Swatch!

I got out my box of swatches recently and reviewed them all. Its so enjoyable to sort them out and look at the colors and the patterns. Like most knitters I start a project by knitting a swatch or two to test the gauge and I save them all in a nice blue Tiffany's box (that once held wedding present beer mugs--my only Tiffany's present ever). Its not necessary to save them. but I'm always so excited when I start a knitting project that the swatch becomes imbued the excitement and afterwards I just can't part with them.

Laying them out to photograph I went back through all my memories of knitting projects. I also knit swatches just to try an interesting pattern stitch from time to time. Here's a few of them. If you are a knitter, save your knitting history that lives in your swatches. You'll impress yourself one day when you get them out and see how industrious you've been. They also serve the practical purpose of allowing you to save enough yarn of a finished project to later on mend a hole or sew on a new button, although you can always just save a few yards of yarn wound in a bobbin for that.

Maybe one day I'll make them all into a crazy quilt knitted throw or blanket. Until that time they will continue to live in their nice little box and from time to time I'll take them out and mentally review my projects and all the colors and textures once again.

The Best Planned Knitting....

It's been a while to say the least!
First I was frantic with Xmas season knitting (not to mention starting a new job and taking care of my son) and then recovering from all that and suddenly January is over and I haven't posted in months. I actually have lots to show too! The gloomy mid-winter weather here in New England makes it tough to find good days to photograph knitting as well.
Anyway! Here's a blurry photo of my son struggling to take off a lovely sweater I just finished for him. This is why my title laments the best planned knitting. I've had this yarn for ages and couldn't wait to use it. Knitted up the nicest top down raglan for him that fits perfectly with some room to grow.
Last Saturday was sunny and finally I sewed that last end in and could put it on him to photograph. He spent the entire time trying to take the sweater off. Why? Who knows, I don't and he can't explain yet being just two and a half. I don't think he was too hot although his cheeks are very rosy in the photo.
This weekend I'll try again--it really is a nice sweater and I'd like to show it off. If he refuses to wear it I'll photo it by itself and then what...off to the bag of handmedowns for my nephew? Let's hope not quite yet.
But that's the nice thing about knitting, there's so much satisfaction in the project itself that wearing it, or watching him wear it is only one aspect. Is the wearing only an after thought?
Well... no, I really want him to wear it! And, it's cold and he needs a sweater!
More entries to come with other projects I've been working on this fall and early winter.

All in a Tangle

The fall knitting season is well underway. I'm determined to finish projects and reduce my stash. I just finished a sweater for me using some Cleakheaton Merino Supreme I've had kicking around, but until I can steamblock it for its debut here I thought I'd feature a few photos of my two-year old son's wrestling match with a skein of yarn. My apologies for the really poor job I've done of pasting these photos in. I can't get them neatly lined up with the text at all!

What am I reading?? If you wonder what people are reading in Europe--besides something by Dan Brown--you can read The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which was a bestseller in France and won numerous prizes. A lovely, lovely book about the relationships that develop between an intelligent self-educated concierge hiding her smarts from the rich snobs she works for, a bright young girl with suicidal tendancies, and a wealthy Japanese widow.

New Yarn: I'm just now winding a skein of Kaffee Facett Colorscape into a ball. I can't let myself buy any new yarn, but there's no rule against accepting gifts--which this was--for my birthday--which was yesterday. Amazing fall colors! Feels a little two scratchy for scarves and hats, but this will make a great vest or cartigan. It may be destined to participate in my top down raglan experiments.

Baby Oliver's Sweater

My brother and sister-in-law just had a baby--little Oliver Francis! So adorable. I'm so excited for them, and I'm excited for us since he'll be a playmate for our 2yr old son. Here's a cardigan designed by me in the 3mo size that I just finished for him. His Mom and Dad like classic, non-fussy baby items, so I wanted to make him something basic. The yarn is Filatura di Crosa Zara, which is washable merino wool. Super soft and fun to work with! I love using simple wooden buttons with my knits--its nice to keep the materials all natural.
I will say though, that I'm leaning more and more towards knitting top down, raglan sweaters for babies. I hate the bulky seams that you get sewing even the most delicate knitted pieces together. My next baby item will be just that: a top-down raglan cardigan for my other sister-in-law's 9-month old baby girl. I'm going to have fun with it and decorate with all sorts of knitted flowers.
When we adopted our son last year, a friend commented that I must be having a ball knitting for him. Well, in fact, that saying, "the shoemaker's children go barefoot" is apparently true, at least in my household. I've only knit him one thing--a cotton sweater from a nifty Debbie Bliss pattern. However, its time to remedy that. I have an aran sweater I designed and knit a prototype of in a baby size. I'm still pleased with the design, but it is knit in worsted weight yarn and a little too bulky for babies, so I'm going to redesign in toddler sizes.
Luckily we're having a rainy Saturday here--a big tropical storm is passing by New England so I can stay home and do some knitting.
PS. What am I reading? I'm about half way through "Red Earth and Pouring Rain," by Vikram Chandra. A tale set in India and southern California featuring college students, a reincarnated monkey, various family members of both, and a selection of Hindu gods. Chandra is a fabulous writer, this book is not always easy to read since there are so many characters to follow, but I marvel at his beautiful writing.

Free Pattern!! The Vixen Cowl

To celebrate the coming of fall I'm offering a free pattern for my Vixen cowl. I hope you enjoy it! Please leave a comment if you copy it. I'd like to know where it goes!

This is a super-easy cowl to knit. I offer it in one size which should fit most adults, however, the rib stitch pattern is a two-stitch repeat so you can easily make the cowl larger or smaller by adding or subtracting an even number of stitches. Lengthen or shorten by adding or subtracting pattern sections of 4 rows of ribbing.

Yarn: 200 yds bulky weight yarn

Needles: #10.5 circular needle, #11 circular needle

Gauge: 14 sts and 18 rows = 4 inches/4cm on larger needles

One size fits all: 22 inches around at bottom edge and 9.5 inches long.

Rib stitch Pattern: Repeat 1, Rounds 1-4: k1, p1 to end.

Repeat 2, Rounds 5-8: p1, k1 to end.

(When working back and forth in rows, work rows 2 and 4 as p1, k1 and rows 6 and 8 as k1, p1)

On larger needles cast on 72 stitches, do not join to work in the round. Work in rib stitch pattern back and forth in rows for two inches ending on the right side. Work to the last stitch of the row. Join to work in the round being careful to not twist knitted piece. To avoid loose stitches at the join, hold the last stitch to the back as if making a cable. Perl the first stitch of the round. Place the last stitch back on the needle and knit it. Continue to work rib pattern in rounds until piece measures 4.5 inches. Switch to smaller needles and work until piece measures 9.5 inches or desired length. Bind off all stitches loosely. Weave in ends.

Note: To make the striped version of the cowl you’ll need about 100 yards of two colors and 30-40 yards of a third color.

Wear and enjoy!

PS. I forgot to mention I've been doing a lot of wonderful reading lately! The Homecoming mentioned below just didn't engage me. I put that aside and read: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. He revisits fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty to create a moving story about a young boy retreating into a fantasy world to deal with grief, loss, and resentment. It's dark, but not depressing. Highly recommended!

Little Butterflies

This is our neighbor, Faith, wearing the first iteration of a new design: the 'Little Butterflies' capelet aka the Raspberry Bush capelet and standing in front of the raspberry bushes. I came over all inspired to knit something for the 7 and 8 year old girls who live across the street. It is called 'little butterflies' because the yarn over increases grouped together between the cables resemble butterflies.
I'm delighted with the top of the cape, and not so much with the edging. I'll make the 2nd one with a different edging and in a different color of course. Right now my designs seem to involve in stages--not professional, but that's the best way for me to work at present. I like the idea of as developing a base design that can be modified as styles change and has a longer life time than just one or two fashion seasons. Now that knitting is enjoying its huge resurgence it's great to see so many new yarns and patterns every year, but also a shame to see knitting follow short-lived trends.
The yarn: Classic Elite Sprout (organic cotton). Loved working with it. Soft, but doesn't fall apart; chunky, but not heavy. I'm thinking I need to work up an organic cotton neckwarmer or two from this yarn for the Etsy shop. Let me not forgot those allergic to wool.

PS. Just took 'The Homecoming' by Bernard Schlink out of the library. I still haven't read 'The Reader,' but I thought I'd start with the newer one.

Finishing the Unfinished

Unlike many knitters I don't have a huge stash, just a medium one, but the idea of having a stash doesn't bother me, its those half-finished projects that drive me crazy.
So, I made a vow that except for Etsy items and the occasional baby gift I wouldn't start any new projects--especially not sweaters--until I've finished the 4 or 5 half-finished sweaters I have on hand. The temptation to break the vow is constant and unrelenting...but I've been faithful so far.
I'm always in the wrong season with knitting. Just as winter was winding down I suddenly got motivated to finish a long blue cabled cardigan I'm knitting from the Debbie Bliss pattern book: 'Family Knits.' I'm not using a Debbie Bliss yarn though... instead Berroco Ultra Alpaca. I love this yarn. Light and soft, but not too fragile like many luxury yarns....nearly perfect.Very nice for cables because its not too heavy.
Here's the sweater, sitting gaily on the porch taking the sun with some spring time perennials. This photo was just before I started the collar which is wide and drapey.
In a burst of speed I knitted the 2nd sleeve and am now half done with the collar...energy flagging just a little. This is due to the fact that I'm working on a couple of new designs, can't say anything about them yet.... I'll probably end up finishing the cartigan in August. It will be tedious to try it on on a 90 degree day, but wonderful to take it out that first really chilly day in September and wear it for the first time.
After this I have a sweater from Rowan Vintage knits to finish. A cotton/tencel summer sweater from Interweave knits to finish...socks....a sweater I'm designing. I'm sure I'll always have 1 or 2 unfinished items lying about.

PS. When my hand starts to hurt I hold a bag of frozen peas for a few moments then I take a break and do some reading. I've been reading young adult fantasy fiction by Diana Wynn Jones. Recommended by my friend M. who is a fabulous knitter. The Chronicles of Crestomanci is lots of fun. How's Moving Castle is good too, and there's a follow-up to it: The House of Many Ways which I'll read next. After this, I'll get back to some serious reading. It may be time for more Haruki Murakami...