Sew Distracted

More Mail

David Page Coffin's new book arrived today.   I spent most of my free time today looking at it, reading bits of it, and looking at it some more.

If you haven't done so already, Buy This Book.

I am going to need to make some pants soon enough.  I was thinking I wasn't quite ready for that yet as my attentions are still somewhat running toward scatter-brained.  

This should really help me focus my thoughts.  I have a lot to think about and a lot to absorb.  It should be fun.

More Anny Blatt

It appears that "tomorrow" became three days.  Oh well.

Anny Blatt book 203, "Couture" is not as interesting to me as the previous book.  There are a lot of sweaters that remind me of sweaters Anny Blatt did in the 90's and even late 80's, but I think the originals are better.  Most of the patterns are just a little "off" to me, or perhaps it is just too much bling.  

At first I was thrilled by three sweaters with classic shapes and interesting intarsia patterns, but after due consideration I realized that the only one that really calls to me is this cover sweater.  

Even with the pailletes it calls to me.  Or perhaps it is just the summer flowers which indicate a longing to be out in the garden.

I probably will not knit it anyway for the same reasons mentioned in my previous post, namely I am already backed up on colorwork sweaters and this is not calling to me loudly enough to displace those items already in the queue.

The only other sweater in this book that appeals is this rather classic cardigan, called Lorraine.

Again, it is not that unusual or special, pattern wise or even stitch wise, but it is just a lovely classic cardigan of the type that I would wear over and over and over again.

I guess that alone should be enough reason to knit it.  

But attraction is fickle, at least my attraction to knittng projects, and being steadfast and integrating well into the wardrobe aren't always what I am looking for in a knitting relationship.  Where is the excitement, the suspense, the surprise?

In terms of knitting thrills the cover sweater is more enticing.  Will either one get knit?  Well, fall is not here yet.

Warm Woolen Sweaters and Crisp Apple Strudel

This post has been revised with improved photos

Double click on all photos to open a full sized version in another window

It always happens this way: In the midst of summer heat and humidity, when the air is too hot and too heavy and the thought of holding yarn, much less wearing any kind of sweater has slowed my knitting down to a long slow drawl, the winter knitting  books begin to arrive.

You might think that looking at winter knitting patterns in the middle of summer heat would be the last thing I would want to do.  You would be surprised.  The lure of winter yarns is much like the thrill that comes every December when the spring gardening catalogs start to arrive, whetting the appetite for balmy spring days surrounded by beautiful flowers.    With winter knitting magazines come dreams of crisp autumn days and cozy winter evenings in front of the fire.  Winter dreams consist of all the things I love, hearty stews, crispy duck, warm wool and cashmere, full bodied red wine, brandy by the fire, snow, cranberries... Not that I don't love summer berries and produce, crisp linens and beautiful flowers, but the heat and humidity?  Bah.  That I could do without.

And so just when I think that I summer will never end, the fall temptations begin to arrive.

The new Anny Blatt Intemporel, Book #204, is filled with sweaters I would love to knit.  In fact the shorter list here would be the things I don't like.  The problem is that I want to knit everything even though I know it will never happen.  Still, dreams are cheap enough.

First of all I love the cover vest.  Well, that is not exactly true.  I love the cover vest as it is  styled in the cover photograph.  Upon looking at the line drawings I see that it is just a giant rectangle with a ribbed neck.  It will probably not stay in place properly, and most of all it will not give me that wide shouldered - narrow hipped look of the model.   In fact it probably doesn't even look all that great on the model when she is standing straight.  It probably falls off her shoulders and just looks wide and floppy.

I toyed with the idea of fixing it, wondering if I could extend the ribbed front look with some garter stitch or something and make a round drawstring waist, breaking the lace in two.  In the end these idle fantasies are always too much work.  There are too many other things in the world to knit.

When I saw the long cabled sweater on the back cover (leda, far right) I was very excited.  When I saw that there was another one inside I felt like i had hit the jackpot.  I can live in this kind of sweater when the weather turns cold and I much prefer the longer length to the more traditional shorter style of cabled sweater.  I think the pattern on the turtleneck is the more interesting of the two, and when I was younger it would have been my first choice.  But it is a very long expanse of sweater and I am increasingly appreciating the wearing potential of a more open neckline.

For those of us who are tall or who like long sweaters.  This issue is the mother lode.

The long cardigan on the far left reminds me very much of a long black cashmere cardigan my MIL gave me shortly before I married her son.  I still have that cardigan and it is probably one of the most frequently worn cardigans in my closet.  Since it is more than 20 years old at this point, I keep meaning to make another, but I have never gotten around to doing so.  This cardigan is the exact same shape and length as my favorite cardigan.  The Merinos yarn called for in this pattern is a slightly heavier gauge, but the yarn is yummy and the interesting basket weave stitch is attractive and will hopefully not be too tedious to knit.  This project would probably be a very good investment of knitting time.

The red cardigan coat is just so lovely, although I am not completely sure it is my style.  I think it could work wit the right outfit, but at this point I think this is more of a fantasy knit that will marvelously enhance my fantasy wardrobe.

While I am on the subject of long sweaters, here are two more that caught my fancy.  The long dusky plum sweater calls for "fine kid" and is knit on 6 different sizes of needles.  I love  the line of this sweater and it is a very flattering look for me.  I love the lace patterns at the hems also, although I may have to make the sleeves slightly narrower simply because I am the kind of person who has an unfortunate tendency to drag my sleeves through my soup.

Isn't the scarf wonderful too?

I jut adore this color work sweater too.  I love the fit through the waist, the way the sweater flares from waist to hem, the beautiful lusciously feminine colors.  Most of all however I have to admit that I love the idea of this sweater because it is knit entirely in Angora Super and I love angora.  Geesh, I feel soft and pretty and cuddly just thinking about this sweater.  But I have several color work sweaters in the works and they are all currently stalled. So I don't think this is a reasonable investment at this time.  Yes I could buy other yarn, but it is the angoraness (yes I know, not a word) of this sweater that appeals as much as the pretty colors.

Finally there are two shorter cardigans:

One Classic.

One not so classic.

At the moment I am drawn to the less classic one.  I like the modified empire line, it is soft and feminine but still has enough structure that I think it will look stunning with a narrow tailored skirt, or with pants as shown.  

And here I have gone on an on and haven't even looked at the second of the two Anny Blatt books that arrived.  

Tomorrow

Tagged!

Materfamilias tagged me for the following meme:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Turn to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and acknowledge who tagged you.

As it happens, I am in the midst of  packing preparations and I have two books on my desk, stacked one atop the other.  One is the book I hoped to finish, but have not, and the other is the book I hoped to take with me and begin, but will not.

Because I cannot decide, which book to use, and because the precedent has been set, I shall post from both:

From Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals

If he wanted a seat in the U.S. Senate, however, he would need the support of Ohio Democrats, a task that would not be made easier by assaulting a Democratic president.

Of the four future presidential rivals, only Edward BAtes matched the vehemence of Lincoln's opposition.  He charged Polk with "gross & palpable lying, " arguing that the true object of the war was "plunder and conquest."

And from the other book, Jonathan Coe's The Rain Before it Falls comes this passage:

She came back from dinner that night rather early -- at about ten o'clock.  Beatrix and Thea had already gone to bed. I poured Rebecca one of those brandies for which we were rapidly starting to develop an appetite, and told her of Beatrix's request.

Well, now I really want to start reading that new book and find out what is going on, but alas it will have to wait.  The anticipation will be sweet indeed.

But first I need to share the fun and pass this on to five friends.

I select  Liana, Marji, Grace, Gina, and lastly Lisa at Blackwater Park  (if and when she finds the time, which may or may not be likely).

That said.  I am going to shut down the computer and prepare myself for vacation mode.  I will have my portable with me, and I hope to get time to post as I do have things to share, but frankly,  that 20 month old darling of a grandson gets first dibs on my attentions, so we'll see what I get to...no promises.

Spring Vogue Knitting

Well, the Vogue Knitting did finally arrive over the weekend and I had plenty of time to peruse it over the weekend, and again this afternoon when a minor accident kept me from my assigned task of installing bookcases in the new library.

You probably will not be surprised to learn that there are several things I like; it is actually more surprising when there is little I like in this magazine.  Don't know when any of this will get knitted though, but knitting inspiration pops up when it will and all these lovely sweaters will pool around in my brain, jostling for position, until the right one just happens to jump to the forefront.

I do like the cover sweater very much, and I like this little cropped thing as well:

Although at the moment I love this blue one but can't imagine wearing it.  That might change.  It is not so that I am worried about whether it will look good on me, because if I can figure out an outfit, I know it will look good, because it will look the way I want it to look, I just haven't gotten that far along yet.  Someday it might just pop into my head though. 

I have been really thinking about shrugs and cropped sweaters this spring though.  They are somehow in my head even though that trend is probably over, or perhaps it is because that trend is over -- once again I am not sure I really care.  I'll make what I feel like wearing.

It is probably no surprise that I love the Kaffe Fassett cardigan, or perhaps even this interesting top by Mary Lynn Patrick.  Although I am not always fond of Ms. Patrick's patterns, and I tend to be somewhat wary of combining too much pattern and texture in one top, this one appeals to me somehow, although it could be that it just reminds me of some of the ethnic and heavily patterned influences that are popular in fashion right at the moment.

This tunic with its combination of cables, lace and really classic shape definitely appeals, as does this sweater with its asymmetrical design that looks like it will be easy to wear and entertaining to knit:

Give me a needle, some thread, your old t-shirts

This book arrived a couple of days ago and I have carted it around with me instead of knitting whenever I thought there would be some waiting around time, and I have been stealing moments with it whenever I thought get away with a little peak.

I  have been aware of the work of Natalie Chanin through her company Project Alabama  for some time, and I have been fortunate enough to see and admire some of the beautiful garments they produced,  and sold in stores like Bergdorf Goodman.   I have been thrilled to read that these same artisan stitcher's continue to be employed making beautiful objects through Natalie's new company, Alabama Chanin. 

I knew I would buy the book as soon as I heard about it, even if it hadn't included a pattern and instructions on how to make the inspiring garments.  I had kind of figured out how to create the reverse applique that Project Alabama was known for.  But I find that the book is inspiring and helpful and filled with wonderful ideas and techniques.  So perhaps now I will actually use the recycled t-shirts I have been saving up for just such projects.  There are all kinds of ideas for projects beyond  shirts, including wonderful floppy flowers and a fabulous boa.
But the truth is, that I love it just as much for the stories about the stitchers that create the Alabama Chanin garments, for the sense of history and culture that permeates the book.

I applaud Natalie Chanin for creating the opportunity for this kind of work and for figuring out a way to keep it going when Project Alabama had to close.

Obviously I am besotted.

New Rowan

New Rowan books!

I love getting the Rowan magazines and this one is no exception.  There are several designs in here I would like to knit, some immediately, and some that can wait.  And there are others that I think are nice. 

I am always amazed when I go back and look at previous issues how many designs stand the test of time and I think this issue will be no exception.

Most of the sweaters that I am attracted to in this issue are more classic sweaters that I can wear for a long time.

One exception is perhaps Granite:

This sweater is just seriously cool, and I am really hoping to be knitting this.  Unfortunately it uses Bamboo Tape, which is not currently represented in my stash and my intention is to knit up a bit more of the stash and reduce new yarn purchases somewhat.  Unfortunately, although I can substitute, I think the shape of this sweater will really shine with the drape of bamboo and I would have to be very careful with substitutions.

Another sweater that uses Bamboo tape is this loose vest-like tank, called Mine.  I love the beads along the edge and I think this would look really cool over a pair of jeans with a close fitted tee or two underneath.  Because it is loose and drapey  I would want it to be short enough that a clingy tee would extend underneath.  This pattern is a bit short for me and I might make it a tad shorter, to maximize its layering potential. 

Mine is simple but really already planted firmly in my brain as a must-have for spring and summer, so I might just have to get the yarn and the beads.

As I said the other designs I really like are more classic in their appeal.  Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mabley are both represented:

I would make the men's vest in a small, making it for myself and adding a good bit of shaping to it so that it was much more close-fitting .  I would probably also lower the v-neckline just a wee bit to show a little more flesh at the neckline.

I also love this delicate lacy tee by Sarah Hatton.

It seems that I am increasingly attracted to delicate feminine things even though not so long ago I would have said that lace was really not my thing.  Apparently that is no longer the case and one of these days something like this tee is going to appear on my needles. I can't quite bring myself to do the whole wispy romantic look, but I can see this with a pair of sharply tailored pants as well.

There is actually more.  A couple of RYC books arrived in the same package, but I have already gone on long enough, and not completed my chores for today, so I will have to continue later.

Japanese Pattern Book Update

Thank you Rhonda for inquiring about ISBN numbers on the Japanese books.  I have gone back and added the ISBN numbers to the discussion of the books in my January 16th post.  I will try to do that in the future whenever I discuss a Japanese book.  I know from experience how hard it can be to find a book I have seen on someone's blog without the ISBN.

Japanese pattern drafting and sewing books

Part of my ongoing plan this year, and the past couple in fact, has been the process of eliminating and consolidating.  In the past I went through much of the house, but of course, the difficult things have been left to last, and one of those areas is the area I call "the dreaded piles".  These consist of piles of boxes of patterns, piles of sewing and knitting magazines, and generally piles of stuff that I thought I might use someday, but for which someday has yet to arrive.  It also means that I am trying to stop piling everything that "I can't get to but hope to someday" on my sewing table or in my sewing room.  This may not sound like much, but if you are a person of many enthusiasms it is amazing how quickly they get out of hand.

And so I have been cleaning off the cutting table, but I have been trying to do it in a thoughtful way, not just shoving things aside into another pile to be dealt with another day.  I have found many things:  the travel jewelry pouch with my favorite heavy sterling silver ring,   a pair of slacks that needed mending, the patterns I took to San Francisco in September.  In fact, I found everything I took to San Francisco in September.  I apparently got busy, stacked the contents of my suitcase on my sewing table, and left it there, where it only formed the foundation layer of ever increasing piles.

I also found the remainder of the order of Japanese Sewing Books I received the week before last:.

The Green book, titled Pattern Drafting, is one of my favorite sewing books.  My mom gave me this one and I remember watching her use it when I was a child.  I do not have ISBN information on this book but my copy is 8th edition printed in 1969). Even though I have many other books, I am always amazed at how much help I get from the little book and it is one of the first books I turn to when I have a pattern fitting or drafting question.  It has a section on fitting problems, and also patterns for some basic garments, which are granted, somewhat dated but still interesting.  Here a couple of sample pages:

The green book inspired me to get the red book called Pattern Making (ISBN4-579-10714-4) .  It does not have English translations, like the green one, but I can see that it too is going to prove very useful.  The day it arrived I spent a fair amount of time looking through it, and I took it with me today after unearthing it this morning.  I can certainly say that I was the only person in the waiting room at the doctor's office reading a Japanese pattern book.  Here are a few sample pages:

.

I also purchased two books about sewing jackets and I am thrilled with both of them and they are quite different.  I had not been certain when I ordered them what the differences would be but I am so glad that I went ahead.

The book on the left (ISBN4-579-11016-1), is basically about drafting patterns for jackets and other garments.  It explains, in a very visual way how to draft a base pattern and then it goes on to build an assortment of patterns, including the ones on the cover from that base.  The layout of the book is very methodical.  There is also a pattern sheet that includes the base pattern from bust sizes 30 to 42.  I think this will help me with many pattern alterations and with working from my collection of Mrs. Stylebook magazines.  Here are some sample pages:

The second jacket book, the one on the right with the orange and brown jackets on the cover (ISBN4-579-10962-7), is not about pattern making at all, but is about constructing jackets, and it looks like it is a treasure.  You might wonder how a garment construction book in Japanese would be any help at all.  I don't read Japanese.  But this book is fully illustrated, almost like a picture-guide to building a jacket.   Here is a sample:

I am sure there are important details that I am missing by not being able to read the text of all of these books, but there is also much to be learned just from the fabulous illustrations and photos.  There are times when I am reading sewing instructions where I can't really wrap my head around what I am supposed to do until I actually see it in front of me.  These pictures, and the great illustrations in the pattern drafting book really help me with that.  Even though a lot of the techniques illustrated are for things I already know, I have made jackets before, there is always something new to learn and these books look very promising.

** Edited on 1/29/2008 to add ISBN information.

It's Here!

New Japanese Books arrived in the mail!

It looks like there will be lots of fun pattern play ahead.