New York nod

A reader generously tipped me off today that this little Middletown, Connecticut, blog is mentioned on Page 18 of the Winter 2009/09 VOGUEknitting International magazine under Cyberstitches in the Extras Extras section. It details how newspapers have gone online and knitting blogs are among the offerings.
See http://www.vogueknitting.com for information.

Scenes from a madhouse

Scenes from a mother determined to eke out a few rows
10-year-old sitting on mom’s bed. Needs socks. Mother suggests he try on a pair of wool ones she just completed. Son inspects them. “You pull it on for me,” he says. Mom obliges, thinking, “boy, his toenails are sharp.” Second-guesses idea of giving away socks to kid who won’t appreciate them for an instant while repressing urge to suggest nail clippers. Sock fits perfectly. Mom: “These are very special. They took me a real long time to make.” Son: “Mom, do I have to wear them to school?” Mom grabs socks back, rolls up, places in her drawer. Leaves room.



Mom trying to complete knitted rectangular washcloth on Saturday. Just golf ball-size of yarn remains in project. Eighty stitches in each row of basketweave stitch, eight per section. Mom barely completes eight stitches before she’s interrupted by 5-year-old asking her to “look it.” At him maneuvering Tech Deck minature skateboard over miniature stairs, down railing. “Now you do a trick, mom.” Run back to knit a few more stitches. “Mom,” 10-year-old yells from kitchen. “Where’s the Ovaltine?” Down goes the knitting, into the kitchen mom walks wordlessly. Grabs Ovaltine from shelf, puts on counter. Hears 5-year-old running toward couch, then sees him flipping over it into headstand, landing all over washcloth, knocking stitches off needles. Sighs. Puts project away.

Stash Swap

The Knitting Nook in Coventry, 3466 Main St., is having a unique benefit Jan. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Stash Swap is a fund-raising event to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. A minimum $5 donation is requested for participation.
Swap yarn will be collected from 4 to 4:30 p.m. and put in one of three different bins according to approximate quality and price range. Colored tickets will be issued equal to the number of skeins.

At 4:30 p.m., knitters can choose the same number of skeins from the bins.
For information, see www.knittingnookyarn.com, call (860) 742-0300 or see www.jdrf.org.

Lap of luxury

I found out about a brand new knitting book last week, "Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders," ($18.95, Storey Publishing, www.storey.com) edited by Judith Durant. I flipped through the pictures and couldn't believe my eyes - as if Durant could top "One-Skein Wonders" and "101 Designer One-Skein Wonders," but she certainly has.
Cashmere, alpaca, silk, soy, linen, bamboo, corn, mohair, qiviut (Musk Ox yarn) ... all these lovely little hats, scarves, necklaces, baby sweaters, shawls, gloves, socks are luscious. I can't wait to begin a project with the alpaca yarn I already own.

I have about 1/3 remaining on my sock project and every day I furiously knit as fast as I can to complete it.
Meantime, I carry around this new book in my bag and sneak a look every time I have a free moment.
See www.oneskeinwonders.com for information

Knit Two

I'm reading the fabulous follow-up novel by Kate Jacobs to her best-selling "Friday Night Knitting Club," called "Knit Two," (G.P. Putnam's Sons, $24.95) which revisits the characters of the first book five years later.

Georgia may be gone, but Walker and Daughter still bustles along with our favorite characters: Lucie has five-year-old precocious Ginger; Darwin is pregnant with twins, Dakota is in college, Catherine is running her antiques shop, and Peri is in charge of the store and still working on her purses; poor Anita wants to marry Marty but her sons object.
I'm on chapter eight. It's snowy and so blustery that the big fluffs of snow are actually funneling upward outside my window at work. I'm headed home to cozy up on the sofa with a warm blanket and perhaps some honeyed tea.
The two things I love most in the world (family excepted, of course): knitting and reading are combined in this delightful hardcover.
Don't tell me how it ends!

A manly project

"Knitting With Balls" has three variations on the basic washcloth, or utility cloth as it's called here, illustrated with a handsome young man polishing the chrome on his Harley with a mustard-colored version.
I used Line 12 Clip by Online in an navy blue color, and chose the basketweave pattern.
As you can see, it's coming along nicely. And it's an easy pattern to manage when you're devoid of much cranial space from the stress of the impending holidays.
Just remember to count eight stitches and alternate between knit and pearling or you'll end up taking out a number of stitches.
Happy polishing.

Ode to a simple cap

I started a little project a week ago - a type of palate cleanser - after spending far too many months knitting my crimson sweater.
My 11-year-old needed a hat for the winter - which swirled in so fantastically with one big Nor'easter, a follow-up day of snow and sleet, and now we're anticipating another storm tomorrow during the day.
Hello, Winter.
The snow is solid now; and icicles dangle from housetops, growing longer and more like sicles daily as the melted snow drips along the length, then freezes.
This little cap was knit with two colors of Farmhouse Yarns Fat Sheep on a size 10 1/2 double-pointed needles.
I love the neatly increasing rows, how the cap sits tight along the head.
My son wears it indoors only, to keep him warm against winter's drafts. He says he doesn't like it otherwise.
Oh, but I do.

Winter lace

Just got the word on this amazing workshop coming up next month. The Arts Center at Killingworth is offering a Designer Fashion Knitting Workshop Jan. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Graphic artist and designer Kimberly Conner will guide people to create an elegant lacy wave scarf. Experiment with new colors and textures to create a one-of-a-kind fashion accessory.

Basic knitting skills, such as casting on, knit and purl stitches, and binding off are required. The cost is $50. To register, call (860) 663-5593,e-mail artscenterkillingworth@gmail.com or see www.artscenterkillingworth.org.

Winter Tomato

Finally, this past Saturday, I finished my short-sleeved sweater, Tomato. What a long project this was, lasting from mid-summer to nearly winter. I’ll attribute that to the size 8 needles, not the knitter’s lack of dedication.
If you feel the need for inspiration or camaraderie from fellow fiber enthusiasts, as we’re so often referred to as, here is a roundup of local knitting clubs.
In Middletown, The Russell Knitters meet the first and third Saturdays of the month at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Meeting Room 3 at Russell Library, 123 Broad St. No registration is required. For information, call (860) 347-2520. It’s Only Natural restaurant, 386 Main St., Main Street Market, offers a free Stitch n Bitch with Amy on Thursdays at 6 p.m. For information, call (860) 346-9310. In Cromwell,
The Adult Knit Club meets at the Cromwell Belden Public Library Arch Room on the third Friday of the month at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enter through the Town Hall entrance, since the library is closed Friday nights. Call (860) 632-3460 for information. The Nutmeg Knitters Guild meets on the third Wednesday of the month, September through June, at 7 p.m. at the Bethany Covenant Church, 75 Mill St., Berlin.
On another note, Stitches East is coming to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford Oct. 22 to 25. You can request a brochure listing events and classes offered at: http://www.knittinguniverse.com/brochure/index.php.

Fancy little projects

She's much loved by fiber enthusiasts around the world, gives weekend and weeklong workshops between Connecticut and Florida - and spends much of her time right here in Middletown. Charlene Schurch's newest book, "Little Book Of Sox," ($19.95, Martingale & Co. Inc.) which she co-authored with Beth Parrott, has received nothing but raves online, even inspiring some knitters to say they love her and want to kiss her!
I have her books of hats, "Hats On!" with folk-inspired hats, and even tiny ones for ornaments on the Christmas treet.
A lifelong knitter, Schurch has worked as a knitting, spinning, and dyeing instructor for 10 years. Her work has been featured in Knitter's Magazine, Interweave Knits and Piecework.
Perfect for last-minute Christmas gifts.
Get your size 2 needles ready.

One thing in life that's free

Wondering what to do for that special person on your Christmas list? I’ve been making small gifts this year for close family members. It began with a pair of fingerless gloves that I made for my mother in wool/mohair on chunky needles in a dusty rose color. Now that I’m minutes away from finishing my current project, there is just enough time to eek out a couple more gifts. And ... if you need inspiration, the local yarn shop, Connecticut Yarn and Wool, in Haddam and Madison, is offering free classes for the remainder of December.
Friday is a potholders class from 5 to 7 p.m. Once relegated to the kitchen drawer, potholders can become wall art when not in use if you choose a yarn with striking colors, chunkiness or sheen. Quickly knit four of them and tie like a present with grosgrain ribbon and voila! Instant gift-giving from the heart.
Saturday, the class is a Chain Link Scarf from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday is Larn to Knit from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, make a Last-Minute Ski Cap from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Dec. 18, learn to make a Nordic Ear Flap Hat from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 19, the focus is Mittens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 20 is Last-Minute Gifts, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 22, Learn to Knit from 2 to 7 p.m. Dec. 23 is a Finishing Workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 26 is Learn to Crochet from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Connecticut Yarn and Wool Company, LLC, is at 85 Bridge Road, Haddam, (860) 345-9300; and 25 Boston Post Road, Madison, (203) 318-8787; info@yarnandwool.com.

Shop locally

I just ran downstairs to the first floor of our building and found local artisans setting up their booths in the expansive former It's Only Natural supermarket space.
The Creative Juice Holiday Gift Shoppe is open in the Main Street Market, 386 Main St., Middletown, today. There are wares, including Judyth Crystal Arts, Ray Ross Photography on Dec. 13 and 20, Curtis Studio of Photography LLC, and Karen’s Kreations — offering fine arts and crafts, photography, concert tickets, young children’s music, hand-knitted items, beaded jewelry, mixed media paintings and cards. Hours are: today all day; Saturday and Dec. 13 and 20, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Look for the week before Christmas, when the Shoppe will be open daily.

Vegans do it

This just in ...
It's Only Natural Restaurant is forming a Stitch 'n' Bitch With Amy group on Thursdays at 6 p.m., beginning Dec. 4.
Co-owner Renana Magee, sporting a hot-pink big knit shell, and my server, who says she's addicted to knitting, told me the good news.
For information, stop by the restaurant at Main Street Market, 386 Main St., rear; to pick up the December menu.

And - happy knitting!

Stop and listen

Nov. 28 is the National Day of Listening.
I've been hearing about the StoryCorps project for a while on on NPR radio, so I decided to check out the sample list of questions.
The idea is that you sit down Friday with someone important in your life and record a conversation as you ask questions - any that you'd like to, or the Web site has an extensive list of sample questions at http://www.storycorps.net/record-your-story/question-generator/list
So, I thought it would be a neat idea for me to select some of the questions and give them to my family members and close friends, asking them to answer which every they'd like, since I'm not seeing many of them for the upoming holidays.
I thought it would be more evocative for them to handwrite the responses, and I'll compile them into a binder and give everyone a copy.
Here is a sample if you'd like to try something similar this Friday.
Happy listening!

Great questions for anyone
What was the happiest moment of your life? The saddest?
Who was the most important person in your life? Can you tell me about him or her?
Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did they teach you?
Who has been the kindest to you in your life?
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
What is your earliest memory?
Are there any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to me?
What are you proudest of in your life?
When in life have you felt most alone?
How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?
How would you like to be remembered?
Do you have any regrets?
What does your future hold?
Is there anything that you’ve never told me but want to tell me now?
Is there something about me that you’ve always wanted to know but have never asked?

Coveting luxury

Ever wish you had all the leisure time in the world to knit?
I wish I could knit a sweater a week and my entire wardrobe would be lovely handknit items — for all seasons.
Alas, I’m still knitting my Tomato short-sleeved sweater — a months-long project, probably because I only have about 20 minutes a day to knit and the needles are a size 8.
So when I was flipping through my InStyle magazine this weekend, I happened along an ad for 525 America sweaters (www.525america.com) and found chunky knit bell-sleeved sweaters, cardigans, dresses, tunics, motorcycle jackets — Help!!!
I am in love.

Oh, but they’re so expensive.
Overstock.com has them cheaper — with a small selection.
My budget can’t justify a $125 sweater. Even for Christmas.
So, I’m on the prowl for patterns that’ll satisfy the 525 America ones whirling around my cranium.

Icy fingers no more

I was beginning a project — a bulky cap hat for my husband, when my mother asked me to make her some fingerless gloves. She’s a diabetic and suffers from cold extremities, so naturally I started her project forthwith.
I chose to make Fingerless Mitts, from a Farmhouse Yarns pattern by Ann Ameling.
I made a pair for myself last year that I’m still using now in Farmhouse Yarns’ Lumpy Bumpy Yarn by Charlene (99 percent Merino, 1 percent nylon).

It calls for bulky yarn and I found a Plymouth Yarn Yukon, which is 35 percent mohair, 35 percent wool and 30 percent acrylic, in pale pink. I am using size 10½ double-pointed needles. The gauge is 3 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch. I am making a size medium for my mother.
Cast on 24 (28, 32) stitches. Join in the round. Place marker for beginning of round. Work K1, P1 ribbing until 4 to 6 inches long. Thumb: Bind off 4 (5, 6) stitches. Continue working in pattern to the end of the round.
Next round: Cast on 1 stitch. Slip cast-on stitch to left needle, knit into front and back of stitch. *Slip last stitch just knit onto left-hand needle, knit into front and back of stitch. Repeat from * 2 (3, 4) times. Work ribbing until end of round.
Continue knitting in round in K1, P1 ribbing until work measures 2 to 4 inches from thumb opening.
Bind off, weave in ends.
Repeat for other mitt.
See www.farmhouseyarns.com and www.yarnandwool.com.

Wiggle room

This morning, it was cold. Not bone-chilling, but cold enough for my entire car to be coated frost. My son missed the 7:41 a.m. bus (again), so there I was scraping the windows while he fiddled inside with the radio dial. Forethought kept my fingers warm as I scraped — a couple days ago I pulled out my wool fingerless gloves made with Farmhouse Yarns’ Lumpy Bumpy wool in Rose Garden. My 11-year-old asked me for a pair.
“You want me to knit you some?” I asked.
“Yes. They’re cool,” B. said.
So today, I’m online looking for a suitable pattern for an adolescent boy, thus assuring that he’ll at least wear them once.

I found the following on Interweave Knits, perfect for the occasion.
http://www.interweaveknits.com/freepatterns/ pdf/Hands_Up_Instructions.pdf
There’s also another neat pattern here.
http://knitting.about.com/od/mittenpatterns/p/fingerless.htm
B. couldn’t believe that I’d possibly complete them by Sunday.
It’s really quick knitting in the round.

I’ll just let him believe I’m amazing — a regard he had for me perpetually years ago, but somehow lost toward the end of grammar school.

Holly Golightly is having breakfast

Recently, I checked out the film, “Capote (2005)” from the library.
I had seen “Infamous (2006)” several months prior and had become fascinated by the character of Truman Capote, even though my first exposure to him was as depicted by the actor Toby Jones. His Capote was wildly unappealing to me, although I loved the movie and watched it two or three times. Sandra Bullock stars as the school marmish Nell Harper Lee.
“Capote” stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as Capote and Catherine Keener as Lee. Hoffman won an Oscar — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role — an award a long time coming in my opinion, having seen him in countless character roles over the years. As after watching “Infamous,” I made a mental note to get the book, “In Cold Blood.”
Today, Vintage Trade Paperbacks send me the 50th anniversary reissue of Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” the book that inspired the movie starring Audrey Hepburn, and includes three of his short stories.
I can’t wait to read it. The book hits stores Nov. 11.

Nutmeg Knitters

A couple of the ladies in my Russell Library Russell Knitters group have joined the Nutmeg Knitters Guild. It meets on the third Wednesday of each month except for July and August in the lower level of the Bethany Covenant Church, 785 Mill Street, Berlin, at 7 p.m. There are nominal membership dues, trips, yarn samples, coupons for locally owned yarn stores and many other perks of joining. I’ve yet to make a meeting, but perhaps you can.
Nutmeg Knitters brings together individuals with a mutual interest in knitting who gather in friendship to share knitting ideas, to build on knitting skills, to teach and inspire others and to knit for charity. All skill levels are welcome. For information, see www.NutmegKnitters.org.

The Wind’s blowing South

This weekend looks terrific for weather — daytime highs hovering around 70 degrees. What could be better than a yarn-inspired family trip? I’m eyeing the Southwind Farms Annual Fall Festival & Open Farm Days on Saturday and Sunday, with new alpaca products, yarns and events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jim and Penny Mullen run the farm at 223 Morris Town Line Road, Watertown; (860) 274-9001; www.southwindfarms.com.

Mad mommy

My husband calls this portrait of me in blue marker by my 5-year-old son, “Mean Mommy.”
He delights in recalling this picture whenever I scold the little guy. Just to bug me.
“Mean Mommy’s at it again,” he’ll say. As if my son doesn’t deserve to have his mouth washed out with liquid Dawn (just a swipe on the gums, mind you) when he calls me, “UR@!&$%$#*”
Saturday’s kiddy terrorism sent mom to new heights of fury.
I had my organic cotton yarn skein set around the back of my rocking chair. I began to roll it into a ball. My cell phone rang, from the kitchen. Usually I am supremely careful of all my projects, each in a plastic zip-lock bag, then inside a shoulder bag at all times. If liquid, food, a child, snow or anything with a remote possibility of stain-ability is near, zip-locks are employed.
Go figure. The one time I innocuously answer a telephone call from my stepmother, certain my little man is occupied with his drumset, mid-conversation I sense an uncanny stillness from the living room.
I cut the call short.
Walk to the other room, to see my craft scissors strangely open on the couch. And my precious yarn cut through six times.
And, the ball I had begun is missing. I sense someone hiding in the other room (mom-dar).
Leading to my husband’s desk is a long string of red yarn, criss-crossing the desk legs like a spider web. I lunge for T and the ball. He scrambles out the front of the desk, with the yarn ball, tangling it around chairs, through the TV room, into the kitchen, lickety-split.
And, gasp! — into the bathroom, around the toilet base.
Well, if there is a silver lining it is that I am fanatical about cleaning the toilets in our house. With three “boys” at home, it’s not uncommon that one or another or ALL miss the toilet substantially.
God must have been smiling down at me that day. At the very least — laughing understandably, because I had just cleaned this one.
I retrieved my ball, SCREAMED at T, then rolled up the remainder of my yarn into six balls of varying size.
And cursed, most likely looking very much like Mean Mommy.

Eco hooking

There will be a cool workshop, an ongoing series, on how to crochet plastic grocery bags Oct. 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Hubbard Room at Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. You may have visited the library a couple months ago and saw these colorful eco-sensible creations on the first-floor display case. Library staff advise that crocheting knowledge is necessary. People should bring a large crochet needle (size G or H or over 9 mm). This program is for children over age 9 and all adults. Registration is required and limited to the first 25 people who sign up. To register, call the Information Desk at (860) 347-2520. The event is co-sponsored by the Rockfall Foundation, Russell Library, and the Middletown Resource Recycling Advisory Council.
The City of Middletown Public Works Department featured a pattern in a recent newspaper, courtesy of the Recycling Coordinator, for recyclers to crochet, reprinted here: http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/plabag.html.
There is also a pattern conversion available for knitters.

Downy soft and sneeze-free

I actually had gone to the Wadsworth Mansion Open Air Market and Festival in late August and found out from one of the vendors that alpaca is non-allergenic. Since I am very allergic to wool, I was delighted. I touched a soft as rabbit fur purse in green and pink, and was told it was made with Misti Alpaca yarn, baby alpaca. I had to have it. I looked on line and found the Web site, then saw that it was sold in Meriden at The Yarn Garden.
During my visit there last Saturday, the owner had only one type of Misti yarn, baby alpaca, but in lace weight and brown. It was terrific, but I had my eye on a particular scarf that looks like it’s almost woven, in a Crayola box of colors, free from the Misti Web site. It is called “Le Petite Echarpe,” or “little scarf.”
(The pattern is at http://www.mistialpaca.com/downloads/ Misti_Alpaca_FREE_Le_Petite_Echarpe.pdf).
What I did find at the Garden is Classic Elite’s Inca Print in a rustic color, 100 percent alpaca and soft as down. The scarf pattern calls for a chunky yarn (size 11 needles), 1 hank, 109 yards. The Inca is the correct yardage but far from chunky, calling for a size 7 needle. And the scarf pictured is very short to my taste — 4 by 25 inches. So I bought four hanks of the Inca and plan on making it longer and just as thick by doubling the yarn.
I’ll report back as well on what my sneeze-o-meter registers as soon as I undertake the project.

Not your average dishcloths

I purchased three skeins of On Line Linie Clip 100 percent Egyptian cotton, which is mercerized — a process that give the yarn a shiny finish. I chose eggplant, royal blue and an emerald green. The pattern I used was from “101 Designer One-Skein Wonders,” edited by Judith Durant, following the not-your-average washcloths pattern. The project took just a few hours and yielded a lovely 7-square-inch purple washcloth that alternates four garter and stockinette stitch squares. The loop called for a crocheted chain, but I modified mine, using much smaller double-pointed needles (size 4) and knit an I-cord loop.
I purchased the yarn from a lovely little yarn shop at 194 Elm St., in Meriden (203-237-6446, www.yarngardenllc.com), The Yarn Garden, which has absolutely every type and brand of yarn you can think of or desire. Next up? Royal blue. Only this time I’m feeling more adventureous and will use the patterns from the book “Knitting With Balls” by Michael Del Vecchio, which offers three types of “utility cloths,” shown in the photo being used to shine up motorcycle chrome (gasp!).

They’re more complicated and the cloths can be made in 8- to 12-inch squares.
You can bet one thing I won’t be doing with them is dusting.
Not if I’m knitting them.

The Sky is always Blue

I’m loving the Blue Sky.
As in Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton, color: Tomato, kind of an orangy crimson.
The pattern is Tomato, designed by Wendy Bernard (www.knittingdaily.com).
Seven inches knit so far!

What’s really interesting is that it is knit from the top down, with a deep square scoop neck, so soon I’ll be knitting in the round, tapering the bust and waist.
Soon I’ll be working on the simple band of herringbone that circles the bust, in Nut.

When I finish it, it’ll be crisp, cool fall; but one of those days, probably in early October, check out the lady with the handmade, short-sleeved sweater on Main.

The colors are, from top, cumin, tomato, thistle and pumpkin.

Knit One, Save One

“Knit One, Save One,” launched by the global humanitarian organization, Save the Children, and the Warm Up America Foundation, seeks to engage knitters and crocheters to take action for the 4 million babies who die each year within the first month of life in poor countries.
Save the Children’s Knit One, Save One initiative is asking knitters and crocheters by Dec. 318 to knit or crochet one baby cap; and to write a personal note to the President-elect asking him to lead the way to save millions of babies globally.
In November 2006, I knit four caps and mailed them to Warm Up America, and received a personal postcard in response, thanking me.
I think I’ll start tonight knitting up a few quick caps with all the warm wool and alpaca I have at home.
To see the story I wrote for the Middletown Press, “Knitters join national cause,” at http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17533425&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=665536&rfi=8
To download the action kit, or to learn other ways to support the initiative as a non-knitter, go to savethechildren.org/knitonesaveone or call (800) 728-3843. To join the online community and share experience, visit savethechildren.org/friends.
To find a local knitting or crocheting group or to learn tips, go to www.warmupamerica.org.
Happy knitting!

The knitting bug

I peeked into our mailbox the other day and found a most wonderful surprise.
The fall Webs catalogue.
The Holy Grail of knitting.
Every page is filled with luscious yarns and gorgous sweaters, shawls and blankets knit up in dazzling colors.
I'm almost afraid to crack open the cover.
Afraid that I'll lust after each and every item - and even worse, buy yet more yarn, far too much yarn for one woman to ever knit in a lifetime.
Perhaps ...
... there's a way to knit 24 hours a day.
I've been bitten ....
... and it aches.
(Get your own at www.yarn.com or 800-367-9327 - if you dare!)

Parting ways

I’ve been working on the same shawl since February.
You’d think it would be measured in feet, or tens of feet, by now, but the length from tip to working edge is a mere 25 inches.
It’s embarrassing to admit that I finished my last project in the first days of July.
“Why are you making a shawl,” my older boy chides me. “Aren’t they for grannies?”
Well, X, I might just be a grandma when I finish this thing and at last can drape it over my shoulders.
The time has come to diverge, dear shawl.
Not for lack of interest, or amour, but for dignity’s sake.
My own — this pattern is so difficult that I often knit three rows and tear back two because I made a mistake.
Which are very difficult to catch.
Another reason I have soldiered on is that it is easier to knit what you already know so well than get into a new pattern’s stitching. I don’t have to think as I watch the movies “Frida” or “Hotel Rwanda,” my fingers just move along in the established way.
Loop over, slip, knit, knit, slip slipped stitch over ...
Alas, dear shawl, it’s time to bid you adieu.



Momma’s found a short-sleeved sweater earlier in the summer that I must confess I long to begin.
It’s called Tomato, designed by Wendy Bernard, and uses worsted-weight Dyed Cotton in #619 tomato and Organic Cotton in #82 nut.
Interweave Press published the book "No Sheep For You," where it is found.
Find the free pattern at http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/ patterns/archive/2007/06/19/tomato.aspx.
I ordered the yarn online from Blue Sky Alpacas (www.blueskyalpacas.com) on a Sunday afternoon and it was in my mailbox the next day — at no extra charge.
My knitting bag was snug this morning as I packed both projects together in my carrying bag.
I’m sure the brown shawl felt jilted.
Breaking up — it’s so hard to do.

Looking ahead to Election Day

If you want to hear some great local music, check out Terry Woolard's latest CD, "Black President: White House Under New Management."
I wrote a story about him last week (Aug. 21) for the cover of my Weekend section in the Middletown Press.
The title track is superb.

Rustic fibercrafts

Yesterday, I visited the Open Air Market and Festival at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown. This annual event attracts vendors of all types selling garden fruits and vegetables, honey, artisan breads and cheeses, handicrafts, jewelry, artwork, milk and so much more. I was particularly drawn to the heirloom vegetables — fat and ugly tomatoes, eggplant, beans, radishes, all of vibrant hue — and fiber arts, alpaca, goat and sheep yarn hand spun and dyed colors of the natural world.
Vivienne McGarry of Cold Goats Farm of Haddam Neck was there with two bleating sheep, showing off her felted pumpkins, apples, purses and knit shawls, scarves and sweaters. Laurie Sanford of Twin Gate Farm in Killingworth had some of the softest yarn I’ve ever felt — baby alpaca, she said, from Misti Alpaca (www.mistialpaca.com) and her own handspun alpaca and angora goat yarn. She, too had needle-felted items (pet rocks with silly eyes), short scarves in a rainbow of colors, children’s vests and sweaters, felted and recycled sweater purses and bags and necklaces from felt. Patricia Fortinsky of Old Lyme’s Tidal Yarns (www.tidalyarns.com) sat barefoot, spinning some purple roving into yarn, surrounded by skeins of her naturally dyed and handspun yarns in lemon yellow, mustard, crimson, salmon, chocolate colors.
As I fingered each item and skein, I kept thinking, “my stash, my stash,” keeping the image of that mass of yarn at home which only seems to grow fatter, then peeled myself away from each booth, buying only a knit wool pocket pouch in evergreen, punch and rustic browns, marked down in the sale bin.
Too bad this only happens once a year.
But good thing it’s now the start of Connecticut’s fair season, beginning with last weekend’s Chester Fair and continuing this weekend with the Haddam Neck Fair Aug. 29, 30, 31 and Sept. 1; the Durham Fair Sept. 26, 27 and 28; and Portland Fair Oct. 10, 11 and 12.