Major Knitter

There are Many Types of Genius

It's spring and that means that children across the country have finished their state wide testing.  In Connecticut our students take the CMTs or Connecticut Mastery Tests.  These tests often show how bright students are -- but only in a very few areas -- like math, vocabulary, reading and analytical skills.  Unfortunately, these types of test make us think that those few areas define what makes a person smart.  This weekend I got to see many types of genius at work.  Some of these people I've known for many years and others I just met.  Perhaps you know people who are geniuses, too.  I wish standardized tests could measure these areas too - creativity, problem solving, kindness, diplomacy, color selection, patience, business savvy, consideration and ingenuity.  Many of the talented people at Knitting Central would fall into this category (I'm sure they did well on standardized testing, too).  But the creative genius really came out this weekend as Cynthia hosted Charlene Schurch at Knitting Central

Charlene is in the center front row with the bluish-gray shirt and black pants.

Let me tell you why Charlene is such a genius.  Her mind works so quickly and she manages to combine both right and left brain to create these amazing socks.  She thinks so fast that it's hard to keep up with her sometimes - because you don't want to dare miss a single morsel she is sharing.  She talks about the anatomy of a sock - and she really does mentally dissect a sock into its basic parts and works out the puzzles in her mind to come up with creative knitting ways to make socks better.  She really noodles on how to improve every single aspect of the sock.  And as if that weren't enough, when she creates a pattern, she thinks up how to best make the single pattern work for children, men and women.  It all makes sense when you discover that Charlene was an engineer in a previous life.  Her books are so well configured that you can tell that a creative engineer (e.g. right brain/left brain) came up with these books. 

And since she shared so much of her creative genius with us, I came away with this.  I thought I knew a bit about socks before these 2 workshops.  Boy was I wrong!  If I learned anything this weekend, it's this:  I learned how much I didn't know!

Here's Charlene modeling the Cuban Heel.  It's a triangle on the top of the heel that allows you to have a great pattern on both sides and front of your sock all the way down to the instep and beyond.  It really takes your sock to the next design heel. 

Here's another view of the Cuban Heel which Charlene nicknamed "the sexy heel"

Here are the knitting swatches I made on Friday and Saturday.  The red and white cuff down sock from Friday's class was in yesterday's post. 

• The pink one is the toe-up with Judy Becker's Magic Cast On and a reverse heel flap.
• The white one has three heels on it - a) Cuban Heel; b) short row heel; and c) heel flap heel with garter stitch edges.
• The green and white one is a study in color work heel - a) pin stripe two-color heel with garter stitch edge; b) Eye of Partridge 2 color heel; c) Fair Isle heel flap; d) Pin Stripe turned heel and the beginning of EZ's Shaped Arch

Can't Get Enough Socks

Last night I was having problems with my computer and couldn't upload any pictures from the Charlene Schurch Sock Option class at Knitting Central.  I'm happy to report that this morning we have a connection - so that means I can post pictures from yesterday's class.

Here's my table posing with Charlene and our sock samples - Ann, Me, Charlene, Jean and Betsy

Here are just a few samples from the books Sensational Socks and More Sensational Socks.  I can tell you that these socks are inspirations.  Seeing them and fondling them was such a wonderful experience that I am now inspired to make so many of them.  The brown fair isle sock in the center is my favorite.

Close ups of our table - Ann, Betsy (on RRyan3 on Ravelry) and Jean.  Thanks Jean for traveling so far to come to this class.  It was great to see you and catch up.  Your sweater is amazing!  I can hardly wait to see the finished project on your blog. 

I'm working on my sock with a garter stitch heel (great technique!), some new techniques for picking up gusset stitches and options for different toes.  I'm wearing my Berroco Suede Oakley shawl from 2003.  It's the simplest triangle shawl in garter stitch - but it's still a favorite of mine.

Here's my finished Cuff Down sock

And I leave you with more sock goodness.

Once again the center sock is my favorite.  I love the mix of colors and the geometric design.  The round toe is a fascinating technique.  The inside of these socks are nearly as beautiful as the right side. 

It's a Charlene Schurch Marathon

I'm taking two all-day knitting classes with the Sock Guru - Charlene Schurch - at my amazing LYS.  Today was Sock Options and tomorrow is Heel Workshop.  I learned so many wonderful things today.  I'll be pointing out some of the highlights with you tomorrow.  Suffice it to say that if you don't already own a Charlene Schurch sock book, you should run out and get at least one of them now.  Here are some of the books that are available.

Sensational Knitted Socks is one of my all time favorite sock books.

More Sensational Knitted Socks is equally as impressive.  I got to see many of the sample socks up close and personal and I am eager to knit several of them.  This brown "entrelac" like sock is going to be on my list soon.  It's actually a fair isle sock but it appears to be an entrelac project.

I don't own The Little Box of Socks - but I got to see another classmate's copy today and I'm hooked.  I'll be buying this one shortly, too.

There you have it.  Three amazing sock books to choose from.  I hope they'll be part of your knitting library soon.

Arts in Action

Today was the fourth day this week that I was involved in giving to others.  It's been quite a week!  This was the day that I offered to help my knitting buddy Kathy R teach knitting at the Fairfield Woods Middle School's Arts in Action biennial program.  It was worth every second! 

Here's our group coordinator Kathy in her gorgeous lace poncho.  Thanks Kathy for bringing us together for this energizing day.  Seeing the middle school students take a crack at knitting, or improving on their basic skills, was the best thing a knitter could ever want to see.

Here's a sampling of some of the small knitting items brought today for show and tell.

Here I am teaching some students how to knit.  These two were amazing! 

One student managed to finish a cell phone cozy and a book mark.  Not bad for an hour's work.

Does your school devote a day to teaching arts in the classroom?  This was an awesome effort by the PTA and the community.  I'm so happy I got the chance to participate.  I'll be smiling about this one for weeks.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

This is apparently national charity week.  Or at least it is for me.  Today I went to the amazing Mad Hatter's Tea Party that my friends put on to raise funds for the Bethel Recovery Center.  The concept is that you wear your spring attire and a proper hat for this tea (complete with finger sandwiches).

Here I am with my friend Joanne (co-chairperson for this event) in our fashionable hats.  This was the first time I've been able to attend the Mad Hatter's Tea.  I made a donation for the silent auction - knit to order baby booties from Zoe Mellor's 50 Baby Bootees.  I picked the adorable Animal Bootees.  Here's the picture from the book.

I already knit up a sample teddy bear bootee.  Here's how mine turned out.

I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and a US Size 1 needle.  It's really a fun knit and adorable. 

Do you donate knit items to silent auctions?  What have you found to be the best item?  I'm trying to find the perfect item to donate to bring in the best donations.  I've often donated baskets complete with knitting lessons - but I know they never go for much money and I end up making a heavy capital commitment with the knitting supplies when I think I could have written a check and raised more money for the charity.  Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Take Me Back to The Good Ol' Days

My friend Mary sent me these pictures of her Barbie dolls of yesteryear.  Her mother knit clothes for her dolls using knitting patterns from the 1950s. 

Look at this great dress with a blue jacket with white trimmed collar.  Gotta love that hat!

How about this little number?  Is it a sweater under a coat or is it a collar and sleeves for this great coat.  Love this hat, too.

What treasures do you have lurking in your Barbie doll suitcases of yesteryear?

Women at Risk

Today was some of the easiest charity work I've ever done.  I went to the Women At Risk Annual Luncheon at the Waldorf=Astoria in Manhattan and enjoyed good friends, good food all while helping a good cause.  My friend Carole is on the Board of WAR and invited me to join her.  I'm so glad I did.  WAR is the Breast Cancer Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, whose mission is to enhance the lives of women who are at high risk for and with breast cancer through research, education and support.

If you want to find out more about how to support WAR (either by donating time or money or services) click HERE.

And just so you know that this is a knitting-related post, I did manage to finish my first simple sock for Secundogeniture while riding the train into Manhattan today.

This is an interesting choice of colors as my boys are half Brazilian and these are the colors of the Brazilian flag (minus the gray).

• Sockotta Yarn
• US Size 2 Turbo Addis
• CO 56 sts
• K2, P2 ribbing
• Plain stockinette sock with simple heel flap

The Best Mother's Day Ever!

This weekend I took not one, but two boys, on a Scouting adventure.  We went to White Water Challengers to go White Water Rafting on the Lehigh River in White Haven, Pennsylvania.

Here we are rafting down the river.

It was such great fun.  It was the coldest rafting trip we've done to date.  The temps only got into the high 50s/low 60s and the water was a chilly 40 degrees.  We paddled for 5 hours and worked up a hearty appetite.  Look what these ingenious Scouts prepared for dinner.

The Scouts cooked delicious Corn Chowder - part homemade - part store bought.  It's a packaged soup mix by Frontier Soups.

My mother's London Broil Recipe with tin foil sweet potatoes and green beans.

Each campout our chef Scout prepares a "Scout Surprise".  This time our gourmet chef made these delicious Campfire Bananas Foster by Major K Wood (another Scoutmaster).  It's absolutely delicious.  We substituted the pound cake with Nilla Wafers to make it slightly lighter fare.

We stopped for Sunday brunch at the Hibernia Diner on the way home and I realized I hadn't snapped a Scoutmaster Knitting photo - so we took this one at the diner.

It was a great Mother's Day weekend.  The whole family is taking me out to dinner now... so I'll leave you with this.  I hope you had a fantastic Mother's Day.

Bread Sticks

Look!  More homemade bread - this time in the form of bread sticks - to go with my nearly homemade lasagne dinner.  If you're in the Westport area, I highly recommend going to Villarina's Pasta in the CVS shopping center.  They have the best fresh pasta.  It's absolutely delicious!  Even my boys raved.  That's a rare thing.

Oh, and the boys approved of the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  They just have one request.  "Mom, when are you going to make the cinnamon rolls?"

I is for Imagine

I is for Imagine - the mosaic tribute to John Lennon in Central Park's Strawberry Fields.

New York City - Day Two

So Katie and I headed back into NYC today.  This time we got off in Harlem, took the subway to Lexington and 96th Street, walked across to Fifth Avenue to our first goal - The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

My sock LOVED the Met.

Look!  Proof that the Egyptians were knitting thousands of years ago.  This is totally unbelieveable!

Here's a close-up of the 3,000 year-old-sock.  They had Turbo Addis back then?  Who knew!

After The Met, Katie and I meandered through Central Park, stopping at the Boat House for a simply scrumptious lunch.  Afterwards, we continued west to Strawberry Fields and out of the park, up to the Museum of Natural History.  We enjoyed the dinosaurs, mammals and the planetarium movie in this treasure trove of all things wonderful.  If you're trying to remember what's in this museum, just watch Night at the Museum - this is the museum from that film.

After the museum, we hitched a ride in the best mode of tourist transportation around - a rickshaw.

We rode through Central Park then got off at The Plaza Hotel at 59th Street so we could stroll down Fifth Avenue and stare at all the spectacular window displays.  We stopped at the perfect store for tall young ladies and did some serious damage for Katie.

 

Here we are back in Westport, off the train, standing by the Saugatuck River enjoying our amazing adventure.  Sorry there were no more knitting pictures, but a 3,000 year old sock can only do so much in one day.

When I Take My Sock and My Niece Touring

My niece is in town visiting this week.  I took her to Manhattan for lunch, some sightseeing and a matinee.  Here we are in Times Square.  Here I am with my sock inside the huge Toys R Us. 

See my sock?

Guess which matinee we went to see?  Why yes - we saw The Little Mermaid.  Katie and I enjoyed it immensely.  Disney made it seem like we were actually watching mermaids under water.  For some sneak previews, click HERE.  My favorite is Ursula in Poor Unfortunate Souls.  She was devilishly enchanting.  I'm still in awe of the set and costume designers.  I've just decided that this is what I want to be when I grow up.

Some very nice ladies took this picture of Katie and me and remarked "You can really tell you're sisters."

Did I mention that they were very nice ladies?

Sockotta Simple Socks

I took primogeniture for his annual eye exam and quickly grabbed a skein of Sockotta yarn and some needles for some basic socks

Either I'm quick or the doctor was slow.  I'll let you decide which was the case.

Cozy Kit for Kids

My new knitting friend Kathy (from my Sally Sessions at Knitting Central) is organizing a knitting class at her children's school and I offered to be one of the teachers.  We decided to create a garter stitch iPod cozy or cell phone cozy.  Here's what we came up with so far.

It's a US size 10.5 needles, remnant bulky single ply wool (un-labeled from the stash). 

• Cast on 26 sts leaving an 8" tail. 
• Knit each row for 18 rows.
• Cut yarn, leaving an 8" tail.
• Fold nearly in half and sew using the 8" tails.
• In a contrast color, use a tapestry needle to decorate the edges of the cozy.  Work evenly around the cozy using the blanket stitch.
• Weave in loose ends.
• Sew a small button on the front of the cozy (see photos below).  One of the loops from the blanket stitch decorative edge will serve as the button loop for this front button.
• Sew a medium size button on the back of the button to one side (see photos below)
• Using US size 8 dpns cast on 3 sts and knit an I-cord for approximately 5 inches.  Bind off two stitches, leaving one live stitch.  Switch to a crochet hook and make a chain stitch crochet loop at the end of the i-cord for the button hole.  Make it the appropriate size to fit over the medium size button you use on the back of the cozy. 
• Cut yarn and weave in loose ends.
• Attach i-cord to the top back of the cozy (opposite the medium button).

Front of the cozy.  Note the small button in the center front.  One of the blanket stitches will be used as the loop/button hole for the button

Back of the cozy.  The medium size button is opposite the base of the i-cord.  The crochet loop on the end of the i-cord is the button hole for the cozy strap.

Simply loop the cozy around your backpack strap, purse or other object and button.  Voila!  You now have the perfect holder for your cell phone or iPod.  You'll always know where it is!

Alluring Entrelac

I did a great deal of knitting this weekend.  It was just Wilma and me and we watched a lot of Netflix, namely - Follow the Stars Home, Failure to Launch followed by my favorite Pride & Prejudice.  Three movies means I had plenty of time to finish my Market Squares Bag.  Here's the finished project - pre-felting

And because the design on the bottom of this bag is so beautiful, I give you a special bottom of the bag shot

Now I just have to find the time to felt it.  Then I'll pick out the lining, figure out how to actually line it and add the handles.  It's been a really fun bag to knit. 

My First Loaf of Bread

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls,

I take great pride in presenting to you my first loaf of bread

I made an individual sized loaf - somewhere between a large roll and a small loaf.  It was quite tasty.  And guess what?  It really did take just 5 minutes a day.  Run out and get your copy of this book today and start baking - Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Dough!

I mixed up a batch of dough from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  It smells so good. 

I'm following the recommendation to refrigerate the dough overnight before shaping it into loaves.  I have enough dough here to make 4 loaves.  I can hardly wait.  It has such a wonderful yeasty smell that it's pure punishment to wait. 

Progressing Nicely on Entrelac

I was so inspired by everyone's progress on their Market Squares Bags, that I wasted no time knitting a significant portion of my bag today.

You probably know by know that I have a soft spot for blues, greens and purples all mixed together.  I'm quite pleased with the way this is turning out.  The squares are starting to decrease in size, so from here on out it's all downhill.  That should really speed things up. 

Knit for Your Favorite Marine!

My Marine Corps buddy Linda sent me THIS GREAT LINK with a pattern to knit a wool helmet liner for Marines.  Remember the Red Cross knitting campaigns of days gone past?  Are you feeling a bit nostalgic?  Are you feeling a bit patriotic?  If you want to do some charity knitting that will really be appreciated, think about knitting for the Marines.

Here's the FREE PATTERN for this helmet liner.  You can knit a liner in tan, brown, black or charcoal, but Marines prefer tan.  These helmet liners will go to Marines stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

What are you waiting for!  Get your 100% wool out and start knitting your part today.

Summer of Socks 2008

I just signed up for the summer of socks.  It runs from June 21st to September 1st.  What could be better?

Go check out Jessica's blog HERE for more information.  It sounds like a fun way to spend the summer.  Oh.  And did I mention that there would be prizes?  Lots of prizes.

Market Squares Bag

Today was the last class of the Market Squares Bag at my LYS - Knitting Central.  Kathy and Sally brought their finished felted bags.  Sally showed us methods for sewing on handles.  Kathy brought some fabulous fabric to line her bag.  She's also 3/4 done with her next bag!  Enough chatting.  Let me show you what I'm talking about

Clockwise from the top - Sally's felted bag; Kathy's finished pink & green felted bag; middle - Sally's second bag just started; Kathy's second bag in gold and blue; Jackie's pink/red/gray bag; and my barely started blue, turquoise and multi-colored purple/blue/teal bag

Look at how dazzling Kathy's pink & green bag looks.  Don't you just love the green handles?  It's gorgeous!

Here's Sally's heather and Noru pink/red/coral bag.  I love these long handles.  They're the perfect.  I bought the same ones in violet.  I better get caught up on my knitting!

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Now that I've found this book, will I give up knitting entirely?  Marcia swears by it.  My copy just arrived in the mail and I'm going to give it a try.  I'll tell you how it goes.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois.  Apparently you make a batch of dough and store it in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks - taking only the amount of dough you need to make that meal's bread, rolls or pizza crust.  Quick and easy.  That sounds like my kind of baking.  If you want to be truly convinced - check out this video.  You can almost smell the bread baking on your computer screen.

Peachy Poncho for an 18" Doll

Here's the finished striped poncho for my American Girl Doll

• Collared Striped Poncho for the American Girl Doll - My original pattern found HERE
• US Size 3 dpns (I used 8" long dpns and therefore did not need a circular needle)
• 1 skein Jaeger Baby Merino in peach
• 1 skein Jaeger Baby Merino (I think - it was unlabeled) in the peach/pink mix

Knitting While Earning Citizenship in the Nation

I took the Boy Scouts to Philadelphia yesterday as part of their Citizenship in the Nation merit badge.  I decided to make another poncho for my American Girl Doll on this trip.

Here I am in the visitor's center with a period player posing with my knitting.

Our Boy Scout Troop in front of the Liberty Bell. 

Here's one of Benjamin Franklin's quotes that fits me to a "T" - I've always been this way as long as I can remember.  I think it's one of the reaons I enjoy knitting so much:

"Be always ashamed to catch thyself idle"

The liberty bell was one of the stops on our visit.  Betsy Ross's house was another.  I was fabulously impressed by Betsy Ross and her industrious entrepreneurial spirit over 200 years ago.  She was truly a woman ahead of her time.  She sewed our nation's first flag at a time when to do so was a crime of treason.  I like to think of myself as an empowered woman, but I doubt that in 1775 I would have had the courage or gumption to do something this amazing.  If you are in Philadelphia, I highly encourage you to visit Betsy Ross's home.   

Of course, on every Boy Scout adventure there is always some Scoutmaster Knitting.  For this outing, I cast on for this Striped Poncho for my American Girl Doll when we boarded the train in Stamford.  I knit all day as we walked around Philly (about 6 miles).  Shortly after we got on the train to head home I had finished knitting the poncho.  Now I just need a little bit of time to weave in the loose ends and add the fringe.  It was a great trip and a wonderful learning experience.

It's a True Blue Miracle

I have a few WIPs that I didn't even put on the list.  In fact, they're on my UFO (unfinished objects) and FUFO (forgotten unfinished objects) list.  Some of them should probably be frogged, but I just haven't had the courage to do so.  Here's one great reason that I'm glad I didn't frog this project.

Remember BF Sweater? 

I ran out of yarn so long ago and didn't really know what to do about it.  I finally decided to test the powers of Ravelry.  I did a search for Adrienne Vittadini yarn and found a few people who had some yarn in their stash.  I wrote to them and Neurochic responded that not only did she have the right color, but she also had the exact dye lot that I needed.  WOW!  The yarn gods really must be watching over me.  We made a swap - she sent me her 5 skeins of yarn and I sent her a gift certificate to WEBS. 

Thanks Neurochic!  I appreciate your kindness, speediness and willingness to help out a fellow knitter in need.  Now I'll have to add BF Sweater back to my WIP list (instead of the UFO list) and find some time to refocus my attention on it. 

I believe in Miracles.  Thanks Ravelry.  You saved this sweater from a fate worse then death.

Basic Prayer Shawl

I did it.  I really did it.  I managed to finish the Basic Prayer Shawl in time for Finishing Friday.  That's 9 FOs for the month of April.    I haven't finished a prayer shawl for my Church's ministry in a very long time.  They're so quick and easy.  I wonder what took me so long?

• US Size 13 needles
• 2-3 skeins of Homespun yarn
• Dimensions - approx 2ft by 5 ft (minimum 20 inches by 50 inches!)
• CO 60 sts
• BOTTOM EDGE - K across for 10 rows to form the garter stitch edge
• MAIN BODY -
• 1st Row and All Odd Rows - Knit across
• 2nd Row and All Even Rows - Knit 6, Purl across to last 6 sts, Knit 6
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 until piece measures approximately 55 inches.
• TOP EDGE - repeat BOTTOM EDGE
• Bind off.  Weave in loose ends.

 

The gauge is not terribly relevant for a prayer shawl.  The important thing to know is that your prayer shawl should be somewhere between 20x50 inches to 24x60 inches.  This one actually ended up being a bit on the small side

Here's the prayer shawl hugging the back of my chair in the Knit Nook.  Sock Monkey and Little Lamb seem happy to get a bit of comfort from this handknit bit of love.

Status Check

It's been 6 weeks since I did my Knitaholics Anonymous 4th Step - and did a searching and fearless moral inventory of my projects.  On March 30th I had thirteen WIPs on my plate.   I've finished several and started several more.  Let's see where things stand today.

1. BF's Wedding Gift – brown Supercashmere Blanket
2. Skip Along Socks for the Knitting Central Sock Club
3. Oh So Soft Baby Blanket in Navy Blue
4. Warm Up America blanket for Jackson Recovery Center– purple & reds
5. Pixie Jacket baby gift (Has Sidney already outgrown this gift?)
6. Spring Lace Socks – Danni Knits pattern – pink & lilac yarn from James of Fibre Alive
7. Prayer Shawl Ministry blue toned striped seed stitch blanket
8. Purple Mistake Rib scarf for Jackson Recovery Center
9. Prayer Shawl – Homespun blues
10. Argyle Baby Vest
11. Purple Newfoundland Mittens Revisited
12. Regia blue striped socks with Lorna’s Laces blue jeans heels and toes
13. Almost Argyle – red socks

Plus, I've cast on and actually finished four more projects and one WIP

1. Gracie's Girlie Socks
2. Mets Mini Sock
3. Knitting Central Sock Club Socks for April - Rainbow Swirl Socks By TravelingAnn
4. Christine's Stay-On Booties
5. Entrelac class - Market Square Bag - WIP

That's 8 finished objects so far this month.  I wonder if I can manage to finish another WIP by Friday.  Yikes.  I have a lot of things on my plate today and tomorrow. 

Can She Do It?  Yes, I believe she can.

Shake Your Baby Booties

The yarn I bought in Italy was for something small and portable that I could knit quickly and easily.  I mostly buy sock yarn while traveling and turn my purchase into a handknit souvenir of my trip.  But now my sock yarn stash is getting unruly, so I decided to turn my attention to even smaller projects.  I went on Ravelry and found Christine's Stay-On Baby Booties by Christine Bourquin.

Here are the WIP booties acting as Evian bottle cozies on the airplane ride home.

 

I finished everything but the crocheted laces on the ride home.  As soon as I was home, I pulled out my crochet hook and whipped up some chain stitch laces for these adorable booties.

Aren't they just too cute?  I seem to have a lot of friends with new babies these days, so I think you might be seeing more and more little projects on my blog.  I've never been much of a baby bootie knitter.  In fact, these are only my 3rd pair.  But I can see myself getting into the groove. 

What's your favorite baby bootie pattern?

Knitting My Way Through Italy

I took my April installment of the Knitting Central Sock Club socks with me to Italy.  I managed to cast on the socks en route to the airport and finish them before flying home.  Let me show you the fun these Rainbow Swirl Socks had while touring Italy. 

Yes - I set up shop in the bathroom in our hotel in Venice because I was suffering from some terrible jetlag - so I put the chair in the bathroom at 0200 in the morning and knit for several hours.  I was able to knit and not disturb BF.  Knitting really is the solution to jetlag.  That's what I think.