Big Sky Yarns & Crafts

Not My Own

Only a month and already I feel like I have been pulled in a thousand directions this summer. Not that they aren't fabulous, these thousand different directions, but, wow, how time flies when it is no longer your own. Zipping my kids to and fro and all but abandoning a schedule, it is happy chaos in the Haesemeyer household.

I did manage to read a fabulous book lately, The Reading Promise, by Alice Ozma:

 

It is a charming, fast read about a daughter and a dad, reading together every night from 4th grade until she left for college. They processed life along the way in this heartfelt narrative which would be a wonderful gift you won't be afraid to give. Plus a quick look at a ton of classics that you will smile at as they pass.

I have managed to get a bit done on the Gaia, though wouldn't you think it would be finished by now?

I am just shy of finishing the left front. Here is the right front's close up:

In retrospect, I wish I would have picked the lighter denim color. When blocked it will stretch out quite a bit and I will have a white shirt on underneath, so the lace will show up a bit more than now.  It really is an easy pattern, if you are not a die-hard lace knitter (like me). I thought I may have wanted to do the back in lace as well, but after having to juggle the shaping and the lace pattern, my brain was very grateful for the break that disguised itself as the back in straight stockinette stitch.

And did you notice how long since my last post? Unbelievable. Until we meet again, knit on.

Apparently, I fell off the earth

Warning! Spoiler alert! If you have not received your new Vogue Knitting, and you don't want to be corrupted (I always like to look at a whole magazine without a hint of what is happening inside), then run away, man!

If you haven't checked it out already, I highly recommend VK360. It is a wonderful resource to see the items from Vogue Knitting from all angles. I love to see how the fabric moves (or doesn't!) on the models as they do a simple twirl. 

I had two favorite this issue. First up is this boat neck pullover by Sinje Ollen:

Worked in two colors, I think this is a striking update to our old friend Feather & Fan. Sometimes she gets overworked, Ms. Fan, don't you think? But those sleeves are so dynamite, I had to discuss this a bit. What other stitch patterns would do well with this idea? I can't wait for my brain to work on this. I think a swimsuit cover up out of cotton would be stellar. This sweater was worked in Silky Alpaca Lace from Classic Elite Yarns. 70% baby alpaca, 30% silk. How bad could that be? Okay, just perfect, I am sure.

My second favorite will not be a surprise:

Hey! I see you rolling your eyes at me -- I know I am predicatable. Purple. Lace that looks suspiciously like leaves. This cardi is designed by Lisa Hoffman and uses Koigu (not much happening there -- but here is the link. How can they not have a kickin' awesome website? It's KOIGU!) Mori which is 50% merino wool, 50% silk and seems like it would be quite dreamy, don't you agree? It's taking everything in me not to order yarn for that sweater right now. On VK 360 it shows the sleeves a bit better and the pattern down the sleeve is the icing on the cake. These three photos, copyright Vogue Knitting (of course!)

I have been doing some knitting, though it is hard to look at these after those drop dead dreamy sweaters:

Knitting samples for Ren at Purl Yarn Boutique, these are my DK hand warmers in Rowan's Felted Wool DK. For a quick gift, nothing beats hand warmers. Just one ball of yarn as well, which means they are not a life commitment either.

The ribbing makes them super stretchy and easy to wear. Two sizes are in the pattern and if you want something else entirely, no problem! Just take off a couple ribbing stitches and you are on your way. This is also a wonderful pattern to use your louder, crazier yarns because the middle rectangle is prominent enough to not get lost. If you can knit and purl (and then seam) these hand warmers are for you.

Though I wrote the pattern to be knit in pieces since rectangles are such an easy knit, if the idea of seaming makes your teeth itch, I do include how to work them in the round if you are interested. I do like them flat because I always have a simple, mind numbing project in my purse and knitting just a rectangle is perfect for travel knitting.

More samples coming, so stay tuned. I promise it won't take another three weeks. Yikes. Happy summer if your kids are in Billings. School is out in just 10 minutes so I better get cracking.

Happy knitting.