The Spinning of the Wheels

I've just torn apart my studio, and dismantled my knitting machine to set it up on a table. The table is too thick to for the clamps to work. So, now I have to set it up on its rickety legs again. I thought that with all of the tearing apart, that the two missing balls of Luxury Tweed would appear, so I can finish my Concentric Vest. I'm using it along with Blackberry Ridge bulky weight. Clever me, in the interest of using up the stash, is in the middle of a project using a discontinued yarn.
I need something soothing. I have to take a little knitting break, then it's back to setting up the machine again. A wasted afternoon.

The Obsession Continues

Another Rosebud in my wardrobe! This one is a little dressier. I've done it in a different Briar Rose yarn, called Celebration, which is a bamboo and merino blend. A few modifications, and some tinkering with the gauge, and here she is!
I'm excited and apprehensive about Monday, because it will be my first look at Doggie Knits.

Infrastructure

Today I went downtown on public transportation to take care of that ticket I got at the beginning of August. I changed trains at the Belmont stop, which is partially under construction. The platform I was on was old, and the wood slats were soft, and they gave way as I walked across. As the platform began to fill with people, I had an awful image of the platform collapsing under all the people. I realized, going home, that I could have taken the Brown line that I was on all the way downtown. The walk to the Daley Center was pretty much the same distance. To anyone in Chicago, here's my advice--stay away from the Belmont stop if you can. I'm predicting disaster.
This is Karabella Cable cardigan, that I knit with Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran, being assembled. It's a cute sweater, but has fit issues. Having to do with my fleshy arms. The sleeves fit, but the section where the yoke and sleeve come together pull across the widest part of my arm. I sort of get a muffin top effect. I don't think it can me fixed. I would have to fix my body for this sweater. So, I guess I can knit that other navy sweater now.

I'll Have Fun Knitting This

For my custom knit dog sweaters, I put together some color combinations, photograph them, and send them to the customer for selection. I'll be making a sweater for a little Basenji, and her very tasteful mom selected--the Briar Rose Fibers! It's taking over the world. This is Colette, with the fiber blend of Lamb's Pride--it will wear like iron, and look good forever.

What Would Tim Gunn Say?

Here's a bit of Chicago style that I don't get. The rubber flip-flop, that you can get in the dollar store, worn in places other than the beach. I see this all over the city, on women and men, and don't understand why someone would only want one half inch of rubber between their foot and filthy city street. I've also gotten a flash of what's happening on the bottom of flip-flop feet, and it's disgusting, people! I'm in flip flop slippers here after a pedicure. As soon as that nail polish cures, it's back to proper foot wear for me. I find that little piece of fabric between my toes irritating, too. I'm sure Mr. Tim Gunn would agree with me. He was on Martha Stewart today. For those of you with cable in Chicago, I found that yesterday's Martha is repeated on the Fine Living Channel at 7 and 11 pm. It was a very happy discovery for me.
The project is my second attempt at the Justina skirt from the Norah Gaughan #1 Berroco book. There's an eyelet row, and the row following that didn't line up for me right. So, I attempted to do my own k2 tog, yo thing, and ended up losing a lot of stitches with the decreases. I started over. Norah's on Ravelry, and I may summon up the guts to ask her about these maneuvers when I get back there. This may have the possiblity of ending up in the "hibernating" pile, because now I can't find the book! The yarn I'm using is some Maratona I bought on sale a few years ago. I really like the blue-grey color. I'm finishing up a few garments, too. Also, about to get started on two custom dog sweaters. I always get a custom order when I'm working on a lot of personal stuff!

Style for my Style

I admire all of you who can knit the lace shawls. I imagine that your lives are way more exciting and glamorous than mine, with some Event that you would wear your masterpiece to. I mostly wear clothes of the casual variety. This is a piece of beauty that unfortunately will be worn with my flamingo pajama pants when I run out to the back yard with Piccolo. This is Briar Rose Fibers Lacy Cable Shrug, knit with their 100% wool dk weight yarn, Fourth of July. The shrug is like a shawl, but not. The two long sleeves makes this piece stay in place when it's worn. I may have a hard time explaining this garment to the Man. He didn't understand the poncho, either. Note to self: find other clothes and an Event worthy of this piece.

Here's a closer look at the stitch detail. It's pretty! That's not really a cable, it's three twisted stitches. So clever.

16 Plus

So maybe you've come to look after finding me on Ravelry. That's right, I have 16 works in progress posted. I left a few off, if you can believe it, including an unfinished sweater (just needs a few inches of sleeve) that's about 16 years old. It's my knitting ADD on display. This photo is for my knitting friend Fern, who stops by the blog. This is the close up of the yarns I'm using for my Concentric Vest. It's bulky Blackberry Ridge, and Jaeger Luxury tweed. A bulky and a dk weight instead of a double strand of worsted. I'm in a knit along that will meet next week Thursday, at Knit One Chicago at 7 pm.
In Lucky Penny news, I'm signed up for five shows in the next two months. I'll find out about a possible sixth in October. Busy!

My Turn

This weekend in the Lucky Penny household, it's my turn to be sick. I've got a cold. Runny nose, cough, and now my teeth are starting to itch, which means my sinuses are messed up. Feeling totally not motivated, but motivated to get back into production. This is reruns and leftovers, right? This summer my knitting machine (which I started using for the body of production pieces) has become a catch all for loose papers and assorted quantities of yarn. I have decided that the stand that came with the machine bugs me. It has to be in a certain position for all the legs to stay in place, and a leg will pop out without much provocation. So, I'm on the hunt for a cheap, but sturdy, little console table that I can clamp the machine to. So far, the only candidates are some computer work stations from Ikea. Which means a long drive to get one.
Piccolo is modeling a gift for my friend David. On my last trip to San Francisco, we went to ArtFibers, where I purchased the yarn and pattern for this scarf. It's a silk and wool blend called Sumo. It took me forever to get this done, with all the other distractions. The scarf is now on it's way to David. I think this color and fiber is elegant for a man to wear with his work attire, especially an arty man. It's nice to have a man who appreciates knitted gifts. I'm still trying to find that Elizabeth Zimmerman dickey I made a few years ago for the Man. My plan, if I ever find it, is to re-gift it to him.

Getting the Mo Back

This is the sweater for Piccolo that I was referring to yesterday. I did a little fitting on her, and I'm actually going to like it. I'm still not in love with knitting the yarn. I'm reluctant to say what it is, because I like the vendor that I purchased it from at Stitches a lot. But perhaps someone I hung with at the event might like to ask me at the next KIP. I'm adding projects like crazy to my Ravelry notebook, and damn, I have a lot of unfinished stuff. I'm working on a new Rosebud vest. I thought I had this down to a science, lengthening this item, but I'm afraid I'm going to run out of yarn on this one.

The sweater that's not my design that I want for Piccolo is Voff from Lopi #25. I swear, it took me so long to come up with a three color combination. You would think that I've never done it before. It's Lamb's Pride Turkish Olive for the body, and Lobster Pot Chartreuse and Boiled Lobster for the yoke.

The Process

It helps when your fit model lives on the premises. All my sweaters are sized with Piccolo as the original, and then I size 2-3 sizes up or down from there. What I found with the Doggie Knits photo shoot, it that most of the dogs we used wore Piccolo's size, even though I knit a lot of back up garments. I didn't pick her for her model perfect figure, but it just worked out that way. She's here being fitted for something new. I'm not sure if I like it, but in my head it was interesting. Sometimes there's a huge gap between what I imagine and the actual execution. Perhaps my block, or rut, is the reason I've embraced knitting for my own wardrobe. Along with my stuff, I'm knitting a basic sweater for Piccolo, to be a part of her wardrobe, and I'm not sure I like the yarn I'm using. If it ends up being a sweater, it's going to wear like iron, but the actual knitting of it almost hurts. The yarn feels kind of stiff. I'm sure it would work great on my machine, and that's what I'll probably do with another hank of this stuff that I bought in a different color. So, I'll do a little fitting to see if I want to move forward. If I don't, the body will be frogged, and I'll use some luscious hand painted Cormo that I purchased this past weekend and can't wait to use. Here's the other thing that's bugging me. It's rare that I want to knit a design for Piccolo other than one of mine. But, I saw this sweater on Ravelry that I just had to do for her. It's a Lopi design that I'm going to do with my stash yarn. It's shown in brown, with cream and black color work. I want something colorful for mine. How goofy is this--I can't decide on three colors that will work together for this. One combo looked like an Easter egg, and I'm going for something unexpected. So, I have all this yarn spread out on the back seat of my car so I can see it in daylight.

I Can Feel it in the Air

Oh, I think sweater weather is approaching. I can feel that welcome cool bite to the air. I've waited so long! So many projects that I want to make, so many to finish. This is the front to the Debbie Bliss Catriona vest, in Rialto. Started in May. I'm getting closer to the finish. So far in the queue, I've got two skirts, and one dress. I found the dress yarn on Saturday from my favorite source.
The Man walked home today, after a stress test passed with flying colors. Before you gasp that I allowed him to walk, Swedish Covenant Hospital is just three blocks from our place. He was up at 6:30 to start the tests, but didn't get home until about 2 pm waiting for his doctor to make her rounds. His problems are anxiety related. The little darling appears to be "care free", to quote his accountant, but the reality is he's pretty emotional and high strung. The thing that struck me most while I sat with him last night, was how adorable I think he is (even after all these years!), and how he's still the one I want to be with most. If it weren't for Piccolo at home, and the bed next to him being filled last night, I would have seriously wanted to stay over with him.

Diagnosis Nutty

I came home from Wisconsin last night, after not being able to reach the Man by phone for five hours. It turns out he was at a block party, and was separated from his cell phone. I thought something had happened to him or Piccolo, and felt that I needed to be home. Lucky for him. He woke me up at 6 am this morning wanting to go the the emergency room, for his heart was racing. I got dressed, got in the car, and then he changed his mind. I went back to bed. A half hour later he wants to go again. They're keeping him for observation (Miss Niessner, we've observed that your boyfriend is nutty!) and a stress test tomorrow. I've been to visit this afternoon for a while, brought him some requested things, coffee and the Sunday newspaper. He has golf and football on TV. The hospital is a few blocks from home, so I may walk back tonight to visit again. I think I'll bring a picture of Piccolo for him. That will make him feel better.

A Vacation From Dog Sweaters

That's what I've been on for the last 6-9 months. Pretty much just making things for me, and a few gifts. I need to go back into production, but I've worn such a groove, and I know production won't resume this weekend. There's what's in my Ravelry groove that has me drooling. I'm going to Wisconsin today so I can get an early start with my Mom for the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival. I have two projects in mind that I want yarn for. The Placed Cable Aran from this current Interweave, and the Rannoch Dress from the new Rowan magazine. I'm totally fascinated with the idea of knitting things beyond vests (and sweaters). I also want to get going on my big sock monkey, but after a discussion with a friend last night, I may hold off until she gets the pattern so we can do a knit-along.
I'm going to the Sheep and Wool Festival with two non-knitters. My Mom, and a friend of hers. What is likely to happen, what usually does when I go to a LYS or a show with a non-knitting family member, is I end up with yarn intended for a project for that person. This show is going to have a lot more vendors that it did last year! I don't understand why it doesn't get more attention from Chicago. It's a lot closer than Allegan,MI, and the drive is a lot more pleasant.

Ouch, Mommy

It was hot, and I was in a hurry to get these photos. It's Piccolo's most recent wardrobe addition, knit with hand spun that was purchased from River's Edge Weaving Studio at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair this past July. They're going to be at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend. My styling is the problem here--the cuff is caught on a dew claw. Ouch. Gotta be careful of the dew claw when putting on the sweater.
I've been lost in Ravelry for the past week. Damn, I own a lot of books. I've been entering all my vest projects and I'm an advertisement for Briar Rose Fibers. It seems to be the projects that I want to knit first. The color (and for me, the scent)! I can just dive into that color. Damn, I've knit a lot of Rosebuds. I'm working on my own design right now using two different Briar Rose yarns held together. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out fine. I have a few projects in mind and I'll be looking for Briar Rose yarn at the fest this weekend. Can't wait!
I'm seaming the cabled cardigan, and I'm having a problem with the fit. Where the yoke and the sleeves are seamed together is kind of tight with my fleshy arms. It's a really cute sweater. I don't know if the problem can be fixed, or if I have to shrink my bod some to wear the sweater. Other than the sleeve to yoke issue, the sweater fits just fine.

We Interrupt Regular Blogging for a PSA

ANNOUNCEMENT OF KNITTING CLASS



Arnhild Hillesland, a native of Norway, specializes in two color knitting and she will be teaching three classes during the weekend of October 19-21, 2007 presented by the Windy City Knitting Guild (WCKG).



Friday night October 19 - Slide Show on Traveling and Knitting in Norway 6:30pm-8:30pm

Class fee: Non-members $20, WCKG members $15



Saturday October 20 - Mittens the Nor-Way 9am-4pm - Make a traditional Norwegian mitten using 5 double point needles.

Class fee: Non-members $80, WCKG members $70



Sunday October 21 - Sweaters the Nor-Way 9am-4pm - Make a mini-cardigan with all the details of an adult sweater working with double point and circular needles and learning her technique for stranding carrying both colors in the left hand.

Class fee: Non-members $80, WCKG members $70



Yarn kits may be purchased in advance of the class or you may bring your own yarn.



This weekend workshop will be held at the Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., Evanston, IL.

For more information including the registration form please visit the WCKG website or contact Deirdre Swift at 773-764-6466

I took the Sweaters the Nor-way class, and the lecture a few years ago, and can tell you all that they were terrific. You steek in the sweater class! The Evanston Ecology Center is a great venue for these workshops. If you're thinking about registering, do it now!

I'll Be The One Begging

Today was a string of missed communications. I missed some phone calls and e-mail, and was stuck at work on a deadline, so didn't have access to phone numbers. I ended up having someone terribly inconvenienced, and I feel so embarrassed. To continue the missed communications, all I could do tonight when I got home was to leave a voice mail apology. What a mess.
This is Piccolo trying her best to get the Man's egg sandwich.
I've been thinking about that age thing again. Perhaps I'm just sensitive, but it seems to me that because the Tribune article was written by a 20-something intern, there was a bias against the more mature artist. Let me just say that some of the most amazing fiber artists that I know personally or by reputation are pretty well beyond forty. Some are proud to call themselves grandmas even. Being creative or hip is not specific to a certain demographic. So, I'm just going to get older, look older, and be more creative and productive. If my health holds out, we're looking at three or four more decades of knitted art.