Preparedness and Not

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My Rhinebeck Gwendolyn has fallen behind schedule.  Two sleeves, a back and one front are upstairs in the bathtub, having a swish round before I block them, but the left front is still on needles – which means that it won’t be blocking for at least an hour or three, which means it can’t possibly be dry by morning.  That would worry me more, except for that the other parts won’t be dry either, so the whole thing is a little silly. I’m carrying on because I believe three things.

1. If the parts are "mostly" dry – I can dry them the rest of the way in the oven. I have a whole system for this. I preheat the oven, then turn the heat off, pop the woollies in, and close the door.  Low heat is essential – as is remembering that you have sweater parts in the oven hours later when you heat the oven to 450 for a pizza.  I recommend a post it note on the door.  They’ve got to be mostly dry though, because I’ll have to fold them to get them in, and so they need to be blocked before.

2. If I get all those parts dry, I can sew up the whole thing tonight (now I’m really dreaming) then take a circular needle and a ball of yarn on the plane in the morning, and do the collar and button bands while I travel, which only leaves the question of buttons, which seems like a manageable problem to fix by Saturday morning when I head to the fairgrounds. 

3. If I don’t finish, do you know what will happen? 
NOTHING. 

I’m behind because last night I went to dinner and Knit Night and I cuddled a baby instead of knitting, and I’m not sorry either. 

I can always knit, but the chance to snuggle a wee one, wrapped up in so much yarn there’s no mistaking that knitters love her?  That doesn’t go by often. 

Besides finishing the sweater, packing the rest of my things in a suitcase and bracing myself for the 2 weeks ahead of me – I get a fun job.  The only thing not arranged – is my knitting. 

Two weeks away from home, with only my wool for company on planes, trains and automobiles is a lot of knitting time.  A ton, really, and I intend to be prepared.  I’m going to choose a few sensible things.  Chunky, fast knits are a fools game on a book tour, because they take up too much space and get used up too fast- so what I need is small, fine gauge things.  Something tiny I can tuck in my carry-on for whenever I’m on the move. (I think that will be fancy socks)  Then something super plain and small that I can do without looking or thinking when I’m tired and it’s dark. (I think that will be socks too.) Then the big banana. Something that I can work on in the hotel room, when I’m all by my lonesome. Something that’s interesting enough to keep me company, but small enough that it won’t take up much room in the suitcase, and will only take one ball of yarn but will still use up two weeks.  Lace maybe?  I have to decide- and I’m overwhelmed with the choices.  I’m thinking about a few, but I know you guys will have good ideas. If you were looking for a lace thing to fit the bill… what would you take?

156 thoughts on “Preparedness and Not”

  1. Several “Pretty Things” – for gifts. A small fichu/tiny shawl…………am I really first? Safe travels!!

  5. I know it isn’t lace, but a recent cruise provided a great opportunity to make the Smitten pattern. I am thinking we will put something nice we can do for other people in each mitten and really enjoy the holiday this year. I can knit them in my sleep at this point. Nothing like being forced to finish a pattern like that due to limited options…which might not be a problem seeing as how you might find some yarn for sale at that Rhinebeck place…

  7. Shawlette? I started working on the Holden Shawlette during my trip couple of months ago. It was easy to knit without having to look at the instructions after every two stitches.
    Also will you put the patteern for Jen’s baby’s baby blanket up for sale?

  8. all the best for a safe and exciting trip!! 🙂 I live in NZ so looking forward to meeting lots of American knitters vicariously through the blog

  9. Wee ones > knitting. You made the right choice. I still can’t help but be impressed with how quickly your Gwen has come together — it gives me something to aspire to.
    See you in Seattle. Safe travels.

  10. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/steveknits/dulcavina
    I thought this was a pretty fun knit. Compact enough for traveling, fairly easy pattern but has the challenge of lace knitting on both sides for some areas. The knitted on border seems to go on forever (but that is always the case I think!)
    p.s. If you need some laundry done by the time you hit Seattle let me know…..

  11. Oh my gosh, once you start talking about putting a sweater in the oven I realize any deadline can be met with a little creativity! Amazing!

  13. I heartily agree with your priorities! Also, if you wear your Rhinebeck sweater on Sunday to Rhinebeck, it’s still a Rhinebeck sweater.
    My last travel lace shawl knitting was your Snowdrop shawl. Worked a treat, came out beautifully, won a big honkin’ purple rosette, was gifted to a very special person. Just now (on travel for work) I’m adding on to Citron, which is compact enough and also works as brain dead knitting most of the time. And it’s from handspun, so it’s a treat to knit, even if it’s just plain stockinette.

  19. no question The Wedding Ring Shawl
    Fine lace,light to carry,takes forever to get a few inches done.
    You have 3 girls maybe you can make 3??? now who is dreaming?
    YOU DID make the correct choice at knit night.

  21. I am leaving for 2 weeks in Italy and have chosen Chasing Snakes socks for the plane and a linen stitch scarf for my hotel time.

  23. Jared Flood’s CELES. It’s lovely and lace but not so hard that it makes you want to cry.

  24. Sea of Dreams Baby Blanket comes to mind or maybe Fountain Pen Shawl…but that begs for beads…do you want to do beading in your hotel room?
    The baby picture makes my arms ache for a baby to hold.

  25. No suggestions on lace, but thank you for the picture of the little one in her cap. I’m getting ready to knit one of those, and your sister is totally right; it really needs to be shown on a baby. Really beautiful! (Baby and cap)

  26. Do you pick the project and then the yarn, or the yarn and then the project? That will make a big difference in what you decide… Also, do you have a recipient in mind? Again, that has an impact on what you choose-style, color, weight, everything. None of this is news to you, I know! My own vote would be one of Evelyn Clark’s lovely patterns–some are ‘pictures’, like the Peace shawl, Seascape, or the Pacific Northwest, but others have a nice geometric repeat, such as Leaf or Seashore. Best, randmknitter

  27. Even if you have to tape the back of your new sweater to your shoulders and wear it like a cape — the baby snuggling was still totally worth it. Plus which, you’ll undoubtedly launch a new trend.
    As for travel knitting, I’ve been eyeing Laar lately. It’s a laceweight cardigan so it certainly won’t take up much room. Also, lovely. Bon voyage!

  28. You clearly need to knit am Omelet. It’s interesting, fun, not too fiddly and packs really small (ask me how I know…) and it is pretty.

  29. I would pick Jared Flood’s Rock Island, but now I’m off to look up Celes thanks to Carin.

  32. Someone should do a scientific experiment to determine the exact oven temperature that dries various fibers the fastest without cooking them. Or invent an oven-like drying device that will not be used later for pizza.

  33. It might not work in your situation (no car? no sun?) but here in Southern California, I get my woolens dry by putting them in the car on a hot day. Free solar powered clothes-dryer!

  34. A) I love that you love my kid.
    B) Your readers are a fantastic source of inspiration
    C) Will miss long meandering phone calls.
    xo

  36. How about a Doctor Who scarf? Also, that baby looks so scrumptious, I wish I could sop her up with a biscuit. I want one!!!!

  37. Safe and happy travels, Steph, and get plenty of down time. Wish I could be in one or more of your audiences. Tell them about motor neurons! XOX Cat

  38. What is that baby hat?! So adorable. (Almost as adorable as the baby) I must make one. (Hat, not the baby. Already have a baby and don’t need another just yet.)

  40. I am still so jealous! Knits just trip off your needles, and here I sit, a week after wrist surgery, waiting for the surgeon to clear me to start knitting or cross-stitch again.
    Looking forward to meeting you next Wednesday in Baltimore. I’ll have my stitches out by then, and hopefully a knitting project in one hand and your book in another.

  41. Don’t forget, your first step is Rhinebeck and you might! be able to pick up some yarn there. I have the Cap Shawl (Victorian Lace Today) in my UFO basket. I’m trying to get up the nerve to pull it out and figure out where I stopped (not my fault, injured my wrist a couple years ago and couldn’t knit for 6 weeks, when it healed, I was on to other projects). There are several pattern changes, but it isn’t super difficult.

  42. I recommend Gudrun Johnston’s Flukra, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flukra
    You ease your way into it with a garter stitch triangle, then move on to a beautiful lace stitch, and finally a knitted-on edging … three distinct parts that meld into a perfect whole. And it has no right or wrong side, so there’s no danger of wearing it wrong side up.

  43. Not Jared Flood’s Rock Island. A great lace shawl pattern, but you start out by knitting an ennnndddleeesssss border, then picking up stitches and working your way in. A nice pattern, but not for this.
    How about another Jared Flood pattern, Juneberry Triangle?
    I so wish I were going to Rhinebeck this year!! But, sick husband means travel is out…

  44. Striped Study shawl is a good stash buster for sock yarn (I’ll bet you can come up with a bit of that). Also, any pattern by Anne Hanson for lace – Les Abeilles is an excellent pattern and easy to memorize; Twinings Stole, Tudor Grace, Leafprints, LOVe shawlette all great choices in a number of yarn weights.
    Have a great trip!

  46. Sadly we’re coming into summer here in Australia, so my newborn’s knits are being packed away, but you’re right about the knits showing the love!
    If you have two weeks, why not design something? A lace shawl by you would be far more satisfying at the end. Either that or grab all the in potentia Christmas gift knits and burn through them!

  47. Take a look at Girasole by Jared Flood. That would be wonderful hotel room knitting and you’d end up with a 2011 Tour Blanket :^)
    Safe travels

  48. Well, I’m looking for the perfect shawlette pattern to kick off Fall. Anne Burk looked so cool in hers with a vest. I was inspired.
    Also, I have about 4 patterns of mittens I’ve been dying to do and I need a pair this winter so those are a go for sure.
    Lastly, there was a pattern for lace cuffs in one of my books that I’ve been wanting to do. I’ve been wanting a pair of those to wear with my denim jacket. Gives the sleeve a little length and is warm right where I want warmth.
    Inspired by any of that?

  51. Baby-cuddling = 100% Wise Choice. And both baby and the knits on her are precious!!
    For the travel knitting, have you looked at the Sideways Surprise Shawlette? It isn’t lace (I love Lace with a mad and undying passion, but I do sometimes knit other things too..) but it IS a great travel project. It’s an “any yarn” pattern that can be knit up in a wide range of sizes. The pattern is almost stupidly easy to memorize: very rhythmic textured knitting, so it keeps your interest without requiring you to block out all else while constantly squinting at your pattern. It’s knit starting at one corner, increasing alternate rows until it’s as big as you want or you’ve used half the yarn, then decreasing back to the starting number of stitches. It also has a narrow stockinette border running along the sides; instead of binding those stitches off, you drop them and get a lovely twirly fringed edge. A nice-sized project will roll up amazingly small.
    Alternatively, check out MMario on Ravelry. He has some gorgeous lace shawl patterns, using several different styles of lace. Well worth checking out.
    Have a great tour!!!!

  52. The body section of a bohus is on tiny needles and takes forever and would fit the bill in my mind, all the while not being lace.
    Also, damn that baby is adorable in that hat. I need to find a hat like that!

  53. Holding that baby would totally trump anything else needing to be done on my radar too. You have your priorities straight girlfriend.

  54. For lace- I really enjoyed making the Swirl Shawl by Lijuan Jing with Jojoland Melody yarn. Little hexagon pieces with color-changing yarn that build into a shawl or scarf- whichever you’re up for.
    Instead of meticulously sewing up the sweater- how about basting the pieces together enough to hold you for a day?! Just be sure to wear a shirt underneath in case you start coming apart at the seams ;o See you Saturday!

  58. I think your brain might explode from the garter stitch, but I have Albers Shawl on my needles. It is good for mindless 1 skein at a time knitting (and it is a good excuse to buy the other colors you need while you travel).

  60. Wendy Johnson’s Summer Mystery Shawl because (a) you can make it big or small and (b) the patterns are fairly easy and can be marked off.
    This is the same person who told us that by the end of week 1 she would be willing to kill for a cup of coffee, so I am guessing that it may not be really high quality complicated lace knitting time…

  62. Is that the really different looking baby hat that you made when you were doing the baby things? It is adorable on the real baby!!!!

  64. I’d choose just about anything from here:
    http://www.knitting-delight.com/shop/
    She has lovely stuff, and the patterns are sent in a pdf, so you can get it right away. I don’t get anything from recommendations – I just like her patterns. I’m currently making Filigrano (which is free through Ravelry).
    Any of the other stuff I like, you’ve either made or have in your queue. (Peacock Feathers, Aeolian, etc.)

  66. By the way, I work at this really awesome coffee shop in Evanston, which is next to Skokie, where your Chicago gig is. The shop is called “The Other Brother Coffeehouse” (http://otherbrothercoffee.com/) and if you stop in, I promise to serve you the most delicious cup of coffee around. On the house.

  67. I am just finishing a Noro lace scarf (pattern bought at Lettuce Knit. The pattern is easy and the colour changes keep it interesting. It’s quite lovely!

  68. A lace scarf–that you can use as a Christmas gift. That’ll give you one present done way ahead of the famous knitting schedule!
    Lucie

  69. Try taking along Brooklyn Tweed’s Rock Island shawl. Only 600m of laceweight, a charted pattern, and a spectacular result.

  70. Ah, the wee one is cute. Cuddling is indeed called for.
    I hope to see you wearing the sweater on Saturday at Rhinebeck.

  71. Practical Response – I’m going with kittysweater’s recommendation of Rock Island.
    However I feel like why not take on a fun-time laceweight cardigan?
    Everyone likes a cardigan! They are security blankets for people all over the world!. Laceweight has oodles of yardage and is light to pack! As long as you are not married to a sense of knitting completion during your trip, please consider the cardigan!

  72. 1. that is a beautiful baby. Nothing better than a baby surrounded by handknits..
    2. I’m with Samina. Holding a baby is better than knitting
    3. You are one determined woman. Even though nothing would happen if you didn’t have the sweater by Sunday, I guess we’ll see a picture of you wearing it.
    4. Jared Flood Girasole or EZ’s Pi R Square shawl. have you done either of those yet?
    5. travel safely
    6. thanks so much for your blog!

  73. I started a “Laar” sweater a couple weeks ago (by Gudrun Johnston) and it’s been wonderful carry-around knitting… lightweight, scrunches down to a tiny size, but I need to pay attention. It’s a laceweight, bottom-up cardigan with a challenging & beautiful cast-on, and lace to look forward to after the 8-9″ of stockinette stitch.
    Or you could always bring a charted shawl pattern with laceweight yarn; or a book of shawl patterns and a selection of appropriate yarn (like Romi’s 7 Small Shawls, perhaps?)

  75. I really enjoyed Summit by Mandie Harrington:
    http://knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTsummit.php
    After a couple of repeats I didn’t need the directions. I worried it would become boring, but it turned out to be potato-chip knitting: just one more, then I’ll stop, maybe. Lace-weight to fingering, so one set of socks could turn renegade if neccessary…

  77. First – Lovely baby pic. What a great way to spend a knit night and one of your last nights at home.
    Second – Any thing by Anne Hanson or Sivia Harding or what about something from Glossimer Webs?
    Hope you have a wonderful time at Rhinebeck. Say hi to Cockeye and Marci for me. And Jen the Potter.
    Hugs and happy knitting, Alice

  78. Kristin Spurkland’s circular, Cherry Blossom Shawl. IWKnits Spring 2002.(I almost couldn’t tell you because my copy is so beat up the cover is gone. Bad knitter, bad bad….)It’s simple but not uninteresting-Easy to finish mainly, portable, timeless, beautiful. Have a all over wonderful time whatever you bring. Don’t forget the skivies.

  79. …a PI shawl. It is lace, mindless at times, and beings very small. Yeah..that’s it. A PI shawl…
    bjr

  83. Love the baby! I have to tell you that I ordered your new book from my local bookstore and it came in on Tuesday. At work this was an incredibly bad week, full of stuff I hate to do ( like paperwork). I came home today and sat down with your book and a cup of tea. I started laughing so hard the dog came to me worried that I was having a fit. All the stress of the day vanished. Thank you for another excellent book. I am making a list of friends I know will appreciate this book and giving it to them for Christmas. So stress is gone AND Christmas shopping is made easier. Double Thanks!

  85. I’m so glad you’re coming to Baltimore. One of my friends reminds me regularly that I took to knitting shortly after your last visit. Be safe and see you soon. I know it must be hard to leave that beautiful baby for two weeks; we appreciate it. 🙂

  88. For future frantic drying events, get a special dehydrator made with fan to circulate the air and a temperature control for type of fibre. I suspect this will not be the last frantic drying events of your career. No need to worry about the pizza temperature interfering with the sweater’s longevity.

  89. Because I am in the ‘won’t it be fun’ sort of camp tonight I am upping the ante by suggesting you start the Albers Shawl with the first colour, post it and then get the next colour from a predetermined person from one location and then the next and then the next. It would be a community build thingie.

  90. this must mean that the perfect buttons will be found at rhinebeck. maybe you can wear the sweater with a shawl pin to rhinebeck and sew buttons onto it on your way home!

  91. How about the Wings of Horus by Kalinumba: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wings-of-horus-english But be warned, this might drive you a bit crazy, since the rows are not really regular and get really, really big. But in the end it’s just beautiful. And it should be something like dental floss, maybe Centolavaggi by Filatura di Crosa to knit with, since otherwise it will be really, really big.
    I also adore the “Betta loves Shetland Shawlette” http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/betta-loves-shetland-shawlette, might give you a wonderful trance during the Hotel room evenings.
    Have a safe trip and enjoy!

  95. I vote a Snowdrop, because you haven’t done one (to my knowledge) in a long time, and I’d love to see you revisit that. (also because I need you to do it since I arse it up every. damn. time.)

  96. This was the one of the loveliest shawls I saw at Knit East. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lynfack/in-dreams-mystery-shawl. It is beaded, though. I put my knitwear in front of a dehumidifier. Dries quite fast. Good choice on taking the opportunity to hold that sweet little baby. I bet you just might have a very nice finished object or two that you could take as backup knitwear, but babies don’t wait!

  97. I leave for my first business trip Sunday so thanks for the brown pants travel tip yesterday. I’m pondering travel knitting as well and will probably be taking socks and a lace shawl.

  102. Oven drying: good grief, you’re a lot braver than I am! If I’m in a hurry, I use a hairdryer on my blocking knits. It’s great for shawls and thinner knits but admittedly I’ve never gone that route with thicker knits like sweaters.

  105. Take a shawl from A Gathering of Lace. I liked knitting the Shetland Tea Shawl, complicated enough to keep you occupied when your alone, but not so fine of yarn that you get frustrated in a dark hotel room with wee needles.

  106. You do not know how happy I am to hear that another knitter has a hard time picking a project. My hubby and I are going to Rhinebeck for 5 days and I had the worst time figuring out which small project to start. Took me longer to pick yarn than to pack.
    (As for your earlier post on traveling for two weeks and not bringing fresh outfits – just bring a travel size of Febreeze. My son now says when he smells the stuff, he thinks of traveling.)

  108. I can’t knit lace, even with a gun to my head. I can’t even knit up the Swallowtail lace shawl that everyone and their blind three-legged dog can knit. 🙁 But that is one seriously sweet delicious baby. I’d have a hard time thinking of knitting if I were holding that sweetheart, too.

  109. I loved knitting this, and it definitely takes time.
    http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AmandaB/icarus-shawl
    The center section is just interesting enough that it won’t bore you to tears/be tossed aside for something slightly more interesting. The edging is fun, and I love the finished look of the shawl. This is one of the few things I’ve made and still look at and think “yeah. that’s pretty sweet”.
    Safe travels and happy knitting!

  111. My favorite lace project so far was a Print o’the waves shawl in gray Alpaca. loved it! complicated enough to make you pay anttention, repetative enough i didn’t have to be juggling charts and freaking out if I forgot what row I was on. I wear it all the time.

  112. The Radiance Shawl. It has many different stitches and changes often enough to keep your interest.

  113. I say any 1 skein shawlette by Wendy Johnson. She designs some gorgeous lace. If you want to see a lace design that will really knock your socks off, though (so to speak), check out Heere Be Dragones by Sharon Winsauer. There is not a single repeating row in the entire shawl.

  114. I would work on a nice beret or other fancy hat but made in a sock weight yarn. I love making hats. I took a lace weight shawl and a backup sock weight shawl on my last trip.

  115. I’m on a Niebling kick myself. That would probably be more than this conference’s worth of knitting, if you do a larger one or even just a doily typically done in thread in lace or fingering weight.

  116. I’m sure you know, but if you put your sweater pieces in the spin cycle of the washer (just the spin cycle!) before you lay them out, it will help them dry faster. (just trying to be helpful!)

  117. Yup. Lace will do. Lots of meters of yarn, lots of stitches, lots of choices. How could you possibly go wrong?
    We love your talk. Sorry about the two week travelling ordeal.
    The travelling tips are priceless.

  120. I think that Elizabeth Zimmermann always took, and recommended taking, a lacy shawl for travels. A lot of knitting out of one ball of laceweight yarn!

  121. What about Jared Flood’s Rock Island shawl? You can probably buy and download the pattern on-line, hunt up something from the stash, and off you go!

  122. Bitterroot by Romi. Shaweltte or shawl version, and you have a while into the knitting before you have to make a decision. Best of all, it’s a free Knitty pattern, so you can access it anywhere you can get internet access in case the pattern goes awandering.

  123. Were I to have the luxury of time to knit while away from home I would definitely choose Anne Hanson’s Snowflakes in Cedarwoods. I have a cone of yarn ready for the day I finally decide to cast on.

  125. Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed’s Celes scarf (in Isager wool/alpaca) OR
    Anne Hanson of KnitSpot’s Almost Ovals scarf (in Sweet Georgia cashsilk lace)
    OR either of those in whatever laceweight you have in stash OR shop as you go

  126. I just went through the same decision process myself! I’m going to Vietnam and needed the perfect travel project. My solution? The Vesna Crescent Shawlette (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vesna).
    That might not be enough knitting for your speedy fingers, but I think it should serve pretty well – and it’s just lovely, isn’t it? Yum.
    Have fun thinking of a project!

  127. The Foreign Correspondent Scarf! Simple, one ball, and lace! The pattern can be memorized lickety-split and it’s perfect when you have tons of time to kill. If I had the time I would make a million, they turn out beautifully.

  129. I would not regret not knitting either. Cuddling a wee one is always priority. 😉
    I have this in my favorites: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cerasifera
    I don’t think it would be too difficult, but interesting enough.
    Good luck on the Rhinebeck sweater. I know someone who has also dried wool in the oven that way. And good luck on the book tour. I will see you some day. Will you be in Minnesota this time?

  130. The baby is adorable! How great that you had the chance to cuddle. I hope that she told Aunt Stephanie not to put her knitting in the oven under any circumstances. She looks like a bright child.

  131. A sampler shawl – maybe one of the ones from Victorian Lace Knitting. I’ve taken yarn, needles and a chart to complete a 6 x 4 foot shawl in a small ziploc bag on holiday before and I can recommend!

  134. How about something by Karen Walker? Her patterns can be downloaded from Ravelry. Like “Something Wicked This Way Comes” Lace Shawl. That would keep you busy. Have a great trip!

  135. That’s easy: take the birddancing shawl, that will keep you busy for a couple of weeks:
    “Near Solstice Lace Shawl (SPP 7)
    Bridget Rorem ” get the pattern here:
    http://www.schoolhousepress.com/patterns.htm
    If you finish it before I do I expect a nice foto on your homepage.
    Lots of love, keep knitting
    Martina

  136. sorry, i can’t offer any good suggestions… too distracted by image of sweet, sweet baby. 🙂 btw,
    did you originally post a link to that baby blanket pattern?

  138. i love this lace PONCHO, something i haven’t seen much of before. it solves the problem of how to keep a lace shawl on in real life! and once you get the hang of it it’s a good combo of challenging and memorizeable.
    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/youghiogheny
    the same designer also has a more traditional shawl based on the same stitch pattern if you’re feeling more traditional.

  139. That’s a lovely photo of Jen’s little one and the blanket you made. I’m pleased to see that the baby is doing so well. Lace is too hard for me at the end of the day and most of it gets frogged when I’m tired, so no suggestion from me. I’d just take a book to read, lol.

  140. Wow! Thats quite a schedule. You can always arrange an emergency purchase at Rheinbeck! See you there.
    Carolyn

  145. I know it’s too late, but the perfect big, intricate shawl is the VESS KAL by lankokomero on ravelry.

  148. A lace scarf. Won’t get as wide and cumbersome as a full-sized shawl, but a complicated lace pattern will hold your interest.
    And is that unutterably sweet baby hat the one you wrote about? Is the pattern available somewhere? Good wishes for the tour! I can’t wait for the book.

  149. I truly admire your diabolical sneakiness in getting us to provide you with hours of surfing pleasure – looking through all the suggested knits. The perfect compliment to airport knitting!

  150. Steph, I’m working on a lace tunic, which is actually not difficult but the designer has a few more challenging items. It calls for fingering weight – I’m using four skeins of Madelintosh. The Ravelry link is: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lace-tunic-4 .
    There’s also a tunic with a fancy edge. I love that this tunic can be worn over a camisole or a turtle-neck and you get to show off delicate lace kntting in a garment other than a shawl.
    Good luck on your trip and good knitting!

  151. I have no specific pattern suggestion for you. However, if you haven’t picked something yet, fret not! Something (fiber or pattern) will likely strike your fancy at Rhinebeck (and if it doesn’t you must be in some sort of sensory isolation device and not actually at Rhinebeck.) If you find the fiber, but don’t decide on the pattern till you are in transit I’m sure there must be someway to acquire it. Please remember that all the people who are coming to see you at all your stops would gladly help you out. Lots of things can be purchsed right from Rav and someone will be able to hook you up to the internet and a printer. Just send up the bat signal on twitter or the blog or whatever. And if you’re in desparate need between Rhinebeck and Park Slope, Just stop in Danbury, Ct and I’ll hook you up. (Just not on Sunday…cause I’ll be in Rhinebeck!)

  152. Ok, I know I should be looking at the baby…I did….she’s adorable. …but what kind of knit night do you go to where there are tablecloths and linens and wine glasses. Just wondering.

  155. I’d take out the pattern I wrote called “Kirsten’s Goodbye” and test knit it. Or I’d take another run at Icarus… I keep getting to about midpoint on that and frogging it because I’ve screwed it up. Don’t know why it’s been so hard, but it has.

  156. If I were going to Rheinbeck, I would not take anything! That is where all the good stuff is! Find some nice yarn that speaks to you and go with it!!!! Geeeesh!!!

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