tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37936397935766647422024-03-13T06:25:59.409-04:00Knit A Lot, Blog A Littlesallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-10449341257668501182014-02-13T12:29:00.001-05:002014-02-13T17:41:12.372-05:00Sweater PlansIt's a snowday and I'm in a fog from the cold medication I'm taking. Too spacey to knit so I thought I'd do a blog post before it gets to be a year since the last one!<br />
Trying to knit sweaters that I'm happy with, as in a perfect blend of yarn and fit. The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/sticks-and-stones" target="_blank">Sticks and Stones</a> sweaters I knit for Kenny and I were both successful! The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/sprig" target="_blank">Sprig</a>, not so much. The yarn was scratchy and the fit was wrong. Sleeves too short and tight (my fault-wrong needle size) and the neck was too wide. I liked the sweater and will try it again, with mods and more attention to needle size. I have been on a roll with using the wrong needle size. Had to reknit a sleeve in Kenny's sweater, and one of the upper fronts on my Sticks and Stones. So rather than start a project today on the wrong needles, I'm blogging.<br />
I have an abundance of yarn for sweaters and think this is the year to dig in. I have read, taken a workshop, and the Craftsy class for Amy Herzog's Knit to Flatter. Also Ysolda Teague's class on Your Perfect Sweater last year through Squam Arts. All of this has given me the confidence to press on. I've knit a few sweaters recently, but also frogged a few as well. Not afraid to frog, but it would be nice to get it right the first time. Rocky Coast was frogged, and I used the Shelter to knit <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/romy" target="_blank">Romy</a>, which is not the best blend of fit, yarn and buttons (but I still wear it).<br />
So here are my thoughts/plans in not particular order.<br />
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Laurel brought me yarn from Peru. Alpaca DK in a red and a green. 1,200 yards each. <br />
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<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gathered-pullover" target="_blank">Gathered Pullover </a>(old favorite by Hana Jason)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lauriel" target="_blank">Lauriel Cardigan</a> Ysolda Teague from <u>Little Red in the City</u></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/deco-4" target="_blank">Deco</a> by Kate Davies (I have the snaps for this one)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/courant-2" target="_blank">Courant</a> by Amy Herzog (I like the cowl neck)</li>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-ziggurat" target="_blank">Simple Ziggurat</a> by Asa Tricosa </div>
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I bought some St. Denis Nordique for this on sale from Webs last year, three colors</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/same-same-but-different-contiguous-walnuss" target="_blank">Same Same but Different</a> by Ankestrick This one is ready to start in Madelinetosh merino light I bought from Spinning Yarns last year. It has contiguous sleeves.</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumns-end" target="_blank">Autumn's End</a> pullover by Alana Dakos in <u>Botanical Knits</u>. Also in a green St. Denis Nordique from Webs</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lorna-suzanne" target="_blank">Lorna Suzanne</a> by Ellen Mason nice cardi with a collar, lace panels going to try it with the Rowan Denim I bought years ago for a cabled sweater. Will have to play around with the swatches<br />
because it shrinks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/highlander" target="_blank">Highlander</a> by Anne Hanson this one is also ready to go, I swatched last weekend and just need to wind up the rest of the Dream in Color Classy for it. Liked this after studying it in Anne<br />
Hanson's Craftsy Class.<br />
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Sprig pullover by Alana Dakos as above, but this time in the Pashmina Worsted that I just got from my summer order at Spinning Yarns. This yarn is so soft there won't be an itch factor and I know how to make the neck fit better. Still need to swatch for this one.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/acorn-trail" target="_blank">Acorn Trail</a> by Amy Herzog I may get this one as a Custom Fit pattern. Bought some Valley Yarns Amherst in a lilac color (a Pantone spring color) nice cabled cardigan<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/twigs-and-willows" target="_blank">Twigs and Willows</a> by Alana Dakos I'll use the Owl that I frogged from the first Sprig.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/devonshire" target="_blank">Devonshire</a> by Pam Powers cardi with a single button from 2011 Twist, looks like a good match with Woobu I bought for it awhile ago.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/every-last-yard" target="_blank">Every Last Yard</a> by Amy Swenson is a cardi with a lacey lower third. I think it would<br />
work in the Everlasting that I have 1,100 yards of.<br />
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So that's the list! There are a few more but they've been in my queue for so long I'm not going to mention them.<br />
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sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-9429765798401260212013-04-06T15:27:00.000-04:002013-04-07T20:57:48.105-04:00Fun Fiber Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Great day! I got to watch sheep being sheered at the <a href="http://www.triplegfarm.com/" target="_blank">Triple G Farm</a> in York, and then went to the grand opening of <a href="http://sacoriverdyehouse.com/" target="_blank">Saco River Yarns</a> in Biddeford. What a wonderful resource for Maine. I got a tour of the dyeworks, saw Hannah Fettig and Clara Parkes ( but was too shy to introduce myself), saw the <a href="http://www.clarayarn.com/bale/" target="_blank">Great White Bale</a>, and bought just enough Quince&co yarn to do some swatching. I'm into yarn tasting instead of big stash additions. Lovely folks, I'll be back.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dye Room (Ghosty person is due to HD+)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skeins in waiting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swatching Yarns!</td></tr>
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<br />sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-65145741592820155402013-03-17T14:26:00.001-04:002013-03-17T20:32:19.187-04:00More SwatchingI realized that I knit all of Beth's swatches in the wrong lace pattern. Oh well! At least she will be able to determine which fabric she likes the best. Here is the new swatch with the correct lace pattern. I think this one will be much easier (less noticeable) to graft in the center back.<br />
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This swatch with knit on size 5 needles, and I like it better than the earlier swatch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silk Mohair in Second Lace Pattern</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northfield DK</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FibraNatura Oak</td></tr>
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The Perfect Sweater Class is wonderful, except I wish I had more time to devote to it during the week. I did manage to get pretty well caught up yesterday. Swatched the FibraNatura Oak (got gauge on 3's) and the Northfield DK (didn't get gauge on 5's), both from Webs. The Northfield is merino, alpaca, and silk and knit up as a smoother fabric than the Oak (merino, silk, and linen). I like the Northfield and was glad that it didn't grow when lung with weights. I'd like to use it for another project sometime. I had purchased enough Oak for this sweater because it was on sale, and that influenced my decision. It looks like a more casual relaxed sweater fabric. I also made incomplete swatches of Everlasting DK and Cotton Fleece that I had lying around. They were both more toward the worsted end of the spectrum and would have needed more swatching to get gauge. I knew I wasn't going to order more of that yarn, so I unraveled the swatches. I did wash and hang these two. There was happily no change after hanging for at least 8 hours. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak on 3's and Northfield on 5's</td></tr>
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This weeks focus was on fit. I hooked Kenny into taking my measurements and have started to make my own croquis, or sketch of me, that I can draw on to get an idea of what might work on my body. I have to get a lot better at drawing on the iPad to make this very useful!<br />
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All of the focus on fit has helped me figure out what size to use for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/sticks-and-stones" target="_blank">Kenny's Sticks and Stones</a> pullover. It should officially go on the needles this week.</div>
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sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-14249803609025029862013-03-09T14:26:00.001-05:002013-03-10T12:30:51.785-04:00Swatching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcXpxTSFX90/UTt4xHMS8XI/AAAAAAAAAMc/hYThsIlYpUE/s1600/Beth+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcXpxTSFX90/UTt4xHMS8XI/AAAAAAAAAMc/hYThsIlYpUE/s200/Beth+1.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_me9ZCVbFOw/UTt44GB-64I/AAAAAAAAAMk/xfn6iKnJgh4/s1600/Beth+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_me9ZCVbFOw/UTt44GB-64I/AAAAAAAAAMk/xfn6iKnJgh4/s200/Beth+back.jpg" width="140" /></a>I am getting ready to knit a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/posh-wedding-shrug" target="_blank">shrug</a> for my nephew's fiancee. Beth picked the pattern, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/posh-wedding-shrug" target="_blank">Posh Wedding Shrug</a>, and I knit 6 different swatches to send off to her. It worked in well for an assignment with Ysolda's Perfect Sweater class.<br />
I wanted to give Beth a range of fabrics so she could choose the one that felt right to her. I sent them off this morning and am looking forward to her response. We felt that a shrug would work better than a shawl because of the detail on her dress, and a shrug is much less fussy to wear. This was a fun experiment and I feel like I am getting to know Beth in a more personal way than I would by just sending her a gift. I want to play around more with the gauge of the fabric and weighted drape, but wanted to wait until Beth gives me her choice. Then I can focus on that yarn specifically. The swatches have 35 stitches each, with a 2 stitch garter edge on each side and 5 pattern repeats (with the exception of the mohair). I knit each swatch on size 7 (4.5 mm) or 8 (5 mm) needles. I washed all of the swatches and let them air dry. An added benefit to making so many swatches is that I memorized the pattern, only making one mistake, so now I know what to watch out for.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/sallyg/stash/silk-mohair" target="_blank">Lana Gatto Silk Mohair</a></td></tr>
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This is a 25% silk/ 75% mohair blend. It was knit on 7 bamboo needles. It is as light as a feather. I would like to try knitting it on smaller needles to give the fabric a bit more body as well as showing off the pattern with more stitch definition. Although with this much mohair there isn't going to be too much stitch definition. I love the feel of this swatch, but it was definitely the most difficult to work with.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e47h6QiZp8U/UTt60NAiQxI/AAAAAAAAAM4/GH7x1HXyJxw/s1600/IMG_1336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e47h6QiZp8U/UTt60NAiQxI/AAAAAAAAAM4/GH7x1HXyJxw/s320/IMG_1336.JPG" width="286" /></a>The<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/sallyg/stash/cotton-bam-boo" target="_blank"> Cotton Bam Boo</a> was my first swatch. It was knit on size 8 needles. The fabric is soft and would be comfortable next to the skin. It has serious drape and I expect it will stretch and grow. If Beth chooses this one I would swatch on smaller needles to get a more dense fabric with better stitch definition and really test it for growth. She wants the shrug to cover her back, not the dress.<br />
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This is Cascade 220 superwash. I chose to swatch it because several shrugs had been knit with it on the Ravelry project page. It is not very exciting. It's soft, has decent stitch definition and would be comfortable, but it feels like a sweater, not a garment that would go with a wedding dress. This is the swatch where I learned about the potential mistakes I can make with this pattern. I ordered some <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/knit-picks-shine-worsted" target="_blank">Knit Picks Shine</a> as a back up for this one if Beth picks it. I think the Shine will have a bit more "shine" and elegance.<br />
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This one was a complete whim. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/tahki-yarns-ripple" target="_blank">Ripple</a> is a cotton thick and thin yarn. The thick parts are woven, making it like a tape with thin parts. The fabric is a bit crunchy and it has zero stitch definition, but I like this one a lot. This swatch is certainly not boring. I used size 7 needles which I think are about right for this yarn. It was very strange to knit with, hard to tell if you had knit or purled at times. If Beth chooses this one I'll have to play around with drape, weighting the swatch.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/sallyg/stash/tiara" target="_blank">Tiara</a> is a wool and mohair blend with beads and sequins in the yarn. When I bought this one, it was the most expensive of all the yarns, I thought this would be the one. But I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. The beads and sequins do add drama, but the stitch definition is just okay. The biggest issue I have with it is the color. This was the "creamiest" of all the yarns and I'm afraid it would look yellow. If Beth likes the bling I would be happy to add beads to any of the other yarns, except the Ripple!<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1UXGiQLURcM/UTuIYjX4U0I/AAAAAAAAANk/bpwMsnklqBo/s1600/Tiara+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1UXGiQLURcM/UTuIYjX4U0I/AAAAAAAAANk/bpwMsnklqBo/s200/Tiara+closeup.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CyMWZxk3Daw/UTuKKSo9r3I/AAAAAAAAANs/4R5p_W8whX8/s1600/sunseeker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CyMWZxk3Daw/UTuKKSo9r3I/AAAAAAAAANs/4R5p_W8whX8/s200/sunseeker.jpg" width="200" /></a>The last swatch is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/sallyg/stash/sunseeker" target="_blank">Sunseeker</a>. A cotton yarn with what looks like a mylar thread going through it. You don't really notice the sparkle unless you are right on top of it. I knit the swatch on size 7 needles. It's okay, looks more sporty than I would like. Being cotton it may grow when it is worn, so I would need to do more swatching if this is Beth's pick. I think it would be cute as a shrug for a summer dress, but it doesn't have the bridal flair I was looking for.<br />
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So, what have I learned and where do I want to go next? Well, I would really like to try some silk, but I'm going to wait and see what Beth is feeling. I also have the Shine coming, I'll see what happens with that. I'll swatch it, but may not have to send it to Beth. A problem I had with this experiment is color. There are not a lot of pure white yarns. We could go with a light gray to match the ribbon in her dress as an option. I have learned that swatching can be addicting! Just knitting these six swatches makes me want to look at more possibilities, silk for example. And then adjusting the gauge will add a whole new range of options. I learned that it is much more economical to add my own bling rather than pay the extra for yarn with the bling built in. There is more but I'll save it for the next group of swatches I'm knitting for the Blank Canvas Sweater.sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-30301078271643332402013-02-24T14:13:00.000-05:002013-02-24T14:37:39.262-05:00Thorn in Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LOl2W9_WGug/USpeLjsnbeI/AAAAAAAAALk/TNY4Ju7tCxk/s1600/IMG_0290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LOl2W9_WGug/USpeLjsnbeI/AAAAAAAAALk/TNY4Ju7tCxk/s320/IMG_0290.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I finished my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/thorn-2" target="_blank">Thorn</a> shawl yesterday. It feels good, and I'll enjoy wearing it. Hadn't made a swatch and that's probably why I ran out of yarn and had to go back two rows to bind off with enough yarn. Lesson learned. That was a really long row, over 600 stitches. Should have used a smaller needle. I used blocking wires and was pleased with the results. It is a bit larger than the schematic that came with the pattern, but not a huge difference. I did use my new <a href="http://www.handsomefibers.com/ChiaoGoo-TWIST-Interchangeable-Complete-Set_p_106.html" target="_blank">ChiaoGoo Twist</a> interchangeables. Love them, especially the tiny little connector that allows you to put two cords together. They are similar to Knit Picks, but are less likely to pull apart or come unscrewed. The cord is sturdier, might not be as good for magic looping as KP are. Love the case, very portable and great for traveling.<br />
We are having a snow storm today, it's keeping me from going to school...going to be a very early morning tomorrow. Really pretty snow though, sticking to the trees and branches-the winter wonderland look. The <a href="http://www.snowdaycalculator.com/calculator.php" target="_blank">snowday calculator</a> only gives us 41% chance for tomorrow.<br />
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The yarn I used was <a href="http://brooklyntweed.net/blog/?p=784" target="_blank">Brooklyn Tweed Loft</a>. I love the fact that it was spun in Harrisville, NH, where we used to go to the steam baths many years ago. It is very delicate, breaks easily but also spit splices easily too. I was okay with that, but I will have to be very careful with pulls and cat claws. It does have a great deal of vegetable matter, tiny brown bits of straw/hay that you have to pick out. Sometimes I felt that the yarn would fall apart it I picked too vigorously, so I just left it in. Hope it doesn't feel scratchy. Glad to have this one done so I can move on to Kenny's sweater. I got past the heels on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/minnesota-moonlight-socks" target="_blank">Sweet Tomato Heel</a> socks, now I just need to knit the legs and I'll have a new pair of socks. I'd love to finish some of my projects that have been hanging around for too long. Getting these socks finished would be fantastic.<br />
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My yarn order from Webs arrived. And now the Northfield is on sale...$3.84. I'm tempted to order a sweater's worth, but will hold out and swatch first. There were quite a few comments about how the yarn grows and can be problematic in garments. When we were in New York I stopped in at <a href="http://www.knittycity.com/blog/home" target="_blank">Knitty City</a> and bought a skein of Tosh Merino Light in Cloak, which is perfect for the black in Eden Praire. So now I've got two extra skeins. Sure I'll find something to do with them, it is fabulous yarn. I've already bought more yarn that has gone into the stash than all of last year! Time to put on the brakes. Looking forward to the start of the class, but hoping that other knitters don't tempt me to go on a buying binge.sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-4411238729122053572013-02-16T16:28:00.002-05:002013-02-16T16:40:37.525-05:00Progress, Planning, and ...Purchases!Yikes! After flashing my stash you would think that I would have the sense to stay away from online and local yarn stores for awhile. But I fell in love with the <a href="http://www.whitknits.com/" target="_blank">Eden Prairie</a> by Nancy Whitman at Whitknits. It looks like a Frank Lloyd Wright window. I ordered the Tosh Merino Light from Whitknits and the <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/" target="_blank">Loopy Ewe </a>in order to get the colors I need. I wasn't sure which color to use for the black (onyx seems to be discontinued) so I ordered thunderstorm and graphite and will find a use for the extra somewhere.<br />
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Since the <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/your-perfect-sweater" target="_blank">Perfect Sweater</a> class with Ysolda is starting soon, I've been thinking about yarn for that. She is suggesting that we use DK and we'll be doing a lot of swatching. I have some leftovers of standard yarn that I can swatch with (CottonFleece, Malabrigo Silky, Silky Wool) but I also made the mistake of looking at Webs to see if they had anything interesting. At least I chose yarn from the closeouts. I ordered 8 skeins of Fibra Natura Oak which is a blend of merino, linen, and silk. I have high hopes for this one. Since it was a closeout I talked myself into ordering a sweater's worth, but at $4.49 a skein that wasn't too bad. Also threw in a skein of Northfield DK, a merino, alpaca, and silk blend, but only one skein of that since it is standard stock at Webs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pashmina in Copper Penny</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sticks and Stones Swatch<br /></td></tr>
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But my most exciting purchase this week was the <a href="http://madelinetosh.com/" target="_blank">Madelinetosh</a> order from <a href="http://www.spinningyarnsnh.com/" target="_blank">Spinning Yarns</a> in Dover. I ordered this yarn in July knowing it would take awhile. You could order any Madtosh yarn in any colorway, with a minimum of 4 skeins at 20% discount. I loved being able to have the whole palette of yarns and colors open to me. It was <u>really</u> hard to decide what to get. I'm going to make two sweaters out of Pashmina in the Copper Penny colorway. Kenny will get <a href="http://knitspot.com/" target="_blank">Anne Hanson</a>'s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sticks-and-stones" target="_blank">Sticks and Stones</a> pullover and I'll get the cardigan. I know. Next we will be getting matching Aloha shirts and Moo moo's. I knit a swatch on the recommended 5/3.75 mm needles but didn't get gauge. Will try again on 6/4.00 mm. The swatch does look beautiful, I did the pebble stitch swatch and feels soft and lightweight. I think it's going to make a couple of great sweaters. I also ordered 4 skeins of Tosh Merino Light in Antique Lace. I think this will become a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/same-same-but-different-contiguous-walnuss" target="_blank">Walnuss/Same Same</a> cardigan by Ankestrick. I loved the contiguous sleeve on Romy and would like to try it again. It was hard to wait 6 months for this yarn, but in the end it was a great opportunity and I hope they do it again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etc_vy4WeHA/UR_4hS1IzYI/AAAAAAAAAK8/BoLbMrbrDDk/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etc_vy4WeHA/UR_4hS1IzYI/AAAAAAAAAK8/BoLbMrbrDDk/s320/IMG_0278.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tosh Merino Light in Antique Lace</td></tr>
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Finally the progress part of this post is my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/thorn-2" target="_blank">Thorn</a> shawl. I am in the C section, and have 48 more rows to knit in this section. The rows are getting longer, and it is eating up yarn quickly now. Even though this shawl is only stripes of garter and stockinette stitch I have had to tink back with great frequency, sometimes a few stitches but several times a number of rows. I wised up today and threw in a mess of stitch markers. It is moving along much better already. We are heading to NYC for a couple of days this week and I hope to get on to the edge by the end of the week. I'm anxious to finish a few projects so I can really dig into Kenny's sweater and be ready to enjoy Ysolda's class. Not that a few WIPs ever bothered me too much.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thorn at Section C</td></tr>
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<br />sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-2723537924100245692013-01-20T15:53:00.001-05:002013-01-20T15:53:37.720-05:00My Perfect Sweater I signed up for the <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/your-perfect-sweater" target="_blank">online class </a>with Ysolda Teague through the Squam Arts Center. Hoping to learn how to knit a sweater that really fits. I thought my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/romy" target="_blank">Romy</a> was going to fit well, but it is far from perfect. I think I made the armhole openings too long, that seem to make it all pull, and I'm constantly tugging at it. Might not have been the right yarn either. Anyway, looking forward to the class.sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-88480995281391381342013-01-19T12:56:00.001-05:002013-01-19T14:52:14.993-05:00New Year's Stash Check In Yikes! I'd been looking at the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/yarn/2418157/526-550#546" target="_blank">Flash Your Stash</a> posts on Ravelry and decided to take a look at mine. It was a fun hour. The only surprise was finding a skein of Lamb's Pride that I could have used on Kenny's new slippers last weekend, instead of buying a new skein. I'm so glad that I've taken the time to enter my stash on Ravelry and have been keeping it current. I don't usually include yarn in the stash if I cast on within a week or so of the purchase so it doesn't include every skein I've purchased this year. I did pretty well this year, only making eight entries!! Therefore the picture below reflects the shopping excesses of previous years. Hopefully next year I won't need the rocking chair to help display it all. My latest spreadsheet shows it coming in at 37.8 miles. I think that's more than the last time I checked.<br />
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<br />sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-26491940929835375712012-02-23T11:16:00.000-05:002012-02-23T13:49:12.512-05:00Starting Color Affection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I picked up some yarn at <a href="http://www.knittycity.com/blog/home" target="_blank">Knitty City</a> while we were in NYC.<br />
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It was a planned purchase, because I am dying to knit <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/color-affection" target="_blank">Color Affection</a> and the yarn wasn't in my stash. Really.<br />
I chose three colors of Madelinetosh Merino Light, in Boxwood, Vanilla Bean, and Graphite. The Boxwood will be my main color and the Graphite will be the edge. Can't wait to get started, and I only have another 4 rows to knit on the Amberwell, it knit up incredibly fast! Especially with the drive back from New York yesterday.<br />
January One had a post, <a href="http://www.januaryone.com/archives/2012/02/fat_tuesday_1.php" target="_blank">Fat Tuesday</a>, on color and value comparing color photos to black and white. It is well worth reading. I took a chance with my three colors and shot them with Color Splash. The values are probably too similar, but I'm not changing. It is a great exercise though, and I plan on taking my iPhone with me to the yarn store every time I buy yarn, (in the far distant future, of course).<br />
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<br />sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-61449737433759862492012-02-21T08:40:00.001-05:002012-02-21T08:40:36.315-05:00Scrumptious Finds a ProjectI found a small shawl called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/amberwell-shawl">Amberwell</a> by Judy Marples. Interesting triangle with a garter and stockinette band. The big appeal to me is the edge is designed to be as deep as your yarn amount allows. It is zipping along, I'm on the eighth repeat of chart A. Amberwell is written for fingering weight, but the Fyberspates Scrumptious Sport is looking good. So happy to have finally found a project for this truly scrumptious yarn.sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-39996356454590059182012-02-18T11:51:00.001-05:002012-02-18T12:02:24.811-05:00Crinoline, Semele, and Parasol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have two lace projects on the needles at the moment. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/crinoline-lace-shawl" target="_blank">Crinoline</a> is a beautiful triangle pattern by Alina Appasov. I'm using stash yarn, (yes, I still have not made any yarn purchases) that I bought at Spinning Yarns. It's Plymouth Yarn Dye for Me Merino Silk Cashmere 2 ply. It was marketed as lace, but it is fingering to me. So the shawl is going to be heavier than I hoped. It's fine for a first try of this pattern, I'd love to knit it again sometime with true lace yarn. I have knit 10 repeats of Chart B and will probably knit about 18. I'm using <a href="http://www.rose-kim.com/" target="_blank">Rose-Kim Knits</a> shawl percentage spreadsheet (Shawl Progress Calculator) and my scale to determine the approximate half-way point. There is a 5 into 5 stitch that you are directed to knit through the back loops. I found this to be very awkward. I looked up similar stitches in Nancy Bush's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitted-Lace-Estonia-Nancy-Bush/dp/1596680539" target="_blank">Estonian Lace</a> and Elizabeth Freeman's <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTlaminaria.html" target="_blank">Laminaria</a>. They gave me "permission" to knit through the front and I was off! Alina also gave me her nod of approval through the Ravelry forum of her designs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/semele-2" target="_blank">Semele</a> is a lovely pattern by Asa Tricosa. I started to knit it a while ago with one skein of Seasilk, but decided it was not going to be enough yarn for the size I was interested in and I frogged it. Also frogged the Fartlek hat that I was knitting with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/fyberspates-scrumptious-4ply" target="_blank">Fyberspates Scrumptious 4 ply</a> I bought at The Yarn Sellar in York. I was coming out too large and didn't have enough stretch for me. I'll try the pattern again in a pure wool. The good news is that it looks beautiful in Semele. The bad news is that I only have one skein and I'm looking at the projects on Ravelry and they used TWO! Guess I'm frogging this again...I do have 3 skeins of Knit Picks Shadow (1300 yards) in grape jelly and that would use some more stash. Now what to knit with the Scrumptious? </div>
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I finished my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/parasol-stole" target="_blank">Parasol stole</a>. After blocking the ribbing went back to its original state. It's too narrow to be called a stole, but it is a very cozy (as Henry is demonstrating) scarf. This project was that cause of much overthinking and indecision. In the end I just told myself to get on with it and finish the thing. I used <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/dream-in-color-everlasting-dk" target="_blank">Dream in Color Everlasting DK</a> that I bough from Webs. Unfortunately, the last skein was noticeably different, as happens with some yarns. I know I shouldn't buy such yarns over the internet... </div>
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The other issue is that the ends are different because it is knit end to end rather than two halves that are grafted in the center. I felt more anguish over this than I should have done, because it doesn't bother me as I wear it. If I were to knit the pattern again, I would probably knit it in two halves and would definitely make it wider. </div>
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<br />sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-12693765156434722012-01-28T09:50:00.001-05:002012-01-28T10:51:36.412-05:00Socks Done, and Another BirthdayI finished Kenny's socks on the 17th. He wore them for the first time (other than to try them on) in honor of my birthday yesterday. I'm very pleased with how they turned out. The waffle rib breaks up the colors well and makes for a stretchy, snug fit. I loved the<a href="http://cabezalana.blogspot.com/2007/04/sherman-short-row-sock-pictorial-tour.html" target="_blank"> Sherman heel</a>. Will have to try the toe and heel again.<br />
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I also finished my second<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/priscillas-dream-socks-2" target="_blank"> Priscilla's Dream</a> socks. Had lots of knitting time last Saturday as we drove to North Hero, Vermont for some most excellent skating on Lake Champlain.<br />
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Now I'm trying to get going on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/parasol-stole" target="_blank">Parasol Shawl</a>. It's about half way done. Looking forward to getting out my new swift and winding up the third skein today.<br />
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I was asked to knit something for the<a href="http://www.oldberwick.org/" target="_blank"> Old Berwick Historical Society</a>'s 50th Celebration this fall. Looking through my stash and favorited shawl patterns to find something fun. Hmmm.<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reminiscence" target="_blank"> Reminiscence</a> by Lily Go currently has my attention. It looks like it would be comfortable to wear and it is knit bottom up, so the construction would be interesting. I'd rather not by yarn for it, so I don't have a huge range of color choice, purple, red, green, and white. And then I have to decide if I can part with it.<br />
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My last stash enhancement arrived. This is the last skein from the <a href="http://knitspot.com/" target="_blank">Knitspot</a> Fall into Full Color club.<br />
It's very pretty handspun from NewHue. The bins are officially closed to any incoming yarn. I placed an order at Knit Picks today. Didn't order any yarn, just a couple of books and notions while their books are 40% off. And a small project bag...after all, it was my birthday.<br />
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<br />sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-13725852908420218962012-01-02T16:47:00.000-05:002012-01-02T17:12:26.899-05:00Socks for Kenny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I started socks for Kenny. He got to open a package of yarn on Christmas, so I felt that I should start them quickly. The yarn is Mountain Colors Crazyfoot in the Red Tail Hawk colorway. Bought the yarn at <a href="http://www.yarnsellar.com/">The Yarn Sellar</a> in York. (one of the last purchases of 2011...) The color is similar to some Lisa Sousa yarn I knit into socks for him, but he likes it. He doesn't have big feet, but I wanted to be sure I had enough yarn so I'm knitting them toe up, two at a time, magic loop. The pattern is the waffle rib from Charlene Schurch's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sensational-Knitted-Socks-Charlene-Schurch/dp/1564775704/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325540387&sr=8-1">Sensational Knitted Socks</a>. Easy enough, but I've managed to mess it up twice on the instep. Oh well, it will be in his shoes. The pattern is three rows of 2x2 rib and one row of purl. Looks good so far. The purl row helps to break up the colors. I used <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html">Judy's Magic Cast On</a>. It worked beautifully. There is a lot of support for that cast on on the web! I just used the description on Knitty and it was easy to follow. I have never knit heel flaps toe up, and certainly not two at a time. This will be a learning experience. Usually I "run home to Momma" and put the sock on dpn's to do the heel.sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-35991972096791145762011-12-31T14:17:00.000-05:002011-12-31T14:17:46.912-05:00The 2011 PostI can't believe I have not blogged once this year. Ooops. I'm finding that I have miss not having written descriptions of each project, because I haven't been using my journal either. Time for a New Year's resolution.<br />
Today was a fabulous day as far as Sally's knitting life is concerned. I went to the end of the year sale at <a href="http://spinningyarnsnh.com/">Spinning Yarns</a> in Dover. Margot had a swift with a damaged box, no damage to the swift, and she gave me a great deal on it. I couldn't be happier. No more cursing as I try to wind yarn that won't fit on Mom's old swift. Henry thought it was something to attack. I had to pick up a couple of skeins because of the sale, but I held myself back from going over the edge. I just bought two more bins to hold my stash and UFOs. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bs38O5qO_g/Tv9ZCs7bt0I/AAAAAAAAAF0/qFtckZJotsQ/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bs38O5qO_g/Tv9ZCs7bt0I/AAAAAAAAAF0/qFtckZJotsQ/s320/IMG_0488.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>On the way home I saw the postman had just delivered the mail, and my excitement grew. Yes! He delivered the needles I had ordered on July 30th!! They are beautiful. The set is made of Vermont Rosewood, size 4 to 10.5 with an assortment of cables. I have been anxiously awaiting their arrival for months. The first time I ordered from <a href="http://www.dyakcraft.com/">DyakCraft</a> I got a set of dpn's in different woods and I love them. They came in about a week. The company has obviously become quite a sensation. The needles are in a lovely case, I thought I had changed my order to lace tips, but I guess that message didn't get through to the shop floor. Not a problem. The needles are plenty sharp enough and I have the KnitPicks set for when I need them. Now I have to decide what to cast on. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPIVY0s3czE/Tv9cjBTzyJI/AAAAAAAAAGA/fVvlX_amLPE/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPIVY0s3czE/Tv9cjBTzyJI/AAAAAAAAAGA/fVvlX_amLPE/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>I finished twenty-nine projects this year. Many of them were knit with stash yarn. My goal had been to only purchase yarn that was going directly onto my needles, no stash enhancement. Didn't quite follow through with that, but I did better. Joining the <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/clubs/fallen_leaves/index.php">Knitspot Fall in Full Color</a> club was a mistake. The yarns are lovely, but I only have knit one of the skeins/projects so far. I don't think clubs are a good move for me.<br />
So, the 2012 resolution is:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Knit From the Stash</div><div style="text-align: left;">A quick check on my Ravelry stash, which I do keep up to date, comes in at a whopping <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;"> 77,353</span></b></span> yards. Obviously there must be some mistake. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was fun! 2012: Blog and Knit (from the stash...) </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <link href="file://localhost/Users/iBook/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip.htm" id="Main-File" rel="Main-File"></link> <style>
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</tbody></table>sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-82415629736960204892010-09-30T19:43:00.000-04:002010-09-30T19:43:26.730-04:00New Blog Name!This is the third time I've changed this blog name. Hopefully, the third time is the charm. It certainly is appropriate! Off to do some work, and a few rows.sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-34448156858892508032010-02-12T03:26:00.000-05:002010-09-30T19:38:05.250-04:00Vacation KnittingI'm trying to decide what to bring for a week on the beach. There are several works in progress in my knitting basket, but it's tempting to start something new. All the excitement over the Ravelympics has me itching to start something, although I have no interest in a Ravelympics project. I'm going on vacation and would like as little stress as possible. I lost my voice and taught for two days like that. Not talking is exhausting!<br />From what I'm reading knitting needles are often confiscated on flights returning from Mexico. People have better luck with wooden shorter needles, but they too have been taken. I have my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/the-probability-cowl">Probability Cowl</a> on wooden Webs interchangeables. That's not the most exciting project, but it might be worth trying. I can unscrew the needles and put them in with my pens/pencils. The cable is short and hopefully won't cause a problem.<br />As I write this post I've been searching for projects. I downloaded <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/high-seas">High Seas</a>, beautiful stole/scarf that reminds me a bit of Hanami. I think it will look great in the Madelinetosh Lace I bought at Knitty City in December. I'll wind it up and stick it in my bag. It will use the same needles as the cowl and strangling vine so I can bring a few cable knobs and just switch needles. Now I'll have a lace project that will make me happy!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4225897244_5220e41282.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4225897244_5220e41282.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-50114925268678107672010-01-30T15:41:00.000-05:002010-09-30T19:38:05.263-04:00Penance Knitting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4316307349_22632c986b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4316307349_22632c986b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Main Entry: <strong><sup>1</sup>pen·ance</strong> <input onclick="return au('penanc01', 'penance');" class="au" title="Listen to the pronunciation of 1penance" type="button"><div>Pronunciation: <span class="pr">\<span class="unicode">ˈ</span>pe-nən(t)s\</span></div><div>Function: <em>noun</em> </div><div>Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin <em>poenitentia</em> penitence</div><div>Date: 14th century</div> <strong>1</strong> <strong>:</strong> an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin<br /><br />The day after Christmas we were invited to my sister-in-law's friend and neighbor's for drinks. Lou has a penchant for white. I think the problem stemmed from the fact that I stopped knitting and starting drinking wine on an empty stomach. I spilled red wine on her white carpet. Twice. Lou insists that she doesn't hate me but I feel that I need to offer some sort of gift as a symbol of my remorse.<br />I went into the Yarn Basket thinking cashmere, but it turns out that I wasn't that guilty. I bought two skeins of GGH Silk today and started kniting the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/strangling-vine-lace-scarf">Strangled Vine Scarf</a> by Nicole Hindes. This yarn is wonderfully soft and shiny, but it is ridiculously splitty! It will truly be my project of penance, and I certainly can't drink wine while working on it!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4317040228_e9843d11fa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4317040228_e9843d11fa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-88167660390086710262010-01-22T17:08:00.000-05:002010-09-30T19:38:05.276-04:00Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4296384748_028413ef4b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 465px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4296384748_028413ef4b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I finished my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sallyg/little-shells-socks">Little Shells</a> socks from The Knitter's Book of Yarn. I was anxious to try <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abBhe-JYmgI">Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off</a> (this link goes to Cat Bordhi's video of the technique) with these toe-up socks. I have knit many pairs that feel like there is a knotted tie around the top. I can get them on, but it feels like it could snap! Horrors!<br />This bind off is fantastic! Love the socks, very stretchy, but not baggy. Perfect for this yarn that may shrink a bit. (Knit Picks Bare merino/silk) I have two more skeins left from the batch I dyed with the Seacoast Knitters in October, 2008. (A <span style="font-weight: bold;">very </span>fun time!)sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-25208852853676304592010-01-18T10:29:00.000-05:002010-09-30T19:38:05.287-04:00The Monster has a Face<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4285246594_09411f5381.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4285246594_09411f5381.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I finished the duplicate stitch. Still have to weave in many ends and graft the crotch together. Charting the eyes made it much easier. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4285300170_4b220d4b16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 151px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4285300170_4b220d4b16.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-86051718589126128992010-01-17T10:09:00.000-05:002010-09-30T19:38:05.298-04:00Procrastinating<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4281200027_e9fe6fffe5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 455px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4281200027_e9fe6fffe5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I did chart the eyes for Das Monster, made a swatch, and practiced my duplicate stitch. Now I'm procrastinating. The gift of a three day weekend.<br />I ordered the pattern for the <a href="http://www.jeanmoss.com/lisdoonvarna_jacket.html">Lisdoonvara Jacket</a> from Jean Moss Handknits in November, 2006. I took the chart out of the envelope and hyperventilated. I knit shawls from charts, but this was truly scary. Maybe it was the size. I bought the yarn and haven't done anything else on this project. Until today. I still really like the sweater and have plans to add a scalloped edge from a pattern that I have somewhere... It's 2010 and I'd like to knit up some of the great projects I have planned. The enjoyment of choosing and planning for new projects will be heightened if I have less in the stash bin. Not to mention that I really need a challenge, and this would do it. I'll be using <a href="http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/Denim.aspx">Rowan Denim</a> so frequent breaks will be necessary if I'm going to knit that much cotton. But I have to be careful not to leave it so long I forget the pattern. This sweater will be knit in many short, yet frequent sessions. It would be the only one on Ravelry, which may say more about my sense of style (~1985) than anything else!sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-37695885597469737602010-01-16T08:21:00.000-05:002010-09-30T19:38:05.309-04:00Das Monster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4278922240_683b5ac29e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4278922240_683b5ac29e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I'm working on <a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQJvacOaHj9qZGZ0ODdiNjVfMTJnbjUyazZmNg&hl=en&pli=1">Das Monster</a> leggies for a colleague's baby. The knitting is done so today I'll have to tackle the duplicate stitch for the eyes and the teeth. If I'm smart I'll try it on a swatch first. I love this pattern, it makes everyone laugh.<br />I've used Berroco Comfort DK which is nylon/acrylic (gasp! horrors!) but actually feels quite good. I started to knit it on KP zephyr needle tips. Bad idea! SQUEAKY! Switched to the nickel plated tips and it knit up beautifully. After some consultation with a friend, I decided to knit a 2x2 rib at the bottom of each leg rather than the moss stitch the pattern suggests. We thought the ribbing would be easier to turn up if the legs are too long.<br />I've been reading up on duplicate stitch. Found several tutorials, <a href="http://bellaknitting.typepad.com/bella_knitting/2007/08/duplicate-stitc.html">this</a> was a good one. I'm not going to chart it but I think I'll outline the eyes with a contrasting yarn so I can be sure that they are the same shape and the placement is correct. I'll start at the bottom and work up.<br />I'll post about the success...sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-38702248558491668632010-01-13T20:56:00.000-05:002010-09-30T19:38:05.321-04:00Twenty TenI'm thinking about starting the <a href="http://www.jeanmoss.com/lisdoonvarna_jacket.html">Lisdoonvarna Jacket</a> that I ordered the pattern and yarn for two years ago. The charts are daunting! They are huge! But I'm feeling like I need a challenge. And knitting with that much cotton would certainly fit the bill.sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-77728477238023025082009-08-14T17:01:00.000-04:002010-09-30T19:38:05.339-04:00Summer YarnI've been playing with Voice Thread and Animoto for school. This blog has been a great place to practice!<script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/46928cc51133af17/4a85d0b1b564735f/46928cc51133af17/5b833cf0/widget.js"></script>sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-42694706304674368302009-08-14T12:14:00.000-04:002010-09-30T19:38:05.348-04:00Flower Basket Shawl<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI1MDI2NjQzMTAwMCZwdD*xMjUwMjY2NDk3MzU5JnA9MjA2NDIxJmQ9YjU4MTEzMyZuPWJsb2dnZXImZz*yJm89ODdjYTE1ODZjMTZmNDViYmIwNzk4ZGJkZDRjY2JlNzYmb2Y9MA==.gif" /><object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=581133"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=581133" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="480" height="360"></embed></object>sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3793639793576664742.post-86278812223892729272009-07-28T12:32:00.000-04:002010-09-30T19:38:05.357-04:00Two At A Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3701238791_7f4f9b3540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3701238791_7f4f9b3540.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I have two shawls on the needles. This is probably a good idea since one of them is <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTshipwreck.php">Shipwreck</a> and I'm on the mesh section. Each round takes about 10 yards of yarn. I'm randomly placing the 5,000 (!!) beads across these 56 rounds. That's about 85 beads per round. Currently I have about 2,000 beads strung, so every so often I have to stretch out at least 10 yards and slide the beads down. Needless to say, it's not going very quickly. I'm using Knit Picks bare and will dye the shawl when it's finished. Quite an adventure, this one.<br />The Flower Basket is moving along quickly. I don't always get a repeat finished every day, but it's still growing at a good pace.<br />Vogue Knitting now has a preview, called <a href="http://www.vogueknitting.com/node/600">VK 360</a> that has video of all the patterns in the current issue. It's fantastic! I'm hoping that the other magazines, especially IK and Rowan, will follow this trend. There are so many times I've wanted to see the garment move, see it from another angle, or check out the drape of the fabric. They could lose the music though! Maybe audio of the designer describing the design? I'd love that!sallyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184690813040241353noreply@blogger.com0