Friday, January 28, 2011

Blue And Green - No Surprise

A very strange thing happened to me the other day.

I sat down in my floral couch (it's no secret anymore.  I can't even pretend it's anything but floral) and when I looked in my knitting basket, my Autumn Arbor Stole wasn't there.

For the past 19 months, that shawl has kept my knitting basket company.  But you guys, it's done.  I don't think my size 6 needles have ever been so relieved, but I was sort of at a loss about what to do.


I'll do a proper post once I take more pictures, but it does feel good to have that piece finished.

Now, I felt the need to start another lace project immediately, because it's not right to not have one of those on the needles at all times, right?

I have the yarn to start one of the patterns from Knitted Lace of Estonia, but I didn't feel like committing myself to such a long-term project.  I have that MadTosh lace that I posted about a couple posts back, but I'm still debating which pattern to use it for.

I was reading on one of Tina's blogs* about a designer I hadn't heard of before, and I loved some of her designs.  I even have some nice fingering-weight yarn that would work.

But then late one night I needed to start something immediately.  Do you ever get that way?  I just wanted to wind some yarn and cast on so badly.  I searched my apartment for the perfect indulgence and found myself happily knitting none of the above.


It's not even lace!  But it's just what I needed.  This is Stephen West's Blue Whale pattern, available only through A Verb For Keeping Warm's Pro-Verbial Club (or through a knitting sister in the club willing to part with the yarn and pattern) using their Luster yarn - 75% BFL, 25% silk.

Ooh, Ravelry tells me that the yarn what created especially for the club as well.

It does have a nice shine to it, and I'm excited to get further along in this pattern.


I finished my Westward hat about two weeks ago now, but I forgot to take a picture before giving it away.  The teal and black together looked too feminine - you'll see if I ever remember to snap a picture.

*On an unrelated note, I just wanted to put the word out that Tina is currently trying to raise some funds for a friend in need.  You can stop by her other blog to read about what's going on and if you feel compelled to donate, I know she would be incredibly grateful.

13 comments:

  1. Augh, your lace is so lovely! *wiping my mouth*

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  2. The stole is lovely, Peter. You did an amazing job. Can't wait to see the full photo shoot!

    And that Verb yarn is making me drool... you're so lucky to have some!

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  3. Lace is stunning.
    Blue Whale is radiant.
    Can't wait to hear more stories revolving around your floral couch. I think it's becoming an important subject on your blog.

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  4. Absolutely beautiful lace. Can't wait to see it unfolded!

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  5. Oh my gosh, that stole is beautiful! LOVE the colors!

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  6. Could you pretend that you're pattern-blind as well as color-blind? Then you could pretend that it's not a floral sofa. ;^)

    Love the lace! What pattern were you thinking of from the Estonians books?

    xo

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  7. I had an instant of jaw drop shock when I thought that the first photo was the composer's first FO! All the photos you've put up of this shawl have been stunning!!! I wear my maplewing ALL the time (as a scarf! bulky I know, but all wrapped up in gorgeousness, right?) The WIP looks great too.

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  8. Wow, even the sneak peek of Autumn Arbor is gorgeous. I can't wait to see the whole thing. 19 months is quite an investment in a piece of knitting. It's worth it, though.

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  9. I TOTALLY understand the call of the wild late at night when you've got such lovely yarn sitting around begging to be used.

    As for the Autumn Arbor, I am so looking forward to the official unveiling.

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  10. That shawl is gorgeous! Wow, just beautiful.

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  11. Beautiful work on the shawl. May I ask where you got the pattern? I think I may try to give it a go. Thanks.

    Calvin
    cbranjr@gmail.com

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  12. I found it. I didn't go back far enough. Thanks, anyway.

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  13. Words really cannot express how lovely that stole is. Seriously.

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