Intrepid Fiber Wizard

Love affair with Chaleur

For more than a few months, I have danced with the elusive "Chaleur". 

It's a beauty of infinite mystery, a pattern filled with delight and twists beyond compare..... a journey of trust in the process (and not reading too far ahead lest it terrify you!)

Julie Hoover has created a poncho style, funnel neck pullover that literally screams comfort!

I chose Malbrigo Rios for this adventure,and we have been fast friends for many an evening now.

A deceptively simple, alluring herringbone pattern enriches every inch of this pullover

(I'm hoping that you can see the deisgn in this photo). The pattern is clear, written out row by row, in excellent detail.

Yet, one that I confess, I knit and ripped at least 20 times in order to capture it's magic initially.

Chaleur is a lady that requires 'trust' in the process. 

 

This evening's challenge was picking up the stitches under the arms,lifting carefully off the provisional cast on rows. This could possibly be an easy process, or then again, it can be one of those mind-bending-irk-you-all-evening-events). I can only recommend, a glass of red wine, a comfy easy chair, and an air of nonchalance as you begin. All will be well.

I am in the middle of picking up stitches under the first arm hole. One side went effortlessly.. pulling the thread, lifting the stitch, pulling the thread, lifting the stitch. ...Ahhh... the other side, well.... ahem.. let us just say that it went sort of like this, pull one thread in the provisional cast on yarn, then pull another place, then yet another, when finally, ahhh, it eases, and then pull three more places before you can lift one stitch........ 

the zen of picking up stitches from provisional cast ons is not lost on me. One direction effortless, smooth....... the other, tedious, irritating, grouch making for sure. Finding the path of least resistance = right method.

I'm about to begin the kitchener, closing the underarm seam..... let's all sound our Ommmmmmm..

(with a thank you nod in the direction of the fabulous Charlene Schurch, wonder-sock-teacher who taught me to kitchener! I send blessings every single time I do this stitch.)

Sock magic

There is a moment I truly love while knitting a sock.......

that magical moment when the heel appears 

I knit quickly as I can up until this point, wanting only to arrive at the place where it begins to take form.

For, up until the heel appears, it's just a clever tube - unique and beautiful of course (especially when you are knitting with amazing fabulous stupendous fiber such as this Cascade silk merino handpainted wonderous yarn!)... but it is still just a simple tube... and then, all of a sudden, you knit the flap.... and then, once the heel appears, it is magic. 

Socks are pure genius, and never cease to amaze me. Someone long ago solved the puzzle of knitting a sock to fit our feet. (no small feat.. pun intended). And we now carry on the tradition of their creativity, adding our own color and design.

 

And thus I return, from my almost year long hiatus. 

It's been a year filled with knitting - shawls, socks, sweaters, scarves, summer tops, hats, and more socks. A year of mostly portable projects as I continued to travel back east to help my family settle after my Mom's passing. There were closets to go through, letters to be written, services to attend, and finally the burial of her ashes in the family grave site on a hill looking over our beloved Keuka Lake in New York.

The knitting of a sock felt like the perfect way to re-enter blog world... I am changed yet the same. Filled with the magic of those who have gone before me, carrying on their traditions and adding my unique flare.

I have made my world quieter since my Mother's passing, slimming down on the 'to-do's' and 'hurry-hurry' and adding more of the quiet walks on the property of a friend that is perched beside a wonderful river. I've narrowed all the daily tasks, ruthlessly trimmed my facebook connections and blog reading to the point of near nothing..... all in an effort to simply be more alive and aware of this day, this moment. I've tried to pay attention to anything that creeps into my brain as a 'must-do' and seriously question if that is true. (thus you may well find that not all my photos are perfectly organized, and I most likely won't post on a regular basis, and I may show you knit things from a year ago, or I might ignore that all together....) 

I've cried and I've laughed and I've fallen very much in love again. I turned 60 this year. All in all, my world is beginning to grow and bloom once again in this spring...

and you? how have you been?

Socks, Socks, and Baby Sweater

FInished up some things recently - a cute little baby sweater that was for a young friend who is pregnant with her first child.

It's called Lazy Rib Baby Sweater

Knit with Superwash Merino Tencel Yarn, hand dyed by sweet grass wool, colorway "Baltic"

Knit up on size 1 and 3 needles.

It was a very fast knit, and washes up well (machine wash of course)

And one of my favorite features on this sweater is the I-Cord knots instead of buttons. Totally perfect for a little someone to nibble on without any choking dnager. Oh so clever.

I made the small version (since the baby is due now, and I think that this will fit come September) - and there is a larger version available.

Here's the link to the free Ravelry download:

Lazy Rib Baby Sweater

 

I also finished up the first pair of plain knit socks I have ever made. (yes, don't gasp.. it's true) I normally go for patterns, but I loved this colorway so much, and it was not shown off well with a pattern.. It's another Hand dyed superwash merino (my fav yarn for socks) dyed by The Artful Ewe. 

Knit on size 1 needles - will fit a women's medium. I didn't have hardly any yarn left - so I doubt the skein would be enough to knit for a fella - but it was lovely anyway ;-)

 

 

 

Also on the needles still is the lovely vest I've been working on - yet it is silk and merino, and won't travel well to southern Florida. Yes - I head out on Friday for another couple week trip to help out my parents. Mom is still in the phsycial therapy re-hab unit, and she is slowly gaining some strength. And my Dad is improving as well,yet the lovely big home they live in is just too much to care for all alone.... It's very hard on them both to have Mom still so incapacitated, and so far from home. So, lucky me, I get to go spend time with them both, play "cheer-up-princess" and "nurse-jane-fuzzy-wuzzy'. And it's certainly not a hardship, since there will most likely be sunrise beach walks involved, and evening swims in their pool.

 

And so - travel projects are once again socks, and more socks.

 I had gotten this one past the heel on the first foot, but decided it should be called 'ugly sock' since the patterns looked lousy with the yarn and the yarn was hidden by the pattern : The yarn is a gorgeous skein of hand dyed yarn by Chameleon Colorworks in colorway : September, yarn is called footsie.

to the left is the first sock I made - and is now frogged..

and now, to the right is the newer pattern

called Staggered Squares by Charlene Schurch in one of her amazing sock pattern books (which of course I cannot find now as I type)  - knit on size 1 needles. I will have to wait and see how bad the pooling is on this one after I get to the heel flap... yet I think that I will continue with this pattern, since it is just socks.

 

The second pair that will be traveling south with me is probably the most favorite sock I have knit in a long long time.  My friend Lisa (Dicentra Designs) dyed this colorway up and it's called "Steel my Heart" and it is squooshy and rich and divine to knit with. I am using the slip stitch rib pattern (also from the fabulous Charlene Schurch.. gotta love that woman!) and everyone who touches this yarn just squeezes it and says it's amazing. (and I agree)

 

 

 

 

 

One more note to add - is that my oldest daughter Erin just opened her own Etsy shop !!! She is selling prints of her watercolors - and they are fabulous.  Her shop is called ErinAnnesArt . Hop on over and add her as a favorite. And she's also on Facebook under the name " The Art of Erin Bohlmann. "   

 

 

It's been kinda a rough week here in wizardland - heart break and challenges. And while I wish that I was visiting my parents when they both were healthy, I shall still look forward to the escape from all that is happening here. Their love for me, and mine for them will go a long way towards soothing my heart.

 

Two for the road.... thoughts 5.

  I've been knitting socks. They are such a perfect, portable project - entertaining in their simplicity, and very useful as gifts (since both daughters and I wear the exact same size). They squish nicely into my purse, carry on for a plane, glove box in the car, and can be picked up and set down quickly.

I've been spending time with my parents in Florida, assisting as they work through various health difficulties. My dear Mom was discharged from the hospital mid March, and within a week and a half, had fallen three times, and had some rather serious heart irregularities - She thus went back to the hospital, had a zillion more tests done, and is now back at Manor Care (a physical therapy care facility that prepares people for returning home).

My brothers and I have been playing pass-the-baton and staying with my parents for the last month, since my sweet Dad also seriously reinjured his back and knee while lifting Mom. :-( A very difficult situation for my wonderful parents. Yet they have done well with allowing us to assist them - and we all hope that with time, their health can be restored.

In the meantime, I've been working a lot here, preparing for a huge Mozart Concert with the fabulous chorus I sing with, and making plans to fly back to Florida to be with Mom and Dad once again. My youngest brother and I have been sharing our thoughts every night (as he is there with them now) - and we both agreed that it is an easy gift of love to be there caring for Mom and Dad. And heart wrenching when we have to leave.

 

I have been dreaming of someone making a molecular transmitter so that I can zoom back and forth every day! Yet until that dream comes to fruition, life will be a creative dance between here and there. I am considering opening a part time practice down there on Marco Island - and am looking into licensure there this week.

 

 My daughters live on both sides of the country  (one here, one in Georgia, my parents in southern FL,   brothers and Sisters-in-law spread from LA to Detroit to Tampa, dear friends and my work and the chorus here on the west coast....

 

 

 

 

  and I learn the heart ache of how to choose where to be. Deep thoughts wrestle throughout my being - about what truly makes a life "significant', and how the choices that I am attempting to make will affect the remaining years of my life.... 

 

 

In truth, I do not think that there is any way of 'predicting' or knowing with certainty what the correct decision is...

My personal style, when faced with such a challenge, is to become very quiet. and move slowly through each day. I share my feelings with my beloved close friends, I knit a lot, 

 

 

 

I take long walks and pray for clarity.    The pictures in my mind fill with images of where I might be when I am in my mid-late 80's and what would bring me comfort, and I easily am called to move to FL....   yet then, I think of my small world here, which is filled with closeness to Erin and my beloved friends, and my tiny cottage, and I cannot imagine leaving it, yet then I am pulled up short by what has always mattered to me the most.......... loving the people who matter to me.

And I pray for clarity as to how to proceed in the best, most truthful way I can with this, to live my own integrity. Most of me believes that there is no perfect solution, and no 'wrong' answer... instead, that I may continue to find the way to travel back and forth... the best of both difficult situations....

Please enjoy the photos from my sunrise beach walks on the Residents Beach of Marco Island.... my walking companions were Heron, sand pipers and pelicans (whom my brother calls the beach patrol). 

Catching up - Showing FO's

I looked at the calendar, and saw the last time I posted, and said 'wow.. has it truly been that long?'... indeed it has.

And so, hold onto your hats, here is a rapid fire "catch up" of the past month and a half - (and thanks for still hanging around and reading this blog!)

 

In January, I quit the job at the store (which I had been my "saftey" net for the past three and a half years.) It is both scary and wonderful. The scary is the fact that I am now 100% relying on my counseling practice to support me through the seasonal changes. The wonderful part is that I finally am not working 7 days each week. wow.

Also in January, I made the decision to rent out one of the bedrooms in the small cottage I occupy here in Olympia. A lovely woman I know has moved in, with her fabulous cat (to add to my two). Again, it's been fabulous and challenging all at once. I love her dearly (that's the great part) and it's also been about 35 years since I had a "room mate" (or cottage-mate as my sweet Dad calls her).

I went to Madrona Fiber Arts Festival - and it was great (as always).  Got to see many dear friends from the past ten years - (and naturally didn't take photos of either them nor their booths.. sigh... I was too busy giving them hugs and catching up on news)...  

One of the things I love the most about these shows is that it is a constant "fashion show" of Finished Objects. Everyone ooh's and aahh's at each other, and people stop and say 'oh, what yarn is that?' and give high praise. It's inspiring.

I was fortunate enough to get in to two classes.

 

 

 

Sally Melville's "Knit to Fit and Flatter"  Where we learned about the perfect length sweaters for our body shape and type, and how to make adjustments if the pattern isn't quite right. I love Sally's classes and take one whenever I can. I can highly recommend this class.

 

   The other class I took was a disappointment, mostly because I had pictured something totally different in my brain when I signed up for it. The class was called Knitting Tapestry. And here are a few samples of things that the teacher made. Unfortunately there was absolutely no "instruction" per say in this class, but rather a lot of her talking about her website and her mother's art and showing her lovely creations.  After an hour of this, she suggested that we "cast on and begin knitting " Ah well. I left early, and went shopping instead (not hard to do with all the GREAT vendor booths.

 

One of the fabulous friends that I saw at Madrona was Lisa ! (waves hi!) She is  a dear friend and the artist/owner of Dicentra Designs that I have spoken of so frequently. While she and I were chatting the first day, I feasted my eyes on some of her Nova yarn (a superwash merino in her hand dyed colors)... And what popped to mind was the pattern from Classic Elite's newsletter the "Lowell Cowl". 

We had some fun, plotting and playing with colors, and calculating yardage - and we came up wqith three colors to blend: Fire, Ole and Dahlia. I used a little under one skein of each (185 yards) knit on size 7 needles to make this fabulous cowl. It can be worn long, or wrapped double around your neck.

I absolutely love it, and it was whipped up in three days (yes.. I knit it during Madrona!) Hop on over to her Etsy shop and snag some skeins, and download the free pattern from the above link. I plan on making a bunch of these in many colors!

 

 

 And yes, I have been knitting other things as well - there's been progress on the Cloud Chaser vest I am kntting in Alchemy. (another project which I am loving!) It's a very creative design, which makes the knit just fly by. I am just about to the place where I will begin attaching the collar-  

Last but not least, on other updates, My Mom has  still been hospitalized, yet 'graduated' to a transitional facility where they have been building her strength back up, and working with her in both occupational therapy and physical therapy. She's gained a bit of weight back, and there is a possibility that she might get to go home this weekend (fingers crossed..) Thank you again for all the healing prayers and thoughts.

And I have been back to fighting a nasty germ of sorts - I suspect that my immune system just wasn't strong enough, and I was vulnerable to a few things which otherwise I might have fought off.... so, a couple of months of testing, and I am back on the nasty (but very helpful) strong medicine.... and I am looking forward to being able to be my energizer bunny self again soon. Fortunately, I'm still able to ride my bike a couple times per week - that has been a blessing. ;-)

And now, off to hit the "mark all read" button on my pages and pages of google reader notices... (sorry dear ones, it's outta control) I've missed you all -

 

On a roll

Finally finshed up the Embrace sweater - and it has been a love-hate relationship. Love the pattern, hate the yarn (it's one of those ten strand rolled type that looks pretty when knit, yet it splits while you're knitting it and pills upon completion:-P )

The color is a deep chocolate, best depicted here:

I love the way the fronts curl and twirl.

and the cuffs and hem are rolled as well. These are features of some of my most comfy sweaters ever.

What I didn't care for is that it is not nearly as "long" on the sides and back as depicted in the photos. sigh. I was precise about following the pattern, and made the obvious assumption that the photo acurately showed the way an appropriate size would fit the model (heh heh.. you know what they say about assumptions.... ahem)

here's what others have made  Embrace    and here's what the model in the book looks like: 

well, let's just say, I won't be modeling this one for awhile. (maybe the issue is that I need to be built like a twig? nahhhh.. that can't be it ;-)

Yet despite the fuss, I do love wearing it. It is cozy, comfy, floppy and warm. It will be a perfect cuddle-up-with-a-book on a chilly day sweater.

 

 

And here's a small photo of the completed Twisted Vines scarf -

highly recommend this one (with Zauberball yarn) luv it.

 

 

 

And, while the needles are still warm, I cast on for a new project. (one I have been fawning over for a year or so now) It's Amy Swenson's Cloud Chaser Vest. (cables... ahhh... swoon..) 

The yarn I am using is from my stash, a merino silk blend from Alchemy Yarns. The color is a rich red wine.

This is a most unusally constructed vest, the sides are stitches picked up from the back, and then knit horizonatally. I love these great designs. Here's what it looks like : 

 

 

Last, yet by far not least, my Mom is still in the hospital. They have been trying most everything to reduce all the pain she has from her fall last summer, and I think that today they might be making a bit of headway. (fingers crossed) The physical therapists have her walking the hall once and sometimes twice now (yay) and she's been a good mommy, and eating her chocolate ice cream first (like I told her to!) (the fact that she is now eating again is huge progress... three steps forward, two back - yet baby steps of preogress are being made.

It's a difficult time to hold her spirits high within those clincial hospital walls - and we all appreciate the healing thoughts and prayers that you all have been sending. Keep 'em comin. (and thank you)

Zauberball delight

January is a clean-out-the closets kind of month for me, and in that spirit, I am attempting to finish all the old projects.

This scarf was begun October 2009, and sat languishing at the bottom of the pile for months.  Not from lack of loveliness, (as you will see) but lack of concentration-ability, and then it was forgotten. 

Yet low and behold, it is now commplete! (just a few moments ago) and I will be blocking it soon.

Here are the photos from a couple days ago - knitting in between clients at my office, shoes off, feet up, a cuppa tea (current favorite is a "London Fog").

One skein Zauberball sock yarn

Trailing Fuschia Lace Scarf (Fiber Trends) 

Size 4 needles

repeated pattern four times across

pre blocked length, about six feet.

 

Cannt wait to see how the lace will pop after the magic of a bath, and a good stretch!

 

knit. knit. knit. and ride a bit

The rainy season has begun here - and with it, and abundance of knitting, I'm pleased to say.

I began "Embrace" by Kim Hargraves about a month ago (my my, where has time gone!) I'm knitting it in a divine chocolate brown - and cannot wait for it to be finished.

The yarn I am using was purchased as part of a kit, and I am glad to have found a better pattern than the one it came with. The yarn is Ecco by Zitron.(a superwash extrafine merino) And I am knitting it on size 5 needles.

The sweater has a rolled hem, and rolled edge front, is slouchy and awesome. go ahead - click on the link. It's one of those sweaters that I'll want to wear everyday.

I finished the back and both sleeves, and just began one side of the front!

 

I've also been knitting socks. yes. socks - lots of them

I finished the pair that I'd had kicking around in my car for a year (I pretty much always have kntting in my car for those just in case moments).

These are knit in the artichoke pattern, size one needle and I knit them of some old hand dyed yarn of mine, panda yarn that I named "raspberry lemonade" color. Comfy and fun socks.

 

 

 

Pair number two completed is

Here there be dragons. Love the pattern, Knit on size 2 needles = fast knit. Knit up out of Scout's Swag superwash merino color Appletini. These are a christmas gift ;-0 yup! I got a jump on the season this year!

Go ahead knit a pair.. the pattern isn't nearly as complicated as it looks at first glance!

 

 

And last but not least, current socks on the needles is Anne Hanson's Tesserae sock, knit up in my friend Lisa's superwash sock yarn, colorway Charlene..   Love it. I'm about 2/3 of the way finished with these. They make a great project for knitting while watching tv or a sports event, since its an easy pattern. (thank you anne!)

These will also be a Christmas gift ;-)

 

 

So that's my world currently - aside from a boat load of work, and monsoon like rains here.. oh.. and I bought a "REAL" bike.. did I tell you? She's a beauty.. photos next time.

Blanket - Finish and Photo

Every once in awhile, there is a project that deserves a full photo layout.

For me, and my history, this is one of those times.

 

 

   

 

 

 

Blanket Squares made of my Hand dyed, hand spun, hand knit Sock Hop Yarn.

168 small squares, stitched into 42 larger squares, knit on size 3 needles

black strips, knit with 5 skeins Dale Baby Ull color black, size 4 needles

Red squares knit with one skein Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino Red, size 4 needles

final dimensions: 5 feet by 5 1/2 feet (the size of full size bed)

Began Feb 2, 2010 - completed Sept 1, 2010

PS: here's kind of a fun thing.... I took this photo years ago of some socks on the line, and now you can see the yarn in the blanket above: 




 

 

Summer Knitting and a new bit of "Attitude"

Indeed, I was able to knit a bit while on vacation. :-) I didn't drag the huge blanket along with me (but I have finished it... photos as soon as the weather cooperates).

I had three little projects going -

A "first baby" gift for the hip hygienist at my dentist's office, whom I quite surprised by remembering the exact colors she said that she wanted to dress her baby boy in (electric green and dark purple - oh my!).

Pattern: Shawl collared jacket from Debbie Bliss

Baby Knits for Beginners

(a fabulous little book!)

size 8 needles

two balls Worsted weight Plymouth Encore in Green

two balls DK weight Plymouth Encore in Purple (which I carried double)

And for good measure, (because all babies need hats) I made a simple roll rim hat with wild rasta curls on top. (curls directions can be found in Itty Bitty Hats) And I found some cute little buttons to finish it up with. 

Socks! I haven't knit an entire pair of socks for awhile (since I have been socking it to myself with that blanket.. (I know, bad joke) And since I never leave on a trip with only one project (that can spell certain disaster with the Knit Goddesses) I began two pairs of socks.

The first is a pattern that I got from Anne Hanson awhile ago, and have been saving it for the perfect yarn - which I bought from Lisa (Dicentra Design). I am truly loving the blend of pattern and yarn on this one. I am about 50% finished with one sock. 

Pattern Tesserae Sock

Yarn Dicentra Designs Superwash wool, color Charlene

size 1 needles

The second sock I began (and have finished one entire sock) is another pattern I've had for some time now, just waiting for the time to launch itself. 

Pattern Here there be dragons

Yarn by Scout color Appletini (this yarn was a gift from some dear friend awhile ago...) 

size 2 needles (makes it go really fast!)

And when my oldest daughter Erin saw the dragon scales and shocking green yarn she promptly declared these to be hers ;-) (that was the plan all along, heh heh).

The photos today are a little bit on the tame side, as in, they do not accurately reflect the true vibrant colors of the yarns. Autumn has arrived in Pac NW, and its a rainy day today, and a chilly 53 degrees. Yet, I wanted to give a bit of an update, and thus the tame photos.

And yes, one day when there is sunshine, I'll shoot outdoor photos of the finished blanket!...what, you say you want a sneak preview??? nahhhh, you silly ones, it deserves a full post all to itself (since it took the better part of 7 months to finish!) Soon. soon.

And for the new "attitude" portion of the blog, I want to give a small update on my health. Indeed, the last series of three antibiotics seem to have totally smashed the germs out of my system, (hurrah!) yet the approximately 8 weeks I was on them created its own set of small challenges, (multiple side effects) and I am now on two new medicines to attempt to put all systems back on track. Not to worry, I'm taking tons of probiotics, eating gallons of healthy organic yogurt, and fruit like bananas and apples, and I think (she whispers behind her hand) that I am beginning to see some p.r.o.g.r.e.s.s. . Thank goodness. It was a very long year of crumby health, and I am once again finding a bit of optimism that even the side effects will be alleviated soon. Keep sending those good thoughts my way - I know they are helping - thank you.

And to that end, since I am still not able to be running due to my heel injury, I bought myself a small new thing when I got home from vacation..... and she is, coming straight from Craig's List to a street near you, "Pink!" 

(that's what my mountain bike deserves to be called, and man has she got attitude!).

I've since added a bell, and a new seat. She's got 15 gears (most of which work) and now courtesy of the fabulous local bike shop where they sell the high end cool-kid-bikes, she also has brake pads in front, a new cable, and a new inner tube on the back wheel. They also straightened/aligned both my wheels at no charge.. nice people ! (and they didn't even laugh at her!) But I must say that as I was leaving the bike shop that day, the nice gentleman who fixed her said.."and one day, you might consider buying a slightly bigger bike..." (hmmmm.... it's a kids' bike!?! who knew!) She might not be the fanciest, but she fit the budget for now, and like I say, she's got attitude!

Watch for me, cruisin' the streets of Olympia, and if you hear the bell, jump out of the way :-)