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Dear Kay,
This postcard serves mostly as an advertisement for Malabrigo Sock Yarn. And a pattern for which I have supertender feelings.
This is shade 812, Chocolate Amargo. Which means Bitter Chocolate down there in Peru where I imagine a giant Wonka-size operation cranking out all their delicious shades. (Isn’t that glorious?)
This yarn has the incredible effect of making me feel like I am eating chocolate, which is a nice thing at a time when I’m trying really hard not to eat chocolate.
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I am having the best time working on this, remembering the stroll through Carmel during our spring break trip that led me to Knitting by the Sea, where these three fat skeins were waiting for me.
With exactly one size six needle in my suitcase (traveling light!), I cast on that night for a Citron Grand. For the three of you who don’t know this pattern: Hilary Smith Callis blew out the doors with her original Citron, a free Knitty.com pattern from Winter 2009.
At the moment there are 10,743 Citrons on Ravelry. Your cashmere Citron from 2010 made me sort of insane for this pattern, a semicircle neck napkin shawlette thingie.
According to Hilary, this was her first published pattern. Way to wreck the curve. Jeez.
Not that I’m bitter. Or anything. At this point, Hilary has a pile of smart, pared-down patterns. So many cool, clever ideas in there.
I’m using the expanded Citron pattern, Citron Grand. Makes a bigger wrap, which I have craved since finishing my first, dainty Citron. If anybody’s inclined to make one of these, why not go ahead and vote with your dollars and buy the Citron Grand version instead of using the free one? Four bucks. It’s good to encourage the good designers to keep designing.
At this point I am on the ninth of ten sections, cramming 828 stitches on my needle. It is superb knitting for watching, say, the Forsyte Saga, the 2002 BBC series that will get Downton Abbey fans through the drought.
Love,
Ann

27 Comments

  • I really tried with the Forsyte Saga, but I found it too depressing and I didn’t much like any of the characters. I watched several hours before giving up. I recommend Cranford and North and South instead.

  • I have to agree with Katie above. I tried the Forsyte Saga, and made it through a couple of episodes based on the charms of Damian Lewis (Homeland!) and Rupert Graves (Sherlock!)…but eventually just gave up because it was dull. Also, the insanely beautiful Irene is played by a woman who’s neither insanely beautiful nor very good at acting like she is. And, one time, when someone slammed a door, the wall of the set shook. You don’t see THAT at Downton!

  • Yum!

  • Ooh, big vote here for Cranford and North and South, the BBC’s productions of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novels.
    And of course for Citron, still the handsomest shawl pattern I’ve ever seen.

  • I loved this pattern in the original, but I’m going to have to check out this Citron Grand! Gorgeous gorgeous colour.

  • Ah! The older Forsyte Saga was so much better than the 2002 version. They shouldn’t have bothered with that one.
    The character development was much more detailed and it was much longer.
    Love the Citron too.

    • Completely agree, re: older version. I think it was on in the 70s.

  • 828 stitches! I was with you till then.
    If you tire of Forsyte, and you’re feeling hardcore, you could try the new Parade’s End–endless, crawling and luscious, like the Ford Madox Ford books it’s based on.

  • Damn. Damn damn damn. Now I want to make a big Citron. I gave the other one away. I don’t have one. Doesn’t seem right.
    Jeez I wish somebody would fix up this blog so people’s comments didn’t replicate themselves! Git on it Ann!
    xoxoxo Kay

  • I Love “Knitting by the Sea”! Very cute shop and the owner was a Doll! I’m from Buffalo NY and I went to California in February. I like to look for yarn shops on vacation. “Knitting by the Sea” was a great find along with eating at “Nepenthe” which is the restaurant owned by Kaffee Fasset’s family!

  • I Love “Knitting by the Sea”! Very cute shop and the owner was a Doll! I’m from Buffalo NY and I went to California in February. I like to look for yarn shops on vacation. “Knitting by the Sea” was a great find along with eating at “Nepenthe” which is the restaurant owned by Kaffee Fasset’s family!

  • Sorry for double post and also not scrolling down in time to see Nepenthe!

  • That Citron is luscious–as is the yarn color. I am convinced that Malabrigo nails the non-colors as no one else does.
    Thanks for linking to her seriously good patterns, I just did some queue lengthening.

  • I made a Citron a couple of years ago from powdery blue Malabrigo lace yarn from my stash, and took it to my daughter’s house to show her. She’s an avid knitter, too. My 7-year-old (at the time) granddaughter inquired, with eyes all lit-up, ‘Is that for ME??’
    Well! I hadn’t thought of that, not knowing how delighted a little girl could be with a little shawl, so I said, “Of course, sweetie,” and handed it over then and there! She has worn it again and again, mostly wrapped around her little body with the ends tied in the back until it has actually felted in some places and has a wee hole. I LOVE that she loves it so, and am hoping to make another someday. The Grand version sounds lovely!

  • Wow – Citron Grande. I knit a “regular” one — abojut 2 stitches worth, because I would neglect to remember it was a increase or decrease row.
    “Forsythe Saga” – the second part was not good. Though I loved the first bit (Damien Lewis is a scary Soames), I have fond memories of the original black and white version.
    Want a good laugh? Try “Coupling” or “Cold Feet.”
    “North and South” is good as well … tres romantic.

  • I did this one in the Malabrigo Sock in the Ochre color…gave it away to a friend. every time I see her wearing it, I feel like Gollum… .. “She’s wearing my Precious”…..must knit another. The yarn is so perfect for the pattern!

  • I did this one in the Malabrigo Sock in the Ochre color…gave it away to a friend. every time I see her wearing it, I feel like Gollum… .. “She’s wearing my Precious”…..must knit another. The yarn is so perfect for the pattern!

  • I made one from handspun and beads. Yup, the only thing better than Citron Grande, is Citron Grande with beads! I admire your delicious color choice.
    Also, re the commetns, Forsyte Saga part deux is much less depressing. The Masterpiece Theater commenter of the time pointed out that the author was more successful (fat and happy) when he wrote the sequel. An example of mellowing with age.

  • Ann, I am getting to be an old fart but I remember when I was a kid watching the original TV production of the Forsyte Saga from around 1970. They didn’t condense the episodes as much then so you got to see more of the story. It was wonderful with great acting and really sympathetic characters. The second Forsyte Saga felt like such a drive-by in comparison. I love your Citron.

  • We have watched the 2002 version of Forsyte Saga twice now. I can’t get enough of it. I have convinced males – yes, males – to watch it, and all have loved it, too. Not to mention that the house they build just slays me. And the costumes! And the actors! Ah.

  • Love the Bittersweet Chocolate of your Big Citron—though these days I am all about eating a judicious serving of dark chocolate, immediately after a meal.
    I really liked the 2002 Forsyte Saga but did not yet knit at that time, and it does sound like the perfect thing to knit by. Thanks for reminding me of it!
    I have discovered that the cure for DPS (Double Post Syndrome) is P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E. If you wait, your post WILL show up. Hitting “post” multiple times will not make it show up any faster. I usually just go and browse the twitter feeds.

  • Thank you for posting the link to that wonderful shawl! After seeing Lincoln for the second time this weekend and ogling Daniel Day Lewis in his various shawls once again I am a bit obsessed.

  • Ann, thank you for the wonderful shout-out! I am a HUGE fan of yours. So I am honored. 🙂
    A 10-section Citron Grand in that yarn, in that shade is going to be GORGEOUS. Wow. I hope you live through the bazillion stitches of Section 10 (sorry), and I really can’t wait to see when it’s finished.
    Oh, I’m also glad I’m not the only one who associates Malabrigo with delicious food! The Wonka factory visual is amazing.

  • That is a gorgeous color. I love Malabrigo Sock. I should probably make a Citron before making a Citron Grande.

  • Didn’t Hilary publish the Honeymoon Cami eons ago in Knitty? Either way, the Citron is a great pattern, I’ve made one out of Kid Seta, one of the yarns listed on the Knitting Factor…its like wearing a soft cloud around your neck. Delicious!

  • Malabrigo is base in Uruguay not Peru. Beautiful piece you are creating;-D

  • I made citrons for my bridesmaids and myself. The looked great.

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