My Clapotis is finished! Isn't it pretty! I used 7 1/4 balls of Noro Silk Garden. Regular old size 8 bamboo 29 in circular needles. It's not blocked in these pictures but I just couldn't wait! I really loved this pattern. It was uninvolved enough to do while watching tv or listening to a podcast but involved enough that it was fun to watch the different steps. And I didn't think it would work but it is just like in the pictures, you really could use it as a wrap or a scarf.
this is dyed wool that has been hung to dry
this is one of the weaving looms
Interesting isn't it? The website for eljorongo is definitely worth checking out. I love where they describe their business and talk about the "team of expert knitters" used to handknit many of their goods. (What do you say Erin, maybe our group could try out for the team? You can be team captain because you can translate :) There's also a section of the website called the art of wool where they have pictures of the team at work.
I emailed El Jorongo today to see if maybe there's a way I could just purchase some of their yarn. Just to see what it's like. Maybe I could get one of those fluffy brightly colored skeins for myself? We'll see, details to follow!
As you can see we had some visitors! Four brave guys throwing down the shackles of society and picking up the knitting needles! How cool is that! I love how this picture perfectly captures me on the far left just running my mouth, babbling about knitting (I do this in my sleep now, it's pathetic) and Erin second in from the right looking at me thinking "Jana is telling them the completely wrong way to cast on!" And then there's Chris our resident crocheter on the end smiling and looking cute, trying to pretend it's all normal. Haha!!! But no really, other than me screwing up the casting on lesson it was a great night. We all had fun and the guys were so interested in the knitting and so polite and they really picked it up, even if the instruction might not have been that coherent at times...
This is a bunch of knitting books I have wanted for a long, long time. Of course the Amazon wish list helped identify them, but I really give my dad credit for buying me knitting related stuff. I can only imagine what goes through the head of a non-knitter when they see these. (Yarn Harlot?) My dad was like "All those books are about knitting?" Yeah dad, they are. I know you don't get it but, trust me, these are really, really, really cool. I haven't taken a picture of them sooner because when the box came I pretty much tore it open and have been devouring them since. I'm a good part of the way into Knit's End already which I'm really enjoying. It's so easy to identify with her writing. It's so nice to see there are others out there who also obsess over, oops I mean enjoy, knitting just as much. :)
Also I'm already planning my first project from the Scarf Style book. This book is absolutely gorgeous by the way, there's just something so beautiful and simple about just such a quality group of scarf patterns like this. So yesterday of course I had to get out there and buy some more yarn!
Specifically the green yarn which is a gorgeous Lana Grossa Merino I'm going to use for the Falling Leaves scarf which I have in mind for a Christmas gift for someone next year. (See? I'm already planning ahead!!) The blue is a terrific Cascade 220 for a neckdown raglan which is another gift for someone. The one on the top is shaped different because I also caved and finally got myself a yarn winder. So much easier than just trying to wind a ball with the yarn wrapped around a chair or my feet or just laying on the floor. And I got some addi turbo needles which I love.
And mom finally got the socks she wanted...
No more white socks after this people, I'm just done with the white socks they are so boring!
And lucky me, I got (be still my beating heart) this!!!
Not only do I have the best husband ever who always helps with the piles & piles of dishes after a huge holiday dinner but yes he did get me the much-coveted 3 tier lantern moon basket I've been wanting forever. I realized after I re-organized my stash into that I had not taken a "before" picture like I had wanted to. But then again, what good what a before picture have done really, it was pretty pathetic, nobody wants to see that. Nobody!
** Footnote- Of course as predicted when I got home the original yarn I had ordered was here safe and sound. I did not need a replacement sent after all. Sigh... The yarn is just what I expected, the colors amazing and I've casted on and am now an inch or so into the secret gift sock. Of which I will write nothing more at this time- I've already said too much! I promise, future pictures will follow!
And I do like how it's coming out so much. It's going to be huge and I love that. In addition to enjoying the knitting I think I'm really going to like the finished project and that's so cool when that happens!
In other news I feel like I got better just in time for the holiday insanity. I feel like I did nothing but shop this weekend, and if you know me at all you probably know I hate to shop. I do as much online as I possibly can just to avoid the parking lots! Next year, I'm knitting more gifts. (I am! I am! I am! hitting forehead) I really am, I want to start in January if I can. So many people I know don't need anything, or could buy themselves whatever they wanted, or just are not materialistic at all. So I think next year they just might appreciate some handmade gifts. Come to think of it, this might just be the kind of New Year's resolution I might be able to get somewhere with....
Note the use of the previously described stitchmarkers! Ok, so it doesn't look like much now, but I can't believe how easy this pattern is. For some reason when I had read through it before starting it just looked so hard. Maybe it was the required 18 stitchmarkers? But in the end it just goes step by step, and it's making a lot of sense. I'm using Noro Silk Garden, as an unabashed imitation of Cari's Clapotis from Dogs Steal Yarn. If you've never read the post in her blog called Thirteen ways of looking at Clapotis, go read it now. It's just so great. So I know this is not very original but hey, imitation can be flattery right?
I feel like I fell asleep and woke up in winter. I can't remember the last time it snowed in December here. Unfortunately my sickness has not left me yet so a lot of things look funny lately. I won't go into any gory details but lets just say there's a lot of disinfecting and lysol going around this house lately in hopes of stopping the madness. That and I've been mandated to be at the doctor first thing tomorrow morning by various family members, so maybe we'll have some answers and some relief then!
In the meantime I haven't been knitting much. Every once in awhile I poke my head up from the blanket, knit a few rows, then nod off with the needles in my hand. Which really goes to show just how easy these socks were
Because they're worsted they went really really fast. They're comfy but not really that warm. I think for them to be warmer they'd have to be wool or something. I know I mentioned making more for holiday gifts but I didn't get to the yarn store to buy that warmer wool, so I think I may be done with the holiday gifts. Maybe next year.
It's a sucky photo but bear with me. It's just a simple little sock of everyday, run of the mill, found it in the stash might as well use it wool-ease. I'm considering whipping up a few pairs for Christmas gifts if they go fast enough. Which may happen. I think I can find the strength. Nyquil don't let me down! There is knitting to be done!
I don't understand. I've bought it before. I've hated it before. The fact that they first published it without the girl in the photo and then added it later (why to attract women, or repulse us more or????) just plain skeeves me. And all too often I've joined in the ridicule of the patterns at http://youknitwhat.blogspot.com/. (Face it the magazine could practically be the website) But no, for some reason I bought this. And maybe I'll give them like one teeny tiny speck of credit on having a 'men's issue' for originality. I guess. But still, nothing, nothing, nothing could ever make up for this:
And I'm much happier with it than I thought I was going to be. I have a couple of pics of it with me in it, but they were taken at the end of the day and let's just say I'm looking a little weary. But they will follow I promise. They have to because that's one of the things I like about the sweater, it really fits me and it is presentable. It's not like I'm just wearing it because it feels good and I like it because I made it. This is actually a very nice sweater, which was a nice surprise because god knows when I was seaming it I had my doubts!
My other main finished project for this week is this
No unfortunately it's not for my beautiful new niece Addie :( This is for a pregnant co-worker of mine who was very heavily hinting that she wanted something handmade after she saw what I had made for Addie. This one is kind of interesting, it's the strangely-titled 5 hour baby sweater. The version of the pattern I used is found here http://www.minidata.co.nz/major/freepatt/patt01.htm. Or there's another here http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/kp3.html. The sweater came out lovely, but 5 hours? Surely you jest! It was at least 8 or 9 easy. Maybe the next time it will be 5 hours, maybe. And next time I'm definitely making the seamless version. I made the version with seams why? I forgot I really, really, really don't like seaming I guess? Anyway, I think my co-worker will like it and I think I probably will make again in the future. The hat is actually the umbilical cord baby hat from Stitch and Bitch which is a pattern I love and have made several, several times. This one is a little different because rather than doing the I-cord & tying it I decided just to sew up the top & make a little bobble in it's place. I like it, I think it's a neater, cleaner alternative to the pom pom. Plus, making pom poms is a technique that continues to elude me. They're never tight enough or shaped right. Despite investing in the proper pom pom device, it's just hopeless, so I'll go with the bobbles.
Oh and the yarn is a yarn that is new to me, Bernat Satin. I loooove this yarn! So, so, soft for an acrylic. Which makes it washable, which I think it necessary for baby wear. And so affordable it's a crime. Definitely, will be using this again also.
We are so happy to be able to say mom and baby are both doing very very well. Adelaida is a strapping 6 pounds 13 ounces already. She is eating and sleeping and living her new little life already. Best wishes and welcome to you little Addie! Oh the adventure that awaits!
Guess I better go buy some pink yarn!
Today's story is one told with wire and glass and those dangerous looking tools. Ohh scary... See I have an upcoming knitting project that happens to call for 18 (yes 18, I'm frightened also) stitch markers. And rather than use the same old safety pins, random yarn pieces, crap I find in the carpet, I've decided to treat myself. So I invested in some jewelry making supplies, scratched my head and bit my lip a lot and somewhere pulled these our of the air
I am quite happy with them. They've bought me some comfort, I now figure hey, if I get the yarn on and it doesn't work and I'm totally confused, at least it will look pretty with some lovely danglies hanging off of it. Perhaps.
Titled 'Spin in the city' (how witty) shows Sarah Jessica Parker knitting on the scene of a movie set. Sarah Jessica! Oh my! I knew we had so much more in common than our jet set lifestyles... So there. Knitting is cool. The Daily News says so.
Fall can mean a lot of things, pumpkins, apples, football (groan), shorter days, back to school. Unfortunately in our household it also means this...
Having a spouse who works for waste management gives us the luxury of having garbage/leaves/old furniture picked up whenever we have the slightest desire. Having 2 huge trees in our front yarn gives us the obligation to rake leaves almost every weekend in the fall. And of course this is just a precursor to the next season where we get to shovel lots and lots of that four-letter word white stuff that is also always such a pleasure....
On a knitting note I am pleased to announce that we have a button band!!!
Last night me and the Mr. decided to stay in thus giving me the time to accomplish said button band. For dinner he made lovely chicken enchiladas (in this house nothing says 'I love you' better than a meal laden with cheese) and I made some rice & beans. We watched the movie A Home at the End of the World which was a pretty good movie based on a novel by the writer who wrote "The Hours". And I finished the button band, which I'm not disappointed in but I'm concerned the neck is going to be a little higher than I normally care for. I don't know, maybe it will be totally different once I have the sleeves on, maybe it's something about the gray color I chose but for some reason I can't help but think without the sleeves right now it looks like one of those colonial vests someone would wear at Williamsburg for a re-enactment of something. Like I can just see one of those Ben Franklin-types wearing it. Not the image I'm really going for here. I think that's just my general aversion towards vests speaking though (sorry vest lovers). I'm going to go forward and try not to make any more judgments about it until I get those sleeves on, and the sides seamed. Right Allister?
I got to see the musical Wicked which was totally cool. Aside from it being a great musical it was relevant because for once in my life I had actually read the book first. Ok so the book was really really strange and graphic at times, but still an entertaining read. The musical was lighter but still lots of fun and colorful and a great story. Another plus- the wizard just happened to be played by Ben Vereen! Yes this Ben Vereen-
He was awesome! And our seats were in the 2nd row center!!!! Hellooo Ben! Then afterwards we went for some very yummy family style italian fare including a chocolate decadence desert. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
And yes, I am doing some knitting this weekend.
Very frightening. The jetties have never been covered up like that. It might not be my backyard but it is quite close and I feel bad for those fellow jersians dealing with this. And as a homeowner with a sump pump in my crawlspace I'm really hoping this is not indicative at all as to what kind of winter we are going to have...
And believe it or not the sleeves are almost halfway done. I'm happy with it so far I guess. It's hard to tell. I did the pinning the sides closed kinda trying it on thing and it's hard to tell. It seems a little long but I'm thinking the set in sleeve situation might fix that a little. That and when I actually seam it rather than trying to hold it together over my body and see into the future and imagine what it will look like with sleeves and all.
Not much to report otherwise. I went to a gift auction held by the Monmouth County Association of Realtors Thursday night (I know you're so jealous). It was pretty snoozeworthy except one of the gifts was a basket donated by Wooly Monmouth. Full of pretty yarn and gorgeous walnut needles I wish I could afford. I swear I put every ticket I had in the bag for that prize but alas, I did not win. So not only was the evening boring but disappointing also! (Ok that was a crappy story, think of something better...)
Well then Friday was a good day, I wore my first pair of socks I knit on Friday and it was amazing. I never thought socks could actually change my outlook for the day. I literally think my day was better because of them. (Note to self knit more socks...)
Ok well to make up for my lack of knitting photos for today. Here is my Jersey fall scene for the day...
Ok so maybe it's not that autumnal but there are leaves on the ground and you can't tell by the picture but it is a lovely crisp 50 degrees. Finally! Anyway, this picture is really for my sister Lara. I am finally mailing out the baby stuff I knit for her tomorrow (really, really I am) and then once she gets it I can finally share with her my uber fascinating knitting blog (yeah right!) and I know she will like the picture of New Jersey in the fall.
Ok, so maybe it's not a muppet, it just feels like one. It's a baby blanket for my sisters baby on the way. Thank goodness we have Fozzie for a reference point right? Otherwise, you just couldn't tell it was a blanket right? No, it's not that bad, it's just super super soft Berrocco Plush yarn... and the color... well... I know it will make people think my family must have lived on a commune or something but orange really is my sisters favorite color and I think she will definitely get a kick out of it. It definitely contrasts to the more traditional one I crocheted for her in white...
So these and the sweater previously posted, and some other store bought goodies will be making their way off to Florida this week. I think it will be good, they put my sister on bed rest the other week so I hope maybe this will cheer her up. Plus baby will be here next month! So the time is almost here!
On another note, I didn't get to post about the knit out last weekend. It was a momumental event, a wonderful setting for my caucus with the knitting ambassador
Yes of course that is THE Lion Brand Lion. Someone thought it was an impostor? Blasphemous! Hah! Anyway, so the Knit Out was fun. There were lots of fashion shows I took ton of crappy pictures of, none of which were that great. There were lots of hand outs and we had fun just hanging & knitting and stuff...
It was a fun day for all. Knitting, beautiful weather, free stuff. Very, very fun!
