August 18, 2009
10 a.m. and I’ve just closed up the house for the day, since it’s heading for around 95 today. Now I want to write this post before this room gets too hot and I start sticking to the desk and the keyboard. Ah, well, it’s August, right?
I just finished my leaf-lace shawl and should have photos next week. It will look a little lame next to this 
which is Karen Walter’s beautiful shawl made from a soft pink Kidsilk Haze for her mother-in-law! Isn’t it just beautiful? She says it’s easy. That’s when you’d like to smack her. Just a little smack.
So I’ll save my humble little triangle for next week. It’s pretty, too, but…
I’ve been swatching numerous things this week but accomplishing little. I started a sock to make me feel like I was actually working on something instead of just thinking about working on something. I noticed this week that every yarn I brought in early to do a model from is red. Beautiful rich reds that I love, and I thought, okay, you didn’t realize this was happening but it looks like you’re in another rut. One that I don’t want out of yet because I love the yarns and the colors. This is one of them, called K’acha from Mirasol:
It’s alpaca, merino and silk and just really lovely. It may be hard to see from this photo but the fabric comes out just slightly mottled in color, very subtle and very beautiful. I don’t know what’s to become of it yet but I think I found a real favorite for this year.
I’m swatching with Plymouth’s “King George” a lovely baby alpaca, merino, and cashmere blend to make this sweater from the latest Vogue Knitting
I love all the different stitches used and the asymmetry of the cabled edge on one side and not the other. It will be in red, of course.
I can’t remember if I showed you this finished or not. This is Anhinga from Norah Gaughan Vol. 5, done in Berroco’s wool/silk “Palace”. It turned out so well and I just love it, and I didn’t need to change a thing in the pattern, which always makes me happy.
The fabric drapes beautifully in Palace and it’s definitely a next-to-the-skin yarn. The front panel is knit on an angle so that it drapes well (you don’t look like you’re pregnant) while the upper part of the bodice is fitted so it doesn’t look sloppy. Fun to knit! Here is Berroco’s version in their merino wool.
Last week my Skacel shipment arrived, with a beautiful new lofty bulky wool/microfiber/alpaca blend called Pacolana. Lightweight and warm, it’s for sweaters that you’ll love to pull on in the middle of winter and not feel weighed down by pounds of knitting. I love Schulana’s fall advertising sweater, which is done in Pacolana in this gorgeous blue. It’s also shown in white in the design collection – just as lovely. Both colors and charcoal, olive and (surprise!) a rich red are in stock.
Check out this adorable 2-button cardigan that Diane Huddleston whipped up out of Zen ribbon. I love this top-down style and the deep ribbing at the neckline and hem. Sorry you can’t see it very well, variegated yarn is hard for my little camera to deal with – take my word for it, it’s really pretty and very stylish.
And Sue Gelb finished this great Making Waves laptop case for her daughter – gosh, I’m so proud of her! With hands a-shakin’ she launched into this project with many doubts and a couple mis-starts, but took herself in hand and finished it with a burst of confidence! It turned out really well and who wouldn’t love this gorgeous color? Now she’s onto a Napa Sweater for herself in a beautiful dark blue tweed. Yay, Sue!
Slowly, slowly, the class schedule comes together. Give us another week or two…
Okay, I’m going to go sit in the A/C and swatch some more. Maybe I’ll even cast on for the Vogue sweater. See you soon!
Trish
