Seattle to Portland Yarn Train 2011

The 2011 Seattle to Portland Yarn Train is in the history books now. A great time was had yesterday - with somewhere around 209 knitters from the western Washington area traveling to Portland on Amtrak for a fun day of knitting on the train (some slept - we did have to get up terribly early). We walked up and down the streets of Portland visiting yarn stores, who were expecting us and had discounts, lots of help and even snacks and beverages. It rained steady and heavy and the wind blew all day so lots of people had wet feet, clothes, and hair - but it was fun, including one in our group whose umbrella kept blowing inside out, spokes bent, and the shaft kept coming apart. She said her mother gave her the umbrella right before she left and that "she'd got a good deal" on the umbrella. Yeah, right! We rode the "Starlighter" train home, arriving in Tacoma at 9:30pm home after 10:00pm and fell into bed - tired, but happy!


















Here's the tote bag for the occasion - filled with goodies,
and my only yarn purchase - Rowan Cashsoft in cream which should make a beautiful pair of fingerless mitts!

What Am I up to at the Moment???

I've been feverishly working my way through this Every Last Yard Cardigan, but in the past I've only made hats, scarves, fingerless mitts, etc. - all short-term projects. I still knit on a few other things at the same time when I get bored with the sweater. I'm working on the yoke with increases in each row - pretty soon I'll get to where I'll take off the sleeve stitches and work down the body.



I'm looking forward to this Saturday, when I will be among 209 knitters from the Seattle/Tacoma area who are traveling by Amtrak to Portland - "The Seattle-Portland Yarn Train". We will have close to 3 hours knitting time while on the train. We'll spend the day in Portland visiting yarn stores (who are expecting us and offering coupons), and having lunch at some fun place. We'll be coming back home that same night, tired from all that walking, but refreshed from all that walking in the rain, probably, and inspired by lots of lovely yarn. My next post will include pictures!

Knitting a Sweater For Me!!!

As mentioned in a couple of earlier posts, I've joined a KAL (knit-a-long) with other knitting buddies to knit my very first cardigan for myself. The name of the cardigan is Every Last Yard (ELY), which means you can knit it with long sleeves, 3/4 length sleeves or short sleeves, and if you wish, shorten or lengthen the body of the sweater - in other words use "every last yard" of your yarn.
With a few hiccups getting the short rows figured out for the curve of the neck and some worrisome small holes at the increases for the sleeves, I am moving along down the body of the sweater. I've gotten lots of help from my local knitting buddies, as well as online ones through Ravelry - a knitting community. Yes, it is knitted all in one piece from the top down - you tie off stitches for the sleeves, then pick them up later and knit each sleeve, all done in the round. This makes for easier sizing as you can try it on as you go.

I'm using Cascade 220 Superwash Wool in a charcoal color and am loving it so far. It feels good to step outside my little box and try something new. I have knit a couple baby cardigans, but nothing of this magnitude.

I also want to cast-on for towel and washcloth sets that will look like this. I'd like to make several sets to have on hand as gifts throughout the year. These are made from cotton and wonderful to use. Photo courtesy of Tabitha's Ravelry project page. If only mine could look half as beautiful as hers.

Knitting Accomplishments 2010

This is a rambling collage of my knitting accomplishments for the Year 2010....