Here's a winter hat for DH. Been working on it for awhile. It's Lion's Brand, sport weight done on #4 needles. Came out great. Just need a little blocking on the bind off.

I also discovered the joys of knitted pumpkins. Very cool! This one is drying. This is the pattern from the Knitty archives.

Last but not least is a scarf knit from soy-wool, plain ole' garter stitch knit from end to end. I'm still deciding on whether to fringe or not.

Shocking!

Okay, here's the surprise. It's a Forest Canopy Shoulder Shaw. What a great pattern!

And here's a close up of it being blocked.

And now here's the shocking part -- it's made from acrylic yarn. I know, I know, but I had to consider where the shawl is going to live and be cared for. Seriously, when it's going to live somewhere where it rarely gets below 75 degrees, acrylic can be very practical. To block it, I pinned it out and used my steam iron. I think it might be what they call "killing" it with steam, but it turned out great and it had a good hand and drape. So, there, I'm breaking out of the mold!

But seriously folks, it's a great pattern. I plan on knitting it a few more times and I'm sure somewhere along the line, I'll be doing it in wool.

Again, I've been a bad blogger. I can't believe I haven't posted since August. But this time I have good news -- I've been knitting. I have the FLAK sweater back out. I'm hopeing to be done by the end of the year. (Well, maybe sooner.) In the meantime, I have been working on some smaller projects.

First, I picked up some yarn over the weekend. Our community hosts a very large Fall Foliage Festival, complete with a multitude of craft vendors. Also, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman hosts an indoor show in conjuction with the big, outdoor show. I specifically went to check out the lady who was demonstrating spinning. (She had yarn for sale too! Imagine that!) Very cool. I am restraining myself with regard to spinning. I know I would really enjoy spinning, but I just can't take on another activity at this point in my life. Who knows, maybe someday a spinning wheel will fall into my lap and away I'll go.

Here's some hand-spun local yarn that I picked up at our community's annual Fall Foliage Festival. It's from Rose Garden Fibers. This is a bulky yarn, color way called Evening Rose Garden. I think it wants to be a scarf.

I also picked up this blue and white sport weight wool. They are begging to be mittens.

Anyhow, I'm hoping to do better with more regular posts. For instance, I already have tomorrow's post ready, but I can't put it up till tomorrow. All for now.

I've been away this past week to my favorite place - The Outer Banks. The weather was great and we had lots of fun. No knitting took place. Sorry! But I have to admit that my FLAK sweater has been calling.

Today is my dad's birthday. He's 75. We had a picnic and eyed up the pear tree which is just loaded with fruit. I brought a couple home to see if they are getting close to being ripe enough to eat.

The plums are just about ripe, too!

We had a wonderful blueberry pie made by the queen of the pie makers, my Mom!

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to blod. Not much knitting going on either. My job has kept me busy typing, but I have picked up a pair of low socks to putt around with. There's no real pattern. I'm using Esprit from Elann. Just something mindless to work on.

Out local county fair was last week. Amanda got to meet country star, Daryl Singeltary. She was excited. Plus we got VIP seating.

Here's a little something that I've been working on as a break from the FL:AK sweater. It's made from Lion's Brank Microfiber -- very nice and soft!

Spring Forward

Here's a swatch for another project waiting in the wings. The Spring Forward cardigan - another Aran style knit. I saw a finished Spring Forward cardigan on a blog and it was beautiful! It was done in pink. Really shows off the cables. So, I ordered me up the pattern from Big Sky Knitting. The photo's with the pattern really don't do it justice. The sample is done in red and you really can't see the texture. I have this cotton acrylic blend that came from Elann an eon ago. And I think will suit this project just fine. Plus, I believe that I have enough to complete the sweater!

Here on the swatch I'm considering using the stitch on the upper portion of the swatch for the filler stitch. I'm tired of Moss Stitch (which is the bottom portion). So, in the meantime, I must keep plugging away at my FLAK.

Bedford Springs

In our town we have a historic springs resort. Summer home of presdents and other wealthy folks from a time long gone by. When I was in high school we held our proms here. It was very lovely. Unfortunately it closed in the 1990's and fell into disrepair and decay.

After a long series of owners, developers, et cetera, the Bedford Springs is being re-invented as a 5-star resort. Earlier this year work began in earnest.

You'll note the lack of knitting content. That's because I'm stilling working on those #%*&# sleeves.

Sleeve Island

I can't even believe that I haven't posted for almost a month. In my defense, I've been knitting. As you can see I'm off on sleeve island. I need to make 19 pairs of decreases and I'm doing the decreases along the edge of the saddle cable that runs down to the wrist. I have been looking, but I haven't found the immunity idol. Must be on some other island...

I've finished all the decreases on the first sleeve and put the stitches on yarn. I want to check my sleeve length before finishing off with cuffs. It is a son of a gun doing the sleeves. All that moss stitch just goes on and on and on. I can't wait to get back to working on the body. I believe that I'm not going to work in the round. I think I'd like the stability of having side seams, plus I seem to do better with cables when I have a purl row in between.

I have been thinking about how to finish the neck, wrists, and bottom. Slowly, there have been a few finished FLAK's being shown off across the net. Lots of great ideas. I haven't settled on anything yet. Guess I'm going to have to have a good hard think about it and then sleep on it!

I promise to do better with posting. I do have a couple of other things up my sleeve. No, I didn't start another project, but I do have something waiting in the wings. I really like working on this FLAK, so I don't want to be tempted by starting another project. My goal is to have this sweater done so that I can enter it in the local county fair the end of July. Really, I'm working at a good pace and it shouldn't be a problem.

Here's a shot of the overall progress on my FLAK sweater. I'm working with Elann Peruvian Highland Wool in Victorian Rose on size 6 needles.

Here's a shot of the front neckline. In case you're wondering, my stitch markers are cut from candy tubes. You know, that sour powder that comes in a half inch or so sized tube. I just cut off slivers and viola, stitch markers.

When looking at the crocus that are coming up in my garden you might think that spring is here. Indeed, it was 78 yesterday. Today, however, was a different story. As my friend, Christopher Robin would say, "it was a rather blustery day." Snow is even predicted for Friday.

And yes, I'm working on my FLAK (Follow the Leader Aran Knit) sweater. What great fun! I've been lurking at the knit-a-long and on various websites where folks are displaying progress. I have the shoulder saddles done, picked up for the back and am working my way to the arm holes.

I've selected different cables than the pattern actually calls for. The center panel features a Saxon Braid, flanked by Braided cables. The rest are Rope cable and a small twisted stitch. The yarn is from Elann, Peruvian Highland Wool in victorian rose. I'm using size 6 needles, because I knit rather tightly, and because I will be wearing a turtleneck or a t-shirt underneath. Great project with outstanding instructions. I highly recommend it.

What's this I have here? Looks like the start of a FLAK sweater. One swatch down and the second swatch is underway. Then on to washing and blocking for final measuring.

On Saturday we spent the day in State College and DH touched a Heisman Trophy, specifically the one awarded to John Capaletti. He was quite impressed.

Here's the finished product -- only thing needed is some blocking on the hat. Yarn is Palette from Knitpicks. Double strand used in the mittens, single strand used in the hat. Size 6 needles. Pattern for the mittens is from Interweave Knits (I'm not sure what issue) and the hat pattern I intrepreted from the mittens.

The top of the hat sports the date - 2006!

And here's another Olympic project that I've been working on. My grandfather has an English walnut tree in his backyard that produces some WONDERFUL walnuts. I recently got my hands on a nutcracker that actually works. I filled up the 3 lb. margarine tub with nuts and I'd say that I have at least two more tubs worth of nuts yet to crack - from this year's harvest. I still have nuts from last year, but I don't know how long they'll stay good, but I'll be finding out.

It's no world record

I've made the switch to double points. I've started the decrease for the top and should easily finish before Sunday's deadline. I really enjoy doing patterns like this. It's so fun to see them appear row after row. I will be blocking this when it's all done. Guess I'll have to find the proper sized bowl.

I have been working on some non-Olympic scarf knitting. I'll be showing that off when the hat is complete, wouldn't be fair otherwise!

Olympic Update

Well, folks, we're nearing the half-way point in Olympic knitting. Curling has been a real favorite here. I actually found the website for the Canadian Curling Association and acquainted myself with the General Rules of Curling. (I really just wanted to figure out the scoring.) Beautifully simple! Snowboard cross is also great to watch.

However, I'd like to comment on the how uninspiring the men's figure skating long programs were. Plushenko, the Russian who won, sure can jump, but not much artistic flow to the program. The Americans had much more interesting programs, but were unable to deliver on the jumps. Weir is all talk and nothing to back it up.

I'd like to know why someone who's been training to skate in the Olympics and has been competing on an international level, gets tired before the end of the program. Seems to me that stamina training is in order.

Speaking of stamina training ....

Nearing the half-way point on the Norweigan hat. It's soooooo nice. It's not a tight knit and the fabric of it is just right. I'm looking forward to some uninterrupted, marathon knitting time over the next three days, with the fire blazing in the fireplace.


Sam is begging food from his own seat at the kitchen table. Nice boy!

Blocks of knitting

I'm working up the nerve to do a modular knit sweater. Here's a sample block.

And here's four blocks together in a different gauge. I'm pleased with how well the blocks went together. I'm considering using Shine from KnitPicks. The samples are Berocco Cotton Tots. I've washed and dried the samples. I've not knit a sweater since I was in college about 30 years ago.

Olympic knitting is moving right along. I'm using Palette from KnitPicks in blue and white. Single strand on size 6 circular. So far, the hat has a really nice feel to it. Unfortunately, after a trip to the opthomologist this afternoon and having my eyes dialated, there was no knitting this evening.

The Flame is Lit!

Here's my pattern, reworked from using the mittens pattern. Scanned and made 8.5 x 11.

Here's Olympic knitting so far. Men's biathalon, women's moguls, pairs skating short program.

Here's my pattern, reworked from using the mittens pattern. Scanned and made 8.5 x 11.

And here's the hat in the presence of the pairs. So far, so good. More tomorrow.

Tonight history is turning a page here. A fire broke out about 4:30 this afternoon in a building formerly known as Fraser's Tavern. In this building, that was built in the early 1750's, was born the first white child in Bedford County, William Fraser. The fire has now been burning for more than five hours. A business is gone, a family has lost their home, firefighters are nearing exhaustion in freezing weather. At this point, the only hope is that the nearby buildings can be saved from the fire and that no one is seriously injured. A sad night, indeed.

Since I can't cast on for Olympic knitting until Friday, I've been playing around with some modular knitting. I have a pattern for a modular sweater that I'd like to make from some cream colored cotton blend. I'm really considering Shine from KnitPicks.

The yarn here is Lion's Brand Chunky. It's been hanging around in my stash and has unsuccessfully tried to be several other things. But it likes the modular piece, knit on 10 1/2 needles.

I also tried a patriotic combo that seems to work well too. So far, I'm just knitting for practice. One tip that I really like. The last stitch of each row is slid with the yarn in front. The first stitch of each row is knit through the back loop. It makes a very neat edge and easy to pick up the stitches for the next block.

I've been working on "Swatch your Step" socks from a "Knitter's" magazine from couple years ago. I'm not sure how well I like it so far. The process is great, but I resized the pattern. Three rows instead of two. And I'm not too pleased with where the ribbing comes together at the top. We'll see.

And finally we have finished mittens. A very enjoyable project. I used to do counted cross stitch and this was very similar. Again the pattern came from on older "Interweave Knits". There is a hat, too, but I don't think the hat pattern matched up with the mittens very well. So, I designed my own.

The braided cast on is very cool. I found a template for designing Norweigan style hats and mittens at HelloYarn.com and drafted my own pattern based on the mittens. It's slated to be my Olympic Knitting project.

I've been tagged

I was tagged with the 4 Things Meme. Here goes:

List 4 Jobs you have had in your life:
1. Campstore clerk
2. Continuing Education Coordinator
3. Recreation Administrator
4. Court Reporter

4 Movies you could watch over and over.
1. Patton
2. Gone with the Wind
3. The Godfather I (and II)
4. Men in Black

4 Places you have lived:
1. Bedford, PA
2. State College, PA
3. Altoona, PA
4. Fort Myers, FL

4 TV shows you love to watch.
1. Survivor
2. Masterpiece Theater
3. That 70’s Show
4. PBS

4 Places you have been on Vacation:
1. Las Vegas
2. Florida Keys
3. Outer Banks of North Carolina
4. Smoky Mountain National Park

4 websites you visit daily:
1. I’m Knitting as Fast as I can
2. Stitches of Violet
3. Fox News
4. Daily Horoscope

4 of your favorite foods:
1. My own Spaghetti
2. OIP Calzone
3. Prime Rib or Steak
4. Cheese grits

4 Places you would rather be right now:
1. Cape Hatteras
2. At home in my knitting chair
3. On a beach where it’s warm
4. Napping

If you're reading this consider yourself tagged.

2006 Knitting Olympics

I believe that I'm going to join in the 2006 Knitting Olympics being hosted by The Harlot. Stephanie has even come up with a very cool button. We all are big Olympics fans at our house and I'm sure that I'll be knitting. My current mittens project should be complete by the end of the week. (Photo's to follow) The Elizabeth I Town and Country scarf is progressing. (I'm into the second skein - projecting three total.

So, what could I knit, hmmmmm..... The to-do list included a new pair of felted slippers. (I've worn the soles clear through on the pair that I wear.) But that's not really a challenge. I have another Cascading Leaf sock that needs to be knit to match the one that's finished. I've have another pretty challenging sock on the needles that needs to be knit and it's mate done too. Then I have some lovely Lorna's Laces sock yarn, only one skein that I'd like to make a scarf from. I'd like to make some light blue mittens from the Peruvian yarn that I made a hat and scarf from in December, but that's not very challenging. I'd like to knit up a Branching Out Scarf by Susan and that maybe what I select in the end.

The other item of interest is the FLAK (Follow the Leader Aran Knit by Janet Sabo) action that's happening over at Stitches of Violet. Maugerite is working with some beautiful antique rose yarn from Elann. She's also working on a pattern call Aguave with some Shine yarn from KnitPicks. I admired this pattern when it came out in the summer 2005 Knitter's and I think that Margerite is doing a beautiful job. It's definately worth hopping over there to check both sweaters out.

Mittens Part Deaux

Well, the mittens from long, long ago have been frogged and restarted with size 6 needles. MUCH better. They'll actually fit. Currently one is finished and the I'm working on the cuff of the second one. There's a hat that matches, too and I think I'll whip it out too. Real nice and really easy. I just love doing the colorwork. Instant gratification.

And here's the progress on the Elizabeth I Town and County scarf. The yarn is alpaca and silk and I must say luscious! I can do a pattern repeat each evening during TV watching.

Post No. 100

Just to celebrate Post No. 100, here's just a little fun from Norma out in Blogland -- me in my South Park character.

WE ARE -- PENN STATE!!!

Yes, siree, Bob! What a game! Penn State over Florida State in triple overtime til 1:00 o'clock in the morning. Needless to say, loads of caffine was needed this morning.

USC v Texas just isn't as exciting.

Signed, Art Ed. Class of 1980

(Thanks Kelly for the great poster!)