Archives for January 2007

We finally got a bit of snow last night.  Most winters we’d have had a couple of good storms by now.  It was just enough for the high school to have a delayed opening.

That allowed some time to get the DS to model his new hat.  We’ll be making some modifications.  It’s a little pointy for his tastes.

I used the Ganomy hat pattern from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s .  My decreases didn’t work out correctly.  The side decreases ended up meeting at the center back before I reached the 14 stitches EZ ends her hat with.  It was probably the Rowan Scottish Tweed Chunky (found in the sale bin at Purl for 40% off!) that I knit very tightly on size 9 needles messing up my row gauge.  It’ll be a warm hat though.  The plan is to rip back to the beginning of the decreases and give it a more rounded crown.

I just love those tweedy colors!

I haven’t finished the second sock of the pair that I showed you yesterday, but I thought I’d post the pattern anyway.  I’m working on a sample knit for another blogger, and I’ve got a deadline, so the second sock is on hold for now.

I’m calling the new pattern “Ampersand”.  It is named for Ampersand Mountain in the Adirondacks. Some of my best memories are of the summer vacations my family took to Saranac Lake in my carefree college days and the years just after graduation.  None of us would ever miss it. We’d  bring our friends, boyfriends, or husbands.  We would laze around on the dock reading, float in tubes on Upper Saranac Lake, windsurf, canoe and hike the surrounding mountains enjoying good company, and my mother’s always impressive spread of food!  I’m feeling a little nostalgic for those days lately.  So I will pay tribute with the sock pattern.

Ampersand is knit from the top down on two circular needles.  I used Socks That Rock medium weight, in the Jingle Bell Rock colorway.  As always with my patterns, if you find any errors, please let me know so that I can adjust the pattern.  You will find the pattern on Ravelry.  I hope you like it.

I’ve been meaning to show you this gorgeous roving that I got from Susie at Perchance to Knit .  Isn’t it pretty?   My spinning skills aren’t up to this yet.  I think I’ll save it until I can spin it well.  For now, I’m enjoying looking at it.

Oh my, I just checked out Susie’s etsy shop to create the link.  She’s added some delicious new stuff.  You’d better go have a peek.

The mailman brought a wonderful package from Finland today.  It’s from my Knit Mitt Kit Swap pal Anna.

I don’t know if you can tell from the photo, but I’ve already broken into the chocolate!  I couldn’t even wait for the photo shoot for that!  Anna made me a beautiful felted bag in a rainbow of colors.  I really like the shape and scale of this bag.  It will be perfect for small projects.  She also sent the pattern for the Anemoi Mittens. I’ve been drooling over all of the Anemois that I’ve seen lately.  I’m so excited to knit this pattern.  There is some yummy Drops alpaca in ivory and a deep loden green, some DPNs and of course the delicious Finnish treats.  Thank you Anna.  I’m thrilled with it all!

Here’s a closer shot of the bag.

I’ve got to dash out now to pick up the kids from school.  (Why does it seem I’m always writing my posts in a rush these days?)  But I will leave you with a picture of a new sock I’ve made, the mate is almost done, then I’ll post a pattern.  I used Socks That Rock Medium Weight in the Jingle Bell Rock colorway.

Yesterday was the deadline to send out Knit Mitt Kits.  This is the bag I sent to my swap pal.  It’s going overseas so I hope it doesn’t take too long. 

Yarn: Lopi that’s been laying around since my mom made everyone in the family an Icelandic sweater one Christmas in the early 80’s.
Pattern:  None, made it up as I went along

I’ve also finished (finally) the socks from the Lisa Souza Yarn that my Sockret Pal sent.  I cast these on months ago.  I don’t know what took so long, too many distractions I suppose.

Pattern:  None, they’re just your basic run of the mill, 64 stitch stockinette sock with an eye of partridge heel flap (alway so pretty in handpainted yarn if you ask me.)
Yarn:  Lisa Souza, Lime and Violet colorway
Needles:  Addi Turbos size 1
Boots:  Frye, on sale Bay-bee!

After much thought and kind input in my comments, I decided to cast on for Demi in the Peace Fleece I got last week.  I can see already that this pattern will be a labor of love.  It’s all of those darn knits and purls through the back of the loop.  I love the look of them, hate knitting them.  Demi is worth it though, it is such a gorgeous pattern.  There are two bloggers I really admire working on this pattern right now too.  I’m sure to find the inspiration to continue there.

Sorry about the lack of links.  I’ve got to get DS to the ophthalmologist.  We’re late already.

https://kirstenkapurdesigns.com/yesterday_was_t/