~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~
Well, after Jonny’s Yarn Along post last week, I feel a little boring. Thanks so much for giving him such a warm welcome. I am guessing that he’ll be back.
I’ve been working on my second take of the cardigan I am designing. I made a few changes to the pattern I wrote up as I knit Beatrix’s cardigan, and have almost finished the body of Larkspur’s following those changes. I am knitting with Cynthia’s organic merino again and absolutely love the warm shade of brown that she achieved using dye made from black walnuts. I think the color is perfect for Larkspur. She’s very excited about this sweater even though it isn’t pink!
I am completely engrossed in The Betrothed. It is an excellent book. I was originally intimidated by its length, and would have never chosen to read it had a friend not enthusiastically recommended it and placed his copy in my hands. I am am now more than halfway through it’s 700 plus pages and wishing I had more reading time.
I received a new knitting book in the mail this week, a book I pre ordered because it looked so good! It’s the Knitters Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters by Ann Budd. I have spent some time skimming the pages and the designs and love the fact that she guides you (very thoroughly) through creating your own customized top down patterns in this book. The patterns that are included look great too. I think I’ll get my money’s worth and more out of this book, which of course isn’t always the case. And related to knitting, I just have to share something totally simple in concept but really helpful. I ordered a couple sets of Try it on Tubing last week. The plastic tubing slides over the tip of your knitting needles to give the additional length needed so that objects can be tried on as you’re knitting them. I used one today so that Larkspur could try on her cardigan as I wanted to check the length on her. I mainly use Knit Picks interchangeable needles and usually remove one needle tip, add a connector followed by another cable when I need to try something on. The tubing was much faster and simpler to use. So, I am very happy about that.
My favorite types of knits are top down and seamless. I do hope you share your pattern with us–so far it looks great! I loved last week’s guest post. I showed my husband and he was so intrigued with Jonny’s knitting. I just wish I could share my knitting tools as well you do. Happy knitting!
ooooh that looks like the perfect knitting book. Thank you for hosting us. I look forward to seeing what others are reading and knitting!
What beautiful coloured yarn. It looks a deep rich colour.
Wednesday’s my favorite day in Blog Land! 😉
xo
Me too! Well, Wednesday with yarn along and Friday- Sneak Peek (artists share what they have created that week!) Both are so inspiring and Ive “met” some great encouraging ladies.
i love top down and really love the black walnut dye. pattern writing, big credit there!
i wish i would have been able to share today, off to visit yarnalongers now!
All the books sound great, and looking forward to seeing the finished pattern design!
oh, i can’t wait for the top-down sweaters book! i’m on the hold list at our local library and it just can’t come soon enough!
Ginny, I need to get that book. I LOVE top down sweaters, especially raglans. And that lace pattern you are working on is very sweet.
XOXO,
Jules
PS, I have linked to some uber lovely wool yarn that you and your readers may enjoy in my post. It is very affordable (under 7 dollars affordable!). I thought you might like to try it out. I have bought several orders from them and each one is better than the last.
here it is.
http://happinesscomesinlittlebits.blogspot.com/2012/08/knitting-along.html
I finally made it back online…and am excited to see what everyone is creating!
I wanted to tell you that after your post on getting your mom to knit I was so inspired by the audio that I convinced my mom that we should learn to knit, today was our first class and loved it! Also my best friend who is an amazing knitter had dropped and decided to begin knitting again, so I wanted to say thanks! You got three lady’s to knit!
This makes my week! I am so glad. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll ever convince my mom to knit.
I have only been knitting a year and just yesterday I was plotting to buy a set of interchangeable needles from Knit Picks. I think I am waiting until Christmas though. The sweater looks so cozy!
Ginny,
I LOVE that yarn, the color from the black walnut dye is gorgeous. I made Jeff a shirt once and dyed it with black walnuts.. then it shrunk and didn’t fit. haha. We’ve dyed with black walnuts a few times since and it is such a lovely color.
Love, Taryn
Looking forward to checking out your knitting book, and such a lovely colour you are knitting with.
Hi Ginny! The Try it on Tubing sounds terrific as does the Top Down Sweater book. I just got Top Down for Toddlers, but only like a couple of the sweaters in it. Best, Rachel
Oh my goodness, I missed last week’s yarn along! Man! That was funny!
I love the sweater you’re working on, I wish I had the nerve to try one. I think I’ll start with a baby sweater though:)
I have my eye on that book too, love the color of that yarn.
That brown wool is very pretty, I was thinking about using black walnuts to dye wool and I will definitely be trying it now that I see your wool! As my littles love trying things on while I am knitting I will have to check out those tubes, thanks for the suggestion.
I love top down sweaters. Enjoy yours!
Such a pretty sweater! And comfortable looking too!
I have a requested purple cardigan I need to start. All your cardigan knitting has inspired me!
I can’t wait to come across that Ann Budd at my lending library. I love love love top down sweaters! Thanks for sharing the tubing idea… those are going on my Christmas list.
Thanks for the weekly yarn along. This helps me connect with other knitters and find inspiration for future projects. Thanks again.
thanks for pointing to Jonny’s post too, I was on vacation that time…
I’m about to write a post on crochet, so this week I’m joining you all. Especially because Jonny is dying to kwow what we’re up to… 🙂
Love the brown merino. Also, how great that it will be made from your very own pattern! Ever plan to share or sell?
I have been working on it for weeks, and hope that I will have a pattern worthy of selling ready in a month or two.
This looks like a great book- I agree with Karen, top down just knitting sweaters so much more easy- going to check this book out at the library.
Have a lovely week.
the color of the L’s cardi is lovely. so amazing the rich colors that can be achieved by using natural dyes.
Look forward to seeing both cardis Ginny, how lovely to be working with plant-dyed yarn! Thanks for hosting us : )
top down sweaters are the best. off to see if the library has a copy!
I just love top down sweaters. They seem to just knit up so fast!
I like that color. I’m not anywhere near ready to attempt lace. Small and simple is where I’m staying for a while.
Love the touch of lace through the sweater. I’m still working on getting the hang of patterns that require me paying attention… sock knitting (which *was* what I thought my knitting handicap) has become easy in comparison to even “beginner” lace patterns…
I have the other “Handy Books” and have never been let down. They all are really good jumping off points for your knitting.
I love that shade of brown – it shows the pattern off beautifully. The painfully practical part of me says it will go with EVERYTHING, too!
It really will go with everything!
You are so clever Ginny – your knitting is just beautiful.
The yarn looks so great. Very fall! I give you credit on trying to design your own. My non-math brain needs a pattern every time.
A fellow knitter last night mentioned that book. I will need to check it out. I also may need to look into the tubing. I do the same thing with my needles.
The tubing is cheap and so worth it in my opinion for the time it saves.
I really like the color of the yarn – can’t wait to see the final result 🙂
The shade of the wool makes it even more lovely, warm & inviting!
Thank you for hosting the yarn along!
Wow designing your own! I’m super impressed 🙂
What a lovely knitting book, thanks for the link:)
I love that shade of yarn too. Top down construction is one of my favourite ways to knit. I like the sound of the book you are reading. I love a good period classic. Jacinta
I love that color, and I can’t wait to see pictures of Larkspur in her new sweater!
Now: I must get my hands on a copy of that book. I have a couple of her other books, but this one looks like it would be the most useful of all to me. Thanks for recommending it! xo
Ginny, thank you for the wonderful book recommendation, I just ordered myself a copy too. I would love to learn how to design my own patterns, how cool!
The Betrothed sounds really interesting. I think I can get it on my nook for free, so I might try that. I have been trying to read older books, and it is a little difficult to get past the way of speaking so long ago, but I typically get wrapped up in the story anyways. The try it on tubing also sounds really interesting. There are definitely times when I go to put something I am knitting on one of my babes for it to not work out well…I never really was able to think of a solution! So thanks!
The language in this book isn’t hard to get past at all. It’s highly readable. I think you would love the tubing for top down knitting projects.
The walnut brown is lovely!
I have been lingering over ordering the top-down book and I appreciate your review.
I love the idea of the try it on tubing – how clever! I hate risking dropping stitches to try and work out whether or not something fits, mid-way.
I’m asking for some help and advice with my knitting this week…
I have a few of Ann Budd’s books and this one would make me so happy to own. I will put it on my wish list. I love top down construction and I don’t think I will ever make a regular sweater again. Thank you for hosting the yarn along, I have met such lovely people through this link up!