Olympic Liesl is Finished!

No, not the swimmer, but my sweater.

The pattern is Liesl by Ysolda Teague.

The yarn is Aran Silky Merino by Sundara in the Celestial Clouds colorway, a spring color from last year's "Seasons" yarn club. I used 600 yards (3 skeins) of the yarn and the sweater was knit in 8 days on 7.0mm needles.

I found pretty handmade buttons with the colors of the yarn swirled inside. The sweater should be dry and blocked, with buttons attached, and ready for wear on this week's short vacation to the beach.

Be back soon!

Swallowtail and Sundara

These two went perfectly together.

The yarn is Fingering silky merino from Sundara Yarn in Robin's Egg. I obtained the yarn as a member of the Season's Yarn Club. (I may not have time to shop for yarn while going to school, but I love getting my surprise packages from Sundara in the mail.) The yarn was a dream to work with and the color is beautiful.

The pattern is Swallowtail Shawl designed by Evelyn A. Clark. It took me about 2 weeks to knit this shawl, and I enjoyed the time knitting it. Perfect project for summer break.

Gift for Baby S

I spent most of Friday doing the finishing work on this little cardigan for one of my newborn nieces, Baby S.

It is "Daisy" designed by Stephanie Pearl McPhee. The pattern is from Knitty, Summer 2003.

I'm glad I added the hood to the sweater. I grafted the top, rather than doing a 3 needle bind-off. I also added one embroidered daisy to the bottom of the back of the sweater. If I had it to do over again, I would have added more buttons and done a different type of buttonhole, something a little sturdier.
But overall, I am very happy with how the sweater turned out.

There's a Reason It's Called a "Retreat"

The Knitter's Review Retreat is exactly that. A weekend away from day to day life, a few days to forget your everyday worries. It's a chance to see old friends and make new ones. It's 2+ days of being immersed in your knitting and yarn and being surrounded by 90 other people who feel the exact same way.

It's also a time to add to your yarn supply. (Because we all need to add to our yarn supply!) We stayed at the Seven Hills Inn at Lenox, Massachusetts, a mere 1 hour drive from WEBS.

Want to see what I brought home with me?

From the Goodie Bag put together by Clara- (see the Lantern Moon Circulars at the bottom of the picture?)
From the Stash Table (Tables - 3 large ones) is a better description!
More to come in the next post!

Starting to Pack

I went through my stash this morning to find items to add to the swap table at the Retreat. I filled this bag. Wonder if it will be filled with new items for the trip home?

Yes, I Have Squeezed in Some Knitting

What with work, school, tests, and clinicals, I have still managed to find some time to knit. Usually, it is when I am in a zombie state, so the knitting is not complicated. I have been working on making a pair of Jane's Hedgerow socks, except I discovered last night that I misread the pattern and the ribbing pattern I have been knitting is not as directed in the pattern. But the results are still very pretty, so I will stick with my "mistake" throughout the socks.

I finished the socks for my daughter's 21st birthday.

She likes ankle length socks, so they are a quick knit. The yarn is a hand dye I bought from Ellen's Half Pint Farm at Camp Stitches a few years ago. The pattern is Fancy Silk Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks.

I did get a chance to cruise through the marketplace at Stitches East (in Baltimore) last Sunday. Bought a few things, some cashmere and Koigu to make the Chevron scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I have also been looking around the Ravelry website. Haven't had a chance to post my WIP's or finished objects, but have set up the necessary Flickr account and joined a few groups. I need more time and alot more energy to accomplish what I want for my account there.

I Just Got an Invitation!

I found it in my inbox when I decided to get up in the middle of this night (morning). Spent the next hour and half playing around on Ravelry
Time to go back to bed!
Look me up - I am CPAknit.

Taking the Plunge

I just signed up for the "Seasons Yarn Club" of Sundara Yarn. I have never gotten involved with such a venture, but my good friend Tanya suggested that buying yarn would be an excellent way to celebrate yesterday's good news, and I thought it was a lovely excuse. I have bought sock yarn from Sundara in the past, and it usually is a matter of knowing exactly when she is going to make her beautiful hand dyed yarn available on her website and be on the site within minutes of the starting time. If I am a little late, I find everything sold out.

Now I am guaranteed delivery of specific yarns at specific times, and I was able to pick a color scheme (spring, summer, winter, fall).

Take a look at the website and check out what is offered. I don't think you will be disappointed!

Now, to get some studying done in order to find time to knit!

Stethoscope Sock

Stethoscopes all look the same. Some have different color tubing, but these choices are limited. So, in the clinical setting, you need to somehow mark your own stethoscope in a way to make it stand out. Why not knit it a little sock? It will stay on, but is easily removable to wash.

Using sock yarn and size 2 DPN's, I cast on 12 stitches (the circumference of the scope, including the tubing is 1 and1/4 inches, I was aiming for 1 and 1/2 inches) and join in the round, being careful not to twist. For this little cover, work the first 5 rows in a seed stitch, work 10 rows in stockinette stitch, another 5 rows in seed stitch, then 10 rows in stockinette stitch, and end with 5 rows of seed stitch. Bind off while working the last row. The finished length is 3 and 1/4 inch. I am not sure of the amount of yarn used, I will measure for it soon and edit this post, but it's just a small amount of scrap sock yarn.

Now you have something to make with all of those little balls of leftover sock yarn. It will make a thoughtful gift for someone you love who uses a stethoscope!

Knitting Retreat 2007

Will I be able to go? I hope to find out next week.
I received the email from Clara about this fall's KR retreat last week while on vacation. The information on the retreat can be found here.
I have been able to get away to the retreat for the last 3 years and have always enjoyed the weekend with fellow knitters and KR members
Nursing school may interfere this year. I have clinical (training in the hospital) every OTHER weekend this semester. As of yet, I don't know if my training weekend will be the same as the retreat weekend. Hopefully I will know soon. Classes start Monday (August 27).


Until then I will dream of the Berkshires and the Seven Hills Inn.

Sock Yarn Is Not Stash!

I didn't make that rule - Wendy and LB did. But unfortunately, I don't think I can justify the elsebeth lavold Chunky AL in the color Dune. Oh well, everyone falls off their diet now and again. It doesn't mean I should give up altogether, does it?

WEBS was having a sale, and I fell for the RY Cashsoft 4 ply for socks. The yarn is buttery soft. The contents of extra fine merino and cashmere with microfibre combine with beautiful solid colors. I couldn't resist.

Storm Water Shawl

My dear husband gave me a fabulous knitting experience as a Christmas gift. I have tried my best to use my camera to capture a picture of what it is, but I have failed to properly show the beautiful colors of the yarn. Please click on this link to the Storm Water Shawl to see a picture of the kit I received. The Sea Silk yarn included in the kit was Wildflower.
The yarn is beautiful to look at, wonderful to knit with, and I can only assume it will be luscious to wear.

How to Know If You Have Enough Yarn For Two Socks

Here's the answer.

Notice that this item has already been used. See the remnants of yarn left from the skeins of Seasilk run through the counter?
I didn't even notice they were there until I uploaded the picture onto my computer.

The counter can be purchased mounted on a board from knitting suppliers for about $50. But my daughter (who gave this to me as a gift for Christmas, isn't she the best?) found this at Dick's for alot less. It's used by fisherman to measure how much line they have out.

I found I don't need the mounting board. The device attaches directly to the table I use with my swift and ball winder.

Now I can easily divide that one skein of sock yarn into 2 skeins of even length. I really don't need the suspense of waiting until I am almost done the second sock before I know if I will have enough yarn!

Cozy Feet

Thanks to all of you who left comments to help my hurting hand. It feels much better and I have been able to work on my knitting projects with alot less pain.

I finished these socks during the Christmas Holidays! There is nothing like a pair of hand knitted socks to make your feet feel special. I contemplated giving these as a gift, but decided they wouldn't be properly appreciated by others. These socks needed a home where they would be loved by someone who could understand why feet need socks made of $16 yarn and the time spent in knitting them.

Another Diet - Knit From Your Stash 2007

Knit From Your Stash 2007 is a great/challenging idea from Wendy of Wendy Knits.

The goal is to only knit with yarn you already own - for the next year. Remember the 1200 yards of worsted weight merino wool you bought 2 years ago to make that perfect poncho? Now, you know ponchos are not coming back into style for another 25 years, but the yarn is great, so look through your bookshelf full of knitting patterns (note:knitting books are not included in the diet, thank goodness) and find a sweater to knit!

If you don't think you have enough yarn hidden away to keep your needles clicking for a year :
1. You just started knitting yesterday.

2. You have serious rationalization issues.

3. You need to inventory your stash.

4. Your significant other is hiding your yarn in an attempt to make you think you are going insane!

Merry Christmas everyone!. I hope you get to spend time with your family and friends and experience the love you deserve.

Thank You, Rosi

Rosi, I didn't give you a proper "Thank You" in my previous post. Sorry about that, being fairly new to blogger, I haven't quite figured out all of the ins and outs of the system, and wasn't able to properly edit my previous post.

To anyone who meets Rosi, you will find a very generous woman. She may not have an extra copy of "Victorian Lace Today" on her person, but I am willing to bet she has wine or homemade cookies in her knitting bag!

Victorian Lace

One of the most amazing items I got from this year's swap lounge at the KR Retreat actually never made it into the room. Rosi brought a brand new copy of "Victorian Lace Today". She sat down next to Clara and me when she first arrived at the retreat and just happened to mention what she had brought to give away. Luckily, Clara will receive a copy of this beautiful book as part of her job as publisher of the Knitter's Review Newsletter, so that left me to calmly (haha) pipe up and offer to take it off of Rosi's hands and save her the walk all the way over to the next room.
For any knitter who loves lace, or those who think you might, please find a chance to flip through this book. The pictures are gorgeous and inspiring!
I began my first project soon after I returned home from the retreat. I had 1800 yards of vanilla Zephyr which I had purchased online from Rosie's Yarn Cellar in late August of this year. I decided to use the merino wool and silk yarn to knit the "Beginner Sampler".

Socks for Christmas

I was at this same point on a sock last weekend when I decided to restart from scratch as I didn't care for the pattern or the gauge. This sock is the same yarn as the original sock, a machine washable, hand dyed merino wool that I bought at Stitches East.

The pattern is from "Sensational Knitted Socks" and the stitch pattern is the baby cabled rib.

Is It Cold Enought Yet?

It's been so warm lately (75 degrees yesterday) that I haven't been able to wear the socks I knit for myself. Don't get me wrong, of course I had them on my feet as soon as they came off of the needles! But these socks are super soft and super warm, and the recent unseasonable weather has not been conducive to cuddly socks. But a cold front came into town last night and now I have the perfect excuse. (Why do I think I need one?)

Adapting to the Real World

After a fabulous long weekend at the KR Retreat in early November, I have spent alot of my free time getting back to my knitting. The retreat reintroduced me to my love of the needles and yarn (I had been letting other things get in the way) and gave me 3 days with fellow knitters and friends. Nothing like being in the mountains with rooms full of women (and men - Hi Robert) knitting at all hours of the day, wearing beautiful lace shawls and other gorgeous creations to get you back in the mood.

During my weekend away, Cat Bordhi personally taught me how to knit socks on two circular needles, a technique that saves alot of time and energy and is very easy to learn. Cat also taught a class on Moebius knitting and Teva Durham gave a class on short rows. Teva is a wonderfully creative person. She showed many of us the gallies of her new crochet book. Beautiful pictures and amazing ideas!

Since I went to the retreat by myself this year, Clara made roommate arrangements for me. She did a great job putting Mindy and me together. We found that we hit it off immediately and got along great for the entire weekend.

It was also great to see friends I met at previous retreats. I would list everyone here, but I'm afraid I would forget someone. There were also many new friends to make, some funny, some shy, some pregnant, some (one) male! There is something about the KR retreat that makes you feel as if you are coming home to family.