Christmas Knitting Sneak Preview

Just a little preview of what's to come ... the lone hand-knit Christmas gift this year! I'm not telling who it's for yet ...

Happenings

Well, a lot has come to pass since last I blogged. I have actually started up a few new knitting projects but, alas, they are intended as gifts so I can't really so them to you. I must admit most of my DIY energy these days is devoted to wedding projects ... if you're so inclined feel free to meet me over at my other blog: Owen-Harmon Wedding

In any case, hopefully I'll have something new to show here once the holidays are over (in a few short weeks ... eek!!) Till then ...

My First Political Rally

Today I went to see Barack Obama! Fabulous Fiance and I set out for the American Legion Mall in downtown Indy at around 10 this morning. After waiting in the security line for about 45 minutes (I can now check off "frisked by a Secret Service Agent" from my life to-do list) we found our place in the audience, about 60 yards away from the podium where Obama would speak. I can't say that he revealed any new or incredible insights about the upcoming election but it was an inspiring experience to be a part of the audience. It is sort of exciting to be living in such a significant state this election ... there's a chance Indiana could go "Blue" for the first time in many years. (It's also sort of annoying, seeing as there are about 20 political commercials every hour on tv right now.)

Whatever your beliefs or party affiliation remember to vote!

Running on Empty

I haven't been posting here much, and I haven't been knitting much. I've been spending most of my personal project time working on wedding stuff and I'm even starting to feel DIYed out on that!! I'm at this point where I just want some instant gratification and starting a new knitting project just feels sort of overwhelming.

I realized the other day that I need to take a little break and find some inspiration. I keep picking up my yarn and needles/beads and wire/ and putting them down in frustration a few minutes later. I just don't have a good vision of what I want to accomplish. It's time to just relax, re-awaken my senses, collect some research of things I like, and let it all swim around inside my brain a little before I come back to the nuts and bolts of making things.

And that is A-okay.

Knitting x 2

I have been invited to a baby shower on Tuesday for one of my new co-workers, which, of course, means it was time to break out the knitting needles! Well, I wasn't specifically invited, everyone at work was invited, but I thought it seemed like a nice opportunity to spend time with new people in a social environment. Plus I just love knitting for babies ... I sort of look at the time spent making that special something as time to meditate and send good energies to this little, unborn child. The kicker with this one is that my co-working is having twins! Hence, knitting x2.

I took this opportunity to bust into my stash and use some of the Blue Sky organic cotton I got at the New York knits close out sale almost a year ago. Luckily I had a skein of bone and a skein of nut so mommy will be able to tell her little angels apart! My favorite old standby for babies, the One Skein Baby Bolero actually calls for Blue Sky organic cotton, making it probably the first time I knit a project in the yarn listed in the pattern! :P

I hope she will like them. I am a little nervous since I don't know her (or anyone here) very well yet ... I mean, it's one thing to make something for close friends and family, but another to knit a gift for a near stranger.

I'll hold off on the photo until after the shower, just in case there are any lurking co-worker readers out there ...

Slacking Off

Sorry for the prolonged absence, lots going on these days. Moving, starting a new job, and planning a wedding at the same time is quite an adventure.

I did find a little time to relax this weekend, thanks to a visit from a good friend. The famous Lilly from my February 2008 Florida post was in town this weekend with her family for the Drum Corps International Championships. Lilly and I, along with her mother and grandmother, hit the Indiana State Museum to see their Racial Lace and Subversive Knitting exhibit. It plays through August 24th and was fascinating. From the tiniest of tiny knitting to a video of an American Flag being knit with telephone poles by two heavy machinery operators this exhibit covers the spectrum. One of my faves was a dress knit out of shredded dollar bills. You can also stop and get your knit on: local volunteer knitters are manning a project table where they invite visitors to add a few rows of garter stitch to afghans for Afghans.

Lilly and I also made my inaugural visit to Mass Ave Knit Shop (which I mentioned earlier is right around the corner). Nice, big shop with lots of good basics as well as a wonderful variety of colorful specialty yarns. Wide selection of Jo Sharp yarn, a manufacturer I've not seen a lot of ... looking forward to getting to know it though! Lots of yummy colors, textures, and luxury fibers.

The main event of the day was the DCI Championships down in Bloomington, Indiana. Talk about flash-back to high school for me (I am a former hard-core marching band nerd... saxophone.) I had a blast watching all the corps perform, and knitting in between groups!! I've got a baby hat in progress for one of the many new little ones that seem to keep appearing in our circle. It was nice to spend a day away from it all: no searching the internet for hours for the perfect dress/cake/photographer, no worrying about unpacking the house (yeah, we are still not done with that), no thinking about how the job I am very much trained and qualified to do is about 10x harder than usual becuase I don't know where things are or who everyone is yet, just a fun day hanging out with good folks.

Okay, off to get ready for another session of trying on wedding dresses. Hee hee hee! I am having fun with that part ...

Yea, internet at home!

Sorry for the prolonged absence. Fabulous Fiance and I arrived safely in our new home of Indianapolis. We're taking it easy with the unpacking 'cause d@*^ we needed a break. I started work today, everything went smoothly. The kitties are adjusting marvelously.

More knitting news when I have time to knit again. Still haven't managed to make it to the yarn store during business hours. Hopefully soon I'll stop in and investigate their knitting group options.

Back from the Great Blue Heron Festival

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by my blanket at Great Blue Heron this weekend! I had a good turn out, sold a few things, and had a wonderful time talking with so many different people. Take some time to look through my blog if you like, and if you want to make your own drink carrier you can find the post under "Free Patterns".

Also, I'm hoping to launch an etsy shop soon so, if you saw something you liked this weekend but didn't have a chance to pick it up, please bookmark my page and check back in the coming weeks.

For those readers who have NO idea what I'm talking about, Great Blue Heron is a music festival in Sherman, NY. Fabulous Boyfriend and I volunteer at the ticket booth and spend the weekend camping, hanging out, and listening to lots a great music. This year I participated in the Saturday afternoon blanket vending and sold some of my hand-knit items. Offerings included can coolers (koozies), drink carriers, a few small scarves, a couple hemp hippie hats, and the like.

And, speaking of Fabulous Boyfriend, he has been upgraded to Fabulous Fiance! He proposed Friday night, I (clearly) accepted, and we are both very excited. I see many future posts involving me using the wedding as an excuse to buy lots of amazing yarn ... hmm ...

Okay, off to shower for the first time in 3 days. (I like camping but man, running water is nice!)

Alpacalooza

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Splitrock Farms up in Ridgeway, Ontario. For the last several years the owners, Glenn and Lynda, have run a bed and breakfast and built up their herd of alpacas. Now that they've got around 48 alpacas (with 11 more on the way!) they're planning to cease running the b and b and focus solely on the animals. Many of their animals have won high honors across Canada and they are starting to see some real results of a careful breeding program.

My friend Katherine is a longtime friend of Lynda and Glenn and when she realized I'd heard of alpacas she set up a private tour with Lynda (thank you again!!!) We headed up a little after noon and about 20 minutes later arrived at the farm. The b and b is gorgeous, I'm sure it's hosted many satisfied guests over the years. And the alpacas ... omg, they are so cute! They were sheared just last month so you can really see what lean animals they are. It was so much fun to watch them play and interact. It was also fascinating how Lynda described their individual personalities and the specific "roles" different animals play in the herd.

The capstone to the day, of course, was looking through the yarn that's been spun from these beautiful alpacas. I just love the idea of knitting with the yarn of an animal you've actually met. I had about $20 Canadian burning a hole in my pocket (living 5 minutes from the border I've kept a Canadian change jar for the last couple years ... it won't do me much good in Indiana) so I picked up some gorgeous silvery-grey yarn in a lace/sport weight.

So, how can a less well-connected individual share in the Splitrock Farms experience? Lucky for you they host an Open House in the fall, September 27-28 between the hours of 10am-4pm. For more info you can visit their website. I think the yarn I saw yesterday will be available for sale at the open house ... believe me, you want to go check it out!!!

Banished!

Today was yard sale day here in Buffalo, in preparation for the move. I finally came to accept that I will never use the 100% acrylic yarn in my stash so it has been BANISHED! It wasn't all junky, some of it was Lion Brand Micro-spun and such, so hopefully it will still be made into something by some kind soul. I just have so much other yarn and every time I think, "maybe I'll make something from that acrylic yarn" I sort of cringe and pick up some bamboo or alpaca instead ... it's amazing how easy it is to become a yarn snob.

Have I mentioned that my new place in Indy is a 7 minute walk from the yarn store? 7 minutes? Oh dear. :)

Wish us luck with packing!

Run like the wind!

Today was the big Race for the Cure 5k ... I finished in 30 minutes 16 seconds. Yea! My goal was under 32 minutes (which would be a 10 minute mile pace) so I did better than I hoped! I am very proud of both my running partner and I for all our hard work over the last 7 weeks. I have to put in a big endorsement for the Couch to 5K training program, which is what we followed. It's a great way to gradually work up to a 3 mile run.

Thank you to everyone who has written or called to ask about my dad and step-mom in Cedar Rapids. They've apparently been taking on some water in the their basement and are trying to keep it out of the carpet with a shop-vac every few hours but, while there is a very real risk of developing mold in the walls and carpet, they are indeed safe and at least 20 blocks from the flood zone. The biggest concern right now is the lack of drinking water and the inability for the city to receive supplies since most of the major highways are closed until the water recedes.

More updates to come about the Indy move (and maybe I'll get around to talking about some knitting eventually ...) Until then, have a great weekend!!

Cruel Nature Provides Much Amusment!

Yesterday I noticed our cat, Cydney, looking out the window of her little perch acting agitated. Upon investigation I discovered a squirrel was running around on the fire escape, strutting by the glass, clearly taunting her. It was very funny to watch.

This morning it happened again and, lo and behold, there are now two squirrels out there, wrestling with each other and annoying the crap out of our cat. At this rate the whole fire escape will be over-run with squirrels by next week!

Maybe soon I'll get an equally amusing photo of what our other cat, Scout, does when he sees a bird out the front window. They don't come as close though so it's not nearly as dramatic ...

Wild Wild West

So, this past weekend Fabulous Boyfriend and I went on a little trip to Boulder Colorado. His whole family was there for his dad and stepmom's 25th wedding anniversary. We managed to pull off the surprise aspect in spite of the fact that Fab Boy and I were 2 1/2 hours late due to mechanical problems on our connecting flight from Detroit (which meant that the parents were dragged all over town that afternoon, seemingly for no reason ... they recovered quickly when they realized the reason why!) The delay did give me enough time to knit an entire hat on the plane, a cute little cabled number from some Cascade 220.

Saturday and Sunday were action-packed, beginning with a hike in the foothills (NOT the mountains, a very important difference to Colorado-ains), a trip to the Boulder Creek Arts Festival (where we got free samples of all sorts of healthy snack products and a free re-useable grocery bag), and a beer tasting at the Avery Brewery (yummy! highly recommended). On Sunday we drove up to the real mountains, walked around the shops in Estes Park (a town, not a park) and then drove through Rocky Mountain National Park (actually a park). We saw elk, bighorn sheep, and a marmot! No bears or mountain lions, thankfully. The day finished with an early dinner at The Med (a tapas restaurant) and a walk around the Pearl Street area in Boulder. Lots of good time relaxing at Fabulous Boyfriend's sister's condo, where, amazingly 10 adults and one baby spent the entire weekend with no real conflict. Perhaps the kegerator helped ...

I did have the chance to test out my Hands-Free Beverage Carrying Device and I am quite pleased. It seems plenty durable and served its intended purpose well. No other knitting related news, I purposely avoided looking up any yarn stores in Boulder as I seem to have a real problem leaving one without spending at least $50.

All in all a much needed vacation and a great visit! I'll post some pictures when I get them!

Reader Survey: What would you expect to pay?

So, I am preparing some items to sell at the Great Blue Heron music festival this summer and I need your feedback!

What might you expect to pay at a music festival for a hand-knit beverage carrier such as the one pictured here? It is sized to fit a commercial 16.9 water bottle, 24 oz soda bottle, 18 oz Nalgene bottle, or a can/bottle of beer. (Pretty universal). I'm making them out of various yarns but they're all 90%-100% wool, variegated colors, lightly felted. The festival is sort of hippie/Americana/roots music. I'm planning to make some other stuff too (a few hats, some other felted bags and coin purses, and sewn reusable fabric grocery bags) but I'm thinking this will be one of my core items.

Leave a comment with your thoughts! (If you are a knitter try to imagine that you couldn't/wouldn't just make one yourself ...)

In Memoriam

I received word over the weekend that an old friend from high school, Anne, passed away. She battled cancer for several years with amazing tenacity and grace. I can't say that we'd been close since graduation but my thoughts are certainly with her family. A lovely tribute can be found here.

Life is short, take time to be kind.

Don't Forget!

Today is your last day get to a $25 sign-up bonus for joining Revolution Money Exchange.

In case you missed my earlier post, this is a new on-line money transfer service, similar to Paypal. It is backed by an actual bank but is a non-interest bearing account. You can link any bank account to you RME account and then send anyone money using just their email address. The advantage over Paypal is there are no charges to receive money.

This could be a great service if you sell things on Etsy, Ebay, or even Ravelry. (I'm hoping to get the Etsy thing going before Christmas and plan to use RME whenever I can.)

The other thing I could see using it for are those times when siblings go in on a shared gift. How much of a pain is it to send a check to Mary Jane in Michigan every year for your $10 share of Grandma's fruitcake? Or how about the next time you arrange a camping trip/concert tix/bachelor(ette) party and need to collect funds from your co-workers and friends?

Anyway, I think Revolution Money Exchange just might have a good thing going. If you think you'd ever use it, or just want to collect your $25 and run, then click the button on the right and spend 2 minutes setting up an account.

Free Pattern - Hands-Free Beverage Carrying Device

It may not call your mom from your car for you or play music on command, but with this amazing new device you can carry a beverage WITHOUT USING YOUR HANDS! Amazing, I know.

Okay, this beverage carrier may not be revolutionary but if you're like me and bring a bottle of water with you everywhere it's useful and convenient. Also, the amazing natural properties of wool mean this carrier not only insulates your drink, but also absorbs any condensation.

This project provides nearly instant knitting satisfaction. I whipped the first one out in less than 2 hours and it's definitely easy enough for a beginner. In fact, it might make a perfect intro to knitting on double pointed needles in the round!

Here's the skinny:

Yarn- Less than one ball of Filatura Di Crosa 127 Print (it comes 93 yd/ball.) I loooove this yarn! It comes is such vivid colors and the little bits of variegation add interest without any extra work. Also, the single-ply, coarse texture mean it felts easily.

Needles- Sz 8 US double pointed needles.

Gauge- about 4 stitches per inch (approximate is okay for this project)

This carrier is made for a 18-oz Nalgene bottle and will also fit a 16.9 oz commercial water bottle or standard 24 oz soda bottle.

Instructions:

Cast on 36 stitches. Divide evenly over 3 double pointed needles. Join for working in the round. The cast on edge will be the top of your bottle carrier. You will want about an 8-inch tail remaining when you cast on, this will be used when you begin the strap.

Knit in stockinette (knit all stitches) until you have a tube about 6 inches in length.

Decrease as follows:
1st round- Knit 7, Knit 2 together - 4 times (32 stitches remain)
2nd round- K6, K2tog - 4 times (28 stitches remain)
3rd round- K5, K2tog- 4 times (24 stitches remain)
4th round- K4, K2tog- 4 times (20 stitches remain)
5th round- K3, K2tog- 4 times (16 stitches remain)
6th round- K2, K2tog- 4 times (12 stitches remain)

Cut yarn, leaving about an 8 in tail. Thread end of yarn onto a needle, draw through remaining stitches, and pull tight. Weave in end.

Now for the strap!

Using one double pointed needle pick up the first 5 stitches of the cast on edge, those directly to the left of your "tail". Using the tail yarn, knit the 5 picked-up stitches. This is a set up row for joining the strap later. Leave this needle in place for now and move to the other side to begin the strap.

Moving clockwise around the cast on edge pick up stitches 19-23 (stitch 1 was the first picked-up stitch closest to the "tail").

Row 1- Knit
Row 2- Purl
Row 3 (right side)- K1, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 4 (wrong side)- P1, K1, P1, K1, P1

Continue in K1, P1 rib (repeating rows 3 and 4) until strap reaches approximately 40 inches in length, ending with a right side row. Strap length can be adjusted as desired, just remember that the strap will have a tendency to stretch with use. I made this one to be worn comfortably across the body or on one shoulder.

Join strap edge to the other side (remember those other 5 stitches on that other needle?) using Kitchener Stitch ... if you are a beginning knitter don't worry, Kitchener stitch is really NOT as complicated as people make it sound! :) For an excellent tutorial on Kitchener stitch see this Knitty article.

You've now completed the construction of your Hands-free Beverage Carrying Device! One last step: a little felting!

This photo shows an un-felted carrier on the left, and the lightly-felted finished product on the right. It's a subtle difference but really firms up the fabric, making it more durable and insular.

I opted to felt this project by hand so I could really control the effect. It was actually really cool and satisfying to felt a project this way, you can actually see and feel the fabric changing in your hands.

Fill a sink with as hot of water as you can stand and add a tiny drop of dish-soap or detergent. Immerse your project in the water and begin swishing it around. I sort of rubbed it together between my hands and quickly squished water through it (all those things you're NEVER supposed to do to a hand-knit). This will slosh some water around so have a towel handy! Keep an empty bottle nearby so you can check your progress. When it's felted enough for your taste rinse it well, roll it up in a towel to remove excess water, and put it over your empty bottle to dry for a couple days. Voila!!

Now grab a cold one and get outside, summer will be over before you know it!

Revolution Money Exchange

This is a new online thing for sending and receiving money, similar to PayPal. You can get $25 for joining by May 15th. Plus if you click here:




I will get $10 too! Check it out! 'Cause who couldn't use a free $25, right? It's completely legit and well reviewed by many personal finance blogs but if you're concerned go google it yourself. I signed up this morning and already have my $25.

Don't delay because this offer only runs through Thursday, May 15th. Go sign up and then refer your own friends!

Fun Stuff!

My newest form of amusement is watching tv shows over the internet via hulu.com. They have lots of movies and old tv programs, including my recent fave, the first couple seasons of Doogie Howser. These are so funny to watch, especially now that Neil Patrick Harris is on "How I Met Your Mother" and has been in those Harold and Kumar movies! Also a good source for just-run shows that you may have missed when they were first broadcast (I just watched the Simpsons from two weeks ago). Most of the current stuff was originally on network television so don't expect to catch all that stuff you're missing by not having 247 channels (I view my steadfast refusal to get cable TV as some sort of rebellious stance against "The Establishment" and will not cave, even under the occasional and relatively mild pressure of Fabulous Boyfriend) but you can catch some great nostalgia (Charlie's Angels, anyone?) Highly recommended.

Progress report

I've been in a bit of a funk lately but I guess since I've found a real job it's not the end of the world to be in a funk for a few days. Anyway, here's all the latest, knitting and otherwise!

The move to Indy:

Fabulous Boyfriend and I have started doing some apartment research. We'd identified the area(s) of town where we think we'd like to live and I've sent a few preliminary emails to apartment companies. Talked to one rental group today and they wanted a $200 NON-refundable pet deposit AND and extra $15/month rent PER PET (so $30 a month for our two cats), which is the rip off of the century. I mean, gee, all the hot showers the cats take really jack up the water bill?? So, it looks like we will not be renting with that company. I will probably make a visit in June to try to secure a place in advance of our move date which we believe will be July 14th.

The 5K training:

Did I tell you all I'm training for a 5k? A good friend of mine, her husband, and I have been following the Couch to 5k training program. We are on week 5, which means this Saturday is our first 20 minute/2 mile run! Looks like we are on track to participate in the Race For The Cure on June 14th. Running with them has been a great way to stay motivated and ensure I get out of the house to interact with others at least occasionally.

The garden:

My lettuce seems to have survived the transplant to the outdoors. The kitchen herb garden is working out well and I even used some of the basil and rosemary in tonight's dinner.

Knitting:

The swallowtail shawl progresses. It starts in the top center and grows from there so in every repeat of the lace pattern the rows get longer and longer, which makes it seem to go slower and slower. I'm also knitting an abbreviated version of the Montego Bay scarf. I think it will go in with the stuff I'm creating to sell at a music festival in July ... more on that later.

Whatever else it is I do with my time:

I read a great book today called The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. It's a well-woven, matriarchal story and I couldn't put it down. One of those books that you're sad when it's over. Probably most appealing to female readers but definitely recommended.

That's all for now!

Drumroll please ...

It's decided, I have accepted a position in Indianapolis! Fabulous Boyfriend and I will be packing up over the next couple months and heading off to our future life as Hoosiers. As it relates to knitting, the Indiana State Museum has an exhibit going on called Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting. It runs April 25-August 24. I am looking forward to discovering my new local yarn stores (and having a job = yarn $)!

Wow!!

So, overnight my counter jumped from 95 to 227!! And to think I had been preparing a special post for breaking 100.

All this activity is thanks to Knitting Pattern Central which posted my free On The Fly Ear Warmer pattern. Welcome KPC readers!

I'm busily working on my new project, the Swallowtail Shawl, available free for a limited time as part of Knitting Daily's Interweave Knits Reader's Choice Awards. Download your copy here through May 14th.

Have a great weekend everyone!

On The Fly Ear Wamer - Free Pattern!

(Me, before coffee ... this is real bravery folks...)

It seems my ears are always getting cold here in Buffalo. The spring breeze can carry quite a chill and it makes my ears ache even when the rest of me is plenty warm. Somehow over the winter I lost my polar fleece ear warmer so I thought this was the perfect occasion to knit myself a new one and make it my first free pattern post!

This is a super simple, super fast knit: I designed and completed it in its entirety on a flight from Indianapolis to Buffalo (via Newark), hence the "On The Fly" title.

Yarn: Cascade 220 Quatro

Yardage: I'm guessing a bit but less than or equal to 50 yds (great for using up the last little bit of something!)

Needle size: US 8

Gauge: Again, I'm guessing (what kind of slacker pattern is this anyway...) but the finished object measures 3 1/2" wide by 22 1/2" in circumference (this used to say diameter ... it has been a while since 10th grade geometry) after blocking.

Begin by casting on 15 stitches.
Knit 8 rows in garter stitch (knit right and wrong side rows). I like to do this because it adds a little extra elasticity to the band.

Begin in pattern as follows:
Row 1- sl1, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, sl1
Row 2- purl all stitches
Row 3 - sl1, k2, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k2, sl1
Row 4- purl all stitches


Repeat rows 1-4 twenty two times
Repeat rows 1 and 2 once

Knit 8 rows in garter stitch.
Bind off.
Stitch ends together using mattress stitch.


I suppose it would be more elegant to use a provisional cast on and then join the two ends using kitchener stitch but, honestly, I was on a plane and it just goes under your hair so I didn't worry too much about it. :)

This pattern should be easy to adjust to different sizes, just measure your head and knit until the band is within 1 to 1/2 inch of that length. Remember the piece will grow a little in blocking.

I've included a chart and as soon as I figure out how to link to a download-able pdf I'll post that too.

Happy knitting! If anyone actually makes this be sure to leave a comment!

Thank you dear reader for pointing out my error in row three: the decrease should be ssk and the chart was correct. Text is now corrected to match.

Blocking Day

It's like Boxing Day, only completely different!

Today I blocked the manly leg warmers and an ear warmer I made on the way back from Indianapolis. Maybe I will actually get around to putting up a pattern soon. I have this horrible habit of making things, writing all the stuff down for a pattern, and then waiting forever to block and photo the item by which time I've lost all my notes and say "screw it, I'll put up a pattern of the next thing ..." In any case, I have high hopes that I will put up a pattern or two in the next couple weeks.

I also moved my dear little lettuce seedlings to their grown-up pots today! We have this wonderful neighborhood gardening collective in Buffalo called Urban Roots where I picked up some potting soil, yet another kind of lettuce seeds, and a few little herb plants. In addition to transplanting the lettuce and putting it outside I put together a nice-sized pot of rosemary and thyme (both of which I bought as plants today) and added in the basil plants I started from seed to live on the windowsill in the kitchen. That way they'll be handy when we want to cook with them. Also, I got a cute little lavender plant to live on the bathroom windowsill. I have this wonderful vision snipping off a few fresh lavender leaves to toss in a hot, relaxing bath at the end of a long day ...

There are lots of gift giving occasions (birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, all that jazz) in my near future so some of my knitting will probably be a secret for a while. I have lots of time (and yarn) but not lots of money so, everyone, expect hand-made gifts! Which is what I usually do anyway I suppose.

Job-wise it looks like news is on the horizon so stay tuned. I promise the next post will at least have a few photos, evidently I am feeling like a slacker today. Just thought it was about time I checked in.

New FO and progress reports

(That's Finished Object for you non-knitting types...)

I really love how this piece came out. As seen in an earlier post this is my take on Interweave Knits Montego Bay scarf. It is knit is Southwest Trading Company Bamboo.


The drape is really wonderful and the pattern looks so much more complicated than it is (it's just a K1,Yo repeat on the front and purl on the back). I thought the tiny braid fringe was going to make me CRAZY but I am glad I did it, it looks good.

I decided I really didn't like the way the manly leg warmers were going so I started over. Why did I think I would be satisfied with something knit in acrylic anyway? The microfiber was in my stash (leftover from another time I thought I wanted to use it but decided not to ... I see a pattern developing...) so no harm, no foul, but I just didn't like the way the project turned out.

Luckily I remembered I also had some Regia sock yarn in my stash from the time I thought I wanted to make socks. I realized later I have no desire WHATSOEVER to make socks (I thumb my nose at the knitters who are scoffing at me for this statement!!) but that is a story for another day.


Manly leg warmers: take 2. This is unblocked but already so much more cozy and user-friendly to knit. It's got a swirled rib body section with K2,p2 ribbing top and bottom. And because it's superwash wool we've preserved the ease of care I was originally going for.

The visit to Milwaukee went well and I met some fellow knitters/crocheters in the prop shop there. I have a trip to Indianapolis for another interview this week so send some good travel mojo my way!

A time for growth ...

As you all know, I am currently unemployed. This can be discouraging at times but I am trying to look at it as a time of enrichment. In addition to the time I spend each day looking for jobs I have a number of projects that keep my time a little structured and my life a little more interesting. Right now I am working on my knitting and my blog, repairing a vintage bicycle that I bought from the theatre's prop stock when it went belly up, and starting this years vegetable garden with some seeds I saved from last years plants. And after a mere 3 days, here is the progress on project number 3!


Now I took that picture yesterday morning and let me tell you they've grown even more since then. If you want nearly instant gardening satisfaction start some lettuce seeds 'cause they just take off like a shot. These seedlings are arugula on the bottom and red leaf lettuce on top. I clearly have WAY too many of them (I planted like a zillion because I didn't know how good the seeds would be and thought most of them might be duds) so some thinning will be in order. Unfortunately my red pepper and basil seeds are a little slower on the uptake but we'll check back in a week or so to see how they're doing.

I leave this afternoon for an interview in Milwaukee, WI. Wish me luck everyone!

Bosom Buddies

So, here are the aforementioned sock yarn and mohair that I plan to use together on some sort of lacy little thing. So sweet, my Toronto yarn and my Texas yarn, coming together to make something wonderful! Awwww... I'm thinking small a lacy cowl/hood. There's about 225 yards of the mohair and 290 of the wool so that should be just about right.

My other Texas yarn, the linen, has been frustrating me to no end!! I started a project, not once but twice, only to tear it all out. The first time because I realized I would run out of yarn if I made the bag that big, the second time because I somehow managed to twist when I joined the round and realized about 20 rows in that I was making a mobius. Not really my intention. I rewound the linen back into a ball and have set it aside for the moment.

My current project: Manly Legwarmers!

I was talking to my dad a week or two ago (he's a blog reader! yea!) and he mentioned his workspace is quite freezing year round. He manages to dress for the climate in most ways but his legs are always cold. Thus the idea for the manly legwarmer was born. Made from soft, easy care Microspun by Lionbrand, it's a quick knit in the round on #5 double pointed needles. The other one should be done in the next few days and then I'll put up a pattern. It looks like one skein will do it but keep your fingers crossed for me, will ya?

Hola from Texas!

Well, I haven't blogged much while I've been away but it's because I'm keeping busy! We're working 9 or 10 hour days here at the Alley and I've got a long list of restaurants to eat at, bars to go to, and shopping to do.

I did make it to a local yarn store here called Yarns 2 Ewe where I picked up a couple special somethings. Luckily it was Easter and they were having a sale. You got to pick an easter egg out of the basket and your discount percentage was inside. Woo hoo!

First I grabbed 2 skeins of linen in a lovely, springy, grassy sort of color. I'm thinking I'll use it to finally make a bag with these round, bamboo handles I've had for the last year and a half. Next a single skein of mohair that almost perfectly matches the teal sock yarn I bought last December in Toronto. Since I don't actually make socks I'd been planning to make a little lacy scarf out of it and this mohair will give it a special touch.

All in all I got out of there for around $35 (less than my pre-imagined limit) and bought 2 fibers I've never worked with before. Quite a success.

Okay, back to work for me. I'm looking forward to my final weekend in Houston and will be traveling back to Buffalo next Wednesday. Then I can assemble the Eat Your Veggies sweater and get the pattern up. Excellent!

Eat Your Veggies part 1

So, here it is, un-blocked, un-seamed, collar-less ... my latest creation which I plan to call the Eat Your Veggies sweater.

Question for any knitters reading this: at what point does the creation of a piece stop being a modification of a pattern and become your own pattern?

Case in point: I started with the idea of a short sleeve, striped sweater. I then found and used two different patterns from Yarn Girl's Guide To Knitting Beyond the Basics to get an idea of sizing and proportion, etc. However, I used a significantly different gauge yarn from either pattern, therefore changing all the numbers. I combined the stripes from one with the sleeve style of the other, and plan to do a polo collar, which neither of the originals has.

My question is can I put this "pattern" up as my pattern? I certainly don't plan to sell the pattern so maybe this isn't that big of a deal but I'm curious. Also, I'm hoping that by posting a free pattern I'll gain blog readers who aren't already my family and friends (which may actually someday earn me money seeing as I have Google and Amazon ads placed on my site).

So, weigh in. I really want to know. Can I call this creation my pattern? Is it really just a modification of another, copyrighted pattern that is someone else's intellectual property upon which I would be infringing by posting the steps necessary to making this finished object? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Separation anxiety and delayed gratification

As I was packing for my trip to Texas I pondered, of course, what yarn to bring with me. I've already chosen an airplane project (more on that below) but will likely need something more to occupy me over the 3 week stay. In the end I decide on some Cascade 22o to make an ear-warmer (or hat) and gloves set. This second project, however, will not fit in my carry-on, only in my checked bag. As I pack it up I realize that, in addition to the sadness of being away from my stash for nearly a month, I am feeling real, honest to goodness anxiety about checking my yarn! I find the minuscule possibility that it might be lost almost unbearable! This is, I am fairly certain, NOT normal ... :)

My airplane project: Interweave Knits Montego Bay scarf.

The original was done in blue variegated silk, mine will be burgundy bamboo (nice drape, I have a ton of it). Simple-check, compact for travel-check, durable yarn-check, more interesting than stockinette-check. We are cleared for knitting!

We are not, however, cleared for take off ... it seems my dreams of spinach enchiladas will be put on hold for a few days. Remember that lovely scenic photo of the snow out my window? Well, those nice little snow showers have backed up travel all over the northeast. The first leg of my flight to Houston today was cancelled and the soonest they can get me out is Tuesday. I waited around on standby for another flight for a few hours today but when they started asking for volunteers from the ticketed passengers to give up their seats I realized it was pretty hopeless. Besides, that was just the first leg of the trip and I was just as likely to get stuck in either Newark or Cleveland until tomorrow or Tuesday. Anyway, made some calls, rearranged the plans, and will begin my trek to the Lone Star State all over again in a couple days.

Mmmm ... pie

I like pie! Today I decided to do some baking. Since I had some strawberries in the freezer from a fruit picking adventure last summer I decided to make tiny strawberry pies. I have this fascination with making tiny food. It's so cute! Plus you get a whole pie just for you! And because I was feeling cheezy I even used a tiny gingerbread man cookie cutter to make the top crust so it's like little people holding hands on top. Awwwww ... and then when you eat the pie you can bite their little heads off! Muahahahaha ... sinister cackling ...



All this baking is keeping the apartment nice and toasty, seeing as outside it looks like this ...



Started snowing this morning, supposed to keep going until Sunday morning and we may see about a foot of snow before it's all over. Hope it's not too bad because I have a plane to catch on Sunday!



Here's a little sneak peak of my latest project. Apparently I am in a stripey mood lately.

Knitjenious: the unemployment edition!

So, with my new-found free time I've been knitting away. Here's a photo of the Boat Neck Sweater from Debbie Bliss' Baby Knits For Beginners I whipped up for a friend's baby ... too bad she's not due until September. How many times will I change my mind and make something else for her? Knowing myself I'm betting on 3.

This was a pretty easy pattern, 2 rectangles for the front and back, a little basic shaping on the sleeves. The seaming was a real pain and I do wish I'd read the Ravelry comments about the pattern first: many people seemed to say the pattern instructions result in a sweater that is proportionally too wide for its length and I'm afraid that might be true of this sweater too. I guess I'll get to find out in about 6 and a half months!

And, at long last, here are a few photos of my Kathmandu DK shrug.

It looks pretty funny all laid out like this but it's nice and cozy when you put it on! Should come in handy for those chilly spring and fall evenings. I like it, even if Fabulous Boyfriend's response was "where's the rest of it?" :)

Next week on Knitjenious: Join Jen as she travels back to Texas for a few weeks to work as an artisan at the Alley Theatre. Margaritas, Mexican food, and mayhem!

:(

My little counter map thingy crapped out today so I replaced it with a numeric counter. Woo hoo!

Denied!

Our first attempt at visiting a Florida knitting store was less than successful. This store was CLOSED! Sigh.

Luckily just a few days later Lilly and I hit up a fabulous knitting store in Maitland, FL, Sip and Knit. Being a warm climate knitting store they had the most wonderful selection of cottons, silks, and bamboos I have ever seen! Knowing this would probably be my last knitting store splurge for a while I went a little nuts and added 3 projects worth of yarn to my stash ...

On the left is Hempathy, which I plan to make either into an empire waist camisole tank or maybe a lacy skirt. In the center is Sidar Baby Bamboo, and oh my goodness is it soft and wonderfully drapey! I am thinking this will probably be a summery baby dress for the new niece I mentioned yesterday. Sort of graduated colors, light grey to green to putty, with the pink for some accents ... Last is some Rowan wool cotton, which I plan to make into a striped baby sweater for yet another new arrival expected in the fall by some good friends in Buffalo. Babies babies babies!!! Freaks me out! I guess it's all part of being nearly thirty.

Speaking of babies, on the Florida trip I got to meet my fabulous BF's nephew, who is the CUTEST 14 MONTH OLD EVER!! He was totally my buddy. Which is saying something because I haven't always had a track record of being a "kid person".

The BF is out of town this weekend so I'm enjoying a much needed day of lounging in my pajamas (and knitting, of course). I may finally get around to photographing my stash for Ravelry.

Coming up on knitjenious: photos of the Kathmandu DK shrug and a preview of my Montego Bay scarf.

Good news to add!

Late this afternoon my third niece was born! Emma Leigh, 6lbs, 1oz (not Katalina as they previously planned to name her). Good thing I finally got the sweater in the mail yesterday ...

Okay, okay ...

I have been holding out on you with the Orlando visit details, I know, but there's a very good reason. As soon as I got back from my trip things starting going downhill (even more) rapidly at my job. As of today I am no longer employed by my former employer as I, as well as everyone else, have been laid off. My company had been having massive financial trouble for some time and the end seems to have finally come. I was planning to leave at the end of May anyway so I guess my job search plans are simply accelerated.

More time to knit, I suppose?? Looking for the bright side here ...

Where has Jen been?

Hello dear readers! Since last we met I opened To Kill A Mockingbird, took a trip to Florida, and finished 2 projects!

First, I polished off the Kathmandu DK shrug I started before Christmas. (Photo pending). My fabulous BF's family had given me a gift certificate to Embraceable Ewe for my birthday in August and here are the results! 85% merino wool, 10% silk, 5% cashmere, very lofty and cozy. Because of it's loftiness, however, be gentle when you give it a tug (ie. preventing ladders on double pointed needles), I actually broke the yarn once or twice before I got used to it.

Side note, this is my first garment of my own design! If you can call it a design ... It's really just a rectangle, joined in to a tube, arms picked up and knit in the round and then a picked up ribbing border around the neck/armholes/back. Tres simple but fun none the less.

Next, I finished the 2nd Wabenshal. Hooray! Okay, I actually still need to weave in the ends and block it. Still, soon I can hand it over to my co-worker and collect my first knitting-based earnings. Maybe this is the start of something ...

Next time on knitjenious: tales of my travels, a review of a great Orlando-area yarn store, and a sneak peak of the knitting near-future!

Reliving Childhood Memories

Omg, I just discovered you can play Oregon Trail on Facebook! Yes, I realize that statement (and the fact that I'm playing a game on Facebook) makes me sound about 13.

My earliest memory of using a computer was playing Oregon Trail at the town library. So many hours spent staring at that green, pixelated screen trying to ford rivers and shoot deer. In the Facebook version you can choose to eat members of you travel party, a feature which I definitely don't remember from the game I played in 3rd grade.

Good times, good times ...

Another thing to love about my boyfriend

So, the other night I was browsing on Ravely and my BF, who witnesses more clearly than anyone my obsession with yarn, remarks isn't it funny how so many yarn shops have sheep-based puns as part of their names. Then he starts laughing uncontrollably and says, hey someday you could have your own yarn shop with a red and white stripe knitted cozy on a pole in front and call it the Baabaa shop ... like barber shop ... only baa baa ... sigh. He's the best!

One Skein baby bolero

My latest tiny creation. I LOVE this pattern. It is pretty easy (I made my first one after only a month or so of knitting), uses very little yarn (about 150 yards total), and is fast to knit because it's so tiny.

You can find the pattern in One Skein by Leigh Radford. This is one of my favorite knitting books. If you'd like to check it out you can link to it on Amazon through the library section on my sidebar.

This particular sweater is knit in stripes of Big Easy cotton and King Tut cotton (leftovers). I can't wait to ship it off to my brother and his wife for the yet-unborn Katalina, soon to be their third little girl.

The second Wabenschal is on the needles and I'm well into a very simple shrug for myself that should see some action during tech next week. Unfortunately knitting in the dark is not very conducive to lace knitting so the shawl will probably go on hiatus for a while.
That's all for now folks!

My first commission!

Before Christmas I took the Wabenschal I made for Katie in to work for blocking. (I have a nice, big sewing table there, perfect for pinning.) After I blocked it I was bringing it back to my shop to wrap it up and I stopped to show it off to my co-workers. One of them particularly liked it and asked how much I would want to make another.

Fast forward a few weeks: today he brings it up again and asks specifically if I could have another ready by the end of February for his wife's birthday. I name my price and we have a deal. How cool is that! Now I've got to get started. This will be an interesting experiment, I think. I wonder how I will feel about knitting that isn't for me or a gift for a beloved recipient of my choosing.