Knitting Through the Cold Winter

 

Some of you asked to see a photo of my Stockholm Sweater.  Here is how it looks so far…I will start the second sleeve tomorrow.  I absolutely love the feel of angora and silk.  The yarn is held double, which gives it more strength and warmth.  It is also not so sheer this way.  I found it easier to wind the yarn double before knitting with it.    

 I also learned to do German short rows recently.  After practicing them on my latest pair of socks,  I am pleased with the results. I knit a lot of socks, so it was an easy way to learn a new technique.  I had the point of reference and understanding of the shape from doing so many wrap and turn heels.

What are doing creatively at home these days?  Winter is such a cozy time.  It is starting to become my favorite season.  How about you?

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Safe From the Los Angeles Fires

 

Thank you for your inquiries about my safety.  I have been fortunate, so far…the devastation is mind boggling.  I haven’t been able to blog because this disaster has made me feel sick.  Many of the dancers and dance teachers I worked with for decades have lost their homes and neighborhoods.  It is tragic.   None of us saw this coming.

 Knitting has helped me to ground and be productive.  I finished the pink socks.  I plan to gift them to my friend who lost her childhood home and current residence in Malibu.  I used to housesit for her parents, and the views and energy were breathtaking.

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Happy New Year! A Finished Christmas Sweater

 

Hello Everyone, I’m sorry it’s been so long since I last posted.  I hope you had a wonderful Holiday, whatever you celebrate.  We have enjoyed a mild winter so far…no snow except for a little bit before Winter hit.

Good news, I finished my latest sweater.  It’s another Carbeth; I used stash yarn.  I ran out of wool, (twice,) so I knit in some self patterning acrylic I had leftover from a pair of slippers.  I crocheted them ten years ago…it felt satisfying to use up the yarn.  What do you think?

Carbeth is designed to be a short, cropped sweater, but I decided to make this one long and cozy.  It covers my bum.  The yarn was from a farm and it had no label, so I wasn’t sure how much I had.  It was given to me by a lady in my knitting group.  She bought it decades ago, in the 1980’s.  It sounds strange, but I feel like the yarn is happy and appreciative to finally be used and worn.  

How are you?  Did you have a nice Christmas?  

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Knitting Challenges

 I am sorry I haven’t posted in a while.  I have been busy with home maintenance appointments, knitting, and working in my yard.  I have a lot of cutting back to do with the lilacs and periwinkle.  

I am making progress on The Nicole Shawl.  I had an enjoyable private lesson with my beloved knitting teacher last week.  She showed me where I had dropped two yarn overs, which had thrown off my stitch count.  It was at the very end of each panel.    I am getting the hang of it.  Lace is so rewarding; I love the texture.   It is an exciting project. I can’t wait to wear this shawl once it’s finished.

This hawk landed on my deck, made strong eye contact with me, and started chattering.  He is so beautiful.  How are you spending your end of summer days?

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Almost Done Knitting a Sweater I Started in 2018

 

I finally took this sweater out of my knitting bag, laid it out,  reread the pattern, untangled  the yarn, and began to finish it.  I had originally extended the length, then realized that I wouldn’t have enough yarn to finish the shoulders and neck. So, I frogged it back and balled that yarn to finish the project.  Too bad I procrastinated for so many years, but the yarn and needles were patiently waiting.   The wool is Cascade Heritage.  A lady in my old knitting group gave it to me.  She said that she wasn’t going to use it.  She had it in a storage bin for decades.  We are still in touch, and have a phone date set for tomorrow.

The pattern of this sweater is called Carbeth.  It’s the third one I have made.  I love the design, it knits up quickly, and it’s a sweater I wear nearly every day in the winter.  I have made it with three different types of yarn, so they all look and feel different,

My Nicole Shawl is coming along, but my count is off by two stitches.  I made an appointment with my knitting teacher to see what I am doing wrong on one of the lace rows.  It will be a relief to clean up the stitch count and get back on track.  It is exciting and inspiring to be knitting clothes  again.  

Are you getting ready for winter?  

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Snug and Warm Noro Socks

 

I finally finished knitting these brightly colored socks with Noro Silk Garden sock yarn.  They don't match because of the way Mr. Noro dyes the wool.  It was so much fun to knit with; I loved watching the vibrant shades unfold on my tiny knitting needles.

We received a welcome break from the rain and snow, and it has been wonderful.  The dogs and I have enjoyed riding the bike in the sunshine.  California looks beautiful and vibrant again.  The hills are so green, after all that rain.  

Today I did laundry and had my roots touched up with henna.  In order to cover grey hair with the paste, you need to leave it on for at least four hours.  I leave mine on for eight.  It's amazing how well the color lasts.  I love that there are no chemicals or dyes.

I picked up the white rabbit shawlette and fox fur that I bought at our local mountain vintage shop.  I had taken them to a furrier in Beverly Hills for mending, conditioning and cleaning.  They now look brand new.  I wouldn't kill an animal for a fur coat, but I hated to see these sitting on a hanger, unused.   What a waste.  They are so warm and soft.  I will keep them forever and take excellent care of them.

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Getting Organized

 

Today I went to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles, for those of you not in America.)  I needed to update the registration on the car that belonged to my dad before he died.  I didn't realize that it had expired.  He had paid it the month that he died, and then time just flew by with Covid.  The DMV was closed when I first tried to fix the issue.  I wasn't able to resolve it online.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I had to write them a check for $1,300.00 to pay for the back fees.  My brother had transferred the title to me, but because of a glitch, it was showing up in the computer as still belonging to the trust.  An expensive lesson learned.  

I switched my health insurance up to the mountains, because it is one hundred dollars cheaper each month that way.  I also changed my address on my car registration and driver's license.  I hadn't been able to do part of that online, either.  What a relief to have it all completed.  My car passed the smog test, so that was another item ticked off of the list.

I was impressed with the new equipment at the DMV.  They have booths for you to punch in your information for any changes or updates to your license.  It's very efficient and easy to use.  I already had gotten a Real i.d.  Those are needed for travel in the US in 2023.  

I finished my socks.  They fit perfectly, and I have been getting a lot of use out of them.  I am working on another pair with Noro sock yarn.  The photo at the top is of my friend Patrick and I.  I went to see him in the Broadway touring company of The Prom.  He had a huge role, and was marvelous.  I was so proud of him.  We enjoyed catching up over lunch outside at The Music Center.  We shared a delicious piece of chocolate cake for dessert.  

How about you?  What's new and exciting?

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Knitting To Reduce Stress and Get Centered

 

This morning I got comfortable on the couch with a cup of coffee, two delicious smelling pillar beeswax candles, and my knitting.  I found this beanie pattern online, and decided to plough through it.  I had a skein of soft alpaca chunky yarn in my stash.  I thought it would be perfect.

It is a simple ribbed pattern, and I did the straight needle version.  It brought me back to my early knitting days.  I knit many dishcloths on these secondhand vintage needles that I purchased at a local church thrift shop.  I had it completed and on my head by early afternoon.  Yesterday I finished a pair of wool socks that I began over a year ago!  

To my delight, it fits perfectly!  I love how the light-colored caramel yarn shows off the ribbing.  The older I get, the more I prefer neutrals, in natural colors from the sheep and alpacas.  Mother Nature knows what she's doing.  

This will get a lot of use.  I think these would make great gifts, as well.  My kind of project: easy, fun and practical!

Long Walks With My Neighbor

 I have been taking some long, challenging walks lately with my neighbor.  She is very fit, and amazes me with how far she walks.  Today we ended our journey with a hike up my path to the cabin.

Because we have had some mountain lions sighted in this area, it's been  recommended not to walk alone.  I really enjoy our conversations, her company, and the new scenery.  The homes in Wrightwood are just beautiful.

Lula is konked out on the couch right now.  I think she finds these hour and a half walks energizing and tiring.  I'm going to relax in a hot bath with epsom salts, and then do some more knitting.  I have regained my enthusiasm for the craft by completing a couple of small projects.  I just bound off on a simple ribbed cowl as I was waiting for my friend to arrive.  It was fast and easy, utilizing a 2x2 knit and purl rib.  I used some yarn that my childhood dance teacher sent to me.  It's from her sister's alpacas.  I will block the dark grey cowl tonight.  It feels so satisfying to be a knitter again!  I have been perusing new patterns on Ravelry.

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Oodles of Yarn I Was Given

Santa came early to the pink cottage-I even get to keep  the bins!

 
Yesterday a friend of mine's face popped into my mind as I was knitting.  I remembered her telling a new knitter,  "I knit for two hours a day."  She was trying to explain to the women who had just started knitting that it takes time, patience, and practice.  They were wanting to jump ahead to complicated patterns before they had the skill and understanding.  I nodded in agreement.  I am a huge believer in drilling the basics.

This lady is the one who gave me the hand spun grey skeins that  I used for my first Carbeth sweater last year, in addition to a lot of other quality yarn.  I've made socks with it, and a short sleeved vintage sweater.  She always buys such nice quality stuff.

swatch for the Carbeth Cardigan: it came out exactly on gauge

Imagine my surprise when I received an email from her that very morning offering me more of her luxurious stash.  I got to pick out all of this wool!  She still has more to donate to the Senior Center.  I was careful to choose only what I knew I would use.  I am just thrilled.  It feels like an early Christmas present: enough yarn to knit through my retirement.  It's fabulous, and I've got big plans.

I am determined to finish the pink blanket.  It's been very cold, and I wake up during the night.  (even though I sleep in a Lanz flannel nightgown,  flannel sheets, on a featherbed mattress, underneath a down comforter, and topped with an alpaca throw that I knit.)  I think the second alpaca blanket will do the trick.  I am very thin, and I seem to get colder as I get older. I only weigh 112lbs. now, which is very light someone who is 5'8".  I eat like a horse, though.  Lula presses against me to keep warm.  She's so funny.     

I have been wearing the Carbeth pullovers that I made every day, up at the cabin.  They are perfect for the snow.  I bought the Carbeth cardigan pattern, and plan to use the Cascade Ecological Wool for it.  There's plenty.  I find I always reach for the neutrals when I open my sweater drawer.  How is your crafting going?

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Knitting Gloves

Fingerless gloves are a very popular project with knitters.  I am knitting a pair of soft  gloves with fingers, out of recycled cashmere yarn. I bought this skein on clearance. I used a gift card that my youngest brother gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago.  It's lovely. I know that my neutral, simple knits are the ones that get the most use. 

Gloves are not that difficult to make. You need good eyesight, and working in the natural sunlight helps. I made my first pair about six years ago, using some colorful leftover sock yarn.  The pattern consists mostly of stockinette stitch, and is done on double pointed needles. There is a lot of counting, and you slip a certain number of stitches onto  scrap yarn to put on hold for each finger.

I'm using a simple pattern from Ravelry. It's called Dancing At Lughnasa Gloves, by Anne Carroll Gilmour.  These shouldn't take too long. The pattern moves very quickly. They're nice and portable, too.  If you can knit socks, you can probably make gloves. I wear the other pair that I knit every single day in the winter. They make practical gifts, too.

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First Sweater Fitting

red lettuce from the garden

I've been focusing on eating well and am still working on my Stockholm Sweater. The lettuce in the garden is starting to bolt. Spring is definitely here. I have been making lots of bone broths and incorporating them into my daily diet. I've also been doing the Bikram Yoga series regularly. I like the way it tones the muscles. It makes me feel stronger physically, which translates into more strength, mentally and emotionally.

fitness and knitting at 54

I finally worked out the short row shaping on this sweater. I had to redo each side twice. It turns out I didn't need to work with four balls of yarn, either.  Had I known, I would have cut the yarn after putting the stitches on the holding needle. It would have been so much easier!  No more tangles. I made a note on the pattern.

Now I have joined the back and front and am just knitting like mad and decreasing every fifteenth row. The sleeves have the same short row shaping, but I think I understand it pretty well now. It just took some time and practice.

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Fixing Shadow Wrap Short Rows

This afternoon I fixed the shadow wrap short rows on my Stockholm Sweater. I redid the right side. I will work on the left side tomorrow, It also needs to be redone. The first couple of rows have some puffy stitches. I think I was slipping them over to the opposite needle incorrectly. It could also have been that I was binding off too loosely, too. I'm not sure.

I had been avoiding ripping this back and fixing it. I found a video on Youtube that demonstrated the shadow wrap technique, and watched it several times. It isn't hard, but it's just very different than what I'm used to doing. I've done a wrap and turn short row in the past. I love the effect of this one, though. When done properly, the line is invisible. It kind of reminds me of how kitchener stitch looks on the toe of a sock.

Once I'm finished fixing the rest of the short rows, it will be smooth sailing. Most of the remainder of this sweater is in stockinette, and the decreases are the standard SSK and K2tog.  The bottom is ribbed. I may learn an Italian bind off to stretch my skills.

 I'm so excited to be past that difficult section. Fingering weight yarn held doubled is a challenge. (especially when you are working with four skeins at a time.) How was your weekend?

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Snow On The Mountains in Los Angeles

Yesterday afternoon I took the bus to the library, and there was snow on the mountains!  I wish I had brought my camera with me, because the sky and the clouds were absolutely stunning. I was awestruck by how clear and beautiful it was.  The clouds were perfectly white and fluffy. The rain really cleared away the smog.

I've been using my French press to brew coffee the past few mornings. I normally make cafe au lait, but have decided to switch to regular coffee  for a while. I think it will be healthier for me to have less milk. I thought I would miss the rich espresso, but am just as happy with freshly ground vanilla nut coffee. It may save me a little money, too. As many of you know, I am a passionate coffee drinker. This weather has been making me want to drink far more than I normally do.

Here is a photo of the blue Carbeth sweater.  It's knit with Alafosslopi yarn. I love the way the stitches swelled and transformed after blocking.  My neighbor took the picture for me. I went over to her house yesterday afternoon and picked up some sourdough starter. I have never made sourdough bread. Have you?  It will be fun to try.

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Close Friends That You Can Call

I've been reading a book called Boundaries, by Dr. Henry Cloud. In it, he mentions that you should have at least six people that you can call if you need to talk. That way, if one person is busy, you have other friends or family members who will support you.

I thought about how true this is. Many people are feeling isolated due to social media. I made a few phone calls to close friends. I had a long, laughter filled conversation with a woman I did 42nd Street in Europe with; it was so good to catch up with her. She told me that she had been thinking about me all week. Those connections are so important to our mental health. We need to communicate with people who are on our same wavelength.  It's healing for our hearts and souls.

I left a message for another old friend from the same show. We usually talk now and then on Sunday afternoons. I always look forward to our conversations. Just hearing his voice puts a smile on my face. Close friends are treasures. I met both of these dancers almost thirty years ago. They are both so kind and compassionate.

I spent a lot of time today finishing up my blue Carbeth sweater. I completed the ribbing on the turtleneck and bound off loosely. I weaved in some of the ends, and grafted together the stitches underneath one of the arms. I will do the rest of it tomorrow. Working through the final touches on a hand knit sweater always takes me twice as long as I think it will.

 It's really a gorgeous design; I'm so excited to wear it. It looks completely different than anything else I own, because of the Icelandic wool. I absolutely love the vibrant blue color!

Here are some more photos from my trip to Ojai. I went back up the next day and attended a fabulous knitting group. I signed up for a sweater class that uses an interesting method of shaping the shoulders with German short rows. I bought the yarn and got started on the back. With this cold weather we've been having I have been getting daily use out of my hand knit sweaters. I rarely buy yarn, but this time I made an exception. I am so excited about taking a class again. I have always loved being a student. I get such a charge from the joy of learning.  I felt very comfortable with this group of knitters. Most of them live in Ojai or Santa Barbara. They are artistic, trained, and talented.  The vibe of that area really pulls me... like a magnet.

I also signed up for a writing course with Rhonda Hetzel. I took her blogging course on Skype and really enjoyed it. I did the homework today and emailed her  my questions and writing sample. Phew! There is a lot to look forward to with these classes and teachers.  How are you doing? 

Blue Carbeth Sweater Knit With Icelandic Wool

I heard from my friend today who wants me to knit her a turtleneck sweater. We are choosing the yarn. She loves cashmere, but it is very expensive. She wants a very soft yarn, so I suggested alpaca or an alpaca/merino blend.

I decided I better hurry up and finish my Carbeth sweater. Today I joined the arms to the body, and am working on the yoke.

I'm very pleased with the color. This is my first time knitting with Icelandic wool, and it really holds the shape of the design well. It's going to be a  closer fit than the first one I made, I think. Using a different yarn gives the sweater an entirely different look. I'm sure I will get a lot of use out of it. It feels like it will last forever.

I baked a batch of lemon bars today with some delicious Meyer lemons that my neighbor gave me. They are so tangy and flavorful. I used extra lemon zest in the recipe.  I rarely bake anymore, because I am so paranoid about triggering arthritis. It's such a relief to be pain free again. I can always share them with my neighbors down the street. Yesterday one of the little boys I visit asked me about the present that I had promised  him. I explained that he had already opened it at Christmas. I will try just having a small amount of these lemon bars each day. They are already calling to me... no more sugar today.  How are you?

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Carbeth Completed

The stitches look so much smoother and more uniform after blocking

On Tuesday I finished my  Carbeth sweater. I wore it yesterday morning to Sprouts and Valley Produce. The two women behind the counter at Sprouts complimented me on it. When I thanked them and told them that I had made it, they went nuts. It was really sweet. They were so enthusiastic and impressed. It made my day.  This younger generation seems so passionate about fiber arts and the old fashioned ways.  It warms my heart.

The cashier asked me if I sell them. I do sell  sweaters and hand knits on Etsy. It takes a significant amount of time, energy, and yarn to make one, so they are expensive. The price for a raglan sweater like this one would be very high because the yarn is doubled. Sometimes you can find yarn on sale, though. It could also be knit in a single strand of a chunky yarn. I was so fortunate to be given such a large amount of this grey yarn; the hanks were huge!

Final fitting before blocking

After soaking the turtleneck in water for about an hour, I spun it dry in my Nina Spin Dryer. I then carefully laid it out on my Meyer Lemon Tree, avoiding the thorns.  I was amazed at how quickly it dried. It only took a few hours, out in the fresh air.  I was able to wear it to my knitting group that afternoon. I think this is my new favorite sweater. I've been living in it.  How are you? Is it cold where you live?  I hope you are staying warm and comfortable.

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Almost Finished With My Carbeth Sweater

I am nearly finished knitting Carbeth. It's such a soft and plush sweater. I love the way the shaping looks under the bust. I've been working on the rolled neck. I started off  using a circular needle, but just switched to dpn's. Mine are a bit short to hold nineteen stitches a piece, but if I'm careful, it works. I much prefer the feeling of straight needles to circulars, always have. There is something about the feeling of the wood in my hands that grounds me.

I can't wait to try it on and to see the turtleneck. I only have five more rows to go. I may do extra rows, depending on the fit. I have a long neck.  The designer is petite, and much shorter than I am. I am so glad that I still made a size small. I added more more inches to the body, rather than keeping it cropped at the waist.  I am long waisted. I also made the arms much longer. It's easy to adjust the fit so that it matches your shape perfectly.

Last night I stayed up until 11:00 p.m. I normally go to bed at 9:00 p.m.  I was so excited to keep knitting and reading about the other Carbeths that people have made. It's the kind of sweater that really comes to life once it's on your body.  The simple construction is very flattering and it has lovely diagonal lines. I have a feeling that I will be making another one of these, maybe in red.  How is your knitting going?

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Still Harvesting Zucchini

zucchini in November

This afternoon I found a large, green zucchini that I had missed. It's very satisfying to still be harvesting squash in November. I cooked it up with some cube steak for lunch. For dinner I had a large salad. The lettuce patch is producing really well. I'm thrilled. The chickens are enjoying it, too. It is a wonderful feeling to grow some of your own food, organically. The temperatures are perfect for gardening right now.

I read a frightening article today about a man in Australia who ate a slug on a dare, and then died. He was paralyzed for eight years. I found my first slug ever on the lettuce that I picked for my salad this evening. It was an eerie coincidence. I carefully removed it and threw it in the green waste bin, and then washed my hands. I'll never look at a slug the same way again. 

painted sky last night

I spent a few hours this afternoon trying to unravel some knots in the yarn that I'm using for my shawl. It was frustrating not to get any knitting done.  I am almost through all of the knots, though, This was a center pull ball of yarn. When will I learn that I should just work from the outside of the ball? I always have this problem when I work from the inside and the yarn starts to collapse. Invariably, I run into a huge mass of knots and tangles. It makes me so frustrated and depressed.  I shouldn't get that way, but struggling with  problems with  knitting can make you feel very negative, emotionally.  I think that's why I hated sewing as a teenager. I didn't have the patience or technique. Oh, well, I almost have the problem section all unraveled, and I didn't have to cut the yarn, thank goodness!  Hopefully I will be able to move forward with it tomorrow.

headed home on our walk

Last night after walking Lula, I did Pilates, the physical therapy hip exercises, and a short set of Kundalini Yoga. I really want to continue to stay in shape as I age. My body feels so much different now, since I'm not dancing professionally. I miss being in tip top condition. I feel very fortunate to be healthy and pain free, though. I am so thankful that I had that hip replacement surgery.  How are you doing?

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La La Simple Shawl Photos and New Development

Some of you asked to see the shawl after blocking, so I took a couple of photos today. It looks much better on, (I think,) but I forgot to have someone take a photo today at my knitting group. I don't like the burgundy background clashing with the pink, but oh well. It's a definitely a new favorite in my wardrobe. It goes with so many of my sun dresses. I think that shawls are the perfect accessory. I love their versatility. This one looks nice hanging low in back, or wrapped with the pattern in front, as it is in the photo. I'm going to use the leftover yarn to make another one for my little neighbor. Hers will be pink and wine. It's not that shade of the couch; don't worry. 

While I was working on my sweater today, I realized that I had accidentally used size 11 needles after joining the sleeves to the body, instead of the 10.5's. I noticed that the stitches felt super tight when I switched from the double pointed needles to the circulars. I should have double checked the size  when I felt that strange tightness. It didn't occur to me. Oh well. I'm just glad that I caught it. I had screwed on the stoppers so that I could try on the sweater. I LOVE how it's looking on the body. The yarn  hangs so beautifully. Anyway, I didn't realize what happened until I forgot to bring the needles with me to my knitting group. I left them on my coffee table. There's so much to remember in knitting. All of the details can make you a little nutty.  It will be an easy fix, though. I don't mind. It's a fun pattern, and it will give me more time to enjoy it.
    
I recently found out that there are immediate plans to develop the land near my house.  I am so excited about it! They are planning on adding a train and bus station, four high end restaurants, cafes, a lake, a fancy hotel, and much more. I have always hoped that one day the city would put some money into this side of town. They do beautiful work, and have hired Los Angeles's best architects.  The plans look gorgeous. It will be so nice to have walking paths, bike paths, and sidewalks. I have been walking my dogs down the shoulder of the  highway for the past twenty years, and this will be a huge improvement. It was always so industrial, and kind of depressing. But, it was what I could afford, so I tried to look on the bright side.  I had always imagined having quaint little shops and restaurants, and now it's coming true! What they have envisioned is far beyond what I dreamed of seeing. It will still have the feel of the country in my neighborhood, but the convenience of the city will be just a few blocks from home. They are hoping that people will give up their cars. I think this is a great direction. I have already been using public transportation regularly, and just driving across town once a week. Can you use the bus or train where you live?