the knitting piles up

it feels like a decade since i wrote a post—and boy, did i miss it. it’s amazing how over the last few months i’ve come to enjoy this writing and picture-taking, to the extent that a day (ok, or four), feels empty without it.

just one thing before i start—thank you to everyone who wrote to say they will support wendy’s heifer fundraiser—this is a seriously great cause which offers lots of options both for givers and receivers, and i am proud to help out by sheparding some generous knitters over there!

so let’s get right into the knitting content, shall we? i actually do have a LOT of knitting . . . i’ve managed to squeeze quite a bit into the little time i have these days for it (though admittedly, neglecting my blog in the process).

the waterfallSox are heading into the homestretch—i got past the heel on the second sock yesterday in class. so of course in my mind, they are “nearly done” (ha!).

i think i’ll keep these on my desk for the next few days so i can add the odd row now and they while i wait for files to load, etc. they just might get finished that way. the Briar Rose yarn is knitting up just beautifully—and gets a lot of attention wherever i pull them out (tuesday we went to the doctor, and they sparked an interesting chat with another patient, a non-knitter, in the waiting room . . .).

i also restarted that little pair of lacy sox from the j. knits yarn that i had started last week and did not like the texture of

i went down one needle size and now they are coming along perfectly—just what i wanted. after i got going with them, i came across the baudelaire pattern (by cookie) from the summer issue of knitty, and realized i was reinventing the wheel more-or-less.
they are not exactly the same, but really close. you know, i should read knitty more often . . . but i like these—i like the little eyelet that wends its way up the middle (it will appear at the sides as well, once i get to the cuffs.

i thought i had only one hank of this yarn and that these sox would have to be short, and technically, i do, but then in class last night debbie said that she found a whole other hank of it at her house, and i think maybe a pair of kneesox is in the making—something warm, but “fancy”.
so, today i am very satisfied with these.

last monday, i brought home a project from the shop (i know—like i need another one, right?). a customer brought in a shell which she knitted and wanted finished. from time to time i do this—take home finishing work. i like finishing work—there, i said it. sad, but true.

of course, i like it better when the yarn is nice and the knitting is well-done, but that’s all i’m going to say about THAT.

so, the other day i took the thing out of the bag, and got to work. it turned out i had quite a few corrections to make on it but, finally, i got the shoulders together and knit the neck trim. then i pinned it out to size and sprayed it with water—it can’t be steamed or pressed.
and so, here it lies, waiting further ministrations.

it just needs side seams and armbands now, and then it’s done. yup, i still like finishing work (it’s the thrill of the challenge, y’know?).

but the real star of the show today is the obstacles shawl, in Fearless Fibers DK cashmere that i’m making for david.

OK—everybody, all together now—MMMMmmmm—ooohhhh—aaaahh.
yup—it’s that good. really. sigh.

i attempted to get some pictures that better represented the colors of it, as there seemed to be some concerned that it leaned too far toeard “pink” to be manly enough for some guys.
now, david is not at all put off by “pink”. i doubt his masculinity is threatened by much, actually. and hey, it’s cashmere.
once you start touching it, it could be puce for heavens sake.
so, anyway, here is a second shot showing some deeper color (the reds photograph very differently in different light, even though they look much same in different light . . .)

it’s over three feet long and i’ve been able to add several inches to it at least, every night. i highly recommend knitting cashmere to soothe a tired soul at the end of the day. and check this out—i had to order som extra yarn, which deb had to dye for me, and when i got it, i can’t tell it apart from the original yarn. AT ALL. and i’m really good at distinguishing color dfferences, even the most subtle ones.
chalk another one up for deb—she’s a dye genius.

and to celebrate, because, after all, i am almost done with those waterfallSox (ahem), i’m gonna start another pair with her merino sock superwash, in the smoke colorway.

i put aside that handspun green/brown yarn to think—nothing good was coming of it and i was shredding the yarn trying, so, these will be the new ones instead. i am LONG overdue to try her sock yarn (and hang my head in shame that i haven’t).

and lastly, here’s a sneak peek at the red sweater,

which you have to go here to see in full view. but then, it’s always worth a trip to the RSKAL.