Sue Knits Again

Endings and Beginnings

2011-05-07T13:57:00.003-04:00

I finished the Nightsong Shawl and blocked it on a bed. It is soft and lightweight and I'm very pleased although I have nothing in these colors. I still have plenty more of this yarn and I'll put it away for now.
Two days ago I finished up some striped socks for Mac and he put them right on. Then feeling very thrifty, I reknit a toe for one of his old socks. I also took an old one of mine down past the heel turn and I'm reknitting a foot with some new yarn. It beats knitting an entire sock.

Now I must start another shawl and I'm trying to marry various yarn with patterns. My state of mind with Mac in and out of doctor's offices and the hospital plays havoc with my concentration and I end up tinking and frogging.

Sister Toni Andrews sent some photos of waves a few weeks ago and one has inspired me to make a Fair Isle cardigan in the colors, inky blue and golds. Knitpicks has some wool sport yarn that's perfect, but I live in Florida and an acrylic blend would be more practical. Maybe even a cotton acrylic, but the colors in that blend are just too wimpy to suit me. The sweater is in my head and I've just got to make it.

Shawls and Life in General

2011-03-05T09:49:00.005-05:00

I finally got around to dying a shoulder shawl I finished in October. It even sat pinned up for three weeks after I blocked it. My mind just isn't into knitting with my husband in the hospital or even when he's home and needs a lot of help.

I've worn the Percy shawl a couple of times and had lots of compliments. It's just full of mistakes and I want to knit the pattern again when my mind can settle down.

Dreadful photo, but it is pretty, the copper lined glass beads show up well and the Malabrigo is nice and soft even after the dye job.

I frogged the Fisherman yarn lace project. Lots of work, but I knit to keep my sanity and I will reuse the yarn. No big deal.

Last year I bought some lace yarn at a local thrift shop. No labels, but some wonderful stuff. It's variegated lavender and pale green and two strands were wound together so that's how I'm using it to make a Nightsong shawl. It's a nice leaf pattern and I'm working on the seventh repeat. The markers are there to remind me that I'm knitting and to pay attention! It's really very pretty when spread out and can't wait to see it finished and blocked. I promise not to dye this one.

On & Off Needles & Hooks

2011-02-07T15:45:00.003-05:00

I finished Cookie A's Stricken socks last week and decided that they were the most tedious project to date. Maybe it's just my state of mind, but I was never able to memorize the pattern. they turned out very nice, but all the work would show up much better in a solid color yarn.

I have a lavender and lime shawl on needles that just doesn't photograph well and another that is finished and needs blocking. Mac is not well and I will have to stick very close to home for a couple of months so maybe they will be finished.

I knitted a quick Calormetry headband for a friend last week, but didn't take a photo. Currently I'm working on a Column of Leaves cardigan, but making it with long sleeves and Fisherman wool in natural. It's an easy enough pattern, but my thoughts stray and I have to keep looking at the chart.

For trips to the medical center, I take an easy project. Right now, just some self striping yarn that I've had for a few years and didn't like enough to knit. They will be good for around the yard and outside chores.

Yesterday I looked at some Patons Kroy Socks Fx yarn in Cameo (pinkish) colours and saw that an acquaintance in Gainesville had used some to crochet and afghan and scarf with the same yarn. I need practice and improvement with crocheting so I used up one ball and started on a second with hexagonals.

So projects are getting started and some finished. I think they're keeping me fairly sane at this point in my life.

A Radical Approach to Darning

2010-06-14T11:05:00.002-04:00

My approach to darning is not to do it. Darned heels don't last very long and I hate darning anyway. So I frog past the hole and knit a new foot. It only takes half the yarn and Mac should get another year out of the socks instead of a couple weeks. Diabetics are not supposed to wear darned socks and that's my excuse.

Pretty Monkey Socks

2010-02-01T11:22:00.002-05:00

I was in Hank's Yarn in Gainesville a couple of weeks ago and there was a new batch of Monkey yarn and I had to have some. Thursday I went in to the shop to unwind with the yarn and empty needles. I had downloaded Cookie A's Monkey Socks from Ravelry and had that with me. I was thinking about Magic Loop, but I wanted 40" circular #1's and they were on back order. So I tried two circular needles, but after about 6 rows it was obvious that I was having ladder problems with this pattern so I switched to some old double pointed needles.
I love the pattern and the yarn and finished up the first one during the Grammy Awards last night. the one change that I did make was to continue the pattern down through the heel flap. I'm back in the knitting groove.

Socks, Fast & Slow

2010-02-01T10:39:00.003-05:00

I knit two pair of socks for Christmas gifts. One pair, rather substantial in Trekking XXL to keep my sister's feet warm when she's out shoveling her sidewalk after a snow storm. I added a couple of cables that didn't show up but made me feel better. The other pair was wool/bamboo yarn for my niece. I think the pattern is called Eagle's Flight. It took me over two weeks to make those. I was so relieved to get both pair made in time for Christmas that I never even took a photo, just got them in the mail right away.

In January, I decided to learn something new after all these years of knitting. I took the Addi 40" circular needle out of its package and picked out the Cherry Tree Hill yarn in Winterberry that I bought last year at Hank's Yarn in Gainesville. Not wanting to make it easy for myself, I made toe-up socks in Cross Hatch lace from Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks. After three tries I succeeded with the figure eight cast on. Things were going okay, liked the pattern with the yarn and really liked the Magic Loop knitting.

Then I got to the heel and at the same time came down with a cold. Short rowing wasn't new to me after years of machine knitting, but with the head ache and ear ache and cold, I couldn't manage. I frogged that heel three times and started over. I felt really stupid. I was using Schurch's method with all of the markers and all. Finally I put the markers away and just plowed through it, one heel at a time.They are headed to Connecticut for my sister. I think she will like them.

Frogging is Good

2009-12-01T11:07:00.006-05:00

I frogged the aqua socks. The metallic thread was scratchy and the yarn too busy for the pattern. The good part is that I learned the pattern and I'm looking forward to making it in a solid color. Just not now.

So I made some nice socks in a nice stripe, simple with one cable on each side, nothing special, but very good yarn, warm and machine washable. A gift so I won't show the photo.

I also frogged a much larger project, an Adult Surprise sweater from an old Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern. I didn't do a good gauge piece and it was all out of whack. I didn't like the trim either. The yarn was a gift and I'm making it for the gifter. Someday she'll get it. I just need something for trim or it will be hopelessly dull. I made a mohair version of it for me over 25 years ago and sometimes I wear it and sometimes one of the cats sleep on it. We all love it.

I started another pair of socks in the Flying Geese pattern I think with double pointed needles. I hate DP needles, but my #1 circulars are cheap and they hang up the loops. Can's afford Addi's right now. The socks look good and they will suit my niece I think.

I untangled a basket of yarn and found over 20 stitch holders, mostly about 6" long. I have a better variety than all of the stores in town. I have no idea where they came from but I think I bought out part of a store inventory in CT a few years ago and most were probably there. I never felt a need for over 3 at a time. Found an extra cable needle too. Everything neat now and I'm feeling quite holier than thou about my stash.

Time to run to the hospital with Mac. I'll take my knitting, my MP3 player with a book for listening and all is right with the world.

I've Strayed, but Knitting Again

2009-11-08T16:08:00.003-05:00

August and September were a wash as far as knitting went. I just couldn't bring myself to knit.
Mac was in the hospital twice this past Summer and had a toe removed after an infection in September. His foot has to be bandaged twice a day and that's one of my jobs. The medicine messed with his diabetes and now that's back in control. He still has lots of pain and that seems to be getting worse despite the pain killers.

Thursday night I finally finished his boring charcoal gray socks and he put them on immediately and was very pleased. I did part of a row on my shawl, but my concentration is definitely off. Friday we went into town and I bought the other hank of Malibrigo for my shawl and a Cookie A sock pattern at Hanks Yarn. I have plenty of sock yarn to be used up so despite the temptation of their wonderful stock of sock yarn, I didn't buy any. Not that I had the money anyway.

I wnt through my yarn and needles and settled on Socka Disco color by Schoeller & Stahl that I've had for a couple of years. It's aqua with gray and some metallic silver. Got the first sock started last night. I'm knitting with size #2 Addi circular. My #1 just aren't very good and I'm not buying more needles right now.

At an antique show last weekend I found a big cone of rag yarn, wool and cotton. Not too clean, but might make a great sweater for my brother or nephew or niece. Might even try out the knitting frame that I've had for more than 20 years and never used. My old knitting machine spoiled me. It's long gone, but I could make most anything with it and expect more than speed with the Bond frame.
I promise not to neglect this blog, but you can find me on Twitter under floridayankee if you really want a day to day, stitch by bitch look at my life.

Dry Spell - Do You Have them Too?

2009-08-24T16:24:00.004-04:00

For almost a month I couldn't knit. Well okay, I would pick up one of the socks that I was working on and knit a row or two and put it aside next to my chair and pick up a crossword or Sudoku to work on. didn't do them very well either. It was just a matter of stress. Knitting usually relieves the stress, but the stress was so bad, I didn't feel like doing anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. Laundry, cooking and vacuuming got done as well as grocery shopping. But no knitting.
Mac got worse and worse and when he could no longer stand up I took him to his doctor and she put him in the hospital. Liver failure we were told. Well, we knew that his liver is getting worse, but after five days and a couple of transfusions, he could walk, or at least shuffle a bit. His heart doctor sent him home and didn't tell his internist. Two days later he was back there taking another blood test and the day after that seeing a third doctor. He is still bleeding slowly internally and no one knows why.
anyway, he is feeling a bit better and is puttering around and I'm knitting again. I finished the blue socks and started on another shawl. Nice Malabrigo yarn in a taupe shade and I will add some beads. The pattern is a freebie on Ravelry called Percy Shawl.

I Dyed Again

2009-07-19T20:37:00.003-04:00

I finished knitting my green shawl a week ago and finally figured why I really didn't like the color that much. That varigated green reminded me of the Girl Scout uniforms that I wore for years. Loved the scouts, but not so much the uniforms.
So I bought some blue dye and turned it deep greenish blue and then blocked it. It really turned out pretty and I'm looking forward to some cool weather. The pattern is free on Ravelry and is called Vernal Equinox. Less than two hanks of Malibrigo Lace yarn.
Next time I'll think more about the color, maybe something fuchsia, and make a shawl with beads.

Summer Knitting

2009-06-29T10:30:00.005-04:00

Knitting gets tough for me this time of year. I live in a house in North Florida with no air conditioner except for in my computer room. The doors and windows are all open and I knit in the living room in front of the TV at night. A current project always goes in the car with me so I knit when Mac drives or in Hanks in Gainesville.

My hands are sweaty in this heat and humidity and the yarn sticks to my fingers a bit. Okay, I should be knitting with something other than wool, but it is my favorite. The Vernal Equinox shawl is almost finished. Knitting with Malabrigo lace is fun and one hank can keep me busy for two weeks, so it's very economical.
The circular needle is too short to spread it out, but here it is so far. It will be dyed a dark blue green before it gets blocked. This green is nice, but won't work somehow.

Guest VLOG Today, Toni Andrews

2009-06-11T08:21:00.007-04:00

Today it is my pleasure to host Toni Andrews’ video blog. I'm a huge fan (as well as her older sister). The third book in her Mercy series, Cry Mercy, just amazed me. The book goes from Balboa Island to the gang-controlled streets of Santa Ana. The characters in this urban fantasy series have more depth with each book, and there are surprises with the twists and turns of the story.

Mercy Hollings has a fascinating group of friends around her and I can’t wait to see what happens to Sukey, Sam, Tino, Hilda and Grant.

There is a contest today too. Everyone who leaves a comment has a chance to win a signed copy of Cry Mercy.

Toni got so caught up talking about Melrose, answering questions from her Twitter followers, and doing her Tarot reading, she forgot to plug her book. So, here's the book trailer. It really evokes the mood of Cry Mercy, I think.

If you'd like to take a look at my Vintage Jewelry website, like Toni suggested, here's a link: Sue's Jewels

Here are all of Toni's web sites:

Personal Website Blog BookRx So Many Books (TV Show)

Some places to buy the book:

Amazon Amazon UK Barnes & Noble Indigo(Canada) Rendezvous(Australia)

This is the Summer for Lace

2009-06-10T10:11:00.002-04:00

Finished my pineapple top and have already worn it twice. Cotton lace makes for comfortable Summer tops.

So, back to knitting. I was hunting through lace shawl patterns on Ravelry and came up with the Vernal Equinox shawl and went right to Hanks Yarn in Gainesville, FL and bought some Malabrigo Lace yarn and got started. I'm on about row 120 now, but my circular needle is too short to show off the pattern. Love the yarn and the pattern.

Sometimes I Actually Crochet

2009-05-19T19:59:00.000-04:00

Around 1982 I crocheted a pineapple pattern tunic from (I think) Ladies Home Journal Needlework. Three days ago I found an old photo from the magazine and the instructions.
I outgrew the original years ago. It was made from Knit Cro-Sheen and I went looking for that. Ended up with Royal Fashion Crochet thread size 3, but only bought one ball while I tried it out. I wasn't sure about crochet hook sizes either. I only have about 3 dozen hooks seldom used.

so far so good, but it has been raining for three days and I finished off the ball and it's a 70 mile round trip to get more.

So I pulled out some boring charcoal gray wool/acrylic DK yarn and started a pair of basic socks for Mac.

Happy Socks vs. Boring Socks & Vogue

2009-04-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

My husband Mac and I have very different ideas about socks. Mine tend to be very colorful and his very utilitarian. He is wearing the striped socks that I made, but he really wanted some thick, tough, solid color ones. So I'm knitting two pair. I don't even have to look at his as I work. When I get totally bored, I switch off.

His are a wool acrylic combo and mine are Panda Bamboo. His are basic and mine are the Spring Forward pattern from Ravelry.

I love the piece on the cover of the new Vogue Knitting, just don't have the correct yarn. Looking through my stash, I found a couple of cones of French pearl cotton left over from my machine knitting days. I figured the yellow would be easy to dye. I knit the circular motif and it was fun, but I didn't like the looks or feel of that hard cotton. I will just have to wait until I find the yarn that's right for the project and I have the money to pay for it.

Lace Shawl and Yarn Overs Conquered

2009-04-04T09:13:00.000-04:00

I managed to knit the Laminaria shawl in less than three weeks, mostly knitting at night while watching TV. My consistant problem was missing yarn overs and I finally figured out a solution.

After knitting a row, it was fairly quick to go back and check the stitches. Then I hooked in a stitch marker where the missing YO's should have been. On the purl row it was easy to drop the marker and pick up the yarn with the left needle and purl it. This saved quite a bit of frogging. I guess I just can't concentrate like I used to.

It weighs less than 3 1/2 ounces, 60" wide, 28" tall.

Spring, At Last

2009-03-20T13:43:00.000-04:00

First Day of Spring and here's one of my Formosa Azaleas. All around it are the oak leaves that I still have to rake. Our funny Turkey Oaks are just starting to leaf out and everything should look good by next week.

I finally finished the reknit on Mac's socks. They have dark blue toes, but he doesn't wear sandals, so it's just a secret between you and me. Big money saver!

Last week I started a Laminaria shawl and it is coming along nicely. It takes more concentration than normal for me and repented with some frogging. The color doesn't look just right with my computer or monitor, it's Bobby Blue Malabrigo Lace, a delicate, clear aqua. I'm knitting it on my Knit Picks wooden needles and just ordered a longer cable since I'm planning on doing a full size shawl.

Finishing Up a UFO

2009-03-02T16:39:00.000-05:00

I've been reknitting Mac's socks without great enthusiasm. Smaller needles tend to make my eyes tired. I looked in my sock yarn stash and found a bag with half of a pink sock that I started two years ago, my only single. It was knit from the toe up and I had to find the pattern again.

Turned out to be the yarn over cable from Sensational Socks. I finished it and started on the next. It took three tries to get the short row toe knit properly. Much swearing while I frogged the toe three times.

I knit on until I came to the short row heel. It didn't quite match the pattern, but I figured it out and managed to match the first.

The yarn is pink and must have been for my sister. Bernat Sox out of acrylic and nylon so she ccould throw them into a laundramat washer and dryer. I think they came out just fine. Now I can get back to wool socks. I'll be very happy to knit them top down.

Twice Knit Socks

2009-01-13T22:14:00.000-05:00

I knit a pair of socks for Mac and finished them on New Years Eve while he was back in the hospital. He proudly wore them and proclaimed them magic socks. When he got home and wore them again, we realized that they were too large especially around the ankles. Frogging time tonight. So now they look like this. Ready for a nice soak.

Back in early November I bought a lovely skein of yarn called Freedom Spirit by Twilleys of Stamford from Yarnworks in Gainesville. I started a scarf, but stopped for my Christmas stash knitting. I had been using the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf pattern from Ravelry and liked it so much, that I knit an all white one. It took more than one skein so last week I went back to the store and picked up another and finished it in a couple of hours. Love the yarn. Might send it to my niece. She sent me a nice thank-you note for the Christmas gift.

I'm almost finished with a pair of socks made with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Peacock. The pattern is a beaded rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. I'm headed to a four day antique show this weekend and figure they will be finished and worn before I get back home. Supposed to be our coldest weather in Florida for quite a few years. I'll be in our little converted school bus with my heater, knitting and a book on tape or a downloaded book for my MP3 player.

Christmas Knitting

2008-12-16T09:37:00.000-05:00

This was today's Gaineville Sun comic strip from Cul de Sac featuring an animated sweater. Click on it to see the entire strip.

I mailed off a couple of cartons of presents yesterday to my family, most everything knit from my stash. Here are a few pieces, scarves and one Calorimetry for my long-haired sister. The shrug was from the book One Skein Wonders. First I made it in another color, thinking that I had a full skein. Ran out of yarn, pulled the needle out and weighed it. 35 grams instead of 50! I had used some of it before. Weighed the blue and came up with 50 grams. I followed the pattern exactly, had the correct gauge, same exact yarn and needles and was about 4 rows short. Luckily, there was some yarn left from my Union Jack sweater that I made last year and was able to finish it.

It's been fun knitting simple things for a while, but I'm getting the desire to make another sweater or maybe another lace shawl. I yearn for a couple of skeins of Malabrigo Lace but can't afford it right now. The sock stash remains untouched, but most days I don't see well enough to work with any needles smaller than 4's.

Weather here in North Florida has turned unusually warm after quite a bit of below average temperatures. I've been hauling wood up to our wood stove for weeks and we've burned quite a bit. It's been sweater weather, but now it's back to tee shirts again.
Being married to a bah humbug kind of guy is tough this time of year. So Christmas morning I'm heading out to St. Vincent's in Gainesville to work in the kitchen. The friends that are driving suggested that I bring a peanut butter sandwich because they said that I would get hungry by the time that we finish. The dinner is not for those who are helping out.
This is the time of year that I crave eggnog, especially with the booze added. I drink the other kind too even Silk Nog when I'm trying to be good. The rest of the year a glass of wine or one beer is find. If I could drink eggnog all year long, I would be an alcoholic! I pretend that it's not available after January 1st and then wait again until Thanksgiving!

Fast Knitting Still in My Stash

2008-12-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

This blue scarf was finished a couple of weeks ago. It was from my old Amy Blatt stash and I used it all up. The pattern was from a Barbara Walker book and it suited the mohair very well.

I have taken dozens of photos of the next yarn and scarf. Even with Photoshop and different light filters with the camera, I can't get the color right. It's a very deep, vivid turquoise. Again from the Amy Blatt stash so just a couple of hanks to work with. This mohair is a bit thicker than the blue so I picked an easy pattern.

Since these photos were taken, I managed to make a bright pink scarf and I'm working on one from some natural brown wool bought at a trading post on the Navajo reservation about 15 years ago.

A trip to the ER with gallstones has slowed things down for me. It seems like everything went wrong on Thanksgiving weekend except the turkey.
I guess it wasn't the best time for the turkey either come to think of it.

Just for fun, I knit a washcloth out of some cotton and enjoyed the fast work. Nice change from the mohair. Yesterday I stopped in at Yarnworks and gave myself a $5.00 spending limit. I knew I would find something and, sure enough, I bought a ball of Freedom Spirit by Twilley's of Stamford. Only $4.59 I think and I'll be back for more. Really nice selection of Lily's cotton too. More washcloths!

Time to Knit the Stash

2008-10-26T16:10:00.000-04:00

Some little clouds just before sunset yesterday foreshadowed cooler weather. Soon the robins will come through on their way south and the Sand Hill Cranes will be back.
I read through the new knitting magazines and the old ones and searched through Ravelry.com looking for sweater patterns. It's just not the thing to do now. It's time to get into my stash and knit it down.

Too many single balls, odd colors and uninteresting yarn. I did pull out a nice mohair blend in a denim blue and started a scarf. A chevron pattern from a Barbara Walker book was perfect. There should be enough. That's the problem with old stash -no chance of finding more if you run out. Maybe I'll get into my Shetland yarn cones next or just take them to the Arts & Crafts show next weekend. Last year I sold quite a bit, but I had twice the space for selling my vintage jewelry. Maybe just a few cones and a sign would do. I could hang them from my little tent and surely the knitters would find me.

At Loose Ends

2008-10-22T16:43:00.000-04:00

I finished and blocked my Swallowtail shoulder shawl. Today I wore it. Lovely soft thing. Now I should pick out something from my yarn stash and do some gift knitting. My eyes hurt too much to make socks. I've been looking at patterns in my files, my books, magazines and on-line. Nothing yet. Maybe some of my mohair would be nice. Big needles and fluffy. Deep inside I want to knit more lace. It's challenging and fun and I love the results.

I could finish that fairisle that I started more than twenty years ago. The Shetland yarn was waxed for machine knitting and a bit rough for my hands. I don't like the color combination now.

Time for a nap. Maybe an inspiration will come.

Dyed My Stole

2008-10-16T19:44:00.000-04:00

The Mystery Stole 4 KAL was fun despite all my frogging. After I was able to get through the first clue in two days, I realized that it wouldn't take me months to make it. I finished knitting on Monday, grafted in on Tuesday. I gave up on the waste yarn grafting and even tried the three needle grafting. After a quiet personal tantrum, I put two long skinny needles back in both parts, put my optimizer on and waited for my husband to leave the house. I turned off the TV and went to work. I took me about an hour to do the grafting. Here's the blue stole. Lovely color, but not dramatic enough.

I had bought a little container of Jacquard Acid Dye in burgundy and did a test of the test swatch. It was too dark, almost a purplish black, but the silver lined old beads looked great. I figured that if I wasn't pleased with the color, I sould always redo it in black.

The yarn just slurped up the dye and I used very little. The color came out perfect and the beads really pop. I wore it today in the 80 degree weather. The yarn is lovely and I love my stole. Yea! I really can knit lace, not perfectly, but good enough for the first time.

Lost in Lace and the Principles of Knitting

2008-10-01T09:37:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that I've been working on the Mystery Stole 4 KAL for four weekends. Transposing the chart directions to my brain and fingers has not been easy. Mistakes were made, some tinking done and some ignored. I'm not a perfectionist in lace, just a beginner despite 55 years of knitting. Anyway, here are the two ends waiting for the last two "clues."

I did develope one method for those darned missed yarn-overs. After I finish a right side row, I go back and count the stitches between the markers. If a stitch is missing it's easy enough to check the pattern, stick a split marker on the needle and pick up the stitch on the purl row. If there's an extra yarn-over, I hang the marker on the stitch itself and drop it on the next row. With lace it won't show.

Meanwhile, I needed something to work on Monday through Thursday. Since I needed more practice on lace, I downloaded the pattern for the Swallowtail Shawl, bought some Malabrigo Lace from Hanks in Gainesville and started that project. The yarn is very soft and I chose a color called Pagoda. After repeating the design many times, the connection between the directions and what is happening on the needles is finally getting through to my brain.

There is a choice between doing the "nupps" or using beads and I'm now to the point where I have to make a decision. The beads that I have are copper lined clear #8's. My jewelry website has the largest selection of vintage copper jewelry on the Internet and I have plenty of copper earrings to wear with the scarf. I can always change my mind and go to the nupps or save them for another day.

The Principles of Knitting is a book that I've been hearing about for some time. There's no way that I could afford it at over $200.00, but I noted the name in case I won the lottery (which I don't play anyway.) Then I thought about an Inter-Library loan. My library doesn't carry it or much of anything on knitting. In five days an email arrived in my mailbox from the library. I could pick it up and it was mine for a month.
It is everything and more! So many techniques that I never dreamed of. This is one wonderful book and there are a few pages that I will scan for my own use. So if you can't afford one either, or would rather spend the money on YARN, think about an Inter-Library loan. It's free, but you do have to give the book back!

Waiting for Clues

2008-08-30T19:20:00.000-04:00

I'm ready for my first KAL, knit along for those who don't know what that means. On this Friday, September 5. several hundred of us will check our email to find our first "clue" for starting a bead trimmed knit stole. I have my yarn, my beads, my new wood needles from Knit Picks, my markers and my gauge swatch.
They are all sitting in one of my project jars. I will wind up the second hank of yarn and that will be all I can do until Friday.
Many people are panicking over the selection of blocking wires. I'm buying mine from a welding shop and there's no hurry. I'm a fast knitter until it comes to lace. It might take me a couple of months or all Winter. There are always other projects going that I can take along outside of home for mindless knitting. The scarf that I am knitting for my niece is coming along nicely and I have been going through my stash, magazines and patterns for other ideas for another cardigan.
Cooler weather is coming for those of you up north. We have to wait for December here in Northern Florida!

Knitting Lace and Deer Visit and Happy Birthday

2008-08-27T10:03:00.000-04:00

Three visitors this morning. Twins and their mom.

I finished the Bernat Soy scarf, or as I thought of it, practice reading charts for lace. Not perfect, but it's soft and blocked out nicely. The pattern is Branching Out and is a free one to download. It would be prettier in alpaca and silk, but I used what I had.

No one noticed or commented on my swatch for Mystery Stole 4 was upside down and showing the purl side. It was a week before I noticed. How embarrassing! So here it is and looking better from the front.
I couldn't deal with empty needles for ten days so I started another lace project. I have several partial cones of alpaca from the mid 1980's. So thinking of my niece's pretty blue eyes, I started a Christmas scarf for her in a pattern from Barbara Walker's Book, The Craft of Lace Knitting. This pattern is called Vine Lace, and the two pattern rows are identical but offset by one stitch. This is my current take-along piece for riding in the car when Mac drives or public knitting.

Here is the sweater that I machine knit with that same cone of yarn and sold around 1984. The ribbing is plenty elastic and note the boxy shape and those puffy sleeves! Ick! We were living on our old sailboat back then and the photo was taken on the dock. The photo was very faded, but you get the idea.

Here's another alpaca sweater that I made about the same time. I like this one much better in that pretty ivory color and the I-cord trim. It was modeled by my sister, Toni Andrews. Happy 49th Birthday today Toni! She's a writer and you can read her blog here!

Knitting During the Olympics

2008-08-20T11:37:00.000-04:00

I love watching the Olympics and usually miss them. Normally we are in our converted school bus on a field in Upstate New York selling our vintage jewelry at an antique show. This year we are stuck in Florida, but we are home and able to watch TV as many hours as we wish.

Oh, I get up at 6 A.M. and power walk in the neighborhood and then exercise with Gilad on the Fit TV channel so I'm no couch potato. In fact, I've lost 14 pounds and quite a few inches this Summer.

I finished the drop stitch scarf and wanted to start another. At Yarnworks in Gainesville, there was a basket on the floor full of Queensland Collection Tahiti yarn and a narrow scarf knitted with one skein. I bought one in natural and brought it home. The pattern was a simple YO, P2Tog on uneven number of stitches on #11 needles. I tried that for a few rows and frogged it and tried some #8's. It will have to be a two skein scarf, but I like the look. It's bright and pretty and perfect for Florida.

I signed up the the Mystery Stole #4 in Yahoo groups. Very brave of me considering the problems I've had with following charts. So, I found a scarf pattern on Ravelry, kept the chart and threw away the directions. Sink or swim! It's not easy knitting, watching TV and listening to my husband, but I'm not going to be knitting in a silent room with nothing going on around me. I had a couple of skeins of Bernat Soy yarn and picked some fairly big needles to work on it. Nice and soft stuff and working from the chart was okay. It will be my take it and go project and will be finished before the start date on the mystery stole.
Yesterday my package arrived from Knit Picks with the Gloss Lace Blue Bird yarn for my stole and the Harmony wood interchangeable needles. I wound up a ball of the yarn and worked on my swatch, frogging four times until I finally finished about 11 P.M. Blocked it and went to bed. The beads that I used were some that I bought about 20 years ago in Brooklyn in an old warehouse. The only crochet hook that I own that was small enough to go through the beads was a size 14.

I love the needles, the beads and the yarn is lovely. This project will be fairly difficult for me with my vision problems, but I am determined to have a lace shawl that I make.

A Tale of Two Scarves

2008-08-14T14:17:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I bought a skein of Ulmo by Araucania, not having an idea of what to do with it. Meantime, I was busy knitting other things and joined Ravelry. I looked up Ulmo and fell in love with the drop stitch scarf, a Christine Vogel design. The pattern is perfect for the yarn and is so incredibly easy that I have been taking in in the car whenever Mac wants to do errands. I just sit and knit.

I almost forgot my sister's birthday and couldn't find anything to knit in my stash. So off to Yarnworks in Gainesville with Mac in tow. I wanted to knit a quick novelty scarf to go with black. I picked Gedifra Barocco. It looked like nothing else. Then I went home and got out some big needles and started to knit, and laughed, and laughed and laughed until tears ran down my cheeks. The wool tufts look like they were something combed out of my brother's old dog Princess. (May she rest in peace.) With polka dot bows. Oh my! It's 70" long. She can always put a collar on the scarf bunched up and pretend it's a small dog. Anyway I will put it in the mail, happy birthday Toni and I dare you to wear this!

Yarn Mess - I Really Could Be Knitting

2008-08-04T19:53:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back I bought a skein of Araucania Ulmo. Loved the colorway. Untwisted it and put it away without twisting it back. Picked it up carelessly. Put it away. Repeated a couple of times. Found a scarf pattern on Ravelry. Perfect!

This morning, facing another Monday morning at Shands Hospital with Mac, I put my modular sweater in a knitting tote and threw the Ulmo, needle and pattern in another. We took off and I picked up the yarn to wind while he drove. Total mess. Completely my fault. At one point, Mac drove over an old railroad track hump and the ball bounced up and almost flew out the window before I caught it. That might have really been interesting, a ball of yarn unwinding in the middle of Gainesville followed by the tangled mess.
After an hour and half of untangling and winding this is all I have so far. Even Misty wasn't tempted to put her paw into it. Making the scarf might take less time.

Next time it's a swift and my yarn winder, no more messes.

OMG I Found My Old Knitting Album!

2008-08-02T19:07:00.000-04:00

I found my old album of my machine knitting from 1984-5, complete with my brochures and some old yarn cards. Now I can identify some of my stashed cotton, silk, alpaca and angora.
Here's me at an art and craft show with a Spring collection of cotton and silk. I'll get the stash photographed and put on Ravelry bit by bit. Most are on cones with plenty of yardage.

We were living on a boat at the time so I would just lay the sweaters on the dock and take photos. Below is a photo of me with a customer. We're both wearing silk tussah tops and cotton/poly bottoms to match.
Detail of a silk sweater with hand knit leaves. This was a custom piece for a regular customer with a very thin neck.

Cotton tanks from the same show. I made woven cotton skirts to mix and match with these.

Some children's sweaters from an earlier show. They were cute, but I enjoyed working with full size pieces.

I think I will make an Image Event album for all of these and the rest.

What Was I Thinking? My stash.

2008-07-29T18:28:00.000-04:00

Yarn, projects and UFO's are all over the place. I joined Ravelry , started writing about some of my projects and then started listing my stash. There's two hanks of lace weight royal blue Shetland that I bought from Jamieson & Smith in 1963 I think. I bought some yellow too but I was able to finish that lace sweater and didn't save any yarn from it. Now I need to mend the moth holes in it and the color was discontinued some time ago.

I'm forever buying a skein of something interesting and it gets lost and I find it years later. Mac and I lived on our sailboat in the 1980's and when we moved off the boat, I had accumulated 200 cones of yarn that I used with my knitting machine. It's not easy to hide that much yarn on a 48' sailboat but I did. The knitting machine folded up nicely so everything did get put away out of sight.

Most of this yarn has gone out of style and I've been trying to get it out of here bit by bit. Someone suggested Ravelry and I had never heard of it. One look and I fell in love with the site.

Okay, fuchsia mohair, an entire cone of it. Maybe I didn't have red hair then. Maybe I was blonde, that would account for that color. Mohair isn't the best yarn in Florida anyway. Just maybe someone will want it.

Ten Minutes with Empty Needles

2008-07-24T11:46:00.000-04:00

How long can you go between projects? I'm not talking about UFO's that haunt us. What I mean is something that you MUST BE KNITTING! I finished the Valpuri pullover and it fits perfectly and shows off some curves, not as square looking as this photo. More like the model in the previous post, just add another head 40 years older!
I managed to make it 10 minutes before I cast on some yarn for my next sweater.

Last week, my husband dropped me off at Yarnworks in Gainesville, FL while he did his guy-stuff errands. I went around and squeezed just about every yarn in the store thinking about the cover of the new Verena knitting magazine from Burda. After changing my mind several times, I settled on Bamboo from Southwest Trading Company. The yarn has some wonderful copper tones in it and that suits me perfectly. I sell vintage copper jewelry on my Sue's Jewels website.

I love the silkiness of this bamboo yarn and I still hadn't settles on a pattern. Then I remembered the diagonal triangle sweater from Vogue Spring/Summer 2006. I had purchased the pattern from Yarnworks last month. It was designed by Iris Schreier and is pattern P90 from Art Yarns. Checking SWTC, I again had picked out a discontined color, but this time I will have enough. I'm doing the pullover with the sleeves.

The only stange thing about the pattern is that you remove the stitch marker every row, knit in the front and back of the next stitch and replace the marker. I've tried putting the marker down on a table, but it usually ends up between my lips for faster work! The Art Yarns Regal Silk would have been lovely, but I love Bamboo. It's silkin and it wicks! It's started by casting on 3 stitches and off you go.

My July Aran Sweater

2008-07-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

It's Florida and it's hot. My eyes are getting better, but I still can't see well enough to knit socks. I've only knit two Aran sweaters in my life, one in 1964 from the Woman's Day International series. I loved it, but left it with my brother when I moved to Florida for the first time. He wore it riding his motorcycle and it never recovered. I'm still looking for that pattern.

The second was for my husband. I think I knit that about 1982 while we lived on a sailboat off of Alabama. It gets worn once a year or so, just too warm for him. Sometimes I borrow it on one of our cold mornings for a walk. Yes, it does get cold here and has even snowed in the northern part of Florida.

I like working the textures of the cables and I don't tend to make mistakes like missing my yarn-overs in lace. Occasionally I turn the cable in the wrong direction if I'm watching TV, but those are fairly easy to fix if I haven't gone to far. I picked a free pattern from Berroco called Valpuri. I had bought about 4 skeins of Plymouth Linen Isle a couple of months ago with nothing special in mind.

I chose it for its hand and price and that it didn't have the glitter in it that the Berroco yarn has. About 10 days ago I took the finished back into Yarnworks in Gainesville to buy more yarn. Two more skeins in stock and Barbara, the store owner, called Plymouth. Discontinued and non in stock. Ack! Not to be discouraged, I found four more skeins on eBay and finished the two sleeves while waiting for the shipment. I didn't want to do the front with two different dye lots of yarn. Someday I might learn my lesson. Buy small amounts, that's okay, but don't start a project until you have enough to finish it!

Vogue Cover Sweater-Waiting for Buttons

2008-06-27T11:54:00.000-04:00

I have thousands of buttons, but not the right ones. I think this calls for bone colored buttons. As you can see i lengthened the sweater by one pattern repeat and lengthened the front placket to include a fourth button. Looks great with denim and I put it on and wore it all day when it was finished. It's very comfortable.

Light weight cardigans seem like a good idea for living in Florida and I'm going to find some more patterns and yarn. The first issue of Verena Knitting looks like a winner. I love the pullover on the cover although the little flowers around the neckline were kind of silly. There are never enough knitting magazines to suit me and I have issues back to the 1950's. Some bring back memories of sweaters made long ago and almost forgotten. Where did they go?

I have to brag a bit about my jewelry here. Country Home Magazine has featured my copper jewelry in their JUly/August issue, a full page. You can see a small photo of it in their on-line issue.

I'm enjoying my AC unit in my computer room here. Mac's cat Rocky, joins me for his afternoon naps. He sleeps in a rocking chair unless I leave the room and then he steals my office chair.

Vogue Cover and a Yarn Over Mind Block

2008-06-04T17:31:00.000-04:00

After over 50 years of knitting, I know how to do yarn-overs. My problem now is remembering to do them. I'm having quite a time with the Vogue 2008 Summer cover cardigan. I keep forgetting to do yarn-overs and then discover two rows later that I have to frog. It's gotten so bad that I'm keeping an extra small circular needle with the yarn so I can do the r-r-r-ipping quickly.
It's kind of a dance, six rows forward and then two rows back. Maybe it's because I knit while watching TV, riding in the car or talking to friends.

Anyway, the back is finished and the sides are almost done. I found a couple of tank tops at Goodwill to wear under it.
The original was white and very cropped, but then I saw Knitmaven's version in 2nd Time Cotton. Her April 10 Blog. Mine will be an in-between length and I haven't decided on buttons and placket until I get there. There will be yarn left over, but I will get creative and maybe make a shopping bag without yarn-overs.

Diamond Patch Sweater Finished!

2008-05-28T15:19:00.000-04:00

I loved knitting this sweater! Berroco Denim Silk was easy to handle and just doing one diamond at a time was easy. I had to do bigger diamonds than the original pattern, but the pattern itself explained exactly how to do that. It fits perfectly and I've paired it with a macramé necklace that my sister Toni Andrews made for me more than thirty years ago. Click on the photo for a close-up of both.

After a couple of years of sock knitting, the larger needles are fun. My eye situation is the problem, this Anterior Basement Membrane Distrophy is a super annoyance. After a couple of really windy and dusty days outside at the Brimfield, MA Antique Show I was a mess. Customers had to tell me if they were handing me a ten or a twenty! Couldn't knit and barely could play cards. I was able to drive the old bus back home to Florida and I'm sticking to the regimine the eye doctors gave me.

Now I'm knitting an old Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern. It's the Adult Surprise Jacket. Twenty five years ago I made one for myself in two shades of mohair and am still wearing it on cold days. If you've never made one, Meg Swanson sells the pattern from her site, School House Press, and it's been in at least one magazine. Very simple and all done from percentages from a magic number that you figure out.

Silk Yarn and Fur

2008-05-08T17:22:00.001-04:00

My modular sweater is coming along just great. I wanted to show it off, but there's a problem. Who could disturb this cat? Usually she likes fluffy things, but anything hand knitted is fair game. Misty sleeps very soundly and her head is hidden in the basket.

I'm leaving in the morning for a week at the Brimfield, MA Antique Show and taking the sweater to finish and leaving Misty home with Rocky and Mac. If I knit fast enough, I can wear it before I return.

Denim Silk Diamond Patch Sweater

2008-04-24T10:34:00.000-04:00

This pattern looked like fun. Knit a mitered patch and check the size. Six patches to go around the hips plus a little ease. I thought the Berroco Denim Silk would be nice and started with a number 7 round needle. A bit small so I tried one with a number 8. Perfect.

The pattern is from Jill Vosberg and the instructions are very detailed with many suggestions and diagrams.

You knit 6 mitered pieces to start. Then start picking up stitches and build up six on top of that. You end up making a sweater without any sewing. This is fun and should make a super Summer sweater.

See what's happening at the Ag Center in Vernon CT. I've spent hundreds of hours there knitting socks during antique auctions. I'll be at an antique show this weekend in Gainesville, FL selling my vintage jewelry instead. Wah!
Saturday, April 26, 2008Rain or Shine

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Tolland Agricultural CenterRoute 30, Vernon/Rockville, CT
More event information

Bamboo Bonsai Sweater Finished

2008-04-22T12:55:00.000-04:00

Yippee! I love this Berroco yarn and somehow it only took 9 skeins so a couple can go back and get traded in for the project after next. The shell fit perfectly and I actually found a bra in the exact color to wear underneath. I love the feel of this yarn and hope it does wick a bit.
My only bitch was that the fine nylon (the 3% part) thread tended to unravel while I was using a needle to put it together.
Yesterday we stopped at the library in Gainesville and I gravitated to the knitting shelf to see if there was something that I hadn't read. I found a copy of 1000 Sweaters: Mix and Match Patterns for the Perfect, Personalized Sweater I have designed sweaters for years, but this was full of ideas for alternative necklines, sleeves and pockets. It has a split pages and codes and is altogether fun.

Right now I'm messing around with a ball of Berroco Silk Denim. It's discontinued so I bought about 15 skeins and will have to decide what to make. Maybe I'll design something or maybe I'll be lazy, check a swatch and pick out a pattern.

Beautiful Bonsai Bamboo Yarn

2008-04-11T17:08:00.000-04:00

Bonsai is wonderful yarn. I loved working on the wide ribbing despite my old straight needles. My number 8 circular needle is new and lovely and I was happy to switch over to it to start the pattern. I kept dropping the long needles and they would hit the arms of my chair!

We put in our time at the hospital and stopped at Yarnworks just before they closed for some more of the Kaigun blue.

This pattern is a free pattern from Berroco and called Badia. The shell has a diagonal pattern and cable on the back as well as the front so it will keep me on my toes. I get bored with straight stockinette after being a machine knitter.

A couple of weeks ago my neighbor, Julie, was knitting with the same yarn in an ivory shade called Tofu. I didn't realize that we both had picked out the same yarn. she's knitting an elegant sleeveless shell with a cowl neckline and should be about finished.

Bonsai Yarn and a Knitting Needle Rant

2008-04-09T13:49:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I stopped at Yarnworks in Gainesville, FL for a quick look for linen yarns and other yarns for some Summer tops. Not ready for a commitment, I purchased 3 skeins. Berroco Bonsai in a deep inky blue called Kaigun, Berroco Denim Silk in Carob (a discontined yarn) and Plymouth Linen Isle in Ecru.
I picked up the Bonsai first and did a cast-on a round size 6 needle. Couldn't knit it off. It's a tape yarn and I used an old needle.
I have stashes of yarn and circular needles and even knit socks on them. I splurge fo Addi needles for socks, especially for size 3 and smaller. I must have a dozen in size 2 alone.
The larger needles come from two aunts maybe fifty years ago. I've also bought needles over the years and some at auctions and flea markets, plastic, metal, wood and bone. So I went into the downstairs stash where the neglected single pointed needles hide. I checked the sizes, no size six. something didn't look right about some of the sizes marked so I got out my friendly little needle size checker and was amazed. The needle sizes were often a size off from what they were marked. I found some that measured size 6. I cast on some stitches. They felt awkward. Maybe I'll buy some more Addis.

Knitting on the Cheap, One Skein Scarf & $1 Cardigan

2008-04-03T09:18:00.001-04:00

The Salvia sweater is "finished", but I'm not finished with it. The yarn cost me $1 at an auction so only time is involved.I used a smaller needle for the bind-off of the neckline, but it's not tight enough. The I-cord trim on the front doesn't want to be neat. More blockin is in order there. I couldn't find a buckle that I really liked and will keep looking for another. Apart from that, I like the color, the fit and the fact that it's all cotton.

I love to go into a good yarn shop and just squeeze everything. Can't keep my hands off yarn. Right now I can't afford a sweater amount of yarn. A couple of weeks ago I stopped by my closest shop, Yarnworks in Gainesville, FL. and found this pretty stuff. Ms. Jones from Plymouth Yarn's Italian Collection. I love the colors and bought one skein. The pattern came from One Skein Wonders. Easy to do in a couple of hours.

Now I'm trying to work from a chart from Crystal Palace Yarns, the Cabled Sleeveless Shell. So far I've frogged the first two inches six times. I think I might have broke my own record for frogging. I've never been defeated by a pattern, but this chart is making me crazy!!

Knitting, Eyesignt Panic and an LVAD

2008-02-27T08:31:00.000-05:00

The Summer of 2006, I bought three big black garbage bags of yarn at an auction for about $15.00. There was a woman in the crowd crocheting slippers for her church so I gave her all of the standard acrylic stuff and went home with two bags still full. In one was a box of Amy Blatt Ecoss'anny cotton in shocking pink. A couple of weeks ago, looking at the Spring issue of Knitter's, I found just the thing for a Summer sweater. The name of the sweater is Salvia and it was designed by Theresa Schabes. They rated it as advanced but is a piece of cake after the Aran Isle cardigan and the Union Jack sweater. Different gauge yarn and needle size, but that is an easy fix for me.

Here is my progress so far with the back and part of the front.

This was simple enough to take to the hospital where Mac waits for his LVAD operation for next Monday. Then, Sunday morning I woke up with considerable eye pain in my right eye. First time in over 40 years that I went to the ER. (After Mac sent me there from HIS hospital room.)

Seems that I have something with a long name. Don't laugh, I had the doctor write it down and now I can't see well enough to find the piece of paper! Anyway, since it was Sunday, I drove to the nearest open pharmacy since the one at the hospital was closed. My car died at the busiest intersection in Gainesville on the way back. So I called Mac and he told me how to drive my Jeep without the clutch. Not recommended for the faint of heart. I had decided to spend the night in his hospital room anyway so I made it back and moved the car to a transmission place after dark when there was less traffic on the roads, and took a cab back to the hospital. spent the night watching the Oscars in my dark glasses, no knitting at all and went home the next day after my follow-up at the eye clinic and two buses got me back to the transmission joint for the Jeep.

Yesterday was very frustrating. Our house is mostly windows with no curtains, way too bright for my eyes. Couldn't knit, couldn't do computer or paperwork and no watching TV. Three vehicles stuck in the space of exactly one week, but that will be another blog.

Here's another hat that I knit out of Noro Silk Garden. Pretty, but I will have to sell it or give it away. We all have big heads in my family. that One Skein Wonders book.

Union Jack Cardigan Finished

2008-02-06T14:02:00.000-05:00

The collar is finally revealed. Little stand-up job that suits it. Vogue Knitting didn't show it and Brandon Mably didn't have a photo either. This one is a large and the center cross was widened in both directions.

I added some light blue stripes to the sleeves to tie the color in to the design. The instructions on the pocket were to "tack" the linings down. Instead I knit two more pieces and attached them under the garter trim and whipped them together.

It is 80 plus degrees here today and I will have to wait a few days to wear it. I loved working with the Rowan yarn, but my original shipment of the main color was short and the skeins to finish it were a totally different lot. After some hesitation I went ahead and finished it and am happy that it turned out okay.

Bulky Cardigan Jacket

2008-02-05T16:26:00.000-05:00

Here it is minus buttons! I used Torino Bulky yarn and changed the pattern to suit. Thanks goodness for the article in Vogue Knitting about arm length. It fits perfectly. I made the collar larger so it fits the sweater better. Now I have to find some nice wooden buttons and I'll take a picture of me wearing it - as soon as the temperature goes back to Florida Winter normal.

My Union Jack cardigan is almost done. I'm knitting the second front placket now. Reading the instructions, I have no idea of what the collar will look like! I even tried to find out from Vogue Knitting and the designer and neither were any help.

I'm about ready to get back to a couple pairs of socks and maybe a scarf or two.

Union Jack Sweater Parts

2008-01-08T16:43:00.000-05:00

After working on this cardigan, I've decided that I do better with one color at a time! The technique of tucking in yarn as you go is beyond me. The fourth ball of Rowan Tapestry in the color Potpourri was ordered from another source since the eBay seller ran out after he had to ship twice. (The first shipment never did arrive.) That ball definitely doesn't match the others.
It probably won't really matter considering the design.
Here are the parts so far, no blocking done yet. The striped sleeves are much easier than the rest. I changed the stripes a bit, adding some of the Kid Classic Glacier -pale blue since there is so much left over.

This has become a love/hate project. I love the feel of the yarn, but not Brandon Mably who designed the sweater. I think he took the easy way out on altering for the larger size, making the center cross much wider rather than altering the pattern in proportion. Who was the photographer who hid the sweater collar with that stupid white neck ruffle? The directions sound like it's very small -maybe he ran out of yarn? It will be interesting when I finish the sleeves and get the garter trim done. Blocking will tell.

Union Jack Sweater and Hospital Knitting

2007-12-19T19:14:00.000-05:00

Mid October I saw the wonderful Vogue Knitting Holiday issue and fell in love with the Brandon Mably cardigan. He worked in Kaffee Fassett's London studio and I have two of Fassett's books that I bought about 20 years ago but had never made a sweater from one of his patterns. When I saw this, I fell in love with the look. I bought the Rowan yarn with Buy It Now on eBay from three different sellers. Two days later shipments came in from two of them. The other never arrived and it was the yarn that started the sweater.

I started pleading with the seller in November and he finally agreed to reship. On December 11th, that package arrived, one skein missing and no refund for that. Meanwhile my husband was on his second stay in the hospital and I knit like crazy at night when I couldn't sleep. After knitting about 6 inches of the back, I looked at the photo and the pattern. Ack!! I had stockinette knit the first 5 rows instead of garter stitch and it was rolling like crazy. I consulted my Knit Fix book and took out the first six rows and reknit them backwards, very carefully. That came out fine and here is my effort so far.

Monday afternoon, Mac had an internal defillabrator installed in his chest, I sat in the waiting room and knit like crazy and managed to get the first sleeve to my Aran cardigan started.

This yarn is so nice and after knitting the front and back I don't have to look up the pattern and can take this anywhere to work on it.

Mac found out Tuesday morning that he can't have a heart transplant. He is out of the hospital again and I think there is plenty of stress knitting in my future.

Diagonal Scarf

2007-12-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

Here's the book, Scarves, a Knitter's Dozen. I used the diagonal scarf pattern for this and enjoyed it so much that I'm going to try some different yarn.

I've run out of yarn again for my big aran sweater and my kitten, Misty has slept on it and even crawed into the bag where I keep it. Yesterday I found the sweater about ten feet from my chair. Misty was trying to take it somewhere. Strange cat,

Stress and Knitting

2007-12-02T17:07:00.000-05:00

My husband Mac just got out of the hospital after eleven days. He was having difficulty breathing and a trip to his internist lead him straight into the hospital. It seems that he has had several heart attacks and never felt them. He is a diabetic and that is common. His heart is too damaged for a by-pass and so now we will be waiting for a transplant. Mac is home and happy to be here. I am stressed and knitting like mad!

During this time, my eyesight seems suddenly worse and I kept making mistakes on the socks that I'm knitting on size 1 needles. Something easier and portable was definitely needed. I had seen a diagonal scarf pattern in a book and had remembered it and I'm embarrassed to say that I can't give credit until I find the book again.

Walking into Yarnworks, our local yarn shop in Gainesville, Florida, there was the scarf knitted in a wonderful hand painted silk. Wow! At $34. that was too much for busy work for my hospital visits, so I found some lovely acrylic from James C. Brett of the UK. It's called Marble and the pale pink and gray is just perfect match for my sister's Winter coat.

The color is off here, the pink is true and there's plenty of white and pale grey. The other Marble colors were very nice too, darker and richer. I usually avoid acrylic, but this is a very nice quality yarn.

Third Time's a Cardigan

2007-11-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

I bought this luscious, soft Merino wool from Criations in Somers, CT and decided to make a shell. After about 10 inches of knitting in the round, I decided that it wouldn't do. Too bulky for a shell. Okay, so I frogged it and bought more yarn and started a fitted, flared cardigan. My sister talked me out of that style. Very unflattering for my mature curves.

Then I found the perfect pattern, Berroco's free pattern for the Alexi Cardigan.
See the pattern here So I knit some double seed stitch pieces to check the gauge. Measured okay so I started. After knitting about five inches, I frogged the yarn for the third time. The sweater would have been huge. Okay, I would like an oversized sweater so I started again with fewer stitches. My yarn was definitely bulkier and I'm a relaxed knitter. Maybe I'm just an uptight swatcher!

Now I'm going right along and will have no trouble adapting the pattern, but will need more yarn. Here is the back and part of the left front. The back is resting on a smaller needle while it waits to join the front pieces and sleeves. It's turning out to be an expensive sweater because of all of the yarn needed, but I love it already.

I was looking through the book Knit Fix about how to fix mistakes and laughed at fixing backward cables. How could anyone make that mistake? Now I know. I can, especially when I'm watching TV while knitting. I've fixed about eight so far on this cardigan and I fear there will be more in my future.

Knitting While Watching TV

2007-11-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

I always thought that I was a good multi-tasker. Working with patterns while watching TV has proved that wrong. These cotton and wool socks were frogged multiple times, but I finally finished last night during NCSI.
The orange and blue colorways were picked because we live near the University of Florida and that seems to be the most popular color scheme in this area. Socks to blend in with my surroundings!

In my last blog, I talked about the problem I was having with the small spider pattern on the Qiviuk scarf pattern from Interweave Holiday Gifts 2007. After figuring that one out, I worked my way to the large spider pattern. It just didn't make sense and I consulted two far more experienced knitters. The chart and pattern kept coming out as 19 instead of 24 stitches on the 4th row. I gave up and emailed Interweave.com. The following day I received an answer from Katie Himmelberg, assistant editor of Interweave Knits.

The 4th row on the narrow scarf should be:

K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k3tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2.

The directions meant that you do the chart twice except you skip the final k3tog and you start the row with a K1, K2tog instead of K2.

It worked out just fine, but I do regret using the yarn that I picked. Something more like mohair would have looked better and shown off the "spiders" much better.

I still have to concentrate while doing lace work. The bodky of the scarf is going quickly until I get too interested in a TV program. Then it's frogging time again. I keep a size 0 needle handy next to my TV chair. Maybe I should have some knitting just for watching TV!

Lace Charts, Frogging and Frustration

2007-10-25T09:35:00.000-04:00

I've been knitting for 55 years and have made hundreds of sweaters if you include my knitting machine days. Somewhere along the line someone invented charts for lace knitting. They certainly look easy. After all, I can read a map, a chart for ocean navigation or one to fly an airplane. Why am I having such a difficult time on something so easy?

In the new Interweave Holiday Gifts issue, I chose the Qiviuk Webs Scarf on page 33. The narrow scarf looked easy enough and called for one ball of yarn. I chose Karabella Breeze, a cashmere and silk blend that I bought at Criations in Somers, CT. I'm also knitting on bamboo needles for the first time.

The edging went just fine and the small "spider" pattern was confusing, but I managed after frogging it about 6 times. Then I got to the easy "holes" pattern.

Twenty froggings of the first three rows later, I dug in my heels. My husband Mac and the cats went to bed, the TV was turned off and I really concentrated. Finally, I'm starting to "get it."

I guess you can teach old dogs new tricks. Next pattern is the large "spider" pattern. I like the method of putting the end on a holder. That way when I knit the other end and the main body of the scarf, no yarn will be wasted.

This yarn has really impressed me. It is soft, nice to work with and still looked great after being frogged so many times.

Wrapping up the Warm Weather

2007-10-12T19:45:00.000-04:00

There were three balls of Lion Fettuccini in a bag of yarn that I bought at auction. Most of the yarn went to a local church ladies' group, but I held out this strange stuff. There was a scarf pattern on the inside of the wrapper for two balls, so I increased the cast-on by 50% and made a longer scarf. It looked pretty neat on the scarecrow next door. The color is called Camouflage. Fun and quick to knit on size 19 needles. Took about two hours.

I've started another pair of socks. This time I found Eagle's Flight pattern by Megan Humphrey.

The colorway reminds me of the University of Florida colors, Blue and Orange. I shall wear them in Gainesville, FL. The lace pattern is easy and I'm using size 1 1/2 round needles.

The Holiday Vogue Knitting is out and wonderful and I'm in love with Brandon Mably's Union Jack cardigan. The Rowan yarn is on order from various eBay auctions and I'm looking forward to making a whole sweater for a change.

The new designers are wonderful and I wish I still lived in New England where I could get a lot more wear out of sweaters and socks.

Lazy Summer Knitter

2007-09-27T10:04:00.000-04:00

I've been more of a frogger than a knitter this Summer. It seems like I've just had to keep ripping my work out. This Regia Crazy Color colorway yarn seemed to be made for a smaller foot. The socks are just a bit short, but there was less than a yard of yarn left over.

The bamboo socks are at the short row heel point and I've taken them out twice. They will sit in their little jar for a couple more weeks. I decided to work on some cotton blend socks and went through my sock stash and came up with some Sockatta yarn.

I saw a free pattern from Knitter's Review for Hedgerow Socks from Lisa Parker's design. It's easy enough for me to knit at the nightly auctions while I'm waiting for wonderful items to show up. It would be better in the semi-solid colorways recommended but it's difficult to close my sock stash drawer and I figured I'd better use something I already own.

I can tell already that these will be perfect for Florida. I'm heading back there in October and the heavier wool socks will have to wait for December.The heel flap continues the pattern and jit will be perfect with my sandals!
My next post will be about a wonderful shop that's only 10 miles away from me here in Connecticut. It will be difficult to go home to Florida where the closest shop is a 70 mile round trip.

Bamboo Yarn

2007-06-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

Okay, I frogged the yarn from the last try and decided to try my hand with the same pattern of toe up socks with some bamboo and wool yarn. Here is the start, neither impressive or perfect. I seem to be all thumbs when it comes to the Eastern Cast-On.
The Trekking Pro Natural is 25% Bamboo and 75% Superwash Wool and has a wonderful hand. I switched over to two needles as soon as I could, because I tend to drop the straight ones and most of my knitting is done at antique auctions where I am easily distracted and in public to boot!

Rocky, our adolescent cat, wanted to get into the attic of the cottage over the door and kept climbing up the French door. We finally lifted him up and let him spend and hour up there. Here he is trying to get up there by himself.

My Funny Clown Socks

2007-06-16T15:03:00.000-04:00

What was I thinking when I bought this yarn? I like Regia sock yarn, and I like the colors, but all together in even stripes, they scream. I knit about 4 inches and frogged the sock and then decided a pattern might make them a bit more interesting.
My sister and husband laughed so hard, I decided to make ankle socks instead of my usual. I think they're cute, don't know what I will wear them with, but they are finished and should be pretty flashy with my lime green Crocs!

Here's my new kitty, Smokey. He has white feet and grey striped socks. I think I should make some socks to match his.

Last night I started some toes up socks with the Eastern Cast On from the Summer issue of Interweave Knits. It took me five tries, but I finally mastered the method and then switched to two needles as soon as I had enough stitches. Nice soft colors this time.

Secret Confession of Yarn Addict

2007-05-31T13:53:00.000-04:00

After having a wonderful time looking at sheep, yarn and border collies at Woolcraft Fair, I headed straight to Web's www.yarn.com in Northhampton, MA. After two hours of squeezing yarns and exploring every nook and cranny in the store and back bargain room, I left with some yarn for a Summer scarf and two balls of Trekking sock yarn. Not much at all for me, but a very tight budget that day.

Strangest thing heard that day from one of the comfortable chairs set out for husbands,"Honey, is that all the yarn you're buying today?"

Sunday morning was spent selling vintage jewelry at the Elephant Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT, 14 hours of non-knitting time driving the bus, selling the jewelry and returning home. www.SuesJewels.com my jewelry site for the curious.

Monday I knit the scarf and wore it to an antique auction at 5 P.M. The yarn is called Melissa and I found it on sale at Webs. 3 balls, 17 stitches on #9 needles, garter stitch until out of yarn.
Lazy quick pattern. I love the little satin flags. Filatura di Crosa Melissa, 50% Polyester/20% Cotton/20% Acrylic/10% Polyamid, not a sheep involved at all.

I have really enjoyed my Sassy Stripes acrylic socks that I knit last Summer. they wear like iron and I liked them enough to knit a second pair in the Crayon colorway. Searching on the Internet I found the yarn in the Spring colorway and made these in a couple of days on number 3 needles.

Now I'll get back to wool, cotton, bamboo and more natural stuff. Here's a photo of some Iris that started blooming yesterday. Next will be my confession as a failed ribbon crocheter.

Hooded Sheep and Flying Dogs

2007-05-30T16:18:00.000-04:00

I took the day off Saturday and went to the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair in Cummingham, MA. With great enthusiam and a poor time estimation, I arrived at 7:30 A.M., the second car in the public parking lot. The sheep seemed to still be in their PJ's, some complete with beauty masks.

It was too early for the judging, but I walked through the barns watching the sheep being primped for the competition. This white one was very friendly.

In the next stall, this black one wanted attention too.

Here are two llamas out for a morning stroll.

The angora bunnies were the softest animals that I have ever touched. There were many vendors selling wool, fleece, spinning wheels and everything related to wool and knitting. So much talent on display everywhere and I'm still just knitting socks.

Border Collies were amazing and no good photos here. The competition was going on all day.

I bought a pair of hand knit socks for Mac for $15. They are nice and thick and I sure wouldn't sell a pair that I knit for that. Because he is so hard on socks, I bought a pattern for Free Soul Socks from Cathy Chung of www.justouryorn.com I would rather knit than darn any day.

The parking lot filled with hundreds of cars by 11 A.M. and I was on my way back towards Northhampton and Webs www.yarn.com and I spent the afternoon there.

Too Much Yarn is Never Enough

2007-04-25T23:23:00.000-04:00

I finally finished the second pair of blue Shetland socks for Mac. There must be enough yarn on this cone for another six pair. the first pair already need darning. I darned holes in about a dozen socks this week for him. I've almost finished the striped pink socks for my sister. They are a lot more fun than solid colors. I think I'll knit Mac some striped socks and see if he will wear them, stronger, heavier yarn too.

It's that time of year to head to connecticut for the Summer. There is so little room and I want to take some yarn (at least all of my sock yarn stash), but I can't remember what's already there. Boxes are tucked in the corners of the attic.

I went off HRT a couple of months ago and have been trying everything I've heard of to stop the hot flashes. Nothing seems to be working. I'm ready to move to Alaska. I've heard that bamboo yarn will wick moisture. Have to try that soon.

Vest Finished & One Fuchsia Striped Sock

2007-03-18T18:59:00.000-04:00

Two days of "cold" weather left in North Florida and I finished my Ojo de Dios vest from Dazzling Knits by Patricia Werner. I made it with Noro Silk Garden and just let the yarn determine the way everything came out, no planning or changing yarns.

Looking for buttons, I found some stoneware buttons from New Mexico that I must have bought 20 years ago. Can't even remember exactly where or when.

I love working with Noro yarns. The colors are gorgeous. Module knitting is fun and easy to do block by block.

I'm working on two pair of socks. One in Jamieson & Smith Shetland in a denim blue for my husband, Mac and the other in a fuchsia stripe for my sister, Toni. The socks are related through the needles. The blue socks are ribbed with #1 and the foot with #2 and the stripe socks are ribbed with #2 and the foot with #1. Since I have only two of each in my favorite Addi circular needles, I have to switch needles at the end of ribbing and the beginning of the second socks.

Anyway here is the yarn.

Here is the first sock modeled by Toni standing next to a Formosa azalea. Good color match.

My Noro Silk Garden Vest

2007-03-02T13:08:00.000-05:00

Not yet finished, waiting for yarn for edge. I love the wonderful Noro yarns and the #228 color just looked like fun. Instead of changing yarn colors, I let the varigated yarn do it's own thing colorwise. Two rows of hdc, blocking and some buttons and it will be finished.
The pattern is from Dazzling Knits by Patricia Werner. Love the book. Modular knitting is fascinating and the author offers many suggestions for changes.

Ongoing active projects are 2nd pair of denim blue Shetland socks for Mac, some pink striped socks for me (waiting for some better #1 needles) and a Schachenmayr Flic-Flac cardigan to go with some Bakelite buttons that were a present. Can you tell I love color?!!

Knitting, Mystery, Genealogy in One Book!

2007-02-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

I was in Vero Beach, Florida selling my vintage jewelry at an antique show this weekend and picked up a local newspaper. Inside was an ad for a local book store with the name Barbara Delinsky, the words Family Tree and a chance to win some yarn and patterns. Poor ad, since it didn't mention that Barbara is a popular author, Family Tree is her new book and it's about genealogy and knitting. It didn't even give a time to meet her.
I had to come back home to see a dentist and get ready for my next show. Berroco sent me an email about a booklet with 4 patterns inspired by the book and one intrigued me so I ordered that from them and the book from Amazon. It should be in my mail box when I get home from this weekend's antique show in Mt. Dora, FL.

The Sweater that Took Forever

2007-02-06T16:27:00.000-05:00

In 1963 I ordered some Shetland lace weight yarn from Jamieson & Smith, blue and yellow and this pattern. I started with the yellow yarn and when it was half finished, left it in the Hartford Airport on a trip to Florida. Unfinished, it moved with me twelve times until I picked it up while I was living on the sailboat in Alabama in 1984. I finished it and my mother claimed it immediately although she had never worn yellow.

Then I picked up the blue yarn and knitted half of the back. That was about the time that I got my first knitting machine and it was put away until yesterday. Oh well, the moths got at the yarn and the knitted portion and I tossed it. There are a couple of small holes in the yellow sweater from wear, but I will order a bit of yarn from Jamieson & Smith and mend the cardigan and make a shell to go under it.

Buried in a Mountain of Socks

2007-02-06T13:10:00.000-05:00

Knitting is fun, mending is not.

Three years ago we bought a trunk at auction that had 22 pair of unworn Shetland socks in it. After the empty trunk was sold, the cost of the socks turned out to be free! Eighteen pair fit my husband, Mac. He has worn them everyday since and a year ago, I started darning. The pile above is my mending project. It was just decreased by three pair, but Mac keeps up with me. There's a pair in the laundry room that I made last Summer with one inch holes in them.

I sensed trouble ahead so the pair that I'm knitting now out of my beloved Jamieson & Smith Shetland is being reinforced with Wooly Nylon. I thought that I was being clever and put the Wooly Nylon cone under the Shetland cone and pulling them up together. Big mistake. That elastic stuff winds around and tangles and tries to make little wooly worms on the inside.

I get bored working in the solid color and as you can see, I have yarn for plenty more blue socks for Mac. Here is my other sock project.

I messed up on my gauge and did the ribbing with number two needles and then decided the stockinette was too thin and switched to number one for the foot. I like stripes.

After much sock knitting, making another entrelac hat just a bit bigger than the last, I went to Yarnworks, our yarn store in Gainesville, FL. I squeezed my way around the store while my non-knitting sister waited patiently.

I found a shelf of mohair and fell in love with the subtle shading in this. I splurged buying one skein and got out One Skein Wonders, edited by Judith Durant. The Gossamer Shell Scarf ooked like it would be perfect. After a frustraing hour I Googled it on the Internet and found that there was an error in the number of cast-on stitches. Once that got straightened out, the scarf is just coming right along.

I'll get back to the socks in a bit, this mohair is just too much fun.

Felting

2007-01-30T20:12:00.000-05:00

Felting seems like a fun thing and I love wool, but it's been a warm Winter. Then I saw a felted hat in a yarn shop last month. Mind you, I live in Florida and wool hats don't get worn very often. So I made one for my sister.

Here it is before the washing machine. I made it in a couple of hours and made her put it on.

this is after. Not a very good photo of her or the hat, but she was pleased enough to ask for a black one and I made it too. Sometimes she wears the black one when we walk before dawn and the temperature is below 40F.

I want this pattern!

2007-01-09T22:27:00.000-05:00

Here I am as a sohomore in college on a February trip to Montreal and Quebec. We stopped on the shore of Lake Champlain where this was taken. This sweater pattern was on the Around the World Sweater Collection from Woman's Day in 1961 and I haven't been able to find it.
When I moved to Florida in 1966 I left the sweater behind and it became my brother's favorite for riding his motorcycle. The next time I saw it, it was black to the elbows.
Okay, I still live in Florida in the Winter, but I want that sweater! So if you have the pattern, let me know.

Knitting on a Sailboat

2007-01-09T22:11:00.000-05:00

On my July 1981 honeymoon sailing the Florida Keys, I worked on a heavy blue sweater for my husband. It gets cold when sailing and he wore it when we sailed to Mobile Alabama five months later.

We lived in alabama on the boat for five years and I took up machine knitting. Here I am working. The photo is in the local paper.

There were over 200 cones of yarn "hidden" deep in the many storage places on the sailboat. The knitting machine was put away every day because of lack of space. I still have some of the yarn. The machine has been idle since 1988 and the Florida climate has not been kind to it.

Knitting from the Past

2006-12-28T11:42:00.000-05:00

I knit this beret about 20 years ago, Jamieson & Smith Shetland yarn. As I recall, the pattern was made up as I knitted. It's lightweight and warm and felt good this morning on my walk. This next one was knitted about the same time. I had a book in Swedish about the Bohus Stickning knitting and was inspired to make this hat. I made up the pattern as I sent along.
The hat led to a sweater which is still unfinished after all these years.

On our July 1981 honeymoon I knit Mac a sweater for sailing. We were sailing at the time and wool seems like a good choice. He ware it a couple of times and it eventually went to my brother. I decided that he should have a fisherman's sweater. Since he's a mechanic and can't keep anything clean that's light colored, I used a dark grey Rigya yarn. Living in Florida in the Winter, it doesn't get worn much, but it still looks good after 25 years.

In 1982 I purchased a knitting machine and made hundreds of garments, from baby sweaters to men's XXX sweaters to dresses. I sold them at craft fairs and demonstrated my machine. We were living on a sailboat on Dauphin Island off the coast of Alabama. For the next four years I kept busy knitting for my regualr customers and the shows. Here's a top that I still have in a nice lace.

I made many saddle shoulder Shetland sweaters in various heather colors from Jamieson & Smith. Here's one that Mac still wears.

My Dear Henry in My Sock Drawer

2006-12-28T11:03:00.000-05:00

It's been a sad holiday. Henry-girl cat had a tumor that was discovered in November. In the course of a few weeks, she went deaf in one ear, blind in one eye and couldn't use her tongue.
She'd been a constant companion for 16 years, loved traveling on my bus and greeting her admirers at antique shows. We had to have her put to sleep two days ago. What an awful decision to make. She tried so hard to eat. She took her medicine, under protest, and that gave us a couple more weeks. Rocky, our three year old red cat, has been looking for her, but he has my sister's cats to play with for a couple more months. Then we shall rescue a companion for him.

A wonderful colorful hat

2006-11-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

I stopped in Yarnworks in Gainesville, FL not expecting to see much in nice yarns and was pleasantly surprised. After squeezing yarn for an hour, I bought some more sock yarn and one skein of Noro wool. They had some nifty hats on display and I decided to make one.
It took just a few hours on number nine needles and I wore it for the chilly dawn walk the next morning.
I'm taking three large containers of yarn (that I've had stashed since my machine knitting days) to a craft show. This yarn is all 18 to 20 years old and it has to go. Also going along are duplicates of old knitting patterns and magazines and triplicates of needles and crochet hooks. I only have two hands and can use only so many at once.
Not counted are the needles in my UnFinishedObjects. Wait until you see that blog. They go back 2 months to over 40 years!!

Jaywalking again

2006-11-09T23:28:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note on my second pair of Jaywalking socks, this time in a nice blue green stripe Sockotta. I like the way the pink and red pair fit and I'm finally knitting without so many mistakes.
I've been walking with my sister at 6 A.M. and even in Florida, socks really feel good. they certainly are more comfortable than the store bought variety.
Meanwhile my stash grows. The colors are wonderful and I take my knitting everywhere.

A Clever Stitch Counter

2006-10-13T11:22:00.000-04:00

Looking through an McCall's Needlework, Spring-Summer 1954, I found this clever counter.

It looks perfect for knitting on round needles but I can't find one on the Internet so I think I'll see if my husband could make one for me.

I'm packing my bus for my annual trek back to Florida from Connecticut. I pull my Jeep behind the bus.

The Jeep will carry my yarn stash and clothes. Everything else including Henry Girl-cat will be in the bus.

A Summer of Socks

2006-10-05T18:31:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the striped socks that I knit this past Summer. Click on the photos for a larger size.
It started when I saw my first self striping yarn in A.C. Moore. I bought a skein of Lion's Magic Stripes. They were fun and easy, but after looking on line, I wanted more interesting colors. The next pair were fun, but made it into a hot dryer and now I'm looking for a friend or relative with some size 7 feet. There is more of this yarn awaiting my needles.
The third was acrylic yarn from JoAnn's. I just loved the odd color combination and they are soft and comfortable. The yarn is shown on their website as being on sale in the stores, but our local JoAnn's doesn't have a single skein of self striping sock yarn from any maker.

The next was a nice neutral with a little zing of red. Love these. The middle photo is a stretch cotton that I bought from eBay. It was strange to work. I used two circular needles and when I was working on the ribbing, the there was always a space between the second and third stitch. It doesn't show when they're worn, but I never did overcome the problem.
I just started the third one two days ago. I thought that a simple pattern would be easy since I was knitting lace forty years ago. Now it's like walking upstairs and not remembering why you did. I have to check the last row each time, since I cannot remember if I'm on the first row (all knit) or the second row (pattern row.)

Here's a simple hat that I made without a pattern for a nephew's baby due in December. This is the softest wool blend yarn that I've ever seen. Plenty left over for some booties.

Love this Knitting Video

2006-10-02T22:42:00.000-04:00

This reminds me of a machine knitting demo that I gave at a craft show
about 20 years ago. I made a very long piece that ended up folded up
many times and used for a cat bed!

Knitting Books

2006-08-30T10:43:00.000-04:00

I'm busy selling my vintage jewelry and going to auctions. I sit and knit at the auctions and try to pay attention to the auctioneer and still not make mistakes on my knitting. Here's a quick page on knitting books that I put on my vintage jewelry website. Two big antique shows coming up in the next 10 days and a possible hurricane heading this way.
www.SuesJewels.com/knitting.htm

Yarn-Then and Now

2006-07-23T16:19:00.000-04:00

My first yarn was knitting worsted. That was the only thing available at the craft counter at the local store. Okay, you could get cotton rug yarn and make wash cloths and potholders. There was also crochet cotton for those who have far more patience and time than me.

When I was in the retail fashion business, I could go to a yarn outlet in NYC and there was wonderful stuff. Miami was my home at the time and anything that I made only got worn on weekends in the North. Yarns were getting more interesting, but knitting wasn't on my mind.

Two years ago, I saw the "fur" yarns and made a few scarves and shawls, but they showed up quickly in Wal-Mart and such. Silly stuff, but no challenge.

This Summer, trips to local craft chains were interesting. I bought some striped sock yarn and I make socks while sitting through antique auctions four nights a week.
The old TV broke down and I went a month without. Listening to audion books and knitting has been fun. The TV has been replaced and sometime's it's on, but mute and I'm still knitting and listening to tapes.

Two weeks ago, I was in Massachusetts stopping at antique stores and I saw a big YARN sign. Let's stop there."
It was Web's in Northhampton. I was dumbstruck. My friend laughed because I just went all around and squeezed yarn and was so excited. It was so overwhelming that I didn't buy anything. www.yarn.com I want to spend a day there or a week. Maybe they would adopt me.

My knitting history

2006-07-23T15:29:00.000-04:00

I learned to knit at age twelve. There were long scarf like things of various colors of knitting worsted from my grandmother's afghan stash. She crocheted, but never knitted. My first piece was a beige pullover. Neatly done, but possibly the world's worst color for a pale frecked youngster. So I pulled out the ribbing and replaced it with red. Still ugly.

Figuring I could skip beginner and go to something complicated, I picked out a green, black and white ski sweater with a turtle neck, back buttons and a separate hood to make next. Although I finished it and wore it for years, I pulled too tight on the yarn and the plaid pattern had a puckery look to it.

These were quickly followed by a royal blue V-neck mohair pullover and a pale blue boucle pullover.
In my senior year in high school I discovered Woman's Day International patterns and made an Aryan sweater, a fair-isle knit cardigan and a Portugese fisherman's pullover. This was all filled in with mittens and warm hats for the Connecticut Winter.

My first experience with acrylic yarn was a beautiful V-Neck pullover for my father. He wore it a couple of times and then Mom washed it and hung it on the line. The length tripled!

I saw a pattern for a couple of lace Shetland sweaters from a Jamieson and Smith ad and sent for two hanks of Shetland wool. I started the yellow one and then went to Florida on vacation.
My knitting was left at the Hartford-Springfield airport, but was returned to me. I stayed in Florida and finally finished one lace cardigan 20 years later.

Occasionally I knit a baby sweater for friends and relatives. I knit sweaters for myself and boyfriends, buying the wonderful yarn at a closeout place near the fashion district in NYC. When my sister went off to college, I knit several sweaters for her but gave them to her to put together.
In 1981 I got married and moved onto a boat. I knit a sweater for my husband on our honeymoon. Too hot, it went north to my brother. I found a recipe for boiled mittens and corresponded with Elizabeth Zimmermann. I made a surprise sweater. I like it and the cats like to sleep on it.

We sailed our boat to Alabama, my husband was working and I was bored. One day I went to a yarn sale and saw knitting machines for the first time. After saving money for a few months, I bought one and was very busy for the next three years making sweaters, dresses and coats and displaying my products at a local craft fair. Then we moved back to Florida. The stash has been rebagged several times and slowly disappeared. The yarn was not interesting, except my beloved Shetland comes.

Two years ago, during our Summer in Connecticut, we bought an old trunk at an auction. There were 22 pair of unworn, handmade Shetland socks inside, some sock yarn, fabric, etc. The socks fit my husband who is diabetic and wears wool all year despite the temperature. He wore them every day and they were washed carefully but the inevitable happened. The darning pile started growing and he wanted more socks. Okay, easy!! I'm a knitter and I can do it.

I called Jamieson & Smith and ordered a cone of Shetland and bought some needles. Downloaded patterns and bought books. Made a pair of socks. Took an old cone of off white Shetland and started that round shawl pictured on the cover of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac. I ripped it out four times about thirty rows at a time. Finally, I decided to let it be finished, mistakes and all. I'm down to the last five rows before the edging.

It's hard to believe that once I could knit and knit without mistakes and now I really have to concentrate. The Kitchener stitch used to be second nature and I'm looking at photos now to do it.