winter doldrums

Anyone else see this?



Twinkle's contribution to the Barbie 50th anniversary fashion show during New York fashion week. I guess this might be old news, but I only just saw that picture (and being touted for fall '09?)

I was thinking the other day that a chunky/speedy knit might be in order for me soon and that I should re-visit those Twinkle books again. Then I saw that picture and thought "ok if the Barbie-esque model is making that thing marginal, what hope do I have?" Still, I can't help but be drawn to her stuff over and over again.

It is nice to see something a bit "sunny" in terms of knitting right now, especially in the midst of this sea of navy of mine (fortunately drawing to a close...)


(this pic is pretty washed out...)

It dawned on me as I was attempting to sew this together the other night that I could not see a FREAKING thing I was doing. A combination of dark yarn and a poorly lit living room begat an impromptu trip to Ikea in the hopes of finding some kind of knitting specific wall sconce so that I could actually knit every evening without somehow relying on "intuition" or "the force". I am not too proud to tell you that I strapped a headlamp to my head just to get started on the seaming. Who knew those things could be as useful for fiberarts as they are for "spelunking". (yeah, I just busted out that word pffft.)

And still more blah-coloured knitting:



At this point I am already itching to start something new.

Did you miss me?

Ok, I have NO knitting to speak of after my last couple week's absence. A few photos from my trip can be found HERE if you're interested. After my five hour drive from San Diego to Las Vegas it dawned on me as we were pulling into our hotel that "what the --I didn't knit ANYTHING on the drive!!!" (and I wasn't the one driving) so that left me a bit befuddled. I had it all organized and rarin' to go too. harumph. I just completely forgot.

I did however make up for it on the drive back to San Diego, subsequent drives from S.D to L.A, and then my plane ride back to Chicago. You really never do get as much knitting done on a trip as you think you will, do you? Plus I was severly thwarted by a "change to larger needles" pattern direction when I realized I had no such needles in my carry-on. drat. I just always think it's a miracle that my needles don't get confiscated at customs in the first place. Now THAT would be brutal (for the love of god mister/miss customs officer pleeeeeaaassssse don't break up my interchangeable set!)

So all that to say I got far less knitting done than I'd hoped, and the second my plane landed on home turf I was immediately thrown down for the count with a cold and have been basically good for nothing for several days now.

I am still blindly sloggng away at the raglan wrap,



The pieces are blocking as I type this, but I have a feeling that the piecing together may be a bit of a nightmare so it could very well be a while still before it sees the light of day. Not to mention buttons --though I took the easy road and just ordered some vintage peacoat anchor buttons on ebay. Hopefully they will do the trick.

So in lieu of any new knitting of my own to post, how 'bout some new Phildar? (no doubt you've seen these already) but here are my faves:





I am really digging all the big droopy cowl-neck sweaters (I know, that's a shocker..).







And YES this particular book of patterns is available in English, though I must say...still a vastly superior selection on the French sie of things...

one last thing

Just a wee cowl before I head off on vacation...well ok, a wee chunky cowl:



I used up the last of my Mirasol Sulka for this cowl, probably about 2.5 skeins worth... maybe not even that much.



Really not much to say here...I think I cast on 62 stitches on 6.5mm needles, joined and knit in the round in a 1x1 rib for about 12 inches. I like the sort of stiff (yet soft) turtle-neckish collar look of it, but am thinking I may tear it out anyway in favour of either a looser cowl or knit lit Kate's oh so fabulous Anthropologie inspired scarflette:



I really love it and I think the Sulka will be a perfect fit for that particular pattern. It definitely needs to be whipped up into something at least a bit drapier.

I'm trying whole-heartedly not to over-pack knitting projects for this trip, yet am still hoping to at least have a couple of things completed when all is said and done. My six hour drive both to and from San Diego to Las Vegas should probably take care of the bulk of that (it'll be nice to be a passenger for once!). Unfortunately so far the weather forecast is looking like rain, rain and more rain.

I'm hoping to apply my 2009 mantra "I'd rather light a candle than curse the darkness" to life's pettier trials too, like the weather.

See you all in a couple of weeks!