Friday, March 17, 2006

Temptation, and the Clap Trap


I yield. I give up. I quit. I have resisted for as long as I can, and I must now give myself wholly up to Clapotis. OK, well, not wholly, because I've got some stuff for the store that needs to be done by May 1, and that's only six weeks, and while like Cirilia I am doing backflips, I am also questioning my sanity in the light of noonday sun...but about the Clap. It's Artyarns Silk Rhapsody, on size 6's, color is 119, mother in law's choice. I actually am kinda digging it. Yes, I know, the mohair and I will come to battle when it's time to drop, but I think the end justifies the means. I'll need more though. More yarn, and more time. I think Clap Knitting may be at an end for the next six weeks. My own SR I exchanged for color after staring at it for weeks. I had selected 111, but exchanged it last night for 141 which I adore beyond reason.

I swatched some Olive Berkshire for a men's waffle weave jacket, although we need to remove the word waffle from that title, because waffles and men don't go well except at breakfast. It will have a zip front and possibly slash pockets, though we're nowhere near that yet. Later I will swatch some other stuff, and we'll see what comes of it. Swatching is fun. However, making skeins into balls is not nearly as much fun, and is currently holding me back from five swatching projects - in fact, I was so opposed to going downstairs and using the swift that I decided to blog instead.

I also sucumbed to the ultimate temptation last night, something I have been waiting for for a very very long time...(honey...remember when I said I didn't buy ANY of that yarn I brought in last night? Well...I kinda forgot to mention these three little hanks. But it's totally worth it I swear, and if you are very, very kind about it, I will work on your Dale pullover maybe. a little. maybe a row.) LORNA'S LACES!! We're carrying LORNA'S LACES!! I had to have some. It is luscious, to die for soft, and my feet will be so happy. But not this week, becaue for the next six weeks my brain will be focused on one thing and one thing only, and that's Valley Yarns, designing, knitting, and completing stuff by May 1. I doubt I will even have time to shower for the next six weeks, let alone make selfish socks. I got one hank of worsted and two of fingering. It was really hard not to just buy the whole case, and every colorway.

Last but by no means least...I finished this puppy, pattern and all, and she's off to the store tomorrow. Her name is Flutter, which was suggested by Cirilia, and when I woke this morning I just started saying it, and decided it must be right.
OK. So. My youngest child will be 18 on Tuesday. I have a bunch of designs due for the store for May 1. Chickens are beginning to bore me (just a little, sorry clucks). My house has more than one bathroom. My life is in no way where I ever thought it would be at this particular point in my life. In 1995 I would have told you that by now I'd be working in a hospital somewhere, possibly as a nurse manager, possibly going back to school to be a midwife, but "knitting designer and teacher" was totally not on the list. If your 30's are about finding yourself and your spirituality, then your 40's must be about finding out that everything you thought you knew about you may not be right after all. There's somethings that don't change. I believe in Jesus. I love my husband. The sky is still blue, and dogs walk on four paws. Other than that? Don't ask me, cause I have not got a single clue.

9 comments:

eve knits said...

I love the way your clappy is turing out. I made one a few months ago and it is definitely my fave! Happy knitting.

Eve

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you decided on the clap - I'm sure it will be very much appreciated! (Although the thought of all that mohair still makes my nose itch!) And since when do we have Lorna's Laces? I miss 1 drop-in and look what happens!! Might have to make a visit on Saturday!

Dena said...

I couldn't help myself. I did it too. I left work today with 5 skeins of worsted Lorna's Laces. I'm so happy.

MelissaKnits said...

I am going to get more tomorrow. It's IRRESISTABLE!!!

Stefaneener said...

Flutter is going to have some people all in a . . . oh, never mind, bad joke. But she's just smashing. And I like the color.

Way to go on that adult youngest child stuff! It looks like a great thing from here.

Persnickety Knitter said...

Love, love, love the sweater. I'm glad you decided on a clasp instead of buttons. The waffle weave swatch looks pretty cool too.

The chicken farmer is bored by her chickens -- shocking!

Anonymous said...

To Whom It May Concern,
On behalf of all the chickens in your yard I, Napoleon, shall type this note. After years of faithful service, protecting your yard from insects of every sort, laying eggs somewhat faithfully (not me of course), emptying the feeder frequently so you can fill it again, all the way to learning how to use the computer so we can read your fancy blog. And to discover that you are bored with us! Heartbreaking. And believe me you shall be punished. From now on I do not sleep in, there will be continuous crowing from 5:30am until 9am. Eggs will be not layed at all, or will be hidden until they rot. From now on you will be shunned, our backs will be turned to you, and you will be as a stranger to us. Thus concludes my letter.
Yours,
Napoleon
Brandy
Colonel
Eleanor
Celia
Tut
Plush
Softy
Kiara
Sophia
Tanker
Bedhead
Stella
and the chipmunk who steals our food.

p.s.
Our waterer is getting low.

Cirilia said...

Sweet! I named a Melissa original! This means vicarious fame since this sweater is a total home run and from now on every customer will be leaving with a copy of it and a bag of Longmeadow. I just Googled for it and couldn't come across a pattern called that, which is good, I really thought I'd "borrowed" that, hah.

I've got exactly 4 skeins of the Lorna's tempting me away from the work at hand. The waffle looks great, by the way, I was confusing it with a two color slip stitch pattern.

Over and out, happy swatching!

Cirilia

MelissaKnits said...

I am not sure what's scaring me more...that my chickens can read, or that they know how to use a pc.

We'll see how long their resolve lasts when I head out with a box of three day old tomatoes or a bag of oatmeal...