You would think, wouldn’t you, that winter weather would inspire me to knit ever faster. In truth, winter only inspires me to huddle in front of the space heater and drink endless cups of tea. Progress is slow, but I am pleased with how this sweater is coming out so far. I’m slipping the first stitch on each row of the bobbles, which gives a neater look to them (they are, of course, still bobbles. I enjoy the look of them, but I’m aware that opinions vary on that subject.) Most of this was knitted up while watching the season premiere of Lost last night (so glad that it’s back; between that and Battlestar Galactica I finally have TV to watch again!)
I will be glad for spring, although not necessarily for spring knitting. I do enjoy knitting with cotton or linen occasionally, but warm weather knitting is hard. I do not wear clothing without sleeves, both because I work in a conservative environment, and because I am always so cold with air conditioning! I do look forward to knitting some nice cotton cardigans and lots of socks, but probably I’ll be knitting wooly sweaters well into summer, as I apparently don’t enjoy making them when it’s actually cold out.
Berroco and Classic Elite are the first companies to release their spring/summer patterns. I am usually interested in a few of their offerings, and this is no different. I do not care for anything in Norah Gaughan vol 3, but I love this sweater, from Berroco’s booklet for Mica.
Classic Elite has a few nice patterns, but nothing I am excited about overall (the patterns are up on Ravelry, but not on the website yet.) 3/4 length sleeves are ok, just no short sleeved cardigans – what is the point? At least in winter you can layer them. Other recent patterns that I like… I like the cover pattern from French Girl Knits, but I don’t think I like the rest of the book well enough to buy it… so I won’t make this unless the library gets it in, and I somehow manage to get to see a copy (I have been on the waiting list for the new Mason Dixon forever.)
Would I wear it anyway? Sweaters without closures can be difficult for me… I constantly tug at them sometimes.
That’s all for now – back to enjoying my few days off!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Why is it, I wonder, why the models in the Berroco book are all posed like they’re having mug shots taken?
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one with January knitting issues. A cold apartment and post-holiday burn-out are to blame in my case.
The only thing I’ve liked in the spring previews at this point is the “Peace” cardigan in Norah Gaughan vol. 4 (the one with the lacework and asymmetrical closure). Despite the model’s expression.
Enjoys your days off!! 🙂
Oh, I like the bobbles! This is my first time commenting but I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months now, ever since I started to knit again. Love it! Keep it up. You are very talented at knitting & have good taste to boot. And it’s nice to see other fans of Battlestar Galactica… I can’t believe there are only 8 (9?) episodes left. Crazy stuff.
I think peoples dislike of bobbles is either because they don’t enjoy the process of making them or some poor use of bobbles has turned them off. The ones on whatever you are working on look great!
Your new sweater looks already beautiful and I do like the bobbles. Oh and I also love the sweater from Berroco’s booklet for Mica.
Well, this is my first comment here and I would like you to know that your blog is very much inspiring and I am happy whenever I read news about you. All the things you knit are really beautiful, the colors, the yarns … unfortunately most of the yarns we can’t get here in Europe.
I am quite a novice knitter. I learned how to knit when I was a teenager and then haven’t knitted anything for more than 20 years. My third piece now is the scarf “Haven” from Kim Hargreaves (Heartfelt). After that I would like to try my first sweater (“Emily”). Your blog makes me want to knit so many things, even socks whereas I would have never thought I could be interested in knitting socks. I would like to order “Knitting Vintage Socks” soon because I have seen the beautiful socks you made and because I am a sucker for everything vintage. 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading more about you.
Love, Eva
I am not usually a fan of bobbles, but I really like those. They are understated, but give a lot of texture to the piece. And I hear you on January knitting…why is it so hard to stay motivated?
I love your knitting! Your work always looks so nice and you go so fast – it is motivation for me to keep plodding on even if it is slow. I read your blog often, but like others here (and in general) I don’t always comment – I don’t really know why…the internet makes me shy I think.
How did you find the Classic Elite Spring/Summer stuff on Ravelry? I’ve checked around by searching for “Classic Elite” under patterns and also on their design page (all on ravelry) and I don’t seem to see anything that says its specifically for spring/summer 2009. I’m sometimes technically challenged however and it wouldn’t be unusual for me to just miss the thing right in front of my face.
I know what you mean about spring knitting – this year I am going to concentrate on making lighter weight items – probably more lace patterns – but in long sleeves. I also never really wear my sleeveless sweaters. They’re too warm when outside and too cold when inside in the air conditioning.
Get a vintage cardigan clip for cardigans without closures!! No one wears them anymore, but I love them!
I got a lot of knitting during the LOST premiere too. There’s nothing like a good TV show to give you a chunk of time to knit.
How about a shawl pin? No buttons, no need to always close them, but you could pin the sweater closed if it annoyed you too much.