Wednesday, May 30, 2007

I have no excuse for withholding these photos from you.  Either you've been dying to see them, or you're tired of squares.  BUT . . . I'm not tired of them, so here you go!

From Marge E., lover of ladybugs.  I could predict the knitter of this square because of the cute little ladybug buttons!

From Terri McE., a wacky tilty square made out of some Brunswick Pomfret yarn (Brunswick is out of business, alas) which used to live in MY stash, and now lives in Terri's stash, but has come back home to stay with me.  I think Terri said the pattern is from The Great American Afghan from XRX.  Wacky!  Tilty!

From Rae B., a beautifully textured square knit from the Lizard Ridge pattern (from the Fall 2006 issue of knitty.com) out of Noro.  Look at those wiggly rows of red/purple stitches on either side of the midway point of this square.  Cool!  In other places, that color filled in a whole glob of the pattern (glob = technical term).  Extra cool!  Just like Rae!

From Carolyn S., a diagonal garter stitch square knit in two of Carolyn's favorite colors.  Coincidentally, they're two of my favorite colors, too!  The red in this square will always remind me of Carolyn's tall red boots.  "Tall red boots" just doesn't do them justice, though.  They're works of art -- just like Carolyn's square!

From Kathy K., a masterpiece of traveling stitches.  The pattern is "Fractured Lace" from The Taste of Aran Afghan (designed by Janet Szabo), and the yarn is Cascade 220.  Look how nice and even that pattern is!  Perfect knitting, from a perfectly wonderful knitter.  Thank you, Kathy!

From Angie T., the second of two squares she made from the Trekking sock yarn we both love.  This mitered square pattern is from the Women's Mitered Square Cardigan pattern (by Dixie Berryman) that KnitPicks offered as a free pattern for a while, that Angie made, that I coveted, and that I started (using Koigu!) but haven't finished.  Because while I want to be able to knit like Angie, the reality is that I can't keep up with her.  She's a speedy one!

From Louise P., some amazingly intricate cabling.  Louise used to teach knitting classes before I even dreamed of being a knitting instructor, and I am always in awe of the difficulty and quality of her knitted projects.  I remember that Louise is a tight knitter -- I'm a loose knitter.  I think she and I could knit with needles four sizes apart and get the exact same gauge!

From Rae B. (again), a pretty purl stitch lattice pattern that I couldn't get to show up very well (she posted much better photos on the blankie website).  The yarn is Kathmandu from the Queensland Collection.  I had been eyeing this yarn in the yarn shop (Rae's!) because it comes in such a pretty shade of purple.  And now I have my very own square of it to squoosh whenever I feel like it!

From Deidra C., a VERY squooshy seed stitch square knit from yarn that I strongly believe was dyed by Nancy McRay at Woven Art.  Deidra has a knack for creating simple, yet beautiful, things.  This square reminds me of the funky accessories she knit for Woven Art's holiday bazaar a couple of years ago!  Deidra's note (one of the few to survive uberimma's three year old!) said that "Sarah's mantra to newbie knitters is:  make a swatch, make a swatch, make a swatch . . ."  Thanks for the way cool swatch, Deidra!

From Nancy D., a very kind soul and fellow book club enthusiast, an incredibly soft square worked in a double seed stitch pattern.  Or maybe it's called moss stitch -- I always get those confused.  Regardless.  Soft.  Knits and purls.  Very kind soul.  I have yet to give her a hug for her square, but I'll catch up to her one of these days!

From Diane B., who told me she made a mistake in the pattern so she repeated it, so it became a design element.  My kind of knitter!  Uberimma, who was kind of hoping for 12 inch squares so she'd have an easier time putting them all together, confessed to me via the phone that she wasn't sure she liked Diane very much, since Diane failed to hit the 12 inch requirement in both height AND width (most knitters who missed were only off in height OR width, but not both), and barely managed to hit the time requirement, as well.  You can see that uberimma had to supplement this particular square on all sides, and that it appears on a corner, having been the last square received.  After I read a particularly wonderful e-mail (that Diane had sent me regarding WHY she and everyone else had knit squares for my blankie) aloud to uberimma, she declared that she now liked Diane very much indeed, and that all was well.  I like Diane very much indeed, too.

From Cyndi R., who wins the "Nicky Epstein" award for embellishment!  Cyndi took to heart uberimma's direction to include bits and pieces of my classes in the squares.  Can you tell what I've been helping Cyndi with?  She's been knitting gorgeous Fair Isle sweaters with teensy tiny bits of help from me (mostly in the form of borrowing my sewing machine and wooly board!), and she says "the hat was a sad attempt at Entrelac, but maybe I should take that class too . . ."  What a fun square!  Sorry about the shadows . . .

From Ann K., perfect garter stitch knit with Rio De La Plata yarn.  Mmmmm!  I'm surprised Ann didn't knit this square on the bias, because she's famous for her "dishcloth" baby blankets, although don't let her pull the wool over your eyes (ha!) -- I've watched her knit a beautiful sweater and an Entrelac vest!  And Ann's daughter Jessie is a knitter, too, so you KNOW Ann's doing something right!

From Tracy A., a from-the-inside-out square!  I've talked to her a gazillion times, and have yet to ask her what yarn she used (Hey, Tracy!  What yarn did you use?).  Tracy is currently preparing to hatch an adorable son, to match her currently existing adorable daughter.  Tracy and her daughter are frequent companions of mine at various and sundry fine dining establishments throughout the Greater Lansing area.  Where are we eating next, Tracy?  I know . . . X marks the spot!

From Anna F., I think (I may have her square and Michelle F.'s mixed up -- I haven't seen either of them to thank them yet, although not for lack of trying).  This appears to be very nicely handspun yarn, and is a beautiful combination of colors.  Anna is also in my book club, and is often seen spinning with a drop spindle, which is why I think this may be her own handspun yarn.  I'll have to get back to you on that.  I am completely unable to spin my own yarn.  I can't get the hang of that drafting thing, so I greatly admire anyone who can spin.  Anna is another very kind soul -- all of my book club buddies are!  Well, except for that Diane B., who can't seem to knit a 12 inch square . . .

From Michelle F., I think (see above).  This also appears to be very nicely handspun yarn, and is ANOTHER beautiful combination of colors.  I don't see Michelle very often (like, not at all since I received my blanket), but the powers that be (aka the guys at ThreadBear) told me that she spins, too.  How lucky I am that I have squares in my blankie made from people's very own handspun yarn?  I'm so impressed.  Thank you, Michelle!  You must not work on Thursday nights, eh?

From Lynn H., the first of two squares she knit for me.  I think this is also knit from handspun yarn -- did you spin it, Lynn?  She chronicled the birth of her squares on the blankie website, which I would link to if it wasn't a quarter to one in the morning . . . 

Lynn loves to knit, hates to purl.  Which is why her second square totally blew me away: 

Also from Lynn H., a BASKETWEAVE square, which involves JUST AS MANY PURL STITCHES AS KNIT STITCHES!!!  Lynnie must love me, to do all that purling for me.  And I love Lynn, too!!!  (I feel so honored!)

From Nancy McR., who happily pointed out that she had done Intarsia for me (she took my Introduction to Intarsia class), which I was proud to see, but what I failed to notice right away was that the design Nancy used was the logo from her yarn shop (Woven Art), and what I found out even LATER was that Nancy didn't even use a chart for this square -- she just winged it.  Oh -- and did I mention that she dyed the yarn, too?  Because that's what she does, you know.  Among other things, like learning new skills and then TOTALLY IMPRESSING HER TEACHER!!!  (Need I mention the Fair Isle vest she steeked after channeling me when I failed to show up for a second Sunday knit-in?).  You rock, Nancy!

Oh my god -- how many more squares are there?

From Pat DeL., a perfect, pure cable flanked by perfect, pure stockinette stitch, showing off the beautiful colors of Noro.  This reminds me of one of the two (!) bags Pat knit in my Introduction to Aran class.  One bag was from Cascade Pastaza, I think, but the other was from a variegated yarn with a long color stripe -- it wasn't Noro, but I can't remember what it was (What was it, Pat?).  Regardless, it turned out beautifully.  As did THIS square!

From Cheanne L., my dear friend (as you all are!).  This square is knit in an open, lacy pattern using yarn leftover from a skirt class I taught (using a Berocco pattern) when I first started teaching.  The yarn was called Sensuwool (from Berocco), and has been (sadly) discontinued.  I don't think we ever finished that class, did we?  Cheanne made her square stretchy "in case you had a tight spot in the afghan."  That's my buddy Cheanne -- always thinking of others and trying to make life easier for everyone.  I'm so glad she was thinking of me!

From Kristi G., some amazingly perfect cables (although the photo appears to be less than perfect -- it's upside down -- sorry!).  Not bad for a knitter who, when I met her, was completely lacking in self confidence (where her knitting was concerned) but who is now working from charts, tweaking patterns, and designing her own socks.  Oh -- and did I mention that she's the mother of twin boys?  How the heck do you find the time to knit, Kristi?  I'm so glad you took the time to knit a square for me!!!  It's beautiful (even if it is upside down!!).

From Erin J., the second of two squares she knit for me.  Again with the cables, but way more complicated this time.  Look at all of that interlocking action going on!  Erin, like a lot of the blankie knitters who took my Intro to Aran class, made sure I knew that no cable needles were harmed (or used!) in the making of her squares.  Woo hoo!!!

Oh my goodness -- is that it?  How many squares was that?  Let me go count . . .  23 from today, 4 from last time, and 9 the time before that.  That's 36, right?  Well that's it then.  I STILL don't know who knit the square at the top of the previous post -- will it be a mystery forever?  I hope not!!

I have more photos to show you (I HAVE been knitting, after all, and so have my students), but it's late and I think I've hit my quota of photos for one post.  I'll see you again soon!

Oh -- and I'm trying out Haloscan for comments.  Test it out for me, please!  (ETA:  I'm not having any success with getting the comment line to show up -- I'll keep working on it!)

Sarah

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Well, my commenting host's website is back online, only to announce that they have shut the service down and put it up for sale.  I wonder if I should try to get my $10 back?  Poo.  What commenting service do YOU use, and are you happy with it? 

Just a few more blankie photos today -- there are a million more, and I'm saving most of them for my next post. 

I don't know who made this beautiful square for me.  Would someone please step forward and claim it so I can properly thank you?

From Cecilia S., who I have never met, but who I know to be a wonderful person because she is such a good friend to my dear uberimma, and LOOK!  She made me a square!  Cecilia lives in Australia, and was one of the first people to knit my knee warmer pattern.  She's also an accomplished log cabin knitter from way back, and has added some more cool "quilting" to my blanket.

From Diana T., who I also have never met, but who I also know to be a wonderful person because she's LynnH's favorite sister-in-law, and my Lynnie always speaks of her with oodles of love and devotion.  Diana's square is knit from LynnH's Flammegarn hand dyed yarn, and was a square that tricked me, because I recognized the yarn and thought that Lynn had knit it!  How kind of her sis-in-love to knit a square for me!

From uberimma (again!).  Those of you keeping score at home will recognize 1) the stitch pattern from the sweater uberimma designed and knit for me last year, and 2) the sock yarn that she used to make me a pair of mittens this year.  Have I mentioned that uberimma ROCKS? 

That's all the squares for today.  I have to show you some finished projects real quick, and then I'm going to pop some popcorn and watch a movie before I go to bed.  Should I watch The Good Shepherd, with Matt Damon, or Take the Lead, with Antonio Banderas?  Whatever I don't watch tonight, I'll watch tomorrow morning, because they're both due back to the video store tomorrow night.  And why exactly DO we call it the video store, when they no longer have any videos to rent?

Here's the Ballybrae V-neck sweater, no longer scratchy, but with a slight oops:

I'm trying to distract you with the beautiful Viburnum (Korean Spice -- mmm!) and the messy dandelions, so you don't see the boo boo I discovered after I had woven the last end in.

Can you see it?  Look closer:

Front and slightly-off-center, I placed one (ONE!) decrease an extra stitch in from the edge, probably because I was busy chit-chatting while knitting this "mindless" sweater. 

To fix this errant SSK, I would have to take off the neck border, unknit one sleeve (which was picked up and knit from the top down), undo the three needle bind off holding the shoulder together, and tear the right front down almost to the beginning of the "V".  Then I would have to move the SSK over one (ONE!) stitch, re-knit the right front, do the three needle bind off to join the shoulder again, re-knit the sleeve, and re-knit the neck border.

Or I can leave it alone and hope no one notices, which is what I've chosen to do (except that you know I'll be pointing it out to all of my knitting friends, which is, like, everyone I know).

And the crocheting I mentioned last time:

A child sized sweater (dandelion included for scale) that I started to crochet last year for an afghans for Afghans donation.  Sadly, I didn't get it done in time for that deadline, so I'll save it for another one.  The stitch pattern was easy and reversible, I used a bunch of stash yarn (I kept running out -- can you tell?), and the sewing together wasn't even too horrible (do the same methods apply to crocheted items and knitted items?  I don't know, but I made it work!).  The particulars are on my Finished Projects page.

And I delivered my Mom's garter stitch afghan today (Happy Mother's Day!):

That was a LOT of garter stitch.  It measures 67" by 53".  I knit the center section in strips and then sewed them together, mainly because I only had the variegated yarn to work with at first. That made it easier to knit, but if I had it to do again, I would knit it in one piece to avoid the seams.  The long side borders were picked up and worked continuously.  I'll write this up as a free pattern in the next few days (geez -- I just jinxed myself again!), but basically, I cast on 100 stitches and knit a whole ball of variegated yarn (Encore Colorspun), then half a ball of solid yarn (Encore), etc. etc. for the center section.  The long side edges are each one ball of solid and two balls of variegated.  So that's, what . . . thirteen 100 gram balls of yarn.  No leftovers!

That's all for now.  Off to pop some popcorn.

(Hmm.  The birth of the CIA, or Antonio in tight pants and that look in his eye?  Tough decision . . .)

Sarah

Saturday, May 5, 2007

I've been napping and sleeping under my new blankie every single day, and taking it with me to classes and knit-ins and, tomorrow, to book club, after which it will remain on my bed until it is buried with me (no, wait -- I'm taking it to guild one more time, too).  I'm still trying to identify the wonderful, generous knitter of the last of the 36 squares, and when I do I will send out proper thank yous to everyone.  I started taking photos of the squares during a particularly sunny morning, but didn't make it very far before my camera's battery ran out.  I'll complete the series soon.  In the meantime, here are some close-ups, with apologies to everyone for the wibbly-wobblyness of the squares (lying on my bed in a little patch of sunshine), and for the massive amount of cat and dog hair stuck everywhere (they thank you, too), and uberimma apologizes for possibly having sewn some of the squares in upside-down (so hey -- it's reversible!), but in my eyes they're ALL absolutely perfect.  From any angle.

There's a cool website (no longer secret!) of the afghan-in-the-making here.  Be sure to check out the flicker slideshow posted by LynnH on 4/19.  It recreates the "hand-off" perfectly.  I still can't believe I didn't have a single clue about anything.  Especially since, in retrospect, there were many, many things going on that didn't make any sense at all (completely on uberimma's end -- the Lansing knitters are really, really good secret-keepers).  I'm still remembering conversations and thinking "oh -- THAT'S what that was all about!" and "THAT'S why she asked me for the gauge of my sweater".

I'm not sure what all of the yarns are.  If the wonderful knitters would like to tell me, I would like to add it here for the record (thank you!).  I've been nervous about posting anything because I'm afraid I won't gush enough, or that I won't gush about each square equally, or that I don't have all my facts straight.  I've waited too long, therefore.

Presenting:

From Nancy S., intarsia squares with overcast stitching.  Nancy S. made some very cool mittens out of recycled sweaters recently, by cutting and sewing and embellishing, and this square reminds me of those mittens, and therefore, of Nancy S.

From uberimma, a cool log cabin square within a square.  Uberimma is very experienced in the area of log cabin knitting, having made herself an entire afghan of these.  I made two quilts for her boys, so the quilting theme is perfect (was it intentional?).  The black is KnitPicks Wool of the Andes (which uberimma used in the sweater she knit for me last year) and the purply blue is Stahl Socka Big, which I'd never even heard of before.

From Tamsyn M., good solid garter stitch knit from Bartlett Yarns, I think (she told me, and I forgot).  You can't go wrong with garter stitch.  Or with purple yarn.  Or with Tamsyn, for that matter!

From Debbie D. (I think!), garter stitch on the bias which shows off the beautiful variegated yarn (that I can't identify --is it Manos?) very beautifully.  And hey -- is that the infamous dishcloth pattern?  I think it is.  MUCH classier than any I've ever knit, though!

From Susan O'D., a square sacrificed from her son's/daughter's (help!) wedding afghan, from the Great American Aran afghan series.  Look at the seed stitch in the cables.  Cool!  And how long have they been married now, Susan?  Aren't you knitting baby blankets now?

From Eunice L., who said she didn't have anything good enough in her stash and so made a trip to the yarn store for me, although I'm not sure what the yarn is (how much am I worth to you, Eunice?).  What a sweetie!  And really, stash yarn would have been fabulous and generous as well (but this is gorgeous -- just look at that shading! -- so thank you for the extra effort!).

From Wendy S., the softest, most gorgeous blue-violet yarn in the entire universe -- my first Malabrigo!!  I love it.  Thank you, Wendy!

From Angie T., knit in Trekking sock yarn, which she used for her Mitered Square cardigan (which I'm trying to copy with Koigu, but which is currently stalled due to a Koigu shortage in my stash).  Angie knit a second, mitered square from the same yarn, that I haven't photographed yet.  This was one of the squares for which I was able to identify the knitter just by looking at the yarn.  How fun!

From Erin J., a very cool three-part cable knit with leftover Dale Heilo from the Intro to Aran class she took from me.  Erin did the cables without a cable needle (hooray!), and knit Continental style, which she also learned from me.  Yay, Erin!

And that's when my camera battery died.  More to come . . .

Here's what else was on ye olde memory card:

We've had Nona (in the foreground) for over a year now, and this was the closest she and Mica (in the background) have ever gotten without there being a big hissy fit.  Progress!  Another year and they'll be sharing the same window!

I took a great double knitting class from Lucy Neatby this week (sponsored by ThreadBear) which took place in a very cool gallery space in Lansing's Old Town, which I'll have to go back to explore someday.  Here's one of the samples (the others looked like a giant earthworm and a blob, and were therefore not photographed):

No, it's not an apron for a doll, although it sure looks like one, and there's even a pocket forming in the upper, burgundy part (can you see the shadows of the outline?).  The bottom "skirt" is completely reversible but with a negative image (that's the point of the double knitting), and represents my first double knit decreases.  I've taken a couple of workshops over the years on this technique, and I even taught a class based on a Nancy Lindberg headband pattern (back when I taught from other people's patterns), but I humbly bow down to the superior double knitting skills of Lucy Neatby, who is such a wonderful instructor that I feel quite worthless in comparison.  Sigh.

I'm practicing with her Mirror Mirror scarf pattern (which she knit partially in fun fur -- ack!) and some stash yarn -- Siena (old -- from what yarn company?) and some Colinette Hand Dyed Mohair (why on earth did I have this in my stash?).

Front (or back):

And back (or front):

It doesn't feel smooth yet, but it's great practice, I'm trying different methods of holding the two yarns, and I'm learning to keep the sides closed.  I love the squooshy texture of double knitting.

I've been trying to make a dent in my sock yarn mountain by knitting a pair of socks a month.  I only finished one sock and a toe in April, so I guess I'd better get a move on or give up on my two-socks-a-month dream.  The label for this cotton/wool/nylon/elite(?) yarn says (and I quote), "Four Seasons Hot Socks Sockenwolle Cotton Stretch Sockenwolle 3-fach Knitting Yarn".  So if anyone asks me what yarn I'm using, I say "I dunno."  I think I got it at, um, somewhere in Wisconsin when I was on my way to Knitting Camp last year.  What's the catalog place in Stevens Point?  Oh wait -- I'll go check the archives . . . aha!  Herrschner's!

My Mom's afghan is nearing completion:

I have half a ball of yarn left to knit up (tonight, if I ever finish this entry), and then a pile of ends to weave in (Tuesday, at the knit-in), and it will be presented to my mom on Sunday (Mother's Day).  Despite it being brown, and mostly acrylic, it's a very beautiful afghan, if I may say so myself.  I'll take a picture of the whole thing when it's done, and I plan on posting the "design" on my free pattern page shortly after that (the design being, essentially, "knit until you run out of yarn").

Because I completed my (as yet unphotographed) Fair Isle Cardigan (except for ends to be woven in and buttons to be sewn on, but hey -- the knitting is done!), May's UFO Resurrection project is another biggie that's been languishing in the basement -- Celtic Dreams!!

Ooh -- you've gotta love natural sunlight.  I had set this project aside shortly after joining the body under the armholes (it's knit from the top down, and therefore photographed upside-down), but when I picked it up again this week I decided that the armholes were huge, so I tore out the joining rows and tore back about two inches worth of the front and the back.  I've joined them again and am working my way not-as-diligently-as-I-could-be through the charts.  The Blackwater Abbey yarn, while stunningly gorgeous (and much more glaringly PURPLE than this photo depicts), is a little hard on my hands (probably because of my gauge, which is kind of firm for this sweater), so I'm trying to knit just a dozen rows a day.  Anyway, it's back in the rotation, and should be finished in plenty of time for next fall.  I hope I didn't just jinx myself by putting that in words.

May I brag about my students some more?  Here are the almost completed projects after the last session of my Basic Sock class at Lavender and Peonies in DeWitt.  And everyone had successfully kitchenered their swatches together, so I have the utmost confidence that if these socks aren't finished by now, they soon will be.  Along with their mates (right, ladies?).  Great work!  I just wish I could remember to get my camera out after EVERY class, but I hardly ever think of it.  Goofball.

And look -- what's this?  That's not knitting!

I finished my crocheted sweater for afghans for Afghans (just six short months after the deadline, and shown here before completion), and it's pretty darned cute if I may say so myself.  I bought buttons for it today, so I'll post a finished photo after I get those on.  Which will take, you know, like fifteen minutes, so I'll probably put it off for a week or two, because that's how I am.

I also finished and washed my v-neck Ballybrae sweater, and it's MUCH softer now (thank goodness!), which I know some of you will be very glad to hear (but not as glad as I was!).  Photos pending . . .

It figures that as soon as I broke down and paid for my commenting system, that it would cease to function entirely.  The entire website for the commenting company is, like, completely gone.  I can't even find any contact information to try to get my money back.  Grrr. 

Well, you can always e-mail me.  My address is over there on the left somewhere.

I'm off to re-charge my camera battery . . .

Sarah

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