Block Island Ballbands

I just returned from a lovely Memorial Day Weekend (although I suppose it is a bit of an oxymoron to say Happy Memorial Day) visiting friends on Block Island, a truly beautiful place...sort of like Martha's Vineyard without half the population of the Upper West Side. Too many Red Sox fans, but...whatever. I was chill. I turned to my old standby housegift and whipped out a trio of Ballband Warshrags for my hostess Claire and her daughters Kate and Ann, packaged along with a tube of Boss Lady Body Wash (no affiliation, but I was particularly attracted by the motto "Lather up and hunt 'em down.")

AnneKateClaire

Clapotis--F.O.

Clap off. I'd been trying to finish this in time for Maryland Sheep & Wool, but ended up working on it there instead. I've decided it was meant to be a Mother's Day present to myself; I've been dragging it off the shelf and forcing it to hug me all day.

Notes: Knitting to pattern on a US 7 needle, I ended up using six skeins of Grignasco Top Print (sport weight alpaca, Colorway: Berry), about 660 yards. Final dimensions: approx. 19" wide x 66" long--longer than I thought, which is fine.

The end result is worth it, but it's quite a slog. Definitely get a hold of Soul Knitting's Clapotis Spreadsheet; checking off the rows as you go is most encouraging.

When measuring knit side up from the cast-on, the right side is the width, the left side is the length.

Rule of 5 for yarn amounts: you'll use approximately 1/5 of your yarn for the increase section, 3/5 for the straight section, 1/5 for the decrease section.

As you slog along, watch for the following change-ups: Section 3, Row 6 (ssk, place marker, yo, kfb). Row 8 is when you get to make your ladder (yay!). In Section 4, there are ladders at the beginning and end of Row 8 (yay! yay!). Remember you're only working through Row 10 on the 8th repeat. In Section 5, Row 2 should begin with a Purl 1 (a mistake on the version of the spreadsheet I used; it might have been fixed by now).

I chose not to block; I like the curls and squiggles.

Onward to some palate clearing warshrags before I cast on my next one.

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival 2008

I lay here recovering from my inaugural trip to Maryland Sheep & Wool. If you're reading this, I assume you're a knitter (or a close relative), so I don't have to explain the significance of this yearly extravaganza. Anyway, I boarded a bus loaded with sleepy but determined New York City knitters at 7:00am (thanks for organizing, Eve!). The atmosphere on the bus was oddly subdued...I imagine buses coming from places like...oh, Philadelphia...twittering with excitement, but we approached this trip not unlike soldiers deployed into battle with pointy sticks. Or maybe it was the fact that it was 7:00 in the morning. Anyway. Kudos to our ballsy (female!) bus driver who blithely bypassed the line of cars patiently waiting on the entry road and had us in the parking lot by 11:00am.

I had a sort of battle plan that I abandoned early on, but my first stop was at Brooks Farm Fiber , where I got four skeins of sinfully sweet Four-Play (50/50 wool/silk) in shades of purple, destined for my next Clapotis (yeah, yeah...I know I haven't finished the first one yet).

And then came Ravelmania. Again, if you're a knitter I probably don't have to explain what Ravelry is, but you sort of had to be there to imagine the hysteria that greeted Jess, Casey and Mary-Heather's arrival at the scheduled meet-up...kind of like The Beatles hitting Kennedy Airport. I got my Ravelry ID button and avatar sticker and plunged back into the shopping fray, later ambushing Casey paparazzi-style on the food midway, explaining that posing is the price of fame:
. Hard to tell whether Casey disagreed with the lemonade or the lemonade disagreed with him. Mary-Heather was in better spirits:

I ran into Jess later while I was in a shopping daze; I didn't get a picture (she is quite beautiful) but managed to thank her for all things Ravelry. I encountered an astonishing number of folks pinned with Ravelry buttons throughout the day, and can only imagine the number unidentified. It truly is a phenomenon, and very odd to recognize people from their Ravatars. I was too fiber-od'd to approach most, but I had to make contact with somebunnyslove, aka The Queen of the Clap (she and her Clapotis were far lovelier than my limited paparazzi skills suggest):

Ignoring the irony of consuming the creature that gives me so much fiberly pleasure, I scarfed down a lamb sandwich with a healthy dose of head-clearing horseradish and headed on to the next meet-up, this one a far calmer and restorative sit-down with some homies from Knitter's Review, including the Queen Bee KR founder Clara Parkes.

The odd look of distaste on Clara's lovely face might stem from the fact that a faint but unmistakable aroma of sewage emanated from the ground on which we sat. Or maybe it's my bad paparazzi skills again. Anyway, she graciously signed my copy of The Knitter's Book of Yarn, and after basking in her etherealness for awhile I heading back to stash enhancement.
I have never been a good shopper. Faced with too many choices I freeze; armed with a list of specifics I panic-buy if an envisioned item isn't there (in this case, one perfect skein of worsted weight cashmere). But I did pretty good this time, coming upon a gorgeous skein of Lyra, an alpaca, merino and silk blend from Spirit Trail Fiberworks, along with a pattern to make a hood:

The perfect bronze of a skein of mohair/wool from Persimmon Tree Farm more than made up for the lack of cashmere:

One last budget-completing purchase of four bars of Goat's Milk Soap from Three Waters Farm and I stumbled back to the bus exhausted, but quite pleased with myself. The ride back to NYC was a lot jollier, with stash and snacks passed around (bless you to whoever brought the Cheetos). Also, apparently, a lot more aromatically pleasant than last year's return trip when, according to old timers, a caged ram occupied the rear seat and did whatever rams do all the way back to NYC. No word on where he went when he got there, but I would have loved to see the cab driver's reaction.

F.O.: February Baby Sweater

Yes, I am perfectly aware that it is April.

Notes for the pithy-challenged (the row counts worked for me on this particular sweater; your mileage may vary):

Plymouth Encore Colorspun (2 skeins), size 6 needle.

I did a chain selvedge (slip first stitch purlwise, K last stitch every row).

Buttonholes: Rows 4, 20, 36, 52, 68 (sometimes EZ is too pithy for this non-opinionated knitter…it’s easy to cruise through the yoke forgetting to place the first buttonhole). I find buttonholes on both sides help line up the buttons—just sew them over the unused holes. Beginning of row: sl 1, K1, yo, K2tog. End of row: K2 tog, yo, K2.

Increase Rows: 9, 18, 27 (for some reason I have to fudge Row 18, adding 5 extra sts. to get the total of 102). After final increase row, you should have 148 stitches.

Gull Wing pattern starts on Row 29.

How I divided the sleeves: Row 35 (Row 3 of Gull Wing pattern): Sl 1, K3, purl 21. Place these 25 sts. on a holder for left front.

Purl 28 stitches for sleeve, cast on 7 (thumb loop c/o). Drop the ball of yarn.

Attach a new ball of yarn, purl 42 stitches across the back. Place these stitches on another holder.

Purl 28 sts., cast on 7 for second sleeve.

Place remaining 25 stitches on right front, leave them unworked. Yarn will be rejoined at underarm to finish this side after you work the sleeve (you will be completing Row 35, on Row 3 of the Gull Wing pattern). Mark this front with a safety pin so you know where to return.

Turn and work right sleeve (you will be on Row 4 of Gull Wing pattern). Work in pattern across 7 + 28 stitches, cast on another 7 (28 sts. total). Here, I placed a marker and joined to work the sleeve in the round (purl stitches will be knit stitches). Work 21 rows in pattern, then switch to garter (don’t forget to alternate knit and purl rows since you’re working in the round). 8 rows garter=1inch, 29 rows total for sleeves.

Finish second sleeve as above, then complete right front (row 35): purl across 21 stitches, end K4.

Turn work and start Row 36 (which happens to be a buttonhole row), remembering to do the chain selvedge. Work pattern row 4 across right front, p/u 28 stitches at sleeve, work across 42 stitches of back, p/u 28 stitches of sleeve, work across left front.

Continue in pattern through row 72, switch to garter stitch and work through Row 80, B/O.

Cool Link of the Week: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm not sure who the creator of this amazing dress is (I found it already linked on the internets), but it pretty much says it all. Knit me, I'm Irish (at least today). And I vote.

Drop It Like It's Hot

I have reached the point in the Ubiquitous Clapotis where I am instructed to drop stitches on purpose, an act that causes me to chortle with alarmingly manaiacal glee. There are so few opportunities in my life to be...bad. Mwah-ha-ha-ha.

My progress on this thing has been slow as a sloth, but I am thoroughly enjoying it; it's very predictable but not enough to be boring (I crave predictability right now), and the alpaca is very comforting to work with.

In further W.I.P. news, the February Baby Sweater is in the home stretch. Yeah, yeah...I know it's March.

Cool Link of the Week--Teeny Project Runway

It's time for a blog update, but since a report on the snail-paced progress I'm making on my Clapotis and February Sweater would be about as exciting as watching paint dry, I direct your attention over to Mason-Dixon Knitting where the ever-entertaining Ann and Kay are hosting Teeny Project Runway. Hurry up, voting closes tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:34pm. It's probably not fair to play favorites, but...well...mine's at left. If she was only sporting an Obama button, she would be perfection. I know, I know...back to my knitting.

EDITED TO UPDATE: She's a winner! Congrats to Jill (and Rhonda).

Clap on...

Late to the party as usual, I am embarking on the ubiquitous Clapotis (4,413 projects and counting on Ravelry). I'm using Grignasco Top Print, a sweet, soft DK weight alpaca which will hopefully make the long haul worth it. For those who, like me, appreciate a little hand-holding on even the most obvious of projects, soulknitting has come up with a most excellent spreadsheet to keep track of your progress. Also on the needles, an Elizabeth Zimmermann February Baby Sweater because...well, because it's February.

FO--Fidget

This easy little scarf thing goes by many names (one readymade version rendered in cashmere sells for $275). I used the One Sheep Hill's free pattern called Fidget, one skein of Bernat Felting Wool (color: geranium) acquired at Smiley's Yarn Sale, a size 10 needle, and four buttons from my mom's old stash. All told, I figure I got it done for under $5, even including my valued labor.

F.O.--Branching Out

Phew. Branching Out is a fun and relatively simple pattern, but it was my first “serious” project in a while, so it really winded me. I used Kaalund Expressions, a really sweet kid mohair that on a size 8 needle worked up into something frothy and quite lovely, if I do say so myself, and surprisingly warm for a fabric so light. However, did I mention how much I hate blocking?

Even with the new set of wires I gifted myself with, it was a pain in the butt. Or, I should say, a pain in the back. But worth it.

A tip I’d forgotten about knitting from a chart: use colored markers to denote yo’s, ssks, etc.–makes it easy to follow at a glance instead of squinting at the symbol. Hey...who are you callin' granny? Just because my eyesight isn't what it used to be...

F.O.: Peekaboo Mittens

All winter I’ve been struggling with the desire to unfreeze my hands and the need to have easy access to all the stuff I need just to get around. Since I’m still recovering from my weird hand injury, gloves aren’t working. Most of the time I’ve made do with fingerless mitts (we’ve been lucky in NYC with relatively mild weather), but these flip-tops are really great on cold mornings for getting to the change for the newspaper and the Metrocard and the bank card and the keys and knitting a couple of rows on the subway without having to totally remove my hand covering and inevitably drop it on the grungy floor. The Peekaboo is a smart, well-written pattern, which I played with a bit to use up some stash yarn: I did the first ten rows in garter stitch with black furry Katia Duende, the rest following the regular pattern in a discontinued slubby gray yarn (Adriafil Roller) (if I make it again with a fur cuff extension, I’ll keep the ribbing at full length instead of cutting it back to 5 rows like I did on these; I’d like them a tad longer). Size 7 needles, two circular method since double points give me a headache. EDITED TO ADD: since Magknits is defunct, this pattern is currently being hosted at Ravelry.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King; Giveaway Winner

Happy Birthday to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Thanks for everything--not just for going to the mountaintop and having a dream and all that, but for having a birthday (which I have a dream would have been celebrated even if you had not been martyred for the cause) giving me a day off from work to reflect and...well...knit.

On the giveaway front, Cena wins; thanks so much to all who dropped by to enter. I had a nice spot of synchronicity surrounding this giveaway; I'd been meaning to post it for awhile but never seemed to get around to it...once I finally did I won a copy of Glamour Knits in a contest I barely remembered entering! Thanks, Knitting Goddess (and Potter Craft).

Mittens in Progress; A Giveaway

On the needles, the first half of a pair of Peekaboo Mittens (ingenious free pattern here). I'm feeling very virtuous, utilizing some antique stash yarn (Adriafil Roller, which I think has been discontinued) and some leftover "fun" fur (use it quick before it breeds again, I say).

On the giveaway front, in going through my books I discovered I somehow ended up with two copies of The Knitting Goddess, by Deborah Bergman. Which is kind of weird since I don't remember how I got either copy (do some books breed like novelty yarn?). Anyway, leave me a comment with a way to reach you; I'll draw a name on Sunday Jan. 20th and a gently used Knitting Goddess is yours.

Tequila Sunrise Maine Morning Mitts

First finished object(s) of 2008: Tequila Sunrise Maine Morning Mitts, from Clara Parkes’ wonderful Knitter’s Book of Yarn. The yarn is Paton’s SWS in Natural Green, although the colorway reminds me more of…well, a Tequila Sunrise. It’s an interesting yarn (thoughtfully gifted to me by a knitting pal—thanks, GFTC), a soy and wool combination—a bit splitty, would probably drive me nuts in a big project, but it’s very soft and perfect for these little mitts, accomplished in their entirety while I dipped in and out of the New Year’s Day Law & Order Marathon and last night's Presidential Debates. I used 11-inch circulars (size 7) throughout most of the pattern so things zipped along with a minimum of juggling. Notes to myself: 24 rows to the base of thumb, 7 rows in pattern after thumb gusset increases, and yes there really is one lone purl stitch in the middle of the thumb.

Coronet an FO

In the nick of time; Coronet emerges as the final Finished Object of 2007. Leftover Lamb's Pride in two shades of purple; size 8 needles. I'm quite pleased with it...although it looks a bit muffinlike off the needles, it's warm and flattering enough on the head. A very nicely written pattern (thank you, Alexandra Virgiel), simple but very interesting construction. Although one of my knitting truths is that I'm fonder of cabling as a look than as a technique, there's just enough here to give me a feeling of accomplishment without losing my patience. Notes for next time:

• I finally figured out the unzip technique for the crochet chain provisional cast on (instructions here, although my lightbulb went on thanks to Vicki Square's Knitter's Companion, p.82). This method used to be hit or miss, sometimes leaving me with strangled yarn, but the trick seems to be to make some extra chains at the end to give yourself a running start and unzip from that end (not the beginning) which you have denoted with a loop of the provisional yarn kept in place by the tail of the working yarn (when picking up the bumps in the chain, leave a long enough tail to do the Kitchener). Unzip, inserting the needle into each stitch and releasing as you go.
• Kitchener here is done with right sides facing out, wrong sides facing each other. It leaves a ridge on the inside of the band but is barely discernable from the outside. My Kitchener mantra after set up: front knit take it off; front purl leave it on. back purl take it off; back knit leave it on. Do not watch television while performing this action.
• Remember that the pick up from the band is done with the wrong side facing out. I used two colors for this hat. Picked up with the original band color, placed marker and joined, purled one round, knit one more round, then joined new color and continued on to the top of the hat. Changed to two circulars at 24 stitches.

Happy Holidays; Knitting On

I do hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday. Despite my Charlie Brown Christmas tree pictured at left (or maybe because of it), mine was very sweet. Light on the presents for various reasons, but what there was was choice as always...two framed family photos, my own little DVD player (Netflix queue at 45 and rising), The Best of The Chris Rock Show Vols. 1 & 2 to play on said little DVD player once I get it hooked up (Daddy Still Has a Flat Top), and a Knitting Pattern-a-Day Calendar, which I must admit I value more for its abundance than for finding something to add to my silly long knitting queue. Speaking of which, I read somewhere that it's bad knitting luck to cast on a new project during the week between Christmas and New Year's, so I'm working on finishing up Branching Out and Coronet, both past the halfway point:

Cool Link of the Week (Knitting with Noodles); Kind Hearts and Coronets

Well, Momma always told me not to play with my food, but she never told me not to knit with it...courtesy of the latest version of Yarnival over at Fleegle's Blog, behold Ramen Knitting 101. Speaking of Cool Links, how is it that I, who waste inordinate amounts of time getting lost in the internets, had never encountered Yarnival until Fleegle's post over at Ravelry? It is kind of my dream come true...a compendium of incredibly cool knitting links, hosted monthly by a different knitter. As soon as I finish this post I am off to lose myself in back issues, the perfect antidote to the pile of backlogged paperwork I came into the office on a Saturday to accomplish. In works-in-progress news, Branching Out continues apace, and I have started on a bit of practical knitting, making myself a hat (Coronet...I'm on a Knitty roll...in two stashed shades of Lamb's Pride purple). Nice, easygoing pattern, but a gentle reminder that I like the look of cables far better than I enjoy the execution (will have to teach myself the cabling without a needle technique since I tend to tuck it behind my ear between rows and totally forget it's there until I change positions and it jabs itself into my temple). Anyway, I always feel unduly virtuous knitting something I actually need (some sort of mittens are up next; it's friggin' cold here in NYC).

Branching Out in Progress

To prove I haven't only been knitting lovable hairballs, here's a photo of Branching Out after about 9 repeats. The pattern is relatively simple, but I've still color-coded the chart to make it easier to follow (i.e. highlight the ssk in pink, the K2tog in yellow, the double decreases in green, etc.). I'm using a lace yarn on size 8 needles, so it definitely has a chicken wire look to it at the moment; I'm hoping a firm blocking will help it flow in a good orderly direction.

Black Cat Hairball Scarf

I'm on a roll (of sorts)...another FO, begun at some point before my knitting hiatus and finished on various subway and bus rides around NYC. The endearingly fugly yarn is Katia Duende, gifted by DH after a business trip. Never look a knitting gift in the skein, I say, even if it's fun fur resembling...well...something the cat coughed up. See, the thing about fun fur is I generally start liking it in spite of itself. It's kind of like the mangy puppy that follows you home and is wiggly and sheddy and a pain in the ass to work with but, ultimately, wins you over with its sort of cuddly self. So this one turned itself into a ridiculously easy keyhole scarf variation (no fancy keyhole needed since the yarn hides any sins except its own): cast on 15 stitches in any furry yarn you're ashamed to be seen in public with (this one used size 10 needles). Knit each row for 3 inches or so. On the next row, K6, bind off 3 stitches, K6. On the row after that, K6, cast on 3 stitches (using over the thumb method), K6. Knit on until scarf measures 30 inches or so. Bind off; try to resist as it snuggles up to your neck.

Finally a F.O.: Chocolate Swirl Dishcloth

It's been a long slog, but I do seem to be back on the knitting track with this modest but meaningful (to me at least) dishcloth. My tension was off because of my bandaged finger and I totally spaced on the Kitchener (which I can't blame on anything but my tendency to totally space), but it's done, and it reminds me of chocolate, and I can knit again. I've put myself on the Branching Out bandwagon; the laceweight yarn is a challenge, but one that I fully intend to rise to. Onward.