Yesterday I started my day by mixing up the Kool-Aid and getting some roving set to dying in the sun. The forecast was for an 80+ degree day with little wind so I set to it and by mid morning had a batch of dye sitting on the roof of the car (out of the reach of marauding animals) and soaking up the sun for heat.

By the time I had it all drying in the evening I had a good batch of dyed roving I hope to take with me to the Grand Canyon with the easily packed sidekick for late evening around the campfire spinning.

From AKQGuy

I think the lovely cantaloupe kettle dyed looking stuff that the Peach Mango flavor produced is my favorite at this time.

I also have a batch of cowls for Christmas knitting done and blocked.

From AKQGuy

And more to come unfortunately. I’m about tired of coming up with ideas for these, but by far of these my favorite at this time is the tri-colored linen stitch one I blocked last night.

From AKQGuy

Looks like fancy color work, right?

From AKQGuy

Nope, just the way the color changes lined up with the stitches done in the round in a linen stitch caused this effect. And even better is the thickness. All four are made with Berocco Ultra Alpaca so they are wonderfully warm for the necks of Wyomingites, several which are ranchers. The lacy ones aren’t going to the ranchers.

I found today as I work on a spiral ribbed cowl, that I’m tired of cowls. In fact, I’m sick of them for at least a few days. So when Andrea and another yarn store customer started discussing the Ilene bag, i got sucked in. You see, I’ve been looking at starting a market bag from three skeins of hemp I have downstairs in a rather unattractive color. I had an idea brewing about how to make this thing when this pattern was put in front of me and besides a few changes I would make (and did) it was exactly what I wanted! So, I had them print me up a copy off ravelry (it’s free, titled Ilene Bag) and bought some Classic Elite: Firefly and hacked into it tonight.

From AKQGuy

So far, so good. I wanted a firmer knit so am working only on the smaller sized needle, but added more stitches tot he bottom of the bag to account for the size difference. I also picked up a couple additional stitches along the floor of the bag’s edge to add decrease tot he corner points to give some additional structure. We’ll see what more I insist on doing, but I’m happy with it at this time. And when I say that I did these changes, it by no means is meant to say there is a lacking to this pattern. It’s a lovely pattern and fine just the way it is. I just knit like I cook, patterns and recipes are more like guidelines that sure and true directions. I always have to play with things and make it mine, and when it all goes to hell because I deviated from the tried and true method, it should in no way reflect poorly on the designer who gave me a perfectly good pattern. It reflects all upon my insistence that it could be better fitted to my wants.

Anyway, me and the kids are heading to bed so I can go play at work tomorrow night, you all have a great week, and keep knitting/crocheting/macrame’ing/playing with fiber in all ways wonderful.

G’Night,
Q.

Men Who Knit

Thanks.
Mark

Men Who Knit

Men Who Knit

I finally got the I-cord bind off of this dang thing done last night (Thank you sweet baby Jesus in the manger), and was able to move on to another project before putting out my own eyes with the needles.

I played with the second pictures color a bit to try and get it to show the color differences in the skeins. It’s not a glaring difference and with the center out pattern, I think it actually breaks up the color well. It almost looks purposeful. It’s always amazing to me how the things that get you worried while working on the project you end up liking at the end of the piece.

With that said though, I don’t know if the transitions would work on something like an end to end blanket or a sweater. Probably just fine but my anal retentive knitting personality (I have different ones for different things, we all should no?) would have been bothered by it. I would have had to rip it out or smother that little nagging perfectionist part of me with a skein of the softest merino or cashmere. All violence carried out in love should be done with class and luxury.

And I want to point out how close a call this all was… That’s right, of the 8 skeins I used, and fretted as to when to start my edging, this was all I had left. I giggled nervously as I grafted the I-Cord’s end and realized how little I had left. I think my work partner was worried about my sanity there for a moment.

With that all said, I can start the Christmas knitting in earnest now and get another dinosaur hat done since once again, I have a toddler on my hands that doesn’t fit the toddler hat. A word to anyone who does the Roar! Dinosaur Hat from Ravelry; it’s a lovely and cute as heck hat pattern, but make the next size up should you decide to make it. I re-measured my gauge after the first one and found that I was still on despite my sizing issues. Other than that, this little hat is staying in my pattern collection for future kiddos, of any age. We can all use a dino hat right? I’m making myself one for Halloween.

Oh, and the Muttley Crew say “Hi” too.

Men Who Knit

Here is their Web site with some more information.
MIdwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair

If the link doesn’t work, just copy and past the URL below.

http://www.fiberandfolk.com/fineart.htm

See attached for the most recent call for artists.

Men Who Knit

download now

Men Who Knit

So, sorry, but I just didn’t have it in me to write all these instructions out, but here is a charted pattern for the Arrow head blanket that I previously shared with you.

As for the chart, I couldn’t get the round numbers legible despite all my playing with the image in the PDF document. So I’ve included the excel document as well for those of you who will be able to utilize it. That way you can hopefully see those numbers better or, just hand write them in.

Someday, I’ll be better at this pattern thing. Until then, let me know if you see some huge blaring issues, and if you note, there is a copy write in the footer of the pattern. Thank you to all who have given me instructions for proper copy writing.

Edit: Sorry, it won’t let me attach a spreadsheet from excel… If need be I can email it to you, just let me know your normal email addy. This is an Excel 2007 document.

Men Who Knit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW8_0af47ik

Men Who Knit

Men Who Knit

Since this blog has been dormant for the entirety of the winter season (as mild as it was), I guess I can say that it was hibernating… and now that the VERNAL EQUINOX is here, she wakes up!

*blink blink*

In short, the last few months have been great. 2011 threw me for a loop with unexpected changes and a long adjustment period; I welcomed 2012 with open arms and a renewed sense of purpose… and things are working out quite well!

What have I been up to all this time? I like infographics, so I’ll use one to show you:

If you follow me on Goodreads or Twitter, then none of these things will come as a surprise – I have been reading and writing like a fiend. Unfortunately, the writing did not translate to blog writing (yeah, I know, doesn’t make sense – but no time like the present, right?) More on that later…

I have been traveling and road tripping.  Eastside coasting right up and down Interstate 95 and beyond: many trips to Pennsylvania – both the far west to Pittsburgh for a anniversary / hockey-filled weekend and Philly in the east to visit my parents and most recently, the Philadelphia Flower Show (also stopped by several PA spots in between: Gettysburg and Hershey), many times to northern Virginia to see my sister and my nieces who moved in  January, and a long weekend fun trip to North Carolina over the President’s Day holiday). Next month, we’re off to Wisconsin, and then I’m planning a super big + super fun road trip for May…

Gardening and hiking are picking up with the unseasonably warm weather, and I plan to share more of what we’re up to there too. …and my cooking? well, I am enjoying it now more than ever before – I love every bit of the process, and now with the beginning of the season, I look forward to many months of fresh produce and creativity in the kitchen. I will share some of what I have cooking with photos and recipes.

The biggest project – the one that has picked me up and helped me wake up with a smile on my face – is actually a return to something that I have always loved. I am writing a novel. I started preliminary work in January, and really dug into research in February. The process is teaching me a lot about personal discipline and commitment – it is hard work! I joined a local writer’s group, and last week I shared an excerpt in front of the whole group. I was nervous, but it turned out really great. This whole process of writing and researching is the kind of stuff that really makes me tick (always a librarian, I guess!) and while I have loads of work to do, I am so excited about this project. (Teaser: it is a historical piece inspired by real events in the early 1900s).

…and the knitting will just have to wait for the next post… while the writing and research have been my #1 in the attention department, I have managed to knit several things too! Stay tuned.

Oh, and by the way – Thanks for reading my blog! 

(and if you would like to leave a comment, it is easy: click on the title above “Coming Out of Hiberation” in this case, and the comment form will be at the bottom of the post) This new blog format has prompted several questions about commenting.

LollyKnitting Around