Knit Meredith, KnittingSavantDarla (KSD) and I are doing knit-a-long for the Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes. If you care to join us in the fun, please do so and post a comment on the blog.
Here's KnitMeredith casting-on. This is my reality-style photo for my cast-on. Here is our progress by the end of the evening. Knit Meredith's Maine Mitt is on the left, mine on the right. I knit twice as she. But I didn't have a glass of wine.
It was a fun evening. I have promised to only knit these when I'm around Meredith. So I'll be knitting more on Friday. The mitt is a quick knit and pleasing to knit.
I'm looking forward to helping KSD get started on her Mitts. She'll be learning DPNs for the first time!
This is knitSB modeling the Turn-A-Square hat that I made while at Thanksmas 2009. I think a perfect caption is "How you doin'?"
The pattern is wonderful and has a jogless jog technique that is new for me. I used Lamb's Pride Worsted and some Noro Silk Garden.
I really like the color combination with the gray. My brother Mike gave me a hat book as part of my gift. I asked if he wanted a hat. Yes, he wanted one but nothing as fancy as the hats in the books. I had just finished this hat and said "You mean a simple hat like this?" Yep. So I gifted this hat to Mike.
What is wonderful is when I see people wearing the knitted item I made for them. My brother wore the hat the rest of the day. I did mention that he didn't have to wear it for my benefit. "I'm cold and it keeps me warm." His wife wore her shawl all day, too.
I had a great knitting day at Thanksmas 2009. Two of my neices asked me to knit Topi hats for them. My future nephew-in-law wants a red Topi and my great nephew's father wants a red stocking hat. I'm happy that so many of the family has asked for hand knitted items.
My family celebrates Christmas & Thanksgiving together on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. "Thanksmas" is when the family gets together to eat, drink and be merry and to exchange holiday gifts. Since I've been knitting, I've tried to knit my gift for my sibling. This is my sister-in-law Joy who was glad to receive the Joy Wave Shawl. We talk about the gift in this vlog.
I really like it when someone appreciates the hand knitted item. This is a picture of her opening the shawl.
She really likes the shawl. She wore it all day. Here are two pictures of her enjoying Thanksmas while wearing the shawl. It makes me feel great to see someone so enthusiastic about their gift.
I discovered a broken stitch right after the filming of the video. I used a duplicate stitch with some leftover yarn to resolve the issue. I made certain to catch the new yarn several times on each side of the broken stitch so the shawl wouldn't unravel.
The pattern and detail photos This is based on the Feather and Fan Stitch or Old Shale taken from the Barbara Walker Second Treasury. Cast on 88 sts in color 1, K 8 rows for the set up (4 garter ridges). Color 1 Row 1 (right side): Knit Row 2: Knit Switch to Color 2 Row 3: K 8 sts*(K2tog) 4 times, (YO, K1) 8 times, (K2tog) 4 times: repeat from * to last 8 sts, K Row 4: K 8 sts, Purl to last 8 sts, K8 Repeat these 4 rows, moving up the other color until there is enough yarn for for 8 k rows (4 garter ridges) using color of your choice. BO loosely. Block
I used a size 9 needle. I wanted a garter st boarder so I always knit the first and last 8 sts. This shawl took 330 yards of Classic Alpaca in Color 1603 (Cowboy Blue) and approximately 330 yards of Noro Tidiori in Color 1
I just realized that I didn't take final measurements after I blocked the shawl. Joy, If you read this, can you please put a comment and let me know the final dimensions?
I'm doing some knitting for staff who don't have a nbd knittedotem from me. MariaOD bought some yarn because she really likes the scarf pattern that came with the pattern.
I completedy knitting at Thanksmas and went about 3 hours without knitting. I was between projects. I thought I would get started on this shawl for MariaOD. I didn't have the right needle size so I had to get creative.
I used hair bands on the end of double points to knit. This will work well as the pattern calls for a narrow scarf with only 22 sts cast-on. Once I finish with the white, I'll add black yarn. A simple but nice scarf.
This is the third Topi that I've knit in the last 4 days. This one is for me and is mostly knit in a discontinued Noro yarn with some extra black to help cover the yardage needed. I think I've memorized the pattern.
Musicaljeff tried it on and liked it so much he asked for one in blues. I had some blue/purple/teal silk garden in stash so I knit one for him. (That is number 4) They take about 5 hours to knit.
I cast-on another version using dark green Cascade 220. I'm almost done with the top of the hat. :). (that would be number 5)
I got to see one of my favorite paintings of all time on Monday at the Art Institute of Chicago. Van Gogh's "The Bedroom" has always made my heart flutter. The composition of the simple bedroom, painted with such colors emotes a variety of emotions from me. I would almost bet that the actual colors of the room were not this vibrant or layered. The paint is put in the canvas with a purpose and define the shapes just enough to leave room for the viewer to "fill in" whatever is missing. I think the painting is beautiful and I got to see it in person
After visiting the Art Institute of Chicago, I took the short walk to The Loopy Yarn for their Men's Knitting night. I had a good time and got to meet Todd. Todd is an up and coming designer for men's knitted garments. He's modeling hi last design called Expedition. It is a nicely designed sweater and looks great on him, don't you think? I took this detail so you could see the detail of the front (and the cabling.)
You've heard the problem about sweater models being too cute as they distract from the sweater, haven't you? I admit there are times that I've had to put my thumb over the face of a model so I could concentrate on the sweater. ;) Todd has a great smile makes the sweater look even nicer. I have posted a photo without the smile so you can see the sweater.
I'm hopeful that he'll let me test knit a future pattern. {{hint, hint}}
I've been working on some knitted gifts for the great ladies that work at the coffee cart where I work. My barista knitted items have been pure pleasure to knit.
The second item is the Topi hat from the Spring 2006 Knitty. It was a quick knit and only needed to be frogged once when I realized the size was gigantic and too large. My modifications include using two yarns and striping the hat. If I were to do it again, I would change to two rounds in each color rather than the one. I wasn't able to single stripe the brim to keep the same striping pattern.
I like this hat a lot more than I thought I would. I like it so much that I cast-on a version for me using Cascade 220. I don't have a completed picture of the Barista Colonnade Shawl but I'll remind you of the progress with this picture. It is the Colonnade by Stephen West from the fall 2009 knitty.
You may have watched this vlog about my theater experience with a wonderful crew for How I Became A Pirate. I wanted to share a few more pictures & videos of K & M. I hope you enjoy. M & K thought it would be fun to make t-shirts for any member of the production crew that wanted a Tartuga t-shirt. Of course, everyone needed a name to go on the back. This is a picture of the back of their shirts. I think they did a great job! The back of my shirt said "kid knittingbrow."
I really like this picture of these two amazing crew members. They had a great time and it shows on their faces. I believe they still like each other after the experience, too. Always an added bonus, I think.
They spent much of the show moving the dinghy.
and they wanted a picture of them holding it.
And what does the crew do during the performances? Check these out.
or this one
Theater should be fun. And this experience was fun.
I had the BEST production crew for How I Became A Pirate. Moving bookflats, holding curtains and making a mast crack isn't always a fun evening. These people were great to work with and fun. Thank you Al, Sam, Ryan, Lance, Emilee, Melissa & Kailey. We moved sets and props for 21 performances over three weekends. This does not include tech & dress rehearsal weeks which adds another 5 full runs of the show. My hats are off to the crew. I look forward to working with you again.
knit using Aracunia Nature Wool from the Interweave Knits, Holiday Gifts 2007. I completed 7 pattern repeats and it is a bit large. I wear it turned up in the back so it is more of a skull cap. I can turn it down and the hat will cover my ears comfortably.
The stitch definition with this yarn is lovely. I really like how the hat top is worked.
This painting hangs at my mom's house and was part of my senior thesis exhibit my senior year of college. I did a series of flower paintings as part of my exhibit. This oil painting was completed in 1988.
It was a beautiful day in Columbus today. Perfect weather for this sweater. I took a class to learn how to knit a Lopi sweater the fall I learned to knit. I remember struggling over the color of yarn and size of the sweater. The class was a good class and I learned a lot through the process.
I didn't finish the sweater during the class and it hybernated a few months. I remember when I finished the sweater. It was a Friday night knitting at Wolfe Fiber Arts and a lot of knitters were there knitting. I had to run in the ends. I still dislike running in the ends. I got all done with the sweater that evening and got a round of applause when I pit the sweater on for the first time.
I think every knitter should get a round of applause when they finish a project. I feel really happy that I still enjoy this sweater.
Darla knit her version of the Karius scarf following the alterations that I used for Angie's scarf. Darla's version uses a Patons wool in moss heather. She did a garter ridge every 8 rows and her increases were every 4 rows.
My friend Peggy Lilac asked wha I wanted for my birthday. I don't need any more "things" and Peggy is a great cook. She suggested cooking some food that I could take to work for lunch. Such a great idea for me! Today's food is split pea and rice soup. It is quite tasty. The seasoning is really good and has a hint of mustard. I like split pea soup and make it a lot for myself. Peggy's is perfect for my Thursday lunch.
Behind me is the quilt that N-cubed made for my birthday several years back. I love the quilt and it hangs in my office to remind me of how amazingly colorful life should be everyday.
I've been feeling "old" over the last few days and it is good to have some good reminders of the "happy" aspects of birthdays. The feeling "old" shows up by getting irritated by slow drivers, how young some people look and that I still have so much left on my life to-do list. I'm working on keeping everything in perspective and to stop "talking about" things and to start doing things.
This lovely card was given to me by the M's. It is a Muse of Knitting card. It is a very appropriate card because she taught me to knit. She and her friend Sarah came down to visit me and see the Chihuly exhibits at the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus Art Museum. we had a greattime and enjoyed lunch at Old Bag O' Nails.
