Random images of my KR Retreat weekend

***

I'm still processing the Knitter's Review Retreat weekend, and haven't quite been able to fully articulate the experience, either verbally, or in writing. It's times like this I wish I had certain people's gift of gab. (And anyway, Clara described it all much better than I ever could). So, for today, I will share a few more pictures from this past weekend.

(All pictures can be made larger by clicking them.)


On our way:

Lower Manhattan
***

Globe.
Is this the one at Trump Tower?
***

Driving along the Palisades
***

Rural NY
***

At our destination:

Cat's Paw (?) bush
***

Swap room.
This is just half the loot people de-stashed.
***

Hand-knits for donation to the Dulaan Project.
That pile was huge by the end of the weekend.
***

This is where we knit in the evenings
***

Roommate Meg modeling her Forest Paths shawl from IK Summer '03
(Anyone have this issue that I can borrow?)
***

token Y-chromosomes in the building

-

A little spinning demonstration given by Meg:

Yes, it really was that loud in that room - possibly louder.
(Feedblitz subscribers click here to see embedded video.)
-

Bess' KnitPicks Fair Isle ("KipFee") sweater.
She's just zooming along on this thing!
***

KipFee close-up
***

Permanent resident at Jeronimo's
(Who is this guy?)
***

At Orange County Choppers:

Permanent resident at OCC
***

Lance Armstrong bike
***

wooden chopper
***

At the airport:

My 8pm flight is delayed
***

My 8pm flight is further delayed. Sigh.
***

We did finally take off around 11 pm, and I got home around 1 am. Nothing like being imprisoned at a gate for five hours to have some real knitting progress!

Sangeeta left me the funniest comment on my last post: "what other classes did you take? what other stuff did you get? show more yarn!"

Well, young lady, in answer to your first question, I just took the one -- Cat Bordhi's Moebius -- class. I really enjoyed it, and am still knitting on my moebius. Like I said before, once you get the cast-on, which, after you "get" it is really quite easy, and then knit the first round, (which is not easy), it's just mindless circular knitting like anything else.

In answer to your other two questions -- patience, my dear, patience. I will show more "stuff" and "yarn" and perhaps even some "knitting" pictures, tomorrow, God-willing.

***

A dream come true...

***

While driving through Orange County, NY, one cannot leave town without stopping at this world-famous location:

Nirvana!
***

The Space Shuttle bike is one of my favorites
***

Hey, there's Paul Sr., (times two)!
***

Here's Beth all chummy with Paulie

And if you're wondering what this is all about, Orange County Choppers is a family-run business upon which the Discovery Channel reality show "American Chopper" is based. I'm not a motorcycle person, but I am fascinated with that show. The fascination is partly to do with watching Paulie's creative process, which is not unlike watching the designers on Project Runway. But I also enjoy being a fly on the wall, observing an entire workplace full of men with tools, and seeing how they interact with each other when women aren't around. Not that I'm a big fan of Paul Sr.'s daily rage-fits -- I could do without that dysfunctional element of the show.

The above pictures were taken at their retail store and showroom. We decided that we didn't have time to stop by their actual shop, especially since we figured the Teutuls wouldn't be there on a Sunday afternoon anyway. Maybe next time, though.

I heart New York!

***

Knitter's Review Retreat 2006 - Saturday

***

Howdy, from Walker Valley, NY!

***

I have started my moebius, thanks to Cat Bordhi's morning class:

Once you get past the cast-on and knitting the first row, it's smooth sailing

***

After morning classes and lunch, they brought in a few vendors (whoo hoo!):

KR stuff for sale - hi Clara!
***

Jennifer's pretty fibers

***

Morehouse Merino - I love that Cider Jacket

***

Katonah Yarn -- these people sell Fleece Artist and Handmaiden!

***

After dinner, more spinnin' and knittin':

I have a little video of my roommate spinning, but this wireless is too slow to upload it, so perhaps tomorrow or Monday....

And we got a super-sneak-peak at some new books coming out:

Publisher's inside scoop: these'll be on the shelves mid-December

***

Back in my room, I reviewed my unexpected stash enhancement:

From the vendors

***

From the swap table room

***

And now I lay me down to sleep.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

***

New York, New York...

...it's a hell of a town!

Manhattan from my airplane window

***

Yankee Stadium on our way to the GW Bridge to Palisades Parkway

***

Here we are!

***

Knittin' and Spinnin' -- that's my roommate Meg in the pink shirt

***

Recognize anyone you know?

***

Bess tries on her moebius hat/bowl ... ;-)

***

More to follow tomorrow, (I hope)!

Packing Dilemma

***

Is there enough room in my suitcase for Ali and yarn?

someone wants to come to NY with me....
***

Along with clothes and yarn, I'm also taking a camera and my tablet PC, as the conference center has wi-fi. I'm ambitiously planning on posting to the blog throughout the weekend. We shall see if that actually happens. There seems to be enough free time worked into the schedule so that it's a definite possibility.

Seriously, I need to finish packing....

Later!

***

Christmas at TNK

***

Yes, you read that right. Santa came early to the Tuesday Night Knitters. In the form of a Christmas Angel known as Robin H. Robin lives about two hours away and is only able to come knit with us when she's in town for work. Since she wasn't sure we'd see her again before the holidays, she brought us all early holiday goodies. Check it out:

These aren't just any Christmas ornaments....
***

They're filled with yarn!
In case of knitting emergency -- break glass!
***

But wait, that's not all!

She made each of us one of these:

A "Knit Together" pin with actual tiny knitting in progress -- isn't that cute?
***

Robin said she knit them on size 0 DPNs and then transferred the knitting to a toothpick which she had stained and glued a bead onto the end. So creative! I'm definitely going to wear mine at the KR retreat this weekend!

Once again, I fell down on the job as photo-historian and didn't even get a picture of Robin or several other knitters (Robin C., Melanie S., Deb, Tammi, etc.) sitting across the way, (sorry guys!), but I did get a few pictures of some folks that were sitting near me. Next time I promise I'll get off my rear and mingle!

A hearty welcome to first-time visitor Brandy:

who's working on her pretty Icarus shawl.
***

Hey, Lookie! Renny finished her cotton cable sweater!

Isn't it marvy?
***

That's Renny's own design, and she knit and re-knit it several times until she had it the way she wanted it. Worth the effort, don't you think? I love the blocks of seed stitch in the middle of the cables.

Issy finished her top-down sweater, and seems fairly pumped about it:

It looks sooooo comfortable!

***

And stop the presses -- Sheddy finished a matching pair of socks! Will wonders never cease?!

Love these!
***

Patsy is working on a Christmas sweater for her grandson:

I really love the fabric she's creating!

***

And Kathy is knitting an Elizabeth Zimmerman circular Pi shawl, (the pattern probably has a name, but I don't know it -- feel free to enlighten me):

Isn't that cool?
***

Tammi gave us all a good laugh when she asked, "Where does the head go?" ;-)

A few of the other knitters that were sitting or standing near me:

Christina and Jo
***

Sheddy and Sherry
***

As usual, a good time was had by all. I really wanted to hear about Jane's experiences at Stitches, but she stayed home to watch election returns. We missed you, Jane, and I look forward to hearing all about your adventures next week!

And so, until then, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

-----------------------------
Edited to add a completely off-topic diatribe:
<rant>
Am I the only one who's completely outraged that we have to wait THREE WHOLE MONTHS for a new episode of LOST? WTF?!! Who does ABC think they are - HBO?
</rant>
-----------------------------

***

A door is closed, a window opens

***

As you may recall, I agonized about whether or not to go to Stitches East. I ended up not going, and it worked out for the best -- I had a lovely weekend here at home. Shoot -- even my beloved Redskins beat their rival Cowboys at home, with a dramatic last second field goal. It was a gooooood weekend.

I had also toyed with the idea of attending the Knitter's Review retreat, but waited too late and by the time I remembered to apply, it was full up. But, on a whim, I submitted an application anyway, for the waiting list, with absolutely no expectations whatsoever.

Well, what do ya know? I just got an email from Clara -- they have an opening! So, it looks like I'm going to New York this weekend!

Now I need to figure out how to get there.... And what to bring.... I feel like I now have a hundred things to do and just a day to do them in. And I feel the need to nail down my travel arrangements this second, but I also need to go get in the shower right now and then go vote and go to TNK. Can't wait to tell everyone! :-) Arrangements will have to wait until tomorrow.

I am so excited!!!

***

I Love Color...

***

...like Bess' "KipFee" (KnitPicks fair isle) sweater.

...like this maple tree currently "blooming" in my yard:



...and like my new set of rainbow-colored Denise needles:



KnittingHelp.com is the only place you can get the rainbow versions. I already have a set of plain white Denise needles, acquired at this year's Spring Fiber Festival. I use them a lot and really love them, but recently, with so many different projects on the needles, I have found I need extra pieces. So I decided, what the heck - I'll get a whole 'nother kit. In color!

And for those fat-yarned projects that require something bigger than U.S. size 15 needles, the folks at Denise now have tips available in U.S. sizes 17 and 19. Mine should arrive in a day or so. As far as I know, Amy Finlay is not dyeing the new sizes, but I suppose it never hurts to ask.

All this talk of color. Makes me think there's a fair isle class in my future.

I sure hope so!

***

Another hat

***

Finished it this morning, just in time for my niece's birthday party this afternoon.


Specs:

• Yarn: Artyarns Supermerino color # 138, which I won in Courtney's blog contest. Thanks, Courtney!
• Needles: U.S. size 7: Denise interchangeable circulars; Crystal Palace bamboo DPNs
• Gauge: 5 stitches/inch
• Pattern: Cast on 100 stitches. Join in the round. Knit every row for 7 inches. Decrease & finish following Super Simple Hat Calculator instructions.

Recipient:

This twelve-year-old loves purple.
***

She seems to like it, for which I'm grateful. I offered to add a pom-pom or tassle to the top, but she likes it plain. I have about 20-30 yards left, in case she changes her mind.

I'm proud that I'm now 2-for-2 on finished hats that actually fit. I really do like knitting hats, but I must admit that I prefer knitting them with fat yarn. They go so much quicker that way. I've got several more hats on my holiday list to knit, and thankfully, the rest will be knit with chunky-weight.

Now it's time to get crackin' on the next item on the list. Later!

***

Lemonade from Lemons

***

After all the agonizing, I ended up not going to Stitches East today, and you might think I'd be bummin' about that, but I'm really not. It was another beautiful Autumn day right here in Rivah City, and so I made my way down to Carytown to do a little shopping, and while there stopped in the Yarn Lounge, (of course!) and got my greedy little paws on some of the new sock yarn that Stewart is offering:

Austermann Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil in color # 21.
Score!

***

Y'all know that the Yarn Lounge has a blog now, right? It's a great way to keep up with all the new yarns they get in on a daily basis. When I saw their picture of that new sock yarn, I knew I'd be paying them a visit within the week, and I was so glad to see that the colorway I liked was still in stock. As of about 3:30 pm today there was still one more ball of that colorway available, in case anyone else also has their heart set on it. Coincidentally, Wendy is currently knitting socks from that exact colorway, and it was really nice to see how it knits up. I love how it stripes, and I especially love the turquoise in it. The aloe and jojoba are just a bonus. I hope to start some socks with this yarn sometime after the new year, as I'm hip-deep in holiday knitting until then.

The Yarn Lounge was a-hoppin' with activity so I didn't stay long. It was good to see all the regulars -- Stewart, Melanie, Sangeeta, Cate, and Susan. After a little more Carytown shopping and then a stop at the grocery store, I came home to find a package on my porch. It was my surprise from Robin F. for winning her blogiversary blog contest! Hooray!

Smart girl included chocolate:

How did Robin know I was severely PMS-ing today?
***

But (arguably) even better than chocolate were the four hanks of recycled silk yarn she also included. Robin -- did you spin that yarn yourself? It's just lovely! I wonder what it should become? I am open to suggestions. I'm not sure of the yardage -- it doesn't appear to have a label, but I'm guessing about 100 yards per hank. So, what to do with 400 yards of recycled silk -- anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Also included were these sweet stitch markers:


Robin -- did you make these, by chance? You gotta know I especially love that turquoise one!

Thank you so much, Robin, for making my day!

And thank you, Stewart, for getting in new sock yarn! :-)

Now, I have a hat to finish before my niece's birthday party tomorrow, so, later!

***

Stitches East, anyone?

***

I've been waffling for months about whether I wanted to attend Stitches East. But after we attended last month's mud-fest, (also known as the Fall Fiber Festival), it hit me that Stitches was really the last regional fiber event until April of next year, and that's an awfully long time between yarn fondlings! So I now have a stronger urge to go, but am still waffling. It's a 6-hour roundtrip (8 hours by train), for essentially just yarn shopping. But, oh, what yarn can be had! TNK member Rita J. has regaled us with stories of hers and Phyllis' adventures at Stitches Midwest, which has further primed the pump of my yarn lust.

And so, here it is, Friday morning, and I still can't decide if I want to go tomorrow. Anyone out there want to carpool or take the train to Baltimore? Anyone? Buehler?

If interested, give me a holla.

***

Quiet can be Quite Nice

***

I'm not a big fan of the so-called "holiday" that falls on October 31st.

Other than it being the birthday of one of my oldest and dearest friends, I'd rather just ignore that day. I readily embrace the role of the Bah-Humbug All-Hallows-Eve Scrooge.

I dislike the evil imagery associated with the day, but more than that, I'm about fed up with the kids that have shown up at my door the past few years.

I live in the city, in a neighborhood with few children and no sidewalks, so the kids that do ring my doorbell are driven to my block from other 'hoods in a car that idles on the corner -- the parents don't even bother to get out and escort their kids to the door.

And the kids. Egads, the kids. They're teenagers -- too damn old to be doing this. They don't even wear costumes. They don't say "trick-or-treat" -- they ring the doorbell and just stand there with a look of entitlement on their faces. And they definitely don't say "thank you" afterwards. When you offer them your bowl of candy, they try to scoop as much as possible with both hands, or else dig through it looking for hidden treasures you don't have. At least if their parents were standing nearby, there might be hope of better behavior.

The final reason I don't love the trick-or-treaters is that the constantly-ringing doorbell is enough to send my two neurotic, anti-social, stranger-fearing cats completely over the edge. With every ding-dong, they wake up from a dead sleep and race like a bats-out-of-hell (how holiday-appropriate) to my bedroom to hide under the bed or in the closet. After a quiet 20 minutes, they'll tiptoe out, slowly relax, go back to sleep, and then start the mad scramble all over again at the next ding-dong. They even freak when they hear a doorbell on television, so we're not fans of the Domino's Pizza commercials.

I am officially crotchety and old. Soon I'll be standing on my porch waving a shotgun and yelling, "you damn kids get off my property!" I suppose every neighborhood requires a grouchy spinster-lady whom the kids all think is a witch. Ironic, since pointy-hatted, black-magic women are part of that undesirable imagery mentioned earlier.

So, anyway, I was thrilled to have a great reason to be out of the house last night. But then it dawned on me -- I don't usuallly leave for TNK until about 6:45, and kids start showing up at 5:30. So, I still had to go out and buy candy and have it ready on the off-chance that kids might show up. Arggh!

Every year I vacillate on what type of candy to buy. Do I buy candy I love, (anything dark chocolate, perhaps with a minty, gooey caramel or cookie center), and therefore reap the rewards of the leftovers? Or do I buy candy I hate, so that I don't eat all the leftovers? This was a candy-I-hate year -- Strawberry Twizzlers. Yuck. So I'm now the proud owner of boatload of leftover Twizzlers stinking up the house. That artificial strawberry smell is downright nauseating.

At 6:15 I got a group of four kids who were just as bad as previous years. I couldn't wait for them to get off my porch and back into that idling car on the corner. And after they left, I decided I'd had enough of the rude little brats, grabbed my knitting and left early for TNK.

But enough of the Halloween-hating rant and on to more pleasant topics.

There were just five of us at TNK last night -- myself, Deb, Sheddy, Rita, and Norma.

Deb, Sheddy, Rita
***

I was not fast enough on my feet (when am I ever?) to capture Norma photographically before she left to have coffee with a friend, (but that doesn't mean I don't love you, Norma!) It was good to see her -- she had been absent from our last couple of knit nights.

Although our numbers were small, it was really a nice, comfortable, intimate group and I enjoyed our quiet time together. Sheddy shared pictures of her granddaughter modeling the snowman hat Sheddy knit for her -- so cute! She felted the "carrot" nose a little, which I think is a brilliant way to get it to stay pointy and not be droopy. I want to knit one of these hats! The pattern is Jane's design, and there's an action shot of Jane wearing it here.

Jane would like to make that pattern free and available on her blog, but isn't quite sure how to do so. Any TypePad users know if one can upload to and host MS Word or pdf files on TypePad? If so, please leave her a comment with instructions. The real question might be - where is there a good, free file-hosting website that's not likely to disappear in six months? This site looks somewhat promising, but after Googling "free file hosting", there appear to be dozens of others, so, who really knows?

We missed Jane and everyone else who stayed home last night, but it was good Jane didn't come, as her hubby had quite a scare and needed her close to home. So glad he wasn't hurt!

Sheddy gave me a printed photo of the Think Pink scarf she knit while out of town, so I scanned it for everyone's benefit:

The paper got a little rumpled in my knitting bag - sorry Sheddy!
***

And speaking of Think Pink scarves, Norma requested that I show pictures of some of the other contestants' entries. I didn't get a digital image from everyone, but a few of the folks did put them on their blogs, so I will link to them, (or to pictures on my own blog):

• Amy Kane
• Zonda Belmont
• Anne Margaret White
  
• Deb Abresch
• Gina Davis
  
• Katie
• Robin Hasty
• Susan Chang

Hey -- look what Sheddy brought me, just 'cuz:

Oh, goody -- a surprise!
***

And look what was inside:

Fizzy Bath Bomb from Soak, inside a Sheddy-knit washcloth
***

Thanks so much, Sheddy! I love it! Love the cinnamon-y smell of the bath bomb, and I especially love the hand-knit washcloth! This may be the first hand-knit item I've ever received. (My grandma crocheted me things, but I can't remember if she ever gave me hand-knits). I really love washcloths, so, Yippee!, and thank you!

And speaking of surprises, I just found out I won Robin F.'s blog contest in honor of her 1-year blogiversary. Whoo hoo! I love surprises! Thanks, Robin!

Once again proving my point that life is made better through knitting... :-)

***