Lady Cashmere

crochet hyperbolic cactii

2007-07-21T16:47:00.001-07:00

crochet hyperbolic cacti
Originally uploaded by Margaret Wertheim.

check this out! Today I am proud to be a math geek and a fiber artist. The cacti are all crochet hyperbolic plane 'sculptures' ....it is the organic brilliance found through mathematics that is responsible for such amazing structures. i am speechless and so wanting to make my own cacti crochet garden!

Ribs and lace tank complete!

2007-07-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

sorry, no picture yet (until I purchase a digital camera- any affordable suggestions?)
I have proudly completed another project- the Ribs and Lace tank from Interweave spring knit with dark purple string of pearls...-and it looks amazing. More impressively is the ability to wear the gorgeous tank/camisole comfortably and 'safely' without a bra. I'm a small b cup, but still, I am very impressed with the functionality of this lovely little number. Stay tuned for FO pics... hopefully coming soon.
FO number 2 in recent knitting accomplishments from last week is a yummy mohair scarf for mom knit with ggh's soft kid (in a pink/salmon color). It has taken me way to long to finish this long, boring, stockinette st. scarf- and two balls later it looks so pretty. I can hardly wait until her birthday to give it to her.

In cooking news, my angel food cake was a success! my very first attempt at making the light and airy cake, and aside from it being a little lopsided upon inversion to the rack out of the cake pan- it was perfect. I am very proud of my accomplishment, and I enjoyed every delightful and victorious bite with my mom and grandma. I have to give my knitting experience some credit for my recent cooking and baking successes. I have come to a theory that as long as I can follow directions really really well, I can cook just about anything. I realized that in the past few years of challenging myself, I have learned from my knit adventures just how to follow directions meticulously and how to figure out and make up for directional errors.
So yay to knitting and the benefits to the rest of my life.

My next project sweater is the promised gatsby girl pullover from Interweave Knits last year (fall or winter I think- see previous post.. :-p). I'm using one of my all time favorite yarns ever; rowan's RYC silk wool dk in light blush pink. The pattern is terribly addicting and since casting on yesterday morning, I have already completed the first 5 inches. (the pattern is written to be knit flat, but i hate 'second side syndrom' and have altered a few details so i can knit the sweater in the round)
For my lace cravings, I've plowed head-first into the mystery stole 3 knitalong thingie through yahoo groups. I've finished the first 100 rows, and love watching it develop as I knit. I'm using misti alpaca lace wt alpaca in a light green, and I am knitting it with the beads with a white pearl (an optional feature).
and finally, in advance prep for christmas, i've begun a sweater in the RYC silk wool dk (again- I really love this yarn!) for my mr. sweetie man. another interweave knits pattern. more later- when i can picture update my in-progress knits

I hope to have in-progress pics up soon!

baking a cake

2007-07-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

I think I am channeling martha stewart this week. It is ninety - something degrees by the time I sit down to breakfast, and by mid-day the baking bug has bitten me again. Yesterday, I succeeded at my very first attempt at a delicious Italian lemon cornbread shortbread tea cookie recipe; I even taught myself how to knead dough from an online tutorial! I am proud, and the cookies were a reward in themselves.
Today, in honor of our day of Independence, I am celebrating with dessert again. I am feeling fearless and a little more adventurous; I am diving right into my first ever angelfood cake.
I made my list, bought the appropriate pan, flour, sugar, et tous ingredients....as well as the necessary heaving whipping cream, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries to be added later as garnish.
I am hopefull and eager as I am about to christen my brand new cake pan.
A thousand wishes to all for a happy, safe, and lovely mid-week holiday.

Ribs n Lace Tank- On the Home Stretch!

2007-07-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

I am so close to being done with my gorgeous ribs and lace tank... I can barely wait to finish sewing in all the ends, and block it before I get to show it off to all the world. Stay tuned and look for a very proud FO picture within the next week....
In other finishing news... I am also on the home stretch with my pink sock# (the seduction socks I'm working on).

Next project....hmmmm....well, i'm committed to an unofficial KAL with my knitting pal Kiwi to knit the gatsby girl pullover. problem is i don't have all the yarn i need to knit the entire thing. anyone out there wanna trade for something or sell some of their rowan cashsoft dk in dark sea green (about 10 balls) or about 6 balls of silk wool in lt. pink?
besides the longsleeve sweater i won't be wearing anytime soon in this 90+ degree heat....! I just ordered the alene camisole and boy short pattern set from white lies designs.... and am eagerly awating the arrival.

in sewing news, I have pulled my machine out of storage, blown off the dust and started stitching up a storm. I'm just playing right now, but in my adventures with the machine, i've completed 1.5 circular needle cases, 1 everything case (circular & straights etc), and 1 straight needle case.

in secret knitting news, i'd love to share my other knitting project with you, but it's a surprise b-day present and until the blessed day passes, I must keep the details hush hush. it's killing me! can't wait to post a pic with her and 'it' when i give it to her.

ciao for now! and happy summer knitting to all!

ribs and lace tank

2007-06-23T10:36:00.001-07:00

ribs and lace tank
Originally uploaded by lady.cashmere.

work in progress... here is my beautiful ribs and lace tank i was just blogging about... ain't it pretty? the color is a little brighter in the picture, it's actually a dark purple and the yarn is string of pearls by muench. I ordered mine online from one fine yarn (see link at bottom of blog) and was very impressed with the customer service, prices, shipping, and speediness of delivery. (my order even came with a few little candies! :-)

Look for the finished tank soon... I can't wait to show it off...and wear it!

string of pearls from one fine yarn (.com)a

little wallet bag

2007-06-23T10:25:00.001-07:00

little wallet bag
Originally uploaded by lady.cashmere.

look what i did! the pattern is from knittingdaily.com and the yarn is by patons. it's a lovely soy and wool blend (i think it's called sws).
I loved knitting with it, the color selection was very pretty, and it is almost fool-proof to felt with.
I knit this bag up and felted it in about 2 days total. I am in love with it. I think I might play with her fabulous pattern an try to make a mamma size version that will hold more junk (and hide a knitting project while i'm out and about!)

Learning to focus

2007-06-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

I have given in...surrendered... to my over-enthusiastic need to be knitting on a brand new project every day of the week. Hello. I am a knit-a-holic. I am powerless when faced with my creative passions and fiber. This has caused a great deal of knitting frustration, and instead of (as i of course imagined) getting lots of things done all at once, I have gotten nothing done. In fact, many days I end up walking away from my knitting all together thinking I will never finish anything and it's hopeless. Meanwhile, I observed a talented and dear knitter friend of mine (you know who you are :-) plug away at her one project at a time... and finish countless items! One right after the other. I desired to feel such gratification- and through much inner knitter soul searching, I realized I would only obtain such a feeling through dire and drastic measures.
So I took action. I packed up my stash and put it in organized bins and out of immediate site. it's in fact in a storage locker. the storage is walking distance, and really a quick jog when i need a ball for what ever project- but far enough away that i can't just start any old new project at a whim. I know, you're horrified- right? The thought of it terrified me too. how will i ever know what's in there if i can't see it?! here's the funny thing about 'the stash'. it becomes an intimate part of our psyche. we know it inside and out, and when it's out of sight and reach, sadly enough, we still know of every ball that exists.
Once i competed the extraction process of me from my comfort yarn... I got down to business and an amazing happened. I learned to focus. I am proud to say I have almost completed the ribs and lace tank from interweave spring 2007. I finished my first pair of adult socks for my special man. he loves them, and i'm so proud to have finished a pair of socks in under a month! I'm working on my second pair of socks for me- the seduction socks from spring online interweave free patterns. I finished one of my pretty pink seduction socks and am turning the heel of the second!
I am so proud of myself and am living proof that even those of us with clinical attention span issues can indeed learn to focus on, and finish our knit projects!

The birth of a new pattern... and I'm all excited...!

2007-01-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

I have actually been (technically) writing and revising this pattern... this may be the 9th revision...and the revision that takes it into version that resembles barely anything of the original- I think I maybe one of the few who may be able to relate them...

I'm working on an uber feminine, sexy, yet comfy (knit with my favorite cotton blend), corset-tank for the coming spring and summer months. I am overflowing with way too many ideas for this one- so it may be one in a series. I had to slow myself down or I'd be creating a 3-sleeved, diagonal-cropped top cardigan and perhaps forget to mention much about the finishing. I am using a clever arrangement of cable, stitch-count, changing stitch count, and close watch on movement of stitches and gauge to ensure nothing is too tight, and certainly not loose. don't want my cotton 'corset' to stretch. and i don't want it to prevent me from sneaking an icecream. I want it to HIDE my ice cream....
I'm using Goa, one of my absolute favorite cotton/acrylic yarns to knit with ever. They make it in a bulky, worsted and sport weight. the stuff wears like iron. I crocheted myself a mesh farmers market bag, and it held glass milk bottles every sunday when mom borrowed it. 8 months and going strong with miminal stretch/wear and tear...
I hope to have pics up soon so I can shop off my lastest masterpiece. I must brag, I'm quite proud you see. I know I wrote the pattern, but keep pinching myself. My first test knitter is very special. She knit my original version- a simplified tank, with a hint of princess seams at the waist, cables running from the bottom ribbing up to the top of the shirt, becoming the strap over the shoulder, then continuing into the garment down the back to the ribbing. The tank was knit to be fitted a little longer to just a hair above her hips and a touch modest in front with a lower neck in back, with fewer cables. I hope she lets me put a picture of her up. she's just gorgeous and did a wonderful job. I'm so proud of her,...and I think it might have been her project to really learn cables as a project to do together with her step mom.

And yes, it will be available on the blog- hopefully I shall have some sort of propper blog or site by then. Thank you again for the amazingly sweet and flattering reply to my fingerless gloves. I wrote the pattern based on what I would want, taking into consideration the comments and 'if only' 's I heard from fellow knitters.

I welcome any suggestions- I am inspired by every knitter I meet. Ideas come from everywhere...

can't wait to show you! I need to knit some more...

ciao for now

Beautiful Finished pic of my Mt Tam Mitts pattern!

2006-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

check out these beautiful FO's from a few of my talented fiber friends. The "Mt Tam Mitts" are my official (ahem ahem, official business here, important stuff to follow...:) first 'published' pattern. Well, published locally and available for purchase at my friendly neighborhood yarn shop (Marin Fiber Arts)

suddenly...a birthday is around the corner!

2006-11-13T13:19:00.000-08:00

How did a year go by again? I admit it mom. you are right. I am finally agreeing with you. This year is the year time sped up and a year no longer feels like a year in 'real-time'. Holidays, events, weekends and seasons fly past and by the time I finally get my current age correct 9 times out of 10 when asked, I am turning 1 year older.
I received some super news this morning that rings of 'happy birthday to me' from the stars of fiber, passion and creativity (my 'maya religion') watching over me. I can return to the dance studio in january! I love to dance. I began dancing, ballet & tap, when I was 5 and continued to dance until 2002. Because of injuries and back/neck injuries, I was unsure if I'd ever dance again recreationally (let alone be able to take classes again). My current passion is modern and jazz- I can barely contain myself I am so excited. I'd love to try other forms that focus on core strength (like belly dancing, some african dance).
I don't need anything else for my birthday. just a dance class. no- the news is enough. My life feels like it began all over again today. new possibilies blew wide open and hopes that were on hold are alive again.
life is good.

Ms Crafty knits my fingerless gloves, nerves and first-time design jitters....

2006-11-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

Ms Crafty has been busy .... as one of the first to knit up my Mt Tam Mitts. They are just beautiful... and I am getting a little misty. I'm so proud of my little-pattern-that-could.

I wrote the pattern as an answer to the many requests (and frustration at the gap in pattern support )for fingerless glove/gauntlet/fingerless mitts I hear while working at the Yarn Shop. The patterns available were either too simple in shape/style and without a partial thumb or no gusset at all written into the pattern... or they were very elaborate and beautiful (ie time consuming, advanced, and expensive to knit)
I designed a pattern that seemed to meet the requests I heard, and prayed the public would like them :-)
Mt Tam Mitts are my first attempt at writing not only a glove pattern, but a first time writing a multiple sized pattern. Fingers and toes crossed...
I've seen a few 1/2 finished and almost finished pairs... and they sure look nice!

I'm so proud. (Just need to sort out the thumb section....and edit it one more time...)

Adventured in felting part 2

2006-11-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

I finished knitting my alpaca scarf, added bottle caps/balled-up tin foil/random odd objects- to my scarf from the wrong side and rubber-band them in place with the lumps sticking up on the right side. The fun begins ... I just put it in the wash to felt.... I am very excited to see the results!

I feel so special... Thank you Secret Pal!

2006-11-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

I forgot how fun having a secret pal could be.... I know many people have (perhaps) not so great memorie remebering the days of grade school and games like Secret Santa, but I loved having and playing secrec pal games. It made me feel so special- especially when the person who had me took the time to get to know as much as they could to make the experience a good one :-)

I have been all smiles since receiving a VERY special package on monday from my secret pal. (i really wish i had a camera right now so I could show you all a picture of my suprises!) Thank you thank you thank you mysterious secret pal person! I love the washcloth (my favorite color), I used it this morning on my face and it rocks. The chocolate bar... i'm amazed. I buy that exact one at my local whole foods. yummmmmmmy. (it's not gonna last long, but i'll think of you) The Pez candy and ghost dispenser is waaaaay too much fun. I think you did a great job making my week. (the card, was one of my favorite parts. i put it up on my fridge for all to enjoy)

The halloween e-card made my day yesterday and kept me smiling all afternoon...

Thank you again, I really do feel special.

'lady cashemre'

Adventures in Felting and modular knitting

2006-10-30T20:51:00.000-08:00

I'm having a play day today! Sometimes knitting is almost too much fun :-)

It's my day off, and I should be putting major dents into the larger and time-sensitive projects that consume sections of my stash. Instead, I'm creating a holiday scarf and with Blue Sky Alpaca's 100% alpaca sport wt. yarn. I'm knitting it length-wise, on large needles, and will felt it with bottle caps when I'm done. we'll see...
if I can find a friend with a digital camera, I'll post a pic. when I'm done....

I am knitting with Taos from Crystal Palace for the first time and love it. I have decided to use modular knitting techniques and create a felted bag. I just finished the base and it looks amazing. I'm like a little kid- the more I knit the more ampted I get!

I'm also still plugging away at my Christmas presents- which will remain nameless in case those parties are reading this... :-)
(my brother is coming home to visit for Christmas in November instead of December...)

back to my needles!

The Red Scarf Project

2006-10-27T01:02:00.000-07:00

Will you join me for another opportunity in the The holiday season is approaching quickly....This is a time to celebrate family. Life. Our individual/unique talents & gifts contributing to the decisions we make each day about who we are. The once much celebrated and rejoiced winter solstice is almost lost among the hustle and bustle of decorations and last-minute shoppers to come.
in my busy little town of hallmark holidays and guilt-intended commercialism forced onto the consumer trying to buy a carton of milk at the corner store, the distraction from what really matters is all around and near impossible to escape. These next few months are a time to reflect, rest after a busy summer as the days get shorter, indulge within new and old friendships, and perhaps find something within us we would like to give to others not living such fortunate lives.

I'm knitting red scarves for the Red Scarf Project.

I begin tomorrow, Saturday October 28, 2006- and will be working on this project until January.

Want to join me? make our own little KAL? I'd love the company :-) I would be thrilled to introduce just one more person to this project... excited to have a knitting friend (s?), and eccstatic to know others are joining me to make a little difference by knitting with our/their hearts

Items complete so far....

2006-10-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

I am 1/2 way thru a double knit childs cap, and 2/3 done with toddler socks/booties. I also hope to finish, by the nov. 1st, a pair of mittens, another hat, maybe a vest or kids sweater with some of my rowan big-wool in my stash...
hope my fingers are up to a challenge for a few weeks!

knitting for those in need...update

2006-10-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

thank you thank you thank you~!

some of you have already extended your beautiful hearts and knitting time in response to my last post. for pattern ideas and links, instead of posting 20+ random links here, email me and I'll fwd you a list.

in the mean time, the website for Afghans for Afghans is: http://www.afghansforafghans.org (or just click on the link I attached)

thank you !!! and happy knitting...

Calling all knitters with a stash and a warm heart...

2006-10-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

I realize my next urgent announcement is rather last minute- okay very last minute...

but I believe this is something many of us (you know who you are) if not all of us can do something to contribute to the cause.
(i applaud those of you who have been doing this all along)

Afgahns for afgahns is more than knitting large blankets or dropping off squares at a craft store to be shipped away... It is how many children stay warm through the freezing winters. this year the last deadline of the year for these precious pieces of wool to be shipped from the bay area is november 3rd. so far the non-profit has gathered over 400 sweaters and vests for children and young adults, a far cry from the 900 unit goal everyone was praying for.

I am deeply moved by the opportunity to do something in a world where I feel quite helpless at the hands of my own country's 'system'....This is my chance to use my 'voice' in the chance that has been provided for me.

I am asking you to take a moment and look at your stash. do you have enough wool to make a pair of childrens socks? maybe a hat or two in two weeks? get together with a friend and knit a kid's sweater or vest (someone do the front and someone do the back)...
The items needed are for ages infant to young adult, and consist of vests, sweaters, mittens & gloves, hats, socks, and blankets.

If you are interested, I have been emailing with a woman organizing things in the bay area and will be happy to save you the stamp, car trip, etc.... just bring it to the store.
there are a few restrictions regarding the materials and colors- 100% wool only, and please check with me or the website for colors.
if you don't have yarn, I will arrange for you to get enough to make a vest or hat.

If you would like to donate time, volunteers are desperately needed in a few days in tiburon on the 24th to box up the first load. I will probably be there myself for a couple hours donating my time.

are you overwhelmed with info yet?

after this early november deadline...I would like to continue to gather items for this charity in the hopes of building a new stash to contribute to this group or another NGO in next year's spring. What a great way to give back to the world by really giving something from our hearts.!

Birthday Alert!

2006-10-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

I'm Giving fair warning to all.... and a nice, polite, gentle, month-in-advance reminder....
November 20th is a world-wide holiday in maya-world....it's a day to celebrate my being given life 29 years ago! Mark your calendars... note it on your PDA... tell your Personal Assistant... what ever. do what you need to do.

I have said every year for the past 11+ years that I don't really care much about my birthday.... and this year I've decided that is all crap. if it was ever a ploy to get people to do something nice for me anyway- it never worked and I was left with fewer people remembering me on my special day in the end. SO! if you feel like celebrating with me... you fabulous creative people I love to spend my thursday nights with...let's talk :-)

Gosh. I'd better start my birthday wish list... (sorry you-know-who... i'm not at all trying to be a copy cat. I loved your idea! I really like the idea of coming up with a list of 29 things I wanted for my birthday regardless of how rediculous to mundaine...)
I think I'll start one later today....hope I can finish it by the big day!

When did Fall sneak up behind me?

2006-10-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

I'm oblivious to my surroundings sometimes...it's a wonder I haven't been killed by a random bird falling from the sky just as I step outside my front door any day this week. Yesterday it occured to me that the season of Fall was here, and aparently had been for a while now. My denial must be rock-star quality because I was absolutely convinced summer was just ending. impressive.
luckily, my knitting has not suffered much with my confused seasonal or time clock. I am as consistant as ever by knitting every day. I don't necessarily knit the same project from start to finish, or work on one thing at a time... but I do knit steadily every day, and that is a victory worth celebration in my book. for longer than I can remember, compared with any other activity in my life, knitting wins. i think a celebretory something is in order.... do I deserve something as a well-earned reward for my hard work? I should think so. perhaps a little alpaca/extrafine merino? maybe two innocent and lovely balls of Ksar (anny blatt yarns)...? oooh oooh ! I know. I think I shall treat myself to a little cashmere. when i gather a few more pennies. yes....I think that is the appropriate treat.
any objections?
I can't wait to show one of my first pic's soon of an original creation - my design, my pattern....
sorry kids, for now just the pic of the finished sample will be up because i'm offering the pattern for sale in a local yarn shop.
I will have a few of my other free-bies and me-designed originals up soon... as soon as I have time to proof-read them over for the 100th time...
be patient. any of you who have ever posted a pattern you wrote from scratch for mult. sizes knows (probably) the anxiety I am facing about making sure I iron out the details.
I should have more pics up soon too...I hope...i don't have a digital camera- yet- and rely on the kindness of strangers. i think it's time to get a dig. camera. i feel soooo behind the times and way last semester.

cioa and happy knitting

crossing out more of the old 'rules' and .....um....

2006-10-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

It was so easy for me when I was convinced I could argue a method or apply the comfort of intellectual logic. Draw a distinct line between emotions and pretend they do not exist for a little while in the hopes of finding a personal moment in my world of dillusional utopia. Things make sense there, right and wrong is just that and i never knew what it felt like to be anxious for no reason all the time. I knew my little fantasy place was not real, but i liked to pretend it did. Somewhere out there on this great big planet there was a place where I could take deep breaths without a consequence or worry about a cartoon cement block dropping from the sky. I say thay in jest, but I am not laughing.
I am not laughing any more. How does one explain to an a person they have just met and hopes to get to know. Perhaps develope some sort of friendship with? Maybe less maybe more? How does a person like me, who looks 'normal' and 'healthy' on the outside ... explain to the person next to her why she has any number of odd reactions to just about nothing- including the sound of a phone ringing startling her to the point she jumps clear out of her chair and screams. Some times I wish I had a physical deformity. something on the outside VISIBLE to others that would make people stop looking at me like i'm sick all the time, or as though im brain damaged/ different/not right....
Among other things, I am living with and at the mercy of serious hormonal and neurological conditions beyond my concious control. I became unable to work, put in the category "disabled", and went through hell just to get this far after a terrible collision on HWY 101 in 2003. my brain injury plus other long term, just-wont-leave-me-alone injuries are what makes up the great mystery. among other things, - i have tbi (traumatic brain injury) and i will be 'disabled' for 'life' according to doctors. but that does not change WHO i am. nor does it change the possibility for my brain to make new connections and possibly find a way to regain some of the function it has lost in the coming years... it is an amazing organ. I feel terribly embarassed and apologetic about everything, and i don't feel that is right either- yet i put myself there and it's part of my injury side effects.
Just take a moment. close your eyes and picture yourself terrified 23 hours a day that something is or someone is following you, you forgot something very important, you will get lost today, you will do something terribly wrong and potentially forget who you are all together just like that. Imagine being so nervous your blood preassure drops too LOW and you faint if you stand up too fast. I am not looking at all for sympathy. please, that makes me feel worse. I am only trying to understand myself, searching for insight, and digging for the small part of me I still know-sort of - who is strong and able to fight with me through each day, each new 'diagnosis', each new lable.
doctors just give labels. i'm not dead yet, so as far as i'm concerned they have just given me a long classification.....
I feel like I am just beginning to live a completely new life and as much as it is very confusing, painful, difficult, and trying, I would not trade a single day in for the world. My mom who has given me not just her love but done more than I deserve to help me find my life again, my passion and outlet found through creativity with people and my hands, my new friends and aquaintences I know and love in the knitting community, and through a store and indescribable connection with a special person who owns it and lets me volunteer my time, grow, live, and be me again.

I don't wish to seperate logic from emotions anymore... I have begun to blur them for the first time in I don't know how long... (lost my memory too...) :-). In doing so, I did gain something beautiful- the colors outside my window into my garden became a few shades more vivacious.

anything IS possible.

Free Patterns coming soon....

2006-10-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

I guess it's time to throw some of these patterns out there to share. I appreciate the dedicated generosity of the kntting and crochet community with regards to the accessibility to so many patterns and resources for free. Time to get over my shyness and fear...maybe get a little feedbck...
I do have on disclaimer- i'm only human and fairly new at writing these things out completely for someone I don't know to read... I am very helpful with efficient creative fixes (and pattern translation), and look forward to feedback from anyone who feels inspired to knit one of my originals. wow. that felt cool to write. i'm officially a dork and proud to be so.

The naitives are restless....

2006-10-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

I could have sworn I heard my sewing machine whimper yesterday. The poor dear has become so lonely since I took her to work for a simple project- hem, make curtain rod casing, and press fabric panels to be hung. The day after I took my baby to work, the fall and winter yarns started marching through the doors on a daily basis. The shop looked like we were moving in, out, or we were test driving the latest-hot-off-the-truck-leaving the runways in Europe....Haven't you heard? It's all about back to basics. just open the box (trim the flaps off if we feel fancy), pull out the sharpie and mark the boxes as 'yarn for sale'. people can rummage through like they are in an open market... getting a little carried away with my humors fantasy. If i could just get my luck gold belt and hot pants back, I would be able to return to my (normal) wonder woman status. Never lend your fathers girlfriend's brother whom you never met your magic hot pants, thigh-high back-breaking-heel-ass-kicking boots or 'power belt'. I look silly in sweats, a bustier and my head piece...although... i do have that whip.....

As I was saying (or meant to by sentence #2) I was try to sleep, something I have not mastered yet in my first 28- 29 next month! years....late bloomer maybe? I keep telling myself that. Not sure if it makes me feel better, it's more the sill OCD ritual aspect of it that gets me. I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to muster any and all will (want) power left within to not get up and just knit a few stitches, pick out another color grouping of fabrics to work with. I should admit my bedroom is not a great place to be if I want to get creative ideas out of my head, not think of yarn, or start an impromptu painting in the wee hours.
Yeah, uh huh....no I believe you (YOU, the one scanning my words for pieces of humor, relation, interest, free patterns....) yeah. I don't believe any of you out there who just said to a friend or themselves with 'wow. I've never done that before', or 'Why are so many knitter-friends of mine a little OCD? It can't be the knitting community or craft because I'm okay..."
and that stash you keep shoving too tightly into bins, the back of closets, under the bed, in the fridge, in that drawer that no one uses in the house and has forgotten about...... nope. only some of us supper special and highly talented knitters are a little ____ and a little _____ (insert label of choice per this weeks political temperature).
I'm struggling with the self denial part- i was once 'that girl' who blatantly lied to herself about her knitting stash. swearing up and down that every ball of yarn was either occupied or had a purpose and I was forced to store lots of it for the whole project because the yarn companies change their dye lots every day...uh huh. that was the day I fell into my room. over a bag of yarn for a sweater (a whole lot of rowan's silk/wool for an aran cable sweater). It was NOT a small bag. I landed next to an un-touched ball of pashmina that was out in what 'open space' is left, unprotected from the elements-and so I stared at it. It stared back. The feelings of guilt began to well up inside and It was too late to save myself.
Hi. how are you. I'm a yarn-a-holic. and the denial must have been think, I can't find my bed.....to be continued....

SP 9 Answers to Questionairre!

2006-10-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

Here we go... installment #1 and work-in-progress for secret pal 9... the much anticipated 'get to know all about me and my personal/knitting/odds-and-ends info and quirks stuff' questionairre and answers. I plan to keep updating the questions that have not been answered...um...well- the ones that threw me and required a few hours of brainless knitting meditation before I could answer.
Hope you all get to know me a little better :-) enjoy and happy knitting! (p.s. sorry if i get wordy, but i guess that is who i am tonight... so Love it :-)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like all fibers... unfortunately I have developed a taste for the softer things in life after I knit with cashmere for the first time...i was in love at first knit stitch :-). I love silk/wool blends, cotton/wool blends, xtra-fine merino, alpaca/cotton blends (not a fan of the ever-growing & expanding when knit with 100% alpaca/cotton), love bamboo, just knit with a very yummy yarn this week that had CAMEL! in it....
I'm not allergic to any animals, I do have sensitive skin and don't like rough acrylics...

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
plastic bags...some in a needle case i made, my circulars are everywhere (i used to have a case but it busted and my knit bag is too small and over-crowded/un-organized)

*** note from me: i am a VERY creative speller. hope y'all can figre oute whut it is ai meen to say evene if the words ar splled i littl diffrnt....***

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I don't know if I can put a stamp on my skill level- that feels awkward- I guess if i put myself in the shoes of my friends and collegues, and considering I teach others at almost all levels, I qualify as advanced, but feel I can always learn more so the word 'advanced' feels strange....
I learned to knit at age 5 (i'm 29 now) when my mom taught me... and finished my first vest by age 6.5-ish. been knitting and crochet-ing and sewing etc... on-and-off ever since. much of what I have learned crochet-wise and when I want to learn new semi-hard knit techniques; is self-taught. I'm a figure-it-out from the books with needles and yarn in hand kind-of-gal

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
not yet. should I get one?

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

I love anything but real frou frou or super sweet flower perfume stuff. I love candles, incense, bath products, etc.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
anything dark dark chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I love beading, sewing/embroidery, heck i am game for almost all crafts. I love fashion/desisn, writing, and making jewlrey

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)yes my computer cam play mp3's.
I love all music. no joke. I love to play the piano and sing (went to high school on a classical vocal scholarship) and enjoy music ranging from classical to jazz, to chemical brothers and blackalicious...(electronic and hip hop/r&b)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
favorite colors- green and purple, followed by particular blues and reds, then butter yellow... most colors on their 'warmer' tones....except orange. not a fan of orange

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
My two kitties (who are basically my 'kids') and I share a house with my mom.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I love scarves and hats, and my hands are cold year round. I used to wear ponchos more, but they really aren't so fashionable out here in california anymore

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
hmmmm let me think about that one...

13. What are you knitting right now?
1 vest, 2 sleaveless tops, 2 fair isle projects, 3 sweaters, 2 tunics, 2 wraps, 1 afgan, 2 pairs of socks.... yeah... i'm a full-time knitter.... and that was a very conservative list

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes!!! :-)

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Depends on my mood, the yarn, the projectm and the garment. I own one of each, and switch around accordingly. I have yet to knit with rosewoods- but as of yet I knit primarily with a combination of addis, bryspun straights (the plastic tips are great for lace!), and brittany's

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
nope.
my office chair is my make-shift 'swift' of the moment

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
that is a toughie... after some digging, I have decided the oldest one I found was about 3 years old. blush. don't wanna know about any others that might be older...

18. What is your favorite holiday?
my birthday. jk. thanksgiving or christmas because my brother comes home from london to visit!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
besides yarn? lets's see: good books.... good lotion (hand lotion- i am always looking for a good hand lotion)... handmade, cultural-significant, textile souveniers from worldly travels, yarn,..... suprise me :-)

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
no mag. subscriptions, but i love and frequently buy vogue knitting, the interweave mags (knit, crochet, etc)- as for books and patterns?hmmm- i'll have to update this answer in a few days or leave unanswered. there is so much out there.... I am a sucker for stitch-pattern books, design-tools books (i own the interweave basic/ 'handy book of patterns' book of generic patterns and use it like a bible when I write custom patterns...I love the stichenary 1, the vogue books, old 'mon tricot' books, oooold pattern books from the 50's and before- as far back as possible...

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I JUST learned fair isle and intarsia and LOVE it. next i'd love to learn to spin and dye my own yarn :-). other than that- what else it out there?

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes. I am a sock-addict. don't have as much time as i'd like to devote to knitting socks, but i do have the beginnings of a stash in addi's (for the double circular and magic loop method), dpn's, and yummy sock yarn.... LOVE claudia hand paints and the lana grossa sock yarn that has aloe in it. foot size: circ at ball: 8.25, ankle: 8, length: 9-ish, calf (largest part): 11". i think i gave more than enough personal info for this question!

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
my birthday month is almost here!!!!! I'm a late scorpio baby; The official holiday is November 20th. (I hope everyone out there reading this is marking their calendar right now if they have not already)

secret pal has begun...

2006-10-06T03:13:00.000-07:00

I just got my first secret pal! I am very excited... I have been hearing and reading all about the much 'blog'ed about secret pal program.... and finally, I got my chance to praticipate. I received my email tonight with the lucky someone whom I get to spoil this fall. This is gonna be a delight :-) and I hope to spoil her just right...

Moms birday is here and I just can't knit fast enough!

2006-09-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

'Upate... "This just in...." I have finished my second (knock on wood) repeat with the real stuff - aka - the cashmere. (for those of you who don't know the story, I 'practiced this pattern repeat in full scale so I would be available to help anyone who might get stuck...the "two heads is better than one" approach.
you know that approach to patterns, I am sure someone out there has tried it once or ten times with the beatuful rebecca patterns that seem to lose somethin in translation. like a stich. or a row. perhaps forgetting to revers the RS and WS- but no biggie , right! :-)

BTW, I translate the rebecca/GGH patterns too....

I realize, for any of you sho may notice the time stamp of this post, you might think it is a little early considering I don't work for another 5 hours, do not have a small child/baby, and was not out clubbing all night. My explanation is much better: my cat has recently decided to wake up between 2-5 every morning, and if believe if he is up, so should I be. I am not immune to a cat, very literally, licking and standing ON TOP of my head.

So I think I will knit.

Happy Happy Sunday to you all, and Happy birthday to my mommy!!! She is the birthday girl today and will unfortunatly be receiving a wrapped present with knitting needls. I feel only slightly guilty---maybe the knitter in me is getting better at justifying the 'it's the thought that counts' part. is that a bad thing? she's still getting the scard, right?

yeah.

see you all soon,
m

Respecting me...and my choice to 'just knit' and not save the world

2006-09-09T00:32:00.001-07:00

I may just be the most fortunate person I know. When the world as I knew it was still full of naive absolute possibility,'no' was never an option. I was going to do the right thing, climb ladders, follow the rewardless pace of corporations. I was given a moment, when my life came to a complete stop, to look at the path before and ask what I wanted.
Today I sit and knit. I enjoy the inspiration from the wonderful and brilliant minds who feel drawn to knitting. This is MY personal corporate climb in life.... weaving, quilting and creating the fabric of my life one stitch at a time....

Look Ma, no hands!

2006-09-07T23:39:00.000-07:00

I take that back...I am all hands... LEFT hands (i'm right handed :-)

This evening at Knit-Night we had our un-official "official" cast-on celebration to kick-off our informal "Boy-Oh-Boise" cashmere lace shawl knit-a-long. (Knit night is a free,thursday night, weekly gathering of knitters and fiber friends- open to all at My yarn shop, THE yarn shop on 4th, Marin Fiber Arts)
I felt like I was knitting with spun peach fuzz. - hence the all knitting with all left hands comment. 'Boise' by Karabella is a delightful 1/2 and 1/2 mix of super/extra-fine merino, cashmere, and heaven. I am torn between the delightful guilt I feel knitting with something so yummy and the enjoyment I experience as the fibers pass through my hands. The pattern for the lace shawl is NOT one to do late at night, nor while talking. I hope I finish this year! I think i will try to fit in another few rows before bed.
happy knitting.... to you!

Sock yarn dreams .... and 25 hours in my day

2006-09-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

It is official, I am 'one of them'. I am a sock knitter. I am in full (semi)-conscious denial about the 'knit-able' size and fiber content of my yarn stash- 'what yarn stash? - Sure, I probably spent far more than I should have on 'what was I thinking?!' yarns that act as insulation in the back corner of my closet. I enjoy sitting in the middle of my floor, surrounded by piles of color, fibers and possibilities.... The once tedious and dreaded chore of untangling the piles just to free that one ball at the bottom is now a relaxing chore I enjoy.
I feel my way down memory lane in the active pursuit of finding my floor somewhere beneath the pile of tangled yarns. I am swept off by my what could been daydreams and yarn memories as I dive into the tangled mess of long-lost-colors, forgotten balls, half-knit scarves, novelty trends, and left-over materials from a sweater I knit 3 years ago that is still waiting for the left sleeve to be finished and attached. I am forced to make very painful and difficult decisions while picking through the mess of tangled trends of last year (s). It iss a little silly; the affection, attachment, and unrealistic hopes I feel towards the inanimate objects of my creative world. The unwound hanks, balls, and half written/designed patterns - they are my friends!
It seems I have replaced my childhood security blanket and teddy bear with my yarn stash. I have come to the only solution that makes sense to me: knit faster. I can not imagine getting rid of my 'fiber friends', nor can I seem to avoid bringing new projects home- My stash was never a 'real' stash (a blind justification for the healthy denial in my mind).
I look forward to these regular sorting fits, and trips down fiber-memory lane, but am so conveniently quick to forget the recent purchases and potential 'want-to-knit' projects in my real world. I have spent decidedly more time in these recent past-few years Sorting through yarn of past, and I might have spent a few more hours rewinding left-over balls. "I would not change or take back any of it. I plan to continue to collect a few nice fibers, but I don't have a problem' in full-blown denial about have no more hours in my day to even stash. "Other" people might have unbalanced lives as they shift from after-work pursuit of their hobby, life and happiness ... to the land of lost dreamers now obsessed with one or a few things... but not me. I am blissfully in denial, and have socks to knit.

Memories........My very first knitting project

2006-09-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

I still have my first knitting bag. It is a red floral/paisly print, quilted, satin-lined bag with oak wooden handles. I ALWAYS kept my knitting in that bag. While straightening up in the upper loft part of the garage over this past summer, I un-earthed my treasured knitting bag of yester-years. I swore up and down at first it could not be mine, it was waaayy to small. MY knitting bag was MUCH bigger. With her gentle coaxing and motherly sarchasm, she reminded me I was 6 when I received the 'first big girl present' for christmas. I felt so old that year...so important....now I could carry my knitting and look just as grown-up as my mom and grandma when we all got together to knit. As I stood half-balanced by a toe and half of my other heel on a ladder and a beam in the garage, daydreaming of 'the good 'ol days', I realized the bag was not empty!
I reached inside, and was horrified to discover one of the wooden handles had been knawed on, and had snapped. It was as though I had the wind knocked out of me...I couldn't quite cry, nor did I want too, but the shock was unusually strong for a knitting bag. Life did not allow me to suffer long. A moment later, I realized my original needles were still in the bag. All was not lost. I had found my old metal knitting needles. I may never use them again, and it is probably silly to hang onto needles that are old and probably not very good, but the memories they stir and stories they whisper to my subconcious are worth finding a place for them to live safely.

My mother taught me to knit and my grandmother was so excited I had 'taken' to her activity, she made sure I always had yarn, a project, and very special get-to-gethers with grandma. She made me feel like a little lady when I had not yet reached the double digits (10) by extending "Invitations" to have knitting sessions with her. Looking back, I don't know what I would have done with all my figeting energy without the knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, sewing, origami, art (all mediums), dancing, horses and swimming. :-)
I ran my fingers over the old needles and remembered how I struggled with the short needles in the beginning. I was very very little and my knitting needles were almost as long as my tiny arms (I was 5 or 6). My Mother's love and strength infused secretly into me when I was not paying attention, giving me the desire, fight, and passion I needed to survive.

The Cashmere/Boise Madness Begins..

2006-09-03T03:04:00.001-07:00

The excitment in the air is maginifying!...As we begin the countdown at the shop to knit night and the beginning of the Boise yarn (Karabella's Cashmere/Merino fabulosity) shawl knit-a-long. I have never seen a single yarn so popular before, I am in awe of this strange phenomenon that has taken hold the knitters of Marin and beyond. Happily in awe. Business if keeping me busy, my fingers occupied, and my days filled with many new and familiar faces returning from their summer adventures.

Welcome home, great to see old friends. I may not know all your names, but I will most probably know your knitting project and yarn preferance :-)
I look forward to seeing you again as we move slowly into the 1-year anniversary at the shop! (october 25th) It is shaping up to be a good winter and fall season filled with many knitting and crochet projects, knit nights, and weekend gatherings.

the oddest thing happens around boise....

2006-08-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

Today was not a special day on the calendar... nor was it a full moon, but something was 'off'. I was at the yarn shop (surrounded by daily-incoming shipments of boxes and yarn piling up everywhere), determined to make a dent in the seemingly endless amount of yarn waiting to be received, counted, unpacked, priced, and then shelved. We are already out of shelves, so I am creating space where there isn't any, and am really on a roll by the afternoon with the price labels. I was flying through boxes, yarn was disappearing onto shelves- ready to be sold, and I began to feel delight at the thought of eliminating boxes from a few more square feet of our sales floor. Rather suddenly, I came to a grinding halt- I began moving in slow motion. One ball of yarn...at...a....time. Ever so careful with each one - as though I was afraid it might break.... a ball of yarn break!? I had reached the Boise. My current weakness in the world of yarn-fiber (one of many, unfortunately - with a big smile). I was not in control, my subconscious took over and I was at the mercy of my survival instincts.
Fortunately for me, I had saved the Boise to be the last yarn I shelved- not intentionally...or maybe it was...
I enjoyed my brief moment with the yarn, but wonder what it is that takes over not just my desires, but those of many I have observed in the shop around me.... It is such an enchanting yarn...
and tomorrow I return to pick-up with the remaining fibers and balls of yarn, anxious to be removed from their brown UPS boxes, taken out of the plastic, shelved and displayed for all the world to see.

Finding peace with my "product knitter" inside

2006-06-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Big Wool...I must confess, I have fallen under the spell of Rowan's Big Wool. It is not only the perfect yarn for scarf knitters who want to transition to the next level: the sweater; Big wool takes almost no time to knit. Okay, a little time, but do the math with me: 3-5 balls for a sweater, size 19 needles... Only 80 something yards per ball.... I think we can all compute this sans calculator.

I got a little over-excited and will soon end up with a long sleeve textured sweater, fingerless mitts, a sweater/dress, a bag, 2 books (one down, one to be purchased), and perhaps one more sweater- a cardigan. The 40% off sign made me do it. I swear. It was all the sale's fault. I became a walking, planning, buying, Big Wool, Big needle-buying zombie. Crazy.

If anyone out there is planning to buy Big Wool, It may be in your best interest to purchase it soon. I do come in every day. All day. A dangerous situation, especially since I discovered the magic behind finishing entire sections in an evening. I am on knitting big yarn fire. socks. I wonder if I can make socks our of it. ...
something to consider....

ALL YARN IS ON SALE AT MARIN FIBER ARTS!!!!

2006-06-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to continue to pass the word... the VERY good word...
Starting Friday July 28th, running through Sunday July 30th when we lock you yarn-a-holics out waaayyy after closing- ALL yarn will be 30% off.

Yes, you read correctly. The starting bids are 30% off and will run as high as 50% off on a several yarns we feel the need to be rediculous about.

NOW is the time to begin thos winter and fall sweaters... start thinking about all those wishful 'handmade with love' christmas gifts, etc. This sale provides the Perfect opportunity for you to stock up and begin preparing ahead this year. (unlike me- I waited until after turkey day... and needless to say all gifts did not get finished and sleep was not a priority until we opened gifts at holiday time...) I strongly advise, from my personal experience, to join us this weekend and take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

happy knitting,

Lady Cashmere

Do You Sell Yarn?

2006-06-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

True Story...

As usual, I am enjoying a lovlely day in my zen yarn garden listening to the wall of water splash gently just outside. Children are laughing and squealing with delight on this summer day as they run razor scooters into our windows time and time again with their parents looking-on... cameras and cell phones activated.

The phone rings.

Me: Good afternoon, Marin Fiber Arts
(in a cheerful, salesperson sort of way)
Customer: Do You sell yarn?
pause....
Me: Yes-
Customer: What kind?
Me: We have a full selection of wonder fibers from extra fine merino wools and mohairs to cottons, chenille, bamboo and more...
Customer: Any Acrylic?
pause again..
Me: we have many blends with acrylic ...(cut off)
Customer: Do you sell knitting needles?
Me: Yes. (I don't skip a beat hear) We sell every kind
Customer: Can I BUY the yarn?

I took a moment to refrain from laughing out loud and offending any customers who were currently meditating in our zen yarn garden...

Me: Yes. The yarn is available for sale. We also offer a full selection of classes.

Does this customer think we are a gallery? maybe I should suggest there is a fee at the door for a quick tour, and just a little more if they want to pet the cashmere....
Of course the yarn is for sale!

I hastened to end the conversation by suggesting they come in for further examination of our facilities....

and yes. this is a true story. customers give me some great material- and now that I am back
with a new computer, look for more humorous adventures from the Yarn Shop on 4th Street.

Until Next Time... Happy summer knitting!

Fiber Dreams on 4th St. Cashmere

2006-05-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

I Love Yarn.

The Perfect Yarn Store should inspire, not overwhelm. Once Inside, I take a few laps to make myself comfortable with the layout, and wait for the 'excitement' to calm. I need to be able to make one lap around the store without picking up every ball, I am then ready to accept my creativity. The Yarn Store on 4th Street has become a painters palette of possibly. I no longer see balls of yarn....
addicting,, yet strangely comforting, I indulge my senses in the smells of wet wool., and organic Alpaca. The unique odor pleasures my calm delight. Afraid, as though I were surrounded by my great grandmothers crystal, I am cautious to let my hand approach. A finger glides gently over a strand of the precious cashmere, kept on display at the front counter where it can be watched with high security. A strange moment occurs and I seem to erupt from the inside out. I have lost all control of me. This is almost embarrassing, but far to euphoric to be bothered with the details of social order at the moment. I find my hands diving full ten-fingers into the depths of the bowl. Cashmere is everywhere.
It all happened so fast and I was told later I made the oddest noises. Yarn was everywhere. It took a good hour or two to recover most of the balls that sat on display at the front counter. We were still missing one for a day. (the other missing one was recovered in the sleeve of a model sweater in the back of the store).
I was found, after this erratic, volcanic eruption of yarn, sitting half-propped up on the floor with a painted -perma-smile on my face looking like I needed a cigarette. I do not recall the play-by-play, just the growing excitement within, followed by a feeling of complete bliss.

The final ball was later recovered. It was found in the tangles of my sweatshirt hood.

I have been advised to stay so many feet away from fine cashmere, after 'the incident'... but I have a feeling I am not strong enough to deprive myself of such a thing...

More yapping about Rowan....

2006-05-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

Summer Knitting is ALLLL the rage! The warm weather, relaxed attitude, lazy weekends... what a great time to start you fall sweater! I am offering my last 5 years of failed experience, It is very hard to impossible to make a successful sweater that will keep one warm enough once the sweater is finished and the temp outside is at that point freezing (I usually purchase one by then)....

More Rowan praises. I shall try to refrain after this post from playing favorites. just one more thing:

According to Spun Magazine.....

In an article talking about good yarns for beginners, guess what I found, my current obsession of the week:

" Rowan makes a number of yarns that, although pricey, are great for beginners. They’re soft, the colours are great, and they produce really great textural effects. Big Wool is the least interesting of the bunch, in that it’s a single colour smooth yarn. Big Wool Fusion, Plaid and Spray are variations on a smooth yarn, with colour effects. Chunky Print, Biggy Print and Ribbon Twist add a bit of slubbiness and variety to the texture, also with a choice of one colour or variegated or tweedy effects. Two to three balls of any of them produce a most excellent scarf. "

Hail The Mighty Gauge Swatch : : Part 2

2006-05-30T02:37:00.000-07:00

I suggest knittng a few just for fun when planning a project. One in the morning, to test your morning gauge, one at the office on your lunch break (gotta test your lunch time 'work tension'), and one in the evening to test your evening gauge and stitch accuracy.! Of course I might consider adding another swatch or two; one to machine wash, and one for hand wash results. (So far we are up to at least 5) If the pattern calls for different stitches or needle sizes.... well, multiply that by .... okay maybe not 5 for all needle sizes and stitches, but at least a few. Perhaps swatch once in a few 'unconventional' yet probably places you will end up knitting - such as: the bus, at the movies, in a car (preferrable not driving), walking (I knit and walk all the time, don't you?), under the table at dinner, behind your back when your boss is babbling on and on, in a waiting room, out of your purse waiting for a table..... etc... I know some of you secretly do this, and many of you know you not-so-secretly do this... :-) The Gauge Swatch is on my TCOK (Ten Commandments Of Knitting). Why gauge swatch? It is one of the essential elements of a project you hope to someday finish, will actually fit, and will make sure there is a logical way to figure out how much yarn and exactly what size needle will make the garment. I know, it's like doing homework, or if you were like me, writing a term paper. I never minded writing them, I was usually pretty good at it, it was the thought of sitting down and having to do all that research, drafting, writing. ick. In the end, I would pull a paper off, usually, but the skin of my pants the night before or morning of. That worked okay. Most of the time. But not for long. Same thing with my knitting. Impatience NEVER pays off. I had to learn at some point, kicking ans screaming, how to sit down and swatch my yarn, plan my garment, plot out my design, and calculate yardage. No more "winging it". I was beginning to feel embarassed about my not so - shall we say 'un-refined' finished pieces that began leaving the house less and less until they found a place to R.I P. in the back of a closet. It took me close to 20 years before I willingly, sat down to swatch yarn. I now sing the praises, because low and behold... it actually works! Occasionally I still moan, but think of it like starting to do a workout when you really don't feel lik it. once you get out there, you realize it's really not all that bad. Before you know it, you're done with the tiny pieces of fabric, and the information you have gained is invaluable. You will be saved many potential hours of ripping out many rows, entire sections, or perhaps an entire sleeve. So just do it. Swatch your yarn. please? save yourself and those around you much heartache when you realize you are knitting on the wrong size yarn, needles, both, or run out of yarn and find out it has been discontinues. Worse yet, you finish your beautiful fair aisle sweater, your first one, and accidently you end up felting it because you didn't know wool felts and yours was not superwash... I have heard of real stories just like that one. Gauge swatches rule! I can offer a painless way for you to get them done with too! come to Thursday Night Knit Night at Marin Fiber Arts

Hail The Mighty Gauge Swatch : : Part 1

2006-05-29T18:53:00.000-07:00

I bow down to the holy Gauge Swatch.

Gauge Swatches. I Hated them. Would not give them a thought, let alone be caught dead knitting one. I didn't need too. I mean really.... Knitters who obssessively knit gauge swatches, check off rows neatly, keep little notebooks - you know the type - they are the really uptight ones who want everything perfect. They never make mistakes, and when they do, they are crazy enough to be seen tearing out entire sections of their work! Yikes! What a waste.
or so I thought...
I didn't understand what the big deal was? why waste the time to undo almost half the stitches that are knit in a piece just so it looks right? Why knit little squares on many different needles, measure them, and carefull plot out the finishing plans and technique of a garment before the first stitch was ever cast on? When I stumbled over my many stashed, stuffed, hidden and stored-in -shame half-finished pieces, some partially recongnizable and some beyond any english description....I realized my hasty approach was not working. Skipping the most important part of my project was producing knitted, knotted, ungly, and saddly dissapointing disasters. I was just so excited to get into my project that I had 'no time' for all that boring planing and research stuff.

I realize I have learned several valuabe lessons from this experience:
I hide ugly and mistake projects well. My closets are not big enough to hold my stash and my fiber mutations. Fiber mutations can not be made into bags, and do not felt well. They also do not make pillows, good pillow stuffing, and cats will tire easily with them due to their bizzare nature. My stash is not getting any smaller and needs an intervention; maybe I'll come up with a 'home for retired stash yarns (ie redheart/ caron/ etc)' to be donated to knitting charities that need yarn as one form of donation. I could be saving so many people! releiving them of that black hole stash that no one wants to go through, and helping the charities that need it...
I also realized nothing I knit with the exception of handbags, mittens, hats, and scarves (and only a few that I gave away, nothing I have here) ever came out in a 'wearable outside the house' condition. I need to slow down and swallow my better than them pride. I am them. I need to swatch. I need to take notes. I need to check off rows. I need to plan. I can not deny who I Am any longer.

I Crochet. I make doiles with tiny hooks the size of a sewing needle. I sew. I am a knitter, and I need to embrace all that accompanies it. gracefully. I am a fiber artist and proud.

Knitting as life...

2006-05-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

Knitting is just a simple metaphor for life.
duh.

I used to be in such a hurry. About everything. I never had the time to really read ALL the instructions, skimming them usually worked...A missed dose of a medications here or there wouldn't really do any damage... Etc. Right. There is of course the day I sit there in confusion, wondering why the bookshelf just fell down on top of me when all I did was put one extra book on it, and why were there all those random pieces of hardware up there anyway? Or how did I end up in such poor health, again? What went wrong? Yeah. There is Always time to take a moment to do things properly. We live in this ridiculous world of super-non-productive-multitasking. I am surrounded now, here in Marin County, by a plethora of people who have mastered the art of doing so much they do nothing. It happens when a persons wants to be more productive. So innocent, they start juggling a few tasks, and perhaps a coffee soon joins the mix. The natural high follows when the realization occurs and one's ego is inflated with productive supernatural pride. A dangerous thought follows- here is where it all goes wrong, and for janitor's, where we start hoarding (the stash reproduces in the night); what is an extra project or few... We could always cut back here or there, lose an hour of sleep, drink more coffee, and become excellent masters of the word game for justification. I consider this the 'hampster-wheel' life, or similar to the game of chasing red squirrels away from the bird feeder. (for those of you who have ever had RED squirrels, you understand.) They can be chased away, but the shot of it is they are bold, smart, and do not give up. It becomes a question of : are we chasing them or are they making us chase them.
Our stash- are we in control of it? In good faith trying to work through it? We are daily knitting it up, and do we manage to maintain it and make it grow so we must continue to knit at a frenzied pace and never really make the things we want to make for ourselves, or is our stash in control of us?