Trying to sit down and write a coherent post during a busy week off is rather like trying to thread a needle without your glasses on – if it happens, it’s only because you’ve tried so many times. This is the third time I’ve made a start. The first went nowhere because there were workmen here who were assiduous in showing me every little quirk of my very old house and why it was taking them all day to finish a fairly small job. The second turned into a sentimental and rather preachy treatise on why we should be grateful for all the wonderful things we take for granted. I waxed poetic about hot running water. And trees. (I was upset because the borough cut down two lovely old trees in our neighborhood this week. I don’t know what West Reading has against trees.) I re-read it, deleted it, then went to play Candy Crush for a while to settle down.
So I hope your time off this week, if you’re lucky enough to have some, is going more according to plan than mine. Meanwhile, I’ll show you a couple of finished projects that I hope get your hands itching to knit!
First, the Trailhead Jacket from Brooklyn Tweed is finished. I have to say the design is impeccable, at least in the size I made. I followed directions exactly – there is a lot going on all the time and it’s not easy to modify. My stitch gauge was a bit small so I made a larger size than I normally would, but my row gauge was spot on which was good because this is a long sweater – any longer and I would need attendants to hold up my train. Okay, I’m exaggerating a bit. The combination of Debbie Bliss’s Fine Donegal wool and Juniper Moon’s alpaca blend Herriott Fine was wonderful to knit and makes a warm, sturdy fabric with a lovely hand and a bit of a halo.
The back is the main attraction. The pattern is simple and repetitive but the layout of the design within the sweater canvas is intricate:
The front features beautiful and serviceable pockets and the collar, which can stand up or fold down, depending on how much warmth you need:
Here is a detail of the pockets:
the collar:
and yes, I finally did sew on the buttons:
This will definitely be a winter knit-along!!
I was working on this Mistake Rib Cowl (a free pattern at the shop) at the store all last week and finished it this past weekend. It’s for my brother-in-law and combines Zauberball Crazy and Shibui Pebble. Since our Mix Party, I can’t seem to stop combining yarns to make really beautiful fabrics. The Zauberball adds just the right amount of color and the Pebble mutes the striping and adds the cush of cashmere. I think he’ll love it and maybe my sister can keep her own scarves for herself.
And finally, I finished this shawl called Therapy, designed by Laura Aylor, which turned out to be a really wonderful way to use a single skein of Jilly with Cashmere. I used a skein of Nuna from Mirasol and a ball of Folio from Berroco. The design transitions from one solid (or semi-solid) through the colorful skein to the other solid. I love these colors, and the swoosh shape of the shawl makes it very wrappy and wearable.
On this side, the stripes are muted and blended:
On this side, the stripes are distinct:
I hope you’re inspired – and I hope you’ll be able to join us this Saturday for our sale! It’s my way of saying how thankful I am for all of you!
