How do you motivate yourself when you’re in the middle of a long project? I have embarked on a Noro sweater done in fingering weight yarn that has an interesting construction and I’m still not sure how it’s going to go together – that’s the attraction. However, I have to knit about a mile of plain old stockinette stitch before I can see how to put it together – that’s the drawback. I motivate myself by putting little pins into the 25th, 50th, 75th etc. row so I can at least see that I’ve accomplished something. I also say: I’ll do 10 rows tonight, then work on something quick and fun. Sometimes I just keep going, especially if there’s something interesting on TV so that the stockinette doesn’t put me to sleep, and sometimes 10 rows is all I do, but at least I’ve made progress on the project. I see a lot of projects that people have put down for months at a time, and can’t remember where they were. Even two rows a night will get the thing done eventually – sticking it in the back of a closet doesn’t work!
Don’t miss David’s scarves from Classic Elite’s Liberty Wool. They’re beautiful, and I’m glad he got some of the yarn because it’s out of stock and I can’t get more until later in November (they hope!) This week I’m getting some Trendsetter Sierra, a multicolored bulky with textury-bits – should make great scarves, cowls, and quick sweaters. Have you started your holiday knitting yet? We have a million ideas.
Here is a link to a fashion show of handknits held in Philly during Fashion Week. You’ll recognize some of the knits if you get the main knitting magazines, but it’s fun to see them on real people and in motion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZrWm7aZlcM
People brought in great show-and-tell this week:
Caroline Simonson loves intricate projects and is currently working on an aran cardigan, but she brought in this wonderful throw to show us. She worked it all using double-knitting, from which you get a double thickness of fabric with the motifs coming out light-against-dark on one side and dark-against-light on the other. It’s a painstaking procedure, but look at the result and the very cute theme for a small boy:
Doris Luckinbill wore this great side-to-side sweater done in Noro Transitions (sadly discontinued):
when she brought this beauty in:
It’s a design from Maggie’s Ireland, done in Berroco’s Seduce with accents in various other yarns. I hope the wonderful textures come through in the photo – it’s really a masterpiece!
Karen Wenrich is working on a Featherweight Cardigan in Noro’s Kirameki, their new laceweight. It’s so beautiful I thought I’d show you the work-in-progress:
And here is another masterpiece! Donna Guthrie finished her Great American Afghan, just in time to give it to her niece who is getting married next weekend. Just look – I mean really look – at this – so perfectly finished and blocked, the beautiful sawtooth edging, and the blocks each beautifully rendered, then brought into the whole.
Many people have been working with Donna in her afghan classes, struggling through the harder blocks and learning a lot of new techniques. To see this beautiful piece all together should really be a motivator to continue through all the blocks, no matter how tricky they are!
Well, I can’t top that, so that’s all for today!
See you soon…
Trish
