Knit & Nosh

a couple of fo's

This past week has been grueling.  The normal running of a house + homeschooling a 10 year old + trying not to strangle a 19 year old + painting enormous walls + Oldest Daughter’s post surgery issues + a knitting rock star in town + major remodel happening + soon arriving out of town guests  = one tired brain.

Yesterday, in between coats of bright yellow paint, I relaxed by putting up some Cranberry Jam.  It was a little bit of zen, to stand at the stove, crushing cranberries with the back of a spoon. 

I am not sure when making food in jars became my deep breath, but I like it.  Tomorrow is for Cherry Preserves.

Last week I pressed on with the Baby Kimono & Hat. 

 

So cute!  The fabric is actually a deep red.  The sweater will be worn for just a few short weeks, but it is totally worth the effort.

Saturday evening I was trying not to be mad at Husband, so I sat down and finished his socks. 

 

It is hard to be mad at a man who appreciates handknit socks the way he does.

Solstice Slip turned into Dash.

Winter Birches was almost frogged and is now in a time out.

Taking it out of the bag to photograph has rekindled my desire to frog it.  A bunch of little knit-picky things about it that I do not like.

Birnam Wood is still in its bag, the most patient waiter of all.

   

jared comes to town

Last week Jared Flood aka Brooklyn Tweed visited the Seattle Knitter’s Guild.  It was a very enjoyable evening that began with dinner.   There is nothing like sharing a meal with someone to get a feel for them.  He is a smart, gutsy man.

After dinner it was time to head over to the hall for his presentation.  Now, I knew that this was going to be a well attended event.  All of us on the Board were surprised at how many people were talking about Jared coming to the Seattle Knitter’s Guild.  At the last minute we decided to change venues.  Boy am I glad we did.   In my younger days in the Music Industry, it was a badge of honor to have the fire department shut down  your show.  I have no desire to deal with the Fire Marshal at this point in my life.  In the larger room we had around 200 people, some standing in the back.  Jared was engaging and funny. A real delight.

After the presentation it was downstairs for a trunk show and book signing. The signing line went on for almost an hour.  Jared was so kind to listen to everyone and he was not just signing books, but writing a couple lines for each person.  When it was all over and time to go home we took one last picture.

©  Charisa Martin Cairn

That’s me on the right.  The one with all the grey hair.  I know you are going to ask..Its Ishbel knit in STR Bella Coola.

sheesh

This afternoon I was in Joann's, buying buttons for the baby sweater, when I spied the Interweave Knits Holiday issue.  Now I had seen the preview for this magazine and knew I planned to buy one, so I grabbed it and proceeded to the check-out.  Once there, I was surprised to see that one of my items was given a $7.19 discount.  This surprised me, because I was purchasing $4.00 worth of buttons and the magazine.  I asked the cashier and we were both amazed to see that the magazine was priced at $14.99. !!  What?  A magazine?  Really?  Without the discount I would not have purchased a copy.  $15.00 for a magazine?  Get real.  I would rather spend $15.00 purchasing patterns directly from the designers.  I hope this pricing is not a sign of things to come.

who cast on all these projects?

Yesterday, as I wound a ball of yarn, it hit me that I have more WIP’s than I have ever had before.  You know me, a pair of socks and something else and that is it.  Anything more is just silly. How did this happen?

First up, the Sock Yarn Blanket.

 

Now, this hardly counts as a WIP, as it will probably be many years before it is finished.  But it has grown quite a bit since the last photo.  A two thumbs up knit.

Then there is a sock.

A man sock.  A simple k3, p1, only the purl is really seed stitch.  I LOVE the look, and the simplicity can not be beat.  This is the kind of sock that can be knit while having a three martini lunch.  I mean, er, I suppose, if you were the sort of person to have three martini lunches.  This has been my, drag around to the waiting places sock.  I love how the variegated yarn is not stripey or pooly, just nicely variegated.  That hardly ever happens.

There is a second sock.

This project bag sits on the couch in my office.  Youngest Son uses my computer to do his math lessons and I work on this sock while standing by to help him.  It is an 8 row repeat and I can finish a repeat in about the time it takes him to finish a lesson.  Slow and steady.

There is a baby sweater.

Husband’s Officemate is almost due, and this sweater, along with a matching hat will soon be finished.  The sex is not known.  Well, at least the sex of the baby is not known, I am fairly certain the original sex is accounted for.  The sweater is sitting on my desk until I can pick up buttons.  I do not know how to big to make the button holes until I actually have the buttons. 

Yes, there is more.

Winter Birches.  This is the October sock kit from Woolgirl.  I have a special place in my heart for Birch trees and this project could not wait.  It is making the trip to Canada with me this weekend.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Birnham Woods.

This little lovely is the current Shakespeare in Lace club kit.  I altered the edging, because I am anti-pointy edging at the moment.  Two pattern repeats have been completed.  The yarn is so yummy.  The pattern is simple lace, but I am too distracted to spend much time working on it.

Good thing I did not commit to any holiday knitting this year.  What’s on your needles?

really?

Clearwire is going to double my internet speed without raising my monthly fee?  I am excited, but  anxious at the same time.  We will see...

surprise, surprise, surprise

This will be the first year in a very long time that I am not knitting in preparation for the holidays.  Many of the people on my holiday gift list love and appreciate a handknit item or two.  In years past I began knitting and spinning in August to get gifts cranked out and wrapped up in time.  I have NEVER gifted a partially finished garment.  This year I am feeling  ‘EH (insert hand movement).  When this lack of holiday knitting enthusiasm began I assumed it meant that I would not be knitting for others, but would still knit for my family.  I mean really, what is Hanukkah without  new scarves/socks/mittens...Today I realized that the kids will probably not be getting a little piece of handknit love from me for Hanukkah.  I did not know this day would ever arrive.

It is actually pretty liberating, this non list of things to knit.  I do not expect it to become a habit, but for now, it is OK.  I will give them theater tickets instead and all will be good.

bummer

Husband is sick.  Not sure what is going on other than I doubt he will be going to work tomorrow.  His level of sickness will determine my level of productive work for the day.

This evening I hustled people off to bed in order to take care of some writing tasks.  It was my intention to clean up a few pages and then send them off to Writer's Group in anticipation of our Saturday meeting.  Whoops, (watch me not swear) it appears I have neglected a key bit of research.  I began the work this evening and hope to finish in the morning, Husband willing.

Oh right, this is suppose to be a knitting and noshing blog.  Tons of knitting has been done.  I do not have a clue where I left off, but here are some photos just in case:

Paul Atwell Socks

Turn a Square Hat, using leftovers.

Nancy Bush Mystery Socks.

Lacy Baktus, modified big time.


There has also been noshing that includes jars, here is some photographic evidence.

Its totally dark here, give me a break.

Happening this week is another pair of socks for Husband and a fabulous shawl for me.  Also, expect Cherry Preserves and Maple-Strawberry Smooch.  Can a girl ever have too many 1/2 pint jars?  Oh, right, I am suppose to be painting.  That too.

  

fish bones

I just ordered the Cat Mittens pattern from this site.  It was the fish bone on the thumb that pushed me over the edge.  As a rule I make faces at fair-isle, but this is a MUST knit.

october 27th

This is a good one.

early morning stretching

Toby asked about the stretchiness of the Paul Atwell Socks.  Because of the slip stitch patterning I too was concerned about elasticity.  Husband’s sock are usually knit at 72 stitches and size 1 needles.  For the Paul Atwell Socks I decided to err on the side of caution and moved up a size to 80 stitches.  I worked a few inches of the leg and then had him try it on.  Too big.  I ripped it out and began again at his normal size.

The socks still look wide, but that is because the fabric is not pulling in at all.  You can see how the ribbed cuff is much more narrow than the patterned leg.

 

Let’s get scientific.

Leg measures  4 ½ inches  at rest.

Stretches to  6ish.  How's that for a scientific number?

Here is a well worn sock out of Husband’s drawer

 

Leg measure 3 inches at rest stretches to 5 1/2.

So there is a bit of a difference.  What will happen with the heel?  Should know in a couple of days.