maine.

I am lucky to live so close to such a beautiful state as Maine! I am entranced by the many islands, small coastal communities, and remote, rural living. I often fantasize about my husband and I living off the grid in a house surrounded by water like this couple (maybe someday...) But a great thing about being so close to Maine is the opportunity to visit KnitWit Yarn Shop in Portland and shop their selection of Quince and Co. yarns!

I chose the colorway "gingerbread" to make Agnes and am loving it already. It's knitting up so squishy and soft!

Rhinebeck!

This was my first year attending the annual New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (referred to by many as simply "Rhinebeck", the name of the town where it's held). It was a wonderful experience! My friend Rosie and I spent the beautiful fall day shopping for ecological yarns, petting sheep, and eating some tasty treats (lamburgers!) Here are a few photos I took.

Can't wait to start knitting with my new yarn... and for Rhinebeck 2012!

autumn walks.

I love taking walks in the fall when the air is cooler and there is so much changing color, light, and movement to see.

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all photos were taken on the go with iphone/instagr.am.

the journey is the destination.

Am I different from a lot of knitters in that my enthusiasm for knitting is deeply embedded in the process rather than the final product? Although I am always pretty thrilled to wear a sweater, gift a pair of mittens, or show off a shawl, knitting is more about the making than the wearing for me. Because of this I work pretty slow and careful, obsessing over tiny details and pausing at every stage of the project to take things in (I also get distracted or don't pay attention and make loads of errors which I have to redo, but that's a different blog post!) I don't think I could ever knit a sweater in a weekend, no matter the pattern or yarn, and to be honest, I don't even think I would want to...

This particular sweater is the story of several months in my life, starting on the February day my friend Rosie and I traveled to Portland, ME and purchased Quince & Co. yarn from KnitWit (as well as ate french fries in Duckfat, admired pretty garments in Chellis Wilson, and poured over cookbooks at Rabelais). The journey continued through the spring as I worked through the colorful charts of bulky cable stitches from my seat on the sofa and carried me through the steamy summer months where I could only bear to hold a sleeve's worth of wool on my lap. It lead me right up to the fall, as a garment emerged and I began to get excited about paring with jeans and boots or tights and a dress... and maybe even to Rhinebeck next weekend?

These photos aren't great, but they capture the process and the satisfying moments that I paused and noted my progression. They are the journey, which is where the true essence of the story lies.

I still have to block this (and take some better photos) but I feel like the real project is done and that (to me) is as exciting as it was to cast on. It's new story is sure to be told with every wear.

Pattern: Aidez by Cirilia Rose

Yarn: Quince & Co.'s Osprey in Chantrelle

Modifications: Instead of knitting five separate pieces and seaming them, I knit left front, back, and right front panels as one piece, carefully following the multiple charts right up to the armpits (18"); knit the sleeves in the round on dpns till they were also 18" long; joined all the three pieces Elizabeth Zimmerman style to knit the yoke, shoulders as one piece incorporating raglan decreases; knit the collar to the back of the sweater; seamed the very back of the collar and kitchered the armpits. Voila! Forgot to do the waist shaping decreases. Oops.

For more project details please view my ravelry page or feel free to leave a question in the comments!

one year.

As September finishes I realize it's been one full year of living in the same state, the same city, the same apartment. It's not much of an accomplishment, just interesting to point out after so many years of moving (for good reasons!) from the city, to the island, to the desert, and back. And after one year I am continuously happy with where I live -- it's a good feeling!

The photo above is my most recent labor of love, Edie Shawl by Bristol Ivy for Quince & Co. I am knitting with their yarn chickadee in the shade of honey. It's slow going for me, but I am loving how the pattern emerges (like stripes and polka dots!) It's quite different from other shawls I have made, which are typically lacy, drapy and open, but this one is sure to be a favorite when it's done!

If you aren't already signed up for Quince & Co's emails, I highly recommend them (you can sign up right on their homepage, quinceandco.com.) They are pretty simple, just a photo with a link to a new pattern, but the styling, design, and beauty always take my breath away. It's a treat to find one in my inbox.

For Edie, I am knitting along with another blogger/raveler in Oklahoma. Hi, Shelli!