Knitting Time

It's that time of year, in more ways than one.  It is chilly most of the time and DARK very early in the afternoon, and almost non-stop football/hockey.  Oh, and pre-Christmas.  So that means it is TIME FOR KNITTING!!

 

Above is  20% of Stephen West's Spectra pattern.  It is UNFORGIVING!  Which means I will not ever be planning to enter this in a state or county fair, AND this is not the project to pick up if I am sleepy.  Short rows!! AND Intarsia!! AND size 3 needles.  I am pretty sure, however, that when I get it finished, washed and blocked, it will be beautiful enough for casual wear!

This is the beginning of a mystery project.   I am so glad that I mustered the courage to try a two-color cast on... AND to follow that by a slip-stitch rib.  Those Baltic knitters.... SO smart!!

 This is the most mysterious part of all.  With all those spikey sticks, I'm thinking it looks a little like sushi!  (But it's not!)










I am mostly posting to my main blog these days:  Journal-to-a-muse.blogspot.com
I am pretty good about using subject labels, so if you want more about my knitting click on the knitting subject! 

Intarsia Sheep Dress in Progress

Intarsia Sheep Dress in Progress
Originally uploaded by Sultry

It wouldn't take a genius to figure out who this is for! Hope I finish it a) before recipient out grows it or b) before we start road trip North. I think I can. I think I can.

Susan Gibbs Trunk Show

Susan Gibbs Trunk Show
Originally uploaded by Sultry

"And the stash at WEBS is THIS big."

Even though the "trunks" of knitted items got lost (courtesy of UPS), Susan Gibbs gave a fine performance when telling us about Juniper Moon Fiber (and the Farm), the present day vagaries of the yarn business and how a dynamo works. Susan is the dynamo.
And who knew that practically all the wool grown in the US is promised to the US ARMY for wool uniforms? That's why "her" American-designed wool yarn actually comes from Italian sheep. And, apparently, US mills are either tiny and run like hobbies, or huge and only make thread for American Outfitters. Here she is a "job creator" and she can't make it work for Americans. (She does draw the line, however, at sweat shop conditions for both humans and animals. Those Italian sheep and millers don't know how lucky they are.
Plus, Susan was just SO endearing.
Gonna knit.

Square: Yearning

Square: Yearning
Originally uploaded by Sultry

I'm just having fun. Life is good. but after I had lots of fun with purples and yellows and the mouse and filters, this seemed to need to be called Yearning.

Illustration Friday - Sweater

Illustration Friday - Sweater
Originally uploaded by Sultry

I went and re-read the story of the Six Swans.. I'd always so identified with the sister "making" shirts that would break a spell of enchantment which entrapped her brothers. I had totally garbled the story... but I still think that knitting for loved ones will keep them from bad things!

So far it is working...

With thanks to Wenders for sending the link, and to Mason Dixon Knitting for posting this in the first place.

Check your gauge

Check your gauge
Originally uploaded by Sultry

Just a reminder to my knitting friends. ;-)