Two lusciously gorgeous days and I’ve accomplished nothing. Still piddling along with the last sleeve of my Kiko, pondering the deep eternal questions of humanity, like, Why the hell are human arms so long, and thinking about other projects I want to do now that most spring/summer models are done:
I want to re-visit the Featherweight Cardigan, this time in fingering weight instead of lace. The laceweights I used stretched out into a vast infinite shapelessness, sort of like the universe before the big bang. I’ve seen others that are in fingering – so much better! So Donna and I picked out this pretty color of Ranco,
a semi-solid kettle dyed fingering wool/nylon blend from Araucania, which is discontinued but which I happily still have tons of. I’m inspired by this, which just arrived at the store:
a collection of Hannah Fettig’s basic designs called Knitbot Essentials, which contains 4-1/2 sweater designs and a basic hat, mitts, and cowl all beautifully photographed, plus her thoughts on drape and sizing.
I’m dying to do another Vitamin D, knit to my actual size instead of the size I want to be. I loved this project the whole way through and I think this will be our summer knit-along. I’m going to wait for my next shipment of Merino Light from MadTosh (still 4 – 8 weeks away, unfortunately) to pick a color, or maybe I’ll see something pretty when the reps start circling in the next few weeks.
I’ve decided to close on Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day! I’m excited about what I might do on a Sunday afternoon. Monday and Tuesdays are good efficient days to have off – doctor & vet appointments, grocery shopping, bank, post office, you can do all those prosaic necessary things. But Sundays! A movie, a concert, brunch – woo-hoo! (You can tell it takes very little to thrill me. I’m easy!) I’ll be open 10 – 4 on Saturdays to make up for it a little bit.
Here are a couple models I’ve finished in the last few weeks, and the patterns are now actually written and pretty much edited:
This is the Breezy Big Easy, inspired by a fun over-sized cotton that is called Pareo and self-stripes in the Lang version and is called Rosita and is mildly variegated in the Trendsetter version. It’s knit on 15’s and 17’s, is soft and comfortable with a loose body and semi-fitted sleeves, and while I wouldn’t want to wear it when it’s 98 degrees, it’s perfect for a coolish morning on the deck or a breezy evening on the beach. See? I also knit for the life I want to have (only when I’m tired) rather than the life I really have.
This swingy cutey-pie is a Knitting Pure & Simple design, not my own. It’s knit from Katia’s Temis (textured cotton/acrylic) on size 9 or 10 needles to make it nice and open and finished with a rolled edging in plain yarn. I knit a size down from my normal because I knew the gauge would be big, but I should have gone 2 sizes down because it’s almost too big for me. Anyway, this you could wear on a 98-degree day over a tank and be comfortable and covered.
This is the Lacy Cap-Sleeve Top, in Berroco Seduce. What can I say? – it’s another top to put on over a camisole that will keep you comfortable but make you feel and look dressed when it’s hot, hot, hot. I have to say, we have a great selection of warm-weather styles for you to make, and beautiful yarns to use as well.
Deb Schlarb, back from her cruise, brought in another fabulous tea cozy – this one is so fun and ridiculous that I don’t even know what to say about it. It’s like a tea pot with a funky beret:
What a riot it must have been to knit! And Deb also made this terrific dress/beach cover-up for a trip to Greece that’s in her plans. It’s done in Pareo (see Big Easy above) and it’s a perfect look for long, lean Deb.
Janet’s sock class finished up this week and look at the results:
Congrats to Donna Ford, Carla Frazer, Diana DeMarti, Janis Edwards, Jill Pelchar, and Barbara Esterly, feet all pictured here. Beautiful!
Karen Wenrich has been working on Stornaway from Alice Starmore’s Fishermen’s Sweaters for some time. It’s a project and a half. She got it done, and it’s absolutely worth the time and effort and worthy of the beautiful yarn she searched for for over 2 years. I tried to get a detail shot but it’s tough with black. You’ll have to take it from me, it’s a stunning piece of knitting.
And Janet’s knitting group all made this project, which the name escapes me at the moment – c’mon, it’s 6 o’clock – time for a glass of wine and a game of fetch with Jackson – but isn’t it gorgeous??? Gwen Snavely modeled it, because she’s nice and her shirt was the perfect color:
We did this as a knit-along a few years ago – what a fun project, and Janet’s is just beautiful!
All right, you’ve got to be ready for a glass of wine by now, too. See you soon!
Trish
