The camera and the computer are talking again, so let me get the show and tell over with.  Boogie dyed up some fantastic yarn for me to use in my blanket.  It came this afternoon, and I’m afraid it’s way too gorgeous for the blanket.  Thankfully, Ruadhan was at the house when it came, and she exudes a great amount of knitting reason.  She agrees that the yarn has a higher calling.

Not that I don’t love the blanket–I do.  But this yarn needs to be featured–it’s a front and center kind of yarn, not a supporting, structural, acceptable yarn.  Maybe some patterned knee socks are in my future.  Or a shawl.  This would be a gorgeous shawl.  Something else will finish the edging.

This is what I bought at the retreat:


Some beautiful roving, green laceweight, and green sock yarn from Jen, and some raspberry Claudia Handpaints and some blue Jitterbug.  I’m really excited to finish spinning my current fiber so I can move on to what Jen made.  It’s so much deeper and more satisfying than the Lorna’s candy floss I’m playing with now, which I’d been avoiding for ages. 

This is the sock yarn that came off the stash table.  Blanket two is going to be made up of only watery colors.  Some of these bits may have other uses too, though.  Like that skein of wool/tencel on the right.

And this is where the blue got really powerful.

The two columns on the left are all wool/silk that Rosi brought.  They want to be made into   . . . . something lacey and maybe mobius-y.  Yep, English major powers are strong today.

And these were in the goodie bag we received upon arrival.  Along with Vogue Knitting on the Go Socks Two, a knitting audiobook, and some Lantern Moon Circs. 

I may never buy yarn again.

For a week and a half, I get to work from home.  Sorry–I don’t mean to rub it in.  But few things make me happier.  I’m giddy, I tell you.  And dressed like a homeless woman, or a whimsical girl’s doll.  But with hand-knits.  Unmatched hand-knits, and pink pajama pants with dogs on them.  I should get my aviator goggles just for effect and go outside to confuse the neighbors.

They’re replacing carpet and repainting most of the walls in our building, and the effects on folks with  allergies and asthma were less than ideal.  A few of us made a recon mission to a lower floor to see how bad the dust and fumes were, and I got a really awesome sinus headache for my trouble.  Tuesday, I went in to our office and made sure I had everything I would need, and just sitting at my desk a floor above the nearest worksite made me sneeze 27 times in a row.  I know because the guy in the next cubicle counted.  And laughed at me.  But offered to watch my plants, so it’s cool.

So on these several wonderful days, I get to plug in about 45 minutes after I normally leave for my hour-plus commute, work for several hours, and then agonize about whether I want to have lunch with my husband or take my dog to the park, and then plug back in for a few hours, and enjoy my afternoon commute 15 feet to the kitchen.   To make everything better, we’re actually getting some of the rain we’ve needed so desperately AND I’m not using gas or eating out, both of which make me nearly sanctimoniously gleeful, if that’s possible.

I tentatively unpacked the yarn and fiber from the KR Retreat yesterday afternoon.  It may exceed the storage space I’ve alloted for each.  I don’t like to exceed the storage space.  It makes me twitchy.  I thought I’d be fine because I brought a lot to give away, and I only bought sock and lace yarns, neither of which take up much room.  But some of my friends were really shopping the give-away tables for me.  There was a lot of blue-acquisition taking place on my behalf.  Also, the goodie bags that Clara hands out at the Retreat are increasingly generous–needles, books, yarn.  And one of the classes came with its own yarn.  I better get knitting.  I would show you, but somehow my computer and my camera decided to stop speaking to each other overnight.

Last Thursday, I filled the car with wool and tools, plugged my GPS system into the lighter, and drove drove drove all the way up to Lenox, Massachusetts for my second Knitter’s Review Retreat.  As usual, I took far fewer pictures than I intended.  The inn we stayed in was lovely, I learned so much from those knitters and spinners–teachers and classmates alike, and dozens of wonderful people filled my ears with laughter throughout the long weekend.

Our protectors at the Inn:

The assembled masses:

Clara and Martha, though I’m not doing either of them real justice here.

Laughing friends (Beth, Rosi, Nancy, Rho)

Actual spinning progress (been a while, huh?) with a particularly enjoyable green transition there in the middle:

A couple of the merchants:

A side-trip to Webs (where the mighty Lanea bought nothing but a can of root beer)

The requisite leaves

It was a wonderful trip.  I can’t wait to do it again.

It’s official.  My mind has emptied out everything except combining fabric scraps to make fun little bags with overlapping handles and interesting fabrics.  This one is a commercial patchwork lined with a really lovely linen-cotton blend I used to clothe a few of my favorite Celts this summer.  I previously used some of the outer fabric in a crochet-hook case I made for my dear friend Bevin and a vest I made for our Mongol-obsessed friend Udutai.  Using scraps I associate with loved ones makes me downright giddy, I say.  Woot.

For you detail-oriented folks, I made this bag 9" tall and 5 and 1/4" in diameter, because that’s plenty of room to hold one full skein of Trekking XXL, one completed kilt ho (Aes told me to call it that, and I’m trying to be obliging here, but it hurts my word-loving brain), needles, and notions.  I’ll probably design a smaller one, for people who make normal socks.  Not that I just accidentally started a business venture, because that would be crazy.

Coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee makes me move very fast.  I’m going to vote, and then knit with some friends, and drink more coffee.

I’m one of those people who knows a lot about global geography but gets lost on the way to her best friend’s house, and plans at least an extra hour of travel time for unexpected detours.  Since I go on a fair number of road trips by myself, and since I make an even worse passenger-navigator now than I was before the knitting, I finally broke down and bought a portable navigation system just in time to drive to Massachusetts next weekend for the Knitters Review Retreat. 

The addition of that little puppy makes for a veritable tentacle-fest in my purse or glove box, however, so I thought a lovely little bag for all of the gadgetry would be in order.  I knew I wanted to make it myself out of stuff I already had, that it should be big enough to hold the nav system, my phone and charger, and my ipod and its cords, and possible more electrical nonsense if the need arises, that it should be velcro free (most knitter’s things should), and that it should be easy to close and carry.  La.

That’s one of the best quilting cottons I’ve ever found, and I am really surprised I was brave enough to use it on an experimental pattern.  I love the birch leaves and the shadows.  Ahhhh.  The lining is a linen leftover from a previous sewing project, and it’s got some good heft to it.  I also put a square of twill inside the base to add some structure to it.

I really like this concept.  Instead of two equally-sized wrist straps, it has a long one, which threads through a short loop.  I also added some leather ties, which I just sewed in place as I joined the lining to the outer fabric. I figure they’ll make things less likely to escape, and they also make the bag look more polished when it’s closed.

And there’s my new toy.  She will save me so much heartache and stress. 

The sewing was a nice break from the knitting.  I have a feeling I’m going to make a very similar bag tomorrow to hold my sock knitting.  I love how quickly sewn projects come together.  Particularly since cellulose-based materials are apparently immune to attack from Yarrow the Wool-Destroyer. I decided to dig up some yarn to make a baby surprise jacket to add to the charity knitting pile at the KR Retreat next weekend, but apparently Yarrow had his way with the yarn first.

The blue stuff got the brunt of his wrath.  It’s pretty chewed up in many many places.  I’m trying to use it as a stripe here and there, but most of the lengths I’m finding are too sort for a single width of stitches.  Blasted cat.  And as if that weren’t bad enough, he hopped into my lap this morning while I was scratching out some plans for my fun new gadget bag and immediately tried to chew on my Irish Twist cardigan right there in my lap, as I was wearing it.   You’d think he’d realize cats can’t be punk rockers, no matter how hard they try.

As far as the blanket is concerned, I think my plan will work.  Here’s a square with the double i-cord edging.  It’s not tacked down yet, because I’m trying not to waste work while I’m waiting for the final yarn to be ready.  I am looking forward to curling up with this blanket this winter, but also pretty concerned for its safety around Yarrow. 

And there’s another boring elegant, simple sock in the works.  I’m using Trekking Natura, which I really like so far.

I prefer to avoid synthetics in my yarn, and the bamboo definitely feels nicer in the hand than nylon does.  I’m not sure how they’ll react to water.  This yarn seems to be significantly thinner than standard Trekking, but I don’t know how much it blooms or how durable it will be.  Regular Trekking isn’t the softest stuff to knit with, but it blooms beautifully and wears really well.  I hope the same is true of this.  The sock seems a little limp, though, even on 2mm needles.

Finally, the Yorks’s huge fun annual Halloween Party was yesterday, and we had a blast.  Of course.  For once, I made a costume that I thought was witty and that made sense to other people.  Anyone who remembers when I went to a Halloween party as this guy knows what I mean. 

I couldn’t get many decent photos, what with the darkness and the crowds, but most of the cast of Firefly was there; as was the Empire State Building, complete with King Kong and Fay Ray; the requisite Star Wars/Trek/meta-Geek costumes; a number of the folks from Harry Potter; Prince Hal/HenryV,

(Chip York, one of our hosts, is a photographer–I’m sure he took a much better picture, but he sure has handy settings around for this kind of stuff). Luckily, we also had protection against zombies.

Can’t be too careful, these days.

Every Samhain is about autumn, and harvest, and friendship for us.

This year was also about puppies: this is Maggy.  She and her sister Molly moved in with Scaigheagh’s family.

And horses.  I particularly love greys and dapples.

Horses particularly love cider, and Scott.

(See that pole way in the background?  That’s the Maypole we raised last spring, and later that afternoon, it became part of a big old wickerman.  Fire.  We like fire.  )

But it was also a very important homecoming.  Arundel got to come home from Iraq for a few weeks.  It was wonderful to see our friend safe and home with his family and friends.  And, also, hitting his friends with sticks, wearing a sigil of his tribe that he can carry back across the world with him.

Care for your people, particularly your soldiers and sailors, and keep each other safe.  We play at war on the weekends, but some people have to really engage in it, sans rules and time-outs and do-overs.

Take care of your tribe, whoever they are.

After a lot of experimenting, I found the magic edging that will control the curling on the edges of the blanket, look nice, and not break my brain or hurt my hands by requiring me to crochet.  And the magic edging is (Insert an imagined Drum-roll) . . .

A four-stitch applied i-cord edging worked sunwise, followed by a 4-stitch applied i-cord edging worked widdershins, which is then sewn delicately to the back of the blanket to keep everything uncurled.  Brilliant.  I’ve asked Boogie  to dye me up just the right crowning touch, and am working away on the base round.

Unfortunately, this wonderful solution requires really a lot of stitches.  67 stitches on the outer edge of each block on the short edge of the blanket, each picked up twice, and then each stitched eight times before being finally bound off, and that’s multiplied by seven for the blocks on that end, multiplied by two, since there are two short sides on the rectangle, and 13 blocks per long side . . .

This is where I should stop doing the math and get back to my knitting.  But no, let me rip off the band aid and know what I’m about to do.

9,380 stitches for the short sides plus 17,420 for the long sides equals 26,800 for the edging.  But you know what, that’s not so bad, right?  Considering that there are 13 rows of 7 blocks and 12 rows of six blocks, for 163 total, and in each block there are 761 stitches, so I’ve already made  . . .

124,043 stitches, and only (ONLY!) 26,800 to go.  And really, I’ve already done a bunch of those since a couple of the already have their first round of i-cord.

Still, I’m going to need more tea.  And coffee.  And maybe a Marconi or two.

I have amazing new socks.

For which I take no credit.  Jen dyed up some gorgeous yarn, and Jane wrote a great pattern.  These were a hoot to make, and are very very comfortable.  I knit them very densely, so the sole is very cushioned.  I need some cold weather now, please.

And I have a wonderful box of yarn, thanks to my mother-in-law Karen:

The colors are much more vibrant  in real life.  The solids are Nashua Handknits Creative Focus worsted.  It’s a wool/alpaca blend, and I now have Blue Pine, Denim Heather, Marine, Carmin, and Evergreen.  I’m envisioning some really fun hats out of the worsted.   The multi is Austerman Step sock yarn, which has aloe in it.  Yay.

I am also the proud new owner of Clara’s amazing new book The Knitter’s Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn and cat Bordhi’s New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One.  I’ve been chomping at the bit waiting for these books.  Since I’m not buying books this year, it’s been a hard wait.  Thankfully, I got Cat’s book as a present, and I knew last fall about Clara’s book, so I put it on my short cheat list.  Almost ten months and only three books purchased, all planned, and my head hasn’t split open yet.  I think that’s a feat.  Thankfully, my family decided they weren’t barred from buying me books this year, so I got some other treats too–books, music, Jane Austen DVDs, earrings, new shoes.  AND one of these.  I’m downright spoiled, I tell you. 

And as if that weren’t enough treats, I get to go knit with some friends tonight. 

Lady of the Lake is finished, and blocking did it a world of good.  When I took it off the needles on Sunday and tried it on, I was sorely tempted to burn it.  It was far too poofy, and it didn’t drape in at the waist at all the way fly-away cardigans normally do.  And it was almost violent in its blueness and it’s frizzyness.  But I listened to reason (i.e. Purlewe et al on KR) and did nothing hasty.  I blocked it in a closed room where I wouldn’t notice it, and I wove in the ends when I got home from work today without trying it on first.   Here it is, on our river birch out front.*

I still don’t know if it’s me.  It’s a much truer blue in real life.  I kept thinking "Grover" when I worked on it, but as soon as Scott saw me in it, he was forced to quote one of the finest skits the State (scroll down a bit) came up with.  But it’s very warm, and very soft, and very light.   

* Small aside–look at what drought does to a Virginia lawn.   We’re in a low spot in our neighborhood and planted the birch the sweater is hanging on to drink up the water that used to collect in our yard.  Well, water doesn’t collect anymore, and I love that birch like a child.  A couple of weekends ago, I finally cracked and let Scott cut down a holly behind where I stood to take the picture that had been threatening our house for years.  I hope the birch benefits from the decreased competition for water. 

I’ve finished all but one sleeve of Lady of the Lake.  It’s lovely but there’s a distinct chance I’ll never wear it.  But I’m very excited to finish it and get started on the Celtic Cardigan.

I’ve made one Hedgerow sock and about a third of its mate.  I’m entirely in love with the pattern and the yarn.

Listening to audiobooks on the Metro while knitting is so much better than choosing between knitting and reading on the metro.  I want the steak and the shrimp, and the cake and the ice cream, and the cat and the dog. 

I’m also now on Ravelry, as Lanea of course, but haven’t had much time to play with it yet.