Just a quick shot of Venezia...





I am making great progress. I have to say that so far this is the most enjoyable knitting experience I've ever had. Knitting fair isle two handed is also much less tiring. When I knit for a long time I tend to get soreness in my left hand, even though that hand just stays still (maybe because that hand stays still). That has not been a problem at all. I think having both hands equally engaged keeps them from tensing up.

I can't wait to experiment with more of KnitPicks new heathered Palette. I'm thinking fair isle hats and gloves, by the boatload. I'm letting everyone who knows me know now, that is what you are getting for Christmas, whether you like it or not.


I am definitely knitting this this fall (check out pictures 2 and 3)

The first time I saw this sweater on Eunny Jang's blog I was bowled over, but that shot is even more incredible. I love the colors, the fit, the neckline. I am going to save up so that I can splurge for the required yarn. If there ever was a sweater worth $150, this is it.

I have got to make myself take a break from the sweater so I can finish the border of the Forest Path Stole, but it is very, very hard to tear myself away.

So I cast on for Venezia. It's a lot of fun. I am just loving this combination of yarn, pattern and needles. I recreated the charts in a larger, more readable form so following them has been a breeze. Here's my progress so far.

Anyone who has been afraid of fair isle please just jump in. This is my first fair isle done in the traditional fingering gauge. It's both faster and easier than I thought it would be. The pattern is interesting enough that it makes up for the relatively slow progress.

If you are knitting Venezia do watch out. I quickly read through the instructions and started knitting. I knew I would have to decrease, but it didn't occur to me to check until I had knit eleven rows. I was supposed to start decreasing after 2 rows. Oh well, I guess my sweater is just going to be an inch and a half longer than the original.

At Last....

I have returned. I was postless because of a short vacation plus a long stretch of severe back pain. What better project is there for someone who can hardly move their arms than the Forest Path Stole. Just Kidding. I have finished all 23 tiers. I am currently working on the border.

Reading the directions for the border I thought it would be very tedious, but it knits up rather fast.

Guess what I got in the mail a couple of days ago.

All of the yarn and needles for Eunny Jang's Venezia Pullover from Interweave Knits Winter 2006. Yes, I know I made a pledge to knit no sweaters in 2007, but Knitpicks Palette comes in great new heathered colors that are just perfect for this project. A large fair isle sweater for $30. How could I resist.

These are my first Knitpicks needles and I am in love. I got the classic circulars, so I still don't know how good the Options are, but if they anywhere as nice as these I may have to buy a set.
The points are perfect and not nearly as sharp as I had heard. I once stabbed myself in the arm with no.5 Susan Bates needles as I sat down while holding them in a bag points up. I just don't think the Knitpicks needles would draw blood.

I have already swatched.

Sand = Cream
Mooskit /White = Tan
Mooskit = Twig
Yellow Ochre - Golden Heather
Pine Forest = Navy (there is no really dark green in Palette)
Peacock = Marine Heather
Rosemary = Rainforest Heather
Turf = Tidepool Heather
Old Gold = Brindle Heather

Pretty good, eh? The Brindle is a little dark, but I like it.

I would show you my progress, but I have had to frog the hem, because of five additional stitches that snuck in even though I counted twice and used stitch markers. It's really hard not to make a mistake when you are casting on 324 stitches. I'll post a picture of the finished hem soon. I promise it be another month until I post again.

Belated Mother's Day



I finished it at last. It was only five days late. I think this shows it was worth it.

That's my mom wearing the Short Sleeved Lace Cardigan from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2007. I enjoyed knitting this pattern so much. It is extremely simple. I think it would be a perfect first lace project for someone. The slanting eyelet pattern is very easy to memorize, or even better, it is so easy to read the knitting that you don't have to memorize the pattern at all.

I love the eyelet ribbing detail. You don''t even have to knit buttonholes. The eyelets are used instead. I haven't added the buttons yet, and I don't know that I will. My mother seems to prefer to wear it open.

I just realized that this is my first FO in three months. I've been knitting almost everyday, but I haven't been making much progress on my WIPs. I have to remember to keep adding small projects to my to do list. The satisfaction of actually completing something reenergizes me and helps me focus on the bigger things, like the sadly neglected Forest Path Stole.

I picked up my FPS last night for the first time in a month. I'm going to try to knit a little of it every day. I do want to finish it. It is just so hard to be disciplined when there are so many other crafty distractions.

All hail the return of Cotton Ease. I humbly bow to her graces. Until last week I really never understood what the fuss was about. Sure I noticed the online uproar when it was discontinued, but it never occurred to me that a Lion Brand yarn could be all that great.


I have purchased and used wool ease in the past. When I first started knitting, I decided to knit my nieces and nephew scarves. The only thing I could stand at the local Michaels was the Wool Ease. I didn't really like the colors or the feel, but I thought, "At least it's machine washable". I knit all of the scarves, but I didn't enjoy one minute of it. I just can't stand how plastic the stuff feels. I've also knit with Homespun (arghhh!) and the suede one (ho-hum). I have to say that I don't generally have a positive view of the yarns at all.



But then last week I noticed Cotton Ease at Michaels. I had been looking for an inexpensive machine washable yarn to sub for a summer top pattern. At first I was just going to but a couple of balls to check it out. When I picked up and felt it, I could resist. I bought ten balls, 4 in a light blue and 6 in violet.

After a Mother's Day knitting fiasco which I will relate later, I needed to whip up a quick replacement gift and I remembered this pattern from the latest Vogue Knitting.








The pattern calls for Lion Brand Organic Cotton which is the same gauge as Cotton Ease. Boy does this pattern show this yarn to it best effect. Cotton Ease knits like a dream. It shows of textural knitting beautifully. Here are a couple of close ups:

The eyelet pattern is just gorgeous:








It is also incredibly light. Cotton is much heavier than wool, but the added acrylic makes this blend (208 yards to 100 grams) exact the standard weight of wool. This means you can add all of the cables, texture, and bobbles that you want, without creating a garment it takes a forklift to pick up. I have wanted to knit a cotton blanket for a long time, but I hadn't yet found a good inexpensive sturdy light weight yarn for the job. This is definitely it.


The only negative comment I have about the yarn is the limited and slightly depressing color selection. It is clear that Lion Brand tried to come up with a more sophisticated color palate. I do think the taupe color and the lime are lovely, but this yarns calls out for rich and vibrant colors. Hopefully if the relaunch is successful enough they will expand the colors choices.

I hate your baby..



I started a crazy quilt months ago for the baby of a friend of mine. I thought I had chosen my fabrics well and the piecing method seemed very forgiving. So I had just about finished the top when I realized that I was making the ugliest quilt I had ever seen. It was so bad that I was afraid that if I gave it as a gift it would not signify love and hope and comfort, all of the things a baby quilt should communicate. No, it would say loud and clear: "I hate your baby!"



I'm a good person. I don't hate babies. Okay maybe one or two, but in general no. So I had to come up with a solution. I saw an fabric ad in a quilting magazine that had a lovely quilt draped on a chair. I had to make it. I didn't stop to take pictures until the top was done and I was basting the layers together. Here she is:





My piecing skills are not so good, but I've decided that the wonkiness of my seams can be read as charmingly naive rather than sloppy. I'm rather proud of it right now. My first quilt will say: "I love your baby."

Da-da-da-da, Superlace!...



Fleegle has another interesting post today about what she calls superimposed lace. She gives a lovely example from a Japanese knitting book. I decided to give it a go. I started my swatch with a circular needle and two double points and two strands of contrasting yarn. Anyone who decides to try this should know that each extra pattern repeat will require one more double point or better yet the whole thing should be knitted on two circulars.



It doesn't start out spectacularly.




It is a kind of double knitting.




The reverse stockinette between the motifs is knit with both strands of yarn. Then the number of stitches required to knit the motif are picked up in white on the double point and the stitches in the yellow are placed on the circular. Then the background is purled using the yellow yarn to the end of the motif. The motif is then picked up and the lace pattern is knit with the white yarn . Finally both strands of yarn are used to knit the reverse stockinette.

Whew, is it really worth it? Check this out




I think I love it. I wouldn't want to make a huge garment with lots of pattern repeats, but what a cute baby sweater this could make, or maybe socks. I think you could make a very nice scarf with this technique because the back is very pretty.





I guess I should mention the doily I am currently working on. It's called "Gotthold" and it is in Kunststricken: Grosse und Kleine Decke which you can get here or here.








I am enjoying it a great deal as it is the perfect distraction from the never ending Forest Path Stole.

Goodies Galore



Check out the goodies I've recently received from far and wide.




The issue of Anna on top is the June 1986 edition containing Herbert Niebling's Lyra. It also has a couple of simple and pretty lace scarves and lovely yellow rose needlework designs. I'm definitely loving it.



Next is Pitsilised Koerkirjad the fabulous Estonian lace book I mentioned earlier. This book is even better than I thought it would be. There are almost 300 different stitch patterns inside. It is in Estonian, which looks kind of like Finnish. (I know it's strange but I had a little Finnish obsession when I was 19, which culminated in learning to conjugate one verb 'to divide' and say "Where is the ashtray?") There is a chart symbol translation key available online here. You can't get this fabulous book in the states but it is available from Martina's. Beware of the shipping, it is very expensive, but if you stock up on Addi Turbo's which she has at shockingly low prices, it's totally worth it.



Last, but certainly not least is Kunstricken: Grosse un kleine Decken. This little booklet has thirty doilies and tablecloths, several designed by Herbert Niebling. It comes with great big clear charts. The only possible negative is that the crocheted bindoffs are not charted and as far as I can tell not described in the limited German written instructions.



Knitting lately has not been going well. I whipped up this nifty swatch for Eunny Jang's Print of the Wave Shawl.




I used the same yarn and shade Eunny used for hers. I've never done that before and it was kind of an accident. It is Merino Oro from Ornaghi Filati. This yarn has been calling out to me every time I go to my LYS, Yarns2Ewe, but I'd never seen this color before. It just bowled me over. You can't begin to appreciate it's loveliness from a picture.

Well knitting the swatch was a breeze. I used the only size 0s I had at the time which were bamboo double points I usually knit socks with. I finally cast on for the shawl a couple of nights ago, and it was a total disaster. I have never had to frog a lace pattern four times during the first pattern repeat. I don't even think knitting my very first project was as frustrating. I dropped stitches, my stitch count was all over the place, totally dismal. I finally realized that dark yarn on size 0 Addi Turbos, requires a lot more light.



I know it's not the needles, because last night I gave up and cast on for one of the doilies with the same needles and things are just fine. If the needles were too slippery, size 20 cotton would have been hard to knit with, but it gripped just fine. I didn't add a lamp or anything, but the yarn is pure white so no problem. I guess I should get one of those fancy natural light lamps you see advertised in craft catalogues, but they are so expensive.



Well, fortunately days are getting longer so I may be able to make some progress on the Print of the Wave in the next few months. As for the never ending Forest Path Stole, I guess I should just admit that it is on hiatus. I finished the fourteenth tier about a week and a half ago and I haven't picked up since. I refuse to put it away, because out of sight really is out of mind. I find that if I put a project I'm stuck on away it never gets finished.

I really do think I just need a break. I worked on it and only it for several weeks and I don't think that was a good idea. I usually work on several projects at the same time. I think I over did it and I need to get re-energized with some new projects.

The Forest Path Stole had a lovely picnic in the backyard...






I thought it would help her feel a little less neglected. I haven't been knitting much at all lately. I've managed to finish the 12th tier, but I haven't touched it for a week. I have been thinking about knitting though. I tend to go through these periods of obsessing about new projects... what yarn to buy, which books to order or borrow. For some reason, all of the actual knitting just stops cold.

So what's the problem? Well by the time the books are available at the library and the yarn has come in, I'll just be getting back into the swing of things. So now I'll be distracted by all the new yumminess, and next thing you know I'll need the needles I'm using for my current WIPs for the new WIPS. This is how you end up with a huge pile of unfinished objects mouldering in the back of the closet.

I would make a public vow to finish what I start and get a little more disciplined, but that's just not going to happen. So in light of my current frame of mind, here is my ridiculously overthought, terribly underplanned, and totally preposterous list of future projects:

1. Niebling's Lyra.






Okay, what you should be thinking is: "Girl, you haven't even finished those simple little doilies you started months ago. Who you think you're fooling?" Well, you are absolutely right, but I know that I am far more likely to complete tedious finishing if it's on a complicated project that I have invested hundreds of hours on. Those other doilies were just practice. And besides fooling myself is fun.

2. A fairisle scarf based on Eunny Jang's Venezia pullover from Interweave Knits.






Don't even say it. I know it will likely cost about 50% more than the sweater, and take even longer. I've been lusting after that sweater for a long time, but a) I have sworn off knitting sweaters for myself for the next two years, and b) a gorgeous 12" wide double sided fairisle scarf always fits you and never goes out of style. If I'm going to invest that much money and time in a project I want my niece to be able to wear it in 2050.

3. A masculine yet fashionable cashmere/silk scarf for He Who Will Not Be Named as thanks for all of the wining and dining. I haven't yet decided on a pattern. This one's hard. I need the perfect scarf for a male fashionista, glam, yet subdued. See, I'm starting to have more reasonable expectations.

4. A pair of Jaywalkers in the Cestari sock yarn I picked up a while ago. Oh my, I've gotten almost pedestrian now, but this is a really great pattern. It's just about the only one I've found that works for this yarn that's not just a plain sock.

5. Best Friend Cardigan from Big City Knits by Wen Len Chai.



It would look smashing on a good friend of mine with a not so busty figure. Wow, now I've finally succumbed to huge needles and rope-like yarn.

6. Mary Lynn Patrick's multidirectional lace cardigan from the new Vogue Knitting.




I know I swore off knitting sweaters, but don't worry. Things this far down on the list never get done anyway.

Happy Spring

I recently had a birthday. My very good friend was in town. He was very festive, he even wore his 'Yellow Rose of Texas' shirt in commemoration of the trip.





He who will not be named fed me lavishly for three days and squired me across three or four counties. By the way if you happen to go to Marks on Westheimer get the fois gras appetizer. It rocks! The quail that goes with it is a little overpowered by the bacon, but once again... the fois gras rocks!

This is my attempt to capture the sight of bluebonnets as they begin to explode across Texas highways.




Kinda sorry, I know. But, we weren't about to stop to get a better view.

I did do some knitting. I've now finished 9 tiers of the Forest Path Stole. Even though the ninth tier of the Forest Path Stole doesn't look any different than the fifth tier, I will grace y'all with a picture.




That 'y'all' was in commemoration of he who will not be named.

Color me...



I haven't been knitting much the last couple of days, because I've become overwhelmed by the project of choosing colors for a fair isle pattern. I've read about color theory. I've looked at a lot of examples, but I am forced to admit that I just can't do it without laying out the money for some color cards. I know the color families I want to work with and I thought of just buying seven tones of each color and picking out my nine colors from them in person. But, I can't even tell whether colors are warm or cool from catalogues.

Why have I been so resistant to ordering color cards? Well it's money spent that could be spent on yarn. I know it's illogical, but I have a hard time spending money on knitting related items that aren't yarn. I don't have a full set of needles. Every time I need a needle I don't have, I go to my LYS and pick up a set of needles, but by the time I check out I've put them back and bought yarn instead. That's not cheap, that's irrational.



Here is my progress on the Forest Path Stole:




As you can see I have finished the fourth Tier. I t really is an easy project. The lace patterns are simple and easy to memorize. The only difficulty is the size of the project. I think it can be hard to maintain a commitment to a piece that will take several months to complete. I guess I've completed about one seventh of the project (21 tiers plus the border). I think I might try knitting one using different lace patterns after I finish this one.

I mentioned the quilt I am making for my friend's baby before, but I didn't show any pictures, because it wasn't ready. Well it still isn't done and the baby is a month old. Maybe if I post a picture of a section of the unfinished quilt top I will be inspired to finish it. This is for little Maxine:

I tried to choose bright colors that wouldn't make her mom gag, I even stuck in quite a bit of pink. The over all impression when you stand back is red, but its full of orange and magenta and yellow. This photo captures about one ninth of the top. I've been almost done with the piecing for two months now. I better get on with it.

All Hail Eunny Jang...

and ever may she reign as the new editor of Interweave Knits. I know it's going to be sad to loose her voice in blogland. Oh wait a minute I forgot for a moment that she has supernatural powers. If there is anyone in existence that can edit a major magazine and continue to design and knit spectacular garments and write about them it is she. It is unlikely that she will be able to do it in the current format, but she should be able to expand IK's design sensibilities and encourage them to increase their reach online.

There has been so much media backlash against the embrace of bloggers by the publishing and political worlds. Lots of stories on silly book deals and bloggers gone wild in political campaigns. This elevation of Eunny Jang to the top of the preeminent knitting magazine in the country should serve as a useful corrective.

Eunny Jang did not get this post because of her loyal fan base online, but because this medium allowed her to augment her published work with more in depth examples of her writing, design and technical expertise. It would have taken much longer for a woman in her twenties to convince publishers and the knitting public of her fitness for this position in the past.

Just go look at her blog. Explore the wealth of information on fair isle, lace, ...etc., all written in a clear and professional yet approachable tone. Her design sense is impeccable and I can only imagine that she will be the perfect person to shepherd IK as it moves through what may be a tricky period for the knitting industry. As large numbers of knitters seem to be yearning for more challenging patterns with contemporary styling, Eunny offers a perfect example of a knitter whose designs are connected to traditional techniques and yet utterly modern. I can hardly wait until winter when we will see the first IK develop wholly under her guidance.

Go, Eunny, go!

Knitting with a cloud...





Guess what came in the mail Friday? Why it's a cone of laceweight cashmere from Colourmart.






Isn't it gorgeous? The color is called lemongrass, which perfectly describes the tone. I had been warned that Coulourmart laceweight is considerably smaller than regular laceweight, so I was a little worried. But I shouldn't havebeen. Knitting with this yarn is a breeze. Its as light as a feather and so soft. Even covered in the spinning oil it's like knitting with a cloud.




I got the yarn in the mail Friday night and had to start the Forest Path Stole immediately. I've made some progress and am now just beginning Tier 3. The pattern (though not the most well written pattern I've ever read) is delightful to knit. Entrelac and lace may seem like an intimidating combination, but the actual knitting is really quite simple. It helps to have knitted entrelac previously, in order to understand the too brief instructions. I really like the extra touch of exposing the selvages on the surface of the stole. This highlights the lace patterns beautifully.






My favorite of the lace patterns is the lily of the valley. Why? I just love a nupp! I know purling all of those stitches together can be a chore, but on balance the depth they add to lace is worth it. They aren't really so difficult to make if you as long as you knit the stitches loosely. I'm so in love with the nupp that about ten minutes ago I ordered Pitsilised Koekirjad, a book of Estonian lace patterns, from Martina's Bastel und Hobbykiste. I've seen several nuppful patterns from the book and I just have to have it.

Check out this nuppliness :

This is Divine from the new Ella Rae book 7. I thing it's smashing. Of course, not on me. My chest is way too large for that to look attractive, but I wish I could wear it.


I'm current thinking of whipping up some gloves with a lily of the valley pattern on the back of the hand. I'm thinking very short, cuffless. I don't know when I'll have the time.

Well, I guess I should be knitting.

Oh Doily!



I've been practicing my doily knitting with two patterns from Marianne Kinzel. I definitely enjoy the process of knitting doilies. They are small and can be very intricate, but you don't have to invest a lot of time or money. I will say that knitting in cotton certainly does show off all of your imperfections.


Over the last two days I have tried to knit Azalea and Valentine from First Book of Modern Lace Knitting. Check out the mess I made of the center of Azalea.






Sloppy! I tried to fix it when sewing up the center, but it all looked so bad that I undid it. Now I don't know whether to finish the darn thing anyway. I used larger yarn than the pattern calls for (size 20) on the same size needles and I just don't like the way any of it looks.



Kinzel gives two methods for starting in the round. Cast on and join which I used for Azalea and pick up from crochet chain which I used for Valentine.






See how much better the crochet works for me. I still have to close the center, but the first few rows of knitting are so much neater. I still don't know if I like the doily over all. I have to order some size 60 crochet thread and see what I think. I've started the crochet bind off and it's a bit of a pain. I mucked up the beginning, because around midnight last night I decided to bind off and completely forgot how to double crochet for a little while. I think the first couple are half doubles. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference at the time, but now I know it is going to bug me until I frog back and fix it.

Things are getting lacy...



Look at what came in the mail this week.





That's right, Marianne Kinzel's First and Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting. I've wanted to buy these for quite a while. Now that I have them I don't know what took so long. While I certainly don't want to knit everything in these books, there are at least three tablecloths, one set of curtains, two tea cloths, one shawl and one doily I want to knit. These are very inexpensive books that give you quite a lot of bang for your buck. I still need to invest in a book with more round doilies. I found one at Amazon Germany, but I just don't know if I want to cough up the shipping.



As for knitting, the only thing I've worked on this week is Cookie A.'s Monkey Sock from Knitty. They are a very easy knit. The lace pattern is easy to memorize and a lot of fun. There are very few lace patterns that I like with variegated yarn. I know she designed this pattern especially for variegation and she did a swell job. I used Skacel Step which is a slightly mottled self-striping yarn with aloe and jojoba. I think it looks great. See for yourself:





I'm still waiting for the yarn for the Forest Path Stole to come in. I only ordered it a week and a half ago, but I don't have a lot of patience. The pattern came in yesterday. It has only made me more excited to start.

Hey y'all, I got my camera back. So now I can show you what I've been working on lately. A few days ago I was checking out Brooklyn Tweed's site and I saw this stunner:

Red Light Special Hat


I immediately decided to make one for myself. It's made in KnitPick's Telemark and I just happened to have several balls of Cream in my stash. Even though it was almost midnight, I knew I had to start as soon as possible. So I pulled out the food color and vinegar and produced this.





I'm not sure I made the best color choices, but I was almost out of yellow, so I made do.

Here is my version of the Red Light Special.



I'm not completely happy with the colors, but I do like the pattern, especially the decreases enclosing the band of colorwork on the top.




I don't know if you can tell, but I had to shrink it to size. I knew I was off gauge, but I've knit telemark in fairisle at the suggested gauge and haven't liked the stiffness of the fabric. It was too big in exactly the right ratio for felting to fit. It took about twenty minutes to get the right amount of felting, by hand. I also didn't knit a 3 inch lining as in the pattern. I live in Texas and sportweight stranding is already too warm for most of the winter, so I just did a one inch hem to maintain the lovely edge of Brooklyn Tweed's pattern. I like the pattern a lot and will likely knit it again.



Okay, I just have to share a little sunshine. This is Gianni.




Isn't he gorgeous. He's my sister's new puppy. He's full of boundless puppy energy. I was puppysitting when I took this picture. It took two days to recover. I love looking at puppies, but I really don't have the energy for them. Give me a ten year old dog any day.



I got these rosewood needles for Christmas and put them away. I just took them out and look at what I noticed.




That's about an inch difference in size. I love them anyway, because they were a gift from my brother. But I can't believe whatever shop sold them didn't notice or care.

I'm still desperately waiting for the yarn and pattern for my Forest Path stole. I'm hoping it will come this week. My fingers are itching.

Of socks and stoles...

Wow, I didn't mean to stay away for so long. I haven't done much knitting in the past week, unless you count all of the swatches I've started and frogged (about 10). I have been trying to find the perfect not too girly lace pattern for socks. I think I have finally decided on the Eyelet Check pattern. I would show you all (see I am a Texan), but I forgot to download the pictures from my camera which I believe is currently in the trunk of someones car. It's pretty great. I'm not sure, but it may be a lace pattern you could get some men to wear.

I've also decided to knit the Forest Path Stole from The Alpaca Yarn Co. Check out the loveliness:



It is a lace entrelac rectangular stole. It will be quite a challenge, but I have been wanting to knit for some time now. I have been practicing knitting backwards in preparation. I can do it, but I don't like it. I know it's a hassle to be constantly turning your work in entrelac, but I think I'm probably going to stick with purling.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time deciding on the yarn to use. Trying to pick out yarn online for a specific project can be such a drag. The color you see on your screen is rarely even close to the color of yarn you will receive. When deciding between fibers you have never used before you have to imagine what would this pattern look like in silk or cashmere or merino (I've never knit with lace weight silk or cashmere). I couldn't decide between Zephyr, Colourmart cashmere, silk and Knit Picks Shadow. Ultimately I ordered the Colourmart cashmere. I really wanted a luxurious yarn for the project. I mean, if I am going to spend hundreds of hours on something I want the yarn to be worth all the effort. I've heard so many good things about Colourmart that I just had to try it and at $34 including shipping from England for 2400 yards of lace weight cashmere, how could I go wrong. I chose a color called Lemongrass which appears to be a light gold-green color. I will have a lot more to say about the yarn when I get it in my hands and start knitting up a swatch.

I think I'm in love.
My love is not an obvious beauty. Many would call her homely and a little masculine, but that's what I love about her. I just met her on Saturday in an very unlikly looking, but friendly little yarn shop near my house. I had been looking in the shop for some time before I spotted her, she really kind of blends into the background. But, when I picked her up and took her home she finally revealed her manifold charms. Here she is :





That's right Cestari sock yarn. She's a two ply cotton wool blend with a lovely hearty texture. When knit up she makes me think of evergreens and hiking boots. The yarns is a little bit fluffy and crunchy at the same time. Think Summer Tweed but soft and without the little hard bits. There are some quite coarse looking hairs poking out, but there is no itchiness. I really want to knit a summer sweater with this yarn. Considering that I live in Houston, it would be a fall and most of the winter sweater. The yarn has a really nice drape and knits up very fast on size three needles. I started knitting a pair of socks, but I frogged them after a while. I want these to be perfect house socks (I think sport weight is too bulky for socks to be worn with shoes). I've got to find or design a pattern that isn't overwhelmed by the visual texture of the yarn, yet is still special enough for this yarn. I purchased the yarn for $6.95 for 193 Yds. Not dirt cheap, but not overpriced either.

I decided to knit a simple little baby sweater this week. It's going to have to substitute for the baby quilt I am so behind on . I would post a picture of the quilt, but I would then have to acknowledge the depths of my procrastination. I've been 90 percent finished with the quilt top for a month and a half. I promise to post pictures when I get it together.

This sweater brings up a problem I've noticed with my knitting process. I find that if a project is difficult, I will carefully study the pattern and make necessary changes before I start. With an easy project I jump in without thinking about the incredibly simple things I could do to make it better.

Here is the sweater from Knit It

I don't know if the woven in ends are visible in the picture, but they are in person. I wanted the ends to be secure, so I wove them in using duplicate stitch. Because they are dark and the background colour is white they stand out like a sore thumb. This sweater is just two squares sewn together. I really should have knit it in the round and picked up stitches for the button band, creating a facing for the ends. It wouldn't have been harder, but I didn't think about it until I was faced with all those ends poking through to the right side. I know I could frog it and start over. It only took two days to finish, but as cute as the sweater is it's not that interesting and I don't know If I want to spend the extra time on it. Oh well, I think my rush to find an quick and easy gift has once again shown the benefits of patience and deliberation.

On to better news. Yesterday I finally found the closest LYS. The yarn shop I usually go to is about thirty miles away. I live in Houston, so that is the other side of town. Marie's Yarn Shop is located at 411 S. Friendswood in Friendswood, TX. It is a very cute little shop. The customer service was excellent on my visit and I will definitely be shopping there again. Now the shop does not carry the kinds of yarn that I usually buy. It is largely stocked with acrylics and acrylics blends from Sirdar and Reynolds. But they also carry Lopi and Saucy Sport and Elizabeth Lavold's Hempathy. I noticed several ribbon type novelty yarns, I didn't pay attention to what they were because that's not my thing. I also noticed several skeins of a hand dyed worsted weight wool. I purchased four skeins of Cestari sock yarn, which was a real revelation. Even if you don't like any of the yarns on offer, it the closest place to get good needles on the southeast side of town. I usually run to Michael's when I need inexpensive machine washable yarn for gifts, now I'll go to Marie's instead.

I am very worried about my neighbor kitty. She is always in my yard, even when it is freezing outside. I've brought her inside a couple of times when it sleeted. I am pretty sure she has an owner, because she wouldn't eat the cat food I put out for her when she was looking really skinny. I'm now afraid she is pregnant. It's not that cold in Houston, but it could freeze again and I don't think newborn kitties would make it in freezing weather.

I've tried to find her owner, but no luck. I can't take her in. I'm afraid to take her to the SPCA because she could have an owner, and she's just jacked up enough to get euthanized. I think the tongue sticking out to one side and the constant stream of drool is cute. I'm not sure that she would be appreciated by the masses. I just don't know what to do.



Here is a picture of her at her best.





She's got her tongue tucked in and she looks less like some strange cross-species genetic experiment than she usually does. It's all in the lighting.