Frost Flowers Shawl...Redux

Well, well, well…here we are again.

I haven't blogged in I don't know how long. But I find myself with some time on my hands and some stuff to say about what is on my needles. But first a quick catch up.

I am now living just outside Boston, working for a major university in fundraising and development. I still miss NYC terribly, but am starting to get settled in (it's only been about 4 years, no rush). I love my job, but hate my commute. But at least I can knit on the bus in the morning…sometimes.

Life has thrown me some curve balls the past few years, including major move (as stated above), my step father's death, the loss of a job that I thought was the perfect fit for me, chronic pain, the passing of a once beloved cat, and the end of friendships that I thought would be lifelong. Yet through it all, I have fought to keep my head above water. One of the major reasons I wanted to move from NYC was that I no longer wanted to just survive, I wanted to LIVE. And I am finally starting to do just that.

But enough of that mushy, vague stuff. You want to know what is on my needles, right?

A few years ago, I made a shawl using Jade 2-ply cashmere in the perfect Claudine shade of pink. And while I really loved it, it wasn't perfect. I adored the Frost Flowers pattern, but overall the shawl was too narrow and too long. And every girl needs the perfect pink shawl. So…to the frog pond it went. And now it's back on my needles

Luckily, I still had the chart that I made from the first one. And although I didn't keep good notes on my stitch count, it was easy just to count the repeats of the pattern to figure out how many stitches I originally cast on.

My first shawl had 110 stitches on a size 4 needles. I decided to almost doubled it and cast on 190 stitches for the redux. Keeping in mind that the cashmere will stretch down and pull in, I think this will be closer what I am hoping for.

I originally got the idea from a pin on Pinterest that lead nowhere (I really hate that, don't you). But I consulted the fabulous Ms. Walker's stitch dictionary and was able to find the instructions for frost flowers (it wasn't that hard to figure out which volume it was in, since that pattern is on the front cover), and reversed engineered the rest of the pattern from there. I was about half way through with the first shawl that I found out someone else on Ravely had already done this. Oh well, it was good brain exercise.

-->

My goal for this shawl is to have the knitting finished by the end of September when I am taking a trip across the pond to jolly old England. Time is running short and I still have a lot of yarn left. According to my calculations, I need to knit about 34 yards a day to get it down, which is 11 rows. Some days are more doable than others. I really hope I make it!

Rhinebeck!

I hope everyone is safe and dry in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. What a week for the East Coast! I am still without power, but grateful to a good friend (and you know who you are) who has lent me power and hot showers over the past few days. The rumor is I will be getting power back late tomorrow. While the novelty of no TV, music, lights, water, heat and a toilet that flushes has worn off, I know that there a lot of people who have it a lot worse. My heart goes out to them in their time of need. I am really grateful that all of my friends are safe.

But enough about that! I know what you really want…to hear about Rhinebeck!

I had a great time in Rhinebeck. I really wanted to go this year, mostly because with some of the life changes that I am in the process of making, I wasn’t sure when I would get the chance to go again. Plus I hadn’t been in a few years.

A couple friends and I rented a car and drove up. The ride was full of good conversation, good music (we found a radio station that was having an 80’s marathon), knitting and beautiful scenery.

Once we got there, we quickly got consumed by all the yarn fumes and lost track of each other. Luckily, we have done this trip before and made a plan to meet for lunch with some other friends. It was so great to see so many of my friends enjoying the day. Unfortunately, I only took a few pictures of my friends and none when we were all together.

But I did manage to take lots of pictures of sheep!

I also took some pictures of these rare breed of sheep:

I also had a few knitting celebrity sitting including YsoldaTeague, Clara Parks, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (anyone else think she should change the spelling to Purl?) and Jess from Ravelry. When you think about it, it’s funny that we have our own little celebrities, isn’t it?

I know you really want to see pictures of the haul; however I have not had a chance to photograph everything. But needless to say, I made out pretty well. Lots of sock yarn, some lace weight, a very pretty DK in a green multi and a cute wrist bag. I hope to take pictures in the next few days (when I have power again) and will out them up then.

Knit on!

Hurricane Supplies

As the Tri-State area braces for another main storm, I urge everyone to have their emergency supplies ready. Here are mine:

I have 5 gallons of water, bananas, nutri-grain bars, popcorn and a stockinette in the round project!

Knit on!

P.S. In all seriousness, please be safe out there. Don’t go anywhere unless you have to.

P.P.S. I also have a flashlight, candles, matches, a battery operated radio, iPod is charged, as is Kindle and my laptop.

Rhinebeck...tomorrow!

rhinebec, rhineback, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, RHINEBECK!

Can you tell I am excited?

Rhinebeck Goal

Every year I hear about this knitting urban legend...spinning directly from the bunny. I have to say that I have never really believed it. But I did find this video on YouTube:

My big goal for Rhinebeck this year to see this with my very own eyes. Anyone know where this spinner and her bunnies are located?

Only 4 more days!

Knit on!

Awesome Yarn Bombing

I love the way this frustrated public transportation rider vents!

http://www.scotsman.com/news/mystery-knitter-vents-edinburgh-trams-fury-in-yarn-bombing-blanket-protest-1-2549375

I think the MTA should be on notice. That type of yarn bombing may soon jump the pond. What would your message for dictators of transportation be? I think mine would be "No more fare hikes!"

Knit on!

Stripes!

I’m not normally into stripes. Don’t get me wrong, I have always liked them, just not for me.

So you can only imagine my surprise when I started thinking about the Million Stripes Loop from Brenda Burrell. I saw it first on Pinterest about a month ago and was intrigued. I kept thinking about and started stalking it on Ravelry. I finally bit the bullet and cast on for one of my own.



What is also shocking about this project is my color choice. What you will normally see from me are pinks, purples, greens and blues (I know that my mother’s 1980s copy of Color Me Beautiful says that I am a Spring after all). But I decided to use more of a fall palette. Since I intend to use the loop as an accessory, I thought it might be easier for me to incorporate it into my wardrobe. I am using Classic Elite Alpaca Sox in 5 colors – Granny Smith, Byzintine Purple, Amber, Russet (orange) and Lago (dark blue).

I am about half way done with the cowl and the goal is to keep at it, so I can wear it this fall. I am enjoying the stripes so much that I am thinking about making another one, but more in my traditional colors for spring. And maybe one more in shades of grey.

What colors would you use?

Knit on!

Ooooopppppsssiiieee

I wasn’t supposed to buy any new yarn until Rhinebeck…

Blocking

I finished my Shetland Triangle Shawl last week. Here is a picture of it while it is blocking:




I almost can’t wait for the weather to turn cooler, so I can wear it.

Blocking is such an important part of knitting, especially knitting lace. And I promise it is nothing to be scared of and you only need a few supplies – blocking mats (optional), blocking wires (optional), pins (lots of them, I like t-pins, but regular sewing pins will work in a pinch), measuring tape, T-square (optional) and lots of patience. Here is how I block:

The first thing I do after binding off is a little celebratory jig (ok, maybe not literary…but at least in my head). The next thing I do is to soak my finished piece for at least a half an hour. I usually put a little Euclean in the bath. The way I figure at some point while I was knitting this my hands were dirty.

I then VERY gently press the water out of the project. Please note that I did not say ring the water out. After all that hard work, you don’t want to take a change of ripping the piece before you can ever use it. Fibers are more fragile when wet. So handle with care.

Next I roll the piece up on in a clean dry towel, pressing even more water out of it.

I then lay out my blocking mats, while gently explaining to the cat that this is not an appropriate place for him to sharpen his claws. Mats are great if you, like me, don’t have a dedicated space for blocking. They can be connected in a variety of shapes and sizes and then can be broken down for easy storage. They are not mandatory though. So if you don’t have any and don’t want to invest, you can use a few layers of towels or even a rug. Something that you can put pins into without damaging the surface below.

Next I use my trusty blocking wires. If you planning on making (and blocking) a lot of shawls, I highly recommend acquiring a set of wires. When blocking a triangle shawl, I start by putting wire though the “top” of the shawl. This usually takes 2 or 3, depending on the size. I make sure to overlap the wires, which makes it easier to get a straight edge when pinning. I continue by putting a wire down the spine of the shawl.

This is usually when I start pinning. Starting at the center and working out, I pin the top edge first. I always have a measuring tape on hand and make sure that I am pinning the shawl symmetrically. Your center point to edge should be the same on each side. If it is not, just unpin one side and gently stretch it to match the other side.

The next step is to pin the center spine. If you have a T-square, it is a good idea to check and make sure the spine of the shawl is at a 90 degree angle from the top edge. But if you don’t have one, you can just eyeball it 9it not like anyone will be walking after you with a T-square shouting that your spine is at 88 degrees).

Don’t be afraid or upset if you have to repeat the pinning a few times. I often go back and tweak things.

Once I am satisfied with me top edge and spine, I move on to the diagonal edges. IF (like the Shetland Triangle) your shawl has points, I run wires though each of the points. Again, depending on the size of your shawl, you may need a few on each side, just make sure to overlap them. Once all my points have been threaded, I gently pull on the wires to stretch the points out. I then pin each point down to the mat. As I pin each point, I measure the space between each point to make sure they are uniform. This is another time when you should plan on doing more than once; I often have to “adjust” my points. If your shawl doesn’t have points, thread your wire though the edge and gentle pull into place.

Repeat this last step for the other diagonal edge.

The next step is the hardest…waiting.

Once the shawl is dry, unpin and wear with pride!

Stay tuned…next post will include pictures of the finished shawl.

Never Forget

There are so many things that I remember from 11 years ago.

I remember what I was wearing (hot pink roll neck top, black cargo skirt, black sandals).

I remember what a beautiful day it was. I remember walking to the subway and wishing I didn’t have to go to work that day.

I remember what I was doing at 8:46 AM.

I remember who told me what happened and where I was at that moment.

I remember yelling at my co-workers to turn on a radio in English (many of the people I worked with were immigrants and listed to the radio in Spanish or Chinese).

I remember not believing it.

I remember going to the roof of the building I worked in and being able to see the impact zones over 2 miles away.

I remember thinking “How are they going to fix those buildings?”

I remember where I was when the first tower collapsed.

I remember sitting down on the floor and crying at that point.

I remember going to my co-worker’s apartment, who lived on the Upper West Side, and seeing Black Hawks fly down the Hudson River with their massive guns drawn.

I remember calling my mom and asking over and over again “How could this happen?”

I remember taking the subway back to Astoria and getting off at Queens Boro Plaza and looking back at downtown Manhattan and seeing for the first time live and seeing what everyone else had been watching on TV.

I remember being amazed that there were people who were rushing into those buildings to help, when the natural instinct was to run away.

I remember thinking “How could someone, anyone, be so evil that they did this?”

I remember how scared we all were.

I remember. And I will never forget.

Shortly after Sept. 11 the letter below was sent around the office I was working at. I think it sums up much of what I was feeling in those dark times and still rings true today. We have come so far in 11 years, but if we forget why we just relive the same tragedies over and over. So please…don’t ever forget.

As I don't have Osama bin Laden's email address please forward this letter to as many as folks as possible so that he may receive my heartfelt thanks!

Dear Osama:

Allow me to thank you for your recent visits to our country! I am a 49 year old male, 4th generation, well educated, prosperous and yes, a spoiled American. I have never really understood our nation's history nor the actions of the past generations. You see I grew up in a time period when we had our unpopular war in Vietnam and it wasn't cool to be a patriotic. Went through the space generation, the love generation, the me generation and the x-generation without any real appreciation for what went on before my time. I couldn't understand why men would rush to sign-up to defend our country in the World Wars. Nor could I even really appreciate why we had Veteran's Day or for that matter the Fourth of July. For my generation, it was merely a holiday which was a day off from work.

My hero's weren't fireman, policemen, soldiers, or politicians. They were sports figures, business tycoons, movies stars and the like. Why would anyone take one of those low paying, dangerous positions when you could have more money, more respect, and have a whole lot more fun as one of these others?

My view of the world was; USA against the rest of the world because nobody appreciated what we did for them. I was never concerned about the rest of the world or really cared for their well being...except to dole out money for food and medicine thru one of our relief programs (like the $171,000,000 we gave your countrymen last year). All I ever thought about was maybe a vacation to their corner of the world to experience their culture.

Your visit here has changed all that! So I want to tell you "Thanks"! I sincerely mean it too. You have no idea how your visit has changed all that. You see I realize now what my forefathers fought for and why they risked their lives. I understand what Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are all about. Upon seeing our Flag, my chest expands, our national anthem brings tears to my eyes. My fellow Americans are truly my brothers and I will defend them with all my might.

As you watch CNN (from our satellite) broadcasting our American family portrait, I am sure you have noticed a different pose. We are all one now. Racial barriers have been broken, religious barriers are gone, as we believe and trust in any and all religions that support a just and merciful Supreme Being. My heroes now are firemen, policemen, soldiers and yes, even our politicians. The outside world as I have known it has now embraced us. Taking us in during our time of need and given us the support we so desperately required. Our enemies of the past are not. So, you see, Osama, we OWE you. Thank you for realigning our perspectives and values like no one has done before. Your actions have created more good will than any one single act I have known in my lifetime. I know you didn't think this would be the outcome, but rest assured this is what you have created!! You made us understand a lesson we hope to never forget or take for granted again.

In closing it is a custom in our country to express our gratitude. So we and a few of our friends (the rest of the world) are going to stop by and deliver a message to you and yours. I hope it comes soon and swift but don't worry if you don't see us right away we won't forget...not now, not ever.

In Appreciation,

Dave

Knitting Notion Organization

I would like to thank the cat for organizing my knitting notions while I was at work today:




Very helpful!

Eeckkkkk!!!

I only have 5 rows and the bind off to go…but I don’t think I am going to make it –




See that thin pink string? For once I was smart and put a lifeline in. Look like it time to visit the frog pond!

Why Hello There!

I guess it’s been a while since my last post. Just like everyone else, my life has been a little busy and I have let thing lag here at Smitten w/ Knittin’. However, I am in the process of making some pretty serious life changes and realize that this will be a good place to have my voice be heard…well my knitting voice anyway. But since this is a KNITTING blog, I won’t go into all the details.

So…what have I been knitting? Of course I have multiple things going on at the moment. But my major project is a Shetland Triangle in Tosh Merino Light. I really love this yarn. It is lightweight like a lace yarn, but with more body. Yet not as heavy as a sock yarn, which makes it perfect for shawls.

Here is a shot of the back side:

Looks like an egg crate, right? But once it is blocked it will be a beautiful shawl. I have wanted to make this for quite some time. And the medium grey yarn will make it very wearable. I am working on my last repeat before the border and think it will be a good size. It will be a little bigger than my Dover Castle Shawl, which I get a lot of wear out of. I hope to have this finished in the next few days.

I will catch you up on some of my knitting projects from the past year or so in the coming weeks. I also hope to have some posts on knitting techniques in the future.

Knit on!

What?

What happened to all my size 8 needles? Seriously? I only have one set? How is that possible?

Quick Catch-up

Holy Cow, it’s been awhile since my last post. How does time get away so quickly?

Today is my mom’s birthday. Unfortunately she has the winter blues. But now she has a pair of blue socks to go with



I called her last night and had her open the package early. She loves socks that go with denim (she is a little more matchy-matchy than me), so she loved the color. I made them toe up and made them really long (something else she likes in her socks).

This was my first attempt at the Fleegal heel.



I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I have noticed that I always wear my socks in the same spot (whether they are hand knit or store bought) and have been trying to figure out a better way to reinforce the bottom part of the heel. I was hoping that this would lend itself to that and although they probably would, I think I want to try this toe-up heel flap instead using a slip stich pattern on the flap for my next socks for me.

I used Cascade Heritage Paints (I think it is color 9872 – I didn’t keep the label or put the info on Ravelry). This is really nice sock yarn and I will use it again. The yardage is also amazing - 437 yards!

Since it has been so long since my last post, I didn’t get a chance to show you my holiday window at the store. As you may remember I saw those really cool yarn trees at Macy’s and wanted to do something similar. I couldn’t figure out what to use as a base for a tree…so I just used our mannequins instead:



Jenn got a really good close-up shot of it with the lights on:



It was hard to get a good picture of it in the window with the lights on…but I have to say that it did look pretty cool. I wish I could have kept them wrapped for next year, but they are the only mannequins we have.

I think I need to knit this before the next election.



I am thinking that I will make each state a shade of grey. Then I will knit each states as a separate piece. But I will knit each state twice, once in red and once in blue.

Winter Bloom

Malbrigo winner

First I have to say I thought a few more of you would submit a story for me. Ruth, I am looking at you.
`
I was excepting a zombie story. Or may a story about a story about giant invisible moths. Or an alien abduction, with aliens who are trying to learn to knit. Well, there will be other contests.

While I had 3 good choice, it was Enid’s post that really made me laugh out. I think it was that is was relevant to SnB. Unfortunately we haven’t see you in awhile, so you don’t know that we don’t really see the Korean Bible study group that much anymore. We are now in a show down with a bunch of evil staring chess players.

Congratulations Enid. Please email me at smittenwknitting@gmail.com with you shipping address.

The good news is that the scarf is out of the freezer. I think I can save most of it. It may have to become a cowl. We’ll see.

Malabrigo conest

Just a reminder that the contest for a ball of Malabrigo ends on Sunday. Leave a comment on this post - http://smittenwknittin.blogspot.com/2010/11/malabrigo-mystery.html.

I look forward to hearing some more good stories!

Yarn Tree

I went to Macy’s about a week ago and saw the coolest Christmas decoration. A yarn tree:



Here is a close up shot:



It is a wire tree frame that is wrapped in yarn and has balls of yarn tied to it. How cool is that! I totally want to make one! Can you imagine it all in green yarns with some green Christmas lights on it (not sure if that would be a fire hazard) and some silver balls? I am not sure what to look for though for the frame though. I googled “wire tree,” “wire tree frame,” “wire cone,” “wire cone tree form” and lots of other combinations of those words. This is one of those things where if I lived someplace where I had lots of room, I would try to build it myself (I did some sculptures in college made out of steel wire, so I know how to braze), but where would I do that and store it in the mean time. Any ideas?