Every year – Every. Year. – at the end of October the same thing happens: the temperature falls, Rhinebeck happens (and I don’t go), and then what feels like a million gorgeous sweaters show up on Ravelry, making me want to knit sweaters, which is perfect, because it’s cold. This is also the time of year when I realize it’s almost NaKniSweMo (national knit a sweater month), and I get all excited about taking part.
Except. Except by now I’m starting to feel the weight (just a little) of my grand holiday knitting plans, so I can’t actually cast on for any sweaters, but I can probably justify swatching. When I realize this, every year, I vow to start my holiday knitting early next year (like, in-June early) so that I’m far enough ahead that I can take November off to knit myself a sweater. And then I feel a little guilty about wishing I was knitting for myself instead of for my family, who all really appreciate hand-knits and generally make requests months in advance.
You’d think I’d learn, right? But no. So instead of casting on immediately for a new sweater I am dreaming. My dream is that I finish my holiday knitting by the end of November so I can cast on for a sweater in early December. (It’s not a very profound dream, I realize that, but there it is.) I’m having a bit of an Amy Herzog moment, so she (or, her designs) feature rather prominently.
Four skeins of Falkland in Dusty Miller.
First, I got home last night to find this gorgeous, gorgeous yarn waiting for me. It’s Falkland (80% British Falkland merino, 20% bamboo) from Kettle Yarn Co. in Dusty Miller (do you read Linda’s blog? It’s great.) I requested a custom order, since she didn’t have enough of what I wanted available in her shop, and she didn’t even blink!
I wish there was a way for you to squish this yarn through the screen. There is so much spring to it, and it is so, so soft, with just the most subtle shine from the bamboo. The colour is subtle and warm and it’s exactly the sort of thing I would happily wear everyday. Thus, I want it to become the kind of sweater I can wear everyday. I did a lot of searching for a suitable pattern, but in the end, I think I’m going to use this to try out Amy’s new Custom Fit system to configure a pullover. For the first time in my life, I’m excited to swatch because it will allow me to figure out what fabric I like best, rather than try to fuss around and get a certain gauge. I can’t wait!
After that, I’m thinking I could use another warm and cozy cardigan, and Amy’s new Acorn Trail design is so me I can’t believe it isn’t in my closet already. I love the texture and the play between the cables and the lace, and yeah, I love it. My plan is to knit it up in Madelinetosh Vintage (which just arrived in the shop and, despite my efforts, I was unable to resist) in Tart.
Seven skeins of Tosh Vintage in Tart, more than enough for any sweater I want to knit.
I find reds tricky to photograph, but this is a sort of deep, smoky red. I worry a little that it’s too variegated for this pattern, but that’s another reason to spend some time swatching (either it’ll knit up more or less as a solid, or it’ll be more striated, we shall see.)
So, consider this a preview of what’s to come over the next few months. In the meantime, back to those socks. I’m hoping to be half-way through the second Saltburn by the end of the weekend – what are your weekend plans?
Pans & Needles 
In your place, I’d just cast on the sweater. It could be a motivation for knitting a certain quota of stitches on the gift front.
Haha. I am definitely using the promise of sweater knitting as a carrot. My plan is to finish the Saltburn socks and then cast on for my swatch. Swatching is a big part of Custom Fit, so I want to get it right.
I’m having major sweater cravings, too, and I’ve never even knit one! But my first will likely be a CustomFit one, as well, or any other of Amy’s designs.
Oooh, Linda’s yarn is beautiful – and I am a recent convert to Tosh vintage in a major way.
I know! Your post raving about it write down my last defenses, not that I’m complaining 🙂
And yes, Linda’s yarn is gorgeous. And it shipped in about a week from when I got the invoice, which is pretty fantastic!
Yay! So glad it arrived quickly and that you love it. Looking forward to seeing your Custom Fit sweater as well. Am tempted to cast one on myself…the software sounds FAB.
O it is so hard when many things are calling us, if only we didn’t need more than a couple of ours of sleep a night, then we could make ourselves sweaters and knit all those Christmas presents with out a problem!
The yarn looks good enough to eat, LOVE that red!
Both are really lovely colours! I hope that you can fit everything in and get as much pleasure as possible of your knitting time. 😀
I’ll be knitting on my granddad’s socks for Christmas – I hope to finish the first one today and plan to start the second one tomorrow; the weather forecast has predicted lots and lots of rain which is simply perfect. 😀
Those yarns are lush. My approach to sweaters is just knit them. At any time of the year. It will be winter at some point, and then there will be a Happy Surprise waiting in the drawer (as opposed to a Drawer of Disappointment). 😀
I’m drooling after looking at those yarns, especially that first set of hanks. I’m also feeling the crush of anticipated holiday knitting vs. NaKniSweMo. If I’d been smarter, I could have paired at least one of those projects, but I already started Matt’s sweater and I’m not ripping back a second time (I hope). My family (excepting Matt) doesn’t really request things, which is just fine by me!
I love, love, love the Tosh Tart colourway. I used it for a sweater last winter, wore it to death, and now that it’s chilly again I can’t wait to wear it to death all over again!
You are so good giving knitted gifts, but if your family really appreciates them that makes all the difference. And speaking of handmade gifts, I best get back to my sewing machine because I have a pile to sewn items to make for my many nieces and nephews… I guess that dress I want to make for myself will have to be put in the backburner for the time being.
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