More Cables

I continue to be fascinated with cables. I'm working on this Cranberry Capelet which has a big fat cable down the center of the front and the back. So far, so good! And using fat needles and fat yarn, this project is going quickly. I hope to have this finished by Thanksgiving for two reasons.

1. It's too bulky to take with me on my trip which involves an airplane and (hopefully) only a carry-on bag.

2. That darn Jared Flood and Brooklyn Tweed keep coming out with fabulous new yarns and patterns! I've ordered a skein of the new Loft in the color Truffle Hunt to make (er, begin) the Pei loop scarf during my vacation. I'd feel really guilty starting this if I haven't finished my capelet.

A Cowl with Cables

Ever since I learned cables are high impact but not difficult, I have been fascinated with knitting them. I decided to knit this cowl called Cream & Sugar Cowl because it has great cables, takes just one skein of sock yarn, and will be a warm winter accessory.

The yarn is Madelinetosh Sock. The color is Bark. And no, I didn't choose the color because of Lucy. She rarely barks.

Here is a self-portrait in the bathroom. I made sure to clean the mirror before I took the picture. Guess I should have smiled. I look kind of grumpy. But when I smile at myself I just look goofy. So you get grumpy instead.

I really like this cowl!

Vacation Photos

As I said, I didn't get much knitting done during my vacation. I was too busy having fun with my family, boyfriend, and dog!


Here we are hiking near Cordova Pass, somewhat near Cuchara, Colorado. Front row: me, Rene, Lucy. (Of course she went on vacation with us!) Back row: my brother and my mom.

This is me and Lucy hiking the continental divide near the crest of Monarch Pass.

Here we are near Mount Shavano near Salida, Colorado.

I was crafty, just not with yarn! In Salida I stopped at the yarn/quilt/gift store called Fringe. I bought two Moda charm packs to make a lap quilt. My mom and I arranged them in an 8 x 10 pattern that I liked. We then went to the local quilt store and found more of the same fabric which we cut out for borders. We sewed everything together and the result is this quilt top. Since this is the sum of my quilting talents, my mom (who is an excellent quilter) is finishing the quilt for me.

I had such a great time on vacation! It's just fine that the cardigan wasn't finished by the end of Camp Loopy.

Update

September is over. By now I should have posted a finished object report on my Camp Loopy project #3, the Featherweight Cardigan. The challenge for this project was to use 800 yards (or more) of yarn to make whatever you'd like between the period of August 15 to September 15. I thought this would be tough during a regular month. I went on vacation for the second half of this time period and that really cut into my knitting time. (In a good way, of course!) I did not complete the challenge but I am going to complete the cardigan.

Actually I did quite a bit of knitting in the car as we drove to Colorado but virtually none there. However I have been steadily working on it since. This picture was taken about a week ago. I am nearly finished with the ribbing around the bottom. Next, the sleeves. Then the collar.

More Botanical Knitting

"When we last left Knitter Kathy, she'd just posted photos of her Live Oak shawl. We continue her botanical knitting adventures with a Kudzu shawl."

OK, Mr. Announcer, I'll take over from here. It's not intentional, but between my Camp Loopy projects I have been knitting shawls that are inspired by flora (but not fauna). And coincidentally, flora that grows here in Houston.

This is my Kudzu shawl.

I fell in love with this when I saw it in the Classic Elite newsletter. Soon I was ordering the yarn and casting on. I'm still in love.

Here's a closeup.

I have mostly been knitting my shawls out of wool so I am familiar with the blocking of wool. This cotton/bamboo behaved totally differently. After soaking in Soak, I laid it out on the guest bed to block. I shaped and smoothed with my hands. The shawl stayed in place and didn't try to bounce back. I probably didn't need to pin it down but I did anyway.

15 Days and Counting

I'm talking about the number of consecutive days the temperature in Houston has been 100 degrees or higher.

So it'll be a while before I can wear this:

It's the Live Oak shawlette by Romi from the latest issue of Knitscene.

When cooler weather arrives, I know this will be my constant companion.

When I saw the pattern I immediately thought "fall leaves" so I found a skein of fall-leaf colored yarn in my stash. (It's Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the colorway Candlewick.) Then I looked up "live oak". We have live oaks here in Houston, but not being from here originally I did not know which oak is the live oak. Imagine how surprised I was to find out that a live oak is an evergreen oak--the leaves do not change color and fall off come autumn. So for a true live oak shawl, I should have knit this in a shade of green. I guess I have actually knit a post oak shawl.

Hugs & Kisses Mittens

I have been having fun at Camp Loopy. This time we went "Hiking in the Mountains". The goal was to make a pair of cabled socks, gloves, or mittens. I chose mittens. I picked a pair out of a book that I own, 60 Quick Knits. That itself was an accomplishment because while I buy lots of knitting books, I rarely actually knit from them. This is my first cabled project. I found that while cables look quite complicated, they really aren't. That was a surprise to me. This is also my first mitten project. I don't think it will be my last.

Got to admit, I felt a bit silly knitting mittens in 100 degree weather. But it's nice to know they'll be waiting for me when winter arrives.

The next session of Camp Loopy starts August 15. The theme is Field Day. But as of now, I don't know what that entails.

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Every time I wear these mittens, I know I will be thinking of Wilfred. I watched several episodes of the original Australian version while finishing these yesterday. I often associate certain projects with something that was going on while I knit them. For example, every time I wear a certain scarf I immediately think of knitting it in the car while on vacation. Is this weirdness unique to me, or do you experience something similar?