Thinking about UFOs

My husband was getting something from my Art Room last week, and he commented, "You sure have a lot of unfinished projects."

I, of course, immediately corrected him: "Those are UFOs." It took a few seconds, but he got it. Then I explained they were also WIPs.

I started this hat months ago, but then I got stuck on the decreases. I had failed to note how any stitches I cast on, so I had to recount and then decide how I wanted to do the decreases. Once I counted, it was easy. The lovely yarn is from Knit Circus.

I have never denied that I have a problem with casting on -- but I know I'm not the only one. There is a certain high that comes with casting on -- it reminds me of a sugar high. It feels so good at the time, even if it's the 101st WIP you have going. I have a similar relationship with chocolate.

This is my third pair of Kirsten Kapur's mitts, all knitted in Crazy Zauerball. I have to do one more to use up the rest of the skein. These are addictive, but I think it's time to move on.

While I admire people who can maintain knitting monogamy, I don't even aspire to it. I like the variety. I like giving into the urge to cast on something new and exciting. 

That's not to say that there aren't downsides to having so many WIPs. I do sometimes feel pressured to finish a batch before starting anything new. And it means I own too many needles -- you can't use needles that are in a WIP, after all. (Well, technically you can, but I'm not that organized.)

And I do finish things on a steady  basis. It took me about three days to knit the Hoopla Hat from PomPom.

And then I just had to cast on another Hoopla. I have two good excuses: First, I wanted to practice the Latvian Braid before I forgot how to do it. Second, it's a great stash-buster!

The Day Before Surgery

So, the timeline here is a bit wacky. Surgery will do that to you. I had my surgery yesterday and it went well. I'm home recuperating, but on quite a few pain meds -- so you can't hold me responsible for any spelling or grammar errors!

I did some yarny retail therapy on the afternoon before my surgery. Knit Circus has a new retail shop, which I hadn't visited before. As I told the clerk there, "I figured this was a good time to buy some yarn because my husband can hardly complain when I'm about to have surgery."

Of course the new store is bigger and thus better than the original. So much amazing yarn! Owner Jala Spiro and her crew have amazing color sense and they come up with the most surprising and beautiful gradients. I was only going to buy one, but ended up with two. I justified this because I'm using both in shawls that will also eat up some stash yarn. I know: I'm way too good at justifying yarn purchases!

The skein on top is going to be part of a Free your Fade. I've been wanting to do a Fade. A completed Find your Fade was on display at the store and it is more blanket than shawl. The Free your Fade suits my taste better. The second skein is going to become an On the Spice Market, like the one here.

Although, the more I look at the finished shawl, the less sure I am that my skein is right for the project. No problem. I'm sure I can find a pattern for that beautiful skein. 

Knit Circus has an online store, too, so don't feel left out because you're not here in Madison.

Before I left school Wednesday, a couple of my students came to say goodbye to me Wednesday afternoon, and they brought me this:

There are some things about work I don't miss. But I do miss "my" kids.

Getting Some Things Done

I think I've turned a corner and the pain level has really dropped. Still, this has not been a terrible recovery. I knit an entire shawl already:

This is an Antarktis in a Knit Circus gradient (can't find the ball band!). I thought I had too much yarn, but I was wrong and I had to end a bit early. I can't move around enough to block yet, but I'm sure it will block out to a good size.

I finished the painting I started on a day trip Keith and I took before my surgery to Viroqua, Wis.

This is a beautiful old building. To me, the touching thing is the For Sale sign along the side of the building. I'm not sure painting is the right word because I used Derwent Inktense Pencils, my usual medium.

I packed up a box of hand knits for the folks on Pine Ridge Reservation, one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the United States. You can learn more about this project at the Ravelry group. I mostly sent mittens and scarves.

I've been trying to knit outside for a little while every morning, before the mosquitos swarm! Yesterday I noticed that our yard is dotted with these:

It's a mushroom, not a flower.

Summer break is roughly half over, and it's going way too fast! When I can move around a little better, I need to go into school and start getting organized for next year. I learned the hard way last year that the pace is very fast in high school and I need to hit the ground running!

A Class With Laura Nelkin: Swoon!

Madison may not be a big city, but it is a big knitting city. We had our Knit In this weekend, and the line-up of teachers was amazing. Saturday morning, a friend and I took a class on knitting with bead from Laura Nelkin, author of Knockout Knits.

The class was amazing. Did you know that you should never use beads on single-ply yarn? Me, neither. It's not strong enough. Also to be avoided are wool/silk blends and cashmere. I also learned that you need to use bigger beads when you are placing beads (like with a crochet hook) than when you pre-string beads.

This is the Stellanti Shawl, which was our favorite one of her samples. The beaded sections are super easy so this is definitely going in my queue. Nelkin is quite funny. She described more difficult projects as being "anti-Alzheimer's patterns."

I do love knitting jewelry, though I haven't made any for quite some time. Nelkin's samples gave me plenty of inspiration.

The class was just for a half day, so we shopped after scarfing down some sandwiches from home. It turns out that I am quite the Wisconsin shopper. The two reddish/pink skeins are going into a second Perhaps, Perhaps. They were dyed by Sun Valley Fibers (Mount Horeb, Wis.), and I cannot say enough good things about their yarns. They are stunningly beautiful, a joy to knit with, and hold up well to wear.

I could not resist the mini skeins from Ewetopia (Viroqua, Wis.). All my favorite colors in one package! I'm looking for the right poncho or shawl pattern. Let me know if you have any ideas -- though I should mention that the yarn is DK weight.

Last but not least is the gradient cake in blue and purple, which I bought to make an Antarktis out of, but now I'm thinking it would make a good Stellanti. Such tough choices.!The yarn is by Knit Circus, which is right here in Madison. Yes, I am lucky!

This seems like enough for one post, so I'll tell you about fair isle with Mary Jane Mucklestone later!

Five on Friday

I've been wanting to get in on the Five on Friday fun, but it's so hard when I'm working. Today, however, I'm enjoying the second day of winter break, so here I am!

1. Last night, we celebrated Hanukkah early. It was the only night that my son is going to be around. Today he's flying to Israel for a few weeks. My parents came over to celebrate with Keith, myself, and my two kids. Nagi is the the only family member who didn't object to be photographed. He really enjoys playing dreidel!

2. Of course, there were presents. Among other things, my mom was kind enough to indulge my love of Gudrun Sjoden with a gift certificate, which came in this gorgeous card.

3. I had to run some errands today, so I stopped in to pet some yarn at Knit Circus and chat with owner and talented dyer, Jaala Spiro. I added this gorgeous cowl to my queue: the Contravene Cowl.  I feel a case of startitis coming on.

4. I've started a new embroidery project of my own design.

5. And while my son is off, my daughter is visiting from Miami, so I'm looking forward to some quality time with her.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's Five on Friday's at Love Made My Home.

Happy holidays to all of you!

Apologies, Socks and a Book

I have so much to apologize for today! I am behind on reading your blogs, and I do miss you! I will get caught up in the next couple of days.

Then there are these horrible flash photos. And I am sure you are very tired of the Green Bay Packer socks. I sure am!

Don't get me wrong. Jaala of Knit Circus did a great job with the colors, but I'm not a football fan. These are a gift. I'm happy to make them for my brother, but they are boring to knit! I am also worried about getting them done on time (Hanukkah comes early this year!), so I'm doing two at a time. I know it's not rational, but I feel like they go faster that way.

I'm about 100 pages into The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen, and it's pretty good. Among other themes, it examines the intricacies of a long-term marriage, which I always find interesting.

So many books are about falling in love or breaking up. In some ways, those are the easy parts. Staying together for the long haul...that's an accomplishment!

Don't forget to Yarn Along with Ginny.

Lazy Weekend with FO

I had a pretty lazy weekend, and I know I am not alone when I say that is an unusual even for me. So many of us are juggling many different demands, even on the weekend. Usually, I judge a weekend by how much I accomplish. By that standard, this weekend was a failure. 

My back and neck are still pretty sore after the accident at school last week, so I didn't actually choose to do so little. I should have been getting the house ready for Thanksgiving, but instead I read, napped, and knit. I did go to an art exhibit with a friend on Saturday afternoon and out for coffee Sunday morning. Mostly, though, I just rested -- and that felt pretty good.

I do have an FO: a finished pair of socks in Over the Rainbow, a gradient stripe yarn by Knit Circus, which just happens to be right here in Madison:

You can knit these, as I did, so that are different -- or start on the same color range so they match.

I love the way the color gradient stripes work out. It made the knitting go quickly!

Finally ... Brioche!

I have wanted to learn brioche knitting for a long time. I took a class last spring, but it just didn't take. Yesterday I took a class at the Knit Circus Retreat with master teacher Amy Detjen and I think I finally understand it

I'm very happy with the way this is coming out -- but then how could it fail to be fabulous with that yarn? I know I sound like a broken record, but do check out the Knit Circus web site; Jaala Spiro has an amazing color sense.

As a teacher myself, I couldn't help but analyze Amy's teaching style yesterday. She doesn't just teach you a serious of steps; she teaches you how the stitch works. As a result, you understand what you are supposed to do and why. I actually frogged the above because I decided I wanted a tighter gauge. The fact that I was able to restart it all by myself speaks volumes for Amy's teaching.

It's been a great weekend. On Friday evening, Keith and I drove my parents to Rockford, where my dad's cousin, Phyllis Bramson, has a 30-year retrospective show at the art museum. I love Phyllis's work, and this show just blew me away. Here is sample of her painting/collage work:

She gave a gallery walk that was fascinating. She talked about how "desire" is one of her main themes and recalled the "girlie" calendars her dad brought home from work. (Her grandfather opened the first auto parts store in Madison, and her father ran it for many years. My grandfather started his career at that store, but then opened his own 50 miles away in Beloit, where I grew up.) She talked about her process and how she's always on the lookout for bits and pieces to incorporate in her work. She even pokes around at Joanne Fabrics on occasion!

I realized that I have never asked her about any of this, which may seem odd since I am so interested in art and creating. The fact is that I have always been in awe of her.

Phyllis is a "real artist." She has made her living as an artist. She has sold works to top museums around the world. She has won a Guggenheim Grant and been a Fullbright Scholar. She has taught at the University of Illinois in Chicago and the Chicago Art Institute.

Despite all this, she is a warm and friendly person. Outspoken, intellectual, funny. Who wouldn't be a bit in awe?

And for those of you who live in Chicagoland, this exhibit will open at the Chicago Cultural Center in Summer 2016.

Meanderings of a Peripatetic Knitter

It's a glorious September day, cool and breezy. The leaves have just begun to change against a deep blue sky. I should be out walking or biking but I'm recovering from a cold, so when I got home from work, I decided I needed some more rest.

Perhaps the demands at work have prompted me to do a few small (read "instant gratification") projects: bracelets with beads. I haven't made these for a while. I was so pleased with the way they came out that I decided to attach some tags and see if I could sell them.

I headed to the new Knitcircus store here in Madison and left a box of them for owner Jaala and her staff to consider. I have my fingers crossed!

These are fun to wear and pretty dramatic, as well. I like making things like this where each item is one-of-a-kind. So much of our world is mass-produced that it feels good to make and wear unique items.

While I was at Knitcircus, I couldn't resist a couple skins of Green Bay Packers-colored sock yarn. I don't do spectator sports, but I know a number of Packers fans who would appreciate these -- though I haven't yet decided who to gift them to.

It doesn't count as stash if you cast it on right away, right?

These days I qualify as a peripatetic reader, too. I keep starting novels and putting them down after 20 or 30 pages. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the books; I'm just having trouble settling in. I couldn't even get into the groove with Whistling Past the Graveyard, which so many bloggers have loved. The next two on top of the stack next to my bed are:

I'll Give You the Sun comes highly recommended by one of the 8th-graders at my school, while my friend Marsha recommends Cover of Snow. I hope one of them takes! I hate being bookless.

I'm joining up with Nicole to Keep Calm Craft On and Ginny at Yarn Along.

The Importance of Electricity

Keith and I set out Sunday morning for Door County. It is the thumb of Wisconsin, if you look at the state as mitten shaped (as any knitter would). A peninsula bordered by Lake Michigan and Green Bay, it is popular with tourists.

We drove along the lake, heading north. Lake Michigan looks a lot like the ocean.

As we neared Door County, the skies darkened. Heavy rain pounded the car and became mixed with hail.

We stopped in Egg Harbor to do dome shopping, but everything was dark and closed. As we drove north, we saw no sign of electricity, so we were not surprised to find our little cabin lacked electricity. (Note: I took the photo after the electricity came back on!)

Turns out that the storm was historic, knocking out power to the whole peninsula and beyond. The power company had teams from other companies come in to help restore power.

Now, I can live without electricity. I am fine with pit toilets. But I do need some sort of bathroom facility. The buildings here all use well water. We learned that the toilets cannot flush without electricity to pump the water! So, we spent a day and a half planning our time around public restrooms. It was very exciting when the electricity came back on.

Now, the weather is beautiful and we are enjoying this lovely part of the world. We often come up here for the quiet, the bike riding, the art, and the restaurants.

A couple days before we left, I stumbled on a cross stitch pattern of Wilson's, a restaurant that has been in Ephraim forever. The timing seemed significant, so I assembled the needed colors and started it on our first evening here. It is going to take FOREVER to finish. It is very detailed and I have so many other projects.

I am squeezing in knitting, too. Keith drove all the way up here, so I made good progress on the second Knitcircus sock. These will definitely be ready to wear this fall.

 

I'll be checking in with Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On.

Stitching on Sunday

So, it's time to get back to stitching around this blog!

I've been embroidering a little bit at a time. I found this pale peach shirt at Goodwill, and it is the perfect canvas to try out one-color embroidering. This is the first section, and I like the way it's coming out so far.

My travel socks are pretty amazing -- thanks to dyer Jaala Spiro at Knit Circus.

I knit the first sock from the outside and started the second from the middle. I think I'm going to keep these for myself. I think they will look amazing in Birkenstocks. Besides, I'm not sure I know anyone else who would be seen in public with such crazy fun socks!

I biked for the first time since my shoulder injury (3 or 4 weeks ago) this weekend. I did a short ride yesterday, then ventured out for a 14-mile ride with a friend today. I was really dragging on the way home, but shortly after I got home it became clear that I have the stomach flu! So glad that I'm not too out of shape. Now I'm off to make some toast!

Hope your weekend was good.

Gradients Like You've Never Seen

I'm into my last few days in Berkeley, and starting to feel sad about leaving. I am not sad about the knitting project I brought. My Knit Circus sock is so much fun to knit:

I've done quite a bit of reading. I finished I Am Forbidden, which I wrote about last week and found it interesting through the end. I also finished this:

This Dark Road to Mercy is a literary thriller and very gripping. It tells the story of a father, who has given up his legal rights to his two daughters, who kidnaps them after their mother dies. The story is told from multiple points of view and is very tightly plotted. I think it's quite good. I will caution that there are a few instances of disturbing violence. I kind of skimmed over them.

A few night ago, we went to hear Michael Pollan speak and I ended up buying Cooked, his latest book. He is best known for a book entitled The Omnivore's Dilemma, which takes a serious look at what he calls our "industrial food complex." He's a great speaker, relaxed and witty and erudite. And the bookstore was packed to the gills with fans; I would have had to wait for hours to get my book signed.

Cooked grew out of Pollan's realization that as Americans spend less time cooking, they have grown fatter and sicker. He points out that many people spend more time watching cooking TV shows than they do cooking, which is pretty strange when you think about it. It's kind of a long book, but he's a good writer so I'm hoping to get through it.

Linking up with Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along.

Vacation Knitting and Reading

I woke up to something shocking in Berkeley, California. I looked out the window and there was no fog! You cannot miss the effects of the drought here, although I do, strangely miss the morning fog.

I've been visiting Berkeley since 1977, when my friend Joni moved from the Chicago area to Berkeley, so it feels like my vacation home. I am used to gazing through the fog while I drink my morning coffee.

I had a long day of travel so I knew I needed good knitting. I chose to knit plain socks with this amazing yarn from Knit Circus, which is a Madison dyer.

Some of you may have seen the Knit Circus magazine or its later incarnation as a Web-zine. Former KC editor Jaala Spiro has taken up dying and she is truly amazing! Her self-striping and gradient yarns are beautiful and unique (as you can see). You can learn more here.http://www.knitcircus.com/

And this is the book took for my travel reading. I found it at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer. It is about a Jewish woman who is orphaned during the Holocaust and raised in the Satmar tradition, which is a very strict Hasidic sect.

It turned out to be a good choice. I read about half of it on the plane yesterday. The writing is beautiful, and the story keeps you  interested. It explores the role of women and of orthodox religion and how the two can become complicated. It is also a fascinating glimpse into life inside this very strict group.

Coming soon: Pictures of a very pretty sock-in-progess and the Bay Area.

I'm checking in with Keep Calm Craft On and Yarn Along.