From here to there

Hi Mom,

You know it's been a long time between posts when even Nathan is asking me when I'm going to blog again! It was only when I started going through all the photos I've taken over the last month that I realized how long it's been. For example, since my last post I've managed to go from the very start of my children's vest for afghans 4 Afghans to it's completion, along with a matching hat!

The vest after the initial cast-on, and again as I was nearing the end of the turtle neck.

Notes:
Pattern: mostly of my own design, modified from the Debbie Bliss pattern Stocking Stitch Sweater in her Easy Knits. As the original was a sweater, I had to change it to a vest, using online patterns as a guide. I also wasn't sure if I would have enough yarn for the pockets, so I added these on after-the-fact instead of working them into the body as with the original. The hat is just my basic hat design. I made the twirls on top by casting on between 12 and 16 stitches, then casting off the next row (I don't know where I read about this, but it worked!)
Yarn: Sam's Hand Knits 100% recycled cashmere (thanks mom!). I was worried I wouldn't have enough for a full sweater with only 6 1.75oz skeins, which is why I made a vest instead of a sweater. In the end I had enough for an extra-long turtleneck, pockets and a hat to match. (Although I used up every last yard in the process!)

I also managed to (finally) complete my lovely Eveleen, which had been my longest running project up to then. It's already been out on more than one occasion - it's perfect for the not-quite-warm, not-quite-cold San Francisco evenings. And it's comfortable too! (I was worried about the wool-for-a-short-sleeved-sweater oddity of it all, but it works).

(Photographic proof at left that I really did baste the pieces together this time before sewing them up - and it fits great!)

Notes:
Pattern: Eveleen from the fall/winter 06 Rowan, unmodified except for the addition of one extra shell repeat in the body for extra length.
Yarn: Knitpicks Palette, as a more affordable substitute for the original Rowan yarns. The yarn was really nice to work with (I would definitely use it again) but what I gained in my back account I lost in sophistication of colors, as these are definitely, um, brighter than the originals. The ribbon is a vintage greenish brown one from The Ribbonerie here in San Francisco. It's not perfect, but it will do until I track down the perfect shade of chocolate velvet.

And finally, not only did I finish Nathan's socks, after redoing the heel 5 times and adding more and more length, (too bad he is photo-shy) I have managed to make some progress with my own Hedera socks, moving from the two ankles to the completion of the sock #1:


The heel is finished on sock #2, so I am ready for the turn on that one. Because the yarn is smooshy, I'm knitting the sole & toe of these socks on 1's while keeping the pattern on 2's to give it a bit more durability. The biggest problem I've had so far is in the toe cap, which I reworked over & over again on sock #1. It is always either too small or too long, or maybe it just doesn't want to look right against the patterning no matter what I do! I've decided to just be satisfied with what I have, consoled by the fact that area will be inside the shoe anyways and promising myself not to look too closely when I wear them.

Hoping it would fit with the pattern, I worked the heel again in the alternating slip stitch that I used for Nathan's socks. Now that it's done, I'm not sure it was the best aesthetically, but it is comfortable. You asked how I did this so here is my technique (worked over an even number of stitches):


Row 1: *sl1, p1* (repeat from * to *)
Row 2: sl1, knit to end
Row 3: *p1, sl1* (repeat from * to *)
Row 2: knit to end


So, basically, it is the same as a standard heel, only I alternate which stitches are slipped on every odd row to create a type of dimpled effect. It makes it a little bit harder to count the rows; I have to remember that every 3 rows actually equals 4 rows knit (so if I count 9, I've actually worked 12). I've also found that because it doesn't pull in as much as the traditional heel I need fewer rows than the pattern may state, so I need to accommodate the gusset accordingly. But in the right situation it can look great and the padding inside feels really nice too.

I've been knitting on Hanami as well, but you'll have to check out the hanami-along to read my post on my progress there!

As a last show-and-tell, here are pics of the baby items I've worked on this summer that I didn't want to post before in case the giftees saw them too early.

Sarah M's baby set for Evan:
Blanket, booties and hat in Dale Baby Ull, from Dale pattern 16411.
(Too much tight knitting on size 1's, even if the end result was really sweet. I'm not sure I'd repeat this experiment)

Dana K's baby goodies for Daniel and Etienne (b. August 27, 2007)
Washcloths and Bibs (the latter from Mason & Dixon Knitting) in Blue Sky organic cotton, variegated white & beige and white & green shades, with an added shell crochet border to the bibs.
Cute, fast & practical. I loved making these!

That's all my knitting for now - I've definitely been busy!

I'll leave you with photos from our first anniversary getaway to Big Sur, about 3 hours south of San Francisco along Highway 1. (If these photos aren't enough, there are more here).

We had a great weekend hiking in Julia Pfeiffer state park among the redwoods,

up to the Valley View lookout among the live oak trees,

and down to Partington Cove to explore the tide pools.

Seaweed and mussel patterns (above); starfish and sea creatures (below)

Saturday evening we went to a concert at the Henry Miller Library under the stars, which was a great cozy affair (if slightly chilly). The next morning we walked along Pfeiffer state beach to relax in the sand before meandering our way home.

Husband of one year walking along the beach.

In all it was a great getaway - and so close! Hopefully we can continue to leave the city more often as we explore our new bay area home and settle into year #2 (no more newlyweds, we're just plain old married folk now!)

Love to you & Dad, and happy birthday too!

Megan

Officially "In Business"

Hi Megs,

Yes - even though we are far away, somehow I feel connected to you - we are so different yet so alike! I find that whenever I get the urge to call my mother, I call and find out something "interesting" has happened to her. Or maybe just lots of interesting things happen to her even at 91!

Please tell how you do the heel of those "boyfriend (aka husband) socks". And yes, we live in parallel universes. That is exactly what Emmi does to the back of her socks (this technique has gone from one coast to the other). Emmi is German and said her mother taught her how do do it. Emmi explained it and I tried it but must be doing something wrong - it came up wonky. I do like Victorian Lace Today - even better than Meg Swansen's, A Gathering of Lace. The gray shawl I am making with the red beads is based on the pattern for Miss Watts (different size needles, different yarn, different beads, longer picots, different placement of picots & beads).

Now - speaking of shoes and "Great minds think alike" - you know how much I love shoes! When out shopping sometimes I just can't find any cloths that look good on my chubby body - but shoes always fit. I bought a pair of Cole-Haan shoes on sale in Edmonton - black almost like the ones you have - loved them - wore them to dust and then searched e-bay for a pair and found the exact pair - my size -YEA! Shoes are personal.

Absolutely love the things you have made. The MS3 - well hard to believe how beautiful it drapes. So I take it all back - the designer knew what she was doing! The wings make the shawl. And your sweater and you are much prettier than the picture in the Rowan magazine. Can't believe your crocheted it! My crochet has only been granny squares - not interesting!

You have been much more productive than I have getting things off the needles. The Eveleen looks really good in the picture - as your grandmother would say of any flaw, "You won't see it on a flying horse".

I did finish hooking the Place/Jones Mat and am now finishing the edges. It is really big so it takes a long time. I really like how it turned out. It is for mother for Christmas (missed her birthday - didn't get it finished). It will be nice when I have it all done.

I am now officially "in business" with At the Sign of the Whale and Hands on Crafts. Pam and I have a little section on rug hooking set up and have had our first day of selling. I only have to be there 1 1/2 days every 3 weeks so not hard duty. Interesting to talk to people. We have a lot of people in the store - tourists and locals. If there is a shortage of tourists in Yarmouth you don't see it at Hands on Crafts. I don't think I have sold anything yet but it is interesting to meet all the people. Pam sold some kits and I helped a couple of women - showing them how to hook. (That is Doris Cook at the cash - she does wonderful knitting, spinning and quilting of garments - she does everything! You can see some of my items on display.)

I took Mason & Dixon Knitting when I was at Hands on Crafts and they loved it. This is a book you have to keep reading and looking at or you will miss something. I made one of the little bibs our of denim yarn and it came out really nice. Usable because you can throw it in the washing machine and dryer. With making your little squares you have fallen in the trap of the "hit and miss" mat. The "hit and miss" is supposed to be made with cut wool left over from other mats - but once you get started you are missing a colour or run out and you wind up dyeing or buying more yarn for the thing and then you have left overs - it is endless.... You never use up all your pits and pieces - they multiply.

Hockey - Yarmouth Mariners Junior A team - has started with a pre-season Lobster Pot tournament. So have spent the last two nights at the Mariners Centre. Your father is now writing the program notes for each game series as well as doing some statistics for the team. We both just can't seem to just do nothing.

I went our on the zodiac with the Kayak gals - we went to see the puffins but they were gone. We got a nice view of the Cat as we were going out (it had just come in from Bar Harbor) and had a grand time.
Went to a hook-in at Iris Richards' cottage on Bird Lake. (Iris is at the top right - red dress and wonderful white hair). It was for the Carpetbaggers and Rugg Bees. It was nice - we are having beautiful weather. I am off to the Rug Hooking Guild's Rug School in Corwallis in mid September and I am chairing our annual Yarmouth Craft Splash Festival September 30 to October 6 - up to our Thanksgiving weekend. During the week I am going to teach a knitting course, a demonstration of knitting at the tourist bureau and the Carpetbaggers are hooking at the Yarmouth Museum. We are also going to have a knit-in at the Town Hall. Got the September issue of the Guild finished and hope to have it sorted and in the mail on Monday. I also went up Digby last Saturday to the Wharf Rat Rally (motorcyles) to sell tickets for the Rotary Club's Winner's Choice Lottery - one of the prizes is a Harley "Fat Boy"???? We sold lots of tickets! Abour 4,000 bikers there. I do love retirement - really do because I have the time to do things I like to do - and crazy thaings! Not that I didn't like what I was doing in education - but also did all this other stuff on the side - now I get to do it during the day!

Take care - I am sure Matt is now settled at Berkley and you have nicer weather for you all to enjoy. It must be beautiful this time of year. This is our warmest month (during the day but nights are cool). We have had some wonderful moon light - so bright you can see colour! I do like the fall, particularly like it because I don't have to start another school year.

And - talk about crazy. Here are two pictures. While we have deer in our yard, here is a deer who was found swimming in the ocean of Yarmouth, 1 1/2 miles off shore. And a picture of a 260+ lb. halibut caught aboard "Pa's Devils" this week. Living in Yarmouth is interesting!

Love ya,

Mom