Friday, April 27, 2007

CT Sheep and Wool - Saturday, April 28th

The weather looks okay - better than today. It was cool and crisp last year, and tomorrow looks similar - cross your fingers for no rain! No shopping list as of yet, we'll see what calls out to me. DH would like more roving, though he may change his mind if my friend from Prince Edward Island gives me some fleece! I found someone else who has an idle carder, so we may be able to do something with the fleece. Starting with washing - any ideas?

I haven't heard anything about a blogger lunch for tomorrow, but will bring food to be prepared and see what happens. This year I know where to go, and to bring food to share.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

A Blast from the Past

Wendy of Wendy Knits mentioned this vest in her most recent post (April 20, 2007)! I had to dig it out to show what I was working on over 20 years ago! What's changed since then? I wouldn't even attempt something like this - too much of a commitment.
The pattern is by Perry Ellis and was published in the Spring/Summer 1985 issue of Vogue Knitting. I remember that it took me a while to find the yarn. I worked on it all summer, and finished just in time to wear to work for Halloween 1985. In those days I lived by myself, and had considerably more free time than I do now.

I did a terrible job of weaving in the ends - if you look at it up close there are lots of holes. There also appears to be a gauge problem - it's wider than it's supposed to be. Still, people were very impressed that I had made it, and I'm finding it hard to believe. The young have no fear!

Monday, April 16, 2007

Summer knitting, had me a blast...

The high school is doing Grease this year, so I've got the soundtrack in my head. Anyway, I'm all about summer knitting right now (optimistic, aren't I?)  First up is Conwy from Knitting on the Road in Tofutsies.   

My other colorways of Tofutsies are more variegated, so need a bigger pattern. I've wanted to knit Conwy ever since I got the book last fall, so this one is first.
I started the LMKG Chevron Scarf, and it's coming out okay. The versions knit with STR on the Flickr group are prettier, IMO, but this will be great for brightening up some summer outfits. By alternating between the two projects my hand doesn't get so stressed, so the achiness is kept to a minumum. Somewhere there is a UFO - cabled cotton sweater, that needs attention. I'll have to dig it out and remember what I was doing.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Completed Monkey Socks

I was listening to the Stash and Burn podcast, and they interviewed Lisa Souza. It was a classic "Duh" moment on my part, as Lisa described the inspiration for the Wild Things colorway as the book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

After looking at the socks, how could it be anything else? These were knit on US 1 dpns, and are a little bit big, so they sag a tiny amount around the ankles. I'm wondering if blocking them would make any difference - any thoughts?

Saturday, April 07, 2007

L&V Yarn Pr0n Secret Swap Package Arrival

Look at all my goodies! My pal is FiredUpFairy and she made the book and the notecards.

The book has handmade paper and picture mounts (the little triangular corner thingies), and I haven't decided what to put in there. I'm thinking swatches and representative samples of yarn from finished projects. A previous secret pal (Hi Miz Hardy!) sent me a notebook that is good for ongoing notes and calculations and things, so this will be for Finished Objects. It should last quite a while. The first FO to go into the book will be my Monkey socks - #2 is done except for the toe. My left thumb and forefinger are a bit sore and tired right now, so they'll get a rest and I'll finish tonight.

The other contents of the box are equally fab - love the Tofutsies yarn and pattern. I'm struggling with which socks to do next - Rockin Sock Club (I should start before the next shipment arrives) or something with the Tofutsies that will be light enough for summer wearing. Or both. I'm leaning towards using the STR Monsoon with RPM, as the challenges of the toe-up Inside Out sock pattern have me scared off. There is a downside of reading the blog postings of those brave enough to try - lots of frogging to get the gage/fit correct.

I just saw on the CT Sheep and Fiber Festival web site that the calendar page has the Spring Festival on April 28th, 2007. It's the .pdf files for programs, etc. that isn't up to date. As soon as I get some further news of a blogger meet up, I'll post it. Karen and I are planning for a picnic, so hope to see some familiar faces and blognames there.