In like a lion, out like a lamb...

...or so the saying goes. There's nothing about the mid-way point, however, and it was at that point that I developed the cold from another planet. It took l0 days to shake and the memory still lingers, but finally i am back to whatever passes for normal around my house.

I'm still slogging away on my hanne falkenberg jacket - the arms on size 2 needles, but I have taken up a few other projects to keep me from getting bored. I have started to crochet more. It goes so quickly and there's a lot of fun in it. You can whip something up so fast and it's well worth the time and yarn involved. I made a wonderful little scarf for my youngest daughter after I attended a party for the new Debbie Stoller book, Happy Hooker, which I bought. I started the scarf that night, using some old Morehouse Merino yarn (don't you feel ever so clever when you use up old yarn and get a neat new item?) If I can help it, I never pay retail, but I did for this since meeting her was a hoot, the value is great and it's fun to have something signed once in a while. Here's a shot of a window on 5th Ave. It's from Bendel's and it shows just how hot crochet is right now. Check out the afghan on the couch!



Spring is trying its darndest to get sprung in New York, and here is some proof. I took this in Union Square Park the other day. The daffodils are beginning to poke up and the one that was in full flower was occupied already by a photgrapher determined to catch it's full throated glory. Nonetheless, I managed to catch a little azaela on the brink! It's so valiant and the weather is still pretty grey - but in another few weeks, it will be joined by some others.






These other pictures are from a walk Richard (aka Magellan the wanderer) took when we were up in Ct. the other weekend. The day was beautiful and as much as I love to knit, I couldn't bear to sit inside, so we climbed a mountain - ok, it was really a steep hill and there was hot coffee waiting for me on the other side --but it felt like a mountain, OK?





Back soon with some more pictures of finished items, I hope. oh by the way, for any of my new york knitters who are in town next thursday, april 6. pls. be sure to stop by the new knitting store, Knitty City, 208 w. 79th st., from 6-8 pm. Pearl Chin, a client and a good friend, is hosting a book signing for the world-famous Maason Dixon women. Their new book, Mason Dixon knitting is an ode to the craft and art of knitting - and to their friendship. I would say as much even if they hadn't included my pattern for a Provence inspired shawl - the lovely Nina - in their wonderful book. Kay, an upper west side woman and confessed Rowan Denim addict, will be there along with Ann Shayne - her co-author and fair isle fanatic.
I'll be there, too. I'm even dragging along Nina - the shawl - not the daughter for whom it is named. Wait til you see what I cook up in the name of my other daughter - Alex!!!

Spring Round Up

Springtime is always a good time for throwing open the windows, emptying the cupboards and reorganizing. I guess the urge to do this must be buildt into our DNA. Lately, it seems as if the blogs I read and the people I meet are all singing the same song. People are despairing about UFO's, swearing to use up their stash and trying to make some sense of the books and patterns they have collected over the past year. I'm no exception. Sick with a cold and tired of buying new needles and yarn when I know darn well that I have too much of both already, I actually forced myself to clean up a few outstanding odds and ends. Yesterday I finished 3 projects that have been in the wings. OK, they are small, but they are meaningful as well. (Two are for children and babies in my life.) The third is a scarf gone bad - It was supposed to be a vest, but it came out a little too narrow so it's now a rather spiffy looking (if I do say so myself) moebuis strip with curves.
Take a look at the fruits of my clean up and what can be accomplished if one gets sick enough to warrant staying home:
Don't get me wrong. I'm not bragging about the projects - they're all relatively fast and simple. It's the idea that I actually finished something besides my last bowl of cornflakes that's got me stoked - god, do i date myself with words like "stoked" , or what?












Here's a bit of sobering news for all my fellow knitting enthusiasts - and proof positive that one should never be too cocky about one's abilities - knitting or otherwise. Remember Hanne's Mermaid? The beautiful jacket that I've been prattling on about forever? The one that I have been knitting since Betsy Ross stitched up the flag? Turns out that my gauge was not what it should have been. How did I discover this? I made the first sleeve and it was too tight and too short! I hadn't really noticed this problem in the body (which has been finished for a few weeks) since it was knitted sideways, and with all the "ease" in garter stitch, it didn't even occur to me. The truth lied in the sleeve which is a much more contained and finite piece of knitting - being just a sleeve. So, rip it out I did. Just the sleeve, I might add. (If I had ripped out the whole sweater, I'd be writing this from the bottom of the East River, believe me.)
I can con the body, but I can't fool the sleeve. I'll start reknitting that some time soon - on needles two sizes larger than I used for the body - we're talking going from 0 to 2 - hope it works. If not, look for the next post to be a little water logged.

Oh How I Love to Get Up in the Morning!

Well, love may be a bit of a stretch, but I do look forward to being a part of any day that has knitting and knitters in it - and last Saturday was no exception. The event honoring Knitting Out of Africa: Inspired Sweater Designs, took place at Knitty City, my favorite knit store in NYC. It was a big success due to the attendance of three guiding lights in the world of knitting, crochet and quilting: Sahara Briscoe, Willena Nanton & Dawn Nellis. Each of them shared their work and knowledge and made Saturday a day to be treasured - and captured as you can l see from the following photos:
Pictured left to right are Willena, President of the Crochet Guild of New York, Sahara Briscoe (aka blogger Sistah Craft), and Dawn Nellis, Quilt Specialist and Fiber Artist. These three women formed the nucleus of our workshops and they drew the attention and appreciation of a store filled with people and customers - all eager for inspiration and technique. I took a lot of pictures,but unfortunately the lighting was not what i would have liked. Think it's time I read the manual that came with the camera ?





I wish you could have been there since these pictures can't hold a candle to the enjoymnet (and enlightenment) experienced by all. Knitty City will be hosting more events (check out our calendar for the 3/l6/06 event), but my sense is that this will go down in my memory as one of my favorites. Thank you, again, to all who came and made it a great day!