B is for

Where's this quaint-looking fishing village? New England? Long Island?



Nope, it's right here in Manhattan on the Hudson River--the 79th St. Boat Basin.

There's actually people who live there year-round in houseboats! But it's also a working boat basin where recreational urban sailors are able to dock and store their boats.

It's one of our favorite places. In the summer, hubster and I frequently eat at a restaurant located at the boat basin as we take in the views.

It Works!

Good news! The headband works.
I wore it out to run a ton of errands and walked on the East Side, the West Side, all around the town
AND
my ears stayed nice and toasty.



That's all I have to say!
But, if you want to see the sweetest and most beautiful baby bonnet in the entire world--hop over to the multi-talented Sonja's blog.

No Sewing, Please.

I hate and despise sewing. I pay to have buttons sewn on. I've been known to duct tape up a hem rather than sew.

So, with my knitting, I try to work on projects that don't require sewing.

Yes, I've knit socks cuff down. And I've unsuccessfully attempted to kitchener the toes.

Then Nancy Bush got me using the drawstring French toe. No sewing!

So it's only natural that I love and adore the three-needle bind-off. And I intended to use it to graft the two ends of the headband.

But there was a problem.

I didn't do a provisional cast-on. I had no live stitches on the beginning end.

But did that stop me? NOOOOOO!

Do you see what I see?



Yep, there's three needles! And I'm binding-off.

I ripped out the cast-on -- not a pretty sight, but it worked. Knit another row in pattern and got to work.



Now that's a pretty sight!

Yes, I know there's a loose end or two that needs weaving in. Not crazy about that either. But, I'll make sure to do it ASAP--or maybe I'll duct tape the ends into the headband.

Speaking of loose ends, here's a (blurry) photo of when I ran out of yarn:



Cici got it on the nose at 17 1/2 inches. Congratulations! Your prize (a skein of yarn--enough for a headband) will be on its way.

Also, it turned out the the headband was very stretchy and I only needed to knit less than an inch of the new yarn.
New yarn, old yarn-- my favorite!

Happy Anniversary!

For seven years, the UWS Knitters have been knitting, crocheting, needlepointing, tatting. Last Wednesday, we celebrated our 7th Anniversary. I had other plans that evening, but stayed long enough to knit a row or two, admire projects and snap a photo of the yummy looking cake.



For more pictures check out Knitted Yarns blog.

We're an open group. All are welcome. Just show up any Wednesday at the Starbucks on 86th St. and Columbus Ave. from 6:00 to 8:00ish.

Here's to another year!

Winner!

We have a winner of the "When will I run out of yarn?" contest! Cici guessed 17 1/2 inches and she got it on the nose.

As soon as I find my camera (sigh, a long story), I'll post a picture.

Many thanks to all who commented.

Enough?

The above headband is 13 inches long. I want it to be 20 inches.
See the yarn? That's all I have in that color. Do I have enough?

Sounds like a contest to me!

In your comment, please:
Yes or No -- do I have enough?
If no, at what inch will I need to switch to another color?
(Yes, you can use tenths of inches.)

Winner will be randomly selected if two or more guess the correct answer.

And the prize?

Hmmmm. . . to be determined. But it'll be a skein of yarn that would make a nice headband--and there'll be enough of it!

A better photo of how much yarn is left:



I'm taking my sweet time knitting this, so contest will be closing on Thursday, January 22.

A is for

Let's start this ABC Along where it all begins for me. **

A is for Albany, NY.

Born there. Raised there. Escaped from there. Got married there.



Albany is very much a company town with the business being government. The above could be called company headquarters.

In the summer after I graduated from high school, I worked in downtown Albany. I spent many lunchtimes sitting on a park bench looking at this view of the Capitol. I was 18 and on my way to college in NYC--I knew my future wouldn't be in Albany. But little did I realize that Albany would never leave me.


**My ABC Along 2009 won't be very fiber-related. I'm going to focus on NYS and NYC. However, at times, both fiber and city/state will be meeting up with each other.

Disappointed/Elated

Disappointed because our big snowstorm turned into a measly inch.

Elated because I love entrelac! **



When I was knitting my first sock, a friend in knit group told me to "trust the instructions" when turning the heel. Same can be said of entrelac.

I'm geometry-impaired and it's a mystery to me how it all works--but, it does. All I have to do is follow the instructions. However, very quickly, the knitting became intuitive and I was doing it on my own.

The pattern is the Lady Eleanor Stole from Scarf Style. Since I'm using a variegated yarn, it won't be a checkerboard design. But I'm elated how each little rectangle is different.

The yarn is custom dyed from Briar Rose--Legend. A dream to work with.

And I'm beyond elated with knitting backwards!

**This is a practice piece. After I figure out needle size that looks best and how to eliminate wonky holes. I'll be casting on.

Snowy Weekend

Checklist for a snowy weekend:

Food?
Got a fridge full.

Booze?
Plenty.

A page-turner?
Yep.

Mindless knitting project?


Yarn ready to be swatched for a new project?


Bring it on!

Party Shuffle

I'm stealing this idea from Wendy
She shared her eclectic ipod mix. The Ramones, Judy Collins, Herman's Hermits.

Yeah, I can relate to that.

Puttered around the apartment today with my itunes set on Party Shuffle.
(Click to make bigger and readable.)



Lou Reed? The Hallelujah Chorus? Hernando's Hideaway?
Yeah, we party hearty around here! LOL!

My So Called Indecision

I have a Big Project planned for the New Year that will require my attention. That means sitting in a sensory deprivation booth.

So I also needed an easy-peasy travel/knit group project. Big yarn on big needles type of thing. Since I seem to be off socks right now, I figured a scarf is always a good thing.

Celebrated Knitty City's third anniversary by buying some Merisoft Handpainted in colors that I love. Grays, black. pinks, browns. A new scarf to get through these gloomy, gray days would be just the thing!

Thought My So Called Scarf would be a good match of yarn and pattern.

Now I'm not so sure.



Swatched it on three different needles--10.5, 9 and 8. IF I were to make this scarf, I'll go with the 9 or 8.

IF I were to make this scarf. IF I use this stitch.

I sort of like it. . . but something about it isn't working for me. Maybe my eye just has to get used to the stitch.

I have so freakin' much to do today--but, here I sit looking for other stitch patterns. For an easy-peasy scarf. AAARGH!

To be continued.

Then there's the Big Project I'm itching to start. . .

First FO of 2009

Hot off the needles--Revontuli



More pictures in a few days after a bath and a blocking.