Red Scarf, and the ALPACA

Yeah, I finished it. Today, but I can't actually post any pictures until I get back to Guadalupe, since I don´t have the USB cable for my camera. Oh well, trust me, the short little multi-color mohair wonder is off the needles, safely stashed in my duffel bag, under the new stash of alpaca
OH, ALPACA....
lime green, turqoise blue, pale purple, dark olive green, 7 sols per 100grams. That works out to roughly $2.35 per 100 grams. Try finding that kind of a deal in the states! Rosie and I had to pester the shop owner for three days straight, since she was reluctant to part with her limited supply, but I was the customer, and I am always right. 49 sols later, I am the proud owner of 700 grams of super fine, super soft fresh from the farm alpaca. Of course, I´ll put up pictures, when I'm done fondling...

Rib and Cable Socks

For the record, I finished the socks last night. But it was too late to run to the internet café and share my joy with you-I was content just to tuck them away in my basket of {completed in Peru}. Just so you know, though, the date stamp on the photo is correct, no kidding, my conscience forced me to complete at least one of the projects I posted for you to all see. And I even managed to turn the heel on BOTH of Paul’s socks last night. Cheers to me!!
Pattern: Interweave Spring 2005
Yarn: FancyImageYarns Superwash Fingering Weight Yarn

Today I am hopping on the bus to Cajamarca to check out Los Baños del Inca (Hot Springs where the Incas camped out hundreds of years ago while waiting for the Spaniards to arrive in the town of Cajamarca-Incas 1, Spaniards 0)
I am taking the red scarf and Paul´s socks. They will both be finished by the time I get back on Saturday night (fingers crossed)

On the needles...

I must come to terms with my progress to date. I already know that I have too many projects on needles, but maybe if I post pictures you can all see where I am, and continue to pester me until they are complete. If you are a member of the immediate family/friends circle, I apologize if you are seeing your own Christmas in January present.

1. The rib/cable socks grow by a few rounds everyday, slowly nearing completion. Paul’s black socks honestly just saw the light of day for the first time in I don’t know how long, and I knit six or seven rows of the heel flap just for grins and giggles. At least I am working them both at the same time, to cut down on Second Sock Syndrome.

2. The Red Scarf Project sees the most action right now, since I take it to school with me to knit during recess. The blue & green mohair leaves was an ambitious start, but I’ve only added one row since last week.

3. The grey mohair hoodie, as you can see, has everything from the armpit down. I just ripped out the sleeves that I had started, because I decided I didn’t want a fitted cuff, rather a bell shaped sleeve with some ribbing, possibly.

4. The cadet hat looks fabulous, but I am still trying decide how I want to shape the top-possibly some cables worked in the deep ribbing or something of that sort. Once these decisions are made, the last two projects will once again see some action.
Actually, just writing this gave me some ideas for the sweater-see, I was right-just bringing them out gives them life. If only I could figure out a way to knit all day, and never get tired fingers or back cramps. At least I have Dona Juana and her cousin Flor to ask me daily whether or not the socks are finished, since there is no point to only having one sock (in their 81yr old opinions; they’ve never knit socks before!)
P.S. In the 20 minutes it took this computer to download photos, I added another 15 rows to the red scarf. Speed is not of the essence down here.

Tejiendo

It is time for me to learn how to knit in Spanish. I obviously already know how to knit in English, but aside from to knit: tejer the only other word I know is stitch: puntos . Each time I whip out my sock (media) or the red scarf (bufanda) I am making for the Red Scarf Project, I am the recipient of a barrage of questions, to which I can only answer “I am knitting a sock/scarf.” Yo estoy tejiendo una media/bufanda. Part of the problem is that weaving, knitting, and crocheting all count as tejer. And all yarn is referred to as lana. There is no highbrow shops chock full of designer yarns (ironic, I know, considering some of the best yarns come from Peru), and specific varieties aren’t really necessary-I am glad I know the difference between lana de oveja (lambs wool), lana de alpaca (you can figure this one), and lana de acrilico(another obvious translation). Where I live, on the northern central coast of Peru, the majority of the animals are stripped of their fleece and it is immediately shipped south, to places like Arequipa (Blue Sky Alpacas), Pisac(Cascade 220), or further north to Malabrigo( yeah, there’s another town by the same name in Uruguay, both produce lots of yarn). There is plenty of acrylic yarn available in the stores, but most of it is more like crochet thread than yarn-lots of doilies and doll clothing are knit and crocheted around here. So, cheers to me spending more centavos searching the internet for a knitters’ dictionary in Spanish-Doña Juana wants me to translate one of my sock patterns to Spanish (Embossed Leaves-Interweave Knits).

I finished the Messenger Bag, and did a trial run at cold-water machine felting – it didn’t work, even though I had added a teakettle worth of hot water. So today I’ll buy some rubber gloves to protect my freshly manicured fingers (don’t laugh, cinco sols and the manicurist came to the house, all the rest of the mujeres in la familia were doing it, and I didn’t want to be rude), boil more water, and give a go at felting by hand. Also, I turned the heel on the second rib/cable sock, although it doesn’t look exactly like its mate-I think I must have used a different method, and I didn’t write it down.

P.S. Thursday, in between the hour and a half classes at the girls school, I saw two niñas sitting together in the yard knitting. Ahh, it warms my heart.

felting without a machine?

I am nearly finished with the messenger bag, just doing the strap right now, when I realized that the Washing Machine doesn´t have hot water-only agua fria here. So, what then? Use the teakettle and boil water, dump it in the sink and stir for hours? Help, someone, please!
I am currently playing with my mohair collection- I knit about eight inches of a scarf from last summers Vogue Knitting-one they knit in white mohair with different shades of green wool leaves orderly throughout-I am using my own koolaid-dyed dusty green and blue mohair, with peasoup green wool leaves randomly throughout. I am teaching Rosita how to knit, and she wanted to learn how to make a shawl (by the way, it´s the same in Spanish, just pronounced differently), so I am making mine out of red/orange mohair (another KoolAid Dye), and she is using acrilico purchased at the mercado. So, my time is about out here at the internet cafe, pictures forthcoming, I promise (once I figure out my flickr and photobucket accounts!)

Washclothes, and pictures.

It dawned on me last night, as I was wiping soap out of my eyes with my TurbiTwist, that I should probably have a washcloth. So I asked Cecilia if there were any washclothes. Any what? was the answer I got. Nevermind, I´ll solve this problem myself rather than try to translate it into Spanish. I think I remember reading a pattern for a washcloth, since I can´t seem to find one at the tables in the market. But can I use Cotton-Ease?, or Cotton Fleece?, which are the only two cottons I brought with me, aside from the manos del uruguay, which is a bit too expensive for facecloths. In anycase, I am spending precious nuevo sols to surf the internet for washcloth patterns that I can copy down longhand into my notebook, because my beautiful house doesn´t have internet and the internet cafe doesn´t have a printer.
Take a look at the little Flickr picture spread right over there--------------------------------->
I added the pink bonnet, and if the rest of my photos finish downloading I can squeeze some pictures of works in progress here.

the universal language: yarn

I didn´t do as much knitting on the plane as I had planned, but the first leg of the trip I was quite literally crammed into a window seat alongside a portly gentlemen with a slight tendency to hog the armrest, and periodically elbow me in the ribcage when he adjusted to get the stewardess´s attention. I did however, manage to get a bit done on the second sock (I would insert a picture here, but plugging in my USB card disables the mouse on this computer(?)) I have also finished the body of the messenger bag, and have moved onto the flap-I may actually run out of the two green yarns, so modifications will definately be made. I also knit up an entire baby bonnet, the one from knitting for two(?) by Erika Knight (I think). That quick little project happened because the night I arrived in Guadalupe Peru, Dona Juana was sitting on the couch, crocheting. CROCHET? What happened to knitting with the tejadoras of Peru? In any case, I whipped out my socks, and she promptly began inviting in passerbys to look at the American, knitting. Then she asked to see my yarn. Oh, my yarn. Well, for starters, the duffel bag I used to carry my yarn and binder of patterns was larger than the one I brought with all my clothing, shoes, and toiletries. Almost the entire prize pack from Jimmy Beans Wool, two of those enormous wheels of green, half a dozen skeins of the red alpaca I purchased down here in March, and so on and so forth. Dona saw the pink cotton (algodon) tucked in the bottom of a ziploc bag (left overs from another project, the yarn Jenni and I dyed last year, or the year before), and wanted to see what it looked like, knit. She then browsed through my binder, and saw the bonnet, and the next evening I was binding off the garter stitch ties (to replace the satin ribbon that I probably couldn´t buy down here even if I could say it in Spanish) Yeah, I can whip a bonnet out while sitting on cement benches in the dance hall watching my new amigito Kevin(pronounced Kay-beeen) at marinera dance lessons. All of my yarn is still spread out on one of the living room couches, because when a new friend comes to visit, Dona shows them what the Amerian brought, instead of clothes.
More later, and possibly pictures since Jenni was kind enough to lend me a digital for this trip, and if I can find a computer that doesn´t shut down when I use my USB card.

Goodbye...

This is my last in America post for this year, we leave first thing in the a.m. (3) to get to the airport in time for check in. Didn't finish the messenger bag to use as a carry on, but it is still going with me, as are the rib and cable socks and the bobble bag. I didn't want to bring too many needley things on the plane with me, since last March the airline in Peru wouldn't let me have needles during the flight (maybe they'll let the crochet hook through). Adios, the next post will be from South America!!

Photo of the Mobius

My darling sister Sarah finally emailed the pictures of our mother wearing her stunning new sweater wrappy-faux-mobius vestish thing. In Moms defense, we were camping at the time of the picture, and the white shirt she is wearing underneath was borrowed directly from the body of my other sister Debbie-not quite Mom's size. She does, however, look fabulous in this color, and I am proud to say that I made it-if only I could find her the perfect undershirt to complement.

for Ellenem?

my dear, your blog is set to private, so I couldn't reply to your comment on a previous post-the bootie pattern is not my own, but a revision from the natural knits for babies book. Mine were made following the boy version of the pattern, taking out the ankle drawstring, and on the green/brown pair doing everything below the instep in contrast color, then picking up and knitting three stitches from the inside and knitting a strap to go over the top of the foot, securing it in place with a button. very quick to knit - the multi colored ones were knit while I was sitting in traffic on the Broadway Bridge in Portland OR.
Because of copyright laws, I can't reprint the pattern from the book for you. Sorry. But your local library may have a copy. good luck with the booties, melissa

Gift Pack Goodies.....

I wanted to share my goodies (in picture only!), however, I must apologize because I only have my cell phone camera to record images with. There were far more things to photograph, but the process of taking the photo, emailing it to myself, copy the photo to my picture harddrive, and then downloading the photo to post is laborious at the very least. So, without further ado, you are looking at:

2 skeins Rainforest (August 2007) colorway, Lornas Laces Shepherd Sock, JBW exclusive

2 skeins Panda Cotton, Sable colorway

2 skeins Blue Skys Alpaca Chunky hand dyes, blue colorway

2 skeins Manos del Uruguay Cotton, red colorway

one ginormous skein of Trendsetter eyelash in pink/orange (far left edge of photo)

and not pictured:

Ann Norling Perfect Tee Pattern

Blue Sky Alpaca Reversible Hat and Gloves Pattern

Knitting at Knoon Blossom Pattern

Pick-up-sticks Sushi Wallet Kit

Berroco Suede slipper kit in lilac

KnitWhits cat toy kit

Full set of Needles in their own case (CPY)

Mountain Colors tote bag

Super Yummy Smelling Soap (?)

one copy of Interweave Knits Summer 07

and two jolly rancher candies (no joke!)

I haven't yet started knitting with any of the above, but I am bound and determined to finish the Knitting for Peace messenger bag before I leave the country so I can use it as my carry-on luggage.

More later, and many thanks to all the congratulations and well wishes I received!

pattern link!!

here it is, the LINK of all LINKS-my pattern, published on Jimmy Beans Wool free pattern website.
http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freeKnittingPatternSlantPocketBag.asp

check it out, you can purchase the yarn directly from the website, and because it will be felted you can take it with you and not even worry about those little mistakes that may sneak in.

Firefly Mobius, COMPLETE

well, if I still had a camera I could show you that I am not lying. . . but please take my word for it, and know that I am more than excited to have this one off the needles. The larger the faux-moby got, the guiltier I felt about not just finishing-it was on size 10.5 needles, why did it take so long? Exactly one month, now that I think about it-I started it on Paul's birthday (july 13) and I finished it today (aug. 13) NOT SO BAD, considering the rib/cable socks for me, plus the socks for Paul's birthday last year are still on needles in my bin of 'needs-some-love-and-appreciation' And, true to my calling, cast on for three 3 three new projects this past weekend {as if any of them will be done anytime soon}

Happy Dance!!!

I WON!!!!
(insert happy dance here)
I won the Jimmy Beans Wool pattern submission contest! This news is totally 12 hours old, but I've had one of those days, and it nearly slipped my mind to put the good news out on Procrastaknitter-I had to take a study break from my studies to clear my head of linguistic jargon and peruse the pages of JBW to decide what patterns I'll spend my store credit on. (happy dance) I've narrowed it down to just patterns, since there is already so much yarn in the prize pack, and I definately won't have a shortage of yarn in Peru-but I could potentially run out of ideas for knitting. (still doing the happy dance) The pattern will not be available online until next week, but yayYAYyay, my pattern will be online next week. Next stop, the moon!
(happy dance my a** off)
I'd be posting pictures of the happy dance, but unfortunately someone saw fit to enter our little home on Sunday, and stole my brand new camera. My two week love affair is over. And now I have to use even more of my scholarship money to go purchase another camera before I leave in four weeks. Sad.
(but I'm still happy dancing)

the baby blanket, and booties, and booty cover

the baby blanket~ SUCCESS!! an absolute hit at the baby shower, Maria loved it, hopefully it will be given to the baby when she arrives instead stashed away in moms bed. Also, the booties and booty cover were much admired.

{the pleasure of knitting is well-conceived and well-received gifts!}

Hannah and the Booties.

back to back postings-new record. I am obviously not knitting right now, or doing my homework like I should be.

In any case, Jenni just sent me pictures of lovely little Hannah wearing her mary jane booties and the matching cape, complemented by a crocheted skirt by Jenni-this baby girl was born to model fiber fashion in our family!

Taming the circular needle, part one

During class this afternoon, I had a random inspiration of how to sufficiently pack away my circular needles for the trip to Peru-it had to be something similar to a cd case, portable without any needle tips or cable hanging out. Problem solved.

Yeah, so the ladybugs are a little bit cheesy. But it was a leftover cut and the whole thing cost 25 cents. Well, the binding was another dollar, but for 1.25 and ten minutes on the sewing machine I have a nifty {slightly cheesy} folding circular needle case. This one is only four large pockets, each with enough room to hold about 6 or 7 circs, and the clingy nature of the plastic cover material holds things in place. A thrifty solution, and no more circulars to menace airport security with as potential garrotes.

Seeing as how this was my first attempt, it is only part one. My compulsive tendencies almost guarantee a more improved version at a later date, but don't hold your breath.

{not} campfire knitting...

This past weekend was supposed to be another camping trip, but that was thwarted by the over abundance of tourists to our great state, who actually plan camping trips months in advance AND make reservations. I was thinking of sitting around the campfire, needles in hand, maybe even finish the blanket for Maria's baby this weekend. Alas, no luck. I did get to see friends I haven't seen in awhile, and spend time with my dad and siblings, but not much knitting has gone on. Maybe 1/4 of the blanket is done.

This picture is actually more of my sister than of me, but I am in the background knitting the firefly mobius. (Camping, Fort Worden, two weekends ago)

goodbye to Marilyn

yeah, another of my favorite yarn stores is going out of business. Sadness. I probably wouldn't have ever attempted to knit a sock if it hadn't been for Marilyn, but rising rent kills yet another small business.

Moment of silence for Marilyn's yarn.

two left feet and a big bottom

Unless Hannah has two left feet, only one of the green maryjanes is completely done. I was watching a movie last night as I made the straps and ties, then sewed them onto the completed booties. The same way, twice. Now both are left booties. But very cute none the less.

As for the diaper cover, it is done, although I am making an i-cord tie in place of the ribbon the pattern called for, since it is nearly impossible to match these colors. {perhaps that is why they suggest doing the entire thing in pink or white?} Babies don't near more pink, they need less. AND furthermore, I don't have children, so there is a particular phenomenon that escapes me everytime I knit anything for the bottom half of a baby-they have enormous bums once encased in a diaper!! The cover looks huge!!!