Unpoofen Man Sveater

My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to knit a man sweater. Not just any man sweater of course but one comfortable AND interesting. One that a man of a certain age can wear. One that won't drive me crazy. One for my Dad.




His birthday is today and before you go thinking I'm all thoughtful, you should know: this is a sweater I may have promised him a birthday or two ago.

Indeed I may have shown him a knit back o' sweater just to prove my fidelity to this project, when in reality I had none. That sweaterback proved to me the whole damned thing was coming out far too large and I had to rip it out. The Lopi I picked to match his silvery blue eyes was not too kind to my hands either.

That being said, I picked up the offending Lopi again and somehow it seemed softer. I began knitting it, in summer (think on that, Lopi wool + sweater+ humidity) and I've made some progress. Hello armpits! Never have I been so happy to see you.

Tonight my family is going to the ballpark and I'm going to knit my heart out on this one. Depending on how the Mariners play I may even finish it off. Unfortunately the old man was called away on business, so he won't be with us, but that will just give me more time to sew in ends and give it a wash.

This boring knit has been a welcome respite from moving, job hunting, etc. It also feels good to finish up some knitting I've been feeling guilty about. I have a few more things on that list and then, then I will knit guilt free!

Memed

The Duchess of Yarnnation, has posted a meme and I've been tagged, umm about 3 months ago. Yes. So let it begin:

Which of your finished projects are you most proud of?

My wedding dress! Mostly because I finished it on time. I'm thinking now that I'd like to separate the top and bottom so I can wear it more often, as it will be less dressy then.

Which of your UFO’s is never going to see the light of day again?

Oh so many. What jumps to mind are some felted slippers using Lambs Pride that I hate the color of. An odd lavender... Nerissa finished hers though in fuschia, embroidered them and they were adorable.

What is the most unusual place you have ever purchased yarn?

Paris? London? Hmm... actually it's probably a stand that sells imported carpets at the Fremont Public Market. They had some recycled Sari Silk that I couldn't resist and of course I have no idea what to do with it.

What is the most money (plastic or real) you have ever dropped on yarn at one time?

I doubt more than $200, in a go.

Where is the craziest place(s) you have whipped out your needles?

I got the most guff about it on a train in London. Apparently people don't knit in public there!

What is the most unique project you have ever undertaken?

Well my wedding dress has been the most "mine" yet. Though knitting for McDonalds was definitely unique. I still see signs with my mittens on them, strange.

I don't want to tag people, but if you want to jump in (Pip, Quinn?) go ahead!

Be We in Paris or in Lansing...

I feel summer coming to a close. The weather is getting a touch cooler every day and I find myself wanting to fix this summer in my mind.

Not that I could forget:

Knitting my wedding dress at my Grandmas' bedside. Watching each of my friends discover Woodstock anew. Jesses' face when he read his vows to me.

I wouldn't forget that.

But I might forget the smaller moments, like blackberry picking with Steph, Zophie and Quinn.

Even if I did draw a little blood for my troubles.
I also got plenty of pie and freezer jam out of it.

And Nerissa Hula Hooping it up with Milo... I wouldn't forget that.

It's been a good summer.

Here's to hoping I can squeeze the best out of the next few weeks.

*Blackberry picking photos taken from quinnwick.com.

Interweave Fall Preview

Oh that Eunny Jang, why does she haunt me so?



Doesn't she know about the unfinished projects I already have languishing? I have no room for more m'dear... but those cables. Oh those cables.

I think my mind is still on vacation

I love Seattle, but today I'm dreaming of a day in New York with nothing better to do than eat bagels in Central Park.

Reception

The reception was a mellow, pleasant picnic where the weather held off enough to prevent an actual downpour. Kids were (mostly) free to run around and adults were free to eat all the blackberry cobbler they wanted.

Here's some of the Hilltop crew doing just that.



And here are many of us with the beautiful blanket they knit for Jesse and I! I believe it's from Mason Dixon Knitting.




That's Karen, Martine, Jenny, Jesse, Betsy, me, Teresa and Daphne (some of the knitters involved are not pictured here). It's adorable and because of the coolness of this summer I've already begun to use it!

Thank you all for the lovely handmade gift to warm our home.

*EDIT* All pictures by Seth Howard.

Brooklyn Finds

One of the places I was most proud to find independently in New York was the Ohio Knitting Mills in Brooklyn. It's a store full of never worn vintage sweaters from the 1940's through the 1970's. The owner apparently bought a warehouse full and is using it to stock his store.

The wares not only stock his store but parts of the original Ohio knitting mill used to manufacture these sweaters are furniture and Christmas work party pictures from the forties decorate the walls.

Not only is it beautiful as a snapshot in time, but you just might get a great deal. The sweaters themselves aren't cheap, but after asking about a table of ribbon in a corner I got a great price per spool. Let's just say I filled my backpack up without a second thought.

Ohio Knitting Mills
231 Smith St.
Brooklyn, NY
718.596.7103

Open Wed-Sat 12-8, Sun 12-6



My sis and I also made it to the Etsy Labs. They were hosting an open house, "Cupcake Day" where cupcakes were served and crafted up on totes, pillows, etc.



That's my sis staring down a giant owl. There were lots of supplies for jewelry making, sewing, knitting, crochet, and general craftiness. It was cool to see the hub of etsy and so many people crafting together. (Note the cupcake bag, adorable!)



Next time I hope to go to the Make Workshop and Craft Lab.

Ta Da!

There have been lots of questions about the dress and so I'm finally posting a picture of it- proof I finished before the wedding. I'm not all dressed up yet, this is in fact a picture of the girls getting ready in the boudoir. Oooh la la!



Still, not too bad eh?

I was pretty happy with it considering how much I strayed, improvised, from the original pattern. It's a combination of Rowans' Butterfly, Alhemys' Ingenue and my own pattern. I used Debbie Bliss Pure Silk and Rowan Kidsilk Spray.

Also if you've read this far you deserve to be reminded about the Half Price Knit Night happening on Capitol Hill tomorrow at 7pm - around 10pm. Let me know if I'll see you there!

Purl Visit

While in New York I had to take a half day to visit Purl in SoHo. Purl is not just a store (or even two stores) to me. I read their blog almost daily and it keeps me updated on a variety of fiber arts. I reread the owners book, Last Minute Knitted Gifts and am looking forward to her new book: Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

I knew I would enjoy my visit to their two stores.

Don't I look happy?



This is me in front of the windows of Purl, can you see the colorful displays of natural fiber yarn? Honestly, I went in, I drooled and I bought a magazine. That's it, one magazine. Albeit an expensive, imported magazine, but just the one. It could have something to do with the mountain of yarn I'm now catologing on ravelry... but I digress.

Purl Patchwork is it's own store just a few doors down from Purl.

Here are the adorable hoops I plan on mimicking one of these days...



Could I have the whold display please?



How much is that kitty in the window?



I didn't get away with just one thing at Purl Patchwork. No, it seemed like I had to have one of each. Not having much of a fabric stash at home made it easy to justify lots of beautiful purchases.

Now I need to get sewing while it's still skirt weather.

Halcyon Days

I can't sum the whole trip up - but it was just what I wanted. It was swimming and picnics, fireflies and lightning storms, dancing and laughter. It was a really good time.

This is the view from our "love cottage", where Jesse and I stayed, towards the grist mill where most of our guests stayed. You can see Zena Creek to the right.



This is the ladies lunch Jill held for us the day before the wedding. That's Quinn, Clara, Diane and me (in the hat). We dined on the high lawn and the ladies shared advice, wisdom and wishes for our marriage. My favorites were the old adage "not to go to bed angry" and even better: to be adventurous!



More to come of the actual wedding, meanwhile I did find some New York City craftiness to get up to...

one is silver and the other's gold

First of all I want to remind those of you who knit on Capitol Hill that there will be knitting this Wednesday at Half Price books starting at 7pm.

That's:

115 Belmont Ave., E.
Seattle, WA 98102-6324
206.267.7777

Yes, I will be working on my wedding dress. It truly is a project I am being faithful too... at least in knitting. I feel guity if I knit anything else.

However, when sewing...



I don't feel guilty at all.

Sewing is completely different and doesn't hurt my wrists the way non-stop knitting is beginning to do. This is an old, old sweater that I love but I thought it could use an update. I recently participated in a vintage button swap and voila!

I've been thinking about lots of ways to incorporate the old with the new. With all the changes happening I find myself focusing on the small things, grandmas old buttons with newly swapped ones. The old and the new. The past and the future.

Hilltop Pub Knitting

I have many knit nights and they all rotate as my favorite at one time or another. Last Saturday Hilltop Knit Night definitely won my heart once again.

Here's Daphne as the patron Saint of Sock Knitters and Bicyclists.



Karen and Brunson kindly brought me to knit night as I was feeling too lazy to bus. Imagine if you could get your husband to knit himself sweaters. Here's Brunson doing just that. Look at how happy he's making Karen!


I still love you, Jesse, but I do wish you'd knit me something, someday. The same way you wish I would take an interest in the Mariners. I guess we'll both have these unrequited desires to deal with. I think I can handle it if you can.

25 knitting days left on the wedding dress...

I'm going to need a lot more fun knit nights. Thank you ladies and gentleman for making one of them completely entertaining. Unfortunately I'll be missing my Thursday night one, as I'm babysitting my bosses daughter. Who is a lot of fun, but not yet much of a knitter. Let's hope she goes to bed early.

Yeah, right.

Shibui Night

The shop had a Shibui trunk show back in March and bad blogger that I am, I'm only now getting around to posting about it.



Kalani Craig of Shibui was on hand to demonstrate toe up socks and promote their beautiful sock yarns. She brought many finished knits with her. It's always fun to see handknits in person as they shine in a way they never can in two dimensions. Here I am striking a pose in their silk and mohair sweater, "Transparency."



Kalani also demoed how their "Origami" sweater worked.

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All in all it was a fun night, full of tempting yarn and useful information.

Taking Form

How's the dress coming along, you ask?



As you can see it's closer to a skirt than a dress right now, but I'm still feeling good about all the progress I've made. Of course I cheated a little by simplifying the pattern...

Most of it was knit while visiting my best friend in Bellingham on my own little get away. My old college town. It was definitely showing me it's best side over Memorial Day Weekend. Such a good small town vibe was in the air and everyone seemed to be in a good mood with the beautiful weather and long weekend.

We got crafty, knitting, sewing and dyeing more slips! I'm sure to be outfitted nicely for summer- as it is shaping up to be a hot one. My goal is to have a few extra, add some lace, buttons, etc. and see about selling or trading some. I've also had an idea with needlefelting that I need to develop.

In other areas of wedding progress- we have a photographer (thank you Corina), my ring (thank you Zophie), a suit for Jesse (thank you Ruth), and an ordained Judge as that's double safe (thanks to Sylvia). It feels lovely to have so much support. To feel like you're not doing this alone. That it is truly a joining of not only two people but of their friends and family. Thank you.

Knit Night Reminder

It's time to knit again at Half Price Books on Capitol Hill this Wednesday at 7pm.

Bring your current knitting projects and we'll provide drinks and snacks. I am thinking about encouraging this to be a charity knitting group. Any thoughts on that?

Hope to see you there!

Wedding planning

I am having trouble finding a wedding ring. I wanted an old, simple ring. Unfortunately the one I've been most attracted to so far turned out to be from the 1930's and platinum. Therefore unaffordable.

I've thought about having a new ring made. However, I have ethical issues with mining.

Any brillant suggestions?

*best suggestion so far: Karen sent in http://greatgreenwedding.com/rings.php

Butterfly Lace

I really am working on my wedding dress. I've been carrying it around with me everywhere and I finally have a little something to show for it.

However it does occur to me that if everyone sees me working on it, no one will be surprised to see it when I'm done! So this sneak peek may have to do for awhile.

Not bad for my second piece of lace though, eh?

Next up: beads. :)

Knit Night!

As some of you know, my betrothed, Jesse works at Half Price Books on Capitol Hill. They have been trying to have more community minded activities at the store and they asked if I would lead a knit night there once a month. I said yes and now I'm scheduled to host one this Wednesday at 7pm!

There will be free refreshments and me. What could be more enticing?

That's at:
Half Price Books
115 Belmont Ave. E.
206.267.7777

Hope to see you there! But if you can't make this one there will be another May 16.

Finished Noro Object

This sweater took a long time for me, over a year. I definitely learned a lot from it. It was only my second set in sleeve, I'd never knit a sweater side to side and it has my first all crocheted edging. Whew!

It's a little brighter than I thought it would be, but that's Noro for you.



Here's me enjoying it in the wild.

There are still enough chilly days left in Seattle to enjoy this sweater, and yes, my boots too!

McDonalds Madness

I spent most of my knitting time this month making McDonalds Mittens. I think I could knit one in my sleep, blindfolded, without the pattern. They were quite simple to knit to begin with repeat a few times and... well we all needed some iced coffee.


Here's Shannon enjoying her McDonalds iced coffee with a nice mitten to keep her warm.

To get serious for a moment, I do want to say this blog is not a McDonalds commercial.

I did consider the fact that I am taking money from a corportion I don't respect or admire. For me, it's ok because it is money flowing in one direction. From them to me. I don't buy McDonalds products and didn't buy these.

If knitting a mitten is wrong, I don't want to be right. Capeche?




Let's not talk about fast food for awhile. Now that I have my hands back I do want to get going on my wedding dress. Remember that?