What now?

What in the world can I post about today? Usually when I pose that question I head away from the computer, but I feel like I don't want more than a week to go by on posting...

So, this week in my knitting universe:

I had a nice time with the Ravelry knitters that are starting to grow in numbers as we meet downtown on Tuesdays.

I started Chrissy Gardiner's second sample sock and am now halfway.

I finished the Brushed Alpaca lace sweater (but I don't think I'm going to post me IN the sweater yet.

I added beads the edge of a scarf I knit two years ago to give it some weight. (first time on that)

I frogged Chrissy Gardiner's second sample sock a coupla times.

I made a swatch for a new sweater in orchid wool, a cardigan.

What I will post is a picture of the wonderful gift of some pink cashmere from my Swedish angel.

Experience Comes with...Experience

I'm now going to go on a mini rant today about an experience that I had related to my spinning. I was at the Western Alpaca Extravaganza and I was doing a spinning demo. I was spinning this colorful alpaca that I've had for the past year or so:

There were people coming by to see what we were doing and I brought a sample of a very different kind of yarn that I've been working on and showed it around. The very experienced spinner to my right say something to the affect of
"Oh, she's a new spinner. That's what someone who's inexperienced spins. I couldn't do that now even if I wanted to."
I explained that it was something quite intended and that it was a lot harder to achieve than it looked and I explained my technique. To which she said
"Oh, that's 'novelty yarn'."
Ya know, I have a lot of patience with people but this really got my goat. I kept my mouth shut. I kept on spinning but then I got home and here I am, venting about something that obviously really bugged me.
What I appreciate about most knitters and spinners is their interest in learning new things, regardless of their skill level.
Not the case with this person, who in other ways was perfectly pleasant, intereacting in a kind and thoughtful way with children who came up to her.
Okay, enough. this is what I was showing her:

I have to loosely card these locks in the right color combinations. Then, as I start spinning, I pull just a certain amount of each color with contrasting noils in to create a tweed color/texture thing going on.

And, on another note, the Alpaca experience was thus:

My Other Obsession

I always love taking a picture of the moss growth on my window sill. I know it will come back next year for about...8 months. But still! I love this stuff. No matter that it's probaly ruining this big building I live in. See, there are many perks to renting. No worries...

It's cold for Spring. The combo of cold wind and pollen is not my favorite. It's that thing about our short term memory issue as humans when it comes to weather. Ughhh! Look at this rain...snow...uh, wind! Yeah. Big suprise (not).

I love weather. In fact it's on the TV as I write this. Always entertaining. Ummm. Unless you live in LA. Then, it's a blurr.

Spinning Spring

I was saving this handpainted roving for one of those times where I wanted to really LOVE what I was spinning. It was so random in it's coloration that I really couldn't predict what would happen, but I tried to be as aware as possible in my blending when it came to spinning. I ended up with 6 skiens...
Oh, and the fiber is from Woolgatherings. She's not been dying roving for a while, but I read on her blog last night that she's going to be selling again at NW Wools in Portland (where I got this in the first place, last year.)

This is who I really am...

And don't tell me it isn't true. I know the truth. I do!

Okay, so the tattoo ended up off my body. It should be under the sleeves and no, it's not a heart with MOM.

Pink

You know I loves me some pink...

My Green

Missed by a power washer, a sign o the green.
Well, I had to pick something unusual because EVERYthing here is green.

See, I'm getting SOMEthing done.

This is a test knitting project for Gardiner Yarn Works. I used Hand Jive Knits yarn and the color is SO Me.

This is just like the gold and green sock but in purple, pink and brown. (I thought I had posted this but I couldn't find it!) I think it's a Trekking yarn called Lifestyles. A heavier weight and faster knit.I love this yarn and it's watercolor look.
Please note, that I did not take picture of the Knitpicks Sock Tutorial project. 7 pairs of socks in various stages of completion on one 40" circ, plus some other partial socks. 3.5 weeks and almost lost my mind....

This is not my soul drifting out the window.

Taking Care

Today I am pretty much focused on two things:
Letting go of my quilting stash (not too hard at this point)
Creating a plan for taking care of a friend who had broken her right arm and wrist (yes, she's a knitter and those are her hands).

It's the last one that's making me feel really emotional. It's not that I'm relating to her situation as a patient, but I think it's reminding of caring for my mother for so many years. When I love someone, knowing that they are going through emotional stress related to things out of all of our control is so hard.

Unlike that situation with my mother, I actually have a crew of friends who are all involved with coordinating efforts.

The one time I had surgery, I was living with and taken care of by a family who I was close to. They were completely there for me and I didn't have to worry about anything. I was able to let go of my control and just let it be. I realize it's not that easy for other people to do the same.

Bottom line, it's not something I can fix, I can just assist as much as I can.

Color for Days

I ordered this in the dark of night and it arrived in the light of day. As are often the choices I make in that situation (especially with online purchases) I have no regrets today.

All of these 4 oz balls of roving are from a great source handpaintedyarn.

I love their yarns and their prices. Each of these was just $6.80. In as much as I purchased some really saturated colors, they also have more subtle colors.

Just wanted to share. Meanwhile I'm working on actual WORK and my test knitting project and my Norwegian sweater design.

For the first time...

...I planned to spin a certain kind of yarn and it actually turned out that way. Right from my mind's eye into a hank of lovliness. You know, that's never happened. I've been happy with my yarn, but my results have always been a bit of a suprise.
The top yarn is from un carded locks of...something...that I got in a trade.
This fiber is a blend of many fibers purchased at OFFF last year from Bellweather. Tweedy, blue, smells great. (love me the sheep smell).

Red

I looked around for the perfect knitting related heart object and it was right here on the desk next to me.
Sending love to all my knitting friends.

A Night at the Opera

She’s powerful. She’s dependable. And she’s smart. She’s the kind of woman you want at your side.
Machiavellian intrigue at its most riveting! With her husband deposed and presumed dead, Rodelinda wins at the high-stakes game of political intrigue by remaining faithful above all else. Fending off those who want the throne and those who want her, she deftly manages to save both her husband and the crown.

I went to the Opera last night.

Wow, what a plot! Confusing? Imagine how it would have been without the sub-titles! I've never been to the opera with subtitles. Maybe that tells you how long it's been since I've been to the opera! Anyhoooo....

There was illness among the singers and someone ended new and upcoming ended up playing the lead but I thought she was just great. Her husband is played by a woman and her husband's friend was played by a man who I swore was a woman (they don't have actual castrati anymore so where is that voice coming from??).

I don't usually write about musical performances, but this was notable enough to say, check it out if you're in Portland. Oh,and the set was minimalist and just beautiful.

Thanks, Paula.

Missy Goes a Froggin'

First off, no one has permission to call me "Missy"----EVER.
But, it was too perfect as a title to pass it up here.

I know knitters who recycle purchased sweaters by frogging them. I never thought it was a particularly nutty idea, I just never found the perfect sweater for that fate. It has to be:
Knit on a loom, not cut and sewn.
Of a really nice yarn that I would want to buy
Hardly ever worn and not FELTED at all
Big enough that there would be enough to knit a sweater out of it for my big self.

Never happened.
And then it did.
A men's sweater in the wrong area of Goodwill. I have come to understand that I should simply scan the sweater quality, running through them all briefly and then check the size. Many a fab sweater was misplaced on the rack and it was the right size for me.
But, check this out: Men's medium, never worn (as far as I could tell) 70% wool, 30% CASHMERE, tweed, sportweight cable, tweed, denim blue....$8.99!!!!!!
I'll let the story unfold in pictures now(Over a period of 36 hours):

The part that's missing in the picture above is the various kitchen utensils that were hanging off each skein at the perfect weight to straighten but not stress the yarn.

Okay, I will say more

You will see them this close once a day. Even though they are in constant competition for my attention and affection, there is this one moment every afternoon, usually when I'm not around that the older one on the left, Brahms, will groom the younger one, Suki.

It often ends in a tussle, I suppose to set the boundries right again, but for that 3 minutes or so, there is connection. It amazes me, this ritual of caretaking, nearly in spite of themselves.

I see my Brahms aging and it makes me panic to think of it. She's 17. You'd never know it, but lately she just sits and looks at me. I don't know quite what she's thinking. Okay, I know, she's a cat. Why the heck should I know what she's thinking? But, generally I do. And, she a little more sensitive to the cool temps this winter.

They've taken to putting their paws on my left leg when I'm spinning and it's so sweet it makes me wanna cry.

Kittens in the Sun

Need I say more?

My Day Was Made

Sharon of Chickenlips gave me this "You Make My Day" award. Here are the official instructions:
"Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

Well, aside from Sharon's smile, her blog makes my day, but she's already been honored by someone else, so here is my list of 10 blogs and the bloggers who write them, in no particular order. This is a nice way to pass along the love.

Oh, are they all knitting? Gee, how'd that happen??

Dharma--- http://dharmarants.blogspot.com/

Wendy--http://www.lanasdelibelula.com/blog/

Larissa--http://larissmix.typepad.com/stitch_marker/

Gary--http://blackthornecraft.vox.com/

Diane--http://dfnojunk.typepad.com/tailfeathers/

Anne--http://knitspot.com/

Nanette--http://knittingincolor.blogspot.com/

Dava--http://www.pea.typepad.com/

Patty--http://fiberlyone.blogspot.com/

Deb--http://www.independentstitch.typepad.com/

Two Cultures, One Sweater

I think this sweater is influenced by Norwegian and a bit of Arctic lace design. It's been calling out to me for a while from my A Gathering of Lace book. As always, I buy yarn and then later, sometimes much later I figure out what will give it life. For a change, I made the perfect choice of sweater AND yarn. The yarn I'm using here is Jaeger Luxury Tweed.

The pattern name is Ljace Kofte. The designer, Joan Shrouder told me yesterday that the name is actually wrong:

"I misspelled "Ljace" - there shouldn't be a "j" in there. I was mimicking the Norwegian word "ljus", thinking it meant the lice patts, but later learned that ljus means "light", not lice. So officially it should be just "lace", I guess."

No harm, no foul. I'm loving working on this! Thanks Joan.

The Start of a Nordic Sweater

This one will be at the bottom of my sweater because it measures something like 10 inches and would be too big for the chest.
This one below is a band that I'll use on the sleeve and perhaps on the shoulder.

Here are my swatches for the sweater, using various yarns from my stash. Based on the amount I have of the really deep green background, I may need to replace it with a different green. Other than that, it looks like I'm good to go for the KAL.