Christmas Tree 2006

I was eager to get my tree out and up this year. Not sure why, but glad I did. I was gifted some lovely "femme's dream" shoe ornaments a few years ago and they have really grown on me. 

The Fella Who Taught me to Knit

This is my dad, whittling something with great concentration on his honeymoon. Clearly I am feeling rather...hmmmm....something these days. Yes, he did teach me to knit. 

Fan Request

For those of you have become fans of my elegant Aunt's knitting style (The fashion she wore while knitting), here's her big glamour shot. I realized today as I scanned this that it was taken in Hollywood, CA. 

With Love From Japan

"High Quality Loop Fancy" the label reads. No false advertising here. We really had to ready the labels though for the dye lots and color codes because all the yarn that Nana brought back was difficult to "read" colorwise. Like Noro, they have long color repeats and are wrapped somewhat randomly.

The Magazines that Nana brought back were pretty cool because they relied quite heavily on charts with international symbols. Except for the measurements, one could conceivabley knit from them, not knowing Japanese. On the other hand, the publications mixed knitting and crocheting equally within. The designs were really cute but I would imagine the sizing would make them out of the question for me. Although, I have to say it made me consider doing more crocheting because of the yarn choices they used, etc.

I love it when knitting fanatics travel and come back home to the nest! 

Only Once a Year

They fight (over me) constantly.
They pretend they hate each other.
Then this.
It must be a secret love... 

Yarn for Breakfast Again??

Oh, okay. It'll do. 

The Sun Come Out

In the complexity of life and feelings and the eternal "not knowing" I stopped to take some picture to focus on the moment, yesterday. Hard to do when it's pouring rain, but there was a respite for some time.
These three simple pictures were taken at the threashold of a friend's condo, just as I was stepping into a little knitting get together.
A reminder to take some time to just be. 

Alpaca Begging

I have enough of each of these colors to be made into 4 luscious scarves. They are sitting idle because of projects I MUST complete. Hopefully they will have their turn shortly. (The rest of the stash is snickering...) 

It was Nana's Birthday

And, I made a cake. Spice cake with vanilla frosting and garnished with minced ginger. We ate an awful lot because Gabby's such a great cook, and we did a very little amount of knitting. 

Some Very Not Soft Alpaca

The title says it all. I think I'll spin the rest of this up and then use it in a fairisle handbag or something... 

It Runs in the Family

This is my Aunt Helen. I wish I could see what she's knitting, but it kinda looks like socks....(!) I clearly look less fabulous whilst knitting, but I have clearly gotten the passion from somewhere. Actually, it was my Dad, her brother who taught me, but I believe that all my aunts on that side of the family were knitters.

I just got a second-hand scanner and I'm very excited that I'll be able to share these older images. Alas, I don't have any pictures of myself doing needlework as a child. Hmmm. Wonder how that happened. From age 11 on, my made almost all my own clothes. Ah, yes. Pictures of me in the slightly hideous clothes I made in the 70's! Something to look forward to, people. 

Halloween with the Gang

I think Paula looks just lovely here in her "Poetry in Stitches" sweater. And, to think she didn't know how great she looks in red! Under this sweater she had the loveliest sheer and delicate antique dress that I didn't manage to get a shot of.

As for rest of the group, because of someone (we won't say who) was pulling faces, the pictures are limited.

I love my people...

Post #300

Post 300 on the 30th of October. That's reason enough to post a little today. I am knitting like a maniac, as usual and frogging nearly as much. It seems that a lot of my projects need just too much attention for me at the moment. There are some that are easier and coming along, but I think they would be too boring for me to photograph because they're not showing enough progress. How many things have I done 300 times? I think far less then I would have expected by this time in my life. Okay, so you leave out the obvious ones like eating, sleeping, doing laundry and then it comes down to a very select series of activities. I am very pleased that I've stuck with this process because it's brought some new people in my life and made some other ones stick around. It's also given me a really fine diary of something that means a great deal to me, my love of fiber. Happy 300th, everyone!

Tam

This is the Sunflower Tam from Norah Gaughn's Knitting Nature.

The design is based on the phyllotaxis plant pattern, like the pine cone.
I doubled some Cascade Lana D'oro and ended up with a hat that will most likely protect me from ANY of the wet elements here in the North West. I have to say that the yarn I needed was a little lighter, as she called for Lopi. I don't like the itchiness of Lopi so I used the Alpaca/Wool blend. But doubling it actually stressed my hands quite a bit to knit. I used a button instead of the loopy thing at the top.

I actually like it and will probaly make another for a gift! 

Leaf Progression

...two days later, same spot.

Another Color Change

I am getting some knitting done, but because I'm working on larger projects, photos do not truly show the progress. My sore hands and wrists do!

The question right now is when do I go though the big hassle job of changing out my seasonal clothes. I might not even care that much this year if it weren't for all my knitted sweaters in storage. I think all of my formal business wear is staying packed up, with the exeption of the black suits. Portland just isn't that kind of place and I don't want to try them on to see the obvious, which is that they don't fit me right now...

I think I need to start with doing the laundry first! UGHHHH. 

Rainy Bus Stop

Since it rains for many months of the year in Portland, downtown they've done quite a nice job in bus shelter design. This sunday morning, cold and wet, I looked up and saw this design being pounded by the rain and saw it differently this time. Something about ribbing evolving into cables at the bottom of a sweater... 

Simply Leafy

 

Horse Hitch Still Life

 

Gary in One of His Wonderful Caps