theraineysisters knitting and so much more

November 28, 2006

From Susan — Red Anya Returns!

Filed under: Anya,Current Projects,Updates — lv2knit @ 1:45 am

I have some knitting mojo back!  I forced myself back into my Anya sweater, having gotten to a part on the front requiring a small amount of brain power.  I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.  Almost every knitter gets stuck when thinking or calculating becomes involved.  It’s not that I only want to do mindless knitting — I would go crazy doing nothing but straight stockinette or garter and nothing else.  BUT, when I need to stop and figure something out, it can put the brakes on a project and even be fatal.

In case you forgot what Anya looks like, (mine has raglan shaping):

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Because I am very committed to wearing this bad boy, I pushed onward.  After ten minutes of calculating, the front did not take very long to finish.  So, I got to start the sleeves — and I love them!  I love the little ruffle-like edge at the bottom.  I did have to do some figuring because I am adjusting the size, but was so inspired that it did not slow me down.  I really love the yarn and hope to be wearing this in the next week or two.

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Very fun knitting.  I wish I had more time to knit.  This is such a busy time of year — fun, but crazy!!

November 22, 2006

From Susan — The Red Hat

Filed under: Back Story,Current Projects,Updates — lv2knit @ 2:24 pm

Since I have nothing of current interest to share, I thought I would share something of less than current interest.  This is a hat and scarf I designed earlier in the year.  I submitted it to a well-known knitting magazine and it was [reluctantly — or so they say] rejected.  I still love the design and wearing the tam:

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The above sample was knitted in Debbie Bliss Alpaca and Silk DK, which I absolutely love.  It is SO-O-O-O-O soft!!!!!

Sally was one of my test knitters and made the following out of hand-dyed merino (she will need to add info on the yarn). Note from Sally: I used Kersti, which is the DK weight yarn made by the Koigu ladies who bring you all of that lovely KPPM yarn. This yarn has a bit of a “cable twist” to it.

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And the flip side:

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If people are interested, I can sell the pattern, but it will take a bit for me to set up a sales process.  It is a fun little project and gift.

As for me, I am going to make Hamantaschen to take to Grandpa’s tomorrow.  It is a good excuse to eat more of those scrumptious goodies. 

Here is wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I am so thankful for the support I have received from all of you with my knitting endeavors and dilemmas over the past few months.  THANK YOU!!! 🙂

November 18, 2006

From Susan — An Update on the Sweater Request

Filed under: Current Projects,Updates — lv2knit @ 5:20 pm

RECAP: My daughter’s friend asked me (through Laura) to knit her a sweater from the recent Vogue Knitting.  I did tell Laura today that I would not be making her a sweater.  She seemed okay with that answer. 

Instead, we are having a knit night at our house this evening.  Movies, snacking and knitting.  Laura and I shopped for yarn for both of the friends that are coming over and will help them with their scarves.  That seemed like a fun compromise.

As far as MY knitting goes, it isn’t.  I have not been getting much done lately.  Too much going on and not enough energy to go around.  Tonight I won’t get too much done because Laura’s friends are a bit needy and I do want to help them. 

IF I make any progress on anything, I’ll post more and some pictures.  I’m just in a lull at the moment.  Ever have those days??

November 15, 2006

From Susan — Where are we??

Filed under: Current Projects,Updates — lv2knit @ 10:34 pm

Where are we??  Why have we fallen off the face of the knitting earth?  Just busy, that’s all.  PLUS, Sally and I are doing a mini knitalong that we do not want to share until we figure out if it works.  So, we have both been knitting a bit on it but do not have anything we want to divulge until success (or defeat?) is declared.  It is an unusal project that will either be remarkably cool or be a total flop.  The jury is still out.  We will spill all the beans once the jury is in.

Knitting News

Julia Roberts To Star in Knitting Film 

Julia Roberts will star in the big screen family drama “The Friday Night Knitting Club.” The star has been an avid knitter for years and regularly indulges in her hobby during down time on film sets. Roberts will also produce the project through her Red Om production company.  

The film is based on Kate Jacobs’ upcoming novel and centers on a single mother who juggles the demands of running a Manhattan, New York knitting store with raising her spirited teen daughter. Her regular customers gather once a week to work on their latest projects and chat, but when a tragedy occurs, the customers realize they’ve created more than just a knitting club. 

 

November 13, 2006

From Susan — A Quick Update

Filed under: Updates — lv2knit @ 1:13 am

As I said, I finished the lace mitts for my daughter.  She is a person of VERY few words, so she “thanked me” by putting them on immediately while she did homework on the computer.  I guess she likes them! 

November 12, 2006

From Susan — True Confessions

Filed under: Back Story,Current Projects,Updates — lv2knit @ 7:23 pm

Well, I did not think anyone would be interested but, here is the skinny on the el cheapo yarn in my scarf:  No Bo (No Boundaries) yarn, 59% Nylon, 41% Acrylic, $2 per skein (not $1.99, but $2 — it may have been on clearance), 50 gm, 95 meters.  The color shown is #353.  Not a natural fibre within 10 miles!!!

I also finished my daughter’s fingerless gloves with the mini-fingers.  Thank goodness!  I was about ready to cut off one or two of her digits just to get the thing done.  Some projects lose their appeal real fast and this was one of them. 

Next I hope to finish up Anya.  I have been plugging away on it and will post a picture soon showing what I went through to get a nice looking SSK on the raglan.  Then I’m stopping at my OCD meeting ;). 

November 10, 2006

From Susan– What pattern???

Filed under: Current Projects — lv2knit @ 5:56 pm

Sheila asked about the pattern for the little lace mitts. Sally and I both made our glovelets from the same pattern: Wine and Roses Mitts from the new Winter 2007 Interweave Knits. 

WineRoses-Bonus.jpg

The pattern calls for Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 2-ply (100% cashmere; 400 yd [366 m]/55 g): #039 slate, 1 skein.  This yarn is VERY THIN!!!!!  Much thinner looking than it appears in the photo.  I added fingers only because my daughter insisted.  I much prefer them without — but she will be the wearer and so I deferred to her taste. 

November 8, 2006

From Susan and Sally — More Lace Glovelets

Filed under: Current Projects — surly @ 12:22 pm

We both love this little project from Interweave so Susan is making them for oldest daughter and Sally is making a pair for herself. 

Susan’s first glovelet:

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Laura wanted fingers.  What a pain!  Anyway, the yarn is a combination of Misti Alpaca Laceweight and Kidsilk Haze, knit on Size 1 needles, gauge 9 sts/inch.  They are very small glovelets and would not fit Susan. 

Sally:

Still despondent over the loss of the red cashmere glovelets, while nevertheless fervently believing in the knitworthiness of their recipient, Sally embarked on a new glovelet project. She used pale green Kidsilk Haze held together with a handpainted yarn from Schaefer. It’s called Andrea, and it is 100% silk.

And here is the first glovelet. It’s not been blocked, which is why the bottom of the cuff isn’t “flat.” That and the fact that Sally was apparently too lazy to smoothe it out before taking the photograph. You can’t get good help these days.

November 3, 2006

From Sally — Rosarie and More Glovelets

Filed under: Rosarie — Sally @ 11:16 am

Yes, I still do knit occasionally — it just doesn’t feel like it.

I did finish my red cashmere glovelets the other day and finally found a camera to take a picture. Here they are in all their glory:

Now that I’ve taken a photograph, I have no excuse for not mailing them to the friend I knit them for. (Yes, I ended that sentence with a preposition. What of it?) I thought this yarn was soft while I was knitting with it, but it softened and bloomed considerably when I wet blocked the gloves. I cannot describe how good this yarn feels. (In case you don’t remember, it’s Jade Sapphire’s 4-ply cashmere.) I have another full skein of this yarn and I will have to knit some small luxury item for myself out of it.

I’ve also made a little bit of progress on my Rosarie vest. I wish I had more time to knit these days; I have so many projects I want to work on, and some of those aren’t even on the needles yet. Here’s a new picture of Rosarie:

I so love knitting. I wish I were faster.

From Susan — I used my own blog as a resource!

Filed under: Current Projects — lv2knit @ 12:39 am

A few months back Sally posted a link to the Emily Ocker Cast On — it’s used for starting projects knit as a circle starting at the center.  I was swatching tonight and needed to use it — who would have guessed that I would use my own blog as a reference — woo hoo.  Way to go, Surly.

Tonight was Thursday knit night and it was great.  There was a total party-like atmosphere at Panera’s tonight for some reason. 

We got to meet Barabra Copeland — she was the recipient of the Thursdays at Four Panera Gift card for winning the sweepstakes this year at the fair.  She brought all of the items she entered in the fair.  She is an exceptional knitter.  It was great to meet her and see this in person:

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It was even more beautiful in person.  We were shocked to learn that she had to re-knit the border on this shawl — hundreds of stitches involved (~1500+)!!!!  The pattern (Mediterranean Shawl from A Gathering of Lace, Edited by Meg Swanson) says to go down in needle size to do the border, but Barb said the edging was way too small even after blocking.  It was placed in a bag for a couple of years before she could face ripping it out and redoing the entire border.  It was well worth it, but we could feel her pain!

She was wearing the entrelac vest she had entered (very attractive) and brought a Jade Starmore creation that won a ribbon as well.  She is very talented. 

Fun night tonight.  My peeps keep me sane :).

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