this jam is the ish, yo!

pattern: Ishbel, from Whimsical Little Knits
designer: Ysolda Teague
yarn: Lobster Pot Yarns Laceweight Cashmere in Mayflower Beach
needles: Addi Turbos #6
modifications: none; I knit the smaller version

You know what's ridiculous, and by ridiculous perhaps I mean lazy? When it takes you longer to get around to blocking something than it did for you to actually knit said item. Oh, I'll admit, it was a little slow-going there at the start. For some reason, my brain kept farting and couldn't wrap itself around the basic beginnings of this simple shawlette. I must have cast on and ripped at least five times when I started. When I was finally done with the stockinette part, I was so relieved to have made it that far and so happy to be done with all those boring stitches that I put it away... for almost TWO MONTHS. When I picked it up again back in August, I just wanted to be done with it. Not because I didn't enjoy the process of knitting it but because I couldn't wait to see the finished product. I knew it was going to be lovely. Seeing all those Ishbels out in the blogosphere and all over ravelry and Flickr left me wanting one badly. Knitting a repeat a night, I finished it in less than a week. Then I put it back in its pouch when it has languished waiting to be blocked until a few days ago. I really should have done this much sooner because it feels so dang good now that it's done. I love it!

Also, look at how different the color looks in a sunny room. It's almost a warm turquoise, as opposed to the cold, hard teal it is in the detail photos I took in my studio during an overcast day. The reality of it is somewhere in between the two. It's a pretty rich shade of turquoise.

I only wish that I had used a silk blend. I have been admiring Lauren's gorgeous Ishbel, and I particularly love the sheen on the yarn she used. It just glows with such a warm, sumptuous luster. I love it! While the cashmere I used is fabulously warm and squishy, it doesn't have that glorious glow. Also, the day after I blocked it, it started to lose its crispness. After one wear, it's all puckery, as if I had never even blocked it. Not such a big deal being as I am planning on wearing it "Bandito-style," but still.... It's lace, and I would love for its pretty details to show, you know? The next shawl I knit will be silk or a silk blend, for sure.

fun times at sheep & wool

Not that I have any photos of sheep to show you. Nor did I buy any wool. I did consume copious amounts of fairground food. And I had a delicious lamburger, which I will freely admit is part of what motivates me to make the pilgrimage to Rhinebeck every year. Most of all, though, I met tons of people - wonderful people, some who I have only known through the wonder that is the internet (that internet - always bringing people closer together!), some who I am lucky enough to know in real life and see on a somewhat regular basis, you know, when my hermit's schedule permits me to do so. All I can say is it was good times all around. My personal highlight was running into Melissa, Gwen, and Colette, the ladies from my old stitch-n-bitch in Long Island City. Gad, I have missed them, and it was lovely to catch up with them. I didn't go to the ravelry party after the fair, but I hear it was a ton of fun. Next year, though.... I am already looking forward to next year.

have a cupcake!

Every day I set out to photograph my Ishbel, and every day the light has been gloomy. The few moments of pretty light that we've been lucky enough to get in the afternoon have been spent photographing another project that I can't talk about now but will soon enough. I guarantee you, it will be exciting. For now, have a cupcake! Hope to see some of you folks at Rhinebeck over the weekend.

mojo's back in town

pattern: February Baby Sweater, from the Knitter's Almanac
designer: Elizabeth Zimmermann
yarn: fingering weight Pigeonroof Studios in Venetian, handspun for me by Danielle
needles: Addi Turbos #2
modifications: instead of the gull stitch the pattern calls for, I used straight-up vanilla stockinette to better show-off the striations made by the handspun

If you're going to ease back into knitting after not knitting for months, it's good to start with a small and satisfying project. (Seriously, how sad is that? Months, people! I have not knit for months, and I don't know why. Or rather, I have an inkling why, and it has to do with performance anxiety and my own neurosis, but let's save that for another day... or better yet, for a therapist.) I love this wee sweater. I kinda wish I had enough handspun to knit one in my size because that would be fabulous.

In a way, this teeny sweater feels like a collaboration since several people had their hands in this in small (and one huge) ways. Thanks to Stacie for the buttons, to Diana for the inspiration to go with a bunch of different buttons and use the stockinette instead of the gull stitch pattern, and last but not least, to Danielle for spinning this yarn for me. For some reason, I thought I had blogged about our swap when it happened, but I guess I didn't. Back in February, I made this elephant for Danielle, and she in turn spun some yarn for me and made me an adorable little knitting pouch. Thanks again, Danielle! I had been wondering what to make with this lovely handspun, and this just seemed like the perfect project for it. I love it when knitting comes together like that!