In Sahul

2009-08-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't been writing much about my knitting lately, but I've been doing a lot of it. It remains the thing that simultaneously soothes and engages me. My lovely silk/steel jacket was put on the back burner while I tackled a spate of migraines, since knitting with that fiber on tiny needles requires patience and even tension, neither of which were in abundance. Now that it seems I've got the migraines under some control, I can pull the jacket out again and get restarted.

Instead, I've been goofing around with one freeform jacket pattern in various charcoal gray yarns (which has been pretty relaxing), and I recently started this beauty in a rustic black tweed. I'm close to finished with the left sleeve and front. This is a pretty satisfying knit, with enough direction to keep me clear on what I'm doing. It's fun to watch this project come together and become something wearable. On the down side, I might have made the sleeve too long, which is going to be a pain to fix eventually, but I'll figure that out when I seam everything together.

My next project (I've already cast on) is the Cabled Bolero/Capecho, which I'm knitting in a black glossy silk/wool combination. The yarn feels fabulous, and as soon as I get some more done on my Circle Jacket, and pick up a cable needle, I'll start in earnest.

Damn, but I love knitting. In case it isn't obvious.

Catch up.

2009-08-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not blogging as much as I'd like, and am thinking about taking this to LiveJournal. I've been on LJ for almost ten years now, and am very comfortable with the format and culture. Something to ponder.

In the meantime, I've not gotten as much done on my Paper Crane or my Silk/Steel Jacket as I've wanted to; just a few inches here and there. My "Spur of the Moment" SKIF Martha has also been foundering, as I find newer patterns to start. A terrible habit to get into.

On the positive(?) side, I've decided to knit up the (in)famous Cabled Bolero/Capecho by Norah Gaughan. I'm making it up out of Knit Picks' "Gloss HW," which should look and feel lovely. I'm finding that texture is becoming more important to me, and the silk in Gloss should keep my fingers happy.

New Love

2009-07-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

For the four years I've knitted off and on, I've always loved fat, fulsome, felty wools. Usually black or grey, true, but lush and forgiving and knitted up large. Now I've fallen in love with a set of sterner fibers: silk wrapped around steel; fine linen twine; papery cotton bands knitted on slender needles. Where once I could make up half a sweater, I now spend hours knitting a few delicate inches, and I'm thrilled with the results.

I started my Paper Crane cardigan moments after my Habu order arrived in the mail today. The natural linen is beautiful, with a sheen like a dove's feather, or a grey pearl. 350 stitches is quite the cast-on for somebody like me, but the knitted-up fabric is proving well worth the effort. I need to find the perfect pearly button for this beauty.

2009-06-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

My Haida arrived yesterday, and I had to immediately ball a skein up. It is so smooth and the colors so subtle---it's going to be a lovely cardigan with the Habu charcoal wool-linen. The colors shift from black to blue to black again, with a slight silver sheen. Again, lovely.

I bought my needle today, but I still must wait for my Habu Textiles order. Will it be here tomorrow?

2009-06-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the mail to come, and my cotton gima and my Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Haida" to arrive. I'm reminded of Christmas, birthdays, and other times of anticipation. My stomach is fluttering, my palms are slightly damp, and I can't stop looking out the window.

Good News!

2009-06-25T00:51:00.000-07:00

My Setsuko Torii book, Hand Knit Works, has shipped from YesAsia, and should be here within the next two weeks. I've wanted this book since I first laid eyes on it at a knitting Meetup, and I'm thrilled that it'll soon be in my hands.

A migraine has made knitting slow over the past couple of days, so little progress there. My silk/stainless steel jacket continues to be a source of real joy, regardless.

Habu Kit 24

2009-06-23T18:18:00.001-07:00

I'm day five into my Silk/Stainless Steel Jacket (otherwise known as the Sooper Speshul Jacket), and I love it. Since switching to the bamboo Addi Naturas from the metal Turbos, I've picked up considerable speed, since I'm no longer afraid of slippage. The knitted-up product has a "crispy" texture, but isn't that scratchy. It reminds me somewhat of a heavy tulle.

Here's a pic of my efforts, only 35 rows in on the back section. I have twice that finished now.