Trish Knits.com

Wow, it feels like an age since I’ve blogged. I’ve been knitting with a bit of a heavy heart these last couple of weeks and haven’t felt like writing about it. I still really can’t, but will soon. In the meantime…

Am I the only one who enjoys the smell of a freshly dropped cardboard box on a crisp fall day? Dropped, as in dropped on my porch by my favorite Brownie, aka the UPS man. This week’s bounty contained much early holiday shopping, but I couldn’t resist a few treats for myself! The weather’s been super-duper gray here over the last few weeks and when I saw the next two books, well, let’s just say I had a moment, and caved. Thank you Knit Picks, for making it a bit too easy for me to part with my money.

The first one is Kristin Knits by Kristin Nicholas. I have always been drawn to her designs and when I saw the cover of this book online and the few project photos I could find, I honestly think I started salivating like one of Pavlov’s dogs. Oh. My. Goodness.

To say that this book is beautiful would be an understatement. Kristin does have an amazing eye for color and she spends a good bit of time in the front of the book on color theory, which is something I aspire to understand but sometimes fall flat in that area. I think I want to make just about every single project in this book. Except of course that the afghan about gave me hives when I saw the size of it. I am sticking by my guns that I am not doing another afghan ever again. But the hats and scarves and mittens in this book? Too cute! This book makes me happy to just sit and turn its pages.

The other book on color knitting that I got was Kaffe Knits Again, by the legendary Kaffe Fassett. Ok, so some folks have complained that this book is just a re-invention of many of Kaffe’s previous designs. But I don’t own those books, so I’m not going to whine about that. I was so drawn to the afghans in this book, especially the stripey one with flowers. But I doubt I will ever do another afghan at this point. Maybe I should see if I can figure out how to turn that design into something wearable. I also love love love the afghan on the cover of this book.

What I’d really like to know, is where do creative people get this stuff from, and why can’t I be one of those people, who can see and envision that level of creativity? I certainly am drawn to colorful things in a very powerful way. But I feel more like a worshiper of color, and it doesn’t really come from somewhere within me, like it must with these people. I am green with envy! Oops, bad pun.

And for a little Christmas Spirit…

Check out Christmas Knitting in Color by Nanette Blanchard. In this little booklet, available from Lulu for immediate download (the link I’ve provided is to the Lulu shop) contains several whimsical holiday designs. My two favorites are the i-cord knitted Christmas lights shown on the cover, and the Child’s Holiday Gift Hat. It’s a hat. It’s a present. It’s a hat that’s a present. Really. You gotta go see.

Ciao for now,

Your friendly neglectful blogger. More soon.