Detour: Shamelessly smitten self promotion

HOMEFRONT HERO

I’m sorry, but I simply can’t stop myself from crowing about this one:  I got to write a knitting novel!

You probably have an idea of how deliriously happy that makes me.  Honestly, to write a  book where the hero falls for the heroine over KNITTING--it was like a convergence of wonderfulness for every creative cell in my body.

  

Of course, because this is a romance novel, WWI Army Captain John Gallows is devastatingly handsome, arrogant, and silver-tongued.  What’s better is that he is a complete oaf at knitting even though the Army has forced him to learn--in the public eye, no less--to convince boys to join the Red Cross “Knit Your Bit” socks for soldiers campaign. 

He describes his first encounter with dpn’s as “wrestling a porcupine.”

He muffs entire rows of ribbing.

He never makes it to the second sock (but I’m not telling why...).

He is slack-jawed with astonishment when he turns the heel.

Don’t you just love him?

Now, no fab-u-lous guy like that can have just any heroine.  Nurse Leanne Sample is that master-knitter we all love to pal around with.  The kind who can pick up that mess you made and untangle it right in front of your eyes.  The kind who teaches everyone and anyone who is willing to learn.  The kind of woman who can be won with a hank of decadent yellow (and totally contraband) cashmere. 

Ah, but she’s no pushover, our gal Leanne.  She stands up to our cocky hero with a spine all her own, thank you very much.  She sees through the bravado to his very real pain--and we’re not just talking about his wounded leg.

They’re perfect together.  There’s loads of knitting in the book.  It’s so romantic I can barely keep myself from swooning--and I know how it ends!

Okay, shameless self-promotion over.  But really, I couldn’t help myself.  Not to you, destiKNITters, because you understand why I’m flat-out over the moon with this one.  

Thanks for indulging me.  Gotta have it?  Click here.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 4

Women Who Should Stare More At Heels...

I should know, by now, never to publicly boast about my competency in any knitting skill.   Did I get the heel turned and the heel flap done?  Yes.  And, in the end, it came out fine, although I will admit to no small amount of...well...fudging to get there.  I got cocky, trying to tackle this while watching Men Who Stare At Goats.  Turning heels is not exactly “let’s take in a flick” knitting.  One should concentrate.  All those short rows can be befuddling if you loose your place.

My folly makes a good point, though.  Every knitter ought to know how to turn a heel.  It’s a concept that looks exasperating on paper, but once you’ve done it, you understand the basic concept.  Yes, I lost my place.  More than once.  But because I knew what the end result was supposed to look like, I could work my way back without having to rip the whole thing out and start over.   As it was, I went on a bit of a detour, but eventually found my way back to the pattern’s intent and made it through unscathed.  That’s the beauty of knitting--it’s essentially forgiving in most parts.  

I’m deeply aware, however, that the patterns above the ankle will not extend to me the same grace.  But I’ll know enough to keep the DVR off while I knit.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 2

Toe-up!

Four and one-half inches of stockinette to make my sock toes?  Check.  Soxx Appeal is a wonderful yarn, soft yet springy with a marvelous elasticity.  They’re going to be comfy, I can tell already, not to mention such a cheery pink.   I feel like this is the warm-up for the tricky stitching to come.  A chance to stoke my confidence before the pattern taxes my brain cells.  I’m ready, bring it on.

As we all know, stockinette isn’t particularly compelling, so I’ve decided to show you my latest adaptation.  I was looking for a way to organize my circular and double-pointed needles, and ran across this accordion file at the office supply store (oh, my, I do love office supply stores).  It works beautifully.  Sure, there are lots of knitting products designed to do this, but I get great pleasure in finding “normal” objects and putting them to knitting use.  

What have you repurposed to serve your knitting?

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 1

A Case of Cold Feet?

In 1996, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (affectionately known as the Yarn Harlot) launched  the idea of the “Knitting Olympics,” urging knitters to cast on a new and challenging project during the opening ceremonies and strive to finish when the flame went out sixteen days later.   I’ve always loved the notion behind it--challenge yourself, even in knitting.

There is no torch involved here, but that doesn’t extinguish the fear that I’ll go down in flames on this one.  One has to gulp when the designer--in this case FiberWild’s creative genius Amy Loberg--hands you the pattern asking, “are you willing to work hard?” 

Even the pattern description on the internet chills the soul:  "Not for the faint-of-heart!"  "For the experienced knitter!"   Note the liberal use of exclamation points (theirs, not mine!)!

These socks are complicated, intricate artwork:  multiple patterns, openwork, cables, just about every trick in the book. Not your average toe-toaster by any stretch of the imagination.  Even bolstered by my recent colorwork mitten victory (by the same designer, I console myself), I’m nervous that these will not turn out well.

Still, I’m game.  And you all get to watch.  Well, the first inch is done without drastic incident except that I had to look up the definitions for M1R and M1L.  That, I can handle.

Stay tuned, this could get really interesting.

Knit Along: Stirrup Socks from Purl Soho - Day 1

A good ribbing...

I’ve decided we don’t give nearly enough credit to the rib.

Actually, I’ve worn enough socks to remind me I don’t respect ribbing enough.  You know the kind of rib-less, mass-produced sock I’m talking about--usually from a department or discount store.  They’re deceptive, making you think thin and synthetic is sleek and chic.  They lure you in with their perky, clever patterns...

...until you go to take them off at the end of the long day.  There, facing you below your knees, is a clear, disturbing dent in your calves from where they were too tight on top.  You begin to wonder what kind of cellular damage has been wrought throughout your day, wonder if these strangulating socks were indeed the reason for your never-ending fatigue and general crankiness.  After all, nothing as cozy as socks should ever leave a mark.

It is then that I run to a pair of hand-knit socks, sure to hug my tender cankles in soft, forgiving ribbing.  No marks, no scars.  Unless, of course, these were toe-up socks and I botched the bind off (okay, it’s been known to happen).

I hold these hand-crafted socks from Purl Soho and know, just by how the first inches feel, that they will be comfortable, warm, and a delight to wear.  It’s in the give of the wool, the rhythm of the rib, the artistry of a good pair of hand knit socks.

These will be like that, I can just tell.  You can probably hear my sigh all the way to New York.

Chime in with your comment to win this “P” totebag from Purl Soho.  I’ll even throw in an Allie Pleiter book of your choice if you like, just because I think you’re spiffy, too!

Knit Along: Comin’ Round the Mountain Socks from Hearthstone Knits - Almost Done But...

The hard-toed truth

It has to be faced.  

The hard truth that I cannot finish two complete socks in a timeframe that won’t bore you to tears.  Well, at least not finish and have a life outside of my knitting bag.  

I really like these socks.  I’m proud of myself for mounting the challenge that it was to attempt them.  For adapting the pattern, for turning two heels simultaneously, and for doing my first-ever socks with a pattern that went beyond simple ribbing.  

But that doesn’t mean you all have to suffer.

I’m heading happily down the foot of these socks, cruising through the switch-back pattern on down to the toes.  I finally got smart (really wish I’d done this on the leg portion...duh!) and put some stitch markers on the yarn-over pattern to keep things in line.  Why is it I always feel like a sissy for using stitch markers on simple pattern?  I always pay for it when I don’t, so why try to get all over-confident instead of humbly smart?  I may never know.  Anyhow, I predict these are going to take me another five days.  But I don’t think you really want to hang around and watch.  And, unless I decide to launch another once-in-a-lifetime medical drama (NO!), I don’t think there will be much to write about until I bind off.  So I’m going to make you all a deal:  with the exception of a final photo when I’m done, this will be the last entry on the socks.  

Later this week we will travel to Indianapolis, where I met some wonderful people and ate some outstanding ice cream and cupcakes.  See? Isn’t that more exciting to read about than the final inches of socks, even if they are awesome socks?

OK, I’m going to go get in a few more rows before lunch.  Because they really are awesome socks.

Knit Along: Comin’ Round the Mountain Socks from Hearthstone Knits - Day 4

Impatience

Yikes!  It took me almost a week to get those final inches of the sock pattern done!  It always infuriates my impatient nature when I can’t get to a milestone in a pattern in the timeframe I want.  It’s the writer in me...I’m way too deadline oriented.  Now, in a manuscript under contract, the family will cut me a little slack (translation:  eat pizza on less-than-clean counters).  They’re not as generous with my self-imposed knitting deadlines.  Perhaps if you all send me threatening emails, groaning about how you sit at home pining over my next installment...

In my daughter's terminology, as if.

I am delighted to report, however, that I have reached the heel flaps.  It’s rather like a fiber exhale, the simple rhythm of slip one, knit one, back and forth.  No stitch wrangling and mind-bending adaptations.  Of course, all of this peace and productivity will come to a screeching halt when I get to the “switchbacks”--especially since I’ve realized many of my swirling stripes aren’t exactly the same number of stitches wide. 

Yes, that could spell trouble indeed.

Knit Along: Comin’ Round the Mountain Socks from Hearthstone Knits - Day 1

Because I have two feet, you know...

That steam you saw rising over northern Illinois?  That was the smoke coming out of my overtaxed brain.  That grinding you heard?  My mental gears trying to figure out how to adapt this lovely pattern to my particular sensibilities.

Um, I may have bitten off more than I can chew here.

I need to say that none of my mental anguish has anything to do with Georgia’s charming pattern.  Her pattern is just fine.  Clever and original.  No, that’s not the issue.

This issue is that I don’t have the attention span to ensure production of a second sock so I need to do the “two socks on one circ” method.  Which makes for a complicated cast on, and some very tricky stitch-wrangling to handle the traveling yarn-over design as it jumps from needle to needle around the sock.  In short, certain portions of this episode’s festivities will be “fudged” in the name of getting both socks simultaneously done.  

Because I like these socks, I really like this yearn, and last time I checked I had two feet.

One of which I may be inserting repeatedly into my mouth during all this.

Will it work?  Will I be calling Georgia in a panic, testing her customer’s claim that “when I need help, I know this is where I can get it.”?  Could be.  In fact, I might go so far as to say “highly likely.”  

I’ll let you know.

Knit-Along: Sock Wizard Socks from The Modern Ewe - Day 5

Delete the deadline?

You know, the moment I removed the dastardly deadline from the picture, I began to enjoy knitting these again. Funny how that works.

And that’s the point, isn’t it? Keeping this from being work? From just another deadline I have to meet? I think in my tiny-stitched madness I lost sight of the sheer pleasure of good workmanship. I mean, look at this gusset. It’s precise. There’s no pesky hole where the increases start. This, DestiKNITters, is ART.

I’m strutting around my living room like some kind of yarn goddess. Showing completely disinterested family members (who have seen this behavior before and have learned to ignore the crazy lady with the needles) what an artisan I am. Step back, people, massive ego on the loose.

I’ve still got several rows of increases in the gusset to go, which isn’t particularly interesting, so I’ll pull out a diversionary tactic: the cute dog.

It occurred to me that once you factor in the nose, these socks are the exact color of my Havanese dog, Bella. See for yourself. Pretend not to notice how she is looking at you, not at the sock (she’s a diva, she knows an audience is better than a sock). She is smart, and has realized she is being exploited. I will be required to give extra biscuits at bedtime, I assure you.

One thing I should mention--and this is a credit to the Sock Wizard people here--these fit fabulously. I suspect they will be the most comfortable socks I own when they’re done. I could see how, after a year or so off, I could be convinced to make these again in some obscenely lush fiber.

Oh dear, stop me now. That’s a very dangerous thought.

Maybe I should go back on the deadline.

Knit-Along: Sock Wizard Socks from The Modern Ewe - Day 3

Toes and ears...

As is always with socks, these are highly portable and easy to pick up whenever I get a spare minute. Tiny stitches aren’t easy for impatient folk like me, but I am glad for them because they play up the smooth and gradual color change that is the highlight of this yarn. Plus, such a fine gauge always guarantees the most yarn time for your dollar. A ball of Zauberball will run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $20, and I figure I’m looking at at least twenty hours of knitting (if not more) to get these socks done. There simply isn’t a better entertainment value for your dollar! Add a good audiobook downloaded for free from you local library (or, if your is like mine, they rent digital audio players, too) and the deal gets even better.

Which leads me to the subject of audiobooks. Audiobooks and knitters go together like knits and purls. Like many knitters, I’m a huge fan of the audible.com audiobook subscription service. A monthly fee gives you one credit (and most books run one credit) per month, with an astounding array of popular fiction and non-fiction titles. I load them onto my Blackberry so, like the socks, I can make progress even in tiny snatches of free time. I’m currently halfway through the behemoth 45-hour Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, part of an outstanding series that begins with the classic Outlander). This is an instance where an sublime reader makes the most of fabulous settings and accents to make the audiobook an enhanced experience from reading the novel. In that same vein, my other favorites include Lisa See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan or her earlier work Peony in Love. Again, a skilled reader makes the most of exotic Chinese language to add a layer to the book I’d just never get reading on my own. Still another is anything by Alexander McCall Smith of the No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency fame (another great series), although I’m particularly fond of The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs and other books starring “the brilliant but bumbling Professor Doctor Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld.” The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs remains the one an only time an audiobook has made me laugh so hard I had to pull the car over. Good thing I wasn’t attempting Fairaisle or intarsia at the time!

In about another inch, i.e. by next installment, I’ll venture into the dangerous heel turn. Who knows what could happen then...

Knit-Along: Sock Wizard Socks from The Modern Ewe - Day 2

Don't provoke the lady with pointed needles...

Hey, I’m starting to get the hang of this! Now, I can’t even begin to attempt this continental style, even though the added speed might come in handy. It’s just too small a scale. If I stick to American style, though, it’s starting to feel calm. It takes a couple of sessions until you don’t have to think for a minute or two which needle you’re supposed to work with next. You do have a tendency to pick the thing up and say “Ack! What do I do now?” Eventually, I realized the yarn always came from the back needle, and the front needle always had a needle while the back needle held cable. I’m not sure that makes sense without a diagram, but I hope it will help you. Lots of people subscribe to the magic loop method, and this isn’t too far a jump from that. I’d never attempt these on any circ without a very, very smooth join, like an Addi Turbo, because there’s way too much sliding going on.

Despite Dana’s best efforts to wind the ball in my favor, these socks will not come out to match each other. At the moment, they sort of resemble each other, but I can already see we’re going to get to the grey and white sections far faster on one foot that the other. At first that bothered me, but I’ve decided I kind of like it. Matching, but not quite. Feels like how I’ve gone through life.

But yes, these are teeny tiny stitches. Twelve to an inch, it feels like, and I refuse to measure because it will only depress me. One bit of humor: when I’m knitting these in their current state, it’s rather fun to watch spectators try to decide whether or not to ask the burning “what they heck is that?” I see in their eyes. Headphones? Tiny hats? Some do, others just stare discreetly. Amusing people watching to be sure.

It’s not like they’ll do anything to provoke the lady with the thin, pointy needles...

Denver, CO - Day Three

DAY THREE (Saturday for our purposes)

Custard, dogs, and socks...

Before we get started today, let me bring up a very important travel tip I’ve not yet mentioned: DRINK WATER IN DENVER. Altitude can really, really get to some people, and the best defense is a wet offense. Get those eight glasses in and you should be fine. My trick? Buy a package of inexpensive bangle bracelets and stick eight on your left hand at the beginning of the day. As you drink each of the glasses of water, slip a bracelet onto your right hand. Easy, effective, and accessorizing!

First Stop:

The Brown Palace Hotel

321 17th Street

Denver, CO 80202

www.brownpalace.com

(303) 297-3111

You simply can’t visit Denver without seeing the Brown Palace Hotel. Ellyngton’s is the breakfast venue within this historical landmark (you can actually book a historic tour of the hotel if you’re into that sort of thing!). I like to do breakfast at spiffy spots like these because you get all the glitz of a posh hotel without having to mortgage the house (one must prioritize one’s travel cash for yarn, of course). And it’s such an elegant start to the day. By going on Saturday, you skip the power broker crowd as well as sidestepping the Sunday Brunch crush. As with Beatrice and Woodsley, there is a spectacular high tea that might warrant you adapting your schedule.

Once breakfast has been accomplished, scoot on over to the eastern side of town where, nestled in the Lowry Town Center shopping center, you find our third yarn store of the tour:

The Modern Ewe

200 Quebec St. Bldg. 500 Unit 101

Denver, CO 80230

(303) 366-6601

http://www.modernewe.com (although at presstime the website was still under construction)

If IKEA opened a yarn store, it might look like this contemporary, clean lined establishment. The young owner Dana Juncker has a graphic design degree (with a business minor, mind you), and it shows. I admire a woman who wrote a business plan for a yarn shop her freshman year in college and followed through upon graduation. The spot is modern to be sure, with bright colors, clean lines, and a wide range of customers skewing slightly young for obvious reasons. Adding to the friendly atmosphere are Chloe and Cuzco, the frisky pair of dogs who serve as the store’s lovable mascots.
Beginner projects are a store specialty, to which I can attest because Dana spent an hour with me to show me a very particular cast on to my knit-along socks. How can you not love someone willing to spend so much time with a complete stranger just to show off a cool cast on? The Modern Ewe has just launched its own Couture Collection line of eco-friendly yarn, and oh yes, there is much coolness to be had there.

Projects to keep an eye out for:

Ewetopian Washcloth

In addition to being a sucker for a good pun, I was fascinated by the cozylon fiber featured in “Ewetopian”, which is a technologically advanced fiber incorporating natural charcoal for deodorization, humidity and temperature control, and several other amazing functions. Ideal for socks, washcloths, and other things that regularly get wet. Who knew yarn could multi-task? I don’t see how anyone can pass up trying this. The washcloth is an outstanding choice for young’uns or first-timers, too.

SockWizard Socks

This will be our Knit-Along, and my introduction to the mythical “Magic Loop” sock knitting method. It was a very cool process. Dana let me pick my sock yarn (I chose Schoppel Wolle Zauberbal for amazing socks that start out black at the toes and end up white by the tops) and she chose the corresponding needles. Then I made a small swatch and she plugged my shoe size, yarn, needles, and guage into SockWizard software, which spit out my own personalized sock pattern. Talk about VIP treatment! More on how that all turned out as the Knit-Along goes live, which may take a while as these are size 0 needles! Should you choose this as your project, make sure you give yourself enough time to be walked through “Suzie’s Cast On.” Ingenious!

“Cocktail Scarves”

The Modern Ewe has a bit of a specialty in personalized knitting, so let Dana help you choose a selection of several yarns from the Modern Ewe Couture line to create a one of a kind scarf perfectly suited to your taste. I think this would make a good novice knitter project, too--especially if you want to get a little snazzy yarn in there to make yourself a holiday adornment.

Gadget of choice:

Clover’s Coil Knitting Needle Holders

Excellent for circs as well as straights, these won’t pop off your needles inviting disaster.

Indulge in a little retail therapy by visiting the many shops located around you in Lowry Town Center. I found this to be a nice collection of unique botiques and familiar names.

By the time you’re done here...and my visit lasted almost three hours...it’s time for a little refreshment. The Lowry Town Center shopping center has several places to grab a bite, but you know me, I’ve got to do desert first. In that case, I recommend:

Fergie’s Frozen Custard

200 Quebec St,

Denver, CO

(303)366-4900

I had a taste of several yummy flavors, settling on something with bananas and chocolate I believe, but the super-friendly staff was as much fun as the frozen custard. You can get actual food here, but why would you? As a woman pushing fifty, I need to keep my calcium intake up here.

If you have a four-legged darling in your life, make sure you stop in Chewy’s Bonetique right next door. We can’t keep all the fun to ourselves now can we?

Now that we’ve accomplished sugar and yarn, it’s time for the next major food group: coffee. For that, follow Dana’s recommendation and drive west down Colfax Avenue to:

Hooked on Colfax

3215 E Colfax Ave

Denver, CO

(303) 398-2665

for today’s daily caffeine intake. If Fergie’s didn’t meet your recommended daily sugar requirement, go just a couple of doors down to

The Shoppe

3103 E. Colfax (at St. Paul)

Denver, CO 80206

www.theshoppedenver.com

(303) 322-3969

Here’s another recommended cupcake joint. And it has a cereal bar! Readers of my book MY SO-CALLED LOVE LIFE may be especially fond of this establishment for that reason alone! The Shoppe is open until 2:00am on weekends, and while I admit to a fair amount of curiosity as to the nature of the wee-hour crowd, I didn’t personally investigate. If you do, by all means report back!

If you need a good way to burn off those calories, I’ve got the perfect inspiration on tap. We’re in the mountains, after all, so this is the ideal city to indulge our outdoorish tendencies (if I had any--which doubt I do) with our next stop:

REI Flagship Store

1416 Platte Street,

Denver, CO 80202

www.rei.com

(303) 756-3100

Even if Motel 6 is your idea of roughing it, how can you not like an establishment that lists itself as “a complete outdoor resource, a historic landmark and an award-winning architectural accomplishment”? The website gives the store’s GPS coordinates! And, if you’re so inclined, you can conquer “The Pinnacle,” one of the tallest freestanding climbing walls in the area. (PS, you will see no photos of me doing this, ever).

Duly exercised--even if it was only your credit card that got a workout, travel a little farther northwest to our dinner destination for tonight:

Root Down

1600 W 33rd Ave

Denver, CO 80211

www.rootdowndenver.com

(303) 993-4200

A funky, artsy place that’s the perfect compliment to the tone of our day. The carrot red curry soup is a local fave, and although the place is known for its brunch, it also has a happy hour/sandwhich/burger vibe that has enough sophistication to lure any taste. As a big fan of sweet potato fries, this place it tops on my list. The decor is as clever as they come, and if its warm enough for the big doors to be open, all the better to watch the sun set over another fiber-fab day in the Mile High City.