Knitting Pharm

Fall project Redux

Fall project Redux, originally uploaded by knittingpharm.

Will this calm the crickets?

Went to Sock Summit, returned with yarn!

Went to Sock Summit, returned with yarn!, originally uploaded by knittingpharm.

This is not an exhaustive portrayal of my acquisitions, but I think it shows a piece of the heaven that was Sock Summit. Several have become projects already. As you can see, the teachers were spoiled with gifts by the vendors and sponsors.

Teaching was awesome, there are really no words.

How was Sock Summit for you?

The way the Cookie (A., that is), causes my resolve to crumble

Project catch-up post #3 of ???

Cookie A's recent book, Sock Innovation, is nothing short of spectacular, and I'm knitting my way through it.  The whole thing.

Rick in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select Semi Solids:

Bex in Cascade Heritage:

 

Kai-Mei in Madelinetosh:

Kristi in Opal solid:

 

Eunice in London Wul handpaint:

 

Angee in Cricket Cove handpaint:

Sunshine in Fortissima Socka:

It was a heckuva spring and summer for sock knitting.

Reptilian Porn

Project catch-up post #2 of ???

Sheldon from Knitty Winter 2006.

Scraps of Bernat Satin and similar.

And for the commenter who demanded more, this knit was for your little great niece.  [Or great little niece, in my opinion!]

 

 

Lots of modifications involving "knitting on" instead of seaming.  This was fiddly, but worth it for the clean finish.

I heart the naked turtle.

Don't mention it

Project catch-up post #1 of ???

Emma's Unmentionables from Knitty Spring 2008.

Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, shades chosed by the darling daughters from the WALL of Cotton Fleece at Halcyon Yarn in Bath, Maine.  Knitted over a short period in May 2009, amid questions of "Aretheyreadyyet?  Aretheyreadyyet?"  My girls call them their pantelettes.

 

 

[Note the knee socks from Summer 2007.  Now they fit the baby!]

Happy kids?

You could say that.

Knotions Fall 2009

The Fall issue is live, and my newest sock pattern, Dunn's River, is in it.

Thanks to the incomparable turtlegirl and the turtlesister for their creative and stunning photography.

Lots of great stuff in this issue - check it out!

Run-by Update

I'm packing for Sock Summit.  I can't believe it's time!  This time tomorrow I'll be in the air, freaking out that I have packed insufficient or incorrect yarns for the week.  Oh well, there's always the Marketplace.

I'll be working the Marketplace's "Lucy Booth" (knitting help for a nickel) on Friday afternoon, teaching 9 hours in total and auditing a class with... wait for it... Barbara Walker.  Yes, THAT Barbara Walker.

A couple of blogkeeping items:

• I have added links to my for-sale patterns.  Look to the left.  Click on a photo to see its pattern page in Ravelry, click Buy Now to purchase a pdf download.  No Ravelry account required to buy.

• I have joined Twitter to document where possible the amazing experience of Sock Summit.  Look to the right.  Follow at your own risk.

Happy knitting, all!

2009 - the year of the sweater

The lovely and gracious Lesley/YesIKnit/Lulubelle has already shared a sweater project (below), but there are many, many more to share.  I'll dispense with the whole apologizing for lack of blogging and explain all that later.  For now, the sweaters!

Fleece Artist Lady of the Lake.  All mine, all bluey green goodness.  I love the ease of the pattern and that it's knitted on such large needles.  That way, by the time the mohair fuzz drives me crazy, I have a beautiful jacket as a prize!

Susie Hoodie.  This one was a hard-fought battle to find a yarn that even approached gauge.  (For a not-new knitter, I knit with a fair bit of tension.)  I finally settled on Berroco Cuzco, at the suggestion of the fabulous Purl Diva in Brunswick, Maine.  It's very heavy and very, very warm.  Now that it's done, I'll have to tuck it away until at least November, but I still take it out periodically to pet it and admire it.  The major modification was to switch out the cable panels for the reversible ones found in A Cardigan for Arwen.  As always, Mandy's work shows impeccable attention to detail.  I love the bias shaping and the nipped-in waist.

The first yarn I rejected for Susie was Knitpicks Swish worsted, which is a great yarn, but too fine for Susie.  However, it was perfect for BFF's son Charlie and Angela Hahn's Sherwood.  Isn't he handsome?

Here is a new pattern, Ramona, that will be available for sale shortly.  Thanks to Lesley for test knitting it and helping me tweak it.  I only wrote it for one size, since it is very boxy and swingy.  It takes a single skein of Socks that Rock Mediumweight or similar.  Watch the blog or leave a comment here if you think you may be interested in it.

This little jacket was knitted for baby Jade and no doubt would barely fit over her little self now.  It's a single skein of Pagewood Farm Chugiak, top-down raglan and lots of garter rib

Much, much more to come, including at least one more sweater!

But the real question is....

My beloved Deb is a wonder to watch knit.

Case in point, the sweater featured today.  She attended my child's birthday party and sat with the other knitting mothers and produced the sleeve while she sat and chatted.  An adult sized sleeve ladies and gentlemen.  And not a stockingette sleeve either.  Marvelously fast, that one.

Check out the detail on this sweater

The hood is divine...

The Sweater: Vivian by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Briggs and Little Soft Spun

Total knit time: 6 days! How does she do it???

But the real question is....

Who is that stunning red head she has modeling it?

Guest blogger lulubelle, filling in for The Divine Ms Barnhill

He said, she said

A few months back, I had the chance to participate in a talent exchange with a dear friend's mom.  She wanted a handknitted sweater for Bill, her hubby.  She, possessing a sewing skill level to which I'd never dare aspire, was offering some homemade Care Bears for my daughters.

The bears are perfect.

And, if I may be so immodest, so is the sweater.

Bill's criteria were simple:  a roomy cardigan, sleeves large enough to accomodate a shirt with rolled-up sleeves underneath, one of those "shawl-thingy" collars if I could figure it out.

Mine were pretty clear as well:  a fabulous, durable affordable natural fibre yarn, a stitch pattern that would keep me jumping, and seamless construction.

I am really proud of this one.  Starting with an old Patons leaflet, I charted the written directions of the stitch pattern and built the sweater from scratch!

[mid-post rant:  Are you effing kidding me, Typepad?  Tell me again why I pay for you?]

 

Yarn is Cascade 220 Superwash, colour is Lichen Heather.  Wearer is thrilled, knitter is too!