A PERFECT PLAN Behold my purchases from Rhinebeck, as reported. Up by Bobo's paws, Paintbox Gradients set from Fiber Optic. When I taught at SSK the summer before last, I had the perq of shopping the marketplace early. A perq so wasted on me. There I stood, stumped by the beautiful gradients at Fiber Optics. What would I knit? What colors did I want? Bright and cheerful ? Subtle and earthy? Darn that talented dyer Kimber for her artfulness! The chocolate brown to light aqua transition totally spoke to me - but I guess it was mumbling. Took me till a couple of weeks ago, when I learned she was vending at Rhinebeck, to hear it clearly. I only had to decide on yarn base. Kashmir yarn with its 10% cashmere was it.
To offset my squirminess of owning a special yarn without a special plan, I sought a skein of natural to go with it, something with a halo. I had no pattern but a twinkle of a shawl idea. Icelandics are feeling near to my heart this season, I've been working with Lars Rains on his Modern Lopi collection. When I bumped into Lars Himself at the Frelsi Farm Icelandics booth, I knew I had my 2nd yarn: a skein of fingering weight singles, in natural Bark.
Yesterday Kirsten Kapur released her Abingdon shawl pattern. The missing piece fell in place. A perfect plan for my pairing. I can hardly wait to cast on.*
A FINE IDEA: I'll start blabbing about this now! Beverly Army Williams is leading the charge for CRAFT FRIDAY: a CraftActivist handmade alternative to the consumer-crass-ugly-day-after-Thanksgiving-glop that overlays the holiday weekend. First step: read her post and join the Pinterest Craft Friday page . Second step: post about it yourself. Spread the word. Plan a party. Third step: make a list of what you want to make that day.
More to come.
* the first commenter below will be my 5000th comment on this blog. 5000! That seems so...I don't know, worthy of recognition! I love that you come by to read this, and taking the time to comment is icing on the cake. Very wonderful icing. I means seriously, you have no idea how great it is to hear from you. I'm going to gift the first commenter a copy of Kirsten's Abingdon shawl pattern, so you can knit one, too.
A beautiful shawl and a beautiful plan!
ReplyDeleteHave Fun!
ravname:viki
Thanks for sharing the rebellion!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 5002 comments! And please keep up the blogging streak as you knit that shawl. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a fine thing when a plan comes together like that
ReplyDeleteOMG those yarns are sumptuous. Congrats on your #s; keep at it! You are always a good read!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 5000 comment.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely yarn and a lovely pattern as well. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Hopefully I can start on it after I finish the Christmas knitting.
love being an activist!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading your posts. Congratulations on 5000!!
ReplyDeleteI have a gradient kit that also needs a plan!!
ReplyDeleteKathryn , I am so curious what you'll do with yours. I love the gradients but not every patternworks. Wouldn't striped sleeves ona sweater be cool? Proably a super simple something is best but I didn't want to get bored knitting by special yarn....
ReplyDeleteKT, CCR, Margene, Elaine, Ellen, Viki, Beverly -thanks so much for reading & commenting. I am going to try to keep up blogging twice a week. I love the connections we make online.
ReplyDeleteThe yarn is lovely and yummy. How on earth did you resist it the first time? Learned the hard way, if a yarn hums -walk away. If a yarn sings - BUY IT.
ReplyDelete