Feral Knitter

Just Call Me Martha

Have I got the end-of-the-year cleaning and organizing thing going on! I can charitably be called an indifferent housekeeper, but at heart I love neat and pleasant surroundings. And I love starting the holidays with some level of clarity and peace.

Some of this involves housework, of course. I've cleaned out the fridge (dudes--INCLUDING the FREEZER!). I've pulled everything out of the cupboards, wiped down the shelves, discarded the outdated foodstuffs, put things like buckwheat flour into cool plastic storage containers.

 

We hired a friend to turn a previously unused little closet in the kitchen (at one time it held the water heater, back when a 10-gallon water heater served a household) into shelves. Oh, I do love these shelves! With these shelves I can envision myself living an entirely different life: clear, organized, stylish, controlled, photogenic. My Tupperware fantasy.

Speaking of Tupperware, I actually sorted out the amazing number of plastic storage containers that have accrued in the kitchen. Listen to this: I THREW OUT THE ONES WITHOUT LIDS! I THREW OUT THE LIDS WITHOUT CONTAINERS! Really, I did. I shut down the little voice that kept saying: But what if you find the lid that goes with that one? Shut. It. Down. Flat.

I've also been trying to take care of some other stuff that's been cluttering my life. I took my little laptop in for a computer enema and upgrade (it was gone for more than a day, which made me rather anxious, to be truthful--plus, I realized how much time I waste in front of the screen, which will have to be addressed some other time because I'm on the computer now).

The mini-journals I talked about in the last post are part of this neatening up push. Several readers offered other great suggestions--be sure to check out the comments. I'm loving these little booklets--they are proving to be the perfect solution to my problem.

And the filing cabinet has not been safe from my zeal: bags and bags of recycling have left the house.

This organizing jag extends to the back yard, as well. For example, I've been wanting to set up an indigo dye pot for ages, but there wasn't any place for it. So last month a friend took the boards from the demolished deck and turned them into solid workbenches. I now have this lovely long dye bench!

But you guys come here for the knitting, so let me show you the results of my work:

 

The Esther Yoke Sweater is done!
 

Little Project Journals

Keeping track of different projects has become challenging--I have a million ideas and at least 10 of these at any time are works-in-progress. But my notes! They are all over the house (if I'm lucky, and haven't recycled them, having used them for shopping lists or noting phone numbers). Plus, I doodle a lot in the little notebook I keep in my purse, but those pages are quite small compared with regular sheets of paper. Periodically I've tried to corral them into file folders or plastic sleeves, which kind of work OK but are a bit unwieldy. And it is clear that WIELDY is what I need more than anything.

Ta da! My solution: little project journals! Cheap and portable--university exam blue books with a bit of construction paper to tart them up. One per project. I can paste in my doodles, tape in yarn samples, write down my intentions--and they fit easily into my knitting baskets and totes. Best of all: everything is in one place! I like that they aren't dear or precious, two qualities that can freeze me up right away.

What are blue books? They are little books made of about 4 sheets of regular paper folded and stapled into a mini-book. They're often used for college exams. They're flimsy and unlovely BUT--they cost about 35 cents.

 

I got the general idea from Lisa Sonora Beam, the author of a wonderful book, Creative Entrepreneur, and an equally inspirational blog. Her expressive way of approaching problem solving through journals fits really well with the inspiration journals I already keep. She makes mini-journals out of greeting cards--genius! I highly recommend her blog.

Find something that works for you!

Ways to Slow down the Rush of Time

In the last post, I expressed amazement at how November had flashed past. But I am pleased to announce that I have found the sure-fire way to slow time down. Way down.

Knit the edging on Jared Flood's lovely Bridgewater Shawl (from the Made in Brooklyn pattern collection by Classic Elite). This creates a simple but effective wrinkle in time. You will sit happily watching episode after episode of Chuck on DVD, knitting like mad all the while, and yet objectively nothing has been achieved in terms of making progress on the edging. Sort of magical, in a depressing kind of way. 

In the "making progress" column, however, I am pleased to announce that the Esther Yoke Sweater is done and blocking right now. I'm so pleased with how this turned out! Photos to follow.

I spent the day at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, reveling in the exuberant colors of the Amish Quilt exhibit. If you are in town, try to see this show.

No, Really. You're Kidding Me, Right?

 

Is it really December???

November was quite a busy month, with lovely visits from Gingko, Ms. Oz, Greg, and Marilyn. I launched my California workshop plan (it filled up right away, but I'm keeping a waiting list for future workshop offerings, if you are interested). A very nice family Thanksgiving. A re-landscaped yard--not fully planted yet (that will take time), but making me see the future beauty. Finalizing the giant work project.

But December? It's not right, I'm telling you.

The weather here in northern California is sunny and warm, and I think I'm going to push the holidays aside for a couple of weeks....

New Camera!

 
Thanks to a publicity-averse friend, I now have a fine, fine camera! This generous and unexpected gift will allow me (once I've mastered the controls) to photograph details of my work and capture the colors more exactly. My friend knew that I plan to begin writing up and selling my patterns in 2010 and that I needed the right tools.

Look at those colors!

Oh, this is going to be fun! Thank you, dear friend-who-shall-not-be-named!

11/22 Edited to add details about the camera, as requested: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35. For the photos in this post, I simply threw the knitting onto the coffee table in slanting sunlight. I didn't do any fancy settings or reflect the light or anything--just snapped (I suppose that's still the word, just as we "dial" phones in this age of touch pads....) the pictures.
 

My Own Private SOAR

 

For a number of reasons, my friends--Greg Cotton and Marilyn van Keppel--and I were unable to attend SOAR (the Spin-Off Autumn Retreat) this year. SOAR always has an inspiring list of teachers and can be counted on to produce a creative high that lasts for months, and we were pretty bummed that we couldn't go.

But we are nothing if not adaptable, and at 4 this morning Greg and Marilyn left after a wonderful 4-day Alternative SOAR in California that involved lots of food, discussions about food, fiber shopping, and a spinning workshop with Stephenie Gaustad.

They flew in Thursday afternoon, and after a quick lunch we stopped at Lacis, a goldmine of specialist tools and books for fine knitters, lace makers, historians, hatmakers, felters, ropetwisters, you name it. Then we went to A Verb for Keeping Warm, where Kristine has created a charming retail space filled with bright naturally dyed yarns and rovings.

Friday we grabbed lots of baked goods from Acme Bakery and lazed around the house, knitting and talking until it was time for lunch and a trip to Tactile for more naturally dyed yarn and roving from Maia.

 
Saturday morning we picked up Maia and drove east to the beautiful Sierra foothills, where Stephenie Gaustad and Alden Amos live. Alden is a well-known wheel and equipment maker who is quite free with his opinions; Stephenie is an amazing spinner, weaver, knitter, and dyer who has a strong understanding of fiber in all its forms. We had contacted Stephenie a few months ago to see whether she would be willing to offer our little group a 2-day cotton spinning workshop.

Stephenie started by introducing us to the different types of cotton--we got to pull apart cotton bolls, gin the lint (that is, remove the seeds with a little roller contraption), willow the lint (whack and toss it lightly to fluff it up), and card or comb it. I had been totally unaware of how delicately cotton must be handled!

We began by spinning on spinning wheels (built by Amos--their action was smoother than that of any other wheels I've spun on). Stephenie demonstrated the ultralight hold cotton requires and we practiced long woolen draw; later we practiced the one-handed double drafting technique.

On day two we learned to use charkas. There were several different types to try out.

I don't think Gandhi used the lanuage I was using.

In the afternoon we tried tahklis, small, metal spindles that are set in motion by a flick of the fingers to spin resting in a little bowl. This method of spinning totally entrances me--watching spinners who are adept at using supported spindles is like watching graceful Balinese dancers. Here's Stephenie calming spinning while talking!

We had an opportunity to visit the workshop where Alden and Stephenie build their beautiful wheels and tools--the care that goes into each piece is palpable. I admit that I came home with a tahkli and a lovely niddy noddy!

By the end of our two days, I felt that I understood the basics of the process--now I just need some consistent practice. I loved the personal attention that such a small workshop allowed--I'm not a particularly fast learner, but there was time to develop the feel for each step. Stephenie is a wonderful teacher, and all of us seemed to chat and laugh constantly. Although we could not re-create the amazing interactions of SOAR, I know that all of us had a wonderful time and felt no regrets about how things unfolded. 

We are already talking about doing it again next year....
 
 

Madrona Fiber Arts

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs--ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
~Harold Thurman Whitman

The teaching schedule for the upcoming Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat (Tacoma, Washington, February 11-14th) has been posted! As usual, the organizers have gathered an impressive array of teachers. This year, there are a number of classes on colorwork to consider.

I will be teaching a new 1-day class on Fair Isle yoke sweaters. This is a design-your-own sweater that is based on EPS (Elizabeth's Percentage System--Elizabeth Zimmermann's brilliant method of creating sweaters without patterns) coupled with a selection of my charts for yoke patterns. My previous color classes have been, shall we say, stuffed to the gills with an infinity of color choices--fun, no doubt, but overwhelming for many people. This class will take a minimalist approach--more classic, in a way: we will work with color wheels and five or six colors (chosen from the full array of Spindrift and Elemental Affects) to create interesting, flattering, and personal sweaters.

Registration opens on Monday, November 16th, and classes fill up very quickly! I've been going to Madrona for 8 years now and it never disappoints. 

Spindrift Color Cards

Thinking of colors, those of us who work with Jamieson's Spindrift have been waiting, patiently or impatiently, for new color cards that include all the new colors. Well, the mill has not yet made the cards, but the people at Camilla Valley Farm have taken matters into their own hands and created their own!

3-Day Workshop in Berkeley

Many people have asked me if I would be offering my 3-day Design Your Own Fair Isle Sweater workshop in California. I can finally answer YES!

When: January 15-17, 2010. 6+ hours each day.

Where: My home in Berkeley; limited to 6 students.

Workshop Description:

You can design a Fair Isle sweater that reflects your own personality—traditional, contemporary, subdued, extroverted—a garment that incorporates patterns that have meaning to you, colors that make your heart sing, a design that fits and flatters. Designing your own garment can seem daunting—but taken step by step, you can do it.

 

We will spend the first day playing with a collection of over 200 colors of Shetland yarn. We will begin by discussing the use of color in Fair Isle knitting, color theory, and helpful resources. We will start with an exercize in value recognition and then we will plunge into the actual process of identifying colors in our sources of inspiration. Then we will choose colors and start speed swatching to see how they work together.

 

Day two will be spent charting motifs and swatching with your colors. You can choose from among the hundreds of traditional, ethnic, and modern charts in my collection or bring a sweater pattern you already have that you’d like to re-color with your own palette.

 

Day three will focus on construction and fit issues specific to Fair Isle-type garments: steeks, corrugated ribbing, purl-when-you-can borders, and adding bands. I provide a basic, customizable pullover pattern and I will share some simple ways to calculate armhole and neckline curves.

 

By the end of the workshop you will be well on your way to finalizing a unique Fair Isle garment pattern and you will have the skills to complete it!

 

Please contact me for more information if you are interested! janine DOT bajus AT sbcglobal DOT net

Design a Day

The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.
~Thomas Edison

I needed something to counteract the dulling effect of early darkness, so I have made a vow to sketch a design every day for the next month. See my cute little notebook?

Nothing says commitment better than a dedicated notebook! I found this little pad at Office Depot, on sale for $1.99. I printed out the title and attached it with clear packing tape to make it an official notebook on the cheap.

I'm finishing up my huge work deadline, and we've also begun fixing up the outside of our house. When we bought it, the yard was about 50% concrete. Two years ago we got rid of a bulky ramp in the backyard; now we've begun a more ambitious project: getting rid of lots of concrete in the front and on the sides. (Please note that I use the word "we" quite broadly--I'm only directing all this work, but Royal of Sundance Gardens is doing the work.) Here are some before pictures of the front, side, and back:

And here are some part-way pictures:

it doesn't look like much now, but I can see how it's going to turn out and I'm so happy! The broken concrete will be used to make retaining walls and a little patio by the shed.

One thing that Berkeley has that makes work like this so pleasant: a Tool Lending Library that is part of the city library system.

So far we've borrowed a wheelbarrow, rebar cutter, tamper, and rebar wire twister (!). A fantastic resource--if your city doesn't have one, make it happen.

 
 
 
 

 

Enchanting Socks

There is a pain I have lived with all my life that I have never shared with you before:

I have big feet. Yes, big feet. I've never been able to enjoy shoe shopping the way other women do, having to content myself with men's shoes for much of my life. Even as a 5-year-old at the Buster Brown Shoe Store, hoping desperately to get my new school shoes there so I could have the special gift they gave out with the purchase of a pair, I had to leave disappointed, the salesman's words ringing in my ears: "She has fat feet, doesn't she?"

So one particular pleasure of being a knitter for me is that I can make colorful, pretty socks to fit my feet! Until recently, however, I've contented myself with simple socks knit out of self-striping yarns. Fun, yes, and fast (enough). No need for anything fancy.

But I now have in my hands a copy of Janel Laidman's new book The Enchanted Sole, and I think I am ready to branch out. Janel has designed 20 intriguing pairs of socks. Not your ordinary socks, no sir: these are, as the subtitle says, "legendary socks for adventurous knitters," each inspired by a legendary character or place. Top down, toe up, side to side, and several types of heels. Several of the socks (6) are lacey and others (6) have intricate cables. Some are also decorated with beads (and there's a good, illustrated glossary about knitting with beads as well as numerous other techniques). They are all charming and interesting--the Traveler's sock has a little pocket, the Galadriel sock laces up the back!

But of course what interested me were the absolutely wonderful stranded colorwork socks: Labyrinth, Mirror Mirror, Alchemist, Firebird and Tree of Life.

Labyrinth

Mirror Mirror--isn't that clever!

Alchemist

Firebird

 

Tree of Life
 
I'm really impressed with these stranded designs--having graphed my own motifs I know that it's not a simple endeavor. And Janel keeps the interest going to the toes! (I'm hard pressed to say which is my favorite--I've been designing a jacket called Feather & Wings that would look great with the Firebird socks.... )

Janel takes advantage of painted yarns paired with solids to provide color interest, although a color control freek could easily create their own Fair Isle-type color sequencing. She states specifically which yarns and which colorways she used, but she also gives the WPI (wraps per inch, a way of measuring how many times a yarn wraps around an inch measure, just touching--a good way to find substitutions). I like that each pattern includes calf shaping, correcting for the non-stretchy characteristic of the technique. Each pattern has specific information about the foot sizing and suggestions for changing length and circumference (so helpful to those of us who are not "normal").

I have admired Janel's dyeing and spinning work for a long time (she wrote a great article in Spin-Off magazine on using painted rovings, for example), so I am pleased that she offered me this opportunity to review her book. It is not often that a sock book catches my interest the way The Enchanted Sole has! Unlike many other self-published titles, the photographs are very good, the layout quite user friendly, and the charts clear.

Available from your local yarn shop or directly from Janel at Rustling Leaf Press. $25.95, paperback, 128 pages.