Making progress

I had several good hours of knitting yesterday and made some good progress on the Brother sweater. I have finished the front and started on the back. I'm not enjoying this yarn and if I'd chosen it in the last few years I know I'd have made a different and more informed choice. Eleven years ago when I chose this yarn, I had no idea what I was doing!

But continuing to use the original yarn, I am being authentic and loyal to the project as it was begun so I will keep it up. I think it will soften up nicely after its first soak.

The sweater is looking good so far.

Completed Prayer Shawl

I finished the Prayer Shawl and have worn it in the evening while knitting. It keeps me warm and is so soft and comfortable. I do feel very comforted in the shawl with all those good thoughts having been knit into each stitch. I am looking forward to making many more of these to give to friends and relatives.

I found a fantastic blog tonight while searching for a recipe for cooking beans in the crock pot. Its called 'A Year of Crockpotting' and is written by a mom who made a new years resolution to use her crock pot for 365 days in a row starting 1/1/08. She has some fantastic recipes and the layout is very easy to read and use. The link is on the sidebar, check it out. I am so inspired!

Noro

I stopped into Juniper Fiberworks today to check out their Noro selection. I did not know they would be having an After Thanksgiving sale. They had many bags of old colorways and discontinued Noro on sale. I found a bag of 5 skeins of Kochoran on sale at 50% off and could not resist. This is almost enough to make the sweater that I've been thinking of making for almost two years but could never justify the cost of the yarn. It takes 900 - 1100 yards and at $20 for 176 yards, thats an expensive project. Now I have 875 yards which is not quite enough but perhaps I can shorten the sweater a bit.

I bought this Noro book when I started knitting again in earnest, two years ago. I fell in love with sweater which is a long cardigan, almost like a car coat. I will have to look carefully at the pattern to see where I can make modifications to adjust to a little less yarn.

Everyone raves about Noro and having never knit with it, I am looking forward to finding out how this yarn knits up.

Thanksgiving

Our family celebrated Thanksgiving together on Wednesday night before the kids headed out for their celebrations with their other parents. It was a nice dinner together and we all announced what we were thankful for, mostly each other.

Thursday was spent relaxing and not cooking. It was a two bath day for me and I finished two books. There was a little bit of knitting. I am grateful for hot, running water that comes right out of the tap into the tub. Aren't we lucky to have hot tap water enough to fill up a bathtub?

I finished two books by the same author - Anne Lamott. The first was Grace (Eventually) Thoughts on Faith that I bought for the word Grace in the title and the pretty colors on the cover. I loved the way the author wrote and as I got into it, I wondered if she was the one who had written a book I'd started to read years ago at a bookstore in Eugene, that I'd not bought at the time. This was years ago, before my kids were born. It stuck in my mind because it was about a single mom raising a son in Marin, CA. I looked it up on Amazon.com and sure enough, it was her book - Operating Instructions. I ordered a used copy of the book for 1 penny on amazon ($3.99 w/ S&H but still, a $4 book). I love Anne's familiar and witty writing style and her feelings on faith and the way she articulates it really touch me. I highly recommend her books, of which there are many more.

All in all, it was a nice Thanksgiving.

Hedgerow socks

Working at the hospital, being on my feet all day, I've found that I need to pay attention to my foot comfort, my feet have been bothering me a lot. So yesterday I got myself a new pair of comfy shoes - Dansko brand by recommendation. Everyone who wears them claims them to be incredibly comfortable. To go along with the new shoes, I decided to update my own sock wardrobe.

I went to Gossamer yarn shop to get my favorite sock yarn, Dream in Color, and they had some fantastic colors to choose from. I chose Dusky Aurora and Chinatown Apple. I will use my favorite sock pattern, the Hedgerow pattern to knit up this beautiful yarn. I've decided that the combination of the Hedgerow pattern and the Dream in Color yarn is my favorite. The first time I used the Hedgerow pattern last summer I happened to use a skein of Dream in Color sock yarn in the Strange Harvest colorway and I fell in love with that pair of socks. So my plan is to duplicate those and have several pair.

I cast on the Dusky Aurora last night and in less than 24 hours already have several inches done. This pattern also knits quickly and I may have a new pair of socks before the end of the week.

Finally some knitting

I have been working on my Prayer Shawl and ran out of the yarn I was using so I stopped in to Juniper Fiberworks a few weeks ago to get some more. I was surprised to see the note on the door saying they were moving - Again. I had no idea that was the plan but on October 27th they shut the doors for a week to move to their new (and final) location. They were to open again on November 3rd. Excited to see the new store, I went on my lunch hour to the new store on November 3rd. They still had boxes and bins sitting outside and were unpacking items when I went in but they were open for business and I was able to find what I needed. I was afraid they'd be out since this was a discontinued item.

That's Garnstudio's Angora-Tweed which was discontinued sometime around 2004. Clara Parke's recent review from Knitter's Review on-line October 23rd edition told that Garnstudio has re-released the Angora Tweed and that the color I'm using, #15 light purple, is one that they kept. (They reduced the original 14 color group down to six.) I love this yarn! Its a sport-weight yarn with pretty, colorful slubs that change the lavendar color green and blue and white sometimes. It makes me want to knit a sock or something in stockinette just to see what the fabric would look like. The skeins are only 150 yards which is why I ran out so quickly while working on this shawl.

I purchased three more skeins hoping it would be enough to finish the shawl which was on stall the entire week while I waited for the store to re-open. I think 450 yards should be enought to finish. Depending on how much I use, I'll have to get three more skeins if I want to make a pair of socks with this yarn.

The new store seems nice and once they finish unpacking I know it will feel cozy like the last place. This is the permanent location as I was told they bought the building. Its just across the street from the old yarn shop that was open when I first moved to town almost sixteen years ago. The old building has been empty for awhile and was the temporary headquarters for the Obama team during the primary campaign. It was one of the buildings she looked at buying but settled on this location across the street. Its on Greenwood Ave. so getting in and out of the parking lot will be of necessity from turning right, there is no turning left across Greenwood right there.

Now its back to knitting on the prayer shawl and hopefully I won't drag this out over more than two seasons!

History

We've been waiting a long time for this and hoping it would happen and now it has. Its history and its a turn-around time for our country. My life has gone through a lot of changes in the last eight years and now I feel like things are going to start turning around for me personally along with the country. This is a very meaningful election for me.

Our family has been watching this campaign closely, a lot more closely than a lot of people have the last two years and so we had a great culmination celebration tonight. I'm so glad that my kids get to see this happening, and they are really excited about it which I like to see.

That's our dog Charlie with a "Yes we can!" sign rubber-banded around his body.


And the next First Family.

Fall Sports are done

The first term of youth sports has come to an end. No more running to and from practice, no more games, no more meets. Its bittersweet really but a time to rest, take a breather and fill up the gas tank before term two begins.

Today was the District meet for Central Oregon Middle School Cross Country, and it came right along with the change in weather. The clouds we saw today felt like basketball season, which is now just around the corner.

Tomorrow is Halloween and that means the weather is turning, as it does this time every year. I hope its at least warm and dry enough tomorrow night to stay out until we "fill up the pillowcase at least half full before we're done."

There's always space for a gratuitous family photo:

Ahhh Autumn

I love this time of year! And we've had such good weather this fall its easy to love. Our yard looks so beautiful with all leaves changing colors.

Halloween is just a week away and we had a busy weekend doing fun Halloween activities. We went to the Fall Festival and Haunted House on Friday night, made cupcakes and hung decorations yesterday, and carved our pumpkins today. The stage is set and all we need to do is wait for trick-or-treaters.

There has not been much knitting but as we head towards clock-changing time, I know there will be plenty of time for that. Right now, its time for the kids. And they keep me plenty busy. I keep myself busy too, planning all kinds of labor-intensive meals that keep me standing in the kitchen. Thank goodness the dog likes to eat pumpkin, he helps the clean-up after the carving!

I didn't think we'd get everything accomplished this weekend but we did and look how excited these kids look as they wait for the big day!

Serendipity

Sometimes when you let your day unfold around you instead of forcing it, you will recognize the serendipity that is always around.

On Monday, I tried to be concious of letting my day happen instead of forcing myself through it. I heard Kelly Pitkin from KnitPicks give a book review of a book, Knitting into the Mystery, that sounded like something I'd like to read. I looked it up on the library's web site and found the only copy in Central Oregon was at the Sunriver library. Normally I would have had to order it on-line and wait for it to be driven to Bend but on that day I happened to be going to Sunriver already for my daughter's cross-country meet and so it worked out perfectly. I took in the meet and cheered on my daughter, then went across the street to the library and picked up the book. Instant graftification and I got to start reading the book right away.

Reading the book is such a peaceful exerience. The book describes the Prayer Shawl movement and talks about contemplative knitting and opening your heart while you knit. It describes selecting your yarn and knitting alone or with others and how to get your good thoughts and prayers into your stitches. I really enjoyed reading it.

It was such a compelling read that I couldn't help but cast on for my own Prayer Shawl the next night. I found some Angora-Tweed from Garnstudio in my stash and though its almost a lace-weight, I am using size 10.5 needles and its turning out beautifully. I love the lavendar color and slubby-tweedy bits. I am putting all my good thoughts and love and prayer into it. I'm not sure who it will go to but its so relaxing to knit.

I am also really enjoying the beautiful, fall weather we've been having. It was much warmer today than I expected and the trees are so bright with their yellows, oranges, and reds. This is my favorite season of the year. Noticing the change in season and fall color helps me to slow down and notice the serendipity in the air.

The oldest WIP

Eleven years ago I started a sweater for my brother, my plan was to give it to him for Christmas. By Christmas, I had only finished part of the front but wrapped it up and gave it to him anyway telling him that I would finish it for him as soon as I could. Not long after that Christams with a one year old baby and a full time job, the sweater got put away.

Recently, with the desire to begin a new project but no money for yarn, I pulled the unfinished sweater out of my stash and decided to give it a go again. I realized I had no idea what size I was making and without knitting a guage swatch would not necessarily finish the way I planned anyway. So I ripped out what I had, knit a guage swatch and started over on new needles. In one week I've come farther than I did in months eleven years ago.

Now I'm working away happily and with more speed, knowledge, and skill than I did back when I started. The end product will be much nicer than it would have been if I'd actually finished it back then. It might even be worth waiting eleven years for.

Bonita

Its done! And I've actually worn it in public. I'm really pleased with how it turned out and excited to make another t-shirt. Something like the 'Nothing but a t-shirt' by Alison Hansel. I don't know if it was the short-sleeved aspect or something about the shapng of Bonita that made it do-able for a somewhat beginner like me, but it made me feel like I could do this again and I really want to.

I looked for Rowan Calmer on-line and at the local shop, Gossamer, and find that if I want the colors that I like, I will have to purchase it on-line. I'm thinking Vintage as the MC and Plum as the CC in the 'Nothing but a t-shirt' pattern. Its tough for me to think of buying it at the Rowan price right now - 7 skeins would be spendy at over $80. Knit Picks Comfy yarn might be comparable but I didn't like the color choices as well, despite the much better price. I am going to think about it for awhile and see if its worth it.

In the mean-time, I cast on for a pair of Monkey socks just to get something on the needles that I thought might go more quickly. There's something about Monkeys that makes them go fast and they are not disappointing. I also am considering doing the Babette KAL with the Webs podcast from last spring (which I am just now listening to) so I listened to their crochet tutorial. I could not get the hang of it from listening so I watched a You Tube video tutorial which helped me figure out both the single and double crochet. Good thing my son is such a You Tube junky so I could figure out how to watch - I'm such a luddite! But here are some crochet swatches that I enjoyed making last night.

I've always thought that crochet was just silly but now I think its fun. I need to figure out how you incorporate the stitches that I learned into a pattern. Once again, making the Babette will be expensive yarn-wise particularly if I do it with Koigu, which I think would be really pretty, but it can be done slowly and over time.

Right now, I am celebrating that I got my Bonita t-shirt done, if not before the Olympics were over, at least in time to wear it before the weather turned. And the fact that it turned out well enough to wear it at all!

Getting there

Finally, I think I've got it. I took the time to sit down and focus on my project this weekend and was able to figure out a new technique - the i-cord bind-off. I read the instructions on the pattern and then went to knitty.com and read the tutorial on i-cord bind off and I also remember listening to Kelly Petkin talk about the i-cord bind off on her Knit-Picks podcast and I finally got the concept and was able to get it done. Thank you very much to Sarah for her offer of help and when I figure out how to get back to her I may take her up on her offer but I think I need it more for technical blogging help at this point. Thanks, Sarah!



Bob loves to help show off the knitting, of course. Here he is trying to get in on the action and be a knitwear model. Isn't the i-cord bind off so tidy looking? I was so impressed when I saw it finished. Now there is just the weaving in of ends and I will have my finished 'Olympic project'.



It is another late night tonight, the Monday, kid day - football practice, cross-country, late dinner, and homework. This is all after I had a rough day at work, not agreeing with the boss and trying to communicate while staying diplomatic and respectful. This may not be the job for me but its not the time to be thinking about leaving a job. A job is a good thing to have right now - especially after all the craziness that went on last week and what we may be facing in our economy now. Wouldn't it be nice to just be a cat and be able to relax on hand-knits?

New yarn store and a quiet weekend

I visited the new location for Juniper Fiberworks a few weekends ago and really like Deb's new space. It feels much more cozy than the previous shop and I like how only part of it is color-coded and there is a little more 'by-the-fiber organization'. For some reason it was much easier to shop in the new store and find some neat little treasures so there must be something about the way its set up that makes if more comfortable for shopping. I think this will be good for Deb because the other location was never my first choice for yarn shopping. The location itself is not bad either, closer to my house and in between work and home which might not be so good for me!

I saw the cutest little sample hat with a soft halo of a yarn and had to make one for myself so I bought the Debbie Bliss Alpaca-Silk in a watermelon color and here is my version.


It’s a good thing hats are such a quick knit because at least I have an FO:

I’ve been stopped up on my Olympic challenge sweater – Bonita. I’ve gotten to the neck band and a new technique for casting-off that I’ve not done before so it’s a case of finishing-phobia. I may need outside help to get past this point. I also need some focused, quiet time to sit down and figure it out. Perhaps the kid-free weekend coming up will provide me with some of that.

Recovering

There ended up being knitting last night after all! In the wee, small hours of the night. In fact, there is even an FO to show off!

I was too hyped up from the evening's activity to go to bed so I actually stayed up to watch David Letterman, waaaaay past my bedtime, and I'm paying for it today. I'm so tired tonight, it will be a short post due to low brain function. Here is proof, Dave talking about climate change. I like David Letterman, I wish he wasn't on so late, but I guess thats what Tivo is for.

So I finished the Airy Scarf made out of mohair and silk as modeled by my REAL knit-wear model - 11 year old daughter Camille.

I recovered my evening a little after all the activity and was able to accomplish some knitting and now I'm recovering from staying up so late.

I must take a moment to wish a very Happy Birthday to my brother who is turning a big 35 today.

I wonder if there will there be knitting tonight?

To knit at all?!

What a night!! Its 10:25 p.m. and I'm just sitting down for the first time tonight, there will likely be no knitting. I've been spending my night running kids to and from practice - cross country and football, grocery shopping, visiting three different stores for specific school supplies, dictating spelling words, running baths, washing dishes, folding laundry, and all the other things that make up a week-night during the school year. But there has been thinking about knitting.

The closest I got to knitting today was listening to a knitting podcast in the car. I am catching up with Lime & Violet's podcast which, because I like to do things sequentially, I couldn't think of beginning in the middle. Several months ago when I subscribed to their podcast, I started with podcast #1 and am now listening to somewhere around January 2007 in Lime & Violet's world. At that time, they were talking about their Sock Marathon - where they said we should count up our sock yarn, see how many miles we have, and then commit to knitting a certain amount of our mileage before the end of 3 months. I like the idea so I counted my sock yarn - I have 1.36 miles. Considerably less, I think, than most stash-obsessed knitters. It looks like this:

That's Bob, the photo-shoot model, helping out. Whenever I lay out some yarn-related item to take a picture, he gets in on the action. That is also 1.36 miles of sock yarn - Koigu, Shibui, Trekking, Lana Grossa, Mountain Colors, and some Lorna's laces. So at this point, I'm not making any kind of commitment to how much I will knit, I'm just acknowledging how much there is. I do know that my most recent sock gift for my dad is very well loved, he even washed them by hand so he could continue to wear them. When your dad is washing his socks by hand, that's a compliment! I've made a pair of socks for my "sister-in-law" (in quotes since she is not actually married to my brother - yet.) I know my mom would love a pair, and my REAL knit-wear model, my 11 year old daughter, loves to wear hand-knit socks.

So someday, when I get a chance to actually knit, socks will be on my list - then I can buy more sock yarn!

Begin as you mean to go on

I've been reading and being inspired by knitting blogs for so long now and I've always thought how much Id like to have my own. I've just never thought I had the time, knowledge, or courage to create one. Inspired by my husband, I finally decided to just do it. He has several blogs that he keeps up with periodically and told me I had nothing to worry about and that I could and should do it. Bolstered by him and his try-anything attitude, here I am.

So many knit bloggers have gone before and have been so well-written and full of beautiful photography, I hope to be half as interesting. Mostly though, this is for me - a way to journal and make sense of my life as it goes by.

As busy as summer is and filled with activities, its sometimes hard to keep up with knitting. The Olympics inspired me to start a new and challenging project and I actually sat down each night during the games and knit on a sweater. I didn't finish it during the games but I did get pretty far and was proud of my effort and progress. Since then, I've been inspired by all kinds of projects and yarns that I've cast on several new things without finishing my Olympic project. I don't have far to go on it and will get it done to wear before the weather turns too cold.

However, Manos del Uruguay's beautiful, kettle-dyed, silk blend has distracted me as well as the Rowan kid-silk haze mohair which I've never knit with before. I had to cast on two projects from Last Minute Knitted Gifts for these two beautiful yarns - the Airy Scarf on page 69 and the Soft drawstring pouch on page 85. I'm enjoying them so much its hard not to work on them.

I'm excited about beginning the blog and can't wait to keep creating and journaling. Like the Olympics did with my challenging knitting project, blogging will help focus my energy and help my creativity grow.