Quiet

Hello my friends. I hope everyone is getting busy for Turkey Day! I know I'm NOT!

So, I've received many nice "What's up Kenny, you're so quiet these days." e-mails from concerned readers and friends. Thank you for your concern.

I just want to report out that these days, I HAVE to be a little quieter than usual. Like I've said before, the Knitting Powers That Be have been nice to me and given me many opportunities, such that I can't blog about. :(

I know, I'm sorry.......

With less knitting to blog about, my blog becomes less interesting with less pictures, with less talk of technique and less questions of opinions. I have to spice it up again some how...

I'll have to think about this one...... maybe I'll write about some knitting conspiracy, or make one up. I don't know.

So, for those who are out there wondering, I'm fine, I'm quiet, but I am still getting a lot of knitting done.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

K

DEADlines

Arrgh! I'm sitting here at work, waiting for instruction and have done most of what I can do. Sitting at home, are projects that have deadlines......

If only I could knit at work....

How are you guys doing?

New Horizons

Talk about hectic! Life has been throwing all sorts of things at me these couple of months, some good and some bad.

Well, we shall not talk about the bad, like polyps and a leak in the ceiling and finances and relationships..... these are the minor inconvenient and irritating things that I am not so pleased with.

However, we shall try and stay on the positive note. I've been busy at work. Twirling dizzy busy. But in a good way. Pays the bills and keeps me behaving good.

But good things are happening in the knitting world. The Knitting Goddesses have been keeping an eye on me. And I'm talking along the lines of my Sculptured Lace Scarf, Lyerka and my Doubled Chullo. You got that right. My designing. That's why you don't see much of my WIP's anymore, but more of my FO's. It's all a big secret until it's out!

But overall, I'm very excited! The Knitting Goddesses have been good to me. And that's all I can say.

But I'll leave you with an abstract of what might be coming. I'm sure you can figure out what it is, but not what it's for. :0)

Have a great day.

Doubled Chullo

Pattern: Doubled Chullo by Kenny Chua

Magazine: Interweave Knits, Holiday Gifts 2009

Yarn Brand: Misti International
Yarn Name: Alpaca Worsted
Yarn Colorway: #M600 autumn woods mélange (A); #2105 moss gray mélange (B); #7912 forest green worsted (C). Size 20": Color B (MC), 3 skeins; colors A and C, 1 skein each. Size 22": color A (MC), 3 skeins; colors B and C, 1 skein each.

Yarn Content: 100% alpaca
Yardage: 1 ball = 109 yd [118 m]/50 g
Quantity: 4 balls = 436 yards (472 m)

Needle: Size 6 US (4.0 mm) and Size 4 US (3.5 mm)
Dimensions: 20" and 22"
Recipient: Interweave Knits and Sergio Sosa

Here is the Ravelry Button for it too!

The Purl Ridge

Ya know..... sometimes you just gotta take matters into your own hands. I've always not trusted myself, doubted myself, but this time I'm pretty sure.

I started a new project..... (I know, startitis...) Don's Vest by Joyce Williams in Latvian Dreams.

So this wonderful looking project asks for some ribbing and then increase into the fair isle pattern. Sounds normal enough right? But here's the kicker.... notice the difference?

Now please tell me that you like the one on the right better.

So, I was just wondering, why would Joyce ask to purl a whole round before beginning the color pattern? I really don't know. I think removing the purl round (I know....I ripped and ripped) was a good decision. It makes it look prettier in my opinion, but let's just hope it doesn't come back and bite me in the ass.

Can anyone of you think of a reason for the purl round?

Not me....

Off topic. I've been recovering from a GI procedure this week. Everything is ok, but ugggh I DO NOT WANT to prepare for a colonoscopy or an endoscopy again. It's HORRIBLE. They found some stuff, removed them, but I'm still waiting on the results. I'm not too too worried right now, but everything happens as they happen. We shall see.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Franklin

Pattern: Franklin by Jane Ellison
Book: The Queensland Collection Book 9

Yarn Brand: Jo Sharp
Yarn Name: Silk Road DK Tweed
Yarn Colorway: 402 Serpentine
Yarn Content: 85% Wool, 10% Silk, and 5% Cashmere
Yardage: 50g; 147 yards
Quantity: 11 balls (1617 yards)
Needle: Size 6 US (4.0 mm)
Size: Small
Recipient: Me

Trim Yarn
Yarn Brand: Classic Elite Yarns
Yarn Name: '03 Tweed
Yarn Colorway: #5903
Yarn Content: 65% wool, 20% nylon, and 15% acrylic
Yardage: 50g; 143 yards
Quantity: 1 ball

Project Notes:
THE GOOD
Awesome patterning. That's what I can say about Franklin. Much attention was given to the raglan detail and how it seamed up. Looks so good on the model and that's why I actually chose to make it.

Wonderful addition of the contrasting colored trim. I think the trim makes the sweater pop.

The BAD
The sizing information in this book really needs to be revised. The MAJOR complain that I have, actually MAJOR enough for me to chuck this sweater and never wear it at all.... is how tight the armcye is! The armhole depth needs to be deeper. A LOT deeper. So, I looked through the book and found that Jane sized ALL her sweaters with the same sleeve length and body lengths. So, I am going to assume that every sweater in the book is going to feel VERY tight under the underarm.


I do not like the way the gray trim was attached to the sweater. It just says to bind off with the different color. That to me is not enough. You can see the purl bumps on the other side and you can see the blue through the gray bind off.

Changes that I've made
I tubularly cast on for the sleeves and the hem of the sweater. Much more professional finish look. However, I was dissapointed with the trim around the color and the placket. I couldn't really figure out another better way of attaching the trim so that it looks more professionally finished.

Things that I would change
I would definitely look at row gauge the next time. I love all the sweaters in the book, but I would really need to revise how deep her arm holes are. So for example, I need to make a size SMALL for the body, but like a size LARGE for the sleeves, but at the same time, not make the whole sleeve baggy, but retaining the depth of the armhole. It's all hind sight now, but I would love to embark on another of her sweaters (Beck..... :) )

Itchy Fingers, Itchy Wool

It's been about 2 weeks now that I've been in hiding. Well, not so much hiding, but more like busy doing too many knittery things to have time to blog about it. But I shall talk a little about it this evening.

I brought some closure to a couple of knittery things. For example, Franklin is now 99.9% done. I just need to take some pictures and take it to some alteration place to put in a zipper. I shall blog more about that when I actually have a finished product to show. Not too happy with it though. Or more like not too happy with the pattern and how it came out. But more on that later.

Another secret project has been signed, sealed and completed. And that's all I can say here. The only other thing that I may dare say about this project is that there is much work to do some more. More proof of concepts and design concepts to be knitted. When the time is right, it shall reveal itself.

My last post on Lucy Neatby. If you wanna know, get her DVD's. They are quite good.

Now, the nice thing about blogs.... pictures. Here is some itchy Shetland which I had stowed away for almost 2 years now. I took it out, brushed off the cobwebs and got it ready to knit again.

This is a swatch for a vest in Joyce Williams' Latvian Dreams. It's called Don's Vest. I really don't have a good picture to show of the completed vest, but I'm sure you'll see plenty of progress pictures. Once I figure out the gauge and size, I'll be cooking.

The wool used is actually Harrisville Shetland from a cone. I think it's been attacked by moths. Because the first few yards were all completely broken. In to the freezer you go, for a good while to kill you damn beasts.

So, outside of knitting news, I had to replace my kitchen faucet today! Uggh. Yes, plumbming work. I mean, it's all done now, but there's a shit load of crap to clean up.

Which I'm going to leave you and go and do right now.

Happy knitting and have a good evening.

Lucy Neatby

So, at the Men's Fall Knitting Retreat, someone who is a friend of a friend of some other friend who doesn't knit who has a friend who does knit, his friend, told my friend who told another friend who told me...... about this wonderful lady named Lucy Neatby. (Ok, the whole friend of a friend thing is a joke. )

It was more like Michael Wade told me...... about these wonderful series of DVD's produced by Lucy Neatby that are super awesome. Apparently she is a super technical knitter, that produced these series of DVD's that were high quality with very clear instructions.

So, as you all know by now, I am super technical myself, or at least that how I view my knitting. So I caved and bought 10 of her DVD's. That's 10 out of 16 DVD's that she has. I just wasn't into Double Knitting or Intarsia Knitting..... yet.

So, Lucy is based out of Canada and getting her DVD's would certainly take a while to get to Texas. And as you all also know, I have been playing around with the Tubular Cast On and I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to see how Lucy does it. (BTW, I plan to use it on a secret project that I'm planning right now.)

Anyways, if you haven't heard of this wonderful site by Bob and Nancy, www.knittersbookshelf.com, go visit them. They are the most wonderful people that I have ever shopped with online. Let's put it this way, I ordered my DVD's on Tuesday and I got them on Friday, at my doorstep.

Please get any of your knitting books or publications or needs from their website if you want a fast, reliable, super nice site. I certainly rate them A+++++ Thank you Nancy.

Anyways..... I am watching the DVD's now and the certainly are truly awesome.

Ok, I have a wedding that I need to be in right now, so, till next week.

Men's Fall Knitting Retreat 2009

I just got in from lovely rainy knitting-weather Seattle and back to icky yucky hot Houston. Boy, am I TIRED!! Was up at about 4 am and lost 2 hours coming back to Houston.

So let's back up. For 5 days, I was in Seattle at the 2009 Men's Fall Knitting Retreat. I didn't get to take as many pictures as I would have liked to this time. I was more immersed in the moment rather than trying to capture the moment. So, unlike my other posts, this post will be skim on pictures.

Day 1 was awesome. Tired, but good. Flying always wears me out. I got in early and Chuck picked me up and we went yarn shopping. For the first time, I was at one of my favorite online yarn shop's store front. Yep, it was Little Knits, based out of Seattle. Then we went to 2 other local LYS's, namely Acorn Street Yarn Shop and Weaving Works. The one only really worth mentioning to me is Acorn Street. Just cuase, they are nice! I still don't understand WHY LYS's still have such an attitude towards men? I just don't get it.

Anyways, not to dampen anything, we shopped, and then picked up John and headed out to Dumas Bay, where the retreat was held. Sorry, no pictures of Dumas Bay, but I'm sure the other attendees will have plenty. But Dumas Bay was great, I liked it a lot more than the YMCA last year.

So, I got to meet old friends like President/Founder Joe and new friends like the legendary Franklin Habit!!

Day 2 was some classes and then the main event...... The Skacel Tour!

I'm not even going to mention what happened there. It was yarn heaven! But it sure did put a dent to the pocketbook.

Well, Day 2 just didn't end with the tour, but it ended with Cat Bordhi as our hononary female speaker. She was just so inspiring. And being booked up to 2 years in advanced, Cat was so kind to drop by to give an inspirational talk about men and their rise in knitting..... she thinks that MKR will defnitely take off and will be the next black!

Day 3 was some more classes, and an Alpaca Farm Tour. Well most of you all know that I don't really like the alpaca fiber and I had been to an Alpaca Farm before, so I skipped this and just sat around, knitting and bonding with the other men. And then Toots LeBlanc stopped by with more alpaca and then it was movie night.

And Day 4 was time to say good bye. :( This was sad. Like it always is.

So, there you have it a rather condensed version of the events that took place at this year's retreat..... but I have not even touched on the male bonding, kinsmenship and emotions of the event. Rather than trying to express it in writing, I'll let you imagine. I can assure you that it was just one of those feelings where words just escape my mind.

It was so great to meet the new people, the old people and to have them help enrich my knitting life and just life in general. Don't fret if I don't mention ya'll here, you know who you are, you know you attended the 2009 Fall Retreat and you know that I love ya'll. New friendships and old friendships, we meet again and part again till the next time. Love and many many kisses. xoxo

Los Angeles

So, on the topic of Eating My Lunch, wonderful Sarah and Helen taught me how to increase beautifully for a 2x2 rib. But more on that when the actual sweater sleeve is done. Then there will be pictures.

But for now, I want to blog about my first time ever being in Los Angeles. From a few posts back, I had told ya'll that I'd be going to LA For Kyle's Birthday and such, so I have a few photos of that LA is really like.

But aside from all the L.A. stuff, what was really nice was spending time with cool knitting friends, cutting up and just chillin.

I arrived in LA in the morning and Kyle picked me up. Then we went around taking pictures of what you see above...... as Shirley Q' Liquor would say, I'm so "ignant" that I actually asked Kyle if the Grauman's Chinese Theather was where they only played Chinese movies. DUH! I had no idea that's where all those hands where.

Anyways, then we went and picked up John and Chuck and then the craziness begun. Cutting up, laughing, chatting..... pretty much all weekend long. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and didn't do anything but eat FRIED Appetizers and drink Smoothie's with Vodka and Mojito's with Bak Choy in them. It was fun.

Then we got home and the next day was the Griffindyeworks Workshop. Now that was a little scary day. The LA fires were pretty bad and this was a picture of what was burning from where we were at.

But other than that gigantic bellow of smoke, we had good times. It was the first time where I met Charles and CraftyDiversions (Anne). Too cool.

And my first dyeing experience turned out like this:

Not too shabby I think. I don't think I'd ever dye again, but at least now I can say that I had done it.

Then back home, dinner, pizza, chatting, sleep and then before I knew it, it was time to go.

So, now I'm back to work, and blogging about all this now. :) Anyways, Happy Birthday Kyle and I had a GREAT time in LA.

Chuck, John, I'll see ya next week!

Eating My Lunch

Ok, Franklin was going GREAT I must say until the damn sleeves. It is totally bugging me and eating my lunch at the same time.

The sleeves in the pattern are knit with no shaping, which means that the circumference the biceps are going to be the same as the wrists. Having a small wrist, 9", I'm not going to have another 9" of ease!!

So, I am decided to start small and taper the sleeves. The problem is, I have ripped the darn thing out like 5 times already trying to find the best increase to use for a 2x2 rib WHILE maintaining the integrity of the damn ribbing.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

Any words of wisdom?? I'm going to cry!

Just Because

Arrrghhhh........ sometimes I wonder if I have a yarn addiction or not?

Just because.......

Let me explain. Because I'm going to a workshop to learn how to dye with plants and weeds or something like that... I had to obtain some yarn to dye.

Actually, let me digress about this whole dyeing thing. Geez, I can't believe I didn't even blog about this! So to make a long, long, long story short, I am going to Los Angeles at the end of the month to celebrate Kyle's birthday and then die.

Woops, did I say die? No, I'm not going to die on Kyle's birthday, I'm going 'dye' on Kyle's Birthday.

So that's why I had to get some plain yarn. Pretty huh? ArtYarns' Ultramerino 4. Yummmm....... 7 skeins.

But somehow, some Martina and some Merino got lost along the way and ended up following Artyarns home to Texas.

Well, the Adrienne Vittadini Martina and the Schachenmayr Extra Merino needed adopting too, and now, they are in my stash. And that's my story...... I think I now have a lifetime of knitting to do.

See ya'll in L.A..... if not, before that.

Forget Me Not

I was going through all the projects that I have on the needles right now and realized that there is one that I started during the Men's Knitting Retreat 2009 but hardly blogged about.

Not to be forgotten, is the Cascading Petals Scarf from Runway Knits. Like I mentioned the other day about now mindless Franklin is, so is this scarf. I realized that I was out of yarn already to finish the 2nd half so I had to run to my LYS to get one more ball.

So, it is also worthy to give a few pictures of my progress, one half of it........

Have a great weekend everyone.

The Back

So, this is just a quick post...... just wanted to update you guys and let you know, that NO, I didn't disappear again.

I've been busy. This is the back of Franklin, which is coming out really nicely in my opinion.

I am very happy that I took the time to fiddle with the 2x2 ribbed cast on and using another technique that hides the color change purl bumps on the right side of the piece.

Some would say that this is a boring knit, but boring is what I need right now. With all the stuff that's going on in my life, sometimes it's just nice to sit and knit and watch tv without even needing to look down at your knitting.

How is everyone else doing?

More Stash?

Boy, do I ever know when enough is enough? FedEx came today with a wonderful package......

Anyways......... I think enough said about that!

On to my boy Franklin - I finally mastered the 2x2 rib tubular cast on, and cast on for this cardigan. Boy am I quite happy with the job done. I am not sure if the photo does it justice, but in real life it is quite elegant. I just need to learn how to take pictures like Brooklyntweed. Hmmph!

Also.... notice how I don't have color change bumps? Nice huh!

OK, short post for now..... mostly eye candy. Onward knitting.