A few of you asked about the pattern for the red socks that I mentioned in my post yesterday:
That is the Lace Cuff Anklet pattern from Hand Jive Knits (maker of Nature’s Palette yarns). They do not sell their patterns directly, but if you google you can find it (and others) easily online.
For those of you who liked the buttons I’m using on Butterfly: They aren’t sewn on yet. I just pinned them in place to get an idea of how they’d look. They’re handmade glass buttons I purchased years ago.
I have yet another knitting snafu. Homage is totally HUGE!! The back is at least 2.5″ too wide. I have about 12 inches done and will have to rip back yet again. I am starting to feel cursed unlucky. So I will rip back another day.  I love the way it was looking so I will give it another go, just not today.
I started Hanne Falkenberg Plisse instead. You begin at the back with the center strip:
I have about 10 inches of the strip done and will show more once I get the back started. It is supposed to be knit on US 1 & 2 needles, so I automatically went up a needle size — look, Ma, no swatching! I have done enough Hannes to know how my gauge compares with hers. The color I chose (#98, Lagoon) is very nice and similar to Sally’s Tangled Yoke:
I am very happy with Lyra once again – I am almost back to where I had to rip out. The chart itself is very easy to follow; the mistake was all mine. The Fino Alpaca is really nice yarn to work with. It is a slow moving project, but nice to work on when you want to focus on your knitting.  I am hoping that Plisse has less mental effort involved so it will be portable.
I am thinking of putting the Modular Tote/purse together soon (maybe this weekend?). All the main knitting is done — just the constructing and handle to do. Kauni is not far off the radar either.  It will be very wearable so I’d like to get it done soon.
One of our French readers finished this intriguing knit:
I had already purchased the pattern (Lion Brand!!), but have not found suitable yarn. This is one of those projects that looks like it could go horribly wrong, so I was glad to see that someone had finished it successfully. We’ll see if it makes it up the queue! 😉
It’s the weekend, so start your knitting!
This weekend marks the 35th birthday of The Yarnery! Woo Hoo!
They celebrated with a bit of fanfare. Kim and I heard the word “freebie” and dashed right over!  I did take part in a small amount of stash enhancement. I am not one to buy for the sake of buying; I do have specific projects in mind.
The red is Cascade 220 in Ruby (color #9404) for the Chinese Lace Pullover. As I said before, I see it in Chinese lacquer red and this is it. This yarn is heavier than what is called for, which I will take advantage of by knitting a slightly smaller size (?). We’ll see once the swatching begins*. (The book I purchased just to have).
That darned Brooklyn Tweed dude sucked me into this!Â
It’s a huge doily, turned into a feather and fan throw.  I could not help myself! It is made using the very heavy weight Cascade Eco Wool and size 10-1/2 needles. BT’s color is taupier than mine, which is more of an oatmeal shade (color#8016). There were several colors that I liked so it was hard to choose.
We also received a free gift with purchase :):
Very cute thrummed mittens. These should be fun to knit once winter draws nigh.Â
So now the guilts are starting to set in. It is very tempting to start one of these new projects.  I do have two whips in process, so I really should work on those… 😉
I still have 0% voice. It was so funny on Thursday at Panera’s. I went up to the counter to order. My knitting peep, Linda, was at the counter already and spoke up for me, “She can’t talk.” The guy says, “Oh, that’s no problem. I know sign,” and starts doing sign language! Linda and I just stared at the dude. “She can’t TALK — but she CAN hear!!” Jeez, we laughed!
And that brings me full circle to last Thursday’s post.  I really appreciate all of your kind words and encouragement. Sharing this blog with Sally has helped me strive with my knitting and has exposed me to too many new projects, many great ideas and wonderful uber-cyber-friends.   Â
* I started swatching 🙁 — I’m so naughty!
OMG — check out this Big Guy from the Minnesota State Fair:
I’ll try not to boar you any longer! I just had to go to the Fair today, come rain or shine (it was VERY rainy 🙁 ) and despite the fact that I was sick. I had entered multiple knitted items in the fair and needed wanted to know how they did. Attending on the first day is a ritual for me.
Okay. I am just going to spill it, and you can decide for yourself if I am as big a pig as my friend here, but I entered ten things in the fair. They all received ribbons: 6 first place, 3 second place and 1 third. I also won the Sweepstakes.
So, what did I enter? Here are two items: My silk Diamond Fantasy Shawl and Camilla Gloves:
I entered the gloves last year and got 2nd place. If you do not get a blue ribbon, you can re-enter the item. I should have quit while I was ahead ;). I was extremely pleased that the shawl won something because I did not expect it at all.
I also put in the little lace top from Vogue Knitting that I made for my youngest daughter:
She won’t even wear it, but at least it got a ribbon!
Next are a pair of socks I made right before the fair. I wasn’t sure that they would win anything because so many very talented people knit socks…lots and lots of socks — they did get second place even though you can’t see the ribbon:
The pattern is from “More Sensational Socks” and they are knitted with Fortissima Socka Bamboo in Color 07 Ocean.
I also threw in one of my Lace Tams for the heck of it and was stunned it got a BLUE ribbon:
It is knit in Rowan Silk Wool DK.
I finally got the zipper sewn into Eris and it received a blue ribbon:
I struggled mightily with the zipper pulls. I cut off the ones that came with the zipper — perhaps an OOPS! — and then made 457 attempts at “pretty” zipper pulls. It was crazy. I finally ended up using some beads I already had and attached them with wire wrapping.
My Peacock Shawl did very well and I was surprised and very pleased about that. I know a lot of people knit fabulous shawls so I knew the competition would be tough:
The Modular Tote also did well:
Another total surprise was Ballerina. I finished Ballerina last year but did not have a category to put it into, so I entered it this year in the plain knitting cardigan category.
You can see it also won the knitter’s Guild Award, but I have no idea how that is determined. And I’m not sure what it means either!
When I got into the building I started looking for my things and could not find Oregon anywhere. It was not in any of the main knitting cases. Sometimes they place knitting in odd places as part of a theme (i.e., Norwegian Sweaters with rosemaling, etc.), so I started searching high and low. I found Oregon between two gorgeous quilts:
Oregon surpassed all my expectations. I was hoping it would do well because it was such a thorn in my side for so long and was so darned much work!! I was beside myself! It was thrilling to see those ribbons, I must admit.
I was equally thrilled to see that my dear friend, Kim, won a blue ribbon for her gorgeous Cats and Mice mini-afghan:
When I got there, the little cats were standing on their heads, so I asked them to flip it around — and they did! I knew this darling blankie would do well. I’m so proud of Kim. It is an Alice or Jade (?) Starmore design.
I’m also VERY proud of my friend Linda who won second place for her cookies.
She is a great cook and very deserving! The only bummer was that my other friend did not get a ribbon for her ethnic bread, but she will try again next year.
Now, could I do a state fair post and leave out the infamous Sock Monkeys — au contraire, mes amies! Our lil sock monkey fiend friend has been hard at work all year exploiting perfecting the sock monkey concept:
And perhaps more practical for you:
All in all a great time — until I got laryngitis. I mentioned that I was sick and it did go into my chest/throat. I hope this bout is shorter than last time (a full week!).Â
I’m sure by now you are thoroughly bored, but are you as boared as this 1200 pounder?
And I know what you are thinking — yes, they are HUGE!!
Before I launch into my latest FO, I’d like to ask this question: “What do you all know that I don’t?” I mean, do I have two months to live and no one bothered to tell me? I am trying to figure out why everyone is being so darn NICE to me!! First, Romi sends me a beautiful pin and then a lovely package arrives in the mail. Michelle sent me this array of “knitting nirvana” to thank me for a very small favor (and I do mean miniscule!!):
The yarn is soft and luscious just like vanilla ice cream and the other items are absolute great FUN!! Thank you, Michelle — you are knit-tastic! Wow 😉 😉 😉
On to the knitting portion of this blog…Â
The Diamond Fantasy Shawl is a fait accomplis. I finished it Monday, but needed to block and photograph it, which adds time to the blogging process!
Here it is in its unblocked, crinkly, ugly duckling stage:
Being blocked:
Don’t you just love the built-in edging? That’s why I like this pattern. And now she’s back on Lettie for the final viewing:
The finished shawl ended up being 68″ by 34″ which isn’t too bad. I started with ~450 yards of worsted weight silk of unknown origin and now have something to show for it. I feel pretty good about that.
Front view:
And, with the gorgeous shawl pin!
I think it’s wonderful! I wish the camera captured the sheen of the silk yarn. I am really glad I read blogs because that’s how I got hooked up with this pattern. Bloggers rock 😉 !!
PS – Cindy mentioned the lovely photograph of the fireworks — my daughter took that picture.  I thought it looked very professional!
PPS — Sally, please come back! I need my blogging partner! I know everyone is tired of reading a single sister — it isn’t called The Rainey Sisters for nuthin’.
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I’ve been trying to get this done quickly — it’s a smaller project that I will wear often, so I’m trying to stay focused all the way to the finish line.
I also want to weigh in on the Mermaid/soft yarn discussion. I found that my Mermaid softened up a bit when wet blocked, but I agree with Barb Outside Boston: garments can be TOO soft. I have used some great, soft yarns, but they don’t hold their shape and sometimes pill. That’s what I like about real shetland wool. It keeps its shape and wears like iron. I always wear something underneath so what difference does it make?  I love the feel of real wool. Now that’s not to say that I don’t like merino or Cascade 220. They are real wool and soft, so they are great to work with and wear. But I still love that shetland wool, my friends!!
Sorry to step on your post, Surly, but I have a new project to introduce and a great pattern. I can’t wait to see the picture of your Mermaid tomorrow!
First, though, I want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments about the Peacock Shawl. I felt very warmed by your generous and thoughtful praise.
Back to the present!! My next small project is the Diamond Fantasy Shawl/Scarf by Sivia Harding. Many of you are familiar with this pattern, but it is fairly new to me. I was looking for something for some handpainted silk that Sally generously willed to me from her stash (and I did offer it back to her when she was here — honest!!).
The yarn is 100% handpainted silk in teal and lavendar/purple; approx. yardage is 450 yds.; worsted to heavy DK in weight. I am using a US 10 needle. The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn, but says sport will also work. Sivia thought the heavier silk would work fine — perhaps yielding a medium sized shawl. I love the yarn and the pattern. I like the fact that the edging is built in as you go. This pattern reminds me of the Hemp for Knitting Ponchette I made last year, but a little dressier.
Sivia does not follow pattern writing convention completely — i.e, her charts are kind of different, but you can certainly figure it out. She includes written and charted versions.
I was supposed to be working on Kauni, but knitting is my hobby and I do it for fun — and this seemed more fun at the moment!
I’m sorry but I have failed at being faithful ;). I have been thinking about making the cardigan on the cover of Lace Style since it came out:
This looked like the perfect summer cardi to wear in the meat locker they call my workplace! Do they really need to keep it at 50 degrees??
The cardi takes chunky weight yarn: 90 yds to 50 gm. I’ve been searching and searching for yarn.  I finally found my dream yarn today: Sublime Aran in “Clipper’ which is denim blue. It is 75% merino, 20% silk, and 5% cashmere. Oh my! It could NOT be softer, and I thought the denim would look cute with everything.Â
I am just getting started and could not get a good picture, but you get the idea. The fabric is not as “white” in places as it looks here, but it does get that washed denim look from light reflection.  I love it so far. My justification is two-fold: I need a summer sweater, it is mindless knitting, and my Mitered Tote is nearing completion :). Â
I came home and said to Hubby, “Hey, I bought more yarn” and he said, “Keep on buying yarn until we run out of money.” Okay, dear, anything you say!
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I’ve been happily mitering along. This is the perfect take-along project. It is semi-mindless (except where I have to do my decreases, since sometimes I motor right past them!).Â
One of the big squares is done — it’s a lot of knitting, mes amies! It’s about 20×20 inches!
I also started the bottom sections. I could NOT wrap my brain around how the bottom was going to work, so I had to do it to see it. It makes total sense once you get going. I think it would have been helpful to have a diagram with the pattern for us “visual” learners!
It did not call for a provisional cast on, but I thought it would be nicer and I think it is.
RE: Sally’s brief visit in June. She will be here on June 14 and we are going to Panera’s in Plymouth for my weekly Knit Night. Come one, come all!!
I am still 10 rows away from where I was on the Peacock Shawl before I ripped, but I am enjoying it immensely.Â
And, please, will someone chip in to buy poor Lucy some underwear? It is a bit unseemly ;). They just moved our blog into the porn listings! And should I be concerned that my husband volunteered to shop for her knickers?
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On another note — thank goodness GA is back on track! Last week’s show was an embarrassing disaster. Shondra, what were you thinking? The lame California story line was only eclipsed by the stupidity and lack of reality of its characters. This week was pure gold.
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In answer to Melanie’s question, the width of the collar = 15″ across:
I think that mine may be narrower because I pulled up the collar a bit with the i-cord edging. I’ve seen other pictures and the collars seem wider. The actual shoulders will conform to the wearer because of the raglan shaping.
My zippers just arrived and none of them are great — one is so bright it’s like neon green! Whoa, put the lights out please! One is really dark but kind of goes. Not sure what I’ll do yet…
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