Compulsive ~ a strong, irresistible impulse to act (i.e., to knit) and
Obsessive ~ to occupy the mind excessively (thus this blog)
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| Knit by Nora
Compulsive ~ a strong, irresistible impulse to act (i.e., to knit) and
Obsessive ~ to occupy the mind excessively (thus this blog)
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Thursday, July 31, 2003 My First Sock Yarn 
I’ve never. Never knit a sock. So that is on my list of learning goals for knitting. Although I could figure it out on my own, I am waiting for a class at my LYS this fall. They have not scheduled the exact date, but it is after kids are in school according to the teacher-mom. Since I have never knit in a group or even with one other person, I wonder what it is like. Yes, I knit in public but that is different. Those strangers know nothing about the process; this will be with peers! This is the sock yarn I purchased in DC. I usually wear very neutral socks – brown, gray, black, tan, navy, etc. I have been waiting for the perfect sock yarn so this combo of black, gray and white is perfect. Plus, I really wanted a neat self-patterning yarn. Thus, my first sock yarn. I wonder where sock knitting will take me, given others on the knit ring appear to become: shall I say, addicted? I also picked up two discounted balls of Rowan ASC, a set of needles and for the collection, Rowan magazine #26. I think I read somewhere that a blogger had received the new issue #34. Where’s mine?! Today’s Knitting News 
Here is the back of Dune. The picture was taken in haste today but hopefully you can see the lace detail – in the middle of each triangle there is a raised line that is nice. I like the overall shape as the decreases were different than I have done before (Right dec = Sl 1, K1, psso, slip st now on right needle back onto left needle, lift 2nd st on left needle over this st back onto right needle with 2 sts decreased and Left dec = Sl 1, K2tog, psso with 2 st decreased). Tonight I would like to cast on one side of the front. posted by Nora | 1:43 PM Wednesday, July 30, 2003 Yarn Shopping 
One benefit of working in large cities is visiting new yarn stores. While working in DC, I found a helpful staff and well-rounded inventory at Knit & Stitch = Bliss. Bethesda, Maryland was an adorable town where outdoor cafes lined the street. After yarn shopping, I went to their large Barnes & Noble (3 stories) and was rewarded with the new Vogue knitting. Tomorrow I will show you my yarn store purchases. 
Although the entrance was street level, the store was on the second story. This kitty was in the entryway 
And these two kitties were at the top of the steps. The gold cat reminded me of Bowie when he chases Mick who looked like the black cat . Mick and Bowie also like to chase yarn. And speaking of Bowie, Mark and I find it amazing that he can still fit in the hiddy-hole scratching post. It is only a foot or more in diameter. 
Today’s Knitting News I finished the back of Dune and it is blocking. I started Mark’s skull hat and frogged it having decided K2, P2 is not conducive to the intarsia design. And I will need less stitches if it to be knit entirely in the round which leads to rewriting the spacing of the skulls and the decreases. Basically I am stalled until I can rewrite the pattern. His birthday is September 12th so I have time. Mick's birthday is also the 12th and Bowie's is September 27th. After the skullcap, I will knit him a flame cap in orange and black and post the pattern for those who are interested! Thanks for the cashmerino (Debbie Bliss) tips as I am using it for the caps. posted by Nora | 1:10 PM Thursday, July 24, 2003 Before 
Thank you to Marta. She’s the devil for tempting me with the gorgeous fiber (when sending some reading materials). I am going to give in and give it a spin, just like she knew I would. It is amazing how much we can discern about each other’s personalities via the web. The boys thought it was a treat for them, but I quickly hid it away. So they spent the evening fighting over the box instead. After 
After Again 
Today’s Knitting News I continued working on Dune that is definitely going to work with me. I may also take my Rowan Cork hat and Mark’s birthday gift, a watch cap in black with a row of skulls around it. I had made him one from the book, Hip to Knit, but he did not like the style. It is not cool to fold it back to form a brim, the cap should be short enough to end above the brow without a fold. He even showed me a photo of a black with orange flame cap from the 2003-04 Harley Davidson catalogue of one with the correct proportions. Mark thinks all his biker friends would buy one. I plan to time how long it knits up although I would not use the cashmere-merino blend for his buddies. Mostly bachelors, they would need something washable. I going away for work Friday to Tuesday; be back blogging on Wednesday, July 30th. posted by Nora | 1:50 PM Wednesday, July 23, 2003 Wiggle Room Yesterday I found out my new work project start date has been changed from September 1 to October 1. Yippee, as I will have a life instead of working evenings, weekends and Labor Day weekend. There are still back-to-back work trips starting the end of the week. I plan to visit LYS in the DC area (Maryland or Virgiania) but doubt I will shop for yarn in Albany, NY this time. No biggy, as I will be going to Albany once or twice a month for a while to come. As you may have already noticed, I joined the Knitting Kitty ring! Some nice new people have surfed by as a result and as always, I appreciate the comments and e-mails. Since time has been limited, I have been lucky to read my fav blogs, but have not had time to leave notes. I try to answer all comments and e-mails left on Knit by Nora but if I miss ya, know I read everything! So, expect more candid moments by Bowie and Mick as they are always into something. They act like kittens instead of almost 2 year olds (in September). Today’s Knitting News 
I have 22 rows of Dune done and have hit a nice rhythm. It may go along as a travel project, after all (with a backup instant grat project). Writing the lace pattern works for me in a way the chart cannot. I hope to develop the ability to read directions from a graph over time, if possible. Hail to all of you lace knitters – it takes a special talent! I thought you might like a look a set of two books, Creative Hands published originally in 1966 and reprinted through 1975 (started in Milan, then the UK and finally the US). They include knitting, crochet, sewing and embroidered instructions and projects. I picked them up while antiquing a week or so ago as the contents seem retro and could be updated. posted by Nora | 1:42 PM Tuesday, July 22, 2003 Dune 
Today’s Knitting News I swatched another new yarn: Rowan Summer Tweed in a coral shade (not orange as the photo may seem). Since the gauge was perfect, I started the lace pattern on Dune from Rowan 33 (it does not show on the needles in the photo but should jump out once blocked). As I have 10 skeins, I also plan a little tank top for underneath thus creating another non-traditional twinset! This project will go slow as I am not expert in reading lace charts, preferring written knitting directions. I will probably write out the charts for Dune as there are four of them. I am still re-knitting Teva, the chunky tank. As I head to Washington DC this Friday and onto Albany, NY (no blog 7/25, 7/28, & 7/29), I will need a travel project. Neither of these projects are plane-friendly as Teva will knit up too fast and Teva is too cumbersome. I need one that is just right so I will be stash diving this week. posted by Nora | 2:13 PM Monday, July 21, 2003 Today’s Knitting News  
A tank that can be knit in a weekend (or less). Teva, the chunky tank, is super quick knit and loads of fun. I cast on Friday night and completed the from-the-top-down past the armholes. On Saturday, I finished the pattern. And Sunday? It got frogged! I decided to make it larger with a couple modifications. And I can -- cause it knits in no time at all and is fun! I loved it and would knit it again, oops, I mean in a different yarn/color. posted by Nora | 9:49 AM Friday, July 18, 2003 Today’s Knitting News 
As promised, here is Tuscany cardie-shrug. I wore it as laid flat Tuscany has the appearance of a brown bag. Although not part of the pattern, I will be adding some type of tie closure. This was labeled “one size fits all pattern” but it is form fitting on the arms and shoulders with the front and back being looser. I would say a size small to medium at best. The linen has some give or stretch but only a bit. This is the 2nd shrug I have made that seems clingy. Since I prefer body skimming garments this is great. And it matches a couple of my short sleeve/sleeveless summer dresses. posted by Nora | 1:33 PM Thursday, July 17, 2003 Good Things Come to Those Who Wait And who suffer a great deal!? This is a lean blog entry as work (horrors) is interrupting my blog time. My company won a new contract for NY and I was on the proposal to be Project Manager. I have been the PM for another project (NJ) for 5 years, but it is a very slow project (can you tell from this site?). I had managed a 2nd project for a year until the State (OH) cut funding. Do you think it is odd that I live and work in Pittsburgh, PA but have not been employed in a PA contract since 1999? It has been an interesting career in terms of geography. If you are interested in what my company does, check out Automated Health Systems. I am listed somewhere under Program & Services in the Vaccines for Children project. Today’s Knitting News Tuscany is done being knit. Tonight I can press and seam it. I love that this linen as it does NOT need pinned, steamed and blocked but can just be pressed like any ‘ole garment! Tuscany debuts tomorrow for TGIF. Yippee! I can try the Chunky Tank pattern from Vogue Knitting on the Go: Chunky Knits this weekend. posted by Nora | 4:55 PM Wednesday, July 16, 2003 Wishlist One thing Rowan magazines lack is an index by type of yarn. This would help immensely when purchasing yarn without a pattern in mind or even when substituting yarn in a Rowan pattern. I usually thumb through the entire magazine (photos and patterns) to get a match and repeat this process with each issue. To rectify, I have started entering the patterns from each of my Rowan mags into an Excel file with this info: · Magazine #, · Name of pattern, · Type of yarn needed, · Quantity of yarn needed in my size, · A scale of 1 to 5 for my interest in knitting the garment, and · Notes if I want to buy yarn in certain colors, have the yarn or similar minutia. This will be great once I finish. All I will need to do is sort by yarn type and there will be all the Rowan Wool Cotton patterns. I can further specify the sort by # of balls or rank of my interest. I still need a key to the yarns in regards to needle size and gauge, especially for substitutions. I can load this file on my Sony Clie for yarn shopping on the go! Think this meets the definition of borderline compulsive-obsessive? Nope! 
Today’s Knitting News Will start the last sleeve of Tuscany today and hope to finish knitting by Friday so I can attempt the Vogue chunky top in 1 weekend! I swatched Jaeger Aero, a blend of wool (51%) and acrylic (49%). It was a challenge to knit chenille as it catches easily, a dropped stitch is impossible to find and counting the gauge was difficult without bright sunlight. I imagine frogging would be tough as the curls bond together into something fabric-like. The color is dark bluish-black and the needle size I used was #8 & #9 US (note the red yarn line). I preferred #9 and found the pearl side of the stockinette stitch is much more attractive, almost bouclé-like. All I need is a pattern that will accommodate the stiffer drape. This garment will need little-to-no blocking. A simple pullover or simple cardie would suit me. posted by Nora | 11:52 AM Tuesday, July 15, 2003 Blogger Alert If you are viewing my blog with only today's entry, not a week's worth and no links, archives, in the basket, on the needles, etc., try the address http://www.knitbynora.blogspot.com (instead of http://knitbynora.blogspot.com). A reader, Katherine, first experienced this problem, sent me an email, came up with the correction and sent a second note. Today, it happened to me and, fortunately, I had her solution. Thank you, Katherine! posted by Nora | 4:20 PM Stash This is my new place to hide/stash stuff that I found antiquing last Saturday. The top is cookbooks and the bottom is mostly knitting books/mags. It is not organized; I just tossed everything in to get it away from Mick. As you can see, he has tried to follow (he did jump in while it was empty, the bottom AND the top). 
Today’s Knitting News As luck would have it, I received a pattern correction for my Tuscany shrug-cardie in the mail yesterday from Ram Wools. It was for the exact spot I was about to knit, the 2nd set of short rows. It was not so bad that I could not have made it on my own, but just ironic. I just have a day or so left for knitting. 
Last night my sale yarn from Elann arrived. Gefifra Big Point in gold is a substitute for the Inca cotton for Very Easy Very Vogue Chunky Knits cotton top. It is a perfect gauge of 8 stitches by 12 rounds/rows on size #15 US. My goal is to knit it in one weekend (this weekend). Can I do it? The second swatch is Stahl Wolle Bandolino. I thought it might be another Rowan ASC substitute, but it is a finer yarn best on size #5 or 6 US. I plan to use it as a Rowan Wool-Cotton substitute in Alex from Rowan magazine #31. I had been looking at this pattern for some Rowan Handknit DK, but that yarn was so yummy, it is slated for a cable pattern. Alex, in blue, will be a lay-round-the-house or run-around top for blue jeans. When these yarns originally arrived, I was slightly disappointed as they are not spectacular at first glance. But as I am finding with cotton/synthetic blends, it is the handling via knitting and the final form where they show their true attributes. For the price, they are excellent and the garments will be attractive when done in these yarns. I would recommend each as a substitute for everyday or casual garments. If you are making something special, complicated or time-consuming, I would be less likely to use them knowing what I have learned via swatching. One awesome surprise: Elann sent a July 2003 newsletter with YARN SAMPLES of upcoming sales. My Bandolino was the July 1st sale. Today is their third Tuesday sale with Katia Scala that is 58% off (originally $9.50 US, now $3.98), a yummy ribbon yarn with 56% merino wool. If I had not binged on yarn lately, I would pick some up. Repeat after me, Nora: “No more mail order yarn!” (This excludes trips to the LYS or when going to new stores while away on business.) Check back the next 2 Tuesdays for more sale info. Of all the Katia yarn samples, this is the most luxurious! posted by Nora | 1:44 PM Monday, July 14, 2003 I’ve Got Sunshine The weather was perfect this weekend and I pursued several summer activities: gardening, painting picnic table/benches, grilling, and antiquing. I made a significant purchase while antiquing that will be unveiled tomorrow. It is a place to stash my knit books and magazines, as well as my cookbooks. Mick likes to chew on the bindings of books, so I must get all of these off the floor and low shelves into a safe place. Speaking of the bad, but adorable boy, here he is trying to blend in with other decorative items. 
Today’s Knitting News I am still working on Tuscany and still hope to finish this week. No more photos until I am ready to assemble. For instant gratification I knocked off a couple of scarves for the gift stash. I knit Christmas gifts for: my mother, 2 sisters, 4 nieces, 6 employees, 2 of their daughters, several friends, my husband and whoever. Thus the gift stash which tends to have items of a repetitive nature (thus quick knits). Here is an Explosion scarf (1 of 2) and a Colinette Point 5 scarf.  
posted by Nora |
12:38 PM
Friday, July 11, 2003 TGIG 
And not only so I can knit! May be a little of this might happen although we will not be in a gondola in Telluride. Mark does not read my blog and it is a good thing. He is not overly thrilled with this photo, too smoochy, I guess. Today’s Knitting News I worked on Tuscany and past the halfway point. I am not entirely satisfied with how the short row stitches look on the wrong side; one is a little stretched. But they look normal on the right side. I hope to have the final product for Monday to wear to work! I stopped at JoAnn Fabrics last night to look at lamps and sign up for coupons to obtain a 50% discount on the outrageously priced lamps. For five bucks, I found these purse handles. I may swing back to pick up one of the other (there were 5-6 versions). Although they are plastic, they would make a summer bag handle. 
posted by Nora |
11:43 AM
Thursday, July 10, 2003  Bowie and Mick watch the hummingbird feeder.
Learning Process 
For college and work, I have administered and taken tests about how people learn (visual, tactile or audio along with more details methodologies). Pictures of “how to” followed by my actually trying the task are best for me. (I love computer books like the Teach Yourself Visually series that has almost every page in full color.) In pursuit of the elusive granny square, I picked up this How To Crochet book. If it can teach pre-teens, I have good chance of learning, too. It has a great pictorial guide and I must say, a couple cute projects. There is hope that I will learn to crochet and my kudos go to those of dual natures (knitting and crocheting). Today’s Knitting News I worked on Tuscany cardie-shrug last night and steamed the 100% linen a bit to see the shape. This is one tough fiber. Not only does it say machine wash (gentle); using a dryer is recommended to soften the results. The label says that steaming “enhances the sheen of the yarn”. I agree -- it perked up with a quick blast of heat. Euroflax is made in Belgium by Louet Sales. 
It makes me want another in another color. The price was right, too. I am starting the back portion of this one-piece garment and will reverse the shaping in only three inches or so. Can you tell the sleeve, front flap, neckline and the start of the back (needled portion)? This pattern would be sweet in another fiber for a little wrap. posted by Nora | 11:54 AM Wednesday, July 09, 2003 Washington, DC I have a meeting in Washington on Saturday, July 26th and plan to go down early Friday to tool around. Hitting a yarn store and going to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s historic home and gardens) are the two activities I want to pursue. Apparently there are no yarn stores right in DC, but there are two in Bethesda, Maryland. If anyone lives in the area, I am open to other LYS suggestions. Today's Knitting News I was in a mood to swatch last night and tried my needles on: · Gedifra Wellness, · Plymouth Yarns Stone Cotton, · Rowan Handknit DK Cotton, and · Rowan Magpie Tweed. All of these yarns are new to me. As a result, I did not make progress on projects. I have listed a summary of all the cottons (wools are for later).  The Wellness is a substitute for ASC in Grace, a cardie from Rowan #27 (of Pagan fame). This substitution was the brain-child of Wendy who mentioned a sale at Elann. It was less than half the cost of ASC, affordable for a 10 ball cardie.
 The Stone Cotton is a substitute for Jo Sharp’s cotton. Again, less expensive and an awesome color (for me). It is for Chaise in the Island Holiday.
 Cotton-wise, the HK DK was the most fabulous in feel, looks, just everything was cool. Try a ball, I swear it makes up even better than it looks. Maybe even better than ASC (I feel disloyal, somehow). It will make a fabulous cabled pullover (Fife from A Season’s Tale most likely, instead of the plainer Alex from Rowan #31). Both are form fitting, I just want to show off the yarn in the cabled pattern.
I had swatched my Inca cotton before, but as it is coming up on the needles, I need to make a decision.  As much as it pains me, the Inca cotton is too thin for the tank I wanted to make from Vogue Knitting Chunky Knits – I just can’t get gauge without rewriting the pattern and I do not want to spend time on that. I will check out the tanks for the Knit-Along on Yahoo to see if any would work (I passed on Sitcom as I have 2 other cardies in the basket).
Wools (photos to come). I am still mulling Rowan Magpie Tweed. I think it will be a cardie, not a pullover (probably from Rowan #24). Because of my office, I need removable layers and I only require so many pullovers for weekends. My skin is a bit too sensitive for 100% content. I wanted to swatch Rowanspun 4 ply but need #2/3 US (3 mm) needles. I have been undecided about a project for this yarn and was pleased to find something in A Season’s Tale. Isla is a dressy, almost sexy cardigan, although I need trim yarn. It is strange that I can find (and make) 3 or 4 projects from a couple books (Rowan #27 and A Season’s Tale, for example) and may never make one from other books. What type of creative cluster forms around the style and design elements of certain books? posted by Nora | 12:26 PM Tuesday, July 08, 2003 Rocky, Watch Me Pull a Rabbit out of my Hat 
I pulled a Rose, not a Rabbit out of my WIP bag. All Rose (from A Season’s Tale in Kidsilk Haze) needed was seamed. I had put her away as I had modified the neck and arm trim and did not care for it at first. I actually purchased the same yarn a second time, cast on and completed an inch. A little time stewing and I find that I can live (and wear) Rose, as is. Especially since I do not want to knit the same thing again on #2 & #3 US needles. Unfortunately Rose does not count as a tank as she needs cool weather. What to do with five duplicate balls of Kidsilk Haze that cost almost $60? It is way too late to exchange at my LYS. There is enough for a tank (or vest) in any size (per Rose pattern). Anyone interested in trading Rowan yarns? 
Today’s Knitting News I cannot get into finishing Milano so I worked on Tuscany cardie-shrug. Last night, I finished the sleeve and cast on additional stitches for the body. After 6 ½”, I will begin my first short row experience. This project is what I needed as it is knitting quickly on #8 US. The linen looks and feels like string, although it is not scratchy on my skin. The color reminds me of a paper bag. posted by Nora | 9:58 AM Monday, July 07, 2003 Back to Reality My knitting suffered this weekend due to the holiday celebrations. In addition, I found the new Harry Potter book at 40% off retail and instantly became engrossed with the story. This is a 1960’s pattern book for a couple of bucks a while ago. It has some classic shapes in, I especially like the crew and v-neck pullovers. 
Today’s Knitting News I started the trim on Milano and found Dale of Norway’s directions for picking up stitches up are different than others. Instead of specifying the number of stitches to be picked up (i.e., 113 stitches), it said to pick up an odd number of stitches without giving an exact amount. This approached worked well for me on the neck. Next I will knit trim on the right and left sides of the slit in front. I can use yarn over to create openings for a tie to be thread through, if desired. Again the pattern does not specify the number of stitches to pick up or the exact spacing of the yarn overs. I cannot decide whether to have a lace up front or leave it open. I tried Milano on and think I made it a size to big (medium instead of small). The yarn is 100% cotton, so I may try to shrink in hot water after the entire piece is completed. I would hate to give this one away as it has taken forever to make up on #4 US. Only the circulars helped speed up the work. posted by Nora | 11:04 AM Wednesday, July 02, 2003 Happy 4th of July 
The first American flag was the British flag, which flew over the colonies before the revolution. As Americans grew more independent, however, they began developing symbols—and flags—of their own. Some of the first flags used pine trees (symbols of strength) or rattlesnakes (symbols of fierceness). A more moderate solution was to keep the British flag, but combine it with thirteen stripes, representing the thirteen colonies. This would become the basis of the first official flag of the United States of America. On June 14, 1777, Congress passed the first law describing how the flag should look. They said it should contain thirteen starts and thirteen stripes—but they didn’t specify how the stars and stripes should be arranged. For the next forty years or so, the flag had a number of different looks, until 1818, when Congress passed a new, more detailed Flag Act. This law also described how the flag would look in the future—that the number of stripes would forever stay at thirteen to honor the original thirteen colonies, but that a new star would be added every time a state entered the Union. And that’s why, when you look at the flag today, it has thirteen stripes and fifty stars. (Source of flag information: http://www.historychannel.com) I decided to swatch the original US flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes for Becky. I like the colors in the flag and have a library/living area done in red (sofa), white (walls) and blue (chairs/braided rug). Even my petunias pick up these colors. 
Today’s Knitting News Not much progress, just 8 rows on Tuscany cardie-shrug and will probably try to finish the right front flap of Milano at lunch or tonight. After that, there is just armhold and neckline trim and wa-la. I will be out of the office Thursday and Friday for a long weekend. See you on Monday with all my weekend accomplishments! I wish my fellow knitters & bloggers and my readership a Happy 4th of July. posted by Nora | 9:46 AM Tuesday, July 01, 2003 Very Vera 
Here is the completed TGIF (so I can knit) project from last Friday: Mission Falls 1824 cotton Vera Bag. I crochet the straps yesterday. The crochet design elements on my summer knits are increasing my comprehension of crochet. I am ready to try a granny square (my primary crochet goal), if I could fit it in. I love this bag; it reminds me of the Sak bags, only much cheaper and way cooler. It also compliments Maude Tank. I would make it again and have fun with more stripes, other colors and even different yarns (1824 wool). It was perfect for instant gratification. I cannot wait for this Friday to get the feeling again. 
Today’s Knitting News I finished the back of Milano and half of the left front. It would be nice to have this tank ready to go for the weekend. I made a swatch for the Inca tank. The cotton knit up strange on size 15 US needles, although I think the “airiness’ is intentional. The pattern for the Inca tank is knit in the round from the top down and I do not feel like adjusting all the decreases to try a different gauge. I did not knit any of my Tuscany cardie-shrug. It feels good having several things happening again. posted by Nora | 10:54 AM |
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