This week in bloggsville USA

Greetings yarnies!

Signs of spring are popping up all over Portland right now and I couldn't be more excited! Here is the latest from this side of town:

1. Sock Madness 3! I started late, am making the leg and foot longer, and am in the fastest division... but I'm not out yet. There are 9 spots left and I want to make it to the next round. I still insist that I am not competitive. Lookie the crazy afterthought heel!



2. Class lists are now up on the Sock Summit site! I am now allowed to say what subject I am teaching: Sock Design Workshop: Know the Rules then Break Them. I will be talking about this class a LOT over the next few weeks and months. You have been warned.

3. Shannon had her baby! (Shannon is one half of Twisted - the yarn shop where I work.) Yeah, I've been telling everyone it would be a boy. Obviously, Hazel is a girl's name... Therefore I am not good at predicting gender in utero. I can live with this. I am good at other things.

4. Memphis Mafia doughnut from Voodoo Doughnuts: vegan version. Well, I picked this beauty up in the wee small hours last night and am still working on it. This fritter is considered a "4-day doughnut" but I am tough enough to take it down in 2.



5. A rant about facebook. Okay, I'm apologizing in advance, but I'm ranting anyway. Please stop using facebook like twitter. It's not interesting to share these kind of details:

- The grocery store is out of the kind of cereal I like.

- The bus is running late and it's cold out here.

- My kid doesn't like to brush her hair.

This is the kind of thing that is interesting:

- Hey guys, check out this rare Patti Smith video.

- Last minute free show happening in your town that you totally want to see.

- Look at this hilarious picture from 20 years ago.

End rant. Sorry if I stepped on your toes.

6. Rosemary shoestrings from Burgerville are on their way out. What will April bring? Don't know, but teasers suggest April is basil month. Hmmm...

7. Trifecta pattern hit the Malabrigo Projects Club over at eat.sleep.knit. If you love fast horses as well you should bookmark the site then pick up the kit or pattern when it becomes available.



8. Check out the free 35mm stitch pattern over at Leethal's blog: do stuff! While you're there, check out all the other amazing crafty goodness she creates so beautifully.

9. The couch to 5k running plan! I am in week 4 and it's going really well. I use this site to plan out routes. I'm organizing a team to do the Starlight Run on May 30th. We haven't agreed to a "theme" yet but it will likely be crafty and involve a sense of humor.

10. Monday morning will bring a trip to the post office - I'm sending something to Spin Off for a future issue! I'll let you know more when I can, of course. I can't help but tease some stuff, you know.

Trifecta

I've been traveling a lot this month but I'm finally home, getting caught up on all things knitting related in the free world. I've missed you.

I'd like to show off a new pattern called Trifecta - The March installment of the Malabrigo Projects Club over at eat.sleep.knit.



Trifecta combines three distinct lace patterns into one complete scarf. The warm cognac color of the Malabrigo lace reminded me of horses, specifically fast horses.



The yarn is soooooo soft it's hard to put down once you pick it up. I'd actually like to make a pillowcase out of it, but I don't have that kind of time right now.



One of the great parts (and there are many) of working at Twisted is now when I take photos of knitting, I have a good backdrop and lovely models (thanks Vivian!)



Perhaps a lady might wear such a lace scarf during a day at the races, striking her own trifecta of sophistication, style and simple beauty.

The pattern and kits will be available when the club ends through eat.sleep.knit. Thanks for looking :-)

Sock Madness?

Obviously I don't really have the time, but I'm "competing" again this year.

Last year I was moving to Portland in the middle of it... I guess it's never a "good" time.

Of course, Sock Madness inspired this picture:



Ever knit where you just shouldn't?

Lantern Moon Event in Portland

You are cordially invited to Lantern Moon’s ‘Beat the Winter Blahs’ Special Event!

Thursday, March 5th, 6:30 p.m.
at the Lantern Moon Warehouse in Portland

It’s an evening to celebrate knitting, view the fashion show from the January National Needle Arts show, and learn about what’s new in knitting from local area yarn retailers.

I'll be there with Lee (Leethal) representing Twisted!

Portland knit designer Leigh Radford will be present to sign her latest book, AlterKNITS Felt

Refreshments will be provided and there will be an opportunity to purchase Lantern Moon products at 20% off retail prices.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call (503)460-0003 or email diana@lanternmoon.com to make a reservation to attend the event.

Lantern Moon Warehouse
7911 N.E. 33rd Dr. Suite 140
Portland, OR 97211
(503)460-0003
www.lanternmoon.com

located north of Columbia Blvd
across from the Oregon Food Bank

Mapquest map

Wizard of OZ yarn club 2009-2010

I'd like to let you all in on a special club I'll be designing for this year... I'm doing 4 of the 9 patterns... (and they aren't all socks!!!)


















Fresh From the Cauldron's Wizard of OZ yarn club!

Sign ups: NOW!

Price includes, 2 hanks of yarn, 1 pattern, swag, and priority shipping each month.

Club dates: May 2009 thru January 2010.

There are 18 colorways, so 2 per month for nine months.

This is a yarn club not a sock club, therefore, fiber content and yarn weights will vary.

This club uses all luxury fibers; i.e. silk blends, cashmere blends, bfl, etc. I've got some of them here and I must say they are really nice!

Patterns will be applicable to one, if not both, colorways per shipment.

Price has been set to $75 per month. This includes 2 hanks of luxury yarn, priority shipping in the US, 1 pattern, and swag (Jen is known for fantastic swag, people).

International members are more than welcome :)

FINE PRINT: This club is limited to 15 spots and 9 are already filled. Hurry!

If you're on Ravelry go directly here to sign up.

Other links of interest:

Squib Stitcher's Blog

Fresh From the Cauldron Etsy Shop

Fresh From the Cauldron Ravelry Group

Errata - Prairie House Shawl

This is no proud moment for me but despite outside test knitting and proofing, there is a problem with the early version of the Prairie House Shawl pattern.

This is how the "Center Panel" instructions should read:

Center Panel:
7 Eyelet Stripes:
Work Eyelet Lace Pattern A. (96 sts)
Row 13: Sl 1, yo, ssk, ssk, yo, *k2, ssk, yo; rep to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 14: K1, p to last st, k1.
Row 15: Sl 1, yo, ssk, k to end.
Row 16: (and all even rows until the end) K1, p to last 3 sts, p2tog, k1.
Row 17: Sl 1, yo, ssk, k1. *k2tog, yo, k2; rep to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 19: Rep row 15.
Row 21: Sl 1, yo, ssk, k1, ssk, yo, *k2, ssk, yo; rep to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 23: Rep row 15.
Row 25: Rep row 17.
Row 27: Rep row 15.
Row 28: Rep row 16. (89 sts)

If you bought the pattern, you should have been emailed this information along with a link to download the latest version. Let me know if you have any problems!

Thanks for your patience, and I am deeply sorry for the error. All patterns purchased after Feb 27th, 2009 will be fine.

This week in the free world

Whatta week! Here are the top ten events of the last seven days:

1. The teacher list was announced today for the Sock Summit. Go ahead and look, then come right back. I'll still be here.

Are you kidding me?!

I know!!!!

I'm one of the teachers, along with Barbara Walker, Meg Swansen, Nancy Bush, Cat Bordhi, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, etc. etc. etc. Let's just say I'm a wee bit nervous and will probably do something to embarrass myself within moments of arrival. If not sooner.

Also, trying to explain to muggles why this is a big freaking deal isn't fun. You people get it though, yeah? I believe this picture explains sock knitting very well:



2. I talked to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee on the phone. For over 20 minutes. Pretending it was normal.

3. Actually, I have a borderline psychotic outgoing message on my cell phone voicemail. It pleases me to no end that she had to listen to it in order to leave me a message. And she complimented me on it.

Yes, the first 3 were all about the Sock Summit. It was by far the biggest thing that happened this week, obviously.

4. A promotion at work! I work at Twisted yarn shop. I've been made assistant to the regional manager. And I got a fancy pen. Jealous?

5. What a lovely response to the Prairie House Shawl pattern (modeled by Brooke). Thanks all!



6. Movies! The Portland International Film Fest is nearly over but I've thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

7. New brake pads. I'm enjoying the sudden ease of stopping. I suffer the $400 price tag.

8. Got the Knitscene project shipped. You'll know more what this is about in July or so.

9. I love Portland, but I missed California a bit this week. There. I said it.

10. I've been waiting many years to make this happen... you see, I really wanted to go see the Harlem Globetrotters this weekend. I couldn't think of anyone else who would want to see them. (see #9) Oh well. Maybe next year?

Prairie House Shawl

New pattern alert!

This project was inspired by something a young Laura Ingalls Wilder might sport in anticipation of spring. (Cue Little House on the Prairie theme)



Peaks and valleys (or knots and eyelets) make up this pretty and practical shawlette using only 350 yards of fingering weight yarn. Because this project is worked side to side, it is a great way to jump into lace knitting without the casting on or binding off of hundreds of stitches.



The middle shawl here is knit from Schaefer Yarns Heather (55% Merino wool Superwash, 35% cultivated silk, 15% Nylon; 400 yards [365 m] / 4oz [113 g]), 1 skein.



The shawl pictured here and in the first pic is knit from Claudia’s Hand Painted Yarns, Fingering Weight (100% Merino; 175 yards [160 m] / 1.75oz [50 g]), 2 skeins. Color: Desert Dusk.

Closing credits: Many thanks to my lovely models Brooke and Vivian!

(End of episode, get a snack)

$4 buy now

Arctic Blast Mitts

Spoiler alert: if you are in the Single Skein Club you might want to look away!

Of course, I'd rather you stayed a minute. I'd like to show off some armwarmers I made, even though the pattern is in limited release at the mo.

Backstory: December 2008, Portland. A snow storm hit our town hard. Some called it Snowpocalypse. It was offically named Arctic Blast. So too are these fingerless gloves I was knitting at the time.



(Thanks to Vivian Harbert for being such a fun hand model!)

This is a pattern I wrote for the Single Skein Club for Twisted Yarn Shop in Portland, OR. It will be available to the public after Feb 1st, 2010.

Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino (50% Silk, 50% Merino; 50 grams,150 yards/137 m) 1 skein



Some people live in towns that expect two feet of snow. These towns have snow plows and salt and intrepid spirits that function despite the challenges.

I live in a town that panicked. We had some plowing of the major streets, with sand instead of salt. But if you didn't have chains, you weren't driving anywhere.

I did what I had to do... I stayed at home with some hot tea, bad movies, and knit some armwarmers. And now I get to brag that I officially survived the Arctic Blast of Ought Eight.

Sock Poetry

Regular readers will know I like to reference a poem from time to time. Of course, I usually end up on the same poem, my favorite poem... until today. Today I've got something else, new to me, maybe new to you? Enjoy!



Ode to my Socks by Pablo Neruda

Mara Mori brought me
a pair of socks
which she knitted herself
with her sheepherder’s hands,
two socks as soft as rabbits.

I slipped my feet into them
as if they were two cases
knitted with threads of twilight and goatskin,
Violent socks,

my feet were two fish made of wool,
two long sharks
sea blue, shot through
by one golden thread,
two immense blackbirds,
two cannons,

my feet were honored in this way
by these heavenly socks.
They were so handsome for the first time
my feet seemed to me unacceptable
like two decrepit firemen,
firemen unworthy of that woven fire,
of those glowing socks.

Nevertheless, I resisted the sharp temptation
to save them somewhere as schoolboys
keep fireflies,
as learned men collect
sacred texts,
I resisted the mad impulse to put them
in a golden cage and each day give them
birdseed and pieces of pink melon.

Like explorers in the jungle
who hand over the very rare green deer
to the spit and eat it with remorse,
I stretched out my feet and pulled on
the magnificent socks and then my shoes.

The moral of my ode is this:
beauty is twice beauty
and what is good is doubly good
when it is a matter of two socks
made of wool in winter.

This week in non-blogging bloggery

It's not just me, right? This has been quite a week all around. Highlights include:

1. A visit from old friends... and two fantastic documentaries. Johnny Cash's America and The Night James Brown Saved Boston. I'm inspired in new ways, thank you very much.

2. When friends visit, everybody eats! Breakfast at Genies, drinks at Higgins, and dinner at Clyde Common. I'm a broken record but I love Portland!

3. Speaking of records, I cast on some socks inspired by licorice pizza: RPM.



4. The new president. What can I say that hasn't been said a million times?

5. Items 1 through 4 make me want to dance. I miss good old fashioned house parties, with spiked punch and waving your hands in the air like you don't care.

6. I just finished up a new pattern that will be released in the Fall Knitscene. Only about 7 months before I can tease it. Unless you count this as a tease. Which you shouldn't.

7. I also finished a different pattern to be released in the Spring/Summer Vogue. Of course it's a different pattern. Why do I put things the way I do?

8. I've got a new pattern to be released next week, Prairie House Shawl. Inspired by something Laura Ingalls Wilder might sport in anticipation of spring. Modeled here by my pal Brooke:



9. I made two lasagnas today. One with butternut squash, the other with roasted veggies. I'm freezing them and eating as needed. Man I wish I could share them with someone. I'll say it, I want to share them with YOU.

10. More snow. Seriously, people.

Breaking a sweater curse

2009: A year with big goals and real potential.

One such goal is knitting a sweater that fits. Yes, a simple goal, but one I have failed to achieve as of yet. How embarrassing to admit!

I've cast on and frogged dozens of sweaters in my life. There was always a Problem. Sometimes it was the yarn, sometimes the pattern. Often it was the knitting. The story is nearly the same every time.

It was two years ago I attempted to make a simple cardigan.

I wanted a raglan style cardigan that I could fall in love with. A sweater that I would end up wearing every day. A simple, natural, old fashioned, plain-and-tall hand knit cardigan. Alas! It was not meant to be.

If I could pinpoint where the sweater went wrong I would say it was in the expectations phase. I wanted the sweater to be what it could never be. I was looking for the stuff only dreams are made of... cozy, soft, perfect, timeless, classic, flattering, etc. I may as well been hoping to knit a unicorn. That was the first problem.



I had enough natural wool to make the project, but there were many questions. Could a girl my size, shape and complexion look okay in a bulky knit shapeless, colorless sweater? Probably not. Was my gauge consistent? Not especially. Did I knit the whole thing anyway, including seaming and weaving in the loose ends perfectly? Of course. I'm no amateur.

Put kindly, the sweater could have fit a small horse. More honestly, it would have fit a full grown alpha-male gorilla. I wore it around the house for a day or two, in denial. I kept checking the mirror to see if it looked okay, and it never did. I posed like they do in knitting magazines when the shaping on a garment is bad. I hugged myself, I reached for an apple in an imaginary tree, and I twirled around, laughing. It helped a little, but the sweater was hopeless.

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It was The Stupid Sweater. I undid everything and returned the wool from beast to balls, which now live in a rubbermaid container in my basement. Recently I made leg warmers out of 2 of the balls:



Knitting the yarn into something new helped erase the memory of the ugly. But what about some new yarn, a new pattern, and a new start?

Pattern: Glee by Zephyr Style.

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Heavyweight in color Mossay.

Progress:



I got pretty far on the medium size and then I tried it on... I'm knitting the small size now. What's a sweater without some frogging? I would have tried it on sooner but it's always too cold! To try on a sweater! O the irony!

In summary, this could be the sweater that breaks the curse. Then again, so much can still go wrong. I remain hopeful.