fall color came on a little later than usual this year. we didn’t see much of a foliage display at rhinebeck and even after we got home, the leaves clung stubbornly to their summer greens—fine with me, since the weather was also miserable and it was not worth a look out the window.
but this past week, they have offered a truly spectacular change and with sunny, warmer days, my very favorite color combinations were painted across the sky. i just adore that vivid contrast of orangey gold against a sky so blue, it appears almost purple. it makes my heart beat fast just thinking of crisp air and sun, cozy knitted sweaters, and cable-y goodness.
perfect then, that my current projects are all-fall, all the time. my secret projects are so huggably soft and squishy and full of fall fun, that it’s a daily battle to keep them to myself. thank goodness i have this twill and cable cardigan on the needles to share.
the current project is the cardigan version of that twill pullover i knit back at the end of the summer (above), in kent DK color mussel shell.
while the pullover is man-sized, this prototype is my size—and not just because i coveted one for myself, but also so that i could make sure that the cables would fit and look right on a smaller canvas. i think they look fine, but they won’t fit on a size smaller than this, especially where they converge at the shoulder.
i finished the left front last night and started the right front this morning; between my morning class and watching the shop while erica had a day off, i’ve completed about six or seven inches. i love my fingering weight sweaters to pieces, but it’s always fun to knit one in a heavier weight because it goes so fast. plus, i don’t own a sweater in kent and i’ve always wanted one; this one will not become a shop sample, haha.
i’m knitting the cardigan in the same kent yarn, but this time using the driftwood shade. oh, the lusciousness. as you can see from the photos, this color has a wonderful mix of gray and brown romney fiber and the underlying white merino really allows the glossiness of the longwool to highlight the cables. it’s soft and squishy and delicious, sigh. i think this will be vary quick knit . . .
well, actually it has to be; we need this sample for the fall/winter ensemble, which we will be photographing at the end of the month. no problem; i am in a “making” mood since i got home—a symptom of fall nesting or cocooning or whatever we want to call it.
i know most people have put their gardens to bed for the year, but i just can’t do it yet—ours is still producing so much abundance—even the zinnias are still flowering. and anyway, let’s be honest—that’s a job that david will probably do, so it’s up to him to decide when.
but i think he agrees that as long as we are picking stuff, those parts of the garden stay. the fall garden certainly looks a lot different than the summer garden did, but is no less beautiful or productive.
it’s true that our okra grove has finally dropped most of its leaves and stopped producing pods—really, just in time since they were getting so tall that i could barely reach high enough to pull the tops down to get at the okra, haha. i think they stand about seven feet tall right now. i’m wondering if they will dry and harden enough over the winter to use for a pea fence next spring (or support some other vining plant) or do they get mushy and weak when they freeze? they are certainly spaced evenly enough that with little string or light fencing material, they’d be a very pretty support. i’ll have to consult with mister knitspot.
our greens are nothing short of astounding—the chard is as beautiful this week as it’s ever been and so prolific.
all the asian greens i experimented with are also producing beautiful, crisp leaves and stems; if only i could keep up with them enough to pick them at their peak and use them in every meal. sadly, i don’t have time to cook every day (oh, how i wish!), nor am i cooking for a large dormitory of lumberjacks, so we just can’t seem to make a dent, haha. but i do make an effort to use them often.
and the black kale is just loaded with leaves, ready every day of the week to be part of our supper. i’ve made several batches of soups and things, but i’ve yet to make kale chips with it. i’ve got that on my list, for whenever i have some free time this week. i’ve heard that this type of kale (lacinato or cavalo nero or black kale) is the best for chips. i know i love it best and i don’t grow other types any more because i favor this one for the types of dishes i cook.
we also still have loads of great sweet peppers; i’m kind of playing weather chicken with them this week because i want them to turn the maximum redness and sweetness, but also because once i pick them, they will need a spot in the fridge.
same with the eggplant, which are still flowering for heaven’s sake. and while the fruits are smaller at this time of year, they are for the most part, still very beautiful, though even more susceptible to the effects of frost. i know i should pick the more delicate vegetables this weekend; today it was 34 degrees when i woke up and bret’s roof was covered in frost. but our garden is rather protected and everything out there was fine. still, the day is coming . . . and soon, i know. it is, after all, november. sigh, i can’t complain; we’ve been incredibly lucky this year.
i mean, i am still cooking heavily with ingredients that i picked within hours of preparation; it doesn’t get better than that.
and for sure the greens will last a while, even after the frost. the kale will actually be even better and the chard—well, we were still picking fresh chard in january this past year, so i’m hopeful we’ll be as lucky this year. hard to tell with the winter predictions being so dire, but maybe we will even experiment with covering them or putting up some sort of hoop house.
oh man, let’s get back to a warmer subject, haha!
i had a chance or two to wear my dock and cabin cardigan at rhinebeck, having attached the buttons late on the night before we travelled. and i love the way it feels; it will be even better once it’s broken in.
but for now i’m keeping it as pristine as possible til after the ensemble photo shoot. this weekend i’m working on getting the pattern out to the tech editor for sizing.
but my friend nancy planted a seed—well, actually, she out and out told me—that this cardigan fabric would be perfect for a blanket design as soon as i had the time to write one. and as soon as i read her comment, i knew she was right—we do need a blanket in this fabric; i love this idea. only in stone soup DK weight, softer and squishier to knit on bigger needles.
yes, like this, yum. i knit these swatches in river rock (front) and slate (back) right around the time we went to the michigan fiber show, so they are all set; i just need to put a pattern together and figure out how to get a sample knit. maybe my next project? it’s been ages since i knit a blanket but i suddenly have a desire to do one and maybe that would be a good project to travel with over thanksgiving. if anyone else wants to test or sample knit this one, let me know; that will give me a goal for getting the pattern ready.
i think the twill and cable fabric would make a great blanket, too . . . just saying’.
i missed buying a copy of nora gaughan’s new knitted cable sourcebook at rhinebeck, so when i got home i ordered a copy. wow—this arrived right at the perfect time of year, just when my attraction to cabled fabrics is at its strongest. there are some wonderful new stitch patterns and panels in this book—look for some of them soon in my knitting.
i was sent a review copy of this adorable picture book—a hat for mrs goldman—from Random House Children’s Books and i want to share it now because some of you may have a young knitter in your life who will appreciate receiving a copy.
it’s a wonderful illustrated story book about the bonds that form when a child learns to knit from someone they love. i won’t show you lots of pages as i usually do, because it would give away the story in this case, but it’s very nicely done. i’ll be sharing my copy with my nephew amad, who is learning to knit now; he reads well above the age level for this book, but i think he’ll enjoy reading it to micah.
and lucky for us, sterling has offered a giveaway copy of a hat for mrs. goldman to our readers! if you’d like to win a copy, leave a comment at the end of this post telling me who taught you how to knit. i will close comments on tuesday night at 9 pm EST—a little gift for getting all of us through election day without killing someone, haha.
and with that, i think the sun has set on this post; see you again soon!
91 thoughts on “golden cozies”
I taught myself how to knit. My grandmother and mother taught me how to crochet in girl scouts. I wish I had time to sample knit a blanket for you. Alas, it’s not to be so. Happy fall designing and creating! (PS I hope to share the book with my 4 year old daughter, who talks of learning to knit.)
I taught myself to knit with the help of a friend I could call when I got in a tangle. I started with making rectangles that I sewed together to make boatneck sweaters for my little boys. I am now teaching my 6 year old grand daughter to knit.
My 5yo daughter just expressed interest in knitting the other day – maybe reading this book would encourage her!
60 years ago when I was too poor to buy anything, a good friend gave me a basket of yarn, a Workbasket booklet and I made my mom an afghan for Xmas.!! That kind friend opened the yarn world for me.
I’m so excited about the new sweater and have been looking forward to knitting it for months. Its texture reminds me of one of my favorite tweed patterns. And so glad you’re back to blogging; I was worried for a while.
My grandmother tried to teach me how to knit when I was a child but I couldn’t grasp that a right hander could teach a keft hander to do it. I ended up teaching myself as an adult. Naturally, I knit right handed. I did end up knitting my grandmother a sweater, so it all worked out.
A neighbor taught all the girls on my street to knit when we were 10-14 years old. She was a Holocaust survivor and had been taught to knit by her mother who did not survive. Keeping memories alive and the communal nature of knitting is what has always made it so special and important to me.
My grandmother taught me and my sister, and 4 cousins to knit one summer while she was babysitting all 10 of us. We quietly knit together while the little ones were napping in the afternoon. It may have been to keep us quiet so we didn’t wake anyone, or just so she was able to get a couple of hours in each day. She was an amazing woman and her home was always a hub of activity.
I stumbled into a yarn shop soon after my daughter, now 35, was born, looking for a creative outlet and some socialization. A lovely English woman was offering knitting lessons, and I immediately signed up. She also made English shortbread, which she served with tea during our lessons. That hour each week provided me with some much-needed sanity and company among kind and caring souls.
So looking forward to the new ensemble!
My mom taught me the basic backward loop cast on and knit stitch when I was about 6. I kind of stuck with crochet though until I got pregnant with my first and accidentally (in my pregnancy fog) bought a knit baby pattern book. Instead of taking it back I went back for knitting needles, and kind of taught myself everything else after that. And now, I’m homeschooling my youngest and teaching her how to knit as part of her schoolwork!
I could probably knit a small sized sample blanket if you needed one… depending on how fast you needed it!
My mom taught me to knit over Christmas vacation. Now I supply her with knit socks as thank you.
My mom taught me and my sisters to knit when we were kids. I went back to it in my 20s then left it for a while, then knit a disaster us sweater in my 30s and dropped it again until I recommitted for good in my 50s. My nephews learned very young in their Waldorf classroom. The book looks lovely. Thanks for sharing it.
I taught myself to knit. I wish I’d had someone in my life. Alas … But I’m teaching my daughter and it’s so wonderful.
My mom taught me to knit when I was little, but I never made anything or knit on a regular basis. Then for some reason I woke up in my 40’s and decided I wanted to knit, so I took a class at a LYS. And now I’m obsessed!
A retired lady used to come in to the Bank to help with statements. Yes by hand. Along time ago. She would knit at lunch. I wanted to learn as did some of my friends. May taught us with hand typed homework to learn the knit,purl stitches, yarn overs , increases and decreases.
She passed on to us an art that I am so glad to be trying.
My granddaughter has interest in learning. We will start our lessons together soon. She loves books and reading.
I taught myself to knit. But I thoroughly enjoyed teaching my niece and now I have a little granddaughter who is eager to learn. I would love to share the book with her.
I’m teaching my 7-year old granddaughter to knit – she completed a hat and added her own stitches to one that I was knitting for her. Her 5-year old brother is knitting with a loom and will graduate to needles soon. The three of us would love reading this book together!
My mother and her mother taught me to knit one summer when we were staying with my grandmother for a visit…I was probably 11 or 12. I knit all through college (colorwork ponchos were the rage then) and I still have the (acrylic) aran afghan I worked on in my giant lecture classes. Cables and popcorns were easy since I didn’t know they were supposed to be hard, but I only learned to do sock and lace knitting in the last 10 years.
I was taught to knit by my mom’s best friend. She and my mom both knit, so I had both ladies to help with any issues I had as I learned. What fun.
My mother taught me to knit when I was 7. I had been trying to learn since I was 4 (yes, I remember this). The day it clicked, I was across the street at Mrs. Alexander’s. So my mom insists it was Mrs. Alexander who taught me, but I insist that my mom gets credit for the 3 years leading up to that day and clearly did all the heavy lifting.
I taught myself to knit, but then found a wonderful mentor that helped me gain confidence. Thanks for the chance to win.
A friend taught me to knit when I spent my junior year abroad in England but I have bonded with my aunt over knitting. We volunteer together at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and whenever I visit her, we go on a yarn crawl. This past May we took a knitting cruise together to Norway, the Shetland Islands and Scotland. She has become one of my best friends.
I first knit a swatch in Girl Scouts about age ten. Fast forward 20 years or so when I attempted a sweater without swatching – it turned out very odd. Then I got the urge again 15 years after that when I noticed my sister knitting for her kids-to-be. I started a sock, then a local friend held my hand through that learning process. Now my sister and I bond over knitting quite often.
My mother and my grandmother taught me to knit and crochet when I was about 7. What a gift from them.
I would love to have the book for my granddaughter- who I taught to knit!
All of the squishy cabled fabric and beautiful textures just sing to me! I am green looking at the beautiful produce from your garden. Mr. Knitspot sounds as if he knows a lot about gardening.
My friend Nicole inspired me to knit but I did not learn from her. I took classes from a LYS but I can no longer remember the name of my first knitting teacher.
Oh how I missed seeing your garden this year. . . maybe next year. And I hope to get a chance to visit the boutique before the year ends.
My mom always told people she taught me to knit and I never had the heart to tell her I taught myself. I’ve taught my daughter and hope to teach my granddaughter. Thanks for the chance to win the book.
My beloved grandmother taught me to knit!
My mom taught me to crochet when I was 6 yrs old. She didn’t knit. After she died in 2005 I needed something to help me heal, and get me out of the house and my head, so I signed up for a 3 semester knitting class at the adult education center. Best thing I ever did, craftwise! I learned from the very basic level through advanced. I’ve never been afraid to try anything in knitting, I think because I started with such a good foundation.
I tought myself how to knit in my 20s with lots of help from books and the internet. I’m now teaching my 4 year old daughter to knit with a loom and she loves it!
I love these stories as well as the picture book. My Grandmother taught me to knit when I was about 10. We would knit for awhile at her house and then I’d ride my bike home about 12 blocks away. When I hit a snag which was often, I’d hop on my bike and ride back to her. If I think about her while I’m knitting, I can smell her Estee Lauder perfume.
My grandmother taught me to knit; I had a ‘refresher’ about 15 years later from an instructor at the local community college. Been going strong ever since.
I was taught to knit by an 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Timko, during an after school hobbies program. I recently taught my grandson, and he slept with the little swatch he made. 🙂 I would love this book for him and his younger twin sisters!
Well, my Girl Scout leader taught me the stitch. But, friendships forged at my local knit groups and knitting guild taught me why we knit.
I taught myself to knit, but I have a snoozy toddler in my lap that I’m looking forward to teaching.
When I was 8 my mother gave me a skein of Red Heart and some knitting needles, and showed me how to knit garter stitch. She showed me how to cast on, and then how to knit. I started my “scarf” with 10 stitches, and every couple of rows I ended up with one less stitch, and a hole in the row below. 30 years later I had my daughter, and when she was 8 I showed her how to knit. I gave her some thick alpaca with pretty puffs in it, and some 13 needles. She was a lot better at it than I was at her age, and finished a scarf that she gave to me. I treasured it, and wore it a lot. This book looks so sweet and cute. I’d love a chance to get it.
My mother taught me to knit. She showed me the basics and gave me a pattern for two needle mittens, a giant skein of RedHeart, and I knit mittens from Ohio to California and back again in the summer of 1961. I was 14. Since I was in the third seat of the nine passenger station wagon, and she was in the front (I was the only one who didnt get carsick), she couldn’t really help me. This forced me to figure out everything myself. By the time the trip was over, I had mastered cables and stripes, and I had enough mittens for everyone I knew to get a pair for Christmas. After that, I tried a sweater and figured out blocking, and then started designing my own. I remember all those early efforts as perfect; I am sure they weren’t.
When I have been lucky enough to have a lot of red peppers, which might be my favorite vegetable, I have roasted them enmass on the Weber, cut them into strips and frozen then. Of course they lose their crunch, but great for anything that needs cooked peppers, or marinated in a bit of olive oil, and the smokey taste is a little reminder of summer in deep midwinter
Oh, and did I forget to mention, I would love the book, and so would my 9 year old granddaughter
Mrs. Thoms, 4th grade after school class for a small number of girls. Somewhere I even have the lovely avocado green block I made that was my very first knitting. I guess I should find it and make sure my knitting has improved. LOL
A wonderful nurse I worked with many, many years ago taught me how to knit using 2 sharpened #2 pencils and a small ball of yarn left by a patient who had just discharged home post surgery. (That was at a time when people actually did their recovery in the hospital)- oh so long ago.
On 1 weekend I learned the knit stitch, then next weekend the purl and away I went. She would rip out my swatches while I was doing patient care. Oh, the horrors, but it was great practice.
Shortly there after, a co-worker asked me if I could knit a Raggady Ann & Andy doll (quite popular back then) for a grandchild. Being naive, I said of course. Found the pattern, knit the dolls, and removable clothing and proudly presented them to my co-worker, who loved them.
That’s what happens when one doesn’t really know to say No. I learned a lot and have knitted many things since. Now loving knitting sweaters, socks along with helping new knitters learn this wonderful way of putting needle to yarn.
This is a wonder book idea, Thanks for a chance to win.
My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 9. I’m 55 now and I still remember the feeling of snuggling up next to her to learn. My mother tried to teach me to knit countless times over the years but I was never quite able to get it. I got laid off work in 2009 for just a couple of months (they called me back thankfully), but during that time off I decided I was going to learn to knit by gum! Have barely put down the needles since. I was so excited to show my mother the first hat I made. I felt like a little kid all over again excitedly waiting for my mother’s approval. She was so happy for me. Thanks for the chance to win!
What sweet stories in the comments about learning to knit! I have a 6 year old great niece who is interested; I’d love the book to share with her.
Love the trees-against-the-sky photos! The coming blanket promises to be very good indeed!
My mother taught me how to knit when I was 10. She showed me the regular method first, and then the continental method. Afterwards, she regretted teaching me the continental method because she thought it wasn’t authentic – it wasn’t the way her mother knitted. But I refused to go back to the slower method, and still knit continental to this day!
This would be a wonderful book to read to my Grandson, who is very interested in my knitting. I have only been knitting for 8 years, and my church ladies taught me. Two of my knitting teachers have passed away in this time period, and I think of them often while knitting. My church knitting group still meets every Thursday and it is a very wonderful group of women, ages 47 to 85! I have become the knitting go to when they need a pattern, needles or have a problem…and they all have been knitting for many many more years than I. Each person in my knitting group has somehow taught me something! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!!
I learned to knit from a local knitting store. OWuld love to pass that on to my grand nephew now.
My Grandmother (Iva, Mom’s Mom) taught me to knit. It’s amazing how that learning lingered for years and then when I became interested again probably 35 years or more later, I still remembered how. I would love to have the book for future grand children.
My mother taught me the basics of knitting when I was very young. She also taught me Ukrainian Embroidery, how to make Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs) and other crafts and artforms (as I consider all handwork to be a form of art). I passed on my love of these to my 4 children who continue to practice them and expand on their love of handwork. Now I have a granddaughter who will be turning 1 year old this month and we are expecting a grandson in March. I’m anxiously awaiting the time when they are old enough to love and learn these from me and other members of our extended family. This is a wonderful giveaway for anyone with a love of anything creative.
I was lucky enough to come from a family of crafters. My great-grandmother taught me to crochet and because of this I finished a granny square afghan edged in white – not the typical black – by the time I was 10. My maternal grandmother taught me to do embroidery and crewel work as well as a number of other crafts. My mother taught me to sew and I began with doll clothes and worked my way up to a beautiful white suit for Easter. It was my paternal grandmother who taught me to knit. I remember my first project – a garter stitch scarf in a squeaky, blue acrylic yarn. Now I have 4 granddaughters – the oldest is 4. She has shown a huge interest in my knitting and can’t wait for me to teach her. I think she needs to be a bit older as her attention span is teeny tiny. I can barely wait!
Both of my grandmothers tried multiple times to teach me to knit when I was a kid: both of them were right-handed (I’m left-handed), which I know has nothing to do with anything.
The real problem is that Grandmom was a picker and Mimi was a thrower.
Confusion!
I learned *just* enough to fake knitting on stage, so I had a lumpy wodge of pink acrylic on mismatched size 6 straights that was in … five? six? plays during high school and college.
Many years later, in 2007, I found myself in Chicago for an extended period of time for work. The people I was living with had barely known me when they offered to let me live indefinitely in the guest room of their cozy house. We hunkered down for winter, and I’d sit next to them on the sofa, all of us in PJs under blankets, and watch the two of them knit.
After a couple of months, I said, “hey, I think that makes sense.”
My friend e. plopped her knitting into my hands, and off I went, and I haven’t stopped since.
So I learned via osmosis.
I was in 3rd grad when my great aunt Hilda showed me how to knit. For Christmas that year I knit 5 scarves for my younger cousins who just moved north from Mississippi.
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