Woman on fire

I’m moving at a thousand miles an hour today, having grossly miscalculated the amount of time it would take to get this family ready for a trip. There’s a wee one over the weekend to collect the girls from the cottage (and have a brief swish in the lake myself) and then Monday we’re off on a grand adventure. For reasons I can’t explain at all, I totally thought I could pull all of that together today. Boy was I wrong. Even hugely over-caffeinated (which I totally am, I can practically feel my hair growing) I’m still swamped with all the stuff that is my regular job, plus all the stuff that we need in the way of packing, plus housekeeping, plus shopping, plus, plus… It’s all yet another huge honking dose of “What was I thinking?” as I motor through an enormous pile of chores. On top of all of it, I’ll be away from home for more than a week, and I haven’t even chosen the knitting I’ll take with me yet, never mind winding it up and photocopying the patterns. (Wait! I heard some of you start to flip out there – Remember, it’s fair use of copyright to make a copy of a pattern you purchased for personal use… and totally a good idea, especially if you’re going on vacation and don’t want to lug the originals, or get them wet, or get sand on them, or spill a beer on them, or want to mark them up in a thousand ways with notes about how you’re knitting and what you’re changing. Photocopying for someone who didn’t pay for it = bad, photocopying for personal use when you paid for it = fair.)

I’ve got a couple of ideas, but you’ll have to wait and see because I’m nowhere near committed. There’s going to be a ton of knitting time over the next week though, so I’m choosing wisely and generously. One of the things I’ll be taking for sure is the Manon Cardigan that I’ve been working on all week. (Oh Norah Gaughan… how I adore thee.)

Manononeside0108

For this sweater, I’ve reverted to type and have substituted another yarn for the one called for (Berroco Pure Merino) which is a lovely yarn I quite like, but wasn’t lingering in the stash in sufficient quantities (of one colour, at least). What I did have was a whole bag of Valley Yarns Amherst (procured the last time that I fell down in WEBS and came home with three bags of three different yarns all in the same colour. I despair of my predictability sometimes.) This is one of my favourite colours in the world, a sort of burnt orange that reminds me of paprika – but is actually called “Cayenne” in this yarn.

Manonbpdet0108

I’m loving the cables and unique construction (I promise it’s going to work though it looks like an odd object at the moment), and if I had my choice of it, I would spend all of today knitting instead of going to work and doing all of my chores.

There are days when I just hate being a grownup.

PS. Have you seen the brand spanking new glory that is The Twist Collective? What I’m going to knit next just got way more complicated.

92 thoughts on “Woman on fire

  1. That is a goregous looking sweater! I love the color. I can’t wait to see it when it is done!

  2. I so, so feel your pain. I just go back from a month of various vacations and my knitting life is so messed up.

  3. THIRD? Woopee!
    You’re going to have a terrific time, and get mountains of knitting done. And no household chores for the duration!
    I envy you!
    Nan

  4. We had an actual fire in town last week, and all I could think of at first was which yarns and projects to throw in the car. Uh, clothes, too, perhaps?…
    Beautiful cablework there. I can’t wait to see the rest. I’m laughing at the fact that while you’re a house-afire it’s a color-afire to match.

  5. You were missing the girls so badly is what slowed you down in your preparations:-) But now, you’ll speed through it and get everything ready.
    Enjoy your trip.

  6. I am trying to do the same things today–while finishing up at work. I feel like I could jump out of my skin. Have a great trip. The sweater is awesome and in one of my favorite colors. Enjoy the time away!

  7. I’m so glad you are making Manon, as I’ve been eying it for ages. It is such a beautiful pattern, and that color is the best.

  8. Good luck with the packing/trip, hope you guys have lots of fun.
    Twist collective-um, yeah, that may have been where 2 hours of my morning went…

  9. Ugh, I was in your shoes yesterday. We moved house and I was jumping out of my skin trying to get it all done. I stopped to get lunch for us and the moving crew and the guy behind the counter said “Wow, you’re excited” and I attempted to place the order- Tons to do, 4 shots of espresso and not enough food will have that effect!
    Have fun on vacation!!

  10. Your Manon is quite fine. I have just begun on the sleeves – very cool pattern. I just wish the pictures in the book were better. Your comment about shop models for the Flow brought to mind the Manon that I saw at the Webs booth at Stitches West. I wouldn’t have knit this sweater without seeing (and trying on) the model. And thanks for reminding me about the MS Ride. I donated to a great cause and won a bunch of Kate Gilbert patterns. What could be better?!
    Enjoy your vacation.

  11. I saw the pattern on the website, but I didn’t really think that the pictures showed very much. I can’t wait to see the finished product so I can figure out if I want to knit it at all. XD

  12. Forget the housecleaning… no time. Just make sure there is enough food and knitting projects. Ha Ha
    I love that sweater too. I think the thing I like most about Norah’s designs is that the construction is like a puzzle. As for the color, I have Patons Merino in Paprika. LOVE the color. Hmmmm… Can I make a sweater the same as yours, even the color? 🙂
    Have fun on vacation, you deserve one!

  13. Twist collective – great, now I have another website to get lost in besides Knitty and Ravelry.
    AAARGH!

  14. We, too, are leaving on vacation this week. Our van is currently in the shop, and will be at least until tomorrow. My husband & kids are going kayaking tomorrow (which isn’t part of the proper vacation) and I am working (where I am currently – my paying job) and then going to a friend’s surprise anniversary party. Theoretically we will have the van back and packed by Sunday morning. And we’re taking one of the dogs, as well, as she is elderly and not doing well.
    However! I do have two bags of knitting packed and ready to go 🙂
    Enjoy yours – I plan on doing the same.

  15. Whoo-hoo! Twenty-seventh! (I didn’t count; I am just being silly.)
    I’ve spent all morning looking at Twist Collective and petting my computer monitor. So much pretty.

  16. I’m quite intrigued by the construction of your current sweater – can’t wait to see it finished.
    And yes, I saw Twist. And yes, it’s a very dangerous thing. Like you, my what-to-knit-next choice just became so much more difficult.

  17. Yes, I saw the Twist. I don’t know whether to laugh with insane glee or fall to my knees in tears. Either way, I have to learn to knit WAY faster. Thank you for the reminder that my life is too full of stupid little things, like family, laundry, vacuuming the crumbs off the floor, and what is that sticky stuff in the kitchen anyway? Is this what they mean by don’t ask don’t tell?
    I’m glad to hear you’re going on a little vacation. After that whole spinning and baby sweater thing, you totally need a break. I know, why don’t you work on some socks? Haven’t seen those for a while…

  18. Ok Steph,
    I don’t know how you get it all done! I just have one kid, part time work and part time school and I can’t get 1/10th of the work or knitting done that you do. And no vacation pending. You just amaze me.

  19. hi Steph! I just returned from a vacation & believe me its not worth sweating over the prep details- just bring yarn , beer, & enjoy your family. Precious times- they grow faster than the stash. Funny thing I have the exact same color in classic elite prmiere and I love it so I have unmade about 3 projects with it cause nothing does justice to the deliciousness of the yarn. Maybe I’ll make what you are doing. PS loved your knitpicks podcast. Have fun!

  20. And here I imagined that the reason we didn’t hear from you yesterday was because you and Joe taking advantage of the rare opportunity and were having mad sex in every room in the house, and come to find out, you were packing. Hmmm… wait, you only started packing today.

  21. paprika, cayenne…i thought it was pumpkin. whatever it’s called it will be beautiful.
    twist collective just added more to my online time suckage.

  22. Oh! You’re just making my queue longer and longer on Ravelry … and now another distraction for work 🙂
    Thank you for mentioning the copyright law! I was a little iffy on it.
    Enjoy your vacation!

  23. The Twist Collective is so very cool! Thanks so much for drawing attention to it. And the queue just keeps on keeping on! My knitting life has gotten so much more interesting since discovering you and Ravelry and knitters blogs in general. I always thought I disliked computers. So much for the old dog thing. Woof.

  24. I only carry photocopies in my knitting bag, it’s a good way to keep your books in nice shape and 2 pages out of an big beautiful knitting book is one heck of a lot easier to tote around than a coffee table sized tome.

  25. Wow–nice looking cables! Its funny–sometimes I go through moods where orange is the IT color… and sometimes I wonder what the inventor of orange was thinking (pretty much my attitude towards every color but purple/green/gold, actually)… but that cardigan is going to look so stunning when it’s done, I don’t think it would matter if it was in my least favorite color in the world. (My-little-pony-puke-pink, for the record.)

  26. I love Twist C.; great premier issue. I can’t wait to go camping this year, it will be my 1st year knitting, so I’m just envious that you are able to take knitting out for a vacation.
    I had all my projects setup for Ravelympics & Twist C. went and changed everything, now I’ll be switching patters for my teams….but thats a good thing.

  27. I fall down at Webs frequently! Ain’t it a shame! Enjoy your yarn, your vacation, and whatever project you choose to make.

  28. Delicious color there. I think choosing knitting-to-go is one of the more glorious, mind-expanding, angst-ridden activities in the world. Have a lovely time and ‘swish’ in the lake.

  29. Ya know, I think it usually takes me longer to choose, prepare, and pack my knitting for a trip than anything else that gets packed. I’m pretty sure that’s perfectly normal. Good luck getting everything together – you can do it! =)

  30. And yet with all you have to do you still find time to blog for us to give us a little window into your knitting and fuel our desires to start new projects….How do you do it?

  31. Aahh. The Norah Gaughan obsession. I totally get it. And Twist Collective? Yeah. I want to knit ’em all. Enjoy the trip. Forget about the packing. Remember, if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. And if Mama don’t have her knitting, she ain’t happy. Get the knitting stuff sorted first.

  32. Have a fabulous trip! And thanks so much for the link to the Twist Collective – it is so full of beautiful patterns. I really, really need to learn to knit faster! 🙂

  33. I was lusting over Manon after you posted it yesterday, and then Twist went live, and now, well, yeah. All those plans for getting a jump on gift knitting went to live with the dust bunnies (antelopes, at this point) under my desk. enjoy the trip, and the packing? If you have your knitting, tickets and wallet, then you’re good to go, in my book.

  34. Ah, Steph…about introducing me to Twist Collective…ah…thanks…will you visit me in the poorhouse?

  35. Love the sweater. Twist Collective is awesome. At this very moment I still have two tabs open in my browser, each of which has a TC pattern that I am attempting to resist.

  36. That colour is beautiful. The sweater looks divine.
    Mystery Stole 4 is open for sign-ups by the way. Perhaps you might need to hit up a bead store before you go too.
    Good luck with all the chores!

  37. You’re quality for always choosing 1970’s appliance colors gets more endearing everytime you do it!! That sweater is going to be great on you, btw.

  38. Stop showing me Norah stuff! I’m TRYING to finish a shawl over here!! And I have an “order” in for another one after this one…stop distracting me!
    (She yelps, forgetting that Sharing Tempty Yarns and Patterns is another of the Harlot’s more predictable traits…)

  39. Wow, that’s a great knitted crazy quilt!
    (Be safe.)
    (On the trip, I mean. You’re always safe with the knitting.)
    (Aren’t you?)

  40. I have all of the above as well (minus the caffeine) and yet, here I sit….

  41. Love that Manon sweater and love Norah Gaughan. My Nantucket Jacket is one of my favorites and I have not yet take on Manon. (You actually commented on my Nantucket when you were in Denver this April— 🙂
    And thanks a lot! I hadn’t yet heard of the Twist Collective so I took a peek. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t LOVE. I had announced to the world a yarn diet on my blog ( or maybe to the 3 people who read it anyway). Now I have already broken it in my mind as I plan out my next 10 projects!!!
    Have a great vacation, and Happy Knitting.

  42. Beautiful color for you-cool sweater-her patterns just thrill me, for real!!! I would love to have my mind work like Norah G.’s .
    Thanks for the link to the Twist Collective. Very nice site and great patterns. I can tell I need to give up sleeping.
    Have a sunny, warm, uneventful vacation with wine, beer and yarn.

  43. I have so been there with the hellacious trip prep. It happens year after year, and I never seem to get it down to a science. I wind up madly stuffing whatever yarn and patterns I can lay my hands on quickly into a bag at the last moment. But the relaxing vacation time is so worth it. Enjoy!
    P.S. Can’t wait to see that sweater when it’s done.

  44. #1 Love the cardi! Norah’s mind just doesn’t work like the rest of the world!
    #2 Hope you have a wonderful trip!
    #3 Twist collective may have induced a complete yarn gridlock in my brain! So much to knit! So little time on earth in which to knit it! Sigh.

  45. Beautiful! Love the textures, and that COLOR! Thanks for the tip on the Twist Collective; looks like good stuff. Have a great vacation!!

  46. Okay, so you know I love ya (in a non-crazy-person-non-stalkerish-sort-of-way) but I just gotta say: WHAT ARE YOU DOING GIVING ME YET ANOTHER AWESOME KNITTING LINK TO OBSESS OVER?????? I think I might have had some sort of minor seizure over the Twist link. It’s already on my bookmark bar. I’m thinking the grey swing jacket would be stupendous. I might go buy it after this comment. (d’oh! I SO don’t have time for yet another project)
    😛

  47. Once again I am *completely* blown away by how fast you knit. Really, I know we aren’t suppose to compare and all that, but I feel like a snail, a slug, a sloth, next to you. And it’s not like I can say, well she had all day w/nothing to do. I am in awe.
    As for Twist, I love it immensely. I ordered Lily and Gnarly Oakwoods, and may have to get that man’s sweater too. I know dh would probably never wear it, but I may need to knit it anyhow, it is so… perfect.
    Safe travels.

  48. I may never have stumbled across the Twist Collective had you not linked to it, and I don’t know whether I should be thankful, irked, or scared spitless. Perhaps a combination. What beautiful patterns, all of them. All in one place. Wonderful. And terrible. Ack!
    Enjoy your vacation. It’ll be upsetting to be away from Sir Washie and the cooking/dishes/vacuuming, but you’ll adjust. Have a fantastic time.

  49. Thanks for saving my sanity. Jen was raving about the Twist Collective and I just spend half an hour trying to dredge it from my reluctant memory before thinking to try you. I should have known.

  50. Thanks for the tip about the Twist Collection! What a great magazine.
    Have a wonderful vacation.

  51. Quietly dying of frustration that I can’t get the Manon pattern here in Europe – aaaaaaghhh….
    (and why do I just HAVE to want to knit a pattern I can’t get when I have so many other wonderful ones to choose from?!!)
    SIGH.

  52. Every year I choose a color I will wear and use as an accent – this year is orange / burnt orange. I love that sweater. Great color!
    Also I never heard of “Twist” – wow what a great site! Thanks for sharing that – you enabler you!!!
    ha
    Vanessa in Upstate NY

  53. i am out doing my morning rounds
    and are you off to alaska on
    your grand adventure
    its so hot in my part of florida
    i am way behind in my knitting
    with so many new yarns and the
    patterns are really nice this year
    i willturn the ac to 32 and knit

  54. Hey! Good luck on your trip. I just got back from a 3 week road trip across America. I took along the patterns (copies duct-taped to the dashboard!) and yarn to knit the panels of a cable sweater for my sister. (I still haven’t assembled the strips. Wish me luck!) Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend that you put your balls of yarn in zip-top baggies. Luckily, I had done that because on day 3, we were in a car accident that left glass fragments EVERYWHERE in that van! The family is fine. All my yarn was safe, too, even though glass did get into my knitting bag. Have fun and watch out for crazy drivers that don’t check their mirrors when changing lanes on the highway!

  55. Second the photocopying of pattern.
    My mother lost her one-and-only copy for a knitted suit out the car window on a major multi-lane highway once – there was a wasp or a bee in the car, she was shooing it out, and the pattern got a little too far out the window …
    (That was a major piece of knitting: ISTR it was fingering-weight boucle yarn. And it had to be lined with fabric, too. But she did finish it, I think.)

  56. I like that paprika color too! I bought a whole whack of yarn in that color from a LYS.
    Please tell me you will have the internets next week so we can see (and be jealous of) all the lovely knitting you are doing…

  57. Boy, do I know the feeling. We are going on vacation next week and I have a boat load of things to do to get ready as well as work a full time job. As I sit here on a dreary Saturday morning, I am stressing about all I have to do. I’m going to have to marshall the kids help with things like cleaning and laundry. Anyway, it will all get done. Switching subjects to a much nicer one: I love that color as well. I have a WIP in that color, it is an entralac shrug. I need it to be done by fall so I can wear it.

  58. good luck with all the Zoomy-ness.
    and thanks for the Twist Collective link
    (but now hours & hours have passed & i’m STILL sitting
    with the computer). back to knitting now.

  59. Hoo-boy do I feel your pain! This error in time estimation bites me every darn time. You’d think one would learn….oh well…
    Knock it down to the essentials like enough clean undies. Share anything in the fridge that might spoil while you’re gone. Delegate a few lower priority things to the girls. Then go pack your knitting! Heck, maybe even do that first. Might make for better focus on the other stuff….
    That advice having been issued, Bon Voyage!!!

  60. The sweater is interesting construction. The orange is cool. Twist is even better than those though. The problem being which one do I want to knit first??? Yeesh. As if I didn’t have enough on my plate 🙂

  61. What am I supposed to do? One of my shetlands, the one my grandmother named, is Manon. Now I HAVE to handspin this year’s fleece and knit it into this pattern. For my gram who is 94 so I had better get the lead out. Yeah, that’ll take me two years, Gram you had better stay healthy. My god, I’m insane.
    Thanks for the prompt, you can visit me at the funny farm.

  62. Speaking as she who despairs over how much yarn to take for waiting on line in the grocery store, I too am feeling your pain.

  63. I might not love you anymore, I just went to Twist Collective and bought 3 patterns, including the Lissajous socks, the only pair of socks I’ve been interested in or excited by in at least 2 years. I think that for someone like me, who loves texture in knitting, this is a dangerous site!

  64. how is it that you kept your gaughan-love from me all this time? I’m not only a groupie of you, but of her too. Guess I’m not the brightest groupie in the world. : )

  65. thank you. These type of posts are my salvation. So I am not the only one who runs around like a chicken at times. that cayenne is to die for. Saints be praised anything Nora Gaughan is a delight to knit.

  66. OMG OMG!!!! I think I want to knit the whole magazing!!!!! YUM!!! I never would have known about it… thanks Harlot!!

  67. I want to go buy some of that Amherst in that color….with full knowledge that I have at least enough for 4 sweaters in similar colors, if 4 different yrns…

  68. The Twist Collective is amazing. I could not believe the designers and the advertisments… It’s like a who’s who of the fiber world. 🙂
    Enjoy your vacation. Hope you get lots of relaxing and knitting done. 🙂

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