What's a girl to do when the nanny is already scheduled to come take care of the baby and has a vacation day planned? Well, on Friday I decided I needed an inspiration day and after meeting John for lunch downtown I spent some time in a coffee shop enjoying a latte and working out the details of my current sock project.
In addition to my knitting, I also had my camera stowed in my bag. Ever since I got my DSLR I've wanted to take a walking tour of downtown because there are so many striking pieces of art lurking around Chicago. This is Alexander Calder's Flamingo it was on the way to the coffee shop and a destination more interesting to South Loop Chicago knitters: Loopy Yarns.
I hadn't visited Loopy since their move to Dearborn Station (I am lucky to have two other yarn stores within relatively easy walking distance of my house so I don't need to go too far from home very often for fibery things) so I was pleasantly surprised by their new space -- as well as the 20% off sale they had running. I had forgotten what a nice selection of Lorna's Laces yarns they carry. Many places carry the sock yarn, but fewer carry the Shepherd Sport and Shepherd Worsted.
What's particularly notable about the Shepherd yarns is that they are superwash. And they are very soft. And the Worsted is a perfect weight for a quick sweater for a certain toddler that lives in my house. Lately in the mornings when she sees me... "Sweater, Mommy! Pretty!" and then she reaches up to pet my sweater. I've been working on the Zebra Striper, but that one is a long way off. Even though my better judgement kept trying to tell me that starting another project right now would lead to no good, my heart reminded me that I had no suitable yarn for a sweater for the baby, and that I had better not miss out on an opportunity to make her a sweater while she actually wants one, as opposed to when she is 14 and wants nothing to do with anything her mother can make by hand.
And what could be nicer than buying just two or three skeins of yarn for a sweater? Especially when that yarn is 20% off? The colorway I picked (which is not quite so bold as it looks in the image -- the bright fuschia in the sock yarn really blows the whole picture out) is called Irving Park and it seemed like a lovely colorway that would do well both this winter and in the fall (assuming I make the sweater large enough). I loved the pops of purple and pink, the hand is lovely, and the yardage is good (225 yards/hank). I figured 2 skeins would be enough, but bought a third "to be safe". (The fuschia sock yarn is for a sock project for Z. If anyone can wear bright pink socks, its a toddler girl).
When I got it home, I was surprised by how fast my knitting malaise disappeared. I cast on for the project after dinner -- by the end of the day on Sunday, I had the body of the sweater complete and was working on the neck and button bands (the photo is lacking because I got some stomach bug Sunday afternoon that forced me into some unscheduled down time). The sleeves will get started as soon as I can get a hold of some size 8 double points. Every time I do a top down raglan project I just love love love how it progresses.
It is amazing to me how one small project can change my attitude completely. As I watch this little sweater grow, I also spend time thinking about what I am going to do next. Maybe it's time to get started on that scarf I planned for my aunt 3 Christmases ago? Or maybe I'll finally get to working on my pattern for mini-dragon socks for mini-feet? The possibilities seem endless
Now, if you'll forgive me, I've got to run. That neck band and button band are calling!
I hadn't visited Loopy since their move to Dearborn Station (I am lucky to have two other yarn stores within relatively easy walking distance of my house so I don't need to go too far from home very often for fibery things) so I was pleasantly surprised by their new space -- as well as the 20% off sale they had running. I had forgotten what a nice selection of Lorna's Laces yarns they carry. Many places carry the sock yarn, but fewer carry the Shepherd Sport and Shepherd Worsted. What's particularly notable about the Shepherd yarns is that they are superwash. And they are very soft. And the Worsted is a perfect weight for a quick sweater for a certain toddler that lives in my house. Lately in the mornings when she sees me... "Sweater, Mommy! Pretty!" and then she reaches up to pet my sweater. I've been working on the Zebra Striper, but that one is a long way off. Even though my better judgement kept trying to tell me that starting another project right now would lead to no good, my heart reminded me that I had no suitable yarn for a sweater for the baby, and that I had better not miss out on an opportunity to make her a sweater while she actually wants one, as opposed to when she is 14 and wants nothing to do with anything her mother can make by hand.
And what could be nicer than buying just two or three skeins of yarn for a sweater? Especially when that yarn is 20% off? The colorway I picked (which is not quite so bold as it looks in the image -- the bright fuschia in the sock yarn really blows the whole picture out) is called Irving Park and it seemed like a lovely colorway that would do well both this winter and in the fall (assuming I make the sweater large enough). I loved the pops of purple and pink, the hand is lovely, and the yardage is good (225 yards/hank). I figured 2 skeins would be enough, but bought a third "to be safe". (The fuschia sock yarn is for a sock project for Z. If anyone can wear bright pink socks, its a toddler girl). When I got it home, I was surprised by how fast my knitting malaise disappeared. I cast on for the project after dinner -- by the end of the day on Sunday, I had the body of the sweater complete and was working on the neck and button bands (the photo is lacking because I got some stomach bug Sunday afternoon that forced me into some unscheduled down time). The sleeves will get started as soon as I can get a hold of some size 8 double points. Every time I do a top down raglan project I just love love love how it progresses. It is amazing to me how one small project can change my attitude completely. As I watch this little sweater grow, I also spend time thinking about what I am going to do next. Maybe it's time to get started on that scarf I planned for my aunt 3 Christmases ago? Or maybe I'll finally get to working on my pattern for mini-dragon socks for mini-feet? The possibilities seem endless
Now, if you'll forgive me, I've got to run. That neck band and button band are calling!
The other thing that's so amazing is how a break from the parenting responsibility can change your perspective too. When my kids were little, the responsibility was there 24/7, even though I loved (most of) it.
I can't wait to see the finished sweater. I'm loving the zebra too!
Lovely colors to brighten up a gray day.
Pretty, pretty sweater, mommy! Z is going to love it. And socks to match too!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
That sounds much like my weekend. I decided I needed to work on something in the worsted weight (because everything I've been doing has been sock weight or lighter for the past month or so), so I cast on for a new adult sweater yesterday morning and I am almost to the halfway point today. It's amazing what a pretty color and a project that moves with speed can do to ones knitting outlook.
Shepherd Worsted is probably my all-time favorite yarn. I've made two sweaters from it and would make more if I could afford it. It holds up really, really well, too--perfect for a baby!
A change of venue works wonders, as does new yarn.
The new sweater for your baby girl is just beautiful and I'm sure she will have as much fun wearing it as you are having making it.
P.S.: Great yarn on sale is always a treat! I bought sock yarn for three pairs of socks at 50% off right after New Year's. I hadn't planned on getting it, but hey, who turns down good sock yarn when it's offered at a half-price sale?
Hope you have a happy and blessed 2009.