stitch marker

good morning sunshine

Wow.

That's all I can write about  Clara's review of our book over at Knitter's Review. I am awed to see our work written up on her pages, and could not have imaged a more thoughtful or positive critique.

Just when things get so tough and unrelenting and...noisy...that you think you need to go for a month to a special ranch, all of sudden a whole bunch of people are nice all in a row and it makes you feel good to be alive.

First, Martin very suddenly sent me for a night at the Grand Lodge.  A lovely, lonely getaway that I could reach by TriMet bus and luxuriate in for a mere $50 for my queen room, so it was guilt free. We've been there a few times before, primarily for the fabulous soaking pool and frisbee golf course. Except, don't go there, because it was so nice being in that pool alone. ;-) Right above my head, in a fir tree that was intermixed with a blooming magnolia, two birds were making a nest. Hot tub plus nesting was super relaxing.

Then on the way home I found out about Clara's review when our book went to #1 in knitting on amazon.com! And I needed a ride to Tigard for the Tigard Knitting Guild meeting and was escorted totally happily by my friend's husband. Andres was a star, carrying crates of books, moving heavy tables, charming the ladies, and even commenting thoughtfully on all the show-and-tell finished objects.

The Tigard meeting was lovely, and I just hope I did not bore them to tears. There were about 50 people there - a very well organized and well attended guild. And they bring snacks! We did a flower technique together, from the Eden Scarf, and I think a few people really liked it.

Now for a little home cooking and cleaning. Our own little nest needs some mending. It's sort of out of hand. Yesterday Martin edited the toy box (hero!) and today I think I will get the kitchen completely good for a moment, before it starts going downhill again.

Maybe I'll even make wiggly noodles. (Super simple recipe here.)

132. 2.

132 dishcloths are here and accounted for
2 of them were chosen by random.org as prize winners (those 2 above, click the photo to see their names) (as chosen from among all those that arrived by the due date of 3.20.08)
1 of them will win 2 skeins of ShibuiKnits Sock in Seaweed
1 of them will win an as-yet-chosen skein of gorgeous hand-dyed sock yarn from Happiest Girl Dyeworks
I will no doubt not get that nap that I need (unrelated)

if you are eden, don't click this picture

Unless you want to see your baby's finished sweater before I mail it!

Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmermann's February Sweater from Knitter's Almanac.
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy, in Petal Showers colorway.
Vintage buttons from Button Emporium in Portland, OR.

a spoonful of sugar

Makes the shameless self-promotion go down.

Larissa will be signing books and leading a Knitter's Magic Yarn Ball project - perfect to give as a Mother’s Day Gift. You can buy the yarn and all the little gifts to go inside at Twisted. Designer and photographer Sarah Gilbert, who has one pattern and many photos in the book, will join me.

Dads and significant others, this is your opportunity to get a great knittin’ gift for mom, a signed book and a Magic Yarn Ball! Bring your credit cards and children.

At Twisted on NE Broadway, Portland, Oregon. May 8. 6 pm.

p.s. I hope the pretty picture absolves me for this promotional but oh-so-informative post.

do you know about the twisted float shrug?

I didn't.

I didn't really know what I was taking a class to learn. I just knew I wanted to experience a class with Annie Modesitt, and I was offered the last space at Abundant Yarn's all-day shrug workshop. (I wondered how a shrug workshop could even take a whole day, but I found out soon enough.)

First, Annie is just awesome. I love her no-nonsense yet utterly creative approach to knitting. It is so effortlessly both of those things, it's amazing to experience. If I had known Elizabeth Zimmermann, I bet I'd be saying "Annie reminds me so much of Liz!" or something like that. She's funny, too, and a total genius.

The shrug pattern...well...it's so cool.

The shrug pattern was first published in Vogue Knitting in 2005, then republished in their 25th anniversary issue last year. The twisted float method is very much like the braids on Anna Zilboorg mittens, and since I've done those braids I took to it without any mind bending.

But the shape of the shrug is just a thing to behold and was so enjoyable to discover as we students realized bit by bit how it was going to happen. It begins at your back, in a tiny circle. Annie dispensed immediately with any thoughts of difficulty about starting a tiny circle, and we were off. Strangely, the knitting you do is the "private" side and you need to flip over to see what you're creating.

I will not tell you how it's all going to happen. But I can tell you you start with measuring your own body, and you make calculations based on your body that tell you when certain things occur, such as when you put in your threads for afterthought sleeves. The entire thing is an eight-slice pizza, and the sleeves fit in two of those slices. It ends up 100% reversible both in an inside-out sense and because it can be worn as a shrug or turned upside-down and it becomes a longer jacket. As Cara would say, "Dude."

The math of the whole thing is elegantly simple, as most math is.

I've made four swatches now, and can start one of these puppies in my sleep. I think the one above is "it," and I swear on all that's fun and good in this world that I'm going to try to really make this thing. It's too amazing not to.

the days are longer, but not long enough

This little sweater is almost finished. Almost.

But I had to take a break because I got the most amazing opportunity to take an all-day class with Annie Modesitt yesterday. I took her Twisted Float shrug class (more on that after I download the pictures). Today I'm making up for lost work time over the past two weeks.

While I sit, head bowed over grant proposals, the hops are starting to climb. Birds are chirping in high gear. Our locust tree is getting its leaves, to join the leaves already out on our vine maple and hawthorn.

Sebastian is practicing saying "I'm three." So very big. He puts a piece of paper on his head and says "This is my house, Mommy." A piece of straw, "This is a propeller, Mommy." When it's time for bed, "Snuggle me, Mommy." Every second I look at him he breaks my heart.

So so many things I  want to think about, read, cook, knit. I wish I had another entire day for every actual day.