Inspired by the Yarn Harlot, I've decided to tackle Catkin.  During the winter, I spend a lot of time in turtlenecks, and my favorite way to accessorize them is with scarves and shawls.   Catkin appealed to me both because of the many ways it can be worn and because I liked the way it used two colors, but seemed to keep the knitting pretty simple. 

After digging through my stash (I really am still dedicated to shopping my stash for most of my projects right now) I decided that I wanted to give the Madeline Tosh Merino Light suggested by the author a chance.  I selected Fathom and Glazed Pecan after looking back over my last 20 or so projects and realizing I was stuck in a magenta/burgundy colored rut.  I've always loved deep sapphire/electric blues and Fathom is no exception.  Glazed Pecan has something of a tarnished brass quality.  Together, I think the two colors make a smashing pair.

I always think it's a good omen when the suggested needles result in a swatch of the suggested size -- so I have high hopes for Catkin being a great project.  Perhaps the biggest surprise was that I actually didn't have circular needles of the suggested size.  I was certain by this time I had every needle size known to knitterkind multiplied by several times.

P.S. to Claudia.  Sorry to see you wrap up your blogging days. I'll miss your wit and thoughtful project consideration.  Keep in touch! 

Project: Herbivore from WestKnits
Yarn: Sundara Fingering Silky Merino in "Flaming Flamingo"
Needles: US Size 6 (4 mm) KnitPicks Harmony

After  I finished up Pogona for my mother earlier this year, I've wanted a similar shaped scarf for myself.  I didn't want to make another Pogona right away so I looked through the rest of Stephen West's catalog to see if I could find a shawl with a different design, but similar shaping -- and not too complicated for distracted knitting,  Herbivore seemed like an obvious choice.

I love silk blend yarns, and I've had a skein of Sundara Fingering Silky Merino that has been considered and tried out for several previous ideas, none of which really seemed like a perfect match.  If there's anything I like about Ravelry, it's the opportunity to see what results other knitters have gotten from yarns similar to those in my stash.  The FSM seemed like a nice pairing for Herbivore -- lots of drape and sheen and enough extra yardage to make it a little bigger than the standard pattern (I think the pattern calls for the middle motif to be 12" from the starting point, and I was able to knit to at least 14" -- it gets larger after blocking). 

As a sidelight: I really enjoyed knitting with the FSM.  It's got great hand and minimal pooling and the stitch definition is beautiful. 

As with Pogona, I think the best way to wear this scarf/shawl is with the center motif in the front and the wings wrapped around and secured with a shawl pin.  Honestly, I have never been able to figure out shawls where the most beautiful part of the garment is on the back where only people walking behind you get to see it.  With the extra inches I got into the pattern, this shawl wraps over my shoulders, giving me an extra layer of light weight warmth (silk is a great insulator) that isn't bulky.  And the shaping of the shawl means it stays put -- even without the shawl pin in place.

As with Pogona, this pattern is another easy to follow, easy to knit design -- and it doesn't take very long to knit up a very pleasant fall warmer.  I think this scarf is likely to get a lot of air time over turtlenecks this winter. 

I'd like to give a little shout out to Ysolda Teague's Farinelli gauntlets.  I wear these all the time.  They don't entirely go with the scarf, but they are so perfect in the fall and winter when you don't want mittens or gloves but do want some extra warmth.  If you're looking for another quick to knit treat for you or someone else, they really are perfect -- and the Dream In Color Smooshy has really held up well to a lot of wear -- much better than I expected from a 100% merino yarn.

About 4 months after Ms. Z was born, my dad needed heart surgery to replace an aortic valve.  The surgery went well, but there were complications with the anti-coagulant therapy that resulted in my dad experiencing a ruptured spleen and significant internal bleeding.  My dad jokes that he needed "a full oil change" -- when all was said and done, it took 7 units of O positive to help save his life.

Up until that point in my life, I'd always been a little scared of giving blood -- needles and bleeding just weirded me out.  But if there's anything I got used to in the process of trying to and having a baby, it was to deal with blood draws and IVs.  So I got to thinking about it.  As I've gotten into Health IT and started working at a university with major medical center, I've spent a lot more time thinking about health care, and how I can make a difference personally.  Giving blood seemed like the perfect way to start.

In honor of my dad, I've made a long term pledge (to myself) to donate 7 units of blood.  On Friday I made my first donation, and I promise to update my progress here as I go along.  Here's a few things I learned from my first donation:

• At any given time only 38% of people in the US are eligible to give blood (i.e. they meet the health previous history requirements)
• Only 8% of people give blood
  
• Giving blood is easy and does not take a long time -- it took about 10 minutes for me to make my donation and another 15-20 to hang out after the donation while you drink some juice.
• Drink a lot of water before hand -- it will help the donation go faster and more smoothly (and you'll feel better, too!)
  
• You feel like a real hero when you're done.   
  

The Red Cross website is great at helping you find out more about your local Red Cross chapter as well as a a place to donate in your area -- most of the time you can even make an appointment so that you can do it at a time that works best for you. 

To put the incredible gift that my father received in perspective: when people donate blood, they can only donate 1 unit at a time and you have to wait at least 2 months to donate more.  There's a good chance that 7 different people contributed to what my dad received.  Although they will never know it, there are seven people in Southeastern Michigan who helped make sure that my dad is still here to watch his granddaughter grow up.

If you can donate, I'd really like to encourage to to do so. So many people need blood and when it's needed, there's no more precious gift in the world.

It has not been a summer of much crafting, but it has been a summer of enjoying a refreshing cocktail.  On our recent trip to Ann Arbor, we stopped at Zingerman's Roadhouse (Chef Alex won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Great Lakes this year) and I decided to try one of their classic cocktails: the Papa Doble.

It's a wonderful drink, inspired by Ernest Hemingway's desire to double the rum and lower the sweet on a Daquiri. When I asked for the recipe for the drink, the Roadhouse was happy to oblige.  Now that I have successfully repeated it at home, I thought I would share. 

Zingerman's Roadhouse Papa Doble
(makes 1)

1.5 oz   10 Cane Trinidad Rum
0.25 oz  Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
0.75 oz  Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
0.5 oz   Grapefruit Juice
0.5 oz   Simple Syrup

Mix all ingredients, shake over ice and strain into Martini style glass

For best results, chill glasses before hand as well as the juices.  When I made drinks for two, I tripled the recipe with excellent results.  I don't know if there's a difference between pink and white grapefruit juice, but I selected white.

The recommended liquors are on the pricey side, but well worth it when you taste the drink.  If you opt for a different rum option, I would select a gold rum.   

Happy summer, everyone! 

In what seems like the blink of an eye, my baby is a little girl.  To celebrate her birthday she got a "big girl" bed and a trip to the spa to get a mini pedicure.  (Thank you so much to Margarita at Mojo Spa who really treated my girl like a little person!)

Happy 4th Birthday, Little Girl.  Mama is having a wonderful time watching you grow into yourself!

Project: Trillian by Martina Behm
Yarn: Bright Dyes Sock Yarn in "Scarlet Macaw"*
Needles: 3 mm

I think it is likely to be the summer of one skein scarf/shawl projects with simple knitting elements.    Trillian is a simple asymetrical scarf with a lacy little border and a clever way of getting the lace border on two sides of the scarf.  The pattern works with almost any fingering weight yarn, but lends itself particularly well to crazy multicolors because the number of stitches changes every other row.  The bias stitching also lends itself well to stripey yarns.  I've been tempted to find some Noro Silk Garden Sock to test out with it.

The Scarlet Macaw yarn, with it's vivid primary colors seemed like a perfect test.  Of course, it did have areas of pooling, but I thought they looked lovely and gave the scarf a bright watercolor aesthetic.  The pattern was intended to be used with a skein of Wollemeise, which has more yardage than this skein, so it's a little smaller than the scarf in the pattern.  The pattern is written such that you can take it on without worrying about how much yarn you have.  Again, making it perfect for a single skein of sock yarn that you can't quite imagine as socks.

As summery as the colors are, the yarn is a wool/nylon blend, so it won't likely see too much action until fall rolls around again.  I think it will be great matched up against a black or red turtleneck

Hopefully I'll be back again soon.  My work world is a busy place right now and it's been seriously cutting into my crafty time.

*This yarn was a trading gift from Emma, who found the most lovely indy UK dyers.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the dyer is actively dyeing anymore.  It feels like I just got the yarn from her, but of course it's been in my stash waiting to be called on for almost 3 years.  Time flies...