For Nihon Vogue, our first project for Year 2 was a Gathered or puffy sleeve garment. I had started knitting this garment three times. Once with yarn that I didn't think I would have enough of and the second time with yarn I had plenty of. At the beginning. 3/4 done up the back and fronts. But... I then lost the ziplock bag they were in. Fell out of my tote bag someplace in the parking lot between the pharmacy and Target at Factoria Shopping Center.
So I started knitting the dress all over again. But with different yarn because I no longer had enough of the yarn that I had been midway through the project with. Good thing this sweater dress is for a 3 year old and not a 43 year old! The smaller size made it quicker to knit (and reknit and reknit!) and also fun to try some artsy techniques that I wouldn't normally tend towards on an adult sweater. The bodice is a knit/purl combination diamond pattern that looks like a lattice trellis. I crocheted the button loops on the back and crocheted a scalloped edge around the neck, cuffs and hem. The Czech glass buttons are from Beads and Beyond (now merged with Quiltworks Northwest) in Bellevue. I added the crocheted flower garland and 18 more buttons as flower centers after I decided the dress needed "something else" between the transition from stockinette stitch and the diamond pattern. I am happy to have it completed and happy with the way it turned out. Now I have to focus my attention even more so on the next two projects - Dolman Sweater and Raglan Sweater. There is a lot of knitting to be done by mid December when the next Nihon Vogue class is scheduled.
After checking into the Paramount Hotel in the Pearl District, we walked to the Button Emporium and Ribbonry. A small store boasting hundreds of buttons and ribbons. I could have stayed there poking through the buttons for hours. Scottie found some magnificent jeweled buttons that were perfect for her Nihon Vogue gathered sleeve sweater. 
We then went over to Knit Purl yarn store which sponsored the Catherine Lowe workshop. It was a wonderful store stocked with a wide variety of yarn that I haven't seen elsewhere - Solveig Hisdal kits and sweaters, Catherine Lowe silk blend yarns marketed in austere treasure boxes, a entire wall of Koigu colors. We met a delightful woman who had also arrived for the workshop - Jan divides her time between homes in Whitefish, Montana and Jacksonville, Florida. We invited her to join us for dinner at Jake's Seafood for a fabulous meal. Easy to tell why that restaurant is a long standing Portland institution! On the walk back to the hotel, we were quite amused to come upon a holiday meal by LaBrie Rich in the window of Knit Purl. Upon closer inspection we realized that the display was created using felted pieces and roving - from the turkey carrots, butter, bread rolls, salt and pepper inside shakers, gravy, cranberries, lattice pie, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, candles, and clock on the adjacent wall. If you look closely at the wallpaper you may be able to make out the parking meters, fire hydrants, birds and rodents disguised as damask. It was all so marvelous.
On Saturday, navigationally challenged Scottie found her way to class and Arlene and I went out to explore the best of what Portland had to offer. We first went to the Contemporary Art Museum whose latest exhibit featured ordinary household items turned into art. Zippers, combs, teacups, melted plastic soldiers, lazer cut plastic jugs, lipstick tubes, felt tip pen caps and spools of thread had all been turned into various works of art. The gift shop featured a non-functional spinning wheel out of blown glass - mesmerizing but extremely expensive. We then went to the Arts & Crafts outdoor market which had dozens of booths selling wooden items, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, pet items etc. I purchased a "handbag" made out of reclaimed/recycled front and back covers of a Life "World Library" book on Eastern Europe titled "Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland" Both Rob's and mine family roots go back to parts of Eastern Europe long, long ago. For more of Mugwump's creations go to: 
Saturday night we had the pleasure of Catherine Lowe joining us for dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant. She is a fascinating person - Literature academic turned knitwear designer and instructor who maintains her passion for writing. Her work is impeccable and meticulous. Arlene has taken some of her workshops in the past and Scottie raved about the current weekend workshop. On Sunday, Arlene and I explored most of downtown Portland. Walked along the river, enjoyed the many parks, rode the light rail, had pastrami sandwiches at Kenny and Zuke's deli, tried on $800 sweaters at a fancy boutique, lingered in a gadget filled cooking store, sipped hot cocoa at a store selling nothing but chocolate, admired modern implements at Canoe. I purchased some some bunny blend (Angora Rabbit) yarn at Knit Knot Studio and some Lucy Neatby DVD's at Dublin Bay Knitting Company. Lots of shopping as I did my ultimate best to prop up the sagging economy! Not much knitting completed except on the train. I have a lot of Nihon Vogue projects to catch up on. I'm already behind! Yikes.
The puffy sleeve is created by taking a standard fitted sleeve pattern and then pivoting the sleeve cap area at either the elbow or underarm to create an additional section on the pattern that provides an additional section to knit and subsequently gather when seaming to the body. This creates the puffy sleeve effect. I am designing a pink sweater-dress for a size 2 child incorporating puffy sleeves since a puffy sleeve sweater for myself will not be welcome in my closet.
Naomi came to class draped in the most exquisite lace shawl I have ever laid eyes on. It was a gift from Ruth Sorensen of Denmark, who was a house guest of Naomi's earlier in the year. What an incredible gift. Naomi is an accomplished lace knitter so I know she appreciates the fastidious work and time commitment that goes into the making of such delicate, stupendous treasure. I love knitters! 
My Saturday morning was filled by a traditional and unforgettable boat excursion along the Bosphorus. The curling strait separates Asia from Europe and connects the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Starting out from Eminonu one can see the Grand Church - Hagia Sophia, spires of the Blue Mosque and fortresses. On the sea shore edge of a park stands the famous Ciragan Palace refurbished in 1874 by Sultan Abdulaziz, and now restored as a luxury hotel and billed as one of the world's most expensive places to spend a night. The Bosphorus Bridge, claims status as one of the world's largest suspension bridges and is a juxtapostion with Istanbul's traditional architecture. I was perfectly content to see the bridge from a distance far below and not have to drive over it!
In the afternoon following the cruise, I went to the Spice Market, a sensory delight that cannot be adequately described by mere words. Mounds of pungent spices, dried fruits and nuts were in abundance within a market that was established during the late 1500's. It was an amazing experience and not one I will soon forget.
Knitting knows no language bounds and I encountered a few knitters absorbed in the art at outdoor markets and parks. This woman was using painfully long needles to knit a scarf in an intricate stitch pattern. I suspect Addi Turbo circular knitting needles have not found their way to Turkey yet! An intelligent, vivacious colleague, Pinar picked me up and took me on a tour of Ortakoy which is a popular area for restaurants, nightclubs and architecture. We had delicious baked potatoes topped with cheese, peas, corn, cous cous and several other unidentifiable ingredients. A table featuring hand knitted baby sweaters and creative, decorated baby booties was just one of many showing handcrafted goods at a weekend bazaar in the neighborhood. 33 hours later I was back home in Seattle. Always good to go, always better to get home.
Most of my business meetings were in the Northeastern part of the city. Late in the afternoon one day, a colleague and I went over the Chain Bridge to Castle Hill to see the Royal Palace, and Matthias Church. Despite the gloomy weather we could see the huge Parliament Building on the other side of Danube River, described as a neogothic jewel. I would like to come back someday and explore more of the city and go to some of the museums. The city is inviting and the people are very friendly.
On the flight from the US I had begun working on Nihon Vogue, Year Two, Project 1. I only had two projects on needles and was in a panic the night before my trip figuring out what to take with me. I am almost done with the Forest Canopy Shawl and have one sock on size 2 needles. Even though the Nihon class doesn't begin until early October, I wanted to use the time on the flights to get a jump start on the first project. The requirement is to knit set in sleeves that are gathered at the top and "puff up". Hmm. Even though it is the current fashion rage, it is something I would not personally wear. So, I am knitting a child's size garment that is a re-compilation of a Debbie Bliss smock cardigan. I am changing the pattern a bit and then redesigning the drop sleeves to be set in. After business meetings in the morning today I am flying to Istanbul with a 5 hour layover in Frankfurt... so will have plenty of time to work on my computer, read or knit.
The next day found Amy learning to spin using one of Ellen's wheels. She went from being a novice filled with trepidation to skilled confident spinner in no time at all. I was so impressed! Sarah finished the sleeves of her alpaca sweater and modeled it with her fabulous new red shoes. Her dear husband Bob arrived from Michigan and they made plans to leave early the next morning for a week touring other Pacific Northwest venues such as Mt. Rainier and Victoria, BC. Michale made a delicious risotto that was paired with salmon and parmesan coated zucchini. Can I take her home with me?
After leaving Bangrila I drove to Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, outside of Olympia. Anything to avoid a trip over the bridge. Shipwreck Beads is advertised as the "world's largest bead store" and that is no exaggeration. The store is approximately the size of a gymnasium and has numbered aisles, similar to those in a grocery store. There is even an onsite cafe! I purchased Swarovski crystals, beading wire, and strands of clear chinese cut glass, pale aqua bottle glass, coral, jade, onyx and aventurine. I have some necklace and bracelet designs in mind to make but not sure when I will be able to execute on those visions. More yarn than time. More beads than time. The bead store made me recall the first time I had gone on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland in California almost 30 years ago... I was more enthralled with all the beads strewn about the site than with the special effects created for that ride. That should have been a clue to me way back when! I went to the airport to pick up Rob as he arrived tired but exhilerated from his weeklong bike ride in Colorado. Whimsy dog is happiest when we are all home together. Smile. 
At least 10 other Seahawk players were there to interact with the small crowd by signing shirts, autographing caps and posters to support the cause. Whimsy likes to participate in philantrophic activities such as this. She howled during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner before the race and had fun meeting the other dogs there. Whimsy (always the Seattle Seahawk groupie) wanted her picture taken with some of the players. We especially liked being next to tackle Walter Jones (6'5", 325 lbs) as we felt SMALL next to him. Leonard Weaver was very sweet and had a playful sense of humor. It was an intimate, family oriented, genuinely warm and friendly event with vibrant music, cookies, water, muffins, snack bars, and barbeque. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning - in support of a fantastic cause and getting some much needed exercise at the same time. I am glad we participated and will plan to do so again next year.
