Spiral Pouch from A Knitted Peace - Done!

A pouch of perfection...

I never fail to get a kick out of acquiring a new skill.  Mental nimbleness aside (research shows it helps keep our brains healthy to learn new skills), the sense of accomplishment in adding to your knitter’s toolbox is hard to beat.  Clever projects that not only leave me with a useful object but expand my abilities?  Well, it doesn’t get much better than that.  

Let’s start with the bag.  It’s the perfect size for gifting--outshines the standard gift card holder by a mile.  And I suspect I’ll use this pattern many times, as it is also the perfect size to hold a bar of artisan soap--one of my very favorite gifting items.  The spiral ridges make for a lovely shape, as does the flared drawstring top.  This would come out differently with every yarn you used--an infinite variety of bags.  And embellishments?  You could go wild if you wanted.

Making the cord was an adventure.  First, I strung out two 10-yard loops--a length that stretched from one of my kitchen counter chairs to halfway through my living room.  While I found the optional instructions of attaching the yarn to a hand mixer (I only own a recently acquired stand-up which seemed ill-suited to the task) entertaining, I chose to go “old school” and do it by hand.  This landed me a set of first-class hand cramps as well as the scoffing laughter of my 16-yr old son, but it got the job done. Had I the LeClerc Fringe Twister I encountered during my visit to Fiberwood Studios, life would have been perfect.

While I think this particular fiber made a bit too thick of a cord (when I do it again I think I’ll just use one 10-yrd length instead of two), it might work beautifully with something less wooly.

All in all, I’m delighted with the results and this pattern is most definitely a keeper.

Blessed, yarn-filled holidays to all of you, DestiKNITters, and we’ll begin our adventure in Nashville after Christmas!

Knit Along: Mohair Shrug from Showers of Flowers - DONE!

Ah-HA!

Well, perhaps a qualified ah-ha.

I finished it...with a few modifications. I did four pattern rows instead of five because the shrug felt just too big--all the way to my elbows--with the fifth row. And the fact that I had only hours until the party may have had something to do with it. For the same “volume of fluff” reason, I opted for a button closure rather than the ties called for in the pattern, but more because I had this really cool purple button than any time-saving inclination. It’s a stunning piece, and very warm. I wore it to a winter party with a sleeveless shell and was quite toasty. This will be my Christmas Eve adornment, I’ve decided. All in all, I’m happy with the results.

Will I go full-tilt knit-til-you-drop like that again? Probably not. I'm glad to know I can pull it off, but it took all the fun out of it to knit until my fingers hurt. While I did get very far in my audiobook version of Diana Gabaldon’s Echo in the Bone (and that’s a 45 hour audiobook!), it was just too much knitting. All achievement of product and no enjoyment of process. Still, I had a point to make. So much of my life has defaulted to “Plan B” lately that it felt insanely satisfying for something to go the way I originally planned. The shrug was as much emotional statement as it was fashion statement.

Two tips I’d offer:

1. The directions aren’t quite clear that you are doing the “knit one below” pattern on every row. Once I got that straight, then things went nicely. When I thought I had to just knit the wrong side rows, it just looked like a tangled mess.
2. With so fuzzy a yarn, it was definitely hard to see which stitches were knit and which were “knit one below.” I ended up putting markers every ten stitches just so I could count back easily when I needed to (which was often).

This piece taught me a lot. I learned a new skill, I learned when to go for broke to finish a piece and what’s gained from such a commitment. I learned I don’t like knitting for hours on end, up against a deadline, because us writers have way too many deadlines in our lives as it is. But I also learned that sometimes, knitting is the one thing in life you can control...and some days, that’s priceless.

Next up from Denver? An adorable, light-hearted needle-felted sheep. The perfect counterpoint to massive-scale knitting.

If I don’t stab my finger. Band-Aids at the ready...

Denver, CO - Day Four

DAY FOUR (Sunday for our purposes)

The great outdoors...

As always, our final day represents a kick-back or sorts, a slower day to wind down from our adventures and savor all the goodies we’ve acquired. As such we’ll start with the traditional Sunday morning fav, a good cup of java:

Metropolis

300 W 11th Ave # B

Denver, CO

(303) 534-1744

www.metropolisdenver.com

If you’re sit on the couch and read the Sunday paper kind of person, this is a good place to do it. If you need to catch up on your email so there aren’t 7,000 items in your inbox when you get home, they have wifi. It’s good to remember that your plastic won’t get you anywhere here--this is a cash-for-caffeine establishment. Ease into your final Denver day at this clean, low-key coffee spot, but don’t snack too much on whatever food they’ve got available, we have plans for that at our next stop:

Whole Foods

2375 E. 1st Ave,

Denver, Colorado 80206

(720)941-4100

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com

A grocery store? Yep. Although, unless you’ve been living under a capitalist rock for the last decade, you’ll know that this isn’t your grandmother’s Piggly Wiggly. You’re going on a picnic, and this is one of the best places I know to stock up for a lunch in the park. Wander the aisles, feeling oh-so-environmentally friendly, and tuck some exotic fruits, cheese, crackers, etc into a basket to enjoy at our next location.

The Great Lawn at Lowry Park

Yosemite Street and Lowry Boulevard

This newest of Denver Parks seems to have a host of great places to sit, knit, and nosh. The view rocks--it is the Rockies, after all--and the air does that thing mountain air is supposed to do to your soul. Some portions of the 50-acre recreation spot will be in progress through 2010, but open space is a marvelous tonic to just about anything. Spend as long as you like here, spread out in all your knitting alfresco glory.

Just when you feel a nap coming on, either give in or counterbalance it with one final sugar fix at:

Liks Ice Cream

2039 E 13th Ave

Denver, CO 80206

(303) 321-2370

liksicecream.com

Called by one reviewer as “the Denver landmark of ice cream,” the smell of cooking waffle cones has been known to pull in unsuspecting healthy people before they could think better of it. I don’t know who thought of Lemon Chocolate Chip, but I want to kiss them for their ingenuity. Like most really good ice cream establishments, be prepared for a line, but I can think of no better way to top off four days of fiber adventures. Just make sure you wash your hands before you touch that yarn!

There you go--four high-altitude days of fiber adventure in Denver. Beginning next week, we’ll start the Knit Along for The Lamb Shoppe’s shawl collar vest, where you’ll watch my newly acquired Continental Knitting skills fly me through the ribbing. See you then!

Denver, CO - Day Two

DAY TWO (Friday for our purposes):

Extreme, and loving it...

Today, we start with a Denver landmark. If you care even the smallest bit about books, you simply can’t visit Denver without making a pilgrimage to our first stop:

The Tattered Cover

1628 16th Street

Denver, CO

303-436-1070

www.tatteredcover.com

There are several locations, but this is the main one, and its coffeeshop is the perfect place to grab a quick breakfast for our day. If you’re a DestiKNITions fan, you’ve heard me rant about the demise of the good independent bookstore and how they need your business. Somewhere in this amazing store is a purchase with your name on it--go forth and find it! Don’t get too lost, however, we’ve lots of adventures ahead of us today. Hop in your car and head out about on a roughly 15-minute drive to the western side of town for today’s first yarn adventure:

Next Stop:

Showers of Flowers Yarn Shop

6900 West Colfax Ave

Lakewood, CO 80214

Toll Free: 1(800) 825-2569

Local: (303) 233-2525

www.showersofflowers.com

Now, I have to admit that I hear a lot of superlatives when owners describe their shops. When owner Sharon Sturm said “this is the biggest store you’ve ever seen,” I didn’t quite believe her.

Believe her. This is hands-down the biggest store I’ve ever seen. If they don’t have what you want, you may actually not want it--or you’ll find something else you want more. Obscure 6/0 US needle size? They’ve got it. Eight colors of self-striping sock yarn? Check. Sharon took me on a “backstage tour” that took my breath away. It was like yarn heaven--skeins and cones and balls literally as far as the eye could see. Now you may not get such VIP treatment, but don’t you dare miss the exquisite “floral” arrangements that give the store its name. Sharon creates stunning flowers out of yarn. I mean amazing, carry-them-down-the-aisle-at-your-wedding kinds of arrangements. Celebrities get them. Heads of state own these. When I die, I want my funeral flowers to come from here. And buttons? The store is as known for its buttons as it is for yarn. It has its own auditorium for fashion shows, for crying out loud! If you spy a trio of dogs, chances are Sharon is at the store, and you should make it a point to see her and ask her to tell you stories about the flowers she makes. Or sit by the fire and knock off a few rows surrounded by all that fiber beauty. The whole place is just an experience not to be missed.

As you’re walking around with your mouth hanging open (unavoidable, believe me), check out the following projects:

Mohair Shrug

This cozy wrap is our Knit-Along from Showers of Flowers, and guaranteed to take the chill off in style. Done up in Mousse from Kint One Crochet Too’s Gourmet Collection, the fuzzy jewel tones are an eye-catcher. Holiday party, here we come.

Entrelac Look-Alike Scarf

Entrelac got you stumped? Here’s a scarf that looks like entrelac, but isn’t. The staff can guide you to a colored yarn that will give you the stained-glass effect of entrelac without all that pesky picking up of stitches. Plus, I love the zig-zag edges.

Retro Vest

Throw yourself back to the sixties with this funky, fringy vest done in a sueded yarn for ultimate grooviness. If texture is your thing, this project has enough pattern and texture and movement to make your day.

You know those folks who just plain love yarn. Love, love, LOVE yarn and knitting? This store is filled with those people. You can gasp and oogle and everyone will know why--you’re amongst your own kind in here. Sharon told me people have actually hyperventilated upon seeing the sheer volume this store has to offer, so keep a paper bag handy. Better yet, bring a big paper bag to hold all the goodies you’re likely to take home from this behemoth of stores.

Need a little counterbalance to all that splendor? I got it covered. Grab your sense of humor, a child (or friends who just act like children), perhaps some antacid, and head on down the street to one of the strangest, wildest restaurants you’ll ever see:

Casa Bonita

6715 West Colfax,

Denver, CO

303-232-5115

www.casabonitadenver.com

DO NOT go here on a weekend evening! Even a weekend lunch might have lines longer than a theme park--unless you want to wait a very long time for very mediocre mexican food, stick to a weekday lunch. And the theme park reference? Well, it’s not far off the mark. If Taco Bell and ChuckECheese had babies, you’d get Casa Bonita. The place features (and no, I’m not making this up) strolling musicians, daring cliff divers (pilfered shamelessly from what I guess to be local high school diving teams), exciting gunfights (looking suspiciously like dried-off cliff divers), amazing magicians, hilarious puppet shows...and my personal favorite: dancing monkeys in costume. Really, how can you pass up this cathedral of kitche? You don’t come here for the food. You may regret coming here for the food. If Pilsbury made sopapillas, they’d come close to what Casa Bonita serves. This isn’t cousine by a long shot--and don’t worry, I’ll make up for it later in the day. But the atmosphere? It’s absurdly memorable. While I doubt I’ll come here again, I’d have been really sorry to have missed seeing it at least once. Plus, if you don’t have a child with you while you’re eating here, folks just look at you funny--and that’s entertainment in itself. Don’t bother with desert, we’ve got a compensatory premium ice cream joint all picked out for you.

Head back into town--the east side to be exact, for our next adventures. While it sounds like you’re trekking all over the rockies, you’ve really only traveled about 20 miles in total by the time you hit our next stop:

Sweet Action Ice Cream

52 Broadway

Denver, CO 80203

303-282-4645

www.sweetactionicecream.com

I promise, your desert here will make up for everything I’ve just put your digestive system through. I don’t think there’s anywhere else on the planet where you can get baclava ice cream. While that recommended treat wasn’t on the menu the day I visited, I did have a unique flavor called “horchata,” which was a creamy, ricey, vanilla-ish concoction which is evidently a Mexican drink (see, I was thematic without even trying). The popsicles here are not kid-stiff and worth every penny of the $30 they charge for a box of 24. Taste three or four ice cream flavors (my sources tell me to make sure you try the classic oreo), decide on your preference, and mosey up to the open-to-the-sidewalk counter to people-watch over your sugar fix. Sure, the neighborhood is a bit edgy, but that just adds to the fun!

As you slurp up the last of your chocolate sauce, look to your left and you’ll just barely make out our next fiber find:

Fancy Tiger

1 S. Broadway

Denver Co 80209

303-733-3855

www.fancytiger.com

I love this store’s clean, arts & crafts feel. It has an quirky, funky edge that fits the neighborhood, with a young and hip feel that attracts an adventurous younger clientelle. They love knitting newbies at this store, and the welcoming atmosphere seeps right into you as you walk in. Owners Amber Corcoran and Jaime Jennings showcase a lot of local and handspun yarns, and have a sizable spinning section, too. While it has a little bit of a French Market feel to it, this is definitely not your grandmother’s yarn store. It’s also a store to service quilters, with fabrics and sewing classes designed to help you get your craft on in any number of mediums. Walk upstairs to see roving in more colors than I’ve ever seen anywhere. Keep your eyes peeled for the following projects:

Curly Sheep Needlefelting Kit

We’re taking a detour on our Knit-Along from this shop, so you’ll get to watch me dive into the world of needlefelting (get out your bandaids, people, this could get ugly). An adorable little foray into many knitter’s second passion, this little guy feels entirely dooable and hard to mess up. Stay tuned to see if that’s true.

Knitty.com’s Urchin Hat

Done up in any number of colors in a thick yarn such as this Malabrigo’s Chunky, this hat has a little bit of pattern pizzaz going for it as well as a gage that ensures a quick speed.

Mousie from Ysolda Teague’s Little Whimsical Knits

You can see why this little guy is a store favorite, all big eared in grey and pink Naturespun sportweight from Brown Sheep Co. Totally irresistible!

And, in a new feature, here’s a knitting gadget recommended by staff member Zach: The Sweater Stone. Your nifty sweaters will never be ruined by unsightly pilling ever again!

Take an hour or two to wander up and down the street--this neighborhood is diverse and interesting (granted, if it might be a bit “edgy” for some of you). You owe it to yourself to stop into the Goodwill Store just down the street--it’s the nicest one I’ve ever seen. When 5:00pm rolls around (have reservations here just in case), head over to your sumptuous dinner spot:

Beatrice & Woodsley

38 South Broadway

Denver, CO

303-777-3505

www.beatriceandwoodsley.com

I had a lovely tea at this restaurant, because my travel plans would not allow me to come for dinner, but they only serve tea from 2-4 on weekends. Feel free to rework the itinerary to allow you to come for tea if you like--I highly recommend it. No matter what, though, make sure you check out the clever sinks in the washrooms. Really, I know that sounds odd, but I mean it. This place felt like I was dining in the forests of Lord of the Rings--all tall trees and lights and white wood. Where is Viggo Mortenson when you need him? This romantic spot’s small plates concept allows you to get adventurous without stuffing yourself. It’s one of those restaurants that just begs you to linger over good wine (or an exotic cup of tea) and great conversation. Make sure you ask your server to tell you the legend behind the name...it’s as romantic as the decor.

You’ve traveled from the ridiculous to the sublime today. Kick back anywhere you like and knit the night away, for there’s more to come.

Denver, CO - Day One

The Mile High Sugar High...

This was my third trip to Denver, and it remains one of my favorite airports to get stuck in, much less the sight of many writing related conferences over the years. It’s definitely a fiber-friendly city, with a big selection of yarn stores to choose from and knitting-friendly weather to match. Even if your relationship with a ski slope is like mine--you sit in the lodge knitting while you watch other people risk life and limb--this is a sweater town, just waiting for your hands and needles to take them up on the challenge. Ready, set, knit-eat-shop!

DAY ONE (Thursday, for our purposes):

First Stop:
Gateaux
1160 N Speer Blvd
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 376-0070
www.gateauxpastries.com

Now, you know I’m a fan of doing desert before meals, so what better way to start off a great weekend than with cupcakes? Aside from the delights a dazzling array of flavors (locals recommend the white mojito among others), Gateaux has mini-pastries so you can load up on loads of options while you plan out the rest of your visit. Don’t worry, we do actually have lunch plans. Folks say the bombs are, well--I have to say it--“the bomb,” as well as superb cinnamon rolls. They donate 10% of their tea cookies to local charities--it’s practically your civic duty to eat them. Awaken your tastebuds from their highway truckstop or airplane food stupor with a few goodies from this much-recommended establishment before we start our tour.

Next Stop - Actual Lunch:

Under The Umbrella Cafe and Bakery
3504 E 12th Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 256-0797
www.undertheumbrellacafe.com

Balance is the key to eating desert first, so you want to make sure lunch is light and tasty. For a quick and close sandwich, soup or salad, this is the spot. Massive breakfast burritos can also be had if you’re truly hungry, though, so chances are something at this friendly spot will hit your spot. It’s one of those homey places where they’ve got WiFi and nobody’s going to rush you out if you need to sit for a bit. You may even want to log on and make your dinner reservations (see below). A friend recommended the BLT, but I wasn’t there at a mealtime to take it in so I can’t confirm, but a good BLT is a delight to behold in my book. Before you think the place is all about healthy food, however, be warned that they are known for their lemon bars and lemon squares, too.

Walk a few doors down to our first yarn store of the tour:
The Lamb Shoppe
3512 E 12th Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 322-2223
www.thelambshoppe.com

This is one of those totally comfortable, welcoming shops where you could waltz in and plop yourself down in a chair for three hours and everyone would know you by name before you left. How can you not love a place that has a monthly pajama party? Look to either side of the deep store and bask in the high walls of non-stop yarn. Inspiring and encouraging, one owner says, “I want you out of scarfdom by your third lesson.” If they can’t get you over your fear of circular needles or double-pointed needles, no one can. And they serve coffee! One of the customers I talked to described it as “the most pleasant place to be.” I agree. Owners Mary Carol Jehn and Anita Meyer have attended to every conceivable detail--from the handy needle inventory on the back of their business card (don’t I wish I had that during my size 17 needle fiasco from our last episode!) to the excellent lighting throughout the store. I don’t feel like I’m coming to a yarn store, I feel like I’m visiting someone’s home. Adding to the atmosphere is Andy, the absolute perfect yarn-store dog.

Projects:
Shawl Collar Vest
Mary Carol is wearing it in the photo, and I’m delighted this will be our Knit-Along for the episode. Buy the Misty Alpaca Chunky in any of the delectable colors they carry (and they carry loads of colors!), and you’ll get the pattern free. Mary Carol was even kind enough to adapt the pattern for my tall frame right then and there (much appreciated!), ensuring me a fashionable fit.

Mai Win Schwartz’ I-Cord Hat
Adorable and unique, this little cap can be done out of lush Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran or it can be a creative scrap-buster project.

Circle Scarf
You’ll need to actually sign up for the class for this one, because it’s a truly unique pattern that needs a set of eyes looking over your shoulder, but I’d have signed up in a heartbeat if I had the time. And hey, I’d want to sign up for a class just to have a reason to make multiple visits to this place.

Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the company fellow knitters--this place is always full of friendly fellow fiber fiends. You may get a few more recommendations on places to visit outside of what I found, not to mention making instant friends. This isn’t just a yarn store, it’s a community worth visiting.


When it’s time for dinner, head farther southeast to:
Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar
2780 E 2nd Ave,
Denver, CO 80206
322-9554
www.hapasushi.com

Aside from their good food, Hapa is known for their racy menu item names. You can start off with your usual miso soup, but I dare you not to blush while ordering the customer favorites the “Multiple Orgasm” or the “Booty Call” rolls no matter how good they are. Shock value aside, their food is very fresh and very good, and the perfect lighter compliment to the sugar highs we called meals today. And speaking of sugar, this is one of the rare asian restaurants that features a full and creative desert menu. No settling for red bean iced-cream here, kiddos...although they do have the charming little Moochi rolls that are a personal favorite.

Sugar? check. Yarn? check. Dinner? check. I’ll take this moment to recommend my personal favorite Denver B&B:

Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast
2147 Tremont Place
Denver, CO 80205
www.queenannebnb.com
(303) 296-6666

I’ve personally stayed in the Aspen Room, which is painted with a wall-to-ceiling mural to look like you’re sleeping in an Aspen forest.

Whether you’re staying here or anywhere else, head on back to your lodgings, get in a few more rows on your current project, and get ready for more tomorrow.

Interview with Debbie Macomber!

If you are a knitter and a writer, it doesn’t get much bigger than Debbie Macomber. The pioneer of “knit-lit,” Debbie’s life-long love of knitting has produced some of the most beloved fiber-y fiction on shelves today. I was thrilled right down to my dpn’s to have the opportunity to sit down with her as both of us attended the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Denver this September. I'm on the left, if my height hasn't already given me away.

What’s on her needles? Vests for her granddaughters, Qiviut (musk ox underhair? How exotic!), a feather and fan shawl pattern she says is giving her fits (get in line, Debbie), and she’s just finished a pair of booties for a forthcoming grandchild.

New York Times bestselling status aside, you have to respect a woman who’s completed an intarsia blanket on size #4 needles. As you’d expect, she has some great stories. Like the time she asked her husband to unravel a stalled project so she could re-use the yarn, only to discover he’d unraveled her current sweater WIP. Or the less-than-enthusiastic reaction she received from her grandson when she knit him a sweater--in true Debbie Macomber fashion, that particular tale has been transformed into a children’s book: The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater . . .That Grandma Knit. With--of course--a child’s sweater pattern inside.

Debbie’s living a fantasy of many knitters--when I asked her about unfinished projects, what I believe to be the challenge of most knitters I know--Debbie admitted she normally finishes most things, but pays people to finish projects for her if need be. Imagine being one of Debbie Macomber’s personal knitters! Now I want knitting minions. I’d better sell a whole lot more books.

And her office is above a yarn store--her own! Called--naturally--"A Good Yarn" after her groundbreaking novel. Next to an ice cream store. I hear a new DestiKNITions episode calling...

Debbie’s love of knitting is fierce as anyone’s. “A gift from God,” she describes it, and it’s no cliche. Struggling in school as a young girl, Debbie say God planted the idea in her head one day to learn to knit (no one in her family had taken up the craft). Her mother took her to a yarn store, and knitting became her salvation. The sense of accomplishment and creativity garnered from knitting became a lifeline for her at a challenging time. How many of us would join her in saying knitting has been our lifeline? If we lined ourselves up, I bet we’d circle the globe. Sort of like my stash.

While we were talking, another woman came up and joined the conversation. Three strangers instantly, warmly bonded by what we do with yarn and pointy sticks. Makes you wonder how much better the world would be if more folks knit.

No, I don’t wonder, I know.

Debbie said, “I hope there’s knitting in heaven.”

I hope heaven’s like knitting.