This last year has been really great! Traveling around the country a little more than I usually do, I’ve met and chatted with a lot of knitters in different parts of the country, from different parts of the country.
What’s really intriguing to me right now, as the temperatures climb back up the scale here in the Big Windy, is what Warm Weather Knitters are doing and making. I’m putting the finishing touches on some wool-work for the Fall collection and I’m just more and more curious about those who knit in climates where wool would be INSANE because its making me more than a little crazy to touch the stuff right now! My knitting is usually different from others because I’m on an off-set deadline merry-go-round of releases where nothing is in-sync with what the weather is actually doing. Viva la mode!
But I still like to sneak in the occasional personal project and this I Know: Even though for a lot of the year in Chicago, we are overheated to compensate for the COLD, come summertime, we suddenly FREEZE ourselves indoors to compensate for whatever WARMTH is shining down on us outside (and, my friends, it fries). This IS one of our sweet mysteries of life!
What this means is that you can never be without something to protect yourself from the often sudden attack of the air conditioning; that we all need a little something to ward off the best intentions of over-zealous building managers everywhere!
A few weeks ago, I went to the Oriental Theatre to see “Billy Elliot” and proactively brought a cotton shrug with me to ward off the inevitable chill.
But how did I reallly end up wearing it? Over my shoulders like a stole! Even in its smaller size, it protected my bare arms (sleeveless to endure what was really going on Outside) inside the building enough to make the light bulb go on!
Why didn’t I have a Stole?
Having made only one shawl in my life, I’ve realized that perhaps they are not my cup-o-tea. But stoles? I’ve started (and flaked) on a couple. One stalled and disappeared back to stash because I made it too wide and it became oppressively heavy. It became this instead. The other is still in progress and I hope to re-catch the Muse at some point and finish it.
But what also dawned on me at the show (my mind was drifting a lot because there was a Big Barrel-Headed Guy sitting in front of me blocking my view for most of the performance and it was like listening to a radio show so I automatically began multi-tasking) was that I really liked what I’d made my shrug from: mercerized cotton.
So, to reward myself for the Marathon that is TNNA and releasing a Fall Collection, I got some more, this time in a sportweight: Elann “Lara” in a lovely lovely Navy Blue they call 308 Marine.
My plan? An urban, chic stole to wear over the collection of sleeveless dresses and looks already in the house. Will this translates to a little lace? Maybe a little texture?
And like being too rich or too thin, one cannot have too many stitch dictionaries…
I recently got this in the mail:
Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume 5
This is the 5th book in the Vogue Stitchionary series and I must say, it is my favorite! (And so nice of them to shoot some of the pictures in the same color that my yarn is! Heh!) This volume is packed full of gorgeous lace work.
The instructions include both charted and written out versions so the knitter can relate easily to their favorite presentation without fussing about.
I especially like the clear photography of the samples. Lately, and clue me in on why, some of the books I’ve seen have rather blurred, non-professional pictures – maybe the paper? maybe the post-processing? (in a recent one, all of the pictures had a weird yellow cast).
This edition has wonderful example pix that in many of the entries are a 4×4 swatch! The charts use standard, simple symbols with the same no-clutter look that I use on my charts: easy to read and legible. Unique stitches are explained and each entry has a stitch key right by its instructions, so there’s no waffling back and forth in the book trying to decipher the charts.
But my favorite thing is there’s quite a few renditions I have not seen before and that’s very nice. Well done Vogue!
If you would like to have a copy of this book, leave a comment saying hello below and we’ll draw a random winner on July 18!
Hello.
Look forward to seeing the cotton stole.
I know the stole will be wonderful, and I would love to have a copy of the book!
Oh a cotton stole…I have reason to want one as well..call it a bit of a stash of cotton.
Love that navy blue colour.
Hi! Definitely looking forward to what you come up with – living in TX = a lot of warm weather knits!
Hi! I haven’t seen you in FOREVER!! Love that navy–it goes so well with the cover of the book!
You can never have too many stoles…you’ve got to have them in different colors and fibers! Looking forward to your stole-design debut.
That color blue is my FAVORITE! Can’t wait to see what you whip up with it!
Bonne,
As always you’re an inspiration to me. Reading your process makes me want to go beyond my knitting comfort zone and get even more creative.
Thanks for the giveaway. I’d be thrilled to have it.
Can’t wait to see your next creation. Stay cool!
Hello. What a great contest for a fantastic prize. Fingers crossed
I love the color of that yarn! Can’t wait to see your finished product.
Hello,
The yarn selected for the stole looks great. I look forward to seeing the finished project. I am just finishing the Summit shawl from Knitty in a cotton bamboo from Unique sheep. I hope to be blocking this weekend.
Gorgeous color. I crocheted a stole a few years ago, under the illusion it couldn’t be too long. It’s too long. I use it anyway. A stole is just a slightly wider scarf, don’t you think?
I love shawls and stoles of all sorts, so am looking forward to whatever you will come up with.
Houston is the most air conditioned city I have ever lived in. If you don’t have a stole, sweater, or jacket with you all summer, which lasts 5 months, you could freeze! Can’t wait to see your new stole pattern.
What a beautiful color of yarn! A stole would be perfect for AC in movies and restaurants.
I use a lot of my stoles (done in wool) as scarves in the winter – great for Wisconsin winters and I am sure that they would also be great for Chicago ones. : )
I love these types of books. They insprie me to create something new (although I’ve never actually done the “doing” part yet, I like to think I will sometime soon!) Also, July 18 is my birthday :)
P.S. Love the yarn color and can’t wait to see your stole!
I could use that. And I love stoles, shawls, lace knitting.
I love blue! And I look forward to seeing your stole. I’m with you — don’t think I would wear a shawl, but a stole has a different vibe.
Christmas in July, what a way to start; a great book, beautiful yarn and pretty sure the pattern will be awesome, as usual.
Your stole will be amazing as is all your knits and I love lace knitting with texture what a bonus.
I find knitting shawlettes and stoles very relaxing….I don’t know why. I don’t wear them very much. Odd that!!
I’ve knit many of your sweaters and attended your class once!! Love the fits and your tailor philosophy. Can’t wait for the stole. Now that I live in AZ I’ll need it!!!
I’ve been pondering that yarn for a while now, but hadn’t heard anything about it. Nice to hear you like it.
I have a laceweight merino stole (which I’ll admit, I wear more often as a scarf) out of a similar blue color — I love it. And I’d love that book as well, if I’m the winner.
Hello, I really enjoy reading the blog! I just started a first using sport weight linen for a summer top but am contemplating making some summer tops using cotton. Keep us posted on the results because cotton can get heavy as you found out. I understand the need for cover up to account for air conditioning coming from St. Louis but now living in hot, hot Texas where air conditioning is a must. Happy Holiday!
I enjoy the shawlettes. You can wrap around your neck or pull over your shoulders. Of course this is mainly in the winter. Have also been pondering of making one in cotton to use more in the summer when it’s a cold a/c moment.
A light cotton stole. Brilliant! I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Beautiful blue, but then all blue is beautiful.
So nice of you to give away this book. I love to knit stoles and dislike knitting sweaters – let me know if you ever want to make a trade. It will be fun to see what you come up with.
Great blog, thanks for the giveaway!
Ah, this Stitchionary keeps showing up – must have! and welcome to the stole world. Here in the SF Bay Area, a stole will save you when the weather changes 2 hours from now!
Thank you for the giveaway – and the lovely project idea
Can’t wait to see your stole design. I am sure it will be as wonderful as your other designs. I would love to own a copy the Vogue Stitchionary Vol 5!!
I always travel with a little stole or large scarf in my bag in the summer. You are right about the madness of the cranked up AC :)
Kathleen
Oh, I can’t wait to see the stole that springs forth from your chic mind! I’ve seen other reviews of this new Vogue Stithionary and they all seem to be very favorable. I can’t wait to see it in person. :)
Hi Bonne Marie! Can’t wait to see what you bring us! Happy July!
You’ve read my mine about a stole! Here in NC I think that it’s exactly what I need. Would love to have a copy of that book. Hope your summer is great!
Also from chicago and the ac is blasting at work, so get alot of use from the one stole/shawl/wide scarf I have ever knitted. Maybe I sould make one more.
Hi, Bonne! What did you think of Billy Elliot? I love stoles, I love Elann Lara…and that color is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see your fall collection.
Oh, I like the idea of you designing a stole.
Hi Bonne. I’d like to be included in the drawing.
I’m looking forward to seeing your stole – I always love seeing your designs!
Stoles are multi-purpose – need a table runner? check. A little chilly? check. Need to dress up a little? check. Hope you enjoy yours.
Linda
Lately I’m drawn to navy, from almost black to your brighter version. As for stoles/shawls–I love them either for warding off chill of air conditioning or for cuddling down in the winter. I’ve not made a cotton one so now you have me thinking. Love the vougue series btw.
Can’t wait to see what you make. I’ve been mulling the idea over myself for a long time to make a stole.
I would love a copy of that book! I would love some inspiration to get me back into lace.
Hello!
Hello.
I have been looking for this book, and have not been able to find it from a reasonably local book seller. I may end up ordering it online!
I’ve never made a stole either. Lots of socks and sweaters!