SpiderWomanKnits

Get Your Move On!

2006-07-02T09:56:03-04:00

Laurent en Maize

2006-06-27T17:40:44-04:00

A big 'Thank You' to everyone who commented on the socks I knit as a gift for my MIL. My in-laws were up visiting from NJ to celebrate Mr. SpiderWomanKnits birthday this past Saturday and things have been busy so I haven't had a chance to get back to anyone or read blogs the past few days. I'm catching up slowly but surely :-)

Last night, however, I did find time to cast on for my new project brought about by the Summer of Stash Along. I was thinking about the yarn I have in my stash that I have never contemplated before, you know, the yarn that you pick up out of color lust but haven't given much thought to since. Well, I have three huge cones of DK weight Shetland New Wool that I picked up at the 2005 Webs Annual sale for a song and a dance that just sort of sit on the bottom shelf of my stash. I hardly notice them but Jennifer did (somehow) when I posted this photo and asked me what I was going to do with them. Good question, Jenn. Here's my answer (for at least one of the cones, anyway)...

I am pretty excited about this WIP since it will be my first attempt at Intarsia and my first Rowan knit. It's funny how you have to learn the language of each designer. I am finding the wording of the Rowan patterns a tad confusing/not intuitive but workable nonetheless. It's just a matter of "getting" the way they are thinking. The pattern is Laurent from Vintage Knits and I plan on using bits of the other cones for the color work. I wear a lot of Old Italian Lady type dresses so I can see myself using this a lot, belt and all. This book just makes me drool. I pretty much want to knit everything in it with a few exceptions. Hopefully, I'll be able to put the other two cones to use with this book since there are quite a few patterns for DK weight wool.

Oh, as for those socks I knit for my mother-in-law...a picture is worth a thousand words...

Yup, she only has one sock on because the other one didn't fit! I can't even think about it right now so I am going back to catching up on blogs and knitting Laurent :-|

Socks Really do Rock

2006-06-21T11:07:16-04:00

Finally! Fini! It took me long enough to get the second sock off of the needles but I finally finished the socks I made for a certain someone who will be receiving them in a few short days. Nothing like a deadline to get my tushie into gear ;-)

The pattern for these 3x1 ribbed socks is a free one you can find at Spun. JessaLu dyed some Knit Picks sock yarn and wasn't too happy with the results but the colors were perfect for me because the intended giftee is a Red Hatter. Now all I have to do is cross my fingers and hope they will fit her. Stay tuned for some (hopefully) in use pics!

Simple Pleasures

2006-06-16T23:17:27-04:00

"Tomten is the small Swedish elf who specializes in good deeds, and your child will resemble him strangely, if you put a Tomten jacket on him or her." ~Elizabeth Zimmerman

You might remember that I started this project for my friends new baby, well, after all is said and done it fits my 3 year old! So, my little guy has something to get him through the fall and I busted 3 skeins of yarn from my stash for the SOS! It was all done without shedding a single tear :-)

Blogger in Need

2006-06-14T13:50:10-04:00

Hey everyone,

When you have a chance head over to Holly's Blog to send warm wishes for her friend who has been living with Multiple Sclerosis for the past five years. Holly will be biking in the 2006 MS Bike Tour in support of her friend to help raise money for a cure. She's offering to bake her delicious Gingersnap cookies for anyone who pledges more than $20 :-) Yummy....

Thanks,

Abi

It's a Small World

2006-06-11T15:52:52-04:00

Yesterday marked the second annual WWKIP day and our local event turned out to be a cozy little gathering of just 2 knitters, myself and Jess.

I am certain that the weather had something to do with it since it was 50 degrees in the Berkshires yesterday with the wind chill making it feel like 42! Yes that's right I am talking about the "wind chill factor" in JUNE :-|

But it really didn't matter because if there was anyone I would rather be knitting with on WWKIP day it is this lady. Later on my DH and Little Guy showed up to hang out for a bit. Jess has proof of my goofy husband "interpretive knitting" but I'll leave it up to her to decide whether it should be shared with the world. It's pretty ~~frightening~~ ridiculous.

My whole life I have resisted fitting in to any type of category or group. I never wanted to be labeled. There are so many other things I do besides knit. I take pictures, I write, I politic, I ride horses, I weave, etc etc but I am not a "photographer", I am not a "writer", I am not a "politician", I am not a "horse person", and I am not a "weaver". It wasn't until I started knitting that I really felt I was part of something bigger than myself, that I belonged to a group of people out there who took as much pride and joy as I do in a particular craft. A community. I proudly call myself a Knitter and accept all the connotations that come along with that. So even though yesterday my "world" consisted of just Jess and myself I really felt the World Wide Knitting Community out there and the overwhelming joy of being a part of that.

I hope everyone had a great WWKIP filled with laughter and friends and here's to all the knitters out there who braved the cold or the heat or the rain to gather with members of our community for the sake of the craft.

WWKIP

2006-06-09T11:05:09-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen! Children of all ages!

Tomorrow is World Wide Knit in Public Day so get your sticks, get your yarn and head down to your main street or local cafe and stitch in public with pride!

Jess and I as well as other members of Berkshire County Knitters will be here which is Park Square in Downtown Pittsfield. So if you are a Berkshire County/Massachusetts knitter and want to join our little knit out we'll be there from 1 pm - 3 pm! Have a great WWKIP Day everyone!

Oh...think SUN people SUN...it has been raining cats and dogs for what feels like forever in Massachusetts and we don't want no stinkin wet wool tomorrow...

SOS! Have I gone mad?

2006-06-05T13:12:18-04:00

It's offical people. I have joined the Summer of Stash Along. Now, before you get mad let me explain.

There are certainly two camps when it comes to Stashes, there are the die hard SEAAE'ers (Stash Enhancement at any Expense) who panic or even become aggitated at the thought of a self impossed yarn diet and then there are the "others" people like myself who for any number of reasons have decided to take the ultimate challenge and not buy a single skein of yarn until LABOR DAY. I have to say that for me this will be quite easy. In fact, when it comes to "stuff" I like to have as little of it as possible. Possessions bog me down. I feel burdened and surpressed by ownership. Typically, I purge stuff three or four times a year to my poor DH's chagrin who is such a perpetual saver he has moved a BOX of old checks and used batteries at least five or six times. It goes a little something like this.

(It is a breezy spring day, the first warm breeze of the season is blowing the shabby chic curtains gently as warm yellow sunlight fills the freshly painted white room. DH (Darling Husband) enters bedroom to find SWK (SpiderWomanKnits) with head buried in closet, clothes piled everywhere and the dreded box of clear lawn bags to her side)

DH: (aggitated) You better not throw out my favorite blue t-shirt.

SWK: (with madness and determination in her eyes turns to look at her DH momentarily shooting him a resolute glare provoking fear and panic)

DH: (cautiously begins to back out of room) You know you do this every year and then you complain you have nothing to wear. I'm just saying that maybe you should think about storing the stuff instead of giving it all away.

SWK: (totally unresponsive continues to cram clothing into the clear lawn bag as if she hasn't even heard her husband)

DH exits the room. The sound or rustling plastic bags and moving furniture can be heard throughut the house. Later, piles and piles of the clear lawn bags filled with clothing, misc. kitchen gadgets that seemed like a good idea but have since proved to be useless, and plastic primary colored kids toys emitting obnoxious high pitched songs such as "Row Row Row Your Boat" are loaded into a car destined for the Goodwill. DH can be seen at the front door of the house shaking his head while SWK starts the car and pulls out of the driveway still determined and consumed with the need to be rid of material possessions.

(End Scene)

So, for someone like me the Summer of Stash Along should be easy as pie, right? Reorganize the stash, figure out what projects I would like to make and match with newly reorganized yarn, knit peacefully like a zen master until the stash is reduced feeling a sense of freedom by my lightened load. Right? Yup, that is how it is going to be for me only I can't help but experience this feeling of panic as I contemplate my two allowed exceptions. Yarn is different for me. I enjoy being surrounded by the color and textures. After a long day of parenting and taking care of everyone else's needs I can retreat into my yarn space and feel calm. So what do I allow myself in a moment of weakness when I can not seem to muster up the willpower to resist a purchase and what type of yarn would bring me to that point? The answer is none. If I am going to do this I am going to do this people. No holds bard. I certainly have enough yarn to keep me busy for the next three months that's for sure.

That being said I am a new sock knitter and only have one skein of sock yarn in my stash. I will allow myself to buy sock yarn if I find it at a fiber festival and it supports a local yarn producer but it must meet both of those criteria. However, I will not start a new project with yarn purchased during the challenge until my challenge projects are done. That's it. That is my excepetion. So stay tuned and watch as I knit up my cubes and lighten my load.

Wish me luck!

Mail Call!

2006-06-01T21:13:42-04:00

Lovely Lovely Mail. I am always happy when the PostLady brings ~~something~~ anything besides a bill but on a day when two packages arrive, what could be more fun? I knew what was in both packages and none of it had anything to do with knitting but I thought I would share it anyway. There's my WIP basket in the background though for good measure. I'll get to that later.

First up a belated Momma's Day gift from my DH in the envelope. A few weeks ago I put some of my Revoltees on Etsy and while I was browsing around I came across this beautiful jewlery. Turns out my DH ordered one of Abigail's Pearl Solitaire rings for me!

It is so simple and classic. Only, it's too big. I rarely wear jewlery and never wear rings on my pointer finger it just feels weird to me. I was intending to wear it on my ring finger so it looks like I will have to wait a wee bit longer until it is sized :-( Oh well. I do love it though, very much.

Next up, my Amazon box! A few months ago I started reading the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. After the first few pages of the first book I was totally hooked. They are SO much fun to read. I am a really sucker for historical ficton and who doesn't love a good romance? Gotta love the Scottish Manly Men! I finished the third book two nights ago and was frantically awaiting this book to arrive today. Can't wait to start it tonight! My DH is going to the movies with a friend and I don't know if I will take the time to knit or snuggle into bed with the story? Decisions Decisions.

Speaking of knitting I realize I haven't been sharing much lately about my WIP's. So here they are in all their modest splendor. No feats of technical savy or complicated design here folks just simple, useful gifts-to-be. First up my very first (small gauge) sock. You might remember a while back I knit these socks for my little guy to get a feel for sock knitting using size 7 DP's and some worsted weight yarn. This is a great pattern I found over at Spun Magazine for some 3x1 ribbed socks. The yarn was hand dyed by JessaLu and has been a complete pleasure to work with. The second sock is almost at the toe decrease. And...I LOVE knitting socks! I crossed the threshold people. I never knew what everyone was going on and on about until now.

Next up, a modular baby sweater ala Lady Zimmerman due to warm the newest little one in my circle of friends as well as use up the leftover skein from my Easy V sweater. It doesn't look like much now but I know it wil be super cute when it is done. Just wait and see.

Now, don't get me wrong I have a few more WIP's but they are dangerously close to the edge of becoming UFO's so I am going to zip through these guys and see what happens next. Ok! I am off to read or knit or both. Toodles.

Cummington

2006-05-30T23:54:11-04:00

This weekend was the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Festival in Cummington. Lucky for us that is just in our backyard (almost literally). Last summer we bought a cabin in a state forest just one town over from Cummington which has quickly turned into my favorite place to be. I have some sort of connection to this land/area of MA that is deeply rooted in a feeling of peace and serenity. Needless to say I was really looking forward to this fiber fest. I knew it was going to be a beautiful day.

The night before Mr. & Mrs. SpiderWomanKnits and little SpiderWomanKnits feasted on lamb burgers which seems a little barbaric in retrospect but boy were they good.

The next morning it was off to the fair! JessaLu and family met us at our house and we raced over to the fairgrounds. (Jess won) :-) For the record her car has two more cylinders than mine!

Right off the bat I fell in love with this sheep. JessaLu has the tabloid shot over at her blog.

He was promptly sheared. Aww...look at him! The sheep belongs to this guy who was doing the shearing, quite a young fellow, who raises and shears sheep (up to 100 a day!) for a living. He does this in Cummington so perhaps my path will cross with the sheeps again sometime in the future. I enjoyed cuddling him while I could.

I didn't buy much at this festival but I LOVE what I got. It is 1120 yards (yes, you read that right ladies and gentlemen, 1-1-2-0 four figures!) of hand dyed superwash 100% Merino wool in colorway Denim. It is beautiful and I have no idea what I am going to make with it yet but I carry it around with me sometimes during the day and am enjoying it's company just the way it is until some project calls its name. It was dyed by a lovely woman (can't remember her name) in Stephentown, NY who is the owner of Silver Moon Farm Fiber Arts. Unfortunately they don't have a web site yet otherwise I would send you her way. She had other lovely colorways and the yarn was such a deal at $30 for the hank.

Jess and I got to the festival quite early so after we shopped we walked around for a while until the Bloggers and Brownies picnic at 1pm. There were quite a few bloggers there, some familiar faces and some new ones. A BIG thanks to Katy for organizing the meet-up and getting us all to sign the offical "Blogger Sign In Plate" without which I would surely leave someone of the list of people I met.You can find that complete list on her blog. It was great to see every one and I am always invigorated by the instant community that springs up when ever you get knitters together. It's a beautiful thing.

Oh, we almost came home with one of thses guys too. What a sweet little Angora Bunny and a cute little (human) guy too if I do say so myself.

If we weren't in a very transitional phase of trying to sell our house and figure out the next step for our family we would have added another furry creature to our little menagerie. Maybe next year.

All in all it was a magical weekend filled with amazing weather, great friends, and luscious fiber. What more could a girl ask for?