needled

I have a stole in cocoon stitch, inspired by Martha Waterman’s Traditional Lace Shawls book.

Aren’t the cocoons jolly? The yarn is DB Alpaca silk DK, which is absolutely glorious to knit with. It is actually a nicer, more subtle red than it appears in the pic. I do hope those wonky stitches will transform themselves after blocking. I didn’t make an error in the pattern repeat….really! I am looking forward to wearing this in Autumn.

Next, the start of the back edging to a little top, that I’m making with the cobweb mohair from the Natural Dye Studio:.

It will have cap sleeves, and stripes, in dark grey kidsilk haze.

Finally, a sock:

After the deluxe and wonderful monkeys, I’m almost ashamed to show this cheap and cheerful item using opal 4 py and the magic loop method. This will be my mountain knitting, so I’ve been economical with the needles as well as the project. Every extra bit of weight really is felt! I remember how much I cursed Dickens when I took Little Dorrit with me on the West Highland Way a couple of years ago….

On top of my good news this week, I also received my first royalty payment for my book. I found this strangely exciting! So, I am going to treat myself to a Hanne Falkenberg kit. I’m thinking the Ballerina will be just what is required. A bientot!

Here is my finished “shrub” cashmerino cardigan:

As you can see, I’m having trouble taking Sue’s hat off.

Having only half a back, and not much front, it knitted up extremely quickly. I also have more than enough left over for an accompanying balaclava.

This is the first pattern I have ever made from a (gulp) RYC pattern book. I really like it - straightforward to knit and very nice to wear. But does enjoying an RYC pattern herald middle age? I am slightly concerned….. Anyway, I was also pleased with the button selection - orphans from a bargain bag at Duttons:

I think all these powdery colours I’m knitting at the moment are a reaction to the rain.

Pattern: Martin Storey, ‘Shrub’
In: RYC ‘Classic Alpaca’
Yarn: DB Cashmerino DK
needles: 3.75mm & 3.25mm

Prepare for hyperbole! I just opened my Rowan exchange package from Sue!

The first thing I found in the package was a pair of MONKEYS. Sue, of course, has no idea that these socks have been the object of my wonderment and desire since they appeared on Knitty last year. I am absolutely blown away! The stitch pattern is sneaky and tricksy and witty and incredibly luxurious all at once and they are even better in person (as it were) than I could have imagined. They really have the most chutzpah of any socks I have ever seen. They are knitted in a glorious alpaca merino blend from the natural dye studio, whose yarns I liked so much at Woolfest a few weeks ago. Because of the dye, the colour of the yarn is that soft blue you only really see elsewhere in eighteenth-century silks. It has pale snowflake flecks in it. Lovely.

Here are my be-monkeyed feet:

Even my fallen arches look good. And heres Sue’s impeccable stitchwork:

Sue, these are truly marvellous socks. I am very touched that you made them for me.

As if more was necessary, I then discovered this superb cloche from Lace Style. I had to put it on immediately:

The chic lace really takes my breath away:

These pictures do not do justice to the lustrous haziness of the pale mauvey-bluey yarn from the Wensleydale Sheep Shop. Nor do they show the hat’s cozy navy lining, knitted in 4 ply soft. In it I shall be too stylish for the mountains.

Finally, there was this elegant bracelet:

The sodalite crystals are like woven gems of frost. I’m going to give the braclet its first outing tonight, when I’m out for dinner with a visiting friend from the U.S.

Each individual item is deserving of its own rhapsody, but I was also really struck by the shared aesthetic of all three of them together. Theres a blue snow-queen feel to the whole parcel, but theres definitely something about the lightness and delicacy of the lace cloche, as well as the sheer impudence of the socks, that is very suggestive of the promise of Spring. Sue, your gifts were incredibly thoughtful, as well as impressively creative. I love them!

TA xx

Now Morag has received her gifts I can safely post some pics of what I made for her in the Rowan exchange. The theme was ‘all the seasons’ and Morag had listed autumn as her favourite.

First I knitted an autumnal rust-coloured cushion, in Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky on 6.5mm needles, using the ’sand cables’ pattern in vol. 3 of Vogue Knitting Stitchionary:

The cables - and the yarn - softened up considerably when blocked. I finished it off with some brown buttons from Duttons for Buttons in York.

Then I drew a simple design to be embroidered onto the cover of a nice blank book (for pattern notes etc)

It is (in case you’re asking) meant to suggest an autumnal tree in the wind. I really enjoyed the crewel work, but finishing up the book cover on the sewing machine was a little more tricky. Despite flattering myself that I have become an adept sempstress since being given the gadget at Christmas, the machine and I are clearly not yet AS ONE. I hope Morag does not examine the seams too closely….

Finally, I finished off the package with a couple of skeins of Debbie Bliss pure silk in a deep brown, with which to create a seasonal treat, when Morag has time and inclination:

Wot a productive weekend. As well as completing my Rowan exchange gift(s) (of which more later), I also managed to finish Aimee (below) and begin this:

It will be a cropped cardi. The yarn is (O joy) Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK from the John Lewis sale (half price! bargain!) I got it home and couldn’t put it down. Before I knew it, I was knitting maniacally back and forth, back and forth — clearly some mindless knit-purl-action was what was required after the fiddliness of all that kidsilk haze. It really is a dream to work with and to wear next to the skin. I imagine, for example, a balaclava made from this would be a peculiarly sensuous item. Perhaps there will be enough wool left over….

Also finally did something with that nice linen-mix offcut I’ve had knocking around — made a wee laundry bag for our handwashable items (to prevent shrinking disasters). Here it is in situ.

Here, at last, is Aimee:

and a detail:

Not sure I enjoyed the process of knitting an entire seamed garment in kidsilk haze. However, the finished effect is very nice and it looks lovely on. As per, I cast off too tightly on the neck and, as there is no give in the yarn *at all* had to insert a couple of little buttons at the shoulder.

Pattern: Kim Hargreaves, Aimee
In: Rowan ‘Vintage Style’
Yarn: 4 x 25g kidsilk haze (582, trance)
needles: 4.5mm and 3.5mm

hurrah! woolfest weekend! We camped in Buttermere, on a lovely site, complete with herdwick sheep, chickens, and superb views of the fells.

And yes, there were moments of sunshine!

Woolfest was super. The atmosphere was really unpretentious and friendly and there was a wonderful range of things to look at and be inspired by: rare breed animals; spinning and weaving equipment; a fabulous variety of yarns and fleeces from small producers; and beautiful handmade objects from artists and craftspeople. I particularly liked Jane Cummins‘ unique bags — in which the smooth, pale surface of turned birch contrasts beautifully with the bright colours of fuzzy merino felt.

I have a soft spot for Alpacas, and the pair on show were particularly nice.

and here’s its lovely phizog:

There were also some super-curly mohair-producing goats from Crookabeck farm, which Tom suggested had a cremaster-like appearance.

And many examples of my favourite sheep - the Herdwick

they always look happy. I did try to get a pic of the lambs - both the herdwick and the almost bear-like (and very friendly) coloured ryeland…but they just wouldn’t stay still!

The laughing hens stall looked good enough to eat:

…and the colours at the house of hemp stand were wonderful:

I had set myself a purchasing limit, and (ye gods) actually stuck to it. First, I bought 600g of undyed grey shetland dk from Susan Russell at Woodpark Wool. Susan had a super range of different wools and wool-blends, all from her own flocks of rare-breed sheep.

It is exceptionally soft and springy and the fleece has a lovely subtle range of colours in it. This wool deserves some serious stitchwork to show it off at its best! Hence, I shall use it to fashion my own version of last autumn’s infamous Pringle yoked sweater which I intend to be a bit lighter, and even more swingy than the original.

I then went to the other end of the yarn spectrum and gravitated towards the gorgeous cobweb mohair from the natural dye studio.

This yarn is a glorious concoction - feather-light, unbelievably soft - quite delicious. The colour is much more mauve-y than in the picture. Really lovely. I have a little cap-sleeved top with picot edging and a lace panel in mind for it….

Really, it was something of an effort controlling myself at the natural dye studio stand - everything was so completely delectable. I had to mutter ‘Alpaca-silk sock yarn is UNNECESSARY’ several times to prevent my gathering up armfuls of the stuff. I noticed several other women had, like I, taken on a zombie-like appearance at this stand. Hands were reaching out automatically for the blue-faced leicester 4-ply, eyes glazing over at the silks and hazy mohairs. I swear I saw one of them salivating.

mmmmm…..

Finally, I came back down to earth with three balls of this cheerful stuff from the wonderful woolclip (for whom three cheers for organising such a fantastic show):

I looked at it, and it said “mittens” back to me.

We celebrated my purchases and toasted woolfest with a pint of Dickie Doodle at the Bitter End in Cockermouth.

On Sunday we climbed Haystacks, High Crag, and High Stile, with a damp and misty ridge walk inbetween. Heres the view west from Haystacks. Those ominous looking clouds dumped their contents on us minutes later. Still a great walk though - the fell architecture surrounding Buttermere, Ennerdale Water & Crummock Water is really quite spectacular.