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Lately I've been drawn to knitting projects that are short and sweet. I guess that correlates to the amount of knitting time I've had. That trend continues with my latest finished project.
Haselnüsse. This little neck warmer knits up quickly and would make a great last-minute gift. The lacy scalloped edge and buttons give it a feminine look. The pattern includes both written and charted instructions and is available in three sizes.
The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna, colorway Lupine. Believe it or not, this project takes less than 50 grams of yarn.
This weekend Haselnüsse will be traveling with me to SPA in Freeport. I'll have a selection of smaller Edna skeins available in a variety of colorways.
For the first time in a while I don't have my next project waiting in the wings. Maybe it's time for socks or a shawl or . . .
It's Monday morning, and I'm trying to orchestrate a quick turnaround. After spending the weekend at Slater Mill, I have just a couple days before I head up to Freeport and SPA Weekend. Fiber events seem to come in bunches. After this little flurry of activity, I won't be on the road again until April.
Before I tackle my SPA master list, here's a quick recap of the weekend. Fiber events at Slater Mill are always a delight, and this past weekend was no exception.
The mill has been restored into a museum and community space.
No matter how many times I've been in the museum, I always seem to spot something new.
I'm fascinated with mills, textiles and the impact they had on the New England economy.
I know bits and pieces of the Slater Mill story from reading the various museum display notes.
I've decided that one of these days I'll have to take a tour of the mill. Hearing the whole story will put all the pieces together.
The class list for Knitting Weekend was very impressive - Icelandic knitting, Shetland lace, set in sleeves.
The vendor market was just as diverse - repurposed clothing, felted items, jewelry, colorful yarn and fiber. There was even qiviut. No, it didn't come home with me, but it's nice to know there's a local source.
It was great fun to spend the weekend with the enthusiastic Rhode Island fiber community. And now I'm off to channel some of that energy as I get ready for my next road trip.
One more booth sample, that is. This idea has been brewing for a while, and I finally acted on it.
X-Mitts. You may remember that I knit this mitt in the fall out of a 100% Merino yarn.
I had the idea of also offering it in another base that I feature at shows - an Alpaca / Merino / Silk blend.
Earlier this week as I headed out to knit night, I grabbed all the necessary supplies. By the end of the evening the mitt was almost finished - all except the thumb. The next day I added the thumb, and it was ready for wear.
I must say I love mitts made with this blend - warm and cozy with a bit of luxury.
This mitt won't have to wait long to make an appearance. Tomorrow it will travel with me down to Knitting Weekend at Slater Mill.
Mother Nature served up frigid temperatures this week. I'm invigorated by the cold, but I know for many it's challenging. My color inspiration this week reflects the thermometer.
Frosty polka dots.
These days I find myself contemplating colorways . . . which ones should I retire or send on sabbatical, which new ones can I bring on board. Sometimes my decisions are based on inventory and sales records - what sold well and what didn't. Other times it's purely subjective - I'm bored with that color so it's out of here.
New colorways usually involve a bit of research and plenty of experimenting.
It's a fine line between the different color combinations. And what you see on paper doesn't always transfer to yarn. Often the written formulas are only a springboard for what actually ends up in the dye pot. Some of the best colorways happen by accident.
Dyeing yarn samples is the next step. I was pleasantly surprised with this combination.
I'm rather smitten with it, and I'm not usually a pink person.
And this one shows potential.
A new colorway may get thumbs up or thumbs down. Either way it's all fun.
It can be a good thing to have several lingering knitting projects. It's like having an arsenal ready and waiting . . . waiting for the momentum, the final nudge to finish them up and get them off the needles.
I find that once I start attacking these projects, I usually knock off several at a time. It feels so satisfying to finish the first one that I don't think twice about working on the second and the third and . . . Before I know it, I have a small pile of several new handknits.
The other day I added to my growing pile with Cassis.
This longer sweater has lace panels on the fronts and the back - just enough detail to keep it interesting. The design calls for short sleeves, but you could knit them long if that's your preference.
The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Clara, coloway Bark. This 100% Blue Faced Leicester yarn makes a cozy fabric - perfect for sweaters.
Sad to say I'm almost out of works in progress. That means a case of startitis can't be far behind. That's OK. I have a long list of projects to choose from.
A while ago a friend offered to knit a booth sample. I'm always changing the booth samples, so I asked her what she was in the mood to knit. She said she was in a brioche mood. Lovely. Something new, interesting and inspiring.
Rodekool.
Brioche knitting creates a two-sided fabric and can be a fun way to play with color combinations.
The fabric is reversible with opposite colors.
Rodekool has a clever little option.
A built-in slit for tucking the end of the scarf.
The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna, colorways Dijon and Moon Shadow.
I've been dyeing various colors and will have them available in scarf quantities at upcoming events - so many options for color combinations.
This time of year I find myself craving vibrant colors. I didn't have to look further than my dining room table for this week's color inspiration.
Red and green with a splash of yellow.
There are times when forward progress is an elusive goal. I'm having a week full of obstacles - two steps forward, one step back. Instead of running in circles I've diverted my energy to something productive.
The body of Cassis is off the needles, and there's a sleeve under construction. These sleeves are short and sweet, so I'm sure they'll be finished in no time - maybe even later today.
I have another little project in mind, and there's already a swatch in progress.
After all I don't want to lose my momentum.
