theknittyvritti

mad (wo)men

Yes, of course, I've known my share of madwomen...you remember my line of work?

But I'm thinking here of another kind of Mad Woman, the kind that we see on Mad Men. Women in pencil skirts.

I'm thinking about them this fall because I bought a bunch of pencil skirts, thinking that they're a classic look that will work for work into my 60's.....

....and then realized that I lacked the sweater wardrobe to accompany them.

A situation I am working to rectify as quickly as possible.

Bea, the first line of a series of pencil-toppers, is ready for assembly. Made of a lovely dk weight Colourmart merino cashmere. If I were a Mad Woman, I'd write a commercial singing it's praises, it's that soft.

 

i started a notebook

 

That's how I know I'm serious about this stashdown business.

Anything I do that is serious starts with a notebook. Granted, some of the notebooks are rather slim,meaning the project didn't take off, or that it took off so well that I didn't have time for my notebook any more, but the notebook, like a groundhog or a robin, is the first sign of something on it's way.

I have spent the better part of this weekend getting ready for serious stash knitting. Things are going rather well, although it is time-consuming and frankly exhausting work, involving many irritating phone calls to Hightest. All of our lives, we have tried our best to save each other from fashion disasters, a sisterly act of kindness.  I have to remember she means well when she tells me how terrible something will look on me, or makes fun of my aesthetic. sShe's usually right.

 

I even got into that mood where you go the extra mile, and made little swatch cards for some of my yarns. Very Koo-waii (cute in Japanese, remember?), and ultimately, they will be very helpful.

 
Here's one of the first on my to-knit list, from Verena Winter 2010. Don't worry, I won't be styling it with a big necklace....I've got enough beautiful colourmart merino cashmere in a color called ombre rose, a deep dusty pink that's one of my all time favorite shades. Should keep me busy for a while.

 

 
And here's another. I've got enough Peruvia in grey to make this one from Vogue Knitting Winter 2009/10. Looks like it will be fast and easy...good movie knitting.

There are others, but for now I think I'm just going to put all of this stuff away and go cast on.........

accessory envy

 

Hightest has been hand-knitting for a little over a year now. She's made a few sweaters, but the newest incarnation of a half century old case of sibling rivalry is accessory envy. Mine. Because unburdened by (final count) 24 sweaters worth of yarn (unlike me), she has been making accessories.

A few examples below.

First, a Thorpe. Now everyone has one....except me.

Next, the DK Eco Slouchy hat. I can't believe she already has two black hats....and I have none.

Here's a more colorful hat that I wouldn't mind having, the Portland Tweed Pom-pom hat.

There are also scarves.

Like this Rhodocrocite.

And my all time favorite thing she has and I don't:

her Elbaite. I do not, however, envy her her tail. I didn't get one, and I don't really want one.

(pattern info for each of these available on Ravelry).

order and chaos

 
When the needle and pins come out, the sweater is almost finished. My faithful attention to the classic shirt has finally produced a garment...or will do in just a few more hours when the last bits of finishing are.....finished.

Recall that I have been utterly faithful to this project. It's been difficult, no wonder, then, that the last few days have been filled with alternating bouts of sewing and selecting, swatching, and packaging new projects. Four in all.

Chaos is returning. And I am looking forward to it. Utterly.

 
There will be Ann Hanson's Bel Air, in Spirit Fiber Sunna. In a beautiful bottle green.

 

From Baby Cocktails, Dark and Stormy, in a red-black-gray Acero from Brook Farms. 

 
Amber Allison's cozy Fireside Sweater in Peruvia.

 
And Ostara, A Rene Leverington shawl in this limited edition Sundara silk lace.

I feel so organized as I assemble my project-pacs. I'm having a great time assigning yarns to projects, and I'm even entertaining a grandiose fantasy of making  more of these little parcels of potential.

Nagging at the edges of my awareness though, is the realization that these four are already going to wreak havoc, as each of them, pressing to be finished, competes for my attention.

That being said, I'm going to sign off and head down to the basement. I have an idea for some Colourmart merino.......

 

slow knitting

 

Blogging doesn't lend itself to the projects I'm currently working on. There's no way to churn them out and throw them up on the internet. They are each large, complicated items knit on small, small needles. Working on them is making me think about all the things in life that just take time, that can't be rushed.  And how fast we all want everything to move, especially today.

Funny I should be thinking about this, since I'm also writing (for work) about a psychotherapy in which the beginning evidences of arriving at the end results, while they are here, took much longer than even I expected them to. It has been almost excruciatingly moving to witness as the combination of hope and willingness to take tiny steps has resulted in the beginnings of a certainty that the desired ends will be achieved. At times, watching this effort has almost brought me to tears. So much so that if the goal was never reached, the effort would stand as something beautiful and meaningful anyways.

I feel similarly about these projects. They are each in their own way so exquisite, the work is so pleasurable, that if they were never finished, I'm not sure I would mind. How long I wonder, would you be willing to stop by and visit them? Would I be able to convey the satisfaction I find in them? Are you willing to find out? Or do you need an end product, a finished object, to feel like something is happening?

b(red)

Operations Man and I were each busy in our own way on our recent vacation. When not knitting itchy dog hair or repairing B.'s sweater, I've been working on my red shirt.

OM has been baking....and baking....and baking. He's a bread enthusiast, and he recently moved from eater to maker. His book of choice for learning to bake has been "The Bread Baker's Apprentice", by Peter Reinhart, pictured below, with his first (too heavy) sourdough miche.

 
There has also been multi-grain bread......

ciabatta....

baguettes....

brioche....

 

and an amazing cornbread with fresh corn kernels and bacon

Needless to say, we came home a bit, well, doughier, than we were before we went away......

a bad case

 

Oh, man, I've got it bad. Startitis, the frustrated variant. That condition that makes whatever you are working on pale in comparison to those projects that you contemplate.

The combination of the long slog through tumbling blocks (only half an arm to go!) and those Rhinebeck purchases sitting patiently in a pile has been a perfect breeding ground for startitis. But blocks is almost done, as is harami, sitting happily atop it in the photo above.

What next, you may ask? Well, since you asked, I've got a slew of things lined up in my personal queue, ready to go with yarns that have been swatched and found fitting.

Three of them are from one Debbie Bliss book, "Alpaca Silk Two":

 

I did start this one a few months ago, before I became aware that if I didn't focus on blocks, it wouldn't be done in 2008, my target year. I've had this Classic Elite Inca Alpaca yarn for a while. It's been several projects, but I think this is the keeper.

 

This alpaca twist yarn is one of my Rhinebeck scores. I think it would make a beautiful ruffle-edged cardigan. And after my sad time with the ruffled cardigan from Runway Knits (see sidebar), I'm ready for another go at this style.

 

No one over six months of age should be caught dead wearing this insipid shade of baby blue. I think this sweater will be fabulous, however,  in this black wool/mohair blend from Brooks Farms.

Moving away from the Debbie Bliss book, the incredible handspun I bought from Windspun Yarns will be perfect for this Interweave Fall 2008 number:

 

And finally, I have discovered that since I started lace knitting, I always have to have a lace project on the needles. I bought the beautiful "Lace Knitting in Estonia" by Nancy Bush a few weeks ago, and I think this shawl might look nice in the hard-to-see coral cashmere lace weight pictured below that I mistakenly bought for gloves (too thin!) this summer.

 

I know the beautiful pattern of the lace shows much better than the yarn here, but I promise, there will be plenty of yarn action once this gets going.

How do you handle your startitis? I am contemplating a day of casting on, maybe over the winter break. Realistically, though, I think each one of these will sneak onto the needles well before then, in a moment when I feel very confident about hitting my deadline on blocks.

Thanks to everyone who has voted for at least one favorite object (see previous post). I must say, it's been an enjoyably motley vote, with more than one person simply refusing to choose one project. Don't worry, it won't disqualify you to like more than one project. That would be silly. After all, the whole point of the vote was to get compliments on my knitting in exchange for a chance to win some yarn, so more is better!

I've been walking around saying "I'll go tally the votes", just like Jeff Probst (yes, I'm an original "Survivor" fan) all day. Tomorrow, I will go tally the votes, but for today, it's still not too late!

ok, ok

I know, enough already. I've already got projects lined up extending into 2012. But I've been egged on in my compulsive window shopping by a Ravelry thread asking for suggestions for "funky" (I wouldn't use that word myself--it always reminds me of dirty socks) knits for fifty-ish women. I don;t know how funky my taste is--I do know that I try to wear clothes that are kind of ageless. I learned this from my mother, whose clothes from the seventies still look current.

I've also been egged on by the brilliant idea of giving some of the things I don't wear anymore to a local consignment shop. More dollars equals more yarn. I do have some things in my closet that I haven't worn for five years, and although I feel a little sad about getting rid of them, I'm able to think happily of them as future yarn.

Without further ado, the final four:

The last of the bulky sweater-coats, this one in Interweave, Fall 2008. This might be easier than a cable pattern, but it has great texture, and the back detail kind of makes it.

I really love this alpaca sweater by Robin Melanson, featured in Vogue Knitting, Fall 2008. There's some really nice detail on it, especially the layered cuff, that I'm anxious to try.

Excuse the out of focus picture, but you know how it is after a long day of shopping.......

I love the collar on this one, but I'd probably re-shape the body a little.

Finally, I couldn't resist this one, although I don't think the right yarn will be at Rhinebeck. It's classic Dr. Knittyvritti, from another 'eighties collection. I can just imagine myself snuggling into my chair for a long afternoon of work in this one. Very Dr. Melfi.

There you have it, the wish list. Now let's see what gets bought, and more important, what gets made.

shopping list two

Well, this is somewhat addicting. I have four more wish list items to show you, and there are four more right behind it on my not so little wishlist!

Enid from Interweave, Winter 2006. I love the shoulder detail, and I think this would be beautiful in gray,maybe even with a matching skirt. I love knitted suits.

Last winter's Vogue. I love variegated yarn but rarely like anything knit in it. I think this could be OK in a subtle palette. It's a tunic, but might be nice as a dress.

Another beauty from Interweave. What is it with me and cables this year? But I do think this just epitomizes the snuggle-up-in-it-for-fall sweater.

Another blast from the past, from an eighties Vogue. This one comes with optional shoulder pads, (do you remember?). I'll pass on them, and I think I would narrow the sleeves a bit, too. but I love that built-in scarf.

OK, enough for now. I know I'll probably never make most of these, but it is kind of fun to showcase them even if they're never really be mine.....

makin' a list, checkin' it twice

Yep, it's that time of year. Last year, I had no idea what Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool was, but ever since I found out, I've been eagerly anticipating my first one. And preparing. In the only ways I can. First, I have been surreptitiously practicing the invisible elbow jab, and the you-didn't-see-that instep crush so that when I spot something I want I can disable the competition while going undetected. Knitters aren't all that aggressive, so this will give me an edge when it comes to grabbing merchandise.

Second, and even more dangerous, although to me and not to others, I have been making a shopping list. I can't imagine shopping Rhinebeck intelligently without having a list of things I'd like to make, and their yarn requirements.

The list is long, so I will share it in two stages. Mind you, I don't expect to buy yarn for all, or even more than two, of these projects this year, but I felt that I should have lots of options, since I'm having difficulty picturing what this yarn-fest actually looks like and how shopping it will work. (It goes without saying that there may be a skein here, a skein there, for gloves, hats or lace scarves, but I won't need lists for these).

So, my first four wishlist knits:

Shirley Paden's Pewter coat, from Interweave, Winter 2006. I've been longing for something that I can use in the fall when a big cozy sweater will be enough to keep me warm. This one has some challenging cablework, but it is beautiful.

Fortunately, when I stopped knitting twenty years ago, I threw my old Vogues into the basement, where they were recently unearthed to my great delight. I love clothing that feels like pajamas on, and this sweater and skirt combo will be perfect for Dr. Knittyvritti.

I like the Gatsby Girl Pullover, also from Interweave, in the Fall 2006 issue.

And finally (for today) I fell in love with this odd garment the first time I saw it in the Fall 2007 issue of Vogue. It's a little over the top, but I desire it.  Even if
I intend never to do to my face what they have done to that poor model.

What's on your wish list?