Groovyness

I get laughed at. A lot. Especially when I insist that yarn is not inanimate. In my experience, and trust me I have a lot of experience with yarn, yarn knows exactly what it’s destined to be. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to make yarn do something that it’s dug in its heels and refused to be that.

The current project is a case in point. I bought this yarn last year (old reliable Cascade 220) when we went to St Louis (at Knitorious) for the Stitch and Pitch with the Cardinals. If I’m not mistaken, that was late last April or early May. April, I think. Anyway, I wanted to do a felted summer purse with these great colors and I had a plan. The best I can remember, it was to do a purse with wide stripes of color with contrasting large polka dots on it. I could see it so clearly in my mind and that’s what I bought this yarn for. On purpose.

I started it during the game but it didn’t really work. After I got home, it sat around until I ripped it out. Then I started a different pattern with it. Again it sat around until a week ago when I suddenly listened well enough to discover what it was supposed to be.

The stitch pattern was one I first saw on one of those PBS knitting shows but I don’t remember which one. They demonstrated it quickly and I came in on the middle of the demonstration so in all I’d say I saw about 25 seconds of them doing it but I fell in love with it. I don’t crochet much with yarn because I don’t much like crocheted yarn (except in a very limited exceptions) but I liked the retro look of this stitch. Then I was able to find it in a crochet stitch pattern book that allowed the plan to unfold.

Walking by the bag of abandoned knitting, I heard it. All the stars aligned, all the pieces were in place, destiny was happening right in front of my eyes. I’m doing 2 rectangular pieces that will be the 2 outer pockets of the purse and then I’ll use the green you see at the bottom to make a middle pocket. It will be just slightly larger than the 2 sides so it will be nicely visible then it will have 2 medium length straps long enough for over the shoulder. I’ll probably use the lucet with a strand of each of the yellow/gold/orange strands to make the handles as it makes a much firmer, less stretchy cord. Can’t wait to finish it and start using it. (Click on the photo to see a larger image.)

Spinning Report

I’ve been getting quite a bit of spinning accomplished lately. I have finally been able to get back to the tartanish-colored roving (I think it was called Black Watch and it's certainly got those color shading in it) I bought up in Wisconsin last year. I’ve almost got 1 pound of yarn spun so I will definitely be able to start on something with it soon. I’m hoping to get a swatch worked up this weekend so I’ll be sure to get a photo posted when I get a good swatch to show. I really can’t wait to see how it will look knitted up. I’m doing a medium singles and then Navaho plying to get a 3-ply yarn that’s not too bulky. I probably should have done a swatch before I plied all that I have but I didn’t know enough to do that and I’ve already jumped in with both boots so c’est la vie on this one!