My Life: The Week in Pictures

22 Monday Apr 2013

Tags

blackberry, colorwork, double points, fair isle, hamilton, hamilton beach, knit picks, knitting in the round, lake ontario, merino, silk, socks, stranded knitting

It’s been quite a week. Quite a week. I started my first week of work by witnessing a horrific car crash on the 401 where a car actually flew into the air in a spiral, hitting the road and rolling over and over. Two hours later, some nut bar bombed the Boston Marathon. Quite a week. So, amidst the madness, I thought perhaps I’d share a few photos of the week just past, from a personal perspective.

I have a contract at the present time that requires me to leave my cozy country home and work in the city. It’s a fun project, a kid’s version of a Japanese game show; the first 40 episodes are pre-sold to Disney.

Marblemedia is a great place to work. The office is a re-claimed carpet factory in the heart of Toronto’s trendy Liberty Village neighborhood. As an Art Director, my work so far has consisted of buying a ton of kid’s toys, bikes and costumes. That’s what I’ve been up to when I’m not turning my boss into a human gumball machine…not so bad

As it happens, Carl also has a contract that requires him to be away from the ranch. Carl’s company has therefore rented a fabulous little apartment in Hamilton Beach. It’s an old beach community that 90% of over-populated Southern Ontario doesn’t know about. Hard to believe that it’s 45 minutes from Toronto, tucked in under the Skyway Bridge. Don’t tell anyone…we don’t want any company Gorgeous! If I have to be away from home, this is IT!

I was the first one home on Friday night as Carl and Teddy had business in town on Saturday morning. In addition to having my heart in my mouth all week (as we all did), I got all the way through the heel and instep of this fair isle sock before I realized they would never, never in a million years, fit. And here was I, feeling extremely chuffed with myself for having knit some very nice color work. C’est la guerre.

To lessen the sting of ripping it all out, I went to KnitPicks with a l’il glass of wine ;^ I cleverly picked up 10 skeins of this…

…to make this…! The Highclere Cardigan is named for one of the country houses on Downton Abbey. Perfect.

Argyle!

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by Pearl in Color Work, Socks

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

aladdin heel, alpaca, araucania, argyle, beehive knitting patterns, berroco, colorwork, double points, duke of windsor, knitting in the round, merino, regia, socks, vintage knitting patterns

For some time now I’ve been scouring yard sales and second-hand stores for vintage knitting patterns, for their graphic appeal as much as for the esoteric information stuffed inside. Last weekend, while leafing through the “Hand Knit Socks by Beehive” book, I thought it might be time to take a stab at a pair of argyle socks. I remember my Mom making them for my uncles when I was a little girl. Sure wish I’d paid more attention!

The classic argyle diamond (or lozenge) pattern was derived from the clan tartans of the Scottish highlands in the region of Argyle, specifically the Campbell tartans. Originally, these patterns were woven, with knitted versions appearing in England and the US after the first world war. The ever-natty Duke of Windsor helped to popularized the design, wearing it as part of his golf attire. (Incidentally, the argyle pattern has been adopted by my favorite cycling team, Garmin-Slipstream, known as “The Argyle Armada” so I figured I’d better take a crack at it

In the process, I’ve discovered a couple of delightful new yarns. For starters, Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine…just when you thought Ultra Alpaca couldn’t get any better, they come out with a sock yarn. Regia has invented an utterly delicious blend of merino and angora (I have future plans for this yarn) and the Araucania I was sure I didn’t like has shown itself to be a real gem.

Knitted argyle patterns are generally worked using the intarsia technique; each color block is knitted using a separate ball or bobbin. Yarns are twisted at the color changes to avoid creating a hole. (Simple enough if one can manage all those stringy balls.) The strange part is working back and forth while knitting an article that began in the round. It feels very counter-intuitive, especially since it means a seam up the back of the sock.

In the hope of eliminating the seam, I tossed the Beehive book aside thinking there must be a better way. The most-touted modern method is wrap-and-turn. Yuck. Nasty. Back I went to the old Beehive pattern which works in a little, knotty selvedge edge at the beginning and end of each row which can then be mattress-stitched together. As determined as I was to avoid a seam, this old method is really the best and because of the selvedge, the seam is barely noticeable.

And speaking of interesting seams, this pattern book includes instructions for a nifty little contrivance called “The Aladdin Heel”. This magical heel is knitted in such a way that, in the event of a hole, the heel stitches can be unravelled and re-knit without unravelling the entire foot. Neat, huh!?!

It’s very quaint and useful but honestly, for all the extra seaming and weaving in of ends, I think I’d rather darn

Oh Doh! I’b SICK!

28 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by Pearl in WIP

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

circular needles, colorwork, dog sweater, double points, fair isle knitting, flu, knitting in the round, nordic mittens, Scandinavian, stranded knitting

Everybody’s either got it or had it and now I’ve got it too. Coming in to the flu game somewhat late, I seem to have the fully mutated version, sore throat verging on laryngitis, fever, aches and pains, stuffy head and running nose. Rats*

I’ve been knitting (and little else) for the past few days, even though I should be preparing to start the new TV series on Wednesday. The knitting news, as usual, is good and bad. Good news: I’ve finished the first Andalus Mitten and the cuff for the second. I cannot believe how much faster these knit when a girl uses both hands. This is clearly the purpose for which hands were intended by the Fair Isle Gods. Honestly, I LOVE stranded knitting. I could do this all day, everyday, and therefore, I’m not all that upset that the first Lotus Mitten will now need to be frogged and re-knit due to tension problems. Once I’ve finished with these, I’d like very much to work Mary Ann Stephens’ heavenly “Riverside Cowl”. Feeling as I do today, there simply cannot be enough warm stuff to tuck around an aching, scratchy throat.

And the bad news: Teddy’s Dog-Gone Sweater is taking much longer than I anticipated. I tried it on him several times during the process (as needles would allow) and at the three-quarters-done point, decided NO! This will not be comfy for my dog. So, swallowing hard with my very sore throat, I frogged it.

Teddy’s breed-that-shall-not-be-named makes for an extremely powerful and broad chest. I’d knitted a gusset in the front that needed to be wider and longer. The original pattern called for buttons up the side. Knowing Teddy as I do, I’m sure he’d never stand still, anticipating a walk, while I buttoned up the side of his sweater. (I’ve already bought the perfect buttons and may just add them as a little decor once the sweater is finished.) Instead, I decided to knit a ribbed belly band in the round. The pattern was simple enough to knit during Downton (how ’bout that surprise twist last night!?!) so I managed to get all but the rump portion done. If he ever gets out from under the covers, I’ll try to put it on him

Epiphany!

23 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by Pearl in Color Work

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

colorwork, dog sweater, double points, drops big delight, fair isle, knitting in the round, nordic mittens, prince edward county, Scandinavian, stranded knitting

Now I’ve really got it! I’ve had a breakthrough. After my last posting, in true shut-the-gate-after-the-horses-are-loose fashion, I thought I’d scrounge around the net and watch some fair isle videos. What insight! What inspiration!

It seems a great secret has been heretofore withheld from me. There are knitters who knit with two colors at the same time, English with the main color, Continental style with the contrast yarn! I am proud to count myself among them. The results have been stunning. Absolutely no tension problems because I am tensioning to knit with my left, rather than just carry.

First hang-up was, of course, that I am not a Continental knitter. I’ve tried before (see “Doing the Continental”) but have never been able to catch on. This time I was doubly determined. Dreaming of the day when I could quit dropping one yarn and picking up the other, I forced myself, all thumbs, to knit left-handed. Looking like a child tangled in its sticky, squeaky first knitting project, I picked up a simple piece I currently have on the needles. The Irish Birthday Cardigan is an easy knit, a basic combination of knit, purl and twist stitches. I figured that, even if I dropped a few it would be simple enough to pick them back up again. When I say I forced myself, I mean I FORCED myself. When, after two or three hours (felt like a year) I squealed aloud with delight “I’m DOING it! I’m knitting with my left hand!” my sleeping (left-handed) fella groggily replied, “What? I do everything with my left hand.” This did not remove the wind from my sails, I’m happy to say! I knitted myself to sleep, Continentally

Having smugly said that…It is -8F in Prince Edward County today. This is the coldest weather I’ve experienced in over 12 years. I will not go outside. Now I realize that there was method to my recent stash-enrichment activities of late. My poor, hairless dog was forced to go out doors looking like this today, wearing one of my old sweaters.

It was embarrassing for both of us. I’m so glad I have this laying around, and in Teddy’s power colors too! I guess you know what I’m doing today.

Blue Monday

21 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by Pearl in Color Work, The Mitten Tree

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

alpaca, baby cashmerino, color work, debbie bliss, double points, fair isle, knitting in the round, lotus mittens, mittens, nordic knitting, nordic mittens, patons yarns, Scandinavian, scandinavian knitting, stranded knitting

It’s Blue Monday, the saddest day of the year. Apparently, an evil confluence is formed by post-holiday blues, the receipt of holiday bills, failing New Year’s resolutions and nasty weather. Frankly, I hadn’t noticed. Like any other Monday, it’s a great day for a big cup of tea and a knit. Since I’ve got to be back in the city to start a new children’s TV series on the 30th, I’m really trying to maximize my KDD (Knitting During Daylight) time. Besides, how can anyone be sad when gazing at that adorable blue owl by Josie Kitten?

And speaking of New Year’s resolutions, I am forging ahead with my color-work goals. I’ve started another pair of Scandinavian mittens. As you may recall, I knit the Ruba’iyat Mittens last year; the pattern was fantastic, but my tension, sadly, was not. Certainly, I’d been holding my carried yarn too tightly. This was causing an uneven texture on the front of the fabric; one stitch was raised and the next fell back. So naturally, I loosened the tension in my left hand (I’m an English knitter). Same problem, slightly less so, just looser. Working with a lighter yarn, I found that the problem was not in my left hand at all but in my right. Tightening the tension in my working yarn, the right hand, has made a huge difference. And because I’m used to tensioning with my right, I’m able to get more even stitches generally.

Since receiving the gorgeous Philosopher’s Wool sweater kit at Christmas time, I’ve been determined to perfect my stranded knitting tension. I thought maybe a small stranded project in lighter yarn might be the ticket. I think it’s working! I’m getting a nice, smooth and even texture on the front of the fabric finally. In the “Lotus Mittens” pattern, Heather Desserud describes the carried yarn as a ‘float’ and somehow, that terminology made the technique clear to me.

So here are my Lotus Mittens. I’ve used (believe it or not) Paton’s Kroy Sock FX for the graded color and Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for the off-white. Heather’s patterns are beautifully charted, clearly explained and an all-round joy to knit.

In fact, I am so enthused that I think I’ll knit her “La Joie du Printemps” pattern next. As the accent color, I picked up this lovely alpaca blend by Manos del Uruguay over the weekend. Can’t decide whether I’ll use the charcoal or the off-white as the MC but that’s OK…Blue Monday is a looooong day

Winter Garden, New Work and a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

17 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by Pearl in Patterns, WIP

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

alpaca, double points, Ella Rae Classic, embroidered, floral, garden, gray, knitting in the round, lace knitting, mittens, sewing, winter, worsted weight yarn

Yup, there’s a lot goin’ on. For starters, another new mitten pattern, “Winter Garden Mittens”, has just magically appeared on my Patterns page and will mysteriously appear shortly on Ravelry. That’s for one.

I have seven million more mittens <note the alliteration > grappling for position in my brain: thrummed mittens, creamsicle mittens, fair isle mittens, nordic mittens, chunky mittens…and on and on. I am seriously bustin’ my stash but that hasn’t slowed me down one bit. I suppose it isn’t surprising that I am close to mitten-meltdown right about now: I needed a cure.

While rifling through some hidden bags of yarn in search of more worsted weight, I came upon a single skein of Misti Alpaca Handpainted Lace. I remembered buying it from a lovely lady named Maxine in a little shop in Shelburne, Ontario. “Woolly’s”! Oh, how I love Alpaca. This started me thinking about the selflessness of my recent knitting, how I haven’t a thing to wear, how nice the shade of aqua would look…I guess you know where I’m going with this.

As if in a dream, I logged on to Ravelry, began the ‘scroll of shame’ (read: trolling Ravelry for patterns when you already have a million projects going) and came upon a thoroughly unsuitable pattern…unless you look at it sideways. And so begins the story of how another progress bar came to be added to my already over-burdened sidebar.

More to come.

Rag-Top Mittens

11 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by Pearl in The Mitten Tree, Yarns

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

cream, double points, ella rae, free pattern, knitting in the round, mitten pattern, mittens, prince edward county, rag wool, romni wools, rowan, worsted weight yarn

Making mittens is addictive. My house is a mess. My hair is a mess. We are having hot dogs for dinner. BUT we have very warm hands. It is important to look on the bright side.

Making patterns is addictive too! I have a new one on my Pattern page today, the Rag-Top Mittens. I like them because they are a graceful shape, a little Nordic in feel and so quick and easy to knit, I can make them for all of my friends They’ve got an extra strand knitted into the fingertips and thumb for extra warmth and I discovered some great new yarns in the process.

Usually, my go-to worsted yarn is Cascade 220. I’m always amazed and inspired by the awesome range of colors. Though I still visit Romni Wool in the old neighborhood with alarming regularity, my move to the country means I have a new LYS. I’m sure most knitters who live in country towns are not half as lucky as me; my new shop is the Rose Haven Farm Store. (Oh-la-la!) As it happens, Rose Haven does not carry Cascade. Instead, I got turned on to Ella Rae Classic. Happy accident! Love it! I creates great stitch definition (can’t wait to try it on cables) and has a lovely, soft sculptural quality. The #09 Cream shade that I used is beautifully lustrous, however, I found most of the solids rather flat. Having said that, the heathers are heavenly. I picked up a gray/rose heather that I am currently using for my thrumming project and I’m finding the color rich and enigmatic.

I’ve had a life-long lust for rag yarns but have often found them a little coarse and scratchy. I spied a last skein of Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds Undyed DK in the sale bin and grabbed it. It is an incredibly soft and delicate yarn and because it is undyed, the shadings are tender and subtle. I immediately got online to see if I could find some more, imagining myself sporting a cleverly cabled pullover, the kind you wear every day. As usual, my imagination got ahead of me. I couldn’t find a single skein. Ravelers who possessed the ‘golden fleece’ were not parting with it at any price. Can it be that it is discontinued?? Perish the thought.

Next up: thrumming!

The Mitten Tree

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by Pearl in The Mitten Tree

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

alpaca, bare tree, basic mittens, cables, cascade, colorful, colorwork, double points, etsy, fair isle, inspiration, knitting in the round, mitten tree, mittens, new years resolution, nordic mittens, snowy tree, stripes, techniques, wool, worsted weight yarn

Once upon a time, I saw an image of a bare, wintery tree festooned with many, many mittens. Whether it was in print or online (can’t remember), this image has clearly made an imprint on my psychology. While I was photographing the church for an earlier post, I had a vision of our maple tree, leaf-less and snowy, sporting a colorful array of mittens that is nothing short of miraculous. Now I gotta do it.

Wool Mittens from Stoney Creek Knitters on Etsy

I have always loved making mittens and, because my Mother was a knitter, have always had a lovely arsenal of them. As a child I could wear a different pair every day, depending on the weather and my disposition. Even in New Orleans I wore mittens, such is the smooshy joy I get from wearing them. Mittens offer a veritable buffet of creative options, don’t take much yarn and knit up quick so you’re never bored. What an excellent way to control the stash!

Two-Toned Mittens by Gris Handknits on Etsy

I’ve done a little research, scoured the web and put together a bunch of inspiration photos. I’ll be able to experiment and stretch my wings a little, technique-wise.

Here is my first-in-a-very-long-time bash at knitting stripes. I learned a thing or two which I am incorporating into “The Pattern”. This “Pattern”, (complete with tips for knitting stripes), in keeping with New Years Resolution #1: I will not procrastinate about writing “The Pattern”, shall be available on my “Patterns” page and my Ravelry page as soon as I have finished writing it

Light Grey Mittens by Milla Bella on Etsy

As it happens, many of my Southern friends are either moving home to the north, visiting the north or homesick for the north while my northern friends live…well…in the north. Either way, who couldn’t use another pair? Once my mitten tree is complete, I thought I’d let my friends ‘pick’ them! What’s left will be donated to New Circles, a charitable organization that distributes warm clothing to New Canadians, those poor souls who have reached our frigid shores somehow unprepared.

Snowbound!

27 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Pearl in Color Work

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

lace knitting, colorwork, stranded knitting, double points, circular needles, prince edward county, snow, church, fair isle knitting, organic wool, chart, lace scarf

Snow on the Church

I am so glad we are awash in leftovers. That means no one needs to drive any where today. I have been promised a fire and hot cocoa and I have a nice little pile of homemade Maple Marshmallows for toasting. (Recipe on my new “Recipes” page!) After last night’s dump of snow and the weatherman’s promise of several more centimeters to come, I’m declaring today my first “Snow Day” in 12 years!

Isn’t it lucky that Dear Aunt Pat gave me this beautiful thing to keep me busy? This is a sweater kit from Philosopher’s Wool Company and I am so excited! Philosopher’s Wool Company, located just outside Inverhuron Provincial Park along the Bruce Peninsula in Southern Ontario, produces eco-sustainable, organic yarns. The colors are breathtaking, subtle, muted shades and are gathered together in these cleverly designed “Color Your Own” Fair Isle Kits. A basic chart is included; you decide which colors to knit in each band.

I’ve been dying to learn Fair Isle and I guess this is the year. As you can see, I’ve opted out of the ribbed edges, replacing them with a very traditional braided edge usually seen in Nordic knitting. (The directions for this edging can be found on my Patterns page.) I’m still struggling with the left-hand tension, but it got better once I got far enough along to transfer the sleeve from dp’s to the circular needle. Anyway, by the time I get all the way through this thing, I shall have tension down to an art

If this is the year of Fair Isle, last year was the year of lace. You may recall my struggles, documented here in the “I Hate Your Stinking Guts” posting of January, 2012. I’m happy to say that I finally vanquished that pattern! Hard to believe, isn’t it?

Mumsie was delighted with it and I am delighted to have added another 450 yards to my KnitMeter! I’m really hoping to break 5 miles before years end. I figure if I finish Carl’s birthday sweater and the cashmere gloves I started last Christmas, I might just make it…either that or my fingers will fall off. Happy Snow Day!

Home From the Hills

10 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by Pearl in Uncategorized, WIP

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

double points, easter, filatura de crosa, hot cross buns, knitting in the round, merino, pink, prince edward county, socks, toe-up

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig! No great perils awaited us at The Church barring a leaky sink and an attack of very tidy mice. Nice! Nonetheless, I had a big job washing every single dish in the place after last week’s rainy assault on my open kitchen shelving. I finished just in time to fix up some home-made Hot Cross Buns and a yummy Country Frittata for Easter brunch whilst Carl worked his magic on a magnificent leg of lamb. We had a lovely Easter visit with Mumsie, even though it was just the teensiest bit chilly. Nothing a nice bottle of Malbec and a roaring fire couldn’t fix!

Meanwhile, back on the needles: I have finished the Malabrigo Socks! Not that they are any great prize of design, but I do believe I’ve arrived at a really solid sock pattern that knits up quick as a wink and fits like dream. Despite my initial misgivings, I came to love this yarn…a lot…and I’d love to do another pair, perhaps with a more challenging pattern. After considerable tussling with the short rows ( both subtracting and adding), I think I’ve found a way to reduce the holes that occur on when adding stitches for the toe, and to make a fairly pretty mitre on both the knit and purl ends. I’m going to write up a multi-size pattern and post it on my pattern page, hopefully by the weekend.

I had a moment of stash-magic this weekend too! As I was cleaning up my rolling knitting bin (thanks, Mumsie!) I found this gorgeous skein of Filatura de Crosa sock yarn in the now discontinued Maxime Print. This is the Hot Pink/Orange colorway. There’s just enough for a pair of toe-snugglers for yours truly. (And, you know I’m never happy without a pair of TV socks on the needles The stripes remind me of a Tequila Sunrise!