Destination Anywhere

I am a very lazy knitter. I hate to fuss too much with complex patterns, and my idea of heaven is a start-to-finish project I can whip up over a weekend. I have slogged on through some larger pieces this year, going back to the fast-and-dirty projects as needed to give myself something new to work on when I get bored with the sweater piece that just doesn't seem to be getting finished.

Here's what I've finished during 2008.

A shawl/scarf in the old feather-and-fan pattern, in a pretty lavender cashmere blend. I also made one in blue, and gave it to a friend. I wear this with my black coat.

A ribbon yarn cropped top for the daughter of a friend. I love knitting for kids, everything is so small it goes fast!

I'm getting paid for a large special project, so of course I'm spending it on my children's education.

Right.

No, I'm frittering it away (Ok, only some of it) on yarn for some new projects. Help me choose some patterns! I'm looking to make two sweaters for (gasp!) myself. I'm very short, round, and look terrible in yellow.

Pattern possibilities:

1. Cute empire-waist lacy tank. I'd do this in a cotton-silk blend, with a bit of sheen that would show the lacy stitches well. The lace stitch is one I use often for scarves and baby blankets, so it'll go fast. I think I'd add an inch or two to the length, and maybe do a teeny bit of lacework in the cleavage or neckline.

So, when Larry asked on sunday morning what I'd like to do for Mother's Day, I had a ready answer. The New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival!

He's such a good sport.

Dan was at work and Evan had a paper to work on, so just the two of us headed up to the fairgrounds, about 15 minutes from Concord, New Hampshire. Imagine hundreds of sheep farmers, wool producers, spinners, weavers, knitters, and their assorted companions milling around. Then add pens of sheep, goats, llamas, displays of freshly shorn wool, spun yarns, and the usual fried dough and hot dog stands. Oh, and sheepherding dogs.

I fell in love with an angora rabbit named Joe. Larry would not let me buy him.

We watched the dogs compete in sheepherding. Those dogs were amazing, how they work as a team, and carefully could separate out particular sheep from the herd; or convince a pack of sheep to go up a ramp.

I fingered a lot of wool, and talked to a lot of yarn producers. I was looking for some dark green merino yarn for a sweater for Dan, but didn't find what I was looking for. I bought some yarn for another sweater that came from a merino sheep named Linda. I am not kidding, I was told its common practice for small producers to mark a particular sheep's wool if its of excellent quality.

Here's what I've been up to during the various play-off games this month.

Blue simple square-necked cardigan, out of a really soft merino-alpaca wool. The construction is different, as its worked side-to-side. The body is just about done, and then I need to do the sleeves. It's deadly dull knitting because its all garter stitch, but it's my tv-watching knitting where I don't need to look at what I'm doing. I found some beautiful handmade enamel buttons for this.

Purple cotton triangle shawl. I just finished this, and need to block it. Blocking involves briefly soaking the garment, then stretching and pinning into place to dry. It will even out the lace stitches, make the edges lie flat, and make the eyelets really stand out.

Yes, I'm still here. Just busy, busy. The end of the school year is always a whirlwind, both as a parent and as a teacher and student. Evan is heading into finals, and Dan has prom and graduation next week. I'm so looking forward to some downtime, although the class I'm taking over the summer looks like a real bear of a workload.

I have been making sure I get a bit of knitting in as a way to relax for a bit in the afternoons. Here I am while Larry was getting a shot of this year's irises.

And here's the tank top I just finished. Still need to crochet around the armholes and block it into shape. It fits perfectly! I'm planning on making another of these in a dark red. I'm almost done with the blue cardigan, that'll hopefully get finished during the car ride to a Bar Mitzvah in Long Island next weekend. Next up is a sweater for Dan, in a dark green heather.

A few things I'm working on and finishing up this week as I travel around. The car's a great place for knitting.

Dan's Sweater. It's a top-down in-the-round raglan construction, and I'm about two inches past the underarms. After I finish down to the bottom hem, I pick up stitches around the sleeves and knit down to the cuff. No seaming! Downside is that the wool is a thin worsted on no. 6 needles. I estimated that this thing is going to be over 17,000 stitches. Scary. He'd better not put it into the dryer in the dorm. In any case, I don't need to look at this or count while I'm knitting, so its my talking or tv-watching knitting.

This is going to be a long lacy tunic top. The true color is a much darker red, almost a burgundy. I can see wearing it over a black tank and pants. The pattern makes short sleeves, although I may do 3/4 length sleeves to make it more of a three-season piece. The pattern is easy to memorize, but I do need to pay a bit of attention or I'm likely to curse a lot as I rip back to before a missed yarn-over. The yarn is a thick cotton with a bit of microfiber to give it shape.

Lace scarf, in a silk/merino boucle. When its blocked, it's wider and with nice stitch definition.
Here its in progress:

Blocking. See the wonders of blocking knitted lace? Done!

This turned out well, so I started another in a thin silk:

Another lace scarf, for future Hanukkah gifting. This pattern's a bitch. Don't talk to me, I'm counting! Not having fun with this, and the mohair is an added pain. I may throw in the towel on this, we'll see.
In progress:

A simpler feather-and-fan scarf, also for Hanukkah gifts. Done!

Two sweaters, in the last stages:

Dan's sweater. Just need to do the hem, and then pick up the sleeve stitches and knit down to the cuffs. Stop rolling your eyes, boy, they'll stick that way.

My lacy tunic. (Excuse the bathroom mirror photo) I decided to make long sleeves. Just need to knit the second sleeve, and then knit everything together from the yoke to the neckline. I love these in-the-round sweaters with no seaming!