Today's post is coming to you live from right in front of the fire place, i.e., my favorite place to be from November to March. This weekend has seen a lot knitting and para-knitting activity. Most of this activity has been pleasurable, but some has been downright stressful.
Despite a close call with Rowan Big Wool, the Yarn Barn of Kansas catalog (did anyone else receive about 6 yarn catalogs this week?) and Babs having to pull me back from the brink of disaster with a gentle reminder (such is her way), I decided to sally forth with the knit from your stash drill and make a baby sweater for my colleague, friend and all-around fantastic pal Meredith, whose baby is set to arrive on the hilarious date of April 1st. Given that Cascade 220 has its own zip code in my stash, I figured that this wouldn't be a problem. Encouraged by the enthusiasm of intrepid knitters like Frick knits and Crafty Granny (the lovely person who sent me the pattern to begin with), I cast on the Wonderful Wallaby. I worked on it most of Saturday until a creeping feeling slowly began to set it: I don't have quite enough of the color (#8890--yeah, it's discontinued and totally unavailable everywhere. Sore subject) to finish the wallaby and doing the pouch, hood or sleeves in a contrasting color would greatly diminish the overall astounding cuteness of the garment. So I began to panic (such is my way). Hmmm, what to do? Luckily I quickly came to my senses and realized that the Grande Dame of Sweaters, the Ultimate Guru of Fixing Your Own Problems and Patron Saint of Insecure Knitters could solve my problems. Yes, Elizabeth Zimmermann and her common sense to the rescue...
The Wonderful Wallaby has been transformed into the Children's Fair Isle Yoke Sweater, and I couldn't be more excited about it! Not only do I now have enough yarn to make the sweater, I get to delve into the inner recesses of the stash for the yoke and learn the whole attach the sleeves to the yoke drill. Thank you EZ for continuing to rock the world of knitters in 2007 with your humor and sweet encouragement!
Yes, this chart can only mean one thing, can't it?
Eunny Jang is in the house with her Anemoi Mittens! These mittens seem intimidating at first, but I have found them to be much easier than the Endpaper Mitts. Perhaps I am more experienced now, but I am loving these. If you've never tried one of her patterns, I really urge you to have a go at one of them--her work is so inspiring and creative.
Oh how I wish I had a fireplace - that's the one thing my house is missing!! (okay, I wouldn't mind a second bathroom and third bedroom either). Great solution to the sweater problem - can't wait to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you rolling with the punches. The fair isle will be just perfect, I bet. I've had my eye on that EZ book for a year already.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your mittens!
The fire place looks comfy. I wish I had one. Just out of curiousity, what were you thinking of making using the Rowan Big Wool? I have several balls of it and need some ideas.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Wallaby is nice but the sizing is strange. Or at least it seemed that way to me.
A fireplace is so nice this time of year, although it isn't that cold where I live right now. I love Elizabeth Zimmerman. I have a goal to own all of her books someday.
ReplyDeleteWow! That fire looks amazing! So cozy! Looks like you've got a lot on your hands knitting-wise. I can't wait to see how your Anemoi mittens turn out. They look gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteYour baby sweater is already too cute. I'm so jealous of your fireplace. I would love to write and knit in front of my very own fireplace. Maybe I'll light some candles and pretend.
ReplyDeletesounds like a good save!
ReplyDeletei'm very jealous of your fireplace! such a cozy place to knit
What a great idea to switch gears and make the fair isle yoke sweater! It will be great!
ReplyDeleteThat fireplace looks very inviting.
ReplyDeleteThose anemoi are spreading like a disease in blogland, and I can see why, such pretty mitts, enjoy!!
What! You have a fireplace, be right over to knit with ya!LOL I would give anything to be sitting in front of one right now.
ReplyDeleteLove the closeup of the blue sweater. Knitting in the round is so addictive.