Knitting, Botany, Mycology, Nature, Adventure, and Life... in no particular order.
Text
Little Blue Penguins Need Help
So I saw over on the Juniper Moon Fiber Farm blog that there are Little Blue Penguins in New Zealand that are in serious need of sweaters to help them post oil spill cleanup.
It sounds like timing might be key, so any fast knitters who want to knit penguin sweaters and send them to NZ check out Susan’s informative post here. (She includes the patter instructions!)
There is also information on Ravelry here. A wordpress blog with information. And a brief article I found on Google News.
As seen on Penguinplacepost.wordpress.com, who wouldn’t want to help this little guy and make a sweater.
(And if you’re in the Boston area and want to ship together to save postage I can coordinate.)
Text
Back in Block
I’ve been pretty bad about updating the blog here. I’ve got lots to catch up on but I figured I’d come back with my blocking shawl!
The Juneberry in my Magestic Blend Windy Valley Muskox! Merino, Qiviut & Mulberry silk in a lovely lavender color!
It turns out that I needed about 2x as many blocking pins as I have (I added some sewing ones after this) and I think that even without using them that blocking wires must be the best things ever.
So, just in time for Rhinebeck, I’m back!
Link
Social Netowrking Props →
I think many of us who use Ravelry feel it is the best social networking option (and can quickly become a critical part of our lives). Hopefully the more it is written about the better the owners will do (because they are awesome) and the more small social networking sites will be developed that are actually good.
If you’re not a knitter and want to be I am easily convinced to teach you. (Especially when cookies are involved!)
Text
Spring Mayhem
I really have nothing new to report with my knitting. I’ve been devouring the Maggie Sefton knitting mysteries and the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse books. When I say devouring I mean at an average rate of 1 a day.
Other than that the trees really whalloped me this year and now grass season is starting. I have been exhausted and drippy. Not so awesome. Despite that my fella and I managed to have a lovely day on Wednseday and get down to the Common as well as see Thor 3D. We spent time together hanging out and being a bit amazed we’ve been dating for 9 years already. It feels like both yesterday and always that we’ve been together.
Hopefully soon I will get my act together and have either more knitting to show or a porch with happy plants, or both!
Text
Insanity Continues
So on the Saturday before last (Friday night really) I had only this:
And then, earlier tonight I had this:
Those are vintage washable wood buttons from Gather Here in Cambridge and the sweater was knit on size 6 addi turbos in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in the Vera colorway. I got exactly 6 stitches per inch. Every time I think of the colorway I think of this.
Now that I’ve completed 5 Baby Surprise Jackets perhaps I should find another baby sweater pattern I like to knit. Then again, I had to tear out 10 rows to fix a mistake, so perhaps there is still plenty of “surprise” left for me.
In other news, I have 1/2 of a pair of socks knit on my Blackthorn Needles. Mmmm stealth jet needles.
The colors are more vibrant and less washed out and what you cannot see is that I am past the cuff on the next sock and there is 0 bend in the stealth jet needles.
Now if I could just finish the afghan I’m knitting…
Text
BSJ Extravaganza
So, my Spring has been kinda busy. Like crazy busy.
Last month the fella and I went skiing with a good friend of ours. We drove up to Sunday River where the plan was for the 2 guys to go downhill and for me to cross country ski or skate or sit in the lodge by the fire and drink tea (or something stronger) and read/knit and perhaps even nap.
Turns out a couple things happened.
- Skating rink was closed (which we found out as we were leaving)
- I felt uncomfortable x-country skiing by myself when I don’t really know what I’m doing
- I got caught up in the skiing excitement
So after having downhill skied once, approximately 16 years before, this happened
I took a lesson while the boys went and skied. Our friend is a crazy good skier and my guy has skied only a little so they stuck together and didn’t do anything crazy so no one (my charming man) got hurt. Eventually we all got to ski together! (Technically is was more/harder than I should have done, but I lived with no real injuries, so we’ll call it a win!)
The fella is in blue just past me in the foreground. The gentleman in red is the Dad of our friend, who convinced me that going up the big lift was a good idea, skis like a speed demon, and is wearing the world’s cutest penguin hat. He also makes a delicious Manhattan.
Once recovered from all the fun, and soreness, I got to work on the next BSJ in my queue. My cousins were holing a fundraiser event for the hospice that helped their Mom last year as the cancer became too much. It allowed my Aunt to spend as much time with family as possible and be comfortable. I said I would donate a handknit baby sweater for the raffle. Schoolhouse Press was kind enough to allow me to knit the Baby Surprise Jacket for it since it was for charity and away I went.
About 2.5 weeks later, in Cascade 220 Heritage Paints, the result was this
While everyone who saw it thought it was great, I was not in love. Not my favorite yarn to work with, colors weren’t my thing, but I knew I was just feeling cranky and that it would be great as a gender neutral garment. Then I found the buttons…
Instant sweater love! I purchased everything at the new knitting and sewing store in Cambridge called Gather Here. The buttons are vintage and washable.
It went to a good home and helped raise some money, and in the end I loved it.
Then, I just got a picture from a good friend who had her baby boy with the picture of the sweater I made. The one in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in Turtle Rodeo that I found the perfect buttons for.
And now I need to wind some yarn and cast on for another BSJ I offered to make for a friend at work who is a new Aunt and very excited. Fist one I’ll be making for a girl, and the colors she picked are great. Once I get started I’ll show it off.
For now I better go start my day and try to work on my homework some more. Learning web development has its easy moment and its hard ones, and I’m finding out Javascript assignment to be hard. Working with other people’s code… meh.
Video
Doozers singing the BEST song…
it’s during the “Radish Famine” so they can’t build. I think they could embrace their new hobby… but the Fraggles would get hungry.
Text
Happy Notes
- I had a little chrisis with my Juneberry, but I was able to frog back and fix it sucessfully. Qiviuk is fantastic to work with.
- Spring is really here in Our Fair City and in addition to crocuses and those mini-irises I can’t remember the name for I saw some Robins doing their thing. Birds are often right about Spring.
- After a 16 year hiatus I have been downhill skiing again. Yesterday. Not sure I would say I like it more than cross country, but my lesson was very good and I had a great time with the fella and our friend. There will be pictures (note: 16 yeas ago I did a 1 day trip with a 1 hour lesson)
- Ooofa am I sore and tired this morning. Tea, knitting, and perhaps some skating are on the agenda. Alternatively, using the hot tub and taking a nap.
How are you?
Text
Quick Shots
So I’ve been late in my promise of pictures. To make up for it I’ll post some knitting ones too!
First: Witch Hazel in bloom!
Next: Images from a real first and accomplishment
More on those later… perhaps I’ll even block them and take more pictures.
Then, last night, I started in on something truly stealth while on the bus to NYC
Those are my new Blackthorn Needles, made of carbon fiber, just like the Stealth Jet! In the dim bus and dark backgrounds they felt especially stealthy. If I dropped one it was going to be hard to find.
We made it to the hotel ok and now you can see what I accomplished on the bus besides eating a sandwich!
The colors are pretty close to true there as well. I’ll tell you more about the new socks, the old socks, and the stealth needles later.
Text
Spring Beginning
There is a Hamamelis blooming near my work. It’s in a slightly sheltered spot, but it’s in full bloom.
It’s blooms bring a message: FEAR NOT! Spring is on the way… eventually!
It surprised me today, I’ll bring my camera tomorrow. Maybe I’ll get pics of the BSJ that just needs seaming as well.
Text
Is Februay Done Yet
While I have high hopes for 2011 being better than 2010, and January lived up to that expectation, February has been one heck of a month.
I’ll post some knitting pictures and happy things soon, but not quite yet.
Perhaps when I have caught up on my course, recovered from my cold, gotten rid f my lovely cold sores on my face, cleaned, cooked, and come to terms with some personal family stuff I’ll feel more perky.
On the plus side, my fella and I did manage to have a lovely Valentine’s date. He got to use my work connections to get a discount on a new shiny computer and then we went to dinner at West Side Lounge. Their special drinks & entrees are always excellent. My fella also has treated me like a princess while I haven’t felt well. Came home early to take care of me, went out in the pouring rain to get me soup, and made sure I constantly had everything I needed.
At least it’s snowing again! After the big melt it was almost looking like spring! So long as it doesn’t mess up any nice fresh ice melted on ponds for skating I’ll manage.
Text
Grandma’s Lessons
Some of my favorite things I learned from my Grandma
- It is perfectly acceptable to pass on a double yellow
- Compost is pretty much the best thing ever
- Driving a standard is the only car to drive
- Always peel towards yourself
- The best flaky pastry is always made with Lard
- Sleeping with the windows open is good for you, even in the winter, when it is wicked cold. Just wear a hat.
- Always wear a hat in the winter. Always. (Go put one on right now!)
- If you’re tall enough to stand at the counter you’re old enough to use a pairing knife
- Gardening makes you strong (and gives you a way to use all the compost)
- Scrapple is AWESOME
(Note: none of the grandchildren ever were injured, but perhaps you should consider avoiding 4 & 8 if you have small children… just in case. They’ll probably be fine though.)
Text
New Project Pull
I’ve been trying very hard to dedicate knitting time to the giant afghan. It’s getting closer to being done and I MUST finish it. We’re reaching lateness of ridiculous proportions.
It’s not super portable, or good to work on when I’m tired, so I have my summer socks I can be working on. (1.6 socks done!)
I did just cast on for a BSJ, but that is for someone’s baby shower and now I need to knit is non-stop. (The shower is Saturday and I have less than 3 inches knit!)
But here’s the thing, even with all those projects I love, and many other unfinished projects, all I can think about it my new lavender qiviuk yarn and the Juneberry pattern. I think about it while knitting other things, while riding the subway, while walking to work, while watching tv, while drinking tea, and I’m pretty sure I dreamed about it last night.
Not sure how long I can resist, but for now, back to the infamous Baby Surprise Jacket pattern… in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in the Turtle Rodeo colorway.
(This is from several days ago, right now we are blanketed in gray and rain/sleet… on top of snow. No good pictures can come of this.)
Text
The Next Decade
I am a week and 2 days into experiencing a whole new decade of my life. My 30’s. I’m wicked psyched!
To herald in this momentous occasion Vogue Knitting Online Live was held in my honor. (This is a bit of an exaggeration baldfaced lie, but it did help convince me to go to NYC for my big day.) I originally planned on signing up for a shetland colorwork with Jared Flood of BrooklynTweed fame and hearing the lecture from Franklin Habit of The Panopticon fame on antique lace. My procrastination decided that these, and the other courses I was interested in were actually full and I should take advantage of the big city with my fella instead.
Ultimately, the goal of the big weekend was for my wonderful fella and I to go skating at Rockefeller Center on my actual birthday. I did some searching and booked an incredible (and affordable) hotel in NYC
It’s that glass building there, and note how there’s one floor with balconies… the 11th floor actually. If you’re familiar with the architecture you may see that this hotel is very close to the desired skating locale, which is also my favorite group of architecture in the city. Here’s our view:
Daytime views from… our BALCONY!
And some night time views as well
As you can see, we were right in the thick of all the excitement.
I did go to the VKLive event and caught a fashion show of some Vogue patterns
It was fun and interesting, and though they didn’t have all the kinks worked out I think we all had a great time. I also managed to pick up a shawl’s amount of Qiviuk/Wool/Silk yarn that I talk about here. Finally, at the encouraging and gifting of the fella I also picked up a set of Blackthorn DPN’s in size 1. Blackthorn needles are made of Carbon Fiber (like the outside of the stealth jet, among other things) and it turns out are hand crafted for each needle. They are a real splurge, but it is about as nerdy knitting as you can get, which suits me quite well.
The highlight of the whole weekend was at about 2.30 when we went skating at Rockefeller Center. It was perfect! It was cold, but sheltered from the wind, it wasn’t too crowded, and we skated hand-in-hand for virtually the entire time (which was an hour!)!!
The full shot: Me, on skates, in front of Prometheus (who is really a wee bit creepy).
We skated and skated and laughed and skated. Eventually we were getting tired and the ice was cut up enough that with my pending exhaustion I was likely to fall we called it enough. An hour at Rockefeller was perfect though.
We look miserable, don’t we… (handknit items featured: Flora Hat, Citron Shawl, Trilsea’n Mitts, and 75 yard mitts. There should have been a hat for the man, but the hat and I are still arguing.)
We retired to la Maison du Chocolate around the corner and sat at the bar sipping magnificent cocoa. (Perhaps better than Burdicks. I said it, I meant it. Deal with it.)
We finished up the day with a lovely Spanish dinner and seeing Avenue Q (both with and courtesy of my Aunt & Uncle who live in the area). It was such great food and fun. Our hotel was so close to all the things we were doing we walked to get everywhere. Overall it might have been the perfect weekend/birthday.
Now I just have to hope I make sure to have the rest of my 30’s live up to that standard of fun and happiness and adventure (and knitting)!
A last parting shot of 1. Zeus modeled after Blake’s image (up top), 2. Prometheus looking like he wants to steal my hat, and 3. me, pretty darn pleased with herself. (I know there’s lots of me in this post, but it is my blog and I do only turn 30 once… I think, right?!)
Text
Pattern Choice Help
Calling to all of you with opinions! (though I may not listen) I would love some help deciding on which shawl to knit with the yarn I bought myself over the weekend. (Tales of the weekend, NYC and adventure to follow soon.)
I went to the marketplace at the Vogue Knitting Online Live event at the Hilton in Manhattan and walked away with this:
That’s right folks! Qiviuk! (Which is from Musk Ox) This is Windy Valley Muskox’s Majestic Blend. The color is actually pretty accurate and the yarn is actually 15% Qiviuk, 80% Merino, and 5% Mulberry Silk.
So here’s the question, which shawl should I knit?! Originally I thought I would knit the les Abielles shawl. It’s lovely and lacy and a quick knit. Then I noticed that I also could knit the Juneberry Triangle. It calls for slightly heavier yarn, but I think it would be fine. I should have plenty of yarn for either one.
So, who’s got an opinion?! I’m leaning towards the Juneberry, but do like both a lot. Perhaps you have another suggestion entirely (that uses about 650 yards or less of heavy laceweight/light fingering weight yarn).
What d’ya say?
Page 1 of 7
