Casting On A New Year

My 2012 was full of creative play- lots of spinning and dying experimentation, and plans for this year include more of the same with the addition of some weaving- and hopefully a few more finished objects. I’m signing up for an apprenticeship of sorts.

I’ve decided to join some folks from the Zimmermania Ravelry Group - our goal -to knit 13 Elizabeth Zimmermann projects during 2013.

There’s no other knitter/designer I admire more. Her practical and empowering words always leave me inspired. There are so many patterns I’ve marveled at, but never executed- so this is the year! I expect to learn much. You can find my project list up there with it’s own tab. I’ll track my progress there as well.

Leaving you with a favorite and appropriate EZ quote….

“By this time next year some of these will have been achieved, and some scorned and abandoned. Some as yet undreamed-of whims will have taken shape. I’m ready for them; my mind is open, my wool-room full of wool, my needles poised, my brain spinning like a Catherine wheel. There are plenty of pencils- I think- and where did I see that old block of squared paper?  My word, such good fortune. I can only hope the same for you.”  Elizabeth Zimmermann,  Knitter’s Almanac, page 139

Happy New Year to you from the girls and me!

New/Old Project for March

One of my favorite colors- verdigris- the bluish green patina that occurs when copper is exposed to air or water over time.

I have a special project planned for March. I’m actually revisiting a project I started three years ago when I got so busy with school and work I had to put it aside.

I have three pounds of a Coopworth /Mohair roving purchased at the Michigan Fiber Festival from one of my favorite venders Carol of Hidden Valley Farm.

 Lambs from Hidden Valley

The color of the roving is "Tide Pool", and I noticed on the farm’s site that it is still available. I remember that it reminded me of a natural spring we visited while vacationing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The spring is called “Kitch-Iti-Kipi", which means "mirror of heaven". It is such a beautiful and magical spot. When you look down into the spring from the observation boat this is the color you see.

My plan is to spin it up to make the Ingénue sweater from Wendy Bernard’s  “Custom Knits”.  The design is simple and classic- the designer’s inspiration -Audrey Hepburn.

What I know so far…

I consulted a chart in “Spin To Knit” by Shannon Okey. Spinning a sport weight yarn, 14 Wraps per Inch, knit at 5-6.5 stitches per inch on size 4-6 needles -I should end up with 12-1800 yards per pound. My sweater calls for 1045 yards. My gauge swatch knitted up to 6 stitches per inch on a size 5 needle. It seems to be somewhere between a DK and sport weight which I think will work well.  I don’t want it to be too heavy. While the chart and estimates of yardage are all just rough suggestions- sounds like with three pounds in the stash I will have more than enough. Any body want some roving? I might be able to share/ spare some....

It does feel good to get back to some spinning. I’m a little rusty but really enjoying the meditation that spinning is.

Looking Back Looking Forward

2010 was an exciting year for me in that I had the opportunity to teach beginning Fair Isle classes and then move on to tackle tams, and tea cozies and mittens and steeked vests with just a wonderful gaggle of knitters. This has meant that many of my projects were knit as samples or knit along with others, which has really pressed me to focus my energy and effort – in a good way. I did manage to finish up a Liesle and an Everyway Wrap, which were both projects up there on my to- do list. And so I declare 2010 a very good year.

Knitting 2011 hopes, dreams, goals include…
Bringing even more converts into the Fair Isle fold
Playing with patterns for knitted bags and ties
Nailing down a top down yoked cardigan recipe that works on me
And lastly developing a color workshop for knitters

Happy Knitting to you in 2011

six month check up

Finishing up my Fair Isle vest…
to the moon and back in corrugated ribbing – I did a lot of thinking about all the resources available to us today not to mention the creative community out there that we can so easily link up to. When I started knitting - way back when - it was Kaffe Fassett’s book “Glorious Color” that got me rolling - wanting to play with stranding techniques but there just weren’t many folks in the neighborhood with a similar fascination. A few years latter I got my hands on Alice Starmore’s book after reading several articles she contributed to Threads magazine, and still I can’t say it would have been likely to meet up with someone who shared my interests.

Most recently I’ve really enjoyed Ann Feitleson’s book “The Art of Fair Isle Knitting”. There’s some fresh historic background, many easy to follow patterns and several techniques clarified in a way I haven't seen in other places. Her diagram on picking up stitches for sleeves and bands is wonderful as are her buttonhole directions which involve twisting the two strands of yarn together - avoiding strands being carried where buttons could get snagged – Brilliant. And best of all connecting with folks is a click away and I’m sure its not just my imagination that there’s a vibrant and alive knitting community out there!


My blog turned six months this past weekend. Having this space and connecting with others this way has meant so much to me. In her book “Women Who Run With Wolves” Clarissa Pinkola Estes writes….

“Creating one thing at a certain point in the river feeds those who come to the river, feeds creatures far downstream, yet others in the deep. Creativity is not a solitary movement.”

Blogging and connecting with folks on Ravelry has helped to remind me – someone who could sit and knit and dream alone for hours on end- of the value of creative community.

I like thinking of these landmarks as opportunities to pause – reflect – regroup…

I’ve been navigating some tricky waters at my day job but have just been offered a new part time position that sounds like a wonderful opportunity – so will be adding this to my pretty full plate starting next week.
Teaching at Beyond The Rainforest has been a Godsend - not to mention so much fun, and I will keep on through the summer with five folks working on the Feitelson vest and then next Fall I hope to do another beginning Fair Isle class - then mittens and a Christmas stocking I’m designing.

Checking in on six month old New Year goals…uggggghhhhhhh – seems I had quite a list of things starting with W…

Haven’t worked on many WIP due to all the fun Fair Isle projects I’ve been focusing on.
I am getting out to walk the dogs and ride my bike to work but the gym membership was a casualty of the work cutback – so yoga is on video – not in a studio.
Am drinking more water
And am still working on being content with all I have and wanting less – at least I’m aware I have issues in this area….


Short term wishes….

Get back to some spinning and get myself to the Michigan Fiber Festival

Big idea…that came to me watching the full moon rise on my birthday last January-

Renovate the Little Barn as a fiber arts studio space.

Something special bloomed this weekend…

the moonflower vine – huge – fragrant – a flower to wish on.

WWWW

Gotta love the New Year- the opportunity to reflect and review, the fresh start feel of it! I'm a "glass half full" kindof gal (almost to a fault) and so this week between Christmas and New Years has me filled with optimism and hope that the boxes on my list of resolutions will be checked come New Years 2011.Walking, Water and Wanting top my list. That would be more of the first two items and less of the third. I have also joined the folks of a new Ravelry group -starts with a W : ) I'll be working my way through a lot of stuff. It'll probably take most of the weekend just to ferret it out and make a list, but it's not as harsh as it sounds- I know there's some fun stuff in there.Speaking of finishing off things....I just completed a small gift to send off to a very dear friend.
Happy New Year Blessings!

lynn

Simple thoughts on knitting and other nonsense.