theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Wow!  I just got back from Shepherd’s Choice in Anoka, Minnesota where I had the privilege of meeting Susan B. Anderson and seeing all of the darling toys in her new book Itty-Bitty Toys.  Things were really hoppin’ at SC.  I ran into several people I know — it felt like an “EVENT.”

Here are a couple of the cute toys — and this really does not do the book justice!

There were so many things that I absolutely LOVED: The Princess and the Pea, Beanbag Santa, Sock Monkey (not a sock monkey, but a monkey made from sock yarn!).

Honestly, I fell in love!  There are so many things I want to make from this book — where to start?  I decided to start with the Santa Beanbag so I can put it on my mantel and there may be more in my future 😉 !  Five of the patterns flip inside out to reveal another doll.  Very, very cute.

Here I am with the lovely (much prettier in person) Susan B. Anderson.  She is holding my Elefantes because she is the creator of that well-loved design. 

Susan Squared

Now, I must knit!

If this:

…had a baby with this…

…I think you would end up with this:

The Sock Monkey Marsan Hat!!  I can’t take credit for this idea — it all goes to cutoutwitch on Ravelry.  I thought it was cute and I had the yarn — very old Lopi in stash; the red is Lamb’s Pride Bulky.  But, I only had one skein of the brown and could have used more.  Oh well.  I am just going to wear this for walking the dog.  I may even add a pom pon for fun!!

And this is the Boo Hat in a more serious pose.  It is another Marsan for my nephew, and I really like how it turned out.  Once blocked, it was plenty big.  Even fits my large melon.  Whew.

And one more small FO from this weekend — finished it up as I watched the Vikes beat the Packers yet again 😉

It’s a Scraper Mitt for my Viking-obsessed bro — just a small Christmas gift. 

So, I think it is becoming obvious even to me…I am suffering from a huge case of “large project avoidance.”  It’s fun for a while and you actually end up with some small FOs, but c’mon — a Vikings Scraper Mitt???  I’m not even a Vikings fan — well, maybe a little bit of a fair weather one, but that’s another story!I

I think I may be the one who is going to need a scraper soon, because in the not-too-distant future I see me scraping the bottom of the knitting barrel!  I told someone recently that I have enough projects in queue to last a year.  But at this rate, make it a decade!!  I will start something this week, I promise [Susan vows hopefully to self!].

I crack my own self up!   I just finished a Marsan Watch Cap for my nephew as part of my Christmas knitting and decided to block it.  It looked just like a lil midnight blue ghost, so I decided to add googly eyes and make it so.  Cheesy!!  I mean, really cheesy!!

The original pattern called for 80 or 88 sts.  A friend of mine made one in the yarn called for and it turned out very small…tiny, tiny, tiny.  I was using slightly smaller yarn so I added sts: 104 total.  Not enough!  I started over: 112 sts (32 more than the original pattern!!).  Still not enough, but I finished it anyway.  The yarn I used is the same as Sally is using for Nora’s Christmas sweater (remember the sexy sweater corset??).  It is Berroco Vintage Wool, in Dark Denim (50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon; 100 gms, 217 yards, 1 skein). 

The colors shown on the website are not very accurate.  This blue is almost black.  It is a gorgeous deep navy.  I LOVED working with this yarn.  It is soft but has tremendous stitch definition.  I would highly recommend it in place of Cascade 220 when you are worried about how the recipient will care for the finished item as it is washable. 

Topsy Turvy
A number of you have asked (hounded us??  )  about Surly’s Topsy Turvy pattern.  We are making a promise to you, our readers: the pattern will be available as a free download by this Sunday.  It will be out in time to do a bit of gift knitting for the holidays.  It is our gift to you as loyal friends and readers, so stop back on Sunday for the pattern.

I won a prize!  A really nice prize.  🙂  And all I did was read the Twin Set blog and comment on their bloggiversary.  Job well done, I must say.  I received several lovely yarns, a pattern, and a Twin Set pin.  My favorite yarn is the skein attached to the Twin Set pin: it is called Cheeky Monkey in color Leisure Suit!  The gray alpaca is super soft and perfect for gloves.  The blue yarn (on top) is a great unknown and looks like sock yarn.  Thanks, Ellen and Jan!!

Did I mention it is the theater of the absurd??

October Morning in Minnesota

Jeesh.

More on the Yarn Harlot’s Lace Cowl

GinkgoKnits asked about the yarn I used.  I would have mentioned the details but I was too lazy to go dig it out!  It is from Just Our Yarns and is called Myne.  It is micro-thin 100% cashmere (I held it double to make the cowl).  Sally is the one who originally bought it so I was 100% sure she would like the color 🙂 .  On their site, they warn that each color is unique, so purchase all you will need because the color varies, even within the same lot.  Sally thought they said, “Buy all of it you can get your hands on.”  😉  She ended up with so much, she gave me several skeins.  Enough to make many cowls, or a shawl or…you get the idea!

It’s about time, Steph!  I made this cowl for Surly for her birthday last February, but could not share it on the blog because Stephanie (aka Yarn Harlot) had not shared the pattern yet.  She allowed me to be an unofficial test knitter because I begged.  Just.  Plain.  Begged.  Pathetically.  It is a stunningly beautiful lace cowl knit in cashmere.  Here is my version (now Sally’s):

Pretty Thing Lace Cowl by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee in stash cashmere

The pattern is available on Ravelry.  I love it, Sally wears it.  Go make one!!

I am not a football fan.  I am not a Vikings fan* (though I live in Minnesota).  But even I am going to watch tonight’s game!!    XXXXX XXXXX Hoping we win!

*Surly is a huge Vikings fan!

PS: Woo Hoo!  Great game! 

PPS: Now the Twins just won a twelve-inning nail biter to become the Central Division Champs!!  Again, I’m not much of a sports fan, but I can sure appreciate an exciting game!

Yes, I drove 6 hours (total, round trip) to see sweaters.  None of my non-knitting peeps can fathom why anyone would do such a thing, but you — my people — will understand completely.  These were not just any sweaters.  These were Elsebeth Lavold’s knitwear collection at the Vesterheim Gallery — Knitting Along the Viking Trail.  Special knitting friend Kathy accompanied me.  We met Friday a.m. at 7 am and arrived at the Vesterheim, in total anticipation before 10:00.  The exhibit did not disappoint:

We felt like kids in a candy store!  It was breathtaking and wonderful and overwhelming all at once.  I had brought along my copy of Viking Patterns for Knitting so we could see which designs were represented.  Most were there.  From the cover:

There were so many gorgeous sweaters, it is hard to pick favorites, but here are some that I really liked or recognized:

There were many more, but I have made this a long post already.  I must give a shout out to a wonderful knitting store in Decorah, Iowa: the Blue Heron Knittery.  It is located just a few blocks down from The Vesterheim.  It is a beautiful shop, filled with gorgeous yarns and friendly people.  We felt right at home and were made to feel very welcome.

After lunch and yarn shopping , we made one more pass through the gallery.  I was so thrilled to be able to see these works of art in person and be immersed in the joy that is knitting.  I left exhilarated, inspired and exhausted.  And a special thank you to Kathy for being my companion on the journey — we laughed, we cried, we ate.  What a great day!!!

SABLE = Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy…here is one way you might outlive your stash!!

And, if you haven’t seen the baby dancing, here it is.  2CUTE4Words

On Saturday evening, I was invited to a casual birthday party for a dear friend. That afternoon, I rooted through my closet looking for something to wear. It was a beautiful day, but it was a bit cool and we were going to be out in the country where the temperatures would be lower than in DC. So I wanted a sweater.

Looking for something else — although I am not sure what — I stumbled across something stuffed into the back of a shelf. It was one of those “I finished this but I’m not sure I’m happy with it” projects. I’d never worn it. The ends weren’t even woven in — a sure sign of failure. It was a cardigan designed by Martin Storey, called Plaza. The original design has these intriguing crocheted corkscrews dangling all over the deep shawl collar:

I actually made them, put them on, and then removed them. They were lovely in the design’s photo but on me: not so much. Anyway, out of curiosity and desperation I tried the sweater on. Hey. This doesn’t look so bad, I thought. I asked my husband; he liked it.

Well, it was a casual party among friends. Why not? I wore it and got lots of compliments on it. So although it may not be my favorite sweater, I’m putting it into the rotation. And here it is: