Just a quick update today. All major pieces of my husbands sweater are done. I just have endless seaming, sewing in zipper and to pick up neckline stitches. Yes, still a lot of work! Maybe I will be brave and finish some of that this weekend?

My sweater is up to 6 pattern repeats. I need 8, then I do the neckline decreases. At the moment I am on sleeve decreases. It’s looking so lovely though! I think this color is a good Fall/Winter transition sweater, cotton and cashmere for when it just starts getting chilly. The California Bay Area has the best weather in September and October.

It’s hard to fight the temptation of starting on even something more! I bought all these lovely vintage stuffed animal patterns. I have patterns for teddies, rabbit, cat, duck, penguin and even koala bear.

I scored some really lovely patterns this week. Isn’t this charming? It is dated 1933.

I’m starting to enjoy the look of doilies. There is an charming artful mystery about them. With modern lace weight wools in variegated colors they can quite endearing. Maybe it somehow makes you think of your loving grandmother and the comforts of home.

I used to fear doilies and had an unknown vengeance towards them. My mother at one time tried to shove off the ones her grandmother made on me but I hid them in a drawer never to be seen. Maybe they are still there? I can’t really explain why I hated them so much. Maybe I had a fear of “old people” as a child. Maybe most of them smelled like moth balls, turning me off them unconsciously?

Now I think my feelings changed as I realized all the work that goes into making them. Lacey patterns done by hand are no small task. They can evoke so many styles beyond “Grandma Chic” as I’ve heard it been called. Dark variegated colors give a very Celtic look. Light frothy colors give a dreamy feminine vintage look. Maybe you might use them to set up a tea party. Doilies help you practice lace work in small format helping you perfect your skills.

I have to say, though I am picky about doilies this is a lovely one. This pattern was generously donated to us by Rick and Kary of Toad Hollow Presents from eBay! They reproduce beautiful patterns for sale that are mostly crochet but some knitting too! When donating this pattern they told me “…we like to make sure that these wonderful patterns can be preserved and that anyone can afford to own and use them. I hope this pattern is enjoyed by many.” Check them out!
Pattern under cut. (more…)

This weekend I made some headway despite stopping and starting for 100 other errands and the intense heat that makes my hands clammy and knitting hard. Here pictured is two patterns repeated but I accomplished three so far. Two more then I start decreasing for arm holes. The pattern looks pretty self explainitory from my first complete read through. It’s pretty easy to finish a pattern repeat a day, even on a work night. I don’t have the whole lace pattern memorized but when I recap each line when I start it, it is quick sailing through each one. Maybe it’s due to being squished on a twelve inch needle but the lace “lily” pattern does seem to hollow and seem like the cup of a calla lily. I’m sure when blocked and streached on my body it will be less pronounced. Still, it’s an interesting detail of this lace.