A good yarn

MIA no more, and other yarn news

nobody@vox.com(avanta7) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:17:08 -0700

I can't believe it's been over a month since I updated this blog. I've been busy. See the pictures?

The bobble stitch sampler top needs assembly and some relatively minor finishing work, like adding the neck and sleeve borders. The Crystal Palace Bamboozle (this color is "Ember Glow") works up nicely and feels good in my hands. It splits like crazy, though. One must pay close attention while knitting to avoid splitty messiness. I haven't made up my mind whether this will go into my closet once it's finished, or whether it will be a gift. We'll see how it fits and then decide.

This is a hoodie in progress, a Christmas present for one of my nephews. Simple stockinette with rolled edges and ribbing made with Rowan's now sadly discontinued Plaid in "Spicy". I love this yarn and am very glad to have acquired multiple skeins in multiple colors before it vanished from the marketplace.

My sister asked for a doily and runner set to go in the guest bedroom in her new house. Other than requesting the color burgundy, she gave me free rein in design. The doily pattern was taken from some stitch sampler book somewhere in the house, and the runner is my own design. The yarn is Patons Brilliant in "Beautiful Burgundy". I love the subtle shimmery effect....

Lastly, this scarf was commissioned by a friend. Other than being asked to "keep it simple", I was given free rein in design, and thus came up with a modified moss stitch with two strands of worsted weight, one strand in dark green (Patons Canadiana), the other in chocolate brown (Plymouth Encore, color #1444). Together they knitted up into a fabulously cushy and substantial reversible fabric. Someone's neck is going to be toasty warm this winter.

My family has been informed they are all getting something knitted or crocheted for Christmas this year. Gotta make use of all that yarn I splurged on!

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Grocery bags!

nobody@vox.com(avanta7) — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:03:45 -0700

A friend sent me a crocheted market bag as a gift some time back. Therefore, you may thank her for the inspiration to make my own. Before receiving said bag, it had never occurred to me that such projects would be a productive (and green!) way to make use of yarn left over from previous projects, or yarn that I inherited that is too awful for human consumption, or yarn purchased for another project that didn't work out and ended up frogged. All that dialogue to preface the following photo:

Market bags.

I have a 3rd bag in progress now, and several others planned. No more plastic grocery bags for us! Spouse said I'm going to end up being called the bag lady of Marysville. So be it.

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Knit one, crochet one

nobody@vox.com(avanta7) — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:57:52 -0700

I've had a book in my hands more often than yarn over the last couple of weeks. It's hard to juggle these two favorite pastimes when I've never been able to enjoy audiobooks. Reading has always been a tactile experience for me: the weight of the book in my hands, the feel of the paper between my fingers, the scent of the glue and binding (especially if the book is leather-bound!), the crisp sound of a turning page...all these lovely sensual experiences vanish with books-on-tape or -CD.

Maybe the tactile sensation of fabric and yarn is the reason I love fiber arts so much. I know I buy fabric and yarn for their feel at least as often as I buy for color, perhaps more so.

At any rate, these are the two projects I have going right now:

Slouch Rib Cardigan by Cathy Payson for Interweave Knits in Paton Shetland Chunky. This is a "back-burner" project for the moment: it's far too warm to wear the finished product right now. More than likely, I'll pick this one up off and on for the next few months, and concentrate on finishing it when it gets closer to autumn.

Crocheted Crop Cardiganby Monica Brown in Lion Brand Microspun. I plan to finish this one fairly soon and add it to my work wardrobe.

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Allie's afghan, complete

nobody@vox.com(avanta7) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:47:19 -0700

Lookie! Isn't it pretty?

Allie's Afghan #6

Now to find her address and ship it out.

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Project progress

nobody@vox.com(avanta7) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:03:34 -0700

My niece's sweater (that's "jumper" to you UK folks) proceeds apace:

Jordan's sweater #3

Considering the sweater is intended for Jordan's autumn birthday and her first year in school (kindergarten, woo hoo!), I probably shouldn't let it take up so much of my time and instead concentrate on the baby afghan. However, the afghan project gets picked up only when my elbow hurts too badly to knit:

Allie's afghan #3

Seven squares to go, and then construction and border. The squares take hardly any time at all, just over an hour if I don't allow myself to get distracted. Maybe I'll focus on this project for the weekend. But then again, maybe not. Other yarn is calling my name....

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