Speaking of Wool...

I'm loving my new addition to my knitting/spinning library: The Knitter's Book of Wool by Clara Parkes. I definitely have a preference for natural fibers when I knit - and while I am partial to Merino, there are lots of other fiber sheep breeds out there. This fantastic book demystifies all things wooly - well, maybe not all, but it goes a long way into explaining the different things that make the various varieties of wool unique unto themselves.

If you're not a spinner, or are still learning, the book provides a brief look into how wool fresh off a sheep becomes yarn. My favorite chapter is the one about the various sheep breeds. Clara discusses the properties of 37 different breeds of sheep, providing information about fineness, staple length, crimp, luster and what uses the wool is good for. Each brief writeup is accompanied by an illustration of the sheep in question.

After the sheep discussion, Clara goes into another facet of yarn making: fiber blending - where she explains the benefits of blending wool with other fibers - and what this blending might contribute to your final project.

After you're well armed with all this newly acquired information, you can tackle the projects in the book - of which there are plenty (19) - there are hats (2), mitts (2), socks (3), sweaters (5), shawls and scarves (5), a bag (1) and a pillow (1). The patterns appear well written, and are accompanied by a large clear photo of the finished product (and often times smaller detail images as well). Where appropriate, there are charts and schematics. Skill level required range from beginner to experienced. The sweater patterns include patterns for children, men and women - with a wide range in size. (Largest chest size for men is 56" and for women, the largest bust size is 52")

If you're looking to learn more about wool, I highly recommend this book - I'm personally planning on working my way though the various wool varieties by way of spinning and knitting :)

My kind...

...of pink and green. I had a fantastic mail day a while back - this was in one of the packages waiting for me when i got home that evening. It's finn wool - a type that I've never spun with (though I fully admit that my wool repertoire is rather limited). After poking around some (I love google), I've discovered that finn is a medium wool (meaning medium by micron count) - though it lands on the fine side of medium. It also has a longer staple length than I'm accustomed to, ranging from 3 to 6 inches. In addition to having a soft hand, finn wool also has a lovely luster to it. Regardless, I'm rather adoring this small bag of roving - and pondering what project to spin it up for...I probably better get a move on, especially since I renewed my subscription.

How could I resist when Adrian puts up such an enticing photo?

Bounty

mmm. Glorious reds and orange. I don't know what it is with that color family, but it has me seriously entranced right now.

In addition to wandering the town, having adventures by subway, watching musicals and baseball games, I had to get in my fix for the farmers market. In all fairness, there are markets where I live, they just aren't anywhere near as sizeable as those in other areas of the country. The Union Square Market apparently runs Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It's a mix of food, flora and crafts - I, of course, focused on the food. All the stuff I had the fortune to try was delicious.

But not only were they good for eating, they were wonderful on the eye also :) Since we're moving on towards the winter, the root vegetables were out in force. I can tell you the various fingerling potato varieties were delicious (but they don't seem to photograph real well).

In addition to your regular standard-issue orange carrot, there were these beautiful yellow and red/purple varieties. I was tempted to bring some home on the plane, but my luggage was already quite full...and I wasn't sure how I'd be received trying to clear security with a couple bunches of carrots as my "personal item".

They also had these gorgeous cauliflowers though why the purples wound up so much more monstrous in size than the orange, I'm not so sure. There were also some white cauliflower, of course.

And finally, some more fall blooms. It sure was nice to visit the City!

cutting it close...as usual

It seems several of my projects of late have been of the last minute variety - sadly, I didn't manage to finish a single pair of socks during Socktober...mostly because I was distracted knitting something else. The above curl of yarn is all that was left after I bound off. The project in question was finished and blocked the night before I packed it up and took it to a fantastic wedding...this seems to be developing into a theme...Have a look here to see how the frantic knitting turned out :)

Oh and yes, those would be a string of bacon and egg lights - they are in my BIL's kitchen, and I have no idea where he got them, but I really like em a lot :)

The City that Never Sleeps

Yikes! After about a month of nonstop craziness at work and a whirlwind trip to the City that Never Sleeps, I find I'm crazy exhausted and apparently have managed to neglect my blog for an entire month. Not that I didn't have things queued, because I did...I just never managed to get to adding the text to the photos!


Ah well - any idea where I disappeared off to? I did lots and lots of walking and wandered by the above building - it's probably hard to figure out what it is since it's not one of the more recognizable perspectives - most people take their photo from much further away - or from a higher angle, so as to get its distinctive roofline. It's the Chrysler Building :) I had a chance to visit with some relatives and meet up with some friends for a huge celebration over the weekend.

In addition to visiting and merry making, I wandered around town, ogled the buildings (some of the buildings in NYC are wonderfully ornate), freaked myself out by wandering through the crowds in Times Square, caught a musical off Broadway, and (old news) watched the Yankees qualify for the World Series. My BIL & SIL treated me to a game - they are season ticket holders - while I'm not one for baseball, there is something to be said about watching a game *in person* surrounded by crazy fans.

...all that and I even braved the subway, with no issues...until the last day on my way back to the airport! Folks were kind enough to confirm my revised travel plans once I figured out that things were going awry and I made it to JFK with enough time to clear security and get a coffee before reporting to my gate for boarding. *whew*!

I need to stop

with the casting on of projects with lots of stitches on small sized needles...Or rather I need to stop doing so when I have a deadline in mind that is less than a month away.

I've recently cast on for the Featherweight Cardigan from Knitbot (Hannah Fettig) - she's the same designer that came up with the Whisper Cardigan, which wears more like a long bodied shrug - the yarn I've selected for the featherweight cardi is finer than that called for in the pattern, and as a result, I've found myself knitting on US3s. Somehow I don't think this was such a good idea...but i have three weeks to try to get it done! Of course, I'm still pondering pattern modification - I'm thinking of adding cable detailing to the ribbing and the front/collar section. We'll see how that goes - of course, I'll keep you posted!

She doesn't just knit...

...she also sews!

We're talking about Wenlan Chia - this should come as no surprise to those of you who are more on top of such things - Wenlan's Twinkle line has been in existance since 2000, and includes yarn & knitting designs, home furnishings, jewelery and a ready-to-wear collection.

This new Twinkle book, Twinkle Sews, includes 25 patterns for you to bring some of Wenlan's whimsical style into your own wardrobe. Sizing ranges from 0 to 16, with the patterns being provided by way of a CD. They print out on regular-sized letter paper, with instructions on how to assemble them to get you going on your way.

Since everyone's sizing is a little different, sizes start with 32" bust, 26" waist and 35" hip (size 0) and go up to 40" bust, 34" waist and 43" hip (size 16). If you know about pattern construction and apparel, you may be able to easily adjust the patterns accordingly to best fit your body.

Before I get too far, I should say that I haven't sewn a piece of clothing for myself in ages - mended, yes. Altered, yes, but usually by hand - sewn from a pattern to fit my body? Definitely ages ago...and with the assistance of my mother.

After a brief introduction, the book opens with a basic techniques section. This includes information on how to use the patterns (including the legend for notations on the patterns), sizing, seaming and stitching, shaping, linings, closures (zippers and buttons), finishing (bias tape, hems), and a host of other things. If you are completely new to sewing, I would recommend an introductory sewing class or book before plunging into the projects in this book.

After the Techniques section, the projects begin with a chapter on skirts. The patterns include A-lined, gored and straight skirts - with the simplest pattern at the beginning, moving to more complicated patterns as you progress through the chapter. Photos of each pattern are featured in the beginning of each chapter, along with the project description, a tip and note pointing you to the page on which the instructions for the project begin. After the photos, and just before the project instructions begin, are a few technical notes to help guide you on your way to success. Each of the project instructions inclue a skill level rating, a materials list, a note to the page that the large photos are on in addition to smaller front and back shots of the finished item. Also included are small schematics of the pattern, and step-by-step instructions for assembly and project completion.

Each subsequent chapter follows the same format as the first. The 2nd chapter focuses on raglan sleeve construction (tops, and tunics), the 3rd chapter focuses on drop-shoulder construction (more tops, tunics and dresses, including the one on the cover), the 4th and final chapter focuses on spaghetti straps (summery cami's and dresses).

Overall, I think this book is put together quite nicely, and the patterns should work for various body types and ages - it's just not a book for a beginner is all :)

and now...

...something wee.

Knitting for babies is great for instant gratification :) especially if you go and use big-ish yarn :) have a look at what recently came off the needles in a bout of stealth gift knitting!

Happy Mid-Autumn Moon Festival!

Tonight is the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival - the moon should be nearing it's fullest and roundest shape - I've packed up my mooncakes, and it'll be a great evening for a night-hike!

Seasonal change

Happy Belated Atumnal Equinox! I guess time flies when I'm running around like a crazed woman ;) I guess I had a break long enough to go for a color change - this time, I've gone with Red (I was going to go with Red and Orange, but they didn't have any orange on hand) - something bold and much more obvious for the Autumn. I love the bright hue, but am not convinced I'll continue to keep it up after this round. Maintenance is easy enough, and I did get a full three months out of the blue and purple...I guess we'll see in another three months :)

Beauty and Greatness

and they belong to all of us.

If you haven't caught the show, there is a 6-part miniseries shot by Ken Burns on PBS showing this week - check your local listings OR view them online through October 9th.

The United States currently has 391 National Parks/Monuments/National Recreation areas. I've been to 33 that I can recall, I have lots of great memories from my various visits. How many have you been to, and do you have a favorite?

Celebrations

So, all that crazed knitting was done in preparation for my attendance at a grand event: the Marriage of one of my cousins. We practically grew up in the same household - so he's like a brother in many ways. You can have a look at the finished shawl over here.

Speaking of brothers, *sniff* they're all grown up. Look at them all, in suits and ties no less! I had to go through a crazy number of photos to pull this one (they were all being goofy in the other photos) I guess somethings never change ;)

The ceremony was outdoors, at the Nixon Presidential Library - out in the rose garden. The setting was stunning, the flowers (arrangements, and otherwise) were also beautiful. There were rose petals in abundance.

The bride and groom - aren't they lovely? I saw their photographer sneaking round to the other side - but we figured we shouldn't go sneaking around during the ceremony in an attempt at photographs.

The little ones in the wedding party were especially adorable - I don't have photos of the little man who did a recitation of Mr. Roger's "It's you I like" - very well done and way too cute!

The reception was indoors - and the food was prepared by an ex-presidential chef (and it was very tasty too). Behold, the cake:

Simple and elegant, white and dark chocolate with raspberries...and pastry cream.

Congratulations, Julian and Christina! We wish you happiness, good fortune and health!

OPF - Hello August!

Eep, it's already the end of September and I totally forgot to share the fiber I got in August :) It's quite lovely - though I haven't yet made friends with my spinning wheel (I was too crazed working on that shawl)...I saw a sample worked up by Kiki when we met for knitting this past weekend. Her lovely swatch/sample make me realize I really need to get on with learning how to navajo ply properly - course this does mean re-learning how to put more twist in my singles since I had switched to spinning primarily low twist singles a while back. Ah, the joys of learning new skills :) (ps - there's a great tutorial on YouTube right here in case you're trying to get navajo plying down too)

Paradise.

It's not all desert here in Arizona. We have some pretty spectacular riparian areas - I always marvel at the glorious colors of redrock country.

The redrock and the foliage naturally complement each other - Mother Nature sure is clever ;)

...just beware the Poison Ivy. Portions of this area are filthy with it!

Down to the wire!

The Secret of Chrysopolis Shawl, which I apparently cast on for 2 years ago this month, has been finished, and the knitting needles officially harvested!

it's currently staked out and blocking, getting ready to pack it up and take it with me for a wedding. Finished, it's an impressive 27.5" wide, and probably about 6-feet long. Of course, once it's unstaked, there will be more photos :)

The Chicken Rides Again

Seems like more and more bloggers that I read have found their way into publishing - I've been reading Amy Karol's blog: Angry Chicken for a long time - she makes me aspire to actually do fabric-craft rather than simply acquire fabric ;)


Her new book: Bend the Rules with Fabric is my speed - not so much focus on the sewing, but the embellishment and personalization. The book starts out with a quick primer on design elements and color theory along with a fantastic listing and explanation of various tools or other materials you might use in your crafting adventures. After the basics are taken care of, the book moves on into the projects. As the subtitle explains, there are projects that include stamping, painting/drawing, stenciling, various methods of image transfer, dyeing and using fiber on fabric (think simple embroidery or applique). Each technique is explained using simple instructions - and my favorite part? The pros (why this method will make you happy) and cons (why this method will make you sad) for each technique are also there for you to guide you on your crafty way.

This book takes me way back to when I used to craft a lot more with fabric - and it's also introduced me to some new techniques. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can make "new" again!

Coincidentally, Amy also authored some great gift tags: Bend the Rules Gift Labels - in addition to one perfect for crafters (reading "I made this, just so you know. So don't say anything mean about it") - there are 7 others that you may find as perfect as I do including "Don't get too excited. The box is from something else." :)

And now...

...an interlude. While I knit like a mad woman, the cats practice synchronized sprawling. If you make like you're going to rub their bellies, they usually will roll to the side:

See? Excuse the extraneous fluff on the carpet - clearly, it's time to vacuum again!

Houston...

...we have a problem.

See that wee bit of yarn? Not nearly enough for oh...150+ rows more of knitting, is it? Thank goodness I am dyer...but probably better, the second skein was still available! I'm making swift progress on harvesting the needles out of this project by way of actually finishing it. I'm now knitting down to the wire - I want it done for an event this weekend. If I am going to make it, I need to have this baby staked out and blocking by Saturday Night...think it'll happen?

Rockin'

Hmm. Not quite a look I'm excited to be sporting, but I've found I've managed to damage myself again! (worry not, I only have to wear that evil looking boot at night - I'm still trying to figure out if it's Plantar Fasciitis or if I've somehow managed to give myself a stress fracture)

After having given up heeled shoes a while ago, I found myself crazily drawn to these lovely ruby red, modestly heeled mary janes from John Fluevog. After hearing several acquaintances sing the praises of Fluevog shoes, and realizing I needed to come up with an outfit for an upcoming wedding, it was a perfect opportunity to see if my Keen-loving feet will tolerate heels (I do realize that PF or stress fracture means I'm not supposed to be prancing around in heels, but I figure there isn't *that* much walking involved and the wedding is a month away). Due to my lack of knowhow when it comes to fancy womens shoes, I had to rely on the advice and guidance of the kind individual who answered the phone when I called to place my order - kudos and thanks to Rebecca from the Chicago Fluevog store - she was very helpful in guiding style and size selection and notified me that apparently Vogs can be purchased by layaway plan. Egad.

Getting Organized

Apparently, my household has been struck with a bout of Autumnal Organization - between myself, my husband and our cats, we've managed to clutter up the place since our Spring Cleaning event and once again find ourselves going through everything and trying to decide what items to keep, what to donate away, what to try to resell and what to just throw (or freecycle) away. While traumatizing at the time, I always do find a good bout of organization to be incredibly invogorating once finished - how about you?

Just in time, my friends Illanna and Kiki have a great idea for the month of September!

It's the Great September Needle Harvest! The concept is deceptively simple - harvest/free up as many needles as you can from your UFOs by either actually finishing them, ripping them back, transferring the project to stitch holders, converting the project into something else (for example, felt it down and turn it into an ornament, a bag or perhaps even a creature!), give the project to someone else to finish (with their own needles ;) ) or...just pitch it (without the needles, of course).

There's a Ravelry group, and prizes for incentives - click on the banner or the link above to join us in our harvesting!