Finishing Frenzy

I've been busy knitting up a storm for the past two months, but not good about finishing and even worse about blogging. Gigantic work deadline got in the way. But now that the beta version of the site has finally launched, it's time to get back to business.

Saturday, I went a little crazy. I started by weaving in the ends of five dishcloths and one dishtowel that I knit in a stash- and stress-busting frenzy that started mid-September. That led to weaving in more ends (a shawl and two cowls). Then adding the thumbs on a pair of fingerless mitts that had been languishing for more than a month. I finished the finishing by ripping back and re-knitting the toes on too-big socks. Here's the pile I ended up with; now for the blocking...



And since I'm in catch-up mode, here are a pair of socks I finished in August and gifted to my mother.

Pattern: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Yarn: Crazy Zauberball (Spring Is Here)

And here is a baby hat that got the quickest of photoshoots before going into the gift bag.

Pattern: Dinofied Wee Balaclava by by mama cerise

Yarn: Cascade 200 (Lichen) & Ella Rae Classic (Yellow-Lime Heather) 

Time for a break...aka, more knitting! ;-)

FO: Malabrigo Mizzle

Do you ever just have to knit a particular color? For whatever unknown reason, I was craving blue. And this lovely Malabrigo with bits of purple and green in my stash answered the siren call. And how.

Pattern: Mizzle by Patricia Martin
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock (Indiecita)

The first part of this free (!) pattern went so fast. And then came the, shall we say "just slow down and breathe,"  decorative ribbing. But that deep border is what drew me to the Mizzle, so slow down and keep knitting I did.

For those keeping count, this is #8 of my "12 Shawls in 2012" personal challenge. Good thing it's knitting season, 'cause I've got some catching up to do!

Life Part 2: Where We're Headed

By this time next week, we'll be on the road. Destination? Well, here's a photographic hint.

Mosquito repellent and a book of dog sweater patterns.... Yep, Minnesota! After 3+ years in Albuquerque, we're headed home. This time, though, the "little CRV that could" will have three pet carriers. May the travel gods of animal spirits smile (or at least not frown) on us.

It's been a spring of tough decisions (and, as you may have noticed, miles and miles of comfort garter stitching). Thing is, despite a good job (the one that brought us to NM) and some of the best friends Izzy and I could ever hope to make, we belong in Minnesota. (I'll spare the laundry list of family/personal reasons.) By April, I knew it was time to say goodbye.



We're excited, not to mention relieved happy that our well-loved home in Linden Hills awaits us. A nice reminder that sometimes the universe has a good reason for dropping obstacles (bad real estate markets, property management struggles) on our path — and that even without those obstacles, the path is always winding.

FO: Zuni Truffle

Not sure what it is, but I find myself liking the look of garter stitch these days.

No doubt, it's partially tied to working with some gorgeous hand-dyed yarn. Who would have thought that bumps showcased color variations so well? While I've done my best to capture the greens and purples that emerge from this chocolate brown, it is even more swoon-worthy in person.

Life is also in one of those "buckle your seatbelts" phases, so the Zen-like nature of garter is not to be argued with. Evidence: Entry #3 in my 12 in 2012, which was knit in a few weeks, only to lag for nearly double that time before blocking and photographing.

Pattern: Zuni Shawl by Danielle Chalson 

Yarn: TFA Blue Label Fingering (Truffle)

FO: Fracture

These days it seems I can't get enough of shawlettes/scarves knit in fingering weight yarn. The fact that I added several lovely skeins to my stash with the two StevenBe gift cards I received for Christmas (and had to spend before flying back to Albuquerque) certainly is aiding my momentum.

You could say I'm in a rut... But this shawlette only looks like it was designed by Stephen West.

Pattern: Fracture by Paulina Popiolek

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (Grasshopper)
Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20 (Charcoal)

And while green is no stranger to my FOs, nor even acid green, it's the first time I've used a full skein this vibrant.

Then again, perhaps I'll just skip the rationalizations and add 12 in 2012 to my goals for the year. Something to ponder as I finish up the Spectra currently on my needles. And, yes, that one is designed by Stephen West.

FO: A Thousand Splendid Moons Cowl

I have Julie of Knitted Bliss to thank (or is it blame?) for my introduction to Tanis Fiber Arts. I've long had my eye on the Dove colorway and decided to splurge on this wool-cashmere-silk blend. So when it came time to cast on for the January TFA knitalong, I grabbed this heavenly skein for a little selfish knitting. What better way to kick off the new year?

And now I have my first FO of 2012.

Pattern: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Red Label (Dove)

Today was an uncharacteristically overcast day in New Mexico, but I think it helped capture the yarn's mix of colors with a little less gleam.  There's something very lunar about this combination of yarn and pattern — not that I could bring myself to include "craters" in the name.

Knitting all those little moons/craters was a challenge... Not because it was a difficult pattern, but because trying to keep my tension consistent was driving me mad. With help from my wise sister, I decided to relax and start honoring the imperfect. All in all, a good practice to start a new year.

FO: Deep Waters Clockwork

You know life is a little too bustling when the kid asks to stay home and chill on a three-day weekend.

So after our back-to-back Saturday commitments and the usual weekend chores, we spent the rest of Labor Day weekend watching movies — Rio (meh) and Rango (fun) — and hanging out at the pool.

And, no surprise, there was lots of knitting. With "Deep Waters" and "Mermaid Lagoon" as the yarn color names, this third in my West Knits collection just begged for a poolside shot. And since it was such a relaxing knit, a shot in the Zen Garden.

Pattern: Clockwork by Stephen West
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal and Imagination Hand Painted

And, as you've no doubt come to expect, there needed to be a few Izzy modeling shots as well.

2011 FOs: Sugar and Spice

How can it be February already? This year the calendar seems as caffeinated as I've been to keep up with everyday life. To start, an FO that's a first and old hat all at once. It's the first FO that's been worn multiple times before getting documented here. (It was photographed back in mid-January, though.) It's also the third of the back-to-back Saroyans I've knit. This one for me, using yarn purchased during the trip to Taos. I'm pretty sure I'm done with this pattern ... for now, at least.

Pattern: Saroyan 

Yarn: Brooks Farm Duet

After those multiple leafy, lacy scarfs, is it any wonder I was craving something bolder and faster to knit? When my friend Chris posted a Craft It Forward invitation on Facebook, I jumped right on board. And when I found this stunning handspun in the inoxia studios Etsy shop, I snapped it up for Jane, who has signed on as one of the five people I'm passing the the crafting on to. The hardest part about this project was finding a stitch "pattern" that let the yarn shine. I settled on a simple K1P1, which also gives the cowl plenty of stretch.

Yarn: Yarn of the Living Dead

And, yes, that is snow. And, no, this wasn't taken in MN. That's NM snow you see.

FO: Deep Peace + New Project: Fresh Chaos

Let me begin with the knitting, for a change. After much ado (and I do mean much ado), I have survived my knitting kryptonite and completed Deep Peace. All told, I knit this wrap nearly three times. My problems had nothing to do with the pattern, which fulfills its promise of two straight-forward lace repeats, but had everything to do with being new to lace. And did I mention, irrationally afraid of lace?

When I first started knitting Deep Peace, I flashed back to those early knitting days — the half-holding your breath when working through a pattern for fear of making a mistake with no idea of how to correct it. I went in with the low, low goal of knitting something *close* to the pattern. Hey, this was a "lace experiment." Even then, the center section is what nearly did me in. Each unmistakable mistake meant ripping it back to the garter-stitch divider. After a half-dozen starts, I got smart and hunted down some tips ... and (cue choir of angels) discovered lifelines.

Once I knew that sustained perfection was no longer a requirement, I exhaled. And relaxed. Started feeling that deep peace. And then frogged the whole thing to start over. Because why not aim for something close to perfection when it's within reach? (And being the knitter my grandmother raised, really there is no other choice.)

So, feeling all ridiculously "hear me roar," I decided to tackle another aspiration.

Meet Violet, our 10-week-old puppy.

Wordless Wednesday (Deep Peace Squared*)

* Deep Peace ready to be blocked this weekend.

Real Women Eat Quiche

And sometimes they even make it. Guess who insisted on having a picture taken with her specialty creation, "Isabel's Fruit Salad"? (At the risk of blowing her secret recipe, it's bananas, blackberries, and strawberries with a pinch of sugar and a few sprinkles of cinnamon.)

This Spinach & Pine Nut Quiche, which has lots of garlic and sage, is so good that the kiddo periodically craves it, which she did today — after waking up from the late-morning nap she asked to take rather than go to ice skating lessons. (Yeah, it's been that kind of week.) After getting in lots of knitting time while she napped, I was so agreeable that I said yes even though it meant a trip to the grocery store.

In Praise of Constant Companions

Smiles have been in short supply this week, ever since a nasty, never-ending stomach virus took hold. But Lily, bless her sweet kitty soul, has willingly spent those days in some variation of this pose.

Just as the Moderne Log Cabin has been there for me, each evening taking the edge off a week of single motherhood crashing headlong into career. And while much progress has been made, it's good to know yards of garter stitch comfort remain.

Bronzed Green and Block 8 await...

Things to do in Denver...

As I said last night in my Facebook status, "That'll teach me to besmirch Florida!"

Yesterday was, all in all, a bad travel day. The sister and brother-in-law arrived at the Mpls. airport only to find that their plane to Orlando was canceled. They were sent home, having been given an afternoon flight for today. (Terrible weather out East to blame.)

Since we were traveling from the other side of the country, all was well weather wise. (Which, being the extra cautious soul I am, I confirmed online before we headed to the airport.) All was going well — fastest trip through security ever. But then our plane to Denver had a mechanical problem. And we waited. And waited. Talked with some fellow knitters headed home to Chicago via Denver. Put in a Herculean effort at keeping the over-excited kid busy while we waited 3 extra hours to board the plane. By then, all hopes of Orlando on Saturday had been quashed by the gate agent.

Finally we left ABQ and arrived in Denver, where United put us up for the night at a Marriott. No luggage = no swim suit for the kid (and, of course, the hotel has a pool). My little carnivore's mood improved vastly, though, when she discovered she could use the meal voucher to order a steak sandwich via room service. And, better yet, eat it while watching TV. (No parental judgment please, a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do!)

Headed to Orlando today (god willing) but first plane they could get us on leaves at 5:35 tonight. At least they booked us in first class.

On the knitting front, yesterday was also a bust. Started back in on Deep Peace, my first foray into lace knitting. Or should I say, my first foray that wasn't quickly abandoned? Here's where it stood when I set it aside for the Ravelympics:

Even though it's not a complicated pattern, it proved too challenging with continual conversation from my spirited kid. Think I got about 8 rows done before I realized I had lost a stitch in the process. Going to cast on the other project I brought (thankfully in my carry-on) — the Geodesic Cardigan, which is much better suited to multi-tasking. It's going to be a trying day; no need to handicap my patience!

TGIF: Spring Break Edition

Have you ever been so in need of a vacation that you don't even care where you're going?

Let's just say, it's been quite the week month year around here, and I can't tell you how happy I am to be headed out ... even if the destination is one of my least favorite places on the planet. Orlando, Florida. Home to hellacious humidity and crowds. (And, yes, I realize that bemoaning a FL vacation in mid-March separates me from about 99.5% of the human race. Then again, what's new?)

Izzy, on the other hand, couldn't be more excited at the prospect of Disney World and beach time with Auntie and Uncle. Evidence: Caught sleeping in her new sun hat this evening.

And you could say my excitement is building, as well. Evidence: Two knitting projects and a book I've been waiting to savor.

FO: Trio of Hats, Ravelympics Fortitude

Just to be clear: I haven't thrown in the proverbial towel on my Moderne Log Cabin blanket.

Rather, thanks to the wise words of McMary, I've reframed my perspective. The new goal? A personal best, which really couldn't be more achievable given that this is my first Ravelympics appearance. So let's see just how much I can get done in the remaining Olympics week. And let's be smart about competing — like the marathon winding session this morning of all remaining blanket yarn (with an assist from Izzy).

As the weekend comes to a close, here's the current standing: one block (#5) down and another well on its way. Not to mention a renewed appreciation of the miles of Zen this project offers.

Oh yeah, and just to appease that crazy type-A part of my personality, I made and attached the tassels on my trio of hats WIP. Knitting was done a few weeks ago, but I just don't enjoy making pompoms, tassels, etc. Seriously, the amount of angst (and procrastination) produced by these finishing details is crazy.

FO: Askance Cowl

Wanted a scarf better suited for running around ABQ, and I found this one-skein Askance Cowl pattern on Ravelry. It was just complicated enough to keep it interesting, yet simple enough for a relaxing evening project. (Did I mention it was a crazy-busy week at work?)

Pleased with the yarn (soft, washable, light-weight wool) and the colors (green, blue, purple — big surprise — with a nice gold to set them off). In fact, decided to grab another skein from my LYS so I can create a matching set of fingerless mitts.

I finished the knitting on Thursday, while watching Conan. Still love me some Robin Williams. But now as the mother of a spirited child, I can't watch him without thinking about what he must have been like as a child. Oy.

Anyway, had planned to block the cowl this morning, but decided that I liked it wavy. Of note: It's also been quite a week for the bulb Izzy gave me for Christmas, which was just barely sprouting last weekend. (Have I mentioned how much I love Izzy's Garden Club at school?)

FO: Izzy's New Hat

Right before Christmas, Izzy spied a pair of mittens at the holiday craft safe at our church. I try not to give into these whims — the whole giving rather than receiving thing — but not only were the mittens adorable and fleece-lined wool, they were also crazy cheap. The fact that they were fair-trade wares from Peacecraft is what pushed me to "yes."

But then, of course, my little fashionista needed a hat to match. And it needed to be a quick knit — we are in Albuquerque, where spring is right around the corner.

Well, I pretty much knit the whole thing up today during a two-and-a-half-hour spelling bee. Mission accomplished plus sanity preserved.

And, yes, that is the Christmas tree still up in the background. It's coming down this weekend. Hey, St. Knut's Day fell during the week... (I'm Swedish, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it.)