So there was a very good reason for me to walk in there. I had to show a newbie knitter the wonders of Stash. I had to make her see just how different yarn was these days. I had to sink the hook a little deeper, in other words.*

There was, however, absolutely no good reason for me to walk out with this.

Well, there are two half-good reasons. One, the blue angora/silk is going to be a chemo cap. Two, the pink/green Regal Silk is going to be both a flower on the cap, and an edging for the stole I'm planning for the pink/green mohair silk I got last time. (Scroll down, picture the match, nod approvingly.) But that's where it ends. There is absolutely no excuse for the gorgeous flamey Sea Silk, except that... well... it's gorgeous flamey Sea Silk, and I picked it up, and it didn't want to go back on the shelf.

Be careful what you idly pick up in a yarn shop, knitters. There's no telling where it'll end.

Now, a more sensible knitter might be realising that proximity to Stash is clearly not healthy for me,** and calling off the Cafe Crimson expedition. I am clearly not a more sensible knitter. So I will be returning on a biweekly basis, because I'm a sucker for cheesecake and leather couches and good company, and it's been working well so far. It's (partly) up to you lot to provide the good company. 2pm on alternate Saturdays. Make a note.

* So she'd stop telling strangers on the train, "My friend made me start this."
** Arguably, it's very healthy for my spirit, but not so much for my bank balance and stash diet. Ha ha ha. Remember that socalled stash diet? Boy, when I fall off the wagon, I crash, and bounce around a little so the falling doesn't ever stop. Note to self: stash diets don't work any better than the other kind.

Posted by Robynn at 09:01 AM | Permalink | 3 cups of tea on the table | TrackBacks (0)

Alert: I will be back at Cafe Crimson tomorrow from 2pm to around 4pm. I will, as it happens, have a few Namaste bags with me; so if you're curious to see them in the artificial flesh, now's your chance. The lovely Gabrielle is meeting me; will you?

Details: CC is on Upper Richmond Road, Putney, about a block away from Stash and right next to the theatre. Easy access from Putney rail or East Putney tube. Email or leave a comment if you want my mobile number and/or directions.

What's that? You're on the Outer Hebrides, you're utterly crushed that you can't make it and you're dying to see Gecko Ridge? Well... if you insist.

I'm telling you, this is lightning fast progress. You may not think so, but you have to consider that these (nearly) six squares were all made on a handful of suburban train trips. I have been working on The Coat at home for a while, and The Scarf at the office and most train rides, and this has just filled in a few gaps. Lightning fast. Too fast. I don't want it to end.

So, now the coat is behind me, I've quickly started swatching for the next at-home project.

The Silk Dream from Ally Pally. It is incredible stuff. I want to take a bath in it. So soft! So pretty! I'm planning a long fitted cardigan, with a little lace, a little beading and a little colourwork.

The coat, y'see,* was an interesting lesson. I loved making it. I took care to design full-fashioned shaping that would sit just so. I was very clear that I wanted something fitted fairly closely to the body — not the unstructured sort of style you would normally expect from a chunky knitted coat. And because I've screwed up a fair bit with my designs lately, and I wanted to get this utterly right, I was careful to check my Designing Knitwear book (Deborah Newton) for advice. So I took my measurements, both from my body and from coats and jackets I like. I calculated ease, length, gradient and all the rest. I worked out what I wanted to do. I asked Deborah for advice. And Deborah's advice contrasted markedly with what I had planned. I thought about it, I looked at my numbers, and I compromised.

Obviously, I screwed up. You know that, right? My plan was a good one. The book, while full of wisdom, didn't happen to get it right for this particular combination of structure and yarn and so on. The compromise screwed everything up. And while the coat came out pretty well, it's a little wider than intended, and the perfect structure is a little lost.

Note to self: trust your instincts. Or if not instincts, then at least trust your meticulous calculations.

So. Anyone want a size 16, warm, snuggly, black and pink coat?

Oh: and the point of the story is this. I think it's time to try following a pattern for a change. I love designing my own things, but I'm sick of screwing up. And it's also occurred to me that I will probably learn more new techniques if I try following other people's designs. So out came the seven years' supply of Vogue Knitting, and I managed to find something** that suited both to my wardrobe needs and to the yarn, and I'm going to knit the damn thing just the way I'm supposed to.

Except for the colourwork and beading, that is. That I'm putting in myself. Well, a girl's got to liven things up, right? (Plus, I don't have enough of a single colour for the whole cardi.)

* No, you still can't see it, sorry. I want to get the design published (after some essential improvements, natch), so it's a coat purely for the mind, right now.
** I'll show you the pattern next time. It's pretty.

Posted by Robynn at 02:44 PM | Permalink | 3 cups of tea on the table | TrackBacks (0)

Of course you have opinions. You're knitters. How about sharing your opinions with me?

I'm writing a feature for the next Yarn Forward on how the internet has fuelled the knitting trend. I think that online shopping, online information/patterns/resources and online communities have together had a huge impact in bringing knitters out of the closet, and attracting new ones. What do you think? Any thoughts, arguments, stories? Please email me (purlescence AT gmail DOT com) or leave a comment!

I'd particularly like to hear from anyone who is new to knitting, and who agrees that the internet played a part in encouraging them to take up this hobby; anyone who has tried a new fibre hobby (spinning, maybe) as a result of seeing it online; or anyone who considers the net an essential part of their knitting activity in some way.

Please write asap, my deadline is looming and the piece is coming together as we speak.

Posted by Robynn at 12:58 PM | Permalink | 3 cups of tea on the table

It's been a good week for knitting. Projects have progressed; knitters have been met; non-knitters have been swayed; and, er, yarn has been acquired. Somehow. It happened very quickly, my memory's kind of hazy on the subject.

The meeting of knitters was particularly good. Expedition Crimson was a success: I met two lovely knitters who happened to have seen my note here (hi, Gabrielle and Mel! Stick around!), and I got my not-so-much-knitting friend Claire to start a scarf. Noises were made about returning for more. I'll keep you all posted.

As for the accidental yarn acquisition — well, I suppose it was too much to expect that I'd escape Ally Pally empty handed, wasn't it? I went for networking purposes; that was fairly successful, but I did end up carrying about three bags of yarn home. Oh. Um. (What did I get? Texere's so-soft alpaca mohair at £1 a ball, and some Lang Silk Dream (merino/silk) at £3.99 a ball. Seriously, at those prices? Rude not to. I'm sure you'll agree. Let's pass lightly over the fact that in my rush of blood to the head, I managed to grab a bag of mulberry instead of the red I intended, and that instead of exchanging it like a sensible person, I will be keeping the mulberry and ordering red as and when I'm ready to knit that particular project. Conforming to the First Law of Stash: once yarn has entered a knitter's possession, it will never leave it except under circumstances of exceptional generosity, or of course once it has undergone successful conversion to FO status.)

Now, I know you want to see all this — and the knitting progress below — but consider: right now, while it's raining outside; I'm under the duvet with Armin next to me, both of us tap-tapping away on our laptops, and two purring cats at our feet. You wouldn't make me go get the camera. Would you?

Exercise your imagination, instead, as you picture my knitting.

I finished the coat, and am really rather pleased; it's the most fully fitted thing I've ever made — full-on hip, waist and bust shaping, plus set-in sleeves of course, and everything goes just where it's supposed to. Success!

I've also made progress on a silk scarf (er, cravat? one skein only), and on Gecko Ridge. What is Gecko Ridge, I hear you ask? Well, it's like this.

I fell in love with Lizard Ridge about 5 seconds after the new Knitty came out. But the thought of all those short rows... not so much. (I have no fear of short rows. I'm fine with them, really. But maybe not *quite* so many.) So I thought, how about a crochet version? No-hassle waves, plus it's the perfect portable project. (Never too big, no need for a pattern or any special tools — it's pretty mindless repetition Ô no worries about dropping stitches, no need for stick-waving elbow room on the train. Perfect.) Hence, Gecko Ridge: like Lizard Ridge, but different.

I love, love, love the project, by the way. The colour changing enthralls me. The only problem is that it goes too quickly (if I set out for a day that will involve a few train rides, I have to pack two to three balls). So I keep running out of Kureyon colours; and I fear the day it will all be over. When that happens, I'm not sure how I'm going to stop myself reaching out for a few balls of Silk Garden, to start a new and altogether more extravagant version...

Posted by Robynn at 12:08 PM | Permalink

As recently suggested, I'm going to be heading to Cafe Crimson in Putney to road test their leather couches under knitting conditions. The test drive will take place this Saturday afternoon. Some non-knitting passengers will be in attendance (for scientific purposes, to ensure research neutrality), but the experimenter will be closely observing their reaction in the presence of yarny deliciousness. Can they be turned? Is it possible that cheesecake lowers resistance? Join us and find out...

When: Saturday 21 October, starting from around 3pm. We may not be entirely punctual, alas, as shopping is to take place first. If in doubt, turn up around 3.30pm. If early, claim the biggest group of couches you can find and wave pointy sticks at would-be intruders.
Where: Cafe Crimson, Upper Richmond Road, Putney - very close to Stash. From the train station, turn left, then immediately right into Upper Richmond Road, and walk five minutes; it's on the left-hand side of the road.
Who: absolutely anybody, with or without yarn or yarny intent.

Please leave a comment if you would like my mobile number. Would love to meet some of you there.

PS So sorry for the horrid spam comments that have been turning up! Seems my filter isn't working as well as I'd like... and they weren't being emailed to me, so I didn't see them at first. I'll never understand spammers. Does that stuff actually work, on anyone?

Posted by Robynn at 11:51 AM | Permalink | 1 cups of tea on the table | TrackBacks (0)

I almost forgot — I hear there is a rocking exhibition this month at the Here Gallery, called Twisted: Knitting on the edge, and featuring "15 artists who are exploring the subversive potential of knitting". Sounds cool.

Did anyone see the Metro this Monday? It had a feature about craftivism, with a wee shout-out to the glittyknittykitty girls as well as other fibre fiends. Great to have people picking up on the wide range of what's happening in the needlecraft world, but I must admit I was disappointed; an appreciation of the humour of it seemed rather lacking. Ah well. Ours to enjoy, right?

Posted by Robynn at 06:40 PM | Permalink | 1 cups of tea on the table | TrackBacks (0)

That's what I'm developing as a result of my online shopping habits. (But don't you love online shopping? The excitement when your package arrives — like a little birthday present every time!)

This week, the postie was particularly good to me. Stitchionary volume 3 was a treat, as ever (you know I don't generally follow patterns, so pattern libraries are vv NB), but what really thrilled me was, of course, the latest from the Harlot. I have such a literary crush on this woman. And see what good advice she gives:

"If you find a non-knitter who thinks what you do is clever, beautiful, and artistic; who never asks for knitted stuff but wears it with pride when you give it to him or her; and will help you carry home a whole fleece or a stack of stitch dictionaries without once implying that you might want to get a grip — marry that person."

Heh. I did.

Of course, that doesn't mean he gives two hoots about looking at or touching my yarn. Not even the Lion & Lamb. Or even listening to me read choice Harlotisms to him. There's no accounting for tastes.

He did however call me from the kitchen, very excited, to show me pictures of Mars on the great interweb.

"That's nice, dear," said I.
"Nice! It's not nice! It's INCREDIBLE!" said he. "These are brand new pictures! From Nasa's satellite! Taken 10 minutes ago! THIS IS MARS!"
"That's cool, dear," said I.
"IT'S AMAZING!" said he.
"It's pretty," said I. "Can I get back to cooking now?"
"You just don't get it," said he. "You're not trying. You don't love me."
"Wanna see my yarn again?" said I.

Posted by Robynn at 03:44 PM | Permalink | 1 cups of tea on the table

I don't go shopping very often. There's a reason for that. See, my shopping philosophy (if you don't love it, don't buy it; but if you do love it, don't hesitate) serves me very well in that it keeps my closets relatively free of those annoying "bargains" that turn out not to fit, or feel good, or make you happy; but it also means that if I stumble into the right (wrong?) shop, I occasionally catch slackjawed onlookers gazing at me in an expression of, well, awe and envy as I turn to go — leaving behind me plundered shelves, and a trail of exhausted, dazed assistants, panting in exhilaration as they cling to the walls for support. Budget be damned: it was there. It was perfect. Do you have a problem with that?

Which explains this.*

Actually, it's not just my shopping philosophy that is to blame; it's that and the slowly impingeing awareness of Christmas.

That's two scarves, two gifts, right there. (Tilli Tomas. The sample in the store was exquisite, and to touch it! I could make dozens of these,** just give me the chance.)

This Artyarns Silk Rhapsody is for my mother; she has a thing for these colours, it's practically a superstition. So this will be a stole, probably a Clapotis. I might be the last knitter on the internet to try that pattern, but that's okay, I'm catching up. See this?

This, knitters, is for me. Lion & Lamb, in Watercolor. I have been waiting for just such a yarn for my first Clap: it had to be soft, silky but also warm and a leeetle bit fluffy, and of course it had to be in amazing colours. Oddly enough, in the end I went with what Clap was designed in. Funny that...

In fact it's so perfect, I had to get some of this for one of my best friends — a gorgeous golden blonde from Joburg, much enamoured of rich African clay colours. (Which, if you could only see, is exactly what this is. Nathalie, the lovely woman in the shop, said it was autumnal. Of course she's right. But in my head, it's African sunsets.) She can make her own Clap. Don't you wish you were her?

It's not just yarn shops that have had the benefit of my spendies lately.*** I've also picked up a few books. Including, but not limited to, Decorative Knitting**** and Falling Cloudberries. Have you seen Falling Cloudberries? It's the most amazing book. Technically a cookbook, it has a healthy dose of travel journal and art book thrown in. I'm not much of a one for following recipes, so don't buy many cookbooks, but this was too irresistible. In fact I've been coveting it for years. It's the kind of book you want to leave on the table and just stroke every now and then...

Decorative Knitting was a surprise find. Just as I don't buy recipe books, I don't buy a lot of pattern collections; I think this is a revelation of my very stroppy nature: don't tell me what to do! Mostly I look for stitch libraries and the like. So I'm in this one for the techniques. Beading, embroidery, yarn mixing... nothing groundbreaking there; but some of the ideas are truly striking, and there's enough "ooh! Look at that!" to earn a place on my shelf. Check it out. It's a goodie.

By the way: having stumbled out of Stash, reeling slightly and wondering what happened, I stopped for a restorative coffee at the nearby Cafe Crimson. And a damn fine place it is — I say that as someone who is constantly grouching about the lack of true coffee shops in London.***** My partner in crime (as if; she made out with absolutely nothing. Nada. Clearly I have a lot to teach this girl) looked at me over the top of her foamy extra large, and I at her, and we spoke with but a single voice: "Knitting group!"

Well, sort of. I'm not much cop at actually turning up on a regular basis (made it to Angelknits and Rowanettes once each, so far; good times both, meant to return, but life intervenes...) so there's no way I'm going to form any kind of regular meeting. But knitting and coffee and leather couches will combine. If you fancy joining us, drop me a line, I'll keep you posted. Of course I'll also post details here, as and when.

* Yes, camera photos again. That's as good as it gets round here, I'm afraid. Armin has a totally fantastic camera, but I'm scared of it. I have a totally fantastic cameraphone — did very good service on our Scottish holiday, for instance, and has delivered adorable close-ups of the cats — but for some reason it doesn't like yarn. I know! An appalling character flaw in a knitter's phone, but there it is. Sorry.
** I'm not kidding. I'm already thinking of all those other dear souls on my Christmas list, and what colours would be best for each one.
*** It goes in cycles, doesn't it? Probably you'll find Mars is transiting my second house... or something.
**** Please support your local book or yarn shop! Amazon is a great way to show you the book, but independent stores are special, no?
***** Don't you dare talk to me about Starbucks.

Posted by Robynn at 04:31 PM | Permalink | 6 cups of tea on the table

The first Storytellers entry is in already, and I have to tell you, the bar for creativity has been set pretty high. I've had a few questions as well, and going by these, I really like your thinking!

Some clarifications and further thoughts:

The design doesn't have to be wearable — fibre art projects are very welcome!

You are free to use non-yarn materials. Wire, plastic bags, whatever floats your boat. As long as it is recognisably knitted (or crocheted). Papier mache, not so much. (Not that anyone asked.)

The "short story" to support your entry can be just a few sentences, or longer if you wish.

I know how it feels to be less than confident of your drawing skills... get a friend to sketch your idea, draw a schematic, whatever you like; but find a way to show us! Also, not everyone works the same way. If you prefer to let your ideas take shape with the actual knitting, and then send a photo rather than a sketch, that's great.

Once again: entries will be judged on creativity, not artistic technique; but do try to present your ideas as attractively as possible. After all, it might get showcased on the site. Show off a little!

That's it for now. I hope you're having as much fun as I am.

Posted by Robynn at 12:15 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)