Winter In Maine

I spent most of the time I was in Maine at various hospitals and nursing homes, but I did manage to take a couple of pictures on the last day. Mist rises up from the river in Hartland and then freezes on the trees, turning even weeds into gorgeous sparkling creations.


And with all that time on my hands (pardon the pun), I made myself a pair of wool gloves out of self-striping sock yarn. And I weighed the gloves and the remaining yarn and I have enough for another pair. (But no need for another pair.) The yarn is Berocco Sox, and it is not one of the softer sock yarns I have worked with, but I love the colors. Gloves feel like a major accomplishment to me. I'm looking forward to wearing them in Chicago in February!

Eat. Knit. Christmas.

A lovely breakfast with home fries and smoky links...






Later, roast beef, peas, sweet potatoes, biscuits, mashed potatoes, and more!


Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without presents.




A baby hat designed by me, and knit by Kristen for a co-worker.


And new year, new knit...I have started a vest in a lovely yarn called Fez that is 15% camel, 85% merino wool.

Autumn Leaves Coasters and more!

and the goose is getting fat...

Well, I am tired of looking at that chicken meal! So before Christmas, here are a few things I have knit lately.

I posted a pattern on Ravelry today for these Autumn Leaves Coasters.


I knit like 14 of 'em, for Deborah, for my office mate, for myself. I can't stop. They are addictive!

If you'd like to make your own coasters, the pattern is available here for $1.00:



I also finished a lovely shawl:


Live Oak Shawlette.


I wore it when I met up with Katie in Palm Springs.

And I have embarked upon an apparently endless afghan.

Knit. Cook. Eat.

For supper tonight, I adapted a recipe for a chicken bacon appetizer, to make it a main course.

My Version:

4 chicken skinless, boneless chicken breast filets
4 strips of bacon
1 container cream cheese with chives and onion
1 jalapeno pepper

Pound the chicken breasts to flatten them. Put cream cheese on top of each piece, along with a small strip of jalapeno. Roll up and hold with a toothpick. Then wrap bacon around, and use the toothpick to hold the whole thing together. Place in rack in pan and bake at 375 till bacon is crispy.



I also bought a stalk of brussel sprouts the other day, just because it looked awesome. Turns out you just pop the brussel sprouts off the stalk and cook them like any other brussel sprouts. It's a trick to get white people to do farm work. I fell for it.


So, brussel sprouts, off the stalk, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with a lot of salt. Put in the same oven with the chicken.

The rice is a package mix of Spanish rice. It's a trick to get white people to eat rice...no, I kid.




Anyhow, it all came together into a nice simple meal.

And then, there was some knitting that got its picture taken over the weekend.
The scarf is knit in laceweight cashmere, in a pattern called Barbara, for my Mom, who is also named Barbara.








The sweater is further pictures of Peasy, to show how cool it came out.


Isn't it cool? Some day I will get a photo of it on me. If I can find someone who knows how to do this. My poor husband holds the digital camera up to his eye, no matter how many times I tell him not to. Just not worth it.

Vogue Knitting

I have been busily at work on my Peasy cardigan, in the hopes of having it ready in time to wear to Vogue Knitting Live, and I actually made it. This is the first time I ever managed to finish a sweater at the appropriate season--just in time for what passes for fall and winter here in Southern California.


I made a few modifications--I added shaping over the hips, I did the bottom in 1 x 1 rib, and I tapered the sleeves and added lace at the cuffs. I also added buttons all the way down the front. I am quite pleased with the process and the end result.


I especially enjoyed wearing it on Saturday morning in Franklin Habit's class, since the classroom was quite chilly. Franklin is an amazing knitter and a great teacher, and a very funny guy. And he was wearing a Utilikilt. What's not to like?


I also took a class with Meg Swansen and Amy D. Meg is the daughter and heir of the most illustrious person in 20th century American knitting, Elizabeth Zimmermann. She showed us sweaters knit 30, 40, maybe 50 years ago that are still gorgeous.



My other classes, with Clara Parkes and Barry Klein were also very informative and worthwhile.

I also bought some fancy-dancy yarn that includes qiviut.

What I knit in Maine

Gloves for Kristen, made with yarn I bought in Maine in October. Alpaca and silk. My first gloves.



A sock, just because socks are so suited for travel knitting.


The beginning of a lace scarf, in cashmere.

Mom's Shrug