Sable Stasher

The ARABESQUE QUESTION

Or, Whatever shall I do?

This is the story of the Arabesque Vest.  I will start with a picture of the Original Arabesque that I began knitting 12 years ago, from " A Collector's Item."  I made an error - forgetting to change needle sizes and have about 8 inches of the body done.  I stopped and went to the hospital for surgery - and was very ill for 6 months.  When I got back to the original Arabesque, I found my error and gave up on it.  The yarn, the needles, the knitted piece is in a plastic,square bag in the stash closet.  All Scottish Campion yarns, long discontinued.  I think Jamieson or J&S has similar fingering but of course, that was more than 12 years ago...

 

 Gee, looking at the original Arabesque, I am kind of thinking I should reclaim the piece I finished in 2000 and since I have all the yarn, knit until I finish this.  It is lovely. Perhaps the Vest can wait?  The question is, will I ever get to any of the Virtual Yarn Kits that I have left - and why do I stall and fail to knit these kits up.  I have Strathglass, Arabesque Vest, Zauberfloat and the new Abalone.  Sold were Rosarie Vest, and Oregon in Autumn.

Anyway, here is the original post with a tiny Picture of the VY kit garment - in Green Colorway.

BACK IN TIME TO 2005.

 

The Arabesque Vest is on its way to me.  It is done in the green colorway in Hebridean 3 ply yarn.  I have never tried Fair Isle knitting in 3 ply yarn so this will be an adventure.  I will post the picture of the yarn when it arrives. Stop by VY Yarns  and see this vest, designed by Jade Starmore from her book, "The Collector's Item."  While you are there, check out the marvelous Needlework eye candy.

The Arabesque yarn arrived 3/1/05 and to the right, you see what it will look like knitted up. It doesn't look like the Green Colorway at all..............

 

 

This is gorgeous yarn.  Soft, smooth and in glorious colors  to boot.  I especially like the blue "Witchflower." It has a slight heathered look.  "Clover" appears as a darker and more red, while the lavender yarn is called "Wild Orchid."

 

This has to be the most beautiful 3 ply DK/worsted wool I have ever seen.

As soon as Fern is finished, I will start Arabesque.

Historical Note:  Fern was finished and is on this blog, under Finished Projects.  You have to go back to 2005-6 to find it.  I called it Fernando, being the first to make Fern as a cardigan with set in pockets.  I still have it.  It is still huge, warm and scratchy. That old yarn....Yikes!

 

 Stay Tuned for Updates to the "Arabesque Question."

 

The Takhi Pullover in recycled Donegal Tweed

Progress on the Takhi Pullover UPDATE:  FINISHED 5/21/12

                              

     

 I will model this and get someone to photograph how the sweater fits. 

The Problems I encountered: I did have some trouble trying to get the yoke to fit.  I had to frog it and re-knit the top of the yoke, adding several decreases and leaving out the entire last row of motifs.  I did knit a shorter rib neckline.  

I knitted a medium. If I had decent  shoulders, this sweater would not fit.  I am wear a size 6 - 8 and have very narrow shoulders & very long arms. This pattern barely fit my shoulders.  If you are going to try this  Free pattern, I would make the yoke at least 1 size larger, and knit the size you normally would for the body - all that is necessary is adjusting the stitch count upward to meet the yoke requirements for your bust and shoulder size. It is an easy sweater to  re model - going from a medium body to a large or XL yoke is easy.   

If you look at the picture of the neckline, of the original sweater, you will see how the neck is rolling and how it appears too long for the model. That is exactly the case.  If I were tall, it might have worked better.  I am shorter than average.  All in all, this was both interesting and easy. 

The color work uses 3 colors of worsted weight wool or cotton on most patterned rounds. I found that a bit slower going with 3 strands of worsted weight yarn. I always disliked weaving in all the ends. My sweater is actually a very dark. The photographs were taken inside the house and the color is light. Another change I made was, I did a 3 needle bind-off to close up the underarm seams. Much preferable and neater looking than Kitchener Stitching. 

I enjoyed doing this design.  I hope it will be attractive to wear next winter. All this was stash yarn of around 20 - 15 years young. The motif yarn used,  was all 1st generation Beaverslide yarn scraps. This really cost me nothing now. Better than tossing such expensive Donegal.  It is truly great yarn even at $14.95 a hank.  Mine was $9.50 a hank at the local LYS, so you know how old it was. This sweater was a real bargain.                                             Another new photo.

I don't want to make a habit of re using yarn. It is far too time consuming. 

Frogging old projects and preparing the yarn but I do have some $16.00 a hank, partly cashmere, Aran weight NORO, that I used for the equally huge Yoga Wrap - and it came clear to the ground. I wore it twice. I think it would be a great afghan.  Soft and quick to knit.  There is a picture of that on this blog probably under Finish Projects.  It is ridiculous.  I may have the courage to rescue that huge, expensive afghan with sleeves.  That yarn is long discontinued. I can't remember what the name was, but I think it was a hand-paint. Ouch what a disaster. Actually, hilarious. When I wore it, everyone wanted to 'PET' me. Men and women. That was humiliating but a bit interesting too. Everyone oohed and awed. Alas, I decided never to wear it again. I didn't like being petted by strangers. The Yoga Wrap is in a nice plastic bag - just waiting.  

  

        Older Update:

Everyone seemed to like this pullover.  And so I have begun to knit the body.  I will have to say, the design around the  banding was done in 3 colors at once.  Dragging 3 colors of worsted weight yarn around wasn't  much fun.  I did modify the pattern.  I  eliminated the last  round of motifs, close to the neckband.  I did it in the Fair Isle stranded method but wove each stitch.

 

Older pictures.

 

This color on this picture is not good but --- here is the start of the body.  I have 15 inches to knit.  The band is not that red.  It is a about 2 shades lighter than the dark Donegal.  Just the way the flash showed it up.

The Donegal is not the same thickness throughout. I find since I stretched it out on those hangers, (which I found was a no no), Some of my stocking stitch isn't as even as I normally would knit.  Sort of adds to the texture.  Gads, I went to Webs and Donegal Tweed is now 14.95 a hank.  However, I found some Knit Picks Tweed - a new offering, that is 9.99 a hank.  I think the put ups were 164 yards.  I would check it out if you plan to knit a tweed garment or even this Free Takhi pattern.  Thank you Takhi and Dale Garn. This Free pattern thing is great all of us.

I think the best news is that I found all the Dale yarn For that lovely yoked Pullover by Dale of Norway that you see on the bottom of the previous post.

Stay Tuned 

                        

 

Chased Silver Update and sock & rock to Seattle

My Rock and Roll Flight to Seattle!

This is a Horizon/Alaskan Air Bombadeir

Originally used for fighting fires and now, for commuter planes between North Bend Airport, Portland, OR and Seattle, WA.

I guess they are okay planes but talk about shake rattle and roll.  Wow, a little turbulence and I thought the plane was going to fall apart.

The good news is that I made the trip, changed planes without getting lost or missing the next plane.  Met some lovely people aboard that sort of adopted me and showed me how to find the luggage carousel in Seattle. This was my 1st airplane flight in nearly 30 years.  Last time I flew anywhere, it was with the Wright Brothers!   In any case, all went well for me.  Most of the time I go anywhere, I get lost.  Something to do with my dyslexia and no sense of direction.  My family rarely lets me travel alone. Life is always an adventure for Lucy, Jr.  

I made it to Bethany's graduation. I had a great time. 

Bethany was beautiful and graduated along with 499 other students. We were in an amphitheater - very cold that night. We could barely see Bethy. But, we saw her before the ceremony.                                               

She went to a supervised all night party and slept for 24 hours when she got home. Ah, youth! 

She wanted a red microwave for college use, so that is what she got from me + a new red topped Dell laptop from her Mom and Frank and a lovely ring with an Aquamarine stone, set in white gold, from her Dad and Suelene.

There were very generous gifts from the other Grandparents and friends. Bethany loves red, so I imagine there will be red toasters, coffee pots and other functional gifts for her college dorm.

Her graduation trip is underway and I suspect she is tanning herself Cancun, as this Grandmother runs and gets a sweater, wishing she had gone too. 

 

Nuff of that...and to the meager knitting report -

 

Anyone remember the Chased Silver project?

I had to leave it behind when I went to Seattle, but when I left, it looked like this:

As you can see, the back is nearly finished. I only have a few inches to go. Then the front. I already have the Kid  Silk under skirt knit. I did both of the under skirts at the same time to see if I bought enough yarn. I have 2 cuffs to go and about 3/4ths of a ball of KSN left. I have to do the neck piece and may run out. Perhaps I can think of something else to use. The pictures are a little dark. I didn't use a flash and the pictures are dull looking because of it. Since I purchased the called for yarn, I will tell you the yarn is not like the picture in the magazine. It looks more blue than gray. At least I think it does. My yarn is definitely gray.

 

So, I took ball of Sockotta yarn, 2 short circulars, size 2.00 and I made 1 sock and half of sock 2. Oddly, that patterns turned out differently, although I pulled the yarn from the outside of the ball and the distortions didn't appear until I was finishing the foot of the 2nd sock.

 

So weird.  Anyone know the reason for this phenomenon?

Notice that one foot is striped the other is more mottled. I expected both feet to look the same. Same amount of stitches. The mottled sock was the first. The second it on your left. The cuffs are identical.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

At least they fit!  Before I left I finished these Trekking Tiger socks - to wear. It's the only way I can hold my shoes on.  I hate size 5 feet. You can't buy socks that fit. I am going to try some really fine yarn on #0 needles. I have to 'discover' some first.

Trekking Tigers                                       

What a difference the needle size makes.

The Tigers are a bit too large. I accidentally knitted them on 3.00mm.  On the Sockotta Blues, I used 2.25mm and the socks are a perfect fit.

In reality, Tiger socks are the same color.  At least they look the same with these sunglasses on...

                                             

          

 

ELK, SUNGLASSES, Loafers +Calvin's CABLES

OR, how to fight the knitting blahs!                                          

The first thing to hope for is a decent driving day to Eugene and seeing my favorite dentist.  Hoping the Elk herd was out grazing and close to the highway.  All those things came true.

Seeing the elk, grazing in the sun, is a piece of getting over the knitting blahs.

                                    

                                                   

This gang is only mildly wild nowadays. They stay close to the good grass and enjoy protected status. It is a huge crime to shoot any of these tame creatures. The herd numbers around 200 animals. When it gets larger, the Wardens relocate some to different areas of the county. The animals group together in pods according to sex, age and inclination.

It's hilarious that every year, game wardens put out pasteboard elk 'cut outs', & do a sting operation. Year after year, idiots shoot at the pasteboard decoys, get fined, loose hunting privileges for life and their guns. Some years, these 'sportsmen' kill a few of the beasts. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. They get Federal time + all of the above. What is it about seeing this herd of tame elk that men go nut-so and shoot them down? The culprits effectively ruin their lives. Elk meat, is good, but not that good.

The next thing in getting over the knitting blahs, is plan on spending some money. When the dentist is through, go find something to buy. I couldn't get to a yarn shop but I did buy new spectacles....and buy a pair of snazzy prescription sunglasses.  The first in over 25 years.                                                         

Propped upon a ball of Rowan Calmer!

  Ann Klein at her best! Who knew such shoes existed?  Since I am from a very small hick town, I didn't. 

Fortunately, the Internet has increased my clothing choices. Still casual, but classy.

Completely lined in the softest leather. I bought  them for a song. Marked down from $375.00 to $39.95 at an Internet store. I couldn't believe my good luck. I buy all my Softwalks there but I couldn't afford to let these go.

I had never seen a pair of loafers that expensive before. Probably never happen again.  This was the one time in my life I was thrilled to have short, narrow feet. These are 4 years old and never been worn. When I finish the Calvin sweater, I will put on the sweater, a pair of Hepburn slacks and these shoes. I don't know how to accessorize things.  Perhaps a silk scarf?

                                                                  

And to go along with Ann Klein, I have Calvin Klein's Baby Cables hanging around my neck like a heavy piece of chain link.

I am still knitting on the Calvin's. I shouldn't complain because I have 1 sleeve done and the other started. Here is the proof I actually have 1 sleeve done!

Yeah, I know it looks long because it is long.  I have very long arms for my height. A good blocking will shape this sweater up and the yarn should bloom.

 

All in all, I feel like finishing up the cables.  Then, who knows? 

Elk Herd,Vader,and a Cabled Sleeve

OR, how to fight the knitting blahs!

Another dental trip to Eugene will fix that. Knitting 2 more Chemo Caps will fix that...and of course, Vader, my best friend, will certainly fix the blahs of any kind.  Of course I saw an elk herd. They are beautiful in the early morning fog.  My little camera does a heck of a job for this sort of picture.

Here Vader is, suspiciously looking at his green frog, wearing a chemo cap (before washing) and wondering what I am trying to do.  This was made from Chinchilla scraps.  Martie loved the blue one I made. She sleeps in it. I had some left and thought she would like another sleeping hat.  I have some pink ordered.  But this will do in the meantime. This is the Janet Szabo Torque pattern.

                                        

This gold colored hat is some off brand Nordica.  It is heavier.  I adapted Janet's pattern.

10.5 mm needle 2 balls of yarn.

CO 8 stitches and knit 20" or size to fit. Join and PU 88 stitches evenly around the band.  Purl 2 3/4 inches and then start decreases.

Rnd 1: Purl 14, sl 2 stitches as if to knit, Purl 1, (Pass 2sl st over and repeat 3 more times.

Purl all even rounds. 

Rnd, 3: Purl 12, repeat as Rnd 1

Rnd, 5: Purl 10, repeat as Rnd 1

Continue decreases as set until you reach Purl 1, Double Center Decrease and then thread the remaining stitches on an darning needle and tighten. Follow Szabo (Big Sky Knitting) except use bigger needles, yarn and fewer stitches.

 

      

                                   Vader gets his 'kid' back and is giving it a bath!

Just to prove I have done some work on the sleeve of the crappy cable affair.  About 4 more inches and then a cuff and then...sleeve #2. 

Calvin Klein Baby Cables Update #3

Or Shoulders Accomplished!

I found myself in a dilemma.  I tried to join the shoulders with 3 needle bind off, blanket stitch and finally, a knitted saddle.  All methods looked like the dickens.  Finally, I got out the old Kitchener stitch which I hate to do and I am not very good at. These are before and after shots.

This is a picture of the saddle cable that I stitched between the front shoulder & back.  This picture is a bit light.  It really looked awful.  That was hours of work on both shoulders ~ and into the Frog Pond those cabled saddles went.

    

This shows the grafted side and the saddle side. It looks much better.  I had to reknit some of the body cables so they would match up on each shoulder.  The imbalance was caused by knitting without directions and mis judging the 'look' of seamlessness when joining the front and back together.

                                       

This is were I am currently.  I am in the process of PU stitches around the armholes for the sleeves, that I intend to knit top-down. own.                                               

       

                                       

I took a week to knit several hats for a friend that is undergoing Chemotherapy for breast cancer.  I just finished another hat.  Here is a picture of that.  It is pretty cute.  I took the other caps to her on Thursday.

Perched on my laptop. The 5th Chemo Cap.  I encourage all to take a few minutes and knit 1 cap with soft, leftover yarn and donate them to the nearest chemotherapy treatment center. This one is done with 2 strands of washable Rowan 4 ply soft with a dash of some unknown lavender eyelash yarn to soften the face.  It looks like a stove pipe here but on the head, it stretches to fit.                

                                           

Baby Cables go astray

Or, gee whiz, this is a mess!

Here is what I have done so far, after weeks and weeks of knitting.  Didn't someone say I had to be nuts to do these cables in fine yarn, with tiny needles?  Guess what, they were right!

No, this isn't pale spaghetti! It is the double strand of yarn that got tangled up.  I spent 2 hours trying to wind it back up and I still have a pile of it that whoooo knows, I may just toss in the fireplace.  What a terrible mess.

               

And here I am,  on the arm decreases on the back section,  wishing I was starting my Oregon project or just anything but this.  Yikes!

 

A Trip to Eugene, Snow, Elk & Calvin Klein Baby Cables Update 2/3

It was an eventful week in North Bend/Coos Bay, weather-wise. The trip to Eugene on Wednesday was only eventful in that there was snow all the way up to Eugene on the roadsides and in the hills. Some ice early but none when I reached Eugene.  Snow is quite unusual for the Pacific coast. The hills were lovely because the snow hid some of the strip logging that has taken place.  Hail and rain were horrendous.

This is what it looked like when I left in the early AM.  By mid morning, it was rain, some sleet and very cold. The trip to Eugene was slow.

After spending an hour or so with my favorite maxillofacialary DDS/MD, I went Home Depot to get some bochures on kitchen cabinets. It was suggested that I look on line.  Not much stock in that store anymore. I bought a nice sized plastic tub for $2.99, (should have gotten 3 of them for my stash yarn).

I was so ticked off by the 'do it yourself' checkout that didn't work, the snotty clerk and the 1/2 hour it took to get 1 tub checked out, I left. The trouble was the $2.99 sale wasn't put into the computer and it read $5.99. It took awhile to get it squared away.

What is it with no clerks in stores and these 'do it yourself' check outs?  Sure is new for me and quite unpleasant. Of course if the 1 person on duty in the gigantic Home Depot was polite or personable & perhaps competent, it would have helped. You have to pay with a cards.  No checks allowed. God forbid you offer cash.  That takes a real person to actually 'wait' on you.  A machine doesn't offer much in the way of customer service.  Anyway, it sucks but you don't have to pay health insurance for a machine.  The place used to be full of clerks.  Now, you don't see a soul but this black widow type woman, sitting stone faced in a chair with a portable scanner in hand.

And Home Depot wonders why their business is way down.  It might help if there were real live people to help a person.

Vader was in the back of the SUV and I knew he was tired and needed to get out, before we headed home so I  made a beeline to the park closest to Country Club Road.  I can back up to a little hillock there, and Vader can step in and out of the truck without injuring his hips further.

I didn't have any problem with the weather. On the way home, a little past Elkton, a young bull elk was grazing next to the road. I stopped and took a few pictures.  I hollered, whistled and coaxed to no avail. The best he would do is look up once, and away from me! It was pouring down rain so I didn't hang around.  I took the pictures through the window of the car. 

We have a large herd of protected elk scattered over about 60 acres right next to the Highway. This young bachelor was unwelcome by the older bulls.He was too young to have any status in the herd. All the other elk were grazing up the road. It was a little odd because the bachelors usually group together.

 

 

While I waited for the dentist, I managed to get some knitting done. The Calvin Klein baby cable pullover is pretty but boring.  I want to start my Oregon cardigan. Two more inches and I split the 2 halves and knit them individually. This is going to be larger than I planned.  It said 'oversized' and I didn't pay attention. Dahhh... I should have knitted the smaller size.

I neglected to mention that the angora yarn came from Lydias eBay store. Depending on what you buy, it is from 50 to 70% angora, lambswool and a bit of nylon.  No cashmere as I originally thought.

   

This is a tired and disgusted Vader!                                         

The Story of the Purloined Pattern

The Twist and Lace Scarf Story

It seems that a new designer's scarf pattern, "inspired," another so-called designer so much, she changed a tiny thing on the pattern and sold it to an unsuspecting company, calling it hers.

The purchasing company,  upon hearing the story, was appalled!  The jig was up! The story is on Lisa's blog.

The design is called Twist and Lace.  It can be purchased at Lisa Souza's Dyeworks. I purchased the pattern to show support for the real Designer who's is still in a state of disbelief. Fortunately, everything is going to be alright. However, stealing someone's original work ~ it a beneath contempt IMHO.

                                          

It is lovely isn't it?  I hope that others think so and give Twirl, a whirl. 

I will knit it in the same yarn and wear it with pride. Thanks Brenda. It is a lovely scarf.

Working on Beadwork is a struggle.  I knit and knit and don't seem to get anywhere fast! Yawn!  I intended to knit all weekend so that I would have something accomplished by work on Monday.  Alas, this is all I have gotten done! Just 44 rows of the right front section!  Sheesh!

I am disgusted with myself!  I have been doing way too much frog feeding!  And I know the pattern.  I have no idea why I keep making errors.  Perhaps I am waiting for my Abalone Virtual Yarns kit to arrive.  I can't start my project until I finish this one.  Ugh!

I think I need a break!  Should I start my 2nd orange sock? Or should I wait until my new scarf pattern and yarn arrive?

As far as Beadwork, I am hanging in there by my fingertips.