Everyone has a great story it seems about learning to knit. There are more than enough stories to go around of mothers and grandmothers patiently showing small daughters and granddaughters to knit. Not to be sexist of course, Sheryl often tells me that her determination in learning to knit came from the fact her father could knit socks, ‘if he can do it, I certainly can!’ she says. These many hours spent making loops of yarn into something, anything are a wonderful memory to create. Often acrylic and brightly coloured these little swatches are not something to be treasured in and of themselves necessarily but surely the warm thoughts of those times chatting and knitting together remain with us as we grow into our knitterly selves.

I, as I may have mentioned, did not learn to knit this way. That’s probably why I feel it is so special. If my charming and crafty mother had taught me to knit, it probably would have been something like the time we made Bannock bread together for Brownies. While mom (and I suppose I have these dreams as well) always thought about the days she would teach her only daughter to bake, but when it came time it sometimes tended to go a little awry. I think I mentioned we would need this bread for the evening meeting sometime around 3 when I got back from school, leaving little time. As we started our rushed job the phone rang and my mother told me to measure out 4 teaspoons of baking soda. I, on the other hand heard fourteen spoons instead and dilligently began measureing them into the mixture. When mom got off the phone I was at about 10 and needless to say things went further downhill from there! Sometimes life is funny and you don’t quite end up with the idyllic picture you started out with….

Anyhow, I learned to knit from a book from the 70’s when I was about 15. It was a stitchionary with some sparse instructions. Armed with some longish plastic double pointed needles with rubber bands on the ends and some bright purple acrylic I was ready to rock. I’m not really sure what made me request these items in the first place but I didn’t so much learn to knit as attack the subject. After a nice purple garter stitch square and stripey garter scarf I was ready for bigger things. I made 3 or 4 blankets, all acrylic in different colours out of strips of different stitches. I would do a panel with knitting and purling, then one with a little lace, perhaps some cabling (I became immediatly smitten with cabling so the blankets are a little cable heavy). No notion of gauge or anything came into account so I’m pretty lucky that I guessed out some aran weight yarn and some 5mm needles!

So, take the time to teach someone you know how to knit this August. Remember to breathe deep, take the phone off the hook, and enjoy the process!

So, I’m starting to get somewhat more normal and knitting has begun again. A little. Somertimes. Because it’s little hit and miss I need a certain kind of project, many pieces of criteria to meet. This project has to be easy enough that I can memorize the pattern and really, little or no counting is best. I have a bit of a knack for pattern memorization so that doesn’t rule out a whole lot but it does elimate garments for now. Anything with increases and decreases is out, too much thought and too much possibility for disaster. There is nothing worse than getting to the part of a sleeve or back where the pattern says: decrease/increase 1 stitch at eather side of the next and every 6th row. Then having to put said project down for an extended period of time. I’m not saying I CAN’T pick up a project like that again but it gets a little annoying to pick up and put down multiple times in a week.

So, I decided to pick back up a lovely scarf I started last summer on my trip to Winnipeg. Why I haven’t finished it yet is pretty simple: it’s a 28 stitch gauge, cables every other row, on 2.75mm needles. It’s not the fastest project on earth. At this moment though, I don’t really care, I really just want to keep my hands busy and finish a most sumptuous scarf for winter. This scarf is certainly a little luxurious treat too, the yarn is probably the most soft and stunning yarn I’ve ever seen. It’s so fine, soft like buttah, and comes in lovely soft shades. Even though this scarf is on tiny little needles, I think it’s worth it. The scarf just wouldn’t be the same if it were looser or chunkier. I love it! It’s still a work in progress but I’m taking it with me on my camping trip so hopefully I’ll make some serious progress.

To make a Button Up Cowl of your very own you will need:

1. The pattern

2. 2.75mm needles (I’m using 20″ addi lace, but straights will do just fine)

3. A cable needle

4. 2 skeins Blue Sky Alpaca Royal (mmmmmm)

Enjoy!

–Alexa–

Well, Urban Yarns just keeps feeding my SweetGeorgia Obsession! We just got a new shipment from the lovely Felicia and I am so excited. Not only a new yarn, CashLuxe, but new colours in the worsted weight as well, hooray!

The CashLuxe is a sumptuous combination of superwash merino, cashmere, and nylon for strength. It’s a sock weight yarn with about 375 yards per skein. One skein makes a a luxurious pair of socks or a small shawl. Small shawls to wear around the neck have been all the rage around UY. A few ladies are working on Ishbel by Ysolda Teague and I’m thinking about casting on for Collonade (based on the lovely one from Kirsten). We’ve got some beautiful colours in the new yarn so pick yourself up a treat!

We’ve also got some new colours in the Superwash worsted. I’m a HUGE fan of this yarn and have knit several projects in it. It’s an 18 stitch gauge, so there are tons of patterns for it. I’m particularly interested in the Mr. Darcy cardigan (starting some Christmas knitting for mummy) and I’m itching to make myself a new hat for winter. I’m thinking about the beautiful Cypress colourway but Blackberry might sway me in the end.

If you are looking for a DK weight this week we’ve got Rialto DK on sale this week in colours: 8, 24, 14, 16, 23, 13, 22, 21, and 11. It’s 25% off, regularly $8.95 now only $6.71

Now, I suppose the question of what to bring on vacation with you knittingwise is largely determined by your destination. The different types of knitting projects as well as the quantity. I never want to be short on yarn or find I’ve forgotten the right needles so I often put more thought into my packed up knitting than my wardrobe! (Those who know my might be laughing a little as my wardrobe is almost certainly less extensive than my knitting stash). So, here are a few of my thoughts on vacation knitting.

The Checklist

1. Is there any possibility I will run out of yarn before this project is done? If the answer is yes, pack more. If no, you are all set.

2. Do I have ALL the needles and notions required to finish this project? And, as a follow up, are the notions stored in a bag that is unlikely to break, spill, or lose said notions?

3. Did I remember to bring the pattern and any reference books that may be required to complete my project?

4. Do I have the number of a knitter able to talk me through disasterous problems (if not, just bring the UY phone number, we’ll do our best!)

5. Is there any chance I will run out of knitting before my vacation is over? If yes, pack more, if not you are ready to roll!

If you are headed to your cabin on the lake (or something like that), a large amount of knitting time may be possible and you should be sure to stock yourself up before you go. Quiet evening hours on the patio or on a lawn chair near the lake leave lots of time for perhaps a sweater? Something that’s a bit of a challenge? This may be the perfectly zen state of mind to tackle that project that just didn’t seem to work out on the first few attempts. Depending on length of stay you may even want to bring a blanket project. I’m thinking something with squares so every time you look at the blanket you can say ‘remember when _________ happened at the cabin while I was knitting the green one?’. Fond memories are always best tied to large projects, lest they become dull. I also suggest something you don’t need to look at if possible for car knitting. Not everyone can knit in the car but if you can, this is great!

So, for your relaxing time in the great Canadian wilderness I suggest you pack at least one large project and maybe a few small ones, in case you become less than enthused with the larger scale project. If you will be spending your time out doors (as I will) remember to bring a waterproof bag and for heavens sake store your knitting in the car, not the tent! Moisture and knitting do not always agree lets say.

For a sandy beach think about something a little less critical. Something light (hot sun and thick wool = sweaty knitting) that you don’t mind getting a little beach sand all over. This seems obvious but perhaps a little reminder that you may not want to take your best skein of cashmere/silk with you…..that being said, sand hardly hurts knitting so be brave.

If you are taking a plane I really don’t know what to tell you about needles. You are SUPPOSED to be able to take knitting needles on the plane but you just never know when an uppity security gaurd will decide that you are a menace to society and take them away. I’ve been told a few things that I will pass on. Bamboo needles seem to be prefered, also circular over straights (they seems less weapon-like I suppose). If you have a project ON the needles, it seems to go better. The one piece of advice that makes a lot of sense to me is eto bring a self addressed envelop so if your needles are taken away, you won’t have to shell out for another pair of awesome addi lace needles. It’s making the best of a bad situation.

If you are headed to Disneyland with the family, good luck getting some knitting in! Just have fun and knit when you get home.

If anyone else has any vacation knitting advice, let us know!

–Alexa–