Finishing and Starting

 Last summer, while I was in Virginia visiting my mom and sister for my birthday, I bought some lovely merino-silk wool and Mom bought some beads.  I wanted to knit the stole on the cover of Knitting Traditions magazine.  http://www.interweavestore.com/knitting-traditions-fall-2013  I didn't check my gauge, because it's a stole!  It'll fit!  But mine didn't turn out as lacy and loose as theirs.  I don't care!  I love it!  The silk makes it so soft, and though I thought the beads would make it too heavy, once it's done and the weight is distributed, it isn't heavy at all.  I want to make another, this time out of Jagger Spun Zephyr, a piece I had dyed last summer in Pecan, with the beads I used on the huck lace purple and gold warp.  I want to, but I'd really love to design my own lace pattern, using the same beading technique.

 But before I can do that, I've imposed a restriction on myself:  I must finish one more thing, at least.  I have three sweaters going right now, and at least one of them needs to be done!  So, I've fixed the mistake on the button bands on the cotton-silk sweater--I used garter stitch for about 10 rows instead of seed stitch--by frogging back to the place where I added the sleeves to the body.  I've just finished knitting the frogged area, and  am about 1/4 the way up the sleeve seams.  I must say, I don't care for the way the variegated yarn knitted up differently on the sleeves than the body, and why didn't I see that coming?  But the drape of this sweater is amazing, and I love the feeling of the yarn in my hands.  I will wear the heck out of this sweater once it's done, and it turns cool enough again.
  I have a hand-dyed warp in yellows and greens in the same yarn that might be the next sweater, but I also have lots of other projects begging to be started.  We'll see what captures my interest while this guy dries on the blocking rack!
  Two weeks ago, I had a solo dye-day, and used up a lot of dyes that LouAnn had given me from her daughter-in-law's school days.  I'm sad to report that I think the dyes were too old to remain fast, but on the other hand, I kind of like the results.  The sea colors washed out more than my vision had been, but they're now soft and lovely, merging just like the ocean on a cloudy day.  The wefts that I dyed at the same time didn't wash out as much, but that might be for the best as they're woven in.
  The forest and plum warp is not at all what I wanted.  The loden color just became a pale green, with the marine color overpowering everything, and the eggplant-magenta combination, being the new dyes, are predominant over all.  Not sure if I like it at all, but maybe some beading, maybe some other wefts, a busy pattern to distract the eye... We'll see what happens.  It's only yarn. They make more every day.
  Today, everything inside will have to wait.  It's going to be a beautiful day, and I'll be out in it, gardening.  I hope you're out in it, too, and then save time for some Happy Weaving!
  Maggie