Retro Cape

Pattern: Retro Cape
Yarn: 70/30 Merino/Angora Handspun
Needle: US10.5 Addi Turbo Lace
Notes: This is a Japanese pattern. It has no instructions, only charts. I used a simple backward loop cast on to increase stitches at the end or beginning of rows. I continued increasing as my yarn is finer than the yarn called for in the pattern. I wanted to make sure the ends would meet when I wrapped it around me but wanted to save enough yarn for the edging. The original edging in the pattern is very large and would use a ton of yarn. Instead I single crocheted around the edge and then did *3dc, ch1, skip st, sc, ch 1, skip st* rep, ending with dc. I used an 5mm hook for the single crochet row and then used a 10mm for the scallops.

It's So Fluffy!

The Purlygirls are having a capealong. (Erin explains why here.) I am making the Retro Cape in some handspun merino/angora from four years ago. As I knit with it the same thing keeps running through my head.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

Happy Halloween! If this doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.

Start--and Finish--itis

I have been in the grips of such a mad case of startitis lately. I just want to knit every yarn in my stash now, now, NOW! This weekend I jumped into some charity knitting. I'm making 7" x 9" blocks for Warm Up America and newborn hats for Save the Children. I started with the blocks and decided to crochet just for a change of pace. The first one was kind of wonky.



For the next I tried a shell pattern.



Then a slightly fancier pattern in a yarn called Red Barn Diva Ball. I got it as a freebie. It's a bizarre thing. It's six or seven strands of yarn in 10 yard lengths wound into a skein together. So you have to slowly coax each one out to work with or else make a project that calls for 10 yards of enormo-bulky yarn.



Then I did a sideways block with some handspun. It was too small so I single crocheted around the edge with some Sheep 2 from the sadly defunct Sheep Shop.



Then I bought a really big hook and used some Dale of Norway Ara to make this one in about 30 minutes.



Then I decided to see if I could crochet a hat. It turns out I can. And with a giant yarn and a big hook (10mm) it only took an hour or so to make. I didn't know how to taper it in properly (I started at the crown) so I just switched to a smaller hook for the last few rounds.



And lastly I whipped up a sweet newborn hat in some Louet Eastport Alpaca.



I used this pattern which I thought gave it a little interest but kept it nice and simple to knit.

After this frenzy I went into my stash and started rummaging through my handspun. I have so much yarn and I love it all. I want to cast on for another dozen projects right now!

Vogue Holiday Preview

It's up. Oh dear.

Get Some

Hazel Knits is having a trunk show at the Fiber Gallery all weekend. Lovely, lovely stuff.

Lips! Lips! Lips!

I'm really looking forward to the Rocky Horror episode of Glee but 1) Dianna Agron as magenta does not cut it and 2) the double casting of Magenta and Columbia reminds me of a preschool play so all the kids get parts.



Maybe I like the bunny version more.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

This design is the latest from the Ready, Aim, Fire collection.



It is not recommended to wear during hunting season in order to avoid a repeat of last year's...unpleasantness.

I'm Still Not Ready to Redo the 80s

Yesterday while walking to lunch I passed a young woman wearing a denim mini skirt and white Moon Boots. This must mean that I'm getting really old because the fashions of my junior high school years are being revived yet again. And if the Technica Moon Boots don't do it for you there's always Dolce & Gabbana kids' Shiny Laced Moon Boots for $185! Yes, for children. For $185. Shit, I am old.

Interweave Gifts Preview

It's up. Looks like a real mixed bag to me.

Beady

I started Celaeno a few days ago. The instructions for the garter section tell you to "place beads randomly." Well if that isn't a recipe for insanity.



I spend far more time obsessing over when and where to place a bead than I do knitting. I keep stopping to look at my work. "Should I put a bead here?" "Are these beads too close together?" "Are there more beads on this side?" Crazy-making!

The yarn is Schaefer Anne in Spruce, I believe. It's a great deep, murky, blue-green-black. The beads didn't show up well in any of my photos. Anyone have any tips for capturing beads in photographs?

The Funniest Part of the Movie

We went to see RED tonight. They ran this commercial before the movie.



When the cyclist crashed the woman next to us screamed in shock. Definitely my favorite part of the evening.

Red Raglan

Pattern: Based on Elizabeth's Percentage System by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran
Needle: US7
Notes: Younger son wanted a plain red raglan pullover with black edging. His chest measures 26" but most of his shirts were around 33" so that's the size I aimed for. I used Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off for the neckline and it's very elastic. I think, looking at the pictures that the sleeves are a bit too slim given the amount of ease in the body and will be too short on him soon. I should stash more of the red so I can rip the sleeves out in a while and knit them longer for him. As you can see in the photo he is pleased with the sweater.

Interweave Crochet Gifts

The preview is available. What do you all think?

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

"I think this one makes me look a little thick around the middle. What do you think?"

Along-ing

This weekend was spent mostly in the company of fiber people. On Saturday I went to an all-day spin-in at the Weaving Works that takes place twice a year. I fielded a lot of questions on my miniSpinner and spent the day spinning my blue Corriedale. I was chided by a few serious spinners there for not spending more time on it. I had been spending a decent amount of time spinning at home when I first got the miniSpinner but when we got George I put it away because I was sure he would get caught up in the power cord and pull it off the table. My laptop has had several similar near-death experiences during George's enthusiastic romps around the house. But the upshot is I should spin more because I love it.



On Sunday, the Fiber Gallery kicked off its first-ever knitalong. We are knitting Katarina together. We had an amazing turnout for the party. So many energetic knitters all ready to cast on.

I'm ready to join the sleeves to the body of the red raglan I'm making for my younger son and I've knit Metro nearly to the armholes. I'm trying to not cast on yet for my next shawl until I finish the raglan.

So much fiber, so little time!

22 Leaves Shawlette

Pattern: 22 leaves shawlette by Lankakomero
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock Solids
Needle: US4 Addi Turbo
Notes: Since I seem to keep running out of yarn on shawls I decided to use the smallest needle size suggested. This resulted in a tiny shawl. It just covers my shoulders.

Grover Rules

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

"Pants, panties, whatever. Nothing else matters when I'm wearing my macrame leg shields."



"Shirts are so bourgeois."

WIP Check

When we drove to Portland last weekend I needed some car knitting. I get motion sick and can't read charts or look closely at my knitting while in the car. It was a perfect excuse to start Metro from the latest Twist Collective. I chose Malabrigo Twist in Teal Feather and it is luscious. So fluffy soft and lovely to knit. Now it lives on the sofa by the TV.



I've been making slow progress on my 22 Leaves Shawlette. This one lives by my computer so I've been knitting it while finishing last season's Dexter. This is going to be a very small shawlette. The suggested needle sizes were 4-6. I chose 4 because I didn't want to run out of yarn as has been the hallmark of most of my shawl knitting this year.



I needed some movie theater knitting this weekend. My younger son has been asking for a new sweater so I took him to the Fiber Gallery and he picked out this red and black in Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran. I did a crochet provisional cast on just before heading to the theater and was able to knit the stockinette at the show. After I finished my first skein of red, and was home where there are lights, I undid the provisional cast on and knit the ribbing in the opposite direction.



Knitting a 33" sweater in worsted weight yarn is so fast! No wonder all those petite people on Ravlery keep knocking out sweaters in a week.

A Real Thriller

I took myself to see The Town today. Right at the most climactic moment I dropped several stitches off my needles in the dark. Somehow I managed to catch everything and then repair it all when the movie ended. It was more exciting than the movie. Watching made we want to recommend Gone Baby Gone, also directed by Ben Affleck but with the benefit of not starring him. Then watch Spike Lee's slick, funny and entertaining Inside Man.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

See For Yourself

Polworth from Lisa Souza



Shetland/Merino blend from Sporfarm



BFL Sport in Portsmouth also from Lisa Souza

These are my spoils from OFFF.