What Constitutes Happiness For One. . . .

Corra, a top down pullover by Jo Allport makes for quick and successful knitting.  The original pattern is knit in one color of Araucania Kiñe.   But with a blank canvas of stitches to work with, I did perhaps go off scheme.

 - - - - Step up on Soap Box - - - -

Color!  I love color.  Asymmetrical color makes me very pleased and nigh on to giddy.  Where is it written that sleeves must be the same color?  Who ever said that a pocket must be aligned with some vertical or horizontal perfection? 

My style might not be to your liking.  And your style might not be to my way of thinking.  However - and this is the whole point - this yarn thing lets each person decide personally what constitutes happiness. 

 - - - - Exit Soap Box - - - -

My Wonky version of Corra  is two colors of Kiñe interrupted by Baah! La Jolla (a mini skein did all of this striping!) 

Yes, the Kiñe is dk.  Yes, the La Jolla is fingering.  Who cares?  Not me.  I just keep knitting  and let the needle circumference & surrounding stitches take care of making it all work out.

 There is no pocket on the pattern.  I added this one by picking up at the bottom seed stitch edge.  No, it isn't exactly on the front.  It isn't exactly centered on the middle stitch of the side.  It is skewed toward the front and of a size that it will not hold a phone.  But it will hold keys or mad money and that pop makes me happy.

Go back to the first photo of smiling me and notice that the sleeves are different.  One is black. Why.  Because I like it that way.  No other reason.  Well, it does cause the casual observer to take a second look and admire my handknit sweater and wonder how they, too, might own such a marvel of happiness.  And that also make me happy.

Always keep 'em guessing.

Yarn Stash To The Rescue

The new Interweave Crochet just might be the best thing of the whole season.  As soon as it arrived at the store, I bought a personal copy.   Check out the cover pattern - pineapples on a huge triangle shawl.

Please know that I do not enjoy the crochet pineapple.  My mother and her sister could whip out those "old" doilies [in thread crochet!] without looking at a pattern and faster than I could crochet a Barbie skirt.  Hey - I was only 8 or 10.  What do you expect?

Well, anyway, I put away my disdain for the pineapple stitch pattern and put my hand into the stash.  I knew exactly where the three balls were waiting.  MY COLORS in Freia were just hanging around and hoping for the perfect pattern and this was it.

A very fast hook.  Very fast.  And check out the color shift.  Green became shaded and morphed into blue.

Love it.  Must work faster and faster and faster.

Caught Up In The Pool-ing

As soon as it hit the digital waves, the Spring+Summer issue of Knitty grabbed my attention.  There is always something that draws me in - a pattern (or five), a hint, an article or even an advert for something new.  And it is all free for the enjoyment.

Let me tell you, friend, I am enjoying Crane Hill designed by Miriam L Felton.  In this great summer garment, crochet and knitting combine to bring out the best in each.  What struck me immediately was the opportunity to break out the 1200 yards of Interlacements Rick Rack.  

Oh, sure.  There were things to consider.  Like the fact that the pattern uses a linen in Aran weight and my yarn is rayon in Sport weight.  And linen is natural and rayon is man-made from cellulose.  There is drape to be considered also.  

Let's not even think about what could happen when the Rick Rack starts pooling.  

Wait a minute.  

Let's celebrate what happens when the Rick Rack starts pooling color!   I'm doing my 'happy, happy, joy, joy' dance.


  


PS for those with inquiring minds.  Started this on the pattern preferred 5.5mm hook.  Worked three rounds and decided it was too big and loose.  Did not frog it.  Just changed to a 5.0mm hook and kept on stitching.  Result:  fits better and the bottom skims over my bottom.
 

Fuzzy Knitting

Katia Jumbo.  Super bulky and gigantic to work with for someone who prefers a nice dk.  It is a fun fuzzy acrylic that works up fast.  Well, the Tree needed a fast shop sample made so I put down the Noro sweater and picked up the Big Needles to make a vest.

This is a re-gauged interpretation of In The Mood by Veronik Avery (click the link - it's free).  The pattern is great and it was easy to change for this fat yarn.

My only issue with the yarn was how to "weave" in the ends.  Normally, I weave in as I go, but that was not working on this yarn.   And I don't think there is a needle eye large enough to thread with this fluffery.

Adaptation was required.  I had to finger weave the ends through the stitches.  It was easy and allowed me to get the tension just right. 

This big super bulky vest is not my style.  It is a style that many will enjoy and within the first day on display in the shop, it garnered attention and several folks tried it on. 

Here is Annette, one of the owners, showing how cute the thing is when worn with style.

Making this vest (and trying it on) reminded me that this yarn world is wide enough and wonderful enough for everyone!

Yarn on people.  Yarn on.

Attack Of The UFOs

This is getting out of hand.  I must get my obsession under control. 

 Here are three UFOs that are on my side work table.

That's one hat that might become a new pattern, the crochet blanket that never seems to make it to the top of the list and the new stocking, which I have already shared.









To be fair, the stocking has received attention and will likely become the first finished object.












 The summer vest missed its calling.  It really wanted to be a part of my late summer/early fall wardrobe.  What can I say but that this became my "slacking" project.  However, if it is going to be ready for wearing out in the desert during The Season, serious time needs to be devoted to this one.








 
While not making a striped summer vest, I found time to cast on for a wool shawlette.  Really, I should not have done this.  Really.  Because it is all I want to work on and that is being unfair to all the other projects that want to be happily finished. 

But I really, really, love the way the stained glass effect is knitting up. 


And it is possible that I also started a pair of crochet fingerless mitts with the left over Woolfolk. And that means that even if I finish one of the mitts, there is a second one to make because one half of a pair is not a finished object even though one thing does get finished. 

I should not even mention this one.  It really isn't a crochet project because (horror of horrors) I purchased the crochet doilies.  Plain and simple cheated.  The whole idea is to stitch them together to make a table runner or window valance.  I got this idea from my summer travels down under and it swirls around every now and again. 

Yep, it is like the attack of the UFOs around the chateau. 

Grille For This Girl

Done.  Finished.  Ahhh.

She is named Grille.  Remember the hem that resulted from JMCO?  After much knitting in the round and the joy of a bit of lattice work set off by color block (that's a fancy term for changing the color) followed by the thrill of three-needle bind off and no ends to sew, Grille is finished.

Let's recall the magic hem and admire the beauty of the thing.

Ahhh.  Love it.  And this type of bottom skims what I have to skim over in a way that ribbing can not do.  Ahhhhhhhh.

This is Grille with the full lattice worn on the front.  Yes, it is kinda sheer looking and yes, this old gal has celebrated the big 6 0!  So what?

I figure that as long as the underpinning is appropriate, this look is OK for me. 

And just so you know, a bit of waist shaping goes a long way in the "illusion" department.

If a moment of modesty overcomes my senses, Grille can be turned and worn the other way!  This side is stockinette up to the last eight rows and then the lattice is just an accent along the shoulder.

Are you wondering what that means for back shoulder area?

Here it is.  The light is certainly playing a bit of mystery business through the holey lattice work.

The goal in making different top portions is to give options in how Grille is worn.  And to snub my nose at that Ogden Nash poem about pants.  Yeah, yeah - this is a top and not pants, but the point is kinda the same.

And yes, Mr. Nash, thanks to these photos, I have seen myself  retreating!

A Magic Hem

How could I resist?  For days and days it spoke to me.  It called my name.  Finally, temptation won and I am the proud owner of  Woolfolk Tynd.  This is not a yarn to languish in the stash for "some day."  Oh, no.  It is a "cast on right now and get to it" kind of yarn.  So I did.

I thought and thought about the pullover that it wanted to be.  At first, a basic top down raglan with vertical bands of twisted stitches seemed like the way to go.  Subtle but worth a second look.  That plan is now in reserve for the future. 

Working in the round was the goal.  And something that would not require too much attention so that it could be public knitting.  Well, gentle reader, this is a story about what happened to the yarn.  Or is it a yarn with a story? 

There I sat, cakes of yarn, needles and an idea popped into my noggin' - Judy Becker's Magic Cast On is actually a folded hem just waiting to happen.  Now, I am making a bottom up sorta tee shirt that will probably have simple lace at the top.

This is the end of four rounds of the Magic sitting there ready to become a knitted hem.  Please know that I worked the front and back separately so that there will be a little vent on each side of the hem.

Rather than making a humongous sock toe, I worked a k2tog all the way across.  This joined the two rows of stitches into one band that magically became the hem.

Can I hear a Voila!  You will note that the yarn is a deep merlot/berry shade and I simply could not face making a traditional folded hem where one is forced to actually sew the foldy up part to the knitting stitches which just happen, in this case, to be dark and tiny (well, a size US 6 tiny) and make no mistake in 115 stitches and then do the exact same perfection to make the other panel and well. . . . I just could not do it. 

 Here it is.  Judy's Magic Hem.  Surely others have done this.  I can't be the only one to have an inspirational moment.  So, I'll not take credit for the brilliance. 

After making the first hem, I make a second that (I am pleased to report) is exactly like the first.  Everything was slid onto one needle and joined to work in the round.  Now, there is just round and round of stockinette to be done until a second color decides to join the merriment.  Public Knitting project accomplished!

Playing Catch Up (because the laundry is done)

It is hard for even me to believe that this top has been worn so much in the past month that it needed a good washing.  Well, truth be told, it wasn't worn so much as it was "glowed" upon.  August was a hot month and the last thing I need is my fine knittery languishing about in old sweat my personal scent. 

Here is proof that I can wear horizontal stripes!  This particular pattern (#15 available on Ravelry) has adjusted my attitude greatly. 

After much contemplation and studying of these photos and the actual top, it is possible I have figured out why I love these stripes when I eschew all others. 

#1  These stripes are narrow.
#2  The texture change between garter & stockinette is fun to admire.
#3  The color flow of dark through light play tricks with what the eye beholds.
#4  The vertical stripes add length and a "narrowness" to the sides which also fools the eye.
#5  I freaking love Noro!

At first there was much fretting about the little short-row cap sleeves.  Not the actual short row making - that never bothers me.  I was worried about bunching up under the arm.  There is a little bit, but no so much that it looks weird or anything.

I am so in love with this style on my body that my mind has been straying to color choices for another version. 

Straying a lot. 

Straying often.

I will finish other projects, I will finish other projects, I will finish other projects, I will fini..............

Sewing Air

Lace knitting is not really my thing.  Oh, you might see me add an edging or work eyelets and pretend.  Occasionally there are lots of yarn overs surrounding decreases/increases.  But "real" lace.  Nope.  Not me.

Until now. 

I offered to knit a little pullover sample for the store.  Annette & Bruce thought I was being nice.  I offered as a way to force myself to sit and get over the fear.  I fought the lace. . . .I WON!

Not only did I knit the wispy stuff (that thinks it is sport weight), I actually managed to seam it into a final product.  There is no FO photo because Annette put it on and commenced to twirling and modeling as only she can do and I was too mind numb to think about going click with a lens.

If you are interested, the pullover is this cute sassy thing.  Or, if you are in the L.A. area, drive on over to The Knitting Tree, LA and pick up the pattern and the yarn. 

Yep, there just might be future posts all about my adventures in lace.

I'm as shocked as you are.  This could become a sub-obsession.

Still Learning After All These Years

 Pardon the old towel and the shadows from the desert sun, but pat me on the back and clap enthusiastically for my new skill.  That's right, I have learned the basic art of making felted soap.  Yippie!

This was a fun and bubbly class at the recent membership meeting of RKG.  The best part?  It was member taught.  I love learning from my friends and acquaintances.  It makes it so very personal, don't you think?

Caroline taught the workshop; the guild purchased the roving.  And we, the members, learned how to make this for no additional fee.  We did each bring our own bar of soap.  That's a very personal choice and it would have been impossible for the guild to take orders and be responsible for buying something so personal.

There are many videos and tips for felting soap available through your favorite search engine.  So I'll let you investigate on your own.

This is the other side of my soap.  I can't decide which side looks better - in my eye, both are perfect.  And considering that this was my very first effort, I am mighty proud.  That's why I want you to clap for me. 

Hopefully, the combination of the tea tree oil soap with the scrubby wool will be a winner.  If I like the result, there is much felting to do before the winter holiday season. 

Now, who want's to be on gift list?

I'm kidding, right?

Still The Best Pattern Ever!

Perhaps you want to argue, but I am convinced that Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket is absolutely and hands down the best knitting pattern ever!  Period.

It has been four years since I taught this pattern in a class setting.  All teachers of yarn things will agree that class samples are necessary.  During my recent re-organization of the studio I revisited notes and samples from several classes.

This is my newborn size BSJ.  I love it for several reasons.  First, the shoulders are not sewn which makes it easy to show students how to fold the swath into an actual jacket form.

Second, the icord bind off - complete with inline button holes - is ready to demonstrate "how-to" and thus I never have to finish this one.





Clearly, I had some thought of finishing it because two options for buttons were rolled up inside.  But for  the life of me I can't recall who was having a baby four years ago. 

This is another teaching sample.  Although this photo has no scale to prove it, it is not a Baby size.  This one is of worsted weight and knit on a larger needle so that students can see how gauge really does matter. 

I have a third sample that is completed.  That one is light blue with black stripes that make it easy to see whey the rows go and help plan color work.  Where that particular jacket is hiding is a great mystery of the yarn studio.

HMMM.  More cleaning and organization might be required.

Good Morning Starshine

A pattern that can be easily adapted to multiple uses makes me happy.  Enter the star. 

 This star happens to be crochet.  There are many that are also knit.  So make yourself happy and think about the options available.

Make a little star from sturdy washable yarn and call it a drink coaster.  Or string a whole bunch of little ones together and decorate the front porch, the mantel or a holiday tree. And here I am thinking making a whole bunch in purple, green and metallic gold for the Mardi Gras Tree. 

Consider making a special place mat for celebrating a child's birthday.  Go up to 36" - 45" and you've made a baby blanket or table cloth.  Are you understanding my point?  Totally flexible based on the size and the fiber and the color.  This could even be a rug!  

The little star blanket that I made is part of my charity donations for July.  It is the size it is because the yarn ran out.  As in this specific ball of yarn simply ran out of yardage.

I did not run out of yarn.  I still have plenty and I've got my eye on that Mardi Gras decor!


There are lots of free links out there.  Here are a few.
Crochet Star:
Garland
Blanket - this is the pattern that I used

Knit Star:
Blanket
Dishcloth
Basic Star

Gliddy glup gloopy
Nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo

Sabba sibby sabba

Nooby abba nabba le le lo lo

Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba
Early morning singing song

Good morning starshine

A Walk With The Forest

 Forest is finished.  Thank you Myra Wood for your     fabulous inspiration.

In constructing this satchel, I left live stitches on each long (side) edge.  A life line held things securely during the final blocking and while the lining was sewed in.  

 

 The sides were then finished off by doing the following:  

*fold bag in half and return each half of the stitches to needles

*using a contrast yarn (something already in the fabric) work a 3-needle bind off to secure the sides

This is the back side.  The family was allowed to vote on which side was the front and which was the back.  

 The lining stops short of the sides by three rows on each edge.  This way, the side edges have no lining and flex so as to add depth to the satchel.  On the back side, it allowed easy access to the bound off stitches where I picked up and knit a flap for closure.

Here is the front with the short - and unlined - flap.  Finding the leather beaded bobble was pure fluke.  It is the perfect finish to a wonderful and functional satchel.

The family chose the correct side to be the right side, don't ya think?

The Pause That Refreshes

Watching me sew in lining for the new satchel is not exciting.  To entertain you whilst I finish the thing - which is now named Forest - I offer up this bit of neck wear.

 At least I think it is neck wear.  It even went over to the market and was indeed wrapped about my neck at the time.   But, and I think you will agree, it looks fine as a mantle scarf. 

This is one skein of Swirl from Delicious Yarns.  This particular yardage is put up in the "magic ball" style and was a souvenir collected from the LA Yarn Crawl.

Because the yarns are just tied together, I decided to hold back a bit of two different yarns and tie additional strands randomly about the shawl.  All of the ties are on one side.  This way, the knots from the skein become part of an intentional design element.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Period.

Multiple Directions

Fixated.  That is an apt description for my knitting over the last week.  Absolutely fixated by the new direction of my work after spending two days learning from Myra Wood.





The pieces of knit fabric decided that they wanted to be a bag - a satchel of sorts for when I need just that perfect something.  After listening to the yarn make its decision, it was necessary to work side panels that would give width and balance out the other pieces.

Yes, just as Myra instructed, I steamed each section as the knitting progressed.  Each time a portion was finished, steam was applied.  Then after the entire rectangle was completed pins were placed selectively so that the whole piece could be steamed as one.  Because my yarn choices were not all the same content, over blocking was a good course.  Eventually, all the edges played nicely even though it was necessary to replace pins and slightly align some of the joins.

The underside is not a mess.  Given how many color changes are in this one rectangle, it could have resembled our drawer of electronic wires (don't ask; only family is allowed to see that tangled web).  I love weaving in ends as I knit or crochet and this photo shows why.  Not one tapestry needle was used in the making of this fabric.

Yes, there was some final adjustments made with tapestry needle, but that is a story for another day.

The thing about making a bag is that the knitting is just the first step.  Lining, determining the closure and making it, handle(s) and futzing are left to be done.  For now I leave you with this final thought.

YIPPIE!

Flowing Thoughts & Flowing Yarn

Run to the keyboard.  Type fast.  Skip a few lattes and a bagel and you can click your way to Knit In New Directions from Myra Wood.  Go do it now.  I will wait.

Whether you knit, crochet, quilt, draw or weave, Myra's journey into your own creativity will send your thoughts into a swirling mass of "must do NOW."

I was fortunate to spend two whole days with Myra in a workshop environment while knitters explored, learned and tinkered with yarn.  We thought about stitch patterns.  We deconstructed long color repeats to make our own color way.  We turned our work sideways and upside down.  We considered seams vs. picking up.  We were creative!

My mind is exhausted.

I have this much accomplished.  These two chunks are either pieces for a bag or the beginnings of a tee shirt.  I am happy and excited about the freedom to just make fabric. Well, that and the whole lesson about tails should this turn out to be a bag.


Thank you Myra Wood.  You rock.

Don't Mess With This

The shelf unit in my yarn studio apparently was overly messy.  At least according to certain family members.  I believe the exact quote was "now, if you'd just do something about THAT." 

To be honest, they were absolutely correct.  The magazines and books were mostly sloppy.  The single patterns were all cattywampus and the beads & buttons were mixed up and spilling out of too small containers.

A little thinking, followed by quick shopping and Voila!  The mess is now hidden behind and in storage systems.   I admit that it will be much easier to find the gold beads in the bead bin and not have to filter through the wood buttons looking for beads. 

You, gentle reader, should be thrilled and delighted that I have spared you a before photo.  I took one; it was so life altering that I actually spend $$ on non-yarn items.  But, all in all, I am thrilled with the result. 

The magazines are in real actual magazine holders!  The binders of single patterns did not change, but it is obvious that serious time needs to be devoted to setting up new binders because two magazine holders are stuffed with patterns. 

The fabric bins have stolen my heart.  That I was able to find sizes that fit onto the preexisting shelves was a huge plus.  My brilliant idea to use yarn to tie on labels deserves a special mention on Pinterest. (she laughs deeply at that one) 

What is so special about these things is while the inside might be a total dump, the family gets to see a pretty picture of organization. 

This one little corner has inspired me to consider reworking the local stash.  But since that is behind closed closet doors, the family does not comment so much on that homage to the word "disarray." 

This & T-HAT

Do for others.  Period.  You have heard it from me in prior posts and at least once a year I ask you to provide loving hands creations for those who need a bit of extra love.

Well, as it happens the opportunity to do a little extra came my way.  The President of ESSS knitting guild mentioned that her daughter ( a labor & delivery nurse) sometimes has need for blankets and caps for extreme preemie babies.  I decided that I could use the Cherub DK from the stash to knit a few wee small blankets.

I knew that I had two balls of light pink and a skein of pure white.    The request to knit for these extremely premature little souls was "about fifteen inches."  Surely that one skein of white would make a square - would it not?

There wasn't quite as much yarn as I thought. 

Thoughts of waiting until my LYS reopened the next morning were of no comfort.  It would not work if that last little corner became pink.  Since I did not have any blue, I was hoping that the solid white would suffice for a little boy.

There is no way for me to know for certain, but I suspect that I am not the first knitter or crocheter to ransack the stash in the middle of the night looking for just a little bit more.

TaDa!  Success.    I'm happy to finish the first blanket and the remainder of this white is becoming a center square that will be surrounded by pink. 





And that's why I have a stash.  So I can help out a friend's daughter without waiting for the store to open.


Oh, and I made another chemo cap for these kind folks.

Right To The Point

Let's get right to the point.  Another project has been cast on.  I'm not a big nor talented lace knitter but something about this free pattern caught my eye.  Oh, sure - it is designed for a dk yarn.  So what can possibly go wrong if I make it out of lace weight?  Same stitches, different gauge, and there was no need to go shopping due to the stash.

Just add another to the long list of "on the needle or hook" at Maison Francois. 

I figure that if anything does happen to go wrong (am I tempting the yarn gods?)  the simple fact that I have already admitted to being untalented when it comes to knitted lace actually removes some the the shame should the inevitable occur.  But I am trying to control for mishaps.

Check out all of the markers!  One marker for every two pattern repeats.  Hopefully this means that I  never have more than twenty stitches to tink.  And I plan to use multiple life lines just for good measure.

Wish me luck, please.  This one will receive my total focus when I'm not working on the tee, the thread crochet shawl, the blanket, the new charity caps or testing a vest pattern for a friend.