Do we really need light-up knitting needles???

My Secret Pal is the best!!

I received my final package from my Secret Pal for SP7, and what a package it was! Knitting notecards, three (3!!) dark chocolate dove bars, AND Rowan's Vintage Knits.

I can't wait to make something from this book, perhaps the green pullover pictured on the cover.

Thanks!!!!!!

Camera Found!

Hurrah!!! I found my camera, tucked away in one of my knitting bags that I must have used just before I went away at Christmas. What relief! To celebrate, I made a funky scarf for sale Art-O-Mat, our local artisan gallery. They like really wild novelty yarns -- the Noro scarf and the lovely black handspun scarf I gave them didn't sell at all, but the crazy novelty scarves sell like hotcakes. I call this one Mardi Gras. It's made from skeins of Bernat Boa, with matching ribbon as trim.

Thanks, Secret Pal!!

I'm regretting the loss of my digital camera more and more, especially today as I can't post a photo of the wonderful gifts I received from my SP7. My January package -- blue-themed -- had 4 skeins of KnitPicks yarn (striping sock yarn and coordinating solid yarn); an intarsia pattern book; assorted chocolates; and a knitting diary. The February package -- red-themed -- has wonderful red yarn from Manos; loose tea that smells divine; a retractable tape measure (hurrah!); and a chocolate bar with ancho chile. I gave up sweets for Lent, so that chocolate bar will be tempting me for 40 days! My pal has also been wonderful about posting comments to my blog, sending e-mails, and even a virtual bouquet of flowers.

I love the knitting community, and the generosity and sense of fun that the Secret Pal exchanges demonstrate. :-)

The agony of defeat...

I am offically out of the Knitting Olympics. I knit for an hour on Saturday and my shoulder and arm started to hurt so much, I couldn't believe it. And that was AFTER a massage and a chiropractic adjustment earlier in the day. Sigh. There go my dreams of Olympic glory.

The Michelle Kwan of the Knitting Olympics?

That could be me. My right arm -- from shoulder to wrist -- has been bothering me for the past two weeks, and despite taking several days off from knitting, it's not getting any better. I've stretched it, massaged it, flexed it, even had my chripractor adjust my wrist, and it's still sore.

I've managed to finish the back of my sweater, but don't know about getting the rest of it done in the next week, the way I'm feeling. I feel my dreams of Olympic glory slipping away...

;-(

Inspiration

The new Rowan magazine arrived yesterday, and the pattern that really caught my eye was Minnie, complete with knitted-in wooden beads. It is so gorgeous! I don't know that I'll get to it this year, perhaps not even in this lifetime, but I'd like to.

I seem to have misplaced my digital camera, which is why there have been no photos of my WIPs or FOs lately. But someone from my SnB is bringing her camera to my flat on Friday evening (I'm hosting a Knitting Olympics kick-off party), so there will be an orgy of picture-taking.

Speaking of the Knitting Olypmics, I knitted up my gauge swatches last night and am pleased to report that my gauge is spot on. It's killing me not to start the sweater until Friday night, but I want to honor the rules. Sigh. It's so hard sometimes to be good.

Boycott Sew Fast Sew Easy

A boycott is afoot, and I've joined in. I heard about it when my Long Island City Stitch-n-Bitch group was deleted from Yahoo Groups, because a company called Sew Fast Sew Easy (SFSE) has trademarked the term "Stitch and Bitch." SFSE has had the gall to claim that it created this term in 1997!!! This is a term that has existed for decades. Using the button to the right, you may click through to a site with lots of details on this boycott, including a letter that you may print and send to SFSE. I mailed my letter off today!

Knitting Olympics

For The Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics, I will be knitting sweater #11 from the Fall 2005 Vogue Knitting. I bought all the yarn for this back in October, and it's been sitting in the closet while I a) finished my Christmas knitting, and b) learned to make cables. I haven't tackled the cables yet, but I decided to forge ahead and get this done.

I'll be using Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Meadow and Jelly along with Rowan Big Wool in Pistachio. Although the pattern calls for just one color of the Kidsilk Haze for the cuffs and hem, I decided to use two together, to add a little more weight and make the color combination more interesting; we'll see how it goes.

For anyone planning to make this sweater, there's apparently an error in the neckline shaping (hence, the model's artful pose). Here's a link to a correction, from nonaKnits.

Wish me luck!

Citius, Alitius, Fortius

That's the latin motto for the Olympics and translates to "Faster, Higher, Stronger." The Yarn Harlot has launched the Knitting Olympics, and I have decided to participate. I will be making a cabled pullover sweater, to be cast-on as the flame is lit and to be finished -- completely -- before the closing ceremony. 16 days of knitting! I'd better start training now (that is, learn to make cables).

SP7 Questionnaire

Sorry for the delay in posting, Secret Pal!

1. Are you a yarn snob?
I do avoid acrylic yarn like Red Heart, but am otherwise open to trying new things.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I don't spin, and haven't crocheted since I was a little girl (when I made a poncho for my Dawn doll), but am wanting to start crocheting again (and have lots of crochet hooks!).
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Several vintage knitting needle canisters.
4. How long have you been knitting?
I learned from my grandmothers when I was a little girl, but then didn't knit for years; I started knitting again about 7 years ago, but only really got into it as a significant part of my lifestyle in the past 6 months. I would say I am an advanced beginner.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Rose or citrus (lemongrass, verbena, orange, etc.).
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
I LOVE dark chocolate!!!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
None.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Not an MP3 person, but happy to get a mixed CD. I like alternative rock, folk, world music mostly. Fave musicians are posted on my blog profile.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favorite color is green -- lime, celery, olive mostly, rather than the kelly or forest greens. I dislike girly pastels.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married for three years, no children, no pets.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves, hats and gloves, no mittens or ponchos.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I love Rowan DK cotton -- it's my favorite for baby presents.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Not a fan of plain old acryclic, or angora or mohair, or eyelash, or sparkly stuff.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Making knitted purses.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
No real faves. I've done lots of scarves and baby hats, am now moving on to garments.
17. What are you knitting right now?
A top-down cardigan for my 3-year-old niece; handbags.
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes!
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I really love the vintage aluminum straight needles, because they come in so many great colors, but have just started using circs and find them much easier on my wrists. I have liked the metal Addi Turbos that I tried though I think they're boring looking. I have a full set of Boye interchangeable circular needles, which are fun.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Aluminum!
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, both.
22. How did you learn to knit?
From my grandmothers, when I was a little girl. Then, as an adult, from a nice woman in Philadelphia, through a local community ed program.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
3 months
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I love flamingoes.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas!!! I collect vintage glass ornaments and love to decorate the tree. I also like to bake Christmas cookies and Buche de Noel.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Vintage glass Christmas ornaments; vintage knitting and crochet supplies (knit counters, needle gauges, point protectors, etc.).
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None.
28. Any books, etc. that you are dying to get your hands on?
"Stitch and Bitch Nation"; "Socks Soar on Two Circs"; retractable tape measure.
29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Cabling; socks; new cast-ons.
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet, but received sock yarn in SP6 and am planning to try. I wear an 8.5 or 9 wide shoe.
31. When is your birthday?
December 31st -- a new year's eve baby!

Matching Hats

Happily, my sister took a photo of my nieces wearing their Christmas knitting -- a cardigan, hat and booties for Emily, and a matching big-sister hat for Sara. The yarn is my favorite -- Rowan handknit DK cotton -- and the patterns are by Debbie Bliss. I'll have to get a better cardigan photo to post -- I made a faux button band with really cute floral buttons from Covent Garden Market, and then used snap tape for the actual closure. (There's a photo of the cardigan as a WIP in an earlier post on my blog.)

Matching Scarves

Am still in the UK, heading back to NYC tomorrow. Spent a fun day with my brother- and sister-in-law and their adorable 3-year-old, Olive. My mother-in-law made Olive a stuffed Winnie the Pooh bear for Christmas, and knitted a lovely white jumper for Pooh (or Winnie, as Olive calls it). So, I decided that Pooh needed a scarf, and Olive decided that she needed one as well. So, a blurry camera-phone shot of Olive wearing her new scarf and holding Pooh's. Olive very providentially wore a matching striped pullover -- already a fashionista!

The scarves are made up in Rowan handknitted cotton, in pink and deep red stripes, in simple garter stitch, with fringe. Easy, mindless knitting on the train to and from Belgium last week.

An American Abroad

Apologies for having been such a negligent blogger! I was knitting up a storm all of December, making Christams gifts, all of which I neglected to photograph before giving them to their intended recipients. So this month, I'll be trotting around asking people to allow me to photograph their scarves, purses, and other misc knitted items ... hopefully, permission will be granted and photos will follow.

I've just spent the day yarn shopping in London with two new friends from the Knitty board, Carolyn and Charlotte (yes, I only hang out with people whose names start with C) -- we went to the Liberty and John Lewis sales (very disappointing), then headed up to Loop in Islington, where I bought some fab yarn (in green, of course) for a scarf for -- drumroll, please -- myself! Yes, I think I may actually soon knit something for ME, not as a gift for someone else. Thanks to Ben & Justine for the Loop gift certificate, which was put to good use today.

Earlier in the week, my husband took me off to Belgium for a surprise trip for my birthday, to a lovely medieval city called Bruges (or Brugge, locally). I highly recommend a visit to Bruges, particularly in the warmer months when one can take a barge trip on the canals or rent a bicycle and ride around (very bike-friendly place, everyone was riding even in the cold weather). On a cold January day, we were very happy to sit in cafes and eat croque monsieur (grilled ham and cheese sandwiches) and belgium waffles and sip cappucino (me) and Belgian beer (Alan). Bruges is known for its lace-makers, and I found some lovely lace items to buy. But the MOST exciting thing was wandering along a side street one afternoon and finding a yarn shop (!), Het Wolhuis (The Wool House, I believe, in Flemish). It was mostly a tapestry and embroidery shop, but there was also a huge selection of Katia yarns from Spain and Scheepjes yarns from Holland. The proprietor, Michelle Fraipont, was wearing a beautiful pullover she had knit in a lovely soft Katia yarn, and when I admired it she ran in the back, through a door and into her kitchen, and came back with a scarf in a twisted cable and lace pattern that she's making from the same yarn. I love those knitterly moments of shared joy in the craft! There doesn't seem to be a website, but if you find yourself in Bruges, the address is:

Het Wolhuis
Predikherenstraat 13 (becomes Dijver Straat further along)
8000 Brugge
Belgium

Pumpkin Purse

So, I took a class in making a lined purseat the new Suss Designs shop in Lower Manhattan , and this was the result. I used a Katia super bulky wool in pumpkin, Lamb's Pride bulky in brown (two strands together), and a thin brown mohair and orange ribbon carried along with each, for continuity. Size 15 needles, plain old sticknette stitch. Add brown wooden handles and a coordinating corduroy lining and -- voila -- my first purse. I gave it to my friend Kathy for her birthday; I think she liked it, since she carried it that night to her birthday party.

Noro Lotus

This is a beautiful yarn that I bought on sale at The Yarn Connection, a midtown NYC yarn shop, last winter. It's a handpainted cashmere ladder yarn with a ribbon of varying colors running through it. Knits up in a striped pattern, as you can see. I used three balls of this to make a long, skinny scarf in stockinette with chunky tassels at each corner, which is now on consignment at Art-O-Mat. Alas, I forgot to take a photo before I sent it off for sale. I'll try and get to the gallery and take a photo this week (assuming it hasn't sold!) -- I saw it on display through the window on Tuesday night when I sent to SnB -- what a thrill!

I am an Artist

Or so says my contract with a local gallery -- Art-O-Mat -- that asked me to knit up some scarves using novelty yarns for them to sell on consignment. www.licweb.com/artomat So, for the past week, in my spare time, I whipped up a few scarves with some yarn that was sitting idly in my stash. Am I a weirdo because I name all my knitting projects? I hope not. From top to bottom: detail for Carnival (red and grey wool tufts with metallic thread and paper flags) and Safari (black and tan wool tufts with a metallic thread and paper flags); all three scarves; detail for Starry Night (black handspun with blue beads and ribbon). A few months ago, I providentially ordered some labels to stitch into handknitted garments (none of which I've completed). Makes the scarves look so professional -- and well worth the $60 (!!!!) price tag that the gallery put on them. I get 55% if they sell. Wish me luck!!

Ribbed for (His) Pleasure

Well, the Ribbed for Her Pleasure scarf that I knit for my friend Robert was such a hit (see "October in Vermont") that I had to knit one for Robert's partner, Chuck, who requested forest green. Luckily, I had a large stash of Lamb's Pride superwash bulky in just that color, bought on my vacation in Montana in September. (Now THAT was the deal to end all deals -- 18 skeins/1980 yards for just $58.) So, while I was watching CSI, Law & Order and Without A Trace this week (plus The Wizard of Oz last night), I whipped up a scarf for Chuck. Not quite two skeins worth of yarn.

With the yarn that was left from the 2nd skein, I decided to try my hand at leaves, for flower pins, using a pattern from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Embellishments books. One of them is tumbling around in the dryer as I type, since the sink-felting didn't seem to work too well. Look for a felting update later this week.

Secret Pal Mokie rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm participating in SP6 through blogspot and got my 2nd gift from my SP, mokie (not her real name) last week. I finally photographed it today, in all its splendor -- and splendor it is! Mokie's choices absolutely delighted me. I was jumping up and down like a kid at Christmas when I opened the box. Here's what she sent me:

• an American Red Cross Knit Kit for One Pair of Serviceman's Socks (complete with olive drab wool, DPNs, a tapestry needle and a vintage pattern)
• 6 balls of Knit One Crochet Two Cotonade, in a rich navy blue
• 1 skein KnitPicks Shadow merino wool, in Lost Lake
• 1 skein KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud, in Moss
• 3 skeins Reynolds Rapture, a 50% wool 50% silk yarn, in three lovely shades of green
• a spool of olive and forest green ribbon with gold metallic accent
• scrapbooking papers
• a stamp pad and alphabet and number stamps
• "Unusual Toys for You to Knit & Enjoy" by Jess Hutchinson
• "Simply Soft" by Debbie Bliss -- autographed by the great woman herself!!
• and a fun, funky tote bag to carry it all in

I am completely overwhelmed by mokie's generosity, and can't wait until the reveal so that I can sing her non-incognito praises.

October in Vermont

Just back from a quick trip to Vermont to celebrate my friend Robert's birthday. His birthday gift? The "Ribbed for Her Pleasure" scarf from the first Stitch-n-Bitch book, worked up in Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky in a lovely teal blue. It's always a bit anxiety-provoking, surprising someone with a hand-knitted gift. Will he like the color? The pattern? The texture? Happily, Robert loved the scarf. (And it even matched the fabric on his living room chair!) The outdoor shot is from Robert and Chuck's deck. I love their view, and would move to Vermont in heartbeat if my husband and I could find jobs there. A girl can dream...