knitting lemonade

You know exactly what that is, don't you? I know I am one of the few knitters left who HASN'T made Clapotis. But better late than never, no?

For Clapotis, I am using more of my Estes Park haul--it is my Shanghai yarn from Textiles A Mano. The colors remind me of a Indian sari or a Chinese brocade. Just so rich.

You guys are the best. Because of your suggestions, Ms. Marigold is officially an FO. So thank you, thank you for all your help.

I finished the back of my Central Park Hoodie last night.

So far I am loving the peace fleece. I made the back of the hoodie a little longer than the pattern suggested. And instead of "binding off 6 stitches at the beginning of each row" as the pattern said for the shoulders, I decided to do some short-row shaping--I am keeping these shoulder stitches live so I can do a three-needle bind off for the shoulder seams.

Check out this cable-ly goodness...Do you see all the little fun flecks. They are delicious, no?

I am so pleased, I might just go cast on for the fronts right now...

Ms. Marigold...what can I say? Last time we left her, she was missing her bottom ribbing, neck band, arm finishing, and flutters due to a yarn shortage. I wasn't discouraged, however, I just ordered another skein and waited patiently by my mailbox. When said skein arrived, I thought I was covered. For the most part I was...

Bottom ribbing: Check.
Neck band: Fin.
Armhole finishing: Barely crawled across the finish line.
Flutters: Ain't gonna happen. No way, No how. Not unless you order yet another skein of yarn from Knit Picks.

During the originial great flutter debate, the consensus was to flutter. I agreed, the theory being if the flutters looked silly I could always rip them out. So I am not quite sure how to feel about this latest development. Is the universe trying to tell me something? Should I just leave well enough alone?

Now let me just say this....I LOVE Ms. Marigold. I think that she is darling and only had to make a couple of alterations. The original Ms. Marigold pattern had no body shaping, so I added three decreases after the bust and three increases for the hips to accomodate my hour glass figure. I think this small adjustment made a big difference. But back to those darn flutters...
I pose this question to all of you: Is it worth ordering another skein of yarn just for the flutters (flutters that may or may not work) or should I leave Ms. Marigold as is. Is she living up to her full potential if she goes flutter-less?

But I just ordered this pattern designed by the awe-inspiring Anna Bell...

I am in love. Do you think I have finally lost it?

Lookie what was delivered to my house yesterday...

I was browsing kpixie when I stumbled on this peace fleece worsted yarn in grass roots.

Isn't it funny? I have been searching for weeks for the right yarn for the Central Park Hoodie. I kept going back and forth, back and forth...Do I want blue? Do I want teal? Blue is really fun. But teal is really cool. After all that I picked brown. But when the brown has beautiful flecks of reds, greens, and blues, the choice was simple really.

There's a KAL going for this project, so if you are as enamored of this hoodie as I am you should join in on the fun. Click the button in my sidebar for more information.

A very special package arrived for me the other day. It was stitch markers from the fabulous Abi at SpiderWomanKnits. They are so cute. I started using them immediately. Thanks Spidey!

I started yet another project last week. All week, I have been faithfully knitting Ms. Marigold, yet another zephyr style creation. (I tell you, those zephyr gals had me at Green Gables.) However, last night I made a sad discovery...I didn't have enough yarn. I am completely done with the body, but I still have the bottom ribbing, the neck ribbing, and flutter sleeves to go. So now Ms. M is on hold while I am waiting for another skein of Knit Picks Elegance in Wild Rose. Hurry Mr./Ms. Mail Carrier, Hurry!

I am debating the flutter sleeves. Should a six-foot tall girl wear flutters? Should flutters be reserved only for the petite pixie girls of this world? It is a dilemma that weighs heavily on my heart. You know what?! I'm going for it. I can always frog them if I end up looking like a female wrestler wearing a Tinkerbell costume.

In other kniting news, I got the new Knit Pick Options needles. Their inaugural run was on Ms. Marigold. Verdict: I love them. They are definitely a little heavier than bamboo or addi circulars, but I don't mind that so much. Interchangeable circular knitting needles, a brilliant invention. What will knitters think of next? We are such a clever bunch.