Hi everyone! I hope summer is proceeding beautifully for everyone and that the bounty at your farmer’s market is as delicious as it is near me now.
How do things always manage to get so crazy? There seems always to be so much good work to do and so much fun to be had. It’s tough to organize! Really! The past week, in the midst of the 4th of July celebrations, I’ve been a swatching maniac for the summer issues. The themes have been really challenging and it has been a lot of fun. Compiling materials for submission is exciting, but it’s a little like having one’s head in a bucket. It seems necessary to shut out distractions and to sometimes ignore other important work. It’s strange to be spending so much time knitting and have so little to show for it… just little itty bitty pieces of cloth, nothin’ to see here. I very much enjoy swatching, though. It’s an opportunity to try methods that intrigue me. As swatches, they are not subject to the same degree of scrutiny as finished pieces. They are full of promise and still contain the possibility of perfection. Here I’ve lined up some spicy shades for a colorwork swatch I’ve been working on.
The Sterling Renaissance Festival kicked off its season over the weekend, having postponed opening to allow time for 4th of July festivities. The weather miraculously cooled to perfect dress-up temperatures, so we had a great weekend. I was having coffee on the deck very early one morning last week. Things were dead quiet and very peaceful. Sensing movement but not conscious of any sound, I looked up. Here’s what I saw. Look closely…yup. A camel. Actually, there were three. Weird, huh?
I had a sweet reunion with the lovely Jennifer of Holiday Yarns on Saturday. We’re hoping to collaborate on a kit sometime further into the fall. Speaking of having one’s head in a bucket, Jennifer has been dyeing her gorgeous yarns like a mad woman here in Upstate New York. During a visit to The Yarn Cupboard in Jamesville last week, I found a much larger selection of her swoon worthy FlockSock yarn in lots of exciting new colors. Jennifer has worked diligently with her mill to create a hosiery twist for her FlockSock yarn. This makes for a sock yarn with surpassing durability and stitch definition. You can purchase FlockSock online, from retailers like The Yarn Cupboard and here at the Sterling Renaissance Festival. Jennifer dyes FlockSock in solids, semi-solids and variegates.
In light of all of these goings on, I hope you’ll forgive the delay in releasing the Maisie Pullover. I got a little pressed for time at the end of the week and didn’t want to rush it. I’m ready for you this week, though! Maisie will debut on Friday morning, Friday July 13th. Who releases a new pattern on Friday the 13th?? I do! Hope to see you then!
In the meantime, happy knitting!
