I have designs on this one
Thursday July 31st 2008, 12:30 pm
Filed under: Knit

No whizzing through this one quite yet; I spent yesterday’s time on it constantly counting stitches and editing the text to be exactly right (and being distracted while I concocted another design on the side; I seem to be on a roll.) One more row and I’ll be home free to where I’m just repeating what’s been done.  Count count count. I know what the math says–trust but verify anyway. If perfectionism takes extra time, it’s an absolute necessity and worth it.

takes two to tangle

My friend Jasmin went to Maine a few weeks ago and got to do something I can only dream of–she went to visit Melinda of Tess’ Designer Yarns!  When Melinda found out Jasmin was in my local knitting group, she told her of how I’d snagged some of her yarn at Stitches West two years ago with my motorized wheelchair, breaking a skein; when I’d apologized and tried to pay for it, Melinda had just waved me away.

So I had gone home, pulled some Tess silk yarn out of my stash, knitted it up into a lace scarf as far as the yardage would take me, and mailed it off to Maine.

Referencing that, Melinda sent Jasmin home with some yarn for me. I got an email from Jasmin in the showroom, asking for color preferences.  I thought I was buying it, and told Jasmin I’d love to have more of that Merino Lace.

At Stitches East last fall, I had traded Melinda some of her hand dyed Merino Lace for a copy of my book and we had both come away happy.  Since then, I had taken it out and admired it longingly many a time but it just hadn’t found what it wanted to be yet.

Till Jasmin came home and happily gifted me, from Melinda, with more.  Four skeins, two colorways I like, one that played really well with what I’d bought in Baltimore.  I swatched.  I swooned.  Yes!  Somehow, the brightness and cheerfulness of the fuschia, purple, and coral with a touch of yellow were the perfect antidote to the still-somewhat-smoky skies overhead, and I am totally loving working with these.  Thank you, Melinda!  Jasmin, too!

(P.S. Knitpicks.com still has knitting books at 40% off right now. I’m just sayin’.)


6 Comments so far
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OK, you perfectionist, you. I’m putting in a plea for a shawl pattern that is really, really, easy. Think of us poor mothers of boys, who never let us count past, say, four. Pleeeeessseeeeeee. Something to use yummy yarn, but not just a triangle? I’d be ever so grateful…someday, probably all too soon, I’l be able to count things twice….

Comment by Laura in Alameda, CA 07.31.08 @ 10:54 pm

I have some of Tess’ microfiber rayon ribbon yarn in that same colorway! Your combination is pretty!!

Comment by Kathy in San Jose 07.31.08 @ 11:29 pm

Am loving the color combo and cant wait to see the design as it unfolds!

Comment by Danielle from SW MO 08.01.08 @ 5:35 am

I too love the colors. I’d say I can’t wait, but I know I must. It’ll be worth it, in the end…

Comment by Channon 08.01.08 @ 6:59 am

Sounds like everyone was happy with the swap/knitting, etc. Have to check where in Maine you are talking about as I’m a Maine native.

Just ordered books from knitpicks last night…lol. Seems every August they have a 40% of sale on their books.

Have a great weekend!

Comment by Joansie 08.01.08 @ 9:40 am

Those colors remind me of the picture of a raspberry bombe in one of my cookbooks. Lovely!

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 08.01.08 @ 7:04 pm



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