Maybe I did come back with a little accent, ya’ll. It kinda happens when you spend eight days with your family down in Dixie. Of course, I loved every minute of it. There was a beautiful weekend wedding (my cousin married his high school sweetheart – also named Lauren – funny thing is she now has my maiden name as her married name!) and a wonderful Thanksgiving in the country.

Bridesmaids’ Bouquets

Wedding Cake

My sister and I with the happy couple

Best wedding favor ever: homemade honey from my uncle’s beehives!

My sisters and my cousin sniffing the rose bouquet

The wedding was beautiful, and the reception was even better – it was held in an old Carnegie library building that is now an art gallery. Perfect location. We were taking a few notes too… there may be another wedding in the family in the near future…

The rest of the week was filled with hiking, delicious foods, a little romp around town, and some relaxation time (knitting AND reading!) . We spent the remainder of the week at my uncle’s cabin in Bankhead National Forest – out in the “sticks” as they say. I could actually see the stars at night! and could take a breath of fresh air! and could walk for a mile without seeing another person!

[More nature photos on Kris's blog and on Flickr]

It was a little like stepping back in time – the trees were at their peak when we first arrived – fiery oranges and reds everywhere – and after a big storm on Thanksgiving eve, many trees lost their leaves. It was nice to hold onto fall for a little longer. Alas, winter is now here. I pulled out my scarves and caps. I am thinking about a new pair of mittens for myself…

 

*thank you SO much for the comments on my pullover!*

 

 

This has been one of the coldest Februarys on record.

Almost every day has been below freezing.

…so why is it that the day that I finish my first colorwork hat…

Is the day that the temperature tops out at 50 degrees Fahrenheit?

Kristen Hat
Pattern: Bea Ellis knitwear original
Yarn: Dale of Norway Heilo yarn
Needles: Size 5 and 6 circulars
KALs: Fair Isle February & Stranded Colorwork

My first colorwork project is now complete! I have to say the whole technique was a lot easier than I thought it would be, and the Bea Ellis kit that I got was a perfect introduction to stranded colorwork. I am already thinking about another kit… but I may very well use this pattern again and mix up the colors. I chose traditional Norwegian colors for the first version, but it would look kind of cool in orange and purple, right?

The Kristen hat was a constant companion on my trip down to Alabama for my grandfather’s funeral. Kris and I drove for hours, and arrived in time to spend a good amount of time with my family. My grandfather had three sons, and each son (my dad is the middle son) had three children each. Luckily we were able to fit in everyone for a family photograph – the first that I can remember.

Click on the pictures for larger views and descriptions

The weekend passed by so quickly, but in the end, it was a very meaningful tribute to my wonderful grandfather.

Thank you so much for your well-wishes and encouraging words.

Hello!! Kris and I got back safely from Alabama around 7pm last night. Long trip, but a good one – loads of together time (singing with the radio and the mp3 player is one of our favorite past times- especially since we both got some good CDs for Christmas!) and loads of knitting time.

I have about a million things to share, so I am not sure where to start… but I know what gets everyone excited – finished knits! (First 2006 FO)

Diagonal Rib Socks
Pattern: Free online pattern Diagonal Fixation
Yarn: Cascade Fixation in colorway 5104
Needles: Takumi Clover Bamboo size 3
Notes: This pattern called for two more repeats of the diagonal rib, but I was afraid I would run out of yarn, so I cut it a little short. I have big feet (size 10) but there was plenty of yarn left, I could have done more.

I discontinued the patterning on the foot, opting for simple stockinette instead- quicker and easier for me, and no chart to follow! I do like the patterning on the cuff. Can you spot the difference in the picture above? I am not sure how I did not notice it before (well, I knit sock 1 in October and did not touch the other till the end of December – that could have something to do with it…) One diagonal rib leans to the left, and the other leans to the right. I must have been knitting it inside out the first time. This is not a big deal to me – they look very similar side by side.

This was my first short row heel, and honestly, I did not like it too much. I am willing to give it another try, but I am leaning towards heel flaps as my “heel of choice”.

About the yarn: As stated before, this Cascade Fixation takes some “getting used to” time. The cotton and elastic blend makes a very stretchy fabric, and this stretch can work against you as it knits up. It is important to knit the sock without stretching the yarn – it will cause puckering and uneveness in the fabric, and may mess up your gauge. This is a bulkier sock yarn, and provides a warm sock when complete. The size 3 needles used for this sock were not a perfect match, however. Next time I work with Fixation, I will go down to US 2s, or even 1s to avoid the “holeyness”. The yardage does not look like much in the little ball, but two balls is sufficient for small needles and large feet!

…These were one pair of Socktoberfest socks… I still have to work on the other sock (Dublin Bay #2) and then Socktoberfest will officially be over at LollyKnitting Around.

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We had such a nice time in Alabama. It was a long drive down there, but it was completely worth it. We stayed with my aunt and uncle in northern Alabama (my dad’s brother and his wife) and visited several times with my grandfather who lives nearby. My aunt and uncle built a cabin near the Bankhead National Forest a few years ago, and it is beautiful to visit. It is remote, relaxing, and a million miles from the hectic life of metro DC.

My uncle keeps mules: this is Major (left) and Emily (right) at feeding time.

As Kris, my uncle, and my cousin busied themselves outside, my aunt and I stayed inside and knit away.

She has been knitting off and on for years, and recently got back into it big time. She is making some lovely scarves! This is her scrap scarf, with some leftovers from other projects, and some odds and ends she inherited and collected at the thrift shops. She is also working on a great striped scarf in Auburn University colors (blue and orange) for my cousin who is a grad student there. I showed her how to use circular needles while I was there, so she may be the hat queen next!

Bargain hunting is second nature to my family, we love us some thrift shops and flea markets! I have to share with you my auntie’s FIND OF THE CENTURY.

A few months back, I get a phone call from my aunt telling me about her big find. On this trip, I got to see it…

She found a whopping 47 balls of Anny Blatt angora and mohair – filled to the brim in a large comforter bag at the Goodwill thrift shop. The price? $3. Three dollars for yarn that would easily be appraised at over $200 – can you believe it?

The pictures don’t show all of it, just a sample – loads of beautiful yarn, lovely heathery angora that feels like feathers, and mohair/wool mix that is light and airy. I just shook my head in disbelief. What a find! She is not sure what to make with all of it yet, so if you have any ideas, let me know and I will pass them on to her!

I have too much to say, and too little time! So another blog entry will be on the way soon: more family visits, MY thrift store finds, and progress on Kris’s raglan zipper cardigan coming right up!

It is great to hear from everyone! It is nice to be back with all of my knitty friends. I have to catch up on all of your blogs! A lot can happen in one week! (especially one like last week…)

DAY ONE AND TWO

Now, where were we?

DAY THREE

First day on my own (Kris and Alycia had the conference seminars all day) and I decided to go back to the Garden District and visit this little shop. I am so glad I did! Great shop with tons of yarn and supplies! I walk in the door and am greeted with many friendly smiles and hellos. I felt very welcomed, and once I saw their selection, I was in love!

Sock yarns!

Colinette wall!

Lucky Lolly got to see all the new Rowan products (here they are stocking them!), and there was a lot of squishing going on (I thought of you, H!) I flipped through a lot of the magazines and books, and finally decided on this one… there are so many nice designs in here! (Bloom and Maki were two of the designs that tipped the scales for this magazine.)

I had to keep my purchases on the light side (I did not have enough room in my suitcase!) so I came out with the lovely magazine, some tapestry needles, some size 6 dpns, a cable needle, and one skein of Plymouth Sockotta for my dear sweet Holly Llama, and one skein of Trendsetter Quadro to make a scarf like their cute store sample. Not a lot, but a nice trip, and I definitely recommend this shop for your fiber needs!

As I left the shop, it started raining hard. However, I was not going to let this rain get me down! So, I did some shopping! Picked up a lot of great things… gifts, stuff for me, some other gifts, and some other stuff for me… *oops* does that sound selfish?

Got back to the hotel and planned the evening activity… I am a big fan of hookahs ever since I tried them when I was in the Middle East in 2000. There are several hookah bars in my area, but I have never been to one up here… yet, the one in New Orleans sounded particularly interesting… Hookah Cafe.

Yes, that is smoke coming out of my mouth… cherry-flavored smoke. I am not a dragon… don’t worry.

Puff the Magic Krissy

See the E in Alycia’s smoke?

… oh yeah, the food was pretty good too…

DAY FOUR

Again with the rain… and this time it was like the sky opened up and God showed his wrath… lightning everywhere. Rain everywhere. This coincided with Bush winning the election… Anyone else think this is a harbinger of what is to come in the next four years?

I went shopping again on the Riverwalk near our hotel in the French Quarter. Got some great stuff… new clothes, some silk scarves (I lurve scarves), more gifties… then I went back to the hotel room and knit while it was disgusting outside.

Alycia found a great sushi place, Rock n Sake in the Warehouse District of the city. Kris got this lovely spread you see here, and I got this yummy meal (seaweed salad and tofu steaks! *squee*) This place is highly recommended for any sushi lovers out there!

Now for the real party! Kris and Alycia’s conference sponsored a night at Mardi Gras World, which is way gaudy and kitschy, but really fun! I thought it was a perfect location for the 1500+ people that showed up. This place is part museum, part warehouse, and it is where they create and store the floats that are made for Mardi Gras. There were huge floats and smaller ones. Scary ones and pretty ones…

Kris and I both got our caricatures done, and in the end we drank and danced the night away… it was a blast. Let’s just say that this was my vision for the rest of the night…

DAY FIVE

Last day of the conference for Kris and Alycia, and the last full day for me to explore the city! I decided to take a guided tour of the French Quarter. It turned into a lovely day, and it was a very informative tour. We saw Jackson Square (at left) and visited the Ursulines Convent. I learned tons of little facts about the quarter, and I think it was the best $20 I paid on the trip (toss up between that and my new sun hat!)

Kris and I went back to the French Quarter in the evening for dinner and listened to some great music and strolled around the streets. New Orleans is the perfect city for strolling.

DAY SIX

We had to be at the airport by 2:30/3:00 pm, so we had enough time in the morning to do some more sightseeing. Kris and I love aquariums, so our trip was not complete until we visited the New Orleans Aquarium, located convieniently across the street from our hotel!

Coral Reef Kris

Amazon Lolly

Kris dabbles in nature photography (mainly his four fish tanks at home, and our dogs) but he shot some really nice shots at the aquarium.

Then back to our home sweet home, Maryland USA. It was great to get home and see our doggie girls, and even though Rusty was sick (he is getting better) and the leak sprung in the bathroom (it is fixed now!) there is no place like home!

…Now back to your regularly scheduled knitting blog…