Blogging on the Run

Henry and I are traveling in Oregon this week. Many new sights and we are thoroughly enjoying the change of scenery. With a teenager in tow, I'm not visiting as many yarn shops as I would like, but here are some random pictures. Lots more on Facebook, find me there!

The Websters in Ashland. We got in town late and the shop was closed.

The picture above is a very large scale yarn bombing/art installation project in Portland. More information and lots more pictures can be found on this blog. They will put up more pieces in the next few days, and I'm going to see if I can catch a few more glimpse before leaving town.

Powell's bookstore not only has a huge knitting section, they even sell yarn!

Can't agree more with this stash philosophy

I brought Tilly with me as my travel knitting, imagine my nice little surprise to see Tillie the Tillamook mascot when we visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Then again I thought she was a little lam :D

The gorgeous Oregon coast

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

Snow White Progress; Wingspan

Project:  Snow White in June 六月雪
Pattern:  June's Favorite Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn:  Frog Tree Pediboo Worsted, 80% Merino 20% Bamboo
Yardage:  9 skeins, 1638 yards in stash
Needles: Size 8
Cast on: June 1, 2013
Previous entry: here
Notes: I did not finish this sweater in June as I planned, but it's chugging along nicely. The main part of the body is done (in one piece), one sleeve is done, the other will be done soon. Then I will connect them all together and decrease for the yoke. The guys are going to a basketball camp this weekend and I'm hoping for a lot of me time in front of the TV with the sweater.

After owning my camera for almost a year, I figured out how to use the macro function. Look at this cable, talk about stitch definition!

If you are a fan of the Wingspan shawl on Ravelry, you should know that the designer is going to make some changes to the pattern and turn it into a paid version on July 20. So if you like the current version, download it now.

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

Winner, Q&A, Happy 4th!

Last week's eBook giveaway winner is AllyB, who blogs at Ally B ... that's Me! Ally, Denise will get in touch with you on Ravelry to send the eBook.

Chat back time:

Cathy, my favorite yarn is usually wool, usually merino, and usually the less processed the better. I really like Ellen's Half Pint Yarns wool, and that's a Falkland wool. I like most of cashmere and alpaca yarns too (pure or blend), but sometimes they don't hold stitch definition very well so I can't use them for cable designs (and you know I live on cables :-)). I have some fancy stuff in my stash too, like pure silk, qiviut, I really like them, but they are so expensive for a small quantity, hard to decide how to use them.

Mlissabeth, my mom taught me to knit when I was about five, and I knitted on and off when I was growing up. This time around when I became a serious Knitter was in 1998 when I found Knitlist online and join our local knitting group. I have been knitting just about every day since.

Sheila, the little black dog is our little princess Emma. Emma just turned a year old and she knows she's the cutest pup in the world and everyone worships her dainty little toes. 

Beth, the picture was taken at an outdoor concert / picnic, so there was a lot of food around. Emma allowed us to eat our food and only had couple nibbles of fries. She's perfect.

Ally, yes she's ready! Did I send you the address? Let me know if you need it.

It's July 4th week and Henry has the week off from camps. We did some day trips to the coast to get away from the heat wave. I leave you this picture of a hot fudge sundae from Ghiradelli Chocolate Shop on Cannery Row in Monterey. 

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

GIVEAWAY And Book Review

photo credit Denise Voie de Vie

I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoy Denise's photography. Denise, who blogs at Voie de Vie, is an accomplished knitting and crochet designer, painter, and photographer. I have the honor of being one of the reviewers of her latest eBook, Fleurs et L'eau - Printemps/Ete 2013 (Flowers and Water, Spring/Summer 2013). Besides patterns and beautifully modeled samples, there are pictures of vibrant flowers, peaceful water, historical building, and deep canal, at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks/Carl S.English, Jr. Botanical Garden in Seattle.

Now the patterns:

1. One if by Hook Cardi: This crochet cropped cardigan would look so cute on a young lady or someone with the right build -- thin in the middle and without overly large chest or hips. It's a good representation of wearable fashionable crochet. The stitch pattern offers good texture and the overlap neckline design is a sweet touch. With a cotton worsted weight yarn this is a quick project for the summer.

2. Two if by Sticks Cardi: a knitted version of the cropped cardigan. The navy blue trims illustrate the Seattle, Pacific northwest spirit. At 4 stitches per inch, this is a very quick knit, so pick up the sticks and make it for the summer!

Denise's patterns come with very nice schematics, but as a die hard chart knitter, stitch pattern charts would be ever more helpful.

3. Anyone for a Stroll? Bag: crochet small tote bag with bamboo handles. I love small tote bags, they are so easy to use when you are dashing from one place to the next, and have to constantly find or put away wallet, change purse, glasses, sunglasses, phone, car key, house key, pen, camera, hair clip, shopping list, credit card, business card, chapstick, hand lotion, carry-around knitting project, etc. This little bag is a quick project in thick and thin yarn or other bulky yarn. Close it with a big button, or not. There are instructions for Bottom Stabilizer, Lining, and Attaching Handles.

4. Le Bateau Shawl: le bateau means the boat, and this crochet crescent shaped shawl is so named because it looks like the bottom of the boat from the side ways. But so much prettier!! The body of the shawl is worked in one piece and then top and bottom edgings are picked up. With 75 inches wingspan, this is a pretty good sized go-everywhere shawl.

5. Constellation Bracelet and Earrings: crochet with beads, so simple and so elegant. There are plastic rings inside to hold the shape.

6. Climbing Vines Cowl: crochet in rich texture, another go-everywhere, suitable for all occasion summer must-have accessory. The body is worked flat and edging is added after seaming, so in theory you can easily change the pattern into a scarf or stole.

Now the GIVEAWAY:

Denise's eBook is available on Ravelry for $14.99. I have ONE copy to giveaway to a blog reader (eBook will be sent to you from Denise through Ravelry). To qualify, leave a comment on this entry:

1. Your favorite pattern in this eBook
2. Ask me a question, about this blog, knitting, dogs, me
3. Let me know how to get in touch with you if we are not connected already

One entry per person. Entry ends Thursday July 4th noon PST. In next week's blog post I will announce the winner and answer your questions.

There are so many words in this entry, time to take a look at this face again.

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

Another Oldie: Tree of Life Afghan

Project:  Tree of Life Afghan
Pattern:  Tree of Life Afghan by Nicky Epstein, published by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn:  Encore Worsted solid white
Yardage:  about 10 balls, 2000 yards
Needles: Size 8
Cast on: 2002
Cast off:  2004

Cost: about $50

Notes: Knitted this a decade ago (!) for my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary. It was one of my first major cable projects, and I gave myself two years to finish it. Think I finished it with plenty of time to spare. Now that I remember, I'd better start planning something for their 60th coming up next year. 

The pattern looks complicated but was fairly easy to execute. The leaf border was a lot of fun to make.
Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, Tami's blog, and leave me a comment!

Snow White in June 六月雪

Project:  Snow White in June 六月雪
Pattern:  June's Favorite Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn:  Frog Tree Pediboo Worsted, 80% Merino 20% Bamboo
Yardage:  9 skeins, 1638 yards in stash
Needles: Size 8
Cast on: June 1, 2013
Notes: This is a shop model for Green Planet Yarn. The yarn has 20% bamboo, and you can definitely feel it, much less wooly but still pretty nice. The pattern is a cardigan with three inches gap between the two fronts. It's not something I'd usually wear because I'd think there is not enough fabric to cover a round belly. The sweater knits bottom up in one piece, so it's pleasant going.

West Cliff, Santa Cruz

Wednesday was my birthday. Henry and I planned for a nice day of walking along the coast (me), playing games on the Boardwalk (him), and having lunch on the pier (together). We arrived in Santa Cruz (over the hill from where we live), just to find an almost-flat tire. We went on to do our things (actually by then I already dropped him off so I didn't have much choice), all on foot. When we were done I managed to get the car to a gas station where the guys helped put some air in the tire, and warned me NOT to drive home with that tire, because it'd pop any moment. Off to Wheelworks, after three hours wait and $400, I got two new tires on my Little Green Engine. I was so glad to bring us all back home in one piece in my own car for a late birthday dinner and ice cream cake. One would hope this does not signify an eventful, exhausting, and expensive year to come. 

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

Shades of Red

The Fishermen's Wool from Einstein's Coat went from this:

To this:

10 and 20 drops red

And this:

30 drops red

And this:

40 drops red

I don't have a really big pot for dyeing yarn, so had to make do with a good sized baking dish in small batches. I kept adding more food coloring with each batch, until the last one that came close to the intensity that I was looking for. The rest came out more pinkish than red, so I might try to dye them again to for deeper colors.

Next project, June's Favorite Cardigan, which I started on June 1st.

This young man graduated from middle school. He is officially taller than his mom, and knows a lot of stuff his parents didn't know when they were his age.

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

Tilly 娣丽; Coat No More

New Project:

Project:  Tilly 娣丽
Pattern:  Tilly from A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd
Yarn:  Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool 
Yardage:  2 skeins, 384 yards in stash
Needles: Size 6
Cast on: May 26, 2013
Notes: A Fine Fleece is one of my favorite knitting/fiber books, and every fiber lover should own it. The write up about various fibers was informative, and the patterns are beautiful. Lots of cables! Tilly is going to be my transition project until the next big project starts. After knitting lace for the last few projects, my hands are very happy to work on cables again.

A few months ago I showed you this Einstein Coat when I got it back from my mom. I originally knitted it for my mom, she outgrew it and gave it back to me when she moved in December. It didn't fit me, what am I supposed to do? Rip it of course, so I can use the delicious Fishermen's Wool again.

So it went from this:

To this:

Next thing is to wash the yarn, and dye it with food coloring. 

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

Liesl Finale, AGAIN!

the new front

much roomier sleeves

back still very pretty!

edging details

The first time Liesl was very pretty but uncomfortable to wear. Now she's still pretty, and without the stupid mistake (that I'm not going to talk about), she's very much a wearable garment. I'm very happy with the result. If you want to do a before and after, just click on the link and toggle between the screens.

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

Liesl Redux

Redux

Was

Remember I wasn't complete happy with how Liesl turned out, with the tight shoulders and sleeves and all. I thought about how to fix the sleeves, so I ripped them out. Then I ripped out the body up to the end of the yoke increase, re-did the armholes, re-knitted the body on larger needles, now re-knitting the sleeves. You can't tell from the picture that well, but the armhole area is much more roomy now. I made a major mistake the first time around, so bad that I would not admit it. We agree to let it go.

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