Carry Her Back…

Virginia’s state song used to be Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.  We are without one right now, but nonetheless, it inspired the naming of said project.  You see, a dear friend of mine is moving and we are quite hopeful that in two years when her husband retires from his military career, they will move back here.  That should put the rest of this finished object report in perspective.

Project:  It Better Carry Her Back…

Pattern:  Knitspot/Anne Hanson’s Fruit of the Vine.  I chose this pattern because I wanted a scarf that could alternately be used as a stole.   It was perfect, because it was an Anne Hanson pattern (she’s a favorite lace designer of mine) so that means it was well-written with both charts and text, but it was also just what I wanted… a pattern that spoke volumes about our friendship and her time here in The Commonwealth.

Yarn:  Filatura Di Crosa Superior is probably my most favorite luxury yarn.  It’s cashmere and silk, and I have to presume it is what knitting with whipped butter would feel like.   I knew from the moment I decided to knit for my friend that I had the precise yarn in my stash; I was fortunate that Ms. Hanson’s pattern was easily adapted for the fuzzy, soft laceweight yarn.

Needles:  Gretchen’s beloved rosewood #6 straights.  Yes, larger than recommended, because the yarn is fuzzy and I wanted to make it stretch as far as I could.   (Long-time readers might recall that baby Gg nibbled on one of these needles as a wee puppy, but the Knight saved the day – and the pricey knitting tools – by sanding the teeth marks right out with a VERY fine grade of sandpaper.)

Verdict:  I wish I’d happened to have two balls of said yarn to make it longer, but I know it will be appreciated and quite functional as-is.

What are you knitting?  I need to cast on for something new.  Something baby, that I can finish in oh… 10 days.  I have a very important baby shower on the 8th.  What do you knit for summer babies?

Blue Bugga Grace

Seems my previous template with WordPress was no longer being supported, so this is the updated version.  I’m a little cranky about the header; on the preview, that black “fabric” box isn’t there.  Oh well.  Otherwise, I’m very happy with the new template, and with Google Chrome.  I just started using it yesterday, and I’m a fan.  I hope it will work on my ancient computer at work…
We interrupt this post report to announce that FINALLY, we’re having a snow day!  It’s still snowing nice and hard here, so enjoy a photo from last month’s snow.  It’ll likely be gone by nightfall if it warms up and this beautiful snow turns to rain, but we’ve already been out and enjoyed it so that’s okay.

What do you do on a snow day?  The Knight has to get in the hot tub and let snow fall on his bare head.  The fur-girls have to rip and race until Gretchen starts to shiver.  Me?  I just like to watch the pure, white blanket cover up everything in sight.  At the moment, I have Gg pressed against my leg, Sissy’s snoring a few inches beyond her, and I have a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts‘ mint coffee at hand.  I’m also catching up on Charmed.  It’s one of the few series I record, and when WE tv stops airing it every weekday, I might cry.

Oh yeah.  That finished object report…  I did title the post accordingly!

Meet Blue Bugga Grace.  I cast on July 4th and finished December 29th, but it’s a much faster knit than those dates imply.

Pattern:  Cinnamon Grace is a happy little pattern, but have you ever seen blue cinnamon?  Me neither.  Besides, I started this project back when I was trying to do Project Spectrum.

Yarn:  I couldn’t resist the Sanguine Gryphon’s Skinny Bugga! in blue stink bug.  Now, I’ve never seen a blue stink bug, but we sure were over-run by the brown ones here.   It seems that 10% cashmere isn’t enough to really make a yarn irresistible to Gretchen, but I’m not taking any chances.  The hue was yummy, and the yarn was a joy to knit with.

Needles:  US #2 circs.  I think for a change, perhaps I should have gone up a size.  My scarf didn’t block out nearly as wide/long as the one in the pattern photos.  Oh well.  I still love it!

Verdict:  Great firehouse project.  It was truly mindless and easy to pick up after I hadn’t touched it in weeks.  It’s going to look fabulous with my grey winter coat.

Snow update:  Even the City fire engines are marking out of service to put on chains.  CHAINS.  On March 5th.  I love it!!

What are you loving today?

Basically Finished Report

Okay.  I give up.  We’ll likely have a frost the next night or two, so clearly it’s nearly past time to blog my “summer cotton shawl”.  I was waiting to block it, but I’m also already a couple of FO reports behind… 

For those of you who aren’t lace knitters, the fact that it’s cotton means there will be no drastic changes.  Cotton doesn’t lend itself to the wonders of blocking… honestly, I sometimes use a steam iron to “block” cotton projects.

Anyway, I present Quake-icane… thus named because it was a work in progress for an earthquake, lots of aftershocks and a hurricane!

Pattern:  Miami Beach Shawl, from Cascade.  It was the first of Dog House Yarns’ KALs.  Most of the KAL-ers are part of their knit night, but I’m doing what I can “remotely”. 

It’s a nice, quick, easy pattern.   Per the pattern’s suggestion, I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.

Yarn:  Cascade’s Ultra Pima.  Wow.  Soft stuff.  Didn’t make my hands hurt, and hasn’t gotten fuzzy either…  not that it would get too fuzzy being moved from one spot to another on the back of the loveseat.  Hem.

Needles:  US #7 circulars, Addi Clicks.

Verdict:  Some of the ladies have made multiples of this shawl.  If I was a fan of weighty, cotton wraps, I could see that happening. 

Anything fun on your weekend agenda?   Celebration week begins for me tomorrow, with gMarie‘s birthday…  but I’ll share more about all the other celebrations later!

Moonlight Sonata

Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

Hem.  Don’t let the fact that it took two years and a few months to finish this project dissuade you.  This is one of my favorite projects EVER.

Project:  MooSon  I’ve known since before I cast on that this item was destined for a friend.  The yarn was even dyed by a mutual friend, just for this project.

Pattern:  Moonlight Sonata Shawl   It’s certainly not the pattern’s fault that I kept putting this down.  It’s a well-written, easy to read (meaning the lace itself) pattern.   Life just kept getting in the way and I kept shuffling this project aside.

Yarn:  Gypsyknits Merino Superwash in a custom color.   I simply told Kathy what pattern I had selected and she blended the hues with Jessi in mind.  I know Jessi loves it, but I’m thinking I’m going to have to make myself footies or a narrow scarf out of the leftovers.   Unfortunately, Kathy isn’t dyeing yarns right now, but hopefully one of these days, life will cooperate and we’ll all have the pleasure of seeing more of her fabulous colors play out in yarn!

Needles:  Ravelry says I used a US #5 circular.  That’s all I can tell you.  That’s what happens when you drag a project out forever.

Verdict:  I’d definitely consider this pattern again.  Maybe one day when it’s not 104 with a heat index far above that, Jessi will model it for all of us, but she’s in the deep south, so don’t look for that photo before oh… late November?

Because of the soft green in there, I also considered this a green project spectrum project. 

I’m looking forward to my cloudy with a chance of drizzle weekend.   I plan on doing a lot of knitting, some League work, some shopping because fewer and fewer of my clothes fit, and I still have hopes for a movie with the Knight whether he likes it or not.   What’s on your weekend agenda?

Wrapped up in the Outer Banks

Look!   Another finished object report!  I actually finished this about a month ago, but evidently, it takes me a while to block and get more photos.

Blocked... loooong and lean

Outer Banks Aragante

Pattern:  Aragante, my first short-row, side to side shawl.  I can honestly say I’d knit this one again.  It was a pleasant, quick knit, and I’m delighted with the results.  Is it a scarf or a shawlette?  Dunno, but I like it.

Unblocked

Yarn:  Pout.  No, the yarn’s not called Pout, but that’s what I do every time I think about Springvalley aka: Alabama Fiber Dreams not really existing anymore.  Jessi has a great eye for color and really chose good bases for her yarns.  She dyed this Outer Banks light fingering with me – and our vacation spot – in mind, and I couldn’t love it more.

Needles:  US #7 Addi Clicks circs.  I love my Addi Clicks.  I have found some sizes have smoother joins than others, but…

Lace edge

Verdict:  I’ll get a lot of use out of this one.  It’s long enough to be a scarf, definitely hugs my shoulders without need of a shawl pin, and did I mention the colors are fabulous?

How ’bout that weekend?  I’m looking forward to some time with a friend or two, and I’m trying to figure out how to get to see the last Harry Potter movie.  The Knight probably won’t want to go, and honestly, I do enjoy watching them with Gretchen, who definitely is at least part Crup and really is cute with all the head tilting, attentive watching/listening! 

 

Leaves are green

Well, most are anyway.   I have another finished object to share, FINALLY.

Project:  Sample Lace Leaf   

I am embarrassed to admit I cast on for this project on April 25, 2010.   Isn’t it a pretty little leaf pattern?  I have no idea why, but this was a seriously belabored project for me, despite a decent pattern and GREAT yarn.  Oh well.  These things happen, right?

Pattern:  Plymouth’s Lace Scarf, published in their Ecco Cashmere line.  It was a nice enough pattern, but for some reason, we rubbed each other the wrong way, the whole time.  Truly, it’s not you, it’s me, I’m sure.  Remember, that whole period was one without Mojo…

Yarn:  Be still my heart.  Plymouth Ecco Cashmere, in color 100.   So soft.  A real joy to knit with, even without mojo.

As an aside, here’s Plymouth’s photo of the project.  I blocked and I fiddled, but I couldn’t get the slipped stitch element to look right.   Mine rolled just enough that it lost that pretty scallop.  Hrmph.

Verdict:  Won’t be doing the pattern again, but the yarn was fabulous.   This was done as  a shop sample for Dog House Yarns & More, so at least I know where to find more of the yarn!

While I’m mentioning Dog House Yarns & More, I hope some of you are considering the Holiday Knit ‘n Tea on July 3rd.  My red shawl and I will be there!  What could be better than knitting and tea at one event, other than having lots of friends there too?

One long-term work in progress down, at least two more to go.

Strawberry Whine

Where is the perky-stoopid me who posted Friday?  Not here.  It’s a Monday.  You know what… just hold on.  I’m going to make a cup of coffee.  Yes, coffee.  See… there’s just something about the smell of coffee…  When I REALLY need a jolt, it will clear the brain fog better than even a brisk, black tea.

Ah, for the love of Keurig…  Louise tells us was Gingerbread Day, so I’m now sipping – and smelling – gingerbread coffee.  

Just like that, I’m recalibrated.   Whoda’ thunkit? 

Now, about that finished object report…

The project name is too long to be helpful.  What you really need to know – in case you’re a new reader or missed 27 posts – is I used to knit non-stop, but over the past year, my Mojo left, and for the past few months, I’ve had NONE.   I saw Project Spectrum (not just a knitting thing, so click over!), and decided it could get me knitting again, and just in time, it did. 

In the meantime, Wendy Knits and several enablers had a knit-along.   I simply couldn’t find a yarn that suited me.  Finally, the red koigu Crimson Purl (just married!!  hop over and wish the newlyweds well, will you?) screamed at me; I didn’t waste a moment.  I wound it into cakes and cast on.

So, here are the details:

Ravelry project page

Unblocked

Pattern – that’s the link for the first clue, but there are a total of five clues, including a set-up page not included in that link.  Edit – Link has been changed to the general Mystery Shawlette category, so all posts should show up.  It was exceptionally well-written; I’m a chart gal, but I wholly appreciate a designer who does charts an words, because I know many knitters who simply can’t function happily with charts.   

It’s just a grand little pattern, and in case you can’t tell, it’s strawberries in lace!

Blocked lace

Yarn:  I was so happy to discover that I have some blue Koigu left in my stash.  It’s a great fingering weight yarn with the perfect blend of soft, sproing and color.   I totally lucked out that I grabbed red for a pattern than had strawberries in the lace!

Needles:  My beloved Addi Clicks…  I cast on with #7s, and immediately switched to #5 tips for the real knitting.  I lurvers my Clicks, but my #5s did have that infamous rough edge some of you have cursed.

Finished!

Verdict:  My Mojo is back.  What more do you need to know?!

How was your weekend?

Happy Friday!

I feel a little like Frosty (who shouted “Merry Christmas!” indiscriminately, as an expression of joy).  Just lots of little happiness stuff going on here.  New glasses, a good hair day, a pleasant, no-humidity day, etc. 

Photo taken just before midnight...

Oh – and I finished a knitting project.  The FO report will have to wait for blocking, but it will come soon enough.  Next up, finishing a couple of long-time works in progress, and then I need to settle on another little something to keep my selfish Mojo happy too.

I’m also happy to report the fur-girls got a walk last night.  It was a hard, fast walk in the near-dark, but it was a walk and Sissy in particular was VERY happy.  At some point tomorrow, Gretchen and I are going shopping for an Easy Walk harness.  Hem.  (No, I haven’t found either of Sissy’s yet, but thanks for asking.  One is in a beach bag, although not the beach bag I used last fall.  The other is in the box of stuff removed from my old car a year ago, and I have no idea where we stashed that lone box of things I knew didn’t need to go in the new car.)

I am in dire need of a mani/pedi.  I might see if I can slip away from work later…

What’s on your weekend agenda?

 

My Dogs Walk All Over Me to Infinity

You might remember that the very talented gMarie designed and knitted a very special cowl for both Sissy and me.   Well, that same pattern has an infinity version, and I originally cast on for Wondervet, for Christmas.  I’d failed to realize she’d still be on maternity leave, and now, I don’t know which of the fabulous vet care professionals deserves it most!

At any rate, here’s 2010’s last FO report.

Project:  Walks All Over Infinity

Pattern: My Dogs Walk All Over Me, by gMarie.   I did make one glaring change.  In part because I was loving the pattern and not paying attention, I charged on past the infinity chart instructions and knitted the entire chart.  I decided to carry on when I realized what I’d done, for two reasons.  Firstly, because I have two dogs, and the full repeat does two pairs of paw prints, and secondly, because Wondervet is long and lean and might need more depth to keep her thin neck warm!

Yarn:  Cascade 220 Superwash.  I like this yarn a lot, but I seriously doubt it’s a true worsted weight.  It’s at best a very light worsted, but it is nice and soft, and won’t felt when machine washed.  I used just over one ball, and I’m pretty sure that if I’d followed the instructions, I could have squeaked by with just the one ball.

Needles:  Addi Clicks, #6 tips.  I guess I’m lucky, but I find my Addi Clicks very smooth at the joins, and I adore them. 

Verdict:  I’ll definitely knit this one – in either version – again and again.

Do tell me about your weekend plans, or anything else beautiful and sweet in your world.  We’ll be prepping for surgery and a potential significant snowfall…

Carder to Cloth

The concept of sheep to shawl is part of what drew me to spinning.  Today’s “finished object” is exciting for me because while I don’t think you have to worry about me starting AT the sheep with an unprocessed fleece, I did enjoy creating a batt far more than I should admit.
Back at our spin-in, I had my first drum carder experience.   I made a purdy mostly mohair batt, and knew it was small and precious and would just have to sit and wait for the right little project.

Sorry I don’t have a photo of the yarn itself.  It was roughly sport weight once it fluffed up.  It was navajo plied, which for the non-spinners means it was three strands thick, with about 80 yards.

I don’t want to say too much about the project because it’s supposed to be a bit of a surprise for a Ravelry friend who needs some friendly gestures, but teal is one of her favorite colors, so as soon as I remembered this batt was sitting on a bobbin waiting to be wound into a skein…

Project:  Special square

Pattern:  Citizen Kane by our own Grace!  She designed it as a cloth pattern, but while my photo above isn’t strongly blocked, it does make a pretty pattern that is easy to block to 8 x8 or whatever dimensions your group is using.  Good thing it’s an easy pattern, because we lost internet and I’d never bothered to print the PDF file… 

Yarn:  See above.

Needles:  I did use US #5 straights to get the lightly blocked 8 inch x 8 inch square I needed.  You could use #9s and get a very lacy 10-inch square… and no, you don’t need to ask how I know.

Verdict:  I’ll be doing this project again very soon, in cotton.  I like a dishcloth with some texture.

So!  What’s up for your weekend?  I don’t know what we’ll end up doing, but Dog House Yarns & More is  having its first sale…