Zeneedle...needleart as life

Scarves are the New Socks

Lauren, a Ewe-tah grrl extraordinaire, had a contest for her 500th post and I was the lucky winner.  Lauren is a fabulous knitter and spinner and the rest of us are always amazed at the beautiful, unique projects she brings for show and tell.  She spun a coiled yarn, and then, knit a hat with it!  She really does awesome work.

While I'm touting one of our own, I may as well share with you Susan's new scarf pattern. She gave me a preview copy and I'm working it up in a fabulously soft and lovely yarn, Malabrigo Lace  (color Garnet. Oh it's so yummy!). The pattern should be available soon and it is fun to do. Don't like nupps? Use beads. Me? I'm a nupper…love me some nupps.  Nupps are easy peasy if you use an Addi Lace Needle (or Knitpicks Options work, too).

No need to worry, I won't give up on the Japanese Waves Scarf.  I love the yarn too much and the pattern, together with the yarn, creates a quality I love.  Maybe others don't see it, but it looks vintage and velvety and I can see it around my neck with a lovely vintage pin.  The vision of a finished product is a good way to keep the process alive. (It will look better blocked, I promise.)

And speaking of scarves…I have not given up on my handspun version of Lace Ribbons. Rachel asked what had happened to it and I must confess that it was frogged.  NOT permanently! Just temporarily, as the needle size was too big for the yarn and the yarn (angora blend) was too sticky for July knitting.  As soon as the weather lightens up, cools down, and angora doesn't stick to my hands, we'll get back together.  The pattern and yarn made a nice combo and it's another wonderfully soft, warm scarf that see will keep me warm. (I'm so concerned about being, feeling warm enough during the upcoming winter, I may even knit some leg warmers.)

Here's the "new do". I don't do much to my do and realize the new do is a lot like the old do, just shorter.  You'd think when you tell your stylist that you'd like to grow your do they wouldn't do their best to chop it all off, now would you?  Anyhoo, if it didn't look so cute and I didn't love it, I would be mad at him.

And the other new?  GLASSES! I've only ever worn readers, but now at a certain distance things become blurry.  It feels good to see clearly again.

She DOES Knit!

Well, it looks like I am the victim of Typepad problems.  The posting ahead feature did not work today and I had to publish it myself.  I hope there is hope for Typepad!  The following is todays (re)scheduled post. Happy reading.

There is so much more to say about the spinning going on around here, but after a bit of a drought, there is much to say about knitting, too.  First, the Japanese Vines scarf is finished and she was one enjoyable companion.  The yarn was heavenly to knit and there was no noticeable color change between skeins (as often happens with hand dyed).  The Artyarn Ultra Merino 4 is soft, nicely dyed, drapes beautifully and has nice stitch definition. I shall be using it again.

The Japanese Vines pattern is nicely written, easy to do and easy to remember. It's also very entertaining knitting.  The pattern looks fine with a yarn that has a little color change and a light blocking kept the edges wavy.  The scarf would also look good with a hard blocking if that's more to your liking. I wouldn't mind knitting this pattern a second time. Maybe I have become a scarf knitter after all.  As someone said, scarves are the new socks…maybe so!

There has been a little trouble in Mudville, however. The big problem project is Shetsoie.  She is a trying companion in that she is moody, often pouting and difficult to handle. Because of her unwilling nature, it wasn't very smart of me to try and change her. Moody projects do not like change. All I wanted to do was add one more section of garter stitch and she has thrown a fit over it.  Nothing I do will make her happy and she has been in time out over her antics. She will not be frogged. I remain hopefully. It would have been nice to have a finished project for PS Elements Earth, but I guess I've failed at knitting Earth.  Let's hope I can do a better job of knitting Air and I do have a special project in mind. (More later.)

After being misused by Shetsoie, I retreated into a simple project, one that will allow me to be Alpha and won't mind a few changes.  The Fitted Cardigan in Louisa Hardings book, Modern Classics, is elegant, simple and should be a perfect summer cardigan.  It will be great with jeans while dining in the mountains on cool summer evenings, or it can be dressed up and taken out for a night on the town. (Pearls anyone?)  Going with what you know is the best way to get back on track. I will be the boss of my knitting (or die trying).

The knitting has been easy even with my changes (lengthening), but the road to get to this point has been bumpy.  The first sweater planned for this yarn, a pullover, never got off the ground.  When a project just sits and doesn't ask to be cast on, one must realize it isn't meant to be.  The second sweater grew only an inch. Very quickly it was obvious the process just wasn't going to be enjoyable (who knows why one project does that and not another).  This little red cardigan fit the mood bill from the first stitch, and it now happily sings along. This is the first time I've worked with Cotton Fleece and, so far, it's a good experience. Hurray for success.

Summertime and the knitting is easy.

Persephone Obsession Abated

Thank you for your kind comments on Koigu Zetor. At the end of a special project, one that has been a part of daily life for several weeks, it's hard to get back into the swing of something new.  As it turned out, I found the perfect project to fill the need and it was Persephone.  There wasn't much time to knit this past weekend, but Persephone went everywhere I went, just.in.case. She grew by one repeat...a hard won repeat, as it turned out.  It was hard to stop thinking about her, or stop knitting, once I got going.

The first time I began (don't we all start our project more than once?)  I just couldn't see how the pattern worked, how the lace fit together and my brain was making all sorts of (wrong) assumptions!  I called Miriam in the off chance there was errata, but I knew the answer before she answered the phone as I'd seen her knitting from the chart a few days before.  She confirmed there was no errata, but kindly tried to think of what might be throwing me off.   I told her it was me, my brain hadn't kicked in and I would just start over to see if that was the reboot needed.  Indeed, it was...a fresh start had me on the right track and everything made sense the second time through.  Don't you just hate love when that happens?

Miriam's lace patterns are so interesting and entertaining (I love good knitting entertainment).  She doesn't just find a stitch pattern and put an edge on it, she thinks about the design and how patterns will mesh and work together.  Persephone is a fun knit because it isn't the same thing over and over and the design is interesting to do.  Too bad my pictures turned out so horribly as this does not show the depth of the colorway or the interesting pattern changes. I'll try to do better next time.

Judy's yarn is perfect for this project and adds another dimension of interest. The mix of brown tones with the grayed purple gives the color a very organic feel, which I wish you could see. (I'll try to do better.) The sheen, which is also hard to capture in pictures, enhances the color and design.  I love everything about Persephone and will enjoy knitting every stitch.

CeCe has grown only slightly since I got caught up in Persephone madness…but the rest of this week will be all about CeCe.   The main reason (beside the desire to wear her) is that yarn for a new project has arrived. I've enjoy wearing NBT the First very much and decided it was time to do a redo. NBT will make another great summer sweater.  Isn't that sleeve about as interesting as knitting gets? (kidding)

I often wear blue and brown together and I almost bought brown for a contrasting neck and sleeve bands, but I think one color will be less limiting.  I'm going to make this NBT more grrly with picot hems on sleeves, body and around the neck.  Unlike my first NBT there will be no design across the chest.  This shirt will be ready to go anywhere, with anything, all summer long.

The week I ordered the Calmer for Nothin' but a T I also printed off the pattern.  I'm so relieved as MagKnits is now history. (Yes, I know there are ways to get the patterns if you don't already have them.)  Alison said she'll republish NBT on her blog if the archives are not restored and Jody is adding some of the patterns to her new Knotions magazine, too.

I must give a shout out to Chris (and Chaos and Mayhem) for sending two fabulous CD mixes.  As far as I'm concerned they are near perfection.  You know just the right songs, (even the titles are perfect) and genre's that mix well...good work, Chris!  They have been the soundtrack to my daily life this week and I love them.

ZeKoigu Contentment

Lace knitting was one of the things that helped me through the winter (of my discontent as Cindy  calls it).  The only thing I wanted to knit was lace, and while there were days I could not knit, a shawl was always the main event. The lace addiction has continued and Zetor is the fourth shawl of the year. (I've grown fond of wearing lace and feel a little nekid without it.)

The colors below are listed in the order I knit them.  I started with P713 and knit about 26 rows, then knit in alternating rows with P200 and P713 for several more rows and then knit with only P200 alone.  The whole shawl was knit in that fashion.  If I had kept to the 26 row pattern and not over done the first three sections there would have been no need for ball number 6, but that very dark edge (only 4 rows) did make a nice finish (and the yarn was in the stash).  There are no complaints as the colors worked out beautifully.  Koigu is a perfect yarn for lace, whether you knit with one color or many, as the yarn is soft, stretchy, blocks well and has the best color ranges ever.

The Koigu stash was collected over the last 4 years in both internet shops and LYSs from my travels.  It's been fun to pick up a few favorite colors and see how they work with what's at home.  I will continue with this behavior as often as I can....Koigu is for collecting.

Zetor was a very easy shawl to knit as the repeat was only a few rows, but with the yarn coloways, it was pure entertainment to watch the colorful stitches dance across the needles.  Zetor has been even more fun to wear as it stops even non-knitters who must take a look at the yarn.  Finishing this shawl in time for spring weather, and being able to wear and enjoy it, has been a big boost for my mood.  It is a joyous, colorful shawl that I'll enjoy for many years. 

Pattern: Zetor Scarf (made into the size of a shawl)
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM 6 skeins, one each P713, P200, P206, P445, P401, P609.
Time to Knit: March 16, 2008 – April 8, 2008
Comments:  The plan was to knit Zetor in the style of Charlotte's Web with a few rows of one color, then a section of two colors blended in 2x2 rows and then another section of one color. Because of the density of the pattern more yarn was needed and every bit of each skein was used (except the first and last colorways).  It is very large at apx 80" across the top and 45" at the center.  So much for a small, summer shawl.

The End of Obsession

The obsession for ZeKoigu Zetor is over, at least the knitting obsession.  I really don't care for the expression "stick a fork in it."...but this thing IS (finally) DONE!  It took about 1 and half hours to bind off and it was a very happy moment when the last stitch came off the needle.  In retrospect, if the first two color sections had been smaller, there would have been no need for the sixth ball of yarn. The plan had been to make a small summer shoulder warmer, but the shawl grew to be HUGE and I'll be able to wrap right up in it.  Can't complain about that!  There is little time in the next couple of days for blocking, but she should be unfurling into her full glory by the weekend.  I'm so happy with ZeKoigu Zetor and I agree with many of you who said she looks like hydrangea flowers.

The Sock Mojo is still MIA and Stacey may decide to send out a search party in case it is lost in the red rocks of Southern Utah.  You notice it's Stacey sending out the search party, not me, I don't care if the Mojo returns right away. The lace Mojo is firmly in place and, for now, CeCe fills the need for lace and for the desire of new summer sweaters.  The body is finished and awaiting sleeves...from there everything should go quickly.   

For some reason I feel light and free…it must be the weight of Zetor, which is finally off my shoulders!  As soon as CeCe is done I'll start another shawl, but for now I don't want to get too carried away with projects…it's too overwhelming for my little brain.

"April is the Cruelest Month

...breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain."

Or perhaps snow?  Yes, it snowed yesterday morning and the dreary cold weather continues today and tomorrow.  The weather peoples promise a very warm and sunny weekend...and so we wait, and hope, that our day of sun will come.  The land holds forth the promise of the lilacs and other brightly colored flowers, while a spring like riot of color fills my lap and slides through my hands.  Zetor is nearing an ending and entering a new beginning...just like the earth (and yes, I am obsessed with this shawl).

For one brief shining moment the sun came out while Moxie and I walked yesterday afternoon.  It was still chilly, but it was so enjoyable to walk around and look for flowers. (We did not find any  tomatoes or lettuce.)  Our lilacs are not much farther along than Norma's and she's much farther north!  A few east facing jonquils have had enough sun to open and show their faces.  Jonquils are one of my favorite flowers and the pink hyacinths are especially pretty (they remind me of Zetor, of course!).

The one thing that never entered my head when I began knitting Zetor was the density of the fabric as compared to Charlotte's Web. Zetor's fabric is more substantial, more solid, and it eats up the yarn.  With Charlotte there were many partial balls of Koigu, but Zetor is taking every single bit of every single ball (except the first).  The number of rows for each section changes as the yarn runs out, sometimes mid-row, and yet the effect of mixed up colors has worked out well. Koigu has nice potential for projects that shade gradually. Five skeins of Koigu have gone into this shawl and the size should be just right for a summer shoulder warmer, not too small or two big.

The colors, starting from the neck and moving down are, P713, P200, P206, P445, and P401.  The colors have blended perfect, even better than I imagined, and it has been the bright spot of a dreary spring.  I'll be sorry to cast off the last stitch, but I am excited to wear this shawl and that's worth the wait...obsession continues.

Make It So

When the world around you remains gray and dreary...

...it is time to create your own world of color.

This is what it looked like Saturday morning as I left the house.  The world was black, white and gray, no color anywhere. Only a few lone flowers have come out of the ground as the heat hasn't been enough to bring out a profusion.  A few violets dot the landscape, and a daffodil has come forth here and there...it's sad to see so much gray and the week ahead looks as if it will continue.  The only thing to do is create my own world of color...time to take matters into my own hands and shop, knit and play in full living color.

A trip to the Three Wishes was the first thing on Saturday's agenda and it was the perfect place to start my color search.   Manos Silk Blend in a colorful and brilliant color combination caught my eye right away and it will become a shawl to brighten a gray day of next winter. The colors include a gray green and burnished gold that are out of my usual comfort zone.  I'm trying to step outside of that comfortable place more often as it can be interesting and enlightening.

The tulips bulbs that have been growing in my kitchen started to bloom at just at the right time, and the daffodils from the market brought in more color, the color of the missing sun, into my studio.  One must do what one can to create a happy, joyous world of color. Since the spring bulbs aren't coming as quickly as I'd like, I'll bring them in artificially..it's better than nothing.

The weekend fiber pursuits were spent in colorful ways, too.  This  beautiful silk/merino roving from Chasing Rainbows was predrafted and readied for spinning.  The colors are deep, luscious and rich and the hope is to create a single yarn that will show off that beauty.  Last, but certainly not least, the vibrant colors of spring really come through in the colors of the Zetor Koigu Shawl.  I have been completely obsessed by this project and color may be the real reason it's been my one and only.  The colors of spring flowers will soon be gracing my shoulders.

Sun Dappled Maples

It  seems to be time for another finishing flurry.  Thank you for your comments on EPS.  It's one of my favorite sweaters ever and every one of you should try knitting a sweater with EZ as your guide.  Now to on of the most beautiful shawls I've ever knit.  This shawl certainly evokes the trees and groves of a forest; a beautiful forest of fall colored maples, with the sun dancing over the leaves, the roots diving deep to drink a last bit of water before heading into a long winters sleep.
 

The design and yarn color were perfectly suited for either the spring green of aspen leaves or the warm richness of red maples in fall (the two colorways available).  Miriam is a genius when it comes to elegant lace and Anne is a goddess of beautiful yarn colorways. Together they created one of the most beautiful projects I've ever knit.

The first section is designed to mimic the leaves of trees as they dance in the sun.  The lace patterning is knit on both sides of the fabric, which makes this the most complicated section of the shawl.  It's worth the extra effort as the leaves are beautifully formed.   

The second section evokes the trunks of the trees, complete with twists and knots.  This section was easier to get into a rhythm, but a knitter must keep an eye out for the subtle changes as the trunks twist and the knots of branches form.   

The final section shows the roots working their way through the soil to find needed nutrients. This was such a fun section to knit, but there was still the pitfall of knitting a row when one should be purling.  The garter stitch is effective, but reading and checking the pattern on every row (to see if it should be a knit or purl row) will keep a knitter from a visit to the frog pond. (Doesn't every forest have a frog pond?)

Aspen Grove is a forest of beauty, of color and of exquisite lace. 

Yarn/Pattern/Kit: Aspen Grove Shawl from Wooly Wonka
Colorway: Vermont Maples (Perfect for PS III)
Designed by: Miriam Felton
Time to Knit: February 10, 2008 – March 15, 2008

I Will Overcome

It isn't the shawls fault; it isn't the pattern, the designer or the dyer of the yarn.  It is my own fault. I have never knit a piece of lace that has required so much back tracking.  This is yo-yo knitting, pure and simple. Just when I'm sure of myself, just when things are seemingly going smoothly (finally), up pops a problem area that has me ripping back several rows.  My brain can't seem to count or keep the motifs straight.  It's taking constant vigilance, constantly checking for errors to keep them at bay. Why I am so inept?

The shawl is beautiful, so elegant, that she's worth the yo-yoing…that is, as long as most of the movement is forward rather than backward. The last two sections have been knit twice each and there is only one more section to go.  I am hopeful the third time will be the charm and I can finish the shawl without any more errors and, perhaps, even with a flourish!  Aspen Grove will be another perfect spring time shawl.

As soon as these yo-yo tendencies come to an end and I can move on, I'll be able to start CeCe and, hopefully, that will happen this weekend. (New lace, new sweater all in one weekend? WEE!) CeCe is going to be the perfect early spring knitting.  Finishing should be quick and she'll be ready to wear this spring, sprummer, summer.  (We love the mixed seasons around here.) The yarn is Classic Silk in the Coneflower color and if that doesn't evoke spring...nothing does.  Can't wait to sink my needles into this yumminess.

There is something to be said about a flurry of finishing and freeing the needles just in time for a change of season.  How lucky for me it happened without effort! Spring is the time for new projects!

Spring is also the time for gifts! Thank you to everyone who shared their special place during the Blogiversary Party.  It would be so much fun to travel to all your special places and find the same peace and joy you found so inviting.  Three numbers were created by random.org and match to three comments.

Prize number one, the Flutter Scarf pattern and the beautiful Les Oiseaux Laceweight by Sky Lark Yarns will be sent to Blogfree Barbara Kay!

Number two, the skein of Sherbet STR will be sent to my pal Vicki.

Number three, is for Marti who will receive Spinderella's thrums and the Barebones spindle.

The prize for the most interesting place/story (also drawn by the number generator out of 16 finalists) will be sent to Angela for her story about her grandfathers iris garden. It's worth reading so click the link.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all for joining in the party fun! 

Koigu...It's a Good Thing

It was seeing Teresa's Charlotte's Web in person (last September), and seeing it again in Cheryl's Blogiversary Mosaic, that had me thinking about all the Koigu in my stash.  (Doesn't everyone have a Koigu stash?  Koigu is the one yarn I love to stash in quantity.)   When I buy it isn't for a pair of socks or any other project. It's because of the colors, the uniquely Koigu colors, the way they blend in the skein, and from skein to skein.  (A sweater of blended colors could be so gorgeous and it's in my mind to make one someday.)

Charlotte's Web was my first lace, my first shawl, so it was near and dear to my heart.  My sister liked it so much she was able to talk me out of it shortly after it was finished….and I have wanted one of my own since then.  Many skeins of coordinating colors have found their way into my stash over the years and I've played with different combinations for some time. (I may have enough for several shawls and maybe even most of what I'd need for that sweater!) When the Zetor pattern came onto the scene (thanks Cheryl for pointing it out to me) I decided it was time to pull out the lovely collection of Koigu and start playing and planning.

After the long white and gray winter the colors of Koigu are the perfect spring balm.  I was thrilled to see the Wool Cabin and Black Sheep both had new shipments. I hauled in a few colors from the stash to play with their new colors and came up with a combo that plays well together.  Koigu loves to play, don't you know?

 
Now if I can just keep Aspen Grove on the right track and finish her this week, I'll be able to dive into the luscious Koigu and knit!