Speaking Rowan

Last Wednesday at knitting circle, Stacy asked, "Does any one speak Rowan?"

I laughed. I may not be laughing for long. Basil is finished in record time and off the needles (pictures are coming after I have blocked my little beauty.) And Martha from Rowan Studio has been cast-on.

Admittedly, before I was willing to cast-on, I heckled and pestered Wendy a bit to finish her Martha. OK, Wendy, a lot. What can I say, I am a follower...I like to have my friends work out the tricky parts first. From what I understand there can be quite a few tricky parts in Rowan patterns.

So with advise from Wendy and seeing what was out there on Ravelry, there are already modifications being made. Right off the bat both fronts and the back were cast-on together to cut down on the seaming. That makes for a long row of stitches, but I am through the bottom band of patterning and ready to slog into a lot of stockinette. Turn on the autopilot for a bit!

Instinct

Ok, so I know that these really look like two totally different pieces of knitting. They aren't.

Indoor light vs natural light.

Blue binding vs light green.

Over thinking your color choices vs going with your first instinct.

Questionning my color instinct, which I actually think is usually pretty damn good, I returned the light green Koigu I originally bought and bought the Caribbean Blue Louet's. It looked like a good match for the blue splashes in the yarn. In reality it was horrible. In lights other than Rosie's it wasn't green enough. The contrast was too great. And with all the varigated Koigu it was too solid.

Ripping back my knitting ranks right up there with unmedicated root canal. It hurt like hell, but I am incredibly happy now...reunited with my light green Koigu.

Growing Basil

Geez, Lisa, are you knitting that again?

Is anyone really surprised? I seem to have acquired a bad rep for knitting the same pattern over and over...two Lady Eleanors, two Koolhaus, two Beatrix, two Clapotis and a handful of Fetchings, Purl Berets, Emily Infant Mitts and baby James Deans. Okay...okay...now that it is catalogued; I am guilty! But sometimes a sure thing is best.

My first Basil was brilliant. Why not repeat brilliance? Easy to remember lace repeats coupled with oh-so-lovely Koigu and you have yourself a winner. And in this case, throw in a little of my other newer fav, Louet's Gem fingering.

I think this may be the last of the major babies in my life for a while...that is until Muffy or Marissa start popping them out (sorry, Mariss, couldn't help myself.) Amy, my dear friend and soror is the mother to be. Once again, continuing a trend, not a girly girly pink person having yet another girl baby. When is someone going to let me knit with pink koigu for a little girl?

My pictures are not doing the yarn adequate justice. Amy and her husband live in Breckenridge, CO and this yarn has all the colors I remember from my visit there. Not traditional baby colors, but I am sure that she is going to love it.

We all cook with Basil. Why not add this recipe to your repertoire?

Anemoi Mittens

Eunny Jang's Anemoi Mittens knit in Louet's Gems. I stayed true to the pattern...practised my mad tubular cast on skills...knit the cuffs on 0s, probably should have used 1s...did the pain in the ass three needle cast off.

Loved knitting with this yarn. Every wonderful thing I have heard about it was absolutely true.

Best of all, this time Muffy's lovingly handknit mittens fit, fit perfectly. Now maybe she can give up the tatty old gloves with the chenille worn off in patches.

Thanks Mindy for acting as the mitten model!