I’ve pulled out a few old lenses. This is a Vivitar 30-80mm from the 70s. I took this checking out the focus, to remember how to use it, as well as check for lens creep. Knowing all these helps when out shooting. This lens has lens creep, but it is a really sweet lens to use, with film or digital. Pure happenstance occurred when I took this – I was focusing on the ridges in this shawl, and didn’t see the notebook next to the folds. Only when I saw the picture did I realize the coincidence.
This is being written after the fact. The fact is I spent most of yesterday lounging around, and taking naps. Morning nap in the sun. Late morning nap in the sun. Afternoon nap on the couch. And to bed at 8 p.m. Anytime I have vacation, I usually do this sometime during the break, and yesterday was the day! I think it’s just something I need to do.
That said, I’ve reconsidered some of my list. In the knitting arena, I don’t feel especially like being challenged, so I pulled out a shawl in the Old Shale – a traditional Shetland lace pattern – I’ve been knitting off and on. The pattern is easy to remember, knits up comfortably, and can be done in front of the TV or outdoors while listening to an audiobook. I’m using 10 skeins of Noro in a worsted weight.
The pattern stitch is done in multiples of 18; the shawl has a 3-stitch garter edge either side, and is being knit lengthwise. So, if you want to do something like it, here it is in a nutshell:
Last weekend’s enumeration of the many UFOs has been quite a bit of an eye-opener. It’s nice to hear that I am not the only one going to knitter’s hell for an overabundance of unfinished objects. CaffeineGirl has the same thing going on, and other people are ‘fessing to the same crime.
Certainly this has been a satisfying weekend. The plum tree was transplanted, madder seeds from 1802 found and planted (now let’s see if they sprout, and if I remember to water them), the very, very woolly dog shaved and bathed, several loads of laundry done – dishes, too! – and egg bread made and being eaten. And, in between, I really did accomplish a few things . . .
Victorian Shawl
All done! I didn’t have enough yarn to comfortably embark on the lace edgings, so decided that the simplest thing to do would be to crochet along the edges, and create a short fringe of 20-25 crocheted stitches before rejoining the chains to the shawl body. I like the way it turned out. All the edges are woven in, and it is light as a cloud, and comfortably warm for a cool evening. I cannot believe it has taken me two years to finish this.
Cardigan
I finished the last sleeve, threw it into the washer and dryer, and now can see that I need to tighten up the back neck a bit with some crocheted edging. other than that, all I will need to do is sew on the buttons. Once that is done, then some pictures.
Mittens
I knitted up the mittens I’ve designed using up some Cascade 220. The initial pattern was pretty accurate. A few changes need be made, but they will be easy enough. These are for a friend of mine up in Oregon, and I hope to get them to her in time for her birthday. What I like is that the pattern is the same on the palm, and on the back of the hand – and so they can be worn on either hand.
Somethin’ from the oven . . .
And finally, the other half heard my plea for another batch of the egg bread from a few weeks ago. This time, instead of rolls, two beautifully braided loaves to enjoy.
Now that I’ve become so annoyingly virtuous, I better finish up the rest of my stuff!
Today is nearing the end of the spring break. The weather has been wonderful, with a day of rain to clear the air, and sunny days with wind and fair skies. The trees are budding into leaf, the birds are making love songs, and the squirrels, well, are going nuts.
And in the middle of all this, I have managed to get a grip on things, meet up with people for lunch, read a bit, knit, and think about (but not do) some gardening. I have a fig tree and plum tree which need attention, a vine to move, and so on. And a lot of knitting projects. When I have time to play, I like to begin things. But do they get done?
Owls
All I need to do is sew on the buttons – but I made a mistake in the darts so, rip it or not? This is a pattern by Kate Davies at Needled.
Buttoned Cardigan
Only a few inches left on the sleeve and I am done. What’s taking me so long? This is a cardigan by Eva Weichmann, owner of Eva’s Needlework in Thousand Oaks, CA, which I’ve mentioned before.
Top Down Beret from Hell
I’m beginning the decreasing toward the brim . . . not soon enough!
Hat in Design Mode
I found an issue here – bobble placement. Back to the drawing board.
Golden Autumn by Lucy Sweetland
Just a gorgeous hat, but I got sidetracked. Lucy is one of my favorite designers and photographers.
Gloves
One hand down, another to go.
Mittens in Design Mode
Out of my Cascade 220 stash.
The Relentless Scarf
So boring I can’t stand it.
Socks
Lots of socks. Too many. And this is not all the inventory, either.
Socks to be Ripped
The yarn is from Riihivilla in Finland, naturally dyed with cochineal and indigo. I’ve decided that the yarn is too pretty to hide on my feet, so now all this is sitting on my desk while I reconsider how to use the yarn to show it off.
Victorian Lace Shawl
Nearly done. It’s been sitting on a shelf for two years. I don’t know what is taking me so long, but I think it will get finished pretty soon. It is a beautiful yarn, perfect for the pattern, and the colors have a lovely iridescence.
What’s a girl to do?
The Buttoned Cardigan is at a point where I have to focus and pick up stitches for the sleeves. I like to do this when it is quiet, when there is good daylight, and I can listen to music that soothes the nerves. Calmness. Once I’m there, I will be able to work on the sleeves and watch a movie, but until that point comes, it is time to work on more mindless projects, or at least the sections which I deem mindless. And, with only a few days left for Christmas, I felt it was a good time to begin work on projects for family members.
The two projects I have going on right now are Anemoon, by Lucy Sweetland, and Ishbel, by Ysolda Teague.
Lucy Sweetland is a very talented designer and photographer, with an eye for clean design combined with beautiful touches. Anemoon is an example (see below). Her Emerald Mitts are also another example. Check out her blog, A Black Pepper. There is a link for her under the “blogroll” to right, as there is for Ysolda Teague of Scotland. Ysolda is another talented designer who creates everything from little mice and mushrooms to intricate sweaters.
Anemoon
A number of years ago I attended a conference at Asilomar in Northern California where I took a dyeing class with Nancy Finn of Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks. From this workshop, I have about 300 yards of single ply mohair-wool blend that is sort of a mottled purple. Knitted up, a stitch here and there stands out, bright against the rest of the stitches. It is this yarn that I am using for the Anemoon beret by Lucy Sweetland, author of “A Black Pepper” blog.
I think the word “anemoon” is Dutch, and means “anemone” in English. The anemone is a beautiful flower, elegantly simple.
This beret is like the flower – very elegant, simple, with a sophisticated design. Cables emerge from the body of the beret, not out of the ribbing as most cables do. A number of plain, purled rounds are done, and then the cables begin, like a stem, to emerge and twine, with bobbles like flowers to add interest.
Straight out, cables annoy me! I really don’t like the idea of doing an Aran sweater at all. In a beret or hat, cables don’t go on and on and on. Much more fun!
Anemoon is intriguing because the cables weave in and out, yet are held within four panels which repeat themselves. I’ve separated out the panels by containing them with different colored stitch markers setting up their boundaries, and a different one to mark the beginning of each round. For someone like me who doesn’t like doing a lot of cables, Anemoon is the perfect project. What you see here was accomplished, once the ribbing was done, in a few hours of a lazy afternoon. I’ve totally enjoyed the rhythm of the cables and watching them grow along with the hat.
This yarn makes me think of storm clouds as they fly across the sky. Colors shift and puddle, and then change in the blink of an eye.
Ishbel
I began Ishbel just a few days ago, and am in the process of doing the stockinette that leads into the lace. Pleasant, easy knitting – perfect for doing in front of the television. The color is a lovely turquoise merino-bamboo blend single-ply. I’ve got about 400 yards, so the small Ishbel may be the one I end up making. As a shawl, or neck scarf, the yarn will be very pleasant against the skin as it is not scratchy at all. I am making Ishbel for a family member who walks to work; she can wear it on those chilly mornings approaching so soon.
Who Gets Anemoon??
While I’ve got definite plans for Ishbel, I must admit, this Anemoon may end up on my head! I’ve got the ribbing of another started in a white tweed for another family member . . .
And for More Distraction . . .
Look what came in today’s mail! I’m in trouble now! I still have my Selbuvotter mittens to finish!
Ink, Yarn & Beer 