Slinky Ribs Sweater in Bend

Yum, lookie! I got some yarn for my Birthday in this lovely brown-with- flecks color. I had heard this Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool yarn is lovely to knit with and I am finding that to be so true. I happened to have the pattern book with a sweater that called for this yarn in it. Which was a great relief as I was pressed for time packing, so I took it all with me on our weekend to Bend, OR. Wound a few skeins in the car and studied my pattern on the way down, and did a swatch. I hate swatching, but I did it anyway. A few pretty shots of Bend, OR at Drake Park and of the Deschutes River.

We had great hot weather, a nice change of pace from the Seattle fall rains. I am at the Old Mill District here having a nice organic iced tea.

Me and the hubby here...married now 27 wonderful years. Enjoying a nice flatbread appetizer and some shade.

One cool morning, in downtown Bend, they were setting up for a Weiner Dog Race and we were walking around town quickly to get out before the crowds arrived. I got a latte at my favorite spot, Thump Coffee. Down the street we stumbled upon some real yarn graffiti!

It had some pretty nice pieces on it too. Some good colorwork. Some unidentifiable objects as well.

Not every day you run across yarn grafitti...It was fun to know there are knitters in Bend. I actually knew that from my last trip down there. Still comforting to see their handiwork on display.

Back at the hotel, we were the only "out of town" patrons who felt the sun was indeed warm enough to sit by the pool. How appropriate that we donned our sunscreen and did so.

How appropriate also, that my newest pattern is photographed in the book with a "pool boy" shown behind her. I did not have a "pool boy" on this trip, just my handome hub! However I did begin knitting this pattern by the poolside.

It was lovely to be in 80's weather ....after being in rainy Seattle.

My pattern comes from this book, which I happened to already own: Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard. I am doing the Slinky Ribs Sweater.

My color is #67 and is a darker brown. Here is one photo from the book.

And here's another photo from the book. I plan to raise the neckline up and make long sleeves on mine. This is a seamless sweater that is begun with a provisional cast on at the top of the back, then it is knit downward. Later on, taking back up the provisional cast on stitches and knitting down the front. This eliminates any seam at the top of the shoulder. Only problem was I didn't have any contrasting yarn with which to do the provisional cast on. Note to self: Listen when they say use a contrasting yarn for provisional cast on. They mean it for a good reason! I should've heeded the advice. And I am not having a wonderful time when it comes to picking out the "waste" yarn. I just couldn't bring myself to drive into town on such a hot day to find some cheap skein of contrasting yarn. I am very sorry indeed! The sleeves are knit in the round. I am using size 6 needles and trying for the size medium, 36 1/2 bust, as I have heard this yarn can "grow" with blocking.

All in all, I am excited to have gotten the yarn that was recommended, and to discover I already had the pattern in my book!

So far it is a dream to knit with this yarn and it seems like it will be comfortable to wear this blend of wool/silk/nylon. Lots and lots of ribbing was done on the long drive home.

Ocean Knitting

Edited to add pics: Another ribbed bolero is born at the ocean. Ribbed Lace Bolero, by Kelly Maher. It's a great, free pattern on Ravelry. Knit on size 8 and 10 needles with Cotton Ease, 2 skeins in "stone".

Since I was taking these by myself with a timer, I see I had it on a bit crooked, but you get the idea.

When you see all this sandy beauty and the colors of nature....
it just makes you want to knit something with the name "stone" or "sand" in it.


Knitting on the beach is the ultimate!

It was a lovely getaway in the RV with my folks staying nearby at a Bed 'n Breakfast at Pacific Beach, WA.

"Lucille" Goes Camping

Enjoying a lovely sunny time out by the Cooper River... Our resident chipmunk who lived inside our campsite stone fireplace. (photo taken by my Dad)

Evening Grosbeak, also photographed by my Dad.

Our peaceful hammock by the river.

"Lucille" had a great view of all this!

Actually, the next two pics I think show it flipped wrong side up, but you get the idea so far of the yoke:

I think "Lucille" really enjoyed camping this week at Salmon La Sac. It was so peaceful and relaxing by the Cooper River. I am done now with the easy part of the yoke and ready to begin the more complicated lace pattern. Too bad we had to come back home to reality! Vacations are like that though, aren't they?

Just Hangin' Out Eating Cherries

While we endure a little Seattle "heat wave" here, I'll pour myself a nice glass of lemonade and show you this little photo my hub took of a squirrel in the neighbor's tree this eve.

Drops Jacket Sees Mt. Rainier

Coming upon the home stretch of the Drops Baby Jacket. One side left to finish with buttonholes. Then seams only from armpit to cuff! Today the fortunate Drops Jacket got to visit Mt. Rainier on a trip to my sister's in Edgewood, WA.

Drops Garter Stitch Baby Jacket Goes Camping

Part 2: The Drops Baby Jacket gets to go camping in the RV this week in search of sun! It got to ride many miles east to get to our campground...It got to see lovely views, a deer and wildflowers... And these pretty pink tipped leaves...

I got lots of knitting time out in front of the RV... while intermittently swatting at huge ants! And then I moved into the RV away from them, though some found their way inside. EW.

Taking a break for a walk over the creek...

Knit sideways and finished one sleeve, now on to knitting the back. (Which is unseen because it is under the front of course!) Sleeve is "folded" for picture, and will have a seam from armpit to wrist.

Yes, the b16-3 Drops Jacket (which should be called something more exciting than that, seriously. We need to rename this thing) has seen all these things and more. And I have seen miles and miles of garter stitch that never ends. But it is turning out very cute! And I will excuse the big ants from crawling on my arm while knitting just this once.

Part 1: Beginning the jacket. Once, twice....

Shown here with no flash. Top of the jacket is tapered,while body flares out. Side of the body is on a stitch holder while I work the first sleeve (out to the left) Once left sleeve is knit, then I will continue on knitting the body and across the back. Actually this is the left front and right sleeve, I found out later. After reading the pattern again.

Using a fingering weight Santa Fe merino wool/polyamide blend, on size 2 needles. This baby jacket is knit in garter stitch sideways all the way around, making vertical stripes as it goes. It uses "short rows" both on the body and the sleeves to make it flare out. I "oopsed" a few times on the short rows. Ripped out once. It's really a very easy pattern. You just have to watch the short row sequence carefully. I apparently wasn't. Easy, really!

A free pattern found on Ravelry, the "b16-3 Drops Jacket", is a cute one (with a rather boring name) Though the garter stitch goes on and on forever. And one bonus of this yarn, it is machine washable in cold water. So maybe I won't feel so badly handing it to a new mother and saying "hand wash, dry flat". Maybe I can say, "Machine wash cold, gently, dry flat". Sounds a bit easier, eh?