Rain and Conundrums

Today I completed all five swatches for a baby blanket project…in order to find just the right gauge.  Pediboo works up beautifully, washes without any issues and has soft drape after laundering that no other otherwise comparable yarn possesses.  When I am not knitting it as socks, my next favorite needle size is a US5 (3.75mm) which gives a wonderful gauge and great stitch definition.  I also discovered that Pediboo held doubled and worked on US10 needles gives perfect bulky gauge and beautiful fabric.  Here are the photos from today:

all five swatches blocking on my ironing board today

 

swatch knit on US5 at 23 sts and 34 rows per four inches

 

swatch knit on US6 at 21 sts and 30 rows per four inches

 

swatch knit on US8 with a gauge of 20 sts and 27 rows per four inches (the US7 swatch did not change much from the US 6 swatch). The gauge is pretty loose but I can not get a finger through the stitches so still acceptable...but much less stitch definition.

 

swatch completed on US10 needles with gauge 16 sts and 22 rows per four inches...the fabric feels soft but durable and I feel good about the stitch definition in this swatch too. A 32" X 34" baby blanket would take 7 skeins and be OH! so warm!...not to mention how fast it would knit up. (Retail $101.50)

 

Just in today from Great Adirondack Yarn Company are four remaining skeins of Sierra (Suzy has already purchased two skeins…1200 yards) in the color:  Baroque; 100% Alpaca.  It is just beautiful…also arrived, more alpaca in sport weight from Frog Tree Yarns in beautiful natural colors.  Here is a photo:

Baroque Sierra and Frog Tree Sport weight Alpacas...nice to work with in this weather!

 

Lisa has five skeins of Pediboo waiting for her to make a sweater, three skeins of Ultimate cashmere bulky but is picking up her son from the airport…he is just in from Leeds, England for a visit!  Have a great time guys and welcome home Mark…you are missed!

As for me, we are off to the movies tonight…Super Eight I think.  Will let you know.  Quidam, the Cirque du Soleil production at the Arena in Wilkes Barre was spectacular…on every level.  The costuming and make-up are unmatched, as is the talent.  What gets to me most are the emotions these shows drag out of my heart…it is at moments challenging emotionally to keep up with everything going on…but worth it.  If you can get there, even by yourself, GO!  You will thank me later.

Here are the Pediboo before and after usage pictures…even though I am still creating samples from what is left…look at how much yarn I went through in just six weeks:

two bags of one each of the 24 colors of Pediboo, representing 6120 yards...to begin the journey

 

700g is all that remains in bits of color...some of the colors entirely used up...the equivalent of seven skeins or 1785 yards remaining....thats just 4335 yards knit in six short weeks!

 

Here is a photo of Brian at his tennis lesson yesterday:

He began with this teacher, Bill, when he was two years old.

 

It poured rain here today with glorious thunder and brilliant lightning:

most of it passed during our lunch hour

 

and your daily dose of cuteness including BOTH the brothers Sputnik today:

we are holding hands and speaking sweetly to each other this morning

 

we used to have to check their right front paws to tell them apart as kittens

 

And that, my friends, as they say, is that for today.  Have a lovely weekend, come see me tomorrow if you can (open 10:15 to 2 pm with class from 10:15 till noon), and get your knit on!

with love, light and laughter always,

Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn

 

 

 

New Sock Club Pattern, Ski Wear, Customer Projects

Ewenice in the afternoon sun today.

We had a busy day at the studio today.  There is some concern the stated yardage in the pattern “Damson” may not be enough.  Suzy’s research on Ravelry shows about 50% of projects required more than the stated yardage in the pattern.  Frustrating.  So tonight I am going to power knit to the end.  I have about 20 rows to go but they are long.  Fortunately, the pattern is easy to remember and the wrong side rows can be buzzed through.  Will let you know more tomorrow.

We also worked on another Ravelry pattern called:  ”Purlieu” this week.  Lisa purchased the yarn and pattern.  It is a lovely knit but needs some editorial tweaking.  Lisa and I have reduced it down to a two row pattern, which, with the use of well-placed safety pins, works with much less stress and angst.  Look for a post on this on Ravelry later this week.

Jamie finished her first Cookie A. sock and it is beautiful.  She used Abstract Fibers Marigold sock yarn.  Here is a photo:

Jamie's Sock

Rose is doing well with her Aran Afghan.  She has doubled the length in the last week and I am quite proud of her efforts.  Now that we have rewritten the pattern so she does not have to refer back and forth to different rows during the course of each row, things are much smoother.  I fixed it so every row was completely written out and contained within itself.

one of two cabled panels for the Aran Afghan

Here are two of the three items I was wearing on the mountain while skiing last Monday (the contest is over with this close-up view folks) — the Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood (my adaptation done without the use of cable needle) and the XRX pattern for the Snowbound Aran, which so many of us made last winter.

Snowbound Aran Cowl and Koolhaas Hat

The third item of handknitting Monday were my beloved pair of stranded knit Selbuvoter Mittens in the snowflake pattern.  Lourdes and Lisa have also worked on this particular pattern, each in different and beautiful color combinations.

Twizzle -- Summit Sock February Sock Pattern

This is a close up view of one of my socks for this month’s Summit Sock Club.  The pattern is my own design and currently only available in the kit.  I love the stretchy nature of this textured rib which is sure to fit snug and be warm.  The colors for the March Summit Sock Club Kit have been selected and I am dreaming up a great knit for you now!  hmmmmm…

Brian and one of Lisa's cookies...! These make getting him to do his homework SO MUCH EASIER! Thank you Lisa! You are the best!

Last night I went home from work and straight to bed, something I rarely do.  Maybe it is the winter blahs or the moon or who knows?  The cats all piled on top of me and we had a lovely snuggle to shake the chill of the day off:

Sinfonia (foreground), Nikkers (right), Smidgen (far left--black cat) all staring at me like: "What gives Mom?"

Back to work on Damson.  I am knitting it in Saratoga — an amazing blend of cotton and Alpaca by Great Adirondack Yarns.  It is soft, not slick, and has a nice hand.  The shawl has a nice weight to it and I am looking forward to wrapping it around my shoulders.  You have a lovely night and happy knitting!  Corina:  I have not heard if those clarifications were helpful or not…that worries me.

Yours always with love, light and laughter,

Mary Ellen aka TheHumanLoom and Summit Yarn Studio

This is my friend Grace, who had to go to the vet for her boo-boo eye.

 

 

Re-entry after being away for two days

Today was a warm, wonderful return to the knitting studio at Summit Yarn.  There were lots of visitors, lots of funny stories and belly-jiggling laughter.  I seem to have a way of getting myself into situations; situations which I share only with a very few people…who listen patiently, laugh, remind me to check the baggage and watch it go away on the conveyor belt of karma and then they pat me on the back and nod Knowingly.  God Bless those friends…they are the reason for any sanity I still possess.

That said,  Martha was first through the door with her dog, Jaddu.  Interestingly, she had completed a hat using an Estonian stitch related to the Faux Entrelac stitch I learned at Vogue Knitting LIVE.  The stitch gives a really great look to handpainted yarn, is stretchy and the edge is very interesting.  Here are two photos:

Martha's Spiral Hat

close-up view of the hat and stitch

Next through the door, because we had a date to contemplate Chanel Jackets, was Suzy.  We got to look at a few but there’s still more before this design idea will gel.  Here are photos of out favorite:

Real Chanel Jacket for sale on ebay

Notice how much more flattering the jacket is ON a figure than just laying flat. This is characteristic of authentic Chanel clothing because of the couture techniques used in the production of this clothing.

Close up of stitch detail: this is the same stitch Robin Domenico uses in her Tricolor Stitch Scarf (published in an earlier post).

Meanwhile, three members of the January Summit Sock Club came in with all their projects and their socks-in-process.  Donna Arnold has completed two pattern repeats on her High Seas lace stole, designed by Kieran Foley, and it is lovely.  Have a look:

close up view of the small wave motifs

the Bigger Picture of High Seas

Kathy is most of the way through the first square of the Arsenic & Old Lace Afghan.  I love how this looks in winter white 100% wool.  This is so classic and fits with just about any decor.  It also makes a wonderful wedding gift.

Square #1: Shell Stitch

Donna and Jamie have both finished the first sock of a pair in Cookie A.’s “Monkey”.

Donna's Sock in green Blue Moon STR and Jamie's Sock in Great Adirondack Smoochie

I have been working on a multitude of things, among them a sample using the new Marion Foale yarn in her pattern for the Luch scarf.  I also got the Lucy Shawl on needles today — but that is just for me.  I am using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Blue Faced Leicester Sport in two colors:  Blackbird and Deep Unrelenting Grey.  Here are pics:

Lucy Scarf in Marion Foale's 3 ply Wool

Beginning edge of Lucy Shawl in Blue Moon yarn

While we were all happily knitting and chatting, my son, brave soul that he is decided to take it upon himself to teach my husband how to ski.  I did not see or hear from them until 6pm.  It was nice to sit in the studio after hours and do what I please for awhile, but also worrisome.  My husband has a tendency to crash…and burn.  Well, all things went well and they had a great time!  Here is a photo of my dear son looking like a ski-ninja:

Brian in his ski-wear on the Mountain

Take care and thanks again for your readership!  This blog is doing very well and we have had already over 7000 views this month.  Please spread the word AND let me know your own reactions and stories.  I love to hear from you, whever you may be in this world!  Sincerely and with loads of love,  Mary Ellen/aka TheHumanLoom and Summit Yarn Studio