I’ve got three fabulous WIPs on my needles this week…Luma, Brisbane and Martha. Martha is technically an FO and is on her way to the Tech Editor, Brisbane is blossoming as a redux and Luma is new. So much of what follows depends on the weather which is currently as hot as hades! We had a humidity level of 89% at 6 am today!
LUMA
As you know, I’m always on the hunt for exciting warm-weather wool blends for knitting here in the Deep South. That’s how I discovered my new passion, Luma. As I surfed along on Yarn.com using random search criteria, up popped this gorgeous yarn from The Fibre Co. A luminous blend of merino, cotton, linen and silk, Luma is the perfect commix for transitional and southern knits.
I wasn’t impressed when I first opened the package. It appeared to be a two-ply (which I do not love) and it was neither here nor there in the color department. I seriously considered sending it back. When I began to swatch, the Luma magic overcame my misgivings. It grew softer and silkier with each stitch as the linen and silk fibers began to interact. The lofty merino imparted puffiness and a slight halo to my stitch pattern. Something magical happened to the color, too. It went from being a somewhat drab blue gray to a lovely pearly blue/green. I like it so much that I ordered enough for a cardigan!
What now…?
I’ve had this stitch pattern on my mind and in my workbasket for a couple of years waiting for just the right project. I’ve always sort of pictured it as a shawl edge, but a couple of weeks ago, hovering between waking and sleeping, it occurred to me that it would make a wonderful yoke. A bit of math, a little swatch, and voila! an idea began to take shape.
The problem now is that I have no idea what to call it! To me, the motif suggests a tall flower with a single blossom planted in careful rows. Then I thought it could be a field of thistles. Ugh, I don’t know. If you have any suggestions, shoot me an email. I’m really stuck, so for now, I’m calling it Luma like the yarn.
BRISBANE
Remember how this journey started? Though it’s very pretty, this poor shapeless hat had no body so I decided to give it a fresh new face. New yarn and a new gauge has given new life to Brisbane! Thanks to Valley Yarns Huntington, the Brisbane Beanie has clearly delineated cables that add structure and shape. Even the ribbing has taken on a pretty crispness!
Because it’s lightweight, I can wear Brisbane on cooler days in the fall and winter, with or without a coat. On warm days, I can wear this easy care hat with jeans and a T-shirt for a little added warmth. (Take a look at those cute little tear-shaped stitch markers which were a gift from Miss Laura!) I can’t wait to get it done!
MARTHA
The Martha Pullover is done! She can now take on full FO status because the pattern went to the Tech Editor today. I will be opening up a Beta pool for Martha around the end of the week. If you recall, I based the Martha Pullover on my favorite cardigan of the same name. It’s just the right length and weight with just the right amount of detail.
I can’t wait to wear this! Soon, the weather will cool down and I can pop the Martha Pullover over shorts or linen dresses. I’m excited to add this pretty color to my wardrobe, too!
