moonfrog

A spell of catching up after being out of town, and I think we’re back to normal. Getting back to my routine feels good, but I sure enjoyed the trip to Stitches West. First stop was an overnight in Half Moon Bay — a bit of a delayed anniversary celebration since this is where The Bearded One and I were married five years ago.

We went back to our favorite restaurant, which is also where we had our wedding dinner — just the two of us and one close friend, ‘cuz you have to have a witness, right? This time we had our dear friends C & E with us, which makes it even more fun. As I searched out the link for you, I realized that Cafe Gibraltar has only existed since 1998. We started eating there in 2000, when it was a tiny deli/cafe, nothing fancy, but the food was great. I almost think the food is even better now, and the new building is fancy-pants and very cool. If you ever have a chance to eat there, be sure you do.

Thursday, we hopped over to Stitches with plenty of time to settle in before class. The Bearded One entered the hotel carrying his bass guitar and music gear, still wearing his sunglasses since he’d been driving. (Silly dear thought he would have time to practice his music.) As he stood there beside E — who sports an awesome long beard — a lady came up and asked C if that was really ZZ Top, the rock band. That tickled us right off.

Then is was down to business. My first class was with Nancy Bush: Nordic Color Inlay. We learned to put in colorwork while knitting with a technique called Roositud that is much like embroidery. There was a very cool trick for getting a yarn tail that was at one end of a color spot over to the other end where you need it. Just flip the yarn over the front of the fabric in a big loop, knit up to where the yarn loop started, laying the color yarn to the back or front as needed, then flip it back and pull it into the fabric. It was like a magic trick!

All day Friday, C and I had a sock class with Cat Bordhi. Fantastic! I’ll save that one for its own post.

On Saturday I learned how to shorten or lengthen a finished piece by (gasp!) cutting my knitting and grafting it back together. We started out cutting swatches and knitting on to them. Then we did a kitchner stitch graft and I learned that it is not a seam. I always pull the thread taut to make it disappear, but it is actually adding a row of stitches that is supposed to show. We learned another graft that I like a lot. We cut our poor little swatches enough that I became pretty comfortable with the whole idea.

Now comes the test. This is a sweater my mom made. It’s a top-down raglan cardigan, but the neckline is too wide. I’ve run my lifeline through where I want the knitting needle to go. Now I just have to cut the next row and pull it off. Gulp! I plan to knit a new neck ribbing and a couple inches, then join it to the sweater. Getting the raglan increases right will be the hardest part. I think knitting the ribbing first, then cutting will be the safest course of action.

Oh, and the market at Stitches? Overwhelming! I did buy yarn. Some natural wool from Brooks Farms to dye and some luxurious alpaca to make a sweater for my mom. It’s heavenly, and frankly, it worries me that my knitting will not measure up to the yarn. I’m up for the challenge, though.

I stopped by the Ravelry booth and bought these crazy shot glasses. With my frog collecting I couldn’t resist them. I told the husband that the “ripped” glass was his. I also toted my Nana Sadie Rose bag around the market and got many compliments on it. This is a new model with backpack straps that make it very easy to carry while shopping. One vendor hoisted up her own handbag with skulls on it for me to admire. A kindred spirit.

This is the Katarina Cardigan pattern by Cocoknits. I mentioned how much I liked the one at Stitches and C surprised me with the pattern. I love shawl collars. I’ve spent a couple hours already looking around the net for just the right yarn. No decision yet; I’ll take suggestions if you have any. I still have a couple projects to finish up before I start it, but the yarn hunt is on!

That’s it for now about Stitches. One more class, saving the best for last. I’ll try not to make you wait too long!

I’m packing my bags to leave for Stitches West in the morning. And guess what’s going with me? The Midnight Express Vest! A week ago, I decided that it would be pushing it too hard to finish it, so I gave up that idea. Giving myself permission not to finish it right away took off the pressure and I just plodded along. About three days ago, I realized that this just might be completed in time, so I dove into the I-cord edging, which I had never done before, but managed to figure out without too much trouble. It was actually fun, with a relaxing rhythm that kept it moving. It also had the distinct advantage of being easy to pull out and pop back on the needles to re-do any wonky parts. It helped that I really liked the contrast, making it a pleasure to knit.

The clasps took a little longer than expected since the ones I had didn’t suit me. There were only three and they were a bit small, so off to JoAnn’s for a new set. I can’t believe this is ready to go! It is a little bigger than it needs to be, but is quite comfortable.

Here are the stats one more time:

• Pattern: Midnight Express Vest (Free PDF)
• Yarn: Casual Tweed Wool Blend in Black Cherry sport weight 10 balls
  • Lamb’s Pride worsted in Black 1 ball for contrast
• Needles: Size 10 1/2 Knitpicks cables
• Time:  Started January 18 — Completed February 19

I used the yarn double to make it comparable to the heavy worsted called for in the pattern. My gauge was very slightly off, giving me a couple inches extra in width (which it turns out I really didn’t need) and some extra length (which I’m quite happy about.) I was surprised to use all ten balls of yarn, ending up with half of two balls left. This vest is knit side-to-side with a schematic that makes it extremely easy. Garter stitch is not my favorite, but it works well for this vest.

I intended to knit Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Rib Warmer, and probably will in the future, but this one makes me happy for now. This 70% wool/30% acrylic blend made this an inexpensive project, but the vest feels good for outerwear. I am looking forward to using some softer yarn in my next knitting.

Well, I better get that suitcase packed — and pick out my knitting supplies. Oh, and I just might have some homework that must be done for my class at Stitches. I put it off until the vest was completed. I think it’s only 3 or 4 swatches. Right now I’m not sure if I’m more excited about going to Stitches or about finishing the vest. Life is good!

While I was digging through some things yesterday, I came across a whole box of yarn I ordered during WEBS’ end-of-year. I didn’t remember it until I stumbled across it. It’s enough alpaca for a sweater and cotton/linen for a camisole. (I’m a sucker for some soft alpaca and this is still on sale for half price.) I’ve been meaning to inventory my yarn and put it in see-through plastic tubs. Now, I’m determined to do it. The tubs have been purchased, and I’m starting to take the pictures to fill out the database on Ravelry. This is all in preparation of starting new projects.

First . . . the WIPs must get done, at least a couple of them. Progress might be faster if I’d stick to one, but I’ve been switching off some. So tonight I’m making the official list of projects that need to be finished.

First up is the one that has been lingering the longest. Shedir. I started this a year and a half ago in a different yarn. This version was started a year ago. It has seen more frogging than knitting. Any other project would have hit the frog pond for good after this long, but I promised myself I would conquer this one. I need to schedule a half day to spend by myself with this pattern. It’s not too hard, it just takes all my concentration. I’m putting it on the calendar for March.

When I set the Malabrigo raglan aside to work on a vest in a cheap wool blend yarn, Carrie thought I was a little crazy, but I haven’t lost the love for this sweater. I’ve done a few more rows, but there’s no hurry. I won’t even mind if this one waits until fall to get going again, so I’m considering it a long-term project. All those rows of stockinette will make for some good TV knitting.

The interloper — aka Midnight Express Vest — went through a serious frogging recently that has taken up most of my time. Somehow, one section ended up smaller than the other two. The pattern calls for three inches, but I’m making them three and a half inches, so I guess I forgot on one of them. Unfortunately, I had to frog two of these sections back. The good news is that I am caught up to my previous point. I have half of the front to do, then the I-cord edging. I was hoping to have this done for Stitches West, but that will be pushing it. Maybe I’ll get lucky and have a day to just knit.

I had high hopes of speeding up the sock knitting this year, but that doesn’t seem to be my style. I’m still plodding along on the latest pair, but thanks to a trip to San Francisco last week, the toe-up socks are almost ready for the heels. I need some uninterrupted time to do that part, then it will be some easy ribbing to the end. I can’t believe how different these two are — I’m not really sure how that happened. I’m curious to see how the cuffs turn out. It looks like I need some more dyeing practice one of these days. I still love the colors and look forward to wearing these puppies.

Last up is the project I probably should be working on first — the Fiber Trends Felted Clog. My mom and I still need to finish this class, whenever we are ready. We had a delay due to Mom’s carpal tunnel acting up, but it is time to get this finished. I knit the cuff and it is an awesome construction. After knitting an inch or so, the end on the needle is attached to the inside beginning. This makes it roll back on itself, for the nice rounded cuff. I have the second sole to make before we go back to class.

That’s not a bad list, but I really would feel better cleaning it up a bit. Thanks for bearing with me as I set these all down. I’d love to hear how you deal with unfinished projects or how you juggle more than one at a time.

While I was teaching poetry to high school students, I came across the poems of Gregory Orr, who I count among my favorite poets. I used his poem Gathering the Bones Together to invite students to write a poem with several parts. Although the poem was born of tragedy and the need to deal with strong emotions, the imagery transports the reader from the mundane to the ethereal and back again.

The poem speaks to me personally as one who has lost a sibling to an early death. In fact, I lost both of mine, just over a year apart — but that was many years ago. I understand many of the emotions behind the imagery of Orr’s poem intimately, which makes it feel like my own. I dealt with my own grief by writing biographical essays in college. (I actually came to appreciate poetry later, when I found more off-beat (and Beat) poetry.)

Another of Orr’s poems is featured on a wonderful site called Poets Against War.   (Please notice the poem by my favorite poet — Lawrence Ferlinghetti — on the same site. It contains the essense of Ferlinghetti that makes me love his work. )  There’s also an NPR interview with Orr called The Making of Poems. This poem is included in the book of the same name.

Here’s an excerpt from Orr’s seven-part poem, which I’ll let him introcuce in his own words. “This poem was written as a way of coming to terms with personal pain. It comes out of an incident in my life, a hunting accident which killed my brother and for which I was responsible. I was 12 years old.”

Gathering the Bones Together (an excerpt)
by Gregory Orr

When all the rooms of the house
fill with smoke, it’s not enough
to say an angel is sleeping on the chimney

4. Smoke

Something has covered the chimney
and the whole house fills with smoke.
I go outside and look up at the roof,
but I can’t see anything.
I go back inside. Everyone weeps,
walking from room to room.
Their eyes ache. This smoke
turns people into shadows.
Even after it is gone,
and the tears are gone,
we will smell it in pillows
when we lie down to sleep.