Knitting, Fiber Art, and Lofty Thoughts
I finished my Deschain Tee! I knit one sleeve then realized the design is much better on me without sleeves. So I frogged the sleeve and finished the armholes the same as the neckline. I’m wearing it here with my linen lantern skirt over a camisole. It feels great to finish something.
My new favorite knitting spot in my backyard:
Yes, it’s an apple tree.
My view:
I’ve finished knitting the body on Deschain, which I will block today. I hope to finish it this weekend so I can start on my Mom’s cardigan.
I wanted to post about this yesterday, but didn’t have the energy. We closed two of our stores early yesterday due to a state of emergency in downtown Columbus, and protests scheduled for downtown Indianapolis which we expected to escalate. (They did.) We stand in solidarity with peaceful protest, and judging by the posts of people I know personally, the protesters themselves remained peaceful. We have kids living near and in downtown, and all reported in safe. Our staff is safe and so far no reports of damage to our stores. We are lucky.
We are supposed to be packing. Bob is. We are still waiting on the second appraisal report. I’ve been slowly progressing through the back of Deschain. I’m grateful for the stockinette. I’ve been watching a Fruity Knitting podcast each day, and it’s getting me through. It’s a moment of respite in a sea of worry. I realize I’m privileged to have moments of respite. And not to have to fear for the lives of our children because of the color of their skin.
We watched “The Vast of Night” last night. Excellent film in a throwback style. Intelligent and suspenseful with great dialogue and music. A moment of race reality acknowledgement. A breath of fresh air.
I’ve been quietly working on Deschain. I’ve finished the front according to the pattern, but I think I’m going to add another pattern repeat. Even with blocking this may be too cropped for me. What do you think?
If I do another pattern repeat, I may have to forego the sleeves, unless I buy more yarn. I think this tee with no sleeves would be fine, though. Or shorter sleeves.
The lace pattern is Shale. It’s a very easy lace pattern that I’m enjoying knitting. Maybe I will make a Shale shawl in the future.
This linen yarn from Quince and Co is a dream. I have enjoyed all their yarns so far. I’m glad I have this to knit because suddenly it’s summer. How did that happen? Cold, cold, cold, cold, WHOMP, hot!
I finally won round 36 on Arachne. I only had to tink it back three and a half times.
I think it might be a little big? I guess I won’t know for certain until I divide for the sleeves. I do love working with this yarn. It made tinking back tolerable.
Are you having a good Saturday?
I knit and picked out the last round I completed on Arachne three times! It’s not that it’s difficult. It’s just each section is slightly different and I keep misunderstanding the pattern. I finally spread it out on a 60″ cable so I could have a proper look at what I’m doing. I’m not 100% positive I got it right this time either, but I’m putting it in time out for a while.
Good news: we got the house!
I took some time off today and listened to Talking Tudors while working on Arachne. I’m worried the stitches may be a little tight, but hopefully they will block out.
She’s coming along. I ordered a new-to-me spider pin on Poshmark to wear with the sweater once it’s complete. I hope to make more progress this weekend.
Speaking of pins, I have a thing for vintage jewelry, especially holiday pins. I think it’s a holdover from my 80’s rhinestone jewelry collection. I don’t own very many now because I don’t wear them very often, but I’m thinking about starting a collection. The spider is my third pin.
The bird was a gift from my friend Laura. I found the millefleurs pin at a local vintage shop in the last few years, and I may have blogged about it.
I’ve decided I need a vintage Christmas pin. I am looking online but I might wait until quarantine lifts so I have an excuse to go shopping at my local vintage shops.
Welp I twisted it. So I had to frog the whole thing. I also decided I don’t like this color combo, so I’ve ordered some charcoal with lavender for the spider web. I’m more likely to wear those colors. It may be a couple of weeks before I cast on again, but hopefully I’ll have the yarn in my hands for our next virtual knit along!
Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the first date of Bob and myself, and also the 8th anniversary of when Bob proposed. To celebrate, we watched a virtual tour of the Winchester Mystery House and ate mango sorbet. (We ate mango sorbet on our first date.) Did you know Sarah Winchester liked the spider web pattern and felt it was spiritually significant? She used it on many stained glass windows in the Winchester Mystery House, which brings me full circle.
Putting my thoughts out there in a podcast must be more anxiety inducing than I expected. I went to bed early and woke in the middle of the night. That hasn’t happened in a while.
I never thought I would be saying this, but I’m thankful that it’s budget week at work. Numbers are so solid and reassuring. And I’m always thankful for my job, which I enjoy as much as I appreciate.
So I am up in the wee hours of the AM, steeping some nutritious and relaxing tea and contemplating my Weekender progress.
I’m not at all sure about it. The sleeve seems too narrow, I have started the cuff but now it looks too short, and I gave up on the fussy and (in my mind) completely unnecessary Kitchener stitch bind off. I’m hoping this is one of those designs that looks better on. I can always make an extra long ribbing at the cuff. This design is forgiving that way.
I haven’t started Vanishing Fleece by Clara Parkes, but if I’m in for a long night, I may as well get started. Or, I think I will catch up my blog reading first. Yay!
