Raleigh, Meymandi Concert Hall, May 15.

Cat’s Cradle schedule

Tad’s review of Once. Suffice it to say we loved it and are so looking forward to this show!

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Now playing: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly
via FoxyTunes

Tessa is my Sis. More technically she is Tad’s sister, my sister-in-law. But, she is the closest thing I’ve got to a sister and if I did have one, our relationship is very like I would imagine (or hope) a sisterly relationship would be.

Sis is by far my biggest knitting fan. She regularly brags about my knitting and my blog to anyone and everyone who will listen. It’s really quite overboard and makes me a bit uncomfortable especially when within hearing distance - but, even as my ears are turning pink, I must admit that it’s pretty special to have someone think what you’re doing is so cool, however biased they may be - even because of it. How wonderful for someone you care about to take such an interest in something that you enjoy.

Late last summer I was browsing on Ravelry for my next sock pattern and I stumbled on one called “Rivendell”. It piqued my interest instantly due to the name, and on closer inspection of the lovely stitch pattern, I knew immediately that these socks were for Tess. First, because she loves socks almost more than anyone I know - and these were some beautiful socks. But more importantly, because neither her feelings for socks nor for my knitting can begin to compare to her devotion to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies. In fact, a word to the wise - if LOTR is not a topic that you are equally passionate about, you may not want to mention it, or any words that could be easily associated with it, especially Aragorn, in her presence Truly though, I make light, but you have to know Tess to understand that her love of the movie adaptations goes far beyond her admiration of Vigo with long hair, it has more to do with the underlying themes of Good v. Evil, Sacrifice, Love, and Friendship.

So, a few months later and one panic over a lost pattern which later resurfaced, I began the socks in anticipation of her birthday. Though she got to try one on the day that we celebrated, she didn’t receive the completed pair until last weekend (I comforted myself, “well, they really weren’t for her birthday anyhow”)…

Pattern: Rivendell, by Janel Laidman.

FYI, this pattern was available last year only as a kit from Chameleon Colorworks, which is now under new ownership. I had a very positive experience with the new owner, Nancy Colburn, when I thought I had lost my paper copy of the pattern that shipped with the kit. She did not have the rights to the pattern to be able to help me with an electronic copy but was most willing to work with Janel and try to work something out to get me another copy - In the meantime I found it, naturally! I am not sure if there are plans to release the pattern for sale again or as a download, but I will say that I hope so - I think Janel’s design is a real stunner and it was a very enjoyable knit.

**ETA - I just took a swing over to Janel’s blog to tell her how much I enjoyed these, and guess what? She has an upcoming sock book that will include the pattern!! And the teaser shot is very cool - it looks like there will be some other wonderful patterns included as well.**

Needles: US2 DPNs

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Velvet Olive - 1 Skein, ladies size 9-ish. I wasn’t sure I would get the whole pair out of 1 skein, and in the end it was pretty close - but there is enough left over for darning should it be necessary. As I mentioned, the pattern shipped as part of a kit, and though I thought the original yarn was lovely in it’s own right and will enjoy using it on another pattern, my preference was to work Rivendell in a semi-solid yarn to let draw attention to the lovely stitchwork.

Gauge: 8 sts/inch

Mods: I worked the sole & toe in reverse stockinette rather than stockinette and I’m very happy with the choice, though my hands weren’t and I was cursed with ladder problems (which, by the way, look better after blocking, but I can still see them. durn.)

Loves:

- The stitch pattern (as I mentioned!). It’s my favorite part of these socks and it’s just gorgeous. I believe it takes a special kind of creativity to come up with something like this in your own brain and I admire that ability!

- The heel gusset. Though the reverse stockinette caused some difficulty with ladders, it created the nicest gusset I’ve done so far. There is no gaping at all, it’s a nice tight join accomplished by purling through the back loop.

SO, have my feelings about gift knitting changed at all (I am a self-proclaimed Selfish Knitter)? Well, if I were a Gift Knitter, I will say that it would give me so much pleasure to knit for someone that I know will enjoy the gift as much as Tess seemed to enjoy this one. A talented crafter in her own right, Tess appreciates the sentiment of a carefully chosen and worked handmade thing - and seemed to feel, well, loved. Valued. Which is the point. Because she is.

Remarkably, I didn’t even feel a twinge of regret as they passed into her hands. I would do it again in a heartbeat to make her so pleased. Just for the record though, I don’t think this makes me a Gift Knitter. I think these socks were that perfect gift that you stumble on when you aren’t gift shopping - the one that’s actually a little selfish really, because it makes you think of someone you love, and you pick it up because it makes you smile to think of them and of the look of surprise and happiness on their face, the gift that makes YOU so happy when you find that you were right - it really WAS the perfect gift. In this case that gift just happened to be one that required a little extra effort from me.

Did you notice? Tess picked her sweater to go with the socks. I told you she was pretty great.

Love you Sis.
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Now playing: Sarah Bettens - Someone to Say Hi To
via FoxyTunes

Everyone, meet Sylvia!

Sylvia, this is…… Everyone!

She was a bit of an impulse - the need for a body double coupled with the not-flattering thought of myself wrapped in duct tape, added to a good buy equals a new friend for me! Sylvia was so dubbed by her former owner’s spouse -so Sylvia she will stay - She comes with excellent karma from the years she spent modeling for my spinning teacher. As a re-purchase, she nicely fits into the Wardrobe Refashion initiative and will be helpful with it to boot. She does need a little ah…. enhancement in some key areas to be a true double, however - but that too will be a fun “refashioning”!

There have been some tough times with our Little Man over the last couple of weeks, but as of now he is improving (mel emits a huge sigh of relief), and we’ve had a lovely weekend, spending QT with him and the Sweeter, enjoying some mild weather and looking ahead to the warmer months. We’ve been planning for this year’s garden:

And I’ve been imagining the colors and details of a summer project:

I hope that your weekend has been just as hopeful!
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Now playing: Cloud Cult - Living on the Outside of Your Skin
via FoxyTunes

Who are coming to Local 506 in April - and somehow, the tickets are only $8. This is one of the most under-appreciated bands out there, IMO. Great music, lyrics, themes - and they’re out to make the world a better place. What’s not to love?

First, a quick website update - I’m in process of updating my blogroll and moving it to it’s own page (it’s sorely out of date!). In addition, I’ve added a few sections to the sidebar for links to current favorite knits, posts, etc. so check them out! I think the blogroll can become a bit redundant for regular readers, but this is a way to share what I’m enjoying at the moment. I plan to update these every week or so - Let me know what you think.

Now the knitting!

When I last gave a WIP update, there was a gift knit in process that I had leave off the list as the recipient frequents my blog (not from embarrassment at my growing number of WIPs, though otherwise that certainly could have been the reason! It has been confirmed that although I may enjoy having a few different projects for some variety, 7 or 8 are FAR too many). But now the deadline of gift-giving is past and though I did not finish on time, I was able to share one sock with the recipient and check for fit - it does, and I am close to finishing, and so now I can confess it here to you all!

The pattern is Rivendell, by Janel Laidman (Ravelry Link), and these are for my Sis. I’ll save most of the details for the FO post which I’ll bribe her to model for.

I am loving knitting these socks, loving the color, loving the stitch pattern. The one thing I wasn’t loving was the un-lovely ladders on the foot of the first sock. I have never had ladders like this with DPN’s - my technique (if you can call it that!) of giving the yarn a good tug for the first stitch or two of each needle usually remedies this in stockinette; but no matter what I did, the reverse stockinette just wanted to spread at the joins.

On the second sock I attempted to close the gap - and settled on wrapping the yarn clockwise for the first stitch instead of counter clockwise, then purling the next stitch as normal. This produces a twisted stitch if purled as normal through the front leg on the next round, so on each following round I inserted the working needle through the back leg of stitch (still the right leg, it just presents at the back of the needle due to the clockwise wrapping on the previous round). A trip through my old IK issues tells me that this is the way that combination knitters form their purl stitches (I never knew that!) Are there any combination knitters reading? Are there advantages/disadvantages? I’m curious! I know I’ve seen some good resources, I’ll have to hunt them down. Anyway, this was supposed to be brief! Working the stitches this way at the start of each needle drastically improved the laddering on the second foot - though it’s still not perfect, I’m hoping any remaining visual evidence will block out. I’m nearly done, so we will see soon enough!

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Now playing: Chuck Ragan - Its’s What You Will
via FoxyTunes

I’ve been meaning to put a link to Gudrun’s sweet little sweater on the cover of Knitty, and now she’s got another coming out - Go check out her stuff, she’s on fire!

Shetland Shortie

Abbess Pullover (from the new Knitscene preview)

DIY Film Canister flash diffuser - I need to get my hands on white film canister!

Some good reading - Pocket Farmer’s former blog (and her Flickr photos could go under inspiration!):

Herding Ducks

Claudia’s riding 75 miles to raise funds for research in the MS Ride on June 28th. Donate to end Multiply Sclerosis and win some fab prizes!

Shirley May (Beasley) Remington

Linda May (Remington) Chase

Melinda (Chase) Hunt

I love how our names are tied to one another. I love how my knitting ties me to them. Though the exact history of this sweater has been lost over time, it holds no less importance or sentimental worth. It came to me nearly complete, having been knit and partially seamed by one of the first two women. I do not remember Mom working on this particular sweater, so it seems more likely to me that it was Nana’s, but it’s not certain. What is certain, by the look and feel of it - the condition of the yarn and style of the stitch holders, is that it was left unfinished for years. It could have been something that was worked on when I was a child or even before I was born. I wonder why it was never finished, but at the same time I’m rather glad that it wasn’t, so that I could. I took my time with the finishing, seaming it carefully, knitting a collar, picking the perfect buttons. My guess is that this was knit for herself - as the fit of this sweater would have been perfect on either Nana or Mom. And it’s perfect for me. Wearing it, I feel warm, strong, capable, and loved.

I’m calling it Remington.

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Now playing: The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home
via FoxyTunes

I’ve been remiss - Cosy sent me a You Make Me Smile tag ages ago and I had (and have) been planning to address my blogroll and find a different way to share the links of my favorite blogs. My intent was to roll my “smiley” links into this process and re-introduce the blogroll alternative at the same time - but the path to hell, well, you know. I haven’t settled on something I’m really happy with and so the Make Me Smile links got lost in my inability to make a decision and I didn’t make anybody smile! BOO on me! So, yesterday, when Barefoot Rooster commented to let me know that I made her day, I decided I’d better save the retooling of the blogroll for another time and share some of the blogs that I love right now before it gets lost in the shuffle again!

First, let me just say that Barefoot Rooster is a gem, I’ve become really fond of her blog over the last couple of months; she’s a regular post-er, you can count on it, and she always has some great knitting, outings, Boh pics or skyscapes to share, and I love talking music with her. If you haven’t discovered her yet, she’s great, and so it completely made MY day to hear from her that she enjoys my blog too!

And so, here are some of the other blogs that make my day!! This includes some old and new favorites (and really, these are just a fraction of the list. Seriously, there are so many more blogs that I visit and comment on and I love them ALL.) I think I’m supposed to do 10, but since I’m behind here, you’ll have to forgive me if I throw in some extras.

Sew-Mad - Katrin is a multi-crafting superstar! I love her blog with her great projects & photos, she has a great sense of humor and her comments are always a sure pick-me-up. What a great find!

Ruthless Knitting - Ruth is smart & creative, a skilled knitter and gifted writer who tells a great story and gives thoughtful and valuable feedback. I have so enjoyed following her design process over the last year (among others, Slim could be an IK cover - easily). I’m eagerly awaiting Spring and some warmer weather to work on my own Florence! IMO, Ruth is an underappreciated treasure in blogland and I feel so fortunate to know her.

Physicsknits - In addition to being a talented designer that I look forward to seeing more & more of (Have you seen the IK Spring Preview? Congratulations Connie!), Connie is accessible, kind, encouraging and generous with sharing her design advice and experience. She’s terrific.

CosyMakes - Cosy makes me smile! Her hats, her embelishments, her handspun, her fiber adventures - Her apple hood photos had me grinning so much. Who can look at that happy face and not smile? She’s a tireless advocate of knitting, spinning and recycling, and well worth the read!

The Sanguine Gryphon - Gryphon rocks! Her color sense is incredible and is exhibited in her beautiful yarns - I’ve tried in vain to describe the organic complexity of her colorways. She also happens to be one talented designer - and I consider her a bit of a mentor. I’m so very thankful for her patient guidance and technical expertise in the patterns we’ve collaborated on.

The Times We are Living - Rachel is a bit of a kindred spirit and has introduced me to some great music lately. Though our lives are very different, I’m living vicariously through her in some ways. I find her posts on her work with Elk populations in the Pacific Northwest to be incredibly fascinating, and her knitting and artistic ability are great draws as well - check out her gourds, they are beautiful.

Mind of Winter - I’ve admired Julia’s designs for as long as I’ve been a knitter, and recently stirred up the courage to comment on her latest design in Ravelry (Why is that hard with established or admired bloggers sometimes? Silly, I know!) and she was just as kind and accessible and affable as you would expect from her blog. She’s a talented designer, and an excellent and introspective writer whom I’ve enjoyed reading immensely. As an aside, this has made me want to comment more on some established blogger’s sites, those whom I read and adore but don’t comment when I have a thought or appreciation because there’s this strange (self-perceived) wall there. It’s similar to the insecurity I felt about meeting other bloggers for the first time, though that too was absolutely worth it. Anyway, I think those folks who’ve been around for years or have half a million subscribers or whatever definition you place on it - they appreciate the conversation and feedback just as much as I do, and blog for many of the same reasons, so there is something in common there at a pretty basic level. I’m trying to get over some of this shyness and come out of my shell a bit more, and bloggers like Julia make it so much easier and very rewarding.

Trailing Yarn - I love Elizabeth. She’s kind and funny, she’s strong, a fellow hiker and a very talented and prolific spinner and knitter as well. Her posts bring a genuine smile to my face with their warmth and humor!

Garn Boet - Maud is one of my favorite knitters. She’s currently on a quest to “collect” all of Eunny’s designs and is well on her way - in addition to some other lovely projects and cute pup pictures too. I love her Rosebud mittens and particularly enjoyed her historical posts on these.

knitsane - Great writing and process posts - and for someone seeking a balance between lovely fashions and meaningful ones (or what they may mean to us), she has some very thoughtful spot on musings on this.

Adventures of a Desi Knitter - A recent discovery, she is funny and talented, has great posts on knitting and food and a lovely free hat pattern I’ve been intending to make. An all-around good read.

Girl Eats Soup - What can I say about Mel that I haven’t already said? She’s a great knitter, a funny and caring individual, and my blog-twin on the opposite coast

House of Wool Repute - The new home of Laura (formerly of Stream of Consciousness) and friends (it’s a great group blog with some other folks that I also really enjoy), who I also admired for a long time before commenting. She is one of the most skilled and detail oriented knitters I’ve read and I’ve really appreciated her in-depth posts on technique and the specific patterns she has knit.

yarn bee - Another recent find, Cheryl is warm and friendly and has some really amazing FOs. Her Poetry in Stitches sweaters are inspiring me to get going on my Festjakke, and her Circles Yoke original is one of my favorites.

Knit Me a River - This blog has it all - knitting, spinning, and beautiful photos. I recently had the great pleasure to meet Shannon in person - she’s just as nice as you would imagine from her blog, and her Geddesburg handspun yarn pr0n shots have me drooling and itching to dedicate some more time to my poor neglected wheel!

Knitosaurus’s Alli - Fun projects with great posts and unbeatable scenery (she lives in Alaska!) - I also love the knitting-dinosaur-rainbow logo, it’s the first thing I see when I pull up her blog and it always makes me grin.

Who Needs Gauge?! - Steph is funny and a thoughtful writer, and I’m really enjoying her re-organization posts (since I have such a need for it myself!). She also heads up a stitches group at the high school where she teaches and I really admire her for passing along her skills to a new generation of knitters and crocheters and finding a way for everyone to participate.

Ladies, Thanks for sharing your fiber lives, your knitting, spinning, your writing, and a bit of yourselves with all of us - You all Make My Day!!

*Edited to Add - This is a no obligation excercise, so play along only if you like!  Warm fuzzies and good feelings only, no stress or concern, just know that you’re appreciated

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Now playing: Sigur Ros - Takk…
via FoxyTunes