She Knits By The Seashore

When It Rains Yarn, It Pours

After I ordered my Tour de France project yarn, I bought the Nashua yarn for the Lace Ribbon scarf for car knitting, and then the Rowan Romance yarn because I loved it and needed it. Of course, the TdF yarn arrives within days. Isn't that always the way?!

  


This is Elle Stretch DK, made in South Africa, and not widely available around here for some reason. It is the yarn in the pattern for Breton Girl, because after the pink camisole trauma, there are some patterns where I'm just not going to substitute yarn.

Now that I have my project yarn, I can in good conscience promote our Tour de France KAL. Signups begin June 5! Even if you are not a cycling fan, you are welcome to join. We will be sharing a lot of French geography and culture in addition to the race reports, so there will be something for everyone. You do not need a blog or a Ravelry account to join; just let Meg and I know and we'll help you out. Ann S, if you are reading this, I hope you will join us!!! New knitters and cycling fans are very welcome!!

Karen also sent me some gorgeous yarn as a prize in one of her blog contests. Blue Malabrigo lace yarn. (It appears I am going through a blue phase, don't you? Must be the summer and ocean thing). I don't have a pattern chosen for it yet, but it's going to be perfect for an "accessory" scarf. As opposed to a cold weather scarf, for the seasons we don't mention here. Thank you so much Karen!!

Memorial Day weekend was an eventful one. First, it was my second blogiversary, and May 20 was my first year on Ravelry. I had plans to update the blog design, but ran out of time with the GYGIG fundraiser, planning my gram's 85th birthday party this weekend, and trying to get my container plants planted for our deck.

But secondly, our GYGIG rider had a wee crash in his race on Sunday. Another rider took a corner too sharply with six laps to go, and down a bunch of racers went. Chris and another rider got the worst of it. A trip to the ER confirmed he is now a member of that most revered group of cyclists: The Broken Collar Bone Club. It's kind of a right of passage. Chris is on some good painkillers and wearing an arm sling to immobilize the shoulder, but he'll be off his bike for six weeks, except for an indoor trainer. Which means that he'll transfer from bike rider to route marker & support crew for the Get Your Guts in Gear ride. He is so disappointed! I would offer to ride in his place but 1) the rules prevent that and 2) I am thankful for #1 because I might be able to ride 70 miles in one day and collapse, but I doubt I could ride 70 miles three days in a row. He will still blog about the weekend for us, so you can all meet the people and experience the event that you have graciously supported.

Notice the sign above Chris' head? An omen for the race that was ignored?

The good news is that since he came in fourth on the Saturday race, he is currently ranked #1 criterium racer for our state. YAY! And, for those of you that were worried, yes, with some minor readjustments, the bike is OK.

A Fine Romance

Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight..." -- Nursery Rhyme, or "Lucky Star" by Madonna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Rowan Romance yarn I couldn't live without, in the Starlight color. The yarn is more gray in the photo than in person, but at least you can see the glinty sparkles. I'm thinking Stolen Moments Wrap by Amy M. Swenson if I can get gauge.

 

The afghan in the background was crocheted by my mom, for our wedding. It is one of the few blankets the cats are not allowed to sleep on, which intensely annoys them.

 

Robin tagged me for a meme.

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago next month, I started my current job. I also celebrated my third anniversary with Chris, and we began to plan for buying our first house.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

To get party supplies for my grandmother's birthday this weekend, find a frame for a new print for our kitchen wall, reply to some emails, finish the laundry, and get this post up.

3) Snacks I enjoy:

Officially: potato chips, which I don't buy from the grocery store because I can't ration them sensibly. Unofficially: the wee little Dunkin Donuts habit I've developed on the way to Chris' bike races. And sometimes on the way to knit night. I don't know if tea is a snack, but I drink pots of it.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Build my dream house, not large, but by the ocean. Build my parents a new house, put money aside for my dad's chemotherapy treatments, take care of my grandmother. Give up the day job and have more time to volunteer at the cat shelter, maybe even fund a building for a cat shelter in a place that needs one. Give money to other causes as needed, especially those sponsoring research for things like cancer, human and feline. Travel to all the different places I want to see, like Australia, Italy, islands, with my dear husband. Take art lessons, learn Italian, ride my bike regularly. Hire a training coach for Chris for racing. Hire a landscape designer and have them help me design the garden of my dreams, to go with the house. It will have a heated pool. Sponsor one pro bike team for men and women each. I better stop now...

5) Places I have lived: I've lived in the same state all my life, but four different towns. 

6) Who I'm tagging: Anyone who wants to join, since many people have already been tagged!

I hope you all had a good weekend, and, unofficially, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere: WELCOME SUMMER!!

Get Your Guts in Gear Winners Announced!

Tonight Random.org chose the winners for two last skeins of Charlie's yarn, and the $21 gift certificate to an LYS of the winner's choice. They are:

#12 -- Bridget  -- skein of Charlie's Yarn

#3 --  Nancy -- skein of Charlie's Yarn

#7-- Robin -- $21 gift certificate

Congratulations!!

Chris and I can't thank you all enough for your support, especially in these times of economic hardship. His current total raised is $1668, and with some local donations not yet counted, he should reach the rider's fee of $1900-2000 by June 6, the first day of the ride.

If you didn't win a skein of Charlie's Yarn, but would like to purchase one, please see Yvonne at Lavendersheep. She will accept orders for the next 24 hours or so before she dyes a last batch. I want to post a big thank you to Yvonne for creating the Charlie's Yarn for us and donating a portion of the sales to GYGIG. It was and is amazing to see the idea for a special yarn come to life before my very eyes.  I am looking forward to knitting a Cat's Paw scarf out of my skeins, and will wear it proudly. Yvonne, thank you!!!

The weekend of June 6-8, Chris is going to try to blog those 210 miles and 3 days from his Blackberry, and I'll post the day's ride reports here too. Until then, we thank you again for your donations and encouragement, and hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

The loves of my life, Chris and Charlie, March 2007

Sometimes I Can Knit in Other Colors

This past weekend, I went to our church's annual women's retreat. It was a much needed rest, and I enjoyed time with my MIL while Chris and his father spent their weekend "back home" in Kentucky, where he grew up. Tim, Rainy, and Rosie kept the catnip parties to a minimum, as far as I can tell!

One of the highlights of my weekend was visiting an LYS that has possibly the best selection in the state. I went prepared -- I needed a crochet hook for Caroline's trim, and took some patterns with me, the Dauphine book and Lace Ribbon Scarf. For the LRS, which will make great summer car knitting, I found this beautiful periwinkle blue yarn, June by Nashua.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love at First Sight

I'm not sure that I believe it happens with people, but I know it happens with yarn. Every once in a while, "she looked across a crowded room and spotted it...and knew instantly it was a match made in heaven..." This weekend's fling was with Rowan's Romance. Why have we never been introduced before?

It was sitting in a lower bin, in shades of white, pink, and a blue lavender the color of the sunset sky just before the darkest blue sets in. There is a shimmery thread running through the yarn that sparkles like sun on the ocean or stars in a night sky -- the blue lavender is named Starlight. It is made in Italy. Swoon. (If you haven't guessed, I'm on an all things Italy binge lately, because of my family history research).

I didn't have a pattern with me on Saturday suitable for this yarn, so yesterday I called the store, with Diamanta in mind. But the yarns are too different in weight. I did what any obsessed person would do, who finds out the yarn might be discontinued -- ordered all seven balls -- and not the pink ones! (Yes, you read that right). Starlight. 

There is no good photo that captures this yarn that I can link to for you, though I tried above. I'll photograph mine when it arrives home. For now, I want to hear your stories of falling in love or obsession with a yarn. Tell me what it was, where or how you first met, and why you fell hard. In the meantime, I'll share my photo outtakes with you!

Find the kitty head!

Rosie inspects the yarn & new crochet hook

P.S. My pharmacy did reuse the old bottles for my prescriptions! Yay!

Caroline, Cycling, and Recycling

Thank you so much for your comments on the Noni bag. You seemed to be as undecided as I am, so I'm going to use the safety pin idea and add the flower as the mood strikes.

Caroline's left and right front are finished. Sleeves are on the needles!

The Giro D'Italia, Italy's version of the Tour de France, started last Sunday. US viewers can see it on Sunday nights on Versus, 4-6pm. The scenery is wonderful!

Our GYGIG donations now total $1323! Thank you again for your support. If you haven't yet made a donation, and would still like to, you can click the button on the upper left for details. We'll be giving out the last prizes of Charlie's yarn and the $21 LYS certificate on Memorial Day Weekend -- next weekend! Or, if you'd rather purchase some of the Charlie's yarn and donate that way, please see Lavender Sheep.

Our fearless GYGIG rider, both in preparation for his ride and in celebration of Bike to Work week/month, has been riding either home from work (leaving his truck there), or to work in the morning. It's 40 miles one way. Now if only his co-workers in the state government would get the clue, and make alternative transportation easier in our state!!

In an "Is it me?" moment, I called the Local Pharmacy With Initials in its Name to ask if they recycle pill bottles. A lot of knitters in blogland are doing their best to recycle, and in a moment of inspiration from their examples, I thought, "why throw the pill bottles away when I can take them down and have them refilled using the same bottle?"" So, today, I took the little brown bottles for my allergy meds and Rainy's meds to the Drop Off window, and explained that I would like them to use the same bottles and they can just put a new label over the old one, per the phone conversation I had with someone there the previous night. The woman at the counter looked at me blankly, said, "Well, we usually just throw them out and use a new bottle, but I guess if you want us to, we could do that."

I don't know if there are health regulations that prevent this that I haven't heard of yet (e.g. did I sneeze on the bottle, and so they can't reuse it -- how sterile is a pharmacy?) but from the blank tone of voice and looks I got from people there, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they said to each other, "She's crazy, just throw those bottles out and use a new one and she'll never know." But I will know -- I'll peel back that new label when I pick up the prescription to see if they covered the old one. It's such a small thing, but I thought it was a good idea, because those brown plastic bottles are a 5 which I don't think is even recyclable in the regular way. We live in a pretty earth friendly area, and a number of people do use their totebags in the grocery store now, so I can only wonder if maybe it is me?

Have a great weekend!

"So I hear they're going away this weekend, and that woman is coming to take care of us."

"We can take her."

Noni Baguette

Pattern: Noni Three Sassy, Skinny Tube Baguettes

Needles: U.S. Size 11 24" circular, and dpns

Yarn: Cascade 220: 1 skein of green #7814, 1 skein of natural #8010, 2 skeins pink #9478, 2 skeins pale pink #9477

Misc: bamboo handles, fabric lining, plastic canvas, pink ribbon for straps, pink zipper

This was my first knitted bag and Noni pattern, and my first felting project. I learned a lot of new skills (sewn bind-off for one), which is always a good thing. But I drew the line at learning how to sew, and a wonderful new friend at an LYS did the lining and finish work for me. You can see her stamp in the lining, above.

And what about the Spider Chrysanthemum?

Pattern: Noni Spider Chrysanthemums & Daisies (sold separately)

Needles: U.S. Size 11 24" circular

Yarn: Cascade 220, 2 skeins pink #9478

The bag seems plain without it, but the flower may still be too big to attach at its current size. Opinions, please.

Summer Wish List

The first repeat of the Dream in Color Shrug is done. I thought it would be nice to use the fancy stitch markers for this project, instead of my usual plastic rings, or none at all. Silly as it is, I have to admit they are very motivational for getting to the end of the row.

My very favorite season is coming up soon, and I want to savor every moment, stretch it out like the waves across a vast beach. In knitting terms, I don't want to spend the last 72 hours of summer staying up too late to finish a project, because time got away from me. Accepting there is no such thing as an endless summer is a yearly bitter pill for me to swallow.

Like everyone else, I'm feeling overloaded with too many things to do, and my job just sucks all the motivation & energy out of me some days. I need to find balance. A lot of bloggers seem to be going through this, to the point that, recently, several of them have stopped blogging altogether. Others apologize at the beginning of almost every post that "there's nothing to see here." I for one am not going to stop any time soon, because you are one of the lights in my day, the virtual friends that encourage me and inspire me. When I see Robin's sewing and knitting projects, for example, I want to be just like her, with all those fabulous sweaters to wear. But I wonder where my time goes and why it takes me months to finish one of them.

So, since it is helpful to write things down, I'm going to make a Summer Wish List, write down the things I dream of doing once the weather starts to get balmy. And maybe I should make a list of things I'm going to give myself permission not to do.

"Lazy Winter, Lazy Spring, Lazy Summer..."

The Summer Wish List

1. Read "The Not So Big Life," which is a more articulate expression of what I'm trying to say here.

2. Read "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, and do the 12 week workbook of exercises through June, July, and August. Developing creativity is one of the things most important to me, and I don't make enough time for it.

3. Read more books generally, and listen to them on audio, which I put on the New Year's Goal list.

4. Spend Sunday afternoons at the beach, for #1-3. Do I even want to admit that I sat on the beach only twice last summer?! New house or not, that is just shameful.

5. Knitting. July is the Tour de France KAL, so I'll have three weeks of watching cycling and knitting the Breton Girl sweater. I want to finish Caroline and the shrug before that, and maybe do the Papillon Top in August, if I can finish BG in July. Needles crossed. (funny coincidence: both are designed by Kat Coyle. A Kat Coyle summer-moment??).

6. I want to go on at least one Butterfly field trip with my dad, visit the NYBG for the roses, and maybe Block Island for some cycling. Bonus points if I can get to one night of stargazing with a local astronomy group.

7. To eat outdoors more often, at home on the deck, or at restaurants, because we can.

The Not to Do List

1. A garden. I want one badly, a white evening garden that's also a memorial garden to Charlie. But I'm thinking that maybe for this summer, a few pots of flowers on the deck is more reasonable.

2. Cycling "training." Riding my bike should be fun, not about suffering.

3. Knit night every week at the LYS. Why do I feel guilty if I miss it?

4. Trying to keep up with all the blogs, Ravelry, the Italian genealogical forum, all the time.

So what do you dream of doing this summer? What will you regret if you don't do it? What would you like permission not to do? If you'd like to join me, please post a wish list on your blog and let me know, and we can encourage each other to make this summer different. Even if we can't make it endless.

Patterns and Books

This afternoon I went to an LYS to order the yarn for Breton Girl. I also found these!

(sorry for the dark photos)

That's the Dauphine book by Louisa Harding from my previous post. I seem to be having a Louisa Harding moment -- I've seen other patterns by her in the past, and even own one of her books, but suddenly I love most everything I see by her. Strange. The pattern is Yvette from French Girl, but I have always loved most everything I see by her. This pattern will be another attempt to knit something strictly for keeping warm, but keeping the hands free to type or do things around the house, since the Gossamer Wrap didn't turn out like I had hoped. This will be for the A-t-mn.

When I arrived home, the postman had brought the new Persephone newsletter and catalog. If you're not familiar with them, I highly recommend putting your address on their mailing list, to see what they offer. They're a small shop and publisher in London that reprints women's fiction (some male authors are here too), mostly from the early to mid 20th century. They've brought back novels and other books that were out of print, and otherwise lost to us. Dorothy Whipple, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Katherine Mansfield, Viginia and Leonard Woolf, Marghanita Laski, and many others are here. Some authors are decidedly feminist, others less so. There are some charming housekeeping books and other books describing life on the homefront through several wars. A few of the books are available on cassette or CD for those that prefer to listen while they knit.

My favorite is Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson, which was recently made into a film. The film was wonderful (add to Netflix queue if you've not seen it), but the book is even so much better!! Next I hope to read Greenery Street by Denis Mackail. "Greenery Street can be read on two levels -- it is a touching description of a young couple's first year together in London, but it is also a homage -- something rare in fiction -- to happy married life." So true -- most fiction and films end their story with a wedding, the happily ever after. But post-wedding is when the story really begins, and I'd love to see more books and films with positive examples of married life. Maybe Patrick Dempsey, in a sort of sequel to his current film, could star in one too. :)

Dream in Color Shrug

Because I need comfort knitting...

...or maybe just something pink on the needles?

The summer issue of Interweave Knits arrived in my mailbox yesterday, though I'd seen the previews online last week. None of the projects call out to me as "must knits" -- what do you think? Other than the sand and sea projects, the colors don't seem particularly summery, but more autumn-like with the rusts and golds. And though I love green, and lace, there was nothing that needed to be added to my Ravelry queue.

In a recent issue of Simply Knitting, however, there was a Louisa Harding cardigan called Beatrix, taken from her new book Dauphine, that I think is pretty. When I looked at the patterns in this book online, there were several other sweaters that I could see myself wearing, especially Sophie and Terese (click link for Dauphine, and a selected list of patterns is available for viewing). They speak to my inner girly-girl. And I finally got to look through the Pretty Knits book at the LBS, which I may need to get someday too. If you have this book, please let me know if you like it, and if the patterns are well-written.

It looks like it will be a rainy weekend, so no bike riding or gardening will be happening at this corner of the seashore. But there is a new Patrick Dempsey movie out that looks good!