Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge, Report 5

Hooray!  My Organic Ice Cream Tank worked out wonderfully, the mix of patterns and colors did a good job of improving my opinion of the Nespelem Yummy Like Blackberry Ice Cream cardigan.  But it's too warm today to wear together, so just the shell.

The wardrobe challenge moves on, tonight I start a short-sleeve cardigan in the nutmeg brown color!  Must admit, working with the same yarn is getting a little dull, but this is the season to wear it, plus I know that my feeling of accomplishment will be great, and the stash less ;~}

Work Day, oops I'm knitting instead!

This is an un-edited photo of my desk at work right now.  What's wrong with this picture??!!

If you see nothing wrong, well, did you note I said WORK desk?  Not only is there a knitting project there...but Ravelry is on the top of my computer screen.

I am breaking my rule today
Thou shall not knit at work. Period.

As a self-employed person, I'm generally pretty good at giving myself daily tasks to perform, focused on the business.  But today...don't tell the boss!

Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge, Report 4

So, last report was a step backward, with my Nutmeg color vest not working out.  But now I have a new cardigan completed, the Nespelem Yummy Like Blackberry Ice Cream !  It was really yummy to make, maybe not yet so yummy on me, it's been too warm to actually wear it with a coordinated outfit.

In fact, my opinion of a knit item depends quite a bit on the way it fits into the entire outfit. Put on a cardigan with the wrong color of shell, or the wrong neckline, and the cardigan is, well, BLEH (this is a sound, not a word).  But when the neckline and color is right, it is a functional addition to the wardrobe.  And EVEN BETTER would be to have all the shapes flatter, and make me look like the woman in my imagination (not the one in the mirror).

And so...my new cardigan is just waiting for the right pieces to go with.  Working on that right now, the Organic Ice Cream Tank, named because the 3 leftover yarns I'm working with remind me of an alternative neopolitan ice cream...Vanilla, Blackberry Cream, and Nutmeg.  Little sketch below of the general plan, simple cable between sections, cable pattern panel center F & B, stockinette sides. Deep scoop neck.  Just finished the short row shaping for bust and getting near the end of my leftover yarn from Nespelem.  CROSSING MY FINGERS that the change in colors is flattering...

Yarn for almost all the Senses

There is something about the yarn I'm working with now, that excites a couple extra senses!  When I acquired this Organic Cotton Raspberry Tea yarn, I thought it was a subtle pink.  But as it is being knit, the color shifts into a slightly marbled light/lighter coloration that reminds me of the pale bluish purple color of cream when blackberries are squished...like Blackberry Ice Cream.

As I'm knitting this soft cotton yarn, I hear the crunch of ice crystals when the spoon dips into the ice cream, feel the chill approaching my mouth, smell the pungent sweetness when it nears my nose, and of course the taste on the tip of my tongue of a flavor that is both strong and sensitive.  It's an amazing thing...and certainly entices me to pick up the needles to enjoy more time in the sensations!

As my last week was spent knitting something that I frogged...I have great hopes for this to turn out!

Nespelem Yummy Like Blackberry Ice Cream , the back is done:

Yarn Decision...do I have to Decide?

I went to a favorite LYS in Las Vegas last weekend, felt a new yarn Delicato by Prism Yarn. It's a lace weight, which I've never used before.  All tencel, it has a silky soft sheen and smooth texture. I have 2 projects in mind that are so appealing in their feminine softness, because of the lace construction, but sure will require a LOT of yarn. I did not want to use wool or anything warm, and so this will be perfect!

But...which colorway?  This a handdyed yarn with regular color striping, the colors blend and vary in intensity.  And there were two good options for me.  Trying to be a good little Wardrobe Knitter, conscientious toward my goal to make things that work with other items already in my closet...I decided on the rich purple, forest green and copper of Tumbleweed. I considered that the garment I knit will be elegant, so I would like to wear it in a dressy-casual to not-quite-dressy, and so what pants do I have.  I have some dark purple velvet-like corduroys that will be a good choice.

Not ready to knit this yet...but I have a good plan for the future...and yarn in stash!

Frogged...Sigh...Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge, Report 3.5

My travel project was VERY successful at keeping peace during our driving trip last weekend!  4-5 hours on the freeway each way, and darling husband listened to radio talk shows at the wheel, while I kept my eyes on the needles and yarn.  The only glitch was a bit of trouble finding a place to pull over for a quick lunch.  Of course, lots of places appear when you are not hungry, or passing by the freeway exit. But seeing fast food signs well before you reach the exit?  Well, a bit more challenging from the far left lane at higher speeds (enough said there).

The disappointing news, though, is that the travel project was nearly completed by the time we got home. I was worried about how the unusual construction would pull together in the Nutmeg Ethereal Vest, and try-ons along the way were not very definitive. Finally, after joining all pieces and finishing one of the armholes, I do another try-on.  Just looked like a SACK on me.  Why?  The armhole shaping was unflattering with extra gaping fabric in front, so maybe I could rip the fronts back and redo?  The wide garter bands that cross for V-neck closure are heavy and will probably droop with wear, I could maybe rip back and make them shorter, or shape more narrowly toward the front?  The stripes on front garter bands emphasize them too much to lend a heavy look?  The overall size of fronts too large, even though they do not meet at front, but maybe go with super negative ease to achieve the "look"?  The buttonhole edge would stretch into ugly shape, not crisp, will that bother me?

Right or wrong...I suspect I would NEVER wear this, even with some alterations.  I only have a week invested in it.  So I ripped both fronts last night.  I'm hanging onto the back, and considering whether it is worth re-designing into another garment.

So, this is not a full Report 4 in my Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge...a step forward and a step back!

How Knitting Saves a Marriage on a Driving Trip

The title of this entry says it all, at least it speaks volumes to every wife who sits in a passenger seat on a long road trip with her darling husband behind the wheel.

I cannot be overly dramatic here, as my husband may actually be reading this.  And in fact, as I've re-written this posting many times to be careful and considerate, I've come to the conclusion that readers do not need to know the details of what goes on during The Argument that seems to arise during the drive.  The cringing person in the passenger seat (me) thinks I am in the right, and the Warrior behind the wheel (husband) is certain that he is right.

So along comes Knitting!  I've been prone to motion sickness my entire life. In particular, I cannot read while in a car.  Brief looks at maps is about it...which is good, because I am the Excellent Navigator on road trips.  But not to stray off topic...I did not consider knitting during driving for many years.  But I picked it up a year ago, and what a Joy!  It resolves the problem of having to look outside the window during a drive, I am happily watching the yarn and needles.  Not only does it keep the marriage happy on the road...but the time flies by absorbed in my happiest hobby.  It does, however, require that we only drive during daylight hours, and so we have adjusted timetables for that very purpose.

This weekend, another long drive back and forth to Las Vegas.  Got my project all ready to go!

I'll be working on Nutmeg Ethereal, as part of my Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge

Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge, Report 3

The first garment completed in my challenge, incorporates yarn from 2 of my tops knit last summer! Started with a quantity in my stash of two neutrals to work them into. Because I finished the garment, before starting this blog...no blow-by-blows of progress (are we GLAD, or SAD?).

I had a thought in my mind for this cardigan, using another designer's pattern.  But almost from the start, it wanted to be done differently. And so this is a personal design after all.

Elements considered along the way in designing and knitting (and yes, this was designed on the fly, right or wrong)...
~ Summer cotton yarn will not likely be worn when much warmth is needed.  So, 3/4 LENGTH SLEEVES.
~ HORIZONTAL STRIPES are the easiest way to add color. But too many, and it gets a "look" that is super sporty, makes me think of sailing. Since I get seasick, I would never need this for a sailboat ride.
~ The colorwork idea of INTARSIA briefly crossed my mind, but I've not done this yet. One challenge at a time. Stranded colorwork, I've also not done, but that will be attempted soon on another queued project! 
~ So, SLIPPED STITCH colorwork, I have done before, and that is what I decided on for the lower hem. Looking through stitch dictionaries landed me upon one I liked...it was promoted by the author as being wonderful in 2 colors, and also in 3 colors. Well, how perfect is that!
~ Lace, YES, always keeps it light for warm weather wearing. Even if I sacrifice for LOOKS to wear a sweater when it is a bit too warm, the lace deceives others into thinking I'm cool. SIMPLE EYELET selected, to not over-complicate things.
~ V-NECK, because one of the tops I hoped to wear with this has a diamond-pattern and v-keyhole
~ Working BOTTOM-UP and with SET IN SLEEVES, because I am supremely more comfortable with this construction. Also, it provides plenty of room to design on the fly.
~ And finally, I had no idea how I wanted the "STARTING" edges (hemline and sleeves) to be! And the last thing you want to have happen...is to finish a beautiful garment that has an ugly start! Opted for a provisional crochet cast-on. In fact, making the crochet chain in one of the yarn colors to be considered for the garment...that was a PLUS, because I could clearly see that PINK was not going to be a color I wanted to use, but GREEN definitely was.

Well...the rest is history, literally! You can see my finished item on Ravelry, if you are a member:

Organic Neutrals V-Neck Cardigan

And here it is worn with one of the original yarn tops:

Organic Cottons Wardrobe Challenge, Report 2

The first thing to admit about my "challenge" to create many wardrobe items from this same yarn, is that I was already on my way toward meeting it. Not quite like declaring a goal to climb a mountain, when you are steps from the summit...maybe more like 1,000 feet into the climb relaxing at base camp, and you have 10,000 feet to go?

So, last summer I knit several tops out of the Sublime Organic Cotton DK.  And I have bits of left-overs, not enough to make anything on their own. I include links to the Ravelry project pages (membership required to see details). Not all photos or garments are necessarily flattering, and so I leave off my head. Okay?

We've got Pink Omir

Pure Celery Tank

Trace of Gray

Retro Cables & Ribs Sweater

Blue Charlotte Raglan Tee

And hopefully the partial balls of color will end up in finished garments...UNTIL THERE ARE NO SCRAPS LEFT!