October update

Hi Mom,

Well, it seems that October has been a busy month for both of us! I'm glad to see that the Craft Splash went so well - I know you've worked hard on it. The sign for Tin Pot Textiles looks great, and your hooked creations are beautiful (you know those mug rugs will make great Christmas presents too, right?) And those knitted dolls are so cute! Great-grandmother's dresser looks beautiful as well - you've found the perfect spot for it too. Seems like you have a number of successful projects under your belt so far this fall! Let me know how your hooking restoration project comes along. Atter working at the Conservation Center in Chicago, you know I'm curious to see how this goes!

As for work here in San Francisco, I am really enjoying my new job, even if there is sooooo much that I have to learn - one day I feel like I at least have a handle on everything I need to process, the next I feel overwhlemed again by all there is to know. Hopefully in time it will all start to sink in!

So far I have managed to still get some good knitting time in, even though I am again a 9-5 (or 9-6) girl, mostly because Nathan was out of town for two weeks so I had plenty of opportunity to just relax with the needles. I've managed to keep up with the Hanami knit-along and am now speeding through the final stages- I'm now in the loooong ruffle rows but the end is in sight!

Doesn't she look good so far?

More details on the Hanami site...

I've also managed to finish my Hedera socks, although I haven't had a chance to wear them (even though we are getting our fair share of cold rainy weather). They really aren't as green as they seem in the photo - really they're a bright happy yellow - the perfect thing to perk up the next grey cloudy day!


Really, though, I'm hoping for clear skies and warm weather after the next week, since Nathan and I won't be in San Francisco - we're going to Zanzibar! Finally, only 1 year + 1 1/2 months or so later, we are actually going on what was meant to be our honeymoon trip before moving to San Francisco and Nathan settling into his new job got in the way. I can hardly believe it's real! We leave on Friday (in just over four days!) and will be there for 8 nights (plus 5 days traveling there and back -getting to Africa isn't easy). After leaving Friday and 2 (2!) red-eye flights to get to Dar Es Salaam, we'll take the ferry over to Zanzibar on Sunday to properly begin our holiday.We are going to stay the first night in Stone Town at the historic 236 Harumzi, then 5 nights at the Mbweni Ruins hotel, finishing with two nights secluded on the beach at Matemwe. Then the ferry back, a night in Dar, and back home again. You can see I've already set aside the essentials for the trip:

Magazines, books, travel games, sunscreen, bug spray, eye mask and, of course, yarn!

I couldn't celebrate the upcoming trip without a knitting project in it's honor - what could be better than the Honeymoon Cami from Knitty? I've wanted to make this ever since the pattern was first published in 2004 - I even bought the yarn (Louet Linen) in Sedona on our first trip to check out Amara - but I refused to let myself cast on until I actually knew I was going to get to go on a honeymoon of my own. Once our plans were actually set the needles were flying to get it done on time:


By this afternoon I'm all the way through the body and have finished the right front & back sections. With the left front & back to go, plus the final finishing to get the strap length right, the end is in sight - just in time! I've tweaked the pattern here or there, adding lots of length (both for the extra vertical coverage and to factor for the linen shrinking) and changing the original narrow 3-stitch i-cord straps into flat bands. So far I'm really happy with how it's working up (and how quickly) - hopefully I'll have some great vacation shots of me wearing it to share when we're back! (Oh, and some fashion shots of the Hanami too, 'cause if I can get her finished on time she's joining us on holiday as well!)

Poor Rushka will have to spend the holidays at the vet, a place she hasn't seen much of lately as her sugars are finally stable (yay!) While she's there they are going to run a fructosamine (sp?) test that will show how she is doing over the long term (it's supposed to give an overview of the past month's sugar levels). If she's all clear, the surgery to get the mole off her toe is next - I'm not sure how happy I am about that. Or how happy she'll be once it comes time to go through it!

Waiting for us all when we come home will be the true autumn of San Francisco, which means rain and cozy nights and pumpkins galore. Hopefully we'll be well fortified from our days in the sun....




Until then, I hope you and Dad have a good few weeks (and that the recovery goes quickly from his surgery - its sounds like he is still in a lot of pain. Ouch!). I should have lots of great pictures to share when I'm back....

Megan

Beautiful October

Hi Megs,

Like you, I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted - more than a month, actually. You have so much done! I love the little vest - and cashmere at that! A great use for the yarn. Your Eveleen is really nice. I like the colours and it must look great on you. I have come to the conclusion that I just don't like to make sock. At our last Knitting Guild almost all at the table (8 of us) were knitting socks but me. Maybe it is the little needles in my hands or something. Your Hedera socks - well - you go girl, but don't think this is for me. Not only socks but a lace pattern. They look beautiful.

Your little baby set for Sarah & Sean's baby - really beautiful. I haven't made much progress on my gift to them - may change to another pattern. Not inspiring me. I also made a bib like the one you made from Mason & Dixon knitting. It turned out well. I gave it to Rose for her new granddaughter. Don't have a picture of it.

Loved your pictures of Big Sur. Good for you both - getting away and enjoying your 1 year anniversery. We had our 45th - YIKES! Can't believe we have been married that long. We went to dinner at Charlotte Lane Cafe in Shelburne. Not as far and lovely as Big Sur but the food is the BEST in Nova Scotia. We also went to a Nova Scotia Wine event at Chez Bruno in Yarmouth during the weekend. Bruno's is SECOND in great dining here.

What have I been up to in the last month - A LOT! September and October have been beautiful here. Sunny and warm. Out BEST time of year!

I went down to Cornwallis to the RHGNS Fall Rug School. It was week of hooking, talking and generally having a grand time. I took "Large Shaded Flowers" with Wanetta Evans from Halifax. I worked on a water lily from our pond. Pam MacIsaac Adams drew a pattern on linen based on my picture

Our Class

We got into "the pots" dying using the dip-dyed method. You work large flowers with dip dyed wool - using differed parts of it to get the shading.

This is my "work in progress".

I also had three of my works in the exhibit. My little cottage, my frog purse (it turned out really nicely) and the Place Family Mat - if finished it just in time.

Little Cottage

Frog Purse


Place Family Mat
This is your grandmother's Christmas present

I have also been working on a mat I am restoring for a woman in Yarmouth County. This is the end part of a runner her cousin - who is now dead and they bought her home and found this part of her work. She wants it to be completed. I found wool to match the background and some old Pendelton shirts to do the leaves. I am going to back the whole thing with linen because the old backing is deteriorating. It is going to be an interesting project but it is also going to be a challenge. This is my winter's project.

And speaking of restoration. David MacIsaac finished restoring grandmother 's (Browder-Horne) old marble top dresser. We brought it back from our visit for Anne's wedding. It always was part of our living room when I was growing up. It is made of walnut with a natural marble top. It is very important to me to have it here. It was probably made in the 1880's or so. It really looks nice in the front room next to our and Globe & Wernicke book cases that were Dad's grandmother and grandfather Pearls.

I have been knitting dumb stuff! Hacking around while my big stuff (the shawls including the Hanami stay in the bag on the needles). I found funny people in "The Natural Knitter" that reminded me of the ones I used to make with "spool knitting". Theirs are done with double knitting so I tried a couple using a combination of theirs and mine and they came out really funny. I like them. They are made with left overs from knitting and don't take very long. Don't know what I am going to do with them. I also got some wool and the childs Alligator Scarf from Morehouse Farms. It knitted up really nice - we used it in the window of Hand's on Crafts for the Fall.


















What I have been busy with is our Yarmouth Craft Splash - the week of September 30 to October 6. We had over 65 different events of crafting in Yarmouth and Yarmouth County. This year we included in Acadian Shores - Pubnico, Tusket and Wedgeport. We hope to expand it to the Clare area next year. It was busy - I chaired it but lots of help from others.

Opening Ceremonies at Town Hall - Town Crier "Cried" us in.

Knit-in in Frost Park

John Hood showing tourists how he builds model ships. John and his wife, Nancy also sell the BEST wild flower honey at the market. Amazing stuff!

Barb Jess demonstrating how to dye yarn - we used Briggs and Little sock weight yarn.

Barb and Doris with "work in progress"

Some of the finished yarn. The middle one is "watermelon".

On Saturday we had an open studio tour of crafters in our brochure. I got a new sign for Tin Pot Textiles. I had a few visitors. One was a neighbor who is a knitter and a rug hooker - great to meet her.

Just after the Craft Splash we had our Thanksgiving. We got a great free range turkey from Thousand Hills Farms. Yarmouth now has a farmer's market on Saturday. We have found really nice local vegetables and breads there (and the Hood's wild flower honey). It is now part of our Saturdays. We go to the market at 8, get what we need and two pieces of apple, cherry, rhubarb or prune tart made by a really nice German woman, get tea and coffee at Tim's (good old Tim Hortons), go home and enjoy.

Francis and Michael had a new granddaughter so I made a quick hat and mitts from Mission Falls Wee Nits using Mission Falls 1824. It came our really nice. The hat is their design, the mitts are my design using their motif. The colour is actually more of a coral that the pictures shows. We had dinner with Francis and Michael last night - also with the Butts - a couple from Columbia Missouri who have a summer home here. We went to their family cottage on Cape Forshu and before dinner took a long walk around False Harbour with grand views of the Yarmouth Light - Cape Forshu. No pictures - I forgot my camera. It was just wonderful and the late afternoon was warm and sunny.

Hat and mitts

I also made 8 little "mug rugs" - my designs based on Jacobean flowers and bits and pieces of wool left over from other mats. I have finished these are will sell them at Hand's on Crafts. I have already sold one.


Looking at all this - I guess I have gotten some things done. Amazing when you look back at what you have done in a month.

And - we also put a new roof of the house last week. The old one was beginning to cause leaks when it rained hard and blew a Nor'easter - and almost 25 years old. In this climate - that is OLD. We put on a dark brown steel roof - should last forever - looks really nice and suits the house I think. But it got so loud I had to get out! I took the kayak out one afternoon and took a picture from the lake. At least I was out of the noise. pounding and banging - drove me crazy! They also took down the old chimney. We don't need it with the heat pump.

workers on the roof

Escaping the noise in the kayak

House from the lake.

So - that is my month. Busy. The next month is also busy. Your Dad's surgery (minor), going to Toronto to visit Clay and do the work for his US pass port and hope to meet his new girl friend, board meeting with the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa - and visit with my old friends.

Hope your new job is going well and not cutting too much into your knitting time. Give a hug to Nathan, a pat to Rushka. We miss you much - but know you are well and happy and busy, busy.

Love, Mom
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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