Graffiti Knitting

This is one of the things I've never done, and probably never will. And yet, despite all of the valid reasons for not doing it, I find the idea appealing in a cheerfully anarchic way. I like the idea of unexpected color/texture surprising people, and maybe causing them to look at what's been in front of them all the time in a new way. I like the element of playfulness and fun. All the examples I've found have been in urban settings. What I'd like to do out here in the country is hang knitted pieces on barbed wire fences along the road - sort of Burma Shave meets Christo. Quilts on clotheslines look great, why not knitting on fences? Of course, I'm not really going to do this. Not really. But I'd like to.

I did do a little graffiti filing once, long ago, in a boring job where I was stuck in a file room surrounded by shelves of massive (I mean 3 inch thick) engineering files. It was one of those jobs where you were supposed to look busy/businesslike even when there was absolutely nothing to do. So I occupied my vacant time by writing out bits of poetry from memory and slipping them into the files. No one ever mentioned coming across them, but I was only there a year.

"What is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days..."

Yesterday was oppressive. Hot, humid heavy air. Serious tornado warnings in the late afternoon (we didn't head for the basement, but we were ready to). Then some rain and more sticky heat.

This morning the front had passed. I woke up to a crisp, almost chilly breeze coming in the window. The sun is out, the air is clear as can be, temp around 70 with a light breeze, in short as perfect a day as a person can hope to enjoy.

I hopped in the car to deliver some patterns down to the Argyle Fiber Mill.





Stopped at a hilltop cemetery on the way to get the panoramic view




I really would have liked to keep going all the way to Iowa, the drive was that pretty. But... gas prices, global warming and the fact that I have things yet to do this afternoon.....



Here's the front of the Fiber Mill. The real entrance is around the side. That is to say, this is the real front entrance, but if Liz and Kristi are running the machines they leave a note, and you go to the side door and in through the work area (which I think is more fun, because you get to see things in action.)

Part of my "things to do" involves this



I haven't worked with Cotton Ease before. After swatching I've decided that I like it. It isn't as heavy as 100% cotton worsted, and is a little more elastic. Just looking at it in the ball, I thought it might be splitty, but so far (about 5" into a sleeve) that isn't proving to be a problem at all. And it's reasonably soft.

When knitting strictly for myself, I've always been a wool gal. But now that I have more wool sweaters than I reasonably need, cotton/cotton blends are starting to appeal.

While I'm on the Nordic Theme (I was going to say

on the Nordic Track, but that's something else altogether, and I've never been on one.)

Oh yeah, Nordic Theme. For my birthday, my lovely daughter gave me this

It's Rosemaling, and I love it. It's a little plaque about 6" across. I've been walking around the house holding it up to the walls, and I think I've found the right spot. Now I just need to get out the hammer and a nail.

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When I posted the Squiddle Mitt pattern, I forgot to mention that it's set up for the left hand. When working the right, you have to reverse the whole thing. It is really not that difficult to read a color chart backwards, but to make things easier, here's the right hand chart. I didn't do the thumb again, because that's the same either way.

squiddle mitt

In other words, I've been messing around with graphs for a little mitten with a squirrel. This is the front.



The squirrel motif came from Nomis Scandinavian Sweaters by Kajsa Lindqvist and Natalie Hebert (Nomis Vol 1), 1946. I added the bits that are supposed to look like leafy branches.

Knit at a gauge of 6 sts per inch, this should fit a 3 to 5 year old. I've posted the complete chart here. At this point, it's only the chart, but if you have ever knit this style mitten that will be sufficient. White square = Main Color, Black square = Contrast Color. Any squares that are pale green or grey = no stitch. M = make one increase. / and \ = decreases. The horizontal red line indicated the thumb opening. Work a cuff in 2 x 2 rib (or cuff of your choice) before you start the color chart. Other than that, so far, you're on your own.

I will get around to writing full directions at some point. It may be a while before I actually knit these. If anyone else wants to do it and send me a pic I would be delighted.

Even If Think You Don't Like Sauerkraut

You might like this. It's tangy sweet, kind of crispy crunchy, and you know that if I make it it's got to be easy.

Sauerkraut Salad

Drain a can of sauerkraut (No. 2 1/2), saving the juice.

Chop up:

1 c. green pepper

1 c. celery

1/2 c. onion (I like regular, not the supersweet, but whatever)

Drain one of those little teeny jars of pimentos (this time throw away the juice).

Put the kraut and other veggies in a bowl and toss them around a bit.

In a non-aluminum pan, mix the sauerkraut juice with 1/2 c. vinegar and 1 c. sugar and bring it to a boil. Pour this over the veggies and toss some more. Let it chill in the fridge at least a couple of hours (overnight is even better).

This came from a church cookbook (Sutter Creek UMC), so you know it just about has to be good.

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And speaking of Selbuvotter (as I was a few posts back) a/k/a Norwegian Mittens, Hege has posted charts for some tradition patterns. If you haven't yet tackled stranded color knitting yet, fairisleknitting has a good tutorial, with lots of links to further resources.

Worthy Cause

My brother Rick rides bicycles, and builds bicycles, and for the last four years has been helping to organize the "Tour de Farms" ride to raise funds for MS research. I'm really proud of him for his active participation (and two days of riding in the Midwestern summer heat/rainstorms is pretty active-not to mention the organizing work) So if anyone is moved to make a donation, here's the link to his page.

And here's the deal: if you make a contribution (doesn't matter how much, and I don't need to know the amount), email me through the link at the top of my sidebar and let me know, and I'll email you back a pdf of whichever of my patterns you would like. Just let me know which pattern and where to send it. Offer good until June 20.

Rick will want to kill me if he sees that I've posted this picture, but just so you know what kind of a sweet guy you'll be supporting.....