What’s On?

Can you believe those juniper berries?? I should be making gin! The photo above has little, if anything, to do with knitting, but it’s a snapshot of our world taken just a few days before The Snow while I was out with Ted. Pretty, isn’t it, the pasture with all the mist?

But on to stringier things…Because I know I’m going to be bombarded in the next few days with deadline knitting, I figured this would be the time to cast on a cardigan (?!?) I’m sure I shall someday file this decision in the “What Was She Thinking?” folder, but what the heck. Truth is, I need a cardigan. More importantly, I need a cardigan that is not ‘boil-her-in-her-own-juices’ warm. I am a woman of a certain age, after all, and with Carl home recuperating from surgery, I’m finding the house very warm. Then cold. Then hot again. And so it goes.

My beloved woolen Martha Cardigan is getting one heck of a work out (off, on, off, on). I love its square styling and easy raglan fit and I find it so easy to style and layer. So, I thought perhaps another, this second one in a cotton/linen blend, would serve me well.

You may remember the little romance I was having in the spring with KnitPicks Cotlin, the DK blend in muted, subtle colors. And you may remember that I started a tank top, Orinoco, in the Raindrop color. That’s another one for the WWST file; who wants a DK weight tank top? At least, not a DK tank top in such a round, fulsome yarn, so…out she came. Those skeins, plus a few extra, are being repurposed into a new Martha in a weight that will be wearable here at home and just perfect for New Orleans in February. Despite not having the time (stealing the time, really), I’m enjoying a simple knit in this suede-soft  yarn.

Look at what the nice FedEx man brought me yesterday! Oooooh. This is simply dreamy. It’s divine to touch and in the deepest, most luxurious inky blue-black shade, “Night Sky”. Back in the summer, after I published the Hill Island Shawl in Cascade’s Anchor Bay, I got a nice email from Carly, the charming Cascade representative. She kindly offered yarn support if ever I wanted to feature Cascade yarn in a Free Pattern Friday offering. This week as I was planning my January shawl series, I thought of Cascade’s Pure Alpaca and <huzzah!> here it is! This is 100% Baby Alpaca in a worsted weight and boasts a silky drape and velvety softness just perfect for shawl knitting. The idea is to explore lace knitting in heavier, wintery yarns and in a range of shapes and sizes. I’ve begun sketching and swatching and I’m hoping to have preliminary patterns and yarns out to test/sample knitters starting next week. 

It wouldn’t be a WIP post without socks, now would it? Admittedly, these socks were also in last week’s post (and they are still not blocked). What does that tell you? Actually, I’m enjoying having soft, lightweight yarn to turn to from time to time and, although I’d really like to release these patterns, I’d hate to rush through these yummy merino socks without enjoying every minute. They’re so jolly and they nip along quite smartly with the stripes to gauge my progress.  So little time, so many happy knits!

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!