KNIT LOUNGE

Tricky Bits

Taking things from concept to reality can be a real trick. I had to knit the first neckline three times before I got the stitch placement and details right. Reproducing the second one was a breeze.

Then it took a long time to sew the shoulder seams properly. That was a total hassle to say the least. But I only had two little seams to sew and they are done!

 

After that I carefully picked up stitches on either side directly above the slipped stitches that will create a tidy demarcation line for the side panels.

 From here on out the rest of the cape will be knit in the round and I can live with that. 

 

And of course, these newly made side panels will increase as I knit towards the bottom edge. 

Whew! The tricky bits are done and things should be easy peasy to the end. 

Oh dear Lord, did I just jinx myself?! 

Anthropologie Knits

Year after year Anthropologie consistently designs fabulous knit wear at breathtaking prices. For example this $98.00 cotton ivory cape, with a pretty fluted edge. I need to add this to my wardrobe right away. Its a good thing that I'm a knitter.   

 

The shape is simple enough and I think I can reproduce it reasonably well. Though I would prefer to have a stockinette body instead of the texture.  For the past few days I've been sketching ideas and developing a contruction plan.

On Sunday I tossed my stash about and I think I found the right wool for the project. 

Years ago I scored 10 balls of Debbie Bliss Prima, a bamboo merino blend at half price and it's been marinating ever since. The color is magnolia and has a beautiful sheen.

I did take the time to read the reviews in Ravelry and was rather leery of using this lovely yarn. 

Quite a few people reported excessive amounts of knots which translates to more joins than normal. A hassle but not impossible to manage. Now that I'm aware of the issues I won't become frustrated should it occur.

I worked a few swatches and settled on a size 8 needle and the resulting fabric has a nice fluid drape.

All I need to do is crunch a few numbers and then the knitting begins in a few days. I'm so excited.

Thrift

The Salvation Army thrift store in Key West is perhaps the dreariest and dumpiest one that I have ever seen.   

The walls are a dingy yellow that is almost sickly in appearance. The air conditioning is practically non-existent on a good day. I can only be in there for a short time in the summer before my hair is soaked with perspiration, my nose is dripping from the dust and my eyes start to itch from the mold. How utterly charming.

One would think that this would be a deterrent but I have learned that this is only a minor inconvenience when I might score some high end clothes for pennies on the dollar. 

Quite often I have found Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, Michael Kors, Talbot, Orvis etc. hiding amongst the rubbish.

A few weeks ago I popped in and picked up a sporty linen top. I can wear it with both my white and black linen trousers. Though I think it looks best with the white. 

 

As the rummage continued on I found a crinkled linen tank in Eggplant from the Dress Barn. I think it looks smashing with this cotton wrap. Its too bad that I can't convince my camera how pretty it is.

 

By the time my eyes were tearing up and my nose had transformed into a faucet I was ready to take my leave but something compelled me to poke about in the dress rack.

I rarely find anything there because I wear a size 6 and that is the hardest size to come by around here. 

Then squashed in between a wack of boring black poylester dresses was this chic fully lined white cotton and machine embroidered dress from Talbot's in mint condition for $3.50!!!!

 

I almost missed adding this beauty to my wardrobe but I have learned that it pays to push the dresses about to find the gems.  

Yeah, this place is amazing even though it does make me terribly damp and slightly ill when I'm there!

Busy Knitter

I could hardly wait to cast on and get going on my own South Pole last Wednesday evening. The pattern is dead simple if you know how to short row.

Then its been miles and miles of stockinette for my knitting enjoyment. At this time I've used three  and half balls of the yummy City Tweed DK, which I am throughly enjoying. To be on the safe side I purchased twelve. The milage is turning out to be pretty good. I can get three pattern repeats out of each 123 yd ball.

Should my math be correct six balls should take me around the entire body thus leaving five and half for the sleeves. I think I'm in pretty good shape and I'll have a few balls left over for cowl or a scarf. 

Naturally I made a few modifications primarily because I tossed the recommended gauge out the window since I choose to use a lighter weight wool. The needle I selected is an eight and I am getting four SPI.

For the back rectangle I choose to knit it fourteen inches wide, for me narrow is better. Though I did knit the proper armhole depth at nine inches.

 

As for the width of the circular strip I made it a touch wider so that it fits more like a jacket and the bottom edge lands in the most flattering place on my lower body. 

 

George gave it a once over with a healthy steaming to reassure me that I am on the right track. Fingers crossed.

Ta Da

Well I did it and I knit the sweater in six days. I would have been done a day sooner but I enjoyed a day off to visit with friends.  

I think my mentors Elizabeth Zimmerman and Barbara Walker would be delighted that I took matters into my own hands and applied thier invaluable lessons to own my handy-work when I copied a sweater from sight.

 

I suppose it is not terribly humble to say that I am proud of my accomplishment but I am and the fit is perfection.

I can not wait until the fall to wear it.

Pole

I have had great lust in my heart for this sweater from Joji Locatelli from the first time my little eyes spied it in Ravelry.

The style is trendy and yet classic, which can be dressed up with slacks or casual when paired with demin.

I especially like the curvy shape that is well suited for gals like me. 

Did you notice the details on the sleeves? I'm looking foward to knitting those.

Pole has a unique construction method which will keep my little mind stimulated while working miles of Stockinette stitch but not so complex that I can't read and knit simultaneously.

 

I selected City Tweed in Orca which is a gorgeous graphite gray tweed that should give the jacket a more interesting appearance.

 

I'm so in love with the richness of the color and the toffee colored flecks. It makes me swoon.

And the best part is that it will be warm and cozy for Richmond VA  in December.

Knit in Sleeves

Barbara Walker was the first knitter to document this stunningly simple method of knitting in a sleeve from the top down and I always use it.

It's definitely worth the time to learn. No lumps, bumps, or seaming and no complicated math.  The best part is that it fits every single time without fail. 

If you boiled down the technique you would see that it is very similar to turning a heel on  a sock or working creasant shaped shawl like Annis.  

I'm not going to write a tutorial but I will give you a brief pictorial.

Pick up the stitches around the armsyce.

  

Work back and forth from the center down to the underarm.

 
 Just keep knitting in the round decreasing as you go. 

 
Before you know it you have a perfect sleeve.

Take a closer look at the faux seam.

  

Is'nt that brilliant? 

Summer Reading

I finished off Hybrid on Friday evening though I did not care for the ending it was a good read. 

 

Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer Mcmahon was next in my que because the description caught my attention. 

    "On a soft summer night in Vermont, twelve-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen."

My impression was that it would be similar to The Spiderwick Chronicles, which Tech Boy and I throughly enjoyed reading together.

The first chapter was vulgar and obnoxious. I found myself wondering what this had to do with the story.  I tried to get past it but the second chapter left me annoyed too, so I dumped it into my archive. I'll delete it from my Kindle later. I'm glad I did not pay for it.

I moved on to another previously free book  Elisha's Bones by Don Hossel. This one hooked me right away. It is an Indian Jones type of tale. That I can live with.

So tell me what you are reading in beastly heat of summer?

P.S. Houston, we have a sleeve.

Copy Cat

So I find this fabby sweater in Ravelry and the pattern is from 2003. 

 

The chances of locating the gem would be a hassle and not worth the effort when I could be knitting or reading or both this past weekend.

On Thursday I spent a bit of time studying the notes and pictures in Ravelry. I felt confident that I could recreate it without the pattern.

The original calls for each section to be knit independently and from the bottom up. Yuck.

Why do people continue write patterns this way? This is terrible for new knitters who have not developed the skills or patience for finishing work and advanced knitters don't want to be bothered with seaming. I would be the later. I have better things to do with my time.... I digress. 

A plan began to form in my wee little brain. 

I'm going to work it from the top down and use short row shaping to give the boat neck a graceful curve whilst giving my neck a little more comfort.  

 

As for the cables I don't care for the asymmetrical placement on the original. It would bother me to no end so mine are going to be symmetrical and retain the triangular shape.  

The back and lower body will be done in a 8x2 rib.

When all is said and done I'll only have two little seams to graft at the shoulders. That I can live with. And look, it's done already and took 10 minutes of time.

 

Once the front and back are done, I'll begin working in the round.

The sleeves will be "set in" similar to a short row heel and I'll carry on with the 8 x 2 rib. 

Well the plan seems to be working and the first sleeve cap is in. 

Woosh!

This week went by so very fast that I shall recap in bullet fashion....

* Stonewall Jackson and I quietly celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. I am amazed - that's a whole lot of crazy shared between two people. I want 20 more. Yeah! I like him that much! 

* By a strange course of events I managed to purchase a Nook for my Mother which included a fancy red leather case for 50 dollars!!!! Her signature color is red too. I gave it to her for her birthday. God is very good indeed.

* Ellie got a micro chip on Tuesday and her yellow id tag is huge.

* On Wednesday Ellie got into something on her 3 o'clock walk and her poor little face swelled terribly. Off to the vet we went. $75 bucks and one allergy shot later the swelling began to reduce. The doc thinks she might have been stung by a bee. There's no surprise since she chases them. Silly puppy.

* Ellie has gained almost a pound since her arrival making her a heavy weight at 6 lbs. even.  Her coat is shiny and she shed her puppy coat which has been replaced silky black wavy hair.  

* I finally finished my Plain Jane commission knit. Worked in Comfy Fingering. Love that stuff.

 

* Do you Lendle? My handle there is Knit Lounge. Feel free to friend me.

* J.K. Rowling announced that Harry Potter is coming to e-books! I can't wait. Though I'm sure it's going to cost a fortune to purchase the entire set. It's a good thing I have a job.

* I started a new sweater for my winter collection. Comfy Sport in Black. Lots of cables. Pictures to come.

* Somehow or another 20 lbs. of excess weight has attached itself to my petite frame. Scandalous. I have eaten every bit of junk food in the house and vowed not to buy anymore. I'm renewing my walking and bike riding again. Wish me luck, strength and determination. Mostly determination.

* I got a lovely bonus from my first and favorite Fetch and Carry Client and the money went straight to Knit Picks. Stonewall says money just does touch and goes in our bank account! I say that I am being a good citizen by keeping the money in circulation! After all it is good for the economy. I did my part, did you?

Kismet

Like I said I've been doing my best to stay away from Ross because I really don't need another thing. My closet is beginning to bulge.

Well last week I had to go in there because a *Client of mine needed a few things from there.

As I was walking toward the check out line I spotted a terrific dress hanging on the rack for 12.99. It was hard to keep going without the dress but I did.

The remainder of the week was so full that I completely forgot about the dress.

Saturday morning rolls around and I decided to take Techboy out for breakfast at Goldman's Deli  which happens to be on the other side of the parking lot from Ross.

As we were eating I remembered the dress. On a whim, I thought if the dress is still there I'll take it home with me though I did not expect it to be and if I had to hunt for more than a few minutes I'd give up the chase. 

I go in. The dress is still in the same place on the rack!!! I slip it on in the fitting room. 

It fits. And I found out that it looks like a tunic over my white linen pants that I just happened to be wearing. Two looks for the price of one. How cool is that??!!!

 

On my way out I took a side trip to the shoe department and picked up a pair of $6.00 black flats that complimented the dress! 

In less then 15 minutes and 20 bucks later I scored two new outfits.  I love it when things come together like that!

 

* I am the proprietor of Fetch and Carry Concierge. I run those pesky errands for clients.

 

 

 

 

Got Books?

I do enjoy a good medical tale especially when it involves bizarre mutating viruses and the CDC.

Hybrid fits nicely into this category and so far it has been a good read that was free at one point. 

 

As soon as I finish that I'm going on an Indian Jones type of adventure by reading Elisha's Bones that was also free at one point in time.  

I do try my best to live on free books but every once and a while one comes up that is worth the sacrifice of a few bucks. 

A few weeks ago Through the Bible Commentary with J. Vernon McGee was on sale for $6.99! I was thrilled! He was a brilliant Bible teacher and I've listened to his radio show quite a few times.

Now the list price is a whopping $71.99! Stunning!

Signing up for daily email alerts at Pixel of Ink, Inspired Reads etc.,  has saved me a fortune.

Island Time

I am thoroughly convinced that Key West is permanently encased in a twisted time warp continuum. Very few things get done around here quickly or efficiently because Islanders have a very relaxed and casual attitude about everything. 

Personally, I think its the relentless and constant heat that causes this phenomenon.

The Locals or Conchs are people who have lived here for a very long time have brought this behaviour to a completely new level. 

When new comers to the Island inqure about this they are told that  "This ain't the mainland and we do things on "Island Time".  

It makes me crazy. 

 
 

Most Conchs appear to be oblivious to the fact that some people would like to take care of business and errands in a timely fashion and prefer not camp out in the Post Office, K-Mart, Wal-Greens, Ross, Bealls, Ben Frankling etcetera, etcetera.

Even if there is only one person in line ahead of me, there is always something that slows things down, especially when the employee is  acquainted with the customer, which happens more often than not. Then it becomes "Social Hour" and I have been privy to a great many conversations that I could have lived without.

For example : The other day I learned that good old Uncle Bob, who lives in Big Pine, had a nasty boil on his bottom and had to be taken to Dr. Norris to have it lanced.

It was so bad that he could not even drive himself to the Doctor's office. Poor pitiful Bob had to lay in the back seat of the car, while his ex-wife drove him there and back. Ewwww!

I have learned to cope with this infuriating Island Time behaviour by ensuring that my Kindle always goes into my purse before I leave the house. Yes, my knitting is in my purse too but sometimes the Kindle is easier to manage. Scandalous I know.

You can be sure that I make a big deal of pulling it out of my purse.  Then I'll unsnap the cover and begin to read. Of course I'll  hold nice and high so everyone can admire the pretty red leather case. 

It does not do make things go any faster but I feel that it does make a rather bold statement to those who might actually notice or care. 

Quite often I usually recieve  a few comments from others who are stranded in line with nothing to do. They are envious.

Yes, indeed I have gotten my moneys worth out of the Kindle and it's barely two months old. However, it is the only thing that keeps me from loosing my mind in Alcatraz.

Highlights

I survived graduation. The weather was so muggy and hot that it kept my mind distracted from the realization that my baby has grown up though I did tear up during the National Anthem.

My camera decided that today of all days that is was not going to cooperate and this is the only picture I have.

 

Cest la vie! I have the memories in my heart.

* * * * *

In honor of raising a teen boy who has never been arrested by the police or gotten himself into assorted amounts of horrid trouble, for which I'm truly thankful,  my brother in law Harley Man gifted to us a bottle of Jam Jar wine to celebrate!

Typically, I do not appreciate sweet wines but this one is a winner! It is not overly sweet and has a pleasant tartness to it as well. The balance between the two is spectacular. I see a few more bottles in my future. 

* * * * *

To keep my mind off of all the graduation drama this past week, I immersed myself in the book Bubba and the Deadwoman by C.L. Bevill.

It is a wildy humorous, fast paced read that was free in Kindle format. Totally worth 5 stars.

Bubba is my hero! 

Then I splurged and paid $1.99 for Bubba and the 12 Deadly Days of Christmas. I'm saving that for a rainy day.  

I hope she has more Bubba tales in the works. 

Changes

Somehow or another my only baby is graduating High School later on this evening.

I really don't know how it happened.

The other day he was an annoying middle school brat who really made me nuts then he somehow transformed into a pleasant responsible young man.  

He looks like Neo from the movie Matrix in his Liz Claiborne Suit. 

 

At 7:30 p.m. surrounded by family and friends he will done his Scarlett Cap and Gown and receive his diploma. And with that, one chapter in his life will close.

In the fall he will either enroll in college or be joining the Air force. His long term goal is to work for the CIA specializing in human intelligence. He is well suited for the task.

For now he is taking a much earned breath and I'm enjoying our time together because I know in my heart that it won't be long before the next change comes around.

Yes, indeed I am proud and honored to be his Mother.

God knew what he was doing when he put Techboy in my life.

Pass me a tissue. I think I'm going to cry.

That's my Story

Ask anyone who knows me personally, what is my signature color is and they will tell you without hesitation, Red. Not that orangey red but a true proper British Redcoat Red.  

With that being said I've been trying to avoid Ross because I almost always find something fabby there in my signature color and I really didn't need to purchase anything else. My wardrobe does not need another thing. 

So when Judi called and said she was going to run a few errands including popping into Ross and wanted to know if I would like to join her.  Of course I never pass up an opportunity to have some girl time and off we went. 

As we were walking by the size 6 1/2 shoe rack in Ross her eyes landed on a sweet pair of 20 dollar Bandolinos!!!!

I was choosing not to look. Shoes make me rather giddy and I was trying to exercise self control in the face of temptation.

Judi practically shouted in excitement, "Oh Abigail, look at these! They are perfect shade of red! You just have to try these on!" In that moment I powerless and took a quick look. I should not have done that.

She had my undivided attention. I examined them more closely, quickly reviewing in my mind what I could wear these with.

 

Of course they would look great with my almond, taupe, gold, and black linen trousers and not to mention my collection of assorted skirts in the same colors. I also have a few tops that would compliment the East Indian Flavor as well.

Then I looked at the soles. It is almost a crying shame to walk on them but I think I could make the sacrfice.

 

I caved.  So it's Judi's fault that I brought home yet another pair of red shoes.

And that my story and I'm sticking to it!

Hi

Hi blog peeps, this is Ellie. Mommy said I could say hi.

 

Since I came here Mommy has kept me very busy. The very first day she put newspapers all over the floor. Did you know that tearing them into a million bits is really fun? This makes Mommy laugh.

She also got me a posh basket so I can ride in the car with her. Every day she takes me out so I can go for a ride. I like "go for a ride" but sometimes I don't want to stay in the basket. She say that is the only way I can ride in her truck and I have to "Stay" no matter what.   

Mommy put a funny red thing around my neck with a tag that jingles when I eat. She said it helps her find me so I don't get into trouble. I don't know what that is but Mommy clearly does not like trouble.

 

I learned how to walk with this red thing on my neck and Mommy says I'm doing very good when I go outside. I like walks. There are so many things to find like discarded wine corks and moldy pizza. I especially like Bees. Mommy said Bees can sting my nose and it would hurt. I like to chase them anyway.

On Thursday I went to this place called the Vet and this funny man made me open my mouth to see all of my teeth. I don't know why he wanted to do that and I did not like it. He said I was healthy and weighed 5.06 lbs. That made Mommy happy.

I'm told that I need to be socialized so Mommy took me downtown for lunch with her friends. It was boring and I slept underneath the table. 

One day she took me to her friend Patricia's house and I met Gray the 20 lb Tom cat. He was so big and he kept swishing his tail at me. I wanted to play with the tail but Gray hissed at me every time I got too close.

Techboy gave me a really cool toy and he puts this stuff in it Peanut Butter that tastes really good. I like it when it bounces.

When I'm extra good Mommy gives me Ice Cookies (Ice Cubes)  and they are really fun. They slide all over the tile floor.

I'm getting really sleepy now and Mommy say's its time for a nap. I like naps.

 

Iced Coffee

Jewelry is the spice in every gals wardrobe, including mine. My simple chocolate machine knit tank top was just begging for some.

Typically,  I pair it with crisp Ice White linen trousers and a bold silver bangle watch but something was missing at the neckline. I was lacking the right piece of jewelry.

Poking through my minuscule bead stash yielded up quite a bit of Mother of Pearl chips, with shades of shiny chocolate and white. They remind me of my favorite summer drink Iced Coffee. Perfect.  In a little while I strung up a nice three strand rope, with a sparkly silver toggle clasp.  The effect was alright but I knew it could be better.

My friend Sydney agreed. She added some unique sliver lined clear glass discs and Swarovski crystals to the mix and removed one plain strand.

Well, she bumped it up a notch and I now have an smashing Iced Coffee inspired choker, which is positively refreshing in this endless heat.

 
I get compliments every time I wear it. Thanks Sydney!

Two Bucks

The scenario:

You enthusiasticly fill up your Knit Picks shopping cart and your two bucks short to claim the coveted free shipping prize.  Arrrggg!

Then you desprately look for something that puts you over the fifty dollar mark. The problem is there is nothing else you need or what you truly covet will put your budget sailing over the edge and besides you really don't want to spend any more than what you planned for. 

But you go poking about anyway determined to spend the two bucks so you can save on the ridiculous shipping fees. 

Sounds familiar?

I found myself in the same place the other day and wound up getting the new Steeking Scissors. My old pair has gone missing so in the cart they went. I may as well get the best and they really are.

 

These little scissors are wicked sharp. Please be exceedingly careful and mindful of little children and men folk who like to examine every new thing that comes into the house or a blood sacrifice will be sure to follow! Ask me about that someday.

And whatever you do, do not take them near Dementors aka Airport Security.

They will confiscate them before you can explain that you are only a harmless traveling Knitter and only become dangerous when they take your needles away.  

They won't believe you!

Addicited

Little did I know when Stonewall gave me a Kindle how addicted I would become to scoring free books on a daily basis.

I  blame Pixel of Ink website for enabling me. They post free books every single day, all day long.  Some good, so not so good. Variety is the spice of life I suppose.

 

You see, I get a little buzz  every time I press the "Buy Now with 1-click" button in Amazon, after I have confirmed that the e-book is still free. I like free.

And the first of every month is when I get the biggest rush. That's when publishers release a plethora of books of all genres. Clickity, click. Click. Click. And there I go again.

Stonewall thinks I'm over the edge. His poor email is flooded with purchase confirmations from Amazon. 

He light heartedly grouses. I respectfully remind him that these books are free.  He should be delighted that I have at least one hobby that does not cost him a dime!

If it bothers him that much than he needs to change the email addy. Oops, did I say that? 

And then there is Inspired Reads for Christian reading from devotions, fiction and non fiction. Clickity, click.

Of course I use discerment and don't snap up everything. I read reviews and consider carefully. It would be positively criminal to fill up my precious Kindle with books that are junk. 

Should I became stranded on an island with my Kindle, it would keep my mind stimulated for quite a while.  Oh that's right, I am!

Ellie

We rescued Ellie from a bad situation but she had my heart at hello. Meet our newest family member. 

 

She is a Chihuahua Daushound mix. I love her.  She has a sweet and bubbly personality.

At the ripe old age of 10 weeks she has quickly mananged to wrap Stonewall and Tech Boy around her little paws. They spoil her to no end. 

 

She is a playful little thing who brightens my days and at 4 lbs. she is small enough that I can take her with me when I go out and about. I even bought her a basket so she can ride safely in the car with me. 

Since she arrived two days ago I have not knit a single stitch. Instead I've been teaching her proper doggie edicate. She learns fairly quick but as with all infants repitition is crucial.

We are struggling with house breaking her. Ellie is a stealth bomber when it comes to unrinating in the house. We have yet to catch her. And she seems to do it after we have taken her for long walks.

This makes me crazy but you can't be annoyed for very long when this face is looking back at you!

  

Blush

No, dear reader, this is not what you think it is but it does bear a strong resemblance to it's older sister Breakwater.

 

I became quite enamored with the Linen Stitch detail on the collar whilst working on my Crimson Breakwater. Then inspiration hit me upside the head. OUCH! It has no choice since I'm so thick headed that it has to take agressive measures to get my attention. I digress.

It would be just fabby to have another top with similar details in a material that is more appropriate for the near tropical weather conditions that I must endure during my incarceration in Key West.

I dipped into my extensive Comfy Cotton Stash and selected a sport weight in Flamingo pink.

As I began to knit the collar, ideas began to take shape in my head. Linen stitch for the collar, sleeve and bottom bands, and the rest in simple Stockinette. Short sleeves would be a must. The upper body would be fashioned with negative ease to create a more shapely silouette. 

 

Just past the bust line I would add a wide band in the Linen stitch pattern, giving the top an Empire waist. Then I'd finish by fashioning a flattering A line shape in Stockinette then add one last section of Linen Stitch before binding off.

I love it!!!!!  The fit is positively divine and it came together exactly as I envisioned it. 

 

Trio

Hi all, Zoe here.

Abigail gave me permission to write the blog post today. Currently she is prostrate on the bed recovering from a "Girls Day Out".

She spent the day with her friend Judi and Judi's sister Cindy. They had too much fun inspecting a plethora of clothing stores on the "Rock."

Judi and Cindy purchased the most items but I think Abigail brought home the best. 

She has a tremendous weakness for Ice White button down shirts with assorted unique details and she has a modest collection of them.  The Poet shirt with the shirring details caught her attention right away and she very nearly swooned when she tried it on. Perfect with jeans.

 

At Ross she purchased a crisp white Linen jacket -  unstructured and unadorned with the exception of the eyelet lace on the 3/4 sleeves. The effect is quite delicate and feminine in an understated manner.

 

I saved the best for last. The tomato red silk blazer for 19.00 dollars.  The fit is perfect on her and the  French cuffs are smashing. 

 

OMG! I love it here!

Life in the Funny Farm

Tech Boy asked me for a piece of string.

To which I replied, "What kind? Alpaca, merino, silk, cotton, bamboo, novelty, or a blend.  And how thick? Bulky, worsted, dk, sport, fingering, lace or cobweb."

He groaned and mumbled something.

Then rather impatiently "Mom please, I just need a scrap of string nothing fancy about 12 inches long.  And before you ask color does not matter either."

For the record, I gave him a bit of Comfy cotton worsted weight in Charcoal gray.

* * * * *

Tech Boy asks, 'What's for dinner?"

Moi, "Fish."

Stonewall to Tech Boy,  "So what did you do to piss her off?"

* * * * *

I head to the bathroom to style my out of control brown locks and annouce that I'm going to "fix my head".

Without missing a beat Stonewall quips "Good luck with that, I've been trying for years!"

* * * * *

Dots

Judi and I have a tremendous weakness for scarfs and shawls of all sorts since they bring variety to a basic wardrobe. If one of us spies one that we think the other will appreciate we snap it up right away.

If you don't it won't be there when you go back to purchase said item. Trust me, I live in Key West nothing good sits around in anystore. Besides it can be returned later if needed. But that has not happened yet.

The other day Judi tossed a pretty scarf into my lap on our way to the Library Knit Group.

I like the dots in shades of soft dove gray and black on a white field. It is light as a whisper and soft as silk. Nice! She liked it so much she bought one for herself. We could be twins.....

Two days later Sydney gave me Onyx necklace as a thank you gift! I love it!

I think these two pieces were made for each other, don't you?

 

Isn't it funny how some things come together perfectly.

Breakwater

Last September Judi came to Knit Group and asked me to teach her everything I knew about Knitting.  She has some crazy notion in her head that I am a Master Knitter and I can't convince her otherwise.   

 I laughed and with a warm smile told her I don't know that much but I'll do my best.

Anyway, I took a liking to her right away and hoped we would become good friends. We did and every Saturday afternoon we eat lunch together before we go to Knit Group at the Library. 

Her progress is coming along well and she has decided that it was time to learn the fine art of Sweater Knitting.

Breakwater is a simple top down Stockinette Raglan with beautifuly understated details at the neck, cuff and hem. Both of us admired the classic design and felt that this would be great starting point for Judi's new adventure in knitting.

 

I thought it would be fun if the both of us knit the same sweater concurrently which would permit me to teach at we progress.  

Typically I can knit a sweater in a week but this time I'm letting Judi set the pace. This weekend we separated the body from the sleeves.  

This will take a while to finish but I'm not in that much of a hurry since I'm using an Alpaca Silk blend. If I'm lucky I might be able to wear it once or twice in January.

Finito

Mother's Day weekend was prime knitting time for me.

Friday evening I casted on for Mondo and plowed through the half the body.

Saturday I finished the body added the back and then ripped the back.  A test fit revealed that the body needed to be longer.  So I added one more repeat and re-knit the back again.

Sunday I knit the first half of the front then grafted the seam. Did a test fit. The arm was too deep by one inch. Ripped back the front and back by one inch and re-grafted.  Second test fit was perfect.

Monday I had my fill of knitting scandalous and cleaned the house instead.

Tuesday I finished the front, sewed in tails and called it done. I love it. The cotton feels so good against my skin. Mission accomplished.

Now for the details. I converted it to a bottom up and choose to knit the body in one piece instead of two then omitted the ribbing at the bottom. Comfy cotton does not curl so I took advantage that fact. 

And there you have it. A charcoal top that fits me perfectly. Life is good.

 

 Zoe said the Mother of Pearl shield pendant is a great choice. I agree.  

 
Thanks Sydney!

Zoe

Zoe is one amazing friend.

She can be described as quite, reserved, capable and  her  most endearing quality is that she has the patience of a Saint. All the quality's that I sorely lack.

When I need her to change clothes six times a day she does not fuss at all. 

She dose'nt even complain if I accidently poke her with a pin.

George has also taken a liking to her and she tolerates his rather steamy behaviour without flinching. Romance is in the air.

 

Now if I could only keep her from raiding my closet in the middle of the night.

Highlights

Stonewall made tasty fried chicken and hush puppies on Saturday.  Note to self: Mop the kitchen floor today. 

Intentionally jumping out of a Golf cart that is doing a wheelie at full throttle is not a good idea. Ask Tech Boy about that. It was a 5 star Darwin Awards moment. I was so proud!

Yes he is fine, albeit a little sore from the concussion and contusions. I think my wallet sustained more damage than he did. I bought 1 Emergency Room visit, a C.T. Scan and assorted X-rays for 250 bucks. There goes my yarn budget.

When Keys Energy goes off line and the entire Island is without power for over an hour it's sign to take a nap.

During the power outage Tech Boy was taking his SAT exam on Saturday with a nasty headache from his defeat with the Golf cart. He felt he was not doing very well.  Ten minutes before the exam was over the power went out.  The Proctors declared the exam invalid much to Tech Boys delight.

What a fantastic Conch Cruiser. Did you find Nemo?

 

George and I went to the Library knit group  on Saturday. The gals fell madly in love with him, especially Nan. She is on the hunt for his one of his siblings.

I knit the entire body, and back of  Mondo this weekend, then ripped it back to the body and added another repeat. Much better. 

Salvation Army thrift store yielded a nice black knit V-neck tank top from Liz Claiborne and a Coldwater Creek long sleeve white cotton scoop neck top that is soft as silk. 3 bucks. Score!

I no longer bring Tech Boy with me to the gas station. I'm afraid they are going to keep him now that gas is $4.16 a gallon. 

I left the house without my cell phone. I felt naked.

And speaking of naked -

To the 60 + year old woman who no longer has the body of an Olympic Athlete perhaps going topless and walking around downtown for all the world to see  is not a good idea, even if you are in Key West.  Thanks for the mental scars and I'm thankful Tech Boy was not with me. 

Mondo

Ever since I discovered machine washable Comfy cotton from Knit Picks, I've been dreaming of knitting my entire summer wardrobe in it to sustain me for the ten long months of endless sweltering heat.

Lord knows I might melt into a puddle down here but I'm determined to look fabulous in the process. 

First up is Mondo from Chic Knits. I'm envisioning a dark charcoal gray color in a worsted weight similar to this.

 

Don't you think it will look fantastic paired with ice white linen trousers?

This will be a welcome visual relief to the vivid candy colors that are so prominent here.  

Should the yarn be in my post box today, you can be sure that I will working on it tonight.  

Kindle Love

In 2004 I took up knitting and practically gave reading since its rather difficult to hold a book open and turn pages with needles in my hand.

In March beloved Stonewall purchased a Kindle complete with a chic red leather cover and solved the problem. I love being a 21st Century gal.

The newfangled device rests nicely on my knee when I cross my legs and I am free to knit and read  simultaneously!

 

Being a Continental knitter makes this easy since I carry the yarn in my left hand and flip the page with my right. My left hand holds both needles for the half a second that it takes to press the button.

Though I will admit lace knitting and reading don't mix very well. I'll have to work on that.  

Meet George

I have a confession to make. There is another man in my life who has shamelessly stolen my heart. He lives in the master bedroom right in plain sight of my husband. How positively scandalous!

Surprisingly, Stonewall is not bothered by him in the least because the other man is rather limited in his abilities.

Meet George, the Jiffy Steamer. Like any typical man he is hot and ready to go in seconds flat. He can make any Knitter swoon. I've seen it happen.

 
 

He can steam block lace like nothing else, thus eliminating the need to soak the item in water and pin a shawl unless you need to pull out points.

Within minutes of steaming the garment is dry and ready to go.

He can refresh kinked up yarn without having to soak it in water and allowing it to dry for a few days on end.

He is very useful for test fitting. A quick steam allows the wool to settle into shape and relax allowing for a proper measuring. This is a most endearing quality if you ask me.

I had no idea how valuable he was until he came into my life. Now I can't picture  living without him.

Apparently, all of my Knitting friends are in love with him too. I won't let him out of the house..... I am fearful that one of them might kidnap him that's why he lives in my bedroom. 

Now George does not come cheap but he is well worth the investment for die-hard Knitters. Fortunately for me he was a Christmas gift from my jeweler friend Sydney.

He was living abandoned and alone in her attic for 6 long years before he came into my life. Since coming here he has seen more action than the New York Subway train during rush hour.

I think he likes it here.

Daily Constitutional

I walk three miles every evening with the exception of Saturdays. Fortunately,  I live near the sea wall and there is a four mile stretch of a very wide uninterrupted sidewalk that lends itself perfectly for fast paced walking. This is my Daily Constitutional. Mind you, I am a prissy girl and I throughly detest becoming saturated in perspiration on a daily basis but brisk walking keeps my hip from complaining and clears my mind.

My Constitutional takes me right past to the East Martello Museum, which is the home of Robert the Doll, a supposedly a haunted toy that once belonged to Robert Eugene Otto, an author.

  

Quite frankly this little fellow gives me the creeps and I have no desire to visit with him.  However, I would not have him think that I am a rude person so each evening I wave politely at his front porch as I walk past.     

I'm sure Passersby think I'm a little off when they catch me waving at a building but I think it is best to be respectful of things that go bump in the night.

After all good manners have never failed me yet!

Fushia

A few weeks ago, a member of my Knit group was happily culling her yarn stash and I found myself with 3 hanks of Thick and Think Cotton, which is discontinued, in a fierce fushia color. I was madly in love and thought this would make a great tank top.  

 

 

I  modeled it after a commercialy knit tank top that I have and added a reversible feature. One side has a U shaped neck line and the other a V.  I can wear it with either neckline in the front. How cool is that?!!

 

Should I?

 
..... .Yes, I think I will. And you dear reader will be subjected to trival bits of Key West life with my knitting adventures on "The Rock" thrown in for good measure. By the way, "The Rock" is a  nickname that the locals have loving bestowed on this particular Key.  

 However, I  tend to think of Key West as Alcatraz with the crappiest K-Mart on the planet. Now don't get me wrong. I'm thankful to have one but the customer service leaves something to be desired. When the rare occasion comes around and I am forced to make a return to the customer service desk, I always bring my Kindle because its going to take forever. Anyone who lives here will confirm that. I can read three or four chapters before the hassle begins. Fun times. I digress.

Now, I suppose  a proper introduction of sorts is in order. In 2004 I taught myself to knit and found my niche. I became enthralled with sock knitting  ever since, learned that sweater knitting is not as bad as it used to be, and have became quite passionate about lace knitting. You should see my wardrobe and my stash.

Four years ago I lived in Arizona with my beloved husband, Mr. Stonewall Jackson and our only son, Tech Boy. One day we decided to pack up our stuff, sell the house  and return to his roots in Florida and we landed in Stuart for a while. After a year of looking for work as a Network Administrator,  Stonewall landed an excellent government job in Key West FL.  

At first the thought of moving to balmy Key West caused me great anxiety since I'm a perpetual knitter. So what on earth was I going to do in the Southernmost part of the United States. Well the answer came quickly enough, shawls keep your shoulders from developing frost bite from the non stop frigid Air Conditioning and cotton tops since finding small clothing sizes here is next to impossible. And on occasion I escape Alcatraz and fly home to Richmond in the winter months so I can enjoy wearing a newly made hand knit sweater and a pair of socks.

After living here for a few years I've been blessed to make a wack of great friends who knit. I supposed life down here is pretty good after all. 

So join me every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for endless idiotic dribble on the Southernmost Point in the good old USA.

In the meantime Knit on, dear friends, knit on!