favorite knit

( keeping warm in big sur )

( and keeping warm at work )

do you have a favorite knit? either one you've made or been lucky enough to have made for you? this question was posed to me recently and aside from the tiny baby items i've made over the years,
for my own babies and others, i didn't have to think, this shawl is it. my very favorite. it was made pre ravelry so it wasn't added to my page. after a friend recently asked me for the pattern, it felt right to include it.

when i read the following passage, i felt the same, and i had to make it. it truly is either on me or near me
waiting in my truck or bike basket, much of the time. it's held up well, only needed an occasional brush with a sweater stone to remove pills. (i can see it's needing it now!) :

" this alpaca shawl won't be the quickest knit and it won't be the most riveting knit but it will definitely become one of your most treasured creations. i thought long and hard about adding some fancy stitchwork to the design - it's all stockinette stitch - to make the process of making it more interesting, but frankly, when i buy or make an expensive shawl, i always like it luxurious and simple. that way, i know i'll get a lot of use out of it." suzan mischer

i bought the yarn for this project to take on a trip, thinking it would make good travel knitting. in two thousand seven we drove for almost three weeks and three thousand miles all around the north island of new zealand, and this shawl accompanied me along the way. i was lucky enough to not drive or navigate (thank you chuck and son kyle) so i could look out the window, and knit. in may, when we go to africa, i'm thinking this may be the project to bring. maybe in a darker color?
i am wondering, do you have a favorite knit? and maybe suggestions for an easy take along project, one that will allow for a few weeks knitting, but won't need concentration? i'll be navigating this time!

pattern : huge triangle shawl
book : greetings from knit cafe
ravelry notes : here

two day sweater

at a surf contest you might:

see lots of people on the beach and in the water

do a lot of watching and waiting

and knitting

you'll apply sunscreen. often.

and pay close attention to the color jersey your favorite surfer is wearing (it changes with each heat)

so you'll be able to find him (or her) in the ocean

then you'll want to cheer on your favorite surfer too

you'll visit with friends

and their babies  :)

and if your a small boy whose granpa is in the contest, you'll sit right near the judges tent, so you won't miss a thing (travis is in the plaid shirt on the right).

you'll be there so long, the tide will go in and then back out, giving opportunity to tide pool and beach comb

not quite a two day sweater, but it was close! we spent the entire weekend at the beach for chucks surf contest, he thanks you for the kindest words. he ended up finishing third in his division. i am so proud of him for getting this recognition on saturday, the wave of the day!

knowing just how long we would be out on the sand, it seemed like a good idea to bring a project that could be done without concentration, or even too much attention (i was in charge of those grands!). shopping in my stash i chose some lovely grey wool by quince and the annabel cardigan pattern to bring along. it's a fun easy knit, all done in my favorite garter stitch. i've finished the sleeves (can you see the dpn's sticking out of one in this photo? ), i made them bracelet length instead of the three quarter it called for. and there is one more thing i wanted to add before it's done, i'll share soon. rav notes here.

p.s. that is a squirrel painted on the tree! it's at the entrance to a charming seaside home (where a famous author and artist lives), where i wish i could take a peek inside. 

joining with

at the beach

i have discovered it's near impossible to blog, while at work or at the beach, where i've been most of the time. the surf is up here, luckily coinciding with a classic surf contest that i've been watching and taking a few pictures of. i'm on my way down to the finals this morning. my husband finished yesterday in first place in both divisions he was in, the masters and grandmasters, so he'll surf again today. just when he confided he might not compete anymore, chuck found new inspiration in the form of one small boy. travis, our surf crazy grandson. this boy is his most dedicated fan (well, there would be me...i have the starry eyes for him, but i don't run up and down the beach. anymore. hee hee). see where we are here.

i did want to share with you before i head out today, a coupon you might want to take advantage of, it's for a photobook at 'my publisher'. so sorry i wasn't on this sooner, it expires tomorrow, but you have ninety days to make your book once you buy the voucher. for ten dollars you can make a hard cover, twenty page book. i made a tutorial for bookmaking at 'my publisher' here. the link for the coupon is here. i think it's a great way to try it out. i hope you'll let me know if you do.

to the beach now!
love, lori

this week

this week  : :

: :   another roll of film was developed, it's like christmas waiting for it , forgetting all that was taken.
: :   more knitting doll photos at the beach with our grandson ( loving little wetsuits,  it seems like yesterday it was my own boys in them), slow progress has been made on the chair pad.
: :   a day trip to cambria with a friend, to visit this gallery, and see this artists work.
: :   and a splurge on one small platter for me, and a big splurge by my friend, she bought several pieces.
: :   a few vintage store finds, these sweet strawberries and three new (old) books i forgot to photo.
: :   we celebrated my sweet sisters birthday    :)
: :   chuck has two more magazine covers, oh his photos! forgot to take pics of those too. so proud of him.
: :   i won a give~a~way, lovely wool and a pattern. thank you plucky knitter!
: :   and we found dresses for my daughter's wedding! she found her's, and this one is mine. and that is just about the most exciting thing. it happened for my girl the way i'd hoped. she fell in love with hers. she cried, i cried. wedding planning is so much fun. except for the not so fun part of missing my youngest girl who lives across the country, and wanting her to be involved too. i'm missing my sons, but they don't care too very much (not at all) about wedding planning. so we are doing our best to stay connected with, emails, links, photos and phone calls. i'm sure that some sort of hand knit cover up is next in the plans.

extra yarn

in an effort to work from my stash, i made a felted yarn bowl with wool on hand, extra yarn. the cut out happened after the felting and the bowl was dry. i'm surprised, it's working fairly well, the wool does catch some, trying to think what i can do to remedy that.
this is brown sheep lamb's pride bulky weight in the color eggplant. i think. i've misplaced the band somehow. inspired by watching one of my favorite movies last week, and trying my hand at needle felting again, i added a small red fox, into the bowls bottom. he seems to be content, curled up and asleep, snuggled in his soft nest.

i have three books to share this week!
i received 'a knitter's home companion' as a gift from a dear friend. i intended to savor it, keep it in my knitting basket, taking it out here and there for inspiration. instead i read it in two days time. it is charming and i loved it, and i think it's going to stay in my basket as much for the patterns and recipes, as for the friendship it came with. you can find the book here.

then after reading a review (in the knitter's home companion) for the book 'safe return', i knew i needed this one for my library too. here is the review (i hope it's okay to share):

safe return

by catherine dexter

'safe return', a middle - grade novel named after a swedish mitten pattern, is one of my absolute, hands-down, all -time favorite children's books. a beautiful and moving tale, 'safe return' takes place in the stark setting of sweden's gotland island. the main character, ursula, an orphan from the mainland, is being raised there by her aunt and uncle. her outsider feeling is reinforced by her inability to knit, a skill acquired early  by the other children in visby, their fishing and farming village.

many books for kids that involve knitting are about the process. in 'safe return', the character learns not only how to knit, but how knitting can soothe even a reluctant knitter's turbulent times. there is an authentic tenderness to the text that reflects the author's understanding of the setting, character, and knitting. you can almost feel the lanolin in newly spun wool, the fierceness of the wind, and the darkness of the night in a time and place before electricity. and in 'safe return', you will experience the joy that comes in a very satisfying ending.

it really was a lovely read, it arrived this morning and i finished it in a couple hours, the more i think about it, the more i love it. there is something so comforting about reading books at this middle grade level. i'm also loving the fact it's based not only about knitting, but about a true event that took place in 1824. and it's about sweden, which is where my family is from. happy. book found here.

the third book is 'extra yarn' by mac barnett illustrated by jon klassen. this book caught my eye in a local children's bookshop, it says it's intended for ages 4-8. but i bought it anyway. i am still those ages, plus a few more. i love the short sweet story, and i think the pages would look great framed. link here. joining with:

p.s. the bowl pattern can be found in this book!