Back from Canada

Canadian side

US side with Maid of the Mist

We are back from a great trip to Canada with Vogue Knitting Magazine and Traveling Together who organized the trip. Wonderful job! Lots to see and some pampering. I would certainly travel with this group again.

I know you want to know what I bought, but you will just have to wait. I took a few pics and they are going on the blog.

We arrived Friday noon and checked in at the Fairmont Royal York, where the Queen stays in Canada. The Toronto film festival was in full bloom.

Steve rented a car and we headed straight to Niagara Falls. I'd never been and it seemed a shame to be so close and not see it. A--M--A--Z--I--N--G!

The color of the water coming over the falls--a light true green. Some kind of ubiquitous dark maple tree, aubergine best describes it. Charcoal boulders and taupe water. Is that a colorway or what?

Back to the Royal York and the movie stars. I saw Renee Zellwinger--very tiny person surrounded with sycophants. Others spotted Viggo Mortenson and Ed Harris. The amount of security surrounding them was impressive. Lots of guys with earpieces and sunglasses in dark suits. Big guys.

The hotel is plush. Our simple room retailed at $450 a night. I'm sure we didn't pay that. Instead of being impressed, I was somewhat annoyed. The atmosphere was so formal that we never found a way to sit and hang out and knit with each other. That is such a big part of these trips for me. I also was not amused at how they nickeled and dimed you to death. No snack or drinks machines; instead a mini-bar with prices that were obscene. The TV sucked and email and internet were only available at a price.

I guess I'm just not a "couture hotel" person. I was much happier at the Best Western in Owen Sound. We took over the bar and the patio to drink and knit; had drink machines that worked, free computer with internet, and handrails in the tub for those of us with bad knees. Steve always knew I was fairly low maintenance.

I do need to say that the people of Canada are terrific. Friendly, helpful, and great sense of humor. We will go back.

Tomorrow is the first day of the tour and it begins with a quick museum bit and then the Downtown Knit Collective's entertainment for us.

Defeated and Moving On

First it is about Hillary. Her speech last night was magnificent. But when she said, "Did you do this just for me?" I got it. It's over, no miracles and I have to think of the future. That means I vote for Obama. I'm not happy about it; I don't trust his hype, and his wife still scares me. There is nothing but ice in those eyes. Okay, over. Done. Sort of.

Another over and doneseems to be the Posy sweater I was knitting from a Rowan pattern. I did it all like I'm supposed to--gauge, math, schematic, etc., and it still will be a terrible fit. I didn't frog it. I am committing it to the knitting sanitorium for rest while I think about how I would have to cut and re-graft it to make it fit---and do I want to bother. How much did I knit? All but three inches on the front. When did I first suspect this was not going to work. Three quarters of the way through the back side. Yes, way long ago.

I tell students to listen to that first nagging doubt and I didn't.

I'm going to wallow in self-pity this afternoon and then cast on something fast to knit.

New patterns I covet

I saw this in a letter from Cheryl Potter of Cherry Tree Hill. I've just taught a mitered square class and plan to teach Jill Vosburg's Diamond Patch Sweater in the Fall. But wait!!!

I love this--I love the directionality of the colors on the bottom and top. I love neckline and the empire waist. I really love the mitered squares at the end of the sleeves.

I'm headed to Koigu in Canada in September and I was kind of looking for a pattern I could make using their yarns. I can even get their help in mixing the colorways. Or I could use Silky Wool or Noro of some type.

I'm just in love!!

If you don't subscribe to the Berroco newsletter, you probably missed this.
This links to a blog that describes a dye party where they used Rit to dye handknit sweaters. The purpose was to create an ombre look with dark bottoms fading to light shoulders. It's a neat idea. Full pics and directions.

Kate called my attention to the Felted Pumpkin patterns on Carol Bristol's website. I order it and the Quick gifts to felt. Loved the shape of the bowls.

Cool New Site (at least to me)

Have you heard of The Fitter Knitter?
How about the Yahoo group The Art of Knitting?

Both are the work of Cindy Moore. I discovered these sites while reading her article
on Vintage lace in this new issue of The Inside Loop. This is a free online magazine celebrating knitting in the UK.

Cindy has taken on a great project. She loves charts; what lace knitter doesn't. Her project is to take a vintage knitting book which is no longer covered by copyright and to translate the lace patterns into charts which she posts on her blog. She uses the Yahoo group to notify members when a new chart goes up and to answer questions.

The title of the book is The Art of Knitting 1897. You can buy a copy here
or just get a peek at the illustrations. There are several I can see using as garments for today.

I've joined the group and have already downloaded the charts to date. I'm an inch away from swatching Fancy Pattern17 and Knob Stitch 10. Go to Cindy's blog and check these out.

I just think this is such a neat project. Wish I had one for me. ( . . . like I need a hole in my head.)

The Joy of Teaching and other things

This is Jean. Check out that smile. This is Jean seaming her first mattress stitch seam.
Jean grinned for the remainder of the class and swore she was headed home to take apart everything she had seamed to date. Jean was so-o-o-o happy. So was I. This is why I teach.
Debra and Sherry also had fun. I warned Debra she would be posted on the blog. Here you are, girl.


I taught the mitered class which used my Diamond Patch Hat pattern. Kate went right home and made this one for a new member of the family--well, a toddler. She will look stupendous. The tiny, fringy things were Kate's idea. She wanted to show off the star shape that begins this pattern. I just love the colors.
Flipper turns three. The most important thing for the boys was getting their birthday hats on. Who knew? My girls ripped them off even before the pictures.


This is the Eddie the Elephant (some TV character) cake sculpted by G-dad.

What I'm working on.

For the Ravelympics--5 pair of clogs. (Fibertrends pattern; Paton's Classic Wool) I've done 2.5 pair. That's not even Bronze, but at least some of the Christmas knitting is done.
Brithday sock for DD1 finished. Did I show you this already? They went to her this weekend, and she loved them. Original pattern, Crystal Palace Maizy (corn) and Panda Cotton for the heel and toe. Nice transitional weight pair.

I'm also working on more shawls--learning to shape. I've got a Cookie A. sock I want to start and I've finished the Beaded Handwarmer pattern editing. I'm working on a gift pair in CTH sock yarn and want to start one in some handspun I did some months ago.

My Posy shell is at a stop for the Olympic knitting, but I hope to finish it before vacation in September. Rowan pattern in Mission Falls Cotton. I'm putting the flower on both the front and the back.

The Central Park Vest is still a vest. I have no clue.

This is Maureen Mason-Jamison's Whimsey pattern available from her website. The yarn is a new one to me, Zaol, which I bought at Close Knits in Gastonia.

Here are my two boys in what they think are their chairs.

Breaking the silence.

Iliane wrote about not having people over because the house isn't clean enough or she has nothing to serve---a page from my own life. I've been knitting like crazy, but haven't mentioned any of it because I haven't taken decent photos of them.

The Brithday (SIC) socks for DD#1 are finished except for the wash and block.

The Noro Matsuri experimental shawl-shaping project is complete. Pics later but highly recommend the yarn. It feels so good.

Have started a new experimental shawl using Kureyon Sock yarn and my favorite horseshoe lace pattern.

Mission Falls tank 75%.

Tried to sign up for the Rowan club. Sandy talked me into it. Website is bummed. Will try again later.

Bought two Namaste bags. Be the last on your block . . . .

photos and more stuff soon.

Muffalettas , More Yarn, and Latvian knits

Candace designed these lovely fingerless gloves or muffalettas. My picture does not do it justice. This is Shelagh's finished glove. Wednesday night we met and purchased beads and received the pattern and some tips. The idea was that we would knit this on the bus to and from Brown Sheep. Well, I don't really like Feather and Fan, and I like my gloves to really hug my hand, and I like a few less beads----Surprise! I knit something different.
This is very influenced by Candace's pattern. I offset the Feather and Fan at the beginning, but used her ending. I used an old lace pattern to design the bead placements, and the reverse (palm) side of mine is totally plain. The yarn is the real key. It is from Edie's alpace Bo. So soft and warm you can't believe it.

I had to buy some for Steve. This is a mix of Bo and Bart (pictured on the label). She had the processing mill mix the black and white fibers to create a gorgeous Oxford grey. Her phone number is on the label. You can only buy this yarn from her. Her internet store is under construction. Just call her; you will love her.

This will be muffalettas for Steve--if he is good.


Last yarn purchase of the trip. Handmaiden Sea Silk. Bought this at My Sister Knits in Fort Collins.

I guess this will be a shawl. After all, that was the focus of this year's class and I have a design almost finished.

This is a group of knitters helping their friend destash. Anne is selling her Colorado house and needs to dispose of some yarn and patterns. As her friends, we tried to help.
I lucked into 10 balls of ecru Brasil for a shawl and 15 skeins of Classic Elite Newport Lite cotton which will become a sweater.

Finally, Linda's Latvian collections. This is a top border for an ecru pair of socks.
A lace glove that is still sturdy.
Another sock top; the cuff was lace and the foot plain.
My favorite. I've used this braid as a cast on for a sock, but never thought of it in the middle of the pattern. Mary Ellen told me that she uses it as the Empire line in sweaters, particularly her Gansey cardigans.

This camp is so amazing because we learn so much from each other. Do yourself a favor: Go to camp.

Shawl class at Camp; Show and Tell

Candace Eisner Strick does not stand on ceremony--at least not at camp. She is writing a new book and it will be about shawls and shawl shaping. Our class was based on some of what she will share in her book which she will self-publish. I'll let you know when it's out because it will be a must-have. I'm hoping we can bring Candace to Charlotte to teach. She's a blast and very smart.
The New Carolyn and Laura are two of our new campers. Paula Sue makes certain they feel welcome. Both plan to come back, so it must have worked.
The well-traveled Linda works with Aisha and her mom, Susan. Linda has been everywhere; I'll share some of her Latvian souvenirs later. It's exciting every year at camp to hear about her travels in the past year and she gorgeous pictures and knitwear.


Paula Sue sent me this pic from the bus trip. Can you say intense??


One of the best parts of camp is the show and tell. Usually we show things we have made in the past year. Agnes showed a gift from a friend who teases her about her obsession with pink (Aimee?). It's a lovely pink wig.
Jay and his mom won the Palm d'Or this year. This is Jay's shawl--2ply mohair lace wt. spun by Jay and his design of a hugely gorgeous shawl.
Can you see Edie on the right? Taking pictures is also a bit part of class.

Jay's mom Betty made us swoon. She has taken on the challenge of afghan's for each of Jay's four children. This is for his daughter and it is the Great American Aran Afghan from XRX. Second row from the top, second from left is Jay's own design which was chosen by Knitter's for this pattern. This made me want to dig back through my mags to find some of these patterns and maybe make some pillows, or even an Aran shawl.

Next: Latvian designs and muffalettas.

Brown Sheep Purchases

See how good I was. Just this much bought and all of it either a second or a discontinued color.
This is a superwash in a DK weight. I have some in a blue and a turquoise. I'm thinking heavy socks for this. Occasionally I need some instant gratification knitting.
My beloved Cotton Fleece in the Cherry Moon colorway. This is planned for a sweater for me. Maybe a new Gansey sweater. My old one is cotton fleece and is pretty worn.
My favorite. Ten skeins of Cotton Fine, Cotton Fleece's baby sister. The colorway is Grey Dawn and -- darn it-- has been discontinued. I bought all they had. It will be a lace something. I love this yarn for lace. The 20% wool makes it a year round yarn for us Southerners and the twist of the cotton holds the shape of a lace pattern beautifully.
This is the color card for a new yarn from Brown Sheep. Most of the world loves Lamb's Pride because it felts so beautifully. The 15% mohair content also adds a halo effect to it. Some folks do not like the halo, so Brown Sheep has produced Lanaloft. It is simply Lamb's Pride without mohair. Same great felting quality and some stunning handpaints. I showed this to Remi at Charlotte Yarn and I do bellieve she will be buying it and the Burly Spun for winter.

Last night I promised Cristi I would really talk up the Cotton Fine to Remi also.

I brought a pound of top to share with my spinsters. It is the same wool they use for Top of the Lamb, another of their wool yarns. Has a great feel and Remi can order it for us. I left a sample at the shop.

Colorado Knitting Camp Day 1

The bus trip to Brown Sheep in Nebraska.

Our friend and instructor, Candace Eisner-Strick (rt) talks with Laura, whose book comes out soon, while Ken Strick looks on.
Gay, my fantabulous roomie and the camp organizer.
Aisha, age 20, our youngest camper sits with her father who also knits. Behind him is my new friend Jay who spins, designs, and teaches his 5th graders to make spindles and spin.

Gay got a real deal on a very large bus. We lucked out and had a fabulous driver, Patsy, who plans to take knitting lessons.

Twenty minutes out of Fort Collins, the bus dies. Patsy calls the owner who says "Oh, yeah. It overheats sometimes. Just let the motor cool, and from now on, don't use the air conditioner when you are going uphill."

Forty minutes later, the bus quits. We are in Wyoming. Wyoming is desolate for very long distances. Desolate means no cell towers; thus, no way to call for help. We opened the two ceiling hatches (the windows don't open) and headed off again as soon as the motor cooled. Luckily we all had Emergency Knitting.


Ultimately we made it. Peggy Wells, the owner and general manager, had made lunch for us. Peggy and her sister had attended camp last year and invited us up for the current year. We toured the facility and ate and then, bought!!!
The "hat" I'm wearing was designed by Kathy Hartmeister for Brown Sheep. Helen rode up on the bus with us. Unfortunately the pattern is still at the printer, but I will be getting it. It is more like a crown so it doesn't smush your hair. The wild felted fringe can be worn up or down. I like up---makes me look taller. The pattern for matching mittens is already out.

What did I buy? Oh, that's for another day.