A yarn about yarn

Irish Diamonds is finished.

And it's huge.

It's more like a cape than a shawl. I think I love it.

I made this from Bartlettyarns 2-ply fisherman's wool in Blackberry. It's not the recommended yarn for this pattern. And it's not what I originally intended to make from the yarn. My plan was to knit an Aran sweater -- a twin to the one I made my brother almost 20 years ago, during the summer I really became a knitter.

My 3-year-old son and I had gone to a cottage in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. It belonged to my ex's aunt, and she wasn't using it that year. So we were blessed with a free stay in a home overlooking Boothbay Harbor, on a balsam-covered island, during a summer that was, at least in my memory, sunny every day.

My ex was supposed to join us after two weeks, and then we'd drive home together.

He "forgot" to get his plane ticket.

Which meant I had 11 weeks alone in Maine with a 3-year-old, no TV to speak of, and not enough to read.

But there was a yarn store in town. All she sold was Bartlettyarn from Harmony, Maine. It may not have been the softest, but it came in heathery colors and still smelled a little like sheep. Somehow, it went with the rocky coast. I bought enough to make a sweater from Maine Island Kids. It had a little sailboat and some fir trees on it.

Then I made two more -- with apple orchards and chickens.

I made a Christmas stocking for a new nephew.

I made a sweater with intarsia loons on the front for my then-husband. The irony does not escape me.

Then I began the Aran sweater.

It was for my brother, who was my best friend. He came to visit me in Maine and we shopped for just the right pattern. He wanted a cardigan, no collar, and classic creamy wool. The Bartlettyarn was perfect for this project, and the yarn store owner had the perfect, out-of-print pattern, which she gave me.

I cast on that summer, and knit about half of it -- but then life and other, smaller sweaters got in the way.

When I finally picked it up again, the pattern was gone -- tossed in the trash by my then-husband. I was not as yet proficient enough to carry on without a clear map, and thought I'd have to rip back. But, amazingly, I found the pattern in a tiny, old yarn store in Tecumseh.

I finished the sweater just in time for Christmas that year. My brother loved it, took it to work, and wore it often.

A couple of years ago, I was on a fiber and winery tour in the Fingerlakes region of New York and bought this yarn. I planned to make the exact same sweater as my brother's.

Then life intervened again. My mother died. My brother, who had struggled with alcohol for a long time, gave into grief in the most destructive ways. He survived, but our relationship has not. He no longer speaks to any of us, least of all to me.

When I picked up knitting again, I knew I wanted to do something with this yarn. It reminds me of when I first learned to knit. It is simple and warm and its smell takes me back to long quiet evenings in Maine -- when I knitted while my son slept.

I didn't have the heart to make the Aran, though -- and so I chose something else. I wanted to keep the Irish theme, and I wanted something warm enough for chilly Michigan or perhaps for visits to Maine. I also wanted something that would wrap around me like the hugs I miss from the people I have lost.

This will have to do.

Mildly annoyed

I am almost finished with Irish Diamonds. I'll post photos tomorrow or the next day.

And there are things about this yarn I really love -- mostly having to do with the memories it holds -- more about that tomorrow or the next day as well.

But there is one thing about it that really irks me --

This skein alone has had at least four.

I have had a lot of practice untying them and grafting the yarn with the "Russian join." My mouth is getting dry.

A time for fiber fun

Friday, I drove to Grand Rapids to see my daughter's play. We stayed up until 2 a.m. talking, and then I hit the road at 7 a.m. so that I could get home in time to go to the Black Swamp Spinners Guild fiber event.

Scott chatted with the people who make spinning wheels and spindles.

I chatted with fiber and yarn.



Briar Rose was there --


I managed to resist the temptation at their booth, but I did buy a couple of skeins for felted slippers from Amazing Grace FarmsThey had other stuff, too --




I could not resist some gorgeous English Angora fiber from Prissy --one of Jan Vandenhout's lovely bunnies:

And what about the shawl?
I knitted in my hotel room before my daughter's play, and afterward, while we talked.
I knitted while Scott drove us to Bowling Green for the fiber fest.
I knitted last night.
I knitted this morning.

I started promising myself little rewards for completing a row -- like a couple of these:
or a trip to the bathroom.

I am on the last patterning row, followed by two rows of stockinette, an eyelet row, two more rows of stockinette, and then 12 rows of garter stitch -- which I am referring to as the Bataan Death March edging.

While knitting, I've been singing --
"This is the shawl that never ends; it goes on and on my friends;
some knitter started knitting it, not knowing what it was, and she'll continue knitting it forever
just because
this is the shawl that never ends ..."

You know the tune -- feel free to sing along.

This is the shawl that never ends ...

Why do so many shawl patterns begin at the neck?

Is it because the construction is more efficient?
Will the shawl fit better?
Does it make the stitch pattern line up correctly?

No.



It's because nobody in her right mind would voluntarily start a pattern that began,
"Cast on 810 stitches."



That's why.

It's never going to end.

More yarn?

When I came back to knitting last month, I virtuously proclaimed my intent to knit only with stash yarn. After all, I still have yarn. A lot of yarn. When I went to visit the stash, it was like greeting old friends -- the Cherry Tree Hill silk in the Dusk colorway (so pretty), the Fleece Artist mohair and worsted combo skein for mittens (so warm), and of course, the balls of alpaca roving (so soft)

So how come the mail delivery personnel brought all this to my house?

Zen Garden 20

Knitpicks Gloss Knitpicks Palette

The Zen Garden is for socks for a friend who had surgery. Merino, cashmere. How could I resist?

The Knitpicks yarn came with a delivery of these. I thought I'd use them to block the Irish Diamonds shawl, but I think I'll need a few more sets.

Can you see how long one row is? I put a pen on the floor for comparison -- hundreds of stitches .

But back to the yarn. Obviously, I had to avoid shipping charges, right? So I needed to get up to $50. I was being thrifty.

Holy cow, it's been a long time since I've posted ...

A really long time. Until about a month ago, I hadn't really knitted in almost three years. I'm blaming it on the family tragedies/drama of the last couple of years. But really, I just didn't care about anything woolly for a long while. I still liked yarn, I just didn't want to do anything with it. Then suddenly, a month ago, I got interested again. Really interested.

I went on a knitting retreat at Sauder Village in February, and just was inspired by all the creative knitters. And the yarn everywhere. I was supposed to take a workshop on knitting lace mitts. But when I started to do the three rows of homework, I got carried away -- I picked a lace stitch pattern and just winged it. By the time the workshop was supposed to start, I was here:

And then I just got carried away -- I made two pairs of these:

one for me and one for Caroline!

I made these for my darling sister in New York:

And I'm about 2/3 of the way through the Irish Diamond shawl from Folk Shawls. I am making it in Bartlettyarn in blackberry -- it's going to be really warm, and the perfect alternative to the Aran sweater I thought I'd be making with this yarn.

Although I've been away from blogging, I've been writing a lot, and have had some poems published. And I have a new favorite activity:

Scott wouldn't camp in a tent -- but he will in this little beauty! We bought a pop-up two years ago, and I am in it every weekend I can be. This year, it's going to Allegan with me for the Michigan Fiber Festival in August. Hope to see you there!

Been gone so long

Sorry I have been gone so long. My mother died last year, and that event seems to have frozen all of my interest in fiber arts. I haven't knitted anything except one lonely sock for more than a year. However, I am writing profusely -- the poetry seems to be flowing. So, for the moment, I am only maintaining my poetry Web site. (And really, I've just started doing that).

Thanks to all of the readers who commented, or contacted me. I know that I will be back in the world of spinning and knitting at some point -- but not just yet. Hope to see all of you around!

There are days ...

You know, it's amazing what happens when you let $350 worth of parking tickets accumulate over, say, a six-month period.

Want to know? Ask my son.

I spent more than a fair share of today bailing his car out of police impoundment purgatory --sent there by the nine unpaid parking tickets he'd accumulated. And then, of course, there was the tenth ticket he was receiving when he called yesterday -- as the tow truck driver was hoisting his battered little VW onto the winch. What with the towing charges from the city, the towing charges from the company, the state charges, the unpaid tickets -- we were looking at a $610 bill.

And how does one finance such a bill when one is broke? National Bank of Mom, of course.

So now, the car is in a different impound lot -- ours. The fee for release? Lots and lots of hard labor -- painting, mowing, gardening, and so forth. Ad infinitum.

I did go to my "Ladies Who Knit" group this evening -- and actually got some knitting done. On socks for me -- fall will be here before we know it at the rate summer is going.

For those of you who have requested poetry, I can only post previously-published work, or I lose a lot of ability to submit it elsewhere.

So, I can give you this one --

First Supper

Burgers glistening in grease
cheap fry – no steak
Table not set for four, but three
three forks
three plates
three milks, no scotch
at table or sipped
surreptitiously at sink
We eat – our first words clumsy
mouths lumbering
We’d forgotten how
not to sit in silence
not prompting rage
We’d forgotten how
to pass salt without
waiting for head to fall to plate
In this new empty space
our bruised voices
swell to chatter, staccato laughter
raucous peace.

The good old summertime

Is clearly not a time for me to blog.

In fact, other than work, I have not even been online at all. I do check my Ravelry messages every so often, but I am finding myself spending no time in the forums.

Of course, this may be because I'm also experiencing a bit of a knitting lull. I haven't really done much with the pink pullover from More Big Girl Knits -- and I just need to finish sleeves and yoke. I've knitted a little on socks, but that's about it.

What have I been doing instead? I seem to be in a writing mood -- right now, in my world, it's all poetry, all the time. When I'm not writing it, I'm reading it. Or listening -- for our anniversary, Scott gave me a copy of Poetry Speaks. It is amazing to hear poets read their work -- especially old recordings of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Yeats, and so many others.

We went to Berea, Ky. for our anniversary in June -- the craft studios were wonderful and we bought some handwoven table linens from the students at Berea College. If you like crafts, it's worth the trip.

And for the first time in years, we went on a full week's vacation -- to Glen Lake and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

This was the view out the back door from the porch --

I kayaked -- We watched the sunset from Sleeping Bear Point -- The moon made dizzying circles in the water -- I didn't want to go home.

Where exactly has May gone?

Obviously, not to blogging. May is one of my busiest months -- we have an annual gathering of all our editors to plan the upcoming year. Getting ready for it and hosting takes more time and energy than I thought I owned. I'm also on the committee for our local historical home tour event -- so I spent last weekend dressed like this -- I got more spinning done in two days than I've done in two months. And thank God it was not too warm. If I had actually lived in the 1800s, I think I would have gone quietly mad with the clothing. The thigh-high woollen stockings, the petticoats (plural), the hoops, the separate sleeves and collars, the voluminous dresses ...

And as a side note, I love how the clothing adds about 30 pounds. Charming.

Memorial Day weekend means a trek to Alma, Michigan (Scotland, USA) for the annual watching-guys-in-kilts event otherwise known as the Highland Festival. The bands were great -- sorry I don't have sound, but hum Scotland the Brave to yourself.


And really, is there anything sexier than a man in wool knee socks?

I am the worst blogger ever ...

Yesterday, I went to ThreadBear to take a class with Susanna Hansson on Rovaniemi mittens. But did I remember my camera? Of course not. Because I am the worst blogger ever. See title above.

You'll have to make do with the photos of my project in process.

We started with worsted weight yarn as a practice piece ---
And then we moved to the fine weight Finnish yarn and smaller needles. In my case, 0000s. It's like knitting with fettucine.

This technique is fascinating. It's intarsia -- see the little skeins? Eleven little skeins. It's stranded. And it's weaving -- look at the inside.

Too cool. And Susanna is a great teacher. Particularly for those of you, like me, who are former Catholic school students. She kind of reminded me of Sister Jean Albert.

On other, larger needles -- the Mirage pullover is moving along.



Slowly, but at least it's moving.


Lastly, I leave you with a photo of one of the two most beautiful things I have ever made --

Oh, ok, and here she is with her boyfriend

Where does the time go?

The Mirage pullover is coming along nicely -- finally. I ripped it out three times, thinking that the double sets of K2tog in the center of the mock cable panels just didn't look right. Of course, that would be because I was working of a photocopy of the pattern, instead of out of the book. (Yes, I own the book -- I did not make a pirated copy.) Once I looked in the actual book, I realized that the little / symbol on the chart was in a gray square -- purl 2 tog.

Easy peasy. I've got about 1/3 of the body done and the pattern is memorized -- for now, anyway. If I go a few days without knitting, it will disappear. It is the frustration of my existence that stuff like that will go away just when I need it -- but the phone number of my best friend from second grade? Right there, baby.

Most of my recent writing has been poetry -- hence the lack of knit blogging. Also, I've been struck by an essay in the current issue of Poets and Writers. In it, the author talks about the increase in technology creating so many distractions that we don't have time to let our minds wander and create. He suggested the value of mindless activity such as walking or looking at the ocean ---I simply don't understand how he could have overlooked knitting. Or spinning.

But I realize that once I turn on the computer, I can fritter (nod to my grandmother for that word) away huge, irreplaceable chunks of time. Mostly on Ravelry. I love Ravelry, and the stash organization and project queues are great for me. But really, how much time do I need to spend reading the threads about the indie dyer who allegedly faked her own death?

I am, in my extraverted way, mostly thinking "out loud" here -- what do you think? What distracts you, sucks away time you could be spending doing other things you'd really like to do?
Like knitting?

Ahhhh....

I give you ...



spring!

And thankful am I to finally see it.

So, being fickle and constantly lured by the siren song of new projects, I have momentarily abandoned these --

wool socks. Because on Monday, I went to Thread Bear and got this --

As promised, Rob had asked Jillian and Amy to sign a personalized copy for me, which was waiting at the counter with a chocolate cupcake/mocha buttercream frosting. The perfect lunch!

After licking my fingers clean, I went to fondle yarn. (Just kidding about the fingers, Rob. Really.) I was pretty sure I wanted to make Lisa Rowe's Mirage pullover from the book, so I actually bought the recommended yarn --

Classic Elite's Classic Silk in a pretty salmon pink. I think this may be the first time I've bought the yarn specified in the pattern. As soon as I got home, I abandoned my poor woolly sock and cast on --

The color is better than the picture, really. The yarn is a silk and cotton blend, which I'm liking a lot better than 100% cotton. I really am all about the wool.

The pattern is easy, and I'm knitting it on size 5 needles. After all the socks and lace, these things feel like broomsticks in my hands. It's probably hand-healthy to change back and forth -- preventing cramping and carpal tunnel, right? Yes -- this is my justification for having many projects on many different needles.

I'll be on the train to Chicago on Monday morning, so I'm sure I'll be back to the sock for the trip. And I get in to Union Station about two hours before my meeting --hmmm, I wonder how early Loopy Yarns opens?

When you want a camera ...

Yesterday was our Spinner's Flock meeting. I thought about bringing the camera. And then thought -- "Oh, hey, it's just elections; I don't really need it, do I?"

So I left it home. Heck, I didn't even bring the spinning wheel -- I just knew it was going to be a busy meeting. And it was -- but we had a full slate of officers, so the election went quickly and smoothly.

Of course, when I don't bring the camera is exactly when I want it. Because yesterday, Amy Singer and Jillian Moreno showed up at our meeting. They were in the area for the worldwide launch of their new book, More Big Girl Knits today at Threadbear in Lansing. One of our guild members, Lisa Rowe (spinsterrowe on Ravelry) has a design in the new book.

I introduced them during the business meeting, but do I have pictures? Of course not -- that would involve having the camera.

But I did get my very own knitty.com button from Amy Singer.

And Rob at Threadbear has promised to save me a signed copy of the book.

And maybe a cupcake.

Life is good.

I got to hold the sock!

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, was in Ann Arbor today for a 7 p.m. talk. My sister-in-law and I got to the public library a little before 3 p.m. There was one other person there -- and a couple of others had gone to get lunch.

We scored front row seats and settled in to knit. Or, in Kathy's case, crochet.

By 4, it was a little more crowded. Everyone was exchanging Ravelry names, and Lisabai had thought to bring name tags so that we could all identify our ravatars.

Brenda brought the largest knitting needles I have ever seen -- the ends were like crutch tips.

I can't help but wonder how achy my shoulders would be if I actually tried knitting with those -- but look how much she's gotten done.

And is anyone else thinking, "Wonder what airport security made of those?"

By 5:30, they were sending people upstairs to the overflow room.

Stephanie was great -- she was witty and entertaining, and has great comic timing. We all left feeling vindicated in our belief that, really, knitters will take over the world. We may be the only ones with the brain waves to do it. (Go hear her talk, read the book.)

There was a huge line to have books signed, and Stephanie was warm and gracious to all of us.

I got to hold the sock!

Afterward, we went to Busy Hands --everything in the store was 20% off; how could we resist? I managed to get away with nothing more than a skein of Lopi Grignasco silk/merino laceweight. I'm going to use it for Sivia Harding's Shetland Garden stole.

This sums it up --