Mountain Pines Shawl

You haven't lived until you have crawled around on your hands and knees and blocked a shawl. Anyone seen any good blocking frames for sale? I mean, really. Couldn't they make a nice one out of Lucite? One with multiple rows of holes for different distances between points? One that could be assembled using wing nuts, screws, etc that could be broken down easily like they have with embroidery frames or quilting frames only LIGHT. They could even make one with smaller sides that can be shaped into something like an octagon so even circular shawls could be blocked. But I digress.

Please see above my Mountain Pines Shawl that I have finally finished. Thank God for the wires even though it's a challenge to find the floor space. The yarn was spun at 22-24 WPI on average using my trusty single treadle Schacht wheel. The fiber had been purchased during one of the past Stitches West outings long ago as you can tell from the price on the tag. Fiber content 70/30 Merino Silk, fiber from Widdershin Woolworks (P.O.Box 611 Arroy Hondo, New Mexico 87513) at least that what's on the tag. I'm not sure they are still there or not. You have shots of the yarn, the shawl pre blocking, on the wires and the compleated shawl on my sister and hanging from a blank wall. Yes, it's not exactly square, but I got pretty tired and my knees began to protest. It's "Good Enough" as far as I and Homer Simpson are concerned. Ignore the blue coverlet with red dots on it. Out of all the pictures, the color you see on the wraps gage is the most accurate, at least on my computer screen. Variations of sage green with lovely little highlights in a faint reddish tint, this shawl is actually very pretty in spite of the inconsistency's of my spinning. It's nice that the pattern didn't suffer too much from my lack of spinning expertise! I have to say, now it's done, I'm tempted to do the flip-side pattern. The original booklet came with TWO patterns. The second pattern, "Boundary Waters" shawl and is knit from the center outwards. I happen to have some rather nice hands-spun laceweight yarn that I made from fiber purchased from Carolina Homespun. You know, kind of like a matched set? Too many shawls, not enough time! Still, before I start another project, I really have to think a minute. The Dragone Shawl is something I want to knit but it has lots of stiches I've never done before and I don't want to fry my brain again so soon. If I finish the Flower Basket Lace Shawl and the Fir Cone and Peacock Feathers first, it gives me a clear field.

And that brings up my biggest point. A big thank-you to missalicefaye for knitting the Wedding Ring Shawl. Why thank her you say? Because, she has inspired me to pick-up my own work that was languishing and I have resumed toiling away on my own Wedding Ring Shawl. I'm still slow, but not as slow as before because I'm no longer doing the directional decreases. I'm just doing k2tog and it is indeed easier. I'm not sure the shape of the holes is as nice on certain sections of the pattern and for those sections, I may revert to the directional decreases. But I will not post any pictures of progress until I'm at least half-way done with the center section. Believe me, that will take awhile.

I'm sure you already know, but it's worth saying. I really enjoyed spinning and knitting this shawl in spite of any tedium during the edge portion of the program. Here's to finishing most of what was started in 2006!

Got Needles?

One of my co-workers is pregnant and wanted me to show her how to knit. She's almost done with her scarf and on Monday I will show her how to bind-off. "Can you show me how to make a baby hat?" she asked. Well... she is pregnant and you don't say no to pregnant women in my experience so I told her to get some yarn she likes that takes needles from US- 4 to US 8 (I have one of those patterns than can use lots of different size yarns). "Should I buy needles?" Now this is only the second thing she will have ever knit and I really don't see making her buy needles to do circular knitting just to make a hat. I told her I would bring her needles to use. Going home, I went through my needle stash and realized, I have a heck of a lot of needles! How about all of you? What are your current favorites or does it "depend" on what you're doing? My current favorites are my Knit Picks interchangeable needles, but they only go down to US 4 so it doesn't help me with my finer knitting. Still, the points are so nice that I'm tempted to buy Knit Picks other circulars in the smaller sizes to see if they would work well with my lace knitting. I feel a little guilty because, as you can see, it's not like I lack for needles. I have circulars down to US 000 in the Addi Turbos, I have quite a few birch and bamboo needles and the odd ebony and rosewood. I have Inox and Susan Bates and Crystal Palace and on and on and on. While we were talking, another co-worker also asked if I would teach her to knit. "I inherited all of my Grandmothers needles and there are just tons of them!" I bet I'm not the only one who has a needle stash. I'm 1/3 of the way through my last side of the Mountain Pines. You will not see it again until I go to block it!.

Good Evening To All!

Before Lace Became Obsession

Jason at (http://www.forestmeditation.com/jasonknits/) has been thinking about spinning his own yarn and knitting a sweater. That got me to thinking. I only have one sweater left that I spun and knit. All the others wore out or were given away as gifts. Before lace became my main obsession, I loved to knit cables. See my "car sweater". The one I keep thrown in the back of my car for if it gets unexpectedly cold. I made this before I was more consistant with my spinning and knitting. It's too big, very green but I still love it and it's heck-a-warm when you need it to be. The pattern is one from Classic Elite but I left the color knitting part of the pattern out. So Jason, if you spin to knit a sweater, it's important to know what type of sweater and approx yardage you will need. Since I began to focus on lace, I've stopped knitting cables, but I may go back to it once I burn-out on the lace, if I ever do burn out on the lace that is.

Blast from the Past. Good Evening To All.

Siren Song of Koigu Part 2

I know I'm not done with Mountain Pine's yet but I couldn't resist starting the Flower Basket Lace Scarf using my Christmas Koigu. This doesn't really show the pretty colors of this yarn because it's late at night and I'm using flash. I hope to get a better shot later. I'm using US 5 to knit this and it's going to be a good substantial shawl. This one I keep for sure since the yarn was from a gift certificate my friend, Louise gave me. She's getting older and I won't give up anything that reminds me of her. Time's too short and someday I'll be able to wear this shawl and think of her generosity and friendship. I'm alternating knitting the edge for Mountain Pines, working on this Flower Basket Shawl and reading "Dark Moon Defender" by Sharon Shinn. What? Me, schizophrenic? Nah!

Uh-Oh.....

Ever miscalculate your yardage? Ever do it with yarn you spun yourself several years ago? Please see above that I am nearing the end of the third side of my square Mountain Pines Shawl. Thus far, the entire shawl has been knit from one continuous ball of yarn that I spun. See also that I have not enough yarn left on that ball for the end of this side much less the fourth side of the shawl. Never fear! I tell myself. I know I have more of it.....somewhere. Friends, my yarn room looks like a tornado hit it. I had a heck of a time finding that ball of yarn. As you can see, I did eventually find it after I tore the place apart. I also found more of that orignal fiber that I had stored. If worse had come to worse, I would have spun more yarn, but that would have delayed the compleation of this shawl. As it is, it will be a lesson to me to keep all my finished yarn togeather with my projects. Of course, it didn't have to be a lesson from the Marque de Sade of Yarn, but that's a tale for another day.

Whew!

Swallowtail Shawl in Cashmere

Before it's blocked, this shawl is not very impressive and when you knit with Mill-end Cashmere that still has the manufacturing oil in it, there is a sort of "drag" to the yarn that's odd to knit with. However, once you finish knitting and wash that oil out, the shawl is very nice. I used Kookaburra Woolwash that my sister gave me as a gift. This one has teatree oil and conditioners in it and is effective against dust mites, is antibacteral and biodegradable according to the lable. It smells good and works. So, of course, does my shampoo. Take your pick. This shawl will be for a friend as part of her Birthday gifts. Yes, I know I'm supposed to save one of these for me, but I really do like my friends so I guess I will be making more of these later on. At least one will be for me. At least I hope one of them will be :-)

Swallowtail Shawl 2

I just had to make another one of the Swallowtail Shawls since I gave mine away to Louise. I might just make several for gifts since they are so fast to knit and easy once you get used to those "nupps". This one is in Purple Cashmere that I bought from ColourMartUK on E-Bay. Still US 4 needles but this has not been washed or blocked yet so I expect the Cashmere to "bloom" or become softer and fuzzier. It means the pattern will not be as distinct, but I'm hoping it will be baby soft which should make up a little for the loss of definition in the eyes of the beholder. I just have to do the edge pattern and cast-off and then I can wash/block it.

For those who want to see someone knit the pants off of everyone else, and do it with style and grace, check out Missalicefaye because she's just started the Wedding Ring Shawl (http://missalicefaye.com/blog/) . She's knitting the alternate center panel and it looks beautiful! It gives me the buzz to start mine back up again, but when I do, I'm giving up on the left and right leaning decreases and will take the suggestion made to me at the Heirloom Knitting Group . I'm just going to use k2tog instead. It will make things go faster for me if I don't have to keep trying to remember right from left. For now however, I'm taking a break from Swallowtail and will continue on the endless edge of Mountain Pines for a bit.

Good Evening to All!

Swallowtail Shawl and Porcupine Stitch Scarf

Since I forgot to take a picture of the Swallowtail Shawl after it was blocked, I went to Louise's house and took the pictures above. I did not check to see what the dimensions for this shawlette were supposed to be. I just did what looked good to me. Also see above a couple of shots of an old scarf I made Louise years ago. It's knit in taupe coloured kid mohair with a stitch called "Porcupine Stitch" and is the same in the front and the back. According to the book, this type of stitch was used to make fluffy head scarves that were referred to as "clouds" because they were light and fluffy. I'm hard at work on the second Swallowtail shawl and still marching on with Mountain Pines edge.

Until Later!

"If You Love It, Set It Free" (Swallowtail Shawl)

What a crock that saying is. I set the "Swallowtail Shawl" free this morning and it sure as heck didn't come back to me. Seriously. I brought it over to my friend Louise's house so she could see it. Louise is a very dear, older woman who can knit the pants off me. I mean, Argyle socks for the love of Pete, real ones. I thought she'd say something like "Oh, that's nice Jane." and proceed to ignore it while we had our morning coffee together. "Ha!". And again I say, "Ha!". Louise proceeded to fondle and pet the shawl, held it to the light to admire it's lacy goodness and that was "all she wrote". That shawlette now belongs to Louise. Knit and blocked in three days and given away on the fourth day. Once again, I have knit a lot of lace, believe it or not, over years I've been knitting. I still do not own one piece of lace that I knit myself. If I didn't have pictures, no one would believe me.

I am now knitting a second Swallowtail Shawl. This one I hope to actually keep. I'm thinking purple cashmere. Back to Mountain Pine Edging (I'm halfway through the third side).

Oh yeah, Stitches is coming hurrah hurrah, Stitches is coming hurrah hurrah!

Happy New Knitting Year (Swallowtail Shawl)

The only good thing about this crappy cold is the fact that I was still able to knit. Thank the Lord for antibiotics and cough syrup with codeine. Also, a big Thank You to Evelyn A. Clark for designing the "Swallowtail Shawl". It's really a "shawlette" and I think I got it right. It's not error free, but a man on horseback is not going to see them. Knit with US 4 Knit Picks interchangeable needles using dark green Lace Yarn from Crystal Palace Yarns (100% wool from New Zealand). Pattern is from the fall 2006 Interweave Knits magazine and can be knit with 1 ball of Misti Alpaca Lace yarn (437 yds). You can see it pinned out on the floor using a few blocking wires. I could be more scientific about it, use a grid or something, but it's just not that big a deal to me to be that exact. Finally something that I can put in the completed section of this blog. Yes, I know. I did finish a "Green Shawl", but that one doesn't count because it wasn't really lace. Is it pathetic that my lace projects take such a long time that most of what I started last year will not be finished until this year? I mean, if finishing was a big deal to me, then I'd have to say that I suck major, but then I guess the challenge, rather than the finishing, is part of the charm of doing this lace for me. If it's all too easy, then there is no point. It's better if it requires effort, like knitting while ill or knitting with yarn that I spun myself or knitting with gossamer weight yarns or knitting butt-kicking patterns. I'm just not very fast. Still, Swallowtail sure is purdy!

Back to Mountain Pines edge!

Nupps Ahoy! (Swallowtail Shawl)

Ever since the cold weather and the holidays set in, I've had difficulty motivating myself to knit. I also have a head-cold so I'm coughing, snotting and just not as sharp as might normally be. The good thing is that I'm off until Tuesday so I have a rare opportunity to just sit and knit, providing I can stay awake long enough while doped up on codeine cough syrup to do anything. I've been working on the edge to Mountain Pines and have started on the third side, but this is hardly inspirational. I can knit the edge for the shawl because my poor querulous mind can just manage it without loosing track. There are some brave knitters out there who have resumed their knitting already. I know that Jason had the blahs for awhile but is back hard at work on his Lotus Blossom Shawl for his mother at his blog site. (http://www.forestmeditation.com/jasonknits/) Missalicefaye never stopped knitting at all and just finished her Unst Stole in beautiful cobweb weight Shetland.(http://missalicefaye.com/blog/) Though I have several projects going ,I want a short project that will give instant gratification. Something to kick-start my knitting. I have started the Swallowtail Shawl as you can see above. I'm using some old lace weight yarn I bought from Crystal Palace a long time ago and then never used. It's not a big shawl and it gives me an opportunity to try out "nupps" which I've never really done. Now I know Alice has already knit this shawl and warned that these nupps are difficult. Purling 5 together will give my pointy new Knit Picks needles a good work-out. I will make sure to do the yarn-overs loosely in order to have the best chance in purling through that many stitches.

I must go now and drug myself into insensibility. Good evening to all.

The Siren Song of Koigu (Or How I Spent My Christmas Gift Certificate)

Everyone knows about Koigu. Beautiful hand-painted yarns that try to lure you into buying them in spite of their fairly high price tag. You say to yourself as you look at the pretty little skeins (and I do mean little), "They just can't be worth this kind of money. I mean, come-on, it's just merino wool from Canada!" You try to convince yourself that you can live without their subtle shadings, their soft hand, their unique colors . You hear tiny little yarn voices calling out to you from the shelves, "Me! Buy Me!" begging you to take them home because they instinctively know you are sporting your yearly head-cold and your resistance is low this day. They even try flattery, claiming that only you can do them justice by knitting them into a shawl so lovely that others will stop you in the street to comment on their yarny magnificence. Usually you are able to step away from the Koigu with a sigh and move on to more reasonably priced yarns. You congratulate yourself on your practicality and economy in dealing with your only real vice, knitting. Then someone gives you a gift certificate for Christmas and all bets are off.

As soon as I opened the envelope containing the gift certificate to "Imagiknit" in San Francisco I knew I was a goner. In an entire shop filled to the gills with yarn, the first thought that popped into my mind was was "Koigu, I could buy some Koigu!" Of course I could have bought that Koigu long ago. It's not like I can't afford it, but somehow, getting a gift certificate gives you permission to splurge, to be be extravagant. That gift certificate helped to defray the cost of my beautiful Koigu (see above). I'm thinking either the "Flower Basket" lace shawl or the "Shetland Garden Faroese Shawl". I will have to give it some thought. Since I'm still suffering with some kind of walking, snotting crud that I caught at work, I'm only able to knit the edging for Mountain Pines. Anything more challenging will come out poorly I'm sure. Still, one can dream of better days!

Happy New Year to All!

Knit and bake and knit and bake

So I'm still doing the edge for Mountain Pines. I have rounded the corner and I'm working on the second side. I just pinned it out a little to see what it looks like with the edge. I'm also assisting my sister in baking more holiday cookies and quick breads. See "Ginger Cookies" from the "Stars Dessert Cookbook". These are the only ginger cookies I like to eat and they are very addicting! Very buttery, crunchy and chewy. We also baked "Joan's Pumpkin Loaf" from "Maida Heatter's New Book Of Great Desserts". Moist with raisins or dates (Your choice, we use raisins) as well as either walnuts or pecans (We used pecans this year). It only tastes better the longer it sits there so it"s a great make ahead treat. We gave cookies to our co-workers, some of our friends and to our Veterinarian's office. Between baking and knitting, there is also reading my backlog of paperback's. I love paranormal romances and Sci Fi. What can I say. Reality is very harsh sometimes. I appreciate being somewhere else mentally from time to time. Right now I'm reading "Sunshine" by Robin McKinley and it is extraordinarily engaging. The female lead is reluctantly heroic, living in a world where vampires and other creatures are now commonly acknowledged. Soon vampires will outnumber humans in numbers and the balance of power may be shifting. Sunshine can work magic, though she has not been trained in magic due to her mothers divorce from her magically talented father. She is abducted by a gang of vampires, ostensibly to break the will of a vampire prisoner who has chosen not to kill or torture humans while taking the blood he needs. He's old and very powerful, hence his rivals desire to break him. They tether Sunshine and the vampire, Constantine with leg chains and leave them together, hoping he will lose control. Instead, they show one another compassion and form an alliance to escape with Sunshine using powers she never tried to tap before. There is much more to the book and it's an enjoyable read as Sunshine and Constantine find that they now have a bond that goes beyond their initial crisis as they battle the evil vampire who would have them both dead. It's such a good book that I wish there were more than just the one, but Robin McKinley does not really write series, she writes stand-alone novels. I am, however, grateful for the one book. It's a keeper! Well, back to the cookies! Have a nice evening and hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

Xmas Diversion

Yeah, I know it's not lace. It's what I'm doing instead of my lace at the moment. If you want the recipe, link out to "Jane's Reality" (see my side-bar for the link). It's really very tasty. I have been working on the edge for Mountain Pines and added a few more rows to Fir Cone. Not enough to post a picture though. Tomorrow I will start to pick-back the 3 or 4 rows needed to fix the Peacock Feathers Shawl. Once I do, I know I can finish it up before Stitches West in Feb. Same for Mountain Pines. My reward will be to wear one of them to Stitches. Vanity, thy name is Jane! I smell like sugar at the moment. Must Shower!

Endless Edge

During the holidays I've only really been doing a little knitting. I'm almost done with one side of the Mountain Pines edging and I've added a few rows to the Fir Cone Shawl. I'm reading my backlog of books (see sidebar for new element to the old blog) and baking for the holidays. I'm going to have to take pictures of some of these things and post recipe's but I will do that on my other blog, Jane's Reality since it's not lace. Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday!

Holidays Taking All My Time (very little knitting of lace)

For those wondering if I'm doing any knitting at all, I have to say, not very much. I'm doing the edge for Mountain Pines as you can see. I'm mostly finishing my shopping, starting the baking and packaging book markers that will go to family members and friends as part of the gifts. This is the time to do for others rather than just a focus on my own pleasures. All the scarves for JS are done now, the gift baskets just have to be wrapped in plastic for the adult niece and nephews. There is a little on-line shopping still going on and I've left the dreaded trip to "Toys R Us" for the very last. The nice thing is that Thanksgiving will be at my sister-in-laws, sisters home this year. Millie will cook the turkey and we show up with our knitting along with our contribution to the food. This year my sister and I will bring pumpkin pie, turkey gravy (My sister is known as the 'Gravy Queen') and stuffing consisting of 3 types of bread, sausage, apple, chestnuts, etc. Very tasty and great with the from-scratch gravy my sister makes. It's an all-day affair and we watch video's and knit while the turkey cooks! Our hostess is very gracious and just remodeled her kitchen so it is now the Uber Kitchen for cooking. I can hardly wait to see it. I know it's beautiful because, along with being a highly talented woman, Millie has impeccable taste. I hope to do a lot more of the edging on this day.

I've also been writing a little for NaNoWriMo but it's not even close to 50,000 words which I guess they consider novel length. It's amusing in it's way but War and Peace it's not. I will finish it but not in the month of November! I'm almost done with Chapter 2 and will post that chapter on the link if I get it done in time.

Have a Wonderful Turkey Day!

Nanowrimo and Mountain Pines Shawl (Lace and Writing)

So here it is. The Mountain Pines border. You asked for it, you got it. I wish it was a bit more impressive, but my photography skills don't show the pretty green color of this shawl. I will try to take a good picture once the shawl has been dressed. Things always look better in daylight and shawls never show to advantage until they have been washed/stretched. This is only the second shawl I've completed from yarn that I spun myself. It's not always as consistent as manufactured laceweight yarn, but it has a lot of character. This is not all of the fiber in this color that I have, by the way. I have now decided that I will spin more of this for a future shawl. I have not decided who will get this but I have acid-free paper I got at a quilting shop and I will wrap it up until i decide. The pattern calls for a narrow Vandyke edge (12 row repeat). I was thinking of changing it, but then it might be over-kill at this point. Once this shawl is done, there happens to be a second pattern in the same booklet called "Boundary Waters". It is a square shawl knit in one piece from the center and Is also very pretty. I happen to have some pretty blue yarn that I spun.....Well you get the idea. Since it appears that these patterns are no longer available from "Two Old Bags", (patterns were published under the name 'Wool You Order') I think it would be nice to have both of them. I'll dig up my blue yarn and make a swatch!

On a different note, I have joined National Novel Writing Month. I learned about this from the Akamai Knitter as well as from the blog of an author I like to read, Lilith Saintcrow. You have the opportunity to write a novel in the month of November. I believe the goal is 50,000 words. You can also do this by bloging that number of words I believe (http://www.nanowrimo.org/). I'm going to try to write something though I doubt I will make it to 50,000 words. You can read a preliminary excerpt here.( http://www.nanowrimo.org/userinfo.php?uid=170330). It may be changed as I go along.

Until you are better paid.

You Know What I Like! (birthday gifts)

I'm at that age where I pretty much buy whatever I want for myself within reason. After all. I don't really like to wait for anything and I don't see why I should have to. That said, my friends and family really do know what I like. It's not the money, it's the thoughtfulness. See above some of the very wonderful things I got for my birthday. I particularly like the dog headed knitting needles (US 9-10) , the pretty bag for small knitting projects (from France no less), the radical rick-rack as well as the novel tape measures. All from my friend, Louise (that bastion of Basque-ness). She's been collecting these things over the whole year for me. You really cannot ask for a more thoughtful friend than that. The needle set from Knit-Picks is just one of the many many gifts I received from my sister. I can't say I lack for needles. I thought I had every size and every length until she got these for me with the additional/optional longer length cables so I have 45" and 60" cables. Day-am! I am a very lucky woman. It almost makes aging bearable:-) . The dishcloths and Ray Charles album (along with a nice Starbucks commuter mug not show and Starbucks Giftcard) are from my friend Cindy and her daughter BJ in Seattle and the Motown, well that was something I got for myself along with a large number of paperback "trash" novels I will put in the stockpile of books "to be read". Did I mention I hate to run out of either knitting or reading material?

Now don't think I haven't been knitting. I have, just not a heck of a lot of lace. I have only one more scarf to knit for JS and my servitude will be done. I have only 6 more rows to knit and the boarder for Mountain Pines will be done and I can begin knitting on the edging. That will take awhile since it takes 832 stitches to go all around the shawl. I screwed up the Peacock Feathers Shawl again and have to pick-back 3 or 4 rows so you won't be seeing that one for awhile. The WRS, is on hold so far. I may start back onto this eventually but it's a very slow knit for me. The Fircone Shawl is a no-brainer and I'm knitting this whenever I get bored with other shawls. It hardly counts. It's the "Holiday Slow-Down" where knitters go into semi-hibernation and go bake or cook or some such thing until spring. Darn those holidays! :-)

Until later!

Spider Queen Wanna-be's (Just beat me with a big stick why don't you?)

Yes, I know. Missalicefaye has already pointed out that I'm already doing a shawl with pretty darned fine yarn. But the navy yarn has both cashmere (65%) and silk (35%) and it is called the Spider Queen after all. Please see the swatch for the
second candidate for that particular shawl. The size is not much smaller on US 2 than the white cashmere (US 3) if you don't count the extra boarder stitches I added just because this is a swatch. Besides. The center panel of Spider Queen is easier than the WRS. No, really! So even if the yarn is thin, it will not be so painful to knit. Yes, I think this is the yarn I want to use. Now all I have to do is decide on color. In this weight and fiber content, I have 4 cones (see above). I'm leaning towards the Blue since it's a nice dark color and I haven't been knitting dark in any of the other shawls. I think it would be a nice change of pace. Still, no new shawl until I finish another one. That won't be happening for awhile because I have to knit a mans scarf out of Lion Brand "Wool-Ease" yarn for my friend JS. Of course, I could swatch "Heere Be Dragone". Swatches don't count you know. I think a heavier yarn is better for the definition of this pattern. Missalicefaye is using a Zepher for hers. Always a good choice if you ask me. Maybe I could ply my singles of purple cashmere for it? That is one thing I would not really do again, buy the singles in cashmere. I'd buy 2 or 3 ply only because the singles are not very strong in that fiber. In order to use this yarn, I now have to ply the singles. First I have to spin them onto bobbins and put in additional twist, then ply the singles from the bobbins. If I had bought singles that were designated for weaving, I wonder if it would still be necessary to add more twist or if I could have just plied directly from the cones (yarn for weaving already has extra twist for strength). Anyway, something I won't do again.

I must go knit that scarf now. Please let this be the last one JS. I'm begging here!