Yarn Along Ramble

I've done very little knitting or reading since the last Yarn Along. I've done a lot of driving to the airport, some very brief hellos and way too many goodbyes. And the Triduum. That lack --ahem-- isn't going to stop me from posting a too-long Yarn Along;-).

I'm just little further on my latest Chloe (#6). I do have some plans, though. I met Ginny yesterday at Fibre Space, where a very nice guy named Micah was incredibly patient and showed me absolutely every non-animal yarn they had, all the while checking to be sure I wasn't going to go into anaphylactic shock just breathing the wool in the air. We had mixed success. I did buy a yarn to try and a sweet inexpesnive project bag to replace my Ziploc bag. I'm not really thrilled with the yarn yet, but we'll see what happens on the needles. If you are at all local, I encourage you to head to Old Town Alexandria and check out Fibre Space. It was just as I envisioned a neighborhood yarn store: warm, friendly, cheerful, everyone just happy to talk knitting. In addition to their kindness towards me, I heard them helping other customers during the time I was there. Just great folks! And a very nice selection--all those yarns I've spent hours researching online--right there to touch. (And how fun was it that they have a giant Mac right there on the counter, where I could log in to Ravelry and check a pattern? Very cool.) So well worth the trip. I drove over an hour and Ginny drove further. But I know we'd both do it again. Maybe we'll see you there.

It was a beautiful day in Old Town and Ginny and I had time to linger a bit over lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed my grown-up day out of the house. I didn't even get lost going or coming--truly I tell you, the GPS has changed my life:-). Patrick returned home late yesterday evening, ridiculously jet-lagged and dehydrated, and he flew out very early this morning. I had hoped to sit and knit while he told me all about Holland last night. But he was so tired he was incoherent. I have a sense that the next few months will be ones of intensity for him (and us). What do I bring to that this year that I didn't last year? I bring knitting. It's true that knitting is a stress-buster. Truly true. I admit to knitting through tears this morning as that early flight left the ground. Wet cotton doesn't move well. For me, all my knitting heretofore has been inextricably woven with listening to the the Word of God. Knowing that the only thing I know for certain is that there is much uncertainty ahead, I don't think I'll change my knitting rhythm even though Lent is finished.

With Paddy on his way back to Bradenton and Mike back out on the road, the bluebells all turned to green, and no plans for any further entertaining until late next month, it's time to settle into a new household rhythm. I'm reading --and applying-- Organized Simplicity. I'm also hoping to begin reading these three books on dyeing. (Just realized the links didn't work in the post on painting yarn. Sorry!). I've ordered a wee bit of alpaca to try to knit without itching. I'm really hoping that will work, because I do want to hand paint more yarn and I'd prefer an animal fiber. The books above address more than just animal yarns, though. I see some silk fabric dyeing and painting in the very near future.

I love to talk knitting and reading with you. Elizabeth, who nudges me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis, has me planning a knit-along. I wanted to knit a Chloe;-). She suggested the Baby Surprise Jacket. The pattern (which isn't really a pattern, but more like suggestions) for the jacket is available at Schoolhouse Press and in the video linked above. Included in the pamphlet is also a pattern for an adult one. My hope is to find my go-to non-wool yarn and one day knit a surprise jacket for myself. For now, though, I'll be knitting a baby jacket. If you're wanting to read an Elizabeth Zimmermann book (abundantly available at lots of libraries), the Baby Surprise Jacket is in Knitting Workshop. We're going to knit it together over the next few weeks, with Elizabeth assuring that I am successful. You know, Elizabeth has taught me that a mentor is an invaluable gift. So often women (and teenaged girls) are afraid to try new things, even though they really do want to know how to do it. We are so afraid to fail. And are we all perfectionists at heart, just a little bit? A truly good mentor, who can come alongside, and push a little while ensuring success? Unbounded blessing. Makes me stop to think about the ways we can blesss each other. Where can I mentor and help someone over her own doubts and into the sunshine of success?

Be sure to stop by and visit Ginny and see what other folks are knitting and reading.

{comments are open here for knitting and reading conversation}