theraineysisters knitting and so much more

I must be, because I keep coming back to my favorite shawl pattern, but this time I made one for me.  Yay!  I bought some gorgeous, spring green yarn last year at Yarnover and got to it this week (#6 in photo below).

Looking at this picture makes me think I have a lot of potential projects ahead of me!  Anyway, I made another Sweet Dreams Shawl (are you shocked…no).  The difference is that this one is for me…my first ever Sweet Dreams shawl!!!

I started another shawl that is a bit challenging to get off the ground.  I have a new goal in life: make more shawls than anyone in their right mind should ever own.  I am well on my way!!

PS to Robby: Robby mentioned the cost of the Sweet Dreams pattern.  It is pricey because it is only available as part of the In Love Collection, which costs about $15 (aaarrrggghhh!).  I, too, balked at the price but dove in anyway.  Some of her other designs are quite similar and cost less: Out of Darkness is only $5 and is very similar.  The only difference is that it is done in laceweight instead of fingering.  You would need to take out 2-3 repeats to stay within one skein of sock yarn.  Quite Continental is also $5 and uses fingering weight.  It has a different look but similar pointy edge at the hem.

You know you buy too much yarn when…

This note is attached to your mail:

“Susan, What is your favorite local shop to buy yarn?  My mom is here for a visit – would like to visit a shop.  Thanks!”

PS to Cathy — I will give her a list, of course!  I get asked this from time to time and in this case, I am focusing on shops that are close by.  The Minnesota Knitters Guild also has yarn store directory so I will include that as well!

I think I must go into a trance sometimes.  The other day the mail arrived and lo and behold, there was a familiar bag from my favorite online yarn supplier, Webs.  Really.  Hmmm.  I did not remember ordering yarn from Webs or anyone else!  Has this ever happened to you??

I had fallen down the Ravelry rabbit hole and saw a project I wanted to make, ordered yarn and none of it registered in my memory bank.  Wow.  Scary stuff!

Once I opened the yarn, it came back to me in a flash!  (Thank goodness…).  I had seen Ojo de Dios from a recent Interweave Knits (Winter 2014) and for some reason wanted to make it.  The yarn used is Plymouth Yarns Gina.  The original colorway (color #5, Sunset) was pretty, but I opted for a darker, richer option (#2).  I finished it in pretty short order – it was fun to knit!  The pattern calls for 6 skeins, but I wish I had bought 7.  When knitting the triangles, I pulled some skeins apart.  The garter stitch area took a lot more yarn than I thought it would so I had to splice yarn in from the destroyed skeins!

I used a cable cast on for the triangles and was very pleased with how the pick up edges look (easier to see in the close up below).  Hard to tell where one triangle ends the other begins.  I pictured doing a provisional cast on for all of the 17 triangles and decided it would be way too much work — good call!

I do have to question my sanity, though.  Of course there is the memory issue, but also have to ask myself, why such an autumnal project when spring is getting ready to burst forth?  The mystery of my inner knitter continues to elude me 🙂 .

PS – another memory lapse surfaced at work today.  Should I worry? 🙁

Hello!  I’ve been missing in action and letting Susan carry the burden of blogging.  I’ve just had nothing interesting to write about.  I’ve been mired in a long, slow project that doesn’t seem to want to end.  I like the project; I am just tired of it.

Now, to the rescue, some beautiful yarns have tempted me to stray.  (And those who know me know that I am easily tempted.)

Last week, I was in a bookstore with my Writing Group.  When we finished up, I perused the magazine section and came across a publication I hadn’t seen before: Knit Wear, published by Interweave. I liked three or four of the patterns right away and so I bought it (the Spring 2014 issue).

Knit Wear is an interesting “occasional” publication. Although I was able to purchase an individual issue at a newsstand, it doesn’t look as if one can subscribe and have hard copies mailed out. (The subscription card that fell out as I read the magazine was for Interweave Knits.) On the other hand, one can purchase copies digitally — so even though I missed the first few issues, they are available for purchase and download. (A few can still be purchased as hard copies.)

Anyway, one of the patterns I liked is Bristol Ivy’s Folded Lace Tank, knit out of Manos del Uruguay’s alpaca/cotton blend yarn Serena. I “folded” immediately and bought Serena in the color “Flamingo.” This is a difficult color to capture. It’s not coral but it’s not pink, either. This is the closest I could get, but in real life the color is softer and just a tad more orange. (And yet it’s not orange.)

The yarn is incredibly soft. I’ve cast on and knit about four inches. I absolutely love this yarn.

One other pattern that I liked is the Ruched Yoke Sweater designed by Carol Feller. I will probably modify it somewhat (possibly ditching the kangaroo pockets and making it a little less flared at the hem). It was knit out of Madelinetosh Pashmina, which is a favorite yarn of mine. I immediately went out and purchased it in Cousteau, a colorway I have long wanted. Again, this is an impossible color to capture. It is so rich it almost glows in real life.

I can’t wait to knit this one up.

P.S. It is with great sadness that I tell you that Thor (aka Thor the Wonder Puppy) is gone. He was the canine love of my life. Thor was a beautiful, gentle dog with a quirky almost human personality. He has appeared on the blog in occasional photographs. He is greatly missed.

…to all the moms out there.

I wanted to share a picture of the gorgeous flowers my husband bought me for Mother’s Day.  From Target.  Yes, TARGET!!  We were running errands on Friday and saw these roses on display in kind of cute vases.  This color caught my eye.  Ever since, we have been mesmerized by the stunning color.  They are the most beautiful roses I have ever seen.

Enjoy your day, everyone.  It is sunny and beautiful here — at least so far!  😉

Already cloudy 🙁

My splash of color is finished and turned out like it was supposed to.  Whether or not it is a masterpiece is not up for debate.  It’s not.  But, it does seem like something I will wear often this summer, AND is in a popular color for the season!

Maderia in Berroco Linus

I did omit the asymmetry at the neckline and also did a crochet edge around the raw edges at the armholes and neckline.  This was to both improve the appearance and to stabilize the garment.

This seemed like it took forever to knit even though it is simple.  I broke into my 6th skein so I am glad I purchased that “insurance policy!” 😉  Enjoy your weekend, peeps!!

For YEARS every sweater I made was too small for me.  But as luck would have it (not lucky for me), they always seemed to fit ma petite soeur (my little sister).  Tres petite soeur.  Sally is 5′ 4″ and I am 5′ 10″.  So, I would make a sweater.  It would not fit.  I would give it to Surly.  I would reknit the sweater.  It would fit.  Not very efficient!!

I learned a lot as I went along and eventually my sweaters would usually fit on the first try (unless my weight fluctuation threw me a curve, but that’s another issue entirely!).  However, I recently wore a sweater to work (Alexandria Cardigan by Connie Chang) that was just too small.  Too tight.  Sleeves WAY too short.  One more for Sally!!

As luck would have it (lucky for me), Sally had recently finished a wrap called Claire de Lune by Carol Sunday.   When she tried it on, it overwhelmed her petite frame.

The idea of a swap was born.  Sally brought her Claire de Lune with her and we exchanged our ill fitting projects.  I really lucked out!  Her Claire de Lune is fabulous.

Knit out of Classic Elite Firefly (75% rayon, 25% linen, 155 yds to 50 gms, color 7706 Linum), it looks like linen and has wonderful drape. I loved wearing it to Yarnover!!  The lace pattern is gorgeous and can be dressed up or down.

I really enjoyed wearing something I did not knit myself.  What a treat!!