The Reveal

I can finally start posting some pictures of my holiday projects now that most of them have been received.
The first if a Forest Canopy Shawl for Paula in Baby Silk by Elann.

And...socks for Nana in Merino Handspun for her wee little footsies.

Holiday

The cats are resting in front of the heater this Christmas morning and I haven't even had my first cup of tea, but I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve consisted of WAY too much good food at Paula's and a little watching of the Yule Log on PBS and an attempt at knitting. We opted for calling it a night because we were way too full and tired for even that.

All season I have been knitting so much that my hands are pretty tired today. I'll post my work after all the presents have been opened! Since I haven't posted since the 14th, it almost looks like I've been a slacker...but you all know better.

Now on to the first cup of tea and taking photos of some knitting before the last minute wrapping begins....

Testing, Testing...

This lame swatch is something I knit to test how these different yarns would work together in one Nordic sweater. I'm doing a KAL, sponsered by Donna Drachunus and am in the planning stages, trying to use my existing stash. My idea is to go with a Pacific Norwest tree theme instead of a snowflake theme, but we'll see how that does. The thing with designing at the DK gauge is that your motifs have to be simpler because you have less stitches to "express yourself", so to speak. I'm not usually a big planner, but I don't want to spend all this time designing a sweater only to have it not quite work out or not fit or the yarns not work well together. So, here I go on my adventure.

Meanwhile, the focus is on holiday knitting. I just got an email from my brother and I'm horrified to hear that the toes of his socks from last year blew out. They were knit from my dad's handspun. I asked him to send them back to me so that I can re-knit the toes. I'm dying to see what happened there!

Purple-ness Blocking

I have no proper blocking thing set up for larger pieces like this 71"x21" shawl, so I had to do it bit by bit on my ironing board in front of the heater. I used Clover Flower head pins and that worked quite well.

Soon, I'll get a picture of it modeled so you can get the full effect.

Leaves, not Snow

So, this is my answer to why Portland doesn't have hardly any snow equipment. They clearly blew the budget on LEAF equipment. Somehow for the past two years I've missed this ritual, but here it is in color.

(This post is meant for my out of state friends and their interest and edification)

Ladylike Presentation

Nana is here, anticipating the first bite of her Birthday Tart, compliments of Paula.
The Tart, featuring lovely antique lustreware and depression glass that Paula just so happens to have on hand to create the perfect "Ladylike" presentation. Oh, don't forget the Jasmine tea!

But here! Here is the true Paula. Her sentiments on this subject worn on her T.

Gotta love this girl....

SeaWool Socks

After a couple of froggings, these socks are finally done. What I found is that this pattern from the Fleece Artist folks who make this yarn was just fine, but too small. First off, you'll probably say that they look a lot like the Jaywalker Socks. I'm thinking the garter edge top is the difference. But, when you make a fabric like this, it's not terribly flexible. I had to increase needle size and add some stitches to the repeat. Thing is, you can see the "laddering" affect down the center, and between each chevron. That's because they are still pulling and a bit too small.
The color is VERY saturated and this picture doesn't do it justice, but I learned about the importance how the flexibility of your knitted fabric when making socks. (Still something I consider every time I think about fair isle socks after my first experience with them years ago!)

I Give Thanks

I want to thank all of my friends, cyber and local for their support, love and encouragement this past year. Blessings to all.

------Melissa

Another Purple Thing

This Bird's Nest Shawl from Oberle's Folks Shawls is something I've really been working and working on.

Until...I ran out of my own handspun...twice.

Unfortunatly the second time I spun more than the original 8oz, I spun some that was more like worsted weight than sport. So, here I go again. Diligent in my efforts to finish this baby up and block the biggest thing I've ever blocked before. It's 21"x72". Yow!

I know that I'm really going to enjoy wearing it, though. Imperfections and all.

Purple Flame, in the Rain, Not in Spain....

This is some fiber...mohair, polwarth and some shiny stuff that my friend Barb carded up and gave me. It was only when I started spinning it that it's glory called out to me.

Who can say what I choose what to spin on any given day? Right now I only have one bobbin for my wheel, so what I start I sort of have to finish. Other than that, it's pretty much up to my whims. Oh yeah, other than that Bird's Nest Shawl that it simply consuming merino. More on the way tuesday and that back to finishing that.

I suppose what draws me in on any given day is the color I want to be touching. But, as far as knitting goes, nothing is finishing fast enough for me. I feel quite impatient with several projects. I promised I wouldn't start my fair isle sweater until I finished the shawl and a couple of pairs of socks, but that was a crock! I'd say I'm about 3" into it so far and I'm really enjoying the undulating curves. (Picture to come.)

Blue Moon New Stash

Okay, so even though I wasn't interested in buying yarn, but fiber I walked out with this. The Kid Mo on the right is to go with two more skeins I have here in my current stash. Of course they're different dye lots, but I'll blend them every other row and it'll be fine. Fun was had by all, but for any of you whom have read about this yarn meltdown so to speak was planned for the whole day but nearly sold out in the first half hour.
Yow!

Some Spinning

This above is baby camel and silk

This is Jacob, which is not terribly soft, but I love the color and texture.

Then, we have one of my favorites to spin which is Corriedale. This has a bit more rust in it than shows here.

Rust

This is a multi exposure piece of all the pictures I took today.
I wish that I had painted it.

Tomorrow Gone?

Just one week past my last foliage shot and it looks like the last. The rusty last bits of leaves in the rain.

And still...

the misery continues.
These days, a woman of few words, I'll leave it at that.

Premie Hat Challenge

Bobbie and Duffy put together this Premie Hat Challenge thing and here they are. Each one a different size and color. Kinda cool. And here is our winner, Aimee and her daughter, Emily (a blur at most times..)

I like this one one based on and Elizabeth Zimmerman design because of the colors it really does look like and ice cream cone. Imagine wearing this at the hospital after just being born! Hmmmm. Could go either way because of your early design sense. Or, I suppose it could create an early design sense.

A new level of Greens

Some folks would not see both of these as green, but they really are (to me).

Knitting Through the Pain

A few days ago when I was still quite delirious I started to work on a scarf out of Blue Sky Alpaca/Silk. Beautiful stuff. Out of my luxury stash.

I spent a lot of time frogging until I got the hand of the pattern, but this is where I am now. I do love me those blues and greens....

Thoughts

For those of you sending caring thoughts my way these days, I really appreciate it.
I am still battling this awful set of illnessess and the crazies in my head are not really enjoying the fact that there is no distraction other than sleeping.
I can barely knit. I just keep falling asleep
As...I...am...now.

Trojan Bunny

Okay, first I should say that I am posting this while under the influence of strong painkillers. That said;

When Brahms was a kitten I found this wooden pull toy and just knew that it would appeal to her. It did and she dragged it around for years, making this cute sound with the squeeking wheels. (I eventually got her another real friend, Suki but I think she would have prefered the wooden version).

Now, both kits grown, this is where it sits and looks particularly good in the window I face as I type on my laptop.

Official Folliage Picture

One of the reasons I love this city apartment and I love Portland.

Symetrical Folliage

Strange too. And, it's outside the Smith+Hawken gardening shop.

And now thanks to Gary...

..I have some pictures of Knitcamp West---an intimate group of old and new pals getting together last weekend for some great shopping, knitting and some occasional crass jokes.

Nigel and Roger

Knitters photographing knitters! Duffy, Nigel and Jean

And, here I am knitting all bundled up because I'm always cold. This was at the start of the day at Powells.

Melissa has a heel!


Jean in lovely concentration.

I know what you're thinking...

Yes, I have not followed through on my promise of pictures of OFFF booty.
I tried. The sun was gone, I turned on all the lights and refused to turn on the flash (I hate the flash) and took some pictures. They stink. All but one and here it is. My mini Niddy Noddy:

So Sculptural in this dramatic light...
Now I know why people buy these. It's a must-have for sample skiens in workshops. Hmmm. As if I ever thought I'd go to a spinning workshop.