Simple 1X1 Rib Scarf

Here I'm using a handpainted silk and wool brown yarn and an alpaca heathered yarn create a blue brown colorway my friend Riis requested. (He's already see it, so I can post it now.) Now I just have to finish it! 

Basic Rib Socks

I've been using these socks as "demos" while teaching and just decided to finish them. I had this great merino lying around and realized it was superwash! 

Midwest Moonlight Scarf

 

Japanese Yarn Shawl

 

To Knit Gifts or to Just Knit

I find myself tired of having to work on any one particular project after those last socks. Right now I just want to play with the yarn that strikes my fancy. Those socks were TAN! Ughhhhh. Tan. I like earthtones, but not tan. Today I'm making a shawl from the Japanese yarn and just loving the little metalic glitter going on. It's not about counting or numbers or anything that resembles the rest of my life. Yahhhhhhhh!

Thought for the Day:

You are free to do whatever you like.
You need only face the consequences.

Tweed Hat

This is from Knitters Fall 2006. I used a strand each of Rowen Tweed and a silk cashmere fingering weight to get to the right gauge. It came out rather smaller than I expected, but not smaller than they said. I just don't have a clear idea of head sizes I guess! It was fun to knit, but hard on the hands. Bulky yarn doing tight and scrunchy things. That's the only way I can describe it. 

Labels are Fine

And finally, I actually use one of my labels...

Silk/Alpaca Cap

With my usual model of a lamp here, I give you a greatly altered cap. I mean, altered from the orginal pattern. It was supposed to be all these traveling cables but I just couldn't get it to work past the first rows. So, I went and redesigned this into something I COULD knit. The yarn was just lovely and perfect for this. I used KnitPicks Elegance. As I am now want to do with all my knitted hats, I used elastic thread on the inside bottom rows for better grip on the head. 

The Adventure Ends

My first foray into being a sample knitter. More of an explanation to come... 

The Big Sock Adventure

Almost done with the first s.ock 

Sad Note

This was the blanket that a bunch of us around the world made last year for our friend in knitting, Charles. He was quite ill and we were hoping that he would do better with his illness than he did. We found out today that Charles passed away.

Sigh... 

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...