knitting alone

When It's This Cold Outside. It's Time to

2012-01-15T18:46:00.003-05:00

bake bread!

Rye, this time, yum.

My Own Damn Pattern

2012-01-10T21:15:00.006-05:00

As I put on this sweater this morning, I realized that I've never talked about it and it's one of my favorites. It started out on my first trip to Rhinebeck in 2008. I fell in love with the yarn from Briar Rose Fibers. And although it was pretty pricey I bought it anyway. And it couldn't be just any sweater, it had to be a special sweater. So I found a pattern I loved and knit away. But it was awful. Wrong pattern for my special yarn. So I frogged it and knit another pattern. But it was huge, really huge. So I frogged it.

And I decided to knit my own damn pattern. I got out my The Knitter's Book Handy Book of Sweater Patterns and figured it out. I wanted a simple cardigan with some ribbing like on a sweater I owned, not too long, with a little shaping.

And I needed a button band that would hold up the buttons I bought.

And when I was done, I had a sweater I loved and I wear it a lot.

I wore it to Stitches East the next year when I took a class with Lily Chin. She pointed to people one at a time and had them talk about the sweaters they were wearing but she skipped me. The look on my face must have given me away though because she came back to me and said, "You didn't make that sweater." Best compliment ever.

2011

2012-01-04T21:54:00.008-05:00

It was the best of times it was the worst of times, no wait, someone wrote that already. But it's true. We lost Duffy. Of all the dogs, he was such a special one and we were so sad.

Especially Dunkin, dogs do mourn. So we got Dougal. And he has brought us a lot of laughter.

But best of all, Piper came into our lives in November.

And BDE is having twins next month!

So there has been a lot of knitting going on here in our house.

Merry Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T19:25:00.002-05:00

I've been very quiet this year but that's going to change because I have so much to tell you! Merry Christmas and I'll see you next year.

House Guest

2011-03-13T20:56:00.015-04:00

Almost a year ago, Stamps came to visit. He was a wonderful guest, so we decided to invite another. Wandering Woolemina is on her way around America and maybe beyond but I had not idea when she would arrive. As luck had it, she came just as we were going to Delaware for the weekend. So we packed her up in the car with only just enough time to introduce ourselves

and admire the wonderful hostess gifts she brought.

The next morning, our first stop was my favorite LYS, Kitschy Stitch in Rehoboth Beach.

Woolemina met a friend and

wallowed in some wool.

Then we did some shopping. First a stop for her next hostess's gift.

And a stop at Lowe's for something for our new bathroom. (Woolemina was a good sport about that.)

And on to the outlets where we found some really good sales and she gave me advice on what to buy.

Then we took a rest on the patio, the weather was so nice. Woolemina really enjoyed reading the new Interweave Knits.

And finally out for dinner.

On Sunday, we drove home. Woolemina was very happy seeing the signs of spring. The trees are starting to show some color and we saw forsythia in bloom. We went grocery shopping.

and ended the evening knitting on Woolemina's scarf, which is very colorful.

Tomorrow we have to write in her journal and send her off to Wisconsin. She has been a wonderful guest and we'll be sorry to see her go. (Even Mr. Truck who was somewhat embarrassed by all the pictures we took.)

Not So Much Knitting

2010-05-03T21:59:00.006-04:00

So it's finally spring and I've been playing in the garden a lot. Look I have roses!

And socks. These are Wanida in Austerman Step Classic and I really like them. No modifications on these but I might make them longer if I did them again.

I've found that for my funny feet with the high insteps a gusset of at least 2 1/2 inches works the best. I think that the heel gusset makes the biggest difference in the fit of the socks, at least for me.

And for some mindless knitting after the workout in the garden, I've been knitting these squares out of my leftover sock yarn. You know, the little bits that you can't bear to throw away when the socks are done. I think the original calls for a lot more squares than I'm willing to make so mine will probably be baby quilt size.

It's been a fun trip down memory lane remembering where I was when I bought the yarn or what was going on when I knit those socks. Do you remember what was happening in your life when you were knitting something?

Have you seen this?

2010-04-18T22:33:00.003-04:00

We had a very unproductive visit to Ikea last weekend. They're remodeling and I coudn't find most of what I was looking for and everything else was out of stock. So frustrating. But I did find this, it's called a Komplement multi-use hanger and they say it's for shawls, really! Did you ever have one of those hangers that had yarn crocheted on it, well this is the same concept.

So look what I did. Very cool, and now they won't be all squished in the drawer. I feel so organized.

And now that it's finally feeling like spring, I've been outside playing in the garden. And my hands look like it. But the epimediums are blooming and so are the bleeding hearts. There are even a few rosebuds. So maybe it's time to put away the scarves and shawls.

Not Really Sure

2010-04-10T23:17:00.006-04:00

about these socks. I love the yarn so it's not that. Or maybe it is. It's a beautiful soft, springy yarn and I really enjoyed meeting Lisa Souza and her husband at Stitches East, but it's very thin and maybe the socks won't last long. This might be better for something else. But the colors are to die for.

I like the pattern, Angee by Cookie A. but it's not my favorite one from the book. Maybe it's not the right yarn for the pattern.

But I'm really sure I love how they go with my new shoes.

For Whom

2010-03-31T09:01:00.004-04:00

What are you making Grammy? Socks, Evan. For who? For whom, Evan. For me. You always make socks for you. Can you make me socks? Of course I will, Evan.

Angee by Cookie A. in Lisa Souza sock yarn

Vanilla socks in Regia sock yarn

The Time Is Right

2010-03-23T23:00:00.001-04:00

Michelle made them, Becky made a bunch of them, and actually there are 2686 of them on Ravelry. And every time I saw them I said, I have to make them. But I never got around to it. Until a couple of weeks ago. You see, I made slippers back in May of 2008 and they finally wore out.

Now I could have probably figured out a way to fix them but it's been almost two years and Olivia was asking for slippers. So here are my French Press Slippers. A bit big at first.

But they felted down really well and they are really comfy.

The purple and green are for Olivia, she picked the colors and mine are the leftover green.

So pretty soon there will be 2687 projects on Ravelry.

I'm In Love

2010-03-18T23:59:00.000-04:00

With CPW's. Last weekend, during one of the worst nor'easters I've ever driven in, Jesh had a Canadian Production Wheel Spin-in in Roselle, NJ which is about 15 miles from me. Lisa, Marcy, Fran, and Rosane brought their beautiful wheels. And I am in serious love with them (the wheels not the people.) There were other wheels. too, Jesh, Leslie, Jess, Hilary, Lisa and Jessica had some really nice wheels and of course I brought mine. But the CPW's are just amazing.

When I got my little antique wheel, Mr. Truck said now I have a wheel for each house and I don't need anymore, but I think I'll be getting one of these some day in the not too distant future. And Marcy is such an enabler that I really can't resist.

And don't forget that I have this as ammunition:

From knitting alone

Three wheels would fit in the truck, no problem.

Physics Lessons

2010-03-16T22:56:00.002-04:00

This weekend we learned a lot about hydrostatic pressure especially this kind: "Groundwater in water-saturated soils being pushed into the basement by hydrostatic pressure." Apparently over two feet of snow melting followed by almost six inches of rain in one day causes water to make cracks in your basement floor which then ooze water for 72 hours. We're finally drying out, we're sore and really tired but I have some really cool pictures of spinning to share. Maybe tomorrow, now we're just going to bed.

My Green Sweater (which isn't green at all)

2010-03-11T00:01:00.002-05:00

When I showed you the Green Sweater it wasn't looking much like a sweater at all. But just cutting the first steek made all the difference.

And when I did the sleeve steeks, it all started to fall into place. And I again marveled at the genius of Elizabeth Zimmerman. This sweater is constructed like no other I've ever knitted. All the details have been thought of.

The corners are all mitered. (Some of mine are better than others and I can really understand Mr. Truck's frustration when he was putting up the crown molding the other weekend.)

The steeks are all in just the right places.

The grosgrain ribbon inside the facing to prevent the fronts from stretching is just such a wonderful touch.

Even under the arms is so well thought out. And I love the decreasing on the top of the sleeve.

I finally found the perfect clasps (and at a good price) at The Button Drawer which had very fast delivery, too.

So, here it is, my Green Sweater.

I did love this story when I first read it and I really wanted to knit this sweater even if I didn't like the sweater when I was done. And I've learned so much while knitting it, my first steeks and some really interesting construction techniques. So I have become a better knitter because of it. But it turns out that I really like the sweater, which makes it even better.

Seems Like I've Done This Before

2010-03-04T18:42:00.010-05:00

I've won a medal! I had just about finished my sweater and it snowed here for two days and I had nothing to do but knit and shovel. Olivia had asked for a poncho and I had already bought the yarn so what could I do but knit it? I sat and knit, between shoveling, and since it was chunky yarn on big needles and she's not so big yet, I got a medal for it.

It's my version of a Very Harlot Poncho with some garter stitch and eyelet to replace the fringe. Wee ones don't do so well with fringe so I'm told.

And then I realized that I had made a poncho before. A long time ago my cousin, another tween, had asked me for a poncho and a hat to match and a very little Cherry Pie had modeled them for me. The picture is dated Winter 1975, but it could be the beginning of 1976, which would have made her a little younger than Reese is now and my cousin would have been almost 12. I had almost forgotten.

My House Guest

2010-02-22T21:48:00.003-05:00

You may wonder who this is and what he's doing with Elmo. Stamps is visiting me on his trip around the world and he was invited to Reese's birthday party where he learned to do the chicken dance. If you want to read more about him, he has a blog.

And, Magically, It Looks Like a Sweater

2010-02-18T09:29:00.004-05:00

Just cut one steek and now I can see a sweater. The genius of EZ never ceases to amaze me!

Strange Looking Thing

2010-02-16T00:10:00.001-05:00

It's going really fast and I think by tomorrow I'll be ready to steek. But it's the strangest looking sweater I've ever knit. I'm trusting Elizabeth Zimmerman and Sunday and I think, like the Baby Surprise Sweater, I'll understand it when I'm done. But it does look odd, don't you think?

And We're Off

2010-02-12T09:09:00.004-05:00

I'm all ready, are you?

Souvenir Yarn

2010-02-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

Do you buy souvenir yarn? We went to Cape May this September and I just had to check out the LYS there. So my SIL Mimi and I spent a good amount of time looking around while the men patiently waited. I can't leave a yarn store without a souvenir so I bought a skein of Ty-Dy Sock yarn in a really fun color. (Mimi bought an issue of Interweave Crochet.) And when I was finally ready for Vilai, I thought it would be just right.

I think this picture is the most accurate for color. Vilai, like most of the patterns in this book is just challenging enough that you have to pay attention but not so hard that I wanted to quit. I never did memorize it, though.

But the best part of all is that Mr. Truck finally took a picture that I can use. We just won't talk about all the ones I deleted.

And inspired by Lynn, who is so generous with her charity knitting, I've knit a pair of teeny tiny socks for charity from some leftover Opal.

Eek a Steek!

2010-01-25T00:02:00.000-05:00

I've been knitting since I was little and I've tried lots and lots of techniques, but there's one thing I've never done because I was terrified. But I'm going for the Ravelympics again this year and there was a sweater I just had to knit. Have you seen Elizabeth Zimmerman's recently found pattern, the Green Sweater? After I read this article, I fell in love with the story and the sweater, but it involved steeks, eek! The one thing I've avoided. But I really want to make it, I even have the yarn. So I swatched and procrastinated. Finally, I made up my mind and I announced it to Mr. Truck and then my Saturday morning knitting group. I was committed. I got everything ready and I read this and this.

I crocheted and cut.

And it worked!

It was so much fun I did it again!

I have conquered my fear, I am now a truly fearless knitter. Bring on the Ravelympics!

Spun to Finished

2010-01-20T00:10:00.000-05:00

If you have a really good memory, you might remember my fiber buying at Rhinebeck. This was 3 oz of cormo from Briar Rose, love their colors! And I really like Cormo.

After spinning and plying, it ended up like this. It's still a mystery to me what the roving will turn out to be, maybe other spinners can visualize how the colors will spin up but I'm still happy when it turns out to be yarn.

The colors look so much better in person, but they're really "fall" colors.

And then there's the hunt for a pattern that I can make with a little bit of yarn. Obviously not a sweater and I really don't need another hat. So after searching the patterns on Ravelry I found this one. And after fiddling a bit with gauge and needles and length, I have this. And I used one of my new wood buttons.

The problem is I still have some yarn left. Any suggestions?

The first of 2010

2010-01-18T00:10:00.001-05:00

So I get this text message from BDE with a request to make a pair for her Maid of Honor. Pleeeeze!

So it's not much but here's the first FO of 2010.

And I want to thank all of you for the nice comments and emails about Wekendy. I'm so happy to report that all of his and his wife's family are accounted for and fine. He was in tears when he told us. And then all of us were weeping, too.

Help for Haiti

2010-01-13T22:57:00.003-05:00

One of my co-workers, Wekendy, is from Haiti. His whole family is unaccounted for but for his mother. My heart breaks for him. The Yarn Harlot is doing something for the Haitians and you can read about it on her blog. She's throwing up the Knit-Signal for those of us fortunate enough to be able to help. I wish I could do more.

Around the House

2010-01-11T00:30:00.000-05:00

I saw this meme on Anna's blog and I loved it. She got it from Sonia, who I believe started it. So here goes:

The idea is to wander around your house taking pictures of the following things. Nothing special, just what it looks like at that moment. I love to get a peek of other people's houses, don't you?

In the kitchen
On the nightstand
In your work/craft space
Out the window
What the pets or children are up to
On your feet
Knitting or knitwear in action

In the kitchen, we had pea soup and cornbread for dinner. Nice on a very cold night.

On my nightstand, lots of lotions and books and my latest project.

This is where I sit and spin or knit in the evenings watching TV.

Since there's really nothing good to see out the window, I thought you'd like to see what I look at next to the window. The 31 is the humidity in the house, and that's why I need all that lotion. 63.3 is cool but that's because it's next to the window, the rest of the house is much warmer than that. 31.8 outside is much better than 15 which is what it was when we got up.

What the dogs do most of the time. Duffy was on my bed. Dunkin got a new duck for Christmas and it goes everywhere with him.

What's on my feet, really old socks from Lionbrand Magic Stripes. That yarn lasts forever.

Knitting in actions, my downstairs project in some of my hand spun yarn.

Now show me yours!

Last Look at 2009

2010-01-07T22:33:00.001-05:00

It started with this roving. Finn wool, called Drugstore Chocolate.

Navajo plied into this yarn.

Knit into this shawl.

Blocked out to this.

And just because everyone else did it, a look back.

Knits Finished in 2009

* Pillow

* Shawl
* Bentley's Sweater
* 26 no make that 27 Christmas Ornaments
* Mittens
* Black Hat
* Striped Hat
* Pirate Hat
* Owl Hat
* Pixie Hat
* Teeny Tiny Legwarmers
* My Very Own Sweater
* Sunshine Socks
* Baktus
* Baby Beret
* Baby Shrug
* Spring Chicken
* Bruja Socks
* Eunice Socks
* Textured Circle Shrug
* Ishbel
* June Square
* Printed Silk Cardigan
* June Square
* Glynis Socks
* Top Down Bonnet
* Pedicure Socks
* Plain Socks
* May Square
* Mug Cozy
* Clapotis
* April Square
* Cabled Socks
* 3 Sugarless Panoramic Eggs
* March Square
* Courtney's Bit of Blue
* Leyburn Socks
* Nutkin Socks
* February Square
* Ribbon Edge Cardigan
* Mary Jane Booties
* Top Down Bonnet
* Nutkin Socks
* Peapod Sweater
* Dragonfly Socks
* Apres Surf Hoodie
* January Square
* Beanie
* 2 Hats
* Chevalier Mittens
* Dragonfly Socks
* Flora

Now onto the next year in which I will steek.