PLAY BALL!!!

( logo courtesy Pittsburgh Pirates website)

Take me out to the ball game.... Tonight in Atlanta the Bucs try for #1 of 163. Opening Day in Pittsburgh is next Monday. It'll probably snow!!!

Saturday Sky

Now This is what we want to see in early Spring -- blue sky and the maples in pre-leaf (pollenating)!

A little warmer would be helpful....

Summer Camisole

I apologize. I'd promised to post about this yesterday but life got in the way.

First of all, I was motoring along on this project two nights ago and didn't pay close enough attention. I knit on the purl side....tried to tink. That didn't work. Had to frog the whole thing, about 2 1/2 inches worth. So, recast on and knit 4 rows before going to bed.

Then yesterday DH had an eye appointment in Kittanning to check the "cadillacs" he'd known he'd had for probably 7-8 years. The (new-to-us) eye surgeon did the whole work up. DH still has 20/20 corrected vision, so "cadillacs" are not to the point of needing surgery. After that, I had to drive the 20 miles home....not a problem except the 'new' high Rt 422 bridge, of which there are 3 coming home all together counting the bridge and the exit ramps, triggered my depth perception freaking out and it was a tedious drive down the very steep hill onto the bridges and across the bridges. I was disappointed in myself since the perception problem hadn't kicked in that way in a few years. But the drive was otherwise uneventful. On the way home DH said he might as well go visit the chiropractor, so we did that.

Whew! It was a day!

Finally last night was able to continue working on this project for YE Workshop display:




It looks like a great project to encourage especially young knitters because of its style.




I love how this Caron Simply Soft shines! And it is really soft. It actually is the recommended yarn in the "Knit N Style" pattern, current issue, #13. Since I almost never have knit the recommended yarn, this is rather amazing.

Instead of three colors as the pattern shows, I'm knitting it in two. Will be using the Autumn Red for the empire stripes and the icord straps.

It really is fun to knit, if only I pay attention!

Yes, Spring

Ahh, Spring.

It looks like Spring.

It smells like Spring.

It feels like Spring.



It must be Spring!

Look, some of the rock iris were blooming yesterday! And with them? The contents of The Box from Yarn Elf that arrived for the next display projects! (As always, to see in detail, click on picture!)

The new 'Knit N Style' magazine has an article by Michael Del Vecchio on SHP's anniversary. Of course it will be saved and into the notebook it'll go.

No surprise, I started the next project last night! More on that tomorrow....

Warming Tuesday

A frosty 21 degree dawn has melted as the sun has warmed us to above 30 now on the way to over 50. We have been below average high temperatures for so long that 50 will seem like a heat wave when it is still below average!

I had to take advantage of the sunshine and the hyacinths by the pond to show the progress on my Armenian hat. It is shown atop Meg and Joyce's "Armenian Knitting". I've knitted the chart Meg used for the checkerboard at the bottom and Joyce's knit/knit stitch patterns for the main hat design. Again, these are Jamieson and Smith 2 ply Shetland yarns.

Oh, and the stitch marker? It's a charm bought on the S.S. Badger at their gift shop last summer as we were crossing Lake Michigan to Retreat 2.75.

Easter Butterfly

Okay, so rebooting did it in the end....

Easter afternoon the butterfly comes out of its coccoon to see the world after greeting the dawn at a sunrise service. Notice the blue sky and sunshine.



The back...


Tawny just had to get into the act, as did DH's shadow.


Nikki wants to know why anyone would leave a nice warm house for 40 degree sunshine?

The Butterfly Jacket
Wool Gathering #78 March 2008
Lamb's Pride superwash in Blaze, just over 2 skeins
Patons SWS 'Natural Green' trim
#5 and 6 circulars

download...not

well, still can't get my camera to download to computer, which isn't recognizing the camera. finished the butterfly and wore it to easter sunruse service and it was a sunny but cold day....when the download decides to work, i will share.............

Wearing a Sweater in my Neighborhood

In the early 1950's as a mere peapod, one of the shows I loved was "The Children's Corner" on WDTV. There was a lovely Josie Carey and a puppet master developing his craft with my all time favorite, Daniel. The Puppet master was born in Latrobe,PA, not many miles away and had become a Presbyterian minister. He was born as Fred McFeeley Rogers, but we knew him as "Mr. Rogers".

WDTV was the first and only television station in the Pittsburgh market, owned by Westinghouse, and became KDKA. In the 1960's, the program changed to WQED, Pittsburgh Public Television with the name change of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood". It later moved to Canadian public television, then home-based back in Pittsburgh. But the sweater Fred Rogers wore remained on air all those years. It became one of his trademarks. And his mother used to knit him those cardigans from childhood on.

Today would have been Fred Rogers 80th birthday. Yet he's forever with us on PBS reruns. We wear a sweater in my neighborhood, this First Day of Spring and Fred Rogers' birthday.

The sky is sniffling...

The sky is sniffling. We have not had all that much rain, nothing like the flooding elsewhere from this system. Our heaviest rain is yet to come over the next 24 hours. At least it's to be almost 60 today.

Heavy cloudcover and misty-drizzle precludes outdoor shots, so these, taken on a living room recliner, will have to do. (Click each photo for detail.)


First, we have an update on the Butterfly Jacket. One front is completed with the second being in the short row increase area. This is really enjoyable to watch take shape.

Yesterday, however, I had a case of startitis.


Being on the Ravelry Armenian knitting list and being a co-moderator, I was overdue to start an Armenian knitting project.

This will be a hat. I'm using J&S shetland 2 ply on 16" size 5 circ to knit first a rolled hem, then a checkerboard from Meg's cat hat example in the book. The main design will be Joyce's 'Knit' design and....not charted but hoped for, an example of the knit stitch on the rest of the patterned area.

The Luck of the Irish

It wasn't the potato famine that brought my grandfather Claude's family to American shores. His uncle was stoned to death in Northern Ireland for being a Protestant in Northern Ireland. The family then immigrated to Northwestern Pennsylvania where my great grandmother was born in Pithole, PA in 1859.

Pithole,PA is now somewhat historically reconstructed, I understand, as it was in existance for only three years during an oil boom.

My grandfather was a prankster, but was extremely serious that I must wear orange on St. Patrick's Day. He had heard all the stories in detail from his mother, but I heard only the above. That was to be enough for me to understand the importance of the Wearing of the Orange, not the Green. While I was in public school, though, one had to have green on for St. Paddy's Day or one was pinched throughout the day. Socks counted.

Although my grandfather didn't imbibe much, my mother bought him the pictured trivet in remembrance of the Irish flowing through his (our) veins. In the Pittsburgh area, everyone is Irish on March 17th. Green beer courses through the taps. Silliness abounds.

Pi Day

No, not This kind of pie...




Rather, This kind of pi...



or,


This kind of pi!

Happy 3.14!

Flitting progress

As the Butterfly is flitting through its metamorphosis, I'll share its stage this afternoon in glorious 57 degree sunshine by the pond.

Since yesterday the phony seam has been started and the increasing (short rows) for Armhole #1 is under construction.

"Nancy"

What Nancy Means

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Butterfly Jacket

So I couldn't stay with the socks or the Bohus or the stole after shipping Pools in the River off to Arizona yesterday!



Last night I started the Butterfly Jacket from WG#78, March 2008, as shown in the last post.

With a #6 circular, I am getting gauge knitting Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Superwash, 001 SW145 Blaze. So far it is soft and 'squooshy' and elastic. This is from stash, thanks to Yarn Elf.

The Butterfly starts out with a provisional cast on. Of all the projects I've knit, I had always fudged a provisional cast on before. This time, I sat down with Meg's Glossary to review what I had seen demonstrated and quickly learned it. Each project must teach me a new skill!

The markers visible in the photo are where I am increasing along the armhole. I want to match them on the other side per ridge.

Monday Mail --WG!

WOOT!

Monday mail is Gooood to-day!

Although I had heard of EZ's Butterfly Jacket, I had not seen one until last summer at 2.75 when Ann made one as part of her contest entry. We discussed how the shaping tended to be flattering on figures for which the ribwarmer didn't quite work. Here, in the new Wool Gathering #78, Meg has knit a butterfly and a variation on the same for the very first time herself (EZ had knit the original, not now available, and Meg didn't have the pattern until a lovely lady sent it to her from the original magazine!)

I am wondering about using 2/3 strands of J&S rather than unspun Icelandic to make one... any thoughts?

Meg also promos books that she will be printing in the next year. These are definitely on my list!

2008 is the 50th Anniversary of Schoolhouse Press and the 35th Anniversary of Knitting Camp; so, there are some very special activities happening.

Cyber blips

Although both Bloglines and Ravelry have had problems today, by far the Ravelry message is the most amusing.

Anniversary

On this day in 1985 the Russelluphagus and Sweetums tied the proverbial knot. He brought me the card and carnations this morning.

Isn't he a sweetie?

No Chance for the Frog Pond

We are back from warmer climes where one day it was 82 delicious sunny degrees.

Very blessed on the trip, we were basically behind and ahead of the rain/ice/snow. We did not miss out on the wind, though. The first night just north of Nashville we missed the snow and ice but were in wind....DH was given his sinus attack there. Mine came Sunday outside of Austin in 40 mph gusts. When I could taste the dust, I knew I was in for trouble.

We had good weather in Oklahoma City and the very excellent news that I have been accepted in 2.75 this summer. Linda was so funny. She showed us where we were to sleep and said, "Your invoice is on the pillow." I said, "Uh..." and picked it up for it to be the invoice for camp. Hugging and squealing ensued. She and many other friends will be back there this year.

Tuesday was a wonderful day with Linda and her DH in which we toured the OKC Memorial and Museum. Very emotional. Pictures are on 35mm film which has not yet been developed. That night I sat in on her class and lost my voice without even talking.

Home we are, 13 hours before the rain. We go under winter storm warning at 5 p.m. today.

Now for pictures -----

This is one of the patterns in Pools in the River.

Here we see the inside of the sweater which is less fuzzy than the outside.
And, voici!, we have a finished Pools drying in 40 mph wind on the hood of the car in Austin. It was finished Sunday, March 2nd. Although it was washed in girly teenage girl shampoo and conditioner, it does still have a faint 'petroleum' odor. The yarn is distinctively odoriferous and has plenty of alpaca guard hairs. The label recommends scarves or hats or mittens, but I wouldn't want to use it for scarves or hats. It is easy to knit with and is curiously heather.

What fun to have it displayed in YE's establishment!