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Sweet Kiss of Friday

Thursday was much too busy. I knit another couple of increase rows on the Adult Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann, and I *thought* about swatching the Lightning Lace Jacket by Jill Vosburg, but decided to save it as a treat for later. Do you do that? Set a project with yarn aside as a personal reward? It must seem like a silly practice to non-knitters! "Oh! I think I'll save that to SWATCH!"

Even though I've been listing lots-o-links lately, I'd like to remind you to check the comments for even more links! And, since it's Friday, and we don't have a knitting photo to show you, let's look at some eye-candy sweaters.

1st: The Oleana Sweaters by Solveig Hisdal. I didn't think there could be sweaters that were lovelier than the ones Ms. Hisdal provided to knitters in Poetry in Stitches (ISBN 82-517-8435-2), but sure enough, she's designed some more. Do you think there might be another book some day? The Lotus Blossom motif is incredibly versatile.

2nd: SALE!! On Dale of Norway and Norwegian Sweaters! Sure, you want to knit them, but sheesh, at these prices, you could buy a sweater, unravel it, and then knit it back up for less than it costs to buy a Dale of Norway kit. Albertville, anyone?

3rd: Elegantly recycled sweaters. What a great idea, and while these are high-end, it seems like a very flexible idea.

4th: A trip around the knitting blog rings will yield plenty to drool over. I'm so taken with Shobhana's TomTom that I'm seriously considering taking up intarsia myself, right after I learn to crochet and knit doilys with skulls. Yep. It's going to be a busy summer.

Pups

O Happy Day! Another Thursday visit from our Geoffrey and Dyna! Texas is hot, but life is sweet.

All the pups and I hope you have a lovely day, and a splendid weekend. If I owe you an email, don't fret; I'll be all over my inbox on Saturday!

Surprise

No really. I'm still increasing on the Adult Surprise Jacket. Are you surprised? No need to fret. There are over 300 stitches on the needles again, and it makes my hands a little tired lately when combined with some other work I've been doing. So you'll just have to imagine a few more rows accomplished.

In the meantime. We must point you to our blogpal Amber, who has knit a piñata.

We love this kind of knitting. Amber also kindly sent us a link to a Giant Doily with Skulls; we feel humbled just observing this creation, and you know how fond we are of skulls. Hildur Bjarnadóttir is another artist making incredible magic with needles and strings. Amber's piñata and the Giant Doily with Skulls have set the wheels of my brain spinning; I'm trying to imagine what I would like to knit as an outré object if I could knit anything at all in the world, and wondering if I could convey through my knitting the same exuberant feelings found in Amber and Bjarnadóttir's work. What would you knit if you didn't know you were supposed to knit only sweaters and accessories?

Pups

Wednesday was another scorching day; today is supposed to be more of the same. When I open the door, it feels very much as if I am opening the door to a furnace. The pups and I stay inside as much as possible. I was worrying about their lack of exercise Wednesday afternoon when our excellent nephew Geoffrey came over with Cousin Dyna. Geoffrey is very sweet to the pups, and lets Mikey share the love to happy excess.

Thursday! The weekend is so close we can almost taste it. Happy day, happy knitting!

Hotter

The heat index on Tuesday was only 101° F, so we made some lemonade to enjoy while we increased away on the Adult Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann. While we don't have a dramatic photo to show you, we can point you to this excellent bibliography of Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen. We love the Internet!

Did you notice in yesterday's comments that Shannon is making an ASJ? You can send her some of your handspun or leftover stash to be immortalized in the ASJ that she'll be wearing on her book tour. Go Shannon! And Go Knitters.

Knit Art

You know how fond of textile art we are. Here are fresh links to some very creative knitters and crocheters. I really think I must learn how to crochet.

Bugknits Miniature Landscape Stockings, at 50 st per in. Please view full-size; even with a dial-up, these are worth the wait.

Louise Weaver, Australian textile artist: Knit and crochet critters. Again, click the thumbnails to see these extraordinary pieces.

Alicja Adwent's amazing knitted wearable art.

My goodness! Isn't this stuff monumentally wonderful? Here's one more that completely blows my mind — giant faces by Tsuruta Tomoko. I ran this page through Altavista's Babelfish because I couldn't believe that it was "Knit Art," but the translation seems to indicate that the pieces *really* are knit, and not woven. Let me know if you can translate and tell me more; I find these faces astonishing in their complexity and beauty.

Pups

Two out of three dachshunds have forgiven me for cutting their curls off. That seems promising.

We wish you mint sprigs for your lemonade, a shady parking spot, and happy knitting.

Hot

It was 100 degrees F on Monday; we stopped knitting and started snipping on Mike, Jack, and Della. I gave them all (bad) haircuts and then they all had baths. No one was pleased, but everyone is cooler.

100 degrees on the last day of May? The solstice is still 21 days away, I believe, and so I'd prefer it to be cooler until then. I feel absurdly grateful for air conditioning; when I lived in the Northeast, I always hated to have the house shut up on the few days that it was too hot to sleep. I didn't think I could bear having the house shut up here, but I was wrong; I'm blissfully happy to shut all doors and windows, turn out lights, and shut off the computer.

So! Where's the knitting content? We're increasing upwards on the Adult Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann. Please review Monday's photo. Send ice cubes.

Pups

Tuesday! They're all under the bed staying cool and sulking about their haircuts. We wish you kinder weather, happy dogs, and happy knitting.

Ever on a Monday

The Adult Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann (available as Spun Out #1 from Schoolhouse Press) grows and grows! We've finished the seemingly endless decreases and have begun the end-in-sight increases. I photographed this indoors and on the beige carpet, so the colors aren't true, but you get the general idea, right?

I think it's going to be a very smart jacket, once finished, and I thank Terri for her excellent idea to use Kureyon every time I pick it up to work a few more rows. It's downhill knitting from here on out!

Sunday

I spent the loveliest afternoon with my dear sister; I wish everyone had a sister so nice. We dined macrobiotically at our favorite restaurant, Casa de Luz, then went to the Oriental Gardens to view the giant Koi Carp.

It's not unknown for koi to live up to seventy or more years. Awesome. You can see more koi at sister's blog. Oh, here. We brought you some flowers.

Unexpected Knitting

The book by Debbie New has an excellent write-up in the Toronto Globe and Mail. If you've been dithering over whether to buy, read this for some motivation.

Pups

Even though it's very hot and humid here, we've had a lovely weekend, and hope you've had the same.

Monday. Della says: "When you're hungry, eat. When you're tired, nap in a sunbeam. When you go to the vet, pee on your owner."

Cheers to all.