Back to the sweater, I really only have to finish the sleeves on the Cozy v-neck, but life seems to have gotten in the way of knitting. I’ve been working on a big work project and staying late at the office to get it done, coming home brain dead and vegging out with season one of The Tudors. There have been fun things too keeping me busy - familly/friends events on the weekends (like driving to Nyack and using my fine-tuned knitting store radar to find a parking space right in front of Knitting Nation).  I did get in some knitting time on the Lace Ribbon scarf while on the train to and from Boston one weekend, and I’ve got another vacation coming up where I’m definitely scheduling in knitting time. The biggest obstacle on my plate right now is the memory issue with my computer. Until I get buy more memory, I can’t download photos or update software, but I don’t think I’ll get to it until mid August with my crazy schedule. Phew - vacation is coming at a much needed time for my sanity and for my knitting.

I started my research on the Interweave Knits charity webpage. They list correctional facilities that are looking for supplies, not finished projects. I randomly contacted two of the facilities and received enthusiastic responses. Here are the places that are currently accepting yarn donations (like I did, I highly recommend emailing first to confirm):

• Judy McIntosh, Lead Teacher, Northeast Juvenile Correctional Facility, 7117 Venture Lane, Fort Wayne, IN 46818, Telephone 260-497-7233 x180, Email: jmcintosh@idoc.in.gov
• Rita Steed, Community Service Director 3, Rockville Correctional Facility,811 W 50 N, Rockville, IN 47872,Telephone 765 569-3178, Email: rsteed@idoc.in.gov. IMPORTANT NOTE: You must contact this person because you fill out a form before you donate. It will be mailed it to you and then you mail it back. You might think this sounds like an extra step, but I think it’s worth the extra time for an institution that will appreciate the donation.

I’ve got two big boxes packed up and waiting by my front door, anxiously waiting to be mailed out.

The small print: Delicasyarns is in no way affiliated with any of these groups and received no compensation for listing them on the blog.

I actually had photos to show on my Cozy v-neck. I finished the body and started the sleeves, after running to Brooklyn General for DP #10. I’m knitting the sleeves in the round. Just as I am raring to finish this sweater, grr again - my 16″ number 9 circulars are too long for me to comfortably knit the ribbing section of the sleeve. It’s Monday so BkynGen is closed so I’m going to try and find time to run into the city and stop by The Point.

While also at BkynGen, I bought yarn and needles for my stayacation project because as of Saturday, I am officially on staycation for this week! No big plans - just knitting, puttering around the house and then a long weekend trip to the Boston area. What I really should do is organize drawers and take clothes to Salvation Army - but procrastination has a hold on me.  I did accomplish one thing - I packed up yarn that I am planning to donate in two boxes.  I did some research on the web and I think I found a place - it’s a women’s correctional facility in need of yarn for their recreation department.  I feel good about doing this.

Oh, so back to my project, I’m knitting the Lace Ribbon Scarf from Knitty’s Spring 2008. The yarn I am using is Canopy from The Fibre Company. This is the same company whose yarn I bought in MDSW and I’m using their yarn for the Cozy v-neck.  Canopy is a sport weight yarn of 50% baby alpaca, 30% merino and 20% bamboo.  So soft on the hands and easy to knit up.  I’m knitting the scarf on #3 bamboo circs.  While at BkynGen, I looked at the other yarns from The Fibre Company that they had there, and I love them all.  This may be my new favorite yarn company - there is something about the quality of the line they have created and the colors too that I am responding too.  Grr, I wish I could show you photos of how it looks - this yarn is gorgeous stuff.  I chose a similar color that is used in the photos of the Lace Ribbon Scarf - a beautiful dusky blue grey that makes me think of a fall sky.  I hope to have this done in time to casually drape around my neck during my actual go-away-on-a-trip vacation in  August.

Keep your fingers crossed on my tech/computer/memory problem.

First I had to consult with Alex on the sizing of the Cozy V-neck. And of course, she confirmed that the sweater was too, too big. I was in a ripping-out-denial for the last several weeks - as if something will miraculously change if I show it to someone else. “Oh no, you don’t have to rip-out. Your eyes were all wrong. Everything is fine!” I had pre-warned Alex that hand holding was going to be in order.

Alex agreed with me to decrease under the armholes to improve the fit. I pulled out at least four inches from the body. Once it was over, in about 30 seconds, a huge weight was lifted off of me. What a relief; I don’t know what I was waiting for. I need to not make my knitting so precious. I told Alex I don’t mind ripping out rows, for other people’s knitting. This could be a new job - give me your knitting and I will rip it out for you.

Alex has made beautiful progress. She finished the cabling on Marjorie and has started the armhole.

The next photo I show of the Cozy V-neck should will show the beginning of the ribbing.

After a two week hiatus, A&D Sweater Support is meeting Thursday night. A very good thing because I have done nothing with my Cozy V-neck. I know I am going to have to tink and I’m dreading it. This is going to be one of those times when I will need hand-holding, sympathy and cake - lots and lots of cake.

I knew tinking was in my future when I pulled out a sweater to compare sizing to the Cozy V-neck. The final tink confirmation came when I did a search on Ravelry to see how other knitters did their versions of the sweater. (The one good thing I got from scanning Ravelry is now I know where I will start the ribbing.) Everyone else’s sweater was very fitted (hence the titled of Fitted Knits, duh!). I think the problem is one I face frequently as a petite person - it’s the armhole and body ratio thingamabobber. How to describe? Well, a regular size 2 is completely different from a petite size 2 - it’s all about proportion. Surprisingly, Wikipedia has good summary on petite sizing. A quick search on Google on “altering knitting patterns petite size” has not revealed too much. I’ll have to do more internet research. Any suggestions out there? Where are my petite-sized knitters?

In a weak attempt to distract myself from the calamity of the Cozy v-neck, I decided I had to go knitting book shopping. I bought Nancy Bush’s Knitting Vintage Socks. Alex has this book and she made me the Fancy Silk Socks for Christmas? Birthday? I can’t remember, she’s made me so many wonderful things. Anywho, my plan was to use my Socks That Rock yarn that I bought at MDSW to one of the gentleman’s sock patterns, only to find out I don’t have enough yardage for a man’s size 9 (the man being Darren, of course). Grrr - much frustration. I possibly could get away with knitting the Gentleman’s Plain Winter Sock. This pattern calls for 394 yards and the STR is approximately 380 yards, but I think this is taking a chance. Then I thought, I need a toe-up sock pattern! I saw on Knitting Daily the On-Your-Toes Sock pattern, but for a size 9 foot it calls for two skeins of 292 yards - still no go. There’s no way around this - if I’m going to knit socks for Darren, I am going to have to buy more yarn. But I have to (whiny voice)!

So after all this, I still have knitted nada but I am thinking of knitting, which at times is just as pleasurable as the actual action.

In my twenties it was a point of pride to claim one didn’t have an a/c. There used to be a certain type of hard core New Yorker who consciously chose to live without a/c and I belonged to those ranks. I lived with fans strategically placed in the apartment and bragged about my stamina in enduring the heat. In my late thirties I proudly wave my wimpiness when it comes to the heat. I have an a/c with a timer and remote control and it is a fabulous piece of technology, but I retain a bit of the hard core New Yorker in me. I will not put that unit in until the 1st of July because basically, I’m cheap. I tell myself I can deal with the heat through June but I just can’t suffer through the humidity of July and August. That all changed this weekend.

The first heat wave for New York City started on Saturday. One of the best ways to escape the heat, of course, is to go to the movies. I started my summer movie season with the 1:30 showing of Sex and the City. (Promise, no spoilers) It was a double date with Alex and her man. (Brave, brave fellows.) We got there way, way early. Alex was smart and brought her knitting while we waited. The movie was over by four and by the time Darren and I got home after a late lunch, it wasn’t so bad in the apartment. I have multiple ceiling fans and if I just plop myself on the couch and don’t move, it’s fine. Sunday, we went to see You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. (I figured these two movies bookended nicely - estrogen and testosterone - that kind of thing.) Upon walking out of the theater and encountering the wall of heat, I had given in, that and the looming 100 degree weather predicted for Monday. I rationalized I had to put in the a/c for my cat, Cleo, if not for me. Poor thing just lays on the floor, all stretched out with a zoned-out look on her face.

This heat wave has all led to one predictable thing - absolutely no knitting has occurred. My current projects are all wool. Wool in this weather? No way.

Isn’t she great? It was fun knitting this for her. The last two scarves I have made for friends I put a lot of thought into - from the color, the yarn choice, and to most importantly, a design that truly reflects the wearer. Raquel already knew she wanted an orange scarf, and this label-less yarn (donated by another friend) reflects Raquel’s personality. It’s a yarn with sparkles and unexpected changes. The open-work of the stitch pattern is also very Raquel-like and the fringe too. I added the fringe at the last minute and I kept it long in case she wants to trim it to her liking. All right, scarf-desiring friends - who’s next?

Maria pulls out her spindle to spin lace weight. There was knitting, but the photos I took of knitting did not come out well.

These are the results of my knitting that day. Cozy V-neck progress - I’m pleased with how the fit is coming along nicely.

Seeehxy!

Alex is knitting Marjorie from Knitty. I chose the Cozy V-Neck from Stefanie Japel’s Fitted Knits.

Week 1:

We both cast-on. Much counting of stitches and triple-checking of counted stitches. Mild swearing. Red velvet cupcakes consumed. Night ends with birthday celebrations at a Thai restaurant.

Week 2:

Sweater support kicks into action - Alex helps me figure out the right count of stitches for the front and back of my sweater. I admire her progress - check out those cables baby! Chocolate chip banana bread sustains us.

Evening ends with Thai food, again. Carmine Street has good Thai. I’ve become addicted to vegetarian duck.

Alex knitted this bag for my birthday. I LOVE IT! She is the most amazing knitter. Look how beautiful it is. The funny thing is, she used yarn I gave to her for her birthday. You know what this means? It means I’m going to have to get a new outfit to go with this bag.

See more festival photos here.

What an experience! I went with Maria and Jocelyn, two experienced MDSW festival attenders who showed me, the newbie, the ropes. We did so much!

Day 1:

• Wake up at 6:30 a.m., shower, continental breakfast at The Days Inn because not enough time to go to Waffle House.
• Pack bags, load-up the car with spinning wheels, get breakfast / coffee for Maria & Jocelyn.
• Drop off Maria’s and Jocelyn’s spinning wheels.
• Run to The Fold. Stand amazed at the line that is already there. Push way in to look at the yarn. Stand in line and chat with other excited knitters. Spend time going back to look, consult with friends, go back, consult — purchase two skeins.
• Help Maria take her fleece to Zeilinger’s.
• Wander around main exhibition hall. Become very excited by the process of wool rug hooking. Buy a starter kit, marvel at the designs of the rug hookers working at the table. Very nice ladies - they answered all my questions
• Lunch - pit lamb sandwich. Decide still hungry and get a lamb burger.
• Go to Judith MacKenzie McCuin’s talk on Getting Your Fleece Processed.
• Maria & Jocelyn go to their spinning class.
• Find a grassy, shaded area and nap for an hour. Wake up and work on Raquel’s scarf.
• Eat vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate. Feel sick.
• Go back to main exhibition area and contemplate which yarn to buy. Decide to put off for tomorrow.
• Meet up with M&J. Share a plate of ribbon potato chips with everything - sour cream, cheese, jalapenos, bacon bits, fake green onion bits. Now truly sick.
• Just as we’re about to make our way to the car, we get distracted by the yarns and rovings at Persimmon Tree Farm. M&J buy more roving.
• Drive to the Ravelry party. Accidentally walk through a wedding reception. Arrive way too early so sit outside of the pool and chat with Michelle from Philadelphia & Kristy from Minneapolis. (Forgot their blogs names!)
• Ravelry party starts. Get nametags. Get drink tickets. Get drinks and munchies. We sit outside but get annoyed by the bugs and retreat to the inside. Get teased for being too New York and not able to handle bugs. Jocelyn’s friend meets up with us.
• Leave Ravelry party to get dinner - Ethiopian food in downtown Fredrick. Jocelyln completely charms the owners because she lived in Ethiopia for two years.
• Back to the Days Inn to pass out.

Day 2

• Wake up at 6:30 a.m. to pack up the car and check out.
• Maria goes to class. Go shopping with Jocelyn.
• Buy yarn from Persimmon Tree Farm in a beautiful orange and brown colorway.
• Buy yarn from The Fibre Company. $4.50 a skein!!! Go with ten of basic black and ten of a gorgeous blue to complement Darren’s eyes.
• Back to main exhibition hall to buy a rug hook and embroidery hoop. Want to start working on my rug hooking kit.
• Jocelyn convinces me to try out spinning wheels. Meet Jim of the Yarn Barn, bond over the fact that I’m from Lawrence, Kansas too. He teaches me how to spin and try out various wheels - the Lendrum Folding, the Kromski Sonata and the Ashford Traveller. So tempted to purchase one but exert self control . . . for now.
• Lunch - another pit lamb sandwich - this time the platter!
• M&J go to color knitting class.
• Find nap location from previous day. Start working on rug hooking. Take nap.
• Wander from tent to tent in case I missed anything good.
• Go back to the music performance area. Sit under tree and knit on Raquel’s scarf.
• Meet up with M&J, eat, pack and get on the road. There is so much in the car that I can’t see Jocelyn in the back seat. Thankfully we’re all petite women and we can fit amidst all the fiber!
• Arrive home safe, sound and fiber happy!

I had a difficult past year with my CTS/RSI - trying to find the right doctor, going through physical therapy, worry that I won’t get better, etc. As someone who has been using her hands as an artist all her life, this was a huge stressor. I am so grateful to have healed under the care of a great doctor and PT. I am now mindful of my physical limits and taking care of my wrists/hands but - my past injury has made me very skittish when it comes to my knitting, crocheting or any other fiber work - and then I realized something (here comes the epiphany) -

I am afraid to knit a sweater.

I have been very happy with my projects since I’ve been able to begin knitting again but I’m afraid to knit something that isn’t a short piece of fabric. Where is this fear coming from? Is it fear of injury? Always a possibility but I am very careful to take breaks or to stretch. Fear of startities? Wouldn’t be the first time. Fear of seaming? There are patterns in the round.

As a first step in examining my reluctance to knit a piece of clothing, I decided to go to The Point. I did not go in with a plan. I decided to just look at the yarn, browse the book shelves and see what happens. I lusted after the Rowan Calmer yarn and then casually flipped through some pattern books. A couple of things caught my eye but I didn’t want to make a hasty decision, back to lusting after yarn. Then I slowly sidled my way back to the pattern books, should I, shouldn’t I? Yes!

I walked out with Classic Elite Yarns Summer Book 1 and Rowan Yarns Classic Summer Book Eleven. I’m smitten with the Four Season “Man’s” Vest (CEY) and the Ralph Shetland vest (RY). And then I realized something else -

Maybe I’m just afraid to knit sleeves?

Artist Miki Lee at Lyons Wier Ortt Gallery

Spring leaves amidst urban concrete

Fire escapes and water towers

Looking into a window shop

Classic straight New Yorker talk to the dog owners

I made these to help a friend who was having trouble with Ruth’s Perfect Baby Booties. (You can find the pattern here and here.) She could not get row 2 to come out even with the number of cast-on stitches so I said I would take a look at it and see if I could figure out what was happening. It was pretty simple - I had to cast-on 31 stitches instead of 26 stitches.

I knew these unplanned booties would soon be snapped up because someone is always having a baby, My neighbors, who did not want to know the sex of their baby during their pregnancy, just had a little boy.

Instead, this is an entry on the completed Fair Isle Hat! (Pattern specs via Ravelry.)

We’ve been having a cold spring here in NYC so this hat is being put to good use. (Notice the sweatshirt - rock chalk jayhawks!)

Here are the obligatory various-point-of-view shots -

And for a different attitude, Darren turns up the brim -

*How scary is it that I remember exactly where I was when we won in 1988? It was my college spring break and I was in Fort Lauderdale, wearing a sparkly, red bathing suit and when we won I ran around the house whooping it up!

This is me right after Kansas beat Davidson.

All I have to do is sew down the brim. I decided to try sewing down live stitches rather than binding off then sewing the hem. I know I have just started to do this but I am already thinking I should have picked the second option. I like the look of sewing down the live stitches though, it seems much neater.

I have until April 5th to finish the hat. Oh, to be in San Antonio!

This is my third cold of the season - d*mmit! I cannot believe I caught another chest cold. I am so irritated with myself. I’ve been so careful but those little germies just love me. I want to be well!

This is how things were before I got sick.

I finally picked up the Fair Isle hat project again. I decided that even though I did not fully understand the technique, I would just go for it and figure it out as I knitted. Alex reminded me there is no right or wrong way to knitting, as long as it works. I think I am finally understanding the weaving technique. My tension is not the best but the hat does not seem to be falling apart or looking like something the cat coughed up.

Tra la tra la.

Voice in my head,” I’m going to knit this baby up and see what happens.” Voila . . .

It has been a long time since I have knit for knitting’s sake. No planning, no agonizing over a pattern, no swatches, no decisions, just knit. I grabbed the first needles I found, cast on and let myself enjoy the process of knitting - one loop through another loop, sliding the stitch over from one needle to the other needle, finishing the row. Each row, in fact, was a discovery - what it was going to look like as I used up the yarn? I looked at the yarn as it made its way onto the needles - a thick section or a thin section of the yarn could produce such different results.

I took the time to look at my knitting - from the micro - how the stitches and rows were different from each other - to the overall effect of the knitted fabric. I remembered how much I like garter stitch. I think garter stitch gets over looked too often, as if it is too basic. It is one of the building blocks of knitting - yin to purl’s yang. I took my time knitting this yarn; there was not much yarn to begin with and I wanted the experience to last as long as it could.

I felt many things when I was done: proud, pleased, joy, curious, peaceful.

This knitted piece is what it is - the spaces between the stitches, the random slubs, the twist in the knitted fabric that resulted from being over-spun, the wonderfully uneven texture - all from two sticks and some string.

This is the Huckleberry Ascot pattern from Interweave Knits, Holiday 2007.

And Patty’s scarf keeping her warm on a cold day in NYC -

All pattern specs are on Ravelry - I’m Delicasyarns.

Plotting my next project . . .

www.lovelydaydesigns.etsy.com

Right now she has her hand-knitted scarves/hats on display but soon she will have other items, like her amazing pottery (I admit to being an owner of several of her pieces.) I am so proud of her for doing this - she is an inspiration to me.