theraineysisters knitting and so much more

I’m here to say that I finished one of the projects I talked about in November.  Whew!  First, however, I’d like to thank those of you who have reached out to make sure we are okay.

As many of you know, we moved to Boulder about four years ago to live near our daughter.  And, as you’ve probably seen on the news, a devastating fire destroyed whole neighborhoods in several communities in and around Boulder just before the new year.  It’s hard to describe the scope of the damage.  Almost a thousand houses burned to their foundations in a matter of a few hours.  We were having such high winds that the fire was racing the length of a football field every few seconds.

You can get an idea from this Map.  In it, the red markers are houses that were destroyed, blue indicates damaged.   If you zoom in on the affected neighborhoods, you can see the scale of the loss.  My neighbor’s daughter lives in one of the areas that was hardest hit.  Her home survived.  It’s the only one in the neighborhood that did.  Please keep the residents of Superior and Louisville in your thoughts.  It is going to be a slow and painful recovery.

Back to knitting.  I finished Hinterland by Jennifer Steinglass.  I had originally set it aside after knitting the yoke.  That was the fun part, right?  I did eventually knit the body, but was left with the dreaded sleeves.  Despite wanting to start so many new projects, I persevered and it’s finished.  My husband thinks it will make the perfect après-ski sweater when we hit the slopes later this winter.  (Weather and Covid permitting.)

The main yarn is Arranmore Light by the Fibre Company in the color Meara.  The contrast color is Salty Dog, Spincycle Dyed in the Wool.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to have the design at the cuffs or leave the sleeves plain.  I finally went for the color work because I thought I should be more daring.  I deliberately mismatched the cuffs just to show more of the color changes.

I became enamored with the cutest sock pattern ever, called Holly & Jolly!  But, I don’t like knitting socks, so I made some handwarmers instead.  They demanded a hat, so the hat was next!!

The candy cane chart has a simple fix to eliminate the jog.  Check out my Ravelry project page to learn more!  This picture shows the BOR and no jog in sight!!

Are you ready for the holidays??

It is time for my third annual Hostess Hat launch!!  And it’s FREE on Ravelry!!  It’s called the Noël “Ugly Sweater” Hostess Hat.  Maybe not the best name, but the hat kind of looks a little gaudy!!

The hat trio!!

All the details, including my source for beads, are included in the pattern.  I would love you to knit one up and embellish it to suit your own taste!!

I am notorious — notorious — for putting knitting projects aside before they are finished.  Why?  I don’t know.  Maybe it’s because I hate knitting sleeves.  Maybe it’s because something new and more interesting (for the moment at least) came along and pushed it aside.  Now, I often do go back to these projects (which I have nicknamed head start sweaters) and finish them although I confess many do end up in a sort of knitting oubliette never to be seen or heard from again.  (An oubliette was a French dungeon with an opening only at the top so there was no escape.  It comes from the verb oublier to forget.)

Today, I’m going to share three sweaters that have been put aside but are not in the oubliette.  I expect to finish all three within the next few weeks.  For realsies!  You will see them in all of their raw, unblocked glory.

First up:  Tapestry Wrap designed by Marie Wallin and knit out of her beautiful British Breeds yarn.  This was the project for her Fairisle Club 6 and you may remember that Susan made it as well.  I finished all of the knitting months ago.  But I realized I needed additional length for the collar lining and I just never got the motivation to undo the bind off and knit those extra rows.  I finally made myself do it and now I need to weave in ends and actually sew the collar lining down.  Here is a photo.  Sooooo close to being wearable.

Next up is Hinterland by Jennifer Steinglass.  I am on the hem and then I have the dreaded sleeves.  The sleeves in the original pattern are patterned at the cuff and I can’t decide if that’s too much or not.  That’s my excuse for not finishing but I plan to steamroll ahead.  I’m using the Fibre Company’s Arranmore Light in the color Meara for the background and Spincycle Dyed in the Wool in Salty Dog for the color work.  I did a provisional cast on at the neck so I guess I have to figure out how to finish that, too.  Sigh.

Last, but certainly not least, is Tia Teva designed by Carol Sunday.  It’s a really interesting pattern that places fair isle in short row sections.  I’m using Carol’s Eden yarn in Twig and Storm.  I’m on the sleeves.  I started one, thought I’d made a mistake (which I hadn’t — d’oh), and ripped back.  When I picked up the sleeve for the second time, I didn’t like the pick up I did which is why poor Teva ended up near the oubliette door.  However, I love the pattern and plan to make myself finish the sleeves ASAP.

So — does anyone else have a knitting oubliette?

All business in the front and party in the back!  My Color Block Go-To Cardigan is finished and has been worn twice!!  It’s a simple, non-showstopper, but very wearable sweater.  Lightweight and perfect fit.  I made some fairly significant mods: added pockets and did the sleeves top-down/set-in vs bottom up seamed (see my Ravelry project page for details).  I sewed the buttons on using my “large bead as shank” method, using turquoise-colored beads.  It’s cute because you see an unexpected little color burst when you look down!  Oh, and I did not do a sewn-on buttonband!  Ugh!!

I used three shades of Rowan Felted Tweed: Boulder for the fronts, Treacle for the sleeves, and Turquoise for the back.  I love my color choice!!

The pattern is from Churchmouse and quite expensive, but it’s well written and gives a lot of details for the more novice knitter — and they were for the most part good tips!!  This will definitely be a sweater that I wear and wear again!!

So, I finished my hat/mitts from the Progressive East End Project Mystery KAL.  The original pattern was for mittens, but I chose to do mitts instead.  Good thing because I did not have enough yarn to knit more!!

It’s a cute set and fits well.  I made the large hat, and used my standard crown decreases (from my Gansey Hat for Everyone pattern).  I started the large mitts but they were way too big, so I ripped and knit the smaller ones.  Still a little big, but cute!!

Hi, folks!  For the last couple of years I have participated in the Progressive East End Project (PEEP).  It is sponsored by a few of the eastern yarn shops in the Twin Cities, one of which is The Yarnery.  I love to support The Yarnery so I jumped in when the preorder was announced.  You don’t really know what you are getting into, but what the heck!?

The yarn this year consists of a full skein of dark green sock yarn and a 6-color (very) mini-skein set.  The project is a hat and mittens, though I will make mine into mitts.  Two clues for the hat have already dropped. This Thursday and next will see the release of the mittens.

I warned you — here is my hat!!

The stitch is supposed to look like faux entrelac but I think it looks more like a hounds tooth check.  It has a real retro vibe and turned out well, I think.  And not my usually color choice, so that made it fun!

The challenge was the single row stripes — what to do about the jog?  Patty Lyons posted about this very issue on MDK, so I tried it.  It was a fail.  Not at the position where you join the new stripe color (which isn’t at the beg of the round), but rather AT the BOR!  Very noticeable jog.  The solution was to either slip stitch #1 as to purl WYIB on the next row, or do what I did:

Work Patty Lyons method in CC. Knit one rnd MC.

Stitch #1 of 2nd rnd of MC:
Lift CC st from rnd below onto lefthand needle in front of MC st on needle. Knit these 2 sts tog with MC.

It was a success.  This picture shows the BOR:

Here the 1st stitch of the round is marked with a pin:

I think that’s pretty good!  I’m happy with it.  Can’t wait to see the mitts!!

Augusta made the mistake – er – showed her curiosity about our banner photo: where was it taken?  We discussed this years ago in this post, which I have chosen to re-post because I don’t have a new post! 🙂

From Both of a Us — A Postcard from Italy
January, 2012

We have received many comments over the years about our banner photo, such as: Where was it taken? Or, who are those gorgeous babes — they couldn’t possibly be you. Or, when on earth was that taken??!! You’re so old. We are always touched by your interest!

But never so moved as when we received this lovely photo from Helen, taken with beautiful daughter Susanne at her side:

Channeling The Rainey Sisters

Helen found herself at the very spot of our banner photo (on the walk to Piazzale Michelangelo), and tried to explain to husband Steve and Susanne why she wanted this particular photo — because of The Rainey Sister’s blog! Steve accommodated and the rest is history. What a wonderful way to revisit this magical place in Florence, Italy. Thank you, Helen and family!!

PS from Susan to Anne, who asked why we were in Italy at such a tender age: Sally was studying in France. Our grandmother wanted me to be able to see Europe as well, so she funded my trip. All she asked in return was that we go to Venice and take some pictures for her, which of course we did. We travelled through France and Italy — on a complete shoestring. I have never gotten back to Italy, though Sally has. I cherish those memories and that is why I was so struck by the kindness of Helen sharing her picture with us!

I recently did a test knit for Hudson + West Co in their yarn Forge.  The hat pattern, Asthore, is part of their STUNNING fall launch.  I’ve never seen so many gorgeous cabled sweaters!

I decided to use my famous tubular twisted rib cast on (how can it be famous if no one knows about it!?!).  Someone suggested I write it up for a magazine article, so I will let you know!

Anyway. I proceeded to the main chart. The chart key was on a different page. I glanced at it, but did not read it carefully. So, I didn’t realize that the gray squares were purl sts, I thought they were “no stitch” place holders!! After several unsuccessful attempts, I read the key! Novel idea. Things went swimmingly until I got to the end of the row. I had cast on 4 extra sts! Argh!!  KNITTERS CANNOT COUNT!!  I “creatively” decreased them away, while retaining the flow of twisted rib into the pattern. 8-(

My other issue was needle size. I am a tight knitter, so I did my usual and automatically went up a needle size, esp given the robust nature of the yarn. Mistake. Huge. As is my hat: HUGE. I did a very light felt when blocking, but it is a really big hat.

I knit the second hat with different yarn (Cascade 220 Superwash, color Parsnip) and the correct needles. It’s much smaller as you can see!

The pattern is easy to remember after a few repeats, esp if you have the right stitch count!

Health update on The Rainey Sisters: I finished my radiation treatments last week and Surly started hers yesterday (she has to do 5, I did 20).  We are doing great.  That can’t be said about our 89-1/2 year old dad!

Last Wednesday at about midnight, he fell and broke his hip.  He laid there for 7 hours until it was light enough for him to see his phone!!  He called a neighbor who swooped in like a hero and called 911 and helped him.  He had surgery on Thursday afternoon and they sent him HOME on Saturday!  My brother (Barry) and I had quickly driven down there (to Omaha) Friday, but had no expectation that he would go directly home that soon.  Typically, people go to a rehab unit for a week or two.  Needless to say, we were in a scramble to get him in-home care!!  We had driven my husband’s van so Saint Barry couldn’t just stay down there.  There are medicare staff coming in once a week and we arranged round-the-clock caregivers until Barry gets back.  So many people have to deal with elderly parents and I guess it’s our turn.  Dad is super independent and wants to stay in his home (his log castle).  He is in really good shape for his age, which has amazed all of his nurses.

That’s the latest!!  One crisis after another! 😉

Surly is enjoying a nice little road trip with family, so I thought I would launch into the story of the Tapestry Wrap.

The Tapestry Wrap is a Marie Wallin design.  It is part of her fair isle club collection, so its official name is Fair Isle Club Six (or #6).  This was our first foray into the “club scene.”  We saw the design and were intrigued, but thought it might be a bit “out there!”  Plus, the colors seemed kind of bright and a bit “out there!”  (The colors are far more muted IRL.)  We decided to go for it.  So on the allotted day at 10am, we logged in and bought our kits.  All 500 kits were sold within 2 hours!!  Uh, we were shocked and very glad we got there first!!  The kits were expensive, but to me well worth the price.

The kit included Marie’s British Breeds yarn (all 20 colors!), a high-quality hard copy of your chosen pattern size, a cute fabric project bag, and a sterling silver shawl pin.  The yarn is gorgeous.  She uses a unique mix of wools that give it a luster and almost alpaca quality.  It is softer than Shetland wool, and maybe a little thicker?  You also received a pdf of ALL sizes, and video support/zoom meetings with Marie.

I knew right away that I would need to lengthen mine.  The unusual construction gave me a pause, but I figured out what to do and forged ahead.  We started our sweaters in mid-December.  Many days I knit on this for 8-10 hours!!  Sally and I were on a roll, and I had a lot more knitting to do than she did!

This video shows the day I finally cut the steeks:

The visual interest to this sweater is in the back.

This shows what the back looked like after cutting:

The big “U” in the picture above is the back after cutting.  There were full steeks on either side and a partial steek in the center.  You needed to pick up and knit the center back panel and side panels, using flat fair isle, and then graft those sts to the other side.

Bad photo before grafting:

After grafting:

The sleeves each had a flat panel and the sides were knit flat (and had short rows).

What I am trying to say is, the construction truly was unusual and kind of pieced together!!  The sleeves run a little short and I have super long arms, so I added 40 (gulp!) rows to the sleeves.  I used a number of splicing and weaving techniques to avoid ends and had very few considering that Marie changes both colors quite often!!  I love the sleeves because they almost look like they belong to a different sweater!

The good news is that once you join the club, you can buy any previous kit, which Sally actually did.  Fair Isle Club 7 is called the Kilim Jacket and will launch December 1.  To sign up for emails about the club, register here.  I will not be doing the next one — it is kind of similar to the Tapestry Wrap.  One was enough for me!!  A true labor of love!

PS — I just got a $10 check from the state fair for my sweepstakes!!  They didn’t give out prize money with ribbons this year because last year was such a loss.  This was so unexpected!! 🙂

PS to Chloe: Shawl Pins