Off The Needles

The Vest With A Twist from Easy Cable Knits for all seasons by Andra Knight-Bowman is done!  And off the needles.  And on the body.

It looks like this.  I thoroughly enjoyed the making of this one as the construction is uniquely fun.

The body is knit side to side which results in a cable running across the upper body right were I enjoy the illusion of slightly more bigness.  And there is subtle vertical patterning that runs vertically so as to make me think that height is my friend.

The yarn, should you be interested is Berroco Blackstone Tweed.  This is a yummy wool, mohair, angora blend that feels wonderful for the making.  And it feels wonderful on a fall day.  Of course fall here is running 66 degrees, thus the simple neckline with crab stitch edging.

Because the body of this pattern is worked side to side, sleeves are picked up and worked down to what ever length the end user desires.  Yep, the pattern is a vest with the option to add sleeves. 

I absolutely adore the illusion that the sleeves are but a continuation of the upper body.  It looks grand!  

One note on the pattern is rather important*

*Garments knitted from side to side will lengthen over time.

At first I panicked that the completed garment was too short.  Way to short even for me.  But after blocking and hanging over night, the length is well within my tolerance level, and happy times are restored.

It has been a while, but Bert wants to say "Hello"  

The Odds Are With Us

Walking down the aisle of an airplane to discover someone already sitting in my assigned seat is not my favorite way to start a flight.  Even when that flight is at the end of a trip and home is on the horizon.  There is that awkward conversation of:

"Excuse me.  Have we been assigned the same seat?"

Person frantically checks boarding pass whilst I do the same.  Those numbers and letters are tricky sometimes.

"Oops.  Sorry about that.  Looks like I am the A seat by the window."

And the sweet gracious middle seat holder offers to slide over so that we all just shift and I am the last one in.  

OK - dodged another social situation due to women who have manners.  I was feeling so happy that my thoughts were expressed out loud for all to hear.  Sometimes this is not a good thing, but imagine my delight at the response to my muttered "OK, time to get out the knitting (insert sigh of relaxation)"  And my row neighbor, she of the A seat now the B seat, replied, "How did you know I knit?!"  And she reached down to bring up her stash busting ribbed scarf.

Oh happy day!  A knit mate for the next three hours.  We shared scarf admiration.   She was busy making one scarf out of the remains of two hats.  And I was making yet another no brain K2Tog scarf destined to be dyed later. 

The photo is dark, but I just want to show that real people - aka yarn lovers -  utilize that under seat storage for the balls of yarn when doing color work in a cramped space.   Naturally, my new knitting buddy and I enjoyed sharing limited work space whilst  expressing admiration for different knitting styles.  She learned from family in India about the same time I was learning from a book in Louisiana.  And you know what?  Knit is knit is knit. 

So there we are, enjoying the flight, when we glanced to the right to the far side of the plane wondering why someone was not dropping the shade and a rather eye blinding glare was entering the whole space.  

Look here.  Counted cross stitch by the light of the sky!  On our row, just across the aisle.

Now I ask you.  What are the odds?  One row.  Six seats.  Two knitters and one cross stitcher.

If math serves me correct that is 50%  hand art,  non battery, non energy hogging productive activity.  The sample size of six might be small, but we are taking over this whole green technology thing! 

PS  If you want the K2Tog pattern, look to the left sidebar for link to my public page.  All my free patterns are there for the using.  

Designer Hand Knits

Designer Hands Knits is officially and Grandly Opened!  You might recall that Linda retired and closed my beloved Knit 'N Stitch.  And with the large open retail space available, the dynamic Nancy decided to move her store into the vacated space.

After a few weeks of "making it her own" and finding the perfect location for each yarn, sample and gadget during a soft opening, Nancy was ready for the Grand Opening.  And it was grand.  Totally packed with shoppers, tasty food and beverage and - the real kicker - discounts for all. 

On top of all that Nancy offered, many labels that you know sent fantastic samples for gifting. 

A highlight of the day was this marvel. 

This is a cake!  Completely edible and absolutely amazing.  C-A-K-E.

I think that every camera in attendance snapped multiple photos of the cake.  There was definitely much Oooh-ing and AAhh-ing and jaw dropping.

And just to further prove that this is indeed a yarn store, look past the cake and check out the color organized special yarns and drool inducing books available for the purchasing.  Did I mention the word "discount?"

If you have a hankering to visit Riverside, check out Nancy's new location.  She will even let you fondle the merchandise.

6730 Brockton Ave (in the Arcade)
Riverside, CA 92506-3814


Maybe I'll see you there!

Awe and Wonder

Yesterday the gift looked like this.

This morning - only one more row to go!

An interesting thing has happened in the making of this gift.  Actually, the amazement is what has not happened.  Nothing has gone awry.  Absolutely nothing.

Oh, sure yours truly has occasionally stopped to count rows, stitches or spaces at major points along the way.   But each time the counting occurs the number reached actually matches the number that should be reached.  Nothing is wrong.  

I choose to have faith that, because this is a surprise gift for someone who will truly be surprised,  the crochet goddess is guiding each movement of the hook - each yarn over - each chain space and thus paving an easy path to completion.  There can be no other explanation.

Because I am not perfect, I accept that I can not produce perfection.  Every thing I undertake has room for improvement.  I do not dwell in the land of "coulda, shoulda."  It is simply that I enjoy the making.  Flaws and all.  But this one shawl is working out perfectly.

Yes, one more row and this gift will be finished.  And I am dwelling in the land of guidance from above - be she the crochet goddess or other. . . .

Awe and wonder.

My Plate Runneth Over With Random Activity

Life is too busy to allow much time for putting thoughts down on this electronic paper.  Random bullet points are all that time permits:

A friend admired the completed Magnificent Mantle, so a new one is on the hook.  It will be gifted to the admirer.

 Same pattern, same yarn, same hook.  However, given her height relative to my lack there of, I am thinking that increasing the size slightly is appropriate.

Riverside City Police were grateful for the guild donation of Precious Pals.  Turns out, that if one looks over the entire cast of characters, it is possible to fine a bear dressed in purple and a bear dressed in gold so as to mimic a favorite LA team.

 But, I am southern - Louisiana Cajun southern and I prefer to think of this selection of purple and gold as leaning more toward LSU than the Lakers.  

Geaux Tigers!!

It rained.  In Riverside and environs.  In October!  Look at all the happy people dancing on the lawn.....Bother me tomorrow......

So many Aestlight shawls to admire!  This was a fun activity.  If your group has not looked over the possibilities, give it a whirl.  Discussing options and adaptations was quite fun.

 If you have worked this pattern, you know that it features a knit border that hits the point in a split manner - more like a swallow tail.  One intrepid knitter offset the border such that the point of the motif fell exactly in line with the point of the shawl.  Another played with yarn and gauge to make a much larger shawl suitable for wrapping up in.  And the colors!  Oh, my what unique colorations are used by free thinking knitters.

After staring at eight words of inspiration, I finally wrote an article that was due on October 1st.  In keeping that the whole southern background and point of view, I am partial to doing things on "Scarlett Time"

Oh, and lest I forget, there is this final tidbit.  Laundry is done for the week - almost.