mmm, tomatoes. now that we are getting ripe samples of several different kinds, i can hardly pass by the bowl without trying something i haven’t tasted in the last twelve hours. those black ones . . . to die for.
i’ve started cooking quantities for the freezer; not huge quantities yet, but a couple of quarts at a time. the rest we are eating. soon enough we’ll get used to the fact that we have them and more will go into the freezer. i almost have enough little ones now to do a batch of dried ones; i’ve become addicted to those as a great flavor-pumping ingredient in winter dishes. what did i ever do without them in my pantry?
yesterday was spinning class, and after that beckie came over and we spun for a few more hours out on the porch. it was wonderful—i got so much done on my laceweight alpaca/merino
that bobbin was nearly empty yesterday morning and now it’s about half full. i’ve got less than half of the second bag of roving left to do. it is fine—not as fine as abby’s yarn, but pretty fine. definitely laceweight and not my usual “lacy” weight, which is somewhere between fingering and true lace yarn. and i’m continuing to spin it worsted, which is a lot of work for me but i’m happy with the result so far. i’m really hoping it will be a nice smooth yarn; i have lots of fuzzy alpaca and just once i’d like to have a smooth, very drapey one (that i spun).
the color is amazing too—this fiber has some very gentle variegation in it, with slate blue, some burnt orange, and a little green running very faintly through the top. i’m spinning it too fine to translate as true variegation, but still i can see it on the bobbin in the density of the singles piling up there. overall it’s heathery as well—it should be interesting to see what the yarn looks like, and how it knits up.
david’s pink sock is moving toward completion and i should be able to finish this first one up tonight. i’m writing the pattern today, too, which will be another paperwork job i can put on a different pile (hahaha).
he really likes this sock! i’ve caught him a few times staring at it lovingly while we watch TV.
this little guy was hanging out on my desk the other night while i put the finishing touches on a couple of patterns . . . isn’t he stunning? i had to photograph him under overhead light but i bet he’s even better looking in the sun . . .
which brings me to the lacewing shawl. i had so hoped to have begun the primrose edging by now. but i relaxed and did spinning yesterday instead, and only knitted on it in between cooking and eating last evening. still, i got the insect part of the insert band done
and now i have just a few rows of plain knitting to complete the border. then i can start the edging. i’m very excited! honestly this has gone so fast that i don’t really know how it got this far, but i’m glad . . .
and all the test knitters are happy, happy, happy—they love the knitting of it so far. here’s a sample peek at the start of the melanzana version
it’s interesting how some projects really have the power to make us happy when knitting them, isn’t it? it doesn’t even have to be every project, but it’s nice when one uplifts us this way.
i’m not saying this one is better or more beautiful than another—not at all. it’s more in the rhythm of the knitting itself . . . the pace and tempo are like a happy dance. other projects are relaxing and soothing, or meditative, or make me think deeply.
this one makes me want to laugh—it’s great.
one of the reasons i’m looking forward to getting on to the edging is that i am super-curious about how my engineering worked out for the bottom hem. normally in a shawl like this the increases continue in the same manner all the way to the hem edging, at both the far outside edges and along the back panel.
but since i decided the insect band should wrap right around to the center back, i needed to eliminate the line of increases along the back panel (or be happy with a weird interruption of the insect migration; not an option). however, this made me concerned that at the sides of the back panel i might end up with some weird cupping where the insect “turned the corner” to the center back.
so instead i opted to use a hybrid of two shaping techniques. i continued the increase at the far corners as established, and on one row of the insect motif, i built in a series of additional increases, disguised as part of each little insect body. these should function something like an increase row in a pi shawl or a yoke sweater, making the whole band flare and round out a bit to create the (hopefully) right curvature around the bottom hem. heh. we’ll see.
meanwhile i am heading down the homestretch on tudor grace and hoping to finish it either today or wednesday in class.
it’s sooo nice to work on . . . i would say that this is a very contemplative project—between the yarn and the knitting, it brings on great quietude. i love watching the areas of color develop over a number of rows; they are like a pools of color on glass that allow light to shine from inside.
you know, i didn’t think i had anything to write about today, but there you have it—plenty to to look at and gaze over. how about that?
ok, time to get me a tomato sandwich.
30 thoughts on “meanwhile, on monday”
Oh I am sooooo aquiver at the prospect of doing that lacewing shawl! Will it be sold in a kit anywhere?
I LOVE black tomatoes and am slowly converting the people I work with grin if I can get them past the color all it takes is one bite…
Tudor Grace is gorgeous. I’d better finish up the Rivolo so I can be ready for that pattern. 😀
Mmmmm, I love that melanzana green, reminds me of the caribbean sea.
Ooooh. Love all the eye candy. 🙂
I love that green yarn too! What is it so I can plan my stash enhancement purchases??
Your tomatoes all look delicious. I recently dried some for the first time. I used Romas and sliced them too thin. They’re more like tomato chips now. 🙂
And I really enjoy seeing your spinning (and knitting). The thinnest yarn I’ve been able to spin so far is a light worsted, so I’m envious of your laceweight yarn.
Black tomatoes?… Never saw that before! I bet they’d make a very dramatic-looking caprese. 😉
You’ll be done with Lacewing in the blink of an eye, it seems. I’m really looking forward to seeing it blocked–I think those insect motifs are going to pop like crazy once they’re nicely stretched.
You inspired me with your mention of eggplant yesterday…I made eggplant parmesan with a layer of sauteed onions and cannellini beans scattered throughout…vegetarian deliciousness!! Do you think that you might be able to briefly describe how you dry tomatoes? Thank you, Anne!
Just too wonderful for words (the whole blog) 🙂
That’s a really neat bug! We find some cool ones here on occasion.
You’re amazing! However do you do it all?
Aren’t tomato sandwiches just the best!! I had one today for lunch. It is a rite of summer for me!
You are absolutely right — this shawl is a giddy sort of knit. Happy days 🙂 I am dying to get to the insect band — look at them marching along there! I am also loving Tudor Grace. What weight yarn is that/ I wonder if I could use some of my handspun on it…?
Just viewed your Gnarled Oakwoods stole online at the Twist Collective–what a beauty! I picked it out as an “I want to knit that” before I noticed the designer’s name. 😀
ooooh… I am so looking forward to knitting the Lacewing shawl. Of course I should possibly try to finish up the Bee Fields Shawl first. The melanzana version is lovely. What yarn is it? I just might have to purchase some of that. =)
I’m in love love love with lacewing! Can’t wait to see it completed. You do such gorgeous work…
Those tomatoes look delicious. One August, back when I lived with a couple of tomato-growers, I ate a tom sammy every day. Every single day. With just a little olive oil and salt. Nothing in the world like it. Haven’t been able to stomach the store-bought ones since.
I suggest my beets with maple vinaigrette. Hopefully that will change David’s mind about beets.
http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/now_norma_knits_2/2005/06/dont_that_beet_.html
Yay for using all your garden space. I just planted a new bed of lettuce (the bed that was recently vacated by beets and onions) and a new bed of mesclun including even a few of those obstinate spinach seeds. Fingers crossed)
And oh, all that lace. I wish I had the aptitude for it. I keep trying, but I’m just not there yet.
Open-faced tomato sandwich with thinly-sliced onion and a dusting of parmesan…toasted under the broiler…..summertime heaven…. And nothing like getting some “fresh” summer tomatoes out of the freezer in the middle of winter. Glad you’re enjoying the fruits; thanks for sharing them with us, however vicariously!
I am so looking forward to working on this new shawl! I completely get what you mean how some projects make one smile the entire way thru. Bee was like that. I was sad to see her end, but happy to know I will be wearing her soon!
Tell me….how do you cook and freeze your tomatoes?
Everything is beautiful — except that bug. Okay, the coloration on it is pretty, but eww! What the heck IS that thing anyway? I confess I’m so not a bug-friendly person!
Mmm…knitting purty.
Are there specific tomato varieties that you think respond especially well to drying? Do you use the oven, sun, or a dehydrator? Thanks!
I so need to get started spinning again. I can’t believe how much you get done!!!
Hey! That bug looks as though he’s related to WALL-E!!! Just look at those eyes!! The tomatoes are grand! I think the black ones are Black Prince. I planted some, myself. Ours our still green. I can’t wait! I want an Heirloom Tomato, greens, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, fresh basil salad! Yeah!
Wouldn’t that bug make a really cool looking shawl pin for that yellow shawl you’re working on? Just a passing thought…
I love to read about your garden! The tomatoes look great, if I could just get mine to grow like that. I was wondering if you could suggest a good way to learn more about spinning. I am just starting and would love to spin like you do some day.
You, not having anything to write about? I don’t think that’s gonna happen anytime soon!
How nice that you can already feel how much David likes this sock! It certainly makes the knitting that much more enjoyable…
If you like black tomatoes, try the ones that ripen while green. Also awesome!
And ditto on all the comments about waiting eagerly for the shawl pattern to knit.
I think I’m in tomato envy (giggles) – mine are still just buds on the stem, and there’s a sneaky little deer that keeps finding a part I neglected to spray with Liquid Fence.. and then munches. sigh.
Your stole is stunning. I can’t even fathom designing as you do – hats off to you!
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