tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83986241664160701292012-02-16T23:21:20.049-05:00simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.comBlogger1841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-24631212770521649212009-05-18T12:59:00.004-05:002009-05-18T13:03:01.400-05:00

Greetings from the unseasonably chilly wilds of Florida! Look what I just finished today...Yes! It is a lace shawl. It is HUGE. Many more details are on Ravelry for those who are interested.I feel SUCH a sense of accomplishment about this - it only took about 3 months, instead of the THREE YEARS it took for my previous Lacey Lamb extravaganza (it was a full circle, though). It comes at just the

Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09727436931906397078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-30304512100337020932009-04-01T10:15:00.002-05:002009-04-01T10:16:34.341-05:00

Seanphotomidisweater1Originally uploaded by alaynefreidelHere ya go, Max Darling! Many many thanks to Elizabeth Zimmermann for inspiration and to Sean for the picture.GAUGE: 5 to 1"BODYYou can start straight into garter stitch with the contrasting color (CC), in which case do two ridges of garter stitch and then two rows stockinette CC. OR -- Using provisional CO, CO 210 stitches in CC, join (at

Alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08144216594582217847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-53758061019312361882008-12-25T20:21:00.002-05:002008-12-25T20:26:26.902-05:00

Happy holidays! I love love love the Melanie Falick book Handknit Holidays. I look through it kind of a lot--I just love the photography, the patterns, the styling. Oddly, though, I don't know if I'd knit a single thing from the book until this year. As you know I've been trying to do a lot of stash busting this year, so this pom pom garland was a great stash buster to knit up during one of the

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-43755983756575889852008-12-25T10:30:00.003-05:002008-12-25T10:40:14.141-05:00

After a fit of frustration over my colossal gauge issues with the Sideways Grande Cloche from Boutique Knits I picked up this super easy Noro stripey scarf. Nothing special, nothing challenging--but, that's sort of what I needed during the crazy hectic December anyway. I think it'll end up being a Christmas gift for my brother.I've since re-started that cloche and had to go down 4 needle sizes!

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-68919117114662479952008-12-22T08:15:00.004-05:002008-12-22T08:23:22.183-05:00

Well, I knit at least one big, adult project this year. My mom was at a party in October and commented on her friend's sweater. The friend informed her that it was a handknit sweater and my mom promptly emailed me the pattern with a note that said something like, "Maybe for my birthday or Christmas?" Since I'm always wanting to knit for everyone (but trying to be mindful that not everyone loves a

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-57927397919569610162008-12-14T14:49:00.003-05:002008-12-14T14:55:26.071-05:00

Who would've thought that my cowl mania would've rubbed off on Scott, but it did! Upon request I knit up a cycling cowl for him to wear on his daily commute. It was a simple, improvised pattern.Cast on 100, did 1" of 2X2 ribbing on either side and knit about 15" or so. Scott wore it yesterday during a sunny, but cold cold day and said that it worked well. Now there are two cowl maniacs in our

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-82734732768132831572008-12-08T20:19:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:51:16.362-05:00

This is totally unrelated to knitting, but I thought I'd post since well, it's the holidays after all. I took a buche de noel class at the Cambridge Culinary Institute.When I was growing up, holidays were a truly international affair. My mom's Spanish, Dad's German, had Swedish au pairs, French friends. . . so we adopted many different holiday traditions including the buche de noel (aka yule log)

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-21606572938979030632008-12-02T08:00:00.003-05:002008-12-02T08:04:14.763-05:00

I finally finished the sweater I'm knitting for my Mum for the holidays. Stacie's going to help me out with the (loads!) of seaming and blocking that's required. As soon as it's complete, I'll definitely post pics.In the meantime, I'm continuing my quest to bust stash. This little tea cozy (or, is it cosy?) pattern is from the second "Stitch n' Bitch" book. It actually fits our teapot perfectly

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-34122604707782345822008-11-22T10:18:00.003-05:002008-11-22T10:28:48.552-05:00

Hi all! I went to Chicago for a few days this week. My friend, Don, moved there a year ago and I've been meaning to visit and the time finally came. He had warned me that it was cold, but I thought living in Boston would've prepared me. It didn't! It was in the 20s, but I swear it felt about 20 degrees colder. Bitter bitter cold!I did a lot of sight seeing (Millennium Park, architecture boat tour

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-59272012989185615452008-11-03T10:49:00.010-05:002008-11-03T11:32:14.350-05:00

It really was amazing.In addition to the great conversations with Simone and Brianna on the trip down, I was really lucky to meet and/or hang out with severely awesome peeps, including the folks from Spunky Eclectic, numerous cool Canadians, MickeyO from Hudson Valley Sheep & Wool Co., Sean and Stephen from Sean's Soapbox and Hizknits (respectively) and of course the fabulous family of Mistress

Alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08144216594582217847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-1123283511425590222008-11-01T17:48:00.004-05:002008-11-01T17:59:49.714-05:00

A co-worker of mine had surgery last week and I wanted to knit something comforting. The Simple Yet Effective shawl was on my Rav queue for a while. So, I picked up some Noro Silk Garden Light. When I picked it up I tried to push through to see all the colors. I know that Noro always has a few surprises, but boy was I surprised when these skeins had this bright pink and acid green/yellow colors.

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-75568413215532334492008-10-24T05:34:00.007-05:002008-10-24T06:12:39.996-05:00

So, last weekend Briana, Alayne and I drove out to the lovely Hudson Valley to take in the NY Sheep & Wool festival in Rhinebeck. We met up with Stacie, too. So many sheep, rabbits, goats! I wasn't really sure what to expect in the event, but it really was like a cross between a 4H show and a craft/yarn/wool fair. We arrived just in time for the Ravelry meet up, but I know I didn't really meet

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-1417763831385916722008-08-09T13:36:00.002-05:002008-08-09T13:48:38.292-05:00

There's no good reason at all why this project took so long--I'm embarrassed to say it's been over 3 years since I began this project!--but finally FINALLY this baby sweater is complete! Knitting knit, seams sewn, and ends woven in. Whew!This is a baby sweater from Debbie Bliss's Baby Knits for Beginners. The pattern actually calls for two pockets on the front, but 1) I can't be bothered to knit

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-53242908243604681122008-06-12T07:37:00.005-05:002008-12-11T04:31:24.263-05:00

Whew.TNNA is a LOT of stuff to take in, and they didn't let us take any pictures on the floor. BUT so many fabulous things we bought. Full of inspiration, I came right home and cleaned out my stash in preparation.And people were really cool. I got to rub elbows with the Ravelry folks Jess and Casey, Franklin of Panopticon, Teva Durham, Stephanie the Yarn Harlot, Erin of Imperial Stock Ranch,

Alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08144216594582217847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-66515802947908297452008-06-04T20:37:00.011-05:002008-12-11T04:31:25.131-05:00

Whew. I have been knitting & crocheting away, but somehow it seems to be much easier to post projects on Ravelry. But as I was doing so I noticed that it had been MONTHS since I posted here.So.A few things:1. I think we should reconvene a regular knitting meeting. For I miss seeing you all regularly. Perhaps we could do themes? Like, charted knitting? Or the mysteries of Portuguese knitting? Or,

Alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08144216594582217847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-35410860992838400582008-04-14T07:42:00.002-05:002008-12-11T04:31:25.826-05:00

Long time, no post! Well, I finally started a BSJ and finished it up rather quickly too. What a lovely pattern. I knit it up in some Cascade Fixation that I picked up at the Somerville Library/Ravelry Stash Swap from a couple weeks ago. I'm trying only to knit from my stash this year--it's actually getting increasingly complicated since I have 1-2 balls of lots of things. But BSJ really is rather

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-2008794340426944182008-03-13T13:19:00.004-05:002008-03-13T13:35:16.594-05:00

I just returned from a journey down to Yelapa, Mexico. Yelapa is a little fishing village with no automobiles - it's a 45 minute Water Taxi ride from Puerto Vallarta to get down there, and we stayed at the most lovely Casa Milagros, which is a mere 182 steps up from the village. But the views!The place is all very lovely - there is a waterfall at the edge of the village, and a larger one about

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-19246022114218600992008-03-09T18:19:00.002-05:002008-12-11T04:31:26.016-05:00

Has anyone else noticed the total baby boom going on right now? I swear I have nearly 10 babies to knit for recently. I knit another pair of the Saartje booties to bring to a baby shower next week. While I still love the way these look--I'm beginning to think they're slightly too noodgy. Several seams to sew up, the little button ends, sewing buttons on. . . . then again, these types of

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-23586181749299379242008-02-26T18:49:00.004-05:002008-12-11T04:31:26.228-05:00

I had hoped to finished this cable hat in time for Valentine's Day since I wanted to give it to Scott (what a lovely model!). Sadly, I only completed it a couple days later, but I'm thrilled to report that he really loves it and it looks quite dashing with his brown, pin-striped winter jacket. This is another 3AM Cable Hat but this time without the ribbed rim (like I had done on mine). This was

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-67048812826513262672008-02-23T10:51:00.005-05:002008-12-11T04:31:26.700-05:00

I took yesterday's oh-so-snowy opportunity to finish spinning up January's HelloYarn Club Fiber:(See, with the snow I can get some okay pictures!)This is 4 ounces of Verdant - a lovely Merino/Mohair blend. It was a joy to spin! I split the roving into 8 equal weight thin strips in the hopes of spinning consistently enough to maintain solid colorways when plied. Well, I mostly failed at that,

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-50351648900379054992008-02-21T19:08:00.002-05:002008-02-21T19:12:39.721-05:00

Where o where can I find a pattern for this sweater, from this rather hilarious collection of science fair photos?

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15664875758646649873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-31998819123096894812008-02-21T07:48:00.005-05:002008-12-11T04:31:26.895-05:00

Well it sure has been awhile, no? What have you been up to? Me? Oh, just knitting up The Comfiest Sugary Softest Mittens EVER!These are HelloYarn's Fiddlehead Mittens - I was testing them out in this lovely tweedy colorway, using Rowan Scottish Tweed DK, with a lining of Blue Sky Alpaca Brushed Suri. These things are Hard Core. I believe they may be impermeable to the elements. They are

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-15814879258971469832008-02-09T10:38:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:27.289-05:00

I seem to be copying Max in all her knitting lately. I recently finished these baby booties--from Saartje Knits--with help from Miss Max. For some reason the way the straps were written in the pattern didn't quite "grok" with me. But after a few tries and help with the button hole (learned something new there), I finished them right up. They were knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. They're probably

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-10747316802587885792008-02-08T08:20:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:27.700-05:00

Not that I have anyone to answer but myself, but I am seriously considering breaking my vow to KfS (knit from stash) in 2008 in order to buy a share of MVKnits, the first known fiber CSA. I saw their ad on Ravelry this morning and am quite taken with the idea. One share in the Fall '08 shearing costs US$100 for an as-yet-unknown but for-sure "bountiful" supply of kid mohair and mohair/cormo

Maxnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-63880023787978173212008-02-05T10:12:00.000-05:002008-02-05T10:16:25.205-05:00

Several coworkers have been having babies... so I've been on a bit of a baby binge, making caps & bootees for 3 babies. This is the first set that is totally complete. Squeeee! This is for baby Brooke. It's so lovely to knit these tiny things for precious little ones... especially when I've known the parent for so long. In Brooke's case, I've been working with her dad since... probably 2000 or

Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09727436931906397078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-8197813129601932442008-01-31T08:40:00.000-05:002008-01-31T08:46:10.344-05:00

I have nothing to post at the moment, but I will very shortly! I just wanted to say that the new Interweave has like 10 things I totally want to make/wear. Check it out. I might just have to pick up a copy.Also, I'm on Ravelry now . . . and I'm thrilled! I'm sure the novelty will wear off, but I do feel like the catalog of my projects allows me to see what I want to work on next and what I've

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-48048783108740138802008-01-27T23:52:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:28.213-05:00

There you have it, kids! I cast-on for the HelloYarn/Spunky Eclectic handspun sweater explosion. And then.....I couldn't stop knitting. This stuff is so soft! I'm knitting this up on US3s. I used a provisional cast on so that I could easily knit those live stitches up with row 6 or so of the body, in order to get a nice tidy hem edge - hem edge done with Jamiesons. I switched to the

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-16780240102607571402008-01-26T13:44:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:28.717-05:00

I finally finished spinning up the "Harvest" colorway from Spunky Eclectic, and I am now well on my way to swatching for a simple pullover. This will use the previously spun-up "Bog" colorway from HelloYarn, and for insurance I'm using a bit of Jamieson's Double Knit Shetland that was given to me. Care to take a look?Here they are basking on some of the remaining snow - FINALLY some pictures

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-71540656367540563382008-01-19T12:29:00.000-05:002008-01-19T12:52:51.140-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about knitting, and spinning as well. Reading, researching, investigating. It is January after all - my traditional non-knitting month. I'll think of it as....planning for the future. I've been making lots of lists, and considering what I'd like to accomplish with my stash-busting. All the while making more stash:This is some HelloYarn fiber (not club stuff) in the "

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-33319707776079860152008-01-18T15:23:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:29.185-05:00

So some of you know about my quiet-but-intense predilection for cupcakes... Visiting Billy's every time I go to NYC, for example, and discovering no fewer than THREE cupcake bakeries in Asheville, N.C. when I was passing through there in August. Imagine my chagrin to discover last summer that Austin had ZERO - count 'em - ZERO cupcake bakeries (unless you count grocery stores, which I don't). But

Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09727436931906397078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-31463427158306918852008-01-17T08:41:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:29.716-05:00

...and cut my face off, because that's one of the blogging tropes I most dislike. You know, I'll tell you strangers everything about my intimate life, but I'll call my husband by his first initial and I'll cut my face off, preserving... what? I don't even know. It's like not hearing the concluding notes of a long symphony. You strain to get there, to get to the wrap-up. I don't want to see your

Maxnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-83152708119307320762008-01-14T19:41:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:30.173-05:00

Lately I have been cooking more, and looking at more food blogs and recipe books, and I have noticed something. Cookbook writers and food bloggers will go on. Gluten-free Girl, for example, who has a really excellent recipe for pasta sauce that runs to a whole page, takes a paragraph to say "heat up some oil in a pan." That's just for example; I see a lot of gooey rhapsodic undisciplined length

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-44127916502455262392008-01-12T09:15:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:30.806-05:00

Hello, friends! Here's a very carby new year's greeting for you from Siena, Italy. Yes, that's "happy 2008" written out on a pizza! Scott and I just got back from our honeymoon. It was so wonderful to be away for nearly 2 weeks. 2007--while being a great, eventful year for us (starting a biz, getting married etc.)--was also extremely trying and tiring. So, we really revelled in our time away. We

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-64118495891389037332008-01-11T21:26:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:30.865-05:00

This morning I was inspired to photograph the part of my stash that's here in Austin. It's now up at Ravelry! So please peruse and feel free to offer suggestions for the stash yarn. In the process I unearthed a couple of WIPs that I'm newly inspired to work to completion: this Pi in the Sky Shawl, and a cutey-patootey moss-and-cable baby coat (no intended recipient yet).The process of uploading

Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09727436931906397078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-77212590130639414112008-01-11T10:49:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:31.156-05:00

Remember snow? Sigh. What a strange thing to have a thunderstorm in January.I have been so inspired by all the amazing people in my life (both cyber, physical, and fictional) this season. I am determined to no longer accomodate for fear of rejection, but instead to follow Max's lead and do things because I want to, not just because something or someone is pressuring me to, not least the many

Alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08144216594582217847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-32705697719376882822008-01-10T09:05:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:31.311-05:00

Recently I read a self-help book (well, skimmed—I never really “read” self-help books, I just skim, mentally editing and extracting the gold, which can typically be stated in a single pithy paragraph, and which I ought to think about sharing with the world, really. Wouldn’t you like that? All the world’s most truly helpful self-help, trimmed of all the stupid, transparently fictional examples,

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-15180729786335052442008-01-09T07:30:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:31.321-05:00

While I've picked up a new lace project (Muir), I always enjoy having something mindless on the needles:While I originally had some glittens planned for this wool, I opted instead to cast on for a Baby Surprise Jacket. I've wanted to make one of these for ages - they just look like so much fun! And this yarn is a lot of fun, as well. This is about 264 yards of Superwash Corriedale, in the

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-46857840891196044522008-01-06T22:40:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:31.601-05:00

Back to the wheel I go:This here is my December selection from the HelloYarn Fiber Club. It's 2 oz. of Soy silk/Wool blend, and man-oh-man was it awesome to spin. It wanted to be laceweight, so I let that happen. I decided to keep it as a single-ply, which yielded me about 600 yards. It is ohsofine, and lovely yo touch, and divine to look at. I had been concerned about it not balancing as a

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-32241092790966462872008-01-03T08:20:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:32.455-05:00

Not quite the year in review, but an end-of-year wrap-up, and some thoughts on this coming year. My final finished (sort of - they are both halves of pairs....) objects for 2007 are the awesome Snail Mittens from The Book of Yarn, and the first of the Marie Antoinette socks, part of a slow-going KAL with Miss Max.The Marie Antoinette pattern - well, it's just lovely! the pick-up loopy-bits

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-72308427422843233372007-12-18T09:07:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:32.791-05:00

Hello friends! Perhaps you will recall how I vowed this year to take control of my knitting? Yes, I vowed to take control back from wishful thinking and stupid patterns and blindly following what my gut told me were gauge errors or failures of proofreading or the like. Perhaps you have been wondering, Hey, how is Max doing with that? Is her knitting getting any better, after all those

Maxnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-58443339636430323712007-12-16T11:14:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:33.331-05:00

Well, it's been awhile hasn't it?I've been continuing in my plan to semi-ignore my holiday crafting tasks. Well, sort of.I managed to finally get around to machine-quilting this quilt-top that I have had kicking around for some time now - next, to put on the binding.It's been easier to work on non-thinking projects. I present to you my variation of the "Azure" socks from the Winter Knitty, made

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-54679098512384366522007-12-05T07:42:00.000-05:002007-12-05T08:00:03.976-05:00

Continuing on my path to ignore holiday crafting for others until the last possible minute, I have been foolishly working on.....foot garments. It HAS been cold, and this seems a reasonable way to handle the freeziness of it all. I'm on Sock #2 (of 2, just in case y'all were wondering) in the Helloyarn "Dusk" colorway. The yarn is a joy to work with - super squooshy, such vibrant colors,

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-17715038168756724752007-11-29T08:21:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:33.519-05:00

I continue to avoid any proper holiday crafting. I think I'm a feeling a bit overwhelmed by some other activities that I've been back-burnering for some time now - writing up the Hayride pattern, a button-band reconfiguring for someone, some more foot garments. So for now, I am re-knitting a hat:You may recognize this from awhile ago - a fairly loose-knit hat made with random handspun. Well,

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-52461611127750072292007-11-27T08:19:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:33.563-05:00

I'm trying to kick it into high-gear holiday crafting mode, but I seem to be failing. I continue to knit primarily for myself, or I'm working on non-specific-person crafts, which is fine and good and all, but gives me nothing under the tree. I present to you a little something I am working on, that, um, well...yeah, I think it will speak for itself:That's some Claudia Hand-Painted yarn in the

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-9909676260618465772007-11-20T08:10:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:33.667-05:00

I had grand crafting plans for last evening - well, writing up that pattern - but was sidelined a wee bit in order to replace this:Yeah, that's the Symmons Temptrol® Temperature Control Shower Handle Chrome (Model T-31). Ours broke - it had been on it's way out for awhile. So off to HomeDepot for me to find this. I got no love or help AT ALL at HD, but managed to find the part nonetheless (

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-65952933720630726612007-11-19T07:30:00.000-05:002007-11-19T22:11:43.525-05:00

(There were way too many bad puns that could have gone into the title of this post that I had to just bow out of all of them....)Although I am supposed to be kicking it into high gear holiday making mode, I've been working a fair amount on things I want to make for, well, maybe me, maybe some for others, I'm not too sure. These are definitely not holiday related items.Young Sef has been

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-50511102254854968492007-11-16T23:27:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:33.975-05:00

While Stacie was reverse-engineering the whole of the Anthro catalogue, making 17 quilts for Christmas...and Max was meditating at Mount Madonna Center (so jealous I want to kill something - hence the need for meditation/quiet/peacefulness/etc)...I made some stuff:Anna Hrachovec's amazing Woodins:And Smariek's 3AM Cable Hat:Oh man, I just finished it whilst watching the newest SVU...Stabler got

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17578099899496953339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-14999797142083181222007-11-16T09:38:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:34.338-05:00

Well, there she is, the blocked Moth. Almost dry by the time I got her into this state. I'm going to try spritzing and re-drying, but first I have to soak my spritzer in a bleach solution. (Yeccch.) Then I have to rinserinserinse, hoping not to inadvertently bleach the rug. And then I think I'll call my KAL Moth done!In blocking, I discovered yet another dropped stitch. Oi. Unfortunately, this

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-11566358351057048282007-11-14T08:18:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:34.938-05:00

While Stacie was reverse-engineering the whole of the Anthro catalogue, and making 17 quilts for Christmas, and blocking an amazing piece of lace, and generally Ruling my Universe from Orbit,I was sitting quietly at Mount Madonna Center, a place of deep quiet and beauty overlooking Monterey Bay.I've been there every fall for the past three years for a meditation retreat with Geneen Roth, author

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-30406599612850260352007-11-14T07:46:00.000-05:002007-11-14T08:31:10.225-05:00

I've got some pictures this time around:This is a quilt for my father. I finally got around to finishing it, though not in the way that I had originally planned. See, all those little blocks are his old shirts, and they were supposed to continue out to the edge of the top of the quilt. However, they are a drag to cut and sew, I ran into some sort of size issue and had to trim things back

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-80740484897957368292007-11-13T07:22:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:35.828-05:00

Last week I taught a 5-day Non-Adhesive Bookbinding class. I had 6 students, and we made what seemed like 734658 books! Here are a few:4-Needle Coptic on Boards (2), Historic Longstitch (2), Coptic on Binders Board, Butterfly.It was nice to be teaching again, especially this class - I've been teaching Non-Adhesive Binding for......7 years or so? And it's still plenty of fun. I tend to teach

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-34114467701905716142007-11-06T00:04:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:36.814-05:00

Well! Pictures, as promised. The above is a close-up of one of my TWO completed Socks That Rock, and I have to say that these socks do indeed RAWK. They are pretty rad. I'm not quite sure of why this color (Loch Ness) was one of the very few available when I managed to get to the booth dispensing such yarn (and got a free pattern book!), but I think it is just divine.Also off the needles,

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-65817803795351550632007-11-05T07:54:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:37.166-05:00

I had planned on taking a bazillion pictures of: work on the needles, work finally off of the needles, work blocked. But, alas! I have very little to show. I do, however, have a bit of a teaser:This is the Moth! Completed! blocked! BUT folded up.........It was too dark to get any proper pictures of the Moth IN ACTION ( it is XTREME, recall?) but I will work towards that goal this evening.

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-47692695688008386402007-11-03T13:20:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:37.328-05:00

I decided not to go out thrifting this morning, because we were supposed to have been in the grip of a terrible Nor’easter. (Now it looks as if the Cape and Islands are going to be quite hard hit, which is nothing to be relieved about, but we aren’t seeing much action in Cambridge, though we’re hardly inland.) Anyway, I was home when the postman came, and look what he brought, all the way from

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-91192091973014172972007-11-02T18:15:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:37.626-05:00

This week I was asked for my favorite recipes to be included in a fundraising cookbook. The project organizers, in their solicitation, mentioned that recipes don’t enjoy copyright protection, and that we were free to pass on any we liked, even straight from cookbooks. I thought, “Huh. That sounds a little blithe,” so I checked it out, and it so happens that they weren’t really wrong.According to

Maxnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-23978360223860131422007-10-31T18:55:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:38.903-05:00

The Berkman Center at Harvard is offering an unusual course this semester through the Extension School on Virtual Worlds. We are nearly halfway through, and unlike almost every other academic experience I’ve ever had, this one just keeps getting more and more fun. In the first half of the course we have read Neal Stephenson, Yochai Benkler, Larry Lessig, and Julian Dibbell, created Second Life

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-57489852965059191692007-10-31T06:42:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:39.437-05:00

Here's the glamour shot that yesterday's bobbin is a part of - this is a Country Craftsman wheel that I snagged from craigslist. The wheel itself was crafted in Littleton, Massachusetts - it is a reproduction of a wheel from the 1700s. This particular wheel was only ever used for display purposes, and is in WONDERFUL shape! All I needed was a piece of string!This wheel differs a fair amount

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-29235955901593133382007-10-30T08:00:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:41.095-05:00

Here ya go! A week in six pictures......I was teaching last week. I had a most wonderful Limp Vellum Bookbinding class - 7 students, 3 day class, make great book. I talk about the Red Sox a bunch, and harangue the students. It's great fun! I got a little bit feisty:(photo by R. Craig Fansler)This is an example of the sewing technique we were doing - the Herringbone Stitch. We were creating

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-68206028178847517242007-10-27T12:57:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:41.844-05:00

So I've started my first new project since last winter. I went with Haruha Scarf by Tikru, and a merino wool in an olive colorway. It's not olive green though but more crimsons to browns and black, like a real olive bar (yum!). Sadly while posting this image I realize just how tightly knit my Haruha is. So once I'm done posting I think I'll go frogging and try again 2 needle sizes larger.

MadSumachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395587029306985779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-88622379730933949892007-10-25T20:08:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:42.664-05:00

So now that I'm back working at a Local Yarn Shop, the knitting side of my brain has gone into hyperdrive. I hate to use a cliche, but I am the proverbial kid in the proverbial candy shop. I have been greatly enjoying being surrounded by so much luscious fiber and friendly faces, and as the inspiration is nigh on constant, I've been knittin' up a storm.And so, some updates:Meg Swansen Spiral

Alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08144216594582217847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-53276269564510141832007-10-24T06:24:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:44.296-05:00

Well, what can I say? It was all that and more. After a rainy journey out Friday afternoon, the weather (thankfully!) cleared up for the Rhinebeck Wooly festivities. I was a bit overwhelmed at the actual fair and ended up not taking many pictures while there - but everyone else did. Cruise around online if you need to see fair pics. Instead, I'd like to share this lovely view with you:This

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-80885214699156205542007-10-20T13:07:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:46.179-05:00

Hi friends! I'm back from Barcelona and able now to think about something other than food. Really, while I was there, I thought of little else. Every day I would wake up and think excitedly, What shall I eat today?! Then after breakfast I would start thinking, What can we eat next?!We really did have some amazing food, including an indecently big lunch at one place, Passadis del Pep (no sign, off

Maxnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-14128977578526595142007-10-17T06:55:00.000-05:002007-10-17T07:08:35.335-05:00

A quick post before heading out to Rhinebeck this weekend, and also very few photos.Simone received her lovely cashmere shawl this past weekend - I was loathe to give ti up, it is just so luscious, but, alas. I was rewarded with the pattern, yarn, needles, and measurements to craft a little cover-up for Miss B to wear at/during/after Simone's wedding. It's progressing smoothly, though not much

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-26523846434102460512007-10-08T11:49:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:47.428-05:00

*I mean me.Last week at my local thrift, I found my son a nice bathrobe, needed to replace the childhood Holstein-patterned robe that he's clung to at least a year too long now. This one's a workmanlike L.L.Bean number in red-and-green tartan, possibly historically correct, though I don't know its name. Anyway, like many bathrobes that wind up in the thrifts, this one had been separated from its

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-90668404074271947952007-10-01T12:12:00.000-05:002007-10-01T12:48:13.073-05:00

For whatever odd reason, the nice weather leads me to spinning. I think a large part of it may be that my two (TWO!) fiber clubs arrive days apart, and then I feel the need to catch up. Well, that being said, I'm presenting to you two (TWO!) photos of the same thing:And again:This is my Spunky Eclectic September selection. It is called "Colorado" and it is a merino/tencel blend. I'm

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-13419516852202115152007-10-01T11:45:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:48.344-05:00

1. Movin' to Brooklyn2. Goin' to fairs:Fair season/"autumn" is by far my favorite time of year. Stacie and I (and Max??) are gearing up for Rhinebeck on $13 a piece, which really isn't going to buy us much cheese (the real reason we go). The Topsfield Fair is this weekend--oh crap, it just occurred to me that I will have no money for this, as I certainly shouldn't dive into my $13 Rhinebeck fund.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17578099899496953339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-10385318442222728092007-10-01T07:14:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:48.657-05:00

Welp, I spoke too soon when I said that KnitKnit had nothing in it I needed to make, because I hadn't seen Joelle's gorgeous pullover. And I very much want to make it. I've fallen hard! I've fallen so hard I'm having trouble envisioning other colorways - this just seems so perfect. However, I will not be buying yarn for it. Yet. (See previous post, regarding Items I Am Not in the Market For.)I

Maxnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-17594570944773093922007-09-28T07:21:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:49.472-05:00

Oh dear. I knew my shite photography skills would not capture the quality of this Sundara "marine over willow" laceweight silk, which arrived last night. Her photo is better than mine, but neither really do the colors justice. I opened the box and was, honestly, ravished.(Oh, and, by the way: I got some Sundara! A little miracle!)This Aran silky merino in "pine over gold" fares even worse under

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-18258647534582807992007-09-23T16:08:00.000-05:002007-09-23T16:41:00.758-05:00

So many things to report! Max headed over this past Saturday for some Moth KAL action and knit-aide, and a mini-spinning lesson. I crawled around on the front lawn with my bum in the wind:....blocking Simone's lovely Gothic Leaf Shawl. The neighbors have no idea what to think at this point. The shawl, well, it's just lovely! It blocked out evenly and the cashmere plushed up even more.I was

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-8852997478424696562007-09-20T21:52:00.000-05:002007-09-20T22:28:12.514-05:00

(clockwise from top left: Icarus, Crystalline, Hanami, Gothic Leaf)I present to you four lace shawls. And the drama surrounding 2 of them.In early August, I headed down to The Jers to see family and for a mini-vacation. I had just completed the Icarus Shawl, so I brought that, and I also brought along my First! Ever! Lace! Shawl!, the Crystalline Shawl. On my way back up to Boston, I

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-37262951353320623202007-09-19T10:58:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:49.706-05:00

Just saw this on Daily Candy. $275 for a hand-knit, cashmere scarflette. Another reason to learn to knit!!!!

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-72842628980180406312007-09-16T10:14:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:50.603-05:00

The Moth grows, and grows more slowly now. At the ambitious outset I’d planned to do a daily 8-row repeat; I’m a full week behind now. I just don’t know when I shall be done! It hasn’t lost its charm for me, but I’m back on my academic-year production schedule now, and I'm nursing some tennis-elbow-like injuries. But I must like knitting lace well enough, because I just ordered some wonderful

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-60971863128009260052007-09-10T10:32:00.000-05:002007-09-10T11:02:53.335-05:00

Ah, so much to report! First off, a lovely time knitting this past Saturday, where I worked a bit on Wing O' The Moth with Max before setting mine aside for a wee bit. Simone has asked me to knit a shawl for her for her wedding, so I figured best get started on that.This picture does it absolutely NO justice - the yarn is stunning (Jade Sapphire's Mongolian Cashmere 2-ply) and the pattern (

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-38084207603661417042007-09-09T11:25:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:51.215-05:00

Simone, Stacie, and Alayne braved the heat, the additional lack of air conditioning, and the yet-additional-on-top-of-that fact that I’d had my oven on for rosemary shortbread (fresh-picked rosemary from the herb garden) to come over and roll in some wool today. Those are Simone’s shapely gams at the north; Stacie in the east, Alayne in the south, and there you have my peasant-shaped flippers in

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-11395876327504640992007-09-07T14:37:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:51.334-05:00

Ok. Who's making these for knitting tea tomorrow at Max's?

simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10333468916155319058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-75372056597460433752007-09-07T06:54:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:51.732-05:00

Who on earth is this person? I think her name might be Doris. She has to get by on a little less than she’d like, and it’s hard. She probably has a crush on another soccer mom but can’t admit it to herself. And she spends way too much time fundraising with her alumnae group. Doris should take up a nice hobby like knitting.No wait, that’s me, after painfully growing my hair out long enough to

Maxnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-49443382035179785792007-09-02T17:02:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:52.700-05:00

Stacie and I got together today to jump–start my Moth and progress on hers. This KAL, you may remember, is the most KAL of all KALs, because not only are we knitting the same pattern, but we’re using the same yarn (Hello Yarn Lace Weight wool) in the same green/brown colorway.Dueling Moths, looking deceptively non–competitive as they sun themselves during some of the last beautiful hours of

Maxnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-52033344900381146662007-08-29T08:43:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:53.132-05:00

In the face of so much sad news and hard work to be done, I found a recent spot of brightness in the world I wanted to share.My dearest friend recently celebrated 10 years of being out and proud. This is quite an accomplishment for anyone, but particularly in her case. A bunch of us met at her family's lake house in NH for a weekend of toasting (both marshmallows and wine), sunning, swimming, and

Alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08144216594582217847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-23344445324994181512007-08-27T08:18:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:53.475-05:00

Pattern: February Baby Sweater, Elizabeth ZimmermanYarn: Koigu KPPPM in P620Needles: US 4Gauge: about 7 st per inch over patternSize: (my guess) good for 3–12 monthsNotions: 3 vintage orange glass buttons, bought on honeymoon in ReykjavikThis little pattern was the purest pleasure to knit. The lace repeat is quickly memorized, and the scale is so encouraging you simply can’t put it down. While I

Maxnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-33893917967878687542007-08-20T20:16:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:53.997-05:00

Wellfleet was profoundly refreshing. We walked so much; I knitted a lot and ate a ton of oysters and socialized more than any other holiday ever (an unexpected advantage of vacationing near home—we knew loads of people there). I’ve come back full of ideas and ready to make some changes, especially in the area of work.No progress on Moth, but I’ll show you a nice February baby sweater tomorrow. I

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-89098744049442328502007-08-15T08:53:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:55.013-05:00

Goblin Socks! TWO OF THEM!With a lovely little picot edge.I'm thrilled with how they turned out - I had split the yarn cake into 2 equal weight balls and knit them toe-up until I ran out of yarn. They're super squishy-comfortable. Not too much pooling, but some amazing stripery going on there, no?I was inspired enough by these socks to start up another pair- using my awesome Spunky Eclectic

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-13479869906636961202007-08-12T06:35:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:55.279-05:00

We’re heading off for a week in Wellfleet today, and here’s what I’m bringing to read. It’s the End of the Summer of Self-Improvement (yep, had to drop out of intensive Spanish) and the beginning of Books I’ve Really Been Looking Forward To. (Come to think of it, we’re probably in the middle of that, as my all-day Hallowsthon is what put me irrecoverably behind in Spanish to start with.)The

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-23013368606798961762007-08-10T08:04:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:55.426-05:00

Pattern: Saartje’s Bootees (pdf)Yarn: Koigu KPPPMNeedles: US 1 (2s would have been better)Gauge: between 7.5 and 8 st per inchSize: Newborn; right bootie: 3 5/8" long, left bootie: 3 3/8" (aargh)Notions: 4 vintage pale green cat-eye buttonsSomething spooky happened while knitting these booties: my gauge got tighter from one bootie to the next. Though I’ve always disliked being a loose knitter, I’

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-27681370149050414322007-08-07T07:31:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:55.980-05:00

Hi Stacie! I have a confession to make:Wing o’ the Moth isn’t back on the needles yet. While I probably don’t actually have to wait until I can get bifocals, I just haven’t been compelled to up and cast on for the third time. Not like I was compelled to knit some booties after seeing Adrian’s at the Lazy Redliners SnB. Compelled, I say.Above is my first pair, quickly abandoned when I decided, in

Maxnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-70260079972402142262007-08-05T18:21:00.000-05:002007-08-05T18:25:03.975-05:00

Yes, it’s weird to post a picture of myself wearing my hand-knit bra. But 1. it’s the first FO I’ve chalked up since about February and 2. there is no posting the panties.That is all.

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-63820909186515227512007-08-05T14:48:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:56.635-05:00

Mon Petit Chou, I am done with you! I couldn’t find the suggested 1/8" ribbon so I settled for 3/16", which is a little too wide. Then I couldn’t get the same ribbon in 1/4" for the bra straps, so I think I’m going to swap out the skinny stuff for the fatter, because I like the color better—it’s very Nurse Nancy—even though it will obscure more skin. The fact is, the bottoms are too big and have

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-75589789512770470182007-08-03T07:32:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:31:57.008-05:00

You may recognize the rock formations above as the Flatirons, in Boulder, Colorado. Because I am very, very old and grew up in a simpler, less population-dense time, this is part of the view that I woke up to every morning (although, being a couple miles away, we used to have a truly magnificent panorama of foothills—but the view out my old bedroom window has filled in with now-mature trees).It’s

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-8146610848194740472007-08-01T06:19:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:31:59.902-05:00

And (some of you) said it would never happen.But here we have a second Goblin sock!I cast-on last night and got just a wee bit past the toe. I'm running off on a mini-vacation, and I figured this would be a great opportunity to work through this second sock. I *still* don't understand the fascination/obsession with sock knitting. It's just like knitting sleeves, which I don't really care for

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-57996241982009386492007-07-31T06:48:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:01.224-05:00

I figured the best way for me to learn more about this spinning business would be to sign up for Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club - in which I receive about 4 oz. of hand-dyed fiber a month. It seemed this would be a great way to familiarize myself with different types of fiber, and branch out in the world of color to places I might not usually travel to. Well! I got my first bundle the other day,

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-85292111106804609322007-07-26T07:52:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:01.797-05:00

The Icarus Shawl has been defeated. Well, it's off the needles at least, now I just have to block it. I did not run out of yarn!Once past the first chart, I flew through this puppy.Upon completion of bind-off, I immediately cast-on for Hanami:I'm knitting up Hanami with Lacey Lamb Extrafine lambswool in a Seafoam colorway. This yarn is amazing - it is buttery soft to the touch and has quite a

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-9924077070665185752007-07-23T09:11:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:02.185-05:00

And finally, we have real progress! After slogging through Chart 1 of the Icarus Shawl (and I really, really mean slogging - I realized this weekend that I started this right before my cousin's graduation last June), I flew through Charts 2 & 3, and I am now about one quarter of the way through Chart 4 (the final chart).It seems to be going well enough, though I am living in fear of running out

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-20706781104879658722007-07-22T13:19:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:02.524-05:00

If you’d been at my house this weekend, you would have seen a lot of this:You can guess what the book is: the same one everyone else has been reading this weekend. I won’t say more, except that I picked it up and read without stopping, which is to say, on Friday night Joe and I took the kids to the Harry-Potter-themed dinner at Upstairs on the Square at 5pm, the only reservation we could get, and

Maxnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-697189201765544432007-07-19T06:55:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:02.679-05:00

Very little to report. Or it could be thought of as "more of the same".....The other sock? Yeah, I haven't cast-on for that yet. Oh, but I will! Maybe this weekend. I promise.I've been working a fair amount on the Icarus Shawl, though you wouldn't know to look at it. This shawl is triangular, and knit from the top center down, with 4 increases every other row. So it groooooows. But at a

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-57086581301470816872007-07-16T23:36:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:04.394-05:00

I needed a zipper (more on that later...). The zipper aisle did not disappoint, but the "yarn" department was a different story. It was a landscape of acrylic despair. A post-apocalyptic wasteland of nasty colors and textures. Stacie tried to make the best of it, bless her soul.Someone had fun ironically naming these:This colorway made me throw up a little:On the ride home we saw a

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17578099899496953339noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-11785572826252951752007-07-16T09:32:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:32:05.109-05:00

Well, I managed to complete this:....and I have not yet cast-on for the other one. I plan on tackling that this evening - I am DETERMINED to knit up 2 of these bad boys. I'm still not really understanding the thrill and allure and obsession with the sock-knitting. After completing this one, I was distracted by this:That's the Icarus Shawl from Interweave Knits (Summer 2006). I started this

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-54297511761228873712007-07-15T08:32:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:05.601-05:00

Howdy, howdy, howdy! Here's mon petit chou this morning. I've postponed finishing the bottoms (surprise!) and have started on the bra. That's the right cup nearly done. Unfortunately I forgot one of the eyelets on the left side and I'm waiting to ask Stacie how to fix it before proceeding further. Perhaps she can do for me what she did for Amy's cable shame. Wake up, Stacie!In thrifting news, I

Maxnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-14162910010533658472007-07-14T20:33:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:07.207-05:00

So I haven't been able to knit much lately, mostly due to inexplicable wrist strain (possibly caused by playing too much Katamari Damacy). But I have been collecting small glass animals. The same small glass animals made by Hagen-Renaker that I used to collect when I was a pre-teen. I saw them again when we were in Myrtle Beach--at the same goddamn store I used to buy them from over fifteen years

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17578099899496953339noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-62472043537053808782007-07-13T06:48:00.001-05:002008-12-11T04:32:07.353-05:00

Well, I am definitely making progress:(since yesterday)While I am about to complete this one, and I am also going to be a good girl and immediately casto n for the second one, I *still* do not understand the allure of knitting socks. Is it the yarn? How impressed strangers are when they see you working with so many pointy sticks? For fancier socks, is it the opportunity to try out some new

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-30294458225388698402007-07-12T07:35:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:07.517-05:00

I've finished spinning all of that blue wool - my TdF Yellow Jersey goal is complete! I'm continuing to spin up whatever is in the house; I'm working towards creating a finer yarn, and I really don't know what I'm doing, I'm trying to figure it out as I go along, but I sure am having a good time!Speaking of good times, a wonderful gathering of The Knitters last evening - a farewell to Becky

NJStaciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18005963151877735310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398624166416070129.post-49798473889474185052007-07-09T10:30:00.000-05:002008-12-11T04:32:08.624-05:00

Hi friends! My chou bottoms are coming right along, as you can see. I'm really having fun knitting them - it's like putting together one of the larger LEGO kits. You just follow the directions. Comfort knitting. And let me say: Cascade Fixation is great to work with. I've never used a cotton yarn my hands liked before this - and the elastic means it's nearly impossible to drop a stitch. There's

Maxnoreply@blogger.com3