I knit two rows this week…….no, I am not sick…..yes, I had plenty of airplane time.  How could this be…

Let’s first say it was an intense week for my real job. A business conference. If you don’t know the drill it goes like this; early morning breakfast meetings, general sessions, breakout sessions, special customer meetings, cocktail hour, dinner meetings, after dinner meetings, sleep for 3 hours then repeat…….Meetings like this for me are exciting, thought-provoking, and exhausting.

To begin with, I selected the wrong choice in carry-on knitting. Black, lace weight, charted lace pattern. What was I thinking!

Going to the conference, I had Mr. Hog the Arm Rest because he had the middle seat guy.  Even when I pulled out the Addi Turbo Lace needles he did not back off.  Then the window seat person closed the shade as did the window seat person in the aisle across from me. Can we say darker than normal on a plane and trying to knit black. Yup you get it. Did it stop me oh no…..just let me do two rows get off pattern and try then for the rest of the trip to back it up and not drop stitches!

Knitting was set aside as the conference began. I did have one early morning with no meetings and bright sunlight in my hotel room. I ticked back those two rows and fixed the pattern, it was a SSK and YO that were out of sync. Now I was ready to go for my airplane ride home!

Conference over…..mad dash to airport. What! flight delayed…..long lines everywhere…..no place to sit. I should be knitting, but chose to get caught up on email knowing I would have airplane time to knit. Emails complete…..time to board plane. Let the knitting begin!!!!

This time no Mr. Seat Hog….everyone left the shades up. Yarn out, chart out, headphones on, music up….let the knitting begin!!!

Nooooooooooooo! Mr. Middle Seat wants to chat with me! Does he not see my headphones…..my knitting! He wants to talk with me about my chart and my knitting.  Just somebody Shoot Me Now.

I failed to mention that while I was at a Business Conference the rest of the world was in the same city at the Google Conference. The plane I was on was filled with geeky boys and girls that were really wired up and excited about….well you know geeky stuff.

So Mr. Middle Seat was a geeky engineer that was fascinated by my knitting chart. And shouting so I could hear him over my music/headphones the “party” began. “I just figured out you are using the chart for what you are doing”  Me well “Duh, yes, it is called knitting….trying to work on this project that requires focus”

Mr. Middle Seat….”What do all the markings mean, why are part of the numbers on one side of the chart and part of the numbers on the other side of the chart…can you talk me thru what it all means?”

Me, ripping off my headphones…..”I will show you one row then I really have to put these back on and FOCUS on this project!”

I will never EVER be this polite again…….I am going to practice sneezing and coughing so I am left alone. The one row took two hours because Mr. Middle Seat was Mr. Man of four hundred questions. The two hours, was the full-time of the flight……Thank God only two hours.

The second row was completed on the rest of my journey home. A short ferry-boat ride. I had just pulled out my knitting when a woman plopped down in the seat next to me with the “Hope you don’t mind if I sit here” Doomed, I thought I was doomed. I told her I did not mind, but was on a difficult knitting row and had to stay focused. She immediately pulled out her bag of knitting…..her bag said it all “Shhhhhhhh, I am knitting!!”

I am finally among my people! Welcome Home!

Help!!!! I fallen into a black hole and can’t get out!

It is spring…..I should be knitting spring colors, but not me, nope. I am knitting everything black, a summer cowl, a black cotton sweater, a lacey black shawl. Black goes with everything…..including more black.

I knew I was doomed when at knit nite I was not at the table but my  knitting was and someone comes in and immediately recognizes my knitting because it is “Black”. That same night, when I tried to buy black yarn….the knit nite group put me in a time out and would not let me buy black……”come on add a little color” they screamed all at the same time! “You look so good in color”

So I am doing my best to crawl out of the black hole…..the black summer weight cowl is finished.

The pattern is Churchmouse’s Mohair Bias Loop, in Debbie Bliss Party Angel.

The black cotton sweater is also finished. It is  from the 2012 Knit.Wear Magazine, the Linen and Lace Cardigan, in Hemp for Knitting #210 Hempton.

The lacey black shawl is still on the needles and will be for awhile. It is a gift for a friend, but is an easy piece to carryon for airplane knitting. The pattern is Churchmouse’s Smocked Lace Wrap in Isagar #1

In the meantime, I listened to my knit nite friends and have jumped forward into project with color…….Carol Sunday’s pattern Clair de Lune in Shibui Knits Linen. The color is Graphite, not black……right.

I said I was crawling out of the Black Hole….

While you all may be thinking I left the knitting world and jumped to basketball……wrong……I have been having my own little March “knitting” madness going on.

I have been knitting mittens, yes, I know in March! I should be finishing my last warm sweater….did not happen, or perhaps planning and starting spring things…..did not happen.  Instead I knit seven pairs of mittens!

Ok, so there was a perfect reason. They were for a fundraiser for Bainbridge Chorale. I sing in the Chorale and last year I knit a beautiful shawl for the fundraiser. This year I was trying to figure out what to knit when one of the Chorale members said “I really love those mittens you have on….I would bid on them at auction”.  I replied “In March?” She replied, “It is still cool in March and April, plus nobody can turn down a chance to buy a pretty had knitted mitt.”

So….you know me by now. I just could not do one pair of mittens. I hatched a plan….a great stash busting plan…..I would knit a “basket of mittens”….One for every day of the week or every occasion.

And so the crazyness began….

Loop de Loop Mittens, the ones that started the madness. This is a Churchmouse Yarns and Teas shop pattern. Knit in Plymouth Yarn Mushishi.

Susie Rogers’ Reading Mitts, free on Ravelry. Knit in Patons Lace Sequin.

Strappy Stella Gloves, free on Ravelry. Knit in Blackstone Tweed

Seeta Fingerless Gloves, free on Ravelry. Knit in Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere

Lace Back Fingerless Gloves. A Churchmouse Yarns and Teas pattern. Knit in Madeline Tosh Sock and beaded.

Welted Fingerless Gloves. A Churchmouse Yarns and Teas pattern. Knit in Mano del Urguguay Silk blend with velvet buttons

And finally Team Spirit, my personal pattern. A flip top mitten knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca, I will be releasing the pattern early fall.

Here is the basket all wrapped and ready for Auction.

Last weekend it snowed. It was the weekend of  the auction. Good news for the bidding on the mittens. This weekend it will be almost 70 degrees here. Bad news for the new owner of the mittens.

Now I am ready to knit….anything BUT Mittens!!!

There was a package waiting for me when I got home from knit nite this week. It was from my BFF and was not expected. I always love surprises. This one was a little book……

Yup, “The Secret Language of Knitters”, a guide to knitter’s code talk. You know those secret words….DPN’s, Frog, Stash…..

I found the definitions to be clear and written with a sense of humor. See her definition of Design Modification

Now I know my BFF thought it was fun and perfect for me, I know she will not hate me when I tell her….by this post….that I going to re-gift it. That’s right, it is the perfect little book for “Himself”.

I am going to park it on his side table in the livingroom. No longer will he have to panic and guess what he should do…..celebrate and smile……or run and pour me a glass of wine…..or leave the room for an hour until I calm down. He can reach over to his little code conversion book. Look up the words I am spewing and quietly exit the building.

So to all my dears ones out there, might I suggest you get this little gift for the someone special in your life. Peace, Love, Harmony….stay out of my way while I Frog this one more time d######it.

Literally……

Can you tell I have been knitting with blue yarn. Have no fear, it washes off easily with a little soap and warm water.

I have been knitting with two shades of blue, two different projects, and two different blue yarns. One is Catskill Merino and the other is Shelter. Both are artisan producers, both US grown and produced yarns, but what a night and day difference between the two!

So let’s take a moment and talk about each.

Catskill Merino is produced from sheep to skein by Eugene Wyatt. This yarn is from his Saxon sheep. Think Italian yarn, soft fine, luxurious.  It is hand dyed with all natural dyes on his farm. So yes, the blue does come off on your hands as you knit, however, it washes off your hands and needles with ease. I also soaked my finished object in cool water and a little SOAK. I rinsed it clear and have had no blue residue on any clothing since blocking and drying.

So what did I knit with this…. a beautiful Cowl! The pattern is called Shimmer in Blue by Veera Välimäki. Think soft almost cashmere style wool wrapped around your neck. Just beautiful!

My other blue is still a work in progress, but has been an interesting comparison of style and finish. It is produced by Brooklyn Tweed, AKA Jared Flood a knit designer, photographer, and yarn producer. http://brooklyntweed.net . His yarn is sourced from Wyoming grown Targhee-Columbia sheep and spun and fleeced dyed in Harrisville, New Hampshire.  Think Irish countryside,  rugged, tweedy yarn. And yes this blue also comes off on your hands and your needles. It seems to take a little more work to scrub off my hands and I my swatch did bleed a little color, but again I think blue is just one of those colors that tends to bleed more than others.

So what am I knitting with this….a sweater. The pattern is called Burr by Veronik Avery. Think a rustic, wind breaker, that you toss on for a cool windy day. Perfect!

I am thrilled that we have American Made choices and these men are doing wonders to bring us beautiful yarn. Each has a unique style: Catskill is soft luxury…..Shelter more rugged. You choose what best fits your projects and you will not go wrong with either.

For me, well……I just came back from NYC where I had the chance to show off my cowl to Eugene and of course purchase a few more skeins of Catskill Merino.  So….. now I have a wee stash of Catskill yarn to dream on……..shhhhhh don’t tell himself.

I had to go into stealth mode for awhile. You know how it is….you have a knitting gift plan…..it appears the schedule will work……then another item or two gets added to the list…….a few parties, dinner parties, that you must cook take up your valuable knitting time and the whole thing goes out of control before you even start the Christmas Cookies!

That’s what happened to me this season. It all seemed fine except that the big gift this year was for himself. Yup the sweater vest in Loft, size 4 needles, and did I mention himself is 6’4″. Now he did know I was knitting him the vest and saw bits of it for awhile, but at some point you just have to do the finishing touches in secret. So the midnight knitting began.

In the middle of the midnight knitting, the rest of the gift knitting, chorale rehearsals, concerts, grandkids choir and band concerts, himself shows me his slippers from last year that have a hole in the bottom. Then says “I’m sure Santa Knitter will bring me a new pair this year” Yup, you already know where this is going……midnight knitting is now extended.

Let’s just say, I survived. Dinners with friends and family were wonderful! Cookies were baked!! All 15 kinds, plus three kinds of candies.

And all gifts finished….

A hoodie sweater for EV, 7 months old

An infinity scarf and fingerless gloves for EV’s mommy

A scarf for Natalie, 12 years old

Slippers for my dear friend Karen

And yes, a beautiful sweater vest for himself

and his slippers

and a little something for me that I whipped up between Christmas and New Year’s…..Marshmallow Fluff, Churchmouse’s Magic Three Yarn Scarf & Wrap

And now I think a little nap……Happy 2013 Everyone!!!

I love mittens and gloves. I love to wear them, I love to make them, I love to give them as gifts. I am always looking for a little something different and fun. I think these ruffled mitts are just that!

The lace peeks out from your coat adding just a touch of fancy to a simple mitten. You decide how fancy you want to be…a single or a double ruffle…….matching or contrasting yarn……a touch of glitter or plain…..

This is a fast knit, a quick gift, and a great way to use up some of your fine lace stash bits “Missy”

The details:

A Women’s Size medium  approx 7″ around your palm

1 skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca and approx 50 yards of Kidsilk Haze or Debbie Bliss Party Angel

Knit on US 4 DPN’s

Pattern is $4.00 US and you can buy now

It has been just crazy in my world. You know the drill, travel, Thanksgiving, cooking, shopping, visiting with friends, work, and yes Knitting all those gifts for everyone on your list. Plus you have to pick and choose what you knit and where so as not to give away the surprise of that perfect knitted gift.

Thursday Nite at my LYS, Churchmouse Yarns and Teas, has become a delight of knitted gifts. Mittens and gloves, wraps and scarfs, sweaters and vests, and cute toys. I would love to show you pictures, but they are all  knitted gifts each for someone very special. Pity the poor soul that would give away that secret.

I have been knitting full speed, working thru all the projects I have on my gift giving list, plus tossing in a few extras here and there because I could not help myself. Please somebody stop me now!

The good news is there are finished items, some I can even share with you.

First up, I completed my Thanksgiving Skirt. The pattern is Lanesplitter. So cute with boots and a warm sweater.

Then I tossed in a couple of extras, because I could not help myself. Our god-daughter has two young children. A baby girl and a toddler boy. I just had to knit them Christmas Hats that they could wear now. So Eve gets a bonnet of Angora and holiday sparkle yarn. The pattern is My Sweetest Friend. It was a fast afternoon knit and just soooooooo cute!

Henry gets a big boy style stocking hat in holiday green. The pattern is a modified version of Churchmouse’s Boyfriend Hat. Again a fast knit and perfect for a little boy with red hair.

I also finished a cowl on a business trip to DC. Sorry can’t share that one as it is one of those special gifts. Am almost ready to pick up stitches for the ribbing on the miles and miles of vest I have been knitting for himself. Think 6′ 4″ tall man, size 4 needles, and loft yarn….Phew.

And in the middle of this I wrote a mitten/fingerless glove pattern for you! It is in tech edit and will be released next week.

So what is left…….fingerless mitts, slippers, Christmas Cookies, Holiday Parties, still need to decorate a house…..maybe a little sleep, and maybe a sweater and scarf for me….because I can’t help myself!

Autumn is in the air. The sun is bright but the air is suddenly cool, in fact, chilly in the mornings. I made this long vest just for those chilly mornings.

It is lightweight, knit in sock yarn. Just warm enough to take the chill off, but not bulky like my winter sweaters. The vest is dressed up just a little with a beautiful curve along the bottom front edge and a large shawl collar that you can fold up around your neck

I have plans to wear it now as my go to for over a t-shirt. But, as the days continue to get cooler, I think it will be great under my all-weather coat for another layer of warmth. Just perfect to chase the chill away.

The details you need to know:

Sizes 32 (34, 38, 42, 46) Intended positive ease of 1 – 3″. Model shown with 2″ positive ease

Yarn 2 (3, 3, 4, 5) skeins Dream in Smooshy in Slippery Trail 400 yds and 40z per skein

Needles US 7 and US 6

Gauge 21 sts and 28 rows = 4″ in Stockinette sitch on US 7 (it is very open for this yarn)

You can buy the pattern thru the Ravelry store here >>  buy now

Enjoy!

So I had a plan, the perfect plan…….I had all my knitting planned thru the end of the year. I needed to get everyone’s gifts finished. You know the endless requests for slippers and scarfs. Then there was a couple of sweaters for me, a Thanksgiving skirt, and a baby gift. All do able, all scheduled, some already on the needles. Just perfect!

Until a beautiful Saturday of shopping. Our little town was having a special event with discounts in all stores including my favorite, Churchmouse Yarns & Teas. And just to make it a little more tempting that same weekend was the Jared Flood trunk show.  Do you hear trouble?

To control my yarn addiction, I decided to take himself with me for a little shopping.

It was a great day to be out walking in town, a few clouds in the sky, no wind, a comfortable temp….so of course he came along. We stopped at many shops along the way. Himself has great patience in my wanderings into the multitudes of women’s clothing stores and very cool shoe stores. To humor him, we always check out the art gallery’s, the book store, and this time Lindsey’s, one of the few stores on the island that actually have men’s clothing.

Himself got into a shopping moment as he found three great shirts!  He also tried on a vest, but it just did not look that great on him. I told him, that I could probably knit one for him that he would like better. O silly me!

Since the mood was happy, I moved along to Churchmouse. Himself rarely walks into the store, but sits out the in the courtyard while I do a little shop. He people watches. I touch yarn. It’s a good thing.

Did I mention there was the Jared Flood trunk show, did I mention the special shopping day discount. I got to try on the sweater “Burr”. It was soooooo cute! So I walked out and showed it to himself. He liked it and said “get it”. And the queue just took it first hit.

Now small town America is delightful. You can walk out of a shop to show off a sweater. You can carry yarn outside to check the color.  I am grabbing yarn and walking outside to himself as he helps me pick the perfect color for my sweater.  I found a beautiful dark blue Shelter. Just perfect!

While a little skein winding is going on, I pull a couple more colors of Loft and see what might match the new shirts himself just got.  Of course, we found this beautiful brown tweed. I go to put it back and himself pipes up “But the yarn is on sale today, you should go ahead and get it.”  Wait did I just here himself say yarn and buy it in the same sentence. Somebody must want a knitted item. Run quick before the buzz of the new shirts wear off.

Back in to buy more yarn and to find a simple vest pattern. Plain, no cables, just stockinette. Did I mention himself is 6’4″? Think miles and miles of stockinette.

Did I mention this is his Christmas gift…….did I mention my perfect plan is now in its third revision…….did I mention I am now behind schedule on my perfect plan……..