The Land of Wool and Honey

Try, Triceratops

Growing up, my sisters and I loved elves and trolls, gnomes and fairies--whimsical creatures with intricate, magical stories were among our favorites to act out--in plays, in the woods around our house and in our favorite spot, a secret cubbyhole in the twins' bedroom.  The more mysticism shrouding the stories around King Tut, pioneer times, the Old West, the better.  ("They actually had to get water from a bucket and a well.  And all they got in their stockings were oranges!  Can you believe it?!?") 

My favorite mystical creature?  The dinosaur.  I had dinosaur books, dinosaur t-shirts, plastic dinosaur toys, even mini stegosaruses (stegosauri?) that expanded in water.  My mom, craftier, cleverer and wittier than most, coined a household phrase during the Dinosaur Age that we still throw around every once in awhile:

If at first you don't succeed, try, Triceratops.

 

If at first you knit a sweater that doesn't fit, darn it, start another one.

I will not let one Sweater Gone Wrong get in the way of knitterly success.

We are now saying goodbye to the first decade of the new millennium, and I'm a little sad.  This decade has been a good one for me.  I graduated from college, knit my first sweater (and many more!), married my best friend, purchased a dream business, saw two of my sisters married, learned to spin, welcomed change.  

I've made mistakes, too.  Business, personal, marital.  Lots of them.  And I'm sorry.  But more than sorry, I'm grateful for the chance to start fresh, for the do-over feeling I get from the passing of the calendar's pages.  I will try to be the best parts of me I can, learning new secrets, building new bridges and patching old hurts.  Most assuredly, I'll fail--more than once--but darn it, I can't not try. 

A good friend sent me a particularly encouraging note at this time last year, and I hope you'll find it as comforting as I do:

The new year is a chance to begin again...to let go of the past year's mistakes and focus on getting them right in the new one.

All the good things you tried for but didn't achieve, try again.  All the things you searched for but didn't find, may you find this year.  All the things you dared not do, may you have the will of spirit to finally take a chance and do them.

May your faith be renewed, may your hope be rejuvenated and your dreams, ah, yes, your dreams, may they be awakened.

May 2010 be the brilliant adventure you've been waiting for.  Love to you, my friends.

I Was Told There Would Be No Math

Let me just say that this sweater began with all good intentions.  Most do. 

There was a tape measure.  A pattern.  Desire, even, to knit an entire adult sweater with sock yarn.  The problem, as it happens, originated with the swatch.  You see, I had a shadow of a doubt in my mind from the moment I cast on.  A doubt that I shoved to the back of my closet with that sweater, and that one, and a bunch of other things that go bump in the night.  My gauge was a little off and I pressed on. 

And on this day, let it be known that no half-assed swatch goes unpunished.

 

The main thought before beginning this epic journey was, You know, that's a lovely sweater.  A lovely fitted sweater.  And while I like the Up North Uniform just as much as the next gal (insert image of an oversized, shapeless sweater here), those aren't the knits I pull on when I want to look good.  The most flattering sweaters to wear--and those that I reach for most often--are well-fitting cardigans, with a little waist shaping, knit at a fine gauge.  (Hey, if I could wear my ratty Stanford sweatshirt with the cutoff neckline and age-worn elbows to work every day, I would.  I just don't happen to work at CoffeeWorld anymore.) 

Anyhoo.

Fitted sweater.  Noro yarn.  Size 1 needles.  You with me? 

This sweater can be knit in six sizes and I chose the middle size, the one that finishes at 35 1/2", which are my actual bust measurements.  As I said, the primary goal was to create a fitted sweater.  If you look at the pattern schematic, you would see that, for the middle size, the back should measure at 17 3/4" across.

 
 

This is what happens when "a little off" translates across an entire sweater.  Three inches of added girth--and that's just on the back. 

I should probably be the one to tell you, in case you (like me) fell asleep through the entire Elementary Component of the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project, that 6.5 is never, ever, EVER going to equal 7.25.  Not by wishing, not by hoping, not by fudging, not by eyeballing, not with a surreptitious felting, not by immaculate conception.   

  

It can't be helped now, Jack.  Wiser words were never spoken, Dorothy.  This is the end of the road for us, beautiful Noro sweater number 16.  Pictured above is approximately 35 hours of knitting on 2.5 mm needles. 

This is what it looks like today. 

 

An English degree has never seemed so irrelevant.
 

Never Stop Knitting. Even During Pomp and Circumstance.

 
(L to R: Curt and his brothers, Brandon and Justin)

I spent this past Saturday at Michigan State for my brother-in-law's graduation ceremony and I came home with these:

 

Can I just say how much I love the fact that I can always do two things at the same time?  Knitting goes everywhere you do--and on Saturday, stuck in the car for eight hours and in the Breslin for three more, I was feeling awfully sorry for People That Don't Knit.  I brought just the right pattern; it's perfect car/ceremony/restaurant knitting.  And Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed?  I love you, too.

 

Look!  A bunch of new colors here in the shop.  (Lilac, pink, scarlet, orange, mustard, green, celery, pale blue-grey, denim, midnight, charcoal, black, chocolate, taupe and natural.)

I wasn't the only one knitting this weekend.  A big thank-you to Nell for another finished pair of lovelies:

Say hello to my little friend, Fez.  Merino plus camel equals luscious.

 

 (Pink, magenta, fuschia, red, coral, yellow, moss green, forest, aqua, blue, midnight, brown, lilac, charcoal, silver and ecru.)

Tempted?  Call me at 231.228.2800--or better yet, check it out in person.  You won't be disappointed with Debbie Bliss' newest wooly concoction.

 

A trend, perhaps?  We love our fingerless mitts around here--heck, according to Ravelry, we love these everywhere.  With a whole rainbow of Cashmerino Aran to choose from, how could I resist?

  
(Carnation, raspberry, berry, pumpkin and mustard.) 

 

(Celery, aquamarine, light blue, periwinkle, royal purple and violet.)

 
 (Mauve, dusty purple, chocolate, off-white and black.)
 

Oh, did you want to see how these look together?  On the shelf?  Okay.

 

There's more yarn up in here.  You'd better just look at the pictures. 

 
(The view when you walk in the door.) 

 
(Silk Garden Sock Yarn.  Great for shawls, too.)

 

(Crazy amounts of Noro Kureyon.  And yes--it felts.) 

 

(Noro Kureyon, Silk Garden, Taiyo and Retro.)
 
  

(Noro Iro.  Chunky yarn for the eleventh hour, anyone?)
 
  

(More Silk Garden Sock.)

 
(Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Chunky.  Fuschia, red, peach, sienna, yellow-green, moss and hunter.)

 
(Ecru, silver, pale blue, teal, navy, purple, lavender and chocolate.) 

New yarn.  Stunning colors.  Luxurious fiber combinations.  Quick-and-easy projects. 

Definitely the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
   
  

Wrap it Up

So there I was, rifling through my cascading tower of  knitting, when I discovered there's really only one genre of knitting I've been actively pursuing of late.  (That's nothing to say for the eight sweaters, six pairs of socks, three hats and two pairs of fingerless mitts scrunched up in the closet.  Another day.)  I have now entered into the Shawl Stage.

True, these pieces are small.  No bigger than a shoulder dusting, really.  Glorified scarves.  A little ribbing, a little stockinette, a little garter.  However.  It's so satisfying to knit these simple pieces, these little shawlettes, that if I don't keep a grip on the wheel, I know where this could go.  It doesn't take a genius to realize that I'm laying the foundation for a full-fledged Obsession.  Next up is a Clapotis (how 2004 of me, I know).  Then Evelyn Clark's Shetland Triangle (Rav link).  Before you can say qiviut, I'm researching the history of Orenburg lace.  Or maybe I'm just being a little dramatic before my morning coffee.  That's probably it. 

 

A poncho (a really cool one!  honestly!) I'm designing for the shop, although I throw up a little bit in my mouth every time I say that word.  No matter how you put it, any derivation of "poncho" conjures images of 1970s Tex Mex.  Admit it.  (Ponchito?  Shudder.)

 

A Simple Yet Effective Shawl in Fleece Artist Casbah.  Colorway: Origin, I think.  It's a real retina surge.

And just for good measure, another.  Elizabeth's Designs new sock/laceweight Merino:

 

Obviously, this pattern is something I just enjoy.  

Yet not all projects are on the needles around here.  Lo and behold, a finished piece!

 
 
The most popular pattern at Inish Knits--the Melissa Scarf.  Flattered, I tell you.  This time, I knit it with 2 skeins of Louisa Harding Merletto.  And if copper isn't your color,  how about a few more choices?

 

This scarf is just the thing for a gift, or heck, for you.  (Think Christmas Eve Mass or New Year's Eve. ) The yarn has got a lovely shine, cute without being overly so, it's wool free (great for those with sensitive skin!) and it's super fast.

I should know.  Just under the wire for Week 10 (from The 12 Knits of Christmas), I cast on on Wednesday night and finished 'er late last night.  The yarn is on sale for 20% off this week only, so call me at (231) 228-2800 and I can get it to you with pleeeeeenty of time for the holidays. 

Holy French Knots

I have this friend, Jennifer--I think I've mentioned her here before--who is a professional seamstress.  Draperies, pillows, slipcovers, window treatments....if it's fabric, she sews it.  She's been doing this for over 25 years and she's always got jobs lined up.  Always.  Jennifer is famous for saying there's no such thing as luck--success is earned by way of hard work.  She sews from pre-dawn (4:30 a.m.--yowza!) until 6:00 p.m., almost every day.  And if that weren't enough, when she turns off her sewing machines every night, she stitches away at a "little handwork". 

Her quotes.  Not mine. 

 

 

 Today, Jennifer dropped off a "little" of her "handwork" to sell at Inish Knits.  150 of them.  150.  Every single one of these 150 ornaments is different.  And every single one of them is COVERED in french knots.  Every.  Single.  One.  Do you know how hard it is for me to make one french knot? 

A little handwork, indeed.

p.s.  Jennifer lives right here in Cedar.  Inish Knits is the only place you'll find these exquisitely crafted ornaments.  If you'd like to buy a handmade Christmas gift from Leelanau County (for $15.00, at that!), a hand-embroidered ornament might be just the treasure you've been looking for.

When I'm Not Knitting

I'm eating.

 

As you can imagine, it's not hard to do both.  At the same time.

I love to bake.  I love it when my friends have birthdays.  Sure, I enjoy celebrating the day of their birth and all that, but I really just need an excuse to make four dozen cupcakes at once. 

Here's the recipe.  Because I've changed two of the main ingredients--and the overall taste of the finished product--I've changed the name of the recipe.  (The original was the Yellow Cake recipe from Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say this one's better.  In part, because they're in cupcake form.)

Vanilla Almond Cupcakes with Browned Butter Frosting

3/4 c. butter, softened

3 eggs

2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 3/4 sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp almond extract

1 1/4 c. plain yogurt

1.  Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.  Place removable paper cups in a cupcake tin.  In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2.  In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined and scraping sides of bowl.  Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes more.  Add eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition (about 1 minute total).  Beat in vanilla and almond extract.  Alternately, add flour mixture and yogurt to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until just combined.  Fill paper-lined cupcake tins to 1/2 full.

3.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean.  Remove cupcakes from the tins and leave to cool on wire racks.  Frost with Browned Butter Frosting.

Browned Butter Frosting

 3/4 c. butter

5 1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar

3 T milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

In a small saucepan, heat butter over low heat until melted.  Continue heating until buttern turns a delicate brown.  Remove from heat.  In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.  Add browned butter.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined.  Beat on medium to high speed, adding additional milk, if necessary, to reach spreading consistency. 

Words to the wise: watch that butter.  15 minutes will go by.  You'll think it's never going to turn.  You step away for one second to feed your cat, Sally Shore, and it's turned to the Dark Side.  As in, Burnt.  Or maybe that's just me. 

What do I do when I'm waiting for the cupcakes to cool?

  

I knit.

Walking on Sunshine

Things that are making my week bright:

 

New buttons from local artist, Paula Wisniewski.

 

Luscious handspun.  Spun by Tracie, dyed by Liz.  Isn't it amazing when artisans combine forces?!?

 
 

Mini sweater, knit from a mini skein of my handspun.  

Seriously.  When surrounded by such beautiful things all day, every day, how could anything be bad?
 

Outside The Box

I'm not really sure how to say this.  I never thought I'd have to.  I swore on all things holy that this was exactly the behavior I could curtail.  I'm not interested, I don't have the time, I don't have the space, et cetera. 

So what the &%@# is this doing in my stash?!?

 

 

Raw Corriedale fleece?  Seriously?

Actually, if you could see this in the flesh (oh, wait--some of you can! Come!  See!  Smell the sheepy love!), I know you would have made the same choice.  Except you didn't.  Which is why I'm the one with the virtually-perfect-four-and-a-quarter-pound-almost-good-enough-to-spin-in-the-grease-coated-first-year fleece.  Thankfully, I got there first.  You done good, Mary Jo.   

 There are big plans for this wool.  Spectacular plans.

p.s.  I updated my Etsy shop.  See what you see!

There and Back Again: A Knitter's Tale

Although I haven't spent the last month trudging through the fires of Mordor, I am about as winded as one must be at the end of an epic journey.  Since my last check-in, I attended a Fiber Fest (to buy more stuff of course!), dyed 15-ish pounds of BFL, spun five? six?  twelve? an unknown number of four-ounce skeins, manned a hopping booth at the Leland Fiber Fest, enjoyed the most successful month of 2009 to date at Inish Knits (October--whee!),  and was asked to teach a class at the Northern MI Lamb & Wool Fest 2010.  I also watched the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Again.

There's been knitting, too.

 

Festivus Fingerless Mitts.  Details here.

 

Which became a multi colored version of this.

A failed attempt at a hat:

 

However.  When at first you don't succeed, 

 

Keep on knittin'.

 

A designing/spinning/knitting project is in the works:

 

 

 

Merino and silk, how I love thee.

I am up to my wool-covered ears in custom orders, emails and requests for private instruction.  At least five people every day are added to our email list.  (Email me at inishknits AT charter DOT net if you'd like me to add you!)  In "these trying economic times", it seems that everyone I meet is finding peace in all things handmade. 

I am inspired, renewed and grateful.  
 

Wallowing-in-My-Own-Filth Friday

Holy deadlines, Batman.  This week has been-- how you say?--a bit much.  And this is the death and destruction a week like mine leaves in its wake:

 

Yes.  According to the calendar on the wall, we are still experiencing the month of April.  Thanks for pointing that out.

 

 

Can you say "biohazard"?

Oy.  Thankfully, in this case, I have something to show for my week.  (Well, besides cracked, stained fingernails, dark circles where my eyes should be and a raging addiction to caffeine.)

Dyeing:

 

Drying:

 

Spinning:

 

 

And a bit of sewing, too:

 

TGIF?  Yeah, I can dig it.

p.s.  As the ultimate treat to myself for a week of work well done, I am heading tomorrow to the Northern Michigan Lamb and Wool Fest.  Will you? 

p.p.s.  In the spirit of Friday randomness, just thought I'd pass on this week's factoid.  Laura Nyro was nominated (posthumously, of course) for an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Finally!