In which a corset is set aside in favor of cozy green things…
I had a clear knitting plan for fall. Once the revisions on the book were done and I actually had time to knit again, I would focus all my knitting energy on the Corset Pullover, allowing myself to be distracted only by the occasional sock, so that I would have that Corset Pullover to wear come fall. And then I was going to get started on the Turkish Cape. In the heat of summer that seemed like exactly what I should do.
First off, let me say: Revisions are done. (again) Now it goes to my draft readers–one already has his set of pages, and this week I’ll give it to the other three–and then there’ll likely be more revisions based on their feedback and then…back to Dream Agent who we really really hope says yes.
So, revisions done. Time for knitting. I looked at the Corset Pullover this weekend. I had every intention of casting on for the first sleeve. But now that fall is actually in sight, I found myself really wanting something different. As lovely as the Corset Pullover will be, it doesn’t seem like a priority right now. As some of you already know, I’ll be spending a month this fall at an artists colony. It’s an incredible luxury to have four weeks away at a place where my only responsibility will be to write. I wasn’t expecting to be awarded this residency when I applied–Ragdale was a bit of a reach since my only published book at this point is a Spanish phrase book. But you never know who’ll be on a selection committee from season to season, and the people on this colony’s committee apparently thought well enough of my writing to grant me a place to write for four weeks. I’ll be fed three meals a day, given a room and a studio… It’s kind of amazing. The one downside? I’ll be missing Rhinebeck. Eat some fried dough and pet some alpaca for me, please.
So I’m thinking about fall, and thinking about how I’ll be spending the bulk of each day of it alone in a writing studio on fifty acres of prairie, then sitting around a dinner table each night with a group of artists who’ve also spent all day alone working (which makes for some odd conversations, in my experience) and then probably more writing at night. Can you picture a Corset Pullover in this situation? Not so much. When I picture myself at Ragdale, I’m seeing warm cardis and cozy pullovers and lots and lots of handknit socks. I’ve got the socks pretty well covered. I’ve certainly got sweaters from past years to wear…but I want NEW warm cardis and cozy pullovers. You know what’s coming next, right?
This weekend I cast on for two new projects. Do you remember the Lopi fair isle toggle cardigan with the screwed-up fair isle chart? The one that drove me, ironically, to pick up the long-neglected Corset Pullover? (Don’t worry; I don’t really expect you to remember it.) The chart was wrong, but I decided I don’t care about the fair isle enough to take the time to tinker with it. What I like about the cardi is the shape and the main color. So I’m knitting that cardi, minus the fair isle. I cast on yesterday and am about halfway done with the back. Pictures when I’ve got a bit more of it knit.
I also cast on for a Ribby Cardi, using the yarn that was going to be Rogue* way back when. I’ve been meaning to make one of these for ages. Ah yes, it will be a very green fall for me.
After these, I’ve got an Hourglass Sweater planned, Valtos, and Salina. Then the Turkish Cape. And I’m sure I’ll work the Corset Pullover in there as well. And let’s not forget the Dulaan knitting! There will be some long evenings on the prairie where I won’t feel like writing, after all. Now the question is, how much knitting does one pack for a month away?**
*Rogue was the project that taught me that I’m allergic to knitalongs. Joining a knitalong is an absolute guarantee that I will lose interest in a project. It’s like a shellfish allergy, really. Utterly beyond my control.
**That’s a trick question. I’ll be packing one or two projects and mailing myself several others. Not sure which yet…
The answer is: an amazing lot of knitting.
😉
Posted by: claudia
Its been known to still be very warm in October in Chicago. Maybe when I come and visit you we can knit on one of the porches, or out in the prairie on one of the benches? Plus maybe you can take a day off to tour the yarn shops of Chicago! 🙂
I’m so excited for you to be nearby!
Posted by: pippy
Vermont? :-} That’s my Rhinebeck substitute…
I’m ditching my tank-in-progress for warmer knits, too…I mean, I’m going to be wearing double-layered mittens in, what, a month or so, right?
Yeeek.
Posted by: Lee Ann
Ooh, what a fun trip. Sounds like you have a good plan for your knitting. You’ll still be blogging, right? Right?
Posted by: Stephanie
we are in the same place when it comes to knitalong, girlfriend. 🙂
Posted by: carolyn
The green yarn for the Ribby Cardi is very nice! Ragdale looks very inviting. What a great opportunity to get a lot of knitting and writing done!
Posted by: Shannon
I love that fair isle cardi — where’s the pattern from?
And no matter what knitting projects you pick, you’ll find yourself wanting something different at some point anyway. Which is why they have yarn stores, right?
Posted by: J Strizzy
The answer is: an amazing lot of knitting.
😉
Posted by: claudia
Its been known to still be very warm in October in Chicago. Maybe when I come and visit you we can knit on one of the porches, or out in the prairie on one of the benches? Plus maybe you can take a day off to tour the yarn shops of Chicago! 🙂
I’m so excited for you to be nearby!
Posted by: pippy
Vermont? :-} That’s my Rhinebeck substitute…
I’m ditching my tank-in-progress for warmer knits, too…I mean, I’m going to be wearing double-layered mittens in, what, a month or so, right?
Yeeek.
Posted by: Lee Ann
Ooh, what a fun trip. Sounds like you have a good plan for your knitting. You’ll still be blogging, right? Right?
Posted by: Stephanie
we are in the same place when it comes to knitalong, girlfriend. 🙂
Posted by: carolyn
The green yarn for the Ribby Cardi is very nice! Ragdale looks very inviting. What a great opportunity to get a lot of knitting and writing done!
Posted by: Shannon
I love that fair isle cardi — where’s the pattern from?
And no matter what knitting projects you pick, you’ll find yourself wanting something different at some point anyway. Which is why they have yarn stores, right?
Posted by: J Strizzy
Yes, variety is the key. Because you never know what mood might strike you. Yes, come to Vermont! You know you have a place to stay, if so.
Posted by: Norma
Congrats on the fellowship–what a great experience.
And remember knitting shouldn’t be work. Knit what you like–but be sure to show us too!
Posted by: Steph
That’s funny–I have the yarn for the Corset, and I keep thinking I’m going to start it, and … I don’t. Hmm.
Posted by: Em
Lake Forrest is not that far from civilization, I used to live one town south (Highland Park). There is an old established knit shop near the braeside train station ( two or three stops from lake forrest)! Its run by an older woman who has been around for ages and knows her stuff. Enjoy your time in the midwest.
Posted by: Linda
Many of us have the knitalong allergy. I totally understand. I have no need to scream my love of Lopi to the four directions, I think everyone knows. Can’t wait to see the cardi-in-progress.
Posted by: Cassie
The retreat sounds fantastic. And I’m trying to ignoring the fact that you can even intimate knitting that many jumpers in one season!
Posted by: di
Yes, variety is the key. Because you never know what mood might strike you. Yes, come to Vermont! You know you have a place to stay, if so.
Posted by: Norma
Congrats on the fellowship–what a great experience.
And remember knitting shouldn’t be work. Knit what you like–but be sure to show us too!
Posted by: Steph
That’s funny–I have the yarn for the Corset, and I keep thinking I’m going to start it, and … I don’t. Hmm.
Posted by: Em
Lake Forrest is not that far from civilization, I used to live one town south (Highland Park). There is an old established knit shop near the braeside train station ( two or three stops from lake forrest)! Its run by an older woman who has been around for ages and knows her stuff. Enjoy your time in the midwest.
Posted by: Linda
Many of us have the knitalong allergy. I totally understand. I have no need to scream my love of Lopi to the four directions, I think everyone knows. Can’t wait to see the cardi-in-progress.
Posted by: Cassie
The retreat sounds fantastic. And I’m trying to ignoring the fact that you can even intimate knitting that many jumpers in one season!
Posted by: di
Lake Forest is totally not (just) the prairie – it is right on the Lake – it is hilly and beautiful up there ESP in the fall. Pippy is right too – we can get some seriously warm weather in Sept/Oct..although we can also get some seriouslt cold weather. Maybe plan for coreset top AND a cardi. 🙂
Posted by: alesha
All that and I forgot to say congrats on your fellowship!
Posted by: alesha
Knitalongs make me feel like I’ve been entered into a contract to finish a project, most of the time. I’ll feel bad if I don’t.
Congrats on the fellowship!
Posted by: Jenn
Congratulations on the artist colony. What a great experience it will be.
Posted by: Gina
I’m so excited for you! I have a strong romantic streak, so for me, the very notion of an artist’s colony just takes my breath away. Sigh. I hope it’s as wonderful as I imagine it will be.
As to knitalongs, I’m with you. Maybe I’m projecting, but they seem to have this weird competitive vibe. Honestly, it may all be in my head, but I’m a pretty slow knitter and like to work at my own pace. If I was part of a knitalong, I would probably feel the need to try to keep up and it would interfere with my enjoyment of knitting. No point in that for me.
Posted by: regina
Congrats!
Posted by: amandamonkey
Lake Forest is totally not (just) the prairie – it is right on the Lake – it is hilly and beautiful up there ESP in the fall. Pippy is right too – we can get some seriously warm weather in Sept/Oct..although we can also get some seriouslt cold weather. Maybe plan for coreset top AND a cardi. 🙂
Posted by: alesha
All that and I forgot to say congrats on your fellowship!
Posted by: alesha
Knitalongs make me feel like I’ve been entered into a contract to finish a project, most of the time. I’ll feel bad if I don’t.
Congrats on the fellowship!
Posted by: Jenn
Congratulations on the artist colony. What a great experience it will be.
Posted by: Gina
I’m so excited for you! I have a strong romantic streak, so for me, the very notion of an artist’s colony just takes my breath away. Sigh. I hope it’s as wonderful as I imagine it will be.
As to knitalongs, I’m with you. Maybe I’m projecting, but they seem to have this weird competitive vibe. Honestly, it may all be in my head, but I’m a pretty slow knitter and like to work at my own pace. If I was part of a knitalong, I would probably feel the need to try to keep up and it would interfere with my enjoyment of knitting. No point in that for me.
Posted by: regina
Congrats!
Posted by: amandamonkey
I think there’s probably some rule that you have to knit a Raglan at Ragdale. You’d better check that out…
Posted by: alison
I’m with you on the knitalongs thing. Signing up for something guarantees that I won’t get it done. I had trouble partnering with other students for projects in school, too. Of course, I know that you aren’t nearly as bad as I am — I’ve seen evidence that you actually finish stuff!
Posted by: Dani
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I am a writer, too… Tell me, how did you find out about the retreat? I would love to do something like this but don’t even know where to start.
GOOD FOR YOU! Have a blast – write well, write often.
Posted by: Lain
Yep, I too am in the process of re-planning everything I had planned to knit this fall. I need to make a list… Good luck with the artist retreat–I can’t wait to see your book at my local bookstore. 🙂
Posted by: Ali
Congratulations! That is awesome that you got accepted into the Artist’s colony. A whole month to focus on writing sounds wonderful…I am sure it will be difficult too, but a great experience.
Posted by: ck
Okay, here’s what I know about some writers. You show up with that silk corset on the needles after a hard day’s work and by golly, the next thing you know there will be a casual (or not so) mention of a knitter-silk-corset worked into another book (or 2). I say – take it :-)))
Posted by: Cathy
I think there’s probably some rule that you have to knit a Raglan at Ragdale. You’d better check that out…
Posted by: alison
I’m with you on the knitalongs thing. Signing up for something guarantees that I won’t get it done. I had trouble partnering with other students for projects in school, too. Of course, I know that you aren’t nearly as bad as I am — I’ve seen evidence that you actually finish stuff!
Posted by: Dani
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I am a writer, too… Tell me, how did you find out about the retreat? I would love to do something like this but don’t even know where to start.
GOOD FOR YOU! Have a blast – write well, write often.
Posted by: Lain
Yep, I too am in the process of re-planning everything I had planned to knit this fall. I need to make a list… Good luck with the artist retreat–I can’t wait to see your book at my local bookstore. 🙂
Posted by: Ali
Congratulations! That is awesome that you got accepted into the Artist’s colony. A whole month to focus on writing sounds wonderful…I am sure it will be difficult too, but a great experience.
Posted by: ck
Okay, here’s what I know about some writers. You show up with that silk corset on the needles after a hard day’s work and by golly, the next thing you know there will be a casual (or not so) mention of a knitter-silk-corset worked into another book (or 2). I say – take it :-)))
Posted by: Cathy
Oooooh … I am turning green with envy! (Thank goodness it is my favourite color. Atleast I will match my handbag!) I can not wait to hear about all the time you get to spend at Ragdale! You deserve it!
All my best! (K-E)
Posted by: Knit-Elation
Congratulations on a spot in the artists’ colony! That will be a wonderful opportunity — those spaces are absolutely coveted and I hope you get as much out of your time there, as possible! Again, congrats.
Posted by: Meg
Oooooh … I am turning green with envy! (Thank goodness it is my favourite color. Atleast I will match my handbag!) I can not wait to hear about all the time you get to spend at Ragdale! You deserve it!
All my best! (K-E)
Posted by: Knit-Elation
Congratulations on a spot in the artists’ colony! That will be a wonderful opportunity — those spaces are absolutely coveted and I hope you get as much out of your time there, as possible! Again, congrats.
Posted by: Meg