Drawstring Toes
Kathy B. asked me about the drawstring toes employed in my recent Garter Rib socks; I had credited Sharon, but then she commented saying the credit should go to Diane Soucy. I tend to be of the belief that we knitters are constantly 'unventing', as Elizabeth Zimmermann used to say, and so I am typing up the text Sharon sent me several years ago for Kathy to use (and also letting her know that I cast on 48 stitches for my sport weight socks). These directions start from the point in your pattern where you would normally start toe decreases:
Essentially, you decrease every other row until you have decreased half
the number of stitches, then decrease every row until you're down to the
minimum (I think it's 8) and then run a darning needle through the
remaining stitches. It's so much easier and I have never had a toe wear
out.
Latest, Greatest Find
I'm in love with this design! Last week, while visiting DH's parents in Fort Bragg, my MIL and I took a jaunt over to the Mendocino Yarn Shop, where the author, Sandra Mc Iver, was scheduled to speak later this month.
The shop only had one copy of the book, on display until book and author arrived, and the release date isn't until May 15th, but I couldn't stop myself and had to order it from Amazon. Cat Bordhi says in her forward that this is a unique and universally flattering design, and Sandra is one of the designers she has mentored through her Visionary Retreat program for knitware designers so I can't figure out how, but I am possibly the only person with one of the designs in my queue on Ravelry (that can't be!?).
I have already queued up "Sheer Beauty", which used the same circular design, with alternating bands of DK and laceweight to create a lightweight, subtly sheer fabric. I even have the laceweight in my stash! My goal is to overdye the pale grey laceweight I have at the same time that I dye some natural DK weight yarn, so that I can create an illusion effect with the laceweight portions sinking into shadow... I will keep you posted!
Seasonal Knitting
While the rest of you have probably already started working on summery tops and flowing skirts in linen, I just cast on a baby blankie that HAS to get completed before the weather is too hot... my first 'grand-nephew', baby Stephan will be born in mid-August, and I certainly don't want to be knitting with bulky yarn over the summer!
My MIL helped me pick out an eminently washable yarn that would still be unusual and 'masculine' for a baby boy... this yarn is Duo from Jarbo Garn (don't worry, I can't read Swedish either, or is it Norwegian, I am not sure). The yarn has a great hand, even though I don't usually like acrylic, and will work up very quickly into a cabled blankie. Some long-time readers will be just as overjoyed as I was to learn that my DH, who they will remember from this story, is now wonderfully in love and halfway through her pregnancy. Life does have such a blessed way of healing us if we let it!
Dye CSA Update
Thanks for all the love! I have received gifts of plants that have helped me out, started getting subscribers, was invited to contribute an article to Ennea Collective this summer, join in a weaving guild's retreat later this month, and even do a presentation for my local permaculture guild (of which I am a member). Life feels especially sweet when doors open so graciously for me... and I have been expressing my gratitude daily.
