Knit by Nora

Compulsive ~ a strong, irresistible impulse to act (i.e., to knit) and Obsessive ~ to occupy the mind excessively (thus this blog)

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

If anyone is reading this post, I will be shocked because it has been one year, one month, two weeks and four days since my last post.

An email about the new home for knitting bloggers is what brought me back. The question is whether it is temporary or a re-start of blogging. Knitting has taken me off line in new ways...I was asked to be president of a knitting guild but work precluded that level of commitment but I am trying VP on for size for now. CranKnitters, our local stitch n' bitch is also under my wing. My methodology has evolved for record keeping and an on-line journal is not the fit it was five years ago when I started blogging.

The good news is I still knit...and knit...and knit. Everyday. Spinning less so but it fades in and out. And I taught spinning (drop spindle0 last year and have a couple of successful students, one wildly so (even though a broken wrist has delayed her spinning wheel career).

Stay tuned as I continue to fiddle with this and test the waters. Heck...goggle has bought blogger while I was on sabatical. What a hoot. If Karen is out there in CA and reads, this, a big "hello".

posted by Nora | 3:28 PM

Monday, May 14, 2007

Fiber News--Finally!

I have been knitting but not blogging (obviously). I completed a shawl and a baby layetter (cardie, hat & booties). No photos at this time.

Less than two weeks until the Great Lakes Fiber Festival!!! (in Wooster, Ohio). I am looking forward to the event.

More later. Tootles.

posted by Nora | 10:54 AM

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Today’s Fiber News

2007 FO # 3---Pattern: Litla Dinum
Source: Folk Shawls
Manufacturer/Yarn: Lorna’s Lace /Helen’s Lace
Content: 50% Silk & 50% Wool
Color: 38 – Mixed Berry
Details: 1250 yards
Cost: $52.00 (Purchased at Cast-On Cottage in Roswell, GA during a business trip)
Start Date: September 18, 2006 (for about 2 weeks)
Re-Start Date: January 17, 2007
End Date: February 9, 2007

Socks. I knit one once (the Red Cross kit sock for a man) and I did not like it. Since my knitting guild (3 Rivers Knitting Guild) is focusing on sock knitting for two months, I decided to give it a try on my terms.

Other than at home, I only wear trouser socks (warm weather) or knee socks (cold weather) because of my work wardrobe. So my socks have to be knee high meaning two balls of yarn.

And I always thought toe up made a thousand times more sense than toe down. Do you really need reasons why? If so, you can use all/most of your yarn without having too much or too little at the end. Also you can try the sock on as you go. There are more but so what, it seems common sense.

And screw the dpns. I like the idea of the magic loop.

And two socks at once.

And having given away every sock pattern that crossed my path, both instructions and patterns must come from the internet for free.

So what if I have 40 pages and no one explaination of what I want to do. By the end, I will. I might even journal the details for duplication.

This is a photo of my Turkish cast-on for two socks. I am stalled until my US #1 in a 40” length arrive as 32” does not cut it for 2 socks. May be one but not two.

Mark's Swatch for an Aran Sweater.

My husband wants a sweater. I have made him four, but they are all casual, knock-around sweaters. He want an heirloom and I want to make an Aran for him (from Alice Starmore’s Aran Knitting). One problem is he does not do itchy, so pure wool is out. But I do not want to knit an acrylic/nylon Aran.

Mary Ann in my knitting group had the perfect yarn from KnitPicks, in a apaca blend. The sweater she made in a cinnamon color looks perfect with her coloring much like the color coral is perfect on Ember. I think women have one shade that is their own. Finding it sometimes is the life-long challenge and it may take another to say so. In any case, I wanted a blue for Mark and there was none I liked. Only a baby blue, a bright blue and a navy blue. No blue the color of worn jeans or of his eyes, a gray-blue.

Then I saw Ultra Alpaca by Berroco at my LYS, Yarns Unlimited. I bought a ball to swatch and it was karma. The exact gauge of 20 sts. by 26 rows! A perfect color: Light Denim. So the yarn is on order and the deadline is generous: September 12, 2007. Plenty of time to make it perfect. My first step will be to get out a tape measure and chase Mark down (naked from the waist up). Or I could get out a favorite sweater…nah. May be both to be safe.

My couch knitting (the mindless kind, not the challenging sort) is the Mason-Dixon log cabin pattern. I am using my Navaho home spun that I bought this year on vacation. It is from the Navaho Trading Post in Cameron, Arizona. I think I like how I am distributing my five colors. I plan to knit a generous border in black. I also want to back it with wool fabric as this is to be a wall hanging, not a blanket or such. I decided if I am not 100% happy with it, I will frog. Hope I decide soon as each log is taking about 45 minutes now. I have a pattern in mind for the color sequence. You see it is two warms: red and burgundy and two cools: aqua and blue. I did not want circles of black within the body so I am doing alternates of a 3 color group, black, color single, black, other color single, black and reverse 3 color group. Plus the cools and warms started at different places in the sequence. Simple, huh?

Noticed something scary…my 4th blogging anniversary is coming up in April. How did that much time pass already? Scary. While I may not be the most read and I do not tinker with my template or such and I am not a great commentor, let alone replier, I have a s**t load of hits because of longevity (5591 visitors). And I think that counter was reset at least once.

At least I still blog and I still find it useful as a personal journal. As I still get emails from some very nice, special people (that I do not even know personally), I like to think something is right and good. Hope you do too.

BTW, Did you know that amazon.com now ships cats named Bowie?

posted by Nora | 4:12 PM

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Today’s Fiber News

More FOs and not all of them!

This is one of my two 2007 FOs. The yarn was on a cone I bought Silver Brook and used about 975 yards. It really was an easy pattern if you paid enough attention. I have two shawls cast on right now, Incarus and Litla Dimun Shawls.
Pattern: Wool Peddler’s Shawl
Source: Folk Shawls
Manufacturer/Yarn: Jaggerspun/Maine Linc
Content: 100% Wool
Color: Red Pine
Details: 1540 yards
Cost: $22.00

This was a November 2006 FO, I think. My mom requested a tie headband as she misplaced a winter one she used in the cold. I raided my stash yarn and made it of leftovers.
Pattern: Headband
Source: one of the Stitch n’ Bitch books
Manufacturer/Yarn: Debbie Bliss/Cashmerino Aran
No band for details.

This was a November 2006 FO, also. It was my third Weaver’s Mini Shawl that I gifted to my niece, Bonnie at Christmas. I added a pretty stickpin. It was proportioned for her petite frame and she wears it with flair.
Pattern: Weaver’s Mini Shawl with my custom edging
Source: Free on Web
Manufacturer/Yarn : JJ’s Iron Pot Carding/Kaleidoscope
Content: 12 Ply Mohair
Color: 138
Details: 400 meters
Cost: $48.00

posted by Nora | 4:24 PM

Friday, January 19, 2007

Today’s Fiber News Introducing Ingeborg by Dale of Norway in Daletta Yarn

I am so behind in blogging my FOs...I already have two FOs for 2007 (Wool Peddlers Shawl and a bulky hat for me); let alone the items I finished at the end of 2006. This one is worth a mention, Ingeborg. It came out perfect and I finished it between Christmas and New Years while on vacation.

The pattern was flawless and the fit is perfect. This is the pinnacle of my knitting career, to date. It is the most complicated piece, even fingering weight lace shawls do not compare (unless I do a wedding ring shawl that takes like 3,000 yards of yarn). The steeking was no problem and I really like the facings it creates. The inside of the sweater is as pretty and neat as the outside. Originally I worried about it not fitting (it is an extra small), but the proportions are perfect (chest, arms, length, everything to measure). I really love how warm it is in this cold weather. I think that is why Dale of Norway is perfect for skiers. The Fair Isle stranding adds not only thickness, but warmth. I already bought more yarn for my next D of N.

I am wearing it with a silk thermal undershirt and black jeans for dress down Friday at work. My friends, family and I have been looking for black velvet jeans for dressing it up but none are to be found post-holidays. I have black patent leather boots to dress it up and picture something sheery and silkier underneath. This sweater will get so much wear!

posted by Nora | 4:35 PM

Friday, December 29, 2006

Today's Fiber News

Long time no blog, but I have been knitting and spinning. Soon, I hope to catch up on my FOs, especially since Ingeborg is done (except for button and crochet button loops). Ingeborg fit perfect and although I cast on in May of 2004, my actual knitting time was 6 months (and that was with other projects).

Santa Baby was good to me...this was under one of the two trees...

Right now, the Louet S75 is waiting for an oil finish after receiving two coats of stain (Maple).

posted by Nora | 9:15 AM

Monday, November 20, 2006

Today’s Fiber News

I have been busy knitting and spinning...so blogging has fallen off my radar. I will try to catch up this week or next. I have finished another cap; another weaver's mini shawl; am almost done knitting Ingeborg; started an Intarsia cardie from A Season's Tale and am eye balling many more projects.

This is a 85% merino, 15% silk mix, 2-plied yarn. I do not have the source information with me, I know the hand-dyed roving came from Nova Scotia…I also have not measured the wraps per inch but I wanted lace weight and think I have hit it. It will be awhile until I have enough for a shawl…since I am drop spinning. I am serious thinking about a lace flyer for my Ashford Traveler as a Christmas present to me.

I am also drop spinning some silk lace; it is even more incredible. I cannot wait to have one or the other done and knit a shawl with my own yarn. Up to now, I have spun mostly worsted or thicker. One of my yarns was close to sport weight.

posted by Nora | 5:09 PM

Friday, November 03, 2006

Today’s Fiber News
I have been knitting. I have made three watch caps for Mark and have yarn for a couple more. I have such a large selection of scarves for winter, so I thought he should have a wardrobe of hats.

Front with Shawl Tied

Front with Shawl Untied (It is really long!)

Back of Shawl

This is the Ruffles & Ridges Shawl (Fiber Trends pattern) made with the recommended yarn, JJ’s Montage Collection 8 ply, DK 100% wool from New Zealand. The color is Canterbury, a reddish-coral with grays, plums and blacks. It has extra long ties and is meant to wrap and tie in back. I have a plain black work dress that I intend to wear it with.

I am swatched for two new projects. I have four projects for the remainder of the year. 1.) Ingeborg’s 2nd sleeve (primary knit at work) that I hope to finish by the New Year. 2.) One Christmas gift: my 3rd mini weavers shawl in mohair…it should only take about 2 or 3 weeks as it is large needles, small in size and an easy knit.

3.) This is my swatch of Louet Sales Kid Mohair in Cinnamon. I plan to knit Icarus. I would like this by Christmas, but we shall see.

4.) This is my swatch for Oakley, an Intarsia cardigan from A Season’s Tale. It is made of Rowan Rowanspun 4 ply and is on # 1 & 2 needles. This project will probably carry over to January, no doubt. On the back, I will have 18 bundles or bobbins of yarn for the leaves. The base color is Swarm with Rumtoft and Sludge-colored leaves. Sp. Orange is used to embroider a vein on the leaf; I did not do that on my swatch as of yet. I love the tweedy colors of this yarn. I might mention, again, I love this book. I made two sweaters (Heather and Rose), have two WIPs now (Fife and Oakley) and yarn for yet one more (Isla). And I want yarn for Dunoon and then maybe I will be done. These are classic sweaters that have a unique romantic twist that makes them stand out.

posted by Nora | 10:03 AM

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Today’s Fiber News

Finally, a snap shot the Weaver’s Wool Mini Shawl with Connie edging #2. This one is made of Wool in the Woods Miss Mohair (3 balls / 200 yds. per ball). It took about 2 weeks since the pattern is now tattooed on my brain. Since the landscape shawl is driving me nuts…a bunch of avoidable stupid little errors. If it were more complex of a pattern I would be further ahead because I would pay more attention. Since it is intermediate, I keep thinking it is brainless or something.

Plus the 20% possum has short, little black fibers shedding, so that is a little messy. I think it will be fine after a nice blocking bath but I am sick of knitting it since I have probably frogged most of it at some point. The shawl itself is beautiful and that keeps me going. But I am afraid that I will be so sick of it, I will not wear it and gift it instead.

I could not keep Mick off the Weaver’s Shawl. He kept doing the “paw thing” and bunching it up in ecstasy. Since it is such a wearable, cuddly shawl, I agree with his feeling 100% and left him to bask in Mohair.

posted by Nora | 4:55 PM

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Today’s Fiber News

I finished another Weaver’s Mini Shawl with Connie’s edging this weekend. No photo as of yet. I like the way the variegated yarn (Wool in the Wood’s Miss Mohair) worked on this one…in pools rather than stripes. I wore it on a walk yesterday. With the shaping, it stayed on the shoulders without a pin and any fuss. It is my first shawl that does that…a Faroese-shape rather than triangle.

So I cast on some Lorna’s Lace Helen’s Lace for the Litla Dimun Shawl from Folk Shawls (color: Berries which is red, burgundy, blue, purple). No photo. The colors are very similar to the Weavers but the yarns are polar opposites. (From number 10 ½ to 6 needles and from fuzzy wuzzy mohair to dental floss.)

I frogged half of the Landscape Shawl. When I put it on a longer circular and really looked at it, I found my tweaking to get the right number of stitches had thrown off the stockinette “v” section. Of five sections, I had one to go…now I am back to two down; three to go. No photo here either. One word about this wool and possum blend. Possum, does not so much shed as it flakes. If it were not for the wonderful colors...well, I might have abandoned it. A very good first wash will hopefully rid it of the short possumy fibers.

All I have to show you is my lunch time knitting, the first sleeve for Ingeborg. It should be finished for Christmas if I knit 6 rounds a week (I know not ambitious…I could do 6 rounds a day). I did not include finishing in my calculations but the holidays are still a reasonable goal. I am enjoying doing the Fair Isle knitting again. Especially since it is at a desk…under good light…Alone!

posted by Nora | 3:44 PM