A Knitters Souvenir

Some people buy postcards, t-shirts or bumper stickers as memento's of vacations past. I'm a knitter, so I always find a yarn store on our adventures and pick a yarn (usually a sock yarn) to remind me of our trip. I also always knit a sock while on vacation that reminds me of our trip.

When our family went earlier in July on vacation to Mackinac Island, I stopped at Mackinaw City and purchased some wonderful Casbah Hand Maiden sock yarn in beautiful blues and greens to knit a sock that reminded me of all the beautiful lakes, skies and trees that we admired on our trip. I'm running out of yarn so I'm trying to locate another ball though, so hopefully that will get finished just as soon as I locate another skein.

This time, when we went on a trip to Drummond Island (also located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) for a Hummer Invasion weekend to Turtle Ridge Off-Road Park, I grabbed yarn, Araucania Ranco Multi from the stash to knit a Coriolis sock that would remind me of our trip. I stayed up until 3am on Sunday when we returned so that I could finish the sock. I like them, don't necessarily love them, but will definitely wear them.

It was a wonderful little get away and we enjoyed all our toy has to offer us. She's definitely not a "Pavement Princess", yet she was comfortable enough that I could quite happily knit away on the sock as we went along some of the less bouncy trails.

I lied!

So, I lied on yesterday's post, here are a couple of pics of projects worked on this week.

It's all curled up on the edge (I haven't put the ribbing on the bottom yet) but this is the body of the sweater.

An unblocked Bartholomew's Tantalizing Sock. The linen stitch gives the yarn a stained glass effect.

It is a perfect souvenir sock for our Mackinac Island vacation. I'm starting on the second sock, but am pretty convinced I'm going to run out and will need to order more yarn.

quick post, no pics

I doubt I'll have time to snap a couple of pics in the morning, but you never know. In the meantime, here's a quick post before we head out to vacation to Drummond Island for a family Hummer Adventure weekend. We're so excited, don't worry, you're not required to be.

I've been knitting away, when I've had a chance, on the Henley Fair Isle yoke sweater and have the body completed. I've just cast on for the sleeves and have the cuffs done, hopefully I'll be able to get the sleeves done this weekend while driving up and back (although I wouldn't hold my breath).

I finished one of the Bartholmew's Tantalizing Socks in the Hand Maiden Casbah that I bought on our last vacation to Mackinac Island and realized that I'm going to need another skein. That's easier said than done as everybody seems to be sold out of the Nova Scotia colorway. But, I remain optimistic. The sock is gorgeous and my family is tired of my requesting that they watch me put it on and rattling on about what a knitting genius Cat Bordhi is. Again, pictures, would have been good here, but I'm sure you can imagine how beautiful they are.

I'm also waiting to hear if my yarn has come in for the New Zealand Sweater for the Ravelympics. I'm looking for 14 skeins of Jamieson's Spindrift in #187 Sunrise and can't seem to find them all in one colorway. I have other choices and back up plans, but again, hope springs eternal. (what exactly does that saying mean?)

More to follow on Monday, hopefully with lots of wonderful knitting to show you.

Team Knitting Camp - Knitting Athletes Required

All fellow Knitting Camp attendees. I've set up a Team on the Ravelympics for the Team Knitting Camp that start on August 8th and end August 24th. Please sign up, if your interested. I'm encouraging (not forcing, as Meg always says "Knitter's Choice") team mates to knit something inspired by camp, EZ, Meg, Joyce or Amy. Even better if we're authentic and use Schoolhouse products, but certainly not a requirement.

If the yarn comes in, Shetland Spindrift in Sunrise that I've ordered (it's annoyingly backordered right now) then I'm going to knit the New Zealand Sweater as my Ravelympic event, but haven't decided on a backup if that falls through. Although, the compass point sweater is calling me and tempting me to start yet another project, naughty thing.

Go to the groups tab on Ravelry and look for the Ravelympics 2008 group and sign on up. There is a thread that I've started for our team. Come, join one, join all and let's Knit Onward.

This one time at Knitting Camp ....

Meg showed us the wonderful new design for the 35th Anniversary of camp that is going to be in the next Wool Gathering. I want it. Bad.

Lots of gorgeous lace shawls were modeled for Show and Tell. ThereseS is here modeling hers. (I think she said that this was her first lace shawl that she knit. Her lacework is beautiful). I had the pleasure of driving ThereseS to camp from Wausau as she was in town visiting her daughter. She is lovely and was a delight to have in the car.
Meg modeled one of the designs coming in the new book published by Schoolhouse Press on Double Knitting. AHHHH! Sorry, I can appreciate the project, but I think I'd rather have a root canal without gas than double knit.

We watched campers model items they had made or wanted to. Now, I want to make them... ALL.

We acted a little goofy. AmyKnitsOn is wearing a hat made by a camper.

We shopped, and shopped, and shopped, and shopped, and thought about shopping, and shopped some more. Here is one of Earthtonesgirl's piles of purchases for consideration.

Meg cooed and ahhed in all the right places about our Show and Tells. Earthtonesgirl modeled her G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. Aran Coat knit in Malabrigo.

Did I mention we shopped?? Here is a picture of the Henley Neck Fair Isle from Knitting Around that I fell in love with. I kept putting it on and didn't want to take it off. After a few tries I came up with a different color scheme that I wanted to do and cast on.

The Clique had their picture taken with Meg. (left to right: me (notice this is the only picture I got with the February Lady Sweater on, RoseKimKnits, Meg and Earthtonesgirl.

I had to overcome my fear of the Knitted Gimp masks that were scattered around the room, that remind me of Pulp Fiction. So, how do I overcome that fear, by modeling them with Earthtonesgirl (for the record: RoseKimKnits drew the line with sticking a funky gimp mask on her head that probably numerous campers have worn.) Note: I was so sleep deprived at this time that I actually smiled behind the mask while posing for the picture. Ditsy or what?

Amy D. and I pose a shot together. The queen of all things purple!

Jessica and I mime our dinner at Royal Tokyo Restaurant, when we forgot that we shouldn't talk about politics in public. Jessica is channeling Rosemary's Baby or Satan Reincarnated and I'm ... well, I'm in need of a diaper change.

The girls. Nuff said. xx

Chat with Meg

Me (calling Schoolhouse Press): Hello, this is Kim DeMille and I just returned from Camp 2 and, in reviewing my knitting bag contents, discovered that I had a couple of items that I had purchased that were not on my Brown Book Invoice and I wanted to make sure that I paid for them.

Meg Swansen: Hello Kim. This is Meg Swansen. Weren't you the camper with the February Lady Sweater?

Me: Yes, that was me (note: I'm sure that I was supposed to say, That was I, but I was a little shocked that it was Meg on the phone).


Meg and I then discuss the items that I needed to add to my purchase. Then ...


Meg: Oh, Kim, I heard all about you from Amy D. and Michelle that you were doing the most wonderful impressions of accents from the British Isles. Apparently you had them rolling on the floor. I was so disappointed that I missed it. It won't be the same over the phone. If you ever come to Camp again please make sure that I get to hear you.

We finish the call with some chit chat about how she thinks that I do a wonderful American accent now, but that sometimes I sound Canadian.

I hang up the phone, and mumble to myself that I'm so glad that she remembers me for the funny accents and not for how RoseKimKnits, Earthtonegirl and I goofed around in the knitted GIMP masks or how we got into a heated conversation at the local restaurant while at dinner with Amy and her daughter-in-law Michelle.

No Time to Say Hello, Goodbye!

I'm just about to leave to pick up earthtonesgirl from the airport and meet Therese (another camper) and head to Marshfield for Knitting Camp. I'm ridiculously excited and don't feel as prepared as I'd like to be. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Oh well, I'm sure I'll survive.

I'll seriously miss the little munchkins, but from past experience I recall that their was practically no free time to miss anyone.

Will report when I return.

Meme from Marji

What was I doing ten years ago? I was on bed rest with my second son and attempting to keep up with my job in Human Resources for Sears at their corporate headquarters in Hoffman Estates. I was fiesty and tired of Chicago's notorious power outages when it gets too hot and having to go and stay in a hotel to cool down. DH was in dental school at Northwestern University.
2. What are five things on my to-do list today? Finish sleeve on Lady Sweater, Take DS#2 to ortho appointment, Arrange service for DH's hummer, Meet friends daugther at airport, and attend golf lesson.
3. Snacks I enjoy. Chocolate (english candy bars are, of course, my favorite). Twix is my all time favorite candy bar. Cereal (I could eat it 24-7, of course, only once it's been nuked for one minute in the microwave) Honey Smacks and Special K are my favorites. Oatmeal, but I like that served cold. Licorice Allsorts. Pear Drops. Hum Bugs and Chocolate limess.

4. Things I would do if I were a billioniare? Okay, I'm with Marji on this one ... I'd buy a house in the UP (Northern Michigan Peninsula). Buy homes for my parents in both AZ and WI so that they could visit both kids and get them checked out and health taken care of by REAL (non-national health uk drs) doctors and provide them with all the medical care they would need. Buy a lot of land suitable for lots of off-road vehicle driving for DH to play with his hummer and his new fleet of hummers. Set up trust funds for kids, nephews and nieces. Donate to my church. Donate money to find a cure for Celiac Disease and Trigeminal Neuralgia. Get the parts of my body put back in the same place they were before having four children. Enjoy treating friends and helping them fulfill their dreams. Build a new home.

5. Places I have lived? Torquay, Devon, England; Las Vegas, NV (2 different addresses); Salt Lake City, UT (four different addresses); Buffalo Grove, IL; Schaumburg, IL; Wausau, WI (2 different addresses).

6. Peeps I want to know more about. Is there anyone anywhere that hasn’t already done this? Denise, Jessica, Charity, Sue, ??

Summer Knitting Goals

One of the blogs I read, Skeins Her Way, is having a Summer Knitting Goals Contest and although I've been training myself to overcome some of "join-itis" problem, this was one that was in line with what I wanted to do this summer.



Here goes.... 2008 Summer Knitting Goals

1. Knit February Lady Sweater in Cascade 220 Paints. CO 6/12/08


2. Finish Oblique Cardigan in Kathmandu Aran. All pieces have been knit, but I still need to pick up the front bands, and do the neck and sew together.


3. Finish Riihivilla Rosebud Mittens. All that's left to do is graft the fingertips and block. ?? May need to rip and reknit one, as it appears i knit it on smaller needles.


4. Finish Maddie's Kimono. Pick up neck and front bands and sew together.


5. Sew side seams on Vivian Hoxbro's Rainbow Jacket in fall colors.


6. Cast on Moroccan Days in Woolen Rabbit Laceweight (kit). Try to get halfway completed.


7. Knit at least one pair of socks.
8. Knit (already cast on, but only about 5 inches knit) on Lupine Cardigan in Canadian Regal.
9. Knit Butterfly Jacket by EZ in Inca Alpaca.
10. Knit "LP" a Debbie Bliss Cardigan (can't remember name) in DB Baby Cashmerino.
11. Finish Mimbres Vest in Québécoise.

There's definitely more that I want to work on (and probably will at least cast on) this summer, but this initial list will do.

I'd really like to get a good chunk of it completed before I head to Knitting Camp next month. After all, who needs sleep. It's completely over rated.

I caught the Fever

The Lady Sweater Fever, that is!

I loved this pattern and immediately cast on in Cascade 220 Paints and have been thoroughly enjoying it. That was until I reached the one point on the pattern for yoke length. I'm knitting the size XXS, which although seems a little silly, according to the numbers it should make sense. I'm a size 4 and have a size 34 (okay, I'll be honest, the ever shrinking bustline is now a 32). I've been following the directions and hit a point that I'm not sure what to do. The pattern tells you to keep knitting until the front and back almost meet underneath the armpit. I'm knitting to gauge, but according to others on the KAL, considering the stretch of the garter they've been knitting to around 6 1/2" in length and then starting the body. Mine's not there.

I'm over thinking this. I know it. But i need to decide what to do, before I get discouraged and throw it on the pile of UFO's.

Any thoughts?!

Isn't knitting sweet?!

My friend forwarded this to me. She knows how much I love both knitting and all things sweet (especially cupcakes).


Good Enough to Eat!!!!

Red Carpet Time

Okay, I couldn't be bothered to grab the red carpet from the Mud Room for them to stand on, but here is our Little Princess and Cool Dude ready to leave for their Spring Concert at Elementary School.


To get the ready for the event, Cool Dude had asked me if I could rent him a Tuxedo. Sucker that I am, went in search of one, but didn't feel like shelling out $80 for one night. So, he decided to go with his suit and act out the GQ part in that. Apparently, he was a hit with the girls. (The player in Cool Dude really worries me sometimes - those eyes can make anyone melt).

Little Princess on the other hand, knew exactly what dress in her closet she wanted to wear, but did ask for her hair to just be put in a pony tail. Mum refused, so the Big Curling Event took place. LP has such long hair, and so very much of it, that it takes almost an hour to curl her hair.Here's a picture of LP smiling, because we're almost done. Her legs were going numb. Mommy had inhaled too many fumes from hair spray and they both had a fit of the giggles somewhere during the process.Look how beautiful her hair looks all curled. She has such pretty hair with so many natural shades and highlights of blond. Grandma DeMille once asked me if I colored her hair (I think she was about 2 at the time) :) and others have asked where her pretty blond hair comes from and if she's adopted. People shock me sometimes. For those wondering out there, Steve had blond hair when he was younger, which has now been replaced with many gray hairs and in some places an absence of hair, all of which having me for a wife and four kids have been the cause. We all think he's gorgeous. Also, I don't know if this counts, I have plenty of blond moments myself and am not sure that having a ditz for a mum somehow contributed to her stunning blond locks.
The Finished Product!

No apologies, No regrets, Just busy with life!

I haven't posted for a while. I'm not going to apologize because life has gotten in the way. It is what it is. I'm attending Camp 2 at Schoolhouse Press this year again and have been mulling over what I would like to attempt for my show and tell. Voila! Look what just appeared (okay, I bought it, but will deny it if the stash police are watching) on my doorstep. The Moroccan Days Kit from Woolen Rabbit. Isn't it pretty. I need to order 5,000 (yes, that's right - I did type in correctly five thousand) beads for it and then I can get cracking on it. I know it's entirely possible that I won't get it completed in the next three months, but who knows, I work well under pressure and deadlines... and this would definitely be a lot of pressure. I could have gone with the Moroccan Days Little Sister, but I wanted a nice meaty challenge. Do you think I got one?

BTW, don't you think that spring is interesting?! Interesting isn't exactly the word I used when I looked out of my window on Friday and saw this!!!!

And I was on such a role..

I actually posted three or four times in November. Then a couple of times in December, and then two months later. I'm finally getting a post going. I've been knitting... reading peoples blogs... commenting on peoples blogs.... thinking about blogging.... just not actually blogging. I am the perfect example of procrastination. (my knitting stash of nearly finished ufo's would attest to that). I kept waiting for the perfect time of day to take some photos, but would then become distracted or think that I'd get to it tomorrow. So, today, I'm finally posting (without photos as we really had icky grey weather today) just so that you don't all think I dropped off the face of the knitting world.

Okay, so let's catch up. My parents came to visit. I had the worse case of Strep I've ever had (horribly painful). Little EB became sick with the flu, became dehydrated, when to ER, and was bouncing around later that evening as though nothing had happened. I think there was a brief week where no one was sick, but I wouldn't bet on it. Madison got Strep. Ethan got Strep. Caleb tested positive for Influenza Type A. Kim tested positive for Influenza Type A. Yes, I personally am funding the local medical community, or so it would seem. Forget being on a first name basis at the Pharmacy, I think they're going to give me my own personal parking space. ;)

During all of this, I have been busily reading and knitting (well, and of course, doing 8-10 loads of laundry a week not including the extra loads when kids were sick). So far this year I've knit EB a earflap hat out of Chunky Baby Alpaca, it's gorgeous - I definitely need to get a picture of that one posted. To be honest, it wasn't actually for EB. I was lazy and cast on (guessed incorrectly at a needle size and didn't check gauge) while watching a movie with the family in the dark. It was supposed to fit Caleb, but fortunately we have a large number of head sizes to work with in this house, and EB grabbed it before Maddie got hold of it.

I have finished the Rosebud Mittens with the exception of the thumbs. So, I guess you'd say that they're not really finished. Maybe they're going to be thumbless mittens?? I loved this kit, even though I had a hard time with my gauge (not the pattern or yarns fault - it was my own). I'm pretty sure that any tension problems will block out. I still have two other of Leena's kits to knit up. I'm trying to show some restraint and not order some of her new mitten kits that she just posted. Take a peak.

I knit a couple of large squares for Beth at the Black Purl, who is going to have an exhibit at the Center for Visual Arts.

I started Oblique in January. I love the yarn (queensland aran) and the pattern. I highly recommend this pattern. I'm on the second sleeve and hope to have it finished by the end of the month. I promise pictures will follow.

I also cast on a toe-up sock (I'm normally a cuff-down sock knitter) using Ann Budd's basic toe-up sock chart from Interweave Knits. I'm using some wonderful Socks That Rock yarn in the Gibson colorway from Denise. I love this yarn. As I'm knitting with this yarn, I keep thinking of Denise and remembering Knitting Camp (which fingers crossed I get into this year). When I'm gifted yarn I always think of the person who gave it to me as I knit, it's like they're in the room with me as I knit.

I've been busy with some other projects and as usual there are plenty of kid activities that keep me busy.

Hopefully, I'll get some pictures posted in the next couple of days of some of these projects (I know marina, you've heard that before - I promise to include a photo of Chinatown - I think I've been promising that for the last few months).

Mittens in Full Exposure

Finally, I have set aside my ego and am posting pics of the Rosebud Mittens.
The bottom is supposed to be hemmed and you can either knit it together or sew it. I chose to sew as I just wanted to keep knitting and couldn't be bothered to pick up and knit together. I'll probably regret that decision later when I'm all finished except for the wrist lining.

I started on a size 2 needle, which got the gauge specified in the pattern in stocking stitch, then around the 3rd leaf, I decided to give the size 3 needle a try as I had a 18cm circumference instead of a 20cm. Fortunately I have skinny wrists/hands. I stopped knitting on it for a few days because of busy family holiday events and a couple gifts that needed to be whipped up.
The picture above is a little blurry (this is the part with the size 2 needles), but you get a close look at the stitches and can see how even/uneven they are. That's where I came to a standstill; when I started to critic my tension. I do this every time when I do color work.

Here's a picture where I've used the size 3 needles. I can't decide if it looks much difference. The stitches are a little bigger, but I think they look less even.
Here's the palm. So.... what do you think? Am I over scrutinizing my work. Do I just keep going? Frog it and re-knit it all on size 3 needles? Relax?

(BTW: Carrie K, I did exactly the same thing as you and posted the pics only to discover a mistake I had missed)

I really enjoy knitting these and I completed this much of the mitten in an hour or two. Why do I take away the joy from my knitting by scrutinizing each stitch? I'm happily knitting away and then I start to stress about whether I'm doing a good job or not. I think I've taken too many technique classes and need to get over it.

So, tell me what do you think?

Mitts & Mittens Everywhere

Okay, so that whole "week of posts" kind of fell through, but at least I tried.

I finished Beth's Princess Mitts. They turned out nicely, but it wasn't my favorite pattern to knit, so it probably won't be repeated. Update on Beth - she had surgery last Friday and is recovering and back at work as usual. If you haven't done so yet, check out some of her patterns on her website, she has some beautiful patterns. Chinatown is one of my favorites - to knit and wear.
Yesterday the mailman delivered two new mitten kits from Leena at Riihivilla. I had her change the colorway on the Oak Tree kit to the Forest Selection. The other kit I ordered was the Tulip kit, which colors I kept the same. I'm eager to start these but need to rip and re-knit the other kit I had purchased from Leena, I think I need to go up a needle size.
I also cast on and should be finished this morning with a pair of Fetching mittens that are a quick instant gratification project. I like the Princess yarn in this pattern more than the Princess Mitts. I'm thinking of whipping out a pair of Dashing next for one of the boys. Partially for comparison sake of the patterns and partially because I promised them I'd knit them some soon.

Yesterday when I dropped the kids off at school, the temperature was -10F (yes, that is negative ten degrees) not factoring in the windchill. D was furious that they actually made them stay inside for one of the recesses and M still took some convincing that it was cold enough for her to wear a sweater and a coat. After dropping them off, I was thinking about whether fingerless mitts are really a good idea for Wisconsin winters, as come January you can get frostbite while shoveling your snow. Maybe triple lined felted wool mittens with pockets for heat warmers are more in line with our weather. Mmm... That's an idea, forget pockets on the mittens for ipods, what about pockets inside for heat warmers.....

Pretty as a Princess

I'm being lazy and am posting a picture of the Princess Mitts that I'm knitting for Beth (at Black Purl - refer to Tuesdays post) that I look last night. I've completed the mitt since, but need to do the thumbs, and they are beautiful. Will post pics when they're completed. I don't think that this pattern flows very well - all the details are there, but it's a little disjointed. They're a simple knit and look lovely, but its definitely a pattern that you should read all of before knitting (not always my strong point) or you'll end up ripping the bloody thing back a few times.
I'm a little frustrated with the lack of knitting time that occurs during the Holidays, which generally is a time where I'm trying to get gifts and serious knitting completed. I was reading Earthtonesgirl's blog today and Denise was talking about how she tries to wrap up all of her knitting projects at the end of the year, so that she can start fresh in the New Year and not have any projects hanging over her year. Doesn't that sound wonderful?! I got all excited and thought how I was going t do the same thing ... and then I started counting up UFO's/WIP's and realized that even if I knit solidly, without sleep, for the rest of the year, that not even half of them would be "wrapped up". So, instead I thought about casting on some more new projects. Mmm... that Logan River Wrap or Irish Hiking Scarf look cute, or what about Oblique...

Twins

I was about to climb into bed (and watch Project Runway) when I remembered that I still needed to post today. So, I thought I'd take a quick pic of the twins and show you the matching pairs of Maine Morning Mitts.

Although it was suggested that Noro Kureyon wasn't the easiest to make matching items with, I was determined and headed to the LYS. I examined the different skeins of yarn as in the same colorway and dye lot, there were many variations. I selected the one that looked like it matched the previous ball I had knit the mismatched mitts with, and voila!!! Twins! I had whipped up one of the mitts between stops while Christmas shopping, and the other while waiting for an oil change last Monday, but then I'd stalled on doing the thumbs, which is silly as these are the easiest thumbs you'll knit on mittens. The motivation to finish - the fact that I had promised that I would blog today.

These are destined to become teacher gifts. I did try them on and they are a very nice fit. I'd knit me some (the boys really want a pair), but I get bored knitting the same pattern. So, I'll have to find them a different mitt pattern. Thank goodness for Ravelry.

Now, I know this isn't the most interesting of blog posts, but it does have a pretty picture.

Gratitude

I had planned on a different post today, for my week of blogging (I know, you don't believe I'm going to do it, do you?), but then I stopped by my LYS, Black Purl and changed my mind. The update on some of my knitting projects will have to wait until tomorrow.

Today, when I stopped by the store for yet another pair of size 2 dpn's (one can never have enough dpn's) I found Beth, the owner, with a cast on her arm and looking quite miserable. Beth has rheumatoid arthritis severely although very young and on Sunday as she reached for her toothbrush, two of her fingers broke. She drove herself to the hospital in agony. She will probably have to have surgery shortly. Of course, this means that she can't knit right now (although she was attempting to fix a customer's knitting project when I arrived). Knitting has gotten Beth through a lot of tough times and right now, she can't do that. She'll bounce back, she always does and she'll continue to produce beautiful work.

I feel incredibly blessed tonight to be able to sit and knit, and am grateful for my hands, and the joy of knitting. Take a moment after you read this post to pamper your hands, rub in some lotion, give yourself a manicure, and say thank you to your hands.

Knitting update: I ordered two more kits yesterday from Riihivilla (one customized in the forest selection) and grabbed some Princess yarn today to knit Beth some fingerless mitts she wanted, but is unable to knit for herself right now. The Rosebud Mitten wrist lining and wrist has been knit, although I am debating changing needle sizes. I've been getting a couple of rows in per day for a few of the wip's that have been hanging around for awhile.

Goodies

I returned home today from a playdate and some errands to find a package on my doorstep today. It was the mitten kit I had ordered from Leena at Riihivilla. Isn't it packaged beautifully (My Treo does not take great pictures). So, of course, I ignored all those pesky chores, dishes and loads of laundry and sat by bum down and swatched the yarn. It's beautiful. Very soft and lovely to knit with. My only dilemma is that I stupidly ordered only one kit. I a nothing, but willing to admit to my purchasing mistake and will rectify the situation by purchasing a kit and color selection once I'm done posting. I suggest you do likewise. Why shouldn't you buy yourself a little holiday gift - I get tired of getting every body else presents.

This week I have quite a few projects to post updates on and some new ones that have been started. So, maybe we'll get more than one post this week. Of course, don't hold your breath.

Misfit Mittens

Ravelry seems to suck up my computer time lately, but that's not a bad thing. I've been inspired to work on a couple of projects that are very close to completion so that I can post the finished items on the site.



I did manage to whip up a pair of Maine Morning Mittens from The Knitters Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes. As you can see from the picture - they don't match. Clara's pattern calls for one ball of Noro Kureyon. While that is sufficient in yardage, because of the lack of repeats in the colorway you end up with very different looking mittens from one ball ofyarn. They are such a fast, fun and easy knit that you could make them in one night, so I'm going to buy another ball of yarn and make another pair, so that they'll match. I'm thinking that these would be great teachers gifts - well, if you live in nice cold Wisconsin that is.



The boys loved them as they thought they'd keep your hands warm but still leave your fingers free to play video games.

I don't really have something wise or funny to write about today (not that I ever do). So, I'll show you what Marji enabled me into purchasing the other day. I went with kit #8, but am forcing myself not to email Leena and order some of the Forest Collection yarn and a couple other kits.

Which reminds me .... I was reading the book "Eat, Pray, Love" by Liz Gilbert this morning and she was talking about how people panic about getting old and not having accomplished everything they want to in life before they die. I think as Knitters we suffer from a different variety of this psychological worry - we suffer from panic attacks over whether we will be able to knit everything we want to in this life. "Oh crap, I'm almost forty and I find at least ten patterns a day that I'd like to knit from Ravelry. Maybe I should sell off some of my yarn or Starmore books and donate the money for finding a cure for the dreaded "lack of knitting time" epidemic."

Maybe, I'll just get a grip and relax and enjoy what knitting time I do have.

Other Wool Pursuits

Last Saturday, I was able to attend an all day workshop at a local Fiber Artist's Studio for a Rag Wool Rug Hooking class. It was wonderful. She lives in the most beautiful setting on a renovated farm with a fiber studio that was delicious. When Kathy (the teacher) left the room for a minute, one of the other classmates and myself felt the need to hug the wool and fondle it. It took all my willpower not to drool on the fabric.

Of course, I couldn't pick something too easy to start with so I'm struggling a little with how to do some of the shading, but here is a picture of what it will hopefully resemble when finished.

The name of her business is Red Barn Rug and she sells her patterns and wool at craft shows and wholesale. I'm attending a 1/2 day workshop on needlefelting this weekend.

I've also been knitting but have discovered that I despise picking up necklines as it always takes me 10 tries until it looks okay. I whipped up a couple of baby hats and some slippers, but am thinking that I need to designate one day a week that is finishing day. That I take sometime to finish the many knitted projects just sat around for the final stage.

Stuff everywhere

In case you haven't guessed, I've been busy browsing Ravelry and now am on a blitz of what I own - books, yarn, UFO's, needles so that I can update my stash.

In doing so, let me just say - WOW! I have a lot more yarn and "stuff" than I thought. I wondering what I was thinking with some of the yarn; complete impulse buys. Some, is just plain ugly and others, I think I bought them just to fondle.

I'm hoping to have a couple pics of some finished objects later this week.

BTW, check out the schoolhouse press website (bottom right of the home page) and follow along with Meg as she knits a Christmas stocking for her grandson, Eli.

1,648 balls of yarn on the wall....

I'm on a self imposed work of UFO's week while waiting for Ravelry to finally accept me (I feel like I'm in high school) and then those pesky UFO's can bugger off and leave me alone to browse and find a few thousand more projects to cast on.

I was watching Grey's Anatomy the other day and they were talking about Dr. Mark Sloan and that his name was Man Whore. It popped into my mind that my title should be "Yarn Whore" because I promiscuously cast aside my projects for the sleek lines of a new project or the full and juicy balls of yarn. I've also been known to simply be disloyal to a project simply because I want to play with some new sticks. (Okay, now I'm getting carried away). I apparently was not in line for the Fidelity Gene when it came to yarn.

It bothers me that I'm not more loyal and devout in my fiber relationships. And so, I am working on this character flaw. Well, at least for the next couple of days.

You are #34362 on the list.

Ahhh! Patience is not a virtue I possess. There are 5790 people ahead of me on Ravelry. Which is good progress considering three weeks ago, there were over 13,000 people ahead of me. The only twisted pleasure I get from the antsy checker is that there are 9693 people behind me.

Meanwhile, I finished a hat for my son, have completed 1/3 of my quilt piecing and have stitched a pillow for Christmas decorations.

Maybe if I keep busy enough the time will pass faster.

Maybe I shouldn't check the Antsy checker on Ravelry every five minutes.

You decide.

Oh know, I'm doing it again!

The other day I got very frustrated with my knitting - I think I've talked about his before (but am too lazy to read my previous posts and check). Sometimes, I get too caught up in thinking my knitting should be perfect and literally shut down. This is how it starts..

I'm sat in my favorite chair happily knitting away thinking what a beautiful fall day it is and how I love the colors of the yarns I'm knitting and how they reflect the pretty fall colors. Then I glance a little closer at my work to admire the colors .. uh oh.. Doesn't the stitches look a little uneven? Do my stitches slant slightly to one side? Why do I always have to push the yarn and stitches so much around the needles? Is it me or does my knitting always lean forward on the circulars and will this create an uneven tension? What if I knit this whole hat and not like it? Not even enough to give to someone else? Did I swatch enough? Should I go up a needle? Should I go down a needle size? Maybe, I'm using circular needles that are too short in length? Maybe I should rip this out and start again?

And so it continues until I have worked myself up into quite a tizzy (?sp). Then I shut down on my knitting and mope around - wondering what non-knitters do with their hands when they watch TV?

Then I start to miss watching my hands knit and the feel of the yarn sliding through my fingers (of course, I only stopped knitting a couple of hours before I feel homesick for knitting). Next thing I know, I'm knitting away happily on a newly cast on hat, swearing to myself that I will just enjoy the knitting process because it's the process that I love. I am back in knitting heaven.

Wait a minute, does that stitch look twisted?

More from Camp

While attending Knitting Workshop, I wanted a mindless project to work on (of EZ's or Meg's) during the class. Included in our packet was a variation for the Very Warm Hat. I had some leftover Ultra Alpaca from a Baby Surprise Jacket, so decided to use that to whip a hat up. This is the result - I was barely done weaving the last end of the hat, when Caleb grabbed it from my hands, and pronounced it wonderful and that it suited him perfectly. He then sat in the hat while he did his piano practice. One side of the hat is knit using long-tail cast on, then you pick up in the back loop of the cast on and knit the other side. This is an incredibly warm hat and completely reversible. Here's a picture of the hat showing both sides.
And here's the hat showing Caleb's favorite side.And here's another sweater from camp in the Armenian sweater - It has the knit stitch on the front and purl stitch on the back. It is a great sweater, and this wouldn't usually appeal to me, but I loved it. I think this will be a big hit from the book.

Olive Branch

The Schoolhouse Knitting Workshop this weekend was wonderful. Loved it. One of the highlights was visiting the Schoolhouse office/warehouse which stands next to THE Schoolhouse (where Meg S. lives - picture above - isn't Wisconsin beautiful in the fall). It was a beautiful fall day, so the drive was lovely; of course, it was enhanced by the individuals I drove there with, Jen Braico (a fellow workshopper) and the amazing Joyce Williams. Joyce is so incredibly talented and just the funnest person to talk to. Joyce was the guest speaker on Saturday and showed the group her wonderful designs for the upcoming release of Armenian Knitting. Below is a poorly taken photo (Again, I forgot the camera so resorted to the Palm cellphone camera) of the Olive Branch (?Tree) Sweater. It looks like intarsia, but the light grey is caught throughout the entire sweater. Which makes for a very warm sweater and adds these wonderful tweedy peaks of the carried color. I know that seems a little strange, as we usually try to hide our carries, but in this type of knitting, yarn peaks are required.

Wait! I think there's a pulse!

Carrie K has been giving me a hard time about not posting - she's justified - seeing as the last time I posted was April 2007. Things were really rough for the Knittinbrit household, but we are a strong family and can get through anything together.

That's enough about that...

Well, I did attend Knitting Camp 2.0 in July, which was wonderful. I really enjoyed myself. Did quite a bit of stash enhancement and an amazing amount of knitting. Learned lots.

In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'm off to a Knitting Workshop with Schoolhouse Press today. This is similar to camp, but for one less day. It also is more focused on a particular subject. This one is on the EPS system. Although familiar with it, my experience with Meg before was that she had more knowledge of knitting in her yarn wrapped pinkie than I did in my entire body. So, off to fun. The fun thing about the Workshop is that we take a road trip out to the Schoolhouse Press Offices and warehouse. Be still my beating credit cards.

Amy Detjen was at camp and she had just adopted the cutest little boy, who kept us entertained pretending he was a puppy. Joyce Williams was wonderful. I don't think she ever sleeps though. We would start at 8am and she'd be up knitting with us until 1am every night (morning??).

Although I haven't been blogging, I've been knitting up a storm. I'm hoping to finish the Mimbres Vest today or tomorrow and can cut it at Schoolhouse. I've also whipped up some Pomatomus (I can never be bothered to spell that right) socks - well, actually I have one almost finished, but am plodding my way through. I just finished knitting dd a Blue Sky Alpaca Kimono Jacket, which will be very cute if I ever get the neckband finished.

So, now I've got so much to do to get ready to go to Marshfield, but thought I'd post a pic from the top of a Mountain in the Uintah's. Our family went camping there this summer, went hiking, and then went off-road literally over the top of a mountain, where we had a picnic at the top. It was wonderful and a great time for our family.

Not Picture Perfect

I'm struggling with my phone. I have managed to screw up the online connection and am unable to email pictures from the phone camera. I was able to get one emailed before it died, so that you could at least have a peak at Chinatown. She did turn out rather nicely. I think next time, and for the record, I do plan on knitting another one (I already have the yarn and buttons), I would make a bigger size so that it was more more roomier.




Also, take a look at the Tess Designer Yarns website and look at the Crest of the Wave Scarf/Wrap pattern that I did for them. The picture turned out beautiful of the colors, but I have a better photo on my phone (if I could just access it) of the stitch pattern. I thought it turned out very nicely.

I received some more beautiful Petite Silk in two different colorway kits from her today and we're coming up with an idea for a pattern.

I've been working on the Meg Swansen "Eli Guernsey" and have been plodding along rather slowly since I reached the yoke. Do you find that sometimes you're more particular than others about how a project turns out? Sometimes I become almost too emotionally involved with my projects and spend more ripping them than knitting them.

I also have been playing around with some different embroidery and stitching. I decided to whip out a punch needle design that is coming along. I have no idea what I plan to do with the project afterwards, as it's not exactly the kind of thing I'd put up in my house, I just wanted to give it a try.

I've been a little flighty with my knitting. The weather seems to have me all confused. The beginning of last week, it was brutally cold and snowing, and I wouldn't let the kids out of the house without snow gear, and then today I would have let them out of the house in shorts. I find the fickleness of the weather shows itself in my knitting choices that day.

It feels like this post is rather disjointed and jumpy just like the weather. See, it shows up in my blogging also. Spring and Summer where are you?

I'm officially a Camper

My husband literally fell off his chair when I announced that I was officially a "camper". I'm far from the camping type with way too many squirmish non-camping ways about me. But this year I will be a camper, in the Meg Swansen Knitting Camp way. I just received my email to say that I was in (and my friend Linda-my roommate). I'm so excited. I read the newsletter about what we'll be doing and I think I may have danced around a little and air punched in excitement. I then read what we should take, and repeated above self-congratulatory exhibitions.

In reading the newsletter, I saw that we are supposed to make a nametag to wear during camp, so my mind is racing already with some ideas.

In hopeful anticipation of acceptance to camp, I had purchased some Guernsey wool in navy and am knitting the child's pattern from the latest wool gathering (and dvd). I'm loving it. I'm particularly enjoying this because I grew up close to the Channel Islands and visited there a few times. My parents owned a fish and chip shop and I would go to the Fish Market at the dock with my dad sometims and you would see the fishermen in their guernseys, so the connection to that is making it also quite fun.

I haven't posted in quite a while, so I'll give a little update on the knitting front.

I'm knitting away on the Icarus Shawl in Misti Alpaca in sage green. I started it last week and have been flying away (until the guernsey yarn showed up).

I bagged up tons of my other projects that were just staring at me making me feel very unmotivated to knit. The guilt of unfinished projects can really drag me down.

I have began a very thorough cleansing of the yarn department in my house. No, this time I'm getting it done.

I'm also going through the patterns and magazines and seeing which I want to keep, what I'm interested in knitting and what needs to be 86'd.

I ordered last Thursday at 11:30am the yarn, and dvd for the guernsey and it was here the next day. Now, I know I live close to Schoolhouse Press, but come on, that was impressive turn around. I remembered my mothers advice to always be grateful, and called and said thank you to them.

I'm registering for Stitches, but am definitely not taking the number of classes like last time. jae and Marji will agree, schedule overload last year. It's less than a month after camp, so I'm not sure that I'd want that full of a schedule again also.

Chinatown is completed, and shockingly for me, sewn together. I am in the process of weaving in ends and will then attach buttons. It looks great. I'm very pleased with it.

Any advice??

I've been having very sore joints of my hands lately, especially when my hands get cold, and then I can't seem to get them warm and they ache. Strangely the movement of knitting seems to help them, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice?

I'll try to snap a pic of the guernsey and post it shortly (I'm trying not to wake EB up from a nap - Marji knows how desperately I need EB to nap after our phone conversation on Saturday)


A couple of items for sale

Rowan Magazine #20 OOP $20 - SOLD
Rowan Magazine #22 OOP $20
Rowan Magazine #31 OOP $15 - SOLD

Email me at knittinbrit at charter dot net if interested

Quick Catch Up

Just a quick update on what's been going on. Sorry, I don't have any pics today but will get some together for next post.

1. Both hats were finished, worn by recipient and greatly appreciated. I don't think Declan has taken his off since I made it.
2. Steve used the hat when he went camping last weekend with Caleb. Yes, in the open, no tent, in minus 25 windchills. Apparently when you move to Wisconsin you become insane. I'm sure that I married someone more intelligent than that. They had a blast, although Caleb did manage to catch his snowpants on fire while trying to warm his behind against the fire. Fortunately, he has mastered the drop and roll technique.
3. I've completed the knitting of the sleeves, both front sides and back on Chinatown, and have started to seam it together. The project is set aside for this week as I've got a major deadline to complete before I can finish this. I'm really looking forward to it, it's beautiful. I highly recommend this knit.
4. One and a half socks have been knit in Cherry Tree Potluck yarn. I love this yarn. They were my travelling knitting project, hence the progress.
5. Enjoyed a couple days stay in the hospital after a cyst ruptured and was too drugged up to knit. Well, I self imposed that rule of no knitting, Publishafter I managed to knit an enormous knot in the front of Chinatown while in happy pain reduced land. Am feeling much better now, and have added yet another reason why I'm convinved that men have things so much easier than women.
6. I'm working on a project for Tess Designer yarns that I'm enjoying, although I'm going to have to knit fast to get it finished and shipped out in time. It's in 100% silk and a beautiful stole. I'll have to show pics once it's been sent off to the Stitches show. So, I plan on getting it finished and sent by Monday seeing as Stitches is the 22nd.