Major Knitter

Hogwarts Revisited

As you're all probably aware, the latest installment of the Harry Potter series hits the big screen this Wednesday, July 15th.  I read the book once, when it first came out in 2005, but haven't read it since.  I decided I needed a little refresher course in my Harry Potter knowledge.

I'm already enjoying delving into the magical world of Harry Potter.  It's no wonder millions are anxiously awaiting the 6th film.  I probably won't go until the weekend.  How about you?  Will you go to the midnight showing?  Do you secretly dream about designing some knitwear for the cast to wear in one of the upcoming movies (OK... I think they're already filming the 8th movie, so it's probably a bit late for that pipe dream).  

Little Red Riding Scarves

I'm industriously knitting all three scarves for The Red Scarf Project which I outlined HERE.  I already showed you a picture of the Red Mistake Rib Scarf.  But when I was living camera-free I was unable to show you any pictures, so here goes.

This is the very beginning of The Red Herring Scarf.  It's a fun pattern to knit and I like the zigzag texture of the scarf.  I also like that it's very definitely unisex.  Another great thing about this scarf is that it's not bulky.  It knits up very flat.  I'm using Comfort DK on this one and US Size 5 needles.

The quickest and easiest scarf to knit of the three is my Mistake Rib Scarf knit on US Size 7 needles with Plymouth Yarn Baby Bunny.  This should fluff up nicely when it's washed and blocked as it has cotton, rayon and angora in it.

Last but not least, is my favorite scarf of the three:

This is the Besotted Scarf, which I prefer to think of as the XOXO scarf.  It's got just enough cables to keep it interesting and I adore the pattern.  If you look at it, it's just a cable pattern.  If you look again, it's an XOXO pattern.  How cute is that?  I'm knitting this on US Size 7 needles with Filatura di Crosa Zara.

Wilma the Watch Dog

Here's Wilma guarding the bedroom door at the top of the stairs where her favorite guest was sleeping.  

How's that for doggy devotion?

Finishing Friday - One Sock Done - 1/4 Left to Go

Wow - can you believe that I actually have a Finishing Friday item after so long?  Well, I sort of have a Finishing Friday item.  I finished the first sock from my Knitting Central Sock Club.  It's Danni's Chutes & Ladders (available on Ravelry).

See it displayed on this pretty silver tray?  It was a hostess gift from BF's grandmother.  It was originally a wedding gift and she wanted to pass it along to her grandson.  Isn't that sweet?  Maybe I'll be serving up more FOs on this lovely family heirloom.

Thrice is Nice

This weekend I started my red Mistake Rib Scarf for The Red Scarf Project using Plymouth Yarn's Baby Bunny in a red Color 211.  My MIL was visiting and decided to cast on for a purple variegated Mistake Rib Scarf made with Misti Alpaca Hand Dyed Worsted Weight in Purple Pleasure - Color EZ 11.  She also liked a lovely Tropicana colored Bamboo Cotton by The Great Adirondack Yarn Company in my stash - so I cast on for a Mistake Rib Scarf in that yarn, too.

Here's what we've got so far:

Life is good.

Note:  Updated to add the yarn and colors for the above yarns.

Happy 12:34.56 7/8/9

Today at 12:34 (and 56/100ths of a second) it will be exactly 123456789.  How cool is that?

Where I Ponder the Meaning of Moss

So, why is that I'm knitting a lovely pattern and the directions say to knit the Moss Stitch for 4 rows... and then I read the stitch-by-stich instructions for the Moss Stitch only to discover that it's really a Seed Stitch in my mind.  Is this an English vs American definition?

In my mind, the Seed Stitch has always been a K1, P1 pattern over an odd number of stitches (repeat of 2+1)  (You would K that last stitch).  You would repeat this pattern every row.  Or, as some people like to say, knit the purls and purl the knits

Moss Stitch, on the other hand, was a K2, P2 pattern.  On the wrong side, you would then knit the stitches as they present themselves.  On the 3rd row, you would alternate and Knit the Purls and Purl the Knits for a P2, K2 pattern  On the 4th row you would knit the stitches as they present themselves.  This would give you 2x2 block pattern. 

What about you?  How do you interpret Moss Stitch vs Seed Stitch?

Three Red Scarves Are In The Works!

I may have gone a little crazy.  I went to Knitting Central and picked up enough yarn to knit up three different scarves for The Red Scarf Project.  So far, I'm knitting a Mistake Rib Scarf (my pattern); a Red Herring Scarf by Yvonne Kao and one more pattern, yet TBD.  Unfortunately, I'm having problems with my internet connection and photo uploading capability!  Yikes.  But while I'm waiting to fix all the computer problems, I wanted to at least touch base and let you know that I am alive and well... and actually knitting.

OK.  I know.  I'm casting on for way too many new projects rather than finishing some of my other projects.  What can I say?  I have such a short attention span when it comes to knitting.

Have you cast on for your Red Scarf Project? 

Seeing Red

Norma has been on her soapbox again, and I'm so glad.  It's that time of year to start thinking about The Red Scarf Project so everywhere I look, I'm seeing red.

 

Isn't this a fantastic project?  It's so huge.  This year, Norma hopes to collect somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 really nice scarves.  If you didn't go to her blog to read her post, let me give you the Reader's Digest version:  The recipients of these scarves are orphans who are in college.  They are just like your sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, friends.  They are concerned about fitting in and wearing nice things.  Please, please do not try to get a bunch of first time knitters together to make hole-ridden garter stitch scarves for these students.  Think of red unisex scarves that you think your own children would wear.  No lace.  No novelty yarn.  No fantasy fur.  No mohair (too many find it itchy).  There are some great simple unisex patterns on The Red Scarf Project page.  I also have my Mistake Rib Scarf although it was originally knit for a purple project.  It would also work.

I hope you'll join Norma and knit up a really nice soft red scarf for some lucky student.  Wouldn't it be nice to just let them know that someone out there is wishing them well?  What better care package could there possibly be?

Murder, Mystery and Mayhem

Monday night found me all alone with Girly Girl.  BF was traveling.  The boys were with their father.  So Wilma and I settled in for the night with some knitting and Netflix.  

I had never seen The Da Vinci Code despite the fact that I loved the book by Dan Brown.  It was the perfect thriller for a girls night in.  Wilma slept by my feet while I knit and tried to remember the details of the book (which I read six years ago when it first came out).  I remembered very little, so it was fun to see the movie.  It was all brand new to me.

Fortunately, my knitting was not such a memory challenge for me.  I haven't knit in three weeks, but I managed to pick up the Chutes & Ladders Socks by Danni Conway of Knitting Central and quickly pick up where I left off.  Whew.  At least some parts of my memory are still working.  I was able to finish one leg and am nearly done with the K1, P1 cuff.  I plan on taking it easy on the knitting.  Despite the fact that I want to finish these today, I want to ease back into it.  But hopefully you'll see these debuting as a Finishing Friday project very soon.

P.S.  This is the first knitting picture with the new RED Canon PowerShot SD780 IS Digital Elph.  Whew.  That was a mouthful.  

DOA

How long should a digital camera last?  Mine typically last 18 months to 2 years.  If you want to be more precise, they generally last somewhere between 4,200 and 5,000 pictures.  You can tell where I'm heading with this post, can't you?  My digital camera was Dead On Arrival at our weekend getaway to the Hamptons.  That was disappointing as the Hamptons are always a great spot for picture taking.  Everything seems more beautiful there.  The people.  The houses.  The gardens.  The views.  Even the rainy weather was more beautiful there.  Heck.  BF and I took an early morning walk and we thought that the weeds looked beautiful.  But you'll just have to trust me on all this since my camera died and I am unable to provide you with any photographic proof.

I had switched to the Canon G9 for better photographs, but to be honest, I'm not sure that the cost-to-life-expectancy was worth schlepping around that extra weight.  I think I'll head out later today and pick up an Elph.  I like the Elph.  I've owned two of them already.  They're teeny-tiny cameras that pack a powerful punch.  I think they're perfect for blogging as well as photographing two delightful young men who enjoy rolling their eyes at their mother.  What more do I need?

Summer Reading - Dune Road

I've picked up a lovely little summer read at my LBS (local bookstore) Barnes and Noble by a fellow Westport author - Jane Green.  One of the things I especially like about reading Jane's books is that while they take place in a fictional town called Highfield, Connecticut, there are many parts of Westport which appear in her books.  When I read her books, it's sort of like going on a little scavenger hunt and seeing what might be familiar.  In Dune Road, Jane describes the home of our lovely protagonist, Kit, as being a small cape with light green shutters with star cutouts.  Anyone who has ever walked to Compo Beach in Westport will easily recognize the adorable star cutout shutters mentioned.

Another feature I like in this book is that the house of one of the characters, writer Robert McClore, is apparently an old-fashioned white house which is based upon a house at the end of my street (which, BTW, I refer to as the Southern Plantation).  I only know this because I went to my LBS to hear Jane speak at her book signing and she said as much.  

I'm not much of a book critic, so you can read a lovely review by clicking on Sarah Laurence's blog

What are you reading this summer?  

Finishing Friday - Cross Stitch Taxi Cab Santa

Somewhere along the way, I made so many cross stitch Santas from Charlettes's Collectibles that I started coming up with my own variations on the original hats.  

This one is my Checker Cab Santa.  It may be a stretch, but it felt so NYC I had to do it.  Next week, there will be knitting.  I promise.  Have a great weekend everyone.  I hope the sun will shine for you wherever you are.

Gorgeous Gloves Just in Time for Summer

Lisa brought her finished gloves to our knitting group yesterday.  Aren't they spectacular?

Look at some of the detail on the palms

Did I mention that they are spectacular?  Yes, I did say that.  I just wanted to be sure.  These are the Annemor #8 gloves from Selbuvotter by Terri Shea.  You can read more about them on Joan's Ravelry Project Page HERE

And to be honest, with this cold weather we're having in Connecticut, it doesn't seem strange at all to wear gloves in June.  Really.  

Treasure Hunting

Today our Kaffe Fassett Group met at Joan's house for some knitting and friendship.  We were looking through some books in Joan's library when Lisa and I got giddy at this treasure hiding on Joan's bookshelves

She purchased Tudor Roses at a clearance sale at a LYS.  What a deal!  She wasn't even aware that it sells for somewhere between $150-$275 on Amazon and ebay.  Wow!  Good work Joan.

'Cuz I Got Nothin'

Well, without much knitting going on, it really is challenging to keep up with interesting posts for a knitting blog.  But just the same, I will say that I'm going to delay the Lacy Tank's frogging for a little while.  It may have earned a second life thanks to your encouragement.  

My hand is feeling much better since I've taken some time off from knitting.  I may even pick up a project tomorrow and work on it a bit.  Won't that be nice to see some actual knitting on my knitting blog?

That's it for now.  I felt I had to post about something because I didn't want you to think I had gone all Mark Sanford on you.  I do like to hike.  But not that much!  (Do you think Sanford really participated in Naked Hiking Day?  Hmmmmmm.)

Biking on Block Island

This weekend was a blast.  We biked all around Block Island and camped at the Boy Scout campsite - most people don't even know that there is a Boy Scout campsite on the island!

We took the hydrofoil ferry from New London to Block Island

Camped in tents (the morning after the rain storm, some Scouts found their tents in puddles).

We biked out to Mohegan Bluffs and walked down the steep steps that are advertised with a sign that says "Severe Exercise"

At the bottom of the steps we walked along the beach and enjoyed the surf

I liked the rocks.

I liked the surf.

It was a fun-filled weekend that I got to spend with my two boys... and several Scouts and families.  I always enjoy the fresh air and witnessing the amazing things these boys do.  There were great moments of leadership, encouragement, adventure seeking, fun and games.  It's a true pleasure to witness all these things happening in one short 36-hour period.

Scouting on Saturday

Look what came in the mail for me!

It's my special patch for being part of the staff for the Boy Scout 100th Anniversary National Jamboree next summer.  I am so excited!  I might just sew it on to my uniform today.

Finish or Frog It - Lacy Tank Top

OK - last May, I fell in love with this Lacy Tank #5 by Tahki Stacy Charles and just had to have it - IMMEDIATELY.  But before I got to the neckline shaping, I had lost that lovin' feeling.  So it's been sitting in the WIP pile all year.  I've been carefully comparing it to a tank top I own and wear to be certain I get the sizing right.  Here's where I left off last year.

I was all ready to make this a Frogging Friday post, but had second thoughts.  What do you think?

Should I Finish or Frog It?

Wilma - Tongue to the Right

The crowds have spoken.  There was an outcry for Wilma pictures - tongue to the left, tongue to the right, sleeping, whatever.  So I proudly present Wilma - Tongue to the Right (her right, that is)

I just love this unlady-like pose of hers.  It's her favorite way to sit - leaning against the wall with her legs splayed open sideways.

And because you were so patient and understanding, I present a bonus picture of Wilma with her torture toy.  You've seen these, right?  They provide hours of peace and quiet for us, the owners, because you wedge a snack inside those funny groves at the end of the bone and it takes Wilma hours to lick it out of the bone... I don't know if it's cruel or kind.  I guess she likes it.  My girly-girl certainly does like her toys.

PS - Amy of Home Acre suggested I show a picture of my yarn stash so that she wouldn't feel so bad about her ever-growing stash.  I don't know about that one.  I'll have to think about that request a bit more.  My yarn stash might scare you.  I know it's starting to scare me.  I don't really want anything scary in my life right now.

Why There's Nothing to Blog About

When you're giving your hands a rest (perhaps even from the cross-stitch), it's really challenging to maintain a knitting blog.  I mean, what do you blog about if you're not knitting?

My point exactly.

So I stretch my imagination and wonder what you, my ravenous readers, want to read about that will not bore you to tears.  These things come to mind

• Future knitting projects
• Wilma and her Tongue 
• Recipes 
• The Great Outdoors (but this requires me to actually go outdoors) 
• Happenings in my Hometown 
• Wilma, again, with her tongue lolling out (to the left this time)  
• Current status of WIPs and UFOs (at least that's knitting, even if it's stale) 
• Flower pictures 
• Books I'm currently reading
• Yarn Stash 
• Netflix DVDs I'm currently watching 
• Adventures 
• Wilma, perhaps a video this time so you can actually hear the hilarious noises this girly-girl is capable of making  

And you thought you were living vicariously through me.  Today's adventure includes my annual physical.  Don't worry, there will be no pictures.  But then again.... 

The Piano Tuner

Last month I started a fascinating book - The Piano Tuner - by Daniel Mason.  As I've mentioned before, the time between Mother's Day and Father's Day is so crazy that I found I really didn't have time to do this book justice - so I put it down until I could devote the appropriate amount of time and attention to this intriguing tale.

I'm about 2/3 of the way done with this book.  It seems that something ominous will happen in this book.  It felt that way from the first chapter. I don't know - maybe it's all the obvious foreshadowing in the book.   Nothing horrible has happened yet, but I'm still waiting.  I can't put my finger on it, but there's something in this book that reminds me of The Constant Gardener.  Will they turn this into a movie?  Will Ralph Fiennes be cast in the title role?

Stitching on Sunday

I managed to finish my Charlette's Collecitibles St. Nick Santa today.  I use nearly twice as many buttons as provided.  I have a jar of antique buttons and I just dive through them looking for ones that will work.

I use the plastic canvas that comes in the kit and 3 strands of DMC floss.  I embellished the gems on the hat with red beads and added the extra buttons as mentioned above.  The effect when this ornament is hanging on the Christmas tree is really stunning.  The beads and the buttons glisten in the lights.  I think I've made about fifteen Santas from this collection so far.  

The KGB Soup

I took my latest box from the Stone Gardens Farm CSA and decided to try my best to use all the yummy food before it goes bad.  One of the easiest ways to do this is to make a batch of soup.  This is what I came up with - The KGB Soup.  While it has a catchy name, it doesn't really have anything to do with the KGB.  It stands for Kielbasa, Greens and Beans Soup.

Ingredients

• 1 lb bag small white beans
• 5 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth)
• ¼- ½ lb smoked sausage (Kielbasa) – sliced into thin slices (omit if making vegetarian soup)
• 5 garlic snapes scapes (Thanks Norma!)– finely minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion – diced
• 2 tablespoons freshly minced parsley
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 bunch kohlrabi leaves – washed , deveined, and julienned

Soak beans in cold water overnight.  Drain and rinse.  Fill pot with beans, beef broth, and sausage.  Cook for approximately 30-40 minutes.

Here's a picture of the Kohlrabi leaves being individually deveined.  I then stack them in a pile, roll them tightly and julienne slice them (until they look like little blades of grass).

In a separate sauté pan, heat olive oil and saute the garlic scapes and onion. Add salt and pepper if desired.   Once the onion and garlic scapes are tender, add them to the cooked beans in the soup pot along with the parsley.  Cook for approximately 20-30 more minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Five minutes before serving, add the finely sliced kohlrabi greens.  Cook just until done.  Serve immediately.  Drizzle top with a bit of olive oil if desired.

All the greens were in my CSA box this week.  I had some kielbasa and onions in the refrigerator and some small white beans in the pantry.  It was quite a tasty soup, if I do say so myself.  It has the added benefit of delivering a powerful punch with all those leafy green vegetables.  Yeah!  What recipes do you have for kohlrabi greens and garlic scapes?