Of found needles and process knitting

For those of you who received a panicked call from me re: my "lost" needle case--found it. You don't want to know where or how...suffice it to say it now has my name in it if per chance it should actually be lost outside of the house; however some kind of tracking beacon would be more useful for in house displacement! Thank you all so much for looking around for it!!

We've had some progress on the knitting front. I had a vision for these socks.

Then I changed direction.

I don't know whether that was wise or not. At any rate...this is where I'm at for now. Frogging has been the exercise du jour this past week. And it might continue into next week. But that's ok. I'm enjoying the process.

Thank you for your thoughts about the heel. For this sock I decided to keep it as it was, without extending the slip1-knit1 patterning down into the heel turn. I have learned quite a bit about knitting lace flat and in the round from this humble little pattern.

Re: AI: Crikey. The two young women voted off should've had a chance to show their stuff another week. Lesser singers remain. No real surprises with the boys, except for my nemesis is still in the running...I swear if he is in the top 10 I might have to quit AI cold turkey. But they are doing Idol Gives Back again, and that makes up for a lot.

Snooze you looze

We worked on the Garden Path socks last night during AI.

Gibson said, "wake me when that adorable David A. sings"

I knit through 8 guys, cringed through one, and stopped with needles halted in midstitch to watch, listen and be completely mesmerized by David A. Gibson, Paula and I were crying together.

Yep, Gibson and I take our AI that seriously.

Who Knows?

The shadow knows!

Sea Wool

Evelyn Clark

Addi lace size 7

That's a recipe for some mischief if there ever was one!

We have a heel!

Third time's a charm. Maybe. Question: The arrow indicates the border between the "turn" and the beginning of the Slip one-knit one heel flap. The burning question is, do you think this looks like it fits. It feels good. It looks about right. I think I would like the Sl-1 K-1 to continue into the "turn". Just wondering what y'all think?

Some shout outs:

Helllooooo Allison! I've been wondering how you've been doing! So good to hear from you! I'm so glad you finished up the scarf, I'm sure it looks beautiful!!

I caught this broadcast on NPR yesterday. It was about an art shanty village on Medicine Lake in Minnesota. Literally, ON the frozen lake. It has its roots in the ice fishing tradition. It started with one, but has grown to about 20 shanties now, including a knitting shanty...and a mail shanty, and a science shanty...even a shanty of misfit toys...too cool. I would love to go to this! Rani, have you ever been??

Cockeyed, Hot Flash and Etta Mae...check out this sock monkey!!! It won the grand prize in a Food Network cake challenge!!! Yum!

Happy Sunday!!

Moons galore

I so wish I had a DSLR with an uber-zoom lens! I found this article on photographing lunar eclipses...Maybe I'll be ready in 2010!

The total lunar eclipse was phenomenal here in PDX. We were lucky to have an unseasonably clear night. The rains are back. I was working extra late and had some time between responsibilities and found a view point along with everyone else on the road bordering Pill-hill. Watching the different phases of the eclipse was mesmerizing.

I was back on the job during the time of the full eclipse and did not capture the "red moon" phase with my camera. Dang. Thank goodness for Flickr. I found this one there.

And a little Blue Moonstone to bring things back to earth!

Have a great weekend!!

A slow week

It might not look like it, but I am making progress with this sock. Kind of. I can do top down socks with any heel, not a problem. I can do toe up socks with a short row heel, not a problem. I can do toe up socks with a gusset/flap heel construction only if I'm following a pattern, and most often I will opt to change the pattern to a short row heel.

This sock is a challenge as I'm designing my own toe up sock with a gusset/flap heel. I want to understand the construction and to know exactly where on my foot to start the gusset increases (it isn't the same place I start a short row heel...don't ask how I know!). Once I get the first sock completed, I'm golden. End of joke, laugh here.

Guess what? It's AI season!! We are down to the top 24. Boys: David Archtuela is in all the way! I heart him. Danny Noriega...not so much. Girls are tonight, I'm working late...so no opinion until next week!

I'm Back

Color, color, color....the Madrona show was loaded with color and texture

We had dueling wheels...that would be 'Faulty Dyer' to the left and Cockeyed to the right!

Our floor had a glass essay by Susan Taylor Glasgow

You can see and read more about her here.

There was a very cool fire place in the bar...back to that bar thing again...I can attest that the hot chocolate was mighty fine!

The sock monkeys were a hit! These little guys travel with the Sockateers; you can read more about all of their adventures here. The life size horse with a lamp on its head in the bar...bad idea.

Great fun was had by all! I have never laughed so hard in my laugh! It was awesome to spend time with Tina, Debbie, Marilyn, Susan and Carol...and to meet new fiber friends from around the country, too!

Madrona

I'm at the Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat in Tacoma, WA.

We're staying at the Hotel Murano. The glass exhibits in this hotel are amazing. I think I'll have to visit every floor and view the different exhibits. The 14th floor has an exhibit of Dante Marioni...Even the layered glass wall behind the bar is amazing...I was ONLY knitting in the bar, and we all know one can't knit and drink...or can they???

I'm taking a class from Evelyn Clark on Designing Lace Triangles today.

Thank you so very much for your wonderful comments on the Salish Sea Socks!! I'm so glad you enjoyed that post! Have a wonderful Friday...I will keep you updated with festival happenings as I can.

Nisqually

maggie and millie and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

millie befriended a stranded star

who's rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea.”

E.E. Cummings

Monday Ramblings

I have really been enjoying looking at lichen through the lens. I always see something I didn't see with the bare eye.

Goldstone in the sunlight. That's correct. You heard it hear first. Sun. In PDX. Stop the presses.

Breakfast. I just got turned on to these bars...Yum, oh yum. I'm as addicted to them as I am to taking pictures of socks in the snow! And it tastes JUST LIKE A Cinnamon roll. Who knew?

New socks. Garden Path by Wendy in Smooshy 'Lipstick Lava'. These socks speak to me! I must be ready for spring.

Rare Gems

I am not tired of knitting the Teos. I hope you're not tired of looking at them!

Specs:
Pattern: Teosinte by Anne Hanson.
Yarn: STR lightweight in a Rare Gem colorway, dubbed "Gail's Hair" :)
Needles: Addi Lace 2.5mm
Mods: None...how can you improve upon perfection!?

This sock is constructed toe-up using a short row toe. I do a provisional crochet cast on using the method described in Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawl book. I cast on one extra stitch with the waste yarn, purl across with the working yarn, then K2tog on the first right side row. After completing the toe, I can then rip out the waste yarn and pick up the provisional stitches without hitches!!

We've got mail!

Gettin' giddy!

What do you think it could be?

Sweet baby Gibson...that's gorgeous yarn!!

Special Wollmeise yarn.

I've been ogling the La Digitessa kit from Yarnissima for awhile now and finally made the purchase!! I'm so glad! Max is a happy camper, too...there were a lot of pretty ribbons to keep him well occupied and out of the cookies!

And isn't that the cutest little mini skein you've ever seen?

Thank you Marjan!!

Hearts o' Foam

I hooked up with my sister and a couple of friends on Sunday afternoon for some knitting and a chick flick hostessed by Twisted! It was so good to see Tanya...it had been an ageandahalf since I had seen her last! And Tammy was able to make it...yay!!! I even ran into Carrie! A good time was had by all, although we missed Samantha and hope that she finished all her homework.

The barrista at the neighboring cafe made an unwittingly appropriate latte for my sister. I couldn't resist taking a photo before it disappeared. Jill managed to live through the embarrassment of it all!

I hope you all had a good Monday!

The Snow Queen Visiteth

It has been snowing all day long.

The poor little buds are blanketed by a cold wet white quilt.

The Teosintes have been enjoying quite a bit of progress on this wondrous of knitting days.

The Witch Hazel is regal in her winter finery.