The yarn name is something “poems” and it was a good bargain from Knit Picks (I think). I like the roving texture and the stripes are fun to watch as they appear. I chose a v-neck pullover pattern and the challenge (aka something I am not completely sure how to execute) will be the i-cord trim on the V. I learned quickly how to make an i-cord bind off when I completed my Penguono (that never LOOKS right) which is one of West Knits designs and has been floundering in a pretty Vera Bradley bag for a very long time. I’m happy it is finished. Wool. I like to pretend that I am a knitting granny of old, from England or Scotland, finding my knitting way from books and photographs.
There is nothing like Lopi wool from Iceland. The Cowichan sweaters that I fell in love with when we were at Young Life’s British Columbia Malibu Club (Christian outreach camp for teenagers) used a type of roving wool. Because the camp had formally been an exclusive club for wealthy boaters in the 1940’s (I think that’s when) there remained a camp store called The Totem Trader. On the shelves were handmade Cowichan sweaters, a tribute to the wool shop of the wealthy resort days where they sold Scottish and Canadian woolens. All the buildings at camp were named native names, too. Anyway, I wanted one of those sweaters but they were over 100 dollars and we were barely able to stay afloat financially so I didn’t even consider buying one. I fawned over them. I still do like to look online, watching videos of older women knitting the lovely thick sweaters. They use five needles.
This will be my first try at Norwegian mittens. I am so proud of the design (a free pattern) and the mistakes are not bothersome. The corrugated rib looks fine and so does the picot edge. The stars are lovely and I’m getting better at interpreting the pattern. I’m working on the thumb and soon I’ll start number two. They are tight fitting and very warm. I imagine myself strolling the neighborhood when the winter comes, wearing my handmade mitts. I hope I am not hesitant to go out in the cold. Sometimes I am. House mouse.
And here are the ingredients for my own gansey. I’ve been reading Traditional Knitting and when I saw the photos of the fishermen’s wives knitting fine ganseys for their husbands I had to dive into more reading about knitting during that time period. Now I am semi-obsessed with the Yorkshire knitters. They were so artistic and unique in their pattern design. I want a fine wool sweater knitted in the round on long double points. I am waiting for them to arrive in the mail.
Finally (for today ha ha ha) I ordered this from WEBS (I think) because I decided to knit my next Flax (Tin Can Knits) sweater from a durable yarn. This is mostly synthetic with a little wool. I gravitate toward green.
I have an embarrassing collection of knitting books and I shall find some cheerful and industrious words to go with my dreamy plans. When I can’t decide what to do with all of my freedom (now that I am not teaching anymore or working more than a tiny bit doing part-time bookkeeping) I KNOW that knitting for a while, sitting in my hobbit spot (the family room sofa), I can gather my bearings. I might listen to the audio Bible while I work. Psalms, maybe.
More later.
Knit Song 