tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236255332024-03-23T13:00:54.349-05:00Threads and needles, sticks and stringsThe needlework and knitting ramblings of a 50something fiber addict. Any technique or project is fair game. Life sometimes gets in the way of my crafts, so you'll hear about my family, too.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-20550942199798476302013-01-20T08:47:00.000-06:002017-08-09T10:47:32.246-05:00What happened?<br />
<br />
Well, in short, my life fell apart over the last four years.<br />
<br />
1) The baby was born premature just as JC is ending his active duty service in the Corps. Little Carl had many issues and spent a month in the NICU. (June 2009)<br />
2) My mom was diagnoised with colon cancer. (December 2009)<br />
3) My job moved to Tulsa. And I didn't - see above (also December 2009)<br />
4) Surgery, nursing home, home for hospice care (Dec 2009 to May 2010). Once mom is too weak to help me lift her body, JC comes home to help, with the baby. Which is good, Mom gets to 'hold' him. My job lets me work from home as I transition my work to my replacement in Tulsa.<br />
5) Mom passes away (May 31 2010)<br />
6) I'm offered a job with a different division of my company (June 2010). This job necessitates an hour plus commute each way. I'm just happy to be working for the same company.<br />
7) Trying to get mom's house on the market<br />
8) JC's marriage falls apart. His wife misbehaves in several ways. She refuses to get counciling and asks him to leave. He moves home (WITH the baby). (Oct 2010)<br />
9) He moves into mom's house, which is WAY too big for him and starts looking for work. Finds a temp job.<br />
10) JC's life gets back together. He gets primary custody, his divorce is final, his temp job leads to a full time job, and he is introduced to his current girlfriend, Angie. (Early 2011)<br />
11) There's a murder in the house right behind mine. (July 2011). <br />
12) JC and his girfriend end up expecting. (July 2012). They are living in mom's house, but want to move out into the rural school district (and I agree, this isn't the neighborhood or school district that it was when I grew up here, or even when Walt and I moved here - see above).<br />
<br />
So my life is getting first JC's (mom and dad's) house and then mine ready for the market and sold. I don't know when those things will happen. Still playing with the bell choirs at the cathedral. Working in KC - I have joined a carpool, though, so I only drive once or twice a week. <br />
<br />
I've thought about getting back into blogging here, but since this blog was mostly about knitting and needlework, I just document my knitting on Ravelry and I've not been stitching at all. <br />
<br />
And I really kind of miss having a diary of my life. I'm not going to try to fill in the 'gaps' more than this, though. Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-10867889625108482972009-05-26T22:26:00.002-05:002009-05-26T22:29:25.676-05:00Sleevage<a href="http://img211.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greycardifinishedsleevet.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1594/greycardifinishedsleevet.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since I got back from Tennessee last month, the sleeves for the Grey Office Cardi have been my car/travel project. I brought them inside to be measured, and they are done up to the armpits. Now I need to join them to the body of the sweater and start the raglan decreases. <br /><br />I'm tempted to do the joining round, but it's late and if I get started on that round, I'll be up to midnight knitting. Not an issue if it was a Friday, but not so good on a work night.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-68498878579579130422009-05-19T18:58:00.005-05:002009-05-21T19:48:00.973-05:00UFORR - Haze's Earthdancer<a href="http://img36.imageshack.us/my.php?image=earthdancer.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2278/earthdancer.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another round in our UFO round robin. And I managed to finish another project! This is "Earthdancer" from Butternut Road. Designed by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum. There is a <a href="http://www.tiag.com/designs/BR-07.html">wonderful story</a> about the inspiration for this design which made it even more special to stitch on.<br /><br />If I ever make this one for myself, and I might, there is one thing that I will do differently. I will do the beading on her breastplate in actual loomed beadwork and attach it to the fabric. The beads are every so slightly oversized. Not a problem with scattered beads or the small motifs elsewhere in the design - even the shoulder roundels. But there in the center, they are crowded enough that the lines of beadwork are distorted and the beads don't want to lay flat. I did the best that I could by running stabilizing threads on the horizontals. And of course I thought about the solution when I was on the next to the last row of attaching them individually ::headdesk::<br /><br />'Dancer'll be on her way back to Winnipeg tomorrow - sorry to see her go.....Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-34341515324424038722009-05-03T20:08:00.000-05:002009-05-25T02:54:40.247-05:00FO - Baby Surprise Jacket<a href="http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bsj003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9048/bsj003.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Classic Baby Surprise Jacket<br /><br />Designer: Elizabeth Zimmermann in <em>The Opinionated Knitter</em><br /><br />Yarn: Collinette "Jitterbug" in unknown colorway (nicknamed "Urban Camo")<br /><br />Needles: US3 (gauge is 6 st/inch)<br /><br />I'm very happy with the buttons I picked out...<br /><a href="http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bsj004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7315/bsj004.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Please excuse the hotel room photography.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-412133806041831942009-05-02T20:58:00.003-05:002009-05-21T19:48:39.828-05:00back to the grey cardi<a href="http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greycardicastonsleeves0.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1923/greycardicastonsleeves0.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While I was on vacation, I did actually get the sleeves for the grey cardi cast on. (twice - it took me a while to figure out the whole two at a time thing).<br /><br />I decided to do them two at a time since there were increases in pattern to consider. The alternative would have been extensive notes; that was not so practical as these were being worked on in and around visits to the new in-laws. (Humm, what ARE the parents of a married couple to each other???)Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-9093888575551586632009-04-23T20:54:00.001-05:002009-05-21T19:40:19.217-05:00Knitted OrigamiElizabeth Zimmermann was, of course, a total knitting genius. Who but a genius could turn this knitted amoeba:<br /><a href="http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bsj001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2852/bsj001.th.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><br />Into the world's cutest baby sweater by just folding it - thusly<br /><a href="http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bsj002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3240/bsj002.th.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><br />Off to pack.......Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-33140721508504992802009-04-23T19:58:00.000-05:002009-05-21T19:01:28.641-05:00button, buttonThe buttonholes in the Baby Surprise Jacket are simple yarn overs - she has you put buttonholes on both sides, then sew the buttons onto the 'appropriate' side. Very clever and if a younger sibling is a different gender, simple to switch them.<br /><br />But I need to find some buttons for this thing before I head out. I'll be leaving from work tomorrow at about 3pm. See you next week!Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-34107482817402855022009-04-22T18:44:00.002-05:002009-05-21T19:39:13.009-05:00Baby Surprise Jacket - Urban Camo<a href="http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bsjstart.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3737/bsjstart.th.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><br />The yarn here is Collinette "jitterbug", but I've lost the label - so I have no idea what the name of the colorway is. I'm calling it Urban Camo, because it reminds me of those pink and blue "camouflage" bandannas and pants that were popular a few years back - plus the olive and black of REAL camo. I think it's just right for a little boy who will be born to two Marines.<br /><br />JC totally surprised me with a "hey, mom, guess what - I'm married and we are going to have a baby" phone call over Christmas. I didn't dare say a word to a soul until he told my mom last weekend. Steph, love you like a sister, but I know you or the kids would have totally spilled the beans! (Steph is in my knitting group and her kids take music lessons from my mom.) But now that mom knows, I've told everybody - knitting group, in the church bulletin etc, etc.<br /><br />My new Daughter in law's name is Michelle (called 'Chelle) and she's a Marine also stationed at Camp Lejeune. She just turned 20, so she's about 3 years younger than JC, and she's only on the second year of her first enlistment. I guess he was just ready to settle down and start a family. <br /><br />I'm off to Tennessee to visit her parents (the kids are on leave and are there)- baby shower/family reunion will ensue - hence the hijacking of my knitting time.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-57887360778736015572009-04-21T18:39:00.003-05:002009-05-21T18:44:33.037-05:00Projectus Interuptus.....<a href="http://img265.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bsjmaterials.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5018/bsjmaterials.th.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><br />I meant to cast on the sleeves of my grey office cardi. I really did.<br /><br />But I got hijacked by a baby sweater.........Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-46328061297227931472009-04-09T23:06:00.001-05:002009-04-11T14:24:52.754-05:00UFORR - Catherine's French Country/Campagne Sampler<a href="http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=uforrfrenchsampler.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7668/uforrfrenchsampler.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The UFO RR that I signed up for that started in February has had the majority of the stitching time since then. I committed myself to stitching for 20 hours on each project - that's about a half hour a night. I am resigned to not getting a lot of stitching time in on my own things untill the RR is done in August.<br /><br />This is the first project. It's for Catherine in Quebec. Her husband started this piece when they were on vacation in France and then decided that stitching isn't for him. She bogged down on it and decided to send it around. I was surprised; it's quite small. In fact I finished it! She's sending a new project out to my 'mailee' to replace it and I'm mailing her finished sampler back to her tomorrow.<br /><br />Here's what it looked like when I got it.<br /><a href="http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=uforrfrenchsamplerstart.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3200/uforrfrenchsamplerstart.th.jpg" border="0" /></a>Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-26315755941646811542009-04-08T17:39:00.000-05:002009-04-11T13:06:00.092-05:00The Grey Cardi is growing<a href="http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greycardibodyinprogress.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8488/greycardibodyinprogress.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is where I thought that the body would end, but it looked a little skimpy when I actually got to the point where the sleeves join up - 1.5 inches before the last buttonhole and the start of the VNeck shaping. I measured it against some other sweaters that I own, and noticed that the ones that compare to this length at the underarm are the ones that I am always tugging down when I wear them. A bit more length is required.<br /><br />So I ran over to JoAnns after work yesterday and bought another card of buttons (the last one in my style on the rack!!). That will give me about 18 inches at the underarm and an odd number of buttons. Studies have shown that odd numbers are more visually pleasing than even numbers to most people. I will also have an extra button; this is always a good thing so that the first time you loose a button, you don't have to go out and replace them all. Most better quality manufactured sweaters will give you an extra button or two (and sometimes a bit of yarn!) in a little packet on the tag or an extra button sewn into the hem somewhere unobtrusive.<br /><br />I don't have choir tonight, so I'll be able to go to knit group for the first time since the break after Christmas! I do miss those gals and guys, but I also love ringing. I wish one or the other was on a different day than Wednesday!Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-58213329506924816142009-04-04T15:57:00.003-05:002009-04-05T10:15:39.022-05:00Buttonholes and their locationNow that the ribbing is done and the cardigan border continues and the pattern rows are established (the top three rows next to the needle, though you can't really see them in this picture), the next thing I need to think about as I work my way up the sweater is buttonholes.<br /><br />I put the recommended two button in the bottom ribbing, one a half inch after the cast on and one a half inch before the ribbing stops. This ribbing is right at 3 inches deep, and the desired depth to the underarm is 15 inches. If you take the ribbing depth off, that leave 12 inches and four buttons, so one button hole every three inches.<br /><br />From here up the underarms, this is fairly mindless knitting - only the patterns and the buttonholes to keep track of.<br /><br /><a href="http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greyofficecardiribbing0.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/2504/greyofficecardiribbing0.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now, there are several stitch markers there. The red one is keeping the cardigan border stitches isolated, and the two lockable ones are marking button holes. I decided that since this sweater is going to be worn open most of the time, that I wanted the buttonholes to be as unobtrusive as possible. So I'm using simple YO, K2T holes instead of a fancy slot type buttonhole. They are plenty big enough for when I want to button the sweater up, but disappear into the cardigan border ribbing when not in use.<br /><br />Buttons left unbuttoned are decorative, but empty buttonholes are just empty.....<br /><br />And just like I want them to, they disappear - hence the markers.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-32547030885169112552009-04-03T22:12:00.001-05:002009-04-04T15:57:23.044-05:00RRRRRRRRRibbing<a href="http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greyofficecardiribbing0.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2504/greyofficecardiribbing0.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And with only a minimum of ripping! I actually only went merrily around past the 'turn around' point one time, and then only for a couple of stitches before my fingers told my brain what had happened. That's one thing that experience does - it puts the movement into your hands. That's called muscle memory and is why you can touch type or text without looking so much at where your fingers are. And why (if it's a simple pattern like stockinette or even ribbing) I can read and knit at the same time.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-87459847263623321082009-04-02T20:57:00.002-05:002009-04-02T21:13:57.930-05:00Math and the Art of Sweater Design....Traditional Sweaters (like the ones in <a href="">Knitting in the Old Way</a>), designs by the late great <a href="">Elizabeth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Zimmermann</span></a> and her heirs in spirit are based on the measurements of the intended wearer. Not, thank goodness, on the "one size fits some and no size fits me" of the fashion industry.<br /><br />So with swatch in hand and knowing that this sweater needs to be 54 inches around to fit me (including ease), I calculate that I will need 4 x 54 = 216 stitches for the body. The cardigan borders will be 10 stitches on each side.<br /><br />10 border + 54 left front + 109 back + 54 right front + 10 border = 237 <br /><br /><br />The math works out for 108 stitches in the back section EXCEPT that I need an odd number to balance the planned K1, P1 ribbing, so I put the extra stitch in the least obvious area.<br /><br />Now if this was a pullover or if I wanted a cardigan that pulled in strongly at the waist, I'd start out with 10% fewer stitches, but remember the design specifications - loose fit to wear over other clothes. So I'm going to cast on the full complement of stitches. And I'm only going down one needle size for the bottom ribbing, not two sizes which is the more 'standard' for ribbing.<br /><br />Pardon me while I go cast on........Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-49181501999620365832009-03-31T18:20:00.006-05:002009-05-21T19:47:18.164-05:00I spent my lunch hour in a fabric store<a href="http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greyofficecardibuttons0.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5044/greyofficecardibuttons0.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here in Topeka, we have several quilt shops, one independent fabric store and two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JoAnn's</span> stores. A VERY tiny bead shop and one cross stitch shop. A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Michaels</span>, a Hobby Lobby. No knitting stores at all - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hence</span> the fact that my Local Yarn Shops in the side bar are "Not So Local Yarn Shops" Luckily both of THEM are fantastic!<br /><br />So shopping for buttons for the Grey Office <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cardi</span> was less of an adventure than it would have been if we had either a button speciality store or a garment district. Sometimes I envy the knitters in NYC or Chicago. But only a little bit and only about the cool shops.<br /><br />But anyhow, these are very elegant 3/4 inch across the diagonal. That's big enough to not be overwhelmed by the knitting. And if the light catches them just right, they have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">marbling</span> inside.<br /><br /><a href="http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greyofficecardibuttons0b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/759/greyofficecardibuttons0b.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was right about needing just a little wider <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">cardigan</span> border - four upper ribs instead of two.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-55198811539585054782009-03-30T21:36:00.004-05:002009-03-30T22:16:01.797-05:00Swatching for the Grey Office Cardi<a href="http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greyofficecardiswatch00.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8580/greyofficecardiswatch00.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Swatched</span> last night and gave it a bath in the sink with a bit of wool wash (then washed a couple pair of socks - the blockers are full). This yarn relaxed almost a half stitch an inch in the wash. That's a VERY good thing to know. I don't always swatch for small projects (socks, hats, scarves) or for lace shawls/stoles (in a yarn/needle combo I've used before). But I do for sweaters and I wash the swatches, too.<br /><br />The hand softened up a lot - from almost harsh to the nice '<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">crunchy</span> soft' that I expect from merino wool yarns. Those two things tell me that there's quite a bit of spinning oil/chemicals left in the yarn. But it's not bad enough to make me consider skeining and washing the yarn before hand.<br /><br />I'm getting a gauge of EXACTLY 8 stitches over 2 inches - perfect to my plan - on size 8 needle. And I like the hand of the washed swatch. It lays nice and flat, has good stitch definition. So far, so good.<br /><br />I did two swatches in one here. On the right of the photo is Stocking Stitch with a garter stitch band. OK, but uninteresting. One the left is a alternating seed stitch with the 'cardigan band' ribbing from The Sweater Workshop.<br /><br />There's JUST enough pattern to make a visually interesting surface. And it's based on a broken rib, so it will lay flat, and drape well. And because it alternates pattern (k1, p1 rib) and purl back, if you make the pattern rows be on the IN side, every outside row will be knit. I don't MIND purling, but I do knit faster than I purl.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rnd</span>/row 1: K1, P1<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">rnd</span> 2: K OR row 2: P<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rnd</span>/row 3: P1, K1<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">rnd</span> 4: K OR row 4: P<br /><br />I'm glad I went ahead and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">swatched</span> the cardigan border. A six stitch border is 'standard' for the sweaters pictured in the book. I'm thinking that looks rather skimpy. I'm going to see if I can find buttons for this sweater before I cast on. I'm thinking I want some grey or black squarish buttons, very sleek and Art Deco-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ish</span>? The width of the buttons will really determine the necessary width of the button band. You knit this button band 'as you go', so it needs to be correct from the cast on.<br /><br />Once I find the buttons, it's time for some MATH!Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-43734287806580236492009-03-29T20:35:00.006-05:002009-03-31T18:39:00.186-05:00The office cardigan - thoughts on design.A couple of years ago when Michael's opened a store here in Topeka and they had all their yarn on sale, I bought 9 skeins of charcoal heather colored Paton's "Classic Wool". It's just that - a classic 100% merino worsted weight 3 ply. About as 'old school' as you can get. I was originally planning on making<a href="http://threadsandstring.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-do-i-do-next.html"> a hoodie</a> with this yarn, but looking at the yardage, I'd need two, maybe three more skeins if I want to do that. I have a better plan, and a more pressing need.<br /><br />My office is cold. Sometimes disconcertingly so. Most of the people keep an afghan tossed over the back of their chairs. My fingering and heavy lace weight shawls have all done office duty. But what I'm going to do is knit up this Paton's into a sturdy sweater that will live in my cubby year round.<br /><br />Design specifications - A cardigan, obviously. Needs to be relaxed fit to wear over anything, raglan shoulder shaping would help with that. It will be worn open most of the time - so jacket style, not wrap shaping. Likewise a V neck would give me the most comfortable fit.<br /><br />I only have 9 skeins (about 2000 yards), so using my handy little Ann Budd "yarn requirements" brochure, I'll want a gauge of 4 stitches per inch. That's doable in this yarn, but it also means no cables. And the 'beater sweater' design that I'm working on here means no lace - or at least not a very open pattern. But a stocking stitch cardi in a dark grey semi-solid yarn would be very boring to knit. A slightly textured pattern would be good.<br /><br />I'm a BIG fan of Jacqueline Fee's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweater-Workshop-Creative-Seam-Free-Sweaters/dp/0892725338/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238378172&sr=8-1">The Sweater Workshop</a>. Based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Percentage System (and with the gracious EZ's permission and encouragement), these are not 'patterns' per se. Rather they are 'recipes' using your unique gauge on your needles with your yarn. I did a half dozen sweaters out of the first edition of this book the last time I went crazy for knitting back in the 1980s. A second edition came out in 2003 with even more patterns, including a raglan sleeved, v- necked cardigan. SCORE!!!<br /><br />Off to swatch.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-47835841433488404622009-03-29T12:52:00.006-05:002009-03-29T23:07:04.929-05:00FO - Faux Noro Scarf, Six feet of K1P1 ribbing later.....<br /><br /><a href="http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fauxnorofo001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6550/fauxnorofo001.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For being such a simple knit, it kept my attention almost hypnotically. I mean when the colors cycle through like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fauxnorofo002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6156/fauxnorofo002.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fauxnorofo003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/267/fauxnorofo003.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fauxnorofo004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6664/fauxnorofo004.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I couldn't wait to see what the next <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">variation</span> looked like. I can see why people call this project addictive!<br /><br />Details:<br /><br />Needles US7<br /><br />Yarn Universal Yarns Classic Shades (colorways 706 and 702)<br /><br />I'm thinking that this one has enough <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Burgundy</span> and rust in it to be this year's Red Scarf. It's about the right size, too. (5 inches by 72 inches)<br /><br />Pattern all over the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Internet</span>, but I used the numbers and details from <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/04/noro-scarf.html">Brooklyn Tweed</a>Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-27746080992648426282009-03-14T12:22:00.003-05:002013-01-20T09:06:13.840-06:00Faux Noro Scarf - the beginning<a href="http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fauxnorostart002.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/972/fauxnorostart002.th.jpg" /></a><br />
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Yes, these two colors look great together. There's enough teal to counter the burnt orange. There's enough burgundy to counter the olive. All in all it swings through two nearly related complementary colorways - but always on the dark/greyed tonal side. Very autumnal.<br />
<br />
As <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BT</span> pointed out, doing this scarf in 1x1 rib has several advantages. First of all, ribbing lies flat. No curl like stocking stitch based fabric. Second, it looks on first glance like a loose stocking stitch. The one stitch ribs make the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fabric</span> absolutely perfectly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">corrugated</span>. So, thirdly, the fabric is nice and cushy - double thick from the ribbing. Of course that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">corrugated</span> texture means that it pulls in something fierce. This yarn normally knits up (in stocking) at about 5 stitches per inch, but 39 stitches cast on in the ribbing is barely 5 inches across - that's actually a good width for a bulky scarf.<br />
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By the way, the color variation is not totaly an effect of the camera flash, it really does look like that. Where the 706 color cycles into the burnt orange, it just GLOWS. Like embers in a stone hearth. Lovely colors.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-5773075739345161412009-03-07T11:59:00.001-06:002009-03-14T12:27:27.737-05:00Wherein the knitter discovers a substitution for Noro Silk GardenWhen there has been a long knitting hiatus, the best type of project to get back into the swing of things is something simple. A quick and satisfying project to 'prime the pump' as it were.<br /><br />I know - a scarf.<br /><br />I'd noticed the two stripe Noro scarf when <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/04/noro-scarf.html">Brooklyn Tweed</a> showed off his magnificent one a couple of years ago (drooling as always over his fantastic photographic mojo). Then <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2008/12/22/in_which_there_are_four_days.html">Yarn Harlot</a> did one or a dozen last year as part of her annual Christmas knitting extravaganza. (It's all the way at the bottom of her post.)<br /><br />I liked the look enough that I priced out the Noro Silk Garden that is the recommended yarn. OMG - $60 for a scarf? SO not in the budget - that's a sweater's worth of yarn! Then the other day, I was looking through the stash and found two skeins of Universal Yarn's "Classic Shades" that I'd picked up when I was in Jville last summer on my "tour of every yarn shop within driving distance of Camp Lejeune" road trip.<br /><br />This yarn is a poly/wool blend; I'd used a similar blend for my Irish Hiking Scarf and Hat back in the day and liked it. This yarn is a singles and will probably pill, but that's what sweater shavers are for, right? My original skeins were color 702, which is a dark mixture of olive drabs, greenish grays, khakis, teals and tans with a subtle hint of orange here and there. Nice, but even if I started the skeins in different places, there was not enough contrast for the two stripe scarf.<br /><br />So onto the 'net, where to my dismay, I discovered that this yarn has been discontinued!!! But there was a ebay seller who had a skein of color 706 for sale. This colorway is all burnt orange, rusts and burgundy shades.<br /><br /><a href="http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fauxnorostart001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6558/fauxnorostart001.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I think this will work......Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-41460044490587034472009-02-15T22:25:00.000-06:002009-04-11T14:31:06.457-05:00GoodBye KC Plaza Workbag....<a href="http://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kcplazabagasitleaveshomzp2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6682/kcplazabagasitleaveshomzp2.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kcplazabagasitleaveshomsv5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2832/kcplazabagasitleaveshomsv5.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...., have fun on your trip around the US and Canada!<br /><br />What?! You thought I frogged it? Not likely!<br /><br />I signed up for the UFO (UnFinished Object) RR (Round Robin) on the YUKU bulletin board way last December and it's now time for the first mailing.<br /><br />I decided to send this project around because it is the only one of my started projects that isn't getting at least occasional stitch time in the current rotation. From the photos people are posting, it looks like a great mix of projects. This should be fun and I should get the KC Plaze Workbag back with some progress made on it.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-13939059557266945702009-02-08T15:16:00.003-06:002009-03-30T01:12:41.624-05:00I sure hope that's an optical illusion...<a href="http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stsasof20090207yj9.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6876/stsasof20090207yj9.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... that makes the unfinished vertical arm of the cross look so much shorter than the finished horizontals. I've counted it out twice, but I won't be 100% happy until I bring the third quadrant borders around and everything meets up correctly.<br /><br />I really didn't want to put this away. In some ways, I'm a frustrated "One At a Time" stitcher. When I come to the end of my five hours, I'm still in love with the project, and it goes to the back of the pile with great reluctance.<br /><br />That's one reason that I'd like to get the needlework whittled down to just two or three projects. I think it would be easier to balance needlework and knitting with fewer needlework projects clamoring for my attention.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-67793591842349685752009-01-30T20:10:00.004-06:002009-01-31T16:36:33.161-06:00And we kick off another Sharon Cohen WIP<a href="http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=samplersweetbagasof2009qp9.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8339/samplersweetbagasof2009qp9.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the Second Work in Progress designed by the Queen of the Elizabethan Needlework Re-emergence - Sharon Cohen. It's the "Sampler Sweetbag" and unlike the <a href="http://threadsandstring.blogspot.com/2008/06/fo-ren-sampler.html">Renaissance Sampler</a>, this one has no cutwork. It makes up for that with detached buttonhole and queen stitch LOL. There will be a huge detached buttonhole flower in the center of this piece, but that won't be made for months yet. First I have to get everything else done and also design the back.<br /><br />For ease of assembly on sweetbags and even pincushions, I like to use the same linen as the front. The directions for this piece say to use a piece of muslin for the back - not likely! And of course you can't have just an expanse of plain linen - that's no fun *G*.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-78246094943065030762009-01-24T11:00:00.006-06:002009-01-24T11:34:06.980-06:00MOVIE: "Jumper" (2008)Several years ago, I read the original book that this movie is based on - "Jumper" by Steven Gould. Originally published in 1992, it was re-released by Tor books as a movie tie-in in 2007. I haven't read the re-release to see if anything has changed, but I liked the original story very much. So I was excited to add the DVD to my NetFlicks queue.<br /><br />I was rather disappointed in the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489099/">movie</a>, though. The special effects were great - the visual effect of the "Jump" was good and the location shots spectactular. But overall the movie was shallow; the love interest was tepid and there was little of the moral delima that the original book explored. There was a totally unnecessary car theft scene in the middle that seemed a bit out of character for Griffin in the first place and only accomplished two things - that Griffin can 'jump' an entire vehicle and the boys shared the experience of the Paladins murdering their parent(s). The director should have saved the special effects budget from that entire scene and used the time for some real character developement!<br /><br />I'll still give it a 3 star rating, but just barely, maybe 2.5.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23625533.post-83044099581289298812009-01-18T13:27:00.002-06:002009-01-31T16:39:07.381-06:00The Neverending projectWow, this one is a real "blast from the past". It is "Dutch Beauty" from Permin of Denmark.<br /><br />I started this piece on 1/2/2000, so it's one of my older Works in Progress (WIPs). It's on Strathaven Linen, which is a 32/34 count, so it's a slightly uneven weave. This makes it great for historic samplers, which were stitched on handwoven fabric, of course. It's a very dense linen with a lovely hand. I'd love to have more of it.<br /><br />I chose this linen because it will make my finished sampler very close in size to the original. I do try to do that with historic reproducations as much as possible.<br /><br /><a href="http://img57.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dbasof2009jan1002fw3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2650/dbasof2009jan1002fw3.th.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><br />DB is HUGE - a full yard of linen as you can see. Walt called it "the tablecloth" to tease me. BTW, I apologize for the really bad picture, the lighting was terrible. The linen is actually cream colored, not brown.<br /><br />In eight years, I've only managed to finish 7 panels of the 21 that make up the pattern. I need to do better if I ever want to finish the beast. So I'm putting it into the rotation.<br /><br />Here's what I got done this week. Five hours was about half of Page H - which is the start of the center row. Left hand border, the center stem of the spray of flowers, the vase and established the "ground" line for the center row of motifs.<br /><br /><a href="http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dbasof20090118wb3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6302/dbasof20090118wb3.th.jpg" border="0"/></a><br /><br />This is not at all a complicated piece - it's all cross stitch over 2 and there's only about 15 thread colors; it's just that it's so blasted BIG LOL.Karla (ThreadBndr)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15069952972112949772noreply@blogger.com1