Last year, I picked up a new skill, namely crocheting! After completing my first project in the first week of Feb, my fingers were simply twitching to do something more ambitous, and more colorful. In terms of ambition, I did go a tad further, but colors! hmm! I have to work on that one. But, I love white and love the contrast it brings to other colors. I am surprised I strayed away from just pastels into the bright lavender and deep sage. I like how the project turned out. I believe there are one or two boo-boo's in there, but I love it!

	Besides, as I was excitedly taking pictures, drapping the 60 inches long wrap on different chairs and tables to get the right effect, I turn around to this! Now, do I need any other approval? How content can a cat get! Duke loves it and so do I! Princess is playing around with little bits of yarn in the living room.

Since coming back from New York, I have been keeping busy living life, rather than blogging about it or may be I was being just a tad lazy about penning (typing) down what was happening. Either way, nothing got written down for a while. So, what has been happening? Loads of stuff that was on-going, well, has continued to be on-going, loads of new stuff got started, loads of stuff got done, and all along loads of fun was up for grabs.

Work front, all well that works well.

Entertainment front: Movies. Thanks to Netflix (door delivery), Netflix online and Hulu.com sites, I have caught up with several items from the queue

Shattered Glass: All about seeing Hayden Christensen in a role which nothing to do with Darth Vadar. I did get drawn into the movie as it dealt with the ethics. The movie is about a journalist, who has dreams about grandeur and he goes about getting it by fabricating his stories. It reminds me people who love to talk, love to hear themselves talk and all the while are saying nothing or are simply lying.

Arsenic and Old Lace: After the heavy dose of ethics, this one comes with Cary Grant in one of the most hilarious roles as a newly wed with aunts that have a sordid passion of killing gentlemen callers and burying them in the basement. The two aunts go about killing and burying as it was the most normal pasttime ever. It is great!

The Pianist: Holy molly, loved and hated this movie at the same time. Cannot believe I did not go to see this at the theaters.

Prime Suspect 1 and 2: I really do like Helen Mirren's role as DCI Tennyson.

And Then There Were None: As a kid I have remember reading this book, with 10 people murdered on a island, and no one could have gotten to the island and no one left. Since then I have been on the lookout for the book. Couple of months back as I was browsing through tones of used books for sale, I spotted it and bought it. It was great to re-read the book. I couldn't wait for the movie. Hmmm! Quite certain that there was a movie, I searched, found, and moved it to the top of my queue on Netflix. I must say, I was dissappointed, arghh! The suspense was there, the thrill was there, and the ending was horrid. I could believe my ears (or eyes for that matter). How dare they change the ending!

House M.D. (playing catup with season 4... I think): Hugh Laurie is really really cool. The brilliant but caustic doctor and his team as they battle the weirder of the medical problems.

Crochet Conquered! Finally, I have conquered the dopey one needle in one hand and yarn in the other craft. Yes! It has been a personal ghoul to couquer. I could knit, I could embroider, I could pick up almost any other craft, but the whole crocheting business drove me bananas. I could never manage the whole yarn and single needle thing. Conquering this thing has led me down the path of doing a sampler which is almost 50inches in square and also started on an ambitious shawl. Hmmm! I wonder if conquering a craft has lead me down the obsessive crafting path. Time will tell, but this may be a passing phase or a lasting entertainment. My very own accomplishment.

Knitting currently is in high gear..... Antonia 5 completed. Duh! did not take any pictures. More later on this one...... but the more exciting news is the start of Butterfly (Rowan Magazone 37). (NOTE: The front cover is the butterfly, duh, does not show hem.)

When I saw the Rowan Magazine 37, I knew I was doomed, because, I wanted the magazine and wanted desperately to make Butterfly. Almost a year after it was released, I finally gave in. When I was out shopping at Webs (Northampton), I spent some very undecided moments in front of the Kid Silk Haze Yarn.  I could not for the life of me, decide on the color. I wanted them all. But at almost $15/ball, I knew I had to choose. I gave up and got the Majestic (the color in which Butterfly is shown in the magazine).  See the Northampton Stash. I have one word.... wuss. Nah! Whatever!

Anyways, Butterfly is underway. Never has swatching been this frustrating... drove me bonkers to figure out what I should use. Baxter and Vanburren are useless in this respect. For them, yarn ball = fun to play with. They don't care about gauges or needles or lace or holes in laces...... Here are some of my swatches.

<With the suggested needles US8>                                                         

      

<With what I thought may be better US5>   



Finally, I called in the big guns and expert in this field, Li. She suggested US6............ Thanks dear. See below how that turned out.

So, with the above done, I spent all day in house, knitting. I cannot get enough of Kid Silk Haze and knitting is so darn easy, stitches just fly. Well! they do, and if you are not careful they can fly straight out and dissappear. But, I am loving every minute of it. Tonight I had plans to open a good red wine with dinner, but I doubt wine and knitting with kid silk haze will gel. So for the first time....... hang the wine..... give me more kid silk. From last night till now, here is my progress. Pretty good I think.

Decisions made for this project:

• Kid Silk Haze rocks.... I have already lined up my next two projects..... :) This yarn keeps you deadly honest. There is no hiding mistakes in knitting. and if it has ever been true for knitting, it has been for this yarn. Maybe that is why I love it, it keeps you on your toes. especially snagging. There is (a) no hiding mistakes and (b) no snagging allowed, as both these will show glaringly loud. I love this yarn. So, perfect so demanding, yet gives so much back in feel of the yarn and look is so 'eatably' good.
  Use US6, US8 too big, I could have used US5, but decided to let experts guide me in this respect.
• I did what the expert did, replaced those nasty K2tog tbl with SSK. And it looks great! It did wonders to speed up the knitting. P2tog tbl was far easier for me than K2tog tbl. So, thanks again Li.
• I did 13 repeats for the hem with the 8 row pattern..... I loved this border so much, that I could have gone on knitting this forever.
• I picked 79 stitches for the main.... and may bring them down only to 71/69. I will decide that tommorow.
• More decisions to come I am sure....... but this for now.

pssst: Thanks Baxter for keeping me company all day. He sat patiently around, or next to me, until I was done with a row, to allow me to adjust so, he could clamber onto the lap and settle down. Usually, there is no warning what so ever and viola! there is a cat on lap. But all day he waited for me acknowledge. Even as I write this, our good man, baxter is sitting on the lap with head resting on the left wrist, so mostly right hand is typing. Thanks sweetie.

This pattern has been in my mind for ever, and I tried with all different left over yarns and needles of different gauges and somehow, it always eluded me. Something was not right. I could not figure it out. So, when we were out at webs and saw this yarn at a must-buy-price, I got it. I think it turned out just jazzy, the pattern is a simple 10 row pattern, repeated 27 times and done. I still need to block this one, but even without blocking, it looks so scrumptious and leafy. The timing is so appropriate (or not), just when the leaves are turning reds, yellows and oranges, I complete the one with green. Perhaps to hold on to the summer. Nah! I love the fall, with its snippy mornings and warmish days.

After completing the three sweaters and the Allegra, I was itching to start something for me again. So, took a trip to Northampton, MA.

I cannot believe I have not been here before. Few days ago, I thought I needed a break, a getaway or rather a runaway from town. I thought to going to Webs in Northampton. As I was still mulling over whether to go or not. I asked a colleague at work, if his wife, (equally avid knitter), would like to go. One thing led to another, and it became a field trip to Mecca of Yarn.

We started early around 9AM, had a great drive to Northhampton. I love this town! We parked to get coffee at La Fiorentina Pastry Shop, on 19 Armory street. Had a cappacino with two biscotti's (one Anisette and the other Almond). Coffee was to die for, and so was the Anisette biscotti. Once fed, we were ready to tackle webs. Driving up to it, felt like driving up to a warehouse, and I had butterflies and was so nervous, that my hands were shaking. I had no idea what to expect, but it just felt so exciting and fun and content and happy. I had not even stepped over the threshold.

The place is insane!!! Insanely great! I am so hooked. Why did I not get here before. So much yarn, so many books, so little time. Man, I need to get more hands to knit everything. And prices are so unbelievable. If this is how it feels to be in love, then I am in love. I came away with  the following in my cart.

1. Adrienne Vittadini Catalogs (Love these, I want to make them all): Spring 2004, Fall 2004, Fall 2005.
2. Plymouth Yarh: Baby Alpaca Brush (in light steel blue) for Vittadini Fall 2005 Antonia 5. Needed to do substitution as Antonia is either too expensive or discontinued.
3. Elsebeth Lavold: 1 skein Silky Wool in Moss Green for a scarf. Hmmm, loved the yarn so bought a skein in cream and maroon. No idea what I am going to make of these, but loved it, so it had to be adopted. :)
4. Rowan: 3 skeins Kid Silk Haze for Butterfly project from Rowan Magazine 37
5. Rowan: 1 skein Kid Silk Haze White/Pearl.... just because.....
6. Reynolds Yarns: Saucy Sport, 100% Mercerized Cotton: 2 skeins brilliant Green, 2 skeins light Blue, 4 skeins in Cream for a Crochet Shawl, pattern TBD. I think I got these because the colors and sheen so vibrant and so yummy.

(Note: The colors look all washed out, because they are most pastels and I took the picture in full sun.

I am heaven, so happy, so content, so needed to be back to start knitting!! But this was just the beginning. We parked in town, and walked along Main street. What a fabulous town! I just love the feel of town centers, with plenty to do, just rightly balanced at being laid back and active.   We ate lunch at a Mediterranean restuarant. I had fabulous lamb kabob plate with salad (best I have had in ages or rather first I had in ages).  After that we wandered around, stopped in used book store and bought a knitting book (of course). Couple of hours later, we stopped at HayMarket, a hole in the wall, with plenty of space once, you made through the hole in the wall. Again, had great coffee with Coconut Almond Shortcake cookie. Yum..... Forget counting the calories, I was there to savor every darn minute of it, and by god, I did. I am glad I don't this often, but when I do, I really do relish it and it stays with me for the long long time.... and the cookie and biscotti and lamn stick to my... you know where for a long time too. But what the heck. We wandered around a  bit, and was glad to be walking to work off the 5000 calorie day. It was great to see the place with friends who knew the place well (they went to school in the neighborhood and were married in this town)...... hmmm definitely a town worth saving.

Knitting for tots again! This time I am knitting with Sirdar Snuggly (double knitting) in Royal Blue and my fast becoming favorite yarn for tots Sirdar Snowflake (double knitting) in Pink. 

 

Knitting the pink as a raglan sleeved sweater was a breeze and I am proud of the end result. But the blue drove me pots. Perhaps, it was because, the number of pieces that needed to be knitted with few stitches and then seamed and arrghhhh, I had cut my left fingers cutting pineapple. Or it may be because I was making two of the exactly same pattern in the same color!! When I was knitting up the second, it was deja vu, like, wasn't I just here increasing and decreasing at same places with same color yarn.

I am happy with how they turned out, but blue was aggravating, pink was a pleasure. But the three (Blue x 2 + Pink x 1) are done and shipped off.

Inspectors: WHAT would I do without these chaps!!!
 

9:00AM: Last day of vacation, and Allegra is done. A day to celebrate! I am proud of this one. I had completed the back and front sometime back and somehow just could not get myself to complete seaming. I think it sometimes needs destiny to kick in, well, this morning it did. Around 6AM, after a cup of coffee, I got down to the business of seaming. After roughly three hours, it was done. I could wait, needed to take a picture. After couple of silly self pictures, I ran over to my neighbors', bare foot and fingers crossed (hoping to catch her at home), and had her stop breakfast and take a picture. So, here it is!!! This is how it all began: 1. Friday, July 10th: Concept to project 2. Wednesday, July 19th: Back made some serious progress with Allegra back progress 3. Saturday, August 5th: Back completed! Front is where it is at. Allegra front progress 4. Sunday, August 20th: Front completed! Knitting done 5. Several days: Got lazy and/or blaming destiny for not completing the seaming 6. Monday, Sept 11th: Done...... this is it. Roughly two months, with off and on knitting.

Day to celebrate!!!

Allegra front completed. It was a test of patience, counting and courage to believe that I could complete this one. The front as described before (Stage 2) consisted of the piece which starts of being similar to back and then goes into a fancy miter and the two sides like flappy wings, and then a twist and great V-neck. 

I think it is stunning!! I still need to complete the seaming and finishing the edges, but I love it and cannot wait to wear this one.

Allegra (Allegra Pattern First Post) back is completed and now comes the front. The front is same as the back for about 6 inches as the back, then we add (and knit at the same time) the left and right sections, and miter the center, so as the rows are added, the center closes in together and left and right sections grows. The added convolution is that the left and right (on the outer edge) are decrement (not at the same rate) so as it turns inwards with the center mitering, it levels off to form (in theory) the next level.  To show if off, I have loaded the right hand section on a stitch holder, but it is really on the same needle (as shown on the left side) that the section is loaded. I don't believe it, such a simple concept, but the result is stunning. Cannot wait till it is done. I am hoping this week or upcoming next weekend. I think though, I have made to minor mistakes, but I think no one will really know.

Oh! Baby! This is nice.
The back, done!	Fancy mitering and left and right

Not too bad for few days of furious knitting. The pattern is so simple, no really, it is simply four rows of perfectly easy knitting. After a few rows, I have the pattern in the head. I did not have the Allegra yarn, so I substituted with Shine (60% prima cotton, 40% modal). And changed the color to a vibrant apricot.

Here is the back and the detail picture of the pattern. Put on some dark glasses, this yarn is meant to brighten anyone's day.

 

     

When I borrowed the Adrienne Vittadini Spring 2005 from my friend, I had no idea that passion would turn to obsession. But it did. Look at that pattern, how can I refuse that. For weeks and weeks on, I procrastinated whether to knit or not to knit this fabulous design. Finally, I caved, and gave in to the mesmerizing pattern and start to knit. It is a tad too ambitious, but I think I want to give it a try.

Pink Lacette and Gillactic yarn scarf in a pattern from my friends 1000 Patterns book. Lovely isn't it! It is soft and fuzzy and has sprinkles of silver glitter. It was too tempting not to knit with this yarn mix. It has become a personal favorite. I am sure there are other colors waiting for me. :) The 1000 Patterns book is really fabulous, I want that!! It went on my list of wants...... :)

      

In the past 15-18 days, along with the vacation and yard work, I knitted some more little baby sweaters. They are all knitted with baby blue Sirdar Snowflake double knitting yarn on 4 mm needles (yarn is not as stunning as the Sirdar Ultra light, but it is soft and fuzzy and fun). Usually, the needles recommended are much larger size ones, and I wondered how they would turn out on smaller needles. There are two for 0-3 month baby and two for 3-6 month old, one frilled edge at the bottom and one ribbed. I think they turned out pretty good. 

Each of the sweaters have dark blue buttons. I was chatting with my sister over the weekend, and she reminded me that buttons and ribbons are a choking hazard (she would know, she is mum to two boys). I knew that buttons were, but ribbons too! Beats me, why we still have patterns for babies that need buttons. Another weird thing about this pattern was the sizing of the finished garment. The 3-6 month frilled edge (pic: bottom left) sweater is 1/4 inch larger than the 0-3 month ribbed edge (pic: bottom right). What gives! You mean to say that for this pattern the baby grows only 1/4 inch in body in 3 months. Oh! Well, I just follow the directions.

   
For me spring all about Lilacs and Cherry Trees. As you walk around in the neighborhood, these blossoms cannot fail to grab your attention, either with their fragrance or their color.

To celebrate, lilacs, I knitted two scarves using Fun Fur (from Lion Brand), they are so quick to knit with #11 needles and one ball of 60 yards, gets knitted into a lovely, furry scarf in no time. Tell me they don't look lovely. Look at it wrapped around the lilac vase.

In my knitting frenzy, I came across a wonderful lady, who wanted some baby knits. She supplied me with the yarn and patterns and I did the rest. The pattern is from Sirdar 3116. The pink and lilac are for a 0-3 month baby and the multicolor is for a 6-12 month child. The yarn used was Sirdar Snowflake and believe me when I say, it is ultra light, soft and fuffy and knits so easily.  Some very lucky baby is going to be dressed very comfortably. One of the last items to add to this project was buttons. It was mind-boggling to see all the options I had, finally settled on some very lusturous cream colored buttons. Hmmm... not sure I would put buttons for small baby garments, god forbid they come loose and baby swallows them. Perhaps ribbons would be better. 

    

I think they turned out rather nicely.