Color Theory

A different form of color theory.

I think I've been waiting for the buttons to come to post this, but I can wait no longer.  Last week I stopped at Goodwill on my way home from the homeless shelter where I volunteer.  I looooove Goodwill!  Yes, it smells, but I wash what I buy from there.  What I really think I like is the opportunity to try on such a varied selection of clothes -- strange colors and styles that span a great number of years.  No other store has such a selection!

When I go in, I try to choose clothes according to a particular element I think might be flattering:  color or embellishment, for instance.  Often the clothes I pull go far beyond what I would normally wear.  Maybe the label is one that I have a bias against.  I pull them anyways, and take far too many clothes to the dressing room.  I try them on very quickly, though, and reject the vast lot.  What I am left with, however, is a nice, eclectic selection of, well, usually sweaters.

That Wednesday was no different, except in that I got a beautiful, handknit sweater for my efforts! Look at these lovely cables and the fun shaping!



It really is gorgeous:  made of tweedy, 100% wool.  It may even be Rowan yarn!





Why did the poor maker give it to good will?  Well, maybe she didn't.  Maybe it was her recipient.  In which case, this is karma that I found this!  Or, maybe she was disgusted with her zipper.

The zipper really was put on poorly.  A big lip was left over at the top.  It rose and fell in yucky hills down the length of itself.  Finally, the zipper itself was a thick, ugly, industrial plastic one.



It didn't take me long to rip it out.  I had considered installing another one, or doing a similar fastener.  When I removed the zipper, though, the two front facings curled inward.  Quite interestingly, the border was knit with about 4 stitches of stockinette, and then the very outside stitches are 4 stitches of twisted stockinette.  Does this combo ensure a nice folding line?  Has anyone heard of this before?



Because of the natural folding in, I grabbed a lighter weight yarn of similar coloring, and tacked down the facing.  Then, I searched awhile on line to find a gold-toned Norwegian style hook and eye clasp.  I bought five from the Nordic Fiber Arts, after having a nice chat with Debbie first.  Now, I await my package to finish it up, just in time for cooler weather.

With a cherry on top

To my American readers, I hope you all had a lovely Labor Day! My husband took the kids out for ice cream one night this weekend. It is not my particular weakness, so I made a yarn one instead.

This is a hat I made for my friend's baby, Percy, who is just as sweet as this suggests.

It says it all...

Yesterday

Yesterday was very exciting, as I received two contracts via email from Interweave Press and returned them along with finished projects.  It's one of the reasons why the summer was so busy -- charting and knitting and writing one of my five patterns.

Anyway, the item will hopefully be acceptable and will be published in the Jan/Feb Piecework's special Knitting Traditions magazine. Happily, this blog and the post of Sámi mittens helped secure the article.

Today's goal:  finish knitting project #5, and proof (for the last time!! Please!!) project #4.1 and #4.2.  Wouldn't that be amazing?  Then, I can get on to things I want to do.

It's not that I didn't want to do those projects; it's just that having to do them, and do them perfectly, sucked the life out of them.

M * T H is a four-letter word

In the middle of our going out of town, having guests, doing softball, baseball, swimming and various other summer employments, we had an unwelcome visitor.  It came from the unknown, and carried a sense of evil with it. How do I know this? Biblical truth. John 10:10 says, "the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." Well, then, he's a messenger of Satan. This fellow destroys, as can be seen in another verse. Matthew 6:19 - 21

Do not lay up for yourselve treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treaure is, there your heart will be also. Mt. 6:19-21

A good lesson hard learned.

I walked into my bedroom about the time when the kids were getting to bed, and noticed a little flutter above and beyond me.  I zeroed in.  A moth!

I quickly squished it and bustled through to get the item I came for.

About five minutes later I was getting in the kitchen and it struck me.  Was this encounter an exception?  A fly-by-night chance?  Really, shouldn't I go back in and investigate? My eldest son was lounging on a chair in my bedroom when I re-entered, head held high.  Oh, Lord!  There was another one on the curtain!  I curtly told my son to go to bed, squished offender #2, and headed downstairs to the hubby.
He was in the process of preparing to leave for a weeklong trip, and I'm so glad he was not already gone!  I appealed to him, and he entered the now-quadroned off area armed with huge ziplocs.  One by one, we emptied my works-in-progress basket, until we saw one more moth.  I mourned over project after project, as Chris squished the bags that held them, sucked out air and sealed the bags.  Is it a lucky thing I have processed no food this summer?  All bags immediately went into our almost empty chest freezer. Thank you, Yarn Harlot, for having gathered jewels in the darkness for us knitters.  You have gone through your own moth trials and I have learned from them!

I still haven't had the courage to face up to the project which probably started it all. I have narrowed it down to one sweater/hat combo, or an clothed antique doll. Chris thought if I went to the ziploc bag in question in the freezer, there might be a little Han Solo moth, wings frozen, moth open, uttering the silent, "NO!"

He can stay there awhile longer, if there's a snowball's chance he would ever unfreeze.

Fireworks in Bemidji

... And a Woolen Mill

I had saved a rough draft of this a month ago.  In my effort to catch up from the summer, I post it now.

Monday, the two younger kids and I flew to Bemidji, Minnesota. Hours before we arrived, a storm blew through with straight winds and knocked down a LOT of trees, took out the electricity, and consequently, the water. We're by a lake, so we swim to bathe and haul buckets of water up to the house to flush the toilets. We cook on the gas stove and go to sleep when it's dark.

Except for today! Today is the fourth of July, American Independence Day. We came to town to get a few things (medicine for chiggers), and another storm blew up. It was a solid wall of black, arriving so quickly from the West.

We jumped in the truck making calls and texts to those at home (the resident meteorologist), and, when the tornado sirens went off, made a stop at the Bemidji Woolen Mill.

What a hoot! When my friend mentioned it, i had no idea it was a real woolen mill! They had a complete operation which took raw wool, washed and combed it, and turned it into batting. Throughout the store they had woven examples of their goods -- blankets, jackets and hats, but they also had worsted weight yarn that had been industrially spun off-site. I had such interest that as the storm waned, One lady took me on the behind-the-scenes tour while my daughter cowered in fright from the storm.  By this time, however, it had blown over.

What fun! I had never seen these big woolen machines before!

raw wool

beautiful, washed wool

one of the big carding machines

They washed, carded and made wool batting with the wool, but they also had a complete sewing of knitted goods section.  The only part that made me sad was that all the sewing machines used for making the sweaters, blankets and hats only used acrylic pre-knitted fabric! There were some gorgeous designs they were working with, but despite being in a woolen mill, all the product of that area was acrylic.

a gorgeous baby blanket -- all in acrylic!  What irony!

sewing area.  all for acrylic.  sigh.

some of their finished, woven wool fabric

This finished fabric, as well as their hats, blankets, etc. are available for sale on their website, as well as just purchasing a length of woven wool.  Very intriguing!

All's Fair

...in Love and Knitting

The summer isn't officially gone -- in fact it is supposed to get up to 90F today -- but the kids are back in school, and, for all intents and purposes, it is Fall.  For me, that means a return to the disciplines that slowly fell off throughout the summer.  One of those disciplines is blogging.

Today I catch up with information on the State Fair.

the famous midway

Mom makes a new friend

Indiana's State Fair is, in fact, the sixth oldest in the States.  Founded in 1851, it culminated in 2011 when I won Sweepstakes in Knitting and Crochet.  Well, maybe that culmination was just for me.  Yeah.  Pretty sure that's what it was.

This year, I entered 8 or 9 pieces, all in various knitting categories.  I won four blue ribbons and two honorary mention ribbons.  My mom was with me when I viewed the judged pieces, though, and knows how disappointed I was, NOT because I won those prizes, but because my darlings, my best knitted piece, got no recognition whatsoever.

I wandered from glass case to glass case looking for my mittens, wondering if they were hard to find because they had won something or other.  Finally, I located them, shoved to the back of the display case, covered in their own entry tag with no happy ribbon.  I think they were crying.  One thing that bucked me up a bit, though, is that while I stood there I noticed two more ladies at that case looking at  displays.  One lady was focusing in her camera and taking pictures -- of my mittens.  Very gratifying that at least someone else thought they were interesting.

Mom and I also attended a very interesting presentation by Shelly Miller Leer of ModHomeEc on upholstery.  She teaches classes in Indi and writes for the newspaper.  In her presentation she took us through converting an electrical spool into a really cute and mod ottoman.  I have two chairs that need recovering, and she gave me a bit of hope that it is possible, and a bit of knowledge as to how to tackle them.

the upholstery talk

Well, this Monday was fair pick-up, and I gathered my chicks together once more.  The lady was so kind who led me around from glass case to glass case collecting the knitted goods.  We started out getting Mr. Grumpy Pants.  She laughed as she pulled them out, with their honorary red/white/blue ribbon.  "Look at these," I said, regarding my next pick-up, my white baby lace layette, "they didn't earn anything.  Don't you think they're pretty?" I demanded.  Well, of course, she did.  I must have done some other complaining, because by the time we collected the fourth ribbon she said, "Another one?  I really don't think you have much to complain about! ...Another one?  ...Another one?"  Oops.  Maybe I didn't, but as a mother bear to my mittens, I did feel a mite bit protective of them.

I glanced at the judges notes as I left.  Some made me furious.  Two of the criticisms I completely agree with.  The last one I opened pacified my heart.  It seems my Estonian Lace scarf made tops in the knitted goods, but lost for Sweepstakes to a nicely crocheted afghan.  On the way out of the grounds, one of the State Fair Cows wanted to experience the beauty that is Prince George's shawl: 

this picture says it all

Thanks, Indiana State Fair, for another good show, and another reason to hit the needles hard for next year!

School pictures today

For a certain someone!

On our way to Bemidji

So, we were gone from home, on our way to O'Hare when my daughter suddenly realized SHE HAD NO SHOES ON.

How does one do that?! It's not that she had slipped them off in the car, or even that she had taken them off and thrown them in the back. Or, that she had even packed any. She. Had. No. Shoes.

Now, on one hand, this does free one up a bit on that start and stop again line for airport security. Stop and take your shoes off? Stow them in a bin? Shuffle forward and, after the magic doorway find a bench and get them back on? Ha! She could laugh in the face of such inconveniences, knowing she had both saved three minutes AND picked up a myriad of shared social diseases.

We ended up stopping at Merrillville and getting a pair of shoes. Maybe this was her plan after all.

Now, we are in Minneapolis, greeting Snoopy, who is greeting us. Up in Bemidji, they have had a big storm and have no power.

Sunday post

I'm absolutely thrilled! Not only is it Canada Day, but my long-awaited copy of Samisk Husflid i Finnmark by Anny Haugen arrived today!

Yes, it's Sunday, but my son asked if we got the mail from the mailbox yesterday. I put four letters in there, and -- lo, and behold! A book was in there for me!

Finally, happy Canada Day, everyone!

First email of the day

What a thrill to open up my emails this morning and have the first one be from HEIDI FOSSNES!  Oh, my goodness!  Her Norwegian coffee table book on mittens is absolutely breath taking.

Now, if one weren't a knitter, one might snigger at that last sentence, but it is absolutely true.  She has examined the mitten collection at the Norwegian Folkemuseum, charted and photographed historical mittens from all of Norway's counties, and the colors and styles are mind boggling.

I have been continuing my research on Sámi mittens, i.e. mittens from Lapland, and saw a "new" book on a website and wrote to inquire about it.  She responded.  I wrote back thanking her, and asking a few more questions on the book.  I hope to get it.

*Update:  I did buy the Norwegian national costume book that includes Sámi outfits from the north and northeastern areas of Norway.  It, likewise, is beautiful.  It looks a bit more dated in terms of the pictures; that is to say, the quality and poise of the pictures in her newer books is superior.  Nevertheless, it is well worth the investment.

Ms. Fossnes has continued to be kind and gracious in answering my questions.  She is an outstanding expert in her field, but still willing to help the little people just starting on this journey!

Done with the second mitten!

Sort of. Okay, I still have to do the thumbs, but I'm so happy to present:

Latvian Mittens #53 from the book of the same title by Lizbeth Upitis

I know I'm a knitter when...

... I walk across our wood floor and something sticks to my heel.

Okay, that's not the surprising thing.  But when it drops off with a soft *plink* and I think, "Oh!  Stitch marker!" -- I'm right.

How Many Days Before...

How Many Days Before...

...my husband realizes we have three bags of Llama roving in our big freezer
(and nothing else)?

Three days and counting...

First Mitten Down

I am ridiculously pleased with my first Latvian mitten (#53 in Liz Upitis' book Latvian Mittens)! Because I went down to a size 000 needle, which is knitting at 12 stitches to the inch, it feels like I've been working on this forever. Maybe, I have. But, it's (halfway) done (almost; after I do the thumb).



Isn't it gorgeous? I so love the fabric this has created. It makes me pause and go, "Ah!" when I insert my hand.

The crown of satisfaction was the tip of the mitten. There were no instructions on how to finish it off -- just a chart that ends. But at the end of the chart, I had twelve stitches -- three white at the front and back, and a black/white/black at each side. Now, usually in a mitten, I Kitchener stitch the front stitches to the back stitches. This did not prove to be that easy, because the sides were odd numbered and the colors reflected this.

Instead, I opted to Kitchener the three front stitches to the back in white, then turn and knit the side stitches each one more row. Then, I kitchenered the sides together maintaining their black/white/black combination. That is, I Kitchenered in color work! That's a first for me.

I love the resulting look:

You know you live in rural US when...

You have to wait for the tractor to pass to get your kid to school.

Mr. Chomper Pants

So, Sunday on Mother's Day, a treat I gave myself was to finish a project I have dubbed "Acrylic Mayhem."

A member of our library knitting circle, Mary Catherine, died about a year ago. She was a real firecracker-- a great.-grandma who was always knitting for the babies in her life, and always dragging people to the circle, enabling them with yarn.

So, I asked the ladies to knit or crochet 8" squares in pastel colors.  The crocheter did a great job.  I knit two different swatches from some of Barbara Walker's books. But, obviously, no one had a measuring tape real handy.  In fact, I sincerely doubt the crafting abilities of their teacher, and muttered as much as I crocheted it together using horrible, splity acrylic yarn.

I really hate acrylic yarn.  I was cursing it under my breath, and yet, I know it has its usefulness in life.  I wouldn't gift a wool blanket to an unknown person in a baby unit.  The kiddo can spit up and poop on this thing to his or her heart's content.  I just better not ever see it in a garage sale.

So, that was two days ago.  Yesterday, I took it to our local hospital and gifted it.  Then, went on to finish Mr. Chomoper Pants for a friend's baby boy.  So glad to be done with this, as well.  I think the jean material for little kids is so cute!

Parts is parts

Quite a day, with parts to spare.

Started off bright and early with a mammogram (ladies, have you had one this year? Get it scheduled!). Then, a cast removal for the eldest.




Wrist still works!



While in waiting rooms, I finally got my teeth knit up. I have been dragging my feet for months over knitting these things to finish off my chomped pants.

Well, enough examination of body parts, and the last one was done! This afternoon, I attached them on the pants pockets, and now I'm crocheting decorative horns.

Soon enough, Heindrich will be wearing them.

Three Needle Bind-off on the Road

On the road for Mother's Day-- going to my in-laws. I finished the right front of my Kauni Diversity Cardigan and bound it to the front in a three-needle bind-off, but I didn't have another knitting needle. So, I got my trusty crochet hook out of my fix-it bag, and performed the feat with that.

Perfect! I may, indeed, prefer it!

It takes two needles with live shoulder stitches, and a crochet hook.

Insert the crochet cook through one stitch on each needle. 

 Grab the yarn, and pull it through.

Now, bind off as you normally would, pulling the knit stitch on the right over the live stitch on the left.

Finished shoulder seams, that perfectly align, stitch by stitch: the inside...

...And the outside.