Beautiful, and I like plain knitting for all those same reasons so now I feel like I'm in such important company! Thanks, Stephanie!

very simple, indeed.

but i understand this very well. it's necessary once in a while to maintain sanity.

YAY!! top ten!!

no, make that top TWO! ;-)

no, make that top TWO! ;-)

When you said you almost swallowed your tongue when Meg Swansen answered the phone, I almost swallowed my own tongue.

Keep warm and keep knitting!

It is Beautiful! I'm impressed with those tiny needles! Cold here too, near Boston... and I love the Knitpicks Options too, and Schoolhouse Press is super to order from, I just ordered Barbara Walker's books (4), they came in 4 days, even quicker than UPS! back to knitting, staying warm, soup, oven going, all things winter.....

I am *SOOOO* glad to hear that someone else constantly stops and admires the yarn/stitches. I think I spend as much time staring and sighing over what I've knit as I do actually knitting! Relieved that it's not just me! And I totally understand about the Meg Swanson reference -- just know that to we mortals, you are in the same league, Ms. Harlot!

Holy moly! Look at your progress! Look at the beauty! AND you spoke to Meg Swanson herself. Aren't you something. Think about that while at the dentist.

ohh. I love it more and more, every time I see it! Unfortunately, to someone of my girth, it would literally be miles and MILES and hundreds of miles of stockinette...especially on tiny needles. It is for this reason -- as well as some others -- that I go to Weight Watchers! How pathetic is that, that you join a weight loss program so you don't need as much yarn to knit yourself something? I think I would have hung up if Meg Swansen answered the phone when I called Schoolhouse Press.

Enough of my prattle. Knit on!

I can't believe the progress you have made since yesterday!! If I try to knit super fast my hands end up hurting after a couple of hours because I grip the needles too tightly. This is especially a problem while knitting st st in the round. Also, I'm a tight knitter anyway (think the two are related?), which doesn't help the situation any. I am worried that I will end up with carpel tunnel syndrome and arthritis before I am old enough to retire and support myself by knitting.

Ooo! Shiny!

Your sweater is spectacular! You've given me the Bohus Bug. While it's well beyond my knitting level, I've ordered a copy of Poems of Color and have the urge to order a kit to keep in my stash until I'm brave enough to try it.

Incidentily, the other night I decided to listen to some of the older Cast On podcasts. In #1 she mentions Poems of Color and talks about a Bohus sweater.

I find it reassuring to know that I'm not the only one who stops to pet my own knitting. And I totally understand the attraction to plain stockinette for doing other things at the same time. It's hard to watch movies or have conversations when you have to keep looking at your work/chart or keep counting.

beautiful--nothing like knitting collectes sunshine and warmth when this is none to be found outdoors.

beautiful--nothing like knitting collected sunshine and warmth when this is none to be found outdoors.

Poems of Color is $26.95 US, according to the Schoolhouse Press website (http://www.schoolhousepress.com/newbooks.htm).

You're a smart one with your phone calls and shipping to N. Cal.

It's so beautiful. For me the mix of colourwork and stockinette works. You can look at the beautiful job you've done while knitting the rest. And really, it's just like doing socks.

Heavenly divine socks...

Thank you for mentioning TSF in conjunction with the English translations of the patterns.

For me doing that is truly a labor of love but it's even better if Doctors Without Borders can benefit at the same time.

So thank you, Bohus knitters for "paying" for the translation by making a donation to TSF (and don't forget to let Stephanie know how much you sent - we want to see the sidebar total grow!).

Thank you for mentioning TSF in conjunction with the English translations of the patterns.

For me doing the translations is truly a labor of love but it's even better if Doctors Without Borders can benefit at the same time.

So thank you, Bohus knitters for "paying" for the translation by making a donation to TSF (and don't forget to let Stephanie know how much you sent - we want to see the sidebar total grow!).

we like you the way you are--simple and easy to please! it keeps the expectations within reach! :o)
that yarn looks absolutely edible. :o)
stay warm!!!

That's looking lovely! Glad to have the ordering informaton.

Just a big wow, from one miles-of-stockinette freak to another.

Oooooooh. Pretty.

And because apparently EVERYTHING these days makes me think of labor, I looked at this and thought, 'Hmmmm....if I start one of these soon, I could finish the color parts while I still have a brain and then the miles of plain stockinette body would be the PERFECT labor knitting....."

Now who's being 'simple'?

Simple is good. How else would we enjoy the complex stuff? Simple is very good ... and the complexity of your Bohus is GORGEOUS.

I'm impressed by how much progress you made on the sweater. Stupid jobs always getting in the way of knitting :oP

If you can remember to like the simple things then there's a possibility for joy in your life. I, too, try not to forget the simplest things. Beautiful knitting!

Those look great!

You are not simple. to love shiny things.

You are a magpie.

Oh, those colors sing.

You are not simple! You are an enlightened individual who has learned to recognize the joy in little things! Knit on and cherish the fun.

Options in less than a 3.5mm??? How? Are you getting special harlot privileges? Or am I'm simpler than us all?

Like knitting, you are simple in some places and fiendishly convoluted in others.

I cannot stand plain knitting (unless it's in fun fur, and I cannot stand fun fur except in an extremely worthy cause; sadly, at the moment there is one). I've always viewed this as a mental defect on my part, some sort of dreadful ADD/OCD combination. Consider yourself blessed, even with the job thing.

Amen. 'tis the day for stupid job.
Wonderful, frustrating, fun but stupid job.
But I so want to just sit and knit.

I am with you as far as the necessity of boring stockinette stitch. I have my thinking knitting and then I have the mindless variety. I am not that good a movie watcher when I have to work on something and am asking the husband to pause every 15 minutes so I can count or fix things. The sweater, by the way, is lovely - those yellows, creams, and tan - like liquid butter. Bad-for-but-oh-so-good movie popcorn butter.

I tend to use NeedleArts books to link knitting and spinning books. Good information. Small business. Canadian. ...

I'm trying not to let the convenience of Amazon take over.

Thanks for the ordering instructions. I'll admit, I was a bit overwhelmed by the website and doubted my abilities to decifer the Swedish (while simultaneously being amazed at how much of it I understood). I too will be excited by the international phone call.

That is so beautiful! A couple of those sweaters are really calling my name. Am I missing something obvious, or are the prices for kits not on the website anywhere?

I particularly enjoy miles of stockinette when the yarn is soft and luscious, and it sure sounds like that stuff qualifies!

Nothing wrong with enjoying the simple things in life. Though it is tempting to cut and paste the segment about you looking forward to the miles of stockinette stitch to remind you of it when you're tempted to bury the sweater in the backyard later on (after the ground thaws of course). It is a gorgeous sweater though, it'll be worth it.

Just wanted to let you know I am the wife and daughter of a dentist and I still get worked up any time I'm in the chair for dental work! I have been knitting for 10yrs and about a year ago I picked up your first book, found your web page and eventially the entire ciber world of knitting. I have advanced my knitting ten fold in this last year because of this. This project of yours has been on my list for several months. I like the idea of the donation in exchange for the translation.

I'm am. *cringe*

I meant *I*.

I find that repetitive knitting puts me in a "zone". I'll find myself there doing ribbing, for instance... I'll suddenly wake up and think "Shoot! I was supposed to be doing k2p2" and look down and find that my hands have done it all on their own.

Sometimes that's bad, too, as I'll suddenly wake up and find that 8 hours have passed and I've knit 2 whole socks but have done nothing else.

It's a beautiful sweater... now on my list of "somedays" because the 2 lopi's and the Dale are higher on the list.

Good luck at the dentist, I have an appointment tomorrow. Ick.

That sweater is gorgeous. I have been looking for a Bohus kit so thank you for this post!

Those shades of gold make me weak in the knees. I must be strong and not place any calls to Sweden. Oh my.

I took Susanna's Bohus class at Madrona, and I am hooked. I ordered the Great Lace collar Jacket, and it is on its way. My long stretch of stockinette will be in black, so it is a good thing I don't have to see the stitches to knit - just to correct the ones I drop!

You were just in front of me waiting to order a glass of wine before the banquet at Madrona. Your wedding shawl is spectacular! I was very glad to see it in the flesh - so to speak.

Sarah

I love the q&a's. They are never a cop out. I probably wouldn't want them every day since I'd miss your musings but now and again they are really helpful.

The sweater is just lovely. I love those colors and I'm completely impressed with how much progress you've made!

(I know we're not speaking about the dentist but I've found that knitting in the waiting room and listening to the iPod in the chair makes it a less horrifying experience - good luck!)

I think, to a degree, we knitters are all simple. Really, what is more simple than being hypnotized by the click-click of our needles pulling loops through loops? And yet here we are. :)

Bohus is on my "list of things I want when." It looks beautiful so far!

I totally understand!! I just got my order from Knit Picks..Palette Fair Isle Cardigan. I am changing the colors...all of the browns thru cream, only yellow is sunlight, greys thru black, and for color sky, blue, mint, hyacinth, peach and fawn. So much fun on Knit Picks 3.00mm. I love them because they are so pointy also. Of course, this is my 'home' project for myself between next years Christmas knitting for the grankids that goes on the train but it is so nice for fireside knitting. Yes, even in Dallas.

Empty threat, lady. You know you'll never find a pack of roving Patas monkeys out in this weather.

There are roving packs of Patas monkeys in Toronto? Who knew??
I, too, confess to a shameful love of mindless stockinette. Sometimes it's just necessary!! Toss it to me if you need a break. . . you know I can't wear your size, so it will come back.

I am doing miles of endless stockinette as we speak but anticipating the arrival at the color pattern at the top. We are indeed easy to amuse!I just received Lucy Neatby's dvds. They are as fabulous as reported. My husband just kinda shakes his head as he wanders by while I am watching knitting videos,although I do see him pause to watch once in awhile too. No matter how long you have been knitting I can guarantee that you will learn new things from Lucy!!!!Thanks for the great pictures. I got a card signed by Meg with one of my orders and have enshrined it with the Sacred Things, also included in this shrine is a personal e-mail response from the Harlot

The problem with the Bohus sweaters is that they are all gorgeous and it's not hard to decide that you need every single kit. They are definitely worth the time and you feel so pleased with yourself when it's done. The first original Bohus I saw on someone was the Blue Shimmer. Her mother had bought it for her 20 years before and it looked like new although it had been worn regularly all those years. The wearer didn't even know it was a Bohus sweater.
Good luck at the dentist's. It couldn't be as bad as this: see Jan 23 entry at www.annesfood.blogspot.com.

The sweater is just absolutely gorgeous! I'm green with envy that you can knit so much. I went on vacation to Whistler and spent a few hours a day knitting a simple manos sweater and I've developed tendonitis in both hands. I knit continental style with knit picks options or turbo needles. Any recommendations on how to be able to knit longer? I'm currently going into withdrawal since I was told I can not knit for 5 days. I look longingly at my yarn and needles but have not picked them up yet... Ah... tomorrow I may get the word that I may knit up to 30 minutes a day. At that rate, I may get a short scarf done by next year.

What knitting does one take to the dentist's office? I have embarked on a project to knit about 30 scarves by Christmas, so I take them everywhere. Even when it's a simple pattern, I too admire my work every few rows. Why start so soon? Because sooner or later I'm going to get bored knitting scarves and then it will be November 28 and I will need to knit scarves 24 hours a day!

As I was admiring the guld bohus, I was grumbling that you've dropped yet another temptation in front of me. Then I started thinking about your Norwegian mittens and how I knew that I'd never be able to knit anything that complex and beautiful. I chose Norwegian mittens for the Knitting Olympics and discovered it wasn't all that complex. You introduced me to "ethnic" knitting; I had no idea that the tradition was as rich as it is. Thank you for inspiring me, presenting me with challenges, and stretching my knitting skills.

It's a wonderful thing when your knitting makes you so happy you feel like a blithering simpleton. My current projects make me feel like half an idiot, so that's good. Beautiful colors you picked!

I am knitting some fine fairisle work too. The one from the new Vogue were the pattern runs up and down over the length of the short cardi.

I'm so torn up about the dental work I need to get done I went to my 8am. appointment today only to find out I was 1 day early....

ugggg. Only two more weeks(we got visas today) See you at snb

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being simple. Our lives are so incredibly complex that taking joy in simple things helps to keep us relatively sane. That said, I was knitting a swatch of my rainbowdey handspun (turns out it's laceweight...) and I got very excited every time it changed colors. If you are simple, know that you are not simple alone. Now to figure out what to do with it. What does one do with 4g of laceweight rainbowdey handspun soysilk/wool?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being simple. Our lives are so incredibly complex that taking joy in simple things helps to keep us relatively sane. That said, I was knitting a swatch of my rainbowdey handspun (turns out it's laceweight...) and I got very excited every time it changed colors. If you are simple, know that you are not simple alone. Now to figure out what to do with it. What does one do with 4g of laceweight rainbowdey handspun soysilk/wool?

Anyhow, the bohus is just beautiful.

Those colors are breathtaking! I think I may need to buy that book...

the sweater is BEAUTIFUL!

I have two questions about bohus knitting:
I've been knitting for a while, but I'm rather afraid of colorwork. (I've never really done anything more difficult than striping) is it something that I could manage?

and, since we live in florida, and my husband is allergic to wool (can you imagine such a thing?) we don't get much use for wool here. are there kits like yours made out of cotton or linen?

thanks!
-Amy

This just convinces me that I need to get to the Nordic Knitting Conference this Fall in Ballard (WA). Ya Comin? Jasure Jabetcha.

How beautiful.

You know, Meg probably just about swallowed HER own tongue when you gave your name. Sort of a mutual tongue-swallowing society - wait, that didn't come out quite right. Still, a fair bit of tongue-swallowing all round.

Beautiful sweate...

And thanks for the reminder that I forgot to bring something to knit at my own dentist appointment this afternoon.

Simple? Yes. But in a good way.

Green grass and the sun was my immediate thought as I looked at your bohus. It is some NICE so far. GREAT weather for staying indoors and knitting we should all get LOTS done eh ? I have a skein of sea silk that I keep in a basket beside my chair and evry once on awhile take it out and pet it---just call me simple too haha

I love plain stockingnette, especially in the round. It does fill up little bits of time here and there, and in the round, you can just go on automatic. Once I went to a bar for trivial night and knit that way the whole night through. Dropped only one stitch, which was easy enough to ladder back to the next day and pick up.

And don't worry about being simple. There is beauty in simplicity and it just shows that you are capable of admiring the details in life.

I know about the "swallow the tongue thing". Years ago I ordered a kit from a Knitters mag from Schoolhouse press and freaked to get Meg on the phone. When I squeaked "Really?", she said "Oh, and my mother's right here". Knitting goddess Elizabeth pipes up from background "who is it, Meg?"- Meg says "it's a young knitter from Canada named Leslie"
"oh, hello Leslie. Knit on!"
Somehow I managed to place my order, but I don't know how, the only evidence of which was the fact that I actually did receive the order - since I have no recollection of anything that happened after she said that. Complete blank.
Good thing I didn't swear, eh?

Enjoyment of little pleasures is a mature skill, and should be cultivated every chance one gets. Lord knows, we need all the joy we can get!

Re yesterday's post. Not sure, but I heard someplace that wool is good for keeping things warm. A melon head hat? Gloves for fingerling spuds? And as for that willie (I mean wienie) warmer....I leave it to your fertile imagination. Just make sure comestibles are wrapped first, or perhaps one will get more fiber in the diet than desired....and of the wrong kind. Oops. I mean different. No judgement here!

I've not wanted to knit a sweater for years, but now I'm really tempted.......

"I like them very well. The pointedness pleases me deeply and profoundly. Also, I like shiny things. (Oh dear. I am simple, aren't I ?)" Um, if you're simple, then it's a wonder I have enough brain cells to use my opposable thumbs. Besides, I got me some of those nifty, pointy needles too, and I loves 'em just like you do. I say we're safe.

Those colours.... so so sooo beautiful. I've never been able to work out why yellow isn't a more popular shade. It's miles better than pink anyday!

Could be worse, dear Harlot. Going to the dentist is better than going to the hairdressers any day. Have I just come out as being weird?

Oh so pretty. Please make one for me too in the same colors!

Dorie,

I discovered the hard way that Continental, while much faster than English, is WAY harder on my hands... I can knit for hours in English, but my hands will cramp up after a while in Continental... However, the continental is much faster for me. So I have the choice of knitting english and going slow, but forever, and knitting continental and speeding through, but having to stop.

It must be like me with the wrap I'm working on - although at a much higher skill level. But I would make oh so much more progress if I wouldn't stop every couple of rows and spend a few minutes petting and admiring the yarn and the work.

dear Harlot - this posting (and yesterday's) is like an echo in my brain. Yesterday at work I was talking about the Vogue Knitting article on Bohus to a co-worker who was nominally pretending interest and here you are blogging away--like we are psychically linked. You're showing sunshiney photos of Bohus kits! You're like a crack dealer, but in a good and neighborly way.

1. I agree. Plain 'ol stockinette in the round is good--mindless and soothing for the subway, TV watching, or nights of insomnia. Just put it down when it gets boring and do something tricky for a while.

2. Yes, yes, yes, order "Poems of Color" from Schoolhouse Press. They book is lovely, and ordering from Schoolhouse is such a wonderful experience in these days of robotic customer service. If you have a question or concern, it will be answered proptly and by a real person who cares and has a sense of humor. Though I have never spoken directly to Meg herself (pause for green-eyed envy moment), everyone I've ever dealt with at Schoolhouse was lovely. And they are fast.

Could someone who has ordered one of these sweater kits give me a very rough estimate as to cost? I have a birthday coming up in a couple of months and Sweetie always asks me what I want. I just want to know if the price would be reasonable enough for me to ask for this for my gift. He just grins at my yarn stash and shrugs, "Hey, if it makes you happy!" Many thanks.

I order from Schoolhouse Press occasionally, but I never call on the phone for PRECISELY that reason. What if Meg answered? I would stutter and stammer and make a complete ass out of myself.

Although when I got my package the other day (finally broke down and bought a swift and ball winder), I secretely hoped that Meg was the one who touched those items to put them in the box!

Yeah, I'm nuts.

Simple Pleasures: This morning 2 skeins of Handmaiden Sea Silk (in blue) arrived, I have just been staring at it and occasionally sniffing it (it actually does smell of the good sort of sea) all day. It is a truly beautiful thing.

Stocking stitch is very Zen, but like someone above mentioned, I got into a trance on Sunday morning and knit 2 inches more sleeve than I needed...!

So very pretty. And though I'm complaining about it with one of my current projects, there are times when nothing beats the soothing rhythm of plain stockinette.

I can always count on you to tempt me with new books, patterns, yarn and projects :-) Today's post makes me "feel" a little perverted. I am dying to feel that yarn you speak of...oh angora softness, how wonderful. Knitting is nothing if not sensual. BTW, the Delicato mitts are lovely, but you know that better than I.

If you're simple because you like the placement of purl stitches in miles of plain knitting and shiny things, then I fear all us knitters are for the loony bin. I spend waaaaayyyyy too much time thinking about knitting fair isle sweaters, considering that it gets cold enough in San Francisco to justify wearing them about 10 days out of the year.

I am in the middle of miles and miles of stockingnette.. but I HAVE to do it.. sigh.. the trouble with taking paying knitting jobs.. ah well
of course the other project I have is endless reverse stockingette.. but that is for my husband!

BOHUS DATA

I think the kits I ordered about a year ago were in the neighborhood of $160 US, but God only knows what has happened to the exchange rate or the price in kronor (sp). But worth it. Oh, my, so worth it!

Note that Solveig is about 70, and, to the best of my knowledge, has no apprentice. I cringe at the thought.

that Dee

The argument could be made that all knitters are simple - and I'm ok with that. I, too enjoy shiney new needles, "mindless" knitting and soft, loverly yarn. :D

That sweater is beautiful already!!!!!!!

It's a gift to be simple
It's a gift to be free
It's a gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in a place just right
'twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed
To turn and to turn will be our delight
Til by turning and turning we come 'round right.

-Simple Gifts

You say "simple" like it's a bad thing. (I know you probably mean simple-minded, but given how complex so much of life can be, keeping things simple makes all kinds of sense). Enjoy the stockinette!

Beautimous - So fun to admire your work...

I'm just wondering when you got to Northern California- can I come over for coffee? Want to come to my house for coffee? And ya know - it's light jacketn or even nice (handknitted) jumper weather here right now, maybe you should come for a visit, cuz having to go outside to avoid imminent arrival of "ohshitthere'snotoiletpaper" is not such a big deal.

Have fun!

The sweater is lovely and I'm sorry about the dentist but one question: it's Tuesday, aren't you supposed to be spinning? I'm getting out my wheel just as soon as this machine stops sucking the time out of my day.

Oh, and sorry about your cold snap. Excuse the gloat but the high today in Scottsdale is supposed to be 80. Maybe a trip to the southwest is in order?

That sweater is lovely, as if I needed another temptation.

However, I'd like to warn against sending credit card (or other personal details) by email. It's not really hard for someone to intercept the message and get the card number.

Not that it will happen, but it can. And in these days, careful is a good thing, I think.

Cyd-

Thank you so much for your input. According to the physiatrist and chiropractor, the problem is most definitely due to knitting. (They watched me!) Ergonomically, all the literature says that continental is better than English. That said, however, I will knit English tomorrow during my appointment so they can evaluate me and perhaps they will find that method less destructive for my hands. I really appreciate your suggestion.

Appreciatively, Dorie

You're not simple dear, it's the weather.

Your Guld is looking lovely, I'm also diggin the purl bits.

Yeah--I'm with debsnm (who was very nice to me yesterday--I'm on whatever bandwagon she's driving!) but anyway, knitting is simplicity itself, even the colorwork feels patterned and perfect.

Looks gorgeous.
I am sure you are not simple, it is just easy to find joy in simple things.

I have a friend who really likes shiny things too. She calls herself a "crow". I always thought that was funny/cute and thought I'd share.

The sweater is going to be gorgeous and toasty warm. I can tell I'm going to be jealous.

Yes, as one other commenter said "Tis a gift to be simple..." (one of my very favorite songs - sang it at my wedding, actually).

I say behind someone at a recent event who was wearing a colorwork sweater that also included "reverse stockinette accents", shall we say. Not as fine or as lovely in color as a Bohus design, but I was thoroughly delighted by the concept.

Knit on!

Q & Q

How can you be on the color work already (when you just picked out the yarn yesterday)? What have you been taking to knit so fast? Isn't today Tuesday(as in spinning)? I have not seen or heard of Joe's gansey for a very long time. Hmmmmm.

I really want time to sit and knit something as wonderful as that sweater!

My kind of simple. Go Stephanie!

Simple can be soothing. I like shiny things too, and petting/admiring my work. I'm only just now starting my first sweater and I still spread it out and stare at it...constantly.

Simple and Splendid!

Stephanie, I feel your pain regarding the dentist. Had to go there myself, today. For a crown. The fitting for my wedding dress took less time!

Now about that bohus ... I'm very interested in knowing what skill level knitters should attack one of those. They amaze me ... and frighten me beyond belief ... all at the same time. I put myself at intermediate, certainly not an expert, and have fantasized about doing one of those for quite a while. The color selection you picked is absolutely gorgeous!

People just laugh at me when I tell them that shiny and sparkly are my favorite colors.

Forgive the question, but are you knitting the sweater in the round? I can't tell from the photo.

Also, I think that sweater is going to look stunning on you.

"Meg Swansen answered the phone. I almost swallowed my own tongue."

It's funny that you say that, considering that for many people, having the Yarn Harlot answer the phone would have a similar effect.

Very nice. Simplistic/classic designs are forever!

How in the Sam Hill did you go from that one row to where you are now - with the color work? Lord have mercy, girl! There has to be smoke coming off those pointy shiny things!

It's beautiful, by the way!!!

And yes, I'd love to be the president of your fan club! You want one???

COME TO EVANSVILLE, IN! Do a book signing/workshop/retreat - anything! We have a lovely Barnes and a Borders as well as three NICE yarn shops that would LOVE to have you! The library people would love it, too - new facilities and great places for you to do your thing! We could keep you busy! THINK ABOUT IT!!!

Those colors are looking wonderful together. (And obviously not all grnyrns are fractious little devils. [g]) I agree with the rest of the folk who enjoy stockinette - especially since you sockBorged me. I sit here knitting socks while reading blogs or other stuff on the computer, or watching TV, and it's absolutely lovely. (I'm very slow, but it's lovely. Who cares how fast I'm going?)

And I'm passionately in love with the KnitPicks Classic Circulars, too. This even though I hate metal needles (bigger ones clank, drives me nuts) - even metal tips on circs. Plus I always swore I'd never go below my beloved Denise US #5's. However - after sockBorging? Total. Love. For the Classic circs. Metal points and all. For socks, anyway. ;) This even though I'm a loose knitter and have to go down a size, so I've been getting the #0/2mm and #1/2.5 mm. Much to my astonishment, I've even had the occasional thought that I wish they made the Classics in 1.5 and 1mm, 'cause I think I'd need those to get a good fabric using their laceweight for socks! You're bloody dangerous, you are. I've become obsessed with socks. Even to buying more fleece especially for spinning sock yarn, and brushing up on my handpainted yarn dyeing skills. I have six skeins of KnitPicks Bare fingering wt. looking at me expectantly as I type, in fact. This week is handpainting week!

"I can't imagine anything more pleasant for filling little moments in the day than all that plain knitting."

Hmmm...but not quite as plain as endless green sock step-outs?? (Sorry for the reminder!)

Stunning! Absolutely stunning! I can understand why you'd look forward to the mindless knitting of stockinette stitch. It's soothing. And mindless.

Well...all I can say is that if you are a knitter, then I'm a - box of rocks. Or something else that's just altogether OTHER. I spent way too many hours last night trying to teach myself a new lace pattern and ended up frogging the whole pathetic effort since I could NEVER seem to make even ONE frickin row come out right at the end... Stephanie, you are just another form of being, on a completely different plane of development from the rest of us down here in the mud. Your knitting is BEAUTIFUL. Just beautiful. I will try very hard to be inspired by it rather than intimidated and dejected. As Boxer always said, "I will work harder."

Well...all I can say is that if you are a knitter, then I'm a - box of rocks. Or something else that's just altogether OTHER. I spent way too many hours last night trying to teach myself a new lace pattern and ended up frogging the whole pathetic effort since I could NEVER seem to make even ONE frickin row come out right at the end... Stephanie, you are just another form of being, on a completely different plane of development from the rest of us down here in the mud. Your knitting is BEAUTIFUL. Just beautiful. I will try very hard to be inspired by it rather than intimidated and dejected. As Boxer always said, "I will work harder."

OMG! That sweater is GORGEOUS! Maybe in a few years when I am more experienced I'll try it. I'm only 13 but that sweater is definetly on my learn to do list.

How in all of frigid Toronto did you knit so much in only two days?!

And did you see that the comment above mine was left by a 13y/o? Amazing.

Heh. Magpie ;-)

(dear whateveritisoutthere, I hope the hell the love of shiny sharp things does not extend to your experience at the dentist...)

Are you knitting this from the top down?

You keep showing us things that I lust after. Reading your blog is not good for my budget but it definitely has expanded my knitting knowledge. Thank you.

Am I the only person here who, just for a teeny second, thought that you were doing this sweater from the bottom up, and had already worked your way up to the yoke? Don't worry, I'm still pretty damn impressed. The dark forest one and the gray mist one are calling to me pretty hard.

That is gorgeous and I can't even wear those colours.

Gah!

Simple pleasures are best!

pretty....sooooo pretty. i want it.

p.s. i like shiny things, too...but i openly admit that i'm simple...i no longer fear it; i embrace it instead.

I too like shiny things. I also like things that spin. We may be simple, but at least we can keep each other company!

One of the main reason I always phone in my orders to Schoolhouse Press ( as opposed to email) is because then I can say "well, I was spkeaking to Meg Swansen today..."

a bohus - sigh. It's lovely. I am applauding your creativity - while I still sit here struggling to finish my first wristlette from Susanna's class.
you are truly a wizard :-)

What's bohus? I'm so out of this... It took me a REALLY long time to figure out the difference between jackets and sweaters.

I hate the dentist too.

The sweater is gorgeous! And oddly hypnotizing....*stares at pretty picture* Oooh, shiny.

I bought the large lace collar kit in black and greys and have been sitting on it for awhile now. You have given me the bug to get it out and start it. I am thinking of changing the neck band a little and adding little purl beads to the color work. I am a little worried about the plain knitting in black. I'll have to make sure the ott light is working. Thanks for the push.
Love your blog.

You are making this Bohus business more and more attractive. I fear I will veer off track with my current goals ...

It's beautiful!!!

I'm in constant awe of your knitterly works. We're freezing here in NY as well, stay warm!

I think we all tend to get more "simple" when it's cold outside. Or very warm, when we just want to loll around the deck and knit very light yarns in the shade. Sometimes, it's just too cold or hot to be complicated. Complicated is for when we don't have to deal with keeping warm or cool, so we have more energy to spend on complications. I think it has something to do with humans discovering how to make fire, but I may be off on that.
Lill

I ordered the "Blue Shimmer" kit. I contacted Solveig via email to tell her what I wanted, and she sent her snail mail address to me. I sent my credit card info to her with regular surface mail, and I still received my kit fairly quickly.

I am new at spinning...I am really curious to know why you 3 ply the gansay yarn in your passed blogs...I am new to your blog...I LOVE IT! I two ply so far and need direction about this. What fleece is that? It's gorgeous. I also need a mitten pattern for Patons Rumour yarn...have any ideas? I want some mittens out of this stuff and am not the make my own pattern kinda gal...although I tried...sniff. I love knitting and it just occured to me the irony that my son is named Gage and my husband is Len which sounds like the french word for yarn, laine! haha. Thanks for sharing your passion!

I'm totally amazed by your sweater, the thought makes my head spin!

I've been trying to do something similar (only with large needles) from a Lopi pattern. It is this http://www.camillavalleyfarm.com/lopi/2306kit.htm but in different colors. How do you handle carrying the colors across the back? I took my first attempt at the LOPI sweater in to the LYS and found out it was all wrong, my second attempt came out with some seriously uneven stitches and even though I was 3/4 done with the sweater I ripped it out last week because I wasn't happy with it. The Lopi starts from the bottom up - although I'm not sure that matters with the technique I'm asking about. Can you please provide some guidance on how to handle carrying the yarn? Maybe show us the back of your work? Is there a special technique for this?

I've heard it is rude to link back to your blog in comments, so this isn't meant to be rude. http://purlewe.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/r_0002.JPG is a picture of my uneven stitches. Please help! I will be forever grateful!!

Thank you so much!

What is different about the Bohus designs compared to a standard Fair Isle Yoke sweater?

There is an elegance to perfect simplicity. And I love plain knitting (I call it Brainless Knitting).

That sweater is simply gorgeous; I can't wait to see it finished.

Now I want to put down my lace and find an elegant small gauge colorwork pattern...

Agreed. The sweater is divine. I'm in my usual harlot-awe.

The first time Meg (I hesitate to call her Meg-it seems disrespectful-her highness maybe) spoke to me at Knitting Camp 06 I was like a tongue tied teenage boy staring at boobs for the first time. I wouldn't be surprised if she thought I was simple and liked only pointly sharp things.

Oh how well do I know the call of a an addictive project. I'm doing a simple raglan toddler sweater for my darling baby girl. I'm using Noro Kureyon. Nothing way out there, nothing terribly different or new, but its the most amazing thing how its striping so beautifully, how the striped skein gods have been nice to me so that I can actually match the start of the sleeves. I can't stop working on it. Its so addictive that, luckily, since I have another colorway in the stash, she is probably going to end up with two of them!

Canadian Food.

I clicked to see what a "buttertart" might be, then something clicked in my head. Looked again at "poutine". Looks like what we might call french fries, covered with - cottage cheese? - and gravy?

Again, I say, Canadian Food!

Down here in the open wilderness of the Great Plains, in Oklahoma, where Chicken Fried Steak and Fried Okra and Hush Puppies are revered, we truly enjoy foods of Other Ethnicity.
We have learned to love Italian Food, Chinese Food, Mexican Food (and its subset, Tex-Mex); we're warming up to such exotics as Greek and East Indian and Thai Food; but nowhere to be seen is a Canadian Food restaurant.

The only Canadian Food we have ever heard of is - (drumroll) - Canadian Bacon.

We have long awaited - unaware - an education in this great unknown called Canadian Food. Is it possible that our beloved Yarn Goddess, I mean Harlot, could enlighten her ignorant and humble neighbors to the south? This could be a major step in our evolution; perhaps - dare I say it? - the burgeoning of a new culinary industry!

So tell us, fair Stephanie, what DO y'all eat?

So, can you move my carefully crafted and eloquent post to the place (Feb 12) where it belongs? I don't know how I got it on the wrong date. Rats.
Don't shoot me. I'm going to repost it.