Socks

I love knitting socks. I don't knit many of them, but I always enjoy the process. At least the first one.
I often try to knit both socks at the same time, so that I needn't make notes about how many rounds I did or how big the toe or cuff was. I just stop after the first toe or cuff, and make the second to match.
Of course, if I am designing a sock, I need to write it all down anyway, but I still have less enthusiasm for that second sock.

My Dad and Mom honored me by requesting that I knit another pair of socks for him. This is big. It's not that they are hypercritical, but that when they praise something, they really mean it. So I have that coming up pretty soon on my list. I want to have them finished by the time the weather cools come September.
I may write the pattern down this time, if I can find something unique to do that isn't too jazzy for Dad to like. The most important qualities are the flexibility and smoothness, so most likely I'll just work the First Time Toe-Up pattern from Colorjoy which is my favorite. I'll use the same yarn as for the first pair, too. Andean Silk from Knit Picks, which is a blend of alpaca, silk and merino.
A pair of Oscar's favorite socks were also made from that yarn (photo above) Maybe I should write up that pattern soon. I like how it turned out.

I have decided that when I make socks for myself, I will be perfectly happy to just have one sock from any pattern that intrigues me.
I wore mismatched socks as a kid when I had trouble deciding what pair to wear (which was at least once a week, if not every day). Why should I be any different as an adult?
Now I need to convince my friends and family that mismatched socks are the best kind of gift to get.
I think my nieces and nephews would be cool with that. they have a lot of me in them :-}
And my Goddess Son Sean Elijah... He's only 8 and a half months old.. I can start working on his fashion sense now, and gift him mismatched socks for the rest of his life :-}

Challenge

Piecework Magazine had a challenge in their May/June issue that was right up my alley.
They asked us to use directions they provided from Weldon's Practical Needlework Volume 10 (published in the 1800s) to complete a crochet project. Both projects were among those I had wanted to try anyway, so I decided to try my hand.
Instead of just making the item, I decided to create a complete clarified pattern translation into modern terms, using a smaller version, and providing several photos of the steps involved in a pdf.
I finished one of them today. I may or may not do the other, easier one another day. I am kind of melty-brained right now.
Who knows, if they like my work, they may ask me to consult with them in the future (at least the challenge mentioned that possibility).
I own all of the Weldon's books except volume 3, and also have several digital files of vintage needlework patterns (Yay Gutenberg Project!). I often go to them for inspiration in designing.
If Piecework is not interested, I will post the pdf here, and on Ravelry.

Idea scooped from Mokihana

Outside my window… The backyard is green filtered through green, all the maples and the grass, the weeds providing the birds with hiding space.

I am thinking… about the patterns waiting to be designed, and how Deborah Newton's book will help.

I am thankful for… my life.

From the kitchen…Oscar made delicious grilled pork chops, and I had a lovely big bowl of carefully selected fruit without getting sick

I am wearing… my soft green dress

I am creating… a magical mosaic square from Barbara Walker's pattern, for a winter afghan.

I am going… no where until next Friday, when we will go see No Doubt (and Paramore) in concert.

I am reading… Designing Knitwear, by Deborah Newton, and Small Favor by Jim Butcher.

I am hoping… I can find a knit meet accessible to me, that meets on Fridays.

I am hearing… the air conditioner, and some birds

Around the house… in transition.

One of my favorite things… cuddling my husband

A few plans for the rest of the week: More sorting and discarding and making space.

Adventure and excitement

I have just started reading a book called Designing Knitwear by Deborah Newton.
Now, this book is considered a classic in knitting circles, and I have long wanted to read it.
I am SO glad I invested in a copy. Already her sections on basic design and 'seeing' things with the eye of a designer make sense of how I've been working.
Those flashes of inspiration from my photos of old iron and wood and how they are translating into new projects make a lot of sense to me now. I feel less weird, and more confident of my design choices :-}
And best of all, she is not elitist as so many books on design seem to be. She firmly believes anyone with the interest can learn and grow and design, whether it be an entire outfit for Vogue, or simply taking a yarn, and a stitch pattern and creating a lovely special scarf as a gift. The same system of making choices is integral to both.

Leaves

Just another view of the Eden scarf:

Finished Eden Scarf

This will be for Ysabeau. I love the sparkle in the Mossyplace! I used the yarn left over from my Dragontial shawl, combined with some Noro Silk Garden to be certain I had enough yarn for the project. I love how well the colors combined. It was a fun project! (from the book "Knit Along") I will likely make a few more of these, maybe for presents for my nieces for Yule this year.

Happy Summer Soltice!

My summer hat

I made a hat to wear when riding around in my chair outside. Going 6.4 miles per hour can kick up a bit of a breeze, so I needed it to fit closely. I also wanted it broader in the back, with just enough brim in front to help shade my eyes, but not obscure my vision.
I based it on Lion Brand's Brimmed 'Straw hat', but as usual adapted it.
My Ravelry notes:
"My head is only 21 inches around, and the hat pattern as written is finished at 23 inches. I used a smaller hook, and dk weight yarn and adapted the brim to increase more rapidly so that my eyes would not be covered.
I used a single strand for the crown of the hat, to provide more aeration, and doubled the yarn where I wanted the hat to be stiff.
It will fit snugly, and not slip around, when I’m racing around on my wheelchair :-}"

Dragontail Live At Last!

I am so happy! My Dragontail Shawl is live and available, and has already received some very appreciated feedback :-}
I think this one is my favorite pattern to date, mainly because it is so fluid and forgiving, and pretty easy to knit, too. And it will stretch in all 8 directions and fit whatever shape ya got.

Patternfish has is HERE and
Ravelry has it HERE.

(That's Amanda looking all sexy and Siren-y on the Patternfish page)

I was also able to snag a premium Ravelry ad which will go live on July 16th (pending approval of my ad copy, submitted today). The ad is the image at the head of the blog today. The photos below are some more versions of Dragontail.
Yarns Used: Mirasol Hacho, Berocco Seduce Colors, Rowan Damask and Blue Heron metallic Rayon 'Mossyplace' (reminds me of botanical naming conventions :-} )
Next up? Hmm... either the jacket/bolero, the triangle stole, the triangle shawl, the crocheted scarf (one of the two versions) or the stole I am calling "Withy". Or maybe the baby pattern I started last Winter. Or a sweater for Oscar, or a jacket for Sean-boy.

Dragontail Almost live

The pattern has been accepted by Patternfish, but since this weekend is TNNA, they are a little busy.
I expect to get the URL next week sometime.
Then I can put it up for sale on Ravelry.
For now, here's a preview.

In the meantime, I am taking a small break from my patterns and knitting something called the Eden Scarf, from a terrific book called Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together. The Eden scarf is fifth from the bottom, on THIS page. I am enjoying the Eden scarf so much, that I may make several. Watch out internet pals...

I'm using the glorious yarn left over from knitting the shawl below (Heron Yarn's Metallic Rayon in Mossyplace), with a bit of Noro Silk Garden to help it be enough.. The yarn was a gift from Marietta.

The shawl on the upper left is knit with Rowan Damask.
The model, of course, is my friend Amanda.

ARCA Racing For Wildlife 200

It was such a gorgeous day yesterday that I changed my mind and went to the ARCA race with Oscar.
I was still in recovery mode from our trip to Ohio, and a few out-of-the blue allergy attacks last week, but the emotional cost of staying behind would have been worse than the physical cost I'm paying now.
I am glad I went. It was a great experience (and my first auto race).
You can find all the details about who won here.

For me, it was one of the best, most accessible experiences I've ever had.
I have been to many a concert where Oscar was stuck with sub-standard seating because that was where my wheelchair could go.
Not Michigan International Speedway.
Our choices were two: either we could be right down in the very front next to the racing, or in the highest seats in the house, with a bird's eye view of all the action. Marvelous!
The folks there to help went out of their way to be certain we were having a good experience, offering a ride to Oscar when they saw his cane.
He took them up on it for the trip back to the van.
I had to insist three times that I wanted to follow along behind in my beloved electric chair rather than ride along, and that was fun too! (My chair goes about 6.5 mph, and I love racing it at full speed :-}
We are going to be coming back, likely almost every year, and camping for the weekend to avoid the traffic. in the meantime, here are some photos:

Peony Time

If I had to choose just one flower... well, let's be serious. I'm Libra with Libra rising, it ain't happening.

But I do seriously adore peonies.
One of the plants left in the garden after the great gifting a few years ago is a burgundy peony, and today they were in full bloom. the photo here is from several years back (note the weeds are all pulled in the bed) but I was able to go out and nab some of the blooms to bring inside this morning.
I used up a few of today's spoons, but it was so worth it. They are keeping me company in an old milk bottle, near my chair.
I'll sit here, watch the extras on my full-series-all-10-seasons Stargate DVD set (the best combination birthday/anniversary gift I ever got), and knit Oscar's scarf for this coming winter while the wonderful scent fills the room.

Warning - Citric Acid Allergy hidden danger

In Answer to Luke's question below, I use this list of foods containing citric acid from Australian Food Standards


I am posting this on my blog, in hopes that it may come to the attention of people searching the term 'Citric Acid Allergy'.

Citric acid is often used as a part of the process used to pre-wash salad ingredients, before being packaged for sale. The packages do not list citric acid as an ingredient, but enough of it remained on and in the lettuce we bought to make me ill this week.
It makes sense. Remember what happens to a white daisy if the vase contains blue water? The petals turn blue as the water is absorbed. Those freshly-cut lettuce leaves are sitting in citric acidified water for long enough the leaves have absorbed it, too. I submit at that point it is no longer a part of a process, but becomes an ingredient.

The owner of the store contacted their source, and both of them contacted me, which gives them high points for customer service, however I still became ill and lost 2 days of work so far this week (I am self-employed).

The letter from the producer stated:

"Misionero has always had an allergen program in place and we believe very strongly in protecting our customers in every way possible.

This is actually why we use Sodium Hypochlorite and Citric Acid in our processes. Water alone does not provide adequate safety when washing any volume of salad beyond your kitchen sink. The reason for this is that we absolutely must prevent the risk of pathogens cross contaminating in our wash process. Our process uses carefully managed amounts of both chemicals, precise agitation and controlled dwell time to produce consistent, measured results.

This is why we believe it to be much safer than washing products at home.

However, in order to use the minimum amount of sodium hypochlorite we must reduce the pH of the wash water, which makes it more effective. We do this using organic, kosher citric acid derived from natural fermentation of non-GMO materials only. Our organic certifier helps us ensure this is done properly and with correct controls.

We do not list citric acid as an ingredient as it is a processing aid only. You may wonder why we use this at all, instead of some of the other methods available such as Ozone, Peracetic Acid, Chlorine Dioxide etc. The reason is simple, at this time this is the safest method possible. We have experimented with other processes and have repeatedly come to this conclusion.

So for now, we will continue to use these materials in the smallest quantities possible. We also continue to look for alternatives and eagerly await the development of something more effective and easier to use.

Again I offer my sympathy for your experience."

Joy of Kitty-tude

New Favorite Pattern

I rarely purchase patterns. most of my knitting time is spent working on my own patterns for sale. Sometimes, though, I find myself looking again and again at something, feeling my resistance wearing away....
One example is the Venus de Merino, (a knitted version of the Venus of Willendorf, see image below) which took me few weeks to decide to buy.
The same designer just came out with Tiki Terror.... a knitted version of a carved Tiki God. It only took me about five minutes to lose resistance to this one. (images used with permission of designer)

Lovely walk today

Oscar and I took a nice walk today. We were getting into shape to participate in the Bridge Walk on Memorial Day (September 7th) this year. Oscar would be walking, I'd be riding in my chair, or at least that was the plan.
Now that Eldora has been moved to September 9th, there is no way I can do both this year. It would mean traveling up to the straits of Mackinac on Sunday, doing the bridge thing on Monday, then driving all the way down to New Weston, Ohio to be there for the race on Wednesday, then coming home.
I am looking at a week or more to recover just from the New Weston, Ohio leg of the journey we made two days ago.
So what we're deciding to do is move the bridge walk to 2010, which would be a celebration of Oscar's 50th birthday (July 7th), and go to Eldora this year (which is a race Oscar has dreamed of seeing for years).
We will still be doing our walks, to get into better shape, but the bridge walk has been put off a year due to rain this past Wednesday.
Anyway, I took a few photos while we were out today, then played with them in Photoshop.

Home again, home again...

When we got out of the van in the Eldora Speedway parking lot, it didn't look too promising:

When we made it into the speedway, it looked even less so:
It was no big surprise that they called the race sometime after 2 p.m... MUCH better than the year they waited until 11 p.m. to make the announcement, I'm told. Prelude to the Dream has been postponed until September 9th, because of rain, not only in Ohio, but in Charlotte, North Carolina. Weather kept the planes grounded, and without drivers and crew, racing just doesn't work very well. It was somewhat of a relief, since the temps were in the high 50's and low 60's (fahrenheit) there today. Never before have I been so grateful to wool hat and shawl!

Still, on the way home, I saw a stark and lovely view from the window as Oscar stopped to re-check the map,


We'll be back come September.

Off on an Adventure

It's half adventure, half test.
Oscar and I are traveling further than I've gone for 5 years. We will be attending a late-model dirt track race for charity called Prelude to the Dream.
My new tools include my motorized chair, which has it's own shocks, and a belly binder, which I hope will reduce the trauma to my abdomen when riding in the van. I fully expect to have some level of recuperation needed when we get back, but if it's not too bad, it really expands what Oscar and I can do together.