The Yarn Whisperer

I've had this sock yarn tucked away for over a year. Adam and Isabelle ordered it for me last Christmas. From time to time, I have taken it out and started a pattern only to frog it back. The yarn was designed to knit up in thin stripes that didn't do enough justice to the pretty combination of colours. And here's the thing that sock knitters know and why Movita jokes and calls me the yarn whisperer: It's not enough to knit a sock. The colour and the texture of the yarn should marry brilliantly with the style of the pattern to highlight both. And sometimes it takes either a lot of trial runs or a sudden flash of inspiration.
Inside every ball of yarn is just the right sock waiting to get out!
Pattern: Show-Off Stranded Socks
Designer: Anne Campbell
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi
Colorway: Glenwood
Needles: 2.25 mm. circular

A Bowlful of Blue for You Know Who

Finnie, of course.
It came in the mail yesterday from Jimmy Bean. And it is going to be turned into a simple rolled neck pullover to brighten any damp, grey days next winter in France. I also very much like Isabelle's idea of using yarns with some blend or variegation in color and would like to do a little sweater, as well, in a more subtle color combination. But, first, I have to get this marvelous turquoise out of my system.
Yarn: Zara Plus
Company: Filatura di Crosa
Weight: Aran

Another Storm Coming

Yesterday and today have been brilliantly sunny and comfortably cold - great days for walking outdoors and for seeing the rooms inside brighten with the sunlight. Unfortunately, these days have been rare lately. Most have been grimly grey and dreary.

The tenth winter storm for the season is due to arrive tomorrow afternoon, bringing 10-15 cm. of fresh snow. By now, you know the routine - another storm forecast, another pair of colourful socks cast on!



Pattern: BFF Socks, designed by the talented Cookie A.
Yarn: Regia 4-fadig
Colorway: 2808
Needles: 2.25 mm

Fridays Without Finnie

Even the house misses her. So,to keep busy:
Pattern: Stocking Stitch
Yarn: Regia Canyon Color
Colorway: 2804
Needles: 2.25 mm. circulars
Photograph: One of my favourites - Lille, France on a rare winter's day there when enough snow has fallen to accumulate on the ground.
So many of the Regia sock yarns are perfect for long, dark winter days. The colors are vibrant and uplifting and just plain fun to work with.

Knittin' For Britain

Tom Arab, our former plumber, passed away last year. He was a lion of a man and someone we admired and respected a great deal. When the children were small, and we lived in the House of Perpetual Plumbing, Tom used to breeze in on a regular basis and when I had my needlework around, he would ask if I was "knittin' for Britain" - a refrain often heard during the war years!
Well, these mittens are the first of many pair being knit not for Britain but for next winter in Canada! I have started with a plain pair of worsted weight adult mittens in Cascade 200 wool but I truly covet the gloriously patterned Scandinavian and eastern European mittens I see on so many knitting blogs and on Ravelry. So here's hoping!

Finished Projects 2009

I have been struggling for a week now to get a Flickr badge imported to this blog with no success. I suspect it has something to do with security or other settings and can't wrestle the problem to the ground. In the meantime, the above photos are part of what I wanted to include in an ongoing "Finished Projects" badge.

Storm Day Project

Pattern: Simple K7 P1 sock
Needles: 2.25 mm circulars
Size: 64 stitch cast on
Yarn: Regia Design Line Kaffe Fassett
Colorway: "Landscape Fire"
We had 18.4 cm. of snow today with lashings of freezing rain to coat it all in place. However, we feel victorious every time we come out of a major storm without the loss of power and though confined indoors for the day, at least we were warm and well lit! The storm was a good excuse to start a knitting project and Kaffe Fassett's rich yarn colors lift the spirits on a dark winter's day and make the yarn fly off the needles.