Purl 'n Hurl Blog

Hello! Our weekly knit-in was so busy last night, I don't know where to begin! We had six participants, which is a big increase; I think that the chilly fall weather that has been setting in here on the north coast is encouraging folks to drag out their UFOs.

But who is this handsome devil? Only the best waiter at Plaza Grill! He was sweet enough to model Eileen's just completed hat for her hubby, Audi. That's a close-up of the hat below, next to her margarita - how did you think she got through the evening? Knit in Noro Iro from the Hot Head pattern in Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook.




After she finished the hat, Eileen pulled out her scarf, which is coming along nicely, don't you think? That's her in the photo on the right, showing it off for the camera. It's knit in heathery green Elsebeth Lavold silky wool, and it's the Branching Out pattern from Knitty. Eileen says she's loving lace knitting; that started a conversation about first knitting projects, and she said that way back when she taught an ex-boyfriend to knit, and his 1st project was a sweater! Must have been a natural. Eileen first knit mittens, which also seems pretty ambitious. Velma has a friend, Michael, who just quit smoking and is teaching himself to knit so that he has something to do with his hands; she's not just impressed, but excited to see him next month when he's down from Oregon for a visit. Hopefully, he can join us for that week's knitting-under-the-influence-fest.

Heather's first project is this scarf she's making here; she's been working on it for 3 years now (!), since Purl 'n Hurl started. And she doesn't even drink booze.Like her new haircut? Concensus last night was that it suits her; we love it, Heather! She regaled us with tales from her recent trip to Wyoming with hubby Michael. Since most of us are geo-scientist types (read: nature nerds), her stories all featured rocks prominently. Apparently she is enamored of the geodes and, I quote, "caramel candy rocks" she found there. Heather also brought Velma a silk cocoon that she found on one of her forays into the forest; Velma plans to soak it and see if it can be used in spinning. Right now, it's pretty ugly; looks like something an owl pooped out (sorry, no pic yet).

Speaking of Velma, she brought along yet another new project (can you say "short attention span"?). She's knitting the same Hot Head hat that Eileen finished tonight, but she's using Manos del Uruguay space-dyed
wool in 'moss.' It's a commissioned piece for her friend Jeff. Velma: knitting mogul in training. That's her working on it, doing what she does best: tossing back a martini while knitting. Note the devil earrings, a handmade gift from Tamara from Halloween a few years back.

And Tamara, here shown knitting what appears to be a poodle, is actually working on a beautiful scarf stranded in 3 different black and charcoal eyelash yarns. So silky! Velma wants her to call it the "Three-way Scarf" but Tamara didn't sound all that convinced. Although it never came out what Tamara's first knitting project was, I've never seen her working on anything but scarves. Is it time for a knitter-vention? Come on Tamara, I know you have a hat in you! You can do it, just have another cocktail and you're on your way!

Tamara's newish biology consulting firm is doing well, by all accounts. She was excited to hear that Velma got a comment on her blog from a local fish biologist who is planning on attending Purl 'n Hurl in the near future. Since everyone at the table (with the notable exception of slacker-Velma) is a scientist, the new girl should fit right in.

She's busy with wedding plans, and the conversation turned to wedding woes and in-laws who think it's their wedding. That must be what she and Cheri are laughing about in the next photo; either that, or the suggestion that the peach margaritas Tam and fiancee Michael have been slugging down by the pitcher-full are "health smoothies". What? Peaches are healthy!!


And what of Cheri? Her father, who was in the hospital with problems related to chronic pain issues stemming from some heinous back probs, is back home on the mend, so she was back from her Redding trip. She's making a Debbie Bliss sweater, the Raglan with Cable Detail in Noro Silk Garden from the DB Noro Collection book (scroll down to see the sweater she's making). So many of Cheri's knitting projects are gifts for others, it was good to see her working on something for herself. She also had some show-and-tell: a book so new even Velma hadn't heard of it! Not Tonight Darling, I'm Knitting. Full of knitting history and anecdotes (but not patterns), it was decided that this book would be great for bathroom reading.

Last but certainly not least, Melissa was back as our token crocheter. She's seen here working on a scarf using stitch #88 from 101 Crochet Stitches for Afghans. She and Cheri arrived a little late, because Melissa was finishing a batch of individual cheesecakes for her partner Robin's birthday. Velma was tickled by the image of all those wee springform pans (she's easily amused, don't forget).

So this blog was added to the knitblog webring this week, and we're starting to see visitors from outside our little Humboldt enclave. Welcome to Kare, our first commenter! She had nice things to say about us, which just goes to show she's never met us. For the dog-lovers among us (you know who you are), be sure to check out her blog, Shabby Chic, 'cuz she's got cutie-patootie puppies.

And don't forget to visit our flickr set, with more photos from this gathering. See you next week!

Last night saw 4 Purl 'n Hurlers swillin' and knittin', including a new face: that's Tara picking up a dropped row there on her novelty yarn scarf (note the intense concentration, indicated by the emergent tongue used by both drunken crafters and 5-year olds). Welcome, Tara, and congrats on your recent move to McKinleyville!

Tamara came by again this week but was so in need of a cocktail that she ran out of the house without her knitting! She made a great photographer, though; thanks for taking some great pix, T!

Eillen worked some more magic on her lace scarf, saying she is really addicted to the pattern. I see more lacework in her future. But please think good thoughts for her kitty, Boots, who is at the cat hospital with an undiagnosed illness; we're all pulling for you, Boots!

Here's Velma, working on her Hallowig. Boy, that's some big hair, V!

No Cheri this week; her dad is ailing, and she went out to Redding to be with her family. Let's send Cheri and her pop our good wishes, too. Get better, Dad.

Last night was shorter than usual, as Velma was all hot-and-bothered to get home in time for the season premier of Grey's Anatomy. If you haven't already heard about it, there's a GA knitalong if you are interested. 'Til next week, happy knitting!

How much fun are we having?? That's Cheri, Eileen, Velma and Sacha last night at Purl 'n Hurl. Sacha stopped by for a visit - congrats to her and her newly-affianced beau Jay! - and everyone was thrilled to see her. Sacha is holding a copy of the Knitty pattern for the Intolerable Cruelty Skirt that Velma has fallen in love with and started a knitalong for, and says she is volunteering to be the "Official Purl 'n Hurl Ball Winder," so bring your yarn next week 'cuz Sacha is rarin' to go!

Cheri was working on this Gumdrop Baby Hat from Lamb's Ear Designs in SWTC Soysilk. Soysilk is made from... wait for it... leftover tofu! No, really, it is a by-product of the tofu manufacturing process! She also had her Daria Purse WIP, made from Noro Daria, a nylon cord yarn, that she got at Woolstock Yarn Shop, and another WIP, the Bistro Shirt from Oat Couture that she picked up at Alamitos Bay Yarn Company on her recent trip to Long Beach.

Eileen worked briefly on her intarsia baby blanket, pictured here last week, then whipped out the lace Branching Out scarf from Knitty made from the Elsebeth Lavold yarn she showed us last week. Both looked beautiful, and are coming along nicely. She was talking about her upcoming trip to Buffalo for the holidays, which made Velma pout because that means she won't be around for a few weeks worth of Purl 'n Hurl. Sad Velma.

Velma is about 8 inches into Temptation, a ballet-neck ribbed pullover from Knitty, knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran in an eggplant shade. Scrumptious in the hand, it should feel outrageous on. For show-and-tell, she brought the new Ram Wools catalog, and is pictured here in the old FO she was sporting last night: legwarmers in Noro Kureyon. She also confessed her bobble mishap: seems she misread the pattern for her Noni Bobbles Bag, and has to re-knit 2/3 of the bobbles because of her dorkitude. Doh!

There was much merrymaking and margarita consumption, and we had a blast. Hope to see more of you there next week: same bat time, same bat channel. Have a great weekend; since there was no interest in heading to Booneville for the California Wool and Fiber Festival, see you at the Northcountry Fair!

Hi, Peeps! You were missed last night. But Eileen and I managed to have ourselves a grand ol' time despite our just-us-ness. (Martinis and Margaritas'll do that to a girl).

A little bit about WIPs (Works In Progress): Eileen was busy working on a UFO, or unfinished object, the blanket you see here. It is an intarsia piece worked in cotton stockinette and seed stitches. It was slated to be Sophie's baby blanket; please note that Sophie will be 3 on November 23rd (hee, hee), so Eileen must suffer from the same procrastination prob as the rest of us mere mortals. She mentioned that she really abhors working intarsia in cotton, btw.

Velma was working on bobbles for her felted Noni bag for the Noni KAL. Four bobbles in each color x 16 shades of Cascade 220 = 64 bobbles, whew! Thems a lotta bobbles!


What else? Show-and-Tell was fun. Eileen brought yarn and patterns for her next couple of projects; she bought laceweight Misti Alpaca in a yummy chocolate to make the Pillared Archways Lace Scarf from ImagiKnit in S.F. on her trip there last week. Their business card has an added bonus: a needle inventory chart on the back. How clever! She also had Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in a lovely sage color from One Fine Yarn that she bought online to make the Knitty Branching Out Scarf. Her package had unexpected goodies in it, too: candy! What girl can't use a little extra sugar in her life, huh?

Velma brought along her prize-winning Humbert Humbert Cherry Pie Unmentionables project, created for the Knit the Classics Lolita knitalong. Consisting of a bra made from two pig potholders and a slice of cherry pie thong, Velma won 10 skeins of Gedifra Aragona yarn! It's a nice cotton blend that would make a great tank.

Finally, Tamara stopped by on her way to Cafe Tomo for Girls Sushi Night with Anna et al. Don't forget to offer your congrats to her and Michael, who celebrated their engagement last month; kudos, T&M, can't wait for the wedding party!

That's all for this week. Hope to see you next week!

Four, count 'em F.O.U.R. of us showed up last night! Woot! Woot! Come on peeps, yer missin' out. Heather and Cheri and Eileen: Oh, MY!! Weuns had some fun last night. Since we sit up in the front of Plaza Grill by the street, and more importantly the big picture windows for the natural light, no service; usually we schlep our own cocktails 'n grub, then bus ourselves at the end of the evening. But my friend Mike the Waiter, formerly of Cafe Tomo, was bored last night (or maybe wanted to hang around the 4 hot chicks, I dunno), so he served us in style. That is one smart boy, I'll tell ya; he scored on the tip fo' sho'.

Heather (missing from the pic 'cuz Velma is a dork and forgot to snap it pre-departure) brought along what Velma has dubbed the "Perennial Scarf," or, "The Scarf That Keeps on Giving" because she's been working on it since before PnH got its feet on the ground in '03. Now that's dedication. Welcome back, Heather!

Cheri had some Noro Iro in a lovely brown/black combo (47, I think) that she's transforming into a beanie from the 1st Stitch 'n Bitch book by Debbie Stoller (old timers will remember this as the book that Velma secured a discount on for PnH members). Looverly. And, as an added bonus just for the fans, here's a pic of her blue-ribbon bag at the 2006 Humboldt County Fair. She also garnered three 3rd place ribbons, including one for her original shawl design. More pictures of her entries can be viewed here. Kudos to Cheri for representin' PnH!!

Eileen was plugging away on sock #2, and Velma knit about 4" on a hat for her friend Boomer using one of her handspun yarns.

We also talked about a PnH field trip to the California Wool and Fiber Festival in Booneville, Anderson Valley Sep. 15-17. Leave a comment here if you are interested in going. We'll discuss it more next week at PnH. See you there!