I haven't been knitting much lately.
This skein of yarn has been atop the pile of unwound skeins and single socks that sits in the corner of my bedroom collecting dust behind the sewing machine and the television and the unfolded laundry.
It is one of two skeins of 4-ply Merino purchased at Rheinbeck in 2006. It is huge. Half of the first skein found it's destiny in this sweater and the other half called to me this morning. Out came the patterns and the swatching began.
One of my favorite books is Elizabeth Zimmerman's The Opinionated Knitter. The title alone could have won me over but I love the patterns and the concepts and the reprinted hand-written newsletters that used to cost a quarter apiece. I've learned many things from EZ. Among them, never be afraid to change a pattern. So I did.
It is a classic design called the Tomten Jacket. It was originally printed in Leaflet #7 in Fall 1961. It's a modular sweater that works in multiples of 8 and can be easily adapted for different gauges or finished sizes. It is also (as many of EZ's brilliant designs are) garter stitch.
It's nice to feel inspired again. I'll have to wait and see if the feeling sticks around.
Ooo, that's some lovely yarn you have there! I've been in total knit-mode lately. Sewing machine is getting dusty...
Posted by: Paige | August 11, 2008 at 12:35 AM
I haven't been crocheting at all--I don't feel like working with wool when it's 90 degrees out and I don't like crocheting with cotton, but I'm trying to get over that.
Brace yourself--this is the year that I learn how to knit and I have the feeling I'm going to need some tutoring from up the hill!
Posted by: Alexis | August 11, 2008 at 08:20 AM
I haven't had much knitting inspiration lately...I hope that feeling spreads over to me because I have a pair of socks that must be finished!
Posted by: jessica | August 11, 2008 at 08:28 AM
it drives me crazy that i don't know how to knit! i want to take a class very, very badly.
Posted by: maya | August 12, 2008 at 10:24 PM