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A Birthday Celebration

Posted on March 29, 2013 by auburnchick

Today I turn 43.

Happy Birthday to me!

I started celebrating a little early…as in yesterday.

I’d carefully planned out my week, working many, many hours so that I could enjoy the rest of my week.

Every year, about this time, I make an hour and a half trek to a yarn store that has been one of my favorites over the years.  The night before, I texted my friend, Maegan, to see if she wanted to join me.  She did, and I picked her up around 11.

Maegan and I work together, but we don’t get to talk for long periods of time because we are too busy teaching our students.  She won our school’s Teacher of the Year…a testament to how fabulous she is.  The kids and staff adore her.  Spending quality time away from school and the stresses of life was something I knew I’d treasure.

Off we went!

She took a couple of pictures as we crossed the bridge.  As you can see, the weather was PERFECT!

Our first stop was the yarn store…actually the FIRST of the day (we saw the other one I used to visit on the way and made plans to stop on our way back).

Maegan was probably the most patient non-knitting person I’ve ever gone yarn shopping with.  She was mesmerized by the samples that had been worked up.  She pet the various skeins of yarn and listened patiently as I explained things like marrying the right yarns and patterns together.

What a friend!

I took full advantage of the 20% birthday coupon that I had received in the mail and left with these in my bag…

Malabrigo Lace in Indigo

A girl can never have too much Malabrigo!  I see this becoming a shawl…one day.

This is a sock yarn I’ve never heard of.  When I touched it, I could not stop.  It begged to come home with me.  I hate to let a yarn’s cries go untended.

😀

The yarn store is in the cutest little tourist area, fraught with adorable shops.

We visited a cupcake bakery that was uber-homey inside…

Alas…I inquired about vegan cupcakes, and the gal responded in the negative.  Oh well.  I guess I saved myself a few calories.

We also stepped into a pet supply store that has unique home-baked furry baby treats.  I didn’t take any photos.  I didn’t buy a thing either!  Go me!

Another shop that caught Maegan’s attention was a vintage clothing store.

The place had a funky smell, but we still had a good time holding up “interesting” items.

I found myself a dress to wear on Monday nights when I watch Dancing With the Stars…

No, I didn’t really buy it, but the thought did cross my mind!

Next up was a trip to Goodwill.

Yes, that’s right.

Goodwill.

Maegan had almost had heart failure when she’d seen one on the way to the yarn store.  At first, I was a little worried…until she told me that she LOVES to shop at Goodwill and had not been to the one we’d just passed.  I had promised that we’d go back, so we did.

Confession time.

Although I’ve donated things to Goodwill, I’ve never actually shopped there.

Oh word, but Maegan was in her element, and she quickly brought me up to speed on the ins and outs of shopping there.

We found a beautiful white prom dress and considered buying it just in case one of our students couldn’t afford the cost.  In the end, we decided not to because the dress was a little too sheer, and we didn’t think any of our girls would actually wear it.

After shopping awhile, we left without buying anything.

It was time to find the other yarn store, where I purchased the following yarn…

This is a cotton blend, and there was a sample of the Chincoteague Shawl knit up with a different colorway.  It’s a beautiful shawl, and the yarn stripes out beautifully as well.  I can’t wait to cast on!

After spending nearly an hour in the shop, we headed in the direction of home…or should I say in the direction of a second Goodwill store…one in which the owner of the second yarn store had assured us was a much better Goodwill to shop at.

Oh word.

Was.

It.

Ever.

It certainly didn’t take me long to catch on to Goodwill shopping!

As we shopped, I couldn’t believe that we actually needed a buggy!

Maegan taught me how to look at the shoes and determine if they’d been worn much.

We had fun trying on shoes.  She actually had to help me figure out how to strap on one pair…

Yes, I am THAT girl…still so awkward at times.

The shoes were a great fit and oh so pretty!

I found another cute pair as well.  Both pairs will look great under jeans or dress pants.

Another thing I discovered at Goodwill…

The kids love the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, and my friend, Barb, said that Rules of Attraction is one of the most sought-after books at school.  I bought the Nicholas Sparks book just because it was the first book that made me cry when I read it years ago.

I’ll admit that the “savings” added up, and I wound up spending a bit more than I’d anticipated.  Oh well.  Sometimes you just can’t put a price on the value of reading!

Next on our to-do list was a stop at Ulta.  We both had coupons we’d received in the mail, and we were eager to spend save a buck!  I wound up buying four bottles of Ulta Shampoo/Conditioner, which actually works great on my hair and was on sale for buy one, get one half off.

By the time I arrived home, I was happy and a little tired.  It took a second trip to the car to bring in everything…

What a wonderful way to kick off my birthday weekend.  Spending time with Maegan rejuvenated me.  We bounced teaching ideas off of one another, gave each other validation, and grew closer as friends.

I adore this young woman and am so blessed that I could share my birthday-eve with her.

Please say a prayer for my Chicklets.  They are on their way home, spending my birthday weekend/Easter with us and bringing with them a few friends.

The house will be filled with lots of laughter and fun, and I cannot wait.

Could you also say a prayer for Aubie.  She’s had a bad couple of days.  We’re very nervous.  Her health condition is the one sad spot right now.

Thanks all!

Filed under: Knitting, This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

AuburnChick Begins a New Project

Posted on June 11, 2012 by auburnchick

I don’t have castonitis, I promise I don’t.

Not familiar with this knitterly condition?

Well, it’s something that happens to a knitter when he/she buys new yarn or sees a pattern that simply begs to be knit up.  This knitter might have a project…or two…or ten (in the case of my friend, Christina) already on the needles, but casting on another project becomes the knitter’s main focus.

I’ve proudly been a monogamous knitter for nearly all of my knitting career.  It hasn’t mattered that I’ve bought lots of lovely yarn along the way.  I’ve hardly ever been tempted to set my needles down in favor of another project.

Despite my good reputation, the actions I’m about to speak of might sound a bit suspicious.

You might remember that I recently told you about my cross-county trek…during which I purchased this lovely Malabrigo lace…

My plans were to knit Omelet, a pattern that I believe I discovered by reading the Yarn Harlot’s blog.

Well, I was going to have to wait because I had another project on my needles…had been working on it since March.

However…

And that is one big HOWEVER…

I had long suspected that my project wasn’t going to work out.

It was a pair of socks, and though I rarely mess up on socks, I’d long feared that the pattern was not a good match with the yarn.

Despite using size 0 needles and making the smallest size in the pattern, the sock I was knitting was turning out too large.

I’d gotten through the heel turn and was beginning the leg when I stalled…

Undecided.

Until, coincidentally, I saw that pattern and later bought that pink yarn.

Being a girl who usually makes up her mind quickly, I decided to do something I hardly ever do.

I frogged that sock.

I felt a little guilty as I did so.

All that work…down the toilet…although I’d learned a couple of lessons along the way.

Sorry, but I don’t have pictures.  I could not bring myself to capture the moment forever on digital film.

That was the only sad part of my evening because shortly thereafter, after gathering my tools of the trade, I wound the first skein of the pink Malabrigo and cast on.

The shawl starts off with a provisional cast on.  I’ve cast on this way before but usually used the crochet method.  This time, I attempted to do it using the link the pattern provided.

Oh, how I struggled.

I could not get the cast on to work!!!

I googled and tried following instructions.

Nothing worked.

Finally, I changed out my waste yarn…used a scrap of Peaches ‘n Cream…and a size 6 needle (twice as large as the one I’m using for the pattern)…and watched this video…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlZ6D7SbpwY

After watching, stopping, rewinding, and re-watching…at least ten times…I got it!

I worked twenty-six rows of Chart A before heading to bed…

I’m loving this pattern and especially the yarn!  I think it’s going to be a great pairing, and I can’t wait to see its progress!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl

Posted on September 8, 2011 by auburnchick

I have another finished project!  I’m telling you…there’s nothing quite like the feeling of accomplishment!

I began with this yarn…

That, my friends, is a little bit of heaven on earth…Malabrigo Sock Yarn.  The colorway is Ravelry Red.  I treated myself to this divine stuff when I went yarn shopping after I finished EPI.  Needless to say, my splurge was substantial only equaled by the stress level I had endured for those long, six months.

I used 1.31 skeins of yarn, leaving enough leftovers for a small project in the future (I’m thinking fingerless gloves).

The pattern for this shawl came in the book Wrap Style, which I’d won on a New Year’s Eve Knitalong that Sandy, from KnittingHelp, hosts each year…

I began working on the project July 14, and I cast off on September 4th.  Of course, progress would have gone much faster, but I was a little busy getting my new classroom set up.  Priorities must be in proper order, don’t you know.  😉

I knit this project on size 5 needles and completed twelve (12) body pattern repeats…four more than the pattern suggests.  I had seen this shawl in all of its glory in the yarn store where I had purchased the yarn, and it was a large version.  I wanted something that wouldn’t fall off of my shoulders.

Ok…now that I have described the particulars, I’ll move right along to the pictures…

Here are a few close-ups of the pattern…

I can tell that I am going to enjoy wearing this shawl.  The drape is so lovely, and the additional pattern repeats allow this shawl to sit comfortably on my shoulders while still being able to move around.

Molly kept a close watch on me during my little photo shoot from inside the house…

I don’t exactly blame her…especially since I decided to pose my shawl on the bushes in my flower bed…just for fun, you know…

This was a fun, easy knit.  If you’ve ever wanted to make a shawl, I highly encourage you to give this pattern a try.  It’s deceptively simple, and the result is FABULOUS!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 8 Comments »

A Yarn Celebration

Posted on June 24, 2011 by auburnchick

So, as you know, I am officially finished with my alternative certification program.

In fact, I danced the afternoon away a few days ago.

Well, I wasn’t finished celebrating, oh no I wasn’t.

See, such a milestone as this one deserves a BIGGER indulgence.

For a knitter, this means YARN SHOPPING!!

So, on a somewhat rainy morning that turned more and more sunny the closer I traveled to the beach (which isn’t far from my house, by the way), I headed to the two “real” yarn stores closest to me.

By closest, I mean over an hour away.

Hello, my name is AuburnChick, and I transverse great distances in pursuit of fine yarn.

The first yarn store on my route was not my favorite of the two.  The place is nice enough, but the selection is a wee bit limited compared to the other store.

Still, I found myself lovingly petting a skein of Tilli Tomas Rock Star…

Although the yarn desperately wanted to come home with me, I resisted.  The $40 price tag was a huge reason for this.

I decided to check out the other yarn store, which is my favorite.  I know.  I keep repeating myself, but I have to.  See, the other yarn store is my first love.  It is the place where I purchased my very first skeins of “real” yarn.  It is where I bought my first set of “real” knitting needles and pattern book as well.  The shop is small but very inviting and packed with a GREAT assortment of very nice yarns.  I really wish I lived closer, because I would love to attend knit nights with the ladies who run the shop.

Anyhoo…what I saw when I arrived this afternoon did not disappoint…

That is a basket of Frog Tree sock yarn.

Now, if you’re not a knitter, you must understand something about yarn shopping.

It.

Is.

Fabulous.

It is an experience that requires the interaction of sight and touch.

When I go yarn shopping, I can’t even think about projects until I walk around and touch everything.  I simply refuse to knit with or wear yarn that is not soft.

So, that’s what I did…enjoying the peace of the day…my mind free from the concerns of assignments.

My only assignment of the day was to buy nice yarn.

The store had a couple of knit shawls hanging over the shoulders of mannequins.

What a great way to sell some yarn!

I fell in love with the Shetland Triangle shawl that was made in a red, DK weight yarn.

Ok, so that’s not the red one from the store, but my head was so much in the clouds that I didn’t get a picture of it.  I am showing you the above picture because it really shows off the stitch pattern.

The gal working in the store explained that the original pattern calls for a lace weight yarn, but that she had used seven skeins of a heavier, glossier yarn that provided a nice drape and more stitch definition.

As she pulled out the book that is home to the pattern, I realized that I already own the book, Wrap Style…a giveaway I had won during a New Year’s Eve KnittingHelp.com knit-along that I had participated in a couple of years ago…

Although I didn’t buy the yarn for this project, I have tucked the pattern away in the back of my mind.  I will definitely knit it in the future.

Meanwhile, I continued to shop.

The other shawl that was hanging up was the Ishbel…

Because the sample was knit in just over one skein of Malabrigo Sock yarn, I decided this would be a good way to go.

For some reason, I am finding myself drawn to shawls.  Chicky thinks they look like things that old people wear, but I counter her contention by saying that a shawl adds a touch of class to an outfit.  I think shawls are beautiful accessories that can be used to dress things up a bit.

With the Ishbel in mind, I picked out the following yarn…

Isn’t that just divine?

Sigh…

Can you say happy?

But the happiness did not end there.

The Frog Tree yarn kept calling me back.

I kept touching the yarn.

Finally, I made up my mind.  What kind of knitter would I be to leave those frogs there?

Here’s another picture…

Cookie A. didn’t know it, but she was with me when I made my decision…

You might remember that I test knit a pattern for Cookie’s book last summer.  I have not had a chance to knit a pair of socks since.

I intend to rectify this situation.

Immediately.

One final item that kept calling my name in the store was the following…

That, my non-knitting friends, is a shawl pin.

I have found myself in need of one of these do-dads in the past, and it looked lovely against the red shawl in the store.

It came home with me too.

And home I am…happy as can be.

Final thoughts on my shopping adventure:

As I composed this post and researched the shawl patterns, I decided that I am going to use the red Malabrigo to knit the Shetland Triangle Shawl.  I looked up the pattern on Ravelry (yay for this web site) and discovered that other knitters had used two or fewer skeins for this pattern.  I will probably knit eleven or twelve repeats.  More research will be done, but I am pleased with my plan.

The Mr. knew of my shopping adventure because I went ahead and told him about my plans yesterday.  When he walked into the house this afternoon, he asked to see the stash because, in his words, “I know it’s here somewhere.”

LOL

Then, he asked me how much I spent.

I balked.

He then threw out a number.

Dang.

He’s good.

He got it, spot on, minus the price of the shawl pin.

His eyes bulged a bit.

Then he left the room…to recover, I presume.

Either way, his reaction was much better than I had expected.

At this point, I sincerely doubt that I will ever get my Master’s degree.

No, it’s not because I think I’m not smart enough.

It’s because every time I complete a set of college courses, I spend all of the future proceeds I would have been earning…ahead of time.

teeheehee

Celebrations are definitely much better when there is yarn involved!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

A New Hat for AuburnChick

Posted on December 23, 2010 by auburnchick

As you might be aware, I have a small passion for a little hobby…knitting.

I’ve also had this little thing called a j-o-b that has kept me mostly away from my beloved knitting needles.

Mostly, but not completely…

I present to you my latest project…

The Brattleboro Hat…

This pattern was published in the book New England Knits.  It was also published in the Fall 2010 issue of Interweave Knits.

I fell in love with the hat the moment I saw it in the magazine, and it is the primary reason why I bought the issue.

I have a little secret to tell you.

This is the second one I knit.

I finished the first one the weekend of Thanksgiving.  I made Chicky try it on because her hair was straight and this hat definitely looks better on smoothed-out hair.

As soon as Chicky put it on, she told me, “Mama, if you ever want to make me one, I’ll take it.”

If your child had never asked you to make her anything hand-knit…had, in fact, scoffed at most of the things you’d made, what would you do?

Yeah.

I thought so.

I gave it to her, same as you would have.

I can’t publish the pictures I took of her.  Let’s just say that it looked tres cool on her.

Which led me to my quest to make another one.

Thankfully I have a decent yarn stash.  A quick hunt turned up another skein of the lovely Malabrigo in the same colorway – Bijou Blue (Malabrigo feels like what clouds in heaven must feel like, if you’re not a yarnie).

I started knitting, but work got in the way.

I finally finished up a few days ago and had a photography session yesterday morning (yay for tripods and self-timers!)…

Now, let me tell you about the decreases.

They

Were

Not

Fun.

Oh no, not one little bit.  The first hat sat, unfinished, for weeks simply because I could not figure out what to do!  I’ve been knitting for several years, but the instructions did not mesh with the pattern.

So I finally emailed the designer after receiving no help on Ravelry.

The designer finally got back with me.  She tried to help, but her answers were vague, and she never really did answer my questions.

I did take one thing she said and gave it another go.  I knit a few rounds, figured out my mistakes, took notes, tinked back, and reknit.

Voila!  The decreases worked perfectly with the pattern!

Here’s what I did, in case you’re a knitter and have been struggling with this part of the pattern:

Round 17: Decrease per instructions, but do a knit stitch after the first decrease (to keep with the pattern as established)

Round 18: Begin the round with a PURL stitch. Then, work the moss pattern (next stitch is a knit, etc…).

Round 19: Decrease, knit one, then follow the instructions for the decrease rounds.

I found that I usually had to do a knit stitch after the decrease to keep the moss pattern going.

Round 20: Do exactly as Round 18.

The odd rounds are exactly the same each time. So are the even rounds.

Trust me. This works exactly as I’ve written. I totally ignored the moss stitch instructions in the pattern during my decreases except to make sure that I had two rounds that resembled each other (two stacked knit stitches and two stacked purl stitches, etc.) and then reverse.

Here’s a picture of Chicky wearing the hat.  You can see the decreases really well…

Ok…so let’s talk needle size.

For the first hat, I used size 8 (5 mm).  The hat seemed a little large, but Chicky liked the hat as it was.

For the second hat, I went down one needle size to a 7 (4.50 mm), and what a difference!  The hat is a much snugger fit, and it still covers my ears…

The side has the cutest faux button band…

I chose simple, “earthy” buttons so they wouldn’t compete with the yarn…

The entire project (one hat) required only 65 grams of yarn.  I think I might have enough leftovers between both skeins to make a matching pair of fingerless gloves!

But, they will have to wait.  I have a busy few months ahead of me.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »

A Shawl for AuburnChick

Posted on May 21, 2009 by auburnchick

I did it!

I finished my Swallowtail Lace Shawl!  First, the info…

The pattern is free, available here.  I used less than one skein of Malabrigo Lace yarn.  The color is “Forest.”  I used size 4 needles and completed the pattern without any modifications.

Now, on to the pictures before more detailed information…

This is the first lacy shawl I’ve made, and I’m so pleased with the way it turned out.  It was a struggle, as you probably remember.  I had a heck of a time with the nupps.  I figured out that you have to unwrap the yarn from the hand you’re feeding it through when doing the k1, yo, k1, yo, k1 in preparation for the nupps.  Then, when you purl back, purling those stitches as a p5tog, it’s much, much easier.  Trust me…I learned the hard way.

Then, I had a bit of trouble keeping my stitch count.  I kept a stitch marker just after the center stitch and kept a running count on each side of it.  I also found that highlighting the pattern (after Dustina’s comment) was a great way to stay on track.  After completing every odd row, I wrote down the number of stitches, confirming that I had the correct number each time.

After binding off, I had to block it.

I like blocking just about as much as I like making a gauge swatch.

I have the lace blocking wires from Knit Picks, and I’ve tried using them for other projects, but I’ve never quite gotten the hang of it.  I decided to do a bit of research first.  Coincidentally, Knitting Daily posted this right before I was ready to block the shawl, and I also found this video through a different email from Knitting Daily:

Armed with this information, I went out hunting for a foam playmat and checkered cloth.  I finally found the mat at Toys r U:

The package included four of these squares…a very nice size for blocking.

Then, I found the fabric on sale at Joann’s.  Together, they looked like this:

I spent oodles of time pinning and adjusting the wires.  Here’s what it looked like when I was done…

I almost had tears in my eyes when I got finished.  It looked like someone with a lot more knitting know-how had been in my house.

So, where will I wear this shawl?

On the seven-night cruise that the in-laws are treating the family to the week of Thanksgiving.

Wipe the drool off your face.

We’re heading to the south Caribbean.  The Mr.’s parents go on a couple of cruises a year and decided that we would celebrate Chicky’s upcoming graduation and Rooster and my oldest nephew’s upcoming 16th birthdays (I know…Rooster isn’t even 15 yet).

Whatever the reason, I’ll take it.

And I’ll take along my new shawl!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 7 Comments »

Palindrome Scarf

Posted on October 26, 2008 by auburnchick

Woo Hoo!  I have another finished project!

I love, love, love this scarf! It’s the first time I’ve ever knit with Malabrigo Worsted, and it was simply divine!

This is Silver’s pattern, which you can find here. The pattern is SUPER-EASY! It took me one week to complete. I started it last Sunday while we were on a college recruiting visit for my daughter. I started what I hoped would be a project that would require little thinking (compared to another project I’m in the middle of). It did not disappoint!

It would be the perfect pattern to start on if you want to learn how to do cables.

The scarf wound up being almost 63” long and 4” wide. I used size 9 needles and completed 55 pattern repeats. I used 1.7 skeins of yarn and have approximately one ounce left, which I hope to use to make the 75 Yard Malabrigo Fingerless Mitts.

For the bind-off, I tried something new.

The Fall 2008 Interweave Knits has an article that includes instructions for how to knit an invisible bind-off for ribbing. I used these instructions, finally understanding them after trying several times, and wound up with a clean edge. Here is a link for a p1, k1 bind off, which will give you a general idea of the concept.

On to the pictures!

I bought the yarn at Knitwitz, a store in Jacksonville. It is Malabrigo Worsted, and the color is Water Green. It reminds me of my first prom dress.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Ramblings

Posted on October 21, 2008 by auburnchick

I’ve been rather busy the last few days.

On Friday, I left work early so that the family could travel to Ft. Myers to Florida Gulf Coast University.  It was Jr Recruiting Weekend, and Soccer Chick was invited to attend.

We arrived in time to watch the second half of the women’s soccer game.  The team is good, although the tied score did not reflect it.  Afterward, Soccer Chick was introduced to her host for the weekend, and we were invited to attend a team dinner.  The players’ parents were very welcoming, and the girls seemed to get along well.

Soccer Chick stayed with her host while we played house at a local hotel, returning the next morning for a talk with the coaches and a tour of the college.  We love the coaches.  The team is only in its second season, but it’s apparent that they have high aspirations.  The college itself is very small for a D1 school, but it has a great feel to it.  It has its own beach (can you believe it?!), and the athletes reside in apartments on campus.  We loved hearing about the way academics are stressed.  It is clear that their priorities are in the right order.

One of the neat things is that everything is almost brand new.  The team has a new field and its own building with a fabulous locker room and lounge area (see the windows on the second floor…that’s where we ate dinner on Friday night).

The only downside is that the school is a solid day’s drive away from home.  Of course, Soccer Chick likes this fact.  Duh!  She’s a teenager.

We ended the weekend by attending the women’s game on Sunday.  They won.  They looked good.  We thanked the coach, who told us he would love to have Chicky become part of the program.  Talk about making us feel good!

During Sunday’s game, I decided to start a new knitting project.  I had taken along my Knotty or Knice socks, but the pattern was too complicated for the car ride.  Thankfully, I had packed my Malabrigo and the pattern for the Palindrome Scarf.  What a great pattern!  If you’re looking for an easy cable project, this is it.  I completed 16 repeats before it got too dark.  The yarn is delicious too!

Malabrigo - Worsted - Water Green

So that takes us to Monday, which came way too fast after our late arrival home the night before.  After work, I washed a load of clothes and noticed water on the floor in the laundry room.

Uh oh.  Not good.  Last week, the same thing happened, but I attibuted it to hanging clothes up to dry above the washing machine.

Today I put on my grunge clothes and decided to investigate.  I couldn’t find water escaping from the hoses going to the machine.

I tried to get the cover off of the back.  No go.  I pride myself on being able to figure out how to take things apart.

Not today.

I did finally manage to get the front off of it.  Here’s what I’ve been looking at ever since:

Yeah.  A little intimidating.  At this point, I picked up the phone and called a repairman.  He’s coming on Thursday.

I’m still determined to fix this myself.  I have unplugged the machine after watching water drip inside it while the tub fills up.  I cannot figure out where the drip is coming from though.  Even my googling skills are not helping.

Grrr…

I hate spending the extra money.

Especially since I saved a whopping $55 last month by hanging up my clothes to dry on my new clothes lines in the garage.  My electric bill went down from $177 to $122.  Guess I’ll have to use the money to fix the washer.

Grrr.

Sorry for rambling.  It’s been a stressful few weeks, and my mind is jumping from one thing to another.  Maybe I’ll do another juice fast…pull myself back together.

Hmmm…

Oh, and one last thing.  I got a boost yesterday when I discovered that Knitting Rose had mentioned me on her podcast!  Woo Hoo!  I feel like I’ve won the lottery (minus the money)!  If you ever get the chance, listen to her podcast.  She’s easy on the ears and knows her knitting stuff!  She’s also got a group on Ravelry!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Knitting Bandit

Posted on September 13, 2008 by auburnchick

I haven’t talked much about knitting lately.  That’s because I’ve been working on some projects and wanted to wait until they were completed to blog about them.

First of all, an explanation as to the title.  Have you ever left a gift at someone’s door, rang the doorbell, and run?  Well, perhaps your gift wasn’t so nice, and that’s the reason you ran.  We have a Halloween tradition in our neighborhood where you leave candy at a door, ring the doorbell, and run…surprising those inside.  That’s what I felt like this week.

I finally finished the Leaf Lace Scarf that I started way back in July.  Here’s the link for the free pattern.

Leaf Lace Scarf

Leaf Lace Scarf

The pattern really is easy.  The only reason why it took me so long is because I got sidetracked a few times with other projects, putting it down completely during the Olympics.

This project has a story…but of course you know that because everything AuburnChick does includes a story…

First of all, the pattern was sent to me by my Christmas KH Swap partner, who had also sent me some kettle-dyed yarn.  I had a horrendous time getting the scarf to look right because the yarn was just too thin, even though it was lace weight.  So I set it aside for about six months.  During that time, a different KH knitter found out that I had never touched Malabrigo…never even seen it in real life.  She generously sent me three skeins….two blue worsted weighted and one lace weight “Lettuce.”  You see, we had discovered that we were both working on the same scarf, although she was having much more success using the Malabrigo.  She surprised me with the skein I needed for this project.

That said, I finally got up the courage to try the pattern again…with the new yarn.  What a dream!  Malabrigo is all it’s talked up to be.  It slides through your fingers so smoothly that you hardly know it’s there.  As your project grows, you quickly discover its warmth.

Shortly after I cast on, my friend Christina (aka Rabbitrescuer on Ravelry and KH) had to rush her son, Austin, to the hospital.  He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on 68% of his body and is currently receiving care at a Shriner’s Hospital.  You’ve heard me mention her before, but she’s important to this story.

I’ve been the liaison between her and the online community.  As a result, I’ve been blessed to become friends with her in real life.  I talk to her on the phone three or four days a week.  She is such a sweet gal…very soft spoken and incredibly generous.  We’ve had a lot of fun discussing our passion for yarns and projects.  If you’re on Ravelry, look her up and check out her stash.  Make sure you’re sitting down first, though, or else you’ll pass out from sheer amazement at the volume.

Anyhow…I have come to know several things about her.  First of all, her favorite color is green.  Secondly, she loves Malabrigo.  And third…during one of our chats, I shared that I was working on this pattern and provided a link.  She told me that she had queued the pattern to make at a later time.  By now, I had already decided that I was gifting this to her.  The revelation that she wanted to make this pattern was God’s voice in my ear…”That scarf you’re making belongs to Rabbit.”

Yes, Lord, I know.  Thank you for confirming what I thought I was hearing.  How nice to hear His will so clearly.

Somehow, making that decision changed the project from tedious to joyful.  It flew off of my needles from that point on.  I completed 37 pattern repeats before binding off.  And blocking, which is normally not my forte, went much easier too.  Check out these pictures…

Blocking the Leaf Lace Scarf Using the KnitPicks Lace Blocking Kit

Blocking the Leaf Lace Scarf Using the KnitPicks Lace Blocking Kit

The Finished Scarf...67 1/2 x 7 3/4

The Finished Scarf...67 1/2" x 7 3/4"

I have to say that I am so proud of the scarf.  When I picked it up after it was dry from blocking, it was light and airy and draped beautifully across my arm.  I photographed it, packed it carefully, and put it in the mail immediately.

Buoyed by the joy that accompanies gifting homemade items, I started work on my next project.

This one is called the Warm Stripings Hat, from the Creative Knitting Magazine (January 2008).  One of Soccer Chick’s teammates asked me to make her a hat and described some of the featurs she wanted.  This pattern fit the bill.  I ordered the yarn recommended by the pattern:  Vero, color #18.

Naturally Vero (Fiber Trends) - Color #18

Naturally Vero (Fiber Trends) - Color #18

Even though this teammate is no longer playing for Chick’s team (although she has already committed to play at a large university, and she’s only a junior!), I couldn’t forget my promise to her…especially since I had already ordered the yarn for the project!  Here’s the finished product, modeled by my straw broom:

Warm Stripings Hat

Warm Stripings Hat

A Close-Up of the Earflap

A Close-Up of the Earflap

I’ve gotta tell you that this hat almost didn’t happen this week.  When I sat down to start a new project after the scarf, I quickly realized that I didn’t really have the needles I needed.  Oh, I had the right size, but not the correct size cables or dpns.

This is where you say, “Magic Loop.”  Thank goodness for this method and the fact that I made myself learn it a few months ago.  Also, kudos to interchangeables!  KnitPicks sends you little cap things with each cable needle.  I never knew how to use them before this project.

In the photo above, I had used one cable, with needles on the ends, to work a flap and  i-cord.

One Cable...I-Cord

One Cable...I-Cord

I used an empty cable with caps on the end to hold the other stitches, which I would work on after finishing up the other side.

KnitPicks Cable and Cap

KnitPicks Cable and Cap

KnitPicks Cable and Cap

KnitPicks Cable and Cap

Perhaps you’re thinking, “easy, peasy.”  Not for me.  These things require my brain to work overtime…something I’m not good at.  But I’m glad I put in the extra effort.  It saved me money and time.

I test drove this hat on a couple of teens, who gave me a resounding Thumbs-Up, informing me that this hat is tres chic.  In other words, they want one too.

I excitedly put the hat in the mail this morning, wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon.  I wish I could see the look on the recipient’s face, but just the knowledge of having done the deed and run…

Well, that is what I call a knitter’s ultimate joy.

The joy is in the giving and the surprise felt by the other person at the unexpected package of love.

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Sports and Knitting

Posted on July 6, 2008 by auburnchick

You may not know this about me, but I am becoming a sports junkie. This is something that has long been in the making.

I remember spending my youth holed up in my room on Sundays watching the Redskins and Broncos — two of my favorite teams. My love for sports extended beyond football though. I loved Wide World of Sports. It highlighted such sports as skiing and the seldom-watched log rolling.

I watched Nadia Comaneci win the Olympic gold medal. Every little girl wanted to somersault like her and be hugged by Bela Karolyi. Do you remember when the Olympics were held every four years…both the Winter and Summer games? I was thrilled when the Olympic Committee changed this so that there would be games every two years. Now I didn’t have to wait so long to be submerged in the competition.

I sometimes wonder where this love of sports came from. I am, by no means, coordinated. I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. Walking across the stage at my recent graduation should have been an Olympic sport all on its own.

I stunk at tether ball in elementary school. Have you ever seen the movie The Benchwarmers? Do you remember the scene where Will Ferrell is playing against his father? That could have been me and any other kid on the playground. I used to get beaten quite badly. I’m not sure I ever really understood the rules. I don’t think I do to this day.

I did play basketball in high school. I spent more time on the bench than on the court. I only played when the team was either way ahead (and my entrance wouldn’t allow the opponent to catch up too quickly) or we were way behind, when all hope was lost anyway. I just did not function well under pressure.

Take the time I was on the court at an away game. Keep in mind that I went to a small, private school. To give you an idea of the size, the school only had one class of every grade, and my graduating class had 18 students. So, everyone knew everyone else…even at the other schools

So, I got buzzed onto the court. I was so excited! I finally got to play! I usually played point guard because I was so small. There I went, dribbling happily down the court.

All of sudden…

Pop.

What’s that, I wondered, just as my boobs gained their freedom. My bra strap had broken. These were the days before sports bras.

Now, I was covered up, and nobody could tell what was happening. But to a 16 year old teen, every crisis is magnified. I did what most teens would do.

I dropped the ball and went running down the court with my arms crossed over my chest, advertising the fact that my body was, quite literally, celebrating its freedom from that bench.

Yeah, I had not yet mastered the art of being discreet.

So, I ran down the court, arms over my chest, looking at my coach saying, “My bra strap broke…substitute me NOW.”

“What?” he hollered.

Typical man. Just didn’t get it. The entire gym sure did because everyone was laughing their heads off.

The rest of the night is a blur in my memory…thankfully. I think I eventually got off the court, and someone had safety pins and fixed me up so I could go back out there, red face and all. I never lived that one down either.

So, that being said, I really don’t know why I love sports so much. I think it’s because I do not possess such skills myself and can truly appreciate those who do. Also, having children who are quite talented also helps. It’s a safe bet that they got their sports genes from Mr. AuburnChick. (They got their brains from me, and you can advertise that all you want.)

Ok…you must be wondering…

What in the world has possessed AuburnChick to talk about this?

Well, I just spent most of the day watching Wimbledon’s men’s finals. Wow! What a marvelous display of artistry. It was one of the best finals I’ve ever seen, and as noted above, I’ve seen quite a few.

What I most admire is Federer and Nadal’s humbleness afterwards. The mutual respect they displayed are marks of true champions. Federer had won five straight Wimbledon trophies, beating Nadal during the last two years. He lost the first two sets and was prime to lose the third, when he dug down deep and pulled off one miraculous shot after another. It was simply amazing to watch.

Nadal, to his credit, never gave in. Despite two rain interruptions, he came back and beat Federer in the fifth set.

Wimbledon at its finest.

Throughout the six + hour match, I did what any other knitter would do…knit!

I am stuck on my Froot Loop socks and have sent out a couple requests for help on the heel. That’s what I get for trying to adjust a pattern. Remember that I don’t think well on my feet. Stick to the pattern, I keep trying to tell myself. But no, I have to try to challenge myself.

Silly girl.

Rather than sitting idly by, I pulled out that marvelous skein of Malabrigo that one of my KH friends sent me.

I began work (for the second time) on my Leaf Lace Scarf. It’s an easy pattern, but my previous attempt was with a similar yarn, almost identical color, and similar weight. For some reason, the first yarn didn’t go with the pattern. It was almost too thin.

Enter in the Malabrigo.

I LOVE this yarn! It’s the first time I’ve ever knit with the fabulous Mmmmmm. Now, I understand the reverence knitters ascribe to it. Simply winding it up (I have yet to buy a ball winder) was a sensory experience.

I’ve completed seven pattern repeats, and I love how it’s turning out so far.

So, sports and knitting. Two of my favorite things. Can life get any better?

I think not.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

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