WolfWeave

A knit, but not quite knitting!

I forgot that this totally adorable knit top arrived 3 weeks ago. I had seen this aptly titled “Colourblock Jumper” online in the British Boden’s winter catalog and debated ordering it but had no idea whether it would fit, especially since they photographed it on such cute young models:

(not me!)

Also, it was out of stock in the color style (the one shown) that I wanted. But sometime later it showed up in stock and on sale with free shipping and free returns so I took a chance. It came, it is as adorable as it looks and I love it so much that I went ahead and ordered some things from their new spring catalog (10% off with free shipping and free returns too). Like a bright red rain jacket, a long red&white striped t-shirt, a set of double aqua and bright green t-shirts that are thin and soft and designed so you can wear them together, and a few other spring impulse buys. And let me tell you, after the weeks of overcast grey skies, the unending snow and rain and ice that we have had, it was such a pleasure to open that box from England and find it bursting with bright color. I can’t wait for spring to come; I want to wear my red rain jacket!

Boden is a cute company…check it out. It’s sort of a British version of J. Jill with a little Anthropologie thrown in. I mean, I’m not particularly fashion-minded…I mostly wear jeans and t-shirts/turtlenecks and, if I dress up at all, it’s likely to be a simple J. Jill or Eileen Fisher outfit. Plus 90% of my wardrobe is black (except when I’m desperate for some springtime color). But I do enjoy looking at these catalogs and websites. Two other favorite eye candy sites are Blue Fish, which, although it’s no longer the original, is still whimsical (though sometimes I feel like I need to live in Santa Fe to wear the pieces) and the Peruvian Connection, which always has fantastic knitwear.

On the flip side, though I am certainly no fashionista , I am getting quite a kick out of this website lately: go fug yourself, which pokes fun at those who take fashion seriously and the fashion faux pas they make.

Yesterday I learned to knit…The Magic Loop, which is knitting round items (like socks) on one long circular needle rather than on 4 double-pointed needles, which I am always dropping. I first followed the booklet by Sarah Hauschka and Bev Galeskas (published by Fiber Trends, using worsted weight yarn and one of my 40″ Knitpicks Options needles with the beautiful wooden Harmony tips. I had my doubts, especially as my spatial perception is not the greatest, but it was the easiest thing in the world to learn. I was so surprised—within minutes it seemed I had developed a natural rhythm and was rolling along. And NO dropped needles! Next, I found Silver’s Sock Class for making 2 socks at the same time on 1 long circular needle…and wouldn’t that be great? I used her figure 8 cast-on method (similar to the one in the booklet) and learned to cast on for a toe-up sock and then I started to knit my practice sock. I have gotten this far:

Again following the practice pattern in the booklet, I next need to learn how to work the short row heel and then I’ll have it made. After that, it will be back to Silver’s site to figure out how to do two socks at one time without getting totally mixed up. I may have a completed set of socks someday after all…which would be wonderful, as I have a slightly obscene stash of sock yarn!