Purple Owlet

Late winter this year I planned sweaters for my girls.  The small fry asked for a purple owl sweater, after she and I surfed around Ravelry.  And so, I happily obliged… glad for an excuse to navigate over to Quince and company for some fresh wool.

Sweater from mom; table and chairs from her great
grandfather; stenciling done by her "nanoo"

 This was a really fast and fun sweater to knit.  I chose the smallest size kid version for our girl.  I think the pattern calls it 3/4.  It fits her like a dream right now.  Hopefully we can still squeeze her into it in the fall after the weather cools and the humidity gives up it's annual midwestern campaign.  I'm really, really tempted to make another one of these for the little nugget, but for her I have planned the cabled yoke cardigan in red.  (Her sister nearly wore out the orange one that I made).  I'm also feeling a little bit of motherly guilt about the hand-me-downs of all variety.  It's good to have a few things that are yours and yours alone…

One dozen owls on the yoke

I knit this out of Quince and Company's Lark wool.  The color way is called Lupin.  It really is this gorgeous purple color, the current favorite of the small fry. It washed and blocked beautifully and will be stowed away for a cooler day.  More details on Ravelry here.

Hoot!

The Woods of New Hampshire

This last weekend I was fortunate to return to Squam Art Workshops.  It is one of the best places and gatherings I have ever visited.

Just imagine yards and yards of
this type of shoreline peppered
with cabins and docks – perfection.

The lake is beautiful - calm, clear and offers a cold and fantastic swim.  The camp, Rockywold Deephaven Camp is the perfect balance of amenity and simplicity - fireplaces, screened porches, lots of hot running water and down comforters on the beds.  And all of this is the backdrop for the Squam Art Workshops. Elizabeth, inventor and organizer of the event was so right in her choosing of locale and content.  My second visit in three years was just as perfect as the first. 

I made some wonderful friends two years ago, when I attended Squam the first time.  And this year four of us returned.  We learned some new things from some wonderful teachers, kayaked on the lake, drank wine and sat in front of the fireplace.  It was the perfect break from my otherwise-lovely normally scheduled routine and I have returned home feeling like it was time well spent.

So fun!

This year I took an amazing class on the history of Estonian knitting from the fabulous Nancy Bush.  She was charming and patient, well organized and well versed in Estonian tradition.  I came home with one half of a pair of Estonian fingerless mitts.  Isn't it lovely?

The fabulous Nancy Bush...

If you ever have the opportunity to take one of her classes I would highly recommend it.

Oh, the details… the best!

The other class I took was Amy Herzog's fit to flatter class.  And she and her amazing math brain has done all the heavy-lifting for sweater knitters.  With accurate body measurements, a knit swatch and an internet connection, you can essentially choose a sweater profile and have generated a custom pattern that is literally designed for your body.  I cannot wait to try it.

For Jack

For a darling little man.

There are fewer things more satisfying to knit that small sweaters… everything looks better in miniature.  Raglan stripes that line up beautifully. And cotton yarn that is fluffy and dense at the same time, in a color palette that is wonderful.

Striped warmth

So I knit this little piece for a new family member of some good friends.  Welcome Jack.  May this fit in time for cooler weather, and be worn in diapered comfort with your big butt baby pants.

XO - Faye