more animals
…and so I did.
16 years of wedded bliss today! We’ll be celebrating tomorrow. More later!
Category: Knitting
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My Son Said I Needed to Blog This…
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Knitting Helps
Last week’s time change means that we all of a sudden have been plunged into darkness–the deep, gloomy black kind of sky that sets in even before I get to leave work for the day. I really hate it because the skylights in our new building at work, though they show the light brightly when the sun shines, they also accentuate the deepness of the darkness at dusk.
It is at this time of year when I find myself turning to the knitting even more. Thank goodness for the knitting. Perhaps this is why I gravitate toward bright colors generally; they counteract the effects of winter darkness. Yes, that must be it. But then again, what is my most favorite color? Deep, dusky purple. Almost, but not quite, black. Go figure!
I’ve decided that I need to pick back up on my daughter’s hat:
my daughter’s school spirit hat I posted my problem about having an extra stitch on Ravelry and on my KnitHatsNow group. Most folks who responded said that one stitch isn’t that big a deal, and that I can ignore it until I have to adjust for the ribbing. Even Sarah Bradberry, whose book on hats I really admire, said she would ignore it, adding the encouraging phrase, “when this happens to me…” It happens to her? Wow. If extra stitches happen to THE hat lady, and she feels good about ignoring them, then hey, it’s good! I’ll live to knit another day. My daughter is especially thrilled that she will be getting her hat sooner rather than later. Thanks to everyone who offered their thoughts; I truly appreciated them all.
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A Tale of Stitches
Yesterday I had the good fortune of attending Stitches East in Baltimore, with my friend Dina from knitting group. I really had a great time! It was different from attending the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, because that show has a decidedly more local, and small farmer, flavor. This was fun because I got to meet so many people, vendors and friends, who came from all over for the event.
Almost right away I met Tina Whitmore from KnitWhits, which is one of my favorite pattern stores. She happened to have the blocking tiles set on hand, which I purchased and I also picked up a pattern and a little kit for a felted flower. It was great to meet Tina, too… whose work I have admired and much want to learn how to do. She and I seem to have a similar sense of color, which is, I think, what attracts me to many of her designs.
Trish and Alison Hyde At long last, I got to meet the one and only Alison Hyde! Finally! We’ve been writing back and forth online for years, so it was really great to meet her at Lisa Souza’s booth. It was clear that this wonderful lady has many fans! She’s the author of Wrapped in Comfort: Knitted Lace Shawls
, and I have the book already and aspire to knit something from it someday. In fact, one of the ladies who she made a shawl for was also there, and she was wearing the actual shawl from the actual book. That was fun to see! Anyway, it was fun to finally meet Alison and the great Lisa Souza.
At some point while I was in line at one booth, an announcement came over the loudspeaker that Vivian Hoxbro would be on hand to sign her latest book, Knit to Be Square: Domino Designs to Knit and Felt
. Well, since I am a newly converted fan of Domino Knitting,
I decided to make a break for it and head straight over. Vivian was a delight to talk to, and she was even wearing the abstract stole (Ravelry Link) from the book. It was cool!
I got the new book and she graciously signed it for me:
Knit to Be Square book cover 
Knit to Be Square signed on the inside I even had my very first Vivian Hoxbro square from my Mitered Square Babette Blanket in progress in my purse, and I was able to show it off. She commented that my fist square was HUGE (it is!) but I am going for a really big blanket. I guess we’ll see how it turns out!
Of course I got lots of yarn! There’s one more hank I got that isn’t in these photos, because Dina has it (phew… I thought I forgot it somewhere!) but I’m sure I’ll see her soon. As always, click on the photos to see a larger version and to read more details about each photo.
Knitters Blocks blocking tiles
three different shades of Noro Kureyon
Lisa Souza wool in purple and periwinkle
Valley Yarns, burgandy and cream
Silk Garden Chunky
felted flower kit and spool of gold tinsel thread
TessYarns Merino Superwash in PurpleThis was such a great day! It was my first time at Stitches and I found out on Friday that next year, the convention is moving back to Hartford. So it will probably be my last time at Stitches. So, I’m glad I have so many fun people and yarn memories. I guess they’ll have to last me a while.
Thanks to Dina for taking me to Stitches East! I had a blast! I just wish I could say that I can’t wait for next year.
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Stick to Your Knitting, Trish
mitered square in progress You might be wondering why I haven’t been focusing on my knitting in this blog lately. The truth is, there hasn’t been much knitting to blog about!
So I thought I’d show you the progress on my giant garter stitch mitered square. Believe it or not, that bit has about one and a half skeins of Noro Kureyon in it, and it has a ways to go! I think I will put a complementary color of Wool of the Andes in the center when I run out rather than try to find a third skein of the same color in the Noro.
I plan to make a sort of rainbow-y patchwork of squares, picking up stitches along the sides of existing squares to create new ones. There will be several different sizes of squares. I’m using the layout chart from the Babette Blanket as a guide. Of course, though, it’s just in my head for now, because I haven’t yet begun to add the second square. But I do think in theory it will work. In any event, I am finding the endless rows of garter stitch to be a nearly foolproof comfort.
Even the hat I am knitting right now, the one I am knitting for my daughter? It too is plagued with problems. I am just noticing now that one of the wedge sections has an extra increase in it that the other sections do not. I am thinking I should just ladder down to that extra kfb and get rid of it, hoping that the surrounding stitches will eventually take up the slack of the bit of extra yarn that the extra stitch created. Or should I just rip back? I do hate frogging so the thought of this has caused me to put the hat aside, much to my daughter’s disappointment. I could knit two together somewhere in that wedge and pretend the extra stitch never existed, but I am afraid that the hat will look lopsided in some way.
Does anybody out there have thoughts on this? Which method should I try? Thanks for the input… my daughter would be forever grateful.
I am planning to attend Stitches East for the first time this weekend. Who’s going? I hope to meet you there!
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We Got the Spirit!
beginning of school spirit hat I started a new hat again! This time, it’s a plain stocking cap, in my daughter’s school colors. I plan to make a white band, and then write “Lady Hawks” in duplicate stitch on the front. I’m so bad at secrets. I was trying to keep this as a surprise for my daughter, but could not. So now she knows, sooner than I originally wanted her to. Oh well… at least she squeed with delight at the very thought of having her own custom hat in school colors. She said when her friends see it, they’re all going to want one. To which I taught her the appropriate response:
“My mom can teach you how to knit.”
You go, girl.
Not much else going on. I’ve been in a bit of a funk for the last couple of weeks and I’m not feeling well. I have even less energy than usual and I would rather just crawl into bed and sleep for a week. Must be that Seasonal Affective Disorder kicking in. Ah yes. My favorite time of year.
I gotta snap out of it quick, though. Just found out today that my DH’s entire family will all be in the same zip code for Thanksgiving Dinner… OURS! Egad. That’s the one thing about being in a wheelchair that makes life interesting sometimes. My house is the only one that is wheelchair accessible so everyone comes here. Not that I mind, except that my house looks like one giant attic that needs cleaning out. Wish us luck; it’s going to be a long month of house cleaning. But SO worth it in the end. I love my husband’s family.
Tegan says:
cat sitting inside a hat I’m off to bed early for a change. Catch you next time I’m more awake!
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What Am I Knitting?
Is it a kitty collar?
cat with head through knitting on circular needles Nope!
It’s a square, believe it or not, knitted in the method of Vivian Hoxbro’s Domino Knitting technique. See? The corner is beginning to form:
domino knitting, beginning of square corner being formed This first square is HUGE, with the sides being 72 stitches wide. I’m using Noro Kureyon yarn, and I am thankful that I have more than one ball of this color! I think I’m going to need it. What am I going to do with this square, you ask? I’ll tell you soon, but for now I need to finish my experiment and see if what I’m envisioning in my head will work.
Tonight I gifted the had I finished the other day to my friend Carrie. I’m so happy that it looked perfect on her! The hat was not deep enough for my own big head and so it looked weird on me. But it looked great on her and it will be a very warm hat to wear on cold Colorado winter days.
Anyway, I’d better go for now. I’m so tired that I can’t keep my eyes open, and my typing is horrible! You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to go back and correct my mistakes. I’d better quit now before it gets worse. Besides, the debate is on and it is my duty as an American to pay attention. Goodbye for now!
