Franklin continues the book tour in support of his just-released collection of [...]]]> I am in luff with this man’s intellect, twisted wit and emotional clarity. Yes, I could gobble him up because he’s beyond adorable but that’s beside the point. Today is the day for titters, tee-hees, guffaws and outright belly laughs, courtesy of one Franklin Habit.

Franklin continues the book tour in support of his just-released collection of sketches and short essays entitled, “It itches.” This is a little book (only 6″ x 6″) with lots of humor and heart. It perfectly captures the oddities, foibles and sometimes obsessive nature of our fibery pursuits in a way that only Franklin can.

Although this is his first book, Franklin has been making us laugh for some time now as he chronicles the exploits of an imaginary cast of characters, including a saucy sheep named Dolores and Harry, the often gullible skein of yarn. While the book features neither of this well-known duo, there is an amazing thread of fiber humor that keeps you turning the pages. My current favorite is a re-imagining of conversations and thoughts of historic figures as knitters. Marcel DuChamp. A megaphone and boa constrictor. Ha!

I caught up with the author at Chicago’s Loopy Yarn. Hopefully, the tour will be in your neck of the woods sometime soon. I know Franklin is in London now and set to cruise back on the QE2. Too bad I’m not travel-sized like Harry )

Ha. Who am I kidding? The truth is that I’m slowly trying to get back in the game, reconnecting with friends of the yarnish persuasion and making a few small things, like a baby hat [...]]]> I’ve been a busy woman lately! Between starting occupational therapy and hobnobbing with the knitterati, I haven’t had a moment to myself.

Ha. Who am I kidding? The truth is that I’m slowly trying to get back in the game, reconnecting with friends of the yarnish persuasion and making a few small things, like a baby hat and one (yes, one) toddler-sized fingerless mitt from some yummy fingering weight leftovers. No pattern, just rib, gusset and go.

I did finally meet Colleen, aka Subway Knitter, in recent weeks. We gabbed like fiends over the Sunday buffet at India House. Smart lady with a beautiful smile. I wish that we’d had more time but planes to catch, etc.

The Book Report
Hot off the presses, we have Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne of Mason-Dixon fame “Knitting Outside the Lines“. The cross-country book tour hit Chicago this weekend, and I caught up with the FO show and tell at Loopy Yarns. Just one pass through the latest hardcover tome and I’ve got at least 5 patterns marked. Big plus? They signed one just for me. And the other people standing in line. OK, I may not be special but I do declare (in my best Southern belle imitation), this sophomore effort is worth your time.

Patterns in the book shown here include the Stephen Colbert socks, Dotty, Kiki Mariko.

Also spotted in the crowded two-story store were Mary Neal Meador, Bonne Marie Burns (ChicKnits) and Franklin Habit (The Panopticon) with the first copy of his new baby, “It Itches“.

Franklin, beaming like a proud papa, lovingly passed around the new book, delivered late last week after months of intense labor. “It Itches” will be officially launched later this month in upstate New York at Rhinebeck. More tour dates are available here.

This last bit is kinda cool and I rate it as my favorite scene of the night. Here we have Ann Shayne, on her break from the book signing upstairs, shyly asking Franklin for his autograph on the special Loopy Yarn bags he designed.

I do love my knitters! They welcomed me despite my long absences from their midst. I’m just bummed I couldn’t make it to YarnCon this year though, on second thought, my wallet is probably grateful.

I’m not sure how, but I was able to find the somewhat elusive Volume 3 of Norah Gaughan’s [...]]]> Let’s review.
Mea culpa, y’all. I have been remiss in sharing a few of the goodies that arrived at my door over the past few weeks. Let’s start with the new books and wind up with a couple of gifts.

I’m not sure how, but I was able to find the somewhat elusive Volume 3 of Norah Gaughan’s (offsite) design series for Berroco (above, left) shortly after it became available to the public this summer. Just as she’s done in other collections, Ms. Gaughan has managed to innovate in a space that has become a little bit too “same this, same that.”

Some of my favorites of the 16 designs in Volume 3 include the Eastlake Sweater and the Assemblage cardigan, with its deeply textured collar and cuffs. For me, Strawberry Hill is the one sweater that has me wondering how the heck Gaughan even conceived of this design. It is both structural and fluid, while retaining quite a bit of visual interest. I’ll never knit it but snaps to Gaughan for the eye candy and inspiration!

Malabrigo, Book One (above, right) seems to have a different mission altogether. According to Malabrigo’s Tobias Feder, designer Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton named each of the 17 designs after Uruguayan cities and towns. While they do not achieve the level of high concept design, the very approachable sweaters, vests and accessories do a decent enough job of showcasing Malabrigo yarns.

Finding publicly sharable photos of the designs has proven a bit difficult, but if you’re a Raveler, you’re in luck (Ravelry links). Carmelo, the design pictured on the cover, is a heavy favorite within Ravelry. I tend more toward the hat-scarf-mitten combos myself, with Mercedes riding my fave wave. I also like Arapey, the one lace shawl in the book, with its faint arrowhead motif.

One thing I noticed is that almost all of yarns used in Book One are solids or nearly solid. While Malabrigo certainly has a respectable depth in solids, I think some attention might well have been paid to their rich palette of painted multi-color yarns. It’s hard to find designs that do justice to handpaints – especially in garments. Perhaps these yarns will show up in a future folio.

I wanted to embrace this book as something special because I’m such a fan of the yarn. Sadly, nothing “blows my hair back.” Color me disappointed with the freshman effort.

Treats from a sweetie.

You know how it goes with this online knitting community. We met in person just last month, though we found our way to friendship through blogging long before then. KnitPastis said something was on the way but gave no hint as to what it might be, except to say that it was handmade.

I opened the pink tissue paper and fell instantly in love with my Amy Butler fabric knitting project bag. I’m totally digging the pale and darker striped blue background with the brownish gold leaf motif scattered here and there. Enough for me? Most definitely. Not for this petite person who believes in having dessert everyday. My “icing” was two balls of Crystal Palace kid merino in a lovely shade of deep pinkish red. Such an unexpected, but completely appreciated, gift to brighten the day.

And then there came a giant thud!
I haven’t been making the blog rounds lately. It’s not because I’ve taken a sudden dislike to crafting. Oh, no. The reason is much more self-serving than that. I can’t open Bloglines without feeling the pull of temptation.

I don’t watch network or cable news, so I subscribe to several national and international sources to fill my news junkie needs. Unfortunately, the nasty business of presidential politics has become too extreme for me, with the lies, accusations and seemingly willful ignorance of too much of the voting public. Lately, I’ve become so infuriated with each story I read that I have called a halt to its constant consumption.

My thoughts (and my stomach) are churning, churning. I have this low hum of irritability and agitation that is not conducive to my well-being. So instead of reaching for another antacid and a sedative, I think I’d best let sleeping cats lay and stay away from the political cacophony.

Pax wobiscum

Because of the slippery silk content and my desire to [...]]]> I’m always on the lookout for a good blend of quality, luxury and taste – whether it’s my coffee, my clothing or my yarn. The two yarns reviewed here are the latest silk / merino offerings from two yarn companies you already know: Cascade and Malabrigo.

Because of the slippery silk content and my desire to maintain some control of my stitches, I knit both swatches on a size 8 US bamboo circular needle.

Cascade Venezia Worsted

content: 70% merino / 30% silk; multiple plies
yardage: 219 yards / 100 grams
suggested weight or gauge: 5 sts per inch on size 7 US needles; I got 24 rows and 18 sts over 4 inches on size 8 needles.
care: hand wash in cold water or dry clean
hand: beautiful drape, good stitch definition and smooth to the touch; only drawback is the occasional splitting of the multiple plies or snagging of the resulting fabric if your manicure needs a touch-up.
color: 104, Red Pepper

Malabrigo Silky Merino

content: 50% merino / 50% silk; single ply
yardage: 150 yards / 50 grams
suggested weight or gauge: dk; I got 24 rows and 20 sts over 4 inches on size 8 needles.
care: hand wash, dry flat
hand: lofty, almost weightless fabric with a subtle sheen and slight halo of the silk very apparent.
color: Indiecita

Which do I like best? In my opinion, the question really becomes one of appropriateness of use. Both yarns produce a soft, light fabric that frankly feels wonderful next to the skin. I would, however, be very careful about using the Malabrigo for anything that might be subject to friction as rubbing and pulling on the yarn caused the silk halo to become even more apparent.

Manos del Uruguay, along with a few other vendors and indie dyers also offer silk blend yarns. Good luck choosing from this embarrassment of riches.

I was intrigued but put off purchasing the book until I’d moved a few WIPs into the finished column. I still [...]]]> One day, during a visit to my local purveyor of yarn, I came across a beautiful top the owner had on display. “That’s the Lacy Shoulder Wrap from Cat Bordhi’s Treasury of Magical Knitting,” she said.

I was intrigued but put off purchasing the book until I’d moved a few WIPs into the finished column. I still have a couple of socks on the needles but really long to do something different, so now is the time for another kind of knitting! I know I’m absolutely late to the party when it comes to the single edge that is möbius, but as a confessed geek, I still find it pretty amazing. I just wish I hadn’t wasted the money on that “Magical” book.

Ms. Bordhi rather chattily (and confusingly) explains the difference between a 180 degree twist and a 360 degree twist – surprisingly never calling it that either! I read the magic cast on directions (complete with tiny pictures) at least 4 times but couldn’t make heads nor tails of what she was really saying. So I took my troubles to Google and that lead me to Planet Shoup.

Plain and simple, I instantly visualized the half-twist and knit up a sample. I know it worked because I was able to run my finger along the single edge of infinity:

Alright, so maybe it wasn’t a complete waste. I do have the pattern I wanted and the yarn I’m going to use is absolutely sumptuous. It’s called Bamboo Silk from the Great Adirondack Yarn Company in the color “Very Berry”:

Admittedly, there are worse things going on in the world than having needlessly spent money on a book. I’m off to count my blessings now, mkay?

Naturally the 4-ply superwash wool is soft, but that is not what makes Wollmeise so special. Each 380 yd. (350 m) skein is available in nearly 40 different shades. Consider too that you can vary [...]]]> Hallo meine Freunde! Today it’s all about the contents of my Luftpost package – specifically, two newly arrived Bavarian beauties from Wollmeise.

Naturally the 4-ply superwash wool is soft, but that is not what makes Wollmeise so special. Each 380 yd. (350 m) skein is available in nearly 40 different shades. Consider too that you can vary the intensity of that color (bright, medium or dark) and you’ve got hundreds of customizable possibilities. Toss in Wollmeise owner and dyer Claudia’s one-on-one customer service and you’ve got a winning proposition.

(L) Campari-Orange       (R) Poison Nr. 5

At 13 Euro each plus 8 Euro shipping for 1 – 2 skeins, these unique hand-dyed yarns are worthy additions to your collection.

Is your German a bit rusty? Click on the link near the bottom, right labeled ‘englisch’. Once you’ve decided on which color and type of yarn you want (they offer sock, worsted and baby aka lace weight), click ‘contact’ to send Claudia an email with your request.

By the way, a selection of Wollmeise yarns will soon be available in North America through The Loopy Ewe if you don’t want to navigate the Wollmeise website.

In knitting news, I stuck a pin in the map and have set a goal of finishing mates for 2 single socks over the next couple of weeks. After that, Forest Canopy bobs back up to the top. This time, I made note of the last pattern row so as not to repeat The Dance of the Stitches once I resume.