Yarns: Finishing and Starting

 Malabrigo Mechita Yarn - Cielo y Tierra

      I'm finishing my Beach Hair Don't Care hairband.  I finished the lace and only have the other hair tie to do (in I-cord which is so fun!).  A great lace knit that I'm sending off to my daughter who will more likely use it with her really long hair. Previous blog post - Yarns: Beach Hairband KAL.

     And I just got my Malabrigo Mechita Yarn - Cielo y Tierra, a fall looking color combo that I've been eyeing since last year.  Now I'm making myself finish some things before I start anything.  This pattern caught my eye and I love the designer's shawls, especially her one-skein wonders - Citadel by Janina Kallio.  I've done one of her shawls before, also in Malabrigo Mechita - Yarns -The Ardent Shawl Finished!

Cestari Fingerless Mittens

      Yesterday I cast on fingerless mitts onto double pointed needles when it got really cold.  I'm using one skein of Capretta yarn from KnitPicks in worsted in a nutty brown color with a touch of cashmere.  I had set aside this fingerless glove pattern last year and it takes just the 130 yds.  Free pattern - Cestari Fingerless Mittens.  I'm doing it up differently than the pattern.  It has you knit it flat and seam it together with a one-inch seam.  So I cut the number of cast on stitches to 33 and I'm knitting it in the round.  I have very small hands so I'm hoping it fits.

 

     And I'm reading "After You" by Jojo Moyes, the second book in a three book series.  I'm nearly finished with it.  I love it at times, and then I get bored at others (maybe because reading in the wrong order gave some things away?)  I read the third one first - "Still Me", not knowing it was a series, but I loved it so I read the first book "Me Before You".  That book's equally awesome, but for different reasons.  It's a real tearjerker dealing with a quadriplegic and his desire to commit suicide and yes, it is a romance and it's funny too.  All her books have great characters and stories of small English life.  Her middle book is good and I'm glad I read it because it fills in the blanks of the other books and ties them together but I don't find it as interesting as the other two.  But I am now a JoJo fan and  I went to my second-hand bookshop and got a few more to read.

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Yarns: Pooling Plaid Protest Scarf and "Me Before You"

 (Please Note Pattern is found down below) 

     I started a Resistance group called "Resistance Knitters" last year.  A member came up with the idea of creating a scarf using ombre or pooling yarn from Red Heart as a resistance symbol.  One that would remind one of the Plaid Shirt Guy, a High School Senior who sat behind Trump during a rally last month and just had his natural reactions on his face to what Trump was saying.  He didn't realize till friends texted him halfway through that he was visually right over the president's shoulder and very visible.  Later he was escorted out.  To me the scarf can be an opportunity to talk up your views to someone noticing it, complimenting your scarf.  Be yourself, explain your views.  

     Talking up our political situation is good.  If you're Liberal and the other person is Conservative remember having an ability to cross over and talk to your political opposite is also very important!  We lack conversation in this country between the opposite parties.  Socially we aren't even supposed to talk politics.  So when are our differences hammered out?  We are like a big dysfunctional family.  A tip when talking to a Conservative (if you're a Liberal) remind them that we need moderate Republicans.  We need Republicans that can talk to Liberal Democrats and find solutions.  I truly believe this country needs a balance between the two sides.  That doesn't mean I agree with them, I just believe healthy debate and discussion is important to find good solutions.  This scarf perhaps is more of a reminder to the person wearing it to engage in positive conversation.  Remember to kindly bridge gaps between people you might not agree with.  But talk, its important.  Also reminding people to vote in the Mid-terms, especially young adults is very good.  For further reading on some upbeat viewpoints I'd recommend Van Jones book "Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together".

     This new yarn - Super Saving Pooling was primarily developed for crocheters.  Red Heart replied to my inquiry about knitting techniques and said they are in the process of developing knitting patterns.  So I was on my own.  I spent a weekend trying to do the crochet but I realized it just wasn't me (after a day of stress and cramped hands).  (If you are a crocheter here's the pattern and video on how to make a scarf that pools in crochet - Perfect Planned Pooling Scarf).  So after lots of rip outs and watching this video on pooling in knitting - Knit Argyle Color Pooling, I started again late at night and finally figured it out.  In the morning I ripped out one last time and created a bigger color jog and that was perfect!  The yarn can be bought at Joann, Mary Maxim or ordered from Red Heart.

Super Saver Pooling Yarn (Haute)

Please note that this scarf is made with the color "Haute". Different colors in Red Hearts Pooling yarn might have a different number of colors in their sequence and have to be set up differently. I have hints below the pattern on how to do it.

 Here's my pattern -

On Ravelry - Pooling Plaid Scarf

Instructions on knitting scarf-

Please watch this video to help you - Knit Argyle Color Pooling.

I knit this up on #8 straight needles on  Red Hearts Pooling yarn in Haute, a predesigned yarn that creates an argyle pattern.

This pooling yarn color Haute has 6 repeats of color. To do the whole sequence in a row made it wider than I wanted it, so I halved it for a thin scarf. So each row is 3 colors and every other row the same color shows up. 

Casting on:

To work up a scarf you need to start out just right, then you're good to go. My cast on was a Continental Knit On (video -knit on cast). Now to do this you need to make a row of cast on out of the first whole color sequence (to save time you can start casting on about 1 1/2 colors in). For instance, I started with red in my sequence, to cast on I just started after red, and into the White (you can rip out the unused cast on stitches later). So cast on till you reach just before the first color repeats itself, red for me, but don't knit the red (or whatever your first color is in the sequence).

First Row:

 Now knit one row, k2, p2 till you use half your colors, three colors. At the end of the row, you want to pull off some stitches that you just did so you have an offset (your color shifts to one side). I pulled off 4 stitches (again you can pull out the unused cast on stitches later). So I have 32 stitches. Your tension might be different than mine and you might have a different count of stitches. You should be OK. Just remember an even number of stitches, divisible by 4 will begin and end with K2, P2, which I prefer. The whole process of the cast on is so you start at the beginning of a color sequence. The pulling off stitches is so you have a color shift.  

Remaining Rows - Just continuing to do K2, P2 and enjoy watching the argyle plaid unfold before your eyes!

Cast Off - Cast off when you reached your desired length. For a loose cast off use a size larger needle such as #9 or #10.

Optional Fringe - How To Add A Fringe

Watch this video first before you start and remember I halved the color sequence for a thinner scarf.  You might want a wide scarf and then cast on the entire sequence of color for a thick scarf, play with it. The video is a big help -  Knit Argyle Color Pooling.

Different Color-
If you use a different color combination than Haute in Super Saving Pooling yarn the yarn might have a different number of colors but this should help you figure out a scarf in any color combination.  Just do either a wide scarf with all the colors and use the technique described above for how to set up the cast on but use the entire first set of colors to make your cast on to give you room (also this video is helpful - Knit Argyle Color Pooling).  Or experiment with halving your colors like I did.

     After reading "Still Me" I had to start the series with "Me Before You".  I'm totally not disappointed!  I love Jojo Moyes writing style.  But from trying to describe the story to my husband, there's no way to do it without making it sound depressing.  But her writing style is funny, endearing and engaging.  It's also a tearful read.  Here's another blog's summary (longer, more detailed) - "Amy's Bookshelf".  Goodreads - "Me Before You".

      I finished "Me Before You" this morning.  Leaving the last chapter for my cup of tea.  Immediately I downloaded the next book.  I want to own the books but I was too impatient to wait till Friday when I can get to my second-hand bookshop.  The third book "Still Me" I got with my BOTM and I still want to buy the first two.  I just love owning books that I've really enjoyed, not to just revisit someday but also that feeling you get when you look at your bookcase and see your books, like old friends.

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Yarns: Knitting This and That and "Still Me"

     For my knitting, I've got a few things going and I'd like to clear some of them out honestly by finishing them.  Just too much.  I get carried away with ideas of what I want to do and impetuously grab some yarn and start.  And yet part of the fun is that burst of inspiration that just propels me to start something new.  I also find I love to rotate and keep my interest up.  Or sometimes one knit is easier than another.  A plain stockinette in worsted calling to me to disappear into rugged wool (that's a Shrug I haven't featured yet).  Or the soft blue TGV shawl that is so comforting and a mindless knit.  But my hands are cramping a bit, especially when I work on my sock with tiny needles, a Christmas gift.  But I work a bit on it every day and it's slowly getting there.  My favorite is the TGV shawl I started.  Simple garter, of course.  I love it because it's so soft and I can read while I knit.  Pattern - TGV Shawl and project page with notes - TGV Shawl.

     My Beach Hair Don't Care hairband has really grown, but that's after repeated rip outs.  I finally saw someone on the Facebook group site Nomadic Knits Beach Hair Don't Care KAL do a "lifeline".  I never heard of that before, but now I've got one in to mark the start of a lace set.  I really haven't done lace before.  This is good practice and I love the hairband, but lace, I've discovered, is not my thing.  I'm so thankful the thing is narrow enough for me to try lace, but a huge project, I just can't imagine.  Project page with details - Beach Hairband.

     And the reading gets better and better.  The downside is finding another great read when I'm done.  I just finished "Still Me" by Jojo Mojos and I absolutely loved it.  Perfect. Perfect ending. Endearing, funny and inspirational at times (Goodreads synopsis and review).  I was unaware it was the third book of a series and I'll have to get into the previous ones.  But meanwhile searching my bookcases (and kindle) and I'm stumped where to go on to.  I have a Book of The Month selection due to arrive any second - "The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock" and I'm trying to wait for that since my previous books from them have been awesome (Book of the Month).

     In the meantime, I've been listening to one of my favorite books I read years ago on Audible - "Into The Wilderness" by Sara Donati.  It takes place in the 1790's in Upstate New York in a fictional town that would be in The Adirondack preserve if it existed.  A romance between a newly arrived English schoolmarm from the upper crust.  She is immediately drawn to a woodsman who grew up in the wilds, had previously married a Mohawk woman and lost her in childbirth. He raises their daughter, as he straddles the worlds of the whites and the American Indian.  Lovely book and the start of a generational series.

Sari Donati - The Wilderness Novels

      And lastly, to keep me busy until my book arrives I started reading "Fear" by Bob Woodward, sure to be a great hit and wake-up call.  I can't wait for this new book "The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock", it sounds like a cross between fantasy and historical fiction and after reading just a bit of "Fear" I can tell I'm going to need some real lets-get-lost fiction to read in-between the stark reality found in "Fear".    

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Sari Donati - The Wilderness Novels

Yarns: A TGV Shawl and "Goodbye, Paris"

  

  

     My blocked Age of Brass and Steam Shawl.  Knit in Malabrigo Silky Merino in Teal Feather and it's lovely and soft.   

     I love knitting the TGV shawl.  I did one two years ago - Monday Moments.  

  

   

     It's a fast knit, especially the way I'm doing it, on worsted yarn and #8 needles.  I just was looking for a shawl pattern and came across the TGV shawl.  Immediately I was struck with just how much I loved doing it and how the ruffle on the edge is so pretty.  I could imagine it done in some soft worsted (my other one while lovely is scratchy).  So looking at my stash of yarn I found two skeins, a blue and teal of Preciosa Tonal Worsted Yarn.  I had bought these while it was on a discontinued sale (be warned this is a really great soft yarn, but only 3 colors remain, with a disclaimer that they are bringing it back in January in new colors).

"Jojo Moyes...in Goodbye, Paris, an utterly charming novel that proves that sometimes you have to break your heart to make it whole." Amazon

     Another winner from Book of the Month club that is awesome!  I've collected a few of them on my shelf for that day when you want to reach over and just have the "right" book.  "Goodbye, Paris" is such a sweet and touching novel.  Beautifully written about a woman who meets her lover in Paris for 8 years to suddenly be put in a situation where her lover's secrets are revealed.  Her devastation hits you.  She plays her cello to find her equilibrium.  But in her past, years ago she has had a traumatic situation happen in a music conservatory leaving her unable to play in public.  But she professionally builds instruments and has a music shop in a small English town.  Her recovery revolves around her creations, her music and an old man and teen who are her support group.  Simple beautiful.  Lovely end. 

   

BOOKS — By Leonid Afremov

     After a good book, where I've sunk into delectable words and wonderful characters I feel a little down and sometimes I have a hard time finding the right book to go on to.  And by now I've finished several remarkable books this summer: "The Summer Wives" by Beatriz Williams, 'The Great Alone" and "The Nightingale" both by Kristen Hannah, now "Goodbye, Paris" and before these "Wild" and "A Walk in The Woods".  I figured since my Book of the Month picks were proving good reads I'd grab another one from my shelf.  I just started "Still Me" and it's very promising.  I didn't realize it's part of a series till now, so I'll have to check those out too.  Good, great reads up ahead!

  

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 Jenny my rescue cat is helping me. Last year she was a woodscat living on Voles.

Yarns: Beach Hairband KAL and "The Summer Wives"

     I started Beach Hair Don't Care hairband and I'm working on it sporadically around my other projects.  I'm determined to work on my Christmas sock, finish my shawl and a few other things.  But I want to work on this little lace hair band.  I shake my head as I force myself to focus on the other stuff while this little project is calling me.  Maybe today I'll be better to myself and let myself just knit on it.  But my The Age of Brass and Steam shawl is just a few rows away from finishing and I promised to work on the sock every day, just a bit.  See how it goes?

WeAreNomadicKnits' Beach Hair Don't Care

© Melissa Kemmerer

     If you want to participate in the KAL it runs from August 21st - September 16th and you can join us in Facebook - Nomadic Knits.  You need 80 yards of fingering yarn, size #4 circular needle and 2 #4 double pointed needles (I used #3 for my I-cord).  So far it's a fun and fairly easy knit.  I especially enjoyed doing the I-cord since I've never done it before. (Project notes on hairband - Beach Hairband)

     My new read "The Summer Wives" was a Book of the Month selection for July and it's a good summer read.  A murder mystery and love story are interwoven in the story of wealthy summer people and the locals on an island off Connecticut.  The time frame goes back and forth between the 30's, 50's and 60's.  You know who is killed but not why or how and you have hints the convicted murderer isn't the one responsible.  Who and why weave through a story evoking the past and recounting the beauty of the island and sea with the wind and the scents entwined in her words.

" 'The only girl...the only girl...' He took a breath like he was going to try again to finish that sentence, but while my ears strained hard for the next words, I never heard them. Only the whoosh of the breeze in my ears. We stood near the crest of the slope, where the road curved near the cliffs, and I thought that anybody could see us like this, in pungent silhouette sgainst the sky. The sun struck the side of Joseph's face, the wind whistled through his hair. He picked up my hand and looked at it. Turned it over and looked up at me. 'There's only one girl on my mind...' "

     The book especially drew me because of its depiction of the dichotomy between the wealthy summer people and the hard-working locals.  I've experienced that myself in our summer home when growing up.  My family summers in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks in Upstate New York.  They have since my great-grandfather before the turn of the last century.  They all belonged to an exclusive club, my father and brother still do.  The Ausable Club encompasses the lakes at the headwaters of the Ausable River and also many beautiful spots that I have visited as a child.  So thankfully, because of my brother's invitation to go with his family and all the cousins into the camp on the Upper Lake every year, I can still go in and enjoy the lakes and streams.

The Ausable Club

SASHA GOLDSTEIN The Ausable Club Is a High Peaks Haven

     The place seems frozen in time. The Ausable clubhouse built sometime in the late 1800's.  But this entire upper society comes into the Valley every summer and there's a certain separateness between locals and club members.  A certain disdain at times between the upper crust and those who are locals who they call Townies.   And from the locals, a faint subservience comes across in their actions and speech.  After all their survival depends on these wealthy summer people.  I've never liked that dynamic and I found it embarrassing to be lumped in with my father when shopping in the local store.  At least that's what I noticed when I was young, perhaps things have changed.  That dynamic is realistically recreated in this book.

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Yarns - A Silky Shawl and "The Nightingale"

  

     I thought tiny would be nice.  I wanted a small kerchief around my neck for the Fall, even though I have two skeins of Malabrigo Silky Merino in Teal Feather (alas, the pictures don't capture the bright turquoise color), I was planning to only use one skein.  I finished The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief as designed (after the third round of eyelets).  Bound off, wrapped it around my neck to show my husband and paused.  This is REALLY tiny, I thought.  And not as beautiful as it could be, the rest of the yarn forlornly waiting in my bag.  Instantly, I knew I had to rip out my day's work and finish off the second skein for another tier of stockinette and eyelet holes.  I could imagine the warmth and softness from a fuller shawl around my neck; really feel that sumptuous soft silky yarn in my mind.  I'll finish it just in time to usher in Fall.

     I'm still reading "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah and enjoying it fully.  She evokes an era, especially the life in the French countryside as war breaks out.  It reminded me of this apartment I saw in an article that had been discovered after 70 years. 

      This Parisian woman left her Paris apartment and locked her door the year the Germans invaded Poland in 1939 and England and France declared war on Germany.  She relocated down South within the Free Zone of France and in June of the following year, Paris was invaded, as this book describes, with millions thrown out in the streets as refugees, heading South.  These pictures in the article give a glimpse of an era gone by - A Home Was Abandoned In 1939. 70 Years Later, They Unlock The Door And Find Something Stunning.  A book I just found is inspired by this woman and her apartment - "The Velvet Hours".  I will be checking it out, it's recommended for lovers of "The Nightingale".

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Yarns - Socks and "The Nightingale"

 

     I started my Christmas knitting in June.  Finished my son's gift A Sockhead Hat and sent it off to Alaska to keep him warm.  Instead of the hat, I plan to make him a pair of socks for his Christmas gift out of Payton's yarn (nice and thick).  His girlfriend Emily loved this sock yarn I got last December (Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn) and I asked her what she wanted from it. "Socks!" was her immediate reply.  She's a Mainer, I understand.  So I started hers using How I Make My Socks by Susan Anderson.  I'm a sock newbie and going slow, but they're slowly forming, a little bit every day.

     I started another book by Kristen Hannah The Nightingale.  The words are magically transporting you to the Summer of '39, right before the war in Europe.  The summer is beautiful and talk of war is among men in the cafe.  A French family walk to the beach and have a picnic. The wife refuses to talk about such nonsense as war.  You sense the beauty of the day.  How poignant, knowing as the reader does that this is it, it's ending.  I pause and drink that in.  A taste of yesterday.  So this book obviously will be an amazing read.

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