Trish Knits.com

Well, I was successful in getting the sleeve stitches onto holders today before knitting group, so here is the latest photo of the baby sweater in progress. It finally looks like a sweater, no? I’m finally seeing a light at the end of this tunnel.

Now some scenes from today’s knitting group:

Rhoda knitting on the BYOB bag from Knitty.com

(Dina is our new group member. She didn’t want her picture taken, but here she is!)

Lola saw that I posted on Ravelry to Jo the other day, asking if she had a drop spindle that I could play with at group today. Jo said no, she didn’t, but then Lola surprised me with this:

A drop spindle to play with and a bit of roving! I tried for quite a while to make yarn tonight and it was interesting to say the least. It looks so easy when I see others doing it! Maybe I’ll have to ask Lola to give me a lesson or two. I’m thrilled that she’s letting me borrow this spindle before I buy my own, though… it’s good to figure out whether I can even do it first. So far I’ve had yarn falling apart and lots of spindle crashing to the floor stuff, and very little yarn stuff, but I think I’ll get there. Wish me luck, and what a great afternoon it was. Thanks again, ladies! I had a great time.

Everyone was knitting socks:

Even me!

And the thing is, even though we were all knitting socks, we were all doing it differently. Shelley was knitting top down on DPNs. Lola, who happened to be knitting way cool purple socks, was doing top down on two circulars. Rhoda was doing a second striped sock top down on magic loop. And me? I’m doing one toe up on magic loop. Isn’t it great how the same thing can be done in so many marvelous ways? That’s the coolest thing about knitting to me. I’ve learned that there’s no right or wrong. I don’t have to be concerned that my hands won’t work a certain way to use this certain tool or that certain method. There’s always another way. And that’s cool!

Shelley and Lola both like spinning and had lots to talk about. Lola reported that she just got a new spinning wheel.

Rhoda knits away on her second striped sock. Looks like she’ll be done soon!

I of course could not get out of the store without buying another book. More on that tomorrow.

I’ve been so tired all weekend after Friday’s Stitch n Pitch, that I haven’t had the energy to lift my fingers and type much, let alone blog. But I don’t want the scenes from my fabulous time to go unblogged any longer. So here I am. (Apologies in advance that this post contains LOTS of photos!)

The Washington Nationals were hosting the Texas Rangers, and the game went to 14 innings, with the Nats victorious! John and I had gotten up early for work that day though so I confess only surviving to the bottom of the 10th.

The first photo is me with my new friend Bonnie, who it seems of late I run into at just about every knitting event I go to. We sat next to each other at the Yarn Harlot’s visit to Annapolis and ran into each other again at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and Ravelry party. I should have guessed we’d be sitting next to each other for the Stitch n’ Pitch, since we were in the wheelchair seating area that was part of event seating.

The Ballpark is like Disneyland inside! Upon entering we were greeted with loud music provided by some DJ’s, and this HUGE restaurant right inside the gate.

There are tons of restaurants, a Build-a-Bear Workshop, a Play Station arcade, and a playground for the kiddos.

My hubby took a panoramic view of the ballpark from where we were sitting:

And the Capitol was sorta behind us.

Of course, there were LOTS of knitters!

And here’s a view of where I was sitting (I’m the blur in the aqua sweater at the top left.)

There was a touching tribute to Tim Russert at the beginning:

And here’s the pitch:

I made my DH hold the knitting so he could be in the blog, too… He’s not a knitter and he doesn’t love baseball, so all the silliness of the evening was somehow below his radar. But I think he had a good time.

One of the funniest things was the Racing Presidents, that would have Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Teddy Roosevelt rolling over in their graves. But truly, the race was one of the most entertaining moments.

This is Radhika, who I was thrilled to meet along with her good friend and her guide dog (who scored a hot dog from one of the workers, lucky dog!). She is a new knitter and went to the Stitch n’ Pitch table for lessons on increasing, decreasing, and intarsia.

The scoreboard is pretty at night:

And last but not least, the Washington Nationals’ unofficial mascot:

The Washington gnats! (those white streaks in the black photo are a teeny sampling of the literally thousands of buggies that looked like snowflakes in the night sky.)

It was a great night, and I can’t wait for next year. See you there, Bonnie!

The Opinionated Knitter — by Elizabeth Zimmermann. I would be completely dishonest if I didn’t say that I avoided buying this book for a LONG time. I figured it contained many of the designs and ideas that I’d already seen before in some of Elizabeth’s other books, even if not quite presented the same way. And, until recently, I had begun to believe that some of the ideas that EZ taught in terms of garment design were getting a bit tired. Boy, was I wrong about this book. It contains Elizabeth’s original newsletters from the 50s and 60s in their original form, yes… and for that alone this book stands as an important historical archive. But, throughout the book there are notes and modern photographs that give the time-revered designs a fresh, new feel. I especially loved seeing the schematics and the journal pages in Elizabeth’s own hand. It was as if I was allowed to be a voyeur to a time that I am a smidge to young to claim as my own. I’m sorry I waited on this book. I can’t wait to read it cover to cover.

As to when that will be? I hoping for a snow day already, with a warm cup of cocoa at my side and the Knit Garter Stitch blanket on my lap. But, I’m getting ahead of myself!

I promise that this blog won’t be a book review every day, but I was just so excited about this one that I could not contain myself. Did you know Summer of Socks starts this weekend? I’m hoping to have enough progress on my baby sweater by the to put it down for a few and start a sock, just for the occasion. Also, my local Stitch ‘n’ Pitch is this Friday. I really can’t wait, and am very excited that I actually get to go. I hope to see some of you there!

It is uncharacteristically hot for this early in June in these parts, and some folks on some of my knitting groups are complaining about how it’s too hot to knit. No! It’s not! I can attest to that. My Bowie group met today for our usual first Saturday of the month meetup. And it was such a good time that most folks stayed beyond the two hours I usually allot.

Lissa came all the way from the other side of the Potomac to help me untangle my yarn woes! And she stayed at it for about three hours, too. Amazing! The hank was in such a mess though, I’m sorry to say, that even after all that, it still wasn’t done. Oh my, why am I so clumsy with my yarn? Not to worry, though… my dear friend Rhoda volunteered to take it home and keep winding. (She said her daughter actually likes to do these things… I don’t get it, but more power to her!

Speaking of Rhoda:

She’s back! After having foot surgery a couple of months ago she was finally able to join us again. Rhoda is my main knitting buddy and I have sorely missed getting together with her, as we have somehow managed to do every couple of weeks over the last couple of years. Here she is knitting a sock from some Opal yarn that I covet!

This is Yvonne, our newcomer for this month. She is a wonderful teacher of amazing second graders, and she is making the fabulous Frock Camisole
from the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits. Lissa, who had showed Yvonne how to pick up stitches without a crochet hook, really coveted the yarn, which I forget what it is. Yvonne returned the favor by showing Lissa how to do a gusset in the tank top she’s working on (demonstrating with Rhoda’s sock). Aren’t knitters great? This is one of my favorite parts of knitting group–that everyone learns from each other.

Jo came along and was knitting away on a purple sock (which I, as a lover of all things purple, drooled over). We all practically squealed when she said that the yarn was her own handspun. It was surely gorgeous! Spinning is something that eludes me but I admire people who can do it! Go, Jo!

And this is Marie, who brought along a baby sweater and hat that she was working on with some red and white yarn. We all agreed that it would make an ideal Christmas sweater. Now Marie just has to meet some lucky baby to give it to!

We survived the scorcher of an afternoon with good friends, good air conditioning, and plenty of slushy cold drinks from the coffee shop. I already can’t wait until we meet again.

Today was our post-Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival knitting meetup. It was small; Jo was there, and then I showed up a bit late. We had fun chatting and knitting. I was working on my second-ever sock, and Jo was knitting a sock from her own handspun yarn. It was lovely!
Jo mentioned that her spinning wheel is really quite portable and I think she’s going to bring it next time! I’ve always wanted to observe spinning up close so this will be a real treat for me. Our next meetup will be the first Saturday in June.
In one of those “small world” moments, we discovered that Jo’s husband Pete went to high school and graduated with my husband, John. What’s more, they’re both obsessed with model building! (And, we wives know, REALLY into model kit collecting! So not much need to complain about our stashes, eh?) Turns out that Jo’s hubby is into military models, and mine is into all things car-related, but still… it’s a similar passion.
Four o’clock came too quickly for me and I am already looking forward to next month, when I can see Jo again and her spinning wheel. Hmmm. Spinning yarn whilst spinning yarns. Now there’s a pun I’m sure no one has said before!

Stash Enhancement

I finally got this yarn in the mail on Tuesday! It’s Regia Nation Colors #5399. I got it from a shop called Web of Wool, and I’m not sure about the exchange rate but I think I got it for a good price. It took nearly a month to get from them to me, but I don’t do much overseas shopping so I don’t know how long it’s supposed to take. The Yarn Harlot featured a pair of socks made from this yarn on the date that I appeared as a member of the First Sock Brigade (see April 8, 2008, post entitled, “Two for One”), and I knew immediately that I must have this yarn. It took me a few days to figure out what it was and then find it. (Several stores I had checked with were sold out–they say once a yarn’s been “Harlotted” there’s usually a run on it. Ok, so does that make me a follower?)

Truth is, regular readers already know I’m a bit of a rainbow fanatic. So, I could not get just enough to make one pair, because I know as soon as I do knit with it? A couple other folks in my world will see it and want some rainbow socks, too. So, I have six balls, just for insurance. Even that might not be enough.

This weekend I plan to go through my last tub of acrylic yarn. The art teacher at DD’s school teaches knitting and weaving, and she said she can always use some more yarn. So I’m gonna bite the big one and get rid of it. I’ve got plenty of other new yarn around here to keep me busy!

Howdy, Peanuts! Do forgive me for not so much with the blogging. My mom’s been ill and was just released yesterday after 11 days in the hospital. She’s had a tough year but I’m hoping now she’ll be turning a good corner.

So, what I left out of my blog the other day, was photos of The Haul from the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. So here goes.

First and foremost was this:

It’s a Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder. I’ve been wanting one for a while because I tend to buy these really huge hanks of yarn when I go to fiber festivals. This year was no exception.

These are both Mountain Colors Weaver’s Wool. The top one is Mountain Twilight, which is deep blue and dark purple, and Sun River, which has oranges, purples, and burgandy. I love them both and couldn’t pass them up.

I also have to admit that I am no longer a Socks that Rock virgin! I did NOT, repeat, DID NOT subject myself to the craziness that is is the now legendary Saturday Morning Sock Line at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. No, I was saner than that. But, I admit to being mildly curious, and at just after 2:30 in the afternoon I got a whim of “what the heck” and went to The Fold’s booth and was pleasantly surprised to find that there was some sock yarn left to look at. The one at the left is called “Purple Rain” and of course I love it!

I also got these:



Socks that Rock Mediumweight, colorway: Hot Flash

Socks that Rock Mediumweight, colorway: 24 Carat

I guess the truth is that I could not just pick one color. I now know why the stuff is so adored by the people who buy it. It’s Soooooooooffffffffttttt. It has to be the squishiest sock yarn I have ever felt. Charmin Soft. Really.

Also in the booth at The Fold was this yarn I had never heard of:

It’s called Seppho, by the Sanguine Gryphon, and the color is Purple Breasted Muses. How could I pass up a name like that? It’s laceweight, which I generally don’t use, but I have been searching for the perfect laceweight yarn that I would use, if I had some. I think this is it.

There was one more batch of sock yarn:

This is Wullenstudio Merino Sock Yarn, in a colorway also called Purple Rain. I bought two because I have a friend in mind for a pair of socks out of these, and she has some unique requirements that could take more than one hank for a pair. There was a sample pair of socks knit up at the CloverHill Yarn booth, and they were so pretty that they had this friend’s name written all over them. Hopefully I’ll knit them up someday soon!

And so comes the end of the haul. Thank goodness! My wallet is definitely thinner. But there was one last little thing:

I got myself the much-coveted Ravelry tote! Their online store isn’t quite ready for prime time, but I was able to get one at the party. Should’ve gotten the lapel pins, too, but they’re patiently waiting in my shopping basket of the Ravelry store. I needed another tote bag, didn’t I? Suuuuure I did. You know it. (I won the Namaste Needle Cozy at the party. Since I don’t use straight needles anyway, Diana found a home for it right quick.)

Phew! Aren’t you glad that’s over? PS… don’t show this post to my husband. He’d faint.

This year, the theme of the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival was–RAVELRY!!

Here I am with Jess and Casey! Thanks for making sure I could attend and enjoy all of the Ravelry events, guys. You did good.

Me with Jessica. The Ravelry meetup was so crowded that I didn’t really get to meet quite as many folks as I was wishing to meet. I did get my sticker, but thank goodness I already had a button, because I hear they ran out. When I went up to try to get my sticker, my chair dug a hole in the muddy gravel and it took several guys to help me out. Oh well, that happens!

My buddy Steve picked a bunch of little buttercups and stuck them in my hair, and in my shoes, and, and, and…





As always, there was the sound of traditional festival music that filled the air. This sort of stuff always makes me think of my dad, and it makes me happy.





I don’t know these women but they were sure petting some pretty yarn! (There was lots of petting going on, everywhere I looked!)





Since I am finally learning to knit socks, I decided it was time to pay The Fold a visit and see if there was any Socks that Rock yarn left. The selection wasn’t huge, given that it was probably about 2:30 in the afternoon and all, but honestly I thought it would be completely sold out, given all the hype I’ve heard in previous years. I managed to get three colorways of mediumweight, but more on my festival haul in tomorrow’s post.





I didn’t actually go into the sheep barns this year, but outside some sheep were getting washed and this one was being particularly noisy! She’s cute, isn’t she?





Steve and I headed out just after 4:30 and went to Columbia for dinner. We had yummy ribeyes at Clyde’s, and headed around the lake to the Sheraton for the Ravelry party. Here I am, finally getting to talk with Mary-Heather, who was super sweet! I really enjoyed meeting her. Getting to the party was interesting… the only way I could get to the pool area was by cutting through a room that was hosting someone else’s wedding. I’ve never been a wedding crasher before. Haha!





After mingling for a bit, Casey, Jess and Mary-Heather went to the front to say some thank you’s and do the door prizes and dream stash giveaways. I won a Namaste needle cozy. I don’t knit with straight needles so I’ll either find someone to give it to or I’ll find a use for it somehow! But it was fun to win a prize!





At the party, my friend Steve decided to sit inconspicuously in a corner by the door, so he’d be easily seen by me, but not noticed by anyone else. Ha! I turned around and found Steve spinning yarn with a drop spindle! I’ve been trying to get him to play with fiber for years, with no success. Then this total stranger is standing there spinning and next thing I knew, he was doing it, too. Unfortunately I did not get the lady’s name…



Steve shows off his little bit of spun yarn.



Of course, Bob was there in spirit! All in all, it was a seriously fun day, packed with great food, great yarn, great friends, and fabulous fun! I really enjoyed meeting the folks that I could meet, and hope to catch the ones I missed next year. For some reason I didn’t have my camera out much, which is odd, but the crowds were so overwhelming that at times, good pictures were nearly impossible to get. But I have lots of memories of a really great day, and a bit of sunburn to remember it by.

Seriously, I was so worn out that I could not blog until now… I spent the entire evening (about four hours) passed out in my den. Now of course I’m not sleepy! Oh well… I’ll be thinking of the fun at the festival as I try to drift off…

Every Totally Obsessed Knitter has to do it once. There are some who, like the Deadheads, but with brightly colored socks in their Birks, have done it many times. Me? I was a virgin. But no more.

I’ve been to see the Harlot! Stephanie Pearl-McPhee–The Yarn Harlot–appeared at the Borders in Annapolis last night. I was determined to be there one way or another, and my DH, bless him, was kind enough to get me there. (And Grandma and Grandpa watched the munchkins, so it was all good.)

I left work early yesterday. It was also a Nationals baseball game, and since we’re so conveniently employed just across the street from the new ball park, I wanted to be sure to be out of town in plenty of time. Maybe we needn’t have worried. We got to Annapolis right at 4:00 and had plenty of time to grab a burger at Johnny Rockets and drop a few nickels in the jukebox. I had a BLT and the fries/rings combo, but I was too excited to eat. I did have an onion ring or two, though, and immediately panicked because I realized that I’d have onion breath in the presence of a goddess. How could I?

It was 6:00 when we made our way to the bookstore. It’s a good thing we got there when we did, too, because we could already hear the laughing ruckus from upstairs. The knitters were there. LOTS of them. Luckily the coffee shop was upstairs too, so John scored me some breath mints. Yes, this was all going to be fine.

The folks at Borders were prepared! They even had these handy little event guidelines cards, in case we knitters couldn’t figure out what to do. The staff had called in reinforcements for the night, in case tons of people with pointy sticks got more than a little rowdy. It’s ok, though, because the only thing that got rowdy was the level of laughter. They even made a nice spot in front for people in wheelchairs to sit, so I could see, and hear, and get lots of great pictures! (There’s a gallery of photos of the event on this page.)

I can’t begin to tell you how funny The Yarn Harlot is. I don’t think I could do any of her stories justice. She ended with a Q&A, and someone asked her the location of the “Calgary Story” on her blog. Stephanie said she couldn’t remember where in the archives it was, but I found it, for your enjoyment. Scroll down to the August 9, 2005 entry, titled, “There is the Downside.” (Thanks, Google. SNORT WARNING–put your cup of tea DOWN before reading near the end of this entry.)

After much more laughter and applause, it was time for the signing to begin. I had a relatively low number, but it was getting late for Grandma and Grandpa so I made my way down to the line. A guy working the line picked up my books and put yellow stickies on the inside of each one with the names of each person I wanted them made out to.

Before long, it was my turn! I showed Stephanie my first sock, which frankly, is so huge that I think it is not intended for a human foot. It’s probably more the size of an elephant willy warmer. The Harlot had a good laugh at the sight of this and took my picture for her blog! How fun is that? I’ve made it into knitting posterity. She then offered to hold my sock if I would hold hers and we took a photo together. Her sock was SO soft, and the right size. She obviously knows what she’s doing.

It was a magical night for a knitter. This morning, still basking in the afterglow, I finally, carefully, removed my book from the bag to look at the signature.

To Trish
Stephanie McPhee

I was there.

Yesterday morning, the Yarn Harlot lamented that she thought her trusty three-alarm system for waking while traveling had somehow failed her, or so she thought.

I don’t know where you are at this very moment, my dear Stephanie, but I can tell you for sure that your system is fine. 5:00 a.m., and here I am, attesting to the system’s success. Only in my case, it’s the Husband snore monster, back pain that only losing 40 pounds will fix (why does my doctor have to be right? Damn her.), and that funky, off-gassing smell from a new pillow. Yep, the triple alarm works great.

Oh gosh and it was I (hanging head sheepishly) who made such a fuss on Ravelry about ensuring wheelchair access tonight that they’ve gone out of their way to say there’s a space for me. I just hope you don’t peer out from behind your sock and find me right there, in your face, snoring away. I’ll be there with my first sock in hand. Despite my likely appearance of sawing logs during your talk, I really am excited to meet you, and I just wanted you to know. See you tonight!

Trish the Sleepless, somewhere in Maryland