Saturday, August 30, 2008

Enjoying Friendship and New Sock Yarn



Last week I was vacationing in Matlacha, Florida with my friend, Deanna. It was for this purpose that I was knitting my Ogee Lace Skirt. The skirt was finished the night before we left to drive the 16 hours down to Matlacha. I did wear it the first day that we went to the beach, but it was then that I realized that I was completely right in thinking this was NOT the right yarn for this skirt. I used what I had in my stash; something I for which I had no project idea. It just wasn't the right choice. I love the pattern and the knitting wasn't difficult. It actually knit up pretty fast. I'm thinking I'll get some Cotton Classic and reknit the pattern for next summer. We'll see...


Matlacha is a small community close to Fort Myers on the west coast of the Florida peninsula . It is about 40 minutes from the beaches on Sanibel & Captiva Islands, and the driving route each day included going over two bridges. Since we both were up early every day, we saw some beautiful sunrises just about the time we got to the second bridge. As De said many times through out the week, watching the earth wake up over the water was always beautiful! These clouds promised rain by the time we got to Captiva on Sanibel Island, and so two of the four days we drove over, we saw rainbows over the palm trees when we stopped to get our coffee at the local Sanibel Bean.

After our coffee stop, we drove over to the beach. Our favorite last week was Blind Pass where the sea shells were plentiful and the waves were constant.

I had never been to a beach before that had so many shells. The very first one I picked up was a nice sized Sea urchin. After that most of the shells were of the Calico Scallop type (they look like the Shell Oil sign), but among those there were several varieties of color. We found a few of the Lightning Whelk, Sailor's Ear, and many Auger Shells. When we left Blind Pass and drove down to Sanibel Lighthouse beach, we found Fig Shells and more Sea Urchins. But the water wasn't as clean on the Lighthouse beach so we didn't stay long.




Before leaving home to head for Florida, I did what every avid knitter does - I went on line and looked for knit shops in the area. I didn't find any that were reasonably close to where we were staying (I didn't expand the search much since I wasn't driving). However, there was one store that we passed the first day that showed promise. It was called the "Three Crafty Ladies". Upon investigation we learned that they no longer carried knitting yarn, but they were happy to point us to the "Jeez Leweez" Needlework Shop. The shop was quaint with a modest supply of yarn in the front and a good supply of needlepoint supplies in the back. To my delight, the shop was having a sock yarn sale. Ok, so I had taken 3 different sock yarns with me, but couldn't decide what pattern to use with any of them. I've been knitting lace socks, but didn't want to have to pay close attention to a pattern while on vacation so the yarns I took were out. "Jeez Leweeze" had some self patterning Trekking so I grabbed up a skein of it (not really grabbed. It took me 30 minutes to pick out one skein - not too bad!) I cast on some simple ribbed top socks that night, which was two nights before I had to leave for home. I made some progress, however, and will post the details on Ravelry.















But the shop also had some beautiful colorways of Cherry Tree Hill, so I had to go back a second day. I got a skein of Green Mt. Madness colorway. I don't know yet what I will make with this beautiful yarn. Maybe a shawl, hmmm..... Christmas is coming on fast, so we'll see...


What I haven't said yet is that this trip was a birthday present from my husband, made possible also by my dear friend, Deanna, who invited me to go with her to her vacation home in Matlacha. The trip was wonderful, but the best part, by far, was spending time with De. We've known each other for several years, but this trip made us realize how much alike we are. It was a phenomenal gift of love and friendship, seasoned with lots of natural beauty, discoveries of similarities, and laughter that just kept coming! WoW! What a birthday!


Until next time ...

b

Sunday, August 17, 2008

All Things New


Cooler temperatures are finally here! What a difference 10 degrees can make. Take away the humidity and it is hard to believe this is summer in the South.

My lack of love for the heat has kept me indoors on my days off. Besides the EZ's Baby Surprise Jackets (and I still have 2 more to make), I've mostly been knitting lace. I shared the Ann Budd Lacy Socks in the last post. They gave me a thirst to knit more lacy socks. There are sooooo many patterns, both free and for sale. My second pair of lace socks were actually made from a pattern that I found at Knitty Summer, 2007 - "Breeze. "


I have been wanting to knit "Breeze" for some time so I was excited to get started. They turned out to be a quick knit, and the lace pattern is fairly easy. For this pair, I decided to revert back to the dreaded dpns and was pleasantly surprised that I completely enjoyed the process. Not at all like I remembered my earlier attempts with dpns and socks. I used Knit Picks Harmony dpns, which turned out to be just smooth enough for the yarn to slide easily and, also, pretty. I did the k1p1 cuff, but I think the next pair I make will have the rolled cuff. These are so comfortable, so I know there will be a second pair. They have already been dubbed as my "car" socks for my trip to Florida next week. Can't wait!

Now that I am ready for another pair of lace socks, pattern searches were in order. While surfing for my newest project, I also discovered two new resources (at least to me), two on-line magazines: Knotions Magazine http://www.knotions.com/ and Twist Collective http://www.twistcollective.com/.

Knotions Magazine has articles, patterns, a blog, a technique section where, right now they have an article about short rows for bust shaping in sweaters and how to add them and how to do an increase by reaising the bar (M1). The patterns, at least all of the ones I viewed, are free. They included women's garments, hats, socks, baby items, and men's wear.

Twist Collective has most of the same features as Knotions, but most of their patterns are for sale. Some of the names of the designers using this outlet include Cookie A, Pam Allen, Yarnissima, Stephanie van der Linden, and there was even a free sock pattern from Cat Bordhi! The articles included one by Cat Bordhi explaining the heel construction on her "Houdini Socks" and an article about how to choose a substitute yarn for a pattern with cables, considering the fibers, spin, and plies of the yarn.

My current project, however, did not come from either of these sources nor is it socks. I, as I said briefly above, am headed to Florida next weekend. Since the summer clothes season in the stores ended about the time the weather turned warm enough to actually wear summer clothes, and I am lacking a cover-up for my bathing suit, and since none are to be found in the stores, I decided to try to make one and hope it doesn't go the way of the laptop cover I tried. The pattern I am using is the "Ogee Lace Skirt" from Interweave Knits, Summer 2007. I started it yesterday and am about 1/3rd of the way into it. The pattern is fairly easy with the ability to mostly "knit what you see" on alternate rows. This may change, as I have only knit 31 rows of the 56 in the pattern. (Yes, I am 1/3rd of the way - there is a repeat of rows 26 - 56). Most lace patterns that I have knit (with the exception of socks) have been purled on the alternate rows. All in all, this is a relaxing pattern to knit. Now, if it will just fit! Like all lace, the end product will have to be blocked to show off the pattern.


Hopefully, I'll have finished pictures before I leave.

(Just a little aside here - have you noticed that all of my lace projects tend to be "fairly easy"? There is a reason for this. I was listening to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's "At Knit's End" and heard her say something along the lines of "If a pattern says it is 'challenging or 'heirloom' RUN, don't walk, the other way. Ok, so I might have embellished a little what she said, but I think I got the meaning. I feel enabled. Ok, this works for me, anyway!)

till next time...

b

Sunday, August 3, 2008

STILL Trying to Stay Cool!

Yes, that is really snow! I'm dreaming of cooler times. Can you believe that was only 5 short months ago?
I can't believe that summer is almost gone. What really marks the end of summer, anyway? I've always believed that it ended with the beginning of the new school year. The heat wave that is gripping most of the country seems to be ignoring that theory. Other than getting out to go to work, I've been staying home in the cool air-conditioning (like most people, I think.)


I have been doing quite a bit of knitting since my last post. The Ann Budd Lacy Socks are finished. Mary and I were knitting these together and discovered that she is a loose knitter, while I am a tight knitter. Hers fit me, and mine fit her so we will be exchanging! What fun! I'm ready to start another pair but need to go through my patterns to choose.


Since the first one I made, I have thought that EZ's Baby Surprise Jacket is adorable. I know several people who are expecting little bundles of joy soon, so I have been knitting these little jackets for gifts. Since I last posted, I have finished two. Well, ok, I had already finished the knitting on one, but I have since added the buttons and knitted a hat to go with it. The second one is also finished. I changed it up just a little and knit in some stockinette rows since the yarn has been discontinued, and I couldn't get a second color to use for stripes. I really do like the variation on the stitching. I think on the next one I might try some other stitches as well. Since all the babies that are ready to come on the scene are girls, this one had to have some pink added to it. I thought the little buttons all the way around on the stockinette ridge were a cute touch.














(Ok, I can't seem to get this picture to turn correctly, so just turn your heads a little - call it exercise!)

Haven't made much progress on my Print O' Waves Shawl, so nothing to reort there. I have to have complete silence in order to follow the pattern. Mostly, I think I'm a little bored with it because I keep starting other projects instead of picking this one up. Finished one more section this weekend so I guess there is some progress. I did finish a couple of washcloths, one from the Mason-Dixon Book and one from the Cloth of the Week site. No pictures.


I'm also working on a cover for my laptop. Just made the pattern up. It's going to be just a tube with a flap. When I finish, I'll post a picture.


Also since my last blog entry, I started learning to spin. So far all I've done is use some pencil roving with a small drop spindle. Of course with the pencil roving, I didn't have to draft the wool at all. (Is that cheating?!) I've watched some videos on YouTube that were very helpful. Several were by theartofMegan. Her blog also has the videos, I think. http://www.theartofmegan.com/ She uses a technique that she calls "spin and park". It was just enough help to give me some encouragement. I think it would be great to take some spinning classes, so we'll see. I did take one picture of my newly spun yarn, still on the spindle.


(The roving was also already dyed. Maybe I should learn how to dye also. Maybe not. )



Well, that's all for now. Here's to staying cool for the rest of the summer (because it IS still summer!)
Until next time....

b