Blue Skies
It is so nice here, y'all. It's been in the upper 60s - lower 70s for almost a week now, and it's unbelievable. I'm hoping that spring is actually here to stay, although I know that's totally wishful thinking and we'll probably have more cold spells. But sitting outside in the sun to eat brunch and teaching knitting on the back porch of Main Street has been sooooo nice.
Of course, my timing is impeccable because I've just finished winter hats for me and Jacob right when the weather gets warm! HA. I discovered Jared Flood's fabulous Turn a Square pattern on Ravelry and totally fell in love with it. It's super easy and SO fast - I finished both of these hats in about a day or so (per hat). And, you can do stripeys like the pattern:
stripes, for Jacob.
Or, you can do one with just one skein of mmmmalabrigo:
the Malabrigo one is all for me me me.
Woot. Totally versatile and awesome. and perfect for those 70 degree days we've been having. Har.
I'm still plugging away on the Tapestry Cowl. I'm getting faster at finishing a round - I actually did THREE rounds last night, which is totally a record for me and this pattern - but I'm convinced there's a better way to wrangle the two colors. Are there any English knitters out there who have double knitting tips for me? I've been practicing my Continental knitting, but the gauge is still too crazy for me to switch to Continental on this project.
And, my take-with-me-everywhere knitting is a new project: Francis Revisited. I may have used some of my knit teaching money to get some fantastic Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran in Granite and oh my god I am loving this yarn. I couldn't get gauge, so I changed the numbers a bit and now I'm just knitting away. I'm hoping I can finish this soon and wear it a bit before it gets too hot in Georgia for any kind of long sleeves.
ohhh, this yarn. it's so lovely.
I really have been knitting a lot lately. Teaching at the yarn store is making it easier for me to justify new shiny yarn purchases, which makes me excited about new projects, which means I am a knitting. machine. and I like it that way!
Other than knitting, I'm finishing up a quilt,Flickring, Raveling, BODYPUMPing, and watching American Idol intently. Work is good - lots of graphic design lately, which I love. YAY.
Comments (13)
Love your Turn A Squares! Isn't that just one of the best patterns? So quick and fun. :)
Posted by Nonnahs | February 18, 2009 2:14 PM
Cashmere... silk... merino... ::swoon!::
As for two-color knitting, I learned both English and Continental knitting so I can hold one strand in each hand and work away. There are also doo-dads called knitting thimbles that can be worn on the finger that hold multiple strands. I've not tried them myself, so I have no idea whether they're easy or hard to learn to use.
Posted by Hissy Stitch | February 18, 2009 12:47 PM
I love that Malabrigo hat! I bet it's sooooo soft!
Posted by Cassy | February 16, 2009 12:59 PM
oooh, i'm looking forward to francis revisited. i've always wanted to knit that one!
Posted by gleek | February 14, 2009 12:58 PM
Hi Carrie!! Man, as far as I'm concerned, there is no better yarn than the Sublime Aran. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that yarn. I bought three balls of it with nothing specific in mind a year ago as a treat for myself because it was calling out to me from the shelf of Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. I selected a scarf pattern (Falling Leaves) and have been knitting on it ever since. I'm not done, no, because I want this experience of knitting with this yarn to last for as long as I can make it last. That's how great this yarn is.
Posted by tana | February 14, 2009 12:38 PM
If you really can't get happy with picking, try one of those yarn holders that slip on your finger. You can throw with either color wearing one of those.
I'm a thrower, but I can pick a little, so I use both hands when knitting with 2 colors. I just make sure that I have the color I want to show up better in my dominant hand (for me, that's my right hand).
Posted by Luni | February 14, 2009 10:54 AM
We're having really great weather here, too! It's so nice, though for us it's our few days of spring before it gets unbelievably hot. :) Been meaning to ask you, are you doing any knitterly trips this year?
Posted by sarah b. | February 13, 2009 9:57 PM
Can't wait to see the quilt you are working on...
and both your Turn a Square's are better than the one I just made. Ug-ly.
Posted by Stacey | February 13, 2009 4:04 PM
I just started the Tapestry Cowl last night. I'm normally a thrower and I also knit rather tightly (always go up a needle size to get gauge). I went down to 4s for this project and I'm learning how to knit Continental for the knits, and doing the purls with my right hand. It keeps the yarn from getting tangled and my gauge is pretty even, even on the purl side because I'm not used to having other stuff in my left hand too.
Who knows what the sizing will be on this when I'm finished, but I'm using it as a learning experience for two-handed color knitting. Good luck with yours!
Posted by Clumsy Knitter | February 13, 2009 1:45 PM
those hats are sooooo totally awesome. if francis revisited is what i think it is, i am totally stealing that as soon as you finish it.
Posted by carolyn | February 13, 2009 12:45 PM
Oooh! I totally stalked that Francis pattern and WANT! Yours is going to be gorgeous in that silvery gray. Nice! :)
Posted by Jen | February 13, 2009 12:15 PM
Oh I wish I had some tapestry cowl tip for you, but alas, I am a continental knitter. Is there any way you can try holding one strand in the left hand and keeping another in the right? At any rate, I know the recipient will be moved to tears when she gets it, so don't give up. :)
Posted by leo | February 13, 2009 11:57 AM
I hear you on the Tapestry Cowl / continental knitting gauge issue. I'm normally a thrower, but I've been trying to knit continental more. I'm not sure, but I think I'm currently knitting my Tapestry Cowl on size 1s or 2s at the moment and (finally) getting gauge. I started out on 4s and moved down to 3s first. Ha! I am enjoying working on it, though. 75% done!
And I'm working on Francis Revisited, too. (Are we project twins right now?) However, I "finished" it last week, only to find that it's way too smell. (Yes, I know it's top-down; no, I don't know what my problem is.)
Posted by lynnewio | February 13, 2009 11:50 AM