Bad Luck

 

I have had a run of BAD LUCK!!  Taking the girls on errands last Friday – somewhere along the way – I lost my baby surprise jacket while still on the needles.  I retraced my steps, but no luck.  Goodbye, Mirasol Hacho.  Goodbye, excellent baby sweater.  Goodbye, size 4 circ’s.  Thank goodness the pattern and book was still in the car!

I also discovered that my three black sheep domain (name on the web) had briefly expired and had been taken over by a company – New Venture. What they do is hover over soon to expire domain names, if the owner fails to renew (even within a few hours) this company takes over the name.  They then sell it back for a negotiable” amount.  I placed a bid to recoup my domain name – we will see what happens.

To cheer myself up, I started a pair of socks out of Ella Rae Lace Merino.  A funny name, since it is a fingering weight at 26 st over 4 in on a size 4 needle.  Machine washable, in gorgeous colors. The socks I decided on are for my daughter, she loves my handknit socks, and doesn’t felt them in the dryer like my husband has been known to do. I used a pattern from Vogue Knitting, The Ultimate Sock Book.  The pattern is Garter Heel Sock by Susan Lawrence.  To make it fit Jamie’s 10 year old feet, I used a size 0 needle with a gauge of 30 st over 4 in.  Crushing the gauge will (hopefully) extend the wear.  Jamie wears her socks hard! Looks great on her and she appreciates the stitches now that she is a knitter!

The sock as pictured in the bookThe garter stitch heel

 

One down, one to go!!

Furniture Shopping

Several weeks ago I was enjoying a quiet evening at home.  I sat knitting in my favorite spot.  My two girls were on the couch sandwiched between two 100 pound labs.  I heard a “whoop” and saw a flash as my husband propelled himself across the room onto the content group.  The sound that ensued was  unforgettable.  A loud crack as the sofa frame broke and all five of them slid to a heap on the floor.  Somehow I did not find this as amusing as they did.

I needed ample time to mourn the death of an old friend – remembering all the special moments.  The moves it had survived, many baby naps, Leah’s stomach flu and on and on.  When I was ready, we went looking for a replacement.  Something sturdy for the whole family. We went to a warehouse style place and my gang settles into the first giant sectional they see – I leave them to wander around.  Toward the back of this enormous place I find something truly spectacular.  Or I’ve gone insane, I’m not sure just yet.  It is a modern, round glass table, surrounded by comfy leather chairs.  I have an epiphany (another one – I’m full of them lately.)  A new look for the shop, maybe a touch more modern.  Black wood, glass, more light and space.  The person who will be exiting the existing space is an interior designer and has found me all glass cubbies for the yarn and other fantastic things. Now that I have a new table and chairs, I need a sofa and low coffee table for perusing new books/magazines.  Not too hard to find now that my mind is made up.

So I let my good natured husband know what I’ve decided, we bid the sectional goodbye and I promise to re-arrange the existing furniture in our home for now.  Jamie my 10 year old( going on 30), approves my purchases. She says it was about time I made my shop more “modern!” 

I also wanted to include an updated picture of the baby surprise jacket – looking very odd at the moment.

My new favorite scarf!!

I love this scarf, so much I’ve already made two.  The red one above is mine, one I gave away before taking a photo and the blue is Liz Abinante,   designer extraordinaire.   Pattern for this scarf entitled Saroyan available free on feministy.com  The pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn, but includes  on how to adopt the pattern for any gauge.  The first one I made was a worsted alpaca blend (lovely.)  The second pictured above, is out of Malabrigo merino silk DK weight.  This yarn is fantastic to work with – I really believe comparable to the Manos merino silk.  Different colorway, same price point. I’ve been working on a Koigu lace scarf – but completely became disinterested.  I came to this conclusion when I realize it has been sitting in my car for the past two weeks.  I think maybe it will be another Saroyan or maybe the Traveling Woman  – take a look on the feministy.com site or through ravelry.

If any of you have been wondering where my threeblacksheep.com website is – so am I.  I have an IT group working to bring it back under my ownership because some unscrupulous person/persons have been less than honest with me.  Cross your fingers and hope for the best!

Winter Storm and a New Project

The snow I was scoffing at – ending up having a laugh at my expense.  The snow turned into ice, lots of it.  And the ice took down trees, on power lines.  My power lines and three quarters of Signal Mountain (where I live.)  I did not have heat, power or hot water for all day Saturday and most of Sunday.  It got quite cold in my house in spite of the full length down parka I was wearing.

We had power overnight on Saturday (thank goodness!)  To reward myself for such a difficult day I started a new project.  Something I’ve wanted to do for some time – Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket.  When closing the shop I put aside some of Mirasol’s Hacho a muti DK merino from Peru. I put it in a ziploc with Baby Surprise Jacket as a thought on the outside.  First I read the fantastic posts on Ravelry in the EZ Baby Surprise Group – really, really helpful!!  I have The Opinionated Knitter Elizabeth Zimmerman Newsletters 1958 – 1968, however, through the Ravelry group I found out that Meg Swanson had re-written the pattern with line-by-line instructions and re-sizing.  This is available through schoolhouse press.com – so of course I ordered this pattern as well! I’ll probably finish the sweater before it arrives but I have a feeling I’ll be making many more.  The Ravelry posts made some great suggestions which I’ve incorporated.  I added the extra stitches for sleeve fullness right to the cast on number.  The decrease I am using is ssk, k1, k2tog - very pretty. For the increases – M1R, k1, M1L - so far so good.  Make sure to look at the gazillion of gorgeous baby surprise jackets on Ravelry.

   

Now for some pictures of the ICE!!!

Snow?

I had plans for a leisurely day today. I got the kids to school on time.  Did a little laundry.  Took a late shower.  Stepped out of the shower and answered the phone.  It was a call from the school district. Due to the severe weather, school will be dismissing immediately.  In my bathrobe, perplexed, I gazed out the window. No wind, rain or snow. Several minutes later, a call from the second grade teacher asking me to bring a student home until they can locate a parent.  Sure.  I looked out the window again, still nothing.  The short drive to school was an amazing display of speeding parents, racing to the school.  Then, leaving their cars anywhere, blocking all sorts of traffic.  OK, by this point the sky was grey. Three children in tow, we arrived home, the kids thrilled to be out of school. Then amazingly, thick white snowflakes began to fall.  Within minutes outside had become a winter wonderland.   Out comes the hats, scarves, mittens and boots – the kids are out to play.  Winter is cold in Chattanooga and knitwear is a necessity (thank goodness!)

While the kids play, I sneak my cardigan on the porch for some natural light.  The pattern is Indigo Banded Cardigan by Cecily Glowic MacDonald published in the Fall 2009 Knitscene. 

I used yarn I had gotten at Rhinebeck in October of 2007.  1800 yards of unlabeld yarn – at the time I swore I would remember every last detail down to the farm this came from.  Actually when I was unpacking, and I came to the ziploc baggy with this cream-colored yarn, my first response was – what the hell is this?  It worked out nicely and the contract color is navy Ella Ray Kamelsoft I had left over from the shop.

I made the 40″ bust and it closes easily over many things without gaping.  I added 5″ to the overall length by simply knitting an additional 5″ after the ribbing in stockinette.  This made it an easy to wear jacket over anything. Remember I’m only 5′3″ this is still not too long (great pattern, great sweater, I’ve been wearing it constantly since October!!)  It would have been equally flattering in the shorter length – but more difficult for me to coordinate.  I would normally have loved the excuse to shop for matching items, but the closest mall here is 45 minutes away!

I had to leave you with a picture of Felix’s newest hiding place!

Balance

I have been described as a Type A personality, and though I see truth in this I have struggled to change this image.  I justify this as a throwback to my ER days.  I had to be Type A to be an ER doc! But now I live in a calm, slooower city and I do want to live a longer healthier life. Many people here love yoga. Yoga- this sounds perfect for the new me.  It will help get my blood pressure down, I’ll be more flexible, maybe even more patient.  I go to the local hotspot’s website,  peruse through the classes and hit on the perfect program for me. 40 day bootcamp yoga!  We get a book a week ahead of the first meeting and are asked to read the first two chapters, I read the entire book.  We are told to take 4 classes a week, but ease into the sessions if you are new to yoga.  After the first meeting(immediately after) I take a 90 minute HOT YOGA.  The room is heated to 108 degrees.  Need I continue this story.  I think I am the first yoga drop out.

I knit the same way, I start as many projects as I want, whenever I want.  I also have no little voice in my head that says I already have enough yarn.  Sometimes a little voice says, “Don’t you have 1500 yards of almost the exact same yarn in the same color?”  But I refuse to be daunted by my impulsivity. I hate to think or admit that my impulsivity is what made me buy a yarn shop in the first place. Now four short years ago.  A sane person, with adequate impulse control would have gone back to work in their well paying job and just said no to the long hours, little to no  money, loss of hair…. It has grown back by the way.

The first year I owned the shop, the grand opening was on Steven’s birthday – I don’t recall if I remembered to wish him a happy. I know he understood.  This was April 2006.  Scroll forward to Father’s day  June 2006, midnight the night before I am scrambling for a gift.  I don’t know if he actually appreciated this, the kids got a good laugh, however.  I took a Three Black Sheep bag, size 7 needles 2 skeins of luscious yarn, and a scarf pattern. (Yarn courtesy of Jill Sessa of Looped Back fame, still one of my favorites yarns to date, thank you Jill.)  I think you know the end of this story – no scarf – ever.

However, combing through my stash several weeks ago I found the father’s day yarn.  It brought back all the memories of that first year of owning the shop.  I think I could do it all over again and knit the scarf for Steven.  I believe I am able to bring balance in my life.  Maybe not hot yoga though – once is enough.  Looking at the yarn in my hands I also realized it was no longer destined to be on Steven’s neck, but mine. Sorry.  I had an epiphany, I deserve a prize.

Take a look:   Neck Warmer Hat by Elissa Sugishita published in Interweave Gifts Ann Budd

Jamie agreed to be my model, although I wore the cowl all day today!

Bringing back Three Black Sheep

Yesterday I read Stephanie Pearl McPhee’s blog post commemorating her “sixth blogiversary.”  She described blogging as having a one-sided conversation without interruption.  Wow.  What a eureka moment. I HAVE to start blogging again.  I barely get three words out without getting interrupted.  My girls tell me about their new school/friends,  my husband about his new job.  So much for the m to say, so few hours in day. 

And just like Ms. McPhee when I show them the amazing cardi with fair isle band across the waist and shawl collar, I get blank stares.  This cardi I made while sitting in the K-3 line in only three weeks.  Impressive, right? I should add that I park in the line one hour before dismissal so I’m in the top 5 cars.  A little OCD, I know, but I get a lot of knitting done this way! 

So the time has come to re-open Three Black Sheep.  This blog will be my creative account of this process.  I will attempt to spare my children.  I overheard Leah say to a friend the other day in reference to me, with this tone of annoyance, ” All she talks about is opening her shop, we can’t get her to STOP.” 

I do have someone at home who is intensely interested in all things fiber related.  His name is Felix and he is our new kitten.  He is incredibly cunning. In a split second, he can sever the ball of yarn from my sweater and wrap several yards around the dining room table and chairs. All the while making complex knots, ensuring the re-balling of this yarn into anything less than one yard pieces an impossibility.  He doesn’t stop there.  While I am otherwise distracted with my mangled yarn, he is busy at work on my spinning wheel.  He is strongly opposed to the presence of any fiber on the wheel. He takes it upon himself to remove the offending agents, in bits and pieces, if necessary.  This cat is persistent if nothing else. I am also at how he is able to disassemble parts of the  wheel, always in lighting time and of course while retaining his innocent demeanor.  Take a look at him.  

Felix

He was found by the side of the road, hit by car. He had a broken spine and needed his tail amputated.  Our vet had him up for adoption, how could we resist.  When he came home with us we realized he was profoundly deaf.  Probably why he gets along with our dogs. 

Here’s some pictures of where we live – I just love it here. Even though I miss everyone back home. To the complete and utter embarrassment of both girls, I burst out into tears when the Let’s Hear it For NY song comes on by Jay Z and Alicia.  Actually anything related to NY can easily put me over the edge. But then I look around me and I feel better. 

This is where we are living, a pond in front of the house, horses to either side of us (not ours, thank goodness!) What will make it perfect is a new Three Black Sheep!

On Fair Isle Knitting

I LOVE color work!!  Be it intarsia or fair isle.  Although I like intarsia for garments for my children – my daughter has picked a sweater with a squirrel and a bubble over his head saying nuts!!  Fair isle is relegated for my garments.  Someday my husband may be worthy – let’s see what this wedding anniversary present brings.  Any how I digress, my recent fair isle conquest is a vest from the Fall ‘08 issue of Knitscene.  I used Rowan Kidclassic and changed all of the colors.  I used the same needle size throughout as the pattern called for – however, normally I would have gone up one needle size for the fair isle portion knowing that my gauge changes in fair isle.  The change in gauge created a wonderful waist shaping which was not before present in the pattern.  I received many compliments when I wore this vest to the shoppe yesterday.  I recommend this project highly.  If you are not familiar with the fine art of fair isle and want to learn, there is still room in the class coming up February 24 and march 10.   Just think, if you take the class you can learn two handed color work, reading from a chart and take this knitting skill to new levels to impress your family and friends.  Take my vest for example, as I was knitting it, I kept exclaiming to my family, “Look how wonderful and skilled I am. Watch my hands go, aren’t amazing –  I am a knitting Goddess.”  When I put it on yesterday I said to my husband, “Isn’t this the most stunning  item of knitting perfection you have ever seen?”  You too can become a knitting Goddess or God in fair isle knitting, it just takes a little two-handed juggling, some enthusiasm and a love of color. And prepare your friends and family to be awed by your greatness.

Debbie Bliss Spring Magazine and A New Class

February is such a fun month!! The weather is unpredictable – it’s still cold, do I knit cold weather items or start on spring and summer?  I knit rather quickly, so if I start on a short sleeve summer sweater and it snows I’ll be annoyed to say the least.  So when the new Debbie Bliss magazine arrived I was thrilled to be able to pick out my transitional layering projectes I can start wearing right away!!  And yes I have dozens of the magazine, although at the rate thay are flying out of the door I am not sure how many is enough!  And yes, I have the yarns featured in th mag, and I made sure I had all of the colors on order.  and can you believe it only two are backordered!! The rest are on my shelves – no not the shelves in my house (almost though,  the temptation was very high.)  My first project planned is the Classic riding jacket in light blue Prima, my second is.. well, I’ll let you come in and take a look for yourself.

Stephanie, who is new to the shop, although many of you may know her from Ravelry has agreed to teach a lace shawl class in March.  After seeing Stephanie’s COLLECTION of lace I was blown away by her mastery of the skill.  Observing her low key style of help and teaching will be very soothing to the intensity of lace – chart reading, counting stitches on each row, fixing mistakes, lifelines for BAD mistakes (we all make ‘em!) the art of VIGOROUSLY blocking lace to create the timeless beauty that it is.  Take a look – I’m making one of these shawls first chance I get.  Actually, this is a great transitional project for the spring.  Race you to the shoppe for hand dyed lace weight merino from Prism.

 

Superbowl Sunday Sale

It’s that time of the year again – you need a project for the game and we need to make room for the spring/summer inventory.  So stop in Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1 from 9-5 for 20% off EVERYTHING, $2 PATTERNS, $2 SUSAN BATES NEEDLES, BAGGED YARN SO CHEAP!!!!  this is becoming the BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR so don’t miss out.