Knitting Group Show and Tell

I have been going to South Bay Knitters group meetings since I picked up the needles again in 1998. This group of ladies have inspired me to do many things that I never imagined I'd do, in a good way. I'm very lucky to have them in my fiber life. 

I converse with a lot of people in my day job, though email, LinkedIn updates, Skype, instant messages, Facebook, Twitter, not to mention lengthy phone calls and interviews. Some days I'm literarily talked out, so I have not been meeting with my friends as much as I'd like. Last night was our monthly meeting, it's so refreshing to talk to friends. You know, no one has to plead for a job, or give empty promises, or play some name dropping to show off the superiority. It's just a group of women, knitting, and chatting.

Candace's Stephen West Earth & Sky shawl

A new member knitted this sparkly little sweater.

Julie's baby sweater for her grand niece

Lisa's baby sweater for her niece, pattern is Little Hanten,
by Cheryl Oberle, from Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders.
It's a lot prettier in person!

Lisa's Fair Isle cardigan from Knit Picks Palette. It's stunning!

Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, Tami's blog, and leave me a comment!

Tappan Zee Finale 大班老师

decrease on both sides

unmatched buttons

Project: Tappan Zee 大班老师
Pattern: Tappan Zee cardigan by Amy King, Knitty Spring + Summer 2010
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style, DK weight, 100% wool
Yardage:  6 skeins, 738 yards in stash, used every inch of it!
Needles: Size 6
Cast on: September 3, 2011
Cast off: October 15, 2011
Cost: $18
Notes: I made button holes all the way down so I can wear it as a regular cardigan. I added waist shaping on the sides, but ran out of yarn so not all the stitches were added back. The finished hip is smaller than finished chest size. The button holes came out really small, none of my good buttons would fit. So I raided my "spare" button stash, you know, all those little packs that come with shirts or pants or jackets, I got a big pile of them. The result is seven buttons mix and match, I think it's pretty cool. Adds character, right? 

Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, Tami's blog, and leave me a comment!

New Project: St. Brigid

Project: St. Brigid 
Pattern: St. Brigid by Alice Starmore, from Aran Knitting
Yarn: Scottish wool
Yardage:  1000g, about 2000 yards
Needles: Size 6
Cast on: September 27, 2011

Notes: I have been a Starmore fan since whenever, and I have wanted to knit St. Brigid since whenever. I have knitted a few Aran sweaters over the years, but I always see her designs as the ultimate goal I should try to accomplish. And let me tell you, now that I have knitted a few repeats on this design, it's really not that difficult.

The yarn came to me from Harris, Western Isles, Scotland. A few years ago I was on Knitswap (a Yahoo group) a lot, scoping out good deals. A lady from Scotland asked if anyone would like to swap with her, something that she could not find in Scotland. I had a small stash of Chinese cashmere that my aunt sent me so I traded that for Scottish wool. Quite a trade, isn't it? Something soft and smooth for something strong and hardy. The yarn is so perfect for the Starmore design, so perfect for the twist and turns and knots and crosses, it's telling a story as it runs through my fingers. I love touching the cables as my work completes itself, feeling it's roughness, and hearing the tales from a far away place.

The stitch markers are little pugs that I got in my first and last swap in the pug group on Ravelry. Bucky was so deeply ingrained in my life for over 15 years, now I cherish every bit of pugness in my life.

Rascal says Hi!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog and leave me a comment!

Gift Yarn; Purlescence

I received this super nice skein from Ally of AllyB...that's Me! this week. Ally is responsible for leading me to Fiber Arts Friday, after we met and got to know each other in the pug group on Ravelry. This is a skein of her hand spun, corriedale plied with kid mohair and silk. I can't say enough how much I love this yarn, it's lofty and smooth, with just the right amount of irregularity. It will become something very nice to wear I'm sure.

Last week I had some time to kill while running errands around town, so I treated myself with a visit with one of the yarn shops in the area, Purlescence Yarns in Sunnyvale. I haven't been to this shop for couple of years, and they have moved since my last visit. Now they have a much larger store front, which is very well lit, and there is enough room to lay out all the spinning wheels and looms.

Better view of the wheels on the shelf.

Today is my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary. Never get tired of seeing our younger selves!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog and leave me a comment!