ProseKnitic – of Words und Wolle

Remember I told you that I had started this sweater while living in the UK and showed you the pictures of the first side. For that matter, I was a number of rows into the second half.

Picking it, I counted out the stitches for the three sections just to make sure I was on track. It was at that point that I made a rather ugly discovery: I was well on the way to knitting a second right half. You read correctly; for some reason I had not been paying attention, or misread the directions. Even though the colors are not the same, the directions are basically reversed so that the long side is in the back and the shorter side in the front.

Frog.

This morning – with a whole sea day ahead of me, I started the second half over again.

Then, after casting the black on and reuniting to the same location as before, I realised where I had gone wrong. Rather than count 427 stitches, I had counted the first section, placed the marker, counted the second, placed the second marker, then cast on the last section. Hello? This is what I did the last time: the cast on is completed, then the markers position is determined from the end of the cast on, not the beginning. The end is in the back, not the front. Or, conversely, if I do it the way I had just done – I have a second verse same as the first.

Argh!

All of this may explain why I took a knitting break from Lastrada, going back and working on the remaining test knit I have promised – the Taj Mahal shawl for a few hours.

Not wanting to be chasing small beads around the lounges – I decided that one of the winged shawls from Vivian Hoxbrø was in order. Or a couple of Victorian era Capelets – or both…..

Perhaps one of the best things about long sea voyages is the knitting time. Hours and hours of uninterrupted knitting time. Since I am not interested in Bingo (you have heard that rant before), or Casinos or various games or gorging myself at the buffets, this leaves me a lot of free time on the ship. Especially those ships which are crossing oceans yield extensive knitting time.

And listening to music time, there is that.

But anyway as a knitting I almost always bring more projects than might seem sensible. After all, when one is at sea it is impossible to find more yarn or knitting needles. Besides short projects I brought along a major UFO.

This sweater is Lastrada another in the seemingly endless Hanne Falkenberg designs in which I have indulged these last few years. The yarn I am using in this case is a complete substitution with fingering weight alpaca yielding a soft and extremely light garment.

I started this while stationed in the UK – so figure Winter/Spring 2010. Then it sat fallow, first because of moving everything back to Germany, then because of the deployment and finally because it is just too warm for summer knitting.

The first half I completed promptly

since each half is knit in one piece – you are looking at the complete right side both front and back. It is also not like I didn’t start the second side -

it is more a matter of the infinite number of hours of garter stitch that made me put it on hold. Since this knit is almost the definition of mindless knitting, it seemed ideal for ship board, especially since rough weather is not going to get in the way of endless stitches on 3mm needles. Oh, the good part is that you start with the maximum number of stitches so each row does get shorter.

I am still testing out the various lounges and haven’t found my favorite place to knit, but then I still have seven more sea days ahead of me after the Canary Islands.

27 Oct 2011 – The TIcking Clock

How many lectures have you attended where the speaker is totally oblivious to his/her allotted time resulting in a complete disruption of the schedule and cramped up the speakers to follow? citing time than I want to admit I have fantasised about different ways of evicting the discourteous person who is droning on and on. Perhaps a hook from the side? Noose from above? Water cannon? Occasional the speaker can be good or even great and entertaining. Even so, to blatantly ignore the time limits just drives me nuts.

Part of the blame must be placed squarely on the shoulders of the panel moderators who have a greater responsibility to the conference than just introducing the speakers and calling for questions at the end of the session. The good moderators insure that their panel runs smoothly and politely but firmly cut off those with verbal diarrhoea and an inability to tell time.

This year’s meeting added a nice tool; a countdown time ticking away in the lower right hand corner of the projected slides. Green turns to yellow at one minute remaining and at the end of the time the counter starts increasing in large flashing red numbers. Most speakers this year stayed within their limit. Even so, there were those who just didn’t get it. Coupled with most of the moderators who failed to do their jobs, I wasn’t able to avoid the aggravation completely.

Now, if we can just get an interlock so that anyone who goes more than 5 minutes over has his slides disappear to be replaces with large flashing letters saying “time up” I think the problem would be solved. Doubt that more than one speaker would need to be embarrassed to make the point.

Test Knitting

Success! I finished the third repeat in the morning and the fourth over lunch time cutting my time from an hour per repeat to 30 minutes. Sitting down at 1800, i managed the last four repeats then figured out how to close up the cuff (hint – just grafting doesn’t work neither does binding off) and need to remind the designer to put proper instructions in her pattern (first row and last row don’t have the same stitch count which means ….).

After that, you should not be surprised when brain death hit. I happily wound the second ball of Cherry Tree Hill for the Taj Mahal before remembering that I need a centre pull ball in order to knit both halves at the same time.

Rather than go back into the city and spend more money on things that I really don’t need, I decided to stay in Guildford today and accomplish pretty much the same thing.

Mary had teaching this morning, giving me a chance to sit and knit for few hours. I also wandered a few stores and otherwise relaxed. After lunch at Wagamama’s, we wandered through the Guildford Museum. Because of the government’s commitment to history and the arts – the museums are free. I was able to spend time looking at two of my favourite things – needlework and implements -

and model railways.

 

On the street – A regular (the keyboardist)from Threepenny Bit with a couple of extras were busking. Wonderful, fun foot tapping tunes to make one’s heart glad. I picked up their CD for £5 and tossed my small loose change in the case.

To put a great end on the day after finding a pair of shoes and Clark’s, Mary and I spent the evening doing needle work.

On my list of various things to do – attending the Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally-Pally (Alexandra Place) was rather high on the list. It started today, 6 Oct and runs through Sunday. THe company that pulls this off also runs them in Dublin and Harrogate. (If you are US – think Stitches, or better yet, Maryland Sheep and Wool held inside a large Victorian exhibition hall complete with trim and stained glass windows accompanied vendors for sewing, quilting, embroidery, beading, cross-stitching, a few textile charity importers, reps from all the major sewing&embroider machine lines and … the inevitable man demonstrating a magic mopping system. Yes the floor equivalent of the Ronco Slicer-Dicer. You get the idea.

Starting from Guildford, catching the train to Waterloo was a pleasure as compared to Camberley. There is a direct train that takes under 40 minutes for the farther distance rather than the bumble train that stopped at every station that I used to take. Leaving at 0854 mean that while I was still in high cost, the number of passengers had dropped significantly, I actually had a two person seat to myself, I could hike through the underground to the Northern Line without getting knocked over and find a seat on the north bound train. From Leicester Square (pronounced lester for all of confused non-brits) a change to the Piccadilly line east provided a long, calm opportunity to relax all the way to Wood Green.

Exiting the train, I happen to fall in behind a group of three women about my age. Not asking, this is a presumption given their grey, short hair, unlined faces and the presence of empty carry bags.

Ah! I thought – fellow stitches in search of treasure. I followed them out the door, across the street (waiting for the pedestrian light of course). Boarding the W3, we rumbled along passing blocks of what I would call townhouses sharing walls and tucked up together like a row of dowager women gossiping. At the Alexandra Station stop, they exited the bus. Shrugging, I did the same. Ahead of us was another line of women, about fifty all told queued up to board a bus which was signed “Alexandra Palace” alternating with “private charter.” The lower interior was packed tighter than clowns in a car leading me to eel through the standing passengers and pop up the stairs to find more than 50% of the seats empty on the upper deck. Not being the only one imbued with common sense, about 15 women followed me.

leaving the train stop, the bus rounded the curve while crossing the tracks and trundling up the hill to Alexandra Palace where I stood in line to buy a concession ticket (anything with a concession/discount per UK speak) since I am past the magic age of 61. The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping, fondling yarn and otherwise engaged in fibber bliss.

After making large number of plans for today – I blew them all off. George was not exactly feeling up to snuff and managed to snore most engagingly for a good portion of the afternoon after wiping out on cold remedies.

It is also the first of Oct – I could lift my ban on new knitting/sewing projects. Or maybe alternate new things with finishing old?

In spite of my promise for nothing new in Sept – I managed three scarves (traveling and out of knitting), one test knit (a cowl) while frogging 6 items and finishing up three shawls, a baby pod, a vest, a cardigan and a pair of socks. The UFO/WIP pile has been diminished. In fact, it all fits into one container (well, it will as soon as I put away the yarn) and add the SOA which has been hanging around since before Kuwait. I think I had forgotten about that one. I even had started finishing the Norwegian Star Vest (1999) and was doing well till I ran out of yarn. As soon as I figure out which of all of those boxes has the last skein of grey – it can be completed as well.

So – should I start something new? Or continue up the back of Chess for George?

In other events – the crew took me out for dinner last night. We tried The Sahara at 165 Hauptstrasse. The food was ok, the service was horrible. Not because the waitresses didn’t care, but simply there was no way the three waitstaff could cover the entire restaurant, outside eating area and counter when the weather was lovely and the take-away was brisk. It is back to Cedars (Hauptrasse 105) for me.

One of the things that had not occurred to me when I retired was that checking the mail was to be a pain; similar to when I was in the UK. Not exactly local, although a few miles each way is much more convenient than 65 miles each way, I have to actually plan and execute the trip.

Plan it because it makes no sense to arrive at a time that the post office is not open in case I might just have a package. Executing the mission is just one more thing to add to the day. It doesn’t happen when I am out of town. Almost all financial correspondence comes these days electronically. Periodicals arrive via the German Post. Certainly we get enough junk mail and shopping flyers to fill the paper bin each month.

So when I get asked if something has arrived I answer without ever thinking about, or mentioning the last time I even checked for mail. Nope – nothing.

Instead of – yes – I have packages!

Including this totally pathetic and abused package. Please ignore my coffee cup. There were two books and a comic from a fellow SciFi fan in Baltimore. First mailed to my deployment address in Afghanistan it was forwarded to the 62nd’s rear detachment at Joint Base Lewis-McCord since we had all left end of March. One of the sergeant’s there figured out that I wasn’t in the unit and sent it on to me here. Only took a bit over 3 months all told.

I also received a number of patterns ordered from Reconstructing History.

Most importantly, there was a package that left California 30 Aug 2011

a card and this luscious scarf tucked into a bag for save keeping.

A wonderful shade of red, this scarf is so soft and airy yet warm. It will brighten up my winter and coordinate beautifully with my grey coat. I knew it was out there in the mail only because Alison had inquired when I hadn’t said anything a month after it had been sent. So no, it wasn’t lost. It arrived at our local APO about 13 Sept, after my last visit to the post office prior to catching that Space-A flight from Ramstein.

From now on I will have to caveat everything with “please remember, I only go to the post office every 2-3 weeks and haven’t checked my box since (fill in date>.”

As I am sitting in Heathrow T5 for hours on end I am wondering at why I did this to myself.

Oh, right! $600 savings, that is why. Changing planes was cheaper than a direct flight, especially with only 7 days advanced purchase (and a return date more than 1 month in the future). Thinking about it now, I should have taken the puddle jumper to Philadelphia and then Singapore Airlines, but I didn’t.

Anyway – somehow I missed read the time I got in vs the time my flight departed. We arrived ~ 1100 after circling London a few times on the flight path merry-go-round. My outbound flight was 1645. That is almost 6 hours – and Ocean Nessie – complete with beads

was finished and I was out of knitting.

Can you believe it? The woman who always travels with 4-5 times the number of knitting projects that could ever be completed was out of yarn! I wasn’t out of reading material and after trawling through the shops it became obvious that I was not purchasing anything (sorry, but L465 for a leather iPad cover is really stretching it, even if it is by Mulberry. At least in the opinion of someone who bought a great padded leather case for her iPad on sale at less than 30$US).

I read from London to Frankfurt. Took the train from Frankfurt to Mannheim and actually managed to connect to the WiFi – letting my three at home know that I was on my way.

Exhausted, I got off the S-Bahn connection from Mannheim at the Heidelberg Westadt-Suedstadt stop to find Ms Soprano and the Gwennie waiting for me. Hiking home in the dark (now going on 36 hours of wakefulness) I was more than grateful for the company and someone else to carry the back-pack and computer bag. The Gwen behaved like a perfect lady on the leash which was good because there is no way that I could have held on should she have bolted.

Being home, in my own bed is wonderful.

Before I forget, if I hadn’t posted a completed picture of Fluffy Nessie – here she is

complete with lots of small, glittering bits hiding here and there. One skein of Patons Lace (acrylic, wool and mohair…)

Travel

In the US, travelers are now accustomed to air lines charging for just about everything from checked luggage to drinks and in-flight meals. I have heard of some of the same on some Midland’s flights in the UK. The US airlines have been charging for alcoholic beverages for years on international flights (and you get the best bargain with US$).

I have also seen a trend in charging extra for what certain seats on the aircraft; primarily those which give you extra leg room.

However, I was floored when I discovered that British Airlines wanted to charge me for making a seat reservation ahead of time. I believe the charge was $15. To make a seat reservation, especially with the caveat that the airline could change it if they needed to…. That one is just a bit beyond the pale.

Flying BA

In spite of all of that, I managed to have a comfortable flight across the Atlantic on BA. Leaving late (and arriving at the airport in time to turn in the rental car so as to not incur an additional days charge). I cast on another Nessie to keep my hands occupied. BA actually had my veggie meal (pasta) and the flight was not completely full.

OK! Donna is done after only 16 months in progress. Ok – after maybe a couple of months knitting while I was in the UK followed by more than a year of fallow time and completed with a burst of energy this week.

She was joined by this nice pair of socks

that were started ~ Dec 2010 in Afghanistan and then put on hold when barely 1/2 way down the first sock.

I would call this day highly successful. Projects completed. In fact, everything I brought along to finish up is done so I feel completely justified in rewarding myself with starting a Nessie -

Rather warm and humid today in lovely rural Virginia, we ventured out to drop by the post office (I could carry some fabric home but the mail is so much more convenient) before returning to home made ice tea with mint from the garden and some more knitting.

I am actually making progress – on knitting Donna

the second arm well started and the collar sewn and the I-cord trim complete.

We will not talk about the sewing. It is something that I had totally forgotten, or perhaps not permitted myself to remember. Falkenberg has this nasty tendency toward too many seams, weird edgings and only rare provisional cast ons. This is a sweater that would have been markedly more simple to knit had there been a provisional cast on at the front then picking up stitches and knitting the collar all of one piece after the shoulders had been sewn together.

I also found that knitting the arms in the round was much simpler than knitting back and forth with yet another edge to seam.

Other than that – we just hung out, and generally had a quiet day (this is in Toano, VA)

Not surprising, I was tired getting off the plane picking up the car and getting to Carmen’s house last evening. The car knew how to get there which was a help for me  as I have ceased to do time zone changes with any kind of equanimity what so ever.

It also explains why, again I was awake in the middle of the night, having fallen asleep on top of the couch wrapped up in my usual LLBean sleeping sack while I had waited for Carmen to get home from an evening out.

Since Carmen teaches English as a second language classes at her church on Saturdays (well, actually she runs the whole program including a luncheon [bribe] for the other teaches following the classes) I had the morning and early afternoon to traipse around looking at patterns and fabric. I didn’t find anything at G Street for which I was sincerely astonished, but did find several useful items at Hancock’s in Gaithersburg.

<h4>Nessie</h4>

There is this fun free pattern on Ravelry called Nessie. When I got bored and tired of working on the green baby pod, I decided that I could work on this.

this Nessie is knit on a 4.00 mm needle out of Monarch Sport Weight sock yarn (350 yards of which there was less than one left). Composed of both short rows and one long set of increases, it curls most delightfully

up to layer comfortably about the neck. In this light it might not be clear, but the lemon yellow, bright grass green and orange remind me strongly of sherbert.

The baby pod is also finished.

 

In the last couple of days I have made significant progress in cleaning up the studio. There are several quite easy to understand reasons for the cleanup. Perhaps the most important was that I could no longer get anything done. The disaster area had just about driven me around the bend.

I also had committed to having several friends from the local knitting groups over for a craft morning – which just happens to be tomorrow. I would much rather sit around in the studio where I have everything we could possibly needthan risk people losing pins in the living room furniture.

You remember me showing you pictures of piles of boxes? All those boxes had to be emptied. I was down to the last few, which really didn’t help since those contained all the hard to figure out things. Plus – there are two ways to clean -

*Sort as you go and put away at the end

*Deal with each item as you go so there is nothing left at the end.

I decided to go the second route – and not handle most things 2-3x as I went.

And once I started taking it out of the boxes, or off the top of the boxes things started looking a whole lot worse before I could see any progress at all.

which is actually amazing considering that I found the floor at all. Something like hours (maybe days) later and several bags of trash and shredded papers, I realized that I was putting stuff on the desk, messing up the one area that might have been ok prior to my cleaning start.

When things got too insane, I borrowed the guy

who helped me scrub out the windows, do yet another round of vacuuming and carry out extra stuff. This was, of course, made possible by finally getting enough boxes moved and cleaning off the window sill (said window was solid stuff when I left for the UK so I can’t blame the entire mess on the fact that the movers dropped off all those boxes in my studio).

As of 2200 -

The room has been reorganized. I can get inside the cabinet and reach all the shelves. The various stuffed animals are on safe perches and not susceptible to being snatched by the retriever for ransom (or chewing).

My table is now on the sunny end of the room with plenty of extra space, printer and counter with the use of the window area.

And I even beat the deadline by 11 hours…….

Thank you all for the wonderful offers but I think I will decline coming to organize and clean your houses as soon as mine is complete. First of all, I am not sure that I am going to live that long. Secondly, if I ever get this place under control I have all this knitting and sewing that is in the planning stage.

I sort of figure that if I get the center of the floor cleared out, it doesn’t matter if the edges of the studio have things stacked against the wall. Don’t get me wrong, we still have a ton of space up in the attic. But putting things in the attic means out of sight, out of mind. The same holds for the storage rooms downstairs which just might be next on my agenda.

The whole house is like those old pick up sticks – everything is all tumbled around, interlaced from room to room and pulling out one small little bit causes an incredible mess that extends beyond the local limit.

So what does any sensible woman do? She gets her Mole out of bed to load some furniture in the car. They drive to Mannheim with the GPS which accepts the street but not the house number. They park said car and spend the next 15 minutes tramping around on foot to find the location (at which point I realize that I don’t have a name). Oh, that last name on 67 is the same as half my friend Nana’s so it just has to be her sister.

Car moved, cabinet and night stand off loaded, we head back to Heidelberg to drop off Noah and have lunch at Red. And sit at Red for hours knitting and chatting. I managed to frog three socks and some small Miscellaneous things, knit on a couple of projects and give away a bag of wool and one of yarn.

Dinner guests rounded out a lovely day.

I owe everyone some photos …. which I can get off the camera as soon as I back up a few things to free up hard drive space!

Knitting

As I woke up this morning – I had missed a few things on my list

1. the shawl started on my cross Atlantic Cruise with Mole in May 2010
2. the Hoxbro Shadow Jacket started in San Francisco in July
3. and the Meg Swanson stranded project started in New York.

As September rolls around every year, I take stock and try to do some sorting out.

It is not just that I am thinking on an academic school year calendar, it is that Fall (and the High Holidays) seem more year-end to me than does New Years. Academic calendars really don’t impact on me directly – more on the off-spring. Medical personnel get on a 1 July schedule with Internships and Residencies; a fact that is reinforced by the military summer PCS cycle for docs which happens in July as soon as training is finished giving an underlap with those who departed in May/June to meet the 1 July starting date.

It is more taking the month of September and using it to clean up and catch up. Sorting out the studio, finding homes for things that I am never going to use, and frankly – not starting new knitting projects. Not buying any yarn is a good secondary goal. Or fabric – let me not forget to avoid buying more fabric. I don’t have quite enough fabric and patterns to start my own shop (unlike perhaps with yarn) but I could get close given half a chance.

I have convinced myself that a couple hours a day of cleaning and organizing followed by knitting time with audio books really doesn’t sound too unreasonable. After all, besides the studio there is the back hall, the entry way, the living room cupboards, the office and probably about 3000 books on various book shelves.

We made a start today. Ms Soprano gave me a hand this afternoon and logged about 80 books onto BookCrossing while I emptied two more good size boxes and put together another two bags of yarn looking for new homes.

The following is probably only of interest to fiber folks:

I took stock of knitting projects and am not surprised at the number of partly completed things:
1) I have a couple of things listed on Ravelry – they have been uncompleted for years and I am not sure that I really care, but would be too much a pain to rip.
2) then there is a heavily cabled sweater out of handspun that is 3/4 of the way finished. Started in 2003, I was headed down the body when I left for Kuwait. Knitting wool in 50C was not an option and knitting pretty much fell by the wayside for those 15 months.
3) between 2004-2007 – anything that was started has either been completed or frogged (Rip-it party in 2008)
4) however I now have several large projects just begging for finishing, all but one started prior to Aug 2010 when I headed for Afghanistan
a) Lastrada – a Hanne Falkenberg pattern in two pieces. The first is done, the second about 1/3. I am still at the infinitely long rows of garter stitch stage
b) Donna – another HF pattern. The body is complete, only needing the collar grafting. The first sleeve is half done and the second one is only a few rows into the pattern.
c) Swing Coat – body is 3/4 complete (only part of one front remains) and the first sleeve is done. This is an Australian designer and there are going to be a ton of ends as the garment is made of mitred diamonds. I love the colors and design, but not sure in which life time it might be completed.
d) Chess – Men’s Sweater started this spring (2011) when I got back. the Front is complete and I am 1/2 way up the back. I had lost the pattern for a while. Then found the pattern but lost the yarn. All are now in the bedroom on top of a bookcase so I have little excuse…

5) Digging through bins and baskets – three half done first socks turned up all of which will be frogged (two are plain and the third an intricate twisted stitch pattern, but I have no idea which pattern…). I have already frogged six different shawls, none of which were beyond the first 10-20 rows. No patterns with any of them – so what is the point in leaving them on needles?

Then there is the forever afghan which is 30 cm high and 500+ stitches long in feather and fan.
And the green pod for the Eldest to use in her photography.
And Nazo (a really cool vest for me for this fall).
And Aeolian Shawl (beads on stems, slows you down but looks really cool once you get the hang of a 1.00 mm crochet hook)

Time to crawl off to bed – I am tired just reading the list!

Our first stop is Ketchikan. George is off on some physically active adventure. I am feeling slightly better this morning, almost up to walking more than 50 meters without screaming.

The scenery reminds me of Norway – which might just explain why so many Scandinavians ended their immigration along the fishing banks of Washington, Alaska and British Columbia.

Since we also gained an hour, there were few people up this morning.

The buildings are wooden

One of the tourist buses

and stores offering more than just the usual

is well worth the climb to the second floor. Hundreds of bolts of cottons compete with local artists kits, designs complimented by a great, knowledgable and friendly staff (and they have an online store as well here).

I finished the morning at

which doesn’t just have a wonderful selection of crafts and beads, but also a great cafe, free WiFi (wondering how I was posting this?) and a yarn store….

Is home to a lot of high tech and intellectual people. There are start ups galore (which is why we made the trip south) and it was on the reason for heading to SF in the first place.

Unfortunately for me – Purlescense is moving this week. Makes the fourth time in the Bay area since 2007 and I still haven’t managed to get there.

After attending two meetings in the morning I had a planned detour while the DH attended a luncheon meeting.

Palo Alto is home to Alison. We were able to get together the last time I was here – but that was a long time ago meaning it was before I deployed putting it somewhere in the 2010 early time frame. She was kind enough to let me drop into her home which meant we had a lovely few hours just sitting and knitting (except for a detour into a wonderful goat cheese with blueberries that melted in the mouth).

With regret I had to leave to make a 1600 meeting. It was one in which I have a lot of interest and I can’t wait till this fall when the App gets released so that I can play a lot and recommend it to everyone (this is in the Medical education and communication arena – not knitting but still).

Ending the evening with a great dinner at PJ Changs (they have vegetarian and vegan solutions, they have a gluten free menus and most importantly great, educated service), we rolled back to Berkeley well after dark. And well too late to knit in the car.

If you are not aware, there is a Lace Store and Museum in Berkeley.

I have seen the adds and notes on Lacis for years, but it had never struck through to me that it was accessible. When Ruth

agreed to head into the area (trains are actually possible)

After finding out that Article Pract opens at 1100 (finally found a nice cafe and coffe/tea with a couch for knitting) we cruised through there before arriving at Lacis not long after it opened.

Besides having an extensive historical (and recreation) pattern section, they also have threads, hundreds of books and vintage lace, shoes and clothing. Not only the customer service is terrific, but we got a personal tour of the current exhibit on historical underthings.

(which means you now get pictures!)

You need to visit if you are in the area. If not now, then Sept-Feb when they are having an Estonian Lace exhibit.

At the end of the day – I went back to the courtyard where we had lunch and waited for the DH who was kind enough to take me to K2tog where I found a wonderful yarn shop with extensive yarns (and very little overlap with Article Pract) where I finally found some lovely red…..

If you are a knitter that is – (and I wasn’t hauling the camera)

there is Article Prac which is on Telegraph in Oakland. Fabulous collection of yarns – mostly higher end with extensive choices in lace and fingering yarns. The help is cheerful and knowledgeable.

There is Stone Mountain Fabrics on Shattuck in Berkeley. They started discontinuing their yarn section in May and it is pretty well cleaned out although they still have a few hundred knitting titles on the shelf waiting to go home with someone for 1/2 price. But that is not why I stopped here – they have all the major indie designer patterns and an incredible selection of fabrics. (I bought patterns – fabrics are a bit heavier than I want to carry).

And then there is K2tog on Solano in Albany(you should have heard my DH trying to pronounce the store name. Unfortunately, it was closed, so am going to have to attempt this one on another day.

and I don’t remember whether or not I posted this -

which I finished up on the weekend.

Just so you know that knitting has not fallen completely off the radar – I finished Polo (the original out of the HF kit before I started all the variations).

Knit on 4mm needles in the round with the purl ridges doubled shetland. Next time I do one of these, I will not follow the directions exactly so that both ends will match.

and started – yes – I admit it – another Volan – this time in basic black and some incredibly cheerful Cherry Tree Hill.

Have I mentioned how I absolutely detest driving through tunnels? There I sit in the passenger’s seat – two 3.00 mm needles, each with knitted ruffle of slippery yarn valiantly trying to escape as I attempt to join the two into one when darkness abruptly falls and the stitches sing in joy as they fly off the needle.

That is an incredibly long tunnel thought which the 81 leaving Stuttgart bores through a rather significant mountain. I experienced somewhat similar joy earlier Sun morning when staying left meant a trip through one of the hills surrounding Stuttgart on our way to picking up Ms Maus and cousin.

For whatever reason, the driver was anxious to get home. After delaying him as much as I could, we stopped to get the girls. It was early and of course they were not ready having gotten home so late that it was morning from graduation celebrations. Traffic was horrendous on the way home with getting stuck in Staus here and there till we were almost home.

Did I mention the tunnel? Of course I did. Still managed to get one scarf finished and a second one started.

Still, these are nothing like the tunnels of Switzerland or Austria through the Alps where you swear you have become a gnome never to see the light of day again as kilometer after kilometer passes. I have managed a few of those, preferably asleep so that I can not feel tons of mountain over my head.

Being on a ship, inside, under the water line doesn’t bother me – there are clearly marked escape routes which might/might not work but you are never more than 150 meters in worst case from the open air. A tunnel? Forever from the open air and kilometers of stairs facing you. That is, of course, if the stairs were actually available for it seems to me that whatever would take out the tunnel should effectively trash the escape routes.

Does that explain why I never have taken the Chunnel?

There is a noisy bunch of old dudes – excuse me – mature men having a good time on our terrace. George celebrates his birthday every year by inviting the members of his Stammtisch (read Thursday night men’s discussion group) over to grill.

They start with snacks, wine and beer. They progress to salads, more snacks, vegetables and things from the grill (steaks, burgers) with more wine and beer. At 2200 the sun has finally dropped below the horizon and the group is more jovial with passing time and years.

Since he started this tradition (Maus and I think this celebration dates from the summer after we bought this house which would put it around 2002). It is a good way to celebrate. For whatever lucky reason, the weather is nicer and warmer this evening than it was this afternoon when rain with cold and grey threatened to spoil a good time.

We had an alternate plan and the living room was set up for either the initial party or whenever they chose to move inside.

Sewing

Paired with the top she is planning on wearing – the skirt is done except for

is the hemming!

Knitting

and the MTV Group which means every couple of weeks on Thursday morning has a couple of members knitting these -

If I claimed to be a loving wife would you believe me? George turns 63 today so here I am with him in Switzerland so that he will not be alone on his birthday. Alone – with a day in the office just chocked full of people who know that today is his birthday. (birthday greetings if you want to gr AT aeris-capital DOT com . Since he is a Crackberry addict, that ought to make his day a bit more challenging, especially given the time zones).

Rather than hang out there today, I stayed in the apartment with great wifi access, a basket or two full of handwork projects and a camera loaded with the rest of the Mallorca pictures. Of course, that is about all there is here. The guys rented this place at least three, and I think really four years ago. Kitchen area which has the normal cupboards, a few dishes, fridge, microwave and coffee pot. The common area has a rectangular table with four chairs serving as both eating and work space. Additionally there is this squared edge orange couch of the IKEA variety and a small table with flat screen TV. In keeping with the low cost method of living – it is about an 18″ diagonal augmented with two old PC speakers.

Otherwise there are two bedrooms, each with a bed and a lamp. There is nothing on the walls. There are wires dangling from the ceiling because they would have to buy light fixtures if they wanted overhead lights. The closets are bare. The bathroom sports a small cabinet – each of them having a shelf.

My plan for the day is progressing nicely. I have managed finally to get the pictures for 2-3 July posted, have done the finish work on three scarves,

and the hand sewing on two jackets

with another scarf in progress

and the waistband of a Maus skirt to go, but I am going to take a break since we are headed out to dinner tonight!

Finally got around to taking pictures of a couple of knit projects – the first is a Hanne Falkenberg pattern which is obviously not knit with her yarn. Rather – I grabbed a skein of wool/bamboo blend sock yarn and paired it with a skein of lilac bamboo of a slightly heavier weight that I purchased at Downtown Yarns in NYC. It is about 120 stitches around with 10 rows of stockinette in the sock yarn followed by four rows of the bamboo in reverse stockinette. All of which were knit till one of the yarns ran out. Beginning and end are the bamboo. Having no particular love for purling – I flipped the cowl and knit it inside out for the reverse stockinette areas

Volan is the second project.

Knit from two skeins of sock yarn – again bamboo blend it has small paired ruffles on the upper edge, a steadily increasing body, then ends with two larger ruffles. After messing around, I found that one solid paired with a multi-color yarn gives the best contrast. Add in a couple of extremely long 3.00 mm needles and I was all set. Other than a couple of rows where I am either knitting together the first set of ruffles or the row which splits the body into the bottom ruffles, this makes for great mindless knitting.

Other than that – the weather was wonderful – there were only three of us at Red this afternoon for the Heidelberg knit get together. None the less, it was a lovely time. I am not going to be able to make it again till August. At least one of the other women is also a Book Crosser. We were lamenting the demise of the Heidelberg Treffs. It occurs to me that it would not be a bad idea to bring along a bunch of books the next time…. just in case there are any takers.

We had friends over for supper. Being able to eat out on the terrace was great, so was talking to another adult (while the guys just had to watch soccer championships).

The theory of my making some particular clothes for the Maus is that she puts in some time and assistance. To a large extent, this has happened. When she vanished partway through the day, I went to find her. All this clipping, pinning, snipping and ironing apparently has taken more out of her than planned.

Knitting

Just to show of totally and complete pictures of the City Sweater ….

A Vivan Hoxbro pattern that came in a kit – I substituted the red for the two shades of yellow/gold that were supposed to be the contrast trim. Knit in Harrisville Shetland on 3.00 mm needles in a very dark charcoal and natural, the Shadow knitting make the pattern. Not exactly garter stitch but close, there is a lot of back and forth – more knit rows than purls and, since each section is worked from the outside in, one has the pleasure of each row getting shorter and faster.

Books and Audio Books

I have been doing well in various Bookcrossing Virtual Book Boxes having been able to send off several books to people who are interested and picking up a few more that I would like to read. That takes care of the Dead Tree side of things. Unfortunately, Audible has another sale, so my “to be heard” queue is actually longer than my TBR pile is high. Go figure.

The Maus and I have been sewing. There are three jackets, two dresses, a skirt and a robe on the list for her. Being a smart mom – I went for the easiest first!

As the various personnel from George’s office arrive and check in, I am astonished by how many are seeking me out to say hello and to express how glad they are that I have returned safely from Afghanistan.

The kids are completely amused by me. Of course Papa has talked about you at the office. Of course everyone knows where you have been and what you are doing. Huh? It would never have occurred to me to discuss much of my family, their occupations and doings with colleagues on a deployment. Perhaps it was because I was an augmentee to the unit or perhaps it is because I am senior. As such, if I want to talk, it forces other to listen whether or not they have any interest in the subject. In trying to not inflict myself and my interests on others when it is not relevant to the task at hand it seems that I don’t spend a lot of time talking about the family. There is also the compartmentalising factor: when away for a long time it is easier to assume that everyone is fine than spend a lot of time fretting or talking about them. I concentrate on the “now” and leave to those who can effect short term family issues.

The official program started today with a couple of optional activities:
1) Golf. Forget that noise – absolutely the best way to ruin a perfectly good walk.
2) Marineland. So there I was – one of eight adults in a group outnumbered by those under 120 cm. In fact, I was the only adult in the group not accompanied by small fry. We got to see the dolphin show, the parrot show, walk through a small aquarium, observe some shore birds, seals and reptiles. I am not sure why the monkeys – but they certainly were cute.

Knitting

Four projects have occupied me since I headed out on vacation.

1) The City Sweater. When I packed it the only portions remaining to be completed were the one side section, the collar and the sewing. I can report that it was all finished on the final sea day.

2) The Downtown scarf. Named because it is a take off on a scarf I saw in Downtown Yarns I took slightly less than 100gm of a self-striping long repeat sock yarn and came up with this lovely, flirtatious scarf. I will post directions as soon as I can get Maus to hold still for proper photos.

3) Volane – English instructions for a fun ruffled scarf by a Finnish Designer. Not a planned project, but it just seemed like the thing to do with the yarn I had on hand. Of course if I had read through the instructions to the amount needed I would not have started. I did some adjusting as I went, but still ran out before completely the second bottom ruffle. Since the white with pink and grey is pretty specific, I am going to have to go on a yarn hunt for another ball…..

4) Chess. Casting on just before I left – I am just a couple rows short of the neck in the front and started the back since it was easier to take along on the Marineland jaunt.

Now – on to the partly fancy dinner tonight!

Has been a long time since I have done one of these. Photos on Friday that is. Traditionally I did doors and arches.

There is also Sewing

You do remember Ms Pink – right? Ok, she is currently being referred to as Maus; but she fell in love with this fabric (mild stretch denim) which only has the hem and yoke facing to hand sew.

and Knitting

Bought a couple of kits from someone who was destashing. This one is called Chess – and is in Colorway #1. It has been a long time since I knit anything for the DH. It should be safe as long as I sew a big dry clean only tag in the neck.

and finally puzzles

was finished and

was started.

I like being retired!

It is a German, EU holiday and probably a bank holiday in the UK. It can’t be Whitsun – because that falls on Sunday (well, duh). But for those who are familiar with many US federal holiday habits, it would be a shame not to give people a Monday off. Especially since this is June and everyone needs a Monday off in June, right?

What it really means is that I have a household full of people with no where to go and not wanting to do anything. We have a dead bed which the Mole is dismantling for me. I have plenty of things to sort out in the “office,”the studio,” and let us just leave it with my bedroom organization has not survived several trips by both of us. It needs a few hours of sorting and putting away.

I think the key may still be the storeroom downstairs, but I am not sure that I am that brave.

Knitting

Meanwhile – it it project completion day. Three knitting projects – two versions of Solo (Hanne Falkenberg) and Leaf Lace (Evelyn Clark) not that most of you cared.

Since my plane went to Munich in order for me to change planes to go to Frankfurt to catch a train to go to Heidelberg (you figure it out, by the time I was on the train I was too wiped out to care) I got home several hours after George.

I had stayed up all night in spite of being given one of those nice emergency exit row seats.

Can you say too tired to be smart?

George was sound asleep when I arrived home; denying the whole thing of course. Thanks to the girls – the upstairs was still fantastic. Bothering the Mole a bit, he got back on the chore list I had left for him.

I am glad to be home. Unfortunately the problem with napping at all is that sleeping at night is then a bit more difficult. I am not sure that the answer is five row wool combs, but it is an alternative.

If you don’t get it – just skip this post. The photos are from both today and Monday.

You see, on Monday I cruised a few (well, more than four) yarns stores as well as some locations that carried trims, buttons and the like. Today I was meeting The Yarnarian at Penn Station and we were going to look for trims (she has become a bit distracted from PennyRose Yarns in favor of sewing doll clothes). I was going to be the person in jeans wearing wire rim glasses knitting outside the station entrance  and she was going to be the tiny person lost in the crowd. Given that we agreed to meet at a location which, as it turns out, does not exist, I am still amazed that we found each other. Perhaps it was the combination of the knitting and grey hair?

Anyway – we spent the rest of the morning (and perhaps more than intended) in the Japanese book store looking at book after book of wonderfully illustrated knitting, crocheting, and patchwork ideas. Illustrations are excellent for all of us who do not read Japanese. After lunch at an Indian Buffet, we then cruised for trims and never got the yarn stores at all.

I am hoping Ruth managed to get home safe and dry – the temperature started to drop on the hike back to the hotel. I had not been back all that long before the skies opened up, allowing me to watch a steady stream of soaked pedestrians scrambling to get somewhere in a hurry.

Monday’s Knit Stores

Ok, color me amazed that a store can be several floors up in a secured building (1201 Broadway) and have any business at all. Quiet – this particular store carries high end and a wonderful selection of luxury yarns. School Products Yarns claims to be the oldest yarn store (60 years) in the city.

Located in the same building – Habu is what you buy if you want serious quality in yarn made of strange things – wire, paper, steel, linen wrapped with ….. you get the idea. Not for the faint of heart, but wonderful quality on cones.

Is located at 14 East 34th, take the elevator to the 5th floor. Warm, friendly, it is also tiny with limited stock which is balanced by the customer service.

You know all those fisherman’s knit sweaters that called for Lion Brand Yarn. Or afghan patterns or whatever? Lion Brand has a store (not an outlet). Their staff is young, friendly and not a one of them was wearing anything knitted or crocheted. It is the only time I have seen the full color range of several of their yarns as well as being able to touch all the choices on the luxury yarn table.  I bought a project bag made from Hedgehog fabric. What can I say?

is located, as you might guess, in SoHo (South of Houston for all of us who are not that familiar with the city). Easy to locate, bright and cheerful – there was a great selection of lace and fingering weight yarns as well as Malbrigo and Cascade for solid quality worsted weight yarns. As you might be able to see, they carry supplies as well for embroidery and quilting in a narrow, but brightly lit shop.

Doesn’t have much on the Web – but it does feature great yarns and Frankie. It turned out to be my favorite store. Not just because it was within five blocks of our hotel, but the staff is international, knowledgeable, sociable continually helping their customers who freely wander in and out. It is a place with obvious regulars who are greeted by name. They stock good quality useful yarns (Brown Sheep, Cascade), needles, books, patterns and a lot of patience.

I purchased the yarn here for the Cheryl Oberle Vest that I have been contemplating for a while.

All together – this week has been a lot of fun.