Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Fall Colours

Busy life just interferes with knitting and without fibre happening, it seems that there really is nothing to write about. (I was a bit under weather the first week too and when I finally was ready to write something, we were off line for a while.)

I finished Zetor shawl few days ago but there has not been long enough time stretch for blocking in peace. I want to have plenty of time to pin out the shawl; I have learnt to enjoy the process and I keep adjusting the needles so long that it almost seems senseless in the end. But I just can’t let go and can’t decide whether the needle should be 3 mm closer or further (as if that would make any difference when in use), so the blocking will have to wait for a good quiet long day.

A sweater yarn has been calling for me. I am sure I really heard the call, because I woke up few nights ago all of a sudden and I think I even whispered the word: sweater into the darkness. I know it is the magic of the fall and yellow and orange leaves turning up here and there that is influencing me and creeping into my consciousness. I seem to knit hand in hand with the landscape and the lovely colours there and yet every time it comes as a surprise to me.

Then two nights ago, when everyone had gone to bed, I dived into my fibre stash and dig deep and found the yarn - Studio Maisa Tikkanen yarn - that had been calling me. I grabbed all of it and gathered it to the couch. I looked and looked at it and I knew what it wanted to be. But no matter how hard I looked there was not going to be enough for the sweater in mind.

If I was to rescue one sweater from the house in a hurry, I would take my blue, sweatshirt shaped, huge, raglan sweater. It is cosy, it is warm and it fits on top of everything; it is light even though it is huge; because it is raglan shaped, it does not have extra fabric under arms and so fits under my coats. All in all, my best sweater. Not an interesting thing to knit, but so good to wear and the one that I have always at hand. Since it is so simple, it is easy to dress up a bit with a beautiful scarf if need be but it is not too good to be worn on ordinary days. I know, none of the sweaters should be too good to be used, and many times the issue is not too good but not comfortable enough. Sure, this sweater is not for office, but for my purposes (country life) absolutely the best. Maybe if done with classy yarns, and a bit smaller, this would be good for more formal life too. The simplest things are usually the most beautiful ones. And often one sees patterns that have too much of everything – those patterns are interesting to knit but they hardly see any wear at all.

I want to have another simple wearable sweater… I have tossed over every single basket and box but I do not have enough of this colour in the stash; anyway I have so much that it would be totally wasteful to be buying another lot. So I sat there in the calmness of the night and the house and realized that I could add other colours. That was my “heureka!” -moment. (I know it should have been obvious right from the start, but sometimes these things take time… here.)

The sweater was going to be the most simple sweater in the world but now that I need to introduce new colour/colours to the scheme, I have had to consider this a bit more and I think I have a plan.

I am on the way and this feels very right. This is Fall Colours.
Lene

16 comments:

  1. fall colours are wonderful and your sweater looks wonderful too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous18:10

    Your fall sweater colour scheme reminds me of the beautiful Kauni EP. Hope you got an golden autum and the right mood to finish your new project. Kind regards from Germany.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are inspirational, you truly are. Here I was sitting on my computer, all tired from studying, hunting sensible (boring) shoes for the fall and from cleaning the kitchen, wanting to do nothing else for the entire evening but read something non-useful. And now I just can wait to get my hands on something thoughtful and beautiful. So thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful palette - if it were my sweater I'd have it done just as the spring greens come out next year....luckily you are a lot quicker than I am!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous20:59

    The beautiful colors make me wish for cooler days!

    Lesley

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lene, what beautiful colours, and I truly understand that whole 'simple is beautiful' concept.
    LOVE the colours!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the relief you give to some of your designs. The few rows of knitting that separate one piece from another in a rim. It seems to be your trademark. Beautiful. Your fall colours sing. It reminds me of the last trip on the boat when my HD exclaimed "the trees have turned colours!" those closest to the water had turned red after a cool night or two. Beautiful. I hope you are feeling well again.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful Colors. It looks very cozy and autumnal so far.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I look forward to watching the progress of your Fall Colors. I love the passion with which you write about the yarns and designs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous20:45

    There you go again Lene..... perfection! As usual, your beautiful detailing leaves me so inspired. And, as usual, I thank you for your kindness in sharing with all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've missed your blogging. Your writing AND knitting inspire me.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous05:27

    the colors are beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous05:54

    It will be beautiful -- and even more so when you hold your gorgeous orange tabby close!
    Kati

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm glad that I am not the only one that gets bossed around by yarns. Sometimes I don't listen and try to create something else with it, only to frog it and do what it wants anyways, and the results are usually very good. Fall has such rich colors and its a pleasure to see them again.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow - the colours are looking fantastic. I'll watch its progress keenly!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous18:59

    These are my very favorite colors you're using. It makes me so happy to see you working in this palette! :-)

    ReplyDelete