ISE3 Progress Post 3

Five minutes later and I'm still traveling, and want to thank Holly, my International Scarf Exchange 3 pal, who put together a thoughtful, seasonally color-coordinated (!) parcel for me. Just look at that well-balanced secondary triad.



In the parcel there were all sorts of small niceties to delight a fellow knitter: the scarf, neatly tied with a bit of its own yarn; two holiday potholders and three holiday refrigerator magnets (perfect – I was just bemoaning the dearth of Halloween items in my kitchen), notecards, delicious candycandycandy! and a sweet note. I use the past tense because in a trice the scarf was untied and much of the candy devoured.

No doubt every knitter who has progressed beyond dishcloths can recognize the scarf and the yarn at a hundred paces, even when bundled. I did: it's a Multi-Directional, in a gorgeous Noro Silk Garden colorway. I love the way the color runs worked out. It's even prettier in person and it's mine, all mine.



Thank you, Holly! [Chortle] I feel spoiled. I brought the scarf with me to wear on this trip, but the weather has turned warmish again, so it's sitting in my luggage. Not to worry, though, I'm sure the scarf will see good use soon enough.

ISE3 Progress Post 2

I'm traveling this week, but wanted to post my progress on the scarf for my International Scarf Exchange 3 pal. Here she is, off the needles but still curled.



Uncurled, she's over six feet (but under two meters) long. The pattern is My So-Called Scarf, worked in neck-friendly Malabrigo Merino in colorway Lime Blue.

To help control shazaaming, I knit from two balls alternately. The technique mostly worked. The scarf began with flattish navy blobs which turned into tallish navy blobs, continued with randomish navy stripes, and finished with roundish navy blobs. Had I used one ball at a time, I suspect there would be significant and ever-changing pooling and flashing.

         

I've sent the scarf to my pal along with a few goodies – I hope she enjoys them.

MORE Rhinebeck

I'm glad I went to Rhinebeck yesterday. On the way it occurred to me that the last time I'd been, the old Kingston-Rhinebeck bridge had been in place. The new bridge is quite spiffy, with shoulders (I've never seen a bridge with shoulders before... hm, wonder if cyclists are allowed to use them). The festival has changed as well. Most noticeably, there's MORE.



In general, I like the Rhinebeck vibe. To me, autumn (= sweater weather) is an ideal time for a fiber festival. I like the plainspoken signs advertising fried dough and other fine produce of the Hudson River valley, the earnest young 4-H volunteers, the glorious turning leaves. I'm glad the vendors are predominantly small and regional rather than huge retailers. The live music and juggling and broom guy all add to the pleasant ambience.

Even so, by the time I took this photo, the cumulative impact of MORE had become staggering. It was after I made the newbie spinner's doh! discovery that fiber takes up 'way more space than yarn. After I had given up trying to carry stuff in a succession of larger and larger tote bags and just crammed everything into a garbage kitchen bag, except for the scarf for my ISE3 pal and my Blogger Bingo button. After learning that thundering hordes had descended on The Fold and bought all the Socks That Rock. After the llama parade and the petting zoo with kangaroos, albino boa constrictor, and alligator (???) and the catapult versus trebuchet pumpkin flinging competition. After chicken pot pie and apple crisp and cheese-tasting. Long after the milkshake that Kristen recommended, which was indeed very tasty. Lo, I had reached the point where obsolete interjections and improbable delicacies like deep fried pickles begin to seem intriguing (yea, without the need for wine-tasting or mad science beforehand). It must have been the potent combination of fiber fumes and exhaustion.

I suppose that combination explains why a knit blogger informed me with greatly exaggerated accuracy that I wasn't there. Well, I may not have been all there and I didn't get Bingo!, but I did chat briefly with Bingoists Andrea, Cara, Debbie, Jessica, Mel, and Risa, among others, and even spotted Dolores in the Red Maple Sportswear booth. I also gushed over chatted with Jonathan Bosworth of Journey Wheel, who made my featherweight spindle; Joan Berner of Cloverleaf Farms, who dyed the Blue Face Leicester roving that I won blue ribbons with; and Galina Khmeleva of Skaska Designs, who graciously inscribed a copy of her book Gossamer Webs to me in Russian.

No doubt the fiber fumes also explain the extreme giddiness in the carpool going home. And why I accidentally bought (and drank) a vile diet Vanilla Pepsi ("it was cold") at the rest stop when I meant to get a regular Pepsi. Many, many thanks to Karen, Paige, and super-organized super-motivated Risa for driving!

Once at home, I spun up some micro-skeins. Skeins 1-6 are from fiber acquired at Rhinebeck. Skeins 7 and 8 are from my dyeing experiments for the Twisted Knitters D-S-K-along. Teehee, they look like those collectible STR keychains.

1. Lincoln lambswool from Four Directions Weaving
2. Lincoln x in Cappuccino colorway from Barneswallow Farm, Dewittville, NY
3. Black Blue Face Leicester from Barneswallow Farm
4. Baby Camel from Barneswallow Farm
5. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Superwash Merino in Purple Rain colorway from The Fold
6. Hyperfine Merino (15 microns) from The Fold
7. Kool-Aid dyed Finn
8. Kool-Aid dyed mystery blend

I'm happy with them, although I can't believe 7 and 8 look so... preppy.

Not pictured are the tangled messes I spun from the vast quantity of Border Leicester (the featured breed) and Blue Face Leicester that I bought. The samples seemed nice, but what came home with me turned out to be mostly long, coarse hair that's almost impossible to spin. I tend to underspin and yet given the least opportunity these both counterspin with a will, as if badly overspun, and their long hairs interlock into irreversible pigtails. Given I have beautifully behaved, not hairy BFL, I can only conclude this is from an inferior vendor, sold to an insufficiently wary buyer. Maybe studying mohair spinning techniques would help overcome these difficulties, but I'm inclined to think three words apply: caveat emptor and f-f-f-felt!

Anyway, that was my Rhinebeck 2006. It occurs to me that Sunday people have a completely different experience than Saturday people and commuters a different experience than overnighters. One of these days I'd like to take a Friday class (I'm kicking myself for missing this year's with Beth Brown-Reinsel), stay over, bicycle around a bit, tour the mansions and other historic attractions. There really is MORE to Rhinebeck.

My Rhinebeck Lists

My tote bag is packed (it's ready to go).



As you can see, I'm happy to support (literally) the Presby Iris Gardens (Exit 151), a place of special beauty – here's an entire Project Spectrum in irises, from the 2006 open house.

I have my list of Rhinebeck must-sees:

      Fanatica Fibers - A 1
      Anne's cute f-f-f-felting kits.

      Journey Wheel - 22 28
      Makers of my Bosworth Featherweight spindle.

      Moving Mud - 29 L
      Collectible glass shawl closures and buttons.

      Golding Ring Spindles - A 35-36
      Not that I need another spindle.

      Morehouse Farm 22K and 31 F, G
      Coupons! and hospitality at their nearby store.

      Great Adirondack Yarn Company - 22 2-3
      Not that I need more yarn.

      The Fold - A 25
      Just to see how fast STR sells out this time.

      The Herd of Northern Vermonters - 36 P
      No idea who these folk are, but they sound like fun.

      Plus Kristen recommends the milk shakes.

Super-organized Risa, who thinks of everything, is driving the carpool. Lemmesee... I have my Blogger Bingo card, map, directions, and every medium of exchange accepted by vendors: cash, checks, credit cards (no, they don't take yap stones or fractious first-borns). So that's all set.

Deborah asked which socks I plan to wear. Er, dunno. If I manage to finish them (har!), Embossed Leaves, but more likely Queen of the Jungle Stripe, which are comfortable and still have endearingly mismatched toes despite all threats of a coup.

   

Hope to see you there!

Rhinebeck Bound

I just received my Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo card thanks to tireless Debbie, who slogged through an astronomical number of player and square permutations. I imagine factorials could be involved. My head hurts just contemplating the task.

Debbie and the MOKS tour will be at Stix-N-Stitches (Exit 148) this Thursday! To honor her Gallery of Notorious Knits, I'm taking this old vintage checkerboard shawl to Rhinebeck. (Sorry about the poor photo, it's raining today.) I discovered it this weekend while rummaging through boxes and rotating clothes. It's one of my oldest FOs still extant, the genuine article, a mildly kitschy filet crochet artifact. Groovy! Just the thing for a Blogger Bingo square.



Alas, there's no documentation. I had completely forgotten about this shawl. I remember loving the yarn, a hazy mohair and bouclé laceweight, but can't remember its name or anything about the pattern. (I do remember modifying the pattern to make the shawl smaller.) Its construction makes its tails longer than the tails of a Shetland half-square shawl would be, which helps it sit securely. For reasons unknown, the crochet is worked Bosnian-style. If anyone knows more, do tell.

I'm looking forward to a fun time at Rhinebeck. But I was disturbed to read about SistahCraft's negative experience at the Brooks Farms booth at MDS&W. That's simply not acceptable. Personally, I think anti-racist shoppers should descend on them at Rhinebeck and, if anything is amiss, register their complaints with Festival Manager Bob Davis (telephone 845-756-2323).

Edited to add: Blogspot was behaving badly when I initially tried to post this post. The delay afforded the opportunity to tack on a "proof of life" photo demanded by group mom Sharon for the ISE3 Exchange. Well, friends, not to worry, My So-Called Scarf is still alive, although it's curled into a fetal ball, perhaps to emulate the roving that's been getting so much attention lately. Ah, sibling rivalry. Uncurled, she's more than three feet (1 m) long.



Maybe the scarf would enjoy an outing to Rhinebeck too. Roundabout Exit 151, it's usually the socks that have adventures (they have the advantage of portability), but Rhinebeck is a place where shawls (and therefore scarves, stoles, lappets, and even clapotis) rule. [g]

ISE3 Progress Post1

Arrr! Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! And check out this pirate-y site.

For the International Scarf Exchange 3, I decided to boldly go where everyone else is going and knit My So-Called Scarf for my pal. For those who don't recognize the stitch pattern, it's Little Herringbone in Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns and, sure enough, the right side of the fabric is a little herringbone.



The other side (it's important to consider the other side, especially for a scarf) is a pattern of exaggerated purl bumps or mini-floats or small swags. Whatever you call it, it's purty too. Also easy-peasy.



My pal asked for certain colors, so I picked Malabrigo in colorway Lime Blue for her. It's knitting up soft and cuddly on size US 10½ (6.5 mm) needles – IMHO it's more neck-friendly and therefore a better choice than Manos. The color pooling is turning into a sort of camo dot, which is rather attractive.

This stitch pattern tends to draw in alarmingly, becoming dense and using up vast quantities of yarn. It looks like there will be plenty of yarn; if not, there will be rapid improvising!

(Incidentally, I got the pink needles in a goody bag at the celebrated Yarn Harlot reading at Lord & Taylor in NYC. I missed Knit Out NYC and her reading at Knitty City on Sunday because I was busy.)

International Scarf of Mystery

Happy Valentine's Day to all and especially to my International Scarf Exchange pal! Love is in the air, even for the WeatherPixie (thanks, Tamsin)!

As promised, here's more on the Print O' the Wave scarf, knit in JaggerSpun Zephyr (50% wool, 50% silk). The silk content is a delight to hand and eye, but its singular luster played all sorts of tricks on my digicam. This image comes closest to capturing its elusive color, a rich peacock green.



My pal expressed a fondness for certain colors; her self-description reminded me of the heroine of Da Vinci Code. Like clever Sophie, she too has crossed the Channel (en français, la Manche). Her journey suggested the traditional Shetland lace pattern Print O' the Wave and the left and right Ocean Wave edgings with their graceful cresting wave shapes and zigzag trellis, all charted in the magnificent book Heirloom Knitting.

Before blocking, the scarf was 66 inches (167 cm) long. Stretched on blocking wires, it pinned out to 80 inches (203 cm), as seen here in my hallway with a familiar object for scale. This photo also demonstrates the limits of my digicam's depth of focus (and, yes, your photographer is prone on the carpet).



The same subject, different perspective (your photographer is standing on a chair).



And the scarf ready for mailing.



I considered a Meg Swanson style photo, but will leave that for the recipient. Enjoy your scarf, my pal – wear it in good health and with my good wishes! And many thanks to adventurous Celia and (self-described) impatient Cynthia for organizing a wicked good exchange!

Flame On

Roundabout Exit 151 the week just past has sometimes felt as if the proverbial candle has had afterburners on at both ends. It's Fashion Week in NYC, the Olympic cauldron in Torino is lit, and both Sockapaloooza and the Knitting Olympics have begun in earnest. Fashion! Passion!! Exclamation points!!! If that weren't enough, week's end has brought some timely cheer and the first big winter storm of the new year.

Just ahead of the storm came a pretty hearts-and-flowers package all tied with gossamer ribbon from my SP7 pal. Thank you, Secret Pal! Such faultless taste and timing – even if we get the predicted gi-normous snowfall, I'm very well provided for.



Inside the box: Valentine's Pez, Fiber Trends Fuchsia Lace Scarves pattern, three skeins of Rowan Wool Cotton (colorway 951 Tender), a lovely note, and three fancy stitch markers. This is perfect! I've been coveting Elspeth from Rowan 37. DH has appropriated the Pez [sounds of contented clicking of dispenser in background].

DH has other reasons to be contented: while watching Olympics coverage last night I cast on not one, not two, but three swatches for his cabled vest. From left to right they are Rowan 4 Ply Soft, colorway 384 Smoky Joe; Cashsoft 4 Ply, colorway 437 Thunder; and Felted Tweed, colorway 132 Charcoal.



After close examination, DH decided on the Cashsoft. He actually prefers the springy hand and excellent stitch definition of the 4 Ply Soft, but disliked its lead blue cast. He also likes the rich color and soft fuzzy hand of the Felted Tweed, but noticed it's better as a stockinette fabric than as cables. The ideal yarn for the project would be something springy yet fuzzy, in a true gray... the Cashsoft isn't fuzzy enough, but it's sufficiently close to the ideal. So that's decided.

Someone at The Stitching Bee (Exit 142) tried to convince me that husbands don't notice such things. By contrast, the SnB at Modern Yarn (Exit 148) recommended threatening DH with a "mancho" if he fussed too much. Maybe it's a generational thing. Anyway, Googling turned up this horror one, which is lead gray to boot. Happily for domestic bliss and tranquility roundabout Exit 151, such drastic measures were not required.

Another big decision: initials. The vest will have DH's initials knit in somewhere. So handy, you know, in case someone else at the gym club has a vest just like it. More swatches coming soon.

I wonder if other Olympic knitters are actually watching the Olympics. I've been watching coverage of Fashion Week for Fall 2006 on NYC TV Channel 25. The event itself is over, but (wonderful to relate) the City of New York has its own TV station, which obligingly is broadcasting runway shows, behind-the-scenes interviews with designers, editorial commentary, and after parties. Many designers are showing elegant three-quarter length sleeves. Hm... surely that means lots of lovely long gloves and gauntlets and mitts.

From fashion update to weather update: the snow is falling thick and fast now, but earlier I did manage to get to the Post Office to send this to my International Scarf Exchange pal. It's actually green, but my digicam can't seem to capture that.



More after snow shoveling tomorrow. A full day is planned at Church of the Improv, including installation of the associate minister, but I have a feeling attendance may be slim.

Molasses in January

Stash inventory continues at a slow-as-molasses-in-January pace. (That's slow as, not slow because of.) Yarn inventory is pretty much complete, but the floss contingent lags. The old way of organizing floss was to wind all the colors needed for a project around a folded-up sheet of looseleaf paper. It took a few minutes. One new method is Floss-A-Way, billed as The Instant Organizer. Ha!



Floss-A-Way is a set of tiny, tiny zip bags, complete with a write-on area to record color numbers. I got the 100 pack, so useful for all one's Embroidery Floss & Specialty Threads. So time-consuming, too.

For needles (the kind with an eye), there's the Sweetheart Needle Book. This one belonged to DH's grandmother.



As for needles without an eye, I'm experimenting with lace patterns from the magnificent book Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller, using peacock JaggerSpun Zephyr (50% wool, 50% Tussah silk). The center pattern is traditional, Print O' the Wave, and the edging patterns are paired Ocean Wave, shown without and with flash.

   

This proved remarkably difficult to photograph. Without flash, the embossed spine of the waves and other texture shows nicely, but not the structure of the lace. With flash, the graceful cresting wave shapes and zigzag trellis show well, but the silk in the yarn flares like it's radioactive, obscuring the pretty texture of the stitches. Not to mention the yarn is much more green, much less blue than it appears in either photo. Or the dye is staining my bamboo circular needle green, which is making me purple.

The Extreme Cold of January – Not!

Stash inventory continues to take up almost all available free time roundabout Exit 151. It's not that my stash is so extensive; rather, it's so disorganized! Having hauled the stuff out from its many nooks to examine it, I need to put it back. And, alas, the weather is not cooperating. My plan was to put the stash on the back porch, exposing it to the extreme cold of January (die, müths, die!), but it was 60 F (15.5 C) yesterday and almost as nice today... no hazard to müths at all (and perfect cycling weather).

However, let me quickly note for the record:

Got my scarf. Thank you, Fiona! There's more than one surprise here.



Got my button. Love those sock monkeys! Sign-ups open mid-January.



Sorry to be so brief – I'll have a more substantive post in a day or two.

International Scarf Exchange Questionnaire

Greetings, International Scarf Exchange Pal! I'm looking forward to this exchange – I was in the first round and enjoyed it so much that I'm back for the second round, as are Fiona (the pal I gifted) and the Jena (the pal who gifted me).

My questionnaire is already posted on the exchange website, but here it is again for ease of reference.

1. Name & blogger handle: Ina (Jersey Knitter).
2. Scarf only / scarf&hat / scarf&mittens: Scarf only.
3. Email address: jerseyknitter [at] gmail [dot] com
4. Blog URL: http://jerseyknitter151.blogspot.com
5. Mailing address (which they can send to their pal separately) - not
to be posted on the blog.
6. Colours you like: Anything that goes with black (I spend a lot of time
in NYC).
7. Colours you hate: Hate is too strong a word. I don't much like neon brights, some browns.
8. Fibres you like: Not picky.
9 . Fibres you hate/allergies: Allergic to rabbit angora.
10. Prefered scarf length: Not picky, but I dislike keyhole scarves.
11. Head circumference (only if applicable): Not applicable.
12. Width of hand at widest point (only if applicable): Not applicable.
13. Solid or variegated?: Your choice.
14. Cables or lace?: Your choice.
15. Miscellaneous info (including if you would like the chance to have a crocheted scarf): Please make a scarf that makes you happy! Crochet is fine. I hope having carte blanche is liberating and inspiring - but if more structure is helpful, leave a comment on my blog or email me.

Hope you have fun – happy knitting! :)X

Scarf Has Arrived

My Scarf Exchange scarf arrived today! It's a clever combination of pale green MC knit together with a ladder yarn with rungs the colors of irridescent peacock feathers. I love the sassy flash amid the coolness.



My new scarf is soft and drapey and not too warm – perfect for in-between weather. The pattern is a pleasingly random stockinette and reverse stockinette stripe, so it's reversible. It's an excellent length – just right to wear coiled round the neck or doubled.

Also in the package was a tube of Healing Garden Relax Therapy All Day Moisture Body Lotion, in lavender. Hm, someone's been paying attention. I love lavender. [Pause to smooth some on.] Happiness!

Thank you, Scarf Pal! I think I know who you are (in which case our disparate likes and dislikes help balance the cosmos) but I'll wait for you to reveal yourself.

[Added 10/06/05: My Scarf Pal has revealed herself: Jena, the Yarn Harpy, who is enjoying an enviable lucky streak.]

Scarf Exchange Reveal

Greetings Fiona! Did you guess that I am your Scarf Exchange pal? Your Stripes and Bobbles scarf is on its way to you – enjoy it in good health!

Here's a photo of the finished scarf.



I'm still catching up on the blog backlog. When last seen (both here and on the Scarf Style blog, the scarf was bobbleless, a truly deplorable state for a Stripes and Bobbles scarf. Many thanks to those who offered bobble suggestions. After much hemming and hawing and not a few experiments, I decided on four colors: fuchsia, yellow, brown, and green. Here's another look at the Noro Kureyon stripes with the bobble yarn, DMC Tapestry Wool.



Amanda Blair Brown's design (in Scarf Style) is brilliant – the long, narrow stripes held together only by bobbles form a surprisingly stable and comfortable fabric. While it is possible to twist or tangle the scarf, one really needs to be trying. Most tangles drop out with a shake or two. The scarf coils around the neck and the loose ends swing in the most beguiling way.

Stripes and Bobbles is perfect for showing off the beauty of the long color runs in Noro Kureyon. The stripes remind me of a bundle of colorful Japanese ribbons, a traditional good luck symbol. Fiona asked for a thinner rather than a wider scarf, so this one has three stripes rather than the five called for in the pattern.

I like Stripes and Bobbles so much it's a good thing I blogged that this one is a gift I think I'll have to make one for myself. As an additional modification, I think I'll make the bobbles MUCH bigger or maybe use pom-pons instead of bobbles.

Many thanks to the adventurous Celia and the patient Cynthia for organizing this excellent scarf exchange. I've enjoyed reading everyone's blogs, getting to know everyone, and watching everyone scarfing* along. For me, that's the best part of the exchange.

Now comes the last bit of fun – I'm looking forward to a nice surprise from the mail carrier any day now and to finding out who my secret scarf pal may be.

*In regional American English, "scarfing" sometimes means "eating large amounts of food rapidly." Er, I don't enjoy watching that! and that's not what's meant here.

Stripes Without Bobbles

Inspired by the golden-hearted Yarn Harlot and Tricoteuses Sans Frontières, Susan and Margene are hosting Give A Little for Hurricane Katrina relief. Can you help? If the glow of charitable giving isn't sufficient inducement to surf on by, they're also offering the most covetable prizes. Do have a look.

The suffering in the devastated Gulf Coast certainly puts a shameless personal plea for help into proper perspective. Shameless. Personal. My scarf for adventurous Celia's Scarf Exchange, a modified version of Amanda Blair Brown's Stripes and Bobbles, is almost finished. But I'm stricken with indecision on what colors to use for the bobbles. Can you help? Please leave suggestions in the comments. Thanks.

Here she is, Stripes Without Bobbles (click on the photo for a larger version):



Wonderful Fannie from Marseilles sent another SP5 surprise: A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle. I'm hooked and others must be too – it's the first book in a media triumph that includes two sequels, Toujours Provence and Encore Provence, a book group guide from the publisher, and a movie starring the author. Again, by a happy synchronicity, it arrived at just the right moment, after a truly dreadful week. Thank you, Fannie!

And thanks also to Christina for her e-card, which provided a timely, gentle lift.

Roundabout Exit 151, my township is currently hosting 38 hurricane evacuees, ranging in age from babes in arms to seniors. People longing to donate "stuff" now have names, faces, and shirt sizes! There's overflowing response to immediate needs and some thoughtful provision for the longer term as well. I certainly expect there will be a longer term – after so much horror and loss, I can understand why someone might not ever want to return.

Firmly Resolved

[Edited 7/19/05 to add: Hello visiting RAOKers! I'm so very happy to join the group today. Please feel free to have a look around and leave a comment. :)X ]

The adventurous Celia matched me with a scarf pal who likes jewel tones. Ever one to oblige, I trekked to my LYS and was delighted to find the latest from Eisaku Noro in stock. These rich Kureyon colorways are new for Fall 2005 - the skeins from top to bottom are #159, #147, and #163.



While it frequently seems as if the entire knitting blogoverse either has made, is making, or will make sweet Ruffles for self or another, I am firmly resolved not to do such a thing to my scarf pal. I refuse to be responsible for springing yet another Ruffles on an unsuspecting world and certainly not on my pal. Not I. No, no. Never, never, never!

Such vehemence has a cause: I've already knit my bit, a Ruffles knit in pink Bernat Softee Baby, 100% Acrylic on pink plastic needles.



So the Kureyon #147 pictured above is in the process of turning into Amanda Blair Brown's other design in Scarf Style, the edgy Stripes and Bobbles.