theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Yesterday I was immersed in knitting from dawn (not quite…) until dusk (actually, pitch dark!).  I started the Roslin Hoodie class at The Yarnery.  A very nice group of students, with very nice yarn choices for their hoodies.  The class is set at a reasonable pace so people can get the project done and have a life.

Then, last night, I spent the evening with a wild bunch of Nicky Epstein fans at Amazing Threads.  Nicky taught a 3-hour class on edgings and flowers and bold finishes.  It was a fun evening.  Nicky had already spent the weekend at the Mall of America with “Knit Out” so she was a little tired, but she seemed to hang in there just fine.  I, on the other hand, was still recovering from little daughter’s 13th birthday from the night before, so I was more pooped than Nicky!

Knitting has been slow and not very exciting.  I am working on the Merci Scarf, and it is ~40 inches long — so it looks the same, except 40 inches long!  B-o-o-o-o-r-r-r-r-r-r-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g!  I love the scarf, but it is taking a lot more time than I thought.  Scarves are a lot of knitting.

On the way to The Yarnery yesterday, I also visited my oldest daughter’s artwork, on display at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.  She won a silver key award in the Scholastic Arts Award program.  She created a poster for her own (faux) company, with an environmental theme.  Since my knitting is too boring to photograph, I will share her artwork with you:

Portrait of Artist as Lace Tam Model:

Happy Monday and Happy Knitting 🙂

To My Best Friend and Blogging Partner!!  Woo Hoo! 🙂

Yes, it’s twoo!  It is a Surly Birthday today!  I will not spill the beans about her age (it would give me away, too ;)), but do the math, people!

 

I know we have been back from our fabulous whirlwind tour of New York for quite a while now, but I just received the last of our purchases yesterday by Pony Express.  Sally and I were in our lovely hotel browsing the internet for knitting-related stuff (how unusual!) when I remembered a project that had been percolating in the dark recesses of my mind:

Am Kamin by Shimada Toshiyuki

I have seen this knitted up on several blogs and now on Ravelry, and thought it was stunningly gorgeous.  The pattern book is in Japanese and has not been translated:

We bought our copies from a Canadian source: The Needle Arts Book Shop, proprietor Marsha White.  Since the book’s arrival yesterday, I have been immersed in it, seeking understanding!  I feel like a newbie knitter who looks at ANY pattern for the first time: it looks impossible to decipher:

Is it hubris to think I can accomplish this project?  I keep telling myself that it is, after all, just knitting.  And I have learned a little Japanese in the process, thanks to Marsha’s treatise on Interpreting Japanese Knitting Patterns.  There is only one size given for Am Kamin (which would fit Sally, of course, but not moi :(), so I will need to do major adjustments to the pattern, but I do like having it nonetheless. 

Am Kamin is worked using worsted weight wool.  I have a gorgeous red in Cascade 220 (#9404) and a wonderful teal in Cascade Dolce (#927).  I’m not sure I will start this anytime soon — it needs to marinate!

When you start exploring some of these other sources, you really feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole.  I felt the same way when I discovered Herbert Niebling!  Aarrrrrrrrgggghhhhh!!  There is so much out there and the deeper you go, the more you find!