Through the Loops!

The Trouble Was the Exposure Bias

I had a chat with a friend today who was very, very helpful about my fledgling photography skills.  I've been having quite a bit of trouble with reds.  They would flare out and overwhelm the entire photo.  It turns out there is something called "exposure bias" and mine was way off. 

I've still got a lot to learn, but after a 15 minute conversation I have a really good idea where to get the information I'm looking for.  Yay!  Thanks J!

I'll be buying a new camera soon - very soon, I hope - so I also got some valuable advice about what equipment might be good to start out with.

Kersti Stripe Scarf (a very unoriginal name, I know - if you've got a better suggestion I'm all ears)

Yarn:  Koigu Kersti one skein each of K1100 & K4387  (sale bin at Purl!!!)

Finished Size:  3.5"x55"

Pattern:  Cast on 250 sts.  Work two rows of each color in garter stitch.  Repeat until you reach your desired width or run out of yarn.

Raveled here.

ETA:
On October 3rd Mel is participating in the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk in Washington DC.  She'll be walking in memory of her mother.  You can help Mel reach her fund-raising goal and be entered in a contest to win some goodies.

I Must Descend from Peasants. . .

Lunch, originally uploaded by throughtheloops.

. . .because this is my favorite lunch.  Add a hearty slice of well made bread and I am in heaven.

I picked up the massive heirloom tomato and sliver of cheese at the Union Square Green Market this morning.  Then I walked the 50 or so blocks home, weaving my sweaty way past office workers in prim suits and tourists in brightly colored shorts and t shirts.  A perfect start to my day.   Now I count the minutes until lunch.

I NEVER talk politics or religion on this blog.  I have no problem when others do it on their blogs, but I feel that for me that is not what Through The Loops is about.  I simply choose to blog about what brings us together and avoid the things that drive us apart.  However, I will make an exception today.

"None of us are free until ALL of us are free"
Today marks the start of the Summer Olympic Games.  It is important to keep in mind the situation in Tibet.  In support of those who struggle for their freedom, Beverly at PoMo Golightly is having a contest.  You can win some pretty nice yarn from Pippi KneeSocks.  So go check it out.  Enjoy your day.

Robots in the Rain

DD#2 has been spending some of her free summer days sewing.
On a trip to Purl Patchwork last week she picked up a yard of adorable robot fabric.  (Between you & me it was also the same day I let her take the subway alone for the first time.  It was a route she knows well - E train; 42nd Street to Spring Street.  Hey, Purl was about to close.  If I'd gone all the way uptown to get her we wouldn't have made it.)

She made her own bias binding using one of these nifty gadgets that we got at Purl last winter.  If you sew, I highly recommend one.  So much fun - so much potential & making bias tape is such a pain in the arse otherwise.

Robot Shorts - By DD#2

Fabric:  Kokka Fabrics Robot Line, colorway Red HA3320-24B purchased from Purl Patchwork
Pattern:  New Look #6785
Mods:  The pattern doesn't have a shorts view.  She shortened the pants to get the look she was after.  She added the bias tape.  The pattern calls for a folded edge with twill tape on the inside.  She also put the zipper in the back.  In my experience side zips along a curved hip edge tend to ruin the line of the garment.

Does modeling finished objects in a swimming pool & with umbrellas count as "Water" for Project Spectrum? 

Lazy Days of Summer

Before I begin, I'd like to thank you all for your kind response to my Genmaicha mitts.

Since I am not one to pass on sweet treats, it was preordained that I'd place an order for these cookies.  I'd followed the link in Scout's post earlier this week.  There was a flavor called "Leah Rosie's Chocolate Pepper Chile Cookies" and we  just had to try them.  My girls never bake a batch of brownies without throwing in a bit of cayenne, so these were sure to be a hit.  They did not disappoint.  Two bags were ordered.  One is left.  The mail only arrived an hour or so ago.  Nuff said.   

My son left over a week ago.   The Lucky Little Brat (aka LLB) is in Iceland.  Off he went with his guitar, a Turn a Square Hat, and his Wildly Staccato Hoodie.  We finally heard from him yesterday.  He's having an amazing time and says "i suppose its hard to climb a glacier and not have your world view altered".  The program he is on is run by National Geographic.  The kids are traveling around Iceland, exploring the natural wonders of this spectacular country and learning about global warming.  All the while they are making a documentary film of their trip.  I don't know if I've ever mentioned that he's really into film making.  His dream job would be to travel around the world, exploring cultures, languages and music while making films about them.  You can see why this might be the ideal trip for him.  Oh yeah, and have I mentioned his obsession with Bjork?  Yup, pretty much his dream trip.  Too bad Bjork is on tour.

Since the Wildly Staccato Hoodie is off in the north, I we DD#1 decided that it was high time I make another.  This one has been even more fun to knit than the first.  I think it's the Dream in Color Classy that I'm using.  How can one not love knitting with this yarn?  The fact that I am working with seven of their sublime colors makes it seven times better.  Hard to put down really.  The body will be finished today, only a week after I started. (That's with my sister's family's visit.  The girls and I spent four days playing NYC tour guides to  6 boys and girls ranging in age from 8 to 49.  A great time was had by all, the forty-nine year old was seduced by the food and wine, the 12 year old twins loved Soho & the 8 year old particularly liked the subway.)  Next it's on to the sleeves.  A pattern for this sweater is also in the works.

Since there were mittens in June, why not a pair in July? 

The plan for August is to complete the trifecta by finally making a mate for this.  The first has only been waiting for it's partner for TWO years!

The Mittens of July were knit from Farmhouse Yarns, Andy's Merino to match the One Day Beret.  No pattern,I  just knit a pair of mittens and alternated two colors of yarn, every round.

Genmaicha

Introducing Genmaicha cabled mitts. Worked in The Plucky Knitter's Merino/Cashmere/Nylon Fingering, these mitts are as much fun to knit as they are to wear. Get ready for Fall, cozy up with your favorite cup of tea and make a pair.

Genmaicha

Materials:
Two pairs US size 1 (2.25 mm) circular needles, 24 inch or size to obtain gauge
Small Cable Needle
Tapestry Needle
Two Place Markers

Yarn: Plucky Knitter 80/10/10 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon Fingering. Colorway: Mrs. Allen, approx. 385 yards/115g per skein. 1 skein.

Gauge: 32 stitches = 4"(10 cm) in stockinette stitch

Finished Measurements: 7" at palm and wrist

Price: $6.00 US

Planes, Trains and Sidewalk Cafes

This shawl was an impulse knit.  I cast on after digging through my stash one night.  I was bored with everything on my needles.  I'd been admiring versions of the Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl that I'd seen on Raverly and this mindless knit turned out to be just what I was looking for.

The simple feather and fan stitch pattern shows off yarn beautifully.  The fact that most of the rows are garter stitch with a few yarn over increases at each end, made this a knit that I could cart around anywhere.

I worked on in during the endless train ride to North Carolina, as I watched seasons 2 & 3 of Weeds.  I worked on it sitting in a comfy wicker chair and sipping iced tea, on my mother's porch while listening to her neighbors dogs bark.  Incessantly.  I worked on it on the plane trip home from North Carolina, after we realized that there are better uses for our time than 12 hours in a rail car that smells like urinal cakes.  I worked on it sitting in a sidewalk cafe on 9th Avenue, while sipping mojitos, reading and sharing humorous passages with DD#1, who read her own book across the table from me.  It was the consummate "go anywhere" project.

DD#2 thinks it works well, refashioned into a skirt. . .

or a breezy summer top. 

She's been doing a lot of refashioning lately.  I really need to take some photos of her modeling the $4.00 men's t-shirts that she made into summer dresses.  Now the little fashionista wants me knit her a pair of shorts.    You've got to see the pattern (Ravelry link) she's got in mind.

Pattern:  Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl
Yarn:  Noro Silk Garden Lite - 4 balls
Colorway:  2011
Needles:  Addi Lace US 7/4.5mm

Love, love, love this pattern.  I'm already scheming to make another.

Wheels of Another Kind

When you walk into Angelfire Studios you are greeted by yarn.  Lots and lots of beautiful, glorious yarn.

It is so easy to get distracted and wallow in all of that fibery goodness for a long, long time.  But don't stop there.  Go  a little further.  Go ahead.  Just behind that table.  What's this?

What are they doing back there? 

Do they know how risky this is?

Mud in a yarn shop!?!

But you know you want to get your hands dirty too.

Look at my girl, how content she is, this young lady who puts so much pressure on herself throughout the school year.  Shouldn't she just spend the summer playing with clay?

We're lucky to have Justine's studio so close by.  She's an artist who believes in following your creative impulses - getting your hands dirty, regardless of the medium.  How could you not admire a woman like that?

And yes, that bump beneath her hand is her latest WIP.

Mittens In June

When I saw these I had to have a pair!  Who cares that it's June?

June Mittens
Made with my own handspun.
Pattern made up as I went along.
US size 3 needles - magic looped

Happy Solstice!

Sleeping In

That's what my kiddo's are doing today. 
I now have three high schoolers.   Ouch.  Do you know what that means? 
In four years, there will be three college tuitions.

Thank you all for the kind congratulations on My Reader's accomplishment.  My sweet girl did a great job with her valedictory speech.  The winds kicked up and the skies darkened just as she was about to go the the podium.  I think she was hoping we'd all have to run for cover and she'd be off the hook.  Instead, she was accompanied by a rainbow as she spoke.

I suppose you are wondering what has happened to the knitting content on this little blog.  I have been knitting, I assure you.  As a matter of fact, there has been quite a bit of knitting around these parts.  The thing is, there is nothing that I can show you.  It's all of the secret nature.  I've had two socks designs accepted for publication in a book that will be released sometime in 2009 and I've been doing some yarn club design work.   The latter I should be able to show you in a month or so. 

If you are looking for some inspiring knitting content, go over to Kristi's blog.  She's just published a new sock pattern which she is calling "Guided by Love".  She is donating her profits from the pattern to The Seeing Eye, the organization which provided her mother with her first dog guide many, many years ago.  The Seeing Eye is located very close to where I live.  I have known a number of families who have fostered puppies until they were old enough to begin training as dog guides.   Students and dogs training together are a common sight in the local towns where I live.   The Seeing Eye is a big part of our community and one that we are all very proud of.  So, head over to Kristi's and purchase her beautiful pattern, you'll be doing a good thing with the added bonus of acquiring a fabulous new sock pattern.

Knitting content of my own soon.  I promise.

Accomplishments

I am bursting with pride right now.
Remember my reader, artist, rain loving, bunny feeding, mom hugging, sweet girl?

She's valedictorian of her 8th grade class.

Her dad and I are still scratching our heads trying to figure out where in the gene pool that came from.