Garden X Fiber

The garden floozies call seductively from the yard each day.  Knitting focus is difficult.  I've whittled the single sock WIPS to a more manageable struggle.  That can only mean that I have finally rewarded myself with another cast-on.

Feather Duster has been in my queue since Susan released the pattern.  At the same time, Loopy Ewe stocked the yarn called for in the pattern:  Shibui Silk Cloud.  I am on a Susan roll.

Intellectually, I knew that the yarn was a clone of Kidsilk Haze.  Memories from knitters' reports of KSH tinking and frogging disasters lingered in my knitting mental database.  Nine rows and one big mistake  into the pattern (the first real pattern row), I thought it would easier to frog and restart than to tink.

Now I know MORE than intellectually about the problems with ripping back mohair/silk.  Chastened, more cautious, I cast on once again.  I'm past the set-up, done with Chart A, and through the first repeat of Chart B.  Lifelines are in.  (I doubt even they will save me from the clawing, grabbing strands of mohair that throttle each mistaken stitch.) 

Slowly.  Carefully.  (Beware of overconfidence.)

Those ladies parading in the garden now are quite distracting.  Leda, Queen of Sparta, Mother of Castor and Pollux, was seducing a wild honeybee.

A more seductive shot of Leda proves that she is more than a one blossom wonder.

Hinode Seki (third picture) tosses her pretty petals around in the breeze, disarray only making her more beautiful.

Beauty is relative.  At CTS&W, the Tsock Tsarina and Marcy did their cross-enabling.  I happened on the Jenkins website as he was releasing Larks. 

Crossing garden with fiber, I ordered one in Lilac.  She is lovely, a close match to the maple of the spindle.

That is an Abby batt taking shape on her (Corriedale, mohair, tussah, angelina).

Comments

[Melissa G]

I always look forward to seeing your peonies and that's a really neat spindle. Been thinking of trying a turkish.

[evalyn]

Oh, my God, I love peonies. Thank you for the peek. Such loveliness.

[Anne]

Steady as she goes - I'm glad you were able to start something new, although I would have to be on massive doses of psychotropic drugs to tackle another KSH project anytime soon.

Oooo! Pretty peonies!

[Lynn]

I think we need a garden nursery crawl. Perhaps interspersed with yarn and tea shops.

[margene]

Mohair is humbling to any knitter as one should check each stitch to make sure it's securely on the needles. The time spent is worth it. FD is one of my favorite shawls and I plan another.
Your garden must be an amazing place to play.

[Kathy]

My peonies have not bloomed yet. Any day. Worth the wait. You are definitely on a Susan roll! I have Feather Duster queued -- maybe after Fog Lifter is done!

[Lucia]

I like Lynn's idea, and also your post, because I am a sensualist at heart. I remain convinced that all knitters are.

[Carole]

Such gorgeous photos today! I knit my Featherduster with KSH but I didn't any trouble with it. I hope you have smooth sailing from this point forward.

[Manise]

My Feather Duster bit the dust long go, was yanked off the needles and sits still unfrogged. Thanks for the push. I'll be doing that and hopefully restarting it too. Oooh you got a lark! Nice! And very pretty tree peony blooms! The petals look like silk fabric.

[Cheryl S.]

Ah, the peonies are gorgeous. Never had any luck with them myself. I guess I'll have to stick to Featherduster instead.

[Marcia]

Like much of the rest of my yard, the neighbors' trees are suddenly providing much too much shade for the peonies so I'm not hopeful for a big display this year. I hate the thoughts of moving them, though! (Taking down the neighbors' trees is discouraged, unfortunately, even for peonies.) Enjoyed seeing yours!

[Kim]

I'm looking forward to making a Feather duster too...yours is going to be beautiful....as are your poppies! I love that little hidden bee. :)

[gayle]

That spindle is so beautiful! As are your peonies. (I planted a peony 7-8 years ago. Haven't had a bloom yet. I'm starting to get discouraged.)
I bought the Feather Duster pattern at NH S&W. (I'll be using my handspun merino/tencel, which I hope will be easier to rip out than your mohair...) What a beautiful shawl it is - can't wait to see yours!

[Teyani]

peonies? tulips? whatever they are, I am gobsmacked with their beauty..
and oh my : "disarray only making her more beautiful." you were on a literary roll today with that wonderful turn of a phrase ;-) Love it!

I have been taken with feather duster ever since Margene and Carole made it, but I too have great trepidation regarding the unforgiving fingers of fickle fate that are called 'mohair'....
be brave, oh great Etherknitter.. tally ho!

[Hillary]

Very prety flowers. I was just looking at the feather duster again but my queue is already way too long. I'll just watch yours take shape instead.

[Diane]

Gorgeousity (is too a word) all over your blog today. I'm hoping the rains don't make my peonies a complete washout this year. They are bigger and have more blooms than ever, but it.won't.stop.raining.

Good luck with the mohair. I still twitch when KSH is mentioned and it's been two years.

[pat]

What a beautiful and beautifully written blog post!
When I make Feather Duster it won't be in mohair...you are a brave knitter!

[claudia]

Beautiful colors here today.

[Ann Flower]

I just recently discovered your blog and am so glad I did. What a sweet post!