Momobinski Knits

WIPs: Shawls

2008-02-10T21:51:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to photograph and post my works in progress by category so I can see clearly how much I really have on the needles. Let's start with shawls, because I have the fewest of those on the needles at the moment - three, that is. There were a couple others I recently frogged, but I think these are keepers.

The first is the Forest Canopy Shawl in Butter yarn, a worsted merino-silk blend, by Baywood Yarns (a local Bay Area dyer). I'm partial to heavier weight shawls - they seem more useful and snuggly, and they up finish up so much more quickly, which is good for me these days. At least I am in good company on this preference. I picked this colorway ("Periwinkle") with its clear blues and greens with shades of periwinkle because it reminded me of looking up from a forest path through the treetops at the clear sky beyond on a beautiful sunny day in the early summer, which seemed just perfect for this shawl. I'm pretty new to lace, plus I get distracted often, so I ran a safety line, even though the pattern is so simple it hardly needs it. (The pattern may not, but there's a decent chance I will.)

Next is the inevitable Clapotis by Kate Gilbert. I'm using Schaefer Yarn's Helene, a silk wool blend very similar to the pattern's Lion & Lamb, in the "Gertrude Ederle" colorway. I'm doing extra repeats to make the full-sized shawl. I have reached the part where you drop stitches, but that part doesn't show in this photo, which shows first section "pre-dropping."

And finally, the Feathery Lace Shawl by Iris Schreier found in Exquisite Little Knits. I'm doing it with Kidsilk Aura (instead of Kidsilk Haze) on larger needles in shade 758 (a steely blue-grey) to make a larger shawl.

I think I'm going to choose one of these projects to focus on for a while. Although it almost feels like spring here this week, I'm leaning towards going back to Clapotis, which I haven't touched for a while, because I think I will lose inspiration for its wintry colors and weight once true spring hits, and I should be able to work on the others further into the spring/summer. I'm sure they will take that long because I have lots of other great projects on the needles that I can't keep away from. Socks in progress, lots of them, coming next.

Great Big Sea

2008-01-10T23:12:00.000-08:00

These gorgeous Handmaiden yarns arrived in my mailbox this week. Fondle, fondle, drool, drool. The colors are fabulous and I expect the drape will be too.

Three skeins of Steel above and two skeins of Peridot below, destined to become shawls. Specific pattern suggestions welcome.

How Lucky Am I?

2008-01-10T22:48:00.000-08:00

I scored a Spin-Out package from Cara.

This wonderful holiday surprise included three skeins of Classic Merino Lace in Red Violet from Knitting Notions, one skein of Sundara's sock on Cobalt over Mediterranean, some great yarn notecards, Soak, knitter's hand balm, and my favorite - the adorable copper sheep shawl pin by Designs by Romi. Yippee!

As a way to "pay it forward" and make room for my new goodies, I am planning a major stash reducing event: my very own yarn auction for charity. Score your own prize by bidding on lots of handpainted yarns and other fabulous fibery options. All proceeds to go to charity, probably Heifers International. Details to come as soon as I have the logistics worked out.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T22:28:00.002-08:00

With everything we have had going on this year, I almost forgot how much fun it is to connect with the amazing online community of knitters, but I'm back to blogging for 2008. Wishing you and yours peace, joy, and lots of walks on the beach in the new year.

Christmas Knits, Part I

2008-01-01T21:52:00.000-08:00

My DH was sure that I wouldn't finish his (size 12) socks in time for Christmas but finish I did. No surprise here, because I had to make sure they fit along the way, but he was thrilled anyway.

Yarn: Socks that Rock Heavyweight (That's right, Heavyweight - hey, he's got a big foot!)
Pattern: My own, loosely based on Blue Moon pattern
Comments: Had to decrease to smaller number of stitches for foot than I used for calf to get right fit. Would make longer heel flap next time because of shape of foot.

Also whipped up the requested red hunter's cap for FIL in Colorado.

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted
Pattern: My own
Comments: Knit tightly to be extra warm. Can't tell from the rough photo but the color variation in the red was gorgeous.

And, in a completely unexpected move, MIL knit matching socks for little LoveBug and me. They were her first, and she says, her last. They are made from Mountain Colors Bearfoot in the Raspberry colorway. I am thrilled.

Family Socks

Photos of cabled hat made from yummy Sanguine Gryphon worsted cashmere and Noro hat and scarf set to follow soon ...

Baby Knitting 2007

2008-01-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

I've done a ton of knitting for babies this year but can't seem to remember to take pictures of the gifts before I give them away. This is one of my favorites, though.

Baby Henry's Raglan and Cap

Also made a baby shrug with matching ribbed cap (from pale pink Blue Sky cotton), a pair of Saartje's booties (from green/pink/purple/magenta Koigu), and a dozen or so roll brim hats (mostly from Debbie Bliss cashmerino) for various babes. I'm currently working on EZ's February sweater in a beautiful raspberry alpaca, and have several more hats the lineup. Will be sure to be better about photos in 2008.

Camp Cockamamie

2007-04-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

Camp Cockmamie was a blast. I'm way late posting and the event has already been well documented on other blogs, so here are just a few of my favorite pics.

Kevin and his mom partner knitting.

Stephanie and Cat race knitting.

Wedding shawls (Nathania's Flirty Ruffles Shawl and Stephanie's own pattern).

Confessions

2007-04-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

My name is Momobinski and I am obsessed with knitting. (And yarn. And fiber. And spinning. And reading about knitting. And reading about spinning. And reading about yarn. Yada yada yada.)

I might as well start with some confessions.

1. I knit at stoplights. (Actually, I knit at some stoplights. I check my blackberry at alternate lights. Surprise - another Type A knitter.)

2. "Yarn," "needle," and "knit" were all among my daughter's first words.

3. On more than one occasion I have bought the same sock yarn twice because I forgot I already owned it.

4. My husband, who is an avid and talented cyclist, and I have an unwritten agreement ... he doesn't ask me how much I spend on yarn and I don't ask how much he spends on bike paraphernalia. Co-dependant? Yes. Effective? You bet..

5. My previously obsessive reading has fallen off dramatically since I started knitting. I am desperate to learn how to knit and read at the same time efficiently. (I can do it, but very slowly.) Tips, anyone?

6. I have more than 12 socks on the needles. (Photos to be added to WIP list soon.) No kidding. I haven't abandoned a single one - love them all and am determined to finish every one. I just love the process of starting a new one so much - matching yarn to pattern, making my own adjustments, and seeing how it will develop - that I can't help myself from adding new socks to the rotation. (And I have 5 scarves on the needles too - all beautiful experiments with new yarns, new patterns, new techniques.)

7. When I travel on business (or for fun), I google all the LYS's and squeeze in yarn crawls to and from the airport if I can. I've been to yarn shops in New York, New Jersey, Philly, DC, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Austin and more. Fun fun fun.

8. I like to match drinks to yarn the way some mix wine to entrees. You know - merlot with merino (the old standbys), a local brewery's amber ale with a non-repeatable handpainted sock yarn bought on Etsy (indie pleasures), vodka with cashmere (special occasions only - or after a really bad day).

9. When I see a particularly gorgeous garden in bloom, my first thought is that I wish I had my camera with me so I could capture the unique colorway. Maybe I'll start dyeing. (Uh-oh!)

10. I'm going to Camp Cockamamie. (Knitting camp? Don't tell my non-knitting friends and family. They will think I've finally truly gone off the deep end. They may be right.)

More to come. Oh, yes ... there is indeed more, much more.

Brand New Blog

2007-04-08T11:52:00.001-07:00

Long a lurker, I'm finally launching my own knitting blog. I'm kind of a private person generally and not particularly inclined to show my novice knitting projects to the world no less share my personal life online but I have finally accepted that a knitting blog is the best way to stay connected with the many knitters I've had the pleasure to meet lately. And also to keep better track of my WIPs, FOs and all those projects I have in the stash and in my head. So here's to knitting and online community, wherever/however/whenever the twain shall meet. Welcome.