Wonky and Wild on the West Coast of New England

I ended up going to the VT Sheep and Wool Festival. I wasn't gonna - crappy weather along with morning and evening plans on Saturday seemed like the excuse I was looking for. Right. Uh-huh.

This is some recycled silk yarn purchased from The Wool Peddler. I have knitted with recycled yarn before, but I really like this all-silk version. You can't tell from the wonky photo, but it's shiny, soft, and making a perfect little 'tossed-on chic' scarf for moi. I also purchased some funky yellow-green handspun/dyed wool (sorta the same color as the background of the lower left quilt block above) from a little NH farm with no website.

IMHO, the Sheep and Wool Fest wasn't nearly as much fun as last year (and it has nothing to do with the fact it wasn't the same weekend as KYarns Tent Sale.) The location at the Fairgrounds had moved and the exhibits/vendors were in two different buildings instead of under one roof. Many of us trotted down one path only to be redirected and backtracked by fair personnel (note to the powers that be: signs are our friends). It didn't seem there were as many vendors (no Dorchester Farms this year...wah!) and far more roving than a non-spinner needs to see. But as I said, this is just my humble opinion.

In other knitting news: a finished pic of the Dangerous Serengeti Wrap (it's folded in half here), appropriated by Miss Cashew who is fighting the good fight with another bladder stone (we believe she is winning this one thanks to a special diet).

Here's the start of the Top Down Swing Coat. I'm trying to ignore the sneaky suspicion that I may not have enough yarn.
And to confirm my total lack of self-control in the WIP department, here's a pic of Red Scarf #1, utilizing the OCD squares. This is a case where the object is definitely wonky, not the photograph - I just need to decide how much wonk I'm willing to deal with.

Fun and Trouble

First, the fun. Here are the scarves for Burlington's October Breast Cancer retreat. The scarf on the left is double-stranded antique pink (it's really not the coral-y color you see here) alpaca in a feather and fan lace pattern done on #7 Addis. The simple drop stitch scarf on the right is Berroco Suede in Chickadee Pink done on #13 Brittanys.

And the trouble as you can probably guess from the sneaky little calico foot is Miss Isabelle hiding under the stool, swiping at anything that passes by. Senor El Cinco is not that impressed.

An open and shut case

Ayep, my poor attempt at crafting humor. It wasn't until I was sewing the ties on the needle case last night that I realized this is perfect for this month's Project Spectrum (we're all about the neutrals.) The ouside of the case is a chocolate brown Morris print, the inner cover is a cream/lilac mini-print, the needle sleeves are chocolate felt all wrapped up with black bias tape edging. Hopefully, my tapestry and sewing needles will feel safe and secure here and not want to go MIA in the sofa cushions.
This is scarf #1 for the October scarves project. A LYS (Knitters Laine, no apostrophe or website) is providing scarves for a breast cancer retreat to be held in Burlington in October. This is a feather/fan pattern using the pink 'alpaca cone that will not die' from the stash.

The Zone

It must be the lack of vacation, work-related stress, or both - but all I want to do it knit. And not complicated projects. Just the mindless back and forth of stockinette or a wee little pattern. We all know this 'zone' which brings the noise in your brain down to a low roar, eases the tension headache right behind your eyeballs, and gives you the appearance of being busy enough to keep people from demanding other things from you.

I've got zero to show - progress continues on Serengeti and the October Scarves but I will leave you with a pic of Pip doing what he does best.

It's a Par-tay!

Join in the fun! There's plenty of time to plan

(and by plan, I mean 'add to the stash'.)

A sense of accomplishment

I'm indeed very happy to report the burgundy scarf is off the needles. It ended up being about 4 3/4' long (let's not even go there about rounding it off to an even 5', shall we?) There will be a pic when I gather all the accumulated goods to send to CIC (probably at the beginning of next week).

Here's the little Pinki hat for another coworker's new niece. It was a quick weeknight knit on #6 Inox needles using girlygirl pink Berroco Plush. Nothing too fancy - the yarn is the focus.

Pinki is resting on another project I finished this week - a handsewn lining for my blue suede bag. I was not enjoying how the suede's wrong side kept leaving little blue bits on my knitting. So using the lessons I learned from the Citrus Rib Bag, I made up a lining I'm very happy with and that will allow me to use the blue bag more frequently.

I'll save the weekend's show and tell for later. I will tell you it involved a visit to here and here as well as a new knitting project.

Twisted Rib Cardi

This sweet little sweater is for Baby Sam, my friend Snoozie's new baby nephew. Sam was born with perineal anoplasty which will require a series of surgeries over the next few months. However, Snoozie is happy to report he is a whopping 7 lbs and the most beautiful and contented baby she has ever seen.

The Twisted Rib Cardi took a smidge over 2 skeins of Plymouth Wildflowers DK on #3 needles (for the ribbing) and #4 needles for the body. The buttons are little green ceramic dinosaurs purchased from KYarns. The whole sweater is supposed to be knit in pieces and seamed. I chose to knit the fronts and back, seaming the sides, then picking up stitches around the armholes and knitting down the sleeves. I think it worked out well - no futzing with setting in the sleeves and I had the added bonus of knitting the sleeves in the round.

This is definitely a do-again pattern.

The most comfortable seat in the house

When it's 99 degrees and eleventy bazillion % humidity?

Why the CatMan's lap, of course!

June PS FO

Denim Socks out of Schachenmayr Blue Jeans 100% Cotton yarn. Knit on #2 Brittanys in a random rib from my favorite sock pattern (and no, the heel is not wonky, just the photographer!) I used just under 2 skeins.

Knitting for those who need

October 2007 Red Scarf #2

October 2007 Red Scarf #1

Mali Baby Hospital Missions 2007

Dulaan 2007

Red Scarf 2007

Military Helmet Liners

Children in Common Bag of Goodies

October Breast Cancer Retreat Scarves

Hats for MA WIC babies - July 2006

2005 KYarns Charity Knit - December 2005

August PS - The Dangerous Serengeti

Ok, I'll admit it - I've been cheating. You see, I found this loverly Cherry Tree Hill Jumbo Boucle in the 'Serengeti' colorway and I HAD to buy it. And I was going to wait until August's PS Neutrals theme to cast on for a warm winter wrap. But the call of the wild yarn was too strong. Must...knit... So I casted on in June and am through 1 1/2 skeins already.

And why the overwhelming urge to buy this particular colorway? Well, other than the sheer gorgeousness (tawny browns/rich clarets/ some dusky blues and greys), 'Serengeti Cat' is one of our nicknames for Miss Isabelle. She's so full of attitude, we believe she thinks she could actually survive there. So you see, I really had no choice. Really.

Twisted Rib Cardi

Here's a pic of progress so far. I'm using some dove grey/lavender Wildflowers DK (cotton/acrylic) from the stash for this project. I know people have issues with knitting cotton, but I'm finding this yarn easy to use. Of course it helps the scope of the project is for a baby. The pattern was copied from a book YEARS ago - ack! I'm having fun with this one.

Farm Living

People are amused to no end when I tell them I live on a farm. I'm amused when my day starts off encountering my 4-footed neighbors. For instance, today I played horse wrangler. Ayep, as I pulled out to go to work this morning, Miss Diamond (all of 6 days old) was standing in the middle of our parking area. She did not want to be herded back to the lush pasture on the other side of the fence - probably to avoid the equine chewing-out Momma was gonna give her. Luckily, our farmhand extraordinaire showed up just in time to save the horses from their state of distress and me from electrocuting myself as I tried to figure out how to open the pasture fence.

This little adventure made up for the fact it was 90 freakin degrees when I woke up this morning. In our bedroom. With the windows open and the fans going.

But I'm not letting a little heat get in the way of knitting. Nosireebobcattail. I started swatching a sweater for a co-worker's new baby nephew. It's a sweet little cardigan with a fake cable rib.

Odds and Ends

I'm obsessed with knitting little squares. You know those little squares she's knitting for a blankie? They're so quick, so instantly gratifying, so addicting. I'm not sure what I'll be doing with them - possibly incorporating them into scarves. Or maybe purses. Or maybe pillow covers. I can't think about it right now - I've got squares to knit.

But lest you think I've abandoned the WIP list for good, I have made some progress on the second Denim Sock. I agree with Stephanie - I'm now officially over the halfway point of the dreaded SSS.


And in other news, yesterday the Cat Man and I journeyed to Roaring Brook Falls in the Adirondack Park. We didn't make it to the top (and by 'we', I mean 'me'). I'm just a tad out of shape and combined with the humidity and the sweating (wayyyy past 'glow' and 'glisten'), the top of the falls was out of reach for this trip. I'm hoping to have better luck in the fall. Thank dog I didn't sign up for the TrekAlong!

Successful dating

So Lucy and I had a date last night and we even kissed at the end of it. The sleeves and shoulder seams are reattached and I actually feel like I will wear her in public.


Thanks to Nancie Wiseman's book, I sat down without TV/radio/cat interference and took the process step by step. I was pleasantly surprised to see 1) it took far less time than I thought, and 2) it was far easier than I thought. So much for thinking.

To celebrate, I knit some more on Denim Sock #2 and am now ready to start the heel.


Cinco says, "Party on!"

Of Babies and Frogs

First, the babies.

Let me just say baby hats are addicting. You finish one, you immediately cast on for another. The bag of yarn remnants I've been using barely appears to have a dent in it. So I just want to keep knitting. This is a bad thing when you have other stuff to do. Like work. And spending time with your mate. And cleaning cat litter boxes.


And when I say "frogs", I mean "Lucy Lu". As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am not happy about the shoulder and sleeve seaming. So I've frogged the offending seams and am taking my time to fix them. I've already decided on the 3-needle bind off for the shoulders. Insetting the sleeves is going to take a bit more thinking.

I need to trust myself and stop when I look at something and think "I'm not going to wear this in it's current state. And I'm not going to convince myself otherwise."

Did I mention the heat?

Cause it's hot here. Especially in the CattyAbode which has no airconditioning or third floor windows that face the Lake and it's cooling breezes.

But the Baby Hats continue (I'm working on the 11th one right now.) Perfect little bits of hot weather knitting candy. *tm Norma.

New Favorites

I've discovered etsy! So much fun. So much inspiration. So much damage to the checkbook.


And this is my new favorite thing in the world. Imagine your own personal radio station with a brain. And it's blog-friendly (check out my sidebar). And it's free.


Good thing. My wallet couldn't take the heartbreak.

Oranges and Grapefruits

are what ya need when knitting baby hats. Preemie heads = size of oranges, Newborns = grapefruits. I've put PS on hold to knit up some remnants for this project. This standard baby hat pattern is incredibly adaptable for any yarn, needle, or size - I've made it with and without the eyelet row, out of wool, cotton, and novelty yarns, chunky or fingering weights, on straights or circs. Right now, I'm averaging one hat a day and using up some remnants while I'm at it. Try it, you might like it.

Objects in mirror

Are done.

Here's the finished Lucy Lu pic. As you can tell, Pip is excited by the completion process. Pattern: free from the Berrocco website. Yarn: Lion Brand Microfiber in French Vanilla, needles: #8 Addis. Started - the week before Easter. But hey, I got it done before July 4th.

Celebrating my independence

From the WIP list! I managed to knock out 2 of the 3 June projects and put a good dent in the 3rd. That's what 16 hours in a car with nothing else to do will buy ya.


From left to right - Denim sock #1, Baby hat in Salsa and Baby Ull (on #3 Addis), and a Bubby in Plush (on #4 Brittanys).


And what was I doing in a car for 16 hours? Why a round trip to here!

All the Catty siblings and their offspring were going to be in the same place at the same time (an event that has not happened in eight years.) So even though the CatMan had to work today, we pretended to be college students again and roadtripped to the flooded regions of PA. The Cattyparents didn't know we were coming - needless to say, they were very very suprised. Much beer and pizza (mmm...real pizza) were consumed. We also laughed ourselves silly many times over, especially when the neighborhood cat Ranger decided the top of CatDad's prize Benz was the perfect place for a bath.

Here's hoping your Fourth is as much fun as mine is turning out to be!

April PS project 2 is done!

Lucy is contentedly blocking, resting in her done-ness. I'm not entirely happy with the seaming job - I'll have to see what she looks like blocked out.

And the knitting bag is packed for our whirlwind tour to PA this weekend. All the PS June projects are making the journey - I'll be singing "Am I Blue" as we wend our way through VT, NY, and the flooded roads of PA (it's OK, the Toyota Echo is small enough to float).

May PS project 1 done!

A scarf in teal green Kidsilk Crack...er Haze, trimmed in ecru. Started over a year ago, stuffed in a drawer to be ignored until Project Spectrum came along to encourage me. Done on #2 Brittanys, the stitch pattern long forgotten.

Closeup of the picot lace trim. The pattern is a four row repeat I learned over 20 years ago when I started knitting. I needed over 8' of picot lace to trim the scarf. Why yes, I am insane.

Today's Lakescape

is brought to you by the color blue and Project Spectrum.

"Not some backpacker's hovel"

The title of this post is one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies - French Kiss (you get the humor when you hear it spoken with a French accent.) It was also the mantra I kept repeating to myself this weekend as I ignored the growing scariness of the ho-val in the attempts to make in-roads on the WIP list.

I'm excited to find I only need to finish Lucy's second sleeve and sew it on, the drop stitch scarf is long enough to wrap around my neck once, and the Kidsilk scarf's lace edging is 16" from completion.

At the risk of falling short yet again of deadlines, I'm hoping all three of these will be off the needles by the end of the month. This month. June 2006. Yeah, you heard me.

And since the digital has gone hiking with the CatMan, here's a treat from the archives.

Project Spectrum's April 1A is done!

Let's all heave a big sigh of relief and give homage to the completed Citrus Rib Bag as she sits on her throne. All stages of the handles wore me down and out. From finding the right handles, placing the grommets, finding a way to attach the handles, to actually attaching the handles - I was ready to toss it in the Lake by the time all was said and done. But I think I learned for the future if I do decide to "go there" again.

Here's a little look-see inside the bag: the fabric is a remnant piece of yellow cotton cut to the dimensions of the knitted pieces, fusible interfacing was ironed on, and then whole thing was handsewn by moi.

Project Specs: Orange acrylic of unknown origin, knit in 2 x 2 rib on #4 needles. The body of the bag was knit in one long strip, then side pieces were added. After bag was sewn together, a Bernat Boa cuff was knit onto the bag using #10.5 needles. Bag is lined with cotton fused with interfacing. Wood bead handles were attached using grommets and D-rings (placed only through the body of the bag, not the cuff.)

Don't blink!

You might miss the knitting progress. I've made the commitment to the WIPs to finish before I start anything new (quick and dirty pencil cup cozies do not count! Cause I said so!)

Citrus Rib is just waiting for the CatMan to help me close the D-rings that attach the handles to the bag.

Lucy Lu is getting seamed up tonight and then banded this weekend, thanks to this little gem

The drop stitch scarf continues to be the project I pick up when I have a few spare moments. (No, I can not hear you, Denim Socks...nah nah nah!)

I realized I have a Bubby and a baby hat due for the beginning of July. Luckily, it's (supposed to be) a boy, so I should get some blue knitting in the month of June.

Quick and pointless

Sometimes, a quick and pointless project is just what the knitting doctor ordered. Witness the pencil cup cozy. It serves no purpose other than to be pretty (Koigu!), fun and impractical. And it helps keep the "knitting is supposed to be fun" perspective.


Pencil cup cozy: 3" x 5"
21 stitches on #2 needles using a Koigu remnant. Pattern: 4 rows stockinette alternating with 4 rows of seed stitch. Bind off and stitch up!