Hot needles, cool scarf

Smoking hot and very cool. I began knitting on Wednesday afternoon, and I cast off last night. It was quick, it was fun, and it's a happy scarf. I'm looking forward to wearing it tomorrow!

Tilting Block from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Color 213, 3 balls (about 109 yds each)
Needles: Addi Turbo 5mm/US 8
Measures: 7.5" by 70" after blocking
Time to knit: four evenings, 2/21-24/07

I needed a few days of pure comfort knitting. I'm back to socks already -- Rachel's Monkey socks. I finished the first one and cast on the second today, and I've made good progress. I watched a few movies, did a little laundry, chatted on the phone...

It's been a long time since I watched Five Easy Pieces, but it's one of my favorites, even when AMC cuts to a commercial in the middle of Jack Nicholson's diner rant. I remember seeing it in the theater way back in 1970. And how did I miss the 1946 version of Razor's Edge until now? I thought I'd seen every Gene Tierney movie. Sometimes there's nothing better than watching good movies and knitting on a sock, is there?

Work will be busy and complicated this week. Inventory. I have some computer configurations to do tomorrow, and scanners to charge, and books to straighten. Tuesday is the big day in my store, but altogether it will take three days. Wise General Manager C and I decided that it's stressful but not dreadful, and that we are really just antsy and want to get it over with. So we shall.

And I will have knitting to relax me. Socks. Pretty Monkey socks, and the next Petals Collection package should be arriving, too.

Blue day, in a good way

What a beautiful Wednesday! I took the North and South ferries to get from Greenport to Sag Harbor this afternoon, a real treat on such a rare afternoon. Blue everywhere, in all its glory.

I'd been to North Fork Stitches in Cutchogue to take advantage of their "Sweetheart Sale" and to use a couple of gift certificates. I needed to add to my sock needle collection, and I needed another bottle of Soak (I cried when I came home one day to see that the whole bottle had fallen over and drained into the sink; that'll teach me to leave the cap open!). I wanted a yarn treat, too. Scarf yarn, to fend off sock monotony. Sock monotony hasn't set in yet, but I want to be sure I am prepared if it does. I had an idea I might like some Noro Silk Garden. Can it be that I've never knit with it before? How can I even call myself a knitter? This is Color 213, which is greenish and purplish and bluish, with a couple of other -ishes thrown in. I've already started knitting a scarf. It's a comfort knit for me, because I'm using the same Tilted Block stitch that I used for my big shawl a couple of months ago. I adore that shawl, but I can't wear it under my coat, so I thought...

My other yarn purchase is more of an exciting discovery than anything else. I needed smelling salts when I saw this in a bin:


It's called Terra, from the Fibre Company in Biddeford, Maine. The color is Dark Indigo and the yarn is a 60% merino, 20% baby alpaca, and 20% silk singles. The gauge listed on the tag is 15st/4 inches on US 9 needles. This is beautiful yarn! I have no idea what I'll use it for, but I do know that I will be keeping it on my desk so I can fondle it. The Fibre Company sells lots of beautiful yarns, in wonderful colors, at LYS's all over the country. I'll be visiting their website often to dream and plan.

I thought I had something else to say, but I guess not. Unless this is it: I've had a lovely Wednesday off, both from my job at the bookstore and that other job, sorting and purging the cluttered closet.

Inventory happens next week. From now until next Friday I'll be busy: needing lists, having to remember procedures, trying to keep the staff motivated enough to get through it (free food always helps, but it's a hard job, scanning every book in three stores in three days).

My life isn't uncomplicated, but I'm enjoying the stretch and pull of my desires and obligations. I'm not dissatisfied and antsy, my usual state by the time the end of February rolls around -- not today, anyway. I have my knitting. Socks for Rachel (who likes them so far). A Silk Garden scarf. Two more almost-finished pairs of socks for me. A few other things on the needles, too, just in case. I guess I'll make it.

More of the same

I liked making the Embossed Leaves socks so much (more below) that I wanted another pattern that has lots of dimension and is fun to knit. I chose Monkey (from the Winter 2006 Knitty). The yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot in "Thunderhead." I haven't used this yarn before (gasp!) and I reallyreally like it. These socks will be for my niece Rachel, who chose the yarn almost a year ago when we were yarn shopping in Maryland. She wanted gloves, but has decided that socks are good, too. Good thing for me, considering my current single-mindedness. So, Rachel, don't hold me to a deadline, but tell me how long your foot is, and one day soon you might have Monkeys on your feet.

There has been more purging of the messes in my house. Yesterday I began on the closet, and by the time I was tired of it I'd taken four big bags to the dump, and another big bag to the charity bin. I had to make a couple of desperate calls to get permission to throw away certain things, but aside from those moments of doubt I did pretty well. Not only did I remove heaps of stuff from the closet, I consolidated as well. I'm not finished in there by any means, but at least I can see the floor now!

While I hadn't intended to, I opened the boxes of Stuff that my nieces and my sister packed for me when we sorted our mother's apartment a year and a half ago. They were in storage till last September, and they've been in my kitchen since then. While I had an idea what was in them, I had been avoiding the task of opening them up, not wanting to deal with the bittersweet emotions that I was sure I'd find inside. Well, girls, it sure was fun to see what you decided to burden me with! I love the one blue plate, and the silverware, and the old napkin holder. The three dogs are sweet, and so are my Dick and Jane readers. The bread knife and the cups and bowls are old friends I'm happy to have. But the rusty tin of old birthday candles?

:::

Here are my latest socks, finished and posing on the sock blockers that I resisted but am glad I ordered:

Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks
(I like this book so much that I might join the KAL)
Yarn: Sundara Yarn, Petals Collection "Fall Foliage"
Needles: 2.75mm and 2.5mm DPNs
Modifications: Not a one
Time to knit: A flash -- begun on 2/11/07, finished on 2/17/07

Yarn-Over Cable from Sensational Knitted Socks
(Who knew? There's a KAL for this book, too!)
Yarn: Sundara Yarn, Petals Collection "Lenten Rose"
Needles: 2.25mm DPNs
Modifications: I used the stitch but made my usual plain old sock
Time to knit: on and off from 1/1/07-2/18/07

:::

I took today off -- an extra day this week. I need these little bits of change in the work routine. I was concerned about one customer's missing special order, though, so I snuck into the store very early this morning to re-send it. I was back home and in my comfy clothes by 8:00. It's windy and bright, but very cold, so I'm perfectly happy to have this day to putter and knit and catch up on the PBS Mystery programs I've been TiVo-ing. I hope you are having the same kind of Perfect Day.

Enough with the socks already?

Not at all! Socks are just so necessary. It's cold out there, and a knitter needs warm feet. And a knitter also needs a little time on the playground, which is what having socks to knit is like sometimes. I have these three new yarns in my collection:


Yes, they are from Sundara. I've added a link in the sidebar to save myself a little time. I love handpainted yarns, love the stripes and the bold variations of yarns like Socks That Rock and Lorna's Laces, and the more subtle but still colorful Fleece Artist and Koigu. But Sundara has begun to take color to new heights (or depths) with her Somewhat Solid yarns.

I am so infatuated with Sundara's yarn that I sit at my computer on the afternoons she's scheduled to post an update, just so I can be ready in case there's a color I really have to have. Of course I don't really need more sock yarn, but I do need the steady stream of inspiration that her colors provide.


I've been holding on to this red from the Petals Collection, waiting for the inspiration to knit with it. Having those three new colors must have done it, because late yesterday afternoon I found the right pattern ("Embossed Leaves" from IK Winter 05), cast on, and by the time I was tired of watching the Grammy Awards I'd completed this much of a cuff.

We're expecting some real Winter weather here tomorrow and Wednesday. I am hoping for snow rather than the icy mix and mess that we might get. I like snow. Either way, Wednesday is my day off, so I'll get to stay home and knit socks. Red socks, blue socks, purple or green -- who knows?

:: :: ::

In the "In Case You Were Wondering" Department:

::The counter is still clear. I used it to stage a purge of my file cabinet yesterday. All that clear space came in handy!

::The Sock Hop yarn is still on the bobbin, though a certain four-footed someone decided to do a little carding or fluffing or rearranging of some of the fiber. "Just trying to help" is not a good excuse. What if she decides to go all Chaos and Mayhem on me and starts being "interested" in knitting?

Note to Self

I want to remember that it usually happens this way: when I finally get to sit down and spin, I'm a goner. Forget the world and the laundry, I'm busy. I want to remember this, so that it won't be so long before the next time.

I spent a few hours on Sunday, and a few more today, spinning sock yarn and getting to know Mister Reeves. I love this wheel. I just adore it. It makes me happy right down to my toes. It is the Wheel of My Dreams, and thanks to my friend K, it lives with me. I reached a point today when I knew I needed to move to the next fastest whorl, and that's when we clicked, the wheel and I. I'm making some nice yarn, though I still have a way to go before I'm completely satisfied.

More practice is needed, and it doesn't bother me to say that. I can do better, though I'm not going for Certificate-of-Excellence standards. My spinning on the Reeves lacks the certainty and control I have when I spin on my Sweet Ashford, and it's due simply to the fact that I have been spinning on that wheel for many, many years. The Ashford is predictable, while the Reeves still holds a few surprises.

The yarn is another delight. Teyani saw my wish when I posted this photograph, and she granted it in the form of a new Sock Hop colorway from Crown Mountain Farms called "Do You Wanna Dance." What a treat! If you spin, and you haven't tried her hand dyed superwash Merino roving, you're missing an amazing experience. It's not like any superwash Merino I've ever spun; it's light, lofty and very soft. I'm thrilled to have inspired Teyani's creativity, too.

I'm not yet tired of the cold weather, but then I don't have to spend much time in it. Yesterday I had on socks, a sweater, a scarf, and mitts -- all my own handknits. Getting to wear my work, and knowing that I made these things that keep me warm is a very good feeling. And that I can spin the yarn to make the warm things -- that's the cherry on top of the ice-cream sundae.

After the Sock Hop becomes sock yarn (I haven't even filled one bobbin yet) I have some more luxurious fibers to work with. Which will I turn to -- the Chasing Rainbows Cashmere/Tussah, or the Spirit Trail Baby Camel/Tussah? Life must be good, if these are the kinds of decisions I get to make. And if I keep spinning, I'll surely remain grounded throughout Getting Ready for Inventory, Doing Inventory, and Cleaning Up After Inventory at the bookstore!

Onward and Upward

If you know me at all, you'll know that this photograph represents a monumental achievement. I haven't seen this surface since some time last fall. I'm not kidding. This is what I did today.

Behind the newly-repotted Christmas cactus is a crockpot of tomato lentil soup, which was delicious. But the counter, people, the counter. Clean, clear -- no paper, no bags, no yarn, no little envelopes of buttons that came with shirts last October. No old pay stubs, no paperclips, no bits of ribbon, no broken size 9 circular needles from July. It was about time, and I'm happy. Onward, to the rest of the house!

After such success, what's left? Why not take the rest of the day off? Well, I wanted to get the Reeves wheel running smoothly, and I accomplished that goal, too. I managed to botch the drive band installation at least five times before I got it right, but I made sure that I didn't leave any of the too-short or too-thick string on the sparkling-clean counter. I spun a bit on some new fiber that I'll share with you soon. I'm not sure I've got it right yet.

~:~
I was moved by so many of the poems I read on Thursday's (Silent) Poetry Reading. Here are links to just a few:

::Athena Dreams::Woven Thoughts::
::Fillyjonk and Wool Over My Eyes had the same brilliant idea::
::Sandy made me long for Spring::
::and thanks to whoever it was who posted Diane Ackerman's "School Prayer"::
~:~

I had the strangest knitting week. I worked on all the socks that are almost finished, one after another, and after a couple of days I'd had enough. I haven't finished any of them yet, either. I'd rather start some new socks. Well, I did, but the pattern and the yarn aren't making music together so they're history. I'll find something, I'm sure. I'm dabbling, and it's all good.

(Silent) Poetry Reading

The Lover Pleads With His Friend For Old Friends

THOUGH you are in your shining days,
Voices among the crowd
And new friends busy with your praise,
Be not unkind or proud,
But think about old friends the most:
Time's bitter flood will rise,
Your beauty perish and be lost
For all eyes but these eyes.

William Butler Yeats

~:~

This is a favorite poem of mine, mostly because I saw it every day as I was growing up. It was always hanging in our house – a woodblock print from the Yeats' Cuala Press that my father had ordered from a bookseller in England in the early 1950’s. Its mate, with the same simple hand-painted illumination, and framed in the same sort of dark oak frame, is a Yeats quotation:

“We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather about us that they may see, it may be, their own images, and so live for a moment with a clearer, perhaps even a fiercer life because of our quiet.”

These Arts and Crafts style prints usually hung on the stairs, or in a hallway, but always where we passed many times each day. How many hundreds of times did I chant the lines of the poem, or ponder the quotation, as I went up and down the stairs or through the house?

I think my four siblings shared my fondness for these words, or at least the same deep familiarity with them. They wove in and around all our childhoods, and traveled with us from house to house (there were quite a few moves). I’m sure that to this day my brothers and sisters could, with a little prompting, breathe the words again, as I can. It’s one of the ways we love and honor our dad, and remember our childhoods.

~:~

Many thanks to Reya and Deborah.

Celebrate the day!