tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38957457983245483372012-01-30T15:14:11.860-05:00Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.comBlogger3941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-89797505760092078812012-01-28T09:25:00.003-05:002012-01-28T09:58:50.160-05:00

January has been a wild month. In four weeks that were over in a flash we've had blinding snow storms with traffic-stopping accumulation, hope-inspiring 40-degree sunny days, flooding downpours complete with epilogues of bone-shattering, slip-inducing freezing rain, and bleak long days of low cloud-covered dark and cold. But today makes me think that even though the winter here lasts another 3

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-53813710259161644132012-01-20T06:44:00.005-05:002012-01-20T07:06:51.839-05:00

The final gift knitted for Christmas has been sent and received and worn by the recipient! So here are the particulars:This is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Gaia, in the colourway Tempest. The pattern is the beautiful Anastasia sweater from Quince & Co. The pattern was so fast and easy and knit up without a hitch. This is size XS, and came out with about 2 inches of positive ease. I added a leaf repeat

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-46612376482473985442012-01-08T09:03:00.004-05:002012-01-08T09:54:40.935-05:00

The holiday season was fast and furious for both the BF and for me. If seems to have flashed by like the Silver Surfer, but to have been so FULL of events that it left me gasping. We started with a visit to the BF's family in Cape Cod, where everything was so beautifully old New England - in keeping with their ocean-side cottage with its traditional door wreath! I made a Christmas Pie:And, as I

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-33297576583722957372011-12-25T07:59:00.002-05:002011-12-25T08:08:50.618-05:00

(9th century Irish)This I Heard:Belled the stag, the winter snowsSummer fled,Winds high and coldThe sun is low, short its course,high the seas,Deep red the bracken, leaves lost;The wild goose utters mournful cry,cold its wings;season of ice, This I heard.

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-49308342717853353182011-12-24T08:32:00.003-05:002011-12-24T08:51:24.428-05:00

Today is a quiet day, the day before Christmas...The Frost performs its secret ministry,Unhelped by any wind. The owlet’s cryCame loud—and hark, again! loud as before.The inmates of my cottage, all at rest,Have left me to that solitude, which suitsAbstruser musings: save that at my sideMy cradled infant slumbers peacefully.‘Tis calm indeed! Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Frost at Midnight (1798)My day

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-41453859955999893122011-12-18T08:36:00.002-05:002011-12-18T09:19:19.138-05:00

"Now trees their leafy hats do bare,To reverence Winter's silver hair;A handsome hostess, merry host,A pot of ale now and a toast,Tobacco and a good coal fire,Are things this season doth require."-- From "Poor Robin's Almanack," 1684.I have miles of knitting to go before I sleep. That's right, I haven't finished my Christmas knitting and the time is drawing near when my knitting will be

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-13092471636213996552011-12-08T09:19:00.004-05:002011-12-08T09:46:18.419-05:00

Well, we don't have snow yet - we got rain instead - but we do have silence!I have been stymied as what to post because I am knitting on nothing but Christmas presents. And those are, you know, secret. And I'm not doing very well with them either. How could my knitting mojo pack up and fly south with the talkative V-shaped Geese migrations? Honk! Honk! Honk! they shout overhead, and I look up and

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-55392191639487023482011-11-23T08:10:00.009-05:002011-11-23T19:36:51.925-05:00

The next part of out DC trip involved tea. Really, really good tea.Teaism is such a fun tea room, stocked full of beautiful tea accessories and tea-related gifts downstairs:and a small, cosy room to rest and sip upstairs:We waited patiently for a tablenext to a Zen-like minimalist stack of seating benches beside the winding staircase...I very much wanted a bento-box with my tea, but was still

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-34587528179903035482011-11-20T09:55:00.003-05:002011-11-20T10:50:34.774-05:00

We recently spent a week in Washington, DC and I have a ton of photos and experiences to share. It seems unkind to write a 45-photo post - who would read that?! - so I'll divide it up a bit so it's more accessible, though it's still photo-heavy.I'm not able to fly right now, so we took the train, which was a long, weary journey but very beautiful, watching the coast southward all day!Our friends

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-57346531154842254802011-11-09T20:07:00.003-05:002011-11-09T20:15:10.683-05:00

I finally finished the little things I had planned and, as promised, here is the last sweater, Baby Snowflake, based once again on the wonderful Baby Sophisticate pattern... as so many of my baby sweaters are. This pattern is so endlessly versatile and looks great in almost any yarn and with all modifications. Here are mine:I made it to match a pretty little Christmas dress that I got from Hanna

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-44143023989831549822011-11-08T07:16:00.004-05:002011-11-08T07:45:08.420-05:00

I've been knitting, knitting, knitting for a baby girl due in December. Some things have worked out well, and others have ended up in the frog pond never to be mentioned again. So far its 4 to 5 (4 completed successfully and 5 frogged). The first is from the lovely pattern Autumn Leaves, easy to knit and fast. I used Swans Island Organic Merino Worsted in the Coral colourway, and followed the

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-9263842523607043082011-10-30T07:55:00.007-04:002011-10-30T08:34:39.336-04:00

SNOW! I woke up to 20 inches of snow this morning. Actually, I woke up to my neighbour's snow-plowing man plowing the snow from his driveway across the street and into my driveway. I ran out into the knee-deep snow in my nightgown and yelled to him, but he either didn't see me - hard to believe he didn't see a crazy arm-waving woman with bright red hair in a pink nightgown at the bottom of the

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-43759907355886203412011-10-09T10:47:00.005-04:002011-10-10T10:32:34.706-04:00

I have baggage. Knitting baggage. Crochet baggage too. So much baggage that I feel stranded at the station, unable to go forward or back, unable to carry my baggage onto the train and grab a seat that will take me…. Somewhere else. Here is some of my baggage: Quince Chickadee in Glacier, Bark, and Twig anda hand-dyed skein from the Portland Fiber Gallery & Weaving StudioHand Maiden Flaxen (Linen

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-84980646026720118142011-10-01T08:56:00.006-04:002011-10-01T13:04:15.896-04:00

A most wonderful box arrived in the mail... a box from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas on Bainbridge Island, across the water from Seattle.One of the best (in my opinion) things about college in Seattle is its proximity to Bainbridge Island and Madrona Lane. The ferry across deep and soothing waters to the little village uphill from the terminal, the Blackbird Bakery, The Eagle Harbor Used Books, and

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-33367768569922247492011-09-25T08:03:00.005-04:002011-09-26T08:24:59.880-04:00

Enceinte, from the Latin incient (to be with young) was first used to refer to a pregnant woman in 1602. In the late 1800's and very early 1900's, it was considered bad taste for women who were pregnant to be seen in public (hence the term "her confinement")as it brought to mind the act that created pregnancy. But within just a few years this extreme delicacy ended and women were sharing patterns

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-17423528053466647342011-09-18T09:29:00.003-04:002011-09-18T10:24:06.787-04:00

Yesterday was another local Wool Fair and our Shaker Village. I've been really unwell but had promised a friend some time ago that I would drive her there and I only see her a couple of times a year. So we set out at about mid-day, to drive into a beautiful forest-y historic part of the state. It was a gorgeous early autumn day, very warm and with just a kiss of cool breeze - perfect weather for

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-76725987180641680822011-09-14T21:28:00.004-04:002011-10-12T09:04:05.091-04:00

Camp Loopy 2011 is coming to a close soon and so many of us are feeling nostalgia already. The friends we've made, the skills we've learned, the knits we've accomplished, and the prizes we've won - it's all been so fun! I've shown you how I learned to knit cables, and I showed you my Camp Loopy vest, but I haven't yet shown the first camp Loopy Project, a striped silk shawl in 3 colourways. The

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-7225926103709475472011-09-10T10:14:00.005-04:002011-09-10T10:28:15.661-04:00

I love knitted vests on men. There is something so appealing, so winsome, and - frankly - so sexy about a man in a well-fitting nicely knitted vest. A case in point:(this is Colin Firth in Another Country, 1984)While not every man is a Colin Firth, I think they all come closer to that ideal with a nice knitted vest on. This is my last Camp Loopy 2011 project, which was to be a project that uses

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-69840906050045265352011-09-04T07:14:00.003-04:002011-09-04T08:23:33.083-04:00

This summer I went to Summer Camp - virtual summer camp! The Loopy Ewe (a very addictive yarn store - and so much more!) decided to start Camp Loopy 2011 for those of us who couldn't actually get away. It started on June 15th and ends on September 15th, so is still going on. The premise is that each camper participates in 3 knitting challenges - each for one month, meeting deadlines and making

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-6582651759442712832011-08-21T06:58:00.003-04:002011-08-21T07:37:02.381-04:00

Poem 748 Autumn—overlooked my Knitting— Dyes—said He—have I— Could disparage a Flamingo— Show Me them—said I— Cochineal—I chose—for deeming It resemble Thee— And the little Border—Dusker— For resembling Me— ~Emily Dickinson My knitting has not gotten much attention lately, due to some pretty enormous preparation for company! One of the interesting things about cleaning, though, is that

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-4030332831847422352011-08-14T09:08:00.008-04:002012-01-30T15:14:11.868-05:00

In Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, when the Dashwoods move from their estate to their country house, Barton Cottage, there is a definite sense that they're giving up comfort and ease and warmth in exchange for independence. The stone walls, though plastered, capture the chilling rain and winter's penetrating icy winds. You can see that realization in their faces when they view the cottage

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-54315077053787662352011-08-10T19:52:00.003-04:002011-08-11T13:41:30.027-04:00

There has been quite a span of non-bloggery lately, not because I had nothing to blog about, but because the knits I did have to show are.... you guessed it - either sample knits for publication or Christmas presents. I always start Christmas knitting in August and this year I started in July. The reason for this Early Holiday-making is The Loopy Ewe Summer Camp. Each 4-week period we have a

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-57580611055932109672011-07-24T09:17:00.004-04:002011-07-24T09:31:14.862-04:00

It's cherry season! My favorite are Rainier Cherries that were developed by Washington State University in 1952 - Thank you WU! So in honour of this sweet season, I'll thought I'd highlight some of my favorite Cherry-coloured things...Lexi Barnes Flo, a great find at a LYS going out of business...Fleece Artist Kid Silk in Ruby, a gift to myself when I was going through a difficult time...Dainty

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-54743844480282286242011-07-16T10:23:00.006-04:002011-07-23T10:29:00.574-04:00

I live my life in two worlds: a big beautiful thriving city alive with creativity and art and possibility and a small bookish college country town with history deep enough to thrill any archaeologist. Both of these worlds inspire a possessive love in me - a love of place, and I also love moving freely between them. Last week I spent time with a friend of mine at the local Shaker Community, now an

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-58610884728185007632011-07-07T21:13:00.003-04:002011-07-08T00:10:13.300-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, as you've read below, I went on a trip to New York City. I told you about the city and about the schools, and about the yarn, but I didn't tell you about... the not so happy times...I stayed at the Bentley, a small but tall place just across the highway from the water...The day before we left to return home, I got food poisoning in a most dramatic way. I was so ill that my

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-90120134498218055042011-06-26T22:14:00.002-04:002011-06-26T22:39:55.228-04:00

Once again, I've used the wonderful template that is the Baby Sophisticate sweater to create something unique. Sophia's Sweater:My friend has had a new baby girl, and her name is Sophia. I was so inspired to knit for her! And it was so much fun to make something a bit girly. I used Debbie Bliss Rialto (2 skeins) and my own fishy chart. The first picture is most accurate for colour - it's almost a

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-44069935200425248112011-06-19T06:25:00.003-04:002011-06-19T07:55:08.961-04:00

This week a few colleagues and I traveled to New York City for several days. First, let me say that it is a really long car drive. Bring snacks. But second, there is a spectacular diner on exit 10 called the Blue Colony Diner. They make really, really good chicken soup and potato pancakes. Seriously.But, back to the trip... We stayed in a tiny hotel with a fancy-schmancy vibe:pretty orchids!My

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-59818370043489514982011-06-13T17:12:00.004-04:002011-06-13T17:24:25.500-04:00

Sorry no blog post this weekend - my car was vandalized and I've spent all my free time dealing with police and insurance and car repair places. I do have things to show you, so hopefully I'll be back on track soon!Could be worse. Could be raining....

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-91644502610312641522011-06-04T07:37:00.004-04:002011-10-21T21:59:27.505-04:00

"Welcome to my house!" says Sherlock, "Come on in!" Well, he doesn't actually say that. In fact, Sherlock doesn't like visitors. He would rather be left to his own devices to explore the bathtub...and play in the doll furniture...Watson continues to be shy and to hide amongst the stuffed animals. When he's sleeping in a pile with the toy lions, he's almost indistinguishable. It's pretty hilarious

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-87559690382399054442011-05-28T22:20:00.005-04:002011-05-29T06:16:32.220-04:00

Let's take a boat to BermudaLet's take a plane to Saint Paul.Let's take a kayak to Quincy or Nyack,Let's get away from it all.They say there's no placequite like homeA charming thought it's trueBut until the world we roamhow can we be sureLet's take a trip in a trailerNo need to come back at all.Let's take a powder to Boston for chowder,Let's get away from it all.We'll travel 'round from town to

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-57845213921445563742011-05-20T06:58:00.004-04:002011-05-20T09:03:18.407-04:00

Last weekend I made my annual trek to the woods of a nearby pretty little town, for the local the Sheep & Wool Fair.Our week has been rainy and foggy for quite a while, but luckily on on Saturday it was only foggy and began to clear as I walked through the tunnel of forest, over the woodsy brook, to the fair grounds.I love this Fair so much and have been going to it for about....well, over 10

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-77241178779341373252011-05-17T05:30:00.005-04:002011-05-17T06:38:57.636-04:00

The next day at Brimfield the fields opened and we were lucky to get a good parking space in the local church's lot for a contribution to their activity fund. I had vague memories of our Brimfield visit a few years before and, unrealistically, kept expecting to find the same vendors and booths! I had to make myself let go and just let the experience flow over me. It was a beautiful sunny day with

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-47386664364350009012011-05-16T06:22:00.008-04:002011-05-16T20:49:05.744-04:00

I've just returned from an exciting visit to the Brimfield Antique Fair near historical Sturbridge Mass. This is only the second time I've visited this enormous antique-market in the fields, and my main goal was to visit with my friend M, who had come from Australia specifically for Brimfield. My friend, E, and I drove down on a beautiful early spring day - you know the kind that has that

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-40230290649827309462011-05-02T21:51:00.002-04:002011-05-02T22:12:38.901-04:00

A few years ago, when I was learning to knit socks, I started a pair for myself in that curious cotton and elastic yarn that comes as Cascade Fixation or Elann Esprit. My skeins were the Elann yarn in pink, rose, and greenish-grey and brought to mind faded roses. I found the perfect pattern:Antique Rose Socks by Dianne Mulholland. The pattern knit up so quickly and easily and the first sock fit

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-63636682702191698892011-05-01T08:17:00.005-04:002011-05-01T12:02:30.907-04:00

Good morning! Would you like to have tea with me and peruse a vintage book? We're having cinnamon toast with maple sugar sprinkles and Lupicia sugar-cookie tea. Too much sugar? It's very tasty, though! And it's the first day of May and - finally - the sun is pouring down like honey into this town in the valley. You may remember that in the winter I reviewed one of my favorite antique volumes -

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-63164719417447216692011-04-30T08:45:00.007-04:002011-04-30T10:22:43.750-04:00

I think it is the tea in us that makes us love all things British. There was such a surfeit of Anglophilia around here yesterday that one could hardly imagine any news that didn't replay the Royal Wedding. I watched it in the small early hours when I couldn't sleep, I watched it on the first news with my morning tea, I found it on the web when I checked my email at work, I contributed to the

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-26343080378029638082011-04-23T22:11:00.000-04:002011-04-23T22:12:14.137-04:00

See? I told you the little beige buttons wouldn't show much!

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-55039388943920119502011-04-22T07:03:00.004-04:002011-04-22T11:33:06.197-04:00

The final Spring baby sweater for the little guy is finished and I'm pretty pleased with the result! This is the Lazy Daisy Jacket from Pickles.no, a great knitting blog for anyone with little ones. I know I've given this link more than once before, but it's just full of really cute and colourful patterns for kids and babies so I go back to it again and again. Sweater Stats:Size: 18 months - 22

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-42068578707703528552011-04-09T21:23:00.003-04:002011-04-09T21:51:32.499-04:00

A sparrow came to nest at my house today... a lovely, humble, yet elegant and quiet sparrow..... of the yarn type:Yes, a package from Quince and Co. winged its way from Maine to my door. See how preciously it's wrapped in little brown bag with the artistic seal? I love these touches that announce that the contents are something to be treasured and anticipated. and inside.... inside nestled four

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-26506176352986463372011-04-05T18:38:00.004-04:002011-04-05T20:31:23.045-04:00

Just finished blocking the Oh Handsome sweater and had to show it off:I love Pickles patterns! The set-in sleeves are not really my thing but the finished sweater is so cute! I used Rowan yarns Lima, which is a woven alpaca yarn - very soft and vibrant blue. I can't wait to see this on the little guy! He'll have to roll up the sleeves, but if the yarn wears well he'll probably be able to wear

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-82070955947365421482011-04-02T09:08:00.004-04:002011-04-02T10:20:52.512-04:00

Today is sunny, if not warm, and we still have an inch or two of snow on the ground from yesterday's April Fool's blizzard, but it seems like a perfect day to catch up on my projects. I have a few to finish and several that are calling me to get started!First in the queue is the little guy's Oh, Handsome in Pima Wool:As you can see, I am so close to finished, with just half a sleeve and the

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-90557717258804442642011-03-31T11:22:00.002-04:002011-10-20T13:08:35.665-04:00

I saw this on the Panopticon blog and instantly recognized myself as the speaker wearing purple...even though in the video I have been disguised as an elder British Royal personage...The author is the brilliant Franklin Habit, and I believe the video is called Happy Birthday, Dear. I'll just dedicate this little clip to my bf. Rather than embed the video, I'll just put a link to the original:http

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-36049487035957081542011-03-27T11:45:00.005-04:002011-03-27T14:50:23.087-04:00

So many of my friends are blogging and writing about the blooming Spring and I hear that the DC Cherry Blossoms are indeed springing in season (peak bloom starts next week) - although the Cherry Blossom Kite celebration scheduled for today has been postponed due to “inclement weather” (my iPhone tells me it is only cloudy in DC). But this is what my town looked like just 4 days ago:Yes, a snow

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-51957917041291388412011-03-26T10:31:00.005-04:002011-03-26T18:25:31.810-04:00

I posted here a little while ago, when I finished my Sign of the Four cashmere socks. I loved them so much and had so much yarn left over, I decided to make a pair for the little guy. I'm almost finished with those, and can't wait to show them off:They might look kind of big for a baby, but his feet are only 5 inches long and mine are only about 8.5 inches long so they just look big by comparison

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-59616720281479615212011-03-21T21:44:00.008-04:002011-03-22T09:21:24.278-04:00

This weekend, the bf and I went away to a northern state to stay on the ocean, visit yarn stores, and continue the search for the elusive vintage earrings that we didn't find on Valentine's day. This was a birthday trip, and I had a funny birthday surprise. I found out that I was one year younger than I thought I was! I'm hopeless with years and don't pay much attention to age, so when I was

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-45375170868695330932011-03-15T06:40:00.004-04:002011-03-15T07:50:48.126-04:00

New ZodiacI have a birthday this week and my two dearest friends have sent me packages in the mail, full of kindness and marvelous gifts, and some of them themed in full moon and birth-date stars... Full Moon bookplates from Thorazos etsy(I've heard that the Pisces Full Moon on the 19th of March will bring the moon actually closer to earth than it has ever been in recorded history)Regia Astro

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-31677587427341081722011-03-10T21:54:00.003-05:002011-03-10T22:03:34.839-05:00

I finished my Sherlock Holmes "Sign of the Four" socks tonight and couldn't wait to show them! They are so incredibly soft and got even softer when they were blocked because of the cashmere yarn. And the yarn, which looked like a shaded solid in the skein turned out to have just enough subtle variegation to make a tweedy fabric...Yarn: Serenity Sock from Zen Yarn Garden, colourway: Hound of the

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-83654448921149451242011-03-06T08:10:00.006-05:002011-03-06T09:22:48.407-05:00

I escaped another series of snow storms this past week by fleeing to Denver, Colorado for a work conference. No one believed me that it was warmer in Denver, so they wore big, long down coats and layers of down vests, wool jackets, fleecy gloves, and knitted scarves and beanies. But when we arrived, it was 61 degrees and people were walking around in T-shirts. What relief! I lifted my face to sun

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-31280764866910108722011-02-27T12:20:00.003-05:002011-02-27T12:30:05.961-05:00

A weekend should be full of knitting and creativity and socializing and fun. Isn't that so? But lately, weekends in this New England town have been dominated by a bad tempered weather pattern that keeps grabbing us by the ankles and trying its hardest to pull us down. My time has been spent moving snow from one place to another instead of multiplying stitches with warm and vibrant wool. That

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-88439464197645840282011-02-22T07:21:00.001-05:002011-03-10T21:54:24.108-05:00

This post contains SPOILERS for the Victorian Writers Knitting Club. Don't scroll down if you don't want your surprise spoiled!In a few short weeks I am going to be here:(Excited, excited!)This is a city I've never visited before, so it holds a special interest for me. I love travel. And I most love exploring new cities. The purpose of my visit is to present on work stuff and to hear others'

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-90340287916279427852011-02-20T08:57:00.002-05:002011-02-20T09:00:40.166-05:00

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-46160997578404313882011-02-13T06:57:00.007-05:002011-02-13T09:59:54.929-05:00

Yesterday, my sweetheart and I traveled to the coast to spend the day together celebrating Valentine's Day, which comes on Monday this year. In years past, we've gone away for the weekend. But this year the pressures of work have shortened our Valentine's weekend, so we stole just this one day, early, and pretended it was the 14th of February. We started the morning at Popovers on the Square with

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-23110088573452479702011-02-06T11:08:00.005-05:002011-04-30T22:50:00.856-04:00

Around here, today is a big "sit in front of the Superbowl Football pre-game shows and eat and knit" day. The weather has finally heaved a sigh and settled down from it's uncontrollable tantruming. We have sun. We have melting. We have a town full of people exhausted from snow shoveling and worrying about their roofs collapsing. In short, people all around me are looking forward to a day that is

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-22538951777234263822011-02-03T13:10:00.005-05:002011-02-03T13:15:39.543-05:00

I'm de-stashing a big list of my vintage knitting books from my personal collection on Ravelry. I prefer to do sales through Ravelry as the communication options are so clear. Take a look if you're interested! and Thanks in advance!

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-3876876121061545842011-01-29T22:33:00.009-05:002011-01-30T07:54:48.342-05:00

When a few Ravelry knitters from Britain mentioned a men's wear book by Jane Waller, I knew I had to find a copy. Jane Waller is the woman who gathered fabulous vintage patterns together in the 1980's. She published A Stitch in Time (just re-done by Susan Crawford and Jane Waller), The Family Knitting Book, and the men's book, above: Classic Knitting Patterns from the British Isles: Men's

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-25383372772755519242011-01-29T09:36:00.005-05:002011-01-29T09:47:38.878-05:00

Here is the Miss Marple's Shawl after I've done a few repeats of the pattern. I am so happy that Piecework Magazine chose this particular pattern as their example of a typical 1940's pattern that Miss Jane Marple might have knit. It is completely characteristic of the era and is easy to complete - if you are experienced with the vintage pattern language. I created a chart - a type of spreadsheet

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-55497684391719955222011-01-24T06:57:00.005-05:002011-01-24T07:32:55.722-05:00

As you all know, I'm a dedicated addict fan of Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarns - all of them. There's something about the colourways and the way that they kit up that makes them unique. A lot of hand-dyed yarns look beautiful in the skein, but then when you knit with them, the lovely colours that looked so good side by side blend into a nauseating clown barf (see my failed attempt at Caruso socks).

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-82862567162978922472011-01-15T22:21:00.004-05:002011-01-15T23:53:17.145-05:00

Well, it's a slow week, what with the 2 foot snow storm and all, and I finished up a few small knits. The photos are quite terrible - phone photos in a house dark from winter - but here they are anyway...Baby Mitts:I searched hard for just the right pattern for fingerless mitts but didn't find one, so I improvised my own for a toddler with 5 inch wrists. That was 32 stitches. After an inch, I

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-40979347952855750642011-01-09T09:56:00.005-05:002011-01-09T11:49:26.075-05:00

Good Morning from Chez Sophia! Would you like to join me for breakfast and a small chat about vintage knitting patterns? Today we're having McCann's Irish Oatmeal with blueberries and dates, Pepperidge Farm thin-sliced wheat bread toast, and Lupicia Chocolate Orange tea!Let's sit in the front room, where the wintry light is bright, even if this drafty old house does let in an occasional sigh from

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-29354393216584319472011-01-04T21:37:00.002-05:002011-01-04T22:01:49.599-05:00

A little while ago, when the last knitted gift had been given, I told you that I was going to embark on three "transitional projects". The concept of transitional projects were introduced to me by my friend Briley - they are little things that are fast and gratifying to make; they tide you over from the creative doldrums into more inspired and complicated designs. I've been successfully using

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-42210679227429257602010-12-31T06:54:00.010-05:002010-12-31T08:44:45.061-05:00

Those of you from Britain may have already seen this amazing series on BBC, but it is new to me and I'm loving the historical immersion of Victorian Farm!Three historians band together to live as Victorians for a year an a real Shropshire farm that has been owned by a single family since 1555. The estate has the family house that you see in the picture above, but also a farm that was working

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-49790805410917825882010-12-26T20:54:00.003-05:002010-12-26T21:28:14.621-05:00

My knitted gifts were all well received this Christmas:Walkies??I have two favorites that I haven't shown you yet. One is an original pattern that I designed using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Single Silk in two vibrant colourways. I want to wait to show you that until I have the pattern written up and I've done one more test knit. But my other favorite is this:AnnisMy version is made from

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-16402399101034522922010-12-24T06:15:00.006-05:002010-12-24T07:25:41.123-05:00

This handmade ornament is actually honey mixed with cinnamon and other spices. It is filling the whole room with the wonderful scent of spiced honey!Happy Christmas Eve!Today is a magical day... for me, it's always been full of excitement and anticipation. On Christmas Eve, I make the Braided Bread the we always have for breakfast on Christmas Day. Presents are wrapped, and just a few are put

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-15706301335501583612010-12-22T14:19:00.003-05:002010-12-22T14:51:01.233-05:00

a lot like Christmas....Snow is in the air... fat flakes that drift on the stiff wind past my window in great updrafts and swirls through the courtyard of these old brick buildings. I wish that I could show you, but I left my phone camera on the sofa-side table this morning. We'll have to make do with artificial snow and the prettiest I've found is on the vintage bottle-brush trees that are

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-73772500249990439052010-12-19T05:38:00.004-05:002010-12-19T05:42:09.358-05:00

I'm back as promised with a picture of my chocolate-dipped pretzels. I'm bringing them to a holiday party today, so I hope they are enjoyed! I found this treat box in the Rite Aid Drug Store - the perfect size to make these into a gift! I'll repeat the recipe here, too, so that it's easy to find later...Chocolate Dipped PretzelsYou need baking chocolate (I use dark chocolate - bittersweet),

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-68307899284337101612010-12-18T20:48:00.004-05:002010-12-18T21:08:31.767-05:00

I stayed up until 1 am last night to put the finishing stitches into the Oslo Walk Shawl for my bf's mother. We're having Christmas with them early, so everything needed to be finished, and this was the last WIP! Two weeks ago, I couldn't imagine that I would be able to get the knitting done, and now it is...My skein was silk and cashmere, soft, thin, and easy to work with. I had to tink a few

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-49593374550372259202010-12-14T07:51:00.004-05:002010-12-16T22:57:45.989-05:00

What is it about owls? I just love them (especially barn owls!) and have this thing about incorporating them into knitting. I remember visiting all those rescued owls over the years at our local Audubon society and how we would be fascinated by their funny antics (dancing on their perch branches!) and wild ways. Well this owl is a little more tame - a Christmas stocking with the owl graph from

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-49854794188030473832010-12-12T08:24:00.006-05:002010-12-24T07:28:37.166-05:00

I'm knitting again - Yay! And I have a few presents for people who don't read my blog that I can show...This hat is a variation of my top down one-skein hat. The yarn is Swan Island Worsted in Natural Grey and Robin's Egg Blue (a bit that was left over from my Mr. Woodhouse's Scarf). I improvised a Greek Key design around the brim (it's easy) in stranded knitting. I confess I did have to sketch

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-51382507793311526632010-12-05T21:22:00.008-05:002010-12-05T22:54:36.178-05:00

It's coming on ChristmasThey're cutting down treesThey're putting up reindeerAnd singing songs of joy and peaceOh I wish I had a river I could skate away onOh I wish I had a river so longI would teach my feet to flyOh I wish I had a river I could skate away onLISTEN TO THE SONG HEREDecember is always a very mixed month for me. On the one hand, I get to indulge my very favorite winter activities:

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-26739825643792994902010-11-28T10:34:00.003-05:002010-11-28T11:03:32.458-05:00

I don't have much to report on this first Sunday of Advent, except that I've finished another pair of Veylas and a small cap to go with it. They were made on request and what a fun and fast knit! These were made with Indigo Moon sock yarn, in Midnight (black). The buttons are vintage glass from a closed Czechoslovakian button factory, so they're what antique dealers call "old stock" - never used

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-47848925021794102142010-11-21T09:00:00.004-05:002010-11-21T10:04:41.254-05:00

Do you remember the little wooden doll from your childhood that helped you learn to knit? You would loop a string of yarn around four posts on the top and then use your fingers or a wooden pin to loop the yarn around and over the posts to make stitches. From the base of the doll a long rope of knitting would appear. We always made them into floor rugs for our doll houses by coiling the loop and

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-13023546797238371832010-11-14T09:16:00.005-05:002010-11-14T10:59:20.702-05:00

I love travel. There's nothing like exploring a city that you have fallen in love with and always discovering treasures in every street.Oregon Winterby Jeanne McGaheyThe rain begins. This is no summer rain,Dropping the blotches of wet on the dusty road:This rain is slow, without thunder or hurry:There is plenty of time – there will be months of rain.(this is a bubbling fountain in the summer)I

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-29974907656302945952010-10-31T13:16:00.004-04:002010-10-31T13:39:51.548-04:00

"When the bats like ghosts are gliding,witches soar, on broomsticks riding,jack-o-lanterns twinkle, grinning.Our Halloween revelry will be just beginning!"According to the verse on my collection of old Halloween postcards, at some time in American history Halloween was considered a time for fortune-telling - for fore-telling the future... your fate, your coming year, your true love...Legend was

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-12914031030166712662010-10-17T09:34:00.005-04:002010-10-17T10:04:42.831-04:00

I have very little knitting content to report, because I've been.... well.... knitting presents, and those need to remain, you know, Secret! So, no pictures, no descriptions, no fiber-y hints. Just lots of surreptitious knitting and silence.But I am making another hat for myself. Because I am stepping westward, I need a hat that will do what it needs to do in wet, cool weather but definitely not

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-10512253515826244342010-10-11T07:24:00.004-04:002010-10-11T09:02:45.621-04:00

Strange things happen around my old New England farmhouse sometimes. Things disappear. Sometimes I think that I am living with The Borrowers, or that the field mice are lining their winter nests with my knitting! The most recent things to go missing are all my fingerless mitts (I would call them gloves, except they don't have fingers). I've had a couple of pairs of my own Koigu Gloves pattern -

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-2949676052911647822010-10-03T09:18:00.003-04:002010-10-11T07:23:34.174-04:00

Today dawned with a definite sharp crispness (I lighted a fire in the fireplace!), and it reminded me that I hadn't finished preparing for winter. I do have balaclavas made for everyone now (you wouldn't believe the storms we get here) and here is the baby one:I used a most wonderful vintage pattern that shapes the headpiece so perfectly with no piecing or sewing. Everything is made in one piece.

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-52383674485730341162010-09-24T22:01:00.004-04:002010-09-24T22:33:57.107-04:00

Recently, a certain young man of my acquaintance had a rather important birthday, and I wanted to give him a gift that would be special and lasting. I love it so much I was tempted to keep it (but of course I didn't)! I'm looking forward to playing with it though, with the little dude.(picture heavy post follows)This is the Play Forest Island (enchanted, isn't it?) with all its magical

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-80673061845257149992010-09-18T07:35:00.004-04:002010-09-18T08:42:23.629-04:00

A couple of months ago, when I got a little extra boost to my finances from teaching two 8-week courses at the same time, I rewarded myself with something I'd been coveting obsessing over thinking about for a long time. Signature Needles!They came in a nice little grey nylon drawstring bag, and I bought a set of the plastic tubes for storage. I intend to treat these like the specialty art tools

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-22416048377153773742010-09-10T23:43:00.005-04:002010-09-11T00:09:58.613-04:00

I'm home from my travels and I have a big pile of knits to show for it. The first one up is the Brat Sister Hat in Swan Island worsted, Robin's Egg Blue...The second completed is my pair of Kaibashira socks, made from Tofutsies yarn. They came out so cute and fit perfectly. The next project finished was the Fish Socks (my design). I love these! They're made from Crystal Palace Panda Silk and are

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-24283456552049002462010-09-05T10:55:00.004-04:002010-09-05T11:27:08.447-04:00

...and speaking of sand dollars, one of my favorite seashells...I am drifting along on the waves of a new pattern: The Brat Sister hat by Grace Akhrem, using Swan Island Worsted in Robin's Egg Blue. As you can see, the design on the hat top makes a perfect sand dollar! This pattern using size 3 needles, so it's not ideal for worsted weight, but the Swan's Island is a fairly light worsted and its

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-78616558099733030392010-08-31T06:16:00.003-04:002010-08-31T06:33:41.499-04:00

More scenes from Portland... an idyllic drive around the coast while knitting...This is the lovely Portland Head Light. I had a hard time getting this picture, because a goofy guy kept walking back and forth in front of my camera after he saw me trying to take a picture. But I held out, and eventually he wandered out of the line of sight. He's there on the edge, though, lurking just outside the

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-73105508783348459932010-08-29T07:10:00.004-04:002010-08-29T07:37:29.372-04:00

We went on a field trip to find the beautiful Quince Yarn in it's natural habitat, and arrived here (This is the moon over the ocean...):We rose just as the sun did, and of course, the first thing we did was walk on the ocean and look for sand dollars...By full morning, our vista looked like this, the bright moon a ghostly echo of it's bold evening presence:But, soon we were off to find KnitWit,

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-50646446251596987882010-08-21T08:12:00.009-04:002010-08-22T11:03:04.526-04:00

I've been much enamoured of a new company that started recently, Quince & Co, in Maine. This company comes from the creative genius of Pam Allen, who has written so many patterns and books that we love, knitting designer Carrie Bostick Hoge and the mill owner, Bob Rice.. As soon as I saw their colour palette and marvelously unique pattern line, I felt that urge to dive in! Here are my yarns (not

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-38856570504645411982010-08-16T08:17:00.003-04:002010-08-16T08:43:37.300-04:00

It's never the wrong time to prepare for a good snow storm, right? Somewhere in the world, it's winter (I think it's the midst of winter for my friends in Australia)! And soon enough, our short summer will be packing up the picnic basket and trundling southward. So I have begun preparing already!Last winter, we had such desperately icy temperatures that dog-walking was actually painful. So I've

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-36798947983207236752010-08-07T08:33:00.002-04:002010-08-07T09:00:56.513-04:00

It seems like a good time to talk about the current WIPs! It happened this way:I have a certain kind of summer socks that I really like. They're not, I'm sorry to say, hand knit socks. They are a cotton and elastic combination that are very soft and stretchy and good with my Merrell summer sandals. I found a store when I was in Bar Harbour that had several pairs of these in their sale basket and

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-57047103388609022812010-07-31T07:02:00.004-04:002010-07-31T10:42:06.702-04:00

Keeping with my theme of old knitting and crochet books, I thought I'd post about the Girl's Own Paper. I have three of the Annual editions of this - which is a year's worth of the magazine or "paper", which was monthly - all bound beautifully together with illustrated end papers, gorgeous tipped-on coloured covers, and gilt on the spines. This particular one is from 1921 - 1922. I chose this one

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-71178089062064683452010-07-24T09:41:00.006-04:002010-07-24T11:08:04.161-04:00

I thought you might like a little dose of Vintage this morning. A dose of vintage can lift your blues, kick-start your inspiration, and generally make you feel good. It works for me! But I admit I'm a little odd - I'm the person that has a chocolate-bacon bar for breakfast and likes wearing an old cotton granny-slip for a nightgown! But maybe you have your own reasons for liking the vintage flash

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-92113774653950794062010-07-17T10:24:00.001-04:002010-07-17T10:30:08.909-04:00

From this:To this:To THIS!!!Nice hat. Really nice baby.

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-44145319945165337822010-07-11T06:37:00.007-04:002010-07-11T08:34:13.771-04:00

Yesterday was the day for our local Knit & Crochet Guild show and I immersed myself completely and enthusiastically like diving into a cool lake in midsummer! As in past years, it was held in our biggest city, in the largest hotel in the state. Even with the crowds, I only saw two or three friends there - people came from all over! One of the fun things about this event is that so many people

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-74423053073779548242010-07-05T06:17:00.003-04:002010-07-05T07:24:21.305-04:00

The needle arts have been struggling around chez Sophia recently - in fact, they've been flopping like a fish on shore. It's not often that something you're completely familiar with flops up and smacks you in the mouth, but that's what my knits have been doing!The first fail had to do with a skein of yarn that I've had in my mental knitting hope chest for a few years. This skein of Koigu PPPM has

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-56684100410694458392010-06-27T07:04:00.006-04:002010-06-27T07:40:52.483-04:00

Another sweater for the little guy is finished. I just can't seem to stop making these, and he's growing like a sunflower, so he needs a new size every couple of months!This one is called Cheeky Monkey:Yarn: Louet Gems (100% washable merino) Sport weight, 2 skeins (Used 1.5 of the skeins)in Chocolate Madeleine Tosh Sock (100% superwash merino) Fingering weight, 1 skein (I used about 1/10 of

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-15233794258729789982010-06-26T10:55:00.005-04:002010-06-26T11:09:59.451-04:00

Although vintage knitting and crochet is my passion, I do have a thing for vintage sewing patterns. I've used many of these, even making a silk wedding dress last summer from an original 1930's evening gown slip pattern.I just can't resist picking up these vintage patterns when I find them in the charity shops and thrift stores! But I know that there are many beautiful patterns I'll never use. I

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-76005791624260113142010-06-17T22:55:00.003-04:002010-06-17T23:27:33.208-04:00

Remember the String Beans, from the knitting zine? I made another pair! This time, they are made from light fingering weight in self-patterning yarn. This is a skein that my friend Nad sent me from Germany a few years ago. This skein goes on forever! I made a pair of socks for myself out of it. I used it for a winter hat, mixed with some jaunty tangerine wool. And now it makes a pair of baby knee

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-50612913552360458462010-06-14T06:38:00.004-04:002010-06-14T07:56:54.897-04:00

I have traveled around the country pretty extensively, but I do have some favorite places. One of those places is Portland, Oregon and I've been visiting there a lot lately. I spent some time in Northwest Portland a couple of weeks ago, and really wanted to stay longer. I stayed in a charming Guesthouse that spanned 3 old houses, side by side, connected by their back gardens and porches. I was

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-56036299509959273192010-06-09T11:40:00.004-04:002010-06-09T16:31:27.552-04:00

BMFA - RSC SPRING SHIPMENT SPOILERS BELOWBreak open a cherry tree and there are no flowers, but the spring breeze brings forth myriad blossoms. ~Ikkyu SojunI'm sorry that 2 weeks have gone by without an update. I've been away... in Portland, which I love... (more on that later).Today, I am back on the East coast, sitting by my window, trying to nurse my under-watered African violet back to life

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-41702463913724815212010-05-23T12:42:00.002-04:002010-05-23T13:23:11.019-04:00

Just like some people search for small shawls, I like to look for patterns for simple little summer sweaters. My latest is Samantha Roshak's (KnitQuest) lovely sweater, A Little Something. It only takes about 400 - 600 yards of yarn, so was perfect for some of my special low-yardage acquisitions!I happened to be sorting through my stash this past week, and came across 4 small skeins - 130 yards

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-62145958276460963392010-05-23T11:00:00.004-04:002010-05-23T13:25:10.196-04:00

I have so many WIPs and so many designs dancing around in my little brain! If only I could knit and draw all day long. But summer classes are starting soon, so I have to get my assignments ready for students and I have a grant to write and so many other things! Still... my needles and hooks are flashing every chance I get.The exciting thing is that I got to use my Nostepinne for the first time

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-52588617634102572852010-05-18T06:51:00.002-04:002010-05-18T07:37:49.681-04:00

Every year, my boyfriend's parents visit Maine in May. This year, we went. A little too early for crowds of summer tourists, it's the perfect time to relax and feel a part of the community. We had a second floor room overlooking the rocky shore and spent time on the balcony, reading and knitting. We visited the Sea Wall - a long barrier of tumbled granite with innumerable life-filled tide pools -

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-2965007371011396972010-05-12T07:09:00.009-04:002010-05-12T10:51:34.090-04:00

I want to post a big heartfelt Thank You to the very first buyer in my new Etsy Shop! It was so exciting to get the notification of the sale last night. Ripping Yarns will be flying your way through the post very soon!UNRAVELING

Unraveling Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01684327241960237715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895745798324548337.post-76541773111225146672010-05-10T07:48:00.006-04:002010-05-11T10:48:06.084-04:00

Mother's Day weekend is always the time for the local Sheep and Wool Fair. I've been going to this fair for many years, never missing. So when I heard that this weekend was going to have occasional thunderstorms, I didn't think twice, but put on my mosquito repellent and got ready to go. I did pack a retractable umbrella and stepped out onto the porch to test the weather, but since the sky was

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