Amazon Window

Think Twice It's All Right

2012-02-04T22:10:00.001-08:00

Think before you shop

Back from Camp

2007-04-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

I have been a long time posting, since work has been so busy, and we were away for Spring Break. Camp Cockamamie was pretty great. I loved meeting avid knitters from all over the country, the island was beautiful, I learned some great techniques, got inspired for several projects, and came home with - what else - more yarn. Some beautiful STR colorways in the medium and lightweight yarns, plus one skein of seduction, their merino tencel yarn.

The chicken knitting contest was amazing, I was proud of my little guy until I saw what everyone else did - but at least I made one so that was fine.

Lots of funny games and contests, like knitting WHITE ribbon yarn underwater and other hijinks.

Why we knit ..

2007-03-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

As happens so often, a post in one of my groups led to me a blog I'd never visited, and I found this wonderful post that I want to quote and share here. The Blog is Jung at Heart by Dr Cheryl Fuller. I loved this post and wanted to share it with you:

Marie Louise von Franz talks about knitting a bit in her book, The Feminine in Fairytales. I'll grant that some of what she says is quite sexist as we see things today but the heart of her comments remains valid --

Everybody who has knitted or done weaving or embroidery knows what an agreeable effect this can have, for you can be quiet and lazy and also spin your own thoughts while working. You can relax and follow your fantasy and then get up and say you have done something! Also the work exercises patience...Only those who have done such work know of all the catastrophes which can happen -- such as losing a row of stitches just when you are decreasing! It is a very self-educative activity and brings out feminine nature. It is immensely important for women to do such work and not give it up in the modern rush. (The Feminine in Fairy Tales, Spring Publications, 1972, p. 40)

I knit in meetings and while watching television. I knit at any social event where it seems acceptable. Knitting serves at times like that to focus my attention by giving my "monkey mind" something to do. And I find that as i return later to what I was knitting, I also recall what I heard or saw or thought when last I was knitting that piece.

The knitter becomes a literal part of what we knit as our hair gets knit into the objects we make. When I look at things i made 10 or 15 years ago, I know that hairs from cats and a dog now dead are part of that knitting. Each knitted object carries the history of the time in my life when it was made. When I left my first husband, I started a complicated Kaffe Fassett coat and I worked on it for 2 years. It is where I worked through my grief and anger and transformed those feelings into something new, something beautiful, something I could take into my new life. The coat is made from bits and pieces of yarns that I bought while in that marriage, leftovers from other projects. Knitting it was knitting up many of my own loose ends and when I finished it, something in me had changed.

Mad Props to French Girl's Kristeen

2007-03-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post that I got fantastic pattern support from Kristeen at French Girl Knits. I bought the Fantine pattern from Dreamweaver yarns, and (for the first time) took the time to do a gauge swatch – the pattern called for Rowan Big Wool and a size 17; I wanted to use Rowan Ribbon Twist which indicated the same gauge on the ball band. But my fabric in a 17 as well as a 15 looked too loose, and I was ahving a hard time doing the math with my stitch count (I posted about this previously) keeping in mind the 3 stitch rib pattern and where to place markers for the raglan shaping. I emailed Dreamweaver and French Girl, and Kristeen took the time to email me, and helped me come up with a great way to customize the pattern. Her email response was prompt and clear and so very helpful. I am going to get going on it later today. Yeah French Girl, I will be coming back for more patterns! And I may want to do this one again in Big Wool – that’s a pretty yarn too...

Here is her reply:
bonjour rebecca,
i have done some fiddling around to make this work and here is my take on things:
if we used the stitch gauge and your measurement (which i think might be a tad bit too high...it is difficult to get that scoop neck measure just right...plus there will be some stretching with this yarn...i know...i have used it a lot!)....soooo in light of all this if we used the two measurements we would come up with a cast on of about 77 !!! which is way too much i think...so if you don't mind experimenting a bit(it is only wool and time right?)....here is what i think might work for you...
CO 59 sts (use a size 15 needle to get it looser)...make sure to use the cable cast on method , then switch to the #13 and begin the pattern
with these changes:
Row 1: (LCS, P 1) 10 times, PM etc on center purl st. then (RCS,P 1) 9 times, RCS (that will give you a st ct of 59 for the first row)....if you use a long enough needle you can stretch it out around you and see if that is going to work for the neck area...questions to ask...does it just meet or is it overlapped(too many sts) or if it doesn't meet, how many inches do i need...again remember we can do some blocking with this and when the work is off the needles it is even stretchier...so once you get that far then if it is right just do row 2 & 3 as written(substituting our revised row 1).
Row 4: follow the directions but place the markers after 11sts, 8 sts, 21sts, and finally 8 sts, then work to the end...that will get you set up for the raglan increases that will follow....
once you get there just work merrily along in the pattern but disregard the number of repeats on the spot where it says "repeat rows 5 & 6 " "x" number of times...we will customize that for you....i would say start with 10 repeats and we will work from there....we should definitely add some short rows to the front...as i advise in the upper size ranges so you can get a good fit in the bust area...more on that later...
in essence, you will be learning to custom fit this for you so in the future you can take patterns and amend them...yippee...isn't that fun...i do it all the time...being pretty small but incredibly busty(what can i say...it's those italian ancestors!)...so i have a load of experience with this...

now...if things are too big or small after that first row then check back with me and we will adjust....bonne chance and let me know how it is going....
a bientot, kristeen & the french girls

More finished objects... sigh!

2007-03-07T18:29:00.000-08:00

I have some FOs to report. Some items that were lingering in the bottom of my move to the very satisfying FO column.

At last, prompted by pending Patty's day merriment, I came up with a use for the Material Whirled Handspun skein Lucky Charms that I bought a year ago. It was so fun and lovely I couldn’t choose the right pattern for it, but this winter I became enamored of the Cathy Carron’s book Hip Knit Hats. So I used one of those patterns to make a fun St. Patricks Day hat — note the horseshoe and shamrock pins, cufflinks and even a pot of gold woven in!

NOT A BRUIN HAT: I had started a hat with some navy Plymouth Baby Alpaca, and was using a Hip Knit Hats pattern for striping and using some gold kettle dyed yarn from Uruguay (handpaintedyarn.com) and I stopped because, Trojan that I am, I was really bugged that I was making a hat a Bruin would love. But my husband really needed a hat during our last cold snap and said – that looks cool, finish it. Once I finished it it really does not look like UCLA as much as I thought.

I finished a pair of socks in a scalloped lace pattern with Fleece Artist sock merino, in the Ivory colorway – my best socks yet though still mistakes. With these socks I tried a couple of new techniques: eye of partridge heel and star toe.

Still to be photographed:

I finished the Celtic Vest kit from Fleece Artist – now I need to block it – I’ve never blocked before but somehow I think this will be worth it – it is silk and wool so I believe it should block fine.
My felted clogs finally felted enough and I wear them often – there are still funky spots with my sewing so I need to give it another shot to see if I can make something that looks better (see a pattern here?)
I am one small ball away from finishing the Klee scarf kit from AL Sauveterre – my first cashmere knitting experience. It became a bit tedious – size 5 needles, 30 rib stitches for countless rows – but I really wanted something to show off when I go to Camp Cockamamie – the Blue Moon Fiber Arts camp in April in Orcas Island, with camp leaders Stephanie Pearl McPhee and Cat Bordhi.

I also called on the talents of some professional knitters to help me with a kit I purchased last fall. It's the Ilga Leja lace vest made with Handmaiden Lady Godiva. Christina did a fantastic job, I am so pleased - here is my attempt at a photo.

Two knitting questions: this Klee scarf had tons of yarn changes and I have a tremendous amount of end weaving to do. I had woven in some ends already and I can feel where I did it. Any advice on more invisible end weaving?

Re my Not-a-Bruin hat: striping in a spiral was not attractive – I definitely have a rear of the hat where you can see my row changes. Any advice on making that more professional looking?

Sockapalooza!

2007-02-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

Here are three of the four socks I had made for my husband for his birthday. He is wearing one today. I sent three skeins of Austerman Step and one of Trekking XXL to Beth at Socks That Fit in New Mexico and she knit them up on an antique sock knitting machine - I think that was great considering men don't want fancy socks anyway so I was pleased. You'll note she did a nice job of matching up the patterning too. Now I know why people are crazy about Trekking (it's the dark blue sock) the colors are great and it feels great too. We'll see how the Step wears with washing etc - it's the yarn that's supposed to get softer with wear and washing due to infusion of Aloe and Jojoba.

Also, here is the scarf I knit for him in a hand-dyed cashmere yarn that my friend Lauren gave me for Xmas - it's DH's favorite color. It's in farrow rib - my new favorite rib pattern!

Finally, here is further progress on my "prettiest sock yet" - I am trying an Eye of Partridge heel. It is challenging to recall which row is a S1 or S2, but it sure is purty. I may try a "star toe" just for the heck of it!
BTW the pattern is a modification of the scallop shell pattern from Crystal Palace - I substituted the ribbed cuff with a garter edge, the eye of partridge heel for a standard heel stitch flap, etc.

My prettiest sock yet!

2007-02-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

Here's the cuff of the best sock I've knit yet - It's the Ivory colorway of Fleece Artist sock yarn - I love it, it is so nice to knit something that is light and shows the stitches and to use yarn that has no tendency to pool.

I have been laying off on posts for a while because I want to post about the scarf and socks I made for my husband for his brithday, and since he is my most faithful blog reader, I had to refrain.

Here is a pic of my first ever toe-up sock. Course I have to knit its partner, and I'm not as enthused about it as I am the fleece artist.

Made some purchases this last week that I will post pics of when they arrive. When I heard Sweet Georgia was taking a sabbatical I had to stock up, and that led to discoveries of other sock yarn I couldn't resist.

Now I'm a Speed Demon

2007-01-31T19:58:00.000-08:00

And the fact that I'm producing a video about methamphetamine doesn't stop me from professing my admiration for Speed - yes it is addicting, not as expensive as cocaine -- I mean cashmere ... and like any speed junkie I need more!! I made my third pair of socks and the adage about the third time being the charm as for fit and technique is true.

I knit these with Sweet Georgia's Speed Demon yarn which is DK weight - I used a size 3 needle and the Broadripple pattern from Knitty. It took me just over a week, which is pretty good considering I am dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome. My greatest triumph was finally mastering kitchener stitch, so now I am not averse to cuff down patterns, though I do want to get the toe up thing down. I guess Yarn Harlot was waxing poetic about the charms of Canadian yarn - no wonder. I got mine through the Loopy Ewe - they only have one or two colorways on hand though - hopefully there will be more selection. There are a few colorways I've been admiring on the Sweet Georgia site but they are not to be found -- yet.

In other news, I found a site, Socks that Fit, that will knit socks on antique sock knitting machines - I figured that was perfect for some self-patterning fingering weight yarn that I had in my stash that was just not going to work for me with my current state of arm and hand pain. I sent five skeins - hope to get them back next week and will keep you posted!

Six weird things about me

2007-01-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Tammy of Lavendar Knits to answer this meme that's going around. So here goes.

1. I am an unrepentant regifter. Tis the season.

2. I used to pretend I was John Lennon.

3. I never had a dog until I was 45 (drumroll please, enter Maya)

4. I never was on a sports team - until I was Team Mom for my son's AYSO soccer this season.

5. My favorite candy above all others - gourmet chocolate, you name it: Red Vines.

6. I used to make homemade food for my cat; now I make food for my dog. I also made baby food (but that's not weird at all)

Now to wax a little about the meaning of "weird" - what is weird? I don't know - in my book just a little unusual? I used to delight in weird behavior in high school and college - have a bit of a wacky sense of humor, Monty Python and all that. Oh well, please forgive me as I tag the requested six victims, ahem, subjects: Lynda, Mary, Kim, Melise, Breien, Tammy.

Joyful handfuls of Klee

2006-12-20T10:07:00.000-08:00

This is the most exciting yarn purchase I have ever made!! I purchased the Klee Scarf Kit in handpainted cashmere by A.L. de Sauveterre. I actually got the DK weight yarn which has a different name and pattern - I started it last night - had to drop everything to get my hands on this! It was my first time knitting with 100% cashmere, which is truly a delight. And the colorways are amazing. Fun fun fun!!! And this is something I can really see wearing a lot!

You get 8 small (wound) balls of different handpainted colorways to knit as you please, any number of rows in a simple rib pattern. One challenge that concerns me is weaving in all those ends. At first I started a fibonacci sequence, and then I realized - I didn't want to many ends so I am doing larger numbers of rows. I also have been playing with the Random Stripe Generator for some inspiration in the striping which is very cool.

Hipster Hats

2006-12-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

I have been enjoying knitting from

Cathy Carron's "Hip Knit Hats"

and have made several hats for holiday giving. My four year old son graciously models the hats, even though two out of three are meant for girls. I will have to burn these when he is a teenager!!!

One was made with malabrigo - some leftovers I had from the blanket I'm making. This taught me how beautiful this yarn knits up - with a smaller needle - I used size 7. Am thinking of redoing the blanket squares - though I could just make the big ones into pillows and then do other squares with the smaller needle.

The pink was done with Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk and Cashmerino Astrakhan. And the third was with some leftovers from an afghan kit. That one (with the tassels) is my favorite pattern and I plan to make more!!!

The knitted gift

2006-11-30T17:40:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share something I saw in the NY Times today - their slide show of unique gifts for the discerning shopper. Two items were knit and kinda cool. Check it out! The felted trees are meant to cover table top items like ketchup bottles.

Out Out Damn Spot!

2006-11-19T18:55:00.000-08:00

Had part two of my 3 part magic loop sock class this weekend. Turned the heel - a reinforced heel flap, and did the gusset - also got part way down the foot, nearly completing all decreases. Kept at it since I've been home and overshot the mark a bit so am backing out a few rows (tedious). Anyway it has been a grand experience, all but for the terrible pooling of the dark burgundy, which really looks awful - it looks like two different socks depending on which side you are looking at.

I complained to my sockknitter Yahoo group; I have been researching patterns that do the best to minimize the STR pooling effect, considering I have six skeins in my stash. Found my way to the RPM pattern in Knitty, so that looks worth a shot.

Have decided that the pattern that came with my Fleece Artist scarf kit is not working out. "Maybe it wants to be something else," my sock knitting teacher tactfully said.

Magic Loop is Magic!

2006-11-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

I belonged to two sock yarn clubs this year, Sundara Murphy's Petals and Socks That Rock. The sock yarn has been piling up while I waited for the time to schedule my last two sock lessons, the first of which was taught on DPNs. I had knit the cuff with a Knitpicks self-patterning yarn. The pattern was fun, but the yarn was a bear to knit with on the bamboo DPNs - which had a very very sharp point and I HATED them. I visited Sit n Stitch in Toluca Lake, and they suggested I get Cat Bordhi's Socks Soar on Two Circulars. I tried it with some Trekking that I had on hand, but the yarn was so small I could not even see my knits from my purls, and somehow it just wasn't working out.

Fast forward to my discovery of a new yarn store in Santa Monica (GU oh well) Compatto Yarn, and they were starting two sock classes with Magic Loop, one using Fixation, the other teaching a lace pattern. The lace pattern one was not meant for beginners, but because I had shown up for the other and it had been canceled, they bent the rules and let me do the lace class. I was determined to use up some of my yarn stash, and so I used a skein of Heavyweight STR that I had ordered off the Blue Moon website. Yes, there is indeed a pooling effect. I am just doing a simple rib. I spent some time researching the best patterns to use with STR's highly variegated yarns - the best bet seems to be Jaywalker. I did try a slip stitch rib which just wasn't looking very good and so decided to stick with the rib. The class taught a picot trim cast on using a provisional cast on. I had a bad time with it in class, but doing the second cuff at home was a breeze - probably because I used the teacher's strip of pre-crocheted scrap yarn. Anyway I am very excited about progressing on these socks, and am considering doing the lace pattern with the latest skein of Petals yarn, the red foliage one which is so beautiful and is fairly monochromatic. May even try to do at least one cuff before Saturday's class.

Other progress is completing my brother-in-law's holiday gift. Instead of the reversible rib pattern in alpaca that I had started, I decided to use some Berrocco Foliage that I had on hand in manly shades of gray and black, in a simple rib. I have finished it, without great stress to my hands.

I also started to work on the throw I've been planning with the yummy Malabrigo yarn I've been hoarding. I have made one square and have started the second. I had been contemplating some of the patterns in the XRX afghan square books, but could never choose one that I felt comfortable with. Then I found the Manos Del Uruguay Four Seasons throw booklet, and feel like this is a great fit.

I have seen a store sample that is gorgeous - I hope mine will look as good. I didn't really choose my colors wiht a lot of thought - just picked ones I liked off the internet. I learned how loose my gauge is by comparing my square to theirs. A good thing to know for the future - to always start out sizing down my needles.

Finally, another WIP is an afghan for a friend who is allergic to wool. So I bought a ton of yarn that is nonwool. I started it once doing stripes but was not pleased with the effect. At one of my knitting groups I saw something another woman was doing that was just changing yarns every row, picking at random from her bag of yarn. It really made a cohesive lovely fabric, so I am trying that. I don't have enough rows yet for a photo but will take one ASAP. It is hard to resist not picking and choosing from my yarn choices, but I will try to do the random thing.

Done, Done, Destash

2006-10-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

In my last post I mentioned near completion of my Variation on a Frill. I got to the end of the 400 yard skein of Schaefer Laurel, and started searching for the second skein I knew I would need to complete the work. Nowhere to be found in the appropriate arranged-by-color cubby. I was determined to finish this piece so I pulled EVERYTHING out of my yarn shelving. Had a huge mess in my office. No such second skein. So I contacted ChezCas where I bought the first skein to confirm the number of purchases of said yarn - just one! So this turned into a good opportunity to just pull out all the yarn I never really will knit. Stuff I bought just because it was on sale or because a pushy yarn store owner was pushing it on me (she had me buy almost 10 skeins of yarn just to make a purse - and I never made the dang thing!) I have so many balls of yarn from this now-defunct store because somehow I would do what this lady wanted. Yikes.

So I made some bags of fun scraps and balls that I wouldn't use; gave some to a friend of a friend who is starting to knit; game some to a friend who makes felted purses so only needs bits of yummy yarn to make an impact. Still have bags and bags of yarn left to donate or give to a better home. It feels good to pare down. After 2 years of knitting I have a better idea of what I like to work with, what projects appeal to me etc.

I completed one of the kits I got from ColorSong yarn - the Imperial Scarf. Afraid my beads may be too long - I think it looks better shorter in the kit picture - could have saved some money on beads! I also plunged in and knit a scarf out of one of the Material Whirled skeins I bought earlier in the year. Used size 19 needles and had fun watching the fiber change. I tried ribbing, seed stitch etc but it looked best in plain old garter.

And I am just inches away from completing the strap on the Lotorp bag (from Noro Revisited by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton) made with Iro. Good thing I had four skeins - the pattern called for 3 but I have had to crack into number 4 to get the strap to a decent length. Will have enough left for a hat or skinny scarf I think.

Also just a few pattern repeats from finishing the cable strip for the blanket I've been working on using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky. This pattern is from MagKnits scarf: Inner Truth. I'm glad I've approached it as a blanket strip and not a scarf, I would prefer a scarf to be reversible. A friend gave me a beautiful reversible scarf pattern that I may try with the Handmaiden cashmere I ordered tho it is multicolored and I wonder if a solid would be more sucessful. Will swatch it and see!

My embellishment retreat sponsored by the Hemet Valley Knitters Guild approaches - weekend of the 20th. Hope to get a lot of knitting done tho I am driving so there goes some precious knitting time!

We drew names in my family for gift exchange and I got my brother-in-law. Of course I'd like to knit something. I revisited some of the Scarf Style patterns (inspired by the selection of the Forbes Forest as the best project ever in someone's Knitting Meme). However I found a beautiful cable muffler in Beadlizard's blog and may give that a try. I went back to the folks at ColorSong for help with yarn selection, thinking cashmere, but they suggested I try a new alpaca that they are carrying and I chose something sight unseen over the phone with the very friendly proprietor Nancy. I told her I have been tempted by Handmaiden's Sea Silk and she steered me instead toward the Silken and suggested an easy bias knit on big needles to make a nice evening wrap. My top choice in color, Mahogany, was not available so I decided on Midnight.

I have really enjoyed being re-energized about the knitting, but all of this productivity has come at a cost; my RSI is flaring up and I am hurting again, especially at night. I think the Lotorp pattern is the culprit because it is knit on small needles to make the fabric tight enough for a nonfelted handbag. I see the light, with finishing the strap in the next day or so. Then I will stick to more hand-friendly patterns such as the cables, and more pliant yarn. I have resolved to never buy another skein of Noro, and to look to brands such as SWTC Karaoke and Rowan Tapestry for the beautiful self-striping long transitions colorways.

Kiss my handmaiden

2006-09-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

I have been admiring Handmaiden yarn by Fleece Artist from afar, and finally took the plunge, in a big way, at the Color Song online store. I especially wanted some 100% cashmere to make the "Inner Truth" scarf in Mag Knits. I have never knit with 100% cashmere and I wanted to see what the fuss was about.

I indulted in four kits: Antique Lace, Celtic Vest and the Maid Marian Vest. That means I will be knitting with Lady Godiva, their wool silk blend (which I have considered for a clapotis) I chose the Lily Pond colorway. The Celtic Vest is in Scotian Silk, another wool silk blend. Maid Marian is knit with Stretoo & Lady Godiva, and I am curious to learn what is meant by the Fleece Artist "swing technique" of alternating yarns. The fourth kit is from Nature Song Yarn, which is a line of handcrafted organic yarns using plant dyed, natural colors. I was tempted by the Imperial Pagoda Scarf by Hand Jive Knits which looks like it would be fun to use for some of my other stash yarns. I chose the lovely Jade Agate colorway.

I have made tremendous progress on my Amazing Lace project and am close to finishing the middle section and starting the final frill. It was quite a challenge but I feel I learned a lot and am willing to try another simple lace project.

Tiny cat wanted, or Reason #738 to get a kitten

2006-09-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

Again my apologies for taking so long to blog. I have had to take it slow with the needlework due to continued pain with my hands. I have a DR appt later this month and I will bring it up.

I also have been discouraged with the (lack of) success with my knitting projects. The Kitty Pi bed that I was so proud of is too darn small for my beloved pinhead, Utah, thus the addition to my long list of reasons why next year we should get a kitten (or a very tiny dog). Please don't faint, intrepid readers who happen to be family members (you know who you are).

I have started a swatch for my knitting retreat and blast it, it is too big! Tho that could be worse. It is an embellishment retreat that will take place in Idyllwild in October. And last night I finally chose one of the 200 ripple patterns from the Jan Eaton book and started the long scarf/wrap with the beloved Judi & Co yarn that I got at Stitches in February. I decided to crochet - a rather lacy pattern so it should be lightweight - and I did my first rows in this great Elizabeth Lavold angora yarn - oh my gosh it is yummy. A beautiful taupe color.

In other news, we are just loving our puppy up - she is getting so big (they did say she was a miniature?) I had a very intense month of video production where I literally was driving all over LA County - from the very western edge, where we live, to the southern tip in San Pedro, and the eastern edge in Hacienda Heights - three times a week. My fuel bill was nasty. It went pretty well - ask me about the Commutative, Associative and Distributive Properties! Dare ya! And this week should be the final one of editing my videos about ethics and sexual harassment. The big challenge for me with work is coming up with a treatment for a project about storytelling in the workplace. I have also been busy as the enrichment coordinator for my oldest son's elementary school, and his AYSO team parent. The crunch is past with those duties, thus more time to knit, crochet and blog.

My next challenge: I want to finish some socks! I joined some sock clubs: Petals and Socks That Rock, and have this amazing yarn. Plus I got the infamous trekking XXL. Right now I can't seem to remember how to work in the round! I need to hook up with my knitting groups more and get some support on the sock thing. I did pay for some classes and only took the first so I also need to schedule my last classes on the subject!

The world has gone to hell in a yarnbasket!

2006-08-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

I don't think you need me to tell you how dire conditions have become in the Middle East. Just let the expressions on my sons' faces tell you how bad it truly is. So, in the spirit of true American consumerism and denial, we took ourselves to Legoland, and had a grand old time.

I actually started a knitting project which turned out to be quite fun and easy - the infamous "Kitty Pi" felted cat basket. With more than seven hours of driving time, I managed to get a lot accomplished! Utah, our mackeral Tabby, has already expressed her approval by lounging on the WIP at her first opportunity. Just have the rim left to knit - then the felting. I had NO problems with RSI, my hands are doing pretty well, tho still bothering me in the night.

My ripple crochet lapghan is nearly completed - I could call it quits now, or forge on to try to use up more of the yarn. But I really only have two types left so it would start to diminish the whole multi-yarn pattern that has been established. Do I trim it or not? Not sure - am leaning towards NOT so I can move on to other projects...

Our new puppy/afghan update

2006-07-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Due to the RSI I have had to take it VERY SLOWLY so am still finishing the afghan in that previous post. Don't think I will crochet anything so big again because I think it is even more painful for my hand than knitting. I have had some improvement and the pain is much lessened, and I look forward to finishing this blanket - I just have a few more rows and then the border/blocking.

Another big distraction, besides the rescue kittens, is the newest addition to our family, Maya, a Miniature Australian Shepherd puppy. We picked her up two weeks ago. Besides the usual puppy hassles of chewing and potty training, she had coccidia and we learned the hard way. She is on medication now and doing great and we are starting puppy classes tonight.

On the rescue kitten front, I had a very successful weekend at the adoption events. Sugar, the snowshoe, generated a lot of interest and was adopted Saturday by a family that was a previous adoption family (with a young cat for company) so approval was a snap. We were concerned about the impact on Spice, but it turned out to be the best thing for her - she became very very affectionate with us. Then on Sunday a lovely family wanted to adopt Spice - even though she nipped and scratched! They take delivery next week - I am crossing my fingers that they don't change their minds and that the adoption works out. Anyway we get a last week with the kitten and we are integrating her more into the home, she slept with the boys last night and they loved it. It was so adorable to see her curled up at my six year old son's feet.

I have tentatively started another cable strip, in a lovely coral shade of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky. It is a Celtic Cable pattern so is rather daunting - but I think that will be good for my hands, because I won't be able to be Speed Racer.

RSI - Yarn Withdrawal

2006-06-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

I am suffering terribly from the need to stop knitting and crocheting. I have had severe RSI since I made those shawls for my friends for gifts. Oh my. My hands wake me up constantly at night with tingling and pain. I took a few days off when we went up to Anacortes, WA this week and that seemed to help. I used ice and tooks NSAIDS. Coming home it is much harder - my gorgeous yarn is all around me. My UFOs tempt me incessantly.

Since I've been home I've done quite a few rows on the afghan I've been crocheting, trying to pace myself - only a few rows, icing in between... but I also have had to work, I have scripts to write and some fairly heavy computer/mouse work these days. And today my hands hurt hurt hurt and it is advised that I take more than four days off ... I should take a week or weeks! Oh my god - this has been such a huge part of my life - writing blogs, reading blogs, researching yarns and projects etc. Lately I've been considering making an afghan for my best girlfriend - who is allergic to wool. Any suggestions of yummy non-wool afghan yarn? I've been price Berrocco Plush and Softy (quite expensive) and wondering if there are equivalents from Bernat etc. The planning is so much fun and now I am wondering what I can do -- here is a pic of the afghan I've been crocheting - I am so close to the end. I do wonder if crochet is particularly bad for the hands - I can do it so quickly and it is very RSI likely.

The good news is that I am close to finishing the scripts I've been working on - about ethics and sexual harassment. And I just learned that two of my videos have been selected for special consideration and discussion by the American Psychological Association at their national conference in August - the videos I did about grief and loss, and harassment and bullying on the internet. So once I finish those scripts I can do a little less computer time -- I was so looking forward to sitting on the beach and working with yarn, watching my kids play in the waves. Guess I'll need to get off my butt and jump around with them instead! That's the positive side of my yarn withdrawal -- oooh this is so hard... Any support or suggestions are welcome!!!

Also, to update on the whole Kitten Rescue thing: the snowshoe kitten purrs and is relatively affectionate, however she can't wait to get back to her buddy, the tuxedo, who is very skittish - still. This whole mange thing has been terrible since it means we have isolated the kittens and limited contact.
It has not been the experience I was hoping for, and now my family (hubby in particular) is so soured on the experience that I don't know if I'll be able to foster the kitten babies that I was hoping for.

Any suggestions of what to do when you can't knit!!! I am really at a loss.

Here is a pic from our Father's Day brunch - proud Daddy with Beautiful First Son, Grant. We had a great day.

Hello, it's me

2006-06-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

I've been remiss in posting due to work deadlines primarily. Also maybe a bit of discouragement in the knitting front. I haven't been able to make the rest of my sock series classes, and have missed the last two afghan squares as well. This has allowed me more time for other projects. Here is one of two shawls I made with Schaefer Yarn's Elaine. These were quick knits and came from kits sold by the woman who closed the knitting store near me. I have one more to make, a gift for my grandmother. Problem is, I see now why people prefer using smaller needles. I was used a 13 for one and a 15 for the red one pictured here. And my hands hurt!!! I have been having pain in my hands that wakes me up at night every night ever since I started these projects. But I keep going.

I then started a crochet project from an afghan kit that I bought at the same going out of business sale. Instead of knitting, I thought I would crochet - I wanted to see if it would be easier on my hands (it isn't). At least it is very fast and uses up a lot of yarn; I really want to reduce my stash!

I have made some progress on my Amazing Lace project. I had a scare where I realized I was messing up in the second lace pattern after completing the frill, and I tried to rip it out. Oops, I did a bad job and picked up stitches in the wrong row and it was pretty scary - fortunately Master Knitter Anita repaired it for me and I was able to move on. I need to see if working on this will go easier on my hands since it uses smaller needles (size 6).

Have found some new knitting groups near me but haven't had much time to partake. I expect to have more time once I get my "paper cut" done on the two scripts I am writing and get my editor busy. Of course it is a busy time right now with Father's Day, end of the school year etc. And we are going to Washington State, Anacortes to be precise - next week for a long weekend - getting the boys some face time with their paternal grandparents!

The other big distraction from blogging was that I got involved with Kitten Rescue, and am fostering a pair of female kitties - a snowshoe and a tuxedo that we named Sugar & Spice. These kitties are very timid and it has been a challenge to get them warmed up to us. They are still not but there has been incremental progress. One challenge is that we learned they have mange which limits handling and integrating them into our household (releasing them from the "cat bathroom"). I have been advised to withhold food so that they are REALLY happy to see me and that does make some difference though I don't think they are really that hungry - I am a soft touch.

And the other venture I got involved with was registering for an "Out of the Darkness" Community Walk. It will take place in Santa Monica in November. It raises funds for suicide prevention. It is very meaningful to me to get involved with this cause and I am excited about the opportunity. It has been strange to get virtually NO response to the fundraising emails I sent this week, which could be symptomatic of the whole weird vibe people have about this subject. I am going to try to not let that bother me, and I will keep pestering people!

Ain't it purty?

2006-05-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

I come back to blogland after a stressful and challenging week of video production. Gotta pay those yarn bills. My beads arrived yesterday from EarthFaire and they go perfectly with the Schaefer Laurel Catherine the Great colorway. I had ordered some beads from another source and the color just didn't work, but these are great. They kindly provided a dental floss threader and I was able to thread the beads without too much trouble, and have now done six rows of my Amazing Lace project, "Variations on a Frill." This was my first time working with beads. I ordered "megatamas" which have the hole slightly off center which positions them differently (and nicely I think) for garments. I am imagining all kinds of uses - I really like this idea of beading on the cast-on and want to start investigating other fun ways to incorporate beads into the knitting. I got some other beads in other colors: a lovely gold, peony pink, chartreuse, and ice/silver

Also pictured is the "right half" of the front of my Victorian Jacket in Great Adirondack. I have six pattern blocks to go, then the sleeves and then the lace edging and finishing.

I have completed the third of my cable strips for the throw, and ordered two additional colors of Cashmerino Chunky so I have all my supplies. I got coral and teal - I think it will be beautiful. I expect to receive my Vogue cable stitchionary any day now so maybe I'll find some cool cables to try out.

Binding off

2006-05-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

I completed the mosaic square from my Great North American Afghan class XRX's The Great North American Afghan Project. And I took part one of a sock class, and have done the leg portion on both pair to prevent the dreaded SSS I have read so much about. I can relate to the joys of sock knitting and am itching to cast on another pair with the delicious Carolyn Greenwood cotton/rayon sock yarn that arrived today.

But I am firm about working on my WIPs, thanks to Knitters UFO Anonymous support so despite that fact that I have bound off 3 squares and completed my class assignment on the socks (part 2 of the 3 part sock class is next Friday), I will resist the urge to cast on, and continue with the Victorian jacket WIP, adn the handle on the Nicky Epstein Fuschia bag that I've been working on.

I tell myself, it will feel good to complete these things.
PS I have come up with an fast easy use for the Fiesta Rayon Boucle Yarn in Safari that I bought (a garter shawl on big needles).

Done!

2006-05-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

Finally, finally, finished the first square from the afghan square class I've been taking at Village Knittery. It went quite smoothly, after dear Teacher Karyn patiently undid several rounds and got me back to a reasonable starting place. Not sure quite what the problem is - I think just a long learning curve for DPNs. I am loving the mosaic square that she taught us this Saturday, and am eager to explore more mosaic patterns - there was a big article last summer in one of the knitting mags, so I will dig that out. I actually willingly frogged about 12 rows when I confirmed my suspicions that I was supposed to use a bobbin for the center square - doesn't quite make sense to me since it works to slip the rows -why do it differently, but I AM FOLLOWING DIRECTION and ripped it and am back to where I was, more than halfway done.
The other square was worked in the round from the center out and it went more smoothly for me; I learned the technique of knitting in the row below which makes for a nice texture. Don't love the colors I chose and will be switching to some other colors for the rest of the class. Will make these into pillows...

UFOs

2006-05-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have been posting in my online groups and bitching about my UFO status. I much prefer casting on and knitting to binding off, seaming, duplicate stitch, end weaving etc. I have offered $$ to help me clear up the clutter. While surfing I found a blog which provides support to those of us with similar issues, so I signed up. Here is a list of my UFOs, or AKA what's on the needles:

One mosaic afghan square stitch - halfway done - will finish this week

Cotton chenille flower washcloth - the knitting is quite tedious now that it is in the round...

Cardishawl in cashmerino superchunky -- need to unravel the sleeves, undo the bindoff, knit a bit more to make it a little longer, crochet a trim and make it a wrap, not a "cardishawl"

Not on the needles, but I should cast on another cable strip so that my 2 cables have some company and are on their way to becoming a blanket

the front/sleeves of the Victorian Jacket

Karabella mohair circular crochet shawl - perhaps I will repurpose that yarn into one of the many knit lace patterns I found while choosing an Amazing Lace project.

The Nicky Epstein fuschia purse. I have to knit one more handle - and then seam it, duplicate stitch, weave ends etc... The handle is a good carry in the purse project to pick up any time so I will cast that on and put it in my bag...

And then there is the sequin fringe to sew on the roses purse, and the seam to finish on the Chinese Lantern bag - and some cord to buy for the drawstring...

Problem is I have so many things in my queue! I have conceived and have all the components for a ripple wrap with the Judi & Co ribbon yarn that I've been pondering for some time. And then there is the lace projects in the previous post. The old cliche is true for good reason: so much yarn, so little time!

A new challenge: lace knitting

2006-05-05T19:50:00.000-07:00

I am joining Amazing Lace too; I am a novice lace knitter - have never used laceweight yarn. the closest I've come to a true lace project is the Versatile Lattice capelet/wrap which uses the Elizabeth Lattice from Nicky Epstein's On the Edgee. I bought the Fiddlesticks Lotus Blossom Shawl pattern and some Zephyr, but I think I will do the Knitty project, Variation on a Frill. This uses beads, which I have never incorporated into knitting before, and it seems like an easy way to use them - you just incorporate them on the cast on.
I was thinking of using the Schaefer Laurel Yarn in Catherine the Great colorway that I used for the Elizabeth Lattice. Now I have to wait for my beads to arrive to cast on, which is fine because I have several WIPs, and several more planned.

I found a great article by the Variations on a Frill designer, Sivia Harding, about knitting with beads, so that is helpful.
I do really want to try a true laceweight pattern and so will perhaps try the Lotus with Zephyr after this - anyone have experience to share? I saw a neat Blog about the Flower Basket Shawl with various tips the blogger learned...

The photos show two examples of the Lotus, one from the Yarn Harlot (the white alpaca).

It was so fun hunting for lace patterns; I have several books that have them -
one I was very tempted by was in Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick - it's a tablecloth made of linen napkins with linen lace patterning .. I was also tempted by the Fishtail scarf and the Falling Leaves scarf that have been circulating in blogland for some time. I love leaf patterns... There are several nice lace patterns in the 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns book by Jan Eaton; I am going to do some destashing with multiyarns and make ripple wraps with some yummy Judi & Co ribbon yarn that I got at Stitches - but I am having a terrible time winding these skeins - I seem to always have trouble - not sure what I am doing wrong when I put the yarn on the gizmo (any tips?)

Rohrschach knitting

2006-05-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

My analogy may not be completely spot on, but as I bound off two projects yesterday and contemplated my WIPs, UFOs, WALL OF YARN, completed works, and on-the-drawing-boards, it occurs to me that my experience with the fiber arts highlights my foibles and failings to an uncomfortable degree.
Take the squares from the Great North American Afghan book. I bound one off yesterday, pleased that I seemed to get this one right - stitch count never off, no dropped stitches that I couldn't handle, no need to ask teach for help. And then, I look at the color jogs at the spot where the work meets (it is worked in the round). Maybe it will look better after I weave in the ends. I don't know. But I am disappointed all the same, and start to think of other knitters out there: they know what to do, they know how to do it better (like what I told myself about parenting for years, and sometimes still do).
Then the other square, which is actually so simple, I had to rip out once, get help from the teacher, and now there is still another mistake that I am waiting til Saturday to get help with again. I don't want to rip it out, I don't like it enough to do it over again, I am bored. I think: "other knitters do a better job, they wouldn't make a mistake like this, they are more careful, or they would rip it out and find the mistake."
The Cardishawl pattern from Karabella that I knit with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky - there are knots in it that I was too lazy to undo, and weave in later. The whole piece was a failure in conception.
Here is what I see when I think about these and other projects: I am hasty to cast on, love buying yarn and dreaming of projects more than actually completing them, I would rather dispatch an extra stitch with a k2tog than figure out where the culprit first appeared. Basically, a lack of attention to deatil -- ahem, detail, sloth, living with frayed edges and sloppy seams - not a perfectionist by a long shot (of course this rant uncovers the uber-perfectionist within).
The yarns that are too beautiful to knit - nothing seems just right just yet, I'd rather hold on and wait to FIGURE OUT the EXACT right thing, ask one more person for their opinion, maybe there is a GURU out there who can fix me, oops - I mean help me.

I've gone through several enthusiasms - rubber stamping, buddhism, window art (yep, those sticky things you put on the window that kids usually do) buy lots of supplies, do it for a while, it doesn't come out as nice as I had hoped or I don't exhibit the discipline I so admire, I get discouraged and enthusiasm wanes.
I feel a bit discouraged that my projects aren't as perfect or beautiful as could be. I look at them and all I see are the flaws - kind of like how I view myself in life too.
Yes, I can list the good things that my pursuit of this hobby illustrates. Enthusiasm, quest for knowledge, desire to learn new skills (no more garter scarves), seek new challenges, engage and share with friends, make new friends, etc. But that list is just not as fascinating as the judgemental one and there, my friends, is the rub.
Maybe knitting/the fiber arts can be a lesson in seeing what went right, learning from what went wrong, blessing the bliss of being able to be in the moment, living one stitch at a time, feeling the fiber pass from needle to needle, hand to hand.

ADD Grrrl

2006-04-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a tally of my WIPs

The Nicky Epstein Fuschia bag: I have completed 52 rows of the 72 charted for the front of the bag. I have completed the back, the pocket, the five flowers (seamed and weaved all but one) the 24 leaves. I have to finish the front, do the handles, seam, duplicate stitch (which I have never done), sew the appliques, assemble and felt. Seems a little daunting when I spell it all out!

I have done 2 of the 8 cable strips for the cabled throw. I couldn't decide which one I wantted to do next - was kind of hoping to consult the new Vogue Knitting Stitchionary of cables - but I should get going, and just use another color to ease the boredom factor.

I have 2 squares in progress from the Great North American Afghan project/class that I've been taking. One has some errors that I will need help with (again). The other is going along fairly smoothly - only about 10 more rounds and it's done.

I completed the back of the Great Adirondack Victorian Jacket kit - now I have 2 fronts and 2 sleeves to get started on. I'm a bit unsure of some of hte instructions for the front, and not thrilled with the horizontal stripes on the sleeves so I need some consultation.

My Cardishawl that I knit from a Karabella pattern has been sitting waiting to be finished. I got some expert advice from Master Knitter & friend Anita that I should abandon the whole cardishawl concept, and never buy a pattern that does not show you a photo of the back again. I need to frog the sleeves, undo the bind off and just extend it so it's a bit longer, then crochet the trim. Perhaps I will come up with some sort of I cord applique idea to jazz up the great expanse of stockinette, but will wait and see how it looks with the Cashmerino Astrakhan trim (I used Debbie Bliss SuperChunky in plum for the body).

There are several works I am considering: making washcloths with the skeins of cotton chenille yarn I've had for about a year. I saw Melanie Falick's flower pattern for this, which was all the rage two years ago. There is also a nice pattern in the Mason Dixon book, worked in the round. However my experience with that sort of pattern from the afghan class wasn't the best so I don't know if I want to do that. I have been pondering what to do with the skeins of Malabrigo that I have, using one of the ripple patters in the new Jan Eaton book. And contemplating just what to make with the beautiful handspun I purchased and posted about from Material Whirled.

The power of the needle

2006-04-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Ever think about how powerful the knitted (or crocheted) objects we make can become?
Last night, at dinner, my husband, sons & I started reminiscing about things they did when they were babies when we sat at dinner. We laughed and giggled at our imitations of baby excitement and messiness. Then, my husband says to my 6 year-old, "Your great-aunt made you a yellow blanket that you carried around so much until it was a tiny scrap..." Grant's face falls into such sorrow I thought my heart would burst.
"Yes," he sobs.
I take him into my lap and Dad says - "I have something special for you..." and leaves the dining table.
We had no idea that he remembered his blankie so well. When we run into friends from preschool and I ask, "This is A., remember her from preschool" he says no. Other dear friends and relatives who have passed away recently also seem to have passed from his memory. But not his yellow blankie.
Now, the backstory. When Grant was born in 1999 his great-aunt, Joyce, crocheted him a lovely blanket in yellow & white. We lost it on an airplane trip to see the grandparents in Washington State. It was disastrous - I thought I could walk into a local knitting shop and buy one just like it, but no. Joyce obliged and crocheted another. Unfortunately, our housekeeper has a yen for bleach (anyone relate?) and over the years the blanket shrunk into smaller and smaller pieces. I even took it to another LYS and asked the owner to make a duplicate - but by then, Grant just would not be deceived by an imitation.

Cut to: our spring break visit with Aunt Laura, Uncle Michael & Cousin Adelaide in Washington DC. Of course, the scrap of blanket is an essential item. It is about 5 inches long. Every bedtime, for over a year now, we'd hear the refrain: "Where's my yellow blanket?" and we would search frantically so that bedtime would go without a hitch. It is time to pack and go, and we CANNOT FIND THE YELLOW BLANKET.

It is difficult, but a relief, as Grant is forcibly weaned from his blankie. We persevere. Several weeks later, this post arrives from Aunt Laura:

Dateline: (WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- A fragment of textile was excavated early today from a secret toy cart in the K. household on G. Road. The yellow and white ornamental fringe appears to be the remnant of a larger work of art that apparently held deep meaning for its owner, possibly a young boy, who carried the scrap far and wide in his travels.
Researchers speculated on how the artifact came to rest in the repository. Was it placed there on purpose? Was it left behind by mistake? Was the cart actually an early 21st century sarcophagus and the beloved ratty material an offering to the gods?
"It was mixed in with a small plastic dinosaur and other ribbons and scraps of what could have been arts and crafts materials," states Adelaide J-K-, an expert in rare childhood totems who has been involved with this dig for the better part of her career. "Unless you were intimately familiar with the fine points of toddler culture, it would be easy to overlook. I mean, a find of this magnitude doesn't surface every day."
As stipulated by UNESCO, the artifact is expected to be repatriated to its native land, known as the San Fernando Valley, in the near future.

Cut to: San Fernando Valley, late spring 2005. The article and remnant arrives. After much consideration, we decide to hold it as a treasured artifact of Grant's childhood. Surely, he is coping well without it. No more do we have to look for his yellow blanket every bedtime. It sits in a well-guarded spot in Daddy's office... until last night.

His joy at reunification was sky high. He held it to his cheek, his tears dried. We went into my office/knitting room/WALL OF YARN, and discussed what to do. Perhaps we could tie it to a larger piece? I could knit another blanket that includes it? I could make a pillow?

I found two squares I had made about a year ago, one the dahlia pattern from Jan Eaton's 200 crochet squares, another a square of single crochet from Bollicine and Wendy Velvet yarn together in 3 colors. We decided to sew the squares together like a pillow, encapsulating the remnant. The dahlia pattern was knit at such a gauge that it was open enough that you could reach in and feel the old 'yellow blankie'. When I sewed it to the single crochet square of stripes, I left an opening just big enough for Grant's hand to reach through and touch his special blanket. He was pleased. He wants me to attach it to a bigger blanket, knit (or crocheted) just for him, with Big Boy yarn. I can't wait.
I think about it and consider how he has carried this loss and hurt inside for so long, and think about the losses and hurts that we all carry inside. I can't say they are bigger or deeper than the loss of a blankie but I know I am blessed to be able to take at least this hurt of many he will have in life, kiss it, knit it, and make it better.

I come out of hiding...

2006-04-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

...and model one of my works. I wore my Versatile Wrap knit from Schaefer Yarns Laurel to Easter Sunday Service. Actually missed the service because BSS was ill with strep, but I made an appearance with Grant and enjoyed the lovely brunch with our church community at Woodland Hills Community Church, a United Church of Christ congregation.

Project ColorSwap!!

2006-04-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

My Project Colorswap package from Tammie in North Carolina arrived! What an artist! What an abundance of goodies.

Let me list everything! She gave me these wonderful cards she made by sewing pieces of fabric to cardstock - she also made a bookmark. She made a small cosmetics bag, and also a bag to hold travel-size kleenex (and gave me tissue too - just in time for allergy season!) Everything of course in the month's colors of YELLOW & ORANGE. There is a packet of Earl Grey tea (ever notice the yellow wrap?) a tin of ginger altoids, Burt's Bees lip balm, Clementine Body cleanser from CO Bigelow, fun fruity bath confetti, Henna tattoos, 2 flower pins/brooches made from fabric, a Martha Stewart Kids magazine, and gummi hot dogs for the kiddoes, 2 packs of sculpey in - you guessed it - yellow and orange, some yellow Flexi-Lace Hem facing (not too familiar with this - please enlighten me) some wonderful refrigerator magnets, a pack of gift tags, a chocolate bar with orange filling. Oh, I forgot to mention the Bright Lights Cosmos seeds!

Everything is artfully wrapped in yellow tissue paper, tied with yarn and she made these lovely gift tags that have her blog address. Very artsy this lady - do check out her blog, her photography and her crafting are wonderful. as are her entries...

I hope I haven't missed anything - I am very overwhelmed by the creativity, generosity, attention to detail.

Thank you Tammie! Her blog is linked in the sidebar - check it out!

More WIPs

2006-04-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here are two more projects on the needles. One is my first small attempt at intarsia - the front of the Nicky Epstein Fuschia bag from Fabulous Felted Purses. I have knit the back, and severa of the appliqued leaves. There is really not that much more to do - I just find it tedious dealing with all the bobbins, and it seems silly to do it this way - why didn't the pattern just do it all in duplicate stitch? A teacher at Village Knittery said I would be happier if I was using straights rather than circulars, but it is Use What You Have month, so I will soldier on. (Or just avoid it, which is what I've really been doing)

Instead of working on the Nicky Epstein, I have begun the Victorian Jacket kit that I picked up from WEBS at Stitches West. It is a kit of Great Adirondack yarns, and I am enjoying the pattern. I am halfway across the back. It is fun - not boring stockinette. There are some interesting stitch patterns that I don't know the name of; also double seed stitch, bobbles, yarnovers. The problem I'm having is that the colorways don't really go together so well.

The silk yarn has a lot of pink in it, while the other yarns are more beige and cream, with really no pink at all. It almost seems like an entirely different colorway. And here is the downside of buying at a remote location - if it was from a LYS I could substitute the skeins - I don't have the patience to deal with that with a web supplier, who would probably tell me I'm wrong and it's handpainted so what do I expect. (spoken like a true pessimist) Anyway the rule is if you use it 3 times it looks like it's meant to be so it should probably be just fine.

Ain't They Sweet?

2006-04-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

Not about knitting - but just had to share these pics from last weekend.

I took the kids to Griffith Park to give Dad a day for writing and met a friend with her children who are nearly the same age as mine.

We met at the pony rides - I had no idea how intense those are! No wonder there is a huge line! My boys said they never wanted to do that again!

Next we rode the train, which was such a nice ride, better than the one at Travel Town. And then we went to Shane's Inspiration, which is a universally accessible playground. Grant's school did a field trip there when he was in kindergarten. You can see how a little bit of ice cream makes any day grand!

On (and off!!!) the needles

2006-04-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to arrange for a friend to model two of my latest wraps; in lieu of that, here are some pics. I got them steamed at the cleaners which helps with the drape. I am really happy with the lattice wrap and am pleased I got another skein of Schaefer Laurel to make one with. The skein has much more magenta than the photo in a previous post - I think it will be rather dramatic. But this pink/white one will be lovely to wear to church tomorrow, Easter Sunday.

Next is the wrap from Louisa Harding, also pictured in a previous post. Just trying to take a better pic.

Here is a square in progress from the Great North American Afghan book by XRX. It is knit in Plymouth Encore, per the teacher's suggestion. This is a from a biweekly class at the Village Knittery. This is my first time working on DPNs. Perhaps I went off the circulars too soon. I have dropped several stitches and find it hard to pick them up; my stitch count is off, more than the dropped stitches will account for, and I just don't like it enough to frog and start over. At some point I will find time to drive in and see if they can help me fix it. I also learned the difference in which way you slip the knits in a SKP2 - a bit late in the game so the corners aren't as neat as they are supposed to be. It's a learning experience.

You can see two completed cable strips for the Cable Throw from the Knitter's Bible. Of course they will need to be blocked; you see my hand and Curious George trying to straighten them out for your viewing pleasure. I am really enjoying working with the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky. I tell my boys the throw will be for them and they rub it on their cheeks in anticipation!

My new toys

2006-04-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

My goodies arrived - I got my Ruby's Daughter skein which is gorgeous - I have to figure out some projects for the amazing handspun that I have! The crochet yarn from knitting warehouse was no great shakes - I still haven't figured out exactly what they used in that book and how to make my work look like that - the thread was too small for my E hook - I'd hate to go smaller, tho that Karabella shawl calls for a D. The rosewood hook is very nice though.

Anyway, my status. Almost done with the second strip of the cabled throw. I just did the 8 row cross cable which is very easy to do - I have about 4 more repeats and I'll be done with that. I have enough in this colorway to do two more strips I think; I am itching to change colors though so may switch to the plum for the next strip. I've decided I will get some teal, and perhaps magenta or fuschia, but I WILL wait until I've knit out the Debbie Bliss I have on hand.

I took the afghan square class at Village Knittery on Saturday and ripped out what I did in class and started over. It is a fun easy pattern; I had to stop because I left one of the balls of yarn at the store - it's the third color. I have to find time to get out there and pick it up; maybe Thursday.

I am working on the 24 leaves for the Nicky Epstein Fabulous Felted Bag Fuschia purse. I've done about 10 I think. I just carry the yarn and needles in my purse; have the simple pattern memorized so I can make one in about 4 minutes I think.

It was interesting when I took that class; saw that I was a kinda slow knitter - it was a little demoralizing. And I got a bit anxious and was making mistakes. Thus ripping it out and starting over at home where I could concentrate (and use markers to track the 225 stitches!)

I received an invitation to be considered a project knitter for spinner extraordinaire (and designer) from Material Whirled, Reenie. Don't know if she'll pick me but it sounds fun! It's to make a felted bag. Would be interesting to see how her yarn felts up.

OHH, forgot to say I finished the "versatile wrap" from Y2Knit. It is beautiful. It's the most flattering thing I've made for myself. I just need to steam it. I think I may take it to the cleaners recommended by Village Knittery - I have a few things that need to be blocked, and may just let a pro handle it. There is a nice article about how a good dry cleaner can be a knitter's best friend in the new issue of Knitty.

And excited to say that Amazon says my new Jan Eaton book, 200 Ripple Stitch patterns, is on its way. I am trying to decide on a pillow pattern for my husband's special "huggy pillow" (I know, why aren't I the huggy pillow?) which is worn from use. Perhaps there will be something there, though I am considering making up one of the squares from the Great North American Afghan book with my hand-painted yarn - just have to wind the stuff!

I am weak

2006-04-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

I didn't last FIVE days in the USE WHAT YOU HAVE campaign. I am so very very naughty. I blame my diet! I can't get my thrills with food, so I get them with yarn. I'm not sure why, but I just had to order the two Karabella shawl patterns I've been ogling on Kpixie. And yet again, I was seduced by some one-of-a-kind yarn, this by Ruby's Daughter.

Then, to further enmesh myself in the whole yarn buying scheme, I contact Claudia at Chez Cas to see if she can suggest any substitutions for the Karabella yarn for these pieces. Does she think the Blue Heron laceweight mercerized cotton might work? Or Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace? She is offering a 20% discount until April 20!!! Any suggestions from you, my trusted readers? Or does anyone LOVE the Karabella yarn? I'm not too thrilled at the idea of buying 9 balls of laceweight cashmere at $20 each (but again, I have never worked with pure cashmere, and there's always a first time).

Last hurrah

2006-03-31T14:01:00.000-08:00

Today was the last day before my "use what you have" commitment begins, which I actually plan to keep for 2 months or more. Anyway as a last hurrah I went to Chez Casuelle which has wonderful prices on handpainted yarn, and picked up the rest of the supplies I need for the Lorna's Laces Twisted Float Shrug from Vogue Knitting, some Malabrigo to test out for the Great American Afghan project, and another skein of Schaefer Laurel, in the Catherine the Great colorway. I started casting on for the versatile wrap today; I thought I would have some good knitting time at the doctor's office, but that practice has it going on! I have never been in and out of a doctor's office so quickly! In before my appointed time, out within 15 minutes! And the doctor seemed to have plenty of time for me! Anyway I also visited another website to get some crochet hooks and DMC crochet thread. I've been studying motifs in the Crochet Stitch Bible for inspiration for scrumbling, and everything looks so gorgeous in the crisp mercerized cottons that they use. Got some different hook materials too: balene (faux I'm sure) and rosewood - all on discount at www.knitting-warehouse.com.

Some completed works

2006-03-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

I spent some time on one of my least favorite knitting related tasks:
weaving in - I did it on a crochet baby blanket I made about a year
ago; I decided it looks fine - at first I could only see flaws, now I
see a very pretty blanket. I also wove in/trimmed countless ends on
the Louisa Harding wrap - now just have to crochet hook the fringe...
Now I have another task I've been avoiding - redoing the seams on the
Cardishawl that I made with Debbie Bliss - I just have to adjust the
sleeve position - it will be my 3rd time redoing it! And then crochet
the trim, which I look forward to doing. The weather lately had me
wishing I had completed this already, I would have liked to wear it on
these chilly days.

Does anyone experience end-weaving anxiety like I do? I always wonder
if it's enough, will it unravel, but I hate doing it and want to
finish as quickly as possible. I did learn to wrap/weave the ends in
as I go but still wondered if I had to weave just a little bit more
before trimming; then wonder - should I be gluing in with fabric glue
- but that seems so tedious - I just want to KNIT! Does anyone relate?
I do find I get into the zen of it a bit and often it goes faster than
I expected but still... it's something I don't care for much.

I have a plan for this!

2006-03-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

Here is a skein of Schaefer Laurel - I am missing the colorway name but think it is Jeanette Rankin. And here is a pattern for "Lattice Lace Versatile Wrap" which calls for one skein of Laurel. The pattern uses Nicky Epstein's Elizabeth's Lattice from On the Edge. I am itching to start this one, may wind it up today!

More of the stash

2006-03-30T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more stash highlights:
From Stitches West, 3 skeins of Judi & Co. yarn in Dirty Denim colorway. Suggestions welcome.

A Great Adirondack kit I picked up at Stitches, in wild birch colorway. This looks so fun to make!

And a skein of Schaefer yarn, Sandra, in a lovely terracotta colorway called Margaret Mead.

Stash Closeups

2006-03-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

These are some highlights of my stash:

Some Colinette Tagliatelle in lapis - love this so much, don't know what to do with it! Please send suggestions. I have 3 skeins, plus 3 skeins in gauguin colorway - I do have Colinette Tagliatelle pattern book...

The 3 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Baltic, which is part of the supplies I need to make the Annie Modesitt shrug on the cover of last fall's Vogue Knitting. Turns out I need 2 more skeins, plus 2 skeins in solid, and 2-3 skeins of grace, the boucle. Since I am on a Use what you have campaign, this will have to wait.

Some Point 5 - 2 skeins in dark umber. I also have 2 skeins in giotto in the same colorway. You will see a skein of Isis in Gauguin, plus some more isis in fruit coulis. I also have 4 more skeins of point 5 in velvet plum - any ideas for mixing these 6 skeins of point 5 into something?

Flash Your Stash April 1

2006-03-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

April 1 is Flash Your Stash Day. Ever the early bird, here is my stash, lovingly arranged by color and sealed in plastic bags for protection. I was able to get a 4x4 cubby from the LYS which went out of business, and it is so nice to have everything out of the storage bins! Now I just need to think of some major stash busting projects! I want to make some afghans and that will go quickly if I crochet with a big hook and combine yarns. I need some help planning these projects - any volunteers?

Another quiz

2006-03-29T18:23:00.000-08:00

Your Birthdate: October 23

You're not good at any one thing, and that's the problem.
You're good at so much - you never know what to do.
Change is in your blood, and you don't stick to much for long.
You are destined for a life of travel and fun.

Your strength: Your likeability

Your weakness: You never feel satisfied

Your power color: Bright yellow

Your power symbol: Asterisk

Your power month: May

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

A fun quiz

2006-03-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

Who Should Paint You: Gustav Klimt

Sensual and gorgeous, you would inspire an enchanting portrait..
With just enough classic appeal to be hung in any museum!

What Artist Should Paint Your Portrait?

A little bit of heaven

2006-03-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

I thought I was on my way to the pearly gates this weekend. I was sicker than I have ever been. I visited urgent care Friday afternoon for help with pain in my right ear that extended all over that side of my face and head. An ear infection. Bless those poor little babies - what agony they go through. Got RX for antibiotics, topical and internal, and then spent the entire weekend in bed, sweating through fever over 102 degrees. Fortunately my DH was sufficiently recovered from his near-miss with pneumonia to wrangle the boys. Woke up Sunday morning with a stiff neck - oh no, DH bolts upright - can you touch your chin to your chest? Nope. Now I lay back in delirium, wondering if I have meningitis, remembering our friend from McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, who DIED from meningitis - he thought he had the flu, was in bed with a fever, finally called 911 - but too late. So we went back to urgent care - dear friends came and took the boys to Sunday school while we went. Doctor didn't think I need worry about meningitis so it was back to bed to sweat it out. In the early evening, I felt a bit better and picked up my knitting. I was able to complete 1-1/2 of the cable repeats of the Ripple & Rock strip for my afghan. Am on the mend... hallelujah!

GangstaKnitter

2006-03-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Please check this out! Love it!

gangstaKnitter

Use What You Have Month

2006-03-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

April is "Use what you have month". Tough for the LYSs; glad I'm not an owner! I seriously considering buying a store last month.

Getting my stash arranged in my new shelf will help - I can really appreciate what I have and get going on some serious stash reduction! It is rather distressing to go through these serious piles of yarn and see the projects I thought I would make, and now that I am more experienced , realize I don't want to make them any longer. I know better the kinds of yarn I like working with, what is challenging, what is mind-numbing etc.

I do love the experience of yarn shopping: reading the books and patterns, researching the yarns and prices, walking the aisles and fondling the wares, chatting up the peeps and other customers, all with a dreamy glazed expression, imagining the oohs and aahs of friends and strangers over the FO. If you care to join me in this effort, lmk!

Yarn Lust

2006-03-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

While browsing blogs yesterday, I was tempted to visit KPixie and there I found their one-of-a-kind yarn section, with artisanal spun yarns from around the country. I was especially intrigued by the work of the two women of MaterialWhirled and now I am in total yarn lust, trying to decide which one (one!?!) of these yummy skeins I could pick and what on earth I could do with it (how about an artful arrangement in an artglass bowl in the middle of our formal dining table?). I really appreciate the whole "Knit what you have" campaign I've seen out there, and also realize that yarn lust is just part of what the Buddha calls our cycle of suffering - there will never be enough, will there? But there is also something to be said for supporting the work of these amazing artists. I read bits of their blogs and got a small picture of their lives and would like to do my small part to recognize their craft. And if anyone wants any gift ideas for picky old me, remember this post!

At play in the fields of the net

2006-03-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

So I figured out how to insert buttons and to ACTUALLY MAKE THEM WORK!!! Please check out my buttons (ahem, not those buttons)! Next I want to learn how to make one for my blog! Anyway these buttons allow you to subscribe to bloglines so you know when I add new posts. One is for Project Colorswap, where I have been assigned a buddy, Tammie in Carey, NC, with whom I will swap objects colored orange and yellow - the colors for the month April. I have prepared a yummy package for Tammie and am ready to address it, stamp it and send it xcountry. Next, I have signed up for Flash Stash - where folks will be posting images of their stash! This I am looking forward to because I have bought one of the shelves from my LYS which has closed, and plan to artfully arrange my stash in my office, rather than have it shoved into plastic bags and storage bins strewn about the floor. Next I want to get a comfy couch/futon/chair and set up a nice lamp and table and sit and gaze at the beautiful fiber. Yeah yarn is like crack for me. You know you're out there. Then there are buttons for fun sites like MagKnits, Yarn Harlot etc. I will be collecting buttons from my favorite sites - check back later!!

In Memorium

2006-03-20T16:58:00.000-08:00

When is your life no longer colored by the way it ends? With a death by suicide, I don't know if it ever is. Three years ago, my uncle and my godfather, Ken Gotschall Jr. ended his life in a wooded park in Lodi. For months we pondered why and tried to find someone to blame, like his ex-wife. It was comforting, for some family members, to imagine that he was murdered. Living in the aftermath of suicide is like that. Our family has gone through this twice.

I want to remember my uncle without wondering about this exit plan simmering in the back of his mind - how long did he consider it an option? I want to remember long summer weeks spent at his house on Central Ave. in Manteca. I want to remember the pleasure he took in his garden, the eggs he received from his chickens, how he could make a mean BBQ. I want to remember the way he said my name. I want to remember his voice, his smell. Not that horrible week when we learned he left us and how.

I was heartened to learn that progress has been made in erecting a suicide barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge (SF Chronicle)

Here's a link to an amazing article about suicide in general and the "allure" of the Golden Gate Bridge for the suicidal, from The New Yorker.

Here are two excerpts that I think are especially important.

A familiar argument against a barrier is that thwarted jumpers will simply go elsewhere. In 1953, a bridge supervisor named Mervin Lewis rejected an early proposal for a barrier by saying it was preferable that suicides jump into the Bay than dive off a building “and maybe kill somebody else.” (It’s a public-safety issue.) Although this belief makes intuitive sense, it is demonstrably untrue. Dr. Seiden’s study, “Where Are They Now?,” published in 1978, followed up on five hundred and fifteen people who were prevented from attempting suicide at the bridge between 1937 and 1971. After, on average, more than twenty-six years, ninety-four per cent of the would-be suicides were either still alive or had died of natural causes. “The findings confirm previous observations that suicidal behavior is crisis-oriented and acute in nature,” Seiden concluded; if you can get a suicidal person through his crisis—Seiden put the high-risk period at ninety days—chances are extremely good that he won’t kill himself later.

I regret that we could not get my uncle through his crisis period. He'd had an attempt less than a month before his "successful" completion. I had just completed a video for teenagers about depression and suicide and knew he was in danger. My conversations with him were futile. He did not confide in me about the depth of his pain.

Here is another powerful excerpt from The New Yorker piece. This quote made it into the zeitgeist, and colored various episodic TV shows for months afterward - it actually was quoted in one show (can't remember which - ER?)

Survivors often regret their decision in midair, if not before. Ken Baldwin and Kevin Hines both say they hurdled over the railing, afraid that if they stood on the chord they might lose their courage. Baldwin was twenty-eight and severely depressed on the August day in 1985 when he told his wife not to expect him home till late. “I wanted to disappear,” he said. “So the Golden Gate was the spot. I’d heard that the water just sweeps you under.” On the bridge, Baldwin counted to ten and stayed frozen. He counted to ten again, then vaulted over. “I still see my hands coming off the railing,” he said. As he crossed the chord in flight, Baldwin recalls, “I instantly realized that everything in my life that I’d thought was unfixable was totally fixable—except for having just jumped.”

Kenny jumped. We're still here.

On the drawing board

2006-03-19T21:06:00.000-08:00

Projects I'm considering

One is the Lady Eleanor Stole from Interweave Press' Scarf Style book. I have 4 skeins of Noro Iro that I was considering using for (yet another) denim
handbag. I think it could work nicely for this pattern, and it would present another knitting challenge: entrelac. Of course, the pattern calls for 15 skeins of La Lana Forever Random yarn (which runs about $300!). I could look for more of this Iro colorway on Ebay or LYSs, or just make it a wee bit smaller.

The other project I've been daydreaming about is squares from the Great American Afghan Book by XRX. I've been considering purchasing some Malabrigo yarn, or one of the other similar kettle-dyed yarns from www.handpaintedyar n.com. I spent some time fondling the Malabrigo at the WEBS booth at Stitches. It was gorgeous and oh-so-soft. I may try a few skeins and see how it looks.

And yet another idea is the cable throw from The Knitter's Bible by Claire Crompton. I have 19 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky in two colorways that might work nicely. I love this book. I have nearly completed the Stitch Sampler pillow project, which was a nice way to learn many different knitting techniques.

Chinese Lantern Bag

2006-03-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

This is the chinese lantern bag - the pattern I picked up at Stitches West from Rumplestiltsken, a LYS in Sacramento. It's a series of short rows, a technique I had never tried before.

I learned how to execute a "loop" stitch, using alpaca/beaded sari silk yarn I found on EBay. What a nice purchase - I got the beaded yarn and they included handmade wooden needles. This was much nicer than the other recycled sari silk yarn that I have tried - it usually twisted up, had knots, breaks, twigs, dirt, would get down to a mere thread... Now I just have to finish up the seam and make a tassel and this bag will be done.

FreeForm Crochet

2006-03-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I took my first class in FreeForm Crochet. I was inspired by Kim B, from the LA SNB group - we exchanged some posts, she seemed really nice, and it seemed a good way to meet her, visit a new LYS (new to me anyway - the Stitch Cafe) and learn about FF Crochet. I'm so glad I did - the teacher's work, and that of the other students, was just amazing. It really is an true art form, and great for yarn fiends like myself. You can find a yarn you really like and use bits of it in several pieces, rather than have to buy 15 balls to make one (rather boring to produce) garment.

Here are some samples of what FF crochet looks like. The teacher was Myra Wood - she has a website, www.myrawood.com.

I am joining the Yahoo Groups site and look forward to learning more. I did "scrumble" a bit yesterday, and will take some pics and share my first attempt soon. Kim and the other classmates were very kind and supportive - sharing bits of yarn and helping me try to keep up with the class. I spent the entire 3 hours about 2 steps behind everyone, trying to catch up. I did my first attempt at a bullion stitch - yikes - not sure what the attraction is there, though the other students made beautiful ones.

To learn more, here are some links:
www.knotjustknitting.com is Prudence Mapstone's site.
There's an online FF exhibit at http://lacismuseum.org/exhibits.html
www.margarethubertoriginals.com

On the needles

2006-03-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

I have started on the second of the yarn packs that I bought at Stitches West for the new Nicky Epstein book, Fabulous Felted Bags. This one will be my first, very tentative attempt at colorwork/intarsia. It also features another new skill, duplicate stitch. Right now I am just doing the back, which is one color, stockinette, so I carry it around with me and pick it up when I have some time. I'm spending most of my time knitting up the Louisa Harding wrap...

All Buttoned Up

2006-03-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

Had a lovely knitting meetup last night at Borders with partners in crime, Lynda and Lauri. I took the opportunity to do the chores I dread, finishing, and added buttons to my "Pursenalities" felted bags and started sewing up the Sari Silk Chinese Lantern purse. Had a few close calls with the needle, and am glad that chore is over. I love to knit, hate to sew!

Movies I've seen lately

2006-03-17T19:56:00.000-08:00

We watched Hustle & Flow this weekend - it was SO good. I wish I'd watched it before the Oscars - I would have appreciated the song performance more. Now I really am glad that it won. We look forward to the Sopranos tonight.
We saw Brokeback Mountain last weekend - I found it slow and uncomfortable - not something I was looking forward to - I went because it was going to be the Oscars so wanted to understand what the fuss was. Robert made an interesting point that the music selection was not very good (anachronistic too - with a Steve Earle song, Devil's Right Hand - which was released about 10 years later - wouldn't have been so bad if perhaps a gun played an important part in the film, but it didn't) and that there was absolutely NO mention of the Vietnam war.

Pajama Day

2006-03-16T22:30:00.000-08:00

Not about knitting, but it was pajama day at Logan's preschool. He was so delighted. We brought a tent and he had a grand time playing with his friends. He wishes every day was pajama day!

Noro Denim Purses

2006-03-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

This is the first purse I made with Noro - I saw a sample at Yarn Garden in Studio City and got the free pattern and made it in Noro Transitions, which is an interesting yarn which "transitions" between camel, cashmere, silk, alpaca and angora. I have made another one in Noro Iro, which is wool/silk which I actually like better, since the angora gets pilled in a high-use product like a purse. Anyway I love these purses, get so many compliments on them wherever I go. I do want to add some magnetic closures at the top and then they will be perfect!

The green/blue is the second Noro denim purse that I made. I much prefer this one - love the buckle, and the way the finisher did the pockets inside is fantastic - with all the pockets you usually have on jeans, including the small change pocket!

My latest WIP

2006-03-16T22:21:00.001-08:00

Here's a photo from the cover of the Louisa Harding pattern book I picked up recently at Village Knittery. I am making this piece, featuring some Prism Roccoco (rick-rack style) yarn that I picked up on sale a while back at Yarn Garden (now Monroe's Dry Goods). It is such a special yarn I was stumped what to do with it. The help at VK was wonderful, made this suggestion, and I picked up 3 other coordinating yarns and have been having a grand time - have completed almost 30 inches of 43. Along the way I remembered the technique of weaving in the ends as you go, which certainly comes in handy in a striped piece like this. I can see using this pattern for lots of yarn that I have in my stash.

On the nightstand

2006-03-16T22:19:00.000-08:00

I have been on an (unintentional) Sherlock Holmes jag.

I am reading the new Caleb Carr book, The Italian Secretary, which is a further adventure. It is very fun so far, has supernatural elements. I recently finished "A Slight Trick of the Mind" by Mitch Cullen which was another look at Holmes, finding him at age 93 in post nuclear bombed Japan, and also revisiting an earlier mystery from the late 1800s. I listened to it while hiking in the mornings after dropping the kids at school. My walks aren't the same since I finished it.

Also on my nightstand is the new Julian Barnes, Arthur & George, which is about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I wasn't as captivated as I had hoped so am reading the Caleb Carr first - it's a bit disturbing because it's about racial harassment (Doyle helps the victim)