Pocky Day

It's Pocky Day, 11.11.22. If you know, you know.

Meanwhile, my old utili-sweater suffered a blowout. Make that multiple blowouts, but one example will suffice for illustrative purposes.

The blowouts are so many and so extensive as to preclude darning, patching, weaving, or other repairs. What to do? I wonder....

Stop the Madness

Somehow I never did quite summon the necessary enthusiasm for Madness. I mean the fake Internet, do-it-for-the-lulz, March Sock Madness variety and not the real world warring madness types. The latter have a way of draining the joy from everything, rendering the former empty husks. I gathered yarn, printed the qualifying pattern, tried a few color combinations, but advanced no further. Ah well.

Instead of Madness I did a spot of baby knitting. There's nothing like babies and baby knitting to restore a sense of goodness and sanity to the world. This is Watermelon Baby Cardigan by Stitchylinda Designs worked in King Cole Cottonsoft DK. Beautiful pattern, beautiful yarn – I especially love how the yoke increases look like watermelon seeds.



That's better. On to Yarnia Sock Bingo, Summer of Socks, and the new-to-me Supersock World Championship, on Ravelry and on a companion website. Despite its grandiose name, SWC seems reasonable and mellow and I'm hoping to qualify. But, as always, the countdown timer waits for no knitter. Must knit faster.

Pedants and Scofflaws at Summer's End

Every year without fail, some quarrelsome pedant or other may be counted on to argue that the end of summer is actually the autumnal equinox and not Labor Day weekend. Woe is me, this Labor Day weekend I seem to be awash in pedants, more so than usual, and I am tired. Maybe it's the torrential rain, maybe it's the subsequent heat and humidity. How hot and humid is it? Hot and humid enough that gadgets large and small at the U.S. Open were malfunctioning, from the ticket scanners to the big video screens. But not to complain, I'm glad I could attend this year after missing last year.



Then again, I rather doubt heat and humidity explain the inane questions this interviewer put to rising star Naomi Osaka, who bore it with patient good humor and only a little side-eyeing. Edited to add: Naomi Osaka went on to win her first major title, decisively upsetting six-time champion Serena Williams in what also became the most controversial final match in U.S. Open history.



It also doesn't explain these tomatoes. I planted what was supposed to be an orange cherry tomato plant, that is, a plant that bears orange-colored cherry-sized tomatoes, but what grew was an orange-colored slicer. Oh well. They're tasty, strikingly colored, sub-acid, and sufficiently plentiful for a half batch of Orange Tomato Jam. It would have been a full batch, but some hungry pedants gorged on a few.



After a bit of cauldron work, I had – dare one say it? – summer's end in a jar. I used 20% less sugar than the recipe specifies, white vinegar instead of cider vinegar, and gochugaru instead of smoked paprika and cayenne. I'm happy with its flavor and especially that it held its color through cooking down and processing. We shall see how it holds up in storage – if the hungry pedants don't eat it first.



Some pedants insist on no white after Labor Day. Scofflaw that I am, I cast on a white linen Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig. Although it's hot and humid outdoors, I could use a little something in the frigid air-conditioned indoors.



It must be admitted the project involves a scofflaw's gambit – that it will be finished before the onset of cooler weather and so can be worn this season. Also a scofflaw's optimism that if not, it can be worn next season. Tralala.

Another Wrap

The month of August has fleeted away with only one blog post, backwards progress from two in July. Aiya! It's a new month, time for another wrap, verily, a wrap sweater. Behold Sabine by Julie Weisenberger, worked in Shibui Knits Linen, colorway 2032 Field. Here's the front of the cardigan.



As per usual with Cocoknits patterns, Sabine is well-written, enjoyable to knit, and the results are delightful. The pattern calls for Superior, a luxurious cashmere/silk/merino blend, but is equally lovely and considerably cooler in chainette Linen. I'm a sucker for out-of-the-ordinary yarn – Linen sometimes made crinkling sounds when still in the skein, but it softened considerably with handling or in humid weather. The knit fabric blocked easily and drapes beautifully. Here's a view of the back of the cardigan.



My only lament is how long it took to start and finish the sweater, my August Camp Loopy project. Initially I swatched and cast on for Hitofude, then realized I really want a Hitofude in a different color. I tried double-dipping with the 2016 Ravellenic Games, but was DNF, shorthand for the other frustrations of my frustrating August. At least I finished the cardi before the end of August, although I posted its photo to the Camp Loopy gallery so late, I'm still waiting to learn if it beat the September 1 deadline.

Other than that quibble (which is more about my schedule than the sweater), I'm very pleased. I wanted a transitional piece, a cardigan in a rich autumn color yet a breezy summer fiber for those fall days when the school year/program year has begun anew but the weather is still sticky. Summer clothes no longer seem to match the increased formality and tempo of the season, and heavy fall fabrics are completely unbearable. Enter Linen Sabine – perfection in cardigan form.

See Time Go By

My NaKniSweMo project is knitting a replacement for my trusty old hausfrau cardigan, which is looking quite worn. Hausfrau cardis are what I call the capable cardigan sweaters I wear while doing rough work around the house – cleaning gutters, breaking garden beds, shoveling snow, etc. They're as much to protect my other clothes as to keep me warm, and they have specific criteria: must have deep raglan armholes for layering, must be wash-and-wear, must be a go-with-everything basic color. Oh, and pockets are a helpful touch. Loni fit the bill. It achieved the vast expanse o' stockinette stage almost immediately. I suppose that's a good thing, albeit lacking in dramatic flair.



Compared with a vast expanse o' stockinette, this video of eight geese a-walking is simply chock full of action and suspense. DH says it reminds him of the Warhol movie Empire, a highlight of which is a flock of birds going by.



Warhol said that in his film gentle viewers can "see time go by." No offense, I prefer Branch Brook Park in autumn guise.

Fair Enough

Now where was I (literally and figuratively)... right, listening to sheep baa. Did not know they stick their tongues out so faa.



On the drive down to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival I finished my little cardi, Summer Open Cardigan by Diane Soucy worked in Noro Taiyo (colorway #18 on the body and sleeves, #23 on the ribbings). Some Facebook friends demanded a proof of sweater photo, which Risa obligingly took. Being a camera-shy blogger, I lost my head for the blog.



The sweater is a quick knit on oversize needles for the yarn, which yields a comfortably drapey fabric that some entitled people cannot forebear to fondle, without asking and with me in it (boundaries, eyeroll). I knit the version with side shaping, a silhouette that seems better suited for dresses than trousers. However that may be, the cardi was just right for the festival, which (unlike some years) had fine weather, short lines, and a relaxed atmosphere.



As for my fairings, I bought a beauteous Spanish Peacock spindle: 32 g, Bolivian rosewood whorl, maple shaft. It has a different balance than my usual.



A Golding Celtic Ring #2 spindle also followed me home: 1.3 oz, cherry whorl, walnut shaft. I love fast, rim-weighted spindles, so the cut outs should make this one close to ideal for me.



I've been trying to spin down my fiber stash, but this pretty Polworth roving called my name. After the crazy fall and winter I've had, pretty looks good to me.



And I got the festival T-shirt, pictured above with the cardigan. A long time ago a chatty festival official told me T-shirt sales were sufficient to cover all costs. This year there were 40th anniversary buttons for those who made a free will donation to "Help keep the festival free!" Sounds fair enough to me.



After all, I want to keep Big Bo Peep and others like him a-walking their sheep in the Parade of Breeds for a long time to come.

Improv

A quick canvas of area yarn shops for more Taiyo colorway 18 came up empty (other than some unproductive carping, eyeroll). So I used colorway 23 from stash for the ribbing. Colorway 18 has some wintry tones amid its spring brights, which makes me hope the addition of 23's ultramarine tones isn't too jarring. Sometimes with Noro it can be difficult to tell.



The ribbing gave me lots of practice with a new-to-me 2x2 rib bind off from Cast On, Bind Off by Cap Sease. I quite like it. The book is a must-have, it you have any liking of knitting technique.



On to the (short) sleeves! I plan to be at MDS&W on Saturday. Tomorrow is my travel day = knitting time. Above is what I have left of colorway 18, with colorway 23 and some mystery leftovers. Think I'll make it?

May Day

It's May Day alright. After one skein I realized there's Not Enough Yarn. I thought there was, but it turns out an emergency trip to a LYS is necessary.



Onward!

Sweater in (Almost) Real Time

Hello, knitters. Imagine Isaiah Mustafa. I thought he said, "Stash dive!" so I did. I got yarn, pattern, and a long holiday weekend ahead – I'm going to attempt to knit a sweater in one week!

As usual, I'd been dithering about attending Rhinebeck, with the result I hadn't knit a Rhinebeck sweater. The reasons for indecision are the same as always – the press of other obligations, SABLEosity, economic jitters, etc. Then I had an ah-ha! moment: the two are actually independent of each other. If one can knit Couldn't Foot It socks and not attend Sock Summit, surely one can knit a Rhinebeck sweater regardless of whether one is the little piggie who goes to market or the little piggie who stays home.

As before, to reduce the self-referential noise, I'll blog my (hopefully rapid) progress all in this post.

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Thursday, October 13
The rebooted Leaflet cardigan is leafless, with yarn from different skeins alternating. I'm liking it just as well that way.



Wednesday, October 12
Back to square one. Ah well.



Tuesday, October 11
Nooooo!!! Dyelot fail! Although they're all the same dyelot, the last two skeins are completely different than the others – darker in color and less variegated. And of course I just noticed that.



Seriously bummed at the moment.

Monday, October 10
Right sleeve finished and right on track. Tralala.



Sunday, October 9
Leaflets three – on to sleeve island.



The ribbing is knit to pattern, but I'm thinking another row or two might balance the cardigan better. Hm....

Saturday, October 8
Second leaflet done and it's starting to look sweater-ish, even under poor indoor lighting.



I'm modifying the waist shaping to avoid the M. C. Hammer action figure look.

Friday, October 7
Almost finished the yoke at SnB last night – that's one of three leaflets done.



I thought about alternating skeins to help prevent pooling, but decided I don't care. Onward!

Thursday, October 6
The selected stash yarn is Malabrigo Merino Worsted, colorway 88 Indigo, salvaged from a frogged vest.



The selected pattern is Leaflet by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. Top-down sweaters and I often do not get along, but we'll see.

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It's Cinnamon Bun Day

Today is Kanelbullens dag, the national Cinnamon Bun Day of Sweden. The holiday is of even more recent vintage than Kwanzaa, yet no one seems to be criticizing its authenticity. I'm looking forward to partaking. Hm... I wonder who has the best cinnamon buns roundabout Exit 151?



While we sort that out, here's a wisp of the latest knitting, Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, in Malabrigo Lace, colorway Vermillion 24, knit at DK gauge. Top-down sweaters and I often don't get along, but so far, so good.

Modest Success

The day's drenching rains spoiled my plan to take Seedy button shopping, so instead I finished [cough] another languishing cardi to the ABB stage, Sitcom Chic, pictured with a seasonal brooch as a fastener. The brooch works sufficiently well it's tempting to just call Sitcom finished and not add a button and button loop.



It was a bit of a surprise to see how comparatively few Sitcoms there are on Ravelry (as of this writing, 293 projects, which places it 42nd among cardigans). The pattern is free, well-written, easy, and fun to knit; the specified yarn is a good value and widely available; and the results are retro-chic yet eminently wearable. Regardless of how others overlook or even spurn it, I could see making another, perhaps in wool with full length rather than ¾ sleeves.

Emboldened by modest success, I'm knitting onward and even joined the NaKniSweMo KAL. For mutual encouragement and support, Nancy and I are doing a mini-KAL within a KAL for Seneca by Jared Flood. The designer's comments are helpful – I'm going to do a full sample swatch, wash, and block on the sideways cable section. Besides, diligence is its own reward – having missed the September Brooklyn Tweed event at Stix-n-Stitches, I hope to wear Seneca to the reception at Knitknack in December.

ABB

Seedy Cardi is almost finished. She's quite wearable as-is, even went to Rhinebeck on Sunday, where she performed admirably in the cold and wet (but my poor digicam misbehaved – sorry, no pix). I love her rustic Noro-esque beauty.



She's just ABB, all but buttons. Once upon a time wearing a cardi sans buttons would have bothered me. No longer. Indeed, I'm brazenly flaunting Seedy's buttonlessness. Behold! – a buttonhole with no corresponding button.



Otherwise, the loose ends are woven in, the leftovers neatly wound, and the trusty tools stowed. I suppose if I hadn't been quite so obsessive about color-matching, there would be a nice full skein left instead of a motley collection of short pieces. Oh well.



Objectively, Seedy isn't heavy for a handknit cardigan – she's well under 500 g (17.6 oz). But she feels substantial, so I stabilized her back neck with a row of slip stitch crochet, using a leftover bit of a smooth yarn, Cascade 220. On the inside of the garment, it looks like a chain.



On the outside, it looks like a decorative running stitch between the collar and the body of the sweater.



The crochet chain works to limit stretching along the back neck, which can be pulled out of shape by the weight of the sleeves, resulting in drooping shoulders. While the effect may have appeal in a luscious angora sweater, I want Seedy to have a firm shoulder line. There's a slight difference in the drape of the sweater, which seems a reasonable trade off for the improved fit.

Ordinarily, I don't much like to wear sweaters with collars, they fidget me. But the turn line on Seedy's seed stitch collar forms crenellations that frame the face, a rather nice special effect. I'm no good at self-portraits, so modeled pix will have to wait 'til DH is available. In the meantime, Seedy's going shopping.

Mixed Bag

This morning I woke to lowering skies and the rattle of sleet against the windowpanes. I hope those heading to Rhinebeck this weekend travel safe!* And... dare I say it? The prospect of cold precipitation on a fiber festival makes me appreciate anew the desirable properties of plastic bags even as I try to reduce my use of them.

On such a gloomy day full of such ambivalent thoughts, it was a particular happiness to re-read the entries for my blog giveaway and to see the level of environmental awareness and commitment to positive action – thanks to all who entered. Is it ironic that the prize comes packaged in a plastic bag? However that may be, by random draw the Sheep 2 Shoe kit goes to Katie. Congratulations, Katie!

In her comment on the previous post, Jessica expressed the hope the Seedy cardi has two sleeves. It does indeed, here's photographic evidence.



Alas, I'm currently picking out the mattress stitching on the shoulder seam of one of them. I was sailing merrily along (tralala), but a moment's inattention led to this horror.



Can't tell what's wrong? Here's a closer view. When properly executed, mattress stitch makes nearly invisible seams in handsome columns. The scissors tips are pointing to – cue Drama Button – a jog in the column.



It's got to go.

*A somewhat self-serving hope, as Tami and I are going in Nancy's carpool.

Gone to Seedy

Oh hai. It's that time of year. Remember the Seedy Cardi from last year? I'm finally blocking it.



I knit the cardigan in a week, but it's taken a year and the pressure of another looming Rhineback to get around to piecing it together. Procrastination, I haz it.

The milkweed pods are drying nicely, but (wouldn't you know it?) according to an article by Lili Pintea-Reed (posted by Leesy), the best floss is collected from green pods and spun while still moist. Naturally, mine are seedy.

Reminder to nonprocrastinators: my Sheep 2 Shoe kit giveaway is open through October 15.

Showing Stripes

Columbus Day is a good day for assessing the tomato patch. While tending it yesterday, I found bits of a cast-off snakeskin, pictured with a state quarter for ::cough:: scale. All this summer (alas, never when a camera was handy) I kept seeing a perfectly enormous striped garter snake, almost three feet (0.9 m) long, and now I sorta have proof of its existence.



I also picked some tomatoes – neither as many nor as nice as this time last year, but a decent haul for mid-October. If the warm weather holds, I figure on picking about this much every few days for another couple weeks. If not, oh well.



My Rhinebeck sweater is right on track: back, front, and one sleeve done. I'm loving it. Here's the vast expanse o' stockinette view.



With this much finished, I can tell the armscyes are not quite right, so I'm going to rework them after I finish the second sleeve. While I'm at it, I'll lower the neckline just a bit, too. The pattern is very well written, but Kureyon knits into a fabric with a firmer hand than many worsted-weight yarns and the mods will accommodate that. If I don't get the drape I want, I'll use a different yarn for the collar and possibly the button bands.

I'm hoping to finish the second sleeve tomorrow evening, October 15, during the third and final presidential debate, which will be moderated by Bob Schieffer at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY.

Part of me thinks Long Island isn't that far from Exit 151 and the weather is quite mild, wouldn't it be fun to stand around outside waving a sign? The university does seem prepared for guests.



However, the prospect of a protracted sojourn on the Long Island Expressway, aka the World's Longest Parking Lot, dissuades me. Guess I'll stay home, keep an eye on the campaign stunts meter, and stick to my knitting.

Rhinebeck Fever

Last night at MY SnB, Nancy wanted to know if I have a new Rhinebeck sweater. My external reply: Uh, noooo.... My internal thought process:

new sweater!

I'm sure knitters will understand that, and what happened next.

When I got home, I pondered how to make a sweater in one week. I contemplated finishing a UFO from Norovember 2007, Rosedale. (When last seen, Rosedale was tucked under the bed in the guest room to keep her out of the holiday frazzle. Alas, out of sight, out of mind.) But one year later I no longer like Rosedale's corrugated ribbing, so —



(A leaf fell into frame while I was snapping pix outdoors. It's warm and sunny today!)

Now I'm knitting feverishly on Cardigan with Garter-Stitch Trim by Linda Daniels (in Knitter's Stash). Except I tried and hated the garter stitch trim and substituted seed stitch.



Let's see... finish the back today, the front over the weekend, the sleeves by Wednesday, block on Thursday, seam on Friday... a cardi in one week is well within the realm of possibility [g].

Contre le Montre

We're in the midst of a heatwave roundabout Exit 151. The township has a new alert system that emails residents during emergencies, including dangerous weather – extreme heat kills more people than all other kinds of weather put together. Last night's alert: widespread power outages, take precautions!



Uh, I knew that already – it was dark and hot, rather like the above wip. Not to mention I can't read email during a power failure. It would seem the emergency system has a key vulnerability.

Knitters, of course, knit on, even through multiple blackouts. The result is the new Sitcom Chic by Bonne Marie Burns, at the vast expanse o' stockinette stage. I want to wear it at an over-air-conditioned conference this weekend. Will it be finished in time? To be continued....

Meanwhile, proof positive the heat has f-f-felted my poor wooly brain: I've signed up for the Tour de France Knit-along, in the Maillot Vert or Green Jersey classification. That means I intend to start and finish my project, Shetsoie shawl by Odile Buatois-Brand, during the TdF (July 5-27). I'll be knitting contre le montre, against the clock!

Which is not to say I'm against clocks in the anti sense or even in the S-twist sense... although after resetting the clocks in the house five times (so far), I am wondering why we have quite so many.