A curly haired knitter speaks from NYC
Do not adjust your monitors!! Welcome to the Koigu Cavern!! What you see before you is not my Nikon CoolPix gone wild, but rather an upclose and personal view of the House of CurlsandPurlsNYC's version of the now famous "Caryl's Kerchief." This yarn was a gift from my pal Katherine here in NYC, who is not only one of THE best dressed women I know, but also a great lawyer and FABULOUS knitter. [She has been knitting for YEARS!! Imagine a roomful of lawyers, displaced by the events of 9.11, working in cramped quaters, desks side by side by side!! In the midst of that madness, sadness, and dismay, my pal Katherine taught me how to bind off!! It was a bonding moment for both of us. ] Katherine gave me this yarn for my birthday in 2002 and it has been marinating in my stash ever since. In fact, this yummy Koigu was so deep in the stash that I darn near forgot about it until Katherine blurted out over coffee a few weeks ago a demand that I knit something with it ASAP. [She did it v. nicely in her best, "I am a good woman from Memphis, TN who has been living in NYC for 15 years' accent!!] And, boy did I do something with it!! I love this pattern and forever thankful that someone gifted the pattern to me.
During my search for buttons for Minnie [baby sweater, Rowan 33] I found the perfect beads for the edging of this scarf:
As you can see, these beads are v. slightly iridescent, with bursts of rich green, purple, and blue. I love them! Since I also have this scarf going on in another Koigu colourway [This yarn was a gift from Lori in LA!! Thanks again, Lori!! ] I picked up the perfect beads for this colourway as well:
These beads, while also slightly iridescent, are awash in pink, gold, and purple. I love these beads too!! All of these beads come from a non-descript bead store in the ever shrinking garment district --I think the sign outside read "Wholesale and Retail Beads, Buttons, and Trim. " [Earlier that day I had been to different store that had a bigger and nicer selection of beads AND that sold retail; however, when I went to take an in store photograph, I was almost tackled by a saleswomen to prevent me from doing so. "No cameras," she hissed." I immediately put my camera away and left the store with neither a photo nor a purchase.]
Let's see how much I love these beads once I try to knit with them!
Well, the new Rowan knitting magazine finally arrived in my mailbox!! [As a member of Rowan International, I am always dismayed that it takes soooooo long for the new magazines to make their way across the pond to my mailbox!] After reading both on the Rowan International message board and on various other knit bloggers websites that the new magazine was a disappointment, I wondered what I would think of the new fall/winter designs.
The new magazine is, as usual, beautifully photographed and contains many interesting new designs. The new magazine contains patterns for not only sweaters, hats, and scarves, but also gloves, interesting shawl [Karis] and vest like [Ash] items, and pillows. Intarsia patterns abound in this new edition and many of the patterns call for the use of Kid Silk Haze and Kid Classic. [Apparently, Rowan is pushing mohair this season!!] I was quite taken with the scribble lace sweater [Deborah] that calls for the yarn marriage of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Kid Classic, as well as a boxy sweater made soley of Kid Classic [Edda] both for women. I also admired a v. nice aran sweater for men [Kirk] in Rowan Polar, a nice project for any of the men in my life. [Not sure what I liked more about the photograph of this sweater, the sweater itself or the hunky model who was wearing the sweater!!] While I like many of the new designs, as of this writing, I am not really inspired to knit any of them. I may knit up Fawne, a fingerless glove pattern, and substitute Koigu for Rowan 4 ply soft. What interested me most about the new Rowan were the many edging patterns that were featured! These edging patterns really got my creative juices flowing, particularly since I have been toying with the idea of designing a sweater or two.
I have an abundance of Kid Silk Haze and Kid Classic in my stash, so I am sure that I will knit something from Rowan 36. However, before I decide what I will make, I will contemplate the designs of this new knitting magazine a bit more. Who knows, maybe I will pull out Rowan 34 from last season and finally knit Birch!!
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In other new knitting project news, I think my fall/winter knitting is going to be heavy on the aran knitting. I will for certain knit the Patons Must Have Cardigan, although I am not sure what yarn I will use. The top two yarn choices are the newly discontinued Rowan Magpie ina stunning shade of red [Thanks, Polly, for liberating this yarn for me!!] and Cascade 220, not sure what colour! I also plan on knitting Heather from Rowan A Seasons Tale in Kid Classic. I am still debating whether or not to knit the Sideways Spencer, designed by Annie Modesitt, that is featured in the new Interweave Knits. However, all of these knitting plans may fall by the wayside once the new Rebecca arrives....
On the eve of the Republican Convention set to begin here in NYC this weekend, I can only hope that love will save the day. Conventioneers and protesters are arriving in droves, causing many a New Yorker, to grumble and/or take flight. As for me, love has seized the day and I must stay in town this weekend to attend a wedding, so put me in the grumbling category!
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As promised, I am pleased to announce the winner of the First Ever Friday Postcard Puzzler!!! Drumroll, please!!! Congratulations go out to Ann of Washington, DC!! Ann's winning entry went like this:
I believe the architectural style is French Second Empire. (the photo at the top of that page doesn't look similar, but the features all match -- dormers, cornices, mansard roof, columns and balustrades).
The location: The Gilsey House, 1200 Broadway at 29th Street.
Here's what I learned about the building, courtesy of the NY Times archives:
It's an 8-story co-op with commercial space on the ground floor. It was built in 1871. It recently got a small facelift, where they touched up a bunch of architectural elements and gave the whole building a fresh coat of paint.
The 40-unit co-op, where apartments rarely become available and one recently sold for $1.1 million, was a grand hotel until 1911. It was designed in the Second Empire style by Stephen Decatur Hatch for Peter Gilsey, a Danish-born merchant who invested in real estate, and was known for its bar made of silver dollars and for its elevator, one of the first in a hotel. The original Otis car has become a lobby fixture."
High fives to Ann!! Thanks to everyone who sent in an entry! Entries came in from all over the world for this little puzzler! For all of her hard research efforts, and more importantly, for educating me so thoroughly on a building I have always loved, Ann will receive an " I [heart] NY" tee shirt, like the one I am wearing in this picture!! Ann, even though we have never met, I am sure that this tee shirt will look SMASHING on you!! [Who knows, maybe Ann will post a picture of her smart and sassy self wearing her new tee shirt on her new blog! Check it out here.
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Hankering for another puzzler? Try this: Love Saves the Day is a fabulous vintage clothing store in NYC. In what movie did this store have a cameo appearance? What happened in this scene? The first person to email me these two answers will win a small prize!! Good Luck!!
In my brief writing days, I would slave away on any particular motion or appeal I was working on, researching and writing, drafting, re-drafting, and re-drafting, until I was SICK of what I was working on. [Note to anyone who cares: I love writing briefs. I just hate all of the other cr*p asociated with litigation.] The best antedote to a looming brief deadline? Work on something else. A week, a day, or sometimes a few hours away from something I have been slaving over, sometimes, most times, makes a world of difference. The same rule applies to knitting. I have made mucho progress on Minnie since I put it down last week. In fact, I am just a few rows from finishing up the last sleeve! Have a closer look at the body here!
And, as for the sailboat buttons that I envision adorning this sweater, I was gobsmack by all of the BEYOND FABULOUS links, suggestions, and ideas I received! [My readers ROCK!] Kathleen may have found EXACTLY what I had in mind insofar as sailboat buttons are concerned. [Which one? The boat on the bottom!!] [Kathleen? How did you do that? Are you telepathic?] I am going to hunt around town a bit more and if nothing else strikes my fancy, these buttons will be mine!! [Why keep looking? These buttons may be too big for the button holes. I will have a better sense once the button bands are finished. If this kind of knitting drama rama floats your boat, so to speak, stay tuned for further developments!!]
Who will be the recipient of this sweater? Hmmm, not sure yet!! Should it go to a boy or a girl?
New favorite summer lunch....Greek Total 2% yogurt, banana, and blueberries! Oh, and iced coffee!!
THE WINNER of the First Ever Friday Postcard Puzzler will be announced this Friday!
Yep, this is as good as the knitting gets here today at CurlsandPurlsNYC. Squares and swatches. Swatches and squares. [Feel free to yawn] I knew that this would happen. After several weeks of productivity and joi de vivre knitting, I have hit the proverbial knitting wall. Now, I truly believe that some of my knitting ennui can be attributed to the fact that I have been away alot in the past ten days. While I totted several knitting projects with me to the various beach destinations I traveled to, I barely knit at all while I was away. And, now that I am back, I have been much more interested in reading Anna Karenina than in knitting. [Literary Note: This book is a PAGE TURNER! Up until last week it had been sitting on my bookshelf, unread. Then, for reasons that are inexplicable to me, I marched over to my bookshelf, plucked it off the shelf, and dove right in. What could be a better read right now as the Olympic judges struggle to score correctly those unbelievably buff athletes! Russian aristocracy! Cads and bounders!! The feminine form crammed into a tight bodice!! Betrayal! Intrigue! Train rides across the soviet countryside! ]
Of course, my lack of knitting enthusiasim has caused me to reap certain other benefits as well. What? Well, first off, I now have only three unfinished project in my knitting basket. [One project, the Noro entrelac blanket that I started in late 2002, has a basket all of its own. I am but a few rows and the border short of finishing it. ] All other projects have been sent to the frog pond. [ Those Reggia socks that I started a while back that were giving me such trouble because of a poorly written pattern? Splash!! The cotton fleece berry hat? Splash!! Both projects will be given a second chance only this time I will choose a better pattern for the socks and pay closer attention to the hat's decreasing details.] Second, I got to knit up some of the sample yarn that I get from Elann each month into squares for the Afghanalong. [This monthy subscription from Elann is great. Knittable samples!! With knittable samples you can try out a yarn to see if you like it before you make a financial committment to it. ] Third, I organized my stash. [and man, did that feel GOOD!!] Last but not least, I knit some swatches for two projects I have been contemplating; Chaise, from the Jo Sharp Holiday Island Collection [in Java, scored for a song at Elann!] and Annie Modesitt's Sideways Spencer, from the newest Interweave Knitts! [in blue alpaca!]
Ta ra!
THANKS to everyone who offered their suggestions and help with my search for sailboat buttons for Minnie!!
While I don't necessarily know much about architecture, I do know what I like and what I don't like...and this, I like. Not sure if it is new or old, what its architectural style is, or whether it is a residential or commercial space. I just know that I like it and that if it were residential space, that someday I wouldn't mind living in it! The first person who can tell me in an email a) what architectural style this building is; and b) where in NYC this building is will win a small prize. All entries must include a link that indicates the architectural style of this building. All entrants must also include their tee shirt size! Good Luck!!
Meet Minnie, my newest project!! Minnie is from Rowan 35; it is a sweet little baby sweater that, in its intarsia version, is the perfect project to take the intarsia plunge. [I have no desire to take the intarsia plunge right now. In fact, I may never have the desire to do so. Does this make me less of a knitter? ]
I first tried this pattern last summer, using Patons Grace in a lovely orange multi. [Patons Grace, in case you forgot, is the perfect substitute for Rowan Cotton Glace. And, while we are on the subject of yarn substitution, Rowan Cotton Glace is an acceptable substitute for the newly discontinued Rowan Linen Drape. There is, however, no substitution for either a good night's sleep or fine dark chocolate.] For those of you who are studying to be a contestant on Jeopardy, you will note that that under the category of Knitting Blogger Project Nicknames, this project was fondly refered to as "Tangelo Baby." Even though I knit this sweater up fairly quickly, it sat in my sewing up pile for several months. When I finally got around to sewing it up, I discovered that I had knit each piece in a different size. [This is what some may call Homer Simpson knitting-DOH!!] Upon making this discovery, Tangelo Baby went into the frog pond with a great big SPLASH!!
Now, last summer when I corned the market in Patons Grace, I bought enough yarn to knit Minnie in the orange multi, a green multi and taupe! Since the orange multi did not work out so well as Minnie, I re-assigned it to another project and decided to try Minnie again using the green multi, pictured above. I love this blue green multi. In fact, I love it even more than the orange multi and we all know how I feel about all things orange! I marked the pattern throughout before I cast on [so as not to repeat my mistake of knitting each piece in a different size] and in a blink of an eye, both the back and left front were finished!!
Now, dear readers, I need your help with this project and that help is in the form of button acquisition assistance. I need v. special buttons for this project . My button vision is that of small sailboats. Has anyone seen such buttons and/or know where I can get some? Any other button suggestions?
In my next life, I am going to forego law school and choose art school instead. In my romanticized other life, I will advocate for social change through art, stand up at poetry slams and in an unwaivering voice read my poetry aloud, and hopefully will be welcomed in this museum, the Fusion Arts Museum. Located at 57 Stanton Street, between Chrystie and Forsythe Streets on the Lower East Side, this museum is yet another tribute to outsider art. While I have made two pilgrimages to this lower east side curiosity, I have yet to find my way inside. It seems I keep missing its hours of operation. The museum is a proud sponsor of HOWL!, the 2nd Annual Festival of East Village Arts that is going on all next week here in NYC. Some highlights include the InFusion Exhibit, sponsored by the Fusion Arts Musuem, the forever and always fabulous Wigstock, performances by Stephin Merritt [of Magnetic Fields fame] LD Beghotl, and Dudley Klute, aka, the Three Terrors, and scores of other musicians, singers, artists, et. al. The HOWL! Festival takes place from August 17 through August 24. [Check out www.eastvillageart.com for more info.] See ya there!!!
[Yes, this picture was retouched! The lighting in my apartment is not conducive to fashion photography. As retouched, this photo accurately represents the true colour of this sweater]
If you loved me before, you'll love me even more in my new sweater!! Yes, friends, the Bed & Breakfast sweater is finished at last!! (At last, at last, finished at last!!) The pattern, as if you didn't know this already, was designed by Kathy Zimmerman and appeared in the Winter, 2003 Interweave Knits. For this project I used a luscious 100% cashmere yarn that was purchased at School Products here in NYC.
First, a few words about the pattern. LOVED.IT. Following the cable pattern was bit like following the instructor in a rigorous aerobics class...the first few times you are clumsy and out of step, but soon thereafter it is smooth sailing. Now, for those of you who are paying careful attention, you will notice that I MODIFIED the neck. Why? Well, because it wasn't working for me. After two failed starts, I decided to knit the neck in garter stitch, with a crochet bind off. Results? Simple and elegant.
Second, a few words about the yarn I used. BEYOND FABULOUS. How can any yarn that is 100% cashmere not be fabulous. This yarn knit up like a super soft, super scrumptious dream. Although it was a bit fiddly to work with, for it is comprised of several strands of yarn strung together, it worked very well with the cable pattern. I cannot say enough good things about this yarn. I am so happy I used it for this project. Better still, I have ALOT left over, which I think I will use to make a winter scarf using a v. elegant pattern I saw from Fiber Trends.
Lastly, a few words about the fate of this sweater. It is now, hands down, my favorite sweater!! It fits me perfectly, including the sleeves, that gently graze my wrists! This sweater looks as if it were made for me! How surprising, SINCE IT WAS!! I cannot wait for fall to come so that I can wear it all over town....again, and again, and again.....get used to it!!
[Pictures of me modeling my fine new sweater soon to follow.]
Still thinking about...Control Room, a movie that presents a different perspective on Al Jezeera.
Guilty Pleasure Reading: The newest issues of Elle and Lucky, for fashion inspiration.
Summer Dinner: Fresh radishes, tomatoes, string beans, goat cheese, and berries from the Union Square Greenmarket.
New York is the Empire State and I am lucky enough to have an empire view of the Empire State building. My terrace, aka my garden in the sky, offers up this view each and every night of the week. The Empire State Building has been the host of many a fun [and not so fun] stunt...from a larger than life tribute to the film King Kong, a foot race where intrepid runners race to the top of the building, to many a wedding proposal, both real and fictional [think Sleepless in Seattle]. For a while now, the Empire State Building has been changing the colours of its evening lights to commemorate some event or holiday...such as green and red for Christmas, lavender to celebrate gay pride, blue and white to celebrate chanukah, or yellow for our solidiers near and far. Time Out NY, one of my favorite entertainment guides, reports each week what the colours of the Empire State Building mean. On the day this photo was taken, the blue lights were meant to commemorate the Boys & Girls Club's National Kids Day. On any given evening you can see the pop, pop, pop of the flash of a tourist's camera as he or she takes pictures of what is said to be a fabulous view. I say this because, as is true of many of a New Yorker and this city's celebrated landmarks, I have yet to find my way to the top of this building.
Go forth and be partisan....I say thank you to Bruce Springsteen who has done just that in a very simple, honest, and eloquent New York Times Op Ed. Amen!
Woooo hooooo!!!! The newest finished object here at House of CurlsandPurlsNYC is the fabulous Mondo Cable, a brand spankin' new Chicknits original design. Need I mention that here at House of CurlsandPurlsNYC it is all things orange all the time? [Well, it is!]
LOVE this project!! First, it was FUN!! Second, it was EASY!! Third, the marriage of yarn and pattern was DIVINE. The pattern calls for any chunky yarn that gets gauge at 16 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inchs on in stockinette stitch on US 9 needles. I used Filatura Di Crosa Elena, a chunky mercerized cotton, which worked quite well. I call this colour Candied Orange, although its official name makes reference to Apricot. I think my row gauge was off, for I got an extra mondo cable in my project, but I am happy nonetheless. [NYC knitters who want to buy this yarn can find it at Gotta Knit (although the colour selection is limited) and maybe Yarn Connection. I purchased it at Yarn Connection months ago and I do not know if there is any more left.] Here it is again, sans me modeling it!
I originally bought this yarn to make a short sleeve raglan top, as some of you may recall. What you didn't know is that just as I had finished knitting all the pieces, I quickly realized that the intended garment would not be v. flattering on me. Consequently, I frogged the whole darn thing and searched for another pattern for the yarn. Then, low and behold, I found this new pattern on Chicknits, and knew that my search for a pattern for this yarn had ended. A new project was born! Better yet, it went from work in progress to finished object in no time flat.
I am v. pleased with how this project turned out! So much so, that I may sleep with it under my pillow...or wear it as I wander to and fro around NYC this fine Wednesday. No whine.
[Note to shorties, like myself, meaning, those of us 5'2" and under. Here is something to consider. Even though this tank is shorter than most, it is still a bit long for us. If I were so inclined (which I am not) I would take this FO apart and frog both pieces back either one or two inches less than what is required to start the armhole shaping. I love this pattern and see another tank in another colour in my immediate (or not so) future. Next time, I will shorten it, to get the swingy feel that its designer intended!]
Scene: Two women talking; the relationship appears to be that of doctor/patient.
Where: Somewhere in New York City.
Time: The Present.
Curly Haired Woman: Last night I had the strangest dream.....
Straight Haired Women: A dream? You have never talked about your dreams before....
Curly Haired Woman: I dreamt about one of the sweaters I have been knitting, you know, that cashmere aran sweater that I have been working on for ages.
Straight Haired Woman: The cabled sweater from Interweave Knits?
Curly Haired Woman: Yes, that's the sweater....
Straight Haired Woman: It's finished, isn't it?
Curly Haired Woman: [holding her head down, whispering] No, it isn't finished yet.
Straight Haired Woman: Go on.
Curly Haired Woman: I dreamt that something had gone terribly wrong...
Straight Haired Woman: Gone wrong?
Curly Haired Woman I don't know, the sweater was in the finishing stages, all I needed to do was knit the neck and then sew it up...
Curly Haired Woman ...but the neck, the neck [holding back tears] it just went wrong....the stitch pattern was all off, soon the the front cable pattern was ruined and before I knew it, the whole front piece was ruined. Then, it all happened so fast...row upon row of ripping and frogging...it was, it was [gasping] AWFUL.
Straight Haired Woman: What do you think this means? Are you afraid to finish this sweater? What is holding you back with this project? Is all of the heat and humidity bothering you on a subconscious level so as to prevent you from working on this sweater?
Curly Haired Woman: I don't know what it means!! I love this sweater, it has been a joy to knit....and the dream doesn't matter, what matters is this: when I woke up, I discovered that the front piece was ripped back, just as it had been in the dream!! [sobs hysterically]
Straight Haired Women: Oh dear....[shuddering]
[Fade to black]