A Friday in New York

We are now on summer hours at work so we work long hours all week and have Fridays off. I spent last Friday wandering around Manhattan heading towards the Battery Maritime Building where an installation by David Byrne from the Talking Heads was on view. It was totally wonderful. An old organ was wired into the building and playing it made all kinds of sounds. Everyone was smiling and playing. It was hard to drag myself away.
Unfortunately, earlier in the day I broke one of the circular needles from my Handsome Devils Socks and I wanted to knit on the bus going home, so the rest of the day was spent finding a replacement. I had never visited Seaport Yarns before and was very pleasantly surprised. Their yarn selection was outstanding. They had everything. I know because the nice owner gave me a personal tour of the entire store. Although they didn’t have the exact needle I needed they had a serviceable replacement. The owner suggested I stop at the World Financial Center to see the marine-like crocheted and knitted forms on display there and I did. I think it was called Under the Sea or something like that. I had never seen anything like it before.

By Saturday I couldn’t move because I had done so much walking the day before, but I was determined to KIP for Knit in Public Day so my husband drove me to Montclair, New Jersey for a little sidewalk knitting outside Modern Yarn. It was hot and humid but I still had a wonderful time. The hardest part was resisting all the great bargains on the sales table in front of the store. My stash is overflowing the room where I keep it so, even though it was hard, I walked away.

Heat Wave

I finished all the ribbed pieces for the sweater Quarry but am I seaming them together? No. We have just had a four day heat spell and it was 96 degrees but it felt like at least 105. The air conditioner broke at work and it was horrible. So even though it is suppose to be slightly cooler today I have put sewing them aside, maybe until fall.

I like to have a little collection of pre-knitted baby items all ready for gifting. I just gave my son my last Baby Surprise Jacket as a gift for one of his friends so I’ve started a new one. These Elisabeth Zimmerman creations are perfect for using up stash. This is left over Cotton-Ease from various summer sweaters I’ve made over the years. I like to give these for boys and February Sweaters for girls.

I’ve also finally been tempted again by socks. I decided last year to stop knitting them because I hardly ever wear them. They always make my feet too hot. But this Six Sock Knit-along selection called Handsome Devil Socks was just too intriguing to pass up. It uses a slipped stitch technique that is so much fun. I’m using size 1 needles for the first time and it is taking me a little longer but the socks feel so nice. I’d forgotten how nice it is to knit a small project like this with no heavy wool hanging in your lap in the summer.