a smaller life

today

 

 

seven years

Thank you, love, for every day of these seven wonderful years.

morning light

 

 

 

on the spindle this week... month... quarter... oh, I need to finish this already.

 

Gorgeous Chasing Rainbows roving in a colorway that I've forgotten, merino- tencel blend, just heavenly. I love their colors and fiber prep; so meticulous, simple and beautiful.

 

on the lines, this afternoon

 

  

Also this gorgeous soaker skein of Kypria; completely unrepeatable, this was a blank skein that caught extra dye from all of last week's work, and it's very, very unlikely to ever leave my house. Look at those fall, maple-ish colours! Love love love love LOVE.

  

 

 

inspiration is everywhere

 

 

in which I am a slacker (but a slacker who finishes things!)

   

Sadly, I didn't make it to SAFF, opting instead to spend the week in emergency rooms and doctors' offices. It's no big thing- more medications, more tests, more bother- but I got a fair amount of knitting done, knitting myself a hat, converting new and lapsed knitters in waiting rooms, and finishing woefully neglected old projects.

     

  

This sweater, for example; this is my first attempt at making a sweater up off the cuff, begun about seven years ago. This languished, armless, for at least six years; it's made of Handpaintedyarns.com Handspun Bulky. HPW has gorgeous base yarns in infamously unreliable colorways- things are not always as they appear on the website- which is how I wound up with a pinky- green instead of the blueish purples I'd seen and dreamed of on the website. I needs blocking, and overdyeing (and not in that order!), but at least it has arms and all the ends are woven in.

   

 

  

There's something lovely in finishing old projects- remembering what I'd initially loved about them, what frustrated me, why I deserted them- so rarely the objects' fault, and usually a refresher on important knitting lessons past. For example: if the color of a yarn makes you crazy, overdye it before knitting the sweater, because if you don't, you'll just abandon the thing for AGES. But it's a pleasure to revisit this: I can see how new of a knitter I was in my choices here- I'd have gone about my shaping differently today, and I would have made the bottom bit of ribbing longer, too, and the neckline doesn't lay quite right, but it's mine, the first sweater I ever made up by myself, and there's a real sweetness to that.

Currently on the needles is another sweater, knit in two shades of Thirteen Mile Worsted I got for a song at Spinster Yarns- she's closing the shop, and everything is on sale for 40%- 50% off. Here's hoping it takes me less than five- six years to finish this one, eh?

 

where I was a Flower of the mountain

 

Well, the poll was pretty definitive; fingering- weight sweaters are out. Not that I won't be making them, or possibly even designing them for others, but as of this morning, it's 80% for sport weight, so I've been swatching in Bugga!- which, while listed in Ravelry as a fingering weight is really more of a light sport and seems to me like a happy medium.

I've also begun thinking about color- something rich and red and joyful, which is where the photo comes in; I've got to start planning my half of our winter seasonal colorways, and this seems too perfect, the darker russet-y loveliness of these leaves, spotted while doing errands on Saturday. It seems the best bits of inspiration are always just sitting out in public, shamelessly exposing themselves in the everyday.

The test dyeing will begin in earnest once we're back from SAFF- we leave this Wednesday morning, gulp! I never feel as prepared for a show as I wish I did. Asheville is beautiful, though, and it's such a perfect time to head out there, which makes up for a lot of my last- minute flailing. (Where, oh where are my fancy- dress shoes?!?!?? And my travel kit? And my conditioner? Eeep!)

 

decisions, decisions

 

 

I'm sketching out my final ideas for a sweater I've been chewing over for months- until recently, the only things I'd been 100% certain of were that there would probably be an empire waist and that I would knit it in a deep, sensual red. I've finally got a real image of it in my head- and on paper, too!- and I'm beginning swatches this weekend. The real question is: what weight yarn will it be knit in? I want a smaller gauge to keep it light and flattering to most bodies- and also, yes, because I just plain prefer sweaters knit at a smaller gauge most of the time.

Still, I'm open to suggestions. With that in mind, I've made a poll- what better way to make any decision than to ask the internet, right? Ring in! Let your opinion be heard. I want to knit this is one of our Sanguine Gryphon yarns, so feel free to use the comments to be more specific, or to choose the write- in option. 

in which there is only so much time

The incredible Spinster Yarns and Fibers, of Lauraville, Baltimore, is closing its doors. The owner, Andrea, has been a friend of mine for years, and she really made this shop wonderful and unique- with a focus on natural, organic, and indie yarns, this was a fantastic store. Actually- as of right now, it still IS a fantastic store- it should be open for a few more weeks, yet. Andrea is selling everything at 50% off- yarn, fiber, books, Addi and Lantern Moon needles (I totally stocked up on LM needles last week), yarn bowls, you name it. If you're in the area, you really, really should stop by- the prices can't be beat and there is still a ton of haul to be had. The address is 4337 Harford Road, in Baltimore, MD, and if you go during the day, you should check out The Red Canoe, upstairs. They have good, strong coffee and the best muffins in the city.

 

 

 

There's a pretty awesome knit night, too- Saturdays, starting at 6ish. I'm there every week, barring major emergencies and shows. You should stop by. Really, before it's over. We're a great bunch.