Here are notes from last night’s class as promised. It describes how to complete the whole swatch.

Swatch: Cast on 30 sts & knit 2×2 rib. Start and end with two knit stitches. Six or so rows total.

Instructions:
1. Place markers after 7th (red), 15th(white) and 23rd (blue) stitches.

(Note: In following steps I will refer to these markers by color : red, white and blue  so that I don’t confuse you when you turn the piece)

2. Work in pattern to red marker and turn.

3. Work in pattern to end and turn.

4. Work in pattern to white marker (slip red marker when you get to it) and turn.

5. Work in pattern to one stitch before red marker. We’re now going to close the gap for the first buttonhole.

6. Slip next stitch purlwise to right hand needle.

7. With left hand needle pick up bar from front to back, making a new stitch on left hand needle.

8. Slip previously slipped stitch on right hand needle back to left hand needle and knit it together with stitch picked up in previous step and turn.

9. With left hand needle pick up bar (front to back) and purl this stitch with next purl stitch on left hand needle.

10. Work in pattern to blue marker (slip white marker when you get to it) and turn.

11. Work in pattern to one stitch before white marker. We’re now going to close the gap for the second buttonhole.

12. Slip next stitch purlwise to right hand needle.

13. With left hand needle pick up bar from front to back, making a new stitch on left hand needle.

14. Slip previously slipped stitch on right hand needle back to left hand needle and knit it together with stitch picked up in previous step and turn.

15.  With left needle pick up bar (front to back) and purl this stitch with next purl stitch on left hand needle.

16. Work in pattern to end of swatch and turn.

17. Work in pattern to one stitch before blue marker. We’re now going to close the gap for the last buttonhole.

18. Slip next stitch purlwise to right hand needle.

19. With left hand needle pick up bar from front to back, making a new stitch on left hand needle.

20. Slip previously slipped stitch on right hand needle back to left needle and knit it together with stitch picked up in previous step and turn.

21. With left needle pick up bar (front to back) and purl this stitch with next purl stitch on left hand needle.

22. Work in pattern to end of swatch. Buttonholes are now  complete.

23. Finish swatch by working several more rows in pattern and bind off.

Finally got out my wheel and finished plying this roving that was spun last year. I tried to control the color by splitting the roving lengthwise, hoping I’d end up with my own Kauni type yarn. No such luck.

Hey, check out this pocket wheel. Doug was up at Village Yarn and Tea letting people try it out. Like many that night I was smitten and got on the waiting list. Thanks Naomi!

For the past week I’ve been carrying these socks around pretending that I have a project in progress. For now I’ll go with the flow. That probably means not much will get done in the next few weeks before NV starts again. Even though I haven’t been knitting I’ve been earnestly thinking and researching designs to use in upcoming projects.

Yesterday I jogged 11 miles and it took forever. Had just enough energy to eat dinner and then promptly fell asleep on the couch while watching TV.

Earlier this week I knitted a couple of swatches for my next project, Krista. I’ll modify it so that I can use it for my first project of year two (Nihon Vogue). Besides making necessary adjustments for my measurements, I’ll be adding poofy sleeves (a class requirement).

The first yarn is Classic Elite Provence. Not sure if I like it. Love the off-white creamy color but the yarn is a bit stiff. The stockinette part looks ok but the decreases stick out giving me the impression that the lace pattern in Krista might not look good with this yarn.

The other yarn is Panda Silk DK. A lovely bamboo, wool, silk mix with perfect drape. I’d love to use it but despite what the label says, it knits up like a fingering weight yarn. This time I’m staying away from fingering weight.

What I really want is a cotton silk blend that’s not too expensive.

The sweater is done but wasn’t able to snap photos this weekend. I should be able to post one next week. In the mean time I’m taking a break from knitting to work on some non-knitting projects.

Gosh, last week sure went fast. Too much to do and so little time.

I only managed to rip out both lapels and re-knit one. Sorry that  I gave the impression that I was going to reconfigure collar/lapels, but actually I’m just redoing what I did before but this time with more care.

After I knit the other lapel I’ll sew the top of each lapel to the collar (where the ends near the neck line meet) for a few inches. That might help give the lapels more stability.

One thing I’ve learned from this project is that 2×2 rib and notched collars don’t go well together. This ribbing has a tendency to bunch up, making the top edge pull in and also sag.

I still haven’t definitively figured out why mistaken rib wouldn’t work with short rows. I’ve been meaning to give it a try but … can’t find the time. This weekend I mentioned the mistake rib thing to another very knowledgeable student and her conclusion was that in certain patterns short rows might make columns of stitches become unaligned. Makes sense but I think I still need to try it out to fully understand.

Oh and for inquiring minds, those things in the bowls (last week) were morel mushrooms. We ended up drying all of them. Eventually they’ll end up in  soups, pasta and risotto.

Friday we headed north and spent three days backpacking near the Canadian border. While I did take a sock project that has been on hold for the past year (the bag in the foreground),I only managed to knit a few rows before stopping to ponder how I’m going to work the traditional heels backwards.

Here’s proof that I made it to the border after bushwhacking off trail through the forest (hence the mosquito net and jacket). There are no signs,  just an odd looking clear-cut path through the forest. Funny thing is … although we didn’t run into border patrol at the border, one guy was hanging out in his Jeep at trail head when we left Sunday. He asked about the bugs and mentioned they’d be going up there on horses soon.

And look what we found! 5.2 pounds … a personal record.

Have any idea what this stitch is called?

It’s ribbing on a mitten in the Latvian exhibit at the Nordic Heritage Museum. Michale, Naomi and I took a break from knitting to see the mittens on display. They’re all truly amazing.

Work continues on the NV final project.

Did I say how glad I was that I chose simple stitch patterns?

Today I’m finishing the right front so that I can start sewing all the pieces together tomorrow.

With fingers crossed flying, I’m hoping to get it done before class in a couple of weeks.

Besides knitting I’ve been busy jogging. Yesterday was a milestone – six miles! Won’t mention how long it took.

I’m following a marathon training schedule. Who knows, maybe I’ll run a marathon in 2009. Can’t be any more difficult then finishing my NV homework.

Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat was a blast.

Back to reality.

Now that I’m feeling much better and my cough has almost disappeared, I’m in triage mode. So much homework and so little time left…

If only I could knit like Stephanie. Have you ever seen her knit? She tucks her right hand needle into her armpit so that it doesn’t move. Here’s a photo from her blog (June 22, 2004). But, it doesn’t quite capture the technique. You have to see it for yourself.

So, this leaves me wondering about the cover of Knitting Rules.