Bump, bump bump. It has been a slightly turbulent around here of late, but though related this bump ends happily and therefore warrants sharing I think!

A woman who meant the world to me had a cat. A not-too-bright, but very sweet cat, who was mightily attached to her and she to it. When she was gone, I didn’t really think of the cat as any sort of connection to or manifestation of her, but boy did I cry when we thought he was gone. I got the call from the cat’s other person, one that is incapable of dramatizing - Cat’s gone, looks like a tussle on the lawn, not expecting him to come back.

And then yesterday, days later, the cat strolls on back into the house like nothing ever happened. Curls right up on the bed happy as a clam and goes to sleep. After putting D through all that, and us too. I could kill him, if I weren’t so happy that he’s ok. Little shit.

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Now playing: The Wood’s Tea Co. - The Cat Came Back
via FoxyTunes

My second Chrysalis has been complete and posted in Flickr and Ravelry for a little while, but it was waiting to be packaged, then waiting for the appropriate card, then traveling north to it’s intended home. But it arrived on Monday, and so now I can share with you a little bit about the recipient, Kate. Kate has been through some ups & downs in recent years (I won’t elaborate as it’s not my story to tell), and this last year has been no exception with some new bumps in the road. It seems that you can’t get too very far in this life without experiencing some hard times as well as good - loss as well as love. And sometimes watching someone you love face challenges is nearly as tough as facing it yourself. Kate could tell you this for sure. Some of us have been luckier than others - and I count myself in this category - but I’ve heard it said and now believe it to be true that the tougher things can be, the more we appreciate it when they take a turn for the better. It did my heart good to hear her sound so much better on the phone when we talked.

When she mentioned last fall that she liked the original Chrysalis, I knew another one would soon be in the works, especially for her. I now understand the desire to make a shawl or a wrap for someone that you want to hug and comfort. So, here is Kate’s Chrysalis.

modeled shots & project details can be found on Flickr and Ravelry for the knitters in the audience

And, a few words about my friend:

She’s tough as nails
She’s proof that a sense of humor can help carry you through just about anything
She’s kind and generous
She’s one of my oldest friends
She’s a great mom
She respects our differences
She cares deeply for her friends and family

Sadly, when she and her family visited last summer I enjoyed our time so much that I did not think to take many pictures (making a mental note here to be better about this. I did the same thing when my brother was here over the holiday!), and so I have no recent shots of Kate to show. She has promised to send a few on, but I know that she has many more important things vying for her attention (as it should be). So, no compliments on the wrap, please (not that I am insinuating you would or should), Instead, if you like - tell me about a friend that you miss or one that’s close by that you appreciate.

Kate, I love you a lot, I love your little boy & your husband - you have an amazingly strong & wonderful little family unit. And that is a beautiful thing!

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Now playing: James Taylor - You got a Friend
via FoxyTunes

Our house is one big WIP (in the last few years we’ve painted, done trimwork, shelves, electric, etc.) and this week my dad came into town to help us frame and sheetrock an unfinished loft over the master bedroom. We worked hard, gained confidence and new skills, new muscles, and a new appreciation for contractors! We have quite a ways yet to go before it realizes it’s potential as a combined creative space for Tad & I (I told him I thought there was plenty of room for a loom, but I don’t think he’s buying it). We accomplished quite a bit, and are exhausted - but ultimately very satisfied, in the way that comes from using your own head and hands to do something useful. And we couldn’t have done it without my dad. Thanks Dad, for your time, expertise & effort - not to mention putting up with some of my pie in the sky ideas of how it all should work!

So, I’m further behind with all of YOUR activities than I was when I started vacation a week ago, I have much reading, eye candy, Ravelry surfing, emails and fiber-related activities to catch up on. Chrysalis II needs casting off, Cinderella needs some assistance from dear Kathryn, there’s been a smidgen of spinning (!!) and there are new designs in the works (some of which I’ll pull you all in on here now that I’ve missed IK’s current submission deadline - somehow finishing sketches and swatches this week just wasn’t in the cards) And, I owe you all many, many thanks for your kind words and support of my P.S. Mitts. Thanks heaps!

Sooo, what’s the biggest WIP (fiber or other) in your life??

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Now playing: Tegan And Sara - Dark Come Soon
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

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

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

My dad is a good man. Being down here in North Carolina, I only get to see him a couple of times a year, and I miss him an awful lot. Tad and I got to spend a bit of time with him while we were on vacation, as he and Lorna showed up at the end of the 3Day to watch us complete the walk and enter closing ceremonies. They even hung out with us and some of our teammates for dinner (pizza in the hotel room - we were too tired for anything else!) and then we spent a little time with him at home in New Hampshire later on in the week.

My mom used to volunteer for the Science Center of New Hampshire monitoring conservation lands - a little island in Lake Winnipesaukee called Ragged Island in particular - and my dad has carried on this activity each year since her passing. This year, we kayaked out to the island together to check in on it. What a great way to remember Mom by contributing to something that she loved, and what a great morning with my dad. The weather was perfect, the island beautiful, and the company was the best kind. Love you Dad.

She’s our niece and she’s amazing. She’s not yet two years old, but she’s whip-smart, vivacious, independent, caring, and loves to share. Those are pretty great qualities in any person, let alone such a tiny one. Great job mom & dad!

We spent a couple of days with Tim, Martha (my knitting teacher!) & AB (aka the Beaster) after the 3Day and had a terrific time, although it really was too short - as always. There’s never enough time.

Speaking of the Beaster, I’m dreaming up a little somethin-somethin’ for her, that I spent some time swatching over the break. Wanna see?

Good morning from beautiful Shelburne, VT! This will be brief as our lovely niece AB will be up soon and I think that I might be highjacking someone’s wireless network - oops

A couple of quick things:

The 3Day was AMAZING - the 60 miles just flew by and suddenly, sadly it was over again - until next year! I can’t wait to share some of the stories, pics and video clips with you - and of course, draw names for the contest! Thanks so much for your support of this great cause and incredible event!

AND….

MagKnits is up! I can hardly believe it, but there she is, my little Summer Sky! I feel a need to confess that as this was my first design, the pattern-writing was a bit of a bear. Please, if there is anyone out there who wants to make it, feel free to contact me with questions, and any feedback is most welcome - it will only help me improve.

We’ll make our way home this weekend - Talk to you soon!