Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Personal Yarn Store yields pleasing results--film at 11.

December Lights Tam
I think we all can agree that the Holiday Gifts 2007 Interweave Knits issue will go down in history as one of the legendary, epic events in the world of knitting. Hello--the Koolhaas hat, Socks for VĂ©ronik and the Candy Stripes Kerchief, all in the same place? Well I can now add the December Lights Tam to my list of projects that I can mark 'done' from this magazine--not that I keep such a list, but I am now imagining myself doing so and a feeling of calm satisfaction is overtaking me.

This pattern was the whole reason I bought the mag in the first place. And since Babs and I have this thing where we obsess about doing patterns in the yarn for which they are written, I went ahead and ordered the yarn from Nordic Fiber Arts as well. And then a year went by...
December Lights Tam
A week or so ago I recalled this project and sent Peeper-Lou upstairs to my own person LYS on the third floor so she could fetch it for me. Hip hip hooray--I hadn't sold it in some rash fit of destashing. Score! Personal Yarn Store, I love you, you are my horn of plenty.

The Specs:
Pattern: December Lights Tam by Mary Jane Mucklestone
Yarn: Finullgarn by Rauma, 8 colors (red, fuschia, rose, chartreuse, lime, green, olive, blue)
Needles; size 2 and size 3, addi turbo
Time: about a week
December Lights Tam
This hat is also fulfilling some ancient desire to wear tams. My great-grandmother's sister Auntie Lumsden used to knit these for me as a child by the dozen--all fair isle, never even so much as glancing at her hands while doing so. Did I appreciate them as a child? I'm sure not. Youth is wasted on the young.

Luckily I have a willing model to sport this tam for a fo photo shoot, despite the fact that she let me know that I smelled like strawberry hand sanitizer (wtf?). She demanded to model the tam as my large head was "taking the poof out of the hat". Umm, aren't you the person wanting me to take you shopping at the outrageously priced Halloween store for a blonde wig? Yeah, time to zip it. Although I can't say that she's entirely wrong--my big Irish head actually gives the impression that I am not wearing a tam but rather a brioche (the bun, not the stitch) loaf on my head, but I'll never give her the satisfaction of knowing this.

I am so crazy for stranding that I have immediately cast on for the Selbu Modern pattern. You must check this out--not only does the pattern come printed in the coolest font ever, but it is considerably easier than most projects of this nature. Perfect for that sock yarn you have in your own Personal Yarn Store!

42 comments:

Stephanie said...

Great hat! I really want to make my own of these, too. That Holiday 2007 issue is pretty amazing. Why haven't I knit anything from it yet??! Oh yeah, no Personal Yarn Store... barely any time to knit. Sad.

Off to hug my Mystery Sock for being so entertaining.

Anonymous said...

Heather! That is crazy gorgeous!!! Serious. But, um, the thing I like most about it is... the designer's last name. I mean, seriously, "Mucklestone"? How cool is that?! I am being very ambitious. I bought the Deep in the Forest Mitten pattern. I may get to that one by next year...

Harper said...

I hadn't thought about it but maybe the awesomeness of that gift issue has influenced my "Meh" reaction to the preview of this year's gift issue.

And seeing this is giving ideas for that rainbow Kauni in my personal yarn store that will never be made into a steeked cardigan. Very cute hat.

Barb said...

I am also completely obsessed with, and covet, this tam. It is gorgeous!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Lovely
Margie in Maryland

Octopus Knits said...

The tam is gorgeous! ...so colorful, and it fits your model beautifully ;)

I've been seeing the Selbu Modern pattern around, and I have to agree, it's lovely. I may have to visit my own personal yarn store to see if I've got some yarns that would work well for these :)

P.S. Your Baby Surprise Jacket is wonderful :)

weezalana said...

Such a pretty tam! The colors are fahhhbulous!

Anonymous said...

That tam is gorgeous! Even if your model has quite the attitude. :)

Jess said...

Wow. I have a new respect for tams- and personal yarn stores.
Lovely.
Thanks for the link too!

Pikku- Kettu said...

This hat is gorgeous! I love all the bright colors.

Ally Jay said...

Great project. Love the details.

Knitting Kris said...

I love the Tam! I'm quite in envy of your knitting skills. I've not done anything stranded yet. But I do remember reading and looking intently at this pattern last year! It was a great issue!

Kirsten said...

Ack! You're killing me! I love this hat!! And Selbu Modern? SOOOO gorgeous!!

Anonymous said...

It looks amazing!

Kate said...

Wow that tam is beautiful. There must be something in the air because I've been craving stranded knitting projects too. Your tension is much better than mine.

margaux said...

gorgeous hat!! and I LOVE Finding yarn I Already have for projects... it's like a treat to myself! haha!

peaknits said...

This tam is lovely - the bright colors are intoxicating! I love it and can't wait to see the next one!

a friend to knit with said...

okay. total work of art.
your pys rocks! i wish i had that good of stuff in mine.

Amy said...

Oooh, I'd forgotten about that pattern!! Nice.

nicole said...

Let's make the tam the new cowl, k?

LOVE IT!

ingrid said...

Your tam is incredibly gorgeous. Isn't it great when you realize you have the ideal yarn for a project in your stash?

And the Selbu Modern? Love it!

Corwink said...

I LOVE those colors. It is stunning!

Michelle O said...

OOH! It is so beautiful. Perhaps it is time I tried some fair isle...I've done one very simple fair isle hat before. I checked out the Selbu Modern pattern and I LOVE it!

You get so much knitting done. How do you do it? I can barely finish a pair of socks!

Karen said...

Wow, that is incredible!! And I'm all for having the biggest PYS possible. :)

Jodi said...

It's beautiful and so colorful! It will be just the thing for a white, wintry day.

I can't believe I didn't buy the holiday issue of IK for myself last year -- I bought the last copy my LYS had as a holiday gift for a friend!

Anonymous said...

Love the tam. Love even more your reference to having a 'big Irish head.'

Kim said...

Hot damn, that's a gorgeous tam! That is an epic issue of IK Holiday!

Jessica said...

I wish I didn't look like such an ass in hats (asshat?! LOL!) because your beautiful version of this is certainly inspiring! I'm also jonesing for colorwork...

Angela said...

So gorgeous! Very, very nice job.

Anonymous said...

LOVE the tam! It's gorgeous!

Melissa said...

Awesome tam. You did a great job!

Sarah said...

A week, for all that colorwork? Very impressive.

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

The tam looks great. I love the colour choices you used.

YawnOver said...

Love this pattern also. Yours is just lovely.

I know what you mean about the Holiday 2007 issue - classic. I now have my eye on this year's issue...especially those aran slippers.

Anonymous said...

crazy gorgeous! truly looks like a beautiful Christmas tree all lit up!

Sonya said...

Lovely tam! That will brighten up those gray winter days that are coming. Looking forward to seeing your Selbu Modern.

Knittymuggins said...

So beautiful!!

Good to know about Selbu Modern too. I have been wanting to make that and I have my own personal LYS of sorts on the second floor :) Time to go shopping!!

knittymuggins

Denise said...

That is awesome! Gorgeous colors too.

Elizabeth said...

Those colors are A-W-E-S-O-M-E.

Anonymous said...

That is so gorgeous! Beautiful colors!!

Kyle William said...

amazing colors!!! :) (but I have learned to expect nothing but the best when I visit your blog!)

xoxo

Dove Knits said...

Ok, I just got to scrape my jaw off the floor. This is gorgeous.