Sunday Swatching

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon at home after a late and silly night. While my lover napped I, having a little more energy than he, decided to take advantage of the peace by practicing my knitting technique. I got out my old stitch dictionary and cast-on to learn two colour Jacquard.

HOLY MOLY!! Who knew it could be this easy? This is honestly one of the simplest things I have ever done. Look at how amazing and complicated it appears. Just look at it!!

The bottom inch is Bicolour Half Linen Stitch and the top half is Bicolour Brick.

Now, how to incorporate such magic into my actual knitting?

All these effects are achieved by knitting with a single colour in a row
using various combos of knits, purls and slipped stitches.

I picked up this 1978 French publication at a second hand shop for 50 cents.
What a find.

At Least I Have A Photo

Remember this lovely sock.?
Well it is no more. That is, to specify, it is no more in my possession. Yesterday it did an unobserved leap out my bag and no amount of looking could locate it. 
I am so mad I could just spit.

So Many Socks

It seems that all my recent FO's have been socks.Yes, I am using stash and experimenting with new techniques. Yes, of course i love socks! However, there may be too much of a good thing - especially as it's summer and wool socks are not needed. After the current pair, my Business Casual in Orange Octopus, I shall make something other than footwear. 

So many patterns. So little time.

I worried at first that the criss-cross cable pattern would not be highlighted sufficiently with this variegated yarn. Now I think it's just fine. The effect is subtle, but definitely there.

I had fun shooting the Scrappy Socks about town. The bright colour photographed so well!
Here they are at the garden centre the day I was shopping for herbs.

The photo shoot that ended up on my Ravelry page was impromptu. I passed a gorgeous brick nook while out on my bike on a sunny day. I kicked off my sneakers, set the 10 second delay, and got several good shots of my own feet.

In the Shadow of a Dream

Imagine being found

on a morning like this

in the fragrance of spring rain

every sense a painful

happiness breathing

on a morning like this

a little lonely a little dazed

eyes still filled

with longing and dreams

To see you walk through

a veil of fog and gates of rain

to meet me this morning

with a glance that says

that I am seen and found

for as long as forever

Ulrikka S. Gernes

A Sudden Sky

Brick Books 2001

Distractions Part II

Sometimes I just need to get my creative juices flowing by playing with my dolls. Here they are trying on some summer outfits. 

Distractions

Do you ever feel, as I sometimes do, a little guilty about all those WIP's waiting for attention? I am trying, really I am, to finish the lace stole I started over two years ago. Well, maybe it was actually three years. 

How can one sit down and apply oneself when there are distractions like the Pompom Anniversary issue hitting the shelves? I ordered a copy as a birthday gift to myself and the store called the other day to say it was in. There are so many beautiful things I want to cast on. Right. Now.

However, I am only on Row 258 of the approximately 600 required to finish this lace project. Quiet opportunities to knit complex lace are few and when they do come along, I find I only manage 8 to 10 rows in a sitting. 

I am making a pact with myself. No new projects until I hit Row 310 and also finish the current pair of socks. This seems a reasonable goal. Then, who knows what delights await?

Another stole seems silly but this one by Thea Coleman is so beautiful.

A sideways sweater would be a new challenge.