Thank you all so very much for your comments about my green log cabin blanket. Rest assured, I’ve only lent it to Blue Moon – it will one day find it’s way back to our home. I don’t think Georgie would forgive me if I let it go forever. (Honestly, I don’t think I’d forgive myself!) It’s wonderful to knit such a project, but the cherry on top is your appreciation for its beauty. Thank you again!
The knits have been at a stalemate lately. Everything needs something – and I’m just not in the mood. The koigu knee socks are stalled out because I need to start the heel flap which means changing the yarn and I just don’t have the energy for that. The pomatomus sock needs to be ripped back to the start of the gusset because the pattern called for a k2tog and I really think it needed a k2togtbl. I KNEW it when I first knit it but ignored it and now I don’t like how it’s laying so rip rip rip. Which I really don’t have the energy for. The Random log cabin – eh. (One day I’ll go back to that, I promise!) That sore throat I had after Rhinebeck somehow morphed into a dry cough a week later which only last night turned into a bonafide cold. I’m feeling drippy.
BUT! Something came in the mail yesterday to give me LOTS of ENERGY!!!! Remember how I said that the only thing I regretted about Rhinebeck was not buying any yarn at Briar Rose for the Casino Shawl? Well I bought the pattern from Anne as soon as I got home but the yarn proved a bit more tricky. Chris from Briar Rose told me that they were pretty much out of yarn after Rhinebeck, but I could custom order some Sea Pearl if I wanted. DID I WANT? You know I did! So I told Chris that I wanted purples – lots of different purples – because purple is the new black – and she came through for me BIG TIME!
That’s 1500 yds of Briar Rose Sea Pearl – 50/50 Merino/Tencel. It is so so soft. Almost as soft as the purple sheets we just bought for our bed. (Seriously. Modal. Like sleeping on silk. Who knew?) I couldn’t wait to start it! So last night I provisionally cast on 305 stitches.
And then did nothing with it. I can’t decide which needle size to use. Anne says that she knit the sample at Rhinebeck with size 8s and Christy‘s knitting the shawl in Sea Pearl with size 6s. So I turned to my conscience in all things knit, Ann, and she told me to – get this – SWATCH! Well I never! But I did….
The top 20 rows were knit on 7s, the bottom 20 on 6s. The middle pins are at the middle point. Duh. I may still swatch a bit on 8s, but right now I’m leaning toward 7s. The fabric on the 6s is a bit too tight and things loosened up considerably with the 7s. It’s funny how at US 6s you get much bigger jumps – 4.0mm, 4.5mm, 5.0mm. I think 8s will be too loose. This is the same thing that happened with Seraphim, but maybe I’ll just try the 8s.
I’ve never done a top down shawl before so it will be interesting starting out with all those stitches. And I’ve never really used a provisional cast on before so that will be interesting too. I cast on the stitches with size 6 needles, so I hope I can get the 7s to work with that – don’t tell me if I can’t. Recasting on all those stitches is not something I’m looking forward to. One strange thing about the pattern: It’s called Casino because the shape running through the shawl is a spade. But the spade is actually upside down (yes Christy – I noticed that too.) Which would probably bother me except I think the upside down spade actually looks a lot like a heart. : )
Wait! There’s more! In really blow your mind news I’ve collected this batch of yarns:
We’re about to get a little crazy with the swatching: Blackwater Abbey, Cascade 220, NatureSpun, Alice Starmore & Rowan Scottish Tweed. Am Kamin. I’m gearing up.
I’m off to vote. I voted. Have you?
I’ll be voting this afternoon. I think the 7s look good.
purple purple purple! Even the random photo that loaded was purple 🙂
After work…I’ll vote on my way home…before the big after work crowds. Your Briar Rose is fabulous. I’m envious and I didn’t even see the booth at Rhinebeck! Ann’s shawl is gorgeous, just gorgeous. The yarns you have for AK are all beautiful. Hope the Starmore yarn works best, however;-)
Voted when the polls opened (7am central). There were long lines and I hope that’s a good sign. Loved your new yarn and have decided that we need to move next door to you so I can fondle your male, er mail. It’s so yummy!!
I just finished the Casino shawl (largest size) and used the same Fearless Fibers lace weight cashmere yarn and colorway as Anne. Per the pattern, I started the shawl with size 6. I was about 75% done, when I realized that unblocked it was to big, so frogged it and went down to a size 5. Glad I did, because once blocked, the shawl was huge!
That Briar Rose is something. Wow. It’s so funny: i almost always grativate to reds and oranges, but this year at rhinebeck i only bought green and purple fiber. Purple has certainly taken hold of me (and you too, as i can see).
One can never go wrong with purple. Purple is such a powerful color, and people don’t give it enough credit if you ask me. I’m sure your shawl will totally rock! And, btw everyone and they mama that I know that went to Rhinebeck, was sick the following week, so you weren’t hacking alone.
Necia
I knit Casino on 6s, but I’m a loose woman ;>
Love the Sea Pearl – it’s yummy.
You aren’t the only one to be in a slump. I cannot seem to get motivated. Oh well, this too shall pass!
Hey, Am Kamin! All the colors look good (but I’m liking the heathered pink and purple). Are you going for a specific color, or will it be whatever hits gauge?
Purple is the new black? Once again, I’m so out of it I don’t even know when I’m trendy. I’d go for the 8, probably, but that’s because I’m a ridiculously tight knitter. (All my control issues go into my knitting, enabling me otherwise to appear semi-sane.)
I was thinking of a top-down shawl too, on the theory that it’s easier to get motivated for the final push to finish something when it’s getting smaller rather than bigger every other row, but I’ve been assured that that doesn’t help much. So I’ll probably do one the other way.
That Sea Pearl yarn is very gorgeous, it looks so soft.
And I’ll be heading out to vote soon. I put a little thing in today’s blog entry about how knitters should organize a “knit the vote” campaign. I know I’m looking forward to my 2 hours of company paid voting/knitting time 🙂
Oh, good! I was wondering how you could give up such a wonderful blanket. I’m glad it’s just on loan. 🙂
I like the look of the looser needles, but do remember that when you block it, the knitting will open up even more. Try wetting your swatch and blocking it severly. Wait for it to dry before you decide for sure.
Oh, I have some of those Modal sheets from BB&B. They’re wonderful! I’ve had mine for a full year, and they wear quite well. They actually stay soft and silky, just like new! I’ve gotta get another set of them, so I can switch between two sets instead of taking them off my bed, washing, then putting them right back on. 🙂
Can’t wait to see more than a swatch. The purple is to die for.
I voted in Center City Philly at 8:30 this morning. I was the 75th person to vote at my polling place which I thought was disappointing. I hope more people vote as the day goes on!
I’ve got those sheets too! I love them, except for the fact that one of my pillowcases ripped down the seam in the wash within a month of buying them…but definitely very soft!
I can’t vote here because we just moved and I haven’t got a new card yet, but my husband got his, and is out voting right now!
Voting this evening as soon as I get out of work (and dude, I may leave early just to do so).
That purple is so gorgeous…I might just feel a purple trend coming on myself.
Hi Cara! It was great seeing you at Stitches! Ok, first of all, I voted. And second, I just L-O-V-E Am Kamin. How gorgeous. Cannot wait to see what you do! Is the Rowan Scottish Tweed the purply one on the right? I love that yarn.
That shawl looks like a lot of fun, especially in that luscious looking yarn!
Voted voted voted! On new-fangled electronic machines, even.
That shawl is going to look wicked awesome.
what great colors! that purple is stunning… can’t wait to see it knit up! glad you’re feeling better 🙂
Ooh, I’m sold on the Blackwater Abbey myself. It’s a great color.
When I voted at 11 a.m. this morning, I was #97 at my polling place. I find that very encouraging because in the 2004 presidential election, there were only 84 people who voted at my polling place. The only high profile race in my district is a state atty general race too! I hope this means that people in my red state are mad enough to vote blue. We’ll see tonight!
I have voted – now to just wait for the results. I like Blackwater Abbey, but I haven’t used it for anything. I’m anxious to hear what you think of it. That reminds me – I need to order some Cascade 220. I’d better do that before I forget. The Briar Rose is gorgeous.
Voted? You bet I did!
I saw your log cabin in person at stitches east – it was downright beautiful.
Mmmm…that Briar Rose gets me droolin’ every time. I’ve been hounding their website for a long, long while now trying to score some of their Anna Bell tweedy goodness, but there never seems to be any there to get. Your BR score looks amazing, though. Lovely color palette you’re working with these days… I’ll be keeping an eye on your knits!
And thank you so much for visiting my lil’ newbie blog and leaving such a nice comment on my Blanket Cardigan!
I went off to vote over my lunch hour with my knitting in hand, expecting that I’d have to wait…and there was no line! I walked right in. I guess that could be counted as a good thing, but I was hoping to knit a little while I was there. I can’t wait to see your Am Kamin get going, it’s such a gorgeous sweater!
Your posts make me, a confirmed warm weather person, want to live somewhere near so I can visit! I’m coming to Milwaukee (Kid #3 has lost her mind & moved north!) in March. How far is that?!
On changing yarns, and forgive me if this is really old news, a friend showed me how to do it with no knots and no ends left to work in. Put the yarn on the smallest crewel needle possible & go back through the yarn so that it is twisted together and leave a small loop at the place where you want to change yarn. Snip the end of the yarn if it sticks out. Place the NEW yarn on the needle and go through the loop you just made and then through the new yarn same as before. Snip the end if it sticks out. I really love this method as there are no knots and you can hardly tell where the join is AND nothing to go back and finish later, which I really hate. Hope this explanation makes sense. I can try again with photos if you are interested…
And I voted absentee a while back as we are in HI and we claim residence in FL. The Navy moves us around too much sometimes to get to vote in a new place.
And best of all…Kid #1 lives in Japan & had a medical emergency (she’s much better now) and while I was there I met another Navy wife who just moved to Japan from Iceland. She has a fleece & has no clue what to do with it. She’s GIVING it to me as soon as her stuff gets delivered!!! Woo hoo!!
The 7s look perfect — go for it. And yes, of course.
wonderful that you reminded all your knit fans to vote. yes!
That Sea Pearl is delicious! (You can use that adjective for yarn, right?)
Maybe it’s just too much Socktober fest knitting, but I like the 6’s. The 7’s look kind of open to me. Definitely too large on 8’s!
All of the yarn is just gorgeous! The purple yarn looks absolutely divine!
Who needs lace when you have Am Kamin? Wahoo! Let the swatching begin!
As for voting, absentee ballot is not as much fun. But being 3 hrs behind the east coast polls closing is great!
I went home and then back out again, doubling my gas and mileage for the day so I could vote! 🙂
I love the yarn, it’s very beautiful, can’t wait to see how your project turns out. I’m new to your blog, BTW, and I love reading it so far. And I’m with you on the birthday thing.
That’s going to be a gorgeous combo.
That yarn is sumptuous! What a great shawl you are going to have from that. I vote for the #7, only do the eights if you are truly obsessing.
Have to laugh at the swatching. My knit-guru just suggested swatching yarn I’m lusting after. Gives me a chance to work with it without major commitment, might stimulate something fun. What a DANGEROUS idea.
I’m obsessed with the Beaverslide yarn right now. I’d use it for things I would use the Scottish Tweed for and it’s unspeakably lovely. I did need to wash the skeins first though – something in the mordant or rinse water activated my detergent allergy. A quick wash and I was able to forget I had a swatch stuck down my bra for an irritation check.
Anyway – color cards are totally worth a look, and I have some random skeins in a very startling turquoise color from last year if you want one to swatch with.