One Crazy Fiber Lady

1000 Words...

...or the equivalent:

I started, needless to say, last night.  I did the knitting maths to figure out how many repeats around the motif would go, how many stitches were left over and what should go where.  I then set about knitting.

I did opt for the Dale inspired cuffed hem, which is the yellow bits you see.  It transitioned to the green just as I finished and worked the turning row.  I can't say as I'm ecstatic by that green, but better at the hem then my face!

In case you're curious, as I was, about the color progressions, someone put together a bunch of graphics displaying the alignment results.  Super cool.  If I'm reading it correctly, I'm doing something entirely different as my color progressions are opposite.  One is working Yellow --> Green --> Blue --> Purple-->Red--> Orange and the other is Orange --> Red --> Purple blah blah.  Interesting.  I wonder how it will play out.  I might just have to much with that graphic a bit and see if I should move along or correct it before I get too much further along.  I guess that as long as the colors don't line up I should be fine.

And a close up...

Love it!

Craft on!

Edited to add:  I have to rip back.  I've got a big problem(s) colorwise and it is pretty glaring even in this terrible image.

This is a recording

We are not available at the moment to answer your call.  Why?  I'm glad you asked.

This...

Plus

This...

(squueeeeeee!!!!  It arrived in yesterday's mail! Super service from Garnbutik.dk.)

makes for a very busy and distracted fiberholic.  All messages will be returned at the earliest convenience.  Please leave a message at the sound of the beep.

BEEP (squee!)

Craft on!

Almost

So close. You see my hands were very cold yesterday as I walked to and fro the ferry. I'm a knitter so I figured I could fix that problem. I walked into the MY SnB last night with a mission: must make hand/wrist warmers.

After scoping out the yarn choices I settled on a new one: Evolution by Chameleon Colorworks in Scarlet colorway. Now armed with yarn and a set of US3 dpns I went to work. I've never worked with optim before and I must say that I really like it. By the time I headed home (listening to the Sox on the radio - go Sox!) I had the first one done. The ladies were betting that I would have the pair by the time I got off the ferry at Pier 11.

They were close. I'm ready to bind off now thanks to an awfully slow reboot of my computer. Nothing fancy mind you but simple warmers that will do the trick.

On other fronts, I'm going with concensus and the otherwise unavoidable obsessive pull and will be working the Kauni in the Damask as soon as the bloody yarn arrives. Pray that it is today to protect my sanity!

Have a good weekend all.

Craft on!

Seeing Red

Well that was a quick loss of mojo.  Part of the problem has been the eager anticipation of the soon to arrive Kauni yarn.  I know whatever is on the needles will be tossed aside the moment that yarn arrives.  It really is all that I can think about for the last week.  I've been debating what pattern to actually knit with it.  There are a number of options.  First is Ruth's Sweater(pdf).  Then I saw her Autumn Sweater. 

Other's have followed this same path down Kauni Madness ending at the same place too.  To me, the ultimate is the beautiful Damask (From an out of print Dale pillow pattern).  I've thought of little else since I saw it.  I googled my fingers to the bone trying to find a copy of the pattern to no avail.  So I took the graphic, enlarged it greatly, broke out Excel, created graph paper and graphed the darn thing.  I'm now ready to knit this when the yarn arrives, which should be imminent.

As Spongebob would say, I'm ready. Though there is a little crazy part of me that wants to make the plain version considering that I'm planning on making this commuting knitting.  At least before the sleeves enter the picture.  Maybe I'll hold this version for a second sweater.   Yeah, that's the ticket.

Anyway.  I seem to have regained some sock mojo.  I thank everyone for their suggestions and commiseration on the sock burnout.  I've tucked all the in progress and rewound skeins away and have moved onto a tried and true favorite.  I did go for a new pattern, Baudelaire from Knitty with the Louet Gems in Cherry Red.  So far so good.  It could be a scootch smaller, but fits as is okay.  I've been using my new Lantern Moon US1 Ebony DPNs for this sock and I have to say, I seriously love it.

Besides, I think there's something to this Red Sock...

(BTW, it is now 12 13 to 1 as I write this and another pitcher got chased.  Sweet.  Let's go Red Sox!)

Finally I have a picture of the under-represented cats in this house.  Sara gets most of the screen time, but last night I found the other two, Duchess of a'Rat and Earl Grey snuggling in a pretty darn weird position.

I like her choice of a foot rest ;)

Craft on!

Missing Mojo

Sock knitting mojo seems to be a fragile thing, not to mention easily misplaced.  I don't say lost as I'm sure its around here someplace, but mislaid somewhere.

I've started and tossed aside quite a number of socks recently using a number of patterns and several yarns.  For one reason or another, none have quite cut it.

What's here?   Working right to left:

1.  Duet Skinny in Sailor Girl, pattern currently is my plain vanilla sock recipe with just the coordinating color on the toe.  There's nothing wrong with the yarn, it just isn't rocking my boat, though it has been my ferry knitting as of late.

2.  Union Center WhatNot Sock in Kitty's Eyes.  Not in sock or to-be-sock state at all.  I tried a couple of patterns including Anastasia and my vanilla socks.  Either the color, the split/pattern and/or size were wrong.  Which is odd because I like the colors.  I might give them another attempt using Monkey but then again, the K2Tog with Anastasia had me rip out half a sock.  Sigh.

3.  Fearless Fibers (etsy) in the Chocolate Pink Cherry, just past the heel on the first Monkey.  This sock was tossed aside when SOS started.  I went back to it this morning, but  maybe its me.  I'm just not feeling it.  Seeing half a plain foot in the project bag from the other end of the wound ball reminds me that it started as a plain vanilla toe up that just didn't grab me either.   

4.  Lornas Lace Shepherd Sock in Parfait.  Started Saturday as a vanilla but then ripped after the toe to then become Monkey's.  I tossed it aside last night while watching a super funny episode of Top Gear.  I'm not liking how the colors appear.  This seems to be another example of when I like a yarn better in the skein.

There might be another couple of socks-in-progress-but-not-loved somewhere around here.  I just can't remember them at the moment.

I'm not entirely sure what to do now.  Did I burn out on socks over the summer?  Maybe.  I think I lost my mojo for a bit then too now thinking back.  Freaked my SnB buds out that night, but was able to recapture it ASAP.  Do I try something else with one of the existing non-favorites?  Do I try a different yarn from the stash (of which there are plenty)?  Do I go with a yarn I know I love (a solid Louet) and work a new pattern?  I do have Wendy's Asparagus Cable socks and a Claudia Handpaint in a tone-on-tone nearly sock of Lipstick.  I also have a semi-solid Yarntini also in a red.  I'm just scared if something new isn't successful, the mojo might just be gone for longer. 

Bah.

Craft on!

Sunny Sunday

I don't know why I keep a camera in my purse at all times because when presented with a fiber festival, I come down with fatal camnesia.   I finally remembered I had it as I headed home and saw the gorgeous view from the Rhinecliff Bridge.

The weather was gorgeous, maybe a tad warm for the lovely woolens that everyone was sporting.   

I took this picture shortly after, surprised (and not surprised) by the readings for late October..

It got to wear Minimalist, saw a number of Clapotis and best yet, saw up close and in person glorious Kauni sweaters.  At 4:30PM yesterday, my car was reading 75F.  I kind of liked the effect in this shot, you can see me in the rear view mirror.  That was so accidental.  The happy glow on the face totally disappeared not too long after when I got stuck for far too long in g-d awful traffic on the Thruway.  Stupid Thruway.  The drive up took just about 90 minutes.  It took me 2.5 hours to get home.

It was a wonderful day, but it usually is.  I did buy some things, but not much by a Crazy standard.  It was more about seeing and being with friends, some that I get to see regularly, and those that I only see during Festival Season.  I met up rather early with Jessica and spent a lovely day shopping and gabbing with her.  She makes a great festival buddy!  Thank you Jessica.  I won't spill as to her big purchase, but it was a good one :)

The blogger/Ravelry meetup at 1pm was much smaller than the Saturday showing, but still, a great opportunity to see old friends.  Cheryl and Kathy both tried on my newly finished Minimalist! I got to touch Stephanie's Kauni in person!  (BTW Lynne, it is not the softest of soft yarns.  I reminds me greatly of a shetland - much like that stuff I'm knitting Autumn Rose from.  I still send you a snip when mine arrives which should be seriously soon!).  I toured the Sheep to Shawl with Brooke, whom I'm always happy to see.  I ran into the MY SnB Gals, Ina, Katie and Nancy a number of times over the course of the day.  Quality time was spent in Brooks Farm and Merlin Tree with Laurie and Juno, both of whom I'm always happy to see.  I ran into Cassie and got to meet Sigga Sif, who probably came the furthest for the festival!  Travels through the festival also met with Cate, Manise, Marcy, Teresa (who was sporting a gorgeous Indigo Ripples Skirt!) and Norma.  I was also pleased to finally be able to put faces with the names to Danielle, Feminitmafia, Eklectika, Maia and Rachael.  (Boy does this linky love take time!)  I'm sure there were others who I'm sorry if I've forgotten you!  I was a seriously senile slacker who forgot to put on my Blogger Bingo Square button and didn't print out my game board either.  Sigh.  All in all, a fabulous day filled with those who get it.

Get it, I did.  But on a small scale.

Lace weight from Skaska that I now realize is about 1300 yds short of Wedding Ring Shawl (shall order another skein)

5 skeins of Four Play from Brooks Farm destined to be Ribby Pullover..

One ounce of totally yummy cashmere roving and a super small spindle from Golding to spin it on (which I started last night)...

closeup of pretty little spindle... ( can get the specs on this baby if anyone is interested )

A beautiful set of Lantern Moon DPNS in US1.  They might just become my gold standard for sock knitting..

And finally, 8oz each of Merino and a Merino/Tensel blend (Jordan's Choice) from Sheep Shed.  These will be spun to about a sport/dk weight to knit either Eunny's Argyle Vest or something similar.

That's pretty restrained by crazy fiber lady standards I'd say! 

I'll end with a picture of my mutant purebred cat with her serious underbite...

Oh yeah, I finished the first sleeve for Autumn Rose and started the second while rooting on those Red Soxs!!  Dudes they rock.

Craft on!

Square Update

In a last minute change of plans, unlike MDSW when I expected to go alone but came with a child instead, I will be alone tomorrow for the annual pilgrimege to Rhinebeck.  I'm not exactly sure why I didn't think of this before, but I'm converting the mother's helper to babysitter and leaving the monkeys at home with her. 

I think the reticence over being over an hour drive away in case of emergency is what held me back initially.  But really, the babysitter's mom is nearby and was their toddler daycare teacher.  The pediatrician lives across the street.  I'll check with the neighbors to see if I can leave their numbers as emergency contacts.  I'll also leave my cell phone number (and probably some of my fellow fiber friends incase my cell signal is as good there as it is at home - read non-existent.) as I vaguely remember getting calls last year.

The motivating factor here?  Alex isn't feeling well.  While he isn't sick sick, he did throw-up a couple of times last night but is otherwise fine.  No other symptoms though he's now complaining of a sore tummy.  Not sure what it is about, but its better he stay home.  With A here with him, she's his most favorite person outside my mother, he'll be fine.  Not to mention that there is far more for them to do here than at the festival.

So those looking for me tomorrow, stop looking for the double stroller and the mother's helper.  I'll be stag.  Sweet. 

Craft on!

Weak

I know that Rhinebeck is six sleeps away but I've been completely taken by a pattern that I absolutely have to knit.  Forget that it seems to be the current fad through the blogosphere and that a number of folk are/have knit(ted) it. 

I just placed an order for this.....

... from here.  I'm definitely knitting Ruth's beautiful sweater(pdf).  I had initially cringed at the price of shipping, but after doing the math, discovered it was cheaper to get it from Europe than Canada.  Go figure.  I'm not sure what will happen to the current knitting project queue when the yarn arrives in 9 or so days.  Should be interesting, eh?  I love the whole many colored thing going without the plethora of ends to work in.   I can't wait!

Having experienced yet another PATH shutdown for "police activity" last week that got me home extra late, I decided to see if there was a more civilized way to commute.  There is:

I started taking the NY Waterway Ferry from Hoboken to Pier 11.  The upside is that I get to spend 10 beautiful minutes each way in the open air, not underground like a  mole, out on Hudson bay rounding the tip of Manhattan.  Instead of a 12 minutes crosstown walk, I have one that is less than 5.  The downside, and you knew there was one of those, is that the cost of the ferry is way, and I mean WAY, more than the PATH.  Wicked expensive, but if I can nip a few things from the budget, like finally emptying out my storage unit, the result is a wash.  I sure do like this new commute.  I'll just have to get over the minor queasiness or just get used to knitting only socks on the ferry ;) 

The Tina shawl came out of hiding and returned to my active knitting last night.  I'm a few rows short of finishing the center square.  I have to admit, I'm not looking forward to picking up all those stitches along the sides.  Ick.   So many projects, so little time!

Let's go Red Sox!  (just turned on the game and am not happy at the score at the bottom of the 7th.  I stayed up way way too late Saturday night watching game two.  I'm getting flashbacks of the 2004 series :)

Craft on!

ABC's

Trying something new that has been banging around inside my skull for a couple of days now as a post theme.  Really thinking about it, there are three big components of my life, ABC's if you will.    I present them to you:

A is for Animals

There are a couple of critters (other than the bipeds) who live in this house.  They are all doing fine.  Here is the choice photo of the week..

Even though I've had cat(s) now for decades, I continue to be surprised by the way they contort themselves.  Note that Sara's coat has FINALLY grown back in from that "grooming" last December.  Took a good long time for it to really achieve full puff.

B is for Babies (though not such babies)

The girl child continues to sleep in increasingly odd spots.  A few nights ago, I found her just inside my room sleeping on the hardwood floor.  Personally, I love how she wedged her Zoey doll into the door :)

She's also taken a liking to sock yarn.  I find her quite frequently digging through the sock yarn basket in my room, picking out a few skeins.  I left her one morning, as I went to work, with this collection in the kitchen.  Not sure where this addiction comes from ;)  She does have good taste in yarns though!

Boy is modeling a sweater that I knit years ago out of sock yarn.  I think it is an Ann Norling pattern, but I'd have to go digging in the old pattern notebook to confirm.  I made it for my sister's oldest, who is turning 11 in December.  It came back as a hand-me-down a short time ago.  Alex found it in his closet and has taken a liking to it.  Fits him well too!  And yes, I have a pair of socks in the same yarn....and if memory serves correctly, probably one of my first pairs also from a Norling basic sock pattern.

C is for Crafts

I've been doing some serious crafting, thanks to the daily train ride.  First up the knitting:

I knit a Drive-Thru for Kat in just about a week (10/1 to 10/7 for the knitting and I did the buttons on 10/12).  I made the 4yo size.  The yarn was a combo of Cascade 220 (the fuscia which is the same as last year's sweater) and Galway (black and white). 

The Galway is left over from Alex's Drive-Thru:

They'll probably be wearing these sweaters next Sunday at Rhinebeck.  I'll be wearing this:

I finally made it through the sewing parts of Minimalist.  I do want to give it a good soaking, probably should do that today.  I do like this sweater very much.  I knit it from Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran in the Casket colorway.  It was a fast knit that took me longer to assemble.  I have no pictures of it, but Ribby is also assembled.  It is just waiting for a zipper.  I was on a bit of a finishing quick towards the end of last week.  I should probably sew it in tonight and have a finished shot soon.

Also in the works is my swatch sleeve for Autumn Rose.  I'm loving this project.   I hit gauge right off the bat with it, which makes me quite happy.  It doesn't make for great train knitting (but that's what things like socks and Clapotis are for) but I've made progress the last two nights while watching the Red Sox play :)  Sara graciously agreed to model...

I've caught the Fair Isle bug and rediscovered that I like colorwork.  The Ingeborg kit might actually bubble to the top of the queue sooner now, and I picked up some yummy yarns at MY last week to knit Eunny's Argyle Vest.

There's also been a bit of spinning around here.  Have to, must justify further purchases at Rhinebeck next week!!!! 

First, I finally finished that cashmere/silk blend that I bought at MASW this year from Foxfire Fibers in Greylock.  I'm leaving it as singles and will probably knit the Shetland Triangle with it.

I have two bobbins of the wool blend roving that I bought at GSSB  to knit Kat a sweater done.  I've been spinning this stuff a rather fluffy long draw.

I also plied a bunch of bobbins that have been sitting around for a while, but no pictures of those at present.  I still need to skein em up and wash em. 

So yeah, its been busy around here, but it always is.  Its better that way.

Next weekend is Rhinebeck.  Woot.  The monkeys and I (along with a mother's helper) will be there on Sunday.  I'm a square again this year!

I think that covers most of what's been going on.  I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting though.  Oh yeah, including my third blogiversary which was this past thursday.  Happy Blogiversary to me :)  Whodathunk I'd still be at it three years later.  Surely not me!

Craft on!

Pair of Fours

I have plenty of knitting to show, as well as spinning and cute animal shots.  But all that must wait for another post.  Tonight is about the monkeys.  My babies, who continue to remind me that they are not babies, turned FOUR today. 

It seems like yesterday that I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of my precious babies.  How could that be four years ago already?  I'm quite proud of these two little people so far and look forward to seeing how they develop over the next year.

I do know that I got an email at work today (which I still love BTW) from mom to show me what the birthday pair had done...

Should be an interesting ride!!

Craft on!