Abbie knits things. (And designs, and sews, and crochets, and felts, and spins…)
Literally!
I was at a picnic today, where I dined on lots of shellfish:
drank lots of delicious delicious pomegranate Mike’s, and waded in the water. This is the beach where I learned to swim back in the day, and I love every last rock and gigantic chunk of seaweed.
There’s a little sand in my sock now.
But I don’t mind a bit.
I was on the road again this weekend; a short trip — I’m home already! I had to be down in Washington for a day so I took Amtrak down. So much preferable to planes. No crazy security lines, much more room to stretch out or to wander to get a cup of tea, and a much better view along the way. (Sometimes. And sometimes the train is in New Jersey.)
But I felt like shaking things up.
So this time I brought a Traveling Shawl instead, which I worked on in between pouring over the latest magazines — would you believe that was the last copy of Knitscene in the rack at the Penn Station Borders? Crazy.
There’s no prize, but you’re welcome to guess just which pattern I picked. Well, you’ll get my admiration and respect, which is absolutely a prize everyone should strive for. What? Stop laughing, it’s true.
DC, by the way, is insanely humid. I don’t know how the locals do it.
I’m visiting my old college floormate Melissa for the weekend, so last night she took me to her knit night. While that merry band was discussing the virtues of knitting looms and willy warmers, the Yarn Harlot blogged about Glenna’s BSG Socks, and linked to this humble blog in the process. (Probably because I’m blabbing about these awesome socks to everyone and anyone. I even handed my finished first one around the knit night, because how can you not?)
Anyway, once I got over the palpitations from seeing my name on the Harlot’s blog, I decided maybe I’d take a page out of her book and show my second BSG sock a good time. So today Melissa and I took it out to Longwood Gardens, which is the former estate of Pierre Du Pont, and we had a good look at the orchid show:
Here the sock is enjoying the East Conservatory.
Here is one of the amazing fountains in the Children’s Garden, which was one of the most delightful things I’ve ever seen.
And some beautiful miniature orchids and a waterfall, which the sock liked a lot.
On our way out we stopped in the Du Pont House, which is a museum, and checked out some of Mr. DuPont’s stuff.
The sock had a great time, and really wants to go back once it’s a little warmer and the outdoor gardens are all opened, which I think won’t be a problem at all.
Just a quick pop-of-the-head to show off one-half of my Anemoi Mittens, which I finished over the weekend. I love, love, love this pattern, and I put this on and wave it around and wonder that something so lovely actually came off my needles. (It helps that the pattern is so magnificent.)
Maybe I can finish the second one in something shorter than two weeks, so I actually get to wear them a bit…
re·straint (rÄ-strÄnt’) n.
The act of not stabbing with your knitting needles the man across the aisle who is snoring so loudly he keeps waking himself up.
knit’ter n.
One who engages in restraint for the sole reason of not bloodying magnificent yarn.
Current train WIP:
This would be why I exercised restraint this morning. Great Adirondack Sireno, a 50/50 silk/merino blend, in a colorway they call “Nantucket Blue” but I prefer to call “Prozac fiber.” It’s crack — granted, my ol’faithful bamboo circs are hardly the pointiest needles in the world, but when you knit in a moving vehicle there are times where the needle will try to split the yarn no matter what you do — and this yarn just refuses to be splitty. It’s a joy to work with , and the Clap is going to show off its variegation really well.
Finished: Whitby socks. Will photograph, when I remember to charge my camera batteries.
Other WIPs on the needles at the moment: Tigger hat for Sunday’s baby shower (and still have to seam one sweater, wash ’em, and throw on the buttons — but that’s short work) and booties if I have time; Lady Elanor, which I haven’t touched in a week or so, but will probably crack down on this weekend.