Dreaming of Yarn

I had a dream last night about knitting. Although I often remember bits and pieces of my dreams, this one is unusual; I don't think I've ever dreamed about knitting before, no matter how much knitting I've done during the day.

In this dream, I was making a pullover long-sleeved sweater out of either worsted or dk or sport weight yarn, and I can see the color clearly in my mind. It was a variegated yarn with peach and a denim or Williamsburg blue. It didn't make tiny little stripes of color, but instead made big blotches of it. The pattern was just a plain one to show off the yarn colors.

Now, naturally, I'm hung up on finding this color, but searching every online yarn store for it would take forever. I've already checked my LYS and no such luck, they don't carry anything in that color combination.

So if any of you out there know of a yarn that's peach and Williamsburg blue, would you please send me the link to it and end the torture? ;-)

In the meantime, have you ever dreamt about knitting? If so, what did you dream? Did it result in a project in real life?

On Board For Mystery Stole #3

I've signed up to do the Mystery Stole #3 KAL. To sign up (hurry...you have to sign up by July 6), send a blank e-mail to mysterystole3-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. As you may guess, this is something that's gone on before since this is the third in a series. Some of you may know what i's all about, but I didn't know myself until a few weeks ago, so I'll fill you in if you're similarly uninformed.

It's a group that's doing a lace stole KAL (knit along) together. The interesting thing about it is, the "clues" (i.e., bits of the chart) are sent in small pieces, so you only get 25 charted rows per week (equivalent to 50 rows of actual knitting as the purl-side rows aren't charted). You receive hints about what yarn type and color to choose, but the finished stole pattern is a mystery.

Also, this stole features beads and though you don't HAVE to use beads to participate, I've decided to give it a shot. Heck, in for a penny, in for a pound, right? I'm feeling brave about the beads since I learned of what sounds like an easy way to add the beads. Check it out: Beading Made Easy.

Another challenge for me is the clues come out in chart form. I've only rarely worked from a chart, and then only in filet crochet. I much prefer written out directions. But the question is, could that be because that's all I work from? We'll see! I've ordered a magnetic Chart Keeper from KnitPicks, so that should help. A little.

And the stole even has a theme! Of course, no clues about that just yet either, though there have been many interesting guesses.

Here's my swatch with my chosen yarn (Skacel Merino Lace in white), though this is NOT the pattern for the stole, we've been assured:



I'm really excited about it. Of course, I need another project like I need a hole in the head. But I've had this laceweight yarn in my stash for maybe five or more years, just waiting for the right project. So the time is right!

Have you worked on lace projects before? Do you enjoy it? Do you work from a chart or a written pattern? Tell me your best tips! :-) I'm gonna need 'em.

Liz

Felted Knitting Bag Finished

I finished knitting the felted bag, and finished felting the knitting bag. Which are one and the same. Hah! The colors in the picture are a little off...it's actually dark purple, dark blue, magenta, teal green, and light purple. But for some reason it ended up looking almost all blue. Anyway, you get the idea.

Didn't turn out one hundred percent the way I planned. For one thing, I think it felted a teeny bit too much. My fault; I checked it at ten minutes and it was hardly felted at all, so instead of setting the timer for another five minutes, I set it for another ten. Oh, and I added my "secret weapon" to the second felting session: a kettle full of boiling water.

Word to the wise: check your felting objects frequently.

But it's still large enough to carry a knitting project in, so I'm happy.

The other weird thing about it is, the top edge came out ruffly. This is definitely NOT the way it looks in the pattern (see previous post for link), but I kinda like it, so again, I'm happy.

It's drying now...and drying...and drying. Has been drying for three days and still damp inside. Felted stuff sure takes a long time to dry! Another word to the wise: don't felt something on the same day you want to use it.

So now I'm back to working on a shawl from this pattern at Knitty: http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATTtendrils.html Only, no beads. It's coming out quite nicely, if I do say so myself. Only problem: the cast-on edge is tight. This could just be a function of how tight my knitting is in general. But...does anyone have a suggestion for a stretchier cast-on method? I just use the single cast on...or thumb cast on? Would the double (or long tail) cast on be better?

Well, back to work. I need to start more projects!

Liz

Goddess Shawl Finished

I finished the Goddess shawl I purchased the kit for at the NH Sheep & Wool Festival. I think it came out nicely...I never would have thought of putting all those yarn colors and types together, so it was fun to see how they worked. I just did a single strand of each of the nine yarns, and while they were all probably a baby yarn weight, some of the novelty yarns came out thicker or thinner. But that's part of the charm of the shawl, I think. I wore it yesterday and although it's light in weight, it's very soft and warm.





Here's another picture, this time a close-up of the nine different yarns so you can see a stripe of each one.



Now I'm back to working on this felted tote I'm going to use as a knitting bag: http://www.karpstyles.com/catalog.html?item=1592 But because I couldn't find five different shades of the same color in my LYS, I'm going with five different jewel tones. We'll see how it looks after it's finished and felted!

So what are you knitting?

Liz

Beautiful Spring

It's finally spring in New Hampshire, when a woman's mind turns lightly to thoughts of...knitting?

Last Sunday, on Mother's Day, I went with my two daughters on what I hope will become a Mother's Day ritual, to the New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival. For a knitter, it's a delight. First, you get to see the sheep, goats, bunnies, alpacas, etc. that your yarn comes from. For the breeders, they get to compete for prizes, but for me, I just love touching them and imagining the supply chain from fuzzy animal to finished skein of yarn.

Then there are the sheepdog trials. You can watch dogs...mostly border collies, but a few other breeds...compete at being the best and fastest to herd a group of sheep hither and yon. I've seen it in the movies, but seeing a dog creep up on a group of sheep and then move them this way or that is really amazing. Those dogs are so smart! Makes my dog look like a slouch...he can't even herd our cat.

Of course, for knitters, the vendors' booths are the ultimate goal. It's so much fun to wander past booth after booth selling unique knitting needles, shawl pins, sweater kits, finished knitted items, and of course all that gorgeous yarn. And you're encouraged to touch the yarn...because the tactile sensation is as important when choosing a yarn as the color or weight.

I ended up purchasing a Goddess shawl kit from the Knitter's Knook booth (a retail store in Keene, NH, http://www.yarnshop.com/) and a shawl pin from The Elegant Ewe (a retail store in Concord, NH, http://www.elegantewe.com/). Would have purchased more if my budget had been larger. ;-)

Most of the New England states have a yearly Sheep & Wool Festival. I'm not sure about other states...but I'll bet YOUR state has some type of yearly tradition. Tell me about yours!

Most recent finished object: Finally finished the shrug for my older daughter that was supposed to be her Christmas gift. She got it on Mother's Day. ;-) Will post pictures when I get some.

OTN now: But of course...the Goddess shawl from the kit I purchased at the Sheep & Wool Festival! Patience is not my strong suit.

What are YOU working on?

Liz

New Finished Object

Here's my latest finished object. It's a hot pad, done in double knitting. My daughter Heather created the pattern, and I think she did a fabulous job!

Double knitting, for those of you who don't know, is a way of knitting a two-sided fabric at once. It makes great heavy fabric for a warm afghan, good insulation for a hot pad, or you could knit both sides of a pillow at once. The picture on one side comes out as the reverse, a mirror image, on the other side.

Here's the picture of the reverse side of the hot pad, so you can see what I mean:

I'm new to double knitting so not an expert at it. But it is an interesting technique that I'll definitely want to dabble with more. It might make a great, really warm baby blanket or afghan...shawl or poncho...and of course works great for coasters and hot pads. What experience have you had with double knitting?

Liz

Barbie's Wedding Gown

Recently I made a Barbie wedding gown for my granddaughter Isabel's fifth birthday. Naturally, as always happens, I forgot to take a picture before I gave it to her. But my daughter has corrected that, so now I'm posting the photos. It's crocheted, not knitted, but heck, that's close enough! It's a craft. ;-)

Here's the free pattern I found and used for the dress: http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/jacobean/141/page2.html But as you can see, I made some modifications. Mostly because I ran out of time. I shortened the skirt, and left off the sleeves. And for a five year old, I think it works just fine.

Here she is with her doll. What do you think?

Socks Finished

Not sure how clearly this picture will come out, but I've finished a pair of socks for me, and here I am modelling them. :-)

These are the "Sox on 2 Stix" from Knitty, and you can see what the socks look like better here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTsoxon2stix.html

I loved knitting them on straight needles. The only down side is sewing the seams. My mattress stitch still needs a little work. ;-) And I also learned a standard bind off (knit two, take first stitch off over second) is way too tight for socks! So the second sock I bound off with the sewn bind off. That's stretchier and it works, but I knit tightly and would like something even MORE stretchy, so the next time I'll try another bind off. Heck, it's a science experiment!

So, what have you finished lately?

Liz

Free "Pi Openwork Dishcloth" Pattern

As promised, here's the free dishcloth pattern. I just ask that you not sell or redistribute the pattern, or sell finished dishcloths made from this pattern. It's for your personal enjoyment!

Liz

Pi Openwork Dishcloth

Pattern by Elizabeth Delisi


Materials:
Cotton worsted-weight yarn (I used Peaches and Cream, color 130 Shaded Pastels)
Size 7 knitting needles
Crochet hook or tapestry needle to weave in ends

Finished size:
Approx. 9x9" square

Gauge:
Not important

Pi Openwork pattern stitch:

Multiple of 3

1st row (RS): K2, *YO, K3, with left needle pull first of 3 st. just knitted over last 2 and off the needle; repeat from * to last st., K1.

2nd row and all WS rows: P.

3rd row: K1, *K3, with left needle pull first of 3 st. just knitted over last 2 and off the needle, YO; repeat from * to last two st., K2.

Repeat these four rows for pattern.



Dishcloth pattern:

Cast on 43 stitches.

K 6 rows in garter stitch.

Row 7: K5, follow Row 1 of Pi Openwork pattern over next 33 stitches, K5.

Row 8: K5, P33 (Row 2 of Pi Openwork pattern), K5.

Row 9: K5, follow Row 3 of Pi Openwork pattern over next 33 stitches, K5.

Row 10: K5, P33 (WS row of Pi Openwork pattern), K5.

Repeat rows 7-10 until piece is 3/4" less than desired length, ending with WS row.

Next 6 rows: Work in garter stitch. Bind off, weave in ends.

Variation: Use seed stitch for border instead of garter stitch.


Questions? Contact me at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.com.

Have fun!

Copyright 2007 Elizabeth Delisi

A Couple of Finished Objects

I recently finished two projects, and thought I'd share with you.

The first one is a shrug I made for my daughter for Christmas...well, for January. ;-) Here she is modelling it:



And here's the back:



It came out pretty nicely. I used a pattern from the Internet, but changed the pattern stitch, changed the edging, changed the cuffs...so it doesn't look exactly like the original anymore.

I liked the pattern stitch so much, I decided to make up my own dishcloth pattern using it. Here's a photo of the finished object:



I'll post the pattern in a separate message so you can try it out for yourself if you like.

So now I'm working on a second shrug for my other daughter, Heather. Same pattern stitch, but she's chosen a different edging and cuff, so it will be uniquely hers.

I wish I had four hands so I could knit twice as fast!

So what are you working on now?

Liz

New Project Addiction

Do any of you find you get bored with a project in mid-knit and abandon it to start something else?

This seems to be my pattern. Oh, I do finish things...eventually. Especially if it's for a specific event like Christmas, a baby shower or a birthday. But that means most of the unfinished projects sitting around are the ones I'm making for myself, as there's no deadline, no pressure to get them done.

I did just finish those men's fingerless gloves for my son-in-law (a late Christmas gift) and had the pleasure of watching him drive off to work, happily be-gloved. :-) I have two other projects to finish for late Christmas gifts, two shrugs. And I really want to get them done. But my feet are cold, darn it, and I want some socks! Also, I'd really like to get started on that lovely coat I'm going to knit, so I can wear it at least once this winter before it's too warm for coats...

How do you deal with the new project addiction? Do you give in and start something new, or do you doggedly insist on finishing whatever you're working on first? Or do you switch back and forth? I'd love to hear your tips!

Contest: Any HTML Experts Out There?

You may have noticed I've changed the background on my blog. I like the new background, except...somehow it seems to have squashed the message area and the links area over to the left, with just empty space on the right. I followed the instructions exactly for installing it, so I'm at a loss of how to fix it.

So I've decided to hold a contest! The first person who can tell me how to fix this problem...that actually results in me being able to fix it...will win a free download of one of my books, whichever one the winner chooses. You can read about my books at www.elizabethdelisi.com.

Sure hope someone comes up with an answer! Thanks!

Liz

Christmas Presents Finished--Well, Some, Anyway

I confess, I only got about half of my knitted Christmas gifts finished--a shawl with pockets for my mom (from Vogue Knitting on the Go: Shawls), socks for my sister (Sox on 2 Stix) and mittens for my sister's husband (Manly Mitts). I knitted as fast as I could, I swear! But there was just too much other "stuff" to do.

I'm still working on a shrug for my younger daughter, a shrug for my older daughter (both of them are the Aran Weight Top-Down Shrug, though in different colors of course!), and fingerless gloves for my older daughter's husband (Men's Fingerless Gloves). Oh, and I promised my husband something--anything--he can choose. I feel like I need to make him something as well, so he's not the only one without something hand-knitted by moi. :-)

So, did you get all your holiday knitting done? What did you make and how was it received? Can't wait to hear! And what's next on your needles?

Happy New Year and Merry Knitting!

Liz

Quick Post

Just a quick post to say, I finally found a picture of the coat I'm going to make. Look here at the coat in the middle of the first row, off white and called "Long Coat." That's it! Only...mine will be purple. Hey, I'm not a white kinda gal. ;-) So how do you like it?

Liz

Yes, I *Am* Still Alive And Knitting

But I'll bet you all thought I had disappeared. :-) The past four weeks have been a whirlwind with four trips out of state. I've spent more time packing and unpacking than anything else! The only good point about all this travelling is, more time to knit.

So, I finished the socks for my mom and gave them to her for her birthday (my first out of state trip). She loves them and is showing them off to everyone. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of them...because I finished them at midnight the night before her birthday. Deadlines can be so inspirational!

I've done about a foot on my Trellis Shawl and I love it. Not just the pattern itself, but the yarn is so soft...I spend a lot of my knitting time fondling it. ;-) It's done in Classic Elite Premier yarn, which is a combination of Pima and Tencel. Does anyone know how it holds up to washing and drying? I hope it stays soft and lovely.

I've begun working on the Wave Knitting Bag (you can see it here: http://saboardman.tripod.com/id15.html) but my local yarn store didn't have five coordinating shades of any color...the closest we could get was four. So instead I'm making it in five jewel tones, which I think will be lovely when felted.

And...my big project I'm about to start is the Pierrot Long Coat from the Fall 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting. It's a swing coat type of pattern, with extra-wide sleeves with big cuffs, and a seed stitch pattern done in super bulky yarn. I've ordered the yarn through my LYS and am waiting anxiously for it to come in. Has anyone made this pattern, and if so, do you have any hints or tips for me?

Anyway, that's what I'm working on now! I'll try to post a little more frequently from now on, and maybe next time with pictures...

Knitting, And Knitters, In Public

Here's a recent picture of me with Amy S., a fellow knitter who was visiting the U.S. from Israel. That's a long way to come! So while she was here, besides lots of sightseeing, she visited lots of yarn stores, and lots of knitters she'd met through the Internet, including me. :-)

We had a great time chatting over coffee and Danish at a local coffeeshop, comparing knitting projects and talking about this and that. Also, she picked up a couple of my books, and I was delighted to autograph them for her. I met her husband and adorable daughters, who are so lucky to have a mom that knits! Especially since knitted clothing and accessories are now all the rage.

I had an interesting "knitting in public" experience the other day. I had to take my son-in-law to the ER (fortunately it turned out to be just a virus and he'll be fine). I had several hours to kill in the waiting room, so I brought out my knitting. I was working on a dishcloth with variegated yarn. Pretty soon an 11 year old boy, whose mom had left him in the waiting room alone for a minute, ventured, "That looks pretty cool."

I said, "It's called knitting. Would you like to come over and I'll show you how it works?"

He came a few feet closer. (And I thought, Good for you Mom, you taught him not to go TOO close to strangers!) I demonstrated how knitting worked, then told him I was making a dishcloth, showed him the pattern as it was emerging on the dishcloth, and the picture on the pattern of the finished item. He said it was "cool" and seemed quite fascinated.

A few minutes later his mom returned, and pretty soon I heard, "See that lady? She's making a dishcloth!"

So I told his Mom, "Yes, we had a knitting lesson over here." She said she thought it looked like a soothing hobby, to which of course I agreed.

So who knows...maybe a young convert?

I'll bet some of you out there have interesting stories of meeting other knitters, or knitting in public. So, fess up and spill them!

Adrift in UFOs

I haven't posted recently because I wanted to finish something before posting again. I don't like to post without photos. But I just have so many irons in the fire right now, nothing is complete.

I've finished one sock of a pair, and the second one is started.

I've finished a potholder and 3/4 of a dish towel, still need to finish the towel and make the dishcloth.

I've done a few more inches on my Eros Glitz shawl.

I've purchased the yarn for another shawl.

I've done a few rows on a sweater.

Oh, and I did a big organizational project. I bought a large 3-ring binder and a bunch of those plastic sleeves. Then found all the patterns I've printed out or purchased over the years (well, many of them anyway) and slipped each one into a sleeve and put into the notebook. I have so much fun now just flipping through it and imagining all the projects I'm going to make! As if I don't have enough going already. ;-)

So, how do you keep your patterns organized? Do you have a filing cabinet...a notebook...just tossed in a trunk? Do you separate them by name, by type of pattern, by size, or something else? I'd love to hear!

Next time I post, I hope to have a photo of a finished object to go along with it.

My First Clapotis Shawl Is Finished

I've finished my first clapotis shawl. Hooray! I think it came out pretty well, all things considered. Here's a picture of it, with our cat Burt looking on and wondering if he dares set foot...er, paw on it. Naturally, he's a smart cat and he recognizes the "just try it!" glint in my eye, so he doesn't touch it.

It was made with Cherry Tree Hill Oceania yarn, and the colorway I believe is called Blueberry Hill. This yarn has a thread of glitter material running through it, which you can't really see on the photo, but it makes it a little dressier and would work for evening. It comes in a 1440-yard hank, which my sister and I split, so I had about 720 yards to work with. Even though that's more yardage than the pattern calls for, by the end of the shawl, I had very little yarn left and the shawl was barely long enough, so I blocked it in order to get a few extra inches of length.

Here's another picture of it, a little closer up, with Burt still posing for the camera:

You still can't see the glitter thread in it, but you can see the colors a little better. They're really gorgeous...I loved the combination.

The glitter thread did tend to get caught or missed sometimes, and the thread is a little fuzzy so it didn't always drop without a lot of help when it was time to drop a stitch. Bottom line: next time if I used something similar, I'd get something without the glitter thread, just to make it a bit easier on myself, but the fuzziness of the yarn I liked enough to make it worth working with again.

I'd love to make another one in a heavier, worsted-weight yarn so it would work for colder weather. This one is great for late spring or summer.

Next project: finishing up a sweater I started last fall. Maybe it will be ready to wear by THIS fall! I'm making the Applegate Shirt by Oat Couture, and you can see a picture of it here:
http://www.oatcouture.com/patternpages/405Applegate.html

I'm using a denim-colored yarn and it's coming out wonderfully. I'll wait to choose the buttons till the sweater is finished. I can't believe it, but I'm actually anxious to finish the pieces so I can seam them! That's thanks to my recent finishing class.

Heading the the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival tomorrow for Mother's Day, with my husband, daughter, grandchildren, and son-in-law. IF the weather is at all reasonable. Today it's pouring rain, with more predicted for tomorrow, and with a cast on my foot and two toddlers tagging along, pouring rain just won't work. Mist I can take...or light rain...so I'll hope for that! Hope you all have a great weekend. What projects are you working on now?

Finishing Class

My latest knitting endeavor was attending a "finishing" class last Sunday afternoon at my LYS. I learned a lot, including three-needle bindoff, mattress stitch, kitchener stitch, short-rowing shoulder shaping, and lots of tips on knitting a project in a more customized fashion. The class was scheduled from 1-4, but actually ran until about 5 with all the material to be covered. It was definitely worth the $30 fee, and I know my finished garments will look better because of it!

I'm getting close to the finish line on my Clapotis shawl and can't wait to see how it looks when finally off the needles. Also, I've signed up with my state chapter of Newborns In Need (www.newbornsinneed.org) to knit hats, sweaters, booties, and blankets for newborns and preemies whose parents can't afford such things. Also, for those who can manage without too many tears, the organization provides handmade burial layettes for those babies who don't make it. :-( Anyway, it feels right to do something to show those parents that someone cares. Now I'm on the hunt for great patterns in newborn and preemie sizes, with minimal seaming (for comfort), no ribbon trim, easy on/easy off, etc. Any suggestions?

What are YOU working on now?

First Multidirectional Project Completed

Hooray! My first multidirectional project, a scarf, is finished, and here's a picture of it. I used the book "Modular Knits" by Iris Schreier, and the "Multidirectional Scarf" pattern from it.

This was made with some VERY old yarn from my stash, from the 70s, called Caron Dazzle Aire. It's been waiting a long time for its perfect project! You can't tell from the picture, but it's fuzzy yarn, like mohair, with a slight sparkle or "dazzle" effect to it.

This was a fun pattern to make, as Iris's technique is very clever. You make the various triangles using short rows instead of cutting the yarn, so it's all made in one piece. I hate working in ends, so it's definitely the right technique for me!

Now I almost hope we have one more snowstorm left before spring and summer, so I can try it out...

My next project, which I'll start as soon as I'm done here (yes, I AM a glutton for punishment) is a clapotis shawl. You can find the pattern here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html . Isn't it gorgeous? My sister and I are working on this project together...both starting today, and we're using the same yarn. We purchased some Cherry Tree Hill Oceania yarn in the 1,440-yard skein (colorway Blueberry Hill, http://www.yarnmarket.com/yarn/Cherry_Tree_Hill_Yarn-Oceania_
Yarn-670.html). We've split the skein and we'll see how it turns out, together!

So, what are you working on lately? Any new, exciting projects? Something summery maybe, with pastel cotton yarn?