where have the last few days gone?
we’ve been having gorgeous fall weather and i think i just sank into it for a bit to knit and enjoy the last days of gardening, putting up produce, and clearing a few small projects off to the pattern stage before the next Big One begins (it starts soon; another top-secret deadline project).
i’ve worked every night for a couple of hours on my briar rose sweater and it’s paying off; i’ve got two fronts and nearly two sleeves done. that leaves just the back
i am SO going to have a rhinebeck sweater.
it may be the only decent article of clothing i have to take on the trip, but i’m confident i can exploit it (i’m lucky i haven’t been arrested yet for wardrobe neglect. no, really).
that is, if it fits; i shouldn’t gloat yet. (“pride goeth . . .” and all that.)
i’m going with the red glass buttons, but i thought i’d lay out the pewter ones just to see. it’s not that i don’t love them; i DO. but i think they pop just a little too much; the metal is too cool for the warm color of the yarn.
on the other hand, if the red ones don’t arrive in time, i can use these temporarily.
how gobsmacked am i that i have a backup set from my button stash?? stuff like this never happens to me.
as a permanent installation, i think they would be lots better on another sweater knit from a natural-gray handspun yarn
in fact, i am loving the cardigan sock so much that i might use that same stitch pattern for an actual cardigan, in that handspun corriedale yarn. sounds cozy to me.
in sock news, i got pretty far on both new socks and i entertained myself with heel designs for a good part of sunday afternoon. i don’t usually indulge in fancy heels, but i thought i’d give it a whirl.
for the cardigan sock, i extended the pattern down the heel in a ‘V’ formation, framed in garter stitch
it’ll require a little attention, and a separate charted stitch pattern, so i’m going to also try out an easier ribbed heel on an alternate sock, and maybe include both in the pattern (not sure about that yet). i’m planning on using kim’s new lambswool/nylon yarn for a second pair, to demonstrate that using a lighter-weight yarn will make a women’s size sock (whereas these red ones are done in the heavier dicentra yarn and are man-sized).
once i got this one past the gusset area, i went to work on the acorn socks for the fearless fibers club, which i am NUTS over (get it?). by friday night the pattern on the leg was well-established
it reminds me of those x-ray shots in the old chipmunk’s cartoons of the tree which is filled chock-a-block with nuts.
by sunday evening i had worked through the heel
not as decorative as the cardigan heel, but i love the last little acorn there. and i think it will look more prominent once it is one my foot and i can get a shot of the back of my heel (always an adventure). i am thinking to take the acorns partway down the foot in the same pattern, and bring just the ribbing to the toe.
so guess what? deb was reading all your enthusiastic comments about the acorn sock and noted (with dismay) the wailing and gnashing of teeth from those who did not get into the sock club on time, and therefore, would not be able to get some of the greed colorway that will accompany the acorn pattern.
and she has dreamed up a wonderful solution. she is going to create a kit including the sock and pattern that she will sell from her etsy shop. the kit will be available in november, but deb will be happy to take pre-orders any time (in fact, that would help her plan ahead so that she’s sure to have plenty for everyone). if you are interested, you can follow this link to her shop and use the contact button in the sidebar to let her know. you can also visit her blog and contact her from there.
i also got the mitts moved from the last rows of fiddling around to the patterning stage. and discovered something cool about them in the process of taking some pictures
whereas most of my mitts have a left and a right, due to the offset thumb and lace panels along the back, this mitt, which has an allover lace pattern, is interchangeable.
i tried to take a picture of it on my right hand, using my left to work the camera, but that was, uh, (snort) not so successful. you’ll just have to take my word for it.
i did however get a nice shot of the palm-side of it, so i will distract you with that.
this pattern will soon be all set to hand over to anne so she can add it to her growing list of lovely kits. i believe it will be available starting october 15th in her shop.
i’m still working out the design for the thistle wrap, and making progress . . . i’m hoping to maybe have something to show for myself tomorrow. to be honest, i’ve been letting that one stew a bit; i got way into overthinking it last week and really worked myself up, so i thought it would be best to let the best parts come to the surface on their own. but now vanessa-the-wonder-knitter has yarn on the way, and nothing to knit (!) in the meantime, so i need to funnel that stewing into an actual plan.
now, i think i’ll go finish my second sleeve, and hang with my honey.
39 thoughts on “a time of heeling”
The pewter buttons will be perfect on the silver/gray handspun sweater! I love the acorn sock, and am heading over to Deb’s shop to preorder now.
You sure had a VERY productive weekend 🙂
I really like how the cardigan is turning out, I’m sure it will look great on you !. Hope the buttons will be there in time. Both socks look great too, and not to forget the mitt 😉
I love the cardigan socks – as a compulsive clog-wearer, I really enjoy a sock with a patterned heel-flap. More feature heels, I say!
Wow, wow, wow…..you are THE most productive girl I know! I LOVE the acorn socks and Anne’s thistle mitt is perfect!
How did I miss the glass buttons? They must have been transparent-hahaha.
I love, love, love the cardigan! Gorgeous color and style. With any or no buttons! But I know how it is; the buttons just have to look and feel right.
Oh, the cardigan is awesome! You aren’t going to offer us a pattern? Come, on! I love the mitts too. They’re so elegant and wintery. The pewter buttons are perfect for the natural yarn. My husband’s last name mean Acorn in German, and the socks that go with his name are going to be MINE!! I love them1 You’ve been a busy girl.
look at all the knit lovelies!!! that cardigan – oh my gosh! it is beautiful! i think you are right – red buttons are the way to go. the pewter will look amazing on the grey yarn…..
love the acorn sock! can’t wait to give it a go!!!!
Smart Deb. SMART smart Deb. Planning ahead is good. 🙂
What a happily productive week you’ve had too! I like em all!
Anne,
You are truly blessed with a wonderful talent. Your work is perfectly lovely.
The Thistle mitts are beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your work with us.
Do you have a suggestion for a men’s sock pattern? I am trying to make a pair of men’s socks using the Opal Tiger sock yarn. The recipient has a small foot and I’ve ruined one skein of the yarn in my first attempt. Any ideas from you would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ANne.
Man, when you step away from lace, you really fall off the deep end!
Give me the acorns and the cardigan and no one gets hurt!
Anne – those acorn socks are the coolest… they remind me of the little guy on the movie Ice Age, as he’s hauling his single acorn over the glacier (ask your neices and nephews….. they’ll corroborate my story….). I think you should shawl-ize that pattern for a nice Fall Shawl…..And while I’m requestin’, when are you gonna make a nice ocean/seashell shawl for spring/summer?????
Everything looks awesome!! I love the cardigan especially…..I lurve red:)
Whew! I get exhausted just reading about all you accomplish. Nice stuff!
The socks and mitts are wonderful, however, I keep scrolling back up to look at your beautiful sweater. The color, the pattern, the buttons… it’s perfect! You’ll certainly turn heads at Rhinebeck.
Yikes – your knitting productivity is intimidating 🙂 I’m loving that sweater, the texture is amazing – I sat there and stared at it for a few minutes to comprehend the whole picture.
What a treat for the eyes. I say “yes” to heel patterns–can’t wait for cardigan, since I have some stash that will work well.
Also love the acorns. Squirrels are gross, but acorns are a lovely arts and crafts motif, and have all kinds of metaphoric vibes. Anne, I know how you feel about squirrels, and I thought of you when I saw this post on cute overload–I couldn’t bear to watch the whole thing, I was laughing and cringing so hard. Warning: weird squirrel content.
http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2007/09/mission-sqwerlp.html
Your sweater is TOO cool! I love how you’ve managed to evoke a complicated cabled pattern without any cabling at all.
covet covet covet covet covet covet…
The mitts, the socks (both designs), the sweater… all look fabulous!
I am amazed at all the design work (not to mention knitting) you have been getting done. It all looks beautiful. Thank you for sharing the process with all of us.
OMG. I *love* the sweater. It is gorgeous! Wish I could go to Rhinebeck. :sulk: Maybe next year. 🙂 Your stuff is all lovely!
Look at you go with all your projects! Hooray for you!
I love the sweater and the color!!! I wish I can knit as fast as you. I am a little biased towards the pewter buttons.
Your sweater is looking wonderful! I’m particularly in love with the color. 🙂 I do have to admit though, I’m somehwat partial to the buttons there, at least, as they appear in the picture.
And, oh, the hand. spun. sigh
Beautiful, everything! I always start my sweaters with the back, the sleeves are last unless I am not sure I have enough yarn.
Whoa! I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when I saw the first sweater… but then I saw the sock, and the next sock, and the next. It’s all stunning!
That sweater design is amazing, just amazing! You are right about the pewter buttons, though — save them for the grey yarn. I can’t wait to see it modeled.
And the socks all look fun. Do your hands ever get sore from too much knitting?
You most definitely will have a beautiful sweater for rhinebeck!! I was thinking as I was reading “I’d so totally knit that!” (red glass buttons for sure) and the red socks stitch pattern would be devine in that gray yarn in an actual cardi(pewter buttons yes).
Smashingly beautiful sweater. You’ll be radiant in it!
The cardigan is stunning! You did however give me a heart attack when I saw the buttons before I had read what you wrote. Sigh of relief, red buttons, thank goodness! All socks are looking great, love the colour of the cardigan sock. Mitts too are looking great, no surprise there. As for the thistle wrap. it is so easy to overthink. Wise decision to leave it alone for a bit. I must say, I am amazed at how much knitting you get done. It inspires me. Please explain Rhinebeck to me. I know it is a gathering of fibre artists but a bit more info would be appreciated.
Woohoo! I’m SO glad you’re making this your Rhinebeck sweater, I cannot wait to see it in person!
I really love that Briar Rose cardigan.
I LOVE the red sweater! That is going to look so fabulous on you. I especially like the button placement (I’m still partial to the pewter buttons, but I see your point, and they will be wonderful with that grey yarn).
The sweater is beautiful! I think the red buttons will be stunning. I hope that they get to you in time.
The acorn socks are too adorable. The squirrels around here might grab them though. They would be one pair that couldn’t be laid out to dry. 😉
i’m so in love with that sweater. *so* in love. it almost makes me wish i lived in suitable sweater weather.
Your sweater looks lovely! The textural aspect of the stitch pattern is very interesting.
Do you ever sleep?
The cardigan is so lovely, the socks delightful, the mitts – I’m so going to get this kit.
Now I have the urgent need to knit and actually produce something 🙂
you are one amazing knittin’ wonder!
great sweater , and the socks are fab too… and the mitt… yeow!
knit on grrl – you’re the best.
I do love the color of the sweater. I really like the pewter buttons, but of course, it is your sweater, so i’m sure the moving mud buttons will be beautiful as well.
The color of the lace mitts are amazing, really evocative of the frost of winter. I may have to have that. Hmm.
Comments are closed.