lots and lots of everything

Posted on annePosted in designing, food and garden, lace/shawls, projects

caught on hosta cam. i’m telling you—they grow by the hour.
kinda like a great piece of knitting.

i spent a good deal of time outside yesterday, riding around town, being an earth day tourist (the trees are in full bloom this week), doing errands, grabbing lunch with my buddy karen (that was so fun karen, and long overdue. haha, i made a library joke.). i might have gulped in too much pollen; my hayfever is raging and my voice is practically nonexistent (i don’t know how i’m going to get through classes tonight, but i will—does anyone know sign language for “what does your pattern say?”)

i’ve been using homeopathic remedies for my allergies for about a year now, instead of the clarit*n/all*gra/fl*nase combination i used to use, and that’s been going extremely well (i take them very consistently, which i think is the key). however, this week, when the trees have bloomed all at once, is bound to bring with it worse symptoms that no medication seems to help enough (which is what made me switch over; there are times when nothing is good enough, so why use chemicals?).

anyway, blah, blah , blah—you came here for knitting and knitting you shall have.

i’ve gotten tons of it done in the last few days actually . . . all good.
first up, i finished my socks de la mer

i really like them. i would keep them if they weren’t so perfect as a gift sock.
and the yarn? seriously, catherine completely outdid herself—the intense colors shift and combine endlessly in combinations that seem lit from within . . . just like the best spots in the mediterranean.
pattern will be available soon.

and wow—socks knit up really REALLY fast when i only have one or two pair on the needles (duh.).
i’m moving along very quickly on the bean counter socks too

see the pleats? and the almost-hidden pennants? (it’s my experience that accountants are very fond of spectator sports.) i’m waffling between calling the bean counters or spectators.

with the kind help of all you STR fans out there, i think i figured out which yarn i have here—it’s medium weight which is why it feels kinda thick. i’m compensating by knitting a size down and using 2.5 mm needles (US1.5).
i had to switch to my other favorite needles, the inox gray metal ones, for this project ( i think they are now sold under the name pym). my beloved harmony wood needles were too dark for this yarn, and i couldn’t see it well enough.

i’ve also gotten past the halfway point on boing! (cuz it’s springy)

one more good night’s work on this should finish it off; i can’t wait to see this one blocked out.
lis, over at one planet yarn and fiber will be offering kits for this and the new shawl; she will list those as soon as i have yardage counts.

and the shawl?? you betcha . . . it is coming along really well i think

at least, i’m happy with it. and—i mean it—the colorway bring tears to my eyes, it’s so pretty.
and jocelyn, who is test knitting, is simply beside herself, she’s having so much fun (don’t you just love her??). hers will be fern green, which i’m looking forward to seeing (hint, hint—post some photos jocelyn!)

there will be a scarf version as well as a petite and tall size shawl. it’s a really cool pattern because really, you could stop anytime, as long as you finish a complete chart/pattern repeat. you could make a li’l doll shawl, or a tent—your choice.

someone out there asked to see the stitch pattern close up

there it is.
ok, now, i think i’ll get back to my other work; here’s a little spot of cheer to close with

38 thoughts on “lots and lots of everything”

  1. I’m always astounded when I see flowers in someone’s garden that look like the silk ones in the craft stores. We can’t grow those around here! (Kinda like when my stepdaughter visited from Montana the first time, saw a saguaro, and said, “Wow, they really DO look like the Taco Bell cactus!”
    LOVE that blue shawl.

  2. Fun projects! I like the subtle pattern movement in those bean-counter socks; that’d be kind of ironic in a coffee-bean colorway too, eh? Enjoy spring! We are forecast flurries by dinnertime here today. 😛

  3. Even if I didn’t read a word of your blog (and I always read the words, promise!), I would be captivated by your wonderful photos. Thanks so much for a peek into spring where you are!

  5. That last picture DID bring cheer! So lovely!

    Is that shawl one of those easy knits? The blue one? Like every WS row is all purls? (You might’ve mentioned this in one of your previous posts!! If so, sorry! LOL)

  6. ohhh I’m liking the lace scarf too…. hmmm which one to get and make for myself?? hmmmm…. oh the shawl looks gorgeous too, but no more triangle shawls from the bottom for me for a bit not till I finish the one I’m working on… they get sooooooo big and each row gets sooooo long…. my current one will hopefully be 8 feet wide 🙁 I’m going to be knitting on it till i die!

  7. I love the Socks De La Mer they are awesome and the triangle shawl looks great although I can’t start anymore lace shawls until I finish my Honeybee Stole (my first lace project) which is moving rather slowly, but I am loving the lace knitting process it is amazing to watch the lace form.

  10. I like the name ‘Spectators’ for your new socks. And I love the blue shawl. That one will get me knitting lace, I’m sure of it.

  11. Beautiful socks! And love the shawl, too; really lovely.

    For allergies, I give everyone in my family Quercetin. It’s natural, and it really, really works (my husband used to be a major Claritin man … not anymore. seriously). Like other natural remedies, it takes 4 weeks or so of regular use to really make a difference.

    I get Source Naturals “Activated Quercetin” from http://www.iherb.com … 25-30% off and really fast shipping, in case you’re interested in trying it. 😀

  12. I have to admit, I wasn’t initially crazy about the red/yellow colour combo in the lace scarf … however, now that you’ve made some headway and there’s more to see, I must say that it’s really very pretty! The blue shawl continues to be a stunner 🙂 I spent 4 hours in the garden yesterday, moving perennials, planting some new ones and turning over beds. All of the hostas are standing at attention, which is always a happy thing to see. I just received the Malabrigo lace weight to knit the red scarf in, so I’m off to your shop to buy the pattern!

  13. The photos on your blog today do inspire! Beautiful socks, scarf, and shawls…not to mention the beautiful daffodils!

  14. Having lived in FL for over 20 years I am spoiled by year round flowers and green. Your photos brought back memories of the joy of spring’s first flowers. I really miss, this year, the smell of the ground and the ability to grow tulips and daffodils, lilacs and other cold weather crops.
    I am so enjoying your blog and your designs. Sadly, I do not knit socks or lace. Maybe someday…
    Warm regards,
    Katrina

  15. I tell ya, some days a gal doesn’t know where to drool first. I think the largest puddle is from the blue shawl but they all are so pretty in their various ways. I think I am overdue for a pattern buying frenzy…

  19. Love your lacework. have knitted many of your patterns and can’t seem to get enough. You have me hooked on lace. The blue shawl is so lovely and looks like the perfect summer lace knit. What do you think of knitting lace in 100% silk? Would it knit well, lay nicely, and show off the design as nicely as wool and silk? Can you share some of the pros and cons with me as I am awed by your talent, experience and knowledge. One more question, When will the pattern be available for sale? i am trying to be patient. thank you, sharon

  20. Ok, my yarn came from One Planet today. I’m ready!! 🙂

    Well I guess while I’m waiting I’ll just have to knit Violets Rising. That yarn came too.

    Maybe if I go back to using my middle name I won’t be so compelled to knit your patterns.

  21. Okay, I love all of the projects, but I must admit, that I had to Google bean counter! I had no idea what it is! Since I don’t like math, go with the Spectator name–unless spectators mean something else, here, too! You stumped me today, I must admit. I love the blue color of the socks–the Mediterranean-ish ones! We have lots to look forward to before you leave. . .right?

  24. I wish I truly were beside myself — then one of me could be working on boing! while the other is working on the shawl; wouldn’t that be fun? 🙂 Pictures tonight, I promise! I’ve been having way too much fun knitting to stop long enough to get the camera out. Love the daffodils, btw — they just scream spring in the best possible way.

  25. Oooh, I loved watching hostas come out of the ground when I lived in the midwest. All of your beautiful projects have me trying to knit faster so I can cast on soon!

  26. Homeopathic remedies? please share- I’m allergic to all those icky chemicals on the market.

    P.S. Love your socks!

  28. I can see my pattern wish list growing about as fast as the hostas! Especially the blue shawl, although I love the socks as well. Someone bring me a handkerchief to mop up the drool….

  30. I just love your blog–it’s the first thing I read when I get up in the morning. Your photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing your spring with us! Can’t wait to get your new patterns and knit them!

  33. Loving the beancounter socks! Very scrummy!
    Very jealous of your rapini, been trying to grow it myself, but the little sprouts have passed on, sadly. I will try again, this time straight in the ground. Curious about your homeopathic allergy remedies, haven’t managed a transition myself from the awful scary cortisone stuff.
    Longing for some hostas, but afraid they wont grow. But it doesn’t take more than a tulip to forget all the gardening mishaps!i vote for beancounter over spectator!

  34. Beautiful socks! I love the name Sock de la Mer. Also, good luck with the homeopathic remedies. I’ve been using them for almost three years and you’re right that consistency is the key.

  35. Isn’t it crazy how projects seem to only move along when you actually devote some knitting time to them? WEIRD, right??? 🙂

  36. Anne,

    I love the colors of the scarf that you are doing in the post for this day. For lack of better words, the colors reminded me of all my tuplips I have blooming now, the pinks and yellows.
    Can you please tell me the name of this yarn and where I can purchase it, and how much I should get for a scarf.

    Thank you,
    Julia

  37. Anne- Love the shawl. Have you got a name yet?

    Doesn’t Spring just give you a feeling of hope? I’m so happy to see the flowers.

  38. I LOVE your clothes you and friends make. You give a big heart in every season each year!!!!:) I’m happy you found a new hobby says my friends!!:):)

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