I owe Border Explorer a political meme, but I spent all day Monday writing about cognitive psychology, and I just can't think that hard right now. (Sorry, BE, but I promise I will get to it.)
Since we just passed the autumnal equinox, I'm going to post some photos that make me think of autumn. These are old because we don't have much fall color here yet.
The last few mornings have been misty like this:
And this was what the maple in the front yard looked like last year. I hope we have a repeat performance. The tree is about 14 years old, and the last few years, it's gotten better every year.
Finally, to me, fall always means the return of knitting season, so I am going to shamelessly show off some of my past handiwork. The top photo is a shawl of very warm, fuzzy, self-striping* yarn. It has cables on both sides, so there is no right side / wrong side.
More self-striping yarn. If you've read the blog much at all, you've probably picked up that I LOVE color.
This one doesn't show as well as I would like, but it's absolutely one of my favorites. It was a pain in the butt getting those bobbles positioned precisely row after row.
An aran sweater in one of the colors that looks best on me.
One last sweater made of self-striping yarn (and me with an old hairstyle). This was taken the week I left my old job. Notice how happy I look. LOL
Hoping we all have a warm and cozy autumn.
* Self-striping yarn is yarn that the manufacturer dyes so that it changes color at intervals. So, for example, you might have 10 yards of peacock blue, 8 yards of grape purple, 8 yards of brown, 10 yards of grass green, 12 yards of turquoise, then the pattern repeats. When you knit with that kind of yarn, the stripes appear without your having to change your skein.
25 comments:
Ruth I love your blogs, will be looking forward to your updates.
That was a wonderful beauty-break! [The political meme is merely an invitation, not homework. ;-) ]
Those sweaters are gorgeous! And I love your color sense....
I always love looking at your sweaters...and YOU!
XOXO
Pretty colors!
I'm jealous of your tree..I have two great shade trees, but they are pin oaks and don't look pretty in the fall.
Oooo your sweaters are so pretty and look so soft...I just want to pet them! Knitting is something that I've just never mastered, I'll just have to admire your handiwork.
Lovely sweaters, gorgeous colors.
Ahhhhh! What a nice burst of color this morning! Love the tree, LOVE the knitting...I consider myself a beginning knitter, although I learned some things a very long time ago...I let intricate patterns intimidate me! I would love to make sweaters for my grandchildren...I'm just afraid they'll outgrow them before I finish:)
I'm lusting after your tree. I used to have a similar one when I lived in Columbia, MO but it took a lightning hit. God, I loved the color on that tree (and yours!)
Wow - wonder a wonderful talent. Those sweaters are great. I've never heard of self-striping yarn - I guess I'm off to google now!
that didn't come out right - 'what a wonderful..'
Thank you, Ruth. I love autumn and really miss the changing leaves down here in south TX. I love the glimpses you gave us!
I just bought yarn to make a sweater. I have never heard of self-striping yarn. I've never been willing to attempt patterns like that, because I had no clue how to change the color so often. I thought it would be tedious. what am I missing? LOL.
I've gotten a couple of questions about self-striping yarn, so I'll leave a comment and amend the post.
Self-striping yarn is yarn that the manufacturer dyes so that it changes color at intervals. So, for example, you might have 10 yards of peacock blue, 8 yards of grape purple, 8 yards of brown, 10 yards of grass green, 12 yards of turquoise, then the pattern repeats.
When you knit with that kind of yarn, the stripes appear without your having to change your skein. Some manufacturers make it so the repetition of the colors is the same, and some make it vary. Some yarns have stripes that are roughly equal, and some have stripes of varying size.
Those wild socks I posted the other day were self-striping. It's especially nice for socks because you don't want to be walking around on knots where you had to join yarns.
I adore self-striping yarns. It is so fun to watch the color changes as you work.
Oh what lovely knitting. I used to do a lot of knitting but haven't done any for years and years. I now feel itchy fingers to get started again!
By the way, the first thing I ever knitted, I started when I was eight and it took me a year! It was a sleeveless veeneck sweater/"tank top", in the days of the Osmonds when these things were the fashion. (Also it was to save having to knit sleeves). And guess what - it was knitted in SELF-STRIPING YARN!!!
I love your love of color!!
I am drooling over that Aran!
How blessed you are to live in a place where you can wear beautiful sweaters all winter long! That's another positive for you to consider (smile).
As someone who tends to be a "glass half empty" person, I do sympathize with your struggles in a previous post about health issues. Lifestyle changes can be successful though; it just takes time and to keep on keeping on...a little at a time and changes happen. I think you are doing great, and you've already seen progress. You can do it!
Ruth, I love your sweaters. I especially love the Aran!! It's the perfect color for you!! I can't wait to see what you knit this year. I'm so envious...I've never been able to knit anything but a straight scarf! But that's fun too!
Your fall colors are beautiful and I hate to admit that I didn't even realize it was fall. It came while I wasn't paying attention! LOL I'm glad you reminded me. I'll have to dig up some old photos ...we don't have much color here yet, either.
XOXOXOX
Your knitting is gorgeous! I wish I could knot more than crooked scarves - maybe I'll try again this winter. I also wish you were around to show me how. Diane
wow!!! They're beautiful! --My mom tried to teach me, but I was all thumbs when it came to knitting --your stuff is really beautiful!
Oh, I used to love self-striping yarn! We don't see much of it these days over here, in fact - come to think of it - we don't seem to have those wonderful little wool shops anymore where you could buy any type of yarn imaginable!
I'm not a knitter, but I used to do a lot of crochet. Not the intricate, fancy 'tablemat' type crochet, but jumpers and bags and baby clothes and 'Afghan' throws.
Maybe I'll take that up again soon.
I absolutely looove the colours in the shawl!
You are an awesome knitter! Those appear to be difficult patterns to me and they look perfectly executed. I love the pictures of the trees. We still haven't had a frost.
After trying countless times I must admit to being seriously knitting challenged! When I see your work I think... Maybe? Maybe not!
What a nice post- reading it made me feel cozy.
Oh, Ruth, your knitting is absolutely gorgeous! You're very skilled to be able to make lovely, stylish items like these to wear. I've sewed clothes, but certainly never knitted any, and am very impressed with your ability.
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