Tuesday, December 6, 2005

My, how time flies.  I've been knitting my little fingers to the bone -- literally!  I have a hole in my right index finger -- I tend to poke at the left-hand needle to help remove the "old" stitch (are you a poker, too?) .  I've been flitting from project to project, though, which hasn't resulted in much finishing.  Except for one thing . . .

Here's an oldy but a goody.  Remember this?

I took this photo last May, and I'd probably had the sweater a good long time before that.  It belongs to Sister Number Two, and it had a big, torn snag (shown here skewered by two size U.S. 0000 needles).  The tear involved just one row of stitches, so the remedy was to graft (kitchener) across the gap.  The problem, however, was that this is a store-bought sweater, machine knit from what appears to be a thick and thin copper sewing thread.  VERY tiny stitches -- the 0000 needles were too large, so I couldn't load them up and do a traditional kitchener stitch.  VERY sheer -- where would I weave in the tails from the repair?

I thought I took a photo mid-repair, but alas, I didn't, and I'm not going to try to re-create the scene.  You'll have to use your imagination instead.  Imagine stitches so small that you have to take your glasses off and stare very determinedly to sort of maybe see them.  Imagine trying to identify a single line of stitches all the way across one of these miniscule rows.  Imagine trying to place a straight pin into the center of each of the stitches across that row.  Imagine trying to repeat the process two rows down.  Imagine fighting the heads of all of those pins to pull out, a half a stitch at a time, the entire row with the snag in it.  Imagine repeatedly dropping the little tiny stitches and having to find a crochet hook small enough to retrieve them.  Imagine using copper sewing thread and a sewing needle to graft the two sets of live stitches together.  Imagine weaving the tails invisibly into the neckband and the sleeve seam.  Imagine my relief at completing the task:

Whew!  Now imagine how happy I am to scratch this one off the list!

(Note to Dawn:  See how the rows are pulled up underneath the v-neck?  Pop quiz -- what does that mean?)

I found this on Saturday morning:

We were on our way to Son Number Two's first basketball game of the season, and I held the package in my lap all the way there and back.  Husband Number One was going nuts, wanting to know what was inside, but I was very happy to savor the experience.  And it was worth it!  Inside were two gorgeous candles from the Bullfrog Light Co. in Charlevoix, Michigan, along with some delicate paper snowflakes waiting to be opened.  These candles really glow when lit.  See?

I'm very fond of my secret Santa!

Son Number One was inspired to try a salami snowflake:

Not quite the same effect, but beautiful in it's own way, n'est-ce pas?

Sarah

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Well, I finished my Aran handbag today, but it's not quite right so I'm going to remove the lining and tweak it (the lining) a bit more.  So instead of coming off of the to-do list for good, it's going right back on.  Don't worry -- I'll only count it as one finished project when it's done.  Here's a photo from my Introduction to Aran class, which finished up tonight:

Mine is on the top left -- the lining, which includes a very stiff interfacing, is too wide at the top, causing the bag to buckle.  I can fix that. 

Tamsyn's handbag is on the top right, Pennie's on the bottom right, Jessie's on the bottom left, and Cyndi's in the middle.  Tonight's session was all about the lining.  By the end of the evening, Jessie had this:

Ain't it great?  It just needs to have the top of the lining neatened up and sewn into the bag, and it's finito!  Hooray!

You know that star pattern from a week or so ago?  The one that you all clamored for?  Well, a few of you were clamoring, anyway.  One of my sources tells me that it was in a magazine a while ago, while another source directed me to a website with a similar star, citing Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac as the source.  I checked my copy, and there it is on page 86, in the chapter entitled "Christmas Fiddle-Faddle in the Wilds".  So I don't think I can print it here, but now you know where to find it for yourself.  Enjoy!

Sarah

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

These don't get added to my 2005 Finished Projects list, since I finished them for someone else, but they count as finished projects as far as my to-do list is concerned.

I assembled this snuggly sweater a number of months ago, but it came back for a little overhaul.  This time, I sewed buttons on and tacked down the unruly collar:

This beauty is Lara, from Debbie Bliss:

I think the front is supposed to be crossed over itself (you know what I mean?), but I didn't find that out until after the professional quality photo shoot.

And looky what I did!

Now you see it:

Now you don't!

I'm still one day behind on my finishing streak, but that's all right.  I've got plenty more projects to finish up before I can unearth my knitting chair!

Sarah

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Clarification:  The raglan in the previous post was made from pieces DONATED by an unknown person to the Guild.  No one was waiting for it while it marinated in my closet.  I'm behind on the custom knitting, but I'm not THAT far behind. 

Son Number One survived Day Number One of driving, as did I.  I even took him out to a snowy mall parking lot ahead of time and let him maneuver my Volvo from parking spot to parking spot.  Reminiscent of my father taking me out to a snowy swimming pool parking lot and letting me maneuver HIS Volvo around.

Here are some more completed projects to add to my list:

Chemo Cap #1:

For the Guild's charity project, from Berroco Chinchilla yarn and a pattern donated by Cheanne.  Started and completed during the initial Michigan leg of our Thanksgiving journey.

Chemo Cap #2:

Ditto, from Berroco Chinchilla Chunky.  Started during the Ohio portion of our Thanksgiving journey, mostly in total darkness.  The shaping was completed that evening in the hotel.

And this:

Yet another sample for my Beginning Finishing class.  I've decided to make one in each of the four sizes, at the recommended gauge, so when people ask me which size to make to fit their daughter/son/granddaughter/grandson/niece/nephew/neighbor's kid I can lay these out in front of them and say, "Pick one!"  I used Plymouth Galway yarn, and my own pattern.  Started on Thanksgiving Day, completed Friday evening during a family viewing of the first Harry Potter movie, in preparation for seeing the new HP at the IMAX theater, which we did today (it was terrific, although I think Dumbledore Number Two is a little too spry for my taste).

And finally:

From my Sweater Design class, made from Jo Sharp Desert Garden Aran Cotton, which is a cotton/microfiber blend.  I have to stop making stockinette stitch sweaters out of cotton/microfiber blends.  Everything shows, especially where my ends are woven in (actually, it looks pretty good in this photo, so maybe I was seeing things -- of course, the actual sweater is a tad larger than what you see here -- maybe I should just stand really far away from everyone when I wear it).  My Rowan Calmer sweater is a similar blend, but has a lot of texture, so I was able to hide the ends of that sweater in all the little nooks and crannies.

And now, without further ado, I present:

What I Learned on my Thanksgiving Vacation, by Sarah Peasley

Change isn't always a good thing.  Allowing your husband to rely on his newfangled GPS system instead of following the tried-and-true route (which had worked just fine for decades) can add hours to your driving time.  Two hours, to be exact.

Stopping at the first available service plaza in Ohio after a very long, unexpected delay and walking in just ahead of friends from Michigan who are traveling in the same direction is very, very cool.

Traveling in a blizzard is much less stressful if you're the one behind the wheel.  I was not.  While I had oodles of knitting time, I'm afraid my tension may have been a tad tight . . . in more ways than one.

There's the family you choose, and the family that chooses you.  Regardless, you're stuck with them for all eternity, so hang in there, and try to keep your mouth shut.

Abandoning your family so you can go see the new Pride and Prejudice movie can be a fabulous, albeit temporary, stress reliever (I prefer Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, but this version now ranks as my second favorite).

While restaurants serving mid-day Thanksgiving Day meals are easily found, restaurants serving late-in-the-day Thanksgiving Day meals are practically non-existent.  (FYI:  The tuna wraps at the Sheetz gas stations are pretty darned good in a pinch).

Returning home and finding this on your doorstep . . .

. . . can really make a difference.  The card reads: 

"Sarah: 

Tis the season to be jolly --

So let's start yours with sprigs of holly

And a sparkle of purple and words that inspire --

I hope these stitch markers you admire

-- Santa --"

Attached are four beautiful, dangly stitch markers inscribed with the words Inspire, Believe, Imagine, and Trust.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Thank you, Santa!!!

Sarah

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

We interrupt this blog for a public service announcement:

Son Number One will be behind the wheel of a car for the first time ever tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 9:00.  For your own safety, please stay off the roads. 

Thank you.

This has been a public service announcement.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

----------

Today's finished project:

This has been languishing in my yarn closet for a couple of years.  It was given, in pieces, to a fellow guild member, who brought it to guild to see if anyone would be interested in finishing it.  I finally took a look at it a couple of weeks ago and decided that I wouldn't put it together as it was (decreases were at the very ends of the rows, and each piece was a different length).  I took each piece back to the beginning of the raglan shaping and re-finished them, putting the decreases two stitches in from each end.  I finished the knitting yesterday (while on the phone), and happily sewed everything together at the knit-in tonight. 

Irene's cat Regis helped.  See? 

And Jessie made me my very own star, which you can see on my knee, and that helped, too.

The neck opening was a little, well, little, so I made a narrow neckband, doubled it over and loosely whipstitched it into place.  The sweater fit over the ears of a fearless volunteer at the knit-in, so I finished weaving in the ends and declared it DONE.  Stick a fork in it!

I'll be leaving town tomorrow afternoon, returning Friday evening.  The finished project parade will resume at that time.

Have a safe and happy turkey day!

Sarah

Monday, November 21, 2005

I'm ashamed to say that despite the many hours of knitting I did today, none of it took place in conditions allowing concentration, and therefore didn't result in any actual finishing.  Specifically, I was on the phone for hours 1) getting caught up with someone I don't talk to nearly often enough, and 2) trying to find hotel reservations for four people and a dog for Wednesday and Thursday night (mission accomplished, but I had to give up on the pool -- don't tell the kids).   

If you don't mind, I'll live off the glory of my plethora of stars for an extra day.  I'm sure I'll be able to complete two projects in one day someday soon to make up for it, especially since I'll be stuck in a hotel without a pool.*

I'm awaiting permission to either post or distribute the star pattern, so please be patient!

Sarah

* A moot point, since I wouldn't be in the pool anyway -- I'd be knitting poolside.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

I've been working on these for the past three days:

The program at my knitting guild's November meeting (this past Tuesday) involved making a mystery project which turned out to be little stars.  I was teaching Tuesday night and therefore missed the meeting, but I have friends in high places who provided me with the pattern after the fact.  There are only five rows total, so these go FAST!!!  Once I got started, I couldn't stop.  Everyone's stars will be strung on a garland which will do double duty at the December meeting -- as a decoration for our pot luck dinner, and as a door prize.  I plan to stuff the door prize box with my name, so stay tuned for news of my triumph! 

First I used the rest of the green mystery yarn from the hat I finished on Friday, followed by some blue Cascade 220 Superwash from an unfinished vest from my Introduction to Intarsia class.  The larger purple stars are from leftover Peace Fleece from my Introduction to Aran handbag (also unfinished), and the purple/white ones are leftovers from my Opal Mosaic socks (completed earlier this year).  The dark pink stars are from some yarn that used to be in my unfinished Kimono but now isn't, and my favorite ones are the multi-colored stars made from Koigu that I used for a pair of socks that are currently in need of repair.

These stars could be done in red, white and blue, or in gold and silver . . . I have two hanks of Koigu in my stash that are shades of red and green.  I can see a garland of stars in those colors decorating my house for the holidays -- if I don't win the door prize, of course!

Sarah

Saturday, November 19, 2005

With just a couple of hours to spare, here's today's finished project, the Gemini Stole:

The yarn is Gemini (hence the name), handpainted by Nancy McRay at Woven Art in East Lansing.  50% silk, 50 % merino.  Very squooshy and luscious!  Here's a close-up:

In order to show off the yarn, I used large needles (size 13 U.S.) and a very open stitch pattern:  K1, * yo, SSK; repeat from *, end K1.  I could have used a k2tog instead of an SSK, but I didn't, for whatever reason.  Three rows of garter stitch at the beginning and at the end, and for the bind off I used Sarah Hauschka's (of Magic Loop fame) favorite bind off, in which you increase as you bind off.  In this case, I added a half hitch every two stitches in order to make the bind off row as stretchy as the cast on row.  It took me at least six tries to figure out what I needed to do to keep the end from bunching up.  You should have seen me trying to bind off with two size 17 U.S. needles in my right hand -- and that STILL wasn't stretchy enough!  Finally I remembered the bind off from the back of the Magic Loop book, which I have Sarah's gracious permission to teach in my Toe Up Socks class.

I'll wear my new stole to book club at Woven Art tomorrow afternoon.  Maybe my fellow readers will be so wowed by its beauty that they won't mind that I haven't even started the book we'll be discussing.  I've been too busy finishing up my UFOs!

Sarah

Friday, November 18, 2005

Nancy asked why I don't include projects I finish for other people on my Finished Projects pages.  The answer is this -- those are other people's projects.  If they did most of the knitting, then they get the credit.  The custom knitting I've done which involved entire sweaters, like Cree or Sicily, are projects for which I take full credit, and those projects appear on my Finished Projects page.  Capiche?

Every year the knitting guild I belong to offers brown paper bags full of mystery yarn (we're not allowed to peek before we take one), with which we're asked to make a hat which will be given back to the guild to be donated where it is needed.  I often choose a bag containing (in my opinion) icky colors or fibers.  I asked my friend Sheila to pick a bag for me this year, and here's the result:

The pattern is my Knots and Spirals hat.  It looks lovely with the variegated contrasting color -- I hadn't tried that before, although some of my students have (this is the project I use for my Continental Knitting class).

Another finished project!

I'm officially on vacation until the evening of Monday, November 28 (which means I'm not teaching until then -- not that I'm leaving town for that long).  I hope to continue this finishing binge -- it feels GREAT!

Sarah

Thursday, November 17, 2005

I neglected to give credit to Uberimma for her beautiful hand dyed and hand spun yarn (and for her roving) which I used for my thrummed mittens.  Thanks, honeybun!

Chris pointed out that the mittens don't match.  Yeah, whatever.  Chris only recently regained the use of both eyes, so we can't really trust what she sees (glad you healed so quickly!).  Oh, wait -- she also said that Loll and I were gorgeous -- her vision must be all right after all!

Not everything in my pile(s) of unfinished projects is for me.  Here's a sweater from Talbott's that I shortened for Son Number Two's piano teacher.

Before:

After:

I inserted a needle all the way around the last solid row of blue, and then snipped off the bottom portion.  With ivory yarn, I knit one row, then purled one row for a turning ridge, and then knit for about half an inch.  I folded the hem under at the turning ridge and kitchenered the live stitches to the back of a solid color row (so I could make sure to stay on the same row all the way around).  Et voila!

The piano teacher said, "Oh, it's EXACTLY what I wanted!"

Hooray!

Sarah

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Presenting the Thrummed Mittens:

Yes, you've seen them before, but never both of them at the same time.  They still need to be washed and blocked, but I'm counting them as done.  Just in time, too.  It's in the thirties, very windy, and SNOWING today.  Brrrrrr!

Can you guess the title of the following picture?

COPYCAT!

Sarah

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Presenting Loll:

I had fun experimenting with the timer on my digital camera.  What you can't see is that my legs were bent so my head wouldn't be cut off.  What you can see is my double chin, so I may as well have LET my head be cut off.  Oh well. 

Here's a flash photo using Dummy Sheila so you can actually see the detail:

Loll is from the Calmer Collection, by Rowan.  It comes in both a slipped stitch cardigan version (shown above) and a stockinette stitch pullover, both with the nubby borders, which I adore.  I used Rowan Calmer in whatever they call black (I already took the extra yarn downstairs, so no labels are handy, but I know they don't call colors by any identifiable names).  This is the first Rowan sweater I have made for myself, although I've finished quite a few for other people.  Probably the last Rowan sweater I'll make for myself, too. 

I made a size that fits me nicely (the sleeves aren't as short as they look in the photo), but in what I think is typical Rowan fashion, it was really aimed at someone younger and thinner than I.  The upper arms are rather snug, so I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath.  I knew there was no way in hell that I could button this thing up the front (nor could the model in the book), so while I did choose to make the buttonholes (there was a version without, as well), I chose not to add the buttons.  Instead, I wove a two-stitch i-cord in and out of the ribbing of the neckband, and tied it in a square knot to hold the top together (and keep those top corners from rolling back).  I like the effect, and I really like the sweater. 

I forgot to show you the photos that Kristen sent me from her wedding, showing off the shrug I knit for her:

Doesn't she look stunning? 

Sarah

Monday, November 14, 2005

I've been enjoying wearing my bright new sweater here, there, and everywhere.  Thanks for all the nice comments!  I think the black wool is the worsted weight Peruvian wool from KnitPicks, but it may be the worsted weight Peruvian wool from Elann.  Uberimma will have to set the record straight for us. 

I'm having trouble getting to my knitting chair due to all of the bags of unfinished projects that have built up around it lately.  I've decided to try to finish a project a day, which should last me well past Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned!

Sarah

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Remember Uberimma, formerly known as the Serial Killer?  Remember that we had a deal whereby she was supposed to knit me a sweater out of her stash, and I was supposed to knit her a sweater out of my stash?  Remember Fern, the sweater that I knit for Uberimma out of yarn from my stash and presented to her at the Michigan Fiber Festival?  Remember the sweater she made for me from her stash? 

No?  Me neither.

That's because I DIDN'T GET ONE!!!  She kept making lame excuses like how it got lost in the move, and then all she could find was a sleeve, and then she lost the sleeve, and then she found the sleeve, and then there was a snag . . . all highly implausible reasons for making me wait for what was rightfully mine.

Well, lo and behold, what should arrive at my house this weekend?  A package from Uberimma.  What was inside?  Well, I had to wait to find out, because she purposely sent it while I was OUT OF TOWN!! *

After I returned home, I opened the package, donned the wonder that was my sweater, and promptly fell dead to the ground:

Perhaps she IS a serial killer after all.  Weapon of choice:  gorgeous, custom knit, one-of-a-kind, perfectly fitting sweater.

I'm kidding about the long wait and the lame excuses and the bad timing.  I have to kid, because Uberimma has been extremely anxious to see me in my new sweater, so I have to tease her a little first. 

Here's the posed shot, to show off the perfect fit (I abhor having my picture taken -- can you tell?):

I wore my new sweater to my class at ThreadBear last night, and was greeted with multitudinous "oohs" and "aahs".  I popped into the weekly knit-in on my way home, and was surrounded by even more nice compliments!  I kept trying to figure out what to say -- "Thank you" wasn't right, since I didn't knit the sweater.  "I know, isn't it beautiful?" is what I finally settled on.  Credit was given where credit is due -- everyone here knows the serial killer story, so they just nodded and continued to examine my sweater.  I even received an e-mail question today from one of my students, with the postscript:  "PS LOVED that sweater you had on last night".

The stitch is the same one used in Lucy Neatby's Fiesta Mittens, Fiesta Feet, and Fiesta Vest patterns.  I call it a peacock stitch, but I don't know what it's really called.  The black is a nice basic wool (I think) from KnitPicks, and the colors are bits and pieces from Uberimma's very lovely stash, including some of her hand dyed and hand spun fibers. 

Did I mention that the facing of the hem is knit from Koigu?  For me and me alone to enjoy.  What a luxury!

I love my new sweater.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Sarah

* My sisters and I helped my parents make the transition from the house they've lived in since 1965 to a beautiful apartment in what appears to be a particularly fabulous retirement community. 

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

I had a choice of finishing my class sample for tomorrow morning's class, finishing my class sample for tomorrow night's class, writing the notes for tomorrow night's class, packing for my long weekend in Pittsburgh, or blowing everything off and writing a blog entry.  I chose the blog entry, because I'm getting two or three e-mails a day from people asking if I'm all right.  I can take a hint.

At Knitter's Choice tonight, Jennifer modeled her first ever finished project:

This is a garter stitch scarf from my Easy Beginner Scarves class, knit in a very fun yarn called "Tabitha" that was hand dyed by Nancy McRay at Woven Art.  Hooray, Jen -- it's beautiful!

I've been knitting too, believe it or not.  And quilting, but this is a knitting blog, so I'm not going to talk about the quilting here.  I did discover some quilting webrings, though . . . 

For some reason I thought it would be a bright idea to knit along with some of my students this season.  As if I didn't have enough to do already.

Here are some swatches for my Entrelac Design class:

These are knit with Interlacements Seeds -- the very same yarn that Sharon almost took possession of a number of months ago.  I really like it in this stitch pattern, but it hasn't told me what it wants to be yet.  V-neck pullover?  V-neck cardigan?  With (gasp) a zipper?

Here's the sweater I was knitting along with my Sweater Design class:

Since it's sleeveless, it's basically done, although I'm not sure I'm happy with the narrow edgings I added to the armholes and neck opening.  I'll weave in the ends and see what I think after a good blocking.  The yarn is Jo Sharp Desert Garden Aran Cotton, which is a cotton and microfiber blend.

Here's one of many bags of marinating projects.  On the left are four of the five colors of Galway I'm using to knit sample pieces for my Beginning Finishing class.  I'm supposed to have a sleeve, the back and both fronts done and blocked by 10:00 tomorrow morning.  I currently have a sleeve and two thirds of the back done, and it's 11:00 p.m.  I don't think I'm going to make it.

On the right is a paper bag containing mystery yarn from the Guild, which will be turned into a charity hat in two weekends (party at Teresa's house!).

In the center are the remains of my kimono from the class I took this summer.  I'm going to try again with a different configuration of the same yarns.  A swatch is drying on my kitchen counter right this very second, but I suspect that I should try another one with a larger needle.  The new and improved kimono will become my next brainless project after my Gemini stole is completed.  There are a few hours of knitting left on the stole, although who knows when I'll have a few hours of personal knitting time available.

Oh -- I know when I'll have some personal knitting time!

I'm taking the Thrummed Mittens (which just need thumbs, so they can be thumbed thrummed mittens), Loll (which just needs to have the sleeves set in and the side seams sewn), and Judy B's Christmas stockings (which have a rather obvious deadline) on my trip to Pittsburgh.  Hmm.  I'll need a no-brainer, too, but the Gemini stole is too close to the finish line.  Maybe the kimono?  Maybe both?  Good thing I'm taking the station wagon!

I'll leave you with a picture of one of my many alter egos, Sarah the Happy Book Fair Volunteer. *

Kind of creepy, eh?

Sarah

* Please note that those are not my real glasses, eyes, eyebrows, or eye shadow.  Thank you.

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