My Knitting Life

hal·cy·on:  pronunciation: 'hal-sE-&n

~as a noun, a bird identified with the kingfisher and held in ancient legend to nest at sea about the time of the winter solstice and to calm the waves during incubation;

~as an adjective, calm, peaceful, happy, golden, prosperous, affluent.

Halcyon Aran in Blackwater Abbey "Moss", coming along quite nicely, one more repeat to go to complete the back.  I think any uneveness in the "traveling stitches" (instead of cables - don't you love that?  Got it from Knitting in the Old Way) might be due to the yarn, because the spaces appear inconsistently.  Blocking will tell.  Here is my best attempt at capturing the rich color variation in this yarn...

I'm in.  Red Scarf Project.

(Above scarf - two strands of mohair with some hand-spun worsted on size 13 needles, simple rib stitch.  Adapted from the Purl Scarf - Last Minute Knitted Gifts.)

Have a Great Weekend!

Yesterday, when I got back from my interview, I flopped in my chair and worked up Susan's Sideway Short-Row Seaman's Scarf to go with my Silk Garden Beanie, which is my all-time favorite hat.  The color wasn't an exact match but you can't really tell.  At first, I thought the scarf was too flimsy, but it fits so nicely with a turtleneck under my "big puffy" (kids call me that when I wear my winter jacket).  Next time, I would use 2 skeins, half of the second to make a larger scarf, and the other half for some ruffles.

As for the interview...I had my misgivings going in because I knew the position would require travel and long hours.  I was able to be honest about my family needs, and they seemed interested in helping me find something a bit more suitable. 

Thank you all for your kind wishes!  Sometimes it's hard for me to put personal stuff here in blog, but when I do I am always so touched by everyone's thoughtfulness.  Now, off to write those follow-up letters...   

"big puffy"

Tomorrow I have a job interview.  You know, the real kind, where I have to dress right and prepare.  I used to interview candidates a lot in my former work life.  I know the drill.  Get them to do the talking.  Ask for specific examples.  Like:

Them:  "Tell me about a time when you had to use data to help you determine a solution to a problem?"  Me:  "While operating in an environment with restricted resources, I calculated that I could make Na Cragna for $45 if I bought the Cascade 220 on sale - that's 220 yards per skein x 11 skeins = 2420 yards at $4.20/skein = $46.20.  Problem solved."

or

Them:  "Give an example of a time when you had to use more than one process simultaneously to complete a project or solve a problem?:  Me:  "Do you mean like in fair isle or intarsia?"

or

Them:  "Tell me about a time when you had to approach others for support to complete a project."  Me:  "I give you yesterday's post."

(I am getting good results using the tug on the next stitch!  It is strange that I have never noticed this problem before - could be the type of cable or the yarn or the combination, or just that I never noticed it.  I only had time for a few rows last night, so it's a little soon to tell, but I will follow up.) 

But back to the interview.  Although I have done some consulting work over the past several years, the last permanent job I had was 5 years ago.  Needless to say, my confidence is a little low.  I have spent the better part of yesterday and today trying to remember projects to use as examples, and I am coming up blank!  Is that normal?  All this so-called preparation going on with my children here at home because a pipe burst at their school.  I finally told my 8 year old to make himself a schedule for the day:

There.  An answer for "Give me an example of a time when you convinced others to follow a particular course of action."

Change is hard good.

A snowy weekend's progress on Halcyon Aran in Blackwater Abbey's "Moss".  I am enjoying the pattern, although I am a little concerned that my cabling doesn't seem as even as usual.  I am trying to watch my tension.  The yarn is rough - could this be why?  Would using a cable needle help?  I have a deep-seated fear that the yarn might not be the best match for this type of cabling?  Do tell me I am wrong!

I noticed in my washed swatch that it softened and bloomed, so I am hoping that when the finished piece is washed the same will happen and any gaps will close.  (Look at the straight line cable sections to see what I mean.)  Any advice on this issue would be greatfully accepted!

MANHUNT!

8 p.m.  Saturday, January 22, 2005.  Men and boys go out in a raging blizzard.  They form two teams and roam about the neighborhood pelting each other (and anyone else they can coax outside) with snowballs.  (Need I tell you what I was doing during this excursion?) 

After taking a couple weeks to dilly-dally in small projects, I've decided to dive in to something a bit more challenging. Last fall I purchased this beautiful worsted weight yarn in "Moss" from Blackwater Abbey. I shelved it while I finished my Christmas knitting, thinking I would get to it in January. The original plan was to make the "Old Way" Gansey from Winter 2004 IK. I decided that the idea of swatching in the round, and lightly felting the swatch was just so unappealing that I went back to Blackwater Abbey and ordered a pattern from them.

I chose the Halcyon Aran, left, a Lisa Lloyd design, for my husband. I also tossed in "Marilyn", right, a Beth Brown-Reinsel design.  I am storing this pattern - if I finish Halcyon with some left over, I might exchange in a new color and make this one for me. I cannot speak highly enough of Marilyn King (yes, the pattern was named for her) at Blackwater Abbey. She is so kind and professional. She sent me a new color card, with the patterns - three new beauties added in.  This is a rustic yarn, so the knitting is a bit scratchy, but I washed my swatch and it really softened up.

Hopefully this will keep me busy during the snow storm predicted for this weekend!

I've been making hats!  I so enjoyed the finished Shaker Rib Cap which was intended to be a gift for my brother.  So, apparently, did various members of my family because it got snatched up and has been worn about since completion.  So I made another, and then decided to branch out a bit and try other styles.

  Hats left to right:  London Beanie in Debbie Bliss Merino Aran, one ball main color 325204 (dark teal) and a bit of 325400 (mushroom), US 6, 7 Circulars;  Cool Hats from Lion Brands' Knit It Magazine 2004, one ball of the DB mushroom and a bit of the teal, US 8 Circular;  Shaker Rib Cap, one skein of Lamb's Pride in Bronze Patina, US 6, 8 Circulars.

Here's my assessment:  Shaker Rib did not need to be upsized as I did in the first go-around - it is stretchy and fits anyone as written.  It is the softest, thickest, warmest hat you will ever own!  The London Beanie is on the small side - it fits my boys very well, but I would think an adult male might have trouble.  The Cool Hat is a bit roomier - it fits my kids, but also stretches enough to fit an adult male.  Both London Beanie and Cool Hat have that certain appeal to guys - they love the look!

Thank you all so much for your kind comments about Na Craga and my husband.  Honestly, after 13 years, it sure helps to be reminded how lucky I am in so many ways.  And coming from a crowd that has supreme taste in all things worthwhile in life, I was left quite speechless!   

Na Craga's been getting a lot of action since Christmas!

Knitworthy

When I was visiting family over the holidays, I saw my brother outside playing football with all our kids.  I said to my sister-in-law, "WHAT is he wearing on his head?"

She replied, "That is the hat he was wearing the day I met him on the slopes 18 years ago.  You made it for him.  He STILL wears it everytime he goes skiing!"

I had no memory of making the hat, until he came in and I looked more closely.  It was cream icelandic wool, earflaps, crochet edging in dark brown.  It was slightly worn around the edges, shaped to fit his head like an old favorite.  I remembered that I knit tons of sweaters and hats in icelandic wool for family and friends when I was in college.

Well I would say that makes him knit-worthy, don't ya think?  He has now been entered into my exclusive little group of friends and family that appreciate and use the hand-knitted gifts I make for them!  In honor of this special occassion, I decided he deserves a new hat, so I made him this one:

Shaker Rib Hat

Pattern:  ChicKnits Shaker Rib Hat

Yarn:  1 skein Lamb's Pride Worsted

Color:  Silver Sliver

Needles:  6, 8 16" circulars

Modifications:  Upsized for a Man.  I cast on 90 stitches, worked for 5.5 inches before decreases, placed markers every 15 stitches for decreases.

Thanks to Bonne Marie for this fun pattern.  This is a soft, thick warm hat.  I think the size will be just about right for him.  Here's how it fits me: