Just try to watch this without smiling....

Since 1955, Loes Veenstra has knitted over 550 sweaters and stored them in her home on the 2nd Carnissestraat in Rotterdam. The sweaters have never been worn. Until today.

Productivity

I've been really productive lately in the knitting department.  I am trying my best to catch up on unfinished projects.  Usually as knitters, we know what that means.  But it applies to other areas of my life, too.  Unfinished business, finishing what I start, follow through...it's a common theme.

In March, 2010 I started the sock yarn blanket on Ravelry, but it's also here, in case you want to make your own.  I originally thought I must have been crazy to start something like this, but I was attracted to its beauty nonetheless.  I love the novelty of seeing something off the ground, kinda getting to know what it will look like, and once I have the gist, I get bored.  The rest of the time spent actually finishing the damn thing would just be, well, a lot of repetitive work.  I'm sure there's a psychological equivalent of all this.

I think the difference now is I see the solace in those moments (or hours).  For me, it's a meditation.  I didn't used to feel this way, but I think it's all part of one's journey.  I feel a lot more connected to tradition, history, and humanity as I get older - and knitting is as much a part of humanity as the need for warmth, food and shelter.

This is the sock yarn blanket as of right now:

I've also just finished up two cowls made from Madeline Tosh yarn, one of which is shown here:

I love the color, called "Cosmos".  It's a really deep rich purple with flecks of acid green.  I will be posting the pattern on Ravelry as soon as I get some good model-y shots of it.  

The other cowl will be kept a secret until I'm ready to publish them.  They will be available as a set or individually.  

Post VK Live/Hurricane

In the aftermath of the hurricane, I hope that each of you are finding peace and hope and are making it through bit by bit.

Thank you to everyone I had the privilege of meeting over the weekend of Vogue Knitting Live! in Chicago, October 26-28.  I am deeply grateful that each of you chose one of my classes and helped make it the success it was for me and for the Vogue Knitting folks.  I know as consumers you have lots of choices, and I am very thankful you chose to take mine.  I hope you all learned something and took away things that will make you a better knitter, seamer, zipper sewer, or that you left at least feeling inspired to try something new.  I am blessed that Vogue Knitting trusts me to pass on the information I have, and I get to work with such fun, talented, passionate people.