WOW!

I am still sorting through everything that I saw and heard this past weekend at Knit Camp!  Talk about rejuvenating my knitting.  I'll try over the next few days to give you some highlights (although I really stunk at taking pictures this time).

For now, I'll post some people pictures.

Anne and Debbie from Canada.

When Meg talks, knitters listen.

Down our side of the table.

Al and LeeAnne, the knitting couple.  Al used to be our camp photographer.  What a lovely couple and both knitters!

A bit of conversation going on during a break.

Our table mates, dinner mates, and knitting mates at night.  These three are unbelievable knitters!!
And they made us laugh a lot.

My campmate.  I don't think I'd go without her.

And a couple of new campers this year, right under our table.

Tomorrow, what I bought!

Still Camping

Oh what a weekend!  I cannot tell you how much inspiration is swirling around in my mind.  I can hardly wait to get home and sort through it all!

See you on the purl side!

Finally Finished Friday

I'm at Camp, but before I left I gave up this beauty to my dear "friend" who has been going through some things the last few years and loves this color as much as I do.

It was meant to come to camp with me for Show and Tell, but two things happened.  After blocking, I just was not as happy with the finished edges as I would like to be, I think that is what happens when you rush too much to meet deadlines (thats a whole different blog post) and when I saw her last Friday , I just knew I had to gift it to her.

The pattern is from Wool Gathering #91, Faroese Shawls and is out of Icelandic lace weight yarn.  The yarn is a bit scratchy when knitting with it, and more than once I cursed the bind off, but it was well worth the knit and I learned a couple of things along the way.

I have to admit this is NOT my finest work.  I cursed the bind off the whole time and am seeking out alternative methods for a stretchy bind off.  And trying to figure out the best way to add yarn as you bind off the 400+ stitches along the way.  For some reason, spit and splice never works very well for me and the russian join on this is a bit noticeable.

I am hoping to pick some of the finest brains this weekend on this type of shawl and knitting because I see many more of these in my future!

And blocking, I gotta get this blocking done right.  It is something that I seldom have patience for and it sometimes comes out in my blocking!

But, it was a nice learning lesson along the way, this first of the Summer of Shawls completed object.

Off To Knit Camp

I may blog from camp if I get a minute, if not see you next week!

Wednesday Website

Wardrobe Architect

Boy, do I need this one!

Happy Birthday Linda!

My roomie at camp.  Have a great birthday, see you in person on Thursday!

PS, as much as I blogged about being ready for camp with my knitting, a whole new story is unfolding on that wave.  Ahhh, knitting!

What's in Your Project Bags?

Oh, you all know it, I am a sucker for project bags and some day, I am going to make some of my own, but for now, I am having a hoot of a time with what other people are making and you know, we must keep our etsy people alive out there!

As I prep this Monday for what is going to go to Knit Camp with me as far as knitting (one can never have too many projects, I always say, it is better to be prepared than not!), I am putting them into project bags in anticipation of their travel.  And as I do so, I am doing a bit of knitting on each of them, just to see if they can make the trip.

So, what's in my project bags today?  First off is my Dragon Melody.  This is a great project for now and at camp when I need to pay just a little bit of attention to the knitting.  For scads of inches it is just stockinette and increases on the right side.  I've put some markers in to make me cognizant  of when I need to do those increases.  It is sitting pretty in this Kristin Omdahl bag by Erin Lane  I love Erin Lane Bags and am hoping that she has some at Stitches Midwest in a bit bigger bag.  Don't you love this print?!  It is so me and that tab at the top fits cooly around a belt loop so I can knit while standing.

Second up, is my Hansel by Gudrun Johnston in none other than Just Beautiful Alpaca from Cheryl Oberle.  This project can be pretty well knit on without looking at it, which is a good thing cause black and eyes that probably should see the eye doctor when I get back for some updated glasses,  can sometimes be hard to knit on.  The nice thing is the Camp room is so well lit, that there should not be a reason I won't be able to see this.

It has been housed in my Silver Pumpkin bag.  I've had this bag for a couple of years and bought it because of the color on the outside of course, but then you all knew that didn't you!  I don't think they are doing bags anymore, at first google, I cannot find the vendor, but I love the workmanship on this bag.

Hitofude is going to, just because I have a self imposed deadline on it that I keep wondering if I will be able to make on it.  I  am such a loose knitter that I am having to use a size 1 (gasp) needle on it, which means it's going to be a while before I get the sleeves done ( the widest portion).  I'll pull it out on the first day of camp and see how well it can be knit on in the classroom and will go from there.

It is being housed in my Fat Squirrel Fibers from Knitting Pipeline last Spring.  This bag was recently vacated by my Faroese Shawl that at this writing still needs the rest of the 400+ stitches bound off and then blocked.  I'm shooting for tonight on that one.  I love the detachable handle that Mary Beth puts on all of her bags!

 

Also, making the trip to camp, but not necessarily a half to knit is my Pi Shawl.  I've blogged about it before and I love knitting on it, I'm still on the fence about the darkness of it.  I'm going to take it to camp and get some other opinions on it (from the experts)  It has been in this bag from Little Skein in the Big Wool Walk on the Wild Side bag since it started.

Then in another Little Skein bag, (for those who are Mickey Fans, she has been doing some Mickey project bags and stitch markers recently)  the Kimono Shawl by Cheryl Oberle is going to be going to camp. This is a two fold project, one it is part of a KAL we have been doing over on the Knitaway Group over on Ravelry all Spring long, and it also going to be a Hospice Home Shawl when I finish it, so I really need to get a move on it.  It is a pretty simple lace pattern that can also be done in the classroom during the day.

Not making the trip, but something that I am so surprised about how much I love this yarn is Chuparosa
It is in the cutest darn fabric bag.  I wish I had bought a larger bag (read as large sweater size) in this fabric.  This, too is from Little Skein in the Big Wool, I see a bit of a trend here in my project bags, don't you?!

The Maya Yarn from Berroco is such a dream to knit with.  I swatched it yesterday and really was impressed with the hand of the fabric I came up with.  This is going to be my knit shop knitting when I return, since I bought the yarn from them.  It is not a hurry up and knit, because I think it will be a great little vest to wear late this Summer, early Fall over a 3/4 top.  I am anxious to knit on it though, it is just really neat.

And that is what is in my project bags today and I might add, I'm pretty sure I've got that piece of the prep for knitting camp done.  Man, I sure am glad that I am driving, whatever would I do if I had to fly?!

Looking Over My Favorites

The pieces to my Inlet Sweater are all complete.  Unfortunately, with Camp just four days away, the blocking table is going to be pretty heavily in use until I leave.  So, it will not get sewn up until I get back from camp.  I may, however, get a chance to get it on the blocking table before I leave so it will be ready to sew up when I get home.

I've been playing around this morning with some lace weight yarn, Lost City Silk from Lost City Knits.  I am loving the yarn, but the more I knit with it, the more I realize that it just does not want to be the Radiance Shawl.  It really wants to be a wrap and Denise has designed a lovely pattern to go with it, Flight of the Wild Silk Moths.  I am going to keep it in my mind for after camp, because it is going to require a bit of my concentration to knit on it. (read that as it has some techniques that I have never done before, like nupps!)

Before, I made the decision that the yarn did not want to be Radiance, I headed over to my favorites on Ravelry.  I've got some good things over there favorited and it just makes me want to cast on all the things.  It just amazes me of all the wonderful designs that are out there for knitting.  Sweaters and shawls and cowls and wraps and baby blankets.  There are so many good things out there and my "friends" are my biggest enablers, they are knitting some pretty good stuff too.

What a wonderful thing Ravelry is!

Happy and A Safe 4th of July To You!

This Is Funny

It is the start of a holiday weekend.  It is the start of vacation.  It is less than a week until Knit Camp.

I've got a shawl to finish the sewn bind off on and it needs to be blocked.

I've got a shawl that has a too tight cast off that needs to be bound off again, perhaps with the sewn bind off.

I've got another shawl that needs a quick wash and dry.

So, here I sit contemplating casting on new shawl patterns.  This one would be a perfect camp knit, plenty of stockinette stitch I am told to knit on while sitting, listening at camp.  The pattern is designed by Natalie Servant, a neat gal from camp a couple of years ago..

I just love this sunny yellow color.  Doesn't it just bring out the loveliness of the shawl?!

And another contender for camp knitting as it is all garter for the center square with increases and decreases.

Well, it would be no surprise that I have some lovelies to knit all of them out of!  In order of appearance above.

But, first, I promised myself I must finish this last sleeve of Inlet, even if it is not ready to go to camp.  
Thank goodness, we've this lovely weekend all to ourselves.  No where to go, just enjoying the lovely weather and kicking back to knit!

I'm On Vacation

Wednesday Website

If Only This Wasn't So Far Away

Gorgeous With a Capital G

What a beautiful weekend!  We hosted my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's 25th Surprise Anniversary Party yesterday.  They were genuinely surprised and did not have a clue that their daughter was coming in with her family for the party.  The four kids (two from each of their previous marriages) put it all together, I just provided the place and drink.  It was so neat to see how they all four came together and put on a special party for their parents.  It was a lot of work, but I was pleased as punch that we had a big enough house to do it.  With 16 yesterday, though, I am thinking we may have bought too small of a house.  (Don't tell the Tall Guy I said that!)

Now, with all of that done, it is time to look forward to Knit Camp, in just 1 1/2 weeks.  I've got some knitting to finish for my potential contest entry.

And a shawl to bind off and block.

And a shawl to re-do the bind off on.

And a shawl to wash up and re-block.

So, it would seem for now, there are a few shawls in my knitting queue.  I'll show you pictures after camp.

For now, enjoy this drop dead gorgeous day, I am heading out to the porch to knit my Sunday away!

Happy 25th Anniversary!

Finally Finished Friday

This monster is finally done.  I got a wild hair 19 days ago to knit a surprise afghan.  And this is the result.

It has been all encompassing every day since.  It is a bulky yarn and went fast at first, but about half way through, ugh, it got heavy.

The yarn is a super wash wool called Viking Balder.  I have never heard of it, but I can tell you it is super soft and squishy.

Now onto regularly scheduled knitting for ME!

Wednesday Website

Schoolhouse Press

Updated website, this is so cool!  You gotta go here and look.

It's Official - Summer of Shawls Has Begun

Yesterday was the official start of Summer and the longest day of the year.  But, as you all well know it was also Father's Day so I put off blogging about the start of Summer for today.  And with the start of Summer, it also means the kick off of the Summer of Shawls!  

I am not stopping the sweater knitting this Summer, but for the most part, I am really trying to clean up some of my shawls that are in process, yarn that is earmarked for shawl knitting (some still in the bag from last Summer), and patterns that I am anxious to cast on.

Add to the list the many options for Hospice Home Shawl knitting that I want to do!  This shawl is not mine, but rather one that my friend Pam knit for the Hospice Home.  Isn't it lovely!

Over the past few weeks, I've been catching up on some podcasts, and you might be surprised to hear how many have been talking about shawls this Spring/Summer.  I have been learning a bit from them and the types, their history, yarns that are really good for different styles and shawl designing.

The amazing thing is that just when you think you have a really good idea, you realize that you are not the only one to come up with the idea.  Like, how nice a little shawl is to always have in your purse or in the pocket of your seat should you get somewhere and need a little bit of knitting to get you by.  Of course, it is nice it is a fairly easy shawl so you don't have to worry about lace charts and such.

Or how smart it is to have a little shawl tucked in your car or at work during the Summer when everybody is cranking up the air condition every where you go (especially for us people that are always  cold).

But, before I go full blown into shawl knitting, I have three more chunks of color on this throw for a surprise gift this weekend.  I am anxious to get it done and move onto shawls for Summer.

Stay tuned and remember in 10 years your shawls will still fit.  Not my own quote, but, I am sorry I can fully acknowledge the author.  It's kind of hard to write while driving!

Happy Father's Day

To the best Dad ever.  Boy, do I miss you today and every day!

And to my Son, who is a great Dad! We are so proud of him!

Yes I Like Bags And I Cannot Lie

From Amy at The Fat Squirrel Speaks, a big sweater project bag.

And a set of three Namaste bags.  However, the large one is not as large as it appears, so this ensemble is going to be a Door Prize at Knit Camp.

Along with a Walker bag that I already have and thought others may need one too. After all it is in the pre-requisite color of PJKNITS!

The final bag for this Saturday is from Erin Lane Bags.  It is a fabric created by Kristin Omdahl.  Isn't it beautiful?!  

And still I search for the perfect purse, but for now I've got some great project bags to put my knitting in AND give away at camp.

Early What???

It came in the mail yesterday.  But, it surprised me in a couple of ways.  

In the baggie it came in, they included my renewal notice.  I think I might have said to myself, I won't need that.  But, then I opened it up and thumbed through the pictures and it had me re-thinking giving it up just yet.  There are actually several sweaters in this issue I really like.

And as luck would have it, the shop got some Molly Ringwald Madtosh in yesterday.  Unfortunately, I am going to have to go on the hunt for one more skein of it, because for my size there is never enough in a shipment for a whole sweater.  (Ok, ignore that gripe, it has been that kind of week!)

It shouldn't surprise me though that this is the Early Fall issue, since even Pantone has released their Fall colors.  I'm liking Biscay Bay a lot, but that would not be any big surprise to any of you now would it?!

Wednesday Website

Berties Blankets

Check out this Hospice Blanket Site.

Chuckin The List

That's what I am doing!  The only project I have to have done by the end of the month is my Top Secret Surprise Gift.  Life is way too short to not knit on what you want to be knitting on!  I have way too many time sensitive projects at work that I should stress about my knitting.

And if I want to cast on something new, that's totally up to me.  You are in control of your knitting.  And of your style.  And of your life.  And of your Show and Tell for Camp.

I think that is very adult like of me, wouldn't you agree?

So, what is your personal style?  Me, I have to say I love a good logo t-shirt and blue jeans.  That is about as of a sense of style that I have.  Years ago, I used to get the Spiegel catalog, do you remember that catalog?  I always imagined myself in the clothes and shoes the models wore.  But of course, I also imagined I had their body and unlimited funds to do it with.  The thing I like about a good catalog or even QVC is when you see the whole outfit on someone,   you don't have to figure out what to wear with it, you see the whole picture.
I have shared these two websites with you before, but right now, I think you might enjoy both of them if you happen to be of my age range.

Walking in Grace and Beauty

Fifty Not Frumpy

So, to bring it back to knitting again, what is your style of knitting?  Whatever it is I hope you like what you are knitting.  If you have yarn that has lost it's flavor with you, pass it on.  Will it make a good Hospice Home Shawl?  Is it something the Nursing Home or Assisted Living Center might take for their residents to knit or crochet with?  If you don't like what you are knitting, for heaven's sake chuck it and knit what you want to.  You, too are in control of your knitting!  Enjoy it!

I'm A Day Behind

I was hoping to catch up today, but I am a day behind of my schedule for knitting.

With most of the laundry all done I had a  good part of the day to get some things accomplished on my list.  This little nightmare has two weeks until it has to be done, washed and wrapped for giving.  I just have two more skeins to knit tonight and I'll be back on schedule, but I had to take a bit of a break to rest the hands.

 Big yarn, big needles and the weight of what is already been knit makes the hands ache just a bit.  That and I need to wind some more.

I just looked at the calendar and realized that a week from today is not only Father's Day, but the official start to Summer,  and we will be starting the Summer of Shawls starting next Sunday!