Book review: Shawls, Wraps, and Scarves

Have you ever jonesed for a book, finally got around to actually buying, you brim with excitement while waiting for it to arrive, and then, when you get it in your hands, your response is . . . meh?  You contemplate returning it because you're on a yarn and fabric budget and you have to preserve each dollar.  Yet you paw through it, hoping to find more than one or two patterns you can use. Of course, while you're doing this, you muck it up. And now you can't return it. Suddenly, you find that, yeah, that shawl does look cute. And I could bang that scarf out for what's-her-name.

Well, this is that book.

Something about how you could use something three different ways to come up with sixty patterns!  I'm a sucker for options, that's why I love books by Ann Budd.  I want the ability to disregard the recommended yarn and use what I have on hand.  It's not often that I visit a yarn store with a specific project in mind and buy just for that project. This might account for my large yarn stash. (Have I mentioned that I love yarn?)

Initially, I bought this book because I have several lots of just 1-3 skeins of yarn, and, since moving to SF, the weather and fashion climate is definitely amenable to accessories.  Somewhere in the description or maybe the pictures, I saw or perhaps envisioned, options.  I guess I should have paid a little more attention.  The book sort of gives you options. You get a particular stitch or stitch pattern offered in three styles.  Some of them use different weights of yarn.  But, really, it's just sixty patterns.

To be fair, its probably more me than anything else.  I was looking for something in particular, and I thought it was this.  Now that I officially own it, I've managed to look at it with somewhat fresh eyes.  Some of the shawls are cute, though I'm not terribly into using mohair - very fiddley.  The scarves are almost up my alley, but the jury is still out on the shawlettes.  See exhibit A - the capelet that has been hibernating since 2008.

So, maybe this was less a book review and more about my how I bought a book, ottered it, and now I'm stuck with it.  Have I mentioned that I've already casted on one of the projects?

Flashback Friday: 2008

It's a trip recalling 2008.  Especially now that I'm in SF.  In the spring of 2008, I left the reservation to be with my man in Tucson.  Up until that point, I was largely preoccupied with churning out a lot of quilts as they were in demand, especially during the winter.  I didn't stray much from the usual quilt block assembly, so I didn't feel particularly clever.  Moving to Tucson, however, allowed me to break away from the usual and try something different, among other things.  :P

The Double Wedding Ring quilt was one of those things.  I have always wanted such a quilt, and I didn't want to take any shortcuts.  I only wish I had made a small wall or lap quilt or pillow to start.  Or even just one ring.  Instead, I delved right into a creating bed-size quilt.  Now I feel compelled to stay on course even though it has been five years!

Everytime I pull it out, I marvel at it.  The problem is that it's been a slow process.  Why? Because I didn't plan it out very well.  Sure, I chose the fabrics and gathered the supplies. But I've continued to do this quilt piecemeal, and, to get it completed, I have to start being efficient.  And, well, motivated to be, uh, efficient.

See, you can't just pull out the long ruler and start cutting squares and triangles and whatever.  The acylic templates help, but you still have to cut around them.  I suppose I'm ok with that.

Then, you have to piece them together.  Only, my least favorite part is attaching the second side to the  "melon." 

Am I complaining too much? Sigh.  I just wonder whether other quilters have the bottleneck dilemma.  Everything else comes together well, and I still love the result so far.  So, once again, I'm going to try to take this UFO and finish it.  I have a plan in mind; we'll see if it works!

Bloggin' ain't easy

Dare I venture out again to share my many passions after more than a year has passed?  It certainly requires no small amount of committment, in my opinion.  I could come up with a number of excuses, but, in all honesty, I simply was not prepared.  I have missed reading blogs though, and I am willing to try again.

With that, I relocated my family to the East Bay.  We live in Concord, California, now and we work in San Francisco.  I was offered a great position, same agency.  The prospect of living in Northern California was much too attractive to ignore.  In October, we left Tucson.  Since then, we've slowly settled into our new home, basking in the beautiful weather.  We live for our weekends now.

Of course, along with moving comes the usual array of boxes that are woefully left unpacked.  Among them are many of my quilting, sewing, knitting, and crochet projects.  In one sense, its almost too easy to create an excuse not to pull it out and work on it.  Who wants to pull out a bunch of boxes in an attempt to find that one project I worked on way back when? That, and the lure of new craft stores around the corner.  On the other hand, it's time to make a decision about those old projects - redo, unravel, or get rid of it. 

I've been good though.  Sort of.  The Bay Area has so much to offer!  I've started some new projects, worked on old ones, and completed several.  I still faithfully peruse Ravelry, but I don't nearly post all my projects anymore.  Sadly, I don't use Pattern Review as much as I should.  I may participate here and there, but, really, working through and talking about a project as I progress (or don't) appeals to me more.  More importantly, it allows someone like me, who is normally very reserved, to blossom a little bit at a time.

In the meantime, I'll dust off the cobwebs and hopefully revamp the blog!

Melanie

TCB

Believe it or not, I have been taking care of business.  Knitting on a consistent basis means that I have managed to stick to only a few projects and to make some progress.

Over the last weekend, I finished the back of SFR's sweater.  Whew.  He loves the color, but I guess compared to most other projects, it's not terribly exciting.  He doesn't want all that fancy stuff.  That's fine as long as he actually wears it when I'm done.  I haven't casted on for the front yet, but I did pick up more yarn. 

I'm using the basic pullover pattern from Knits Men Want: the Ten Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man by Bruce Weinstein.  I love this book.  For the most part, it contains very basic patterns for knit.  The best part?  It covers those gauges with half stitches, i.e. 5 1/2 stitches to 1 inch.  As a huge fan of Ann Budd's books, I like having patterns with multiple gauges.  Here though, Bruce incorporates half stitches, which means I don't have to work too hard to get gauge.  Beyond that, there aren't a lot of goofy patterns or details as in Never Knit Your Man a Sweater (Unless You've Got the Ring). 

Stats:  Paton classic wool yarn.  Size 7 needles.  Gauge:  5 stitches = 1 inch.  The book recommends not using yarn that is expensive or exotic, given the low deference of care by the wearer.  I'm inclined to agree.

The cardi for Jbug is certainly coming along very well, too.  Over the weekend, I finished the right front, and I casted on the left front.  In retrospect, I should have knitted both fronts at the same time, but, as is, working on one piece at time means that its much easier to pick up and put down. 

This is the right side before I completed it.  I love the ribbing on the edges - mistake rib?  The first row is knitted, and the second row is PI, K1.  I think its one of my favorite stitch patterns.

My most favorite stitch pattern is the broiche stitch - a challenging,  intricate pattern, but very beautiful, IMO.  I haven't even come close to learning all the variations of this pattern, but I hope to make a sweater out of it.  Does anyone have a favorite stitch pattern they enjoy?  I'm sure there are many more that I would like but haven't tried yet.

A couple more pictures before I ship off:

Those curtains.  Its straight forward sewing, but the copious amounts of fabric means maintaining a certain level of patience that I barely managed.  Other than quilting tops, I'm not using to sewing on such a large scale.  I also didn't realize how expensive decorator fabric is marked.  I bought this at Jo-Ann's at $13.00 per yard, and that was the clearance price.

The other [nearly] completed project is on the blocking slab.  Details to come. . .  

(Cricket sounds)

Finally!  The weather has turned much more pleasant.  No more humidity.  Still not much rain.  A lot more pleasant cardigan weather.  I would recap what I have been up to, but, basically, I have been busy.  The kids have since returned to school, and I have been helping the oldest with homework at lot more (boy, who knew I would still know a ton of algebra!).  I've been working extra hours to take leave to attend this Navajo weaving workshop next month - so excited!  Finally, I've been taking two classes that I am hoping, at a minimum, will help me do my job better.

In the meantime, I still have been sewing and knitting.  There is a lot of stuff to show, but I'll just stick with what I have now.  Recently, I signed up for a knit-along on Ravelry.  Two, actually - the flax and twine sophisticate cardigan KAL and the Lion Brand wisteria shawl collar pullover knit-along.   I'm not actually knitting along with the Lion Brand one . . . yet.  The other, I've managed to make some progress without too much griping on size 5 needles! 

Typically, I don't use needles lower than size 6 for garments, but the cardi is very cute, and the small pieces seem manageable.  If all goes well, I am seriously considering making another one for the Banana in the pink and yellow. 

This article I read about a month ago seemed to help change my perspective about long stretches of knitting and how to get it done.  Basically, you set small goals of knitting, say, ten rows every day or every other day.  Rather than thinking I'm only 1/3 way through the back (like here), I am through five rows, then eight, then ten, and you're done.  For that day, at least.  It sounds a bit juvenile and maybe obvious to some, but it changed my frame of mind.  I feel like I'm getting stuff done, and I can work on more than one project as long as I complete that goal.

Outside of knitting and sewing, I'm learning how to spin yarn with a Navajo spindle.  I wouldn't have even consider doing all this, if it were not for my husband, but I am finally seeing what the fuss is all about!  Its really amazing.  And relaxing.  I spun my first ball, but, as you might expect, its uneven with the thick and thin parts.  I'm told this will even out with practice, but I'm in love.  I can't wait to try more exotic fibers, and, of course, churro. 

As part of that, I eventually want to  move onto rugweaving which is why I'm taking the class, but I want to make the wool for the rug as well.  Growing up, I remember my great grandmother spinning and weaving, and I always wished I could have learned from her.  That chance is gone, but I feel blessed and honored to be learning now.  We'll see how it goes.

The word is out

It's hot.  There.  I said it.  Tomorrow it's suppose to three degrees hotter.  I heard on NPR that, beginning today, the days would become shorter along with a decrease in temperature.  Only, he added, that we wouldn't likely notice because, well, it's . . . hot.  Nice, huh?

Anyway, I managed to eek out a crocheted sock monkey for Anna two and a half weeks ago for her birthday party.  I'm talking about almost around the clock crocheting of this rakish little creature from Patons yarn.  Boy, my hands were aching!  It was worth it though because she looooooooves him.  There were tea sets, clothes, and several Monster High dolls at this gig, and my gift was the one she has been toting around since then.  :)

Yup.  I'm pretty cool now.  At least until I deny their request for seconds on brownies.  Then, its downhill.  haha.

There was a bunch of little things I wanted to share, but I took too long to write about it.  Since I have been on a roll with working on UFOs, I'll share with you Emily's quilt.

  

I'm somewhat pleased with it.  It has been awhile since I've machine quilted, mostly because I have a difficult time using the walking foot on all my sewing machines.  I can't figure out whether it's user error and the foot itself, but, everytime I "strap" on the foot, it starts to come off after stitching a few inches.  I'm convinced that a new Bernina 440QE will remedy it, but, for now, I basically have to stick to free motion quilting.

The other problem I have is a lack of planning.  I do well piecing tops together, but deciding what design to quilt leaves me stumped sometimes.  I think I had a really good idea with the motif for the pinwheel blocks, and I figured I would decide later what to quilt in the areas. Once done though, I reverted to my trusty swirls before finishing up the borders with straight lines (sans walking foot).  Kinda lame.  But Emily loves me so I doubt she'll mind the imperfections.  Ahem.

After Emily's quilt, I was suppose to move onto to Jada's hopscotch quilt, but, it's lost among the unpacked boxes and bins of fabric, yarns, and more fabric and yarn.  I pulled out this old project that I started back in 2008.

I have always wanted a double wedding ring quilt.  They look so intricate and tricky, but its not really.  In fact, I realized that, when I finally got back into the process, it moves along rather easily.  I purchased acrylic templates by Sharlene Jorgenson to cut out the pieces, and I am assembling line sewing the arcs and melons.  Already, I've pieced together six circles in the past week.  I just have to stick with it.  Originally, my goal was to complete at least one ring per day with the idea of finishing the top in two weeks, but now I'm doing each step all at once.  I think its still feasible.  After that, I will really have to put some thought into the quilt design.

On the fiber front, I haven't been knitting much lately, but I have been working on my crochet cardigan though.  Outside of having to frog it at least three times, its easy, so I hope to share that soon.

Wherever you are, hope the weather is pleasant.  

Summer of Birthdays

Today is Anna the Banana's 9th birthday!  Officially.  It looks like Sunday we will be actually having the celebration, so I have a bit of time to churn out out gifts for the gregarious nine year old.  I'm sure there will be the usual accoutrement of toys and clothes, but I am hoping to maintain the tradition of gifting a handmade item for the kids.  Its been shaky here and there, but I have the chance to redeem myself.  In fact, four times over.  Over the next three months, we will be celebrating four birthdays - the Mouse, Banana, Jbug, and SFR. 

Now to figure out what to make in three days.  Yipe.

By the way, guess who's finally finished!