Valse De Fleurs

Too many knitting projects in your head?  Can’t get them out and off your needles fast enough?  Too much work?  Too many chores?  Pressure building? The great thing about spreading myself thin is that I have a lot of variety in my life. But the problem is, I do feel like I’am neglecting everything. Besides attending the teens’ concert and choir performances and district contests, there is a knitting frenzy here.

Some time ago, in the throes of an online yarn sale, I ordered an enormous amount of Noro yarn. A lot of it. Don’t look at me like that; I had a plan for it.  Really, I did. This cotton-blend Taiyo Sock yarn, though behaves like single-ply and hard on the hands to knit, is so nice when knit up, washed, and sure to improve with wear. The only thing I don’t like–as I work–the yarn twists on itself and gets tangled. Other than that, Noro yarn really added to the fun…can’t beat the colors!!

I just love this little cardi pattern…coming soon on atelier alfa.  I got to test knit another Anne Lernout‘s clever design–perfect little spring/summer top. Fun–and quick–to knit. One piece, practically no seams–just four knitted flowers to stitch.

Go gracefully from denim to tweed with this versatile pattern. Fleur Cardigan is a sweet, timeless cardigan worked from top down with a simple, built-in i-cord button band and edging. Instructions are clear with many visual check points and tutorials such as shadow wrap-&-turn to reference.   With successive washing, the silky texture will be enhanced.  This is sure to become one of my favorites.

As a layering-kinda-gal, I modified the sleeves to give it the faux layering effect. First, the whimsy cardigan is finished as short-sleeve and added after-thought, roll-up sleeves in a complimentary purple used for the flowers.  Apparently, mission accomplished as hubby was baffled why I directed him to include sleeves in the foreground during shooting session earlier today.

The 11/16” Belle Buttons by Dritz (#BB848 100% polyester) were a tad spendy ($11.45 for a pack of 3.)  It costs nearly as much as the yarn used for the cardigan?!  Needless to say, it’s worth it. The “organic” stony buttons are just perfect–tied in with the black hues in Noro Taiyo.

I am very pleased with the final touches added (sewn in ribbon to back of button band.)

I’m so sad to be done with this test knit. It is like the book you don’t want to finish because it’s such a great read. Does it happen to you?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Fleur It Up

I thought spring break would give me more free time to knit; instead, it has just given me more free time to run errands.

I was starting to stress out ‘cuz I was thinking wouldn’t it be nice to wear my beautiful, new Spring Cardi to Thursday knit-Up and Sunday Easter Service? A day to complete sewing on ribbon band and buttons, wash, and block.   Shouldn’t be too much?  Choosing buttons is always a big pain!

One down, one more to go…My favorite thing to knit in the spring is…anything that I would knit at any other time of the year. I figure that sweater knitting is good at any time ‘cuz if I finish one in the summer, then I have a lovely new sweater to wear as soon as it gets cold.

As I enter a new cycle, excitement grows within as I feel my rhythm reverberating in-time with the rest of creation. I step forward now as the sleepy buds awaken and the green of my world breaks through. Spring is a precious reminder of renewal where I may surrender and enjoy the happiness bursting through. Are you ready for Spring?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

She’s Beautiful

…alive…finite…hurting…but worth dying for. Have you seen this five-minute video?

It’s mighty powerful. I personally believe our planet will survive. It’s humanity that may not. The earth will recover from our next nuclear war or killer virus that wipes out humanity. She’ll be all the happier for it. Earth is my home. I need to respect it, look after it. I may not be significant enough to have an impact on her, but, I do believe in taking care of the earth and she will take care of me.

Spring? It was nearly 70 °. I sat on the grass to knit and took my shoes off. My neighbors said, Enjoy it while it lasts. This is SUMMER. That’s it! Two hours later, it rained and hailed. Whimper.

Here in High Desert, the weather has been slowing crawling towards beautiful spring–but with just enough chill to make me want to keep a cozy sweater nearby. It’s the season of sprinter–make that spring emerging from winter. A spring and summer staple of mine is typically a cotton-blend cardigan. I always have one in black on hand. This silky one isn’t all black, but, I love the amount it does have. All the knitting is done. Tomorrow, I will need to give it some final finishing touches and decide on buttons to stitch on. What’s your favorite fiber and color in a spring sweater?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Yarn Crawl LA

a four-day mega event covering twenty-seven Los Angeles county yarn stores. I tell you, after hopping all the stores over four days, I would be crawling for sure!

The incentive? Having another blissful opportunity to hang out with most fiber-tastic folks, alone, is a good enough reason. But, no. It doesn’t stop there. There will be prizes at each store, ten prized baskets from the Yarn Crawl, and one amazing Grand-Prize basket with product from over thirty different vendors–including amazing products from Cooperative Press. The Grand Prize goes to one of the lucky crawlers who gets to all twenty-seven stores! More event information on its website here, Ravelry here, Facebook here, or Twitter here.

It’s happening when my teen will be on Anaheim Heritage Festival Winds tour with her traveling band.  I wonder if I could tag along for the ride and sneak out for the crawl? How I just wish…guess I will have to settle with my own knitting for the time being. Are you going to the crawl?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

A Stitch in Time

Have you seen this cool, quirky clock that knits time in 3-D?

Actually, it knits circularly a 6.5-foot scarf in the course of a year–a single stitch every thirty minutes? Would you buy one?  I’ve seen many alternative/sculptural/literal clocks and calendars before, but, I really like the intriguing 365 Knitting Clock unveiled by Siren Elise Wilhelmsen, Norwegian designer, at the Milan Furniture Fair.  It turns traditional time telling on its head.  Sure, the clock doesn’t tell time as clearly as my  cellular phone or your iphone, but my phone doesn’t know how to knit scarves, either.  At least, not yet.

I didn’t win the MegaMillions today. My plan was to be knitting from my yacht or from a lounge chair on the beach, on an island. After the summer ended, I was going to come back to Oregon and open a knitting ranch, with a small in-house mill, mix up with fabric and beads! Knitted bags need lining, might as well make it convenient. Well, looks like I’ll be knitting in my usual spot, on the couch. Thank goodness I do have some knitting to turn to–a pretty new sweater to take me into spring! Better luck next time, fellow knitters!

Last week to Portland was a bliss. Hubby pointed out this Green Clean trash can to me, right outside of Knit-Purl.  Not sure why I didn’t catch it before?  It’s solar-powered by a 12-volt battery that is charged daily using a solar panel.  The can contains a wireless device that allow it to communicate with its waste collectors when it’s full and ready for collection.  It does a job of a garbage compactor automatically to save time and reduce the number of time–by 80% according to BigBelly Solar Trash Can–to be emptied.

Another nifty, progressive beautification idea that not only will save the city millions of dollars, but,  limit fuel use and air pollution from garbage trucks.  This innovation is  already being utilized in cities like Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.  Do you have it on a busy city street in your town? Is it cost effective and practical? I wonder the eco-friendly “gadget” will make it into our small area, some day.  How about take it a step further?  This same solar-powered trash may monitor any suspicious,  illegal activity–i.e. vandalism–on the street.   Just a wild thought…

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)