when usually it's nothing...

James.......

I have been Knitting James from the latest Jane Ellison book. I really like these patterns and will probably knit something else from this book. James caught my eye when the book was first published. I had a bag of Kueyon #55 and thought it would lend itself to this pattern. I like the subdued tones in Kyreyon #55. I am not a light bue or pink kind of guy but it looks great in this sweater.

I did not follow the pattern to the letter. I changed the entire pattern. James is supposed to be slouchy and drop shouldered. My James is going to be fitted, but not tight. I think the sweater in Silk Garden would be better slouchy as the knitted fabric of SG might have a bit more drape. It wil be neat to see how James looks and feels after a nice soapy bath!

I decided to do the sleeves in the round from the top down as I want them to fit perfectly, or as close to perfect as possible. I made the sweater much more fitted than was called for in the pattern. The sleeves are a bit more fitted as well. I decided on rolled edges instead of the garter stitch edges called for in the book. I will do rolled edges on the sleeves. I seamed the shoulders with a three needle bind off and I crocheted the side seams. I aded the rolled bottom edge after seaming and went down a needle size to pull in the bottom of the sweater a bit. I am happy with the results at this point in the process.
It is a fun, simple, mindless knit. More later. All for now......

More DC fun and a little knitting......

I had a wonderful time with some dear friends this past week. Saturday evening was spent with a former colleague and mentor from my days in Orlando, FL. We had a great visit playing catch-up and chatting about old times. I wish we could see more of each other, perhaps in the future. Monday evening brought some more friends to DC. My dear friends April and Chip. April and I lived together for years in Macon, GA. A and C were celebrating their third wedding anniversary this week and they are still going strong!

We ran around DC like little kids and had a blast. This was the fist time Chip had ever seen DC and I know he had a good time. We visited all the memorials and a few of the museums. Here is a picture of part of the WWII Memorial. This memorial takes my breath away.

One of the neatest things we saw this week was Julia Child's kitchen installed in the Smithsonian.

I just loved that lady. She was so funny without even trying. I remember watching her when I was a lttle kid. This kitchen brought back memories.

I took LOTS of pictures and the next one is my favorite from this weeks excursions. This is the Lincoln Memorial viewed from the WWII Memorial.

We had a neat visit to the Jefferson Memorial as well. The three of us were the only people there.

Now for a little knitting content. April brought a skein of Berroco Hip-Hop yarn and I made this hat from this free pattern on the Berroco site.

April requested a little "Tweedy Flower" For her lapel and I came up with this...

I used a leaf pattern from some book I had in my collection and the Flower pattern from this Gorgeous Creation!

April Loved the result and I think it will look great on her lapel.

I am alone for the remainder of this week so i was up very late last night and cast on for "James" from the Jane Ellison Noro book 2. I was up untill three am knitting... the bag of Kureyon I bought before I left Macon, GA is as soft as soft can be. It is musch softer than some other balls of Kureyon I have bought in the past. I am not complaining mind you. Has anyone else had this experience with Kureyon? So, I knit James full steam ahead, albeit with a few modifications from the original pattern. More on the modifications later.
It has been a full week. All for now......

Wips....

I have a few to many things going on knitting wise currently. These are just a few of the things I have going right now.

I need to concentrate on finishing these things in the next couple of weeks. The little bit of black yarn on the top of the pile is Silky Wool. I remember Mare saying she loved the stuff, and I have to agree, I like knitting with it. I picked this up in Fredericksburg yesterday. I am making a black scarf as per request. I never get asked to knit specific things so I am glad to do this.

I spent all day yesterday walking around Annapolis, MD. Little did we know the North American Sailboat Show was in full swing.

There were so many people milling about. I grew up around boats and spent lots of time cruising the Great Lakes but it holds no interest for me anymore. Annaoplis was interesting and very pretty. Lots of old buildings and neat shops and stuff. The historic area was very....cozy. The traffic was horrendous.
We walked all around the United States Naval Academy as well. This place is huge. The buildings are gorgeous and kept in great repair. The setting is amazing, right on the Chesapeake Bay.

Tomorrow I am back to Washington , DC for a little yarn shopping and monument gazing. Maybe I will hit the National Gallery. I spent a half hour there last week, having just been through the Hirshhorn . I can only spend about an hour in the National Gallery, any longer and my brain gets over loaded and everything starts to look the same and I find myself rushing through the place. I need to formulate a plan and visit specific galleries. Moderation is the key. All for now......