Expensive Trip to Webs

A friend and I went to Webs in Northampton yesterday. It was her first time there, and I wanted to go to the book launch for 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oates. We spent close to 4 hours there (it was a really good thing they had some very nice refreshments for the book launch!), but we were really delighted with the multitude of yarns we picked out. We each had some projects we wanted to find yarn for, and we came away with everything we needed. That was something of a shock in itself. Our find of the day was a new sale item, Zenith by Di.Ve', which is a supersoft superwash worsted-weight merino. Between us, we got enough for one sweater(Erin in the new book Heartfelt by Kim Hargreaves), two hats, two scarves, and a pair of cabled mitts! And I may be forgetting something. We also bought other yarns for lots of other projects! If you have never been to Webs, it is well worth the trip if it is a manageable distance for you.

There was a drawing for prizes connected to the book launch, and I couldn't believe it when I heard my name being called. I won Addi Turbos 40" size 4 needles, two skeins of Valley Yarns Superwash, and a package of stitch markers. These are all the supplies needed to knit the pair of sample socks that start of the book. I'd been uncertain as to whether I'd actually buy the book, but of course I then had to, so I could try the sample socks out. I think it will be fun. I tend to suffer from Second Sock Syndrome, so I'd love to learn this way of kntting two socks at once on one long circular needle. Webs and Melissa offer an extra pattern to those who buy the book at Webs, an incentive not to go to Amazon for this title!

Today is miserable--snow earlier (and due again later), sleet, ice pellets, high winds expected--a perfect day to stay in and knit. So I'd best get back to exactly that. I am working on a couple of small felted bowls for a friend for the holiday. Good thing they don't take long to knit!

Hooked on Ravelry

Well, I have joined all of those who spend much of their free time (when not knitting or crocheting, of course) on Ravelry. I am amazed at how many ideas I've been getting for future projects, and I love checking out various yarns and how they have worked up. It is a fabulous resource center. I traded some yarn, and made the acquaintance of a very nice, very talented woman in New Hampshire. We'd hoped to meet this Sunday at the book launch at Webs, but it looks like the weather is conspiring against that.

I've been trying to finish up a lot of UFOs, and have been successful with two scarves. Both were started months ago, and at this point, I am not sure who will be getting them, so there wasn't a lot of impetus to finish them up. I found that although I loved the intense colors of the Brown Sheep Handpaint yarn I used in this entrelac scarf, I am not really a big fan of mohair (sudden discovery), and this yarn is 70% mohair.

I've started and finished a few smaller projects, although I really should be working on my Fair Isle cardigan. I have promised myself the knitting will be done by the end of the year, but I'd better scoot to make that happen! The steeking that will follow has me hyperventilating, even though I know it won't be that bad. I've made two Fidgets, both out of Moda Dea Tweedle Dee, and love the yarn (even though it is 80% acrylic) and the pattern. Also a couple of presents for friends, and since they haven't gotten them yet, I won't say anything about them here.






Like everyone else, I'm very impressed by the large number of patterns in the current issue of Knitty that I'd like to start working on. The Quant headband (entrelac) may be the first one I start with. I wonder what your favorite is from this batch of patterns? And are you now spending all your time on Ravelry, too?

Some recent projects

I've been laid a bit low with a bad cough and some sort of bug, which has given me some time to getting some knitting projects done (since I wasn't doing much of anything else).

I finished the Haiku sweater for our granddaughter, and enjoyed the sideways knitting, which I've done before in a vest and a cardigan for me. I had originally wanted to knit a pullover, with the body one color, the arms another, and with some added embroidery. But the gauge wasn't right for the pattern I had in mind, so I found this one, which is very adaptable for different yarns and gauges. I made this in Vanna's Choice, and I have to say I don't like acrylic yarns. Or maybe it was just this acrylic yarn. It seemed quite splitty. But I am sure the baby's mother will want to machine wash the sweater.


I also did a quick hat pattern, from the November 9 page of this year's Knitters calendar, designed by Christa Giles. I couldn't resist the textures, so I made it knowing it isn't the kind of hat I (or anyone else I know) would wear. And when I finished it and tried it on, I realized I was right--I won't wear it! But maybe it will find a home some day. Speaking of splitty yarns, the Lambs Pride Superwash I used for this certainly was.




I finally tacked the fingers for my step-daughter's Composed Mitts, and I think that will work fine. They didn't turn out exactly the same size--I hope she won't be too observant!

And now I am back to working on a lace scarf in Baby Alpaca Brush that I started last winter. I am not a big fan of lace knitting, I guess, but I am determined to finish this project. The yarn is lovely to work with. The other project I am determined to finish is my Fair Isle sweater, the sleeves are done and at least a third of the body is as well. Maybe I'll take it along to the Black Friday knit-in tomorrow at my local yarn shop. Of course, I also had to divert my energies and start another project--a felted bag from a pattern by Paton's, using their SWS. What lovely yarn to knit with! But on the days I was feeling worst, this basic knitting (with only a few slipped stitches every other round) was about all I could handle.

I've bought a sewing machine, and have been busy reacquainting myself with using one--the last time I did I was in high school and taking home ec classes! However, I remember lots of the concepts and terms--my mom was a fabulous seamstress, and was always making my clothes when I was younger--a lot must have brushed off on me. She doesn't sew much anymore, but I am so happy I'll be able to ask her questions as I get going with this. I'd like to make some items from some recycled sweaters I've felted--that was the whole impetus for getting the machine, though I've just bought a new book called Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp that is getting me a bit excited about making a few other projects, too.

I've been getting more and more sucked into Ravelry. I think it is fabulous how I can see other people's work on the projects I am making, or considering making. I was checking on SWS yarn, to figure out other uses for it, and was blown away by how nicely it comes out in entrelac scarves. So of course, I had to go out and get three skeins of Naturally Plum. Not that I had had any intention of making another entrelac scarf now... Maybe I'll try Lucy Neatby's garter stitch entrelac scarf pattern, which doesn't have the side triangles. That would be different. I guess I'll head over to Ravelry now and see what other people's look like!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it.

Starting the gift knitting

I am caught up in working on holiday and other presents, it seems. Lots of accessories that aren't taking too long to knit, with one exception. The quicker items were the Wave Hand Warmers (from One Skein Wonders) in turquoise Berkshire from Valley Yarns (took just one day!), the Ruffled Neckwarmer from the Tweed Four book from Classic Elite, knit in red Suri Merino (you don't want to know what happened to the first version, knit in Knit Picks Elegance, let me just say that it won't be adorning anyone's neck), the hat from the Oct. 14 post, and the Maine Morning Mitts from Clara Parkes's new book. All enjoyable projects. I am also close to done with the Composed Mitts from IK, the longer term project. They've mostly been done for a week or ten days, but I have yet to tack between the fingers, as I mentioned in my last post. However, progress has been made: there are now pins where I need to tack them. This probably won't take more than 15 minutes, I just have to sit down to do it.

I am about to start the Haiku sweater. I found it when I realized I wasn't going to make gauge on the sweater I had picked out. This one is great, because you can work it to any gauge with the formulas given. It reminds me of an Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern, with all the garter stitch. There is also some box stitch thrown in for visual interest. I plan to make the body in one color, the sleeves in another. I hope that will look nice.

The November - January Cast On arrived today, and I found several patterns I like. I often don't in this magazine, so I was quite pleased. (Their educational articles are really helpful, which keeps me reading it.) The Sassy Side Button Sweater (#28 in the preview picture) is calling to me, and I'll be surprised if I don't cast on for it soon. I have some purple heather Encore that should work well. It will be fun to pick out the decorative buttons.

Day after NY Sheep & Wool Festival at Rhinebeck

A friend and I went to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival yesterday, and had a marvelous time. I am also totally amazed that I only came home with one skein of yarn, but more on that in a moment. Jana and I hadn't been at the festival more than about 10 minutes when we happened upon the booth of The Fenwick Collection, and immediately fell for their Pacific Jacket. The jacket is made of felted alpaca and wool, and should be nicely warm (however, with the weather in the northeast this fall, I wonder if we will ever have the chance to wear warm things?). The lines of this jacket are very elegant. Jana bought black, and I bought what is, for me, a very unusual color: a muted red (what they call "tomato bisque"). I did not think that it was a good sign that we were spending so much money so quickly. From there, we walked a few steps to the Brooks Farm booth, and because it was early, we were actually able to move amongst their displays. I remember last year, when it was almost impossible to do just that. I wasn't planning to buy any yarn here, lovely as it is, as I haven't yet knitted up the two skeins I bought last year. But Jana drew my attention to a knitted shawl they were displaying, and showed me some yarn she thought would be perfect with my new jacket. Uh oh, this was not turning out well for my pocketbook. But she was perfectly right, this reddish/purplish skein of Acero will look great, once I knit it up. It should be a fast project, as it is done with size 17 needles.

The one category of stuff I was looking for was needle felting supplies. I haven't actually done any of this, but I am intrigued by their use as embellishments, say on a knitted and felted bag. (I have no aspirations to create pumpkins, creatures, or people.) It seems that felting, both needle felting and wet felting, are IN, IN, IN. Supplies and books were everywhere. We saw some lovely wet-felted bags and even some nice scarves. I bought a bit of fiber and roving and a few extra needles, but didn't go overboard.

The Festival didn't seem quite as crowded as on the Saturday of last year. The weather was perfect, though a bit warm for people to wear their warmer handknits. I saw a lot of vests, as well as summer tops. I was delighted to get some compliments on my Fleece Artist vest. The Spinning Room, our local yarn store, seemed to be doing very well selling Avoca throws and scarves from Ireland.

I was delighted to see the Philosopher's Wool booth, which is a good reminder to finish up the cardigan I am working on from them. Both sleeves are done, as is about 1/3 of the body. But it has just been too warm to work on it till now.

The highlight of the day? Could that be when we tried the deep-fried pickles? Well, maybe not!

Last week I finished up some fingerless mitts made out of Noro Kureyon for a friend, and today I did 20 rows on the second of the Composed Mitts. I was feeling a bit upset with the first one, because the increasing done for the thumb made them far too wide for the hand. I figured I'd have to rip out 30 or so rows and redo the pattern. Luckily, Jana figured out that they could be tacked between each finger, and that would nicely take up the slack. This was all I needed to regain my enthusiasm and start with the second one.

Pictures of Entrelac Clutch

Here is both the front and the back of the entrelac clutch. I really enjoyed this project. It took one skein of Boku, and one button.

Learning new things

In working on a couple of projects this weekend, I've had a chance to expand my skills. The entrelac pouch that I knit up for a class I'm co-teaching in November required that I learn the brioche stitch. I really enjoyed this, once I found a tutorial on the web that explained how to knit into the stitch below. The whole back of the little bag uses this stitch, and it looks quite nice. The seams of the bag had to be slip stitched, something else new. And it required a single crochet edging along the top, which I had done once, about a year ago. Luckily, when I was working on this today at The Spinning Room, both Joan and Nancy, good crocheters, were there to give me a hand. The bag is being blocked at the moment--I'll post pictures soon.

Today I started a pair of fingerless mitts (the free Maine Morning Mitts pattern from Clara Parkes), and decided, after listing to one of the Knit Picks podcasts in which Kelley extols the magic loop method, to learn this myself. A friend's mother had given me the booklet by Bev Galeskas, and I had a long cord that works with my Denise needles. It really isn't hard at all, and I am hoping it will keep me from having the ladders I sometimes get with my dpns.

I've ordered Clara's book The Knitter's Book of Yarn, and Amazon says it will be here by Thursday (as it isn't being published until Tuesday). I am really looking forward to it, and if anything catches my eye, I hope to find a suitable yarn Saturday when I am at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival.

I finished this hat, a birthday gift for a friend, last week. It's made from a skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky that I got at 30% off. I really love this pattern.