a sweater with four sleeves

Posted on Posted in book reviews/events, designing, lace/shawls, projects

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while the sun and sky have turned stunningly beautiful for the most part, we continue to be stuck in an arctic vortex temperature-wise, scratching and biting our way to anything above the freezing point; temperatures remain solidly ensconced in the 20s with wind chills in the mid-teens.

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in fact, it actually snowed all day on thursday—lightly, but persistently.

for the last two days solid, our windows have been  an expressionist’s interpretation of spring, etched across with large, irregular crystal patches, glowing with inner light and the bluest of blues.

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SO beautiful, but c’mon spring, let’s boogie. i want a flower or two to show our friends here . . .

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the day it snowed, it was so dark that when i got up i reached for some creamy test yarns i’ve been wanting to swatch with, to see how they work out as alternates for my triticum sweater design.

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we have some chebris lace yarn coming in alternate shades and then a couple of sample batches of a summery, animal/vegetable fiber blend that we’ve been working on.

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i also suspect that our fresh lace in silk/linen will work for this design, so i’ll be swatching with that in the next round.

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after a nice soak to wash and plump the fiber, i squeezed out the moisture and gave the swatches a few shakes, then laid them out to dry.

i like to pin down the corners til they are partly dry, give them another shake and allow them to dry and shrink on their own, if that’s what they are going to do. both yarns look like good candidates, though i might have to go with a different needle size to get the exact gauge. i’m going to try the chebris on a larger needle and the summer blend on a smaller needle, just to see what happens.

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food for thought . . . what’s gong to be hard is which one i will knit for myself. i’ve been craving to add a couple of lightweight sweaters in plant fiber to my sweater drawer for summer (i don’t think there is a month of the year when i don’t wear SOME kind of sweater .  . . i just like the way they feel). i would love one in each of these yarns, PLUS one in our pura bella cotton.

but not all the same style—i’m going to have to design at least one or two more little summer cardigans. or knit myself another sprössling (that would actually be very nice to have).

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anyway, back to what i currently have on my plate . . . you know that snazzy new pullover i finished last week and finally got around to blocking and banding? well i WAS all done, but there were a few nagging issues with the sleeves (long story; they were streaky and just a little long, i think—all my own fault). well, i was about to stitch them in, but when push came to shove, i decided that i really should just bite the bullet and reknit them to be perfect.

i couldn’t live with barb’s disapproval—i’m just not strong enough to withstand her looking askance at my streaky sleeves, knowing all the time that she would have reknit them, “but that’s just her”.

they actually go really fast—i started one very late on friday night and got the cuff done before bed, then knit on and off all day yesterday in between cooking, exercising, and some computer work. i managed to finished it well before the evening was over and started knit the second cuff last night.

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so yeah, now i have four sleeves—or i will by tonight. this is what being a designer is—harassed by one’s own perfectionist streak. i can’t just can’t let things go in my own work, though i’m completely blind to and forgiving of almost anything anyone else does.

if i can get the knitting all done before i go away tomorrow, i will be a very happy camper. i can block the sleeves and seam it up when i get home next week, hopefully in time to take some photos.

yup, i’m heading out at the crack of dawn for NYC; i’m so excited! i’ve been gathering my stuff throughout today and i realized that it’s been a very long time since i went away on a trip unrelated to work. WOW does that cut down on the stuff i have to take! all i really need are running clothes, sweatpants, a pair of jeans, and a few tops i think. well, yeah—socks and underwear but honestly, much, much less than i usually travel with.

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i think i’m putting more work and thought into which knitting i’ll take. even that feels simplified with two sweater projects at the top of the list, what else would i really need?

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(this skein of gray chebris lace is not going; it’s just there to catch the triticum vibe, to see if they really love each other as much as i think they will. gray chebris coming soon to our online shop).

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i’ll have plenty to do on my orange cardigan—i’ve decided to call this design “the mister’s“. that was actually the working name for what ended up being my ivar sweater, but it got changed. i still like the original name and this design has the same flavor for me—handsome, but a woman can rock it really well.

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i’m nearly done with the left front; that leaves two sleeves and a back to knit, plus the finishing work. these pieces go fast, so i expect to get a lot done this coming week. i’ll be alternating this project with the remaining pieces of my triticum cardigan.

both of these sweaters need to be done for the maryland sheep and wool show, because the orange one—knit in briar rose joyful—will be featured in chris’s booth and the blue triticum cardigan—knit from spirit trail tayet—will be featured in jen’s booth.

i spent the past week hunkered down at my computer getting the patterns completed and off to the tech editors—now i can knit away and get the samples done.

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oh heck and i’ll probably take this crescent shawl in better breakfast fingering yarn that i’ve been trying to get off the ground for an almost embarrassing length of time.

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i don’t know why it’s taking so long or why my attention keeps getting diverted, but i think i’m actually ready to buckle down on it now.

i am so excited about this trip; i’ve been working nonstop to get ahead on everything so i could clear the decks for a whole week of knitting, running, and inspiration hunting. it’s been a really, REALLY long time since i turned my focus that way which is just wrong for a designer. i need to get out and see things dagnabbit. so me and my camera are heading off to see art, design, and botanicals.

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fortunately, four of the most beautiful things i’m going to see are nancy, cathy, agnes, and donna—i can’t WAIT to hug them tight and laugh with them.

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the only bad thing about this trip is that david decided not to go. but i promise i will have fun enough for both of us! next time i see you will be from the big city, hopefully with a green blade of grass or two.

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well, look at that—a flower after all.

8 thoughts on “a sweater with four sleeves

  1. Thanks for the photos in Bronco colors haha! There is a chasm in knitting speed between us–two sleeves–two days–really? Try at least two weeks in my case! Have a great time in NYC!

  2. Brrr….but the windows sure look pretty. Enjoy your holiday week and come back refreshed!

  3. Love that little flower, a sign of life! We’ve been a bit warmer here overall, but then I did wake up to snow yesterday which was most unwelcome! Luckily most of it has melted off today. Come on spring!

  4. We can’t wait either!! Safe travels, dear Anne. (hmmmm, which Knitspot shawl to wear to dinner? and can I rustle up a little green grass for a special visitor?)

  5. Have a great trip! It’s not spring in Cleveland or Canton until we have snow on top of crocuses, right? (sjn821 on Rav)

  6. Have a great time Anne. You know…..you would have redone the sleeve regardless of what I thought….we’re too much alike that way. Haha
    Safe travels.

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