April 20, 2003
Emmargency
The lace here shows the mistake I fixed and the mistake I made with the fix. I still can fix it and may do that before knitting the next row. Can you tell? The crochet hook points to the problem.
I love using antique knitting and crocheting implements, do you? I keep my crochet hooks in a plastic briefcase, over which Ginger feels compelled to keep watch:
She allowed me to briefly extract the antique hooks and show them to you here, but she kept very close tabs on me:
Maybe she was afraid that Sherlock would suddenly become as big as Harvey and leap onto the table to abscond with all the implements in a wild frenzy of poodle passion. But no, Sherlock was simply being Sherlock, on the rug below:
Yesterday I worked at my LYS for the day, helping my friend Patti the owner out while she was attending wedding festivities elsewhere. I am used to sitting at my computers all day at work, and the exercise I got restocking shelves (I call it "reverse shopping") and helping customers track down patterns was far more than this middle-aged southern belle was used to! Bless his heart, Ah lack ta da'ad!.
The worse part about working at the LYS is temptation. Temptation Yarnland, that's what they ought to call it. The shop currently has the Bouton D'Or trunk show on display, and it is fascinating and wonderful. Looking through their designs in the books is nothing, nothing I tell you! compared to the gasp-inducing reality that faced me. Some people bemoan the passing of Rowan's former life when so many different textures and colors of yarn were worked into fabulous designs like those of Kaffe Fassett. Open thine eyes, O Knitters! So many textures, such interesting and innovative designs. One that particularly caught my eye contained bits of angora, bits of sparkly Easter-grass types of yarn, and other unique fibers, in a background reminiscent of peacock feathers. Hard to describe, wonderful to behold.
The Bouton D'Or baby designs were so delightful that the shop sold out of all the magazines within hours of putting up the show. Check them out! I don't find pictures online, but if you have a shop nearby that carries Bouton D'Or and you have little ones to knit for, I heartily recommend it.
But I digress. A couple of years ago I knit an Adrienne Vittadini summer shell from Emma (no, not our blogging and FiberTraditions friend Emma ;-), a silk/cotton blend that has fabulous drape and none of that stringy feel that cotton often has. I gave the shell to Sherah. Later, the shop carried a marvelous fuchsia color which I have been coveting for over a year. Yesterday that bag of Emma came home with me.
Isn't it gorgeous? It's a blend of two slightly different shades of fuchsia, which gives it a suede appearance, almost velvet-like. Crazy as it may seem, I intend to knit a little top with it in time to wear it to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in two weeks. I woke up yesterday morning and realized that in Maryland they have Real Weather. Here in the Seattle area, the weather is either mild and wet or occasionailly mild and dry. 60 degrees is pretty darn warm. Shorts? What are those? Tank tops are only to be worn under cardigans or jackets, and therefore my wardrobe is extremely deficient in anything appropriate for Real Weather-- thus the Emmargency knitting. Here's the Vittadini design I chose:
It's simple, is worked all in one piece and requires absolutely no finishing. (Let's see, that would be RFK (Reasons For Knitting) #4, 6 and 9, wouldn't it?) Last night I knitted through almost 3 of the 10 balls required. The circular I'm using (size 9) is not long enough to show the piece well, but you get the drift here:
Okay, I confess. I LOVE "Nashville Star", the talent scout show that's been on for the last few weeks on Saturday nights. What fun! I like some kinds of country music, especially the kind that gets your toes to tappin' and makes you want to sing along, or almost anything Willie Nelson. These people who are finalists are so good, and you just want them all to win. But my bet is on Miranda Lambert. We'll see!
wow! what a fabulous color!! is this yarn still available or is it discontinued. i can't wait to see the finished product.
Posted by: deb on April 20, 2003 10:36 PMPlaying in someones "ultimate stash" is always lots of fun but you are right,very dangerous.
It looks like you chose the perfect Maryland top for a day in May.
I haven't heard that it has been discontinued, and I hope not! If I have any complaints, the only one would be that it has knots (one per ball at least) and for the amount of yardage it really shouldn't. In order to keep the knots from showing through to the right side (because this yarn frays into many plies) I suggest using Fray-Check on the ends from the inside. Otherwise, it's a wunnnnnnnerful yarn!
lovely color! hey anyone reading this need a roommate for maryland sheep & wool?
Posted by: vanessa on April 21, 2003 03:11 AMWell, I can't see anything wrong with your lace, but I am not always very critical!
On that particular weekend in May, we could either have 59 degrees and raining, or 85 degrees and stuffy. So, check weather.com before you pack your bag!
Posted by: CarolineF on April 21, 2003 05:17 AMThat yarn has my name written all over it [ !!! ] ,and just my colour ;-]
it really is beautiful,Shiela,and you will look gorgeous in it.
I love the top! What AV pattern book is the pattern in?
Posted by: ivete on April 21, 2003 07:32 PMIvete, I don't know off the top of my head but I'll look it up tonight and let you know! It's an odd Vittadini book, the format is wide and short, and there is a picture of a tri-colored top on the front with broad horizontal bands of red, blue and cream I think (not one of the more stunning Vittadinis, imho!)
Posted by: Sheila on April 22, 2003 10:03 AMI forgot to say which book it was in... it's the Spring 2003 Vittadini book
Posted by: sheila on May 15, 2003 10:26 AM