A Whole Lot of Knitting Going On

I have gone sock crazy! I have been knitting the Thuja sock for my mother and I am hooked. First I had to add to my stash ( any excuse to buy yarn. I really hit it big on Ebay by buying the Artyarns Supermerino and Lorna's Laces from Yarnbow. I also bought some handpainted sock yarn from Robin Pascal. I was thinking about knitting Pomatomus with the Lorna's Laces. What do you think? With the yarns from KnitPicks, I am going to knit the Jaywalker sock by Grumperina. I would have loved to use Socks that Rock yarn, but I fell in love with Flower Power and my cousin fell in love with Pansy. I can't wait to start them.
Here is the first of the Thuja. I am loving the way it is turning out. knitting with the Supermerino makes it so lofty and soft. My mother should love them. All that is left to do is knit about four more inches and then finish the toe. I don't want to get bored with the pattern so after I finsh I am going to start on either one of the Jaywalkers or the Pomatomus. I figure this is somewhat of a cure for my KADD .... and socks are small enough for instant gratification.

Which brings me to a quick knit. Because of last weekend's arctic blast, I was inspired to make a hat for my nephew. It is so cute. I used a soft acyrlic yarn. The pattern is 1x1 rib paired with stockinette stitch. Once knitted it is folded, the sides sewn and tassles (or pom poms) added to the corners. I am going to hold onto it and knit a matching pair of mittens and / or scarf. This will be one of his gifts from his Auntie.


Yep, that's right, I am on a knitting roll. I started my sister's Irish Hiking scarf. Her favorite color is pink and I love this color. It is a soft acrylic by Bernat. I am in love with the stitch definition of this yarn. I bought it at Smiley's. It's not too hot yet funky enough for a teenager. I started to use Cascade 220 but i know my sister. She needs something that can be thrown in the washing machine without a second thought. I would like to pair it with the Irish Hiking hat by Nik, but she has been oohing and aahhing over fingerless gloves. I will play with the cable to come up with a pattern later.

Wow . . .

"I look back now and I'm in wonderment, really." Parks says when asked to reflect on his accomplishments. "I'm not sure I know exactly why and how I did it. I didn't just do it for black people, I did it for people, for human beings."

Gordon Parks - 1912-2006
(wikipedia)

Through his camera lense,
he told our story.
I am speechless.

A Note ...

Octavia E. Butler 1947 - 2006
(She died outside of her home on February 24, 2006, at the age of 58. She died of head injuries after falling and striking her head on her walkway. wikipedia)

You called to me on a day that I needed to escape. A day filled with the hustle of corporate life and the concrete jungle; my only solace to be found between the aisles of the Queens Central Library. I hesitated for a moment wondering if I was ready to receive the gift you were about to bestow. Taking the chance, the wrapping and bows came undone and was I transported ... (first trip) back to a time before Emancipation to understand the dynamics of slavery and what it actually took to be a slave ... (second trip) lightyears into the future to a world devasted by a nuclear holocaust and aliens that travel in a self sustaining ship needing to breed. Ironically , it was up to a black woman to repopulate the earth ... (third trip) Vampires. I hung onto your every word, always ready to discover new worlds . . . .over and over.
Today, it seems for young people to discover you, we have to sort through the bins piled high with "ghetto fiction" in order to discover your literary gems. I have no problem being a gatekeeper to your literary world. All it takes is one.

Almost There (well sort of) . . . but no pictures.

I've been a busy bee lately, buzzing around waiting for the cold weather to give way to Spring blossoms. Can you tell, I am not a winter person. Give me ninety degree weather and I am a
happy girl!

On the knitting front, I finished the braided fringe edge for my Aunt's shawl and started on the panel. I decided to do it in stockinette stitch with a modified rib edge. It is coming out really nice. I think I may have to pick up the edge stiches though and add on two garter stitch rows to tame the curling. I also started the Thuja sock for my mother. Since her knee surgery, her circulation has been off and her feet are always cold. I had some some Artyarns Supermerino, in colorway #130 which is creamy pinks and browns, in my stash. When I rolled it into a ball I couldn't fight off the craving for some Neopolitan Icecream (lol)! I am really loving it... especially because it is so lofty.

Last week I had somewhat of a revelation. Because the holidays may find me out of the country, I decided that it would be good to start on some of my knitted gifts. I headed over to Smiley's Yarns and bought some Bernat yarn in a not so hot pink color for my sister. I plan to make her the Irish Hiking Scarf and Irish Hiking Hat (thanks Nik!). One down, many to go.

I have gotten a lot of requests for the knit graphic on my page, so with a little down time, I started to do some different colorways. You like? When I get another free moment, I will add the graphic to my Cafepress store, which is in need of a complete overhaul. I am almost there!

Oh, sorry about my pictures. Little Ms. Fast Hands (that's me) misplaced the rechargeable batteries. I have been using regular AA's but they only last half a flash. They are around here somewhere . . .
I promise pictures next time. Until then . .

Feeling Froggy

The snowfall on Saturday and Sunday left me with a serious case of cabin fever. So, I started to get a jump on some spring cleaning. There in the bottom of the closet ( how did it get there?) was a sweater I had bought a couple of years ago. I hardly wore it because it never fit properly. The sleeves were too long and the body was too short. It is really not a true cardigan with one huge button closure. However, it has a very soft hand. My curiosity got the best of me and I started picking at the arm seam. I was a bit surprised to see that the garment was actually knit with 2 strands together. A little more ripping and 2 balls of yarn later, the sleeve was gone. My husband thought I was absolutely nuts but I hit Knitting Nirvana. The yarn is actually quite nice. It is 60% cotton/ 40% polyester. The colors are fading somewhat because of the cotton content but dying it would be the perfect solution (and project). I've been toying with the idea of making a tank top for the summer out of the beige yarn. We'll see. Right now I am having fun being destructive. LOL!

A Bit Long . . .

It has been one heck of a week around here. Sometimes I don't know whether I am coming or going ... and just when I have about given up and started cussing everyone out, a shift in the universe catches me off guard and I have an Aha! moment (Thanks Oprah!) Let me explain:

I Am Not A Snob, Just Particular
Occasionally working from home home allows me some luxuries like meeting up with a friend for lunch and then shopping (more like wishing) while most of the city is indoors. So when my friend Michelle called and asked if I would like to accompany her to the Rag Shop, I was all too happy to oblige. After our Mexican indulgence, we headed to the craft store. Now, I have to be honest, I have been spoiled by the suburban counterparts of major craft stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby, I was a bit surprised why Michelle, who is a fabulous crocheter, wanted to go there. It is a very small and cramped store and the lighting is not very good. But that can be overlooked with the lure of a sale. Once inside, my excitement gave way to disbelief when I saw the dismal selection of yarn and the way they were displayed. Unraveled skeins and other rolls of yarn littered the floors and unkept bins. It was such slim pickings that I decided to make my way over to the sewing section to look at some patterns. Meanwhile, Michelle was quite content rummaging through the bins of Red Heart Super Saver yarn that was 2 for $7. When she met me up front, she was surprised to see that I was empty handed. I tried to bow out gracefully and explain that I didn't see anything I wanted but she kept pressing the issue." How can you pass up this deal!" she said. I then explained I had enough of the yarn in my stash that was collecting dust; especially since I didn't like the hand of the yarn. It feels a bit harsh to me. she then rolled her eyes at me and called me a bourgeois-knitter! (Okay, now this is where the head rolling and the finger snapping would about to begin, but because my peace-loving, utopian, Aquarius ascending was skitting across the celestial plane at that precise moment, I put away the can of whoop-a** and decided to be the loving person my Mama knows I can be). Now I don't consider myself a snob in any sense of the word. The depth of my pockets usually determine my yarn purchases along with the occasional eBay auction ...and ... occasionally I will splurge. However, I am not the one to buy if the selection is less than appealing. So therefore, I am PARTICULAR. Aha!
Needless to say, the ride back to my house was a bit tense. Once upstairs, sitting on the couch, she looked into my knitting basket and fingered my latest project. She commented how soft the yarn was and asked what it was. With a devilish smirk, I showed her the Caron Simply Soft Brites label. That's right Girlie ... 100% Acrylic, $2.99 each at Save-a-thon! (Now, this is the part where I would like to say she was picking the pieces of her cracked face off the floor, but I am not one to gloat.) Instead, I showed her my ever growing yarn stash filled with everything from Red Heart to Artyarns to Interlacements. Again, the universe shifted and she apologized. I couldn't find a pen fast enough to get it in writing. She then explained that judging by some of the things I have knitted in the past, she always thought I used expensive yarn. Well, I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment, ponder the question of what she really thought about me or chalk it up to her being very into appearances. Needless to say, I took it as a compliment and we began brainstorming about her latest project.

Yesterday
Before we could sketch out the plans for the children's book she is developing, we started flipping through the channels and saw that Yesterday was about to air on HBO. I have been LONGING to see this movie. It is the courageous story of a South African woman named Yesterday who contracts AIDS from her husband who works in the gold mines in Johannesburg. One can not help but be moved by the plight of this woman, living in a poor, remote area and having to come to grips with her illness... while trying to secure a future for her young daughter, Beauty. It is deeply moving and a must see. Leleti Khumalo, who also played the lead in Sarafina!, draws you in with her innocence and intense range of emotion.
See it and be aware.

Edgings
After the movie, we were both lost in thought wondering how we can make a difference in the lives of the children affected by the disease. We came to the conclusion that we would use the love of our crafts to help. Baby blankets, hats, booties, sweaters. We have our research ahead of us but the fire has been lit. Fueled with the feeling of doing for someone else, I picked up my knitting and started to make a dent in the braided edge for my Aunt's shawl.
I got the pattern from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge.
Once finished I plan to attach either a basketweave or stockinette panel. I love texture so I will have to experiment with different stitches for the panel.

Well, I warned you. This is a L-O-N-G post. I am off to sketch out a pattern for a baby blanket. Maybe I'll use some of my Red Heart Super Saver. Tee Hee, I'm such a stinker! Knit On!

Time for some Saunshine!

The catalog season is upon me and I have been bogged down with deadlines, thus leaving no time for knitting. UUGGHH . . . However, in the little time I do get, I manage to sneak in some surfing. I was just over at Magknits and surprised to see a creation by Sauniell. I LOVE it. Hats off to you! It's inspiring me to make a shawl for my Aunt who has been in and out of the hospital. She DETESTS triangular shawls and I think Sauniell's creation would be perfect. Make sure you check it out.
Knit On!

F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

HOW GORGEOUS IS THIS SCARF! My hands are itching and my pockets are screaming to buy some yarn to start this. It is called Frilly Scarf and you can find it here. It is so romantic and reminds me of strolling the streets of London on a beautifully chilly day. Okay, I'm reaching, but I am smitten. I was actually surfing the net for some lace patterns to begin a shawl for my mother (I am so over the ripple shawl. I wasn't thrilled about it). I decided to do a variation of the dayflower lace pattern using yarn I purchased at Brooklyn General. The yarn is a beautiful blend of deep purples, lavenders and mauves. I promise to post pictures later. I have also decided on doing a scarf in a Seaweed and Shells lace pattern variation for my Grandmother. She is constantly complaining how cold it is in Syracuse. It looks like I have my projects cut out for me. I started making a sweater for my nephew but it is pure stockingette stitch. After about the 50th row, I was seeing double, dropping stitches, putting increases where they didn't belong and crying from the monotony. I will fininsh it though. I am making it in a sz larger than he needs. So I have time to play with my laces. Woo Hoo! Knit On!

No Adjustments Needed . . .

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. You have found the right place. No need to adjust your browsers. Last night while on the phone with my Mom, I found myself in the middle of a spurt of creative energy. While she lamented over the latest drama to hit the house in Jamaica, Queens, the left side of my brain decided to stage a creative coup . . . and amazingly enough, I heard every word she said. 2 hours and another drama later, the result is my new blog template. I was searching on the net for a graphic for a client and came across a knit graphic. Of course I had to change it to reflect me. What do you think? I was thinking about doing some other versions of the graphic and putting it on a journal or cards. . . maybe selling them on Cafe Press. We'll see. Right now I am basking in the glow. Now only if she will call when I have a deadline, maybe then I can finish some of my work and stop procrastinating.

Nassir

I've decided to be a good Auntie and knit a sweater for my nephew, Nassir. This past weekend was the perfect time to start since the weather was so nasty and I am NOT a cold weather person. I actually bought the yarn - Louet Sales Opal before I thought about the pattern. The yarn is more "celery" green than "pea" green". I just knew I wanted to make "something" for him, besides a blanket. So, I pulled out the books and decided on the Baby crossover Top from Debbie Bliss Easy Knits. It looks like an easy enough sweater to knit in no time. So far the back is half done and it took me one night. Hopefully I can stop laughing at American Idol (my guilty pleasure) long enough to focus.

Harlem On My Mind

FINALLY . . . a Girl's Day Out with the gang! It's been a long time coming. We actually haven't been out since Laurie got married in August. Needless to say, we were long overdue. So after the threeways and the catching up, we decided to meet at the Harlem Tea Room for a light lunch and then head downtown to see Memoirs of a Geisha.
The minute I stepped out of the train station I immediately was transported back in time when every Saturday was spent on 125th. Street. I felt the warmth of my mother's hand wrapped around mine as I recalled how we used to we high step it through the streets after my dance class at Ruth William's. After meeting up with my Grandmother and catching a quick bite at Woolworth's, we would often dodge in and out of the stores, searching for nothing in particular but loving being among the people. Women with cornrows and fros and men with shiny domes! HA! Those were the times. My big eyes took in everything, from the women pushing baby carriages to the hustlers pushing drugs. That was Harlem . . . beautiful, colorful and always at the tipping point.
As I made my way up Madison Avenue, I couldn't believe how much "Uptown" had changed. Brand new co-ops have replaced the burned out buildings and lots full of debris. Harlem has a new attitude but there is a hefty price being paid. Those who have been in Harlem for generations are now being pushed out by neighborhood improvement efforts. It is really bittersweet . . . (I'll save the revolutionary rhetoric for another time. I am much to mellow at the moment)

After my nostalgic moment, I was greeted by the soothing vibe of the Harlem Tea Room.
It was so relaxing and lovely. I had the Tropical Cyclone Tea (green sencha and assam blended with hibiscus rose petals, blue mallow blossoms, sunflower petals, and mango/passion fruit/ pineapple flavor) with a scone and a Curry Chicken Salad sandwich. I was in heaven. relaxing with the girls and catching up on all the gossip. Later, relaxed, contented and feeling good, we made our way to Times Square to see Memoirs of a Geisha. This is the perfect movie to see with your "Girls". It is truly a beautiful movie and the imagery is incredible! I would love to see it again. Since the day had a "tea" theme, to commemorate the day, I decided to order this for everyone. Before parting ways, we vowed not to go so long without seeing eachother again. Spending time in the company of your "sisters" is so vital, especially when we are so busy doing for others. This time, doing for ourselves felt realllllly good. I can see this becoming a (good) habit.

Loving it!

I shocked even myself with how cute this came out. After finishing, I showed it to Vincent and he already had the plans for an assembly line mapped out. He even tried to calculate production costs and markups! I really hope Briana likes it. Even if she can't use it for her Nintendo DS, she can use it as a little purse to carry things in. I got the idea of the flower from here. I came across the baby hat pattern when looking for a gift to knit a friend. It is soooo cute. I may still make it and pair it with a sweater. As with everything, TIME is a big factor.

Ms. Briana

See, what had happened was I started knitting Ms. Briana (my adorable little cousin) a panta. But since she is in the South, I thought, against it. Her mother told me she received a Nintendo DS for Christmas. So I frogged the panta and knit her a case for her DS. All that is left to do is knit up the sides and knit the flower that I want to place on the cover and VOILA! A cute case for a cute girl. Girl Gaming Power!
Sidebar: I love Debbie Bliss's Cashmerino Chunky. I was thinking as a project for practice to knit a baby sweater and booties. Hmm.......

Cover Up

My Ipod Cover. I honestly forgot the name of the yarn I used. That's not good. However, I knit it double strand in stockingette stitch. Simple enough. Now all I need is button.

An Irie Kitchen

I stopped crying long enough to do a happy dance because Kathy received the trio of dishcloths I made for her kitchen. I have to admit, they came out really nice. The red one was really simple. CO 46 stitches, Knit rows 1 & 2. Rows 3&4, K2, *K1,P1*across to last 2 stitches then K2. The yellow is a feather and fan pattern found at the Dishcloth Boutique. The green was knit from a Checkerboard pattern I remembered. Cast on 46 stitches, Knit 3 rows, Pattern - Row 4: K2,*K6,P6* to last 2 stitches, K2, Row 5: K2,*P6,K6* to last 2 stitches, K2, Repeat Rows 4 and 5 five more times then reverse.
Row 11: K2,*P6,K6* to last 2 stitches, K2. Row 12:K2,*K6,P6* to last 2 stitches, K2. Reapeat Pattern. The checkerboard pattern is her favorite and she asked me to make a dishtowel for her. Because the dishtowel is longer, I may increase the pattern a couple of rows. Stay tuned . . .

A Reflective New Year

I have been in a state of complete reflection since New Years Eve. Since it was the first New Year's in a long time that we would be together, we thought it would be a great idea to go to Church. We have all been through so many ups and downs throughout the year, we thought some spiritual upliftment would be good for us all. The Reverend's words hit a core within me and like the crab that I am, I retreated into my shell. While cleaning the house I was listening to Leela James. Her rendition of Sam Cooke's " A Change is Gonna Come" brought me to tears. I cried for a loooonnngggg time. This is the year for change. something has to change and I know it has to start with me.

Thank-you Santa!

I know it has been awhile since my last post. As the holidays come close, I am always swamped with deadlines. Now I am able to breathe a bit and play with my new Ipod.. I was feeling a little left out of the Ipod craze when even my mother bought herself a pink Ipod mini. As she sat snapping her fingers to Tina's Greatest Hits, on one of her many trips to Mohegan, I sat staring out the window brooding because I lost my techie creds by being Ipodless. However, Santa showed me much love ths Christmas and my wish was granted. I am loving it and started knitting a cover right away ( pictures to come later). Don't want the shiny parts to get scratched! The other thing I love is Podcasts. I can get my photoshop jones on with a video Podcast from Photshop TV or catch up on world news. BUT, the most rewarding thing I have found are KNITTING PODCASTS! WOOOOOO HOOOOOO! I am in knitting nirvana. The first one I started listening to is Knitcast. . It is hosted by Marie Irshad out of the UK. and is loaded with tons of information and news from across the pond. Another knitting podcast i am listening to is Cast On and it features news, views, and the latest independent music KniTunes, hosted by Brenda Dayne out of Wales.
The easiest way to download the podcasts is through Itunes 6. Just type in the name and download for FREE . . . or you can use a podcast aggregator like iPodder or iPodderX to subscribe and download. It's just so beautiful!

Complete Standstill

Everything has halted. Nothing is moving. MTA is on strike and New York City has to find alternate means to navigate the concrete jungle during this cold, holiday season. What other way to get respect than to hit the city where it hurts, in their DEEEEP pockets. Hopefully a resolution will come soon. Children are really left out in the cold because it is really hard for them to get to school. It almost doesn't make sense to send them to school since it opens two hours late and their is no means for them to get home. UUGGHH . . .

Haven't done much knitting, like the city, I am at a standstill.

Pray For Me...

I need help, I really do. I seems I can't go into a yarn store without coming out with a bag full of yarn. This is how much yarn I have purchased in the last two weeks . . . all with good intentions. Here is the breakdown, including intended projects:

• Lionbrand Woolease Chunky - Mali's Scarf


• Cascade 220 Wool (teal) - Mom's Ripple Shawl (I know,I know. I didn't like the hand of the one I started. That's why it stayed in my knitting basket)


• Patons Decor -Pillows
• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky - Ms. Briana's Panta (yep,I decided to do it over)


• Lionbrand Lionsuede - Haven't really decided yet.
• Louet Sales Gems Sapphire (LOVE THIS YARN!) - Baby hat for my Nephew

Soy yes, I admit it, I am a bonafide YARN-A-HOLIC! I haven't gone to a meeting yet cause I am hoping the crying from my pockets will halt my next purchase and shock me into submission. So please, pray for me.

The Pantas

Part 1: I started knitting this Panta (a finnish Headband) for Ms. Briana. I loved the vibrant colors of the Red Heart Kids Yarn in beach and when she visited in the summer, she loved it too. However, once I finished knotting it, I was not loving it. The hand was too rough for me and I couldn't put that on Ms. Briana's little head.

Part 2: So I started to knit another Panta for Hanah. On one of my frequent trips to the yarn store, I picked up this WONDERFULLY soft wool yarn that was on sale. As I was going through my yarn stash I knew this would be perfect for Hannah . . . especially since she is sporting a red coat this winter and her favorite color is pink. The picture is a little dark and you can't really see the pink, black and gold yarns twisted throughout. I am loving the way this is turning out! Now, I just need to knit a little faster..