Dreamy
The weekend's project: 500 yards of Shetland laceweight-ish 2-ply. My first "big" spinning project - the last of the Shaela grey Shetland top from Sheep & Wool, dyed in diffuse emeralds and violets and spun quickly, hungrily. The colors in the plied yarn are deep and cool, overwhelmingly green at first glance but slipping here and there into the gloomy purple shade seen in an old-growth forest. It makes me think of kelp forests stretching towards the far-away sun, floating nori nets, dulse and wrack clinging to wet rocks - in honor of the last, I think this will become large-gauge lace in a very open, geometric pattern loosely evoking seaweed and waves, maybe with some more yarn spun for a deep, luxurious fringe. You know, the sort of thing a wistful selkie might wrap herself in to walk along the water, dreaming of going home.
As top:
And as singles:
I love the way the singles look, though I felt they were a little bright for use on their own.
Knitting
Don't worry - I still knit, really.
I adore this little swatch with my whole heart - I love heavy texture and fine detail. I was fooling around with linen stitch (with linen yarn, of course, yuk yuk), and came up with this faux-herringbone variation. It creates a slightly stiff fabric with a wonderfully crisp hand, that still manages to be quite light and airy on the right size needles - perfect for a seriously tailored, seriously flirty summer jacket.
I've been a little obsessed with stand-up collars lately, particularly those that aren't an applied neckband but rather are extensions of the front pieces. They flare gently away from a low closure - somewhere just above the bust - and stand a little away from the skin to frame the throat in the prettiest way. This fabric, finished with a wide rolled hem, will be absolutely perfect in a sunny, wear-me-with-shorts sort of way. I have needles, I have hanks of Euroflax pre-washed and dried, I have these wonderful antique leather-covered buttons - ready, set, go!
Almost Argyles
I'm proofing the pattern tonight - glad there's been such an interest!
