Look what the Post Office drug in...





I received an amazing package from my secret pal last week. I had hinted that I was interested in learning to spin. So what did she send me?

A super glitzy spindle, a book on spinning, and lovely yellow and green merino roving, yum.

I am so happy. I don't know why I never bought myself a spindle before this. I am now trying desperately to draft evenly. Here's the first yarn from my brand new sparkly spindle.

Not very even so far, but you know what, it's actual yarn. I can't describe the pleasure of taking that lumpy mass and knitting up something. Check out the swatch from my first yarn. If you look closely you can see that it's pretty regular at the bottom and bumpy lumpy at the top.

Have you ever noticed that the first time you try something new it goes incredibly smoothly, you think "wow, that's not as hard as I thought", and then you try it the second time and realize you have no idea what you are doing.



I think it went a little better with the beautiful handpainted merino roving. Check out swatch number two.

Not so bad. Sorry I don't have pictures of the yarn to post, but I couldn't wait to start knitting it up as soon as it dried. I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to blow dry yarn, but for your information, it worked just fine.

The Fall 2007 Interweave Knits preview is up. I just have to say, "Wow." It looks to be the best issue I've seen in the last couple of years. I have never seen so many items that I want to knit in a single magazine.



Here are some of my favorites:


Eunny Jang's Tangled Yoke Cardigan









Her attention to detail is incredible. The ribbed neckline hem is the sort of touch that elevates her designs beyond the standard fare.

The Dickinson Pullover by Kathy Zimmerman








It is classic and beautiful. All of those cables will make a fun and challenging knit for anyone who likes traditional elegance.

The Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan








This looks modern, clean, and very flattering.





Kate Gilbert's Cinnabar Pullover






I really like the simplicity of this garment. I think it would look great with a contrasting color at the hem and at the collar. How about a colorwork pattern for the body with a solid contrast at the hems and collar. My mind is churning with possibilities.





The Cobblestone Pullover by Jared Flood.






Jared, otherwise known as Brooklyn Tweed, sure does know his way around garter stitch. He seems to have an unlimited ability to turn that simple stitch into a thing of beauty.





The Mirapoix Bodice by Mary Jane Mucklestone







Yay, another chance to delve into fairisle in a modern way. Very nice.





Bryant's Slipover by Jennifer Lang






Flattering and feminine in a sleek and contemporary way.





What's especially good about this issue is that it has such a variety of patterns. It has 5 cardigans, 7 pullovers, 3 vests, 3 hats, 2 scarves, 2 dresses, one pair of mitts, and 7 socks.


5 of the patterns have cablework (not including the socks), 4 fairisle, 3 lace, and one looks like a slipstitch pattern. There is something for everyone.

In the last week I have broken up at least ten fights, wrangled a wild animal, and repeatedly used that hackneyed phrase "because I said so". In other words I have been babysitting my nieces and nephew.

Of course that means no knitting. But it doesn't mean no knitting disaster stories. A couple of days ago I woke up around 7:30 and groggily made my way to the living room. I could hear more than one television going, but I was expecting it. My sister brings her kids over very early, while I am still asleep. They are supposed to lay down and go back to sleep for a few more hours. In reality they watch every television in the house and get on the computer, while playing Gameboys and listening to music. It's quite soothing.

I entered the room and spied my nephew sitting on the couch watching sitcoms. I was still half asleep, so it took me a while to realize that the small blurry object running circles around the room was my sister's lovable but untrained new puppy. And the jumble of crap lying in the middle of the floor was my unfinished Venezia, several balls of yarn and a big steaming pile of dog poop.

Now remember, I was still half asleep. I was completely incapable of conscious thought. By the time I came to, I found myself screaming, "Get him out of here get him out of here get him out of here!"
I was using a voice down at the bottom of my register that I had never heard before. I sounded as if I were possessed by the devil. My throat hurt for hours afterwards.

My nephew grabbed the puppy and ran out of the room. I felt kind of bad. I didn't say anything inappropriate, but I have never spoken to him in that tone. That's not to say I have never yelled at him. I have, but I have never yelled at anyone like that.

It's true. There was something about seeing this piece of knitting, which I have already invested hours in, looking as if it might be ruined that just brought out roaring lion in me. In that brief moment I screamed as if it were my baby under a car instead of some very colorful string interlaced in a pretty pattern. I guess I am a confirmed knitting addict after all.

Everything turned out fine. My sweater didn't actually have any poop on it. My nephew was convinced that I was a maniac for a couple of hours, during which he was very well behaved. It wore off after a couple of hugs, and it was back to complete and utter chaos.

In other words, all was well in the end.

Because I can.... new FPS pictures





Okay I can't resist posting this really cute picture of my niece wearing the Forest Path Stole.

I think this shows the color better than the previous ones, and look it floats in the wind.

I've just started a series of baby sweaters which will hopefully exhaust all of the machine washable yarn in my stash. Here's the first one in progress.

I started last night. It's Guernsey Frock by Kim Hargreaves from "A Treasury of Rowan Knits."



I just picked it up on remainder. It's a book worth having, especially if you live in the south. Almost all of the patterns are knit with cotton or cotton blend yarns like Rowan Denim, Wool Cotton, or Cotton Glace. There are a lot of drop shoulders, but I am no longer convinced that drop shoulders in themselves are evil. I think it's the combination of drop shoulders and eight to ten inches of ease that's the real nightmare. Anyway check it out.

I think there is some cold barbecue I should be eating right now. I'll be back when the leftovers run out.

The Forest Path Stole... is finished!

Forest Path Stole by Faina Latoutchaia

Measurements: 77"x32"
Yarn: Coulourmart 2/28 Cashmere in Lemongrass (less than a 150 gm cone)
Needles: US #3 (3.25mm) Crystal Palace Bamboo 40 " circulars



Can you believe it? I have finally finished this monsterpiece. I thought I loved it while I was knitting it, but I knew I did when I finished blocking.


It is as light as a cloud. Unfortunately it's raining outside so I can't take the best pictures, but here we go.

Blocking:



I don't know what I would have done without blocking wires. It would have taken three times as long, and I doubt I would have gotten such straight edges.

After blocking on the floor:

It's 32"x77". I'm sure I could have blocked it longer, but not at 4 a.m.

On a table:

I think I will leave it here while I try to find a home for it. I can't quite bear the thought of putting it away. I've got to spend a few weeks just looking at it first.