Back to School: Cecily

I never cease to marvel at the incredible talents of our knitpal designers. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by a cohort of super talented designers that seems to effortlessly churn out patterns that keep us interested and knee-deep in fabulous knits. One of those designers, Melissa of Knitting School Dropout fame, just won't quit with the amazing. Case in point: the Cecily Beret.

The Specs
Pattern: Cecily Beret by Knitting School Dropout.
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy, 'Happy Forest', .75 a skein.
Needles: 1 and 2.5 16 mm addi turbos.
Mods: Please don't.

'Happy Forest' just happens to be my most favorite Dream in Color ever. I feel that it should be renamed 'Happy Place', or why not even 'Happy Pill'? I suggest this because the effect this luscious green has on me is akin to pharmaceutically-enhanced euphoria. YES it's the yarn equivalent of ____________(fill in the blank with your drug of choice. I'll choose poppers c. 1981, before its deleterious effect on the brain was so harshly revealed and they became, well, not even slightly fun. Hmph.)

This pattern was the type of affair that the more intrepid among us could whip up in a few days. I chose to do mine slow boat to China style and It has been ages since I've knit something at such a fine gauge. Far too long! This was a pure joy from start to finish, so I strongly recommend you give it a whirl.

Melissa is a seriously talented knitter who deserves your full attention. You know another designer who is nothing short of freakishly talented? Larissa! And if you high tail it over to her blog you might win something truly exciting...

Hup Hup Holland!

Things you most likely know about me by now: when I promise you phenomena such as a cavalcade of knits, you that this likely means you won't see hide nor hair of me for a month. Oops! Hey, it's hard work having both your kids at camp--suddenly finding oneself with deep existential choices such as Shall I have a Moscow Mule or a Dark n Stormy for dinner? Which buttermilk-based Smitten Kitchen recipe shall I make next? And--now this last one is knitting related--Would Button Jar or Longjohns be the most appealing choice for my Rhinebeck sweater? Why your day can get eaten right up by such preoccupations!

You know another thing that can eat your day right up? Doing another Veera Välimäki shawl pattern...

The Specs
Pattern: Different Lines by Veera Välimäki
Yarn: madelinetosh tosh sock in 'Nikko Blue' and 'Citric'
Needles: Size 6 Kollage Square Firm Cable, because the Soft Cable ones swim with the fishes, if you know what I mean.
Mods: I did three extra stripes, partly because I fancied a longer shawl than the ones I'd seen, but mainly because I knew a 1/6 of a skein of 'Citric' would be of little use to me and thus ragemaking. Glad I did, it is indeed the perfect size.

Now there is no doubt in my mind that when you read the whiny grousing on my part w/r/t/ the Stripe Study Shawl, the whole waah-it's taking-a-long-time-and-giving-me-knitting-zombie-brain folderol, you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was in all likelihood moments away from casting on for another VV pattern and signing up for another tour of duty in garter stitch/short row boot camp. And you were so right. You know me better than I know myself!

I really strongly recommend this pattern. The shape is quite different from the Stripe-Study as when all is said and done you end with a garment that is quite a pleasingly odd shape. I can well imagine this will do double duty as a shawl and a scarfy thing.

You see here that the stars converged and the universe aligned to allow me to have two of my three models in the same place at the same time [kids do eventually return from camp, thankfully, and jolt you back into a life of slightly less indulgence]. How could I not take advantage of such a fortuitous event? You can see from the picture that the shawl is quite expansive and can easily accommodate both.

I had been dying to put together these colors--this particular shade of blue with this very shade of orange--forever. Very hup hup Holland, don't you agree? Another thing about me? I am a lover of all things Dutch: Double Dutch Bus, Dutch Wonderland, Pass the Dutch(ie), Dutch Bulbs, Dutch Wooden Sneakers from Holland....but come to think of it, not Dutch Treat so much and I am definitely glad I never had a Dutch Uncle.

So, yeah. Isn't this the part of the post when I promise you the moon about FOs coming down the pike? Hmmm...maybe a litle Dutch Rock instead?