yesterday i used my extra hour to block my cluranach.
i can’t WAIT to unpin it and wear it.
you might remember i knit a hybrid of the petite and tall sizes (i knit the petite width and added one repeat in length of the thistle leaf chart); my finished measurements are 21.5″W x 80″L.
i know you’ve seen some blocking shots already from the first half, so i’ll just show the join, which i couldn’t do before
this one came out pretty nicely; everything aligned on the first pass and i think the kichener is even. the yarn doesn’t match that well at the end of each side, due to the kettle-dyed variations, but i’m ok with it. you, however, may want to take that into consideration if you are picky about that sort of thing; when you finish your first half, save the ball of yarn you are working with to use at the end of your second half.
i didn’t do that because i thought i’d want my ends to match more than the center, but now i can see that if i did it again i’d work the other way.
here’s a closeup of the edging where it joined; i made an attempt to do the kichener in garter here, and i flubbed it up i think . . .
next time, i’ll try a different way.
so, get this: as i’m blocking my eye kept wandering to this one spot . . about halfway up the second side of the stole. it just kept going there. i didn’t pay much attention because i was busy pinning and listening to a book (jane smiley’s new one; and yes, debby, i am going to read the one you gave me as soon as i finish this!!).
i got done and went away to knit. then i came back. i did this a couple of times (oh c’mon; i know you do that too—come back over and over to stare—like it’s going to come to life or something).
finally around 6pm i got it. take a look . . .
hahaha! there was something there (and no, i am so NOT fixing it).
must’ve been that trickster raven pecking around my head and distracting me one night while i was knitting. or maybe i was knitting while i was tired. hehehe. i might’ve been . . . .
so, now that that’s done, my late-night knitting schedule is cleared for new projects. whoopee.
late-night knitting may sound like fluff, but it’s not. scarves, socks, hats, and wraps are all good projects for that time slot. entertaining but not complicated. established projects in bigger yarn that go pretty fast. that sort of thing.
the raven pieces do not work in that time slot. they will get any day and evening knitting and computer hours i have, but they do not get late-night knitting time. the yarn is too dark and fine, and i have to keep track of too many things. so that’s out.
i’ve been going over the yarn that has traveled to me over the last few months and deciding what to do next. and i figured, well, since it’s sunday and you probably have all day to recover from a gluttonous indulgence in yarn porn, and since i got you warmed up with blocking shots, we could go on a little tour of what’s new in the goodie box.
the next thing i’m going to tackle is—don’t laugh—another bird project. remember the geese idea that we tossed around here a few months back? (i’m so sorry but i seem to have misplaced the email from the person who first brought it up, but it was a great idea and i didn’t forget it!)
hehehe. almost as soon as someone suggested it i put it together with this yarn in my mind and i’ve been saving it as an incentive project.
isn’t judy’s artisan merino/silk DK blend just the perfect thing? mmmm, i wish you were here to touch it . . . it’s de-lish.
i’m going to start swatching tonight in fact—i’ve got my books all earmarked for pattern choices and everything. the end of winter colorway will become a wrap and the copper leaves will be a scarf version.
as for socks, well, i don’t have anything new on the needles right this moment; just finishing up second socks to make pairs of cardigan and acorn ones.
so, kim asked me to design a sock to go with her new lightweight merino sock yarn in this colorway
tupelo honey. i think you can probably guess what this one might feature—kim needs bees to get her through the winter and bees she shall have.
my buddy deb, whose yarn has been featured many times here has tempted me yet again, this time with a worsted weight selection . . .
her mohair/wool blend, a soft, plump yarn with a beautiful sheen which she has stocked right now in a whole bunch of great colorways. this one is inspiration. it promises to knit up beautifully fast, so i’m thinking a scarf and hat set for christmas gift-giving.
i’m talking a three-nights-at-most scarf and a one-night hat. but nice. the key is a fun stitch i think.
ok, now you might want to totally relax yourself and lean back a little; i have something very special to show you.
ready??
handspun luxury fibers from crown mountain farms
anyone who is familiar with their handspun sock hop yarn will know what a treat these are.
here we have a baby camel and silk blend fingering weight yarn.
i’m thinking a soft neck gaitor or smoke ring thingy. high around the top of the neck and shaped at the base to lay flat around the collarbones, with a little draping in between for warmth.
and to go with, how about some mitts in this incredible brown cashmere?
as it happens, i need me some mitts.
i know, you would think i’d have mitts coming out of my ears, right? nope.
i’ve given them all away. and um, i’m the one with perpetually cold hands.
time to fix that situation, before winter advances too far.
lisa milliman, of dicentra designs also contacted me recently; i have a skein of her very fine alpaca laceweight from CMF. when she decided to start using a different base yarn for it, she sent me a skein of the newer yarn, which is a bit heavier and much softer.
it’s simply gorgeous. and where i might have hesitated using that ultra-fine yarn, this one is definitely one i am eager to use. i don’t have anything specific planned for it yet, but i’m projecting that it will be a smaller triangle scarf. maybe.
i have this urge nagging me to make a series of small, fine lace scarves to wear with sweaters—very simple, almost like big swatches. i think it got started when i finished my red sweater and realized i did not have anything to wear under it that really did it justice. they have to be the softest fiber and the finest fabric because i don’t want any bulk.
i don’t have yarn picked out yet, but i’ll keep you updated. making these right now would be dangerous because i’d probably end up giving them all away at christmas (like the mitts last year. i ended up with zero mitts). but i’ll still be keeping my eyes peeled for the right yarn.
as for another lace shawl project, michelle at the sweet sheep wool shoppe and i have been talking since the summer about working together.
in addition to having a shop full of the most incredible yarns (and it’s in canada too!), michelle is a dyer herself.
we talked over several ideas for a project we could do and decided that a shawl with snow motifs would be lovely, and give us a chance to work with nearly-white colorways. this one has beiges and a tinge of brown
and we might experiment with some gray/blue/lavendar tints as well (i hope!). you know, the colors that you see in snow drifts?
the yarn is her super soft merino laceweight; it’s very fine. i’m a huge fan of the square shawl and i’m thinking that this would be awfully, awfully perfect . . . .
she also sent me this cranapple color—how much do i want to drink this?
not, of course represented exactly as it really is—somewhat deeper red and less pink.
whew. i dunno about you, but i’m exhausted. i think we looked at enough today . . we don’t want to go blind or have our fingers fall off, do we?
48 thoughts on “an hour is an hour”
Wow! That much yarn porn, on a Sunday, should be a sin. Makes me wanna roll around in it.
You definitely find ways to keep busy– that’s all I can say. 🙂
Okay…I’m on a fiber diet and after reading this post I seriously need a fiber fix!! I know you can’t wait to unpin and wear cluranach (I hope I spelled that right)…I had to buy the pattern, now I’ll have to find the perfect fiber for spinning.
Anne, You are amazing. How you think of any hour in your life as an “extra” hour, is way beyond my poor imagination.
Now that I’ve picked myself up from an unavoidable yarn swoon, I must tell you that you are *so* bad for my wallet!
The Woolen Rabbit, Fearless Fibers and Crown Mountain Farms temptations all in one post? Evil woman. Super-talented, but e-e-e-vil!
Some serious sensory overload there.
Ok so I don’t see the “error” in the shawl am I blind or is it just that I am not schooled in lacework.?
Such lovely inspiration! That pink cranapple is just gorgeous!!
I’m sorry, I didn’t hear anything after cashmere mitts.
Seriously, wonderful change of seasons in the yarn colors, from autumn leaves, to snowdrifts, to azaleas.
wow. all that fiber. i want to reach out and pet it…too bad ya can’t do that through a computer screen! i loooove the idea of a shawl with snow motifs–probably because i love seeing snow, but from a properly cozy indoor setting!
The error seems to be in the crooked first motif at the right–is that correct?–but I sure can’t figure what what is wrong with the knitting.
Is there any reason why I couldn’t substitute a live cast-on, with the stitches picked up later for knitting the second half of a scarf/stole in the opposite direction, for the grafted version you show here? I really, really hate doing Kitchener stitch. All too often, the stitches don’t come out even, probably because I don’t pay close enough attention while I’m doing it.
Gosh! That was fabulous, I’m spent. Thank you.
You have some really yummy yarns. The blocked stole looks great.
You’re so right, Anne, about not wanting to work too hard…that’s why I think you should delegate some of that yarn fondling and color admiring to, let’s see, me!! (Actually I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with it all.)
I think I’m the one who was egging (goose eggs I guess) you on to a geese shawl. Your timing is great though – the Canadas have stopped moving around much. They have mostly left for the south and west and I miss hearing their calls as they flew over each morning and evening. So – I look forward to thinking of their return as I watch your progress. You are truly inspiring.
Cluranach is GORGEOUS! I’m glad you’re not going to go back and correct the error. Knowing that even you – the knitting idol of so many! – can let a small goof that’s barely noticeable pass without fretting allows the rest of us to forgive our little knitting hiccups.
The yarn is all so beautiful. Posts like these make me want to give up dyeing forever because it takes away too much time that could be spent knitting! You make me want to go on a yarn shopping spree IMMEDIATELY!
Yikes!! I almost feel guilty asking you to create that pattern. That is a huge workload you have facing you.
Beautiful, beautiful fibers!
ANNE ,you are too much – all that yarn , I could totally go out of control – seeing that beautiful fiber must be an inspiration – you are right , don’t worry about the [ won’t say mistake] in your shawl – think of it as your signature – the idea of small shoulder shawls , or scarfs is one I like myself – I wear them everywhere in the cool weather since the back of my neck gets cold – its a great use for small special skeins of yarn , and I use some of my handspun or a series of colours – its nice to have so many design ideas , as long as they don’t become a pressure – love the sweet sheep too and happy its here near me in canada , with such a great choice of yarn
– I have been dreaming ravens , while tring to keep busy knitting your orchid mitts – have just finished delicato ones and love both
happy fiber pat j
I still don’t see the error.
Everything looks lovely, I’m all a-swoon!
You make my head spin with all the ideas you have ! What an energy 🙂 Lovely yarns and ideas, all of them !
Anne- Boy, those dyers sure know how to hook us, don’t they? “End of Winter” and “Cranapple”? I admit, I’m a sucker for a great color name.
It’s marketing genius.
I always have to wipe off my chin after finishing your posts, Anne — so much pretty stuff! 🙂
Sigh. . .you’re exhausted? How do we keep up? How do you knit so fast? How do we pay for all of this? Do you ever get to pick out your own yarn at a shop? Not that getting all of that beautiful yarn isn’t wonderful, but I would want to sometimes, just pick my own out! Bee socks! Cool! I love that Tupelo Honey colorway. Geese? Geese? I missed the geese? Don’t forget Mexico! I love that cashmere brown. Oooh. Give us a sweater too! I think you should definitely go back and fix that mistake. NOT!!! I’m just kidding. I would have to. Those kinds of things are like a pea under the mattress to me. You are one lucky lady, Anne. I love your job!
You make my head spin ! What an ideas, what an energy and what lovely yarns !
What a beautiful shawl you knit up. You have some really luxurious yarns in your stash which I am sure will become beautiful projects too.
Your shawl looks amazing, as always. I’m not sure how you manage to design and knit shawls faster than I can just knit them from a pattern… I groaned when I saw that you’re planning a snow shawl-I love snowflakes! I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a little time to finish my bee though:)
All the yarn is gorgeous. You lucky thing you get to play with all of it! Love the idea of the square shawl; love them! and the small lace scarves. cluranach is stunning and the garter kitchener looks fine and the other bit won’t be noticed. She is gorgeous! I am putting it out there, I want a plane ticket so I can come and visit and touch your yarn stash.
I’m happy….I see “the money shot”!!! Long & Lean!!! I mean the stole, you dirty,dirty gals! *sheepish grin*
LOL — so you were raised Catholic, too? 😉 Definitely don’t go back to fix the shawl (like you were going to); it took me a minute, and then I just laughed. You’re right, trickster raven wanted some attention (which reminds me, still dealing with itchy fingers over here…). I can’t believe you can hold all those potential projects in your head! I don’t think I usually have more than four or five or, OK, maybe now that I think about it, six in there at one time. This is why we love you so much! Now I’m going to go swoon and recover a little bit and check at BMFA to see if the raven colorways are up yet 🙂
I am right there with ya. Got my nose pasted to the computer screen. Hope I don’t sneeze.
You knit more in a month than I accomplish in a year! The yarn is all so pretty. The Crown Mtn. camel blend has got to be the softest yarn in existence. I spun some of the sister roving up and knitted a hat from it this past summer. I can find nothing wrong with Cluanarich (sp?). The raven shawl has me on pins and needles as I come back to check your blog for snippets of it. Have a wonderful week.
I had to look and look at your picture before I actually figured it out! But then it dawned on me, and I’m so glad you won’t be fixing it 🙂
Exciting, inspirational goodies. Lucky you! I, too, have been thinking of airy whisper-weight scarves knit on large needles. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I think that would be a good use for some good sock yarn that I really would rather wear around my neck than under shoes and boots.
I’m so glad you’re going to work with Michelle! Being Canadian, I’m a big fan of the Sweet Sheep Wool Shoppe.
You have got a LOT going on! I love Cluaranach, it’s beautiful. And as for grafting garter stitch, that was my nemesis for years. Until I took a class with Galina Kmevela on Russian grafting. It’s a perfectly invisible way to graft garter stitch! Really! Totally undetectable!
I am so crazy about your designs and so I’m thrilled to see that you’re so busy designing (very selfish of me). I went to Rhinebeck & everything I bought was w/ your stoles in mind. I did a small morning Glory for my mum and am going to knit a larger one, am working on Hypotenuse, have yarn for Cluaranach, Twinings, etc. etc. Your charts are some of the best I have seen. I don’t have to do my usual extensive marking & I love that.
I’m no designer, but I can see how you owuld be inspired by such lovely yarn. Can’t wait to see what all you come up with, as always.
Perfection is inhuman. Wouldn’t want to be mistaken for that!
Waouh! Such lovely yarns, it is a real inspiration, only looking (and drooling) at them 🙂
I do not see the error. I simply see a stunning example of craftswomanship.
I am looking forward to getting this on the needles!
OOOOH! –
I just remembered that I have some yummy Claudia Handpainted Silk yarn in THE perfect shade of green.
OOOOOH!
I think I have a plan!!!
Gorgeous!!! Can’t wait to see the Raven project, too!
FWIW, I don’t see the error! But I know the feeling, when I find an error in my own work my eyes cannot stray from it…ever.
Ooh… could you please design a really nice neck gaiter? I’ve not seen a good pattern yet. Most are not fitted enough, which means they get all droopy and floppy right away. I mean, they shouldn’t be turtleneck-tight and I don’t mind blocking them, but even that doesn’t help the patterns I’ve seen so far.
I was about to refer you to the comments of the post where the geese idea came up, but I see that Vickie has already reminded you she was the one who talked about it first.
The unique detail you unknowingly added in Cluaranach, if I identified it correctly, results in a motif that looks like oak leaves to me. I think it’s pretty!
Delicious, all of it. And mistake I see not.
AAArrrghhhh…. overload….overload…too…much…good…stuff……can’t…resist…droooling………
(love the mistake by the way, really like those double leaved thisles)
looks like you are going to have your hands (and needles!) full this winter!!!
SO much hand-dyed goodness here today! 🙂 And I love it all. I recognized Judy’s and Kim’s distinctive yarns right away…
It took me ages but I finally spotted the little ‘glitch’ in Cluaranach. I don’t think I would bother to fix it either. It’s a very organic kind of thing–like I said, I really had to look to see it!
what amazing new yarns you have to play with – it will be fun watching your projects emerge 🙂
I am almost finished with the lace weight handspun I made to knit up one of your shawls… now I have to decide between clunarach or twinnings (I think that was the other one)… dang.. the difficult choices we knitter have to make!! Do you have a favorite?
I suspect the bee shawl is a bit out of my range for the short term – but maybe later on…
Comments are closed.