Do you know how hard it is to take a photo of a cowl? Especially when you are too lazy to get the tripod and remote out?  22 blurry photos yesterday and 5 blurrier ones today got me this, which isn't even good.  Take my word for it, if you attempt this, have someone else take the photo or suck it up and get the tripod.  But I digress.

This cowl.  I love it.  Theresa gifted one to me as part of a swap two years ago and for the last two winters, I have worn it a ton.  Normally, I wouldn't think to make myself a second one, but I have realized that having a dog is going to require me to have two of almost all warm weather accessories.  Let me explain.  We enter and exit our house from the garage, which is down the stairs from the kitchen and is adjacent to our mudroom.  All coats get hung on hooks or in a small closet down there, shoes are left by the door and the mitts, hats, scarves, etc. have their place, too.  Super convenient. When the dog and I go for our twice daily walks, we go out the front door.  Not a big deal in the summer when I can throw a pair of flip flops on and off we go.  But as the mornings have gotten colder, I find myself leaving a pair of shoes by the front door for dog walking.  And it follows, of course, that I'll need to have other things like a second cowl at the ready, too.  Right?

Believe me, I know this reasoning is a stretch.  But work with me here.

I knit this up in a few hours between music lessons, waiting rooms and carpool lines.  I used Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky that I got at Purl last month. The yarn is to die for. So super soft and very light weight.  It took less than one skein.  I followed the pattern exactly with the exception that I knit it on a 16" size 13 needle as 24" just seemed too long.  I didn't like how the increases (m1) left small holes so the next one will get a different increase (probably k9, kfb next stitch).  I haven't blocked it so those holes may relax - we'll see.  Regardless, it was a very satisfying and easy project.  You might want to knit one.

Or two.

We spent the last week in the mountains.  Once the plane touched down, I had a this notion that I needed to knit something. right. away.  I decided on another tea leaves because I had the pattern on my computer.  But I hadn't brought any yarn or needles with me so I set out to visit the local yarn store.  I had a very difficult time finding a worsted weight yarn that I liked.  Get this:  the ones with enough yardage were all green.  Normally, I'd be doing cartwheels, but not when my other tea leaves is very green itself.  In the end, I settled on this sapphire blue.  It's Tupa by Mirasol Peru, color 812.  It might be a little smaller than worsted and I didn't swatch for gauge.  I also went down a size so in all reality, it may not work out so well.  Then again, it just may.

I have a large craft book library.  It's split pretty evenly between sewing books and knitting books.  It seems like a whole slew of books come out each season, and just like everyone else, I need to be selective about which books end up lining my shelves.

In that vein, I have come to appreciate craft books that focus on one area - maybe a technique like reverse applique or a theme like knitting for men.  The newest title in the STC Craft knitting library, Comfort Knitting and Crochet Afghans by Norah Gaughan continues this trend.  Using one kind of yarn, Berroco Comfort, Gaughan and her team came up with over 50 patterns for blankets and afghans.  The patterns vary in colors and technique.  Want to knit a solid throw with cables?  Or maybe lace is more your speed? You can find patterns that fit the bill.  How about simple stripes? Squares knit individually and sewn together? Colorwork? Those are there too.  Crochet is more your speed, you say? You'll find some simple patterns and some more challenging. Basically, there is something for everyone in this book.

This garter stitch throw is among my favorites. Simple and still interesting, it looks like the kind of project I could get into.

I also really like the fish ripple crocheted blanket.  Its small size (30" x 36") makes it a perfect baby gift.

There are so many more patterns (50+!!!) that I can't even begin to do the book justice.  The directions appear to be well written and easy to follow.  Additionally, the specified yarn, Berroco Comfort is machine washable and available in over ninety colors.  You can truly take any of these patterns and make it just like you see them or in the colors of your choice without having to worry about gauge.  I like that.

* * * * *

If you'd like a chance at winning a copy of Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans, tell me about your favorite blanket or throw.  I will pick a winner tomorrow, Friday, April 23, using the random number generator.

I'll be back tomorrow with shop news!

STC Craft sent me a copy of their newly released title, Knit Men Want, The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man by Bruce Weinstein.  I admit, I was intrigued.  I have knit Fatty a total of three sweaters in the 16 years that I have known him.  I have knit myself the same number in the last year. I'd like to even that out a bit, but it's hard to find patterns for men that appeal to both me, the knitter, and him, the wearer.  This book is my answer.

Bruce does an excellent job explaining how to go about choosing knits for the men in your life.  His approach is intelligent, practical and witty.  The book includes 10 patterns.  It doesn't sound like a lot, but the real value here is that Bruce gives you instructions and yardage requirements for six sizes and six gauges.  You choose your yarn, knit your gauge swatch, measure it and then follow the instructions for that gauge.  Brilliant!  He also gives you guidelines for figuring out what style sweater will appeal to the man you are knitting for along with what fibers to use and how to choose a color.Color is tricky, in my opinion.  It's no secret that I tend to favor green and would probably knit green garments for everyone that surrounds me.  Fatty likes green enough, but when he buys clothes, he tends to choose blue first.  I asked Bruce some questions about color and here is what he said:

Erin:  In your book, youaddress the reasons men often don't wear the sweaters women knit forthem.  One of the reasons is bad color choices by the women knitting. Why is choosing the right color so important? 

Bruce:  Nature is funny. I just came back from a local organic farm, picking upsome duck eggs for dinner and the turkeys chased me from my car to thebarn. Not the females. Those plain, drab, and quiet birds stood backwhile their guys, loud, aggressive, and highly decorated withmutlicolored feathers came towards us. Us being my partner Mark, myself,and Jeff, the farmer. The three human males each dressed in eitherblack or navy shirts and sweaters with no fuss or decoration. While inthe wild, males tend to pack on the color—reds, greens, purples,yellows, and pinks, civilization has trained men to tone it down. Thebasic black suit, perhaps a navy pinstripe, or khaki. Sure, there aresome men who'll wear pink hats and orange scarves but they are few andfar between. Most men just won't put it one if it's not dark and subtle.And if I had a dollar for every time I've heard a gal say that shewon't be caught dead knitting with drab dull yarn, I'd be rich. It'salso amazing how many brightly colored hand knit men's garments I'veseen over the years at goodwill shops and garage sales.  You do themath.

Erin:  What should aknitter consider when making their color choice?

Bruce:  The only thing to consider is the wearer. If it's for a man in yourlife, and you're not sure, then go to his closet. Take inventory. Whatsthere? Are there half a dozen navy sweaters and sweatshirts? Great.make it seven. If all the blues are dark, you can consider anothershade, like brown or green, but keep it in the same hue. If he likesnavy, he might like deep cedar green.

Erin:  There is not asingle bright color used in your book.  Do men really lack a sense ofadventure when it comes to the color of their clothes?

Bruce:  Here's where the difference between men's and women's perspectivecomes into play. I actually think the dark yellow scarf and green socksare quite colorful. Maybe some women would say they are only starting tolean towards bright, but from this man's point of view, they are as farmost men are willing to go. It's not that we're not adventurous, I justthing that in general, men don't like to call attention to themselves.The like to blend in. And it's in socks and scarves, which are justaccents not the main event, that we're willing to go out on a limb interms of color.

I highly recommend this book.  I had Fatty take a look through it andhe asked for the baseball sweater, in you guessed it, blue.  I'm happyto oblige.

. . . . .

STC Craft|Melanine Falick books is conducting a Knits Men Want sweepstakes.  For more information of the contest and to view the great prizes, go to this post.  You can learn more about this fantastic book by following Bruce's blog tour.  Details on his stops can be found here.

 
I did it! A big thank you to Jane for her excellent flip video skills.  The background clanging is courtesy of Fatty.

Now to add the button bands and weave in the rest of the ends....

Have a great weekend!

Happy Friday to you!

Thanks for all the steeking tutorial links - I read them all, debated which way to go, and then got busy.  Originally, I thought I would definitely use the sewing machine to secure the stitches because that is the way I did it long ago.  After reading the different tutorials and because I was a tad concerned about shoving a handknit pullover through the machine without distorting the fabric, I got out the crochet hook.  I spent over an hour last night while watching the Olympics getting the first side crocheted.  I was a little worried that the crochet wouldn't hold well after cutting.  But, I don't think I need to worry any longer.  I had to tear out my first 3 inches of crochet due to an error on my part and wouldn't you know that the yarn was super grabby and very hard to get out.  Phew.  Now for the second crochet row which should happen today or tomorrow.  Then I'll cut.

I've been sewing this week, too.  While cleaning the sewing room, it dawned on me that if I just made the projects that I bought all this fabric for, then I'd have a cleaner room and much more space.  I started doing just that and have already gone through the better part of 10 yards of fabric.  It feels good.

I hope you have a great, relaxing weekend.  I'll be back as soon as the steeking is finished.

And I am getting a little nervous about cutting this pullover to make it a cardigan.  I did it once before and it worked out fine, but that was over 15 years ago.  Anyone have a good steeking tutorial they can recommend?

I love any reason to pull my colored pencils out of the art cabinet and use them.  Charting the fair isle pattern for my sweater was the perfect excuse.  As I sat and knitted the first few rounds of the yoke, I thought just how much I love fair isle knitting.  And then I remembered that I said the same thing the last time I did it and wondered why I don't do it more often.

I have received numerous emails and comments asking me about whether or not I will sell guitar straps like the one I made for Jane.  I really want to and I am looking into figuring out just how to make that happen.  I'll let you know as soon as I make a decision either way.

I enabled threaded comments a week (or two?) ago.  I really like it this way because it allows me to respond to people quicker and more efficiently and it allows you to comment on other peoples' comments, too.  A virtual conversation, of sorts.

I haven't forgotten about the snack pdf.  I just haven't had the time to get it together.  But I will soon.  We have added smoothies to the mix and they have been well received.

Staying up late to watch the Olympics is making me super tired and a bit crabby.  I am going to do my best to go to bed early tonight.  Or take a nap.  Or both.

I wish I had a personal organizer who could come over and help me sort out the studio.  The mess is epic and there is a lot of fabric and other stuff that needs to go, but I feel paralyzed every time I look at it.

The sun is out and I am happy for that.