Words & Wool

Happy New Year!

Alyssa — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:44:53 +0000

Life has been full this past year. There were many projects cast on, but few finished. An amazing weekend at Sock Summit with my dear Chicago friends. Cori has gone from being a baby to a toddler and it’s been a joy to be home with her to watch her development. I look forward to what the year ahead will bring.

In 2010 I hope to:
-Finish my numerous works in progress (’09 was a year of day-dreaming and casting-on, ’10 will be a year of productivity and completion)
-Lose weight slowly and mindfully (no fads, simply being aware of what I’m eating and making choices)
-Strengthen my relationship with my amazing husband (having Cori has brought us closer together, but leaves us with so little time to be a couple. Feel free to leave any advice you may have).
-Read a book a week (Before Cori, I easily read 52 books a year. Can it be done with an almost 2-year old in the house? My super duper new Kindle should help!)
-Learn to play the guitar (I’ve always wanted to learn. My mom used to play folk songs for us when we were little and I hope to do the same for C).

Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2010!

(So, will you be saying “two thousand ten” or “twenty-ten”)?

Ta da!

Alyssa — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:34:04 +0000

Please say hello to Charlotte’s Web! (Pattern by Maie Landra)

I like it a lot.

I’m thinking it’s too pretty to leave at home so I will wear it out.

I used Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in Stonewash, Peaseblossom, Never on Sunday, Jubilation, & Lenore. More details on my Ravelry project page.

Caught in a Web

Alyssa — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:13:05 +0000

For years I had been considering knitting the Charlotte’s Web shawl, but never could commit. Then I saw Turtlegirl76′s at Sock Summit and I (as well as some of the Chicago Group) all suddenly had to knit it.

After just a few days I’m already on the 3rd color. The pattern in the book Knits from a Painter’s Palette is not the easiest to follow, but with a little concentration I figured out what I needed to do. I’m usually a die hard chart knitter, but the chart in the book is frankly one of the hardest to read that I’ve ever seen so I’ve found following the written instructions for the 8 row repeat the best. I’m also using the chart provided by this blogger to keep track of rows and color changes (the excel file is on the right hand column of her blog).

I’m knitting the shawl with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Lightweight. So far the colors I’ve used are Stonewash, Peaseblossom, and Never on Sunday. This project seems to move very quickly for lace as it’s so fun to see what the next set of colors will look like.

Decisions

Alyssa — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:10:56 +0000

The rectangle version of the Ulmus shawl has been released and I love it! I want to make the scarf sized one first, but can’t decide between 3 Socks that Rock yarn pairings. Please help!

Sticks + Yarn = Knitting

Alyssa — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:00:35 +0000

I know you won’t believe it unless I post pictures. I knit. Even though I haven’t posted much in the past few weeks (months, years) I have actual photographic evidence of knitting.

First up is a sample sweater I’m knitting for Stitchjones aka Sharon. The yarn is her dyepot worsted in black cherry and it is wonderful to knit. The pattern is Ingenue by Wendy Bernard from her Custom Knits book. I hadn’t really looked through the book before and there are a lot of designs I’d like to knit. For more details, check out my ravelry project page.

Next, a lace scarf I haven’t touched for months, but I’m hoping blogging about it gets me moving again. The yarn is absolutely to die for (or knit for). It’s Sunshine Yarns Sunsilk in the color Dew. Me likey mucho. I’m using the Town & Country pattern from the trio of patterns entitled “Elizabeth” by JoLene Treace (available from Knit Picks). It’s a very simple design that shows off the yarn beautifully. It should be gorgeous once it is blocked.

For Cori I am finally knitting the Sweetheart Cardigan by Laura Brown. I’m using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in Navy. I was thinking when I planned this project that the big fat sport weight would be a nice break after lots of socks and lace, but nope, to get gauge, I’m knitting this on US 2′s with 7 inches per inch. Oh well, I love small needles and Lorna’s so I can’t really complain. The pattern has had a couple little boo boos so far, but nothing that thwarted me for long. I’m stalled on the lace part right now simply because it isn’t graphed so it’s hard to watch tv while knitting it.

For my final project of this post (I have plenty more in various stages of completion that can wait for another day), my Over the Rainbow socks. These socks are from the first Oz kit from Woolgirl. The pattern is fun and the yarn is amusing (details on my ravelry project page). I just cast on for the second sock during True Blood’s season finale last night (how great was that episode?!?) so I still have a ways to go. Seeing as how we keep having these random 90 degree days here in Oregon, I’m not in a huge rush to put wool on my feet!

I’ve also been sewing a bit, but I’ll save that for later!

Knitters for Knockers

Alyssa — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:00:29 +0000

Matt, Cori, and I will be participating in the Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday Sept. 20th walking with the Knitters for Knockers team. We are planning on walking the 5k.

We are walking in memory of my husband’s amazing aunt who lost her fight with breast cancer 4 years ago leaving behind her husband and two small children. We are walking for my mom and my father-in-law who are both survivors. We are walking to raise awareness and fight breast cancer.

If you are at all able to, please consider donating. We appreciate any support,
no matter what size the donation. Please use this link when donating:
http://rfcp.convio.net/goto/McCain

75% of the Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen funds provide the following services for local women:

Education about breast cancer and early detection
Information and support to breast cancer survivors and their families
Mammograms for the uninsured or underinsured
Transportation and treatment support for survivors

In addition, 25% of their revenue is combined with Komen Affiliates nationwide, making Komen for the Cure® the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world!

I’ve been so busy this past month knitting and sewing, but not taking photos of any of it! My plan is to get pictures and projects all updated over the next few days so expect a blog post about actual knitting by mid-week.

Happy weekend!

Recovery

Alyssa — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:08:37 +0000

I’m going to need at least a week to recover from all the laughing, shopping, learning, and awesomeness that was Sock Summit 2009. For now, here’s a little montage of photos with my friends and new yarn.

1. Most of the original 7 Group members (me on the left), 2. Lynae's new cape, 3. Yarn makes Claire happy!, 4. 2 hours, 6 people, 5. The yarn fumes start to go to Drin's head, 6. Sock Summit 2009, 7. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock - Zombie BBQ, 8. Damselfly Yarns Sturdy Sheep - Gingerbread, 9. Madelinetosh Tosh Sock - Lichen, 10. Stitchjones Titanium Sock - Magic Judy, 11. Creatively Dyed Yarn Calypso - Olinda, 12. Madelinetosh Tosh Lace - Duchess, 13. Becoming Art Suave - Twilight, 14. Lynae Limited Sock, 15. Creatively Dyed Yarn Calypso - Durian, 16. Creatively Dyed Yarn, 17. Kitchen Sink Dyeworks Luxe Merino - Edgar 18. Who likes yarn?

Quick Hello

Alyssa — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:12:57 +0000

In 11 hours I will be in a class taught by the Yarn Harlot at Sock Summit 2009. I haven’t packed for the slumber party tomorrow night. I have no idea where anything is. I’m going to miss Cori and Matt, but I know it is good to have some away time. But I’m really going to miss them. I’m terribly excited to see my dear friends from Chicago, learn lots, shop lots, and have a great time!
Pictures and recap in a few days.

Distractions

Alyssa — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:19:12 +0000

I haven’t been knitting much. I have been sewing a bit. Mostly we’ve been entertaining visitors (both sets of Matt’s parents). Today I sneaked away during Cori’s nap to work on my quilt. I’m halfway through the third block (there are 6 designs total using 6 different fabric pairings). I’m so hooked on quilting!

I also made Cori a couple more tunics for summer. She’s so much fun to dress up.

Who? Who? Who Likes to Sew?

Alyssa — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:33:06 +0000

As soon as I received my sewing machine I ordered the most adorable owl pattern off of Etsy. It took an hour or two to make (I’m sure as I get better at cutting and sewing it will take even less time) and I think it is so darn cute! The possibilities for using different scrap fabrics are endless.

As for my next sewing project, I am going to attempt my first quilt. I’m going to use the tutorial from the Oh, Fransson! Mod Scrap Quiltalong. The fabric that I’ve chosen is some of the Erin McMorris Wildwood collection. It really goes with nothing in my home, but I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. (My cat, Laska, is skeptical). Anyone want to join me?

Here’s a less artistic, but better view of the fabric:

As for knitting, I’m finishing up one sample knit, in the middle of another, and getting ready to cast on for a very large sample knit. Busy days! I’ll get some photos of the not-so-secret sample knitting soon.

In Cori news, she is recovering very well. Now that the steri-strips have come off the incision site, her leg looks much less mangled. She doesn’t seem to notice anything has changed and is very very very active and independent (as a 15 month old should be). Here’s a picture from a rainy Saturday at the zoo. She was much more interested in the flora than the fauna.