The Guernsey

My husband is modeling the guernsey I knitted for our son, Torben. I used wool called "Botanica" from Halcyon in Bath, Maine. This wool has an extremely tight twist. I couldn't break a strand with my hands without doing bodily harm to myself (I know because I tried.) The stitch definition is just fantastic. This sweater doesn't even need blocking!









I used Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' Knitting in the Old Way and Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Gaffer's Gansey" as my guides. I totally forgot that Meg Swansen had an updated version, which I will use on the next guernsey because I do like the neckline. This one seems to hit right at the Adam's apple and beards and men's necks being what they are, it wears the edge down. My son is an inch or two shorter than my husband so I think the sizing is perfect. This was such a joy to knit. I used the crochet steek method for the sleeves which I prefer to getting a sewing machine out and struggling with tension, etc. It worked nicely.







It is rather embarrassing to be so crazy about knitting dishcloths lately when it wasn't that long ago that I was too snobby to knit them. Right now they are so relaxing and I complete one in about an hour with very little effort. I guess Mason-Dixon Knitting was the turning point in my dish cloth career although I haven't knit a ballband dishcloth in a while. Finding so many interesting color combinations in the cotton yarn is also a great deal of fun and I like the pattern stitch swatches.

























You can find my notes on sweaters and all my projects on Ravelry where I am "PrairiePiper".

This is the waffle stitch that I used on revamping my husband's gray saddle shoulder sweater that I wrote about in yesterday's post.



The dishcloth "group photo" was actually taken after several were given away.

It's Pumpkin Season

The giant Guernsey is a bit unwieldy for portable knitting. I've been trying to think of something cute to make for my neighbors who are adopting a set of twins. I usually avoid knitting the same thing twice in succession unless it is fairly small. My friend Sarah reminded me of these cute pumpkin hats which I have never made before. Of course they are simply a stocking cap in pumpkin color with lines of purl to make the pumpkin ribs. I combined two patterns. You may notice that the hat on the far left has a wilted vine. That is because I decided to be a Wee Smarty Pants. The curlicue stem pattern (Crazy Aunt Purl) said to cast on 19 stitches VERY loosely. Well, backward loop cast on is quite loose and hey, maybe I could avoid two extra ends to sew in if I just used the existing green thread at the top. The result is a wilted vine, which isn't half as cute as the perky vine in the middle. That is my favorite. Then I made one with a plain blunt stem in a slightly larger size. I KNOW that twins mean two babies, ok? There is another set of twins out there that I never made anything for and I'm sure they are going around pumpkinhead-less right now. One more hat to go. Oh yes. In a moment of desperation, I bought acrylic yarn because it was the right color and readily available. This self- avowed yarn snob is going to admit that it isn't really THAT BAD! Acrylic has improved in the last 25 years but it is still plastic and not as nice for the heads of wee babes. When this is gone, I'm going back to natural fibers. Really.



Dishcloths with cheap cotton are another diversion. They are good learning tools and wow, those "ombre" yards do hold my interest. The center cloth is my absolute favorite. It is a lace variation of the well-known "Grandmother's Favorite". Love that lace in the middle.

The Mason Dixon Log Cabin cloth was fun until I realized all the ends that I would need to weave in. Twenty-eight to be exact. The photo was taken after I had dealt with about 1/2 of them. It is a great way to use up odds and ends of cotton.




I've actually knitted about 7" of the second sleeve since the photo was taken. I'll finish it this week. I panicked and ordered two more skeins of yarn from Halcyon and now I think I may actually eek it out with the original 10 skeins. This thing is a pain to turn in my lap now but I'm forging ahead.

Is it just me or did you laugh too?

The Summer Olympics are over. I did enjoy watching some of the events. I'm glad I was watching when the US men's swimming relay team pulled off that unexpected victory over the arrogant French team. It was also fun to see Michael Phelps breaking world records right and left. Did you notice that his events were followed by commercials that congratulated him on his wins and promoted the DVD on his life? I guess they had two sets of commercials ready for the occasions. Good thing he pulled it off. He seems like a genuinely nice kid and hopefully all this fame won't ruin him.

Olympics are great for knitting and I accomplished a lot on Torben's Fisherman's Guernsey. Last night we got hooked on the closing ceremonies and after several hours began to wonder if they really were going to close. I may be the only one on the planet who feels this way but it got to the point that I started giggling as it seemed somewhat absurd to keep going on and on with one extravaganza after the next. I believe the tipping point was when 400 people were swaying backwards, sideways, and otherwise flailing on the steel tower to imitate the flame that had been extinguished. Isn't there something absurd or just a teeny bit comical about that? First extinguish the flame and then try to imitate it. Why not just keep it going? I don't know. It just seemed funny to me. I also got a kick out of the commercials to plug the two set DVD of the Olympics. If my life ever gets so boring that we have to watch them over again, then please start digging a plot.

On Saturday the band had a competition in the Quad Cities. The day was hot but at least there was a light breeze. Wearing a 3.5 lb wool kilt and wool hose in hot humid weather isn't the most fun, but we pipers grin and bear it. Also, piping gets the blood going and creates body heat, similar to running a few miles. Our band is in a rebuilding year, having lost some of our band members for various reasons. So this was our first competition of this year and the first ever competition for 3 new pipers and one new drummer. We didn't place in the standings, but we learned what we need to work on. After finishing our competition at 1:45 p.m. we had over 3 hours until Massed Bands (a Highland Games Closing Ceremony). As we sit around in our uniforms trying to stay as cool as possible, knitting is a great companion and antidote to boredom. Torben's Guernsey is too big to carry along to the Games so I took the socks I have been dawdling on. Once I started working on them Saturdy I've just decided to finish the pair before continuing on the gansey. I don't like unfinished projects languishing for long periods of time. The weather yesterday was simply beautiful. I entertained my mother-in-law on our deck, enjoying the fresh air, while continuing on the socks. The first sock is now finished and I started the heel flap for the second one. By the time the Olympics actually closed (yes, I stuck it out until the end) I was half-way down the foot of the second one. There is another inch or so to knit before finishing the toe. These socks will be ready for fall wearing. I love the colors and the feel of them!

I am a Monogamous Knitter

We had a wonderful trip visiting our youngest son in New Mexico. My current knitting project, the gansey for our son Torben, was too large to take as airplane knitting. I didn't feel like starting something else that would not be finished while on the trip. Many knitters have multiple projects in progress but I don't work well that way. (Kudos to those of you who have so many going on at the same time and you know who you are.) I do usually have a smaller project going and in this case, it was a pair of socks which it seems I have been working on forever. My dishcloth supply was getting low so at the last minute I stashed some colorful cotton in my carry on and made four during the flights. I did get quite a bit done on the socks once we got there but then I lost one of the dp's. I am knitting one sock on dp's and one with the Magic Loop. I think I am slower with ML but at least you can't lose one of the needles.

On our first night in Santa Fe we stayed at a B and B located 5 miles outside of town. The garden, complete with koi pond and loads of hummingbird feeders, was so beautiful that we didn't want to leave. It was so cool that I needed to wear my wool socks (Knit Picks Essential) that can be seen in the foreground of the photo as I stretched on a chaise lounge enjoying the view.


We have hummingbirds at the feeder on our deck, but none so aggressive as the rufous hummingbirds that clamoured at the feeders. The ruby throated hummers were constantly chased by the rufous.
I am absolutely certain that if I had held a feeder in my hand, the hummers here would have eaten from it. They flew right up to my face! One flew so close to me that the hair on my arms blew in the breeze from his wee wings.

Once home, I continued on the gansey project as we watched bits of the Olympics. The color does not photograph well. It is a deeper green than shows here. I know my son is going to LOVE it!