Archives for July 2006

I’m loving the colors around me today.

The bag is for my KSKS pal.   I need to get some straps from M&J Trimming, when I go into the city on Tuesday.  I’m thinking basic brown.

As if I didn’t already have a thousand intended projects whispering to me from my stash.  What should arrive in the mail today?  The new Interweave, that’s what!  This is almost more than I can take!  I’ve only thumbed through it, but I’ve already seen some great things.  I love the cover sweater, Equinox Yoke Pullover, a beautiful fair isle by Michele Rose Orne.

Then there’s the Gatsby Girl Pullover, fitted cables and lace, by Jodi Green.

Coral Crossing, again a cabled pullover, this one with a graceful wide neckline, by Jennifer L. Appleby.  I think I would have to eliminate the pockets on this sweater.  I just can’t afford the extra bulk at the midsection!

Saffron Cables, a cozy afghan by Kathy Zimmerman.

And of course, an issue of Interweave would not be complete without another must knit lace shaw.  This time it’s the Swallowtail Shawl by talented lace designer, Evelyn A. Clark.  Good thing I have all of that beautiful lace weight yarn waiting for projects. . .

To top it all off, the brilliant, Eunny Jang has written what looks to be an article that I will refer to often, LACE, Shaping Your Garment.  Ahhhhhh. . .

To further my distractions, there are other intriguing things occupying my time and thoughts.  I am beta testing Sock Wizard for Mac this weekend.  This is my first time beta testing, and I am really excited about it.  I’ve already downloaded the program and am having a great time playing with it.  Get ready Mac users, we are going to have some great knitting software come our way in the not so distant future!  Yippee!

My sister came to visit yesterday.  We had a great time dyeing yarn.  I used some Knit Picks Color Your Own, and LJ used Dale of Norway, Baby Ull.  I didn’t get a chance to snap any photos of hers, she had to leave as soon as her yarn came out of the dye pot, but it is very similar to my "Ocean" color way.  (That’s because I grabbed the dye bottles she had mixed, they were just so pretty!)  We also had a visit from my friend Susan, who sat and knitted her sock, and kept us company.  It felt like a party! 

Ocean

Jack-o-Lantern
This one is self striping, in orange, brown, green and chartreuse.  I love me some garish color ways!  🙂

Now, off I go, to read my Interweave!

I was out weeding today, the gardens really got out of control in the month we were away.  While pulling weeds from around the beets, a %*&! yellow jacket stung me.  Ouch.  So now I am sitting inside feeling sorry for myself.

Despite the weeds, these Turkscap Lilies managed to bloom.  I love the way their petals roll back.

I came home to some goodies.  Before I left, I ordered some Socks That Rock to give as gifts.  I will only be keeping one of these, but having them in the house, for even just a few days makes me happy.  It is beautiful yarn, the colors are so vivid, and the texture of the yarn, perfection.  I would love suggestions of patterns to make with my skein.  The Jaywalkers are an obvious choice, but I would love to hear other ideas. . .

Birch and I have reconciled.  It was never Birch’s fault.  I tried so many needles, but none were right.

There were the Turbos, the needles that I do 95% of my knitting on.  They are lovely and smooth with great joins, but horrible, dull tips.  Awful for lace knitting.  (I’d rather put a tu-tu on an elephant than K2tog through back of loop with a pair of US 8 Turbos and Kidsilk Haze!)  I also tried Inox, good points, lousy join,  Addi Naturas, slightly better point than Turbos, but still too dull, and again, not a great join, Bryspun circulars, good points, bad join, along with the fact that these break easily.  I really don’t enjoy knitting with straights, so I was in a pickle.  Where were the perfect needles, silky smooth like Addi Turbos, good points like the Bryspun, lovely smooth join, again like Turbos, and reasonably priced?  I must say, in my opinion, Knit Picks has done it!  I ordered some of their new Options needles, and they were waiting for me when I got home.  They are sharp, smooth and have great joins.  I’m sold. 

I know there have been many reviews on these needles, both positive and negative.  All I will say is that for this girl, they are what I have been looking for.  I have so much lace waiting to be knit.  These needles will make it so enjoyable.  I’ll just be really sure to tighten up that screw.

I’ve started two new pairs of socks since my last post.  One is a pair I am designing, made with Trekking XXL.  So far I am happy with the pattern, and I love this color Trekking.

The other is a pair of 2×2 ribbed, knit in Koigu.  They are a birthday present for my Dear Old Dad.  He turned 77 on Saturday.  Happy Birthday Dad!  I have mentioned how much I love knitting for my dad before.  He is so appreciative of anything his daughters make for him.  He hasn’t been well lately, so I’m hoping having a pair of hand knit socks will be very comforting for him.  I plan to put on some sort of skid proof soles, make them slipper socks.  Does anyone have any suggestions of good products for this?

He’s got big feet, very wide.  I’ve never made such a big sock!  I have tried them on my 15 year old son with his wide, size 11.5 feet, and they fit him, so I guess they will be okay for dad.  If I can get the darling teenager to model the socks, I will post a photo when they are done.  I always think socks look better on the feet.  I guess if I bribe the boy with candy. . .

As I weeded earlier, I was serenaded by baby blue birds calling their parents to feed them.  I tried to catch a shot of the beautiful adult male, but he was camera shy.  Instead, here is the bird house.  The vine growing up the post is an invasive weed.  I’ll need to pull it out once the babies move on.  Every year the local blue birds have two batches of babies in this house.  It has gotten a little worn over the years.  I doubt it will make it through the winter.  It’ll be replaced, I’d miss those beauties too much.

The only words that are necessary are, "Thank you Cookie"!

Specs. 
Baudelaire from Knitty Summer 06.  Size large, without modifications for high instep.
Lang  Jawoll on US 1 Addi Turbos.

Thank you to DD #2 for being such a great foot model!