This has been a busy week at the shop, what with the new class list coming out. (I wonder if “what with” is a weird Pennsylvania colloquialism or if it’s more widespread? Who would know?) Anyway, I haven’t been able to settle to a large project because I had the yarn for one thing I wanted to make, and I have the pattern for another thing I want, but I can’t seem to get yarn and pattern together. So while I waited, I made these:
My little tribute to the end of August and, I very much hope, the beginning of cooler weather. When people see them, they ask, “Why are you knitting leaves?” implying that either I’ve lost my marbles, or I must have a Big Idea in mind. Neither one. I knit them for the fun of knitting them. The pattern for all the leaves (aspen, oak, and maple) is “Playing in the Leaves” by Heartstrings. I used a skein of Silk Garden Sock for all but one of the leaves, and just cut out the colors I didn’t want when I came to them. You can see they would require concentration. The maple leaf at the left was done in the shop on a busy day, when I was interrupted approximately 450,000 times. The one on the right was done at home alone and, not surprisingly, turned out a lot better!
I highly recommend just once in a while knitting for the fun of it, without thinking necessarily about who it’s for, what you’ll do with it, or anything practical whatsoever. Try something tricky. The concentration is not wasted; it leads to a state of flow. You are relaxed and happy even if you have to rip back because you’re trying hard to get it right.
Anyway, after waiting a month for this pattern,
it finally became available. When I looked at it closely and swatched the yarn,
I decided that the yarn I’d been planning for it wouldn’t work very well. It’s a rather close-fitting pullover, and the fabric at gauge was a little too soft to hold so much ribbing and was a little picky for that style, which I would like to wear without another layer. Instead I’m doing a simple cardigan, plain and useful.
I’m just getting started:
The yarn is Rowan’s Felted Tweed and I have a bunch coming at some point. I carried the yarn years ago, and made the Pearl Buck Jacket from it, which I still have, and it’s still in lovely condition. I couldn’t wait to swatch it, once I had a pattern in mind. It was lovely getting re-acquainted with the yarn, which is very nice to knit.
And, by the way, (yes, here it comes, the old swatching lecture) I wish everyone would swatch with interest and attention, instead of thinking of it as punishment! Not only is it important for sizing, for making sure the yarn is appropriate for the project, and for getting to know your yarn before you dive into a sweater, but it’s also fun to make the little square. Swish it around in some water, squeeze out the water and pat it out smooth on a flat surface, then go to bed. When you wake up next morning, there’s a little surprise waiting for you! There’s your pretty little square, all relaxed and soft and (usually) dry, and you can really see what your sweater fabric will be like at that gauge and what it will feel like. Lecture over, you are dismissed!
I hope you had a super lazy Labor Day, and feel all ready for great fall projects!
