Winter Trails

I am happy to tell you that there is a new addition to my pattern line! 

And yes.. since you asked.... I AM proud of myself for completing this pattern while having a new baby in the house! :)

Although I seem to be designing at a snail's pace these days, I am very happy with how this hat turned out.

 The cable pattern weaves through itself and is very fun to work up. Also.. the entire project knits up quickly with a worsted weight yarn. The end result is a squishy, cozy, elegant hat, perfect for a cold winter's day.

For the hat pictured, I chose The Fibre Company Organik yarn in Arctic Tundra after being 

inspired by this lovely knit. What a fabulous yarn this is! 

This is my first time working with it, and the texture of this yarn is amazing. 

Soft, slightly shiny, slight halo.. gorgeous.

Here is the pattern information for those of you interested in knitting up a Winter Trails hat of your very own:

SIZE

Women’s Medium-Large

(fits 19–23” / 48–58cm head circumference)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Brim Circumference approx 17” / 43cm unstretched.

MATERIALS

The Fibre Company Organik [70% Merino, 15% Alpaca, 15% Silk; 98 yd/90m per 1.75 oz / 50g skein]; color: Arctic Tundra; 2 skeins or approx 180 yd / 165m of a worsted weight wool or wool blend.

Alternate Yarns: Cascade Yarns Venezia Worsted, Madelinetosh Tosh Merino, Malabrigo Merino Worsted

1 16” / 40cm US7 / 4.5mm circular needle for brim.

1 16” / 40cm US8 / 5mm circular needle for body of hat.

1 set of US8 / 5mm double pointed needles

Cable needle

Stitch marker

Tapestry needle

GAUGE

18 sts/ 24 rows = 4" / 10cm in Stockinette stitch on US8 / 5mm needles or size needed for accurate gauge.

The pattern contains both charted and written instructions.

As always, thank you to Julie Crawford for modeling and to her husband for the excellent photography. 

I hope that you enjoy the pattern!

This pattern is now available in French!

Bring Back Patriotism

There have always been cut-throat businesses since the founding of this country, whose only concern was profits and eliminating competition.

Capitalism vs. Treason

When large companies do something that damages us as a country, it is often seen as healthy capitalism.  So, when large companies try to weed out competition by off-shoring the manufacturing of their products, not only does it eliminate jobs and manufacturing facilities in this country, but it also puts significant strain on areas of our economy affected by the trade deficit.

And as leaders of industry, their actions almost dictate that smaller companies follow suit, or get swallowed up by their inability to compete.

I've started making a personal stand in my life, to look for areas where I can spend money domestically, even when it isn't the most inexpensive way to do something.  I started with this Kickstarter program:

The Blue Lace project is project by Brooklyn-based Jake Bronstein to have a local manufacturing company make one of the most amazing shoe laces, and have it be a highly visible symbol of American-made pride by those who wear them. His initial goal of $25,000 has been far exceeded, which in my mind, is a very positive indicator that we want this kind of pride back again.  The project allowed me to take my first small step toward favoring U.S.-based manufacturers.

Bronstein also runs an underwear business called Flint and Tinder which produces underwear and other garments here in the United States.  Suffice it to say, I may be spending more on clothes in the future, but I'll be much happier wearing them.

Current Knitting/Crochet/Spinning

Working on a few things and started something new:

1. Verve Sock (not much progress)
2. Nico's Granny Square Blanket (continuing to connect the granny squares)
3. Kid Alpaca Blanket/Coffin Cover (added at least 3 inches to this project recently)
4. New Spinning Project - Puff The Magic Rabbit Mohair/Shetland Mix

I ordered this lovely roving from Mindy a while ago, and can't wait to see what lovely yarn it makes.  She's got some more beautiful rovings on her Etsy site right now...love the silk blends.

Broken Gaydar

I've found that since I reached the age of 50 that my gaydar no longer functions.

Transitioning to "Aged Homosexual"
I've realized that gaydar is mostly just sending out a furtive glance to someone you think/hope might be gay, and if the glance bounces back off the target in a specific way (a returned furtive glance, perhaps slightly magnified), then the gaydar starts bleeping.

But I've realized now that I've gotten older, that the power of a furtive glance from me, has a lot less chance of being bounced back with similar interest anymore.

I've always known that youth and looks are important in much of gay culture, so it's no surprise that I'm transitioning into the mature, settled time of a gay man's life, where I recognize the wild, raucous times are over (a fact I'm quite happy about), and I'm settling into a much more comfortable and relaxed period of my gayness.

Current Knitting
Despite the lack of frenetic activity associated with age-progression in the gay world, my work world has been ridiculously crazy lately, including very little time at home on the "weekends". As such, I've accomplished very little progress on my current knitting project.

And of course I'm at the point on the sock that I like the least...ribbing.

I also did get some spinning done this weekend (about as much spinning as knitting), but I didn't a photo would be necessary.

Readers' Comments/Questions
Crystal writes, "Those socks are looking yummy already. Are you working from a pattern?"

No...it's a combination of techniques, but not a pattern. I used the figure-eight cast-on for a toe-up sock, and I used a modified version of the Andersson heel. Both of these techniques can be googled. That's what I like about knitting socks...once you understand the basic structure of a knitted socks, you can mix and match techniques to get a sock you like best.

Brad Fallon writes, "I really like knitting too but it seems I cannot follow the pattern very well. I'm not really satisfied with my finish work. Can you give me tips on how it is properly done? I can see you have done a good job with yours. Maybe I just need more practice and knit more often."

Most folks realize early on that there is very little to learn about actual knitting...casting on, knitting, purling, casting off...with varying combinations of each. But it takes a while to be able to understand pattern instructions and also how to best finish a garment. I highly recommend joining some kind of knitting community. While you can google any of your knitting questions and get videos of how to do almost anything, it still helps to have someone show you.

That's the best advice I can give.

Knitcircus Pattern Preview

I have a sweet little springtime pattern (along with another surprise)
coming out in the next issue of Knitcircus magazine! 

The spring issue will be released on Wednesday, February 2. So be sure to check it out!

My Little Knitter

When my 4 year old daughter came to me the other day and said
"Mommy I want to knit too. Can you show me how to make stitches?"
I practically melted in my seat.

"Are you kidding me?.. !!!"

I have been waiting for this day.. for well... about 4 years! :)
I've determined that my daughter will love knitting.
She'll have to. I will make her.. or something.

So every few days we've been having "knitting classes" together.
They last about 5 minutes or so...But it is oh so sweet
to watch those little fingers hold the yarn and needles.

I've remembered a little children's knitting rhyme that I heard somewhere to help her remember the steps.

It goes something like this..

"In through the front door. Run around the back. Out through the window and off jumps Jack!"

I can't wait until we can truly knit together. That will be so fun!

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Lessons From Knitting

Episode 78

Shownotes:

Monarch Knitting

Gramps Cardigan by Kate Oates

Gramps by Emily Wessel

Berroco Blackstone Tweed

Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage

The Art of Seamless Knitting

Elisa Korenne

Stitches West 2014

Join the Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group

Follow me on Twitter!

Enter to win this copy of The Art of Seamless Knitting by Simona Merchant-Dest and Faina Goberstein by leaving a comment under this post by February 15th. Please remember to include your contact information. Only one comment per person please! The winner will be announced on Episode 79.

Thank you for listening!

Weekend Jaunts for Jet-Setters

It used to be such a sign of prestige to be someone who flew to various places as part of their work.  And one of the perks was being able to fly off for long weekends to somewhere fun and exciting.

Vegas Baby!
So, I decided I'd try and take advantage of the flight-savvy among us, and take a long weekend in Las Vegas.

A co-worker pal of mine and I got free rooms at a hotel just a block off the strip, and instead of flying to our respective homes this past weekend, we took a detour to sin-city.

Believe it or not, other than layovers in the Las Vegas airport, I had never been to Las Vegas.

We went to buffets, went to see a Cirque du Soleil show (Zumanity), gambled, got a facial (the respectable kind!), had oxygen at an oxygen bar, and went to an amazing restaurant/nightclub.  Here are some random photos I snapped on the iPhone.

No...I was not hospitalized...I was rejuvenating with 90% oxygen.

This is actually a wine storage "cellar" with elevators...impressive.

First Class Knitting and Facials
On the flight to Vegas, I was upgraded to first class.  Sitting in the front row of the plane, I pulled out my knitting as soon as I boarded and the passenger across the aisle got very excited, because she had recently learned to knit, and had her knitting with her as well.

Her knitting was excellent for someone who learned so recently, and it was a blast getting to chat with another obsessed knitter during the flight.

While in Vegas, I decided to treat myself to a facial.  There were a couple of spas that used the skin care products my Spa-Manager/Friend recommended for me (Epicuren Skin Care products), and one of the spas was right in my hotel.  I don't know how I've lived without a facial up to this point in my life.  It was INCREDIBLE and truly made me feel rejuvenated...in every sense of the word.

Plus, as a bonus, I found BY FAR the best lip balm I have ever used (the Skin Care professional at the spa put it on my lips right at the end of the facial).



 This stuff is amazing...it feels kind of oily, but absorbs into my lips practically instantaneously and doesn't look like I"m wearing lip gloss.

Current Knitting/Spinning
I'll post photos in the next blog entry, but I finished the pair of socks from the yarn I got at the Rocky Mountain Men's Knitting retreat last July from Skeindelous Yarns.  I ended up undoing the bind-off on the first sock and making them both a bit longer to make use of the very generous yardage of the yarn.

Believe it or not, I also finally finished spinning the singles of the Optim Merino top.  I will ply it this coming weekend when I'm back home.

I did a minimal amount of work on the Koigu Linen Stitch scarf as well.

Playful Stripes Cardigan

I finally finished the Playful Stripes Cardigan for my little one!

I think it turned out really cute!

There is just one thing I'm mad at myself about. I wish that I had made it one size smaller.

I have a tendency to forget just how petite my daughter really is! I thought she was right in between a 2T and 3T, so I chose the 3T. Yea... Should have gone with the 2T.

I want to assure you that this pattern is sized appropriately, I just chose the wrong size to knit for my daughter!

Ahh well... it will fit her correctly next year!

I chose the name "Playful Stripes" for this sweater because I love the way the colors "play" together in the stripes. It's interesting because the color brown can look one way next to pink and take on an entirely new hue and identity paired with green. It was fun to pair up and play with all of the colors as I was striping the yoke. I also like how the reverse side of garter st splits the colors up.

Did you know that 3 year olds make for extremely high maintenance models?

This photo shoot turned quickly from this...

Hi Mommy! I love you and my new sweater!

To this.... in under 5 minutes.

I'm hungry AND I have to go potty!!!

Toddlers...

Here is some pattern information for those of you who might be interested in knitting it.

SIZES AVAILABLE:
3 months [6mos, 9mos, 12mos, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] (shown in size 3)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Chest: 18 [19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28] inches

Length: approx 9 [9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5] inches after blocking

GAUGE:
24 sts/36 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch on size 4 needles

I chose Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for my daughter's sweater. I love this yarn because it is very very soft and it contains wool and cashmere making it very very warm. Also it can be machine washed which is such a necessary option to have with children.

But of course any sport weight yarn that gives you the correct gauge will do.

This could be a great opportunity for you to use up scraps, as I did, because you only need small amounts of each color for the striped sections.

To all of you knitters who are morally against finishing work: This sweater is constructed in a way that requires minimal seaming. The only seam that needs to be sewn up in the end is the sleeves. The sleeves could easily be modified to work in the round, but I found for myself it was easiest to knit them flat because of the striped border on the cuff.

The pattern is knit from the bottom up in one piece. You first knit the body, then the sleeves, and then join them all together for the yoke. I really enjoyed this method of construction!

I hope that you will enjoy it too!

Lesser-Known Literary Channels

It seems a lot of knitters are extremely well-read and I also have a good friend that works in the rare books section of Princeton University's library (Firestone Library), so I'm fortunate to be exposed to a number of literary vehicles I might not otherwise have chanced upon.

Sharing

The first one of those items is an amazing quarterly literary (kind of) magazine called Lapham's Quarterly.

Each quarter, this publication (for lack of a better term) focuses on a particular subject, Death, The Sea, Medicine, and obviously comedy.  My friend at the library gave me a subscription for this year, and I've just started into the first issue, and it's wonderful.

The second wonderful thing about being around literary folk, is getting interesting and good book recommendations.  My latest book recommendation I've received was for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.

I read it while on vacation, and just loved the story and the characters.  The writing I found to be a bit sophmoric, but not in a way that interfered with my enjoyment of the book.

Maybe some of you already knew about these two items, but if you didn't I thought you should.

Current Knitting/Crocheting

I've only added one vertical row of connecting crochet to Nico's Granny Square blanket.

If you can't tell from the photo, it's the bottom row (I guess that's a horizontal row in the photo, but I consider it a vertical row on the blanket).

Ruby Leaves

I just recently had this lovely set of pattern samples knit up for me by one of my fabulous test/sample knitters, Anne. This is my Autumn Vines Beret and Oak Grove mitts worked up in the lovely Road to China Light yarn in the Ruby colorway by The Fibre Company. I've used this yarn before but I especially I love the elegant look it gives to these designs in particular. The slight fuzzy texture and sheen is so luxurious!

Although the stitch pattern is different, I've always felt that this hat and mitt pattern would serve as an excellent coordinating set, especially knit up in the same colorway like this.

I often have samples knit up for trunk shows and to put on display in different venues... but this particular set.. I wish I could keep. It's so pretty!

Autumn Vines Beret pattern found HERE. 

Oak Grove mitt pattern found HERE. 

Yarn found HERE.

The Never Not Knitting Podcast : Episode 70 : The Crazy Green Blanket Lady

Episode 70

Click HERE to download the mp3 file for episode 70

Shownotes:

Botanical Knits

Beekeepers Quilt

Twigs and Willows

Entangled Vines

Buds and Blooms

Autumn's End

Forest Floor

Pressed Leaves

Oak Trail

Ivy Trellis Socks

Ivy Trellis Mittens

Twin Leaf Loop

Wrapped in Leaves

Cedar Leaf Shawlette

TNNA

Stitches West

Devin on Ravelry

Devin's Blog

Join the Botanical Knits and Never Not Knitting Ravelry Group!

Follow ME on Twitter!

This episode marks the end of this podcast season. Tune in again in June for Episode 71.

Look for Botanical Knits, coming out soon! :)

Thanks everyone! Happy Knitting! :)

Homework Lesson

I've taken two courses now on Craftsy - Alasdair's class on Adventures in Double-Knitting (which is still available for half price!), and a free cooking class on Perfect Pizza at Home.

Double-Knitting - No Pizza

I was able to do the first exercise from Alasdair's class, but wasn't yet able to experiment with making homemade pizza.

This great little exercise lets you do a manageable piece of knitting (by the magic of digital photography, you get to see both sides of the same piece).  Boy did I learn a lot (despite...or because of mistakes I made).

Now to experiment with pizza!

Current Knitting

I've made some minimal progress on the Icelandic Wool Pullover.  I'll post a photo next time.

I also finished up the Bison/Milk Product yarn scarf.

Readers' Comments/Questions

Marty writes, "The scent thing-lots of us are allergic to scents and even the tiny bit that has transferred to the cup lid can set us off. You really have a manly latte, Joe, I have two shots in a vente."

Actually, I'm not usually affected by scents at all, but I can taste whatever is on the barista's hand.  As for my macho latte (is that oxymoronic?), I like the tast of Starbucks espresso, and a grande normally comes with two shots...I add two additional shots for taste (mostly) and for caffeine.

Regarding the amount of yarn I have for my current sweater, withmyneedles writes, "I am so interested in the answer to this last question! A friend just gifted me 4 balls of Icelandic wool, in two colors. Maybe a vest is the way to go..."

It turns out each hank I have has about 250 yards and I have 10 of them.  I'll have plenty to make a full, XL pullover.

Learn how to Spin!

In March I am going to offer a class that I have never done before! Spinning!

This class is perfect for anyone who has ever been interested in spinning and has always wanted to give it a try. I will bring the wool that you will be using and we will be practicing on my spinning wheel. You will learn how to treadle, draft, spin, and ply your yarn. You will be so excited to take home your newly created hand spun skein!

These will be private lessons so I will be booking appointments Saturday, March 8th all day.

$15 for one hour, $25 for two hours.

Call 805-466-YARN to schedule an appointment.

Needle Felting Class

Needle Felting Workshop

It turned out to be really fun! I brought all of the rovings and wool yarns and the students brought felt pieces to practice on. Everyone did a great job and no fingers got pricked! We definitely had some true artists there.

If this class interests you, all of the needle felting supplies that you will need are available at The Scarlet Skein. The cost is $15 for a 2 hour workshop. In the class I teach how to use the tools and give you design ideas. Needle felting is very easy and is a great way to embellish felted items. It's a perfect follow up to the Felted Clogs class.

I will be offering the class again in March so keep an eye on the schedule.