Rhinebeck Weekend Wrap-Up

The Rhinebeck sweater was finished in time.  It might have been very slightly damp when I packed it in my suitcase, but it was fine when I wore it.

I'm very happy with how it turned out, despite the sleeves being a bit longer than I like.  It is a good pattern that I might consider making again in a different colorway.

The weekend was so much fun.  It always is when I'm with my sisters.  Unfortunately one sister couldn't join us, but the other four of us had a great time.

We went into New York City Friday night to see a play.  New Jersey rush hour traffic is quite the adventure.  My oldest sister, who is the textbook definition of rule-follower, drove like a maniac.  Honestly it was a bit scary, but she had to conform with the others on the highway or else things might have ended badly.  We made it to the train station in Seacacus and rode to Penn Station.  From there we walked up to Broadway, acting like tourists all the way.

We saw Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic.  It was a wonderful show.  The performances were great and the set fabulous.  The only part I wouldn't give an A+ to is the story.  It is a bit of a creepy, stalker storyline, but I have to remind myself that it is based on a book written over 100 years ago.

We got back to my sisters house after midnight and then got up with the sun on Saturday to drive to Rhinebeck.  Of course the animals were adorable.  This llama was posing like a celebrity on the red carpet.

This adorable angora rabbit stole my heart.  He was the softest thing in the world.  I thought about bringing him home with me but Squeaks probably wouldn't appreciate sharing the house with another creature.

The weather was absolutely perfect.  Blue skies and cool temperatures.  I'm sure the perfect weather contributed to the enormous crowd.  There were so many people it made walking through the barns slow.  In fact we didn't see everything.  Since this was the third time for us, except our one sister who isn't a knitter anyway, we by-passed several of the booths.  I picked up a few things:  merino-angora roving, sweater quantity of organic wool, a skein of Miss Babs Yowza and a bottle of Hetta glogg.  Two years ago, we sampled the glogg but I passed on purchasing a bottle.  I regretted that decision.  Since they were again attending the festival I made sure a bottle came home with me.

After we left the fairgrounds, we visited Bard College.  Bard is my nephews alma mater.  It is a small college along the Hudson.  

After spending some time photographing the Monarchs, we went back to New Jersey for a pizza and movie night.

It was tough going back to work on Monday.  I didn't make it a whole week though.  I had a physical this morning and decided to take the whole day off.  I have a crock pot full of beef barley soup simmering.  Now I'm going to go upstairs and do some sewing.

Not October 13

OK, I admit it.  I missed my deadline.  But only by an inch or so.

My goal was to have this finished by Sunday, October 13.  Today is Monday and I still have about 8 rows to go.  I could have stayed up last night and finished it.  But I was tired and I knew I had today to work on it.  See, I'm off work today because of a state holiday.  This will be done, washed and blocked by noon.  I promise.

Wondering why I was tired last night?  It is because I did this all day

and then came home and made a pot of this.

My LYS hosted Beth Brown-Reinsel this weekend.  If you are not familiar with her, she has studied traditional northern European knitting techniques and has authored several books on the subject.  She was in town to teach a series of classes.  I took her Gansey (aka Guernsey) class.  It was outstanding!!  She teaches the various components of a Gansey sweater by having the students knit a small sample.  It is a very clever way to teach - kind of like a wine tasting - so you can try it out to see if you like it before tackling a large project.  

I can see where knitting a Gansey wouldn't be for everyone.  There are a lot of yarn ends to weave in.  The sweaters are knit with a tight gauge so the result is a sturdy, warm fabric.  If you like soft, snugly sweaters, this isn't for you.  But if you like an adventure and want a sweater that can easily substitute for a jacket on a cold day, here's a sweater to try.  

Ganseys traditionally have a lot of texture to the fabric so the knitting stays interesting.  The construction provides its own level of interest, from the Channel Island cast on to the front and back welts to the underarm gussets to the shoulder straps.  I can see myself making one of these in the future.  I asked Ed if he would like one.  His reaction was a bit lukewarm because he isn't a sweater guy.  But I'll work on him.

After I came home I made a pot of chicken noodle soup.  It was delicious and perfect because the weather has finally turned cooler.  After cleaning up the dishes I sat down to knit for a while but quickly felt my eyes droop.

Today I have the house to myself and have a small To Do list besides the knitting.  Time now to grab my needles and finish my Hamilton!

Hamilton in the Home Stretch

Today is a grey, overcast day in the 60s.  I LOVE IT!!!!  I can't tell you how happy I am to finally be done with the hot, humid weather.  This means sweater weather is here.  Yippee!!!

 Photographing the progress of my WIPs is difficult.  Somebody always has to investigate when I lay things out on the carpet.

Squeaks finds the stoppers I have at the ends of the needles especially interesting.  I have to hide them while I'm knitting on a piece so that she doesn't chew and accidentally swallow them.

Hamilton is on track thanks to a day off work.  Tuesday morning I woke with a horrible sinus head-ache.  I called off and slept in.  Once I got up I spent the day knitting the right sleeve.  I finished it Friday night and cast on for the left.  There are 13 decreases on the sleeve.  I have 2 finished.  If I work at least 3 decreases each evening, I'll have the cuff to finish over next weekend.  That will give me enough time to block it before packing for Rhinebeck.  I love when a plan comes together.

I just recently finished the August installment of the Jimmy Bean's shawl, thanks to the time I'm devoting to Hamilton.  September's installment came last week.  I'll tuck this away as car knitting as my sister and I drive to our oldest sister's home in New Jersey.

Papillon will not be done in time to wear when my sisters and I go into NYC on the Friday of our weekend together.  I had hoped I would  be able to wear it when we see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.  It'll be another car knitting project.   My revised goal for finishing is the end of October.

Michelle Hunter is having one last Knit Along before she takes a break to spend more time with her family.  Her Audition Shawl KAL starts later this week.  I have my yarn ready.  The ladies at my LYS have seen the sample and said it is absolutely beautiful.  I can't wait to get started.

Yesterday I did a stash dive and found a couple hanks of Malabrigo sock that I think will make a lovely Banksia shawl.  I bought a paper copy of the pattern at Wool Gathering.  I think I'll use the lighter color for the lace sections and the dark for the garter sections.  Stay tuned for progress.

Happy Knitting!!