November weather

In England we’d of had 2 months of dreary weather by now.  Here in Seattle the sun was lovely and bright today.  Of course, it’s cold- so that really pushed me to go ahead and finish Keld- which has been hanging over me for some time now.  I loved the pattern, and I loved the yarn- the colour is gorgeous and it is very warm.  I am very happy with the way it came out.  BUT I am not happy with the way it looks on me.  I should have made a shorter garter stictch part to have the waist shaping actually shape my waist.  It was a miscalculation on my part.  Also the round collar in general is not flattering on me (busty and small waist)- so it doens’t look that great on me.  However, it does fit well- the shoulders the arm lenght is all perfect and it keeps me really warm, the whole point of making it in the first place.  So I’m keeping it and wearing it proudly.  Today I got lots of compliments while I wore it around the shop (my new workplace- Hilltop Yarn), so that’s got to be something.

What I did to Keld- the main change was the gauge- since I was using Peace Fleece.  I used size S for the lenght in the pattern and size L for the width and stitch count.  It worked!  Except I wished i had done less of the garter stitch part- about 4″ less!  I also shortened the sleeves - I made them about 6″ shorter and then started the bell of the sleeve.  i have short arms- and I just kept measuring them on my arm until I thougth I had enough lenght.  The sleeves are the perfect lenght now.

So now on to another project to finish!! I really want to get the Clapotis done so I may wear it in this weather.  In the meantime I am exploring the world of toddler mittens- so far Natasha has about 5 mittens- all different sizes and shapes.  I think I have the final ones now- pattern from The Knitter’s Handy book of Patterns by Ann Budd.

The update and the news

In the end I decided that I was going to Southern Texas where it was still 75 F  in the shade, I wouldn’t need that much clothes, so the yarn took up prime space on my bag.  I also braved the feared “traveling thorugh airport security with knitting”- a small lace project on circular Addi Natura needles.  No problems at all with security- with my daughter thought….  Here’s a thought- if you’re traveling to the other side of the country with a toddler, try to start the travel in the morning.  She was an angel from Seattle to Houston- where I wished I had my knitting, and a devil from Houston to Seattle- where I did have my knitting and didn’t have time to even think about it because I was busy with the little BabyBee.

Now I’m back in real Autumn weather wishing I had finished Keld- but with my in-laws visiting from Spain, knitting time is almost nill.  I am considering frogging the sleeves… oh dear… I hate sleeves, they always take me a long time to finish, but I’ve increased the sleeve width too quickly…  I’ll have to think about it — very hard.

On to other news news.  Tonight  I spent a lovely night tonight not thinking about anything but knitting in my soon to be place of employment- Hilltop Yarn in Queen Anne!  I met future work collegues and got to eat buiscuits and drink tea- and knit knit knit-  almost heaven…  then I stepped out into the freezing cold…

going round

I can’t help think that I would have avoided a whole LOT of frogging if I’d decided to do this coat in the round… BUT I do love knitting Peace Fleece on my rosewood needles- and although I also love my Addi Turbos I don’t love them with the Peace Fleece… The CHP flew on the rosewoods, but not that much on the turbos which was a big suprise.  Maybe it’s personal preference…

Note to self: MUST consider doing sweaters and coats in the round before I simply start knitting with the nearest needles to hand… in other words, don’t fall in lust with yarn and pattern and jump into knitting - THINK before you KNIT…

It’s almost like marriage, no?

Keld Coat frogging.. and more moving

This weekend in the big moving weekend… We signed the papers (all the 40 papers or so) and in the next few days, the owners of the house will be signing the same amount of papers- and at some point Saturday, the house will be ours.  On Sunday, all our things from all parts of the USA are going to converge in our new house, and we’ll probably have just enough time to think about cleaning before the movers arrive with our stuff.  To me that means I better get some knitting in QUICK!!!  I will barely be able to find my stash and knitting, much less find time to knit something.

I’ve been busily working away of the Keld Coat, which I love so far… I’ve loved it so much I’ve just been knitting away not realising that I’d made a very fundamental mistake.  I have made the left side shorter than the back- about 10 rows too short- since I’d miscounted as well on the neck line, I thought I might as well frog the whole left side and do it again- do it proper…. I hate having to frog… HATE HATE HATE… but I hate more knowing I’m wearing something that I knit wrong.  I though I might actually get most of the coat done before we move (Peace Fleece is so quick to knit and addictive), but no chance now.  I’ve been pretty monogamous to Keld, which is rare for me.  I usually have several projects on the go at once, but the same happened with the CHP- I couldn’t stop.  I have knitted a few rows of the Thwaite in the yarn it was meant to be in - the British Breeds Sheep Collection Wool- and it is also somewhat addictive.  I’ve come to realise that knitting with wool is what I prefer (at least this year).

I got to wear my CHP yesterday when the weather turned from gorgeous sunny to drab and cold.  I wore it while it rained and I didn’t feel a drop!  I love my CHP!

Seattle- a place to sleep in late

I was on Ravelry a few minutes ago joining every group that was in Seattle… because I’m here- finally here!!!  After a rush of packing and more packing, and a lot of very sad goodbyes, we were on the road.  The trip lasted three days- so I got really put some miles in my Blanket Cardigan by Sarah Dally in her Knitting book (my designated easy to knit in the car, in the dark, or anywhere).  Still it was hard to find the energy to do anything because all three of us had caught a very nasty cold.  After the stress of moving our guard went down - and we arrived in Seattle happy to be able to sleep in the next day.   Still, I made some desicions- first that the flame pattern would not look good in the KPPM as beautiful as both pattern and yarn are- together, you can’t see the pattern.   I decided the KPPPM would look very nice as a smaller Clapotis- I frogged the lace and began the Clapotis… and it’s turning out gorgeous!!!

Now that I’m moved and have a decent internet connection, I’ll be able to update this blog’s gallery properly- so far I’ve only been updating Ravelry since it’s what keep me organised.  Of course this will all happen in between finding a place to live, unpacking, and getting lost in this city.   There is so much to do!!! But all I can think of right now is where is the Sudafed?

Knitting on a hot day

Today was so hot that just trying to knit some of Natasha’s Accordion Jacket almost made me run to the fridge for a cold glass of …something…. anything! Instead I picked up the not so exciting, but ever so elegant, yet unending Veil by Norah Gaughan which I’m knitting with Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool (from my stash!!). It is light and well, not terribly cool, but light- so I worked an inch or two. I also worked a bit on Kim’s Clapotis which is made using lovely and delicate Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk in Kim’s favorite colour (from my stash too!), but way too hot to even look at the Spring Clapotis- in worsted weight wool. No I ended up sticking with the Veil. It is straight easy knitting, great for watching TV they say… I don’t have a TV. This week hubby is in Mexico and I’m in San Diego, so hopefully I’ll have my nights free to watch movies gallore in front of my computer (or the 7 inch portable DVD player that’s become my new best friend this past year)- and knit knit knit this Veil until it’s done. Then I can wear it in the very slightly cool evenings we’ve had (24C at night! This is April, right?)

Kim’s Clapotis looking a bit mangled because the poor yarn has been frogged a few times in search for the perfect pattern for the yarn and Kim… yarn whispering I call it.

Taking the San Diego Spring with me

JimmyBeans Wool seems to have a special understanding with the powers that be at Lorna’s Laces, and for the last few months, Lorna’s Laces creates a special colourway for JimmyBeans alone. I’ve never knit with Lorna’s Laces before but I’ve admired their colours from afar. When I saw the April 2008 colours, I decided this was going to be my first Lorna’s Laces project with Clapotis. Yes, I actually had a project in mind when I bought the yarn, which doesn’t happen often. I only bought 2 skeins, since I’m on a yarn budget, and hopefully it should be enough for a nice Spring Clapotis. These April colours remind me a bit of Matisse and of Spring here in San Diego. And if things go as planned, my last Spring here. So I’m knitting a warm Clapotis to heat up my cold days in Seattle.

I took a picture of the Clapotis but the colours in the picture are not the true colours of the skeins.

The blues are not so green, and the green is a lot lighter… I hate to say it but in the picture it looks pretty ugly!

In the company of knitters…

I rushed down from Ensenada this Thrusday- braved a new path to the border since for some strange reason, the police had closed off the normal route- and then gulped down a cup of tea (of course), so I could make it to the first Ravelry event in San Diego… the Bobmas Eve celebration. It was being held at my local yarn shop, The Grove at Juniper and 30th (yes, the address is also it’s name). It had to be very hot in San Diego, so Natasha couldn’t wear her cute hoodie or 3/4 sleeve jacket- and I couldn’t wear my pride and joy, The CHP. Still, I took it with me… it might get nippy in the evening!

I’m very glad I went. I got to meet lots of other knitters from all ages and interests. We chatted, enjoyed yummy cupcakes provided by one of the knitters, and of course, coveted all sorts of yarns and projects. The perfect closing to the evening was the yarn swap. We had been asked to bring a ball of yarn and swap for another one- all were supposed to be wrapped up with only the yarn contents in a tag. Some of the wrappings were so beautiful it really spoke of the time people took to choose the right yarn and to make it look as desirable as possible. I picked the one that looked like an adorable Christmas pillow. Inside was a yarn that I’ve never seen or heard of before - Marr Haven - made in Michigan. mule spun… the most wonderful mix of tweedy grey and a bit of brown- It looks rugged but feels soft. i can’t wait to knit something with this lovely gift!

Throughout the evening I kept trying to work on the spring clapotis or start on an entrelac scarf, but I finally just put them both aside and helped a new friend to crochet.

Mystery Capelet

I have two skeins of French Grey of Soft Chunky Twinkle Handknits.  It is a lovely fluffy yarn, as soft as feathers, and a lovely gleam.  I seem to be buying orphan skeins no-one wants because I also have 1 skein of the lavender colour as well- it was looking very lonely in the shop.  Originally the lavender was going to be a hat from the Twinkle Weekend Knits, but now it might become part of my experiment began this morning.  I am trying to create a little capelet with these three colours, which won’t involve intarsia or colour changing of any kind.  I also want it to be as versatile as possible, so it might be modular.

CHP’s first outing!

Finally the CHP is done. It took a while and I nearly lost heart doing the ribbing.. it seemed to take forever. The weaving in of the loose ends took even longer. When I put it on it fit perfect. It looks lovely but it is a bit itchy. I thought this would be a problem but when I wore it today, I hardly noticed it. What I did feel was how warm it is. I love this yarn!! Wore it on a windy day out and it was very comfortable, soft and warm.  It stopped the chilling wind dead.  The only problem was that I chose to NOT put buttons on it.  I like the way it looks open, but unfortunately I kept having to hold it closed when the wind got too much.  I might have to rethink the button issue (without having to redo the ribbing!!) or actually even think about a zipper!!