Inca Knits

Whatever happened to knitting on this blog?  Wasn't that the original purpose?  

I haven't forgotten.  I did go through a period when I wasn't knitting much partly due to having a small kitten who wanted to play every time the yarn came out of hiding and partly because I was just in a slump, another episode of the sartorial doldrums brought on by some weight loss, although not enough, and the reappearance of my waist, a celebrated event but one that also required rethinking the "what" of my knitting.

I have been knitting again regularly, almost every day, for a couple of weeks now.  I'm still not always knitting enough by my lights, and I'm certainly not sewing enough but I've renewed my determination.  I'm still coming to terms with the idea that my primary retirement role is "caregiver" not "knitter", "dressmaker", or "wanderer down the path of fiberly pursuits".    Unfortunately the job of caregiver leaves less room for personal occupations than my previous careers such as "Office Manager", "Production Manager", "Systems Analyst" and so forth, and I still have my petulant breakdowns.

Along with the resurgence of actual knitting I have been also rethinking much of my collection of knitting patterns in an attempt to be more strict about which designs I actually keep and store.  This has not meant that I have stopped buying knitting books however.

The new Marriane Isager book, Inca Knits, arrived this week.   I basically purchased the book for the pattern called Maize.  I still love this pattern and will be knitting it, although not perhaps this winter as at the moment I feel obliged to use up some stash yarn, especially as my yarn storage system has been reconfigured and reduced into cat-proof containers.  

Otherwise, the book is not my favorite of Isager's books and there are fewer things I would knit in this book than in either Classic Knits, or Japanese Inspired Knits, both of which I purchased this summer after falling in love with a few designs in each.  It is also not as inspiring as Knitting Out of Africa, which was published a few years ago, my first introduction to Marianne Isager's designs.

Most of the sweaters in the book are rather boxy but lovely.  That is not particularly a complaint.  They are perfect "country" sweaters to wear with jeans or cords and boots.  Perfect, actually, for my life.  I like the designs very much and believe that this is a book that will be used over the years.    

In the short run, I am also particularly attracted to Sucre, shown here, and there is a darling child's sweater called Labyrinth that may be perfect for grandson Owen when he is a little older, if, and it is a big if, he lives in a colder climate by then.   The labyrinth sweater also has a darling hat and I am inclined just to knit the hat.

But I have other projects on the needles and even more UFOs which have been abandoned in various stages of creation.  All of these must be addressed, although I will probably put the spring/summer weight projects off until the weather is more appropriate.

Updates on current knitting to come soon.

Comments

[Miss Cavendish]

I love to knit but have appalling technique (I hold one needle between my knees--oh dear!) I have however, made myself an Icelandic sweater (my husband sent me the wool straight from Rekjavik!) and numerous scarves for my daughters. I would LOVE to make mittens, but have got lost--several times--when trying to fashion the thumb. Oh dear, again.

[Pamela Waterman]

Hi! Just found your blog via Good Mom/Bad Mom. I'm an engineer/tech writer who loves to knit and sew, my 86-year-old widowed mom has lived with us for twenty years and has some "issues" and I just finished a year in adult braces at age 53! I had my wisdom teeth out after five years of teen braces, and they said don't bother wear the retainer after that - wrong! Everything shifted, so finally adult braces were in order. I'm so glad I did them, so I encourage you to go for it. Also, I love to cook and have written two specialty cookbooks for people in braces. If you get to a point where it would be appropriate, I'd love for you to review one or both of them (the one I did this year is targeted to adults in braces). Oh, and I love your latest fabric finds; and lastly, if you ever get to Phoenix AZ, there is a bakery cafe with the most amazing Macarons just like on the cover of your new purchase!

[materfamilias]

I LOVE Japanese Inspired Knits -- haven't bought it yet, and I'm not sure I'll ever have the time to concentrate on process the way a knitter would need to for some of those patterns, but there are some absolute beauties in there!