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Season's Greetings! Part 2

Hello knitters! We're back from our roadtrip, doing inventory and preparing for our new most-favorite year. We'll be back with knitting news on January 5— see you then!

Little Jack says Happy New Year!

Season's Greetings

We're taking our knitting on the road! Be safe, knit happy, and we'll see you again soon!

Making a List, Checking it Twice

I took a tip from Santa and made a list of my holiday knitting; it's all finished, so I can check that off! I even have a day to spare—think I should cast on for some gloves? We are a bit light on knitting content today. (Although I did get a new-old book in the mail today: Anatolian Knitting Designs. Awesome.)

I wanted to show you the finished scarf and hat made from the discontinued Noro Himaraya, but Mike and Jack were feeling extra frisky today and acted like camera-hog-dogs.

You can gather from the photo that the scarf is finished, but that's about all. I'm glad the pups are feeling so much better! Today when they take one of their naps I'll try to sneak a photo session in. I'm glad to be done with this; the yarn really tore up my fingertips, for some unfathomable reason.

It's good to have happy pups during the holidays!

Mikey says it's Tuesday! On Dancer, on Prancer, on Comet, on Vixen! Happy knitting to you all!

Monday Momentum

Fast weekend, right? Did you get everything done that you needed to? I didn't! But I did finish the Himaraya scarf, all 6.5 ft of it. Yay! I'm waiting until it's washed before showing you a picture. Tomorrow! I'm trying to speed knit a beanie to go with it—wish me luck! Curiously, with the Himaraya, something happened that has never happened to me before, and that is that it irritated the skin on my fingertips something fierce. Fierce to the point of abrading. Could that be the dye? The wool? or just a sympathetic reaction to the pups' vaccine reactions last week? I hope that whatever it is comes out in the Euclan wash.

Kinda Enabling

If you are hoping for a copy of Unexpected Knitting for Christmas, I see on the Schoolhouse Press website that there is a case of slightly dented copies for Kinda Sale. Regularly 40 bucks + postage, now 32 bucks + postage. Treat yourself, why dontcha?

Don't Miss!

Be sure to take a look sometime today at Amber's awesome footstool with knitted and personalized cover. Very cool.

Pups

Pups had a happy weekend. Thank you all, once again, for your very kind comments and concern for my little dears. Mikey felt so well that he wore his hat all Saturday afternoon.

It's Monday! Better watch out! You-know-who is coming to town.

Finally Friday

What a long and stressful week! I'm considering it officially over around noon today. Let the weekend begin!

I'm still chugging along on the Himaraya scarf. I like how the dark and light yarns are patterning the Multidirectional Diagonal scarf. Working garter stitch always makes me think of Elizabeth Zimmermann's engineered garter stitch wonders. I bet she would have like this scarf pattern.

I have enough of this old Himaraya to knit a longish scarf; I'm aiming for a good six feet, and there is yarn enough to create a matching skully-type hat. Should keep my recipient plenty warm! How's your holiday knitting coming along? I'm ready to return to gloves, myself.

Pups

Pups are still a bit peaked, but coming along nicely. Who knew a simple vaccination could cause such canine havoc? Thursday afternoon, though, everyone enjoyed a nice stretch in the sunshine and fresh air. The pups and I thank you all for your kind thoughts and comments regarding their pup-health. I was very touched, and read each message to the invalids.

It's Friday! Mike Jack and Della say they don't care to join in any reindeer games. Have a wonderful day, and a wonderfully satisfying weekend!

Happy Thursday

Here are our convalescents, getting a bit of sun today:

Mike and Jack are completely better, but are still being cautious with themselves, since it seems to gain more snuggles. Dachshunds are prone to being dramatic, but those hives were way too much! Thank you all for your kind comments.

Knitting

I've finished the Grape Arbor-colored Multidirectional Diagonal scarf. This is an addictive pattern! Completely mindless, yet yielding very snazzy results.

This one, using about 350 yards of handpaint, has come in at just under six feet of scarf. It's a warm one, too. The colors are much nicer in person that what you're seeing in the images. Truly grape-arbory! with winey purples, grape-leaf greens, and grapevine browns. Wool purchased from ebay seller Russtrees.

Now there's only the Himaraya scarf to finish up, and my Christmas knitting is done. Oh, except for those blue and white gloves...I think I'll be giving an knitting-IOU for those.

Off-Topic

There is some extraordinary origami at this site. Don't miss this artist's paper portraits of the Buddha and of the Archangel Gabriel. (via BoingBoing) Also via BoingBoing, Customizable Bobble-Head Dolls--the perfect gift for 39.95.

Pups

It's Thursday! (Thank you, Tamara, for keeping up our closing line tradition on Wednesday in the comments!) Della says Romp while You May, for Tomorrow You might have Hives!

La la la

Oops! We don't have knitting to show you today! More about that under Pups. So let's talk about my newest old book, Knitting in the Nordic Tradition (ISBN:1887374310). Do you have a copy? Please treasure it, because it is officially out of print. The author is Vibeke Lind, and if you can read Danish, there's a nice biography page here.

I wasn't always knuts about stranded knitting, so I missed this book when I began collecting information on Norwegian knitting. It only took knitting one Dale of Norway design to become hooked, of course!

So, about this book. When I finally tracked down a copy, the seller told me I would want "to knit something from every page." I thought that might be hyperbole, yet, now that the book has arrived, I see she was completely right. (By the way, I bought her last copy.) I do want to knit something from every page! This isn't a book of patterns or designs; instead, it's a book of comprehensive information on how to knit everything Norwegian, from socks to gloves to sweaters and everything in between, and all of it two-color. There are more than 100 graphed pattern charts, hundreds of meticulous line drawings, and dozens of inspiring photographs of knitted items. I'm delighted to add this to my collection of ethnic knitting books. I had heard that the translation to English was not very good, but I think its fine and immensely readable. I Love This Book. Two Thumbs Up! Huzzah! If you don't have it and want to obsessively hunt down a copy (as I did), here's Amazon's entry to get you started. Good luck!

Pups

What?? No puppy photos? Yes! There are no puppy photos today. The dear little doggies went to the vet for their yearly vaccinations and Mike and Jack had unexpected and dreadful reactions to the vaccine for a horrible spirochete called Lepto-something. You can read more about the horrible spirochete here, but basically, our darlings swelled up like Texas toads and broke out in hives all over their little miniature dachshund bodies. Completely all over! Even the insides of their floppy ears!! Poor pups. They had to have histamine blockers before they could come home, and they were quite miserable until the antihistamines kicked in. We were appalled (and itchy). Except Della. She was just bored. Our half-hour visit to the vet turned into a six-and-a-half-hour visit. Mike and Jack are both much better at this writing, yet I don't want to snap flash-photos in their little puffy faces. Tomorrow, we'll resume snapping flash-photos in and of their furry heroic faces, provided they feel 100% better.

Until then, happy knitting! and Happy Wednesday!

Mitered Squares and Short Rows

That's what I'm working on; more mitered squares and another Multidirectional Diagonal scarf. The new scarf is in a discontinued Noro yarn called Himaraya. The color stretches are still intense, but shorter and more random than Kureyon. Colors are moody blues:

I like it!

37th Street Tour

In Austin on 37th Street, the residents take a very whimsical view of holiday decorations. Monday night, Sister, her son, and I took a stroll down the most curiously decorated street in Austin. Found objects are re-purposed with strings of light, and the mundane takes on new artistic meaning when draped with festive lights. Here's some of what we saw; I hope it inspires you to new heights of silliness when considering your own decorations!

A shrubbery car:

An Outré Tableau:

Ye Olde Motorcycle:

An EZ Bizarre Oven:

Holiday Bevo, the UT mascot:

And my personal favorite, the Shrine to Elvis created from an old ice machine:

Yep. We're in Texas, and It's Tuesday. Pups are going to the vet. See you tomorrow! Have a happy knitting day.

Necessary Knitting

"Ho!" I said to myself this weekend. "I need a sweater!" So in an act of faithless glove, I put my little glove needles down and picked up an Unfinished Object abandoned earlier in the year. It's the "Mitered Madness" sweater/jacket from designer Carol Lapin, and it's knit in Noro Kureyon, color number 51, which is very urban and mysterious and gray and black and brown.

This is the left front, so you'll have an idea of what it looks like. The back is already finished, the left front is finished, and the right-front is nearly finished, so I think I'll be able to wear this to California at the end of the month. This sweater was perhaps the prototype of the design "Bounced Check," featured in the first Simply Knit book. Isn't Noro fun? You can see the original model here.

In other knitting news, I worked a bit more of the third Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf. See how it grows?

Garter-stitch seems to soothe frayed neurotransmitters, whether in short-rows or in mitered squares.

Pups

It's Monday! Mikey says Deck the Halls.

Glove Will Keep Us Together

Earlier in the week I meant to show you the lacy "Vanalinn Gloves" I was working on. Designed by Nancy Bush, you can find the pattern in Meg Swansen's A Gathering of Lace. Mine are in my favorite color of Koigu.

More experienced lace knitters than I frequently comment on the futility of working lace in varigated yarns. They say the lace pattern gets lost. Be that as it may, these gloves are for me, and I know they're lacy, and best of all, green! Here's a close-up for you, though, so you can decide for yourself.

It's been too busy here this week to return to these gloves, but I expect to have time to work on them over the weekend. I adore the Koigu color. The lace pattern is a lovely zig-zag, with a 5-stitch repeat over 16 rows, so it's easy and interesting. FACTOID: Vanalinn means Old Town in Estonian, according to Bush, and it is a part of Tallinn, the capital. You can learn more about Tallinn and its medieval architecture here. You can learn more about knitting in Estonia from the book Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush.

In other knitting news, a new Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf! This is the third one I've made, because I'm very fond of Karen Baumer's pattern. Thanks again, Karen! This one is working up in some luscious Australian merino, handpainted in the colorway Grape Arbor.

Look how smartly my green Vanalinn gloves go with!

Pups

Della and Mike say Mwah!Kiss!Kiss! Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!

Rushing Around

We're rushing around like mad here, trying to meet school deadlines and knitting deadlines. Not much knitting news again today, except for an awesome OOP Book Score! Knitting in the Nordic Tradition is heading toward my mailbox even as I write. I don't know how I missed this book when it first came out, but once I heard that I'd find something on every page that I wanted to knit, I just had to have a copy. I'll let you know if it's truly a must-have when it arrives.

Happy Thursday! The pups and I will bring you some spicy knitting content tomorrow. In the meantime, have you seen Judy's awesome gloves at Pink Tea? Fabulous!

You Give Glove a Bad Name

The Christmas Glove in white and turquoise is too small, I think. I have a drawing of the recipient's hand, and while it fits on the drawing, it doesn't fit on my nephew's hand, which fits on the drawing too. Hmm. So I'll rip it (rip it good) and start over with different wool. But not right now.

Pups

Mike, Jack and Della are entertaining themselves today, because I have a ton of schoolwork.

Perhaps you'd like to entertain yourself with this informative article about cashmere?

Or perhaps you'd rather entertain yourself with some tidings of comfort and joy?

Whichever, we wish you a happy Wednesday.

Scarf Attack!

While gloves-to-be await fitting, I was smitten by Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf knitting (oooh! I'm rhymin' like Maisey!).

What an excellent pattern. Thank you Karen Baumer, wherever you are. I made one last night out of some of that hand-spun recycled sari-silk stuff, narrow, and about four-feet long, and it's quite cool. No photo. Up too late and my knitting has puffy eyes. But what fun! Short rows fun! Who knew!! I know Wendy's making one that's lovely, and Shelley is too. Go take a look at Shelley's vibrant colors. I love her scarf! Scroll down for her Scalloped Pineapple recipe.

This is a fast knitting project if you make it a skinny-ish size, plus, it's perfect for A Christmas Story-watching, as you don't have to look at your knitting too much while waiting for that kid to put his eye out.

Pups

Mikey says Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow, but all we get is lovely 70-degree weather. Hoho-hum.

Have an excellent day! Good knitting to you.

What's Glove Got To Do With It

Not so much knitting to report; I was homesick for snow over the weekend and spent lots of quality knitting time gabbing with friends in the Northeast. I did manage to finish one Christmas Glove (from Folk Knitting in Estonia), and here it is:

Well, that's the front. Here's the back:

This glove has a mitten-type, or afterthought, thumb; you put the thumb stitches on waste yarn and then pick them up to knit after the fingers are finished. My hands are too big for this glove, so I'm looking forward to seeing Sister so she can check the fit for me. It was difficult with this glove to prevent holes from forming at the finger, um, crotches? So I'll be using the circular suture idea from Lucy Neatby's toolbox of techniques to close up holes. "Anu's Christmas Gloves" is a great error-free pattern, and so the only problems with this glove are from my knitting! I've decided I'm a rather sloppy knitter, and one of my knitting resolutions is to knit more carefully rather than more speedily. On the other hand (heh!), these gloves need to be finished for a Christmas present, so I'm giving myself permission to hope for happy miracles in the blocking process!

In other knitting news, I started the Estonian Lace Gloves by my favorite Nancy Bush from A Gathering of Lace. I'm using Koigu, and I think they'll be lovely. I'll try to remember to take a progress photo to show you tomorrow.

New Old Books

I suddenly have a heap of vintage glove pattern booklets from a number of sources, including generous knitters Kate and Nanette. Except for a couple of new sources that I've talked about here (Folk Knitting in Estonia and Homespun, Handknit), I think I prefer these old patterns to newer ones: everything about them is on a finer scale. I have enough glove and mitten patterns and fingering weight yarn now to knit gloves and mittens for probably several hundred people. (Perhaps you've noticed that I'm really enjoying glove-knitting; they are more interesting at this point than socks, and so have replaced socks in my knitterly affection.) Austin has a rather large homeless population, so there will always be someone for whom to knit gloves (or mittens). Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone had warm hands?

Pups

It was slightly chilly here over the weekend, and the pups love the cooler weather, because their coats are still heavy from being little northeastern dogs.

Mike and Della say It's Monday, so sniff around for the good stuff!

Why Do Fools Fall in Glove?

Working on the gloves from Folk Knitting in Estonia ; these are fast-moving gloves! Here's the front (back of hand):

and here's the back (palm of hand):

This design has a slot for a thumb, shown here with red waste yarn. I can't seem to get a true color reading for you in these photos...I'm using Socka in a bright turquoise/sky blue plus some plain old white Socka. These are small gloves, but the recipient has small hands too, so that's okay. I bumped the needle size up to US1s, because I don't know what the called-for yarn is about...it's called Tuna; anyone know about Tuna? Anyway, I'm getting gauge, but they are small. I think it's a very feminine-looking glove in these colors.

In other glove news, I added an official Glove page to the finished stuff gallery. Here's a highlight:

They fit Sister perfectly! I am very pleased with these gloves!

Silly Business

Slow day at the office? Feeling creative? Visit Mr. Picassohead for a diversion.

Pups

FridayFridayFriday! Mikey says Sleigh Bells Ring Are Ya Listenin'?

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend! See you Monday!

Power of Glove

More gloves or the Morning Glory Vest? Well, Cat left a very agreeable tale of her Morning Glory Vest in the comments yesterday, along with some encouraging words, so gloves it is! Thanks Cat! And thanks to all for the compliments on Sister's Sanquhar-style gloves. The sock wools bloomed beautifully in their Euclan wash, and they are now ready for colder temperatures here.

Amazing what a wash will do!

Here is the next pair on the needles, with colors to match someone's ski togs:

These are Anu's Christmas Gloves from Folk Knitting in Estonia (ISBN 1-883010-43-8). I love this book. It is full of clearly explained techniques and pretty patterns. I called The Wooly West to order some color cards for some of the wools used in this book, and Nancy Bush answered the phone! I immediately shifted into worshipful idiot-mode, and stuttered my way through my order. It is nearly overwhelming to me when knitting idols answer the phone themselves...Meg Swansen at Schoolhouse Press, Nancy Bush at Wooly West. I'm sure they both think I'm a knitter to be pitied from the way I gabble at them when they answer the phone!

Pups

Della says it's Thursday! You know what to do.

Have a happy one!

After the Glovin'

Yesterday Sister took me to her downtown meeting in Houston, and while I could have gotten lots of knitting done in the car, instead, I just enjoyed the ride and time together. It's a couple of hours to Houston, so we had plenty of gab time. And, Sister knew of a Czech bakery where PoppySeed Rolls are baked fresh daily. What an amazing treat! Sweet dough thinly wrapped around a generous filling of creamy poppy seeds. Now there are six things I like about Texas!

Knitting

I'm deciding whether to return to the abandoned Alice Starmore Morning Glory Vest, or (most wanted) cast on for new gloves. I found that the Sanquhar-style gloves required quite a bit of attention, so I don't want to get overloaded with projects. Thank you for the kind comments regarding the gloves yesterday! Gloves are fun! fun! fun!

Pups

Jack and Della say it's Wednesday. Look both ways.

Tonight I Celebrate My Glove For You

Sister's Sanquhar-style gloves are finally finished! Not dressed yet, but off the (incredibly tiny) needles. This was a very satisfying knitting-experience. I learned how gloves are constructed, and the type of work that goes into a project like this. I am grateful to the lovely knitters at ABCs of Knitting for providing the free pattern online, and to the equally lovely knitters at the Glorious Glove Project for providing the inspiration. I commend both to you. Here are some lousy photos of the just-finished and rumpled gloves:

Initials, dates, skulls, and an historic pattern: pretty fancy knitting. Yep. When my dear visitors were here over the weekend, both saw the gloves in progress and both wanted pairs for skiing and snowboarding—literally the first time in my knitting career that I've had multiple requests for a handknit item! Tonight I'll be casting on the next pair.

Pups

It's Tuesday! Mike and Della say Get Along, Little Doggies!

Have a great day!

Clever Crochet

Via BoingBoing, this clever idea, selling now for 60-120 Euros:

See the full advertisement here. No pattern, of course, but you're a smart cookie! Just imagine the Booga Bag as a laptop sleeve...yum!

Pups

The pups had a wonderful long weekend, full of pie crumbs, puppy kisses, and their favorite visitors.

We're a bit blue this Monday after making our trips to the airport. Little Jack reminds you to gather snuggles while ye may:

Happy Monday—we send Delightful Day vibrations in your direction!