Knitting to Keep My Sanity ... Well, Sort of

Death...by Lace (better than Death...by Chocolate)

It promised to be a quiet evening when I came home tonight.  The day had been relatively routine - programming, coding, cursing the computer the SAS God (I love to live dangerously).  The evening would be filled with piano lessons, and competing basketball games - would our beloved Spurs and Rockets prevail.  And don't forget the Astros.

As I walked up to the porch, there was a small brown package bearing a German postage mark.  Ah, an eBay find has arrived!!  It isn't the infamous Lyra - hereafter referred to as the Hope Diamond of Knitting.  More on that sordid story of intrigue later.

The first pattern book is Orella 1, Kunststricken, eine alte   Technik neu entdeckt, für Anfängerinnen und Fortgeschrittene,   Modelle von Erich Engeln (translated: Orella 1, Art Knitting, an Old Technology Newly Discovered, for Beginners and Advanced, Models of Erich Engeln or amazing lace to knit, no matter what the language!!) and the second is Orella 2, Spitzenstricken von Erich   Engeln, 1984 (translated: Orella2, Top Knitting of Erich Engeln or even MORE amazing lace to knit!!!).

Just to whet you appetite, here are some pictures of these amazing pieces of work (from the amazing website http://www.blatt-und-bluetensammelsurium.de):

Are you drooling yet........?  Me, the keyboard is kind of gross.  But then there's this:

OOPS - my beloved just brought me a bib!  Must control myself.  But who can resist:

And the worst part --- as luscious as these patterns are, there are MORE.  Also in the package was Kunst Stricken: Grosse und Kleine Decken (translation: Art Knitting: Blankets Large and Small) which includes patterns by Herbert Neibling.  Here is a taste:

From Z's momma (http://yarnandnomoreoil.blogspot.com/) - there is Anemone:

I can hardly contain myself - the challenge, the itsy-bitsy-ness, the sheer knitting machisma of attempting and completing just one, let alone **ALL** of these patterns --- and the others that I have on the way.

But, what to do about all of the other projects I have on the needles?  Is it possible to have more than 24 hours in a day?  If I learn to knit with my toes and do it under my desk - is that the ultimate multitasking or will I get busted at work for knitting on the clock?

God grant me the serenity to accept that I cannot knit all things...
the courage to finish the things I start...
and the wisdom to know when to frog...

Orkney dukes it out with Isis .....

There is just something about casting on a new project.

On Ravelry, I admit to 7 WIPs (including 2 which are hidden in my stash), but in reality there are many, many, many more. Most of my stash is not documented and most of my WIPs are discovered when digging in my storage containers - usually for stitch markers, rulers or yarn needles. Now, on one level - the discovery is neat - a little like Christmas. On the other hand, it is a little disheartening - Can I never finish anything?

But then, the new skein, cone, or hank beckens, temps and calls - and my resistance weakens. And so it was this weekend. I was happily working on Isis, with her soft, gentle alpaca working simply through my fingers.

Isis - Dry Block
Originally uploaded by chrisnicel

She was growing - the pattern easing into a comfortable rhythm, suitably intricate, but not boring. I have a goal of finishing her by early August for a trip - very doable without a lot of pressure. But not doable with distractions.

MEET THE PRESSURE

Jamieson and Smith's 2 ply Supreme Lace Weight in Black for the Orkney Pi Shaw
Originally uploaded by chrisnicel

This is the shetland lace I bought for the Orkney Lace KAL design entitled Northern Lace designed by Elizabeth Lovick.

So, last night I decided to start -- after the LYS was conveniently closed -- and thus the search was on for 4 mm needles was on -- either 2 circulars or 4 dpns. Into the bins, drawers and closets I go - hmm, forgot about that projects!! Oh yeah, that's what happened to that sweater!!!! But where are the blasted needles - here is 1 circular and 3 dpns - we will make this work until tomorrow.

Isis .... what Isis .... I don't even think about the progress I could have made while digging for an incomplete set of needles that I can't replace because the the LYS was closed. No -- the stage was set -- I HAD to start Orkney - It had to be on the needles tonight.

And so it was - and like all circular starts -- it was on multiple times. On and off and on and off and on and off. Addi turbos - not so great for starting itty bitty tiny circulars, but terrifically great for ensuring that there is no catching, snags and snarls in the opening stitches -- mainly because the stitches aren't on the needles for very long. And, as if predestined, about the time I am ready to toss yarn, pattern and needles - I look up and the the LYS will open in 10 mins. Quick trip - full set of birch 4mm dpns and I am in business.

Orkney Pi KAL - casting on
Originally uploaded by chrisnicel

Once on, it grows quickly and soon enough - the exiled Addis are called back into action. I am now on the fourth increase - not bad for a couple of hours work - excluding the cast-on experience.

Orkney Pi KAL - fourth increase
Originally uploaded by chrisnicel

But then, I looked over on the coffee table and Isis was sitting there looking petulant - I felt guilty. I should put it in perspective. I feel guilty about most everything. But I decided to introduce Orkney and Isis

Isis meets Orkney
Originally uploaded by chrisnicel

Orkney and his Shetland wool is organic, a little rough around the edges, and, because he is a Pi shawl, there is a certain randomness about him. I can consider designing a Pi shawl - I understand how the Pi works and I can see how one can build complexity into one.

Isis and her Misti Alpaca is softly elegant - so smooth, but not so easy to understand the construction. Don't think I can get my head around this design to understand how to build something similar - it is a true original.

Both are amazing and challenging, both comfort and please me. If you have the opportunity - try either or both. They are different experiences, but both will make you go.

But the $64,000 question - which will win out for evening knitting - which has the priority??? I am smart enough to turn it over to the Oracle - HE, and he alone, will decide. If not, he pounces.

Smokey the Oracle
Originally uploaded by chrisnicel

I am blessed with the riches of multiple projects, interests and the ability to access fabulous yarns. For that I am most grateful!

Isis - the most Amazing pattern

  Veil of Isis - on the Needles 
  Originally uploaded by chrisnicel

On my needles now -

I am working on The Veil of Isis from the amazing mind of Bad Cat Designs.  If you are interested in this pattern, there is a Yahoo Group that Andrea, the genius of Bad Cat Designs, started and moderates that has the pattern and tons of help and support.

Anyway, this is really fun to work and is amazingly beautiful.  It works up much easier than it seem at first - reading the pattern and chart.  Once you actually start knitting and fight through the changes of charts - it all comes together very smartly.

It makes me want to grow up to be Andrea.

I am working it in a sage green Misti Baby Alpaca with Gold Beads.  Here are the pictures on Flickr, but it looks a little blobby since I was on 12" needles - but the color and beads come across.

Another older pattern ... but oh, so special

I am trying to catch up on posting my older patterns - and this is my most favorite - both from a technical and a personal aspect.  It's a little bit of a long story - please indulge me :-)

The week my oldest son, Christopher, was going through his first communion, my husband and I discovered that we were going to be unexpectedly blessed with our third child (Vatican roulette at its best!!).  I vividly remember standing in the church waiting for our 2nd graders to march in for 1st communion - dressed in their suits and their beautiful white dresses and veils.  My husband, Jeff, leaned over to me and whispered "I just bet this baby will be a girl and we will have a lifetime of first communion dresses, prom dresses, wedding dresses and all that stuff" - of course, said like a bad thing.  Time goes by, and we are blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Elizabeth Claire.  She is named after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - the first American Saint and St. Clare of Assisi, the patron saint of needleworkers.  And I begin planning to make her first communion veil. 

We fast forward to 2007 and it is time for her first communion and to finish her veil.  It is my very first design - and with that amazing amount of anxiety.  I designed this mantilla using patterns from Sharon Miller's (my hero) Heirloom Knitting.  The bottom border was the 1851 Wedding Lace pattern - symbolizing our hope that she will be a beautiful bride one day, even a bride of Christ.  The center panel was the Candlelight pattern - symbolizing the light of Christ. The top border was clementis edging (sans picot) - symbolizing the commitment to education of St. Clement of Ireland  as well as honoring Elizabeth's late grandfather who was Irish.

The other challenge was making it long enough to cover her hair - we had not cut it since she was born and it was over 30 inches long.  But it all worked out in the end and she looked like an angel.

An older project ... Possum Flowers

This was one of my very first lace projects ... and certainly my first large scale lace project.  It is from Meg Swansen's A Gathering of Lace, my very first knitting book.  The pattern is Frost Flowers and Leaves by Eugen Beugler, an amazing designer.

I used Cherry Tree Hill Possum Laceweight which is 40% possum, 40% superwash Merino wool, and 20% silk.  I think the color was Java or something similar.  The weight here in balmy Houston is perfect - this is my winter coat!!

Finishing this pattern was also a rite of passage for me. 

When I blocked this baby out on my queen-size bed - one corner started to unravel ---- yes, UNRAVEL!!!!  I grabbed some dpns, took a really deep breaths (and a big glass of wine) and re-knit it up on the bed on which it was being blocked.  When it was all put back together, I had another really big glass of wine and decided that I could call myself a knitter :-)
Click on the pictures to see them up close and personal!