Psst...

wip_sheldon.jpg, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

Time to get busy.

Karen and Bella and Log Cabin Socks

Karen and Bella and Log Cabin Socks, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

It’s Thanksgiving and I presented my sister Karen with a pair of Log Cabin Socks the only catch being that she had to model them for the blog. What fun! This post is to prove to her that I can take the photos, upload and post to the blog all in a matter of mere hours. Probably could do it even faster if I didn’t have a turkey feast to eat in the meantime. Everyone is sitting around and groaning with their distended bellies yet I tap away on my iBook thinking of something pithy to add to the occasion.

As for the technical info: These socks were knit with Knit Picks Swish DK Superwash in Terra Cotta on KP Harmony Wood Needles in size 4. The pattern comes from the book Handknit Holidays: Knitting Year-Round for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice by Melanie Falick and Susan Pittard - great little book. Oh and yes, I saw them first onBrooklyntweed.net.

You asked for more Alice...

alice_lopi01.jpg, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

..so I give you more Alice. This shot is from our little photo session at Laurelhurst Park before the rains came. Remember I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that the Cobblestone was my first sweater in about ten years? Well this here Lopi sweater, I believe, was that last sweater of ten years ago. It came out way too big - I knit in a very relaxed manner, remember? Way too warm - you’d have to live in Iceland, the land of Lopi, to wear it for more than five minutes without sweating to death. And way too itchy. Even Alice said it was itchier than the Cobblestone. Still, the Lopi sweater is a sight to behold, a lovely sweater as modeled by my lovely daughter, Alice, on a lovely autumn day.

The cat...er...Cobblestone is officially out of the bag

Max at Reed wearing Cobblestone sweater, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

Max found out that I was making him a sweater but it wasn’t from this blog. *sigh* It’s a long story actually. And even though I had intended to give him the Cobblestone sweater as a Christmas gift, I simply couldn’t withhold it any longer. Taking advantage of the extended dry, autumn weather here in the PNW, I threw the sweater on him and we had a photo session. What else? Reed College, where Max is currently a sophomore, never looked better. We spent an enjoyable afternoon together, running errands and taking photos.


They have the most amazing trees at Reed College.


More awesome trees...


My favorite nubby tree. Oh yeah, doesn't the sweater look great?



So what next for the poor overworked Cobblestone sweater? California of course. We’re hitting the road and headed to the Bay Area on wednesday for Thanksgiving. Until then, Happy Holidays everyone!

Roland models the Cobblestone

Before I give the recently completed Cobblestone sweater to Max for Christmas, I asked my good friend Roland (aka Mr. Em) to try it on while we were sitting around at Starbucks having coffee. And oh my goodness, It looked so good on him! Roland is a lanky man, about six feet tall and 140 pounds. “But I’m not scrawny” he insists. Initially I started the sweater in the medium size and even though I did achieve the proper gauge-yes, I really did knit a gauge swatch- the sweater grew as I knitted it and I was afraid it would be too big. I’m an extremely “relaxed” knitter as they say. So I ripped it out and cast on for the smaller size. I’m so glad I did. The sweater fit Roland perfectly. He looked absolutely stunning in it so I asked him to model for me and he reluctantly agreed. What a friend.


On the appointed day, we headed to Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver, Washington. It was a magnificent autumn afternoon. Simply awesome.


Doesn't the sweater look yummy?


I was inspired by the leaves.



I was inspired by the stone monoliths.



I was inspired by nature.



But most of all, I was inspired by the sweater. Doesn't it look great?



I can’t tell you the last time I had so much fun. Thank you, Mr. Em.

Alice is such a good sport.

alice_cobblestoneNew.jpg, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

I finished the Cobblestone sweater and I'm so excited. It turned out wonderful...better than expected for my first sweater in 10 years. To bring you all up to speed, the sweater was designed by Jared Flood aka brooklyntweed and was featured in the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Amber Heather which is fabulous wool and I would knit it up all over again in a heart beat.

The sweater was begun on September 12, 2007 and finished on October 31, 2007. Why the delay? you ask. First of all I had to block the sweater, secondly snap the photos and third..well I've been mucking around getting this blog off the ground. Oh and pardon the dust as they say. The look and feel of this blog is still very much a work in progress

I've been relentless asking my nearest and dearest to pose in the sweater before I give it to its intended which is my son Max. We've all been having a blast exploring the local parks of Vancouver and Portland while immersing ourselves in glorious fall colors and enjoying the brisk, but dry autumn days. As you will see, the results are terrific, combining all the things (and people) I love most.

babyAlice

babyAlice, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

Just trying to get his blog up and running and playing around with Flickr, etc. So yeah, this is test.

It's the first day of the rest of my life

In honor of the occasion, Marlene sent me this quote from John Lennon:

"There's no where you can be that isn't where you're meant to be, all you need is love."