tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333831282024-03-06T23:41:13.311-08:00Sue KnitsDevoted to lace knitting with occasional side trips into gardening, glass art and travelSue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.comBlogger274125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-17064188290503217062014-03-12T10:06:00.001-07:002014-03-12T10:06:15.178-07:00Still the Best Husband Ever<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My husband, Mike, recently returned from a week in Porto, Portugal, to study the wine industry, meet with industry leaders, and to eat and drink very well. I did not go because of the short duration of the trip but, based on his experiences, it sounds Portugal is an excellent destination.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once he had his plans in place, the question he asked was, “Where is the nearest yarn shop?” A little online research and — voilà! — <a href="http://www.ovelha-negra.com/" target="_blank">Ovelha Negra,</a> which translates to Black Sheep. It was a short, but wet, walk from his hotel. He has been in enough yarn shops to know what to ask for: yarn with a local connection, produced locally or dyed locally.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He came home with two skeins of fingering yarn dyed by a local artisan, who also, coincidentally, works in the wine industry. He chose two colors that represent tawny port and ruby port (he also came home with bottles of port to drink). He had a conversation with the shop owner, who kindly gave me a gift of a Portuguese knitting pin that you can see attached to the ruby skein. I think the tawny skein will be a scarf for him; the ruby, a scarf for me.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKLZpnvSRN6PBuVJgZIy3kFQEUUqIvYaP6i4y59llCUPjmH70sLIF9EmZCdUe9Ecbu2NwUQjb30HyeXG9NxzslWi0GakT2sj-jy6x2EMIGGPqiYsz4b9RtqzF-NoJNFp-6WDH/s1600/Yarn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKLZpnvSRN6PBuVJgZIy3kFQEUUqIvYaP6i4y59llCUPjmH70sLIF9EmZCdUe9Ecbu2NwUQjb30HyeXG9NxzslWi0GakT2sj-jy6x2EMIGGPqiYsz4b9RtqzF-NoJNFp-6WDH/s1600/Yarn.JPG" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fortunately, I have the book <i><a href="http://www.andreawongknits.com/" target="_blank">Portuguese Style of Knitting</a></i> by Andrea Wong. I plan to read it more closely and try it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What goes better with port (and knitting) than chocolate? He also brought home some Portuguese chocolate to match with the wine.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgom4fyu9659cY2dtyeDXYQlw08JkVbsd3lZlYKwlIKcioBh8Frb66a1hZQgieWEbAdo-KcOwdBc32BvT5-FO6N0ajJ0s_o1TVCbja16Jiyy3K-jXQynuGMpy3Kv-_-uh6Q-FPc/s1600/Chocolate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgom4fyu9659cY2dtyeDXYQlw08JkVbsd3lZlYKwlIKcioBh8Frb66a1hZQgieWEbAdo-KcOwdBc32BvT5-FO6N0ajJ0s_o1TVCbja16Jiyy3K-jXQynuGMpy3Kv-_-uh6Q-FPc/s1600/Chocolate.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wonder where his/our travels will take us next? No doubt, somewhere with wine, yarn, and chocolate.</div>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-84075837713675759282014-02-23T07:00:00.000-08:002014-02-23T07:00:04.297-08:00Finally, one FO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO51miEGLRimyalNxI6X6iumg2HdWYK1SqQIOHjtFY2yFCVFjuKbPI_QzIz8ejr0_LNsCTOQR_FOntxXjPAxO3qw9whAIokpGeO55r9zQkSHl9kITAYNUAH29R3-IvuCanO-kj/s1600/Cedar+Leaf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO51miEGLRimyalNxI6X6iumg2HdWYK1SqQIOHjtFY2yFCVFjuKbPI_QzIz8ejr0_LNsCTOQR_FOntxXjPAxO3qw9whAIokpGeO55r9zQkSHl9kITAYNUAH29R3-IvuCanO-kj/s1600/Cedar+Leaf.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Well, I have finished a few things but am behind on photos and, obviously, sharing.<br />
<br />
This was an unexpected surprise. I wear it a lot more than I thought I would. It is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cedar-leaf-shawlette">Cedar Leaf Shawlette</a> by Alana Dakos. Because if the leaf motif, I decided that it had to be green (maybe I am too literal sometimes).<br />
<br />
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool; 2 skeins; 45% wool, 35% silk, 20% nylon. I like the results with this yarn but I did not enjoy knitting with it. It did not flow easily through my fingers. That said, I would use it again in the right project.<br />
<br />
Needles: US7<br />
<br />
Yes, I would make it again. Probably in green again.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-42648594265663500082014-02-16T10:42:00.003-08:002014-02-16T10:42:44.661-08:00I Have Been AwayI did not realize just how long I had been away from this blog. Sheesh. But I have a good reason. I was in the Western Cape of South Africa in January. My first trip to South Africa whet my appetite for a return some day.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of the highlights was visiting Carlé at <a href="http://nurturingfibres.com/">Nurturing Fibres.</a> Her yarns are gorgeous; I especially like her sock yarn and laceweight. Equally impressive is her commitment to her community and to women’s empowerment. If you cannot make it to Philadelphia (but you really should; it is a charming farm village), you can find her yarns at <a href="http://www.spinknits.co.za/">Spinknits</a> at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM1R7VLsxJP_KYhXrE4oSplKked4qVA9WltLp9bZ_hW2wzVgTP-XRh9E25P643s2p0FOaHsDHdOqVW_SW3sl5E3bZ5iNXzHd4JpXbmAhPD8G8L2fUafq-zv0vZ7kzkfcilb55/s1600/Carle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM1R7VLsxJP_KYhXrE4oSplKked4qVA9WltLp9bZ_hW2wzVgTP-XRh9E25P643s2p0FOaHsDHdOqVW_SW3sl5E3bZ5iNXzHd4JpXbmAhPD8G8L2fUafq-zv0vZ7kzkfcilb55/s1600/Carle.JPG" height="320" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlé and some of her yarns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvOX4ZQxe0MAxjJT4QiBL0iC2KBFqSsahieH3eE7gYbXNXYqsAtM9Qj5umZ2CGDgrRFotEfztupWUezsOrNLdazN2KeucGTaugYkqKHA15lCR51-kACC0gM6LdcUF0QDLI0Vp/s1600/spinknits+mohair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvOX4ZQxe0MAxjJT4QiBL0iC2KBFqSsahieH3eE7gYbXNXYqsAtM9Qj5umZ2CGDgrRFotEfztupWUezsOrNLdazN2KeucGTaugYkqKHA15lCR51-kACC0gM6LdcUF0QDLI0Vp/s1600/spinknits+mohair.JPG" height="296" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Africa mohair at Spinknits.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOdp4dBdbWfett-vhPZrm7e128nPikp9c3oji9jJV_tWRTj2PCSQzXUXUIlLkfipecfSwVvMs4eRmvOvjYsxY9zVEGWVaIw332YVB2VIXittBpn8G34wqyzARAUO5YyekA2zT/s1600/P1080185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOdp4dBdbWfett-vhPZrm7e128nPikp9c3oji9jJV_tWRTj2PCSQzXUXUIlLkfipecfSwVvMs4eRmvOvjYsxY9zVEGWVaIw332YVB2VIXittBpn8G34wqyzARAUO5YyekA2zT/s1600/P1080185.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stash from South Africa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We also visited the <a href="http://www.barrydaleweavers.co.za/">Barrydale Handweavers.</a> I would show you what I bought but Christmas presents are involved so I cannot. The alpaca in my South Africa stash is from Barrydale Handweavers from a producer in Wellington. Barrydale is another charming town that is worth a visit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQli01TIxtdsqQD23cH4iLhf7FdLm_otqUd3s0dr9Mj1nOYficpzL4vcwCsEwjxnst7rf8H_feZSpiG19oEAszPPhgwtb_7C735X3bJtYfn7g901p3PtBfRg6201QJ9Iaauds/s1600/Barrydale+Handweavers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQli01TIxtdsqQD23cH4iLhf7FdLm_otqUd3s0dr9Mj1nOYficpzL4vcwCsEwjxnst7rf8H_feZSpiG19oEAszPPhgwtb_7C735X3bJtYfn7g901p3PtBfRg6201QJ9Iaauds/s1600/Barrydale+Handweavers.JPG" height="267" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Want to know more about our trip to South Africa? Click on the Travel link in the list of Other Interests on the right.</div>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-74670399553968176822013-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:002013-12-20T09:00:05.473-08:00Merry Christmas!When my cousin was small, I knit him a Christmas stocking. When he married, I knit a stocking for his wife. Last year, when their third child was born, I knit a <a href="http://suevknits.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-tradition-continues.html" target="_blank">Christmas stocking</a> for my newest cousin. Since then my uncle (the grandfather) has been after me to knit stockings for the older children. He gave me very dramatic sob stories about these poor, sad, stocking-less children. Actually, the children were not stocking-less; they just did not have stockings from me. So, with a sigh, I set off on more stockings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedYleteFmOT0T1Ru9PBHsOBQcibkC7oObsQIXJTvbZBdDYjHzmDJIJ24AsWCpHjj1fxB6e2S4Em9HFWy5Qof-QlrPLPZO9OGEGyNF1jtFXZyAUEUQFPe6Y9IWdVhk9Gh44Tb_/s1600/Jack+Kate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedYleteFmOT0T1Ru9PBHsOBQcibkC7oObsQIXJTvbZBdDYjHzmDJIJ24AsWCpHjj1fxB6e2S4Em9HFWy5Qof-QlrPLPZO9OGEGyNF1jtFXZyAUEUQFPe6Y9IWdVhk9Gh44Tb_/s320/Jack+Kate.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Both stockings are made from Cascade 220, in green (8894), red (9404), blue (7818), and white (8505). Kate’s stocking also has some sparkly pink yarn from somewhere. I used US4 needles for the plain rounds and US5 for the pattern rounds because I tend to knit more tightly with two colors (probably because I do not do it that often and cannot manage my tension as well as with plain knitting). I prefer that the gauge on stockings to be a little tighter than on other knitting.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The designs I chose are from a variety of sources: a free Cascade stocking pattern; Eli’s Christmas Stocking by Meg Swansen, Schoolhouse Press Pattern #10; and <i>Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting</i> by Sheila McGregor.<br />
<br />
And here are all five stockings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N4ol4l1eBnE977OP4voG7DxOG7FgyneOZX0DSRcipdYrcu0cTMUCBn0FK0uCd7JZhhXWDMW6Bg-9x6WL89GAPUYnXyFTTaSV2XcvCD0MvpnNtxfWHzPbJB-9kOQRbn0-e-Yi/s1600/photo%5B6%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N4ol4l1eBnE977OP4voG7DxOG7FgyneOZX0DSRcipdYrcu0cTMUCBn0FK0uCd7JZhhXWDMW6Bg-9x6WL89GAPUYnXyFTTaSV2XcvCD0MvpnNtxfWHzPbJB-9kOQRbn0-e-Yi/s320/photo%5B6%5D.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Fortunately, I was not asked to knit a stocking for the dog.</div>
</div>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-76154863620098261712013-12-03T13:13:00.002-08:002013-12-03T13:13:43.589-08:00For Bonnie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0_xMaWJoe1JutARwlk5MrS4hVZit61E0i6ca0kAVvHERAAhuceR-wVuIMYRXtwrRg1o0DKG7nSa29bIA29bUU_oXuaJHmlhduRZuY2CA0G8gh1fCx__X1hue-LS1-DAAzhMM/s1600/Bonnie's+bow-tie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0_xMaWJoe1JutARwlk5MrS4hVZit61E0i6ca0kAVvHERAAhuceR-wVuIMYRXtwrRg1o0DKG7nSa29bIA29bUU_oXuaJHmlhduRZuY2CA0G8gh1fCx__X1hue-LS1-DAAzhMM/s320/Bonnie's+bow-tie.JPG" width="240" /></a>Earlier this year, in March, we went to <a href="http://suevknits.blogspot.com/2013_03_01_archive.html">Hood River and The Dalles</a> in Oregon with our friends Bonnie and Richard for some wine research. We also paid a visit to Sporfarm to meet Patty’s Shetland sheep and shop in Patty’s studio. I told Bonnie and Richard I would knit a scarf or hat for each of them with their yarn selection. Richard chose a nice reddish yarn for a hat. Bonnie could not decide between two yarns so I told her to buy both.<br />
<br />
After some consultation, Bonnie chose two of my favorite scarf patterns to highlight the beautiful colors in the yarns. One was a basic bow-tie scarf and the other the Landscape scarf.<br />
<br />
We already are talking about another wine research trip in 2014. No doubt yarn will be involved as well.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14j0FdbmQVpPDs8iE_rX8LtuI1Nz0Ap0AQv9qmI5a3vawiWeB129wgrxBEGtTt-NpDGhaN7uQp90rPvDvVQCN-EQcsakGXjFV5qDrJDOyMagU0Sberpmvjd_xwT1-TCiFFVxs/s1600/Bonnie's+landscape.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14j0FdbmQVpPDs8iE_rX8LtuI1Nz0Ap0AQv9qmI5a3vawiWeB129wgrxBEGtTt-NpDGhaN7uQp90rPvDvVQCN-EQcsakGXjFV5qDrJDOyMagU0Sberpmvjd_xwT1-TCiFFVxs/s320/Bonnie's+landscape.JPG" width="250" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-7945069050462322412013-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:002013-11-09T12:07:33.643-08:00Library Expansion<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnMVYG2VKeTyLYO1KkaD_KI7ntraUNzrlcNKQrx3oFCtfl5RcARA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnMVYG2VKeTyLYO1KkaD_KI7ntraUNzrlcNKQrx3oFCtfl5RcARA" /></a>My good friends at Amazon often notify me of knitting books they are sure I need in my library. Often, they are books I already have in my library or books that I do not want in my library.<br />
<br />
But this one — this one! — caught my eye. I have five other Tessa Lorant books, but I had never seen this one. It is a facsimile reprint of the original.<br />
<br />
The book describes these Victorian quilts, which we might call counterpanes or bedspreads. The designs range from relatively simple to quite complex. Many have puffed leaf motifs. The book also has a few pretty edgings. Everything is written out, no charts, but they should be easy enough to chart.<br />
<br />
Will I make a bedspread? No. But the designs would make beautiful pillows or bags or an heirloom baby coverlet or lap robe. They may even be suitable for incorporation into a shawl or sweater.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kIoI0mEJL._SY300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kIoI0mEJL._SY300_.jpg" width="171" /></a>The book directed me to the publisher’s website, <a href="http://thethornpress.com/Home.php" target="_blank">The Thorn Press</a>. There I found another book I had never heard of and that I must have, <i>Knitted Lace Doilies. </i>Looking around the Internet, I see copies are few and far between — and very expensive.<br />
<br />
But the website states that the the publisher plans to publish facsimile editions of the Heritage of Knitting books, including the doily book, and invites people to indicate interest in any of the titles. I sent my e-mail immediately: Please reprint the doily book.<br />
<br />
And who should respond? Tessa Lorant Warburg her very self. Wow! What a thrill to have an e-mail exchange with someone I have admired for some years.<br />
<br />
She made no promises about when the doily book might be published, but I am hoping for sooner instead of later.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-76818343466072930132013-10-10T11:30:00.000-07:002013-10-10T11:30:32.574-07:00Australia StashI just returned from three weeks in Australia, first to attend <a href="http://www.savour-australia.com/" target="_blank">Savour Australia,</a> and then for some vacation and stash enhancement. The stash enhancement was limited because I was looking for Australian yarn made in Australia. Still lots of sheep in Australia, and lots of Australian wool, but not much Australian-made yarn. I was told that most Australian yarn mills have closed, and that the Australian wool is processed in China (as it is at <a href="http://morrisandsons.com.au/c1/">Morris & Sons,</a> very nice shops in Melbourne and Sydney) and perhaps other places. Some people said you could sometimes find some hand-spun at local markets but I was not that lucky. But I am very happy with my small Aussie stash.<br />
<br />
This silk was an unexpected surprise. I found it at an art show at the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. <a href="http://liztextiles.com/index.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Calnan</a> is best known as a weaver and also dyes silk yarns. Her weaving is gorgeous (be sure to look at the gallery on her web site). This skein is 1,000 meters of 20/2 hand-dyed mulberry silk. Love the colors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C_uYQKg4hlVYrprQJZ7SsqtGHo70MQRyZg1GakT32ppxdOrwVB6OupHN3jCHmoJGCa9Y6UxSut_ETNNl2bQezWAEf8PW3Wr27Cn3Mti928SRUqkcJsJmJjtozZoJN-_tU-PM/s1600/Silk2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C_uYQKg4hlVYrprQJZ7SsqtGHo70MQRyZg1GakT32ppxdOrwVB6OupHN3jCHmoJGCa9Y6UxSut_ETNNl2bQezWAEf8PW3Wr27Cn3Mti928SRUqkcJsJmJjtozZoJN-_tU-PM/s320/Silk2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another purchase was this hand-dyed DK-weight yarn from <a href="http://augustbird.com.au/">augustbird</a> in the Adelaide Hills (<span style="text-align: left;">Adelaide Hills also has some great wineries). I bought the yarn not in the Adelaide Hills but at the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheStashCupboard" style="text-align: left;">Stash Cupboard</a><span style="text-align: left;"> in Hobart, Tasmania. The yarn is 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon. Love the colors of this one too. Stash Cupboard did have some nice DK and fingering yarn produced in Tasmania but the colors did not sing to me, especially after seeing the augustbird colors.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_4ScYj2VvDvaR08mHpUcohTZRy6kIphQsIPwrd2LA0DQVh3EiORWtnIMeLwU6b3NaDQjV0u8HNnjMVLVEmqdWemS6QLeFJll6xdlKIVRGuLGOjFkA_Rvx1bzxPGy1pJSEgOQ/s1600/Songbird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_4ScYj2VvDvaR08mHpUcohTZRy6kIphQsIPwrd2LA0DQVh3EiORWtnIMeLwU6b3NaDQjV0u8HNnjMVLVEmqdWemS6QLeFJll6xdlKIVRGuLGOjFkA_Rvx1bzxPGy1pJSEgOQ/s320/Songbird.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then, surprise of all surprises, size 100 thread, found in the unlikeliest of stores, <a href="http://www.spotlight.com.au/">Spotlight</a> in Adelaide. Spotlight sells yarn and thread, plus all sorts of craft and home supplies. The yarn section was comparable maybe to Hobby Lobby, JoAnn, and Michael’s — nothing very exciting. Then I found the thread section, with loads and loads of threads, including the elusive size 100. Score!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOywHYWD9ehW6DCfYYzc5wxJ7VfHsT1hNasdjf25-asn3ttsZJY_s4cl08bQ3eV4UjlLGXNjyAzyhtI6ohlBcD3RUSA-n1hstS7mkyharDn0HVQDJCfmcMCZQBLmNNViX00B4m/s1600/Size+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOywHYWD9ehW6DCfYYzc5wxJ7VfHsT1hNasdjf25-asn3ttsZJY_s4cl08bQ3eV4UjlLGXNjyAzyhtI6ohlBcD3RUSA-n1hstS7mkyharDn0HVQDJCfmcMCZQBLmNNViX00B4m/s320/Size+100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In Melbourne, I was referred to <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/">L’uccello,</a> a shop with all sorts of beautiful vintage items. It is the kind of shop that has so many interesting things you could spend all day exploring buttons, threads, ribbons, laces, and things you did not know you might really need. I had to buy these vintage Australian knitting needles, size 4mm.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasl0iGtoPdA1kKQ2tAc-4zz-Rb309U6GBFWZ2YuhX9eqfdD1Lx9gI0TRDZbczdh3vlyCTyZr6CL9fIY7RTHZW2MY1KoslCjYUAzguz-hRX140Z3zWEI4DL6dWh6WWXicCQ07q/s1600/Needles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasl0iGtoPdA1kKQ2tAc-4zz-Rb309U6GBFWZ2YuhX9eqfdD1Lx9gI0TRDZbczdh3vlyCTyZr6CL9fIY7RTHZW2MY1KoslCjYUAzguz-hRX140Z3zWEI4DL6dWh6WWXicCQ07q/s320/Needles.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Australian yarn shops are stocked with many familiar brands, such as Noro, Arucania, and Schoppel Wolle. The prices are a few dollars more per skein than you would expect to pay in the United States. But it is always fun to look, and all of the shopkeepers I met were extremely nice and helpful, as were the other Australians we met.<br />
<br />
Overall, a successful wine-and-wool tour to Australia.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-55906165329477613292013-08-27T12:03:00.001-07:002013-08-27T12:03:32.855-07:00On the Hitchhiker Bandwagon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It appears that a lot of us like the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hitchhiker" target="_blank">Hitchhiker</a> scarf by Martina Behm. Ravelry shows more than 11,000 Hitchhiker scarves, which is perfectly understandable. Even though the pattern is relatively simple, watching the color changes keeps the knitting interesting (I admit that sometimes it does not take much to keep me entertained). I first saw a Hitchhiker in person at my knitting guild, and pretty soon, lots of Hitchhikers showed up at guild show-and-share time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWWQJd0nTgXbBV5rj4ngNdv2EEpeI40B5XmQ0gaiAYF2FS7CyaNU3osQ7nDjMWtGo1G-PF9Y9ERIMtMNX1jzPvGl-Qbhru_0FSPe3EUOAiRZZDPmOIb12ulSWTQqXy_rl6X6h/s1600/Hitchhiker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWWQJd0nTgXbBV5rj4ngNdv2EEpeI40B5XmQ0gaiAYF2FS7CyaNU3osQ7nDjMWtGo1G-PF9Y9ERIMtMNX1jzPvGl-Qbhru_0FSPe3EUOAiRZZDPmOIb12ulSWTQqXy_rl6X6h/s320/Hitchhiker.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Mine is made from Noro Taiyo Sock Yarn, color 27. Content is 50% cotton, 17% wool, 17% nylon, and 16% silk. It was kind of scratchy to knit with, but once washed and dressed, it is comfortable to wear. I got 37 points out of the 460 yards. Knit on 3.25mm needles.<br />
<br />
This was a fun travel project while I was visiting Richmond, Virginia, earlier this year.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-22779767332251526952013-07-31T09:35:00.000-07:002013-07-31T09:35:47.652-07:00Clearing the ClosetWhen you have been knitting for 50+ years, and when you have a mother who is still knitting, you tend to collect a closet full of knitted goods. This month, I decided to reclaim the closet space so I offered a batch of sweaters to my sister, niece-in-law, and a few friends.These are sweaters that no longer fit or that are way too warm for me to ever wear again.<br />
<br />
I decided to post a few of my favorites here. I cannot remember the pattern names, but I bet I can go through the “archive” (that is, the box in the basement that holds the old patterns) and find them.<br />
<br />
This vest, for example, was one of my favorites. I love the colors and the way they show off in the design, proving once again that variegated yarn and texture/pattern can work well together if you select the right yarn and the right design. I may have to dive into the archive and make this one again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wZiF7_C9e-9OD7EEamlq1VlMf7t6p5AjAPKooj4MujJ9veNzDk3ThDtWzYecwBUdEt_0bAWdvQv4kXltRHqM5uS5RND1IRh-c56HzEvEwtsjnNR5GHv5Dxnv0FfKYpt_hqhg/s800/Whites.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wZiF7_C9e-9OD7EEamlq1VlMf7t6p5AjAPKooj4MujJ9veNzDk3ThDtWzYecwBUdEt_0bAWdvQv4kXltRHqM5uS5RND1IRh-c56HzEvEwtsjnNR5GHv5Dxnv0FfKYpt_hqhg/s320/Whites.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
My mother knit this one. The body is knit sideways. Although I would not necessarily select these colors myself, I love the way they work together in this design.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA9Q5JFZ5IXII_igGO233yP1yiQLEXHKaao74JRlSR7f-QNmatJzmtlFGVchnnErOiWTwCj34-Gh0K_nQ8wHXDup66IG7wIgkh7WKmjrGYuEPc83qXH5A5cqUR7bGNzyeIWW_/s800/Striped+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA9Q5JFZ5IXII_igGO233yP1yiQLEXHKaao74JRlSR7f-QNmatJzmtlFGVchnnErOiWTwCj34-Gh0K_nQ8wHXDup66IG7wIgkh7WKmjrGYuEPc83qXH5A5cqUR7bGNzyeIWW_/s320/Striped+.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I am keeping this one that my mother made. I noticed that I have a lot of rose-colored sweaters and vests among the things I have saved. Not pink, but rose and dark rose. And I thought my favorite color was blue.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZAaGOogIHE3GxTNKBGVK2pdJg-AEZIoBcz3hORRkpAnr5A9Tk5hFGbNy8Y40Qn-Wbwd-hw0zQXpI_HgHrq3wSD1psGOhLBcy59kLrpSIP2_s9N9odc1hNKPY1MWuRwExdW1N/s800/Rose+pink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZAaGOogIHE3GxTNKBGVK2pdJg-AEZIoBcz3hORRkpAnr5A9Tk5hFGbNy8Y40Qn-Wbwd-hw0zQXpI_HgHrq3wSD1psGOhLBcy59kLrpSIP2_s9N9odc1hNKPY1MWuRwExdW1N/s320/Rose+pink.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
This one is not handmade but I love it. It is an Icelandic sweater from Iceland. It is very, very warm. I have no idea when and where I got it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeNgctfMnKJei5XlMYzbkljy0QixMn07SwDRgdtfM91dbcizlxaEN8MPhU3vIwdfwOy7PIDjjiC4xLpShTy9G8gFpD0QirsR8SJukVr8mlsEViz1x5fnRrdoB_zhZGwaY2_mE/s800/Icelandic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeNgctfMnKJei5XlMYzbkljy0QixMn07SwDRgdtfM91dbcizlxaEN8MPhU3vIwdfwOy7PIDjjiC4xLpShTy9G8gFpD0QirsR8SJukVr8mlsEViz1x5fnRrdoB_zhZGwaY2_mE/s320/Icelandic.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
One thing I have learned from this exercise is that hand-knit sweaters are not “fast fashion.” With a classic design and good quality yarn, they can last forever, or at least 20 or 30 years. What a legacy!Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-79476928319928739442013-07-14T10:18:00.001-07:002013-07-14T10:18:31.299-07:00Guernsey Scarf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWj7b-tr1NjUPh3A52DpfKokLWt20qr9TlzwySShPI8GAlQF81uSVxizUe5n0XdDciJ_vRL6QDD5p_N5aifQ6spxIj-nZ9wJTU5toRyk94WSBCTOcyBWTFkp3NkVDKXz_ZG_o/s800/Guernsey2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWj7b-tr1NjUPh3A52DpfKokLWt20qr9TlzwySShPI8GAlQF81uSVxizUe5n0XdDciJ_vRL6QDD5p_N5aifQ6spxIj-nZ9wJTU5toRyk94WSBCTOcyBWTFkp3NkVDKXz_ZG_o/s320/Guernsey2.JPG" width="157" /></a>The first time I saw the <a href="http://brooklyntweed.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_4&products_id=30" target="_blank">Guernsey Wrap,</a> I knew I had to knit it. Then — coincidence? — I came across some <a href="http://store.cestarisheep.com/" target="_blank">Cestari</a> yarn in Portland, Oregon. I have purchased Cestari before in its home state of Virginia but I do not see it often in the Pacific Northwest (although it is supposedly available; I just have to look more closely).<br />
<ul>
<li>Pattern modifications: One less pattern repeat, making more of a scarf than a wrap.</li>
<li>Yarn: Cestari Traditional Collection 2-ply, worsted-weight wool in Cranberry; used approximately 305 grams/575 yards. The yarn softens up nicely after washing but is not the easiest to knit with, at least for me.</li>
<li>Needles: US6 (4mm)</li>
<li>Finished size: 10½ inches by 70½ inches</li>
</ul>
<div>
As with all Brooklyn Tweed patterns I have knit, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. The pattern is charted (yay!).</div>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-68344930283372107222013-06-29T09:12:00.000-07:002013-06-29T09:12:17.016-07:00More LandscapingI normally do not knit the same pattern twice in a row. Yes, I have knit maybe dozen <a href="http://www.fibertrends.com/product/203880/S2002/_/S2002_The_Landscape_Shawl_by_Evelyn_A_Clark" target="_blank">Landscape scarves</a> since the pattern was published in 2000 but never twice in a row. However, the stars lined up so that just as I finished the Bluefaced Leicester version (see June 14 post), I bought this yarn during a visit to Richmond, Virginia. After several false starts on other patterns, I was back to Landscape.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJfwVUhMqHNzjQx4L0jvn2b-PKhSjJP02Ya5ygBYGpsc0yFVot-NNb15aeY3WEUr0AVPfa2xnezefgg3VivG5zzWGOStszD3J7S855FuoBWT8c15YnTaRwdd6Pp3-OTlnNMh3/s800/Landscape+Cestari.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJfwVUhMqHNzjQx4L0jvn2b-PKhSjJP02Ya5ygBYGpsc0yFVot-NNb15aeY3WEUr0AVPfa2xnezefgg3VivG5zzWGOStszD3J7S855FuoBWT8c15YnTaRwdd6Pp3-OTlnNMh3/s320/Landscape+Cestari.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The details:</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vn7YGtfi5Wy081MPd_4hO2hMJ3ptLIV3oFGnE1onlkar9sDpllCyWmqV9OQG5qbQUb3aT2Uds4CHtAwH6WNwkruTg1AulzrOWC1VxyR95BmIOn8hQVId6UpKsWeuPNVnQ64u/s800/Landscape+Cestari+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vn7YGtfi5Wy081MPd_4hO2hMJ3ptLIV3oFGnE1onlkar9sDpllCyWmqV9OQG5qbQUb3aT2Uds4CHtAwH6WNwkruTg1AulzrOWC1VxyR95BmIOn8hQVId6UpKsWeuPNVnQ64u/s200/Landscape+Cestari+detail.JPG" width="200" /></a>
<li>Yarn: <a href="http://www.cestarisheep.com/" target="_blank">Cestari</a> fingering; 67% cotton, 25% wool, 8% silk; 190 yards/2 ounces; Sea Shell (the color is deceptive; it looks like off-white but it also has flecks of green, red, and blue).</li>
<li>Needles: US5</li>
<li>Finished size: 14½ inches back neck length</li>
</ul>
<div>
Of course, I made modifications:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Alternating garter and stockinette bands</li>
<li>Beads instead of picots (Toho round 6/0 gold-lined rainbow aqua)</li>
</ul>
</div>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-35527315011038124942013-06-14T09:00:00.000-07:002013-06-14T09:00:05.172-07:00Bluefaced LandscapeThe <a href="http://www.fibertrends.com/product/203880/S2002/Evelyn_Clark_Designs/S2002_The_Landscape_Shawl_by_Evelyn_A_Clark" target="_blank">Landscape Scarf</a> is one of my go-to patterns when I want to show off some special yarn. And, wowee, is this special. It is Bluefaced Leicester in natural colors from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sporfarm" target="_blank">Sporfarm.</a> I purchased it on a trip to The Dalles, Oregon, earlier this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zm143hANsX3TJmHHV9N-pSm7Ic1dKGI28tZt_X6oJyqzL11SQQqcnRS1qesa5LQF-096JG-27C4cD51187SIeK8Ta4jCGITo_paRvGRN6v59rJte6QS1uFxt5xbTPSOKXjPS/s1600/Landscape+BFL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zm143hANsX3TJmHHV9N-pSm7Ic1dKGI28tZt_X6oJyqzL11SQQqcnRS1qesa5LQF-096JG-27C4cD51187SIeK8Ta4jCGITo_paRvGRN6v59rJte6QS1uFxt5xbTPSOKXjPS/s320/Landscape+BFL.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Working with it was a dream, so soft. And I love the natural colors and luster. I started with 258 yards and knit nearly every inch of it on US6 needles. I did change the pattern (as I usually do) by alternating garter and stockinette bands. And I made the picots on two stitches instead of three because I thought it looked better.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-28373152399893882932013-06-04T08:37:00.002-07:002013-06-04T08:37:47.598-07:00Pretty Doily<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRJD9qZVkKJavNFan2KS-R3heW2TKZ53spFKOrMLdkibC1x8yB6lUu8FDMw-s7W0L8wruigv9U0zfrnMpMsc07wLp5IiyHv5xtz-6NvdplCeVsNAfg8NGYDO5EpGwQHzJd2j7/s1600/P1050898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRJD9qZVkKJavNFan2KS-R3heW2TKZ53spFKOrMLdkibC1x8yB6lUu8FDMw-s7W0L8wruigv9U0zfrnMpMsc07wLp5IiyHv5xtz-6NvdplCeVsNAfg8NGYDO5EpGwQHzJd2j7/s320/P1050898.JPG" width="320" /></a>The <a href="http://lacyknittersguild.org/" target="_blank">Lacy Knitters Guild</a> newsletter always has some interesting designs. The Petit Chevalier doily is exceptional in several ways.<br />
<br />
First, it is based on a <a href="http://sheepandchick.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/cavalier-collar-knitting-pattern-1951.html" target="_blank">collar pattern by Marianne Kinzel</a> (who calls it the Cavalier Collar). Second, it was adapted into a doily by the great knitter Eugen Beugler for the Lacy Knitters Guild. And, third, the decreases for the feather-and-fan border are done as purl2tog on the front side. I had never seen this version of feather-and-fan before — and I like it!<br />
<br />
I knit my doily in DMC Cébélia, size 30, in ecru on US0 (2mm) needles. The doily has 88 rounds. Finished size is approximately 14 inches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlR533elcoNcvr1d3agWxLVSP3cJ39moC282ekcoP-zQNM-oxD8GRAB2yapyLwt38V8Ifp1_OHKaHM7vKHdn9iZdcZxBEBDCpewepNTR2WVCM1zapg4Q6I5JADJ4quy7o1qUA/s1600/P1050902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlR533elcoNcvr1d3agWxLVSP3cJ39moC282ekcoP-zQNM-oxD8GRAB2yapyLwt38V8Ifp1_OHKaHM7vKHdn9iZdcZxBEBDCpewepNTR2WVCM1zapg4Q6I5JADJ4quy7o1qUA/s320/P1050902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-2638131939173177372013-04-30T09:00:00.000-07:002013-04-30T09:00:02.464-07:00More Than Just a Hat<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhadEzfFX2U0RYZISdJLbbskBpqxDi1-bI4zZAXjap5xOqDbu2PnpGzTP6_-etn08DtryoYudBMBkVMOl5m7qvhkBjx0dUKDktWJGeip3b6XcRYRJAz5daWRpjz6zNEJuiK2B/s1600/Forest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhadEzfFX2U0RYZISdJLbbskBpqxDi1-bI4zZAXjap5xOqDbu2PnpGzTP6_-etn08DtryoYudBMBkVMOl5m7qvhkBjx0dUKDktWJGeip3b6XcRYRJAz5daWRpjz6zNEJuiK2B/s320/Forest.JPG" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More hats. So what is special about these hats? The yarn! They are from Patty at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sporfarm" target="_blank">Sporfarm</a> in The Dalles, Oregon.<br />
<br />
Vineyard is hand-spun merino, fingering weight. Forest is wool, closer to worsted weight. Sporfarm yarns have beautiful colors and are a joy to knit with. I have a little of each left over that will show up in some other project.<br />
<br />
<br />
The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heads-are-round-from-the-top-down" target="_blank">Heads are Round,</a> a great, all-purpose top-down hat pattern. They look a little pointy-headed on my “model” but they fit very well on a real head.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD2kQTn_aHSDRwvczTa9eKhEZjjwxg0gqD2ULg8kC8G715JCyywv1njrvAItXqLpwQC7A2QHR0Q9WY0kLLnVfim1uVGxFve6vPXrxpth12RXrsnP_-8J2HZfeZowV0M1jGlGC/s1600/Vineyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD2kQTn_aHSDRwvczTa9eKhEZjjwxg0gqD2ULg8kC8G715JCyywv1njrvAItXqLpwQC7A2QHR0Q9WY0kLLnVfim1uVGxFve6vPXrxpth12RXrsnP_-8J2HZfeZowV0M1jGlGC/s320/Vineyard.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vineyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-25555753875154582532013-04-18T11:02:00.000-07:002013-04-18T11:02:10.629-07:00More Shetland Lace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TYGIIXvZL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TYGIIXvZL._SL500_.jpg" /></a></div>
Shetland lace is one of the most beautiful techniques in knitting. This new book, <a href="http://jamiesonandsmith.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/a-legacy-of-shetland-lace/" target="_blank"><i>A Legacy of Shetland Lace,</i></a> is about more than just knitting. It has history, tradition, personal stories, and culture as well as knitting. I especially like the stories of the knitters who have patterns in the book.<br />
<br />
The book is great as a stand-alone story of Shetland knitting. But if you love Shetland lace, your library also must include <a href="http://www.heirloom-knitting.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>Heirloom Knitting</i></a> by Sharon Miller; <i><a href="http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/Shetland-Lace-by-Gladys-Amedro" target="_blank">Shetland Lace</a></i> by Gladys Amedro; and <i><a href="http://lacis.com/catalog/data/CB_KnittingLace.html" target="_blank">The Art of Shetland Lace</a></i> by Sarah Don. The new publication is a wonderful addition to our knowledge and love of Shetland lace.<br />
<br />
The only problem I have with <i>A Legacy of Shetland Lace</i> is deciding which pattern to knit first.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-65375846373310951922013-04-01T09:30:00.001-07:002013-04-01T09:30:30.767-07:00Deep in the ForestI do not wear mittens. I do not like stranded knitting. But when I saw these mittens, I had to knit them. I actually knit three mittens. The first one was way too big so I took it out, made some changes, and re-knit it, along with a mate. They are still big but wearable (not that I wear mittens but if I did, I would wear these).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUXdExqV1CNyxQBgLiy5DAVeWRkNhyphenhyphenDlbucmgcwlC24VSvwHRCAyVnM1K3fFKKrj5s2ApAo7WfOS7PBB1WA-9KiB26N8IKdKJ53l-OVlYmJCEGm3O4SmfJxylHe77axFFPu4b/s1600/P1050689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUXdExqV1CNyxQBgLiy5DAVeWRkNhyphenhyphenDlbucmgcwlC24VSvwHRCAyVnM1K3fFKKrj5s2ApAo7WfOS7PBB1WA-9KiB26N8IKdKJ53l-OVlYmJCEGm3O4SmfJxylHe77axFFPu4b/s320/P1050689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/deep-in-the-forest-mittens">Deep in the Forest</a> by Tuulia Salmela. The yarn is Jamieson’s Spindrift in Natural White and Pine.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now the changes I made: Provisional cast-on of 60 stitches on 2mm needles. Completed the cuff, folded it, removed the provisional cast-on and knit the two ends of the cuff together. Then I knit 1 round, increasing to 70 stitches. At this point, I changed to 2.5mm needles and knit the rest of the mitten as written.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I did not find the chart difficult to follow, but I did copy and increase the chart to 11” x 17” paper.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I really like the Latvian braid at the cuff. I would use this again sometime, maybe on a hat? I wear hats. But not mittens.</div>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-43685841887236186212013-03-19T08:57:00.002-07:002013-03-19T08:57:47.444-07:00Another Wine and Wool TourA long weekend in the Columbia Gorge area of Oregon resulted in great finds in wine and wool.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We toured several vineyards in The Dalles, some of which had been pruned and some that were scheduled for pruning soon. Most of the vineyards are set in gorgeous areas surrounded my mountains (although Mount Hood was shrouded in clouds) and by acres and acres of cherry, pear, and apple trees. I would love to go back when the fruit trees are blossoming.</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA_PvZNAVV0nMTufUqKQDup-jxKTa5mUbzX-nDKiU5N7I3V2uTmN9qAJaG79I-l_RCV46Q6LLeCaze4eRTwdXMZ9VlSP9wHs1NOlDqxB2hQlWdFyUL2qbCC__CBWC5LtH5z4w/s1600/Vineyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA_PvZNAVV0nMTufUqKQDup-jxKTa5mUbzX-nDKiU5N7I3V2uTmN9qAJaG79I-l_RCV46Q6LLeCaze4eRTwdXMZ9VlSP9wHs1NOlDqxB2hQlWdFyUL2qbCC__CBWC5LtH5z4w/s320/Vineyard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We also had a chance to taste some great Columbia Gorge wines, particularly wines from <a href="http://www.thepinesvineyard.com/" target="_blank">The Pines 1852</a> and <a href="http://www.vientowines.com/">Viento.</a><br />
<br />
Now to the wool side of the trip. We met several fiber critters: alpacas at <a href="http://www.foothillsyarn.com/">Foothills Yarn & Fiber</a> in Hood River and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Sporfarm">Sporfarm</a> in The Dalles. Foothills is new to me and I am excited to try the yarn. I have purchased yarn from Sporfarm for many years and have enjoyed every stitch. We also visited <a href="https://www.knotanotherhat.com/">Knot Another Hat</a> in Hood River.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoOS-uJWzC1IWHXRzQm77QvMtzhdkIt8Gw2MuuNXCzM2AMi4lslh6icHn2s2U8gXu4oUdTd3cdBcyxMx3dbsbQQD1JnKN72jKJEwCyC6ysWE_kroDRKnk2wHhPwx42cwfCDYn/s1600/Hood+River+20131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoOS-uJWzC1IWHXRzQm77QvMtzhdkIt8Gw2MuuNXCzM2AMi4lslh6icHn2s2U8gXu4oUdTd3cdBcyxMx3dbsbQQD1JnKN72jKJEwCyC6ysWE_kroDRKnk2wHhPwx42cwfCDYn/s320/Hood+River+20131.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: alpacas at Foothills<br />
Below: Shetland sheep at Sporfarm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOhf7_uVdNzklqNRw4yI1R_CEMCV_RDF10LsZX1Qadc18p0aQKa1zDnXFuVn8qt5u2qhU0nGjws37Lh6tnFW6MAW-aXEq7BgzptvkMPqERW5dlWPEJLEOHMf5KkRlyFREjTtM/s1600/Hood+River+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOhf7_uVdNzklqNRw4yI1R_CEMCV_RDF10LsZX1Qadc18p0aQKa1zDnXFuVn8qt5u2qhU0nGjws37Lh6tnFW6MAW-aXEq7BgzptvkMPqERW5dlWPEJLEOHMf5KkRlyFREjTtM/s320/Hood+River+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Noro (on sale!) from Knot Another Hat;<br />
alpaca from Foothills; and from Sporfarm, wool in Forest,<br />
merino in Vineyard, and natural shades of<br />
Blue-Faced Leicester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We also enjoyed the scenery along the Gorge, which is ― well, gorgeous ― such as this view from our hotel near sunset on a cloudy day. The next day the mountains had a dusting of snow.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkzULc1-LwVtxfWma8AIAfLinEwtKFuysnYFCs2aEkceyCTDaTqeVLXmwFV5dy7MsbhQpp_-0knvBXS8TdYp7uubJokLT0PtIKJBpJ6-4-nB7jScvJQ9bWzmT0C8mdyO6rhzH/s1600/Columbia+River.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkzULc1-LwVtxfWma8AIAfLinEwtKFuysnYFCs2aEkceyCTDaTqeVLXmwFV5dy7MsbhQpp_-0knvBXS8TdYp7uubJokLT0PtIKJBpJ6-4-nB7jScvJQ9bWzmT0C8mdyO6rhzH/s320/Columbia+River.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Guess I need to stop talking and start knitting!</div>
</div>
</div>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-61270411646296627042013-02-14T13:40:00.000-08:002013-02-14T13:40:03.515-08:00Jessica’s ShawlWe were delighted in 2011 when my nephew Ryan introduced his bride-to-be to our family. We were especially delighted (and slightly scared) that she seemed to fit right in. I offered to knit a shawl for her — not specifically a wedding shawl but a shawl in honor of her wedding. After electronic discussion, she chose exactly what I hoped she would choose: a Faroese shawl made from a red yarn that I had purchased in Italy.<br />
<br />
The yarn: Pura Lana Zephir from <a href="http://albozzifilatialma.it/" target="_blank">Albozzi Filati Alma,</a> Torino, Italy; 2/25; 1,250 meters/100 grams. The color is red most of the time, but in some lights looks like a deep magenta/rose. The shop has a huge selection (as you can see from the Web site) and the yarn is beautiful. If/when I return to Torino, I will definitely buy more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLtXFQqdIXyfsUKGvtXRhJhI4oaVp065Z8htz6EzXB0W_kZp3PIlIFOZrrh44BN6BbCpYEAW6Dx9JMzTrbjaqvDTFWyzgXHvlDSJ8cj6cq72D_oVLUDipI8xEzI2FdJu5YkH2/s1600/Yarn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLtXFQqdIXyfsUKGvtXRhJhI4oaVp065Z8htz6EzXB0W_kZp3PIlIFOZrrh44BN6BbCpYEAW6Dx9JMzTrbjaqvDTFWyzgXHvlDSJ8cj6cq72D_oVLUDipI8xEzI2FdJu5YkH2/s320/Yarn.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The pattern is Barbara, from <i>Stahman’s Scarves and Shawls</i> by Myrna Stahman. I used 3.25mm needles. The only change I made to the shawl was to attach the border with an SSK instead of a K2tog. Just my preference.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplJG-HqdxyMjS0nuLM_EAVOTMFDOAchlslTA8wVZoAEjqPZ0uNjRODtj-ZlP2jrhDAwAQLlpZdOCkEY20H6U1LOVhcZLr3IZpQZfzgySj1ljDd0etz0UqQ7De9RFPQapI-cMa/s1600/Shawl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplJG-HqdxyMjS0nuLM_EAVOTMFDOAchlslTA8wVZoAEjqPZ0uNjRODtj-ZlP2jrhDAwAQLlpZdOCkEY20H6U1LOVhcZLr3IZpQZfzgySj1ljDd0etz0UqQ7De9RFPQapI-cMa/s320/Shawl.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Jessica tried on the shawl before it was finished to check the length.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKczzAMbAsn89Vkztn2zPf1uqaLT0wA5b6d3Wi7I7oKGsdI9enMHQDhyphenhyphenUyoLsUzBWAP_-PTymc4qIi6ujqRCy6k19zz_GT2gCc3YvYk5B6gYVbk7GlSdpInE6xpxdpS579lGh/s1600/Jessica.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKczzAMbAsn89Vkztn2zPf1uqaLT0wA5b6d3Wi7I7oKGsdI9enMHQDhyphenhyphenUyoLsUzBWAP_-PTymc4qIi6ujqRCy6k19zz_GT2gCc3YvYk5B6gYVbk7GlSdpInE6xpxdpS579lGh/s320/Jessica.JPG" width="175" /></a></div>
<br />
The shawl used about 1,100 yards. With the remainder, I made a scarf for Jessica using Sivia Harding’s <a href="http://www.siviaharding.com/patterns/little_leaf_lace_scarf/" target="_blank">Little Leaf Lace Scarf</a> pattern, one of my favorites for relatively small amounts of yarn. Finished size is 5 inches by 68 inches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQx0IMOFVx6tpCCgaDW2Aelq_mQ1OhS9c5VJxJkQlD00e43ePFXXW3j8cBP6ZWKuvepVrwQdB-5PTWNG5jbAbL_4OvF12bHxff2kALlrL4GdhoNwlY_TMoye1-7Xup_DPd7deN/s1600/Scarf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQx0IMOFVx6tpCCgaDW2Aelq_mQ1OhS9c5VJxJkQlD00e43ePFXXW3j8cBP6ZWKuvepVrwQdB-5PTWNG5jbAbL_4OvF12bHxff2kALlrL4GdhoNwlY_TMoye1-7Xup_DPd7deN/s320/Scarf.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Jessica, I hope you like wearing these as much as I enjoyed knitting them!<br />
<br />
The wedding, in 2012, was lovely.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-74224523579169049212013-01-14T11:03:00.000-08:002013-01-14T11:03:48.076-08:00Two from South Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheY_ye3kNDf44yTuZpxNvUKPC_6eNemwAbYxYD0u-ZIB_kOk5pMsKvz7pUC7G_9YYIfTHHSZFjxaMhjWkBNiHhp-zkpX0nC3Y2VzII5lUlQ-xRFgLzA5iLRR-6jp9ZObRd4WX/s1600/Georgina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheY_ye3kNDf44yTuZpxNvUKPC_6eNemwAbYxYD0u-ZIB_kOk5pMsKvz7pUC7G_9YYIfTHHSZFjxaMhjWkBNiHhp-zkpX0nC3Y2VzII5lUlQ-xRFgLzA5iLRR-6jp9ZObRd4WX/s320/Georgina.JPG" width="256" /></a>Last September, my husband had an opportunity to visit Cape Town, South Africa. Because he is the Best Husband in the World, he went yarn shopping, as you can see <a href="http://suevknits.blogspot.com/2012/10/best-husband-in-world.html" target="_blank">here.</a> I have finished two projects from my gift yarns, which are from <a href="http://www.nurturingfibres.co.za/" target="_blank">Nurturing Fibres</a> and the dyepots of the talented Carlé.<br />
<br />
The trick was finding the right pattern to highlight the yarn. I think I succeeded.<br />
<br />
The pink one (color name Georgina) is Nancy Bush’s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-storks-nest-scarf" target="_blank">Stork’s Nest</a> pattern. The finished size is 7 inches by 62 inches.<br />
<br />
The green one — Dappled Forest — is the Crest of the Wave design from Barbara Walker’s first Treasury. It is 7 inches wide by 60 inches long.<br />
<br />
Both scarves were knit on 3.25mm needles.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl91TLrfkFUnqfX-rBWbqxjgCeXE5aQz5b_32bAEypsrZWZLUtvB-Ae2JQ_3BH-P2z_DCGqc09U7VOZ6ZmkejZbV5VUSmjvo020TvxJNcWDfH1o99MUrroC_Horomtmc7i0G4q/s1600/Dappled+Forest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl91TLrfkFUnqfX-rBWbqxjgCeXE5aQz5b_32bAEypsrZWZLUtvB-Ae2JQ_3BH-P2z_DCGqc09U7VOZ6ZmkejZbV5VUSmjvo020TvxJNcWDfH1o99MUrroC_Horomtmc7i0G4q/s320/Dappled+Forest.JPG" width="248" /></a><br />
The yarns were a joy to knit with and I enjoyed seeing the colors emerge.<br />
<br />Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-65579014581595935122012-12-23T09:48:00.000-08:002012-12-23T09:48:28.313-08:00A Tradition Continues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_J43YQG_KULOuAyRhfXCeQyAeJwf520gkSrC6-3_4Au-5VQ34t-hd75Irlzsn06CznXCi1_-8rAySB11MYMe78Y3T7XIfppIpLcMVYl1Fug5DJ0LtchXunngZ2PtfqHm_E4G/s1600/stocking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_J43YQG_KULOuAyRhfXCeQyAeJwf520gkSrC6-3_4Au-5VQ34t-hd75Irlzsn06CznXCi1_-8rAySB11MYMe78Y3T7XIfppIpLcMVYl1Fug5DJ0LtchXunngZ2PtfqHm_E4G/s320/stocking.JPG" width="283" /></a>In my family, new members are welcomed with a Christmas stocking, usually knit by me or my mother. The newest member is Baby Ford, third child of my cousin and his wife.<br />
<br />
For this stocking I chose the <a href="http://www.cascadeyarns.com/patternsFree/W104_220.pdf" target="_blank">Cascade Yarns Christmas Stockings</a> pattern, with changes, of course.<br />
<br />
I did use Cascade 220: 8505 white, 8894 green, 7818 blue, and 9404 red. I knit it on US 4 needles because I am a “relaxed” (that is, loose) knitter and I like the stocking fabric to be a little tighter than usual. One change I made was a short-row heel; the specified heel looked out of proportion to my eye.<br />
<br />
Some of the designs came from the Cascade pattern; others came from other sources. I especially like the blue and white section, which is from Annemore #7, a design in <i>Selbuvotter</i> by Terri Shea. It looks very Christmas-y to me.<br />
<br />
I used duplicate stitch for the name because I finished the stocking before is name was revealed.<br />
<br />
I was lucky to get Baby Ford as my assignment. My mother will knit stockings for this cousin’s sister, who had twins a few weeks before Ford was born. She decided to aim for Christmas 2013 for her stockings. I did advise my uncle — grandfather to all of these babies — that someone in the next generation needs to learn how to knit stockings if he wants the tradition to continue.<br />
<br />
So happy holidays to the newest members of the family, their parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins of all degrees of separation.Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-13984144941134514972012-12-14T09:59:00.001-08:002012-12-14T09:59:49.832-08:00Everyone Needs Extra Yarn<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1xEKhXCiB9sQ8z26LaV-r_EQUak1QSOqqWMM_1tCFzYxzCyAWcyBlWGCmpE2cUp8CYsLQg0j47NPJj2TurHu84IERPV8jQrIpeyThnHbQ5kukZNe9IjzImWgrUGawZJw79AagQ/s1600/extrayarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1xEKhXCiB9sQ8z26LaV-r_EQUak1QSOqqWMM_1tCFzYxzCyAWcyBlWGCmpE2cUp8CYsLQg0j47NPJj2TurHu84IERPV8jQrIpeyThnHbQ5kukZNe9IjzImWgrUGawZJw79AagQ/s320/extrayarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Looking for a last-minute gift for a knitter or a future knitter? Or for someone who will enjoy a charming story and illustrations? <a href="http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Extra-Yarn/?isbn13=9780061953385&tctid=100" target="_blank">This book</a> is perfect.<br />
<br />
The main character, Annabelle, finds what looks like an ordinary box full of ordinary yarn. But it turns out it isn’t.<br />
<br />
And this may look like an ordinary children’s book but it isn’t. Adults will enjoy it just as much as children will. I liked it a lot.<br />
<br />Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-38148167995592801722012-12-04T10:45:00.001-08:002012-12-04T10:50:27.258-08:00Another Icelandic ShawlLast year, I knit the <a href="http://suevknits.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Icelandic Lace Shawl</a> with lots and lots of changes. I had a lot of the yarn leftover so I knit another Icelandic shawl, Halfskak by Sigridur Halldorsdottir from <i>Three-Cornered and Long Shawls.</i> Again, I made lots and lots of changes. And, once again, I am happy with the results.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1uM82up_I0fBpq7R_lneNSiRb0mKDHy8uYQ72oJyJeuqsh12SuqxLYnE9HpWVtf-90HmsL7kCmc7RirShkWG8oU_ecc_5KxybOEgBkKJGwHXcrCZHzYTcFerfJ2lCpjtX4tM/s1600/P1090688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1uM82up_I0fBpq7R_lneNSiRb0mKDHy8uYQ72oJyJeuqsh12SuqxLYnE9HpWVtf-90HmsL7kCmc7RirShkWG8oU_ecc_5KxybOEgBkKJGwHXcrCZHzYTcFerfJ2lCpjtX4tM/s320/P1090688.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Yarn: </b>Knit Picks lace weight: undyed (white), Jewels (blue), Lost Lake (green), and Sunset (red)<br />
<br />
<b>Needles:</b> US 6<br />
<br />
<b>Finished size:</b> 25 inches center back<br />
<br />
<b>Changes:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Extra stitched added to each side and slipped.</li>
<li>Fewer colors than original (I really am trying to knit from stash).</li>
<li>Stockinette, not garter, on the white section.</li>
<li>Extra repeats of the white section.</li>
<li>Centered double decreases on the colored section.</li>
</ul>
Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-81662134241354409172012-11-22T08:54:00.001-08:002012-11-22T08:54:30.546-08:00More ScarvesScarves are always good carry-along projects, projects to try a new or unusual yarn, and a way to use up some stash yarn. These two recent projects fit the bill.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnfsRzI6GBW35Z0ctGIxem0n8uNp3ahkwGOE4fQgzeQwjUCOILKHZqCRVMRnbRSRFiP3hmOpxBbrn6Pfu1O06fn2amelNwvcZBNKteHGn1438Zzue0QCmeMpxdGFGzzEBFT_E/s1600/P1090679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
The turquoise one is <a href="http://www.miriamfelton.com/?p=918" target="_blank">Flutter</a> by Miriam Felton, an old favorite. I picked this pattern to try a yarn that was new to me. This Flutter is slightly shorter than previous Flutters, 40 repeats of the center instead of 50, but still successful.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnfsRzI6GBW35Z0ctGIxem0n8uNp3ahkwGOE4fQgzeQwjUCOILKHZqCRVMRnbRSRFiP3hmOpxBbrn6Pfu1O06fn2amelNwvcZBNKteHGn1438Zzue0QCmeMpxdGFGzzEBFT_E/s1600/P1090679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnfsRzI6GBW35Z0ctGIxem0n8uNp3ahkwGOE4fQgzeQwjUCOILKHZqCRVMRnbRSRFiP3hmOpxBbrn6Pfu1O06fn2amelNwvcZBNKteHGn1438Zzue0QCmeMpxdGFGzzEBFT_E/s320/P1090679.JPG" width="227" /></a><br />
Yarn: Jojoland Ballad, 100 percent wool, 220 yards/50 grams; 2 balls.<br />
Needles: US 3 (3.25mm)<br />
Beads: Toho 6/0 gold-lined rainbow crystal<br />
Finished size: 7.5 inches x 54 inches<br />
<br />
This Flutter will end up in my gift box, waiting for just the right recipient.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUGVSSwWs6wKAjsUN9n1wVQ0RR99gu2EjBZbwEoqjlheJfG2u5yjkcBBhd6sm2XwYuMqzKyYNsoEUj4-Dwf8TsHukpkyMfdMSX64sH9FjfEyNcOIpK2ZBccycz6JjdiGvT48V/s1600/P1050236-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUGVSSwWs6wKAjsUN9n1wVQ0RR99gu2EjBZbwEoqjlheJfG2u5yjkcBBhd6sm2XwYuMqzKyYNsoEUj4-Dwf8TsHukpkyMfdMSX64sH9FjfEyNcOIpK2ZBccycz6JjdiGvT48V/s320/P1050236-001.JPG" width="320" /></a>The green scarf is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mead-scarf" target="_blank">Mead Scarf</a> by Elizabeth Morrison. Finding a pattern for this marled green and gray yarn required some work: a pattern that would show off the yarn and be interesting to knit. Mead filled the bill.<br />
<br />
Yarn: 50 percent merino/50 percent yak from School Products in New York City.<br />
Needles: US 3 (3.25mm)<br />
Finished size: 8 inches x 78 inches<br />
<br />
This scarf is for my husband, who selected the color. One of his “rewards” for hanging around yarns stores with me is that he can find yarns that he likes.<br />
<br />
Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving! And, if you are so inclined, a successful Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.<br />
<br />Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-71013069137310482002012-11-01T16:20:00.002-07:002012-11-01T16:20:34.413-07:00Ready for Winter<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D_2yGzSvTv36jFlONYdHvM7dw40EKK8ZVOFihCjxFsH-1WnEed4mKtTkeOCZjeHXMmGBdbsUykDCWsAMqwPN-30tmNKZUcKYDaD3MOOLWhGOnrXiOudYYQqInx4ZZ3dNmjVA/s1600/P1030882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D_2yGzSvTv36jFlONYdHvM7dw40EKK8ZVOFihCjxFsH-1WnEed4mKtTkeOCZjeHXMmGBdbsUykDCWsAMqwPN-30tmNKZUcKYDaD3MOOLWhGOnrXiOudYYQqInx4ZZ3dNmjVA/s200/P1030882.JPG" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thorpe hat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Earlier this year, one of my husband’s students brought me some llama yarn from Peru. I had asked for llama yarn anticipating a presentation on llama fiber that I made at the annual Boise lace knitting retreat. He did a good job for a rookie yarn buyer.<br />
<br />
The yarn is sort of chunky weight. It still has some guard hair, which is not unusual for llama yarn, but overall, it is not too scratchy and definitely wearable on a head.<br />
<br />
Because of the weight, it is not great for lace knitting, but it is excellent for warm winter hats. One hat was <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thorpe" target="_blank">Thorpe,</a> a free pattern available on Ravelry. The other is Jared Flood’s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quincy" target="_blank">Quincy,</a> one of my all-time favorites, available for purchase on Ravelry. I used size US8 (5mm) needles both both, going to US7 needles for the top of Quincy.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsEwIGTtTPQ9bNcqwQDD3ZkNyzXj4tfDlB6ChLr7jr-hckOQvb9TgeZgjonq8c0uj18ZNgXu9X-dw-3O2k_GVGTFzkKT9LnC4mlLSYfpOIG5cdc9f2eLVhqgj200VoFWx4jy-/s1600/P1030884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsEwIGTtTPQ9bNcqwQDD3ZkNyzXj4tfDlB6ChLr7jr-hckOQvb9TgeZgjonq8c0uj18ZNgXu9X-dw-3O2k_GVGTFzkKT9LnC4mlLSYfpOIG5cdc9f2eLVhqgj200VoFWx4jy-/s200/P1030884.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quincy hat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One thing about llama fiber is that it is warm. Very, very warm. And these hats are no exception. We get exceptionally cold weather (for us) about once a year, and these hats will get good use.<br />
<br />
In my llama research, I came across this poem by Ogden Nash:<br />
<br />
<b>The Lama</b><br />
<br />
The one-l lama,<br />
He’s a priest;<br />
The two-l llama,<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
He’s a beast.<br />
And I will bet a silk pajama<br />
There isn’t any<br />
Three-l lllama.<br />
<br />
Then Sheri introduced me to the llama song. I will not post it here; you can search for “llama song” and find several videos. Listen at your peril; it will become an earworm in no time! Llama llama duck!<br />
<br />Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33383128.post-74400366995561656872012-10-17T10:35:00.000-07:002012-10-17T10:35:11.065-07:00New Tricks for an Old Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.workman.com/is/pshrink/products/covers/9781603427241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.workman.com/is/pshrink/products/covers/9781603427241.jpg" /></a></div>
I have been knitting for a long time. I have a few preferred methods for casting on and binding off that have worked well for me over the years. For casting on, I generally use long-tail cast-on for “regular” knitting with the occasional cable cast-on or knitted cast-on; Emily Ocker’s cast-on for circular knitting; and a provisional cast-on with a crochet hook. For casting off, I use the traditional bind-off, Icelandic bind-off, or crocheted cast-off for doilies and some shawls.<br />
<br />
My repertoire just expanded with two new books: <i><a href="http://www.workman.com/products/9781603427241/" target="_blank">Cast On, Bind Off: 54 Step-by-Step Methods</a></i> by Leslie Ann Bestor and <i><a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/cast-on-bind-off.html" target="_blank">Cast On, Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin and End Your Knitting</a></i> by Cap Sease.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/images/thumbnails/54/200/b1125_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.shopmartingale.com/images/thumbnails/54/200/b1125_c.jpg" /></a>I like both books. Yes, there is some duplication between them, but both are handy reference books. Both have clear text, illustrations, and photos, and both offer applications for each cast-on and bind-off. Each book gives the inquiring knitter lots of fodder for experimenting and thinking.<br />
<br />
And I will finally learn the Channel Island cast-on.<br />
<br />
The attentive reader may note that I use “cast on” and “cast off” for the verb and “cast-on” and “cast-off” for the noun. That’s what happens after a career as a copy editor.<br />
<br />
<br />Sue Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396517609752173502noreply@blogger.com1