KnitBrit

On the needles right now are a pair of my love squared fingerless gloves. The pattern can be found in Shannon Okey’s AltFiber, a book I am very proud to be a small part of. The gloves are worked in two colors with a two color rib and thumb gusset that I’m particularly fond of. This is the third pair I’ve made and have plans to work on a chartreuse and brown pair once these are finished. 

I’m also working on a sock project for Shannon right now. Can’t say much about it other than the yarn, which she dyed, is phenomenal. Can’t wait to share all the details on this project. 

I’m very lucky to be sharing Shannon’s intern, Carrie, this afternoon. We are making a visual tutorial for our production knitters and since language is a barrier, the photos will work very well. This is a common technique to use for people with language delays or deficits and we used visuals almost exclusively when Ben was younger, so it seemed like a good idea here. 

One of the most wonderful things about being a designer is having the opportunity to work with some fantastic yarn companies. I have to admit to being a little jealous of Jonelle from SWTC - she always has the best yarns, and gets to play with them way before the rest of us do. She has been very generous recently and shared the love. I received a goody bag last week full of delicious new yarn including Therapi, which I’ve been dying to get my hands on.

It’s made from Jadeite, yes - rock! I’m not exactly sure why, and it certainly doesn’t feel rocky, or even pebbly. In fact, it’s very smooth. It has 30% Jadeite fiber, 50% fine wool and 20% silk. It’s a very intriguing concept, and I’ll be interested to see how the yarn is used. You can see it in the photo - it’s the brown yarn. Below it is the Terra, which is a cotton bamboo 50/50 blend. Between the smoothness of cotton and the sheer silkiness of bamboo, I can’t wait to start working with this on a fantastic crochet project in mind. Next to that is the Phoenix, a 100% soysilk ribbon. The feel of this fiber is incredibly soft - one of those skeins that you almost don’t want to work with, just pet and fondle. But I can imagine a stunning loose-weave scarf would look and feel spectacular in this yarn. At the bottom of the picture is the Vespera. It’s a hand dyed 100% Merino from Uruguay and I have to say, the color just glows. I can’t wait to use this yarn.

SWTC always have the most interesting fibers at work, and they always seem to be at the cutting edge of new fiber technology. I’ve used a lot of their yarns in many different projects and love both the versatility and the fact that they’re available at our LYS. Thanks Jonelle!

As is customarily the case with me, once I get the hang of something, it crashes. Thus was the case with my blog. I was having a blast blogging about this, that and lots of nummy yarn. But wordpress had other ideas and decided that my version was incompatible with the new version and it went kaboom! I’m not the most technologically able person so I was pretty much at a loss - thank goodness hubby helped out. Apparently, we will very soon be pattern enabled too, so those of you who are asking for the tech bag and Mitrebox Jacket don’t have much longer to wait.

The last month has been one of the busiest in recent history and I’m sure I’ll forget a thing or three. 

Firstly, I have to say thank you to the delightful Ann White for hosting our semi-annual snb retreat at her condo at PeaknPeek. Too much wine, too much good food and the best company! Not to mention a visit to the Cultured Purl in Eerie. Speaking of…. when I first moved to the States I’d see all these signs on the highway for Eerie, Pa - always called it scary dad! (just one of my sillies) Anyway, moving on… the weekend was truly blissful and incredibly relaxing. Thanks to Stacey, Amy, Ann, Martha, Juniper, Adrianne and Renee for a wonderful weekend. Can’t wait for the fall. 

On the needles last month, a very comfortable pair of Koigu socks, my Mitrebox Jacket in sumptuous Malabrigo Kettle dyed Worsted, (#80 Azul) another Tech bag started in good old Cascade 220 and a pair of socks that I started to design and abandoned half way through. 

I didn’t get the chance to go to TNNA last weekend - Benjamin was graduating elementary school - wow! but I am going to Knitter’s Connection tomorrow for a couple of days thanks to the incomparable Shannon. 

Photos to follow along with more details on the Mitrebox jacket. 

Let’s see if we can keep this going for longer than two months this time! (wish me luck!)

Another sock, this time with a rather silly name. When I was trying to decide what to name this sock, I was thinking of holes, and, quite naturally for me, holes led to “Toad in the Hole” one of my favorite things to eat. The food is yorkshire puddings with sausages baked in them, covered in thick onion gravy. The sock is a simple lacy wonder done in STR Pondscum - quite an appropriate yarn, I thought. The photo below is close up detail of the sock - but don’t judge me too harshly, it isn’t blocked yet!

The sock was originally done in ShiBui, which took two skeins but it only needs one STR medium weight.

The pattern should be available here for download by next weekend if the paypal gremlins cut me some slack

I have to throw this out there - it has nothing to do with knitting, but enquiring minds need to know.

Am I the only one who has noticed that every week, within 37 minutes, someone brings up Lupus on House? The first season, it seemed that the mom was usually to blame for the patient’s ailments. I’m guessing they got rid of a misogynistic writer or two, but lupus? Every week? Come back Jeeves and Wooster - all is forgiven!

I can’t believe it’s been six months since I blogged - I’m not even going to attempt to play catch up, however, one of my infamous lists may just whet your appetite - if you want to know more, just let me know.

So, in the last six months I’ve:

Made costumes for a HS version of Guys and Dolls
Attended seven IEP meetings - the longest lasting over five hours
Had six cortizone shots in my back
Participated in two knitting swaps - scarf and amigurumi.
Lost a brother
Had a four day impromptu visit from my mom
Got a lovely pattern in Shannon Okey’s “How to Knit in the Woods“
Got six (yes six) lovely patterns in Shannon Okey’s “Alt Fiberr”
Had red streaks in my hair
And got rid of them a month later
Crocheted three amigurumi’s and 2 doilies
Knitted three pairs of socks, four scarves, a jacket, a cushion and two hats
Edited a book - ok, I’m halfway through
Designed enough patterns to keep me knitting for years
Probably not slept more than four hours in any given 24 hour period.

I think those are the highlights. I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten a thing or two, but you get the drift.

Sometimes, things just click. I’ve been working on a couple (of dozen) patterns for various projects, and things just came together this week like they haven’t in months. The knee sock that I’ve wracked my brains over just flowed out of the needles, and I’m thrilled with the way the increases worked out. An “on the spur of the moment” tofutsies cable sock flew and just seemed to create itself. The tech bag written pattern finally finished, and a couple of secret patterns are actually on needles now.

I’m totally taking advantage of this creative streak - not sure how long it will last, nor if Ben will allow it to grow, but I’m loving the mood.

I think that going with the flow has really helped the last little while. I’ve not forced anything, if I got stuck on a pattern concept, I put it down and moved onto something else, and for the most part, it’s been a successful venture. Most importantly, I’ve gone out of my way to write everything down - and anyone who knows me knows that this is something I don’t usually do.

Perhaps it’s post-Rhinebeck euphoria? Maybe my hangover from the Ravelry party has finally cleared? Maybe it’s the five hours of sleep I got one night this week? Whatever is causing this, I’m loving it.

Sadly, I can’t post photos because everything I’m working on right now is either for our SNB secret scarf swap or for books….. I’ll have to see if I”m allowed to post teaser photos.

I’ve also got together with friends to knit this week, which always rejuvenates my spirit and keeps me going. Martha and Ann were great fun midweek for cookies and earl gray, and then tonight, Martha and I went along to Studio Knit in Medina for their knit and chat session. The gals there are always so welcoming, and I have to say, I love that store. I think it’s the only yarn store I’ve ever been in that doesn’t seem cluttered, but still has a huge variety of yarn and notions. I’m looking forward to going back there soon.

Amy and I will be heading upto StitchCleveland and River Colors on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend - Saturday teaching our bevvy of beauties in sock club and Sunday teaching a tofutsies bootcamp - can’t wait!

I’m trying to plan a weekly sock class for next year, and although I think I have it locked down, I thought I’d throw it out there and ask everyone what they want in a sock lesson? Let me know.

boomshanka

Well, I really don’t know where to start, it was an extravaganza of fun, fiber, fall splendor and frenetic laughter. (apologies for the alliteration, it seemed somewhat apt.)

Amy, Adrianne, Martha, Shannon and I had a blast on the drive down, although Shannon had to work, and we took a break for her to do a remote podcast with Vickie Howell. Our hotel was truly delicious and our room was the best ever!

I think I was up before 5 on Saturday, so eager was I to hit the festival. We got there nice and early, in plenty of time to walk right into Blue Moon Fibers and score some fairly wicked socks that rock. I got a darling skein of Pond Scum, which I’m pairing with a lovely chocolate brown to make Eunny’s Endpaper Mitts. I can’t wait to start them, although I think they will be my christmas vacation project - something to really look forward to.

As always at Rhinebeck, the food was something I was really looking forward to and it really didn’t disappoint this year. I devoured some utterly delicious lamb chops - very fresh and tender. yummy. I miss eating lamb. Back in England, it was so easy to get good quality fresh lamb, here - not so much. So this was a rare treat! It seemed busier than last year, but it didn’t feel crowded. There was so much to see, so much to do, so many people to talk to. It was lovely just to sit and watch everyone having a blast!

I got to meet up with the delightful Amy O’Neill Houck, along with her mom and daughter - three generations of wonderful women.

I was thrilled to finally meet Jess from Ravelry, she was so gracious, on what must have been an incredibly stressful day - what a babe! And absolutely, the hostess with the mostest - the party was awesome - free bar? wow! I may have indulged somewhat, however, I was in very good company!

Other highlights of the weekend include scoring some wicked yarn for my tech bag, along with some stunningly soft alpaca for a certain someone who always complains I don’t knit for him. I don’t think I’ve giggled so much for a long time - thanks ladies for an awesome weekend. Can’t wait for next year!

Last night, our snb group said goodbye to our founding member, Rae. Ann, Amy, Adrianne, Juniper, Martha, Rae, Stacey and I all celebrated at our favorite sushi house, Sakura and between drinks, good food and great conversation, it was a wonderful night.

I am always astounded by this group of women. They each have incredible strengths and skills, as well as just being kind, supportive and totally wonderful. I often wonder how different my life would be without them, and I can’t imagine it - the doors that have opened for me because of them are too many to mention.

So thanks, Rae, for starting such a wonderful group - you will be missed.

Last year at Rhinebeck, Heather, Amy and I were early to the show with one prime directive - Socks that Rock. We knew demand would be very high, so we got up early with the express intention of Rockin’. Success was at hand and yummy yarn was purchased. I drooled over mine, so much so that I had to sit down for a while, ball up one particular skein, run to buy needles (duh! won’t make the mistake of forgetting to stick needles in my bag again) then begin to knit. Then pull out, try a different pattern, rip that out.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Over the last year, this skein of yarn has been lurking at the top of my stash pile. it sees the light of day occasionally, I’ll admit to a little frustration, a little desperation and perhaps a wee bit of pique. I searched the web - yep, others were facing the same conundrum. This makes me feel a little better, but didn’t solve the problem. If you haven’t guessed already, I’m talking about the infamous Fire on the Mountain.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love this particular skein, and I absolutely love STR. I’m no slouch when it comes to sock knitting, but FotM looks like regurgitated rainbow puke when socked up. There’s no other way to describe it.

There’s a happy ending to the story though, thanks to LMKG, Ravelry and Amy - who showed me the light. The chevron scarf from the book is just perfect for this yarn. Teamed with a skein of black Bamboo from SWTC, I am finally showing this yarn the love it deserves. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Now I wonder how many FotM chevron scarves I will see at Rhinebeck this year? LOL