Brown dress progress March 12, 2009
As you know, I’ve been trying to clear out my project pile while I’m impatiently waiting for the yarn to arrive from Posh Yarn. Would you believe that except for the secret project everything is done except that brown dress I started more than a year ago? I know. Hard to imagine.
The other thing that’s hard to imagine is the amount of progress I’ve made on the dress in such a short period of time. Yes, the right front is done (sort of), and the left front is nearly done. I have a couple fiddly things left to do on the front, including deciding whether to weave in that dropped stitch or rip back to it and fix it properly. I also need to tweak a couple things on the back. Once I set myself to do those, they shouldn’t take long. Then I get to seam the dress, and start the border. Since I really like knitting that particular border, once I get going on it I hope that it’ll go quickly, and I’ll be able to finish this thing before too much more time has gone by.
  
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Spring Knitty!
Have you seen the spring Knitty yet? Over all, I like the patterns in this issue a lot more than the ones in the last couple of issues. My absolute favorite design in the issue is Shipwreck, a circular shawl by Bethany Kok. Second up, another shawl. This one is called Aeolian Shawl, designed by Elizabeth Freeman, the same woman who gave us Laminaria in last spring’s Knitty. I like the larger size of this shawl design better than the smaller size. The small one seems chopped off to me, out of balance, while the large one is rich and full, and beautifully balanced.
I rather like Marleen van der Vorst’s Santeney vest, though I’d never wear it over a blouse. I don’t know why, but I’ve always abhorred the feel of a knit vest (really, any vest) over a blouse. Just the thought of it makes me squirm. I’d wear this over a tank top, and layer a cardigan or light jacket over it. And I wouldn’t make it that long. But that’s me.
I also like Kristi Geraci’s Cachoeira sock. It’s inspired. I looks like something Cookie A. might have designed. No wonder. She shares a blog with Cookie. Cheat. Regardless, it’s a fabulous sock.
The things I don’t like, at all: Hanne (why would I want a backless vest?); Imagine (a peace sign on a sweater front seems to me to be about 30 years too late—is that just me?); Sara Morris started out well with her Absinthe sock pattern, but I think she forgot something—the back of the cuff is just stockinette. Boring.
I’m just not into hats, mittens, or baby things, so with two exceptions I have nothing at all to say about any of those items. Exception one: I love the knit bird mobile by Meg Bakewell called Flock. Exception two: is it just me, or are the pictures of the baby in baby’s hood downright creepy?
Amanda March 12
Ooh, I thought the baby was creepy too.
Claudine March 12
Go girl on the progress! Amazing to have only 1 UFO! Girls who do that are deserving of stashes!
I love keeping up with your blog because of your designs, but also because of the news. I always hear when new things are up or new books from you. I also think knitty is better this time around. I liked shipwreck, flit and float and caocheira. The baby is straight out of a Bruce Helquist illustration for “A Series of Unfortuante Events.”
My kids are growing up now, but there was a time I would have been totally motivated by the flight and steggy patterns.
You are going to finish that lace dress soon. Go girl!
Angela March 12
Yeah the baby looks a little creepy. Maybe she was hungry?
Kelli March 12
Baby in hood= super creepy
Sylvia March 12
Totally agree on the knitty review. Good to see interesting lace patterns!
Sorry to miss you at Stitches — I met a LOT of nice women from SoCal, but didn’t find you… It was a bit like a treasure hunt.
Erica March 12
I also liked this Knitty a lot more than the last. Shipwrecked is definitely highest on my list.
The brown dress looks like it’s coming along great! I’m not sure I’d have the patience for a full dress, so congratulations for making it this far!