Twins

Knitting has been suspended to announce the arrival of the most wonderful babies ever, my first grandchildren. Meet the most beautiful twins ever. They arrived last weekend and I have been watching them sleep ever since.

Summer Projects

The orange scarf is the one I knit during our Norway trip. It is the Baktus scarf by Strikkelise done in Rowan Felted Tweed. I wanted to make a Norwegian pattern while in Norway. It was perfect travel knitting and when I came home I added an edging from Interweave Knits. I think it finishes it off beautifully. On the trip I finished the body of the scarf and read the book I had brought with me and had nothing to do for the flight home. So I bought some Icelandic Lopi lace yarn to start another scarf. I looked up a stitch pattern on the hotel’s internet and was all set. On the plane I pulled everything out and discovered that one of the wooden needles had split. Four hours with nothing to do! But when I got home I started this Haruha scarf made by with the yarn. The Lopi is a little rough but I love the subtle blue and grey colors and the pattern was really fun.
Now I am practicing a new to me technique-stranded knitting. This is my first Selbu mitten. I had some trouble keeping the tension at the ends of my two circular needles. I'll try to knit not as tightly next time. I loved making it.

Our Vacation

I just got back from a wonderful vacation in Norway and Iceland. When my husband asked me where I wanted to go this year I said Spain. He then came up with a trip to Scotland. Somehow, in the way only a 40 year marriage can do it, this was the compromise. It was just so beautiful. We cruised, we ate, we toured and we went to museums and parks. We rode boats and trains and saw fjords, geysers, waterfalls and even wild musk oxen. The boat from Bergen to Trondheim was my favorite. A whole day of sitting and knitting and looking at gorgeous scenery made me feel so relaxed. We were in Trondheim during their Independence Day. You should have seen the terrific costumes everyone was wearing.
We viewed knitted items at folk museums and visited yarn stores. I bought Rauma yarn in Norway to try some stranded mittens and I bought a lot of Icelandic wool to make a vest and who knows what else. We stuffed it in our suitcases, which of course had to be expanded. Thank goodness for expansion zippers on luggage.


When I came back everyone said I looked so relaxed, and I was. We did and saw a lot but there was a lot of down time too. It seemed like there were parks everywhere with lovely benches. All the flowers were blooming and they all had ponds. I would love to go back sometime and take the complete cruise up the coast of Norway. I have to say it was a very expensive trip. But we both really enjoyed it.

Twins!

We are expecting our first grandchildren and I started knitting last week. Twins-a boy and a girl! First up were two little Baby Surprise Jackets. I‘m making them in DK weight because I thought maybe my daughter-in –law would like them to take the babies home from the hospital but they seem a little large. One is complete except for the finishing and the other is about half finished. I’m using Misti Alpaca Pima Silk Hand Paint. I bought it at the Modern Yarn closing sale. I will really miss that place. I loved going to the movies in Montclair, NJ, having brunch at Raymond’s and stopping at that store. Now they are closing, maybe to relocate sometime in the future I hope.
I liked the cotton and silk yarn so much I bought some for me too and made a Baktus scarf. All this garter stitch is very soothing, but I miss other stitches. I’ll have to make something in stockinette soon. Probably more baby things.

A Lovely Sweater

I finished the Diminishing Rib Cardigan by Andrea Pomerantz from Interweave Knits Spring 2009. Even though I ended up with over three hundred stitches, it was a fast knit. I learned a new cast on and a new bind off. I’m still not sure I did the tubular cast on correctly but it seems to look all right. I was really stymied at first by the tubular bind off and I kept knitting swatches to try it out. Then I realized it is a Kitchener bind off, just on one needle. I love the way it looks. It is stretchy but not loose. Anyway, I think this will be a very versatile sweater. I put two hooks and eyes at the neckline just to finish it off but I haven’t used them so far.
I’m kind of looking around for a new project lately. Nothing appeals to me. I’ve finished a pair of socks. I’ve been crocheting a little and have started a scarf. The problem is that I think I have so many knitting things. I have enough sweaters, vests, hats, scarves, mittens and shawls to keep me clothed for a long time. I’ve made presents for everyone I know, and I rarely see them wearing anything I make, except for the vests my husband wears almost every day. I need to keep my hands busy and I want to make something fun. My husband and I are going to Norway for vacation this year. Maybe I can get some yarn and make some mittens. I never do fair aisle. It might be good to try something new. For the trip I found the Baktus scarf. It is all knit and should be easy to do while traveling and I can use up some of the sock yarn in my stash.

Project Spectrum 2009

I joined Project Spectrum on Ravelry this year, and then I left the group. There were so many projects that I wanted to knit. I didn’t want to commit to certain colors at certain times. But I just finished this March KAL for the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics group, Swan Maiden Mitts, and look at the color. Green, my favorite, is the assigned color for this month’s Cardinal Directions in Project Spectrum.

I looked on the blog Lolly Knitting Around yesterday and read about her photography /writing challenge. I hardly use my new camera, so here was a wonderful and interesting opportunity. I rejoined. It just sounded so intriguing. This morning I took my camera, went out the front door, faced north and shot this picture. Not too inspiring is it? But that is what I see each morning. Maybe that is why I am not happy living where I do. At lunch I took my camera and walked north past the buildings on the college campus where I work, and got to the forest. Much better. I don’t know if this ivy is a survivor of the winter or a harbinger of spring, but it was so good to see it in the snowy landscape.
Lolly said,
"Determine which way is north from your location - use a compass or a GPS or simply look towards the sky. Grab your camera. Orient yourself to look north - outside may be best for photographic clarity and “interestingness.” Snap a photo of what you see. Post your photo on Flickr, Ravelry, or on your own blog
Feel free to describe what north means to you. Repeat in different locations and in different conditions as many times throughout the months as you like.
What is physically north of you: the city? the mountains? the ocean?
What is mentally north for you: a memory? a sentimental connection?"
Actually North means cold and forbidding to me. I don’t like cold. I never would have chosen green for this month. I would have picked ice blue or silver. Maybe that is too prosaic. I do like the mountains in the North. For many years I visited the White Mountains in New Hampshire in the summer and still love to go and do a little walking there when I can. I also love rocks and stones. I have to think about this a little more and take more North pictures. North of my mother’s house is New York City, which I love. What is north just depends on where you are standing.

A Holiday Present

My friend Sandy bought these for me as a Holiday gift but I never received a certificate from Signature Needle Arts so that I could order them. She called the company and, voila, here they are. They came all wrapped for Valentine’s Day and it was a perfect time to get them. I haven’t tried them yet but they are easily the most beautiful needles I own. They are size 5 and I see a lacey scarf in the near future. Thanks so much Sandy! I love them. Sandy knit this fabulous scarf and I just had to copy her. I made the "Try This" Slotted Scarf by Sharon Boucher-Turner.
With this new job I don’t have the time I used to for knitting but I am much happier here. We have started a Friday lunch hour knitting group called Knit and Nosh that meets in another building. More people come every week, crocheters too, and we all have a great time.
I have been trying to use up some older stash and I found this great way to use leftover sock yarn and make some baby gifts at the same time. Baby socks take hardly any yarn and are so fast to make. But I feel the time has come to consider a few sweater projects. The new Interweave Knits has some lovely and tempting sweaters. I’ll probably use wool instead of cotton but the gauge seems right and I am gearing up to go.