stash, knit, repeat

Thanks so very, very much for all of the love on the FFP, folks. You pushed what was already a pretty fantastic weekend right over the edge into nirvana.

Well.

You and the cormo, if I’m being honest.

(Just kidding! Really, you all had me–and still have me–on cloud 9. Over 700 rav queues, really?) But I did have a fantastic time at Rhinebeck, even though this is the only yarn I purchased. Quite a difference from two years ago, when I purchased everything I could possibly lay my hands on. My budget was small this year, and I was determined to make the most of it, and purchase yarn for a sweater that would be something very special. I’m very, very happy with my choice, and thrilled that Foxfire still had enough of this stuff for a sweater by the time I arrived at 11am on Saturday. :)

I am not much for the usual link-a-doo roundup, but I got to hang out with my knit night pals, and meet some fantastic new ones, and generally spent the weekend recharging from the physically exhausting job that is parenting two kids under 5. I got to geek out about all of the designs I hope to be sending your way soon, and drink in the ideas and creativity all around me, and (this is important) choose when I went to sleep and woke up. I came back to work on Monday refreshed in every sense. Hooray for breaks!

I got some various and sundry things other than yarn at the festival. A darning egg, some stitch markers, and various & sundry little hand-out goodies.

I have a bunch of design ideas in my head and on my needles, but haven’t decided the fate of all of them–which I’ll release here, which I’ll submit and to where, and so forth. But here are some little tastes, including my final Rhinebeck purchase:

Some moving mud buttons. I’m pretty sure I’ll release this design here. (Sundara ASM in Wild Blueberries in the background, if you’re curious.)

A beaded teaser.

And another thought-in-progress about how to use up more of my Sundara stash. Just writing this post makes my fingers itch to knit!!

The second Rhinebeck FO is not just a sweater for me: It’s a pattern for you, too.

Pattern: The February Fitted Pullover, by yours truly

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy, Deep Seaflower, 4 hanks (with around 1/2 of one left over).

Time Elapsed: Knitting this only took a couple of weeks, even with writing it up. Hooray for worsted weight yarn in an open-work pattern and 3/4-length sleeves!

Notes/Modifications: Though it may seem strange, I did actually modify the pattern, lengthening the body to accommodate my super-long torso. (I added a little over an inch.)

But really, there’s more to say about the pattern than about my knitting. The February Fitted Pullover is a fitted, 3/4 sleeve scoop-neck pullover in the gull lace pattern made popular by Elizabeth Zimmerman’s “February Baby Sweater”. The shape is definitely great for the bustier, curvier gals among us. As written, there are about 3.5 inches of waist shaping, worked into the lace pattern:

Though of course, if you are not interested in shaping at all, leave it out! If you want just an inch or two, I’d recommend eliminating the shaping and going down a needle size or two instead.

Bust sizes measure 33 (36, 39.5, 43, 46, 50)”, although the lace gives you quite a bit of leeway when you block. Please, please, pretty please give yourself some negative ease in the bust on this knit. The lace and scoop neck really look better when they’re filled out a little.

I knit my version in Dream in Color Classy, which I used for the February Lady Sweater I knit for Beth and loved. I loved the way it looked in the gull lace pattern, I loved the way the color looked on me. I think it would look completely fantastic in many other hand-painted worsted/aran yarns (check your gauge!), too: I’m looking at you, Sundara ASM.

I guess I don’t have much more to say about this. I’ve been doing some other design work I can’t talk about, this summer, and the bug has bitten me hard. I’m so very glad to finally have something I can share with you all.

I hope this goes without saying, but while I have been very careful in writing and editing this pattern, and it has been test-knit, it’s my first to be released–if you find anything that confuses you, if you find an error, if you have comments, if you have questions… please email me. I really look forward to hearing from you.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!