reluctantMANGO Knits

Camilla Babe

2010-11-28T13:19:00.002-05:00

Baby Camilla FO
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

I love this sweater - the pattern is Camilla Babe by Carrie Bostick Hoge. I also love that I knit the baby version for the new mom-to-be across the street before laying into the adult version for me, because the garter makes too bulky a fabric for my frame. So I'll content myself with knitting one for every little girl baby I come across, and that's something wonderful coming from a person who rarely knits a pattern twice!
The yarn is Berroco Vintage, a machine-washable, super soft worsted weight that is beautiful to knit with. No pattern for the hat, just cast on and made it up as I went along. I love the square top hats for infants - the corners look like little cat ears!

Liam's New Coat

2010-11-03T13:56:00.001-04:00

Fall 2010 004
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

Such a satisfying knit, Zoe Mellor's Duffle Coat from her book Double Knits practially made itself up. Easy to memorize, very little shaping, and such a timeless design! Can't say enough about it. I did read some comments about the hood being shallow, so I went off on my own for that part of the coat, but otherwise I followed the pattern. Hopefully I'll have pictures soon of Liam wearing it... or I could use my own little model - though my wee Mango is almost three (SHOCK!), one-year-old Liam is close to the same size in clothes. Very healthy, and so stinking cute! And ultimately knitworthy: the sweater I knit for his baby shower was worn all winter long last year, and I've no doubt this one will get the same treatment. There's no better compliment, I think.

Rhinebeck 2010

2010-10-19T12:40:00.001-04:00

Rhinebeck 2010 021
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

Dear blog,

My 2010 Rhinebeck adventure reminded me of how much I miss writing, and how much more connected I felt when I was actively contributing to the online knitting community. Can we be friends again?

More about Rhinebeck soon... though I must shamefully admit that this photo of our combined purchases, taken upon our triumphant return, is the only one I snapped during the trip. There was just so much to see, so much yarn to pet, so much festival food to eat that I didn't even take the camera out of my bag!

Hallett's Ledge

2010-10-12T21:32:00.001-04:00

Hallett's Ledge
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

I'm so excited to be headed to Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend! A couple of friends will be joining me on this adventure, and I've knit a very special sweater to wear to the event! If you see me (and my Hallett's Ledge sweater) there, please do stop and say hello :)

Brandywine Festival of the Arts

2010-09-12T16:16:00.003-04:00

BAF Hat
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

So the Brandywine Arts Festival was back this year, under new management and name, and I'm so glad! Lots of new artists and some old favorites. I scored this hat, made from a pair of pants - so cute! And a pair of plain silver hoops and three sets of interchangeable bobs to wear on them. I have a few stitch markers that would look great as earrings too! I love being able to support independent artists, it makes me feel good.

Edited to remove redundant 'cute' ness.

Free Pattern: Dionysus Socks!

2010-09-08T12:52:00.002-04:00

sock05
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

At long last, I give you my first sock design, Dionysus, which I began to create during a class I took with Cookie A about a year ago. They've been kicking around ever since, and when I read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books by Rick Riordan everything came together... the vines, the leaves, the fall colors... these are socks fit for the god of wine!

Available for free on Ravelry.

Knock, knock...

2009-02-02T21:36:00.006-05:00

Who's there?

Blog.

Blog who?

Exactly....

'nuff said.

2008-11-01T13:20:00.002-04:00

Scrap hat in Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton. Ravelry link.
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Waffle pullover sweater in Colinette Jitterbug. Ravelry link.
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We do good work, don't you think?

What I'm up to:

2008-09-04T21:25:00.004-04:00

1. Watching my little mango grow up - it's happening so quickly that I don't want to take my eyes off of him for fear of missing something. The other night I stepped away at dinnertime to answer the door, and when I came back, he had decided to try his hand at feeding himself. There was more on the tray than in his tummy, but it's just a preview for many more 'I can do it myself' moments that will make me feel so proud and yet so forlorn. He cut his first tooth last week, and the second is not far behind. Crawling is right around the corner; the legs know what to do, but the arms aren't quite ready to cooperate. It's mostly rocking front and back on all fours, then dropping to the tummy to army-crawl in the direction of whatever object he desires.
2. Knitting the first of four Waffles sweaters. I haven't completed more than two knitted items since my little guy arrived 8 months ago, but somehow I got it into my head that he and his three east coast cousins needed matching sweaters for Christmas. And that's not even the crazy part: they're all knit in fingering weight yarn!!! I'm loving the pattern - it's easy to memorize, plus it's adorable, and it looks great in the Colinette Jitterbug yarn I picked up at Stitches with Style. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it!

Ok, considering the above, Hey Teach (in the very affordable Plymouth Jeannee also from SWS) is on hold until next spring. But what a lovely thing to look forward to! I love this pattern - it's easy to knit, the lace is simple yet pretty, and it's flattering to the not-so-svelte ladies like myself. I'm missing it already, but as there is no deadline for this one, I'm going to have to get over it.

Other than that, I'm laying low... liking my new job, though the commute is killing me. Just celebrated my 6th wedding anniversary (we've somehow managed not to kill each other) on Labor Day. We're such an old married couple that we stayed in and got caught up on our laundry while we treated ourselves to a movie on the couch in our jammies, with a very sleepy baby between us. And you know what? It was awesome.

Opportunity knocks

2008-07-10T18:33:00.002-04:00

Two posts in less than a month? Well slap me with a hank of Malabrigo and call me fluffy! Yarn Mama tagged me with the meme below, providing me with just the opportunity I needed to throw together a quick post and a quick baby update... babymango had his 6 month followup appointment after his head cooling treatment at birth, and in the doctor's words, he's PERFECT! I couldn't agree more :) Now, on to the meme:

Rules:
You must answer the questions using only one word & tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? In the front pocket of my purse
2. Your significant other? Shopping for a Hybrid car
3. Your hair? Still looking good at 6:30pm. Thanks Garnier!
4. Your mother? Eastern Shore, finishing up her vacation
5. Your father? With mom
6. Your favorite thing? Eskimo kisses
7. Your dream last night? Can't remember
8. Your favorite drink? Top shelf margarita on the rocks with ice
9. Your dream/goal? More knitting time
10. The room you’re in? living
11. Your hobby? Knitting, reading, sudoku
12. Your fear? spiders
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years NOW? Midwest
14. What you’re not? skinny
15. Muffins? Raisin Bran
16. One of your wish list items? Deck for back of house
17. Where you grew up? Nearby
18. The last thing you did? pizza
19. What are you wearing? Work top, play pants, no shoes
20. Favorite gadget? Sirius radio
21. Your pets? Furry
22. Your computer?HP Pavilion
23. Your mood? content
24. Missing someone? no
25. Your car? dented :(
26. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
27. Favorite store? yarn
28. Like someone? yes
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When is the last time you laughed? 2 seconds ago
31. Last time you cried? two nights ago - nightmare!

Ok, I'm sure that my readership is dwindling due to my lack of posting, so if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!

So long, so full

2008-06-19T12:29:00.006-04:00

Someone recently noted that it's been quite a while since I posted on my blog. This is true, but if you've been following for any amount of time, you'll know that my life is very full right now (in a good way). Something had to give, and this blog was the first casualty! I miss it, I miss contributing to a community that I am enamored of and take so much pleasure from. I am certain I'll be back to regular posting in the near future, but now is not that time. I'm still knitting, though much more sporadically, and you can find all the details on Ravelry - my username is reluctantMANGO - come and friend me! The baby is growing by leaps and bounds, and to my eye is perfect in every way. He's going to be crawling before too long, so I will have my hands full. I'm also leaving my much-loved job of 6.5 years and going to work at a children's hospital in the area. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make (small business vs. large business, casual vs. business dress, friends vs. colleagues) and in the end I felt I had to sacrifice some of my ideals in order to provide for my family. It's a good opportunity, great benefits, and a totally unexpected change for me - I was not looking for it, but once presented, I had no choice but to 'take one for the team' and make the move. I know, poor me, right? Seriously, it'll be good for all of us in the long run, myself included. The women I'll be working for seem genuine and honest and open, and they are willing to invest their time in me as I learn the ropes of a new industry. I hope it'll be a good partnership. Wish me luck.

I'll try to get some details up about my latest knitted FO's soon, but if I don't, at least you know why!

Bucket Brigade

2008-02-25T13:09:00.002-05:00

Finished Bucket
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

Well, here it is. My first FO of 2008!
Pattern: Better Bucket Hat by Amy Swenson
Yarn: Tess Designer Yarn Cultivated Silk and Wool, just over 1 skein
Favorite detail: Provisional cast on! Love to learn new things.

I've started a Bainbridge Scarf to match the hat, and hopefully they'll be done by Monday, when I return to work full time. I'll need something bright, soft, and absorbent *sniffle* to make it through my first day away from BabyMango. I'm looking forward to going back to work - I miss my co-workers and the daily challenges of life in horticulture - but I have a feeling that it's going to be a long 8 hours. Mr. ReMango will be staying home with the baby, since most of his classes are remote, and my Mom will be filling in when he has to go into school for labs. Knowing that he'll be with family makes it a lot easier. Wish me luck!

And for my NEXT trick...

2008-02-21T07:54:00.003-05:00

Provisional cast on
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

Watch me pull a provisional cast on out of my hat! Seriously, this is a very cool technique, called for in the Better Bucket Hat pattern by Indigirl. I love the shape of this hat, and as soon as I saw it I had to have it. I also needed a project that required less attention than the Anemoi Mittens I've been working on. Talk about intense! Anyway, I had this great Tess Designer Yarns Cultivated Silk and Wool yarn (Ravelry link) in a delicious copper and black colorway just begging to be knit up. It's been crying out to me for about three years now, so its time has come. It didn't knit up to the same gauge as the yarn called for in the pattern, so I had to do a little math *GASP* to adjust the pattern to fit. I think the hours spent playing Brain Age on my Nintendo DS during the last months of my pregnancy (you know, the months when I couldn't KNIT) really paid off, because I also won a blog contest over at SoapyKnitter by dusting off the math skills! More about that when my prize arrives. Where was I? Oh yes. Bucket Hat. So after I calculated for gauge differences, I got ready to cast on, and the pattern directed me to Eunny's tutorial on casting on provisionally. Her instructions have you cast on to a waste yarn, but Indigirl suggests casting on to a second circular needle. This is pure genius, because what we're doing here is knitting a hem. The purl row you see in the picture is the turning row, where I'll fold the hem up under the working needles and will simply knit the cast on row together with the active stitches to attach the hem to the underside of the brim. Et voila! An invisible hem with no sewing! Like I said, seriously cool - you should really check out Eunny's tutorial for a better explanation. Mine pales in comparison to her technical description.

Speaking of new techniques, I was surprised, delighted, and secretly relieved to see that RangerSarah has nominated me for the 'You Make My Day' award. I've been seeing this award flying about the knitblog community for at least a week and, frankly, I was feeling a bit left out. I know, boo hoo, right? Well, apparently RangerSarah is feeling inspired by my ongoing quest to learn more knitting tecniques and is taking on some colorwork herself. This made her day. And now she's made MY day! So I return the compliment to her, along with these other fine bloggers who regularly brighten my day:

Knitblogs:
Frog in Knots
Fricknits
Flint Knits
Radical Femiknits
Schrodinger Knits
Sunshine Creations
Yarn Mama

Foodblogs:
Canela & Comino
Homesick Texan
Kalyn's Kitchen
Mac and Cheese

Ok, so I picked more than ten... I could have chosen even more! I will admit that since BabyMango arrived, I've done more lurking than anything else, but keeping up with these blogs has kept me anchored to the outside world and inspired me to be more creative in my knitting as well as in my kitchen! That really makes my day! Hopefully I'll find time today to notify them of my nomination, but if not perhaps they'll track back and find it themselves. If so, congratulations! You're now tasked with nominating 10 bloggers who make YOUR day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T14:53:00.002-05:00

Just thought I'd share the lovely flowers Mr. ReMango and BabyMango gave me this morning. Hope your day is filled with as much love as mine!

So Much FUN!

2008-02-13T17:49:00.002-05:00

Back of hand progress
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

Why didn't I try colorwork sooner? It's a bit fiddly, but just look at the results, would you?!? Especially the way the pink is showing its color variations. I'm in love. I've been doing a little work from home to ease back into the job world, and these mittens are my reward at the end of the day. Time well spent, I say! The only disappointment so far is the palm - the brown yarn, being a slightly thicker yarn, is fuzzing over some of the more delicate patterning. I'm going to give it time to run its course. It's just in a few spots, and maybe a sweater shaver will take care of the problem. No photo for you, since we're not going to dwell on it. It's cold, rainy and dark outside, and we're sticking to the happy thoughts at Chez ReMango... the best way to stay warm!

Something new

2008-02-09T22:32:00.001-05:00

Anemoi Cuff
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

This year seems to be full of new things for me - new baby, new responsibilities, and in my knitting, new techniques! Behold the Anemoi cuff - my first tubular cast on (thanks to this great article at Knitty), and my first corrugated rib! This is my first real attempt at colorwork, and I'm so excited to tackle the gorgeous design of these mittens. It's taken me a while to buckle down and cast on for these mittens, but they were just the thing to usher in a new year of knitting. The yarn is a rich dark brown from Brown Sheep Company - Nature Spun Sport (Hm. I'm discovering as I type that this is not fingering weight as I had assumed. That'll teach me to double check the label!) and the sweet pink tone on tone is Schaeffer Anne, which is indeed fingering. Hopefully the two will continue to play nice despite their weight differences!

FO real!

2008-02-04T17:33:00.001-05:00

koolhaas
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

Oh yes, FO sure! It's been months since my last FO, and this one's been in the works for some time now. My goal was to knit something special for each of the three women who worked so hard to put together the best baby shower ever. I haven't forgotten! My sister is already wearing her green and blue striped socks, and this hat is for my SIL. She's a stylish woman who travels by train to work in Philly, and I know from experience that it feels at least 10 degrees colder when the wind whips between the buildings. Hopefully this hat will keep her warm! The yarn is Zara by Filatura di Crosa in a lovely charcoal gray. Wonderful, sproingy stuff, and holds up well to successive froggings. Ask me how I know. I dare you. I knew as soon as I saw the Koolhaas pattern in Interweave's holiday issue that this was going to be a fun knit, and I was right! So fun that I knit it three times... All's well that ends well though, and I'm glad I persevered. Hopefully SIL will like it as much as I do!

Josh update: Five weeks old now, and he's a healthy, happy baby boy! He makes the best faces, and he's even starting to smile at us. This week he's discovering his hands, reaching out to touch our faces (note to self: cut his fingernails! Ouch!) and trying to grasp at toys. He's so much fun to play with - before he was either eating or sleeping, not much else going on. Now, he's cooing and making noises when we talk to him - so cute!

Knitty love

2008-01-29T14:20:00.001-05:00

Guro's gift
Originally uploaded by reluctantMANGO

Ok, once again I am brought to tears by knitty love. Guro, who was a sock swap partner of mine some time ago, sent this beautiful handknit vest to keep Joshua warm this winter. It fits like a glove, it's adorable, and just the perfect amount of layering for the weather we've been having (seriously, will it ever feel like winter this year?). I think we'll take a little trip up to the LYS today to show off. Thanks Guro!!!

Oh, and I'm signing up for a class in March that teaches English style knitters (throwing) how to knit Continental style (picking). It's faster, and it'll come in handy if... WHEN I get around to trying my hand at fair isle! So far I've chosen my yarn and printed up the pattern for Eunny Jang's gorgeous Anemoi Mittens. Hopefully I'll at least get the swatch done by the end of the week - I feel my knitting mojo returning - the trick is finding time (and the free hands) to knit. Before too long I'll be returning to work full time, so I'd best take advantage of what free time I have now. It's so hard to do anything but snuggle with Josh, but I guess Mr. ReMango needs some baby time too, doesn't he!

Lemonade

2008-01-16T14:55:00.001-05:00

Knitting is still making my hand numb, but who says that means I can't indulge in a little yarny goodness? Thank goodness I whipped up a few sweaters before my little mango was born, so now I can snuggle him up in some handknit love! He's doing great, and as soon as we get past the three doctor's appointments in the next five days, we can really settle down and relax.

Pattern: Babies and Bears Cardigan from Cottage Creations

Yarn: Sundara Sport Merino in Curry over Breeze

Buttons: Made from coconut shells! Purchased at Joann Fabrics

Who needs sleep?

2008-01-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

We're home. Josh is doing great; his pediatrician tells us that if we hadn't told him about his NICU stay, he'd have never guessed it. Several follow-up appointments have been made, but for now we're enjoying some down time as a family. ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............

Oh, happy day!

2008-01-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

The last tests have been run, and as soon as we get the (hopefully normal) results, we'll be bringing our son home! If the results are in by 3pm, we'll be home tonight, if later, then it'll be tomorrow. Thank you to all of you for your thoughts, your prayers, and your kindness - it is so reassuring to know that so many people are pulling for us, and at the end of a long day to find your comments and emails waiting in the inbox was a balm that soothed our tired souls.

Hopefully once we get all settled in I'll be able to take up the needles once more - I'm still having tingling and numbness in my right hand :( but the doctor told me that it might take a few weeks for the pregnancy induced carpal tunnel to work itself out. Here's hoping! I have several abandoned WIP's that I'd like to get back to, and a super-cute baby to knit for! He needs some hats! Oh, and socks! Oh! And where was that pattern for knit overalls? Oh, and the cute cargo pants on Knitty! Suffice it to say that the will is strong, even if the hands are still a bit weak.

Baby update - WARNING TMI!!!

2007-12-30T20:22:00.000-05:00

Joshua Logan was born on 12/29/07 at 6:25 am, weighing in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces, after 14 hours of labor and one hour of pushing. Although his heart rate had been steady and sure throughout labor and delivery, he was not in good shape when he arrived, with score of just 1 on his first Apgar test. He was not breathing on his own, he was not very responsive, and although my water was clear when it broke, when he was delivered there was meconium in the last rush of fluid. The pediatric and NICU teams worked intubated him and put him on a respirator. I got to see him for 30 seconds before he was rushed off to the NICU for further care, and he is a gorgeous boy. When I talked to him, he appeared to recognize my voice, and opened his little eyes to find me. It was love at first sight for me! The NICU team were concerned for his health, considering the details of his arrival, and suggested he be taken to Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philly for a treatment called Head Cooling. This is a treatment developed in New Zealand and the United Kingdom which reduces brain damage in newborn babies that experienced an episode of interruption of blood flow and oxygen supply before delivery. The interruption can occur from complications during labor or delivery. Basically, the doctors explained to us that it's too early to know if any damage was done to Josh's brain due to lack of oxygen, but that this treatment was developed to prevent any further damage. Since there is a 6 hour window for treatment to be started, Josh was airlifted to Jefferson (the only hospital in the area that does this procedure - thank goodness it's close!). Chris, left right away to follow Josh to Jefferson, while I was taken to the post-partum ward to recover. Chris reports that Josh was doing very well according to the docs at Jefferson, and that when he heard Chris's voice, he lifted his hand to him (Chris had been talking to him in my belly). He was so responsive that the doctors had to hold his arms down to complete the preparations for treatment! The doctors think he'll be off the respirator soon. Josh did have a few seizures, which apparently is to be expected from babies who breathe in meconium, and was put on anti-seizure medication for the duration of his 72-hour head cooling treatment. After the treatment is done, he'll be taken off the meds and given a full EEG test to assess his brain function. The doctors are hopeful for a good outcome, as are we, but it's hard not knowing for sure if our son is going to be ok. As I type, I'm waiting for approval for early discharge from Christiana Hospital so I can go and be with Joshua. I'm excited to see him and assure him that his parents are with him and that we love him very much. Please, pray for our new family, and especially for a good outcome for baby Joshua. We are so blessed to have such a strong support system in our friends and family, and we'll be sure to keep you updated as we get more news.

Still cooking

2007-12-19T17:19:00.000-05:00

It's been so long since I've posted that I thought I'd give a quick update. Sadly, things have come to a complete standstill in my knitting life. My visions of drawers full of tiny baby sweaters, hats, and socks were dashed by pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. I do have several sweaters in the drawer, and hope that after delivery my perfectly functional hands will be returned to me. The good news is that this is the worst of my pregnancy complaints! My gestational diabetes has been controlled by diet, and only in the past couple of weeks have I had swollen ankles. My blood pressure has been up a bit, so it looks like we may have a 2007 baby after all! Tax deduction - woo hoo! I'll post an update once the baby arrives and we've settled in a bit. In the meantime, Happy Holidays!

YAWN!

2007-11-04T19:41:00.000-05:00

This post's title could refer to so many things... for instance, the boring nature of my blog these days as my life revolves around getting ready for the baby's imminent arrival, monitoring my gestational diabetes (sucky, but thankfully controlled by diet and not insulin shots), bi-weekly doctor's visits, work, and other miscellaneous items. Or it could refer to my current state of mind after a weekend filled with a stomach bug (thankfully short-lived), a baby shower, my birthday, my MIL in town from Arizona, and a nursery still under construction with 9 weeks to go and counting! I could keep going, but you get the picture. I've managed to squeeze in some knitting here and there, and couldn't wait to share these cute FOs... everything is cute in baby sizes! I can't imagine my blogging frequency is going to improve anytime soon, so thanks for hanging in there, and I'll update when I can.

Top: Socks in Regia Stripes for my sister to congratulate her on earning her Master's degree, and since they're late they'll also serve as a HUGE thank you for doing such a great job with my baby shower. Baby socks thrown in for scale and general cuteness. All three are improvised patterns.

Bottom three: Babies and Bears hooded cardigan from Cottage Creations. Awesome pattern, interesting construction - it's knit in two pieces, each from the cuff to the center, then grafted together in the center. Hood is then knitted on , as are button bands and hem. Instructions are super-easy to follow, and the size is easy to adjust by changing the gauge of your yarn. This sweater is the newborn size, knit in Sundara Yarns Sport merino superwash in color Curry over Breeze. Yum.

Super Stripes

2007-09-30T15:10:00.000-04:00

We have another baby FO! At this rate, my little peanut will be the warmest baby on the block. As I mentioned in my last post, this is the Supernatural Stripes pattern by f.pea. I love this sweater; the colors, the yarn, the wrong-side color changes... but I definitely did NOT love weaving in all the ends! It was worth it in the long run though, to have created such a handsome sweater for my little guy. I also conquered my cotton aversion! The Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Dyed Cotton is a dream to work with. It didn't make my hands sore, it's sturdy (if a little prone to pilling), and soft. I did run out of the main color of yarn, though the pattern called for one hank of each color. The button band was supposed to have been in the main color, but in the end, I like the substitute of the dark brown yarn, so all's well that ends well!

On a less happy note, I went to two children's resales this weekend, and was heartbroken to see several hand-knit and -crocheted sweaters for sale. On the one hand I'm glad that they'll get a second chance with a new baby, but if I'd seen any of my creations on the rack, I would have been so hurt! Perhaps it's because my great grandmother knit sweaters for all of the family babies, and my mom kept them for us. We have family photos of us wearing them, we dressed our doll babies in them, and now we're putting our own babies in them. It just seems to complete the circle - the love that my great grandmother knit into those sweaters can be felt in the warmth and coziness of her garments, even if she's no longer here to personally greet the next generation. I can only hope that my own knitted legacy is handed down and remembered that way! I was tempted to rescue the resale sweaters, but they were obviously intended for girls. Here's hoping they were taken home to keep spreading joy and love!

Knits on Parade

2007-09-23T11:16:00.000-04:00

We're just going to gloss over the fact that it's been a month (or more) since my last post, m-kay? Suffice it to say I've been distracted with baby preparations. Our little man (we have positive confirmation it's a boy!) is now about a pound and a half, and 25 weeks big... time is flying by in there, and I'm trying to keep up - lots to do before he gets here! He's much more relaxed about it than I am... last week we got to see what he's up to in there......yeah, he's chilling, sucking on his thumb (how cute is that!?!?), and resting up for the big day. This isn't the best image, but he's laying on his back with head to the left, hands raised up over his face, thumb tucked firmly in mouth. He obviously has no worries! I on the other hand have been frantically finding a new home for my yarn stash so he'll have somewhere to sleep! I don't know where it all came from, but Goodwill is now the owner of a full pickup truck load of stuff that we cleared out of the nursery! And my stash is safely tucked away in the guest bedroom, in cute little baskets behind glass doors. But that's another post. Right now, I can't wait to show you what I've been knitting!!!

The Debbie Bliss Crossover Jacket is now complete, and it's the perfect sweater for a winter baby. Casual style, luxurious cashmere blend, and classic colors. This is going to be one stylish baby! The pattern called for a leather thong tie in addition to the single button closure, but I decided to pass on that for now - better to keep it simple, I think! I may add an i-cord tie to the front for a little pizazz, but for now I'm sticking a fork in this sweater. It's done! I am loving the Simply Baby book of patterns, and already have a cabled vest picked out to knit in a nice green super wash merino.

Next up (you won't believe this) a COTTON sweater! Now pick yourself up off of the floor, people, this is no ordinary cotton. this is Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Dyed Cotton, the Cadillac of Cotton! I like the idea of a natural plant fiber against my baby's skin, and when it looks this good, you know you have a winner. The pattern is called Supernatural Stripes, and is a free pattern from f.pea. I found the pattern on Ravelry, and bought the yarn specifically for this project. The original was knit in more natural colors, but I opted for a little punch of color at the yoke. I love the wrong-side color changes and the softness of the yarn. Since the pattern calls for one ball of each color, I'm hoping I'll be able to get at least one more sweater out of the leftovers... perhaps an allover stripe instead of stopping at the yoke? Definite possibilities here.

Last, but not least, the ubiquitous sock project. This has been my knitting group project for a couple of weeks, as it requires little thought. Really! It took no thought at all to knit an inch past where the heel should have been. What can I say? We've had some new members join the group, and we're having a great time getting to know them. I can't blame my sock mishap on them (they won't let me get away with it), but I can't complain either. Back to the socks. I got the yarn at Maryland Sheep and Wool and promptly misplaced the ball bands. I know it's a Regia brand yarn. They're just a simple toe-up stockinette with short row toes and heels, and they're going to be a gift for my sister, who recently finished her Master's degree in Education. I'm so proud of her, and I hope these socks make her happy. We have a long tradition of novelty socks, so making her a pair of fun, colorful socks has been a goal of mine for a while. I guess I just needed an excuse!

So that's all the news that's fit to report. Soon, I'll have pictures of the stash's new home, as well as progress shots of the nursery... and if it takes another month to get that ball rolling, we're in a lot of trouble, so I'll just say that I hope to be back soon!

Now with more KNITS!

2007-08-18T09:21:00.000-04:00

I promised knitting, and knitting you shall have. First, allow me to direct your attention to the main attraction - my Sockapalooza socks! I am in love with these socks, and so humbled by Anne of Norway's (blogless? I hope not!) generosity and talent... not only did she knit these works of art, but she also designed them herself based on a Norwegian pattern. *Swoon* I mentioned to her that I have thick calves, and she included calf-shaping for me - how beautiful is that? They fit like a dream, and they're sure to keep my tootsies warm all winter long. The colors go perfectly with my wardrobe (brown is my base color) and even coordinate perfectly with the stroller I've picked out for my baby registry! Oh, and if you thought that the Sockapalooza goodness would end there, check out this adorable knit cap for the little ReMango-to-be!!! It's so cute I don't know what to do (other than find a matching outfit, STAT!). We can coordinate our wardrobes and bond in style! Also in the goody bag was a Norwegian chocolate bar, which has been chilling in the freezer for a few days just waiting for the perfect occasion... Mr. ReMango has officially quit his crappy job and will be going back to school full time to be a Computer Network Engineer! It's scary, considering all we have going on at this point in our lives, but I'm so proud of him for making all of the arrangements and taking this big step towards a happier (and more lucrative, I hope!) future.

Next up, more baby knitting! I picked up a new book of patterns from my LYS, and it's just full of cutie-pie knits. It's Simply Baby by Debbie Bliss, and though the majority of the patterns are girl-oriented, there are quite a few unisex patterns to be found, including this Crossover Jacket. I'm not so sure about the thong tie on the front (there's a button to secure the front, hidden under the collar), so that may not make the final cut. What I am sure about is that I love this yarn. In the past, I've had issues with DB yarns being full of knots and thick joins where the yarn was cut, but things must have changed! This is Cashmerino Aran and it's soft, sturdy, and machine washable. I'm sure I'll use it again, though I will wait for it to go on sale next time....

Finally, I've decided to out this long-time WIP in the hopes that I'll shame myself into finishing it. Remember the Lucy in the Sky Cardi I started eons ago? Yeah, still haven't reached the armpits. granted, it's knit in one piece up to that point, but still. It's definitely been ignored, and with no good reason. Erm. Well, maybe it's a bit boring to knit, but that's no excuse! It's a great knit to take to my weekly knitting group, perfect for movie/tv knitting, and the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool is a gorgeous tweedy yarn. The brick red color is lovely, and I can't wait to wear it. I'm recommitting myself to this sweater, and hope to have it finished next month. It's been a while since I've had a finished sweater to show off! I think by then I'll have a nice baby bump to show off as well, so there we have two happy things to look forward to!

It's a boy!

2007-08-13T10:38:00.000-04:00

Mr. ReMango couldn't be more pleased, and we're both just happy that he's healthy :)

Knitting content to follow later this week, just had to share the good word!

Time flies...

2007-08-04T18:31:00.000-04:00

... when you're having fun! Well, I can't say it's been all fun, but now that the early pregnancy symptoms have worn off and my energy levels are back to normal, I feel like myself again. I've picked the needles up again, and just in time - the mailing deadline for Sockapalooza 4 is upon me! I'm really proud of how these Anastasia Socks turned out... and they are extra special to me because the yarn was gifted to me by my very first Secret Pal! It's Cherry Tree Hill supersock, and I can't think of a more fitting use of the yarn than to create a gift for my secret pal! I've collected a few goodies to send along with the socks, and I can't wait for my pal to get them... nor can I wait for MY socks to arrive! My upstream pal mentioned that they had something special planned, possibly colorwork, and possibly connected to the region where the yarn was made... they also mentioned that the package would take a little while to arrive, so perhaps they're international Sockapalooza socks! No matter where they're from, knowing that my pal has put the time and thought into making something special for me is exhilarating, and I'm really looking forward to the surprise.

A blog reading friend mentioned that she was worried about me due to my almost two month absence from posting... everything is going well, had a bit of a scare a few weeks ago, but the baby and I are healthy - I'm sure about this because I started to feel the little mango kicking me this week! We go for a checkup on Thursday, at which time we'll get a referral for the BIG ultrasound - we'll find out if it's a girl or boy if all goes well. Fingers crossed (but hopefully not legs!) that the baby cooperates, because I really want to know before we start decorating the nursery. Also, I have a few baby knits lined up, and need to know what colors to choose! I'm not much on the pink for girls, blue for boys tradition, but you know what I mean. I will admit that I couldn't wait to cast on for a warm sweater to start things off, in a creamy yellow trimmed with brown - nice and neutral - more info to come on that front. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and goodwill bestowed upon the ReMango family in the last couple of months!

At last!

2007-06-16T12:07:00.001-04:00

Ok, so remember the Red Hot socks? They were cute, right? Well, for the life of me I couldn't get them to work. Perhaps it was a gauge issue, perhaps it was user error, but I gave up on them completely. Thank goodness I did! I am loving these Anastasia socks in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock! The colorway is called Champlain Sunset, and I am digging the way the colors are pooling... what a wonderful pattern for multi-colored yarn! A bit of lace to spice things up without distracting from the gorgeous colors of the yarn. They'll look even better on, but my little size 7's aren't anywhere close to fitting in these socks. Sorry pal, but you have ginormous feet! I can't complain, though, because I'm having such a ball knitting these socks up. Here's hoping my pal likes them too!

I've been kinda scarce lately, I know. I'm working on my most difficult WIP yet, and it's really taking a lot of my attention. There's still a long way to go before it becomes an FO, but I'm really proud of my progress so far, and I think I'm ready to share it with you. Are you ready? Scroll down.....

I'm going to be a mommy! After four and a half years of trying, we've been blessed with a viable pregnancy! We're almost 3 months along now, with a due date in early January. Oh yeah, a little sweater-season baby to knit for! For those I see IRL, I'm sorry if this is the first you're hearing of this, but if you know me you'll understand why I was hesitant to share my good news before now... and for those of you just joining us, sorry for ambushing you with a view to my insides. Everything looks great, we're both healthy, and Mr. ReMango and I couldn't be happier :)

Knit on!

2007-06-10T12:08:00.001-04:00

After a bit of a knitting slump, I'm back with another baby FO! I'll admit that knitting blankets is not my favorite pastime, but this Pinwheel Baby Blanket has stolen my heart. It's a stashbuster too... the yarn is Schaefer Yarns Miss Priss in the Louisa May Alcott colorway that I picked up on a whim from Destash. I had a bit of the Indira Ghandi leftover from another project, and it turned out to be just enough for the edging. I've been a bit busy lately, so this was the perfect pattern to get me through - very simple, and good for multi-tasking. It was my project of choice yesterday at Newark's gathering for Worldwide Knit in Public day! We had a great time, and met lots of local knitters. I don't have any pictures, as the majority of the crowd did not strike me as the knitblogging type, and I didn't want to publish their faces on the web without their consent. We all met at the LYS, and then went to a nearby pub for lunch... and then returned for some shopping. It was so nice to spend the afternoon with like-minded people, and I hope to be involved next year!

I've got a golden ticket!

2007-05-29T21:15:00.000-04:00

My Ravelry invite came today!!! Please allow me to distract you with my latest FO while I play.

Katja top and Miss Dashwood hat, both from Knitty. Knit in Brown Sheep Co. Cotton Fleece. the only modifications I made were to mix up the colors a bit and to add a ruffle to the hem of the top. I had so much fun with these, and can't wait to gift them this weekend at my SIL's baby shower. They're a beach kind of family, so I opted for the summer knits rather than wool :)

Summer goals

2007-05-23T19:05:00.000-04:00

I found this wonderful contest being thrown by Skeins her Way through Dove Knits, which asks bloggers to list their summer knitting goals. Since I love to make lists, this is a fun one for me! If you join the contest, make sure to mention that you saw it here :)

SUMMER 2007 GOALS

Knit through some of my sock yarn stash.

Give 100% cotton another chance

Conquer two-handed fair isle knitting (Anemoi Mittens!)

Make Sapphire while it's still warm enough to wear it

Ditto Rusted Root

Looks like a good list to me! Not overly ambitious, relaxed, easy summer knitting. Done! While we're on the subject of fun, the Newark Knitters had an unprecedented yarnfest this week. A gentleman wrote to our group saying that his mother had had passed away and he wanted to donate her stash to the group. He measured the yarn in pounds... as in 50 to 60 pounds. Books. Needles. Notions. Free. Of course we accepted his offer with great thanks, and he delivered four LARGE Rubbermaid totes of knitting love. It took five of us over two hours to go through all of the totes, and we still had a fair amount of yarn and books leftover to donate to charity (with a little assistance from our favorite LYS, Stitches with Style, who will soon have a website to link to!!!). We had such a great time sorting through this lovely stash, and did a lot of thinking about the woman who had owned it, and the collection revealed some of her personality and history. She was once the owner of a yarn shop in Georgia called Cast-on Cottage. She was not afraid of color, and was an accomplished knitter of intarsia. She enjoyed a bit of needlepoint and cross-stitch on the side. Considering the wealth of baby patterns, she must have kept quite a few little ones warm in her day. She knew a good yarn when she saw it, but wasn't afraid to branch out and try something new. She had fun with her knitting. I wonder what my stash will say about me when it's passed on? I hope it speaks of my passion for knitting and fiber, my interest in learning new techniques, and my love of good design. I hope that when I'm one day parted from my stash, that someone will love me well enough to make sure it goes to other knitters who will put it to good use!

Red hot!

2007-05-20T16:45:00.000-04:00

Game on! I picked up this gorgeous yarn at MDSW with my Sockapalooooza recipient in mind, and I'm so glad I did! It's Shelridge Farms fingering weight, and it's just wonderful... this textural pattern looks great because the stitch definition is so fine.

The pattern was not as easy to come by. My LYS is under new management, so I went to check things out and congratulate the new owner. While I was there, I browsed the sock books, and found this lovely pattern in Charlene Schurch's book, More Sensational Knitted Socks! I love this book. Instead of doing the thinking for you, the book gives options. LOTS of options. There are explanations and comparisons of different cast-ons, different heel constructions, and toe options. There are photos of different stitch patterns classified by stitch count. So you get to pick your favorite elements and put them all together to make a custom pair of socks. It's like Mr. Potato Head for knitters! For this particular pair of socks, I've used a twisted rib cuff, with a crosshatch lace pattern. I'm planning on a garter-edged flap heel, and the toe will either be a star toe or a rounded toe. We'll see how I feel when we get there. Surprisingly enough, this is pretty much the extent of my knitting this week! My mind has been elsewhere (more on that at a later date), but this sock has fueled my creative juices and if I keep going at this pace, I may finish up the first sock at knitting group on Tuesday! It's going to be hard to wait until August to mail these babies, I'm not even halfway through, and I love them already. I hope my pal does too!

Just right.

2007-05-14T19:17:00.000-04:00

After careful consideration, and lots of google searching, I decided to keep the BSJ (which was made with Sundara Yarns Briar Rose Sport Weight Merino) in reserve for a winter baby and go with a beach theme for my niece, who is expected to join us in July. Mom and Dad are both sun-loving beach-goers, so what more could they want than a sun hat and halter top? The answer was waiting for me at Knitty all along! Miss Dashwood is quite possibly the cutest baby hat I've ever seen, with the possible exception of this one. It's perfect for keeping the sun out of baby's eyes, and even has (will have, when I've sewn them on) earflaps to protect from ocean breezes. Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece will be cool enough for warm weather, while its wool content will wick moisture away from baby's skin. And did I mention it's cute? Well, pair it with the Katja halter top and my niece is sure to be the sweetest thing on the sand this summer. I'm going to use what's left of the teal Cotton Fleece and combine it with leftovers from my Something Red (which is actually pink!) for a fun matching outfit... and if there's time, a little pair of ruffled bloomers to pull the outfit together. I love my nephews dearly, but knitting for girls is so much more fun!

Thanks for all of your comments on my Tundra yarn! My co-workers thought it a bit odd when the package arrived last week, but I am just tickled! I haven't yet decided what to make with it, as I only have 260 yards total. I considered a thick pair of socks for wearing in the winter, but it's not really spun tightly enough for that. Another thought was to knit squares and sew them up patchwork-style with fleece squares to make a blanket. My best friend thinks I should collect more hair, get it spun, and knit a sweater for myself that I'd never have to worry about the dog shedding on :) Which is funny, but not really practical. I'm a hot person with borderline pet allergies, so wearing a dog fur sweater would be like wearing... well, like wearing a hair shirt.

Catching up

2007-05-12T14:47:00.000-04:00

What a busy week it's been! The in-laws were in town with their pets, and work's been super-busy. I haven't even had time to play with my MDSW yarn, and more's the pity. Clockwise from top right, we have TessYarns Petite Merino Superwash (destined to be a sweater for moi... I'm thinking cables or lace), blue heather sock yarn from Shelridge Farms, Cardinal sock yarn from Shelridge (quite possibly to be used for my Sockapalooooza pal!), two hanks of TessYarns Superwash sock yarn that will be something babyish one day. Dead center is the bargain of the day, two balls of Regia sock yarn that rang up at a mere $3.50 each... I bought a green colorway too, but it has been assimilated into the stash and I can't put my hands on it right now. Yes, this is disturbing, as my stash isn't all THAT big... well depending on who you ask anyway. Let's not mention this conversation to Mr. ReMango, ok?

Remember that glimpse of pink I gave last post? Well, here it is in all its glory! I give you the Baby Surprise Jacket, the first of what will undoubtedly be many. I got the pattern from Schoolhouse Press in a packet of reprinted editions of Woolgathering. I'm still looking for the right buttons, but you get the idea! I love this jacket. I love it so much that I bought The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth-knitting-goddess-Zimmerman as soon as I cast off, just so I can have more BSJ fun... and I've already selected an EZ bonnet to go with the jacket. The only trouble is that it's newborn sized, and this particular newborn is due in July. Not exactly sweater weather.... Perhaps this one will stay in reserve for a winter baby. What do you all think? Sweaters for summer babies; practical or wishful thinking?

Continuing with my pink obsession, I cast on for a pair of socks in the cherries and chocolate colorway... I've lost the ball bands, but believe this is Cherry Tree Hill Yarn. I'll confirm once I've consulted the bottom of my knitting basket. Remember the Mango colored socks my sockpal sent me a few months ago? Well, I liked the pattern so much that I'm making another pair! As much as I liked the original star-toe, I went with toe-ups because I needed some mindless knitting, and I have that short-row toe memorized... don't even have to think about it. I've been spending too much time thinking lately, and this pattern is perfect for easing the load on my too-busy brain. And it looks great in stripes!

I had a wonderful surprise this week that took the edge off: Tundra's yarn came back from VIP Fibers ahead of schedule! They did a wonderful job of spinning the fur, and they presented it in the most adorable pawprint tissue paper! They even sent a bone for Tundra to enjoy. I'm really impressed with their service, and would recommend them wholeheartedly. Phew! I think that brings us up to date in my knitting world for now. Our guests have gone, and I'll be able to get back to my regular schedule of *work, knit, sleep, blog (repeat from *). I'll be searching for the perfect pattern for my Sockapaloooza pal, so suggestions are welcome... I'm thinking lace or cables, something fun to show off that beautiful red Shelridge Farms yarn...

MDSW report

2007-05-06T07:10:00.000-04:00

My second MDSW was so much fun! In attendance were four Newark Knitters; RangerSarah, SmileCreations, and YarnMama! These three were the perfect shopping companions... first, they all agreed to start our journey at 6:30AM so we could get a good parking spot (we still had to walk a bit to get to the gate, but not too far). We managed to stay together for the day, and we all helped each other pick out yarns and find great bargains, and I think we all had a blast... especially YarnMama!!! That girl can SHOP! The weather was beautiful, the crowds were mostly considerate of other shoppers, and there was SO much to see, from sheep to goats to alpacas to llamas to angora rabbits.

We took a break in the morning to see the sheep dog exhibition, and it was just amazing. The dogs are so well trained (my Tundra could learn a few tricks from them!) that they are completely focused on the sheep and their handler, and ignored the crowds around the arena. They respond to either voice command or whistle command, and they are so skillful! At one point the sheep escaped from the arena, and the dogs were able to herd them back into the ring in no time, three of them working together so that the sheep didn't trample any booths or people! Granted they were small sheep, but still... impressive! Once back in the ring, the dogs took turns showing off their prowess, much to the delight of the crowd.

Learning from last year's 45 minute wait for a sandwich, we all brought our lunches and, after dropping off the morning's purchases in the car, we sat down for lunch... hoping to meet some Knittyheads, but no such luck. Maybe next year! After lunch we hit all of the outdoor booths, found a few more bargains, and hit the road. We were all tired, but very content, and we all had plans to spend the remainder of the day fondling our newly acquired stash. Thanks for the company, ladies, see you on Tuesday!

Just a glimpse, and then it's gone

2007-05-03T06:15:00.000-04:00

Tundra's 15 minutes of fame is over, so I thought I'd tease you with a glimpse of my current WIP... it's almost complete, and I think it's the sweetest thing I've seen in a while! That's Sundara's Sweet Briar Rose Superwash sport merino (scroll down a bit), by the way. I love this yarn more every day... I told you it would be a pink May, and I wasn't joking!

My girl is famous!!!

2007-05-02T06:14:00.000-04:00

LOOKY HERE! Scroll down a little bit... it's Tundra!

Remember how I told you about sending my Tundra's fur out to be spun? Well VIP Fibers puts a picture of your pet up on their website when they start processing your fiber! I'm so excited - looks like they may be ahead of their May 21st estimate!

Ok, can't talk now... I'm planning my MDSW strategy. We're attending on Saturday and I'll tell you all about it on Sunday!

Ring around the Roza's

2007-04-22T16:04:00.000-04:00

Just in time for warmer weather, I present the newest addition to my wool sock collection, Roza's Socks! This pattern, from the Spring 2007 Interweave Knits magazine, is as near to sock nirvana as I've come. Simple enough to showcase the fabulous Sundara Yarns Superwash Merino sock yarn, complex enough to hold my attention, with a pattern stitch that's easily memorized - what more could you ask for? Simplicity at its finest. As a matter of fact, I've already cast on for a second pair, but this time I'm going to try them in a handpainted yarn from Cherry Tree Hill! After seeing Knotty Knome's striped Roza's, I was convinced that it would be a good match for the pattern - we'll soon see! This time, I'm going to alter the pattern slightly to knit toe-up with short row toes and heels... it's just my personal preference in sock construction. The flap heels tend to bunch up on me, making it look like my socks are constantly falling down (feels that way too!). This is such a satisfying knit that it'll be the perfect thing to temper the stockinette heavy Tulip top from Rowan 41 (link to picture in sidebar). Stay tuned! It's going to be a pink May!

Presenting Nerissa

2007-04-18T06:33:00.000-04:00

After all the promises of photographic evidence, this seems somewhat anti-climactic to me, but here she is! I truly love this top. It's soft, it fits me well, and it's thin enough for layering as the weather starts to warm up (fingers crossed on the warming up part). The Classic Elite Pima Silk yarn is a joy to work with, but after one day of wear it had shed all over the black cardigan I wore with it. Hopefully nothing a quick toss in the dryer won't handle! The only modification I made to the pattern was to omit the tie at the neck, and opted for the more casual split-neck. I was considering a button or some other type of closure for a keyhole look, but I like the easy, laid back feeling of the split. Again, this pattern is from Rowan Mag. # 41.

Thank you to everyone who sent me happy thoughts this month, you're all so sweet, and it really makes me feel good to know I have so many people on my side. My IVF cycle was cancelled for this month, as my ovaries didn't respond fully to the hormone injections I was taking. This is not the end of the world, by any means... but very disappointing and frustrating for us. The good news is that now the doctor will be able to adjust the hormones and we'll (hopefully... fingers crossed, knock on wood and constant prayers) have better results with the next cycle. I'm trying not to dwell on it, but the sad fact is that we have to wait. Again. Back to the drawing board! The silver lining is that my plans to attend Maryland Sheep and Wool festival are back on! I think this calls for some wool therapy, don't you? Tundra says yes.

Long time no post

2007-04-04T13:01:00.000-04:00

As I suspected, my free time has been eaten up by doctor's appointments and an increased workload... but you can be sure that I've found time to knit! I'm almost finished with my Nerissa tank top (link to pattern photo on sidebar), and hope to post photos this weekend. I'm still in love with the Pima Silk, and the color is the perfect shade of grass green... makes me feel like Spring might actually stay (though the weather lately makes it seem otherwise). After my initial mistake with the pattern, I've had no problems at all, and it's easy to memorize without being boring. I expect to finish sweet Nerissa within the next few days.

In between bouts of Nerissa knitting, I've been working on Grumperina's wonderful Roza's Socks pattern from the latest Interweave Knits magazine. Again, the pattern is easy to memorize, but detailed enough to keep my attention. Simple though it seems, this is fast becoming my favorite sock pattern... though it may have something to do with the gorgeous yarn I'm using!! It's Sundara Superwash sock yarn... I think the color is Navy over Ivory (Mr. ReMango has dubbed it Blurple), and it's an absolute joy to knit with. Definitely worth the time it took to hover over her site like a tiger waiting to pounce on its prey... the yarn sells quick, and for good reason.

Thank you all for your well wishes and kind words... good vibes are always helpful, and much appreciated. We're in the stimulation phase of the IVF now. Not to be too graphic, but I'm told my ovaries started out the size of almonds and are on their way to reaching grapefruit proportions. I'm being very closely monitored by my doctor, and next week the actual procedures will take place. I can't believe how quickly this is moving, especially since I started preparing for this several months ago! I'm on light duty per doctor's orders, so I've plenty of summer knitting planned to keep me occupied!

Sorry no pics again today, but I mainly wanted to express my gratitude to all of you who have been so supportive and kind. Check back this weekend for (hopefully!) FO photos!!

Checking in

2007-03-22T06:39:00.000-04:00

No pictures today, but a quick post to say that while I like to write at least one entry a week, I may be a bit scarce over the next month or so as work gets hectic and my IVF cycle starts. Stress makes me draw into myself, almost like my subconscious is being protective of itself, and thus far it's seen me through some tough times. I picked up my knitting last night, after almost a week of ignoring it in favor of reading and cleaning (no, not at the same time), and realized just how much I'd missed it. Knitting has become part of who I am, to the extent that I heaved a sigh of relief as I heard the first click of the needles. I could feel some of my worries ease, and my body relaxed as I completed the first row. It is extremely comforting to know that the simple act of forming stitch after stitch can help me find my center and soothe my frayed nerves! And it's wonderful to know that there are so many other knitters out there who understand :)

In that vein, I'd like to share a customer service experience with you. Now, I've worked in customer service for most of my career and feel it's important to give feedback - negative AND positive. Thankfully, this is one of the most positive customer service experiences I've had, so I want to shout about it! As I began my work on the Nerissa pattern from Rowan 41, I noticed that my fabric was on the bias... I squinted at the artfully arranged photo in the book, back at my work, and decided there was no way I was going to be able to figure it out by comparing it to the photo. I went over the instructions again, and though it seemed I was doing everything right, something just felt wrong. I went to the Rowan website and asked about the pattern, requesting a close-up photo or a chart so I could see how the stitches were supposed to stack up vertically. Two business days later, I got an email from a Rowan representative thanking me for my request and -get this- asking for my mailing address so she could knit a swatch of the fabric for me and send it right out so that I'd have a clear example of the stitch pattern! Talk about going above and beyond for your customers! I was shocked and so very pleased. I thanked her profusely for her offer, but since I had spent an afternoon puzzling over my problem, I had figured out what I was doing wrong and corrected the problem. Now, we all know that Rowan mags are a bit spendy, but I for one am now convinced that they're well worth the extra expense. This was my first Rowan purchase, and you can be sure it won't be my last. Yay for good service!

Harbingers of Spring

2007-03-12T19:20:00.000-04:00

Snowdrops have long been the best indication that Spring is near. When I see their sweet little blooms nodding in the woods, I know that business is going to pick up at the nursery, that the trees will soon be in bud, and warmer weather is around the corner. These little beauties seem to know when the last snow has melted and I can't help but wonder if they can't feel our longing for the return of green grass, shady trees, and warm sun. I saw the snowdrops last week and began to look for other signs of Spring... I was not disappointed! My climbing roses are covered in leaf buds, and the stems are bright green with life. All through my gardens, tiny buds are fighting their way through the detritus of Winter, peeking their tender heads through last year's leaves and twigs.
Tundra's fur is another good indicator of Spring - several weeks before the temperatures increase for good, her undercoat decides to let go... all at once! I've been collecting her fur as I brush it, and this week I'm going to send it off to VIP Fibers to be spun into yarn. I've had mixed reactions to this; some people think that the yarn will smell doggy and wrinkle their noses at me, and others (mainly knitters, natch) understand that this is no different than spinning other animal fibers. I'm thinking of making a shawl or wrap with the yarn, depending on the yield.
Coming back thoughts of Spring, my knitting basket is certainly looking brighter, the yarns more lightweight and airy... this is Endless Summer Luna in Shimmering Cerise, and it is destined to become the Tulip wrap top from Rowan 41. The hems are done in the same twist technique I loved in the T-Twist tank I made last year to wear to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, and I'm very excited to get working on this top. Perhaps it'll debut at this year's MDSW! Or perhaps I'll be wearing Nerissa... oh, sweet grass green Nerissa (also from Rowan 41)... I'm not yet done the back of the tank top, and I'm already in love. I'm using Cascade Yarns Pima Silk, and it's an absolute pleasure to work with. Great stitch definition, no splitting even though it's a 4-ply yarn, and soft as all get out. The pattern reminds me of the snowdrops above, nodding their bell-shaped heads in unison, ringing in the Spring! I hope that warmer weather is making its way to your neck of the woods, and that it delights you as much as it does me.

FO's on Parade

2007-03-07T22:21:00.000-05:00

As the birds made dance diagrams in the snow outside, this knitter was bundled up on the couch staying warm with skeins of wool! I've had such a case of start-itis this week that I decided it was time to knock out a few FO's to clear the way for new projects. SPRING projects even! So without further ado, I bring you the Beaded Scarf, designed and taught to me by my friend Catherine. I chose Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for sheer comfort - and I was not disappointed! This yarn is so soft, so durable, and so vibrant, that this is sure to be a wardrobe staple for the rest of the winter, and through the cool mornings leading to spring. I couldn't be more thrilled! Here we see the scarf enjoying the delicious fruit basket my co-workers sent to me last weekend with wishes for a speedy recovery from a minor surgery. So sweet, in so many ways! And speaking of sweet... the Bouncer Mittens are finished! Mr. ReMango reluctantly modeled them for me, and soon they'll be on the hands of our bar tending friend... and just in time for St. Patty's day! Looks like it's going to be a cold one, so hopefully these mitts will keep his fingers toasty! A few green beers won't hurt either!! Next up, a baby blanket for my niece... I decided not to go with the cotton, as it was not as soft as I would have liked. Instead I went with some wool I picked up at Tuesday Morning almost a year ago. Superwash, bulky, moth proof, durable... what's not to love? Perfect for a baby blanket. I hope it gets a lot of use! It's the first knitted item Mr. ReMango ever requested, and at the end of the day, we're both happy with it. He even helped me block it tonight! Last, but not least, the test socks I was working on for the Socktopia group are on their way to Hawaii, where they'll be photographed, measured, and eventually offered up for auction. The proceeds are going to be donated to a charity - how cool is that? Not only do we have lots of fun, connect with other sock knitters, and have fun games and prizes to win, but we get to help out at the same time!

Swaptastic!

2007-03-01T11:08:00.000-05:00

My Knittyboard Sock Swap socks arrived all the way from Norway this week! I couldn't be more thrilled with them... just looking at them makes me smile. They're absolutely perfect! Love the color, love the pattern, and i especially love that Guro took the time and effort to match up the colors on the stripes! The star-shaped toe is stunning, and I absolutlely must have the instructions for it, pretty please?It's so comfortable, and coming from a girl who used to miss the bus for school because the seam on the toe of her socks wasn't 'just right' that means an awful lot! Lest you think the socks were lonely on their trans-Atlantic voyage, Guro was generous enough to send four balls of baby yarn to keep them company, in anticipation of our IVF success. Call me superstitious, but I can't knit for baby reMango just yet, but as soon as we get the thumbs up, I'll be casting on for a Norwegian-style baby sweater in celebration! What a thoughtful gift! Also in the package was a sheep ornament with cute fuzzy pom-pom feet and a little tinkly bell. I'm going to hang it on my knitting room door so she can greet me whenever I go past. Finally, a postcard of the mountains near where Guro grew up. So lovely! Delaware is so flat, I forget sometimes how powerful mountains are. Almost as powerful as friends, and almost as beautiful as the people I've met through the online knitting community. I'm continuously amazed by the generosity, talent, and smarts of the knitters I've met in person and virtually, and this is a prime example of that spirit. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Guro, I'm so touched by your gifts, and even though the swap is over, I plan to stay in touch. Look for me in your blog comments!

Neapolitan

2007-02-25T13:37:00.000-05:00

I hate knitting deadlines. I chose not to knit any Christmas gifts this year because it takes some of the fun out of knitting when I put time restrictions on it. My first reaction when faced with a knitting deadline is to work on the item with a single minded determination to finish in as little time as possible and be done with it. That lasts about halfway through the project, when I don't want to look at it for another minute, and out of spite, I pick up something else. Rebellion you say? Perhaps so, but when the distraction is this sweet, how can it be bad? I woke up early today to get my test knitting socks finished, but instead picked up some leftover cotton (here's how you know it's procrastination - I hate knitting with cotton!) and cast on for a quick mitered square baby blanket. What you see here is about half of what I had in mind, but you get the picture. I love the way the decreases form a chevron pattern that brings cohesion to the block pattern! My only concern is the feel of the cotton... It's Lily Sugar and Cream, and I sure hope it softens up a bit after washing, but I don't hold out a lot of hope, as this stuff is often used for dishcloths and washcloths, both being scrubby items. I do have some sweet pink swirly polar fleece I could use as a backing and border for the cotton if it doesn't come out of the dryer baby soft, and I suspect that'll be the case. Any Sugar and Cream users out there who could lend their expertise? Just in case it doesn't work out, the lovely Yarnmama has invited me over for an impromptu crochet lesson this week so that one day I can turn out baby blankets as quickly as she does.... did I mention I need to have this blanket done by March 8th? GAH! Another deadline! For all my whining, I feel really good about the test knitting I'm doing for Momma Monkey, who has organized the Socktopia group that I'm enjoying immensely. She's really done a great job with the group, and I'm glad I can help in this small way. If you haven't yet joined, it's not too late to join in the fun!

New favorites

2007-02-18T09:43:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to share my new creation, the Bouncer Mitten! Knitting a mate that exactly replicates this one will be a challenge, as I failed to take notes as I was going... but I must say I'm more than pleased with the finished product! To recap, I'm making mittens for a friend who works as a bouncer, checking ID's out in the cold for hours at a time. His poor fingers must be chapped! My goal was to create a pair of flip-top mittens that will keep him warm, yet offer maximum flexibility. I own several pairs of flip-top mittens, but it's hard to grasp small slippery items (like a driver's license) while your thumb is still enclosed. I'd like to introduce the flip-top thumb! I don't claim to have invented this; I've seen it somewhere before, but have never incorporated it into a pair of hand knit mittens until now. With a simple flick of the finger, you can expose your thumb for use as Nature intended - we don't have opposable digits for nothing! When you're done using your fingers, the top flips right back over the thumb to keep things toasty. I love it! This man-sized pair is obviously too large for my hands, and it's a good thing too... I'm sorely tempted to keep them all to myself, my pretties! Hopefully I'll have enough of this yarn to make a pair for myself. Speaking of the yarn, I asked my swap partner if she knew what it was, and lucky for me she did! It's Schaefer yarn, in the Indira Ghandi colorway. She thought it might be Schaefer Elaine, but as that one's a thick and thin yarn, I'm going to guess that it's Miss Priss or Lola. My LYS carries Anne, Schaefer's sock yarn, and when I asked about the other weights, they led me to three lovely hanks of Nancy, one of which I quickly snatched up to make a baby blanket for my first niece, born on Friday. She lives in Chicago, and Mr. ReMango is going to visit them the second week of March. I, unfortunately cannot make it - I work for a wholesale nursery, and March vacations are really not an option. Since work is being understanding of my frequent visits to the doctor, I'm not in a position to press the issue. I'm so jealous he's going without me, and will knit all of my baby love, lots of hugs and kisses and auntie vibes into the blanket so at least a piece of me will be present to welcome Miss Amanda Victoria into the family.

**Edited to add** Guro, your socks (plus some goodies) will be in the mail first thing Monday morning!

Snow Day

2007-02-14T15:33:00.000-05:00

Finally, some winter weather arrives in Delaware, only to manifest itself as an ice storm! I can't complain though, I think our entire office was in need of a snow day. Growing up, I and my three siblings would spend a snow day outside sledding, coming in only to chug some hot chocolate and change into dry clothes. These days, I'm more likely to stay in, get caught up on my email, and indulge in a day of knitting and reading, always with a cup of hot tea or coffee close at hand. I do miss my sledding days though! My response to the harsh weather is to get started on a pair of fingerless mittens for a friend of mine who works the door at a local bar a couple times a week. How he checks ID with frozen fingers is beyond me, so I'm excited to get these mitts finished and on his hands! A couple of weeks ago, I got this lovely yarn in a Knittyboard swap, along with a finished earflap hat! It's so lovely, and the colors so vibrant, that I considered keeping it for myself, but it's just a bit too big for me. Good thing the colors are sedated enough to be considered manly (I hope!), so I can give a matched set. I wish I could share the specifics of the yarn with you, but the yarn came sans band. No matter, I can tell already that it's going to be perfect! It knits up at 5-1/2 stitches on US size 6 needles (I'm using my new Options set, and loving it), so the mitts will not be too bulky to work in. I'm starting at the cuff and working my way up, and along the way I'll decide whether to make individual fingerholes or just a tube. Either way I'd like to add a pop-top to cover the fingers. I love the feeling of a new project!

Happy Valentines day to you all... Mr. ReMango had to work today, and won't be home until late tonight (insert pout here), so we're going to plan our romantic dinner for another night.

New technique #1: Beading

2007-02-10T07:11:00.000-05:00

One of my knitting resolutions for 2007 is to learn new techniques, and when my knitbuddy Catherine (blogless, sadly) emailed me an invitation to join her SnB group's 2 year anniversary party, where she'll be teaching a beaded scarf class, I jumped at the opportunity! Another of my favorite knitters, Yarnmama, is going to make the trek to the Philly Burbs with me, and I can't wait! So the homework for the class is to buy 300 yds DK weight yarn and get started on some 2x2 ribbing. Check! I wanted something luxurious, soft, and rich. Enter Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I. am. in. love. Knits up like a dream, great stitch definition, and the knitted fabric feels even softer than it did in the skein! The deep rose color will go with almost everything I wear, and it's a good thing too... once I wrap this baby around my neck, I have a feeling I'll never want to take it off! The second homework item was to purchase a bunch of #6 seed beads in a coordinating color. Check! I was sorely tempted to buy the sparkly silver beads so I could rock some bling, but when I saw how well these rose colored beads go with the yarn, there was no question. They were made for one another. Lest you think I am decisive in any form while visiting my favorite (only) LYS, Stitches with Style, I must give credit to the wonderfully enabling and supremely helpful ladies who work there. As soon as the words 'dk weight' spilled from my lips, I was escorted to a veritable wall of buttery soft, vibrant yarn. Is it good or bad that they know me so well? Third homework item: string 5oo+ beads onto each of two balls of yarn. What? Seriously? Not surprisingly, I'm procrastinating on this part, but I have until March to buckle down. Maybe I'll plug into my Sirius Radio (LOVE this thing! Best Christmas gift ever!!!), tune into the Big 80's show, and blow it out this weekend. My Sunday plans fell through, so I have a WHOLE day to fill. What a wonderful feeling! At the top of my list is to finish my sock swap socks - only two pattern repeats and a bit of ribbing remain between me and the postman!

Sock Swap Teaser

2007-02-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

I promised mysterious photos, so here you are! In order to convey the color and striping of the socks without giving away ALL of my secrets, I started with photos of the sole of the foot - just plain stockinette stitches - and altered them slightly with my photo-editing software. I wish I could recommend it to you, but it's just a temporary fix until I can replace the Paintshop Pro disks that Mr. reMango seems to have misplaced since restoring the family computer (Deep calming breath). The pattern I designed for these socks is the supersecret part, but I hope to share it when Guro has her tootsies warm and cozy inside her socks :) I will share a few details, though... I'm knitting toe-up, short row toes and heels, in a lace pattern - but not a really holey one. After seeing pictures of the snow in Guro's neck of the woods, I knew a pair of warm, pretty socks were in order!

There's not a whole lot of knitting going on at casa reMango other than these socks. Mr. reMango and I have taken the plunge and signed up for IVF! I've been busy with doctor's appointments and other preparatory meetings... not to mention trying to keep up with my workload at home and in the office. It's stressful and scary, but we're so excited and very committed to bringing a new reMango into the world. Where were we? Oh yes, knitting. I'm still plugging away on the Lucy in the Sky cardi, and it looks much the same as it did the last time I shared it with you... just bigger. Knitting garments in smaller gauges is a challenge for my instant-gratification-craving self, but I can already see that the drape and fit of this sweater is going to be better than I imagined. Stay tuned!

Silent Poetry

2007-02-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

I read about the Blogger (silent) poetry reading in honor of St. Brigid or Groundhog's Day here, and couldn't resist sharing one of my favorites! Some of you may recognize it from the last scene of the movie In Her Shoes, but it's been a favorite of mine since college. I hope you enjoy it too!

From 95 Poems, published in 1958 by ee cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it(anywhere i go you go, my dear;
and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)
i want no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

And since this is a knitting blog, a Haiku:

One more stitch... One more row... Ah..? It's dawn.

~Unknown

I'm also making silent progress on my sock swap socks! I'm ready to turn the heel on the first sock, and boy are these socks sweet! Sweet like sugar kisses! The STR people continue to amaze me - this is some high quality yarn. The first time I cast on for these socks with a slip-stitch pattern, I got to the heel and realized it was WAY too much texture to squeeze into a shoe. So I ripped. The second time I cast on for these socks, my gauge was off, and there was no way I could go on. I got up to mid-foot and I ripped again. If nothing else, I got plenty of short-row toe practice!!! Thankfully, the third time was the charm, and I am so proud of how these socks are turning out. I'm also amazed that the yarn shows absolutely no sign of wear after two froggings! No fuzz, no halo, no pilling, no splitting, no nothing. Just sweet candy colored stripes. No pictures today, but I'm working on a mysterious shot that won't give away Guro's surprise. Just a little peek to heighten the anticipation!

Step right up!

2007-01-27T14:22:00.000-05:00

'It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.'
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, 1999

C'mon everyone! Let's help my sockpal Guro decide which yarn to select - which one would YOU choose? All but one of these are stash items, and they're all wonderful yarns. All are wool, with the last choice being a blend of wool and nylon, and all are fabulous choices - you can't go wrong!!! I have several patterns in mind, a few published, a few of my own design, depending... I'm so excited to get started!

Socks that Rock mediumweight

Cherry Tree Hill Supersock

Claudia's Handpaint

Sara's Handpaint

So, Guro, step right up and choose your yarn!

Blue Monday Jaywalkers

2007-01-25T20:38:00.000-05:00

The theme: Blue Monday
The pattern: Jaywalker (toe up, extended size)
The yarn: Austermann Step
The needles: Addi Turbo 40" US#0
The verdict: Worth the wait.

January's Socktopia entry is done, man! This is my fourth attempt at knitting myself some Jays, and I'm so glad they turned out so well... The first three pairs were so snug (due to the knit being on a bias - NO give there) that my heel wouldn't pass through the ankle opening. Apparently I was not the only Jayless knitter to slowly develop a bigfoot complex, as I happened upon a pattern with extended sizing just as I was selecting the pattern for my first Socktopia challenge. I love the colors - Blue Mondays are usually edged in gray, like the stripes of this gorgeous (if a bit splitty) yarn. Also, I love how the chevron pattern creates the letter 'M' for Monday on the top of the foot. Hey, on Mondays, I can use all the help I can get - hence the LARGE coffee mug in matching hue. This is about as artistic as my photography gets people, so enjoy it :)

Now I get to concentrate on knitting socks for my Knittyboard sockpal, GURO! I have several yarns picked out... I had so much fun choosing mine from the four choices she listed on her blog, I'm going to do the same for her. Just need to snap a few photos, so look for that in the next couple of days. I have a few patterns in mind already... I'm so excited!

Winter is here, bringing good cheer...

2007-01-21T16:41:00.000-05:00

... and so, with the skies heavy with what may be our first snowstorm, I give you the Maple Seed Hat in Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere. I may end up adding to the length of the hat so it covers my ears, but I must say that this was one of the most satisfying knits I've ever experienced, for several reasons. First, the pattern is wonderfully written (also free!) and the four row repeat is easily memorized. Second, the yarn is a dream. My only complaint is that the skeins are so small, but then again, it is nice to be able to buy just enough of this luxurious (read: expensive) for a hat without breaking the bank. Of course, this was gifted to me in a sock swap a few months ago, so BAM! Another stashtastic FO. Finally, I knit the hat with my new Knit Picks Options needles! Yes, I finally broke down and ordered the set, and I can already tell you that this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship... the cord is pliable enough to use for Magic Loop knitting, the needles are nice and slippery, and the points... my goodness, the points of these needles are like none other! Sharp enough to cure me of my habit of using my pointer finger to push the stitches up on the needle, I'll tell you that much. But perfect for increases and decreases in any case. K3tog? No problem P3tog tbl? I'll get back to you. I love these needles.

I'm also making great headway on my January Socktopia socks... The theme is Blue Monday, and I chose the famous Jaywalker pattern specifically for the way the stripes show up as a letter M! I happened upon a recipe for toe up Jaywalkers in extended sizes, and jumped right in! The yarn is lovely, no? Austermann Step (with Jojoba and Aloe oils) on size US#0 needles. Teeny tiny little needles. I love the fabric I'm getting, and it's well worth the trouble, but MAN are these socks taking forever to knit up! I have to knit in short bursts and alternate with other projects to keep my hands from getting sore, but I tend to use a kung-fu grip on my knitting anyway. Good thing it doesn't affect my tension!

So that's what's up at Chez ReMango this weekend. Hope you're all staying warm and woolly!

Hiro Fingerless Mitts

2007-01-14T09:13:00.000-05:00

As I was watching the back episodes of the TV show Heroes yesterday, I remembered that a co-worker had asked me to make some fingerless mitts for her. Her office is chilly, and typing with cold fingers is no fun! I wanted to do something simple and quick, so I thought about basic mitten construction and winged it from there. The mitts came out amazingly well, so I thought I'd share my pattern, such as it is! The name comes from my favorite character on the show, a man from Tokyo, Japan, who can bend time and space. Enjoy!

Materials: Bulky weight yarn, 55 yards. I used Lane Borgosesia (100% wool superwash), an Italian yarn I picked up at Tuesday Morning.

Gauge: 3-1/2 stitches per inch on US#10-1/2 needles. You may use DPN's, but I used the magic loop method with one set of circular needles.

Notes: these mitts are knit from the cuff up to the fingertips. They fit me snugly, with a 7" wrist circumference. To change the fit, add or subtract # of cast on stitches accordingly.

Pattern (make two):

CO 24 stitches, using a stretchy cast-on. I used the knitted cast-on.

Row 1-6: Join for working in the round, placing a stitch marker to identify the beginning of the round and knit 6 rows of k2, p2 ribbing.

Row 7: Knit one round.

Row 8: K2, KFB (knit into the front and back of the stitch) of the next two stitches (adding 2 new stitches), K to end.

Row 9: K2, KFB, K2, KFB, K to end.

Row 10: K2, KFB, K4, KFB, K to end

Row 11-17: Knit seven rows in stockinette.

Row 18: K9, wrap the next stitch (bring yarn to front of work, slip the next stitch, then bring the yarn to the back of the work and slip the stitch back to your left needle) and turn. K6, wrap the next stitch, turn. Bind off 6 stitches for thumb hole (again, use a stretchy bind-off), K to end.

Row 19: Knit all stitches, making sure to close the gap created by the bound off thumb stitches.

Row 20-28: Knit in stockinette.

Row 29-34: Knit 6 rows in K2, P2 ribbing.

Bind off all stitches with a stretchy bind off.

Finishing: Weave in all ends. If you'd like to add some detail to the back of the hand, you can embroider, add buttons, duplicate stitch a design, or whatever makes you happy. You could even leave them *gasp* unadorned for the minimalist look! These mitts were a quick, 2 hour project from start to finish, and I hope you enjoy the instant gratification as much as I did!

First FO of 2007!

2007-01-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

As the ball was dropping in Times Square, I wove in the last tail. What better way to kick of the New Year (no pun intended) than with a new pair of hand-dyed, hand-knit socks? Mr. ReMango and I decided that we were going to forego the partying this year and spend the evening quietly sipping Cuba Libres and watching a movie. Much quieter than previous New Years, but definitely what the doctor ordered!

You may have noticed that there's a new button on my sidebar... I've joined up with those crazy Socktopia knitters, and I'm already having a blast! Each month we are given three themes and a 'challenge sock' pattern. I can't wait to see how the themes are interpreted by these wildly creative crafters.... When a pair is finished, a picture is posted to a group photo pool, and each pair qualifies you to win a monthly prize! Even if I never win, at the end of the year I'll have at least 12 new pairs of socks. That's my kind of challenge! Signups are still open, so check it out!

**ETA** Please don't hate on my carpet, I'm waiting for it to come back into style :)

Knitting Resolutions

2006-12-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

1. I will carefully consider each project's suitability, eschewing all bulky sweater patterns in favor of lighter, more flowing designs. Faster knits may provide instant wearability, but they do not promise a flattering fit. Smaller gauges take longer to knit up, but are better suited for those of us who do not need more bulk on their frame.

2. I will practice new techniques and expand my knitting knowledge. There are many ways to approach knitting, and being open to learning is one way to stay interested and challenged by the craft. I will remember how it felt to conquer the short-row heel and toe this week, and I will continue to experiment.

3. I will shop my stash before heading out to the LYS. Substituting yarns is a challenge, but when done with enough thought and planning, it produces amazing results.

4. I will continue to support independent designers in the hope that one day I will join their ranks. I will step outside of my comfort zone and experiment with new designs and ideas that will challenge and inspire other knitters.

5. I will share my love of knitting with other like-minded craftsters, and will welcome new knitties to the fold.

6. I will remember to thank those who inspire me and those who encourage me to stretch the limits of knitting (that's you, reader!) through their own blog posts, their comments, and their infectious enthusiasm.

From top to bottom: Side-to-side garter stitch sweater (on the cover of KnitSimple's Holiday 2006 issue), sans turtleneck, in Malabrigo colorway 'Robles'; Short-row heel on stockinette sock, in feralfeminine's hand-dyed 'Mourning Molly'; Cosmicpluto's delicious 'Lucy in the Sky' cardigan in Elsebeth Lavold 'Silky Tweed'.

And now for something completely different...

2006-12-11T20:31:00.000-05:00

A sweater for me! After taking a break from this garter-tastic sweater from the Holiday 2006 KnitSimple Magazine(there's only so much garter you can do before it drives you MAD), I'm back on a roll, and looking forward to sporting this baby! It's a wool and nylon blend, single ply yarn from Malabrigo, and I love the fall colors! I'm pleased that there isn't a whole lot of pooling, just a bit at the left of the photo, and it's not enough to bother me. Adds character, right? As you can see, I'm going for comfort here, with generous sizing and longer length than I usually wear. I'm not sure if I'm going to add the turtleneck or just leave it as a scoop neck, perhaps I'll just do a bit of crochet to finish the neckline and be done with it... what do you think?

Next up...

2006-12-09T07:36:00.000-05:00

... the EZ Practically Seamless Baby Sweater! Yeah! After seeing this adorable sweater on several blogs, I was thrilled to realize that it's a pattern from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitters Almanac, which I already own. This is my favorite baby knit yet... it was challenging enough to keep me focused, but the four row repeat was easy enough to memorize. The construction of the sweater is absolutely brilliant, and even though the written instructions have been termed 'pithy' I was able to follow it with only one part I had to puzzle through before I 'got it.' Since said incident was late at night, I have to say it was my state of mind and not the pattern that was fuzzy. Apparently Blogger felt inclined to flip the photo sideways, but since it's actually showing the image, we won't complain too loudly. After a quick blocking, this wee sweater will be winging it's way (hehe... gull-wing lace... winging... get it? Ok, moving on.) to Chicago, where my niece is waiting to be born next month. It's COLD out there, so hopefully the sweter will get lots of wear. The only modification I made was to add a flower for that bit of flair, using a twisted edge for texture. Just a little something I picked up in a Nicky Epstein article some months back. I knit the sweater and flower in Sirdar Snuggly DK from the stash. It's nice and soft, but I'll never knit it up on bamboo needles again! Quite a sticky mess, with plenty of splitting, but had I used metal needles I could have avoided this.

Tune in tomorrow for another exciting installment of 'What's on ReMango's Needles!'

Christmas is near!

2006-12-08T05:49:00.000-05:00

I am SO glad I decided against Christmas knitting. Perhaps its the unseasonably warm weather, perhaps is that the first Sunday in Advent fell in December... but even though Christmas lights lit up my neighborhood the very day after Thanksgiving, it just doesn't feel like Christmas. I haven't done a lick of shopping, I'm finding it difficult to come up with a wishlist (Knitpicks helped with that!), and I'm having a hard time finding that Christmas spirit. If I'm being truly honest with myself, it's because we're waiting to find out if our last round of infertility treatments were successful, and I feel like my whole life is on hold until we know. Monday is our test date, so depending on the results, my Christmas spirit could either rise from the ashes or crash and burn. Either result will not be the end of the world, but I don't know how to lessen the impact. We've spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to start a family, countless hours at the doctor's office, weeks upon end waiting... just waiting. I guess if it didn't matter so much it wouldn't be worth it. I'm trying to keep busy and focus on other things, hence the lack of posts lately... but since my knitting has always been a source of comfort to me, I want to share a few things!
The sock you see above is the Bavarian Rockstar Socks pattern from d-made. A loveley pattern it is, but this particular sock is destined for the frogpond for several reasons. First, my gauge is off, and the sock is not solid enough for my taste. Who wants the cold winter winds whipping through their socks? Not this girl. Second, there is a single column of knit stitches between each column of cables. Because this stack of knits lives between a pair of purls, the stitches have drawn apart, creating a luge-like gulley running down each sock. This may be remedied with a good blocking, but since I'm going to start over anyway, I'm going to try knitting through the back loop of the stitch. A good twist should tighten things up. I'm thinking I'll switch to Rowan 4-ply in plum. I already have another pattern in mind for this lovely dark teal Jawoll!

*sigh* Blogger's being a photo-hater again, so I'll have to postpone the rest of the show. Hopefully I'll be in a better mood then. If you made it this far, I must thank you for sticking it out and making it through my morose ramblings!

So much thanks to give!

2006-11-24T16:58:00.000-05:00

While I've been ignoring the blog, I've been busy living! It's been such a wonderful week of friends and family... and of course knitting. Last weekend I travelled to Cape May, NJ for a knitting retreat. We stayed in a beautiful Victorian house called The Cliveden Inn, just a few blocks from the city center, and it felt so luxurious to get away from the grind. We spent a lot of time knitting, talking, 'getting our mug on' at The Ugly Mug, and visiting B ay Springs Alpaca Farm. It's hard to believe we packed that much fun into just two days! We even took a walk along the shore, collecting shells and rocks as mementos of our trip. I've been in the habit of carrying one of the stones in my pocket so that I can hold it and remember how to relax...

I've been working on a few smaller knitting projects, mainly the famous EZ Practically Seamless Baby Sweater that we've been seeing all over the blogosphere these days. There are two baby girls coming into my life shortly, and I'm having so much fun knitting in pink! Just have to weave in a few ends before I post photos, but rest assured that they're forthcoming. Now I'm headed back to the couch to finish digesting yesterday's feast! I leave you with a glimpse of another project that's been languishing on the needles... perhaps if I publicly declare my intent to get back to it, I'll actually finish it before the year's over! I have half of the back,. the left sleeve, and the turtleneck to go... not too shabby. I'm super-happy to have finally found a suitable project for this Malabrigo yarn... horizontal stripes are not exactly the most flattering of styles (as witnessed by almost every photo of me in the late 80's/early 90's), so the sideways knit sweater in the Winter 2006 edition of Knit Simple magazine was a godsend.

Dr. ReMango, I presume?

2006-11-11T18:11:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that the patient has had a full recovery! We spent the day taking it easy, catching up on episodes of The Nine and Men in Trees (I love my DVR!). I may have mentioned it before, but the yarn I used to re-knit the ribbed cuffs and hem is from a sheep farm I pass on my way to work every day. It's so quaint, and every morning I roll down my window to hear their bells ring. not a bad way to start the day!

I think I'll take on a smaller, less thought provoking project for my ride down to visit my sister's family... just over an hour each way to knit to my heart's content. I've been browsing the stash, and some lovely Manos caught my eye today... or perhaps I'll use one of my Hot Socks yarns! I promised I'd post pics for you, didn't I? From left to right we have Pink Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere, Red alpaca/tencel, Teal Jawoll merino, and plum Rowan 4-ply wool. A nice cashmere scarf to keep me cozy sounds just the thing....

The Doctor is In

2006-11-08T22:17:00.000-05:00

Now seeing patient X, a badly abused 100% Wool Fisherman's sweater. Patient presents with above average wear and tear, with frayed cuffs (an understatement if I've ever made one), a perforated hem, and several moth scars. This poor sweater has seen better days, and it's owner loved it to pieces, literally. Perpetual folding of the cuff led to the damage you see here, yet still he wore it daily last winter. Always a softie, I promised to take the beloved garment home and give it a new life. It helps that the owner is one of those rare people who can make me laugh even in the most stressful situations; even when I'm angry with him. He's one of my favorite co-workers, and he's decided to try something new. I'll miss his wit, his humor, and his excellent (and generous) taste in music. Now back to the patient. I decided that the best thing to do was to replace the ribbed portions at cuff and hem with a similar yarn. Lacking the proper color, I chose a naturally processed, undyed wool I purchased from a local farm. In order to keep things on an even keel, and under the watchful eyes of my knitting group, I used some leftover sock yarn to make a lifeline that would keep me from losing stitches. Since the sweater was knit from the bottom up, I cut to within a row of the lifeline and unraveled that row to separate the old hem. Tonight I picked up the live stitches, not an easy task considering that the sweater is lightly felted from wear and the fact that I was riveted by this week's episode of Lost! The felting may have actually been a boon, as it kept any loose stitches from unraveling. I continued in 1x1 ribbing to create a snug hem while echoing the pattern of the fisherman's rib, and voila! New hem. I'm not sure I'm happy with my gauge, so I'll keep you in suspense a little longer for more progress shots... the rib seems a bit loose, so I may rip back and try smaller needles or a twisted rib stitch to tighten things up. I left the lifeline intact for just such a possibility! With the onset of cold weather, and the imminent departure of my friend (who will visit if he knows what's good for him), I promised that the patient would be fully recovered next week. That gives me this weekend to perfect the ribbing, to wash, block, and return the happy sweater to its loving owner. I'll share photos of the dear sweater as soon as I've knit it back together.

How old are you now?

2006-11-04T09:13:00.000-05:00

31 for those of you who are counting, but I still feel like I'm 25! Yesterday was my birthday, and the celebration is carrying through the weekend (YEAH!). Hubby and I are going to the Mendenhall Inn for a romantic dinner, overnight stay and breakfast. I can't wait! Someone else to do the dishes, make the bed, and wash the towels :) I've had dinner there before, and it's always exquisite. Mr. ReMango also gave me a gift certificate for a massage, spa manicure and spa pedicure at the local frou-frou day spa... my first massage ever!

If that weren't enough, the fiber goodies have been rolling in for a week now! I signed up for a Swap-bot exchange called Hot Socks a few months ago, and I received my special package from a saint of a woman in Houston, TX (I have to say, the best swap partners are in Houston!) who managed to send out a stunner of a gift as she was moving! I got the package at work, and spent at least 15 minutes sorting through all the loot... several different types of tea and coffee to keep me warm all winter long, a bar of Belgian Dark Chocolate which I've tucked away for a special occasion, yummy vanilla scented soap, a classical guitar cd, and oh... the yarn. GORGEOUS color was my first thought, then I looked closer. Pink Cashmere, Rust Alpaca/Tencel, Plum 100%Merino, and Dark Teal Wool. By the time I made it to the bottom of the box, I was literally flushed and had to sit down. I'm still blown away by my pal's generosity and ability to thrill a total stranger. If I'd been given a blank check, I couldn't have put together such a fantastic combination of colors, textures, and pure luxury. 'Thank you' doesn't begin to cover it!

Two of the knitters in my life graced me with custom washcloths... Amiable Cat made a gorgeous sheep washcloth. Bobbles in cotton? I couldn't have pulled it off, which makes it even more special. And my blogless co-worker hunted down a favorite pattern of hers and made me a beautiful bias-knit washcloth in gorgeous blues... again, cotton. I have such an aversion to working with cotton myself that I will really treasure these two pieces! Thanks ladies!

What am I working on? Well, I've finally found the perfect side-ways knit sweater pattern for my Malabrigo fall-colored yarn. It was my first bulk-yarn purchase, and only after knitting it up into a sweater shell did I realise that the horizontal striping would just not flatter my figure. It's a heavy yarn, knit on US10 needles, so I'm just zipping along in garter stitch. The pattern is from the Holiday 2006 issue of KnitSimple magazine, and I'm impressed with the range of patterns and well-written instructions so far. So much so that I've subscribed! Hopefully I'll continue to be this pleased.

I guess I'd better get my bags packed for tonight's mini-getaway... see you next week! **Photos will be added when Blogger stops acting weird**

Thankful Thursday

2006-10-23T19:50:00.000-04:00

As the weather gets colder and the leaves start to change, my thoughts turn to wool sweaters, family, and the holidays. Thanksgiving is the only time my extended family gets together, so it's no surprise that autumn is my favorite time of year! It might also help that work slows down as well. I work at a wholesale nursery, and after the thrill of spring, the rush of summer, and the frantic last-minute orders of fall, we're all ready for a reprieve. We're able to step back, take a deep breath..... and start getting ready for next year. I wouldn't trade it for the world, though! I'm one of those lucky people who enjoys my job. The people I work with are friends, our customers are (mostly) easy to please, and the surroundings are superb! Today I'd like to share my drive to work with you, starting with the beautiful wooded back-roads that help me escape traffic, then a fascinating stone lime kiln built into a bank, and finally a shot that captures my speedy drive home. Hey, I love my job, but I wouldn't want to live there!

Every Thursday until Thanksgiving, I hope to share one thing I'm thankful for. Please feel free to join me!

Dream Swatch

2006-10-22T12:34:00.000-04:00

Good news: I'm still loving my short hair! Thanks for all of your compliments, you guys are so sweet! I was worried that I'd spend more time styling my hair, but to be honest, it's faster than my wash-and-go long hair. Shower time is less, blow-dry time is less than five minutes, then rub a bit of gooey stuff (who doesn't love gooey stuff?!?) into the back and we're good to go! I'm also having fun trying on different styles, like the artsy/bohemian head scarf style above! It's the Dream Swatch pattern (free!) from Knit and Tonic, and I must say it was a dream to knit up in SWTC's Soy Silk Oasis. This has been a stash item for at least a year, and I was so happy to find a good use for it! It's very durable, and stands up to repeated use without pilling or getting fuzzy. The stitch definition is wonderful, and the colors are perfect with my purple wardrobe - they say that Purple is the new black this season! I love this headwrap so much, I'm casting on another one today! This one's a gift though, so that's all I'll say.

In other news, it's Knitting Magazine week! Winter editions of Knit Simple, Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits are out, and I'm already matching up stash with patterns. I'm yarn-fasting, you see... I have reached Stash Overload (who knew there was such a thing???), and have pledged to use only what I have until May, when I'll go to MDSW and stock up again :) Wish me luck!

Locks of Love!

2006-10-17T21:24:00.000-04:00

Before:

SNIP...

SNIP...

SNIP...

After: Chic, sleek, and ready to go! Not only will a child in need get a great wig of hair this winter, but I also have a new hairstyle! I've NEVER had hair this short, and I intend on enjoying it fully. With this bare neck, I'm going to need more handknit scarves! Thanks to my best friend, M, who came to lend her support (and took the first few snips of the ponytail shearing!) and the fabulous T, one of the ladies from my PCOS group and stylist extraordinaire.

Ready to donate your hair? More info here.

Anatomically correct?

2006-10-09T20:58:00.000-04:00

You be the judge. Looks like a good fit to me! Having seen photos of my innards, I know this is a warm and fuzzy version of the real thing, but that's how we like it! For the last three months, I've been taking part in a class offered through the office of Reproductive Associates of Delaware, and provided by PCOStrategies. Every Wednesday night, I have the honor of being a part of an amazing group of women, led by one of the most caring, beautiful and funny people I've ever met. PCOS is a source of emotional and physical distress, and we've been learning how to support each other, and most importantly, how to make changes in our lives to help ourselves be healthy and happy. I've mentioned before that Mr. ReMango and I have been trying to make a baby ReMango for four years now, and I'll admit that I was starting to lose hope... until the women in this class helped me to see how strong I can be. Though I thought I could ignore it, my biological clock is ticking away, and it's time I paid attention! Now that I have the tools and support I was lacking, I'm feeling optimistic again, and that is a most unexpected and joyous gift. Knitting is my way of giving back to those I care for, so I've stitched together this womb for our class leader... it symbolizes the healing of my heart, my mind and my body. Most of my frayed ends have been woven back in, and my very fabric has been renewed. I am truly blessed.

Time well spent

2006-10-08T09:55:00.000-04:00

Cooking

Southwest Lasagna
Layer in a round baking dish: one whole wheat tortilla, black beans mixed with 2 Tbsp taco seasoning, 1/4 cup salsa, 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheese. Repeat two times, using white beans and kidney beans. Top with 1/4 cup salsa and 1/2 cup cheese. Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes covered lightly with foil. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serves six. Delicious, healthy, high in fiber!

Knitting

Fuzzy Reception
Knitpicks pattern using Merino Style and Suri Dream yarns. I am so excited to add this to my wardrobe! It's soft and thick, and its bulky tendencies are balanced by strong vertical lines. Still needs to be blocked, so no model shot today, sorry! I bought a fantastic shawl pin to go with this sweater in lieu of a button... I can't recommend MysticSpiral enough... superior customer service, amazing craftmanship, and pure talent go into the making of her pins. She has some new ones listed! Go take a look! I'm really pleased with the end result here, and I have an entire ball of Suri Dream leftover to make a lacy headwrap to go with the sweater. I'll be the warmest person in the state!

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend as much as I am!

55 Hours

2006-10-05T20:20:00.000-04:00

That's how many hours of free time we have each week after taking away 50 hours for work, 8 hours of sleep per night and time for grooming and eating. That sounds like so much time! With 55 hours at my disposal, my house should be sparkling, I should have a new FO every other week, and I should have walked the dog today. When I think about how much of that time I've been wasting on unimportant things like mediocre TV shows, mindless games of solitaire, and other heedless pursuits, it makes my head ache! Starting today, I'm going to be mindful of my time. I'm going to guard it like the precious gift that it is, and I will savor every moment. I'll make time for the people I love, I promise to spend more time with the knitting that soothes my soul, and I vow to take the time to prepare foods that nourish my body. I encourage you to join me... take some time this week for yourself, and be deliberate about it. Use your 55 hours thoughtfully, fully, and enjoy every moment.
(This is the shawl picture I promised... the colors of the yarn show up beautifully against the Callicarpa and Asters, my two favorite fall plants)

Dum Dum Da Dum....

2006-10-01T17:42:00.000-04:00

Whee! The wedding craziness is officially over, and the happy couple are on their way to Hawaii. All of our hard work paid off; the ceremony was beautiful, the reception was a blast. It was the perfect occasion to debut my completed Print o' the Wave shawl! I'll admit that it was a close one this time - I sat in the parking lot of the salon weaving ends in while the other bridesmaids finished their styling. All's well that ends well, but I was not sure I was going to pull it off this time! I don't have any action shots yet, but as soon as one of the other bridesmaids sends photos, I'll post a modeled picture. For now, here she is post-party, relaxing after a long night of dancing, good food, and fantastic friends. Early in the day there was a light shower, and PotW kept me dry and warm. This is my first time using Lorna's Laces yarn, and I have to say I'm a fan. Soft as butter, and the colors are amazingly consistent. No pooling worries, and even though I used 4-1/2 balls of yarn, I had no color surprises. Tundra did sniff out a change I made to the pattern... there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to complete the border as written in Eunny's skillfully written pattern, so I improvised a bit. After picking up around all four sides, and keeping the corners mitered, I substituted a lace called Crested Waves... quite appropriate, don't you think? I love the shape it gives to the shawl, and I was very pleased with the outcome. All in all, I'd definitely recommend this pattern to someone who's had a little bit of lace experience and wants to expand their skills. It was a challenging yet ultimately satisfying pattern, and the end result is a joy to wear. I'll leave you with a shot of the shawl lounging among the Asters and Callicarpa berries in my backyard. I think this picture most accurately captures the true colors of the yarn, which were inspired by the colors of the Black Watch plaid. (Ahem. Apparently Blogger has something to say about that last photo. I'll post it next time. Suffice to say the shawl is navy blue, emerald green and black.). Thanks to all of you who gave support and encouragement! A special thanks to the ladies in my kniting group who suffered through my distracted muttering for a month of Mondays....

No time to do!

2006-09-19T06:41:00.000-04:00

That's what my 3 year old nephew says when he's too wrapped up in what he's doing to come to the phone and say hello to Aunt ReMango... and I finally understand! I have one and a half pattern repeats to do before working the edging and border of the Print o'the Wave shawl, and the deadline is looming large. I'm feeling good about finishing on time, so I hope this optimism stays with me :) No WIP pics today; the shawl looks like a big blue-green-black blob and isn't much to look at. The border wil be knit in the round directly onto the shawl and finished with mitred corners - now THAT is exciting and I'll make sure to share my progress pics this weekend.

Oh, before I forget... The lovely and talented V Knits came very close to finishing her latest sweater at knitting group last night, and a beautiful, warm garment it will be! She made it from a 1940's (?) pattern, bravely following antiquted pattern instructions with only a 3" black and white photo to guide her. Stop over and congratulate her if you have a moment!

Weekend update

2006-09-10T15:29:00.000-04:00

Where does the time go? Seriously! After the shower, I figured I'd have plenty of time to knit up a shawl to go with my bridesmaid dress... a full month! No worries, right? Wrong. Between the Brandywine Arts festival, another wedding, an impromptu Labor Day party, and other goings on, I'm knitting desperately to catch up. This is mainly due to the fact that I am now on my third pattern... designing lace at the last minute is not a good idea for me. I've given up on that venture and embarked upon Eunny's Print 'o the Wave(PDF) wrap. Lovelier than words can describe, and an extremely well-written and easy to follow pattern. Easy enough that I've made pretty good progress so far!

I can get a full pattern repeat done in one dishwasher cycle, two while the clothes dryer runs, and we shall see how many I can knock out at knitting group tomorrow night! There are 20 days left until the wedding, and I have 20 pattern repeats to go, plus a lace border that will have to be sewn on afterwards. I can save time by knitting the body in one piece, instead of two pieces. This will sacrifice the symmetry of the piece, so I'll see how I feel about it when I hit that point of the pattern. As you might guess, this shawl has sidelined the rest of my WIPs, but I can rest easy knowing that they are languishing in style... I picked up a few of these wicker baskets at JoAnne's the other day (50% off! YEAH!), and they're the perfect way to kick off my Fall Organization Project (FOP).

Finger Lickin' Good!

2006-09-02T20:40:00.000-04:00

A co-worker of mine told me about a 'Viking Weekend' that he and his friends take part in every year... and when he added that this year's theme is chicken wings and fries, I had just the excuse I'd been waiting for to drop all of my WIPs (more on those soon, I promise!) and whip up the Viking Chicken Hat. The pattern is written for children, but by using heavier yarn and larger needles, as well as a few strategically placed extra stitches, I was able to easily create an adult size. I don't know if I'll ever knit this one again... I'm not one to work the same pattern twice, and the wings were as fussy as all get out - proper positioning and LOTS of ends to weave in for the feet. I'm glad I did it though, it was the perfect thing for a rainy day! Speaking of the perfect thing, make sure to check out the new MagKnits! I've already printed out five of nine scrumptious patterns - all three socks, The Edward, and Honorine. This is, in my opinion, the best edition yet. You rock, Kerrie!

Today's forecast: Clear and bright.

2006-08-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

I have been one busy girl lately, and I have lots to tell you all about... The bridal shower was a success, and surprisingly involved sheep! We held the event at an 1800's mill and working farm called Greenbank Mill. How I've lived most of my life nearby and never happened upon it, I'll never know! They put on demonstrations and re-enactments throughout the year, and I've already marked my calendar for the 'Sheep to Shawl' demo - they start with the raw fleece and take you through the entire process of preparing the fiber, spinning it, and knitting or weaving it into shawls! Perhaps I can convince some of the ladies from knitting group to come with me... any takers?

Now that the shower is over, I can get back to knitting. I don't know if it's the nearness of cold weather, but my fingers are itching to knit all the time! First up, the Trekking XXL. It started as a ribbed sock, but after I turned the heel I decided I didn't like it and we were off to the frog pond. I'm going to give RPM a try next... I've made it to the heel, so I'll report back when it's complete. I'm still plugging away on Fuzzy reception, and I'm sure I'll have an update (dare I say FO?) soon. Waiting in the wings is the Fairly Easy Fair Isle from SnB Nation. Catherine, one of our knitting group regulars, has inspired me to conquer my fear of color work. She's really an inspiration... she first learned to crochet, and when she decided to take up knitting, she jumped in with both feet. She doesn't let tough techniques get in her way or scare her off - she went from scarves to socks in one fell swoop! Socks with intarsia designs on the heel flaps, no less. She was talking last week about trying her hand at fair isle, and I was so enchanted by her enthusiasm that I decided to learn as well. I'm so excited!

I've also been a little loose with the knitting expenditures lately *blush* but I'll just show my favorite purchase for now: custom designed sock blockers from Leggy Creations. How cute are these!?! Mine are called 'Dream' and have a quote by Miss Emily Bronte on one heel. Just the perfect thing for this former English Lit. major! Go over and say hi to Becky, the artist who created them - she's the sweetest thing since honey, and so talented!

More updates to come, much more to see!

Quick update

2006-08-20T16:39:00.000-04:00

I don't know if I've mentioned it, but I'm the Matron of Honor (Hate the title, love the bride) for my best friend of 20+ years who's tying the knot at the end of September. As you might guess, things are getting pretty busy... but as usual, I have been procrastiknitting horribly. The more I have to do, the more I knit! It's a disease, and I'm not proud. I am, however, supremely delighted with my current WIP, the Fuzzy Reception cardigan from Knitpicks. It's nice and warm, fuzzy, and yet its vertical lines and light ribbed effect will (hopefully) be flattering. I'm just zipping along on my purple size 13 circs, and already have a back, one front, and half of the other front finished! I haven't knit with anything larger than a size 8 needle in so long, and I'm loving this instant gratification. I've also been working on a few shower giveaways - knit washcloths in *gasp* 100% cotton. Yes, you all know my aversion to cotton, but I'm going slow and taking lots of mental health breaks... and it really hasn't been so bad! As long as I stick to smaller items, I may be able to gradually work cotton into my knitting world. I couldn't be happier with the washcloths - they're darling! I'm going to Mega-Marshall's this week to pick up some little baskets and bath goodies to go along with them, and I think they'll make sweet little giveaways. I'll be sure to take pics when they're all put together. For now, I'm off to hem some placemats I'm making as a shower gift. Wish me luck!

Ahoy, mateys!

2006-08-08T18:49:00.000-04:00

As the Delaware state motto says, 'it's good to be first.' I am the first stop on Vasco de Gama's Yarn Aboard II voyage around the world, and I'm assured that it's not just because my name begins with an 'A' by the superfantastic Amanda of Clothesknit fame! For those of you who aren't familiar with Yarn Aboard, the basic concept is that several boxes are shipped out, each bearing the visage of an explorer. The recipient marks their name and location on the 'ship's log' and sends it off to the next port of call. How much fun is that!?!? We all know I'm a swap-a-holic, and this is among the best yet. Let's take a look at the loot! First and foremost, we must pay homage to the Socks that Rock in the Hot Flash colorway. A more perfect yarn has yet to find its way into my nimble fingers, and I'm already dreaming of getting it onto my needles. Next we have the ever delicious and sugar free (not guilt free, but close) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, a special treat for me! No sharing will be going on, so don't get any ideas. The notebook... is the sweetest thing I've seen in a while. It's punctuated by vintage Nancy Drew drawings! I owe my love of reading to Ms. Drew, and my sense of right and wrong. Ok, ok. My parents did their part too, but Nancy was so much more exciting! Finally we have a lovely Fibertrends sock pattern, which I'm sure is as excellently written and well thought out as the others I've used. I can't wait to see them on my feet! As if these goodies weren't enough, Amanda included a sweet card from Louisiana. Thanks very much, A! Next port of call? Well let me give you a clue. Where would you LEAST expect to see my lovely model, Tundra?

All grown up

2006-08-04T19:42:00.000-04:00

Cece, once a recalcitrant little WIP, is now a lovely young FO, and I couldn't be more proud. We had several scares along the way... a suspected gauge problem, a shortage of yarn, a tinking of three looooong rows of lace. There were joys as well; a perfect torso-hugging fit after two days of uncertainty, the extra ball of yarn located by the wonderful ladies at Stitches with Style (and bravely picked up by Mr. ReMango I might add), and the triumphant photo session. I was fairly faithful to the excellently written ChicKnits pattern, adding a few repeats for more length and altering the neckline to achieve more of a sweetheart shape, which I find so appealing. She's knit in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, my favorite all-seasons yarn. Now that my little girl is all grown up, I'm going to take her out for some ice cream, 'cause you're never too old for that!

A taste of Scotland

2006-07-22T09:58:00.000-04:00

My best friend is getting married September 30, and she's going with a Scottish theme - the men will be wearing Black Watch tartan kilts, and we ladies will be wearing hunter green silk. Since I chose a sleeveless top, I've been toying with the idea of a Scotland-inspired lace wrap. This week, the planets aligned! I was reading Grumperina's blog, and she referenced an ebay seller, emtnestr, who sells Lorna's Laces for a good price. I've always wanted to try LL, so I clicked over to take a look. I was amazed to see a Black Watch colorway!!! I immediately snatched up 5 skeins of fingering weight to make my shawl. In the meantime, I've been scouring my books for a suitable pattern, and came upon the beautiful Thistle Leaf Pattern in Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. I'm in love. So on this rainy day, I'll be swatching for my Scottish shawl and kicking back with a few movies... I just unearthed a box of old VHS tapes, so I think I'll start off with one of my all time favorites, Young Guns. I love me some Lou Diamond Phillips. I'll be back in a few days with progress photos, and who knows? Maybe even a finished Cece!

What a difference a day makes...

2006-07-15T17:11:00.000-04:00

After reading about several bloggers having problems with Cece in the larger sizes, I let her out of her room today with the intention of frogging. I pulled out the camera to take one last picture of her lovely stitch pattern and beautiful horizontal lines. I wrapped her around myself to feel her softness... and she surprised the hell out of me! She fit! Perfect length, perfect width, perfect everything! I'll have to punish my yarn more often if it gets results like this! I'm going to spend some quality time with Cece this weekend, and hopefully the last skein of yarn I have will be enough for the sleeves and yoke left to knit. Think hopeful yarny thoughts for me! I don't think I'm out of the woods yet, but my confidence is surging!

While taking a break from Cece, I spent some time tending to my garden, and I thought I'd share the fruit of my bounty with you all... well a photo of them at least. I planted the Stargazer Lily the year I was married, because I carried them in my wedding bouquet. Every year since, they've given me a fragrant reminder of that special day. The tomatoes are just coming into their own in my jungle-like garden, and they're as sweet as can be. It's nice to go out after work every day, harvest my tomatoes, check on my winter squash, and come in for some knitting before dinner. Makes me all warm and fuzzy.

Pause

2006-07-14T06:07:00.000-04:00

Have you ever started a project with nothing but good intentions and optimism, only to find that 12 inches later your garment is out of control? I'm up to the armpits of Cece, and I've already used 3/4 of the specified yardage. I definitely will not have enough yarn to finish her. Where did it all go you ask? I'll tell you! Early on, I looked at the picture of Bonne wearing her Cece and decided that I wanted mine to fall at the hip rather than the waist. So I added a few pattern repeats. Somehow, this resulted not only in a longer length, but also in a WIDER sweater. You see, I've just bound off for the arms, and now that there are fewer stitches to squeeze onto my circs I can see that I've made a mistake. Cece has been sent to her room and will stay there for a couple of days until I figure out what to do with her.
In the meantime, I spent some quality time with my new friend, Trekking XXL. We got creative with the DVR and watched Rock Star Supernova, So You Think You Can Dance, and the Premiere of Project Runway Season 3 - all in one night. I went with a simple k2p2 rib so there is NO WAY I can screw it up, even if I look away from my sock to take in the horror of Runway's creeeeepy Malan and insane Vincent. It's going to be an interesting season, that's for sure!

Slowly, but surely...

2006-07-03T15:23:00.000-04:00

... my knitting urge is returning. The heat and some personal issues just took the wind out of my sails for a few months, and I'm really trying to put some time aside to knit at least a couple of days per week. I've started the lovely Cece in Cotton Fleece (quick becoming one of my top 5 yarns) after a failed attempt using some cotton blend I picked up on sale at Stitches with Style. Yes, the price was right, the gauge was not. I'm ultimately happy with my substitute of Cotton Fleece, and can't wait to wear this sweater once the weather cools a bit. It's going to look great with a pair of Khaki capris and a white tank top underneath. Stay tuned for more updates!

Long story short...

2006-06-19T19:32:00.000-04:00

I had a post all ready to go, but Blogger ate it. Here's the short version!
Baby's sleeveless wrap top, designed on the fly. Knit in Cascade Rio (pink cotton plied with nubby multi-colored viscose) gifted to me by my favorite Secret Pal some time ago, which has been waiting for a summer baby girl. My family has been blessed with boys (yep, all of them!), so I'm grateful to my friend and neighbor for producing this gorgeous little lady. Super fun and easy to knit, I used a button closure instead of the traditional side tie in the hopes that it would actually stay on the baby. Hopefully I'll have modelled pics soon!

In other knitting, I'm having trouble committing to anything larger than a sock. Could it that I have too much on my plate and am choosing to escape into books rather than meditate with my knitting? Maybe... could also be the heat. We're due for a week of temperatures in the 90's, and even with the air conditioning running, it still doesn't feel like knitting weather. I do have yarn to make Cece from Chicknits, and as soon as my new Addi's arrive in the mail, I hope to reclaim my knitting mojo! You'll hear from me soon :)

Bad Juju

2006-05-26T07:02:00.000-04:00

My first voodoo doll! This was a fun pattern, published on The Anticraft website, you can still find it in the archives. I will not name the doll, as it is fashioned after a person who has gone to incredible lengths to turn his life around. This doll represents the person he was before. I gave the doll to my boss so that he can take out his frustrations on the bad doll, giving the new and improved (and much happier it seems) person a chance to re-establish himself as an important team member. And yes, those are fuzzy slippers. My favorite part? The chest hair... and the pins that make the mouth.

Embossed Leaves Socks

2006-05-22T19:52:00.000-04:00

I am so happy with these socks!!! They were a fun knit - so much so that they kept my attention in the absence of a larger knitting project. Yes folks, these are monogamous socks - a very rare thing for me, and I will treasure them and think happy thoughts as they keep my toes cozy this fall. The yarn? Oh dear, the yarn. I'm forever and completely ruined by Socks that Rock. I'll never look at sock yarn the same way. Soft, springy, durable, and just the right weight for a good pair of wool socks, and superwash to boot. I see much more of this yarn in my future! I have one more skein of STR, in a brown/tan/off white called Mudslide. The search has begun for the perfect pattern - suggestions are welcome! The pattern contained some nice surprises and new techniques... I particularly like the garter stitch selvedge of the heel flap, it provides a nice texture, and gives a bit of structure to the wavy leaf pattern. The toe was a new construction for me, and I must say that it has grown on me. I'm very fussy about my socks - as a child I was often late for the bus because I couldn't get the seam of my sock to sit just right over my toes (sad but true!). I was concerned that the textural aspects of this toe would bother me, but I must say that they don't at all... and that's quite a relief, because I love how they look, almost like patchwork and yet organic, in keeping with the leaf motif. I also like that the toe is more rounded, which I find extremely comfortable, and that the pattern continues almost to the toe. That settles it, I'm buying a pair of Birkenstocks to show off my handknit socks!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

2006-05-17T06:56:00.000-04:00

...and I'm running late for work. I just had to share these pictures, because I'm so pleased with these items! The Pea Pod baby sweater is finished, just needs to be washed. I steam blocked the lace panel for effect before taking photos. Again, this is Tess Designer Yarns Superwash Merino. And my WIP is the Embossed Leaves socks from Interweave Knits Winter issue, in Socks that Rock. The color is called Lover's Leap - aptly so, as I have fallen head over heels for this yarn. It is by far my favorite sock yarn to date... soft, springy, nice weight, beautiful colors, and a pleasure to knit with.

Hey, this isn't where I parked my car!

2006-05-12T18:08:00.000-04:00

TGIF! Work has been super stressful lately, and I've been coming home to tired even to knit, if you can believe that. Ok, so maybe I snuck a few rows in here and there.... In any case, I thought I'd share my WIPs in the hopes that I'll be inspired to pick them up and return to the knitting zone! But first, I'd like to introduce you to my newest pair of handknit socks. Yes, my sockapaloooza socks arrived in the mail yesterday, and they could not have come at a better time. I really needed a pick-me-up, and these did the trick! A big thanks goes out to Karola for these lovely socks. I'll wear them with pleasure! On to the projects. I'm working on the Pea Pod baby set on the Interweave Knits site, written by the fabulous Kate Gilbert (she of Clapotis fame). I had a slight hitch when I came across a small error in the chart, but the people at Interweave had it fixed in a jiffy. I'm using the Tess Designer Yarn Superwash Merino that I got at MDSW, and I must say it is an absolute joy to work with. Super-soft, nice even weight, and the color variations are subtle enough to enhance the lace pattern without overpowering it. I'm in love, and will definitely be ordering more, though their website is a bit strange. I'm also working on the Army Girl flap hat, also from Interweave, written by Ann Budd. The pattern's a bit hard to follow, but I'm sorting it out. It's a little large just now, so I might felt it lightly in the washer before gifting it. I'm using Reynolds Alpaca Bulky, and it's nice, but a big fuzzy for my tastes. Good thing it's not for me! Well, that's it for now... I did finish my Hipknits custom dyed Dublin Bay socks, but haven't gotten a good picture yet. I'll show them off as soon as the light cooperates and not a minute before! Truly, the color of this yarn is incredible, and I want to do it justice.

It seems my plan is working.... I going to get back to work on that hat.

MDSW

2006-05-07T08:16:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful day I had yesterday! Sarah and I made our maiden voyage to the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival, and we can't wait to go back next year. Yes, it was that good. It was a beautiful day, warm but breezy, and I did get some sunburn - mainly on my shoulders, where I now sport a bag-strap tan line. Gah. We were mainly interested in the shopping - I was on a mission. Here's my take, clockwise from bottom left: Tess Designer Yarns Cultured Silk and Merino (this photo does not even begin to capture the luminous copper color. This yarn is so gorgeous, and so soft!), three skeins of cotton sock yarn ($3.75 each!!!), Superwash Merino worsted, also from Tess Designer Yarns (perfect for unisex baby sweaters), two skeins of Socks that Rock - Lover's Leap and Mudslide (Let me just tell you that this booth was a ZOO. I happened to spot it as we were walking into the festival, and it's a good thing I did, as they were wiped out by the time I got through the checkout line. The woman working the booth said that they sold 800 skeins of STR in under 2 hours. Incredible!), and three skeins of Brooks Farm Fourplay in an unknown colorway. I am one happy knitter. So happy that I had all of these lovely yarns wound into center pull balls before I went to bed last night!

Lest you think we spent the entire day shopping (who, me?), here are a few of the animals we met! After waiting in line for 40 minutes for our lunch (note to self: pack a lunch next year), Sarah and I decided to check out some of the livestock barns and events. There were tons of different sheep breeds on display, from farms all over the country. We stopped in to watch a lamb auction, and it seemed like they were selling lambs from the UofM Dept. of Ag. and other such groups. At one point they had a little boy showing a smallish lamb, which promptly peed on his foot. The auctioneer said that the show was worth $100, can I get $125? From there we toured another livestock barn, said hello to little baby angora goats and some HUGE sheep, as well as some sheep with truly impressive headgear. These guys have two sets of horns! One set goes over the head, the other curves around the ears. Can you imagine? I have a hard time keeping my hair in a ponytail for more than a couple of hours! The last event we saw was a ewe judging contest, which was very enlightening... the judge selected the winner for her feminine head and beautiful fleece. Who knew that a dainty noggin was a desired quality in a ewe? Not I.

I did wear my T-twist top, as promised, and was so flattered to have complete strangers stop me to compliment me on it and ask questions about its construction. I directed almost all of them to the Brooks Farm Yarn tent (after I'd made my own purchase of course - no sense creating competition for myself). The Brooks Farm staff recognized their yarn and thanked me for wearing my top to the show, but unfortunately they did not offer me a discount on yarn :) Later in the day, a woman behind me in line at the Tess Yarns tent was buying some hand dyed ribbon yarn for her T-twist, which sounds like a lovely idea for yarn sub.

And so ended our festival experience. We came, we shopped, we pet sheep, we were exhausted. The best part of the show for me was scoring some Socks that Rock before they sold out. The worst part was the crowd. While most of the people were polite enough to excuse themselves after knocking you about with their huge bags of fiber, the sheer quantity of people made it difficult to see everything. There were some booths we didn't even bother to squeeze into. Next year we'll be waiting at the gates when they open, and hopefully we'll have at least a half hour to shop comfortably. Regrets? Only one - I wish I had made plans to meet some other knitbloggers. I'm a bit shy, and even though I overheard some bloggers talking about a meetup during the lunch hour, I didn't introduce myself. Next year I'll be more friendly and meet some of the cool people I've come across in the online knitting community. See you there!

More T-Twist!

2006-04-27T19:24:00.000-04:00

I just can't get enough of this top! I wore it to work today, and got many compliments. It's so comfy and casual, and the yarn is light enough that I can see myself wearing this all summer long. The only post-wear complaint that I have is that the sleeves and hem rolled over the course of the day. I can't say I'm surprised - it is stockinette after all - but I was really hoping that the weight of the twist and the strict blocking I gave it would prevent this. The good news is that it's still cute, roll and all!

Thank you so much!

2006-04-26T19:32:00.000-04:00

Holy cow, what an overwhelming response! Thanks for all of your comments and praise... I really needed it today. We were severely short-handed at work and I'm totally fried. Coming home to such nice words made me feel so much better...

My response to your comments:

General - Ok, ok! Just as soon as my camera battery charges up I'll post a modeled shot. It's still slightly damp, but I'll brave the chill for you guys. All of you attending MDSW on Saturday will know what I'm wearing, so you have no excuse not to stop and introduce yourselves!

Jennifer - link away, I'm so pleased with your design that I just want EVERYONE to knit it! And everyone should try this yarn too. Really, it's that good. Oh, and if your UofD friend ever changes her mind, send her to our Main Street knitting group!

jerry&maxy - my lowest bump is my lower tummy, and I strive to keep it well concealed. Thus the extra length. That baby will never see the light of day if I have anything to do about it!

bonnie - I know what you mean about the sleeves being too short, and I've done some thinking. It would be fairly easy to add to the sleeve length, especially if you didn't want to go too much longer. I myself could use another 3 inches or so. If that's the case, just continue knitting the sleeve for the extra three inches before attatching to the body. The only difference is that you'll have a slightly larger seam to sew up at the underarm. Since the sleeves already have a scalloped, fluttery feel to them, I don't think you even need to worry about shaping! I'm already thinking about another T-Twist, and I may just try this out. Thanks for prompting me to mull it over!

T-Twist and shout!

2006-04-25T06:12:00.000-04:00

So I've been quiet for the past week, which means I've been completely obsessed with a new project... and it's finished! I blocked T-Twist tonight after work, and I can't tell you how happy I am with it. It's knit in the round, with very little seaming involved, and the scalloped hem and sleeves have made a somewhat plain A-line shirt into a feminine, flirty top. It'll be making it's debut at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in West Friendship, MD on Saturday, May 6th... I'll be the one hanging around the Brooks Farm booth shopping for more of this Fourplay yarn (50/50 Silk and Merino). I got this color, Mystic, in a swap, and I couldn't be more pleased with it, but I digress - back to the pattern details. As you can see, I changed the shaping at the center front and back from a single vertical row of two stitch decreases to two rows of single stitch decreases. I did this for several reasons - one, it spread out the 'pooch' caused by the decreases when the three stitches become one. The bump is much less noticeable this way and was easier to block out. Also, as a busty gal, I don't need to enhance the girls, and I thought that this was less 'hey look at my chest' than the raised line of double decreases. Check out the pattern photos (link above) to see what I mean. The only other change I made was to add four inches to the length. The great thing about this bottom-up design is that you can, at any time, slip the stitches onto waste yarn and try it on. Before following the sleeve portion of the pattern, I did just that and found that the hem only reached my waistband. I just finished reading in the SUPER new book, Big Girl Knits, that my tops should fall just below my lowest 'bump.' Since I had yarn to spare, I was in good shape to follow that advice. As far as fit, I followed the advice on the designer's website and calculated for negative ease (I followed the instructions for the size 2" smaller than my bust measurement). Let's just hope I can get the two inches back through aggressive blocking! Smaller gals might want to use negative ease, but any fluffy ladies considering this pattern should knit the size closest to your measurements.

Pictures, as promised.

2006-04-17T06:25:00.000-04:00

Pictures go with yesterday's post, which for some reason is not accepting them...

Extreme close up!

The yarn, and nothing but the yarn.

2006-04-15T09:37:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting to talk about this until everything had been settled, one way or another. This is a sad tale of yarn gone bad... and the shop owner who set things right. I'm talking about Kerrie of Hipknits and Magknits fame, and I'm quite a fan of hers as a result of this purchase. You see, Hipknits is based in the UK, and I'm in the US. This was my first international yarn purchase, and I was wary... but custom dyed sock yarn was what I wanted, and that was what Hipknits had to offer. I've been enamored of the Brown/Turquoise combination for a while now, thanks to my knitterly friend Kalli (hello Chicago!). I love the way Kerrie puts her colors together, non stripy, but a subtle blend of color. It only seemed natural to order my custom yarn from her. Everything started well, the yarn was ordered, dyed, paid for and shipped. This is where the story takes a turn for the worse. The yarn ran away. I waited, went on vacation, and waited a bit more, then contacted Kerrie, who immediately sent another batch, no questions asked. A week or so later, the second shipment arrived, and I fell in love! I still haven't seen the first bag of runaway yarn, but I'm hoping it got bored with living on the streets and returned home to Hipknits. I tell this story so that all may know of the superb service and care I received from Kerrie, who always put me, the customer, first - even in the face of a postal disaster. Make sure to check out her store, and browse the yummy new yarns she has for sale. You won't be sorry.

In the meantime, I've been searching for the perfect pattern for this yarn, and I've finally found it... Dublin Bay Socks from Mossy Cottage Knits. A little lacy panel to spice things up, but plenty of stockinette to show of the beautiful colors of the yarn. Let me just say that I'm only 2 inches into this sock and already I know that it's my favorite yet! The only disappointment is that they're wool, and I have to wait for fall weather before I can wear them.

ETA: Pictures to come soon... Blogger's acting up this morning

Happy Birthday, Brady!

2006-04-08T17:17:00.000-04:00

Allow me to introduce my newest nephew, Brady Joseph. He was born on April 6, just four days after his big brother turned three! Mom and baby are doing well, and they should be coming home this afternoon. I foresee a soft, wooly blanket in their future! I did finish his sweater, just in time, but not quickly enough to get a photo. It is my favorite knit item to date, so rest assured that when he's a little bit bigger, I'll post a photo of him modeling it!

In other exciting news, I've completed my Sockapaloooza socks! I'm really happy with the way they turned out, and I hope they'll be well received. Again, I used the Lava Flow pattern from Sockbug, the second of her patterns I've knit up. Lovely, well written, and easy to follow. I recommend it! Next up in the sock rotation is a pair of stockinette toe-up socks, my first attempt at this type of construction. I'll be using some lovely custom-dyed yarn from Hipknits. More info on that soon. Also in the queue are a pair of baby sweaters for my brother's twins, due in October. One will be red with gray trim, and the other will be gray with red trim. If I have enough yarn leftover, they'll have matching hats! I love baby knits!

I'm still here!

2006-04-05T06:36:00.000-04:00

Wow, have I been busy lately!!! Just wanted to check in and say hello... no pictures today, but I completed the brown Sirdar baby cardigan, and it is my favorite FO so far! I'll wait to take pics until my nephew is born and wearing it - much cuter that way. I made a silly baby hat to match, so it should be worth the wait. I also finished my sockapaloooza socks recently, and I love them. I'm so happy with them, and I sure hope my sockpal likes them too! Only four more weeks until the mailing date. I can't wait!

I have a few projects in the wings right now. First, I want to fix my Something Red cardigan. I wore it again as-is, and got loads of compliments. Ok, so they were my family members, but still. I love how I feel when I'm wearing it, and if this round of treatment works, it'll make a great maternity top with its flared ribbing! Also, a friend of mine has requested some repair work on his favorite wool sweater, so that's a challenge I'm looking forward to. He's loved that sweater so much that he's worn through the fabric above the cuffs and hem! I'll just need to replace the ribbing. After that, you're going to see a LOT of baby items. My brother and his wife are having TWINS! I'm so excited for them! Congratulations, you two!

Spring Fling

2006-03-22T20:26:00.000-05:00

I am so in love with this sweater. Sure there are a few things I'm going to adjust... I'll move the button over an inch so that the closure is smooth. I'll rip back the sleeves and make them more fitted by working in some decreases and starting the ribbing higher. And that's it! I wore it to work today (What, did you think cold weather would stop me? I haven't worn socks or closed shoes since I got back from Arizona two weeks ago!), and felt comfortable all day. It's the perfect topper for a gal who likes to layer. Thanks to Wendy for this wonderful design, Something Red.

Spring or Bust!

2006-03-15T21:58:00.000-05:00

I am so ready for warm weather that I've already started knitting a spring wardrobe! I fell in love with Something Red - a curvy, flirty, short sleeved cardigan - as soon as I saw it. As I read over the pattern, I was struck by the ribbing section, which starts as 2x2 rib, then increases to k2, p3 rib, then finally ends up as k2, p4... what a beautiful way to make a flared hem! I am in love with this feature, and hopefully I can incorporate it into other garments... I still have to block the sweater, so just a peek for now. There will be a single-button closure, and I still need to find the right button. I think I'll go with a matching color, so the sweater remains the focus. I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (cotton blends are the only way to go for me) in Provincial Rose.

Now I can get back to my Sockapaloooza knitting! I've one sock down, and am about an eighth of the way through the second. I'm loving this yarn, both the colors and the feel of it. I put the first sock on (don't worry, they'll be washed before I send them out) to model it, and I didn't want to take it off. Good thing I have enough yarn to make a pair for myself! The only bad thing about warmer weather is that all of the wool gets put up until next winter.

Back on the Scene

2006-03-13T06:14:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it's been a week since we got home from our vacation! Re-entry was a bit bumpy, but we made it. Arizona was beautiful - the weather gave me Spring Fever - and we had a wonderful time visiting DH's parents. We went to the Grand Canyon, which was the highlight of the trip for me, and to a Mexican border town for a day.
I got to spend a day with Heather, a good friend from college, and we had such a great time, I would have made the trip for that day alone. It was an action-packed week, and we were tired, yet strangely refreshed when we got home!
On the knitting front, I had a mishap on the flight to Phoenix - my brand new Addi natura circular needle snapped! Very disappointing, as it had only seen an hour or two of use. Good thing we had a DVD player to occupy us for the rest of the 5 hour flight! I did stop at the Needler's Nest, a lovely Phoenix LYS to pick up some bamboo DPN's, so I was able to get a bit of knitting done on my Sockapaloooza socks. They were my driving entertainment, made all the more delightful by the built-in yarn holder. Very handy option, I must say! I've completed one sock, and since then I have been distracted by Something Red, but I am confident that I'll make the deadline of May 2nd.

Until we meet again!

2006-02-24T16:38:00.000-05:00

I'm off to sunny Arizona next week. So long, windy cold Delaware! I'm not even close to ready - still have to dig out my warm season clothing, see if it still fits/needs to be laundered, pack, clean house, drop the dog off at the kennel, get DH laundered and packed, and about a gazillion other things. But don't worry... my knitting is ready to go! Last weekend I purchased my first set of Addi Natura circular bamboo needles - US1 for sock knitting on the plane. I have my yarn picked out, my Sockapaloooza project OTN, and have several backup projects in the wings. I'll post pics upon my return. I'll try to bring the warmth back to the east coast with me!