More Pattern Inspirations

As usual in life, nothing happens quite the way one expects it.  It was, however, a good thing that I had packed everything up the night before because sometime around midnight the power went out.

G, already nervous about surgery, and not thinking all to clearly due to the hydrocephalus, panicked and thought we should leap in the car and sit in the car in the parking lot outside the hospital until morning.  This seemed unwise to me, although G did remind me that he felt I was more interested in sleep than in our overall well-being.  I cannot deny that sleep was paramount in my thoughts but would like to think that this yearning for slumber had not completely clouded my judgement.

Needless to say we were up most of the night and had to dress in the dark, tired, befuddled and sightless.  What a start to the morning.

I was, in fact, worried about the power.  We have  a generator and although it came on as it should, we did not seem to have the proper power in the house.  We should have had light in the bedroom, but we did or only very partial light in two lamps that kept going out.  We should have had heat and partial kitchen function as well.  But I didn't want to worry G before surgery and so I waited until he was out of surgery and settled in his room before going home to check on the situation.   My electrician came right away and we were busy crawling around with flashlights trying to check breakers and trace wires when we realized that a ground wire had been disconnected.  Voila!  LIght, heat, hot water.  Now I was set and much relieved as I had been worried about bringing G home to a house without heat.

Having plied myself with excessive amounts of caffeine and carbohydrates, including the half pound of maple walnut fudge I ate in lieu of a nap while awaiting the electrician, by the time the caffeine and sugar rush wore off I was ready to succumb to the soporific effect of the carbohydrates.  Knitting be damned; I needed sleep.

Sunday we went to Barnes and Noble so I could get online to check the status of a few items I had put up for sale on eBay.   I didn't know the power would come back on  Sunday night but the trip was worthwhile because B&N had the new issue of Knit 1, which I have eagerly been anticipating for what seems like ages now, although it has probably only been about two weeks.  In fact I was so eager for this issue that I had stopped by B&N several times looking for it before I realized that it was not supposed to be released until 12/16.  Duh.

It is a good issue.  There is an interesting article on natural dying using foods and several interviews with knit bloggers.  

In fact it was a notice on Stephanie Japel's blog that had me racing to the store in search of this issue.  Her pattern, Habanero, was the object of my search, and  it is well worth the purchase price of the magazine.  Much to my glee there are actually two other sweater patterns I really like, and several patterns for scarves, hats, and socks.  But I really can't think about scarves right now.  Having cleaned out the coat closet last week, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with sheer number of scarves I have stored on the shelves.  If I knit more I need to find a new place to store them and since I love each and every one of the scarves that are already in residence, it seems that I really need to work on wearing them rather than just admiring them. 

But back to sweaters:

This vest, by Mari Muinonen is just darling and I love both the front with its deep v neckline and shawl collar and the interesting back detail.

These two pictures scanned in a little fuzzy so I am not sure how clear they will be if you click to enlarge.

I also love the simple, classic cardigan called garter-yoke cardigan, by Melissa LaBarre. 

This is the kind of thing I reach for over and over again in my closet although it is not always the kind of thing that first comes to mind when I am looking for a knitting project.  

That might be changing.  Since I knit Lilac Serenade, I have been contemplating knitting another in another yarn.  This sweater reminds me of that one in its basic simplicity and wearability.  I am constantly wearing Lilac Serenade, and it is getting a little loose now, so I think a few simple classic sweaters might edge their way on to the list.

Comments

[Carol]

I love all three of these - the vest (what a great back detail)... and Habanero ... and the cardigan too. I think I'll be heading out this weekend, braving the crowds and traffic, to pick up a copy at the book store. It will be my first Knit 1 magazine.

[Gina]

I love Habanero, and the Garter Yoke Cardigan has just that little "something" to set it apart from being just another cardigan. There is something to be said for knitting garments that you will wear with great regularity. We all want to knit something special, but what could be more special than regularly wearing something made by your own hands?