The Second Time Around

Love is lovelier, the second time around
Just as wonderful, with both feet on the ground
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say, what brought us to this miracle we've found
There are those who'd bet
Love comes but once - and yet
I'm oh so glad we met
The second time around
- Kahn

I am six short rows from finishing Galadriel's Mirror - for the second time (almost). You see, I ran out of yarn the first time and had to go all the way back to the middle and take a repeat out before the zig-zaggy pattern change to the border. Yikes!

I have been pushing it along for the past week, wishing it was finished and barely keeping ahead of my fastest test knitter, who is loving the pattern thus far. In fact, she is so far ahead that she began working on a second GM, doubling the triangle, making a square tablecloth out of it in white cotton. No pics yet, but I will ask her to share when she gets a little further along.

The shawl has a real intricate look to it that I love, definitely different than most shawls, more substantial and done in fingering weight instead of lace-weight. The lacy bits are minimal until you get to the border and the twisted stitches really make the pattern pop.

I know it is hard to see, because she is all bunched up on the needles, but I can't wait to see her all stretched out - soonest...

This is another add on pattern, not included in the $45 subscription. Once again, I found the yarn & pattern after the sign ups were done. Once again, I will offer a $2 discount to subscribers, as I did with Rivindell & Goldberry

Two test knitters have finished the Bombadil Tam, so that pattern should be out to subscribers and available for individual purchase next week. As soon as it is ready, I will email it out to the fine folks at String Theory who are putting kits together with Caper Sock (which is what I used) One of my test knitters used Knitpicks with beautiful results.

I do want to make sure one of them was using the written directions (not just charts)before release. Pesky little suckers. Mind like a sieve - good thing I make notes...

Another thing I am getting a second go at this week: having a toddler in the house. Son & grandson staying with us while in between houses. I had forgotten how busy a toddler is. He is a joy (as was Daddy) but into everything and curious about it all. I have already taught him Grandma lingo. He says, "hat, shawl, and wind ( as in yarn, not climate)."

And on the subject of second chances, tomorrow - July 24th - there WILL BE A STASH SALE! Lots of goodies from MadelineTosh, Tanis Fiber Arts, Sanguine Gryphon, Blue Moon, & Hand maiden.

Didn't get to do this last weekend as aforementioned toddler changed my plans for the day.

So c'mon back over here tomorrow afternoon and peruse the goodies. My sales are legendary - don't miss out!

And now, I am gonna tackle those six rows - hurry, hurry, hurry...

Random Acts of Knitting

In complex situations, we may rely too heavily on planning and forecasting and underestimate the importance of random factors in the environment. That reliance can also lead to delusions of control.

-Hillel J. Einhorn

My thoughts are scattered today - not good for a writer. I don't know if it is due to the heat which has suddenly struck hard at the midsection of our country, the many patterns I have in the pipeline at the moment, or the push-me-pull-you nature of balancing the demands on my time.

All I know is that I am having difficulty settling down to any one thing right now. I work on Evenstar's beaded border until my eyes and brain give out (which comes sooner on some days than on others) then pick up Dwarrowdelf to finish the second side. When that feels stale, I knit on Strider which is already in test knit and about 10 rows from sample completion.

When all else fails to interest, I work on another design which I have had in mind for Fellowship since it's inception, but had not finalized in time for the initial offering. This one is low on the priority list as it is not part of the original series, but I hope to have it ready for publication in August, just in time for you to complete it before the cold winds of winter strike again.

Evenstar's release has been pushed back from June 1st to the 4th (next Friday) in consideration of the holiday weekend and the many festivities surrounding it. I have learned (to our detriment) the consequences of premature release (now that sounds a lot racier than it should-lol) and want to make sure the final product is thoroughly proofed by several people since it has only been tested in its clue format.

Those errata are sneaky little suckers - they and their ugly cousins: the typos!

Now some random acts of knitting for your enjoyment...

close up shot of back panel of Dwarrowdelf showing the center graft & the pick up along the side edge (the diagonal line) with the side panels knit out from the back.

beauty shot of Dwarrowdelf on the artist's chair

!!SPOILER ALERT!!
Evenstar Pic ahead

Almost done with beaded border - next time you see her, she'll be blocked
so excited!!!


Galadriel's Mirror triangular shawl - mid-way through 3rd chart

close up of center back divide showing mirroring

close up of twisted stitch/bobbled lace pattern

Elven-ish motifs ripple out in mirror fashion from center of shawl before radiating out into an overlapping lattice with half round motifs on the edge. The yarn is the yummiest color - String Theory Blue Stocking in Alexandrite - a real joy to work with! I have almost used up the first skein, but have 2 more if I need them.

And I think that's about it for today. Not up to my usual standards, but as much as I can manage today. My knitting awaits...

Garden Variety SALE!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas 
Ev'rywhere you go; 
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again 
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow. 
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, 
Toys in ev'ry store, 
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be 
On your own front door."

-James Pierpont

Well, it's December and you know what THAT means...

Yup! It's time for a Garden Variety Collection Sale.

After all, we had Christmas in July. Don't ya think we should have Christmas in December?

I mean, it just seems natural, doesn't it?


So here's the deal:

Any time in December, you can still lock in our "Buy four, get one free" offer. You purchase the four existing patterns: Pampas, Rose, Delphinium, & Chrysanthemum, and I throw in the upcoming Spruce pattern (Dec. 25th release) as my Christmas gift to you. That's five, count em - five, patterns of beaded lacy goodness for the low price of $32. That's just over $6 a piece. Can't beat that!

And remember: These are limited editions. Spruce is only available through full season purchase.

But that's not all! Oh no!

Once again, we will be offering the 2008 series, for a limited time. This month only, you can purchase all five patterns of the 2008 Garden Variety Collection for the same low price - $32. this purchase includes Poinsettia, 2008's Christmas design, which is in limited release.



Patterns are available at this price only here on the blog and at Knitty Noddy. Just too complicated to try and offer through Ravelry...

Merry Christmas from Knitty Noddy and Sunflower Designs!

Chrysanthemum

"Drink dew from the magnolia in the morning and take autumn chrysanthemum's falling petals as food in the evening."

- Li Sao

CHRYSANTHEMUM SHAWL
the garden variety collection
$8
a beaded lace shawl
from the needles of Susan Pandorf


SIZE:
70 inches wide by 32 inches long

MATERIALS:
700 yds. Handmaiden Sea Silk or Mini Maiden in color: Origin
3000 size 8 Miyuke seed beads
#2422 silver lined topaz
34 accent beads (optional)
Size 5 (US) needles
Size 12 Crochet Hook, Large Eye Beading Needle, stitch markers


GAUGE:
one pattern repeat in wave pattern = 2.5 inches (blocked)

charted pattern; advanced intermediate level

Here is a link for the accent beads I used:

leaf beads

This full-sized shawl features a wavy pattern reminiscent of Chrysanthemum flowers

divided by panels of wine glass lace.

The open section in the middle mimics the rounded lines of the waves

and segues into a larger leafy pattern with ribbed points.

Mums are thought by the Chinese to grant longevity and strength. Don’t know about that, but I do agree with the Japanese who celebrate a festival of happiness to commemorate the flower.

May the pattern bring happiness to both the knitter in the making of it and the recipient in the wearing of it!

Pattern is available here on the blog, on Ravelry as a direct download, and at Knitty Noddy, where Evelyn gives you $1 off the pattern price with the purchase of the yarn to complete the project.

Thank you for your patience!

Off to email the pattern to all subscribers...

Done (but NOT Quickly!)

"Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished."

-Confucius

I cast off the final stitch of Chrysanthemum on Sunday afternoon. I am really happy with how she turned out.

Blocked her yesterday, and admired her today. It is so hard to tell what a triangular shawl is going to look like when you are in the midst of the center pattern repeats.

You can't really see in these pictures, but the beads glow and the entire piece is so rich and warm. Perfect for this time of year. I love the russet, bittersweet, and eggplant colors of the Origin Seasilk. I think this may be my favorite GVC pattern thus far.

I am off to attach the little leaf beads to the points and get better pictures. Then it is time to write 'er up and get 'er out into your hot little hands.


Shall we have a little chorus of "Can't - Stop - Thinkin' about tomorrow..."?

I hope you find her worth the wait.

P.S. Thank you for all your "get well" wishes last week. It was a mean bug. Took me down and out for four whole days. but all is well now.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

"Blessed is the man who has some congenial work, some occupation in which he can put his heart, and which affords a complete outlet to all the forces there are in him."

-John Burroughs

WARNING!
SERIOUS DROOL INDUCEMENTS AHEAD
RECOMMEND EVASIVE ACTION
GET BIB...

So...

What did I do on my Christmas Vacation?

No, no, besides filling a ginormous amount of garden variety orders (thank you SO SO MUCH!)

I played.

Of course, my play looks a lot like work. With one critical difference...

I work on play with whatever I want to.

Not what my customers want most.
Not what my family wants most.
Not what is most delayed.

But whatever I darn well please.

What a concept!

Want some show and tell?

Of course you do!

I started with a couple balls I had floating around from the fall that never quite developed into full blown designs.


This is Classic Elite's Moorland in misty morning: a beautiful soft heathered single ply DK wool. It is deceptively simple. The slight halo tends to obscure fine patterning and texture stitches aren't as crisp as I'd like. But I loved the soft, foggy nature of it, if I could just find the right pattern for it.


After much knitting and subsequent frogging, I settled on this simple zigzag pattern, composed mostly of knit and purl stitches, with only one yarn over and decrease each repeat. I'm doing a stole. No name yet.


And this is Rowan's lovely Purelife organically dyed DK wool in Ivy: a very pale and subdued grey green. A natural for this leaf pattern. A scarf, I think...

Then I moved on to the hard stuff...

The Artyarn goodies Santa brought me. Simply the best. Loads of fun. Seriously drool worthy.


This is Ensemble, an absolutely pet-able fiber consisting of one strand of silk and one of (be still my heart) cashmere.

Excuse me for a moment. I'm getting all verklempt...


This one was a challenge. I loved the soft springlike colors, but I didn't want streaks. I settled on this pattern that combines cabling with lace work.



Once blocked out, I should have a lovely open early spring scarf. I think I'll call it Trellis.

Then there is the little lovely I showed you at the top of the post.


This is Drift: a pristine cream colored confection of Silk Rhapsody Glitter. The pattern is a combination of the gentle curves of a snow covered landscape, the tracks which form in the snow from our cars, the footprints of forest animals (or pets), and the schussing pattern of slalom skis.

See the little footprints between the tire tracks?

But the best part is the little silver filament that runs along with the silk and mohair strands. Its subtle sparkle reminds me so powerfully of the way new fallen snow sparkles in the sunlight.


This one just has to be a sumptuous stole. A brilliant bit of comforting warmth to wind around my shoulders on a cold midwinter day. I know it is indulgent, but I rushed right out and spent some of my ill gotten gains on three more skeins of this beauty. It is so yummy to work with and the pattern is just enough to be interesting, but not a pain in the rear.

But wait! There's more!


This is my icicle scarf, knit from Artyarns exquisite bead AND sequins silk mohair.

SHUT UP!

THIS STUFF IS TOO GORGEOUS TO BE LEGAL!

AND YOU CAN GET IT OVER THE COUNTER?

YOU MEAN I DON'T HAVE TO GET IT IN A DARK ALLEY FROM A YARN PUSHER?

NO WAY!



This stuff is like crack. It is that addictive. And that easy. No crochet hook required. Just knit.

When you have fiber this gorgeous, you really don't want the pattern to get in the way. I worked it with a simple four row, six stitch repeat lace pattern that results in a vertical wave that reminds me of melting ice. Just for panache, I did pointed ends, because that's what icicles do.

I made it thin since the yarn is so expensive, although it will block out a little wider. Besides, icicles are skinny little suckers.

You could get by with one skein for a short little scarf, but I am doing mine long and lean, with two. And this is so fast it is a turbo-aperitif. I knit the full skein in one day. Very gratifying after all those lo-o-o-ong projects...


Just look at that sparkle! I love this so much that I returned the green sweater my DH gave me for Xmas in favor of a light taupe one that will go with this scarf. Am I crazy, or what?

Now surely, I must be done, right?

Wrong.

The best thing I played with on vacation?



My grandson Conner, who accompanied us to the frozen north for a four day post-Christmas visit with family in Leland, MI and then came home with Grandma and Grandpa to stay another two days, while Mom & Dad celebrated the New Year in Chicago.

Six days...

Seriously drool worthy...

Can't say I didn't warn you...

Late Bloomers

"As long as we are persistent in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time.'
- Denis Waitley

Thank you all for your ongoing interest in Sunflower Designs. Your enthusiasm and passion is inspiring.

The Aperitifs Collection is flying off the shelves out of the laptop (we don't have shelves on the sunflower farm - way too organized for a chronic right-brainer like me.) I have the feeling there will be more than a few of these designs under the Christmas tree this year. Look for another release later this week...

A new friend on Ravelry has reminded me that we probably have a few latecomers who might benefit from a reiteration of the details of the Garden Variety Collection.

The Garden Variety Collection is a series of lace scarves/shawls inspired by the magnificent diversity we can find in our garden flowers,and the gorgeous colors of Handmaiden yarns. The patterns are designed for Sea Silk or Mini Maiden although other yarns of similar gauge can be (and have been) substituted successfully. Designs feature extensive crochet hook beading (optional) to enhance the lines of the patterns.

So far there have been four releases:

Crocus Pocus

Iris

Hydrangea

and
Zinnia

Sunflower was supposed to come out this month.



But factors such as repetitive stress injury, family illness, new grandchild, punishing pace, and size of the finished piece have combined to delay its release. Oh, c'mon now, don't cry; you know how that affects me...

Poinsettia will still come out in November as scheduled, in time for Christmas, and that pattern will be emailed free of charge to all who have purchased the four previously published patterns. Don't worry; Evelyn at Knitty Noddy and I have been keeping track of who orders what.

I have first pictures to share of the sample skeins that Jana at Handmaiden has dyed exclusively for Poinsettia.

Evelyn is shipping one of each to me today so I can decide between them. The main difference seems to be the relative amounts of red, gold, and green and the overall intensity of the colors. I will knit a bit with both and then decide which to use. What do you think? Which one do you like?

(Please keep in mind that this an informal non-binding survey.)

This yummy color of Sea Silk will be available (soon!) exclusively from Knitty Noddy.

So don't throw up your hands in despair.

Don't mope.

Don't cancel your subscriptions, tie up your loose ends, and jump out your window...

(Y'all can detect the heavy irony in my tone, can't you?)

Sunflower

and
Bougainvillea

will be released following Poinsettia.

Not exactly what I had planned, but real life got in the way. I hope that those of you who have been knitting the series will embrace these two "late bloomers" as a welcome break from the winter doldrums, even without the added bribe carrot of the free pattern.

Since the release schedule has changed, I am pushing back the retirement date of these patterns accordingly. They are still limited editions, but I will continue to offer the patterns for sale until March 2009. At that time, all seven patterns will be retired and I will begin production on the 2009 edition.

(Yeah. I know. I'm a glutton for punishment.)

I trust that all of my fans (Gosh, do i really have fans?) will understand the slight delay and accept my heartfelt apologies.

Blessings & happy knitting always!