It happens every year right around this time. School’s out, the weather is lovely, wool is on sale, and my imagination turns to how we might best enjoy the holidays. The Christmas holidays that is. I’ll explain.
Each summer my family spends a week or so on Martha’s Vineyard with my husband’s parents and as many of his siblings and in-laws as possible. We’re very fortunate to be able to reunite with family in such a beautiful place and with the superb and gracious hospitality that his parents extend.
Here’s a fun collage that captures some of the fun and sun we had this year.
Vineyard Highlights 2015
Oh you noticed that lovely grey addition to my stash. Here’s a close up:
Summer Stash Enhancement: Linen/Cotton/Silk blend with enough yardage for a small shawl
I found it at a yarn store in Vineyard Haven called Vineyard Knit Works which only coincidentally shares a name similar to this blog. Alas, I was in and out with barely enough time to browse their stock but it certainly seemed worthy of another visit. Next year!
I do get distracted by yarn! You too? Tell me about it ! Seriously – leave me a story in the comments. It’s good to know I’m not alone.
Back to the point: Christmas knitting — because after all, it’s July already!
Each year as we make the long drive back to New York, it’s always a little sad to reflect on how long it will be before we have a chance to see family again. Perhaps we’ll see them at Thanksgiving, but it may be Christmas before we have another chance. And thinking of Christmas, means thinking of gifts, which means thinking of knitting, and then — *BAM* —suddenly the sadness gives way to the obsessive hunt for the perfect projects and companion yarns for all the potential recipients. I can spend hours crafting elaborate spreadsheets refining my plans for thoughtfully planned and lovingly handmade giving. Well my intentions are in the right place.
Alas, my husband reminds me that not everyone appreciates the homemade (imagine that ) and time dictates that I edit my ambitions. Still, there will be some hand-knits to wrap come the holidays and after many years thinking about Christmas as we drive along the Merit Parkway in the middle of July that I’ve learned to pack an appropriate project to work on to be sure of that.
This year a pair of Pixie Farts designed by the brilliant Canadian designer Barbara Gregory saw some mileage:
Handy work
I finished them this morning:
Pixie Farts: Pattern by Barbara Gregory knit with Tosh Merino Light / colours Flashdance and Poprocks
These were begun with optimism late last year and abandoned when it was clear they would be too small for the intended recipient. My eldest daughter has however, admired them and though I may have to send them for a tumble in the dryer to see if I can shrink them a bit, I think she’ll like them.
As much as I love the colours and the subtle variegations I’m not convinced the Tosh Merino Light yarn I used was the right choice for this project. I think my next pair of stranded mittens will be in a plied yarn with a tighter twist.
Most importantly, they were a tremendous learning experience. I’ve never done such ambitious color work and though my technique clearly needs more practice, I think at least a couple people on my gift list will find Gregory designed mittens under the tree.
These are in my favorites all from Twist collective:
and
Now, how can it possibly be that this designer doesn’t have a fan group established on Ravelry?
