A Tale of Two Sweaters

Way back in November, which seems like a distant memory now, lots of stuff was different than now. My energies were channeled in different directions. In some ways, I was split in half and making decisions that could have lifelong impact. During this time, the heart was flowing with good intentions despite being at a crossroads. I needed a way to channel the energy, and figured the best way would be to embark on a large sweater project. It turned out to be an emotionally challenging project. For so many reasons.

I took measurements one Saturday morning, boot shopping, with a detour into darkened pathways behind the scenes, in a fairy tale land of make believe, the North Pole. I brought the yarn to be considered, touched, evaluated, one of 17 skeins of gorgeous brown tweed, Queensland Kathmandu Aran. The goal was a Cobblestone Pullover, a design approved and then anticipated. I spent hours recalculating the stitch counts to align with the measurements, I was concerned about a proper fit. I also devoted hours to swatching, washing and blocking to get the right gauge.

And then I commenced knitting. After work, late into the evenings. I was giddy with delight. As the sweater grew on my lap, round after round, I was filled with affection. This yarn! This pattern! This gift! I felt the love flowing from my heart, down my arms, into my hands and then into the growing sweater itself. Each round was an expression of my intent. You might even call it Tweed Love. An overwhelming urge to make something to be worn as a remembrance, a reminder of a belief in connections lost and rekindled. Like a good hug, wrapped in warmth.

This is how it looked when I started.

Halfway through the body of this sweater, things changed. I was put on notice - new limitations - a new rulebook issued. Lines and boundaries drawn in the sand. I couldn't look at this sweater for weeks without feeling it was just too much. And with family coming from out of town over the Holidays, I had deadlines. This sweater went on the back burner.

When I finally returned to this project after January, it seemed too big! We needed a proper fitting and despite assurances, I had doubts. Would it ever really fit? Does it meet shared expectations? Would it be put on hold forever? Will I still want to work it with the passage of time? I needed distance to get some perspective.

It occurred to me what I really needed to do was take care of myself. I needed my own Cobblestone. And lucky for me I had the perfect yarn, procured during a glorious trip to Rhinebeck / Saugerties in October. Sweet memories, that weekend. And the yarn was love at first sight. Alpaca Merino blend, two ply twist, rustic and slightly hairy, in a wonderful dusty blue. I dove right in. Knitted furiously and in two weeks I had a perfect sweater. It fit like a dream. I couldn't be happier.

Meanwhile the brown Cobblestone languished. I picked it up and worked it slowly over time, but my mojo for it was gone. I kept thinking I needed to put closure to it. Instead, once I finally cast off the neck, and knowing it needed one more fitting before final finishing, I decided to put it into a bag and store it away.

I realized I could make all the effort in the world to finish it, but it doesn't mean it will be worn. It wouldn't be owned. It would be evaded. Playing it safe, it would likely end up on a shelf (it's getting crowded on that shelf!) and this sweater really deserves to be worn with pride. It does not deserve to be put on a shelf to serve as a reminder of things not fulfilled.

Taking ownership requires an act of courage. Playing it safe may seem easier, protective, but it lacks reward, extinguishes flames. If someday there is bravery, forthright and true, this sweater will take its rightful place. Till then, I've got other things to do.

BSJ

BSJ
Originally uploaded by knithound brooklyn

Design: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman (ravelry)
Yarn: diVe Zenith, (2) skeins Pink, (1) Silver, (1) Charcoal
Needle: US #5
Started: June 19, 2008
Finished: almost

The PSKC voted on a project for it's first knit along and lo, it's the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. That wasn't my first choice, but I decided to go ahead and dive in.

EZ is the knitting goddess. She redefines fearless knitting. Her books are amazing, they give you just enough information to do a project, but also she leaves so much up to the knitter. I've been following other knitters on their blogs as they wax poetic about EZ. I lurk on their blogs and drool over their finished EZ projects.

But. I have to admit. I am (or was) intimidated by knitting an EZ pattern. Because that whole leave it up to the knitter thing can be a bit intimidating. And when it comes to this project, there's the pattern and then there's an excel spreadsheet some genius invented to help get through the pattern. I mean, c'mon, that's pretty intimidating!

Okay so last weekend I mustered up the courage to cast on, and I followed the excel spreadsheet. It turns out it's a whole lot easier than I originally reckoned. I'm almost finished with the project and plan to take it to my circle tonite. I did make some sort of error when I picked up the stitches after knitting the back fullness. That needs to be corrected and will be.

The challenge turns out to be how to knit garter stitch nice and even. It would seem so basic but really it's not. It reminds me of dancing. When I was in college I took ballet and modern dance classes. I remember thinking Ballet was so hard and I didn't want to do it. But in the end I realized if you want to be a good dancer, you need to master the basics. In the case of dance, it all boils down to Ballet. In the case of knitting, it all boils down to the knit stitch. And since garter stitch is knit knit knit, if you want the garter to look good, you have to be consistent in tension. Otherwise things start to look pretty sloppy real fast.

This project is being knit with no recipient in mind. This is a Process Knit. Not a Project Knit. I knit this to learn. To experience the Process. To understand the construction of the garment. I made up the stripe sequence as I went along. (and it looks it).

Somehow going through all this will make me a better knitter. Just like all the other work I am doing will make me a better person.

I will add more pictures as soon as the sun comes out.

BSJ
Originally uploaded by knithound brooklyn

Knowing When to Fold 'Em

Snicket Socks
Originally uploaded by knithound brooklyn

Design: Snicket Socks by Sabine Reifler
Yarn: Classic Elite Alpaca Sox, Harvest #1858, 1 skein
Needle: #2 DPN
Started: May 7, 2008
FROGGED: May 14, 2007

Don't get me wrong. I love the yarn. It's gorgeous and really soft. And I love the pattern. It is a terrific lattice pattern, reminiscent of the Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood. BUT the combination of the yarn and the pattern did not send me over the moon. The yarn can stand on its own, with a simple rib pattern. And the pattern needs a solid or heathery yarn, not a self striping yarn.

So after about a week of knitting, (and to be perfectly honest, it was a week of STRUGGLING with the very fiddly pattern), I ripped this baby out.

The yarn went into the sock yarn bin and will emerge when I am ready to knit a simple sock. Which is soon. The pattern will wait...till the right yarn comes along. There's always Rhinebeck....wheee!

So here's what I learned from this adventure. If it doesn't feel right, if it doesn't feel good, stop doing it! Seems simple but for me, this is actually an important lesson. When I reflect back to the Noro socks I made earlier this year, I hated that yarn and wanted to quit almost every time I went to knit them. But for some reason I persevered and finished. I wore them twice. I know I will never knit with that yarn again. (except to use up the remainders in a blanket someday).

I've always been someone who doesn't quit. Who plows through stuff, no matter how unpleasant it is. But I am learning through knitting to do what you love. Now the trick for me is, how do I translate what I learn in knitting into the rest of my life!? More work to do!!

Plum's Shrug

Design: Retro Redux Shrug by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, Velvet Plum, 2 skeins
Needle: US #8, US #9, US #10, US #10.5
Started: April 24, 2008
Finished: May 17, 2008

After the success of the Sissy Plum Shrug, I decided to dive back into the stash and make another Retro Redux Shrug from Lacy Style. This yarn is Malabrigo Worsted, Velvet Grapes color. Originally I was knitting up a seed stitch scarf with the yarn but I got bored with it and never finished. So last fall I frogged it and put it back in the bin for another go. Of all the Malabrigo I purchased back in January 2007, this is the one I knew I would keep for myself. I'm glad I found a good use for it.

This version of the same shrug has slightly longer sleeves. I actually cast on the number of stitches for the large size, but knit it to the same specifications as the Medium. I wanted a little more ease through the back and underarms and it feels pretty good.

These shrugs were a good use of Malabrigo from my stash. Overall, I think I will avoid the variegated versions of this yarn going forward. And since this yarn tends to pill andfuzz - it's a single ply, I think a shrug is a good choice rather than a full sweater.

The colors on this version didn't pool the way they did with Sissy Plum's Shrug. With the extra ease, I can wear it even in winter with a long sleeve tee if I want.

Sissy Plum Gets A Shrug

Design: Retro Redux Shrug by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, Stone Chat, 2 skeins
Needle: US #8, US #9, US #10, US #10.5
Started: April 12, 2008
Finished: April 23, 2008

Quite a number of years ago, in another land and another time, sis and I lived in the same town. As it so happens, we were also dating men who were close friends. We ended up spending lots of time together... at the beach, in town, all around. We were all madly in love. We all had fun. It was delightful. I adored him. He adored me. He took good care of me. He was older than I; he opened my eyes. Much of my aesthetic today was somehow influenced by him. To this day, I am grateful we met and fell in love. In so many ways, I grew up during our time together.

But I digress. I was going to tell how sis got the name Sissy Plum. Back in that other land, that other time, I used to frequent a women's clothing boutique called The Plum. I was such a regular there, my sis got to calling me Plum. One day her beau and I were joking around and one thing led to another, as these things do, and voila, we became known as Plum and Sissy Plum.

So in March I had a wild hair and decided to knit up a shrug for her. I have the Lace Style book, and was really itching to make the Retro Redux Shrug. A quick search on Ravelry and I knew I had the yarn for it. This is Malabrigo Worsted, the color is #173 - Stone Chat. So this meant it would be a stash busting exercise as well.

While I knit this I got commentary from the family: "She won't like it." "She'll never wear it, you're wasting your time." Undaunted I pressed on. As I was knitting, I'll admit to a bit of fretting...thinking maybe they're right.

But in the meantime, the project was knitting up beautiful. I didn't make any modifications. The lace pattern was really easy to remember. I was liking how the sizing is accomplished through the change in needle size. That appealed to me and gave me ideas for the future. As usual I had a tough time picking up the right number of stitches in an evenly spaced manner. I don't know why this is so difficult for me, but it usually requires at least three attempts to get it right. Every time I have to do it. On every project. UGH.

Sissy Plum lives on the West Coast now. But she comes in to visit several times a year. She came in this past weekend, despite a really nasty case of bronchitis. She was pretty sick it had us worried. As soon as we pulled up from the airport, I reached for the shrug. It's been waiting on the dining room table since mid-April. And she LOVED it. She loves the colors, says it goes well with her wardrobe palette. Says she can definitely get some use out of this item. I was really thrilled. I knew it all along!!

I leave you with some images of Sissy Plum and her new shrug.

Front Garden June 2008

Front Garden 2008
Originally uploaded by knithound brooklyn

So I finally got the annuals planted (thank you Tommy!) and decided it was time to take a shot. The Oak Leaf Hydrangea really bloomed out nicely this year. The Liriope is shooting up and has tripled in size. We trimmed out the Boxwoods to neaten up the look. Added white Caladiums (last year they were pink), creamy yellow/blush Begonias, white Impatiens and these cute little green / red veined annuals, the name escapes me!

I was in a really white mood when I visited the nursery this year. Turns out Tommy was feeling the same, and the front of his apartment is filled with White Impatiens. I wonder what's got us all going on the white theme this summer?

So far, so good. I will capture it again when everything fills out some more. But with all the rain, it looks pretty good so far.

Fashionable Beret

Design: Portia Beret by Louisa Harding
Size: One Size
Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino; Ankara Green
Needle: US 4 and US 6
Started: June 14, 2008
Finished: June 17, 2008

As you saw in my WWKIP Day After post, I cast on the Portia Beret while sitting in the hot sun at the Brooklyn Museum. The project came about rather unexpectedly, as so often happens with my knitting. Goodness knows, my Ravelry queue is full of projects - 3 pages long! But I was visiting Maxcine at Stitch Therapy one day after work. If I remember it correctly, I was there to pick up a set of #1 US DPNs for the Jaywalker socks.

She just finished up a store sample using a gorgeous Silky Merino from Malabrigo in the most vivid and wonderful bright turquoise. My eye was immediately drawn to the yarn's lovely silken sheen and the amazing cheery color. And the lace pattern was a bonus. To me, it was the perfect combination of color, lace, and slouchy beret.

Now, I've always loved berets and over the years I've worn many. In fact I knitted one back in 2006 but I didn't like the results, frogged it and re-knit and still didn't like the results. So that project has been simmering on the back burner forever. In the meantime I kept my radar on for a good beret pattern.

So I guess it was destiny that I walked into my LYS right after Maxcine finished this hat. I tried it on and decided immediately I needed to make one exactly like it. That did it: I bought my needles AND two skeins of this gorgeous Malabrigo Silky Merino. The pattern was free.

I can always tell I am really excited about a project if I wind up the skeins into cakes right away. Sometimes skeins sit in the bin unwound for awhile.

Needing a simple knit (and small - as in not too hot!) for WWKIP, I decided the beret would be perfect. The first several rows are simple 2x2 rib. How easy is that? I cast on as soon as I got there. Now I have to tell ya, this might be the best cast on I have ever accomplished. I don't know why, but for some reason, each stitch is PERFECT. They all match, they are all even, the tension is just right. I couldn't believe myself!

Then I started knitting the rib. And that was coming out just as perfect. Each stitch was even, there were no wonky loose ones. It was starting to look really lovely.

When I started in on the lace section, I had to really concentrate. And that surprised me because it's only a 4 row repeat. But for some reason, the pattern tripped me up a few times and I had to back up. No problem, the lace only goes for a short distance. And as I was knitting this up, I could see, this was turning out to be one fantastic project!

I started to get excited when I reached the stockinette portion and again, the stitches were looking as perfect as I have ever knit. I don't know if it's the yarn, but I do think it may have alot to do with it.

Portia Beret
Originally uploaded by knithound brooklyn

The hat is a perfect fit. It has just the right amount of slouchiness to make it really versatile. The color just slays me. The lace gives it a girly look, which I really like. And when I look at the project closely, I still think this might be the best knit I've done to date. Every stitch is perfect, I am happy with the seaming, I love the ribbing.

I am really really happy with this project. And the best part, it was completely unplanned. It wasn't in the queue, it was an impulse - a gut reaction based on seeing something while on a mission for something else.

I know what you're thinking. I'm thinking it too. It says alot about how life can throw you a curveball and it turns out just great!?! But remember, I'm the one who can be impulsive - even reckless. And I am also the one who loves spontaneity. I never said I didn't! And I've always known that the unplanned event can be the one that works out the best. Lordy I do love anticipation just as much as the next person.

But I also love unexpected delights. Just love them.

Coral Reef Project

There's an exhibit at the World Financial Center really worth checking out. Marina and I made our way there one really rainy Friday in May. The Coral Reef Crochet Project. It's an amazing collection of crocheted items resembling pieces of coral and sea life. The most amazing works of art. Hundreds of them. It was awe inspiring.

The whole thing started in Australia. And it's traveled the world. At each stop there are pieces added by local crocheters. The assemblage of all that color and all those shapes into one exhibit is really breathtaking.

Some pieces were made from non-yarn materials. Like this one, which was crocheted using Saran Wrap.

The works serve as a reminder of how fragile our environment really is. It amazes me how powerful the the message, made by the hands of fiber artists, and seemingly humble materials. The creativity displayed was true inspiration for me. Marina and I were completely gobsmacked by the collection. I so love being surprised and delighted. It was a fun afternoon.

Click on any of the photos to see the entire set.

31 Miles to Knit

It's that time of year, when I clean the closets. I do this whenever I have to manage the entire seasonal rotation. You have no idea how much I hate doing it. I take everything off the shelf, dust, refold and restack the clean stuff, sort out the dirty stuff, wash, fold. With all the sweaters, it takes weeks.

So over the weekend I tackled some of the shelves. I tossed alot of old shoes. These are headed to the street, someone will want them, they always disappear within minutes of hitting the sidewalk.

I also decided it was time to really take stock of the Yarn Stash. You know, the wooly monster that takes over every spare nook and cranny in your closet? Under the bed, stacked in the corners? Yea, that stash.

Now, I've been knitting for only two years now. And thanks again to Ravelry, they have this amazing section where you can post photos of your stash. Because they have an exhaustive database, when you enter in the number of skeins of whatever brand struck your fancy, it calculates the totals for you! You can track the color, dye lot, yardage, everything. And you can export it to an excel spreadsheet.

Now, if you know me just a little bit, you'll know that I used to be famous for my organizing skills. The last few years have done something to that, not sure why. But the thought that I can download a spreadsheet to track my yarn stash makes me feel sooo together!

I'd say I am about 80% - 90% complete in loading all my stash into the database. You know Excel has a cool little autosum button, right? So I hit that button on what I've got recorded so far....would you believe: almost 54,000 yards of yarn. Ahem. That's nearly 31 miles. That's alot of knitting. That means I could knit from Brooklyn to....White Plains. Jeez.

To think I've collected over 54,000 yards of yarn in a mere two years is quite a feat! And that doesn't include what I've already knitted up! I only started recording all this stuff in the last few months! So many projects left my hands before they even got photographed. Or recorded.

Listening to other knitters, and bloggers and podcasters, alot of them seem to be ashamed of all that yarn obsession. Now, I just refuse to feel bad about this. Really! I see it as fuel. Inspiration. An extension of the process. There is nothing wrong with having yarn! Besides, if it wasn't yarn, what would it be - Booze? crack? Playing the ponies? That's the point. I can think of alot worse things to be "addicted" to. All of those things could be really bad for your health and well being. How bad could a little yarn be, anyway?

I say, celebrate it! Own it! Be at peace with your stash. Be proud of it. And when non knitters give you 'that look', just give them the look back - you know the one that says, "Hey, you aren't going to intimidate me into feeling bad about this, it makes me happy!" Yea, that one.

Have a great day.

WWKIP: The Day After

It was hot. Very hot. I am NOT a sun person. In the past, when the sun was shining, I would go to a matinee. How many summer weekends did I spend in the cool dark caverns of Manhattan movie theaters while everyone was frolicking in the Hamptons or at Jones Beach!?

But yesterday was WWKIP Day. For the muggles out there, that's World Wide Knit in Public Day. And since I was the one who conjured up the plan, with some help from Marina, Marci and a few others, I had to venture out in the heat. Besides, I had those little buttons to dole out.

We sat on the steps leading up to Brooklyn Museum of Art. We had 22 Public Knitters and 1 Public Spinner. We had the pleasure of some knitting "celebs" show up - Subway Knitter, some of the Spiders, wow! Thanks for coming out, guys, it was great meeting you all.

It was fun, despite the heat. Many of us hugged the side wall for some direct sun relief. Marina braved the heat the entire time. Then Jonathan showed up to save her day - he successfully fished out a crochet hook from beneath the wood slats. Jon, you rock!!

I started a lace hat - Portia, a design by Kim Hargreaves, using Silky Merino from Malabrigo. Bright turquoise. Gorgeous color. After all the man knitting I've been doing - so many gifts...this one is bright, girly and all for me.

I went home to clean out my closet. UGH. But the heat got to me and instead I took a nap. Ahhh. And then the rains came. We had a knockout thunderstorm. And I DO love thunderstorms.

WWKIP Day

Tomorrow is World Wide Knit in Public Day. This was started about three years ago by some knitters in UK, who believed it was time to come out with their knitting and they organized a group to sit in public and knit to their heart's content.

This being the age of the Internet, the idea took off and before you could say, "gimme more yarn", the idea blossomed into an official annual event with WORLD WIDE proportions. Here in our little corner of the world, I have helped to organize our WWKIP Day.

The plan is to meet in front of the Brooklyn Museum of Art, taking advantage of the broad, wide, and very public steps with a great view of the dancing waterfall. All the knitting meet ups from Brooklyn are converging on the one spot.

Do you think the earth will shudder just a bit because of our collective energy?! Will the sound of so many clacking needles send off harmonic vibrations?! Just a thought... Enjoy the weekend everyone.

Ninety Minute Cowl

Design: Delores Park Cowl by Parikha Mehta
Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky, Humminbird, 1 skein
Needle: US #13
Started: May 3, 2008
Finished: May 3, 2008

A few weeks ago I had the itch to knit something fast. Something easy. Something that would give me instant gratification. And also that uses existing stash, not requiring a trip to a yarn store where I'd be tempted by even. More. Yarn.

What could be more perfect than a simple circle of wool, something to warm the neck on a chilly or windy day. And this past Spring had a few of those. Not enough for a full blown scarf and hat, but still needing to take the chill off while walking to and fro.

I did this in about 90 minutes. The wool is Malabrigo Chunky. The color is Hummingbird. I like Hummingbirds alot. The wool is soft as butter. The project used up one skein of this, the remainder from a hat project last summer.

Me likey.

Jaywalking in socks

Design: Jaywalker Socks by Grumperina
Yarn: OnLine Supersocke 100 Sierra Color 77, 1 skein
Needle: US #1 DPN
Started: May 27, 2008
Finished:

I made 2008 the year of Sock Knitting. Up till now, I had not entered the sock vortex. I lurked on tons of blogs for two years. I saw bloggers who knit ONLY socks. I was amazed. I was skeptical. I could feel their manic love vibration and it worried me. For the sock knitting world is a vortex of it's own.

So with my newly adopted resolution, I forged ahead and knit up a pair of Green ribbed socks for my Mom, then I did some Noro striped socks. These are both subjects for another posting later on.

Today I want to talk about these Jaywalker socks, by Grumperina. The wool was purchased on sale; it's called ONline Supersocke 100 Sierra Color 77. Not the softest in the world but it feels like it will hold up.

The self striping is fast - the colors change quickly. Which makes for narrow bands of ziggy-zaggy stripes on these socks.

I'm halfway through the project. And I have some observations about the pattern or maybe it's my knitting or both. The pattern calls for a 2x2 ribbing for 1" at the top. I did this, and when I put the sock on, I find that the ribbing section puckers out a bit. The rest of the sock sits snug on my leg, but the ribbing is wonky. Now, on the second sock I paid closer attention, in hopes of a better result. Time will tell. I think if I do the pattern again, I will try a 1x1 rib and Archie's suggestion: go down a needle size for the cuff. Both might work either together or independently. Worth trying just to make more of these socks.

Last night I was knitting in Prospect Park and decided to capture the work in progress. The blanket is from our many moves. It didn't occur to me till I was home later, the stitch pattern in the moving blanket is similar to the Jaywalker. Coincidence? Subliminal? Zig zag. Life can be like that too.

Fits and Starts

Truth is, I started a knit blog in fall 2006. But I just couldn't keep it up. I don't know if I can this time around, but I am going to try. We shall see. The picture part will be easier this time, now that I'm set up on Flickr. I have Ravelry to thank for all of this. Their site forced me to organize!

Everyone in the knitting world is talking about Ravelry. It's become the defacto standard. Everyone uses it to find projects that go with yarn in their stash, organize their queue of projects, share photos of their work, chat among groups, make friends. It's amazing.

In the first few months, I had this feeling of enormous pride. I am a knitter. I am part of a huge global community. I am meeting people and sharing ideas. It was empowering. My heart swelled. Like when you first fall in love and everything is perfect and wonderful.

Now the initial rush is over, but I am still in love. Ravelry is a godsend. Jess and Casey are geniuses and they deserve nothing but praise. They have moved the knitting world into the 21st Century with one truly amazing idea that has taken off and spread like kudzu by a highway.
Congratulations Jess and Casey (and Bob).

Anyway, the upshot of this is, if they can do what they do, then I can manage my blog and share what I'm doing with my knitting. It's all in the intent, isn't it.

Hound Walking Mitts

Design: Dashing Mitts by Cheryl Niemath
Yarn: Odyssey, Granite Mix #476; 2 skeins
Needle: US #6
Started: May 31, 2008
Finished: June 8, 2008

Linda, beloved hound walker, has been feeling a bit low these last few weeks. I ran into her one evening, on my walk from the subway, and we chatted awhile in front of Ozzie's. Walking away, I decided I wanted to do something to cheer her up. She works hard, walking all the dogs in the 'hood for us busy New Yorkers. It doesn't matter what the weather, she is reliable. Dependable. And the dogs love her. Lola and Rudy are quite devoted to Linda. It's the high point of their day.

So I decided she needed some handmade Mitts. Something she could use to keep her hands warm but still wrangle all those leashes. I had some yarn left over from a scarf I'd knitted for my good friend Doug. The colors are pretty. So in about two short evenings I knit up a pair of Dashing Mitts for Linda.

I finished them a few days ago and since I was going to be outdoors this evening, with other knitters, I decided to bring the mitts with me. I asked my friend Marci to model the mitts. My hands are a wreck from all the woodwork refinishing I'm doing on the weekends. (Yea, my life is fun, isn't it?)

Idyllic Knitting

The Knit PH group got together for a bit of idyllic knitting in the Park this evening. What a perfect evening it was, too. As the sun set over the trees, we sat in a convivial circle, talking about our lives and our knitting. How cool is it that so many things in the larger life are played out with sticks and yarn. I am always amazed by the correlation.

The weather this evening, unlike the last few, was perfect. The air was sweet and the dragon flies danced over our heads. I think we are so lucky to have knitting, parks, good weather and good friends, don't you?

Amanda came all the way from Morningside Hts to knit with her friend Holly and showed us her scarf, knit with Silk Dream by Lang -the pattern is from Knitty.com, called Lace Ribbon Scarf. Mmmm, nice!



We all had a great time and vote for more Park knitting this summer!