The Golden Iris

I'm not sure what else you do with nearly a sweater quantity of variegated yarn, except make a Clapotis . This is perfectly okay with me, even though it violates my rule of "never knit anything twice". My other two Clapotises are made from sock yarn and are just plain too small. This one may verge on too big but I love the luxurious feel of a big drapey wrap. Yarn: Mirasol Hacho in Sapphire Jade (304). #8 needles and the full width of the original pattern - and extra length. I did the thing you're supposed to do and alternated skeins. I'm glad I did because I think it came out very even. If it can't keep me warm this winter, I doubt anything can.

The shop has been participating in the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project . This weekend, all the corals that have been collected were installed in the shop's front window display. They are awesome. Read about the math part . It is very cool and still a little mind-bending. The coral reef project won't take animals, but I made a jellyfish anyway. It adds some height to the window display and was fun to make. I made my jellyfish by knitting a doily pattern, then starching it with commercial fabric stiffener over the biggest bowl I had. The tentacles are crocheted by chaining, then working single crochet into one side of the chain - they curl naturally. This is approximately the most artistic thing I've done in years and it makes me laugh!

I think this has been the busiest year of my life so far. New job, engaged, married, knitting a lot... which is why the blog has been dead. Let's give it another try with one of my favorite shots of me from the wedding photos from Brandy of Modern Toile Photography .

Long time no see! Miss me? Yeah, that's what I thought. Not really. But that's OK. I miss blogging, so I am going to try (in my copious spare time) to keep up with it again. Besides, why else am I paying for flickr pro? Lots of people have commented that Ravelry is killing the knitting blogs, and that blogs really are a strange, one-sided form of communication. Yes, and yes. Who cares! Anyway, I am doing the crazy thing where I am trying to knit 12 sweaters in 12 months. 12 sweaters in 2010. Thankfully vests count, or I'd be sunk. I just finished Ms. Marigold from Zephyr Style, out of Miss Babs Yowza in the color Timberline. Awesome top, with spectacular giant boob-framing detail! I normally hate vests but the deep V neck and the funky crocheted ruffles put me over the edge - and seeing Miss Babs' sample in real life really sealed the deal. Now to decide which sweater I'm going to finish by the end of February. I hope that sample knitting sweaters get to count, even...