Knitting « Yarn Is My Métier

New and Improved

At some point, it becomes impossible to play catch-up. I’d say that two years since my last blog post falls in that “impossible” column. The task then becomes to determine exactly what makes the highlight reel. Let’s play this LIFO-style.

YarnCon 2013

Not only was YarnCon, Chicago’s indie fiber fair, better than ever in [...]

The weather gods are playing dirty tricks!

Strata Fingerless Gloves

I thought for sure that my friend T’s Rikke would spell the last of my winter knitting. I figured that she’d have very few chances to wear her hat, which was the last of a 3-piece gift: Rikke, Strata (from “Knitting New Mittens and Gloves”) and Eleanor.

Har-dee-har-har. There is actual [...]

East is east

Stephen West at Loopy Yarns

And West is West – Stephen West, that is. Don’t know what you may have heard about this talented 22 year old designer, but I find his take on the humble shawl new, simple and fresh. How someone came fashion stockinette, garter stitch and geometry into flattering shape and [...]

Seeing Red

Venezia Boneyard Shawl

I’m trying really very hard to keep my hands busy doing anything but snacking. Looks like knitting is filling the gap at the moment. This shawl took me a little over one week to knit. Granted, it’s not fancy but one week. A shawl. Me? Never happened before. I must really [...]

Surprise!

My next door neighbor’s son, Colin, turns 3 years old on Monday. Until late this morning, he had no idea that his mom and I were cooking up a surprise for him in the form of a handmade scarf. Mom said it shouldn’t be too long because she didn’t want it to wrap around his [...]

Caped On A Cold Day

Red Java Slouchy Beret

I am a serial knitter. At least I became one in the last month. I committed to starting AND finishing three pieces to accompany an old (but still unworn) orange, brown and cream tweed cape. Two you already know about: Malabrigo Arm Thingies (Ravelry) and Malabrigo Neck Thingie (Ravelry). The [...]

Just In Time!

December in Chicago and the first snows have fallen, right along with the temperature. I was afraid I wouldn’t have what I needed so I knit as fast as my fingers permitted – just to make sure I was ready for the drop.

It’s not as though I don’t have hand knits to wear, right? [...]

And then there’s Eleanor.

Knitty Eleanor Cowl

I actually cast on for Eleanor in mid October but those 132 stitches sat for two weeks – just the promise of a cowl at that point. I knit it in fits and starts, hence the delay in finishing this beautifully simple pattern. I thought chart-reading would be a problem after [...]

It comes but once a year

It brings together those of us who believe in its soothing properties and the implied promise of renewed creativity. It gives us a chance to renew old friendships and make new ones. It feels good to know that, although you’ve fallen away from the local scene, the people who “knew you when” still welcome you [...]

How do you mend a broken knitter?

You go to a very good surgeon who knows how to use his own tools of the trade to reattach, reshape, shave and sew (as needed) to put the FO (me) to right.

I had my first post-op appointment. Doc says things look good. In fact, from the size of the incisions, it looks as [...]