October 2011 Archives

Driving back from Rhinebeck last Sunday, Christy shared that she hasn't been this excited about knitting in a long time. I agree! Between the cool fall weather, the gorgeous FOs, the sample booth projects and the yarn - oh, the yarn - I'm exploding with new project mania.

It's a good thing I finished sock 1 of Bubble Stream last weekend. I CO for sock 2 on the train this week and...haven't touched it since. I don't doubt Bubble Stream will get more attention soon though. 2 pairs of my hand knit socks have developed holes in them recently and have become their own annoying works in progress so I'm low on handknit socks. Especially ones I can wear to work. I love the thought of my red socks peeking out from my pants to add a splash of color to my outfit.

While at the Tess booth I saw several sample Summit shawls/scarves. I loved them and was shocked that it's a Knitty pattern from last year! The pattern pics didn't call grab me but the Tess samples sure did. I like the idea of knitting things that don't look like traditional handknits. I don't have an immediate idea for a suitable stash yarn to go with the project so that's going into my idea bin for now.

I've already mentioned the orange cover socks - Isabella D'Este -from the Knitter's Book of Socks. I didn't realize a blog reader designed them though! Jayme Stahl has been a reader for many years and I was tickled to get her comment that I made her day! Those socks will almost definitely be my next pair after Bubble Stream.

I needed to start something with the Rhinebeck yarn though and the Miss Babs Rhinebeck 2011 colorway was calling me. I CO Lintilla last week. I'm so impressed with both the creativity and cleverness of this little garter stitch shawl! I love what she's done with the edges to keep them tidy (I actually thought it was an error at first - sorry Martina I won't doubt you again) and I'm obsessed with the swirliness the ruffles create. I even brought it to the bank yesterday so I could get in two rows while waiting in line. I'm already planning a second one in a more drapier yarn (possibly this hank of Just Our Yarn Myne 100% heavy laceweight cashmere). Lintilla will definitely see more action today.

And Bubble Stream should as well. I'm out of practice with cuff-down sizing and made the toe one row too long. I need to rip back a row and kitchener the toe. Good thing I didn't want to kitchener on the train. I'd be a bit bitter about ripping out grafting and that would be a sure way to put Bubble Stream into the "someday I'll finish you" pile.

Rhinebeck was a blast - as always. Christy and I got up there late Thursday night and spent Friday knitting, watching Gilmore Girls on DVD, planning out shopping for Saturday and avoiding the sporadic downpours.

Fortunately Saturday was much less wet - although it did rain hard for 30 minutes around 2 o'clock.

But you didn't come here to read about New England weather. You came for the yarn.

Over the years - this was our sixth Rhinebeck - we've honed our shopping approach. My mantra when deciding to buy a yarn this year was "Can I get this at home? Do I know what i'll make from it?"

That mantra helped me avoid several impromptu purchases. In the end I bought three yarns and a book:

• A skein of Miss Babs sock yarn in the Rhinebeck 2011 colorway. Miss Babs said she'll be doing commemorative colorways moving forward and I couldn't pass this one up. My pact with myself is to knit up this skein before next Rhinebeck so I can buy the 2012 colorway. I love it so it feels doable. Right now I'm thinking a garter stitch shawl to showcase the colors and avoid the possibility of pooling. Possibly Lintilla for its movement with the stitches and the ruffle.
• 2 skeins of Gypsy Girl Creations Transitions in the Viola Bouquet colorway. I've never seen this yarn before and I couldn't resist. I need to hunt for the right sock pattern to take advantage of the gradient dyeing. Any suggestions?
• 1 skein on Lang Jawoll sock for a pair of entrelac mitts. I was intending to make entrelac mitts and then I realized I'd hate knitting entrelac on such a small circumference. So I'm on the hunt for a mitt pattern that will look great with the long repeats.
• Clara Parkes' new book The Knitter's Book of Socks. Clara (who's seriously one of the nicest people I met this year) was signing books and I'm *obsessed* with the orange socks on the cover. I want to finish my current sock though - Bubble Stream.

Speaking of - I'm done with sock #1 and it's a beauty (pic next time, I promise). What a wonderful pattern and I'm starting to appreciate the virtues of cuff-down sock knitting. The feet go *so fast*. I'll be casting on for sock 2 tonight so I don't lose momentum.

There's also one yarn I want to keep in mind for Maryland. While it didn't satisfy an immediate need it's really cool and I'd like to come up with a use for it - Miss Babs' Moo & Ewe - 80% milk fiber 20% merino - reminded me of a bamboo merino blend - super drapey, great sheen and the fiber took the dye similarly to bamboo with its more subtle saturation. Generically I was thinking shawl but do particular pattern came to mind. We all know that would have created a minimum 5 year stay in the stash. No thank you.

What about you? Did you go to Rhinebeck? What did you get?

It was time to measure the bodice now that I’ve got a few inches of the stockinette portion done. I’ve been SO nervous because 7 inches of 200+ sts at 6 SPI is a lot of work. I’ve got my knitting mojo back and I want to keep it that way.

So I threaded some waste yarn through so I could nicely lay the whole thing out at once. Then, I took one of my favorite stockienette stitch cardis that doesn’t have any lycra in it (so the sizing needs would be similar) and put my work on top of it.

Phew! It’s looking good.

I did make a couple of mods:

• I added 3” to the length. I’m too busty for a fitted, cropped cardi. I do have a couple but they’re all a relaxed fit for a more casual look
• I’ve also decided not to do waist shaping. None of my store-bought cardis have waist shaping, and because of the way I wear them I buy them to fit my mid-section and only button those couple of waist buttons. This gives me the most flattering silhouette. So, no waist shaping for me.

I’ve added almost as much length to the body in the past week as what I knit in the three previous weeks. That twisted ribbing is a beauty but I’m happy to get a bit more progress in this week.

I’m still obsessed with Audrey and haven’t touched my Bubble Stream socks or the shawl I started in a panic when I didn’t know what I wanted to make out of the Silky Wool. (you do that too, right?)

I woke up this morning to insta-Fall. It's breezy with a high of 60 and the faint sound of rustling leaves in the background - gorgeous! I'm on my second load of autumn clothes in the wash and dug out all of my hand knit socks. Love this season!

Speaking of cooler weather clothing, I'm making good progress on Audrey. The first week was slow going and I briefly thought "why am I making a cardi with 36 freaking rows of 1x1 rib?"

And then I finished the ribbing on Friday and got my answer - it's gorgeous!

I'm still a bit nervous about sizing. I haven't made many bottom up tops (I'm more of a top down girl) so I'm still in the pre-try it on stage. I really want a red cardi for work though so it's motivating me work on it during every commute. In fact, I haven't knit on my Bubble Stream socks in 2 weeks.

I'm excited to see the cardi take shape and can't wait to be able to slip it on to see how it all behaves together. I'm not sure I can handle frogging all the ribbing but hopefully I wont have to find out *fingers crossed*

This will likely be my primary Rhinebeck project although I always bring a few just for flexibility. I can be a fickle, fickle knitter.

Speaking of Rhinebeck - are you going? What should I put on my shopping list? This will likely be my last post before I leave so let me know if you're going to be there. I'd love to see some new faces and the usual suspects too!