Gossipy Knit Chat

I'm far from the first to post about Evelyn Clark's new site, but it's very exciting. She has all new patterns on her site and has made it very easy to order. Evelyn is a wonderful person besides leaking talent from every pore, and because she dislikes direct praise and for people to go on about her, I'll stop here and hope she'll speak to me again when next we meet.

Evelyn's new Sock Monkey pattern is very cute and some local knit buds have already adopted it for our next group project at some of the retreats we attend together. I suggested a group leftover knit bits swap so we can have fun sorting colors into Ziplock bags for the monkeys. I'm betting this pattern is just right for friend Lynne, the Socklady in Canada - who rivals friend Mary B for the most socks knit in a year. Obviously neither of them bothers with sleep at night. Don't worry, Mary's arm is in a sunspot in this picture, she's not catching fire.

If you click on the link to Lynne's blog - Sockladyspins, you won't be disappointed - gorgeous pictures of all types of socks she and friends are knitting. Of course Rebecca has put herself in the running with her mind-boggling collection of socks mostly knit since mid-July. Dare I say that when the divorce gets tough, the tough get knitting?

Other exciting news is in the latest issue of Vogue Knitting - it's the Holiday 2007 issue with Paulina Porizkova on the front. If you are at all into Fair Isle knitting, you might be thrilled to hear that Alice Starmore has the pattern for her Oregon Cardigan in this issue. Scroll down on this link on her site to read all about how the design was developed and then click on the pictures to see more views. What she doesn't mention on the site is that the original vest pattern in one colorway was published in the soft-sided book called "The Scottish Collection," which now goes for $400 or more regularly on eBay. That's just one reason why it's so wonderful to be able to purchase the pattern via the magazine. It has long been a very popular pattern, and - after starting her new site - she updated the pattern by adding sleeves for a cardigan version and added a new wonderful fall colorway - which is the colorway used in the Vogue version. Told you I was Queen of the Run-on sentence. The other boon to those of us who are larger than most patterns will deal with - is that she has sized this pattern up to a 56" bust. Zowee! The sleeves are picked up and knit downward from steeks so you'll be able to have them exactly the right length for you. Alice's Hebridean yarn is lovely. The carefully blended colors have tremendous depth and the yarn is softer than Shetland, and blooms even more after it's washed. I have purchased from her before (if you couldn't guess) and she's a super prompt shipper. If only the dollar were in better shape! By the way, if you go to Alice's site, you'll note all the measurements are in centimeters. The husband showed me how easy it is to do the conversion - that is, to let Google do it! Just type into the Google search box "convert 140.5 cm to inches," press enter, and Bob's your uncle - it's the top item in the list. Laziness has never been so rewarding!

I was gnashing my teeth in anticipation of Fiona Ellis's book - "Inspired Fair Isle Knits." I went to check it out but didn't buy it after all. My mental jury is still out on how I feel about it. Check it out at your local bookstore and see what you think. Here is a link that introduces the book.

Usually I'm a picture-heavy poster. Next post - I swear - will be a catch-up on my own knitting and fiber doings. There is always time for a cute doggie picture or two tho. The first is a picture of TMK and Ryan's Frankie from the last Dulaan party. Frankie may be the first spoonbill Pembroke Corgi on the planet. The second picture is the ever-inquisitive Trixie, wondering if I've finished my latte yet so she can lick the foam in the cup.

If you like birds, and animal antics make you as happy as they do me, go here and watch a cockatoo named Snowball dancing on YouTube - unless your at work in a public place of course. It's terribly cute.