Zeneedle...needleart as life

NaKniSweMo Road Hazzard

No knit should be a slog. I've said that to several knitters this past week, including myself.  If it isn't fun, why are you knitting it?  If it's a slog, and not working out satisfactorily, why are you knitting it?  We could all use more time, especially more knitting time, so why are we so willing give up time to a slog of a knit. To digress just a little... If you need a quick gift, go buy something. It's unlikely the person your giving the gift to doesn't want your "quick" knit anyway.  Few people love your knitting the way you do and very few will appreciate it the way you do. Something as cherished as time should be only be given with great discretion.  This article in the Twist Collective says it better than I can.  OK, I got a little off track. Let's go back to the "No knit should be a slog" bit.

Just as Plan B  (Ravelry link) was moving away from the hard to see increases and into the easy knitting of the body and sleeves, I made a tactical error. All that intuition and experience failed me and I hit a big bump in the road, a bump which nearly derailed the whole project.  All the adjustments to start the sleeves were made when I suddenly had the brilliant idea to knit the sleeves in the round. How cool would it be not seam them, to just knit round and round with the Kidsilk and be finished! Whee...it sounded great! 

HOWEVER, after purchasing the size 8 bamboo needles, and starting to knit the first sleeve I quickly saw the error of this decision.  The yarn just isn't quite right for sticky bamboo and trying to handle four needles, the fuzzy yarn, a cable and the decreases (which doesn't sound too bad as I type) turned into a nightmare.   The sleeve became a BIG OLD SLOG.  I told someone that I officially hated this sweater and didn't know if I could go on.  But, go on I must and when I sat down to slog on I knew, I just KNEW a change had to be made. 

Immediately I took out the needles and started rewinding the yarn row by row.  It felt good, cathartic in fact, and before long I had the offending 4" rewound and the stitches back on the lovely Addi lace needle.  The first row of back and forth sleeve knitting and there was no doubt it was the right thing to do. That evening the sleeve was nearly finished and there was no hesitation in starting the second sleeve.  All is well in NaKniSweMoland.  Let's hope this sweater photographs better when finished than it does now.

On a happier note, the Forest Canopy Cowl in yummy Manos Silk Blend, color Java, is finished and I love it's softness against my neck.  The pattern is very quick and fun to do.  If you love someone very much, and you would like to give them something you've knit, this would make a wonderful gift.  But, make one for yourself, too.

What's Next?

For the first time in weeks I spent most of Saturday at home and I spun for much of the morning. Then, got sucked into the black hole of pattern organization and reassessment of the WIPs.  The pattern organization black hole almost did me in.  The thought was to put all the purchased Twist patterns into one notebook. Two hours later I was still sorting and had made 4 different notebooks of patterns, added to the 10 notebooks I already had, AND was about on the verge of pulling out my hair.  Thank goddess, Smith walked into the room, broke the spell and I put it all down and left the room.  It's still there, scattered about the floor and I'm not going to do a thing about it until later in the week.  So there.

You want to hear about the knitting reassessment:?  Well, let's see.  On the needles is was the Cardi Cozy (we'll discuss it and its fate later), the Maelstrom Sock and the Shetland Lace Shawl. I made a tactical error on the cardi ('nuf said), then I thought the Maelstrom Sock was going to end up to large so I pulled out the needles and was ready to frog it.  Good thing I actually tried it on because it's perfect and was saved, just in the nick of time.

The Shetland Lace? WELL(!) that's the knit that really stuck in my craw.  I just couldn't stand it!  The yarn is lovely, but not suitable for the pattern. It's much too tightly twisted and made a dense, not lacy fabric. Lace should be light and airy and as there wasn't much of either in the fabric.  The pattern is also quite dense and the double whammy made for unsatisfactory knitting.  There was nothing to love and I resented it.  The process was a slog and I couldn't imagine the finished product would be to my liking. All that added up to too many strikes against it...so out it came. The yarn will be happier doing something else and the pattern will be knit in another lighter weight yarn.

Meanwhile, I stopped into Black Sheep on Saturday afternoon as Nancy Bush  was signing her new book, Knitted Lace of Estonia.  She had all the gorgeous shawls on display and it was a delight to touch and drool over each one.  (No pictures, so sorry.)  The rest of the weekend I looked through the book every chance I got and decided to knit something from it right away.  A look through the stash (with a wealth of lace weight on hand there had to be something suitable) produced a lovely vintage Reynolds yarn called Cashmere Lamb.  A search of the Internet told me each skein had 155 yds (I have 3.5 skeins) and that proved to be more than enough for my chosen pattern. 

There is Kitchener stitch grafting involved, but I think I can bribe someone to do it for me.  Been there (once is enough!), done that.

Whole Lotta Spinning Going On.

A third bobbin is about half full.  This delicious merino was hand dyed by Anne.  I've been trying to live up to Carole's 10 Minutes a Day spinning code, but some days I only fit in a few minutes before bed.  Yesterday I spent all morning at the wheel. It felt good to finishing filling the second bobbin and start the third.  This may be ready to ply by next weekend. It wants to grow up to be a cozy, bulky 2x2 ribbed hat.  We'll see! 

Saturday Sky - Thursday Dawn (Again)

It was just too beautiful, the color of the sky Thursday morning and I had to stop and take yet another picture. This week has been warmer than last and the weekend holds promise of mostly sunny skies and warm days.

A Small Collection

Off and on over the last few years there have been one or two objects of desire that have captured my imagination.  At first this cause an increased my desire to gather them close and start small collections. I learned quickly that I'm not about "the quest" as much as a collector should be and I quickly loose the drive and the "collections" languish in disinterest. 

You all know how I love the weather and how the sky infuses my daily life. That love was the reason behind this small collection of wind chimes. Our patio is partially covered by a roof  which offers the perfect place to hang the chimes and, as luck would have it, the wind often swirls through the open area.

The wind chimes have been collected as we travel and when I look out and see each one I remember when and where it was acquired. This clanging, sturdy bell is a reminder of our trip to Martha's Vineyard in 1992.  It's one of the noisiest in high winds.  The color has been faded by years in the weather, but nothing else has worn.

This is our oldest chime and it's rusted over the years as it was meant to do.  It's been hanging here since the early 1980s and what I knew about the maker is lost in the ether of time.  As with the other chime, it is noisy and easily rung by a gust of wind.  If the winds kicks up when someone is in the guest room the chimes are taken down or the guest will never sleep. Together they produce a cacophony of sound.

The most melodious wind chime reproduces each note of an octave.  Its silver tubes rarely play a known melody, but more often create music of its own design...tunes to send out on the wind.

The hanging fish are my very favorite of all the wind chimes on the patio. Their sound is not beautiful, and as you might guess, they sound like clanking terracotta pottery.  The fish were purchased from a catalog  years and years ago (long forgotten which company) and about 2 years ago the thick string they hang from broke during a winter storm. The fish hit the cement of the patio and shattered to smithereens. A Google search produced the website of the designer who still had several of the same wind chime in stock.  He was so pleasant and, also, delighted to know I loved the chime so much I wanted to replace it.  Sadly, I could not come up with a link for you today and I can't remember anything about the company name.

This post has helped me decide that this collection must start growing again.  New additions to the patio wind chime symphony will help with my new found resolve to have a good winter season.  The chimes will help create a winter wonderland of sound.

W is for wind chimes in the windy weather of winter.

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.