summertime is crochet time

another cozy blanket for a wee one, this time for my dear friend's little boy

yet another crochet blankie in the works

I'm loving the Capresso FrothPro Erik (i.e., Paul) gave me for Mother's Day. It works beautifully, and I've been enjoying cappuccinos out on the front porch lately. 

Other things making me happy these days...

 puttering around in the garden

Anathem by Neal Stephenon on audiobook (absolutely engrossing)

Family Tree, an HBO series by Christopher Guest starring Chris O'Dowd (so funny!)

Doubleknit podcast (Erin and Jessica talk knitting, books, movies... you know, all the important things)

jam tarts, best eaten outdoors

this little guy (now crawling up a storm!):

the bounty of local veggies from our neighborhood farmers' market:

baked summer squash

chocolate chip zucchini bread

brie, pesto, and sweet pepper grilled cheese sandwiches

one pan baked salmon and veggies

Yes, that is the cat sitting on the dining room table, because that is how we roll, folks. 

rhubarb buttermere

Just as we finished off the first batch of rhubarb syrup, I washed and blocked my rhubarb-inspired shawlette!

It's rather larger than I expected, and the bamboo/rayon gives it a nice sheen. I'm still a wool or cashmere girl at heart, though, so I probably will use up the bamboo blends I have, but not buy any more.

Pattern: Buttermere Shawl, by Victoria Magnus (of Eden Cottage Yarns)

Yarn: Knitting Notions Classic Merino Bamboo, Ruby, 1 skein

Needles: US 5 Clover bamboo circs

my Ravelry project page

Notes:

This pattern would make a great introduction to knitting lace or shawls! It's very easy, there's lots of stockinette with just the fun lace bit at the end, and there's no garter tab to mess with. I bound off on the wrong side purl wise --p2tog, pass stitch back to left needle, repeat.

I enjoyed this project thoroughly -- the rhythm of knitting this felt so natural to me, and it reminded me why I love to knit. Very relaxing. I worked on this while watching Family Tree (Chris O'Dowd! I love him! very funny) and the 2011 Jane Eyre (the one with Mia Wasikowksa and Michael Fassbender). So overwrought -- I remember once thinking that Jane Eyre was the sane counterpart to Wuthering Heights, now not so much. Those Brontes! Paul said that I sounded like Mr. Mybug. I suppose I fall more on the "sense" end of the spectrum rather than the "sensibility." But the gothic look was just right, and it captured the spookiness that often gets ignored in film adaptations. The Buttermere shawlette would be just the thing to wear while strolling the grounds of Thornfield Hall.

 Moxie Cat atop a copy of English Home -- good taste, that one.

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Remember the spring cleaning KAL I did back in April? Inspired by that, I dug out a couple more projects and finished them up. Huzzah! Two cozy Malabrigo cabled scarves into the bin for holiday gifts (though it will be awfully hard to give away the blue one).

 besotted

inner truth

bears, yarn, and cats, oh my!

Phew, I finally feel back to my usual self. Why do these short weeks sometimes seem like the longest? We headed to Minneapolis for the holiday weekend. Visiting family and friends was delightful, but the drive was, well, harrowing. A semi nearly ran us off the road on the way there, and on the return voyage, a car just a few ahead of us hit a bear.

 Yes, a bear. In southern Wisconsin, crossing I-94, in broad daylight. Yikes! The people seemed fine, though their Subaru was quite a bit worse for the wear, and the bear looked decidedly no longer animate. I know that climate change has been affecting wildlife patterns in the Upper Midwest, and that wild animals are becoming increasingly comfortable in populated areas (e.g., coyotes now roam the city of Chicago), but this was quite the startling example.

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For car knitting, I tinkered around with a hybrid of Springtime Bandit, with a stockinette body à la brokeknits' gorgeous version.

I'm running out of yarn (as per usual), and need to either rip back or find a coordinating yarn to finish the bind-off. Then it can enter the basket of shawlettes in need of blocking!

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Kylie Cat made herself the cutest little nest out of clean laundry last night:

 What a sweet pea.

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a few chuckles:

- Unhappy Hipsters, where we learn more about the maudlin hipsters who populate the pages of Dwell and ReadyMade
- Catalog Living, especially the post string theory

seeing stars

Finally some sunshine around here!  I may have bundled up in a wool coat and cozy handknit scarf to ward off the cold temperatures and 30-mph gusts today, but I was pleased as punch to see the sun again (and to leave my umbrella at home).

Despite the unseasonably cool and rainy weather, Chicago's flowering trees and spring bulbs have been making a valiant effort to cheer us up.

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All that rain did lead to a cozy weekend spent mostly at home, petting the cats and wielding the crochet hook. I absolutely loved this project, and I can't wait to give this as a gift!  That said, I'd also like to snuggle up with it myself, but somehow a star-shaped afghan just doesn't seem dignified for a grown-up.

pattern: granny star afghan, by Sami Jo Fitzgerald

yarn: Bernat Cottontots

lemon berry, blueberry, and wonder white

hook: 5.5 mm (I) Clover Soft Touch

notes:

So fun to make! This went super quickly. Like I said in my last post, the pattern leaves out a crucial step. In order for the star shaping to work, you need to skip working a 2 DC "cluster" at the inner angles of the star. Terrible name aside, the Cottontots yarn is very soft, cozy, and affordable.

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So, I loved making the yellow and blue star afghan to such a great extent that...

I started another one right away, using leftover yarn from my stash. I do need to pick up another ball of Lemon Berry (the darker yellow in the middle) to finish it up. It doesn't look lumpy in real life -- that's just the effect of spreading it out on the chesterfield.

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I'm finding crochet to be incredibly addictive. It goes more quickly than knitting, and it uses up oodles of yarn, so it's a great way to make a serious dent in my stash.

This tea scarf just needs to be blocked! I used some hand-dyed cormo (picked up at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival a few years ago) and a J hook. The pattern's very easy -- I made a few mods that I'll post after I block it and take a proper photo. Capricha certainly is quite taken with it. Side note: cat owners, do not select Schumacher cut velvet upholstery, no matter how much you may fancy it. Cat. hair. magnet.

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Speaking of things I'm hooked on, Tazo's Green Ginger tea makes absolutely fantastic iced tea, sweetened with just a few drops of honey. The ginger gives it a very nice spicy kick!

OK, back to the salt mines for me...

progress

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Ah, the immortal words of Ferris Bueller.  Busy, busy, busy lately, but I have been knitting.

Paul's Dr. Who scarf is almost done. I'm in the midst of weaving in the ends (yes, my favorite part of any project!). The mercury is still hovering in the 30s F here in Chicago, so he should still get a chance to wear it this season!

The scarf was a great project for knitting night at the local coffee shop, but not exactly riveting.  It's a loose interpretation of a Dr. Who scarf, as Paul would like to wear it in real life and not look like he's in costume. Hence the colors are a bit muted, and the scarf's not too long (but still a little longer than a regular scarf). Modeled pictures soon, I promise.

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My Koigu Turkish Bed Socks (aka Scandinavian clog socks, in my case) see plenty of wear, so I decided to make another pair. The pattern's quick and easy, and even I don't get second sock syndrome too badly in that case. I'm using Madelinetosh Sock in "Bearded Iris." It's pooling rather alarmingly:

Ah well, I'll still wear them. I'm not joking when I say that Capricha is quite the supermodel. As soon as I start snapping photos of knitting, she comes running and tries to get in on the action:

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See, here she is again! Capricha's checking out the Shalder cardigan that's on the needles:

Many thanks to everyone for the input on which cardigan to knit next. I think Aidez is the most "me," but I ended up wanting to use yarn from the stash.

This Rowan Pure Wool DK has been marinating for nearly 5 years -- time to put it to good use! Honestly, it doesn't really feel much nicer than the Knit Picks Swish DK that I use so often. The color might be more complex, but it still has that superwash feel, and every so often a weird fuzzy/fluffy bit pops up. We'll see how it holds up through washing and wearing -- that may be the true test of Rowan vs. Knit Picks quality.

February Finishing Frenzy

Episode III: Attack of the Feline

Capricha downright insisted on taking part in the photos for my latest project. What a beautiful grand dame!

I started this blanket way back in May in the midst of preparations for our big move. Crochet is downright soothing to my senses, so it was just the ticket. The crochet part didn't take too long -- that was done in July.  Weaving in the ends, however... Let's just say this blanket hibernated in a cozy corner of the rec room, waiting for hints of spring.

pattern: stripy dog blanket, by Nikki Trench

source: The Cool Girl's Guide to Crochet (terrible title, but some really cute patterns)

yarn: Lion Brand Nature's Choice Organic Cotton

dusty sage, dusty blue, strawberry, blueberry, almond, walnut, & pistachio

hook: Clover Soft Touch ~ "J"

on ravelry

notes:

Clearly this is no dog blanket! The foundation chain had 166 sts, and I should have used a larger hook for this, as it's a little tight. The pattern's essentially just half double crochet, changing colors every row. It’s super soft and cozy. The yarn is so fluffy that it’s almost like working with cotton balls, and curling up with the blanket is like snuggling with a cloud.

I kept running out of yarn and buying more. In the end it took something like 42 skeins (or maybe 49, but let's not go there). Just thinking about the quantity of yarn makes me shudder. It does, however, fit our queen-size bed. And I love it.

Capricha clearly loves it, too. 

>^..^<

P.S. Think Charlie Sheen seems nuts lately?  Me too! See cats quote Charlie Sheen.

sunshine on a cloudy day

It must be fall -- there's a cool, crisp bite to the air, my Jeep's covered in leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes are back in season. I baked pumpkin cream cheese muffins yesterday afternoon, and they turned out quite well!

The recipe is here.  I added some extra spices in addition to the cinnamon -- nutmeg and cardamom. Ginger would be nice, too, or substituting 1 T. pumpkin pie spice for the 2 tsp. cinnamon.  These are pretty light on the cream cheese filling, so if that's your favorite part, I recommend making a 1.5 batch of the filling. What else... I used half olive oil and half canola oil, as my olive oil was perhaps a bit more full-flavored than would be ideal.

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other sunny things

A Whippoorwill shawlette (rav link), in the scarf size.  I'm using the rest of the grey Plucky Knitter yarn from the contrast edging of my Damson, plus Yarntini in "honeytini" for a splash of accent color. 

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These are from the Renegade Craft Fair here in Chicago last Sunday.  Sofia Masri makes these lovely porcelain earrings and pendants.  I picked up two pairs of her earrings at last year's Renegade, too!

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pumpkins growing in the vegetable garden at Chenonceau, an amazingly beautiful castle spanning the Cher River in France

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Capricha, looking as gorgeous as ever

summer flies

Indeed it does.

Pattern: Summer Flies, by Holly Griffin-Weidner and Donna Griffin

Yarn: OrangeFlower merino/bamboo sock, raspberry, ~3/4 skein (330 yds.)

Needles: Clover US 6 bamboo circs

my ravelry project page

notes:
The pattern was a delight to knit, and it involved enough elements that I never got bored with it.  The knotted openwork section required concentration. The picot bind-off was new to me and took a while to do, but the end result is fluttery and lovely.

I really like the butterfly details:

I think Beatrix Potter would approve. It looked awfully small as I was knitting it, and I had to fight the urge to embiggen it.  Good choice, as it blocked out to the perfect size. Plus I had plenty of yarn for a change.

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urban oasis

When we moved into our new place, the deck off the back door looked like a trash heap, littered with an old mop, a bottle of bleach, an electric juicer (still in its box), dead plants, etc. I had high hopes for the space, though Paul thought it was a lost cause.

Voila!

It doesn't receive a ton of light, but enough for my plants.

There isn't a ton of room back there, but it's spacious enough for this bistro set (where I've been drinking my morning coffee), plus we have the cute Restoration Hardware chair and a grill, as well (not pictured).

Getting used to the lack of outdoor living space was one of the hardest parts about adjusting to Chicago for me.  Seven years later, I've made myself a little green place outside, and it's delightful!  Our neighbors couldn't believe the transformation, and described its former state as a wasteland. In fact, they were inspired to clean up their area, too, and plant a windowbox. Not too shabby for what's essentially a gussied-up fire escape.

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kitty-cat weirdness

Capricha in one of her trademark poses:

She loves to stand on top of Winnie the Pooh and slowly knead him with her front paws while she goes into an ecstatic trance.  We call it "giving Pooh the business." What an odd girl!

Pimm's progress

There's nothing like a nice crisp Pimm's & ginger ale on a breezy, sunny summer day.
Yesterday I rewarded myself with a cocktail and some knitting time after a long couple of days (tons of regular things on the to-do list, plus cat-sitting for a friend, plus two separate plumber visits + one appliance service call).
Mum's Shalom is speeding along. I must say that this is a very quick and easy knit so far! With any luck the body will be bound off by the end of today.

I'm loosely following moxymomma's modifications for 38," as well as SouleMama's sleeve modifications:

• CO 77 sts
  
• 3 buttonhole rows -- 6, 22, 38
• slipped the arm sts to waste yarn instead of BO
• CO 10 sts at each armhole
• no waist shaping
  

I did a one-stitch buttonhole, as the two-stitch buttonhole seemed a bit too large. Next time I'd slip the first stitch of each row (for a cleaner edge).

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The kittehs, basking in the morning sun:

shalom

Last Saturday started off perfectly with a trip to Chicago's Green City Market. Berry season is in full force. When Paul admitted that he'd never tasted a black raspberry, I was flabbergasted.
Not only did we eat 1/2 a pint immediately upon returning home, I turned the rest into a (Black) Raspberry Buttermilk Cake. The Kitchen Aid's virgin run was a success, though using it feels like cheating. Monsieur Kitchen Aid just churns away and does most of the work for you. I'm pretty sure my arm muscles will now turn to limp noodles as a result.

The cake was good -- not too sweet, nice and moist, plenty of complexity from the tart berries and lemon zest. That said, it's really more of a coffeecake than a dessert-type cake.

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On the topic of new things, I did something rather wild in our new place. I threw caution to the wind and did NOT paint our bedroom blue. Shocking, I know, but the whole open living/dining area was already a peaceful shade of light blue, and it opens into our bedroom. So more light blue could have been overkill.

We went with Behr Premium Plus Ultra ("paint and primer in one") in Sliced Cucumber, a very "Martha" shade. I wasn't that impressed with the paint -- it still took two coats plus a good amount of touch-up work, and it didn't seem to want to stick to the wall. That said, painting conditions were less than ideal, as it was super humid (and we were working at night part of the time). In retrospect, I probably should have manned up and done a third coat.

Doesn't Kylie look alert and kittenish in this picture? My ferocious old biddy is mellowing as she reaches 15 years.

Wonder of all wonders, I trimmed almost all of her claws over the weekend! The girls' previous owners had never bothered, and the cats were resistant to it when we first adopted them, so I gave up. But now we have a whole lower level of brand new carpeting, and I thought it was time. Oddly enough, Kylie (the fierce one) minds it less than sweet Capricha, who's generally good natured and friendly.

And the knitting in the background?
A Shalom (with sleeves) for my mom, knit in a discontinued shade of Cascade Eco +. SouleMama just knit a second one that's even more beautiful than her first one, and I couldn't resist the pattern any longer.

A parting shot of my kitters, curled up in a sunbeam:

shalom, indeed

back in the saddle again

Phew, I've spent the past few weeks running around like a crazy person. We moved into our new place, spent a week unpacking and organizing, then hosted house guests (including an adorable 2 year old boy) last weekend.

I started going through knitting and reading withdrawal about a week ago, with my fingers just itching to SSK and K2tog and to page through books rather than simply arrange them on shelves.

Kylie's still enamored of my long-term crochet project, the stripy (human) blanket:
2/3 of the boxes have been unpacked, and it's now completely livable around here, though not exactly ready for a Martha Stewart photo shoot. I rather get the impression that the last 1/3 of the boxes aren't exactly essential for everyday life, as we seem to be managing just fine without them.

Next on the agenda is tending to the blocking pile:
That's a lot of knitting, my friends. Prepare for a number of FO posts over the next couple of weeks!