Saturday, June 13, 2009

Knit in public!



Today is World Wide Knit in Public day. And, in due course, I will be knitting in public at the event hosted by my very favorite LYS in the whole world, Yarning For You.

I've actually done a ton of knitting this week, one way and another, but have had no time to share it. Most of the knitting has been done at events that have been taking up a lot of my time. It was Older Daughter's last week of school, and she had her big cumulative final presentation on Tuesday (twenty minutes -- that's a long time), and it went very well (whew!). Wednesday night was Knit Night at my LYS, which could have felt like just one more thing to do, but was really exactly what I needed in a busy week. Younger Daughter's school's Spring Concert was on Thursday, which entailed not only the concert itself, but also the driving to and fro for the rehearsal (which lasted nearly four hours), then the return for the concert itself. That was a lot of knitting time. Yesterday was my friend and colleague's baby shower; she got the baby sweater I recently finished plus a pair of booties. And then this morning was Older Daughter's last soccer game; the rest of the day will be taken up with knitting in public, and Older Daughter's soccer team's pizza party. Craziness.

Unfortunately, Rick currently has the camera, but as this will probably be my only chance to post this weekend, I thought it would be better to take some not-so-good photobooth pictures to share than to not post at all. So, without further ado, I give you Hillflowers:
I'm seven repeats into the first half, which should be 15 repeats long, but I'm thinking that 14 will get me to where I need to be, length-wise. This is for the booth at Sock Summit, so I'm knitting it out of Briar Rose Harmony, which Chris dyed up in the most gorgeous stormy blue colorway.
It's currently in full-fledged crumpled-lace mode, but I have faith that blocking will work its usual magic. I love how intuitive this pattern is; for once in my life, I have actually memorized it and don't need a chart. However, I have found in the past that knitting lace in the dark is a sure recipe for disaster (not to mention knitting lace during soccer games), so I also cast on for Shawl That Jazz (Rav link), and made some significant progress during Thursday's 2 1/2 hour performance.
I'm about 1/3 of the way through the short row section, if I'm calculating right (meaning that what you see there should be about a third of the eventual total depth of the shawl, minus edging). I love the construction of this shawl, it's very clever. All of the depth comes from short rows. For knitting in the pitch black of the theater on Thursday (we're talking really dark -- no lights on the steps, even, which strikes me as some kind of violation of some fire code, but there it is), I put stitch markers in after I slipped the first stitch of each short row turn (the slipped stitches don't get wrapped in this pattern), which involved a bit of finagling at the end of each row to move the markers, but which meant I could knit this without having to look to see whether I'd come to the last slipped stitch or not. So I could just come to the marker, turn the work, take the marker out, slip the first stitch, put the marker back in, and merrily knit my way back down the row to the other side. Rinse and repeat.
You can see a little of the short-row shaping there. I'm knitting this out of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twist, in the Azure Malachite colorway. You all know I was feeling a little dithery about whether I was going to like it or not, but it turns out that I do. The way the colors are working up in the shawl, they remind me a little bit of a Monet painting, which can't be a bad thing, right?

So, that's my week in knitting. I did one other thing this week:
Yup. I cut it all off (forgive the bad picture). I figured I really didn't need any more complications in my life right now, and the only thing I could easily get rid of was the hair. And I tell you, I'm very happy with it this short, especially on the days that I swim.

So, off and running again. Tomorrow we're going to the Wild Animal Park on a special tour for Younger Daughter's big birthday present. Rhinos or bust!

15 comments:

Jane said...

The colour variation and pattern on Hillflowers is divine. The haircut suits you

Willow said...

I think the blue colorway is turning out nicely on the Shawl That Jazz.

I'm back home after a very long time away (at least it seems that way to me) and it is taking me time to settle in and catch up with my mundane little life.

Off to knit in public, in my car, knit everywhere!

Kristina said...

your hair looks great! and as always, beautiful knitting :-)

Anonymous said...

The new haircut is perfect! It suits your face.

I also have to say that I am impressed at your ambition to knit during the movies. I mostly just write off those two hours.

The shawl and lace are gorgeous. I can't wait to see them blocked.

Take care.
Sarah

Kassia said...

Cute cute haircut! Perfect for summer! :)

The colorway of Hillflowers is beautiful!! I hope to score some Briar Rose Fibers yarn at Sock Summit. :)


Thanks for the tips on your Shawl That Jazz- I started one a couple months ago but kept forgetting where the slipped stitches were (my kids kept interrupting me lol), so I gave up and it went to the frog pond. You've inspired me to start again, using markers this time!

Carrie K said...

You cut your hair! It looks really good on you. Much easier or no?

The colors on the shawls look fabulous and blocking will do it's magic. I love that part.

Rachel said...

I love your new hair cut, really lovely :)

2 days ago I started the shawl that jazz too and I use markers the same way you do although I don't knit in the dark, I just find it easier with them there!

hopalong682003 said...

I've been so behind on all of my blog reading/writing. I'm just thrilled to see all of the gorgeous work that you're doing...and that you're managing to keep up with all the family activities and your Sock Summit plans. Yeah for you!!! And, yes, I think you're hair looks cute, too. :-)

Anonymous said...

Your haircut looks great! Sometimes I am so tempted to chop off my hair, especially on swimming days, but I don't think I would pull it off so well.

Rachael said...

You hair is adorable! You are a few days ahead of me, mine is going this Thursday and I can't wait!

Nana Sadie said...

Told you before, I think that photo is terrific, the haircut is adorable! And wow..you've done a LOT on Shawl That Jazz...I'm getting antsy to start mine.
;)
So does this week get easier? Or are looming travel plans doing crazy-making stuff?
(((hugs)))

Stell said...

I like the new hair ... very very flattering. sounds like you did your fair share of KIP'ing, formal events and rehearsals and cars and all. Love the colors of your current yarn selections .. really really stunning. Rhinos or bust ... sounds like this week is all 'bring it on', and I assume that next week is quieter? Not being a part of the American schools system .. well I'm not sure if its long or short holidays now.

Bea said...

Your knitting is just lovely and I think that hair cut really suits you. Very cute.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

That shawl is lovely.
Your hair looks great too... I have a feeling mine will be getting cut off too (it's currently past my shoulders)I have a perm that's starting to fall and I don't know if I want to perm it again, but I have to do something because it's starting to look like poopy.

EGunn said...

Oh dear...missed WWKIP day again. I really must pay better attention next time around.

I love the colors in Hillflowers, and your new haircut looks great, too!