Inspiration
A Cardigan, Glimmers, and Rhinebeck
Dear everybody,
I’m deep into knitting Norah Gaughan’s new Field Guide pattern, the Jacobs Cardigan.
(This is the sample, which is 100% done whereas mine is 75% done.)
Note what happens when you put this thing on.
Mood booster! Daymaker! Best thing ever!
I’ll admit that there have been self-inflicted lows along the way. It has a lot to do with knitting while watching My Brilliant Friend, the Italian HBO series based on the superb Elena Ferrante novels. The Italians in this series speak only Italian (gah). So the combination of subtitles and the gorgeous look of the show means that knitting while watching is deeply hazardous. It ain’t the pattern; it’s me!
The highs? Norah’s texture pattern is a masterclass in how to mix knits and purls. Such an artful mix of stockinette, garter stitch, and moss stitch. This color is Shadow. I always worry that knit-purl patterns won’t show up on a dark yarn, but I was pretty sure this was going to work.
I’ve come a long way, and it’s one of those origami sweaters that look like a blanket until the shoulder seams fold it into shape.
Never have I so anticipated a three-needle bindoff on a shoulder.
You can see the curvature of the earth here.
It’s my first time knitting a sweater using Jane, our new yarn, and it was only yesterday that I stopped for a minute to think about the fact that I’m using a yarn that we invented, from thin air. Sometimes we’re moving so fast that I forget to stop and think about what we’re doing!
On the Lookout for Joy
I’ve been thinking about glimmers and savoring, and maybe that’s what’s happening as I make this Jacobs cardigan. Long rows give you time to think.
Our columnist Suzan Colón got me thinking about glimmering in her post here—the micromoments of joy that are available to us if we’ll just watch for them.
And savoring? There’s fancy psychological talk about it, but basically, it’s “being mindfully engaged and aware of one’s feelings during positive events. By being engaged, one can increase happiness in both the short and long run. So savoring is not merely the experience of positive emotions, but the deliberate effort to make a positive experience last.” (Thanks, Wikipedia.)
Notice when you’ve got a good feeling going, and make that good feeling last. I’ll have some of that.
Curious to hear what you’re savoring, what glimmers are giving you small moments of joy.
Meanwhile . . .
I’ll be in New York by day’s end, beginning the annual northward migration to Rhinebeck this weekend. Kay and I will be at the mighty Merritt Books booth on Saturday, with Field Guides galore. Come say hi and get an exclusive, superspecial and fancy Nash Yarn Fest button! We will talk your ear off about this event. March 14-15. Nashville. See? Stop me now.
Love,
Ann
How amazing to knit a beautiful garment with a yarn of your dreams! Lovely cardigan. You will be much admired at Rhinebeck I’m sure.
Have fun! Your sweater is beautiful. The weekend will be beautiful!! Can’t make it this year but will be thinking of everyone!!!
A lot of the TV we watch has subtitles. I always have two projects on the go – one is “Subtitle knitting” and the other is definitely not!
I savor sunrises and the moon in all it’s phases. I had to be in the school office very early and loved sunrise days. Sometimes people would come in the office and I’d say “Isn’t the sunrise glorious and they hadn’t even noticed!! And I tell the moon how beautiful she is. Love savoring!
YAY!!! Can’t wait to meet you at the e NYS Sheep and Wool Festival! You are my faves with my fave yarn – Atlas!!! See you Saturday!!! ❤️
The Jacobs Cardigan is beautiful. It does look intimidating, and no TV for sure. Your picture of the knitted fabric at the beginning of your essay does present the sweater as doable. Is there a tutorial for this project?
Barbara
See you at Rhinebeck,,,,, little sister and me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was hoping to meet you in person
Suzanne Lapides
Barbara Levin
Will be thinking of the MDK team at Rhinebeck while I savor my memories of our trip to Mesa Verde yesterday. Beautiful weather, great Park Service guides and a perfect place to wear my Sheep Camp sweater.
Have a cider doughnut (or two) for me this weekend!
OK, now I want to knit this one!
me, too!
Oh, what a lovely post! Thank you! And I am thinking about how pretty the sweater would be knitted in creme, so all the little bumps and waves could be admired by my non-knitting friends: I will look like a genius!!
I am a faithful Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest volunteer; will you please come to be with us in May?
Ann’s sweater is going to beautiful! Seeing her WIP spread out on the table makes me think that the stitch pattern would also make an absolutely lovely, elegant, throw blanket.
I agree, it’s just gorgeous and looks like it would be fun to make it as a blanket.
Now I want to knit this sweater! What a lovely pattern. Have fun at Rhinebeck!
I had two glimmers the other morning while driving to a doctor’s appointment near the TN river. First, I found myself almost in the middle of the largest, most close up murmuration I’ve ever seen, because they started at ground level, and then, there was an egret sitting near the water. What a way to start the day!
Oh, I’m glad I’ll be able to see this sweater and squish Jane at Rhinebeck! I’ve been eyeballing this sweater for a while. Oh, wait, you said Merrick’s; are you not bringing yarn? No matter, I’ll still get a good ‘feel’ for the sweater anyway!
The Jay Cardie will be added to my queue… looks perfect for watching a no mind series on netflix. And l will be knitting it on my Tulip needles, which NEVER let go and let me down. My faves for sure. Have fun at Rhinebeck… it’s on my bucket list.
Have a wonderful Rhinebeck weekend. I loved going, but age has eliminated that pleasure. Enjoy it all, and take lots of pictures.
I am savoring time with my youngest-she is looking at colleges. (Oh no! Not the baby!) it was a lot of good together time and some great laughs along the way.