The Problem with Setting Up for Vacation...

...is that I just keep going! I'm knitting Anastasia from Pepperknit and it's so much fun. I love watching the colors change in the Cherry Tree Hill colorway I'm using, and the lace design adds a little something.

It's hard to see the design here. I cast on 52 stitches to create some negative ease so that you can see the lacy holes when they're worn.

I'd forgotten all about this short row heel:

The Schachenmayr Nomatta pattern books call it the short row and double stitch heel. Lana Grossa calls it the Jojo-Heel. You can find the instructions on the Lana Grossa website. It knits up with fewer holes than with any other instructions I've followed. Just make sure you pull the stitches really tight as instructed. I think mine will be tighter as I make more.

I'm knitting them on US1 Addis. They're taking some getting used to. They're slick and hard to grip. I love the joins, which are better than any other circs I've ever used.

Now I have to leave some work for the flight tomorrow. And maybe download some Audiobooks.

Preparing for Vacation

I'm joining friends in Tucson Thursday. I cannot wait. I bought a new camera, a Canon Power Shot A620, that I think I know how to use now. I'm taking two knitting projects, Orangina, and a pair of socks I spontaneously cast on this afternoon though I haven't yet finished the Pomatomi. (I'm avoiding kitchenering.) I just like to get started on projects I plan to take with me before I hit the road. I don't remember what the yarn is, it's something I bought from someone on Destash - Cash for Your Cash!


I think it's Cherry Tree Hill. I did my favorite Turkish Cast On, then improvised the increases - I have an innate aversion to following instructions. It looks kind of funky, but it will stretch over my toes, which will be in my shoes, so no one will see them. I probably don't need to take two projects with me but you know how it is.

I haven't started packing yet. My carry on will be full of electronics: computer and cords, iPod and cords, camera and cords, and a cell phone charger. I'm not even a geek. And no, I don't want to be away from all. Well, actually I will be away from it all most of the time: I'm going to a spa, so I will be working out, taking yoga classes and cooking and nutrition classes, getting massages and treatments, and spending the evenings with friends. (Cell phones are not allowed, but I'll bet with the advent of vibrating phones, someone will have one.) But it will be nice to check my e-mail and upload my pix (maybe) in I get back to my room. If my luggage is lost or if I'm delayed overnight in Dallas, I'll also have a clean t-shirt, change of lingerie, solid ivory soap, and solid deodorant, and red lipstick and sunglasses (an old French trick). Did I forget anything? Oh and a hat. Let's hope I can buy toothpaste somewhere. And I'll have my knitting of course.

One Pomatomus

Click on the pix for a closer view.

One done, one more to go.

Pomatomus, Finally!

What took me so long? I love knitting Pomatomus, the "P" sock. I'm using Hawaii Joy from Brooklyn Handspun. It fits over my foot, so with luck it will fit over the rest of my foot. The pooling is strange, but beautiful. They may become my favorite socks.

Pulling yarn from the center of the ball was very messy.

The yarn became tangled and knotted when I got the middle of the sock and I had to rewind. I'm pulling it from the outside now, but the skein is still incredibly messy. Center pull skeins are overrated, in my opinion.

And here's another submission for Project Spectrum, August.

Regia Patch Antik Socks, Project Spectrum, August

Yarn: Regia Patch Antik (discontinued)

Pattern: Generic Top Down, Afterthought Heel

Started: May 2005

Finished: August 2006

Unfinished Objects

Here are two:

There are several others, but I'm too lazy to pull them all out. The Shapely Tank is at the top. Back and front are done and the shoulders ready for a three-needle bind off. The bottom cabled pieces are the Michael Kors cardi (VK Fall 2004) I've been working on for 2 years. The back (right) is finished. The right front (left) is still on needles and I don't know where I left off. I'll have to frog it. I'm not in the mood right now, so I'll start on the left front to get the mojo going. It will look like this when I'm done, though I hope not as tight:

And there's Orangina. I lost count of how many times I've started this thing over. First, I kept making lace pattern mistakes, then discovered that it really stretches and had to start a smaller size. It's that ease thing. I've build in 2 inches of ease this time. I think I've got it down now and think I will save it for my vacation project.
I bought yarn for a lace shawl, which given my experience with the lace pattern repeats in Orangina, I realize now will be long term project.

What else do I have on needles? Hanne Falkenberg's Mermaid cardi, numerous socks, washcloths, MDK face cloths, a red wool turtleneck that I started last year, and the Filatura di Crosa shrug that I don't think I will ever finish because I don't like it anymore.

Apropos to nothing, all the yarn I'm working with, save sock yarn, is splitty.

Finished Object for Project Spectrum, August

Rowan "Flame" Tank, for Project Spectrum, August

Pattern: "Flame," Rowan Knitting Magazine, Number 31

Yarn: Rowan Linen Drape (discontinued)

Started: May 2005

Finished: July 2006

I actually finished knitting this last year, and sewed the seams last month. I don't know why I avoided seaming it because it only took 10 minutes. It's hard to tell from this photo but the color is grayish beige, a neutral for August Project Spectrum.

Calvin Klein Ad, French Vogue, August

I like the cardigan on the center model. It's a simple garter stitch. Looks like leg warmers are back again (model on the right).

Need Camera Advice

I'm ready to graduate from my current camera. What camera do you use? What kind should I buy that takes really good close-ups?

One More Summer Top

I'm tackling one more summer sweater before the fall. I'm going to knit Orangina in some Rowan Linen Drape that's in my stash. You can't tell from this picture, but it is the palest yellow.

I was setting it up for vacation knitting, but now that I've started, I'm afraid I'll lose the momentum of the lace pattern. Maybe I'll just take socks. I've only made one pair this year.

This picture from the August French Vogue has put me in the mood for fall and for shawls in particular. I love the way this one is draped on the handbag.

There were lots of interesting knits in this issue. I'll post them later. One day I'll learn how to enlarge and crop photos so you can see the detail. Click on the picture to see it better.