Cuff to Cuff

What are you reading? What are you knitting? Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!

I've started a new book and a new project, though the book title isn't showing well here! I've just begun Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman and am enjoying the Maine setting and the introduction of families with deep ties to the summer vacation village. What secrets and allegiances will be revealed?

 This cuff-to-cuff short sleeve sweater is the first garment I've made for my self in decades, so it's exciting to see it take shape. I've added stripes since I don't have enough yarn of the same color. The picture shows a sleeve with the bunched up part being the left front. The center section is seed stitch. After nine inches of the front, I'll cast on the back stitches then finish knitting one half of the sweater. After knitting the other half of the sweater, I'll graft the pieces together with a seam up the back.

 I am finally using the Rowan Summer Tweed that I purchased at Camp Stitches in Asilomar, California, several years ago. I'm using this color with cream.

This is the pattern picture from  http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/cuff-cuff-sweater where you can get the free pattern.

I'd like to hear about/see what you're knitting/crocheting and reading!

BSJ 4 WTW

Finished a Baby Surprise Jacket #2 for Warm the World. Actually, I finished #3 before #2 for no particular reason! This one is approximately a size 4 knit with Plymouth Encore chunky and size

10 needles. The pattern is in The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman. It is available from http://www.schoolhousepress.com/

Since I decided to make a single button closure this time, I used an interestingly shaped metal button to finish it off. I know this little jacket will warm a child somewhere in the world.

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And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. John 12:32

Baby Surprise Sweater

This is the Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ or BSS) from The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman made with Mission Falls 1824 cotton and size 7 needles. I did it as a KAL mentioned in a previous post.

Having completed the knitting, I'm ready to do the oragami-like folding to transform this piece from blob to sweater. Lay it out with wrong side facing you.


Fold the left side toward the center. Note the green marker is moved from lower left toward the center.

Pull the side with the green matker toward the top of the sweater.

Then fold the two extended pieces to form a sleeve. Can you see the sweater taking shape?

Do the same placement on the right side of the sweater. There are many ways to seam the top sleeves. On this one, I decided to single crochet the seams on the right side using the red/orange to add some detail.

I did a simple single crochet around the neck line.

A crocheted picot finish on the sleeves added a sweet touch. Note that I added a band of stockinette amidst the sea of garter for some stitch contrast.

The buttons were in Mother's button jar from a red and white sundress that she wore in the '50s. Now her great grand-daughter will wear them. It has been slightly less than two years since Mother passed.

And, yes, it becomes a sweater!!

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Excel in showing respect for each other. Romans 12:10 b

WIP - ing

The B4 bag in Noro is my activated project right now. The pattern has interesting handle placement for this bag, which will be felted. I am making this to send off to one of my sisters who needs a little boost right now. You can see assorted B4 bags and get info on the pattern at http://b4bag.blogspot.com/ It is a fun and fast knit! I am using size 10 needles. This is going to be smaller than I had expected, but I don't feel like ripping and restarting----onward and upward we go!

In basket #2 we have the Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket for DG#7. He is an active 2-year-old, so this hardy garter stitch is perfect for him! I'm using red for the main color and only white for striping. I decided to make fewer stripes than indicated in the pattern. My pattern is in EZ's book The Opinionated Knitter and is also available in other sources available at http://www.schoolhousepress.com/. Here is a page with notes for the BSJ: http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Baby_Surprise_Jacket

Oh, and yesterday morning...you know, the day after the Sox not the Rox won the World Series...it was time to check on ticket refund$, cancel the hotel room in Denver, cancel our reservations to board the dog-n-puppy show, and think...wow! the Rockies just saved us some serious $$$ !

"There is no joy in Mudville, Might Casey has struck out."

Dulaan and Bistro

Here are a few items I made for the Dulaan Project http://www.fireprojects.org/dulaan.htm and mailed yesterday. There is a shipment that will go out in July, however you can send items at any time to be held for the next shipping date.

I spent considerable time with a bistro while DH and I were travelling! With not in, that is! The back of the Bistro sweater is almost finished.
You can see the colorful stranding in the yarn here in this close-up. Stockinette is the perfect mindless knitting! I do have to actually think---but only a little---when it comes to armhole shaping. I had posted this yarn in blue to show how it looks. I am actually using this color which is dark red---definitely not fuchsia!

A few notes:

To Allena, Tracey, & Teabird: The Wordless Wednesday pic which I have personally named Brushtache is displayed in an outdoor gallery in Denver. I know you'll be thrilled that it is for sale, so I can get more specific info if you rilly-rilly want it!!

To Tracey and Terri Lynn: I dearly wish I could handle all the stairs to get to the upper deck for stitch and pitch!! DH and I sit in club seats because we can use the elevator and get around easier in the enclosed part that is air conditioned and much-much less crowded. We're so disappointed that we couldn't get seats there for the Yankees-Rockies games. wah!

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Good friends are like stars...You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

I'm leaving in the morning to meet-up with my sister in North Carolina. She has long wanted to spend time at the Biltmore http://www.biltmore.com/ Her husband is not interested, so I, in an act of supreme sacrifice, agreed to meet her there. (I think I suggested it.) We bought passes for two days at the Biltmore and will spend the rest of the week enjoying sisterly fun! The South in springtime will be so beautiful compared to the windy West!


Oh yes I'll be knitting! Nothing like flights and layovers to get a good amount of knitting done. iPod and knitting--I'm good to go---if I stay awake! I usually sleep on planes!
I started the ribbing on the Oat Couture Bistro sweater today. I love the simplicity of this pattern for a cool summer look. http://www.oatcouture.com/patternpages/706Bistro.html

I am using the S. Charles mosaic yarn in a dark red/cranberry color with yellow and teal threads running through it. I just love the yarn---I bought it five years ago!! The pattern too! There will be actual pics when I return from my travels. No time for it tonight.

Blessings to all!

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One who walks with God, always reaches his destination. ---Unknown

Yarnographic Friday

This Italian yarn has lived with us for four years and has become part of the family! Although I'm the only one aware of it. I love the dark red color with touches of other color strands running through it.

From the Mosaic collection, this Charles yarn is 83% extra fine merino, 15% acrylic, and 2% nylon for size 5 or 6 needles. With 99 yards per ball, you know I have mountains of the elegant yarn!

This is the sweater that I am making---making? I did about 25-30 rows four years ago. Does that count as making??
The twisted stitch adds a beautiful finishing touch to the cuffs and the bottom edge.

Now for some natural beauty living on the fence in our backyard. I never tire of seeing this view from our deck.

There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth.--Agnes Repplier

Speaking of Valentine's Day...

Since it's hearts and flowers day...and yes my dearest-dearest gave me hearts (a huge balloon), a heart shaped box of Russell Stover chocolate, and a rose....Have you seen the knitted wedding site? No, really!! Have you? Here's the link: http://www.castoff.info/wedding.asp

My five-hour sweater is now into the second week. I'm no mathematician, but I think that's way beyond the requisite five hours. Mini-Max models the little bit that is complete.

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
---Hans Hofmann

WIVSP

Work In Very Slow Progress is this short sleeve sweater from Knitting the New Classics by Kristin Nicholas. This sensational book contains 60...count 'em....60 gorgeous sweater patterns. There are so many that I want to make and probably never will!! I am using Millefili Fine mercerized cotton to make this one in a rich brown.

From this pattern book

Here are a couple views of the edging detail. The short sleeves will have this pattern over the entire sleeve.

Presenting a few of my favorite baskets

I have several done in this style by a Colorado basketeer...er...basket maker.

Do you ever have trouble deciding on your next project? How about a tree sweater? No, really! Take a look at this! http://flickr.com/photos/fotogrotto/71566432 Talk about using up your stash!!

Balzac and the Little Princess by Dai Sijie educated me about the ways of China's reeducation program through a fictional work. The reeducation program targeted the learned class with information about western culture as well as in the intended Maoist doctrine. The Little Seamstress becomes a well educated, modern woman who leaves her father. Through her pregnancy and abortion shines the tale of desire of the indominatable human spirit that seeks to learn and know.

The ancestor of every action is a thought. --- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Did I knit a blob?

Maybe if I look at it a different way......

...nope, that doesn't help!

Still unrecognizable!

It's all about the folding!

Hey! Look! It's a sweater/jacket! Not a blob at all! Whew!

Here's a look at the garter stitch and stripes!

Back View

Starry, starry buttons

The finished Baby Surprise Sweater (BSS) has buttons and a collar. This pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman can be finished in a variety of ways, such as with a hood, without the collar, with added ribbed cuffs. The colors and striping possibilities make each a unique creation! In addition to all of this creative freedom, it is such fun to knit! This one was done on size 9 needles with Plymouth Encore WW yarn. Lighter weight yarns and smaller needles yield smaller sizes. However, it can be made as an adult size as well. Did I hear versatile?

If you enjoy the feel of libraries and book stores, there is a good chance you will enjoy reading Shelf Life by Suzanne Strempek Shea. I am currently reading her nonfiction account of her experiences in publishing her novels, confronting cancer, and returning to the world by working part-time in a book store. Her humor, energy, and positive attitude contribute to the very good vibe of this book. I highly recommend it!

Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others? ---Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stix & Yarns

My straights are standing straight in a beautiful hand thrown pottery pitcher that one of my sisters gifted me several years ago. Can you see that some of those needles dates back a few decades? There are other straights, of course, that have UFOs on them!Love-love-love hand thrown pottery and have quite a varied collection throughout our house.

The button jar was Mother's and passed on to me when Mother closed our family home to move to assisted living. Playing with the buttons when I was a child has left me with happy-happy memories. It contains primitive looking buttons pressed from shells, blingy rhinestone buttons of every size and shape, buttons that might have a pricey value to collectors and a priceless value to me.


Currently, I am tinking 90 sts on my Baby Surprise Sweater (BSS) because I started a new color on the wrong side! Can't have that unsightly line running across there!




The basket is filled with the yarns for the temporarily abandoned world ghan--just until I complete the BSS. The blue yarn for the water is not in the basket. The fuschia yarn is actually a true red!





In book news, I read a couple of true-but-creepy nonfiction works. The Deadly Game by Catherine Cryer is a linear narrative of the murder of Laci Petersen and baby by the husband and father, Scott. Sad, sad story of materialism, disillusionment, and the behaviors of sociopathic Scott Petersen.
His half-sister Ann Bird wrote Blood Brother about her experiences with her murderous brother who stayed at her house with her husband and children during the weeks of the investigation--when no one knew where he was. Her heart-breaking account describes how she held on to her desire for his innocence until she could no longer rationalize his lies and bizarre behavior. Both books are fascinating and horrifying to read.

Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.--Norman Vincent Peale

The weary world awaits...

My knitting life is given over to knitting the BSS. The KAL moves quickly although there were no postings over the weekend. Does it look like a one piece sweater to you? Not yet, but it will! I'm all set to do my 'Day Six" knitting today, which leaves little time to create the world! As long as J doesn't realize my neglect, I guess it's OK. I must admit a nagging guilt at ignoring the world! "I do this for pleasure. I knit for pleasure. Enjoy each stitch no matter what I'm knitting." A little self-talk never hurts.

I've decided that I enjoyed reading Anne Rice's notes at the end of Christ the Lord Out of Egypt more than the style she used in the text of the novel. Realizing that she was writing in the voice of a seven-year-old child, I nevertheless found it to be very choppy reading without the beautiful flow of words that carry the reader. Descriptions of the setting, the daily life of the people who lived in that era, and the minutiae of that period fascinated me. The storyline was less compelling with many repetitions and extremely bloody, graphic descriptions of fighting and death that were much too detailed for this reader. I have not read Rice's other works since I am not drawn to that genre. However, I did wonder if this horrid, deplorable descriptive writing might harken back to her previous work. As for her notes, I was fascinated by her discussion of her spiritual journey and the extensive research in a variety of spheres to prepare to write this book. I therefore find myself in a neutral zone concerning this book. Would I recommend this title? Not sure. Can you say ambivalent?

One kind word can warm three winter months. ---Japanese Proverb

Am I Fickle?

So I'm happily knitting along on the world ghan--having fun with the charts and color changes. Also, I'm reading my emails from my Elizabeth Zimmerman group as they prepare for a KAL on the Baby Surprise Sweater (BSS). But, me? I'm not interested in joining in, after all, I am devoted to my world ghan. Until! Until the Day One directions popped up in my email. Before I knew it the size 9 circs and beautiful Plymouth Encore yarn in claret is in my hands! What can I say? This is an 11 day KAL and I'll have a wonderful toddler size sweater!

This one piece wonder will become a complete sweater when a couple of seams are sewn. That's it! Done! Does that even resemble a sweater? It's an amazing piece of engineering that Elizabeth Zimmerman achieved with this beauty. The many variations that can be used makes it a delightful pattern to repeat over and over and over in different striping patterns, different colors, sleeve lengths, with or without a collar. If you don't have The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman, jump onto Amazon and take a look at this inspirational knitting book. And, for even more fun, check out the group at knitbabysurprise at Yahoo groups.

When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. -Elayne Boosler-