knot another hat

it's a velvet kind of morning

I have been wanting to knit with Classic Elite's Portland Tweed since bringing it in to the shop almost three years ago. I can't believe it took this long, but I knew it needed to be just the right project. When I saw this in the Winter Knitty, I knew I had "the one".

• Pattern: Velvet Morning by Julie Crawford, from Winter Knitty bis 2011
• Yarn: Classic Elite Portland Tweed, 13 balls Tidal Foam, 1 each Best Teal, Amarinth, & Gull Gray
• Needles: US 7 (4.5mm)
• Mods: top-down sleeves knitted in the round

I really, really loved knitting this. So much so that I am making another one. {gasp!} I never, ever, hardly ever make anything twice. In fact, I've already casted on (see below). The only mod I made was to three needle bind off the shoulders, then pick up the sleeve stitches around the armhole and knit the sleeve from the top-down in the round, using the short-row set-in sleeve method. Why sew if you don't have to, right?

BUT! There's always a but. I do have a problem with the architecture of this piece: the lack of neck opening. When I first realized that the shoulders and back were going to have no neck shaping, I thought it was a mistake. But then I took a closer look at the pictures on the Knitty pattern page and realized this was indeed the intent of the design. So I went with it. See?

I find the result to be quite awkward to wear. I know the design is meant to be a "slouchy" sweater, but without a neck opening you can see how the shoulder seams are forced to hang way back on the shoulders. It's just not for me.

So on Round 2 I am going to add a wee bit 'o neck shaping to the fronts and the back so that the whole piece will sit more squarely at the top of my shoulders. I think the rest of the design still gives off enough of that "so comfy and slouchy you'll wear it every day" vibe. :)

Here's a sneak peek of Round 2:

finding inspiration

The Fall is when I typically find renewed inspiration to knit. Don't get me wrong - I knit year round. But I do find the desire is burning low come the end of Summer, and when all the great Fall publications start to arrive a switch usually flips in my brain, and kaBOOM: I can't cast on fast enough. I've talked about this before.....

It didn't happen this year.

I don't know what the reason is, but I just haven't had that flashbulb of inspiration hit that would have sent me into a frenzy. Because of this, I've been browsing through my older books and magazines, trying to remember what would get me going in years past, and that's when I came across this:

New England Knits: Timeless Knitwear with a Modern Twist, by Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre.

I'm already working on a sweater in this book - the Hampton Cardigan (I'm getting there - just finishing up the fronts). But as a paged through it again, I was struck by just how many things I could see myself knitting out of this book. Like, for instance, this:

I've never wanted to make a skirt before, but I could definitely make this one. And this:

The details on this cardigan just make me swoon. And this one has long been on my list:

There is no surprise that I love these designs....if you look at my Ravelry queue, you can see that Cecily Glowik MacDonald and I really "click". OK, so I don't know her personally, but our senses of style click, and that's what matters. Time and time again I find myself drawn to a pattern in a magazine, book, or on Rav, and then find out it was designed by her.

It's good to know what you like, isn't it! What do YOU find yourself drawn to time and time again??

can't wait!

Our madelinetosh merino light was re-stocked just in time to choose my colors for this:

 
 
This will be my first mystery KAL!

Here are my colors:

 
(from top to bottom: cherry, tart, & blackcurrant)

I'm wound up and ready to go - can't wait for Monday!

let's update some pics, shall we?

Remember this?

Well, I decided this amazing knit needed some better, updated pictures. And here they are.

 
All project details can be found in the original post.

 
I still love this yarn, and still stand by my claim that this was the most entertaining thing I've ever knit.

aidez, how l love thee...

One fateful Friday in late September, Berroco released one of its Free Patterns via the KnitBits email. That was the day I met Aidez (ravelry link). We had just received our first shipment of Berroco Peruvia Quick, a light and lofty 2-ply bulky peruvian wool. It kind of screamed - KNIT ME! And......many of you know of my weakness for a good red color . . . . entonces, empece mi Aidez Rojo.

• Pattern: Aidez, by Cirilia Rose, free from Berroco
• Yarn: Berroco Peruvia Quick (100% peruvian wool), 9 skeins in 9135, Caliente
• Needles: I got gauge on US 10 (6,0mm)
• Size: 40" finished chest
• Mods: many - see below

I decided right away that since this was a raglan-sleeved design, I would modify it to knit it in one piece.

I casted on for two fronts and back at once and placed a LOT of markers to differentiate between the different motifs until I had a visual on them. When I hit the underarm bind-off areas, I instead placed them on hold to graft to the sleeve underarms later.

After knitting most of the first sleeve, I decided it was too snug for my taste and ripped it back. I changed to have almost the full number of stitches needed at the top of the sleeve down at the cuff, and consequently only worked 3 sets of increases up the length of the sleeve. I knit the first sleeve up from cuff to armhole in the round, then placed underarm bind offs on hold as well, then joined that sleeve to body. Ditto for second sleeve.

With all the pieces joined together, I knit the whole yoke up to neck incorporating the raglan shaping as written. The collar was just a touch trickier. Basically I left all neck and shoulder stitches live, and knit each half of the collar on as I went, attaching it to the live stitches using a ssk/p2tog join at the end of every other row. When each half was the right length to meet at the back neck, I grafted the live collar stitches together.

And then (and this is why I make these changes) IT WAS DONE! No sewing! Ha HAH! Blocked, and worn. To the beach on a stormy weekend - oh Aidez, how I love thee!

assemblage is now assembled

I am back on track - still finishing up those WIPs I committed to finishing after having too many drinks on this girls' weekend. One of those WIPs was my Assemblage cardigan.

• Pattern: Assemblage by Norah Gaughan, from Berroco Norah Gaughan Collection #3.
• Yarn: 7 sk Cascade Eco Alpaca in Natural (100% baby alpaca, 220yds/100g)
• Needles: US 6 (4,0mm)
• Size: 40" finished chest
• Mods: just a few  . . . (more below)

This whole Norah Gaughan booklet is out of this world, and Assemblage was just one of many sweaters I wanted to make from its pages. The stitch pattern on the collar and sleeve cuffs was just the perfect touch of "interesting" in an otherwise all-stockinette-stitch sweater. And when I started it we had just received our first shipment of the Cascade Eco Alpaca, a buttery soft 100% alpaca with amazing yardage and all natural colors - it was just way too easy to make 2 plus 2 add up to 4!

 
That stockinette stitch simplicity that drew me to the pattern is what ultimately did me in. I busted right through the back, and then lost steam about 5 inches into the fronts (I worked both at the same time). I set the project down somewhere around August of last year, and didn't pick it up again until mid-Sept (THIS year).

But fortunately for me, it all went together pretty quickly thanks to a new technique I learned from a Carol Feller pattern for picking up sts in a set-in-sleeve armhole and using short-row shaping to make a sleeve cap and knit the sleeve down in one piece. Now that I have discovered this - - - no more sewing in set-in sleeves for me! Ha ha! 

 
 
The only other mod I made was to change the stitch pattern to the round for the sleeve cuffs (since I was knitting the sleeves in one piece from the top-down), and I found that to be a bit challenging. Once I could "read" the pattern I just worked it visually, rather than following the pattern. I actually found it easier and more intuitive in the round than back-and-forth, like the collar (no surprise there).

 
 
This sweater is SO aboslutely wearable, I just am in complete love. And I had the perfect buttons in my stash, thanks to Erika W. Three little slices of reindeer antler from Canada - perfect for the design and the overall feel of the sweater. (And I'm sorry - I know - same outfit as the last post's pics - what're you gonna do about it???) It's comfy, cozy, stylish, and gosh darn it - I made it!

:)

rosamund re-worked

For almost two years I have been on a hunt for the ultimate sweater project for this yarn. I fell in love with the Natural Charcoal colorway and ordered 6 skeins from the ranch. I even wound them up, sure they would be put to immediate use.

And true to form, I did nothing with them.

Until this summer! While trolling Ravelry for a pattern for some different yarn, I came across this sweater. It was from the Fall 09 Interweave Knits, and I hadn't given the design in the magazine a second glance (for many reasons - more on that below). But on Rav, so many people had knit it up and shared such nice pictures, it won my heart over--- and my Columbia Rosamund was born.

 

• Pattern: Rosamund's Cardigan, by Andrea Pomerantz, from Fall 2009 Interweave Knits (now out of print, but you can download pattern here)
• Yarn: 4 skeins Imperial Stock Ranch Columbia (200+ yds/100g, 100% columbia wool)
• Needles: US 8 (5,0mm)
• Size made: 37-->40.5-->44
• Mods: LOTS!

If you remember the Rosamund's Cardigan in the magazine, it has short-sleeves. That was the major reason I had skipped right over this pattern when I originally saw it. The other reason was that it is styled very poorly in the picture - it looks too tight on the model, and the color of the yarn with the color of her shirt underneath is all very, very blah. So my major modification was to make the sleeves 3/4 length. For the sleeve cuffs, I did a provisional cast on at the beginning of the round and worked 2 repeats of the reversible cable pattern around the cuff, knitting it onto the sleeve as I went, then grafted the end together with the live stitches left from the cast on.

 
 
The other mod I made was in sizing. Knowing my body the way I do (and believe me, it's a STEEP learning curve!!!!), I knew that I needed to combo size the bust and hips. But after casting on at the neck for the size 40.5", I worried that my neckline was going to be gigantic. So I casted on again for the size 37", then worked the raglan increases out to the size 40.5", and then after the waist shaping I worked the hip increases out to the size 44".

(Oh - forgot to mention that I also scrapped putting in the 8 hook&eye's down the front after trying unsuccessfully to sew them in 3 times.)

In hindsight I know now that the 44" is just a tad too big for me, or at the least I should have worked those hip increases in a dart placement rather than all at the side seams. But -

I don't care! I love this sweater, love the assymetrical design, love the 2 big buttons at the top!   

 

purlaway bohus stickning workshop recap

We had such an amazing time with Susanna Hansson this past weekend!"For The Love Of Bohus Stickning" happened over October 2nd and 3rd, and it was a jam-packed weekend full of Bohus history, knitting on fine needles with delicious Swedish yarns, laughing, swatching (!), snacking, and swagging! What a good time! Susanna is an amazing, dynamic instructor, and her passion for the Bohus story comes through in every aspect of her workshop.

Let's show you a little swag, courtesy of purlaway and purlaway's great sponsors:

Great SOAK buckets for everyone, with adorable name cards made by my amazing mother! And of close-up of the contents: 

 
(Two skeins of Classic Elite Fresco, Poems of Color by Wendy Keele, 1 of 3 of the Bohus kits everyone received, 3 patterns from me, 1 pattern from bluegirl knits (Nichole), 1 pattern from Gardiner Yarnworks, Catalina zippered pouch from Namaste, highlighter tape from Bryson, and coupons from local businesses Underpinnings, Parts & Labour, Ground & Celilo!)

Here's a shot of all 31 participants and Susanna, with everyone's Bohus cuffs in progress:

Here are some of the beautiful vintage original Bohus sweaters from Susanna's private collection (just to make you drool a bit this morning):

  

I can tell you - after seeing the real angora-blend yarns from the kits you order from Sweden, one of these sweater kits is definitely going on my Christmas list.

It was a beautiful weekend, and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone who came back from last year, and getting to know all of the new attendees! Thank you everyone!

 

I actually crocheted a garment!

Some of you die-hard knitters out there (like me) have never thought about crocheting yourself a sweater. Maybe a hat, something small and finish-able. But never a garment that has to fit when its done, and where the stitches TRULY have to be even to look right.

But I did it!

I got a bee in my bonnet last January to challenge myself, and I felt that my crochet skills were finally approaching garment-worthy. So I started the Spring Shell from Interweave Crochet Spring 2009 (rav link). In my haste I made some terrible beginner mistakes in judgement (the kind I warn my customers about almost daily). First one? I chose a sport-weight gauged project: small hook, fine yarn. Not a terrible problem, just more challenging for a beginner. Second mistake? I chose a nearly black yarn. Now I don't know if this goes away with experience, but crochet is a artform that requires looking. Unlike knitting, which I hardly need to glance, crochet (for me) takes constant vigilance, especially for certain stitch patterns that require entering the stitch in unusual ways. And using a nearly black yarn most definitely complicated that process for me. Let's just say that good light was required, not just a good option.

I got off to a fairly good start, and was even achieving gauge. But true to form I set it down somewhere around mid-Spring when it was about 20% finished and promptly forgot about it. It took almost six months, but I finally picked it up, and found that it was quicker and easier to finish than I had built it up in my mind to be.

And now it's done!

• Pattern: Spring Shell by Simona Merchant-Dest, from Interweave Crochet Spring 2009
• Yarn: Mirasol Nuna in Ebony, 6 skeins
• Hook: Bryson Palmwood size E (my favorite hooks, hands down!)
• Size: 40" finished chest

(In the spirit of being honest, I have to tell you that I made one big huge mistake. On the drop shoulder sleeve cuffs, I attached the yarn and went in the wrong direction for the entire sleeve cuff, resulting in one sleeve being "inside out", so to speak. But damn, I am NOT fixing that!)

my very own february lady

You can't begrudge a sweater that's been done to death when it's simply a good sweater. That's the case with the February Lady Sweater.

My path to the February Lady was an indirect one. It started with the most beautiful handspun merino spun by Paula Webb, a dear customer and friend. I had the perfect sweater for that yarn (or so I thought) - and it turned into an absolute disaster. (If you missed the disaster, you can catch up here.) But sweet redemption lay in that silver lining of the disaster - my re-purposed yarn blossomed into the most comfy-cozy February Lady ever.

• Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynn of Flint Knits
• Yarn: 100% merino handspun by Webbspun (Paula Webb, AKA Auntla)
• Size: 37.5", fits with zero ease
• Buttons: vintage set from Button Emporium & Ribbonry

I am so pleased with this project. The style is flattering, it can be worn casual or dressy, the yarn is delicious...there's not really a lot to say!

I found these buttons years ago at the Portland Button Emporium - it was a set of three vintage, clear plastic buttons, similar but each a bit different. I had them in my button stash and they were absolutely perfect for this project!

This is another WIP that I cleared up off the list in hopes of earning a free drink and a cast-on credit from Nichole and Julia. To be fair, the body was finished at the time we made the agreement, and I only had the sleeves left to go. But still - I finished it!

olympic resolution

No - I'm not about to make some sort of resolution of olympic-sized proportions. I'm going to tell you about how my 2010 Winter Knitting Olympic project turned out! I've been putting it off for too long due to poor photography, but what the hell...

If you remember, I chose my Knitting Olympics project from the 2009/2010 Winter Vogue Knitting. I started off with a bang, but I lost a lot of steam about 2/3 of the way in...

...I didn't win Gold. Or even Silver or Bronze. But I did finish my project, and I finished it in time to wear it to dinner at the 2010 YMN Smart Biz Conference in Seattle, which was my ultimate goal anyway.

• Pattern: #29, Wrap with Belt by Shiri Mor, from the 2009/2010 Winter VK
• Yarn: 4 skeins Handmaiden Fine Yarns Great Big Sea in Pewter
• Needles: US 7 (4,5mm)
• Time to complete: 4 weeks

Personally, I think Shiri Mor is a design genius. This was my second time knitting one of her designs, and both times were highly entertaining. She has a knack for creating the most interesting combinations of stitch patterns, and often uses the varying gauges of different stitches to achieve shaping that defies the laws of mathematics. The only thing that slowed me down on this one was the 60-some inches of the wrap panel - basically one big scarf.

But it was worth it!

(I didn't talk about the yarn. It's Handmaiden - what do I need to say? It speaks for itself, and it's worth every penny of its high price tag.)

oldies but goodies: one down, many to go

Remember in the last post when I told the story of my "knittervention"? This FO is one of my long-forgotten WIPs from the epic list.

• Pattern: Jada, by Sarah Hutton, from the Lenpur Linen Collection (Rowan)
• Yarn: 9 balls Rowan Lenpur Linen (75% viscose lenpur, 25% linen) in #565, Lagoon
• Needles: size US 6 (4,0mm)
• Time to complete: almost one year

I cast this beauty on right before I left for Scandinavia last year, and packed it up in my suitcase for travel knitting. I diligently worked on it my first week abroad, when I had hours during the day to myself while Jason was attending a conference. We were in a sleepy little town in Northern Sweden (Skelleftea), and the weather was warm and beautiful, so I knit!

But (did you feel the "but" coming?), when we returned, I just plopped the little project bag with my 25% completed shawl into the bottom of my knitting basket and forgot about it. Or more accurately, abandoned it on purpose. The pattern called for SO MANY INCHES of the lace repeat. It was soooo boring. It was also the time when the new fall mags come out and I was so tempted by new and exciting projects.....

So, long story short: after the knittervention I dug this out and finished it up! And it's beautiful! And just in time for summer!

This yarn is such an interesting way to make a linen yarn - instead of wet spun linen that we are used to with yarns like Louet Euroflax, "lenpur" is processed in the same way a viscose yarn is made (like bamboo, etc). The result is a slinky, soft yarn that is still very cool and has great stitch definition. It was great to work with, and when washed the drape and swing of the fabric is perfect for summer. Yay!

More FOs (and more distractions) coming soon!

olympic knitting...don't think I'm headed for gold

My early confidence in my progress seems misplaced at this point.

I still love my chosen project, but I hadn't really thought through the fact that I'm essentially knitting a very long scarf - and I hate knitting scarves.

The pattern stitch is pretty easy and very memorizable, so at this point it's not even keeping me entertained. I just finished the 68" of the long panel, and I've picked up stitches along the panel to knit the back. After the back is finished it's some crazy number of inches to knit the belt, then a crochet finish a couple of times around the whole thing.

This being Friday, and with the Olympics ending Saturday, it really doesn't look like it's gonna happen, folks. Don't get me wrong, by no means am I giving up...just sayin'.

(PS - LOVE the YARN. Hand Maiden Fine Yarns Great Big Sea Silk in Pewter - delicious. Every stitch.)

are you ready?!?!?!

Today is the day! Opening ceremonies are at 8pm PST, and you can cast-on when the torch is lit!

This is so exciting - we have over 40 participants! Scroll to the bottom of this post to see a list of participants and their Olympic projects.

It's not too late to sign up! You have until 5pm PST to contact us here at the and register your 2010 Winter Knitting Olympics project! Read our original Knitting Olympics post for all the details!

OK - you might be wondering what I am going to commit to during the Olympics. I had a hard time choosing, and all of my options came from one publication: the 09/10 Winter Vogue Knitting! (Warning - the following links are all Ravelry links)

1. #15 B.A.H.: oops - already knit it, so obviously that one is out.
2. #23 Cabled Yoke Cardigan: a serious contender.
3. #28 Wrap with Belt: interesting construction, might have stash yarn to use.
4. #10 Belted Tunic: very intriquing, looked good on me at TNNA.
5. #09 Tunic Vest: didn't try this one on, just think it's super cute.

OK - here's pros and cons. 2nd choice would mean working with mohair....not sure I'm up for that right now. 3rd choice - no cons that I can see. I could use my stashed Handmaiden Ottowa...it has interesting construction and interesting stitch patterns to keep me entertained, and I tried it on at TNNA and it was very cute. 4th choice...liked this one on me, too, but that is going to be one helluva lot of stockinette stitch to do in 16 days. Hmm. 5th choice - really like this one, but I don't think I have a yarn that is right for it and so I'd have to order and don't have time.

We have a winner! #3 (#28 Wrap with Belt) is the clear choice for me. Now my only decision is yarn: I have enough stashed Handmaiden/Fleece Artist Ottowa in 2 different colorways, but I'm concerned it won't have the same drape as the sample I tried on, which was a wool/silk blend. HOWEVER - there is some LOVELY Handmaiden Great Big Sea, a wool/silk/seacell blend, calling to me from the shelf across the room....so very, very tempting...

 So - what's YOUR project??? Here are what the TEAM KAH Olympic Knitters will be undertaking:

• Wendy A - Mossy Jacket
• Penny B - Short Lucky
• Stephanie B - Garter Stitch Panel Afghan
• Helga B - Prairie Shawl from Folk Knits
• Sarah B - Combining 2 patterns for sweater for her
• Ann B - Pretty as a Peacock Shawl
• Carol C - Lace Smoke Ring
• Jodi C - Crocheted Hat
• Sarah C - Slip-Stitch Layers from IW Holiday 09
• Kristie C - Purlaway mitten
• Rachel C - February Lady Sweater
• Maureen D - Blue Sky Alpaca Silk Shrug
• Amanda D - Kaleidoscope Scarf
• Lisa E - St Johns Wort Cardigan
• Misty E - dishcloth baby sweater
• Kylie E - Chunky Knit Scarf
• Alison F - Catherine Cardigan
• Sue-Ann G - 2 Socks at once/Magic Loop
• Michelle H - Fruit Loop Socks
• Kelsey H - Cold Mountain
• Beth H - Heartstrings Fiber Arts Lace Cowl
• Beverly H - Willoughby Scarf
• Inger - Crocheted Ripple Lap Blanket
• Tracie J - Nashua Handknits Vest
• Lydia K - Meandering Vine Shawl
• Cherri K - Moss Stitch Beret
• Sarah K  - Wrap With Belt
• Claire L - WIPs busting on Purple Cardigan from Summer 09 Vogue
• Emma Marie F - Kaya Cabled Scarf
• Lisa M - Novelty Garter Scarf
• Julie M - Knit to be Square Bag
• Jill M - Panbe Dress Tunic from Winter '10 Knitscene
• Julia N - Loretto Vest from Winter '10 Knitscene
• Penny P - WIPs busting a 20 year old afghan project
• Katrina R - Lillie's Little Sweater
• Nichole R - hat design project
• Melanie R - Debbie Bliss Ruffle Coat for baby
• Sandy R - Zigzag Anklet
• Mary R - Toe Up Socks
• Lynn R - Baby Sweater
• Beth R - Knit 1 Below Sock
• Mary S - Berroco Tonia
• JaneAnn S - Unloved yarn project
• Laurie S - Fine Knit Ribbed Man Sweater
• Heidi S - Chunky Baby Blanket
• Margaret S - Shawl
• Teri S - Lace Shawl
• Janice T - WIPs bust on 5 overdue afghan squares
• Kelly T - Wandering the Moor
• Elizabeth V - 2 at once Socks
• Destiny W - Debbie Bliss Cardigan
• Missy W - Savannah Cardigan
• Mokihana W- WIPs busting: 2 blankets, shawl, toy giraffe
• Sherry W - Hoody, #15 Winter 10 Vogue
• Janice W - February Lady Sweater
• Paula W - spinning a 3-ply yarn
• Crispin Y - Top-down Baby Sweater
• Susan Z - spinning 8oz Shetland

If you think you should be on this list but don't see your name, or still want to sign up before 5pm tonight, just comment to this post!

wham bam thank you ma'am: the big-ass hoody

When the Winter 09/10 Vogue came out I was pleased with what I saw. I scoffed at a few patterns (namely the superchunky who-could-wear-them monsters from Twinkle), and saw several that I wanted to make. To me, if you can find 2 or more patterns that catch your eye on first perusal, the magazine's a keeper.

Then, I went to TNNA. The lovely Trisha M, editor of Vogue, started pulling the sweaters in the magazine off their rack and and had me try them on - especially the ones I thought I liked least. And guess what? The Big-Ass Hoody, AKA B.A.H., AKA #15 Hooded Cardi Vest, looked adorable. And I knew then on the show floor that I had to knit it when I got home.

There's much pleasure to be found in knitting with superchunky yarn on size 15 needles. (There's also a LOT of hand cramping - but let's ignore that for now and focus on the fun parts.) The work just flies off the needles. When your directions say to "cont until piece measures 15 in" that's only 45 rows!!! Ha! And so, after beginning the B.A.H. last Tuesday evening, wham, bam, THANK YOU MA'AM!, it's finished:

• Pattern: #15 Hooded Cardi Vest by Wenlan Chia, Winter 09/10 Vogue Knitting
• Yarn: Cascade Magnum, #4008 Ruby, 6 skeins
• Size: 60" (yes, I wrote that right and you read it right - SIXTY INCHES AROUND)
• Needles: US 15
• Start to finish? 6 days!

This was easy-peasy to finish, by the way. Cute little pleats at the yokes on front and back, cute little hood. I did hesitate for several minutes over the yoke instructions - if you are planning on making this beware that they look severely asymmetrical...but oddly enough they come out correctly. I had someone message me on Ravelry about this and I told her that I went ahead and knit as written and even though the decrease rate on one side does not match the increase rate on the other side, somehow it works out. Maybe someday I could be lucky enough to meet Ms Chia and she can explain it to my thick head. :)

So! If you're looking for a quick distraction with high satisfaction, knit this monster today! You too can be the proud owner of a B.A.H.!

#27

I have a new sweater!

Most of you probably remember my post about my dear friend, Nichole, and the excitement surrounding her first pattern in Vogue Knitting: #27, Fair Isle Collared Jacket. Well, I have just finished my very own #27!

• Pattern: #27, Fair Isle Collared Jacket by Nichole Reese from Vogue Knitting, Fall 2009
• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky, 4 skeins 01, Charcoal; Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran, 2 skeins each #15 charcoal and #16, maroon, and 1 skein each #07 natural, #19 deep violet, and #21 fuschia
• Needles: US 10 1/2 and US 8 from my Click set
• Size: 36" finished chest
• Mods: longer sleeves - read below
• Note: Don't forget to check VK's errata for this - they WAY overstated the yarn requirements.

First up: let's talk sleeve modifications. Nichole's version is short-sleeved and super cute. I, however, didn't want my sleeves to end at the widest part of my upper arm, so I brainstormed ways to elongate the sleeves but keep the knitting interesting. I decided to make a 3/4 length sleeve, and add the same fair isle motif from the collar around the cuff.

The change was an easy one to make since this is a top-down pattern (thank god for top-down patterns, right???). I just returned my held sleeve sts to the needles and kept knitting, putting in 2 decrease rounds as I went to bring them in slightly. Just past my elbow I put in the contrast color edging from the bottom of the sweater, increased sts and change to the size 8 needles, worked the fair isle chart (center bolded repeat only), then decreased back to the bulky sleeve stitch count and size 10 1/2 needles and worked the contrast edging once more. Voila!

I love everything about this sweater. The yarn is delicious and worth every penny. The pattern is great and the perfect mix of straightforward, fast, easy knitting and colorwork entertainment. The swingy shape is dead-on for fitting my big 'ole hips but staying flattering around my waist and chest. This whole project was a big fat WIIIINNNER in my book!

 

bring it on down to froggerville!

It is such a bummer to come to the realization that a sweater is just not working out.

Usually there is a process of denial - you keep knitting but there is a nagging voice in your head telling you something isn't right. Then that inner voice gives way to your sagest knitting advisors and friends, telling you something isn't right. But if you're like me, you will go through all possibly ways to salvage the projects, until the inevitable conclusion arrives: time to frog.

This is what has happened to my Diminishing Rib Cardigan.

You might remember this one from the cover of the Spring 2009 Interweave Knits. It looks sporty and comfy, with nice waist shaping. Even better, it's a top down raglan which means no seams to sew. My kind of sweater.

Except, once the body was done, I was less-than-pleased. The whole thing sits on my like a sack, and the neckline is big and sloppy looking. Not even a good blocking could make this neckline quite right for me. Nichole and I were taking a good look at it, at it on me, and at the picture of it on the cover of the magazine, and we began to notice some issues with the photo.

For one, if you look closely (the online photos are not high-res enough - grab the magazine if you happen to own it), the raglan lines are way up high on the model's shoulders, not running from front neck edge to armpit as they should be. This is a heavy implication of photo-doctoring. I also would beg to differ with the amount of waist shaping they display in the picture, and would venture to guess they have pulled this in the back a bit to give it more definition. While the ribs do indeed start at the waist and bring the piece in a bit, the gauge change is not significant enough to give that much shaping.

I know finishing the sleeves would give the piece more shaping and structure, but after some time to stew on this whole thing I decided I just couldn't continue. I am using the most beautiful handspun merino yarn, created by the lovely and talented Paula Webb, and it's just too nice to waste on a so-so sweater.

So a'froggin' it shall go.

Riiiiiibbiiit.

campin' hat

I am so excited: this year my family is going camping at Wallowa Lake!

For those of you who don't know, Wallowa Lake is a large, beautiful lake in Eastern Oregon. There is a state park campground right at the lake, complete with swimming beach, boat docks, paddle boat rentals, everything! My parents took us to Wallowa Lake every August of my childhood to camp (albeit in an RV), and the fond memories I have are too many to list.

So this year J and I are taking the girls there for 5 days - but we will be tent camping. Since I was not raised to tent camp, this is a daunting prospect for me. But the location has me so excited that I'm willing to overlook the possible disasters that await us all.

Because we're "roughin' it", kinda, I decided I needed a campin' hat. You know - for those "the-two-year-old-was-awakened-at-the-crack-of-dawn-by-that-crashing-in-the-site-next-door-and-someone-better-get-up-and-make-some-coffee-quick-and-you-have-short-hair-that-looks-JACKED-when-you-just-crawl-out-of-bed" moments. And y'all know how much I love this hat, right? Well, it's wool and angora. Not your best summer-time campin' fiber.

So I made the Newsboy Cap.

• Pattern: Cabled Newsboy Cap by Shannita Williams-Alleyne, from Stitch-n-Bitch Nation 

• Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton, #625 graphite, 1 skein

I modified this a bit to make a bit more room between the cabled rows. It just looked too bunched up as written. Because of changing that, I had to re-work the decreases at the top to accomodate my longer cable repeats. But it was easy-peasy, and I love my new cotton hat!!

Wallowa Lake, here I come!

flip that switch!

It's taken me years to figure this out, but I have a switch in my brain. You know, like a light switch. Somewhere around mid-Summer, with no correlation to weather, the switch gets flipped. And once it's flipped, there's no turning back. I am fully in FALL SWEATER KNITTING MODE.

Last year it happened after the Fall Vogue came out in early August. I saw the Cabled Hoody and had to cast on right away. So, a couple of Thursday ago, my switch flipped for 2009. I honestly can't tell you what did it. It's been hot, so it wasn't some onset of cooler weather. And the Fall magazines hadn't come out yet, so it wasn't a batch of new inspiration. But who cares why! Let's look at WHAT:

First sweater casted on: my Get Down Cable Down.

• Pattern: Cable-Down Raglan by Stefanie Japel, from Interweave Knits Spring 2007, or available from Interweave as a pdf download
• Yarn: Cascade Venezia Worsted (220 yds/100g, 70 merino/30 silk), 5 skeins in Charcoal, #131
• Needles: US6 (4,0mm)
• Size: 38"

This was so much fun to knit that I cruised through it in a week and a half. Loved the cables, loved the way Stefanie placed the waist cables just right to achieve waist shaping without having to actually knit shaping. I love the way the center panel of cables diminishes my Ladies (OK - not exactly in profile view - but definitely in head-on view!) and draws a vertical line. Lots of love here, folks! (BUT - don't miss the errata for this pattern. And personally, the 2nd error listed is still not fixed to my satisfaction.)

Of the three sweaters that caught my fancy when the switch flipped, this is the only one I've finished so far. The second sweater cast on is Diminished, AKA the Diminished Rib Cardigan, by Andrea Pomerantz from Interweave Spring 2009. I am knitting this in some BEAUTIFUL handspun merino by Paula Webb, one of my local customers who also sells her handspun in the shop. I'm not quite ready to put the sleeves on hold with this one.

The third sweater has been swatched, but not started. It is Assemblage, by Norah Gaughan from Norah Gaughan Vol 3. I swatched (successfully!) in Cascade Eco Alpaca, and I can't tear myself away from knitting it in the same cream color that it's pictured in the booklet. Oh well. Worse things have happened!

"must.make.this" is now "must've.made.this"

So - LONG overdue FO post here. Remember this?

Well, I knit it up pretty darn quickly. But I wasn't crazy about how it looked on me (which has nothing to do with the knit itself and everything to do with my own self-image), and it took me a while to warm up to some photos of me in the sweater. Photo credits here go to my 6-year-old Campbell.

• Pattern: Botanica Medallion by Shiri Mor, from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 09
• Yarn: 7 skeins Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed Organic Cotton, color Mallard #308
• Size: M/L
• Needles: US6 (4,0mm) and US7 (4,5mm)

This yarn? Delicious! I've had it in the store for a year and hadn't used it before now. It feels fairly "regular" in the skein, but knitting with it one can feel its absolutely squishiness. Mmm. Love it.

And I'm not exaggerating to say that this was the most compelling thing I've knit in years. The center medallion is so captivating that I knit it in about an hour (not surprising, considering it only uses 1 skein out of 7 required). And Shiri's real genius lies in the outer band - her use of multi-row-gauged stitch patterns to acheive the circular shape - amazing. For such a stunning finished object, the pattern itself is really very accessible to the average, intermediate knitter. Genius.

 

Unfortunately, I struggle with the area of my upper arms' backside that feels so exposed when I'm in this cardigan/bolero/wrap/shawl. What I really need to try is a long-sleeved tissue T...maybe this Fall. For now, I'll settle with letting the knit speak for itself on my dress forms in the shop.

I would definitely encourage anyone with a little bit of knitting under their belt to give this a shot - for the entertainment if nothing else!

another quickie, but not as exciting

Amidst all the birthday fun of two weeks ago we also had the end-of-the-year kindergarten zoo trip, which I chaperoned. While many parents chose to drive separately, I was fortunate enough to ride the bus (big and yellow, my friends, big and yellow) with the kids. Which afforded plenty of mindless knitting time. I had these socks on the needles just begging to be finished, so that's what I did: finish them!

The yarn was a gift from Destiny (thank you Destiny!) a couple of years back. It's Sock Pirate Sock yarn, and I believe the colorway was named something like "Watermelon". These are just plain old generic socks, except that I switched things up a bit and did a short-row heel, which I kind of suck at. I don't know - I keep practicing and I don't seem to get any better, and they just don't give me the same satisfaction as a regular heel-flap heel. Sorry short-rowers.

I have to admit something - knitting socks doesn't really excite me like it used to. I think maybe I overdid it that first sock year, I don't know. I still knit them because I love to wear them and gift them, and they don't last forever. But finishing a pair doesn't have the same zip that it used to - in fact I don't even remember to post about most of them or to put them in Ravelry. I guess I've lost my sock mojo. {sad face}

Oh well! Gonna knit some anyway (with this yarn - so soft - it's what Noro dreams of being when its asleep at night! ) on my umpteen-hour trip to Skelleftea, Sweden in 5 days! Can't wait! I'll be in northern Sweden, then Stockholm, then we're heading west to Oslo, then on to the fjords of western Norway. Hooray! I promise to (try to) update with at least a pic or two when we find wi-fi.

look what's blocking!

Whew! Loved knitting this, but feels good to have it done. FO post to come (as soon as weather, outfits, and good hair all converge to happen on the same day).

SALE REMINDER

In case you didn't get our emails, our two June Yarns-of-the-Month are going fast! For the month of June only you can find Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Brushed Alpaca for 25% off (while supplies last).

Lovely Lace and a Little Contest

A few weeks ago Purlaway held our 2nd workshop, Spring Into Lace with Portland knitwear designer Chrissy Gardiner. The workshop was fantastic (for pictures, comments, and swag details click here). We had such a good time, lots of fabulous attendees, and of course, a great goody bag.

The pattern worked for the class was Chrissy's Toe The Line Shawl. After helping people all day back up, fix mistakes, etc, I figured that I knew that shawl pattern as well as I ever would, so I may as well cast on. I already had some Alpaca Lace that I hand-dyed at a KAH Dye Workshop last year, so viola! I knit me a little shawl!

• Pattern: Toe The Line, by Gardiner Yarnworks
• Yarn: Henry's Attic Alpaca Lace, hand-dyed by moi, 1.7oz or about 590 yards
• Size: 9 repeats of lace pattern, then edging

• Needles: 24" addi Lace needle size US5 (3,75mm) 

This was a furious little knit for me - in speed, I mean (not in aggravation). It's been a long time since I've done any kind of lace, so I was very captivated and engaged. I just wanted to keep going and going. I debated going to 10 repeats (it's so hard to tell when it's still on the needles!), but I'm glad I went with just 9 (thanks Nichole, for talking me out of 10 and the extra couple of hours of knitting that would have required!).

It's been hard to catch a sunny day to do a photoshoot. Scratch that - a sunny day when I'm not in lounge/pajama pants. Sunday was beautiful, but I was focused on gardening and forgot about photos altogether.  

On to the contest part of this post! I was very surprised to only use less than half of my skein of alpaca lace for this shawl! I have approximately 2.3 oz, or about 720 yards, left of this yarn. It's dyed a cool silver/purple colorway, and it could be yours! Just leave a comment on this post with your own feelings about knitting (or NOT knitting) lace, and you'll be entered in the drawing for the remaining Alpaca Lace and 1 Gardiner Yarnworks lace pattern of your choice!

The drawing will be done a week from now on May 27th, and the winner announced on the 28th. So c'mon - how do you really feel about lace?!

Lace is a-blockin'!

My Toe the Line shawl is blocking! FO post due soon!

Must. Make. This.

The last thing I need is a queue bump right now, but ladies and gentlemen, it's gonna happen. I must make this NOW: 

Out of this. Whew. Time to wind yarn. I am so distractable!

So I knit this sweater..., or, Lessons in knitting with chunky yarn, part I.

Will I ever learn?

Fact. Chunky yarn knits up into a chunky sweater. Fact. Chunky sweaters on my chunky body make me chunkier. Fact. I know all of this, yet somehow still took 10 skeins of Cascade Venezia (regular, not the worsted) home for sweater usage. Result? Ugh.

Of course, I must qualify that "Ugh": the sweater itself is beautiful, and it looks really great on, well, people with less winter coat than I (i.e. Nichole). The yarn? Delicious. It's just that on me, the whole thing looks like this:

Sorry - no live action photos of this one. Nope - the only one modeling this sweater for the photo shoot is my Shop Lady. She wore the sweater out on the balcony while enjoying the lovely view of the Columbia River on our lovely sunny day.

• Pattern: Wavy, from the Rowan Cotton Tape Collection by Kim Hargreaves
• Yarn: 8 sk Cascade Venezia in Olive
• Needles: US 10 3/4 (7,0mm) from my addi Click set
• Size and Mods: Started out knitting a L for hips (38") then switched at waist shaping to a M (36") for remainder, including sleeves. Oh - also modified to knit in the round and do all raglan shaping in the round. Why sew???

The knitting went very quickly, as you can imagine on 7,0mm needles. My Click set came along at just the right time, because I swatched on a 6,5mm and an 8,0mm and neither got me gauge. I got a wild hair to start this thing on a Friday and had it nearly finished in the weekend. Here's a little stitch detail:

So - let this be a lesson learned for me. For now, at least.

Coming up? Part II, When Chunky Works.

clapoteeee me!

I present my newest favorite knitted FO:

• Pattern: of course, the Clapotis
• Yarn: Handmaiden Great Big Sea, color Pansy, 2.33333 skeins
• Needles: US8
• Shawl Pin: Ron Pessolano

This little lovely caught me entirely by surprise. Normally, I can't stand knitting scarves, or their cousins. A shawl I can handle - only if there's enough going on to keep me interested. But five feet of stockinette stitch on a US8 needle? Forget it.

But I loved it! Somehow I really, really enjoyed knitting this. Maybe it's because it was a little touch of calm and predictability in the midst of all the other chaos in my life right now.

And wearing it? A dream. I wear it every chance I get. I did finish it in time to take with me to the Yarn Market News Conference in Chicago (yay me). I wear it wrapped around my neck like a scarf most of the time, but during one chilly lunch at the hotel it was perfect for opening up and spreading over my shoulders. It's Clapotis love. Oh - and here's the latest hair color. ;)

 

Go Beavs!!!!!

Today is the Civil War, where the Beavers take on the Ducks in Corvallis. If we win, the Beavers are headed to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the first time in many, many years. This will be my fourth game to attend this year, and at each game I've had a new hand knit (or crocheted) Beaver item to wear, so to keep the lucky streak alive I'm furiously working on a pair of socks knit out of some very special Beaver yarn.

I'll give you a shot of me, Jason, Shea, and Annie at the last home game versus Cal, where we all had our hand-knit Beaver gear on (Annie made her and Shea's hats out of Nashua Creative Focus Worsted). I'm wearing my Beav-a-lac scarf, which I was still knitting and sewing in ends on as we drove to Corvallis.

• Pattern: Entrelac Scarf
• Yarn: Cascade Cash Vero, 2 balls in #6 Orange and 2 balls in #2 Black

• Needles: US9 (5.5mm)

Go Beavers!

another overdue FO

Lately I've been feeling like I have a burden of UFOs hanging over my head, and it's been weighing down my knitting psyche. I'm not casting on new stuff (mostly) because I have so many things to finish (those shrugs for the girls were some of those things), yet I'm not working on the old stuff either, so I just end up doing nothing! Well, no more! I finally cleaned up a little of the mess by finishing this:

• Pattern: Greenwich by dolce handknits, size 37"
• Yarn: Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted (4 balls in 0063, denim heather) held together with Nashua Handknits Brushed Alpaca (4 balls in 0726 denim)
• Needles: US 11 (8,0mm)
• Button: Annie Adams X-Large Twig Button
• Ravelry Project Page

I modified this by lopping off six inches in length (the long coat style is NOT flattering on me).

This would have been a ridiculously quick knit if I hadn't set it down for two months somewhere around the 2nd sleeve. Oh - another modification: since the sleeves have no shaping and are drop shoulder style, I picked them up from the armhole and knit down in the round. No sense doing all that purling and sewing - ick.

But, now it's done and I'm on to picking up other forgotten UFOs - namely, my GAAAAAAAAA Afghan. I'm almost caught up! More on that later . . .

How are you all doing with your holiday knitting? I actually don't know if I'm going to DO any holiday knitting this year! I know - how crazy is that!?!?! We'll see if the mood strikes now that Thanksgiving is upon us...

Beaver Lids

So, I know my posting track record is spotty. I tend to go in spurts of posts, then nothing for a month. I would apologize and promise to do better, but clearly, it ain't gonna happen!

Let's see, what have I been up to lately?? What haven't I been up to! Fall has hit me so hard - Campbell is in Kindergarten now, which has its own whole mess of business (not to mention getting her to school at 7:45 in the morning!). The store is CRAZY BUSY and I can hardly keep up even with all of Nichole's help. Y'all should see the amazing new stuff we have been cramming on the shelves every week. I'm working as fast as I can to get it all up on the website...in the meantime, though, we've put some goodies on sale to make room for the new stuff so don't miss out on some great deals!

On to the knitting! Oops - did I say knitting? I meant, On to the crocheting! -gasp. That's right, folks, I've been crocheting!

It all started when I brought home Son of Stitch 'N Bitch, and asked Jason to browse through and pick out something he liked. He picked Lidsville, by Kellen Wallis, which is a crochet pattern. I groaned and put it to the back of my mind.

Then, a few Saturdays ago I stopped by Fiber Nooks & Crannys in Corvallis, OR, while we were in town to watch the OSU BEAVERS KICK USC's ASS IN FOOTBALL, and came across the greatest orange tweed - perfect for the Lidsville hat. (I also got to meet the incredible Vicky, one of the first bloggers I ever read, who was working at the store!).  Hence:

 

• Pattern: Lidsville, by Kellen Wallis, from Son of Stitch 'N Bitch
• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed, color 13, Orange, 2 balls
• Hook: size I (5,5mm) - Laurel Hill - my favorite!!!!

Gotta say, I had issues with this pattern, and at one point even had to contact Kellen via Ravelry to ask a question. The crocheting itself is cake, it's the assembly that's rough. It's crocheted in 9 pieces, and I'm convinced, even in my novice crocheting stage, that it can be done in fewer, especially the back four pieces (maybe a little back-post decrease at the "seam" lines instead). The book's instructions for assembly are really odd, and overall I got the impression that it wasn't well edited before press. Kellen says as much on the Rav page for this pattern, that he was still working on the final pattern after submitting the prototype used for photos. You can tell that there is something really different about the brim in the book pic compared to the brim you get from the instructions, and it's placement with the body of the hat.

But - the final is not bad, and it looks great on J, and will keep his head toasty warm at the next 3 Beaver games we go to in November! Oh - shoot - I need a hat now:

 

• Pattern: City Girl Cap, by Celeste Young, available on Ravelry
• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed, color 13, Orange, 2 balls
• Hook: I (5,5mm)

OK - one more problem with Lidsville - it calls for waaay too much yarn. The book says 2 hanks of Tahki Donegal Tweed, and those are 100g hanks ... Jason's hat took about one and a half 50g balls. So since I had all this wonderful, leftover orange tweed and I, myself will be attending 3 more football games in Brrrr cold November, I though I better make myself a hat, too!

I loved, loved, loved this pattern. I had never done front- or back-post crochet before, and the effect is fantastic. The pattern was easy to follow, and since my gauge was a little smaller (used a smaller hook and slightly finer yarn), I just did one extra round of increases. I actually decreased those away again to tighten it up before attaching the brim, and it worked out great. This is my new favorite hat, and it worked wonders covering up my gross hair this weekend when I had to leave the house while suffering from the flu. Bleck.

Go crochet! Go Beavs!