Day 51: Isle by Kim Hargreaves
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/isla-cardigan-2
Spring is here! I’ve spent the past few weeks giving all my winter knits one last moment in the sun before I put them away in anticipation of the brightening weather.
Day 52: Checked Cowl inspired by Lisa Richardson
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/snuggle-up-either-way-snood
My flowering quince bush has finished its early blooms, and the first roses are unfurling their petals in the garden. Knowing how little time I have, I’ve been cherishing my favorites.
Day 53: Aimee by Kim Hargreaves
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/aimee-2
It is a bit tragic to dwell in a temperate climate when one lives to knit with merino, angora and mohair.
Day 54: Striven by Jenny Atkinson
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/striven
This is a bit like the dilemma faced by my grandmother, who lived in Texas her whole life but owned multiple fur coats. (??????) For those of you unfamiliar with the deadly heat of Texas let me just explain that the one day a year, on Christmas, when my grandparents would light a cheerful fire, they also surreptitiously turned on the air conditioning. Clearly this obsession of enveloping oneself with warm, fuzzy things in any climate, no matter how absurd, is a family trait.
Day 55: Covet
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/covet
Of course, as Mark Twain once observed, the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. If I would just bite the bullet and move north, I could wear my knitwear all year long.
Day 56: Beaded Glamour inspired by Martin Storey
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/brigitte
I don’t think that’s going to happen. We southerners are thin-blooded by nature. Like it or not, I live in a town named SUNNYvale where wild parrots flock, living off of the exotic fruits my neighbors grow. It was once an orchard capital of California and there are still apricot and cherry orchards interspersed with retail strips and apartment complexes here. Besides, the ruthless sun that reflects off the miles of concrete and manicured lawns creates a dazzling luminosity.
Day 57: Shaded Flower by Kaffee Fassett
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/shaded-flower
Spring is here to say, and summer is coming soon. Why not? If the seasons never changed, we would miss half the excitement in the fashion world. Look at the ingenious designs Rowan produces for their Spring/Summer magazines every year! Here is one of my favorites:
Day 58: Maritime by Sarah Dallas
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/maritime
It is just a pity that stranding must be limited to winter sweaters in my climate. The very thought of wearing a multi-stranded wool or cotton knit in the heat of summer makes beads of perspiration stand out on my forehead!
Day 59: Uist by Jennie Atkinson
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/uist
To be honest, I feel a bit torn about seasonal knitting. Why should I put away all my gorgeous projects with wool just because spring has arrived? I can’t wear pullovers at all in summer unless they are in a 4ply silk, cotton or rayon blend, and how many summer cardigans does one person need? Then again, the hotter it gets, the more reluctant I will be to thrust my hands into a heavy woolen skein of yarn.
Day 60: Elizabeth by Kim Hargreaves
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/elizabeth
Stitches West certainly tempted me with some amazing yarns and patterns in vibrant colors for spring. I succumbed to temptation and bought some skeins that are practically glowing in color to celebrate my orchard surroundings this year. I’ll be sharing all my yarns and plans for warm weather knits in my next post.
And to read the next installment of the 100 Day Challenge, click on the link below: