Friday, July 23, 2010

A slight change in plans

Current knitting:

Villane sleeves are now actually done, and yesterday I attached them to the body. Then I read the pattern and got totally intimidated. I'm supposed to do raglan increases, cabling and short rows all at the same time? I can't even COUNT! How am I supposed to be able to do this? But carry on I must. For I love this sweater and I can't wait to wear it. And it might even get done before the weather cools off. (I'm really hoping to have it done in July. We'll see.)

Future knitting:

I have decided to turn my planned Wispy Cardi into a Lettuce Pullover (same designer, Hannah Fettig) from the Fall issue of Knitscene. Hannah is selling kits for this sweater (and some of her other designs) at her online store. Pretty awesome. Here is a picture:


Here is a refresher on the yarn I'm going to use (knitpicks shadow kettle dyed):


Also, I spent some time yesterday winding the yarn for this project:

The Travel Shawl from Veronik Avery's book Knitting 24/7. I fell in love with this shawl, and I think this is the very first time I have ever used the same yarn in the exact same color as what the designer specified. It's gorgeous. The wool is Peace Fleece from Maine (!) and is 70% merino and 30% mohair. The company has a really cool story which you can find here. Anyway, so far I love this wool. It feels a little rough, but honestly that's a bit of relief after my 100% malabrigo, soft soft soft all the time Villane experience. I like a bit of texture to my wool and this stuff feels awesome. It's kinda soft and kinda not, and feels great between my fingers. I hear that it softens A LOT after a few washings, so I'm really looking forward to seeing this shawl age.

Here are a few shots of the yarn cakes:


The color is Father's Gray and it's really gorgeous. It has tiny little flecks of green in it, which you may be able to see in the photo below.


A side note: this post is taking much longer than usual due to circumstances beyond my control. Said circumstance is that it is currently raining rather hard in my bathroom. Right over my toilet. Which means that I have to use an umbrella to go to the bathroom.

Yee haw.

The plumbing emergency just got worse... I'll be back tomorrow.

11 comments:

  1. It's a Maine themed post! Maine designer, Maine yarn... Maine is invading my life right now. :)

    And I expect at least two comments from people in Maine...

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  2. At least two? No pressure then.
    Maine is amazing and wonderful and I have a little knitting crush on Mz. Fettig right now with my cardigan going so nicely.

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  3. Well, I'm not from Maine... never been actually, but I'd love to go!

    Wow, rain on your toilet. Hmm, it could save time on showering! Hope you get it all worked out soon.

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  4. Not from Maine - don't even know where it is :-) Wow, I keep my fingers crossed for the finishing of the Villane - go girl - counting is easier than it looks like :-)Lovely pullover, and I LOVE that orange yarn! I find the pattern from Veronik a bit difficult to understand, but that is due to my not too perfect English I think. Beautiful shawl it is, and so is the color on the yarn. Ok, you need a plummer my friend, umbrella in the bathroom doe's not sound good!!

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  5. I've been to Acadia and the Maine Coast twice and it is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Unfortunately when we were there last summer (June), it rained 25/7 --and I'm not exaggerating! I'm a little afraid to go back after that.

    I want to make that same shawl, so I'll be watching how it goes for you!

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  6. I am looking forward to hearing how the Villane sleeves go, because I'd be intimidated by doing all those things at the same time too! Also that Lettuce Pullover is going to be beautiful. Love your yarn!

    Hope your plumbing emergency is resolved very soon!

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  7. I've seen this shawl, and liked it a lot, but could not justify buying this book just for this one pattern.

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  8. Raindrops keep falling on my head...

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  9. I'm expecting to hear all about the bathroom precipitation when it's all said and done.

    Maine is a pretty awesome place, filled with awesome people. ;)

    Can't wait to see all of your projects!

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  10. looks like you have some great projects in the works. hope it stopped raining in your bathroom!

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  11. eep! Good luck with the rainforest-potty situation. The yarn cakes look mighty tasty. Knitting is such a good reason to learn how to count, eh? I still hustle most of my math-related anguish onto the SK, but knitting I can do.

    cheers!
    Daisy

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