Yay! Robin's Back

Robin was back in attendance with one finished baby blanket. The pink one above was knit with Encore Chunky. The pattern is from String.
This blue blanket is nearly complete. It was knit with Berroco Comfort Worsted, the pattern is Ann Norling # 38, the garter & brick pattern.
Michelle modelled her Cia lace sweater knit in Louet Kidlin. It has beautiful lace borders and cuff. After having a whole conversation with Lois about only knitting baby sweaters, Robin was completely taken with this sweater.

The last time Robin knit with mohair, it was not a happy experience. Michelle gave her the pattern and the leftover Kidlin yarn to try out the pattern and see if she liked the yarn.
Michelle had lots of leftover yarn from various blankets and sweaters that she has knit for her grandson. We discussed a mitered square blanket and were going to design one together. Then a customer came into Westport Yarns with a fantastic mitered squares blanket. The pattern is from Cottage Creations and is called Rambling Rows. Michelle is having a lot of fun with it.

Lois worked on a diagonal scarf and also the Chloe baby sweater.

Elizabeth continued work on her Wisteria Shawl by Kristin Omdahl. She explained to Michelle that when she decided to work on the shawl, she didn't realize that those four dots at the top of the pattern meant the level of difficulty, she thought it was decorative. No worries, she's up for the challenge.

Knitter's Review - Reviews of Knitting Events and Fiber Festivals

Knitter's Review - Reviews of Knitting Events and Fiber Festivals

I'm being lazy tonight, check out this article that talks about the Summer 2010 TNNA (the National NeedleArts Association) trade show.

Time for comfy clothes and my knitting. :)

Wishful Knitting

Wishful Knitting: The process by which you can ignore being off in your knitting, wishing it will straighten itself out if you just keep knitting.
Elizabeth is swatching for the Wisteria Shawl by Kristin Omdahl from Interweave Crochet, Spring 2010. She's using the yarn it calls for (a novel approach); Tahki Sierra a silk/linen blend.

One flower flows out of the other. It's going to be a knockout.

Linda's sweater and buttons are so cute, they deserved a second showing.

Sherry crocheted my "Oohh Sparkly Thing" scarf in Berroco Bonsai Colors. She used four skeins. The colorway reminds me on sand dunes on the beach.

This scarf was crocheted with Artyarns Beaded Pearl & Sequins. It is so pretty in the shell stitch and the beads/sequins really come alive in crochet. The pattern is from Artyarns, E119, Silk Crochet Beaded Scarf; it called for 2 skeins, however, Sherry made hers wider and used three.
Elizabeth's Shell Game Vest came out beautifully. The colors are so pretty together. She just has to weave in the ends. She thought about blocking it, however, gravity is going to take care of making it longer.
She finished her Noro sweater which she modified for length and gauge.

Juanetta stopped by with her finished hooded baby blanket (that she taught herself how to crochet). Well done!

Never Underestimate the Power of a Knitting Group.

Yesterday while we were knitting, Lois got a call from her son who was traveling home for his sister's graduation. His plane was delayed and he wanted to know what to do. Lois called out to us that she needed the group's advice.

There was something very satisfying in the way all of us jumped into action. Michelle got on the Internet with her phone to look up alternative sites. Diane and I threw out one suggestion after another.

I often find there is so much to be gained in a knitting group (or potentially any shared womens interest group). There is a deep feeling of kinship I get by being surrounded by women who share my passion for knitting. Whether we are sharing stories, looking for advice, laughing, networking, or just quietly knitting - there is a connection between us. Some of the most interesting things I find about this connection is that we come from different backgrounds, our ages vary, we are married/unmarried/divorced/single, some have kids/some don't, our strengths and weaknesses compliment each other within the dynamic of the group setting. Best of all, there is a genuine sense of interest and caring.

It puts me in mind of 2 books that I read a long time ago. We are our Mother's Daughter's by Cokie Roberts and The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. Both books revolve to some extent about the "bonds of sisterhood through the centuries" and the "traditions of ancient womanhood".

Later on a Russian woman came over to ask what we were working on. She told us that when she lived in Russia, she knit, crocheted, and sewed everything they needed. Now, she told us (part proudly and part glibly) "I am a rich American now, I can buy my things". Then she said in the same proud and incredulous tone (if you can imagine that) that she has her own car. She said in Russia these things were not possible for her and that we (American people) need to be grateful and appreciate what we have. She was very enthusiastic and sweet and I agree that we are lucky to have possessions that those in other countries do not. But for me, some of the things that I value and appreciate the most are the intangible things, like my lovely knitting community.

She's a Morning Pickle Eater!

Michelle was back in full force today with her requisite 4 projects. The "Easy Crocheted Triangle Lace Shawl" she's working on is by Lily Chin (Fiber Trends 105LC). She's working it in Cascade Ultra Pima. She's come a long way from not being able to single crochet an edge!
She proudly made it to round 16 in her Renaissance Poncho. She's knitting it in Nashua Handknits Natural Focus Cotton. I'm taking the time while she catches up with me to finish a couple of other things. Then I'll be back in the game on my Renaissance Poncho.
She's all but done with her Minnowknits scallopini cardigan, the buttons just need to be sewn on.
This tank is really cool, it's knit in 2 pieces and seamed down the center front and back. The pattern is from Noro YS490 "Shirakaba Ladies Top". Michelle knit hers in Noro Cash Iroha. I love the stitch pattern on the shoulders.
Well, it's working. By Mary and I imposing a joint deadline on our Shore sweaters, we are making progress. The goal today was to have worked till the point where you divide for the fronts/back/sleeves. We felt beholden to each other to be done.
Our next goal is to finish the left front. Every time I have to weave in all the g-dforsaken ends in, I think "what were we thinking?" Why didn't it dawn on us or those around us that we'd be weaving in ends from here to eternity. It might have made a difference. We might have found a different project. We could've been stopped!
Diane's baby blanket in Zara Chine is coming along beautifully. She's got the hang of the lace pattern.

Oh, and the pickles in the morning... Thing #2 came with me today and bought herself breakfast at the deli. A hot pastrami sandwich, pickle, and knish. Thatta girl. It was good pastrami, she shared. It was Mary who exclaimed, "She's a morning pickle eater!" Maybe you had to be there.

And you say you're not a knitter.

Juanetta joined us today for the first time and brought along a crocheted baby blanket she's working on. I met Juanetta at a class I was teaching at Westport Yarns.
Mary wore her "Soft & Drapey Shrug" that she knit in Cadiz, Artyarns Silk Pearl, and Artyarns Beaded Pearl & Sequins. She found it wasn't staying on her shoulders well, so she improvised a chain closure with a necklace. I love her problem solving skills.
She finished all the squares for her Sublime Funky tote bag in Sublime Extrafine Merino. She's going to block them (under the sofa cushions where her sons sit) and then either sew or crochet them together. All the square colors are striped in the knit handle. We talked about how you would never think to put some of the colors together and yet they go really well.
We are both losing momentum on are Shore Cardigans. Mary had decided a while back that hers was going to be a vest. I'm inclined to do the same. A. I'm not sure I'd like horizontal stripes around my arms. B. By the time I'm done with the bodice, I'm going to want to be completely done. We've set a knitting goal for this week, you know like we're knitting buddies to motivate ourselves to complete the sweater. That reminds me...I have to knit on mine.
Linda has come to the conclusion that she is a serial knitter. Her first foray back into knitting was the Wonderful Wallaby and she knit 5 of them. Then after a brief hiatus spent knitting a generic baby sweater and a shrug for her daughter, she's back and this Chloe pattern is next.
She finished the sweater this week. We discovered these ladybug buttons, which were perfect. Linda is going to knit a second one next!

Where do we begin?

Michelle just got back from a trip and hadn't been knitting. (Shocking, I know.) She didn't know where to begin with the projects she left behind. She decided to finish the second side of the Shell Game Vest. We're in the home stretch for publishing the pattern. I'm going to include pictures of everyone's vest - the colors are all so different.
Diane had started a baby blanket from the Yarn Lover's Room. It's knit in Zara Chine.

Way to go Abby! This is her biggest project to date. She knit the Vogue Spring 2010, #22 Sun Dress by Alice Halbeisen. She knit it in Berroco Seduce. We modified the top to be stockinette instead of lace.
Now she's working on a knit t-shirt, Bondi from Berroco Booklet #294, in Origami. I find this yarn very intriguing. I've liked it in everything I've seen it knit up in. Diane's Kiama Jacket and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Kiama Jacket. I'm inclined to knit myself the Kirra Jacket, the longer version of the Kiama Jacket.

Elizabeth realized after completing the neckline that her sweater wasn't long enough. I give her a lot of credit. She ripped it back, added more length and got right back into it. I would've sulked for a bit. Then I would have punished the project by leaving it in a "I'll do it sometime" pile. Two years later I would've taken it out and did some forensic knitting to figure out why I left it behind. I'm just saying...
Lois started her Chloe sweater. She's modified the pattern from changing colors every 2 rows to changing colors every 6 rows. I was really psyched to see how far she had gotten with it.

Orangutan and the Hound

My mother sent me this link. I don't know where she finds these. This is so charming and endearing. Watching just makes you smile and feel happy.


Orangutan and the Hound

Awww, How Cute!

Let's just all utter a collective, "Ohhhhh, how cute!" This is my favorite new little girl sweater pattern, top down. It's called Chloe from Nevernotknitting. I used Aslan Pima Classico. I made the size 2 and it just fit.

My Weekend Off

Although I enjoy when the weather is beautiful on my days off, I also enjoy the times when the weather isn't so nice and I can go about what I have/want to do without feeling guilty about being outside.
I finally reached the point where I could switch from the 16" to 24" circulars. Michelle should be back this week and I promised her I'd get her cast on for the Renaissance Poncho. I also promised I wouldn't finish mine. Neither of us realized how many rounds it would take to increase enough stitches to switch. I'm at round 51 out of 80.
Michelle is knitting her Renaissance Poncho in Nashua Handknits Natural Focus yarn. She was really smitten with it when she saw it at Westport Yarns. I cast on and completed the first 4 rounds for her. Now I'll sit tight on mine and give her a chance to catch up.
I told Thing #2 if she cleaned her room (to my satisfaction ~ including laundry), I would take her shopping for spring clothes. I found the Kindle for Iphone app. and actually sat, knit, and read a book sample while I waited. That was really cool.
I bought a skein of a new yarn we are carrying at Westport Yarns, Millamia from Sweden. It's 100% extrafine sportweight merino, 136 yards, machine washable. I'm swatching for a hat.

More knitting completed on secret squirrely project. I really am enjoying knitting with Be Sweet Bamboo yarn.

Read-a-long

As we share a lot of book titles while we are knitting and crocheting, the book "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Steig Larrson has come up on more than one occasion.
Some of us have yet to read it, despite the fact that the rest of the world seems to be starting the third book.

We bought the book and have begun (or are about to begin) reading it. If you haven't read it either, read-a-long.

Interval Knitting

What you may ask is interval knitting? It's what I'm calling the dance between the different projects I'm working on. I think of it either like doing interval training when you work out or like a square dance when you switch partners. What can I tell you, my mind wanders on those long purl rows back on the lace knits.
I'm well into the Renaissance Poncho (in Debbie Bliss Prima). I'm supposed to get to the point where I switch to the larger needles. I'm borrowing Michelle's smaller needles. My job is to get to the point on my poncho where I switch to the larger needles and then get hers cast on. She asked me not to get too far and I'm trying to be true to that. The problem is, one of the customers came into the store today with her finished Renaissance Poncho knit in Blue Heron Rayon Metallic. It was GORGEOUS.
My current mindless project is a pair of toe up socks on magic loop (in Knit One Crochet Too Sox Appeal). I'm almost to the instep and then I'll have to focus for the heel before it goes back to being mindless.
I have a secret squirrely design project in progress (in Be Sweet Bamboo). I've never knit with Bamboo before, it's really lovely to work with. The Debbie Bliss Prima is a Bamboo/Wool blend.

Well, a Tunisian crocheted scarf is up in the rotation. Picture to follow! It's for a class at Westport Yarns in August.

Did anyone get any knitting/crocheting done?

Elizabeth bought Tahki Sierra yarn to crochet the Wisteria shawl by Kristin Omdahl, published in the Interweave Crochet Spring 2010 issue. It's a fairly intermediate pattern. She began working up a swatch of the motif.
She found this really cute crochet hook case on Etsy. When it's open, it has room for hooks on both ends and there is a protective flap of fabric to prevent the hooks from slipping out.

I honestly don't know what Mary knit today. She showed us her Shell game vest, she wore it yesterday. It looks great.

Then she brought out this hooded sweatshirt she started for one of her sons. Problem is, she doesn't know where she put the rest of the yarn. We were trying to figure out what color it is. I have my guess - tomorrow I'll check it against the Plymouth Encore Chunky color card. At the same time we were making phone calls and surfing the Internet (to find more yarn), Diane and Elizabeth searched in earnest for the end of this tangled ball of yarn (Mary's puppy had at it).
In her ongoing Prism Wild Stuff shawl, Lois reached the point where she just had to know how what it looked like off the needle. As she knit along she was plagued with thoughts that it was going to be too short or that it wouldn't be wide enough and that she would run out of yarn. She put it on a lifeline and took it off the needle. It measured 70" instead of the 60" it is supposed to be. I tried it on and showed her that the length was fine.

She is actually considering ripping it out and starting again with fewer stitches to make it 60"! Yikes, say it isn't so! The wrap is knit the long way and then a shorter edge is picked up and knit down on each side. We will anxiously await her decision.
Lois swatched for the Chloe Sweater she's going to knit. Not only did she swatch, she swatched in two different needle sizes and it was a reasonably sized swatch. I'm so proud! She's also going to make a scarf on the diagonal with the same yarn she's using for the Chloe sweater. It will be a gift to the older sibling to the recipient of the Chloe sweater.

She kept getting turned around in the scarf and in the end decided to pack up her yarn and go home!
Diane is getting accustomed to knitting with the Be Sweet Extra Fine Mohair. It's a big change from knitting with the Berroco Origami she was knitting with. She worked on it for a couple of rows and then got caught up in Mary's tangled yarn and a criss cross of conversations.
Linda started knitting her Vogue Eyelet Cowl from the Holiday 2009 Issue. She's knitting it in Rowan Lima, one of my favorite yarns. This was her first time joining/knitting in the round. At first she knit it flat having missed the part about joining in the round. At any rate, she's already loving knitting with Lima.

Is there a full moon? Is Mercury in retrograde? There was definitely more chatting than stitching today.