Zeneedle...needleart as life

Egads!

It's been such a crazy week and I haven't had much time to knit.  Everything else is taken up my time, my precious knitting time included!  Work is crazy and my social life the first part of the week was a bit busy, too.  Tonight I hope to sit on my arse and catch up with myself, my knitting, the laundry (why does it never go away?), and my favorite TV show (Survivor).

Last night the Knitters Guild meeting was fascinating and I'll have pictures and a report for you soon. Susan N. brought her wonderful Bohus sweaters and kits for us to see and it gave me new resolve to start my own Bohus sweater as soon as I can.  However, I saw that the picture-less designs for the Winter Twist Collective were starting to showing up on Ravelry.  Last week the yarn for Jadis (the pattern I've been waiting, waiting, waiting for) arrived and I am chomping at the bit to start knitting this luxurious cormo/alpaca/silk yarn. Isn't the Winterberry color gorgeous!?  (Can you tell I'm excited!??!) I hope the designs are published soon!

I started the Maelstrom sock from the first Twist Collective, but because of the meeting I had NO time for pictures. If there is a picture in this spot it's because I three and half minutes before I ran out the door.  It's a very cool pattern, so far.

Smith and having dinner together (for the first time in a week) was more important than the blog (sorry, sorta).  We went out to our favorite burger place, a place we rarely frequent as we don't eat burgers and fries very often.  It just felt right last night.

And one last quick note...Paula would like you to take her survey.

TTYL!

NaKniSweMo Report

If a knitter wants a sweater in one months time, it's best to keep a few things in mind.  A sweater knit at a large gauge will grow more quickly than say something on a size 2 needle. Use a yarn that is comfortable and lovely, one that your hands will love and that you'll love.  Of course the main consideration is the pattern. Is it a time tested pattern, something tried and true with few problems to fix? Above all, check for errata to ensure there are few, if any surprises. Input from other knitters is always a bonus (thank you Ravelry) and when you are ready to knit carefully read through the pattern and mark any changes that need your attention, such as size changes, increases, decreases, a change in needle size, or if it instructs "at the same time".  A yellow marker, pencil and paper,stitch markers, stitch holders and other neccasary items should always be handy.  Follow this advice and you'll be in the running to have the sweater finished in one months time.

It's proven to be a good thing that I moved on to Plan B for NaKniSweMo.  However, this seemingly simple cardigan has had its own issues from the beginning. I may not have followed my own advice when choosing this pattern. I did check Ravelry for errata and found many complaints and problems. In addition there was loads of advice and it seems errata was added daily for a time. Hope doesn't help a knitter much, but faith is active and requires participation.  I have years of experience, dozens of classes and many finished items under my belt.  That means my knitting intuition has been honed.  I know when a project is worth the effort and when its a bust.  I took the jump, acted on faith and went for it.

Even though the pattern called for only 2 balls of Kidsilk Haze, I knew this was unlikely.  I had 5 balls of my chosen yarn on hand so knew there would be no shortage if my intuition proved correct.  Later this corrected amounts of yarn were posted and I have more than enough.  I also saw a potential sizing problem as the finished measurements did not coincide with the schematic. This problem helped in my decision to knit a Small instead of the Medium size.

Addi Lace needles have been a big help, as they keep the stitches tamed and under control and the yarn has been interesting to watch, as it changed from white to gray to charcoal. It has been a wonderful experience to knit with this yarn and it hasn't caused one minutes trouble.  Even when I've had to rip back, it has behaved well.  This knitter is pleased.

To my advantage, the small size had minimal errata. However, the biggest problem has been the way the raglan increases are executed.  Once I figured out that the YOs in the "K1 yo K1" increases needed to line up one top of the other, the increases fell into place.  Reading them as if they were a lace pattern helps, as did stitch markers, but they are very difficult to see in the fuzzy haze of mohair yarn.

Some of the pattern rows are not written out and the only way to ensure the count is correct has been to write them out for myself. Counting the stitches in each section (front and back) is critical...nothing should be left to chance. Knitting through row 19 was an exercise in patience and perseverance, but once past that point the pattern has been easier to follow. 

The beautiful, ethereal cables come out of nowhere and if they are not well marked a knitter could easily to forget about them altogether. Sadly, the do not show up well in photographs (and barely in the actual sweater).  To make sure each cable is twisted on the right row, it has been best to keep a row count as I go.  This sweater demands constant vigilance, consistent and accurate counting.  Stitch markers are a must and there is no letting down ones guard, no easy mindless knitting. 

I am now knitting the sleeves (they are finished before the body, which is a good idea) and the rest of the project should be easy going (except for counting where each cables is twisted).  I do expect this sweater to be worth the experience.

Knitting Catch Up (Delusions Again?)

While patiently waiting for the sweater of my desire to be published in the Twist Collective, and for Knotions technical issue to end (poor Jody  has been working so hard towards the launch of Winter Knotions), the yarn for Maelstrom arrived! At least part of the waiting game has ended. This is the pattern that kept Sock Mojo on the hook. Now, Sock Mojo is an impatient guy and the fact that he stayed around to wait is a testament to how much he wants a playdate with that pattern. The yarn was rather photogenic when paired with the fancy cabled mug and that whet is desire all over again. We, Sock Mojo and I, cast on last night, but it was rather late, so we took no pictures. Surely you can imagine a short ribbed cuff in the lovely Coral yarn. So far everyone is playing well together.

This little shawl had its beginning a week ago Sunday.  It came to life as a result of the finishing flurry from the week before. With only 20 minutes to spare, the realization hit that I had nothing to knit while at Sunday SnB.  All my lovely fingering yarn was strewn around the room, as I'd been taking pictures for the ABC post. With all that yarn in front of me, I felt more overwhelmed than inspiration. 

As often happens, thank goddess, one yarn stood out and said it was her time and I knew immediately what she wanted to be when she grew up. I wound the yarn, grabbed the right needle and pattern, and headed out the door.  So far, with fits and starts of time together, she's been  growing slowly, yet surely.  The yarn is a Louet Gems fingering that Susan dye a couple of years ago. The pattern is the simple and beautiful Shetland Triangle Shawl from Wrap Style.

During the tea party last Sunday I made an error on the shawl that needed extra attention. Rather than fix an error while chatting with grrlfriends, I turned to a new, easier project. Susan has a new pattern almost ready to publish and I had an advanced copy. (It pays to have friends in high places.)  I cast on, knit a few rows and, later that night, knit a few rows after everyone was gone.  It's going to be a fun, quick project and the only thing I'll say is how much I love Manos Silk Blend. Watch Susan's blog for details.

But wait, there's more! As soon as Winter Knotions is published, I'll be starting the Magic Mirror Mittens (look in the Entwined section). The yarn is ready to go when the pattern is available.  I'm also excited for the Salt Lake Knitters Guild meeting tomorrow night, where the guest speaker will tell us about her Bohus sweaters. I've put off starting Gray Mist because of NaKniSweMo (a Bohus sweater is not a one month sweater, at least not for me) and I'm feeling rather anxious to get started. The projects are starting to dance in my head like sugar plums!

Plan B has had quite a bit of time dedicated to her growth this week, but that sweater deserves its own post.  As Nora  says, What's on your needles today?

Tea Party

I spent the whole weekend hanging out with grrlfriends.  That means there isn't much time to blog. Saturday we hung out in the needlepoint shop and knit all afternoon. Sunday it was nice to have a few friends over for tea and spend time chatting, laughing and knitting.  Since I spent the last two days having fun, there is now laundry and other household chores to do.  That's why weekends go so quickly! Two days just isn't time to do everything I want to do!

Goodies!

Mug from St*rbucks and STR Mediumweight (Coral) from Blue Moon.

Saturday was a very good(ie) day. 

Saturday Sky - Thursday at Dawn

The sky and mountains were so majestic and beautiful after the storm.

And So It Begins

Wednesday's multiple inches of snow was brought to us by the dreaded lake effect. That's an official term, a weather phenomenon of what happens across the Salt Lake Valley when conditions are just right.  I walked out of the office to find my car covered with 5" of wet, heavy, pure white fluff.  The dreaded lake effect is capricious, as one never knows what direction the wind will carry the bulk of the storm nor how long it will last.

The afternoon high temperature was down right cold...freezing in fact!  And so begins the winter of 2008-09.  I am not yet over the winter of 2007-08 and I am in need of an attitude adjustment.  How do I get through the next 4 months of cold, wet, cold, snowy, icy, cold, misery?  (See, just how big a shift in attitude is needed?)  I cannot spend the next 4 months hating the cold and hating winter. The only thing to do is to find what is good about the next few months and just what is needed to get me through. 

First there is the uncommon beauty of the mountains that surround us.  They do get the bulk of the snow (46" at Snowbird from this storm alone) and snow is much needed for tourism dollars.  It also fills the reservoirs with precious water so that the flora and fauna of the mountains, and those of us who live in the valley below, have plenty to drink. We're off to a good start. Visiting our favorite places in the mountains, during the coldest months of winter, also lightens the mood. I will make sure to do so as often as possible.

It's the beauty in little things that also uplift and bring joy.  As soon as I saw the stack of amaryllis bulbs I thought of Sandy and her beautiful bloom of last winter.  I bought one for my office and I'll enjoy watching its daily progress. It should brighten the sterile waiting area and, hopefully, my mood.

There will be hot cups of tea in beautiful new mugs. I also vow to try new teas and enjoy those I already love on a daily basis.  As with fingering yarn there can never be too much tea in the house, right Terry?  Oh, and my new tea cup just may help keep my green (or black) tea blue. It was hand made by Cynthia's son and it's a beauty.

The main thing to do this winter is to keep on knittin' up the warm knits and spinning up as much yarn as I can.  Knitting and spinning during the coldest months of the year is der rigeur.  While there are only two projects on my needles now, I will be adding to that number and can't wait to knit up some mittens, gloves and hats (along with scarves, sweaters and socks).  But first, I had better fix Smith's gloves!  They have been waiting for a new finger since last spring. How did winter get here so quickly!?

Enjoy your weekend!!

Fingering the Fingering

This rather large plastic vat/bin/box holds nearly every skein of fingering yarn I own.  I've been taken to task by another blogger (some time ago) for having such a large quantity, and for adding more to it.  As I see it, this view is a bit short sided. Calling this weight of yarn "sock yarn" seems an injustice, as this commodity is one of the most versatile of all yarn weights. Its qualities are vast because fingering yarn can easily be used for socks (of course), gloves, mittens, sweaters, scarves, cowls, hats, baby clothes or shawls.

This big bin holds yarns of many varieties: solids colors, indie handpaint, variegated, semi-solids, various yardages, and even some skeins that are very unique and therefore valuable. This big bin of fingering yarn is full of vision and potential.  There is a wide variety of fiber properties and color possibilities.  More yarn from this bin is used more often than any other of my stashed yarns.

No matter the project, no matter the color desired, it is be fairly easy to find something in this stash that would do the trick, and I can (almost) always find something suitable for any project I have in mind.

V is for versatile, valuable, and vast quantities fingering yarn. A bottomless pit couldn't hold enough.

V is also for Vicki! It's her birthday today!

As A Spinner Spins

After we had our spinning class with JMM at Rhinebeck, Terry posted this simple sentence.

"The more spinning workshops I take, the more I don't know about spinning." 

It was so true! It felt so true. The little we thought we knew turned out to be wrong (or so it seemed).  Throughout the weekend we debated and talked about the class, asked questions of friends and received confusing, contradictory and interesting answers (everyone has an opinion, of course).

One of the first things an experienced spinner tells a new spinner is "Knit with your handspun.  You'll learn about the properties of spinning in the process."  On the plane ride home I had a head full of new knowledge and the desire to make the fingers do the job I knew they needed to. (There is always that space of time between "knowing" what you should be able to do and getting your fingers to DO what you know they must.) I couldn't wait to get home and start spinning.  During the trip I had been knitting with my handspun, Oberon, a blend of alpaca, angora and silk.  It was knitting up beautifully and several people had commented on the color.  It was a skein I had spun early on in my spinning experience, a time when I was flying by intuition. 

This yarn is far from "perfect" and it would have flunked out in any judged show.  BUT, it held together, it was soft and the fabric it made was luscious and luxurious.  Who's to say it was "bad"?  I was enjoying every single stitch of the knitting process.  The yarn had a fairly even grist and did I say how soft it was?  The softness was in large part because of the fiber content, but also because I had had tried a semi-woolen technique (didn't know what it was called at the time) and then, wet finishing as I had read about in Spin Off magazine. The yarn was a two-ply, spun to be a fingering weight and the intent was to knit something lacy.  Because it is soft, because it knits nicely, because it is beautiful and has been used for the intended purpose, I'm calling this yarn one big success.

There maybe hundreds of techniques, rules and ways of creating "perfect" yarns. This doesn't mean one shouldn't work towards improving and perfecting spinning expertise. Since the class I have been practicing spinning in general, trying to incorporate the new knowledge and techniques into my daily spinning and learning more as I go. But, what I've spun in the past is as lovely as any future yarn.  I am a spinner. 

Pattern: Lace Ribbon by Véronik Avery
Yarn: My most incredible, fabulous, soft, perfect as it is, and luxurious handspun
Needle: Addi Lace size 6 (4.00mm)
Time to Knit: Longer than it should have, but the bulk of it was knit in a 3 week time period.
The pattern was fun to knit, relaxingly easy and entertaining. 

The Dream

Did you ever think MLK's dream would be a reality? Tonight I am emotional, amazed and my heart is back in my chest, not my throat.  It's feels amazing to be alive at such an history moment.  Congratulations to President Elect Obama.  Congratulations America!

Yes, we can.