novamade

red silk scrumptious

 

I am not sure if your buying patterns are anything like mine, but I tend to shop in color phases.  There was a two year period where I had a love affair with the color Red.  I threw caution to the wind and bought red yarn, fiber and fabric like it was going out of style, and maybe red was, indeed, going out of style (last year, I heard purple was the new black and I am surely in a Purple phase right now).  In any case, I have a ridiculous amount of red in my fiber and textile stashes.  It's time I used some of it, don't you think?

 

I started this handwoven scarf last October while pregnant with Little Mister.  It sat unfinished for a while because I just couldn't muster the energy to work on it (which is sad, I was so excited to work with a silk warp and silk weft --it's all silk, people).  When getting my craft room in order this summer, I found my Kromski Rigid Heddle with the scarf in progress and finished it in no time at all (I have said it before, weaving goes pretty quickly once the warp has been prepped and installed on the loom).

 

This scarf has been done for a while now.  The truth is, I couldn't figure out what to do with it.  I like it; but, I have a lot of red.  The shawl in my avatar is the same red, and I wear that all the time.  And then I have some really pretty Sundara Sock in Sangria over Garnet (which is, again, the same red for the most part) that wants to be a little shawlette (or something).  And since I am not in a red phase any more, there is such a thing as too much red.

  

So I decided that this would go in my little shoppe.  I guess if it doesn't sell, that might be some sort of cosmic sign that I should keep it for myself (or give it to my mom for Christmas, because you know, red is her color after all).

 

I am going to put the details up for this scarf up in the gallery and ravelry.  I think it's fairly uncommon for many weavers to give this much information for the items that they sell; but, I am not your typical weaver.  I think it fair to offer you the advice in case you want to try it for yourself, that's how we learn, after all.   And if you don't weave or just don't want to weave one for yourself and love this one...well, it's in my shop!  Have a great carfty weekend, everyone!

it's fall y'all

When I was growing up in a part of Florida that is included in the charmingly referred to"Redneck Riviera" (though I prefer the Emerald Coast, myself), people would often joke around about the passing of seasons.  Usually, we had to remind each other that fall was supposedly in the air because the seasons could basically be descibed as, "kinda cold" and "really hot."  I don't remember there being a lot of in-betweens, weather-wise. 

But now that I am a Yankee (that's what my friend Alanna calls me now, it's kind of funny), I have the opportunity to experience the passage of seasons and all the trappings that go with the seasonal changes as they happen in New England.

Aside from being the most colorful and, and in my opinion, the prettiest season, fall is also transitional.  You may not need a huge bulky scarf; but a lacey shawl or scarf made with a touch of wool is nice. 

That's why I like knitting shawls in the summer, I can be wardrobe ready in the fall.  The newest addition to my shawl collection is Percy.  The pattern is a freebie on ravely as well as on the author's blog.   I have no idea why she might it available for free other than kindness, because I would (and I am sure others) would gladly pay for a pattern that produces something so pretty.

I won't say the pattern was easy.  There are people on ravely who have said this, I think they are lying.  The pattern isn't overtly difficult; but, it is not what I would call a piece of cake.  I would not reccomend this to a new lace knitter (if I had chosen this as my first lace projects, I can say with a great degree of certainty that I would have never picked up a lace pattern ever again), there are way easier patterns out there to cut your lace teeth on (Lace Leaf Shawl, Flower Basket Shawl, and of course Ishbel, to name just a few).  The intricate pattern detail requires you to pay attention on the right and the wrong side of the shawl.  Both sides are charted for most of the shawl.  There are a great many nupps to contend with.  You could, I am sure, knit the shawl without the nupps, but I think the nupps really add a lot to this shawl (there was a time I thought nupps were kind of frivolous, but now, I sort of like them).

This shawl is something of a show stopper.  Every time I wear it (and I wear it quite a bit), I am asked (if the person is a knitter) where the pattern can be acquired or (if the person is not a knitter) where I bought the shawl/scarf.  Just this morning someone asked if I would make one for her, because she loved it so much.  And you guys know how I am about good friends asking me to make them things. Sigh. Clearly, I need to start walking around with my fall crafting list upon my person (just as soon as I finish the leftover crafts from the summer, of course).

Specifics on the rav and in the gallery.  Happy fall!

and we're off!

                                            above: summer spinning

I know that, technically, there are 17 or 18 days left of summer (for those of us north of the equator); but, I think that I am not alone in thinking that fall pretty much starts afterLabor Day (next Monday, the 7th).  For me, a deadline serves as a strong motivating force to get things done.  I do not quake about deadlines, I welcome them (I hope for them, actually).  So with a minute past midnight, the 8th (day after Labor Day) as my deadline, I have a couple of days to finish a couple of things.  Because, quite frankly, I am way more excited about my fall projects than I am about my summer ones that are sort of languishing.

I have been working on a vest all summer, I already know it's not getting done by Monday, so the vest will be my carry over project to the next season (I only work on it during my lunch hour at work, so it's slow going, but I know it'll get done).  It's the one fall project that I am not particularly excited about.

I have had a red silk scarf on my Kromski rigid heddle loom since last October.  The loom got buried underneath some fabric and batting at some point and it was out of my sight, so it went out of my mind.  I am finishing this scarf if I finish nothing else this weekend.

Actually, I am going to spin this roving for Bertha, even if I finish nothing else this weekend.  Sorry, Bertha, when I said I would post this Friday, I really meant that I would post it to you on Tuesday.

I have two quilts that I would like to finish up, one needs binding and the other needs quilting and binding. 

 

Finish two quilts in a weekend? Totally doable.

 

I have been working on a shawl all summer that needs to be finished, because I am sick of working on it.  I don't really like knitting shawls in laceweight yarn, so I am not really sure why I started this.  It's almost done...32 rows, that's nothing.

Of course, I am going to try to finish this stuff while taking the boys to the beach or some other such nonsense (that is what one does over Labor Day weekend, apparently, that and grill things), and generally having long holiday weekend family fun.  And when I am done with all of that, I am going to read some books.

Yes.  I know.

For those in the US, Happy Labor Day!  May your laboring be fruitful.

And you still have time to enter the contest (it's not really a contest, but, there you are)/givewaway if you haven't already done so.

blue fabulous

It occurred to me, when I threw my shawl on, that I never posted info about my Ishbel here.  I knit this a month ago, and it was, without a doubt, the quickest lace knit ever.  And it's so pretty!!

I used Socks that Rock lightweight in the Blue Moonstone colorway, I had enough yardage to make the small shawl as written (there was maybe 60 yards left when all was said and done). 

I have taken on a new challenge that my friend Ruth started in January, "no twine in "o"-nine.  I started in March after I purchased yarn I pretty much already had for a project; but, more on that later. 

 

My challenge is to use the yarn I already have in my possession (there's a lot of it).  To that end, I am trying to come up with new things to use sock yarn for, because I knit socks at a rate equivalent to maple sap dripping in the winter.  That would be very slowly, so that means knitting shawls.  I am probably going  to weave some of it up too, that goes by pretty quickly.  But shawls are a pretty good option too, don't you think?

knitting for a special someone

 I have so many things to tell you; but, since I don't want to overwhelm you all, let's just talk about this scarf that I knit.  I will get to the rest later this week, which means I will be blogging more than once this week (actually, more than once this month, whoa.  I know.).

 

This scarf has been done for a while now; but, my mom just got it so now I can talk about it.  I could have talked about it before; but, you know, surpirse ruination=sadness.  In any case.  I started knitting this scarf in March while on spring break.  My mom saw it in my knitting bag and not so coyly volunteered herself to be the recipient.  For your edification, this was the conversation:

novamade mom: [unabashedly sifts through knitting bag, pulls out scarf project]  Oh, what is this?

nova: a scarf

novamade mom: It's so pretty.

nova: I think so, the yarn is a wool and cashmere blend, there is nylon in it too, it's supposedly sock yarn; but, I'd rather have cashmere on my neck rather than on my feet, I think.

novamade mom: Oh, me too.

nova:  Great minds, I guess.

novamade mom: You know, this is my color.

nova: It's mine too.

novamade mom: If you haven't gotten me anything for Mother's Day or my birthday, this will do.

nova:  [unbelievingly] Seriously?

novamade mom: I am being very serious.

nova: [petulantly] Okay.

It's sort of difficult to begrudge one's own mother anything, isn't it?  Also, it's unlikely that I will deny anyone in my family a knitted good if they actually ask for it.  But since I was knitting this scarf for myself and you guys know how I feel about knitting scarves in general, I was a wee perturbed about finishing it, so I missed the Mother's Day deadline.  But I finished in plenty of time for her birthday, so, Happy Birthday, Mom! 

I am sure you will like the scarf, as it is your color...and you, basically, told me to give it to you.  I hope it keeps your neck warm and cozy when the Georgia air brings a chill. 

 

This is the Montego Bay scarf from the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits.  It is a really easy lace project for those interested in trying lace on something easy and doable.  I modified a bit because I had this great yarn from the Knittery that I got myself for my birthday either last year or the year before, I can't remember.   More notes will be put in the gallery and on ravelry, FYI.

on tiny shawls and tiny women

So I made a shawl.  I am much like Heather when it comes to shawls and butching it up with the yarn weight.  Feminine shawls knit with laceweight (especially if it is cobweb like yarn, bleh) is, decidedly, not my thing.  I much prefer my shawls be knit with fingering weight yarn or dk.  But this shawl was not knit for myself, so I wanted to appeal to the personal preference of the giftee as much as possible.

So my boss is retiring at the end of the year.  I have worked with her for almost 5 years, she has been at our fine institution for 25 years (to me, that sounds crazy, but it's true).  One thing that I have noticed about my boss, let's call her "L," is that she likes to wear shawls.  As a knitter, you will understand that this is something that I can appreciate in a person.  She knows a little about knitting too.  She knit back in the day, but never got into it so the passion didn't develop, I don't get it either, but let's just let that go.  In any case, when she announced her retirement, I knew I was going to knit her a shawl.  The Mrs. Lazypants in me was going to wait to start the shawl; but, then I realized, that life with a toddler and a newborn as well as healing from a surgical delivery, around the time of the winter holidays no less, probably would not lend itself to success in my deadline knitting (the best kind, in my opinion), so I figured starting sooner rather than later was the way to go. 

I knew I would need to knit her something feminine and very lacy, she seems to like that sort of thing.  But I also wanted to knit something for her that would be interesting for me to knit (you know, something that hasn't been knit by 5,345 people according to ravelry, etc.).  It also had to be knit in a versatile color suitable for a woman who does not consider bright colors appropriate for everyday (and ever occasion wear).

   

So I started searching for a pattern and just happened to come across Piecework Magazine this summer.  There was a preview of Nancy Bush's new Knitted Lace of Estonia book   coming out next month (yes family, this would be an appropriate gift for me around holiday gift-giving time, should you be so inclined).  I took a look at the preview online, I think there are a lot of really great shawl patterns in the book, and the Estonian Summer Triangular Shawl to Knit was a nice sneak peek (even if the name is long and unwieldy; but, there you are).  The pattern seemed to meet all my criteria, and it seemed doable, there were a lot of nupps, but how bad could it be?

Nupps aren't so bad to knit, once you get into the rythym of doing them.  I ended up switching to a smaller needle to do the 7-stitch nupps; but, I suppose one could easily just knit the nupps looser.  When I knit the swallowtail shawl, I was still fairly new to knitting and didn't  really know what I was doing, so I thought the nupp was sort of evil and unnecessary; but, my views, they have changed.  There is a time and place for nupps, and really, they aren't so bad and can be good for breaking up the knitting monotony.  I counted the number of nupps in this shawl, but now I can not remember the number, let's just say that there are a lot.  I think a good portion of the shawls in the new book will feature lots of nuppage, I am not sure if it's Nancy or the Estonians, but someone really likes nupps.

I knit the shawl in an off-white shade, because that seemed versatile and appropriate...though I thought is would look pretty fantastic in orange or yellow too (just me?  probably) ...

 

My one misgiving about this shawl is its size.  It is pretty tiny.  When blocked, it was tinier than the finished size reported in the pattern (which is tiny), but not my much.  It is a small shawl.  Luckily for me, my boss is a  tiny woman.  I am not trying to be rude or anything here, she is a small-framed woman.  She is, however, taller than my mom (but that is not saying much since my mom is 4' 11" and there are many ten year olds that are taller).

I am not a woman that one would ever describe as tiny (even when I am not in the zaftig state of pregnancy which I currently find myself in).  So me modeling this shawl would have looked kind of ridiculous.  So I asked my tiny friend M to do some modeling for me (seriously, the things people will do for a free lunch and the promise of cookies).  M and L are roughly the same in height and build, so I think the shawl will work out fine.  But then I started thinking about how the tiny women of the world are sort of fortunate, especially if they are knitters...that means they need less yarn to do projects--seriously, this yarn for this shawl didn't even make a dent in the 1,400 yards of yarn in the original skein.  But I digress...  Details for the shawl are in the gallery and on ravelry.

just peachy

Lest you all think I am lazing about chomping on bon bons, let me assure you that I have been hard at work.  I have been so busy with the knitting lately, I haven't had the time, energy or wherewithall to blog about it (being pregnant probably contributed to the general feeling of lethargy; but, it sounds so industrious to say that I have been busy, so let's go with that). 

For the past couple of weeks, I have been consumed with the knitting of a shawl.  Some of you have heard about the shawl, aka my nemesis.  I finished it tonight, so there will be a finished object post shortly, I have a lot to say about this very tiny shawl.  But while it was soaking up some Kookabura wool wash, I was thinking about other projects.

Like mittens.  I like knitting mittens.  But for some reason, I got stalled on these Aran mittens.  They went in a project bag and there they sat (for a year?).  I liked the pattern, but for some reason, I just didn't finish them.

But the pattern is pretty great, and I think a friend of mine would like the pattern too...so I am going to knit these mittens.  But in a different yarn I think.

Tweed, maybe?

I think it was the white yarn that had me meh about the whole project.  I knew I wasn't going to finish them in the original color, "cloud" (which is Knit Picks' fancy way of saying "white")...

Much better.  Peachy, even.

You didn't think I would let Pushing Daisies premiere with no pie, did you?

Fresh peach pie with a flaky pastry crust, recipe from Joy of Cooking, 1972 reprint.

The pie baker is back (even if her photo editor is not-- please pretent thse pictures are better lit).

purple is the new black

Knitters like Ms. Frick have always acknowledged the coolness of purple.  I am late to the game.  It is only recently that I have learned that I actually look good in purple.  So I decided to weave myself a scarf--a purple one.  Knit Picks just came out with the Gloss Lace line, and I was wondering how it would hold up on a loom, so I ordered some and decided to test it out. 

As a warp, it worked out fine, the silk content gives it the strength it needs to hold up on a loom. I encountered problems with the weaving.  When using Gloss as a weft (the horizontal bit), it helps if you have the right heddle in the loom.  I did not.  I forgot to switch my 10-dent heddle for a 12-dent one (which would have still been off, I think, I think I would have needed something to get 20 or 24 epi).  Since I am lazy, I figured that it would be easier to just find another yarn to use as weft.  But I didn't see anything suitable in my stash (which, given the quantity of said stash is amazing) so I spun something up. 

I had a nice naturally dyed wool roving I bought from Stefania at Rhinebeck (last year) that seemed just right for the job.  The yarn was spun to dk-worsted and it seems to have worked out well. 

I like the scarf, but I don't love it.  The problem is the color.  I am more a fan of darker purples, like Aubergine (you can call it eggplant, I just like saying aubergine).  I don't think lilac looks as good on me, and since I am likely to make myself 50 bajillion scarves in the not too distant future, I figure there was someone out there who would love this scarf more than I. 

So in addition to the person who is getting the scarf, I figure I should share the other people I am sending fun stuff too.  Thanks for your suggestions, it was fun going through them and realizing that I am not too off the mark in popular reading, viewing and music (having read, viewed or listened to many of the suggestions).  I couldn't think of a fair way to pick the winners, so I used a random # generator after printing out the comments and assigning each a number based on the desired prize.

The scarf is going to Reluctant Mango.

The fabric scrap bag is going to Oiyi.

The spindle and roving is going to Nell.

And the sock yarn is going to Mari.

I will e-mail the winners soon for your addresseses and for the roving and yarn winners, color preferences.

To answer a few questions:  the rug is indeed from Target.  The red bookcases were purchased from Ikea (as was the couch and the desk in the corner).  The TV is against the wall that the photo was taken from.  I like all genres of reading and movies and would be interested in knowing about any you have opionions on (Kristy).

Thanks for reading, commenting and celebrating.  It's been a great two years of blogging, crafting, commiserating and learning.  And seriously, if I was not a knit/quilt/weaving blogger, I would have no idea about trends like purple being the new black; and, I would have never made so many great new friends. 

Scarf details in the gallery.

um, i do still knit (and i spin too)

So I am in California conferencing with special collections librarians about all matters digital right now; but there is some knitting to report.  Before I got to LA to attend my conference, we visited with family around these parts and I finished some knitting.  It seemed like a perfect time to get some modeled shots, as it was 85 degrees.  I can't fathom why it's so hard getting kids to model winter wear when it's hot out.

This scarf is for Little Sir.  He picked out the wool from by spinning stash and help me prep it for spinning.  He even popped his foot on top of mine a few times while I was treadling.  He was very excited about this scarf until I finished it and asked him to model it.  He said it was "too hot."

 

My niece, on the other hand, was very excited to strike a pose.

Which made Little Sir get all possesive about the scarf.  I think he likes it.  At least for today.  Toddlers, they can be fickle.

 

Just a plain garter stitch scarf.  The interesting thing here, I thought I'd learn to knit continental working on this scarf; but it turns out I am just as slow knitting one way as the other.  So I think I will stay a thrower (and when knitting stranded, a picker...sigh).  Details in the gallery.

a two fer

We interrupt this unintentional blog break with a post.  So I had pie for you last week (actually, a tart, all fruity and nice--fruit tart with pastry cream & shortbread crust) and then I cut my finger (a baking boo-boo) trying to remove said treat from its tart pan and it put the kabosh on the pie joy (I couldn't even look at it, much less eat it--my coworkers who snorgled it for breakfast claimed it was good, but I am starting to think they will eat anything).  So while I allow my enthusiasm for pie to recharge, let's talk scarves.  More specifically, woven scarves.  Some of you may be getting sick of the woven scarf-talk.  I'm sorry, but I heart them.

So, towards the end of March and beginning of April (yeah, I know, that was a while ago), I took a weaving class at Webs.  I don't really live near Webs, but as often as I go there, you'd think it was around the corner; but, as I was saying, I took I weaving class.  The backstory on this class and my registration for it offer countless illustrations of stupidity on my part--kind of funny now (I thought it was one weekend, it was two; I thought it was for rigid heddle loom instruction, it was for a floor loom, etc...), but it was all very exciting.  I learned a lot about floor looms.  I think my foray in rigid heddle weaving allowed me to understand a lot of basic concepts and gave me a base of knowledge to work from.  At the end of the class, I had a scarf.  Details in the gallery o' goodness.

My plan was to give it to Special K for hanging out with our kid for four whole days, thus allowing me time to drive to and from, and attend the day long class meetings.  This is why I chose the colors that I did.  His response: "nice scarf but it's kind of long.  I think I like short scarves."  So now I have a nice new long scarf.  And a passion for weaving.  The royal trifecta of gift-giving that is the month of May (for me-birthday, Mother's Day, anniversary, you might have to make your own arrangements--if you have two days and need a third, I would offer the addition of St. Insert-your-name-here Day, it could work) served as a good excuse for Special K to prove himself worthy of the "Special" in his moniker; he ordered me a floor loom.  It will arrive next month.  I am very excited about it.  Till then, I will have to content myself with pie.

Last week's was the fruit tart as previously mentioned.  Look at it, all innocent and sweet.

This week was blueberry pie.  And I think it's going to be the last until fall, you know, when the show that started all of this is back on the air.  Both pies were made possible with pie crust recipes from the Joy of Cooking (the 1972 reprint) and a lot of improvisation for the fillings and layout on my part (and the fact that I can be improvisational when it comes to food is a shock to anyone who knows me and my over-reliance on recipes).  And in case anyone else besides me thought that making pie when it's 100 degrees outside is good idea, it's not.  Those hearts on the blueberry pie aren't me being cute, they are evidence of me not be able to do anything else with the dough in the heatwave that swept the northeast for the last three days.

The other thing I am filling my time with is knitting.  I may actually have something one might describe as a "finished object" when I come back. Maybe.