This is the time of year in the mid-western US when a few hours of non-grey skies during any given day feels like a gift. Not only does it start getting dark around the depressingly early hour of 4 pm, but the clouds roll in, and even if it doesn't rain or snow, they don't roll out. And with all the living flora having given up it's leaves, died or gone into hibernation until spring, it can start to feel pretty dreary. When late fall starts to give way to early winter in Chicago, nature is fading and you've got to find other ways to bring color into your life.
I like it best when that color bursts in on you as a little bit of a surprise. Sure, I know I have a Vesper sock club membership, but monthly installments give you just enough time to forget that you have it, and then be pleasantly surprised when something absolutely amazing and wonderful shows up in your mailbox.
This burst of color is the called "Kaleidoscope" and it's the sock club colorway for November, 2009. When I opened up this little package today, it was like having a burst of summer blast back into the room. My first thought when I saw it, though I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it: This yarn is all for me! I'm not sharing with anyone! Yes, I like it that much! The only real question is: feet or neck? I'm in love! It's like having a Wee Skein Kit all in one skein!
Thank you for all the suggestions for kids knitting. Sounds like I'm going to have to get my hands on both the Lucinda Guy and Melanie Falick books and see for myself. I'd like to give her one of those books along with a pair of US 8 straight needles and a couple of skeins of Cascade 220 superwash and then see if I can't help her get started on a garter stitch scarf. It was very nice to hear that some of you have started with children younger than 6 and had good success.
I like it best when that color bursts in on you as a little bit of a surprise. Sure, I know I have a Vesper sock club membership, but monthly installments give you just enough time to forget that you have it, and then be pleasantly surprised when something absolutely amazing and wonderful shows up in your mailbox. This burst of color is the called "Kaleidoscope" and it's the sock club colorway for November, 2009. When I opened up this little package today, it was like having a burst of summer blast back into the room. My first thought when I saw it, though I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it: This yarn is all for me! I'm not sharing with anyone! Yes, I like it that much! The only real question is: feet or neck? I'm in love! It's like having a Wee Skein Kit all in one skein!
Thank you for all the suggestions for kids knitting. Sounds like I'm going to have to get my hands on both the Lucinda Guy and Melanie Falick books and see for myself. I'd like to give her one of those books along with a pair of US 8 straight needles and a couple of skeins of Cascade 220 superwash and then see if I can't help her get started on a garter stitch scarf. It was very nice to hear that some of you have started with children younger than 6 and had good success.
You're so lucky! Here (London) it's not starting to get dark at 4, it's dark BY 4!
Very nice. I never worked with the Vesper yarn until last week, and now I cannot seem to get enough. The colors are energetic enough for the nastiest of the winter doldrums.
Very nice! Vesper sock yarn is my current obsession.
For some reason the overwhelming darkness really struck me when we left for the opera at 6:30 Saturday. It just seemed so unrelentingly black & gloomy. The fact that the opera sucked (we actually left at intermission - it was that bad) in a gloomy sort of way didn't help. I do not mind the cold of winter - or even the snow & ice. It's the darkness that I hate!
I do hate leaving for work before sunrise and coming home as it is setting. I've seen midwesterners pour over seed catalogs in the dead of winter every chance they get. I like the idea of working with the most brightly colored yarn possible. As for neck or feet...why not both?
Living in Fairbanks we have even shorter winter days, however they are usually sunny, albeit cold, days. We were thankful to move here from a much cloudier and wetter climate even if the days were longer (we use to live in Juneau, Ak). During the summer we do get more than enough daylight to make up for it though.