My current work in progress:

Stornoway, designed by Alice Starmore from her book Fishermen’s Sweaters, knit in Frangipani 5-ply guernsey wool in the Aran colorway, on a 3.0mm needle.

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Archives for September 2009

What Happened to the True Love Stole?

September 30, 2009 By

In yesterday’s comments, Hannah asked:

What happened to the True Love Stole?

This is what happened to it:

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I finished it!

That’s a pic of it unblocked. Even as we speak it is relaxing in a nice bath of woolwash and blocking will commence momentarily.

But meanwhile, I am knitting on my new super-not-so-secret project:

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This is the beginning of a shawl being knit from Tempted Luxe Grrl yarn. The colorway is un-named, as Stacy custom-dyed it for me when I requested a blue-green almost-solid. Isn’t it gorgeous?

The yarn is fabulous to knit — it is sport/dk weight and a blend of 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 10% Nylon. I’m knitting it on a larger than recommended needle (a US size 7) and getting 4.5 stitches to the inch. I wanted a nice drapey fabric because I’m knitting lace.

The shape is a more-than-triangle — extra increases on the front edges result in the nice shaping that will make the shawl stay put on your shoulders. Because it is a heavier weight yarn, I opted for a stronger non-fussy lace pattern.

Right now I’m calling it the Stacy Shawl and I’m liking the name. The shawl reminds me of Stacy: strong, beautiful, and straightforward!

Now don’t quote me on this, but there is a very strong possibility that this pattern will become available in a very fun way (she said mysteriously).

Lucy sez:

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“Please thank Miz Stacy for dyeing pretty yarn for a blankie for me!

In other news, I need to change the name of my Bamboozled socks as a reader pointed out there is already a design by that name. And here I thought I was being so clever . . .

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A Simple Sock

September 29, 2009 By

Okay, a bunch of you Smartypants immediately identified the yarn I’m using for my simple sock as Wollmeise in the Johannisbeer und Brennessel colorway. Clearly you all are experts in Wollmeise colorway identification.

A quick trip through the Google translator tells me that the colorway name translates into “currant and nettle” in English. Very appropriate, no?

So, Thursday night I was thinking that I needed a simple project to take to Virginia Beach with me for the weekend. “This is a job for Wollmeise!” thought I. I ventured into the stash room and looked through the Wollmeise I have, and decided on this lovely colorway.

I did do a bit of knitting over the weekend, and today I am past the heel on the first sock.

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And here is a close-up of the slipstitch heel, just because a slipstitch heel in Wollmeise makes me happy.

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The pattern is a simple knit/purl thing, and the results kind of make me think of bamboo.

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So I am calling this sock “Bamboozled.” Just try and stop me.

I’ve got another new work-in-progress . . .

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And I’m afraid Lucy can’t come to the blog right now . . .

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It’s suppertime!

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A Great Weekend

September 28, 2009 By

I had a great time down in Virginia Beach this past weekend. There was a book-signing/party Friday night at KnitWits that was a blast. I met a lot of fun knitters and thoroughly enjoyed myself. My friend Rusty did a nice photo-filled blog post about it here.

Rusty and her husband Larry had just returned from a trip to Canada and Rusty brought me some prezzies:

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To the left is sock yarn, from Belfast Mini Mill on Prince Edward Island. It’s a beautiful heathered green-blue. The bright turquoise is laceweight from Tanis Fiber Arts. And the Dala horse is . . . just because. 🙂

I also got a cap from Larry’s ship:

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The classes on Saturday were wonderful. The knitters were fun and enthusiastic about learning the techniques. In fact, we now have a group on Ravelry dedicated to the wonder that is a toe-up toe, called “Toe Cuppage.” And a challenge has been issued there . . .

For my travel knitting I cast on a sock.

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Can you guess the yarn and colorway? 🙂

My purchase of the weekend — I discovered that KnitWits carries Lawre’s Laine bags. And they had a style I hadn’t seen before — a pouch:

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I love how it has a stitch counter attached to the drawstring! It’s big enough to easily carry a sock or two or a smaller lace project.

I returned home yesterday afternoon to this:

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A very happy little kitty!

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Thursday

September 24, 2009 By

Who needs a clever title, eh?

I left the True Love Stole at home today. It’s hot and humid here, so not having piles of cashmere draped on my lap on the train seemed like a good idea. It was a good idea — they apparently have turned the air conditioning off on the trains.

This is what I did on my commute.

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Cute little devil, isn’t he? Here he is with his buddies . . .

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These little guys are prep work for a workshop I’ll be teaching late in October  at SWAK in the City in Oklahoma City (see this page for more information) — What to Do With Leftover Sock Yarn. Should be a fun class!

But this weekend, I’m heading down to Virginia Beach to KnitWits for fun and classes. Since the last time I was in Virginia Beach was when I was around 4 years old, it is about time I went back, don’t you think?

I’m leaving early tomorrow morning and returning home Sunday afternoon. Depending on my mood and state of exhaustion upon my return, I may not blog until Monday.

So have a good weekend!

Lucy is not sure how she feels about having me away this weekend . . .

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Finally Done

September 23, 2009 By

On the commute home yesterday I finally finished my second Mallow sock. Ta-da!

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To recap, I knit this from Madeline Tosh sock yarn in the “Malachite” colorway on 2mm needles. And in a spurt of energy, I even wrote up the pattern, in 3 sizes. You may download it for free in pdf format here.

It’s also listed on the “Free Patterns” page. It’s been a while since I posted a sock pattern, hasn’t it?

Now I’m down to just one bloggable project, my True Love Stole. Here she is, lounging in my office chair:

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Yes, she accompanied me to work today. I knit on this baby during the morning commute, which was interesting as it was a particularly bumpy train ride. Lace and bumps don’t necessarily mix, so I did exercise some caution.

I also did a few rows during my lunch break, but the stole stayed in its very cute tote bag for the trip home as it was too crowded on the train for me to unfurl it and knit on it.

But if I did, I probably would have gotten some funny looks. 😉

Meanwhile, Lucy is wiggling. While she ponders the wonderment of her existence.

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