Knit Happens

Still in Love with Color

2011-02-02T10:50:00.004-05:00

It has been a long time since true posting has occurred. What are we doing my lovely co-blogger, that we can't even bear to take a few minutes to post refreshing and provocative insights about our fiber exploits? Alas, such sad things occur in the life of such busy ladies.

Although blogging about it has not occurred, the knitting has certainly continued onward with little interruption. Lately, I have been involved in projects that reawaken my simple joys. I once waxed poetic about my love of color. Well, when my roommate (beautiful, wonderful, lovely, fantastic, gorgeous roommate!) gave me a gift card to Knit Picks for Christmas, I was truly excited. My original intention was to purchase a knitty knotty, or some other useful tool. Then, Knit Picks unleashed their new line, Chroma. This new yarn line features beautifully variegated yarns that have large color repeats that blend softly into the next color. I found myself drooling in a less than polite fashion as I scrolled through the colorways. There is always some controversy surrounding this site, but I can't help but say they have some excellent products. Every time I looked, my eyes kept flicking back to the Roller Skate colorway. An explosion of rainbow shades, except replacing the red with a deep magenta pink, and splashing in some aqua for the finale. I knew this yarn must be mine, but what to make?

To ravelry queue! (insert epic travel music). It only took me a few pages to find the exact project I sought. The Ondine: Sleeves For a Mermaid by Erssie Major. These gorgeous sleeves have been sitting in my queue for an exquisitely long time due to lack of an appropriate yarn and the fact that I had to pay for it. Still, the price is pretty reasonable, and the pattern was well worth it. And my roller skate chroma? Did it live up to fantastic expectations? Oh baby you bet it did! Soft to the touch, easy to work with, and the colors are absolutely perfect. Can't contain my love for excellent saturated colors all working beautifully together.

Some Do Some Good Photos

2011-01-07T20:20:00.002-05:00

Knitmore Girls are running a contest, and I would like to be able to get some photos into the thread so that everyone can see the awesome work of these kids!

Some Amendments and Some Awesome

2010-06-11T18:05:00.004-04:00

I know I gave my summer knitting list, but it has since experienced some reordering. I was going to knit some Slippery socks out of the yarn I bought at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. Then, along came the Knitmore Girls and their ridiculously addictive Knit Alongs.

When I first looked at the Brandywine Shawl by Rosemary Hill, I will admit to being a little unimpressed. I am not usually a triangle shawl girl, and it involved paying for the pattern. I am very picky about what I choose to make, and I am even more persnickety if I have to pay for the pattern. Still, the more I looked at it, the more I began to think it might be pretty, perhaps even beautiful. Everyone was raving about how great the pattern was, and with my intention to knit a complex shawl later (Tree of Light) I began thinking it might be wise to get back into the groove of lace knitting with something a little less intense. The final straw was when I realized that the majority of what I paid for the pattern was going to Help for Hati. I love designers who use their patterns to benefit people other than themselves. I knew that I would use the Festival sock yarn because it was just too perfect to hide in shoes. It screamed to be worn about my neck in all its lacy glory.

I am happy to say this is the quickest knit I have done in a while, and it came out beautifully as evidenced by the picture. Not only did everyone in the KAL give me lovely compliments on it, but there was an extra surprise. The Knitmore Girls did a random surprise giveaway of the designer's new ebook 7 Small Shawls. This is an awesome prize, gifted generously by the designer herself. For more information on this awesome ebook, you can go here 7 Small Shawls. I was so happy to find that out I actually squealed like a two year old. As for the shawl itself, I am so happy that this beauty is finished, and I can wear it to a sad event so that it will comfort and bolster me with all its orangey goodness.

Summer Knitting!

2010-05-27T14:21:00.003-04:00

I am so happy it's summer. Usually, I approach summer with some slight distaste because I really hate hot weather and I don't like being away from school so long. Knittingwise, I am not much of a lightweight yarn person. I like warm sweaters, thick scarves, and wool socks. While socks work out well for summer knitting, the other two do not always handle themselves well in this season. However, this summer is proving very different in terms of my attitude. I am absolutely exhausted, and I am beyond grateful to be resting for the next month before I start work. I am also looking forward to knitting much more than I usually do. I have some lovely projects that just scream to happen this summer. On with the list then?

-Finishing my man's sweater is a huge priority. I know I just talked about the silliness of knitting thick sweaters in summer, but that is what basements and AC are for, no?

-Finishing my Mondo Cable Cardigan for my Knit More Along. It is pretty close to finished, and if I keep it off my lap it should not make me terribly overheated.

-Finishing my Tranquility Socks in the Twisted pattern by Jodie Gordon Lucas (Knitty Spring+Summer 2010). I am knitting these bad boys out of thepaintedsheep Painted Sock Too in the Tranquility colorway. I am blazing through this awesome pattern, and I can't wait to have the socks!

-Finishing a prayer shawl for my Aunt's birthday in October. She oggled my mother's when they came for Thanksgiving so I coerced my mom into buying the yarn and we could give it as a combined gift. Very easy knitting, and I should be done with it by the end of the month.

-My Ocean Spray Top. I have been working on this for a very long time, but it is truly a pattern I want to chew slowly. It is the Sea Tangles pattern from Knitty's Summer 08 issue. The pattern is not difficult, just labor intensive, and I am knitting out of the most beautiful yarn in the world (thepaintedsheep's Jasmine in By the Sea colorway).

-Roxy and Her Cubs Knit Picks kit. This kit includes the yarn and pattern to make the most adorable little fox family ever! It also uses intarsia which is a technique I have always wanted to try. The foxes knit up in a fuzzy Knit Picks Suri Dream.

-Knitting my way through however many patterns I can manage from the Amigurumi Knits book by Hansi Singh. This book is full of some of the most fantastic critters and vegetables that I have ever encountered. Everything from tomatoes to a Loch Ness monster. Best part is that I am using odds and ends from my stash to make these awesome squishies.

- Slippery Socks by Olivia M. from Knitty Winter 2007. The yarn is a delicious hand paint that I got at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. It is called Dizzie Lizzie's Superwash Sock, and the colorway is Sunkist. A truly gorgeous mix of rich oranges and golden yellows.

-The Tree of Light Shawl by Cordula Surmann-Schmitt (that is an awesome name by the way.) I have not done lace in a while, and I have had this lovely Jojoland Harmony sitting in my stash for a while. It is a soft variegation of lavenders, and it is perfect for hazy summer days.

-Sourwood Mountain Fingerless Mitts by Erica Jackofsky (she is also known as Fiddle Knits.) I have been dying to knit these and have had the perfect yarn for them sitting in my stash since last summer. Fibranatura Cottonwood is this unbelievably soft 100% organic cotton that I snagged last summer from my LYS. It is this perfect white/lavender (noticing a trend?) that I truly can't wait to see knit in this pattern.

-Lace-Up Opera gloves by Ysolda Teague. Again with the stash shopping, I am using Dive Zenith in a really dark turquoise, and I am pairing it with some fantastic ribbon using the same color mixed with purple.

-Finally (did not realize the list was this long) Green Cabled Armwarmers by Elizabeth Martin. I am working these up in some stash yarn by the name of Jojoland Melody. Yet again, I appear to be about green and purple with this stuff.

My goodness I am rather ambitious aren't I? Perhaps slightly delusional, but that is the fun of summer heat. Hobey ho!

Bumble Bee Tuna Blankie

2010-05-17T17:44:00.003-04:00

"I love Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee Tuna

Yum, yum, Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee Tuna."

(proceed up a half step and keep singing)

So goes the vocal warm up that inspired the name for this project. This blankie is going to the new son of a co-worker of mine. You see, I saw this blanket on Ravelry and thought it was so awesome looking that I racked my brains to think of a baby worthy enough to wrap in its spectacular self. Then it hit me. Greg is a man who is genuinely cool and his wife is just as lovely. Greg was very kind to me last summer, and since it was my first time working at that job it was nice to be treated so well. Plus, he is a very good friend of my sister so why not make it a combined gift (i.e. "hey Meg, why don't you buy the yarn and I will make it ;). Anyway, the title has multiple meanings. I was gazing at the work in progress in the mirror at one point, and I thought, "huh, kind of looks like a bumble bee." Immediately the above tune popped into my head. I smiled. That warm up is one Greg used for his vocal intensive that he taught at the camp, and it always made me smile when I heard it. So, the blanket was dubbed thus. Hopefully, both parental units enjoy it, because I truly love the finished product.

My first Handspun

2010-03-25T13:37:00.002-04:00

It is officially carded, spun, plied, and washed! This is 100% alpaca yarn spun fairly bulky and the colorway is Echo (named properly after the owner of the fleece.) I was not able to spin a great deal of yardage, but it turned out beautifully none the less. I can honestly say that it was a unique pleasure to hold this completely raw creation in my hand and just squishhhhh it with my fingers. Hopefully, it knits up nicely.

The Curse

2009-12-10T17:32:00.003-05:00

My co-blogger and I agree on many things, but when it comes to knitting we are experiencing a disagreement of the most interesting sort. I am knitting a sweater for my boyfriend. It was originally going to be his Christmas gift, but it has since turned into a 1 year anniversary gift. Whenever the thing comes up my dear partner in blogging purses her lips and mentally sends the "don't say I didn't warn you" with a mere look. You see she believes in the curse that is supposedly tied to knitting a sweater for your significant other, especially if you are not married or unionized. I will not pretend that I did not consider this factor when I started thinking about making this sweater. After all there is a reason that such legends occur, and I am perfectly aware that there is an uncanny number of stories of people knitting a sweater for their partner and having the relationship go up in smoke. Am I so arrogant that I think I can make this work and not be affected by this insidious threat? The answer is that it has nothing to do with arrogance. I believe that such a curse is not the sweater itself, but in the energy one invests in it. I know full and well I could be knitting for a man who might leave me, but that is a fact that will exist whether I make the sweater or not. Secondly I believe that God is stronger than curses. I pray fervently when I knit and this sweater is so thickly covered in them that I believe it is quite saturated. Thirdly, I chose a pattern type that has a history of being knit for lovers and important men in the lives of knitters. I chose a gansey pattern, and they were originally created by women who knit for the fishermen in their lives. I would be very surprised to discover that some women did not make such things for their sweethearts whether married or not. Granted my man is not going out on the stormy seas any time soon, but the desire to give him something beautiful and special is the same. The bottom line is that even if he and I break up the day after I give him this sweater (highly unlikely, I would give it at least two :), I would not regret a single stitch I spent on him. He will always be special in my heart no matter what the future dictates. This is how I have chosen to express my feelings for him and I will say that it is the curse that is arrogant to think that it can harm something created in love.

The Cardigan Refused to Be Finished Part 4

2009-12-06T12:42:00.003-05:00

The final installment in the saga. When last we left the tale I began knitting on the dreadful thing. I tried to be optimistic because I could tell the work would not cooperate with me if it knew my dislike. So I took it with me to my summer job every day and pretty much knit on it with every spare moment I had. As first, nothing extremely bad occurred. I worked my way through the back finding it to be meditative if a little boring. Then I began the front pieces. That is when I noticed my hands were not happy. I was very careful to keep them relaxed and not knit too tight. I even cut down the amount of time I knit to add more time of hand rest. Still, I was cramping very easily. I finally decided it had to be the yarn. Cottons do not slide through my hands as easily as the natural wool fibers or the nylon sock yarn I am used to working with. On top of the monotonous pattern, the ugly color, and a deadline, I now had to deal with the fact that my hands were being ripped apart! Plus, it just never seemed to end. The cardigan was worked in pieces so that involved a back, two front panels, two sleeves, and a button band. Not to mention that I was mortified it would not fit my pixie stick of a sister. She is incredibly thin, and after the near fiasco of my first sweater I did not want a repeat performance. Granted I had done a swatch and accounted for my idiosyncrasies, but it never left me that I could be going through all this for naught. By the end of July, all the pieces were knit. Seaming is usually not a big deal for me. However, cotton is not nearly as forgiving as a fuzzy wool or acrylic. Any little mess up in your seaming process will show as a glaring error which I knew could not occur in this sweater. As a result, the process took twice as long as usual simply because I was being so flipping careful to make the seams look clean. When I was finally through with that, I had to move on to the buttons. My sister had insisted on some lackluster light beige buttons, and they absolutely refused to cooperate! How hard is it just to stay where I put the initial tacking thread? How come they could not just work on this cardigan that I needed TO JUST BE FINISHED DAMNIT! But low and behold some hours later, the thing was finally ready. I gave it to my sister some weeks later fairly biting my nails with nervousness. I need not have worried for the cardigan fit beautifully. She had to roll up the sleeves, but other than that she was smitten. I was proud and relieved that I would never have to touch the stupid thing ever again!

A Day Steeped in Fiber

2009-11-15T00:16:00.008-05:00

Some times, the Lord shows his love in ways we can least expect. At some points in life the Lord provides a beautiful opportunity that never entered into our thoughts. Such an event has occurred in my life in the form of a completely unexpected connection to a person whose family raises alpacas. This girl stopped me in class one day with a query as to where I got my yarn. Before I could even begin to go into detail she told me that her mother raises alpacas and they are willing to sell me the fiber for extremely cheap. I could barely contain my ecstasy as she continued to explain that her family had far too much fleece and nothing to do with it. What providence that I just learned to spin this summer! How could I not jump at the opportunity to own oodles of my favorite fiber for so little cost. I eagerly agreed to some terms of a deal, and we arranged a visit for me to pick out the fiber I desired. So that is what I did yesterday dear co-blogger, and here are some lovely shots of my adventure and its fruits.

These are the views that met my eyes from the back patio. My friend's step-father built that barn.

The interior of the barn was just as beautiful as the outside. Every edge routed to perfection, and full of light as well as the smell of animal. Not the manure smell that can clog the nostrils just hay, fur, and wood. The white cutie is the baby alpaca that is the newest member of the herd. She got curious first, and she looks so boldly at the camera. She is simply called Baby. The other is the alpaca that has my favorite fleece that I purchased. I know the picture is shadowy, but you can see the softness of her coat. Her name is Bambi.

The farm has three females counting Baby, and all the others are males. The second picture is of the three females (Amber is the front and mother of Baby in back. Bambi is the other female.) The dark man in the top picture is the lover boy of the farm. He is Baby's father, and the only male to successfully convince a female to mate. His name is Echo, and I think that his coat is the most beautiful color of the entire bunch. I don't know if it translates well, but it is this amazing maroon brown like the color of cherry juice on a black forest cake. I did not actually buy Echo's fleece. However, the family proposed an even bigger discount if I agreed to knit scarves from the fiber. My friend's mother picked Echo's fleece for the project. The fiber I bought for myself was from Bambi (the tawny female behind Amber) and a male named Sundance. I did not get a good close up of Sundance. However, there are pictures of his fleece below. His is actually award winning, and I liked the touch of it more than Echo's. Still, after playing with Echo's fleece when I brought it home I have decided that I must get some for myself next time I visit. (The order of the fleece below from top down is Bambi, Sundance, and Echo).

I know this post is long, but I cannot help but wax poetic about this stuff. It needs some cleaning. It needs to be carded. It still smells of animal. But, there are few pleasures as tactfully beautiful as dipping your arms elbow deep in clouds. I will need another post to talk about each fleece specifically so for now I leave you to gaze at my treasures.

Vermonters

2009-11-08T20:28:00.002-05:00

Until very recently, I have been adverse to knitting fair isle, mostly because knitting with more than one ball of yarn at a time is extremely difficult when you're confined to a tiny desk in a lecture hall. This year, however, I have learned to deal with it. I went to WEBS after Halloween and bought 6 balls of Northampton wool in various colorways. The woman at the cash register asked me what I was knitting. "Hats. For Christmas. Everyone's getting hats this year."
Now, you may recall how frustrated I became last year after having knit about 30 hats in the span of a semester. Clearly, I've gotten over it, because I spent the next week knitting hats. Many colored, snowflake-y hats. I knit 6. In 5 days. My modmates reveled in them, and began pick the color combinations for me. Every day, it was "Wow, Heather, ANOTHER one!" They got really invested, and I just kept knitting.
So, when it became time to photograph the first six of these hats (I have enough yarn to make about 15), I knew I'd have to make it a group effort. My modmates and honorary modmates all gathered on the couch, and had a lovely FO shoot.
Sarah (the one with the plant--I don't really understand why that is) directed, and made sure each hat looked nice on each person. She then demanded poses, like from Haley above, "Look cold! But cute!" We all decided that the photos looked like they were from some ski trip to Vermont that we never took. I couldn't have done it without them...

...And now I have too many hats. Again.

The Cardigan Refused to Be Finished Part 3

2009-10-17T15:32:00.003-04:00

(Parts 1 and 2 can be found in earlier posts) I knew I was doomed because the moment I saw the color only one word came to my mind, "ick!" Taupe is the less than attractive step-sister of beige and it is completely against my nature. I like to knit with bright, bold, and saturated colors. I enjoy yarn whose color makes you drool with desire to wear it. When I had previously knit things for my sis, they were in beautiful greens or deep merlot. She is a gorgeous woman with a taste for good clothing, and the one time I offer a sweater she manages to pick the color that I would never have even considered touching unless it was for a dish rag. I will admit the color does have one advantage; taupe matches everything. Even though black can achieve the same advantage taupe is lighter and less stark simply because it has not personality of its own. Bemoaning my own stupidity and quietly cursing my fickle sibling I began to search for yarn. I decided knitpicks was my best option due to my limited funds. My sister had requested that the cardigan be light enough to wear around in spring, but heavy enough that she could potentially wear it in the cooler months. Keeping this in mind, I settled on knitpicks Cotlin in the colorway Cashew. It was the right weight, machine washable, and the linen would give it a nice drape while the cotton would keep it from being too warm. I went ahead and ordered the stuff and prayed that it would less yucky in person. No such luck, but the die was cast.

Peace in frogging

2009-10-16T23:57:00.004-04:00

So I just spent the last half hour frogging three inches of knitting. Although this may not sound like a great feat, you might reconsider that position when I tell you that it was about 140 yards worth and 6004 stitches. Yes, I just had to frog an entire ribbing of a sweater. The stitches got so hopelessly twisted that there was no saving it. It is strange that I do not find myself upset when I have to frog things, or even when I have to start things over in general. I remember when I used to take private art lessons, my teacher would sometimes advise me to go back into the piece and recreate a certain technique that I had already created on another part of the work. Daunting as recreation is, I always said, "If I did it once, I can do it again." With this in mind I have faced many starts and stops with a strange sense of patience, especially in knitting. I find that the aspect of frogging is far more vexing than actually making the decision to do it. In the case of this work, I came to a couple realizations that I would not have discovered had this initial error not occurred.

1. Even though this sweater is a massive project, I was able to keep up with directions and maintain the correct stitch count. I have a big problem with phantom stitches when I do large projects. However, I am still very happy that after the increasing my stitch count continued to be correct even with the daunting number (394 at that point)

2. With the work off the needle, I was able to see its actual size. I am making this sweater for a man and I was a little worried about sizing issues due to the fact that he is a big guy and my gauge is, yet again, a little wonky. As I was knitting I was constantly worrying that it would be too small. When I took it off I was able to compare its true size with a sweatshirt I had on hand. The sweater will prove to fit him the way it is supposed to, which is looser than fitted. I am extremely excited now because I know for sure that I am on the right size track.

I will cast on again. I will knit the ribbing correctly this time. I will recreate the beautiful stitches and the right number of them. If I did it once, I can do it again.

The Lost Generation

2009-10-13T17:02:00.004-04:00

I'm back! ...For now. I can't be blamed, I'm fulfilling my pre-practicum as an intern at the performing arts school down the street, taking a Shakespeare Seminar that I'm far too young to take, and I'm TAing a freshman tutorial. Lots of reading, but so rewarding--especially because of my duties as a TA.

So my professor Michele (now my committee chair and mentor and wonderful) sent me an email that listed my TA duties. I skimmed it quickly, saw that it was the usual stuff (hold office hours for students, hold writing workshops, planning lessons, etc.), and went on to the next email. In our meeting before classes started, we were bantering on the topic of these duties. "Hey, at least I'm not knitting in class!" I retorted. "Well, then you obviously didn't read the email very carefully," she said. Hmm? She opened the email on her laptop, and scrolled down to the bottom. It said "Knit me a scarf for winter." She was ASKING ME TO KNIT IN CLASS...even while I was teaching!

I've been drooling over photos of Noro Striped Scarves (a la the pattern that Jared Flood claims was not his idea), and while I've never really been much for Noro (don't shoot!) I saw the opportunity and dove in head first.

Now, I'm just going to show you photos, because I've spoken long enough, and the pictures speak for themselves.

I took these around campus, and actually waited two weeks for the right light to do so.

On the fire escape outside my house.

On the Graffiti Wall and adjoining stairs in the Arts Village.
On the trellis at the entrance of the Community Garden out my window.
God I love this. I haven't put it on, because I'm afraid Michele will never get it off me.

A Brief Respite From the Cardigan: Psycho Socks!

2009-09-24T21:12:00.003-04:00

Yes it is true, the socks are finished! I have never taken so long to finish a pair of socks. Seriously, even my pomatomai did not take me so long. However, these socks are completely worth the trouble. They scream my name with a larger than life bull horn. What is funny about this pattern is that my lovely co-blogger is doing the same design. We did not plan this. Indeed, I was absolutely tickled to discover that we picked the same pattern with no previous consultation or hints. Even more awesome is how different the two pairs are from each other. My co-blogger chose to do them in a stunning solid (was it red? I really can't remember except for the fact that I oggled) while I picked a very loud hand-dyed. My socks are perfectly me. What you see first is the crazy colors spreading themselves in a dizzying array of neon green, purple, and electric blue. Then you notice that there is a pattern. Finally, if you take the time to really look, you can see that the pattern is extremely intricate and lovely on its own. I am layered. First you see the boldness, then you notice the texture, and if you stick around long enough then you might discover the depth. Your dice Heather, make sure you post about your socks! (PS Pattern is Vilai by Cookie A. and it can be found in her book Sock Innovation)

The Cardigan Refused to Be Finished Part 2

2009-09-13T22:17:00.004-04:00

I have decided to break up this saga in parts so as not to create a humongously long post that no one wants to read. (Note: If you want to start at the beginning please see the previous post). Anyway, upon telling my sister of my plan, she was absolutely giddy. She insisted on a cardigan (no surprise) and she was unsure of color. As the months wore on I picked out some patterns I thought she would like and rifled through knitpicks in the hopes of finding some color possibilities. Due to extreme business on her part, we did not get to consult until only a month before her actual graduation. We agreed that as long as the cardigan was finished by the end of the summer she would not be upset. She picked out a pattern, and the winner was the Basic Black Cardigan by Glenna C. (available as a free ravelry download). For a long while, she could not decide on a color. And then came the fateful day, the day that decided the whole tone for this entire project.

(Paraphrased conversation between my sister and myself)

Meg: Hey there

Me: Hey Megs how're you?

Meg: FIne, but I can't talk long. I just wanted to let you know that I decided on a color for my cardigan.

Me: Excellent! What do you want?

Meg: Can you make it in taupe?

Me: ......taupe?

Meg: Yeah

Me: What on earth is taupe?

Meg: It's a- look it up online, google it. I'm sorry but I've got to go

Me: Okay I love you

Meg: Love you too

I did look it up, and the minute I saw it I knew I was doomed.

The Cardigan Refused to Be Finished Part 1

2009-09-13T14:52:00.005-04:00

To those who know me well, you know that I do not often knit for other people. I am not like most knitters in the sense that I have very little desire to knit things that I must give away. I like to knit for my own enjoyment and my own pleasure. Knitting is extremely special to me, and when I have to knit for other people, a few things happen that make it less than pleasurable.

1. I usually have to finish it by a deadline like a birthday or some other gift-giving holiday

2. I have to make the garment extremely specific to the recipient. This means everything from color choice to sizing.

3. If I make a mistake, then I mess it up for someone else who, unlike me, will probably not wear it in spite of the glaring error.

With that said, there is one person in my life who I will knit for regardless of what she asks for or what I burden myself with on her behalf: my sister. Indeed, I cannot quite explain the strange lack of distaste when it comes to creating comfy fiber things for her, but that is the way of it. So, when her graduation from college came rolling around I decided I wanted to do something really special for her. I decided to make her a sweater. Not just any sweater, the sweater of her dreams. What that turned into was one of the most arduous knitting journeys that I have ever embarked upon in my young existence.

Love Of Seeds

2009-06-17T21:30:00.005-04:00

To say I enjoy knitting is no surprise. To say that I enjoy all kinds of knitting should also come as no shock. However, it may impress one to know that I indeed have a favorite stitch. I did not know this myself until I made this incredible garment. This is my Green Seed top, the pattern being the Carnation Tee by Cathy Carron found in the winter 2008/spring 2009 edition of Knit Scene. When I first viewed this pattern, I deemed it rather bizarre and not to my liking. Upon repeated examination as well as reading the article in the magazine about the designer, I began to notice how clean and lovely the design actually was. What had put me off, I realized was the strange color combination of brown paired with deep rose. I realized that I had the perfect yarn for this garment and it was in a lovely color combination that would not appear so off kilter. As one can see, the result is spectacular. What made me fall in love with this piece was the abundance of seed stitch, also known as moss stitch. I said before that this is my favorite stitch pattern. I am a fan of stockingnette, lace patterns, and cables do make me drool, but seed stitch has all the components I desire in a good knit. It requires a consistent change in hand movement to create the different stitches, but it is just as rhythmic as garter. Also, unless one knows its secrets, it is very difficult to see how the pattern is put together. Most patterns are somewhat discernible to a practiced eye, but it is difficult to pick this pattern apart. The combination really does blend together to look like hundreds of thousands of perfect little seeds. Simple magic that manages to fill me with delight akin the wonder one felt as a child upon seeing a butterfly sitting on a flower so still and clean.

For Jess Dugger

2009-06-12T21:32:00.004-04:00

Dear Coblogger,

Please excuse this temporary deviation from our usual chatter, but a friend asked me to look into some yarn for a pair of knitted undies so I do hope you will forgive me in indulging her in some pictures.

Dear Jess Dugger,

Here are some lovely yarns for your viewing pleasure.

1. I would say the picture at the top is your best bet. You don't get as broad a color selection, but it is unbelievably soft and I think it is a reasonable price.

2. This is handdyed and really pretty and also quite soft, a little expensive but it could be worse.

3. The last one definitely has the most color selection and it is quite soft. The only issue is that it has a little fuzziness that some might consider itchy especially in such a sensitive area. It is up to your discretion in the end.

Tell me what you like the best

Summers are for Fiber

2009-06-08T15:10:00.002-04:00

As you wish my worthy coblogger! This summer is so full of knitting that I doubt much of it will actually be complete by the end of it, but still I will pursue the following with wild abandon and no thought of completion nonsense:

* My soft serve sweater. The pattern is Jaden from knitty.com. There will definitely be a post about this one soon because the yarn and color choice simply insist on a written documentation.

* My green seed sweater? (it has short sleeves but I can't really call it a t-shirt because of its heaviness) This little beauty hails from KnitScene Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue. The pattern itself is called Carnation Tee and this will also have a post dedicated to it because of its excessive use of the seed stitch.

*My Ocean Spray top. Pattern is Sea Tangles from knitty.com and is being knit in the most beautiful laceweight I have ever owned i.e. thepaintedsheep's Jasmine in the colorway By the Sea. Both the yarn and the pattern look absolutely ravishing and I am hoping it works out the way I would like.

*My Grateful Dyed Socks. The pattern is Vilai by Cookie A. found in her book Sock Innovation. I love the yarn, but the pattern requires concentration so I am kind of avoiding it right now (hangs her head in a guilty fashion.)

* Leafy Top. The pattern is the Leaf Kimono Top in Interweave Summer 2008. I think this project will never get finished, but I will continue to work on it until the lack of space in my coffin prevents me.

*Meg's Cardigan. A lovely little pattern created by a raveler named Glenna C. and the pattern is called Basic Black. I promised my sister this sweater, but I will fully admit I am avoiding it like the plague because she wants the entire thing in taupe. Bleh! Leave it to my sister to want a whole freakin' cardigan in taupe.

*Midsummer Night's Dream ensemble. Includes Cybele vest found in French Girl Knits and a tube top of my own design. I have the materials for both, but I am not starting until I have finished my Carnation Tee and at least the back of the Soft Serve sweater.

*Finally, some Queen of Hearts mitts. These are awesome fingerless gloves that require some fun colorwork in red and black. The pattern is Alice's Queen of Hearts Gloves and can be found on purlescence.com

Busy summer no?

Also...

2009-06-05T23:10:00.002-04:00

Today I went back to work at the children's library. I'm technically not allowed to work until July (silly fiscal budgets), so instead of dealing with patrons, I was given the fun jobs.

I experimented with and troubleshooted (troubleshot?) some of our summer crafts, which involved making a giraffe, a crocodile, and a lion out of wine corks...apparently, the library staff has a collective drinking problem, because we have enough corks to make a replica of the Bronx Zoo.

I also made parrots and cockatoos out of construction paper, googly eyes, and feathers. It was to promote the summer's first activity, which is basically a guy showing the children his bird. Kids eat that stuff up, I'll tell you.

...I was going to rewrite that last sentence due to its ambiguity, but it's rather hilarious, so it stays.

My crowning achievement for today involved the BULLETIN BOARD. the national library summer reading theme this year is BE CREATIVE. This is exciting because it's way easier than CATCH THE READING BUG (last year's theme, which was devoted entirely to insects...it got old fast...) and we can make up our own story times. Somehow, the logo is a tree, so I made a tree, stapled bunched green cloth napkins as leaves, and then scattered it with tons of foam stars.

I also added a fish in one of the branches. I directly associate creativity with a flair for the unnatural. The fish is purple, with orange fins and three blue squiggly stripes.

Bzzt...CLEAR!

2009-06-05T22:52:00.003-04:00

Hello, my name is Heather. You may remember me as one of the bloggers for this blog, which has not existed in quite some time. Let's see if we can get back into the swing of things, shall we?

I am all aflutter with ideas. I'm going to knit:

-Hannah Fettig's WHISPER CARDIGAN (Interweave Spring 2009)

-The rest of Mom's QUILTED DIAMOND VEST (Webs online pattern DL)

-Some bookmarks (because I can)

-BIRD IN HAND mitts

-Scrap yarn hats (I WILL have time to donate hats this year)

-Something for Nate's birthday

...And many more things, I'm sure. The only problem (and by only, I mean many) is (are):

-I need to order some new needles, and am waiting to see if I can go halvsies on a Knitpicks order with SuperKnitter. I am also too lazy to get out my credit card every time I sit down and have time to order.

-The vest bores me to death. I'm sorry, I just dread it. But I have to finish by Mom's birthday (June 16th).

-There's no problem here. In fact, these are what I knit to fill time in which I don't know what else to knit.

-I don't feel like balling the yarn right now, and even if I did, it's not winter, and the thought of knitting thick mittens as the summer heat closes in is just plain depressing.

-See the last part of the above statement.

-I have no idea what Nate would like, except a sweater, which is bad luck, and besides, he's always too afraid to wear my knitting because he thinks it will diminish its value. Pfft.

Ok, KP, your turn.

CHAOS and KNITTING!

2009-04-13T23:26:00.003-04:00

CHAOS pretty much describes my life right now. My show opens on Thursday, and has consumed my life. On top of it, I'm having some pretty serious throat problems, and have been referred to a specialist the morning of opening night, just in time to stick a scope down my throat and make me useless in this musical.

BUT, I am knitting feverishly, as a few of my friends from home would say. (They plan on making a documentary about it.)

AND, it made my day when I emailed my anthro. professor, Alan, to tell him that I wouldn't be in class Thursday because of the whole throat and CHAOS thing, and his email back said, and I quote: "Don't worry about it--just knit."

This has nothing to do with knitting...

2009-03-24T00:26:00.002-04:00

And I won't even explain it, except to say that this is what is keeping my from blogging, knitting, and general life-living...and I love it.

But I can't take it forever. 6 more weeks.

My First Sweater (Strap in for the Saga)

2009-03-08T17:11:00.005-04:00

Every knitter knows of this milestone, the inevitable first sweater. It seems that there is a strange unspoken rule pokes at the back of the knitter's heart that whispers, "You're not a true knitter, until you have knitted a sweater." Perhaps this strange unhappy voice is only in my own mind. I know plenty of amazing knitters who have never even touched a sweater pattern. However, I felt the call. I knew that once I made a sweater I would never be able to make the excuse of, "I can't do it" ever again. So, shall I tell you a tale of the nearly epic failure of my first sweater? (If you said no, then do please get off this post due to the fact that no one is forcing you to read this.)

My sweater began with the pattern Banff from Knitty.com. The sweater was rated as an easy pattern and the fit was baggy while still looking chic. The pattern called for super bulky which was perfect because I have a lovely Ocean State Job Lot in my town that sells Lion Brand bulky weights for only $2 a skein. I went to the store and purchased 9 skeins of the most luscious Lion Brand Color Waves in the Autumn colorway. The yarn was mainly red with small variations of purple, gold, and green gently winding throughout.

I cast on for the front a few weeks into my first semester and I happily knitted on and off. However, by the time Christmas break rolled around, I was starting to get antsy. I was bored with the pattern, and though I only had to complete the two sleeves and the finishing, I was avoiding the project. I took it home with me, determined to have it finished by the time I went back to school. For the first three weeks of my break, I barely touched it. I think in my heart, I could already see that the body pieces were just way too big. I know the sweater was supposed to be baggy, but still, they looked wonky. The only reason that sweater ever got out of the pieces stage was due to Brenda Dayne (I am not sure about the spelling of her last name) and her podcast called Cast-On. A truly a wonderful listening experience, I was able to focus and listen to something new while knitting on this gynormous sweater. I worked my way backwards through the podcast starting at episode 73. By episode 61, my seater was ready to be seamed.

Seaming this monster is an experience that I treat like a PTSS considering it was so awful I don't remember much. All I know is that by the time the booger was ready for its first try-on, I knew I had a HUGE problem. The sweater, while a very comfortable fit for a half-giant, was so large on me that when I put it over my head, it fell down the entire length of my body to the floor. Now, I do not mind a big sweater that I can only wear around the house, but I do require that my clothing at least be able to remain on my person without the use of chains or bungee chords. The body of the sweater was over four feet wide. The sleeves were big enough to fit a couple of toddlers quite comfortably. I was devastated. I know if any seasoned knitter reads this they will cluck their tongues and sigh, "Should have checked your gauge." Okay fine, should have, didn't, definitely my fault, end of story. I wanted to cry, but instead, I prayed, picked up my tapestry needle with some extra yarn, and I improvised.

I have a history of making strangely cool things out of nothing. An example could be the "basket" I once made for my co-blogger out of plywood, cardboard, scrap yarn, and some E.E. Cummings poetry. I am firm believer that when you've got nothing but a crapload of mess, it is up to you to do everything in your power to make it beautiful. I had not been knitting for 6 years to let a sweater defeat me now. I folded, I tucked, I rolled (if anyone makes a snarky comment about putting out a fire I will be most displeased), and I sewed the ever loving day lights out of that monster. At the end, I had a sweater that was unlike anything I could have envisioned. Yet, even my co-blogger was impressed. She was there the night I finally finished the neck. I know Heather pretty well, but I never thought that she would like the puffy squish ball I created as much as she did. I will not spoil her own sweater story, but lets just say it was a far cry from my own first attack. Still, I am in love with this thing. I have worn it multiple times and it makes me feel as most of my really good knitting does; unique.

Secretly, I am a Cupcake...

2009-02-07T17:00:00.003-05:00

...
...
...
I must stop making such pathetically cute things.

Chapter 1: Obamania, and a New Semester

2009-01-26T20:22:00.004-05:00

New chapters in my life are emerging everywhere!

Obama was inaugurated President of the United States (despite what Fox News stipulates) on January 20th, 2009. This is historical, people, and a new chapter in the life of our nation. I even made a little pop-out White House and Obama Family, provided by the Hartford Courant. Sadly, my mother threw them away before I could take photos, because Michelle Obama's head kept falling off. Anyway, this is all so new...I just can't imagine how to get by knowing that my country no longer condones torture...

Okay, so to avoid getting too political, while I was watching the inauguration, I was knitting. In fact, I was knitting my first sweater. This is Chapter 2 of my Chapter Ones. If that makes sense...anyway, it's not so bad. More on this project will come later, but I'm realizing that such a large garment will not equal the end of the world for me or anyone else, and that I am capable of something more difficult than a sock. The February Lady Sweater has given me confidence--I can look at a new pattern, no matter what it is, and imagine myself completing it without some form of death or destruction.

Wednesday also marks the beginning of my second semester at Hampshire College. This means that I am no longer a completely inexperienced freshman (merely an inexperienced one). I moved back into my dorm today, and found this note on my desk.

I'm sure I wrote it after completing my final Final Paper (I passed all my classes, yay!). I probably intended it for a blog post, but was too brain fried to string together a coherent sentence, let alone tell you people about it. So I will leave this little sticky note as a reminder to me and all that, no matter how stressful life gets, and how busy, we must always take a little time every day to preserve our sanity. Chapter 3. I promise if you do.

Winter Photo Shoot: A Kp Special

2009-01-17T19:43:00.017-05:00

Due to the fact that I am slightly bored and realized that some of my knitting pictures are woefully out of date (not to mention bland), I decided it was high time for a photo shoot. Every single one of the photos below had no other party involved in their making save myself, my camera, and a really cantankerous old tripod. I would also like to point out that all the outdoor photos were shot in 14 degree temperatures. These first pictures (above, all comments will correspond to the set above them) are in honor of my dear and lovely co blogger, because they feature her really lovely Snowflake Hat Pattern in diVe Zenith yarn. Let us walk through some winter fiber goodness shall we...

Okay, so this is a display of the Twee Gloves designed by the wonderful Anushka Tay, and the yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. Many of these shots have a faery theme attached to the look considering my love of anything fae and that fact that a great deal of my knitting tends to ere on the side of the fantastical.

Ohhhh I am such a geek, but yet, this is actually on of my favorite looks in this collection. The knit being featured in this spread is the Saphira Gauntlets in the pattern Dragon Scale Gauntlets that can be found on chartreuseknits.blogspot.com, and the yarn is Zen by the paintedsheep in the colorway Tranquility. (Yes I know that was a run-on shut up!) What is so special about this look is that I made more than one thing that is featured (and no it is not the bokin I am holding.) Yes, I made that cloak and I am still uber proud of it.

Ahhhh, Cleaves. Yes, this is the pattern Cleaves, found on www.knitty.com and this particular version is done in Lion Brand Homespun and Lion Brand Jiffy. Mercy, I look gorgeous!

This is a tribute to my checked scarf made of Caron Simply Soft Brites. The scarf holds a special place in my heart not because it is my favorite, but because it is one of the first large things I made when my love for knitting was reawakened. It is a 9 foot monstrousity that was made the summer when I worked my first assistant scenic design job, and the long hours of tech were whiled away, knitting on this scarf.

And so we come, at last, to the end of this gallery of knitwear. This is my favorite hat EVER!!! The pattern is the Chicken Tam by Cass Long and it can be found on www.shutuppatterns.blogspot.com. Anyway, the yarn is Handpainted Alpaca by the paintedsheep and the colorway is Larkspur. This is my go-to hat. I wear it so often and it is so perfect for me I can barely contain my glee every time I put it on my head.

So ends the gallery. I am thinking on a part II that would be less of me and more of arranging the knitting in different settings with the props, but we shall see. I hope you enjoyed the view!

Little Bit of Pride

2009-01-14T00:54:00.004-05:00

Just a quick recount of an event that made me feel pretty darn good about myself and my knitting capabilities. The yarn I used for my Cheshire Cat Stole was hand-dyed by the daughter of the woman who runs my LYS. She had expressed interest in seeing the stole when it was finished (the owner that is) and so I brought it by today. Upon revealing the work to her and another woman in the store, they simply gushed over the work and they seemed somewhat impressed. As a young knitter, I know I am pretty awed and shy around those who have been practicing the craft for so much longer than me. It was a nice change to have the older generation oggling at something I made.

"Don't you have enough hats?"

2009-01-12T13:55:00.002-05:00

Picture 1
Originally uploaded by knitmeatheatre

This is the question I'm faced with as I pull out yet another misshapen pile of yarn and pointy sticks during my Novel in the U.S. class this past semester. Classmate Tom, the inquirer, does not knit...but I have knit so many hats next to him that he knows a hat when he sees one.

And now that it is 2009, Tom, I say yes to you. YES, I HAVE ENOUGH HATS!

Pictured here are some of the hats I have knit since October. However, it is not all of the hats that I have knit. If I had to count (which I'd rather not), I'd venture that I knit between 25 and 30 hats between October and December 2008. Therefore, I will not be knitting any hats. For a very long time.

But I love hats. So we'll see.

I Love Them Not.....I Love Them

2009-01-09T21:22:00.009-05:00

When last I posted I was proclaiming my extreme dislike for the sock I was knitting. Well, upon finishing the creature today I put it upon my foot with great trepidation. At first, I noticed no difference from all the times I had forced it on my foot while it was in progress. But, as I began to move around and walk, the most extraordinary thing occurred. The sock seemed to settle in such a way that although the many holes and gaps were not invisible, they did not scream to be recognized. Indeed, a strange and wonderful appearance overtook the entire piece and now I am only awed and slightly giddy. I have not lost my sock knitting mojo!!! The other sock will not be a chore or a trial! Sometimes, we just have to finish something and live with it for a while, before it returns the rewards of our hard labor. It is amazing that even after so many pairs of socks, they still inspire me with their magic. Yay socks!!!

Yeah...That's What I Did....

2009-01-06T23:46:00.002-05:00

(As a response to KP's blog post below, see the subject line above. [Also, I will post. Someday.])

My Sneaky co-blogger

2009-01-03T16:28:00.005-05:00

I am a very versatile knitter. I have rarely met a pattern that has vexed me once it begins to reveal itself in all its beauty. Not so with the socks I am currently knitting. They are being knit up in a lovely Painted Sock Too by the Paintedsheep (colorway autumn) and the pattern is a supposedly tricky Pomatomous by the lovely and talented Cookie A. When one first looks at my sock, it does not seem so bad, but the minute I actually allow it to slip over my foot it is revealed to be full of stringy nonsense and holes. I do not fault me, nor do I fault the pattern. It looks really nifty to the not-kp eye, but I am discovering more and more that I am not a fan of a bunch of yarnovers placed in such awkward positions.

How does all this ranting relate to my co-blogger? Well, upon listening to my constant griping, and sitting through many a tale of woe about my dislike of this pattern, she proclaimed, "You are never going to finish the second sock. You just can't do it if you hate the pattern that much." At first I was so rankled by this pronouncement I became even more determined to finish these socks more than I ever wished to finish a pair. But, as I began to simmer on my co-blogger's lack of faith in me, I came upon a strange notion; until she said I couldn't do it, I really had very little desire to finish these socks. Also, my dear friend has never directly said "You can't do it" to me, especially when it has to do with knitting. Yet, she has always found a way to encourage me in my endeavors, even when they are a toil. She knows me well enough to know that the only thing that drives me to do something more than encouragement, is a desire to prove someone wrong. Could it be this supposed lack of faith is merely a ploy to keep me knitting this project until completion?

I do not know if this is what my co-blogger intended me to think. It could be she really does not believe I will finish the socks. However, she is a ridiculously intelligent individual who has known me for over five years. It is very possible she employed an excellent use of reverse psychology in order to help me finish this arduous project. Either way, she has inspired me. I am going to finish them duckling, you just watch!

(Picture is of my incomplete sock over the spine of the book Eldest by Christopher Paolini)

A Blanket for Your Trouble Part II (Randy Anderson, the "most Charlie Brown" blanket ever)

2008-12-27T21:18:00.006-05:00

I wrote a while back that my floor was creating a blanket for our RA. If you recall, the only stipulations were that the squares be 1'x1' and hopefully in a worsted weight/Caron Simply Soft. Well.....take seven knitters (my dear friend from Courtney's other floor was kind enough to contribute a square) with different tastes and knitting style and you get an extremely strange concoction that one could hopefully call a blanket. You can see it for yourself, the thing has got character. As for the name Randy Anderson, that spawned from late night delirium as my dear floor mate Maria and I kneeled out in the hall finishing up the last of the seaming. In our late night giddiness, we came up with a ridiculous story to tell Courtney (RA) if she happened upon our work. "What about the RA? That stands for our friend Randy Anderson, who is the receiver of this blanket. You see he can use it as a blanket or a net if you look at that amorphous blob in the top right corner....." (I'm sorry Lauren I could not resist! I really do love the turquoise amorphous blob.) Anyway, I guess you had to be there.

We even presented it to Courtney in style. Lauren and I went down to her room, and Lauren hid while I coaxed Courtney out of her room (yeah she thought I was being a creeper too don't judge me.) When she came out, Lauren jumped out and quickly secured a blindfold over the eyes of a very confused RA. Laughing and assuring her that she could trust us, we led her up the stairs and into our common room where everyone waited with the blanket. Our favorite honorary floor mate Zach (Lauren's boyfriend and only male with the seal of approval of the pack to inhabit our floor) graciously removed the blindfold so I could capture the picture of her face when she saw it. She was quite thrilled, as were we all that she liked it so much. A true Christmas joy, and a miracle that only such knitters can accomplish.

And a thank you to those knitters:

Patty: For your beautiful pattern work and excellent color choice

Jess: For your diligence, your square looked perfect

Julie: For being a damn quick and lovely knitter!

Lauren: For taking a risk and making that ridiculously wonderful "net"

Maria: For the center of the blanket and staying up with me to seam it (Randy Andersonnnnnn!!!!)

Evelyne: Without your square, we never would have had a fully finished work

And special thank yous to Jess Dugger for being our constant support and Zach for removing the blindfold!

Have Knitting Will.....ummmmm

2008-12-21T15:17:00.004-05:00

When one sees this picture, there is no need to explain too much. This is me. There is some aspect of knitting in every single one of the carrying-devices that I took home. If I looked any more like an art freak (the painting under my arm really added the final touch) then I would be unable to go out in public. Going home is certainly a chore when sharp needles are involved.

I Made it Snow

2008-12-08T20:04:00.002-05:00

This Friday, I was wildly unproductive. I still had the 4 research papers to write that I listed previously...but after being let out of work early, and determined to be productive, I...failed.

I took a shower, and eagerly took up my book. I read about 30 pages...and zonked out for the best two hour nap of my life. When I awoke, I was too bleary-eyed to read. So I watched The Daily Show, and made some paper snowflakes.

I cut the snowflakes from scrap paper, mostly poorly printed pages of Freud's Civilization and Its Discontents. This amused me greatly. I slipped one under my friend Shawna's door, wishing her snow; she's from Chicago, and already misses the snow they had on the ground at Thanksgiving. But mostly, I wanted snow for myself. So I made lots of snowflakes. And taped them to my window.

Sure enough, late Saturday night, Nate called me to tell me there was snow in Connecticut. Early Sunday morning, it came down hard, and when I awoke, it looked like this!

Okay, it's not much, but it was pretty, and I did make it snow. That's the important thing.

Now, if I only I could make it not so freaking cold.

So much work...so little out of it...

2008-12-03T19:42:00.002-05:00

Here at Hampshire College, we do not have final exams. No, we are too "enlightened" to waste our time sitting for three hours filling in little bubbles. This is wonderful, and what drew me to the school...unfortunately, the guided tour of the campus never mentions the alternative to final exams: final papers.

And unfortunately, I didn't listen to my advisor Christoph (what a cool name, I know) at the beginning of the semester when he warned me how reading-and-writing-intensive my semester would be as it stood, and that I should drop one of my classes in favor of something less...wordy. AND, unfortunately, the 800 or so pages that I have been reading did not give me warning enough as to what was coming.

I have four massive research papers due, each with a cumulative portfolio, within the next two weeks. This is merely for my venting purposes, so you may ignore the list:

Due Dec. 11th: 12 page paper on Infantile Amnesia for Neuropsychology. Portfolio included.

Due Dec. 12th: 12 page paper on the problems of reading Sylvia Plath autobiographically for Alienation (Christoph's class)

Due Dec. 16th: 15 page paper on the limitations of conventional diagnosis in psychoanalysis, using Plath's poetry and exploring various avenues of interpretation for Critical Psychology. Portfolio included.

Die Dec. 18th: 5 page paper on the social implications of Bigger in Richard Wright's Native Son. Portfolio included.

So, I have been reading a lot. Researching a lot. At the end of the semester I think I'll be returning maybe 20 books at once. But with all this reading, I feel as if I've accomplished little to nothing so far, as I haven't put anything useful down on paper.

What does this have to do with knitting? Everything. I've become obsessed with possible projects; looking at the colorful scrap yarn hats I could be constructing, the socks I'm almost done with, the rest of my Christmas knitting, countless sweater patterns for Janterm...even thinking about knitting relaxes me. Hopefully I can channel this amount of focus on knitting elsewhere...namely to the four topics listed above.

Happy end of semester!

Two Tams in a Pod

2008-12-01T17:07:00.006-05:00

Take two sisters, myself being one of them, and imagine two tams that perfectly reflect each one and her respective personality. Here is the twist: the two tams are the same exact pattern, knitted on the same needles, and created by the same knitter. It is amazing to me that, with a simple change in yarn and recipient, a pattern can look completely different. This was the first pattern that I have knit more than once (and there is a small chance I could be whipping up another one), yet the experience could not have been more different. The first time was with a variegated alpaca/merino blend that looked different with every row. I thought on myself and how wonderful this would look and feel on my head on the cold days that would eventually surface no matter where my future took me. The yarn slid through my fingers like butter, and while the pattern presented challenges, I wrestled out a rather wonderful hat that I wear more often than underwear (you can decide if that is an exaggeration.)

In the case of my sister's, the yarn was perfect for her. Pure Peruvian Highland Wool in the deepest wine merlot color. (It is a good thing I picked up more than one skein and the yardage is so excellent or else she would have been SOL, because there is no way I would have parted with it otherwise. Even the one skein was a test of charity, and I only....okay, enough of this.) Anyway, on the rare occasion I actually knit for another, I try to consider them in every stitch. This was easy enough considering the yarn mimicked my sister's persona to a tee. So clean and lovely looking, yet with habits that could drive one to vexation (mainly sliding off the needles the minute I turned my back upon it.) The pattern in her hat seems clear upon first sight, yet the moment the light shifts it looks like a completely different picture. I thought on my wonderful sibling, walking through the wind and the snow with music clutched to her chest, and the tam faithfully holding to her cranium keeping it warm and her hair in place. The Peruvia slid through my fingers like cloud fragments, and though I faced challenges again, the hat looks just as lovely as its predecessor and my sister absolutely adores it.

The main comparison I wish to make is how much these two hats are the perfect physical representation of our relationship as sisters. We have different yarn, completely different looks and attitudes, but we share the common love that comes from being of the same blood and from sharing common experience that no other can ever come close to understanding. Hats off (yes that pun was fully intended) to sisters, especially mine!

A Blanket for Your Trouble

2008-11-27T15:02:00.003-05:00

So, my RA is a pretty nifty chick named Courtney. She is the RA for both my floor (6th) and the 5th floor. Although she lives on the floor below, due to the amount of crap that goes on in the 6th floor, she is often upstairs for a visit. Granted none of the girls involved in this project have been apart of any of the problems she has had to deal with, but we still feel like she is the only thing that keeps peace among some of the girls in our little tower. We decided that it would be lovely thing to make her something for Christmas that would express our gratitude for maintaining order. In order to accomplish this feat, my little knitting group (aka five other girls living on my floor) decided it would be a cool idea to knit a blanket for her. We would each do two squares at 1'x1' and then patch them all together to make a really nifty piece that we all made together. We also decided that there would be no set pattern or color scheme. The only stipulation was that we would all use a worsted weight and most chose to go with Caron Simply Soft. I myself chose this brand in Soft Green and Iris.

While everyone else eagerly sought out the niftier stitch patterns, it occurred to me through a conversation with my floormate and fellow knitter Lauren that it would be really cool to have two squares with the letters R and A each on a square. Since I have had the most years knitting, it fell to me to accomplish this part. I waited until I got home to start, and it is a rather crazy experience. Considering I lack graph paper and the patience to draw up a pattern, I am creating the "R" square purely on instinct and prayer. As you can see by the picture, it looks a little wonky, but I am not daunted. I merely chalk it up to the point in the process in which I am currently working. It is the, "middle, but not really where every choice that does not function with the first part looks like crap" part of the process. Let's hope Kp can pull this nonsense through with the Help of a certain Lord and Savior else this is going to be a very sad looking "R" indded.

Let It Snow!

2008-11-24T19:57:00.006-05:00

I'm ready if it does! I wanted a nice white hat with snowflakes on it to keep me warm between classes in the occasional Massachusetts blizzard. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a nice snowflake pattern that used only one color...so I made my own! I quite enjoy it. On the off chance that you will, I have also included the (painfully easy) pattern.

Snowy Hat

Materials:

-120ish yards of worsted weight yarn (I used less than one skein of Cascade 220 wool)

-1 set size 6 US and size 8 US circular needles

-3 stitch markers (preferably one different than the others)

-Tapestry needle to weave in the ends

Gauge:

Meh. I don't do gauge. I have a small head. If your head is larger and you are concerned about this, add more stitches between the charted stitches, or more above and below the snowflakes.

Chart:

Hopefully self-explanatory. Knit the white boxes, purl the grey ones.

Pattern:

CO 80 sts.

Join for working in the round, and place different marker to mark beginning.

Rnd 1-10: [K2, p2] to end of rnd.

Rnd 11-15: K to end of rnd.

Rnd 16: Set-up round. K 9, place marker, k 40, place marker, k 31.

Rnd 17-47: K to marker, sl marker, follow the chart for 31 sts, k to marker, sl marker, follow the chart for 31 sts again.

Do this until the snowflake is done. Yay, it's pretty.

Rnd 48: K to end of rnd.

Rnd 49: [K8, k2tog] to end of rnd.

Rnd 50: K to end of rnd.

Rnd 51: [K7, k2tog] to end of rnd.

Rnd 52: K to end of rnd.

Continue in this fashion, knitting one less before decreasing each time until 16 sts remain.

Last rnd: [K2tog] to end of rnd.

Finishing:

Break yarn, leaving an 8" tail. Draw through remaining sts and pill tight. Weave in ends.

There, I think that makes sense.

Hampshire Socks

2008-11-17T23:34:00.004-05:00

I love them.They are beautiful and off-beat and so delightfully Hampshire.
I bought the yarn (Zitron Trekking XXL) right after I applied to Hampshire, and have only now had the pleasure of knitting these small pieces of hippie heaven up. Hopefully they will keep me warm when we conserve energy by keeping the heat low.
Even Nate likes them.

But I love them. I'm even wearing them right now.

Why Bother?

2008-11-11T16:38:00.002-05:00

Right now, I am sustainably happy--that is, I am continually finding myself smiling, sighing with joy, loving life, and feeling accomplished. I'm somewhat ahead on my school work...that's fleeting, but a fun fact nonetheless. I'm making real friends, and establishing real relationships with professors and staff here at Hampshire. I'm contributing to class discussions, and not afraid to voice my opinion. In all these complex classes I'm taking, I'm not only learning how to understand their deep ontological meanings, but also my own; I'm finally starting to understand myself, and how I fit into the world that I'm learning about.

Great. I'm in a bubble of free-thinking isolation. I'm happy...but mostly because I haven't really ventured outside it much. We had this huge celebration when Obama was elected, and it seemed a little appropriate. Someone described it, pretty accurately, the next day in the dining hall: "It was like having cancer for a really long time, and finding out that a new treatment might kind of be working." Well, we really need to start that treatment, because the world outside Hampshire is having some hideous side effects to whatever it's on now.

The economy! Good God, we acknowledged the problems two months ago here and moved on, but they sure as hell exist, and are only getting worse. My parents are college educated, hard working people. They are both at risk of losing their jobs, because their companies aren't receiving enough profit to pay their employees. What will happen in four years? Growing up, a college education meant a guaranteed paying job after graduation, and only those without an education risked working minimum wage. My parents, a lot of people's parents, a lot of PEOPLE in the work force are college educated and beyond. And they are losing their jobs. I'm happy now, but I gotta ask--if I'm no longer promised a career for an education, why bother?

Ohh, to make this about knitting, yes--I am knitting a LOVELY pair of socks (Slippery from Knitty, Winter 2007) with some delectable yarn that I have been dying to knit up since before I was even accepted to Hampshire College. I am knitting them in class, and people oggle. I love them. I might actually finish them, too.

Also, many, many hats...but more on that later.

A Cowl to Soothe a Worn out Soul

2008-11-10T17:37:00.005-05:00

My mind is tired. My heart is tired. I am generally feeling raw and slightly bedraggled. Still, I am not all at a loss. Yesterday, I experienced losing something that I never really had in the first place. I allowed myself to wallow in the loss for a time, but then a strange notion occurred to me, "I have been doing way too much cerebral knitting and my psyche needs some instant gratification." Remembering the gorgeous malbrygio that was currently being used for an unsuccessful pair of mits, as well as an excellent pattern for a cowl (Caterpillar cowl by Anushka Tay/free pattern available on her blog) that I had only done once before, I knew exactly how to work myself through. You see, the something I lost was basically a relationship that could not go forward. Sometimes, when one can't go forward, one returns to a point of success in order to remind oneself that they are capable of surviving anything. My last cowl was beautiful. Granted it is attached to a tank top, but it was still a success in itself. I needed a straight knit. No patterns, no thinking, no complications, in the round, and good for amazing variegation. I finished it in one night. By the time it was finished, my soul was well, and I had let the "what if's " and "if onlys" float from my heart like ash caught in the breeze. It is well, and my neck is very snuggly.

All Hallows Cleaves

2008-10-31T19:54:00.007-04:00

It is strange how some projects sleep until we find a need to finish them. Such is the case with the garment Cleaves (free pattern on Knitty.com). I started this piece back in June. It is a very unique garment that is a combination of cowl and sleeves; almost like the reverse of a vest. I was immediately captivated by its simple pattern and beautiful design. Knitting upon it sporadically I managed to finish 1 sleeve and three quarters of the second before the project basically went into my big knitting bag for a long hibernation. Though I wished to finish the work, there was no burning desire that inspired me to continue the process. Then came this October in Maryland. The days passed lazily by, only to suddenly turn chilly in the lateness of the month. The thought kept occurring to me as I wrestled with coats and sweatshirts, "I need a better outer garment. The weather is just too cantankerous for such normal modes of maintaining a stable body temperature." (Yes that is an actual thought that manifested in my brain, judge me not!) Enter in the memory of the unique knit that just happened to be sitting under my bed. Once I started on it again, I knitted like a woman possessed for two days and quickly had it completed. I understand the picture I have put here is hardly adequate, but I pray it will do for now.

There is something very powerful about this piece. I find it hard to describe, but I suppose it is because it looks so strange. Comments I have received on its appearance have ranged from Final Fantasy, to Seuss. Yet, I put it over my head, set up the ruff, and I feel strangely beautiful as well as strong. I know it sounds rather dramatic, but the piece is bold in its direct violation of normal garment appearance. Therefore, I feel bold and revolutionary within it. It is funny that I finished this so close to Halloween, a night devoted to looking rather out of character. This work is not out of character for such a night. Cleaves is a garment that I feel is closer to my character than most other clothing I will ever consider wearing. It is/I am unconventional, bold, and lovely.

SUPER Study Buddies

2008-10-27T14:43:00.003-04:00

So, the boyfriend has been doing stellar work through the most complicated Physics E&M and Circuitry and CSE classes this semester...and now he's facing the prospect of even more, and even more insanely difficult classes NEXT semester and beyond.

Well, it was our kind-of first anniversary this weekend, so I wanted to do something kind-of sweet for him, especially because he's been working so hard and deserves a little break.

That's where Captain Capacitor, and his faithful sidekick Resisty, come in!
God love Anna of MochiMochi Land for fabricating these PAINFULLY CUTE pieces of circuitry. I gave them to Nate in hopes that they would help him study. Superheroes have been known to do that, you know.

Unfortunately, they've been more of a hindrance than a help in the boy's faithful studies. Snippets of our conversations and correspondence include: ...too cute...those eyes...why does he have to have a cape??? Why the cape???...

Okay, maybe I went slightly overboard.

Knitting Myself Through Nonsense

2008-10-21T11:55:00.004-04:00

Up from the bottom, wrap.

Look at the situation logically

Take the right needle and stab through.

If the situation was logical, one could do so

Lift the stitch off the left needle.

Continue on as you can, for there is no other logical option.

Repeat.

Greetings from Hampshire College

2008-10-14T17:24:00.008-04:00

I love fall. Especially when I'm in New England when it's happening.

Photos taken at the Hampshire College Farm Center, October 14th, 2008.
My friend Dan and I decided to celebrate our return from October Break with a walk in the autumn sun to see the sheep.

We found them:

Why would anyone ever choose to be educated anywhere else?

My Goal:

2008-10-06T20:07:00.003-04:00

To knit a sweater over JanTerm break.

My Only Slightly More Immediate Goal:

To finish those damn knee socks.

My More Immediate Goal:

To knit hats, scarves, and gloves for charity before it gets too cold.

A More Immediate Goal Than That:

To finish all my Christmas presents.

After Completing This Goal:

To finish the five projects that I currently have on needles.

A Goal That Needs To Be Addressed Rather Immediately:

To finish my summary of a neuropsychological report of infantile amnesia in pre-schoolers for class tomorrow.

Another Goal, Temporally Unaffected:

To get a larger white board on which to write all my goals.

"In Nature's Wonderland"

2008-10-06T17:54:00.004-04:00

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a retreat with the Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). I truly needed this getaway for I had felt rather jumbled and emotionally distorted of late. There were a number of factors involved, but suffice it to say confusing people and misplaced affection had put me in dire need of a mini vacation. So, on Friday, I took care to pack my knitting (along with the four other bags that I apparently needed on a trip where I was only staying two nights) and I set off with a sense of anticipation. Arriving that night was generally stressful and edgy because I accidentally left my knitting bag in the car and I had to do a great deal of waiting before anything officially happened. I was quite vexed with myself. But then came the next morning. The schedule established a "quiet time" in the morning from 8:30 to 9. This was supposed to be a time where we went anywhere within the camp and just took time to really be with God. I awakened rather irritated, but I dutifully made myself up, grabbed my bible and my knitting bag, and went off to find my place. Walking along, I saw many were headed to the beach overlooking the lake. Rather sad that there would be so many people about, I headed there myself. Luckily, the Lord was keeping an eye on my sanity. My eye was drawn to a path on the left. Curious, I followed it. The path ended at a long bridge. As I trod upon the planks the bridge wound through a small swamp with cattails and long grasses growing up out of the murky water. The sound of geese drifted through the trees. The sky was the bleached peach and cerulean of early morning. The bridge ended at a small dock that overlooked a pond which was surrounded by high pines and cedars. The air was crisp, the kind of crisp that makes one think of freshly peeled apples. I settled on my haunches, and all I could think to do was pull my sweater out of my knitting bag.

I had succeeded in finishing the back the day before. I laid this across my lap and proceeded to cast on the front. As I worked, the sun broke through the thin clouds and cast an ideal light upon my work. I looked up to see the bog simply steaming in this almost angelic glow. I felt an overwhelming awe in the simplicity of that raw light and untouched nature. The yarn in my hands felt warmer,richer, as my heart swelled with the sight. I could feel the edges of God, gently smiling at my wonder. It had been a long time since I had felt so truly close. My fingers worked, loving the connection of every sense with the experience of existing in the sublime.

Debatable Knitting

2008-09-30T17:08:00.007-04:00

So, I didn't plan on blogging right now...I'm too busy with school work to blog. However, the system is currently down, and I can't read what my writing assignment is, and I'm sitting here at the circulation desk in the library with nothing to do except cover for my inept colleague...

But on that note, I have been knitting this scarf. At Webs (the most amazing LYS a knitter could dream of), I found this lovely fingering weight yarn dyed by the Kangaroo Dyer as if it were specifically for my mother--the woman has an unnatural obsession with lime green and hot pink. So, I bought the yarn, knowing that she would of course appreciate another pair of cozy socks for Christmas. Well, this was before she came up to college and simply gushed over my Lace Ribbon scarf (which I admittedly have also gushed over), and said that she would like a scarf just like it. Out the window goes Heather's plan, as she examines how unpleasantly pooly the yarn intended for socks is getting with each scarf pattern she attempts. I, of course, refused to do the Lace Ribbon scarf again, for fear of death by monotony, even though that pattern would undoubtedly be perfect.

Then, out of the blue--an idea--a crazy, wild, somewhat logical idea...if I couldn't find a nice scarf pattern to knit up with my sock yarn...then why not...maybe, possibly...a sock pattern? It was just crazy enough to work. Linda Welch's "Spring Forward" socks immediately came to mind, and set me off on a knitting paradox. It's a sock pattern; but it's a scarf. It's a springy pattern, and an even springier colorway (wow, I can't believe "springier is even a word); but it's intended to be a Christmas gift.

Oh, and I knit it while watching the debate.
It was really the only way to occupy me while John McCain spoke. I also yelled at the TV as if I were my father (or Kristen's mother) watching a football game. Yay, politics? I had a point to this when I originally took these photographs...but anyway, I suppose it provides even more irony to the scarf--it's dainty pink and green was formed into delicate swirls while I watched the zigzagging, course lies of red versus blue on my TV screen.

Oh, and vote Obama. Please. Do us all a favor.

Do Feminists still love knitting? Answer: Indeed they do

2008-09-19T22:55:00.004-04:00

I am one who can admit when I have harbored a misconception. Here I freely admit that I was off about how my teacher and feminists in general perceived the wonderful art of fiber crafting. Sitting in class some time after my original post, I continued knitting on my lovely socks (which are now complete!!!!). My professor was lecturing on something or another when, somewhat suddenly, she gestured to my DPN's and said,(please understand I am paraphrasing) "Knitting, that was also very important in the early feminist movement. I had a student, a very good student, who knitted and she actually went on to start a group in Baltimore based around it, but knitting was used in CRG's (consciousness raising group) quite often." I managed not to let my jaw drop, but I was quite flabbergasted. In truth it made sense. After all, fiber crafting still brings women (yes I know men knit but for the sake of argument bear with the classification) together so much in this century, and heaven knows we all talk much more freely when our hands are busy. I found myself rather ashamed of my earlier presumption, and I have started to do a little digging on the subject. I am a little stymied at the moment, but I have every intention of going to speak to my professor soon to see if she can tell me a little more. The point here is, knitting is embraced by many in the feminist movement and it is as much apart of the legacy of the movement as it is part of the history of the world. Remember that the next time you pick up your needles, and may it remind you that you belong to a rich tradition that has woven itself into the core of centuries and centuries of human ability.

Maggie: A Hat of the Streets

2008-09-18T20:57:00.005-04:00

So, seeing as I currently only have one project on my plate--a pair of socks that was exciting the LAST time I made them, but is currently very boring with yet another sock to go. Therefore, I decided to indulge myself just this once. I've had this lovely alpaca (Classic Elite Inca Print, to be exact) sitting in my stash since I came upon it many months ago, on a yarnage expedition with SuperKnitter and my co-blogger. It was in this lovely, cramped little store called the Yarn Garden in Meriden, CT. Anyway, I was drawn by the delightful colors--they're earthy, but in a bright, autumn-y kind of way.

Little did I expect that I would actually have the hat I anticipated to knit by the fall! I wanted a simple pattern, something that wouldn't be obscured by the variegation, as well as something that I could knit mindlessly during class. Max's Staircase Tam by Robin DeWeese was just such a pattern. Unfortunately, after casting on and knitting the ribbing, I noticed that my size 8 circ was not, as I had thought, 19", but rather something along the lines of 29"...not good for a hat. But I could no longer wait! The warmth, the softness, the autumnal glory of the yarn would not leave my hands willingly. So I...improvised. Basically, it involved shoving a lot of stitches on some very short DPNs, and securing the ends with rubber bands...

I suppose I should get back to the hat. Yes. It is named for the thoughts that I dwelled upon while knitting it. In my lit. class, namely The Novel in the U.S., 1900-1945, we have just finished reading Stephen Crane's Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (which is neither a novel, nor of the 20th century). The pathetic jerry-rigging of my needles reminded me of the tragic heroine's attempts to use bright cloth and ribbons to dress up her family's dismal Bowery apartment. I also imagined, romantic that I am, that this hat would be the type of thing Maggie might wear while wandering the friendless New York streets in the dead of winter. I'm a romantic, I know. Anyway, this hat is therefore dedicated to Maggie, as well as to the professor who let me knit the entire thing during the discussions of the novella.

Scarf-ly Pride: Or, Too Many Tissues

2008-09-15T11:53:00.004-04:00

Blegh, I have a cold. Everyone on my floor was getting sick, and I did my best to avoid them. I even went home this weekend, thinking I was in the clear, and all fine and healthy, when suddenly, my allergies took a phlegmy turn for the worse. Pleasant, yes? Well, me, my red nose, and my box of tissues that is transported from class to class across campus have not had much time to knit. (I am OBSESSED)!

We have had time, however, to admire the joy that is, in my mind, my greatest knitted achievement. You see, I am obsessed with scarves. Not even so much the knitting, as the wearing. Nothing feels more secure than walking around in a mild spring breeze, the brisk fall wind, or bitter winter weather than with a fluttering length of loveliness dancing around your neck. And so, naturally, since the age of five I have been hell bent on knitting the perfect scarf. Back in the day, they would usually result in holey, misshapen blankets for my stuffed animals. When knitting returned to me with such fiery passion in high school, I made multiple ugly scarves, itchy, fluffy, too long, too hot, and too boring. Lately, I haven't had time to knit anything that includes the tedium and dedication that a scarf requires, and have resorted to socks and other cozy winter garments that aren't nearly as fun to wear.

And then the Lace Ribbon Scarf came into my life, in a cloud of sunset-colored yarn, smooshy, delicious, ambiguously neutral yet vibrant...I am OBSESSED with this scarf, to the point where sensible rambling is not sufficient...I must ramble incoherently now, as well! Well, it's soft, and smooshy, and I blocked it on my bedroom floor when I went home for the weekend; in perfect spirit of the perfect scarf, the yarn blocked in the most perfect fashion. It's perfect. I love it. I will wear it all of the time, and it's specialness will never diminish as my first wonderful, good, best, superlative, amazing, once again smooshy scarf.

...If only it would get down past the 70's this week, I could actually WEAR it.

Look! LOOK!

2008-09-11T15:36:00.002-04:00

Hey, hey, look! LOOK! I have only one project right now...I'm knitting ONE THING!!! Do you know how exciting that is? The last time I didn't have multiple projects was last summer...over a year ago...and the minute I learned how to knit socks, that went out the window. ONE project! ONE! And it's a pair of knee socks for me, ones that I've been knitting since last December and have put last to other projects for other people! ONE PROJECT! Can you believe it?

I guess I should start knitting Christmas presents now.

A Great Milestone

2008-09-08T20:06:00.003-04:00

So, college is a pretty fabulous institution. It is funny how I built this place up in my mind, and I have found it to be even better in practice. I can't thank the Lord enough for teaching me time management when I was in high school because now I find I am able to garner time for things like reading and, of course, knitting. Still, I felt rather accomplished when the other night I crossed a great threshold in the realm of fiber crafting; I have discovered a way to knit and read my text books at the same time. Seriously, I had heard of many knitters who could do the unimaginable reading and fiber crafting at the same time, but I had never considered myself capable of dividing my attention so. But that was before my Women's Studies course.

Reading 24 pages out a text book is fairly brutal, and made even more so by the fact that is is 24 pages filled with crazy terms and definitions basically bashing our society. I was fading, barely comprehending the sentences when suddenly, the preverbal light turned on in my cerebral area. I quickly grabbed my lap desk, two jumbo binder clips, and my knitting (a lovely Towson spirit scarf being carried out in the form of a basic stockingnette with a garter stitch border to lessen the curling.) I clipped the book open on my lap desk so that it would stay open, but I was still capable of turning pages. I attacked the book with far more enthusiasm now that my fingers were engaged. I felt so ridiculously smart and accomplished I almost called all my knitting friends right there just to tell them about the experience. But, alas, I figured I found it more amazing than anyone else ever would. So, I will content myself with posting it here, and hope that those who happen to stumble upon it might find it just as wondrous as myself. WARNING: If anyone in high school or middle school is thinking about trying this please be warned: the binder clips do leave very visible marks on the pages and if you do not own the book I would highly recommend seeking an alternative route to reading and knitting at the same time.

Attention Deficiency

2008-09-04T11:30:00.002-04:00

So, I'm in this awesome course this semester, and Intro. to Neuropsychology, which breaks down the brain and the mind and their inner workings, both tangible and elusive. Fun stuff (for me, anyway). Unfortunately, my professor, Jay, while an awesome guy, has an extraordinary sense of the brain's capabilities. He feels that attention is his class should not be divided, because he knows how much attentions lack the minute they are divided beyond the normal fields of left and right spheres of vision. Thus, I am not allowed to knit in his class. Sadness.

However, while I may not be able to carry my knitting around to my T/Th classes, my M/W humanities professors, Christoph and Michele are both very open to knitting while discussing the philosophical implications of "alienation", or the supposed "Great American Novel"...did I mention that I have really, really cool classes this semester? My only downside to all this in-class knitting is the novel a week and then some that I'll have to cram in, thus leaving much less time to knit! Ah, well...at least I'm almost done with Nate's socks.

Do Feminists still love knitting?

2008-09-02T21:45:00.003-04:00

Today was an epic day; the first day of classes. I awoke eagerly, packed my bag, and hoarked a Nutri Grain bar as I booked it across campus for my first class. In all classes, I worked on my heelless socks, but as I sat knitting in my Women's Studies course, I began to quiver slightly inside my flats. The professor spoke of activism and how our society represses it. She spoke of how the class was founded on the hard labor of feminists before us and how if we did not want our world shaken up, we should leave the class. Through all this my fingers continue to knit. Her eyes shoot to me occasionally, but no more than the others. Still, I could not help feeling slightly guilty when she informed us that we were all living under conservative views. Is knitting still considered a repressive hand craft by the reformist feminist? (I just learned what that was tonight as I read my assigned chapters.) Should I be concerned that I am obsessed with a practice that happens to be an age- old art practiced by women living under a patriarchal sexist system where women are just as sexist as men, but benefit less from it? Answer: No freakin way!

Big Knit On Campus

2008-09-01T15:36:00.003-04:00

So, here I am, at Hampshire College! Yay! It's exciting to be in the presence of the unwashed activist masses. As you can imagine, I've encountered many knitters over the past week of orientation, but as far as I can tell, I am the most devout. I've had hippie after hippie simply OGGLE at the pair of socks I'm knitting for my darling boyfriend, marveling at the intricacy of my craft--in all honesty, it's one of the easiest sock patterns I've ever encountered. It is true that I swelled with pride upon mentioning that I had also hand-dyed the yarn, which sent the observers into fits of bewilderment.

So, it's nice to be embraced by a community that appreciates natural fibers, and self-sustaining crafts, and people who enjoy climbing trees and knitting in them, as I did in the apple orchard yesterday. And now I sense the now-familiar aroma of cannabis wafting through my window. Ah well. I can't wait to start teaching all of the 20 people (if they show up) that I've promised I would teach to knit, or to knit socks instead of scarves, or their first hat...I feel like the expert on campus!

How I miss you

2008-08-30T00:53:00.004-04:00

Dear Co-blogger,

I miss you so intensely and I do want to talk more in "person." Your videos made me laugh so intensely that the two others in my room at the time were rather concerned (though they tried to mask it with silence). It also made my heart ache a great deal because seeing you only reminded me how intensely far away from all of my lovelies I really am right now. Granted it was my choice, but I do crave your presence. I was actually rock climbing on the day you sent me the videos and I only just got my internet working tonight. So, I do not have a skype yet, but who needs that when you have ichat??? Yes, I have a screen name and I can ichat so, I will message you with all the appropriate crap and we will set up a time to speak further. I hope Hampshire is everything you were hoping it to be in its entirety. Towson is really wonderful. Great hardships, anxiety coming out my nostrils, and loving every minute while still missing you.

KPE

YIKES!!! What was I thinking????

2008-08-08T16:33:00.003-04:00

So, on ravelry there is this big event called the ravelympics. It is basically where you can choose to sign up for a particular event and then you have to knit a project that satisfies the requirements of that event in the time period from August 8th to August 24th. The creators asked for the contestants to choose an event category that would challenge them so I decided to do something I was familiar with, but would actually be somewhat challenging to knit in the time span. I entered the Laceweight Long Jump, and I chose to knit a lace stole.

Now, I know I have complained about lace knitting in an earlier post, but I am really starting to get into the groove of it. I am knitting a lace top (so flipping pretty I will post pictures once I am capable of uploading them) at this present time and it has really taught me to calm down on my crazy perfectionist knitting side that only appears when I am knitting lace. Knowing the pattern I wanted (the Cheshire Cat Stole available for free on Purlescence.com) I eagerly awaited August 8th to cast on this puppy.

Little note about knitting a gynormous lace project in a small amount of time: try not to choose a pattern that has 127 stitches per row with 32 row pattern charts that need to be repeated 15 times in full. Eeep! Do you know how nerve racking it is keeping track of 127 stitches? I though 87 was a chore, but now I run to that project looking for something to calm my aching brain. Alas, it seems the great talent of KP biting off more than she can chew is coming into play yet again. Still, it is not all a loss. The pattern is actually very clear and simple to follow with only one pattern of stitches that is just repeated throughout the row. It is just time consuming. However, considering I am on vacation with my daddy and I have a good deal of time to spare, I really think if I just set myself to the task, I can and will get it done in time for the end of the ravelympics. Still, having Jesus on my side is not going to hurt me too much either.

Missing my co-blogger terribly, and impatiently waiting to start college. Farewell all!

KPE

This Ugly Bag or Catching Memories in the Stitches

2008-07-29T00:51:00.007-04:00

When you see this bag, I can already see your facial reaction. It scrunches in puzzlement tinged with disgust, or vice versa. The combination is very wrong. I took a yarn with every neon color under the sun save purple, and what color do I decide to use for the strap...purple. Not even a neon purple, but a miraculous hue that is savory and tasteful. What streak of insanity could drive me to this extreme? I have my reasons (my main being the prevention of having said bag snatched) but it is not the appearance that I want to speak of here. I wish to talk about what this bag has captured within its stitches.

When we knit, it is not simply about fiber and needles, we are also keeping a journal of our creative phases. Some can pick up a brush and keep track of their souls on a canvas. Others choose pens and pages to record their words. I do possess some ability in these arenas, but I cannot do them consistently. I write my thoughts, but only when unique. I paint, but only after months of simmering and contemplation. I do not express myself in these realms until I consider what I have worthy of expressing. Knitting is different for me. It is a constant state of creativity where I create my own work using the foundations of someone else's idea.

This bag particularly rings true since, although the pattern was generously gifted to me by a fellow raveler, the bag has become mine just by virtue of my hands creating it. The bag is mine because I cast it on DPNs rather than circular needles. The shape is unique because I had to decide the width of the base. The stitches are even because I knit most of the body while watching a rather ridiculous movie in Cape May with some of the best friends I have ever had. The strap is of my own invention, and it makes me giggle to think of the look on another of my dear friend's face when she said bluntly, "It is hideous, you know that right?" (she is such a gem!)

The point I am trying to make is that the difference in every knitter's work is not in the tension, gauge, or overall technique. It is in how much of ourselves we are willing to poor into that particular entry of our fiber chronicles.

Digging

2008-07-28T12:57:00.002-04:00

So within the next month I am faced with completing the impossible task--organizing 18 years of acquired crap that has been stored in a rather large bedroom, and attempting to fit it in a very small shared space otherwise known as dorm room.

Currently, my room is...a mess. It's buried in yarn and pay stubs and school work from three months ago and books...so many books. And yarn, yes, yarn to the point where I can't even find my three skeins of beautiful wool and silk that I found in a discount bin in Cape May...where is all my stuff!? Oh yeah...under other stuff.

On a side note, whatever happened to SunnyD? I think it's one of those beverages that you're not allowed to consume after the age of thirteen...See, I'll never get my room clean, or organized, or packed into a much smaller room, because I'm such a procrastinator! This blog post is not about knitting at all...it's about avoiding the inevitable while blogging and watching What Not To Wear on TLC. I'm really really unbelievably thrilled to go to college...it's just such a pain to get there. And because of this, I'm not even knitting right now, except to avoid cleaning. Thus, this is my blog post.

Only Took a Little Water Weight

2008-07-26T23:21:00.004-04:00

Finished the tam made out of that gorgeous alpaca I gushed over. Sadly, unlike the picture on the pattern, the tam had a weird little "point" at the back where it should have lain flat. I was rather disappointed, but it occurred to me that I might be able to block it out. With some coaxing, possibly a well placed prayer, I wet the middle, pushed it flat to the towel, and then I put a ten pound circular weight on top of it. Hoping that would be enough, I left it until earlier tonight. To my delight, the tam's rather elfin point had been thoroughly quashed and it now sits oh so nicely on my head. I am glad considering my sister wants one just like it in a delicious Peruvian Highland wool and I certainly would not want to disappoint her with a hat resembling something worn by one of Santa's "little helpers." A lovely piece that I am proud to say I knitted.

Obsessions with Color and Texture

2008-07-22T22:54:00.006-04:00

Seems pretty rudimentary doesn't it? Color and texture. Any artist would tell you that they love such things. For me, it is something that I never get bored with, and I never stop loving the way these two facts of art and knitting create the basis of my passion. There will never come a time when I will not look at the hat I am knitting now and not sigh over the pure breathlessness of the colors in its fibers. It is Handpainted Alpaca by the Painted Sheep (yes she does have an etsy shop and you cannot get better quality or color) and the colorway is Larkspur. Larkspur is a Mediterranean flower that is mainly light lavender but it does have some other colors intertwined into it. The Painted Sheep has created this unbelievable blend of lavender, mint, and silver. The saturation of the colors is unbelievable in its perfection.

In the case of texture, you cannot beat the softness of this stuff. It is a blend of Alpaca and Merino. There are some soft fibers like silk and angora that, though I love them dearly, feel really slimy. It is just a fact. But alpaca is the softest stuff I have ever touched, and merino squishes like a thousand beautiful thoughts bound in your hands. Together, they create a fiber experience that is akin to knitting with butter. I have started making a hat with this stuff, and I can hardly put it down for love of its feel as it slides through my fingers as I knit or love on the stitches.

I guess I love the comfort the texture and colors of this yarn give me. The colors are peaceful, but not in the cool range. This tinge of warmth in the lavender and mint is calming and welcoming while the silver feels like a vein of sophistication spread throughout. The texture is soothing and does not irritate like wool, but it has some grip unlike other soft fibers. I know it seems like I read too deeply into this, but I profess to be a person who knows herself. For me, every stitch with this yarn is God's small voice still saying, "I love you, see? I sent you this yarn as a tiny love note to remind you that I am there." It helps me now, and I pray one day, dear readers, you can find the same in something that you happen to love. God gives us little love notes, like flashes of faerie wings, if we know when and where to look.

On a less sappy note, has anyone ever considered that the word "bloggage" sounds like a side effect to a gastro intestinal disorder? Farewell lovelings!

Oh My Lace!!!!!

2008-07-21T22:11:00.003-04:00

Ahhh lace, the art of making pretty holes. If only I could put them in the flipping right places!!!!! I have only been seriously knitting for about a year and a half (not so seriously since the 8th grade) and I desperately love every kind I have encountered thus far. I was the kind that went straight from scarves to socks with very little trouble; okay my gussets were atrocious, but who looks at the gusset? Anyway, I wanted to attempt a lace project and, being the naive and oh-so-attracted-to-nature-inspired-knits person that I am, I took the suggestion of other teenage knitters and chose a scarf pattern called Branching Out (courtesy of knitty.com). I casted on with no fear.....and soon found myself in a world of much grring and knashing of teeth.

For those unfamiliar with lace, it is basically adding systematically placed yarn overs in and among your regular knits and purls. The problem is, unlike other kinds of knitting, if you do not have the correct stitch count by the end of the row, you cannot just go back in on the next row and create or annihilate the offending stitch. It destroys the pattern and will make your supposedly artfully placed holes look like, well, less than artfully placed holes. I am on edge for every row, carefully following the pattern, trying very hard not to expect the worst, and then hold my breath for every time I count the stitches, praying there will be the right amount.

So why soldier on with it? Even my dear co-blogger, after witnessing a rather nasty outburst on my part, said forcefully, "Just put it down!" As much as this frustrates me, I can't put it down. Nor can I keep myself from buying laceweight and oggling patterns of beautiful holes in such nice arrangements. I do not walk away from a challenge simply because I cannot surmount it within the first few repeats. What kind of knitter would that make me? I'll tell you what it would make me; a cheap yarn floozey who only sticks to awful pilly yarn and runs at the first sign of a yarn over. Not me, dear friends. I will not allow a little frustration and some creative curses (snark-ended guttersnipe being my favorite) keep me from my goal of a lovely artfully holy scarf.

Too Many Projects

2008-07-21T20:54:00.003-04:00

So, knitting blogs tend to require talk about knitting...so, (as I say so for the second time) it is time for me to complain about the amount of projects that I am working on.

I used to tease my friend Sam for knitting multiple projects at a time. I would knit one pair of socks, one scarf, one whatever, at a time, and thus would finish it quickly and be able to move onto the next thing. However, somewhere along the way I lost my Thoreau-ian simplicity--and now I'm stuck with a pair of socks I may never finish!

Okay, so there's the scarf. The beautiful, cloudy, smooshy, soft scarf. It's Veronik Avery's Lace Ribbon Scarf, knit up in this awesome Nature's Palette fingering weight that I found with KP and Sam in some yarn store in Wallingford (it's cool because it's grey at first glance, but it's really blue and pink and subtle and just downright pretty).

It's the kind of scarf that I have the romantic visions of wearing on a snowy night in college to some intellectual debate or lecture. I'd also be wearing a trenchcoat. Anyway, I'm half done, having knit most of it mindlessly to and from Cape May.

Unfortunately, if that were it, it would be nice and relaxing. Then there's the Twisted Tulip Socks. Oh, are they beautiful. I'm knitting up this nice, warm purple Jitterbug yarn Sam gave me in a fudge tin for Christmas. She took the tin back though, to give someone else fudge. The pattern requires some intense cerebral knitting, but I enjoy tiny, intricate projects. Unfortunately, I only own one pair of wearable hand knit socks, as I have knit a dozen or so others as gifts for those I love. And, while I started the socks on a flight back from Bologna and Amsterdam (we're talking 10 hours, here), I have yet to finish more than one since April. I just want some damn socks.

SO, maybe the knee socks will help. Nope. I bought the yarn for (yes, more) Veronik Avery's Spiral Boot Kneesocks in December. More smooshy wonderfulness...smooshy wonderfulness that has been sitting unballed in my stash ever since. I'm almost done with the first leg of the first sock...however, with all the other crap I have to finish, as well as all that I have to start, like socks for Nate, and gloves for Don, and maybe a sweater someday, and some other stuff, like the Christmas list I should probably begin if I ever want to finish it on time, because, as we all know, I can't finish anything anymore, including these sentences, or this tediously long blog post...

Don't know how it happened, but here we are

2008-07-21T19:24:00.000-04:00

So, apparently Heather and I are blogging now about our knitting. I have always avoided this because, quite honestly, why should anybody care? My life is pretty fantastic as far as knitting goes, but what should drive anyone to want to read about it? Oh well, I have stopped fighting the inevitable. Ravelry was the first step on my path to darkness, and this is where it ends. Do not be concerned dear readers, I am far from anxious about this little development. Maybe this will prove beneficial to someone. Between Heather and myself we are a pretty awesome writing pair (her being the actual writer and me being a poor cynic who just happens to be funny on occasion), so this should be an interesting ride for all. Continue on then? Sure, God must have had this in mind somewhere. Toodle pip!

Joint KnitBlog

2008-07-21T18:01:00.000-04:00

So, Sam has been suggesting for a very long time that KP and I should get ourselves a joint knitting blog. This is mostly due to the fact that our blog-evasive maneuvers to this point have involved having no time to blog. However, after our trip to Cape May, NJ, where KP and I very successfully spread the cult of knitters to 3 of our dear friends, I decided that it was time...My, the word "blog" certainly loses its meaning after 15 or so uses. Anyway, so here we are, KP and I, and we're going to blog about our knitting, if we have time in between life and actually knitting. Let's see how it goes, and if anyone actually reads our random spewed thoughts. Well, I can't speak for Kristen...okay, my randomly spewed thoughts, and Kristen's probably brilliant insight into life as related to yarn. Yes.