Knitting

Jennette Cross is the author of today's post, as well as the designer of Fine Kettle, the squishy, swishy, slip-stitchy shawl from our latest issue. Read about her quest to become a Twist designer, her fear of fish (a fear I share!), and the clever tricks you'll learn knitting your own version of her gorgeous creation. You can also find this post on her blog, here.       Fall of 2008. I had been working at Lakeside Fibers for a year and a half. “Hey,” said my bosslady, “have you seen this new online magazine, Twist Collective?” Ten minutes later appearing in Twist Collective one day became one of my life goals.     This is Fine Kettle, my pattern from Spring/Summer 2013. I had been submitting to Twist for a little over a year before this one was accepted. I have never ever felt bad when they turned me down; the patterns they put out are always so amazing there just wasn’t any point to feeling bad. And if I’m honest, I’m delighted they rejected the first two things I submitted because they were WAY above my skill level at the time. Now before I submit anything for publication I make sure that I have thought through every step and every eventuality. By the time I write a submission, I am sure that I can do it.   When the call for this issue went out there were photos of fish on the mood boards. I love fish even though I’m afraid of them (aquariums are a wonderful combination of beauty, fascination, and horror) so I decided I was going to do some kind of Fish shawl. Of course, any shawl I design is going to be a Combination Shawl, because I am obsessed. I messed around with my stitch dictionaries for a while, and then I started thinking about scales . . . scales that got larger and larger as the shawl progressed! Why, I could HIDE the Combination increases INSIDE the scales! It would be the cleverest thing I ever did. Lots of swatching later I was very happy with my increase-hiding scales, but unsure about how to finish the edge. I needed something to help counteract the stockinette stitch curl that was inevitably going to happen at the hem, and for this pattern it seemed like the solution was garter stitch. I didn’t want to just slap some garter stitch on the edge though – it needed to flow somehow. The fish needed some tails.       The swatch and drawing above are what I ended up with. Then I took a step back and realized that I had just designed a gigantic slipped stitch shawl that looked like a fish. “Oh well,” I said to myself. “It’s not like they’re going to get another submission for a gigantic slipped stitch shawl that looks like a fish.” Besides, it was too late. I was already in love with it. But they accepted it, and got me beautiful yarn, we put together a beautiful pattern, and they had Jane Heller do some stunning photography.     The shawl begins with one long starter tab (I love a good starter tab) and then goes immediately into the fish scale pattern. The scales are all slipped stitches; you only use one strand of yarn at a time, and the wrong side rows are all “slip the slipped stitches and purl the purl stitches” so they’re about as easy as they can be. The garter stitch edges are worked entirely in the main color, which means that technically the shawl has a bit of intarsia. Trust me though – it’s about the easiest intarsia ever. And it’s worth it to create those lovely unbroken main color edges.     The shawl finishes with garter stitch fishtails, inset into the last section of scales. The garter fishtails increase according to Pi Logic, so they have lots of extra drape. Of course, from the photos you can automatically tell that one of the best parts is the yarn. Sunshine Yarns Merino Silk Fine was the perfect yarn for this project – soft, beautifully drapey, silky, and shiny. I’ve had some questions through Ravelry about the actual yardage used; my notes indicate that I used about 730 yards of the Main Color and 630 yards of the Contrast. If you are getting a different gauge

I just checked my Ravelry Projects page. This is only the third Honey Cowl I have made so far this year. That doesn’t sound too bad. I thought I had made more. (Of course, I’m working on a fourth, but still.) Honey Cowl, how do I love thee? Let me itemize the ways in an unordered list: It does great things to yarn that is subtly variegated, like this one. The pattern breaks up all the different tones in amazing ways. You could make it in a solid yarn (but it would look a little boring) or a yarn with more different colors (but it might be a little too wacky). The smaller size is a great way to use a single skein of yarn. (Don’t know about you, but I have plenty of those.) The fabric is dense and smooshy and stands up just enough to keep you warm, but not so much that it’s annoying. After you have worked it for a while, your fingers will learn how to make the pattern all on their own. After that point, the only thing you have to do is glance down periodically to make sure you’re on track. This makes it excellent TV knitting. It’s a free pattern! I don’t mind paying for a pattern, but you gotta love free.

The Casbah is calling my name. So here's my dilemma. Should I knit a pair of amazing socks with the Casbah or should I knit a pair of long fingerless gloves with it? Please chime in. Beatles loves to be in the yard now that the warm weather is here. My pretend dog....... Discovered these goldfish treats at the store the other day......the best part is you get 52 pieces for 4.5 grams fat. It is a mix of graham, chocolate and tiny white marshmallow fishies. They are just okay....I'm crazy for marshmallows lately.....My pretend dessert.....

Gameplay was getting a little bit boring. Ophelia’s wish is to reach level 10 of the Social Networking skill (done) and to have a Five-Star blog. Getting a Five-Star blog means constantly blogging on your smartphone until you get the “Blogged Out” negative moodlet, waiting for it to clear, and then blogging some more. In the bathroom at the library… In the bathroom at home while Raheem tries to take a dump… After working out at the gym… In the snow… And at home while Raheem tries to watch television. That last picture points out two things that bug me about the Blogging activity. You can only do it on your smartphone (not on the computer in the background), and you can’t do it while sitting down (only while standing). Let’s all be grateful that’s not the case in real life. I got so bored waiting for her to level up her blog that I went ahead and had her Try For Baby with Raheem. My thinking was that while she was blogging, Raheem and I could at least be doing stuff with the baby. On the day when she first turned pregnant, the Fall Festival arrived. I sent them down to the festival separately. Here’s what they did when they spotted each other. These two are so in love, it’s a little bit revolting. I had Ophelia tell him about the pregnancy right there in front of the haunted house. First he looked SUPER THRILLED. Then he gave her the “thumbs up.” I love it when they do that. (Sorry for the poor lighting. It was the middle of the afternoon, but as you can see, it was a very cloudy, overcast day.) Q: What time is it when the frost is on the pumpkin? A: Time to defrost your pumpkins. (That joke killed ‘em in the fourth grade. I think I learned it from a Garfield comic.) Both Ophelia and Raheem had a wish to challenge the other to a pie-eating contest, so I obliged. The pie-eating contests are disgustingly hilarious. With the retching and the gobbling noises. Raheem won the contest. After the contest was over, but before he washed the pie off his face, I had them step into the photo tent to get a souvenir photo. Raheem found a kitty wandering the festival and played with it for a few hours. Raheem has the Animal Lover trait. He keeps wanting to adopt various animals. There’s no room for pets in the Seinfeld apartment. I think I will have to move them out to a big suburban home soon, to make room for the kids and pets and all that stuff. It would also be nice to have more room for parties. Ophelia wanted to throw a Feast Party, and things got pretty cramped. Although everyone seemed to agree that Jerry’s place is decorated nicely. Raheem kept ignoring the party to dote on his massively pregnant wife. This guy seems a bit put out by that. Long after the party had ended and everyone had left, this guy stuck around and kept eating food off the counter. What a George! The next day, their baby girl Peggy was born. She is looking a lot more human than the rest of the hybrids. See how she actually has eye whites? They’re not just solid black? It’s a good sign. I’m looking forward to a Sim that has HAIR.

I'm in a chatty mood today. If you want the short version it is: *Sock finish. Lorna's laces Rust heels and toes. *Crabtree in it's glory*Adorable Garden Cakes at 3 Tarts Bakery ***********************************If you are up for the long version, thanks and here goes!The socks are adorable and will be a child's gift. I worked a round toe and loved how it finished. I copied one of you, (Sorry who was it?) who matched cuff, heels and toes in solids lately. While I love the effect, it means I ultimately have more ends to weave in. I prefer to knit socks in one long continuous strand. It is magical to me that way. Then, of course, I only have the start and finish ends to weave in. Am I lazy or what?I've been encouraged to write some poems for children and I'm working on it. Poetry is more my way than stories. I'm completely bragging but Zach got a poem published in a Chicago publication and its fantastic. We just got our copies. It is in Spanish or I'd ask to reprint it here. Maybe I'll get him to translate it if anyone wishes and post it here. IT is about his city, Chicago. I'm really proud of him. My new life without working weekend nights is amazing. I am not a ball of energy like I wished I'd be, but I don't nap EVERY day. I have a 3 shift weekend requirement over 6 weeks. So, for instance, today (Sunday) Im working 3-11. I always pick this shift to work. Pm's or PUMS as we call them, means you can sleep in and go to bed late. This is my body's cycle of choice. Always has been. It is also just an 8 hour shift......and that's a joy! 12 hour shifts are not my friends...We have the most adorable little girl who visits her baby brother on the unit. She was ours a few years ago. Her brother is on this high tech ventilator and it jiggles his body. Her eyes lit up as I walked in the room the other night and she exclaimed, 'MY baby is dancing! see?' Out of the mouths of babes...Finally this morning, and thanks for those who indulged me, is the topic of cell phones. The photos in today's post are from my i phone. That's why they are so small. I can't enlarge them on Blogger if they are from my cell phone. I thoroughly enjoy my cell phone. I certainly don't need it. I'd love to have the Jeopardy clock as my phone ring tone but I dont know how to arrange that. I do not text while driving. That's impossible, I can barely drive and drink a coke at the same time while in Rhonda my stick shift Honda. I do occasionally talk on the phone while driving..but I shouldn't . I say things like, "Hold on I have to shift" and I do it, but I vow to stop. I have been known to pull over to talk on the phone;I think that's the best way for me. Happy Sunday. Thoughts anyone?

*I have startitis. I've never had it before. * I think part of the affliction is you don't care that you have it. :)* I will finish Lorna's socks today before I cast on anew with above Misti Alpaca.Now for the Panic: *A moth flew from family room where I store my yarn yesterday and I panicked the rest of the day. *I don't see damage. I put those skeins in a plastic bag and threw it in the hot car. It is supposed to kill any moths. *There are millions of moths in Chicago summer. How can I win this battle? I hear lavender is a natural repellent. I wont do Moth balls. *Last year I had A moth and went sort of crazy about it. *I think I called this to me. I was fretting about moths last week and didn't even see any. *My cats are supposed to be on moth control. *I swear I dont have a dirty home. *I feel like one must feel if their kids gets head lice.*I put all my yarn in plastic bags last year EXCEPT for the yarn in my wooden upright cd case. *This is a message not to stash yarn .....isn't It??*I think the moth flew out of the LUNESTA commercial...and into my house.*Have you ever had a moth fly into your sock drawer and eat your good hand knitted socks? I am imagining all kinds of things now....*I am all natural and all that but I'll go to DEET if I have to to win the battle.*AL Says they have dryer sheets with lavendar in them. *I don't like my yarn in plastic bags. *Will the moth come in and eat my new blanket that I worked so hard on in January?*Somebody..help me get a GRIP! *Maybe I can invent something........I could make millions. Something that lures moths to it...and away from wools...like a C a n d l e. *We're going down.......S O S Save our Stash

wow, i can’t believe it’s already time to release the next selection from the bare naked knitspot 2012 club. this time it’s a crescent shawl, knit from a fine unmercerized cotton lace yarn that knits up as soft as cashmere (really.). wait a sec! i hear you saying—is that color i see?? isn’t BNK supposed to be an UNdyed yarn club?? what—did you all cave at the prospect of yet another neutral yarn pick?? believe me, i’m sure a few of our members thought the same when they opened their club packages last may—that somehow i’d lost my train of thought or something, haha. but no—the cotton fiber that makes up this yarn grows in colors—all the ones you see on this page and more! (this is one of my all-time favorite photos of my dear kim3; it captures her so well) just look at the drape this yarn offers—SOooo soft and snuggly. easy to knit with too—this is not your dime store crochet cotton, no way. this was one of my favorite chapters of last year’s BNK eBook to write—so full of interesting historical research, contemporary environmental information, and plant science; it was fantastic fun and brought me in contact with new friends, stephanie and steve at ecobutterfly organics. stephanie has been incredibly helpful in educating me about the production of color grown organic cotton, but also about the global fiber industry and environmental responsibility. she is a constant source of encouragement to do a little more each day in making personal choices that are healthy for the earth. it is one of several chapters in that book which i go back to read over again now and then. i find the story of this cotton so inspiring—the people involved have that pioneer spirit that on tough days, reminds me that my work has a purpose beyond myself, beyond making a living. it’s very comforting. haha, it was worth the work of writing that whole book just for this result! anyway . . . shown above, tall size crescent shawl in ecobutterfly qoperfina lace, a color grown organic cotton yarn which contains 3 percent fine copper fiber (a healing agent), here in precious deep green, one of the most rare colors (this was the color we shipped to the club last may) and deep golden brown shown below, petite size crescent shawls in ecobutterfly organic cotton lace (no copper content) in colors sage (i see it only in qoperfina at the moment) and vicuna. i couldn’t stop knitting these soft little crescent scarves; they go into my suitcase on nearly every trip. to purchase pattern or view complete pattern information, please click here to visit the knitspot pattern shop. or purchase the pattern in our ravelry pattern shop. as mentioned earlier,  wandering thyme is also included in the BNK 2012 eBook, collection—12 terrific accessory patterns, each one multi-sized and suitable for gifting or keeping; many will have universal appeal for women, men, and children alike. purchase the eBook collection from the knitspot club website or in our ravelry pattern shop (it takes a few seconds to view). another fun thing to do—click here to view the wandering thyme project pages to see more examples of these shawls knit by club members and photographed on a variety of people and in alternate yarns.

I've been waiting all week to feel happier. To feel reconciled to recent events, to create a fragile peace and you know what? I suck at it.  I'm as good at this as cacti are at cuddling and somewhere in...

Pattern: Vogue 8856 Fabric: Bamboo jersey from fabric mart Notes: I always wonder how companies choose the view they will sew for the pattern envelope.  In the case of Vogue 8866, they chose the simpler version (you can see it in the link above.)  If I hadn’t clicked through to look at the illustrations I would have never known about this version, and I would never have bought it for the plain t-shirt view. I loved the skirted version.  Yes, ok, it looks a little like a dance costume, but so what?  I love dance costumes!  In fact, this particularly reminds me of a green number I wore while doing a dance to “The Sign” by Ace of Base.  Yes, it was probably twice as dorky as you are imagining in your head. I was worried about sewing this up because of all the sharp angles.  Usually those are a pain to sew, but not here!  I was really impressed with the drafting.  Everything fit together perfectly, which is not always the case!  If you’ve never sewn something like this before the instructions might be a little vague (I think there were places that needed to be cut to the corner that were not listed in the instructions, but I’ve made enough of these to do it automatically.) I think the style is very flattering.  It’s long enough to wear with leggings, almost long enough to be a minidress (I did not add any length to this one!)  I’m not really an enormous fan of cut on cowl necklines because I think they make me look a little top heavy, and this is no exception, but I still really like it.  If I made it again I would turn the cowl into a boatneck, because that’s a better neckline when you (like me) have little difference in size between your bust and waist Let’s talk fabric choice:  I actually think this would be nicer in a more stable knit.  I used a medium weight bamboo jersey because it’s what I had, and I didn’t want to buy any new knits before using some up.  Bamboo jersey is heavy and stretchy.  I stabilized the shoulder seams, but it does still stretch out (especially in the back – the skirt is heavy!)  I think a ponte would work, or an interlock.  On the right hand side you can see the waist of my leggings through the knit, which is one of my pet peeves.  I will have to think carefully on what I wear underneath. I did not hem the skirt, which I think it best for this style. I hemmed the neckline and armholes with a baby hem, as suggested in the pattern, but I think a bound finish might help to stabilize those edges even further (clear elastic can only do so much!) I’m on a roll with tops – I have one more to complete this week!  I’m trying to get in my summer sewing this month, because I know when classes start in June I will have less time.

This is something I have been wanting to capture for quite a while. When Cinnamon wants to hop up on the desk (via my lap) first she face-marks the cupboard beside me. Then she makes the tiniest of chirps. In case you missed it, the chirp happens after she rubs her face on the cupboard six times, and just before she hops up. It is one of only two situations in which she ever makes noise. (The second is if she is clinging to me limpet-like, and I try to remove her from my person in order to do some dumb people thing like “type” or “drink coffee.” She makes a small beep of protest.) Please politely overlook the state of the cabin floor. It’s not really cleanable in the traditional sense. Also I don’t give a ****. Speaking of cats, in previewing this post I noticed that one of the photos in my Instagram widget on the left looks a little bit horrible when displayed out of context. I hasten to assure you, it’s not a dead tuxedo cat playing Laura Palmer. When you click through, the caption is “By tenting my bike in plastic I basically made a solarium for Neighbor Cat.” Related PostsCaturday: True Nature of Cats, Part 4A Cat Post Is Harder Than You’d ThinkGo, Cowl, Go! And A Cat UpdateSlow Progress