This Week

This weekend has been fractured. I steamed blocked the straight edges of the Cabled Hat Flaps. I just haven't had a large unfractured bit of time to pin and start to sew them.

I started the Nomad Hat in the meantime and am at the point of knitting the first scarf part. This is a really easy pattern. I'm not that wild about the yarn I chose. The colour is perfect for the purple coat but the yarn is tubular and has just enough viscose and nylon in it to dampen the spring of the merino and cashmere.

Mail was delayed by Wednesday's snow. So my order from 62 Degrees North arrived yesterday. 62 Degrees North yarn is organically produced, undyed Faroes Island yarn. I bought one skein of the light worsted and 100 grams of carded wool to start working with my drop spindle. I love the packaging. The wrapping for the yarn and the wool is brown paper. Both came wrapped in tissue paper with dark brown wool for the tie. I'm going to knit a sample from the tie. Both feel and smell of lanolin.

I've decided to wait until the weekend to assemble the cabled hat. That way I can devote time to the work when I'm refreshed.

While I'm waiting for the toe-up sock KAL to begin in the KP Lovers group on Ravelry and my second skein of Foxen sheep to arrive, I've started the Nomad Hat and scarf. This is my first knit with a bulky yarn in years and the work certainly goes fast. The pattern is really simple. Since February is usually the coldest month here, this hat will come in handy.

After last year's snowmaggedon, I think most figured things couldn't get any worse. Wrong! Yesterday afternoon, evening, into this morning turned into the commute from hell for a lot of people. There are thousands without power, unable to either reach the Pepco (the electric company), get the automatic message recording where you can report an outtage or get a human on the phone. On top of that in the post mortem of yesterday's commute, it turns out that the Feds made and disseminated the decision to close at 3:00 to all agencies and jurisdictions at 11AM. The directive was that people were suppose to leave two hours before their regular leaving time or by 3:00 and those who could leave and telework were suppose to do so. Well, when the head of OPM stated this on the radio this morning, Fed employees called in, one saying his agency didn't make the annoucement until 1:55--although everyone knew because it had been reported on the web. Others said managers were relunctant to let them go and expressed a relunctance to telework or that their bosses were relunctant to let them telework. Upshot is there's going to be an assessment of the directives, how they are communicated with the emphasis that employees and their managers are suppose to follow not interpret them.

The other interesting fact is that the people who control traffic at intersections during rush hour are pulled during weather events to plow the snow. So they weren't available to prevent intersection blockage and direct traffic flow.

I left the office at 2:58 and arrived home at 4:21 (had to stop to get cat food). In that almost 90 minutes it went from a heavy drizzle, to pouring rain, to pouring ice slush, which quickly accumulated on every surface and was the real traffic stopper because it made everything slippery, to snow falling like a tropical downpour. During the snow, there was constant lightening and thunder. The lightening was weird colours, but it kept Toupie entertained. By 11pm it was over but thousands were still trying or stuck trying to get home on roads that were parking lots or closed down.

Before the Flaps

Next step: the Flaps

It's Freezing

It's bitterly cold here, but I'm a proud daughter of Steeler Nation. We're going to the Super Bowl...again!!!

I'm on the final decreasing rounds for the Cabled Hat. So far I've used about 1.70 skeins of yarn.

I really, really like the ChiaoGoo bamboo dpns. Very smooth and very solid.

For those from the US who order yarn or other items from foreign countries and are experiencing shipping delays, click here for an explanation. I tried to find this info on the USPS website to no avail. I ordered from Bravissimo on December 30 and my bra arrived on January 19.

Brilliant Idea

This is a case of necessity being the mother of and idea. I have lots of yarn scraps--mostly partial skeins--and the temperature is going down to the teens tonight and the next several nights. I've been wanting a knit draft snake for a while, so... My only regret is it won't be ready in time for bed tonight. There's a nasty draft that comes in from the hallway--a consequence of being on the first floor and not that far away from the back door of the building.

Cabled Hat
Used three-needle bind off to join the cable band, picked up the 110 stitches and am now on the first repeat of Chart 3: the dome of the hat. This is the really exciting part of a project: when you can really see it coming together.

I ordered another skein of the Foxen Sheep wool today. My treat for tomorrow will be knitting a gauge swatch with the Foxen Sheep.

I've leafed through the Shirley Paden book. It has a spiral binding for the pages which makes it heavenly to read, means it will lay flat when using it as a reference. This book is chock full of information. Paden's designs require a substantial investment in yarn but they are wonderfully classic and classy and embody my theory of making garments: use the best materials you can afford and make them up in a style that will get you through more seasons than you care to wear them.

The Classic Radio Station has been unusually good this week. In celebration of Poe's birthday, there have been several dramatizations of his works. Also Cary Grant was born this week and he was featured in an episode of Suspense. It's sort of fun to hear a pre-Dragnet Jack Webb and pre-Perry Mason Raymond Burr wise cracking in a PI series.

This Week

I feel like 2011 has started off with a bang, or several bangs.

Cabled Hat
Still under construction. The cabled band is finished. I did a provision cast on so will do a three needle bind off to join the ends. I've placed the five markers on the band. Bought another set of Size 7 dps (the pattern calls for 6 dpns). All this will be done tomorrow. Piccys are coming.

Foxen Sheep Yarn
Finally a decision. I'm going to make the Limerick Hat. The pattern has been ordered. Purchased size 6 circular needle to night. Will order another skein of the Foxen Sheep in the morning.

Organic Wensleydale Sample from Nature's Luxury
This is a yarn to fall in love with. It has the lustre of silk, beautiful stitch definition. I knit the sample on size 6 needles. There's a wonderful crunch when you knit it. It is soft but lofty. I think cables would be magnificent in this yarn.

Organic Black Welsh Mountain from Nature's Luxury
The yarn really isn't black. It is a black brown with stray wiry white fibers and a slight russet halo. Colours like this only occur naturally. When I took the fiber out of the bag, my first instinct was mittens. I knit the sample on size 6. The fabric is dense with give. Perfect mitten material.

Channel Island Cast-On: Mastered. I like the bumps this cast-on creates. They don't poke as much as picot edging and aren't as dainty.

Knit Picks Woodland Mittens Kit: Okay, I'm the KP Palette Queen. I've decided what I really like about Palette is that it is a little woolly. I think I'm finding my feet as knitter. I'm not a soft yarn person. I like spunk and personality in my yarns and that's why the rare breed yarns

are so exciting and that's what I like about Palette. I've knit Palette on everything from a size 1 to a size 8. On an size 8, Palette gives you a wonderful drapey fabric. On size 1s doing colourwork you get a dense tight fabric that will wear well. Palette blooms nicely when washed and softens but you never forget that you're wearing wool. It has a bit of spring after washing, but not the downy loftiness of merino. It's also warmth without weight.

The appeal of alpaca and alpaca blend yarns for me is the warmth. I know the cabled hat will be warm. Although the Alpaca is soft, it's a bit hairy. The same for KP Cotlin--a blend of Tanguis and Linen. I don't mind that the linen makes the yarn a little rough to knit with.

Perhaps this tactile preference comes from my years of sewing. Part of the knowing what a fiber can do and will be is the feel. When I shop for fabric, it's always a combination of colour and feel. I may be attracted to a particular colour or design, but touching the fabric, moving it to see how it drapes or not is always the deciding factor. I have also sewn 99% natural fibers. Some, like silk, are soft and drapey and luscious. But most are wools, linens, and cottons and each has a different personality.

It's interesting that sock yarn with nylon has taken some getting used to. I made the Ishobel from sock yarn and just didn't like the stretchiness of the nylon-mernio combination. I was much happier knitting the spider shawl from merino. I don't have a lot of sock yarn in my stash and will use some of it for the toe-up KAL next month. But I think I will stick to a yarn like Palette or the fingering weight alpaca for socks.

Because of the convenience of Looped Yarn Works and the price rise in Knit Picks needles, I've been buying the Chiagoo circular needles. Tonight is a perfect example. With shipping, the KP needles would work out to about the same price or a little more plus a week's wait for them to arrive. The Chiagoo circulars have a smooth join and flexible cable like the KP needles and I can also get 16" fixed circulars.

The weather has been so cold that I haven't been knitting on the bus. Last week I finally had to put the thermal lining in my coat. This has put a serious dent in the production rate. But I've been working on the cabled hat before bed and knitting a scarf in a reversible stitch pattern using the Caron Simply Soft in bed. This weekend is predicted to only get up into the teens during the day, which means it might be time to break out mommy's shearling hat.

I've treated myself a bit since the holidays. Bought a book on mittens, Clara Parkes Book of Wool and lastly, Shirley Paden's book on design. The mitten book is really quite amazing. It's the first knitting book I've bought from which I can imagine knitting every single item. I'm at the point in the Book of Wool where the patterns start. The Shirley Paden book just arrived today. Bedtime reading :)

Lastly, my new bra arrived from Bravissimo. It turns out I received the exact same model bra in white (I really need to pay more attention to these things) in the grab bag from Breakout Bras last fall. So, despite the reviews on the website, I knew right out of the package that the bra would fit perfectly and that it's initial stiffness goes away after a few wearings and washings. What is so surprising, after a search on the web, is that it is still cheaper for me to order this and other bras from the UK with the shipping than it is to buy them in the states, even on sale.

Limerick Hat

I have finally made a decision about the Foxen Sheep yarn. I'm going to make the Limerick Hat. I will need another skein for the hat and will order that this week. Have bought the pattern so the yarn and the pattern should arrive about the same time. I should be finished with the Deborah Newton hat by then.

Have decided to enter the the Moray Firth Gansey Comp. I am going to submit a design and knitting sample for a bag.

Took the Planet Purl Entrelac class tonight online. What a great way to use online meeting technology to teach a knitting technique. The videos in the class are on You Tube for reference, but it was so nice to have live explanation and feedback on the knitting in the videos. Entrelac makes total sense now and it seems a wonderful technique to incorporate into a blanket, cuffs, collars and sweater waistbands (instead of ribbing).

Brilliant

Link

Unless otherwise instructed by the pattern, I almost exclusively use the long-tail cast on with the usual results...most time I allot enough yarn for the number of stitches to be cast on; sometimes I allot too much yarn and sometimes not enough (which means frogging and starting over). The You-Tube video from Beth Brown-Reinsel eliminates the guess work in the long-tail cast on. Bless you Beth!

If you haven't checked out her book, Knitting Ganseys, I highly recommend it. The photos and instructions are clear. I'm excited to see that she's produced a DVD of the techniques in the book. This DVD is now on my list of items I should treat myself to.

The Eyes of the Cat Are Upon You

Norwegian Forest cats love high places and as you can see the Toupster is no exception.

In these photos, Toupie is atop the bookcase directly behind the computer table. Gives him the chance to look down on me as I read about spinning wheels. Notice in the first photo his shadow reflected on the ceiling.

I've been reading Clarke Parke's Book of Wool. I'm almost at the end of the sheep breed section. I was slightly amazed (until I thought about it), but sheep weren't always white. They were mottled (as some rustic breeds still are) as camouflage against predators. The factor that keeps me fascinated about the Foxen Sheep yarn is I can imagine the sheep and the fleece looking at the skein.

It's been a long and difficult week. I had to do some research at work involving colleagues who were killed in a work-related accident that has just left me upset. There is an immediacy and intimacy to emails that I've never felt reading letters. Maybe because I am product of the age in some way. People's letters never existed beyond them unless someone kept them. But now so much of our correspondence with others is electronic and will exist in infinity or until someone deletes the file or erases the tape. The same with voice mail. About a month ago, I figured out how to retrieve Graham's voicemail on Skype. It was so real hearing his voice again and it reminded me, again, how polite he was. It has been speculated that historians in the future will have a massive treasure drove of data from ordinary people, like me, to draw from. That will be a good thing. It will make history flatter instead of lots of voices from the top and a scant few from the majority.

Clara Parkes Book of Wool has been the one bright spot this week. It's like a course in "everything you wanted to know about wool but were afraid to ask". I am learning so much. Makes me want to hug a sheep for producing the fibers that give me such pleasure.

Good Stuff

Clearly it doesn't take much to excite me. When was the last time you received a package from a company with a handwritten address? This so delighted me that it was fifteen minutes before I could open the package. But oh what a treat awaited me.

A skein of Foxen Sheep from 100% Coburg Fox Sheep in Oatmeal. The photos don't do the skein justice. It is a warm creamy colour flecked with fine brown hairs. It is sturdy rather than soft to the touch. Feels more like Palette than the very scratchy Brunswick tweed I have. I can understand that some would find it scratchy. I confess to be torn between a great desire to knit it and an equally great desire to just stare at it and pet it. Because of the shipping, I won't be able to buy a lot or often. But this is definitely a treat worth saving up for. Here is the link to the Knitter's Review article that piqued my interest.

If you haven't discovered Knitter's Review, I highly recommend it. The yarn reviews are interesting and informative. I haven't participated in the forums, but I do vote in the polls. Speaking of Knitter's Review and Clara Parkes, I inadvertently had a triple witching in the last 24 hours. I did a survey in November which offered a $20 gift card to Borders Books. The card was in the mail yesterday. This morning I received a 33% off coupon in email from Borders; and also in the mail yesterday were three sizeable FSA reimbursement checks. What better time, I thought whilst munching on my pumpkin scone this morning, to buy one of those knitting books that I can never afford. My first choice was the Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmermann. Second choice was Knitting from the Top Down by Barbara G. Walker. Well the Border's at 18th and L didn't have either one--indeed their knitting book section is pretty sad. I considered Ann Budd's Knitting Lace of Estonia; but rejected it because I have too many lace knitting books. Even with the discount, the Shirley Paden book was too expensive and I can buy that cheaper from Knit Picks during the sale. I have heard rave reviews about both the Clara Parkes books: Knitter's Book of Wool and Knitter's Book of Yarn. I went with Knitter's Book of Wool. Total cost to me: $1.00.

However, from looking through the Shirley Paden book, it is now on my must have list as well as Modern Top-Down Knitting: Sweaters, Dresses, Skirts & Accessories Inspired by the Techniques of Barbara G. Walker lots of good stuff in this one.

I exited Borders into a fine misty drizzle. Walked up to the liquor store at 18th and I. Concurred with the staff there convincing a customer to purchase a sample bottle of McCallan 12 year single malt scotch. I advise her to drink half tonight and half tomorrow night. She looked skeptical (the bottle was about four fingers), but two fingers is all you need in an evening. I assured her she wouldn't be dissapointed. I arrived at the bus stop and had a two minute wait. By the time I arrived home, the misty drizzle was falling a bit faster. The road, because it had been treated was fine, but the sidewalks were slippery underfoot.

This is the sort of weather I hate. Give me 2 feet of snow anyday over a wintry mix, especially as it hasn't been above 40F in two weeks and the ground is cold. At least you can slog through snow. Icy roads and sidewalks are too nerve wracking for me. I brought work home and forwarded my phone just in case I need to work from home tomorrow or delay going in.

This is the third snowstorm we have dodged in as many weeks. We'll either be lucky for the rest of the winter of get slammed in February.

Back to yarn. I also bought samples of organic Wensleydale and Organic Black Welsh Mountain. The Wensleydale has a buttery feel. The Black Welsh Mountain is softer than the Coburg. I will post the swatches and opinions on the fabric when I knit them.

Still working on the cabled band for the cable hat. I'm relaxed about the knitting now; don't feel driven to finish it in a hurry; but I do want to finish it soon.

Arghh

Here is the Giselle yarn (the lighter colour) and the Cascade 200 on the purple coat. I've always worn black or white hat, scarves, or gloves with the coat which has never done it justice.

In my tidying and organizing mania over the holidays, I realized (after looking for a week) that I managed to throw out my vial of needles and stitch markers. I've managed to limp by using the ones left in their packaging. They were mostly the large markers which I don't use as much.
Finally broke down yesterday and made a trip to Looped Yarn Works.

The shop was busy and reminded me of the early seventies when on Saturday afternoons we'd trek over to the Woolgatherer when it was on 21st Street. One of the sales staff was wearing a lovely simple shawl. I wore the purple coat in the hopes of finding a yarn to compliment it. Hence the Cascade and the Giselle.

I did see skeins of Cascade bulky @ 435 yards for $15.00, which I now have in my sights.

But I just like shopping there. It's so friendly, the yarns are perfectly arranged and there is lots of natural light and a large mirror over the fireplace.

Cabled band in progress

Ring of Cables Hat

Ring of Cables Hat

This fabric for this dress was $12.00. Lining and underlining $10.00. The fabric is linen and silk. I made the jacket from a mail order brushed cotton in cocoa.

Garns Spring 2011 and memorizing patterns

Garns Studio is previewing it's Spring 2011 collection. These are just downright cute! Perfect summer house slippers.

Cabled Hat:

About 8" into knitting the cabled band. Have memorized this part of the pattern. I used to read with envy knitters posting how they memorized patterns or repeats and think it a great triumph when I memorize the yo k1 yo of the center of triangle shawl. Having done the 4-stLC and 4-stRC whilst knitting the front and back panels of the hat, I really only had to learn the two rows in between cabling rows on Chart 2 for the cabled band. I also can now clearly read my knitting and so have concluded that the memorization is partially remembering the stitches, knitting the same repeat, and being able to read those stitches in your fabric.

I also perusing Interweave Knits Weekend 2009. It's interesting watching my skills develop to where patterns that I pondered wistfully as above my skill-level, become perfectly understandable and doable. So I have marked the Provence Cloche as spring hat that I will knit in Knit Picks Prussian and Elann Sonata in a buff color. I just happened to put these two skeins together on a table awhile ago and realized a few hours latter what a nice complement they were to each other.

It snowed about a inch overnight.

Duchess yarn for Nomad hat

Cabled hat front flap

Cabled hat back flap

Took my time today working with the instructions and the photo in the magazine on the front flap to add the garter stitch trim. Had to frog a couple of times but finally finished. Moving on to the cabled band.

Minneolas and Spinning Wheels

I am not a fruit person. I love my melons and veggies. But wave a pomelo or a minneola in my direction and I can't resist. January is the best time for both. Although the pomelos in the US are mostly rind with very little fruit (unlike the ones you get in Vietnam), there is nothing like peeling one and letting the flesh sit in a three pepper mixture (white, black, Thai chili) with a little salt. I prepare minneolas the same way. Both are a little more expensive this year than last but are such a refreshing treat after the heavy foods we tend to consume from Thanksgiving to the New Year.

Knit Picks has spinning wheels and looms. It's time to save the pennies.

The cabled hat is progressing nicely. I am a few rows from completing the main knitting on the front flap. Next comes the edging on both flaps and then knitting the cable band. If all goes to plan, I will start the dome part of the hat Saturday morning.

Nomad Hat and Scarf: This is a pattern I coveted for two years. I bought the pattern when Interweave was having a sale. Bought 4 skeins of Classic Elite Duchess in the Majesty's Magenta colourway to go with my purple coat.

I saw someone wearing the Snail Hat today.

My neighbors are still coughing. Someone at work has been coughing since November. I am keeping up with my vitamins and drinking cups of lemon tea (slice one lemon put it in a cup, pour boiling water of it and drink. You can keep adding boiling water until the lemon taste weakens--usually four large mugs to one lemon.)

I am knitting the Cabled Hat (#7 in Vogue Knitting Winter 2010/11). I haven't used straight needles in so long, it was a little awkward when I was knitting the swatch. I am using Knit Picks Andean Silk in the Cinnamon colourway (this colourway has been discontinued).

There is a hiccup, or either I didn't understand, in the instructions for the back panel of the hat. A response to my post in the Vogue Knitting Forum on Ravelry soon put me on the right track. I am now working on the front panel, but got no knitting done last night, as I sat down to read Vogue Knitting Winter 1986, and fell promptly asleep in the chair.

Interesting that the current issue of Vogue Knitting and Vogue Knitting Winter 1986 feature patterns by Deborah Newton. And there is similarity in construction as both require straight and dpns or circular needles and both patterns have cables.

I bought the Vogue Knitting 1986 for the cabled coat pattern by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton. I am struck by what a more substantive magazine Vogue Knitting was in the 80's, and again by that which put me off the magazine in the 80's--small sizes (not much to knit over a 40" bust and 27" waist).

I went to Looped Yarn Works to buy a size 7 circular needle for the hat. I've been buying mostly Knit Picks needles, but since the price rise on needles + shipping; it is more cost effective to purchase other fixed circular's. I do like using KP's interchangeables, but their 16" cable + the tips makes a 24" needle which is just a tad too long when you only need a 16" needle.

I did see the Blue Heron yarn with the silver included. OH MY is that yarn scrumptious to look at and wonderful on the hand. I need/want some desperately. When I checked my email last night, guess what yarns are going to be featured in a trunk show on January 29: Blue Heron Yarns. Yes, it's time to eat Ramen noodles to save money for yarn. I'm imaging a scrumptious cowl thingy in a copper and peach colourway.

I returned to work yesterday. Good grief. Tons to do; lots of changes--people leaving and coming. Getting back in gear is proving harder than I thought. Commuting is such a nightmare. If I had further to go, I could understand it. But an hour and twenty-minutes to go four miles just because a scheduled bus didn't show is bordering on ridiculous...especially as I can walk to work in forty-five minutes.

The knitting group at work is gearing up again, so I am taking my Caron Simply Soft mittens to work on. I've made tortellini in alfredo sauce and Rebecca is bringing me some of her Thai green bean and pomello salad.

This begins day 32 of being soda-free.