Summertime is for savoring. It is a time to step out side of ones self and be attentive to the experience as it happens. Savor the sensation of the warmth of the sun on your skin, the cool grass under foot, the feel of the cotton as it slides through your fingers.
Yarn is the original Peaches n Cream
For me, summer is a time for light knitting. When June hit, I had an irrepressible urge to knit dishcloths. I dived in the stash for the last of the authentic Peaches and Cream cotton (from the original mill on the east coast) and immediately whipped out a dishcloth in the Grandmother’s Favorite Dishcloth pattern. When I was questioned by the daughter, I told her I was getting a jump on Christmas presents. Everyone can use a four inch square of absorbent cotton. I quickly did two more. Then I did a fourth of all the tiny bits of cotton that were tangling in the bottom of the summer knitting bag. As some of the yarn was short, I joined the yarn with square knots and just kept knitting. I love things that are vibrant and contrasting. That less then four inch square is a coaster. I used it the same evening I finished it; did not even bother to weave in the ends.
Yarn is 100% cotton from Katia, deep stash.
I pulled a multi-colored skein of super soft cotton from the stash. The yarn that is just so soft and pretty I had been just keeping it around to look at, but know I have cast on. I decided to make a dish towel, a large rectangle. I began with the Jacquard stitch. This is a stitch where the design is created by slipping stitches on each row. It looks particularly cool when one uses a yarn with longer color changes.
Now, back to savoring the sensation of the cool grass under my feet.
Safer at Home orders have been in effect in most areas across the nation for at least a month, in some areas longer. Being restricted in movement has several side effects; one has a wealth of time. Within the first few days I finished a shawl that had been on the needles for over four years, if I am honest, I would have to say it is more likely to be five years. The body of the shawl was fairly quick. But the knit on trim, that got tedious. After an inch or two, the shawl went into a bag. I dropped it on the backseat of the car and it became the project I would pick up when waiting to pick up the DD from rehearsal. It is a slow way to finish a knitting project. When I had soaked the shawl and blocked it, I decided to take inventory of all the WIPs.
I went through all the baskets, the cloth bags, the plastic bin, the pile of yarn on the dresser. I found 20 WIPs. This includes four tops that I have been designing/knitting for myself. One of these is 99% finished but I do not like how it fits. There is the grey hempton shirt which has been ripped back and re-knit twice already. I did not even count the project bag full of balls of rose colored linen. That yarn cannot decide what it wants to be, I have started tops with that yarn several times but I always end up ripping it out.
So many WIPs just need an assessment. The sock for the DD, I picked it up and finished it in a day and then promptly cast on for a pair of socks for myself. Sigh.
There are WIPs that I need to admit are not going to be finished, either the sizing is off (gloves) or it is a project that simply no longer speaks to me (pi shawl). There were two scarves that were to be gifts, ages ago. I finished one; the other will remain in limbo.
100% wool dyed with Chamomile and Purple Basil extracts
I often begin things because I want to learn or practice a new technique. When I finished the two color Brioche scarf (in Chamomile and Purple Basil), two years after the cast on, I felt quite satisfied. I know there are errors in the beginning bit but no errors in the second half and I have discovered that I quite enjoy Brioche. Soon I will cast on for another Brioche project; I have the yarn picked out, a variegated pink and a purple/black.
hempforknitting, design my own
As of today, instead of 20 WIPs, I currently have 17 WIPs. I have made fantastic progress on the hemp shirt. I love working up summer shirts in hemp; top down, raglan increases. This shirt has a bit of magenta at the base of neckline. There will be a large color work pattern in magenta at the hem of shirt. I am alternating work on the hemp shirt with knitting high socks for myself. And because I am not that keen on color work, at least once a week I sit down and knit a few rows on the Orfeo Hat.
