alisonknits

1 Down, 4 to Go

I finished the Flower Basket Shawl this weekend.  Here it is after blocking (from a slightly wierd angle):

I love it so much, I'm tempted to make all five shawls flower baskets.  But I won't.

Blocking is an amazing thing.  I've probably written about this before, but it never ceases to amaze me.  It's like magic.  You take a crumpled-up mess like this:

wet it, stretch it, pin it, let it dry, and presto!  When you take out the pins, it actually stays that way.  I had never used blocking wires before, but knew they would work well for the straight edge of this shawl.  Too cheap and impatient to order them from a knitting catalogue, I figured I could find something appropriate at Home Depot.  Problem was, I've never used blocking wires, so I didn't really know what kind of wire is typically used.  I ended up buying a coil of 22-gauge galvanized wire (you can see it in the bottom right corner of the blocked photo), straightening a length of it out as best I could, threading it through the edge, and then placing a few pins in the wired edge.  Worked like a charm.  And it only cost $2.88 instead of $20 plus shipping, which had been the cheapest I'd seen blocking wires going for.

I also finished my cloverleaf cable socks, which I am totally enchanted with:

Never 100% satisfied with my own designs on the first try, I'll say that were I to knit them again (and I might do just that), I'd probably make the leg part about 1" taller.  They're not too short, I just like my socks on the taller side, and the yarn (Cherry Tree Hill merino sock yarn) has generous yardage.

Must acquire more sock yarn, especially in solid colors.

Lace-Knittin' Stalker

Sorry this is my first blog post of the week.  My rhythm (such as it is) was thrown off by working all day Monday, my usual day off.  I don't know how people with jobs manange to post every day - I just can't summon the energy, not to mention the wit and blog-fodder.  But now I've got plenty to talk about. 

I hadn't seen my friend The FemiKnit Mafia in many months, and now that we finally have a date, I'm seeing her everywhere.  She claims that I'm stalking her.  Taking a not-usual commuter train to a not-usual station, I spotted her from my car walking home, pulled over and started yelling her name.  Must of scared the bejezus out of her.  On my way to the Yarn Harlot appearance at Porter Square Books yesterday, stalked her at the Dunkin' Donuts beforehand, the event itself, and to her car, getting a ride home.  Someone should tell her it's not a good idea to give rides to stalkers.

The Harlot was charming and hilarious of course.  Her talk was all about how non-knitters ("muggles") don't understand us and think we're wierd and dorky.  Either she is hanging around the wrong people (those cool tall thin people her husband knows) or I'm seriously deluded, because most of the people I encounter seem to think my knitting is worthwhile... maybe they're just hoping I'll make them something.

Thanks to readers who suggested shawl patterns - there were a few I had never heard of that I'm very interested in.  I picked out yarn almost entirely based on what white yarn we had at Three Bags Full that would best match the white dress.  Sidenote about bridal whites.  My sister's dress is actually called "ivory," but the matching white yarn was the whitest white we had in the store.  Good thing she didn't pick the "real" white color... I would have to find some yarn that glows in the dark.

The yarn is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, a sport weight.  I had hoped to get to a DK to make these go quicker, but that turns out not to be an issue.  I cast on for the Flower Basket on Monday, and I was shocked to realize last night that I only need to do one more pattern repeat (the pattern repeats are something like 8 or 12 rows) before I start the edging.  I guess making five shawls by October wasn't such a crazy idea after all.

A Knitting Update

My knitting mojo is pretty much back.  I am enchanted with the socks I'm currently working on.  Here is the first:

It's my own design, with a twisted rib at the top, one of my favorite lace patterns (Cloverleaf Cable from one of the Barbara Walker books - it's not really a cable, it's lace), and a round toe.  I learned the round toe from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks, a recent purchase with which I'm very satisfied.

The yarn is from Cherry Tree Hill, and I used 2.25 mm double-points.  I actually enjoyed going back to the traditional top-down, heel flap construction after several toe-up-on-two-circulars jaunts with short row heels.  Variety is the spice of life.

I will be writing up the pattern; in fact this has rekindled the notion of setting up my website.  (Hm, you've heard that one before...)

In other happy knitting news, I've finished two big knit-for-hire projects, and now just have one and a half Christmas stockings left to do.  I accomplished this by forcing myself all weekend to do several rows of boring for-hire knitting, and then allowing myself a few rounds on the sock.  It turns out a sock makes a very good carrot.

Next up, besides the mate to this beauty, I have to knit five shawls.  Huh?  Yeah, my sister is getting married outdoors in Connecticut in October.  In a strapless gown.  And all four of us bridesmaids will also be in strapless gowns.  In October.  In Connecticut.  Outside.

Clearly, we need shawls.  So like a good sister I offered to knit them.  All five of them.  I know I'm a nutjob, it's okay, you can say it.

I don't think I want to make five of the same shawl, though, because that could get really tedious.  Any recommendations for pretty lace shawls in sport-weight or heavier yarn would be much appreiciated.  I'm thinking Flower Basket.  What else?

Oh, and I also need to get back to her wedding present.

Yeah, I really am a nutjob.

Buy This Book

The other day I received my copy of the Mason Dixon Knitting book, sent to me personally by the authors.  Why would they send a copy to little old me, you ask?  Well, it's because I have a couple designs in the book.  It didn't sink in what a really cool thing that is until last night when I started reading it.  This is an excellent book.

One of the things I love about it is that the most of the patterns are really like recipes for the knitter to experiment with, rather than meant to be knitted exactly like the sample.  It's like Elizabeth Zimmerman's message that you are in charge of your knitting.  It's definitely time for a new generation of knitters to get that.  Hooray for Kay & Ann!

And it's also beautifully written and designed.  If you don't have it yet, go and get it.

I'm so honored that they asked me to be a part of this fabulous book.  My pieces are the After-Dark Nightie and Robe.  A bit of modesty is in order here, since these pieces were mostly Kay's idea, I just did my best to design what she was looking for - I didn't even knit the samples.  But I must admit, I'm proud to be included.

Knitting on "Grey's"

Grey's Anatomy is my favorite show.  I know, it's an overwrought soap opera with a whiny herione a la Ally McBeal.  But I love it.  Love love love it.

So you can imagine my delight to see in last week's trailer that the characters would be knitting in this week's episode.  Sadly, my delight was short-lived.

It started sort of okay.  I was concerned that it looked like Meredith (the whiny herione) was not a real knitter - it's a pet peeve of mine to see actors who clearly don't know how to knit playing experienced knitters, but it was quickly indicated that she had only just taken up knitting.  And here's where I started to get a little bit offended.  She took up knitting along with a vow of celibacy.  I'm slightly miffed at the implication that people who knit are celibate (grandmas?), but it was handled with a large dose of humor, so whatever. 

And I was cheered to see Izzie, the former model, was an experienced knitter (and it was obvious that the actress is a real knitter).  So yay, one of the sexiest people on the show is a knitter.  Izzie tells her patient/love interest that she's knitting a sweater to swap out with Meredith's, so that Meredith will think she can really knit a sweater.  Um, somehow I doubt that will work, but whatever.

But then at the end of the show, ostensibly the evening of that same day, Izzie has finished the sweater.  Finished the sweater.  Denny the heart patient/love interest is incredulous that she knit a sweater in one day.  She jokes that she had some extra time.  Okay, I'm willing to overlook the gross medical inacuracies on the show, but this is taking things a bit too far.  Even if she had knit most of the pieces earlier, there is no way an intern (who couldn't possibly have much time on her hands) could have sewed all the seams, done the neck finishing, and woven in the ends. 

I'm beginning to understand how people in the medical profession must feel watching shows like this.

Sprung.

Exhibit A:

Upon my return home from work/church today, I spotted these near the end of the driveway.  I don't believe they were there yesterday.

Exhibit B:

Sitting at my desk a few minutes later, I witnessed a teenager pick one of these while passing by the house.

Exhibit C:

This counter has never once been clear in the eight months we have lived here.  (Seriously.)  There are many other markings around the house of spring cleaning: swept floors, scrubbed bathrooms, etc.

It's a miracle.

Spring has sprung.

(Don't we usually go straight from winter into summer?)