In Stitches

Socks, socks and more socks

2009-02-15T21:13:00.007-05:00

The more socks I knit, the more I like the whole sock project concept. They're portable, relatively quick to finish and I discover that depending on the pattern you can learn all sorts of little techniques when you do socks to add to your knitting repertoire. Not to mention that putting on a pair of hand knit socks just makes you feel happy. I read somewhere it's like wearing expensive luxurious lingerie - perhaps no one sees it, but you do feel special having it on.

Bubble Wrap Socks
pattern by sockbug, (free on ravelry)
knit in cascade heritage
two at a time on magic loop

I fell in love with this yarn when Dee and I were baby girl yarn shopping. The yarn was soft and had a nice squish to it. The colors weren't something most people would put together right off the bat, but to me they just made sense

I've made socks that had a pattern in them before but often the yarn seemed to take over and the pattern itself got lost. This stitch pattern was a simple repeat and I could easily knit these two at a time. The bubble wrap pattern really showed up beautifully in the aqua that the foot was knit in.

These socks are warm and really comfortable.

Circle Socks
pattern by Anne Campbell, (free on ravelry)
knit in Chestnut Bay Fibers Sock yarn
two at a time on magic loop

Finding kindred sock knitters at our Taunton Stitch 'n Bitch was so easy - who am I kidding they're guilty of feeding my sock obsession to the point that I can't imagine not having a pair of socks on the needles at all times. We decided that we should start a sock KAL - after all addiction is at its best when shared with your friends. Wendy, Cheryl and I decided to take on the Circle socks - this pattern begged to be knit with a crazy variegated yarn. The green and purple just jumped at me on a trip to Black Sheep Knitting and it screamed so loudly it barely spent any time in my stash before it got on a pair of needles. The pattern itself looks much more complex than it really is and it was so much fun to see the different dimensions of the circles take shape.

Wendy, Cheryl and I were headed off on a yarn crawl one week
shortly after finishing our socks and discovered we were all proudly wearing them the same day - birds of a feather huh?!

Bosnian Toes & Turkish Heels
pattern by Lucy Neatby, Knitters Magazine Fall 2008 knit in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock

I went nuts when I saw this pattern in Knitters. I didnt care what it took I had to try them. Thankfully I convinced Wendy and Cheryl to join me on my journey into sock insanity. This was not an easy pattern at all. The holes are made by pulling several stitches over one stitch. It took a bit of work to figure out how to get them looking like holes instead of smushed up blobs. My other issue was with what size to make. This was also my first experience with size zero needles - a bit of a challeng in and of itself.

After a few false starts I was on my way and once I was on my way. While there was absolutely no possibility of knitting these two at a time, when I finally figured out the pattern it went pretty fast. Cheryl modified the pattern and added one more repeat of circles to add to the length - I did the same thing and am glad that I did. I adore the way they came out - but there is very little give to the yarn and getting the heel on is kind of a pain becuase they're tight - once on though they're super comfortable.

2009 Personal Sock Challenge
I've decided that I'm taking my love of sock knitting seriously for the new year. I'm going to shoot for a pair of socks a month. My Bosnian Toes and Turkish Heels put me in the mood as they were started and finished in the month of January - so off I go!

February begins our basic sock KAL for the Taunton SnB and I'm right on schedule with pair two for the year. Stay tuned!

So just what have I been knitting anyway

2009-02-15T16:37:00.013-05:00

I have this grand idea that I can knit as fast as I can accumulate yarn in my stash. I look back and say to myself - gee look at all you've done over the past several months - and then I open the closet that is lovingly organized with all my yarns and realize I can't knit fast enough to support my stash building habit. Luckily I know enough knitters who share this affliction so the guilt is fleeting.

So just what have I been knitting (and finished) anyway?

Jag's Hat and Sweater
Realizing how much fun knitting small things was and hearing from a friend that her son didnt have a grandmother who knit for him I set out to knit a darling little hat for Jagger that his mom fell in love with from itty bitty hats. We had so much fun choosing the yarn. It didnt take very long at all which of course fed my love for immediate gratification. There was so much yarn left that I just had to mimic the stripes and make a scarf to match.

Of course the best part of the project was getting this adorable photo.

~~Telullah~~ Georgia's Baby Sweater
Next up on the active projects was a baby sweater for my friend Dee's baby due to arrive this winter. The day that Dee found out she was carrying a girl we ran to the yarn shop to pick out girl patterns and yarns. Despite Dee's obsession with all things pink, she selected this beautiful variegated lilac, mint and blue dreambaby dk. So soft. The pattern was a lovely cardigan with a peter pan collar - oh so proper don't you know - I mean Dee is British after all. While knitting this sweater, my internal battle of "is it too small", vs. "I want the baby to have an Auntie Heléne sweater right away" kept repeating in my head. I stuck to my size 0 - 3 months and found that all the pieces all knit up pretty fast. I loved working on it. Sewing it together however, was another story - Yikes how many freaking seams do you have to mattress stitch on this thing. It was totally endless - but not as endless as Dee's pregnancy started to feel to me (and to her of course!) - I was so excited for this little baby to get here. My finished sweater sat neatly in its little bag, waiting for me to sew the buttons on - that way it was still a work in progress don't you know.

Georgia Mae arrived earlier this month (formally changing her name from Telullah - her in-utero name). Showing me instantly that she shared her mothers obvious wit and sarcasm by mocking my inner voice that worried about sweater size and weighing in at a delightful 9 pounds 3 ounces and measuring 22 inches in length - now thats a baby! Immediately in love I couldnt wait to see it on her. Ok I admit to being very relieved too - she still has room to grow in it for a little while (very little I'm sure) - way too cute - there will be more knitting for this child!

Princess Mitts
While poking through my stash I came accorss the Freedom Spirit yarn I purchased last fall
promising to make myself some fingerless gloves. I loved the yarn, and the princess mitts pattern deciding it had been years since I did a cable and it was time to give it another shot. I admit that I am living in these things this year. I live that I can still have access to my fingers, I also admit to being just too damn lazy to even think about wanting to take on a pair of gloves.

Watchcaps and Fingerless Gloves
So Bruce is one of those men that doesnt wear sweaters - which made having to deal with that whole boyfriend sweater curse thing much easier (for those non knitters the curse says once you knit your boyfriend a sweater he'll break up with you). He does on the other hand wear hats. I always feel a bit badly that he never wants anything knit for him and constantly ask if he's sure there is othing he wants. Finally, he told me I could knit him a hat to keep in his truck. The Marsan watchcap was perfect, as was the ultra alpaca that I chose.

He proudly wears his hat over when we went for dinner at his kids - and his grandson, Tyler promptly swipes the hat deciding that it is the perfect costume accessory to be a ninja. It was clear Tyler had no intention of surrendering the hat, so I told him that if he promised to wear the hat to keep him warm, and not just for ninja acivities that he could keep it. I love this kid - his response which was, ok, but I need matching gloves like the ones you have too! I couldnt say no and found a great pattern for fingerless mitts to complete the set. I'm happy to say I see Tyler wearing everything all the time.

Of course I had to replace the hijacked (or would that be ninjajacked hat). I start out on Bruce's second hat. Mid cap, Bruce decides to propse and we run off and elope. The cap wasnt finished until he was my husband and therefore has interesting history attached to it. We have now totally eliminated the whole boyfriend knitting issue entirely - but he still doesnt wear sweaters.

Weekend Jacket
I havent only worked on smaller projects over the past few months. My biggest project completed so far has been a weekend jacket that I saw in Knit 'n Style this winter. I had finally found the perfect simple jacket to edge with the Prism Cool Stuff that I had spent a small fortune on over the summer. I discovered this awesome soft Berocco Cuzco yarn that I knew would be warm and best of all wouldnt even hint at itching. The obvious challenge was seeing all the stitches in the black yarn - the pattern was this modified seed stitch where every other row was just a purl row. Simple enough in theory but I swear this is the project that threw me over the edge into needing reading glasses on most of the time now when I knit (stupid 4o something eyes). I'm crazy over the edges with the cool stuff - although I still have a ton more of it and once again have to find the right pattern for it. I'm really happy with the way this came out and am anxiously waiting for the weather to be a bit warmer so I can put it to good use.

Well at least now I feel like I've caught up in preserving my projects for blog posterity as thats the recap of whats been on the needles...well not including socks. You see socks have become a a sub obsession of my general knitting obsession, so much so that they will require a post all thir own.

Back to Blogging

2009-02-15T11:08:00.002-05:00

So here's a brief insight into the way a virgo mind works. You blog, you make it part of your routine. Then you travel, so you blog in a different place to cover that time. Then you return and life gets busy - and you start to think of how you are going to get back to your original blog to cover your travels and how they related to your yarn. You continue to ponder all the proper ways to get this done, all the while your life becomes increasingly insane. You jot down ideas for posts, take photos, and find other worthwhile ways to procrastinate. Then you start a blog for your knitting group and contemplate just blogging over there instead - but decide that's probably not the best thing either. Oh, and somewhere in those months, you and your long time significant other decide that being in our age range and using the boyfriend / girlfriend titles is just old and tired so you get married. Your virgo mind works overtime trying to figure out how to go back in time, remember what you were doing, and blog about it while backdating your posts and catching up on the 4 - 6 months that you stopped blogging. Finally you decide that its just not going to work - so you own up to the fact that life took over and you chose to do other things - assinging yourself the title of slacker and lazy (totally factoring out all of the things that DID get accomplished over the past 4-6 months).

So...I am now declaring my blog once again open for business - in case anyone missed me - and even if you didnt!

Fast Project Fun

2008-09-23T06:52:00.000-04:00

Maybe it was the knit, frog and rekint of my last project that just put me craving a few fast projects. Maybe it was looking at all the new yarn purchases and what was in my stash but I hit a no attention span knitting stage.

First up was a hat for my daughter Nicki. She had found this yarn a few months ago with the intention of knitting a bag - but her love for knitting is far overshadowed by her love for photography (more info in the life and humor section of my website). There was no way that I could let this luscious sheep shop yarn just sit, especially since Nicki thought a Tam would be a perfect hat for her to have now that she is living in New York City. This was done in a few days and a joy to work on. I'm anxious to get a photo of her wearing it - but this will do for now.

At the same time I've been working on a little sailboat sweater for Maria's son Logan who is due this winter. I havent had too much experience with baby clothes and I'm really getting a fast appreciation for them. They're so cute, and fast because they're so little - talk about gratification. This is just about done (but I took this photo last week when I wasnt as far along), need to finish sewing and do the collar.

I would have been done with this but I got sidetracked with a pair of socks. I should remind myself to always have socks on the needles - they're such a great portable and quick project. I've had this sockotta in my stash for a while and was anxious to try it as I hadnt worked with self patterning yarn before. It didnt occur to me to try and match up the yarn before, probably because I didnt know how the stripes would knit up. After a few rows on the toe, I adjusted the yarn to get the colors to match up. I started out strong, took a bit of a break (getting that 5 or so inches on the foot done seemed to take forever) but once I got going again I didnt want to pick anything else up. Love the way they came out!
Now that they're done I'll finish Logan's sweater!

Last on the needles in the quick projects category is a Loopy and Luscious Scarf. On my last series of yarn crawls I fell in love with some Be Sweet Magic ball and mohair - the colors and feel were just soft and dreamy. I couldnt resist - and while I'm thrilled with the way this is coming out, I am reminded why I swore off of mohair after a kid silk haze experience several years ago. Uggh! thin thin yarn on big big needles - I'm insane but I really like it. It will just be one of those pick up when I really feel like it projects.
I have a ton more little projects in my sites - this quick gratification thing isnt to bad!

Late Summer Yarn Crawls

2008-09-15T23:20:00.008-04:00

It doesnt seem to matter how much is in my stash, or how many projects are on the needles, the prospect of yarn shopping is always something I'm up for. Exploring new shops is still one of my favorite adventures. I'm always looking to see what people have to say about where they go - so allow me to contribute to the community with my experiences.

Fabric Place in Framingham
I've been here a few times before I moved, but for some reason never really remembered it as a yarn destination - I may not have been alone, as the word is out that they are closing. Maggie and Dee and I headed over to see what deals may be around. Truly a shame that it wont be around much longer because there really was a good selection of yarns. The only drawback was a lack of sales help with knowledge of the department. Of course I made a few purchases:

Berroco Cotton Twist in totally my colors
no clue what it will be, but when has that stopped me!

I also picked up some really beautiful Sirdar Snuggly and the cutest sailboat sweater pattern for Maria's baby Logan who is due this winter.

The deals there will only get better as they get ready to close - what a shame.

We did try to head over to Knitting Pointers in Milford on a detour toward home, but missed it being open by about 10 minutes. I had been before briefly, it was a nice little shop, but want to explore it again.

Next detour that we missed at the mercy of the clock was The Yarn Shop in Uxbridge - this place just looked fantastic. So good that Dee and I wound up driving back out there a few days later (Maggie - I swear I am really really sorry!!!!!!)

Uxbridge is the home of Berroco, and this store had a really great selection of it. They weren't limited to Berroco - they had a really nice range in everything from sock to chunky yarns. Totally worth the out of the way drive. The owner was friendly and helpful, while still giving us lots of room to explore on our own.

I couldnt leave without some more baby yarn - this time for the baby girl Dee is having in the winter.

Plymouth Dream Baby

The plan is to combine it with this Berroco Comfort DK. How adorable will this be!

I couldn't resist this Cascade Heritage sock yarn. It was so soft.

May be a strange combination but I'm thinking of using them together in a pair of socks

Finally I picked up this Lang Yarns Nubia - it just felt so rich and perfect for a fall sweater.

The last stop on my latest string of yarn crawling was The Beauty of Yarn in Providence. A little tiny shop but with a nice selection of yarns and accessories. I got a really warm welcome from the owner who was willing to answer questions or let me explore on my own without pressure either way. This shop had a few yarns I hadnt seen elsewhere, things like the jelly yarn that was all the rage to knit up bags. She also had some really different colors (brighter and even a few that were almost neon). There were some really interesting projects knit up that were not standard for yarn shops including a wide brimmed summer hat and bathing suit. I did pick up a bit of Knitting Fever Paillette on sale that I know will be the perfect accent to something one of these days.
As usual, each purchase left me more inspired to go start some sort of new project - which explains the 5 projects now on needles.

Yarn crawling has left me with one question though - why are so many yarn stores not opened past 4:00 o'clock; why do so many close early on Saturdays or not open at all on Sundays? Is it just me or does it seem really silly? Anyone?

My Mojo has returned!

2008-09-09T17:17:00.005-04:00

I promised myself I wouldn't get discouraged. I'd just knit through the wierdness that was coming out on my needles, and finally my mojo has found its way back to me!

I moved down a size and went to smaller needles and started out again. In an effort not to overwhelm myself, and perhaps for a bit of amusement, I frogged only one skein of yarn at a time from my massive Juliet Cardigan as I knit the new one. I immediately fell in love with the sweater all over again and actually liked it more with its tighter stitches. It was knitting up pretty fast and I was starting to feel much better about the whole fiasco. Especially when I compared the two tops and could see I was on the right track.

As usual it became a bit of an obsession - I was off work for a few vacation days and knitting so much that I actually had to take a break to give my hands a rest! Of course I went yarn store exploring - but by then I had a reason - I needed to find the perfect buttons! Knit Purl in Providence came through with these fantastic wooden buttons with pink in them.

Motivation, the return of my mojo, and rested fingers - yep I was ready for the home stretch. I breezed through the last few inches and sailed through making the button loops and sewing the buttons on - I was weaving ends as I went so that was done too. What do you know a perfect fit and a sweater that I'm thrilled with!

I'm back to loving knitting again. Of course now there are about a dozen projects I want to take on - but at least I have the confidence to do them now!

Five Reasons to Hoard Yarn

2008-09-03T22:02:00.003-04:00

Made a recent visit to The Yarn Shop in Uxbridge, MA... (awesome shop if you find yourself in Uxbridge - although I havent figured out what else is in Uxbridge except the Yarn Shop - so put it on your list and make a trip

Anyway - this was framed by the register and gave us quite a good laugh. (quick google helped me find this and give proper credit to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's "At Knit's End, Meditation for women who knit too much")

5 Reasons to Hoard Yarn:

1. If you get enough of it, yarn can act as house insulation.

2. Yarns get discontinued. Think about that, then buy accordingly.

3. Nobody is ever going to understand how seriously you take knitting if you don´t have lots of yarn as proof.

4. Yarn has absolutely no expiration date.

5. Hairless cats appeared in Toronto in 1963. What if that happens to sheep? What if it spreads? What if all that is left in the world is what you have?

I could probably come up with another 5 reasons - who am I kidding, every obsessed knitter could come up with at least another 5 - feel free to comment and share yours!

Where is my mojo!?

2008-08-25T20:22:00.001-04:00

After my spring thaw sock failure, and my fun with Baby Yeti, I opted to knit the Juliet Cardigan - simple, not much more than a garter stitch and then a six row pattern repeat. I found this really wonderful soft ice pink Sandnes Garn Fiesta and set out to work.

The top knit up really fast and I was totally enjoying the mindless factor. The sweater is knit top down so I was able to try it on and make sure the armholes were long enough and keep going. It was a bit stretched - as only a heavier weight yarn and larger needles could be but I kept going. I will admit to this sneaking feeling of dread the more I did though. I cast off the final stitch on Friday night - all excited to find the perfect buttons. It looked big on the needles, but I figured it was just because it was all in one piece - I tried it on - total hugeness. Had I even entertained asking my 6'2" boyfriend to try it on I'd venture to say it would be huge on him too - but lets face it - he's just all man, the sweater was ice pink and it was just never going to happen. Seeing it swim on him while amusing would not eliminate the fact that it was just gigantic! What the !*&(@# - Could someone please tell me where my knitting mojo has gone?!

I actually threw it in the washer and dryer, figuring even though it was acrylic blend it would regain some of its snap from being weighted down on the needles...nope to quote my friend Dee who walked in just after it came out of the dryer "Wow its just massive isn't it?!" While Dee's lovely British accent and choice of words made it all sound so much more tolerable when she said it, truly when you come right down to it - it is just another knitting UGH! (funny - but totally pathetic!)

Seriously look at this thing - I mean its very pretty and all in spite of its size.

I took a correctly sized sweater made when I had my knitting mojo - even when I take into account that one is a short waist pullover and the other is supposed to be a longer cardigan the ridiculous factor, as embarrassing as it is - must be shared.

If there were knitting police, I swear they would either be writing me a ticket or revoking my needles or something. I just dont understand it - I'm careful, I swatch, I read the directions, I even check for errata..so tell me exactly how I came up with a sweater that is big enough to be a blanket for two people!

One more deep breath. I have a plan. I'm going to use a size smaller needle and one size smaller pattern. I will try on obsessively as I go, even if that means running a lifeline so I can try it off the needles. I'm frogging the big one and transforming it into one that fits. I may even knit directly from the oversized mess for that matter! I will not be swayed - you can't have my needles, I will find my knitting mojo - who knows, maybe its buried in my stash somewhere?!

Baby Cuteness

2008-08-15T21:42:00.001-04:00

Stitch and Bitch has been a great source of making new friends after moving. I love the company, the laughs and seeing what everyone is working on each Wednesday night. What I also love is watching the pregnant bellies of a few of our knitters grow. Its so much fun when its not you!

Without sounding ancient, it was more unusual for people to find out what sex child you were carrying when I was having my girls. I remember picking a both boy and girl nursery accessories and layettes and then having my mother call to tell the stores which to deliver. Of course knitting anything for a baby that wasnt yellow, white or green was a gamble - so I didnt do much baby knitting - which of course meant I missed out on all the fun of knitting little tiny baby sleeves and backs of sweaters that are the size of a dishcloth. I felt like I was working in miniature land!

First up - Raquel's baby boy due next month. Navy blue Baby Yeti in a nice washable boucle

Two more bellies to watch grow - two more patterns to pick...

Sock Frustration

2008-08-05T22:31:00.002-04:00

I'm totally in love with this spring thaw sock - I got on my way and it didn't take much time to finish the first one at all - it fit when I turned the heel, so I went crazy and finished it. Its SO pretty

I couldnt wait to see it on my foot. Can you just hear me sighing from where you sit - the stupid beautiful wonderful sock is just a tad too big. Uggh! When measuring the row gauge I should have measured from the pattern and not the regular stockinette side. Yep I'm an idiot.

I'm in this "well its all experience" mode, so I decide I'm fearless and I do love the socks enough to want to do them really well - I'll just start over and knit both together using the magic loop. In theory this is a very good idea - unless of course you are like me and tend to try to make knitting part of your chill out and be mindless activity. The supremely bad idea was trying to turn two heels watching two patterns that need to go in opposite directions all while relaxing in front of tv. I gave up after turning both heels a few times each and not getting the right number of stitches.

So sad....so now I have one beautifully knit sock that is too big and I'm not feeling like making another one to share - call me selfish but I want them for me.

My plan is to take a deep breath and a little break - and to find another winter white yarn that is more similar (if not exactly the same) to the one the pattern calls for.

I'm not giving up - I'm just looking at it as learning to calm my obsessive nature!

Sharing the love

2008-07-25T12:37:00.011-04:00

Most people just dont realize the time (or expense) that goes into a hand knit project. I've always done little projects for people - flower wash cloths were a big gift for a while. They only take a few hours each to make and when packaged with a nice bar of soap, they make a nice gift.

Last year I got a bit more ambitious and made fuzzy feet for family and some close friends - Looking back I'm still wondering how I managed 9 pairs of slippers without going insane...then again I havent made a pair since (fuzzy feet burnout perhaps)

Of course there is that rare time that I knit specifically for someone else - like the stained glass felted bag for my mother. Huge project, but her excitement was contagious, so I finished it pretty quickly.

In the fall I started to wonder what do you do with projects you made that dont get worn or used. For example - the hat I made for myself that I just never wear (because I would rather cold ears than hat head). See now my friend Nancy thought it was perfect - and it fit her perfectly too.

Then there was the dance shrug that I made for my daughter that rarely got worn when she was home and then was left behind when she went off to college. Enter my friend Diane who dances all the time (yes my daughter said it was fine to give it a new home!). Diane wears it often and was even kind enough to tell me other dancers were envious (positive reinforcement is so nice you know!)

My latest share was with my friend Beth. I discovered her feet were a bit bigger than mine, I had my Crazy Monkey socks in my drawer, knowing that I'd never wear them with shoes because they were a tad too big so the heel was too far up for me. Beth was very happy to take my "Those Crazy Monkeys" socks off my hands (or feet if you want to be technical).

Maybe its having more time to knit than I used to, maybe I'm even knitting faster than before, but somehow I'm getting much more of a kick out of sharing my projects with people. Of course it will be a long time before I share my knits with people who dont understand my obsession - but I may even consider taking on a project that is meant for someone else from the start!

Fearless knitters

2008-07-24T21:21:00.000-04:00

There's been talk about fearless knitters online lately - taking on projects that you normally wouldnt. Trying things that you've stayed away from. But I have to remark on fearless knitters of another kind.

Wednesday July 23rd somewhere about 4:15 in the afternoon, the EAS warning comes over the TV - you know those "in the case of an actual emergency you would have been notified" etc etc messages. I seriously cant remember ever hearing anything other than the test message - until Wednesday when the message is, people in the Taunton area should take cover immediately, go to your basement, abandon mobile homes, if you're outside find a ditch and cover your head" Are you seriously joking? Tornado warnings headed right for us - so I sat, freaking out in my basement watching the little pink dot get closer and closer as I contemplated if I needed to be just in the basement or if I should be hiding under our pool table! I watched, stayed on my cell phone and amused my family and friends with what a ridiculous chick I was.

All the while, I sat thinking - but there's knitting tonight! Of course the pink dot went past, the sky never turned green, there was no tornado (lots of very heavy wind, massive thunder and lightening and downpours of rain, but no funnel clouds). The sun came out in plenty of time to gather up my projects and head to the other side of town.

I had pretty much figured that I was one of maybe a handful of people that would bother heading to knit tonight - but what can I say, I'm obsessed. Not only did we have 7 of our regulars, but we had 3, count em 3 new members to the Taunton Stitch and Bitch (welcome to Meghan, Caroline and Wendy!). I guess I'm not the only one who's obsessed - and I guess we are all pretty fearless.

Great fun - even as the skies opened up when it was time to leave (aww what a shame, a few more rows got done).

I love our group - fearless in many ways!

Sock Obsession

2008-07-14T19:20:00.007-04:00

While surfing I came across the new issue of Knitter's, which had Cat Bordhi's Spring Thaw Socks pattern in it. I have absolutely no idea why, but I became totally obsessed with knitting a pair. Knowing I would be traveling, I figured a pair of socks would be more portable and I just couldn't put these in the queue - they had to be knit NOW!

Here's when you know that you are ridiculously obsessed with a project. I started to knit my gauge swatch on Wednesday night - I was way over. Even moving down a size needle I was still way off. I had selected a yarn that I thought was the correct weight, but turns out it was double strand...oh well...off to the stash it goes. Most normal people would just put the project aside and wait until they got back to find the right yarn. Remember though, I'm obsessed, and these socks were screaming "make me" to me. I ran to KG Krafts in the morning as soon as I was finished packing so I could get replacement yarn and smaller needles to ensure I could get gauge. I make it back just in time to get my bags in the car and head to the airport (congrats to my boyfriend for not uttering a single word and just smiling as if he understood that I couldnt get on the plane without the correct knitting project).

Armed with some Red Heart Luster Sheen and a pair of size two circular needles I made yet another swatch - still too big. Down to the size ones, but luckily I had planned ahead and had them with me! Swatch complete its time to take on these socks. Turns out they are challenging me at every step!

These socks are made on 2 circular needles - new concept to me but hey I'll try anything once (except maybe colorwork!) The cast on is "Judy's Magic Cast on" similar to a turkish cast on I had pretty good success with before. It involves wrapping the yarn around both needles then knitting one side than the other. The instructions in the magazine are actually pretty detailed. Maybe it would have been easier if I had not been trying to cast on in the airport next to two small children whose mother had evidently never taught them about using their "indoor voices", but if I want to be honest I'd just admit I was over thinking it...once I just "did it" it fit into place.

Onto to the next challenge - a chart! I have avoided charts since I started knitting - all those small boxes. Amazing that lines and lines of computer code dont phase me; I don't blink and eye at complex recipes for intricate cooking dishes...but a simple knitting chart - well total fear to the point of walking away...until these socks! I'm all ready to take on the chart and wouldnt you know it I cant figure out the first stupid stitch - [k1 tbl, yo, k1 tbl in st]. Seriously - what is this? This is the part once again where I thank my lucky stitches for Ravelry! I put up a post, head out for a few hours and come back to find posts with interpretations and explanations - sure enough, one made perfect sense and I was over the hurdle. Remebering to knit through the back loop and a few more stitches to learn but I'm getting into this sock. I got more and more excited as my first leaf pattern started to appear - and looking like the photo no less!

I'm in the groove at this point, knitting my way back home just in time to start the second leaf which begins before the first one is done. Armed with two row counters I continue on my way.

Next challenge - turning the heel with wrap and turns - one more new thing to learn. Wrap and turn - seems so simple - and once again I have to stop over thinking it!

At this point I'm sighing a sigh of relief and still psyched to keep going. I'm understanding why socks become their own addiction.

Fred Still Hates String

2008-07-08T15:00:00.001-04:00

When choosing my name for Ravelry (which of course led to this blog) - I went to my oldest daughter who works in advertising and marketing to come up with something catchy and fun - it took her about a minute to come up with “FredHatesString” which still makes me laugh.

Fred is our black cat - he was a stray that found us about 3 weeks after we moved into our new place. It started out that he would come up and tentatively eat the tuna or cat food that I put out for him while keeping a safe distance. Eventually he let me pat him after he ate, and then soon enough he was sitting on my lap as we took in the view of the lake each evening. We didnt bring him in the house at first, that would go against our deciding not to have pets in the new place. However, I admit it - I’m a sap - I’m a total sucker for a cute cat face - and having the best boyfriend in the world, he let me be a sucker. So now we have Fred the indoor cat, who being an former all outside kitty really has no use for those bright shiny cat toys or yarn, or string of any kind.

The cat truly amuses me - especially last night when with his choice of one knitting project on dangling circular needles, one crochet project have in a state of unravel, and one crochet project in progress with an attached dancing ball of yarn, Fred decides that the Hamburger on the Bon Appetit Magazine is just way more to his liking….

Time for a real crochet project

2008-07-04T14:58:00.001-04:00

So one bath poof does not a crocheter make. In my efforts to see just how much I liked crocheting I decided take the plunge after finding the pattern for the Boteh Scarf on Ravelry. I have all this sock yarn in my stash and figured I could use one of those…or not…each project just brings so many lessons.

I started out using some Madeline Tosh Viola. I love the colors, and thought it would be fun. With a little help at our SnB (Thanks Maggie) I was on my way, half double crocheting myself into happiness. Here’s the thing with crocheting - ripping is WAY easier than knitting, which was a very good thing because I ripped the first triangle out probably 4 times. Next to the loops…ahh the double treble crochet. Not so terrifying, not so difficult. I complete a few triangles ripping a billion times more along the way - and the more I did the more I obsessed that its just not looking like the picture. I determine it must be the yarn - maybe a variegated yarn wasnt right for this project (I refused to accept that I just couldnt master crocheting, although the thought did enter my mind).

Notice below - kind of skimpy looking; totally not doing the angle thing that will make this long; no way this thing will ever lie flat; not to mention the overall appearance is just not something I see being warn by me…well…ever!

Lessons so far:
1. Admit when something looks like crap
2. Dont bother working on something when you dont like the way it looks - you’re destined either not to finish it, or to finish it and not wear it.
3. Variegated sock yarn is probably best left to be used for socks

At the same time (because I am of course obsessed), I come across the new patterns just out in the Summer issue of Knitters Magazine. There are these socks that I just must make (and not with this yarn either)…holiday weekend coming up and I can feel my knitting ADD kicking in. There are a billion things I want to work on and while I’m enjoying the cardigan I have on the needles, its just not holding my attention long term. Add that to my feeling less and less attached to this scarf I decide to search out a copy of Knitter’s Magazine. Several phone calls later I find that of course my good old LYS Black Sheep Knitting in Needham had it. I decide to take the drive - and bribe Tamika from our SnB with the missing #2 bamboo double pointed needle she needed to come along. Fun company, but the best was her reaction to the store - she encapsulated my feeling about Black Sheep Knitting in two words Yarn Porn How perfect a phrase is that!! But I digress…back on track. While perusing the yarn porn I find this beautiful Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette in a light plum that I thought would be awesome for my scarf.

Back home and ready to try again (before I start the socks) I sit down and read through the instructions once again which brings me to the most important lesson
3. Read the *&*^*%* instructions and follow them AS THEY ARE WRITTEN

No wonder the thing doesnt look right - I’m adding 5 chained stitches where they domt belong. Well now I’m just charged to go and jump in with both feet (ok hands). There is no question that this pattern is much better suited by a solid yarn - its also really suited to be worked the way it was written. All of a sudden it all makes sense and I’m just cruising along - with 6 triangles out of 16 complete in one evening and one morning of work.

I still wouldnt call myself a crocheter yet - but I’m on my way!

My Watergarden Shrug

2008-06-22T16:56:00.001-04:00

After a few starts and stops, a rip here and there, a challenge or two… I finished my shrug! Even with all the small issues, this was so much fun to make. There was a certain freedom in this project - choosing which yarn to use when and what stitch to use with it. Not that I couldnt do that on any project, but this one actually required it!

We were talking about those patterns that are fun but you only do once - I definitely want to try this one again -

On to the next project

Life lines and scissors

2008-06-12T08:22:00.001-04:00

So I’m having a great time with my shrug - mixing fibers - feels like free form knitting. This is knit in all one piece cuff to cuff. As I get closer to finishing the “back” I’m just having that feeling that something isnt making sense. Its beautiful but its just not looking like the diagram.

I decided to go right to the source and email Jane Thornley with my need for clarification. Can I just say that not only was she quick to respond, but she was really supportive and helpful.

I sent Jane this photo for diagnosis:

Turns out that I dont have enough width - therefore I didnt make enough increases which is why the sleeve looks funny. I’d rant about my inability to properly measure width but I’ve already kicked myself over and over for this - stupid really stretchy knitting! Jane explained this wasnt catostrophic or anything - I just needed to work around it. I particularly love the part that says that it looks like I have about 23 inches between the two dark purple stripes so I can make that my back - ok I’m impressed - there was exactly 23 inches between the stripes.

So the plan is to rip back to the stripe on one side and from the cuff up to the first stripe. Then start both sleeves and space my decreases along the 18 inches I need for the sleeves. I’ve never had to rip from the cuff up - I know I’ve had discussions with people about how impossible it was, but the cuff was knit in art yarns silk and I really didnt want to lose it. So I sat down at the dining room table and snipped to start unraveling the cuff. Not so easy - it was done with 2 yarns. I set out to save the silk and not worry about the glace. Talk about an excercise in patience…no lie it took 3 hours to pull out the cuff, and when I wound the little bit of art yarns silk I really wondered if it was worth it.

I then started on the task of ripping out the other yarns back to the stripe we decided marked the body - lets just say between trying to rip backwards, combined with all the crazy fibers this is made with I spent a futile hour and threw my hands up in the air. I ran a life line by the body stripe and pulled out my scissors. I then sat in utter terror for at least 20 minutes deciding if I could really take a scissors to this project. I built myself up - I have a lifeline; I can’t possibly finish it the way that it is; certainly this is better than ripping the whole thing and starting again…still…that little voice was screaming in horror as I started to snip threads. After the first 5 were cut I just gave it up and went at it to get the whole process over with. When I was done I immediately went to get the stitches back on the needles in hopes that the cold sweat would stop and I could breath again….phew…it did and I could. sat in post trauma for about another 10 minutes and finally went about ripping the remnants of my sleeve the “normal” way - which of course took all of 5 minutes. I carefully wound each ball of each yarn and got myself re-organized.

I’m back to knitting, every row taking me further away from the terrifying fix and closer to finishing.

Shouldn’t be long now…stay tuned!

OK So I’m a fiberholic

2008-06-02T15:21:00.002-04:00

Part of finishing projects is that emptieness I’m left with when I only have one substantial project on the needles - a far cry from when I thought the only way to knit was to do one thing at a time - seriously where’s the fun in that!

I found a really cute sweater pattern I wanted to start on, and while I was considering using a yarn from my stash I figured it was a good time to go explore the yarn stores I hadnt been to in a while. I also took the opportunity to bring my daughter who has finally decided that knitting may just be fun after all.

We headed to Yarn it All in North Attleboro, and while I didnt find anything for my sweater pattern I did take advantage of some very awesome yarns that were marked way way down. The Water Garden shrug has me looking at all those funky fibers again with an eye on making another one - so how could I resist:

Showstopper

Sachet

We decided to head down to Sakonnet Purls. I figured my daughter would find something in the many rooms there that she liked. I love exploring all the rooms of fibers, even I get a bit overwhelmed at times but its just so much fun. They were a great help finding my daughter a book of beginner patterns that she really liked and some bright orange sheep shop yarn, trendy enough to get her even more motivated. Still no luck for me with my pattern but a consult with the staff helped me decide to use what was in my stash already - which of course left me looking just for fun. There it was, not whispering to me, not even calling to me - no it was screaming and shouting, take me home, you must have me. It was one of those times that the yarn just made me happy to look at it, and hold it. The price will remain a secret as it was a full 300 yards, I will only call it overly indulgent and totally fantastic. How can you not just love this!

Cool Stuff by Prism

I have no idea what it will become - ideas are always welcome, but whatever it will be I’m just looking forward to working with it and wearing whatever it becomes.

I am just going to own that I’m a fiberholic - as a matter of fact I’m pretty comfortable with it!

Taking the crochet edge a bit further

2008-06-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

Seeing that I’m a fan of the quick hit here and there project wise, I’m always looking for those little projects. I’m a huge fan of the flower washcloth from weekend knitting - I’ve given tons of them as gifts over the years. They’re fun…but..

So I was given a pattern for a knit soap holder pattern to try (Thanks Kim). They were easy, very fast and cute. Made of cotton it could just hang in the shower and you avoid the soapy slippery mess wet soap makes when it sits.

My boyfriend was mildly amused by my soap holder gift that matched the shower for him, but I’m more of a shower gel kinda girl - so where does that leave me?! Anyway, these soap holders have a crochet hanging handle - crochet chain once again. I got to thinking, It seems that pretty much every piece I work on lately has a single crochet edge as part of finishing. I was always pretty comfortable with it - even more so since taking the crochet workshop a few months ago. So - why not take it one baby step further. Add the incentive of some pretty talented crocheters at the Taunton Stitch and Bitch (thanks Maria and Maggie) who I knew I could depend on to walk me through a step or two and I wanted to try something…very small…very quick.

OK probably not my best choice for clear cut and simple, but factor in that I can laugh at myself better than anyone. I started it, ripped the entire thing out, then started again - and I actually managed to get the hang of it. Crocheting is quite fun - and wow does it go fast compared to most of my knitting!

Behold the bath poof (insert your ooooo’s and ahhhh’s here)I’m actually looking at crochet patterns to try for the first time ever. How can you not have another excuse to buy yarn! Yep - the obsession expands!

Fiber mixing at its best

2008-05-22T11:14:00.002-04:00

Having finished two projects put me right in the whats next mode - actually I started poking around ravelry as soon as I saw the completion of my projects within close reach. I came across a project that I just had to do - the Water Garden Shrug by Jane Thornley. There were a lot of things that really appealed to me about this project. First of all it was not a short little shrug its more like a cardigan in length which opens it up to all sorts of wardrobe possibilities. Second of all it was a perfect chance to dive into my stash and get at the some of the art yarns beaded silks that I had purchased.

I headed off to Black Sheep Knitting in Needham and reveled in their shared enthusiasm as we pulled every crazy purple and blue we could find out to see what would go with what. Can I just say once again how much these women rock my knitting world. It was like planning out a big canvas of art - which fiber would go well with what, and next to what, which needed to be mixed together, which would go well on their own. I was the kid in the candy store. It was the yarn purchase that dreams are made of!

The makings of my water garden shurg

So the last two projects were more about the stitches - this one is more about the textures and colors and truly its a knitting blast. It’s knitting up pretty quickly - I even found a few more yarns in my stash that I can bring in if I feel like it. There’s no way to get bored with it either - because you’re never using the same fiber long enough.

I’ve got one “sleeve” completed and am now working on the back -
How much fun is this:

Truly this project is a fiberholics dream!

Mission: Finish Projects!

2008-05-20T09:12:00.001-04:00

Its interesting to me to see how my knitting moods change - some days its all about browsing patterns and yarns that I want to work with, others days its all about finishing what I have on the needles. There’s this point in a project when that need to finish kicks in beyond all my other knitting impulses and I start on “mission finish”. Which is what I’ve been on for the past few weeks.

It started out with my art yarns triangle tank. I was downright gleeful when I got to putting it together and putting on the crochet edge. This sweater was an exercise in patience at some points - especially when I discovered that I was doing one triangle totally backwards! I also learned that loving a yarn so much really helps to provide motivation to just go back and do it correctly. I think this is one of my favorite finished projects to date. I’ve already worn it a few times.

Art Yarns Triangle Top
I’m especially fond of the detail in this sweater - right down to the beaded edging

So - armed with the joy of a finished project I set out to take on the simple summer shell. I purchased the yarn the same day as all the other art yarns now in my stash so somehow it seemed fitting. I modified this pattern a bit by putting in on circular needles instead of seaming it, which added a bit more challenge when I was working on it but totally saved me hours of stitching. Two days later, I had completed this top too!

Summer ShellTruly the real joy in finishing two projects pretty much at the same time was wearing something new I knitted two days in a row. Almost as good as realizing that I can start to figure out what I want to work on next!!

You always need the right tools

2008-04-27T14:36:00.000-04:00

My father taught me you always need the right tools to do the job correctly. I’ll say right off the top, I’m quite sure he wasnt referring to washing machines or knitting, but he did have the best appreciation for gadgets. So, guilt ridden by too many projects halfway done, I set out to at least finish the felting ones. (ok perhaps Bruce continuing to remind me that his slippers were well worn had a little to do with it). I love felting - I have no idea why I get such a kick out of it, but I do. However I also have a front loading washing machine - the two don’t really mix. I’ve read tons of articles and posts about how to felt by hand - ummm nope, not finding the fun in it. I could also drive to my mothers and use her top loader - which admittedly is fun, but there are more (better) reasons to go visit and driving back with a car full of wet wool has its down side.

You have to love the internet. You have to love my obsession to find a better way. You have to love people who are smart enough to invent solutions to problems, and those who solve different problems with them. I give you….

The Wonder Washer

Cute isnt it? This is just the best invention for felting.
1. You use far less water than in a top loading washer
2. You add your own hot water, in my case I actually add hot tap and just boiled water - perfect
3. The agitation cycle is about 15 minutes and then it stops - you dont have to worry about the spin cycle starting
4. I found it online for about $30.00 (pre shipping)

So right tools in hand I set out to felt my bobble basket and Bruce’s slippers. Not super pleased with the bobble basket - wrong combination of yarns. I think in this case it just may be better to forget the disappointment and moving on to the rest of my unfinished projects. On the up side - the slippers are perfect.

- Happily felted and dry and finally where they rightfully belong - on my boyfriends feet.

Just how many projects can a knitter knit?

2008-04-26T19:05:00.000-04:00

So I’m in this new mindset lately. I was always one of those knitters who had at most 2 projects on the needles at a time. Usually one bigger one, and one portable one; or at the very least one more portable than the other. It was always good enough -and one project would generally decide it had to be finished first so I’d just concentrate on that one.

OK, so here I am at this new stage in life, enjoying my lack of structure. Maybe this is why all of a sudden I have, for lack of a better term, knitting A.D.D. It started after I finished my cardigan. I looked at my nice organized stash - a little closet with all my fibers properly divided into clear plastic bags. I couldnt decide what to work on first. I opted for my art yarns top - after all, I had wanted to do this pattern for a really long time. I got a good start on it only to decide that I had to also start the bamboo project I found on my recent trip to Bella Yarns. After all that was going to be two color so it would be a different challenge. I fully admit to now losing control - and casting on a cotton shell I’ve knit before but wanted to do again. What on earth is going on? Exactly why do I need three sweaters going at once?!?

You know three sweaters would probably be ok, but now lets count the smaller projects shall we? There’s the mango moon bag, a felted bobble basket, and yes, my wonderful boyfriend wore out his slippers and wants another pair (ok truthfully this is probably one of the best compliments I could ever get as a knitter - my “I dont like or wear sweaters” boyfriend actually asked me to knit him something.

OK so that 6 projects on the needles as I sit here typing. Enough right? One would think so? I can actually justify most of it - the art yarns silk is good to work on when I feel like paying attention and counting stitches; the alchemy bamboo is a cable project; the cotton is good ole stockinette so its mindless, but then again, the bag and the basket is mindless too and the slippers are…well they’re almost finished so they dont count. Someone please tell me why, even as I sit here typing about the obsession that is my knitting habit I am still actually thinking about casting on a pair of socks? Seriously this is the coolest thing - its flat yarn that you knit into socks…

I think I’ve taken this lack of structure in my life a bit too far, although I could play devils advocate and say I’m structuring my knitting moods. I though perhaps a good blog entry would force me to take a step back and realize I’ve gone a bit overboard. Perhaps it has…or perhaps I’m going to sit in my stash closet and enjoy all the possibilities!

Continuing Education

2008-04-14T20:56:00.001-04:00

About a month or so back, I get an email that the Metrowest Knitters guild was sponsoring classes with John McGowan-Michael. This was pretty exciting to me as White Lies Designs has been a favorite bookmark of mine for some time now. I thought, well one of the real perks of this whole new empty nester thing was that I could sign up for classes without having to reschedule or rearrange any obligations - this remains an entirely new feeling for me that I have yet to get used to - but what a way to practice the new concept!

I signed up for two classes. Of course the learning started before the classes. My first assignment to prepare - swatches in stockinette stitch. No problem right? Set me right into obsession when I kept trying new edge stitches. From what I googled and polled every knitter I talked to - there are two most commonly used options for making the perfect edge. I tried each and I think I’ve decided I prefer the slip the first stitch of every row method. Trust me, this was a real process that actually had me make 4 swatches instead of two! Onto the classes

Crochet for Knits. Armed with my two swatches, I feel like I learned so much. I now really do know the difference between single, double and triple crochet. I loved learning a crochet cast, but my total empowerment was learning a provisional cast on! The whole waste yarn for live stitches later has been a mystery to me - Joan will forever be a knitting hero for demystifying the whole thing for me! We went on to learn shell edging and a simple flounce edge too. Even a crochet flower. There are more stitches to try but I’m all about using crochet in my knitting (ahh the joy of finding more fiber related obsessions).

Small examples - but significant!

Button Holes within single crochet edge
Shell Edge

Beading for Knits
This was a total blast. Being as attracted to small shiny objects the way I am this was right up my alley. We learned a few techniques to bead flowers, stems and leaves. Within a few hours voila, I had beaded myself a little extra something on my swatch. This is awesome on several new levels, not only is it fun, but it opens up a ton more exploratory shopping opportunities. Admittedly I dont think I’ll be beading everything I’m working on, but I’m sure it will make it to a project or two before long.

I’m so impressed with myself!

While there I did purchased the to the Angelina Vintage Jacket pattern that has me returning to White Lies Designs over and over again.

AngelinaBut now that I have all this new found knowledge of crochet. I’m going to be brave (and fall back on my friends who know how to crochet) and order the Marcela kit
So can I just say this in closing: Joan McGowan Michaels truly rocks. She’s easy to follow and a joy to learn from. If you have the opportunity, take a class with her. How can you not adore a woman who helps you take your obsession to a whole new level!

For the love of Art Yarns

2008-04-12T18:37:00.000-04:00

I havent even finished the art yarns silk top I’m working on, but I absolutely love knitting with it. So when Black Sheep Knitting announced an art yarns trunk show I wasnt going to miss it.

This was to be a perfect day. Dee from my Stitch and Bitch decided she’d come along to check out my favorite LYS. We met up with my friend Rose for one of my favorite pre yarn shopping activity - sushi. Fantastic company and an excellent lunch…ready to go.

Walking into a table full of all these lush colors of silk and the sparkles of the beaded silks was a real treat. Oooo all the shiney things! I could see all sorts of ways to use this as an accent, or maybe I would change my ways and make a summer scarf. All I can say is what fun!

I also fell in love with this rowan all seasons cotton - the color just called to me from the other side of the store. It told me it needs to be this summer shell that I’ve been wanting to make again for a while.

Now let me pause and take a minute to congratulate Dee for showing restraint. Truly impressive and I should take a lesson from it, although I fail to see the fun in restraint where yarn is concerned! So I made quite the haul and added to my stash, which of course was in serious need of additions (you are hearing the obvious sarcasm yes?). But there is nothing like the feeling of laying out your new purchases, each one with so much possibility.

It was a pretty perfect day!

Knitting fun with food

2008-04-07T16:42:00.001-04:00

This seriously takes playing with your food to a whole new level

The evolution of my cardigan

2008-04-05T14:25:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning feeling totally triumphant. Last night I finished my Cardigan. The colinette giotto found its way home with me 3 years ago already I think. I started out with a garter stitch tank top. My second try at this pattern by the way (a mistake I wont make again). I just never liked the way the thing knit up. I put it aside twice and picked it up because I loved the yarn - not the pattern.

I finally admitted I just hated the way it was looking….and frogged the whole thing right back onto the winder. OK now what to do with enough once knitted giotto for a sweater. Special thanks to Susan at Black Sheep Knitting who directed me to the new colinette giotto book, and to the justine pattern. Given, this was supposed to be a short sleeve cropped top sweater, but changing a pattern never stopped me before.

I do believe that there is something with this yarn though - it took on a life of its own, taunting me ever so slightly. Pushing me put it back into its place…Knitting, ripping, knitting again, then trying to figure out how the pieces went together. I admit that this was NOT one of the easier projects I’ve taken on, but I loved it just the same.

Last night I pieced together the last seam and sewed on all my fantastic buttons…

I write this as it sits in the sink soaking off all of the years of being carried around while it was being constructed, feeling gloriously victorious!

Bella Yarns, Warren RI

2008-03-31T13:28:00.001-04:00

One of the nicest things about being part of a Stitch and Bitch is getting pointed in the direction of even more yarn. Better still when someone wants to take you there! So Maria and I headed off to Bella Yarns. I’m still getting used to stores in Rhode Island being as close (or closer) than so many in Massachusetts.

I’d describe Bella yarns as quaint. There’s a nice selection of yarns lining both sides of the store. There is also a very inviting and comfy area a the back to sit and knit. The salesperson on that morning was Naomi. She was helpful and also gave me plenty of distance to explore on my own. While Bella yarns had a great selection of needles and accessories, I would have liked to see more patterns.

I picked up some beautiful Alchemy Bamboo at a really fantastic price. Naomi went above and beyond by looking up the pattern I thought I wanted to use from my ravelry queue.

Overall, a really nice shop that I’ll go back to.

Felting away the stress

2008-03-30T22:28:00.000-04:00

My knitting nerves shaken by my cardigan mishap I resorted to a quick fix or two.

First I jumped into a spring bag. I had picked the yarn up at Sakonnet Purls on my first visit to the sale shed - a bag I could knit for $16? How could I go wrong. I did have to laugh while knitting it. Size 17 needles just feel ridiculously huge to me. I told my stitch and bitch I felt like Wilma Flintstone when she would knit things for Pebbles with those big bones and the work would just get longer and longer instantly. So I have this bag in just a few days:

At the same time I decided to do what I get the biggest kick out of - felting. So I dove into a spotty basket. I’d like to public thank my boyfriend for doing what he does better than anyone and thats making me laugh.

After I stopped laughing, the felting began and now my spotty basket is now holding our car keys on the table next to the door.

I’m feeling ready to take my Justine cardigan on again!

When bad stitches happen to good knitters

2008-03-27T19:18:00.000-04:00

Admitting you have a problem is the first step right? How about admitting you screwed up one side of a cardigan? Why does this feel like some tragic embarrassment?

I was so excited to finish and put my Justine Cardigan together. Mind you this used to be a tank top that I frogged. I rewound the beautiful giotto yarn, all excited to make something that I really liked instead of the half a tank that sat in my stash for over a year.

All was fine until I laid it out to pin. Seriously - what was I thinking? I had knit a left side armhole into both front sides of the cardigan. How does one not notice this??? I would have taken a photo of it to post, but a reminder of this is not something I want to have - I’m writing about it - isnt that enough?

The pieces of the sweater including the offensive front sat in a pile looking very perfect to the innocent observer. Only I knew the secret. It took 4 days, but I finally ripped out the top half. Perhaps I’ll sit and work on it tonight again.

In the meantime I’ve just about finished a purse and a felted basket - small projects to boost my confidence again perhaps? Who knows…but I will get this cardigan done!

Fresh Purls Providence, RI

2008-03-24T14:15:00.000-04:00

Stop two on my explore yarn shops in my area day…I made the trip here because Susan and Debbie at Black Sheep Knitting raved about it. I wasnt disappointed! Just like my favorite “LYS” I was welcomed warmly. The word that comes to mind about the whole place is just luscious. The store itself is just beautiful with a great selection. Definitely the kind of place I’d feel comfortable sitting and knitting for a while. The staff was gracious and friendly.

New trick learned for me too (because it just never occurred to me) - you can do two strands at once on your winder for patterns calling for doubled yarn.

I found some beautiful Laurel that just insisted on coming home with me

Yarn It All, North Attleboro, MA

2008-03-24T12:28:00.001-04:00

So today was an explore yarn shops day. First stop was A Good Yarn in North Attleboro. Not too far from me and really easy to find. This is a realy sweet shop. I got a warm welcome and quick tour of what was where. The selection is really nice, everything from the basics to more extravegant (my kind of yarn selection). They were also having a really great sale - good values.

I got great input on color combinations while filling in my felting stash. I picked up some lopi and lambs pride for upcoming slipper projects and some beautiful noro for a felted basket I want to try. I’ll definitely be adding this store to my list of local places to visit!

28 N Washington St
North Attleboro, MA 02760

Yarn Shop, Norton, MA

2007-12-23T10:32:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to find someplace close to home… what a royal disappointment!

I went to the Yarn Shop armed with a few projects in tow. I spoke to the woman there (I’m quite sure she was the owner) explaining that I had moved in September, that I had been knitting for years and that I was looking for someplace close to my new home. You’d think that she would be welcoming. Nope - call me childish (perhaps spoiled by the lovely ladies at black sheep knitting), but I think knitters need validation, and I got zero - none - nada! No commentary on the project I had with me, no welcoming, no “we have classes” - not a thing to entice me to shop there.

In spite of myself I bought some yarn - a show of knitter patron good faith perhaps? and decided it must be that she was having a bad day.

I returned a few weeks later, figuring I must have been wrong. How could I not like the shop that was so close to me now. There was a decent selection of yarns, I could make it home…

Let me just say that this woman wouldnt know how to welcome someone if you handed her a script and told her what inflection to use when reciting the words.

My opinion - stay away, there is no yarn worth the trip here. Not even if they’re the only one to have what you’re looking for in the state - find it on the net and pay the shipping. Better yet, spend another few dollars in gas and drive to one of the other shops a bit further down the road.

The Yarn Shop
250 E Main St
Norton, MA 02766

Sakonnet Purls, Tiverton, RI

2007-11-19T14:07:00.000-05:00

A lot of people had mentioned this shop to me. It was the first stop on my “explore every knitting store in my new area” obsession. It was well worth the 30 minute drive.

The shop itself is room after room full of every kind of yarn you could imagine. Seriously - I think there’s an entire room just for chunkier yarns! Shoppers and staff are chatty, friendly and very welcoming. You’re pretty much left on your own to explore, but help navigating is very available. The best part of the whole place though is the sale shack. A little shed outside the store full of sale yarn. Every skein was only $4 and I found a few real treasures.

A fantastic find that I’m sure will be a frequent knitting destination - especially during the summer because it’s right outside of Newport.

3988 Main Road
Tiverton, RI
www.letsknit.com

Black Sheep Knitting Company

2007-10-28T12:01:00.000-04:00

Susan and Debbie have in my opinion what everyone aspires to have if they open a Yarn shop. Black Sheep is a beautiful welcoming shop that makes you feel at home the second you walk through the door. It’s the type of place you want to just sit and knit and enjoy the company of everyone who is there.

The selection is amazing. Yarns from the very basic to really special and different. They have a huge selection of patterns and accessories too. I could easily walk out with at least 4 projects everytime I walk in the door - and that includes those trips that I make just to pick up something like stitch holders! Self control is something I really have to practice when I’m here!

There’s always someone on hand to help you find the right pattern; to show you what’s new and different; or to help you take the concept that’s in your mind and turn it into a project. They give honest input, let you take your time while you change your mind 100 times and always do it with a smile and a sense of humor. What’s really wonderful is they will stay with you every step of your project.

Always worth the trip, these women have forever earned my loyalty to their store. Even after I’ve moved 40 miles away, I still consider this to be my local yarn shop.

Four Stars!!

www.blacksheepknitting.net

Black Sheep Knitting Company
1500 Highland Ave
Needham, MA

Obsessing to the next level

2007-09-27T13:56:00.000-04:00

I’ve often wondered why blog in the first place. Who cares what I think or what I have to say about my life. After spending the past few years knitting with a vengence, I realized that I have a genuine appreciation for what other knitters have to say. So I’m making the grand assumption that perhaps other knitters may be interested in what I have to say, or what experiences I share.

Thus, I have given birth to a blog. Not that my life is only about knitting, but one of my kids wanted to make sure that I wasnt writing about her as the basis for my blog. Knitting is safe…well to write about, knitting is not safe when you get anywhere near a store that carries fiber. Besides, I’m always knitting something so there should be plenty to write about.