cordeliaknits

ocean

Continuing our driving tour of San Francisco, we went to the Presidio, and saw where the really rich people live.

We also saw their views, which were amazing.  Now, I can see the GG bridge from my bedroom window, but only on the clearest days can you tell it's orange.  When you're on the other side, and much closer, it really is more beautiful.

We also went to Ocean Beach, where it was a bit foggy/cloudy, so the picture isn't quite as good, but Mommy wanted to go to the ocean, so we obliged (even though Lisa doesn't like beaches).

This was just about the most beautiful weekend anyone could have asked for in the Bay Area.

Today it was gloriously warm, and if you stay tuned, there'll be pictures of our further adventures in Berkeley soon!

ritual/supernatural

After lunch on Saturday, Lisa and I took Mommy to Ritual, our favorite coffee shop in San Francisco, which is in the Mission district.

When we forget the name, we call it Supernatural, but whatever name you use, the coffee is amazing, and the ambiance is cozy/funky.

Over coffee, I worked on the Baby Surprise Jacket, which is very very close to being done!  I even bought buttons for it today! 

And that, my friends, in case you hadn't noticed, is hand-painted merino wool, dyed by moi.

If you're going to San Francisco

well, this picture just about sums up our whirlwind tour of San Francisco today.

Lisa drove us all over the city, and I think we hit just about every neighborhood. 

It was a beautiful day, as you will see.

Our first stops were Chinatown and Japantown, where these pictures were taken.

We stopped in the Castro for Lunch, and went to the Mission for coffee.  After that, we drove all around, seeing sights, taking pictures, and wishing we were millionaires.

There was, of course, a quick yarn store stop, and purchases were made at a Cathedral gift shop, and a Japanese store that sells "Different Things."

I will share more pictures in the next few posts.  Tomorrow it's supposed to be in the upper 70's, so I'm not sure what we're doing after church, but it'll probably involve sun!

newly dyed yarn

The new yarn has all been wound into balls, and here it is!  From the left, we have: Bulky, Silky Wool, Lace weight, three Peruvian wool fingering weight, and last is Wool Tweed, fingering weight.

Except for the Silky Wool (which is, of course, Elsbeth Lavold), the rest are from the Knitpicks Bare  line.  I haven't knit with it yet, but I think next time I will not get the Peruvian wool, but get merino instead.  It took the dye in a more muted way than the merino I dyed last time.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I do love the bright colors.

Here's a close up of the Silky Wool.  I wish I had taken a detailed shot of the hank before I wound it up, because the individual colors were so gorgeous. 

This yarn took the color differently from the 100% wool, as you would expect, since it's part silk.  Apart from the pink, the other colors turned out much lighter (but not murkier, like the Peruvian) that with the pure wool, and with all the shades of green and the shock of pink, I think this will knit up beautifully.  Now the question is, what to make with a single beautiful skein?  (and don't say wrist warmers, Lisa, cause there are other, more Lisa-like skeins for those!)

pin-up with yarn

Gayle thought she was looking especially good yesterday, so asked me to take a picture of her with the yarn.

here you go.

I'm off to class now, it's been a busy week, and hopefully I'll have time to tell you about it tomorrow!

a few more pictures from Saturday

Here are Mommy's new socks, lovingly knit by Celeste, especially for her!  She says they are very comfortable, and the colors are very fun.

And here's DonnaLynda dying yarn for the first time!  She enjoyed it, but was also exhausted by the process.

Her yarn turned out really well, and she has big plans for it!

Next time, pictures of Gayle's Birthday gifts (it's her day today!) and a report on her party!

Blue yarn day

We had an art day with  Celeste today.  DonnaLynda, Celeste and I dyed yarn, and Mommy read her book and worked on a counted cross stitch project.

We dyed a lot of yarn!  Sock yarn, lace weight, bulky, worsted, even a skein of Silky Wool I found in white at the lys!

We had hours of fun choosing colors and cooking yarn cakes.

Once the yarn was painted, steamed and rinsed, we hung it up in the fig tree to dry.  It was quite a sight.

I used a lot of blue in my skeins this time, as I was so happy with the blue one I did last time.  Of course, I still haven't figured out what to make with that skein, and now I have all of these, but there's nothing quite like adding to your stash with your own hand-painted yarn!

Blocking

The Silky Wool shawl was blocked yesterday!

I couldn't do it right, as I didn't have enough pins or room, and I didn't have a way to keep Deacon from biting the pins (they are a favorite toy of his when he finds one).

It is all blocked now, and it turned out quite well, despite the wavy edges while blocking!

Here's a close-up of the way the two colors and patterns come together (on two different towels).

Now that it's blocked, the Silky Wool is very soft and lovely, but it holds the stitch definition very well.

OK, more details and pictures later.  Now I must go to a dreaded class :(

But, Mommy arrives this afternoon, and a weekend of fun is ahead of us!