Cherry Knits

Something New

It's amazing that I have actually finished two whole projects since beginning anything new!

But, this week I succumbed to the temptation of starting a new project. I really need a change from the constant diet of chocolate brown yarn in the simple lace shawl. Sumptuous as it is, a little variety now and then is a good thing. You know, like making sure you include all the food groups. Chocolate, even dark chocolate,  can be too much of a good thing.

This week I started Bettna. I needed to tweak my yarn taste buds with  something tangy and savory. Bettna is a Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton design. The pattern is featured on the cover of Noro Revisited. It's classic CTH and I've wanted to knit one for a couple of years. So why not NOW! So what if I have all those other projects that could use a little attention. No willpower whatsoever...

You may have already knit the popular Klaralund from CTH's Noro Book #2, which is an earlier version of a similar design concept.  Klaralund is the pullover version knit in four rectangular pieces also in combinations of garter and stockinette stitches.

This is the finished lower back piece of Bettna, and the beginning of one of the lower fronts.

Here's a  close-up of the Silk Garden colorway #234.

And here's what the finished Bettna will look like from the back.

So, wishing you the pause in your knitting (with a new project, of course) that refreshes! And hey it's ok - its all fiber and no calories!

Everyday Tweed

Another project finis!

Pattern: The Everyday Tweed Sweater from The Garter Belt

Yarn:  Queensland Kathmandu DK - color 406

Needles: US 6 circulars and DPNs, and US 4

Other Posts on this Project: January 24, 2007

Notes of Note:  This sweater was knit almost entirely on airplanes and hotel rooms. It's a very simple top-down pattern that requires minimal finishing, so a great travel project. The picot edging on the sleeves and bottom is a nice detail. I knit this sweater in one of my all time favorite yarns. The merino/silk/cashmere blend feels luxurious against my skin even if it is an "everyday" sweater. I'm all for everyday luxuries!

I knit the pattern as written. The only issue I had was that the neckline was very loose and did not stay on my shoulders. So, I pulled out the ribbing, decreased the number of neckline stitches, and reworked the K2P2 ribbing on a smaller needle size (US 4). Beginning at the midpoint row of  ribbing I also purled the two purl stitches together around the row and then finished the remaining rows of ribbing in  K2P1, which pulled the neckline in nicely. I would love to knit this sweater again, although I think I will do a size smaller next time for a slightly more snug fit.

Fair Isle Friends

This weekend I went to the annual Denver Creative Festival. There's lots of needlework, sewing, quilting, knitting and crochet, and other kinds of crafty things to see. It's always great to visit local companies and designers like Cheryl Oberle, Interlacements , and Textiles a Mano.

I especially look forward to making this event my annual pilgrimage to visit Canadian friends Anne and Eugene Bourgeois of Philosopher's Wool, who always have a magnificent exhibit of their extraordinarily beautiful fair isle designs and kits.

Here I am with Anne and Eugene, wearing the Philosopher's Wool Color Your Own cardigan I knit two years ago. The colorway is called Ilona. I love this colorway because it is such an artful blend of both warm and cool colors.

I bought this beautiful Moving Mud glass shawl pin they were featuring this year. Anne is also wearing one on her shawl in a gorgeous deep red color.

Mine absolutely looks custom made for my Garter Ridge vest I knit a couple of years ago from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Vests book. And it will enhance so many other pieces! I also bought some beautiful light and lace weight merino and alpaca hand dyed skeins from Textiles a Mano. I need to take a good picture of those, so will post them later when I get the projects planned. They are gorgeous.

Philosopher's Wool Kilim Cross Shawl update

While I'm on the subject, you may remember this latest PW project currently on my needles:

This is the Kilim Cross Shawl in the Hollyberry colorway (again, I love those warm and cool colors together--don't you?). I'm still working away on it. Spending so much time traveling really slowed progress once it reached that not so portable stage. But, I pick this lovely piece up at every opportunity when I'm home and always become newly inspired. It's in the knitting bag right next to the sofa, so never far from reach. I had hoped to finish by Thanksgiving -- yikes, ok so maybe before Spring arrives. With the weather we've had this year, I may just be able to wear it straight into July!

On the road again...

I'm headed out again for a week. I'll be leaving for the airport right around kickoff time. So, while you're enjoying your guacamole and the big game, I'll be knitting at 30 some thousand feet. A perfectly acceptable trade-off IMHO. I'm not really a football fan (even if it is the Superbowl) - but I do look forward to watching the halftime show on my DVR. I love the artist formerly known as Prince - conveniently known as Prince once again!

In lieu of Saturday Sky - since I totally missed it this week...

This pic is from the city of my destination today and was taken on my last visit there. Just never got it posted up then either, so I'll offer it now. It was bitterly cold after snowing the day before (what else would you expect - I was there). Just call me "Typhoid Cherry". You know, Mary's snow alter ego. I take snow with me and spread it around like an epidemic everywhere I go--lol. But the storm was clearing and a blue sky was peeking through. I had just time enough for a quick walk around Salt Lake City's Temple Square to take a few snaps and appreciate this magnificent architecture.

I'll try to check in from the road, and will be back home next weekend for a couple of days before heading off again. Hope you get some good knitting done during all those touchdowns today!

Forest Canopy

My first FO of the new year. Finally. The Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl.  When I first saw this project on Wendy's blog and learned that it only takes one skein of Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters (350 yds.) -- well, of course I had a few of those in my stash! It's a very simple lace pattern, so it's a good project for beginning lace knitters. I loved it because it's a great travel project and a quick knit for gifts. This one, however is for me-me-me. The colorway is Alpine.

Just off the needles.

On the blocking wires.

On me.

I used a US 7 needle and had enough yarn to knit a couple of extra rows of the scalloped border pattern. This project could actually be done in a good day of knitting. I really enjoyed it and have the next one planned for my mom. 

Well, for the 7th straight week, it's snowing and minus 5 degrees here in the Mile High City. BRRRR! Great knitting weather -- Happy Friday to you!

OOOHHH and I almost forgot, it's Groundhog Day! Did Phil see his shadow?

Auld Lang Knits

A timely theme now that January is almost over, don't you think?

But first, an update from Humphrey...

  Dr. Apryl took my stitches out yesterday and says I'm doing really great.  I got to go for my first swim today in the therapy pool! But now I'm back to doing this stay quiet and rest thing. My mom says she really likes it, but you know, I don't think it's such a big woof.

So...back to Auld Lang Knits

I took these pictures on December 31, 2006. They are all the active projects that were within arms reach of my usual knitting perch on the sofa. We won't even discuss all those other ones that are stashed in every cubby and hidey hole throughout the rest of my house just begging for attention. Anyway, these are the projects that were on my radar screen as 2006 faded into history and 2007 arrived with my needles clicking. Yes, I was knitting at the stroke of midnight--weren't you?  I never quite got the post I was working on about it finished as I was a bit crazed trying to pull myself together to leave for a road trip the day after New Year.

So here they are, a bit late for the theme, but at least before January gets completely away from me - yikes. I have actually made good progress. Stay tuned -- one of them is an FO soon to be revealed.

The annual Christmas stocking I didn't quite finish. First time in several years that I've dropped the ball on this one - oh well, I'll do two in 2007.

The Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl.

Rambling Rows is still rambling and nearing the finish line.

Everyday Tweed pullover. Just a bit of final finishing to do.

Simple Lace Shawl (swatched in an off white spare ball - but to be done up in a beautiful chocolate brown).

Sherman approves.

With all the snow storms and constant traveling and doggie traumas, there has been an appalling lack of knitting content on my blog lately. I just don't want you to think I forgot how...LOL. Happy knitting!

Official FO Sighting - the Blossom Jacket

Here it is - the Noro Blossom Circular Jacket. I finished this project about three weeks ago. The hold-up getting it posted up here was in scheduling the photo shoot - LOL...

side view...

and full back...

Here are the vitals:

Yarn:  Noro Blossom Color #17

Pattern: #Y738,  Noro World of Nature #18

Needles I Used: Circulars in all sizes from US 11 through US 7, doublepoints in US 10.5 and 7

Other Posts on this Project: August 20 and September 1 (2006)

Notes of Note: The pattern is written to be knit from the outer circumference and you work towards the center with a combination of decreasing stitches and needle sizes. While it's probably a bit less fussy working decreases, working increases from the inside out would have allowed more control in making any desired size adjustments. 

The constant diving for yet another sized needle (see my September 1 post) really brought me up to date on just exactly what was and was not in my needle inventory! It was a great travel project but because it knit up much faster than I anticipated, it added some extra expense because I refused to wait until I got home to the needles I already owned. I now have several duplicates.  A set of adjustable needles would have been real useful.

The modification I made was in the sleeves. The pattern is written for them to be knitted flat and then seamed. WHY? I can't imagine. I knitted the sleeves in the round. And VOILA - not a single seam needed to be made anywhere. I knit my ends in as I went along, so all I had to do was weave in a couple from the beginning and end of the project and Blossom was done!

Also, a word regarding yarn quantity. The pattern specified 400 grams/8 - 50 gram balls (because this is the put-up on this yarn for everywhere outside of North America). The US put-up is in 40 gram skeins .  So, 10 skeins were needed to have 400 grams. I actually used 11. Good idea to buy an extra skein or two - just in case.

Something a little different than a bolero or shrug.  It was really fun to knit and I like it!

In with the old

I'm trying really hard to resist the urge to start anything new until I get some of my UFO's off the needles first. I'm totally running out of bags, baskets, drawers, cubbies and hidey-holes to store that ever increasing number of "well-under-way" and "almost done" projects that are the evidence of my periodic bouts of startitis. I think its like the flu - someone gets it and we just pass it around - am I right?

Here's something that's becoming an "unfinished" tradition for me. Every year at the end of January/early February there is a creative needlearts festival at the Merchandise Mart in Denver CO. Every year I make a pilgrimage to the Philosopher's Wool booth to visit friends Anne and Eugene Bourgeois (IMHO, the highlight of the show), and purchase a new PW kit for the year. I usually have just enough time to get it "well-under-way" before spring fever sets in and I lovingly place it in hibernation (in the distinctive PW canvas wood block art tote bag). I can look forward to pulling it out of slumber after the summer swelter is over to finish. For me, resuming that PW project officially and joyously welcomes the fall.

This year I am doing a Kilim Cross Shawl (begun in February 2006). Here it is "well-under-way" and I expect hope to finish it by Thanksgiving. My travel schedule for work is heating up so we'll see. But it doesn't hurt to set a goal - am I right?

 

Don't you love the way the color work transitions from hot to neutral to cool colors? Obviously this is knitted with steek stitches in the round. It's really not a stocking cap on steroids. The big cone will be cut open into a triangle and then fringed.

It will look something like  this:

BTW, this was last year's "I'll finish it next fall" project:

It's become my constant companion on the road.

Saturday Sky

This photo is set up basically the same as last Saturday - but I took this shot again because Fall color is in its glory here at a mile high. You can see what a difference a week makes! Happy knitting! Happy Fall!

Just how obsessive am I?

Well, here's how obsessive.  I spent a total of $55 on needles while I was on my road trip just so I wouldn't have to stop knitting. I miscalculated just how quickly my Noro Blossom circular jacket would knit up. I thought I would get only so far before I would be back to home base and only took the needles to reach that point. Oops.

Six days into an eleven day trip, I realized I had brought plenty of yarn but NOT THE RIGHT NEEDLES! OMG, I was dead in the water (I was actually in the desert, but it's monsoon season, so still an appropriate metaphor). I mean, I still had five days to go!

So, on Sunday I bought a set of double points so I could do the few rounds to close up the circle at the center of the back. On Monday, I tried to find a shorter cabled circular needle so I could pick up the stitches and get to work on the sleeves. The pattern is actually written for the sleeves to be knit flat and then seamed up. If I'd done it that way, I could have used what I had with me. But why seam if you don't have to? Don't you know I'm going to do it my way--the cost be damned! So what if it means I have to go buy more needles? So what if it will duplicate something I probably already have at home?

My only option to buy needles on Monday was at the only store out in the middle of the vast desert, and the smallest cable size available was 24". Really too long, but probably ok to at least do a few rounds before the decreasing would cause the stitches to stretch, so I bought 'em. That's ok, I'll do as much as I can do and then look for the right needles on Tuesday. And so I did. But I swear the 100+ degree temps in the desert had over-cooked my brain cells. I found the perfect 20" circular addi turbo. I slapped down my credit card. AND I BOUGHT THE WRONG SIZE! Like two full sizes the wrong size. What was I thinking? How could I have possibly screwed up on this detail? Good thing I was really just too tired to knit on Tuesday night when I dicovered my mistake - it rarely happens, but this was one of those times. I fell asleep reading a book.

After driving eight straight hours, I finally made it back to home base late on Wednesday night. The very first thing I did yesterday morning was go to one of my LYS's and buy a 20" needle that was the correct size (ahem). Because - wait for it - I actually didn't already own this particular size needle in my considerable needle inventory after all. I guess it doesn't take a genius to figure out why my needle inventory is so considerable. LOL! Like I said, $55 later, but I'm almost done with Blossom. There will be no finish work to do except break that final yarn and weave it in.  But really, would it have killed me to just use my double points?

I didn't illustrate this little fiasco with photography for you - it's bad enough just talking about it.

I have never been a fan of those of interchangeable needle sets, but this experience certainly makes the case for owning a travel set for just these types of emergencies. Particularly when you are so obsessive that you refuse to be flexible with the tools you have and in the immortal words of Tim Gunn, "just make it work."

The other lesson: always have a back up sock project with you.

Finally, here are some views from my windshield and other highlights of my trip:

The Nevada desert heading into Arizona.

The single and then  double rainbow near the state line between Arizona and New Mexico on I-10.

  The St. Francis Cathedral illuminated by the sun setting in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Beautiful! But it's always so good to come home...

On the Road Again

I've been marveling at all those beautiful Saturday Sky photos, so I've jumped on that bandwagon too. I must be button challenged because I still can't seem to get the nifty little Saturday Sky button to display. Anyway, sans button, here was my beautiful sky last night just before sunset.

And, it's time again for me to hit the road. I'm up very early tomorrow morning to catch a flight to Las Vegas. No Texas Hold'em for me - it's all work and no play. I won't even have time to go see my friend Beth in Cirque du Soliel's Ka at the MGM Grand. Uber Bummer. Beth is the lead vocalist (would you believe a four octave range? No kidding). So, if you have any plans to visit Las Vegas anytime soon--go see it and tell me all about it!

Instead, I will be working my way along the roads of Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.  I'm taking a little break from Rambling Rows. It's just gotten too big to manage on airplanes (not to mention the 100 degree plus temps I'm headed for). I hate to think what a tizzy it might throw the lately over-stressed TSA personnel into. Boy, that's a whole other story. I'm just so glad I can still take my knitting needles - but not my lip gloss????? Anyway, here's what's on my needles for the trip:

This is a circular jacket - knit from the circumference of the circle towards the center. The pattern is Noro's Blossom Jacket  #Y738 from World of Nature #18.

I just cast this project on my needles a couple of days ago, so it's knitting up very quickly.

I should be back to home base in Colorado around September 1 - just in time to get off the roads before the Labor Day holiday. I'll check in here when I can. Happy knitting!

Rambling Rows - half done!

I've reached the midpoint - halfway there - I'll keep rambling.

(Insert all my usual frustrated comments from my recent posts on this project about trying to get the actual colors to photograph well here.) This attempt taking the picture outside didn't really work out any better. Plus, I laid it out on a gray wool blanket so I wouldn't have to pick all the dry grass bits out of the yarn and it made those beautiful tweedy brown blocks on the edges kind of disappear. Oops.

Let me say just one more thing and then I really will shut up about it already - that's NOT yellow in there (I have nothing against yellow personally), but it's a beautiful bright green. A green tipping it's hat to yellow, but that's as far as it goes.  I'm sure you'll take my word that the actual colors are beautiful and I'm really enjoying watching it grow.

Rambling Rows undergoing kitty scrutiny...

So far so good...Sheva approves.

I may just take a little break and work on something else for a bit now. Happy knitting!