this pile

believe it or not, is my elegant kimono! With knitting complete the pile is ready for blocking, seaming and edging out in single crochet.

One of the joys when working a basic pattern, is how the plain shape shows off a luxurious wool and it's texture. Ohhhh....the simplicity when in the end, the fiber and pattern intertwines and fuses to becomes one.

Fess Up Fiber Friday, #36

Yarn Details

Brand: Noro

Yarn Name: Matsuri

Color: 1

Content: 87% Cotton/13% Wool

Skein Weight 50gr/145 meters

Project Plans: Manon from Twisted Sisters

Comments: This pattern is from Twisted Sisters' pamplet, Double Trouble. I found the design of the Manon pullover very striking and the construction interesting.

Not my Color...Not my Style

Twisted Sisters Domino Scarf kit includes a nice wool fiber, but some of the color combinations are most unusual! I took a class here using the Twisted Sisters kit.

I find I am totally into the process....just have an issue with this pattern design and colorway of the kit. Perhaps it's just me, you know, Not My Color... Not My Style! Anyhow, I did learn the basic concept and hope a friend or family member might take a liking to piece!

A second Domino scarf has already been cast on for a three row Domino scarf. This design comes from the book, Domino Knitting by Vivian Hoxbroand. Domino knitting is not a fast process, but is a most interesting one. I have completed a row of three squares already and I likeeeee this project and feeling successes with each finished square. The Skinny: Knit One Crochet Too Yarn. Handpainted 70% Baby Alpaca, 20% Silk, 10% Cashmere. Color #1480 (Mauves, Blues, Greys)

I should have pics real soon!

Waiting My Turn

That's what my week has consisted of!

There was a dentist appointment, a 3,000 mile oil change, lab work (for my much dreaded annual physical), new shoes (tires) for my carriage and perhaps most important, a trip to the library to perform my duty as an American Citizen and cast my vote in the 2008 elections! Nicholas wanted to go, but was promised a sticker if he would happily stay home.

I spent plenty of time people watching and visiting with perfect strangers during "waiting my turn"! I find it fascinating that folks "waiting their turn" these days seem to have this connection and so much in common with you. Why??? Is it the sad condition of the economy or the unsettled state of our country? If I met these same individuals on the street or in the mall, there would be no verbal exchange and probably not even eye contact, but when put in the "waiting your turn" mode.....we are all comrades, friends, companions!

"Waiting my turn" conversations this week:

1. A young part-time working college girl shared her financial dilemma and parent problems with me. She was clueless as to how she would pay for the tires she was purchasing and how her unfair parents were not "helping her enough"!

2. While "waiting my turn" at the lab, there was a mother of three boys that had just returned from her home in India. I received far too much information as to why her husband wouldn't go with the family for the visit and just how much it would have meant to the boys!

3. Next was my counsel with a single Dad during "waiting my turn" at the dentist office. He was there with his two teenage daughters and while the daughters were in the treatment room, he shared his distress over his German wife that had left him with the two young girls this summer and had returned to Germany. He was truly was a broken man!

4. Then, during my oil change at the tire store, was the sweet elderly gentleman that was watching the TV re-run, Nanny 911. He had no personal issues (Thank God) to share, only instructions on how he reared his children and what is wrong with those "TV monster kids" and how they could be ""straighten out""!! I must admit I fully and completely enjoyed him and this part of "waiting my turn".

I felt like a total people magnet this week and that is highly unusual as strangers are not usually drawn to me. But this week, being a people magnet was effortless! During these epics I was starting to feel a little like Dr. Phil and found my concentration level very keen 'cause I was multi tasking by listening (I did very little talking) and knitting on my Kimono.

Most interesting.....not one person, I repeat, Not One Person, ask me what I was knitting while they were pouring out their hearts and souls to me and I was "waiting my turn"!

Fess Up Fiber Friday, #35

Yarn Details

Brand: Fly*Dyed

Yarn Name: Monarch

Color: Ruby Redmond

Content: Super Wash Merino Wool/ 3-ply Sport Weight

Skein Weight: 4.5 oz/370 yds.

Project Plans: Chevon Scarf

Comments: I am "ga ga" for this yarn! And what's with this Pinky Thing Going On?? Seems my every other project is Pink these days! It must be a Jeannie Thing (she looooves pink).

Call me a copycat, but when I saw YarnHog's Chevon Scarf (Ravelry handle - yarnhogsv) that was knit with the Fly*Dyed Monarch, I knew it was for me. Now the search is on to find a deep deep brown & cream to mate with the Ruby Redmond....a match made in heaven.

I *HEART* this finished shadow scarf

Remember this project?? The entire time spent knitting this project was most enjoyable, but I continued to wonder if it was a scarf I would ever actual wear or enjoy wearing...well, SERIOUSLY, I am really really into it! As I was modeling the scarf today, I found it quite interesting watching the color changes and the heart design come and go! Never a dull moment when wearing this one. Once blocked, the Sublime extra fine merino wool is extremely soft and luxurious! I truly love the feel of it wrapped around my neck (even while DH was taking these shots in the 80 degree temperature today) !

My Nameless Free Styling Scarf

This is one of my very first knits (I had been knitting 2 months) and even with it's simplicity it remains one of my favorite scarves. There are times when a yarn speaks for itself and this Berroco Optik is one of those yarns. The scarf is light weight enough to wear with a sweater in the office and is a fabulous piece to brighten up my off white Down coat! I was in a LYS and the Happy Berroco Optik yarn really grabbed my attention! I loved the texture, the different shades of red and pink, the tiny amount of black with just the right mixture of metallic. This scarf actually has a glow about it!!Let's just call this is my "Nameless" project as I simply made it up to use the Optik yarn I purchased on a whim! I will share my Embarrassingly simple instructions (instructions used for lack of a better word) with you.

I used two skeins of Optik Berroco.
My scarf was knit using size #13 needles.
Cast on 18 stitches.
Knit, Knit, Knit to 50"/60" long. (Garter Stitch)
I cut fringe to 9" for both ends.

My sister-in-law loved mine and I made another one just for her (same color of course). What a fabulous quick gift!

Undertow is Underway

There are several things I love about this cape, the sweet Picot at the neck line, the uncomplicated pattern repeat and the easy to wear length. Of course, the Blue Sky Alpaca yarn is to "Die For"! If you are interested, here are details for Undertow including a pic of the finished piece.

This is a good shot of the true colors............... Love the design....See the Sweet Picot Neck Line.

Sassy Sasha at Grace Court

Here we are at Grace Park, me and my billowing, flunky, flirty, sassy Sasha skirt! You have been warned..lots of pics ;)

This is a linen piece that I will love for a Million, no make that a Billion years.... that's how much I adore it. I actually purchased two brown tops for Sasha, the one you see pictured at Grace Court and a turtle neck to wear later this fall with boots and a jean jacket..............now won't that be too much fun!

Many of the details I have shared with you in previous posts and over at KnittingDivaGirl's Ravelry site, soooooo I won't bore you with tons of data and information. But there are a couple of things I want to share with you, the first being the weightiness of this 100% linen skirt, I'm sure it has to do with the longer 30" length I chose and the fact it is like wearing two skirts (the underskirt and lace ruffles, ruffles, ruffles on top). Second is the amount of actual knitting involved in this piece, it was a delightful project, but I would really love to calculate the exact number of stitches and knitting hours spent. Granted, I'm not the fastest knitter out there, but it was unbelievable! The skirt was started on 7-11-08 and completed on 9-29-08, I did take a couple of breathers during the venture to work on other projects, but all in all I was pretty committed to this project.

I love looking at Sasha with the different stitches and yummy colors! Sasha up close...........
I love feeling the softness of the washed linen.Sasha Just Having Fun!