hmmm

I've been feeling the urge to start blogging again. I just don't know where to start. I am working on several projects but can't post pictures of them yet. Some are for future publications and others are super secret gifts. So give me a few minutes and I'll see what photos I can find.

Hermia

Woo hoo! Another sweater is published in Knitscene. Check it out...

...click for detail...

New (FREE) Scarf Pattern

I knit a scarf for a charity auction a few years ago. I posted a picture of it on Ravelry recently and someone asked for the pattern. I wrote it up and put it on Ravelry and decided to offer it here too. So, here is the Fir Cone Scarf. You can find the PDF here. The yarn used for this scarf has been discontinued. It's a sport weight, merino/silk/cashmere blend. You can substitute another sport weight yarn. I recommend using a soft luxury yarn with lots of drape. I think a little sheen makes it look nice too. Enjoy!

Sock projects

So, the four of us who dyed our yarn started knitting socks last week. We're using the basic cabled sock pattern by brainylady. I'll be writing up my own instructions for the heel flap type of heel and toe shaping. I haven't decided which type of toe shaping we'll use. I don't think I've yet found a favorite method of toe shaping. We're all knitting two socks at a time on two circular needles. This is my favorite method of knitting socks. I don't trust myself to knit one sock at a time because, even if the second sock gets knit (and it often doesn't) I have a hard time making sure that both socks are the same. I often make decisions as I go and don't often write them down. My gauge can vary as well which makes for one loose sock and one tight sock. I really dont' like mismatched socks. Well, I don't care if they look mismatched they just can't feel mismatched. Ya know what I mean?

I find that casting on and knitting the first few round of two socks on two circs is the hardest part of knititng socks with this method. It seemed that my sock knitting friends agreed with me. Tina kept threatening to poke a needle through her eye to relieve the stress of trying to figure out the mess of spaghetti that was two circular needles, two balls of yarn, and two tails hanging from her sock beginnings. Krista kept ending up with her working yarns at opposite ends of her needles until we figured out she was using the wrong end of the circ to cast on the second sock stitches. Lorie, while she proudly demonstrated her masterful caston skills, kept getting the yarns twisted and tangled around and between the circs. Since she was working from two ends of one ball we ended up cutting the yarn (and thereby created two additional ends to weave in later, yech!) and untangling. I did that for her. When we got together to knit again two days later I found out that when I reattached the yarn I had left a knot between the two ends of the yarn. She's working around it for now. If the knot becomes too cumbersome I'll have to cut it again, making two more ends :( I'll weave in the ends for her.

Okay, so the learning might be a little difficult. I'm regretting not starting them with a single, worsted weight, tiny ornament sized sock. If things don't improve dramatically the next time we knit I'm going to suggest that we put the socks aside and make a demo sock.

Our knitting session was so intense that I didn't get any pictures of their socks. I'll do that next time. I do have a couple of pictures of my socks. The colors aren't very accurate as I took the pictures on my desk with artificial light and a flash. I don't like the way they look in the pictures. While I like them better in real life they aren't my favoritest socks ever.

	This is a more accurate depiction of the colors of my yarn.
	Socks in progress before starting the heel flap.
	Close up of the cables.

Yarn Haul

My yarn acquasition habits tend to be a bit bulimic. I binge and purge. Most recently I binged. My sister has been bitten hard with the knitting bug and is cranking out projects right and left. She recently invited me to explore the many yarn stores in her area. I'm working very hard on setting aside my jealousy. She's got MANY lovely yarn stores within a 20 minute drive of her home. She's got many more within 45 minutes of her home. I don't.

So anyway... We got to tour four yarn stores one afternoon. I bought something(s) in every one. So, let the show and tell begin!

Store Number 1: Down Cellar		A great little store with lots of yarn. There were four other ladies shopping and two shop workers while we were there and it was a little crowded when we were all trying to look at the same yarn at the same time but I would definitely go back there. They had a very pleasing variety of yarns and lots of knitted samples for inspiration. The yarn I bought there is for swatching.
Store Number 2: Angelfire Studios		I don't have a picture of my purchase from Angelfire Studios. I already started swatching with it and can't show it to the world yet. The picture to the left is from the Webs website where you can see and purchase the very same Euroflax linen that I purchased at Angelfire Studios. The shop itself combines yarn and knitting supplies with pottery. A big bright location with plenty of space. Again, a loverly selection of yarns and many samples artfully displayed.
Store Number 3: A Yarn for All Seasons		My favorite store of the afternoon. The shop is located back and down from the street so we drove right past it and had to turn around and come back. It was definitely worth looking for though. The store is packed with all sorts of great yarn. The shop spans the downstairs of what looks like was previously a home. Upon entering I found myself in what felt like a porch. Lots of shelves of yarn and lots of sale signs! The sales counter is in a front room which has a fireplace with a mantle. I didn't really look too carefully at the fireplace. I assume it is not a functioning fireplace. It certainly wasn't functioning while I was there (it was very hot out and the air conditioner in the "dining room" was struggling to keep up.) But the fireplace, armchair and oriental rugs on the floor made the place so comfortable and pleasant to shop in. They were having their summer sale when we went so I got lots of yarn for not a lot of money. This sparkley, purple yarn is for none other than K. It has her name written all over it. I owe her a project.
		I didn't have a choice but to buy this yarn. As soon as I touched it I knew it had to be mine. I got nine skeins. I don't know if that will be enough to make something for myself. If it's not some woman in my life (and there are lots of them) will have to endure a knitted gift from me.
		I have an idea for this yarn. I want a top with lace leaves and vines. I'll get right to work on that.
Store Number 4: The Knitting Lab		This store is cute. We actually stopped there first but they weren't open yet so we went on and came back at the end of our forray. When I first heard the name of the store I thought about the science of knitting. Having an engineering background, I got all excited. It wasn't until we were in the shop for a while that I started noticing all the little statues and images of a black dog and realized that the "Lab" in the shop name had nothing to do with a laboratory but instead was short for Labrador! I love this yarn. It's soft and comfy and I love the color. I don't care that it's probably discontinued. I'm still not sure what I'll make with this. Maybe I'll make another top with a cinch
		I've heard so much about Malabrigo yarn. I saw this beautiful red color and figured I could find something to make out of this. It really is nice and soft. I'm normally not to keen on single ply yarns but I'll give this one a try and see if it will change my mind!

About a year ago...

About a year ago I decided that I was going to gather up my courage and submit some of my knitting ideas for publication. I sent several submissions to each of several magazines. I cannot acurately describe the complex mix of feelings I've had about this. I was hopeful that something would be accepted. I was fearful that nothing would would be good enough. When I got the first call that one of my designs (not my first submission) was accepted for the Winter '07 issue of Interweave Knits I was so excited I don't think I spoke coherently! I was stuttering and sputtering through the whole conversation. Three sweaters I designed are currently out in knitting magazines. I get the same sense of thrill and excitement every time I find out that one has been accepted. While the rejections are still difficult to handle I'm trying not to take them personally (that's very hard to do.) But I'm hooked. I'm really enjoying this new phase in my knitting!

Summer Braids Done!

I finally finished the white Summer Braids I was knitting for my sister. She finished quilting my project ages ago. Although I had some concerns about how it was going to fit I think it looks great. What do you think?