Crafty Garage Sale

If you live in the Los Angeles area and are hankering for a good garage sale, here's one for you! This Saturday (9/29) Marie is hosting - and I and several of my knitting group cronies are contributing to - a crafter's bonanza of yarn, patterns, books, knitting, crochet and needlepoint supplies, fabric and sewing supplies, scrap booking supplies and much, much more.

Here's the pile of stuff I'll be selling. I've added to it a bit since the photo was taken this morning. I will be selling a few pieces of vintage pottery and a brand new/unused Elna 1010 sewing machine with case and walking foot, too. (I'm asking $125 for the sewing machine.)

Please contact Marie or leave me a comment if you need directions to her house. Hours of the sale are from 9 am to 4 pm. Hope to see you there!

Celebratin'

Yesterday was a day of firsts.

First #1:

Seeing the Yarn Harlot at the Los Angeles Central Public Library with my knitting BFFs: Annette, Barbara, Jillian, Marie, Mary, MJ and Patty.

L to R: MJ, Jillian, Mary, Annette

Also in our grrl gang for the day were knitting BFFs Carolyn, Wendy and (sadly blogless) Zoe.

L to R: Wendy and Marie

Carolyn drove down from northern California, so she gets the Longest Distance Traveled Award...and the Most Intrepid Award for still finding the event after her car's navigation system sent her to a mortuary in San Pedro instead.

Carolyn

Wendy gets the Best Traffic Story Award: En route she ran into a traffic jam because a house had fallen off its truck and was blocking everything for miles. Check it out here.

The Harlot was the Harlot. Funny, a little prickly, a lot empowering, she spoke for almost an hour and a half and graciously signed hundreds of books.

Barbara and Stephanie

She even took the time to pose with our group for a photo, which, uh, I don't have (hope to get a copy soon). My photos are once again random and blurry - I really need to work on taking better event pictures! - but please check out everyone else's blogs for more in-focus scoopage. And Ellen has a wonderful post about the event, too. (She introduced Stephanie!)

Our motley crew (photo credit to Mary - thanks)

It has been a while since our knitting group has had a day out together, and what a day it was. Not to get all maudlin, but as I sat in the audience, surrounded by and chattering and laughing with my friends, I felt this wonderful completeness at the connection we all shared. Very cool.

First #2: My first year blogiversary. Hey, it's been a year. How'd that happen?

First #3: Renewing my Yarn Pirate Booty Club membership. (It's still open, in case you're thinking about doing it.) My fingers are crossed we get a bitchin' Halloween colorway. 'Coz you know me and Halloween.

We're Having a Heat Wave

It's been a crazy week. Highlights:

+ Temps in the low to mid 100s. Wicked hotness, especially for all the furry critters. At night I've been leaving water out for the skunks and possums, in addition to keeping a close eye on our outdoor cats Fiend and Archie. (I know. Varmints. Can you say soft hearted? I'm the walking dictionary of it.) So far we're all okay, but whew, it's been hot. Especially since...
+ On Sunday, our a/c died. Tom MacGyvered it after 24 hours of 90+ degrees in the house, but we're looking at replacing it. Our internet service has also been intermittent, but seems to be back now that temps have cooled somewhat. (Today it's only 90! Whee! Break out the sweaters!)
+ Fiend was in another fight which left his head an infected mess, prompting a trip to the emergency vet at 9 pm on Monday night. For being such an ornery cuss, he's amazingly docile when at the vet; he's also taking his liquid antibiotic like a champ, and his head is healing well. Poor little guy.

So. Kinda intense for a holiday weekend. But hey, there's knitting to be done, right? Too bad I don't have much to show you. But look! Over there! Is that a sock yarn club kit I see?!

Why yes, it is. This is the first installment of the Yarn Tree's A Sock for All Seasons Yarn Club. And while my photos are decidedly lo-fi, the club is anything but! Our first yarn is Schaefer Anne in this groovy autumnal colorway. Also included is this reversible project bag, a sock pattern designed by Rachel DeNys named Falling Lace Sock, as well as Yarn Tree's Basic Sock Pattern, a handmade Brittany cable needle, a how-to DVD and a brief history of Schaefer Yarn. Score!

Local knitsters Jillian and Jerry are also in this club, and Jillian has a nice write up about the club here.

As for knitting, my stealth project is finished, though it still needs to be blocked. It qualifies as my first FO for Single Skein September. Speaking of SSS - Liz has started SSS groups on Ravelry and Flickr, and it'd be great if you joined us in using up those odd balls in your stash.

For my second SSS project, today I cast on the first of my Campfire Socks. Each will use a skein of Artyarns Ultramerino 8, so I'm hoping they qualify. I also want to knit some hats, but have to hit the LYS for some needles first. (Out of all the needles I have, how can I not have a US 8 16" circ? It's vexing.) And Fetchings. Would you believe I've never made a pair? About time, isn't it? I love fingerless gloves, and have two balls of black Cashmerino Aran earmarked. Not sure if I'll get to all these small projects, but they're certainly the perfect hot weather knitting!

Fiendish Finds of the Week

Some of my favorite knitbloggers are doing most excellent things, and today is the perfect day to talk 'em up. Random order, all fun.

1. Liz, via a contest Stash and Burn is running from now until September 21, is having a Single Skein September. I'm in, too. Hey, I might actually make a pair of Fetchings finally. The mind boggles. Won't you join us?

2. Robbie seriously has a way with orange and lime green. And hedgehogs.

3. Lyndsey-Jane is hand dying yarn and roving in bright, happy colors. Grab her goodies at her etsy shop, the Yarn Bar. (Right now it's cleaned out due to a Lime n Violet mention, but she's restocking next week.)

4. Kgirl has just finished a ruby-licious Rowena.

5. Melanie is hand dying semi-solids now. Is it appropriate to say that my heart filled with lust when I saw her first colorway? Probably not, but I will anyway.

6. Marie is putting the word out about Secret of the Stole KAL. I'm so easy. I've joined this one, too. Sign ups close on October 4th, with the first clue releasing the next day.

Marie also sent me a prize for finishing my CPH and breaking the Great Sweater Curse. A skein of Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Bitterroot Rainbow and a dolly made out of Marie's own hand spun. The dolly is a good luck poppet to keep further sweater curses at bay, which warms the cockles of my heart. Thanks, amigo.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Purple Haze

It's unprecedented, but I've been knitting with aubergine like a madwoman lately. Check it out:

Felted Bag

Pattern: Felted Bag from Home by Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk in color 12 - 6 and a smidge balls
Needles: US 8 24" Addi circs
Mods: None
Rating: 5 out of 5 atomic starbursts

I'm a big fan of 1950s moderne design. The clean lines, the organic shapes, the sense of whimsy - whether in a Richard Neutra house or a Russel Wright dish - delight me. I find the same enjoyment with this simple felted bag.

These little handles, dainty in comparison to the bulk of the bag below, give it that extra something, turning it into a whimsical, practical creation. And I don't know if you can see it in the photos, but the silk gives the bag an understated, proto-boucle texture. Nifty.

Gothic Leaf

After taking a little break, I need to get back to this enjoyable knit. I've begun my second skein of Euroflax, and she's roughly 24" long. This project is really hard to photograph well, but here's a close up showing the silly linen stitches.

Chevron Scarf aka The Bruiser

Thanks for all your comments about this here color combination. Everyone was in favor of it, so I've kept knitting. However. I think it looks like a bruise. Which is perfect, because I can give it to my BFF Laura. (Hi, Laura!) A few years ago I wanted to make her a scarf, so I asked what color she wanted it to be. Ever the smarty, she responded, "Bruise." Amazingly enough, I found some Colinette Point 5 that looked exactly like a bruise - mustard, rust, purple, red and turquoise - and knit her this funky long scarf we nicknamed The Bruise. Well, a few months ago some loser at her work stole The Bruise, which was totally lame.

But, now I've got The Bruiser a quarter of the way finished! This is a fun, quick knit, and I can see why people are so gaga over this pattern; already I'm thinking up different color combos to try once The Bruiser is living with Laura.

La Petite Knitterie

Thanks for all your well wishes! I'm on the mend, though still fuzzy brained, and before any more time passes I want to post about last Saturday's road trip to La Petite Knitterie, one of my favorite LYS.

They were celebrating their three-year anniversary with a sale, so Marie, Patty and I went to check it out.

Spun confectionery

An exquisite gem of a store, LPK's shelves are full of lovely yarns, some of which are hand-spun and hand-dyed by the talented Lori Lawson. (Who graciously remembered me from when Jillian, Barbara and I stalked her Capistrano Fibers Arts Studio booth at the Southern California Hand Weaver's Fiber Show last fall. I was honored and felt not worthy.)

Lori spinning her magic

I came away with four skeins of her variegated LPK Handpaints superwash merino fingering weight, with which I'm thinking about making a Chevron Scarf.

LPK Handpaints in baskets, along with adorable baby sweaters

Now, I need your opinion. Do you like these colors together? Hate 'em? Is the purple too dark?

The subtle coloration really is beautiful, and I want to make sure I use this yarn to its full advantage.


It was a fun outing, and for sure we'll be attending the 2007 SoCal Handweaver's show, too. It will be on Sunday, November 4th; more details here. See you there?

Second Purse, Same As the First

I've got the flu. It's 100 degrees F. I'm cranky. But not cranky enough not to sew on this cool vintage Lucite button and finish up my second Triangle bag.

This Triangle might not be as cute as the first, but I love it just as much for its practicality and retro look. Whipped up with some well marinated stash Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Coal, I can hardly wait for cooler days to use it (and its sister when I'm feeling more flamboyant) when I'm out and about.

As far as other knitting goes, I'm still chugging away on my linen Gothic Leaf. I've started a stealth project out of Sea Silk. (My first Sea Silk. *swoon*) I need to swatch again for Ariann. Just to make sure. And Mystery Stole 3? Cast aside when I learned what the final shape is. (Edited version of what ran through my head at the theme reveal: WTF? A wing? With a table runner point on the other end? I'm so confused.) I was going to frog it, but my pique has cooled, and some day I might make the symmetrical version. Maybe. I'm finishing up another felted purse, the one on page 48 of Debbie Bliss's Home, using some of the super cheap Alpaca Silk I scored at one of my Black Sheep Knittery forays this summer. More photos when I'm not hot and cranky, I promise. And now, back to bed for me. Stay cool!

Screaming Meme

Beth has tagged me for the 8 Random Facts meme. While my list shan't top hers (go go dancer! cigarette girl!), I'll give it my best.

1. I once drank next to Joe Strummer in an Edinburgh pub. Post-Clash, pre-Mescaleros, he was busking around the UK, playing impromptu gigs wherever and whenever he felt like it. I was at the pub, waiting for my friends to arrive for the show, drinking a pint of cider. Three guys in flashy leathers walked in, and I remember thinking, What poseurs. They stood next to me, and one tried to talk to me. I ignored him, thinking, This overdressed lame-o is trying to chat me up? Puhleeze. My friends arrived, and I moved away from the bar; only when someone asked me what Joe said to me did I realize who it was. (I never recognize celebrities in Los Angeles, either.)

2. I've studied and read tarot cards since I was 17.

3. I can quote many lines from Zorro the Gay Blade, Grosse Point Blank and Repo Man. And The Big Liebowski. I'm not sure what this says about me.

4. My love for Johnny Cash is pure and true.

5. Three friends and I once drove from Denver, Colorado, to Lawrence, Kansas, to see our friends and favorite local band, the Fluid, play. This was immediately after seeing them play a record-release gig for a new album. After the Lawrence show the three of us talked the other friend out of trying to find William S. Burroughs' house, piled back in the car and drove home. Roughly 1,100 miles round trip, I have no memory of if we ate anything, but I do remember the show was held in a converted bomb shelter.

6. Georges Jacques Danton was a childhood hero.

7. I learned to knit for the first time when I was six. My maternal grandmother taught me.

8. I love cilantro.

Tag free zone, but if you wanna, go for it.

Central Park Hoodie

Pattern: Central Park Hoodie from Fall 2006 Knitscene
Yarn: Black Water Abbey 2-ply worsted weight in Pippin - 7 skeins
Needles: US 7 and 8
Size: 48"
Mods: Knit the band as one piece, omitted buttons
Cast on: March '07 Finished: August '07
Rating: 3 out of 5 frogs

Waaaay back in January '06, the members of my knitting group gave their resolutions for the year. Mine was to knit six sweaters. (6 in '06 - catchy, isn't it?) Hearing my grandiose plans, the knitting goddess smacked me down and good; each of the six patterns I attempted led to naught. Proclaiming that I was under a Great Sweater Curse (GSC), I finally gave up mid-year and knit a bunch of other stuff.

2007 rolled around, and I wondered if maybe it was safe to try another sweater. I bought some BWA at Stitches West, and cast on for CPH in March. And today, today I broke the Great Sweater Curse. Whew. It's been a long time coming.

Pros
+ Cute, simple pattern.
+ CPH is the second adult sweater I've knit in my life.
+ As the breaker of the GSC, it's a success.
+ It fits. Kinda.
+ Love the color.
+ I'm satisfied with my finishing job.

Cons
+ The yarn. It hurt my hands. A lot. (I still have a yarn burn scar from it on my index finger.) The BWA is so tightly wound that I couldn't manipulate it well; the loose purls in and wonky stitches to the right of each cable panel horrify me. If I hadn't been so stubborn about breaking the GSC, I would have frogged and used a different yarn. But I was, and I didn't, making this an excellent lesson on how yarn can make or break a project.
+ The sleeves are super long. I'd read about this problem on the KAL, but blithely didn't modify mine. Now I have gorilla sleeves. Whatever.
+ The pattern does run small. I'm a big girl, and wanted it a little roomy, so went with the largest size. It fits, but is still very open in front.

Thanks to Liz for her killer cable advice; to Seattle Marie, Marie and Mary for knitting along with me; and to all our fellow CPH KALers.

Clue 3

Done!

P.S. Sorry about the blue chenille bedspread clashing with the lace design.

Back in Black

This past weekend was all about Mystery Stole 3. After discovering my first clue's wonkiness I stewed for a couple of weeks. Did some procrastination knitting. Then on Saturday evening I sucked it up, and in the course of 24 hours knit 72 rows. I'm now halfway through the third clue, and hope to finish it today. Here it is at the end of clue 2:

My goal is to be caught up for the fifth clue - and the theme reveal - by Friday. To that end I'll be shortening the fourth clue. Because really? My attention might waver - clue 4's chart looks kinda monotonous - and I'd find myself casting on Ariann (I'm this close) - or 17 other projects from my Ravelry queue and that would be that for poor ole MS3. So good bye stole, hello scarf!

I have to admit I'm still waiting for the satanic message to pop out on mine, though. Have any of you seen it on yours? Because I'd really hate to miss it. For those of you wondering what the heck I'm on about: in a nutshell a woman in the MS3 group caused quite a stir when she posted to the group and to her blog - scroll down to the end of the post - that she was wondering if the theme had to do with "the man downstairs." This is the best troll action I've seen in awhile, and makes me giggle. C'mon, cutesy names for Beelzebub? That's funny.

Bang your heads, knitsters. Hope you're working on something fun.

Found It

Long Lost Scarf

Recently I discovered this simple mesh scarf I crocheted three? four? years ago wadded in a corner of my yarn closet. Whoa. I'm having a moment like David Bowie did when he said he can't remember the year 1970.

Pattern: Open Season from the fall 2003 issue of Family Circle Easy Knitting
Yarn: Classic Elite Lush - 1 skein color 4413 black
Hook: Maybe an F or a G? I do like a good F.

Central Park Hoodie

I've found the strength to finish the hood and button band. Next up: seaming. As soon as that's done I'll post a proper recap of the Project That Broke the Sweater Curse.


Triangle Purse

Thanks for all your compliments on my Triangle purse. I'm glad you liked it. Me, I like it so much I'm making another one. In black. For decoration I'm gonna sew on a cool 30s lucite button I bought at Stitches West.

Ariann

I'm swatching tonight!

Fiendish Find of the Week

Skull-A-Day

Project Spectrum Sunday

Girly Girl

Pattern: Triangle by Pick Up Sticks!
Yarn: Cascade 220 - 2 skeins 7805 (MC) and 1.25 skeins 9404 (CC)
Needles: US 10 Addi 24" circs
Mods: Because I'm a symmetry fan (i.e. mental, since the bag is felted and it matters not), I subbed ssks on the right side when decreasing. Omitted the over-stitching around the top and handles.
Rating: 100 million heart candies

Just below my cynical, spooky exterior hides a gooey, twee center that's surprising even to me sometimes. Take this bag. That I knit it - in pink! and red! together! - is an example of my submerged girliness. (It's also what led to me to dress in what I call Amish Punk - thrifted 50s floral patterned dresses with black stockings and my Doc Martens boots - for years...but I digress.)

When I saw the pattern at Stitches West I thought, that's kinda cute, bought it and forgot about it. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I craved a mindless project to fill in between my Mystery Stole (stalled on row 100) and CPH (stalled on the button band). It fit the bill, so I worked on it at knitting group. Mindlessly. Two days ago I finished it, felted it, threw it on the top of the dryer to dry and forgot about it. Then yesterday, as I was checking it for dryness, I discovered I love it soooo much.

Over the years I've owned scores of vintage purses with this exact shape. They've been black patent leather, or faux leopard print fur, or dark navy leather, or black velveteen. But never pink. And red. Together.

So, if ever you're channeling Hello Kitty or June Cleaver and looking for a purse to make, this is the pattern for you. It's easy. And just so gosh darn cute.

Gothic Leaf Scarf

Pattern: Gothic Leaf Scarf by Sivia Harding
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns fingering weight in Navy Olive - 1.5 skeins
Needles: US 4 Bryspun circs
Size: 6" x 60"
Mods: None
Rating: Yippee! A FO!

Hot off the blocking board! My first Gothic Leaf is finished. Cheshire Catlike, the pattern proved elusive as I was photographing it. (I had all sorts of arty photo op ideas, but finally resorted to ye olde knitting on the pillowcase trick for the closeup.)

Gothic Leaf is one of those easy to intermediate patterns that either helps a newbie lace knitter get the hang of what they're doing or provides a simple knit to the more advanced. The directions are straight forward, the chart a 20-row (WS purl rows included) repeat, the pattern easily adaptable for making either a scarf or a shawl. For this scarf I cast on 39 st, with a 3 garter stitch border on either side of the pattern. I thoroughly enjoyed knitting it up, and confess that I'm still enjoying making the shawl sized version in linen, too.

The colorway makes me purr. Doesn't it look reptilian? Mrowr.

* * *
Hey, as soon as you're on Ravelry, please let me know! My id is "knitdevil". I'm gradually learning my way around the site; this week I'm uploading more of my stash and *gasp* being sociable and joining a bunch of groups. I've also been in an organizin' mood, and have sorted my patterns and fleshed out my queue of to-be-knitted projects. Yesterday I wound up a bunch of yarn. Ah, the possibilities waiting to burst forth. They include:

+ Toe up socks in Artyarns Ultramerino 8
+ Cashmere Cowl No. 2 in Posh Camilla
+ Ariann in Berroco Ultra Alpaca
+ Montego Bay in Alchemy Bamboo
+ Georgiana Scarf in Chasing Rainbows Tussah Merino

Of course, now that I've blogged about them, I'll cast on something completely different. You know how it goes.

That's it for now. Hold onto your hats, though, because tomorrow I have another FO to tromp out. It's madness around here, I tell ya, sheer madness.

Clue One Done

Last night I finished the first Mystery Stole 3 clue. Here it is in all its funky glory. I fear there's a baaaad mistake about a third of the way up; can you see it? Sigh. Am I ripping back? Heck, no.

To divert myself from mooning about the imperfections of my creation, here's a cute story.

Last Saturday Tom and I are in the car going to get groceries. Up the block we pass a young, male neighbor who's wearing skimpy shorts and tennis shoes, working in his front yard, lugging a wheelbarrow full of something.

Tom: Look, a stud muffin.
Me: (thinking quickly) Oh, hon, I don't need to look. You're my stud muffin.
Tom: No, I'm more your stud jelly donut. Your stud danish.

Happy knitting!

The Days Are Full

Cookie A.

What's been going on lately? Well, last Friday I took a toe-up sock class Cookie was teaching at Unwind. Ellen and Barbara took it, too, and with their help (and vestigial memories from knitting my Frankensocks with Mary last fall) I managed to finish my practice sock within the three hour class.

I'm a bad blogger, and spaced taking my camera, but Ellen has posted about our fun time here. (For your amusement she's included a photo of me looking positively bedbug crazy next to her gorgeous self.)

Cookie did not disappoint. She was very patient, she made herself available to everyone, she adjusted the pattern to our knowledge level...she ruled. She also taught us a sewn bind off, which yers truly thinks is as nifty as a slice of Pie and Burger's coconut creme pie.

Mystery Stole 3

There are 6,688 members. (Yarn Harlot joining near the end was a call for everyone to jump in the pool - yay!) USA Today is interviewing Melanie. What a phenomena.

I'm still on clue 1, row 90. I guess that officially makes me a Slow Bee (thanks to Bonne Marie for the button).

It's fun, not knowing what will come next, and I'm enjoying the pattern so far. There are lots of guesses about what the theme is, but I'm content just to watch the stitches form.

Mick Harvey

I've been listening to One Man's Treasure non-stop. And yes, I kinda have a crush.

Three Websites Rivaling Ravelry for My Attention

Thanks go to Marie for...Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels. Lordy, this one's funny.

Stop, You're Killing Me! Great resource if you're a hard boiled gal like me.

Television Without Pity has been a personal fave for a while. Hilarious and mind boggling. And the snark's served hot.

Pass the Wasabi

Knowing that I find knitted/crocheted food delightfully whimsical, Mary presented me with this cute sushi wallet kit for my birthday. A couple of weeks ago I needed something to offset all the lace I've been knitting, so I dug it out of stash, sat down and whipped it up.

It's the perfect project for a new knitter/felter. (Felter? Felt maker? Person who felts?) Super easy to knit and assemble (two hours tops), this little (roughly 7.5"x 5") bag makes a great carrier for my iPod. The only detractor is the sushi itself; the white yarn (as white yarn is wont to do) didn't felt, and my California roll ended up looking more like a birth control device than something you'd want to dip in soy sauce and nibble on. Ah, well, so it's an artistic interpretation of sushi, right?

Pattern: Sushi Wallet from Pick Up Sticks!
Yarn: Included in kit
Needles: US 10 Addis
Mods: None
Rating: 3 out of 5 California rolls

Other food patterns to dig into and enjoy:
Regina's meat series - Seriously, what's not to love about felted cheeseburgers? (check out her June 19, 2007 post, "Felt the Meat")
Jean Greenhowe's Jiffyknits - Ms. Greenhowe makes spaghetti and meatballs, boiled eggs, cookies...and you can, too. (also, some scary ass clown dolls, if you're into that sort of thing)
Rachel Matthews' Knitorama - Feel like a crocheted pint of stout? Or how about a jelly roll? If so, here's the book for you.