November 15, 2006 By

Welcome to Yarnival!, Eve’s brainchild. This is Issue 3 and we’ve got a little bit of everything for everyone! I hope you enjoy the issue. Thanks everyone for your submissions. It was difficult to choose for sure. If you like it, love it, can’t live without it, please consider sumbitting to the next issue, which will be edited by Julie. This is a GREAT resource in finding new patterns, new techniques and new ideas and most definitely, new knitting blogs. Even if you don’t get into one issue of Yarnival!, try, try again! Everyone is welcome and every issue is different – you might be the perfect fit for the next one! Okey dokey – now on with the SHOW!

Kindness is an intrusion people want – no NEED – in their lives, whether they know it or not. Liz tells her story of an act of kindness in “The Shedir and the Spider” and it’s not just a story about strangers helping strangers, but friends helping friends. If you’ve ever considered knitting something for someone, but were a bit afraid about how they’d react, read this. You’ll never doubt an act of kindness again.

Apparently THE CURSE is alive and well in blogland. Don’t know which curse I’m talking about? Do you knit under a rock? It’s The Boyfriend Curse and even though we’d like to think it does, marriage doesn’t make you immune. Just ask Kim. She and the JackAss sweater are living proof. Kirstin’s come up with href=”http://kitknits.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-thoughts-behind-sweater-curse.html” target=”_blank”>one theory as to why the curse exists: knit your boy a sweater and all he sees is Aunt Myrtle and the horrible contraption she knit for him when he was five. And last but not least, Meg thinks that it just might be the pressure we put on our men when knitting for them – href=”http://daysfull.blogspot.com/2006/04/leo-challenging-curse.html” target=”_blank”>she’s got a whole list of pressures – that makes them panic and run. But so far things are working out for her. She knit the sweater and still has her man. Meg, just remember, it’s a helluva lot harder to get out of a mortgage than it is to get out of a marriage. Bottom line: LOVE SUCKS. But knitting rocks.

Blog book tours are all the rage these days! A writer/blogger/knitter writes a book and is then interviewed by various bloggers about said book. It’s a great way to reach your core audience without ever having to get dressed or leave your house. (HUGE plusses in my opinion.) This blog book tour stop is just a little bit more than run of the mill. Deborah Robson presents href=”http://independentstitch.typepad.com/the_independent_stitch/2006/10/arctic_lace_blo.html” target=”_blank”>an interview with Donna Druchanas about her new book, Arctic Lace. What makes this tour stop so special? For one thing, Deborah is Donna’s editor and publisher. And Deborah doesn’t actually interview Donna, Donna interviews Deborah. It’s an insider’s look at knit book publishing. Not to be missed.

Who can forget their first time? The feel of the needles beneath their fingers. The yarn slipping through, gently, gently. The incense, yarn and candles. The Doors singing C’mon Baby Light My Fire in the background. Basement paneling. OOPS! You know what I mean. Who can forget the first time they picked up the sticks? The first project they REALLY made that was REAL, not some day-glo orange Red Heart swatch on bright pink clinky aluminum Susan Bates needles. Oh, that was only me? On the occasion of his one year knitty anniversary, Adam recounts his first time in href=”http://www.adamknits.com/2006/11/01/a-history-of-sorts/” target=”_blank”> “A History of Sorts.” You should read this because, honestly, who doesn’t like first time stories, and because Adam’s a guy in a craft that is dominated by women. (If you’d like to debate this, see below.) Go give Adam the pat on the back he deserves: You’ve come a long way BABY!

Knitting has been around forever. Women have been around forever. I’d like to imagine it wasn’t fig leaves they wore in the Garden of Eden, but rather loin cloths Eve knit from palm fronds she spun into silky softness. Why is it then that men, and many women, think that if you knit – and let’s not limit it to knitting – crafting, domesticity in general – you’ve lost the power and strength that “feminism” has been fighting for forever? Hannah has opened up a discussion, Knitting and Feminism. I’m sure we all have thoughts on this subject. I, for one, have never felt as powerful as I have since the day I learned to knit. And I’ve always been a power hungry kind of girl. Go. Fast. Give your opinion!

Claire and Shirani, the girls over at Cultured Purl, have just started their blog and as a way of introducing themselves to you and you to them, they ask this question: What’s the wackiest place you’ve tried to knit?? Go on over and say hello and tell them about your weirdest, wildest, wackiest knitty adventure!


How to double-row mittens by Rhonda. (It’s a SLIDESHOW!)

How to braid roving by Loribird.

How to weave in ends while knitting by Aija.

How to knit 2 socks on 2 circulars by Sara.

How to knit a sweater that doesn’t fit then learn from your mistakes so you can help others by Laura.

How to re-cable after a mistake by Jenn.

Ruth presents Gauge is a Cruel Mistress. Not only is she cruel, but she may be working for the younger and smaller and more likely t
o fit into stuff that doesn’t fit us that live with us. Bitch.

Julie’s finishing stuff all over the place. In one entry, she gives us a crazy day in the life, all the while modeling her fantastic Forecast FO. Funny, fun, fabulous: it’s FORECAST. And in “For Linda and Louise,” Julie also shows off the finished Shedir she knit for her friend Louise, struggling with cancer. She incorporates this into a moving portrait of her mother-in-law, who died of breast cancer before Julie ever got a chance to meet her, or her son. Keep the Kleenex close for this one – you’re gonna need it.

Kelly turns a bathmat into a vest. Seriously. With a little bit of help from a very eager daughter.

Knit Quilts are the new rage. Don’t believe me? Well take a look at href=”http://knittingsheep.blogspot.com/2006/10/knitted-blanket.html” target=”_blank”>the GORGEOUS blanket Lucy put together. Cotton, squares, bright colors. A cat. What’s not to love? RUN! RIGHT NOW!

It’s TWINS over at LizKnits!

Nothing says glamour like a felted cloche, and this one is stunning. Just lovely, Jennifer. Now if only I looked good in hats.

Katy wrote a Rhinebeck post. Like a year ago. But it’s still funny and great and without further ado I present: With Apologies To Billy Joel.

We’ve all been there, but as Ariel finds out, Breaking up is hard to do.

Who knew discloths could say so much? Kelli Ann obviously as she gives us The Dishcloth of Our Discontent.

Kelp! You need help! That’s a hell of lot to go through for a blog header. But it does look great!

Forget Excel and spreadsheets and software and PDAs. Kathryn keeps beautiful, lovely, handwritten lists of her stash. And she’s got bees and flowers on her note pads. We should all do this.

There’s nothing else to say except that Jenn is kooky and crazy and that S is for SOCKS! If you click on only one link today – make THIS the link. You will not be sorry.

Anyone who’s ever knit while riding the subway knows that the most interesting things can happen. One lucky day, Sharon found out that she could’ve been a brain surgeon.

Knitting can be very, very dangerous. Just ask Kristi. And when it was all over, well, sometimes you have to laugh at yourself ….

Eve started Yarnival! and the whole hunk of the issue thing. I’m raising the bar by nominating Hannah’s husband for hunk of the month. Who wouldn’t want a husband like this? Hannah sings hubby’s praises in, Love, Knitting, and One Skein of Blue Sky Cotton.

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this issue of Yarnival! And remember, when you visit, it’s nice to leave a comment letting folks know you’ve been there. Some of the blogs listed today have had barely a comment. Let them know how it good it feels! One more thing – don’t forget to SUBMIT to next months Yarnival! And if you’re interested in editing a future edition of Yarnival!, head over to Eve’s and let her know. THANK YOU and HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Special Copyright Notice: The posts linked from this page are each the property of their respective authors and are subject to the copyright restrictions as specified by each site. Unless otherwise noted, no reproduction is allowed without express written consent.

https://januaryone.com/blog/yarnival_v1_3_issue/

Filed Under: Yarnival!

Yo Adrian!

November 14, 2006 By

What American accent do you have?

Your Result: Philadelphia

Your accent is as Philadelphian as a cheesesteak! If you’re not from Philadelphia, then you’re from someplace near there like south Jersey, Baltimore, or Wilmington. if you’ve ever journeyed to some far off place where people don’t know that Philly has an accent, someone may have thought you talked a little weird even though they didn’t have a clue what accent it was they heard.
The Northeast
The Midland
The Inland North
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have?
Take More Quizzes

The first time I took this quiz – when it saw over at my Philly pal’s – I was a Midland accent – but my highest percentage was Philly. I was just over at Sandra’s laughing at her because she’s horrified that she came out with a Philly accent and I decided I’d take it again. DUDE! The questions were different this time for sure, but the outcome is all CHEESESTEAK!

The truth is no one outside of the area can pronounce my name the way it’s really meant to pronounced, i.e the way my mother always yelled it – with a glorified Philly A!

Break over. Back to work….

Filed Under: Memememememe

In the ZONE

November 14, 2006 By

DUDES!!! I KICKED ASS yesterday work-wise. KICKED IT! Seriously worked hard and saw RESULTS for it. So today, since I’ve got nothing knit wise (I haven’t picked up the sticks in a couple of days, to be honest) I thought I’d show where my butt will be plastered from this second until they wheel G into the operating room.

This is my messy, messy desk:

Check out what’s on the computer screen:



Snood baby! I did not play Snood in college, or graduate school. Well, that’s not true – I played in my last stint in graduate school. And I have to say, contrary to ruining my life, Snood has helped me in many ways. I’m like Dr. B. in the comments yesterday. She said it helped her through school because it centered her – for me it’s a really great way to open my mind a bit and relax. I used to play one or two games before I would start writing. In a zen sort of way, I would forget all about Snood and start the writing process before I ever opened up the word processing program. Admittedly, it has gotten out of hand once or twice, and for the longest time I wasn’t playing at all. But then I stopped visiting certain websites that caused me much grief (fertility stuff) and since then I’ve had some free computer time so I’ve picked up Snood again. Yesterday I upgraded. That new Armageddon level is a bitch.

I almost forgot – here’s my calendar shot for Deb:


BOOOORING! But necessary. Got to keep track of stuff.

Georgie knows this guy (and when I say know I mean has played tennis with him once or twice – you’ll see why I make this designation in a minute. It’s not like they’re friends or anything.) who developed Deep Vein Thrombosis. Know how he got it? By sitting at his computer for hours on end playing online poker. (You see now why I said Georgie just knows the guy, not really KNOWS the guy? L O S E R.) So my superfantastic friend Ann has taken to calling me every fifteen minutes to tell me to stretch my legs a bit. Her whining concern coupled with the 8 gallons of water I’ve been drinking are making it hard for me to sit still.

She really has nothing to worry about because I rarely stay in one position for long. I try to start out at my desk like this:

But quickly move to this position:


Although most of the time I sit like this:



I want you to know, I put shorts on just for you. 😉
Back to the grind. Don’t forget. YARNIVAL! tomorrow.

Filed Under: Life

Just Another Manic Monday

November 13, 2006 By

Last night I dreamed that I had been elected to the Senate AND the House of Representatives (yes – at the same time – my dream ego is large) but I had to turn them both down because I have too many pictures to process.

Suffice it to say, I’m really busy. Things have kicked into HIGH GEAR at little old CDC Photography and I’m trying really hard to get most things done by 11/27. Which means there are abandoned knits strewn willy nilly all through my house. I tried seaming up some of my squares from the other day, and turns out? I suck at garter stitch seams. In my defense the fact that these seams were knit on the bias might have something to do with that. (By the way, thank you all so much for your support of my crazy projects. It means a lot to me that I can share this stuff with you. Georgie is patient and says the right thing, but somehow I don’t think he really cares about whether to increase every row or every other row, or whether or not you should slip the first stitch. And god help me – don’t ask him about color.) I started back on the Casino shawl and got to the end of row 1 and realized that I had made a mistake somewhere because I have an extra stitch. I found the mistake about a 1/4 way INTO the row. Did I mention there are 300 stitches on the needles? I tinked back about halfway and then had to do something else so it’s still sitting there. Untinked and unknit.

Half knit socks are everywhere. It’s quite sad.

I understand now why I went crazy with the Jaywalker at this time last year. IT WAS EASY! I could knit those socks in my sleep and I practically did and the yarn kept things interesting and it soothed me after a day in front of the computer. I can tell already that I miss socks. But for some reason, OF COURSE!, not the ones I’m knitting RIGHT NOW. Such is the craziness I live with every day.

Yarnival’s due in two days. DUDE. I totally forgot.

The only thing keeping me sane is SNOOD. But I warn you. DO NOT START PLAYING THIS GAME. It will suck you in like a straw trying to get those last remaining drops of a vanilla McDonald’s milkshake. THOOOOOOOOT! DANGER! DANGER! I’m warning you – for your own good – DO NOT PLAY SNOOD.

PS – In my brain addled ness I keep forgetting to mention something VERY IMPORTANT! The fabulous Wendy has set up a fundraiser for my favorite charity Heifer International. She’s giving away some FANTASTIC prizes – so hurry up and show her the money!!!

Filed Under: Life

Bow Tie Template #1

November 10, 2006 By

{mini-rant} RUTGERS, the State University of NEW JERSEY, is now 9-0. The State University of NEW JERSEY. Why do the people of NEW YORK CITY feel the need to co-opt it as their own? They lit the Empire State Building in Rutgers scarlet last night. Please don’t get me started on this. GET YOUR OWN DAMN SPORTS TEAMS! Oh that’s right. You’ve got two that play right here – 2 miles from my house – IN NEW JERSEY!! How can the people of NYC stand themselves that they ALLOW the Giants and the Jets to play in NEW JERSEY. Both teams have signed big agreements basically promising they won’t be leaving NEW JERSEY anytime soon. You know what? I say play on suckas! Guess who gets all the tax revenues from your OUT OF STATE football teams? That’s right. New Joisey. {mini-rant over}

Okay. Sorry about that. That’s two days in a row that I’ve ranted, but it feels good to let it out. On to knits.

Here’s how the new project is going to go.
Take a hundred of these:

And put them together to make 25 of these:

And then keep putting them together and putting them together

and they tell two friends and they tell two friends and so on and so on and so on….

The goal is 100 little squares making up 25 large squares. That’s the goal. The little squares are 6″x6″ and the larger squares are 12″x12″ and I’m hoping this will be big enough to fit on my bed. I see this is a VERY long term project. Very long term. So don’t ask about it. 😉 First off, the yarn colors you see above are not the yarn colors I’ll be using. But I am thinking of making a mini-template using the colors above and maybe a couple more that’s at least 4 large squares big. You know – to work out all the kinks. Before you even ask – I’m knitting garter stitch on size 5 needles. The yarn is Socks That Rock Heavyweight in the following colors: Brick (red), Terra (orange), Spinel (blue) and Olivenite (yellow.) As always, if the colors aren’t on the website, you can email or call Blue Moon to inquire about their availability. Thank you.

First off, I’ve got figure out how to get the squares together. The green blanket was super easy to seam because most of the edges were bound off – this time I’m working with garter stitch edges. I’m going to have to check the books on this one. I think I’ve got the diagonal square down to where I want it: basically knit into the back and front loop of your slip knot – two stitches. Knit next row. Knit into the back and front of both stitches. Now you have four. Knit next row. Now you K1, M1, K2, M1, K1. Knit next row. Continue increasing every other row until you have 50 stitches on the needle. Next row, K1, SSK, K44, K2TOG, K1. Continue decrease rows every other row until you have 30 stitches on the needle. Switch to contrast color and continue decreasing until you have four stitches left. SSK and then K2TOG. Next row knit. K2TOG and draw yarn through remaining stitch.

That’s what I’m most happy with right at this moment. Subject to change, of course, once the seaming is done. I was trying to go for true corners.

I won’t be starting the REAL afghan for a while. First, I have to collect the yarn. I’m in talks with my favorite dyer as to what colors are available in what I want to do. The colors I’m keeping as a surprise. I can’t give up everything, can I? My biggest concern right now is how to put it all together. Question for you quilters – what do you do? Collect fabrics – then do one large square at a time – or do you go along making small squares with whatever fabrics speak to you and then put them together at the end? I mean I’m assuming you would have a color theme or something – but what a task! Color is the most important and hardest part of all of this I think. The wrong color can kill the whole piece. (And before you quilters tell me I could do this in 1/100th of the time it will take me to knit it – I don’t quilt. Apparently it has a lot to do with ironing and I don’t iron. I knit. Not that there’s anything wrong with ironing….)

Whew! So that’s where my head is at. I also ripped back the Casino shawl and I’m going to start it over again on 6s. I, thankfully, didn’t lose the cast on when I ripped back, so everything’s good in that respect. Heather was the one that tipped me over the edge: in the comments the other day she said that on 6s you can always block it out but on 7s – if its too big, it’s too big. Thanks Heather! It all became clear after I read your comment.

It’s back to work for me – I’m doing pretty well getting things done. But before I go, I leave you with a bit of eye candy. The squares and the quilt that took me over the moon!

Filed Under: Bow Tie

Lightning

November 9, 2006 By

Not the weather kind, although it’s really kind of fascinating that Tuesday was pretty nice and today is beautiful and in between we got LITERALLY over 4″ of rain. I had to go back and forth to the store yesterday and every time I went out my town flooded more and more and streets were closed all over the place. Oh and to the fucker in the behemoth SUV literally sitting on my ass: it was one fucking lane and I had ten people in front of me. Where did you think I was going to be able to go? I hope you don’t drive like that when your kids are in the car. Fucker.

Ahem.

I’m talking about the creativity kind. The stuff that hits you and knocks you off your feet and when you finally stand up everything is so crystal clear but just a little too far out of reach and you start running and running in your mind and you breathe a little faster with all the running but it feels so so good. You know what I mean?

I think Nona was right when she said in the comments yesterday that I might be missing my green blanket. I really miss my green blanket. So much so that last night instead of continuing on with my Pomatomus sock or my knee highs or making decisions about Casino, I got into bed – my new favorite place with my glorious new down comforter and duvet and gorgeous purple sheets – and pulled in Nancy Crow with me. I want to start a new blanket. The Palette one isn’t doing it for me – something about the color combinations – and the Random one. Well, I love it, but frankly it’s unwieldy at this point and it takes A LOT to finish a row or section and I’m not in a zen enough place to just knit and knit and knit. I want squares. Squares are extremely satisfying. You finish one and it’s like LOOK! I finished something! Even if it’s just a part of something, but still. It’s a finish. And then you can move onto the next one that’s different. Easy to not get bored that way. And, fresh off my seaming success, I’m all into the seaming of the squares.

So I’m in bed with Nancy and I’m flipping through the pages delighting in her color-eye – because really that’s what it’s all about isn’t it? – and I come to p55 and I stop dead in my tracks. THIS. IS. IT. This is it. This IS it. This is my next blanket. It’s going to be big and intricate and I’m going to have to use a lot of colors and it will be subtle and beautiful and I can see it already finished in my mind laid out on my bed when I come into the room at night or I make the bed in the morning and I linger with it. I touch it and smell it and admire it and I think I MADE THIS. THIS IS ME. And oh my god it was all I could do to get to sleep last night I was so excited. I immediately cast on for the start of a square and knit until it was time to go to sleep, ie, my fingers stopped working even though I had knit the whole blanket in my mind.

This project is so far from even being started and I think that’s what gets me crazy. The creativity is flowing fast and furious but there really isn’t an outlet for it. First off, the whole thing will be a collaboration because someone else will be dying the yarn for me and it will be my vision but it will be the dyers vision as well. You can completely understand why someone like Nancy dyes her own fabrics. It’s all about control of the final product. And how much do I talk about it? I can talk talk talk talk and then when it doesn’t work out or I get bored AGAIN or something else comes along – but whatever – these are my projects and I share them with you and ultimately I’m doing the knitting, so if I need to move along…. Ann mentioned to me yesterday, with almost a sigh (not a bad sigh just a sigh of an excellent friend who’s seen this enthusiasm before and may even get swept up herself but should she really get invested because she knows that in a week it will be all over – it’s like dealing with your best girlfriend in college and her mad love of the week) said that she guessed all my other projects would be taking a back seat. Well, yes, for now. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to knit Am Kamin and that I won’t knit Am Kamin but I’m feeling really interested in THIS right THIS SECOND. Really that’s the beauty of my knitting – no deadlines – no obligations. Knits don’t really have feelings do they? God I hope not.

The best part of all of this? When I first mentioned the genius Nancy Crow on this knitting blog, I quoted her:

I think every artist who succeeds (in their own terms) has some ability to keep moving forward in the face of constant obstacles…emotional, mental, financial, physical…and that is what sets them apart from those who always talk about trying or starting but never get beyond the talking stage. I WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND I WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO WORK MORE ABSTRACTLY.

From Nancy Crow, by Nancy Crow. (Sketchbook notes, p. 54)

Turns out, that quote? The one that affected me so much when I first went through the book? It’s opposite the quilt where lightning struck last night. Sometimes knits are just meant to be.

Filed Under: Bow Tie

Wednesday

November 8, 2006 By

WTF, Random, Walk with me, Hump Day – whatever you want to call it, it’s still freaking Wednesday.

I’ve been wholly unproductive this week during a time when I should be doing NOTHING but working. The weather sucks ruining my one and only plan for the day (I may actually have no choice but to get work done) and my knitting is only blah. I fixed the Pomatomus sock out of desperation yesterday (I can only go so many days without knitting) and that was only because I’m at a standstill on the Casino shawl. Yup. You heard me. A standstill. After a WHOPPING three chart rows. In my defense, each row is 300+ stitches.

I ended up starting it on 7s, but I’m not feeling the love all of a sudden. I’m worried that when I block it the 7s will be too open. I want the pattern to show, not be a cobwebby mess of holes. So. Do I continue on in the 7s doing one whole repeat and then decide to rip, or do I rip now and go back to 6s. My swatch isn’t helping at all, to be honest. I washed it and sort of blocked it and it’s softer than soft but when stretched it looks down right meshy all over the place – 6s and 7s. One of the things I liked about the 7s pre-wash was the drape. But really – once it’s all done and blocked will that even be an issue? It’s Merino/Tencel. Isn’t that just another word for drape?

So it will sit and I will continue to feel uneasy about it.

There’s been talk of odd feelings around the blogs today – I saw it in at least two places – and I have my own oddness on a regular basis but today I’m feeling almost angry. Don’t get me wrong – I’m deliriously happy that the election process went the way it did but I can’t help but feel an extremely guarded optimism. ATTENTION DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP: DO NOT FUCK THIS UP. A win is only a beginning. We, as citizens of this fine land, have done the best we can and given you the power – not because we have so much faith in your abilities but because the alternative was untenable. Do not think that this administration will go gently into the night. You must be dilligent and focused. We need CHANGE NOT VENGEANCE, as tempting as the latter might be.

ETA: Okay. Maybe I’m feeling a little bit better about things. But just a little.

And this article in the New York Times yesterday? As scathing as it is, it doesn’t even come close to how bad The Gilmore Girls has become. Dude it’s like the fucking Waltons.

Filed Under: Life

Coming Soon to A KnitBlog Near You!

November 7, 2006 By

Thank you all so very much for your comments about my green log cabin blanket. Rest assured, I’ve only lent it to Blue Moon – it will one day find it’s way back to our home. I don’t think Georgie would forgive me if I let it go forever. (Honestly, I don’t think I’d forgive myself!) It’s wonderful to knit such a project, but the cherry on top is your appreciation for its beauty. Thank you again!

The knits have been at a stalemate lately. Everything needs something – and I’m just not in the mood. The koigu knee socks are stalled out because I need to start the heel flap which means changing the yarn and I just don’t have the energy for that. The pomatomus sock needs to be ripped back to the start of the gusset because the pattern called for a k2tog and I really think it needed a k2togtbl. I KNEW it when I first knit it but ignored it and now I don’t like how it’s laying so rip rip rip. Which I really don’t have the energy for. The Random log cabin – eh. (One day I’ll go back to that, I promise!) That sore throat I had after Rhinebeck somehow morphed into a dry cough a week later which only last night turned into a bonafide cold. I’m feeling drippy.

BUT! Something came in the mail yesterday to give me LOTS of ENERGY!!!! Remember how I said that the only thing I regretted about Rhinebeck was not buying any yarn at Briar Rose for the Casino Shawl? Well I bought the pattern from Anne as soon as I got home but the yarn proved a bit more tricky. Chris from Briar Rose told me that they were pretty much out of yarn after Rhinebeck, but I could custom order some Sea Pearl if I wanted. DID I WANT? You know I did! So I told Chris that I wanted purples – lots of different purples – because purple is the new black – and she came through for me BIG TIME!

That’s 1500 yds of Briar Rose Sea Pearl – 50/50 Merino/Tencel. It is so so soft. Almost as soft as the purple sheets we just bought for our bed. (Seriously. Modal. Like sleeping on silk. Who knew?) I couldn’t wait to start it! So last night I provisionally cast on 305 stitches.

And then did nothing with it. I can’t decide which needle size to use. Anne says that she knit the sample at Rhinebeck with size 8s and Christy‘s knitting the shawl in Sea Pearl with size 6s. So I turned to my conscience in all things knit, Ann, and she told me to – get this – SWATCH! Well I never! But I did….

The top 20 rows were knit on 7s, the bottom 20 on 6s. The middle pins are at the middle point. Duh. I may still swatch a bit on 8s, but right now I’m leaning toward 7s. The fabric on the 6s is a bit too tight and things loosened up considerably with the 7s. It’s funny how at US 6s you get much bigger jumps – 4.0mm, 4.5mm, 5.0mm. I think 8s will be too loose. This is the same thing that happened with Seraphim, but maybe I’ll just try the 8s.

I’ve never done a top down shawl before so it will be interesting starting out with all those stitches. And I’ve never really used a provisional cast on before so that will be interesting too. I cast on the stitches with size 6 needles, so I hope I can get the 7s to work with that – don’t tell me if I can’t. Recasting on all those stitches is not something I’m looking forward to. One strange thing about the pattern: It’s called Casino because the shape running through the shawl is a spade. But the spade is actually upside down (yes Christy – I noticed that too.) Which would probably bother me except I think the upside down spade actually looks a lot like a heart. : )

Wait! There’s more! In really blow your mind news I’ve collected this batch of yarns:

We’re about to get a little crazy with the swatching: Blackwater Abbey, Cascade 220, NatureSpun, Alice Starmore & Rowan Scottish Tweed. Am Kamin. I’m gearing up.

I’m off to vote. I voted. Have you?

Filed Under: Casino Shawl

Money Talks

November 6, 2006 By

But it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk.

Guess what though? Kay talks and sings and dances and walks. While I’ve long loved Kay for her many talents, she is definitely my new favorite traveling partner. Here are the reasons why:

– On the ride down to Stitches East, Kay indulged me in my spastic adolescent squealing about my love of Bootleg Bruce. She even sang along at times and participated in an almost intellectual discussion about Bruce’s musical merits. This alone makes her one of my favorite people in the entire universe. Some people would have made retching noises the second I put the CD on. Kay may have actually gotten a few spine chills herself. Are YOU ready to Prove It All Night? Kay is.

– Kay thinks it’s perfectly normal when you pull over at a rest stop on the highway to demonstrate knitting techniques.

– When you actually get to Stitches East, Kay thinks it’s okay that you think peeing is a priority over meeting THE Fiona Ellis in the ladies room. Swear to god. We walk into the bathroom and I hear Kay going Cara, Cara come here and I was already peeing. Dude. When nature calls. Fiona Ellis was super charming and when I gushed she didn’t seem flustered at all. I’m still on that Short Rows high.

– When you go to drop off your superfabulous blanket at the Blue Moon Booth, Kay doesn’t make fun of you when you bury your face in the blanket to smell it just one more time. Or when you end up buying more Socks That Rock, because, you know, you might not have enough.


STR Lightweight: Sherbert, Lover’s Leap and 24 Karat


STR Bambu in Banded Agate

– When you buy a couple of shawl closures at the Moving Mud booth because you can’t decide which one is more beautiful than the other, Kay voices an opinion but doesn’t judge. She also doesn’t judge when you walk away just a little bit smitten with the beautiful Sarina, glass maker extraordinaire. Man that is one gorgeous woman.


Shawl pins that end up being too big for my shawls. But oh so pretty!

– Kay is the kind of friend that buys you french fries to share. And when you come back for said fries after checking one more booth, she tells you that she had to throw them away because they were really really awful. 😉

– When you go to buy a really cool Lexie Barnes knitting bag only to find out it’s really a diaper bag, Kay calms you when you get all superstitious about buying baby stuff before there’s actually a baby and offers to take the diaper pad for you, so, you know, you’re not tempting any fates.


Lexie Barnes Superstar bag in the Makiko print
T-shirt from Modern Yarn

– Kay thinks you’re kind of cute and not annoying in any way when she listens to your spiel about Spin Out for the 100th time.

And finally, when you consider going for the Nesquik Milk Shake from the vending machine at the rest stop on 95, Kay stops you and says when it comes to chocolate milk, you gotta go with the original. Oh how right she was!

Thanks Kay! Next time I end up driving 6 hours to spend 3, You’re THE One!

PS – If you haven’t already – make sure you go over and wish my favorite Cheesehead a Happy Birthday! GO! NOW!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Verde! Verde! Verde!

November 3, 2006 By

Thank you all so much for your generous comments about my log cabin blanket. It’s OFFICIALLY an FO. I’ve woven in all the ends and finished the border. After consulting with the expert on all things log cabin, I decided to use the patent-pending Cro-Kay method for the border.

Basically, you cast on a stitch then another stitch then bind off the first stitch and continue around the entire blanket. Nice and neat and doesn’t distract from the beauty of the squares. 😉

Take a look at the seam here – can you find the seam?

That’s whipstitch baby. All the way. But somehow I managed to get it nice and deep and have it look like a bind off – just like the squares themselves.

I’m particularly pleased with the wrong side:

Log Cabin Blanket
Pattern: My own design – inspired greatly by Mason Dixon Knitting. Basically I knit twelve squares using three colors – there are four different square patterns. I alternated light, medium and dark greens within each square pattern.

Yarn: Socks That Rock Heavyweight Yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. Two skeins each color: Beryl (dark green), Jade (medium green) and Limestone (light green.)
Needles: Addi Turbo US Size #5s

I absolutely LOVE this project – conception, process, finish. I’m delivering the blanket to the Blue Moon booth at Stitches East later on today. If you happen to be there this weekend – check it out. If you happen to be there today, well, then, see if you can find me and tell me how much you love it in person. 😉

(And don’t laugh at me because I’m wearing the same outfit I wore at Rhinebeck. Gotta get as much mileage out of the knee socks as I can!)

I’m leaving you with some artsy outside pictures of the blanket. I miss it already.

Filed Under: Log Cabin
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