Bird's Nest Knits

Summertime summertime...

I love summer time, especially in Southern California.  Long warm days, cool nights, and the bounty of fruit and vegetables from the garden (or the garden box) are some of the things I love most about this time of year.   My vegetables are doing really well, thanks to the Earthboxes that makes it difficult even for ME to kill everything in sight.  Tomatoes, green/purple beans, herbs, cucumbers, peppers, blueberries (thanks Wendy!) are doing really fantastically.  I'm thinking about putting up a box of corn as well.

They can never ripen fast enough for me, so I often end up splitting a single green bean with Mr. Bird or cutting a cherry tomato in half to share.    We've had a handful of blueberries, a couple of kumquats, and a few beans.  The sweet peas have suffered with the heat but I've been able to break open a couple of pods and had some super sweet samples.  Heidi suggested replanting those after the summer since they are a cool season crop.  The tomatoes are growing so fast that every day I go out there I marvel at the number of fruit and can't wait till they ripen.  They've grown as tall as I am and the EarthBox trellis system kicks some serious ass.  I only bought one trellis and the other tomatoes I put up in a cage and the cage proved to be a cheap and really really crappy alternative.  The tomatoes outgrew the cage really fast and then fell over the top because the fruit heavy sections snapped because there wasnt enough support.

I'm hoping that the tomatoes will produce enough to do some jarring in a few weeks.  Homemade tomato sauce - exciting!  I had some trouble with blossom end rot a couple of weeks ago, but I've added some bone meal to the soil and removed all the tomatoes with any sign of it.  Hopefully the rest of the crop will be ok.  I continue to be amazed by how well I'm doing with the gardening and so excited with being able to grow and eat my own produce.

Oh.

Did you think this was a knitting blog?

Well as a matter of fact I have been doing a bit of knitting.  Somethings here and there.  I will have to admit to breaking my yarn diet, not bad that I held out for six months though.   I picked up some Trekking sock yarn from the Grove and started working it up in the Conway sock pattern from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road.

Meh isnt it?  The color way just does not work well with the beautifully subtle pattern of Conway which just gets lost in the varigation.  I thought so at least, so riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.  Bye bye Conway, I'll revisit you soon with a more solid color sock yarn.

I had told myself I wasn't going to be a lemming and would NOT make a pair of Jaywalkers.  Cause everyone and their grandma's roommate had knit these and they just looked too much like the Broadripple socks that I'd already knit.  Who wants to do the same thing right?  Well - I've proven myself a hypocrite because I went with the Jaywalker pattern.  And sheepishly, I must admit its a pretty great pattern and it works up this varigated yarn beautifully.  I was wrong, it's not boring. 

Isn't that pretty?  I'll be kitchener'ing the toe today and casting on for the 2nd straight away.  The two row pattern is very nice cause I dont have to lug around the pattern. 

I've put Mariah on the back burner since I can't get myself motivated to sit and knit with wool during the summer heat.  I plan to get this one done in time for my sister's graduation from nursing school in December which is when she'll be moving back to Seattle and she'll have good use for a warm cabled sweater.

I've made a couple of modifications to the pattern.  I'm extending the cables up the sides to cinch in the body of the sweater to make it more form fitting.  It also keeps the stockinette section from being so painfully boring now that the lovely cabled arms are completed.  I'm also going to make a fold over collar instead of a hood, but we'll see how that all goes.

Can you see where there is a mistake in a cable cross?  I'm leaving it in, cause I'm too lazy to rip back that far.

 

Have I ever said that Elann is evil?  It is.  Really. 

I bought Elann's Callista yarn (50% Viscose Rayon/ 25% Cotton/ 25% Linen) in a DK weight to work on a summer skirt along the lines of the Indigo Ripples skirt from the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits.  It's a much smaller gauge yarn and I'll be doing a leaf lace edging instead of the ripples, but the shaping will be similar and there will be a longer section of stockinette.

I have enough skeins of it in the Burnt Olive color and the Italian Plum for two separate skirts.  Delusions of grandeur?  Considering I've got one pair of socks done and it's June?  Yah probably - but it's nice to dream isn't it?

Oh.  And because I'm a Norma acolyte,  I made up some Rose Petal Jam and it is delicious!  I'll have to call it Rose Petal Lemon jam because the lemon really comes out.  It was incredibly easy to make and I changed the recipe just a bit.  I boiled the sugar, water, lemon juice, rose petal (blended) mixture until all the sugar was dissolved, and then mixed in the pectin (I used liquid) into the hot mixture then poured it into the jelly jars.   

I don't know the variety of rose this is but they are grown in my back yard organically and smell amazing so I figured they'd be perfect for this jam.   I had Mr Bird test out the jam and he's quite the PB & J connoisseur so if he thought it was good that was the stamp of approval.  It's a touch tart but is really nice on toast or with PB.  He really liked it!  I have a jar for Heidi, Crissy, Joelle, Wendy and Yoly.

Thanks for sharing Norma!

Coming up roses...

Primroses that is.  Moving along on the finishing - I went ahead and seamed up one of the fronts to the back piece and tucked in all the ends during some TV watching last night.  I'm not terribly ashamed to show the wrong side of the work and the tension is coming out pretty nicely.  I weaved the gajillion (which is 100 x gazillion)  ends into the seam and it turned out.  Its not a perfect seam - the yarn ends were making it hard to pick up the bars in mattress stitch, and I knew I should have done a selvage and knit every end, and moved in the decreases a couple of stitches etc etc.  But I think it's turning out pretty damn awesome myself.  The Knit Picks Elegance yarn is really nice to work with and the stitches are coming out really pretty.  I can't wait to soak it and block it out again to see how well the yarn blooms.

I have just picked up the stitches for the arm and am knitting those in the round in a solid color to match the ribbing.  I think it will come out quite nicely and gets me out of doing any more Fair Isle.  A fun technique to be sure but those ends are a bitch.  The colors I picked are not too girly but nice and bright and happy.  I will definately be able to get this done before the new year and before Absinthe the Revenge pops out.

So what might a furry child be so intently staring into the bottom of the bathtub for?   None other than Ted E. McSnackersons!  I made sure that Lila stayed seated - and she was enthralled by Ted's cutiful fuzzy buttness while I cleaned out Castle Stinkenstein.    There was one attempt to climb into the tub that was cut short and I was given the look.  You know the look.  The "You are such a mean mean mommy that I must now go eat worms."  Thats life kiddo - you can't smell the hamster's butt just because you want to.  And this ain't a democracy.

It's a good thing he is so cute or he'd be a kabob by now.

Just to prove that I have zero sense of self control - and why I do not manage the finances in my house hold - I'd be holding afternoon tea in the west wing of my Kenmore Fridge box...  Some retail therapy and yarn porn. 

Curious Creek Fibers Serengeti (I loooove this stuff) in the Glacier Lakes colorway.  I'm thinking will be a pair of fingerless gloves for me.

One more day...

I'm so jazzed - tomorrow seven knitters - Heidi, Wendy, Crissy, Hilari, Mary Kay, Yoly and myself are hopping into a couple of cars and driving up to Big Bear for the weekend! 

The idea came around when Heidi and I were noting how fun a knitters cruise would be and there was one with the Stitch & Bitch chick Debi Stoller.  THEN we saw how much it would be.  *choke-$800HAH-choke*  Got the book, thats good enough for me thanks.  Then we waxed poetic about how nice it would be to get away, and go with people we already knew who we had a good time with and voila - The Knitters Retreat was born.  (for a TENTH the cost mind you).  The cabin has a full kitchen so we are cooking most of our meals and hopefully will get a hike in at some point. 

And yes... there will be booze involved.

It was an incredible sunset tonight - heres what it looked like from my back yard.

Amazing what nature can do with a smog layer.

So with the recent travelling - the time afforded me a chance to actually KNIT.  Amazing I know.  And what do I do with the time?  Do I finish any of the various languishing items in my knitting bag?  Of course not.  I immediately cast for Mariah using the Odyssey 100% merino yarn that I got from Mary Kay not too long ago.  I've fallen in love with cable knitting - even though it requires a good bit of attention to follow along with the chart.  I got one of these:

which rules by the way.   Its got magnets and you can frame the row that you are working on.  Why didnt I think of this?   Brilliant.

I'm knitting both sleeves - also known has gauge swatches - at the same time, and Im liking how its turning out so far.  I've got plans for the body too.  I'm going to run the small cables up the sides to kind of shape the sweater a little bit and to keep the knitting not quite so much stockinette.  I also may do a shawl collar instead of the hood.    Its a super secret Christmas present for my sister.   Hopefully for Christmas 06 and not 09.

I got my first skeins of Sweet Georgia Yarns too.  They are mucho squishy and the color is almost edible.  I've got a long list of socks on my to-knit- list so I'm looking forward to casting on for these.  The left is a skein of Speed Demon Sock Yarn in Viola and the right is Marina.   I love me some worsted weight socks.

Forgive me bloggers for I have sinned...

I have sinned and purchased more yarn.  *hanging head in shame*

I'm going to join the Lady Eleanor KAL but I couldn't decide if I wanted Kochoran or Silk Garden.  I like the color ways available in Silk Garden but everyone says that Kochoran is amazingly soft.. so.. uh.. I bought both.

Ok - so in my own defense - I did put up more of my stash up on ebay so technically it will be an even trade - no actual additional cost incurred.

Service Announcement:  If you dont like seeing yarn porn or cant stand it when people post about yarn they buy - please look away.

I got 5 skeins of Korochan in #12 and 2 skeins in #21 - for $103 which is roughly $14.70 a skein and I saw it retail at Knitting by the Beach for 21.00/skein!

I got 10 skeins of Silk Garden in #224 which I love and really wish Kochoran had it.

I may save the Silk Garden for a sweater or something.

The Stash Dissected.

Ok... so that was a rather interesting exercise.  Its like going into a store and trying on a pair of jeans in a size you've always worn and not being able to zip up.  Soon you are hopping around trying to force it up as you start to spill over the top of it.  (ok - so if has never happened to you - you need to go and eat a donut - IMMEDIATELY)   

As I stood there in my office trying to get a photo of the stash and realizing that I could not fit it into a single picture - I know - that moment of catharsis - when you are ready to ADMIT you have a problem...  and I thought to myself, "Dang - I really need more of those plastic drawer container thingies."

So all of THIS:

Fits into THESE babies:

It was kind of a walk down memory lane though - finding the odd skein of Bernat's Cotton Tots or WoolEase brought me back to those first days of knitting.  When a fuzzy fluffy novelty yarn scarf on size 15 metal straights would take me for-EVER to knit.  Then there was the discovery of ONLINE YARN STORES - pure genius.  I had a very torrid affair with Elann, and I still am feeling the pangs of that breakup - it left me with quite a bit of emotional bag(YARN)gage.   

I've discovered that I have issues with following through it seems.  I start out with all of these grandiose plans in my head that seem quite reasonable - but as fickle as I am, my mind is constantly on the lookout for the next big thing.  And I've somehow over inflated the realistic rate of my knitting.  Sort of like how you think you could finish the appetizer, soup, entree, AND have room for the cheesecake at the end.

And like any person - I have my favorites, the ones that even if my stash were worth more than my house, I'd still buy more?  (like... Koigu - mmmpurrrr)

There are two things that I LOVE to buy yarn for - but I never seem to actually finish that much of - and that would be lace and sock yarn.  Mostly because they come in such great colors and fibers that I cant resist.

So - inevitably I knew I'd find yarn that I'd outgrown but is still quite nice.  If anyone in SD is interested in any of the skeins below - just let me know and we can meet up sometime and you can have it.  I'm happy to just get rid of it - but if you wanted to swap a few skeins for a skein of koigu or manos - I wouldn't be denying you.

I think that the Colinette Mohair, and that pile of aran weight wool are the best out of the bunch.  All that this leads up to is the realization that I need to have a stash swap/liquidation.  I'm looking to get rid of all that Peruvian Highland wool, Pure wool in those bags, and the Cotton Sonata - so let me know if you might be wanting it at the next stash swap and I'll set it aside for you.

I'm probably going to Ebay whats not snatched up to cull the herd.  I did attempt to try and catalogue everything I had in Excel but I didnt get all that far.

Spinning demo and knitting lesson tomorrow at the Oceanside Library at 10am!

Holy Dyelots Batman!

So the New Year is starting off pretty well as far as knitting goes.  I've just finished Marnie's Wyvern Socks.  It was a very easy knit - the pattern was easy to memorize after a while.  My third pair of socks which I think turned out pretty well - it made for good commute knitting.  If I were to do them again there are a few things I'd change -

• Not too stripey a color of yarn - the striping of the Lorna's Laces detracted from the lovely scale design, Koigu would probably be really pretty.
• No bottom ribbing - it makes for a little too snug a fit for me, and while it does fit - when the sock is not on - the ribbing pulls the yarn in to the point where it looks extremely narrow.  It got mistaken for a willy warmer more than once.
• DOUBLE check your dye lots.  I used 1 skein of Lorna's Laces and got to about 2" from the end of the cuff on the 2nd sock when I had to break out the 2nd skein... which ended up being SIGNIFICANTLY lighter than the first skein.  *headdesk*  I was pretty sure the dye lot was the same too.  So I had two choices, frog back the first sock to a point where I could steal the yarn and even out the lengths, or suck it up and deal with a lighter cuff and knit to the same length as the first.  Guess which I chose?  The lazy way of course!  Who looks at cuffs anynow, they are usually hidden by pantleg.

• Next time - two socks on two circulars knit at the same time.  No more 2nd sock syndrome for me.
• Kitchener Bind off next time - while I like the stretchiness of the picot bind off, I hate how it rolls downward when you wear them

All in all, I love them even with the minor color issue, the pattern was well written and fun to knit up.  The color is a little blotchy cause they are slightly damp being blocked on my feet.

Pattern:    Marnie MacClean's Wyvern Socks
Yarn:  Lorna's Laces (oops threw away the band)  1.25 skeins
Needles:  Addi Turbo's Size 2
Method:  Toe up w/ Magic Loop
Toe:  Short Row
Heel: Short Row
Bind Off:  2 cast on/ 4 cast off Picot Bind Off

I've also done my swatch for the Sexy Knitters Club Picovili KAL - Knit Picks Shine in Orchid.  I really like this yarn!  Its super soft, and makes a nice tight fabric.  I got gauge with Size 4 circ's and the color is cheery and bright.

I'd not completely decided to participate until my credit card threw itself at the KnitPicks web site.  Can't beat the price either at $2.29 a ball - definately won't be finding something that nice at Michael's or Walmart. 

My contribution to JenLa's ugly avatar contest:

Would it be too gauche of me to bring knitting to Heidi's housewarming?  What if I brought booze and fried risotto balls?  (I thought of Fried Rice Balls, but I know how perverted ya'll are)

Mental Meanderings

So I have this theory about life... 

You suffer through the mediocre for those moments of bliss - and I call it the Corn Cake Concept.  See how wonderfully alliterative that is?

Let me explain...

If you've ever been to a restaurant called Acapulco, El Torito or Tio Leo's - you will have experienced the fare that often passes for authentic Mexican food.  (so.not.authentic)  Invariably a platter of forgettable food shows up and there is a mini scoop of some yellow stuff which is honey sweetened corn cake.  I have never eaten anything at these kinds of restaurants that was noteable save for this teeny bit of corny goodness that they never give you enough of.    You go there knowing that the food will be meh, but you'll get a few spoonfuls of this corn delight that makes slogging through the rest worthwhile.  The portion is just enough to make you want some more, but not enough to make you order a whole side of it which would be over kill and it wouldn't be as attractive the next time around.

Life is like that.  You slog through the mundane parts for the rare and wonderful bits.

Whats your corn cake?

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I've been knitting really - just not what I'm supposed to be knitting.  Clapotis only has the corner left to be done, but that did not stop me from casting on a pair of toe up men's socks (being knit two at a time on two circulars after being inspired by the fearless Wendy).  I did a provisional cast on and a short row toe, and am debating ribbing after I turn the heel.  These will be a gift I think.

Nor did it keep me from stopping by Common Threads to pick up the Fall IK (I am lusting after Everest) and three skeins of Koigu PPPM for a pair of socks like Ariane's!  (Because I am a follower) and a pair of Addi's to knit them on - two at once!

I think I'm going to use the contrasting color for the toe, heel, AND the ribbing at the cuff.  Question now is what pattern if any will I use for the ankle and top of foot?

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Last night was the monthly Oceanside Knitters Meet Up and also Noble Knit's  Knit Night so I got to spend a few hours knitting and drinking wine with other local knitters.  The shop is really great - I just need to convince Heather to carry Koigu and I'll never have to go south again for my fix.

Why you are going to be cursing me in about 20 minutes

Just because I don't need it doesn't mean I don't NEED it

Some people are blessed with a virtue called Restraint.  I however, am not one of those people. 

I know that I have a rather embarrassingly large stash, with more yarn than I could knit in this lifetime, despite the various attempts at culling the herd by giving yarn away, and in some cases, force it upon unsuspecting knitters like Hilari *snickering*.    This does not keep me from enhancing said stash, and even adding items to it without any specific plan.  And I refuse to feel guilty!

I drove up to Torrence with Wendy to head to the Southern California HandWeavers Guild Weaving and Spinning Festival - and her company was fabulous as usual.    We started out bright and early at 8:30 and met up with MJ and Susan  at a coffee shop around the corner from the Festival.  MJ demonstrated her graceful ballerina like way with the drop spindle, and check out the cute shoes she has on!  Err I mean look how lovely the spindle is - don't you want one too?

Since no gathering is complete without caffeine and sugar...

... there was indeed a bit going around.   

Thus fortified with with food and drink we headed on to the Fiber Fest which encompassed two rooms at the Torrence Civic Center.  Probably a half dozen vendors of note, but most were relatively mediocre.  One of the rooms smelled a bit like my Grandmother's closet or moth balls.  There was an abundence of rather musty yarn, but there also was some really lovely hand painted fibers as well as yarn from a couple of booths.  We ran into Julia of Mind of Winter also - she managed to get her hands on some pretty yummy spinning fiber.

Since I don't have enough fiber to spin already  *snort*  I got 8 2.0 oz balls of lovely hand painted BFL in a sort of pansy colorway. (ignore the dog feet)

I'm not sure how that will be spun up - I'm thinking maybe a slubby thick and thin yarn.  I haven't had much experience with that and I'm thinking that style will make the most of the variation in color.  Spun a wee bit of it up in lace weight singles and its rather unimpressive.   And to round out my purchases of the day...

Some loverly fine hand carders from Strauch (112s for those who are curious) for the bags of raw alpaca I have, 3 skeins of some hand painted sock yarn, hand crafted soap and a couple of books.  Not totally crazy, but certainly not needed, but still... needed.

And if you've never seen the way a Boxer looks while begging for pot pie crust?  Voila.

You try resisting that face - I cant.