USA: The Stash

Believe it or not, I was pretty restrained.  There was one yarn shop in Washington DC, which I didn't visit, as I knew there was more to explore in New York.

On my first night, I found Knitty City

Now, because that photo was taken after the shop closed, it doesn't show the baskets outside with the yarn on sale, or the boxes of books, or even the lady sitting outside knitting and telling me that all the books were free.

Oh dear.

Clockwise, from top left: 

• Intermix - Stacy Charles
• Kristin Knits - Kristin Nicholas
• Hat Couture - Theresa Silver
• Backyard Silk Blend Collection - Manos del Uruguay
• Vogue Knitting: Teen Knits on the Go
• Gotham - Stacy Charles
• Curvy Knits x 2 - Jillian Moreno
• Funky Knits - Carol Meldrum & Julie Marchington

I wasn't completely sure if I had enough weight allowance to bring back all of these books (let alone the space), so I had to go shopping for a new suitcase to carry the extra books back.  What started off at RRP of $170, was in the sale at $85.  The cashier who ran the transaction asked if he could try a mystery coupon to see if it made a difference.  Final cost, $46.40, including taxes! 

I will admit that the constant declarations that things were made the US, or the proliferation of flags got a bit irritating.  I get it, you're proud of your country/ isolationism!  However, when it came to yarn 'made in the US' is exactly what I was looking for! 

The first skein of yarn I found:

Knitted Wit Victory Sock
Colourway - Grand Canyon

Then I saw this one:

Knitted Wit Victory Sock
Colourway - Everglades

Then I saw a third one.  I wasn't sure if I could really justify a third skein.  However, I'd been sitting in Central Park listening to a guy playing his guitar and singing, including songs by REM, so I had to get it, given their song of the same name.  

Knitted Wit Victory Sock
Colourway - Cuyahoga Valley

I had a few hours to kill on the Saturday morning, and wanted to go to Lion Brand Studios (mostly because I knew they had a sale on, and the thought of getting some of the nicer yarns for a reduced cost was a tempting one).  In the end, the shop wasn't open at the same time I was free to visit it.  I also had Purl Soho on my list.  I've seen a video of it, and it looks like nothing on earth!  I'd planned to visit on the way back from Liberty and Ellis Islands.  However, I took more time than expected, by which point the shop had closed. 

Returning from Ellis Island

I have a very bad picture of me sitting inside Knitty City, in front of the bookshelf.  I hadn't even given it a glance!  I did have a plan to go back on the penultimate day I was in New York, but I decided that I'd done enough walking on the day in question, so didn't return after all.  

After walking to find the Alice statue, I didn't have the energy to return to Knitty City

Whilst I never went back to Knitty City, a couple of people had recommended Strand Books to me - and oh boy, was it a good recommendation!  The shelves for knitting and crochet were floor to ceiling; I had to borrow a ladder to peruse the top two shelves.  There was another lady looking for crochet books; every time I found one on the knitting shelves, I'd pass it down to her, just in case. 

Clockwise, from top left: 

• Knitting in America by Susan M. Strawn 
• The Best of Vogue Knitting: 25 Years of Articles, Techniques and Expert Advice
• The Knit Generation, ed. Sarah Hatton
• Knitting from the Centre Out by Daniel Yuhas

Knitting in America is one I saw at Knitty City; after looking it up online, it seemed right up my street - so I was very pleased to see it on the shelves at Strand Books.  (Ravelry page here).  Knitting from the Centre Out looked like an interesting way of approaching patterns and The Knit Generation featured designers I liked. 

They were also selling the famous Vogue Knitting Book - both the old and new editions.  I really wanted to get one of them, but didn't know if it was cheaper than in the UK, nor whether I'd have enough space in my luggage.  Despite the extra suitcase, books are heavy!  There was one by Amy Herzog which also had to go on the 'maybe later' pile.  

The last book from Strand Books, was one that is mostly intended for my very good friend and knitting mentor who had a baby, whilst I was in West Virginia.  If she likes the book, it's hers.  If she doesn't, I'll keep it.  Either way it works out, and some of the dresses are adorable. 

Also, in the knitting related purchases:

I first read about Kool Aid as a dye in Stitch and Bitch.  I couldn't quite get my head around the idea of using a drink powder to create a permanent colour to yarn.  I'm still not sure I've got my head around it, but with some packets of dye, space in the kitchen and an internet tutorial or two, I'm sure I can work something out.  

The final thing were a couple of bracelet charms which were on reduction at Girl Scout Central - the Manhattan shop for the Girl Scouts.  I thought they'd do quite nicely as stitch markers.  The one on the left is to celebrate 100 years of selling cookies; the one on the right is a Brownie elf.  

I'm due to go back to the US next year for a Scout camp, with Mr Knitty joining me afterwards for a holiday.  I'll either be going back to places I visited this year, or go somewhere new, with new yarn shops to explore.  It's a win-win.

What have you been up to this summer?

Going Away, Coming Back & Tidying Up

The problem with trying to maintain a blog, is writing when you don't feel like it.  Current lack of job, combined with the outstanding complaint raised against my former employers has lead me into the mood of not wanting to do very much at all.  Nothing productive, at least.  

In June, we went to Germany and at the end of last month, I came back from the US.  Both trips have been bookended with me trying to impose order on our flat.

Earlier on in the year, I saw a post on Facebook, for an allotment somewhere in Scotland, who were looking for yarn to decorate their allotment for an open day in August.  Given the number of free kits I've collected from the front of magazines, I was more than happy to oblige.  I ended up sending a massive parcel of leftover or unwanted acrylic yarn, and in the process I found yarn in the stash that I'd either forgotten about, or didn't know I'd bought in the first place.  

One of the best things about tidying up, was finding this:

Happy yarn!
My First Regia in colourway 0184

This is a ball of My First Regia that I've been trying to find online, but everywhere was out of stock.  The colourway name is Dominik, and I really wanted it as a square on my patchwork blanket.  I have no memory of buying this yarn, but I've very, very happy to have found it in the stash!  

Somewhere in the video I made (but never uploaded) about Woolinn, I made a comment about knitting a uterus.  In the clear-out, I also managed to collate all my pink yarn and sew-on pin attachments, to do just that.  

What is the correct plural of uterus?  Uteruses?  Uteri? 

I'm starting on the Kon-Marie process of tidying up; the theory is that you decide on what to keep - and only keep that which sparks joy.  I'm currently part-way through sorting out a couple of bookshelves.  

The knitting bookshelf in its first incantation

The theatre bookshelf has been downsized, and has swapped places with the knitting bookshelf, which has got considerably bigger.  

The knitting bookshelf in it second incantation - this is now the theatre bookshelf

My plan is to have all my knitting related stuff on the one bookshelf; books, folders of patterns, my swift and ball winder, the tin of sock needles, etc. etc. etc. 

The bookshelf in its current incantation

Isn't that just beautiful?  I can't stop looking at it.  My socks books are together; my lace books are together; my stitch dictionaries are together; multiple books from one author are together.  There's space for the yarn swift (on the top shelf in the picture).  There's a bit more space, should when I buy any more books.  What can't be seen is the very top shelf, which is currently housing all the clutter I've moved to get the books in.  There are a couple of other boxes to go on, including my Box O Socks  I don't think I'm going to manage 12 pairs of socks - especially as I've lost the March socks - but that's not going to stop me knitting.

At some point, I'm going to have to do exactly the same with the yarn stash.  Please send chocolate in preparation.....

Once Upon a Sock: August

I recently came back from the US.  My plan was to have two completed pairs of socks on my return. Ha, ha, ha.  On the plus side, the rainbow socks I was knitting last month are now finished.  (Photos to be added when it's not late at night and I can take some decently lit photos).

What I have nicknamed my 'sunset socks' kept going wrong and have been ripped out at least three times. (The third time, I realised I hadn't ripped back far enough, so I had to rip back even further.  I don't know if that counts as four times?)  It's getting a bit boring now.

The socks, on leaving Paris

The socks taking in the view at Hartsfield-Jackson airport, Atlanta (the busiest airport in the world)

The socks, coming in to Charleston WV

Recovering from jetlag on my first day in the US. 

At this point in knitting, I'm at the heels.  I wanted to try a short-row heel, using slipped stitches - as shown by Arne and Carlos in their video here and in the pattern for the Lifestyle Toe-up Socks.  I don't like short row heels, as they don't fit my feet too well - so I've done a gusset increase.  It could work amazingly, or it could end up a mess.  I've put lifelines in, just in case.  Past experience says that things are more likely to go wrong without a lifeline, so I'm optimistic.  

Whilst I didn't finish the socks by the time I got home, they did get a good view of New York.  One of the things on my list of things to do was to find the John Lennon memorial in Central Park.  There was a man there with his guitar, so I took half an hour to knit and listen to him singing.  Then I walked to Knitty City where I joined a group of ladies who were knitting hats for charity.  It was the perfect way of finding balance in the big city.  We talked about socks and ways of knitting - and they let on that Mina Philips - aka The Knitting Expat used to visit there, when she lived in New York. 

The Imagine memorial to John Lennon

Inside Knitty City - I was very restrained in my purchases! 

I have another pair on the needles - which will also need a lifeline before turning the heel - and once both the current pairs are off the needles, the next pair are queued for cast-on!

On the first Thursday of each month - a group of us all get online and blog about socks.  Paula's blog has the explanation - and the link-up of blogs is right here if you want to read more about socks - or would like to join us.  

Once Upon a Sock: July

So yes, I've been away.  I went to Woollinn, create a video blog for it, then spent over a month trying to edit it.  (I've still not finished). 

Last weekend we came back from Germany.  (I'll write about that separately).  I had a mad panic beforehand about taking only one knitting project with me.  In the end, I didn't finish the socks I'd taken with me, let alone did anything with the yarn I took for the second-project-shawl.  Oh well. 

The sock had a mistake in it (I knitted when I should have purled - or the other way round), so I had to tink back several rows.  It wasn't my top priority on holiday! The mistake is now rectified, and this is the current state of progress:

Socks - vanilla socks
Yarn - Something by Opal

These were the ones I was working in a couple of months ago.  I was going to do an orange heel, but instead I did a Fish Lips Kiss Heel.  I love the fish lips kiss heel to knit, but find that the short row heel doesn't work for my feet so well, so I've done ribs on the top to make it easier to put on.
To make the socks look right from the front, I just re-attached the colour at the right stage of the rainbow:

The sock heel

The bit where the yarn is re-joined, looks slightly odd from the front - but actually fine from the side.  I'm sure it'll all look better when it's washed, blocked and worn. 

I wanted to do more of this this week, but I've been hit with a cold and flu - so it's been going more slowly than I would like, as I don't want to make another mistake.  They're going to be ankle socks, partly because it won't fit if the legs are too long, and partly because I need the needles free for a new pair to be cast-on in time for me flying to the USA on Tuesday. 

There's a group of us, who blog about socks on the first Thursday of the month.  I think I'm just going to make it....  Links to Paula's blog is here who has the full explanation - and the link-up page is here

"We've got a dangly thing"

Apparently the workshop I'm doing next weekend was fantastic.  I hope it is.  Was.

There was slight consternation online this week, after Simply Knitting claimed to already have been to Woolinn Dublin, ten days before the rest of us.  I haven't yet prepped for my class (Introduction to Hat Design with Woolly Wormhead).  I just need to knit a swatch of the yarn I'm using to design my hat.  I've just been stash diving, and can't find the yarn I was looking for - but have found five other yarns which I could use.  The deciding factor will be which fabric I want to feel against my skin. 

This weekend we've also booked our summer holidays; a week or so in Germany.  It's the first time since 2015 that Mr Knitty and I have had a summer holiday, together, in summer.  It's quite exciting.

We have a light in our bedroom.  For years, we thought it didn't work.  Apparently it did work, there just wasn't a light pull to make it work.  Rather than go to the hardware store, I thought I'd get creative with a scrap of string and some beads.

I tried French knitting; it didn't work.  Twice.  I tried knitting some i-cord, with beads on the working yarn between rows.  In my head, all the beads would line up and look amazing.  In reality, it didn't work.

In the end, I just knitted a string i-cord, with (possibly too small) 3.5mm needles, and then threaded the beads on afterwards.  All this was done whilst Mr Knitty was out of the house, just to see how long it took for him to notice.

I didn't quite realise how much this looked like a female hygiene product

His first words on walking into the bedroom? "We've got a dangly thing"

And he was right.

The light pull in situ

Once Upon a Sock - May 2018

Today was mostly about this:

Today was a local election; we had the option of three red, one blue and a yellow (of which we could vote for a maximum of three).  Mr Knitty and I went and made our crosses in the respective boxes this morning, before he went to work.  This afternoon, somebody from the red party came buzzing at the door, interrupting my afternoon nap.  I told her that I'd already voted; she asked how.  It was only as I was closing the door that I thought to reply: 'with a pencil'. 

The blanket is going well.  I absolutely love it as a project.  There's no point it being a memory blanket, if the only memories I have in it, are of the minis I've bought.  However, these arrived this week, and are worth a mention.  There are a couple of other minis that I want from them; the leftovers may well end up as a pair of socks.

From top to bottom:
Calico Cat
Lungwort
Industrial Accident
Crocus patch

All from the amazing Mothy and the Squid

On to the socks.....

These are the current pair, knit with Regia Pairfect

The yarn is designed to be knit from the cuff down.  However, I prefer knitting from the toe up.  Looking at all the projects on Ravelry with the same yarn - they all look the same.  I like the fact that mine are (almost) completely different.  I'm using Sockmatician's toe-ups and when it comes to turning the heel, I want to do it in orange, because different. 

The wonderful thing about the Once Upon a Sock project, is the number of people who have joined in.  Instead of linking all the blogs here as I did last month, if you go to this link you'll see all the sock knitting projects from our group. 

See you next month for more of the same! 

Where's Your Brain At?

In the most recent episode of Tea and Possibilities recent Tea and Possibilities podcast, Nikki talks about not completing a project, because that's not really where her brain's at.   At the moment, my brain's at my blanket.  I thought there was going to be a fight between me and the hot weather as to who lasted out the longest - but actually the weather only popped its head in for a couple of days. 

Last Saturday, I went on a group cycle ride of 11.5 miles, and really felt it when I came back!  I spent the afternoon crashed out on the sofa, with the blanket (as it currently stands), keeping my legs warm.  There was another one today, but it's a longer ride for the last weekend of the month.  I've decided against, as I need my energy for this evening. 

I've had to get over my aversion to the colour pink.  In fairness, it's not the colour that's the problem - it's the way it's always used to girl-ify everything.  You like fishing?  Have a grey fishing rod.  You're a woman who likes fishing?  Have a pink fishing rod.  You need a pen; here's a blue one.  You're a woman who needs a pen - here, have a special pink one.  The list is endless, but the worst I saw was the pink 'Big Red Bus Shape Sorter' from Early Learning Centre.  Because, of course we female Londoners have a completely different colour transport system to our male counterparts.

Anyway, I digress.....

The blanket as it stands has quite a lot of green and purple, and a pretty decent amount of blues.  To try and break it up a bit, I bought a whole load of My First Regia sock yarns in shades and patterns of pink.

The thing I love doing, is mixing and matching scraps of yarn - so a light pink ball and a dark pink ball will give me three squares; one plain in each shade of pink, and one square of pink stripes.  Factor in the patterned yarns and other scraps I had, and I had around balls for around seventeen squares, all stored in bags for each quarter, to try and make sure there's an even spread of colours.

Yarn received as a swap 

Then I received the swap to the yarns I sent off last weekend - and hey presto, another twenty or so balls are now ready to be knitted up. 

..... So, guess what I've been doing this last week? 

The blanket, as of 27th April 2018

Dealing

Not long ago, Mr Knitty bought me a small pair of electronic scales for weighing yarn.  In its helpful way, Amazon also let us know what other people had bought alongside the scales, which raises questions what they were weighing with their scales....

Last weekend he saw me weighing up yarn to send off as part of a minis swap, to which his comment was: 

I knew it.  I knew it would just be a matter of time before you started dealing. 

TBT: Snow

Now we've got a bit of spring in the air (at least in theory) it's easy to forget the Beast from the East which hit us in February. 

At the end of February, we went to the theatre to see This is Going to Hurt - from the book of the same name, by Adam Kay.  It's a (mostly) hysterical memoir about the life of a junior doctor.  It was pretty cold and windy, and the trains were not running as they should have been.  Nevertheless, we persisted and it was well worth it.  Despite having read the book, I was still laughing until I couldn't breathe!

On the way there, I wore my Hitchhiker scarf, finally with all the ends woven in.  I started it in 2016 and may, or may not have completed it in the same year.  I wanted something bright to contrast with the cold and snow.

Waiting for the train

It was at that point, that I realised that I hadn't taken blog photos of the Hitchhiker.  So, the following day, I dragged Mr Knitty out into the snow for a photo shoot: 

Pattern - Hitchhiker by Martina Behm

Yarn- Zauberball by Schoppel, colourway Tropical Fish

It's only on writing this, that I realise I've managed to pair up a German yarn, with a German designed pattern.  

Once Upon a Sock - April

These are my March socks.  I know I should have caught up with the seasons and cast on the April socks, but I don't currently have any spare needles.  (Unless you count the wooden ones, which I don't - because I can't take them in my work bag, for fear of breakage).  My plan of knitting lots whilst not working in January, may have worked for a bit - but I am now officially behind on my box o' socks for 2018. 

Yarn - Opal, My Sock Design

To keep with the rainbow stripes pattern, I'm going to do a short row heel (not sure if I want to do another Fishlips Kiss Heel, try a Yo Yo heel or something else.  I'll let you know after the weekend.  From the previous short row heel I've done, I found it quite tight to put on.  I've put the ribs in to try and make it easier to put on.

I've also got at least one pair of socks from last year which need finishing, and three pairs which need the ends weaving in.  

So, if I state it loud and clear here - then it has to happen, right?  Between now and the end of the weekend, I'm going to turn the heel on these, turn the heel on my outstanding Hermione's and weave in the ends of my socks from last year.  I should probably weave in the ends from my January socks too, or else I'm going to be in this same pickle in twelve months' time. 

I've also got a couple of ideas for sock designs; I'm just not sure if I'm brave enough to start swatching... 

Joining in with: 

• Kat from Felinity Knits
• Katherine from Fiber and Sustenance
• Stephanie from Stephanie Crafts with Wool Paper Fabric
• Steph from My Making Do Adventure
• Meg from Intergalactic Knits
• Lynn from Minding My Own Stitches
• Reanna from Knit Reanna Knit
• Kathy B from Compassionknit
• Tammy from Life and Yarn or Yarn and Life
• Paula from Spin a Yarn

The most exciting thing about this post is the massive numbers of people who have joined in the Once Upon a Sock crew.  Having previously been called 'a bit weird' for noticing the socks that people were wearing (I don't know why I talked to him again, either) - it's so nice to have found my tribe.  Happy Sock-ing, ladies! 

2018 in books (part two)

I've already mentioned my bookshelf here before.  When I first started knitting, I had a few books - which then grew to a few more.  This became a shelf, which then outgrew itself.

Last year I moved everything on to a bookshelf in the spare room.  However, because there was space on the shelf, I felt the need to fill it.  I made a list of all the books I bought in 2017 - and there were around 26; certainly more than one a month.  That doesn't include supplements sent with magazines.

So, this year - I set myself a challenge to curb my book buying habits, which I've totally fallen apart at, before realising how ridiculous I was being.  I've already mentioned the book Icelandic Handknits, bought when I went to Unravel.  It may be years before I knit any of the patterns in the book, but I've had great joy in reading about the history of handknitting in Iceland, and I know it's there when I want to go back to it.  The same is true of Victorian Lace Today  It may well be some time before I knit any of the projects in it, but I'm looking forward to reading about the history of Victorian lace knitting, and expanding my knitting knowledge. 

This morning, I piled up all the books I've bought so far this year - and they nearly reached my knee.  That's nearly-a-knee's worth of patterns, and history and techniques and gorgeous photos.  That's nearly-a-knee's worth of other people's ideas and solutions, which could easily give me inspiration for mine.  

Yes, I have knitting books on my Kindle too - but I'm old fashioned enough to want the paper and glue version to hold on to, and flick through.  At least three of these books have been signed, so not only am I collecting a knitting library, I've got a personal record of creative people that I admire.  Oh, and if you've ever tried reading a cable chart from a Kindle, you may also understand the love of paper! 

Cable Chart from The Knitters Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman

When I was a teenage, my mother forbade me having a clothing allowance, as I'd spend it all on books.  I think this is highly influential in my avoidance of clothes shopping as an adult, and possibly why these four arrived at the end of March....

Books bought from Brityarn - before it all closes down

So, what's in your knitting library ?