theraineysisters knitting and so much more

It has been a long two years of campaigning and everyone is sick to death of it, but now that it’s over, it seems all worthwhile.

At 10 pm, when they announced Barack Obama’s victory, I cried with joy and relief.  Then I ran outside, lit some fireworks and screamed like a banshee!   A little ‘oops’ moment for moi when I realized I was way too close to my hubby’s car, the house and the lawn. 

After all that suspense and agony and the dirty politics, it felt like a cleansing moment.  

I am hopeful for the future once again.  He is brilliant and has a vision — and obviously can make things happen.  But let’s give the man some time.  He has so far to go to repair what has been done. 

GO-BAMA!!

Hi, everyone!  It has been a while, but we are still here.  My work life is hell, my home life busy, my knitting languishing, BUT I did get to Knit Out last Sunday at Brookdale Mall.  Ahh, what can I say about Brookdale?  It appears to be on its last legs!  Stores have closed, food vendors have disappeared, but lots of knitters showed up and we had a ball.

Here you see Shelley, Michele and Paula, waiting to answer questions at the Knitting Experts table — and there were some!  Several people brought their troublesome knitting projects along and sought advice.  Our three experts could handle anything!

A lot of people hung around, knitting and chatting. 

That’s what my knitting trio did: Mary, Emily and I sat and knitted and showed people what knitting is all about.  We each brought projects to show off the diversity that is knitting: lace, fair isle, beadwork, cables.  A lot of people stopped by our table to gawk and talk.  There were many familiar faces and some new friends, too.

Guild volunteers were also set up to teach people to knit.  The display was very cute (sorry, no picture) with stacks of lovely colored yarn, each skein with a set of needles.  They were given to new knitters for free with their lesson so they could continue at home.  This little knitter-to-be was adorable:

She worried me because she was eating Cheetos the whole time she was there — non stop!  You know what ‘Cheetos fingers’ look like: bright orange paste!  She was sweet and darling, but did not speak English so we couldn’t tell her not to touch the knitting (the aforementioned lace, beadwork, fair isle etc.!!!!).  She never did, so my worries were unfounded, but that has never stopped me from worrying before! 😉

Now, if you are a woman of a certain age, you feel the loss of a great actor and beautiful man.  In his day, Paul Newman was George Clooney and Brad Pitt rolled into one, and then some!  OMG!  Paul used to visit Minnesota regularly to race at the Brainerd Speedway.  My former boss met him and has a picture with him, his arm draped around her shoulders.   ::Swoon::

Paul Newman

I am slowly working on the second sleeve to my Aran Wrap.  Then I tackle the peplum.  Fall is here and I am into my sweaters, so I better get going!

P.S. From Sally:

Here’s a photo of Mr. Newman that I am rather fond of.

And what do we do when we got nuthin’?  Dredge up the past, of course! 

Last week at knitting night I was talking to Kim about the Best of Knitters Jackets for Work and Play  that Cathy had brought with her.  In it is a jacket made from Cynthia Helene Kid Mohair.  It brought back a rush of memories about probably my favorite project of all time: The Arch Motifs sweater designed by Sandy Black.  Sally and I fell in love with this pattern in the early 90s, originally knit in Rowan Kid Silk (not Kidsilk Haze, not Kidsilk Aura, but the original Kid Silk, with nothing added to the title).  

From this book:

I made it my mission to make this sweater.  One draw back.  In its original yarn, it would cost $300 — and that was 15 years ago — whew!  A lot to chew on.  Sally took the plunge and knit hers in the original yarn.  I made mine out of Cynthia Helene Kid Mohair, color Mink.  I did use Kid Silk for the bobbles:

I loved every stitch, every bobble, every scroll, every minute of making this sweater.  It was a labor of love from start to finish and then some.  Even looking at it now, I feel the same rush of “I think I love you” welling up in the background! 

But every love story has its dark side….this sweater is LONG. 

Even on me.  It overwhelms the wearer, even a 5’10” wearer!  It is a one size fits few, so you can imagine this behemoth on Sally’s petite frame!  (“Sally, I know you’re in there somewhere, call out so we can find you!”).  It feels somewhat dated, too, like an 80’s fashion statement.

I have considered shortening it by removing a full repeat of bobbles (windows?) or removing the gorgeous scrolled hem.  But somehow I have not been able to bring myself to do it.

It is one of those sweaters that you make for the sheer joy of the knitting, but not necessarily the wearing.  I may try to wear it again this winter — it is as warm as it is long!  But, if not, I’ll just wax nostalgic now and again.

From Sally: Help — I’ve put on this sweater and I can’t get out!

I loved making the Arches sweater. I loved every stitch. I remember when and where we found the pattern. I remember hoping that if I made it, I’d look like the model. Ah, delusions.

I have worn it a few times, but not in years. As Susan said, it’s long — and I’m not tall. But it’s also 50″ around, truly a one-size-fits-none. It’s down to my knees and I think two of me could wear it. But the pattern is so lovely. I’ll never regret making it even though I can’t imagine ever wearing it.

Here are some close up photos of the Arches and the Scroll Pattern at the neck:

It’s beautiful.

There are two kinds of Christmas people: the ones who open their presents on Christmas Eve and the ones who wait until Christmas morning.  We were Christmas morning people. One year, we decided to honor the other tradition and we opened all of our gifts on Christmas Eve.  The next morning, I was so disappointed: where was everything? Somehow, I had expected presents to be “re-stocked” and that there would be more gifts to unwrap. But of course there were no extra presents. My husband comes from Christmas Eve people, but I refuse to let their tradition taint our home!

What does that have to do with August and the Minnesota State Fair?  Well, yesterday I wrote that the anticipation of wondering if your knitting got a ribbon made it all the more fun.  The state fair posts the results on-line.  A few years ago, the results were available the NIGHT BEFORE the fair opened!  I read the results — I knew how my stuff did before I got there.  Bummer!!  It was not as much fun.  But the temptation was too much for me! 

Well, this morning, the results were up before I left for the fair.  So I could have read them before I left. I DID read about the baking results because my friend entered some cookies and bars — she won a ribbon, BTW:

The ones with the pink ribbon are hers!

But for my stuff, I knew better than to read about it ahead of time, and I was glad I waited.  I walked in through the back way and right in front of me was this:

I just burst into tears!  I was so expecting it to be overlooked. It was entered in the “Table Linens” category and up against very lacy and lovely crochet and tatting. I did not know what to expect, so I was very, very pleased!

PS — Twinsetellen commented that she went to the fair and saw Lyra and wondered why it was displayed with the purl side up (i.e, wrong side up)!  I looked at a close up photo that I took and sure enough, they are displaying the wrong side.  I wondered why it looked “rougher” to me than I remembered! I’ll need to mention this to the fair people when I go back.  Jeesh!  My eyesight needs a tune up…

Around the corner I found my Roslin Hoodie:

Can you believe the mannequin?  Such a dramatic pose! 😉 

Again, I was very pleased to see that it did so well.  Off in another case was my Mystic Waters Shawl:

Yes, a second place — which thrilled me especially when I saw how it looked hung up like an old dishrag.  I think this shawl would show better in a richer, more vibrant color, but too late now!  So, those are my results this year.

The big thrill was seeing Kim’s sweater, decked out in all of its child-sized glory:

Again, why does it look like it was made for infant Quasimodo?

She made a beautiful Dale of Norway sweater that turned out just perfect — note The Yarnery award!  Kim was there so we hung out and looked around at all the displays.  We were both disappointed when fellow Thursdays at Four knitting peep, Ellie, did not win a ribbon for her darling child’s sweater:

I fell in love with this petit point Christmas Stocking:

The judges must have, too, because it was bedecked with ribbons and awards.

After perusing the displays, I checked out the Knitters Guild event outside the Education Building:

Knitting Squares at the Fair

I also wanted to see Kris King’s felted bag on display at the Fine Arts exhibit — it is where the real artwork is displayed (painting, sculpture, photography).  OMG, her bag is gorgeous:

Wow! Felting as an artform.  Way to go, Kris!  It is absolutely stunning.

So long for today, State Fair — I’ll be back with DH in tow!

PS — an answer to a question:  “What exactly is the Sweep Stakes award?” The sweepstakes is awarded by comparing all the blue ribbon winners in the category and then selecting the best of the blue ribbon winners.  It is a thrill and an honor because it is the best of the best!

Last year, at just about this time, some of you may recall that I received an anonymous letter “asking” me to stop entering my knitting in the Minnesota State Fair.  Today’s blog title is my response to that request.

I did enter a few items this year and now wait in anticipation for the “big reveal” tomorrow, as are so many others.  I think that’s the biggest reason to enter: the torture of waiting!  I didn’t enter as many things as last year, because I didn’t consider them “fair worthy.”  It sure seemed like I didn’t get much knitting done this year, but when I perused the blog, I found more than I had remembered:

Icarus Shawl
Adamas Shawl
Alix Shawl
Mystic Waters Shawl
Lyra
Roslin Hoodie
Saartje’s Booties
Merci Scarf
Lopi Cardigan
Kauni Cardigan
Rudy the Felted Reindeer
Sweetheart Glovelets
Fetching Glovelets
Hemlock Ring Throws x 4
Felted Modular Purse

Started, but…not finished
Roseleaves Tunic
Mitered Cardigan
Hanne Falkenberg Plisse

That’s a really good reason for having a blog: you can look back on your projects and their ongoing progress.  I can’t rely on my memory for this stuff!

There are some fun Knitters Guild activities going on at the fair tomorrow, and I am meeting some of my peeps at the Creative Activities Building early in the a.m.  I’ll do an update with pictures tomorrow!

That was scary!  We were off the grid for the whole day yesterday, but we are back and glad to be here!  We’ll do a real post tomorrow — an FO revealed!

Well, I wore my new outfit yesterday, shawl and all!  My immediate work peeps said nothing 🙁 but others raved.  One woman asked me if I had received a lot of compliments on my beautiful outfit :).  So the verdict is a thumbs up!

I will finish Icarus TONIGHT (or maybe tomorrow 😉 ).  I’ll post pics at that time.  It takes a little time to do that and I am supposed to be heading to work right now.  Tonight is Thursday, so you know where I’ll be — join us at Panera’s if you can!