High Fiber—Fast Forward to February

The Sundance Film Festival is over. The celebs have left town, and only the skiers are left. It was fun volunteering, especially with such great fellow volunteers, like Bev (my supervisor):

We've seen some great films. To check them out, see the Sundance website.

I worked long hours, and even though I took my knitting, I didn't get as much other stuff done. On my day off, I did get to do a little spinning. The fiber is "Autumn in Park City." I purchased it from AlohaBlu. Here's the half hitch I use for holding spinning, in case you've ever wondered what I do with that loose bit of twisted fiber when the phone rings.

I also got a bit done on Baby Stuart's Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ). Here's what it looks like lying "flat:"

I think it looks like a potato chip or a cuttlefish. It's really sort of an origami project. You fold it a  certain way, and you end up with a little jacket. This will give you an idea of what it will look like folded properly with the shoulder seams sewn:

Just the hood to do. In case you've missed previous posts about this project, the yarn is Stroll Sport in Winter Night and Mink Heather. You can get the pattern from Schoolhouse Press. (You will have to scroll down to find the pattern.) It's also found in Elizabeth Zimmermann's The Opinionated Knitter, also available from Schoolhouse Press and Knit Picks.

Winter storms have brought the snowplows and the trucks that dump salt on the roads up here in Summit Park, outside Park City, UT. The salt on the road is to local moose in winter what the ice cream truck is to kids in the summer.

Sunday we went to see the performance of Rigoletto at Utah Opera. It was wonderful, with Celena Shafer as Gilda, Rigoletto's daughter. She was outstanding. (I was hoping she would get to live this time, but it ended as it always has. Sigh!)

Last week I swatched for the "Flight Path" mystery Knitalong organized by 
Mary Scott Huff. If you're on Ravelry, you can find the Ravelry group here.

I'm using Wool of the Andes Sport Weight. I showed you my swatch last week:

Today (If you're reading this on Monday, January 30th) we get the first "clue." It will be fun to see what the project turns into. A bunch of us from the Knitting Community are doing this Knitalong. It isn't too late to join us if you want. It isn't a race. Just a fun thing to do together. All you need is the pattern (see link above) and 5 skeins of sport-weight yarn, each a different color. I'm going to start a discussion in the Colorwork KAL in the Knitting Community, if you want to join in. Just get your pattern and yarn and join us!

For fans of Miss Daphne, here's a photo of her on her new toddler bed.

The quilt is the one made by my friend Ilene, who lives in California. Daphne took to her new room and bed like a fiber fanatic to wool and cotton! The old nursery will soon belong to baby Zachary.

This week, I hope to unwind (pun intended). I will be shopping for fabric for the borders of Daphne's "I-spy" quilt, so I can get that quilted.

Until next time, happy fiber fun!

What's on my needles: The BSJ for Baby Stuart (aka "BS"), and by the time you read this, probably my Flight Path mystery KAL project.
What's on my wheel: The "Autumn in Park City fiber, Superwash BFL.
What's on my iPad: Still Steve Jobs. I'm into part two. He was a very interesting, complex and (yes) human person.
What's my app of the week: Gas Buddy! It led me to the cheapest gas in the area just when I needed to save time.
What's in my wine glass: Panilonco Merlot Malbec 2010. We love red wines, and this one is unusual, in a good way. Nice!

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—More Baby Projects

Since my last blog post, I have started two new projects and made a start on Daphne's "I-spy" quilt.

If you aren't familiar with this quilting tradition, the idea is to use lots of fabrics that depict objects a child might be familiar with: animals, foods, toys, flowers, etc. You tell the child, "I spy a (name of object)" and let them find it in the quilt. It's a game, but it's also a way for a small child to increase his or her vocabulary. I will be looking for a fabric for an outer border and backing for this quilt, and then get my friend Julie to quilt it for me. I plan to take it with me when I go to meet Daphne's baby brother in April.

A new order from Knit Picks brought the yarn for several new projects.

For the other new baby, arriving in June, I purchased yarn for a Baby Surprise Jacket (AKA "BSJ.") It's like the one I made for Daphne's brother. Here's what I have done so far:

The yarn is Knit Picks' Stroll Sport in "Winter Night" and "Mink."

The expectant mommy is making one for the new baby herself. She has made good progress.

The yarn is also Stroll Sport, which can be washed in the washing machine and makes a sweater a good size for the first few months for all but a preemie.

Also in the order is some Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes Sport and Wool of the Andes Bulky.

The sport-weight yarn is in "Wonderland Heather," "Baltic Heather," "Saffron," "Fairytale" and "Avocado." I purchased it for Mary Scott Huff's mystery KAL, which starts January 30th.

I've made a swatch:

I was able to get gauge using the size 4 needles, so I'm set to go. (Our swatch could be any pattern of stranded colorwork, so I just played.)

The bulky-weight yarn is for a felted diaper bag like the one I made a couple of years ago for Daphne's use, but this one will be for her new cousin. The BSJ I'm making for this new baby will coordinate with the bag, although it won't match exactly. The colors for the bag are "Porcini" and "Navy."

The book was added to my order for my friend Joanie.

In spinning news, I'm well into the second bobbin of the "Autumn in Park City" fiber I purchased from AlohaBlu. Here's what the first bobbin looks like:

It's Superwash Blue-faced Leicester. Christina, owner of AlohaBlu, dyed it to match the photo I took of the lovely colors during a hike in the fall. Being Superwash wool, it will be good for baby knitting if I choose.

The Sundance Film Festival has started here in Park City. I had my first shift Saturday afternoon and evening, when the weatherman decided to favor us with a blizzard...finally! I live in a mountainous area far from town, which usually gets the most snow. They let me go early, but it still took me an hour to get home. DH was almost done plowing the drive when I arrived at 11:30 PM. Perfect timing! This is what greeted me Sunday morning:

Between noon and midnight, we got 20" but 8" in four hours was the worst of it. Happy, happy ski areas! Not-so-happy Festival-goers, some of whom missed their films because of snow, traffic and accidents.


What's on my needles: BSJ for Baby Stuart and "Dogwood Blossoms" sweater, second sleeve.
What's on my wheel: Bobbin 2 of "Autumn in Park City."
What's on my iPad: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson from Audible. Knit Picks Podcast. 
What's my app of the week: QuiltCalc, which I used to figure out how much fabric I needed for the sashing and borders for the "I-spy" quilt for Daphne.
What's in my wine glass: Charles Shaw Chardonnay 2008. I don't usually go for Chardonnay, but this one I like.

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—Obsession

The past week has seen me obsessed with colorwork.

I've been working on the Knit Picks Dogwood Blossoms sweater. I'm going to make it as a drop-shoulder cardigan, a style that looks better on me than the design with capped sleeves. I'm also adjusting the colors some, eliminating "Almond" and adding "Nutmeg" (discontinued) "Sweet Potato" and "Turmeric."

It's hard to put down, but I'll have to soon. I have another KP order coming, and when it arrives, I will have to get back to baby knitting and baby quilts. Two of our three children are expecting new babies in the coming months, which means two babies to provide for. I also want to make an "I Spy" quilt for Daphne before I head east to greet her new brother. I'm thinking of a nine-patch, with the "I Spy" fabric in the middle. (For those of you who aren't familiar with this type of quilt, there are fabrics depicting objects or animals a small child can find as a game.) I'm still collecting fabrics for it. I should be able to get it done quickly, now that my friend and avid quilter Ellen is back in town.

Baby Zachary will already have some baby things knitted by his maternal grandmother, as I cleverly (hee-hee) made them all in unisex colors. I did make a BSJ just for him, though, featured in last week's blog. I'm hoping to be able to make a baby quilt just for him, so Daphne can take the one I made for her to her big-girl bedroom.

The KP order has yarn for another BSJ for the other new baby, currently being referred to as "Baby Stuart," or "BS" for short. (Never mind the jokes!) Also in this order is WotA Bulky to make another diaper bag, similar to the one I made before Daphne was born.

The upshot is, I'm going like gangbusters on the Dogwood Blossoms, because I will have to drop it to make baby things when I have my materials. I'm still trying to work in some time to spin the luscious SW BFL from AlohaBlu, which she dyed for me from a photo I took on a hike during autumn. It's called "Autumn in Park City."

In other news, I woke up to this this morning:

The resorts will be happy.

Also, the Sundance Film Festival starts this week, and DH and I will be volunteering, as usual. 


What's on my needles: Dogwood Blossoms, various UFOs.
What's on my wheel: The AlohaBlu SW BFL "Autumn in Park City."
What's on my iPad: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson from Audible. Very interesting, so far.
What's my app of the week: BlogPress, finally a new version that doesn't crash with iOS 5!
What's in my wine glass: Viña San Esteban Reserve Malbec 2010. Lovely!

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. (I used the the BlogPress app to write it.) No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

High Fiber—FOs and New Starts

In spite of a bad cold, I finished Zachary's BSJ.

DGD1 (also suffering from a cold) finished her first hat:

It's the  F346 Coffee Beenz Hat from Plymouth Yarn. She used the yarn I spun from Gaywool fiber shown in my blog  last spring. Here it is from the front.

I took the photos during a hike in the beautiful outdoors. No snowshoes were needed due to the lack of snow. However, we got some Saturday. Here's a shot of our backyard taken during the morning. 

We ended up getting about 3”. The local ski resorts are happier. They have been making snow, but there's nothing like the real thing!

A few days ago I started my Dogwood Blossoms  sweater, which I'm going to be doing with a group. I believe I'm the only one making the red version. Here's the first sleeve.

I'm changing the colors and the pattern a bit. Watch this spot for progress. However, it will be slow, because I have lots more baby knitting to do. Not only will Daphne become a big sister with baby Zachary due in April, but now DS2 and DDIL2 are expecting in June, gender as yet undetermined. I need to whip up a wardrobe of baby sweaters for the new one, as well as keep Daphne dressed with sweaters her younger brother can wear later. [Whew!] Not to mention baby quilts!

What's on my needles: Dogwood Blossoms first sleeve.
What's on my iPad: Still The Skies of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. Not much time to listen with company in the house. DGD1 leaves today, though.
What's my app of the week: iBooks. I use it for my electronic patterns, such as the Dogwood Blossoms, which you get in eBook form along with printed form when you buy the kit. I like that you can zoom in on the chart, which enables me to put my iPad on my book stand and view the chart while I knit.
What's in my wine glass: Green Fin California Red Table Wine 2010. Organic!

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. (I used the Notes app to write it.) No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—Happy Holidays, Part Two

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! I did! A few of us also had a birthday. This was my birthday haul:

Not in the photo are a gift card from Barnes and Noble, a bud vase that looks like knitting and a share in a  Knitters Gift Basket from Heifer International. It includes a llama, an alpaca, a sheep and an angora rabbit. What a great gift! There is also another card that got passed around and laughed over. I couldn't locate it for the photo, but when I find it, I'll show you. One of the cards speaks of cave birthday greetings in my handwriting, from DS2 and his DW. They wrote in something about still looking for the fossil evidence! Ha-ha!

In the photo are two bumps of spinning fiber, a hand-woven distaff for spinning, a handmade row counter (already in use) a video "Pure Country 2," the eBook version of the Yarn Harlot's latest book and a gorgeous hand-knit cowl, which I've also been using. 

We went to No Worries for breakfast with my friend Joanie. Later we went to Silver Sneakers, our exercise class, and DS2 and DDIL2 walked on the track. It's wonderful to spend a birthday with family! Most family members are in other states, but we managed to Skype with them over the holidays.

Miss Daphne is in Texas with the other grandparents. We will see her in April, when her little brother arrives. In the meantime, we have Skype. Here she is with Daddy and Blondie.

Tuesday, DGD1 arrived for a vacation sleeping and snowboarding. She's also getting in some knitting: her first hat. DDIL2 and I helped her find this hat on Ravelry. She's using the yarn I spun from the Gaywool merino and silk. I had her start a baby hat first, so she could learn how to work with two circular needles. She picked it up very quickly. I can finish the baby hat if she doesn't want to, but it got her started. If she isn't done with her hat by the time she has to leave to go home, I will give her the needles and buy more.

I've been working on a Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) for our first DGS, Zachary, due to arrive in April. Here's my progress as of the time I was writing this. I'm probably done by the time this posts. If so, you can see a photo of the finished sweater in my photos.

The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Sport in "Cork" and "Bare." It's great for babies, because it's machine-washable and dryable.

DDIL, DGD1 and I visited Joanie during the week for a knitting session. She showed us the baby sweater she had made. The zipper has yellow and white checked ribbon covering the edges on the inside. She does such a beautifully job of finishing. I could learn a thing or two!

I hope to have a lot more for quilters this year, but in the meantime, here's a look at the yummy fat quarters DS2 and DDIL2 gave me for Christmas:

They came from Sharon's Attic, which I reviewed when I was in the Portland area for Sock Summit. (The review is here.)

I'm finally getting back to spinning, now that the Christmas knitting is done. I've started on the "Autumn in Park City" superwash blue-faced Leicester (BFL) from AlohaBlu (see link below in "What's on my wheel," which was based on a photo I took on an autumn hike. Here's the fiber:

And here's the inspiration:

That's it for this week. Here's wishing each of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

What's on my needles: If I'm done with the BSJ, the "Dogwood Blossoms" sweater, which I'm doing as a cardigan.
What's on my wheel: The "Autumn in Park City" superwash BFL from Christina/AlohaBlu . I'll try to get a photo of the singles soon.
What's on my iPad: Still Anne McCaffrey's The Skies of Pern from Audible. I didn't have much time to listen during the holidays. Also the aforementioned book from the Yarn Harlot and a few other books and magazines.
What's my app of the week: Skype, of course!
What's in my wine glass: Montavina Barbera 2008. Yum!

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. (I used the Notes app to write it.) No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.