spring is making some small, jerky, progress into our lives—awkward, but advancing. it’s back to being quite chilly outside with unpredictable appearances by the sun. when it rains (today) it rains all day and feels as dreary as november, when winter was coming on.
damp chills creep in from every corner, it feels like; fortunately i have a few friendly knits close by to chase them away.
when it’s sunny (yesterday), only good outcomes seem possible. the crocus are about to burst—a real advance from just a few days back. on saturday while we were knitting and it was so balmy outside, susie mentioned that her tulips were up, but i hadn’t seen mine yet. yesterday when i looked, there they were
i guess the intermittent promise of warm weather was enough to entice them out of hiding.
well, i finally got my new scarf in shivaya prime merino lace underway; in class yesterday i got several repeats completed. this turquoise blue is just the thing for the season—almost unreal in its intensity, like the turquoise waters of a completely different climate.
i’m thinking about naming it coral gables, but i might go with lakewood as an alternate—it has the same vintage architectural feeling to me that typifies those coastal cities. is that too esoteric?
here’s a closer look at the side edge
where i opted for a more decorative use of the garter to frame the lace motif.
oh, and the wrong-side rows are all in purl—i know how you like that.
the white crocus with their lavender streaks are also coming in along with the yellow, which is perfect timing for the new sock i’m knitting
i completed the leg while we watched a movie last night and now i can start the heel next time i pick it up. i thought about doing a fancy, patterned heel, but then decided it would be too much—i’m going with a slip-stitch heel after all. i think the contrast will offset the extravagant patterning better and give the eye a place to rest.
i just love the way it’s coming out—i love the soft color drifts across the surface and i adore the yarn, which is fearless fibers tight twist superwash merino sock, colorway hoarfrost. i’m constantly impressed by the softness of this yarn and at the same time, the crisp stitch definition it offers. it’s perfect for this sock.
i was thinking too, that now we have knits for two of the three types of frost and i’d hate to leave it at that—especially because the third type is so pretty.
and also because i have this other scrumptious yarn in just the right color for a scarf with such a pattern
with which i need to create something for deb’s lace club. sounds like a good fit, right?
i think i have a plan there . . .
now here’s a project on which i’ve had a slow start
it’s slightly longer than it was the other day, but i’ve done a woefully small amount of knitting on it. i think i’ll make it my business today to bond with this knit a little more.
initially i was afraid that once i got started, i would ignore all other projects that needed to get done for imminent deadlines in order to play with this. but now that those are on their way and i feel good about the pace, i think it’ll be ok to give this some more attention.
well, i think that’s it for today . . . time to rustle up some lunch. see you next time.
34 thoughts on “progress”
I think you should call your new scarf Lakewood, since that is the name of the city I live in. How’s that for egocentric?
I loved looking at all your photos, especially the crocus. Winter has returned to Colorado, so your photo was nice to see. Thanks!
If it ever stops raining I will look outside to see if anything is peeking up yet!
I love the turquoise…it’s calling to me!
I like Coral Gables for the name. Love that turquoise too – it surely jumps! You will have to wrap up your third frost fast – pretty soon we will be fanning instead of buttoning up!
Are you ever going to tell us the secret of Jan. 2nd blog? I’ve tried to be patient, but patience is not my virtue… Oh well, I do love the caribbean blue of the new scarf, it does bring a rush of hope to the season! I really like the merge with the edge, too.
I love your turquoise scarf, particularly the way you did the edges! And no, I don’t think the name options are too esoteric. Coral Gables is wonderful. Are geometrics and turquoise in the air? Because I just finished a design with those elements a few weeks ago: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/MizT/bisbee
Lakewood…we’re looking from into the depths of patterning into the lake at the wood’s edge.
Ahhh….where’s my chaise lounge?
Anne, your output is phenomenal. You barely started the gorgeous turquoise scarf a couple of days ago and already it has grown to several inches. Plus you’re working on a lovely whisper blue sock, plus another wonderful green lace project, plus who knows what else. You obviously don’t have any trouble with your hands or you could not possibly be this productive. And, everything is so splendidly done! You’re amazing.
At least the turquoise scarf speaks beautifully of spring and your crocuses, too. Here we have 27 degrees which is almost unheard of in March, and it snowed again yesterday. Spring will be cheered whenever it finally arrives!
Hi Anne, love the new projects! When I think of Coral Gables I think of pink buildings with terra cotta barrel tile roofs and lots of sub-tropical foliage. If you are looking for something that talks about the water what about Biscayne Bay? The water there truly is the color blue you are using.
Love your coral gables scarf and your socks.
I also love reading your blog. Today is my
birthday. All the doctors said I wouldn’t make
it to this birthday, but I did. I wouldn’t miss
a day reading your blog. You are so creative
with your knitting, gardening, cooking and probably a lot of other things. I use to be
creative also and I really miss the things I use
to do. However I am grateful for what I can still
do. I hope everyone does their “gratefulls” everyday.
Hello, Anne! The name that I though of when I saw your gorgeous turquoise scarf was “Santorini” because its color reminds me of the Mediterranean Sea…bright, beckoning, enticing…just a thought…smile!! It’s a welcome and cheerful sight on a rainy, dreary WNY kind of day!
Crocuses are so brave, aren’t they?
I think Lakewood better suits the “tiffany-ness” of the pattern. I’m actually using that same yarn to knit Hamsa right now and loving it.
Coral Gables — that’s a great name. And I am absolutely adoring that sock! It has really grown into itself beautifully 🙂
Your flowers and projects look great. I really like the contrast of the white buds against the brown leaves in the last picture.
Once you said it, I can totally see the architecture of Coral Gables in your scarf 🙂 Like the Vizcaya house. Love it, and now I’m more homesick after my visit to Naples last week 🙂
I’m voting for St. Thomas. St. Barts? What? We’re not voting on anything? Dang. I guess I’ll go back to knitting at work, on last year’s Secret of the Stole II. Some projects never seem to go away.
I can’t wait for Coral Gables/Lakewood. I love the border! I am a huge fan of geometric lace patterns and yours are among my favorites. Any chance that spirally sock pattern will find its way to a scarf or shawl? Sounded like it might…
OMG…that rime frost sock is sooo lovely…and yes, very hot and bothered by the whole frosty sockneckwarmerscarf theme!!!
Fern Frost!? Sweet Baby Gibson, woman…I can’t keep up with you…truly, I need to win the lottery so I can just stay at home and knit your patterns!! Fern frost will make an amazing scarf!!
One thing I miss living in CA is how awesome it is when spring FINALLY comes and the crocuses start showing up. Spring here is nice, too, but it’s just not quite the same contrast.
I love that sock!
Absolutely stunning wips! You are such an inspiration 🙂 and I love seeing the crocus coming up! We’re not even thinking about things growing here … not until at least May 🙁
The frost pattern translated so well into sock form. Love it! Looking forward to Frost #3.
The clever garter stitch edge on Lakewood/Coral Gables is most creative with the lace “leaking” into the border.
OMG stop showing that sock! I could cry I love it so much. Must focus on shawl, must focus on shawl….
Congratulations and happy birthday to Babyface!! What a nice post! I love the scarf, Anne. The sock is another beauty, too!
How do you find the time to get so much knitting done while running your shop, blogging and with a family too! You amaze me. Love how the sock is coming out and can’t believe how much you got done on it. Glad to hear you like Fearless fibers tight twist sock yarn. I’ve been thinking of trying it out and wondered how it would be.
I really do like how you have framed the lace motif on the scarf. It seems strange to see colors other than dark winter colors but makes me sigh as I’m so ready for spring. This time of year is so wonderful to see the earth wake up from it’s winter hibernation. Mother nature at it’s best! Thanks for sharing. I still have too much snow around my house to see what’s coming up and now wish I had planted bulbs last year.
I am so envious of your crocuses. Mine won’t be sprouting for at least a month yet. There’s still a couple feet of snow on top of them.
The knitting looks wonderful.
Anne, that sock pattern is gorgeous. Could you put it in gear and get it done like this weekend, and write the pattern and put it in your shop please??? I’d like to start it on Monday. heh heh heh
I have several skeins of the Fearless Fibers tight twist and I’m ready to start one. Just curious – what size needle are you using?
I really really really love the new sock pattern!
Sigh……we still have a foot of snow on the ground here. No crocuses for us yet
creativity in all its form is a phenominal thing. whether it’s those flowers that know just when to poke their heads out of the soil or twirling two sticks and some string together and making something tangible, beautiful and useful.
ain’t it grand?
Tulips are starting to bloom in northern california — but the gophers are also back an this year they are so hungry that they are climbing into the flower pots to dig up the tasty bulbs. So, I’m cutting a lot of them and enjoying the blooms inside as a result. Hope it’s not too much longer for the spring flowers out your way.
Love the sock.
Love the turquoise scarf – I have some 2 ply cashmere in a dark blue that would look just right with that pattern
I love your Tiffany/Coral Gables scarf. Gorgeous! Also love love love the hoarfrost sock. I’m looking forward to the surprise when I see what you come up with next in the Frost series. I’m even not clicking on the link to the three kinds of frost so that I won’t think about it before you start. That’s a new level of self control for me!
I can’t get over the colour of that FF yarn (Hoarfrost). It’s got such an inner glow, it’s almost hard to believe it’s a superwash merino! You’d think it was merino tencel.
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