Collarless

Progress on Caora Dubh continues:

Here you can actually see the cables:

And today's goal is to do the shawl collar.  That was yesterday's goal, as well, but it's proving surprisingly elusive.  I have gutted and started the collar over no less than 7 times, stymied by the geometry.  It's not that I haven't got other people's instructions for how to do this, it's that they yeild shapes that completely defy my ability to make clothes from. 

I'm harboring guarded optomism for version 8.0, having unearthed a machine-made cardigan of Phillip's which has the collar I (think) I want.  Seeing the shape I'm supposed to be knitting (different from anything I have found in my books, by the way) is bound to help.  Failing that, I plan to make blood sacrifice to the Knitting Gods.  Wouldn't be the first time, after all.
 

Repurposing

I've been playing with string.  Today I'm turning the yarn I have into the yarn I want.  The Oregon knitting teachers and I are beginning our very first knitalong (Join us, Do!) We decided to make adult Tomten jackets, based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's sensational classic. 

What I have in mind is to make my Tomten as a swing coat, with trapezoidal sides.  Naturally, this will require a boatload of aran-weight yarn.  Fortunately for me, I was lucky enough to have been gifted with 4 huge cones of scottish shetland 2-ply:  

Absolute pounds of yarn, with the only trouble being that it's much too lightweight for what I propose.  My new pal Shelia January wisely counseled me that 2 or 3 strands of this held together would pass nicely for the weight I need.  But of course, simply holding the strands together would be far too simple for someone like me (OCD Much?).  For one thing, these cones are anything but portable, and I winding them into smaller bites is almost the same amount of work as actually plying them into cablespun yarn.  Add to that the fact that I think all this yardage needs washing (lotsa spinning oil from the mill in it), and you can see the direction things took:
 

Shelia pointed out that to cable the strands, I would first need to add a bit of twist, in order to get a balanced yarn.  So through the wheel it goes.  I'm treating the 2-ply finished yarn as if it were singles, adding more twist in the same direction it was plied at the mill, and then re-plying it the opposite direction.  Then a luxurious soak in the sink, and an eternity to dry.  Who knew?  Turns out 6 plies of shetland can really hold onto moisture!

Presto!  Fluffy, balanced cablespun shetland!  And I even like the color.  At least for now - we'll see how I feel about it after preparing the 10 or 12 skeins I estimate needing.  Still, it's totally worth the trouble for a free Tomten.

Join up with us on Ravelry!  There are some DEEPLY talented knitters in this group, who happen to be teachers and designers, as well.  I can't wait to find out what we do!  Also, the pattern/formula is available in several different versions, and suggestions for modifications abound, so the sky's the limit.  See you on the Dark Side.  I'll save you a seat.
 

My New Old Friends

The incomparable Joan Schrouder recently hatched a cunning plan, whereby all the knitting teachers she could find in Oregon, weather or not she knew them yet, were invited to a retreat with her at the coast.  She thought it would be nice for all of us to take a bit of time to get to know one another, network, compare war stories, and of course, knit.  Of the original 14 invitees (you would not believe how many high-profile Knitterati live in Oregon), 7 of us made it (this first time).

Joan's clever house-marker, propped up in the yard

In addition to their careers as mild-mannered knitting teachers, the group's secret identities include: 30-year Phlebotomist, Private Practice Optometrist, Computer Scientist, Copyright Attorney, Wife and Business Partner of a real-live Rock Star, and a Wall Street Investment Banker-turned-Cattle Rancher.  Oh, and there's me: Cube-Farm Refugee.  These are some smart, powerful and busy women.

Nautical sunset on the Oregon Coast

In addition to taking in some of the greatest coastal scenery the country has to offer, we genuinely enjoyed one another's company.  We did a lot of show-and-tell, exchanged many problems and solutions, ate like kings, and knit like maniacs.  We all surprised ourselves by making a lot of progress on our projects du jour as we talked and bonded.

Clockwise from upper left: Parna Mehrbani, Angela Davis, Joan Schrouder, Shelia January, Mary Scott Huff, Anne Berk, JC Briar

We promised ourselves and each other to do more of this.  In addition to including the others who couldn't make it this time, we all agreed that we want more of this kind of restorative and inspirational time together.

And we have several evil schemes brewing.  Which should come as a surprise to no one who knows me, or my New Old Friends.