Archives for August 2007

Firstly and most importantly, thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the wonderful supportive comments on Dr. G’s Memory Vest.  I was truly moved by how many of you have been through the same, or very similar circumstances with loved ones.  Clearly more research on both Dementia and Alzheimer’s is desperately needed.  My apologies to those of you who’s comments I haven’t responded to personally.  It is my intention to.  Life and the kids activities have gotten in the way.

I hope to have Dr. G’s Memory Vest ready by the middle of the month.  For now though, socks.

It has been a whirlwind of designing around here lately.  Along with Dr. G’s Vest, I have been working on two new sock designs for the Plucky Knitter.  Her yarns are beautiful.  Do you see any pooling?  I think not.  That is not due to my design genius.  Oh no, it is all Sarah and her way with the dyes.  Add to this Sarah’s way with color, quite exquisite in my humble opinion, and top it all off with the fact that she uses amazing base yarns.  The sock on the left is single ply merino that reminds me of a sock weight Malabrigo.  One would think this would knit into a fragile fabric, but rather it is substantial with a lovely soft halo.  It makes a luxurious pair of socks.  The sock on the right is 80% Merino, 20% Cashmere.  Need I say more?  Heavenly. 

Both of the designs should be ready by early next week.  They will be available here and in The Plucky Knitter’s Etsy shop.

Now I must get back to knitting Dr. G’s, oh and get myself to the dentist.  *grumble*

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend to those of you in the US.  (And to those outside the US have a great weekend too!)

After finishing a few UFO’s last week, I gave myself permission to cast on a new project in Skye Tweed.

This new design has a strong hold on me.  For the past few years we have watched my father’s memory decline.  Last year he was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia.  Once a world expert in his field of microbiology, he now has trouble remembering the simplest details of his life.  Feeling helpless to do much to ease his struggle, I have turned to knitting, the craft that brings me peace and has also allowed me to contribute to charities that I care about.  I will write this unisex vest pattern once the knitting is complete.  All proceeds from its sale will go to Dementia research.  I expect to have the pattern done by mid September, just in time for holiday knitting.

. . .and socks you shall have.  Gamely modeled by the fabulous DD’s at Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville, NJ.  If you live in the area, these gardens are well worth a visit.

Poor DD#1, those green shoes were way too small.  Ah, the things we our kids do for our art!  😉

Desperate Socks
Pattern:  My own
Yarn:  White Oak Studios Merino Superwash, Color:  Desperate Housewives
Needles:  US 1 [2.5mm]
This color is a little uncooperative in photography.

Plumlicuous
Pattern:  My own basic top down sock, picot cuff
Yarn:  Claudia’s Handpainted Fingering, Color:  Plumlicious
Needles:  US 0 [2mm] 

These are knit pretty tightly, but  zeros were the only needles I had available when I wanted to cast on for a basic stockinette sock.   Not to mention the fact that the two skeins of Claudia’s were quite different.  Yes, I know I should have knit from both balls at once, but the whole point of a stockinette sock is the simplicity in knitting and the portability.  I didn’t want to deal with two tangled balls in the dark movie theaters where I knit these.  They will be just fine worn under jeans.

Have I ever mentioned that I kitchener my socks inside out?  I discovered early on that the process is more logical on the purl side of the fabric.  It is so much easier to see how the stitches should be formed.  If you have trouble kitchenering, try it.

A couple of additional photos of  the gardens:

I have mentioned before how obsessive I can be.  Once a passion strikes, I can think of little else.  So it has been with spinning of late.  My apologies to those of you who come here to see finished knitting.  For today, more of my efforts at the wheel.

Tomorrow, I promise, socks.  Two pairs have been completed.  All that remains is a photo session with my girls.

The blue will be a scarf, knit lengthwise, with a few yo’s thrown in for drape.
The red will be a hat for the DD’s.  I have been wanting to make a Zeebee ever since I saw Christy’s.

This is spun from four ounces of  superwash merino from Three Waters Farm, in the Wild Berry colorway.  I picked the roving up on my trip to NC in July.   When I bought it, the fiber was all purples and black with just a touch of red and gold. It is interesting to me how the reds dominate once it is spun.

For a little relief from the saturated colors in that last yarn I give you; Vesper Roving by Knitterly Things, 100% Blue Faced Leicester in the Afterglow colorway.  Somehow I feel like the names of these two yarns should be switched.

Does one who is spinning obsessed have a problem when she goes to sleep at night, visions of twisted fiber in her head?  It is like when I was a kid and swam in the ocean all day, I’d lay back on my pillow and feel the memory of the gentle pull of the waves on my body. 

Luckily a few days ago I was given a distraction in the form of an e-mail.  There is something new to focus my creative energies on.  Sarah the Plucky Knitter and I will be collaborating.  I’ll be working on some sock patterns for her delicious yarns.  Look for glimpses of the new designs in the next few weeks.