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.