Wooly Wormhead Mystery Beret Emerging - SPOILERS

SPOILER ALERT! My progress to row 16 of clue 2 is pictured below.

Hat architect Wooly Wormhead released clue 2 of her 2016 mystery hat pattern this week 9 Nov 2016 as part of her 9th annual Mystery Hat Knit Along (MKAL) -- one clue per week. Three variations of the one design are available, beanie/slouchy and beret. I have chosen to work the beret pattern. The final pattern release including hat pattern name is scheduled for 27th November 2016.

Duocenti MKAL by Laura Nelkin in Sycamore & Charter Oaks - September 2016

My First Mystery Knit Along aka MKAL

Today I started working on Clue #1. Actually I've only started the cast on process since how much time I can spend knitting each day is limited while I continue neck / back / shoulder rehab.

None of us participating in the event will know exactly what the finished object will look like until the final clue is released and a speedy knitter finishes their project. The first clue was released September 18th. Clues #2-4 will be released weekly. Buy the pattern on Ravelry here and join in!

SCHEDULE of Clues 

Clue #1- Sept 18th 

Clue #2- Sept 25th 

Clue #3- Oct 2nd 

Clue #4- Oct 9th 

We agreed not to post 'spoiler' pictures anywhere for now except on one discussion thread on Laura Nelkin's Nelkin Designs Ravelry group page. Not wanting to get left too far behind I chose to use this Miss Babs Yummy 2-ply 100% Merino superwash from my yarn stash in colors Sycamore as main color & Charter Oaks - Wild Iris as contrasting color. Beads are an option. I've selected Miyuki 6/0 round beads in Ivory Pearl Ceylon.

Yes -- I will also be doing the Westknits MKAL. That doesn't start until October and is still in the color planning stage for me since my anticipated yarn has not yet arrived.

WestKnits 2016 Mystery KAL - A new adventure begins NOW!

Anticipation is a big part of the joy -

Planning colors and yarn for the Stephen West Mystery Shawl 2016 KAL - Building Blocks can be done without knitting. Good thing, since my physical therapist wants me to restrict knitting for the moment, while we continue to work together to reduce my right side pain.

A mental stretch to accompany ongoing physical stretches

I'm determined to find a way to make this work for me. The idea of plunging into a Mystery Knit Along project without knowing what it will end up looking like is a bit beyond my comfort zone. I've settled on using Miss Babs Yummy 3-ply 100% merino wool. The pattern will be released week by week in four Clues beginning Friday Oct 7, 2016. 

Which 4 colors to use ?

Still up in the air on color selection. Playing the with incoming yarn skeins in combination to select the 4 will be another fun non-knitting part of this adventure. I am enjoying the online conversations in the MKAL group among participants all at some stage of selecting yarn, gauge and colors.

Modern boldness of Stephen West Designs

Stephen West designs convey to me a modern boldness. My fondness for the works of Piet Mondrian and Karel Appel are guiding my color planning. This is a separate issue from how comfortable I might be wearing the finished project. Stay tuned!

SCHEDULE 

Select yarn & swatch for gauge - NOW
Clue 1 - Friday, October 7 
Clue 2 - Friday, October 14 
Clue 3 - Friday, October 21 
Clue 4 - Friday, October 28

Knitting Solanum Shawl and Hummingbirds at our Feeder

Ruby Throated Hummingbird male c. James Sawusch

Ruby Throated Hummingbirds in Lieu of Lace Knitting

The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds have discovered our feeder. They clearly prefer the homemade sugar water from the store bought red sugar liquid which includes preservatives. I have taken a break from extensive knitting -- not by choice. Somehow my right shoulder / side is again triggering pain. Not lethal, but very annoying. Not only is it quite uncomfortable to knit - but I find my concentration wanes. That was clear when I realized how 'off' my test swatch had become for the lace border on my Solanum Shawl.

Solanum Shawl Progress Update

I finished a swatch of several repeats of Diana Rozenshteyn's Solanum Shawl pattern border lace in mid July 2016. Washed and blocked it was clear that I had made somewhat of a mess of the pattern. I cast on the shawl body 17 Jul 2016. The body is stockinette with increases until the lace border. My goal will be able to knit without significant pain. I'm not there yet -- but have reached row 64 of the shawl body. I am using yarn purchased from ColourMart : Lambswool/Silk 2/9nm fingering wt. (Rennie Castle)

Solanum Shawl Test Swatch

Solanum Shawl Body Progress @ row 64

3,000 Year Old Yarn!

In the News:

3,000 Year Old Yarn found at Must Farm

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/found-a-3000yearold-ball-of-yarn

Yarn -- The Movie

"The Movie Yarn Shows That Knitting and Crocheting Can Create Stunning Works of Art"

I just saw this review by Kristin Hohenadel of the new documentary Yarn: The Movie  by Montreal-based Icelandic director Una Lorenzen published 16 Jun 2016 online in Slate. The article has some beautiful still photos and discusses the fiber artists featured in the film -- Brooklyn-based Polish crochet artist Olek; Icelandic wool graffiti artist Tinna Thorudottir Thorvaldar; Japanese Canada-based artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam of Net Play Works who stitches giant “textile playgrounds” in public spaces around the world; and Tilde Björfors, the founder of the contemporary Swedish circus company Cirkus Cikör .

Where to see the film?

First screened in Sweden at the Goteberg Film Festival in January 2016 and in the U.S. at SXSW in March 2016, information on upcoming and future screenings and tickets shows the next screening is June 24 2016 at IFC Center, New York, NY. Screenings are currently scheduled around the country. I'd love to see this in Buffalo, NY - currently not on the schedule.

3 Strategies to Avoid Injury while Knitting -- One Last Peony

Last red peony of the season from my garden

Appreciating the Garden While Taking a Knitting Break

3 Strategies to Avoid Injury while Knitting

• Get up and move every 30 minutes to unkink your arms and shoulders and neck
• Focus at a distance during this break to give your eyes a rest from close focus
• Use tools to help you remember / remind you

Just one more row! 

Yes I'm on a self imposed deadline to finish and block a current knitting project. My previous strategy was to knit until I was too sore to continue -- or until the light was too bad to see.

That hadn't been working so well for me -- my shoulder & neck.

New Tactic- Display Elapsed Time on Your Row Counter!

So today I set the elapsed timer feature on my recently acquired iOS app the Knit and Crochet Counter. With this free app -- or update /pay $0.99 for no ads-- I can create a separate row counter for each work in progress. The app can be linked to your Ravelry account at a project level! For my current project I added the total pattern rows to the counter setup. Now, not only do I have an easy way to keep track of what row I'm on -- with added notes to remind me what row the pattern shifts -- but there, staring me in the face as I touch the counter button on the screen to increment the row is a smaller display showing elapsed time and another show percentage of project completed!   There are other available features I am just beginning to explore.  This is a great app. Simply count or do more!

I wonder if I can set an audible reminder on the counter to signal my 30 min -- time to get up and stretch?

Knit Lace Emerging -- Early Lessons Learned

Knit Lace Emerging 12 Jun 2016

Two projects in progress -- Paintbrush Kinit Lace Cowl in Alpaca with a Twist Fino ( 3002 pink) and Maple Leaf Knit Shawl in Miss Babs Yummy 2 ply (Infuriated - Wild Iris).

Lessons learned so far:

• Shoulders can be injured when you knit. Pay close attention to posture and even what type of chair. I'm still figuring this out -- the hard way. I discovered that knitting while sitting in my favorite lounge chair -- with its cushy wrap around back -- is part of the problem for me. I'm carrying my knitting around to various locations in our home trying them out for knitting comfort and available light.
• Choice of knitting needles makes a big difference in enjoyment, and even the potential for repetitive motion injuries. I've moved from bamboo to metal. The slope and pointiness of the needle tip makes a huge difference. I struggled thinking it was my lack of skill and ended up sore and frustrated. Sharp lace needles help. I'm still figuring out what length of needle tip and tip style in the circular needles will work best for me to reduce muscle and joint discomfort. The Maple Leaf shawl project is being knit with KnitPicks Options Interchangeables Nickel Plated circulars. I am knitting the cowl project using HiyaHiya Sharp Interchangeables 4".

Maple Leaf Shawl Started

Maple Leaf Shawl in Fall Colors - the beginning

Summer has just begun -- Yet the colors of Autumn Stay with us

The Miss Bab's Yummy 2-ply fingering weight 100% superwash Merino yarn is a joy to knit with. Soft on the hand -- and such incredible colorways. This colorway is called 'Infuriated'. As expected it contains the colors of a late fall woods -- orange, red, brown -- perfect for my Fall Maple Leaf Shawl.  It is a 'Wild Iris' or non-repeatable one off dye lot.

Garden of Eden Therapy Shawl -- Progress Report

Still knitting one month in - ~60% complete

Right and Wrong sides are both interesting

Still on the needles -- a work in progress after 1 month.

How will this shawl look different once completed and blocked? I suspect the stitch definition will be enhanced. The shawl will be 'bigger' --And of course the ends will be woven in.
For more information see:

My Garden of Eden Therapy Shawl #1

In the Queue -- Maple Leaf Shawl Pattern in Yummy 2 ply Wild Iris Infuriated !

The Pattern Maple Leaf Shawl is Stunning

Designed by Natalia @ Elfmoda

I couldn't resist. Saw the pattern -- bought the pattern. Searched for the yarn.

The Plan

Make this shawl using Yummy 2 Ply yarn from Miss Babb's in the Wild Iris Colorway Infuriated.
Yes it is sold out. I ordered the remaining skeins.

Modern Colorwork Cowl in 3 colors -- On the Needles -- Practice for a 20 color project

Cast On -- First step in a colorwork cowl multicolor knitting sampler

Walking before Running

My cowl project on the needles today is the class project for Mary Jane Mucklestone's MODERN STRANDED KNITTING TECHNIQUES, an online class at Craftsy. She is a clear and knowledgeable presenter supported by the very useful close up visuals of her hands as she demonstrates. This is less like a class and more like a personal tutorial -- watching over the shoulder of an expert who provides basics and tips. I am very much enjoying the class video segments. Like other Craftsy classes the downloadable class materials are well done.

 I decided to do this project first before jumping headlong into a much more complicated multicolor project -- the East Meets West Satchel from Knitpicks. Stay tuned!

Knitting Update -- Garden of Eden Therapy shawl #1 -- a WIP

Project Status on April 20, 2016 -- Skein of Miss Babbs Yummy 2 ply wool

Project Status on May 12, 2016 - Therapy Pattern by Laura Aylor

Five years later --- a new chapter

Retirement?

Yes. A work in progress or WIP as knitters sometimes say. This blog has been idle for at least 5 years. I've added fibers, etc to the title header in anticipation of discussing the playful side of life. Stay tuned.  Oh -- you can find me also over on Ravelry.com or Craftsy.com .