novamade

the fifth day of novakkah (2013)

To celebrate the birth days (the real actual days of birth) of both of my kids, my mom took it upon herself to observe a Korean tradition of folding 1000 paper cranes.  My mother and I had some pretty hilarious conversations about these cranes. 

Me:  you folded 1000 paper cranes?!  That's crazy.

My mother:  you spend your time knitting things.

Me:  Yeah, that's funtional.  You know all the baby sweaters I knit?  The baby can wear those!

My Mother:  The cranes will bring the baby luck.

Me:  Of course they will. You can't wear a paper crane!

Clearly, I don't buy into this the way my mother does.  But I keep the cranes, because...well, my  mother spent a few months folding them so keeping them seems appropriate somehow.  Mostly, I forget they are there.  When the kids get older, the cranes will be their problem.  In any case (and here, witness, quite possibly, the worst segue in the history of segues), let's talk about yarn...or lace...or lace knit with yarn...  I know. 

So I was working in my studio recently and found a stack of knits either needing to be blocked or blocked but needing ends woven in.  I have about three shawls that are done for knitting, they are just wanting to be finished; and, that made me think of knitting another lace shawl, mostly because summer is on the horizon and I prefer knitting lace in summer to knitting anything else, really.  I assume others feel the same.  In any case, today gift is some lace weight yarn.  For your consideration: 630 yards of JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk in Ruby (brand new). 

I have used this yarn for a few shawls, and I kind of love it to distraction.  Should you want some for your very own, please tell me: what is the craziest birthday gift you have ever given someone? I'm not sure where on the scale of crazy 1,000 folded cranes on one's entrance into the world is; but, I think it's kind of nuts.  What say you?

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (also, Mother's Day!).  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

with a little help from my friends

I have been crafting my little heart out.  I mean, really, if I am going to make a dent in that goals list, high productivity is a given, right?  I get stuff done during the week, but mostly the magic happens on the weekend.  Over the past holiday weekend, I got a lot done, and had serious fun as well. 

I got together with my internet knitterly friends in the Outer Banks (OBX) for a weekend of friends, food and craft.  This was our sixth get together.  We did a swap and could make anything we wanted, I decided to make Ms. Bestitched a Figure 8 scarf. 

She loved it. I used some Anna Maria Horner fabric (it's folded in and faces her neck) with some burnt orange silk dupioni.  You can make one for yourself or a friend (or a bunch of friends) by using this tutorial.

**
It was a good weekend.

**Photo by Julie of Fricknits

on reading and projects from the past

 
While I had all sorts of goals for summertime craftiness, I rang the death knell on all creative productivity without assistance from anyone else.  I was well-intentioned, to be sure; but, the next time I decide to register for two classes (during a truncated session, no less), I will endeavor to ensure that neither of them is text heavy.  I spent a lot of time reading over the past few months (there was also all that other stuff that I do, you know: the wife-ing, the mothering, the librarining/archiving...yes, all of that).  I was photographing as well, but there was a lot of reading.  Which is fine, considering the day job, I guess.

 
When I wasn't reading about photography and its history, I was reading about canning.  I have moved past the obsession stage to sickness, it's true.

 
I have been working on things too (crafty things, not the sugary or salty canned things), lots of things actually.  It recently occurred to me that I have a tendency to start things (many things) when I have no time to do anything at all.  Funny how that works out.  Let me pull together my notes (read: organize myself), and then I can start telling you about the crafty doings around these parts.

 
In lieu of anything recent, how about something forgotten? 

 
 As I was going through some old photos, I realized that I made something last year that never made it to the blog.  It was a re-knit for me (this doesn't happen often), but it was a fun experience all the same.

Swallowtail Shawl knit in Zephyr wool/silk.   Its the first shawl I ever knit.  When I knit it the first time, there were a few flaws.  So I knew I would knit it again one day.  So last fall I knit the pattern again after my friend, Lorelei, asked me to make her a shawl after she saw the Percy shawl I knit for myself.  Not like I was going to knit that again.

 
So, yes.  A forgotten knit, posted.  It occurs to me that I never put a gallery up for 2010 or 2011 on this blog either--which, I have to tell you, has made re-visiting my past endeavors sort of difficult, I will get around to fixing that eventually (really, I will).  Okay, back to organizing...

rhinebeck fashion elite, i am a member

 
So, you know how the fiber enthusiasts who go to fiber festivals sometimes make stuff to wear at said fiber festivals?  I have never really been one to do this, because, quite frankly, I can never usually finish anything before the deadline (of the fiber festival).  But this year, I knew I was going to Rhinebeck (not that I am not usually aware if I am going to a fiber festival or not, but jut go along with me here).  And I started a project (to use up some yarn) with the goal of finishing it for Rhinebeck so I could be part of that crowd wearing something that they made just for the event that is Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool. 

 
I chose a humble cowl (specifically, Martha 2.0), because, hey, cowl, I can finish that.  And when I went to pull all the supplies to make the cowl, I discovered it was crocheted.  So yeah, this cowl took me two days to make.  And it only took that long because I ran out of yarn and hemmed and hawed about what I would use to finish it off (no small thing since most of my yarn is in storage right now).  Let's just say that the finish is a definite "design feature".  But a feature easily hidden if creatively placed.

 
Since I ran out of the yarn, I couldn't really do the rosettes, but I think that's okay, I may not be a rosettes kinda girl, if we are being honest.  I made the cowl, for the most part, with a worsted weight yarn (in Chocolate) from Finger Lakes Yarns, I bought it at Rhinebeck three years ago, so it seemed appropriate.  This yarn is really soft and cozy, I will likely try to find some more of it tomorrow...maybe a sweater's worth, because I am really lacking in yarn...um, no.  The cowl was finished with a little bit of Dream in Color Smooshy (sock yarn) in November Muse, it's quadrupled, because it's what I had on hand.  Breaking into the Smooshy did force me to cast on a pair of socks though, so there's that, I guess.

 
So, yes, a two day project.  Rhinebeck, I am ready for you.

 
If you are going to Rhinebeck, I will be the one in the snazzy crocheted cowl.  Or the one chasing her two littles around, same difference.

Oh, the random number generator selected Minty as the prize winner for my "Belated Blogiversary Contest".  If you haven't seen Minty's new blog re-design, you really should go and take a look, it is spectacular.  

Next week, I think we will talk about more finished objects (because I have'em!) and how about a wee book review, because who doesn't like to talk about books, especially when they are related to knitting?

Have a great weekend!  And if you see me at Rhinebeck, stop and say hi!

a crush on orange

 
I am a little sad about pushing Babette/Happy Squares down on the blog; but, I finished something else (that is not an afghan and not crocheted); and, it's actually for me!  I started this shawl, which I am calling Orange Crush (but you can call it Mara, if you want--the MadelineTosh folks do, after all) before the crochet bug bit me.  I was able to pick it up again last week and finished in over the weekend.  It's actually a pretty quick and easy knit.  The body is mostly garter stitch and the edges are two borders of ribbing.  I didn't have enough yarn to make the last edge four inches as called for in the pattern, but I think my two inches of border is sufficient.

 
My favorite part about making this shawl was working with this yarn.  I bought the Peruvian Highland Silk three years ago from Elann--I am not sure for what purpose (I was in my "buy with purpose" phase, so it had to be for something specific--what, I don't know).  I wish that I had bought more...in other colors.  Elann has discontinued this yarn; but, you could probably find people on Ravelry willing to sell or trade it.  I only had 5 skeins (so about 610 yards) of this DK-ish yarn to work with, and when I saw the Mara pattern, I thought it would be a good pairing.

 
The silk content in the yarn gives a nice bit of shine to the knit fabric and it also lends itself to some nice draping.  Also, the heavier weight of the shawl is nice, there is a little heft, but the fabric breathes so I don't feel like I am suffocating...which is probably a good thing.

 
Specs in Ravelry and the gallery, though I have put most of the info into the post.  Okay, back to crocheting, I have another afghan to finish (though I do have a vest on the the needles that would like to get done before the end of the month...yeah, you'll probably see the vest first.  Hopefully.

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.