I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph . . .

Here are some recent projects . . . in no particular order:

My Hanne Falkenberg Jacket thus far. This is the left front, side gore, and part of the left sleeve.

Dirty, dirty alpaca batt.

Anyone know how to remove this crap?

Cotswold I'm selling on e-bay.

Ho, ho, ho!

Some of the discount fiber I got at the Red Needle's going out of business sale. This is about half of a 4 ounce bundle of hand-dyed roving I bought. It's very fun to spin, and is inspiring me to dye some more roving . . .

A close-up of the merino/cashmere 2-ply I'm spinning. This is soft as a duck's belly, and the brown is very complex and interesting. There are hints of lavender, gold, teal and purple throughout. Click for a close-up, and you'll see what I mean . . .

This skein is a little over 200 yards. That brings my grand total spun so far (of this fiber) to about 450 yards. I still have a fair amount of this to spin -- not sure exactly how much.

And now, because I am trying to be a good, disciplined girl, I will sign off and peruse the want ads. Ick.

Eentsy-teensy Update

We don’t have pictures, but we do have UPDATE:

I am up to the first sleeve of the Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina jacket. The pattern is intimidating, as it is printed in a puny font, and assumes that I am a way better knitter than I am. I enlarged it 200%, and generally need to read each section of instructions 3-4 times before it gels in my brain. Many times, when the instructions seem incomprehensible, I am reduced to "sleeping on it."

It's a vague magic, but it seems to work, The next day I stumble on, one row at a time. So far (knock on wood), so good.

I knitted about half a sock in the padded footlet pattern before I decided I would rather gargle tacks than knit one more row. I tore it out, and started a similar pattern from knitty. com (find it here), which seems much more congenial.

Washed, picked, and bundled up about 2-1/2 pounds of Cotswold (So why did I buy a Cotswold fleece, if i didn't really want a Cotswold fleece? I think I had it confused with Corriedale . . .) and am selling most of it on e-bay. Cotswold works great for Santa beards . . .

In the process of processing a 3.5 lb Alpaca fleece that is full of grass, hay and ?&*!!. The alpaca itself is lovely, if only I could remove all of the grass, hay and ?&*!!. Any suggestions?

In general, spinning like a mad woman. I have almost a pound of a fabu merino-cashmere blend, and I’m hoping for enough 2-ply to make a sweater. So far I’ve spun about half (8 oz.), and I have one large bobbin full currently waiting to be skeined and set.

Still looking, lackadaisically, for a job. Since it seems that one is not going to crawl up my front walk and accost me, I might need to be a wee bit more vigorous in my search. As you all know (sigh), fiber ain’t free.

Tomorrow: Photos! Lord willing or the crick don’t rise!

Field Trip to Franktown / Warming up the Pfaff

Occasionally, Bailey channels Janis Joplin.

"Oh Lord / Won't you buy me / a Pound of Catnip?"

I forgot to put the link to Melanie's site in my last entry. She is the multi-talented knitter/ spinner/ designer of Mystery Stole 3 (the "winged" stole shown below). If you're interested in purchasing the pattern, she will have it available at her web site somewhere around the end of August/beginning of September. Find all things Melanie -- including additional lace stole designs – here.

I've started a few new sewing projects:
Mostly because I'm cheap and refuse to spend $115 for a spinning wheel carry bag, I'm designing and making my own. I'm using some old upholstery fabric I had left over from another project, so even if the bag doesn't work out, I'm only minus the cost of zippers and lining. If all goes well, I will try to post photos later this week.

I'm also sewing little carry bags for my new swift (alas, a cheap and ugly metal version, but it seems to work fine -- much better than my knees), extra spinning bobbins, and niddy-noddy. I love this type of project, as these bags are quick, easy, and use up fabric I already have.

Wonderful Pat in Elizabeth, CO sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago letting me know that The Red Needle (knit/spin/weave store) in Franktown was closing up shop and liquidating their inventory.

So of course I had to go and have a look-see. The half-hour drive was glorious. Animals I saw on the way there: Clydesdale-typehorses in pasture, buffalo (bison?), sheep, llamas, cows (of course), lots of lovely horses, alpacas, hawks, bluebirds, yellow finches, and more. Tumbleweeds rolled across the road, and I thought about how I would love to live in the country . . . with llamas and antelope for neighbors. . .

There was much lovely fiber at the Red Needle, all at a very tempting discount. I browsed and browsed, and ended up taking home a little cashmere/merino blend, some flax, almost a pound of BFL, and other goodies.

I was about ready to drive home, when I saw that the store next door (which looked like a nail salon), had a sign in the window saying they also sold spinning wheels! Now this is my type of establishment -- get your nails done (mine always look like gardening implements, which they are), buy a new drive band, peruse the mothers-of-all. I went in.

It was a very cool multi-purpose store. Several "dabs" of products nicely arranged: craft books, jewelry, knitting needles, hand combs, weaving doo-dads (I don't weave, so I can't do any better than that.) And tucked in a corner: A yarn swift marked 40% off. I pounced.

I got home with my booty and sorted it into ziploc bags. Set up my ball winder and wound away. The cat lounged very close to my merino fleece, until finally I caught him with his head in the bag and his motor running at full throttle.

I did not get a manicure. I ran out of cash. The bottom line: I'd rather have a new swift than professionally tended nails. Can I get an "Amen"?

Just the Facts, Ma'am / Photo Lagniappe

My son (aka “the black hole of need”) came into my room last night to ask me for lunch money and I hissed at him. I was on row 190 of my mystery stole, and like a horse smelling the barn at feeding time, I was undistractable.

Never has a bind off seemed so long. I felt like I lived a whole alternative life while binding off this stole. Cool bind-off, though. Will definitely use it again.

Finally! The Last stitch was bound off and soon the ends were woven in. I soaked the rascal in Eucalan for 15 minutes or so, wrapped him snuggly in a towel, and dragged out my “blocking towel” – a huge beach towel that I like to block on because it is printed with large squares that make blocking easier – as well as blocking wires, pins, yard sticks, etc.

The ugly, though useful, blocking towel

For those of you who like all the details, here is how my stole measured up in the end:

Length: 70.5”
Width: 22.5”
Section #1 length: 40.5”
Wing length: 30”
Wing curve length: 41”
Depth of wing (at midpoint): 26”

Other details:

Yarn: Malabrigo “Velvet Grapes” lace weight – a dream to knit. I used 2 skeins, and have approximately 150 yards (15 grams) left. So I used about 790 yards for this stole.

Finished Weight:
Total weight: 114 grams (about 4 ounces)
Yarn weight: 85 grams (3 ounces)
Bead weight: 29 grams (1 ounce)

*I made all of today’s photos clickable for those who want close-up views.

And looking at my MS3 now, I’m pretty tickled. The merino is so soft, and I love the variegations that run throughout. The weight of the beads helps it stay on. I used 2 different kinds of beads, and that combined with the variegated yarn makes the stole feel a little gypsy-ish. Maybe a little more Carmen than Swan Lake, but that’s fine, too. There are definitely mistakes here, but they aren’t bothering me.

Right now I’m sitting in bed wearing the thing. With the air conditioning on. Feeling a wee bit princess-ish, in my luxury stole – even though I haven’t yet changed out of my pajamas or brushed my hair or teeth. Life is good.

Thanks, Melanie! (Times 100, at least. What a good, generous heart she has.)

And for those of you feeling sorry for the kid whose mother hissed at him: Don't. The kid is 16, and is more effective than the IRS at getting money out of the 'rents. Plus he has a job, and has more money in his checking account than I do in mine. (Of course, HE doesn't have a spinning/knitting jones.) And yet I still feel guilty . . . where is that wallet ?

beading close-up, straight section


Beading close-up, wing

Fetching rear view

The Wing is Flapping / Clue 6 Done

Shows the join -- a little funky, but not too bad.

(clickable for detail)

I love how the variegated yarn camouflages my mistakes! (also clickable)

The wing looking -- well -- wing-like.

One pleasant surprise of working this clue was how the variegated yarn co-operated with the pattern. I started my second ball right before the join, and the new ball was ever-so-slightly more vibrant than the old one. Those "feathers" really pop. My stitch count was off at the end, so something will have to be fudged in the future.

Hopefully, when clue 7 is released I'll figure out how to deal with the stitch weirdness. I'm hoping clue 7 is heavy on the beadwork. If not, I might have to do some wee pattern alterations. Love doing the beading, and love the elan they give this stole.

Off I go to spin some nice blended top.

Clapotis Reminiscing

click for close-up view

I knit this Clapotis Shawl last summer -- the (much simpler) equivalent to MS3. It really is a fun knit, once you get used to the pattern. Very modern and un-fangled, but still lacy. I used almost every bit of one skein of Brooks Farm Yarns Riata for this. If you don't know Brooks Farm, click here to visit them -- some of the nicest yarn I've ever knit with.

The pattern is a free download from knitty.com. If you are craving more lace, but want something simpler, have a look at this pattern. It's a great way to show off a variegated yarn in lace.

More Info: Hanne Falkenberg

Hanne Falkenberg "Mermaid" --

If Ballerina goes well, this one might be next!

Thanks to those who left comments or e-mailed me directly! A couple of things:

Hanne Falkenberg is Danish, not Dutch. (Sorry, Hanne.) I corrected this in the original post to avoid confusion. Thanks to Ellen for letting me know.

Her kits are generally sold in America for about $260, but you can get them for half of that on e-bay. I bought mine from ecclescakes on e-bay, and my total with shipping from England was $147.50. Prices are similar on ecclescakes' web site here and in this Danish site, which ships to America, here (site is in Danish, but can be figured out. Thanks to Gail for this link).

You can see all the colorways offered for HF kits here. The colorway I wanted (#1) was not listed on e-bay, but Jane at Cucumber Patch (mother ship of ecclescakes) listed it promptly when I e-mailed my request to her.

Finally, there is a very helpful HF KAL group here. Someone in this group has actually gone to the trouble of creating line-by-line spreadsheets of a couple of HF patterns! Now that is dedication. Yep, I'm already signed up. But the rule is: No starting on the Ballerina until the swan bites the dust. Right? --

-- (sigh) Right.

Reason I Must Finish MS3

Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina Coat (see below)

Many thanks to those of you who sent words of encouragement regarding my MS3 project. Perhaps I am too close to the actual item to be objective. Yesterday I noticed that those last few stitches on the right-hand needle -- the ones we aren't working -- are actually starting to felt. grrr.

On to other matters. I have been looking for a new winter coat for 2 years now. I live in Colorado, in an area with (generally) pretty mild winters, so I wanted something:

1. lightweight
2. stylish but not trendy
3. preferably black
4. light-to-medium in warmth (I overheat easily)
5. packable.

For two years I've been after this thing like it's the holy grail. I refused to buy something that wasn't quite right, so kept wearing my old coat, which I loathe. I don't know what I was thinking when I bought it. Probably that it was cheap and didn't itch.

Also, for at least two years, I have been coveting kits by Danish designer Hanne Falkenberg. Specifically this coat: On the one hand, many people on the net have "horror stories" of working on HF kits. They are knit on itty bitty needles in garter stitch. Sitting down to knit a Hanne Falkenberg kit is like sitting down to read Moby Dick -- something not to be done lightly. Something which requires serious commitment, fortitude, and possible eye strain.

On the other hand, I love this coat. Everything about it. And knitting lace has made me more comfortable with knitting on 2's and 3's. These kits are expensive -- but can be found for half price on ebay. And I really do need a winter jacket.

So it is ordered. And I have made the commitment to try and have it finished by October 1. (A couple of family birthdays in September will require some of my knitting time. but I can still try . . .)

This week I am getting my resume together and beginning a job search. Something to help support a tiny little knitting habit, and a nascent spinning jones. My ideal job: One in which I get paid to write, travel, knit, spin, and supply half-baked opinions. Yeah, right. I just hope I don't end up in a funny hat asking "Do you want fries with that?"

Update-A-Palooza!!

I wish I could say that crappy cropping

makes all the difference in this photo.

Truth is it is an accurate representation of a big mess 'o yarn.

Click if you want to see the gory details.

I'm trying to play catch up today, but catch up does not play fair. As soon as I think I'm getting somewhere, I remember ONE MORE THING that should have been on my to-do list. On the list: Blog update. Here goes:

Mystery Stole Update:

I have been fighting with my mystery stole. Mistakes, rip-backs, etc., plus I'm having a hard time visualizing how this will block. And my join looks like crap.

Finally, do you remember how at the beginning of this little dance number, someone on the MS3 board specifically said (Lord, I hope it wasn't Melanie) "Don't slip the first stitch of every row. It will make the blocking too tight."

(Insert whiny font here): But I always slip the first stitch of every row. It makes that nice little chain stitch on the edge . . .

So: Guess who is now worried about the edge of her shawl not being stretchy enough to withstand a vigorous blocking. (Excuse me while I apply fist to forehead, with vigor and conviction.)

I am currently 30 rows into Clue 6, and am in "head down knitting mode." No longer attempting to "read" my knitting or do the Vulcan mind meld with my knitting or even be friends with my knitting. I am just trying to get the dang thing done.

I'm not sure why I'm surprised that the honeymoon is over with this project. Any time I work on a project this size and/or difficulty, I go through a faze where I just want to put on my fuzzy slippers, drive up to the nearest Goodwill collection bin, and pitch the whole thing in without even slowing down. A drive-by abandonment of wayward knit goods.

But I am determined to finish MS3, and finish in a reasonably timely manner. I'll keep you posted -- and if (when! not if!) -- ummm - when I finish clue #6, I will post better photos.

Dyeing/ Spinning Update/ Questions for Readers:

Recent purchases: Cashmere from Sarah's yarn. I'm stocking up for Christmas presents. Buy 8 skeins and you get a price break!

400 yards each
Anyone out there have any ideas for scarf patterns

that take 400 yards? Let me know!

Bought some silk cocoons. Seemed like a good idea at the time . . .

Could someone please tell me what the heck to do with these?

I have already de-bugged them, which was pretty gross.

What now?

Dyed some yarn for the Padded Footlet pattern (In Interweave Press' Favorite Socks). Dark purple for the foot, screamin' green for the accent.

. . .and spun some wonderfully soft Blue Face Leicester (pronounced "lester" -- go figure) roving. I have about 225 yards, and will probably make a scarf with it:

Bailey was much help, as usual.

(Here he is stalking the elusive row counter, under cover of shawl.)

Tomorrow:

My next major knitting project is on its way from across the pond. Check back tomorrow for details!

Mystery Stole Woes and . . . Joy In-a-Box Arrives!

I ran amok with my mystery shawl last night. I must have knit row 51 5 times before finally giving up and going to bed.

This morning I thought "surely I will sort this out quickly." And the gods laughed. I counted, recounted, and parsed 2 rows -- stitch-by-stitch -- to the chart. Still couldn't figure out where I went wrong (still one extra stitch). Ripped back 2 rows. Still screwy. Ripped back 4 rows and inserted a little colorful midwestern patois for good measure.

All the while I was sitting in my living room, glaring out at the street, wondering where the heck my UPS lady was. This morning I checked UPS tracking on the 'net, and next to my spinning wheel were the wonderful words: OUT FOR DELIVERY.

I needed more than this. I needed a turn-by-turn report as to the UPS lady's exact where-abouts. GPS coordinates would be good. Maybe I could intercept --er-- meet her somewhere, and she could fling my wheel in my general direction. It would save her a stop.

Finally, I got to row 52 on my stole. Relief! I am having such a hard time with clue 5! I think I need to seriously tweak my system. I stomped around the house and ate too much cake and growled at my messy son. Then I took him to his dermatologist appointment.

Got home. Still no wheel. Decided that doing laundry might take my mind off of things. It didn't. Stomped around some more. In desperation, I vacuumed (shudder).

While checking my e-mail for the 18th time, I heard the unmistakable sweet dulcet tones of a UPS truck. And, next thing I knew, the UPS lady (delightful woman that she is) was handing me a smallish box. Light, even.

Within a matter of minutes, my Joy (that's the actual model name) was set up and looking, as my sister says, fab-oo:

Profile shot

Fetching rear view

Bailey fails to see the attraction of any of this.

Birds at the bird feeder, however . . .

Joy and I are still making each other's acquaintance, but so far I am very happy. She treadles like silk, and her pared-down design appeals to me. And -- yes! We have yarn! (Or at least a ply!)

Woo-hoo!