cowl = cow + l, rhymes with towel

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement on the last post. It's refreshing to know that others struggle with the same things. The blogging community is a wonderful, inspiring place, but it poses a trap in the temptation to blindly follow others' work. I think that Blanche said a true thing: we create "unique art by building on or breaking down what already exist[s]." It's the consciousness of that process that I want to work on most.

After all that, I feel somewhat phony posting a project so directly inspired by others' work! After seeing the lovely cowls of Jenny and Ellybeth, though, I couldn't wait to make one for myself. Finding the right yarn slowed me down a bit - originally I thought green, but greens are tricky and nothing I found would suit. I settled on Nature's Choice organic cotton in Walnut, using a textured stitch to liven up the "putty-colored yarn" (my sister's words - thanks M).

While I love the way the cowl turned out, I'm still not quite sold on the yarn. I was excited at the outset - an all natural yarn that's readily available and doesn't cost a fortune! As soon as I started knitting with it, though, it began pilling. It is very soft and drapey and the stitch pattern distracts from the pilling somewhat, but still . . .

I shouldn't complain too much, though - seeing as I've worn it with everything the past 3 days! I wanted a more drapey, pashmina effect than the "orignals," and I'm quite pleased with the window-pane stitch I developed for it. It also looks great with the sewing project I finished up this weekend - but more on that later!

Note: Title is taken from a conversation with the 6-year old twins I babysit for. "Whatchya makin'? A cow?!?"

you heard right!

Sorry for the absence, I've been busily knitting away in the anticipation of opening my shop!

Yes, you heard right. I've been scheming and stalling long enough - barring extraneous circumstances, the felicitous shop should be up and running by the holidays! The shop will open with some of my immensely popular cabled bags. I've been working on some new designs to release, while at the same time considering the possibility of offering patterns of these designs, sometime after the new year (thanks for the idea, Casey!). Here's a not-so-sneaky sneak peek:

In the meantime, I have a question for you all. (Nothing like multi-tasking and using your blog for a little market research.) In an ideal world, where you could purchase as many cabled bags as you would like, which would you be more inclined to buy?

• A cabled purse, approx. 10" wide by 11" deep (handles included, bag portion measuring 7 1/2" deep)
• A cabled tote , approx. 10" wide by 16" deep (handles included, bag portion measuring 12 1/2" deep), for a slightly higher price

You can participate either through the poll in the sidebar or by elaborating in the comments section of this post. Thanks everyone, and have a great Friday!

good for a yarn or two

spiral cloche made recently, inspired by

yummy cables from fall catalogues

Ttfn. I'm off for a weekend road trip with the fam. I go equipped however with yarn, knitting needles, and a few good books. It's anyone's guess what may come of it . . .

P.S. Doesn't this stress-free tear-sheet swap sound terrific? Rats - just missed the deadline! Hopefully there'll be another soon, though. Found via

anticipating fall knits

Why, why, oh WHY did I flip through a copy of Vogue Knitting while waiting in line yesterday? Why didn't I content myself with the 10 free patterns they had released online? But no, I had to look, and I had to see the seriously gorgeous cabled capelet from Michael Kors, which calls for ONLY 10 skeins of cashmere yarn. *sigh*

But seriously, this is a fabulous issue. All those gorgeous cabled knits? Definitely puts me in the mood for fall.

Hmm. Makes me wish I had started on a cabled wrap when first I spotted it. Ah well, perhaps I can content my itching fingers with more cabled bags. Or a crocheted cloche. Hmmm . . .