This shot of the Forest Path Stole was taken last week. Since then I’ve probably only added another tier but I’m officially 25% complete. My aim is to have this done by July 1, and I think that’s a reasonable goal.

While knitting on the subway yesterday some guy sitting next to me saw my knitting and told me that it was really pretty. He suggested I take it to a boutique and sell it for $50, maybe even $60 dollars. Thanks guy, I love working for pennies. I tried to explain this concept, so then he raised the price to $150.  Now I’m rolling in it.

Last week was the Northampton, MA pride festival and my oldest friend Jonathan was on the bill to perform. He’s a very talented singer, and quite a pretty boy too.

The promoters promised to put the show up on youtube, but since they haven’t gotten to it yet, I’ve decided to share this old, but classic video of Jonathan on Showtime at the Apollo.

This is like the ultimate crackhouse of yarn. I’ve never seen such a HUGE store! And then, as I was talking around the store, I fell into the rabbit hole of the WAREHOUSE.

Literally, my jaw dropped and I gawked for a good 5 min. Good Lord! That’s a lot of cheese! I did have to get a little something to commemorate the trip, so I picked up a  skein of self striping ONline Supersocke Sortierung. Aint she a beaut!

Mom was so up for this sewing project, and she really took on the bulk of it. They flew off her machine before I knew it! She also made me a huge carrot cake, even though I was only going to be there for two days. She’s the best. We also hit up every major craft store in the Greensboro–Winston Salem area and bought out ribbon, fabric, and silk flowers. In the end, we made some wreaths, ultimately to decorate the barn for the big day. Here’s a sneak peak….

We also got some really cute fabric that will end up as jar toppers eventually. Hello pinking shears! My heart is torn between the John Deere and the chickens.

The return trip on Monday turned into a fiasco when a mechanical issue bumped me off the first flight, and then lightning and thunder in Pennsylvania canceled the second flight, but only after several hours of delay. I was not a happy camper. But after 7 hours of hanging out in uncomfortable chairs and reading a very funny book, I was sent home to La Guardia.  I did bring Big A’s sweater to work on, but you know how it’s not good to knit when you’re upset? Yeah, I couldn’t knit. Despite all the time, I just couldn’t go there. I did get a nice chunk down on the way there and I expect to have a full FO to show sometime in the next two weeks. Possibly.
What I did finish on the subway this week was a single sock ☺

I’ve had this little bad boy on the needles just to have a little subway knitting here and there. I’m using my brand new Lantern Moon Christmas needles from Marie, and I ADORE them. They are so wonderful to knit with because they bend without breaking as you work. The yarn is also Marie’s and it’s lovely! These socks are the Waving Lace socks from the book Favorite Socks. They are really simple and fun to knit. I guess that’s why they are the cover image….
Unfortunately the pattern for the Forest Canopy Stole didn’t arrive in time for my departure flight, so I didn’t get to cast on until this week. I’m whipping through the border to get to that lace! Will share a progress shot next week, seed stitch border isn’t much to write home about.

Before I get into the craftavaganza, I’ll give you a few deets on the nups:

Geographical Location: Riverhead, Long Island
Place in said location: Hallockville Museum Farm
Place in said Farm: The Barn

Barn Stats:
30 acres of blank open country (check)
Electricity (check)
Running water (uncheck!)
Blank canvas to decorate (check)
Two cows on premises (check)

Basically, we’re bringing in the whole shebang. Bathrooms, kitchen trailer, tent (Hail Mary no rain!) chairs, water, you name it. Suddenly I’m a walking Rent-A-Center. This is a lot of work, of course, but I’m so game.  Thankfully I have a very supportive family and family-in-law to help. Everyone is psyched ☺

So here are the first of several crafting plans that have officially commenced to date:

Wedding Stole
After aggressive ravelry searches, (never knowing that ravelry could have aggressive searches) have finally decided on the Forest Path Stole. It’s going to be a new technique for me, since I have not yet tried entrelac, though have been dying to get my feet wet. I think it’ll be a good challenge. I think that it’s a touch too wide and will definitely be bringing the width in a few inches.

But however wedding-y this stole will be, I plan to make it in one of the wedding colors, dark olive green (the other is chocolate brown) A splash of color against all that white is going to be lovely.  After four yarn store expeditions, Karabella Lace Merino was the right fit. Thank you School Products!

Le Napkins
Did I mention that we’re having about 125 guests? My mother, sister, and I have been sewing up a storm of napkins.  To date, we have about 120ish completed. We’ll need extra for spoilage and I think that means we need about 160.

I decided that mine had to be fancier since I was invoking this crazy project. The Purl Bee had a great tutorial about making your own bias tape. It was a little rocky at first, but after the 15th napkin, I have this down to a science.

Intetionally, and perhaps insanely, the napkins are not all the same color. They are however in the same color family. I’m hoping this will have a fun and eclectic look on the tables. Besides, when the wedding is all over, I’ll be happy to have lots of different colors to keep, sew a quilt, or give away.

This weekend I’m off to visit the folks in North Carolina and get in some more napkins and hit the thrift shops with Mom. I see a trip to Joann Fabrics in the near future….

Done! The Estes Vest was finally completed about 10 days ago. I love it. It’s really big and really warm and I think this is a FO that I am going to be able to hang onto for a long time.  It did come out a little bit wider than I intended, but I think it’s ok. When I wear it outside, I’m going to want to be able to layer. There didn’t seem to be a need for buttons, at least not yet. The finishing took so long, I don’t even want to think about adding toggles. Besides, since it’s wide, i think I can put on some nifty snaps or something. Big A has been a big help with the brown detailing. Can you see it on the pocket edges? And check out the back!

You want some stats, right? Ok, here goes!

Pattern: Estes Vest, IK Fall 2008

Yarn: Husdon Valley Sheel and Wool Company, 8 skeins blue, 2 skeins brown

Time: 2.25 months

Mods: I added 3″ of length to the overall body. I felt that sample was a little tight for a bulky vest and I wanted something slightly larger. I think the sweater on the model was a tad small, so I also went up one size. I also made the collar slightly higher then specified. I added brown to highlight the i-cord edging on the bottom, back cables, sleeves and collar.

Here’s the question on everyone’s mind: How much yarn was leftover??

Two full hanks of blue, 3 small skeins of blue and half a skein of brown. I guess I’m making Jess a hat and some pot pie

And now onto the next looming project…..Big A’s neverendingraglan.

Looks nice and nearly finished, right? WRONG. If you look at the first photo, there’s a faint line of blue string across the chest. That’s the place where I ripped back to. The sweater is fitting him pretty good, except for the near-breaking tightness of the chest. I offered to block it harder, and promised it would stretch, but I know in my heart that it would probably be uncomfortable for him wearing a too tight sweater. So I ripped back just to the beginning of the raglan decreases, and plan to do less than specified, so he’ll breathe easier.

Oh and my new favorite mug from the last post? It died. Suicide. Just couldn’t take being used anymore and jumped off the cabinet. I was really bummed, but she’s in a better place.

Next in my knitting plans, is this owl. But after Big A’s sweater is done, he’s been shorted out of a sweater this winter!

The body is complete and blocked! To date there are now three hanks of blue left and two brown, which of course was intended as a contarast color for the i cord edging. Five hanks may seem like a lot, but there is much work yet to be done. There’s still lots O’ seaming, i-cord edging, pocket lining, collar, and button closures. It’s no where near finished. If you’re thinking of placing bets, this would be the time……..

I have no pictures of the vest to share, but I will share a lovely photo of my newest mug, a recent gift from my very good friend Maria. I love communicating through my mug.

Dear Readers, 

Way back when, in the Fall of 2008, several friends set out for The Great Rhinebeck. Your dear Virgina here, wanted yarn for a certain vest, a bulky, warm, cable-y vest. The Estes Vest. The yardage was very big for this vest, and with the mods she wanted, she was going to need a little extra. So abundant amounts of yarn she purchased. Her friends laughed, and said she got too much. “You’ll be making hats for all of us!” one said. “Did you read the pattern correctly?” said another.  

 ”Meh,” I said, “it’s what I need.” But one knitter amongst them would not be satisfied. Dear Mrs. Fig and Plum would not believe it. And so, they placed a wager. Should Virginia finish the vest with the yarn in hand, her friend would owe her one Chicken Pot Pie. And if there was much left over, Virginia would make her a pie in turn. 

And, in good faith, should I lose Jessica—I’ll throw in a hat with the pie.

 I’ll give you some stats on the yarn:

Shetland Lopi from the Hudson Valley Sheep and Wool Company

Super bulky, approx 5 sts to the inch on size 11s. 100 yarns per hank.

Pattern gauge is 4.5 sts to the inch on 10.5s. I required a minimum of 875 yards for my size. However, I intended to make my vest several inches longer, since it looked too short, and I’m short -waisted as it is. I purchased 1000 yards in blue, and another 2 hanks for the border in an chocolate brown. My gauge was on point with No. 10 needles.

 Well to date the back and the left sides are complete. 5 skeins down, part of the 6^th  as well. Watch out girlfriend!

Big A popped the question a few weeks ago, and (of course) I said yes! We’ve been dating almost 3 years, and have been thinking about taking the next step for awhile. We are so happy and so are our families. The ring is actually his grandmother’s and her name was also Virginia. Big A is named after his grandfather. It’s spooky that we all have the same names. I guess it was meant to be! The date is still being sorted for early Fall 09 and will likely be in Long Island.

For those of you with a sharp eye, you may have noticed the sweater in that picture. Why yes, it is the February Lady Sweater. I finished it just before the holiday, and gladly.

Stats!

Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman(/mods by Flint Knits)

Yarn: Brooks Farm Mas Acero (purchased at Rhinebeck 08, after much coveting this one.)

Needles: No. 5 circ and 7 DPN.

Buttons: Purchased at Brooklyn General

Time: 2 months

Mods: I used 5’s for the body because I wanted a tighter fit, and was getting gauge with that needle size. I used 7’s for the sleeves in order to have enough yarn for the whole sweater. The difference isn’t dramatic when put together, though it would have been nice to have slightly longer sleeves. I also added a collar using gleek’s guide. It seemed to need that extra fit around the neck. It also took me a few times to get those collar stitches looking seamless, but it finally came out right. I LOVE THIS SWEATER! It has been worn so many times already, and I think it might be my favorite project to date.  Here’s  a close up on the collar and the awesome buttons from Brooklyn General.

So with that sweater down, and new ring on the finer, of course I had to start a sweater for Big A! I already had in mind the Men’s Zippered Raglan from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. He asked for the zipper to be only halfway down to prevent any sitting man-pooch.  I picked up some Cascade 220 Superwash and it is plugging along nicely. Almost too nicely. As much as I love this man it is a bit dreary to knit plain ribbing for 15 inches. however, the end is in sight.

While that’s on the kneedles I’ve also cast on for the Estes Vest, from the latest IK. The complex cables and counting give me a nice balance between the two projects, (Question: to zone out or not to zone out?). There is a wager based on this vest, but I’ll save those details for next post, with another progress shot.

This sock, Priscilla’s Slippers, is my first knit design. When Stephanie announced she was looking for patterns for popknits, I knew I wanted to give design a try. I’ve been knitting since I was about 12-13, and have never given it a shot, so why the hell not?

My mother’s friend Priscilla gave me this fantastic vintage stitch dictionary that I refer to for new ideas all the time. It was fitting to research there for a vintage stitch pattern to fit Steph’s theme of the magazine. I knew I wanted a woven look, and I love cabling, so it was simple to imagine what I wanted, but much harder to get down on paper! Still, I enjoyed the experience and plan to definitely try it again.

I’d like to give a special thanks for those that helped me put these socks together. First, Stephanie for her patience and creating this fantastic magazine that inspires a new look at knitting. Marie for her donation of the yarn. Connie for her consultation on design and motivation to the finish line. Gabbe Grodin for having the perfect dainty shins needed for modeling, Ovidiu Stoica for photographing the most excellent pictures immagionable, I have amazing neighbors.

Let’s see some more pictures!