My Carlisle

Carlisle Scarf by Craig Rosenfeld

Carlisle 7It’s finished! This scarf is another project that was a pleasure from beginning to end. It flowed off the needles, and was done before I knew it. It spent some time on the New London Ferry to and from Maine, and came home to be finished, tidied, blocked, and photographed.

The trip to Maine was a whirlwind turnaround – it was fun (Judy and I are masters at having fun on a road trip) and crazy (rocky weather plus a boatload of middle schoolers on their way to Mystic Seaport equals a dizzy Jane) and interesting (I’ve never seen a big college campus after final exams – it looked like little trash riots had broken out everywhere). And when the trip was over, Rachel was home.

Carlisle 5

Carlisle 1

Carlisle 4

Persimmon Update

I’m so grateful to everyone who has downloaded Persimmon! I hope that when you all start your projects you’ll keep in touch. I’d love to know how your knitting is going; if you have any questions, comments or suggestions; and if you are enjoying the tilting and the knit-knit-knitting. I’ve just started knitting another one – a quick gift in Sundara Fingering Merino Cashmere.

The other day I had an out-of-the-blue fear that I’d made a huge mistake in the pattern – and that everyone would be casting on a completely wrong number of stitches. I checked. It’s all good. Knit forward.

Garter stitch laps

carlisle 0507aGarter stitch is good. Garter stitch in rich colors and strips and blocks is even better. I don’t even mind that the rows I’m working on at the moment are something like 450 stitches long.

Simple knitting helps me think. As I go along my mind wanders to other projects: how I could construct that lace insert, where I might place the increases to create the shape I want. I stop to make notes, then pick up Carlisle again, and knit knit knit. Before long, I’ve reached the end of a row. Do I have time to start another one? Sure, why not?

carlisle 0507bWalking around a track is a little like knitting garter stitch. We start where we put our jackets and water bottles, and walk walk walk. After a few minutes, what do you know, here are our jackets, and we’ve walked a lap. Click the counter, begin another lap. Sometimes it seems to take forever, just like 450 stitches might seem to go on and on. Most of the time, though, I’m surprised to see my stuff there. Click. I walked a mile. Rho and I talk, or just walk, and time passes. Just like knitting garter stitch.

I’m taking my garter stitch on a short trip to Maine tomorrow. Judy and I are retrieving Remarkable Rachel and all her belongings from college, so there will be lots of car time to knit knit knit. I’ll make sure we wave at The Great White Bale as we pass Biddleford!

Persimmon

persimmon lg 1

Introducing Persimmon —

persimmons 1

There are two designs to choose from.

persimmon lg 5

One is a long circle.

persimmon sm 1

The other is a short cowl.

persimmon lg 2

They tilt.

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And of course that makes me very happy.

Persimmon is available at Ravelry —
View the pattern or buy the download now.

Persimmon came about because I wanted to design a long circle scarf that was simple, but not boring to make. A little design on the edge, just enough, and then knit-knit-knit. I started with the tilting border — not only do I love tilting things, but in this case it was the perfect way to begin a loop. The plain edge rolls or doesn’t, depending on how you like it. After I’d finished, and worn it around for a while, I decided to make a small Persimmon in a different yarn weight. It’s also simple, and uses just a bit of yarn.

The long version of Persimmon was made with madelinetosh tosh merino light in the color “Magnolia.” I love how golden-orange it is, without being really orange. It wraps twice to keep you warm, or just once to dress you up a bit.

The short, or regular cowl version was made with an incredible yarn from Spirit Trail Fiberworks called Holda — a blend of lambswool, cashmere, and angora — in the color “Chipotle.” This small Persimmon is suitable for men and women. It scrunches up nicely, drapes comfortably, and is perfect under a jacket.

Persimmon is modeled by Rebecca Speckenbach. You last saw her much younger feet wearing the original Hedgerows.

So there you have it — another something I’ve been up to lately!

My Hawthorne

Hawthorne by Susanna IC

hawthorne 7I had a great time knitting this little shawl! It was a quick knit for me — I finished in just a week. I had the yarn in my stash, so when I got the notion to knit a crescent with short-row shaping, off I went.

Sundara’s Aran Silky Merino is lovely to work with, but I think it’s a little heavy for this pattern. It’s beautiful, though, and I like the result. I used just under two skeins, a little less than 400 yards total. I can imagine Hawthorne in Spirit Trail Birte, or the intended Lyra, and I know that either of those yarns would be absolutely perfect.

I blocked it quickly, only pinning the points. I laid the wet piece out, checked to be sure it was shaped correctly, pinned, and left it to dry overnight. It looks just right. The fabric is so, well, silky, and it drapes beautifully. I’ll enjoy wearing it, I’m sure!

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This weekend, or early next week, I’m going to hatch a new pattern on Ravelry. Stay tuned for Persimmon…