Hi! I was going to mention not missing the boat, but since Claudia is riding a tandem, this seemed a more riveting title. I promise a more usual post (meaning one the describes knitting, with photos) soon, but I just realized that Claudia is about to embark on her ride, and needs all the folks possible to come out as Knitters against MS in her support. Plus, she has some absolutely smashing prizes that any knitter worth his or her salt couldn't help but be inspired by. So pop on over and visit her blog, and read all about her amazing work. Check out the astonishing prizes, and hopefully get inspired to make a contribution. This is one powerful woman and a tremendous agent for positive change, and she deserves all the help she can get.
Even petitioning your favorite weather deities for good conditions for the ride would be a wonderful thing. Knit on!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
If I only had a...
computer with enough space to download some new photos, I could show you some of the knitterly things going on here. Actually, some of those photos have yet to be actually created; once I take them I have to wait for a turn on the "big computer" to download them and then write a blog post from there so I can include them. So just to keep you all wondering, I did finish the Dragonfly Shawl with my own made-up edging. When it goes into blocking mode there will be photos. I also did finish the single sock; I can still take photos of it because it is still here. I am such a bad mailer-person! I still need to sit down and annotate the pattern so my recipient can in theory knit a matching sock. I hope I remember what I did!
And of course, there has to be a new project. Right now I am knitting a stole for my older daughter to wear to the prom (she is going as a guest with someone who finds themselves without a date). The prom is June 3 and I got a really late start - waiting to find out the color of the dress, that sort of thing. Luckily I have a local friend in the yarn dyeing business (Dye Dreams - go ahead, check out their site, I'll wait) who was able to dye some yarn I already had to be a good color. And also lucky for me it turns out that the yarn in question knits very nicely on size 11 needles. I know that doesn't sound like the lace you might be used to, but I have surprised even myself at how nice this yarn looks. It is a silk/wool blend from Henry's Attic called Andromeda, and it is what I would call a well-spun single (not that I am a spinner, so I could be so wrong). It is not fragile the way I expect a single to be, but there is no particular plying visible to detract from the stitch definition. I am using a scarf pattern found on line for free (Three Sister's Scarf #2) and just loving the results. I am sort of hoping there will be enough yarn left to make something for me; I already have a Knitspot pattern (scroll down to the Hillflowers Scarf) in mind! I am probably about 24 inches away from finishing, but since each pattern repeat works out to about 3 inches, I should finish in plenty of time. And so far she likes it!
I promise - next time there will be photos. Maybe even a modeling shot or two - can't promise that for sure, but who knows...
Have a safe, happy, restful weekend everyone. Knit on!
And of course, there has to be a new project. Right now I am knitting a stole for my older daughter to wear to the prom (she is going as a guest with someone who finds themselves without a date). The prom is June 3 and I got a really late start - waiting to find out the color of the dress, that sort of thing. Luckily I have a local friend in the yarn dyeing business (Dye Dreams - go ahead, check out their site, I'll wait) who was able to dye some yarn I already had to be a good color. And also lucky for me it turns out that the yarn in question knits very nicely on size 11 needles. I know that doesn't sound like the lace you might be used to, but I have surprised even myself at how nice this yarn looks. It is a silk/wool blend from Henry's Attic called Andromeda, and it is what I would call a well-spun single (not that I am a spinner, so I could be so wrong). It is not fragile the way I expect a single to be, but there is no particular plying visible to detract from the stitch definition. I am using a scarf pattern found on line for free (Three Sister's Scarf #2) and just loving the results. I am sort of hoping there will be enough yarn left to make something for me; I already have a Knitspot pattern (scroll down to the Hillflowers Scarf) in mind! I am probably about 24 inches away from finishing, but since each pattern repeat works out to about 3 inches, I should finish in plenty of time. And so far she likes it!
I promise - next time there will be photos. Maybe even a modeling shot or two - can't promise that for sure, but who knows...
Have a safe, happy, restful weekend everyone. Knit on!
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Living dangerously...
Posting two days in a row, that is. Thought I would write a bit about projects currently in progress. I will spare you the list of all the UFO's and just mention the really current ones. Top of the list would have to be the Dragonfly Shawl from Interweave Crochet. Someone in my knitting group wanted to try this one, so I said I would join her. I was intrigued enough to start right away; she is still delayed by other projects. I found it to be fun to make, although as it grew larger it did get a little dull. But that is to be expected when making a shawl where the working row gets longer and longer. I finally decided it was large enough and started on the border. The border as given in the pattern didn't look nice the way I was crocheting it, so I ended up pulling out three rows of border and figuring out one of my own. I have plenty of yarn (WEB's Alpaca Silk), so I could make a really extensive border, but I really would like to finish this and get it gifted (it is going to someone as a comfort shawl as soon as I can finish it). The yarn is really nice to work with. Mine is Celestial Blue, and I will warn you that if your monitor is like mine you will find this color looks much lighter on the product page than it does in person. The reason I have so much of it is that this was one of the yarns originally purchased for my youngest sister's wedding shawl; it was rejected because it was not the desired "icy blue" I thought i was ordering.
My other most current project is one sock for an exchange I signed up for. I only have to knit one sock; the recipient gets the rest of the yarn and the pattern and gets to knit sock #2 herself. It was supposed to be done ages ago, but the shawl got in the way. So did the lack of proper yarn; I needed something really colorful and in sufficient quantity for a pair of really large socks. The first yarn I ordered turned out to be two very different hand dyed skeins - in theory they were the same colorway, in reality they were not. Still really nice yarn, just destined to be two unrelated pairs of socks instead of some sort of mismatched pair of large socks. Fortunately I had a chance to stop at WEBS and pick up another yarn. I choose the pattern "Socks of Abundance" which is available free from the designer. I am hoping the socks will be abundant enough and that the recipient will like the wild colourway I have chosen.
I guess that is more than enough words for now. Need to get some rest to be able to stay awake for census training tomorrow. Maybe next time I can even arrange for some photos!
My other most current project is one sock for an exchange I signed up for. I only have to knit one sock; the recipient gets the rest of the yarn and the pattern and gets to knit sock #2 herself. It was supposed to be done ages ago, but the shawl got in the way. So did the lack of proper yarn; I needed something really colorful and in sufficient quantity for a pair of really large socks. The first yarn I ordered turned out to be two very different hand dyed skeins - in theory they were the same colorway, in reality they were not. Still really nice yarn, just destined to be two unrelated pairs of socks instead of some sort of mismatched pair of large socks. Fortunately I had a chance to stop at WEBS and pick up another yarn. I choose the pattern "Socks of Abundance" which is available free from the designer. I am hoping the socks will be abundant enough and that the recipient will like the wild colourway I have chosen.
I guess that is more than enough words for now. Need to get some rest to be able to stay awake for census training tomorrow. Maybe next time I can even arrange for some photos!
Sunday, April 05, 2009
And one more...
Hi! Maybe this will be the beginning of a new trend, where I actually blog once in a while. There is no such thing as enough time in the world, so I don't know why I can't just get over that and get some things done. Anyway, while puttering around the blogosphere, I ran into a blog written by someone who knits and plays the viola (just like me, although probalby better at both). Here is what she has to say:
"The RSE (Roseville String Ensemble) runs on a very lean budget funded by donations, and a small locally funded grant. With this we pay a meager amount to our conductor and soloists as well as purchase music and rent space for our concerts.
It's no surprise in these "tough economic times" that our donations are not what they have been in the past. In addition to that, we have recently found out that the group which provided us with an annual grant will not be able to continue that funding. As it stands, the Roseville String Ensemble will not have enough funding to continue for the 09-10 season."
If you make your way to her blog you can read more about it, including information about some really generous prizes she is donating to a drawing. I am constantly wonderfully surprised by the generosity of the folks out there.
So go check out the blog, donate if you can, and stay tuned for a knitterly post from me sometime soon.
"The RSE (Roseville String Ensemble) runs on a very lean budget funded by donations, and a small locally funded grant. With this we pay a meager amount to our conductor and soloists as well as purchase music and rent space for our concerts.
It's no surprise in these "tough economic times" that our donations are not what they have been in the past. In addition to that, we have recently found out that the group which provided us with an annual grant will not be able to continue that funding. As it stands, the Roseville String Ensemble will not have enough funding to continue for the 09-10 season."
If you make your way to her blog you can read more about it, including information about some really generous prizes she is donating to a drawing. I am constantly wonderfully surprised by the generosity of the folks out there.
So go check out the blog, donate if you can, and stay tuned for a knitterly post from me sometime soon.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Another good cause
Hi! I know you all are eagerly awaiting a post with some real news or some real knitting content or something, but being perenially short of time, it isn't going to be this one.
However, I wanted to let you all know right away that Claudia is once again raising money for Multiple Sclerosis (abbreviated as MS) research. This is a disease that affects more middle aged women than other groups, and you know that a bunch of them have to be knitters. She was planning another lengthy tandem bike riding effort, but her tandem buddy (her spouse!) has suffered a setback (it's all on her blog). She is going ahead with the fund raising anyway, since that is what truly counts. Last year she raised around $40,000. I was one of the lucky folks who gave some $$ and then won something in the prize raffle. So for all those reasons, I hope you will find your way over to her blog:
http://www.claudiasblog.net/
read all about it, and help her (and all those affected by MS) out if you can. Pass this along via blog or e-mail if you are able. Knitters are a force to be reckoned with, after all!
However, I wanted to let you all know right away that Claudia is once again raising money for Multiple Sclerosis (abbreviated as MS) research. This is a disease that affects more middle aged women than other groups, and you know that a bunch of them have to be knitters. She was planning another lengthy tandem bike riding effort, but her tandem buddy (her spouse!) has suffered a setback (it's all on her blog). She is going ahead with the fund raising anyway, since that is what truly counts. Last year she raised around $40,000. I was one of the lucky folks who gave some $$ and then won something in the prize raffle. So for all those reasons, I hope you will find your way over to her blog:
http://www.claudiasblog.net/
read all about it, and help her (and all those affected by MS) out if you can. Pass this along via blog or e-mail if you are able. Knitters are a force to be reckoned with, after all!
Monday, March 17, 2008
A Contest for a good cause
Hi! There I was, cruising around the blogosphere, when I ran across this contest. It is for a good cause, and we all know how us knitters love to support our sister knitters in their endeavors. So here is the link to Cayli's blog, where she will explain everything, including how she is going to walk sixty miles!
http://spinayarnforewe.blogspirit.com/archive/2008/02/27/help-end-breast-cancer.html
I would make this a live link, but I haven't learned how (although by the time it gets published it could turn into one for all I know!).
I hope to get back to the blog with some recent photos - the International Sock (from the Truly International Sock KAL) and I had lots of fun hanging out in the old home town here during February vacation. Maybe next time I try to post our lovely host system will let me post photos. I guess maybe the photo posting part goes on break late at night right when I usually want it to work. Who knew?
Go visit Cayli and help her out if you can.
http://spinayarnforewe.blogspirit.com/archive/2008/02/27/help-end-breast-cancer.html
I would make this a live link, but I haven't learned how (although by the time it gets published it could turn into one for all I know!).
I hope to get back to the blog with some recent photos - the International Sock (from the Truly International Sock KAL) and I had lots of fun hanging out in the old home town here during February vacation. Maybe next time I try to post our lovely host system will let me post photos. I guess maybe the photo posting part goes on break late at night right when I usually want it to work. Who knew?
Go visit Cayli and help her out if you can.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
A new skill
I am not sure it can actually be called a skill, but I thought I would post the results of my color quiz. It is on one of those sites that gives you the HTML code to paste into a post and it should just appear. If it is the same as the post I found it in, there is a link at the bottom of the figure so you can go there and take your own color quiz. So here goes nothing:
Well, that is something of a miracle. It doesn't seem to want to post the color chip part of it, but all the text seems to be there. Maybe I can even figure out how they did a live link and learn something new.
But it is almost time to knit. Till later then.
#7FFFD4 |
Your dominant hues are cyan and green. Although you definately strive to be logical you care about people and know there's a time and place for thinking emotionally. Your head rules most things but your heart rules others, and getting them to meet in the middle takes a lot of your energy some days. Your saturation level is medium - You're not the most decisive go-getter, but you can get a job done when it's required of you. You probably don't think the world can change for you and don't want to spend too much effort trying to force it. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation. |
Well, that is something of a miracle. It doesn't seem to want to post the color chip part of it, but all the text seems to be there. Maybe I can even figure out how they did a live link and learn something new.
But it is almost time to knit. Till later then.
Hellooo out there...
That was me, hollering out into the great echoing void of my blog. Who stole January? How did I miss posting even once? I wish I had a really good excuse, like I was in Paris or doing Nobel prize research or cleaning my house (which would take more than a month, I think). All I can say is, there are just not enough hours in the day. Added to that is the fact that the kids use this computer for most of their game playing, since it is faster and has more memory. Well, that is why all the current photos are here instead of on the other one (slower, with a dangerously full hard drive). So this is where I need to post from, and I can tell you it is really hard to get a turn around here!
Enough excuses - time for photos (and maybe some explanations). First, the last photos I promised from Rhinebeck, however many eons ago that was. This is the alligator scarf kit (is it certain it is not a crocodile?) from Morehouse Merino:
I have never seen a purple alligator - it must be the special harmless species.
Then we have a needlefelting kit - the idea being to enclose a bar of soap in its own scrubby cocoon:
Once one has enclosed the soap, then one is directed to put a lovely little flower design on it. I gave this one to a friend who had been wanting to try this project and just needed some directions.
And lastly a few patterns:
One can never have enough patterns (you need them to go with the "never enough" yarn, of course). I was particularly pleased to find the little booklet of Sidna Farley's designs, as I had recently tried to order it and failed.
So enough about fall. On to winter - and some FO!
Let's start with a sideways view of a shawl. Okay, I confess I have no idea how to rotate the photo so it conforms to the laws of gravity.
This shawl is from a pattern by Anne Hanson of Knitspot (that's www.knitspot.com - someday I need to learn to make live links in the text!). She is a wonderful designer, and I have lots more of her designs in my queue. The yarn is James Brett's Marble - an easy care synthetic that comes in wonderful colorways and is very soft. Knit on a large enough needle it makes creditable lace, just the thing for a prayer shawl that might suffer rough washing in the future. The name of the pattern is "Obstacles", and I thought it was just the thing to give to someone who might have obstacles to overcome.
More gravity defying stunts by knitted objects - this time a felted bag. This is another one of Anne's patterns (yes, this makes me an official fan, I think). I wanted my lobsters to look alive so I made them blue. Aren't they convincing?
And lastly, a knitted object that seems to know which way is up:
This is the lacy top edge of a felted bag from a pattern by Y2Knit. I really like how the lacy bits come out (you have to thread something non-felting through the holes before you toss it in the washing machine).
And just one more thing, in this post that never ends (yes, it is a somewhat blurry PKO - partially knitted object!):
Okay, so this one is not finished. It probably is finished by now, just not by me! I joined the latest round of "Death by Socks". I don't know what I was thinking. I am not a terribly slow knitter - I just don't have a lot of knitting time most days. So this is a photo of the two-thirds finished sock I was holding when I "died". However, said dying was accompanied by the receiving of a lovely pair of navy and white cotton blend socks and a matching hat! I just hope the person I started the socks for eventually receives them. She said she wanted pink, and it would be a shame to waste such great pink yarn (Sock Hop in "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", I think - the label went along with the yarn) on someone who doesn't like pink.
I had better stop. It is the middle of the night (o-dark thirty, as some folks say) and even though there is more to say (did I hear someone mention a meme that I owe you all, and maybe some yarn information for the other Rhinebeck acquisitions?) even intrepid bloggers need to sleep sometime.
Maybe I could post again this month?
Enough excuses - time for photos (and maybe some explanations). First, the last photos I promised from Rhinebeck, however many eons ago that was. This is the alligator scarf kit (is it certain it is not a crocodile?) from Morehouse Merino:
I have never seen a purple alligator - it must be the special harmless species.
Then we have a needlefelting kit - the idea being to enclose a bar of soap in its own scrubby cocoon:
Once one has enclosed the soap, then one is directed to put a lovely little flower design on it. I gave this one to a friend who had been wanting to try this project and just needed some directions.
And lastly a few patterns:
One can never have enough patterns (you need them to go with the "never enough" yarn, of course). I was particularly pleased to find the little booklet of Sidna Farley's designs, as I had recently tried to order it and failed.
So enough about fall. On to winter - and some FO!
Let's start with a sideways view of a shawl. Okay, I confess I have no idea how to rotate the photo so it conforms to the laws of gravity.
This shawl is from a pattern by Anne Hanson of Knitspot (that's www.knitspot.com - someday I need to learn to make live links in the text!). She is a wonderful designer, and I have lots more of her designs in my queue. The yarn is James Brett's Marble - an easy care synthetic that comes in wonderful colorways and is very soft. Knit on a large enough needle it makes creditable lace, just the thing for a prayer shawl that might suffer rough washing in the future. The name of the pattern is "Obstacles", and I thought it was just the thing to give to someone who might have obstacles to overcome.
More gravity defying stunts by knitted objects - this time a felted bag. This is another one of Anne's patterns (yes, this makes me an official fan, I think). I wanted my lobsters to look alive so I made them blue. Aren't they convincing?
And lastly, a knitted object that seems to know which way is up:
This is the lacy top edge of a felted bag from a pattern by Y2Knit. I really like how the lacy bits come out (you have to thread something non-felting through the holes before you toss it in the washing machine).
And just one more thing, in this post that never ends (yes, it is a somewhat blurry PKO - partially knitted object!):
Okay, so this one is not finished. It probably is finished by now, just not by me! I joined the latest round of "Death by Socks". I don't know what I was thinking. I am not a terribly slow knitter - I just don't have a lot of knitting time most days. So this is a photo of the two-thirds finished sock I was holding when I "died". However, said dying was accompanied by the receiving of a lovely pair of navy and white cotton blend socks and a matching hat! I just hope the person I started the socks for eventually receives them. She said she wanted pink, and it would be a shame to waste such great pink yarn (Sock Hop in "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", I think - the label went along with the yarn) on someone who doesn't like pink.
I had better stop. It is the middle of the night (o-dark thirty, as some folks say) and even though there is more to say (did I hear someone mention a meme that I owe you all, and maybe some yarn information for the other Rhinebeck acquisitions?) even intrepid bloggers need to sleep sometime.
Maybe I could post again this month?
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