In the Mail...

So, what came in the mail yesterday? Well...


Some red socks(Lorna's Laces new Red Rover colorway)... and some JKnits, well, just because...



And the Classic Elite Sundance I ordered for the Lutea Lace Shoulder Shell from the new summer Interweave Knits...
I really like this yarn. It's a cotton/microfiber blend and while it's not stretchy like Rowan Calmer, it does have a nice feel and knits up very well.



Today I received my copy of Knitting Nature that I had ordered from Amazon when they were selling it for $8.99 last week. I really like patterns that have a distinctly unique or handknit look and this book was full of them...









It also includes many patterns that are maybe a bit too distinctly unique for my taste. But I wouldn't be the one to identify those since my sense of fashion pretty much begins and ends at Old Navy and Kohls. Either way, I'm happy to own the book.

The $5 Fix

Still not able to quite shake my thoughts of a cardigan, I made a quick stop at the LYS while out running some errands today and grabbed a $5 hank of Tahki Cotton Classic to swatch and play around with. I think it could work... very nicely. I really like the diamond pattern since I get hopelessly bored on long purling rows, but now I think I want to try to knit the sweater top down instead of bottom up so I'm going to have to tackle some math. But playing with some white yarn was enough to get some ideas going and take the edge off for the moment.

In the meanwhile, I received a nice little distraction in the mail today. But that will have to wait for a photo shoot tomorrow.

BTW - I added some Malabrigo to my Stashout page today.

Obsession

–noun
1.the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.
2.the idea, image, desire, feeling, etc., itself.
3.the state of being obsessed.
4.the act of obsessing.

A couple of weeks ago, I got a little hankering to knit a white cardigan for summer. It seems I always need one and can never find just what I want in the stores... one that is cute but casual... one that can be thrown on with jeans or top a skirt if it's a chill church morning... one that was just right. Oh, and most importantly, one that would look good with an Old Navy t-shirt. A simple idea takes root.

As the idea grew, I begin to search for the perfect pattern... on the internet, in magazines, and through the many books on my shelf. I wanted it to be quick, but, since I knew I wanted it to be solid white, I didn't want it to be too plain. As the idea became more persistent, I even tried suggesting to my wonderful designer friend that what she really needed to come up with was a So-Cal friendly, summer cardigan. (Yes, she's just a wee bit busy right now, but I'm still secretly hoping for that option.)

Meanwhile, I began considering some basic patterns I had in hand, and turned my attention to yarn. Thicker yarn would be quicker... but not good for summer (nor pleasurable to knit in my opinion). I figured I wanted a light worsted or DK weight... but I wanted it to be cheap... and don't forget quick. So I began checking constantly online for not only patterns, but yarn sales... e-bay, knitty boards, knitter review boards... everywhere. I found one yarn that I thought might be interesting, but, when it arrived, it turned out to be not quite what I was looking for. (BTW - You can get a great deal on some white yarn at my Stashout right now.) It was a this point that my hankering, my desire, began to dominate my thoughts.

Then last night... there was a flicker of possibility. Cosmic-Pluto's Lucy in the Sky cardigan. The more I considered it, the more I liked it. Knit in one piece, lots of yarn options, pattern could be immediately downloaded. Yeah... this would work. I was thinking that I would like to try either Tahki Cotton Classic or Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. But oh no... which one?

Okay, I'll get one of each and swatch (did I spell that right?). There's only one LYS around here that carries both yarns (and happens to be open on Sunday) about 20 miles away.

I should go... No... I should think about this some more... especially knowing that I'm quite likely to change my mind in the next 24 hours.

No, really, I'll just run up there real quick... I feel like getting out of the house anyway. Tammy, the cupboards are bare, if you're going anywhere, it's to the grocery store.

Oh, what will I do today if I can't cast-on for a cardigan? Yeah right... don't even try that one. But suddenly the most important thing in the world... the only thing in the world that I wanted to do... was to cast on for Lucy NOW! (I know you know what I mean.)

Clearly, I needed to stop and think this through with some patience and sensible consideration... unfortunately, both of which are in very short supply within my conscious mind. Actually I'm really quite sensible... it's just that my darn impulsivity usually wins any duels with my sensible side.

Finally... I'll just call and see if they even have Cotton Fleece in white. Yes!! They do! But they're closing in 15 minutes. "Are you sure?" "Uh, yes... and we're closed tomorrow."

So I guess it's just me and the Brothers Karamozov for the next couple of days. Oh, I suppose I could finish my Crusoe socks... or one of the other wips I have going. Yeah... I suppose... but it won't be the same.

BTW - I'm still open to any cardigan options you might know of... or any bundles of white yarn you might want to depart with. :)

Let's Talk Interweave Knits...

It's amazing how many times I can flip through the pages of a new knitting magazine without getting bored. Some patterns are love at first sight, some are quick to catch my eye but start to lose their appeal by the 3rd or 4th time through, some don't catch my eye at first but grow on me slowly, and of course there are... you know... *those* patterns that have to make you stop and wonder every time you look.

I like this issue a lot. Along with a good variety of patterns, there's an article by Ann Budd on knitting socks toe-up and her favorite sock yarns.

So, after several trips through the new mag, here's a few of my picks...

I like Amy Singer's Montego Bay Scarf, but mainly because it's knit from 1 hank of Handmaiden Sea Silk, which I really want to try.

And for some reason I really like this Summertime Tunic. It's totally not my style and I'm probably too old to even try to pull it off, but I think that over a tank (would definitely need at least a tank underneath), it would be cute. Oh well, a gal can dream.

This Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke by Pam Allen is very eye-catching... but I'm not sure why it's knit flat and joined at the yoke instead of being knit in the round. (But since my knitwear design knowledge is pretty much nil, I won't question it further.) Anyway, I wonder if this could be knit with short sleeves making it more practical for our weather. Maybe knit with some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece or Rowan Calmer from my stash. Hmmm... any opinions.

Could it be pulled off with short sleeves??

There are several other items I would love to knit but don't suit our climate.

Finally, I'm crazy about this Lutea Lace-Shoulder Shell by Angela Hahn. Knit in the round with Classic Elite Sundance (a cotton/microfiber blend)...

Suffice it to say that I'd ordered the yarn within a half hour of receiving the magazine.

Yes, there are a few of *those* patterns, but I'm not going to point them out because to each his/her own. But one question about handknit dog sweaters... does anybody ever knit sweaters for sheep?

It's Something Alright!

Ta-da...

This makes 2 finished knits in one week! I may be on some kind of roll. Maybe it's the new less caffeine me. Nah, unlikely... probably just a phase.

The verdict... I love this sweater! It has to be one of my favorite knits ever! I think I really get a lot of wear out of it too.

You can see that the front edging does pull up a bit at the bottom. A good, patient knitter would've ripped that out and re-did it before posting finished pics... but me? Not so big in the patience department. I'm going to wait and see how much it bothers me before I do anything drastic.

As for the specifics...

• Something Red by Knit & Tonic
• Blue Sky Cotton - Tomato
• Size 7 Knit Picks Options
• Size: Small
• Modifications (or, more accurately, mistakes):

(1) I erred on the side of a looser fit when separating the sleeves. I probably would've been better off right at Wendy's suggested length.

(2) I picked up 20 less stitches around the sides and neck for the collar than the pattern recommended (thus the pulling I'm sure).

On another note, Julie and I have decided to encourage each other to delve into more classic literature by doing a little RAL (read-along). She chose the first book, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, that you see me holding above. (A nice thick book... she clearly has set her goals high.)

She wanted to start today so I made a quick stop at Borders where I would normally grab the cheapo Penguin version of any book, but since I wanted to be able to actually read the type, I selected a larger (and more expensive) version that seemed to lay open nice and flat (for knitting along). I figured I was going to be spending quite a bit of time with this book so the extra $10 was worth it.

And yes, I'm familiar with the library but they actually expect me to return the books I borrow... and on time at that. Believe me, Borders is cheaper in the long run.

Off to get started...

PS... I received my Summer issue of Interweave Knits today! More on that tomorrow. Hopefully it won't interfere too much with the Russian Brothers.

Busy, busy, busy...

Here's a peek at Something Red blocking. I'm a bit concerned that I may have to re-do the front trim and collar as it was pulling a bit at the bottom but I'm seeking repair through the wonders of blocking first.

After all of your comments and e-mails discouraging me from parting with more stash, I had to reconsider. With a quick survey of my limited storage space, I realized that I had a whole huge bin of old purses taking up space in one of my closets. Purses that haven't been touched in years... ugly purses, old purses, stained purses. Purses that provide no joy to my fingertips, in a bin that I never open just to gaze at the colors. Purses that have no hope of ever being useful, becoming something far greater than what they are, or securing any real value in my heart.

So, instead of getting rid of yarn... I ditched the purses and got me a whole new bin to start filling up... uh, I mean, to meet any possible storage needs.

It's a good thing too, because it occurred to me today while I was laying out Something Red that I have no red socks! Not even red sock yarn. This simply won't do... I'll have to take care of that ASAP! Meanwhile, I'm going to attempt to finish a match a lonely only that's been sitting around for about 9 months.

Embossed Leaves

What?! A finished knit? Could it be? Yes!

Presenting Interweave's Embossed Leaves Socks knit with Koigu kpppm...

I definitely have some pooling going on and though it does bum me out a bit, I still LOVE these socks. I enjoyed the pattern, working with the Koigu, and every last stitch.

I have a couple of lonely onlies that need matches but I can't wait to cast on for another pair of Favorite Socks from Interweave.

Darn pooling. But please don't suggest that I knit alternating rows with 2 balls at once because I will just laugh. People usually only see part of your socks anyway... right?

Oh well, it's a good thing I'm not a perfectionist. I don't notice it as much when they're on my feet. I will just never look at this picture again.

Something Red is nearing completion as well, so I may have a second finished knit to post this week. Woo-hoo. Maybe the lack of caffeine is helping me actually sit still and stay focused on one thing at a time. Hmmm??

Speaking of which... Laura, you alone are responsible for the above. I had to grab it when I saw it in 7-11 after seeing it on your blog. Diet Coke with vitamins and minerals?! Wow! That's practically a complete diet! Yes, I know... caffeine. But I have cut back, way back, to a small(er) coffee in the morning. This was the first diet soda I've had in almost a week!! But I'm thinking that with the vitamins and minerals that maybe this should be my morning drink... much healthier I'm sure. I mean it does have vitamins!

Finally, a gratuitous picture of oldest son pitching and number two son playing 2nd base to the left... because, you know, you can never have enough sports pictures in a knitting blog. Really!

You can't tell here, but he looks like me. "Of course he does," you're probably thinking. But when your the olive-skinned, brunette, brown-eyed mother of 4 fair, blond, hazel eyed boys... believe me... it's worth pointing out that one does, in fact, look like you. (He hates it by the way.)