I’ve finished the back and one sleeve of the Millefiori cardi. This is usually the point in a cardigan where I start getting annoyed, so hopefully I can slog on through!
The clam stitch, which makes up the lacy rows, is a super annoying one. Anything that involves this line “K5tog without dropping stitches from left needle, YO 2x, P5tog, YO 2x, rep til you want to stab your eye out) is not my friend. The whole time I was thinking “this would look nicer and be easier in crochet.” Oh well though – the yarn is still lovely, and I am enjoying it, though my tension is not the most even (always a problem with bamboo.) Tonight I hope to finish one of the fronts… I have the Love Boat season 2 waiting for me (don’t laugh, I love it in a totally non ironic way!)
Spring patterns continue to appear. The Spring Twist collective was unveiled this week, and I’m not sure whether to be relieved or disappointed that only one pattern appeals to me.
This is primrose path, by Angela Hahn. I usually love her designs, but I haven’t knit one yet – could this be the one? My only worry is the neckline, which is hard to see in the photos. I have a theory that scoop necks either need to be very high or relatively low to not look matronly on me. This one could be like that, but I will wait and see some FOs. I also quite like Kat Coyle’s Ardent Jacket.
I don’t think it’s very springy though, so I’m not interested now… maybe in the fall. I also like the Cherry Fizz scarf by Kate Gilbert, but I have a similar pattern already saved. Other than that, there seem to be a lot of baby and men’s patterns, which I don’t have a use for, and the other women’s patterns would not flatter me. I don’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed! I love the Spring Interweave so much, and that seemed to be controversial, but I have plenty of patterns lined up. I’m also still waiting for Kim Hargreaves’ summer book, due out some time this month.
Other than that, I’ve just been working – seems things are extra busy right now, and I’m probably picking up an extra day of teaching. I’m a little stressed and in need of a break – we will be traveling through Wisconsin and Minnesota in May sometime for a few weeks, so I’m really looking forward to that – we will visit Marc’s sister and the baby, as well as a few friends he still has in Wisconsin (plans include Madison, Mikwaulkee, and the Twin Cities)
My husband, by the way, may be the only man who could see this product in the store and be convinced he needed to try it.
I don’t know if you can tell – my camera seemed horrified – but that is a can of bud light mixed with clamato (which is itself clam juice and tomato together.) I’m not sure words can express precisely how terrible this mixture was. Should you see this in your local liquor superstore I can only recommend running the other way.
A new vintage book is coming soon, so look out for that!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
I love that Primrose Path, too. The part that’s scaring me off is that she says that you can’t alter the length without messing up the primrose placement. I’m short! But so is the designer, so maybe…
Clamato Chelada? Gwoss!
Well, I had the exact same thought when my dad explained that bud light/clamato thing to me. I totally thought he dreamed it or made it up or something. Who even thought of that? But I was pretty sure (once I was convinced it existed) that he was the only human on earth who would see that and say “I must have it”.
Good to know I was wrong.
This time.
That was the only pattern in the Twist Collective that I liked – maybe a 2nd or 3rd glance through the new patterns will change my mind.
As for The Love Boat…no way! I had no idea you could get past seasons. I think I have seen every episode 🙂
Hey Chelada! That seems to be pretty popular down here in south Texas. Clamato in general is popular, and apparantly mixing with beer is a time-honored tradition. I wasn’t surprised to see Budweiser try to cash in on that market.
I actually gagged at the sight of that can. (I’m super sensitive that way.)
I’m looking forward to seeing the finished cardi, although I myself would pass up any pattern with that particular line, even without the “rep til you want to stab your eye out.”
I royally screwed up my clam stitch last night. I’m going to buy pointier needles today and give it another go!
I really liked this issue of Twist…
It’s too bad you’re not swinging up to Duluth. I’d love to see you and your cardi at my LYS! But there are so many great shops in the Twin Cities that you should be well occupied.
I actually made a modification to the clam stitch on my millifiore. The yarn I was using didn’t look good with that second row of double yarn overs because it is super splitty and just looked sloppy, so I changed it to single yarn overs. My clams aren’t as lacey, but they are OK…and certainly easier to manage! 🙂
Wow, the k5tog itself sounds impossible…off to try this out just to understand the physics of it all!
HAHAHA- I just read that last bit to my husband and he thinks the Clamato and Bud Light “sounds pretty interesting”
Ewwww. Thanks for the head’s up even though I can’t imagine what would possess anyone to think it was a good idea…
The Clam stitch is gorgeous though!
Luckily that clam stitch is only in a few places on that cardi! The color you chose is beautiful.
The Twist patterns you pointed out are my favorites of the issue too. Angela Hahn always puts so much thought into her designs and I love Kat Coyle’s playful sense of fun in her designs.
That Chelada looks horrific. eeee.
I wasn’t super crazy about any of the garments in Twist this time around, but I thought the socks were gorgeous!
Drop me a line when you’re passing through Madison if you’re interested in a yarn shop crawl!
Sadly, my BF also likes the “Red Beer,” as those are called. It makes me just ::EWWWWW:: thinking about it…
Clam stitch, Clamato…are you sure that doesn’t go together? Hehehe….we went out to breakfast with some friends this past summer. It is a nice little place on the lake, known for it’s breakfast fare. Out of the blue my husbands friend orders a beer at 8am. I watched horrified as he poured it into his half drank glass of tomato juice and gulp it down. Ugh! Something about it just seemed wrong. In a can it seems even worse if that’s possible.
I thought the new issue of TC was quite good , but then I do like baby knitting and those wee dolls really appealed. I also liked the Dulce de Leche top
OMG! Clamato and Bud Light… now that’s funny! I wouldn’t drink it if ya paid me (well maybe for yarn) but I’m going to have to look for that just to see it for real.
That is a rather horrifying stitch pattern to read, but it looks pretty!
All I can say about the beer is wow, I’m glad that’s not in my fridge.
I liked that clam stitch. I decided to use it in another project. First I could not figure out how to do it. I asked you a question concerning this stitch via ravelry, but maybe you have not checked the mailbox.
Now I managed to solve the problem and I know how to do those clams – at least I think I know You are right. One should concentrate while doing this stitch!
Comparing your picture and the picture in IK Spring I would say that your clam stitch is narrower somehow and more dense than the oryginal. Do you think it is because of the yarn that you used? I would say there are more knit stitches between the clams in the original picture than in your sweater. I have done only two clams in my small swatch so I am not an expert. I am just curious how the clam stitch looks in reality comparing to the picture in the magazine.
Aleksandra
pantarejka@gazeta.pl
This is turning out gorgeous! I have been following your blog for a while now and am never disappointed when I visit. You choose the nicest projects and your knitting talents are beyond belief!
Glad to have you as a friend on Ravelry!
Here in Connecticut, I haven’t seen that beer before – but never say never, lol. My husband would probably try it too….I wouldn’t give it a second glance. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
I’m sure Millefiori will be beautiful. We agree on the Spring offering this year. I only liked the 3 Twist patterns you mentioned and loved IK. Several of my other knitting groups weren’t so taken with it so I seem to march to a different drummer.
I agree, the beverage is a new low for marketing brain waves.
Hello! Beautifull knit designs and colours. It’s always inspiring to see how you actually get ready so many projects. (As for me I mostly start always new things and seldom get anything ready) My first sweater took me almost 10 years 😉 But still I like knitting. I have some Finnish knit designs on my blog too if you wanna see 😉
Well as a Canadian I love beer and Clam. And since moving the Chicago way I’ve truly missed the Ceasar not that I drink often, but a bloody Mary just isn’t the same. (a ceasar is a bloody mary with clamato instead of tomato juice and much tastier)
oops also meant to say I really like the clam stich
It should be noted that this Bud Light concoction is sort of the white trash version of a true chelada. A better manifestation of this drink recipe is Negro Modelo mixed with Bloody Mary mix. Worth a try with a truly great plate of Mexican food.
Love your knits.