Today is World Wide Knit In Public Day!
Of course, I did some knitting in public in honor of the day — I knit a few rounds on a baby hat I’m working on while I was celebrating my sister’s 60th birthday at Chianti Grill in Roseville. (No pictures, but I was there - and I was knitting!)
How about you?
Arg. This winter is never-ending. 
This is the view out off my deck on April 16, 2011:
Snow.
It took a day or so to melt, and then we got more snow April 20th - again, another day to melt. Then we had flurries one evening.
Today is May 1st. Temp on my way to church this morning was 34 degrees and there were flurries.
I know we’re “hardy” here - but I am getting quite tired of cold weather and snow.
(California, here I come — and you’d better be warm!)
I guess it was inevitable.
My knitting has recently been crappy. Everything I try to work on has difficulties. My dog ate my needles. My gauge is off. My yarns don’t contrast enough. My ideas for joining aren’t working. I stink at intarsia. I’ve certainly lost my knitting mojo.
Then there’s this pattern. No, it’s not knitting - it’s crochet.
Yep - I’ve gone over to the dark side. Sleeping with the enemy.
Not that I haven’t had my issues with this pattern as well. I’ve ripped and re-worked a number of times, but I think I’m finally getting it. And there’s really only 3 different stitches to learn. 
It definitely has drawbacks - mistakes have to be ripped all the way back (no dropping down a stitch and re-working). Counting how many stitches you have and/or where you are in the pattern are tough. The pattern doesn’t have charts - only tedious, long lines of instruction that make it easy to lose your place.
But this is SO gorgeous, I couldn’t resist.
See that giraffe head just poking through? Fantastic.
Maybe I will finish a “something” for February, after all….
I started January with good intentions for my “something-of-the-month” club. I finished these mittens:
which are part of a set, that goes with this hat:
I had hoped to finish this set to donate to the Guild’s project for 2010, but didn’t manage to get the mittens done in time (which made it perfect for my ‘club’ project).
I had also made this hat (in December):
I used vintage stash for both - Paton’s Classic Wool, but I had only one skein of each. This just reminds me how much I dislike using variegated yarn for patterned pieces - you put all that work into the pattern, and can’t see it because of the variegation!
The pattern is Boreal (you can get it through Ravelry). I bought it because I thought it was a cute hat, and it had mittens to match - a perfect pattern for the Guild charity project! The hat comes in 4 sizes, and the mittens come in something like 8 or 9 sizes. There’s really not much to go on to decide which hat goes with which mittens. The hats are quite stretchy (I can get the red one on my head - and it’s a M), but the mittens have a closer fit and therefore there are many more sizes of those. Since I don’t have a kid to try them on, I was at a loss. In addition, the pattern says you can make it from two skeins of Wool of the Andes (123 yds/skein), so I thought my skein of Classic Wool (230 yards or so) would be enough. It wasn’t until I was halfway through the red one that I discovered there was a separate yardage (listed later in the pattern) for the mittens. :( I thought I’d have enough left over, but I didn’t. So, I only made the hat in the red, but then made a smaller size hat in the blue and had enough for a pair of mittens. Arg.
I was pleased that I finished my project for January, and then cast on for my February project: Paradoxical Mittens by Lucy Neatby. The pattern photo shows them in black and white, which I thought was rather stark, but that the pattern looked interesting. I decided to use the Mini Mochi I had on hand. I had bought 2 skeins of the same color but different dye lots as I was going to make these mittens. The color changes are very long on the Mini Mochi, and I discovered that the first mitten was nearly all yellow/orange. I decided to try the 2nd skein, and got more variation in color, but then the two mittens are so dissimilar, I am now stuck with the decision to re-make one (or both) mittens, or have a very fraternal pair.
In the meantime, I discovered two unfortunate things about these mittens: I was making the internal cuff version - and I discovered that you have to tack the cuff inside the mitten and while I was right on gauge, the mitten is very snug on my hand (if I’d read the pattern thoroughly, both of these issues would have been discovered earlier in the process)!
While I was deciding what to do about all this (most likely rip and re-knit), Google got hold of my mittens and proceeded to EAT my bamboo dpn’s! I haven’t managed to get back to the store for the size 0’s I need to finish/re-start.
In an attempt to make a pair of mittens for February, I started these. I can’t seem to get gauge on the interior of the cuff - and then I discovered that the two shades of green Cascade 220 I bought for these (while they looked compatible in the hank in the store) are entirely too close in color and blend together too well, obscuring the pattern. Since everything I’ve touched lately has turned to crap I won’t have a ‘club’ item for February. It’s terribly depressing to have failed this early in the year!
BTW - for those worried about Google, she either digested or passed the needles, and appears to be just fine!
I’ve been knitting like crazy, trying to maximize the number of donations I can make to the Knitters’ Guild charity project for 2010. I missed the December meeting (where we were supposed to hand in our completed items) as our time schedule changed due to the death of my uncle Jake. As a result, I have arranged to turn in my items on January 5, at the next service committee meeting. It will give me a chance to finish the last few items. Pictures will be posted when I’m done - I don’t want to take the time now to photograph them when finishing time is short.
I have high hopes and big plans for 2011. I’ve joined the “I Make Mittens” group on Ravelry, and want to participate in the “11mittensfor2011″ challenge, as well as the NaKniMitMo ‘11 challenge. In the 11 for ‘11, the challenge is to knit 11 pairs of mittens (or gloves, or convertibles) in 2011. For NaKniMitMo, the challenge is to knit as many mittens as you can during the month of January, 2011. No prizes or anything (or at least, none that I would expect to win - I am the slowest knitter ever!) but a challenge to get me going for 2011. I really liked the idea of the Yarn Harlot’s Self-Imposed Sock Club although I don’t knit many socks right now - and don’t have much motivation to knit them - I thought I might take the idea and create a “something of the month club” like PinkLemonTwist. She is alternating socks and shawls (no, not the time-consuming, lacy ones). I agree with the Harlot that a sock-of-the-month-club is challenging and can be fun, however I’ve decided that I just don’t care much for mystery stuff. Too often I don’t like the finished product, and while I can give it away to charity, I am just too slow of a knitter to spend my time knitting on something that is not enjoyable. The clubs often include the yarn, and while you get the chance to try different yarns and colorways that you don’t normally choose, it is hard to want to knit with something you find unattractive. Clearly it seems a better idea, especially for someone who has a substantial stash and an amazingly long queue on Ravelry to create my own knit-something-of-the-month club.
I am knocking around a few ideas for my ‘club’ - and wondering if I am (again!) attempting to be too ambitious in my goals. There is always a huge need for mittens for so many charities that you can’t possibly knit fast enough, so I can indulge my desire to try several different patterns, etc. and donate them. This will also fit nicely into my 11 in ‘11 and NaKniMitMo goals. Mittens can usually be completed fairly quickly, so this would leave time for me to knit other things that interest me, or gifts for next Christmas, or any upcoming baby gifts. However, I’ve been thinking for quite awhile that I have had the yarn for the Great American Aran Afghan for several years and have only knit 3 squares. They are only about 12 x 12, and even though they are heavily cabled, knitting one per month seems a reasonable goal. There are also several afghans on my queue, and lots of old acrylic yarn in my stash that would love to become one of these afghans… so is it unreasonable to think I could run concurrent ‘clubs’ and knit one pair of mittens *and* one afghan square per month? How about an FO club? I’m sure I have at least 12 unfinished projects. Could I finish one per month?
Let me know what you think! More on this after the 5th, and Happy New Year!
I finally finished the Feather Duster Shawl - and it’s been finished for quite a while - and blocked it in time to send it off to the County (first place and a purple ribbon!) and State (4th place) fairs! I was thrilled to see the ribbons for the County fair, but a bit disappointed in the State fair results. When I finally picked it up and was able to see the score card (no comments, etc. from the county), the only deduction I got was for difficulty of pattern! Well, I guess I’ll have to try something “harder” next year!
I also finished the “famous” Anemoi Mittens - these are the mittens that were started about 3 years ago. I’ve had a change in yarn colors, and a ‘re-start’ several times, but I finally determined that I was going to finish these mittens! They turned out beautifully, although there are several things I would change if I ever get crazy enough to want to knit these again.
These also made it to the County (first place!) and State (another 4th place) fairs. The photo was taken more towards dusk and the colors turned a little funky.
I have also managed to make a blanket for Charlotte Maree (my former Girl Scout member, Emily, gave birth to a beautiful little girl). I saw this pattern/kit on the Rainey Sisters’ blog (designed by Sally for a club at a shop in Virginia), and just had to get it. I made the blanket from Lion Brand Wool-Ease (blush heather), because I wanted a “pink” blanket. I worked on this steadily for a few weeks, and managed to get it done shortly after Charlotte was born. I quickly took some photos and sent it off to Emily. Unfortunately, the photos don’t capture the color (they look more like grey to me), but you can see the detail. A ‘princess’ castle for a little princess!
One more day to work on UFO’s - then a “new” project!
Well, I see it’s almost 6 months since I last posted. Time is flying by! So what have I been doing (besides the mundane work, sleep cycle)?
Most recently, I had two mini-vacations, just about back-to-back. My sisters and I had a “sister retreat” at a resort in Two Harbors, MN - right on Lake Superior. We crafted and watched movies. Jenny did most of the cooking (thanks, Jenny! It was all delicious!), and Anne managed the gas grill for our steak (tuna for J) dinner (thanks, Anne!) and I managed to do just about nothing. I did feel a bit like Goldilocks, though, as the bed was waaaay too soft, and most of the chairs were too low. The resort had lots of fire pits along the shore and also at the lodge - but the seating was all adirondack chairs (way too low and positioned so it’s very difficult for this old lady to get up).
Each night, the lodge lights a fire pit and all the guests are invited to come up to the lodge and have s’mores around the campfire. We managed to get up there the last evening we were there. Mmmm. Delicious - and they used *real* chocolate! We even sang a few songs around the campfire, including Bill Grogan’s Goat! (This was a song my dad used to sing. Very fun for a little kid. There’s lots of YouTube videos out there, but apparently most of those versions use six red shirts, not the three I was taught. So this version - while there’s no visual - is a cute kid and mom singing the version I know.)
On the last morning, I got up early to join Jenny (although she didn’t get up!) to watch the sunrise on the lake. Cold out there, but beautiful.
During our days there, Anne and Jenny worked on making cards, while I knitted:
We also managed a lunch at the famous Betty’s Pies
and the pies were delicious!
Such a great idea - I think we’ll have to do it again, soon!
Prior to Larsmont, I was at the quilting retreat in St. Cloud with Debbie, Diane, and Pat. We had a grand time, as usual, even though none of us actually did any quilting. I was knitting like crazy (a baby gift for a former Girl Scout of mine that is expecting her first baby - a girl!), Pat did some crocheting, Debbie was scrapbooking, and Diane spent much of the weekend running errands for her hubby and stepson, and then sewing a duvet cover for Debbie. The sad news is that we all came down with respiratory ailments immediately after returning home. Diane & I have bronchitis, and Debbie and Pat both have pneumonia!
Sorry - no photos of that retreat….
I’ve been knitting with two different knit groups, and I’ve been meeting with Mary H. as often as fits in our two schedules - so you’d think I’d have more knitting to show. I did finish my Feather Duster shawl and my Anemoi mittens (finally! after 3 years!) but the photos are on the ‘new’ camera that is currently being used elsewhere…. I’m also trying to finish various mitten sets that have been started and abandoned (most just need thumbs), and I made this cute pixie hat that will be donated through the Knitters’ Guild for this year’s charity. I’ll post photos of the FO’s as soon as the camera comes back home!
It’s our birthday today. (Nothing to see here - move along.)
Last night we got on one of the “blast from the past” jags, talking about old haunts and the businesses that used to be there. (We haven’t quite figured out who won the bet, though - we’re splitting hairs over timelines.) Anyway, since today is our birthday, I was reminded of this song from “Lunch with Casey” - a purely local show that I watched daily during lunch at home. After singing this song, Casey would then read off the list of birthday names - a real thrill to hear your name read (if your folks called it in). Simpler days, simpler pleasures.
I’m making good progress on my Knitting Olympics Feather Duster! I have completed Chart A, and 4 of the 6 repeats of Chart B. According to an excel spreadsheet I found that is supposed to help you figure out the percentage of your shawl that is complete (it is *so* deceiving when you start at the small end of a triangle - and I believe this is similar even though you are starting at the center neck), I have slightly more than 50% completed. Yay!
I thought I was making good progress, and it looks like a lot has been completed, but I’m also fairly sure I’m going to need those two other weekends with lots of knitting time to be able to finish and win the gold medal. Below is a photo of the progress as of this morning. I’m only managing a couple of rows per day as the rows get longer and I have only evening hours to knit. There are 32 rows left to reach my goal. I can tell now that this will be far closer to a scarf size than a shawl size and I’m so glad I bought extra yarn!
Today is the start of the Winter Olympics, and as the Olympic flame is lit, it also signals the beginning of the 2010 Knitting Olympics.
Four years ago, the Yarn Harlot had a brilliant/crazy idea to have the Knitting Olympics, held concurrently with the Winter Olympics. I was nutty enough to give it a try, and was able to earn the Gold Medal for my efforts (see sidebar for my medal). There were lots of people who wanted her to do it again for the Summer Olympics two years later, but for a lot of reasons, she declined. As the 2010 Winter Olympics approached, she mentioned doing the Knitting Olympics again, but wasn’t quite sure if she was going to do it. In the meantime, over at Ravelry, folks jumped on the idea/bandwagon and made the Ravelympics - a similar idea to the Knitting Olympics. (Slightly different rules, etc., but the same in spirit.) Just a short time ago, the Harlot decided that she would again participate and loosely “run” the Knitting Olympics. YAY! Somehow, it did not seem the same without the Harlot at the helm.
This time, I am really stretching it - and substantially increasing the liklihood of failure - by deciding to knit “Feather Duster” by Susan Pierce Lawrence.
This is listed as a scarf, although the dimensions and the photo look more like a (small) shawl. It uses a single skein of ShibuiKnits Silk Cloud (25 g., 330 yds). While it is literally thousands of stitches, 330 yards seemed a do-able task. (Am I crazy?) I have the entire length of the Winter Olympics, from the lighting to the extinguishing of the Olympic flame, to finish my Feather Duster. 16 days - which includes three weekends. (We won’t mention that tax prep has to occur during this period, too. Not to mention working full time.) You’ll be among the first to know if I succeed and again come “home” with the gold. There is one caveat, however — I am doubting that this will be large enough for me, so my commitment (my Olympic goal) is to complete the pattern as written, using just the one skein of Silk Cloud. I will likely add extra repeats to the pattern, with additional yarn, but that will occur after the Olympics and the completion of the entire shawl will not be required to win the gold. As it is, I think I’ve figured (if my math is correct) that it will be over 14,000 stitches to complete the pattern as presented. Unfortunately, this means I’m more likely to be watching my pattern than the action of the Olympic athletes, but I’ll be listening to the commentary with an occasional glimpse at the TV. So the challenge is set: Game On!
