RIP Denise

Denise Saylor-Collins died suddenly this past Friday.

She will be greatly missed by her Panera friends. Her sense of humor, and her sense of "right-and-wrong" were keen. She was fun to be with ... and I can't imagine her not being with us again. My heart goes out to her family ...

She was way too young ... and way too nice ... and will be missed so much.

To keep you up to date:

I am now working on some sweaters for my Illinois grandchildren. They are almost 3 year old twin boys and a big brother who will be 6 the beginning of 2009. I am making them matching sweaters. I will post a photograph as soon as I have a bit more finished.

I am also working on a variation of Judy Pascale's Shapely Shawlette from "mystery yarn". I discovered this yarn in my attic, think I might have bought it on e-bay once, and also think it might be either cotton or mostly cotton. I love the way it looks -- off white with specks of color. I am also working on a magnificent triangular shawl (Marco Polo Self-Fringing Triangular Scarf) from Berroco Hip-Hop. The colors are beautiful -- with greens, purples - browns, etc. the yarn is high/low and is really interesting. There is a really bad photo of this yarn above. The Shawlette and the Scarf are "mindless" knitting projects -- since I don't have to look at directions, and so they are easy to do in low-lighting (like Panera's) or in a moving car. The sweaters are much more difficult, and until I finish the fronts (I am doing the twins' fronts at the same time to get them finished. I'll do Paulie's front after I finish their sweaters totally). I need quiet for them ... counting stitches, changing colors, etc.

I also bought other yarn when the Yarn Outless in Oceanside went out of business. One is an alpaca in greens, which I've used before in a blue/black (very denim looking)color to make a Clapotis shawl ... which I enjoyed knitting tremendously. It is Atacama, hand dyed 100% Alpaca. I bought enough to make another "Clap" ... but can't start that until SOMETHING -- ANYTHING is finished.

I also bought a cashmere/silk/merino wool combination, in a fingering weight, I think (no yarn wrapper) ... which is soft and really yummy. I have 4 skeins of each of two colors and am working on finding something to make with these. One is a really pretty soft pink and the other is a greenish-greyish-beige. They look marvelous together. Suggestions?

I will try to attach photos of any or all of these things really soon -- but did want to post since it's been a while.

DIL's Bracelet (Daughter-In-Law)

I decided not to mail Alison's sweater until I finished her bracelet. It is called a "crystal bangle" and I did it in black and light grey seed beads, and in Gunmetal Matte fire polish beads. I love it. I might make another -- for me.

I just looked at the photo -- and it looks quite blue ... which it isn't. It is definitely black and grey.

Now I'd like to finish my "Shapely Shawlette" (pattern by Judy Pascale) which I am making from some "found" yarn, and a couple of lace shawls I am making. I have to finish some of this stuff before I start on anything new.

I "won" 3 skeins of a bulky yarn at the LIK&CG Donation Dinner, and will be making a simple scarf from it. I haven't decided on a pattern as yet ... but know it will be going to my daughter in Illinois. It's black and shades of orange. I'll give details with photos if and when I start on this. After all, it's August. I do have a little time before this is needed. Even in Illinois!

Hi. Here is Alison's top, and a friend's hat.

Sorry I haven't posted here in a while ... but today I have finally photographed two things: A chemo hat I made for a friend (used Lion Brand ConnonEase) and a sweater I photographed before it was blocked. Yup ... finally had it blocked, and I love the way it looks. Now I have to move my a** and finally mail it -- since I won't be getting there (Florida) until Thanksgiving.

I have been working on a filet lace shawl (triangular) I am planning on gifting to my daughter, but haven't told her about it yet. I am using bedspread cotton I found in the attic ... probably older than she. I love the design -- which is a small all-over pattern of flowers. It's totally different, which might be why I am so fond of it. Although I didn't design this pattern, I did rewrite it since the graph was almost totally illegible. Hopefully I will finish this, since it was a total horror figuring the pattern. I am going to take 60% creative license on this one! I'll post a photo of it as soon as I get a chance.

I am also currently working on the Shapely Shawlette, designed by Judy Pascale, using a cotton tweed yarn -- also found in the attic. How did I accumulate all this stuff ... and why don't I remember where or when? Perhaps the elves JeanMarie is always accusing of doing my work for me have been hiding these yarns up there to surprise me?

Spot's New Coat

Well -- big problems. My bamboo coat started unraveling. I think perhaps it had to do with running in the fields with Siobahan, but I can't be certain. However, after Alice calmed down, she did make a new ooat for me, and I'm afraid if I ruin this one, my romping days will be over. She made this one of 100% silk.

It's so nice ... Siobahan hasn't seen it yet ... but I'm sure she'll be impressed. I know I was.

I've been thinking though ... what about having my ear pierced? Any thoughts on the matter?

Butterflies are Flying!

Well, finally! The Butterfly Shawl is finished -- and blocked.
I love it! I am looking forward to being able to wear it ... but am not wishing the summer away.
The beads have not been crocheted on the edges as yet -- and am thinking perhaps it would be best to do that once the cooler weather is upon us.

And yes -- that's me. And it's about the only type of photo you'll be seeing of me on this (or any other) blog -- if I have any say!

Have a FANTASTIC remainder of the FOURTH weekend!

OH ... I am going to photograph Daughter-in-Law's sweater again -- after it is blocked. Honestly -- previously I never blocked anything.

Big Apple Knitting Guild Retreat Weekend

This past weekend, May 30-June 1, there was the BAKG Retreat Weekend at the St. Ignatius Retreat House on Searington Road. This Knitting Retreat consisted of three days -- Friday and Sunday 3 hours and Saturday 6 hours, and there were a variety of classes being taught. I took a 12 hour class given by Judy Pascale in composition of a sweater, and she taught so many things, it's difficult to state them all. What especially stands out in my mind are the seam closures she taught us. We learned to sew seams composed of stockinette stitch, reverse stockinette, moss, seed, garter -- you name it, we learned to do it -- invisibly. And Judy ... she has endless energy and a generous nature. And seemed to have more patience than anyone I've come in contact with in so long. The class was fantastic. I can't wait to learn what they will have next year at their Knitting Retreat, or where it will be held.

Above are photographs of the house of the Retreat House. It is simply awe-inspiring. The grounds are fantastic and there is a calm, cool feeling about the building.

Check out Judy's website. judypascale.com and you will not be disappointed. I am still trying to get all the information she taught into some sort of order -- and think I'll have to discuss this with the other 4 women from the Long Island Guild who joined me in this class so we can compare notes. Hopefully what I can't remember, they can, and vice versa.

Tonight was the Pot Luck Dinner at the Long Island Guild. I was totally surprised -- this was the first one I was at -- since last year I was in Florida. Well ... everything was simply delicious. And there were no duplicates either. YUM ... something else to look forward to.

Jaxon and his Blanket

WOW ... will you look at this handsome guy! And, of course, he's using the blanket I gave his Mom to give to him. It's great getting this kind of recognition Barbara. Thanks.

Now we'd like the two of them to come to Panera's Knitting. He's so good looking, and we definitely need some men to join us there.

SPOT's Blogspot

Hi. This is Spot. Can you imagine? Alice finally made a yellow slicker for me -- and the rain stops. Too little, too late. I am therefore going to stop the elves from doing her knitting for her when she's napping. That'll show her.

If my photo is a little out of focus, it's because I had to take it myself, with one of those little timers, and (as you no doubt know) I have no fingers.

Alison's Sweater

I guess it's ok for me to put Alison's sweater on here, since she doesn't read her mother-in-law's blog. The sweater is on the cover of the current Creative Knitting. It was made from Dive Perrinca yarn. This yarn is 50% cotton, 38% Acrylic and 12% Viscose. It is very soft and cool -- and I think it will be perfect to wear in Florida. It should be beautiful with her pretty blue eyes, which is why I chose this color.

The sweater took me 6 days to knit ... and about four days to put together, crochet around the armholes and neck, and with some extra yarn I made a scarf to match the lace on the bottom of the garment. Looking at the photo I see I should block this thing before shipping it out. I will do that tomorrow -- and take another photo of it then. Also the color isn't very good in this photo -- and I will try to improve that as well.

Will someone tell me why I hate putting the finishing touches on these things? I would be much more productive if it weren't for this failing.

Hope everyone is having a marvelous Memorial Day Weekend. Mine has been, and will remain quiet -- with lots of knitting time. Now that Ali's sweater is finished, I will be working on my homework for the Judy Pascale class I'll be taking with the BAKG next weekend.

Karen III's Socks

About a year ago Karen III gave me sock yarn enough to make a pair.

Last night I gave her the socks. BOY ... what a response! She absolutely loved them, and said she would be wearing them today. We'll see -- I'm going to sneak into her office and check things out! If she's not wearing them ... I'm going to have to think of a suitable punishment.

And now I have to get back to work on my other OTK projects ...

Remember ... SABLE ... Stash Accumulations Beyond Life Expectancy.

(Acronym supplied by Karen III)

Butterfly Shawl, Swirl Shawl, and Order of Projects

Well ... after exactly three weeks ... I finally finished the shawl -- well, all but the beads, which are to be crocheted onto the lower 2 sides of the triangle. I will be doing that, but decided to postpone that final work for a while. I have to do some charity work, and also want to finish one, if not both, of the blankets the Panera Group is doing for the "guys".

Last night's meeting of the Long Island Knitting & Crochet Guild was great. Carla from Vogue Knitting was there, and as usual, we had a fantastic program. The knitted pieces she brought were awe-inspiring. I can't wait for the fall issue of KnitSimple so can make the triple cable shawl.

I purchased the Swirl Shawl pattern from JoJoLand and practiced knitting the first two medallions with some yarn I had around, so I could see if I could manage that pattern (not an easy one) before investing in yarn for it. I had decided not to buy the kit since I wasn't familiar with the yarn. However, seeing the yarn (from the women who went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival) I realize it is absolutely perfect for the pattern, and will be getting it ASAP. Can't decide which color, but that's the least of it.

So I think it's like this: First -- I will work on the socks I currently have on my needle (yup -- one 40" circ -- Magic Loop), and then some charity project(s), the beads for the butterfly shawl -- and then I'll work on the Swirl Shawl, if I can wait, that is.

Spot -- in his new wardrobe!

Well, Jeanmarie decided that I was a cruel person, showing Spot absolutely naked. So last night I decided I had to cloth him ... and so here he is -- in his new coat. Since he doesn't care for animal products, the coat is made of Bamboo, and he seems quite pleased.

I had few plans for today -- so I decided I'd work on my butterfly -- and I am so happy. No -- it's not finished yet, but I did finished the "butterfly" part, and only the tippy-top of the antennae aren't finished as yet -- and the top border.

I received the beads I ordered (from www.artbeads.com) and they are a great match. This means that after I finish the few rows I have left on the shawl, I will be threading on all those pretty beads ... and we'll see then if I still think they are pretty. I also have to check the blocking pins I have to make sure they will not rust before I block this baby. Any suggestions as to whether I should block it before or after the beads are added? Thanks, in advance.

Sunday morning I am going to Atlantic City -- and will be returning sometime Monday afternoon. Hopefully I will win, since now that I have Spot to support (and clothe) I need all the cash I can get. I will let you know on Tuesday.

Meet my Sheep -- SPOT

Here is a photo of SPOT. This is a Sheep that was given to me as a Birthday gift from Angela (http://www.angies-thisandthat.blogspot.com/) who is probably one of the nicest people on earth.

I have found that since I have a real, almost live, sweet Sheep hanging with me while I knit and crochet, I am working better and faster ... and happier. Thanks again Angela.

And don't bother telling me that SPOT doesn't seem to have any spots. Sometimes a name just comes to you ... and it sticks. Therefore, he is SPOT, and he seems quite happy with his name.

At least he hasn't complained yet!

Work on the Viceroy Butterfly Shawl is "getting there". I think I have about 15-20 rows to finish up to the point where I have to attach the beads. I am not looking forward to that part (and am still asking for ideas on how to keep the yarn from tangling while holding the beads). I received notification that I should be receiving the beads in a day or two ... and hope to have the shawl completed to that point when they arrive.

Remember: Each row is progressively wider ... so 20 rows are quickly becoming an enormous undertaking.

PLEASE think of some way to keep those beads once on the hairy mohair (duh -- you think this is why it has that name?) from becoming so snarled that it will be unusable.

I CAN POST PIX (and details of my OTK shawl)

Well, finally I have a new router, or router-network thing ... or whatever it's called. All I know is: I can now upload JPGs without crashing! AND ... everything seems to be faster.

It wasn't a birthday gift (Birthday just past) but I'm accepting it as such. And now all interference seems to be gone, and there are no reasons I can't post on my blog. With no excuses, I guess I should get moving. Oh ... and I should show you my OTK (or is that OTH?) shawl. I'm crocheting it and am around the half-way point. After the shawl itself is finished, I will have to crochet around the outside with almost 3,000 beads. Yeah, I know. Anyway I ordered the beads yesterday, and they should be arriving within the week. I figure it should take me about a week to thread all those beads on my yarn. (If anyone has a suggestion about how to keep those beads, once on the yarn, from tangling beyond repair, please let me know.)

The shawl called for size 10 crochet cotton, but I decided I'd use some mohair I received as a gift from Matty (from the gang at Panera's), so it will be a little larger than stated. That's good though ... since *I* am a little larger as well!

Information about the shawl: Viceroy Butterfly Shawl, Created and Designed by Kathryn A. White. www.crochetnbeads.com. The pattern is really easy to follow, done in filet crochet, and when I e-mailed her a question, her answer arrived in under a half hour. Now how's that for service? I saw the shawl for the first time on Ravelry, and purchased it from her on Etsy.

Gift Blanket and Computer Bag for my Daughter

Hi everyone. And first of all, I must thank (1) Angela for helping me upload my photos, and (2) Panera's WiFi ... because something is wrong with my home router. All I have to do is say the word "j-peg" and it crashes. So ... I went to Panera's with my laptop -- connected -- and Angela helped me upload these photos. Hope you enjoy them.



I finally finished the blanket I want to give to Barbara's new son, Jaxon. Problem is ... don't know how to get it to her ... but I will. It's crocheted in a really soft baby yarn, and edged with something I had in my stash.



THANKS JUDY! I finished knitting this felted bag around a year ago, but for some unknown reason, was petrified about felting it. I mentioned this to a few people and one day I get a call ... "Alice ... if you would like, I will be felting next week and if you bring your bag to Panera's, I'll felt your bag along with mine." How could I resist? And look! She did a fantastic job. Again ... Thanks Judy.



Looks like lips, doesn't it? It's the inside of the bag. There is a "floor" of foam-board and I love the way it turned out.



This is a view of the bottom. I decided to put feet on it ... and even though I don't think they are very functional, I like the way they look, and the idea of them.

The heat is on!

Well ... maybe it was a mistake. I told some of THE PANERA'S GANG about my Blog -- so I guess I'm going to have to actually write here. (smile)

I have some unfortunate news. I am a great proponent of "life lines" in lace work, and was working on a "Beaded Shawl". I did the first couple of rows that contained beads, thinking "It's time to put in that lifeline" when I dropped a stitch, and had to rip the whole thing. It was about 3 inches along. I will try to start it again later today ... but my stupidity isn't helping my resolve.

I am working on a narrow scarf (in a rut ... seems that's all I'm doing lately -- other than that beaded "thing") and it's beautiful. It's called Alison's Scarf and it appeared in the 2006 Knit Calendar. It has cables and yarn overs and is so pretty. It also has an "I-Cord cast-on", which I've never done before, and which I absolutely love. Now I'm wondering where else I might be able to use that cast-on.

Time to accomplish something here, at home, but will definitely try to post those photos I've been promising.

And thanks for hanging in with me.

Delays, yet again

Unfortunately I am having troubles here with my blog. I am having trouble spacing for paragraphs, and uploading photos ... but I WILL definitely manage these things ... but ask that you please give me time.

I think what I have to do first is take all my photos off my old computer and put them on a CD ... but I should do that anyway -- with or without a blog.

Been knitting like crazy -- right now an Entrelac bag. I am also crocheting two scarves ... the Boteh Scarf I found in Interweave Crochet Spring 2007. I am doing it in a beautiful eggshell wool/rayon boucle thread and a fine yellow alpaca. I did one when the magazine first came out in a red/blue/green sock yarn, and it's beautiful. Unfortunately I noticed a mistake earlier tonight in the alpaca one and had to rip -- my yarn, my hair ... everything and anything. It was a horror. Finally got the 10-15 rows out and know why I normally do not work with this stuff. It gets knitted or crocheted and wants to stay right there it is. Loves the Status Quo ... Fights change tooth and nail.

Enough ... want to get some sleep and maybe tomorrow I'll take care of trying to upload some photos. First born says my problem might be because I am trying to upload the pictures from jump drives and CDs when I should do it from the hard drive. We'll see if he's right. And since he reviews my blog -- I am sure he's right.

So Ciao for now ... will try to write soon.

Alice -- the Turbo Knitter

Although quite late in creating a Blog ... here I am at last.

SO ... allow me to introduce myself. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was taught to knit by my mother when I was 8. As the only "leftie" in the family, I learned to knit right-handed ... but when my mother decided to try to teach me to crochet -- we both gave up quite quickly.

When I was 9 I bought a "Learn to Crochet" book, and with the use of a mirror, finally learned to crochet. My mother was then able to teach me more intricate stitches, and the ability to read patterns.

I think because I taught myself to crochet, it was my first love for many years. However, for the past 10-15 years, it's been KNIT KNIT KNIT. I still crochet on occasion, but I just love the calming effect knitting has on my very soul.

I knit with various groups on Monday evening, Wednesday morning, monthly Guild meetings, and a combination beading/knitting group -- which also meets on a monthly basis. There are also occasional "fill-in" fixes.

I love to teach -- and anything and everything I know, I am more than willing to share. Isn't that what it's all about?

OK ... my personal life. I am the mother of two children -- both adults, a son Evan and a daughter Karen. My son has 7-year-old twins, Ashley and Paul. My daughter has a son, Paulie, who will be 5-years-old in a week, and twins, Nicholas and Jacob, who are just about 27-months-old now. My son and his wife and children live in Florida, and my daughter, her husband and their children live in Illinois. I just visited Illinois a week or so ago, and in another two or three weeks, I am planning to go to Florida.

My SO (Significant Other), George, and I travel a lot. While he is driving, we listen to books on tape and ... I knit (as if you had to ask).

OK ... my purpose in creating this blog: I want to share the books I'm reading, the things making, and other details of my life. I also want feedback, suggestions and opinions. YUP ... I am FEARLESS!