if we were an olympic event . . .

we’d totally rock that synchronized swimming thang.
yep, it was swatch B all the way for me too—and as the results came in from the other day’s post, i couldn’t help but smile at how well you know me by now.

so yesterday, having accomplished many things this weekend, i rewarded myself by casting on the first front piece of the blümchen cardigan in briar rose sea pearl. i like to start with one of the narrower pieces and use it as my final, final swatch. in classes, i recommend starting with a sleeve because it’s simple and grows quickly.

for my work, i use a front because it’s nearly as narrow, but has all the shaping and sizing elements i need to test out in order to write the pattern. once i have a complete front, i can start working in earnest on the draft pattern, so it can be finalized as soon as i block my finished pieces. it’s a way of staying a step ahead (production is all about being efficient).

now, i just want you to know that i did not start this sweater in complete disregard of my other goals—not at all. i used it as a carrot to energize some slow-moving projects, with the result that my almost ovals scarf

came off the needles the other night. look at that—and it’s not even blocked yet! if everything cooperates; i should be doing that later today.
isn’t that sweet georgia cashSilk lace just gorgeous in colorway riptide?

better yet, the pattern is all written up and ready to go; i just need to add the final measurements and get some nice photos. we should be all set to release it on friday.

and not only did i finish up the scarf, but i got started on several secret (AKA, club) projects AND i met another goal i promised myself

i finished the second front of my rene cardigan and added it to the pile of completed pieces. i even cast on right away for the back piece and knit a couple repeats of the pattern. i don’t know if i’ll finish this back before i leave for london next tuesday, but i can try . . .

i’ve started organizing my travel knitting, too—no small feat. i have a heap of small, portable projects to bring and a couple larger ones. but i want to keep it to a minimum—i’ll be moving around quite a bit and i’m going to try traveling with just one suitcase plus a backpack/knitting bag. so i have to be realistic

but i’m finding it hard, heh.
for now, i’m just setting the projects i’m considering in this spot; i’ll sort them into a final selection next weekend, depending on how far along i’ve gotten on them during this week.

(ok, since everyone always asks—my project bags are tailored by michele in maine, whose work and attention to detail is top-notch in my book, not to mention her humorous taste in fabric. you can browse and purchase her lovely selection in her etsy shop, three bags full)

there are definitely a few i must take along and finish while i’m traveling. and i’ll need a decoy project or two to knit in mixed company (i.e., knitters who shouldn’t see the secret projects), which will be a lot of the time. so careful planning is in order.

luckily, a lot of what i need to work on is small and should travel well.

since it’s right out in the open and therefore, not secret, i bet you’re wondering what that orange yarn is, right? that would be two skeins of slackford studio pathway sport in colorway roast carrots, which you might remember was what i used to knit the fallberry mitts that appeared in the january issue of knitty.

and i’ve been swatching with it once again. i love this yarn—it’s an 8-ply merino sport with a nice bouncy twist that isn’t snaggy or splittly. the multiple plies make it a hard-wearing merino with beautiful depth and stitch definition.

since the mitts are a pretty popular item, susan and i thought it would be fun to put together a pattern for the knitspot shop that includes the mitts along with a couple of matching accessories to release in september, just when the weather is beginning to turn. so i’ll be knitting a scarf and hat over the summer to go with my mitts for our first fall release. and our dear agnes will do a test/sample knit in an alternate colorway of the same yarn.

susan will have plenty of the yarn available; i’m not sure of exact quantities needed yet (since i haven’t started knitting), but three skeins would be safe for all pieces and two would definitely make at least two of the pieces.

i worked on one other project yesterday, completely unrelated to knitting. we were invited to a 4th of july gathering at my friend debby’s house as we are each year and she requested a lemon meringue pie—which is completely flattering because debby is a champion pie baker herself.

knowing all too well my mixed success with this pie lately, i got up very early yesterday to get started

the piecrust and filling went very well—i went back to my old recipe, which never failed me in the past (i don’t know why i ever tried anything else).

i was worried about the meringue because the weather has been so hot and humid, but once again, that turned out lovely.

glossy and moist with pillowy, marshmallow-ey mounds and peaks.
(hee-hee, who knew meringue could be so sexy??)

it really turned out nicely; i wish i could have served it right away, because out of the oven it looked like a photo in a cookbook

even after it cooled in the fridge all afternoon it looked beautiful.
on the way to the picnic, it did lose a little of its poof, but debby enjoyed it fully, i think, haha. (and susie, if you want a piece? you better get over there for one today . .. just sayin’).

the other thing that happened over the weekend?? squash flowers!
and you know how i love those . . .

our vegetable patch is simply exploding this week—the growth is not to be believed. i have a nice garden post to get you all caught up on that, but i think i’ll save it for next time.

i will give you this though

i’ll be picking my lunch today or tomorrow, mmm-mm. can’t wait.