but as all hardcore knitters, I knit on to calm my fears.  It always works.  There is plenty of knitting to do in my life; including new models for Twisted Sisters, Berroco, and a new yarn company, Swans Island.  I’m proud to be working with these very down-to-earth companies.  If you haven’t seen their yarns, make sure you peruse their websites.  Berroco even has free patterns!  If you’re curious and you’d like to see some of my work, look HERE.  I also showcase my work, as permitted, on ravelry under the name “knitch”.  Come over and friend me!  I’d love to see what you’ve knitted and what you’re working on.

The Loop-d-Loop Lace Dress for Teva Durham

 

Are you craving a simple Spring scarf?  Here is a link to a free pattern from Classic Elite for Katydid Drop Everything Scarf.  It’s worked in their 100% organic cotton ribbon yarn, Katydid. 

Classic Elite's Katydid Scarf

 

You folks deserve a caravan update.  The reason why I knit so much, well one of the reasons anyway of the many, is to raise money to renovate the caravan.  I’m very happy to say that last Friday I picked up the newly laminated countertops/tabletop from Counter-Fitters.  They’re a great family owned/operated cabinet shop.  Ernie, Jr. was able to complete my tops for me days after I took them to him.  He’s the strapping guy in the photo

"Extreme Green" Nevamar Laminate on caravan counters

on their website.  For those of you who don’t remember, here is a photo of the laminate color, on the right.  I have run some of the wiring (by myself, eeek!) and have the linoleum (yes, the old-fashioned kind made with wood pulp) in my possession.  I have decided to first install the 1/4″ plywood wall panels, the wall cabinets, then install the floor before putting the flooring down.  I had to wait 2 MONTHS until the floor came in, so I’m going to handle it with kid gloves.  I promise photos of the caravan for next week’s post.

On the car racing front:
My talented partner and I went to a rally car race in Linden, TN last weekend.  He was toying with the idea of trying it some day.  The race we attended was on full tarmac, and we didn’t get to see any off-road racing.  It was a little bit of a disappointment for that reason.  I believe rally racing to be slow in catching on the the U.S.  There are very few events in the area.  My understand is that Rally America is the better of the two organizations, if you’re interested in looking into it.

If you live in Memphis, please come knit with us at Cafe Eclectic, 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday night, at 603 N. McLean Boulevard.  All are welcome!

 

 

"Beatnik" on the cover of Deep Fall Knitty

AND, Norah Gaughan made it onto the cover with the most recent project I knitted for her!  I know I’m bragging, but maybe I’ve earned it this time?    After all, the glory is the main reason why I knit for the “design stars.”  (This one was sent to her Express Mail and got there a day late, thanks to the USPS).  If you still haven’t seen it, here is a link to knitty.  It’s got some really great patterns this issue.  I’ve already ordered some Malabrigo Twist to knit Mothed.

Another recent for Norah (at berroco) is Bismuto, shown below:

Bismuto, featured in Norah Gaughan Vol. 7

Here is a link to this project on ravelry:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bismuto

A group of 14 others and I had a GREAT local etsy show here in Memphis.  Attendance was very good for our first show.  Here are some works of mine that were featured.

Asti in Chartreuse

Asti in Capri Blue

I still have plenty of these left, and in an array of colours.  More colours will be posted by tomorrow noon.  They’re a very good value….antiqued copper or bronze french wires and Swarovski crystals.  I’m taking my jewelry to a shop tomorrow.  Send much luck my way!

As far as my current knitting projects go, I’ve finally started knitting the Shippo Tails scarf kit I bought in NYC last September.  It’s very interesting.  There are two spools of paper/viscose and one spool of stainless steel/silk.  Of course the colourway I chose is chartreuse.  My other personal project is the Biker Girl sweater.

My Shippo Tail ScarfMy Biker Girl sleeve

My Biker Girl sleeve

The caravan is totally dried in now and I’m prepared to start working on the interior in earnest.  I have already purchased the plastic laminate for the kitchen counter and dining room table.  I’ve located and priced the “true” linoleum flooring.  I’m thrilled that I’m going to be able to install it myself with a bucket o’ glue. 

It has occured to me that I forgot to mention further about my blood condition.  If you have never been pregnant, have migraines and a history of diabetes in your family, please have your blood checked for Factor V Leiden.  It will explain a lot.  If you’ve never had a blood clot, you’re still good.  All you’ll have to do is take one low-dose aspirin a day.  I still have my monthly hormonal migraine but other than that, no more headaches in between.  It’s a very simple test and will put your mind at ease and explain why you have headaches and have never been pregnant.

Stay tuned for more adventures!

Noro Kureyon in color #196

Tina Whitmore, the lead designer and genius behind Knitwhits, assures us that this skirt will not get a booty in it.  I think the fact that the skirt is wool and knitted on the bias will definitely contribute to this very perfect result.  I sit on said booty all day in front of the computer, so this skirt should suit me just fine.  She says it’s a quick knit, too.  I don’t know about you, but knitting with Kureyon, I don’t get bored.

Here is the piece de resistance!

Lanesplitter skirt on knitty dot com

I did cast on the lace border pullover with Sublime.  It’s worked from the top down.  I’m 4 rows from the armholes!  I also have another project that I’m expecting from Norah Gaughan at Berroco tomorrow morning.  A scarf, due at the end of August.  Stay tuned for a photo or two of the lace border pullover.

I’m nearing completion of Paper Crane for my sister-in-law.  When I get near the end of a knitting project, a strange feeling begins to well within my very core.  I interpret this to be the “the new project is coming” feeling.  This is what I want to knit:

Lace Border Pullover

The pattern is from Classic Elite’s “Sunday Brunch” book.  (I’m going to use Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK.  It will only take (7) balls for the size 38.  That’s only $52.50 for this sweater.  Sounds like a deal to me!)  It’s not the same, but I think it will be drapey enough.  I say that because the Classic Elite Wool Bamboo that the sweater is originally designed with will be drapey with the bamboo content.  I like bamboo, in the right place, but not in my yarn.  From what I understand, bamboo yarn is not good for the environment.  The process of making bamboo yarn is not good.  Here is a quote from organicclothing.blogs.com:

The manufacturing processes where bamboo the plant is transformed into bamboo the “yarn” are where the sustainability and eco-friendly luster of bamboo is tarnished because of the heavy chemicals, some of which are toxic, that are often required.  Very, very little bamboo clothing would qualify as sustainable or organic clothes. 

There you have it.  I have a sweater knitted with bamboo.  I think it’s a very cool sweater.  It has a lot of drape, and I can wash it by machine.  The Sublime yarn I’m using on my Lace Border Pullover is machine washable too though.    So, I’ve selected the color “Mocha.”  It should be waaaay ready in time for, dare I say it during this 100 degree day, FALL!!!!

Much has gone on since I’ve last written here.  I’ll get one thing out of the way first:  The caravan is NOT completed yet.

Last time I posted I was preparing to leave for NYC with my dear friend Dana from Jonesboro.  In a nutshell, we had a blast.  I wanted to show her my NY.  I had a list, but we didn’t make it through all of it.  It consisted of, among other things, of a trip to Habu, Dean & Deluca, The Turkish Kitchen, Liberty House, some yarn shops, and pizza.  We didn’t make it to Dean & Deluca .  Habu is a yarn shop, but they import and sell their own.  The other yarn shop we hit was my favorite in NY, The Yarn Co.  It’s located on the Upper West Side.

Subway tile work

I bought some very beautiful wool and stainless steel and cotton yarns from Habu.  It was quite an adventure.  I highly recommend it!

I had a visit from my youngest brother, Frederick, in December, in time for Christmas.  It was a much needed trip, as we hadn’t seen each other in a long time.  I haven’t been able to make it to Cambodia to see him.

I took a break from working on the caravan before Frederick came to town.  The weather got cold here in Memphis.  My little fingers became brittle and hurt when I tried to do anything outside.  SO, I took a fairly long break.  I started working on it again in earnest about 1.5 months ago.  THEN, it was time to meet my sister in Vienna.  This was the trip to beat all trips.  Sevgi had everything planned.  I flew into Vienna and took a cab (for speed’s sake) to the hotel.  She had tickets for us to attend a Mozart concert.  The orchestra was in full costume!  It was excellent.  Vienna is a Mozart loving city.

We spent two nights in Vienna.  Our hotel was very nice, and the staff was wonderful.  I might add here that one of the valets was Turkish.  He was helpful, humorous, and handsome.  (There a LOT of Turks in Vienna.)  We walked a lot, marveled at the limestone architecture, and even caught a free concert and some kind of rollerblade excursion they were having on the city streets one night.  We had traditional Viennese food whenever we could.  We wanted the full effect, know what I mean?

We had a three city, five day Eurail pass.  This gave us the ability to visit three bordering countries within 5 days.  Our next stop was Salzburg, the city of salt.  Salzburg is very much a pedestrian city.  I don’t really know how to express this, but I’m always amazed at the ages of the structures and statues.  The US is such a young country.  I yearn for aged, seasoned buildings like wine connoisseurs yearn for good wine.

Salzburg street scene

on the right Griechenbeisl, the oldest restaurant in Salzburg

Sevgi knows what she’s doing.  She signed us up for the “The Sound of Music” tour.  What a blast!  The two of us sat at the front of the bus with our tour guide, Gunter, and sang the loudest.  Our mommie would have been proud.

Gunter the 15-time Ironman participant

Apple Streudel with whipped cream - DUH

We had a lunch break during the tour.  In keeping with our plan to eat traditional foods on our trip, we had apple streudel.  Yummy!  THAT was our lunch.  Enough for me!

We visited the fortress.  It was armed with ancient weapons, furniture, and torture devices.  Yes, torture devices.  These fit well with my obsession with historical fiction.  Standing in front of this chair, I could actually visualize how badly people used to behave! 

Torture chair - Hohensalzburg Fortress

Locally brewed beer and pretzels were a must afterwards.  Our waiter was Turkish.  Surprised?  Don’t be!  Those wonderful people were everywhere!

our beer and pretzel at Stiegl Bier Garden - Salzburg

So.  After two busy days and nights in Salzburg, we took the train to Thun, Switzerland.  Met a VERY nice couple on the train from Seattle.  Told the nice lady about etsy.com so she could sell her wares, the “pass-along” fabric gift bags.

Here’s Thun as we saw it.  Two days of dragon racing by my brother-in-love, his dad, and their sailing partner, Michael.  Such nice guys.  (that one’s for brother-in-love’s benefit)  Those German dudes came in 3rd overall in the Swiss Dragon Sailing Championship.  I’m so proud!

With the spinnakers up in Thun, Switzerland

It was very cold on this day.  I was hurriedly working on a Noro sweater, trying to sew the seams up so I could wear the darned thing.  I kid you not, my ball o’ Noro flew out of my lap and into the lake.  That put an end to my hopes of getting warm anytime soon.  I had other knitting on the trip…a lightweight summer cardigan I’ve been working on for my sister-in-law.  It’s called Paper Crane.

So after two days of sailing, we snuck away, again on the train, to France.  After a couple of sprints from station to station, we were picked up by my brother Dana at the train station in Chantilly.  A short drive later we were at our bed and breakfast.  This was my third stay there.  As usual, it was beautiful and quiet.

Some kind of apricot pie at the grocery store

Pepperoni type sausages at the grocery store

We like to do “local” type things when we travel abroad.  Besides, spending the most amount of time possible with my family was our goal so we went everywhere with Dana, even the grocery store and hardware store.  Manue took us to an outlet store where Sev go lucky and found a garment she could use.  I wasn’t so lucky.

We had many good meals and played a lot with my nephews.  We spent quality time together.  However, it ended too soon.  After 3 nights in Gouvieux, it was time to go home. Very sad.  I know I’ll visit them again soon.  I won’t have to have my arm twisted!

I’ve discovered that I have a genetic blood condition.  More on that next week.  But before I part, some photos of my knitting in Europe!

My knitting (Paper Crane) in a cab to hotel in Vienna Austria

Girl with knitting in front of Swiss chateau in Thun, Switzerland

I can’t wait to see/buy some locally hand-dyed sock yarns!  I’ve got several yarn shops on the “to do” list that include one in Brooklyn and many others in NYC.  Dean & Deluca and Kalustyan’s (for some sucuk and maybe pastirma) are a must do on this trip, as we both like good food.

I’m finishing up a project for Norah Gaughan/Berroco for NGV6 and will ship it from there.  Teva Durham has contacted me to do more work for her.  As usual, I’m honored.  If she can send me something on larger needles, say 6-8 US, I’ll do it.

I’ll try to blog better when I get back.  Lots o’ caravan work going on!!!

I’ve added some books to the website.  They use Noro yarns, and are GREAT!

Paris was beautiful.  It was a different experience with my sister than it was the first time with DB.  My sis made it her mission to show me Paris the way she sees it.  We spent 3 nights in Paris in a quaint 6-story hotel down the street from the Odeon Theatre, near Luxembourg park. 

Front of our hotel in Paris

We had mostly French meals;  terrine, crepes, salami sandwiches, much fruit, foie gras, CHEESE.  For the sake of speed, we had McDonald’s one morning. 

In France, this is dessert. CHEESE!!!

The French Open (tennis tournament) was in progress.  We waited in line 2 hours, only to be sold that it was sold out for the day.  We spoke with some interesting characters in line with us…a couple of girls from Belgium and an old French geezer. 
We walked through an open air market that featured much fresh fruit and vegetables.  It was fun to see the different produce.  (Some of it I’d already seen, growing up in Turkey.)  It was at this market that I bought 4 different types of cheese to bring back with me.  I’m still munching on them! 

French radishes

Near the end of our third day in Paris we broke down and hopped on one of those open air tour boats you’ve seen in the movies.  It was well worth it.  Our feet were tired.
During this trip we saw the usual sites; Musee d’Orsay, Les Tuilieres, the Eiffel Tower (at night), just to name a few.

Hmmmmmm........

The subway was very convenient and simple (except at the Eiffel Tower station….remember that when YOU go).
The fourth morning of our trip we took a train to Gouvieux, where my brother, his girlfriend, and their two sons live.  We spent three glorious days in the garden, eating cherries off the tree and visiting with the nephews.  We stayed in a B&B because the house is so tiny.

The flight is expensive, but if you’re diligent, you can find a nice hotel or B&B for a reasonable price, and have a great time in France.  I highly recommend it.   It helps if you have family there!  I’m very lucky.

View from the B&B window of the Oise River

I didn’t visit any yarn shops.  I have PLENTY of yarn.  I knit a little on a pair of socks, “brainless“, but not much.  {BTW, these socks are NOT brainless!}  I’ve been having a problem with my ring fingers….they hurt.  I may have the beginnings of arthritis.  I’m currently working on two projects for Norah Gaughan (Berroco) that are due July 23rd.  I just got the yarn yesterday.  I doesn’t hurt to knit, I’m very happy to say.  However, I have to submerge my hands in ice water for 15-20 min. per day once a day.  IT HURTS when I do that!

The air-conditioning in our home decided to break down last night.  We’re now looking at a huge replacement cost.  I must knit faster if I’m going to pay for my half!

The caravan is looking good.  I have a good excuse for not having any photos.  The camera is broken.  It’s a Canon PowerShot A75.  The camera began malfunctioning in Paris, and finally quit working in Gouvieux.  I have contacted Canon, and they refuse to fix it for free.  This is the second problem I’ve had with this camera.  The first time, they fixed it for free.  You may have a Canon camera and love it.  I believe that if something stops working properly, totally unprovoked, it should be repaired for FREE.  Canon refuses to fix it for FREE.  SO, when I can get my hands on a camera that works, I’m going to take a picture of the Canon A75 that I have smashed with a hammer.  I will try to remember to post the photo here and send them a photo as well.  Canon is dead to me!  Sony would not have done this to me!

Sorry about that rant…..it had to be done!

The poison ivy.  We have some in the back yard.  Ripper has been rolling around in it and giving it to me.  I’ve got it on my legs, behind and on my right ear, on my elbows and forearms, and on the back of my neck.  This happens every year.  I get poison ivy, THEN I finally clear it from the yard.

Crank up the air-conditioning, if you have it, and start knitting those holiday gifts!  Here is a good place to look for patterns!  Also, I have a new kit available, “Da Vinci” from Rowan Magazine 44.  It’s at 10% off retail of the yarn, PLUS, it’s already all in one place, so you don’t have to shop different places to get all the colours/yarns.  Start knitting NOW for Winter garments!  

Jo Sharp is leaving the States.  Below is the email I received from them this morning:

“Dear Customer: [that's me, the retailer!]
Jo Sharp is closing her US operation because sales are not sufficient to support the stock and supply service that was offered. Closure is effective from May 18th.  A website based in Australia will offer on-line sales to consumers worldwide in the near future.” 

Her yarns are beautiful.  She has the softest tweeds on the market, without a doubt.  It’s very sad the the US hasn’t realized that soon enough.  I had it in the yarn studio (brick & mortar) and still have it on the website.  I don’t have everything, but I have a good amount of the Classic DK Wool and some tweeds.  I also have some of her books, which are EXCELLENT.  I’m currently working on the “Loose Textured Cardigan” from knit 7.  Of course I couldn’t just knit it straight out of the book.

I decided I would knit a “black” colourway since I had the black Alpaca Kid Lustre in stock.  I’m making the cardigan in the blacks, and I will knit the pullover in the chartreuse (my other favorite colour) as written in the book.

I’ve gotten a lot of work done on the caravan.  HOWEVER, I kind of injured my right wing doing it.  I must heal up before I leave for Paris.  I’d much rather drag that roller bag around the Metro with my right hand than my left.  It really would be better for everyone in the vicinity!  The downside of the injury is limited activity.  I’m still able to KNIT, cook, and pack.

Deciding what knitting to take on this long trip [MEM to ORD to DUB to CDG and back again] is a challenge.  I think socks are a must, as I enjoy the challenge of the patterns I seem to gravitate toward.  I knitted a whole SKIF sweater to and from Turkey a year ago, so I think a sweater should also be included in the carry on.

I hope the food’s good on the plane!

I may or may not post again before I leave, but, I will be listing a new necklace, again a la Sundance catalog, on my etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6978923

I’ll be taking a lot of pictures in France!  We’re staying in a B & B in Gouvieux (where my brother lives).  Hostellerie du Pavillon Saint-Hubert.  Check it out!