Archives for July 2008

Introducing Genmaicha cabled mitts. Worked in The Plucky Knitter’s Merino/Cashmere/Nylon Fingering, these mitts are as much fun to knit as they are to wear. Get ready for Fall, cozy up with your favorite cup of tea and make a pair.

Genmaicha

Materials:
Two pairs US size 1 (2.25 mm) circular needles, 24 inch or size to obtain gauge
Small Cable Needle
Tapestry Needle
Two Place Markers

Yarn: Plucky Knitter 80/10/10 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon Fingering. Colorway: Mrs. Allen, approx. 385 yards/115g per skein. 1 skein.

Gauge: 32 stitches = 4″(10 cm) in stockinette stitch

Finished Measurements: 7″ at palm and wrist

Price: $6.00 US

This shawl was an impulse knit.  I cast on after digging through my stash one night.  I was bored with everything on my needles.  I’d been admiring versions of the Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl that I’d seen on Raverly and this mindless knit turned out to be just what I was looking for.

The simple feather and fan stitch pattern shows off yarn beautifully.  The fact that most of the rows are garter stitch with a few yarn over increases at each end, made this a knit that I could cart around anywhere.

I worked on in during the endless train ride to North Carolina, as I watched seasons 2 & 3 of Weeds.  I worked on it sitting in a comfy wicker chair and sipping iced tea, on my mother’s porch while listening to her neighbors dogs bark.  Incessantly.  I worked on it on the plane trip home from North Carolina, after we realized that there are better uses for our time than 12 hours in a rail car that smells like urinal cakes.  I worked on it sitting in a sidewalk cafe on 9th Avenue, while sipping mojitos, reading and sharing humorous passages with DD#1, who read her own book across the table from me.  It was the consummate "go anywhere" project.

DD#2 thinks it works well, refashioned into a skirt. . .

or a breezy summer top. 

She’s been doing a lot of refashioning lately.  I really need to take some photos of her modeling the $4.00 men’s t-shirts that she made into summer dresses.  Now the little fashionista wants me knit her a pair of shorts.    You’ve got to see the pattern (Ravelry link) she’s got in mind.

Pattern:  Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl
Yarn:  Noro Silk Garden Lite – 4 balls
Colorway:  2011
Needles:  Addi Lace US 7/4.5mm

Love, love, love this pattern.  I’m already scheming to make another.

When you walk into Angelfire Studios you are greeted by yarn.  Lots and lots of beautiful, glorious yarn.

It is so easy to get distracted and wallow in all of that fibery goodness for a long, long time.  But don’t stop there.  Go  a little further.  Go ahead.  Just behind that table.  What’s this?

What are they doing back there? 

Do they know how risky this is?

Mud in a yarn shop!?!

But you know you want to get your hands dirty too.

Look at my girl, how content she is, this young lady who puts so much pressure on herself throughout the school year.  Shouldn’t she just spend the summer playing with clay?

We’re lucky to have Justine’s studio so close by.  She’s an artist who believes in following your creative impulses – getting your hands dirty, regardless of the medium.  How could you not admire a woman like that?

And yes, that bump beneath her hand is her latest WIP.