Knitting on the Outside

I love to knit outside my home - and i'm not exactly sure why. I like knitting on the subway, knitting on line at the post office and knitting in any available food establishment - and that's just naming a few. I was sitting at the new Whole Foods, overlooking Union Square when it occurred to me that I could be home in my comfy kitchen/dining room knitting away in a jazz ambient room. Yet, there i was in the new coffee bar at Whole Foods, rain pounding on the window that overlooks Union Square park, contemplating the importance of my surroundings. A cup of mediocre coffee to my right (I make far better in my own home) and happy in the middle of the hustle and bustle. A few days later I was in a comfy chair in starbucks, the one on spring street, where the crowd is diverse, to say the least, and there are always more patrons than chairs. I waited on line, with my knitting, for at least l5 mins. to pay an exorbitant amount for another mediocre cup of coffee and to seize a well-worn chair next to a window. There I sat, like mother McCree, knitting away on a little alpaca fichu (picture to follow). Is it the need to be noticed? I don't think so since one can do just about anything in this town, short of murder (sometimes including that) and not be noticed. Is it the community? What community? I'm the only one knitting. Is it the need to not be alone? I'm practically an only child - alone is one of my favorite states of being. i'm not sure, but somehow it's so comfy (and comforting) to be surrounded by others while I'm knitting. It's as if I'm creating a little warm homey spot in the middle of the city's hustle and bustle. It pleases me beyond explanation. If you, too, like to knit alone in public, please let me know your thoughts on this.


In the meantime, here are some examples of the things that I have been toting along on my sojourns. The first is a side-ways picture (it takes too long to explain this or to try and staighten the darn thing out) of my newest little beauty from Scarf Style. It is a close up of a wonderful little fichu (correct spelling, pls, i failed french twice) that comes from one of my new favorite books, Scarf Style (by Pam Allen). This is my very first beaded project and I loved it. I used an alpaca warm brown and blended it with black in order to give it a little contrast. The alpaca came from an acquaintance's farm: Her alpacas give the most beautiful wool that turns into the most beautiful alpaca yarn i have ever worked with. It's worth checking out www.whitelighteningfarm.com. Next to it you will see my Rowenta Iron. This is the iron that can tame any Stockinette Stitch. It simply steams any and all curly wurlies into submission and is the true heroine behind my knitting career.
The second is a hat I made for my 5 year old god-daughter, Olivia. It's felted and the original wool is from Cascade. It is cascade 220 in a fabulous shade and i accented it with a little light spring green. Olivia has strawberry blonde hair and she's lovely so this will add a little more lovliness to her life, hopefully. The last picture is a sweater I knitted for myself. It fits well (i'm quite pleased - especially with the neck) It's from the Spring issue of Sandra which contains a plethora (love that word!) of great summer knits. href="http://">http://www.germandeli.com/sandra.html. It's made in a wonderful cotton/nylon blend from Katia called ALBA. Sadly, I think it's been disscontinued. It's terrific stuff.

As you will see, I knitted the scarf and my sweater in true New York City fashion dark colors. It may be spring, but we don't get carried away by frivolity here in a city that reserves its brightest colors for its parks and its young children. A fashion note: a friend of mine, who is a fashion director for a major publication told me that she attended a trend forecast presentation the other day. The news from that corner of the universe is: Black is Back! I never knew it went away! In a city where soot is more ubiquitous than fresh air, one can never go wrong with that most basic of non-colors. Besides, dark colors make me look thinner - and for that reason they will always be in style for me!

New Day!

Dawn Breaking

Sunrise Service

Easter Morn

This morning I was in the country and I happened upon this sunrise service. It's all one really needs to say about Easter, don't you think? Nothing is as full of promise as a new day - or a new life. Happy Spring!

"Go!"

"Clio"

Hats Are Cool!

I love knitting hats - just the way lots of people like to knit socks. They're portable, they're easy, and they're fun. When someone stops you on the bus or subway and asks, "what ya knitting?", you can hold one up and they "get it" immediately. When you knit for a baby, the appreciative comment is always accompanied by a nice round "Oh" sound. The neatest thing of all about hats is that (unlike socks) you only need to knit one of them. (Unless, of course you are knitting for someone like my mean old Aunt Ruth who needed an extra hat for her extra-nasty head.)But I do digress.....

Pictured here is my newest creation: A dainty little number done for a dainty little girl. I have named it Clio, after the newest tenant in our brownstone. Born a scant week ago, it will be a little while before she wears this sweet number, but I had such fun making it that I had to share it with my small band of readers. The hat itself is the standard knitting in the round pattern for hats. The trim idea is cribbed from a neat little knitting book called, Designing Children's Knits (or something close to that. I'm kind of tired or I'd get up and look).

Before that, in the photo line-up, you will find the cover of a Playbill from the musical, The Putnam County Spelling Bee. This charming little show is ending its run off-broadway, but don't despair. It's moving to the "big top" - broadway - where it will continue to work it's magic. If you get the chance, do see it. I guarantee that you'll recognize just about every "kid" in the show. It will take you back in time and as funny as it is, it's also very touching.

They ask for volunteers to participate with the actors. The thought of this normally sends me running in the opposite direction. However, I was a whiz-bang speller in elementary school so I volunteered to be one of the 4 audience participants. Unfortunately, they didn't see my value quite as clearly as I did, so I was not chosen. Nonetheless if you do go, and you do see someone with a clipboard soliciting volunteers, step right up. I guarantee you'll have a ball - and so will the audience. (Just don't tell them you're in marketing -they never pick the wise guys).

Rockefeller Center/Sunday in NY

Girls in the City - Nina in the middle

Weekend in the City

I'm very fortunate to have 3 children, two of whom are my daughers, Alex & Nina. My eldest, Nina, is in town this weekend. I love it when Nina comes to town since she usually brings someone neat with her. This time, it was two of her friends. They fill the house with good energy, laughter and a sincere desire to hunt down every bargain in the town. Among many other things (and people) in their lives, they love wine, life, one another and a good time. Here are some pictures of fabulous women who know how to have a good time - in a great city.

SAGA OF THE GATES - PART II

Me Passing through the Gates

Gates on the Go

Gates On High

BABY GATES!

DON'T MISS THIS!

A Look Back & a Recommendation

My b-in-law, Matt, is a very talented photographer. Here are some pictures he sent me to commemmorate our family day in the park. I've titled them accordingly. As you can see, his work surpasses mine. The baby is my great nephew (figuratively & literally) Ian, who had the best seat in town, as far as I could see. (Baby strollers today are basically thrones on wheels.) He's growing so fast that he's outgrown my fabulous wardrobe of hats (6 - but who was counting as I knitted them) and is now in the deer stalker mode. This hat was a needed accessory on that day as we were all a little tempest tossed. He's always been an observant baby and that day in the park he really got an eyefull. The woman passing through the gates, back to camera, is yours truly. You can tell since I'm toting my signature purse - an orange little number that gets more compliments on its attractiveness than I ever have received. I figured it was the perfect color coordinated day for it.

The Look Forward

If you're in town and get a chance and want to laugh for over 2 hours, go see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It stars John Lithgow and Norbert Leo Butz and is an accurate remake of the Michael Caine/Steve Martin movie. It is the best fun i have had in the theatre since I went to the movies with my first boyfriend in high school. It's opening formally on Friday. I don't care what Ben Brantley has to say - he can be a bit of a party-poop, you know - go see it if you can. It's a hoot and the cast is loving it, you can tell.