Archives for September 2006

Swallowtail is finished and blocked.  Despite uncooperative weather and cranky daughters, I managed to get a few photographs.

Pattern:  Swallowtail Shawl, Fall 2006 Interweave Knits by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: Just Our Yarn, Myne 100% cashmere, hand painted, less than one 500 yard skein
Needles:  Knitpicks Size US #3
Modifications:  Since the yarn I used is much finer than the called for yarn, I did 5 extra repeats on the "budding lace" section. 
Finished size, after blocking:  46" width across top edge, 23" long at point
Hints:  I used a size zero needle to pick up and purl the 5 stitches to make the nupps, then transfered the new stitch back onto the size 3’s which I was working with.  With the points on the Knitpicks needles, this worked really well.
Started: September 1
Completed: September 28

DD #1 is becoming a really talented cook.  She made bread for us last week.  It didn’t last long.  The bread was soooo good, hot out of the oven with a little butter.   She says she wants to bake bread every Saturday this fall and winter.  You won’t see me complaining!

My Swallowtail is in the home stretch, I’ve reached the last chart, the peaked edging.  I would have been done sooner, but I dropped the stitches on a nupp and had to tink back a row and a half to fix it.  This is not a pleasant task on laceweight cashmere.  There was much muttering and crankiness involved.  I won’t bore you with more pictures of it in progress.  There should be finished, blocked photos in a few days.

I have also been working on a cabled vest.  It’s a pattern that I am making up as I knit.  I’m thinking deep scooped neck and crochet edgings, but that could change, since I am designing this on the fly.  The yarn is RY Classic Cashsoft DK.  It is quite soft and lovely to work with.  I’ve joined the Fall Cable KAL so this will be my project for that.  I am very inspired by some of the projects I’m seeing over there.  I’m sure there will be more cable projects in the near future.   I modeled the  vest in progress with some of my favorite bangles.  These are my accessories de jour.  I can put on jeans and a t-shirt, add the bangles and I feel all dressed up!

I am planning on making EZ’s Norwegian mittens for my first Zimmermania project.  I thought, with a stash the size of mine I would definitely have some yarn waiting for just such a project, but after much digging and contemplating, I decided that a trip to the LYS was in order.  I fell in love the colors of  Reynolds "Whiskey".  It was tough narrowing my choices to just three.  Once Swallowtail is off the needles I’ll cast on for the the mittens.

DD #1 has discovered the wonders of the lace shawl.  She keeps pilfering my Birch.  She wanders around the house in her jammies swaddled in fuzzy gray goodness.  She’s asked for one of her own.  I guess I’ll be knitting lace for Christmas.   I’m thinking some alpaca lace for her, in the Adamas pattern. 

The basics:
How long have you been knitting? 
I've been knitting on and off since I was a kid.  
I've been obsessively knitting for about two years now.

Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, 
an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long 
you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
I think I could probably knit socks in my sleep.

The measurements:
While your pal may ask for some additional info 
to ensure a great fit, please provide your shoe size, 
or any other fitting related info you think is pertinent.
I wear a women's US size 8 1/2 shoe.

(fiber related) Favorites:
What colors do you love?  
I love color both bold and soft, I love unusual combinations.  
The only colors I don't really like are 
dusty pinks or dusty blues especially together, 
they're just too sweet. 

Do you prefer solids or variegated?
It really depends on the sock pattern, 
but I am a fool for pretty hand-painted yarn!

What fibers do you most love to knit with?  
Merino, alpaca, cashmere, wool in all it's forms.

Who do you consider your favorite yarn vendors?  
My favorites are the small independent dyers 
popping up all over the internet; 
Socks that Rock, Scouts Swag, Sundara, Mama-E, 
Sweet Georgia, Cabin Cove Mercantile to name just a few.

What projects (other than socks, of course*S*) 
do you most enjoy knitting?
Lace shawls, sweaters, bags, 
whatever strikes my fancy at the moment! 
 
(fiber related) Dislikes:
What fibers can  you not stand to knit with? To wear?
Fun fur, bad acrylic (some is better than others)

What colors would you never wear? 
I'm not sure this is an issue with me except for 
the super sweet dusty pink, dusty blue combo mentioned above.
 
The Tools:
Plastic or Metal? Bamboo or wood?
Usually metal, I love Addi Turbos and am 
really enjoying my new Knitpicks needles.  
I'm lusting after a pair of beautiful Lantern Moon wood needles too.

Circs or Straights?
Usually Circs.

DPNs or Magic Loop?
Two circs.

Are there any knitting accessories you don't 
have in your collection but would like?
I've been wanting a set of wooden cable needles, 
the straight kind with the grooves.  
I usually cable without a cable needle, 
but for really complex or large cables, they would be really nice.

The Extras:
Do you have a wish list? If so, please share the link!
Nope, sorry, no wish list.

Do you like sweet, sour or salty? (or all of the above? *S*)
Both, but I have a pretty healthy sweet tooth.

Do you have any allergies your pal should know about? 
I'm allergic to cat's and smoke.

Favorite scents? Scents you can't stand?  
I like earthy and spicy scents.  
I don't like overy sweet and strong scents.

Do you collect anything 
(other than yarn and knitting toys of course)?
I'm starting a nice little fabric stash these days.

When is your birthday? (month and day is fine!)
April 14th

Do you spin? Dye your own yarn?
I dye my own yarn with Jacquard acid dyes.  
I really want to learn to spin, and hope to very soon.

Your favorite author/band/vacation spot, 
anything you think will help your pal know you better...
I love to travel, I don't have a favorite spot, 
because I'm always looking for a new adventure.  
My favorite place that I've visited so far is Costa Rica.  
As far as music is concerned, I listen to a lot of 
different types, classic rock, jazz, folk, classical. . .

Elizabeth Zimmerman.  Yesterday the mailman brought me my first EZ  books.  Why did I wait so long?   These are books that one may randomly open to any page and read.  There will always be something to marvel at.  Her writing, her drawings, her knitting, her wisdom, they are all brilliant.  I joined Zimmermania because I have read on many knitting blogs how wonderful EZ patterns are.  What I wasn’t prepared for was how much I would enjoy her writing.  She reminds me of the strong intelligent women I have been lucky enough to know.  Among them have been my grandmothers, my mother, my amazing great aunts (who I must someday write about on this blog), my sisters, my daughters, my friends.  All women I admire.  I recognize bits of each of them in the things she says.  I see these women in her confidence, her belief in her own ideas and abilities.  I have been lucky enough to have women around me who, like Elizabeth, embrace their creative instincts and are fearless in the execution. 

I worked on Swallowtail a bit yesterday.  I am done with 17 of the 19
repeats I plan to do on the budding lace section.  I don’t think I’ll have any problem getting this done in time for Rhinebeck.  I’ve begun to think about possibly making a vest for Rhinebeck too.

I took some photos of what’s happening in the garden.  Fall is such a beautiful time.

Have a great weekend.