Camp Show and Tell Resumed

Sometimes, we just can't get the models to stop and put on a nice face when they are doing their show and tell. When that happens...well you'll see. But, it's the show and tell we are focusing on!


Mary

Poppy

Greg


Martha - this was from her birthday yarn that we all sent her



Not Cheryl, but Cheryl's Cusco jacket in her Just Beautiful Alpaca



Susan, you know her from the Rainey Sisters blog



Oh there is still more show and tell to come!

8 Hours

Last night I got 8 hours of sleep. Between sleeping in the chair and going to bed at 9, I had 8 hours of sleep...I cannot tell you when I have had 8 hours of sleep! I'm not sick, just could not keep my eyes open.
.
Consequently, I did not knit a stitch yesterday. That never happens unless I am sick. I did not even open the laptop. That almost never happens.

I also did not get to tell you that yesterday was my Blogiversary. It was number 8. Is that a significant number for yesterday? 8 hours of sleep and 8 years for the Blog. As Arsenio Hall used to say - hmmmm.

Anyway, 8 years ago, there were not any pictures in the first year, heck in the first year there were not many posts. If I really look at the number of posts, they didn't take off until 2005. Someday I'll go back and look at those to see what was happen here at chez PJKnits.

Tomorrow, we will go back to Knit Camp pictures.

Until then, thanks for reading! (Even when there wasn't much to read). This blog today has been brought to you my the Number 8.

Just A Short Break

To show you what I worked on during camp...and finished. The Wool Peddler Shawlette from Chiara that I picked up a couple of skeins when I was in Memphis. This yarn is sooooo soft and cuddly.

While at camp, I learned a new stretchy bindoff from Amy. It was from Knitty.com 2009 and it is so cool...worth the price of admission at camp!





Tomorrow, it's back to camp pictures.

Show and Tell

Sit back, this is going to take a couple of days.

Nice cable vest, she is a bus driver so in between runs, she gets alot of knitting done.

A variation of a scarf that we will see in the next few days.

This is from the Royal Family knitting ensemble, the Queen Mother's dog.

Mountains and a pencil

The Queen Mother and her dog sitting on the couch. Next year, Linda says she will add some more of the family to her show and tell.

In the coming days, there will be more of Sandi's show and tell, but this is one of those yarns that you knit and it ruffles by where you knit in the yarn itself.

Pam and her yoke sweater from some time ago...sorry we didn't get your face in the pics, but this was a great looking sweater in person.

This is a piece of Pam's that was sitting on the table and I had to take a pic. Isn't this beautiful...really makes me want to knit some lace.

I'm just the model for this jacket from Cheryl Oberle's book. Linda actually knitted it, and the consensus is that red could be my color! I may have to knit this one in red for myself!


This is Collared, that Rachel graciously stepped in to be my model.

More Show and Tell in the days to come...there is so much more to show.

Of Course I Bought Yarn!

I'm waiting on my Schoolhouse Press yarn and buttons to come in, but in the mean time, here is what I bought at the market on Saturday.


From Chris at Briar Rose -three skeins, I am leaning towards a sweater over at Knitspot, something with a little texture to it.

Also,from Chris at Briar Rose - 4th of July - two skeins, don't know what I am going to do with it, just loved the vibrant colors

The minute market was open I knew where I was heading - Cheryl Oberle's booth. Cheryl had told me about the new Cusco she had knitted out of her Just Beautiful Alpaca. On Thursday night, she let me try it on. Cheryl is a skinny tall thing, and I was a skeptic, but her small looked pretty good on me. So this little lovely will become a Cusco for me.

Cheryl's booth was mobbed, so if you put the yarn in your hand thinking about it, you better not put it down because someone would snap it up.

This Dancing Colors yarn was originally slated for another Wabi Sabi, but after trying on the Bias Sleeved Sweater from Knit One Knit All that was knitted out of Dancing Colors, I might just have a change of mind on this one.


And lastly, another tonal dyed Dancing Colors from Cheryl...this one originally slated for a Faroese Shawl, but it too, would look good in the Bias Sleeve Sweater.

I may need to swatch both of the Dancing Colors and see which one I like for the Bias Sleeved Top and make the decision from there.

I Had To Try

I know, I know, it doesn't fit, but with some tweeking it could. I had to try on a couple of the sweaters just in case. This vest is on my list.


The thing about these two pictures is that it definitely tells me it is time to leave camp behind and get back on the treadmill. Jaya and I are going to start the Couch to 5K program again on Monday, and hopefully, by next year's camp, we'll both be so in shape we could run a couple of mornings at camp....

By the way I tried on the red stripe blouse....of course it was way too small, but the consensus was that it makes a person look busty....

So Many Choices

The Long Collared Jacket has been on the needles almost since I got the book. This one is longer than mine is going to be, but I loved the feel of Cheryl's yarn.



This Zig-Zag Jacket knitted by Meg is off and then on the list for me. Last year, everyone was bowled over by the original knit by EZ herself. Knit out of Rangely, this would be a very warm jacket.



The Norwegian Sweater was a fave for me and was in a Spun Out in a heavier yarn. Of course, I have one on the needles now for several years, but the more I thought about it, just wasn't happy with the heaviness of it.

This one knit out of Shetland Jumper Weight is just the right weight, and I just so happen to have some dark purple Jumper Weight in the Yarn Room. It would be a great feeling against the skin out of an alpaca as well...hmmmm.

Knit One Knit All

Over the next couple of days, I am going to post some pictures of the garments from Schoolhouse Press' latest book on garter stitch. I was fortunate to try on almost all of the garments (the ones I could fit into and some that I should not have) at camp. Trying them on gave me the opportunity to see if I wanted to knit them and if I did what I needed to do to make them fit me.

Keep in mind while looking at them that they were not knit for me, but using the EPS system I can make them fit me just the way they should. Click on the photos and enlarge to see the detail closer (like the sleeves not the tired eyes of the model)


Hand to Hand Cardigan - this wasn't on my list but after trying it on, it might just make the list. I thought I had yarn at home to use for it, but it looks like what I have is Regal and not Rangely, which would make a lighter weight jacket, but this is still a contender for my list.


The Bias-Sleeved Sweater - I am knitting this out of Flash and almost done. It just needs to be grafted together and the icord dealt with. This one is from Cheryl's yarn. A version in one of Cheryl's yarn is on my list to knit this one again. This felt scrumptious on.

And the Hand to Hand Cardigan in another colorway. Isn't this sleeve cool?


This is the original jacket....knitted by Elizabeth and worn by her.

Do you know how cool that is???? I do.

We Are Home

There is so much to tell and show. So be prepared or you can take a break for a few days when the focus will switch to other knitting topics, but for the next weekish it's all about camp!

We Made It To Camp!


The group is gathering outside in our living room before the official start of camp. It is so neat to sit and knit and watch the arrivals. There are new faces and alot of regulars.

My traveling companions and I left around 7:15 this morning. The car had lots of bags in it, but we still could see out the back. However, I think we are the winners of the 1 1/2 trolly award.....it took 1 1/2 trollies to get it all in...but we are prepared!

After lasagna and salad for dinner, we made the mad dash for our spaces. After that we spent the evening, shopping in the Schoolhouse Press store onsite, chatting with old friends, and knitting.

My traveling companions and I came back to my room because I have a sitting room and we drank some chai tea and knitted until the new day started...what a great start to camp!

Gone To Knit Camp

Does Wishy Washy Come With Menopause?

I have never been so undecisive as to what to take to camp for knitting.

The Effortless Cardigan out of my Three Irish Girls Gulf of Mexico yarn. As I look at the finished ones on Ravelry, I think this is just not a good look for me so I uncast it. I cast on a top down. Nope, not really what I want. I cast on the Effortless again and say the heck with it, maybe it isn't so bad. My friend tells me it is not a good look. I rip it out. I go looking for another pattern for most of a night. I cast on. As I go to bed, I say, thats not really what I want. And maybe that yarn just needs to stay home!

I have a talk with myself as I fall to sleep. Just take the things you are working on now. Keep focused. Work on what is on the needles. Problem - I have so many things on needles.

In the light of day - don't have a clue as to what I am taking and it is obvious, I need therapy!

5 Days of Knit Camp, that might do it.

Houston We Have A Couple of Problems


The sleeve is too long

The bottom is too long AND I used the same stitch count as the front...is this a sign?


Guess I know what I'll be working on at camp this weekend.

Back On Track

After a weekend if much knitting and yarn reflection, I have some focus there. Earlier this Spring, I decided that I was going to concentrate this summer on things that were on needles, spring/summer yarns and stash yarn.

Fellow camper, Nancy had a good point on what my knitting wardrobe was missing. I'm going to work on that soon very soon.

For the immediate future, I'm going back to my original thoughts and making some good decisions on what to knit. Yes, I went astray on that one on Saturday night when I cast on for yet another sweater, but this morning ripped it out, sat it aside for now. I have my notes so when I get there I can pick it back up and begin it again.


This little gem is in time out. It just isn't right for me for now, that may change in a week or a day, but for now, it is not making the cut for camp knitting which is the immediate concern for me.


The narrowed down list of yarns to take to camp. I know already that there is one sweater I want to cast on almost immediately when I get there and can get the yarn I need for it.

I feel good about my choices today. Now one or two may join the suitcase when I am not looking, but for Monday, I'm okay with the choices.

Sometimes

You just need to call a friend who is a knitter, who is going to knit camp and who is brutally honest with you! The one who talks you down from making a huge knitting mistake, spending weeks on a sweater that you will never wear. The one who helps you calm down when you want to toss the whole yarn room in your suitcase (even though your other friend tells you there is plenty of room in her car)


Thia ia thw blank canvas I am going to work on today. Putting possibles here for Knit Camp knitting and travel. Looking at them every time I pass by, retrieving or adding to.

Honestly, I have spent more time in the last week trying what to decide to knit on that actually knitting. I need to end this cycle and do some actual knitting.

I'm Stretched

Very thin. So many things to accomplish at work, so many things I wanted to knit, so many things I need to do this weekend!

In my typical fashion, I am making a list or two.

One for work in order of importance ---over coffee
Already have my list for knit camp, just need to finalize it --over chai tea tonight.
One for home --heck this can come off of the list of lists that need to be made. I have grown men at home who can handle that.
One for the knitting that "would" like to be done before we take off next week.

I need to rest up for the late nights and early mornings that will surely come next weekend.

Did I mention I am going to Knit Camp with Meg Swansen five days?

Happy Birthday Linda!

I Did It

I bought the book. I opened it, started reading it ala Linda, and then looked at one of the schematics. Closed it and said, after camp, I'll pull look at it again. But, first, maybe I should open it and see what kinds of yarn it might need.

You know, just in case.

It Begins

The Countdown to Camp is 10 days til Camp. I am frantically knitting, frantically trying to figure out what to take for knitting, what yarn that I might want to take to start something with. The one thing I am not frantic about is what to wear. Several years ago, I realized that just because it was hot outside did not mean I could not wear long sleeves for the frigid classroom...long sleeves, sweaters and sox are okay for this camp.


In preparation for the trip, my suitcase for yarn, books and knitting paraphenalia has come up from the basement.




At the moment, it is empty, but it won't be long and if will be filled.


First in will be my Show and Tell. Collared by Cheryl Oberle is going in today, since I doubt I will be wearing it this week here.


It's Flip Flop weather, and these will need to go in the suitcase. After all, it is knitting related.

Happy 4th of July!


It's been a family weekend. Just the two of us tonight. Time to pull the knitting out and find something good to watch on t.v.