Vogue Knitting LIVE!

I attended Vogue Knitting live this past weekend and had a wonderful time. Took the train into NYC bright and early on a frigid Saturday morning. I attended a so-so lecture (in her defense, the lecturer was a sub for someone who couldn't show up), reveled in the marketplace, and took a great lace class with the diva herself, Anne Hanson.
The marketplace was smaller than at other events I've attended, such as Stitches or Rhinebeck, but there were some top-notch vendors including one of my favorites, Tess Yarns. Got my fix of the Microfiber Ribbon in a pretty tonal brown. Unfortunately, I only remembered part of the specific winding instructions--I correctly turned my swift on its side, but I incorrectly used a ballwinder, which is a no-no. I had to rewind both balls and needless to say, this was quite a mess. I have since researched and learned that ends can be joined by a little sewing with thread, and ends can also be secured with Fray-Check, which I now own! I think I will be fine and I will make the Ribbon Cable Tank, a pattern I had from the last Microfiber Ribbon I bought! I also bought some yummy Cultivated Silk and Wool in a beautiful teal color; I will use it for the Tuesday Night Cowl, which was on display in several different Tess fibers.
My other purchase was from the booth of one of my LYS's, Down Cellar in Basking Ridge, NJ. I bought 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Chunky Handpaint in a lovely brown/blue mix (colorway Falstaff), and last night at Book Group I cast on the Loop of Luxury from Cowlgirls, a book I recently won! This yarn is unbelievably soft and beautiful. Can't wait to finish it...this is making it hard for me to go back to my argyle vest, but I am making good progress (almost done with the front!), so I will persevere.
Finally, I met some new friends who are from the next town to me. We exchanged Ravelry names and hopefully we will get together to knit!

Vogue Knitting LIVE!

I attended Vogue Knitting live this past weekend and had a wonderful time. Took the train into NYC bright and early on a frigid Saturday morning. I attended a so-so lecture (in her defense, the lecturer was a sub for someone who couldn't show up), reveled in the marketplace, and took a great lace class with the diva herself, Anne Hanson.
The marketplace was smaller than at other events I've attended, such as Stitches or Rhinebeck, but there were some top-notch vendors including one of my favorites, Tess Yarns. Got my fix of the Microfiber Ribbon in a pretty tonal brown. Unfortunately, I only remembered part of the specific winding instructions--I correctly turned my swift on its side, but I incorrectly used a ballwinder, which is a no-no. I had to rewind both balls and needless to say, this was quite a mess. I have since researched and learned that ends can be joined by a little sewing with thread, and ends can also be secured with Fray-Check, which I now own! I think I will be fine and I will make the Ribbon Cable Tank, a pattern I had from the last Microfiber Ribbon I bought! I also bought some yummy Cultivated Silk and Wool in a beautiful teal color; I will use it for the Tuesday Night Cowl, which was on display in several different Tess fibers.
My other purchase was from the booth of one of my LYS's, Down Cellar in Basking Ridge, NJ. I bought 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Chunky Handpaint in a lovely brown/blue mix (colorway Falstaff), and last night at Book Group I cast on the Loop of Luxury from Cowlgirls, a book I recently won! This yarn is unbelievably soft and beautiful. Can't wait to finish it...this is making it hard for me to go back to my argyle vest, but I am making good progress (almost done with the front!), so I will persevere.
Finally, I met some new friends who are from the next town to me. We exchanged Ravelry names and hopefully we will get together to knit!

Sunrise Circle Jacket

As mentioned in my New Year's Day post, I finished my Sunrise Circle Jacket. Yesterday, the buttons I had ordered from Etsy Shop Muddy Muse arrived and they are a fantastic match. It was quite a challenging positioning the oblong buttons on the curved edge of the sweater (the pattern calls for toggles, which might have worked better, but I like the look of these buttons). After several attempts, I got it right and I'm very pleased wiht the result. I also did a YouTube Tutorial posted by Melissa Monday on how to crochet button loops--I would have totally done this wrong if I hadn't watched that video, and the only reason I thought of searching for a video is that a video clip of Cirilia Rose demonstrating button loops came up in my blog posts yesterday. I guess it was fate.
Anyway, after communicating with the designer of this ingenious pattern, Kate Gilbert, I decided to stick with the medium size rather than the small, and I'm glad I did. It was very difficult to determine whether this would fit because of the unusual construction (each front is knit in conjunction with a sleeve, and there is an ample hem all around the garment that really makes a difference once its sewed down). I did end up having to shorten the sleeves from the bottom a bit after knitting, and I may have removed a touch too much, but being a short person with short arms, one of my favorite things about knitting for myself is being able to custom-fit my sleeves, so I prefer them this length.
All in all, I'm very pleased with this pattern and it was a lot of fun to knit, even if the uncertainty of the size was a bit unsettling.
I wore it to work and was immediately complimented by my knitting co-worker. Priceless!

Sunrise Circle Jacket

As mentioned in my New Year's Day post, I finished my Sunrise Circle Jacket. Yesterday, the buttons I had ordered from Etsy Shop Muddy Muse arrived and they are a fantastic match. It was quite a challenging positioning the oblong buttons on the curved edge of the sweater (the pattern calls for toggles, which might have worked better, but I like the look of these buttons). After several attempts, I got it right and I'm very pleased wiht the result. I also did a YouTube Tutorial posted by Melissa Monday on how to crochet button loops--I would have totally done this wrong if I hadn't watched that video, and the only reason I thought of searching for a video is that a video clip of Cirilia Rose demonstrating button loops came up in my blog posts yesterday. I guess it was fate.
Anyway, after communicating with the designer of this ingenious pattern, Kate Gilbert, I decided to stick with the medium size rather than the small, and I'm glad I did. It was very difficult to determine whether this would fit because of the unusual construction (each front is knit in conjunction with a sleeve, and there is an ample hem all around the garment that really makes a difference once its sewed down). I did end up having to shorten the sleeves from the bottom a bit after knitting, and I may have removed a touch too much, but being a short person with short arms, one of my favorite things about knitting for myself is being able to custom-fit my sleeves, so I prefer them this length.
All in all, I'm very pleased with this pattern and it was a lot of fun to knit, even if the uncertainty of the size was a bit unsettling.
I wore it to work and was immediately complimented by my knitting co-worker. Priceless!

Review of 2010-A Productive Year

Happy New Year, everyone! I am proud of the knitting year I've had. I just tallied up my finished objects and found that there were 27 items, including my Noro Cable Comfort Throw, my just-completed Sunrise Circle Jacket, made with yarn that was three years old! (pictures and wrap-up to come as soon as buttons arrive and are sewn on), my first piece of knitted jewelry, and 9 pairs of knitted mitts for my daughter and all of her friends.
Along with my first attempts at beaded knitting (both in the bracelet and in the Citron shawl), I also started my first intarsia project--my son's argyle vest, which is in progress now. I have FINALLY gotten the hang of figuring out how much yarn to cut for each argyle diamond so that I don't have to splice mid-diamond. The earlier diamonds have some uneven stitches that were knit before I perfected this technique, but I'm hoping that blocking will even them out. I am about 5 inches below the armhole of the V-neck front, and then I will knit the back solid. This will be a very fine looking vest for my dapper 15-year-old.
For 2011, I'd like to try Entrelac (I've got the Lady Eleanor stole in my queue and the new Rosemary Drysdale Entrelac book on my nightstand to read first); I'd like to knit down my stash a bit, and I plan to knit another afghan for my daughter to take to college with her in September (I have a pattern picked out; just awaiting her final decision as to where she will be going so I can order appropriate yarn colors!)
If anyone is reading, I do have a favor to ask. I have one skein + of the Tahki Donegal Tweed left from the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I'd like to make either a hat or fingerless mitts. Any suggestions?
've been spending New Year's Day alternating between watching Bowl Games with my husband and catching up on knitting Podcasts, all while working on the argyle vest. Can't ask for a much more wonderful way to start the New Year! Hoping it's a Happy, Healthy one for all of you.
Back soon with the Sunrise Circle recap.

Review of 2010-A Productive Year

Happy New Year, everyone! I am proud of the knitting year I've had. I just tallied up my finished objects and found that there were 27 items, including my Noro Cable Comfort Throw, my just-completed Sunrise Circle Jacket, made with yarn that was three years old! (pictures and wrap-up to come as soon as buttons arrive and are sewn on), my first piece of knitted jewelry, and 9 pairs of knitted mitts for my daughter and all of her friends.
Along with my first attempts at beaded knitting (both in the bracelet and in the Citron shawl), I also started my first intarsia project--my son's argyle vest, which is in progress now. I have FINALLY gotten the hang of figuring out how much yarn to cut for each argyle diamond so that I don't have to splice mid-diamond. The earlier diamonds have some uneven stitches that were knit before I perfected this technique, but I'm hoping that blocking will even them out. I am about 5 inches below the armhole of the V-neck front, and then I will knit the back solid. This will be a very fine looking vest for my dapper 15-year-old.
For 2011, I'd like to try Entrelac (I've got the Lady Eleanor stole in my queue and the new Rosemary Drysdale Entrelac book on my nightstand to read first); I'd like to knit down my stash a bit, and I plan to knit another afghan for my daughter to take to college with her in September (I have a pattern picked out; just awaiting her final decision as to where she will be going so I can order appropriate yarn colors!)
If anyone is reading, I do have a favor to ask. I have one skein + of the Tahki Donegal Tweed left from the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I'd like to make either a hat or fingerless mitts. Any suggestions?
've been spending New Year's Day alternating between watching Bowl Games with my husband and catching up on knitting Podcasts, all while working on the argyle vest. Can't ask for a much more wonderful way to start the New Year! Hoping it's a Happy, Healthy one for all of you.
Back soon with the Sunrise Circle recap.