Indulgences

I've had a lot going on in the past few weeks. I finished up my Teaching English as a Foreign Language course and attended a conference on the subject, I've been making concrete wedding plans, I've been teaching a knitting class, working 1 and a half jobs...

I needed a little indulgence. I needed boots. Handmade, Italian leather, boots. I needed these.

Yes, that's better.

Yes, I'm knitting in front of the computer

Two videos with cute boys and wool.

Famous McMitten

The secret is out... Karen and I were comissioned to be part of a McDonalds ad campaign!

They wanted us to knit mittens and banners for their billboard ads and we were sworn to secrecy.

We knit these mittens weeks ago, in fact mine (on the right) is the project I took to Utah with me.

Here's the knitting in the wild! See my mitt?

Where do the sweaters go?

I knit. I knit a lot. So where do the sweaters go? They go to Hilltop Yarn, where I work.



Here is a finished Glee from Zephyr knit in Cashcotton DK by Nashua. So soft it helped me to forget that I don't actually like pink! Top down raglan = one super fast knit.

I knit this one even faster. My knitting group never saw it and I didn't blog on it either, but I did knit it! It's Green Gable, also from Zephyr, in String of Pearls from Muench. Zephyr does a great job at the top down raglan and this one was extra small so it went extra quick. (Again, for the store, not moi.)



I'm knitting all these sweaters for the store in an attempt to save up enough credit to buy a wheel. Yes, a spinning wheel. In particular this wheel:



Joy. I had a chance to try it at a Hilltop meeting where Megan taught many of us to spin. It's unusual in design, funky and quite small. I think it looks like some kind of musical instrument. I'm in full lust over it. Luckily it will take me a little time to accrue enough store credit to see if the ardor fades. Is this like buying a Ferrari just after one learns to drive? Am I nutty?

Yes, I am, because I just cast on for my wedding dress. Eeek! First time knitting a Rowan pattern and only my second stab at lace. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Utah was wonderful and lovely. It was my 3rd visit there but the first time it was for pleasure and not for business. Also the first time I was able to see more of the state than just Provo. We were up by Bear Lake, spending some time in Jim's cabin. It was a manly cabin, there's a reason they call him a mountain man. Here's ye olde welcome mat.



I was quite warm, despite the snow, thanks to the clothes Betsy lent me.
Thank You Betsy!

Jim built and decorated the cabin himself. The decor was mostly taxidermied and antlered, and I loved it! The antlers aren't hunting trophies as he finds them after they've been shed by the animals growing out of them. But the fish he did catch himself and we enjoyed having some for dinner.



There was a fire to knit by and a great view. Here's Jesse, Clara and Charlie on the back porch of the cabin. Behind them is Bear Lake and some of the hills where we went snowshoeing.



Alina really dug the cabin too.



There was lots to see while walking around, including the camera shy wild turkeys, moose and magpies. I did manage to capture some other picaresque scenes. Did I mention there was snow?





I loved the snow it was clean and bright, reflecting more sun than I'm used to, even in summer. As much as I love Seattle there are solid months of gloomy grey that I don't love.

Sunshine is no substitute for caffeine. Luckily we managed to find some of that as well. This lovely place even roasts their own and it was delicious.



We did stop in Salt Lake briefly before flying out. We looked up some genealogy and admired the architechture.



Everyone was warm and gracious. I hope its not our last visit to Utah, soon I'll have family there myself!

Glee

A new year, a new sweater. A simple, raglan, top down sweater. It's Glee from Zephyr knits in Cashcotton DK from Nashua.

The cotton is combined with cashmere and angora, so it hardly feels like cotton at all. It's so easy I can do it even in my pajamas even amongst all my lovely piles of... what's that? Books, music, knitting supplies?
Anyway I started it a little over a week ago and I'm already way past the point in the picture, in fact I'm over 12 inches from when this photo was taken. It just looks better with a body in it then in a lump on my table. Soon it will grace Hilltop, as pink isn't really my color and I'd like some store credit. The holidays left my wallet a wee bit empty and momma needs some handpainted yarn. More on that to come.

Thrift store + chemicals = fun!

Take one slip, preferably from the thrift store:



some dye, I used Jacquard acid dye in Russett:


a large pot and some water:


and the result is a slip you can wear as a dress:


Well, maybe once it gets a little warmer.

Proof that it does snow in Seattle

Serene Seattle

photo by eldan goldenberg

Saturday in Seattle

On Saturday morning I met up with my sister for some belated birthday dim sum, her birthday this time, not mine. I wish I knew the names of the food I was eating... but generally if it has shrimp or it's fried I'm willing to try it.



Then she paired off to see the new Bond movie with some friends... I decided to pass on that and went to Uwajimaya instead. I knew this would be dangerous but I'm not sure I had in mind spending over $40. Hmmm, how did that happen?

There's this book on fabulous button jewelry:



Then this knitting book with nary a dud in it:



Lastly this exciting bit of machinery:



ok, it's a craft knife. But heavy duty enough for my shoe making class. Or so I hope. And yes, I am taking a class on making leather shoes. Yes, I am a Luddite.

Well I knew I'd kind of blown my wad for the day. So I thought I would just take a look at what was in Anthropologie. You know, for knitting design inspiration. On my way over I seemed to have wandered into some parade for Chinese Communism. No, I'm not kidding and yes I said for.



I listened to the band for awhile, but was not dissuaded from my capitalist trip to Anthropologie. I should have known it would be dangerous.



I did want a new coat and it was hard to resist 40% off of a sale... sigh.

And that's how I spend a Saturday in Seattle.

Fall Fashion Fete

The Hilltop Yarn fashion show went extremely well despite my aching wrists and general feelings of sick. I did finish the two sweaters intended for the show, thus the aching wrists, even if I did have to cheat a little on the sleeves for one. Which would be this one:



The Simple Knitted Bodice from Stitch Diva. Notice how they're "capped" hmmm well they're meant to be lacy. I'm actually going to go back and finish them off now that I have the lace pattern down, I just had to see it in the show. That's our own lovely Megan modeling.

Here's Karen all snazzily coordinated in the Penelope Vest from Classic Woman.



Shannon working her own mojo in a Nashua Julia vest from Study.



Matching sweaters and glasses! Daphne and I in Cyd from Jaeger.



Lastly but not leastly, the crowd!



Thank you all for coming, especially my friends and family. Being able to make it to the show and see you all there made my birthday a great one.

Because I don't feel so good

You should know:


nataliedee.com

damn straight.

Hilltop Fashion Show

My birthday is happening this year on the exact same date as the Hilltop Fashion Show!

Which, if you're wondering, just happens to be tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to model, not one, but two sweaters I've knit myself. The first is the argyle sweater vest, Cyd which you've seen a fair amount of. The second... well the second refuses to be photographed well while in progress, but here's my latest attempt:



Ok, you can probably see that this sweater isn't exactly, hmmm, what do you call it? Oh, yeah, finished.

All I can say is I've made it past the lace and for me that was no minor feat. The lace and I are not friends so much. This was our first meeting and it took awhile for it to go well. I think we're on our way now, but I'm not hurrying off to cast on a shawl or anything. And I'm probably going to end up cheating on the sleeves a little, just so I can wear it in the show. I'll have pictures of it all I'm sure. As my Mom will be there and what she lacks in quality of photography she makes up for in quantity.

To recap:

Free Fashion Show
Hilltop Yarn West
2224 Queen Anne Ave. N.
206.282.1332

Modelling begins at 6:30pm, but I'd suggest coming earlier for a good spot.

My sister will also be modelling this week. Oh yes, we are fabulous. Her friend Tuan is holding a fashion show of his own designs this Saturday and he has asked her to model. At Arts, etc. I wonder if it had anything to do with her being tall and beautiful? Hmmmm....

Question?

Did someone try to come to my house last night and didn't make it in? I'm so sorry, but the buzzer goes to Jesse's phone and he was unable to let people in. I didn't think of this when I invited people over. Please let me know if you buzzed and were left outside. I'll find a way to make it up to you, perhaps with yarn?

birds don't have careers

I often wish I was retired.

I like the idea of puttering around the house baking bread from scratch and persuing the many crafts I seem determined to try.

In that vein I have begun sewing.

Well I've puttered with the idea before and I finally signed up for a sewing class. It went well, but my skirt was not completed in the course of the class. I picked out a swingy circle skirt in this fabric:



Wait, can you see my purse on top? Can you tell I like poppies?

I enjoyed how fast sewing is compared to knitting, but it felt fussier as well and the mistakes aren't as easy to fix.

I have an ancient Singer and am trying to decide if I should soup it up or trade it in?



And I actually have begun baking bread, albeit with a thriftscored bread machine. Pretty tasty though.

I knew the bride when...

My best friend, Opie got hitched by the sea on September 30th to sweet, kind John. It was a lovely wedding with a rolicking reception.

This was my third time as a bridesmaid and I was glad to be promoted to Maid of Honor. It was a lot of work, but definitely worth every shopping trip and envelope stamped to see her so proud and happy on her day.



I always wanted to dance with the bride.

A Cyd Tease

Ok, this is most of Cyd, but not all. I have yet to do the ribbing around the neck and arms. So just a partial shot.



That and a very messy kitchen...

Not going to have Cyd done for the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival... but that's alright. It looks good and the weather is cool.

Next time updates from OFF.

sproogles.

"Frisbee Style"

A snapshot of Jesse in Paris.

Alert!

Saturday September 16th and October 14th
@Stitches
711 E. Pike St.
Seattle

Sunday September 17th and October 15th
@Fuel Coffee
610 19th Ave E
Seattle

I just heard about this local artist sale and would be happy to go if I weren't going to be out of town this weekend.

So who's going to go for me and tell me how cool it is?

I think I can make it the next time. Who wants to go with me?

Spincycle Yarns

I went to Bellingham recently to help my best friend with her wedding invitations. While there
I was sitting at an outdoor cafe having lunch and some people at another table started complimenting me on my argyle sweater. Who doesn't love random knitting attention?! They knew their stuff, even the guy knit. It turned out the woman was Rachel of Spincycle yarns. When she introduced herself an image flashed in my mind, much like this:



And I thought, I know this woman! Or more accurately I know her yarn. Gorgeous handspun, hand-dyed, locally made yarn that she and her partner Kate sell at the Bellingham Farmers Market. Well, at the farmers market they wear more clothes than this:



Rachel offered to show my friends and I her spinning studio. I love seeing artists studios of all kinds, bookbinding, weaving, anything really where handcrafting is going on. We nestled into the small space, fingering the roving, turning the carder, and asking dying questions. She was quite indulgent with all our poking and prodding. (Thanks Rachel)

The only downside was that the yarn was already packed up to go to the farmers market... there wasn't any to be had in the studio. And I had to leave early the next morning so there would be no farmers market for me. But I'm resolved to go the next time I visit Bellingham and meanwhile there is always the internet : Spincycle Yarns

I don't really know the "spinsters" as they call themselves, it was just really great to meet some people who are living the dream of making a living with your own two hands. I thought I'd post about it as a small sign of support. May they have many more years at the farmers market.