Stash 'n WIPs and Edna Jones

Seven whole days, without a word from you..." - Toni Braxton

I don't have anything witty or profound to write about in today's post (now you're scrolling back on the sidebar thinking "Hold up! When did she write something witty or profound!?? Did I miss that post???")

Just wanted to flash my stash and show what's on the needles...Ry Diggy was here for a visit, digital camera in tow...so I took advantage of that fact and borrowed it to take these (don't worry, I fed him, s'all good) :

This 3-level shelf shows the mounds and bags of yarn that my darling hubby expects I should use up completley before I buy any more yarn. If you knit or crochet, or have a "stash" of any kind...you know exactly how laughable that is. I do know that Target has good deals on some other space saver shelving and Rubbermaid tubs though...It's a sickness - don't try to understand.

Your eyes do not deceive you...on the left side of Adachi's Top Down Cardigan, that is in fact a sleeve. Well, it's the start of a sleeve. My goal for this one is to add my own touches in the coloring (the pattern shows a solid, but that much stockinette with no changes would make me batty). I'm just coming up with striping as a I go. I'm also going to attempt intarsia by making a big heart on the back. Cross your fingers. Oh - and let me just say for the record...I've had it up to here with cotton yarn. Historical references not withstanding, I don't think I was meant to handle this much cotton in this short a span of time.....And so, if you can't be with the yarn you love honey, start lovin' on some NEW yarn!

This is my Booga Bag. If you do a search for this pattern online, I would bet you come up with a thousand hits easily. Seems like I read about it so much that the Noro yarn actually called to me from the shelf in the Knutty Knitter yarn store in Harrisburg, PA last week. Can I just say - wool is where it's AT! I have been missing out. This is going to be my first felting adventure too, so this shot will serve as the before picture. When it's felted and dried I'll model it for ya.

That does it for the crafty bizness. I leave you with this...When I'm in my 50's, I wanna be charismatic and gorgeous like Oprah (I won't kid myself by coveting the cash). When I'm in my 60's, gimme some of that Tina Turner shimmy shake, and I'll take the legs too, thank you very much. And when I'm 80...I want the courage of Mrs. Edna Jones. Edna Jones was seated right behind me last week when I flew from Harrisburg, PA on my way home. She and her daughter were flying to Atlanta to see Edna's grandson...but get this, this was Edna's FIRST flight EVER!! She will be 80 years old this November (good month) and she told her daughter that she wanted to "try something new". I was so struck by that kind of gumption and adventurousness that I had to take her picture.

Thanks Edna & Bonita for letting me be so nosey, and inspiring me to keep on trying new things. I hope you had an amazing trip and that you get the chance to take many more together!

Some Finished Objects & Other Babbling

So...minus some crocheted picot edging, the Cotton Classic Jumper is now wearable! Naturally I didn't finish it in the insane 16-day marathon knitting triumph I had planned, but it's done, and I love the way Mizan looks in it. She kept asking me "when are you going to put it over my head mommy?"I have to say that, contrary to what I would have thought, the knitting went faster on this as I got closer to the end. Lots of stockinette stitching though, and honestly, I think I'm getting weary of cotton yarn, though it is mui kid and Florida friendly. I learned too that I will be more creative (and significantly braver) next time and ask more questions about manipulating patterns. It turns out I could have finished this much sooner and with much less seaming had I knit it in the round. Knit 'n learn my friends, knit 'n learn!

Here's a crocheted little ditty that I'm happy with (oooh...with which I am happy?...). Not because it was especially difficult, but because I didn't use any pattern to make it, and I finished it in less than an hour. I was the Game Leader at my sister's baby shower this past weekend, and so I stayed with her to help put everything together and keep her happy and hydrated (it's getting hot y'all!). I haven't picked up a crochet hook in quite some time, but the rhythm came back strong once I got started. I learned about crocheting in the round a while back, and now I know that you can pretty much make a hat (beenie, roll brim, or otherwise) very quickly this way. No fuss, no muss, no seaming. Love it.

In other knitting news (yes this is a fiber- heavy post, the queue was backed up).

I am making serious headway on Adachi's cardigan. I finally finished a ball of the lilac yarn and now I'm on a bright pink stripe. Again on this one, I'm doing something a little different than what the pattern calls for (oh dear, there's that preposition again). I'm a dangerously ambitious newbie - watch out there now! I saw in a post on my favorite knitting forum that someone suggested to skip the button holes on a child's cardigan and just sew buttons directly on the button band, then put snaps underneath them. In that way the wearer has the satisfaction of opening and closing the sweater all by themselves (and they love that!). I actually wish more of my own clothes just had snaps...but I digress.

All is well, and I'm traveling again this week. I'll be in Harrisburg, PA browsing new yarn stores...err --cough--meeting some potential clients that is. This is not a long flight, but even on the short ones I seem to have a very soothing effect on my airline seat neighbors, so the view to my right will most likely look something like this...

Blessings on ya - send me a shout out with some of your latest works, musings, and even works in progress that you just know you're going to get done very very soon. MWAH

I'm Surrounded

Like many of you, I visit certain people's blogs daily. Somehow, in this blogging ether, we can still find connections with the people we thought we already knew well, and discover new and amazing reasons to admire them even more. I have some knitting stuff waiting in the queue to post about, but I want to take a "time out" to spotlight a few of the entries I was blessed to read just today...

From the Stairway...My girl Kelli has Seinfeld beat down! She writes about things that we take for granted, but by turning a phrase she makes these mundane fer instances and situations into profound observations that are the other side of hilarious. Check out her latest post for a good chin scratch and giggle (I laughed right out loud).

On Emerald Lane...I cannot tell a lie...I literally close my eyes right before Nancy's blog loads so that the pictures of her latest sewn creations will just smack me in the eyes; she never fails to amaze me. One of her latest posts that I really enjoyed talks about what inspires her. Her modesty is so becoming, and I love reading about her feelings on what she takes in, and how it shows in what she puts out. (Oh and you must read all about Scatter and Petunia)

You've got to hear from Mau...I dubbed him the information broker. He turns research into an art form, literally.
In one of his recent entries, he talks about a significant work from the late Ralph Ellison. There is a passage near the end of the post that I had to read twice. It was just that powerful. Here's just a snippet: "What does American society mean when regarded out of my own eyes, when informed by my own sense of the past and viewed by my own complex sense of the present?" Please read the whole thing, you won't regret it.

I'm surrounded by talent, and inspiration, and beauty, and the warmth that comes through friendship with brilliant people who share their gifts and add small chunks of wonderful to my day.

Miles, Maladies, Middle Seats & Mountains

That pretty much sums up my last week. I travel for work...let me rephrase, I travel ALOT for work, which I didn't actually realize until the last 5 days. I left Florida on Monday morning at 9:30AM. It's now 12:55AM Friday morning (ET) and in that nearly 5 day span I have been from West Palm Beach to Atlanta to Chicago to Milwaukee back to Chicago to Salt Lake City and heading back to Atlanta for a lay over before I fly back home to West Palm Beach.
Yeah....I know. Thank God for the consistency of Marriott's across the nation.

But aside from the miles I've covered, I've been through an entire range of emotions on this trip as well. Anger at my flight disruption (I was supposed to leave Sunday), joy at the extra time I ended up having at home as a result. Fear of that tickle in my sinus that meant a cold was coming on just as I boarded my first flight. Delight at reaching Chicago and connecting with a new friend. Anxiety just before our Tuesday morning client meeting ("You'll have to excuse me...AAAAACHOOO...I seem to have a bit of a ::cough::cough:: sniffle coming on, so you'll forgive me Mr. Client if I don't -AA-CHOO - shake your hand ::cringe::"). Loneliness and misery during the "bad" night - you know the one you always get when the cold turns into a flu and you realize you're in the stage where your body just has to work it's way through the virus battle? Yeah - it's amplified to the nth degree when you can't even cry into the pillows on your own bed. Adoration and love for a hubby who answers the phone at 4AM like he's been awake just waiting for my "I can't take this anymore and I want to come home NOW" desperation call. Pride and relief when the flu symptoms subside and the second client meeting goes off with a bang. Wonder at the sight of the Wasatch Mountain Range of Utah - can that enormity really be part of the same country as the pines and sandy beaches I left back home? Joy and anticipation at the thought of squeezing my girls and telling them - now it's zero sleeps until mommy gets home my darlings, I'm finally here.

Seems like there were as many thoughts and feelings and memorable moments as there were miles this week. Thanks for stopping by on your own journey through your week. Enjoy these photos of my trip to the breathtaking mountains of Utah. For kicks, why not write and tell me about some of the ground you covered this week (emotionally, physically, and otherwise). I'd love to hear about it. Until next time!

Welcome Janaya Lugg !

Here are some pictures my newest niece!!! I'm just giddy with excitement about her arrival.

Please welcome Janaya Samira Najma Lugg, a most adorable addition to the family. Mommy - Tenika Brown and Daddy - Jermaine Lugg are thrilled. She was born Friday, March 10th at 1:15pm in the Northwest Broward hospital.

After 27 hours of labor and a last minute C-section, Mommy and baby are at home now and doing very well. I'll try to get a shot of her in the umbilical hat I knit for her when we go for a visit ;-)

A Crochet Creation

I found out about The Crochet Dude (Drew Emborsky) early in 2005 while I was struggling with my first "fer really real" crochet pattern. I was having a really tough time understanding the pattern repeats, and apparently this dress was just rows and rows of the same confusing 5 or 6 lines. It was seriously like learning a strange new language (ch3, sc in the next ch-3 spc, ch3, skip the next sc, dc in the ch3 spc from the prev row, cont for 8 patt rows, ch 3, turn, repeat). Como se llama whoo-what??! I finally gave in and did a google search for "crochet" (or "crochet + HELP ME"...something like that) and I found Drew's site. I used his contact link to email him the segment of the pattern that was confounding me - this after 3 failed attempts and ripping out no less than 15 or so rows to re-start each time. I didn't really think I'd hear back, but he emailed the pattern back to me with his "English" translation below each line. The result...my first non-potholder crochet creation in all it's camera phone fuzziness -










The pattern is called "Sheer Delight" from a Family Circle knitting and crochet book I found in the library.


Special thanks to my girl Kiesha who helped me find just the right "cover your bi'ness camisole". And Dude - MWAH! (fan for life)

Flowers for Kelli

My sister-girl Kelli is moving away.
Thousands of miles away.
And I'm not sure I'm able to tell her how sad, and thrilled, and devastated and excited I am about it . When in doubt...write it out.

My mother says "give people their flowers before they're gone".

Kel, these flowers are for you, in no particular order:

10 Things I Love About You:
1. You are a friend I can say anything to; you listen, but never judge.
2. You're stunning...and you don't even know it, which just adds to your beauty.
3. You hardly ever speak without thinking through your words first.
4. Your love for your mom is award-worthy. I hope you get that back one day in triplicate.
5. There isn't much you won't try, but you are steadfast in your convictions.
6. You do things at just the right time.
7. You have never given a bad gift. Ever.
8. Your hugs speak louder than your words.
9. You are loyal...so much so that you inspire loyalty in others.
10. You do friendship right, just by being your beautiful self.

We miss you already...

From the Mouth of Babes...

(this may have to become a regular blog feature)

Adachi and I were discussing some new words she has learned in context:

Me: So what does it mean if you can't hear?

Adachi: You're deaf!

Me: ...and if you can't see?

Adachi: Blind!

Me: Right! And what about if you can't talk?

Adachi:.......

Me: What are you if you can't talk honey?

Adachi: You're.....DEAD!

*sigh*

Spoken like the daughter of a true blabber mouth :)

If This Makes You Smile...

Then our work here is done

In Memory of a Renaissance Man...Gordon Parks

Who's the cat that won't cop out
When there's danger all about?
SHAFT!
Right On!

The Theme from Shaft, performed by Isaac Hayes

"Newt Winger lay belly-flat at the edge of the cornfield, his brown chin close to the ground, his eyes glued to a hill of busy ants. He singled out one struggling with tree bark twice it's size,
tugging it forward then sideways then backward up the incline. Being a veteran ant-watcher, Newt tracked its course near perfect over the rough and slippery terrain."

...an excerpt from the Learning Tree, the 1963 autobiographical Novel turned film

Ella Watson, a Washington, D.C. charwoman shown here in one of Parks' most famous photographs taken in 1942. - Library of Congress

Gordon Parks was an author, songwriter, screen writer, musician, and Life Magazine's first black photographer. His passing yesterday at the age of 93 is the subject of a very enlightening NPR interview that I highly recommend. I learned two main things listening to this story...(1) we know and love so many things, but have no idea where they came from or who created them, and (2) you absolutely CAN do all the creative and inspiring things you love and be good at them.

We are so fortunate that people like Mr. Parks honor us for a time, stay for a while, and leave us with so rich a legacy to enjoy.

Yeah - I listen to NPR talk radio...it's got a good beat. And sometimes...I dance to it.

...And He Cooks Too

I just had to give my dear hubby his props. He put together one of the larger pieces of furniture in our home a couple weeks ago - a bookshelf! We had boxes of books that haven't been unpacked (or dusted - cough, cough) since we moved here 3 years ago.

Well, he put these together over a few days time and I'm so proud and grateful for the finished product. (Did I mention he also does laundry...better stop lest I get hate mail).

The proof's in the pics...enjoy!

Patience, time, and a little elbow grease...VOILA!

(the girls thought this might be a good resting place for their bears, who are we to argue?)

My first Stitch-n-B****

**title censored just in case my mom ever actually reads this blog**
So yesterday a girlie get together plan actually came to fruition. I had Kelli & Tanya over to, well, SnB. We haven't roped Kelli into knitting yet, so no stitching for her (none for us either as it turned out) but we all had a great time chatting, fondling each other's yarn, and trading book tips. We even found time to eat and sip some wine! Hubby was out in the yard working on Old Reliable's brakes with our next door neighbor, whose daughters were inside playing with our girls. The 10 year-old, Chris has actually just learned to knit recently from her grandmother. Um...can you guess that I got a little excited??! Yeah. She and her sister are both home schooled, super smart and ultra polite. I see many play dates in our future...for the girls of course!! It's just a total bonus that Chris would love to learn how to knit better by practicing with me. What a treat.

I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story, but note that it is day 11 of my Cotton Classic Jumper Challenge and (drum roll) the front is done!! The light at the end of this tunnel just flickered a little brighter....thanks again to Kel for the fantastic photography:

That blanket was on the horse I rode on our trip to Cozumel last fall - two things I'm quite proud of in one shot.

Mizan takes up the sticks

Tanya's Work in Progress - a hooded jacket with this amazing yarn

Two Words...Shape Armholes (shudder)

Progress on the jumper is very encouraging at the moment. I've completed at 110 rows (14.5") on the side that will be the back (on the "front" I'll be a pattern pro and those stitches are bound to look more worthy of showing off, right? Right?! Anyone....? Bueller?) Well, that's my story...

Here are some shots taken today at the home of my colleague. His lovely wife indulged me and took some progress shots of the jumper (You notice a trend here? I must have quite the pitiful look when I gush about my knitting...it inspires such kindness). I'm knitting a sweater for their 14 month old princess and I hope it will be worthy of their hospitality. The yarn is a treasure I found in Huntingdon Valley, PA on a business trip. Anyhoo...the Cotton Classic Jumper now looks like this:

You see those curling edges? Someone is really going to have to do something about those when it comes time to seam this thing...ha! I pity the fool who has to tackle that! (whimper)

One more shot - this is a close up of the 3x1 ribbing that makes up the bodice. Seems funny to call it a "bodice" when it's on an item for a 3 year old...sounds so womanly. Ah well, I'm honored to cover said bodice with a handmade token of love.

Next step - armhole shaping. Not sure why this worries me the way it does. Maybe because it's a critical element. The one that will turn this into something that looks closer to the finished product - a dress. Instead of what it looks like now - a badly misshapen scarf blob thing. Well I'm going to reckon with this next step with gusto. This project is 90% attitude! The other 10% is ripping out and restarting while mumbling bad words you don't want your toddler to associate with knitting or to repeat. Stitching on!

Today's Affirmation: I draw toward me the best things in others by offering them those things from myself.

Bluesol...Need Your 411

Thanks to each of you that takes a little time out to read my ramblings and leave words of kindness and encouragement. I'm having fun with this blogging bizness, and I'm happy to share that glee with you! Keep it comin'!

Thanks especially to my new found neighbors on the Knitting Help forum...wow - there are no words...well, there are a few words. Something along the lines of "Oh #@!#!! It's 2am and I'm still on this forum!!!" :-) Totally worth the sleep deprivation though.

bluesol - thanks so much for your comments. I need your contact info to reply to your question please. PM me over at the KH forum, or email me directly from my profile.

More rambling to come....

Tink Tock, Tink Tock - The Frogs Come Out at Night

It's 12:48am; I had to frog about 6 rows on the Cotton Classic Jumper. Tough call. But you make clutch decisions like that when you have to...or when it's so late that your judgement is completely impaired by fatigue. Eh - either way. The ribbing directions had thrown me for a loop, but that's par for the course in this pattern. I apparently knit a row when I should have purled so the ribs were looking quite disjointed. The silver lining? I realized I had made a mistake...I could actually see my goof in the ribbing and then instead of plowing ahead ("it's handmade, it's supposed to have goofs") I frogged it. Even better, I used a trick Patty at my LYS taught me and got every stitch back on the needles and facing the right direction. Line up troops!! This heeyah jumper's due in 11 days. Let's git 'er done.

I've discovered a bonus treat too! Our library has a new program that allows you to download audio books to your hard drive or a CD...for FREE - very well within my price range. So tonight, I knit as I listened to October Suite by Maxine Clair...love to find undiscovered stuff by black (female) authors. I'm totally hooked! I'm on a flight to Joi-sey in about 11 hours from now, and you can guess how I'll spend the three hours in the air! Bon nuit!

Today's affirmation: I already have all I need to succeed inside me.

Things to Do At Book Club (when you didn't finish reading the book)

This past Saturday was one that reminded me how great it is to be an adult - with kids - who still takes time out to socialize. I started the morning cleaning up from a girl cousin sleep over pajama jammy jam and got the girls ready to head to our friends' condo. We hung out by the pool with 2 other couples and my girl Kel. I was working on starting some dreadlocks for my friends brother, the girls were swimming out all their energy, and everyone else ate, drank, and got merry. As though that wasn't enough, that evening I went to my first Book Club meeting in months! Naturally I hadn't finished the book because the 32 hour day has yet to be invented that would allow such things. But my literary cohorts are ever so forgiving. They let me chime in with my blathering about the first 100+ pages and didn't scorn me a bit...funny how sharing June Bugs can make you so unpretentious. Hmmmm...

Here's a shot of the Book Club Babes:


Well...I'm hardly seen without my GoKnit pouch now, so of course I brought the Cotton Classic Jumper with me to make some progress. I also brought a bunch of stuff that I wanted our hostess to photograph for me (my friends are just so kind and talented!). Here a couple shots of current WIP (works in progress)...

Top Down Cardigan for Adachi:

My impending shrug in 3 parts:

Great intellectual conversation that digresses to the funniest levels of silliness at just the right time; yummy refreshments and just the right amount of spirits; surplus guilt-free knitting time and people who will tolerate you going on and on (and on) about it....what more could a woman ask for? Viva la Book Club!!!

Oh! And the book is a great read by the way (Wicked by Gregory Maguire)...maybe I'll finish it by the time the next Club meeting rolls around.

Today's Affirmation: I am the company I keep...and that's a good thing!

When In Doubt...Write it Out

It works for to-do lists, vows, speeches...and yes...patterns. I made some progress on the Cotton Classic Jumper for Meezee last night (during Book Club I might add), but I realized that I was really being slowed down by the pattern. A wise knitter on my favorite forum often says "trust the pattern". Not this one - this one is only a page long, and it was obviously written for someone at a level I haven't even glimpsed yet. Shortcuts, assumptions, and no row counts. If this were a food recipe I might end up serving catfish marmalade when it was meant to be chicken noodle soup! Anyway...I do better when I write things out. It helps to put things in perspective. So I decided to write out the pattern, row by painstaking row. Today's lesson? Putting things in perspective can sometimes be like a bucket of ice water on your head after you've been sleeping for hours. Here's what I learned...If my calculations are correct, this pattern is a little under 150 rows long (PER SIDE) to produce a 20" dress. So I will be knitting just over 300 rows. For those of you just joining, I intend to do this by Saturday March 11th. Yeah. I know.

I must say, as I wrote the pattern out, more and more of it made sense to me. Eureka! Although, there's still one area in the neck shaping that I had to type in bold red text. With yellow highlights. *sigh* We'll get there...that's a gagillion rows from now. Back to perspective...here's a shot of where I reached yesterday (February 25th):

No no - don't bother counting, I'll save you some time. That's about 41 rows. Four - one. Out of 300+.
With what I've added today at Row 57 (hmmm...back of the napkin math...add 7, carry the 3....) I'm 9% finished.

And you know what? I'm not nearly as bitter about that as I sound. The way I see it...I rescued myself from the worst fate of all today - quitting. Writing the pattern in a language I understand will at least get me as far as the bold red highlighted bits, and then , maybe I can run ziploc-in-hand to my Local Yarn Store and get it finished.
I wonder if they'll seam up a project for me if I fain tears?.

Note: This photo brought to you by my favorite Book Club Beautie, she who helps me blossom into my insanity.

On Your Mark(er), Get Stitch, Knit!

Just an afternoon quickie (cough, cough) to mark the start of a project that I am going to attempt to finish in 16 days. That's right 16 days....I am going to attempt to finish a Cotton Classic Jumper for my Meezee - she'll be 3 this month and I want her to have this to wear at her birthday party to match the butterfly princess wings I got at JoAnn's the other day.

• Quick Stats (pictures to follow):
  Tahki Stacey Charles Cotton Classic Yarn in Lilac color (#3933)
• Pattern: Cotton Classic Jumper Size 3 (from 3 Bags Full Knitting Studio in Northbrook, IL) - I will pdf this eventually
• Needles: Size 6, 24" bamboo circulars I bought in a lot on eBay (no brand name)

Ahem...it must be said...I have to put all other projects at the bottom of the knitting bag if I mean to finish this (visions of seaming are already giving me hives), so forgive me if you have made a request...it is currently on hold. Unless of course the stockinette in this pattern makes me crazy, then I may sneak a stitch or too.

Off I go! Keep watching for updates...

Today's Affirmation: I don't have to be the best at something that I'm trying for the first time.

Purpose...Up Close & In Your Face

Just pausing for a moment of reflection and taking a short break from adventures in Knitting Land...



This blog is titled "Living My Why" because that sums up my life quest, to live my intended purpose...I'll let you know if I have an epiphany about what that is exactly. In the meantime, enjoy these shots of my greatest motivation to keep on keepin' on

Point of reference - these shots were taken while the girls were in the back seat of my car. This is the reaction I get when I ask "Girls!! You want to go with mommy to the YARN store??!?" *Sigh* Life. Is. Good.

Cuddleworthy (and the hats are cute too)

***more pics coming***

Celllllllll-uh-brate good times, come on! Whew! I'm nose deep in a sinus infection and trying to improve my spirits (life is 90% attitude, right? AAAAACHOOOO!!! Ewwww...Right.).

Just another quick post to shamelessly brag on our mini-empresses. The short of it (cuz typing hurts my eyes) is that Adachi started reading this week. Like, sentences! And Mizan...well she's doing all the "I'm about to be big girl" stuff that makes me grin - dressing and undressing herself, drawing pictures of things you can actually make out. It's a proud mommy week I tell ya.

Needle news...I was so tickled to find a simple mathematical way to make any roll brimmed hat with any yarn at Crazy Aunt Purl's blog, that I just had to put some more hat pictures up. Here are some shots of the girls in hats I've made for them...Enjoy! Oh, and you have my permission to gush incessantly over them as though they were your own!

My favorite part of knitting and crocheting for our toddlers is that they haven't a CLUE when mommy makes a mistake (like this too large hat I "designed" myself where Adachi could store nuts for the winter while wearing it...be sure to check your gauge before you begin...blah, blah, blah). My latent perfectionism won't let that excuse ride for long though.

Stitchin' on...

Miscellaneous...

Here are a couple of things I've made that haven't made their debut yet...

The first is a ribbed "caddy" that I'm now using for my circular needles. The fact that my needle stash has grown to the point where I need a tote for different groups of needles by type...well, I'm dealing with that. This is actually my own original design. That is, if turning a length of ribbed knitting into a container can be considered design. If I'm to be honest, I would tell you that I really just needed the size 8 needles that this was sitting on, and I knitted it so long ago that I forgot what it was intended to be, so I did some crochet slip stitch on 3 sides and VOILA! The 4x4 ribbing makes it nice and stretchy, so it will double well as a bottle holder or a large calculator cozy too.

The picture on the right is a drawstring pouch I created from a pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, by Joelle Hoverson, the owner of Purl Soho in NY. This was one of my first projects knitted in the round (I'm sticking to my mantra "new project, new technique"), and I enjoyed using it - the cotton yarn was so easy to work with. Don't be too wowed by the stripes though, the yarn was actually died so that it makes that pretty pattern all on it's own - just the way we like it. This too is now a needle & notions tote, mostly double pointed needles in there and my guage ruler, etc. Notice the laptop backdrop? That's to remind me that if I want to afford more yarn to make use of these needles...I better get back to work.

On the Needles (For My Love)

Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like "Honey, your cardigan collar is finally done!"
I stayed up way too late last night getting my latest project back to a decent length (and that's not much). I'm making a striped cardigan for Adachi and hope to finish it before the "cool" weather here passes. The pattern comes from a charming boook called Top Down for Toddlers: No Sew Knitting from the stitching sisters at Cabin Fever.
This pattern is:
- keeping me on my yarn diet (I bought this yarn several months ago)
- relatively easy to follow so far
-helping me keep to my goal of trying a new technique/skill with every project (no seaming is right up my alley!)

Here's what I have completed so far:

The yarn is Classic Elite Provence in olors Rosa (pink) and Japanese Lilac (purple). It's just a collar, and it's maybe 5 1/2" long, but in typical toddler fashion...Adachi already loves it.

P.S. We don't actually celebrate Valentine's Day in the house, but I just can't pass up an excuse for a "themed" post.

Every Yarn Has a Tale

On our way to my favorite health food emporium one December afternoon, we were listening to an editorial on NPR. They always have such interesting commentary on there, you just never know what you'll pick up on. This particular speaker was a woman, addressing the issue of homemade gifts for the holidays. The short of her diatribe was that she wanted all her friends and family to know that homemade items for a gift is NOT the way to go. Apparently, she had been traumatized as a child by being forced to wear some homemade monstrosities out in public, and this made her certain that the best gifts should come with a label and a gift receipt.
I was somewhat put off by this because as most of you know, I'm a hand made (not homemade) gift junky. And those of you that put your hands to good works know the distinction between those two labels. Anyway, I resolved that the difference between me and that woman on the radio is that I employ the golden rule in this case "Give unto others as you would have them give to you". I LOVE receiving things that someone made themselves. I even gush when a person chooses to write their own sentiments inside a greeting card. And if I know that they put any lick of thought into something...it could be a painted rock...but it was painted for me. That counts for a lot. It was in this spirit that I decided to give a handmade Christmas gift to one of my dearest friends, Kelli (her own handy-work is featured in a previous post). For my birthday, she gave me a bag full of the most gorgeous, funky novelty yarns, and pattern books to use each one! I blended one of them with some black Sirdar Snuggly DK to make this plush wine cozy for her. The best part was, when we finally reached the health food store that day after listening to that editorial, the first aisle we passed was featuring a wine that Kelli loves...bought...knit...that's a wrap (or cozy).

Starting Early

I've read several stories in my needlework books and magazines about designers and crafters who began their craft very early in childhood, and what good memories they have of learning from a special family member or friend. This inspired me to change up the theme of our regular evening togetherness time. Instead of the usual story or game, I'm going to try teaching the girls how to knit. We've done it 2 nights in a row now, and like all new things they are both so excited about it. Adachi has an amazing memory for a 4-year old, so I taught her this rhyme I found in the SnB knitting book to help her remember how to do each step in making a knit stitch:

"Go inside, get your scarf, bring it back out, before the cat barfs". Here she is practicing it some huge size 19 needles and some Homespun Chunky yarn:

I can't wait to wear this....umm...scarf I'm guessing...when she's all done :-)

A Learning Link

I'm posting this link to a Knitting help site because I am just so impressed with what you can find free on the internet these days. There are explanations and really good, CLEAR videos on this site of some of the techniques that can throw beginners like me...well...for a loop. There are aslo advanced techniques and free patterns too. If anyone reading this has similar sites they would like to share to help others learn to love this craft, please post it in a comment or send me an email.

Here is it is, the Knitting Help Library site link:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/misc.php

Enjoy!

Support Local Artists II

I want to brag on some more of my creative friends by posting their "handy" work here. The first photo to the left is of a shadow box frame that my bestest buddy Kelli made in her wood shop at home. I've had it in my office for a while now, and will soon find something worthy to display in it. The best thing about Kelli is that she just doesn't look like the Miter Saw type (think London runway), but that's only one facet of her well-roundedness. I know she'll turn redder than a ripe beet after reading this so I'll spare her any more gushing.




The next photo below is from a crochet newbie, Tanya - she and I have actually bonded over yarn. We used to do some show and tell at work, and she actually helped me to see the beauty of puttting some more pennies on the counter and getting MUCH nicer yarns. She knit some gorgeous Italian wool scarves last year, but this is a view of her first solo crochet project. This scarf just begs you to pet it (it's from a set of 3 gifts for her girls). I'm so proud of her courage to pick up the single hook and get busy!

Fresh off the Needles

The joy of making this latest hat is very close to the amount of joy I have in actually being able to post it here for viewing (finally!!!). This hat is called Mizan's star hat (because of the star like decreases made to cinch the top of it. There are a couple of stories behind this one: (1) I bought the yarn in New York from a store called Downtown Yarns. I asked for something that was unique to their shop (since I'm making yarn my new travel souvenir), and they said that this was hand dyed by a local artist (Jamie Harmon). The striping patterns are unpredictable and so much fun. Very soft wool & angora blend and pleasing to work with too. (2) Most of the top portion, including the "I'm running out of yarn!" olive green strip near the top was added at about 4:30a.m on the morning before my last trip to Chicago. Mizan had been really fussy and kept us both up, which wasn't doing much for my rest for a 9AM flight. After I finally got her to sleep, I kept thinking "tomorrow morning, she'll wake up and see that I'm gone..." So I stayed up until 5:45a.m, and finished the hat for her so she'd have it while mommy was away for a week. I just keep finding new reasons to love this hobby...

Not too long from now, I'm going to make one of these for Adachi as well to show how the hand dyed yarn stripes so differently from skein to skein.

My current WIPs are two items that are...dare I say it... for me! One is a shrug, and the other is a light tunic-style sweater. My goal with each new project is to either try a new technique (double pointed needles, and extra large needles on these 2) or to add something to a pattern that is my own design. More pictures of those as they come along.

Support Local Artists

One of the biggest treats for me since starting this blog has been checking daily to see what's new on Emerald Lane, a blog published by my friend Nancy. I want to highlight some of her latest seaming artistry by displayin a couple of her latest creations here:

This view of her Baby Sling shows just how comfy our wee ones can be when snuggled up close with mom or dad:

And for even more creature comforts...introducing "Lambie"...I think I want to put one of these in my laptop bag for company on those long plane rides!

Nancy says "I made it out of this great vintage fabric from my Grandmother that has been sitting in my stash of fabric. He has hand-embroidered eyes and nose and a violet, satin ribbon."

Check out more of her artistry at her Emerald Lane Creations blog.