Do you ever have one of those days when nothing you knit works out? Here's my collection of failed projects.
I tried knitting the Flower Basket Shawl with Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud, but I didn't like the way it was looking. I know, it will look different after it's blocked, but I dunno... it was just too holey and it didn't have enough stitch definition for me.
Next up was the Backyard Leaves scarf. Years ago, I bought some Laines du Nord Dolly Maxi for this project. At the time, I thought the yarn was just not performing well for this pattern. The yarn was becoming untwisted and splitty, and the whole thing was puffy and springy. I don't know why, but I thought it was like wine - getting better with age. It didn't.
I also tried it using some Debbie Bliss Merino DK (the other green, sloppy pile in the picture). This was better in terms of the yarn performance, but I just wasn't happy with the stitch definition. I want to see those darn leaves! I'm thinking that this scarf, for me, is begging for a lighter colored yarn so that the pattern really shows.
Then for some totally asinine reason, I dug up some Koigu I had in my stash and started the Wavy Pattern scarf from Vogue Knitting. What was I thinking?! First of all, I really don't like knitting with dark yarn. Brown's about as dark as I'll go, and this stuff is almost black. Second, I'm just not a fan of this yarn. I know everyone and their mother loves this stuff, but I find it too elastic and I don't like the bumpy texture.
So, back to square one. I'm currently working on the Branching Out scarf from Knitty, the DK version, using some Silky Wool I had in my stash. So far, I can't find anything to complain about, so I think this one might be a winner. I'll work a few more inches before posting a pic and an update.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Pizza update
As promised, yesterday we went for Round 2 of the quest for perfect homemade pizza. We used the remaining 3 balls of dough that had now been sitting in the fridge for 3 days. Aside from that, the only other modification we made on this batch was that we let the dough rest for about 15-20 minutes after shaping, before putting it on the grill for the par-bake. Oh, and I also kept it covered under plastic wrap during that time.
I don't think either of those factors made much of a difference. Here's the second pizza (the first was eaten before I could get a pic):
As you can see, we decided to put meat on this one. It's the bulk Basil Chicken sausage from New Seasons, accompanied by some goat cheese and arugula from the Beaverton Farmer's Market.
In case anyone is interested, this is what the pizza dough looks like after it's been par-baked. This is the point where you'd put your toppings on. Quick! The poor thing's all naked and vulnerable...
The final pizza we made took advantage of the remaining sausage. There was quite a bit left, so I loving called this one "The Meatzza". We both agreed that these were much tastier than the first batch of pies, but then again, these had meat on them!
And since I'm such a carb-o-holic, I also made Earl Grey Biscotti. It doesn't taste as strong as I'd like, but that won't stop me from eating them!
I don't think either of those factors made much of a difference. Here's the second pizza (the first was eaten before I could get a pic):
As you can see, we decided to put meat on this one. It's the bulk Basil Chicken sausage from New Seasons, accompanied by some goat cheese and arugula from the Beaverton Farmer's Market.
In case anyone is interested, this is what the pizza dough looks like after it's been par-baked. This is the point where you'd put your toppings on. Quick! The poor thing's all naked and vulnerable...
The final pizza we made took advantage of the remaining sausage. There was quite a bit left, so I loving called this one "The Meatzza". We both agreed that these were much tastier than the first batch of pies, but then again, these had meat on them!
And since I'm such a carb-o-holic, I also made Earl Grey Biscotti. It doesn't taste as strong as I'd like, but that won't stop me from eating them!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Pizza anyone?
It's a great time for food in Oregon right now. Since it rains so damn much here, there's a lot of agriculture - which means awesome farmer's markets. Which means it's also an excellent time to cash in our anniversary present from my in-laws.
They are friends with a chef, so they are having him cook us up a gourmet meal at my in-laws house. Yeah, it's a little delayed (our anniversary was in March), but I'm sure it will be well worth the wait. On Friday, we all met up to discuss the menu. We started off talking about 4 courses, but things kept getting added and I think we ended up with more like 7 and possibly 8 courses on the menu! I can't wait for next Saturday!
But let's get back to more recent endeavors. On Friday (prior to the meet-up with Chef Karl), I made a batch of pizza dough using the SAF yeast, and letting it do a slow fermentation in the fridge overnight. Then on Saturday, we went for it and fired up the grill with the pizza stone on it for about 45 minutes.
Chef Karl suggested that we par-bake the crust for a minute or two, then add the toppings. This allowed us to easily slide the raw pizza dough onto the stone, without the weight of all the toppings to hinder a good swift action. This turned out to be an excellent tip, but still our first pizza ended up burned on the bottom.
I think we left it on too long during the par-bake, and also the stone was super hot! It's like pancakes or crepes - you always throw out the first one, right?
So, on to pizza #2. Oh, and btw, these are not big pizzas, about 9" round. Pizza #2 I had a good feeling about. I laid the crust out thinner and more evenly, and Mike par-baked it just until it would hold its shape. This guy got the addition of mozzarella slices. Here it is on the stone, in the grill:
Ahh, yummy pizza...
And the crust held up to the weight of the toppings!
Although this pizza performed well, it was still missing that certain je ne sais quoi. Though sturdy, it wasn't exactly cracker-like, but it also wasn't soft and pillowy. It could have been a bit more tender and chewy, but then wouldn't it just flop over like a wet noodle? Hmmm, we have Round 2 coming up on Monday, so we'll see if perhaps resting the dough after shaping it will yield better results.
They are friends with a chef, so they are having him cook us up a gourmet meal at my in-laws house. Yeah, it's a little delayed (our anniversary was in March), but I'm sure it will be well worth the wait. On Friday, we all met up to discuss the menu. We started off talking about 4 courses, but things kept getting added and I think we ended up with more like 7 and possibly 8 courses on the menu! I can't wait for next Saturday!
But let's get back to more recent endeavors. On Friday (prior to the meet-up with Chef Karl), I made a batch of pizza dough using the SAF yeast, and letting it do a slow fermentation in the fridge overnight. Then on Saturday, we went for it and fired up the grill with the pizza stone on it for about 45 minutes.
Chef Karl suggested that we par-bake the crust for a minute or two, then add the toppings. This allowed us to easily slide the raw pizza dough onto the stone, without the weight of all the toppings to hinder a good swift action. This turned out to be an excellent tip, but still our first pizza ended up burned on the bottom.
I think we left it on too long during the par-bake, and also the stone was super hot! It's like pancakes or crepes - you always throw out the first one, right?
So, on to pizza #2. Oh, and btw, these are not big pizzas, about 9" round. Pizza #2 I had a good feeling about. I laid the crust out thinner and more evenly, and Mike par-baked it just until it would hold its shape. This guy got the addition of mozzarella slices. Here it is on the stone, in the grill:
Ahh, yummy pizza...
And the crust held up to the weight of the toppings!
Although this pizza performed well, it was still missing that certain je ne sais quoi. Though sturdy, it wasn't exactly cracker-like, but it also wasn't soft and pillowy. It could have been a bit more tender and chewy, but then wouldn't it just flop over like a wet noodle? Hmmm, we have Round 2 coming up on Monday, so we'll see if perhaps resting the dough after shaping it will yield better results.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Baker's secret
We love pizza - who doesn't? Ever since we discovered the pure joy of indulging in a pie from Apizza Scholls in Portland, we realized how bad all the previous pizzas we'd ever had really were.
Unfortunately, making the trek to Apizza Scholls isn't very convenient. Or perhaps I should say it is fortunate - since we'd be eating there way too often! We're determined, as an alternative, to try our hand at making our own pizzas from scratch.
This had been an ongoing experiment for years, but we never took it seriously until now. There have been days when we're jonesin' for pizza and we know that everything near our house is crap and all we want is Apizza Scholls. But the distance between us, coupled with the very long wait times if you don't show up early (and the threat that they could run out of dough!), keeps us from indulging in their pies.
So we said to ourselves, why can't we make our own perfect pizza? Yeah, easier said than done. After researching this online, it was instantly clear that we had no idea what we were getting into. Apparently, the key ingredient in most "real" bread baking is a special brand of yeast - SAF Instant.
We called around the 2 Whole Foods, the gourmet food purveyor in the Pearl, etc. No one carried this. I read in a local food forum that Cash & Carry, a place I'd never even heard of, had it. But they were in Portland so I'd have to wait until the weekend when we had more time.
Then, by pure happen-stance, I found the magical ingredient at WinCo of all places. This is another grocery store I'd never been to, but I was there looking for something else (which they didn't have), and in my search I happened to pass by the spices section and out of the corner of my eye I saw the red-labeled 1-lb. bag I'd been coveting. I did a double-take, stopped in my tracks, backed up into my husband who was walking behind me, and said 'oh my god!'. He noticed it too and said the same thing.
After commenting on how funny it was that this budget-conscious store carried such a prized possession, we immediately headed over to the kitchen supply store to get a food scale, yet another item for serious bakers. I of course insisted on the pink one.
Unfortunately, making the trek to Apizza Scholls isn't very convenient. Or perhaps I should say it is fortunate - since we'd be eating there way too often! We're determined, as an alternative, to try our hand at making our own pizzas from scratch.
This had been an ongoing experiment for years, but we never took it seriously until now. There have been days when we're jonesin' for pizza and we know that everything near our house is crap and all we want is Apizza Scholls. But the distance between us, coupled with the very long wait times if you don't show up early (and the threat that they could run out of dough!), keeps us from indulging in their pies.
So we said to ourselves, why can't we make our own perfect pizza? Yeah, easier said than done. After researching this online, it was instantly clear that we had no idea what we were getting into. Apparently, the key ingredient in most "real" bread baking is a special brand of yeast - SAF Instant.
We called around the 2 Whole Foods, the gourmet food purveyor in the Pearl, etc. No one carried this. I read in a local food forum that Cash & Carry, a place I'd never even heard of, had it. But they were in Portland so I'd have to wait until the weekend when we had more time.
Then, by pure happen-stance, I found the magical ingredient at WinCo of all places. This is another grocery store I'd never been to, but I was there looking for something else (which they didn't have), and in my search I happened to pass by the spices section and out of the corner of my eye I saw the red-labeled 1-lb. bag I'd been coveting. I did a double-take, stopped in my tracks, backed up into my husband who was walking behind me, and said 'oh my god!'. He noticed it too and said the same thing.
After commenting on how funny it was that this budget-conscious store carried such a prized possession, we immediately headed over to the kitchen supply store to get a food scale, yet another item for serious bakers. I of course insisted on the pink one.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Another day in the wine country
It was such a beautiful day on Saturday that we decided to head out to the wine country. Of course, I suggested a stop by Woodland Woolworks in Carlton. They were giving an extra 10% off all their clearance yarn, so why not have a look-see?
I started out with a lot more yarn in my bag, but after 45 minutes (yes, I have a very patient husband) I decided that I just really wanted more Yorkshire Tweed DK. I wanted to make another Electra vest, since I love my first one, only this time in a brown version. This will be a fall project, though, because it is going to hit the 90s soon. Yay!
As usual, we had lunch at Dundee Bistro. We actually tried to eat at our other favorite place, Red Hills Provincial Dining, but they weren't open for lunch. I had a very unusual interpretation of Coq au Vin that was really yummy, and we both had a glass of the 2005 Lange Reserve Pinot Noir - really, really yummy.
When I got home, I received an email from the folks over at Lint, one of my favorite yarn stores, located in the Pearl. Apparently, it is up for sale. I sooo wish I had the money to buy a yarn store, particularly one that I already like! But alas, I must remain a simple consumer.
I started out with a lot more yarn in my bag, but after 45 minutes (yes, I have a very patient husband) I decided that I just really wanted more Yorkshire Tweed DK. I wanted to make another Electra vest, since I love my first one, only this time in a brown version. This will be a fall project, though, because it is going to hit the 90s soon. Yay!
As usual, we had lunch at Dundee Bistro. We actually tried to eat at our other favorite place, Red Hills Provincial Dining, but they weren't open for lunch. I had a very unusual interpretation of Coq au Vin that was really yummy, and we both had a glass of the 2005 Lange Reserve Pinot Noir - really, really yummy.
When I got home, I received an email from the folks over at Lint, one of my favorite yarn stores, located in the Pearl. Apparently, it is up for sale. I sooo wish I had the money to buy a yarn store, particularly one that I already like! But alas, I must remain a simple consumer.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sneak Peek Sundress
Now that I've completed the Short sleeve eyelet lace cardigan, I'm thinking about what to work on next. My fingers have been yearning for wool, since my last 2 projects have been with cotton. But I feel obligated to knit with cotton since it's summer, in spite of the fact that it's still raining here in Oregon. Yeah.
Until I figure out what my next "real" project will be, I had to work on something because Wimbledon started this week, and I need to keep my fingers busy during the 9 hours/day of coverage. I tried to resist the cotton, but I had these balls of Knit Picks Shine in my stash that really cheered me up and made me make-believe that it was a sunny summer day (somewhere, at least). So my between-projects project is the Sundress from Adorable Knits for Tots.
Oh, and in my search for a new project I discovered that Phildar is having a sale on some of their yarns and magazines. I was able to get 2 magazines for just over 15 euros - that's with shipping! I originally had some yarn in my order, but the shipping was so obscene I couldn't justify the cost. I'm hoping that with the English versions of the patterns, I'll be able to better translate the 3 French Phildar mags I got in Paris.
Until I figure out what my next "real" project will be, I had to work on something because Wimbledon started this week, and I need to keep my fingers busy during the 9 hours/day of coverage. I tried to resist the cotton, but I had these balls of Knit Picks Shine in my stash that really cheered me up and made me make-believe that it was a sunny summer day (somewhere, at least). So my between-projects project is the Sundress from Adorable Knits for Tots.
Oh, and in my search for a new project I discovered that Phildar is having a sale on some of their yarns and magazines. I was able to get 2 magazines for just over 15 euros - that's with shipping! I originally had some yarn in my order, but the shipping was so obscene I couldn't justify the cost. I'm hoping that with the English versions of the patterns, I'll be able to better translate the 3 French Phildar mags I got in Paris.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Stockinette slump
Ever since I saw Action Hero's version of the short sleeve lacy cardigan from Vogue Knitting spring/summer 2007, I knew I wanted to make one myself. I breezed through the lace portions, but the stockinette on the back is so mind-numbing that I have spent weeks trying to complete it.
I'm about 2/3 of the way done with the back, but I just can't seem to get past the hurdle and I'm thinking of starting something else, just to give me a break from the monotony. However, as is typical with me, there is a good chance I'll never get back to finishing it. So, for now I'm just trudging along and finishing the darn thing.
On the brighter side, I've just been granted access to Ravelry and I am so stoked! It was a great excuse to upgrade my flickr account, so that I can upload and organize all my photos which are scattered all over the place. It's going to take me a long time to get everything set up the way I want, so my account is very much a work in progress. But a fun work, because I've been wanting to organize my stuff for so long but never had a tool that could do it all. Thanks Ravelry!
I'm about 2/3 of the way done with the back, but I just can't seem to get past the hurdle and I'm thinking of starting something else, just to give me a break from the monotony. However, as is typical with me, there is a good chance I'll never get back to finishing it. So, for now I'm just trudging along and finishing the darn thing.
On the brighter side, I've just been granted access to Ravelry and I am so stoked! It was a great excuse to upgrade my flickr account, so that I can upload and organize all my photos which are scattered all over the place. It's going to take me a long time to get everything set up the way I want, so my account is very much a work in progress. But a fun work, because I've been wanting to organize my stuff for so long but never had a tool that could do it all. Thanks Ravelry!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Help Wanted: Finishing Fairy
I'm amazed that I actually completed something, since I have been so busy keeping my eye on that little stinker that keeps chewing on anything and everything, including electrical cords!
This is the Cherry sweater that I worked on while I was in Europe. Nothing like Rowan Calmer gliding through your fingers to keep you (as the name says) calm during long-haul flights! I don't know why, but I absolutely hate sewing on buttons. As you can see, I am declaring this an FO in spite of the fact that it doesn't yet have its buttons on. I'm hoping the finishing fairy will stop by, but I know that won't happen. There is no excuse either, because I even have the buttons that will go on there! I just hate sewing buttons. End of story.
Oh, and I could also use a dressform, because I don't think sweaters look all that great laying flat. Yeah, I could model it for everyone, but I can't stand self-portraits and my husband takes the most unflattering photos...
This is the Cherry sweater that I worked on while I was in Europe. Nothing like Rowan Calmer gliding through your fingers to keep you (as the name says) calm during long-haul flights! I don't know why, but I absolutely hate sewing on buttons. As you can see, I am declaring this an FO in spite of the fact that it doesn't yet have its buttons on. I'm hoping the finishing fairy will stop by, but I know that won't happen. There is no excuse either, because I even have the buttons that will go on there! I just hate sewing buttons. End of story.
Oh, and I could also use a dressform, because I don't think sweaters look all that great laying flat. Yeah, I could model it for everyone, but I can't stand self-portraits and my husband takes the most unflattering photos...
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Puppy!
Last Friday, we picked up our new baby, Ripley Fergie. She is a 13-week old sable Sheltie from Wintercreek Shelties.
She is quite the bundle of energy! Even though we are totally exhausted, we are having so much fun seeing her learn, grow, and play. She has picked up on so much in just a few days - it's incredible!
I gotta give props to our very patient 9-year old hound, Gibson, for showing her the ropes and letting her bark and nip at him. Sorry, Gibs - it'll get better (I hope!).
I gotta give props to our very patient 9-year old hound, Gibson, for showing her the ropes and letting her bark and nip at him. Sorry, Gibs - it'll get better (I hope!).
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Bonjour!
Wow, it is really hard to sum up 2 weeks of vacation in one blog post, but I'll try to stick to the highlights. The weather was gorgeous the entire trip... not a single drop of rain, not even in the UK! Paris is so pretty that I couldn't choose a single photo that would do it justice, so like everyone else, I settled on this pic of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. The light show was very twinkly and bordering on seizure-inducing. Fun!
Here's what the Phildar store's yarn section looked like. Very claustrophobic, but luckily I was the only person shopping there. I was worried when I saw that they only had a few balls of each color of yarn out on the floor, but the nice lady came over and said if I like a color, she would look in the "derriere" to see if they had more. I thought that was funny.
I can't tell you how much I loved Paris! I was so glad I could put my 3 years of high school French to good use, because it really came in handy. Here's what the main boulevard near our apartment looked like. I'm nostalgic already!
After a very interesting flight from Nice to London, where I sat next to a very loud British woman who reeked of gin (and ordered 2 more on the plane), our luck continued as we ended up with the most insane taxi driver in all of London. Of course, we didn't know this at the time, but looking back on all the rides we took over the 3 days, he definitely wins the award.
One of the places we visited was the Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms. Yeah, sounds like a real party huh? Well, I figured I owed my husband one for going with me to the Phildar store in Paris. But, in a surprise twist, this trip actually involved yarn - Churchill and his men used the various colored yarns to draw lines on their maps. Crafty!
And for the record, I was able to get through security and take both my crochet hook and my knitting needles onboard all my flights. I flew from Portland, Oregon (PDX) to Chicago (ORD) to Manchester, UK (MAN) to Paris, France (CDG); Paris Orly (ORY) to Nice, France (NCE); Nice (NCE) to London Heathrow (LHR); Manchester, UK back through Chicago to Portland. The needles were US #7 bamboo circs, and I worked on Cherry by Anna Bell using Rowan Calmer.
I had the needles in a ziploc bag in my carry-on, placed near the top (in case they wanted to take it out), and along the side of the bag so it blended in more with the structure of the bag. My bag was actually pulled aside and opened up by security in Nice, France. The woman rifled through all my stuff, and didn't think twice about the knitting. She asked me in French if I had face cream. I guess they are more concerned with the whole 'liquids and gels' thing. In England, they either didn't see the needles, or didn't care. My bag went through security just fine, both times, with no further inspection.
Whew! I think that's all (for now)! I have so many wonderful memories of this trip. We both felt it was the best trip either of us had been on. It was worth waiting 5 years for - I can't wait to see what we do for our 10-year anniversary!
Since we decided to boycott museums in favor of shopping, eating, and living like a local, I have lots of great memories of the stores and all the shopkeepers we spoke with (sort of). The only "out of the way" place I wanted to visit was the Phildar store. Since I wanted to check out their clothing line, we went to the store located on Rue Monge in the 5th, the closest to our apartment. It turned out to be a very small store, but I still managed to buy a sweater and a top, as well as a pack of yarn and 3 magazines.
At checkout, I noticed a book behind the counter and quickly translated it in my head. I grabbed the camera to capture the moment, in spite of the confused look from the shopkeeper. I'm not sure she really understood why we thought this was so funny:
Here's what the Phildar store's yarn section looked like. Very claustrophobic, but luckily I was the only person shopping there. I was worried when I saw that they only had a few balls of each color of yarn out on the floor, but the nice lady came over and said if I like a color, she would look in the "derriere" to see if they had more. I thought that was funny.
I can't tell you how much I loved Paris! I was so glad I could put my 3 years of high school French to good use, because it really came in handy. Here's what the main boulevard near our apartment looked like. I'm nostalgic already!
Our next stop was Monaco. I was stunned at how gorgeous it is there. I mean, really, check out the view from our hotel room:
After a very interesting flight from Nice to London, where I sat next to a very loud British woman who reeked of gin (and ordered 2 more on the plane), our luck continued as we ended up with the most insane taxi driver in all of London. Of course, we didn't know this at the time, but looking back on all the rides we took over the 3 days, he definitely wins the award.
One of the places we visited was the Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms. Yeah, sounds like a real party huh? Well, I figured I owed my husband one for going with me to the Phildar store in Paris. But, in a surprise twist, this trip actually involved yarn - Churchill and his men used the various colored yarns to draw lines on their maps. Crafty!
Speaking of crafty, I will now show off all the knit- and craft- related items I brought home with me! As mentioned, I went to one of the many Phildar stores in Paris, and I also hit the craft section at Le Bon Marche, which was right around the corner from our apartment I might add.
I also went to La Droguerie, located near Les Halles, which was a feast for the eyes! I was intimidated at first, because you have to ask the shopworkers to help you with what you want. They have their buttons and various adornments on display up on the wall, and you have to show them what you want and how many, etc. Again, high school French saved me! I was able to stumble my way through their language to get what I wanted, and the ladies there met me halfway with a few words of English.
And for the record, I was able to get through security and take both my crochet hook and my knitting needles onboard all my flights. I flew from Portland, Oregon (PDX) to Chicago (ORD) to Manchester, UK (MAN) to Paris, France (CDG); Paris Orly (ORY) to Nice, France (NCE); Nice (NCE) to London Heathrow (LHR); Manchester, UK back through Chicago to Portland. The needles were US #7 bamboo circs, and I worked on Cherry by Anna Bell using Rowan Calmer.
I had the needles in a ziploc bag in my carry-on, placed near the top (in case they wanted to take it out), and along the side of the bag so it blended in more with the structure of the bag. My bag was actually pulled aside and opened up by security in Nice, France. The woman rifled through all my stuff, and didn't think twice about the knitting. She asked me in French if I had face cream. I guess they are more concerned with the whole 'liquids and gels' thing. In England, they either didn't see the needles, or didn't care. My bag went through security just fine, both times, with no further inspection.
Whew! I think that's all (for now)! I have so many wonderful memories of this trip. We both felt it was the best trip either of us had been on. It was worth waiting 5 years for - I can't wait to see what we do for our 10-year anniversary!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Trippin' wit yarn
I've been researching the various "rules" about knitting on airplanes, particularly on flights through the UK, since we're flying through Manchester, England. The airport's security website specifically lists knitting needles on the banned items list.
I debated knitting on the way to Manchester, then dumping my knitting needles while transferring to our flight to Paris, but I just couldn't bear the thought of throwing away perfectly good needles. So, I've resigned to crocheting instead, since there is no mention of crochet hooks as a banned item.
I generally don't like crocheting that much, and I think knitted goods look better, but I kinda liked this pattern in the latest Interweave Crochet (Spring 2007), called the Boteh Scarf. It has a nice wavy flow about it, contrary to the usual stiff look that I see in crochet.
I would prefer a solid color, as in the pattern, but my LYS only had variegated colors of the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. I went with this one, Red Rover, because it has the most similarly colored colors in it. And I like red. I hope the security personnel at the Manchester airport also approve. ;)
And of course, I have to have some good knitting on hand for when we're not on a plane. I just got this pack of Jaeger Trinity in Water on sale on eBay, and I'm a fan of this yarn. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but I do!
I was thinking of trying a second attempt at knitting Cherry. I knit almost all of this sweater last year using Frog Tree pima silk, but it was too small so I ripped it out. I still love this pattern, and I also love knitting things that have an all-over pattern on them (keeps things interesting). I'm going to swatch this tonight to see if I want to proceed.
Lastly, if you're still paying attention, I have to say that I'm so excited to visit the Phildar stores in Paris! I plan on coming back with a fair amount of yarn, but if you check out their website, you'll see that they also carry really cute clothes. What more could a girl ask for?!
I debated knitting on the way to Manchester, then dumping my knitting needles while transferring to our flight to Paris, but I just couldn't bear the thought of throwing away perfectly good needles. So, I've resigned to crocheting instead, since there is no mention of crochet hooks as a banned item.
I generally don't like crocheting that much, and I think knitted goods look better, but I kinda liked this pattern in the latest Interweave Crochet (Spring 2007), called the Boteh Scarf. It has a nice wavy flow about it, contrary to the usual stiff look that I see in crochet.
I would prefer a solid color, as in the pattern, but my LYS only had variegated colors of the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. I went with this one, Red Rover, because it has the most similarly colored colors in it. And I like red. I hope the security personnel at the Manchester airport also approve. ;)
And of course, I have to have some good knitting on hand for when we're not on a plane. I just got this pack of Jaeger Trinity in Water on sale on eBay, and I'm a fan of this yarn. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but I do!
I was thinking of trying a second attempt at knitting Cherry. I knit almost all of this sweater last year using Frog Tree pima silk, but it was too small so I ripped it out. I still love this pattern, and I also love knitting things that have an all-over pattern on them (keeps things interesting). I'm going to swatch this tonight to see if I want to proceed.
Lastly, if you're still paying attention, I have to say that I'm so excited to visit the Phildar stores in Paris! I plan on coming back with a fair amount of yarn, but if you check out their website, you'll see that they also carry really cute clothes. What more could a girl ask for?!
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Calm down
With the BIG Europe trip coming up, it's been a very stressful time around here. Nothing better to soothe the soul than Rowan Calmer. I've been working on Elspeth from Magazine #37. The knitting was very fast, and thankfully I didn't run into much confusion over the lace pattern because I read up on the problems others had. Do a little research first, and you'll be fine.
The part that's taking me forever is the crochet edging. I really am not having a good time with this, but I like that it is helping the edges from curling. In order to speed up the process, I'm doing the picots with 2 sc (dc in UK-speak) in between. Since it's not done yet, I'm only offering a partial picture of it.
Now that I'm totally addicted to knitting with Calmer, I ordered more of it in the same color, Laurel, which I love. This is on sale at eBay, though I think it's running out fast. I went to my LYS to pick up the Calmer Collection book, and I also got Lace Style for kicks.
Oh, and we had a nice time in Vegas last week, but our pics are so incredibly dark and generally bad that it's not worth sharing. Suffice it to say, the Four Seasons ROCKS and the staff is so amazingly wonderful. Also notable - our 7 course meal with wine pairing at Aureole was excellent!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Knittin' for Eli
Our friends back in California are expecting a baby any minute now, so I whipped up Buster and Docker from the Rowan Babies book by Kim Hargreaves. Actually, I had planned on making this for Eli for quite some time, but I thought he was coming in May, not March. Thankfully, babies are small and wear tiny clothes you can knit up fast!
I used the yarn called for in the patterns, and actually had enough to make the booties from the leftover yarn from the sweater (in case any of you out there are thinking of making both for the smallest size).
Patterns: Buster and Docker from Rowan Babies by Kim Hargreaves
Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton, (2) Misty #903 and (1) Inky #908
Size: 0-6 months
Buttons: 1/2" genuine shell by JHB from Jo-Ann Fabrics
Modifications: I didn't like the look of a 5th button at the very bottom edge of the sweater, so although I did make a buttonhole (barely noticeable), I did not sew the button on the buttonband. I reversed the color scheme for the booties, since I had more of the gray color leftover than the black.
That's it! A very easy and enjoyable small project.
I used the yarn called for in the patterns, and actually had enough to make the booties from the leftover yarn from the sweater (in case any of you out there are thinking of making both for the smallest size).
Patterns: Buster and Docker from Rowan Babies by Kim Hargreaves
Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton, (2) Misty #903 and (1) Inky #908
Size: 0-6 months
Buttons: 1/2" genuine shell by JHB from Jo-Ann Fabrics
Modifications: I didn't like the look of a 5th button at the very bottom edge of the sweater, so although I did make a buttonhole (barely noticeable), I did not sew the button on the buttonband. I reversed the color scheme for the booties, since I had more of the gray color leftover than the black.
That's it! A very easy and enjoyable small project.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Too...much...information...
For our 5 year anniversary, we are going to Europe for 2 weeks in April. After months and months trying to figure out where on the planet we want to go, we ended up choosing some classic destinations that neither of us had been before.
Since we got screwed on our honeymoon (we had to cancel our Bali trip when life changed that fateful day back in Sept of 2001), we decided to make up for it on our 5 year anniversary. We thought about Bali again, as well as other equally exotic destinations, but in the end we thought it would be nice to glam up a really "normal" trip. So, we're going to Paris, London, and Monte Carlo.
Of course, I will be visiting some yarn shops while there. I have already figured out where the Phildar stores are in Paris (there are many), and unfortunately Rowan does not have their own shop in the UK (I wrote them), but I might drive out to Holmfirth anyway because we will be departing through Manchester. I know, kinda dorky that I would want to make a pilgrimage to Rowan even though they will deny me at the door.
Since we got screwed on our honeymoon (we had to cancel our Bali trip when life changed that fateful day back in Sept of 2001), we decided to make up for it on our 5 year anniversary. We thought about Bali again, as well as other equally exotic destinations, but in the end we thought it would be nice to glam up a really "normal" trip. So, we're going to Paris, London, and Monte Carlo.
Of course, I will be visiting some yarn shops while there. I have already figured out where the Phildar stores are in Paris (there are many), and unfortunately Rowan does not have their own shop in the UK (I wrote them), but I might drive out to Holmfirth anyway because we will be departing through Manchester. I know, kinda dorky that I would want to make a pilgrimage to Rowan even though they will deny me at the door.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Who's Jen?
For my birthday, we went back home to California and spent one night in San Francisco. We stayed at the Four Seasons, which is sooo incredible! They sent a cupcake (with sprinkles!) to our room shortly after checking in. Nice.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
More birthday yarn for me!!!!
It's not even my birthday yet, and I'm already being spoiled. And I love it!!
Yesterday, we took a little road trip out to the wine country, to a little town called Carlton. There is a great yarn shop out there called Woodland Woolworks. They are a little overpriced (especially for being way out in BFE), but they always have a huge stock and the best is their warehouse full of sale yarn. I couldn't help myself. Actually, that isn't true. I did help myself!
Not only did I get all those goodies, but the day before, I happened to be in the area of Lint. I had to stop in and pick up 6 rolls of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, because they are the only people I know this side of Portland who carry it. This is color number 930, Candy Apple. What's it for? I dunno. I just wanted it because I've never knit with it before, and it seems quite popular. I'm sure I'll find something in the latest Interweave Knits.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Happy (early) Birthday to me!!!
Every year my LYS, The Knitting Bee, has a Super Bowl Sunday yarn sale. Perfect timing, since my birthday is February 17! In my opinion, this is the best sale they have all year - many great yarns at 40% off, and everything else in the store is 10% off. I, along with about 20 other people, crowd around the store front waiting for them to open. Then, it's a mad rush to grab all the good stuff before they run out!
I really could have dropped a lot more in my shopping bag, but I was trying to be good. So, here's what I came home with: 13 balls of Tahki Kerry in wine red #5014, 2 skeins of Cascade 220 in Charcoal, 3 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed (2 in red, 1 in straw), and 1 skein of Lavold's Silky Wool in pink.
As I was taking this picture, I had an intruder.
Also, check out this cool switchplate! Of course, it's in my craft room. :)
I really could have dropped a lot more in my shopping bag, but I was trying to be good. So, here's what I came home with: 13 balls of Tahki Kerry in wine red #5014, 2 skeins of Cascade 220 in Charcoal, 3 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed (2 in red, 1 in straw), and 1 skein of Lavold's Silky Wool in pink.
As I was taking this picture, I had an intruder.
Also, check out this cool switchplate! Of course, it's in my craft room. :)
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Ariann
Ha! After a very long blogging hiatus, I'm back with an FO, no less. This one was a fun knit, since I had never done a sweater all in one piece (mostly). Oh, the joy in not having to sew up seams!
I would say that this sweater was easy and hard at the same time. The pattern is so deceptively simple, that I kept messing up on the lace pattern. You know how it is - you're watching TV and knitting, and you think you're in a groove so you stop paying attention. Next thing you know, your lace pattern and raglan decreases are off kilter, and you realize you're not as hot as you think you are.
But alas, I was able to successfully complete Ariann. And I'm pleased with the results! Here are the specs:
Pattern: Ariann by ChicKnits, 3/4-length sleeve version
Alterations: Added 1" length to body prior to decreasing for waist shaping
Yarn: Cascade 220 The Heathers, color number 9459 Yakima
Needles: US 6 and 7, mix of Clover bamboo and Denise
Buttons: 3/4" (pattern calls for 1 1/8", but it was too big for my holes) yikes!!??!!
I'm also in the process of crocheting the waist ties. I did one, and decided I wanted to do maybe 1 or 2 more to give it more strength. But for now, I'm calling this project done!
I would say that this sweater was easy and hard at the same time. The pattern is so deceptively simple, that I kept messing up on the lace pattern. You know how it is - you're watching TV and knitting, and you think you're in a groove so you stop paying attention. Next thing you know, your lace pattern and raglan decreases are off kilter, and you realize you're not as hot as you think you are.
But alas, I was able to successfully complete Ariann. And I'm pleased with the results! Here are the specs:
Pattern: Ariann by ChicKnits, 3/4-length sleeve version
Alterations: Added 1" length to body prior to decreasing for waist shaping
Yarn: Cascade 220 The Heathers, color number 9459 Yakima
Needles: US 6 and 7, mix of Clover bamboo and Denise
Buttons: 3/4" (pattern calls for 1 1/8", but it was too big for my holes) yikes!!??!!
I'm also in the process of crocheting the waist ties. I did one, and decided I wanted to do maybe 1 or 2 more to give it more strength. But for now, I'm calling this project done!
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