July 2008 Archives

Go, Rafa, go!

 { + }

Pattern: None, really. Squint and you can see there's a gradual progression of colors from end to end.
Fabrics: Ginger Bliss by Amy Butler, patterns in all 3 colorways; Cotton Supreme Solids in Brown and Sage by RJR Fabrics
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20 Cotton Batting
Finished size: 70" x 70" square

I love this qult.

I love the gradual progression of colors from end to end. See it? Down one vertical line, up the other. Head right and explore that side there; left it's something else.

I love how the brown so richly enhances the play of pattern and color.

It's a fun challenge to put together a bunch of colors and patterns into something approaching order.

 { + }

Here's the back. Pardon the wrinkles, I just unfolded the thing and laid it out for pictures. Regarding the quilting, I tried something new I read in one of my instruction books. I quilted this as three separate strips, then joined them and added the binding. This technique, it turned out, makes it far easier for the quilter to be able to pass it under a sewing machine's arm. It's not so bulky, therefore it's easier to push through. A closer look will show you where my horizontal lines don't *quite* meet up with each other. You can also see the gathers, proof that my tension is far from perfect.

A pop of bright blue and pink livens up the sage green background.

This quilt was gifted to my sister-in-law. She'd had her eye on it ever since I started piecing the top together, and everytime she visited she'd head for the bedroom where the project-in-progress lay. Little did she know it was meant for her!

Blogworthy: Haven't had one of these in a while. These are all quilt-related:
- The Fresh Modern Quilts pool
- Denyse Schmidt Quilts pool
- Everything Patchwork pool
- Vintage Quilts pool

We decided to cut loose from Provence for a *leetle* while. (On the 14th of July, lousy timing.) I'll be frank: it's too hot to climb here. We're heading northeast to the Haute Alpes region, to climb at high-altitude Céüse. Céüse is one tall, long cliff at the end of a 45-minute walk, with run-out climbs where the bolts are spaced far apart (3m or more) from each other, so your falls are spectacular, hee hee ha ha. It's also the home to Realization (9a), and this  shows Dave Graham finally realizing his years-long project.

From Céüse we'll drive east through Switzerland, through the Swiss Alps. I'm itching to see Mont Blanc and walk around the green, green pastures.

Then on to Salzburg, Austria. Last year we were there for all of 5 hours, but this time around we're planning on staying a few days. Visiting the Mirabell Palace and Mirabell Garden are priorities (I named my Mirabella Socks after the fountains there), as is attending a performance of Mozart's Requiem at the Kollegienkirche.

After Austria, back to Nürnberg, Germany. For climbing again, in the Frankenjura. For visiting friends and family. For a wedding. For the rest of the summer.

See you in September! 

The beginning of something promising.

You'll recognize this yarn from the Webs Scarf I knit earlier. I'm knitting something fluttery, delicate, lacey, that much I'm aiming for. The pattern's up in the air because I'm still swatching. It's a bit of a headache, casting on a kazillion stitches and decreasing to make a ruffle, and the fact that it's mohair. Want to frog it for me? It's silly that I've already named it, Toulourenc, but it's for its gorgeous color. It's the same color the water of the river Toulourenc appears to be in its deepest parts, and every time we pass it by on our way to the cliffs I have to stop and comment on the color. Clear and bright, and impossible to photograph. You'll have to take my word for it.

Most mornings after breakfast I like to go outside and sit under the olive tree. Yarn and needles, books, sketchpad, and perhaps a nectarine (summer stone fruit, yum) accompany me as I spend the next thirty minutes on my own. Alone time, it feels so good! Personal space is a premium for us; we are with each other 24/7, so occasionally one or the other disappears and it's all okay. Once in a while the husband comes out and sits next to me. We talk about the day ahead: climbing, a hike, a walk to a nearby village, a drive to the neighboring town, perhaps spending the day by the river? He gushes about the light settling over the church in the village (seen here) and thinks about what to paint next. We fall into a familiar silence, the only sounds his sipping coffee, or the cyclists on the road downhill from us. When there's a breeze he plucks the little olive blossoms that fall into my hair, which I think is downright romantic. Perhaps it's vignettes like these that inspire my knitting nowadays. It's certainly taken a softer turn this summer.

PS: I've joined the Expat Blog community. Fourteen months later! There are lots of travel blogs; I've been looking through the Europe and Asia ones in particular. Don't worry, I'll be an expat for quite a while longer!

Natalija Gros from Jure Breceljnik on Vimeo.

PPS: This is quite a nice climbing video (click for larger size) of Natalija Gros on Histerija (8c+) in Misja Pec, Slovenia. We were there last August/September, but we certainly didn't climb that grade! Considering that 9a+ is currently the highest confirmed grade in sport climbing, a woman redpointing 8c+ is frickin' impressive. I adore the classical music, the way it mirrors the fluidity of Miss Gros' movement. This is the kind of climbing that I emulate, technically precise and fluid. You could say that the Europeans, the French especially, are masters of this style. Inspiring.

Go Spain, go!

This is a top from Phildar's Summer 2008 catalog, called "Pull 491-T7-686", with 3/4 sleeves, what the catalog describes as a Tunisian collar, and an all-over mesh pattern. I'm using Francesca's Italian tubular cast-on, deceptively simple with great results. This cast-on's a keeper. I'm about to start on the body, which I've decided will not be mesh. Give me a few days and I'll make up my mind. I'm using Phildar Tonic in 0007 Naturel, and it's got great yardage for the price. It's also an 85% acrylic yarn.

I've been following some discussions on Ravelry regarding acrylic: this , this, this, and this. At the heart of the matter are these issues: quality; brand perception; price; personal preference based on tangibles such as feel, color, pattern support, and convenience; and environmental impact. 

There will always be a market for acrylic yarn. But what I've been thinking of lately is how we knitters as a whole are an influential group, and with our numbers, we can definitely influence the way yarn companies operate. We can persuade them to go "green". Or even "greener". Really. I want to know about recycling or repurposing unwanted acrylic yarn. And what yarn companies, big and small, are doing to minimize their impact on the environment. Are steps being taken to ensure that waste from their processes are taken care of? Are their vendors using sustainable practices? Is there room in their mission statements for environmental awareness? Are they members of "green" associations, such as 1% for the planet?

Anyway, food for thought. Any opinions out there?