual lately, once as loud as a human sneeze.

He is better today. We played a little bit but he lost interest pretty quickly. He's sleeping right now so I'm trying to not make any sudden loud noises. Not like when I caught a hank of yarn in the chandelier and knocked off a bunch of crystals that went everywhere and one broke. That was really noisy and made Patrick come to investigate. He found the one that broke and was thinking about trying to eat it but I stopped him before he got to it.

I spent about four hours working on the latest sock last night. I've started the gusset decreases. Had to stop several times to let my thumb come unstuck. I didn't get much other actual knitting done but got some more hanks wound.

So now I'm getting ready for Skein. It's a gorgeous day and I'm looking forward to seeing some of my regulars as well as wondering who else will show up. Patrick is awake now and sitting on the kitchen counter watching the birds and scowling at the dogs and squirrels. It's nice to be able to open the windows again.

The complaint department is over there

The complaint department is over there!

One of several things that I retain from my est training (yes, I'm one of those) is that it's useless to complain about something to a person who can't do anything about it. If something happens that you don't like or approve of it does no good to talk to someone who can't do anything about it. Or so I believe.

Skein will be closing on Sundays after the end of this month. This is not a new thing. It was closed last year during the same time, April through October. I spent a lot of time yesterday listening to one woman grouse about this. I tried explaining that it made sense from Ann Mary's point of view. She just kept on and on. I finally directed her to Ann Mary. This woman does not buy anything. She brings her granddaughter in for lessons. I don't think she'll have much impact.

And then there's the questions of prices. I hear it all the time. It's true that Skein's prices are higher than some other yarn shops. So? There are other shops and there's online shopping. And I have nothing to do with the prices. I shop other places when I feel the deal is better elsewhere, or if there's something I want that Skein doesn't carry. Sometimes, even with my discount, I get a better price, especially on accessories. So, since I can't do anything about it, complain to Ann Mary if you want to complain.

I've been busy with other stuff for the past few days so haven't made much progress on any of my current projects. But today is my day off and my laundry is almost done so I have the rest of today to fiddle with my knitting. I've wound a bunch of hanks and got them put away for now. I'm still working on Dulaan projects and have a sock well underway. I'm not complaining though. I make the decisions.

How long is permanent

How long is permanent?

I have a bunch, probably thirty skeins, of Reynold's Paterna yarn that is labeled as mothproof. I wonder how long moth proofing lasts. I've only had this yarn for about twelve years. I got some of it out last night to make this hat for my next Dulaan project project. (Thanks, Bonne Marie.) Everything was fine for the first three rows then the yarn broke. It looked like a nice clean break so I just picked up the new tail and kept going. Pretty soon though, it appeared that the yarn had been pretty well sampled by some hungry moth or other fiber loving creature. I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. I'll probably rewind each skein and examine them for damage and see what I can save. I thought the label said "Permanently Moth Proofed" but in rechecking I find it doesn't say "Permanently."

In other knitting related news. I will be permanently, however long that is, adding Wednesday night to my class schedule. That's the night that Skein offers crochet classes in addition to knitting. The current Wednesday night teacher has decided that her main job as a yarn rep doesn't leave her any spare time. The only problem with this is that I don't crochet enough to feel confident about teaching it. And I'm not sure I want to expand in that direction. First I'll have to find a crochet teacher for me. I've asked Ann Mary to change her presentation and tell people that we don't currently have a teacher for crochet. It would help if I liked the look of crochet but I don't so I'm not much motivated to take it up.

Let's see. In addition to the hat that I tried to start I also started a pair of socks using some Sockotta that I bought today. Worked on those tonight at Thursday night knitting. I just finished ripping four rows of pattern because I wasn't paying close enough attention. This is sure happening a lot lately.

Plain brown vest

Plain brown vest

I dug out one of my imcompletes a couple of days ago, a vest I started for Lisa sometime last summer. First off it was a big surprise to find I was farther along than I remembered. I thought I was still on the back but found that I was almost done with one half of the front. I have no recollection whatsoever of knitting that piece. But now it's done and I've started the other front.

I'm using some Unger wool that I got at Mariposa at least seven years ago. I don't think Unger is even is business anymore. The stitch pattern is just double seed so it's not a very exciting knit, but it goes fast on size 8US needles. I tried for a photo but it's so dreary here that nothing photos well. Maybe by the time it's done there'll be some sunshine.

I'm really trying to get caught up on projects that have been accumulating around here. There are some that just need to have the ends woven in and some that need to be ripped. And it's time to reorganize the stash once again. Sort of like spring cleaning I guess, but a lot more rewarding.

See the pretty socks?

See the pretty socks

I've been really hankering to start a new pair of socks.



See the pretty cables? I don't either. So it's time to try something else. I like the colors in the Wildfoote sock yarn. I like the pattern, Conwy from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush. They don't work together though. I thought maybe if I just kept going it would get better. Then I realized that on size one dpns it would be too much of an investment. So I'm looking for something else for the yarn and a different yarn for the pattern.



But here's the neck warmer that I finished for the Dulaan project. There's a second version with different increases that I'm thinking of trying next. I still have almost sixteen skeins of this Superwash Sport yarn from Asa Gjestal Spinneri. I like the color and the yarn is easy to knit.

My car is home. I hope I have lots of students this week. I could have paid for my trip and the fee for the Knitters' Review Retreat with what it cost me this time. Well, almost. Anyway I have wheels again.

First Fruit

First Fruit

It's been two years. But here's the first harvested lemon from the tree Lisa gave me two years ago for Father's Day.



Not enough for a lemon pie but still. I do have a recipe for lemon bread which takes the juice of one lemon for the glaze.

I'm sorta grounded today as my car is still with the mechanic. The problem hasn't been diagnosed yet. Walking to work hasn't been too bad. I'm more out of shape than I thought so I'd probably better continue walking even after I get my car back.

There are no yarn shops close enough to walk to, unless you count Michael's, so there won't be any browsing today. I just finished the Dulann neck warmer this morning and am considering what to take on next. Probably something from Knitting on the Road. Lisa tried on the Yukon Falling Leaves socks when she came over last night. They were a little loose but fit well enough. If I do those socks again I'll go down to a size one. Anyway, I'll start some socks and then probably work some on the brown vest I started last summer.

Redux

Redux

If you think this sounds familiar it's because it is. It's raining again. It's rained a lot this winter and it's gonna rain a lot more I guess.

I wouldn't care so much if my car wasn't at the mechanics. Again. No idea what the problem is this time. Poor old thing just wants to keel over and die everytime I come to a stop. So not only do I have a sick car but I'll have to walk to work, in the rain.

But we had a lovely time at Thursday night knitting. It was so good to see our missing friend and to spend time with her. I didn't have much that was exciting to work on. Just some more on my current multi-directional scarf. And a few more rows on the butterfly shawlette. No, I didn't finish it. I was busy enough at Skein that I couldn't work on it very much. But soon.

By the time I get to Thursday

By the time I get to Thursday

I'm usually out of stuff to write about. And today isn't much of an exception. I stayed at Skein until eight yesterday because the Wednesday night teacher called in again to cancel her appearance. The day had been pretty slow so we weren't expecting anyone to show up. Well, I did have three students, one of whom had to leave almost immediately because of a family emergency. Anyway, I had a good time with the two remaining ones. I even helped with a crochet pattern. I don't actually crochet but I can figure things out if I have to. The other student was starting the heel flap of her first sock. So that was kind of a snap. The down side is that I don't get home early enough to do much knitting. By the time I've played with Patrick and had some dinner it's already late. So I go a couple of rows done on the neck warmer and crashed.

I did get the butterfly made for the current Skein project. Really vague directions so I'm glad I had a picture reference. So today I'll finish, or nearly, the final ball for the scarf proper and be able to sew the ends together, after I gather them a bit, and then attach the butterfly. My hands are longing for some socks to knit. I may have to succumb.

It's Thursday night knitting again. We're meeting at a different spot this week. That'll be strange. We've become so accustomed to Mendy's place that we just all make ourselves at home, helping ourselves to whatever we need. Sugar, cream, more coffee? But we're all looking forward to the evening as we haven't seen this person for a few weeks. We love her a lot and have missed her.

New WIP

Newest WIP



I'm about halfway through the Butterfly Shawlette that I'm making as a shop sample. This comes as a kit from Needful Yarns. It's a very easy knit of K3/P3 with a garter stitch edge. The main yarn is Kristine, a very loosely plied novelty. The first ball was fine, the second one is a pain. One of the plies doesn't feed well so I'm getting bunched up stitches. I'm having to knit with almost no tension to keep the yarn from separating. There's a second yarn in the kit that's called Crystal. It's used to make the butterfly wings. There are several colors available but Ann Mary chose the grey one. The whole thing is really just a scarf but it's a change.

I made lots of progress on the neck warmer that I started for the Dulaan project. Thought I'd never finish the seven inches of ribbing that is the neck. I've worked through the first third of the increases. Even though there are more stitches now it feels like the rows are going faster. Just having those make ones to do is enough to keep me awake. I hope to finish tonight or at least get to the final section of K2/P2.

Only a few more weeks and I'll start having two days off each week. Skein is open on Sunday from November through March. I'm looking forward to having that additional day. Lots of new people yesterday. We've been at the current location for almost a year and people are still discovering us as well as those who are just discovering that we've moved. The new location is so close to where I live that it makes it hard to even consider going elsewhere.

Leaving Yukon Leaves

Leaving Yukon Leaves



Not that you can tell much about them but here they are. Finally, after months and months, they're finished. Even the kitchener toe is done. I started these socks last August. I think the openwork will show up a lot better on some actual feet. At least I hope so.

Now to decide what to finish next. The brown vest? The moving cables sweater? Any of a number of socks? The Dulaan neck warmer? The list goes on.

A little later

In my excitement over being done with these socks I forgot to post a link to the pattern. You can find it here.

Strictly speaking

Strictly speaking

When I wrote yesterday that there had been no yarn acquistion for two weeks that wasn't, strictly speaking, true.



A hank of Schaeffer Helene in the Mary Pickford colorway. And three hanks of Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Yellowstone. The Schaeffer is a birthday gift from Mendy and the Bearfoot, also from Mendy, is a somewhat belated Christmas present. I'm thinking scarf for the Mary Pickford and shawl (maybe Clapotis) for the Bearfoot.



Another hank of Schaeffer yarn. This time it's Kathleen in the Indira Ghandi colorway. This was a Happy Thursday gift, or a just because. This yarn is a bulky and there are 150 yards. This will most likely also be a scarf, worked the long way.

I did get some Araucania Wool too. But it's something I had ordered a couple of months ago so it doesn't really count either. The yarn is too pale to photograph well but when I finish the project I ordered it for I'll be able to show it off. I can't remember where I put the Transitions pattern book that has the project in it. It's another scarf but it's special.

The stash grows, even when I'm not trying, or buying.

Another day in which I don't get anything done

Another day in which I don't get anything done

Some times at the end of a day I feel like I've managed to do something constructive. Other days are less remarkable, either because stuff happened that got in the way or I was just in a moping mood. Today is one of those days where I get to do stuff that isn't necessarily going to add to my knitting accomplishments or result in a tidier living room.

I'm having a late breakfast with a guy I used to work with. I've known him for ten or twelve years. And now he's leaving Southern California and moving back to Michigan, from whence he came. There's a backstory to this but it's his story, not mine. Anyway. I'll probably get to see him a few more times before the final move but this is the first of the last times.

And then there's my stint at Skein in the middle of the day. Only three hours but still it keeps me from doing anything around here. I had some really good days at Skein this week and a couple of ones where I was able to do some serious shop sample knitting.

Right after I leave Skein I'm going to the other side of LA to have dinner with my oldest friend, Robert. Ostensibly it's for Oscar viewing but mostly it'll be about wine and what's been happening since we last got together. And I probably won't get home until close to midnight.

Tomorrow looks more promising though. The need to do laundry has become critical so I'll be hanging out around the laundry room. I have to start early, before that lady with the three small ones gets in there, or I'll be all day checking to see if the room is available. I don't mind waiting for my turn but I really get ticked when someone goes off for the day and leaves their laundry in the washer and the dryer. But, I'll be knitting between loads. And playing with the cat. The one that thinks I'm home just to entertain him all day.

No yarn acquisition for two weeks. But I did order a couple of books from Overstock.com. No new projects started. I don't count shop projects.

Oscar who?

Oscar who?

So, it's Oscar weekend. There's a lot of hype and hysteria over the Oscars here. It is, afterall, what this part of the world is all about. Movies and movie making. And that other, lesser god, television. I'm not a movie going person. I think it's been at least three years since I went to an actual movie. And probably that long since I've even rented a video. And I never watch television, unless there's a new war.

This week I'm listening to all the music that has been nominated for an Oscar. The local public radio classical station has been playing everything that has been nominated and having the composers as guests on various programs. The problem with movie music is that is sounds so, well, like movie music. I go to a lot of concerts of contemporary music and much of it sounds like it was written for a TV movie. You can tell from the music that there's going to be a corpse showing up soon.

Since I don't go to movies it's hard for me to relate anything that I'm hearing to it's setting. Right now I'm hearing the music from that Mel Gibson movie, the Passion or something like that, and it's so elevatorish. Generic feel good stuff. "Walking on water." Sounds like it could have been used for "Umbrella of Cherborg" or any other sappy love story type movie.

I'm feeling a little cynical tonight. Can you tell?

We got the new Rowan R2 yarns and magazine today. I made the mistake of actually reading the copy in their magazine. Really awful. "Marketing is your friend." Lisa frequently reminds me. What a pile of drivel! Imagine a whole line of yarns that are designed to tell you how to be unique and different. With patterns. Lots of faux-grungy graphics and gushy jargon. Maybe it's just me, but I think the designs are awful. Don't buy the book, but if you get the chance, check it out. I'd like to know what you think. (I see I've used "awful" twice. Feel free to substitute "atrocious" if you like.)

We also got some more of the Box of Scarves and a book called something like "Knitting from the Top Down for Toddlers." Both are way more worthwhile. And some kits for shawlettes that are cute and fairly quick to knit. I'm supposed to be making a shop sample. I'm going to go work on my Yukon socks instead.

Way too busy!

Way too busy!

You may recall that I said it was very slow on Tuesday. Well, that's certainly changed since then. Wednesday and today I was swamped. Yesterday was the worse. Everything was a problem that needed fixing. One took over two hours just to straighten out the dropped stitches and get things back in order before we could begin to pick them up. There were at least eight people sitting around me at one point. It's hard to not let it show that you're in a panic yourself.

I was really ready to get out of there when the Wednesday night teacher called as said she was stranded in Bakersfield (of all places) and couldn't make it in. Ann Mary asked me to stay so I did and picked up a couple of new students in the evening.

Today was busy as well but not like yesterday. The students were more spread out through the day and their problems were much simpler. Still eight people, including a couple of brand new knitters, can be overwhelming. Most everyone is patient and willing to wait. I do have one fairly regular student who constantly interrupts and refuses to acknowledge that there are other people waiting. And she doesn't hesitate to tell other people what they should with their projects. I know she has some psychological problems but after a couple of hours of dealing with her the temptation to say something rude is almost too hard to resist.

But it's Thursday night knitting group night so it doesn't matter what happened during the day. Attendance has been a little low during the flu and rain season but should start to pick up now that we've have two consecutive days of sunlight.

Sunshine!

Sunshine!

Never mind the paleness of the blue, or the slightly grey wispy clouds, there is actual sunshine outside today. Rejoice and be glad! If this keeps up the lake that is our parking lot may empty enough so that we can take our accumulated garbage to the dumpster. Well, I actually waded through the lake but some of my neighbors have been waiting and the bags sitting outside their front doors are beginning to fester. I hope they seize this chance because I just heard that the rain may be back on Sunday. Carpe diem, baby!

Ann Mary has been out for a couple of days so it's been a little short handed at the shop. Well, yesterday, that didn't really matter as it was way slow. Odd, since Tuesday is usually one of the busiest days. I'm blaming it on the rain, of which there was plenty. I did have a couple of students, one of whom is a teacher at another shop. Nice lady. But she has a very limited knowledge of knitting. I really think one needs to know about increases and more than one way of casting on if one is going to teach. But I guess it's a start. And she promised to come back for more.

I succeeded in not starting a new project. I did get started on the heel flap of the Yukon Falling Leaves socks. I'll see how far I get tonight.

The beat goes on

The beat goes on

So. I got my car back late yesterday. And my diagnosis was correct. It was the alternator. Not that I know anything about cars and their innards. It's just that a similar thing happened on another vehicle. Sometimes experience is as good as knowledge. I guess that whirring, whining noise I've been hearing for the past few months was not just the car's old age. The noise is gone now. At least I was close to home and able to get into my garage. And all those years of paying for roadside service finally paid off. No charge for towing is a good thing.

The rains and thunderstorms are still with us for another couple of days. The sun is shining right now but to the north and west the sky is a very dark grey. We might even get some hail later today. It was painful to pay for but I'm glad we had a new roof put on the condos a few years ago. I know people who have serious leaks and no hope of getting them repaired for a while. There are palm fronds all along the sidewalks and in the street so it looks a little desolated but it's no where near as bad as some of the towns closer to the beach or in the foothills. There hasn't been any work on the condo that's abuilding across the street. Too much rain.

I did get re-started on the shop sample poncho yesterday and have about three inches done. Not much else happened. Mostly I took naps and played Free Cell. I really wanted to start something new but kept telling myself not until I finish something. Who knows when that will be? As much as I enjoy knitting I'm surprisingly uninterested right now. On the other hand I'm not comfortable with not doing something. So I pick up a project, work on it for a bit and put it down. I guess that's progress but it's so meagre. I wound some yarn Sunday night while we tried to get a decent picture. No picture but I sure would like to see how that yarn's going to look. Maybe just a swatch wouldn't be such a bad thing.

New Swift

New swift

The pictures we took last night were really bad. Must try again when the light is better. Lisa came over for our bi-weekly dinner. And we remembered that we were going to take pictures of the new swift. I thought one of them looked pretty good but looking at it again this morning I decided that you don't really need to see me looking that stupid and the swift didn't look much better.

My car has developed another problem. I think it's the alternator this time. I wonder how many times over I will pay for this car before it's done. Anyway, I had to walk to work yesterday which isn't all that bad. Except, as you may have heard, we are having rain. Lots of it. But I managed to get to Skein during one of the brief breaks. Lisa picked me up which was a good thing since by then it was ankle deep at all the curbs. Anyway, I need to figure out how to get my car to the mechanic. And I need to check to see if they have time to work on it today.

In knitting news, I've ripped the shop sample poncho. The K1C2 Souffle yarn is a little trickier to work with than I thought. I think I knitted two stitches as one somewhere along the way, a couple of times actually. Anyway I was missing two stitches and haven't been able to find them. I didn't like the cast on anyway. So I'll try to get that restarted today. And I'm making some progress on the second sock of the Yukon Falling Leaves. I have about an inch more to knit of the neck of the Dulaan project and then I get to the more interesting section of increases and pattern.

Mishmash

Mishmash

Pretty uninspiring, that. It's just turned out to be that kind of week. Nothing really spectacular to report. The rain showed up yesterday for a few hours. Just ordinary rain. No floods that I've heard about, just heavier than usual traffic.

Patrick is on the endangered species list. He spent half an hour meowing and stomping all over me this morning, demanding that I get up so he could eat. I finally did. He ate about three pieces of kibble and promptly went back to bed. I must tell him about the boy who cried wolf.

There's a phenomenal cobweb holding up one corner of my kitchen. Don't know how long it's been there. I'll see if I can deal with that this weekend.

From 60 to 0 in 24 hours. We've been swamped at Skein. Yesterday you'd have thought we were closed. Strange. Rain usually brings out the hordes.

Yes, I have been knitting. Row after row of stockinette on the souffle poncho and row after row of garter stitch on the latest multi-directional scarf.

See. I told you it was a mishmash.

Weather or not

Weather or not

Winter is dwindling down, at least around here, but we've been promised several days of continuous rain. It was supposed to have started yesterday but has been rescheduled to start tomorrow, or possibly late tonight. Folks have been finishing up their ponchos so they can wear them at least once before the season ends and the fad is over.

But speaking of ponchos. Have you seen the new "Knitters" magazine? Now there's a pub that needs to keep up. I lost count of how many ponchos there were in there. Several more than strictly necessary. I don't actually buy this magazine but I look at it while I'm at Skein. I used to subscribe but the issues I like are too few and far between. I might buy this one just for the man's sweater pattern. I don't have a copy in front of me so I can't check, but there may be one or two other patterns that I like. I refuse, however, to even look at the newest Vogue K1.

Flat Earth

Flat Earth

A long time ago, five or six centuries, most people believed that the earth was flat. And some people apparently still believe it. It doesn't matter whether these people believe it or not, the earth is not flat.

I have never believed in copper bracelets or magnets for therapeutic use. I have some copper bracelets that I wear sometimes because I like them. Now, I still don't believe in their healing powers but I don't have as much pain in my wrist as I did before I started wearing the bracelet every day. So the question is: does the bracelet work whether I believe in it or not? Or is it just because I haven't been knitting as much recently as I was during the pre-holiday rush to get everything done?

I used to work with a guy who swore by his copper bracelets. He was a golfer and never went without the bracelets, one on each arm, and told me he no longer had any pains. Another friend saw me wearing a bracelet and said "I hope you know those things don't work."

So I wear the bracelet, not believing in it, but have a lot less pain. Go figure.

Actually, I haven't had much time to knit since the beginning of the year. It has been so busy at Skein that even though I take out my current project it usually just stays there. I'm currently working on another multi-directional scarf using Araucania wool. (It's too dark for a picture.) People are fascinated. I got three people started on their own today. And a couple more who say they're going to make one as soon as they finish their current project.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!



I've started a new project. This one is for the Dulaan Project. It's going to be a neckwarmer. The pattern is one I found at Mossy Cottage, the inimitable Ryan who is the driving force behind the Dulann Project.

I'm using some washable merino sport weight that I got a few weeks ago in a yarn destash. I was going to use it for socks but it splits too easily at that gauge. It's perfect for this though. Easy to knit on size 5US. I'm making the adult size to start with but I'll make a couple of the smaller size as well.

How old?

How old?



Me and the representative candles. No one dared to put the full amount. But now it's over and we can get on with the next year.

Thanks to everyone who sent birthday greetings.

Not much new on the knitting front. Pretty much the same as before. Working on the new poncho sample for the shop and a few rows here and there on some socks that I started last fall. Photos t/k.

It's official

It's official!

At about 4:20 this afternoon another year was added. Ann Mary's sister Clare made a wonderful Black Forest cake for the occasion. I have lots left over to take with me tonight to the knitting group. I had actually forgotten it was my birthday until the first call came this morning a little before seven. It was great to hear from so many friends and relatives early in the day.

Not much knitting news today. Just rows and rows of stockinette on the new poncho. Three or four students took up most of my time including a couple who are flying to Switzerland on Saturday and wanted to learn to knit so they'd have something to do on the long flight. I hope neither of them drops a stitch or needs to bind off before I see them again in a couple of weeks.

Taking it easy

Taking it easy



Patrick has been upgraded. He now has this snazzy wicker basket instead of the Staples cardboard box that he has put up with for the last year. Lisa brought this to him last weekend. He was getting a little big for the cardboard box. So, first class instead of economy.

It was a little slow for me yesterday but today was good. Almost like a party. I have one group of knitters that always come together. They're all good friends and love teasing one another. They decided about a month ago to learn to knit. They're all making the same hat. The competition is fierce but friendly. And they're actually very supportive of one another.

Another student came in to finish her multi-directional scarf and to get started on her first pair of socks. She had recently taken a workshop at another store on making a felted bag. It was interesting to hear the difference in teaching styles. It amazes me to hear that some people still think there's only one way to do something.

Started a new shop sample today. Another poncho! I'm using Souffle from K1C2 and their pattern for a drop stitch fabric. There's not enough to show yet but it's basically stockinette. You drop every sixth stitch when you're done and let them run the length of the knitting. Sew the two pieces along the shoulders. And that's it. Not interesting, but fast.

Yarn Diet

Yarn Diet?

When it comes to yarn acquisition I have about as much will power as I have when someone serves pizza.



I went to Needle in a Haystack yesterday, fully intending to drop off the scarf and leave. Well. There was a table full of stuff marked 30% off. It would be like throwing money away to waste such an opportunity. I got four skeins of Gedifra Distrato. That's the blue/green stuff.

And there were only these three skeins of Naturwoll, in an orange colorway that I already have. But I thought maybe I'd need a little more. So just to be on the safe side, these three skeins have come home with me. Now I just need to find the other five. I'm pretty sure they're in one of the bags over in the corner.

The Kickoff

The Kick Off

You might think that's a reference to yesterday's Super Bowl game. And it could have been except we didn't have a Super Bowl event at Skein. When I told Ann Mary that a couple of the other yarn shops in our area were having Super Bowl parties she said, "What's a Super Bowl Party?" After I explained she decided that would be too much trouble. And actually we didn't need it. From start to finish it was a wild and wooly day.

I wish I had a separate room for teaching though. It's really hard for students to concentrate when we're surrounded by shoppers and all the noise that goes with it. Many times I have to consciously block the background noise so I can teach. And teaching on a drop-in basis has its own risks. Sometimes the mix is so diverse that the switch from one level to another is a challenge requiring a deliberate shift on my part that can break my focus. And then I get overwhelmed by all the background stuff again. I don't like the feeling that there are odds and ends of questions that haven't been answered. But there's not much I can do about that right now.

I've been sort of in the dolbrums lately. Not really happy with what I'm working on. I do have a couple of finished things to show.



The Paris Rainbow scarf that I made for the cancer cure drive. I'll be taking this to Needle in a Haystack today. The photo makes the scarf look a lot softer than it is though. It's a textured cotton so it's heavy. I stopped short of my original intent because I thought the weight would cause too much stretch. I like the look but it was pretty mindless knitting.



The long awaited shop sample done in Koigu. I can't explain why this took me so long to finish. I loved working with the Koigu and the pattern, as you can see, is pretty simple.



See the cute little picots. That's about the only thing that saves this sweater from absolute blah. The neck band refuses to behave though. I've redone it twice and it still wants to flop forward in front. I hope we get some more Koigu soon.

Now about The Kick Off. Lisa was here last night to start my birthday week long celebration. A bottle of champagne (Perrier-Jouet that I've had chilling for at least two years, maybe longer), a bottle of merlot (Deer Valley on sale at Ralph's) and then some house chianti (a half-carafe that we didn't finish) with a large The Works pizza at Avanti's (voted best goumet pizza for seven years running). I managed to stuff myself way beyond comfort level but I enjoyed every forbidden bite. And I have one piece left for lunch today. But I think I've had enough wine for a while. And I have four new sweat shirts (extra large if you must know) and nine new pairs of socks. I haven't decided what I'm going to get myself for my birthday. Other than a gym membership that is.

More of almost the same

More of almost the same

After an evening of reproaching looks, and pitiful meowing, Patrick seems to have forgotten all about getting his tail flattened. He's still defying the laws of chance by sitting very, very close to the wheels. And the way he flips his tail around is just inviting disaster.

I started the fourth skein of Paris Rainbow last night for the cancer cure scarf. I don't think I'll need the fifth one as the scarf is already nearly four feet long. And I did the hemming on the shop sample sweater, except for one sleeve. I've had at least five people comment, "Are you still working on that?" It's getting a little embarrassing.

It was busier today at Skein. I had four students pretty much all at the same time. So that was better for me. New yarns and new books are arriving daily. Huge Berroco shipment yesterday and more Trendsetter. Can you say glitz? We also have a lot of Lamb's Pride right now in both worsted and bulky for our felting fans. We even have kits for needle felting. Personally, I'm waiting for the Habu yarns to come in. I'm already setting aside funds for that.

So what am I going to do with the extra skein of Paris Rainbow? It'll be the start of some knitting for this. Please read the details and see if you can't join in as well.

It was bound to happen

It was bound to happen!

No matter how many times I've warned him of the danger of sitting under my computer chair Patrick still insists on sitting close, just in case I decide to get up and play or give him treats. Sometimes he puts his front paws up on my leg and bumps my hand with his head to make me stop typing and do whatever it is he wants. Have you figured it out yet?

I don't usually answer my phone until I know who is calling but tonight when the phone rang I rolled over to grab it. Unfortunately Patrick had his tail right in front of one of the wheels. I thought something was wrong with the chair there was such a screeching sound. So I rolled over it again. Poor kitty! He was very perturbed. But I notice he isn't sitting by me right now.

And it wasn't even an important call. Just the NRA looking for a hand out. No way that's going to happen.

About the knitting. Today was pretty quiet at Skein. I only had one student and hardly any other distractions. I spent most of my time undoing the mattress stitching I had done on the shop sample and redoing it. I still have to hem to sew down tomorrow. And then I have to wash it because of the coffee I spilled on it last week.

If Patrick is still talking to me I will play with him for a while and then work on some of the other projects that are stacking up around here.