Your mileage may vary.
Last week, the frenzy surrounding Stephanie’s Knitting Olympics got me thinking — what would be challenging for me to knit in 16 days? And really, the answer would be “anything”. Even a single sock would be challenging for me to knit in 16 days — the challenge being finding the time to do it.
But during my decision making process, I considered knitting up Starmore’s Grant Avenue… which led me to consider buying the Virtual Yarns kit from Alice directly… which led me to thinking about buying yarn for Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Fair Isle Yoke Sweater (from the Opinionated Knitter)… which led me to think that I really (really, really) should knit something from my stash… which led me to pick up the Fair Isle Cardigan that I’m already working on.
Is it depressing when your mileage is measured in millimetres per hour?
No, no, not depressing at all. I love making each and every stitch, spreading them out on the lovely ebony Holz & Stein circs and watching the colours ebb and flow. The cardi is nearly 300 stitches around, so yeah, it’s going to take a while. But no rush. No 16-day deadline.
Tags: corrugated ribbing, fair isle
No deadline here either. Although I’m going to cast-on for my JS Butterfly around the middle of February. We’ll see how many mm I can accomplish in a day. The cardi progress looks great.
It looks lovely. I have so enjoyed my first Fair Isle foray - I know exactly the feeling you express here.
hmmm, gorgeous fair isle. i am going to learn to knit slowly and to appreciate the process more. new year resolution that is.
That sweater is looking great. I prefer to knit wihtout deadlines, too. I have an Olympic knitting project in mind, but I’m taking the laid back approach. (Must not let knitting take over all my free time or my living room!)
Wow, it’s gorgeous. Great colors. I just started the EZ yolk sweater and I’m planning on turning it into a cardi.
Your work is beautiful! I would love to make a Starmore sweater some day.
That IS lovely–as much as I just love Grant Avenue and the classic FI yoke designs, I agree that the one you have on the needles is worth focusing on. I can’t wait to see how it looks after you finish a few repeats!
I hear ya! I thought the cats would hide under the bed after hearing my chortling yelps while I considered what would be required for me to complete a garment in 16 days.
wow! for someone who was stuck indoors all weekend, you have been incredibly productive! the sweater looks beautiful!!! i don’t suppose they have self striping fair isle yarn
I really like that Grant Avenue pattern, and have admired it for quite some time . . . fair isle is fun!
And it looks soooo absolutely gorgeous!
Beautiful work! I too have been bitten by the fair isle bug. May I ask from which library you borrowed Alice Starmore‚Äôs ‚ÄúPacific Coast Highway‚Äù? How are you liking the H&S circs? Inquiring minds want to know…
It looks beautiful! I’m enjoying my Fair Isle knitting, too. It really is rewarding work even when progress is slow. I have Grant Ave. in my stash and hope to knit it later in the year.
Oh how pretty. Just. So. Pretty. When your available time is so small, it has to be nice to look at what you’re working on.
I keep thinking about signing up for the KOs, but I know I’d be setting myself up for failure. My exams run around the end of that time and it’ll be a huge gift if I manage to knit every day in that stretch, so the last thing I want to do is put more pressure on myself to complete something - but I will enjoy watching everyone else!
By the way, the vest looks gorgeous!
WOW, how lovely. All this amazing colourwork.
Good luck deciding what to make for the Knitting Olympics. Maybe you could set yourself a goal of say, knitting an hour each day? My goal is to use up all 20 balls of yarn that I bought on sale (I’m as bad as the Harlot when I come across sale yarn). Don’t know what I’m going to make tho as it is novelty yarn and it’s really drapey so I know that the end result will get longer the more I wear it. It has no memory because it’s 100% nylon. Like I said, I was sucked in by the sale.
PS. Remember the spiral rib tube sox at the Langley Weavers & Spinners guild sale? I have started a pair. Doesn’t seem to bunch up at the ankle that badly.
Lovely - I agree about depressing mm = mileage. So I am not playing (unless I get a random fever). Love your cardi colours, BTW.
I love the rich colors you chose. They are beautiful. By the way, I was coming here and I typed sweetgeorgia.com. Yikes, porn!
Ahhh, the peace of mind of not having a deadline. Doesn’t that bring back the pleasure of knitting?
Your version of this Fairisle sweater is stunning! How did you choose your colors? I really like the combination even better than the earthy tones in the book. Also, what are you going to do about the large size of the sweater? I have always admired that sweater, but have been concerned that it would be a lot bigger than I would want to wear.
I never thought of it like that, knitting mileage. Oh man. I’ve just been thing abouth EZ’s fairisle sweater. I really like it. I’ve been planing on Knitting Electra, from rowan, and knitting it in the round with steeks. any tips on the armhole decreasing in the round? I think it will make more sense when I get there, but I wanted your suggestions.
This is an amazing site! I googled “Japanese yarn” and hit the images button and voila! I’m a Canadian that’s teaching English in Kyoto, Japan. My mother is crazy about knitting and has been asking me to find Japanese yarn. She says that Japan is famous for its yarn but whenever I ask my friends about it they look at me like I’m nuts. I haven’t found any knitters over here and I was wondering if you have the addresses and /or phone numbers of the wool shops you visited in the Kansai area. My mom is coming out in March and I think she might be more interested in yarn than „Å?„ÅÑ„ÅÇ„Çì„ÄÄ„Åò„Çì„Åê„ÅÜ.
Hi Jason,
I was in Kyoto last year and yes, they have beautifuls yarns in Japan. I was in Takashimaya and they have really good collection there. Don’t worry, unlike any other items in the complex, the yarns there are of reasonably price- not more expensive than the english brands such rowan( about EUR4 per ball onwards). They have yarns amde from japanese paper and beutiful silk too.
And may I add that I envy you. I would love to be able to work there for a couple of years. You have to go to the japanese garden near the metro in front of hotel miyako. It has been closed for 100 years and has just open to public last spring.