I hope that where ever you are, whatever you may be doing today, that you are able to take a moment and share in this amazing day. I'll be listening to NPR or watching history play out on TV as I go about my work. If you stop by the shop, we'll have NPR on and CNN streaming on the computer.
The past few days have been a flurry of knitting. I'm having a little problem focusing on one project - there are just so many I want to be knitting right now.
There is Amused for out current knit along.
I'm now well past the sleeves and the cabled V-neck. I decided to stop the cable where the designer instructed. However, a number of people who are knitting along with us are thinking of carrying the cable down to the bottom rib. I am very curious to see how that turns out. I've noticed that stopping such a bulky cable halfway down does leave extra folds in the fabric below the cable. Since I am using pure alpaca, it should drape well and not be a problem.
The pure alpaca raises a design question for me. Alpaca is notorious for stretching. I knew this when I picked it, and actually that was one of the reasons I picked it. Alpaca may stretch, but it also drapes like silk and is body skimming without hugging. So, if I know it might stretch a bit, how long do I make it? I'm thinking to go with the designer's length, so that I ultimately end up with a slightly longer sweater.
Along with Amused, I've been playing with a vest that Amy of Spunky Eclectic is letting me test knit for her. She designed it for her hand dyed chunky yarn - the Biggie Yarn. The vest is called One Sided, and will provide directions for both men's and women's versions.
Here it is so far. I just need to add the rib around the neck and arms.
It fits perfectly!!!!!! And it is wicked cute on me. Hee hee. Amy will be offering it as a free pattern with her yarn once I get all the test info to her.
I have also started the Magnum sweater from Twinkle - no pics, that project is waiting for me at the shop. AND I've pulled yarn for a worsted weight sleeveless Lopi design. Details on that later.
It's not all sweaters. Yesterday, I cast on for a pair of socks using this:
That would be Spunky Eclectic Skinny Socks in Sea Glass. I'm teaching a class on knitting socks on Saturday and needed to get going on a pair to illustrate what we'll be doing. How beautiful is this colorway???? I don't know how I missed it before. Unfortunately, we sold out of Sea Glass immediately and I need to order more ASAP. But, when Amy dropped off Sea Glass, she also brought all of this:
Yummy. Her colors are amazing.
She also brought a little sample for her Fair Isle and Steeking class.
How adorable it that? Anyone taking the classes will be knitting this little teddy bear sweater. Amy was so taken with how the design turned out, she is now working on a full sized version.
Speaking of Amy, the new Interweave Knitscene arrived yesterday, and Spunky Eclectic was featured in the hot items section. Congrats Amy!!
Time to get the kids ready for school. Yesterday they spent the day with me at the shop.
And I got to teach a good friend to knit
She is a natural!!