Sarah and I fought over who convinced who to write about her next project. She insists that she bullied me into allowing her to write it; I’m convinced that I begged her to write about it. Whoever is right, I think you’ll enjoy hearing about her latest knit! – Lauria
It’s still winter in most of North America.* In many places, it’s been a particularly cold and brutal season this year. In some ways, I think, that’s good for knitters: there’s ample reason to use and wear our amazing handknits, friends and family don’t question our abundant knitting time, and we can glory in being clever, stylish, and warm people.
By this time of year, though, when winter has been dragging on for a while and the sparkle of the holiday season feels far behind us, even the most committed cold weather knitter might be harbouring some thoughts about springtime… and spring knits. Starting something springy while it’s still winter also helps me to actually have spring garments to wear in the spring: if I wait until June to start a shawl, it might not be finished until fall breezes are blowing.
When my knitterly mood starts to shift out of cold-weather mode, I usually reach for lace. The lightness and airiness of a lot of lace projects reminds me that warm weather is coming, even if it’s not here yet. It gives me a chance to think about the sundresses and shorts I might pair my lace projects with. And, it means spending some quality time with drapey, soft, shiny yarns and challenging, interesting patterns that make me feel like a knitting genius. Most of the time, my is-it-spring-yet lace projects are also in bright, pretty, cheerful colours.
With those things in mind, I’ve been knitting some come-on-spring lace! I’m knitting Kieran Foley’s (free!) Cold Mountain pattern in Juniper Moon’s gorgeous lace yarn, Findley, in just about the most perfect goldish green colourway – #29 Greengage. Greens are my absolute favourite colours, so it’s perfect for me. Plus, I think most people associate happy green with spring weather.
There are so many things that are happy-making and spring-beckoning about this yarn and this project: it’s shiny and drapey, soft but strong, all of the things I like in lace yarns. Combined with the colour, it almost has a glow to it.
I’m imagining wearing this stole on a sunny day, while sipping a cool drink on a patio near some water… just as soon as it stops raining!**
(*Technically it’s winter in all of North America, if you go by “astronomical winter” instead of meterological winter – or, what the calendar says instead of what the thermometer says. I know this because we have an argument a spirited and productive debate about this in my family ever year. This year, calendar winter goes until March 20th.)
(**Where I live, winter is all about gray days and cold rain, instead of snow. I know that’s colossally unfair to everyone dealing with the jillionth month of snow everywhere else!)
Sarah hangs out with her cat, drinks a lot of tea, and knits as much as possible in beautiful Victoria, BC.
