I so enjoyed knitting the koolhaas hat for a friend, that I decided to make one for myself. It wasn’t the pattern that bowled me over so much as the fiber. Malabrigo twist is probably the most luscious fiber I’ve used in a long time. I rushed right out to Article Pract in Oakland and snatched up their remaining two skeins in these two colorways.

Sorry people. They might have more left but this is definitely a yarn worth searching for. So amazingly soft that I thought it was silk…or yak…but not surprised to learn that it’s merino, the finest wool around IMO.

So in between writing my literature review this cold, rainy weekend, I’ve been stealing moments here and there to work on my new hat.

<<sigh>> Back to the paper.

Knitting baby socks have been a kind of salvation for me lately. I have managed to finish three pairs in the month of January alone (two pair of these). I have accomplished what I never thought I could way back in 1981: knitting an entire sock from memory – no pattern. The purple socks pictured above are similar to a tree ornament I made several years ago. I actually finished the second sock of the pair in just one day…in between classes.

I might even have enough of the bright yellow yarn used to make the grown up pair to knit a bright yellow mini pair. We shall see.

The latest pair were started from remnants of a colorful yarn that were used for a pair I made Alice about a year ago. The sock sits atop atop my Redhook in progress. That’s five inches of the required k2p2 ribbing knit in Cascade 220 purple heather.

You know I was feeling a little down today because I was stuck home on my first day off and the first dry day in quite sometime. So who should appear to cheer me up but the little Bradster. There is no blue feeling that a five year old can’t cure.

Working two jobs with the possibility of a credential program on the horizon, leaves precious little time for knitting.  This blog post will hopefully reassure you that I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. Not yet anyway.

I knit the “Noro” scarf above using Mochi Plus instead of Noro and it was such an enjoyable knit, it only took me a few days. Highly addictive and that’s all I can say about it right now. I also started the turn a square hat by Jared Flood which will also employ Mochi in combination with Cascade 220. That’s all I can say about that right now too.

Other than knitting I did make it out into nature recently. Isabella and I drove out to Point Pinole last week and it was just lovely. I haven’t been to PP in more than 20 years and it was even more beautiful than I remembered. Check it out.

Ok. Off to work again. Check back with me soon!

Here’s another plea for help from your intrepid knitter. It finally got cold enough to wear a sweater but my beloved sweater quickly grew pills. Ok so yes, this is “cheap” wool that I use often (Paton’s Classic Wool Merino) and the entire sweater cost me less than $20, but I am ready to overcome my issues of worthiness and branch out into something a little bit better. I’ve been knitting for nearly 30 years, after all, so I know that I can knit just about anything successfully at this point.

I’ve used Knitpicks wool of the Andes with good results and the yarn had minimal pilling but I would love to hear your suggestions for a nice worsted weight wool with little or no pilling. Also, I’m eager to learn of other non-wool sweater fibers that you have used. The California climate (along with my advancing age) has proven a little warm for wool.

Sticking fairly close to my schedule of one pair of socks per month, I finished July’s pair and slapped them on my favorite sock model, my niece, Charlotte. She actually interrupted her bath to come out and visit (Max was there too).

As for the socks, well there’s not a whole lot to tell. They were categorized in Wendy Johnson’s book, Socks from the Toe Up, under “sportweight” and for me, that means Jitterbug. Still my favorite sock yarn and my favorite colorway – ginger cinnabar – this being the third time I’ve used it for a project. First project was the Good Luck Cowl and second was Child’s First Sock (which I bartered for a haircut – remember?).

The serpentine socks were a quick knit for me – only 52 stitches – and I dig the gusset heel as outlined in Wendy’s book. I’ve used it before, earlier this year on the patriotic socks (aka “Quicker Toe-up Socks”).

They came out a tad long but again, that’s why I use Charlotte. She probably doesn’t want the blogosphere to know this, but she’s the only person I know who wears a size 11 shoe. This might actually be one of the last times you see Charlotte for awhile as she’s returning to college soon.

This sweater is easy and should have been finished by now. I’ve been working on it for a solid two months. So what’s the hold up? Length. I couldn’t decide how long to make the body so I put the stitches on some scrap yarn, and started a sleeve. Now I can’t decide how long to make the sleeve.

Indecision. The whole sweater is in a holding pattern right now awaiting my final decision(s).

I will probably make it a little longer than pictured in the magazine. I know! I’ll just measure one of my sweaters that has the proper length. Why didn’t I think of that?

What I’m loving about the sweater is the subtle shaping at the waist. I’ve tried it on and it looks like it will fit me even though I was worried (but I’m ALWAYS worried about the fit). The buttons are already picked out so can I knock this sweater out in the next couple of days? I’m going to give it the ol’ college try!

Before I left Portland I got these new babies courtesy of the generous folks at Close Knit. Thank you Sally, Adrienne, Nancy, Jenny and Elizabeth. I’m so grateful to you all! With the gift certificates I got the Malabrigo Sock you see above (the color is “rayon vert”) and the Malabrigo Lace in “lettuce” pictured below.

I also bought Plymouth Earth Homestead, not because it’s organic, which is nice of course, don’t get me wrong. I bought it because it was such a good deal – only $6.50 each! You know how frugal I am. I’m planning to use it for another shrug but first I think I should finish the one that’s already in progress.

It’s damn hot here right now so I’m going to cut this post short. Look where I was on this day last year and now I live here permanently. Who’d a thunk it?

If  you’re a computer user and I’m assuming that you are if you are currently reading this blog, you know that colors are not always true to their offline or “real life” counterparts. Case in point: I had quite a few comments about the colors in my log cabin blanket when the blanket was finally viewed in person. Liz even thought I was using blue (!)  – that’s how the light gray translated on her monitor.

We all know that colors vary according to circumstances such as lighting, time of day and even time of the year – among other things. Colors change according to the monitor and the viewers perceptions and environment. There are a million factors.

I’m not going to make myself crazy trying to get these colors “right” every time I post a progress shot but just to set the record straight, here are the colors of Paton’s Classic Wool Merino that I’m using in the blanket.

Dark Grey Mix
Grey Mix
Natural Mix
Cognac Heather
Woodrose Heather
Plum Heather

I had a bit of a scare when I ran out of plum heather and could not find it at three Micheal’s in the area and was told over the phone that even Jo-Ann’s was out. Well I had a hunch and marched over to Jo-Ann’s to see for myself and sure enough they had five skeins which I promptly snatched up (at four bucks each).

I’m so in love with this color that I might even make a sweater – ez’s seamless hybrid – out of it. That or the cognac heather is also very nice. Walking out I also noticed that the wheat heather was quite lovely. It seems that I’m having a love affair with the heathers.

The blanket is now about 4o inches square. Not bad considering I started it about a month ago on Oscar night. I think this one is one to keep for myself. I’m not sure I’ll be able to part with it when it’s finished.

I’ll have more FOs to share with you soon. Just as soon as Alice feels better and can find the time to model.

At our recent visit, Nancy brought along a stack of swatches – BIG swatches. I was especially attracted to this, the lovely scroll pattern knit in a beautiful hand-dyed koigu merino. It looks as beautiful from the front

as it does from the back.

Nancy explores different and often obscure stitch patterns from the Barbara Walker stitch dictionary series. If you’re not familiar with the genius of Barbara Walker, these books are definitely worth checking out.

Nancy shared her most recent project: Double Knitted Gloves. These gloves, of which she only had one finished are knit beginning at the tips of the fingers entirely on TWO NEEDLES. You heard right. No more futzing around with four (or five) double pointed needes. I suppose you could use magic loops but the prospect of knitting gloves on two needles is very exciting to say the least.

The lovely gloves are designed by Judy Wilcox and are taught in a class by Judy Taylor. Check with Close Knit for details. Nancy used Karabella Silk Merino Lace which I think was the perfect choice. Nancy gives more details about these gloves at her blog.

Lastly, Nancy also shared with me one of her free patterns, the Long Scalloped Adrienne glove which is convertible and can be worn as a wrist/arm warmer

as well a fingerless glove.

The fiber used is Rowan Tapestry, a verigated soy/wool blend. There’s a very detailed tutorial and pattern at Nancy’s blog so go and check it out.

Thanks for checking out my interview with local knitterati and until next time, Happy Knitting!

I’m also making slow but steady progress on the Urban Aran Cardigan (Ravelry link) which I started way back in September 2007. Both sleeves are finished and I’m well into the front sides, worked simultaneously as per Mr. Brooklyn Tweed’s notes. The trouble with this pattern is that it’s not a very portable project or one for knitting night where there’s lots of conversation. It requires my utmost concentration to adhere to the cable pattern.

But I’ve been doing my best. It doesn’t help that I’ve been distracted by thoughts of springtime and that I picked up some yarn at the recent Close Knit sale that will eventually become an Apres Surf Hoodie. Has anyone attempted an invisible (provisional) cast on?