Fiber Raven Soiree

The Cunning Plan Proceedeth

Oh, I love the feedback on the latest Cunning Plan! I love it because it makes me really think about the issues brought up and whether the CP will work in light of them.

You've all helped me face the fact that I am utterly undisciplined when it comes to finishing knitted items and that I am becoming, as I said, the laughingstockinette of the knitting world because of it. I wish that you could imbue me with just a touch of your own finishing ability, and all would be well. But alas.

The esteemed Felina asked me if I've ever finished a pair of socks. Triumphantly, I proclaim: Yes!! One pair of socks have I finished!

I gave them to my daughter (who is this day an elderly 22 years old). The reason I keep socks on my knitting schedule is because I want to wear them! I also love Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' heel and toe-up construction, so I am more likely to finish them if I stick to knitting socks in this fashion. I'd have been working on the Bearfoot socks 'ere now if I could find them among all the baskets and bags and cupboards in the Yarnitorium. A search is required.

Doubtless, if you're still reading this, you're wondering how the CP did over the weekend. I think it did well. Recall that I have as my top priority an afghan for my sister's wedding. I had listed it as a log cabin afghan, but then I got real. This is a gift and must be exquisite. I cannot afford to be fussing over color choices and design layouts or it will never get done before Labor Day, and also the number of balls of yarn I'll have in an already semi-disorganized Parlor will be disastrous. The icing on the cake of that decision was applied when I called Sis to find out what her decorating colors were: jewel tones. My prior playing to put together colors did not match that scheme, and I would have to return to Ground -1 (because I have to put away all the skeins I took out).

So I still have the afghan as priority #1, but it is not the log cabin. Have I violated my Cunning Plan? I like to think not.

I have swatched and swatched and swatched and swatched for this afghan. I have looked through every stitch dictionary I own and wished for more. The Barbara Walker Treasuries 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Bauerliches Stricken 1, 2 and 3. The Oma's Strickheimumwhateveritis, Heirloom Knitting, everything.

I know which yarns I will use, they are these four colorways of Mountain Color's Mountain Goat (55% mohair, 45% wool): Evergreen, Midnight Sapphire, Larkspur and Mountain Twilight.

They are closely related and blend into each other fairly well.

I started with swatching a tweed stitch, which was beautiful. But an entire afghan of tweed stitch? I think not.

I stopped to consider what I needed. To show off handpainted yarn I need texture and direction. Both of these will break up the horizontal tendencies of the yarn and create pleasing arrays of color.

I found a pleasingly directional and textured pattern from Oma's and swatched it.

It is not worth the effort, as the design is lost in the yarn. If the yarn were lighter, it might work even with the variations of color, but for this project it is not to be.

I refined my requirements: The pattern must be directional and textured but simple visually. I thought a lovely simple bell pattern from Oma's might work. It required some help for translation, because two of the stitches are rather unusual. This was provided by some lovely ladies on the Knitted Lace list.

I frogged my swatch because I was afraid I might use up too much of my precious yarn with swatching. But the verdict was: too large on size 8's. On size 7's the yarnovers did not show up well enough to show the bells. Using two yarnovers instead of one was way too large.

Refinement of requirements: Textured, directional, visually simple, size-appropriate and, if motif-oriented, the motifs must show clearly above the background.

Finally, I got payoff when I swatch this Bavarian Check. (trinity stitch is on top)

By varying the color every block, it almost appears checked in color rather than striped. I like that. I went to my computer and composed a layout, planning a moss stitch border all the way around the afghan.

Then I thought, this is a large item. I am going to get Very Bored with the same pattern throughout. Not only that, but a large item for this purpose should show more than just one pattern with a border. I kept swatching.

Refinement of Requirements: A set of patterns that are textured, directional, visually simple, size-appropriate, clear, varied and not boring.

I have four viable stitches by now: the Bavarian check, the tweed stitch, Trinity stitch and the moss stitch. I know that the Bavarian bricks will also look good.

This sounds like a lot of work? you say? Yes, but the nice thing is, I am progressing towards a goal, and that is a good feeling. Knowing that I am doing the best I can to produce the best afghan for my sister, I don't mind the time and effort involved. Sure, I could throw together something simple, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and it should look like it. I went to bed tired but happy.

In the middle of the night, who should appear-- again-- but Hairy Godmother. She was being kept awake by my dreams of afghans and didn't look full of joy. With her was the caped superhero, Feng Shue, standing tall (well, as tall as a 4'9" ancient wise oriental man can stand) and proud with his hands on his hips. I understood immediately, and Hairy G. just nodded tiredly and they both left.

Picture this: an afghan modeled after the elements of Feng Shue, with area sizes following the proportions of the Golden Number, incorporating construction principles of Shetland stoles. I'll be working on this idea today, but these are my presently incoherent thoughts:

Water = feather and fan border
Stone = Bavarian bricks
Fire = ? (suggestions, anyone?)
Earth = Moss Stitch and Bavarian check (looks like fields planted)
Metal = wrought iron stitch border

Enough for today! Enjoy yours as I will enjoy mine in this gorgeous Pacific Northwest weather. It reminds me of this, my first quilt block for the Stars quilt.

Posted by Sheila at May 24, 2004 09:09 AM | TrackBack