Now the Olympics are over...I am baring my sole...

This is a gold medal winning Ravelympic sock! "My Little Koigu Socks." My friends are laughing because these are the simplest, plainest socks you can knit. Size #1 DPNs (little double pointed needles) and charming Koigu yarn PPPM Painter's Palette Premium Merino. What's the fuss you might be asking? Well these d$%# socks took me over a year to knit, at least 5 pairs of socks and countless other projects in between. They are simple, they are boring and I couldn't stand to knit them, but now they are dearest to my heart socks because they won (a personal goal) in Works in Progress Dance event on Raverly and I'll even get a pin. Does it get any better? Debbie and Donna-Marie, stop laughing please.

Koigu! The best sock yarn going..

This, my friends is an Ravelympic sock! Entered into the WIPS Dancing Event - it didn't make it to the finish line.
But the big news: Heart and Sole, our new sock group, did make it to the finish line and grabbed gold for having a successful and terrific first meeting. Debbie S., (BSKE) Best sock knitter ever.. and I have had fun getting this together. Free patterns, monthly sock tips, food, games, money prizes (just kidding- well who knows?) etc. Next meet up: March 10Th, Wed., Borders Cafe, Chapel Hill, Akron, OH. 6.00pm -8.30pm. The fun part is we aren't attached to any local yarn store...gives us some room to breathe.
PS We voted on the name. There were 10 of us and I think 9 names, but we picked Heart and Sole and Julie B. won a skein of Opal wool/cotton/nylon blend. She's happy.

Ahh William Penn atop City Hall, Philadelphia, PA where I was suppose to be last weekend to do a number of "knit activities" and a "bombing", yarn that is. I had to cancel:bad sickness and the 12 plagues, but kept thinking: "I can get on the plane, it's only a short trip..." I think I would've died. Then we had 8in. more snow that day/next day and Philly got 5 and I stayed in OHIO plus Loop Yarn Store http://www.loopyarn.com/ let me know that Clara Parks ("The Knitter's Book of Wool") had cancelled (I was taking her workshop.) I started to ease up on myself for missing the trip.

This is Cheryl J. holding her rat, her giant rat. Those crocheters can do anything! Pretty nifty huh? This was going to be a rat attached to the Anarchist's building on Baltimore Ave. between 47Th and 48Th in Philly. I made a bright orange one. Hers was mooocho better. In a way I'm glad it didn't get dropped off in in West Philadelphia. Now Cheryl can 'bomb' it somewhere nearby. Finally someone who's thinking with me here. She's already done some flower bombs with her daughter! I want her to make me a big bumble bee next. More on a local bomb after we figure out what we're doing... I'm thinking flowers everywhere...

My cousin Linda who was one of the 'Seven Cousins Who Learned to Knit' and has become a DGK (darn good knitter!) This is one of the hats she's knitted and now has moved on to socks.

Nicholas, also my cousin, will hate this picture because he's lookin' dorky and he's anything but...has learned to be a DGK also.This hat is his first and now:socks!

Here are Diane and Kathy from "Ewe & I Originals" a nice local design company that is going very well. Saw them in Pittsburgh at the Knitting Festival. We had a good laugh about some shared experiences and I picked up another great pattern from them. They both taught me how to knit socks years ago and ran a sock group that was way fun. Eweandi@gmail.com.
Okay what are we looking at you're asking, right? From the 6Th annual Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Fest: this is a ton of gorgeous sock yarn, dyed by those masters at Brook Farm http://www.brookfarmyarn.com/ in Lancaster, TX. I bought some great yarn and a pattern from them while at the Fiber Festival in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago.

What's up:

Heart and Sole, Sock Group

March 10Th, Wed. Borders, Chapel Hill 6.00 pm

Knit and Hook, Panera's, Chapel Hill

Mon. nights 6.00 pm

Yarn Over the Falls, Knit Group, Borders, Chapel Hill, Sat. nights 6.00

Sitting on top of my heart...

...an Olympic sock?

another possible contender...

There's just so much going on in my head and on my needles. Autumn House Farm Yarn http://www.autumnhouseyarn.comm/ and I agreed to pursue a book about the amazing work which Harriet, her husband and her daughter, Vicki, (a professional photographer) do for the farm ("Where yarn is born.") and we're getting together the weekend of the 20th to work out details.

I've got the outline ready and Deb Bergman, (former features editort of the Bulletin in Philadelphia) now living in California has agreed to edit so maybe this is one of those knitdreams that will really happen.

I'll be going to Philly at the end of the month (Fri. Feb. 26th) to do a "YarnBomb." Check out http://www.yarnbomb.com/ and scroll down to events...

Other wonderful news: while in Philly, I'll be able to visit one of my favorite stores in this part of the world, Loop on South St. http://www.loopyarn.com/ and meet Clara Parkes, author of "The Knitter's Book of Wool." This book has given me so much great wool info - one of the best references I have. Also I'll be able to stash up on some Koigu PPM from Loop!

I also hope to talk artist Karen Cole http://www.karencole.blogspot.com/ on working out one of her art pieces ("Eye on you...") into an intarsia wall hanging, throw, or shawl. If she charts it up I could work out the knitting, etc. and maybe it also will turn to Spring tomorrow...

And then there's the Ravlympics http://www.ravelry.com/; I'm co-captain to our CF Knit and Hook Group

http://www.meetupcuyahogafallsknitandhook.com%20group/We are one of over 300 teams with thousands of participants all over the world. I'm excited and am in the following events: WIP Dancing, Cable Crosscountry and Stash Dance.
Here are my WIPs that are being entered: my infamous market bag which might just go to the Ravlympics or maybe the Yarn Harlot's Olympics, wwwyarnharlot.com which I've also entered. (FLASH:Whoops, just found out no WIPs with the Yarn Harlot. It's a start to finish event so Julie's mittens might just get done since I have to tink them out and start over.)

The Entrelac Shawl which just needs some of the border finished and loose ends tucked away. That's do-able right?

Calling me back is Koigu PPM and I know that these will get done...
This was part of knitting 2 socks at the same time on 2 seperate sets of DPNs. The good news: Second sock is almost or may be more complete then this one and that's enough to make me want to party my socks off. Watch out, here the WIPs come!

Other very big news: Debbie S. and I are starting/organizing a new Sock Group/Club. "We Knit Sock?" working title. Not keen on it - any suggestions? We will be meeting either the second Tuesday or Wednesday of every month. We're getting really excited about this and have had some tremendous response. I'm singing, "I'm so excited." We will post news in Raverly under the forum, "A Yarn Over the Falls." More and more soon.

Remember what Mick Jagger said , "More is never enough." I hope he meant his creative force... knit on!

Talking about more, just got news of a ride from Cheryl (yay!) to The 6TH Annual Knit and Crochet Festival www.pghknitandcrochet.com for tomorrow. So it will be a stealth visit to see some favorite people, Autumn House Farms included! I feel very travel knitter, I see a realty show!

Of course it's been snowing and snowing here, there, and everywhere, so let's not dwell on it but as I said a little bit ago, "Use brighter yarn!"
And don't forget, IKTIDKY, "I knit therefore I don't kill you..."

OK Now It's Really Cold!

A few days later. I'm knitting but I have to keep putting my hands into my wood fire to thaw them. This might be the last thing I knit...a tea cozy. Whom am I kidding - we'll all be frozen stiff if this keeps up, or down and we won't worry about tea. Last night - wind chill minus 8 degrees. That's cold...

Where Were We?

Well now we have reached the end of January and I've not updated for several months and am greatful for the friends and knitters who have said, "So what the heck is going on here? Brain gone numb?" "Too much snow?"

Pouring coffee at the restaurant last week, talking to Rick the photographer.

"Oh thank God, January is almost over." Me

"Yeah there's only one thing worse then January." Rick

"What?" Me

"February." Rick

"Ohio." Me

"You love it." Rick

"I love snow. Not so much 48 days w/o sun." Me

"So go get some new light bulbs. Use brighter yarn." Rick

So that's the deal girls and boys. I'm using brighter yarn - pictures later (promise - I'm inspired)

What else can I say? Keep creating. Keep writing, fixing, drawing, knitting, photographing, eating chocolate and thinking. Do not for any reason give in to January.

Use bright yarn...write haikus, put new toner on your face, buy lipstick, eat scallops in a light lemon sauce, drink lots o' coffee or tea or a blue drink while laughing with a girlfriend and thin about me, in Ohio, using brighter yarn.

There it is! Lynn's Christmas Sock. The last knitted Christmas present to be shipped. Not bad. Finished Sunday night. That's us, knitting to terrific music and good coffee at Border's, Sat. night.

Nice "Yummy" yarn in blueberry - great hand dyed colors and specks. Good knitting, no splits, a little twisting but a good amount of yarn left over for the "Sock Blankie" project. Or might send it on to "Warm Up America." Must have been 420 plus yds.

Top pics:Crazy Becky's side yard, my house, big ice, my Duffy dog having fun...

End of October: The Start of Christmas Knitting

This is how I've been feeling lately! Just one stitch short of a full row.

Knitting at Angel Falls Coffee Shop in Akron Ohio. Knitters meet Friday nights, 6.30pm til... In photo: Dave, Lisa, Debbie.


In this photo: Christine, Dave, Lisa, Chris. Intense knitting! ...and coffee, tea and cakes and cookies!

We went back to Autumn House Farm three weeks ago. Lynn, one of the editors for this blog, flew in from Philadelphia and drove with Julie B. and I to the farm. It was perfect and I have to figure out how to add the link to all the pics we took. More yarn, roving and good food and beautiful scenery was more than wonderful. Restful Shepherd's Inn kept us knitting, spinning, crosstitching and the quiet was awesome: No TV, computer, phones, videos, radio, etc. Lynn thought we should have brought a radio; after all, how would we know if a tornado was coming! She said that it was for listening to PHC (Prairie Home Companion) but since she's a weather junkie, I knew why she wanted one!

I bought some beautiful hand spun and hand dyed yarns. I'm making a vest from one of Autumn House Farms patterns and I'll take pictures of it as soon as my camera starts to behave again. Becky suggested today to use duct tape rather then buying a new camera but I'm getting tired of having the blog tied up to the whims of my camera and I've always had a good camera since the 70's (yes, I'm that old!) so I miss not having one I can rely on.

OK, here we are. It's already the end of October. In fact tomorrow night we are all going to turn into pumpkins and have to change our time - yet again. Can't they just leave the time alone? But no, soon I'll be walking my dog in the dark at 4.00 P.M. Sigh.

It's been very warm this past week for this time of year. Today it went up to 76 degrees. But because I live in Ohio, I know that any minute, any hour, any day we will get that cold blast that's going to come down off Canada and across our lake. Those Canadians are sneaky bastards. Frostbacks. They want us to get cold and buy their wool. Yeah that's it.

So the heart of this rant is that now is a good time to line up any Christmas gifts you want to knit or get out those that you thought about in March (when you should have started.) Oh I even know some of you have your knitting almost done - Donna Marie... being one. But I also know one of you has beaded scarfs, hand warmers, leg warmers galore to finish. So what are you doing there sitting and reading this stuff? Get knitting!

Let's see: I have two neck warmers done, one scarf, one sock, one mitten, one half of a scarf all WIP. Oh right, there's Scott's scarf that I started 3 yrs ago I should try to finish!
Good luck all.
PS: So maybe I don't have the knitting done but I bought my Christmas stamps at the post office this week and four more boxes of cards to add to the 17 boxes I have in my studio/yarn room (that I can hardly walk through...) And I got my Halloween cards out and one Halloween gift, so there! OK I'll go knit now...

Where Did the Month Go?

This is Ms. Mimi with the big paws who is holding an expensive ball of bulky baby alpaca! I'm making neck warmers for Christmas and thought this would be perfect close to the neck. Mimi also thinks she would be perfect!
Where did the month (6wks!) go? I had decided to do some other projects so put the blog on hold and now am back full time and with weekly updates. Sorry to all who've emailed and face booked me about its updates. Nothing gets my dander more then going to my favorite sites and nobody has updated for awhile. Harrumph. Never again. If I can't get to it, I'll have a staff member do it.
Lynn and Kite are always on the ball. Me, I'm in the yarn.
Tomorrow - new stash. Deadly.

To go with Neruda's sock poem I thought that I would also add another of Debbie's socks. Her socks are so amazing. We are telling her she has to enter the "Socktober" contest at Stitch, Piece and Purl. I don't have a pic of her latest, but I do have one of the her etrelac. She usually knits on #ones: Debbie's socks - the best!

Reading Charts
Also I am teaching a Chart Reading Workshop at Stitch, Piece and Purl on Saturday, October 17 at 2.00 P.M. There's still some room in the group so if you would like to take your knitting to the next level and learn to read, write, and translate charts into pattern writing, join me. E mail me at catestitch1@yahoo.com and I'll hook you up. Bring needles, yarn for practice. I will provide knitter's graph paper (which is different from regular graph paper) and cookies.You will leave being able to read charts! Never again skip a pattern because of a chart...Also if you have a chart that is bugging you, bring it too.

October Mart and Needlework Show - Stan Hywet
Don't forget the Needlework Show and October Mart at Stan Hywet this weekend. Ran (a guy who really knits!) has two needlepoint pieces in the show and I'm excited to see them. This is the finest judged needlework show in this part of the United States. Stan Hywet, through the Needlework Guild has been a long time supporter of the needle arts.
Of course bring some moola for the Mart. Everything from Ohio and last year was a hoot. Yes I spent some money on Christmas presents, ahem. Also look for the stitching tent - good bargains. Last year I bought an encylopedia of stitches from the 1800's for 75 cents. Kite bought Christmas material for pennies.


Go knit. The other day I was thinking with Becky, that the whole world and life is about knitting... Thank you Beckers for bringing me back to knit speed. You can read about her knitting experiences in the book, "Zen and the Art of Knitting."

Knitters - Get Your Knitting Ready...

Well it's officially August...we don't really want to think about back-to-school clothes, lunches, lunch boxes, do you need new shoes again, who's driving the first week, and on and on about all those stupid reminders that summer is ending. What?! You haven't canned the tomatoes and peaches yet?

OK everyone - let's get our priorities straight. Even if you don't have kids going BTS, the feeling is in the air and at CVS, Walmart, you name it.

My number one priority: Put down that stupid cotton sweater I thought I'd have done by now and pick up something that makes sense...i.e. The Braids Cardigan. Using one of Autumn House Farms hand dyed yarn. DK weight, number 6 needle.
Oh what fun. Real wool in my hands again. (Not that I didn't have five other wool projects going but you know what I mean - A new project!)Started this last Sat. and struggled, I mean struggled with getting the first row knit. Setting up the pattern was, I thought for a while, beyond my mental capability to count that many stitches.

I know my attention span is limited but really-when you're counting 292 stitches with pattern and stitch markers, some of us are just a little slower...Stay tuned: I'm on row 3!

More WIP! Market Bags

Harriet at Autumn House (sorry I keep bringing up the same yarn company but their stuff is heavenly), asked me to knit a model for her to kit up for Rhinebeck. Here's a photo of mine and hers which both their handles put on and then Voila' I can start putting cheese and fruit in mine at the farmer's market at Lock 3 Saturday!

This is the one for Autumn House:

Cost of yarn $64.00 3 skeins each of two different colors.

Hand dyed silk, linen and cotton. When I asked Harriet if she realized how expensive the yarn she gave me would be for a market bag she pretty much said that at Rhinebeck they buy anything that isn't under the truck, having come from Manhattan for day, they like to grab fast things...


My bag is made out of cotton from Plymouth and is wonderful to knit with and about $18.00 for 3 skeins. I love this multicolored color combo. It makes me happy to knit. I love the other bag too.

My problem: which is your problem too I bet:whenever someone gives me a knitting deadline, I squirm and try to do everything, (I washed my bedroom curtains the other day...)but the commissioned knitting. Not a bad problem, those curtains needed a wash but now I have to leave the house to get this bag done.

Entrelac shawl is almost done... just finishing up the edging.

I fell in love with entrelac and can't wait to do more. This is after I said that the CIA could use learning this form as a means of torture to replace water boarding.

Red Sock that's been going on for ages - finally to the toe decrease and done! My friend Debbie from CF Knitters and Hookers (we meet Mon. nights at Panera- check Rav or ask me for more info)who knits beautiful socks (she's knitting through Cookie A.'s book) can whip up a pair in no time on size 0 needles. I love her socks. My red are done in a lace rib pattern from Box of Socks that I'm knitting through, in Soft Sea Wool, number 2 needles. I love the yarn. Almost as good as Koigu for socks. BTW sock lovers -- Koigu is coming to S,P&P this month. Keep your eyes open. I'll post as soon as I see it. The little red sock.

Debbie's socks!

Gorgeous!

It Up To Us...

So it's up to all of us now to let those sheep know that we will use some of the skillion skeins of wool we have stashed and start seriously knitting for, dare I say it, an Ohio winter! Or worse yet, Christmas gifts... Good luck knitters. To your needles.