You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2008.
Oh goodness am I feeling productive lately. In preparation for the Ravelympics, I’ve been trying to get a few things out of the way. I finished these up on Tuesday and am on the verge of finishing another project. So take a peak.
Pattern: The Button-Up Socks (ravelry)
Source: ShibuiKnits
Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock in Peacock (2 skeins)
Needles: US 1 & US 2
Started: May 21, 2008
Finished: July 28, 2008
Overall these were a super easy knit, but sewing all the buttons on was a bit tedious. 22 shank buttons is not exactly my idea of a good time. But I loved the way they turned out, so it’s all worth it (and isn’t this usually the case?). And the next time I have a pressing need for socks that look like spats I’m totally set.
The yarn knit up so beautifully. I’m usually not a fan of anything the self stripes or even approximates that look, but because the difference in color is so subtle I really love it.
The buttons didn’t photograph as well as I would have liked, but each sock has 10 vintage pearl shank buttons, with one contrast vintage grey pearlescent button in the top buttonhole. This was really a matter of necessity. I could not find the kind of buttons I wanted in more than sets of 20 matching without spending far too much. But I actually love the way it looks. I think in the end it really set the ribbing apart from the rest of the sock in a way I’m really fond of. It’s always great when things work out this way. As Anzevino & Florencewould say “sometimes catastrophes become trophies”.
Find them on Ravelry here.
One of my favorite things about summer in DC is the all the different things to do for free. The city host a whole slew of things to do gratis, most of which are outside. And when the oppressive summer heat doesn’t get in the way, their are so many opportunities to enjoy. Of all the options my favorite is Screen on The Green, where one can bring a blanket and a picnic and sit on the mall to watch films with the added bonus of potentially running into everyone you’ve ever met in DC.
Last night was the second time I’ve caught Screen on the Green so far this season. They were showing Arsenic and Old Lace (if you look closely at the picture above you can see Cary Grant’s face on the screen), which I’d never seen before. It was quirky, but enjoyable, and seeing it outdoors only increased it’s charm (I enjoy any movie when viewed outside).
Not unexpectedly I was knitting away during the film. The real key to knitting at Screen on the Green is sitting relatively close to a lamp post. That way you can work on whatever you want and don’t have to limit yourself to “movie theater projects” (last week I was trying to do toe decreases far away from the lamp post, it wasn’t pretty). But the problem is when you can’t use your hands to prop you, sitting up for that long with nothing to lean on gets pretty uncomfortable. Which at one point in the evening lead me knitting while lying on my back. I couldn’t see the movie very well, but it was worth it to give my back a break. I might need to get one of those camping seats.
One of my other favorite things about Screen on the Green is just seeing the mall lit up at night. Everything looks lovely. The Air and Space museum is hardly one of my favorite buildings in DC, but it looks pretty great when it’s lit and the sky is glowing subtly behind. Or maybe it’s just summer that makes everything seem so fantastic.
For my birthday my darling mother gave me a subscription to the first Three Irish Girls Sock Yarnistasock yarn club. In a very timely fashion the first month’s yarn showed up on Tuesday. So here it is, the July 2008 offering from the Sock Yarnista club.
(WARNING, SPOILERS FOLLOW!!)
(A note on spoilers: because this is not an especially spoilery club I feel ok posting the yarn I get on my blog. Also it’s so pretty how could I not. But I do know some members are trying to be surprised when they open their package, so I will try to post this warning each month. But readers beware, this blog will now contain Sock Yarnista spoilers on a monthly basis.)
Yarn:Three Irish Girls, Kells Sport Merino
Color: Lady Slipper (July 08 club color)
Dye Lot: initial club run
Amount:one skein at 330 yds
Purchased at:through Sock Yarnista club
stashed on Ravelry here
The yarn is so incredibly beautiful. I cannot wait to knit it up. I keep fondling it, and it feels amazing. And it smells good too. Which is probably because it was packed in with two tiny bottles of a lovely looking woolwash that I also can’t wait to try. Seriously, my newly blocked items will now smells so good. I am beyond excited about this club. Who doesn’t love birthday gifts that last half the year?
The other fantastic thing about this club is that it comes with a pattern each month. This month the pattern is called Popsicle and is by Nicole Hindes. It can be found on Ravelry here. I love the pattern, but I had actually had my heart set on using this yarn for the Spring Forward socks from the summer Knitty. So I think I will save this pattern for another time, but it’s definitely been added to the queue.
There’s no better feeling than adding lots of pretty, pretty new yarn to your stash, especially when your aunt has an absolutely gorgeous garden to photograph it in. While I was in Cleveland I picked up some yarn at the great shops I mentioned before. Here’s what I scored…
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas, Alpaca Silk
Color: Peacock-139
Dye Lot: 6399
Amount: 2 skeins at 146 yds/skein
Purchased at: River Colors Studio, Lakewood Ohio
stashed on Ravelry here
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas, Alpaca Sport Weight
Color: Natural Light Grey-507
Dye Lot: 0005
Amount: 3 skeins at 110 yds/skein
Purchased at: River Colors Studio, Lakewood Ohio
stashed on Ravelry here
Yarn: Fleece Artist, Blue Face Leicester DK
Color: Rainforest
Dye Lot: -
Amount: 1 skein at 492 yds/skein
Purchased at: French Creek Fiber Arts, Avon Ohio
stashed on Ravelry here
The only one I’ve got plans for is th Alpaca silk. It’s going to become my Cowl Jump project for the Ravelympics. Can’t wait for August 8.
So some slight technical difficulties have kept me from posting much in the last few days. My computer died shortly after I got back from Ohio, keeping my online activity limited to work. But the computer situation is all sorted out, and pretty soon now I’ll have some lovely new stash photos for you all to drool over (since no one in my family remembered to bring a camera to the reunion I actually had to buy a disposable and have to pick up the photo CD before I can post the pictures).
Until then here’s a teaser taken on my brother’s new iphone…
So I spent all weekend at a family reunion in Cleveland and away from internet access. Luckily while I was deprived of internet, there was knitting around every bend. I got some time to work on many WIPs and wow all of my relatives who are now convinced that my mother and I are the worlds best knitters (shows what they know, but it’s always nice to be admired). So many projects have progressed a little further.
We also hit up a number of different yarn shops while we were in town. Because what trip is complete without a few LYS visits? We visited River Colors Studio and Stitch Cleveland in Lakewood. Both of which were great. I got some yarn and fabric goodies, so that was awesome. Really loved River Colors. Picked up yarn for my Cowl Jump project for the Ravelympics (mor eon that later), which is oh so scrumptious. While in Lakewood we also stopped to eat a fabulous place called Melt, which specializes in putting pretty much anything you want on grilled cheese. I went with avocado, bacon and swiss, not incredibly adventurous, but if you offer me avocado I can’t say no, while Roseanne had the Parmageddon, a grilled cheese with pirogi on it (seriously). Yum.
While in an intense food comma, we made our way to Avon where we checked out Birds of a Feather and French Creek. Picked up some Fleece Artist Blue Face DK for the stash, and was given a ravelry “hello my name is” button. Finally!
The verdict was that Cleveland had some really great yarn shops. I also hit up a great clothing shop called Clothing Brigade and got myself some goodies there too. So turns out Cleveland was way more fun than I remembered. Hurray!
Pictures of yarn scored to come when I’ve got them uploaded.
Ok so, it’s a tad off topic, since it’s not about knitting, but my blog is called Knitting Pretty in DC and this is about DC. And besides what good are blogs if you can’t occasionally use them to forward your own agenda. So here it is…
One of the lovely ladies from the LEDC dropped by some new fliers for their Think Local First campaign yesterday, with 10 awesome reasons to support locally owned independent businesses. I thought I’d share them with you, so you have something to think about next time you’re deciding where to shop.
1) KEEP MONEY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 goes back into the community and our tax base. For every $100 spent in a chain store, only $14 comes back.
2) HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
Independent businesses make purchases requiring less transportation and are usually located in commercial corridors and in-town instead of developing on the fringe. This means less sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
3) SUPPORT COMMUNITY GROUPS
Non-profit organizations receive an average of 250% more support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.
4) EMBRACE WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of our community. Where we shop; where we eat and hang out – all of it makes Washington DC home. That is what brought us here and will keep us here.
5) INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY
Local businesses are owned by people who live here, work here, and are more invested in our future.
6) PUT YOUR TAXES TO GOOD USE
Local businesses in neighborhoods need comparatively less infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
7) GET BETTER SERVICE
Local businesses often hire people who have a better understanding of the products they’re selling, and take more time to get to know their customers.
8) BUY WHAT YOU WANT, NOT WHAT SOMEONE WANTS YOU TO BUY
A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses means low prices over the long-term. Small businesses choosing products based on what their customers love and need – not a national sales plan -gaurentees a more diverse range of product choices.
9) CREATE MORE JOBS
Local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in Washington DC they provide the most new jobs to residents.
10) ENCOURAGE LOCAL PROSPERITY
In an increasinly homogenized world, people are more likely to invest in or move to communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and unique attitude.
Lately I’ve been catching up with the BBC series Robin Hood. The show has a very distinct color palette, especially the scenes that take place in Sherwood Forest. It is made up of deep, lush greens and browns. Maybe that is what attracted me to this Sunshine Yarns colorway.
I have wanted to try Sunshine Yarns for ages. Somehow it took until now for me to take the plunge. It is the Soft Sock Yarn in the colorway Thicket (although I think I’ll refer to it as Sherwood on my own time), and it is rich greens mixed with dark browns, and even a little black. I’ve yet to pick out a pattern for this yarn, but hopefully I’ll come up with something soon, since I can’t wait to try it.
Stashed on ravelry here.
A little while back I was seriously craving some color. I wanted to knit some socks that made me feel summery, in a light merino that wouldn’t make my fingers sweat well I worked on them. A trip to Stitch DC lead me to Farmhouse Yarns Fannie’s Fingering Weight in a super bright variegated reminiscent of tie-dye, which was just what I needed.
Pattern: Artichoke Socks
Source: Soxie
Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns Fannie’s Fingering Weight (less than one skein)
Needles: US 1
Started: May 24, 2008
Finished: July 5, 2008
These sock are my first finished project in a little while. The problem with WIP ADD is that lots get worked on and little gets done. But here they are.
They worked up very quickly and the pattern was relatively easy to memorize. I generally have trouble memorizing lace patterns, but the stitch pattern and row count had a certain amount of symmetry numerically which definitely helps me out.
Find them on ravelry here.
Tonight we went to see the fabulous Paul Taylor Company at Wolf Trap. The dance was absolutely fabulous, but my fingers get antsy during intermission so there was KIPing to be had.
Here’s a super fuzzy phone picture of me working on my waffle at intermission:
Wolf Trap is always so incredibly pleasant. They have fantastic performances, you get to sit outside, and the space is beautiful. We picnicked before the performance with some great Mediterranean food. It was a wonderful summer evening.
