Show Me

Well there's been a whirlwind in my house for the last 6 weeks - I went to the show!

Six weeks ago I was talking to Dorothy - you should talk to Ellen and Tammi! Then there was a meeting in a hallway and the next thing I know there's a space at the show and it's mine....

That lead to filing for a business liscense, tax stuff, virtual terminals, a .com site, packaging, display building, banking, pricing and tagging...and in my spare time designing and knitting! 12 new mitten patterns, 3 new shawl patterns, 2 hat patterns, and a sock pattern...and then knitting everything up - in multiples! MY HANDS ACHE!

The show went super - and I have alot of you to thank for it! I can't name all the people who read this blog that showed up to support both me and the beastie's school! And speaking of the beastie - he set up my new cell phone, made bags, hauled the booth (which included 80 pounds of river rock) helped tag and organize inventory! And the hubby who is designing the .com, set up my books, hauled my stuff, and then sat and held my hand and handled the tech stuff during the two day show. And Carol - who jumped in with both feet and no hesitation to fill my booth with beautiful mittens, hats, scarves and shawls! And the hospitality princess - who showed up two days in a row even though she was working - and knitted up some cup kozies to boot! I am loved by so many!

I also met tons of new people - was offered a business venture or two, and found a couple of new vendors for fun stuff! So I guess the first thing I need to do is finish writing up some patterns - they'll be offered for sale at RogueKnits.com after the first of the year! Until then I plan to uncurl my fingers, cook some hot meals for my family (although the Straub's did my Thanksgiving cooking - I'm a bad mommy), walk my poor neglected dog, and maybe show up at a knit night or two!

Guess what else comes in 2's

Okay - it's easy - socks! But unlike mittens they
take twice as long 'cause the

yarn is skinnier - if that's even a word?!

Now way back in time I came to St. Louis to attend a wedding - like 9 or 10 years ago! We stayed at the Frontenac and had a super time. But I was bored and wanted to see the city and of course I needed some yarn to remember the trip by. The hubby looked in the phone book and found this place downtown. So off we went - we ended up parking in a dark lot (read scary) and cutting between two buildings (read scarier - after all we're from the middle of nowhere Wisconsin) and then went in a building and up some stairs to the Optical Section. But low and behold there was more yarn than glasses! Everyone was super nice and I walked out with two big bags of yarn - mostly sock! I was happy - the hubby only grumbled a little - and off we went back home! And yes it was a lovely wedding - and even more surprising - THEY'RE STILL MARRIED - TO EACH OTHER!

Now we actually live in St. Louis and I've been accepted to do a show at John Burroughs School on November 21st and 22nd! And as luck would have it - I still had some of that wonderful - OPTICAL - sock yarn still hanging around! So come visit me dontchaknow!

And for the technically minded - pair one was knit using Regia Stretch Color - pair two was used using Regia Jacquard - and I used almost all of two balls per pair on a US size 2 needle. I cast on 56 stitches - did a K2, P2 cuff for 1.5 inches - then straight stitch until piece measured 7.5 inches. Did a heel of K1, Slip1, followed by Slip1 purl to the end of the row over 28 stitches and 30 rows. Turned my heel, and finished to the toes depending on size of foot.

Mittens come in 2's

When I do mittens I have a series of "blanks" that I've used over the years. They fit me and members of my family and I did them in Excel. From there I just plug patterns I found interesting from different books, or techniques, or just from doodles on graph paper. You can make them as complicated or simple as the wearer dictates. Now I remember why I don't like to make mittens - 'cause you have to make 2! These are all stash busters - none have been blocked yet - and all are knit in wool, even the little bitty ones are super wash merino (which by the way I will never to a gusseted thumb for a 3 year old again, talk about futzy)

I've been far less productive than usual since sickness has invaded my men folk - and after holding strong for most of the month I have succumbed to it too...but at least the beastie went back to school today - cause nothing is worse then a sick mom with a healthy beastie stuck together in a house!

NO - My Needles Don't Smolder....

So someone asked me today if my needles smoldered! No they most definitely do not. I'm however at a time in my life that allows - nay - demands lots of knitting. I have no wee ones at home as Ms. Betty says, as a matter of fact he spends most of his day either at school or playing sports! I also have a hubby who's on the road - this means I sit up some nights with the Wonder Dog listening to sounds from the back yard! So as my Ravelry account says - I knit at football, hockey, golf, cello, during the day and during the night. This makes me look rather productive - but it leaves my house in utter turmoil - but we like it that way!

The blue/violet/green/royal mittens are a combination of slightly modified stitch patterns from Charts for Colour Knitting by Alice Starmore, the thumb and cuff are actually the same pattern but the thumb is turned sideways! I used the braided cuff from Latvian Mittens by Lizbeth Upitis, and the back was something I goofed out using graph paper and eventually charted in Excel! The hubby has been telling me about a new site that allows you to share charts - kindda like Flickr for photo's. If I ever figure out how to do it - or someone who's had experience figures out how to do this and PM's me I'll be happy to share this one if anyone's interested.

Now the Pink/Purple and creamy colored ones are also a combination of patterns - the front is from the book Selbuvoter by Terri Shea - but I don't like knitting gussets so instead - changed the sizing, changed the back, put in an after thought thumb from EZ's book Knitting Around, added a ruffle from Latvian Mittens, and the cuff is from a book in my stash called Small Sweaters by Lize Kolstad & Tone Takle. I really liked how they came out - even if they are really girlie!

Yes I can knit a mitten a day - but there are also days when no knitting gets done, like today! On day's like today I spend my time driving - almost 4 hours today alone! And poor beastie is sick and just wants soup - which may rhyme with nupps - but is much harder to make, and far less enjoyable!

Warm Woolen Mittens

Once upon a time I could whip out mittens
without even thinking about it, I mean in the dark while watching a hockey game on a pond in the glow of the headlights of a truck...but then we moved from the frozen north down here to St. Louis. My kid is still wearing shorts in December 'cause "It's not cold enough for jeans yet"! And I stopped making mittens and started knitting lace....

So now that I've set the scene...I get a call from the beastie's school - if I can run by with a couple of samples the jury for their show in November will be there and would consider me for entry. Which is funny cause there'd been talk of this for a while but nothing definitive. So I grab some samples and hustle over. I throw in lace scarves, and shawls and shawl pins and as an after thought a sample of mittens and socks. So they say the lace is lovely but what they'd really like to see......more MITTENS!

So I run home and pull out "Charts for Colour Knitting" by Alice Starmore. I got this book years ago and I've always had good luck with it - and this pair of mittens fairly jumped from the "Eastern" section of the book onto my needles. But then a funny thing happened - I've been knitting lace for 3 years and my fingers didn't cooperate with my brain and it took me forever to finish the first mitten. The beastie was right - I had become a "One Trick Pony"! I wonder what else I've forgotten how to do...cables...beading...sweaters.......

Really Red

How's that song go - it's either midnight blue or cherry red? It's definitely cherry red!!!This is the Sophia pattern from the new book Haapsalu Sall! I used an all over knitted on edging from Nancy Bush's Estonian Lace Knitting! Final dimensions 10 inches x 60 inches, and used approximately 45 grams of fiber. The fiber is a 2/28 blend from colourmart - it was 60% merino/20% silk/20% cashmere! It had great color retention (considering reds bleed like crazy) no knots or joins in the cone and great stitch definition. I used a US size 4 needle, although I think I may go down to a size 3 next time...let me know what you think! I'm going to have a hard time giving this one up! It will be going to the beastie-boy's school for an auction in November!

ColourMart 2/28 Cashmere

Okay - earlier this year in a fit of self pity and loathing I hit the ColourMart site - 'cause no matter what's eating you (or you're eating) cashmere has medicinal properties. I got this cone of green called Artichoke. It's my favorite shade of mossy green with a hint of yellow. I also got a copy of Haapsalu Saal! Happy dance, love this book, so many stitches, so little time. So knitted up a panel and added a "Modern" edging from Nancy Bush's book Estonian Lace Knitting and here's a scarf. The boy beastie says it's "Grinch Green" which I guess is okay since it's holiday knitting. It looks very much like the Queen Silvia shawl I already did, but the Saal book has variations on the stitch pattern which is kindda cool!




Technical stuff - used 50 grams of 2/28 cashmere. Used US size 3 needles, and was happy with the results. DID NOT go up a needle size when I did the edging. DID NOT slip the first stitch of each row, instead did 3 stitches of garter at the beginning and end. Liked picking up in the bars better than the slipped stitch. I love the way the cashmere blooms in the nupps - they look like little peas!

Then I bought these cute little bags that come with a sachet of lavender from my friend CarolP! Now I have a perfect gift - and it's already "wrapped" and the lavender should keep MOTHRA at bay! And did I mention that she's also made me several "Lace" keeper bags! I'll try to get shots next time I've got an empty one! Now before y'all yell at me again - these items are not on her webpage - you'll have to beg, or whine (whining always helps - she has kids!) or blackmail (not likely cause she's nice) or just try dropping her a note on her site - she'll get back to you! Or she'll kill me on Monday when I see her at the Ladies of Lucerne Knitting group that meets at the Straub's on the corner of Clayton and Clarkson (between 1 & 4)!!!

IBOL

Okay - the boy beastie has finally gone back to school! Oh my gosh - I spent an average of 4 hours a day - 5 days a week driving to...golf...hockey...football...martial arts...weight training and conditioning...and occasionally I sneaked in the rare moment of knitting! Seems that his workout plan works much better than mine - but then again if I did his workout I'd be DEAD and chubby!

So I'm sitting around reading at around 1 am this morning and found this site. It's called Iraqi Bundles of Love (IBOL). Now there's not much time to participate, but check it out and respond by SEPTEMBER 8th! That's the last day you can ship and have it arrive on time. Seems the guy actually gets to leave his current assignment soon - and packages mailed after September 8th will be returned. Yes there is no ship info on my blog - the man requests that you leave him a comment on his blog page and he'll in turn respond to you personally and tell you where to ship.

Click this link - IBOL

As to knitting - well there will be a ton of pictures but here are two that I've got right now. The pastel on top is one of mine and the darker one is from Birgit Freyer and it's called Imaginary. Both are knit using JoJoland fibers! And did I mention that my new copy of Haapsula stitch patterns just arrived? Must finish current projects - Must Finish current projects - MUST FINISH!!!

Oriental Impressions Scarf

This is the Oriental Impressions Scarf - I got it from Ravelry where it was free! On top of that I used the remainder of the "Venus" colored 2/28 cashmere from ColourMart. This was still the same cone from the "Ravinia" shawl - and guess what - I still have enough left to get halfway thru another scarf! I used a size 2.75 mm needle and about 400 yards of cashmere. It ended up being about 57" long and about 10 inches wide. It's soft and airy and it's the exact same color as a fresh peach!

The scarf is pretty enough on it's own - but I added a border that was knit at the same time as the scarf. So you cast on using a provisional cast on for the border. Then do enough repeats of the pattern for the width of the scarf plus 2 more repeats. Now turn the work and pick up one stitch in each of the edge stitches of one pattern repeat. Take the previous stitches and bring them over the last stitch on the needle (kindda like a nupp) this gathers the corner! Now pick up one stitch in each of the next edge stitches and when you get to the end gather the last pattern repeat. Pull out the the provisional cast on and you're ready to start. You have two sides of the shawl and the body ready to go!

Rants and Raves

This was my christening shawl from Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller...it started and stopped, I ripped and reknitted, it was tiresome, tedious and devastating to my ego - how can I, who knits complicated lace patterns during hockey games, fail to grasp a shawl made in FEATHER AND FAN (collective gasp!). So as the song goes - you gotta know when to walk away....and when to run! I also confess to having started this project in this particular yarn because I think it's rude to plunk your tush down at a knit nite at a yarn store and not use yarn from that store! Or is this just me? See told you there would be lots of ranting!

Continue with the Estonian Leaf and Nupp shawl from Lace Knitting from Estonia (by Nancy Bush). Don't get me wrong I think it came out great - but I had read all the hype about baby camel being super soft - but cashmere is still softer! I will say that it seems "sticky" much like a shetland wool - and it is extremely light weight and warm! And I loved the color (mostly cause it seems to match my ever greying hair!) But still going to go with the cashmere! I seem to be having a problem with most of the shawls in this book being short...well short for me! So I continually seem to be reworking edgings!

More ranting - not knitting related! How can this administration promise better health care when the clinic I regularly use has you wait 15 days for a "well visit" and a scrip for maintenance meds - and don't even run the tests you know you're going to need and they always request until after you've had the visit which is timed to less than 10 minutes! This system is hopeless understaffed, and the last time I checked it takes a little bit of time to educate a doctor! I don't know if it's the insurance industry/or failure to have coverage that is the issue!?

And as promised here's a rave or two! First one is not knitting related - Hey Al - yesterday the boy beast was taking apart the fairly new tv downstairs - ripped off the power supply and there sat an oozing capacitor - where I heard "YES - I knew it was elephant snot"! Seems the boy beast had a class with Mr. Al when he was 7 where the oozing goo was referred to as elephant snot - and he still remembered 7 years later! Teachers have such a profound impact on kids! Also how weird is it that my 14 year old can fix a television (supervised by his dad - who had to buy the parts! - okay and a lot of the actual work but they are doing this together and hardly fighting at all!)

Here's my Cameron Shawl (by sharon miller) - like the shawl - love almost all of her designs! But I really really can't say enough about this new fiber combo from ColourMart! I'm using the merino/silk/cashmere blend in a 2/30 weight! My swatch washed up prefectly (dawn/mediumhot water, two rinses and rolled up in a towel - then blocked)! So of course I bought more! The picture is what's on my needles - but I can't find the swatch to take a picture! But where ever it is...it's perfect!

Queen Silvia

Finished blocking the Queen Silvia shawl. This pattern can be found in Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. I used Modern 16 - Round Lace Edge from the back of the book, and added 2 extra repeats to the pattern. That means for the mathletes out there it ended up with 30 x 13 edging pattern repeats plus the 4 corner points. Finished size is 27" x 60 inches while it's still pinned out! I really enjoyed this pattern - especially the 5 stitch gather! I had a bunch of trouble with this one while swatching and then realized that you get a much clearer stitch if you make one small change. On the row before you do the "gather", take each of the stitches to be gathered and instead of just purling the stitch, wrap the yarn around the needle twice before you take the stitch off. Then on the next row lift the 5 stitches so that you get rid of the extra loop, this give you 5 perfect and very large stitches and makes the process so much easier...this is probably clear as mud until you try it!

I RIP - a lot

So mon ami - here is my walk of shame...that's right...I rip - a lot! I get "YOU rip" with this incredulous look. I get the same look when I say I'm taking a class, but that will be another post. I must stick to the "shame"...so here's a brief look...

This is Estonian PotPourrie - it got fragged not once but three times while I was searching for the right fiber....then I found the mistake in block 4 - which even though the picture doesn't reflect it I was on block 10 at the time so - I rippped - collective gasp please!

then there are these mittens - the chart turns out to not be the same stitch as the finished mitten - so I bodgered it and the front looked like the picture - but then I noticed the back was also off - so it sat in a basket for a month - when I realized who the heck was I trying to fool - so I ripped!

Then there's this delightful little sweater/jacket that Brooke designed - that I knew I was never going to be happy with it in this fabric and really I wanted to add some extra ruffles to the back, and lengthen the sleeves with huge bell ruffles at the cuff - so I RIPPED again!

And finally there's this absolutely lovely shawl in my favorite fiber combo (cashmere with a hint of silk) It's Sharon Miller's Print of the Wave...and after completing 7 repeats (tedious but pretty) I notice a "non-recoverable" error and frog back to the first repeat.

So if you're keeping count dear friends I frogged 4 projects (some of them multiple times but who's counting) in the month of May alone! I RIP a lot - so do most of the experienced knitters I know (Hi Brooke)! So knit on, and all that other stuff you tell people in similar straits! Personally I reach for chocolate and knit a quick hat for charity - then I start again.

Legends of the Shetland Seas

Well - it's true I'm a lace tart and my drug of choice is ColourMart Cashmere - which would make me a tart and a fiber snob...

TwinToes came to me exactly one month ago and asked for something fabulous for an auction to benefit Breast Cancer Research at St. Alban's Country Club - stress the fabulous. They were looking for something light and girly and Richard was nice enough to help out by throwing this up on his website...so from the runways of Milan to the shop in the UK to a pattern stop in Wisconsin to the event in Missouri here's what I knitted....

And for the technical stuff -ColourMart 2/28 cashmere -75 grams or approximately 1120 yards
US size 3 needle; Pattern by Hazel Carter - Legends of the Shetland Seas and it took about 3 weeks of work (on and off). Finished dimensions 26 inches by 72 inches blocked. And in case you're interested here are a couple of pictures I took while working.

And just a note - Hazel Carter is really one of my favorite designers! I've had the pleasure of attending a couple of her classes, and what a wicked sense of humor. I will only say that I have seen her in a hand knit Carmen Miranda outfit complete with knitted fruit head dress! Everytime I use one of her patterns I smile from beginning to end! I must say that I always get homesick - because Blackberry Ridge was my LYS...but now it's one of several really great ones here in St. Louis...but there's something about Blackberry Ridge that will remain forever special in my heart.

last photo of the lerwick

So Brooke and Suzi over at the Knittery let me use their dress form to take this picture! Final note to self - when wet blocking something this big call for reinforcements - my back ached for 3 days after this one! Still torn about having substituted the "leg" thing - I think I should have added another half tree to fill up the "hole". Still really digging on the 2/28 cashmere - so much that I went and ordered some of the 2/36 cash silk in lilac, and opal, and meadowlark...Sometimes I really hate Richard! Now if I only had somewhere to wear this really extravagant shawl....the hubby suggests the beastchild's hockey game on Saturday -such a class act!!!

LERWICK DONE!!!!!

I have finally finished my Lerwick by Sharon Miller - YEAH - Happy Dance - Yikers it's big....


So it weighs in at 165 grams - I used ColourMart 2/28 Cashmere - and a size 3 needle. Finished dimensions are 67 inches square - I blocked using a king size bed - and it probably could have been a bit bigger but I was afraid of running out of bed! The color is hard to photograph - but it's actually a dark chocolate brown!

Used the washing technique described on the ColourMart Yahoo List - Washed the first time using Dawn - the water looked pretty Yucky - so I did it again - looked better but not clear yet so then used Pantene and the water finally rinsed clear! Wrapped it in a towel (or three) and stomped the final rinse water out of it and threw it in the dryer (I know I can't believe I did it either) and left it on high for 3 minutes. Loved the results! It's so soft - and the cashmere really bloomed! It's a great pattern - wonderful yarn and a totally fun knit!

Lerwick on the home stretch

I've been working on and off on this shawl since the 1rst of the year (mostly off) and I'm starting to see the end...I've learned alot by working this pattern! First off - it's 4 techniques in one! I ended up going with the mitered corner so of course it took me extra time. Now I'm stuck at the edging. I need to reread the instructions - is there any ease to go around the corners? Until I get going again here's some pictures - cause as Robyn says - I don't care about the words - just the eye candy...

spiderweb with bird's eye insert

wide border

In praise of simple things

This is Babies and Bear's by Cottage Creations and it's sized by using different yarn weights and needle sizes. Here's the joy in it...it has really deep arm holes so it's not a fight to get your little squirmer into it, it has a garter stitch hood which means it's like ribbing and it grows with the baby and it stays on their head, it fits for a long time since it has all that garter stitch near the tummy area and best of all...it's fast! And to date myself - that pattern has been in my arsenal since the boybeast was born - 14 years ago. It is the first thing I ever made him, and I've been making them ever since. It is unisex, comfy, quick and definitely appreciated at baby showers! Since most of my friend are past having babies, but we're too young to be doing the grandma thing I thought I'd make a few for Pat and BRO. Not to mention that I need to use up more of my stash, because I am quickly approaching the new word of the day SABLE - stash acquisition beyond life expectancy!

And just in case you're still wondering about karma...wouldn't you know that I stopped in at the Kirkwood Knittery for Thursday Nite - and she had buttons on sale!!! Not to mention an unannounced 75% OFF the sale bin!

Mystery SOLVED!!!

Well it's finally done - and it's true - I am a one project woman! Can't cope with doing more than one lace piece at a time. I need to develop a new strategy for KAL's. Don't get me wrong - I liked the KAL experience! But in the future I need to hoard the clues and then knit it all at once - with no layovers!!! By the way this thing is big - 75" across the top with 51" on a side! Off it goes to Tulsa to two that need a big ol' Missouri hug! (and just incase you want to know - 2.5 balls of knitpicks shadow - color sunset I got on sale - so you sick six sigma fiends - that's more stash reduction - and reusing size 4 needle!!! TAKE THAT YOU MASTER BLACKBELT - you've been had by a novice!)

Preemies and Knit-Ins

So first off - here's a link to rms - who seemed to think that it was a challenge/throwdown. Just cause I post a couple of baby hats she's all like "I'll just write my own pattern"! And by the by from now on all preemie hats will be referred to as "Bitty" since they are modeled by an ancient American Girl Bitty Baby Doll. Her head circumference is 12 inches - and the only preemie head I ever got to measure was 11.5 inches so it will have to do. Besides I used to use an orange to model, but there is something not right about eating your baby's head after you just knitted it a hat!

So here's my Bitty Beaufort - another freebie hat pattern off Ravelry written for an adult that makes the cutest darn preemie hat! I used the medium size (72 stitches) with fingering weight yarn and size 3 needles! I see many more of these in my future - 1/3 of a ball of fingering weight yarn and about 3 hours. I did the majority while attending a KNIT-IN at a local high school called Knit for Needs!

They had over 30 students attend plus teachers and parents. They had all skill levels show up and knit in the dining hall - they need to work a little on the sound level - they were much quieter than the usual guild meetings I attend!! I also need to thank the newbie 7th grade knitter who helped with the boring bits on this hat - I hate to rib. She used a circular needle for the first time and went right to town! I feel so OLD!!! So thank you to Knits for Needs - it was a most enjoyable afternoon outing!

Preemie Hats - not a RMS challenge

Well the old year is packed away, the house has now been put back to it's pre-holiday chaos, the kid is back in school and the husband is back at the office! And in a single week I heard about a KAL of preemie hats for the Kirkwood Knittery. The kid came home with a "Knit for Needs" group at his school that was looking for preemie/baby hats, and of course there's the Guild that takes preemie hats too. So this months I'll be sneaking in the occasional hat while I'm trying to knit on the Lerwick in the chocolate which looks like black! See I'm mellowing!!!!

The Six Sigma Black Belt I live with is happy - old stash, free patterns, and my "playroom" even got cleaned out!!!! Not only that but I think I may have figured out links.....

This is called "Poppy" by Justine Turner. It was actually a grownup pattern - but with little to no modification you can turn it into a preemie hat. I guess I just wanted to prove to myself that any hat pattern can be for a preemie!! It opens up a world of possibilities.

This is a Vine Lace Cap. I found it on Ravelry - which directs you over to the Knitting Daily site. You may have to sign in to this site in order to grab a download. This is by far my favorite!!! It's a simple little lace pattern that gives a gently scalloped edge and some really fun decreases at the top!! Had an issue with rolling so started it with 2 rows of garter stitch.

This is called "Sprite" and it's by Kayla Dyches! Again just by switching to a lighter weight yarn and smaller needles you get a cute as a button preemie hat!!


And finally this is called "Cute preemie/baby Hat" and is written by Selana. This pattern is again available for free as a Ravelry download. It has been translated from German into English - which helped cause my German is way rusty! I did it because it forced me to crochet! It's probably not perfect so try not to look at the large version!!! And just a tip for all of you trying to download patterns off the net in "foreign tongues". Try using a tool called Babelfish - all you do is copy what you need to understand and paste it into a window - tell it the language and boom you are in business!!