knitting, that's it. and "Hi Mom"

I miss her...

2010-02-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

Red Cashmere

2009-03-11T19:37:00.001-07:00

This is the latest project that I've done based on a pattern from an older Interweave (will have to look it up).
the yarn is colormart's...and recycled from the kimono dress from before (if you can't get the motivation for a WIP back again, then take it apart and start something new.....U turns are allowed!)

One Glass of Merlot later....

2008-10-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

One Glass of Merlot
hmmmm... Its been a while, I guess (looking at the dates from my last post here). I have not been knitting much. Life has been quite busy - I work full time for a bank and am going to school full time working on my accounting degree (with grand hopes of passing my CPA right after graduation in the Spring of 2010). I'm currently a junior at UWF but am required to have 150 hours to sit for the CPA (at 90 now). All my midterms are over - survived with A's.

And sometime over the last month I found two sticks (size 10's I think, Holtz and Stein black ebony - glorious sticks!) and some yarn in my "stash" (yeah for stash knitting) and came up with this adorable sweater that knit up in just a couple of days. There's some waist shaping to give me a figure (because I am still a stick figure but definitely a little more curvy than your average pencil now).

The only problem...me and my incredible capacity for self-organization....I wrote the pattern out as I went along....(yes, I can be taught)...but all those little scraps of paper and the backs of the receipts (and maybe some on the back of a piece of homework)....what have I done with them? So pattern to follow at some point in the very near future (if nothing else, I'm definitely making this sweater again....Its perfect for throwing over my work shirts for giving me a little extra warmth now that its starting to get a bit chillier (and my work in Florida insists upon still running the air conditioner).

So details...waist shaping and huge scooping horizontal cable across the shoulders. (Click on one of the photos to see a close up of the cable...its kinda hard to see because of the dark color of the yarn).

check back soon! I promise...there are many more visions of sweaters in my head just waiting to be brought out (just need more time....and maybe a bit of help with these quadratic equations that I'm having to master for algebra class).

One Glass of Merlot

Crest of the Wave from Elann

2007-06-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

Guess what sweater this is? Its Elann's Crest of the Wave (with modifications). I used Debbie Bliss's Cathay, and had to rework quite a lot of the neckline....so technically its not the same sweater, but its close enough (my shoulders are way too narrow for the original pattern specs). I'm experimenting with the pattern again and doing it out of some red hemp right now.

....and then another cake picture. too sweet. This one was for Katie again....for her baby shower!

2007-04-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

I really have been knitting....just painting and working more than knitting. I got two new knitting books from Japan....wow, puts American knitting books to shame as far as elegance. It has not been too hard to read: you just need to be able to read a chart pretty well (all of it is charted)...and its helped to have a friend fluent in Japanese (although she is not an experienced knitter). Is doable though. To get used to the format of the books, I'm making a washcloth for a dishclothe exchange. I know its pretty hard to see the stitch definition in the varigated yarn, but in person, its really pretty.

And the other photos are of a cake I did for someone's birthday at work (Happy birthday Katie!) and the painting is a somewhat abstracted path (can you tell what's going on in it?....and how does it lead you emotionally?).

Its not my birthday anymore....

2007-01-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

Rapunzel

"Yesterday" when I wrote my last post, it was my birthday. That wasn't really yesterday, but when you see what I've knit since then, you'll think so. My yellow sweater, Rapunzel is finished except for the buttons on the opening. What's next? I've picked up the red cashmere dress. Apparently I'm in the mood to finish up my collection of unfinished knitting. This is a good thing.

Regardless, I'm going to try to be back to regular updating. The divorce is now done (December) - the transition has been tough - FRIENDS ROCK! So what's on my plate for the future: school. I'm going back to get that chemistry degree I had dreamed of when I was a teenager.

I enjoyed the entrelac stitch in lady eleanor so much that I'm going to begin a cardigan sweater design using that stitch. Lady Eleanor

Now on to this subject of getting tagged. THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the Â6 weird things about you.Â People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. DonÂt forget to leave a comment that says Âyou are taggedÂ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.Â

1. Years ago, when I was very thin (yes, I used to be ALOT thinner), I thought it was okay (since I was an arteest and arteest can do anything they want to) to wear black turtlenecks (with black pants, black socks, black shoes) everyday...year round. I never had to worry about what to wear. It was so easy. Life was good then...okay, maybe not good...more like, hot (especially in the summer).

2. Utensils are beautiful. Each one is a piece of art. However, each one is not necessarily only reserved for certain functions. I really should stop hiding my favorite morning spoons from the kids to keep them from using them. My favorite has a perfect brushed silver patina, and an elegant sleek arch. (yes, I have mismatched silverware....and I like it that way...that's not weird).

3. I cannot walk with a bare right foot. Since the accident, my right foot hates the feeling of the bare ground. THIS IS WEIRD (nothing else is weird about me). The foot is fine if I have a sock on it or a slipper, just not bare. Consequently, I adore warm thick fuzzy slippers and am known to venture out in my car while still wearing them.

4. I like really strong coffee. Someone once described it as "tar". It has to be made on the stove because coffee pots are only capable of making fish water. Would you like my recipe?

5. My children think I'm a little obsessive over my chair. My chair is my sanctuary. It is my miniature world in which I control all things in. That's not weird. Don't mess with me on my chair...and don't mess with my chair. You do not enter into my chair unless you have my permission.

6. weird...but not to the readers here...I buy yarn...much more than I need. I feel the yarn. I smell the yarn. I have dreams of the yarn. Then I put the yarn under my bed (thus why I have such a tall bed...all the yarn underneath it has elevated it to the point where it is). The yarn is neatly stored in bins (not carefully labeled and organized....that would be weird and indicative of someone with a serious yarn obsession) where I then forget about the yarn that I have so I must go out and buy new yarn for a new project (ie the recent purchase of SWS for the new entrelac sweater I will start this week). Thank God I don't have any other hobbies (painting is NOT a hobby, its a profession, so that stash doesn't count; and shoe collecting is not a hobby, that's for wardrobe enhancement...besides, the shoes are necessary, and they all get used....well, most of them...).

Rapunzel & Lady Eleanor

2006-11-17T06:17:00.000-08:00

This is the story of two fair maidens, Lady Eleanor & Rapunzel, who were left by their caretaker to knit themselves. And what did they do? nothing. The caretaker remembered them in their half finished state and decided to do something. In one day, she got 3 tiers done, or were those tears (I think it was some of both, but that would be the tale of David and Jeanette, who's story is one of tragedy so better for a different forum). Rapunzel will be gotten to. Why such an odd photo? Because she is bare-breasted on her left side(that's all I have left and then the sleeve.....interesting what I've started doing on sleeves....I knit them right on the finished garment so there is no seaming....it works out beautifully, just a bit heavy on the hands as you pick up stitches each row (rather than picking up all at once).

Anonymous Lisa, who left a comment on my last post, yes, I'm doing better, but I must ask: are you the Lisa who used to live her? Or the Lisa....? I'm sorry that I have to ask, but I'm quite curious but cannot email you.

btw: today is my birthday.

Starting Lady Eleanor again

2006-10-24T05:43:00.000-07:00

Its 37 degrees outside in the panhandle of Florida - I am in desperate need of a Lady Eleanor (Scarf Style). I wish I could have her done this morning! This is SWS yarn in Rich Earth I picked up at Micheals yesterday (with my employee discount and a gift card from a fellow artist - I wound up only paying $13 for this yarn out of pocket!). I"M LOVING THE COLOR LENGTH! Its like Noro, only better (cheaper), and it seems to knit with the shine I would expect from a bamboo or silk.

The other photo is progress on my latest design (Rapunzel). I've got the back done up to the armpits and following decreases. Still have the front to do.

2006-10-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

I dissappeared, didn't I? Hi Mom! (and anyone else who happens along).

In an attempt to finance my life (because knitting designers get paid very little relative to the work involved, and most artists are starving), I've taken a job at Michael's and have gotten a promotion. I work there as a Front End Supervisor (originally hired as temporary seasonal help). Its fun and fast paced and I really enjoy meeting the customers and helping them figure out what they need, but it is leaving little time for painting, knitting, and blogging.

The red kimono dress is now a top....I could see that I wouldn't have enough yarn to make it a dress so I bound off and made it a top. Now I keep looking at it and wishing it were a dress....so I'm ordering more cashmere from Colourmart and when it comes in, I'll finish it off. (btw: this is an awesome yarn source for a product that I normally would never be able to afford....this cashmere dress, in the end, will cost me less than $75 USD to make!).

So, on the size 5's now is Debbie Bliss Merino dk in a golden yellow. Yes I realize that I don't have the boobage to pull off that deep of a neckline (it drops to well below the sleeve indent); I'm planning 3 little buttons there for the finishing.

Life is what you make it.
If you find yourself griping, stop. period.
If you find it hard, persevere. They're just rapids and they do subside.
If you find it intolerable, change it up. you are capable of making a better life than what you have.
If you find it remarkable, don't let anyone or anything in life kill your spirit.

Kimono Sweater

2006-09-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

Please check my art blog and the new direct link to my paintings if you are interested in seeing more of my work. I've brought many of my paintings home and they are now available through me.

I am so pleased with how my kimono sweater is coming along. The cashmere has a beautiful hand and drape. Its just going so slow.

Not Your Momma's Knitting - Released book

2006-09-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo of my sweater (Wildflowers Wrap) and its accompaning little wildflower from the just released Heather Dixon's Not Your Momma's Knitting. The book is amazing and filled with beautiful projects like hats (my favorite is one that has little holes in it for pigtails to stick out of), felted laptop case, and an awesome bathrug, as well as beautiful sweaters designed for creative knitting. (Amazon- Not Your Momma's Knitting.

The red sweater is the progress on my latest design done in Colourmart Cashmere DK weight. One side has already been washed of the oil and dried in the dryer so I could see how much shrinkage would occur. The cashmere tends to shrink more vertically - here I didn't get any shrinkage horizontally. The bloom was phenomenol. I wish I could somehow capture in photo the softness of this yarn that comes after the washing process. The bloom could be described as kindof like the thickening of wool yarn after felting, except instead of becoming stiff and rigid, the cashmere because oo-la-la soft and squishy. After seeing how little horizontal shrinkage I got, I've had to frog the back of the sweater and am now redoing it because I don't want to do the pleats in the back. Watch this sweater - its not a wrap!

Red Cashmere

2006-09-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at what's going on design wise. I ordered this cashmere from Colourmart (UK) many months ago and had never had any real firm idea of what it would be. Then with fashion week inspiration, I finally got this going.

Lady Eleanor got put to the side burner.

Starting Lady Eleanor

2006-09-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

I finished my latest design Sunday afternoon and got a chance to wear it yesterday. What an awesome yarn! Its euroflax's opal - lots of spring for the ribs which made the garment hug exactly as it needed to. This sweater will definitely be made again. Any name suggestions for the pattern???

The next work-in-progress is Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style. The yarn is from 100purewool - can't remember the color name. I don't know yet if I'm loving it in this design, however I've always wanted to make Lady Eleanor and I ordered this yarn earlier this year from a co-op for it. The yarn is scrumptiosly soft but the colors in each hank are inconsistent - maybe a trademark of hand dyed yarn (I don't know).

Excitement for me though is that I taught myself yesterday how to knit and purl backwards so that I don't have to keep flipping the project back and forth with each entrelac row (every 8 stitches the scarf has to be turned which I could see greatly slowing down this project).
Thanks Cindy and Maureen for leaving comments!

a new endeavor

2006-09-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I am going to take all these patterns that I write and over the next season, write a book. My vision is that it will somehow cover the beauty of the art of knitting. I'm tired of feeling teensy bits of shame when I'm out in public knitting - like it means that I must be a boring or withdrawn person (um....except that I am more than slightly boring and withdrawn lol!). Maybe writing out my thoughts on why I knit might help me to be able to explain to others about its draw. Knitting is beautiful and it perplexes me still how as I watch each stitch come off of needles that somehow those stitches combine into something incredible that I could never purchase (I'm talking about a lot more than just a sweater or pair of socks....its that inner sense of accomplishment and achievement.).

So here's to life, art and a new book.

Pictured here is my newest sweater pattern. knit from the top down in a pretty chevron pattern. The yarn is Euroflax's Opal.

Don't forget to keep up with me on my art page listed in the sidebar Art in the Open Air.

new art blog

2006-09-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hey, still working on the pattern for the new sweater below (sorry its taking so long).

Mom, (and all), I'm moving all my art related things to a new blog so knitting and art will now be separate. You can click directly to the blog here (Art in the Open Air), and access it through the list of links on the side of this page. Let me know what you think. I'll be adding to the art page what I'm working on and (hopefully) as new paintings come off the easel.

Knitting wise, Heather Dixon has reported to me that the new book, Not Your Momma's Knitting, will be out very soon (mid september). My pattern for the Wildflower's Cardigan will be in there. Not Your Momma's Knitting.

2006-08-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

just the update. it may be a little bit before i post the sweater pattern.

mom: rough day. i had my first crash on the new bike...ran into the side of my car (oh, lovely). the car is dented on two doors (not horrid, but enough), and the bike, though not even a scratch, wouldn't start (please someone tell me i didn't do something to the engine). my next door neighbor and her daughter helped me get the bike up and then the daughter volunteered to go to the store to get us some cokes. as she pulled from the neighborhood, she was struck by a high speed car that she didn't see approaching. the force caused her car to roll (we're not sure how many times). we could hear the impact from my driveway and we knew it was her. her lower back is broken.

very rough day. good night all.

UpDATE TO THE CONDITION: I spoke witht the family thursday night. Her back is not fractured according to the radiologist but has a contusion on it.

New Sweater....again.

2006-08-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

New Sweater

The pattern will be soon coming. Its done in Rowen's Tapestry yarn - a wool and soy blend on size 7 needles. For the size xsmall it took just barely over 3 skeins of yarn. This yarn was a pleasure to knit with. I loved its striping patterns, and that anywhere I needed to break the yarn (like to control the colors), I could spit splice easily.

new design coming along

2006-08-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

she's going to be a halter top. This is the back. It will be lined in something satiny when the front is done. It will also have straps. The front will have the same lace patterns and the top front will have the cupy whatevers at the top with maybe its own shelf bra (crossing fingers that I can pull it off....I think I can under the drapey stuff pretty easily).

I Can't Get Anymore Behind

2006-08-03T12:03:00.001-07:00

Waves of GrainI started knitting a lace sweater pattern from an old Sandra magazine....got about 1/2 way up the backside and decided that I wasn't enjoying the knit. So I frogged it. Now I'm working on Waves of Grain from an old summer Vogue (see photo). I obvously haven't gotten very far.

I did finish the little summer tankini top from July 15 (when I was knitting on the lazy river at the water park/July 15th entry.) Way cute on! I did it in the cotton/elastic yarn from Elann and while I find the elastic obnoxious to knit with, I love the feel of the finished garment.

Hyrna may be headed for the frogpond as well. I don't have the mental energy to figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Thank you those who have left encouragement. I keep promising myself that I'll have time to thank you all properly....and then the next thing I know, I'm late again.

Drop spindling (is that how its spelled?)

2006-07-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

This is my new painting from the weekend created off of a stained glass work I saw recently. I'm sure that some of you can figure out what she is doing. And guess what??!!! I learned to do it! I learned to ply on a drop spindle. Its very slow work but it feels so personally satisfying. When I finally finish plying, even though I didn't spin the yarn, the work is going to feel so much more special. I'm not sure that I would ever want to learn to spin like on a spinning wheel, but this was a big start for me. I'm plying together some laceweight singles of silk and cashmere in a buff and shell pink color.

Classes with the children are going exceptionally. This week I'm having them do study's on wildflower fields following Monet's examples. They have struggled hard with the technique yet have produced some beautiful work.

Amazing Lace Challenge No. 4

2006-07-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

Herborgar Sushi
Amazing Lace Challenge #4

IF I were to de-needle my lace project (Hyrna Herborgar) NOW, what would I relegate her to instead?

SUSHI.

I'm still tinking back trying to find my stitch count error. please be somewhere near. I'm now back to row 64 and its not appearing. I'm frustrated beyond belief and the sushi idea is looking more and more palatable.

Grecian Tank

2006-07-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

Grecian Tank

Supplies
1 hank Fleece Artist Kasula (100% kid mohair, dk weight) or dk weight hand painted wool yarn (something with plenty of natural elasticity) (I used about half of my hank of Kasula)
Alternative yarn: 3 skeins dk weight yarn such as Dream Baby or approximately 600-700 yards.
Overlay: 1 hank angel curls or complimentary kid mohair or other laceweight yarn(laceweight type) (you don’t need very much)

Needles: size 4.5 mm, size 5.0 mm, 6.0mm. and size 7.0mm (all European sizes/use American equivalents) Circulars 24” (or something about that….you will be using the circular sizes for the overlay, and if you prefer to just add stitches every 3 inches to allow for fit, then you don’t have to keep graduating up in size until midway when you need to switch to a larger needle for airiness in the fabric).

you will also need a separate needle to hold back stitches on.

Guage: on 2x2 rib, 3 inch square =12 stitches on 19 rows.
Sizes are for small/medium(34-35”); and medium/large (38-40”).

Special Stitch Patterns:

Half of a Porcupine Stitch: (12x +4)
Row 1: k2, (yo, k2tog) rep across row; end k2.
Row 2: K2, purl across row; end k2
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: K2, purl across row; end K2
Row 5: K2, (sl1/k2tog/psso, K4, yo, K1, yo, K4) repeat across row; end k2
Row 6: K2 (p3tog, p4, yo, p1, yo, p4) repeat across row; end k2.
Row 7: K2, (p3tog, p4, yo, p1, yo, p4) repeat across row; end K2
Row 8: K2 (sl1/k2tog/psso, K4, yo, K1, yo, K4) repeat across row; end k2

Rib pattern: (every row begins with 1 slipped stitch, purlwise with yarn in back)
Row 1, 3: k2, p2
Row 2, 4, 6: knit the knit stitches; purl the purl stitches
Row 5: following rib pattern, except for knit stitches, Knit through the back loop of 2nd knit stitch (do not slide off needle), then knit first knit stitch; slide both stitches off needle; purl the purl stitches

Back: Cast on 76 (88) Follow stitch pattern for 8 repeats. Switch to Rib pattern. Do one full repeat.

On next 2 rows, beginning on a Row 2, bind off 5 (6) keep to rib pattern for duration of rows.
On next 2 rows, (Row 4 and 5), bind off 3 (4) by slipping first stitch knitwise (rather than knitting it) and proceed with bo passing first slipped stitch over next stitch and continuing then for regular bo stitches. 60 (68) stitches.

Decrease one stitch each side on every right side row by slip1, k2tog on left side, end ssk. K1. until 50 (60) stitches remain on needle
Continue in Rib pattern until arm shaping is 4 inches (4 ½ inches). place all stitches on a separate needle; make front following same instructions as for back.

When both sides are knit to this point, you are ready to knit them together as follows:
First lightly steam the lace portion – NOT THE RIBBING – stretching lengthwise.

Beginning on Left Front edge, place marker; follow pattern across to Right Front edge, turn; cast on provisionally 27 (29), turn; attach back as follows: slip 27th (29th) stitch to left needle and knit together with first stitch of Right Back edge; follow rib pattern as established across to Left Back edge. Turn, provisionally cast on 27 (29), turn. Attach to front by slipping first stitch of right front onto left hand needle and knitting it together with the 27th (29th) cast on stitch to join round. Working now in the round, continue twisted rib pattern around entire sweater for 1 more complete row.

Row 3: Work to 4 (6) stitches past Right Back Shoulder (RBS). Turn, twisting yarn between two stitches (to twist yarn in: slip stitch from rt needle to left, bring yarn to front; slip stitch back to rt needle without knitting, catching yarn between stitches). Work 4 (6) + 26 (28) + 4 (6) stitches in rib pattern towards Right Front Shoulder (RFS). Turn; twist yarn in. Place marker. **Work back across to RBS marker, remove marker, work 2 more stitches, turn/twist yarn in. pm. Work back to RFS marker, remove marker, work 2 additional stitches, turn/twist yarn in, pm, ** 2x, removing markers on 2nd time. Work across right shoulder to Left Front Shoulder (LFS) marker, remove marker, work 4 (6) additional stitches; turn/twist yarn in, place marker. Work to Left Back Shoulder (LBS) + 4 (6) stitches; turn/twist yarn in, place marker. ** Work back to LFS marker, remove marker, work 2 additional stitches, turn/twist yarn in, pm; Work back to LBS to marker, remove marker, work 2 additional stitches; turn/twist yarn in, pm ** 2x. Work around to LFS, then work one complete row across all stitches following rib pattern.
(If not doing the overlay, then bo all stitches following in rib).
break yarn (leaving tail in for weaving in later).

Seam front and back at sides, INCLUDING seaming the first 5 bind off stitches of arm shaping (this creates a mock ease type element).

Overlay (optional):
Attach angel curls (or other laceweight type yarn) to last stitch and proceed with knit stitch only. Work so the knit side will face the WS of the body. Knit in the round for 1 inch; switch to 5.0 needles and continue for 3 inches. Switch to size 6.0 for 3 inches. Switch to size 7.0 for 3 more inches. (the knit side will be facing the inside of the sweater so that when you are done, the knit side will fold over and be seen on the outside).
Attach Kasula yarn and knit with the 7.0 for 1 row in a k2, p2 rib. Switch to size 5.0 needles and knit for 1 row following established rib. On third round, BO in rib.
Weave in all ends.
Tack overlay with hidden stitches onto shoulder shaping on both sides.

Straps: (optional)
With crochet hook and kasula doubled, attach yarn to just under top edge, 8 stitches in from armhole under the overlay. Chain 28 stitches. Attach to back 1 row under top edge on the body side, 6 stitches in from arm hole, with a slip stitch. Firmly weave yarns in catching the overlay so that it will not fall to reveal the chain connection. Do this on both sides.
If you cannot crochet, then do a 3 stitch I cord using only 1 strand of kasula and attach in the same places.

If you love my free patterns, you can encourage me to write more by leaving a note of thanks in the comments. I see them and it helps me to know that there is interest.

Email me if you have questions or have photos of your finished sweater.

Copyright. Please Do NOT duplicate without permission from the writer.
Jeanette Sherritze May 1, 2006
sherritzej@cox.net
http://knittinginsteadofhousework.blogspot.com/

The Lazy River of Life

2006-07-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

I went to a water park with my daughter and granddaughter. I'm not a big "don the swimsuit and jump down the massive slide" person. I prefer those intertubes on the lazy river. Here I am living it up.....I'm crocheting! This is the life!
And what am I crocheting????
Why a bathing suit of course!

And then there was art class. I'm teaching a new student. This young lady has a learning disability of some sort, but WOW! Look at this work she did today....you need to click on her photo to see her sketch better. She drew from a Henri Matisse work.
student art work

I taught two classes today, leaving the house about 8:15 this morning and not finishing up until 3:00 this afternoon. Teaching as I do drains me, but I love it so much. I came home and napped for a bit and then worked somemore on my new painting.

Happy Bastille Day!

2006-07-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Bastille
Tomorrow, July 14, is a significant day in French history. The storming of the Bastille. I don't know the entire history as a French person would, but I believe that it was when a prison run by the state was overrun by the French peasantry who had couragously challenged a dictorship style government. This painting represents that courage and will to fight for change and human rights. The butterfly wing represent s freedom; the lionness (in outline form all in the bottom 1/2 of the painting) represents courage, which we need to challenge any of our own old regimes, and Lady Victory heralds the way to remind me/them/us that it can be done with perseverence.

10 days since my last blog update. what's up?
-Hyrna is being tinked back to row 64. I have an error and can't find it. My stitch counts are different on each side of center, so all I know to do is to go back to where I know it was right before (here, we can ask why I don't have lifelines.).

-The sweater design for Vickie Howell is MOMENTS from being done. An edge stitch down the front and weave in some ends. Then I just need to do some multiple sizing calculations, and she's off in the mail! YAY ME!

-My son's karate teacher has been begging me to design a dog sweater for his Golden Retriever. BEGGING. PESTERING. (he's sweet, and gives my son a lot of extra attention.....like tonight when he punched him in the face!). So, not that I don't have anything else on the needles, I cast on 142 stitches. I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing except a creamy off white color and a big cable. Nothing petite for this size dog.

My oldest daughter and granddaughter
are here visiting for the week. Isn't she beautiful! I've already started a painting of her (playing on the beach).

Crocheted Soap Sack

2006-07-05T13:50:00.005-07:00

(The pattern for the dishclothe can be found at this site. Its called Snowdrop lace 2. )

Cute little soap sack serves as a perfect accompaniment with dishclothes to make a snazzy gift.

Soap Sack

Materials
Euroflax linen or appropriate sportweight strong yarn like Elann's Canapone (double stranded), about .20 grams
Size B steel crochet hook

Row 1 and Round 2: Ch 54. Tdc in ch 49, ch 2, (Sk 2, in next ch, tdc; ch 2)18 times to last ch, ending after the tdc; join to ch 51 of first round being careful not to twist circle.

Round 3: ch 1, sc in each stitch to last ch. Sl st to first sc to join round.

Round 4: ch 2, dc in first sc; ch 4, *sk 4 sc, in next sc: (sc, ch 7)3x, sc; ch 4, sk 4 sc, in next sc, dc * (repeat between *s); to end, replace dc with sl st in top of first dc of this round to join.

Round 5: ch 1, * sc in top of dc, ch 1; (sc in ch 7 sp, ch 3) 2x, sc in ch 7 sp, ch 1 * (repeat between *s); to end round, sl st in top of dc.

Round 6: ch 1, sc in sl st; ch 7, sc in sc; *ch 4, dc in sc at top of 2nd ch 7 sp, ch 4, sk ch 3 sp, sc, ch 1; in next sc (top of dc): (sc, ch 7)3x, sc; * (repeat between *s); to end round, after dc: ch 4, in sc at start of round: sc, ch 7, sc, ch 4, tdc. SEE ALTERNATIVE DIRECTIONS FOR LAST REPEAT OF ROUND 6.

Round 7: ch 1, sc in top of tdc, ch 3, sc in next ch 7 sp, *ch 1, sc in top of sc over dc, ch 1, (sc in ch 7 sp, ch 3)2x, sc in ch 7 sp* (repeat between *s); to end round, after sc, in sc (at top of dc), ch 1, sc in ch 7 sp, ch 3, sl st in first sc of this round. SEE ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS FOR LAST REPEAT OF ROUND 7.

Repeat rounds 4-7 for a total of 8 rows.

ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS FOR LAST REPEAT OF ROW 6 & 7:
Last Repeat of Round 6: to end round, after dc, ch 3, in sc at start of round, sc, ch 4, tdc.
Last Repeat of Round 7: Position sack so that it lays flat and ch 7 loops lay over each other and dc's lay over each other forming a front and back of soap sack. Seam bottom by: ch 1, join ch 7 loop and tdc loop with one sc, ch 1, *join next front and back sack side dc's with a sc at top of dc, ch 1, (join next front side ch 7 loop with corresponding back side ch 7 loop with sc in ch 7 sps, ch 3,)2x, join next front side ch 7 loop with corresponding back side ch 7 loop with sc in ch 7 sps, ch 1,* finish row in this manner, ending with sc in last dc.

Make cord: ch 90. sc in each stitch. Put soap inside bag. thread cord through top of sack like lacing a corset.

What am I doing?

2006-07-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

You must look at this absolutely mind boggling correction on the Hyrna Herborgar that Yarn Harlot recently reported on! Yarn Harlot Where have I been??? I didn't know you could do that. Next mistate, I'm not frogging (yeah, right, never in a million years would I try that lace correction....I'll start over again with 8006.)

I NEED to be working on my sweater for Vickie Howell. I did about an hour and a half this morning, but I'm way behind schedule and I promised it for June. I'm guessing I have about 6-8 more crocheting hours on this project. Then I need to finalize the pattern and make size adjustments (that process takes me a few days).

I also need to finish up a beautiful linen washclothe for the knit dischclothe exchange group. (worked diligently on that for a few hours last night.
Snowdrop Faceclothe and Gems Merino Opal Yarn

Despite linen being harder on the hands that cashmere, it is still my favorite yarn....yet, my linen love will be challenged soon by hemp. I have less than 24 hours to decide what color I want from Elann's new hemp collection. Tomorrow, July 4th, at EXACTLY 9:00Pacific Standard Time, it will be released. (that link will only work today, cuz the link is for the sneak preview page). I can't decide between the colors: warm sand, scallop shell, bittersweet, and/or green tea. The problem is that I don't need more yarn. Why? Because I participated in a coop order of hemp/wool blend that I should be getting the shipping quote on anyday now; I also recently (like Wednesday last week) ordered linen from Wildstring.com's sale. The linen's are Oriental Grass (the salmon & cream) and cedarwood.(I know, shameless yarn porn!)(btw: this came in today's mail....that's some fast shipping she does! She's definitely getting repeat business from me.) Plus, I already have two other colors of Euroflax linen in my stash (the stash that I have acquired 2006, not 2005 - I forget what's in that one.). Regardless, like an addict who needs a major fix, I'm ordering the hemp from Elann tomorrow. don't tell my husband.

And Hyrna. Poor neglected thing. The project which I most want to be doing, but has the least ranking in the current projects. Well, that's not entirely truthful: I did buy some Euroflax Gems Opal in an incredible aqua color on Saturday from my local LYS (we gotta support them if we want to prevent knitting from going down a path to obscurity....its for the preservation of our very society that I bought it!). So since the Gems Opal hasn't been started, it technically has a much lower ranking than Hyrna (although there is nothing sweeter than new yarn!)(....okay, except chocolate.).(let me clarify the chocolate: DARK chocalte. really dark. like Godiva chocolates. mmmmm! I think I need some of those, too!).

Razzle Dazzle 'Em

2006-06-30T19:50:00.001-07:00

What does a knitter blog about when she's working on a shawl, and the photo of today's work doesn't look much different than the one from two day's ago (or whenever it was I last blogged)? In the words of the song from my favorite musical to movie production, "Razzle Dazzle 'em!"

So here's Hyrna, we're now up to row 62 (progress past the last point from whence I frogged the entire thing)....THIS IS REALLY THE FURTHEST I"VE GOTTEN TO DATE WITH THIS SHAWL! Its getting exciting for me), photographed artistically with one of my favorite necklace creations. (its turquiose and swarovski crystals. the front is seed beads and crystals that are woven into the medallion shape). No, I didn't just make the necklace today, but I did find it after it has been lost for several months!

I didn't take photos of the kids' art classes this week. Its been exciting though....lots of hard core work. So I'll tell you what happened: I had two classes of 5 year old's successfully accomplish drawings using single point perspective! (thunderous rounds of applause should be heard resounding around the world). I couldn't believe they actually were getting it! Each of them in tonight's class drew cities around a train track that we used the single point perspective technique. And then they were allowed to create their own little cities - only rule was they had to use the same vanishing point (which is quite easy to do for anyone who knows what this all means, but think of this in a 5 year old's intellect). I wish I could convey to you the depth of self-pride they had when their parents came in and they showed them their drawings - and the amazements on parent's faces. I love my job! It is the single most rewarding job in all my busynesses (yes, that was the correct word).

tomorrow morning, my son will be testing for his green belt in karate! It starts at 7:00 am with a 3 mile run, then push ups (like in the hundreds), stretches, demonstrations of technique perfecttions....its going to be awesome and I'm going to be there watching (and knitting, I don't need to watch him run and do push ups for an hour and a half). He's an awesome kid! He's fought hard in life to be who he is - completely deaf in one ear, auto immune disordered, 14 but petite like a 2nd grader, bullied, ....I put him in karate and suddenly none of that mattered anymore. He's strong and carries himself with confidence now. He was in a hard battle with depression, and now look at him! You better bet I'll be there supporting him!

Someone (RHO) asked me about the shingles. they are now managed. I had no idea how serious this infliction could be and can't imagine having to go through it and older than i am. I wear a lido derm patch during the day (12 hours max) and Neurotin at night (can't take it in the day). No more darveset or atarax. Its not gone, but definitely much better. People are starting to tell me that I look better. I was pretty ragged looking last month.

Okay....all the boring reading stuff over. You may now return to your regularly scheduled "Whose Line Is It Anyway" (I love the dynamics in that group!)....and wasn't So You Think You Can Dance? awesome this week! (btw: don't try to knit on Hyrna while watching tv. )

Hyrna Herborgar progress & art

2006-06-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

lacey shingles cardigan without the drawstring
Lacey Shingles is now done. I've worn her all week both with the drawstring and without, and I'm thinking that I like her both ways. Do you have a preference.

Things are settling down medically at least for the family, although it seems I'm in forced high drive. All the basics are still being met, so I'm happy: time to teach, and time to knit.

After much struggle, even finding the meaning of the words, I just couldn't go on with Hyrna whilst looking back at all the mistakes I made. So I de-needled her (took the needles out) and frogged her yesterday morning. Tonight, I am in the exact same place as I was pre-frog, but without errors. The first time just worked out all the bugs and got me warmed up to her. Now I feel at least able to introduct her by, "Her royal highness, Hyrna Herborbar." Ms. Hyra Herborgar She's going well now, error free this time (knock on wook).

And my teachings: Last weekend the older students studied a work by Mary Cassett and did pencil drawings based on one of the girls Cassatt painted combing her hair. I thought they did a phenomenol job. Its tough to photograph pencil drawings so I'm posting two.
One of My favorite students

More student work

These are the wee ones! So sweet and so talented. The artschool wants me to open up a third clss to teach them (because there is a long waiting list and kids are having to be turned away). I haven;t decided yet. Right now, I have to remember, that my primary living source is not teaching, or knitting, but painting, and gallery sales. And I've got to meet with a gallery on Thursday this week with at least three paintings done. (uh.....they don't come out of this air). I worked on one today, but don't have a photo. anyway. they are wonderful, these children!
The 5-6 year old group

Amazing Lace Challenge No. 3

2006-06-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

In Shakesperean Chant (rant)

Hyrna Herborgar

Mijda, oh Mijda
What name go thee by in the vernacular of the king?
If, not in knowing,
I wouldeth some way to slight thee,
what then would thoust vegeance bring?
Hyrna, the Herborgar, is fair and of a beauty I wishest for,
and your righteous scorn I surely hopeth not
fall upon her innocence.
It is I, sole and alone,
yet please not in choosing,
who holds the needles in guilt.
I begeth thee to look with mercy
upon my humbled fingers
and impart the wisdom thou doth solely possess to my frail mind.
My needle awaiteth your words.
(pause. longeth.)

Ho! What yonder in the distance comes to my side?
"Mijda! Reveal yourself!," I implore.
As she removes her golden cloak,an Icelandic finery,
I see her displeasured face.
She looketh upon my foolishness contemptiously,
her needle she raiseth and poketh me in my idiot eye.
"I am Mijda, and Hyrna I will not surrender to thee until thoust has answered my name's riddle.
Yet since thoust possesseth the brain of an impervious slug
and thine countanence is painful to endure,
I will telleth thee outright.
This chaos you knit is not worthy even for dishrags.
In thoust 8003 attempts before,
why thee waste me in the row's endeth,
yet continue in same manner to 8004?
Somehow wilt these knots magically transform?
Doth thou really seeth not thine own problem which lies open for all
and thus belies the extent of disease which resides between thy ears?
Remove me from her and expect not her beauty,
For I am her essence,
Thoust cannot have her without me.
I am neither at her head nor her feet, but in her heart.
No, wee knitter, place me not in her rows at the beginning or endeth;
I am Mijda, and my name quite obviously defined means middle,
and that, whacketh thee head, is the answer to my riddle.

Official Details: Hyrna Herborgar is a lace shawl from "Three Cornered and Long Shawls" (Schoolhouse press) and my second entry in the summmer Amazing Lace KAL. I have been fruitlessly trying to knit her, despite the book being primarily in Norwegian with pathetic English translations. I am following a chart, which symbols are adequately defined, except for a few Norwegian words.....like Mijda. This morning, suddenly, it hit me, why I have not been able to get even up to Row 8, without having to start over again. I seriously stopped counting how many times I've been trying to start this shawl. Tonight's attempt should work much better.

Finishitus

2006-06-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

Major Problem. Look at this thing. Look closely....there at the right sleeve. Yea - thats it. I'm stuck. I CAN'T finish the sweater. Lacy Shingles Sweater

Now I just need to find that final way past finisher's block and do it. Instead, I've been napping this afternoon. (I did teach my advanced art class this morning).

Doctors and Extreme Kntting

2006-06-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is a true story. The names of the characters involved have not been changed so to fully impact the reader with the consequences of drug behavior. Drugs aren't pretty. And neither are doctors who prescribe them. In fact, Dr. Payne is not a pretty man at all. He prescribed all this medicine. He KNEW I was knitting, yet he still prescribed them. I knit in his office and he could see that what he was doing bordered on insanity. Yet he still handed me the drugs and told me to call him next week if its not enough. I had to take them....because compliance to military medical doctors is required. the new teammates
He gave me drugs. Lots of them. Its for the shingles (the darth vador march plays loudly in the background)... and its accompanying post herpatic storm troopers. These guys are deadly, cruel and viscious. They get on your nerves and try to take you down cell by cell, leaving you as a mindless zombie to follow the will of the Emperor of the Dark Side, who wants to stop the ALKAL, and all knitting throughout the universe.

Dr. Payne said the only way to fight them off is to give them the medicine to repell them. The risks were great. He warned me that I may not be able to knit (function) on them. Even though it would make knitting more difficult, I just can't let the Emperor and his nerve agents turn me from what I know has to be done. I'll fight. I'll take the medicines the doctor gave me. I must kill the enemy nerve agents. Neurotinin, Lidrodermpatch somethingorother, Darveset, Atarax, Clonepin, and Ambien CR, its time to work. But something goes wrong - I quickly realize that I could be unconscious in a matter of moments. I can't feel my hands (or my feet which seem tohave fallen into a state of paralysis. I think we wont try to do those sequential steps we call walking, tonight. I'll call in one of the jedi knights to bring me my tea). Mu-s-t Fi-gh-t to s-t-a-y aw-ayyy-ke.

I know the mission. The sleeve must get done in order to save the Republic, the ALKAL. The whole integrity of the ALKAL rests on getting this mission done - because tomorrow is a different mission of much greater importance (I have to teach art to 5 year olds). Why are there 3 sets of needles in my sweater. Which is the sleeve? OOOH pretty little tweety birds - they're not suppossed to be here. That doctor - did I check his credentials or background? Was he from the dark side...a secret agent of the Emperor? He's not going to thwart my mission. I've knit in tougher places before. This is going to require me to go into Extreme Knitting mode. I have to simulate from two charts with different row counts, 8 and 13, to come up with sleeve edging (heavy gunfire is heard in the background, the storm troopers have broken through the seal on the hatch and I'm hiding in one of the egg modules (my chair). Get over here Quinacridone and Shingles. Gidget! Mona! I need all reinforcements to the bridge NOW. Reinforcements
"The doctor must have been Darth Vador wearing human clothes. I'm pretty sure of it. We still need to somehow attach this arm to the body of the bodice. Gidget, you're the one to do it! The force is stong in you. You're going to have to lick my face and see if that will release enough serotonin that I can get my hands to work. That blank empty stare told me she could handle it.

It was about 4 hours later, and we could relax finally. The evil drugs did not prevent me from getting the knitting done.

Mission Accomplished. We saved the ALKAL.

arm
I think its pretty mindboggling that I could knit, much less design a cashmere cardigan while enduring a severe case of shingles. I deserve a comment for that.

Oh, and I’m calling her Lacey Shingles Cardigan...for obvious reasons.

Amazing Lace Update

2006-06-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Lace Cardigan
The challenge for this week in the Amazing Lace KAL is to post on extreme knitting. You know, for a person who isn't always "all-there", I can't think of an extreme knitting example. I thought about climbing up on top of our roof and knitting up there for a while - you know, on the shingles, since I have shingles (sorry, bad joke). But I still hurt too much (whine) to go climb up on the housetop. So here's my photo, and the thought of my extreme knitting.....because, after all, isn't it the thought that counts?

By the way, there was an upset on the team this week. I predicted that Shingles would get cast off first, but somehow he's still here. Pink Diva Bear, though, wasn't so lucky. She's officially been thrown off. Her constant ranting about fashion trends kept causing doubt and confusion and hesitation for the rest of the team and nothing could get done. I couldn't knit with her, so I made an executive producer choice (as Nigel said he could make on the last episode of "So You Think You Can Dance" - yes I watch it!!!!) and she was outta here. With cashmere, you just gotta do what you love, and not worry about how long it will be in fashion. I hope the best for you, Pink Diva Bear. You're good, you just gotta figure out that you can't be trying to please the world when the world is constantly changing. Stop worrying so much about what's in and out, and start thinking about what you love and want. Be you! Its your most flattering look and will lead you into a much more satisfying direction in life.

Lace and Little Ones

2006-06-05T18:18:00.000-07:00

Lace cardigan
Dancers
I'm slowly getting better, while making tons of progress on my cashmere lace cardigan. The design has taken some major changes: I decided that I did not want it to wrap, but it will close in the front as a traditional cardigan. I'm loving this yarn!

I also got notified by Vickie Howell that the Linen corset top (the white one done in Euroflax and crocheted) has been accepted for her book "Catwalk Crochet" to come out in 2007. I'm excited! I really wanted to see this pattern published!

And even though I've not been able to paint much, I did finish this commission piece for the Ballet Conservatory of NorthWest Florida. I love little dancers!

Shingles are still here, but today has been my first no-muscle-spasms day! Its been nice. I haven't had to take any pain medicine. First day since this all started! Maybe I'm finally getting better.

Thank you everyone for being so kind and sending me well wishes!

Poor Mona

2006-06-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

Mona
I think I know what she was feeling today when she carefully picked her little fluffy bunny toy up and carried it up onto the window table, set it on the window sill, and then laid her head down on top of the rabbit. She needed a pillow. It was raining outside and there was nothing else to do but look out and watch the raindrops fall. If you look carefully in the photo you can see her little rabbit. I think that if Mona were a knitter, she would want angora.

I'm in a lot of pain. I see why people get depressed when they have shingles. I just can't get away from the pain. The doctor upped the darveset (pain med) and tomorrow I'm going back in to see them. I've got a big bumper crop of them coming out. This just seems more like the actual chicken pox than shingles. My back is covered in them and I'm so fatigued. amazing lace KAL
I'm attempting still to knit. This is my next design project. I was going to do it with diagonal lines, but I couldn't concentrate enough. And tonight I'm ready to frog the whole thing and just forget it.

My art kids
On a pleasant note: I got this photo emailed to me from the artschool I teach at. Its one of my 5 year old classes. They did those bears free hand! Its so personally rewarding to see these kids as they learn the techniques of art and are proud of their works. They are an awesome group and one of my major sources of energy.

Ribbons Unraveled

2006-05-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

To cure shingles: P5tog dropping all extra loops

2006-05-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

The shingles have me down for the count and it looked like they were winning when I found that I couldn't even follow a very basic stitch pattern.

But AH HA! If this is a game, I just scored a point. I took on a much harder lace stitch and am making it into a tank top (same shape as the unnamed pink one below), which meant that I had to do increases in the lace stitch as well.....this is one of those drop extra loops and purl 5 together jobbers. I'm gettin' her done! The focus helps distract me from the pain and itch. I don't want to take the darvaset more than once a day.

Now I know the thing looks like a puking of color, but in person, its not so bad. It would be worn with a solid color (like bright blue or bright pink) tank underneath, and the lower bodice will be done in something much more airy so you'll see more of that color. I'm pleased so far.

The coffee is wonderful this morning. I can taste it!

The Amazing Lace

2006-05-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

The Team
Rough Sketch
The full team is available. Jeanette is the one in the middle trying to sleep despite having a rather severe case of shingles. In her hand is the vallium she'll need to get through this. And then all the consultants, Barbara Walker, Quinacridonemagenta (the purple bear), Shingles (the fuzzy bear), pooh bear, pink bear who is the fashion expert, Mona bear (the black cocker, she's really Mona Lisa), and Gidget. Gidget is clueless about what is going on, but that's okay. Malteses have very tiny brains, like Pooh Bears, but they give lots of love and encouragement. Oh, can't forget the cashmere....that's a cone of dk weight from Colourmart. It has a name, but I can't remember it right now.

The title of the blog should give you some clue as to who or what I am. I am a highly dysfunctional phscho fiber artist who happens to paint....and who happens to have a bad case of the shingles right now. (The shingles will be voted off the team as soon as possible, no one is liking him right now and he keeps causing horrific muscle spasms across my ribcage. He's definitely on my last nerve.). BTW: Even though I am an artist and I COULD draw all the little holes and stitches, I'm going to be one of those minimalist arteests right now and let you imagine leaf shadows and rosebuds.

No Ideas

2006-05-27T05:22:00.000-07:00

I've just finished this little mesh tank out of Blue Sky cotton - very soft cotton - and I am so uncreative this morning as far as names. Please give suggestions if you got one.

I got something. You know all these surgeries and broken bones I've been enduring over the last six weeks with my family? I'm now the recipient of a stress related outbreak of shingles. It is painful. Cry.

The exhibit reception I had to go to last night was almost as painful. I hate these things because I'm so shy - I am mentally unable to mingle. They made me put on a name tag so people would be able to identify me (but what if I prefer obscurity and anonominity, or however its spelled?). It was a reception for a professional group of Plein Aire artists - so I wasn't the only artist there. There were like 8 of us. Anyway, about 45 minutes after I got there, I snuck out the side door and never returned. I went to a coffee shop, got a chai, and knit (the little mesh tank above).

Life. Ain't it fun? I don't like the shingles.

By George, the girl can knit!

2006-05-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

I finished the other linen top and love it. This one fits a bit (a way bit) looser than the white one I did last week and is primarily knit, yet with a crocheted decorative seam treatment. I'm calling it "Bias Linen Top" . very original. its knit on the bias, its linen, and its a top.

Hey, how you liking that tan....its real, earned the old fashioned way - working out in the sun.....except today, I'm 3/4 of the way done with a painting being done at a PUBLIC park, the Chamber of Commerce had just come and taken my photo (because they thought it would be a good promotional photo), then this security guy shows up from nowhere on this two wheeled upright motorized wheeled thing and tells me, "Artists aren't allowed to paint here. Only at the rest stops and the swimming holes." (and anywhere else we try to hide away the lowly scum of the earth). So I didn't get to finish my painting.

Freaky Offspring Photo
When one can't paint, then one must knit. I found a half skein of some blue sky cotton (yummy yummy) in pale pink and started on another lacey tank. I swear I'm going to write a book of all these designs and call it, "How Many lacey tanks does a Florida girl need?" Its being knit from the top down and is so far following Barbara Walker's Roman Stripe from Book II. BTW: The Walker treasuries are must have books for every knitter. I only have vol. 2 & 3. I want 1 next.

start of another linen top

2006-05-22T04:48:00.000-07:00

Readying for the Performance
This is a rarity for me - I don't like doing commissions anymore in art, but I'm enjoying seeing this one come out. The little redhead is so cute!

Linen Bodice
so what am I doing for me? Knitting up another summer linen bodice! I am over half done with this design and I'm still on my first skein. I can see that it will break into the second skein, but not by much. I'm just showing you it pinned on the dressform, she's not seamed yet, and I still have part of the back to do and one more section in the front, but you can see the what's going on.

Trees at Mullet Festival SiteAnd here's one for all the super-shy-but-its-that-time of the year again - I hate the church Picnic - types! I get so uncomfortable at large going ons. I'm just innately shy. Innate - is that the right word??? But my husband, mister social butterfly, loves these things, and really likes to go. So this is where I was yesterday: in my own little world. I brought my paints and easel and set up on the outskirts of the group. This canopy of trees looked so sheltering and cool on a warm afternoon. It was fun to paint. My husband came by and was like, "you moved some of the trees." Artists can do that.

2006-05-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

A Forest of Trees
We're posting pics today because I'm not very talkative. (Us menatlly ill get this way....as Billie Joel says, "Don't worry, I'll be fine while I'm gone."
I went from 6:00 am to 7:30 pm yesterday driving husband to eye specialist (hour drive away....we're doing that again today), getting home to pick up son to take him to orthopedics (got a new cast yesterday, What's beneath the caste...the better side
so I took photos of what was underneath....I know, I'm sick.), daughter to band practice, son to karate, painted under the trees for an hour while waiting on him, then finally home late last night. Knitting up two storms
The red cashmere is what I knit yesterday; it was going to be the Mimosa Sweater from Interweave, but I already have a different vision....right now its just in back shaping. The Coral linen is the right shoulder start of a bias top. And then there's the painting. I poured. Butterfly Pouring...wet paint
It felt good....that WILL BE a butterfly and third in the series on the Pilgrimage Journey. The other is one I've been playing around with all week. Today, more doctor appts. I should get paid for driving as much as I do.

and to boot it all....my cd player fried in a lightning storm we had here Sunday night. I can't listen to my new cd: KT Tunstell (or something like that....the one with the song about the black horse and cherry tree).

A Quiet Place on Mother's Day

2006-05-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Gazebo at Destiny Lake on an early Summer evening
After babysitting the husband all day who, following his retina attachment surgery over the weekend, must lay flat on his stomach with his face down at all times for 1 full week, I decided late this afternoon that I could leave him and go paint for an hour with my daughter. It was a wonderful ending to a very quiet yet odd mother's day.

I pulled out the red cashmere last night to get a feel for it. I thought I wanted to design something out of it, but I think instead that I am either going to do the Pink Mimosa sweater from Interweave or this Garnstudio sweater.

I've also cast on for a self-designed top out of the apricot colored linen I got yesterday. Its not going to be as form fitting, more flowly, and working on a bias cut design. Something again for layering over tank tops. This time I'm knitting, and while I don't hate the linen - I can see what people mean about it being hard on the hands a bit. Its actually only where I have to grasp the garment as I'm knitting that the tips of my fingers seem to not like. The actual yarn going through my fingers is not bothersome.

That's it for tonight. I'm taking an ambien and going to bed. Tell me if you like the painting - because I'm seeing things that need tweaked, and I don't want to ruin the feeling I have captured in it already by over tweaking. How does it make you feel when you look at it?

Not Your Grandma's Crochet!

2006-05-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

Matilda, all dolled up!
Would you believe that I've been at the hospital AGAIN....this is just too weird. In the last 6 months, I've spent more time in the OR waiting room than I have in my entire life combined.
Cataracts for husband October last year, twice, two weeks apart.
4 1/2 hours of surgery time to rebuild my sons shattered arm 4 weeks ago.
Heart catharization a week and a half ago for husband (no angio needed, thank You, God!)
and then last night late, my husband's eyeball went AWOL! The retina detached in his left eye. We had to drive out of town to a specialist to do an emergency surgery, finding out that if Dave had waited until Monday, he would be blind in that eye. I don't know what happened to make his eye suddenly do that. Just strange.

...but the good news!!! I finished the Linen Bodice. Name is still being debated on. A new friend, Cheryl, suggested Summerbreaze. But after I got home this afternoon and put her on "Matilda" (the dress form - and yes, I stuffed her bra with socks, she needed cleavage for this, and she also wanted to wear the red skimpy tank top.) What do you think??? Crochet goes sexy! Them aren't granny squares!

Euroflax Linen
And then after his surgery, I asked if he would mind if I just "very quickly" (parenthesis) run into this awesome yarn store (King's in Pensacola). They are the only yarn store I know of that carries the Euroflax Linen - which I am extremely impressed with - in tons of colors, and still at the 14.75 price (until she gets in her next shipment). I bought 5 hanks and I finally picked up the new Interweave.

2006-05-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

Linen Bodice Progress
This is getting exciting! I love this part - putting it on the dress form and doing the upper body shaping. I can't wait to wear this thing! Can you see the faux-boning in the lower bodice ?????

...but one can not hook all day (that's illegal...t.i.c.).(tongue.in.cheek.) I definitely don't make my living designing garments. Its still raining here in NW Florida (we need it), so I'm going to have to be stuck in the studio painting all day.

I started a small plein aire Tuesday while waiting in my daughter's school parking lot on her(the oaks on the grounds are beautiful). So there I was, sitting in the back of my Sante Fe with the hatch open...painting in all the shapes and shadows, when along comes a cloud....that's okay, we can still change the shadows, no biggie....then more clouds....then strong breeze....still not deterred...I'll just take the easel down (the wind kept blowing it over) and pull the canvas in with me here under the shelter of the hatch...its cramped, but I'm working....okay, paint more shadows.....now comes the rain, but, we're inside the car now....then the wind, and the heavy rain....God? Are you laughing at me or with me? So I close the hatch and continue painting in the dry inside - nothing can stop a true artist at work.

Then it stops raining....and its beautiful outside. The sun is filtering through the sparkling trees heavy with droplets of rain. This I will paint! Except..........did you know that one cannot open the hatch of a Santa Fe from the inside of the car? And to make matters worse, I can't climb over the seats to the door because there is a large painting in the backseat sitting up and I will damage it if I try to get past it. So I sit there. Still painting....but its getting kinda warm..and humid and its quite difficult to paint.

THEN I SEE MY DAUGHTER - Darling daughter - emerge from the school! I'm saved! She strolls toward the car, rifle in hand (she's on colorguard). Looks at the car and doesn't see me in my usual front seat knitting position, so she walks away....far away....far far away....twirling her rifle as she goes to practice on the other side of the parking lot.

and there I sat...in the back of the car.

She did come back; still didn't see me. I yelled her name. The look of bewilderment on her face made me realize that my daughter might be minus a few brain cells....of course, this assessment comes by the woman who locked herself in the back of the car. After the Rain

Bugs and bodices

2006-05-09T04:40:00.000-07:00

YEAH!!! Yesterday I snail mailed "the" very important item with its instructions to Vickie Howell - for "The" book of 2007, "Catwalk Crochet." Relief is the word....that was a long project to write out. I had my mom proofread the pattern for me since she is an award winning crochet artist (she wins the state fair every year with her delicately crocheted Christening gowns.). She said the pattern looked good....so no complaints when the book comes out. There IS NO errata. If you find some, then go to rule no. one in life, "Mom is never wrong."

I've made tons of progress this weekend on my linen tunic. Crocheted Linen (the yellow in the center is the handle on the top of the toolbox I have the white linen sittin on....cuz I think that I can bring white linen into my studio without getting paint on it.....and my husband thinks I'm a pessimist....Pleaze!). (please dear God, don't let me get paint on it. I admit I'm a fool.). Its gone through a couple of design changes. I decided that the back is not going to be open. I don't think that the linen would support itself, especially once its washed. So instead, it will have a laced tie up the front starting from either the top, or just under the breast pieces. Haven't decided yet. I'm nearly done with the skirt part and have only used one hand of the Euroflax linen and just started into my second. I'm predicting this will be a two hank project.

Also went a-paintin' last night in the woods of Niceville, Fl. The bugs were not fun. I normally paint in the morning, but yesterday am it was raining. I brought it home and for once my husband says, "I like it." (he doesn't like my more abstract funkier pieces - but lately I've been feeling the need for landscapes....must be something pyschological.). Problem is, its not done. I think I need to define the front trees some more (that means "tweak" and usually entails ruining the entire piece.)

Oaks in Niceville, Fl

Art students and sunburns.

2006-05-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Its been a whirlwind week. While at the hospital with my husband, I got very little done - I was just too unsettled to focus. However, I am still making progress on my linen sweater design. I'll show photos soon.

Tonight, I just had to show the photos of my students. The older group did interpretations of one of my most recent landscapes (like 6:00 this morning I was doing it.) They are really doing well! You can see in the middle of the photo (if you click on it, it will come larger) my Sunflower Field painting (its the large painting.
Sunflower Field Studies

The younger group has requested to do some animal paintings...so we did a rabbit last night in pastel. Little Rabbits

and now its my turn to be sick (first Dominic breaks his arm, then my husband and his heart, and I get sunburned). Sunburned - no big deal, right? Well my ears blisted and now they feel inside like I have ear infections. I keep losing my balance....and last night as the 5 year old class was getting ready to start....I went out like a light. It was scary. But about 20 minutes later, my strength started returning, and we still had a good class. I'm wondering if maybe I'm not handling stress well and this is my body's way of trying to tell me something. I'll see my doc on monday and hopefully get some answers about all this weakness and dizziness. I didn't think a sunburn could cause this.

I'm going to the hospital...

2006-05-03T03:16:00.000-07:00

and this is what I'm taking. I still need to wind another hank of the Euroflax (I like working with linen, I like working with linen,....keep repeating that to yourself. NOTE: I have a tendecy to keep gripping the linen which is making the work tighter, then I remind myself to soften up, which takes it back, so there are some inconsistencies in width. /does anyone know if it will even out when I wash it? Or am I working way too tightly and need desperately to switch up a hook size - using a c. ?

Dave (husband) is having heart cathorization and angioplasty so I will be there all day it seems. His doctor thinks he will be fine and that this is being done as a positive proactive procedure (all the men in his family have had their first heart attacks in their 40's and died by 60's. Dave is 49. He hasn't had a heart attack, yet, but part of me is afraid that what if he has one on the table (his dad died during an operation to fix something going wrong in his heart....but he had also had heart disease for over 10 years and had had many major heart attacks).

All will be well. I'll be crocheting with my linen (rope/twine) which I DO love the lace its producing. And possibly starting a design for a lacy wrap sweater with the cashmere.

(I know I'm suppossed to be on a yarn diet....but you know how diets go. Don't you scold me!)

Have no fear, Flubber is here!

2006-05-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

Flubber with my new project
Finishing up that Grecian Tank for Cricket and the garment for Vickie Howell yesterday left me with nothing to do - and that feeling persisted all day. I wanted to start a new project, but then I couldn't decide on which yarn (you don't want to see my stash - its bad.) or what I wanted to make. Its like a black hole in knitting - that place right after you finish long projects (i had done 2 Grecian tanks back to back, and two of the garments for Vickie Howell)(today I'm working on writing out the instructions for the Howell project....and its not fun. I much prefer working. Even though I meticulously write out what I'm doing as I'm doing it, it still looks like garble when it comes to typing it out so others can understand it.......
which is why I'm offering the Grecian Tank pattern. I need feedback on readability. ASAP. (just email me or leave me a note with a way I can email you the pattern).

So after floundering in the black hole, late last night I FINALLY made a choice to just start sketching, and next thing I knew, I had a hank of Euroflax linen on my swift. So if you can see in the picture with flubber what I'm doing], its going to be pretty.

This is my first experience with the linen, and after reading all the reports about it, I'm not having the difficulty everyone described (maybe because I was mentally prepared for the absolutely worst knitting experience ever).

btw: yes, you're right, that's not knitting needles flubber is holding (and that's not a dress for him, either) - its the world's best crochet hook (along with the beginnings of the lace insert stitch for the tank) - and I have NO IDEA what this hook is or how to get more. Please if you know the manufacturer, let me know. I remember that it is European, that's it (because even at my age, the dementia is getting quite out of hand.)
Gates At Destiny
And I did go paint yesterday....and finished it.

2006-05-01T04:47:00.000-07:00

Grecian Tank w/o overlay
It felt so good to finally finish this tank - this morning at 5:00am! And guess what? My daughter likes it (a 15 yr old!) and wore it to school today (with a camisole underneath). I used an entirely different yarn to do this one (the first was Kasula). It only used 2 1/4 skeins of dream baby (the color is actually much more intense deep blue - like Van Gogh's Oh Starry Night). So the size large is done for the pattern. For now, I will continue to make it available for free - just write me and I'll send it to you.

This is a painting I started last week and am hoping to have a chance to go work on this morning.

Palms at Destiny and knitting

2006-04-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

Palms at Destiny
Its really the same painting....I just tweaked it a bit (compare it to the entry before). Are yu convinced now of my mental instability???? I like it....it feels much more relaxed....like Destin!

sand dunes preserved for the turtlesI've also been to the beach.

And I really have been knitting....this is the size large of the Grecian Tank pattern. I'm about 1/2 way up on the second side, and then will begin the shoulder/tank shaping. Very soon, I will have the larger size directions available. Grecian Tank progress

Palm Trees at Destiny

2006-04-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

Palm Trees at Destiny
Deep breathe. This is where I was this morning. It was so foggy when I went out at 8:00, but by 10:00, the sun was shining. I live in paradise, and painted this just a little bit off from the Gulf of Mexico this morning. Not sure about a title yet. Its a 16x20.

oh, I only knit one row today.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

2006-04-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

You get to pick the order!
The weekend starts with a frantic call from my daughter - get to the hospital NOW! I get there, and within 5 minutes, am taking an involuntary nap (I passed out) on the floor. Dominic, my curly haired life-has-rules-meant-to-be-pushed son has two elbows on his left arm. Now how, you ask, did he get a second elbow? Well, it took some doing on his part and involved a skateboard. I guess that the only way to do it right and create the effect of a second elbow was to break both bones all the way through, shatter the ulner, twist it through so it pops out through the skin, and then let your hand dangle at a 90 degree angle to the whole mess. It took the doctors over 4 hours to put humpty-dumpty back together again. Thank God for doctors and that we don't have to rely on all the king's horses and all the king's men. Broken Arm
Small Paintings These are all little jobbers I've done in the last week. The face is a Matisse study - the example I painted for the kids and then they did Matisse type portraits of each other. The other two are just small plein-aire paintings. This morning I went out and it was so wonderful to have the paintbrush in my hands again after too many days off. These aren't my typical large paintings, but I am selling them ($35 for the larger two, $30 for the smaller one - just email me if you're ever interested in the small guys....sherritzej@cox.net). There was a fourth one of some beach houses....but I got bought it from me while I was still painting it.
Grecian TankThis is all I've gotten done on the large sizing for the Grecian Tank. Instead of kasula, I'm using a dk weight yarn to see how much the guage changes (which, btw, for those who had requested the pattern in the small size, I forgot to put guage: With the kasula, on the twisted rib portion (2x2 with twist on fifth row), on the 4.5mm needles (I think thats a 7 American size), for a 3" square, is 12 stitches by 19 rows).

2006-04-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

Coneflowes
This is the start of a painting....its actually a different painting that was in a gallery, then I brought it home and decided to "tweak" it. Now it doesn't resemble the original painting in anyway. But I like it. Its how I'm needing to feel right now.

'D Bomb of a Knitting Bag
This bag is phenomenal! I just got it at TJMaxx and even thought its not colorful or unique....its a dual purse and knitting bag....finally! The knitting goes in this middle section that you would upon looking at the bag, think that it would only house a little makeup section, but that's the awesome place where I can get two sweater projects in there isolated away from any thing that could damage them. All my billfold, checkbook, lipsticks, pens, mints, cellphone, etcssss, all go in those two very slim side sections of the tote where, because they are so slim, its super easy to find what I need....and I never have to worry about frantically digging through the bag to find my cell phone and disturbing my knitting stuff accidently....its all by itself. At first I didn't like this bag, but now that I've had it a few days, I'm smitten. This is by far The Best Knitting Bag I've ever owned.
Anyone else got one they want to share?

Me again, in my new sweater!

2006-04-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

Grecian Tank
Lesson Learned: I reaaaalllly need to wear lipstick or makeup....I look really pale in this photo. But I'm so happy with her. I love that I can wear this beautiful yarn Fleece Artist in a cool summer tank (with a tank underneath of course), and still not feel so over exposed like most tanks make me feel. The overlay can also be gathered up and pinned with a shawl clip for a completely different look.....or I can let it fall off my shoulders if I feel daring enough. Wonderful design! (Jeanette pats herself on the head).

I have not finished the large size yet but I did send out some copies of the small/medium size, so if I missed you, please let me know.

2006-04-08T10:23:00.001-07:00

Art Class Today
Isn't it cute! I WANTED to do Vermeer's "Girl With A Pearl Earring" but my darling daughter wanted to do Teddy Bears......all the little girls just squealed with delight and got right to work. I guess they don't love the study of the Masters' works as much as I do. It was fun, though! We just threw the teddy bears in the center of the table and went at 'em!

On the knitting needles:
(more like what's NOT on the needles)
I've got a crochet project for Vickie Howell
My Grecian Tank is getting the cowl extended (I really want it longer)
I'm doing another Grecian Tank for my daughter so that I can make sure I get the upsizing correct (she's an adult large and I'm a small, and there is more to upsizing than just adding repeats)
Vogue's Yogo Wrap that I started before the Knitting Olympics is on the front burner again.

>Re: Grecian Tank Pattern Requests

For those who emailed me wanting a copy of the pattern for the Grecian Tank (yes, its my design for those who asked)....I'm almost done with writing it out for the small size, but I'm hung up in writing it out for the larger, so I'm knitting it quickly for my daughter and as soon as I have it done, I'll send out the pattern with both sizes on it (Its a very strethchy tank, so I think that the two sizes will be appropriate). If anyone is wanting a copy of the pattern, let me know and I will send you it through the email (my patterns that I write to this blog keep gettng lost down in the archives and I don't know how to put them on the sidebar). If you have already sent me an email and the small size is all you need, let me know and I'll send it out to you as is. I'm sherritzej@cox.net
My Teddybear, Quinacridone

Grecian Tank

2006-04-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

Grecian Tank
Its done! This is Fleece Artist's Kasula (body) and Angel Curls (cowl neck). I had thought about making the cowl even longer (like to the elbows, loose and flowing, but then this morning I just decided it was time to bind off. I'm very pleased with it (although I may still go back and lengthen the cowl).

Working diligently on the crochet piece for Vickie Howell. There won't be any photo's of that work.

And today I'm going out with a plein aire group to paint on the bay. I'll post photo's later. This is a national group of professional artists that go out together to paint. The chapter I'm in is NW Florida. I haven't been out with them since the accident last October. Even though I'm in this stupid boot again, I want to go today because the weather is so gorgeous. Wish me luck. Hopefully I'll come home with something worth showing.

2006-03-31T06:26:00.000-08:00

Kasula
I'm loving what's coming from the Kasula - the colors are extraordinary and it has a lot of spring. The design is going to start getting exciting pretty soon. Click on the photo for a larger shot.

Orchids
....and did I not tell you she was orchids!!! This one is a very different technique from what I usually do. Normally I pour paint onto the canvas (laying on the ground) and create my images from the resulting colors/mess. This time, I did pour....but I've done alot of work atop the pour with a cake spatula (what should we call this technique....actually, its already done by many artists, but most of them use art spatulas). Its a neat effect to see in person....I'm curious about opinions. What do you think - good or bad (its okay to not like abstract work btw; I'm married to a man that much prefers my realism, but I'm having too much fun with abstracts right now).

Knitting Betrayal: I'm crocheting

2006-03-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

Yep, I've been hooking it!

I figured its about time I put a picture of me up! This is me - sitting atop two dehumidifiers (I live in Florida). I think that for one of my next projects, I'm going to try to add here in this blog a video teaching knitters how to crochet. Its not hard! Its just different. If you are a left-hand carry, you'll find crochet exceptionally easy to pick up.

I'm also still doing work on my Kasula design. There's nothing much to show you all because I had to frog what I had done before because I felt like it was going to be too small. I'm just now back to the point where I was. A couple more inches and I will begin the arm shaping. KASULA ROCKS! I LOVE the smell of it (call me insane - its okay, you won't hurt my feelings!). When I pick up my knitting needles (size 4.5 holtz & stein rosewoods...deep sensual breath), it feels so like home. I miss knitting.

BUT: crochet has its wonderful blessings as well: I can lay it down whenever (there's no problems with getting to an end of a row because only 1 stitch is live at a time). And there's no bind off row (for some reason, I detest binding off.). And its going to be big in the next few years....REALLY big. I thing Happy Hooker is just the beginning of what you are going to see as a resurgence of crochet but in modern designs (not your grandma's granny squares).

2006-03-22T05:57:00.000-08:00

Man, what have I been up to???? Its been a week since I've been here. I've been working in a coal mine it seems like.
- I had to write an essay on the Magna Carta. (3000 words for this world civ class I'm in....normally I've enjoyed it, but last week killed me. I'm not finding the middle ages too interesting.).
- Aunt Flo. she visited my 15 year old daughter, me, and my dog. all in the same week. (I'm sure you all wanted to know that lol!). it was....fun. I have no idea who was the crankiest.
- I've been (name-dropping) corresponding with Vickie Howell.....ooh! Like getting emails from her in my email box....I about died on the first one! But the one that came Monday morning sent me into the Happy Dance (my daughter said it was more a "spasdic dance"....thank you darling daughter who's had the priveledge of studying dance her entire life. I am rhythmically challenged.).

Okay - here's the scope...or at least all I can tell you....anymore and I'd have to hunt you down and kill you (remember: I'm mentally "rearranged", I tend to do things spontaneously......which is what I did last week. I haven't crocheted in years, but this cashmere that I've been working with just crochets beautifully. Then I heard that Vickie Howell New Knits on The Block/DIY network host was in plans for a book on crochet. I sketched out what I was doing....and hit "send". SHE"S GOING TO USE MY CROCHET DESIGN IN HER BOOK!!! (more happy dance). I can't show you the design.....but lets just say "Prada HOT" ....and I'm hoping there are stilleheto's involved.

one of my favorite little students
The art classes are going well. Next month I'm starting a group for the 8 and under - they really need to be in there own class and not in with the older kids (middle school agers).
I opened with a new gallery - this one is in Northern Alabama (that's a whole different country.).
and this is what I'm working on. Bet'cha can't tell at all what it is.
(hint: its orchids)

And ....I'm back in the freaking cast for another 6 weeks (this from a motorcycle accident last October....and what did I do this past weekend....I went out and looked at motorcycles. I WILL RIDE AGAIN!....just as soon as I mend from the last accident.)

Cashmere Medallions and Sunflowers

2006-03-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

Smack my hands I'm being such a lazy blogger this week. I've gone ga-ga over the Colourmart cashmere I received and have been crocheting (!) with it. I used to crochet and hated it because it hurt my hands so much, but I'm really enjoying it this time with the softness of this yarn. The color is called Peony and it is a laceweight 100% cashmere. Its amazing!

I started a new class of kids and this one has a lot of 5 and 6 year olds in it. Its a tough class and I breathe one big sigh when we're done. They try hard...but I think that I am teaching too far above their levels. Last week we did a Matisse study and let's just say that my art professor in college was WRONG - I am NOT the MESSIEST painter ever.

Mary had posted a comment asking about whether it is paint by number these kids do. NO! Absolutely not. Last month we were working with proportions and precision in our works. I teach a method (we call it "heads tall") where they have to look at what they are drawing and determine the percentage of a determined measurement and then judge its angles and shapes and then place it correctly on their surface. Its a lot easier than I just made it sound - but the students I take on are pretty profiecient in art and are there to learn artist's methods. The particular painting you commented on was their study on one of Monet's Sailboats in the Regatta series. Their goal that day was to replicate what he had done. I think they did a great job!

And this is that Italian Sunflowers painting that I "threw" together the other day. Its a big painting and the colors are intense - I love it, and so did the store where it is consigned at.
And one last art painting: Butterflies and Gerberas is done also (this is one I started a few weeks ago.)

And for those who leave comments - once again, I apologize that I have not written everyone. I"m still quite computer illiterate and when blogger sends the message to me, I can't always figure out the email address to send a message back to....plus, well, remember last week when I said I was expecting "That" relative (Aunt Flo)....she's such a pain in the butt when she's around. (I'm sure you all wanted to know that).

The Great Kasula Race...I think I'm losing

2006-03-09T05:43:00.000-08:00

Kasula designing

How many hours does it take to knit 2 rows in lace for an accomplished lace knitter? 5 hours. hahahahaha....i'm not laughing at myself. I was so frustrated with my knitting last night that my daughter took it away from me and told me I didn't NEED to be knitting. I think I fell asleep about five minutes later. 5 freaking hours to do 76 stitches per row. If it was 1,076, then maybe I could see 5 hours....but this was just horridly humbling. I still don't know what I was doing wrong other than I was quite agitated with myself the entire day (it must be coming close to time for Aunt Flo to visit).

Regardless this morning, I tinked back about 4 rows (kasula does NOT like to be messed with) and started over and did about over 10 rows in about 1/2 an hour. deep breathe. lesson learned: don't take on designing a new lace blouse while stressed. especially with kasula.

outside of that, I love the kasula. It is a joy to see the colors coming out as they are....I wish you could see this in person. I have drawn out what I am designing, but I'm not going to let you peak at it just yet.

Italian Sunflowers
This is how you paint when you are frustrated. you take the canvas outside. saturate it with a garden house. then throw paint at it. and walk away.
...and while you're walking, you suddenly notice that sometime in the midst of your hectic weak the azaleas bloomed for you. Kinda puts life and priorities back in harmony again.

Spring Azaleas

Wildflowers Wrap

2006-03-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

I'm very very very sorry! I did not know that I was not allowed to post a photo of the finished sweater that is going in the book because I may be infringing on the publisher's rights at this moment. This is apparently a standard procedure and I don't want to do anything wrong. The book will be out in September. It will be wonderful! I will let everyone know more about it as soon as I find out whether it is okay. It will mainly feature Heather Dixon and then will have certain upcoming new designers featured. I feel blessed with this opportunity! Very blessed.

Today I started working on my yoga wrap again and am anxiously awaiting cashmere yarn to come in from ColourMart.(click here)..(most awesome place to order cashmere from....and normally ships very fast over here to the states).

I've also started to work with my kasula......that's called a teaser for tomorrow.

12" Addi circular for swap

2006-03-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

Stupid Defunct stitch holder....doesn't hold stitches, its too dang slippery; its too long to be a cable needle; too cumbersome to be a dpn; no place to thread yarn through so I can't sew with it......and it is most definitely WORTHLESS to me as a knitting needle....I DON"T CARE WHAT ADDI SAYS IT IS! I paid retail for this thing at my LYS (not cheap) and I can't figure out how to use it. Its essentially an unused needle, 12" size 7 (on the long cable part it reads: addi Made in Germany 30cm 4.5 mm) (I know this is a really bad picture of it, but it was holding down the band on my new sweater....click on the photo if you want to see it better).

I kept hearing all these praises about addi and this little 12" circular, but I can't figure out how to use it, and don't want to. If you know how to use this thing, or have desire for it, make me a swap offer. I like oddball yarn (a skein or two of whatever is in your stash), buttons, dpn's, chai, starbucks, shawl patterns, stuff. and chai (tea bags or loose).

Do you want to see what real needles look like? I got these babies in the mail yesterday. They are Holtz and Steins. I love them in both ebony and rosewood. The cord is nice and fluid, never stiff or in the way. The join never catches the yarn. The needles are warm and glide like silk. I do most of my knitting on these needles.
I emailed this lady: Rosemarie (never fear, she speaks English quite well) who sells them at the cheapest rate I've found (including shipping,it was about $32.00 to have two needles sent to me from Germany....most places its about $20 to $25 including shipping to have 1 sent). Shipping was fast - 8 days. I've gotten them also from Catherine's Knits in NewYork before, excellent service, but she is nearly out of them and it is rare for a US store to have them. (they're handmade in Germany) If you are truly interested in learning more about these needles, read Knitter's Review thread on them.

And OH how I love to be on yarn diets! I'm on a yarn diet....really....REALLY. But these came in the mail yesterday, so they don't count as cheating. They're from a yarn coop I joined earlier this year. The first is two different shades of a manos like (ebay, 100purewool ). I think that the grayer colorway is going to become a lady eleanor. Not sure about the other color yet. The second photo is the autumn colorway from fleece artist, both in angel curls and kasula. not sure what i'm doing with those yet. what could you dream of?

All those loose ends!

2006-03-01T05:16:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to like my sweater now that one of the arms is attached (its just hanging there, not seamed). Today I'm working on that other arm (if I was really insane I would probably consider doing something novel like only having one arm on this sweater....but that's been done already by 1000's of knitters before....we normally call them UFO's....and isn't that last arm a "b".)

Now yesterday I asked about how many yarn ends you all might think I'll have to weave in. I want to show you a secret:
I weave those ends into the next row by twisting them into the yarn as I knit. They lay nice and flat - and hidden - in the back. It doesn't work to only twist in one direction...I twist clockwise the first stitch, counterclockwise the second stitch, for about 5 to 7 stitches. Then when I'm done, most of the time, all I have to do is clip rather than weave. I like that. If it wasn't for that, there is no way I would ever try knitting an entire sweater with this many different yarns. It would take a week to do all that weaving. I think that weaving them in as you go also makes a nicer finish. The ends that I'm not able to weave in in process, will later be woven in by following the stitch (hides them pretty well and they stay in better). Really, If I showedyou the inside of this sweater, you would be pleasantly surprised at how few yarns are hanging (most of the time I don't snip them until after I've finished the entire garment, so it DOES look like a mess inside right now).

The painting is resting. I'm not so sure that anyone can really see the gerberas or butterfly, so it might be back on the easel again soon.

2006-02-28T05:28:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY ALREADY!!!

My computer is sick (its running super dooper painfully slow and keeps timing out when I try to do anything on the internet....I'm suppossed to have high-speed internet.)

My child is sick.
My husband is sick.
I'm sick (Yes, mental counts...and yet they still leave me alone in a room with kids so I can teach them the ways of artistic lunacy.)(click on the photo of them...that's my group minus a few that weren't able to be there. This week we studied Monet's Regatta at Argenteuil. That's Ar-zjen-too....and you spit out that last syllable. They do good work!

My painting is...well...yesterday I decided to call it The Nature of Things....because it wasn't looking like much of anything (not that my paintings ever do). This morning, I'm a bit more pleased with it. Using astounding deductive reasoning, Kim correctly guessed that its is (suppossed to be) a group of Gerbera daisies. (never mind my orchid in the photo - its just their to confuse you....remember my mission, must drive the rest of the world mad so I'll appear as the normal one!). 1000 points to anyone who can guess where the butterfly is!

And the sweater which will inspire ugly sweater knitting across the world is taking shape. Here she is pretending to be a sweater on my dress form. One of the sleeves is knit to the armpit. Do you have any idea how many yarn ends will have to be woven in (1000 points to anyone who can guess to withing the closest 100!).

I have not had time this weekend to reply to any comments and I really really apologize. I will try to later today. Pooch asked if I sell my work - yes, its how I make my living. I sell through galleries and an agent, but I can send you listings of galleries you can contact to see work in personally if that was why you were asking (I have gallery locations throughout America, mainly concentrated in the south east. Email me at sherritzej@cox.net I also have a webpage which is

artwork of the mentally insane (Jeanette's artwork).

2006-02-24T06:14:00.000-08:00

Oh the joys of getting to spread insanity like the plague o'er the internet!!!

In true Drew Carey fashion, I'm awarding points to everyone, but just like in Who's Line is It Anyway (my top favorite television show), points acrue and amount to nothing.

Rho, I LIke your answer.....I really like it. you get 100 points.
Ann gets 100 points for finding the ginger cat (which I didn't see until I crossed my eyes).
JF gets 150 points because she came the closest to what the painting really is (which means she may be closest to me in levels of insanity).
However, Kim gets 1000 points for originality.....knitting needles???? I can't find them...e.vn when I squint... I think Kim might be knitting TOO MUCH.

Yesterday's painting is entitled "Orchid" (can you see it....she's beautiful!) and that's all it is (alot of times I do have hidden images in my works). No ginger cats, no colorful corn stalks, NO KNITTING NEEDLES, but the beauty of abstract art is that no answer is wrong, the viewer sees what they see and conjures up their own interpretations and associations....and any artist who tells you that you're wrong thinks that they wear the illustrious robes of Constantine.

Today's painting is right at its beginning. I know what I want in it, and there's a hint in the background. (remember: you can click on the photo to see it larger)

How does my floor get so messy???? (this photo is taken in my studio....don't worry, all that paint is dry). (You think the floor is bad, you should see the walls and the furniture!)

And then there's the knitting....I have no room to talk when I infer that someone knits too much.
(i'm up to the armpits on front and back and have finished the upper left raglan.).

2006-02-22T07:07:00.000-08:00

Hey All! (not that there is anyone there, but since I'm declaring myself insane, I'm allowed to talk to myself! (the voices give me permission today).
If you haven't noticed....I changed the name of my blog....why? Because I've been doing housework....and knitting....instead of knitting instead of housework.
(don't worry, I'll have you insane before you know it and then you'll be able to follow me!).
This is my new painting. Guess what it is! Anyone who guesses gets the prize! (no prize, remember, I'm insane so I can do that!). (in real life no one else gets me either....I'm one of those weirdo artist types....my poor kids and family....they have to live with me).

so that yarnage I succumbed to yesterday? Yea....I wrote to the knitting chicks that its just not fair about those knitting stores....putting that yarn up in such provocative ways....makes it like I've gone into the Chippendales photo shoot and their letting me pick which one(S!) I want to take me to lunch. I'm sorry....I have no willpower when it comes to that kind of temptation.
so here it is (part of the is that it is....the rest is in another bag (which includes some louet wetspun linen)....because when I break my yarn diet, I break it bad.....kinda like those chocolate hoho's I ate last night and the whole milk chai latte (should be outlawed, its so good).

and here's what its becomming.....recognize the pattern....yea, i'm obsessed with chevrons....and I really like my Wildflower's Wrap (and keep wearing it, which I shouldn't because it has to be photographed for the book still)....so I'm making another one.

Olympic Victory! Cabled Shrug

2006-02-21T04:13:00.000-08:00

(click on photo to see it larger)

Here she is getting ready to cross the finish line! All that's left is the seaming! We're on a trip to Pensacola where I need to go to King's Sewing and Yarn store. I'm suppossed to be on a yarn diet....I will not buy yarn.....I only have to go check on some of the labels for a sweater previously made that the publisher needs the names of the yarn for.....I will not buy yarn. (I bought yarn....lots of it. the motherload. )
And now here she is done!

I decided to add a border on the wrist edges because it was too plain. I also did not make it as long as it is in the original pattern (because it would have swallowed me).

And this is a small group of the kids I teach! (I teach art in a local art school to children one day a week.)

More progress on the Olympic Shrug

2006-02-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

Marathon - or rather, Olympic level - knitting day. I started shortly after 3:00 this morning (my maltese sometimes decides that she needs a cookie in the middle of the night so she licks my face to wake me up). I have at least one more 36-row repeat, and maybe a half of a repeat after that...tomorrow I will be teaching painting to a group of elementary age art students, and then I have homework to finish....I wish I could get done tomorrow, but it doesn't look like it will happen without a miracle. (the seaming on this garment is super easy).

2006-02-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

I'm attempting to make a button....bear with me....this is one of my paintings.....now I just have to figure this out.

Olympic Burnout

2006-02-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

I'm nearly to the half-way point and I'm finding myself NOT wanting to knit....or wanting to knit something else....is it just me???? The flame on my torch must have got wet or something.

Its been fun going through other blogs and seeing how people are doing...PLEASE PLEASE tell me your blogs because all I know to do is to go to the Yarn Harlots page that lists the participants and then go sporadically through the lists randomly picking blogs. I'm finding it more fun to encourage others than I am anything else.

Here's a photo of my project:
Mom, Why are you doing this to me????

Does anyone watch American Idol.....this is my first season watching! Simon said something I could finally agree with: The Twins "HISSY FITS".....the one dude is so on my nerves....I think I'm just going to call him Mr. WoaisAnyoneWhoCan'tAppreciateMyGrandeour , because he seems to think that if the world isn't bowing before him, than someone must be not appreciating his stunningness...and while they aren't at it, they better be appreciating his brother as well. I guess he's his brother's keeper.

For real culture, I watched the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show. That was impressive. I really liked the whippit (Eclipse Envy) and the Scottish greyhound (Margot).

Cabled Shrug

2006-02-13T02:12:00.000-08:00

Here's the progress on Interweave's Cabled Shrug. On the eve before the Winter Olympics, I realized that there was no way I would be able to read that chart - it would be too slow and confusing, and errors were bound to occur.....so I wrote THE ENTIRE thing out in knitting nomenclature....6 pages worth....line by line.

This project has an omen on it that has me questioning my sanity about doing it. I'm not an overly experienced cabler - I can do it, but its not what I do well. I've been discouraged this weekend about my slow progress....so I explored on line to see if any other knitters in blogs before had left notes about their experience with this pattern. I found example after example of people that never finished. (!) Seems like getting through the first repeat was about where most people just stopped.....probably threw it in their pile of ufo's (not that any of us do that). Most comment complaint: can only knit when there are no distractions, ie. after kids are in bed. Its the chart.

I'm going to keep going anyway. I love the feel of the Chamoix and the soft subtle color in the bisque. I think that I should have used a 10.5 instead of an 11 needle, but I'm not starting over. I had to do that late Friday night after seeing that the 10 was knitting too tight of a fabric.

2006-02-10T05:09:00.000-08:00

I've made some progress on Vogue's yoga wrap (#16, Winter 2006) despite still not finding the magazine. This is a shot of it on my dress form (I highly recommend these things if you do a lot of garment knitting). I'm thinking that I want to pick up stitches on the arm hole and knit a cap sleeve rather than the long attached sleeves in the pattern. Anthropologie has a similar sweater done with cap sleeves that I could probably wear a lot more (given that I live in Florida - still deciding though). For now, this gets put aside because.....

KNITTING OLYMPICS ARE TODAY!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited! All week long I've pet my yarn or squeezed it (think: old Charmin commercials).

This be her (one of 9). I am definitely doing the cable wrap. Last night I looked on line for any blogs or information I could glean for troubleshooting the pattern. I was alerted that I NEED to take a close look at those charts - and I'm so glad! I can't read them - they are not reader friendly - and I don't read charted cable patterns well (I prefer charts normally). So I'm doing the painful operation of handwriting out the directions line by line (that way I don't have to keep track of which chart I'm on, and the 3 different line counts that I would have to keep track of).

This last photo is of a shrug in the Holiday 03 Family Circle. Someday I want to make it.

2006-02-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

ARGH! Knitting Olympics start in just a couple of days and I'm swampled in homework (I'm back at school attempting to finish a fine art degree) and in my own preparations for class (I teach children's art at an art store)....plus I have to finish formatting the Wildflowers pattern for next week (its due to the editor).

Originally I signed up to do this Geisha Cape from Interweave Fall 03, but I don't think there is anyway I could do it. I knit a lot at my son's nightly karate lessons and my daughter's dance lessons as well as anywhere else I can....but I've started this cape before and its a bear to cart around. I think that I would get to frustrated with it at this point in my life.

So I've left comment back at the Yarn Harlot that I want to change my entry to this. I have some beautiful Chamoix in my stash that hasn't gotten cobwebs yet. I think this shrug is stunning and would love to do it in this scrumptious yarn THAT I ALREADY HAVE (note to self: my yarn diet has restarted as of this morning; it had technically started yesterday afternoon, but then this morning I encountered my first temptation, and failed. bad me. but who could resist Henry's Attic wool/silk worsted weight yarn, 1000 yards, at $39?).

alas, though, I was really looking forward to doing the Geisha.

Progress on the Vogue yoga wrap #16: I'm moving down the front side headed for the finish and then have one more arm to do, and the cap shaping on the first arm....the problem is that I've LOST my magazine! I hate having to go and buy another one, but it looks like that's going to have to happen.

Wildflowers Cardigan!

2006-02-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

Its finally here in its completed form! This is Wildflowers Cardigan. Its a design of mine which will be published in Heather Dixon's book coming out in September. I just have to knit up a couple more little button backs (see the little flower behind the button closure?) and put a few more vintage buttons on around the collar.

I started working on the yoga wrap in the new Vogue Winter 05/06. The pattern is really easy to memorize and effortless to knit. It was the perfect project for doing on the airplane. I'm doing it in this green from Nature spun (sport weight). It was something I grabbed out of my stash as I was packing before I went to be with my dad. Its not the softest yarn on earth, but its affordable and lends itself nicely to the design. I can't wait to see the piece blocked out.

and last....no photo....I got my new yarn from Colourmart. Its a ruby red worsted cashmere (part of their soft twist offerings). Its gorgeous and yummy! I thought about making the clapotis out of it (I love that pattern), but haven't decided. I've got about 600 yards of it, so I'm open to suggestions.

2006-01-25T06:28:00.000-08:00

The sweater body and sleeves are done and semi-seamed. I'm very pleased with the fit of the shoulders to the body. Next is the Marilyn collar. I am running out of many of my yarn colors and am debating with myself on whether I want to order more (thus increasing the cost of the sweater), or change the design to use what I have. I was thinking that I might do the collar in one color and then use some of my flowers to emellish it.....or, like the original design, stripes of vertical color, and then embellished with antique buttons.....or doing a vertical chevron border on the large collar (so the chevrons on the collar run perpendicular to the ones on the body).

My dad had a heart attack on Sunday so tomorrow morning I am flying home to Omaha to be with him through Monday. I wasn't prepared to be dealing with this yet - he's only 60, but I'm sure that he wasn't prepared either. I thank God that he is in a hospital right now rather than a mortuary. Their won't be anymore updates until I get home. Please be thinking of my family.

Knitting on a shoestring

2006-01-23T17:16:00.000-08:00

No knitting done today....not a stitch....unless I count the demonstration I had to do for someone with my shoestring......I ALWAYS have yarn....ALWAYS have a project when I'm out, but not this evening. Tonight at the karate dojo, a lady asked me if she is suppossed to count her first cast on stitch as 2 or 1. I count it as one and inquired more to figure out the source of her question. She has the cutest little cast on technique that I'm going to have to try to figure out. Its a long tail cast on (my favorite), but without a slip knot. She wanted to see how I do it with a slip knot, and after unsuccessfully trying to do it with my purse strap, I took out my shoe lace and that worked perfectly (I had needles in the bottom of my purse); however, after seeing her do her way, I am going to figure it out so that I can avoid that ugly knot.

Last night I finished one sleeve of my sweater and maybe later tonight I'll finish the other (just have from the elbow to the shoulder left).

2006-01-22T04:52:00.000-08:00

I've done quite a lot more work on my Wildflowers cardigan design. I'm now up to the elbows on both sleeves which marks the completion of the chrevrons. I'm PAST READY to be done with this sweater. This is the second making of it - the first one, as always, I did not write my pattern out - so this one I am having to look at the first sweater for reference and write out as I go which is quite slow. I should just write out my pattern from the first, and then work off a pattern....would probably go much quicker.

When I went out to Pensacola's LYS (King's Sewing Center - tons and tons and tons of yarns in a little tiny shotgun type room), I picked up 3 skeins of Louet's 100% linen. She had a store display in there of a finished garment that was exquisite in drape, but very strong. I want to design a tunic style blouse next ....and its taking every bit of my strength not to start it now. I'm looking for any tips on knitting with this product as I've heard that it can be fatiguing on the hands.

Now that my cast is off, I've been back in the studio quite a lot. Paint is my work and livelihood. Even though I can't return to mural work for a while, I need to return full time back to my studio - no more time for depression (I'm afraid that's what I've been going through and its gotten quite severe through this whole ordeal). I like to work abstractly for my gallery work and this one is no exception...its called, "Two Young Lovers" and is inspired from a Liz Wright song.

Its not quite done - but its getting close.

...and the winner is!

2006-01-20T03:49:00.000-08:00

In this first photo, we see "the skinny boy" who is not to be mistaken as the real Napolean Dynamite even though his hair is dead on and when he puts on his dad's old military glasses and does the disco....well, its too scary of a picture....
Presiding over the official event is Gidget, the maltese. She's watching to make sure that no foul play (or treats coming out of the hat) is going on. (and if you look closely, there is a floating white dot between Gidget and my son....that is the glean off of the eye of our invisible dog, Mona....actually she's not invisible, she's a black cocker spaniel).

And he draws...."Show me the winner!" ....mom can't wait...."Show me!" he turns the piece of paper over, me with my camera in hand take a photo (I saw it on someone else's blog) and the camera flash completely white-out's the name and blinds my son who just had a vision field test done this morning (he has an automimmune disease that attacks his eyes and hearing....he's already lost one ear to it). Mom looks at the camera and fumbles to turn the flash off, and now the winning name emerges: its Amie!!!

So now I will try to contact you to get your address or you can email me at sherritzej@cox.net.

I have been knitting more flowers: did one in cloud 9 angora/merino in a salmony color, another one in a handpainted tweedy type yarn, and another red alpaca. I've also been working on my pink chocolate sweater - now have the chevrons done on one sleeve and have started the other, but I'm going to run out of yarn...so, that means that today I will be taking a trip to a not so close LYS (about an hour and a half drive) for Montera.

The Flower Child contest!

2006-01-14T03:06:00.000-08:00

Aren't photo's of unfinished objects ugly???? Yesterday I worked on 2 different UFO's....This one is "Wildflower" (named after one of the most delightful knitting stores I've ever visited, Wildflower's in Manhattan KS). Its a cardigan design (by moi) that is going into a book being published by Wiley (the same people who did "...... for Dummies". The particular book I'm in is one of a series of 3 (one on knitting, one on crochet, on on beadwork). It will be out in September and distributed widely. That's all I know about the book. I have to have my pattern written out next month and then the final sweater to them in March. I've knit up to the armpits and have put it all on a long circular for holding at this point while I catch the sleeves up to the body.
And then yesterday, I knit another poppy. This one is done in cashmere (ColourMart), and the center is embellished with real pearls of varying colors (they can be bought at nicer bead stores). I'm currently knitting a field of them and hoping to take samples out to some stores on Tuesday. The bead store has already said that they will sell them, but we can't figure out a price. It takes me an average of 2 1/2 to 3 hours to make them, plus supplies (at an average of 2 1/2 hours, giving myself a wage of 5$ an hour, that's $12, plus supplies; wholesale, this thing is around $15....a retail of $30 I think would be wwwaaaaayyyyy too high. I'll market these as "luxury fibers, treasure-chest jewels".....but I can't think of a name, and I'm wanting for feedback on a price range someone thinks that they would be willing to spend on one.

SO IT'S CONTEST TIME! If you read this blog, then you qualify. I need a title for these beautiful pins with maybe a very tiny marketing line (even the one I have, if it would work) (originally I had been thinking to title them Millifiori, so if nothing better comes up, I may go there, so I'm also looking for feedback on that title... If you don't have any title, but still want to vote, any feedback on pricing or color schemes that would be appealing would be much appreciated (thoughts, suggested pricing, your experiences etc). To leave a vote/feedback, leave it as a comment with a name (and make sure that I have a way to reach you through that comment). All names will be put in a hat and my sweet son will pull a name out and that person wins a flower!

(editing in to add: the diameter of the flowers averages 4 1/2 inches, the centers being 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide. So they are bigger than the size of the palm of your hand, but not quite the size of a coffee saucer).

2006-01-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

Its a POPPY!!! I made this one yesterday and I'm so pleased with it. The pattern is all mine so that means I can sell these flowers (does this make me a flower child?) I am going to make a number of them in different colors and different fibers and then take them out to a few different boutiques (including my friends' bead/jewelry store). I live on the coast of Florida in a resort city. The boutiques here love these type items.
I know in these photos it can't be seen, however in the center of this flower is a large swarovski crystal and then on the outer edge of the cener are 3 mother of pearl beads crocheted onto each petal. (the flower uses both crochet and knitting)

Today I'm doing housework and then making more flowers. I'm also enrolling in school (hopefully, going to go and talk to a college counselor this afternoon). Its funny....because so is my teenage daughter.

Knitting frustrations

2006-01-09T05:48:00.000-08:00

I know this has nothing to do with knitting, but I just am so in love with this little Maltese bead. My friends who own a bead store gave her to me for Christmas. Its hand made by a woman in Alabama that if you send a photo of your dog, she can make a glass bead to look just like them (or at least something with shared markings). I have a teeny tiny maltese named Gidget. Anyway, I put the bead into a bracelet this weekend.

I'm knitting some, but accomplishing nothing. The last two days, I've worked more on Madli's shawl....I actually feel like lace knitting....maybe because there isn't any creative thought process going on. I can just follow the pattern rhythm.

All my other knitting is plagued with thoughts of, "its not coming together." There are things that I should be knitting: I have a sweater design being published and the person in charge needs to have the pattern finalized this month and the sweater soon there after. Its a cardigan type (see Dec 6 posting) with a chevron motif. The front and back are knit together at the same time. I'm up to the armpits and now need to catch the sleeves up with the rest of the sweater, because from here on, it all is knit in one continuous line (the upper third of the sweater along with the sleeves). When I'm designing, its a whole different type of knitting that uses so much more of the brain, and right now, with this whole marriage turmoil, I just can't get myself going.

Other knitting I should be doing: My friends (with the bead store) are going to let me sell some knitted flower pins (cashmere roses, alpaca poppies with beaded centers, springy coneflowers in vibrant handpainted yarns). It should be fun, but I keep casting on and then pulling them apart. I haven't written my patterns out....its more "sculpt as you go." I don't have any photos at this point because I'm just too darn lethargic over it all. If there is any interest in me writing the patterns, let me know....it does involve some crochet though.

The Felted Backpack

2006-01-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

Here she is in all her felted-not-so-glory. I felted and felted this thing 5 times in the washer. The top part of the bag (the darker color) felted easily, while the base (lt. teal) wouldn't budge. From reading on felting, I think that I may have knit the bag on too small of needles. I used a size 11 with a double strand of montera (heavy worsted)....and I keep reading something about the yarn needing room to felt. I'm not sure of the science behind that. Regardless, I threw it in the washer one last time for a 15 minute agitation on hot water with all of my puppy toys (I had no idea her little gray rabbit was really baby blue!). The top felted quite a bit more so and the bottom did a little moreso. I have the bag stuffed with towels for now while it dries. I don't think the base is going to get as stiff as I want it to, but overall, I'm pleased.

The entire bag is going to be embellished with colorful crocheted flowers. Stitch Diva
The first is just thrown on there now. In fact, over the next few days, that is probably what I will be working in since I seem to have fallen into a knitting slump.
I actually don't feel like knitting at all (this never happens). Probably need to be knitting my husband and I back together. yeah, the marital trouble stuff that isn't so fun to deal with. Its either knit or frog at this point - and he didn't like the idea so much i presented him with this morning of finding a counselor. heart is a little broken.

and finally, my leg cast is off as of monday! (from the october 3rd motorcycle crash).

Madli's Shawl and a photo of my granddaughter

2006-01-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

This is my work in progress and will hopefully become the focus of my attention over the next few weeks. The pattern is Madli's shawl (from an older Interweave) and is being knit with ColourMart's laceweight cashmere in Verdigras. I love knitting all kinds of different things, but unfortunately, I get easily enticed into starting other projects....which leaves the more involved work (as in lace knitting) laid aside. I desperately need an accountability partner!

And this is Ashley! My beautiful and only grandchild.

felted backpack and new sweater

2006-01-02T18:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a photo of my first felting project! To give you an idea of size: its laying on top of a full size pillowcase. We're talking about 7 full skeins of Montera. I sure hope this thing shrinks at least 1/3, because I'm only 5'0". I've been told that Montera will felt very easily....I'm just worried about the colors running and trying to think of a way to keep that from happening. Tonight I'm adding an attached I cord to the top of the bag (around the opening and flap) in the light teal color. I've read that to keep the bag opening from stretching, to string a length of cotton yarn through the holes approximately the size that the final opening should be.
After its all done, I'll be embellishing the bag with Stitch Diva's crochet flowers.
If this doesn't work, I'll be crying tomorrow.

This is the sweater that I knit last week while visiting my daughter in Manhattan Kansas (I also knit the bag while I was up there). Its beautiful on me, but doesn't do a whole lot for my dress form. I altered the original pattern some by easing the sleeves into the body to avoid having a shoulder seam. I have very angular shoulders so whenever I can avoid a seam up there, I will. I think my favorite yarn in this sweater was the Adrian Vittadini Nadia yarn. It was a joy to work with and someday I'd like to do a project that would highlight it more. I have some left over so it will probably magically appear in something further down the road.

December 28, 2005

2005-12-28T07:46:00.000-08:00

I'm in Manhattan Kansas right now visiting my oldest daughter and my first grand daughter. Pictures will have to wait until I get home (all the software to upload photos from my camera is at home).
There's a wonderful yarn store here called Wildflowers that I've been visiting. Its owned by a knitting designer (will have to look her name up later). I had quite fun when I went in there on Saturday. I picked up yarn for a sweater project to do up here: Adriane Vittadini's Nadia in gray; a heavy worsted very plushy alpaca in a soft pinky/coral; Noro's blossom in a pink/lt brown/teal; and montera (soft llama: my favorite yarn of all time) in a deep charcoal (combining these with some that I brought from home). The sweater is nearly finished (yeah....i'm a fast knitter, either that or i'm obsessed). I have knit the front and back and am half way up both sleeves. When I'm finished with those, I'll seam the sleeves onto the sweater body and then pick up stitches for the neckline. Pictures to follow. There's lots of visual texture in this sweater both from the color changes of the yarns (I love combining different yarns, especially when they are this luxurious)and the ebb and flow of the stitch pattern. I'm doing a variation of a pattern 497 in Gedifra's pattern book no. 32.

Free Patterns: Charity's scarf, + 2 scarves

2005-12-21T05:33:00.000-08:00

(I found my camera yesterday while knitting....it was hiding under a bag of yarn).

The first scarf is for Angela. It was done lengthwise, in a seed stitch (not for looks, but to keep it flat). Around what I perceived the middle (lengthwise), on one end - about 6 stitches in, I made a keyhole (large buttonhole) opening by binding off nine stitches, then completing the row, next row, work in seed up to bound off area; turn work; provisionally cast on 9 stitches; turn work, and complete previous row; turn, resume seed stitch working cast on stitches into pattern. Make sure that your initial cast on row and your final bound off row are done on larger needles so that they do not pull on the work.

The second scarf is for Beverly. It is done in Moda Dea's Eden (very soft yarn). Its a simple open lace stitch (k1, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, complete row in pattern)(next row: ssk, k2 tog, yo, k1, yo, complete row in pattern). The first 3 inches and the last 3 inches of the scarf are done in garter stitch with a keyhole opening on one side: (when desired length in pattern is complete, change to garter stitch, work one knit row. next row: knit 1/2 the stitches, placing second half on stitch holder. work approximately 2 inches in garter on one side. break yarn. transfer to stitch holder. place held stitches on needle, reattaching yarn, work same number of rows as first side. transfer held stitches back onto needle and work 3 more knit rows. bind off.
for fringe: make 5-6 inch long pieces by wrapping around an index card crosswise (the short side). cut on one side. you'll need a good size pile of pieces. take two pieces and attach to scarf on the lengthwise side using a crochet hook. Attach 2 pieces every 1/2 inch down the length of the scarf. Using a straight edge, cut attached pieces to approximately 2 1/4 inch (to neaten edge).

The third scarf is for my special friend Charity, who is teaching me to turn to God in the insanity of my life right now, and has given me through her counsel, a strong sense of direction so that i can navigate through all of the turns in life without getting off course.......so her scarf had to be special.

Charity's Scarf
materials: size 7 needles, size 7 short dpn's (for icord and cabling); one skein Nature Wool (Aracunia - or however its spelled) in the cream color.

Make 8 3-stitch I cords, 20 inches long each, using a waste-yarn cast on. At end, break yarn, but do not bind off - just hold on stitch holder.

Thread 4 of the I-cords onto size 7 needles in the following manner: Thread 3 stitches at top of first I cord onto needle, grab the other end of the eye cord - carefully pull out waste yarn and transfer the 3 stitches onto the needle behind the first 3. Put 3 more I cords onto the needle in same manner. 24 stitches total.
Attach yarn.
(Set up for cable pattern)
Row 1: In front of first stitch, provisionally cast on 1 stitch. Knit across all stitches to the end. Turn.
Row 2: Provisonally cast on 1 stitch. K1, {P5, pf/b} 3 times; p6, k1. 29 stitches total.
Row 3: Kf/b of first stitch, yo; {k5,kf/b,pf/b} 3 times; k6,yo, kf/b. 39 stitches total.
Row 4: {k3, p6} 4 times; end k3.

Cable pattern:
Row 1: ssk, yo, p1; {place 3 stitches on cable needle or short dpn, hold in front, knit 3 stitches on right hand needle, then knit 3 stitches on dpn; P3}3 times; end place 3 stitches on cable needle or short dpn, hold in front, knit 3 stitches on right hand needle, then knit 3 stitches on dpn; p1, yo, k2tog.
Row 2: {k3, p6} 4 times; end k3
Row 3: ssk, yo, p1; {k6, p3) 3 times; end p1, yo, k2tog
Row 4: {k3, p6} 4 times; end k3
Row 5: same as row 3
Row 6: same as row 4
Row 7: same as row 3
Row 8: same as row 4

(repeat rows 1 to 8 Eight more times);
then do row 1 through 4
Knit one row.
Place all stitches on holder.

Repeat entire set up section and cable section with 4 remaining i cords.

Join two scarf sections in middle using Kitchener stitch.
to block: steam gently.
Sew in all loose ends. Knot eye cords at each end of scarf to form 4 overhand knots across.

Recipe: Cranberry Hazelnut Biscotti

2005-12-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

Grrr....my camera is still missing!!!! Its hiding somewhere around here.....and do you want to know why?????? Because last week, instead of knitting, I actually DID housework. I remember....I think....picking up the camera and putting it somewhere. Thus, strong reason for the title of this blog: knitting instead of housework. If I had been knitting, I wouldn't have lost my camera.

(my house is picked up, though; and the laundry is done; and I made cranberry and roasted hazelnut biscotti yesterday.....and cleaned the kitchen afterwards.)

Cranberry and Hazelnut Biscotti
(adaption from recipe originally found at Epicurious).

3 cups sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp.
4 large eggs
4 tsps FRESH grated orange peel (not the dried stuff)
2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp salt
6 cups bread flour or all-purpose
2 1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted, husked, coarsely chopped
1 3/4 cups dried cranberries (about one and a half bags of Craisins brand)
2 bars Godiva bittersweet (60% cocoa) chocolate (the large bars used for baking) or any bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Oven preheat to 325.
Using handheld electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in a large bowl until well blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time just until blended. Mix in orange peel, baking soda and salt. Add 3 cups flour, hazelnuts and cranberries; stir until well blended (may need to do by hand depending on power of electric mixer). Add 2 to 3 cups flour (one cup at a time) stirring until well blended.
Transfer dough to floured work surface. Dough should be crumbly and difficult, but not so dry that it is impossible. Divide dought into 4 equal parts. Knead each piece until dough holds together. Form each piece into 9inch by 2 1/2 to 3 inch wide logs. Pound logs as you form them to make sure there are no internal cracks inside the logs. Form them as smoothly as possible - this step does take some physical exertion.
Place 2 logs on each of 2 large ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 3 inches apart (logs will spread during baking). Bake 55-60 minutes. Logs should not be doughy. Poke center of log with knife to see if it comes out clean. Remove logs from oven (leave oven ON) to cool for exactly 15 minutes.
Carefully remove logs from baking sheets, supporting their undersides with a long spatula (so they don't crack in center) and transfer to cutting surface. With electric bread knife (or serrated knife, slice the logs crosswise (across their width) every 1/2 inch. Place slices cut side down back on cookie sheets. Bake for 10-15 minutes and then flip to other side and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes. Slices should be LIGHTLY browned and not appear doughy at all. Remove from oven and transfer slices to cooling racks.
After biscotti has cooled: place back on cookie sheets, cut side down, as closely together as possible.
place broken chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Melt on MEDIUM power for 30-45 seconds. Stir well. Melt again on medium power for 15-30 seconds more. Stir well (continue in small increments until chocolate is melted....should not take long. do not overmelt). Spoon chocolate into a squirt bottle or paper cone (used for cake decorating) and in quick-long diagonal strokes over the entire cookie sheet, drizzle the chocoate to form diagonal lines over the facing side of the biscotti. Repeat drizzling in opposite diagonal as well.
Store in air tight container. May be frozen. Serve with beverage for dunking.

Back to my knitting now...

Free Pattern: Butterfly Cocoon Capelet

2005-12-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

I finished my little capelet for myself and love it! I think that I NEEDED to stop all the Christmas scarf knitting and do something self-gratifying. It gives me incentive to get the Christmas knitting done so I can do some more creative work.

This piece was a joy to make:

Butterfly Cocoon Capelet

materials:
6 to 8 different yarns. textures, multi-colors, solids
(I used sari recycled silk, softee, manos de uraguay (or whatever it was called). , etc.)
1 skein brown sheep worsted weight in color of choice
size 15 needles and size 8 circular (length appropriate to your body. I used 24")

Using both size 15 needles, and long tail method, cast on 33 stitches.

Stitch Pattern:
row 1: k1, [k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k2tog] repeat 3 times, end K4
row 2: and all even rows, p
row 3: repeat row 1
row 5: repeat row 1
row 7: k2, [ssk, k2 tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1] repeat 3 times, end k3
row 9: repeat row 7
row 11: repeat row 7

repeat rows 1-11 until piece measures circumference around body/arms @ chest.

(notes on stitch pattern: don't fret the pattern. just knit. Make sure that you always have 33 stitches on your needle at the end of your rows. Its easy to get off pattern because sometimes its difficult to see your stitches, especially when working with double yarn. I wanted a loose fabric without a definitive pattern. The holes are there so the color of whatever is worn under the capelet will come through as an additional color to the pallette. Work the yarns randomly. Only change yarns on one side so that all the loose ends can be worked in at the top of the capelet and hidden then under the shoulder band. I changed yarns onlly on odd numbered rows. Seek balance and not perfection in this process. It all works beautifully together when you add the cable and shoulder band.

cable:
with brown sheep and size 8 needles: cast on 18 (long tail method with both needles held together in one hand).
Row 1: p2, k6, p2, k6, p2
Row 2: k2, p6, k2, p6, k2
Row 3: p2, cable left 3 sts, p2, cable Right 3 sts
Row 4: k2, p6, k2, p6, k2
Row 5: p2, k6, p2, k6, p2
Row 6: k2, p6, k2, p6, k2

Repeat rows 1-6 until 4 to 5 inches shorter than length of capelet body piece. Now divide cable: Turn
p2, k5, k2tog, ssk, k5, p2
p6, k2 Turn
place remainging sts on separate holder
continue in cable pattern until same length as body.

Finish other cable:
k6, p2; turn; k2, p6 etc)

Starting at top (where all the new yarn joins are) of capelet body piece, seam each body piece selvage to cable, making body piece now into a tube (instead of flat piece).

Sew in all loose tails.

Along top of capelet, using size 8 circular needles, pick up stitches for shoulder band: approximately 2 per every row on body piece. The amount of sts picked up will vary according to how big the diameter of your capelet is. You do not want the sts to either pull or gather the body fabric. Knit one row around capelet. Next: work in a 3 x 3 rib (k3, p3) around garment for 1 1/2 to 2 inches. BO IN RIB PATTERN (Very important for stretch).

Let me know if you have any feedback on this pattern. I am attempting to write out my pieces (as oppossed to just knitting until it looks right) so that I can share my ideas. I welcome any feedback or questions so that I can refine my pattern writing skills. Thank you!!!!

Dec 06.05

2005-12-06T04:04:00.000-08:00

....and what am I doing instead of housework or knitting Christmas gifts????? I'm making me a wrap! Lots of luscious color and texture in this piece. It will be a round tube constructed stole with a strong rib on the shoulder side to grip the shoulders and a cable that runs bottom to top. I'll post its finished photo along with the pattern as soon as I'm finished......which should be today since I have zErO motivation for housework or knitting that I should be doing.

btw: my foot hurts. its in a cast so that's really what's zapping all my motivation. I haven't had one pain free day since the accident Oct. 3rd. And yesterday, my doctor told me that I need to see an orthopedic surgeon now (2 months into the healing process). This summer, I decided that I wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle - some vain attempt at proving to myself that I'm not getting old and decrepid.....also, the gas prices were preventing me from getting to my knitting group of friends way way on the other side of town. I wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle so I could afford to go to the knitting group. Do you see how dangerous knitting can be???? BE CAREFUL PEOPLE!

Yesterday....

2005-11-30T03:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I purchased the yarns for a sweater design that will be published in a book coming out next year.........my husband would have a fit if he had any idea how much I spent. oh well.....I'll be paid for the design once the sweater is finished. The 2nd prototype is being done in pinks and caramels.
But for now....I MUST finish Christmas gift knitting.....and do some housework (blah!).