could it be we’ve turned the corner?

they’re up, they’re up. i saw the crocus coming up today.
i love this picture because in it, a little maplewing has it’s arms around the crocus. technically that is a samara, the fruit of the maple (i learned that while researching shawl names . . . the stuff you learn from knitting).

the maplewing came home to us the other day from SPA, so yesterday we did a big photo shoot of the two new shawls, and in the process we decided to try a few outdoor shots. it’s been absolutely freezing here all week, so i was a little skeptical. but as soon as i stepped out the door i knew it was the right thing

the day was warm and intermittently sunny—soft breezes played with the lace while we worked. we got some amazing shots both indoors and out—we’re all set for the pattern release when rachel and the test knitters are finished (maybe next week!).

kim has posted a pre-order listing for maplewing shawl kits—she is offering a choice of five colorways, each more gorgeous than the next (kits will be shipped after the pattern is released). don’t you just love her?

while i was checking out the crocus this morning, i took a minute to walk around the yard to see what else might be popping its head above ground

see there in the center? that’s the hosta starting to shove its way up through the earth.
not much else happening but it’s in the air—spring is on the way.

it was nice to be outside and quiet for a little while—the house has been like grand central station the last few days, between the stove repairman (here for two hours on wednesday and the thing is still broken), cable repair guys (two days in a row), the car being in the shop (they had to keep it for a couple of days), and two big-ish deliveries that someone had to be here for. plus, we’re both at the tail-end of sick, but still a little bleary—that was a nasty cold we had.

the stove is really bugging me—it’s a lemon, it’s been a lemon since we got it, and the manufacturer is not stepping up to admit it. i can hardly rant about it, it enrages me so much. after 25 years of living in rentals where i had to use somebody else’s stove (and never had one break even once), we decided to invest in a good one when we moved into this house. after all, we eat almost all our meals at home and we cook everything we eat here.
we saved for it, we researched, we decided it was worth the exorbitant price because we cook so much. and—it has been nothing but trouble since day one. the list of repairs and service calls on it is extensive and we are without the use of our oven for 12-24 weeks each year. yet the company maintains that the stove is not problematic and will not replace it or even repair it (despite admitting that the relay board was not well-designed . . . huh??). arggh. time to find a consumer advocate.

ok, rant over . . . sorry, what i was starting to say is that not much knitting has been happening for the last two days because of all the activity (and because i’m writing up patterns for stuff i knit while i was away). but little bits are hanging around that are starts and fits of what’s to come, now that part of my plate has been cleared (for some reason, getting the photo shoots done feels like it cleared a big space on my calendar, hmm).

still swatching with the aqua blue prime merino lace yarn from shivaya naturals—i’m almost there with getting something on the needles, but not quite. i’m going to swatch a couple more patterns this afternoon and then make a decision. i love this soft lacy yarn . . . and the color is to die for.

i also got the boxleaf rectangle on the needles and worked one repeat late the other night. another gorgeous yarn from briar rose, yes? just look at the sheen and the color depth, mmm. this 2-ply artisan blend of longwool fiber (mohair and coopworth) will make a warm wrap perfect for transitioning to spring. it might even be one that david would wear . . .

speaking of david, i finished the first of his holidazed socks

which he is completely smitten with. now, david doesn’t usually say much about his knits (well, david just doesn’t say much at all. . .), but the other night when i had him try this one on for foot length, he asked me if i’d designed this one. after i got over being stunned at hearing his voice while the TV was on, i said yes i had, for the rockin’ sock club, but it wasn’t a pattern i sell in my shop.
“well”, he said, “i really like it. i like the contrast between the leg and the foot. the yarn feels very nice, too; i like the colorway.”

i. swear. to. god. he said colorway.
he said all that about just one sock. it was so . . . so . . . knitterly.
(if he’d said smooshy i would have checked his temperature, though)

personally, i like the sock too. what amuses me is the way the yarn worked out—this is zoe sock from shalimar yarns in the newsprint colorway

it really does look like a column of newsprint. i love, love, love the “paragraphs” and “gutters” between—that is pure genius, kristi. it’s not just a pretty yarn though; it’s very good yarn, too. i can’t wait to knit with it again.

i think i mentioned that i’ve been working on a small secret project which i finally got to a good point for passing off. i love the little thing i’m making, but it’s just intricate enough that finishing it made me itchy to get another quick sock on the needles (just in case i run out of things to knit).

i know—it’s hard to tell anything about it except that it might be the start of a sock. but it’s a fun one and i know i’m going to enjoy it. for one thing, i’m knitting it in terrific yarn—yummy sock, a cushy two-ply from from miss babs, in the terracopper colorway. and for another thing, it’s going to be a man sock with a squeezable knit/purl texture and you know how we love those . . .
(the man side of the sock shelf is completely bare right now; gotta start stocking up for next fall)

alright now, i’ve run on long enough—there’s knitting to be done.