Ditty Bag

Well, Julia showed her's so you may as well see mine. I've provided a complete description of the contents on flickr , with notes detailing all.

My dear tools are conveniently housed in a clear half moon shaped bag which once held a cosmetics gift, long-long ago. Plastic yes, but I can see everything, which I like. I go for circles. I'm missing post-its which are usually in there, used for marking where I am on a chart.

People are most curious about the compass...I say it never hurts to know what direction you're going. The bonus? it is spot on for this years Project Spectrum: Cardinal Directions.

My friend Beth gave me this snazzy "Tone Up" box, perfect for my favorite Clover "pac man" markers.



And where would I be without my chi-chi-chi-chibi? Holding some deadly sharp pointed things and my treasured bent tapestry needle. I scorned these bent needles until Sally Melville showed the the way, and I've never looked back. They make a world of difference in seaming and other tricky sewing.

Cherry Blossoms?

Or are they Apple? They were directly across from the Whitehouse in Lafayette Square which strangely, has a statue of equestrian Andrew Jackson at the center of it.

Lafayette Park has been used as a race track, a graveyard, a zoo, a slave market, an encampment for soldiers during the War of 1812, and the site of many political protests and celebrations. We were part of a citizen-organized protest to reform the banks, but there were also 2 different groups of Iranians, an Anti-Nuclear encampment and a Buddhist with a drum, just to name a few. And it was raining.

I don't know, I'm a sucker for a national monument. I love seeing all the families and tourists from all over the country and all over the world posing for pictures in front of the Whitehouse, it makes me happy, I could watch them for hours.

Cherry Blossom Time

I saw them!

My impulse was to take the bus, but a car with GPS was offered, so what the heck, the lovely voice of Ms GPS would guide me to the spectacle of the Cherry Blossoms. I imagined a leisurely walk along the Tidal Basin and through the parks under the graceful bows of the blossoming cherry trees.

It was fun driving in. Down through Georgetown, with all the wonderful architecture, it was hard to keep my eyes on the road. Past the Washington Monument and a glimpse of the Mall.

Then I saw them, curving around the Tidal Basin. I was under them...the blossoms nearly past, petals fluttering in the breeze like snowflakes...



The next thing I knew traffic sped up and I drove around in wild circles, honing in on parking lots I'd looked up online....only to find access was all blocked off...

I drove in larger circles hoping to find other parking...oops! ...almost into Virginia...oops! ... into an embassy's driveway...Now I was driving in zooming rush-hour, along with drivers hell-bent for home all going the wrong way in the street, which I guess must be fine at certain hours. I found it unnerving.

I gave up.
Tomorrow I'll take the bus, have that long relaxing walk and maybe visit some of the great places you suggested to me. Thank You so much, I really appreciate it!

Working Holiday

Hey All,
I'm in Washington DC for a bit. Any top suggestions? Yarney and otherwise?

New Favorite

I have a new favorite photography website, lens culture which introduced me to the work of Ingar Krauss. I wish I could invest in this portrait. I love it. I love her. I love her outfit. What about her shoes? I love her shoes and feet. Those little squared toes lined up.

Wait to you see lens culture's book selection....
heart-stopping.

Fuchsia Macaroons

Time for a cookie break. I fulfilled a deadline, knitting for nearly 72 hours straight...sheesh...it felt good to get out and walk around the sunny city of Montréal....we had the $10 dinner at Fuchsia...flowers in every dish...all the back issues of Martha Stewart–from the start, and, a favorite book " The Family of Man".

and least I forget...a sweetheart of a dog!

Escaped Swatch

Felt, originally uploaded by maryjanemidgemink.

Escaped into the wash.

Creative Director Kate and I were trying to move into the Blue and Brown territory. I really didn't have enough of those colors in my arsenal, so I headed bravely toward Brown and Green.

At last, happy and satisfied with my color choices, the crafty swatch escaped into the wash, and felted. Felted nicely I must say, not too thick, sturdily flexible, remember that about Sunday Knits Yarns. I needed one more swatch which found me still working with color placement, I went with the bottom top, just below the double-espresso break...Hmmm I could use a double espresso break right about now. Cheers!

Luke's Diced Vest

Koo koo Banana Head Swatch

I mixed it all up, grabbing colors I hadn't tried....

Swatchland

The continuing saga of "Luke's Diced Vest...In Swatchland"

I hate it when blogger won't format things properly. Apologies.
I swatched and swatched.

I really liked the pumpkiny part so I made the one below....

I loved this swatch, you can't see it well in the picture but it has a lovely halo of fuzz, due to Sunday Knits Yarns Angelic which has a  smidge of angora in it. 

 Kate wanted me to try one less stripey... It really isn't stripey in real life, however, since most people will only see it on the screen, and understanding the perils of magazine photography, I forged ahead... I just started grabbing yarn and going for it.

Lordy, I got more stripey...

to be continued...

Luke's Diced Vest – Backstory

These images started it all for me. I love this picture. It's from   Traditional Fair Isle Kntting by Sheila McGregor, an oldie but goodie. For some reason I've always thought that Magnie was her cousin. I like to study the background of vintage knitting pictures, who is wearing that houndstooth blazer? The sister who knit Magnie the vest? Does Magnie play the piano?

When the call for Spring Twist went out, one request was a man's garment, one you'd like to knit, and one a man you know would actually wear.  Hmmm. My husband shys away from fair isle, his style leans toward the Amish,  which is good, and I understand.  But I really wanted to knit a diced vest...So Luke Randall! Of course. Luke is unafraid to wear pink. Luke is a snappy dresser. So we made a deal, I make a vest and trade it for a painting. 

Next comes the yarn choices...Kate Gilbert suggested Sunday Knits Yarns and we discussed a few colors, esspresso agreed to be one of the major colors. Carol, the color and fiber wizard behind Sunday Knits Yarns sent me the color card....I chose a few, mussed about a few more and Carol, the dear sent me lots. 

   But look what happened! I went wild with the reds...I think that Luke would wear this combination, I know I would wear it...but would readers dismiss it and declare it not manly enough...I started going for a bit of dark at the top...got some suggestions from Kate...and went back to swatching....

   The colors I used for this larger motif roughly translate to the pattern as:

rnd 14: curry •  chestnut
rnd 13: curry • chestnut
rnd 12: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 11: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 10: tomato • espresso
rnd 9: tomato • espresso
rnd 8: melon/berry • iris/pickle ( either or!)

Oh, Luke has a new website that isn't quite up yet, I'll keep you posted. Can't wait for the trade.

Heartfelt

It's true... Luke's Diced Vest....not for my husband....

Twist!

Spring Twist is up!

And in it you'll find something I made for my favorite painter Luke.

He has been waiting patiently.


















There are loads of irresistible sweaters to knit,  inventive toys,  way cool baby blankets, socks and scarves; it's humbling to be included with this bunch of designers. As usual this issue includes wonderful articles. I confess a weakness for scholarly ones and find Kate Davies delightful article on Jane Gaugain, adding to my already severe longing to visit Scotland.....someday.....!

Happy Birthday SOSO!!!!!!