Plays with pointy things

Head 'em up, Move 'em out

2011-02-14T16:13:00.005-05:00

Two scarves on wires, what a beautiful sight! The Lace Ribbon scarf was begun in spring 2008, shortly after the pattern appeared in Knitty. I used a skein of Pro Natura wool and bamboo sock yarn. I'm not sure it was the best choice for the yarn or pattern, but by the time I decided that it was way too late to start over.

The smaller scarf is the Rising bubbles pattern that started as a test swatch and grew into a small scarf to tuck into the neck of a coat.
Lace Ribbon Detail

I had ambitions of a Modern Log Cabin crib blanket, but as the blanket grew it got too hard to move on the needles, so I declared victory and bound off. It is a seat cover for the little kittle's favorite chair.
I have finished a couple of baby projects and am almost finished with a long-deferred pullover. By the end of the week my needles will be saying "Free at last, free at last!"

Summer of Scarves and Shawls 2010

2011-01-28T13:57:00.007-05:00

How I spent my summer:

Annis made with single ply Faroese wool purchased in Walsenberg, Colorado.
Leaf Lace Scarf, pattern and silk-mohair yarn purchased at the Silk Studio on Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C.

Rising Bubbles, One Skein Louet KidLin

Leaves on the Path 2 Skeins Alpaca With a Twist Baby Twist

Shibori Scarf One skein Kidsilk Haze

Knitting for Thrill-Seekers

2011-01-25T12:58:00.004-05:00

Some people drive fast cars, some climb mountains, but for heart-pounding drama I suggest knitting Baktus. You can see just how much yarn was left over--those are very little cat's paws for comparison. I used Noro Kureyon Sock divided into 2 balls, knit on #3 needles. The yarn is very sticky and I often had to stop to pull the strands apart. It got easier when I put a split ring stitch marker on the ball of yarn on which the increases and decreases were worked.
Baktus was begun last summer and has been pushed out of the queue for several projects. Finishing it is part of my New Year's resolution about finishing all the works in progress. I have a dream of having nothing on needles sometime this spring and doing a complete needle inventory. There are 2 scarves, a pullover, and a baby blanket in progress now.

Another resolution is to revive this blog and keep it up with some frequency, at least to report finished projects and other knitting milestones. I took a quilting class last fall so a quilt may be included now and then. Here is my third and most recent quilt; It is 42"x42". I haven't made one much larger than that.

A Gold Medal for Me

2010-03-01T15:43:00.004-05:00

I survived the Knitting Olympics challenge, completing the Estonian Lace Scarf (including blocking!) before the end of the closing ceremony. It was more challenging than I anticipated, but along the way I discovered a secret for nupps: work the purl 7 together with a small, sharp, flexible dp. I found that a size 0 Pony Pearl worked well. I had problems with the pattern for the border, too, but it was easier the second time around.
I used Buffalo Gold #11 yarn that I bought at the Calgary Stampede last summer, so the scarf will always make me think of Canada, and the wonderful time we had there.

Back From Atlanta

2010-01-05T15:34:00.006-05:00

We got back late last night from a quick trip to Atlanta. DH was attending the annual AEA meetings, I went along for the wonders of Atlanta.

These are some of the wonders of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. It is not as well labeled as some botanical gardens (Fairchild Gardens in Miami, for example) but the greenhouse collection is beautiful, especially when the temperature outside is in the 20s. These are pitcher plants from the Andes, I think, but I didn't see a name card.
This is Dendrobium spectabile and it is quite spectacular: a totally frizzled orchid.

This orchid came with its own explanation, but I didn't smell the rotten meat scent.

The trip wasn't all plants, there were celebrities, too. I saw Merle Hazard perform (but I had to explain to my friends that his wife is the real celebrity)
and went to a luncheon in honor of Paul Krugman.
There was a little knitting, too. The Noro striped scarf is long enough now, and was put to good use in the in the uncharacteristic freezing Atlanta weather.

Things I Should Already Have Known

2009-12-30T16:10:00.005-05:00

This was the year for learning (over and over)that technique is not a substitute for judgment. The knitting mistakes were not a matter of not being able to do something, but not knowing whether it was a good idea! I hope that by writing down (and publishing!) my mistakes I'll be able to avoid them in the future. In the spirit of self-examination, here are a few things I learned this year:
1. Size matters
Despite all my gauge swatches and self-measurements, I have a tendency to make things too large for myself. the Mission Falls cardigan is wearable but would be better if the sleeves were narrower; the bolero (from Feminine Knits) turned out so big that I gave it to a friend. Sizing in lace garments is particularly dicey. The remedy for this problem seems to be taking the work off the needles and trying it on, and choosing a smaller size.

The other lesson I learned from these cardigans it to knit both fronts and both sleeves simultaneously. Despite my efforts at row counting, I haven't found another way to make them match.
2. Scarves Should be Long
When I lived in a cold climate many years ago, scarves were often worn inside the neck of a coat, in my memory at least. Since then, it seems that the very long scarf has totally dominated the world of winter. I made 3 scarves this fall that were not long enough; 2 I'm adding onto and 1 will sleep with the fishes in the pond.

3. Even a Cotton Scarf is Too Hot for Tallahassee in the Summer
I love this scarf. It's my favorite light cotton (Paton's Grace) in my favorite colors, but its unwearable in the summer, which means until the end of October.
4. Knitting for Felting Hurts My Hands
Felting always seems like such a good idea! the knitting goes fast on those big needles, and the finished products are useful and sturdy, what could be better than these felted slippers? The sad truth is that, for me, knitting on those big needles requires a lot of pushing and pulling. I don't think I'll give up on felting entirely, but I must repect my limits.
That being said, this bag is one of my favorite projects. I use it as my carry-on bag when I travel, and always get compliments.

Looking Back Before Looking Forward

2009-12-29T10:19:00.002-05:00

2009 has been a great year for family, traveling, weddings, and knitting, but not for blogging, obviously. Here are just a few of the successful projects completed this year. The unsuccessful ones have taught me a lot and really deserve their own entry.

The gray shawl was inspired by the Little Dorritt series. It is my own design and I used 1 skein of Malabrigo Lace in Paris Night. I'm thinking about making a larger, more open shawl in the same pattern. It seems a little goth!
These three are among the successful Christmas knits. I like the Noro Silken Garden scarf, but 2 skeins does not yield quite enough length. DH wore it as is in NYC over Christmas, but I'm contemplating adding 2 more skeins.
Here we have too much cat in the picture, not enough scarf! 2 skeins of Plymouth Happy Feet in a reversible cable Fisherman's Scarf. I loved both the process and the product!
For knitting purposes, it's great to have children who live in a cold climate. The cloche was made for DD1 from 2 skeins of Wisdom Poems, gently felted. The black band is knitted from stashed mystery sock yarn, and the flower was made by a Tallahassee fiber artist.

I hope to be back soon with wedding pictures, stories of travels, and lessons learned.

Knitting with Chickens, or Wishing on Starfish

2009-01-22T12:53:00.004-05:00

Are these not cute? They are from a kit by Artfelt that DD2 gave me for Christmas. I'm thinking about attaching them to a scarf, or using them as brooches. My son thought they were cat toys, but I disabused him.
And this is another kit product, brought from Paris by DD1. I was alarmed to see the instructions were in French, but there was enought detail in the picture to figure it out. The scarf is one strand of merino and one strand of bamboo knitted together, and it is really warm.
Here's the label!
Over New Years I made a quick trip to Ft. Collins, CO to help DS move out of his apartment, but while there I managed to visit My Sister Knits, a local yarn shop. What a charming place, so cozy and full of contented knitters, but best of all was the chicken coop in the front yard. These chickens and their beautiful house qualify as yard art! If you are in Ft. Collins you should certainly go visit.

I read in a blog comment that February is for finishing, and I'm trying to make that my mantra. There is a cardigan from last summer that I redid the fronts and it needs to be put together and finished off with ribbing; there is a pair of socks 7/8 finished, and another starfish ready to felt. there is also a scarf to be frogged; the yarn was not a good choice and it should have been put out of its misery long ago. It's hard to focus with new yarn and patterns beckoning from the stash armoire, but it will feel so good to get these lingering projects off the needles.

Rejoining the Blogging World

2009-01-02T15:13:00.009-05:00

It's been a long and winding road, or maybe a just long strange trip, but I decided that with the New Year I'm ready to start contributing to the knit-o-sphere, instead of just taking comfort in other people's efforts. Mom passed away very peacefully on September 26, and we buried her ashes in Virginia the weekend before Thanksgiving. In the intervening time, and even now, a lot of my life has been taken up with attending to all the details that come with the end of a life. Even the most organized person in the world leaves unfinished business; we've been busy emptying out her house so it can be put up for rent and settling her finances.

I worked on these Edelweiss socks during the final days of her life; the pattern was intricate enough to provide a little distraction, but the tiny needles and white yarn seemed unintrusive. They were a Christmas present for DD2, who never tires of the Sound of Music.
These socks are a variation on my Muscle Memory pattern in Cherry Tree Hill supersock. The cuffs are a 3x2 twisted rib instead of the usual 2x2.
Here is another Christmas present: I call it a bubble scarf (Kidsilk Haze tied over hazelnuts and felted); I saw one in the Knitting Sisters shop in Williamsburg VA and made it on the oral instructions of the owner. It was a hit with DD1.
This scarf isn't really 9' long! It is seasilk and uses 2 grape-related patterns from Wendy Knits. It is a scarf that wants to be a shawl, and works well in chilly meeting rooms.
Thanks and happy new year to all the kind bloggers who kept my spirits up this year, especially Nancy, Juliet and Wendy.

Two Projects Off the Needles

2008-09-18T09:03:00.002-04:00

I missed the Clapotis virus in its most virulent stage, but I saw one in person a few months ago and decided to risk infection. This scarf, in my favorite mercerized cotton, is now very long and is approaching bind-off. It will be a muffler for the hot and humid zone.

I love my new blocking boards, but got carried away with the actual blocking.

After I took the picture I decided this Trellis sweater had been over-blocked, so I wet it and dried it, gently, in the dryer.It is superwash wool (Cascade 220) after all. It looks much softer and smaller now, which is good because it's supposed to be 12 month sized, and is a present for a newborn!

Don't you love the buttons? I've been looking for the right use for these.
The socks from the last post are finished, and the Brittany birch needles I used for the cuffs did not catch fire, even though they aren't non-inflammable. It feels good to finish up some projects, but I have a lot of knitting time because I'm staying home with Mom every afternoon. Her disease is progressing as we knew it would, but I miss her already.

Small Pleasures

2008-09-02T11:31:00.005-04:00

If you look carefully at the needle that's not in the sock, you'll see that it is "non-inflammable." I had never worried about my needles catching fire, not being the world's fastest knitter, but I guess somebody thought it was a matter of concern. I found these needles in my mom's cedar chest, and I know she did not knit on double points in my lifetime so they are at least 57 years old! They say "Boye" 1 U.S.A. and are 7" long. The socks are Austermann Step in my muscle memory sock pattern: figure 8 cast on, kf&b toe increases, Priscilla's Dream Sock short row heal, 2x2 rib for the entire cuff but switching to 1.5 needles about 2 inches up the ribbed section, and stretchy sewn bind-off. I'm making them for my DS who just moved to Colorado, and yes, he has long, skinny feet.

My sock making has been almost entirely this pattern, or "perfecting" this pattern. It is just a basic guy sock, but I never get tired of that short-row heel. It is always an exercise in mindfulness, and I usually end up redoing the heel on the second sock at least one time. Usually the first sock goes well and I think I have finally mastered the heel, and then make a total hash of the second one.

This is going to be a present for my DD's friend's baby. It is Trellis from the Spring 2005 Knitty in Cascade 220 Superwash. The cables are endlessly entertaining, and being a baby sweater the pieces are done before they become tiresome.

I had a serious setback on a cardigan I'm making for myself (something about non-matching fronts and a failure to notice until I set in the sleeves...) so it will be in knitting limbo while I consider just how badly I want this particular item.

I hope you like the new look. The title picture was taken in Copenhagen where hollyhocks grow out of cracks in the sidewalk.

In Which She Tells All, and Contemplates a Trip to the Frog Pond

2008-08-20T10:47:00.003-04:00

What a year it has been for grapes! As a reward for pruning and fertilizing the two muscadine grapevines that grow on an arbor over the front walk, I harvested five bowls like this. I could have picked more, but some were too hard to get to, and others went bad before I could get them. Picking is just the beginning though. Next comes cooking briefly to release the juice (and cleaning the stove because it always boils over), straining and squeezing the pulp through a mesh bag, chilling overnight and filtering. At that point you can sweeten to taste and drink or make into jelly. I'm skipping the jelly this year.

Don't you love this 50's or early 60's tablecloth? I found it at my mom's house. I don't know why she had it since her table was round.

This is the Noni Adventure bag before felting. Alexa was in town and we went shopping for wedding dresses but she didn't find anything she wanted to commit to. They have set a date--August 8, 2009--so I can time my mother-of-the-bride diet and exercise plan.

Here it is felted and assembled but not yet lined. The idea of dragging out my sewing machine makes my head hurt, but these days lots of things make my head hurt.

Another knitting project, the February baby sweater in butterfly cotton. I made it without a particular baby in mind, but it will probably go to a friend's soon-to-be granddaughter. I'm working on a cabled cardigan for a baby boy that my daughter's friend is expecting in October. What is it with the cables? They are everywhere!

Now about the frog pond. After finishing about half of the ribbon lace scarf it just seems like a bad choice of yarn (Trekking Pro Natura): not soft enough and too subtle color. The yarn will be better for socks (duh!) and I may try ribbon lace again sometime.

Fear of Commitment

2008-07-08T11:46:00.004-04:00

I just can't commit to anything these days, but at least I'm making inroads into the stash. These are the most active works in progress, all using yarn I've had for at least a year.

I'm using the same weaving linen I used on the cardigan for this moss grid hand towel from Mason Dixon Knitting. In its unwashed state it looks about like the cardigan looked before washing and blocking. It really is like knitting with kitchen twine.

Ravelry shows 1452 knitters making this scarf, and that doesn't even include lurkers like me. The yarn is Trekking Pro Natura sock yarn, amd the needles are Signature Stiletto Points.
the scarf is about 30" long now, and I've used about 1/2 the yarn, but it won't be scarf weather in North Florida for a while.

Summer probably isn't the best time to make this huge Adventure Bag by Noni. It is like having a very large cat-on-lap. This one will be a Norwegian adventure bag, because the colored stripes are made with wool I brought back from Norway in 2006. While I was there I took lots of pictures of traditional Norwegian house colors and bought yarn in those colors.

This picture shows a display of house paint color chips in a hardware store in Bergen, in case you doubt that people actually paint their houses these colors.

Fnished Objects, or, I've Been Bustin' my Stash

2008-07-07T10:48:00.005-04:00

It makes me so happy to have a reason to make baby things, and my friend Martha's daughter is pleased to oblige by expecting a baby girl. The shower is this Saturday, and I'll bring this hat and booties plus a couple of cute little board books. (I totally ignored the baby registry; this child won't lack for necessities.) The pink yarn is "Mango" by Bouton d'Or, found on the 1/2 price table at a knitting shop in Charleston in 2006. The trim is a mohair blend by Gedfrida bought at Springwater Fibers in Alexandria, VA in 2005.

The pattern for this pullover is from Knit.1 (summer 2008) even though I am way out of its target demographic! I had not previously been able to find anything in the right guage (and yardage) for this yarn, which I bought in Norway in 2006.

This picture shows the detail on the yarn, a cotton blend ribbon with frayed edges which knitted up almost feeling like terry cloth. It also shows that I had plenty of it left, and could have made the top longer.

The linen (8/2 weaving linen) also came from Springwater Fibers in 2005. I try to visit the store whenever I get back to Alexandria, where I grew up. The 1/2 lb. cone cost $5, and there was a lot left over from this cardigan! It felt like I was knitting a hairshirt and had a strong but not stinky odor, but the odor and scratchiness both went away with washing.

It feels good to use these yarns that I bought without any particular plans but with the conviction that they would be good for the right project. I've worn the pullover and cardigan and both can be deemed successful. I hope mother and grandma approve of the hat and booties.

For next time I have pictures of works in progress, also from stash yarns.

Where, O Where Has She Been?

2008-06-17T10:37:00.006-04:00

You never know what's going to come your way, but this one has been harder than most surprises: on April 1 my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer. After hearing all the options, none of which were good, she decided to forego treatment and go into hospice care. She stayed pretty much symptom-free except for loss of appetite until mid May, but it became clear a few weeks ago that she shouldn't live by herself any longer and she moved into my house on June 6. As soon as she moved here I realized that she had been hanging onto her independence by sheer force of will, but that she was much sicker than she had let on--too sick to stay by herself. We found a companion to come here every morning and I am working half time for the foreseeable future.

Around this central fact, though, the rest of life goes joyfully on. My son, the baby of the family, graduated from college in May, and dd2 got engaged last week. (See the happy couple.) They have been together for almost 7 years, so this is a much-anticipated joy!

Knitting has been a solace and companion through this so far. For about a week after the diagnosis I couldn't knit anything but dishcloths, and since then I have been drawn to charity knitting projects that can be finished quickly. The hats (the blue one is a child-size Maltese fisherman's hat from Summer Interweave Knits) and scarf pictured are going to Afghans for Afghans, which my LYS is participating in, and I finished a red scarf for the red scarf project. There are other projects on needles that I expect to make progress on because mom really likes for someone to be close by, and I try to have a project by every potential sitting area in the house and on the porch.

Thanks in advance for all the kind thoughts I know will be coming this way.

Old Cat, New Bed

2008-03-19T12:52:00.004-04:00

A couple years ago I made beds for my 3 grandcats, but my own kitties had gone bedless. After getting some furniture reupholstered, though, it seemsd like a good time to make a bed for the cat who had claimed a spot on the new upholstery. Frau Kitze is a sweet old lady of 20 who sits in my lap every evening as I knit (and contributes some natural fiber of her own to every project.) She seems to be enjoying the bed, which is based on the improved cat bed pattern from Wendy's book. The improvement is that the side wall is doubled, so it is less prone to flop over.
I made a scarf this weekend for DS's girlfriend, using some pink ribbon and novelty yarns knit longwise. It is very cute (for someone less than 40) and since she expects to live in Colorado next year it should be useful. It was so much fun to make; I felt like I was knitting a party.
I saw the new Knitty on Friday and found 3 gotta-have projects: Spirogyra, Laminaria, and the Ribbon Lace scarf. I stopped at the LYS on the way home and bought a skein of Silky Kid (on sale) for Spirogyra, and the left on is almost done. I went one size down on the needles and it is still a bit loose in the wrist, but I can't wait to have them for meetings in super-chilled conference rooms. I plan to make the other projects with stash yarn--a big skein of Pro Natura Trekking (wool and bamboo in deep blues and greens) for the Ribbon Lace scarf, and Malabrigo lace-weight merino in blues and grays for the laminaria. It feels good to find tempting patterns for yarn I already own.

Belle Complete

2008-03-13T16:03:00.002-04:00

It is finished; I've worn it, it is just as nice as I hoped it would be. The yarn's hollow core construction makes the sweater very light, which is important because of all the cables in the peplum. There are a few minor mistakes that I discovered way too late to correct, but for the most part everything worked out okay (probably because I was willing to rip back or tink back an fix problems as they came up.)
BTW, the pictures are not just to show you the sweater, but also the redone patio. It was a birthday present; we hired a true concrete artist to resurface the patio and create the faux paving stones. It exceeded our expectations!
Since I finished la belle dame, I've gone on to mindless projects--a stash-eating cat bed and finishing up the silky wool seed stitch tie. There are just a few inches to go. My thumb has been hurting and I think small needles and lightweight projects will be theraputic. (The cat bed was a mistake!)
There are several thing in the new Knitty that have piqued my interest, esp. the Estonian shawl. Is it light? yes! Are the needles small? yes!
Gotta flit; work calls.

Is this Progress?

2008-02-29T13:15:00.002-05:00

I really thought I would be wearing this sweater to a party tonight, but totally underestimated the finishing time. On Tuesday the three main pieces were complete, and I thought a couple evening's knitting would bring it all home. Silly me. I had left everything on waste yarn (instead of binding off) to check the fit and proportions, and it took two whole episodes of "Slings and Arrows" to bind off the peplum. The back band took me through "Law and Order."

On Thursday, my knitting time was short because of my weekly Voces Angelorum rehearsal. I finished the back band and started the button band, which brings us what you see in the photos. The top photo is closer to the real color, but the lower one shows the cable detail better.

I found these buttons last week and really like them, even though they weren't what I had in mind. Silver buttons, which I thought would be my choice, looked too yellow next to the sweater, which is really silver and black. These buttons have a medieval or Viking look that appeals to me. This sweater began with the idea that I wanted to knit some "armor."
The real progress has been in finding the perfect name for this project. Vogue called it "Silver Belle" and I thought of it as just "The Belle," but now I've changed my mind. It is "La Belle Dame sans Merci" which hath me in thrall.

Things I've Learned from the Silver Belle

2008-02-13T11:13:00.002-05:00

Every project is a learning opportunity, and the Belle has been the equivalent of a 4 hour course plus labs! There have been the obvious lessons of learning how to work cables and trinity stitch, but a few more subtle ones, too. Here are they are (so far):
- Read the pattern one more time than you think is necessary (learned from reversing the left and right edging bands)
- Pay attention to the cable crosses (learned from tinking back several rows several times)
- Check Ravelry and Google to see what other people have learned while making the same pattern
- Use small hair clips (butterfly clips) to hold pieces togehter while you try them on (actually, I learned this one a while ago), and
- Do not bind off pieces while you are working on other pieces! Instead , put the live stitches on waste yarn and assemble everything with those little clips so you can try on before you bind off! I learned this after I bound off the peplum and realized later that it was too short.

I'm sure I'll learn several more things before this is over, but with the peplum (now lengthened) and one sleeve/bodice complete the end is in sight!

Over the weekend I took time off from knitting to make this little item! A gym friend and fellow baroque music fan gave me the tile last fall, and I knew it should be a hot pad. There are always plenty of wine corks around, so I trimmed some of them so the tile would be flush with the frame and glued everything together. Cute, no?

It was a beautiful 70 degree weekend so I worked outside, too, pruning roses and grape vines and planting petunias in window boxes.

Sweet Silver Belle

2008-02-06T09:13:00.001-05:00

The Belle continues to be the focus of my knitting activity, and it continues to be amusing and diverting. Making sure those cables cross the right way keeps my attention, and the sleeve rows are so short that there is always time for one more. I thought the first sleeve was long enough and had cast on for the bodice, but decided after a few inches that the sleeve needed to be longer (or the bodice would be too wide) and ripped back and added 12 more rows. I also decided to make the bodice longer, based on Ravelry comments and a hard assessment of my own "bodice." I'll probably go back and add another inch to the peplum to balance the additional bodice length, but I have plenty of yarn, so there is no problem. There is a race with the calendar, though, to wear it this year.

I took a Belle break a few weeks ago and made the Bow Knot Scarf for DD2, to protect her from the icy gales off Long Island Sound. It took a few hours and was lots of fun. This one was made with stash yarn, but I'm tempted to buy some super-soft merino to make another one.

After a futile search for a runner that's narrow enough for this cabinet, I visited the sale corner of the local upholstery shop and bought fabric. It took longer than I anticipated, but I think the finished product works, and it was finished in time for Saturday's dinner party!

Well, work is heating up and my knitting and blogging will probably suffer, but I'll check in from time to time.

Quick Update

2008-01-14T14:53:00.000-05:00

Here it is--the first 30 rows of the peplum of Silver Belle. There would be more progress if I hadn't misread the charts and reversed the button bands. Be warned, the way they are presented on the pdf is confusing, at least to me. Anyway, I spent 4 evenings tinking two 12-stitch, 22 row sections. I've done two 32-stitch decreases so everyting fits on the needle better and it is going faster. It would be nice to finish this before the weather is too warm to wear it.

Old Projects, Knitter Gifts, New Plans

2008-01-03T13:12:00.001-05:00

My goal had been to finish the Hanne Falkenberg-esque tank top before the new year, and I missed by only a few hours. It had its beginning last spring; I was wearing the cardigan in a cold meeting room, and it occurred to me that I had enough leftover wool to make a matching sleeveless pullover. It would be a Falkenberg twinset! It was pretty easy until I got to the shoulder pieces, which were a conceptual challenge, and then the weather got too hot to think about wool sweaters. In early December I pulled it out, and had two unsucessful attempts. The third time was the charm, but it was harrowing becasue the blue yarn was disappearing fast! I finished with about 6 inches to spare.

My children, who all excel at taking hints, gave me knitting presents. DD1 gave me
The Knitter's Book of Yarn and A History of Hand Knitting. DD2 gave me a precision scale for weighing yarn, and DS came through with a pair of Signature Needles (size 4, 7", stiletto points.)

2007 ended with with 3 WIPs: a seed stitch necktie in Silky Wool, ad scarf from a kit that DD1 bought in Paris, and the Elven Cloak. Since New Years I've worked 5 rows of Silver Belle , which is an accomplishment at 400+ stitches per row! Other projects in the queue are a scarf out of some Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino worked on the Signature needles, using a pattern from the Knitters' Book of Yarn, and diagonal washcloths in Patons Grace in Tangelo, to match the saffron kitchen color.

As for resolutions, there are only three. First I resolve to improve the quality of my purling. Second I resolve to knit at least every other project from my stash. The last resolution is the hardest; I resolve to knit less. Knitting is so much fun and is so reinforcing that it seems to have crowded out other important things from my life. I resolve to get myself back to the garden (just like Joni Mitchell said) and the gym.

Christ-knits

2008-01-02T12:36:00.001-05:00

Well, here they are, the long-promised Christmas knits! The sweaters are both the Cuthbert pattern from Noro Unlimited, the first one knit in Noro blossom, the second knit in Mission Falls 1824 cotton. For me the yarns have the same stitch guage, but the cotton takes fewer rows. This pattern is quick and fun to knit, and both recipients seemed happy to get them. The mittens were a late inspiration and worked up so fast with Brown Sheep Lambs Pride.

I made caps for the boyfriends

and scarves for Marina, who has been cutting my hair for 15 years, and DD 1.

The shawl is my own design and it took a while to figure out how to wear it once it was made. The addition of a button and loop, plus a snap inside, seems to have solved the problem.

There were a few other knitted gifts--socks, catnip toys, and washcloths--but for now I'm happy to be knitting for myself. Last night I cast on for this pattern.

Happy knitting in 2008!

Ellen

New Wallpaper and a Trip Outa' Town

2007-11-13T14:42:00.000-05:00

Here they are--the boring 18 year old striped wallpaper in the front hall and the new, outre undulating fern wallpaper. It is amazing that my husband and I had no trouble agreeing on this pattern, even though I had brought 4 books home to choose from. I haven't rehung the pictures, and I don't know whether to give such a prominent place to the 14 year old portrait of the kids. Any thoughts?

The other pictures were taken in St. Augustine this weekend. DH and I went over to see his brother who was there for a few days, and also to hang out in our favorite place in Florida. We've been there so often there is nothing new to see; we just have to decide what to see again. We did sample a new restaurant for breakfast (it was great!) and went back to the lighthouse. The picture is looking out over Anastasia Island to the Atlantic from the top of the lighthouse. You can see that things are still very green for November.

I had lots of knitting time in the car and made progress on the second sock and the Silken Straw scarf. Next week we are going to New Orleans for a few days (he has a conference) and there is always good car knitting on that trip. It would be nice to finish up the WIPs and plunge into the queue.

So Long Gone

2007-11-07T11:00:00.001-05:00

I have excuses, really! There were home improvement projects that rudely elbowed their way into my "leisure time," Christmas knitting projects that can't be pictured or even described, and then there was the work project from hell that consumed most of October. It's true--I worked 285 hours last month!

In the last week I've been trying to get rested and organized. Yesterday I even completed a stash inventory! What I discovered:
-every completed project results in 1 or 2 extra skeins
-combining these with purchases of single skeins, I could make scarves and hats for several years without buying more yarn
-there is also enough sock yarn to last a long time, since I don't plan my own summer of socks!
-I over-estimated my enthusiasm for felting
-the Crayon box cardigan I began last year might as well sleep with the frogs because I can hardly stand the thought of all those miters.

Along with the inventory, I also made a list of WIPs and FOs, and set up the queue.

WIPs, and progress on each one: Christmas sweater for DD1 (1/2), Step socks for daughter of friend (1/2), Alchemy silken Straw scarf (3/4), mohair/novelty diagonal stripe scarf (3/4), Elven Cloak (Spiral Nebula shawl in Mister Joe Blanket. I'm using a moss green that doesn't seem to be available now from elann), and final adjustments on the Hanne Falkenberg-esque tank top.

Gotta flit for now; hope to be back soon with pictures, FO's and the queue.

Finish-itis

2007-08-22T08:54:00.000-04:00

Three projects done, how many to go? Unlike Stephanie, I can't bring myself to take pictures of the works in progress. I am pleased as can be, though , to have finished the fraternal socks, red scarf project scarf, and Mission Falls cotton lap blanket (or back-of-the-sofa blanket.) The socks were supposed to have Elizabeth Zimmerman's replaceable sole, but after three tries I gave up. The sole was either too loose or too tight. Also, the repeat in repeat in the Opal Hundertwasser yarn is very long, so the socks are decidely fraternal.

The scarf is ggh merino in a k2p2 rib and somewhat random stripes. I wanted a not-too-girly scarf. Doesn't it flatter the Little Kittle?

Mission Falls cotton is my new favorite yarn! Who would have thought a cotton yarn could be so tactile? And the colors are sophisticated and homey at the same time. The colors in the picture are a little muted because it was getting twilight-ish (but still 95 degrees!) when I took the picture. On a recent visit to the Guggenheim in NYC I saw several Kandinsky's that seemed to have the Mission Falls palette. I have plans for a Mission Falls Christmas present, but need to finish a few more works in progress. Last nught I totally frigged up a short-row heel on the second of a pair of Step socks, so tonight I'll try again. For some reason, the heel of the first sock nearly always works on the first try, but I have made some second heels as many as three times!

Just wondering, is "finish-itis" a beneficial computer virus? I think I caught it from Ann.

Ellen

Too Many Pictures

2007-07-31T14:22:00.000-04:00

I love Berlin because it isn't all about tourists. I felt like I was visiting among people who are living real lives there. There are still lot's of places to visit, though. The Berliner Dom was built by Kaiser Wilhelm in the late 19th century and is beautiful, but a bit overwrought. The inside of the dome is decorated with scenes of the beatitudes, which seems ironic in the context of a place where rich and powerful people worship.

Interior of the Berliner Dom

The Berlin Zoo has all the usual zoo attractions right in the heart of the city. Knut is a polar bear born at the Zoo who was abandoned by his mother, so he was raised by hand and is a celebrity.

Knut, the Star of The Berlin Zoo

The train station and the tram show the whole spectrum of the public transportation system. It is very impressive; you can get to most places in the city by at least two, and often three transportation options. There are the U-Bahn(subway), S-Bahn (surface trains), busses, and trams. Between cities there are regional trains and Deutsche Bahn, with lots of high-speed (250 kph) trains.

The huge, beautiful new train station

The tram, a holdover from the divided city. The trams only go east.

I found only one yarn shop in Berlin, but I wasn't looking too hard. It had swatches of every yarn for sale there, including information on how much yardage was used to make each swatch. It made it easy to imagine something actually made from from the yarn, and how many skeins you would need.

LaLaine, a yarn shop near Savigny Platz

Yarn from the yarn shop. I'm going to knit myself some armor!

We took day trips to Dresden, Hannover, and Leipzig. Each is less than 2 hours away by train.

The Armor Museum in Dresden, inspiration for knitting armor.

The Baroque Gardens in Hannover.

The J.S. Bach window in Thomaskirche, Leipzig.

Back in my Own Time Zone

2007-07-24T15:34:00.000-04:00

It's good to be home, but it was a great trip! Five days in Copenhagen, eight days in Berlin, and 2 more days in Copenhagen. I'll start with Copenhagen, and report on Berlin later.
Here are things I loved about Copenhagen:
1. The weather was cool and breezy, just what a girl from Tallahassee wants in July!
2. The public transportation system is a dream come true, especially the Metro, where trains come every few minutes.
3. There are few hills, which makes long walks very appealing.
4. Outside the city center it is serene and peaceful with little traffic and wide sidewalks.
5. Hollyhocks grow out of cracks in those sidewalks!
6. Elsinore (called Helsingor) is a short train ride away.
7. You can see Sweden across the Baltic Sea.
8. There is a little mermaid.
9. There is a tree in the Frederiksberg park where parents hang pacifiers that their children have given up, many with fond notes and pictures.

On the downside:
1. Denmark hasn't embraced the idea of clean indoor (or outdoor) air, and the smoke is omnipresent.
2. The area around Tivoli and the Radhus is incredibly congested.
3. The knitting options were limited. The yarns were the same as I can buy here (only more expensive) and the interesting patterns were all in Danish.
4. One knitting shop that looked interesting (in the neighborhood of our hotel) had the sign below in its window. I don't know Danish but I know it means "Closed for July."

There wasn't much knitting time, but I did mke progress on the Diagonal Triangle Top in Bamboo, and a mindless diagonal scarf.

Thoughts on Shawl-Wearing

2007-07-03T11:27:00.001-04:00

There is nothing new to show you all, so I want to share some musings on shawls. The yellow mohair one in the picture was made so long ago I don't remember exactly when. It was sometime after I moved to Tallahassee (1980) and started my current job (1990). I keep it at my office for those days when the air conditioning is way low. I keep a lighter woven stole for the sorta cold days. Recently I was working on a project that required long hours in an extremely cold conference room and wore both shawl and stole, held in place with a large brooch. I felt like a character from a Dickens novel, or one of those museum models that show how the Vikings lived. It made me appreciate fitted garments, and glad to have shawls and stoles as options, not necessities.
Shawl/stole wearing seems to require a certain finesse to avoid the extremes of Drama Queen and Jemima Puddleduck. I have read other knitters' comments about the potential frumpiness of shawls, but how about the affectation of stole-wearing?
I would love to read anyone's thoughts on this issue, especially since I keep making shawls and stoles, but have trouble wearing them.
BTW, I'll be out of town for a few weeks and may have limited blogging opportunities, but I'll be back with pictures after July 22.

2007-06-20T13:32:00.000-04:00

Getting my (Knitting) Life Back

2007-06-19T14:11:00.000-04:00

What a month this has been! Between June 1 and June 14 I worked 90 hours of overtime! No wonder my knitting output fell off.The big project is done, and I am now answering questions and reporting on results, but at least it can be done during a regular workday.

Fortunately, the project did not interfere with my upcoming vacation. On July 6, DH and DS and I go to Copenhagen for 6 days, then to Berlin for 8 days, and back to Copenhagen for 2 days and the flight home. I like the idea of returning to Copenhagen; if we realize we missed something important or really want to see something again there will be an opportunity. DH has a conference in Copenhagen, but for me the trip is pure vacation, and it is for him, too, after the first 5 days. I am lucky to have married a man who is so much fun to travel with.

Last weekend we saw Paris, Je taime. It is very charming and funny in places, and there is a shot of a Paris yarn shop in Montmartre. I will be researching the yarn shops of Copenhagen and Berlin, plus Dresden and Leipzig, which are likely day trips.

The projects pictured above are a button-front top in Berocco Yoga, and the beginnings of a shawl in Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. The top is from a Berocco leaflet and worked up easily. The shawl is all garter stitch, 26 st and 24 rows making a 6" square. I worked out the color placement using cut up paint chips. I want to finish the shawl before the trip because I think it would be a good airplane wrap.

After I finish the shawl I'll get back to the Hanne Flakenberg wannabe twinset. The back is finished and the front well-started; I just hope it works as I envision it.

Scarf It Up!

2007-06-01T16:48:00.000-04:00

The Little Arrowhead scarf is complete! It took most of a ball of Filatura di Crosa Baby Kid Extra knit on #3 needles.(I had already used some of the yarn. I would have made the scarf longer if there had been more.) I felt silly knitting a mohair scarf in May, but my soul was crying out for lace, preferably knit from the stash.

The Hanne Falkenberg twinset project is underway, but work is still interfereing with knitting time. I find that I lie awake thinking about property tax reform, but when I get to sleep I dream about knitting!

What is up with you, my fellow pointy ones?

Ellen

Lost in Lace

2007-05-24T12:37:00.001-04:00

What has happened to the knitting side of my brain? Last night I was looking forward to completing another section of the Penobscott Scarf just as I had done the previous nights. (You can see on the picture the section labeled "normal night.") Something was different, though, and it had nothing to do with the amount of alcohol I had consumed. I could not get this silly little mindless lace pattern to work. The pattern is only on the knit side, and it has 4 repeats over 25 stitches plus 1. How hard can that be? Well last night, it was too hard, as you can see by the part marked "last night." I ripped back at least 1 row for every 2 I worked. The really galling part is that I realized early on that it wasn't going well, and that I should put it down and back away slowly, but no, I kept thinking I'd do just one more row to "get it right." DH and I were watching Notes on a Scandal; maybe it was more distracting than I realized. It is a very creepy movie.

The other picture is me in my usual knitting spot, with my usual knitting companion, Frau Kitze. I often have to extricate her claws from clothes and knitting, but she is very sweet and loving. I am working on an Elizabeth Zimmerman sock, which has become a black hole of knitting inertia. It is time to remove the soles and try again, or not.

Backlog Blog

2007-05-19T17:08:00.000-04:00

This must have been the spring of shawls! On the left is the Little Arrowhead Shawl from the Summer 2006 Interweave Knits worked in the Sea Silk that my DS gave me for Christmas. It is wonderful to wear, but very slithery to knit! On the right is a very simple, airy shawl of Ritratto, knit in stockinette and reverse stockinette with a garter stitch ruffle. I have learned not to wear it when I'm also wearing a charm bracelet.

I got knitting gifts from the DDs for Mothers' Day. Alexa sent me the Harlot's new book, and Camille bought me a scarf kit in Paris. The instructions are in French, but I think it is possible to figure out from the picture and the logic of the instructions. If it get's too confusing, Erica (at Wooly Bully) told me she knows a local knitter who learned to knit in French. I think Camille was really brave to buy something in a Parisian knitting shop. For a non-knitter any knitting shop is daunting, and Parisian shopkeepers are not known for their welcoming attitude!

Cathy, I want to see pictures of socks, especially the sock club offerings. My friend from Germany sent several skeins of sock yarn, but I'm stuck in the black hole of Elizabeth Zimmer' s removeable sole sock. I completed one (doing the sole twice) but am not happy with it because it is too loose, so I'm working on the other one now with a smaller sole. If it turns out well I'll go back and redo the first one, but right now I'm heartily sick of the whole thing.

I've almost finished a summer cardigan in Yoga, a ribbon yarn by Berocco. I may add short sleeves; there seems to be enough left over. It is very loud.

What I am most hoping for is a successful completion of the Florida Legislature's Special Session on property tax. I have been working evenings and weekends since February, and it is just tiresome, as well as intruding on my knitting time! What's the point in accruing all these hours of comp time if I can't use them?

But enough moaning. I'll survive to knit another day.

Ellen

She's Back!

2007-05-14T15:43:00.000-04:00

Oh, the guilt of having neglected you for so long! My only lame excuse is that work has been much busier than usual since New Years, but it really has more to do with the evil habit of procrastination than any work requirements. Yesterday fellow angel Rayma Ball mentioned stumbling across our little endeavor and I was mortified to think how long it has been since I had even looked at it.

The pictures show just a small part of my knitting ouput since January. Red scarf went to the Red Scarf Project (duh!) It is just Brown Sheep bulky weight in a simple diagonal stitch. I hope it went to someone in a cold climate! The pink and red stripe is a riff on the Argosy pattern, which I had to modify to make the stripes work out. It is a very soft kid mohair/slik blend that requires a Zen knitting attitude. I took it with me on my work road trips and found it very theraputic.

I've missed reading about your projects and adventures, and I've missed singing with you, Cathy. I hope you and your mom are doing well. The wife of a friend just opened an antique shop in Bainbridge so I really have to come up and see you and it.

I'll be back soon with more finished objects, works in progress, and stash additions (not too many, and most were gifts.) LYS Wooly Bully has moved to a more spacious, less sketchy location so if you are in Tallahassee we could go there together.

Ellen

Knithead number 3 here

2007-01-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

Ellen, how do you do so many projects so well? Cathy, as usual your socks rock. Between my last post and the church bazaar I managed to complete a number of scarfs and finished the black tweed shawl that grew. Everything sold and a tall woman bought the big shawl and it did look great draped on her. And I had a request for another one.

My trip to Virginia to visit oldest son was great. First time flying since all my medical problems but it went very smoothly and encuoarged me to think of other trips. Son spoiled me by demonstrating his newly developed cooking skills. Grandsons were great. I did not make much progress on socks. But I will persevere.

I have finished cat hammock for the Humane socidety, except for felting it. I had not heard about the Red Scarf project until today so will quickly get busy and make one since they have to be mailed this month. No red yarn in my stash so will have to buy some.
Cheers. Naomi

A Sock - Walk in the Woods

2006-12-28T10:54:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all -

It's been a while since posting has occured and it looks as though Ellen started with a bang with all of her completed projects! All I can say is wow! Right now I am working on a 2nd sock - plain old pattern, but tried and true with some Seacoast merino wool "A Walk in the Woods"

I took several pictures of the sock and none captured the true colors of this sock, but this is as close as I can get today without boogering up the colors any more. The wool is not as boingy as Socks the Rock or Koigu, and on occasion, it has split. but all in all it's a pleasant wool to knit. I always feel like singing 2nd verse, same as the 1st while working on the second sock.

Ellen, I think the sweater demands a fashion show of some sort!
Cathy

Secrets Revealed!

2006-12-27T15:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Knitheads - So sorry for the delay; I was working on Christmas presents and got ambushed by the season. The felted purses were presents for DDs. they seemed happy to get them. The cardigan is for me--Whispers mohair blend made using a Colinette pattern. The red scarf is for the Red Scarf Project, which seems like a very worthy endeavor. I used Caron's Simply Soft Shadows in Autumn and can't say enough about how nice it is to work with. The Pattern is Edgar from Knitty, and it's a riff on the Mason-dixon miter square. It takes no time to make, and one skein makes a 60" scarf.

The lemons (yes they are) are the entire first-year crop from a tree I planted last spring. It is in a large pot on casters which I put in the shed during last month's freeze. Now that the harvest is over I don't have to worry so much about the weather.

As 2007 approaches I have signed on (in my own mind, of course) to Wendy's Knit from your Stash plan. I would like to complete at least 2 major projects from stash by the September end date, plus assorted small projects and socks. Other knitting-related resolutions are finishing up pending projects and working on a tighter, more even stockinette stitch. This weekend I'll take some time to think of non-knitting resolutions.

One of the bset Christmas presents this year was Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top. I can see a couple of applications for stash yarn, inspired by the pullover described in Mason Dixon this summer.

I hope we can get this blog thing going again. I miss hearing from you and seeing projects. It can be a resolution!

Ellen

Magnificent Da Capo

2006-11-02T17:47:00.000-05:00

Elln, the Da Capo is gorgeous. Now can we see you modelling it?

Enjoyed your pictures, and the beautiful daughter with her cats. Is her sweater a handknit by mom?

I am kniting scarves and baby bibs for the church bazaar, then I will get back to my socks project. Plan to take the socks with me to Virginia to visit oldest son Thanksgiving week. I have to call the airline or web search to see if I can bring them in carry-on or will I have to check them. The Tall. to Atlanta flight is not long enough to get started but the Atlanta to Virginia is 2 hours so I might make some progress.

Who knows? By next fall I may feel capable of undertaking the DaCapo or something similar. I am lusting after the red fan pattern socks the Yarn Harlot is knitting. Wonder how long it will take me to do those?
Cathy, hope Joe Ann continues to make good progress but knitting while viviting the hospital is okey-I don't recommend knitting while a patient. I still laugh everytime I think of that red scarf I 'worked on" while I was in Memorial. It did not look like that when I was working on it. Sorry I did not get a picture for posterity.
As to gardening, weed immolation i9s the magic word, but hope to plant some knockout roses this month. They are all the rage now but when they go out of style and everyone removes them, I will be different.
Happy knitting. Naomi

All's Fine with Da Capo

2006-10-30T16:46:00.000-05:00

Finished without a moment to spare! That is the story of Da Capo, which I wore nearly nonstop while I was in New York. On some days the sweater was enough, on other days it was just what I needed under the raincoat. It is warn amd lightweight and elicited lots of compliments.

The New York trip was so much fun. I drove through the Hamptons; you can't get to the Montauk lighthouse any other way. Montauk was featured in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

While visiting Manhatten we saw the snakes and reptiles exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, went to the top of the Empire State Building, and visited the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. We also ate at Babbo which is just a few blocks from my daughter's apartment. (The daughter with the squirmy cats!)

On the yarn side I showed great restraint, buying only 2 skeins of Austermann Step sock yarn. I see that Wendy has also bought some Step. It was about 1/2 the price I've paid for it in Gainesville. I also bought a book that contains a shawl pattern for some Ritratto I already have.

As of now I'm working on a Step sock, a cardigan (using Whispers from the stash) and have a little purse ready to felt. All of these seem like mere trifles compared to Da Capo!

I need to come to Georgia for a little show and share!

Ellen

Spanish Christening Shawl - finished!

2006-10-25T06:14:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I finished the Spanishing Christening Shawl from Cheryl Oberle's book, Folk Shawls. I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn this time which is more of a worsted yarn. I used size 8 needles, cast on 135 stitches in contrast to the suggested 195 and if I had to do it again, I would cast on 115 to get more of the desired width that I wanted.
I used this particular yarn for its durability and softness. It took approximately four skeins of the white yarn.
The edging is what is termed a "godmother's" edging. It is a straight knit stitch with k 2tog and y/o to give the eyelet look. The edging is a binding off of 4 every set of rows. It was an easy one to memorize once you get the rhythm to it going.

Biggest challenge was finishing it since the baptism was held 2 1/2 weeks after the baby was born!

Awesome

2006-10-12T11:08:00.000-04:00

Ellen's trip to Charleston and all the fun and the knit shops we are waiting to hear reported. Yes, the southern version of the Civil War is interesting. We moved from Florida to Texas and when I enrolled at Texas Tech was informed I would have to take American history again as it was different after the Civil war. I was so confused I went home and asked Chuck on which side Texas fought. I un-enrolled at Texas Tech.

Cathy, LizardRidge is such gorgeous colors.

After not checking the blog for several days I signed in and was amazed at Cathy and Ellen's blogs and projects. I was planning to report that I have the needles and yarn out. Nothing elaborate but using the fancy yarns I bought on sale to knit some scarves for the church bazaar. One is complete and the second one is coming along nicely. I really like the second one, if it doesn't sell I will be happy to keep it. Getting ready to start the socks again and when the new needles arrive I will start a simple sweater for myself. Yes, I am one of those people who has to have several projects going at one time.

As to gardening, weeding is my only accomplishment there. Of course there is all the planning in my head and on paper for future plantings.

Happy knitting and gardening!
Naomi

Lizard Ridge in action

2006-10-11T17:23:00.000-04:00

At Ellen's urging, I am posting a work in progress. Lizard Ridge, using Noro Kureyon, is the most colorful project I have going at the moment. See that middle one??? It's a maverick. Somehow is ended up with more rows than the other. As you see they need blocking, but the middle one is making me consider not to do these in squares, but in long strips. Would be less work in the end, would it not? So says the author on the Knit Along at Lizard Ridge KAL .

Ellen, I am waiting now to hear about your yarn portion of your Charleston jaunt. Good food, good scenery, now let's hear how MANY yarn shops did you actually enter?

Well, church supper is soon to be. So must skeedaddle.
Cathy

Doin' the Charleston

2006-10-11T15:03:00.000-04:00

Attention Knitters: Welcome to Knits of
Charleston. This is an incredible store in the old city center, situated in 3 long, narrow rooms and just full of yarn and books and patterns and kits! You wouldn't believe the kits, prepacked yarn and patterns of lots of those patterns you've coveted online. The pictures show a Crayon Box Jacket that is made up of miter squares knitted together. It includes directions for a wide size range, and could be a stash buster, but of course it is really a reason to buy single skeins of the most outrageous yarns. I bought the pattern and plan to make it with Sonata (Elann cabled cotton DK, bought last spring for another project ) as the base yarn, but I bought a bag full of other yarns to incorporate.

I arrived in Charleston on Saturday and waited until Wednesday to visit Knits. It was hard, but I didn't want to inflict my habit on Mom and DH. By Wednesday afternoon she was in Myrtle Beach visiting her brother and he was at work, so I could go with a clear conscience. On Thursday I made another visit and met the owner's 3 sweet dogs. They all look alike, and for a while I thought there was one very quick and stealthy dog! One of the dogs is asleep on the sofa in the picture.

On Friday Gary and I drove to Myrtle Beach to pick up Mom, and we stopped in Georgetown on the way and just by pure chance we parked in front of (gasp) a yarn shop! The name is something like Joyfull; I only had a brief visit and it looked like it had good stuff, but I didn't want to impose on cara sposo. We visited the Rice Museum instead!

On the trip I made good progress on Da Capo. With discipline it will be finished for New York. I'm not taking any more pictures of it until it is ready to block, and then I'll do pre- and post-blocking shots.

In conclusion, I recommend a knitting road trip to Charleston, with breaks for meals and sightseeing.

Cathy, the Lizard is lovely. I like the 3 dimensional quality, but I guess that won't survive the blocking. Are you making a full-size bedcover? BTW, I would like some more house pics when you get a chance.

Tomorrow is the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden Open House at the Leon County Extension Office. I'll be there demonstrating plant propagation and giving away free plants. Gotta flit now to get organized.

Ellen

Charleston on my Mind

2006-10-10T16:33:00.000-04:00

Dear Knitty Friends,
I just realized that I refer to my cats as "Kitty Friends" although they certainly aren't friendly with each other. The both seemed glad to see me after my 9-day excursion to Charleston, and I was happy to get back to them, but Charleston was waaaay cool. Gary's apartment is within walking distance of everything, and there is so much to see and do (and eat!) Here are some random comments:

Fort Sumter - I think the Nat'l Park Service has lost its way on this, and is too "respectful" of local sentiment. The interpretation of history presented here makes it look like the American Civil War was a difference of opinion that got out of hand, and that both sides had equal claims as to the "rightness" of their positions. In particular, it implied that slavery was an institution about which reasonable people could disagree, since it really did work out well for the slave owners and supported the local economy. We discussed this with a colleague of Gary's who independently arrived at the same conclusion, so I don't think I'm overreacting.

Church Street - A residential area in the oldest part of the city with so many examples of the Charleston single house. Great for walking around with a guidebook, and plenty of gardening inspiration.

Charleston Churches - This is a city of churches, and several are open to visitors. The most distinctive feature is the churchyards which are just full of tombstones and vaults. I have never seen so many churches with graves right up to the church walls on 4 sides. Gary and I did get locked in a graveyard, but the caretaker let us out. (The gate was climbable, though.)

Charleston Fashion - Charlestonians pay attention to the way they are dressed. People in the restaurants and on the streets tended to be carefully dressed, including jewelry! Of course there were tourists dressed like tourists everywhere, but there was a noticeable difference between what I am used to seeing in Tallahassee and what I saw in Charleston. There are also some very nice stores to buy these fashionable duds!

Charleston Food - The downtown has few franchise restaurants, and the local places were great.
There is plenty of sweet tea and seafood, but the vegetables tended to be less seasoned (read salty). A lot of restaurants sell small plates of the entrees and these portions are more realistic for anyone except an NFL lineman.

Tomorrow I'll get back to you with pictures of a Charleston knitting shop, and maybe some progress on Da Capo.

I'd love to see project pictures!

Ellen

Lizard Ridge

2006-10-09T22:12:00.000-04:00

Dear Pointy Friends,
I tried to escape the temptation. I really did. However, I kept navigating back to Knitty and thinking how beautiful this is and how I wanted it. As you well know, southern friends, how often do we need something made of wool - and Noro Kureyon is scratchy wool, but it's beauty has me mesmerized and so I took the plunge and got some of the Noro Kureyon from Taos Sunflower, as they had an excellent price on the yarn.
I started this post yesterday and am finishing it this evening before school begins. I have completed two squares of this pattern, but I believe it needs to be out in sunlight to get the truest colors and beauty. IN addition the squares resemble the cardboard in those boxes that hold apples - the cushioners of the apple. They DEFINITELY need to be blocked. It's such an interesting pattern and they way the colors are defined is by the unique way of using the yarn within the skein. ONe begins knitting with the outside end of the skein and after 6 rows knitted, you begin using the inside end of the skein. Hence the variation in the color. First 2 blocks completed are Noro Kureyon 165 and 154. Also there is a knitalong blog at Lizard Ridge Knitalong - you will see where I had an interesting dilemma question posted there. Got it solved!
By now Ellen should be through with her travels. Naomi, in between gardening and your other obligations, get a knit and a purl in with the pointy sticks!

Knit and purl

2006-10-01T17:52:00.000-04:00

This sometime knitter has been off the blog for a while and off knitting. The thumb has recovered and I am ready to start again. Will keep a couple of projects going with different sized needles and see if that helps.The church bazaar is less than 2 months away so I will tackle some projects for that. Time to visit the stash which has to share a closet with lots of other things.

Ellen, the kimono sweater is beautiful-it is prettier than the one in Mason-Dixon. The Da Capo jacket just leaves me speechless. Anxious to see the finished product modeled. Ellen's awesome armoir brings a little green tinge of envy.

Cathy and Sharon, what are you two knitting?

As to gardening, the cooler mornngs bring out the gardening spirit. Stores are selling pansies very cheap but know it is too early to plant them here. Will have to wait for the ground to cool down. Weeds are still ahead of me but I am slowly gaining ground, I think.
Cheers all. Naomi

Gratification: Quick and Slow

2006-09-29T08:13:00.000-04:00

Knitting Friends - Work issues have been grabbing at my skirt and demanding attention this week, so I am just now getting a chance to share my progress from last weekend. The Mason Dixon kimono was a shower present for a friend from Voces Angelorum who was also a classmate of daughter Alexa in high school. I used 1 skein of Cotton Fleece on #6 needles (with only a few yards to spare) and made the body 5" instead of 4". It looks more like size 6-9 months instead of newborn. This took 2 evenings to make (plus finding buttons) and got a great reception at the shower.

Da Capo, Hanne Falkenberg's exercise in geometry, is 2/3 complete and still makes me smile when I look at it. The solid square section that makes up the front took longer than I anticipated--for some reason stripes seem to work up faster than the same area in a solid color--but since it is worked directly onto the sleeve and back there will be very little assembly at the end of the project. Sleeve 2 is progressing nicely, and all that remains after it is done is the neckband, which is also knit onto the fronts and neck opening. I think it will be complete in time for New York.

Next week I will be in Charleston SC visiting DH who is there on sabbatical. I want to visit Ft. Sumter, the aquarium, Drayton Hall, and the LYS a few blocks from where I'll be staying. I understand it carries Alchemy yarn. DH says he has found lots of places to eat--everything from shrimp and grits to Carolina-style barbeque (yum!) I have another pair of Step socks for him, but they are just like the last pair and don't warrant a picture.

You should check out the shawl on Brainy Lady's blog. I love the size (not too big) and pattern (not too fussy but certainly not plain). I've been thinking about making a shawl in on of the Fleece Artist yarns, but I'm still looking for the right pattern.

Gotta put the final touches on a report before I leave town, so keep those cards and letters coming.

Ellen

Why Vogue Knitting Makes Me Crazy

2006-09-19T16:46:00.000-04:00

Well, knitter-critters, this is what progress looks like: a sleeve and the beginning of a front. I love the way this sweater is coming together, but I have to crank up the AC just to work on it. That is a lot of wool to be holding in ones lap in a Tallahassee September. Persevere I will, though, because I have a trip planned to NYC in late October and this sweater will be worn!

While I was in San Diego I bought the fall issue of Vogue Knitting because it has a tutorial on entrelac, but I had the same reaction to the magazine that I've had before. It makes me crazy, and I have been thinking about why.

1. The patterns seem to call for way too much yarn. I haen't tested this hypothesis, because I am risk averse, but, really, how can a pair of womens' socks take 2 skeins of Trekking XXL?
2. The models do not remotely resemble the knitters I know. I like to see the products modeled on real people (as in Knitty.com) or people who at least resemble real people (as in Interweave Knits).
3. The patterns seem to be fussy for the sake of fussiness, or of using yet more yarn.

I will probably buy Vogue Knitting again, and may even knit something from it (I have in the past) but I don't think I'll ever love it.

Any thoughts on what makes the perfect source of knitting patterns and inspiration?

Gotta flit.

Ellen

The Fire on the Mountain burns knitter

2006-09-12T21:21:00.000-04:00

I'm right there with you Ellen with the socks with the sock serenity. However, mine just flew out the window. See this nice completed sock to the left here? It's Sock's that Rock Fire on the Mountain. It's been finished for a while, patiently waiting for its sister sock to be completed. Today I finished it. I was satisfied. I even though my tootsies might just be cool enough to try them on and wear them with pride. And as I was sitting and looking at them with a bit of pride thinking to myself that I was satisfied with the fact that I have finished at least 6 pairs that I can think of.

And then it appeared, staring right back at me. I thought to myself, you know, there appears to be my toe showing through my sock. Nah..... can't be.. hmmm so I wiggle my toes a little. ~~What crossed my mind at that point was not repeatable - and what good would it do anyway?~~ Needless to say, nausea started to set in. And no good blog would not provide you with the evidence of a sock gone bad.

The kitchener stitch went off without a hitch (hmmm poetry)...this is like having a run in your hose - a stitch escaping a toe hold.

While Ellen is tweaking and deciding between size 0, 1, 1.5, and 2 needles and finding the perfect fit, Cathy is dealing with bigger fish to fry - because starting off with a hole in the toe of a sock is about as bad as having a hole in unmentionables.

So.... my next venture after this repair, should it be my mission, will begin with a toe up sock without the seam.

Seeking Sock Serenity

2006-09-12T09:10:00.000-04:00

Dear Fellow Sock Knitters - I feel like a very slow learner. While I see other knitters turning out socks with lace or cables, I am stuck in the search for the "best" basic sock. Since June 2005 I have knit at least 10 pairs, but not one has been entirely satisfying. Sometimes the wool had been the issue, but usually it is the pattern--loose in the ankle, pointy in the toe, tight at the cuff bind-off.
The sock in progress incorporates improvements on each of these issues, and I've gotten advice from so many sources. I use the figure 8 cast on, a short-row heel from the Interweave Knits Sock page (members only), and the Elizabeth Zimmerman sewn bind-off. There are 64 stitches knit on 5 #1 dps (Brittany Birch 5") and the cuff, which starts 12 rows above the heel, is 1x1 ribbing. After 3" of ribbing I switch to #1 1/2 needles to complete the cuff.
These are husband socks; for myself I use #0 needles and adjust the foot length. The wool is Austermann Step, which you really should try. It is treated with Aloe and Jojoba, and feels so good to knit. It could come in better colors, especially in guy colors, though.

I went to San Diego last week and got a lot of knitting done on the flights and at the hotel. I also visited a yarn shop but was disappointed by the selection; it was predominantly upscale novelty yarns. There were beautiful ribbons and metallics but those are not what I am interested in right now. They are also so expensive! I'd like to see more patterns combining a little of the glitzy stuff with "normal" yarn.

The other picture is the first Da Capo sleeve. I've been looking ahead on the instructions and it seems to get complicated; it probably calls for good lighting and no alcohol!

Gotta flit! Let me know what you are up to.

Ellen

Stash Heaven, or Armoire Amour

2006-08-30T13:51:00.000-04:00

Dear Sisters in Sticks,
My DH thinks I'm nuts, but setting up my knitting armoire has been the second-biggest thrill of the summer (after Norway, of course!) All of the drawers are full of yarn, sorted by fiber and style, but the yarns in ziploc bags on the shelf are those of which I have substantial amounts, enough for at least a short-sleeved pullover. The binders contain patterns, sorted by type, and the patterns downloaded from the web are in plastic page protectors. Woohoo!

Looking at the pictures reminds me of how much yarn I have (good), but I can also see that there is plenty of room for more (not so good.) I think I'll hold off buying more at least until Da Capo is fine.

Cathy, I agree that working on a longer circular needle is better than having all the stitches jammed together trying to escape. Have you taken care of the errant holes in the shawl?

Last night I had a knitting epiphany. While trying to figure out why some of the wraps were twisted on a short-row heel sock, I realized that I have been making backward yarnovers. On most things it doesn't seem to be a problem (as long as they are consistent) but on sock heels it makes a difference. Of course all the yarnovers on Da Capo are backward and I will just keep on making them backward on that little project.

Since last time I have joined two knit-alongs--Mason-Dixon and Hanne Falkenberg. It does create a community to know about (and communicate with) other knitters who are working on the same projects. The really amazing thing is that about 90 percent of the Hanna Falkenbergers are knitting Mermaid. I tried on a Mermaid before I bought Da Capo and I thought it made my butt look fat!

Well it turns out that I'm not driving to Charleston this weekend after all (DH decided to put off his move until Monday) so I see visions of yardwork and knitting time. Next week I am flying to San Diego for a meeting; that looks like lots of knitting time and maybe a yarn shop visit.

Gotta flit. Keep those cards and emails coming.

Ellen

Evil Holes

2006-08-23T18:08:00.000-04:00

WEll Pointy ladies,
daCapo is looking mighty fine, and I don't see a hole in sight. However, in the middle of the night, the evil doers of the knitting universe decided to mess with my knitting. I ain't too happy because I can guarantee you these holes that those blue arrows are pointing to in the picture were NOT there last night. See the area circled? That's the way it's supposed to look like. So, I have to see if I can fix it without tinking, or if I need to go back and fix it. And I thought I was at the smooth sailing part. Oh ye be humbled.....
I am awaiting some addi turbo circulars in size 8 to come in - purchased off Ebay in the middle of the night like a sniper in the night, I think I will be much happier with a little breathing space with this Spanish Christening Shawl that is packed onto the circulars I am using right now.
I need to be thinking kind thoughts on this blanket for the baby it is going to. I don't want it to have any bad vibes when it goes to the precious baby.

By the way, moi was on the front page of the local paper today. :) Must have been starving for some news. Check it out.

Da Capo Update

2006-08-23T16:05:00.000-04:00

Da Capo reality has finally set in. As the triangle grows from the center of the bottom, the rows get longer (exactly 2 stitches per row) and perceived progress gets slower. I am 13 ridges (that's 26 rows) from the top of the white triangle, and each row feels like an accomplishment. I watched the Spike Lee documentary on New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina for the past two evenings and have gotten some quality knitting time, but there are still miles of rows before I sleeve. As a reward for finishing this section I plan to arrange all my stash and knitting supplies in a new yarn armoire. Woohoo!

Da Capo

2006-08-14T15:52:00.000-04:00

Would you look at that... Da Capo is working up much faster than I would have imagined. The rows get longer and longer, but still they get done and it feels like progress. This weekend Gary and I are driving to Miami; I would like to be ready to work on one of the sleeves on the trip, although in this heat it may be better to bring along a sock to knit on in the car.

I don't have much else to report. Ilona leaves for Germany tomorrow and Philip leaves on Thursday or Friday. I have to say that I've spent a lot more time with Ilona than Philip this summer and will really miss having her to talk to. Yesterday we went to Florida Caverns; I haven't been there since Alexa (now 25) was in 4th grade.

Keep those letters and pictures coming. I would like to see some of Cathy's empty boxes.

Ellen

Wow

2006-08-08T23:22:00.000-04:00

Ellen, your current knitting projects are awesome. The scarf is beautiful! Sweaters and socks, too. The triangle that is a sweater in the making is interesting. Actually it sounds tempting to try. My socks are going slowly, but with any luck I will have a pair or two by the time the weather is cool enough for socks. Actually I saw a sock patten for heelless and toeless socks that may be more my speed. Cathy introduced me to baby bibs and I have one underway but had to take a hiatus from all knitting because my right thumb went out on strike. I diagnosed my own problem. A combination of the computer mouse and using the cane so I have switched to the left hand with the cane and the hand is better so I hope to be back knitting soon.

Not sure Cathy has accomplished much knitting recently between moving and getting ready for school to begin.
Sharon, where are you?

The heat and drought combined to wreak havoc in the yard, even the weeds wilted. the heat is still very much with us but recent rains have 'greened' things up. I am enjoying planning all the things I want to do this fall when the weather is cooler. Redesigning the flower beds is a top priority.

Ellen, keep sharing all your great projects with us.
Cheers. Naomi

A Scarf in August

2006-08-08T10:46:00.000-04:00

Behold the scarf, in all its pointy splendor! I reworked the unsatisfactory points on the darker blue end by working the beginning edge in that color(except for the final WS row), ripping back the end of the scarf to the first row of the main pattern, and grafting on the new edge, with the kitchener stitches taking the place of the WS row of edging. The grafting won't bear too close inspection because of some tension issues but on the whole I am pleased with the outcome. Now I'm waiting for the weather to warrant a wool and silk scarf!

The other picture is the beginning of the Hanne Falkenberg sweater. It is a triangle (duh!) beginning at the center of the lower back and it will become the back and lower part of the fronts. There are 2 other pieces that make up the sleeves, upper fronts and lapels. The whole sweater is worked in garter stitch (with some cunning shaping, though) and the yarn has a definite mind of its own. It is just barely sport weight (I'm working on 2.5 needles) but it has so much body!

I picked up an entertaining book at the Leon Co. Public Library the other day, No Idle Hands, The Social History of Knitting in America, by Anne L. Macdonald. It has lots of pictures and anecdotes about the role of knitting in various eras, but one common thread is the idea of knitting for thrift. That seems to be turned on its head in this time of readily-available machine-made knits. It may be less expensive to make one's own handknits compared to buying handknits (but even that is not always the case) but no one can say that knit to clothe themselves or their loved ones more cheaply.

Now that the scarf is complete and the sweater is under way I find myself thinking about beads. Have you tried knitting with beads? I would love to hear about bead-knitting experiences before I dip my toe in that particular pool.

Gotta flit. Write me!

Ellen

Lace Crazed

2006-08-04T10:08:00.000-04:00

Just When I Thought I had Finished this Shawl---
I realized that there is something wrong with the pattern for the ending edging. If you compare the photos, you'll see that the beginning edging pattern (light turquoise) makes a well-defined point with shaping coming from a central column of slip 1, k2tog, psso. The edging pattern at the end has no such shaping, and any point is just an artifact of blocking. Well, after all the aggravation and bad language that went into this shawl, that crappy edging just will not do! I am working on a solution that will likely involve grafting (and more bad language) so stay tuned.

The green mohair fingers on the red table comprise my current mindless knitting project. The pattern is in Norwegian, but there is nothing to it but garter stitch, bind off, and cast on. This will also be a scarf, and it can be as long as 2 skeins will allow, or until I get sick of it.

Hanne Falkenberg has progressed as far as a 1.5 " swatch. If the gauge is off I'll have to buy another 30" circular needle, so I really hope it works.

Cathy, I hope your first day of school goes well. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your summer projects and really do want to get up to see the new house.

Ellen

Jedi Knitting

2006-07-27T15:51:00.000-04:00

Dear Cathy, Naomi, and Sharon - This is what I've been up to recently! The socks are Austermann Step yarn, superwash wool and nylon treated with aloe and jojoba oil. I used the magic toe cast-on and short-row heels, and the cuffs are all ribbing. The yarn is heavenly to knit; I have another skein waiting for me.
The purple tank top is Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold, and the pattern if from her book Sophisticated Lady 1, I think. I knit most of it during April, but ended up doing the top part (lace around the armholes and the straps) at least 3 times. There was a little problem with the pattern, and lots of big problems with my ability to count and read.

The other tank top is a remake of something I did last year. It is Giotto by Colinette, and the first time I made it it was just too big, and it didn't feel right. I pulled it all out and knit it again one size smaller and on size 6 instead of size seven needles. Now it is the snug little top I had in mind, and I only need to weave in the ends and make a button loop. If you look carefully at one of the pictures you will see why I felt like a Jedi knitter on the flight to Norway. My lovely daughter sent me LED knitting needles for mothers day! I have 2 pairs: sizes 6 and 8. The plastic is not too slippery and was fine for Giotto, a cotton-rayon ribbon, and I think it will be good for wool, too. I have visions of knitting baby blankets in movie theaters, or letting my DH watch TV with the lights turned down.

The unfelted cat bed features the most popular house paint colors of Norway (if you ignore white since it doesn't felt.) I plan to send it to grandcat Larry, but for him it need to be a big bed and I may have to block it agressively.

The scarf is approaching completion! The pattern is Trellis scarf, and it's turning out to be a stash-buster, using turquoise Zephyr left from another project and blue Zephyr for which I had no particular plan. I've done 16 of 20 repeats and, barring any major backtracking, should have it ready to block by the end of the weekend.

All of this finishing up is in anticipation of starting the Hanne Falkenberg sweater. I get nervous if there are too many projects going on at one time, and I want to start with a Zen-like concentration, at least for the cast-on and first few rows.

Cathy, I bought the Mason-Dixon Knitting book and have gotten lots of ideas for baby blankets. It is almost too tempting; probably I should have waited.

Ellen

2006-07-20T11:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Pointy Sisters - Here are a few of the pictures of Norwegian yarn shops. All of the interiors are shops in Bergen; on the cruise we were not usually in town when the stores were open. (11 to 5 if you are lucky!) There was one exception-- a shop in Stamsund that was open at 8 p.m. I bought yarn there just to show my appreciation of keeping longer hours. The second picture from the top and the bottom picture are taken in my favorite Bergen knitting store. It's called Pinnsvin Design and it has lots of Hanna Falkenberg kits. They are on top of the shelf in the second photo. The web site has an English translation; check it out.

One of my favorite discoveries was that at least one department store sells yarn in Bergen. There was not a lot of variety, but they sold worsted-weight wool (not superwash) for 9 kr. which is about $1.50, and for most of my visit it was 20% off. The other yarns were not such a bargain, but a lot were less expensive than in any LYS in the U.S. There were good selections of wools (no surprise there) but also other fibers and some novelty yarns.

There is a picture of my purchases on my last post. They include worsted-weight and bulky wool for felting, pale yellow cotton/acrylic blend tape yarn, chartreuse mohair blend, and the Hanne Falkenberg kit for DaCapo. I plan to make cat beds with the bulky wool, and a sleeveless pullover with the cotton tape yarn.

The only disappointment with yarn shopping in Norway was the poor selection of sock yarns. I saw no hand painted sock yarns, and little variety. Most stores had a few skeins of Regia, and solid superwash wool in fingering weight, but nothing that rocked. One can buy great wool socks in Norway, however, at the store without spending a fortune.

Next time I'll share the adventures of the sock. Keep knitting and reading and don't get oppresed by the heat.

Ellen

Knitting, reading and ramblins

2006-07-20T08:53:00.000-04:00

Well, it's hotter than a well diggers' oven (how's that for an expression - ok, I tried) - and the weather has been a tease - 3 miles away, the land got soaked, but all we got was residual thunder. Just ain't right.

Ellen, you will have to tell us more about your ~~yarn shopping~~ Northern European visit. Are you still playing with the yarn? I know you have pictures in that camera just waiting to jump out!

A move has occurred, a blanket ( Knit Along with Debbie Macomber - The Shop on Blossom Street) is finished(headed to South Carolina), and I have been dabbling in the Mason Dixon Knitting book and have submitted to the Mason Dixon KAL blog. Baby bibs have been multiplying - now I have a couple of more baby blankets to work on for some more babies that will be on its way. I feel sure the babies will arrive before blankets are finished, but one never knows. I may resort to jumbo yarn on size 15 needles to resolve that problem (don't count on that). Oh - specifics on the blanket - Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in Pink-a-Boo - used size 7 needles. By the way - though the directions on the skein of Cotton Fleece states to hand wash and air dry - I find that it washes and dries in the washer dryer nicely. Just put it on gentle and dry low!

I must say the summer has moved more quickly than I anticipated and before we know it, school will be in session again. Until then, I have two books to finish - Isaac's Storm and The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century - both for book club.
Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History (Vintage) is an interesting account of meteorological history, more specifically the hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. Oh what a long way we have travelled in 100 years in terms of weather predictions!

Enough of the mundaneness of this sultry summer - let's hear more of the yarn trip - ahem - trip to Norway.

Too hot to knit

2006-07-16T16:23:00.000-04:00

Hello all. I decided it was time to post a brief blog so all will know I am still alive.

Ellen, your stash is great. I see no reason why you might not acquire more yarn if it is on sale or if it is too beautiful to pass up or if it is just what you are looking for or or any other reason you might have.

Now to my knitting. I have finally finished the black cotton shawl except for a little bit of fringe.
My sock knitting is progressing slow. I have cast on stitches several times and am on my third attempt to do the first k1 p1 row, it is easy for me to lose count. But I will persevere as soon as I locate my sock pattern which I misplaced. I was sure it was in my knitting folder. Cathy's mom, Joe Ann, and I made an excursion to Thomasville to the yarn shop and bought more than one skein plus the circulaer Addis. Some of the yarn is gorgeous solid color silk blend, and some are multicolor wool/nylon blend. It is very hard to get excited about knitting when the weather is 100+ before adding the heat index.

Happy knitting all. Keep cool.
Naomi

New Stash

2006-07-11T15:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Cathy and all - I have run out of excuses for being away so long, and have to show you what I have bought on my yarn-foraging trips. On the bottom you see yarn I bought in Alexandria, VA at Springwater Fibers and Knit Happens , which is Wendy's LYS. I was in Washington, D.C. for a meeting and managed to schedule a few hours before my flight home to visit with my cousin Roberta and shop for yarn. If was so much fun! In the center of the bottom row is a huge spool of 2-ply linen that could make a very unusual shawl.

On top is all the yarn I brought back from my trip to Norway, which is truly the land of yarn shops. Isn't it good Norwegian wool? I will post pictures of the sights of Norway later, but for now I had to show you the stash. Yarn seems to be the only commodity that is less expensive in Norway than in America, and it is sold everywhere. The multiple colored skeins are wool that I bought for felting; it would be too rough for any garment that touched the skin. The clear plastic bag holds a Hanne Falkenberg sweater kit. The store where I bought it had samples made up of almost every Hanne Falkenberg style, and it was hard to buy just one.

The turquoise blob on needles is a scarf in progress that I'm working on ebony needles bought in Norway. They are the best ever lace needles; I had started on metal needles with sharp points, but the wool (Zephyr by Jaeger, a wool-silk blend) kept sliding off and I was just about ready to give up when I decided to try the ebony. They grip to wool (I wouldn't use them for cotton) and really sped up the process.

Needless to say, I won't be in the market for yarn for quite a while (except sock yarn, of course). I even bought a Norwegian pattern for a sleeveless pullover, in case I run out of challenges.

Cathy, I have presents and would love to see your new house (even if just from the outside if that is the appropriate exposure level for now) so let me know when I can trek up across the state line.

I'll have more pictures soon, and maybe a finished product or two.

Ellen

More Socks

2006-03-29T19:32:00.000-05:00

Ellen, which I read your title, I read Sock Convent instead of sock convert. Whew, was worried there for a minute.
Here you see my Socks that Rock "Rock Star" colorway socks. They look more subdued in this picture than they actually are. I do believe they would glow under a black light. They do make a statement when worn.

Today, Mom and I made a trip to Tallahassee for a dentist visit, but we did not waste a perfectly good day - we sought out the new yarn store - which was closed, but the people were there and my goodness, they were so nice and let us come in and see there "new" little place. Naomi, you will love the place - it has got a personality all its own and the people were just as nice as they good be. They did have Trekking XXL yarn and I got a variegated blue from them.
Sock yarn varies from fingering weight to sport weight to worsted. The beauty of socks is their portability and the satisfaction of completing something so wonderfully functional and yet so beautiful.
I share with you this beautiful sock that Katie knitted on her blog. I love the heel and the toe. I will have to give both a try as I am ready to venture out to try some different things on socks. However, I must finish my projects on the needles I have now:

socks
Elliott's blanket
Abigail's blanket
socks

I do have other projects on needles, but they don't really count at this time as they are on back back burners.
Ellen, you are dealing with Legislative stuff - I am dealing with end of school year stuff, namely IEP time, which will put one over the edge. One must balance work with ~~knitting~~ the rest of one's life. A week at the beach sounds good to me and off I go on Saturday!

Cathy

Sock Convert

2006-03-29T12:21:00.000-05:00

Dear Naomi et al,

I am excited about your sock plans. Socks provide quick (if not instant) gratification. About the yarn: I strongly recommend Trekking XXL or Socka by On Line. They are superwash wools (75% wool, 25% nylon, I think) and come in big skeins that will make two generous socks. They are softer than some superwash wools that I have used and knit up very even. They are not the cheapest sock yarn (about $14 a big skein) but nobody knits socks to save money. It is all about process, and I think the Harlot is right. You should think about the price of wool in dollars per hour of knitting time! I don't know if the T-ville LYS carries either of these yarns but I'm sure they are available online.

I am almost done with the black hole baby blanket. Just a few more rows of garter stitch border and a cast off will finish the knitting, and then a wash to get out the wine spots! I will take a picture before I give it away. I have also turned the heal on my first short-row heel sock. It was pretty easy the second time I tried it; carefully reading the instructions was a big help!

Gotta get back to work. The Florida Legislature is half-way through week 4 of our nine-week session!

Ellen

Socks are Easy to Knit

2006-03-27T19:32:00.000-05:00

I keep hearing how easy socks are to knit from Cathy, Martha and the Yarn Harlot. Ellen has shown pictures of all the pretty socks she has knitted and Cathy and Martha have shown us theirs. Dare I try? Kntting has been on the back burner at my house for a while but I have decided maybe now is the time to try socks. I do need socks and with my big feet it takes effort to find good ones. All I need are 2 tiny circular needles, some wool and a pattern that says easy. I found some really pretty yarn on the internet for $19.00 a skein but think I will try to find something less expensive for my maiden voyage. A catalog has some 80% wool 20% something else for $8.00 but shipping would be $8.00. Maybe it is time for me to locate the yarn shop in Thomasville. That would be a good field trip for Joe Ann and I-a visit to the yarn shop and lunch at one of the restaurants there. Next week is my vacation from therapy so that would be a good time to make the trip.
Cheers all. Naomi

Baby Blanket Blues

2006-03-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

Dear Pointy Sisters - Just a quick note to show the black hole baby blanket. It is more than half complete, but I feel like there is never any sign of progress. The center is a double layer of stockinette with a yellow and cream stripe, and it is much slower going than I anticipated. But as Cathy knows, I am the slave of duty and will finish by April 21.
The trip to Miami was great. I'll post pictures of the Fairchild Tropical Gardens soon, but right now the FL Senate is saying that attention must be paid!

Ellen

We have an Olympic Gold Winner for the Knitting Olympics

2006-03-02T06:35:00.000-05:00

Yes, Ellen is our Olympic Knitting Champion. IN a closer look to this athlete in the medal, who appears to be male with a ball of yarn in his right hand and the ~~javelin~~ needle in his left, he would certainly be in the minority. But I digress in the finer details of the medal and let's focus on the fact that Ellen accomplished her goal and to top it off, I can see her now dancing in a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta with her cross and skullbones cap. YARRRRRRRH!

Thank you for the words of encouragement on the walking - Yesterday I put in a little over a mile - maybe those "a little over a mile" amounts can add up on a day that I can't seem to fit in that little bit of walking - anyway, we started a temporary blog for those interested in joining our 40 day 40 mile walk.
Those pointy things are getting a work out - I had to borrow some addi - turbos size 7s from a friend to quit fighting with some bamboo circulars on the baby blanket - the changes I have made are productive and it will be a much better blanket in the end. I would guess I am 1/3 - 1/2 through and the Addis make it clip right along at a nice fast pace.

Congratulations Ellen on your gold medal.
Naomi had a great grandson named Elliott who is precious and who she is going to see today!
Sharon has a new job which keeps her out in the public eye - and I love it! However, she is having computer trouble at home so not sure when she can post.
To all a good day. See Ellen at rehearsal tonight!
Cathy

2006-03-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

Ah, better far to live and die under the brave black flag I fly than play the santimonious part with a pirate's head and a pirate's heart!
Away to the cheating world go you, where pirate's all are well-to-do,
But I'll be true to the song I sing and live and die a pirate king!
(Pirates of Penzance, act 1.)

The Olympics are over and I feel like I won a bronze medal. I completed my project on time and with good results, but it did not have a high degree of difficulty! There was no drama at the end about whether I would actually finish, since the knitting was complete on Friday night and the hat was blocked on a mixing bowl all day Saturday. The picture shows the blue microfiber liner band (to keep the itchy stuff away from my face and ears) and the stranding detail. The pillow on which it is sitting is also Norwegian, made from a kit I bought the last time we were in Bergen. The pillow colors are traditional Norwegian house colors, and it does remind me of Norway every time I look at it.

The Valentine socks are done, and I have started a pair of toe-up socks, using some self-striping yarn that was a present from Cathy last fall. I am making an effort to knit tighter so that the socks have a bit firmer shape, but it's hard to overcome well-developed habits. The baby blanket is also back in the active knitting rotation.

Cathy, I love your 40 miles in 40 days idea and wish you good luck with it. I haven't really observed Lent in a long time, but you have made me think about doing something worthy from now until Easter.

My tomato seedlings are coming along, and I just started some peat pots of nasturtiums this morning. They are the tall, vining variety that I will plant under a trellis on which I've had no luck growing anything. Nasturtiums are supposed to thrive in poor soil, and this spot should comply. If it works I'll post pictures!

Ellen

2006-02-22T10:25:00.000-05:00

Dear Cathy, Naomi, and Sharon - It's a pirate's life for me, my hearties! This hat makes me feel like singing all the great pirate songs from A Three-Penny Opera and Pirates of Penzance. It will be even better when it is lined and blocked. My first fair-isle experience hasn't been too bad, unless you count the part where I was over half finished and decided it was too tight and the strands were a mess so I frogged it and started over. Well, not totally frogged; I left the provisional cast on and the first couple rounds, which were solid colors. Fair-isle may not have been the best choice for Olympic knitting if I had intended to actually watch the games and not just listen to them, but I have looked up for an occasional replay!

These are valentine socks that got delayed by the Olympic challenge, but they should be done by the end of February, which will put them in the right month!

Cathy, you are so right about the wool sock comments! Haven't these people ever worn wool socks? I wear them myself until the weather reaches the 80's, and then I give up on socks entirely. Mostly I wear commercially made wool socks, since I give away most of the socks I make (that's gotta stop) and I am discouraged by how quickly they wear out at the heels and toes.

I just found out that the baby I'm making a blanket for in due April 21, so that project has to jump back into the queue. It has reached what the Yarn Harlot calls the knitting black hole: yarn goes in but nothing comes out! Must focus, must focus.

I have a little garden experiment set up in my family room: tomato plants from seed in 5 little peat pots under a grow light! I got seeds of 2 varieties that are supposed to grow well in containers, and since that is all the space I'm willing to devote to vegetables I decided to try these varieties. I started the pots on a heating pad under plastic, and as soon as they sprouted I moved them off the heat and under a light with no plastic. As of now there are 4 sprouts and one still on the heat. I'll keep you posted!

The Norway trip is taking shape. We reserved a cabin on the 7-day coastal cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes. On the fourth day we cross the artic circle, so at that time of year (late June) we have three chances of seeing the midnight sun. I am getting very excited about this trip and plan to go ashore at all 34 stops, even though some of them are only 45 minutes and may be in the middle of the night. There will be sleep enough in the grave; I don't need regular sleep on this trip.

Keep up all the good work, and keep those posts and e-mails coming.

Aargh!

Ellen

Socks that Rock, Baby Blankets and a Hit Man

2006-02-20T19:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Pointy Things friends.
The weekend was cold enough to have a fire - raw and wet and cold. Today was still cloudy, but I had to kick the A/C on to get some cooler air in this place.

I know that Ellen is an Olympic knitter and would like to see the progress on her project. I for one, am by the sidelines cheering all on as they work towards the finish line. I present you with a finished project that has NOTHING to do with the Olympics, but if I were there, I would have them on my tootsies. Socks that Rock Yarn in the Mesa colorway - size 2 needles - cast on 56 and sock away. They feel good on the feet - it's always interesting to hear the comments when you tell folks you are wearing wool socks. They ask 2 things most of the time. Don't they make your feet and legs itch (NO), and don't your feet sweat (NO).

Status of baby blankets - the one that went to rehab is in phase one of recovery - I have bordered it with a garter stitch where I don't have to add an edge to it. Should have been smart and done it in the first place. The one for Elliott has the center finished and is ready for the edging to begin.

Also on the needle: Ellen and I are working on trying to match up a sock joint effort - she has completed one sock and I am in the midst of working on the other - it's been interesting that her size 1 knitting work is looser than my size 2 knitting work giving a completely different look. So I am now on size 1's again since my size 2's would be too big in circumference, but cannot adjust the number of stitches cast on due to the pattern of the sock. Knitting can be so interesting!

ON the reading front: Been slowed down by doing a little reading. Finished reading The Rebel Angel by Robertson Davies - that was an interesting book. Focused too much on stuff that, if I put some of the terms in this blog, would probably get some hits from folks searching for more than just knitting - they would be so disappointed.
More interestingly, I am reading Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins - found that gem on CSpan's weekend Book TV.

Well Presidents' Day came and went - so now we start a new week on Tuesday!

Cathy

Playing with pointy things

2006-02-16T13:36:00.000-05:00

Cathy, Ellen and Sharon,

It seems we have all been busy. I keep forgetting to take down the Christmas tree, I missed Epiphany and then St. Valentine's day but maybe I can get it down before St. Patrick's day.
For Christmas I received 100 g of NoBo yarn which is just perfect for the beret I want to knit and I found a beret pattern that seems appropriate for my knitting skill level, practicing on some other yarn first. Lots of increases but Cathy showed me an easier way to increase so that is my next project. Still working on the two shawls.

Ellen's cat beds are great. Lucky cats. Another superior product that Ellen produced is the beautiful daughter holding the kitten in her last post. Ellen asked about Bleak House on PBS. It was tempting but I am trying to wean myself from TV so opted not to watch. The last few months I became dependent on TV after years of seldom watching. Now the legislature is in session feel sure Ellen's days are long.

Two babies that Cathy is knitting shawls for arrived this week. One shawl is finished, one to go. And she has a pair of socks working. How does she do it ?

What's new with you Sharon?
Cheers all. Naomi

2006-01-30T15:39:00.000-05:00

Dear Pointy Ladies -
Here are my latest pointy projects: next to the top is the first cat bed, a present for Larry the Grandcat; next is a cat bed in its pre-felted state, a present for Lola the Grandcat; and last is a Turkish string bag, made on #11 needles out of 100% linen yarn. On needles are a baby blanket and a sock, using Wool-ease worsted weight and Trekking XXL, respectively. I am strongly attracted to this hat. Maybe I can use it in Norway, even if I will be there in June.

About Norway, this is the deal. My DH (not designated hitter) is going to Norway in May and June, and I will meet him there for about 2 weeks at the end of his trip. He has been there 3 times in about the past 8 years, working with an old graduate school friend at the University of Bergen. I have been able to join him for parts of 2 of these trips. I am very excited about going back to Bergen, but am not looking forward to the time when he will be in Norway and I'm in Tallahassee. In the past I have always had one or more of the children at home, but this time it will be just me and the cats. It will be hard to resist my natural tendency to stop cooking and live solely on cottage cheese and bananas (and Margaritas for the vitamin C.)

Is anyone else watching Bleak House on Masterpiece theatre? I am really enjoying it. I read the book in college just for fun, but I've forgotten most of the details. It seems like with Dickens it is easier to remember the atmosphere of the books than the actual plot, and the TV series has certainly captured the sense of folly and pending loss and ruin that I remember.

Today is my daughter Camille's 27th birthday. (Her picture is at the top.) I was almost 27 when she was born. It is hard to believe that my life has been equal parts without Camille and with Camille. She has always been a great first child: seemingly indestructable, and determined to be her own person, even before she could talk. She gave us a lot of confidence as parents, because whatever we did seemed to work out great. Maybe someday she will knit!

Cathy, I can't wait to see the finished product on the Spanish christening shawl. You have promised us a fabulous knit-on border. Does anyone else have projects to show and share?

Gotta flit. It is Bikram yoga night, so I have to get home and fix dinner for Gary and get to class early, or there won't be room for my mat.

Ellen

Hiatus

2006-01-29T20:28:00.000-05:00

The bloggers have been quiet. My excuse is that I really have not been playing much with the pointy things. My new volunteerism at church occupied a good bit of time but things are slowly falling nto place there and it will not be as time consuming.

I thought this item might be of interest to my fellow bloggers. In today's Parade Magazine in the Tallahassee Democrat there was an article by the editors of AARP The Magazine giving advice on helping prevent various health problems, especially if your family is prone to them. Dr. Robert Wilson senior neurophsychologist of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center said mental exercise is also important : mind challenging exercises are associated with lower risks of dementia. Brain-boosting activities include reading, playing cards, solving problems and knitting. (emphasis mine) Getting out of the house--gardening or going to museums--stimulates the mind as well. "There's pretty good evidence" Wilson says, "that people who are socially active are less likely develope Alzheimer's disease and decline cognitively." So let's keep on knitting and gardening.

Ellen, your Chico Amaryllis is gorgeous, an exotic beauty. What an imressive list of knitting you did last year! Your sweater is beautiful. I can only claim 6 scarves and 3 crocheted shawls. But I am knitting on 2 shawls now.

Cathy and Sharon, share your last year's output with us. I know you both were busy little knitting bees.
Cheers. Naomi

My goodness - Spanish Christening Shawl

2006-01-25T07:04:00.000-05:00

Naomi, Sharon, and Ellen,
It's been quiet as a mouse on Plays with Pointy things, and I know that my birthday didn't stop anyone (in fact, I believe that Sharon does have a birthday in January, but if I am correct, I don't remember the date).

I posted on my other blog one of the things I have been working on so I must share this with you. However, though it is pretty, it is the same old pattern over and over again. That is not to discount its loveliness, but pictures just demonstrate the repetitiveness of the center of the Spanish Christening Shawl. I do believe one more skein will see the center to its finish, and I just began the skein. So.... without further ado, and to let people know the blog has not gone caput and dormant in the winter, I present my partial labor of love to you. I believe you can click on the picture to get a larger image.
I hope Elliott will enjoy it and find it fits him. Won't be finished for the shower, but will be for a very special day. The edging should be what sets it off.
Details: Pattern is from Cheryl Oberle's book Folk Shawls: 25 Knitting Patterns and Tales from Around the World - Dale of Norway Baby Ull Yarn - 100% superwash merino - and is soft soft soft. Size 8 needles.

Happy Birthday Cathy!

2006-01-07T10:10:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday, Cathy and many more.

May this year bring you much joy and happiness and many happy shopping trips for yarn and needles.
Love, Naomi

All of you have been tagged by me

2006-01-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

Ellen, Naomi, and Sharon,

I need to post on other more timely topics, but I got tagged, so I am tagging all three of you. Here it is:

Norma tagged me on this one (my husband said he couldn't think of any - he is such a smart man)

Rules: “The first player of this game starts with the topic “five weird habits of yourself,” and people who get tagged need to write an entry about their five weird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next five people to be tagged and link to their web journals. Don’t forget to leave a comment in their blog or journal that says “You are tagged” (assuming they take comments) and tell them to read yours.”

in the morning - I put my sweetener in my coffee before I pour my coffee and milk in the cup so I don't have to use a spoon. I have not convinced anyone else in my house that that is a good idea.
I hate to iron - really hate to iron - if something is wrinkled, I will throw a damp towel in the dryer with the wrinkled item to see if I can get away with not ironing it.
if I am practicing singing and start with a pitch from the piano, and then sing without accompaniment, I have to check afterwards to see if I stayed in the same key or went sharp or flat.
I prefer drinking iced tea out of a plastic cup instead of a glass one. I also prefer that the tea be just brewed and melts the ice than having the tea refrigerated.
If I go to a town and stay in a motel, I check to see if there is anyone in the town with my maiden name. There is a good chance I will call that number to talk to them. THERE JUST AREN'T THAT MANY OF US OUT THERE!
Hmmmmmm, tagging time - Emily, Naomi, Ellen, Sharon, and LutheranChik

2006-01-03T10:06:00.000-05:00

Dear Cathy, Sharon, and Naomi - Happy 2006! May it be filled with happiness and creativity.
I commend you, Sharon, for taking the road less travelled to Christmas. Every year I have my own doubts about the Christmas juggernaut, but I've decided to let it be a cultural institution that I will respect if not wholly embrace. Anyway, my husband loves Christmas and I share his enthusiasm.

The pictures show the amaryllis "Chico" in full bloom and Purl, the Manhatten yarn shop owned by the author of Last Minute Gifts to Knit. The amaryllis has a second flower stalk just about ready to open. Purl was one of three yarn shops I visited in New York. It was cozy and had heavy worsted New Zealand wool on sale for a very good price (I bought some to make cat beds). They wound the skeins without asking, too. The Yarn Company was less impressive (or maybe I was too tired after a day at the American Museum of Natural History), but the Knitting Cove of Port Jefferson was my favorite. It was a bit more spacious, the owner was very nice without being intrusive, and there were a lot of yarns and needles on sale. Of course I bought full price yarn but did get two circular bamboo needles for $5 apiece. I hope to have pictures of my new yarn for my next post.

At New Years I like to look back at the previous year and, hopefully, learn something. 2005 was the year I rediscovered knitting and discovered knitting friends for the first time. I find it hard to remember how I spent my free time before I took it up. Here is a list of projects completed in 2005: long sleeved pullover (for my husband, begun in 1997!), short sleeved pullover, 3 tank tops, lace shawl, 3 pairs booties, baby bonnet, 6 pairs socks, 2 pair wrist warmers, 3 scarves, shawl, 2 knit bags, cat toy. Works in progress include 2 socks and a baby blanket. In the queue are cat beds, a Turkish string bag, and some scarves/shawls using lace yarn that I've been acquiring.

I'm looking forward to the routine of the New Year, with regular work weeks and V.A. rehearsals, but this weekend Gary and I will be in Boston for the American Economic Association's annual meeting. There is a Cubism show at the Fine Arts Museum that I hope to see, and there are surely yarn shops to be visited.

Ellen

Merry Christmas, ya'll

2005-12-25T12:05:00.000-05:00

Hi Cathy, Naomi and Ellen,
I hope you are well, warm and enjoying the companionship of your loved ones on this blessed day!

As some of you know, Den & I gave up most of the trappings of Christmas several years ago. It was not an easy thing to do and ruffled the tail-feathers of a number of people we care about. At that time, the only traditions we salvaged were the Christmas meal with our family and Christmas stockings which we stuff with small gifts and fruit. These stockings are very special because my mother knitted one for each of us. To give that tradition up would be to waste a true labor of love. Here is a picture. They are embellished with sequins and small bells. We cherish ours.

During the year I contemplate Christmas and its true meaning. This is always growing as I learn more about the mysteries of Christ's birth and all the attending events: the ancient prophecies, the angels visiting the shepherds, the quest of the Magi, their enigmatic gifts and so much more. Certainly it is a time to set aside for commemoration and celebration, but what forms should these take? Culturally, there would be similarities with all in our society. But I think many struggle to find what is genuine and meaningful and are burdened by all that is not. This year I went to my, Quotable Lewis, an Encyclopedic Selection of Quotes from the Complete Published Works of C. S. Lewis. I was hoping to find ennobling thoughts about the way we celebrate Christmas. I was surprised. There were only 3 selections under the heading of "Christmas". Each expressed the same sentiment. This quote from, "Letters to an American Lady" is representative.

"I feel exactly as you do about the horrid commercial racket they have made out of Christmas. I send no cards and give no presents except to children."

Hummm. This has been a problem much longer than I suspected.

For Den and me, the objective at this time of year is to find ways to commemorate and celebrate the birth of Christ that are genuine. We never gave up giving, we just found other outlets. This year we did a number of new things that we will weave in to our lives as traditions. One was the Evening Prayer and quiet meditation time at St. John's. That was replenishing to the spirit at this hectic time. Being bell-ringers for the Salvation Army was another activity we enjoyed. We started observing Advent for the first time. We ordered a copy of Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas and read from it, not daily, but often. It is always enjoyable to receive the insights of great thinkers. Cathy and Ellen, the concerts you give with Voces Angelorum are "not to be missed"! I'm sure the search will grow and change each year. The quest continues. I would love to hear what ya'll find true and meaningful at Christmas time.

Ellen, I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip. Especially about new yarn for your stash and the Moscow Cat Theater.

Sharon

Here they are

2005-12-21T16:47:00.000-05:00

The four completed scarfs. The color is a bit off. My computer whiz daughter says I need to upgrade my digital camera. The wall behind is blue, not brown. LtoR the scarfs are black fancy fur, purple or brown variegated fancy fur, black boa with a little silver and pink variegated fancy fur. It may sound strange that I am not sure of the brown or purple. I thought it was purple in the store, at home it looked brown, now it looks purple again. May have to do another one and find someone colorblind to give this one to.(And I call myself an artist and have always had a good eye for matching colors, like singers have a good ear for music, but it is slipping.) They are all Bernat yarns and I am working on one more that is black with small blue yarn balls randomly scattered. I cropped the picture in another program and saved it but apparently the crop did not hold or something so please excuse the background clutter.
Christmas shopping and grocery buying is almost complete, wrapping yet to do. I am in the process of putting my tree up today. I will dismantle it either Epiphany or Valentine's Day or Easter. A former daughter in law sent me a small live fir decorated with angels which I have in the kitchen. Directions say I can repot it in a larger pot for future Christmases or plant it outside. I am leaning towards the pot and keeping it on the kitchen porch.
Back to knitting, I have a baby blanket and a shawl in progress. I want to crochet a scarf for a friend who is bereaved but I have to get the yarn, nothing in my stash is appropriate. I believe Walmart has Homespun yarn. If not, maybe Janet's.
Only four days until Christmas. Where did the time go? But I really don't get the Christmas spirit until Christmas Eve.

Cheers. Naomi

Ellen and her musical debut on the radio

2005-12-19T14:34:00.000-05:00

For those of you that do not know this (shhhhhh - Ellen does not know that I am blogging this) - Ellen reads for the Radio Reading Service.

The Radio Reading Service of the Public Broadcast Center provides a service to people in the community who are unable to use printed materials due to visual impairment or physical disability. Funded by the Florida Department of Education, the service employs community volunteers to read local newspapers, magazines and other printed material over a special radio station.

Ellen decided to add an extra kick to her reading today. She sang some of the editorial jingles in Tallahassee Democrat. If you go to this page:
http://www.fsu.edu/~wfsu_fm/rrs/index.htm

Go to Monday's Democrat - and go to about 46 minutes - you will hear Christmas music with a political slant. You are in for a real treat!
The political tunes are not necessarily those of Ellen's but are what are written on the editorial page of the Tallahassee Democrat. Don't hold her responsible for some of the lyrics - she is merely the ~~messenger~~vocalist.

Rainy Day Activity

2005-12-18T02:04:00.000-05:00

Hey Cathy, Ellen and Naomi,
Cold and rainy all day long. Blechk! Denny and I decided to make brownies. I go through phases with brownies. Kind of on a brownie quest. For a while I preferred cakey ones. Lately it's fudgey. Here is the recipe for the brownies we baked today. They're really good. Den threw in an extra handful of chocolate chips and we used some of the Elliot pecans my dad shared with us. Then Den was inspired to add a teaspoon of vanilla. We've made this recipe before, the vanilla was a nice addition. We had a cup of coffee, a couple of brownies and enjoyed the rain.

Cathy, I love the Dancing Grannies. They're funky and jazzy, it's hard to believe they come from a traditional pattern. Ellen, your sweater is lovely. Great color on you and looks like a good fit, too.

I have been working on the Noro hat off and on...had to rip it out three times. I got a mobius loop in it twice and messed up the knitting the third time. On the positive side, I got to try 3 different cast-ons ;-) Like the brownies, I'm on a cast-on quest. At first I tried the knitted cast-on, next the long tail cast-on (Sally Melville, in her book, The Knitting Experience, Purl Stitch, suggests estimating yarn length for long-tail cast-on for a hat as 2.5 times the circumference of your head...it was right on), the last was the reverse e-wrap. For the Noro hat, it seemed like the first 2 created too thick an edge for this hat. The reverse e-wrap, though a booger to knit the first row, was just right to begin this hat. To avoid a mobius loop you have to make sure all the cast-on stitches are lined up straight when you knit the first row. If there is a twist, it keeps knitting in a twist. I am using Noro Kureyon 90. The picture on the left shows the twist. The one below shows the colors better. I love this yarn. The best price for it is at Little Knits
Kureyon felts well and is the original yarn for the Booga Bag. I wish I could stock up for a ton of projects.
Well, it looks like I stayed up way too late again...it's 2:35 ahoy Hope I can make it to Sunday School in the morning...AAAH!
Sharon

Broken promise

2005-12-16T17:51:00.000-05:00

Ellen, Cathy and Sharon,
I promised myself I would not blog until I had time to take a picture of the completed scarfs but I can't wait. I have to rave about Ellen's sweater and Amaryllis. They are both beautiful. I have seen Cathy's Dancing Grannies hat and her other hat plus her socks and now that she is free of school for a couple of weeks I am sure she will be taking pictures. I finished the last of the scarfs last night and I have to shoot them this weekend as I will ship most of the scarfs Monday via UPS. And I am continuing to work on the grey variegated shawl.
In a moment of temporary insanity I agreed to be treasurer of the ECW for the president who is a friend. I declined previously. And of course this week I had to prepare a financial statement and create a proposed 2006 budget from the figures we arrived at in executive session. It goes before the general membership tomorrow. Some of the old biddies can argue for hours on spending 10 cents. Makes it hard sometimes to maintain ones religion.
Finished my Christmas shopping today except for one item. I went to Walmart to get that one and they had no electric carts available so I have to try again. Sue, from Tallahassee, is coming up tomorrow for lunch at Old Mexico and I am looking forward to the visit with her. We first met in 1964. Cheers. Naomi

Picture Time!

2005-12-15T08:48:00.000-05:00

Dear Cathy, Naomi, and Sharon - Here are the booties, and my Christmas amaryllis, "Chico." I love living in a climate where you can plant the annual amaryllis in the garden and enjoy it for several years. They do need periodic dividing, though, or they will just stop blooming.

Cathy, you gave me too much credit for working on one project at a time. Right now I have on needles: 2 socks (from different pairs) and a hat to go with the booties. There is also a scarf that is all knit but only half assembled. (Why would anyone knit a scarf that needs to be put together?) In the queue are a baby blanket using this pattern, an Elsepeth Lavold Silky Wool tank top, a Zephyr lace shawl, and lots of socks. Of course, these knitted balls may jump right to the front of the line.

I loved your commentary on gauge. I usually have the opposite problem of things turning out too large because I have a very relaxed attitude toward knitting. Have you seen this blogger's exercise in swatching? This woman doesn't have a relaxed attitude toward anything, and must have way too much energy.

Gotta flit! See you tonight, Cathy.

Ellen

Got Gauge? Lesson Learned

2005-12-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

Ellen,
Your zephyr sweater is lovely - I admire your ability to remain on one project at a time. I would bet in the blog world you are a minority. So, all 3 of the people that might read this blog outside of us folks that officially blog - do you work on more than one project at a time or stick to just one?
Now Naomi and Sharon, did you notice....
When Ellen travels, she is never far from a yarn shop. She's a yarn magnet -- that or she either strategically plans her travels around the nearest yarn shop.

Of course, unlike Ellen, I am much less disciplined and have many projects going on - one is being kept under wraps until further notice. However, a baby blanket it coming along nicely, along with a quick diversion of this:

Dancing Grannies is the name of this pattern and it was quite fun. However, there is a little problem. No Granny will be able to wear this hat unless the Granny is about 4 years old. Wouldn't one think if you knitted a Dancing Granny hat, that it would be for an adult?
Well, one must follow the directions better and FOLLOW THE GAUGE... let's do the math...

12 or 13 sts per 4 inches
cast on 72 stitches
So....the circumference should be about.... 24 inches around... correct?

Well.... if I had done my homework, I would KNOW I had 14 stitches per 4 inches so that would give me a circumference around the hat of about 20 inches which is WHY it won't fit on my head.

ANOTHER FACTOR: It called for bulky yarn... I used worsted, BUT I DID double the yarn, so that should have done it. NOPE, it's all in the gauge.
Next time... use larger needle... check gauge... check gauge... check gauge....

Interested in pattern?? Check here - did a Google search going back to pattern to link to this blog - typed in dancing granny knit - and whoa... 1st link was an EYE OPENER -

Knit group tonight was small but good - there were 4 of us and I got some good tips from Martha on socks. All I can say is that the Socks that Rock yarn is living up to its reputation! WOW!
Cathy

Zephyr is Complete!

2005-12-13T09:10:00.000-05:00

Dear Cathy, Naomi, and Sharon - I am so happy to report a finished project: the Zephyr top is ready to wear. It is knitted with two strands of 2/18 Zephyr on #8 needles, using this pattern. I love Knitty.com; the patterns I've tried have been reliable and imaginative, and the articles are informative. I would like to try this pattern, but I'm not ready to commit too far into the future.

Last night I made one bootie for a friend's newly-adopted baby girl. Nobody had one-bootie syndrome, though, because they are so cute you can't wait to finish both. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Hoverson, but I have redone the cuff instructions because in three tries I have never been able to make the printed instructions work. There has to be a mistake.

Cathy, we missed you last night at Sawmill Academy, but I understand that it is a long drive for a short concert. There were at least seven absent singers (that could be a verse of the 12 days of Christmas) because of sickness, exams, or other commitments. We sang a lot of Christmas carols and songs with the girls, and only about 5 of our own pieces.

Between Christmas and New Years Gary and I are going to New York to visit Camille and Alexa. On the last night we are staying near Alexa on Long Island at an inn that she says is a stone's throw from a knitting shop. The other highlight of the trip will be attending the Moscow Cats Theatre. We'll probably add a museum or two.

Gotta get started on my Christmas cards.

Ellen

AAARRGH, Mateys

2005-12-08T09:16:00.000-05:00

G'day Ellen, Cathy and Naomi,
Thanks for the warm welcome aboard the good ship Plays with Pointy Things. Following the nautical theme, I'm trying to get my sea legs around here.

I'm looking forward to the concert by Voces Angelorum this evening. Wish the weather was better. Good luck with work, Ellen. I used to be the clerk for my little town of Brinson and was responsible for the finances (though technically the Council was, but you know how that goes). It was an interesting but sometimes frustrating job. Brinson is so small (pop. 225), I doubt its budget would even show up as a blip next to the State of Florida's.

This morning my mind has been rummaging through memories of events of the past year. It was a year ago, almost to the day, when I awoke to an interview with Charles Witmer on WFSU. He was promoting the Christmas concert for Voces Angelorum. Most of the time the radio doesn't even register when it first goes off. I'm too drowsy. But I think this was fate. Attending that concert, I reconnected with Cathy after having drifted apart for a few years. An existing friendship rebloomed. In turn, this led me back to the Episcopal Church and the wonderful congregation at St. John's, where both Cathy and Naomi attend. This led to the Prayer Shawl Ministry, learning to knit and the knitting group...new friends (Ellen among them) and a new hobby. Most oddly, now I'm a blogger! I guess that's why they call it the "web of life". Somehow everything is connected. Though I doubt that is a nautical term!

Blogging has led to a peculiar urge...to carry my camera with me at all times. Now I have to figure out how to post photos. No! No! Don't anyone tell me (yet anyway). There is a little icon up top I'm going to try.

Hope to see you this evening,
Sharon

Yo, Sharon!

2005-12-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

Cathy, Naomi, Sharon -
Have you ever noticed how often you get "welcomed aboard" when you start a new job, even if it is hundreds of miles from any body of water? I guess it is just another of those nautical terms that came ashore and joined common parlance. One of the most entertaining features of the Jack Aubrey books (by Patrick O'Brien) is how they reveal the nautical roots of so many common expressions. Anyway, welcome aboard our little blogship, Sharon. She's a good one, by and large (which is another nautical term.)

Last night I saw progress on a projects that had become a source of guilt and self-loathing. The Zephyr pullover is complete, except for working in the loose ends and final blocking. It is so soft and light that I may not get to wear it until next spring, and if one of the cats decides to give me a clawful hug while I'm wearing it I doubt it will survive.

Cathy, the colorful baby blanket is beautiful. It is very tropical, too. Is the nursery done up in parrots and vines?

I am getting my Christmas present today: a new dishwasher should be installed when I get home! The old one has not gotten the dishes very clean for years and I'm excited about the prospect of washing dishes only once. I'll give you a customer review after I've used it for a few weeks.

Speaking of reviews, I've seen two movies since I last posted. Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang is a funny, smart parody of the hard-boiled detective movie. It has its moments of violence, but the whole movie is so entertaining that I was not offended. Robert Downey, jr. is wonderful, and the rest of the cast is on the same level. Walk the Line has great acting and music, but I thought it was painfully long. The "redemptive power of music and a good woman" theme is getting tiresome, even if it is true in this case. The movie is worth seeing for Reese Witherspoon and the music, but I don't think it's the best movie of the season.

I'm very hopeful about making it to the concert on Thursday, but it depends on the Florida Legislature. If the special session has not adjourned I'll have to be at work in case I'm needed for some property tax issue. Hope that doesn't happem, and that I'll see you all tomorrow night.

Ellen

Welcome Sharon

2005-12-04T22:16:00.000-05:00

Sharon and I met throught he Artists Guild almost 20 years ago and she is multitalented and involved in many things.
Last night I listened to the three Scottish tenors while I tried to finish the 2nd scarf for Christmas giving. I did not quite finish as during the more spirited musical numbers I found myself using the knitting needle as a baton keeping the beat. I may not be able to sing but I can keep time. I finished it today while watching Baryshnikov and Gelsey in the Nutcracker on PBS and am almost half way with the third one. I have to shop for beads to finish them and then I will post pictures.
The baby blanket is on hold right now. The mother-to-be is having problems and I suppose I am afraid to go on at this time.
The grey shawl is progressing slowly but once I finish the Christmas presents I will finish it.

I am excited that Voces Angelorum will be singing in my backyard Thursday night. The church has an elevator I believe, must figure out how to get to it as the steps are out of the question right now.
Naomi

Warm Welcome

2005-12-03T20:31:00.000-05:00

A most hearty welcome to Sharon who just posted on our blog. I have known Sharon for many years, and know she has many talents!

And, her taste in music is quite good since she likes the music of John Rutter!

Tomorrow our group, Voces Angelorum, will be singing in the state capitol building in Tallahassee. The acoustics in there are glorious to sing in as it rings throughout the long halls of the old building.

On the needles, I have a baby blanket I am trying to move through quickly. It's easy to memorize, and I can go lickety split on it. It's just the size that takes the time! The picture you see has three colors. There is now pastel pink and I am almost through with that color now, getting ready to add another color. Now I need to think of what direction of color I want to go! Hmmmmm --- decisions decisions!
Also on the needles is a sock with Lorna's Laces Lorikeet colorway. Picture will be forthcoming soon!

New Here

2005-12-03T19:55:00.000-05:00

Hi Cathy, Ellen and Naomi,
Thanks for inviting me to be a part of your blogging world. We all have a lot in common...knitting, gardening, reading for a start. I am not a singer, but choral music is a big favorite of mine. Ellen and Cathy, you know what a big fan I am of Voces Angelorum! Right now I'm listening to Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity, by the Cambridge Singers, directed by the inimitable John Rutter....so sweet! My DH got our stereo back up this evening. It's been about 2 years out of commission. I do have a boom-box, but I didn't realize how much I missed the system Dennis rigged up for us. It is wonderful to be able to be able to hear the clarity, depth & detail - just in time for the Christmas Season.

This is partially a test post.
So here goes....
Sharon
Swooning over the music

Rainy Days

2005-11-29T11:02:00.000-05:00

Ellen and Cathy,
After the summer's drought the rain is most welcome. The plants are also appreciative and in this area agriculture is a big business so the farmers are grateful.

Ellen, your pictures from your Washington trip were great. What an impressive sight the Arum must be. Thanks for sharing with us.

I finished one scarf fo the bazaar and it actually sold. Last night I finished a second scarf for a grandson's girlfriend of six years. I used Bernat's Boa (fou-fou) yarn and 17 needles. One down, four to go as the granddaughters and Tommys' girlfriend of two years are also receiving a scarf knitted by Nonnie. Pictures will be forthcoming. The blanket for the great grandbaby is on hold right now as there are possible complications and I need to regroup before I can start back on that one. Yes I am one of those scatter brained individuals who has several projects underway at the same time.

Cathy, the shawl you are knitting for Kit's grand is looking great. The bright colors are delightful.

No therapy or appointments today so I have scheduled myself for housework. As usual I am procrastinating.
Cheers, Naomi

Surprise

2005-11-25T21:57:00.000-05:00

Ellen and Naomi,

This week has gone so quickly, but I am delighted that finally, today, Friday, I was able to knit and complete the following:

The two socks are definitely different and I believe that Ellen pointed that this was a possibility that this could happen.... do you see it??

Now... Ellen went on a little jaunt and lo and behold the yarn magnet seemed to attract this and I am now the proud owner of this:
Ellen surprised me with this Tuesday evening - Koigu 100% merino. It's exciting because this is my first solid sock yarn so am on my way to finding the perfect sock pattern that has a pattern to it that will show off this nice blue color. Think I have a nice pattern by Jean Townsend that I will try. I am a member of an email list where she shares her patterns. Can't wait to get started, however, I have a couple of projects that are screaming at me to work on NOW. Babies that are due in the near future seem to come when they are ready, and I don't want these babies to arrive before their blanket(s) are created. However, I DO know I can carry a sock around, where blankets are a little more challenging in the portability department. Thanks Ellen for the yarn - I feel like the man who is squeezing the Charmin when I feel the skein.

By the way, we have been officially been linked by another blogger - Collecting my Thoughts - and.... drum roll please.... we are linked by Norma because we are a relative rarity - we are the over 50 bloggers that are few and far between. WEll....prematurely 50 since I have another 6 weeks before I hit that milestone. However, it is nice to be recognized to be a minority in a frontier of technology that has hit the Internet by storm. So, not everyone may read our blog, however, we are a COOL minority.

Strange and Wonderful

2005-11-21T14:09:00.000-05:00

Dear Cathy and Naomi - What a weekend for a gardener and knitter! While I was in Washington, D.C. I was watching the local news and they had a story about the imminent flowering of an Amorphophallus titanum, the giant stinking titan arum, at the U.S. Botanical Gardens. I saw the news on Friday, and they were predicting a Saturday or Sunday blooming. The bloom lasts only a day or two at most. I went to the gardens on Saturday morning and took the picture above, with the spathe tightly furled around the spadix. On Sunday I went back and stood in line for about half an hour to see and smell the open flower. I think the smelliness of this flower has been exaggerated; it did have a distinctly rotten odor, but it wasn't gag-inducing. I was disappointed!
The other flower pictured above was labeled Ensele superbum of the banana family, but I know its name is really Audrey II.

The sock was along for the viewing, but I didn't want to make it feel inadquate by comparison so I didn't include it in the pictures.

After my first Arum viewing I continued on to Alexandria, where I visited Springwater Fiber Arts and Knit Happens. I did some buying at Springwater, including 2 #1 circular needles to try out on a sock. I am pretty sold on the 5" dps, though.

Other highlights of the trip were a visit to the Spy Museum (don't laugh, its great) and an exhibit of textiles from the Ottoman Empire at the Sackler Museum. I also had dinner with my cousin and her husband and saw lots of friends from UVA. The low point of th trip was running through National Airport in my socks to pick up a boarding pass (my shoes were already in the x-ray machine) so that we could get on an earlier flight that would actually get us to Atlanta in time to make our connection. I got the boarding pass, we got on the plane, and we made it home by 1 am Monday.

This was supposed to be a work day in the Demonstration Garden, but the rain superceded our plans. Thank goodness for the rain; there had been no measurable precipitation since September at my house and I'm afraid to open my utility bill.

My son is on his way home from Miami for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see him. The girls are spending Thanksgiving with their significant others, but they will be home for Christmas. On Thanksgiving evening I plan to go see the new Harry Potter movie. I've been rereading the book in preparation for the movie.

Cathy, I'll see you tomorrow at rehearsal. I have a surprise for you!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, Naomi, and all who read this. I have so much to be thankful for, including friends and hobbies.

Ellen

Whoooosh - Where did the week go?

2005-11-18T22:44:00.000-05:00

Naomi and Ellen
I DO know this week has been busy for us all. I know that I am glad that at least the weekend work will not be involved.
I took a picture last night from the balcony of St. John's. The sock came along, but it didn't get in the picture. It was shy and remained hidden. It came out today for an extreme knitting moment, but didn't want to venture out last night.

The organ is no longer in the front of the church, but is in the balcony. Ellen and I sang with our group, though, oddly enough, we exchanged very few words between each other. Rehearsals are strictly that and chit chat is kept to a minimum, as should be. I skeedaddled out of there as soon as I was released. Ellen stayed later for extra rehearsal with her ensemble.
Church bazaar is tomorrow so will be busy. And, to top off the evening, we will celebrate Rachael's 8th birthday.

Cathy

Saturday Night Blog

2005-11-12T18:33:00.000-05:00

Naomi and Ellen,

It's been a whirlwind preparing for the bazaar as well as keeping up with the daily vicissitudes of life. However, I have found a couple of sites worth noting for tonight's blog sightings.

Want to knit a Christmas tree on your head? Go ahead and order the pattern here at Chappysmom. Every one needs a tree on their head.

One can create their own Google map and have it focus on any topic that one may want. There is even a blog to guide you to the many different personalized maps that are out there. Go check it out here at Google Maps Mania.

Norma has found an interesting link to Rare Birds. It, too, has a Google Map. Naomi, that Rufus (sp) hummingbird could get a posting there!

Lutheran Chik is very excited that on Christmas, the Lutheran Church will be sponsoring "Joy to the World" - it will feature music and worship from a multicultural assortment of Lutheran churches around the country.

And, to round it up, St. Casserole interviews her kitten, Fish. Notice Fish's favorite book....

That wraps it up for the Saturday night perusings of Bloggerdom.
Cathy

Gardening Chores for November

2005-11-08T15:28:00.000-05:00

Fall really is here. At least a day or two here and there. November is cleanup time. Remove faded flowers and brown stems. Save seeds that you want to plant next spring. Old soil in pots needs to be emptied. It can go in the compost pile or in a flower bed. The empty pots need to be rinsed and washed in a light bleach solution. Now I admit I don’t always wash mine and I have read articles this year from various experts who say it is not always necessary.
Leaves continue to fall and instead of raking them, run the lawnmower over them and add organic matter to the soil. Continue to water all newly planted plants, including trees, now unless adequate rainfall has occurred.
Annuals: Seeds can be sown for Larkspur, Sweet Alyssum, Calendula, Sweet Peas and wildflowers. Petunias, Dianthus, Snapdragons, Pansies and Johnny Jump Ups can be planted now if the soil is cool. Maybe this will be the year I finally grow sweet peas successfully.
Perennials: Rudbeckia, Ruellia, Obedient Plant, Yarrow, Firespike, Lion’s ear, Cigar Flower, Mexican Bush Sage, Pineapple Age, Salvia guaranitica, and Chrysanthemums can be planted now. It is still time to transplant those perennials that seem to be in the wrong location. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberose) seeds can be sown now. Plant the seed thickly as the germination rate is low, but they are worth planting to attract butterflies. The birds are now doing a good job of planting Butterfly weed for me. There is no need to apply fertilizer now, but it is a good time to pull weeds as they sprout.
Shrubs: Balled–and-burlapped or container grown shrubs can be planted now and will have time to adjust before winter arrives. Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua can be planted at this time. They prefer soil with a lower pH and need mulching to keep their shallow roots cool. Dead or damaged wood should be removed from shrubs.
Bulbs: Spring flowering bulbs can be planted after pre-chilling and the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler. Don’t forget those bulbs you dug up to save. Bulbs need good drainage so amend the soil if necessary. Use a complete fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 when you plant them. Bulbs planted last fall need topdressing.
Edibles: If space is a problem, try container gardening with Arugula, Parsley, Collards, Kale, Mustard, Lettuce, and Spinach. Pansies and Snapdragons can be grown in with the vegetables. I have to get my half barrels filled so I can try fall gardening this year. I have the plastic bottles to put in the bottom of the barrels, then cover with landscape cloth and fill with potting soil. Otherwise I would need a large amount of potting soil. I envision collards surrounded by pansies for one.
Lawns: Ryegrass can be planted now for erosion control or to green up your lawn. The experts say that Bermuda grass sod can be planted now. After fighting Bermuida grass for 18 years I have no idea why anyone would intentionally plant it.
My yard is looking pretty sad right now but I anticipate being back out in it soon and I have a mental picture of how it will then look. The greenhouse has a new roof and I am anxious to get it cleaned out and organized. Keep on gardening.
This was written for the local newspaper as part of my volunteer work as a Master Gardener.

Best Laid Plans

2005-11-08T11:39:00.000-05:00

Cathy and Ellen,
Yes I have been remiss. Cathy asked me to post my November Gardening Chores to the blog. When I cut and paste from Word it acquires some extra symbols, etc. Cathy kindly converted it to a text file and emailed it to me but for some reason, my computer refuses to cooperate so.......
Yes, Ellen being mom does take precedence over most things. And I understand the void that is left when the MG classes are over. We have a monthly meeting in Thomasville at lunchtime when we brownbag, have a 30 minute program-usually good-and then a brief business meeting. I have attended several of the statewide meetings and really enjoy those and look forward to being able to attend in the future. My yard is pitiful right now but I can see how it will look next spring.
My knitting is moving slowly. The blanket for baby grand is finally beginning to look like it might be ready by the time of his arrival in late Feb. or early Mar. The scarf which I tried to work on in the hospital is moving along nicely and plan to give it to ECW bazaar. If it doesn't sell someone will have it for Christmas. The other scarf that I cast on a few extra stitches is moving slowly. It is not wide enough for a blanket but it will be a nice wide scarf.
Cheers. Naomi

Busy Pointy Ladies

2005-11-07T15:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Cathy and Naomi - I am reminded of a line from an Eagles song:

"Did she get tired or did she just get lazy?"

Are we all too busy to post? Things have gotten busier for me at work, and somehow the evenings just seem to fly by. Part of my activity has arisen from my son's decision to look into transferring to a different school. It is deja vu all over again; poring over the college guides; looking at websites, and trying to schedule visits. I thought I was out of this game, but if he needs assistance, I'm the Mom.

My knitting projects are coming along slowly. Cathy, I'm so glad you suggested the knitting group meeting at Borders last week. I never would have known that someone in this little city was knitting yarn that she spun from wool that came from goats she raised herself! (I feel so inadequate.) The wristies are complete, and the scarf they go with is in the assembly phase. The Zephyr pullover is at least half done. If I can keep my cat's claws out of it I may be able to wear it in Washington the weekend before Thanksgiving.

The Master Gardener class is winding down. I will miss going to it every Thursday morning. It has become the high point of the week. I hope that the monthly work days and other activities will allow me to keep up with some of the people I have met. Last week's class was about flowers, which are really best in the fall here, or maybe it's just that in the fall you want to be outside looking at them. This weekend I did some more thinning and cleaning out, and a lot of making plans for future improvements. My neighbors must wonder what I'm doing when they see me just standing in the yard staring intently at something only I can see.

Hooray for Friday's holiday! I will take pictures of all the projects and try to catch up on some nagging responsibilities.

Ellen

Guest blogger

2005-10-31T21:34:00.000-05:00

I am most pleased to present to you a guest blogger, Sharon, who is a master potter in many ways and to have her share with my Mom and me her expertise in the field of potter and excitement with us on a Friday night in South Georgia topped off the evening. And here she is! Thanks Sharon.

I'm just finishing the last bite of a fairly decent tuna sandwich and my mind is rummaging through all the memories of the neat things I did last night with Cathy and Jo Ann (Cathy's Mom). It was a night of great camaraderie. Even the hour-long drive to and from Thomasville was fun. We chatted about everything, though knitting was a strong recurring theme. The evening's mission: dinner and a classical concert.

Upon arriving in Thomasville , we headed to George and Louie's for dinner. It was quite scrumptious; Cathy and her mom ordered the Gyro and I had the Oyster Poor Boy. G & L's has fried green tomatoes, a delicious and unusual menu offering, and their onion rings are the best. We ordered both to round out our meal. Filled to the brim, and the happier for it, we set our sights for the Thomasville Cultural Center for a concert by the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio and the Miami String Quartet. It was a wonderful performance. You could tell the musicians were enjoying it as well. Cathy is mastering the art of knitting socks on two circular needles and she showed me her latest work while we were waiting for the program to begin. Doggoned! We should have gotten a version of, "the sock was here", picture.

Anyway...

In addition to the concert, the Cultural Center was hosting an exhibit of pottery from regional collections. My father, Ralph Weaver, had 4 of his original pieces on exhibit and my husband and I had contributed a Lanier Meaders face jug to the show(shown below).

The exhibit was being taken down in a few days and I was afraid I would miss it. As it happened, the pottery was displayed on the floor we entered, and we had plenty of time to see it before the program started....

Cathy, Joe Ann and I wandered through the exhibit, enchanted by the details, imaginative motifs and sheer variety of claywork, when I exclaimed,

"That looks like a Picasso!"

I pointed to a large white plate-form with the abstract image of a face sculpted on it. Knowing how artists "borrow" ideas from other artists, I never dreamed it could be an original. It was! There were three more very nice examples of his clay work as well. His is the name that would lend this display distinction with most people.

However, two other artists of much greater stature in the pottery world were also represented, to my great delight: Shoji Hamada, (a press-formed bottle and platter), and Bernard Leach, (a temmoku glazed vase-form). These, in my opinion were the jewels of the show. Not only because they were lovely pieces, but because they represented the works of two influential men in the Craft-Art Movement. I have perused Leach's publications, A Potter's Book, over and over, studied pictures of their pottery extensively, but never seen either of their artwork in person. Hamada was even awarded the title of National Living Treasure by his country. Yes, I guess I am swooning. It was wonderful show, and every piece in the exhibit was a treat. I was especially proud that my dad's work was represented there.
As a potter who hasn't made any pots in a long, long time, this exhibit made me yearn to play in the mud again.