Lots o’ Stuff
I had a great weekend! The party was a total success, with the guest of honor being totally in the swing of things…
Bon Vivant!
As you can see, she had a blast. And my gumbo was a hit, even though mom insisted that the recipe couldn’t possibly call for an entire bottle of white wine. Ha! Little did she know that, it being a double batch, I used 2 bottles! Guess she’s not familiar with the Wineaux Epicurian. Glad to prove her wrong! Of course, (insert rolling of the eyes here) the DH wondered why I never cooked HIM gumbo. Well..Don’t know whatcha want there Ace, if you don’t tell me. Besides, it takes something special to get me to stand over a steaming pot of oil and flour continually stirring for over half an hour as it slowly becomes roux.
I knew I wasn’t going to be able to finish the hat AND scarf in time. In fact, while working up the hat I decided that I wanted the scarf to feel more substantial than the yarn was allowing, so on my way to my folks, I hit up a yarn store in their area I heard about. More on that later, and came away with 2 skeins of Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock in Indian Summer…
A perfect compliment to the Misti Alpaca, don’t you think?
I finished the hat Saturday evening, just in time to wrap it, along with the scarf yarn, and a book for good measure, all up to give to mom on Sunday, which, after it’s unveiling, I promptly took back, along with the yarn, to revamp the pattern and start knitting the scarf. But the book was hers to hold onto.
Stats: Clamber v.1.0
Pattern: My own, but created to compliment the Irish Hiking Scarf. Or, if you prefer, Ravelry Link
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Sport Baby Alpaca in “Red Fiesta Melange”, less than 1 ball
Needles: Size 4 [3.5mm] 16″ circular & DPNs
Started: Feb. 12
Finished: Feb 16
Mods/Notes: I’m not entirely happy with the way this turned out. It’s a little snug, and the bottom edge looks a little unfinished. Since it took less than 1 ball of yarn, I’ll give it another go.
In the meantime, I started the scarf, and I’m loving how the yarns are knitting up together. The colors really compliment each other, and they feel so soft and sproingy. I’m kinda hoping that I only go through 1 ball of the Cherry Tree Hill, so I can keep the other for myself…I know, selfish little bitch, ain’t I?
Now, for those of you who live in or around the Inland Empire, aka the IE, aka the 909, or if you’re passing through on I-10 (yes, Pacalaga, this means YOU), you must check out The Yarn Deli in Redlands, CA. Becky, the owner was very helpful and friendly. She immediately broke off from the group of knitters to come help me. We chatted for a few, talking about blogs and Ravelry (she’s YarnDeli1 there) and her store. When she found out it was my first time there, she gave me a little welcome package, with a tape measure (can you have too many of those? don’t think so) and an adorable hand-knit lavender sachet that smells amazing! Her shop is filled with mostly natural fibers. In fact, I didn’t see a single hateful wad of novelty anywhere. She had a good assortment from basic traditional wools to the higher-end luxury fibers, and everything in between. I will definitely go back there again. Had I not been so pressed for time, I would have taken her up on her offer to stay and knit and have some chips and dip. As it was, I had an appointment with a non-teflon coated pan, some olive oil, flour, wine, lady fingers and shrimp, and hours of companionable chit chat with mom.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I don’t think it makes you a bitch to want to only use one ball. I usually buy an extra (so I have perennial single ball syndrome), because it’s good to have something a little nice for yourself. And Cherry Tree Hill is nice and doesn’t break the bank!
February 21st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
You’re raising your mom just right~you’re a good kid, kid. The hat is gawjus and so is the scarf, do you really think you’re gonna have leftovers? I’ll keep the sticks crossed for ya.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:29 pm
OMG, CTH is my fave commercial sock yarn. Alas, we almost always come in to town from the south, on I-8, because DH is convinced that the Famous Footwear in Alpine has a selection of shoes that no other store in the world has. (Honest to gawd, the man does *not* buy shoes anywhere else.)
February 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
All the best food has copious amounts of wine. EVERYONE knows that! Or should….of course the question becomes..is the wine in the food or the diner?
February 21st, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Oooh, gummmmmmbo! I’m also a big fan of etouffee! Glad the party was fun.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I like the look of the two yarns carried together! Very neat effect. The hat looks nice. =)
February 21st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Mom’s having fun! I love the hat and the scarf yarn is very matchy. Yummm, gumbo. And a yarn store welcome kit, how very cool is that?!
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 am
Your Mom’s a hoot! I love the scarf v.2 - here’s hoping for “leftovers”
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 am
Any party that has a septuagenarian on a swing has got to be good. Throw in some drunken gumbo (avec ladies fingers), and summer hot knits, what could be better….
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Amazing that our hubbos only tell us what they want after they see us giving it to someone else (sounds only slightly dirty). Those colors are so beautiful! Oranges are hard to get right in yarns, but you have two such rights. Was your mom on the swing before or after the gumbo? If after, those two bottles were totally worth it!
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
That yarn store sounds fabulous!
Glad the Gumbo turned out so tasty (note the capital “G”…reserved for REAL gumbo only
I don’t think I answered your question about LA yet…Bogalusa. Oh and were you ever able to test out Skype?
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 am
Our shop knit some Irish Hiking scarves, and started out with a K2P2 rib for several rows, before changing a (K2P2K2) to K6 for the cable. It lays better that way on the scarf, as well as the hat
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
beautiful hat!!!! and it will look great with the irish hiking scarf…..your mom looks so happy!!! what a great daughter!
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
You’re mom looks like she had a blast. Don’t suppose yóu’d share the gumbo recipe. Okra makes me weak in the knees!
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
First, let me apologize. I am a blog idiot. I can’t figure out how to comment on your fiber farming blog. I am dying to learn more about fiber farming, for which I am also an idiot, but I have a dream. I want to research fiber farming both animal and plant based, and I’m having major difficulties (could be me). In the long term I want to start a farm in rural Africa….Any recommendations on books or animals would be welcome. I couldn’t find an email address to which to direct this giant question… I can be reached at janet@jahlambsandlions.com
Peace
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Yeah on the finish and the new yarn.
Love that Cherry Tree Hill stuff.
Haven’t had much of it, but love it.
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
[...] reading La’s post about the scarf and hat she’s making for her mom, I clicked around Hello Yarn and found this scarf, that has an X and O cable pattern. I think [...]
February 25th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
You are a much bigger person than I - tempted with fiber, chips and dip, I would have forgone the slavin’ and purchased some gumbo!! Whatta good kid.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
What a fabulous photo of your mom! I guess the wine took effect - both bottles.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
And how long was your mom on that rope swing? Looks like a swinging party! I used to make a spaghetti sauce with wine that everyone would eat like soup, sans noodles. (Also because I never did get the hang of having food all ready at the same time)
The hat is cute!
February 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
And when you have time, maybe you can explain the dizzying timeline in TSCC? I am so lost.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
[...] in Feburary I made a hat for my mom’s birthday. The hat was just the initial downpayment for a scarf-hat [...]