purlsandmurmers

Prism Scarf

Thursday night I finished the second underarm section of Mermaid and was ready to begin the right front when I discovered that I had left the instructions next to the chair in my sewing room and had neglected to take them with me to knitting group.

Although I had planned to start a quick, large gauge project as a mini-reward after finishing the body of Mermaid, I had also neglected to take that with me, not assuming that I could finish the entire front of mermaid in a few hours of congenial company.  So there I was, knitless and not yet ready to go home. 

So of course I did what all desperate knitters in a yarn shop do, I bought yarn.  I had been fondling some prism yarns the previous week, yarns I assume were purchased with the thoughts of scarves in mind as there were only a few skeins in each colorway/yarn. I ended up with two skeins of Prism Frost in color Ginger:

The only size 11 needles I could find were bamboo, not my favorite, but I cast on anyway and knitted away. 

When I got home I noticed that I had dropped a couple of stitches somewhere along the way, and as I was still annoyed at the way the yarn persisted in sticking to the needles I decided to try something else.

I ripped the scarf and started over with Addi Turbos.  I didn't get very far though, even though usually I prefer Addis for all things.  They were much to slippery, the yarn slid around like wet fish, and the points were far too blunt to slide under the stitches, despite the slipperiness.  The whole project was a tension nightmare, the stitches would stick when I tried to put the needle in to make a stitch but were otherwise slithering around like eels in a pot of water.  Once again the project was ripped.

The third and final attempt was made on a lovely pair of lantern moon needles -- perfect fit:  smooth enough but not sticky, just pointy enough to slip between stitches, but not so pointy as to pull the chenille.    I just started the second skein, so the scarf is a little more than half done and a joy to knit.  I already have the perfect coat.   Don't laugh, I wouldn't put it past me to make a coat to match a scarf someday.

Vogue Knitting Winter 2006-2007

One week ago Thursday I received my Vogue Knitting,  a full two weeks after I first saw it in a yarn shop, but before I had broken down and bought an extra copy.  I am happy to have my copy, but I am also annoyed at Vogue because this seems to be the norm, not the exception.  Is it selfish of me to want my subscription copy before it appears on every newsstand?  What is the point to subscribing?  Maybe Vogue doesn't care about having subscribers.

But back to the issue.  I didn't look at it that first night, I was just relieved that it had arrived.  I browsed through it very briefly on the weekend and did not have a chance to look in greater depth until this Thursday (yesterday).  Today I spent even more time perusing the pages.

There are quite a few things I like:

As you can see, the entire "foreign affair" story line is included in my picks, as well as the cover scarf, which I adore, even though it looks like the kind of thing that I would hate to knit.  Long narrow tubes of stitches -- ugh!  But then again, maybe that makes it the perfect challenge, like when I forced myself to knit three ribbed sweaters in a row because I hated ribbing.  I don't hate ribbing anymore.  And what is the point of knitting if I never grow or take on new challenges, or even if I avoid tackling my prejudices.  Without challenge even the most adored hobby will become boring and uninspiring.  Or at least so I tell myself.

There are a few more sweaters in there, a couple of which I haven't copied.  The Montera wrap cardigan looks like a good basic that would get a lot of wear, even though I dislike wearing Montera.  But it could be done in any wool.  I suppose it is just so basic that I remember its presence but it is not in the least inspiring.

I also like these two sweaters in the "Grace Notes" collection:

I am not actually likely to ever wear either one.  I think they are lovely but they are just not "me".  I have trouble picturing myself in them.  I suppose they could be "me" if I wanted them to be, the image I chose to present to the world is completely in my own control after all, but at this point, I am not sure this image is in my real world comfort zone, more in my imaginary life view of myself -- not for public consumption.

However, it is possible that I might wear these two sweaters from the same collection:

In the end, who knows what I will actually knit, or when I knit it.  Knitting magazines mostly fill a dream niche in my knitting life.  I get to some of the designs, sometimes I outgrow my lust for a design long before I ever get it knit up, effort saved I suppose.  Mostly they just provide a little mental escape and chance to imagine a different life.

concrete

The concrete was finally poured today!

\

The concrete was pumped over the house and into the forms surrounding the pool and forming the supporting structures for the new deck.  Three mixer trucks of concrete were poured.  We have finally passed the biggest step, everything is easy from here (at least so we hope)/

Rhnebeck Redux

My first priority at NYS Sheep & Wool Festival this morning was to get a spindle.  So I wandered off to The Journey Wheel  booth where I listened in as Sylvia Bosworth gave another prospective spinner a brief lesson and then had my own lesson before departing, drop spindle in hand and a big smile on my face.  That first mini-lesson was a revelation.  When Sylvia held the roving and let me pull down the thread as it twisted I could feel the twist, feel it becoming yarn in my hand.  It was such a remarkable thing and I was hooked right then.  A big smile came across my face and I couldn't wait to spin more.

Of course it was easy with an experienced spinner controlling everything.  When I tried to do the same thing on my own all I managed to create was a lumpy bumpy mess.  I remain undeterred however.  I would love to try tonight, I find myself suddenly eager to learn to spin, but I realize that I am exhausted and my efforts will come to naught.  In fact I suspect it will be a while before my spinning efforts yield anything worthwhile.  It seems to be a greater mystery the further I get from this morning's mini-lesson.  But I met an old acquaintance and have an invitation to the local spinning guild, so perhaps there is hope.

The gray and red is my practice roving. Purchased after advice from Sylvia as to what kinds of fibers might be forgiving of beginner ineptitude.  I figured it might as well aspire to producing something pretty.

After the spindle purchase I found myself at loose ends for a brief bit, before the Thursday knitters arrived.  It turned out to be a fun and interesting day and I did do my part to help support yarn and fiber vendors.  But more about that another time. 

Gina  egged me on in at least one purchase, and since the resulting yarn will be for a relatively fast, large-gauge knit, it will be appearing soon, probably sooner than the purchase made yesterday, which has suddenly been bumped further down the line.  Gina also introduced me to Juno  and Stephanie and I managed to speak without embarrassing myself or Gina (oh good she can take me out in public).  Stephanie proceeded to pick up some roving and tiny spindle and spin, completely effortlessly it seemed, the most amazing, fine strand, a thread practically, and I practically fell at her feet drooling in awe.  I managed to remain upright, and lucky me, since I still have my own teeth, I managed not to drop those as well.  Now I want to be Stephanie when I grow up. 

By the end of the day, I was dragging along in a state of total exhaustion, my hands fondling fibers, my eyes easily drawn to any bright colorful bit of yarn or fiber.  I had that wide-eyed look of a deer caught in the head-lights, or a two-year-old who is completely exhausted but too wired to take a nap.  I was completely pale and wan from pure overstimulation.  But it was a marvelous day. 

I haven't absorbed it all yet.  That might take me a few days.

But if the weather holds, the concrete pour might take place this week, I have yet to finish closing out the fiscal year at work, and I have houseguests arriving on Wednesday (along with the concrete) so there is much to do and little time for fondling of fiber.

Mermaid Progresses

The back is finished and I am have reached the second armhole opening:

Rhinebeck

Today has been a perfect fall day, cool and crisp, and yet warm in the sun.  It was cool enough to wear a cozy sweater to New York State Sheep and Wool, but not so cool that gloves were needed, or a hat, although at one point I did wear a hat as I bought a wonderful felt and shearling winter hat from Miriam Carter (where G also bought me a Christmas gift for the second year in a row -- I can hardly wait). There is no website, but you can see one of her jackets here .

As usual, I did not buy much and I don't really anticipate buyng much tomorrow although I am still seriously considering a spindle.  One of our first stops was Tochay's Farm from Michigan, where I saw some yarn I loved last year and have been thinking about ever since (she did not have enough at that time).  So I got the yarn, a wonderful bulky gauge thick & thin yarn, handspun and hand-dyed (of course this is Rhinebeck):

Which is pretty much definitely on my "to be knit SOON" list, especially as it will be on large needles and provide some much needed instant gratification.  There might be one or two projects ahead of it in the pipeline though.  We will see what the knitting muses ordain.  She had another yarn which G fell in love with in grays and browns with a pale soft blue, totally different from the yarn I purchased.  Unfortunately another avid knitter had beaten me to the punch and she was sold out.

I loved looking at the sheep and alpacas.  There were all kinds of booths with interesting and fabulous yarns and rovings for spinning.  I saw a lot of beautiful yarns, but there was nothing really today that cried my name an begged to leap into my bag, and so they all stayed behind.  The rovings were especially tempting, but as I have not done any felting despite all my best intentions last year, and since I don't yet know how to spin, no further indulgences in raw materials are needed.  Still, one of the nicest things about a sheep and wool festival is being able to look and fondle and talk to people.  What a joy.

I did stop by the blogger's meet-up but was so put off by the crush of people milling about that I drifted away.  Crowds are really not my thing, and in the sea of faces I recognized none.  Better one-on-one or small group encounters for me. So we resumed our wandering.   I did see Cara  and say hello, only to fall into tongue tied confusion.  There seems to be a good reason that my career choices did not include sales and politics.

Overwhelmed

Chaos seems to be the prevailing state of late and it is really beginning to wear down my spirit and energy, so much so that, after months of anticipation, I am considerably considering cutting my time at New York State Sheep and Wool this weekend. 

Perhaps it is just that there are too many unfinished projects right now and even though I look forward to hanging out with friends and meeting bloggers, although I have strong doubts about my ability to actually introduce myself to anyone, the thought of adding one more overwhelming source of chaos and over stimulation to my overloaded life seems, well, overwhelming.

The unfinished construction surrounding my house wears heavily.  They are supposed to pour the concrete tomorrow, but it is also supposed to rain.  I have no idea which will actually happen, but I live for the day the concrete is poured because it means we can actually start to move to the next stage of construction.  At the same time the  pour has been delayed so many times that I am beginning to think of it as a mirage, like the palm trees envisioned by the thirst-driven wanderer in the proverbial desert.

I don't remember if I have mentioned that October has been plagued with failures:  computer failures, car failures, failed communications with clients, appliance failures, jobs half done and items moved for contractors and repair people but never returned to their normal places because the failures and contractors and general upset flow one into another.

Perhaps the final straw was last night, when at the end of a wonderful anniversary, I got home (after a mad drive from Newburgh) in time to watch most of Project Runway having missed only the first 10 minutes. 

I looked at my hands at the end of Jeffrey's show and noticed that I had just purled an entire row.  I had PURLED a row in a garter stitch sweater, a sweater in which I have knit how many stitches?  How many rows? Nary a purl to be seen.  The rest of Project Runway was enjoyed as I unknitted the entire row, slowly and meticulously, cursing myself.

It seems to be a sign....a sign that there is too much going on, too much undone,  so many distractions that focus seems to escape me.

Oh I will go to Rhinebeck, there are a couple of things I want to see, and certainly people I want to see.  But I might not have the mental stamina this year.  It might be too much stimulation for my already scattered brain.

20

20 years ago today I married the most wonderful man.  I was giddy and flighy even though I knew it was perfect and the best decision I had ever made.  If you had told me then that I would love this person even more after 20 years I would have thought you were joking.  It's true. 

And I'm still giddy and flighty just thinking about it.

Happy anniversary G!

Not Vogue....

Not Vogue...
Not Interweave.....

What knitting magazine has arrived in my mailbox?

VERENA!!



Not quite as chock-a-block with desirable patterns as the last issue, but still more than acceptable, and here, in my hands, ready for me to peruse the pages and dream of sweaters future!

I saw the Vogue at Yarn Central nearly two weeks ago! Aargh!!!

I stalk the post office like a lion stalking her prey.  But no Vogue Knitting arrives.  I think this happened last year as well.  I vaguely recall that I left NYS&W Saturday and went out in search of a Vogue Knitting because I had seen one previously, wanted it badly, and wanted to refer to something.  In my Rhinebeck driven yarn and pattern lust I just could wait no longer.  I see a repeat of last year's scenario in the making.

Why I oh why does the magazine ship copies to the stores before they ship copies to their subscribers?  What cruelty.

The new Interweave is also up, but I have only looked cursorily, as I do not want to get sucked into another morass of pattern-book-lust and desire. And what drives this passion, this need for more patterns when I have more than enough to keep a village of knitters happily knitting away for a lifetime or two.  It is the magic of dreams of course, the dream of knitting, the dream of wearing, the dream of being someone else in some fantasy life not fully realized.  Dreams are worth hanging on to, and the cost of magazines are a small enough price to pay.

But only if they come!

Half Way

I passed the half-way point on Mermaid -- in the dark on the way home from a concert in Pittsfield MA Sunday night.  Mermaid is not the best knitting in the dark project and I think, if I see more knitting in the car at night on the horizon I will have to find a project on bigger needles.

Mermaid is pretty easy but you do have to count at times.  The tough part last night was picking up the yarnovers and knitting them together with the next stitch as I finished the center back gussets.   Mermaid is pretty easy to feel on the needles  although small stitches are not as easy as big ones, espeically as I approach the end of a row, where it is much to easy to drop things. 

I think for piece of mind, knitting blind is better done at a much larger gauge.

Of course, by half way, I am not counting the sleeves.