Today's inspiration comes from the cover of the just released Spring 2010 Interweave Knits - the Braided Hood Tunic by Carol Feller.
Fun and stylish, it also looks like a great knit. I love the cable combinations. Notice the detail on the small cables running alongside the opening for the neck? And the way the side cables add a hint of waist shaping? You can't see the hood in this picture, but its construction shows a similar attention to detail that marks a great design. This is the type of piece that you can wear 10 months out of the year, and would look equally fabulous with a pair of shorts as well as with jeans.
The designer used one of my new favorite yarns -Spud and Chloe Sweater. The perfect blend of wool and organic cotton, it is machine washable, super soft, easy to knit, and has fantastic stitch definition (thus perfect for cables!).
Other possibilities include any worsted weight yarn. The fiber choice will determine whether you are going for a bit of extra warmth with an alpaca or wool, or a cool cotton layer. Becka has been debating between the Spud and Chloe and Berroco Ultra Alpaca. I've thought that Dream in Color Classy, Cascade 220, or Blue Sky Cotton would all be excellent choices.
Onto the news of the weekend. Of course it was the end of the Winter Olympics, as well as the Ravelympics. I am very proud to report that I finished my Olympic Citron shawl and received a medal in Short Track Shawls.
Here it is unblocked:
As I worked away on the last few repeats, it occurred to me that this shawl, in all it's pure cashmere heavenly softness, wasn't for me at all. It was actually for a dear friend. Does that ever happen to you? Does the knitting whisper it's intentions? Once it spoke, I realized how perfect it was for this person and that nothing would please me more than to know it had such a good home. Knitting is terribly clever that way.
This past weekend was also the annual Freeport SPA gathering. Somehow the TKE gang and I hit upon an absolutely brilliant idea to rent an entire B&B for Saturday night. Tori and Robin of The James Place Inn, were our hosts and ensured that we felt pampered as we enjoyed a relaxing evening knitting by the fire.
The next morning we were treated to the most incredible breakfast. We didn't have to lift a finger. Robin even cleaned the snow off our cars before we left to return to the real world. Thank you, Tori and Robin, for putting up with the invasion of not so quiet, but extremely happy, knitters.
SPA isn't SPA without a little fiber shopping.
My first purchase was from The Woolen Rabbit. This is Merino/Tussah. The splashes of dark purple caught my eye. I've found that I enjoy spinning deeply saturated color interspersed with lighter dyes, or perhaps stretches of undyed fiber.
I spent most of my time in my favorite booth - Spunky Eclectic. I know, you're shocked. I can't help it. Amy has a talent for painting fiber in a way that makes you NEED to touch it and spin it to see how the art of the fiber transforms into yarn.
My favorite find is the Panda braid - a blend of superwash merino/bamboo/nylon. I spun and knit a pair of socks out of this stuff last summer and loved the entire process.
The colorway is Nova Scotia. Now, I have to admit that I actually avoid this colorway due to an unfortunate incident with a pair of socks I knit for Peter out of Nova Scotia. Those socks took forever to knit for his feet and he blew out the heels in 2 weeks! Just the thought of those socks still makes me a bit queasy. BUT. Look at the blue in this braid. It is so DEEP. In places it looks almost black. Nova Scotia and I are back together thanks to that blue.
Pure curiosity had me grabbing the 4 ounces of Targhee in Black Cherry.
The fiber is spongey. Yes, that's a good thing. Imagine the spring of the yarn it will create.
Next is a sample of Tussah Silk. I've never spun pure silk before and wanted to give it a try. This one is in Sangria.
I've saved the best for last. Barbara surprised me with the gift of 2 ounces of Merino/Yak in Mercury.
I was so touched! Especially because she picked the one fiber in Amy's booth that I kept touching and wanting, but reluctantly putting back as the budget had been spent. She even picked one of my favorite colors. Thank you Barbara, I love it!
I hope everyone made it through the stormy weekend safely and that your power is back, or will be soon. Ours popped back on this morning and I am frantically trying to catch up on the laundry before the wind takes it out again.
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