the knitting buzz

love the farmers market

I got a tip that Hoosier Mama Pies  is now selling her pies and other bake goods at the Green City Farmers Market.  I love pie and I have been wanting to get to her shop for nearly a year, but had not managed it. 

So today I set out early for the Farmers Market in search of pie.  So excited..... ok this may be a little sad that someone, mainly me, would get so excited about pie......BUT HEY, we are talking pie now.  Still excited.

I found Hoosier Mama and she had 4 pie choices today:  Blueberry, Raspberry, Chess with Vinegar and Apricot Raspberry.  Hard to choose just one.... but I am a sucker for Blueberry, especially if its warm....yummy.

 

Apparently, I had a rough journey home, I did choose a different bus, which had me walking 4 extra blocks.  Note to self: take the picture at the market.  Even though it doesn't look so pretty, it was pretty tasty and well worth the journey.

Much to my delight I had an unexpected find..... FARM FRESH EGGS.  OOOOLALA!!!!! I have not had these in forever, so I was so excited to buy some.  These eggs come from the Grass is Greener Farm (isn't that the cutest name) in Wisconsin.

 
Arn't they pretty? You may have noticed that there are two missing.... yep, I had two as soon as I got home. they were soooo tasty.  Grocery store eggs just don't hold a candle to these. (However, if you are lucky enough to find Phil's Eggs...they are pretty good too).

The fruits and vegtables were all beautiful and it was hard to resist buy one of everything.

But as I was leaving, I spyed these beautiful brioche buns which seemed like they would be the perfect compliment with my straight from the farm fresh eggs.....

......and they didn't disappoint. What a yummy morning.

 

A quick knitting update....

I am delighted to report that my It's Native by Dream in Color knitted lace shawl/wrap is off the needles and blocked.  I just need to get some pictures taken, finalize the pattern and put it into a pdf.  Hoping to get it published by next week.

 

 

 

smitten with mohair

Knitting with mohair has been a newer experience for me.  Primarily, dictated by my past misconceptions that it is scratchy.  And indeed, it can be scratchy, BUT it can also be incredibly silky and soft.  Its all about knowing what you are buying.

So with a little research, here is what I know about mohair.  Mohair is a silk-like yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat, a small good natured animal know for its long curls. (Not to be confused with Angora which comes from Angora Rabbits).

 

Mohair is one of the oldest textile fibers in use and is know for its strength, durability, resilience, warmth and high luster. The goats are sheared (without being harmed) twice a year.  As the goat ages, its hair becomes coarse and thus mohair is graded based on the age of the animal.

 

A superfine or fine mohair refers to the fiber from a kid and is usually the the animals first shearing.  This is also the softest and silkiest of the fiber grades. Kid Mohair which is also very soft can come from the animals second to third shearing.

Fiber sheared later, when the goat is an adult is either blended with other fibers. An older adult goats hair becomes coarser and used for its sturdiness in outerwear, rugs, carpets and upholstry.

 
 

The fibers halo seems to vary on different types of mohair, from subtle to almost hairy.  I have not been able to find out what causes the difference, but I'm guessing it may have to do with the age of the animal....just a guess.

Mohair is frequently blended with silk, merino or nylon.  But the softest & silkiest fiber can be experienced with 100% superfine or fine kid mohair.....oooo-lala.  More on 100% mohair in an upcoming post....

I got hooked on the luxury of mohair knitting with the laceweight yarn from Dream in Color, It's Native. Its Native is a blend of 52% U.S. superfine kid mohair and 48% U.S. superfine merino, which is grown in the U.S., spun in the U.S, and dyed in the U.S.  Its is extremely soft to the touch with a subtle halo. 

Knitting with mohair can feel a little slippery on the needles and may not suitable for a newer knitter. Mohair also has the reputation that it is impossible to rip out, to fix mistakes or back track.  I have not found that to be the case with It's Native experience. 

 

If you have not knit with mohair in awhile or are new to mohair, I encourage you to give it a spin.....you may just get hooked....it happened to me. 

some random updates

My knitting time seems to have taken a big cut..... so any free time I do get, I try to knit. Sometimes in the most unusual places.  This past weekend, I felt like I was on the go a bit more than usual. I wanted to make Xander a pair of socks, which was the perfect knitting project to tuck into my handbag and have ready to go. 

Probably the most unusual place I have ever knit was at a casino.  I'm not a gambler at all. In fact I find, if or when I have tried my hand at it, I tend to look at the lost money as lost things;  like I just lost a new pair of shoes or worse yet....YARN.

But what I recently learned is that people who frequent casinos.... stay away, far away from pointy sticks. Its almost like my knitting was a counterculture.  So for me, I got hours of uninterrupted knitting time in, with an occassional free drink delivered to me.  What could be better......

Project Updates......

 
Xander's socks should be finished in time for his birthday party. I knitting these with Cascade Heritage Paints Sock Yarn.

 

The lace wrap/scarf I have been knitting with It's Native by Dream in Color has enough yarn for about 2 more repeats before its complete.  I am anxious to get it on the blocking board.  I have decided to call it Glen Coe because the pattern reminds me of the hilly terrain.

 
I am on the foot of sock #2 out of Malabrigo Sock on my Guilded Sock Pattern (not published yet).

Feeling very independent, I broke out some Wagtail mohair that has been sitting in my stash. Its better than dessert!  More later on that one.

I have a few other project in the wings, but realistically I won't be pulling those out till Fall.

feeling independent

After celebrating the Fourth of July, I was feeling quite independent, perhaps even a little rebellious.

START AS MANY NEW PROJECTS AS I CAN..... that's my new motto.  I'm not talking about indiscriminately knitting any old thing with any old yarn. Instead, starting new mindful projects or new designs, as the creative burst arises. Keeping a steady stream of of creative energy flowing.  Throwing caution to the wind....

Previously, I tended to be stricter with myself, keeping the number of projectsto a minimum and focusing on finishing as many projects as possible.  This was practical, but I found myself spending hours and hours getting distracted by new ideas. Then frustrated by getting back to those few projects that needed finishing. 

Don't get me wrong. I do like to finish projects and I do like to wear them, use them or give them as much as the next person. BUT there is a point, when warding off starting new projects because of the pressing UFOs (unfinished objects) turned against me. Trampling all over new ideas, visions and the relative enthusiasm, all for the sake of finishing.

So..... when the idea/vision is matched up with the a great yarn, in a color that is just right..... that's when I will cast on the next project.  I will not wait till the three projects (figuratively speaking) are finished before starting something new. I won't put it on a list of design ideas for the future, I will do it now!

With this new found freedom, I have also entitled myself to NOT finish those projects that no longer thrill me or I'm not connected with the initial inspiration.  

Some projects deserve to saved and definitely will get finished because the desire and inspiration is still there. For the other projects, that I know deep down that they will never get finished..... I will either repurpose the yarn (if its worth saving) or simply destash/trash.

I feel liberated and refuse to feel hostage to the undone. I have decided to not feel a bit guilt when it comes to the undone..... life is too short.

Knit anything and everything you want! 

 

best of both

It's no surprise, I can be passionate about knitting.

I will knit just about anywhere.  I knit while watching television or dvd's. I knit while listening to speakers/lectures. I knit while I wait, (in the doctors office, in line, waiting to board....). I knit on the plane. I knit in the car or on a bus or on the train. (Starting to sound like "Green Eggs and Ham").  I thought about knitting at the movie theater, perfect for an early arrival, like the comfy seat.....but once the lights go down, it is kind of dark and gets in the way of the popcorn.

I always have knitting with me. I would like to think of it as making the minutes count.  Just never know when the next opportunity to knit a few more stitches or even a few rows may present itself.

But one thing I have never been able to master is to knit and read at the same time.  My friend, Vicki can do this and I thought it was such a wonderful idea.  I used to be an avid reader and actually would have considered myself well read, but that was before my knitting took on a life-form all its own. 

I have tried knitting while reading or reading while knitting multiple times and I don't know how she does it, but I just can't get the hang of it.  I seem to either lose my place in what I'm reading or lose my place in my knitting.  Resulting in spending more time finding my place, counting or unknitting.

UNTIL NOW..... I think I must be the last person on the planet to figure out that I can knit and LISTEN to books at the same time.  Audio Books....brilliant!  I have a whole new world (the best of both worlds) that has opened up to me and I LOVE IT!  

I'm fortunate that my local public library has an enormous selection of audio books.  The hardest decision is which ones to check out first.  I do crave to be well-read again. Books and knitting, I can do it! 

It's a good life!