we are at the end of a very overcast and drizzly week here—not cold, but a dreary harbinger that the gray season is fast approaching. suddenly, it’s fall and i’m looking at the back side of september.
the weather today is a little brighter (but also colder); the sky was actually blue for a while and the september light set everything aglow during the morning. i took the opportunity to go exploring in the garden and actually found plenty of pretty things to share, which i’ll put together for tomorrow’s post (it’s supposed to rain, so that might brighten up my day).
now it’s clouding over again; i was hoping it would stay nice into the afternoon because we need to get a photo shoot in—i’ve got several patterns waiting for cover photos. i guess we could do it indoors . . .
a few days back i showed you the start of a little neckwarmer i was knitting in fearless fibers cashmere sport, which i finished on wednesday
i put it on to soak that evening and it’s been drying ever since (cashmere takes forever to dry)—it’s even still a little damp this morning. but dry enough to drape on the dress form
this is colorway anne—omg, i wish you could feel how incredibly soft and buttery the yarn is. i love how the colors drift in a spiral around it like smoke—i think that enhances the soft cashmere halo rising off the surface of the fabric. here’s a shot that gives you a better idea of what the stitch patterns look like opened up
and just in case you think this yarn is too decadent a purchase?? i used just half a skein (about 100 yards, maybe less) for this one neckwarmer—i’m going to knit a second one from the remainder in a slightly-smaller size (for me). it’s economical timewise, too—this piece took about three hours of knitting time; about the same or less than it would take me to shop for a gift (well, that’s me—i’m terrible at shopping)
i might even knit one in a solid color as well, just to see how it looks—maybe in the mink yarn . . . or maybe that yarn deserves it’s own pattern.
i’ve been doing a TON of swatching over the last few days for another project that i can’t talk about (you’re gonna get tired of me and my secretive ways!). so in a way, i’ve been extremely productive, but on the other hand, i’ve got nothing to show for it.
last night i rode my bike over to beckie’s house (jeez, that makes us sound like we’re 8 years old) to knit—we’re sort-of doing a weekly thursday night knitting/coffee thing and it’s working out great. she’s making a top-down raglan cardigan from the same briar rose yarn i showed you the other day (same colorway, even; i copied her). i totally meant to take a picture of it and then i forgot, ack.
i worked on these socks in another new favorite—skye sock from mackintosh yarns, colorway safari. i just love how this fabric feels—different than the pair i’m knitting in ZYG squooshy; this one is sleeker, but still has really yummy depth. and the color is knitting up so beautifully—just the kind of thing i love, but can’t wear myself.
i did a few rows on the green cardi, but truthfully, not as much as i would have liked—we have a date to meet later this afternoon or evening for a little together time.
mean while, back at the ranch, david is closing in on finishing the back workroom upstairs—the cabinets are nearly done and i think that’s almost the last item on the list (besides cleaning up and getting all those tools outta there).
i love the way the light wood looks with the white plaster—the low-contrast combination just makes the room glow. we’re using a light coat of lime wax on the cabinetry and trim to keep it a soft color. it’s an old scandinavian trick for maximizing light—painted, whitewashed or pickled wood combined with white walls to make the most of watery, gray winter light.
the cabinet has trim now, and sliding doors—it just needs a coat of wax. and the cedar closet needs shelves. i have a whole arsenal of work-related yarns lined up to be organized in there. i can’t wait to get it off the floor and into the cabinets.
while i’m thrilled to move in to all the extra storage, i know that this does not mean i get my workspace back for working yet—once this room is done, we have to move everything from the front room in here to store, while david tears my original workroom apart and fix the horrors that lie beneath. so maybe in another six or nine months i’ll have a finished workspace that i can actually use to knit, spin, and write in again.
we’re getting there . . .
ok, now, i have a sink full of tomatoes (these are just what i picked yesterday) that i have to find space for somewhere; back tomorrow with a photo-post of my fall garden . . .
27 thoughts on “and there goes september”
I really like that neckwarmer! Especially the way the top stands up — no cold necks because of slouching, thank you very much 🙂 The workroom is shaping up, which is always a nice thing. And those tomatoes look delicious!
What a great yarn cabinet! I’d be tempted to do that with one of the kids’ rooms once they move out, but at that point I think we’ll probably downsize and I’ll have less room than I do now! The neckwarmer looks so warm and smooshy. I’d wear that at my desk when it’s cold in the office.
OMG….I LOVE that neckwarmer!!!
Ooh, you’ve definitely got me sold on that neckwarmer,it’s delicious!
Did you come to my house and take pictures of all my tubs of stash? I am not kidding – that is exactly how I store my yarn. Unfortunately, I do not have a beautiful yarn cabinet on the horizon. Now I understand why we haven’t seen the completed Simple shoes!!
Seeing the amount of yarn you have made me feel better about my stash. I showed the photo to my husband and he said there is a very slight chance you actually have more yarn than I do. Very, very slight. But I added that you might have more, since this is only the work-related yarn. You do have more, don’t you 🙂 ?
Love the new neckwarmer! Can’t wait for the pattern 🙂
I just had to come out of lurkdom (though reading ever post) and commentabout how absolutely stunning the new neckwarmer is…definitely a great pairing of yarn and pattern.
The neckwarmer pattern is simply perfect in the Anne yarn. Love the stitch pattern.
Your work room will be awesome. Go, David! Whatta guy.
Well, now I know what the 3 SIL’s and MIL are getting for Christmas.
I just ordered 2 skeins of that fabulous cashmere — can’t wait for the pattern to be available!!!
Thank you for a beautiful site to come to (from the beautiful hand-knits, fiber drool and veggies). It is a treat to get a small glimpse into your full (and blessed) life.
I love that you called that beautiful pile of stash “work related yarn” which totally means there is another beautiful pile of stash that has nothing to do with work…..and you didn’t even flinch when you wrote it, did you??
Yeah house stuff… we currently have two couches in our kitchen so the living room floor can be sanded and refinished…it’s also a very small kitchen lol.
Love the neck warmer and it’s just the thing for me to knit for my aunt back in Scotland. Living here in Australia we’re just coming into spring and things are just beginning to warm up.(Dust storms included for free this year).
Just wanted to tell you much I enjoy reading your blog. Always excited to sit down and spend some time hearing about your projects. Thanks so much!
The colors are gorgeous! We had rain for the past 20 days & yesterday was the 1st fine day & I spent 2 hours planting more vegetables (thanks to your gardening inspiration).
Anne
What happened to your “Road to China” stole in that lovely grey colouring?
love the neckwarmer (as always, a fabulous design – ) and I think your new pickled wood cabinets are going to bring you amazing joy in6 months when you get to snuggle in that room with them. (hurray David!!)
But I must admit, that I am totally knocked off my feet by that Skye Sock. It’s positively a show stopper. (am off now to click on the link. I may well have to curb my spending tomorrow at OFFF so that I can buy some of this yarn) 😉
P.S. Is the safari color you show here more true to the accurate one?? I just love the amazing subtle grays – yet the safari one on her page looks much more browns.
I would really love the neck warmer pattern! The sock and the yarn are a perfect match. I like the little review on the yarn, as well!
That si a beautiful neckwarmer!
Love the new cabinet! I’ve been on an organizing kick this week too (no construction involved though) and it feels so good to see all your possibilities lined up.
If you really want to indulge your inner 8-year-old, clothespin a playing card on you bike!
Anne, if I were to comment on everything that you’ve knit and all of your fabulous vegetables and David’s wonderful pictures and all of your projects, I’d be commenting every single day because it’s such a treat to visit and see what you have accomplished each day!!! Let it be known that I love everything about your blog and wish you and David all the best!!!
Ann,I have all my yarn in the same containers!!Love the neckwarmer and hope you will publish a pattern for it soon.It would make great gifts for Xmas and sounds like it knits up fast!
I love the neck warmer. I am on the look out for nice patterns that use little yarn. I seem to be spinning useable yarns now but only small yardages.
Love the cowl. Slugs love beer but beer doesn’t like them. Place a saucer or two near the base of the plants. It does kill them but what a way to go! Wish my freezer looked like that — you’ve been VERY busy! I sure hope your power doesn’t go out. I just moved to Ohio from southern Virginia. Have to find out about growing herbs, flowers, trees, and vegetables here.
That neck warmer looks positively cozy! Love it.
I wish I had that kind of storage space for my yarn. Your David needs to come talk to my Joshua about that. 😉
Wow. That’s a (gulp) whole lotta yarn! By “work yarn”, am I to understand that that’s not actually your stash??
Comments are closed.