Stormsvale color choices

Now that I've sent the Sweetpea coat off to school, I am ready to begin my own Stormsvale. I sent away for the color card thinking I would pick slightly different blue/grays. Now that I see all the possibilities, I'm a little stunned. I bet this yarn makes incredible mittens.

Sweetpea coat

The Sweetpea coat from Twist Collective for my daughter is almost complete. This pattern uses Harrisville Heathered Bulky at 2.5 stitches per inch. This is a gorgeous yarn if you want to go bulky. The heathered texture keeps the surface interesting.

For Miss Lear's petite frame, about a child's size 10, we began knitting at the top using the shoulder measurements for the smallest size, began the armhole shaping a little early, and then knit straight down with a few increases ending just at her jean pockets. This is a smart way to knit for a sweater recipient with opinions. In the picture here you see the second crack at a collar. She wanted it to stand up around her neck a little more and reach out to her shoulders. So we coped with those issues before we finished the armholes. An hour later she tried it on again and we decided it was too roomy under the arms, so I ripped back 4 rows and gave her a little less ease.  She kept trying it on until we liked the length. Today I'll fiddle with the sleeves. 

Gap holiday scarf

This scarf modeled by Jason Bateman in the Gap holiday booklet has me thinking. I imagine it in two different Kaffe Fassett stripes, smaller gauge, heather and tweed textures. I would knit the two sides flat with a purl stitch in the middle so they would fold nicely. Then I'd sew them together and pickup stitches on the end and do a simple rib just like the picture. This would be a nice project for using up sock yarn leftovers, but I bet I'd end up buying more yarn in the end. I always do.

I've been clicking through the Winter issue of Twist Collective. I can't decide which projects I like best. 

Persimmons

Three persimmons are all I managed to claim from our tree. Like rude children, the squirrels take one bite of every fruit. Persimmons are plentiful at the market right now and I am eager to try this bread recipe on David Lebovitz's blog. I am casting about for another baby sweater project and working hard on mittens. I really like Rowan's Felted Tweed for mittens with bits of Silkywool thrown in.

Dog sweater - first fitting

This is the cabled sweater from Judith Swartz's Dogs in Knits - before the sleeves and ribbing. I used Brown Sheep machine washable worsted and I'm surprised at how soft it is.

It's been getting cold at night here and I'd like to knit robes for the little Lears - similar in shape to Lucinda Guy's versions. I'd like them to look like they are from the original stage production of Peter Pan - jewel tones, cables, mother of pearl buttons, appropriate in the nursery and in battle on deck. When taunted by pirates, one can say, "This isn't my bath robe, it's a very long sweater my mother made me."

Baby sweater

Elsebeth Lavold Silkywool and an old Debbie Bliss pattern finished and ready to go. I should always have a baby project going so I am never caught off guard. 

A progressive dinner

Last night we watched the returns with cheese puffs and soda - a treat in our house, but yesterday's Financial Times suggested a very eclectic election night menu served in progressive courses beginning with bourbon when the first polls close in Kentucky. An hour later cheddar from Vermont and barbecue from Georgia was served. It progressed across the country ending with Hawaii and Alaska. I would like to try something like this in four years with copies of campaign posters of the past. 

Election day

Every election day I think about Irene Williams's "Housetop Variation" from the Quilts of Gee's Bend. I never made the vote vote vote socks I was dreaming of back at the Primary. I'm just going to go cast my vote for Senator Obama, my state propositions, my mayor, my city counsel, my rent board and my parks director in my everyday clothes. I'll be taking my Kindergartner who is home with a cold. I wonder if he'll remember this day and that we wore our everyday clothes?

Harvest wreath

For years I've been planning to make a gourd wreath. I finally found myself at the market this year in front of a huge crate of gourds. The plan changed when I went further into the market and realized what I really wanted was turnips and eggplant and dark purple potatoes. This led to the light green and gold pattypans and the baby artichokes. This takes the cooking with local ingredients in season philosophy into the crafting realm. Imagine if I just keep that wreath on the door and as the vegetables age I replace them with whatever is beautiful and in season at the market! 

This wreath has all natural ingredients. But I am really interested in creating something with both fantastical pieces and every-day pieces - something like old brass and glass doorknobs with baby potatoes and thyme; metal bubble wands and glass bubbles arranged with chestnuts; keys and radicchio with light green velvet ribbons. I also like the idea of holiday food gifts arranged as centerpieces: an onion wreath with dark purple ribbons and thyme and bay leaves encircling small vertical baguettes and a bottle of red wine and some gruyere with a recipe for French onion soup.