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May 30, 2008
The needles and the hooks
I must say it's lovely to be getting back in the saddle. I'm trying to write quickly and not obsess too much about each post, for that way, when time is as short as it is, madness lies.
After finishing Stan Rabbit the Second and the nappy soaker my fingers were positively itching; something I haven't felt in a long while. As you can see I've been swatching:
Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in Tangerine, in a simple purl dot pattern, for a pullover inspired by Shirley Maclaine in The Children's Hour which I watched on my laptop when spending a night in hospital (with Stan who was having light treatment for jaundice) and was sufficiently charmed by to take a screen grab even though I had a week-old baby occupying 99.8% of my thoughts.
Chameleon Colorworks' Evolution, in Cobalt and Mushroom, purchased from Alice at Ally Pally last year, for an easy pullover with probably some sort of ruching (how do you spell that?) at the bust. I'm not sure yet. I'll cast on at the hem and think about it as I go. A completely decadent choice of yarn for a sporty/casual garment but it is every bit as soft as cashmere and I was heavily pregnant and dreaming of a time I could fit in to a trim little sport/casual pullover.
As if that weren't enough, I've started a sock (Drunken Bees, in gorgeous BFL sock yarn from (MamaBlue), and a cushion cover in that crochet pattern that was everywhere as throws a few months back. I actually made a cot blanket for Stan in red and white in the same pattern - for a long time he needed 'coaching' through his daytime naps and the crochet was simple enough that I could produce a stripe in the near darkness; one stripe per nap. The cushion cover will go some way to using up some of my stash of odd balls of 4-ply and DK cotton which are not going to be terribly useful for much else. And I'm quite delighted with how it's turning out, I shall pretend (to myself) it is Missoni Homes and throw it in an artfully disarranged style on the charcoal chaise.
I know that progress is going to be so much slower than in those heady days when I could swatch and produce an entire garment a week later. I'm having one of my periodic purges around Raitte Hall, delving in cupboards and throwing out tonnes and tonnes of that endless stuff that just does keep accumulating, and keep finding bags of half finished projects squirrelled away. This is a bad habit of mine and one which must be got on top of sooner rather than later. Projects must be finished or frogged, I will no longer tolerate them lurking. My oldest UFO is only getting older and I must wear that cardigan this winter (and surely that is a marker of a great design that I still want to wear it two decades (actual age unconfirmed) after it was started?).
The next pattern I'll publish here will be Tiggy, but I need to organise a photo shoot first. Not so easy with a small boy who is frustrated with lying down and only wants to sit up, but who is still liable to suddenly lurch and keel over, cueing yowls of frustration that he is not as big a boy as he wants to be. Patience, precious boy. Too soon you'll be sitting, crawling, standing, and one day walking away from your poor dear mama. Perhaps, while you are still too small to protest, you'll be pressed into service as my season's must-have, goes-with-anything accessory.
Posted by Anna at May 30, 2008 03:07 PM
Comments
Welcome back! :)
Posted by: Phoe at May 30, 2008 07:04 PM
The orange swatch looks great. Mamablue yarn is really one of my favourites, I love the way she dyes it.
Posted by: Lin at May 30, 2008 07:52 PM
Oh I LOVED that film - I think I even know the jumper you mean.
Good luck with your UFOs. I have one for my impending Peanut that I think still counts - I bought the yarn a month ago intending the cast on that day, and I still haven't...
Posted by: Kitty Jimjams at May 30, 2008 08:05 PM
ahhh, i remember those days of nap coaching, twins, no less. i remember thinking i could knit cables in the semi-dark then it went to total black out phase so i went with simple garter bits.
isn't it nice to have brain power that can now be devoted to non-baby related items. it is such a relief when it occurs. so glad you are back in the loop.
Posted by: mamie at May 30, 2008 08:52 PM
It's very selfish, but I'm glad we're taking your attention away from Stan at last :) And you spelt it correctly - ruche, ruched, ruching.
Posted by: Helen at May 31, 2008 09:49 PM
Back with a vengence! What a lovely long post. I too am having one of those bursts of clearing out and up, saying farewell to yarn that I haven't used. It must be spring. Love, love the sock yarn and the nautical stripes.
Posted by: alison at June 1, 2008 12:15 PM
It's great that you're back but taking things as they come. I will be in the same boat all too soon!
Posted by: Julia at June 4, 2008 04:47 PM
Well, what a very pleasant surprise to read two new posts. It is always such a pleasure.
Cheers.
Posted by: katie at June 6, 2008 04:56 AM
I am so excited you are bringing out Tiggy! I have been waiting for it ever since you published your original FO. it's such a darling little knit!
Posted by: kae at June 10, 2008 07:46 AM