I accomplished a lot of knitting this weekend. First of all, I finished my Camp Loopy III project, Brickless:

This is a large piece, 120″ long on the top edge and 20″ deep at the deepest point.

I think it turned out well — I an very happy with the combination of yarn and pattern.

Next up, I completed Clue 1 of the Outlander MKAL . . . but no spoiler pics.

Third, I knit this:

This is the “tongue” of my knitted shoe.

Loki is speechless.

The title of this blog post sums it up. Lately that’s the way I’ve been feeling. I see so many things I want to knit but the pesky day job is really getting in the way of getting a lot of knitting done. Of course, it is the pesky day job that pays for the yarn . . .

Here is my Brickless in progress:

It is in a pile in that photo, but spread out, it is getting very, very long. As I knit it I was having doubts about it, so I took out my iron and steam-blocked the completed portion so I could get an idea of how it would look completed. Much better! This design is knit in strips of lace, garter stitch, and ribbing, so it really needs to be blocked to smooth out the lumps and bumps.

I am very happy with the Mrs. Crosby Carpet Bag yarn, too. It is a lovely soft single-ply silk wool blend. It’s only 20% silk, but feels to me like more. I would have guessed it was a 50/50 blend. It steam-blocked beautifully too. I think a wrap like this is the perfect use for the yarn. It is very soft so seems like to wouldn’t work as well for a fitted garment. I don’t think it would hold its shape in a piece that required structure, or that it would wear terribly well, being so soft.

On Monday, I received this from Jimmy Beans Wool:

This is Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in two special colorways, Beauchamps and Fraser. (Fans of the Outlander series of novels will recognize those names immediately.) This yarn is for the Outlander MKAL that I plan on joining. Yeah, I typically have no interest in joining Mystery Knit-alongs but I looked at the designer’s other work and liked what I saw, so decided to take the plunge. I really love the colors of the yarn.

(The first episode of the new Starz “Outlander” series premiers this Saturday, August 9, but Starz made it available to watch free online and “on demand” last weekend. I watched. I enjoyed. I look forward to more!)

The other day I saw this on Ravelry. I am, of course, now obsessed with the idea of knitting shoes.

My New Knitter

I started my new knitter on the Easy Diagonal Scarf pattern I designed for her first project. Look at how great her knitting looks!

This was done after maybe a week of practicing by knitting a swatch. I’m so proud of her! Look at how even her gauge is! The yarn is some Koigu Kersti that has been marinating in my stash for 10 years or so. She is using a U.S. size 6 needle.

The Loki Report

Loki is featured as the Ragdoll of the Week over at Floppycats.com. Check him out there! Meanwhile, at home, he has a new playhouse.

I purchased it from Amazon.com (it’s this one). It’s made of cardboard and is shipped flat, so you put it together. No glue or tools needed, it’s all tabs and slots. Very cute, and Loki seems to like it. And it is roomy enough for all 13.5 pounds of him to fit easily inside.

It’s August, and that means it is time for Camp Loop project #3! Here’s mine:

This is Brickless, designed by Martina Behm. I am knitting mine from Mrs. Crosby Carpet Bag, a DK weight 80/20 merino/silk blend, in the “Boston Fern” colorway.  I’m using a 4 mm (U.S. size 6) needle.

This wrap is rather oddly shaped. So far it is long and skinny. This got me thinking — when did the asymmetrical triangle become an “accepted” shape for shawls? That is, a pattern where you start out at one side with just a few stitches, and increase as you kit, then bind off when you are out of yarn (basically).

The first one I can remember seeing is Martina Behm’s “Hitchhiker” which was published November 2010. When I first saw it, I wondered why it was so popular — it’s a misshapen triangle, for gosh sakes! But as of this writing it has well over 15,000 projects listed in Ravelry, so clearly people like it.

But I can’t help thinking: pre-internet, say 25 or 30 years ago, would anyone look at this twice? I wonder.

But now, this type of pattern is perfect for a single skein of a beautiful handpainted yarn. Thirty years ago you would have a hard time finding much in the way of handpainted yarn.

I knit a Hitchhiker out of handspun that was a gift from friends. My friend Stacy handpainted the fiber, and Leslie and Laura spun the yarn for me. So it is a precious item to me.

There are many, many scarf and shawl patterns out there now based on this shape. I think another reason for their popularity is that they are pretty easy. For the most part, you don’t need to know a lot of advanced techniques. And they make a great “blank” for experimenting with striping sequences.

What’s the point of all this? No point, really. Just musing on how styles and trends change.

Wee Ones Raffle

Remember Wee Ones, the Etsy purveyor of adorable stitch markers?

Jillian, the amazing artist behind Wee Ones has always been very generous, donating sets of stitch markers for giveaways. Now she needs our help.

In her own words:

I was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer in 2008 when I was 29 years old. At that time it had already metastasized to my liver. I went on to have major surgery and eventually gave birth to my beautiful twin boys in 2010. Since the carcinoid was caught after it had spread, it is now a chronic condition that I will be dealing with for the rest of my life.

We need more funding and research for this rare cancer.

On September 21, participants of the 2014 Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai will take steps to change the odds for patients facing cancer.
The funds raised through the Walk enable leaders at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to apply monies rapidly when promising new research opportunities arise. Your gift enhances the programs and initiatives that serve patients and their families who come to Dana-Farber for its signature “total patient care philosophy.” These gifts provide the most forward thinking form of support.

The money I raise will go directly to fund the neuroendocrine/carcinoid program at Dana Farber.

Jillian’s funding page is here.

But there’s more! Jillian is doing a raffle. She has a great prize pot and anyone who donates at least $5.00 is eligible to win. She is running the drawing through August and will choose a winner on September 1st at random. The WeeOnes Facebook page shows the prizes and includes all the details. If you can possible help, please do so, for one of our own.

Loki!

Loki and I have been celebrating our one year anniversary. When I came home from work on Friday, I found that he had opened a closet door and helped himself to a new feather wand toy. (I keep several new toys on hand at all times so I can replace them as he destroys them.)

Loki sez: “So what?”