Recently in Pull 491-T7-686 Category

Keeper, this.

By MJ on September 2, 2008 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

France

Hello, autumn in France. That's if autumn includes high temps in the 30s, shorts and flip-flops, and outdoor dinners under clear, starry skies. For the last half of July and all of August we drove through France, Switzerland, Austria, and into Germany. We camped for more than 3 tiring weeks, climbed at Céüse, bouldered in Zillertal and the Frankenjura, cleaned up nice for a wedding, got kicked out of someone's house (silly story), reconnected with family, did some gardening, picked berries, played with countless little girls, and went on a climber's diet. I did some bloggy housekeeping, putting Links in the sidebar and adding Mastheads. The Gallery has been updated, and I've decided to add blank "Projects In Progress" FPOs so I won't forget to write about them eventually. (And I have quite a bit!) I did not knit at all.

So how was your summer?

Pattern: Phildar Pull #491-T7-686
Yarn: Phildar Tonic in 0007 Naturel
Needles: US6

Oh, I like this FO. I really do.

It fits. Need I say more?

Oh yeah. My photographer likes it too! Hee hee ha ha!

Almost. Ready.

By MJ on August 26, 2008 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Eye Candy Friday, only it's Tuesday. Let's break the rules, shall we?

It's done, with changes. Stockinette, not mesh; set-in sleeves seamed using mattress stitch, not backstitch; neckband and buttonbands knitted on, not knit separately and sewn on. I love Phildar's simple, wearable pieces, and I had to try one for myself. Sewing the set-in sleeves was daunting, as were the bands of ribbing. I did, in fact, knit them separately and tried to sew them on, without success. So after 3 days of mucky-mucky, I decided to pick up around the neckline and do it my way.

These buttons were purchased from my local Phildar store during the summer soldes. (France regulates its semi-annual sales, which happen only in winter and summer. Things are marked down as low as 70% sometimes!) Pretty wood burl. Lightweight buttons, they don't weigh down the front, which is a good thing. It emphasizes the (tee hee) décolletage, and it seems someone had tunnel vision during the photo session. Excuse me while I pick out the more decent photos...

Continue reading Almost. Ready..

Knitting with Acrylic

By MJ on July 1, 2008 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Go Spain, go!

Phildar Pull 491-T7-686

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?

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