Tube Scarf

I just finished a scarf today......which I started one year ago today.



The Classic Elite's Tube Scarf is a very pretty, light weight, lacy knit that is absolutely WONDERFUL to wear. It was only after I wrapped this around my neck that I feel in love with it.

I wanted this scarf the moment I saw it in the pattern book. Once I started knitting it however, I had a hard time sticking with it. Knitting two panels to 60" length seems to drag on slowly, but when one of the panels is in straight stockinette stitch you lose all sense of direction, the world stops rotating yet seasons come and go and you feel like you are only growing older while knitting this never ending panel. I imagine that it would be similar to knitting a roll of toilet paper. Only with the Silky Alpaca yarn you find yourself petting it more than you'd ever squeeze a roll of Charmin.



I would rethink the BLACK panel. It was slow and boring to knit, but the yarn just felt so good in the hands that the longer it got the more I wanted to knit on it. The problem came when sewing the panels together. The black color made it nearly impossible to see the edge of the stitch and more than once I wanted to just stab myself in the eyes with the needle. You need extremely good lighting when you sew these panels together......something I had trouble finding at home.......In the bathroom under the heat lamp was my best light, but who wants to sew on a scarf while dripping with sweat?

I really do love this scarf now that I have it and can wear it. Of course, this scarf is also the first knit project I have made where both of my daughters uttered ooohs and ahhhhs while petting and rubbing the scarf on their necks and face exclaming that now they each want one!!

Figures.

Traffic Jams are Ok!

Last night while driving home from Lori's Frames, Fibers & Frills, my LYS, I came to a screeching halt. This two lane portion of westbound 8 was blocked by what I'd later find out from a radio report was a roll of carpet blocking two lanes.

So while people sat idle in their cars, grumbling, yelling out their windows, overheating with frustration, I just turned on the overhead light and pulled out my knitting. For 40 minutes my needles clicked away on the Meandering Vines Shawl while workers removed debris and three tow trucks towed some unfortunate cars away that apparently hit the carpet.

I am knitting this shawl with Zauberball sock yarn in the cranberry colorway.

This morning I looked my work over and am happy to report, not one dropped stitch and no corrections needed.

Knitters have such great coping skills!

Halloween Night and knitting away the frights.

To quote Vincent Price, “It's as much fun to scare as to be scared.”

Tonight is Halloween and it has been a tradition that we set up a spooky entrance where someone decked out in costume jumps out and scares the living [insert your favorite adjective here] out of the Trick or Treaters.

My favorite part the next morning after the sun comes up, we go out to the front lawn and find all the spilled candy and rate our family's performance by the amount of goodies that have been dropped from the Trick or Treaters running for their lives.

Can you find Jasper in the picture?

Tonight, Janeva is going to take the lead. She has fixed a black coffin lit by a strobe light where she will jump out and let out a scream as the Trick or Treaters start to leave with their treats. She has been at it for about an hour now....and from the screams I'm hearing we are going to need a shovel to pick up the loot off the front lawn in the morning. Uh...and I think some people are going to be doing a unexpected load of laundry as well.

(It isn't all horribly, we are hearing lots of giggles and claps from the parents at Janeva's performance)

Meanwhile, I have spent the day getting in the mood by watching horror flicks and knitting. A great combo I think!

I had the priviledge of being selected to test knit a new pattern for Kalurah's "Ireland Knit Version" a neck warmer that is a great knit. This evening I sewed on the buttons and took the pictures. I love the buttons!! I think they are perfect for this neck warmer. I used Cascade Pastaza yarn which after blocked is very soft. This is a fun and quick project, which would be a great candidate for some Christmas presents.

Now I'm going to go block another project! I am on a knitting role these days.

Have a Happy Halloween!

Epic Knitting - My First Lace Project

Epic Knitting. That is what my first lace project has turned into! I have never been interested in lace knitting before. When other knitters shared their lace projects I'd look, smile, nod, and appreciate the project with a "that is really pretty" while thinking, "not for me".

This summer my favorite LYS, Lori's Frames, Fibers and Frills had a Forest Path Stole KAL. The pattern looked overwhelming, and my first reaction was "I could never......". Then I heard my mom's voice in my head "Of course you can...." and not wanting to miss a opportunity to knit with friends, I signed up thinking that I'd do it to learn new techniques.

I have to be honest and say that at the very start of this lace project I was struggling and not really enjoying it all. The Lily of the Valley panels at one point just pissed me off because of the annoying little nubs, lumbs, nipples, pimples [insert your own here] doodads that had to have 5 loops purled together on the wrong side. As a typically tight knitter these little bulges gave me hand cramps and night sweats.

I think around the 3rd tier, I realized that I was not enjoying this project because I was stressing over those nubs. At that point I just surrendered and purposely focused on letting go of my frustration over knitting the little nubs, if nothing else, I'd be a nub pro by the end of this project.

Gradually, the enjoyment factor grew. I really was starting to get excited that I was sticking with it and this lump of lace was growing. I was also surprised how this very fine yarn was also very warm.......but then I was knitting during the heat of the summer too!

Ocasionally I would lift the lace work up and try to see the pattern of each tier....and while I could see that there was all the stitches that correlated to the charts, I just didn't see all the detail that I thought should be there. I began to worry about whether I was missing something. I continued on, compelled to finish.

THEN, I finished.

THEN, I blocked......I blocked late last night, the lighting was soft, (we need more light in the house!), I kept glancing at the clock as I was stretching, adjusting...pulling gently here, gently there, getting the edges straight, pinning and pinning and pinning. At 11:00pm, I stopped, I couldn't do more and I had to get up very early! I was tired...and so was Jasper....

Jasper was REALLY tired, apparently.

Anyhoo, I put towels over the top to protect this project from Jasper, the wonderfully fun and energetic kitty that has an incredible destructive streak when it comes to yarn.

This morning, I woke up and quickly checked the Forest Path to see if it was dry. I removed the pins and picked up the stole and then I stood there just amazed. Amazed at the airy, fluffy, light feel of this delicate lace that I was holding. I knitted this!! I am blown away!! I don't think the pictures really show the color and the pattern as nicely as being up close.

I think I might be a Lace Knitter!

Taking the UP-Cycle T-shirt class

I have been attending the UP-cycle T-shirt Class being taught online by Stefanie Japel.

The class is in week two of the three week program. The course takes t-shirts through a recycle process: dismantle, various methods of dyeing (with a very good presentation on color theory) and then knitting the t-shirt yarn into new items. Stefanie also gives four patterns for projects with this class.

This is not your ordinary online course mind you. Stefanie will be adding classes as her site grows, but if this is just a hint of what is to come, this could change the way people take classes in the future. It is perfect for any busy person juggling jobs, family and squeezing time in for their knitting. The class is self paced and all materials readily accessible.

I highly recommend this class or try the Fitted Shawl class just to experience this online class format and see if you won't agree with me. It is great!!

Good thing that the class is self paced for me, Jasper has added some extra challenges as well as entertainment for the family throughout the class thus far.

Take time to relax

Remember I introduced you to our newest family member, Jasper, our little black kitty? Well......

Today I'm going to take Jasper's lead and just relax today.



Jasper really does just sleep like this!! If he was any more relaxed I'd have to check to see if he has a pulse.

We all should be so relaxed, eh?

Enjoy your day!!

Never Forget

Remember that day when we were all busy taking our kids to school and rushing our way to work?

Remember how Islamic Terrorists changed our lives by killing innocent men, women and children heading to work, or flying to destinations afar?

Remember how we all stopped in our tracks and held our breaths with tears streaming and stinging our faces? Huddled around TVs and Radios living the events of that day, the sights and sounds in shock and disbelief?

Remember for weeks after 9/11 we all took things a little slower, showed one another patience, consideration and care?

Remember when we were ALL Americans, not just Conservatives or Liberals, Republicans or Democrats, Left or Right........Just Americans, outraged that our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers would be cut down for doing nothing more than just living their lives and living out their day?

Remember when no one apologized for being American?

Stand together, take time to consider everyone around you with compassion and gratitude. We did not deserve the events of 9/11, we did not cause the events of that day. Do not apologize for it and do not apologize for being a Proud American.

DO NOT ever FORGET 9/11.