Yarns to Love
A Wild Yarn, Part 2
Dear Kay,
Wish I had something to watch on teevee these days. JUST KIDDING! Must step away from the remote.
For those just tuning in, I started an Easel Sweater last weekend and have been ditching responsibilities ever since. The yarn is Lichen and Lace Worsted, which we had in the Shop until Wednesday. I’m sorry we’re out again, but as Oprah is my witness, I will not rest until we bring in some more. Kay is going to ride her bike up to Sackville, New Brunswick and stop in at Megan Ingman’s.
This yarn has a twinelike quality, almost like cotton despite the fact that it’s merino. This Pressed Flowers colorway is highly unpredictable, and maybe that’s why it’s so much fun to knit. It’s the ultimate in low-stakes drama.
The tail of yarn at the right indicates the splendid moment when I started Skein No. 2. I left behind the Purple Haze for a considerably more pixellated experience. I’m pretty sure it’s got a Morse Code message in there. (“COME TO CANADA” I THINK IT SAYS.)
My photos are not capturing the overall khaki cast to this whole piece. It’s really beautiful, shifting khaki to buff to pale mushroom. With a pile of crazy colors on top of it.
Upon finishing Skein No. 2 and completing the back of this Easel Sweater, it was time to begin the front.
I spent a while staring at the remaining four skeins of yarn. I saw that one of them had a fair dose of saturated color, similar to Skein No. 1, so I went with that because it would give a similar density of color to the bottom edge of the sweater.
(HA AS IF I COULD PREDICT ANYTHING ABOUT THIS YARN.)
Here’s what happened with Skein No. 3:
The Violet Aroma was replaced with a Golden Glow of Optimistic Yellow. Less pink in the mix. More orange.
(JUST LIKE I’D PLANNED IT. RIGHT ON IT’S ALL AWESOME.)
I can’t really express how fast I knit this. I’m out of my mind, really. And now, Skein No. 4 looms. This is where it gets interesting. This skein is the only one with more of the Sunrisey Golden Glow of Joy. But it also has a Rosy Sunset of Pinkyorange.
(IT’S ALL PART OF A GRAND PLAN. OF RANDOMNESS.)
(THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.)
By the time you read this, I will probably know the answer to what Skein No. 4 will do. I will also know whether the Preds defeated the Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. These things are not unrelated. Stay tuned.
Love,
Ann
PS We’ll be in Columbus, Ohio, this weekend for the TNNA convention, on the prowl for yarns. Please say hi if you see us!
I want to come down to TNNA, but I’m not registered for a class. Do I have to pay to get on the shop floor? And if I see you, should I bring chocolate?
Hi Maggy! TNNA is a trade show for the knitting industry, wholesale only. If you have a yarn shop, you can join TNNA and attend. Hoping this is the case, because chocolate is ALWAYS a good idea and it would be great to see you!
I opened the video and was taken by the sweater Kristy Glass is wearing. It looks like a second cousin to the sweater you’re knitting: a striped V-neck yoke and the sleeves knitting in speckled yarn. I think. Not too many glimpses of the sleeves.
I loved Kristy’s gorgeous sweater before I even opened the video! Went searching and found it is Camaro by Tanis Lavallee.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kristyglass/camaro
Arriving in Columbus in a few hours but for a family thing instead. Will raise a spoon of Jeni’s in your honor. Also, we’ll have enough knitters there to have our very own WWKIP event.
That yarn is mesmerizing. You will get so many compliments or appreciated stares. I have a hat made of Malabrigo Arcos Iris and I swear someone says something nice about it each time I wear it. Non-yarn folks think I wove all the colors together!
Sorry about the Preds. Pens fans in this household – said 12-yr old right wing – “mom, you’re knitting (afghan in garter and stockinette and cloche from Year of Techniques depending on action in games) and watching the Pens just like the Pens Knitting Lady. Maybe there’s a Preds Knitting Lady.” Yes, I do believe there is – your sweater is a lovely riot of color. Can’t wait to see the finished product.
And, as a bonus, it looks like you’ve got some fair-isle going there, with the Xs, the way the yarn patterns. I’d say it’s a two-fer! I’m smitten with that Easel pattern too & I think I’ll start digging through the stash to see what I can find to use for it. I don’t think I can do the uneven sleeves, though. That’s just too outlandish for me.
FYI, guys: Ravelry shows the Easel sweater as being in FG #2, not #3. Not sure who needs to correct that.
If Kay bikes to Sackville, tell her to take a little detour to see me in Fredericton…or I can meet her somewhere along the way with refreshments, spokey dokes, a new bike flag, whatever! <3
#MDKsupportcrew #sackvilleorbust #cometocanada <3 <3 <3
Lovely! Have you told us what color the sleeves will be? XXO
I also see some shadowy Fair Isle stuff happening. The “X” pattern that keeps repeating definitely looks like argyle, or some kind of code. Let’s see…maybe it’s a sign that Kay should keep on riding her bike (and taking the ferries) past Sackville and on to Argyle in New Brunswick? It’s only 329 km farther!
Thank you for the shout out, that Kristy Glass is a doll! Chatting with her is like buttah.( I know I sound like someone’s grandmas saying that…)xox
I love this! When I look at the back, I see two butterflies. And maybe some on the front too? It’s incredible both how beautiful the random speckles are, and how determined we are to see patterns in the chaos.
I keep staring at the X’s too, so you have made some planned pooling 🙂