theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Our beloved yellow lab, Molly, is gone.  She was 15, and had deteriorated quite a bit in recent weeks.  She struggled every day.  By last Friday she refused food and water, and could not go outside or even stand (she had to be carried).  She had been our baby girl for so long, we just could not imagine a day without her!  We made the decision for in-home euthanasia.  Her last moments were peaceful, in her own bed, surrounded by people who loved her.  She looked beautiful – young and sleek and golden.

We don’t have a lot of great pictures like Sally has of Thor, but here are a few.

Molly as a Baby – July 2000

Family Christmas 2000

Molly in her Prime

I already shared this picture on the blog, but it really does capture Molly perfectly, as she waits for that next bite of bagel!

Molly was the perfect companion, loving and gentle.  One of a kind, never to be forgotten.  My heart is broken, but I am grateful that she had a long and wonderful life, and that she chose us to be her family.

I’ve been a fan of cycling for lo these many years. I still remember Greg LeMond’s heart-stopping victory over Laurent Fignon in the 1989 Tour de France and, as long time readers know, my son-in-law was a pro cyclist. (He retired last year.) So how is it I never knew about Natalie Servant’s Tour de France shawl knitalongs? I learned about it this year at Knitting Camp. The challenge: cast on and finish the shawl before the riders reached Paris.

Even though the Tour had been going on for a week, I accepted the challenge and cast on. This year’s design was called Labrouste, designed by Natalie Servant and modeled after the gorgeous ceiling in the Henri Labrouste reading room in the Bibliotheque Nationale. Sun Valley Fibers was at Knitting Camp, and I purchased some of their luscious MCN Fingering in Terra Cotta.

I loved having an excuse to sit and knit and watch this year’s Tour without feeling guilty. I was rooting for a Frenchman to win. It didn’t happen, but Romain Bardet and Thibault Pinon gave me a lot to cheer about. I cast off just as the riders were about to start the final climb up the legendary Alpe d’Huez. In 1989, my husband rode up that climb. I drove to the top to wait for him. It was a scary road even in a car. I drove so slowly, and he rode so fast, that I was barely out of the car before he arrived. I still remember Nora running after him. (She was only 3.) Perhaps that’s where her love of cycling was born.

Below are some photos of the shawl, including a shot of the climb (well, of the TV showing the climb) and the unblocked shawl draped over the screen.

Summer seems to be flying by.  Ack.

I did get a small project done!  I am going to teach a class at The Yarnery this fall and needed to make the shop sample.  I toyed around with a couple of shawl patterns and settled on Rakke by Susanna IC.  It can be knit with LOFT or Shelter.  I made the LOFT version, which takes about 2 skeins (my color is Long Johns).

It was a fast and fun knit.  There are nupps involved, but the LOFT handled them just fine.  LOFT is growing on me.  I kind of like it now!!  I found an error in the pattern and the Brooklyn Tweed Support Team responded quickly and efficiently.  Great customer service!!

All in all, a satisfying little project.  What is in store next?  Only the psychic network knows!!  I hope they let me in on the secret….

I have a post-Camp 2015 hangover!!  I feel groggy, sluggish and off kilter.  It is the result of being in an enclosed space with too much (is there such a thing??!!) yarn and lots of yarnies (people who adore yarn).  I’m sure I’ll recover quickly!!

Camp was great.  Wonderful to see everyone, and to sit at the feet of knitting royalty (Meg Swansen) and hear her words of knitting wisdom…as well as some jokes that are not PG rated!  We learned a lot, we laughed a lot, others knit a lot.  I experienced “project issues” and really have nothing to show for a “knitting weekend.”

Here are the yarns I acquired:

Not that much as these things go!

1. Briggs & Little Regal, in two colors — I won this for taking 1st place in the annual challenge
2. KnitCircus Greatest of Ease in Lothlorien — beautiful
3. Schachenmayr Tahiti in Sun Shower (purchased at The Yarnery in a heading-home drive buy shopping urge)
4. SunValley Fingering in a gorgeous reddish violet called Cherry

We stopped at The Norske Nook in Osseo Wisconsin and I picked up a cherry pie that was just out of the oven and piping hot.  Oh my.  We are eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

This year’s challenge theme was “If I Had Wings.”  I submitted Nightingale (as it is covered in wings!) and used Somewhere Over the Rainbow as my inspiration.  My little poem:

To celebrate our theme of ‘If I Had Wings’
I’ll harken back to a song that Judy Garland Sings…

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where my stash is all around me
Where troubles melt, no stitches drop
And I can knit and never stop
That’s where you’ll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow, yarn is blue
And the dream that I dared to dream finally did come true
If knitted little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow why, oh, why can’t I?

It’s back to work tomorrow, which will make Camp seem so far, far away…

Are any of you infatuated with the new mini-skein gradient sets that are popping up all over?  I love them!  What a clever marketing idea!

I recently went for a dip in the gradient pool.  I saw the Beacon Shawl somewhere (I thought in Interweave Knits) so I quickly bought the kit from Pigeonroof Studios.  But, the pattern wasn’t in my copy of Interweave Knits.  It was in KnitScene…so off I went to find the magazine.

I loved the Sherbet (Sure Bet, get it???) colorway contrasted with the tonal charcoal.  The angular look and Tequila Sunrise colors called my name.

The knitting of the large triangle seemed to take forever.  I did add a couple of repeats in case my gauge was tight.  Plus, I had a ton of yarn so I figured I should use more of it.  Once the triangle was done, the colorful strips were fast.  I changed mine to get rid of the little “jog” at the color changes.

Beacon Shawl from KnitScene

Here is my Beacon Shawl — still on the blocking table!

I love it!  The colors are wonderful!!

Now I have to hunker down and get ready for Sally’s arrival and preparations for Knitting Camp.  Woo Hoo!!!

PS — It’s dry!

The raspberry is darker than it appears in the photos.  Love it!

ETA from Sally:  I’m packing.  One whole suitcase is devoted to nothing but yarn.  I hope I have room for my clothes.!