i’m always a maniac the day before i travel. there’s the adrenalin rush of all that i’ve finished up before i leave, and the reprioritizing of of things that couldn’t get done, plus the mad dash to prepare for actually going and that anxiety about leaving home that’s always there a little bit before a trip. and in the case of this trip, a bunch of new knitting projects to organize as well (those are most of what i’m taking, above)
it’s always the same, so why does it surprise me each time? heck, i should plan on all that, but i don’t.
so. i did finish up the secret project and it’s all set to be sent to where it’s going as soon as i get back. i love that i got that done.
the poppy sock is done and pattern ready, but roxanne won’t have kits ready to go for ordering til after i get back from california, so that’s on hold for now—but it’s coming. i had to give the name a little twist because lo and behold, there is already a pattern out there for “poppy sock”. it doesn’t look like mine, but i don’t want to use the same name so i’m calling it papaver sok instead. that’s the name in dutch (you know, for “flanders fields where poppies grow . . .”).
with those socks done i got right to work on the next sock, this one for the dye dreams four seasons sock club
it’s moving right along—i’ve completed the heel flap now and am ready to pick up around the gusset. it will be good plane knitting tomorrow (or the wiggle scarf, depending on how i feel). here’s a better look at the stitch pattern
it’s turning out to be a fancier sock than i first imagined, but i love it, and i think a fancy sock is just what we need for february.
my weekend goal was to finish the secret project on friday so that i could get started on the autumn arbor faroese shawl on saturday, but sadly, that didn’t happen. i didn’t get finished with the secret thing til saturday, for starters. then there was a lot of shoveling throughout the weekend. i could take the autumn arbor project with me, but the start of that piece is complicated and not completely charted yet. i have it all in my head, but then i couldn’t talk to anyone while knitting it, so i think it’s best if i leave it home—i’m going there, after all, to visit with my friends.
instead, the autumn arbor will be my number one priority when i return (i promise kim!!), when i can devote all my concentration to it alone.
since this is the situation, i took out a project i had all set to go since the fall, charts and all.
i was supposed to knit this little shawl in november and i got way behind in october, so it got pushed back to an indefinite date. it’s an easy-peasy triangle that i simply didn’t have time to knit. once realized i wouldn’t have a shawl to take along to california, i got to thinking that it might work to bring this one. so i wound the yarn—hand maiden swiss mountain cashmere and silk, colorway bronze—between classes today
and cast on. i worked one repeat just to make sure i have all the supplies i need. this is a good traveler, with just one easy chart that repeats over and over as the shawl gets bigger. i have three skeins (about 600 yards) and i’m just going to knit til i run out. i figure i have enough to make a generous shoulder shawl at least, maybe even a smaller full-sized one. we’ll see . . .
yesterday, as you know was spinning day here, and instead of showing you the same old boring bobbin that’s just a bit more filled than last time, i have something very special to share instead.
this is our friend anne marie in the first sweater she’s knit from her own handspun yarn.
how proud are you of her?? doesn’t that sweater look great?
it’s flyingdales from the book a fine fleece by lisa lloyd
anne marie made one modification to the pattern—she worked the armhole in a t-shape in order to have the shoulders work out a bit narrower and more fitted.
the yarn is 2-ply chunky spun from a locally-produced romney and alpaca swirled roving that she worked on in class over the summer.
i think she’s really happy with it—she planned to use it as her “dog-walking sweater”, but i have a feeling from that look on her face that it will see plenty of other action.
ok now, gotta go pack my suitcase—next time you hear from me i’ll be hanging in sunny san diego with sam and kade and kim and the whole menagerie, where it’s supposed to be hot and beautiful this week. i hear that i’m going to miss a deep freeze while we’re gone, but i’ll try to be a brave girl and not cry about it.
42 thoughts on “eve of departure”
Have a great trip to a warm climate. I pack the same way – dashing and hoping I packed the right clothes to get by. However, I make sure I spend plenty of time picking out the perfect knitting projects for my time away. I doubt that I’ll ever prepare in any other way. Have fun and I’m looking forward to the “poppy” sock pattern.
Kudos to Anne Marie & her teacher! Gorgeous sweater!!!
Enjoy your trip and the weather. We’re having a blizzard here tonight. Back to my knitting . .
Have a good trip 🙂
I’m looking forward to seeing the re-named Poppy Sock, but I don’t understand the Dutch connection. The poem was written by a Canadian in France in WW1. What is the connection with the Netherlands?
Brava Ann Marie. Gorgeous sweater.
And does that new sock have leaves? I love leaf patterns.
anne marie has one gorgeous sweater! very pretty.
have a good trip! try not to taunt those of us frozen in with the weather, please. at least, not until we thaw…i don’t know if we can stand it ;).
First off have a safe trip and enjoy friends and sunny snow-free weather. Anne Marie’s sweater is breathtaking…something for novice spinner that I am to aspire too (I also own A Fine Fleece and looking forward to one day spinning a sweater’s worth of yarn and then knit it up). Also love how the four seasons sock club is evolving…looking forward to the finale.
Have a wonderful trip!
may i slip into your carry on bag and share in some western warmth dince i don’t take the predicted minus two on friday morning very well?
please pass along to anne marie that her handspun handknit is wonderful!
Anne Marie’s sweater is a knockout!
Safe trip and have fun. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of deep freeze left when you get back.
Anne Marie looks like a saucy hot mama in that sweater. Love the buttons, too. And is that, uh, a crapload of snow on your yard Anne???? Good grief. Pack your flip flops girl. . . . .
Have a safe trip!! I love San Diego & am so jealous 😉
Have a good trip!
Thanks for sharing pics of Anne Marie’s sweater: it’s gorgeous, and I always find it very inspiring to see sweaters knit from handspun. I have quite a few handspun sweater ideas in mind, but in order to see them come to life, I need to get started spinning… which is one of the reasons why such inspiring pics are appreciated!
I always get really anxious about leaving town too.
The new sock looks great! I love the color of the yarn, and I’m not usually a pink person. I can’t wait for the easy triangle. I love easy triangle shawls.
Have a great trip!
I’ll make sure to cry a little extra, just for you!
Have a great trip!
Have a safe trip! Love that new sock and the delicious cashmere shawl.
I just got back from sunny southern California! (And it was snowing when we landed in Milan. Talk about a reality check…) Have a safe trip and a great time! By the way, the word for “poppy” in Italian is “papavero”–I wonder who borrowed from whom?
Sunny San Diego sounds like the place to be right now… I would love to escape from the cold and dark and wet…
Do you have any hints on estimating how much yarn the bind-off will take? I’m working on a simple top-down shawl right now and I want to keep going until I run out of yarn. I want to stop in a good place in the pattern and have enough for the bind-off but not too much leftovers.
Billi-Jean: the Flanders fields are located in the Netherlands, so there’s your connection.
the sweater is gorgeous – its on my queue. funny thing about the name. it was originally published as FLYINGDALES and then when the book came out it appears as FYLINGDALES apparently that is the name of the village and either it was a misprint originally or… who knows?
great sweater either name!
found on ravelry forum for A FINE FLEECE
Fylingdales Moor is a real and beautiful wild place, and its near the quaint fishing village Robin’s Hood’s Bay on the East coast of England in North Yorkshire referred to in the pattern introduction in the book. That spelling is used throughout the book (except for the Index).
Anne Marie’s sweater is wonderful. What a great accomplishment! Have a fun trip!
Have a safe and fun trip! I love the sweater Ann Marie knit! I’ve had my eye on that pattern for awhile. I hope you have a free moment to post, while you’re gone!
Tell anne marie that the sweater is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!
OMG that cashmere/silk is reminding me of my episodes after you posted the mooi….you know, the feeling of WANTWANTWANT!!! too bad i’m on a yarn diet. 🙁
THAT is a gorgeous sweater!!! I love it. I have the book but since I don’t spin I’ll just be using regular ol’ yarn!
HAPPY NEW YEAR ANNE! 😀
It looks like you’re ready to fly! And you will let us know when the poppy sock kit comes up, yes? It’s on my list 🙂 That sweater is gorgeous, too — I have that book, but haven’t even come close to spinning enough for a sweater (yet…). 🙂
Congrats to Anne Marie on a stunning, truly inspiring sweater!
Way to go Anne Marie! How lovely! I got ‘A Fine Fleece’ for Christmas and have plans to start with the Ruby vest in Magenta Frog Tree sportweight. It’s a beautiful book! I hope you have a super trip Anne–it’s 9 degrees here and to be -2 on Thursday, so your timing couldn’t be more perfect. I’m almost done with Orchid Lace Mitt #1. I would have gotten more done last night but was watching Sweeney Todd so it kept my focus. I really need to ‘watch’ something I’ve seen a few times so I don’t have to look up!
Love that sweater. I’m spinning the yarn for my own right now and am nearly finished. I’ve been dying to cast on, but have been trying to be disciplined and finish all the spinning first. I’m feeling weaker after seeing this one!
Anne Marie’s sweater is gorgeous!!! I am really wanting to make a sweater from my own handspun someday. I have found the perfect pattern and then saw someone in her blog called it dowdy!!! I keep looking at it and think it’s lovely so I’ll proceed on my plan for my “dowdy” sweater!! Thanks for sharing Anne Marie’s accomplishments with us.
Welcome to California. We’re having our “fall” as the dry Santa Anna winds are finally pulling all the yellow leaves off the trees and they’re swirling around and crunching underfoot. At the same time, some plants are anticipating spring, which starts in February here.
But, as I’ve said for twenty-five years now, there is NOTHING prettier in California than a gorgeous January day, and you’ve got one today.
Way to go anne marie!
Safe travels to you.
That sweater is so wonderful! I’m nearly finished with my largest hand spun project to date…a simple shawl…and I’m getting very excited about it!
Have a great trip and enjoy the TNNA show. I am missing this one but I hope to catch you in June.
Mmmm pink and purple and bronze, yum!
Tell Annemarie that she did an amazing job! woo hoo !!
Have a fabulous time in the sun!
That oink sock looks almost edible and I can’t believe how gorgeous that bronze coloured yarn is. It will make a lovely shawl! Have fun on your trip.
Lovely sweater… she did a great job on both the spinning and the knitting! I’m not sure I understand your reference to a T sleeve… is that like a saddle shoulder? I’m all about narrowing the shoulders of things, nature having done plenty of soulder narrowing on me.
And you know it’s only early January… from what I remember of living in Cleveland, I’m sure there are plenty of deep freezes still to come…
That hand maiden Cashmere & silk is TDF. Are those kits for the socks going to be offered at Knitspot?
I love the Flyingdales pattern, and Anne Marie’s sweater looks amazing! Please tell her I am SO impressed! And envious of your trip…I grew up in CA and have been missing the mild weather a lot lately. Bon voyage!
Pretty fancy duds for walking the dog! My dog is jealous! Have a fun trip–glad to hear you’re going to be brave about missing the arctic air. We’re going to get it here as well. I’ll have to put my down coat over my sweater to walk the dog (of course, my sweater isn’t handspun, so that could be the difference.)
Have a great trip! Beautiful fancy socks.
Anne Marie’s sweater is beautiful!
I love that colourway of Swiss Mountain so much, it’s been on my wish list for months. And if it were anyone else but you, I’d be laughing my arse off at the amount of travel knitting you’re packin. But knowing how fast you knit, you probably ran out in San Diego!
Awesome sweater Anne Marie!!!!!
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