Spring to Mind

Ever since I discovered Project Spectrum my brain has been on overdrive. Plotting and planning. Seeing possibilities everywhere. Ideas springing up like daffodil leaves and crocus buds.


While cruising the internet drooling over some new patterns and yarns, a truly wondrous thing happened. A long forgotten UFO (unfinished object) sprang to mind.
Hmmmm, A hibernating project + Springtime = a novel idea. Finish the unfinished object.

The back has long been done. I am now knitting the the front.

I absolutely fell in love with this Noro yarn, Sakura. I have so much fun watching the color changes flow from my fingertips, trying to guess what color is coming next.

Dance, Dance, Dance

Sterling Silver Bracelet

I am working on a custom order piece, a free-form sterling silver cuff style bracelet. Coaxing the heavy gauge wire into it's delicate pirouettes, curls and spirals takes a bit of muscle. The goal for me is to get the design to look easy and free-flowing.
I am not a dancer, but as I worked on my own 'dance', I was struck by the irony of something looking easy, light and free-flowing and the amount of strength, sweat and tears that is actually involved in creating the final product.
This work is so very much of the moment, about being enveloped in the power of the effort and the force of concentration.
It reminds me of a quote from Suzanne Farrell that I like very much.

Work It

Reading a Knitting Pattern
After I buy that new 'just gotta have it' knitting book or magazine, I always make a photo copy of the pattern I'm working on.
Why?

I find it so much easier when the pattern lies flat and I'm not constantly trying to keep the book or magazine open.

Easier to transport. A few pages take up much less space in my knitting bag than an entire book or magazine.

I confess! I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I like to keep my books and magazines in good condition. My photocopy can get pretty ragged.
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I love sticky notes! 'Say it again.' I love sticky notes!

For patterns with charts I like to use them to mark my place so I know which row I am working in the chart. After I finish knitting a row I move the sticky note up the chart so it underlines the next row I need to work.
I prefer sticky notes to other methods because I find them less cumbersome. They stay in place and I can write little notes to myself to help me remember what I am doing in the pattern. And, if I lose one, there are plenty more on the pad:)