Oh No - More Stash!

I was noodling around on the computer a couple of nights ago and my email dinged. Went to read the message and it was a newsletter from Seaport Yarn. I've never been in the local store (they also have one in NYC) but do like to look at their website oce in a while. www.seaportyarn.com They were advertising a new sock yarn made here in Maine so I HAD to go look. Needless to say I am now the owner of three skeins of this gorgeous stuff and am having a hard time keeping myself for going back for more before I knit this up. They are from "Done Roving Farm" www.doneroving.com in Charlotte, Maine. Where is Charlotte you say? I never had heard of it either - it's way Downeast near the lakes and I bet they have lots of room for sheep and other critters!

Left to right we have "Fundy Footsee" 75/25 superwash Wool/Nylon, 434yds, 4 ounces in colorways "Low Tide" and "Wicked Good Lobster". This is a sport weight and says it can be machine dryed though I don't think I will risk it. The last skein is "Frolicking Feet" superwash Merino , 480 yds, 4 ounces , machine washable (doesn't mention machine dry) in the colorway "Navajo Sky". This is a fingering weight yarn. The names of the colorways just make you want to buy some, don't they? Have to support the local economy!

"Drops" Socks

While I wait for another fairisle to call my name I'm passing time with socks (another addiction). This pattern is free on Drops web site and because I have never used their yarns I ordered some for these socks. It's "Karisma", a DK weight that is soooooo very soft and I love using it. It's 100% wool and is superwash. I'm using 3mm Hiya Hiya dps and the 38/40 size which is a perfect fit. The pattern number is U-563. If you decide to download this pattern be aware that there is an error in the M5 chart which they have corrected in their errata tab.

Henry and Me

He's finished! At 9:30 last night the last end was woven in. And he is gorgeous! I love the colors and the style of this sweater. These are the yarns from Virtual Yarn, very soft and rich as befitting a King - not sure I do it justice but it will be worn often. Knit as per the Virtual Yarn pamphlet except for the drop shoulder which was modified to fit me better. I used a 3.25mm circ and got exact gauge. It's a bit large and long on me but I wanted to be able to layer and wanted the extra length for warmth this winter. Henry traveled all over the Northeast with me this Fall while we enjoyed the great colors in the Adirondacks, Lake Champlaine, the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire (where it was 24 deg. and 60mph winds). We had a great ride up the cog railroad, breathtaking Fall scenery - and a Gondola trip up Wildcat too. Wandered around Lake Placid and Saranac Lake in New York and Queechee Gorge in Vermont. This morning I spent some time trying to choose the next project as I can't just sit without something to knit. Will it be the Burrastow Jumper from "Art of FairIsle" or Catriona , an Alice Starmore - or should I pull out the unfinished Peony Sweater? I'm still pondering................

Henry The 8th

The KAL on Ravelry for Alice Starmore's "Henry VIII" is starting next week. I purchased the kit from Virtual Yarn and the yarn is gorgeous. Everything is ready to go, can't wait to get going on this one!

Still Waiting for Book

Well, it's August and the book still has not been released. Now saying August 30 for a release date. I need something to knit that won't take too long to finish in the mean time. Found a vest pattern in Interweave Knits Fall 2008. The "Estes Vest" by Hana Jason. Knit with Brown Sheep Bulky and 10 1/2 needles - this should be a snap. And it was! Finished it last night - all except finding some toggle buttons - The colorway I used is called "Cranberry Swirl" and went down to a size 9 needle. Fits perfectly

and is very heavy. It will be a very warm layer to keep me warm

when the snow flies again. Hooray - the book is here and a KAL will soon be in the plans!

Happy Anniversary

It's August 1st and 50 years ago today Rocky and I were married! How could it be that long ago? We had a lovely surprize family dinner at a local restaurant and came home for coffee and cake. All organized by my sister who was my Maid of Honor.

Waiting For Fair Isle Book

Alice Starmore's "Fair Isle Knitting" re-print is due out soon but I have to keep my fingers busy while waiting. Nothing on the needles since "Hillswick" was finished. It's been a rainy June and July, seems like it rains nearly every day. My back yard is starting to look like a jungle - the gardens love all this water. The book should be here soon so another pair of socks should do the trick. These are from "Favorite Socks" and knit with a merino/mohair yarn from Knit Picks. Very light and easy to knit, though it pills somewhat. It's called Imagination and the colorway is Pixie Dust. Knit on Clover bamboo dp's, size 1.

What's Next?

Here we are in May and I am really sick of making socks - I need a stranded project! Went through my collection of baggies to see if I had one with the complete yarns needed. I had one - Hillswick Lumber - that had been aging for quite awhile. It was ready and so was I. I knit the sweater just as the directions were written and it fits perfectly. I didn't think the olive color was going to work with all the other greens but it did and I really like it. Hillswick is from Ann Feitelson's "The Art of Fair Isle Knitting" and was knit using Jamieson & Smith 2 ply shetland and 2.5 / 2.75 Addis.

Back From Florida

OK, I admit it - I have neglected my blog for a long time but I will try to do better now. We arrived back from the sunny South on the 3rd of April. The snow was GONE and all my crocus (?) were in full bloom and the sun was shining. I managed to knit several pairs of socks while in our lovely rental house. We spent some nice days sitting in the yard. We saw the shuttle take off while standing on Cocoa Beach - what an AWESOME sight! We hated to leave the 80 and 90 degree days, but home calls after awhile. It was good to be back in Maine even if we did have to sit by the fire instead of on the deck.

Off to Florida!

We are heading off to Florida for a month's vacation in the early morning. This morning we woke up to another 10" of heavy, wet snow and no power. I thought I had shoveled my last shovel full of the white stuff but, alas, Mother Nature had other ideas. We went to bed to pouring rain and woke up to a white surprise. Got it cleaned up by noon, took the plow off the truck and put it away til next year (we hope), loaded the car and are ready to bug out tomorrow. Power came back on, thank goodness, as lots of people are still in the dark. I have enough sock yarn with me to keep me busy for 6 months I think but you can never have too much. Yarn shops in Florida are few and far between so needed to be well supplied. We will see how many pairs I finish in between sightseeing and beach combing!

Mitten Mania

After making multiple pairs of mittens as Christmas gifts, I seem to be stuck on them. They are as bad as socks, habit forming! At least I am using up all the orphan skeins of yarn left over from sweaters and getting a head start on next Christmas. Two pair are from a booklet by "Wool You Order" called "A Year of Mittens" - knit with worsted weight - very heavy and warm. The blue and white ones are "January", the red and white ones are "February".

Two pair are from Mary Ann Stephens, red and green pair is her "Chrysanthemum" mitten done in DK. This pattern is available on her web site at http://twostrands.wordpress.com/. The second pair is her "Camellia" mitten done in Dale Baby Ull and is available at http://www.kidsknits.com/. They are great fun to knit.

Making Progress

After finishing my Monhegan sweater, I realized I had an awfully lot of sweaters and probably should make some for someone else. I cornered my sister one day and she sat down with some of my books and picked out this one. It is the "Polperro Gansey" by Cheryl Oberle in the Jamieson's Shetland Knitting book. She wanted it in a dark teal green - which I had just purchased in Jamieson's DK, color Rosemary. I obtained gauge with Addi size 4 & 6 and am now just starting the second sleeve. It's an easy knit and has been enjoyable.

Back From Monhegan

Picture this - gorgeous sunshine, warm, waves crashing on the shore, 17 knitters on the lawn, M&M's to munch on. What more could one wish for? Hurricane Hanna went through during the first night about midnight with 45 knot winds and pouring rain. I slept through it all! The flag pole on the lawn didn't fare too well and was gone when we walked up to the dining hall for breakfast. But the weather cleared and was beautiful and sunny for the rest of the stay. The whole group vows to return next year. Surf from the hurricane was spectacular, and the sunsets were glorious! We shared the Trailing Yew with a group of artists on retreat with an art teacher. They said we were having much more fun! Cousin Jean and I are ready to make our reservations on Jan.2 for next Sept.

Bressay is progressing very nicely, body finished, neckline done and one sleeve half done. It's a very easy knit. One more bag out of the stash closet! Already planning the next in the line - something with cables - either a cardigan in beige and white or a pullover in blue. That is unless something else catches my eye.

Bressay Jumper

She's on the needles and progressing nicely. The Bressay Jumper from Ann Feitelson's "The Art of Fair Isle Knitting". I'm off to a knitting retreat on Monhegan Island, a small island off the coast of Rockland, Maine, and this was to be the project I started there. As usual, I couldn't wait and once cast on could not put it down, but there should be plenty left to knit by Friday. No electricity in the buildings so will be working by headlamp in the evenings - may be more talking and sipping than knitting - and out in the sunshine during the day ( we hope ). Hurricane Hanna can just go the other way! I'm enjoying this knit ( what's not to enjoy?), directions are very easy to follow and it is going to be the perfect size. I'm using J&S Shetland on 2.75 and 3.25mm needles. Have changed the colors from Turquoise/Sand to a beautiful Sky Blue/White and really like it. The ribbing is not really ribbing at all - it's mostly knit with purl stitches in every other row.

Rocky's Winter Vest

This has to be the easiest garment I have ever knitted! It's from Briggs & Little's "Easy Family Knits" and was probably the most boring knit I ever did. But...............it will be perfect for the cold Maine winters. It is a utility vest made just for warmth. It took just one week and 4.5 skeins of Briggs "Anniversary Twist" worsted, knit on size 8 needles. It was supposed to be made in two pieces but I knit it on a circular needle - no seams, all in one piece, no ribbing to pick up for the armholes and neck. Did a three needle bind-off and had a total of 6 ends to weave in. What could be easier? This would be a great first sweater for a beginning knitter.

Winter Sunset

This pattern has called to me for several years and I finally got to make it. I happened to pick up most of the yarn on EBay, added a few to it and got started. After "Oregon" it was nice to not have to change the pattern and it only uses 5 colors so it went quite quickly. I have to finish up one button band and do the clean-up work and it will be done. I used Jamieson Spindrift and a 3.25 needle. The pattern is in the Jamieson Shetland Knitting book. Colors are Eesit, Shaela, Natural White, Sunset and Bramble. Managed to liberate some Irish Wool from a shop here in Maine this week, it wants to be next, but hubby wants a vest for Winter so that is next. Just plain stockinette stitch on a circular needle in worsted so shouldn't take long - I hope!

Oregon Finished

Finally have a chance to update here, it's been a busy summer. Oregon is finished and my next sweater is almost done so it is about time I put something up on my blog! "Oregon" was a fun knit, I found the pattern easy to follow and it held my interest til finished. I did not enjoy the changing of the pattern from a v-neck to cardi but with help from friend Anne managed to get it done. This was the first time I had done a crocheted steek and I really like the way it looks and the neat finished edge. Will probably never do a machine stitched steek again. Alas, it would not fit when it was done - too small! Have no idea why I knit the small size but the wooly board saved the day - isn't Shetland yarn wonderful? It stretched out just to the right size!

Autumn Oregon KAL Starts

Alice Starmore's Autumn Oregon" from the Vogue Knitting magazine. Friend Anne is fortunate to have the VY kit so we got together and I matched colors from my stash as closely as possible and it is looking quite nice. I had to change two colors and they just mushed together but I like the result so far. I'm up to row 28 of chart B, and as usual find I can't put it down. The yarns are Jamieson's Spindrift and I am using size 3.0 and 3.5 to get gauge of 7 st per inch. The colors are vibrant and it has kind of a "persian rug" look. Dark and rich. Started on 2/1 and going quite quickly. The pattern is easy to follow, am enjoying this one!

Galway

With Alcea finished I have no project to work on. The "Oregon" KAL does not start for two weeks and there are lots of hockey games to watch. Needed something to keep my hands busy so decided to pull something from my stash. Imagine that! My sister has a birthday in April and she like soft greens so I decided to start a cardigan for her. The yarn is Reynolds "Whiskey" DK which has been calling to me ever since I bought it. The pattern is Penny Straker's "Galway. I got guage right away with size 3 and 5. The KAL starts soon so have to get to it!

(Managed to finish the back and start the first front - now have to put it aside as FairIsle is so addicting I know I won't touch this again until "Oregon" is finished.)

"Alcea" Finished!

Finished "Alcea" just after the first of the year. This clears out my UFO's basket, just in time for the Mara Class KAL - Autumn Oregon. This is the first time I have altered a pattern - the directions were for a pullover and I wanted a cardigan. Thanks to Anne Featonby of "She Ewe Knits" for all the posts on changing this sweater. It's knit with Jamieson's Spindrift on a size 4 circular needle. Ribbing was done on a size 2.75mm and this is the first time I have really been satisfied with the ribbing. It's nice and firm. Fit's pretty darn good though my sister is not too happy about that. It would have been hers if it didn't fit me. Guess I will have to make another. Don't look too closely at the picture (look like I had been sucking on lemons). But the sweater is gorgeous. Now filling my time while waiting for "Oregon" yarns to come by working on a pair of gloves from the Selbuvotter book. I'm having a devil of a time with the fingers - they have come close to the trash bucket a couple of times. Had no problems with the mittens but the gloves are going to send me to the funny farm!