I am doing a lot more knitting from patterns this Spring.  In truth, I think I have begun seeing knitting magazines as catalogs.  "Love it! Order it!" Even the yarn.  What I cannot find in J.Jill or Nordstrom, I am finding in Interweave Knits and Knitscene.  

It started with Norah Gaughan's Gyre Cardigan in Interweave Knits Spring 2014.  And Courtney Spainhower's Bailiwick Pullover in the same issue.  I had yarn for a piece that I had planned to design (based on a short-sleeved Eileen Fisher cardigan I wear all the time) — and when I saw the Gyre Cardigan, I thought, why not?  It is just the sort of thing I had in mind — and it is all worked out already!  I loved the Bailiwick Cardigan (the cover photo of that issue) at first sight.  And after investigating other yarns, decided that it was the whole look of the sweater I loved — and that using a different yarn would change the look.  It is Manos del Uruguay's Serena (alpaca/pima cotton).  I did choose a different color (curry instead of seal). 

My copy of Knitscene Summer 2014 arrived after I had been shopping — with little success — for summer knit tops.  Amy Christoffers's Bokeh Tank (in Shibui Knits Linen held with Shibui Knits Silk Cloud — a silk/mohair blend) and Bristol Ivy's Linum Tee (in Quince and Co.'s Sparrow — organic linen)  were perfect!  Again, I went for the yarns listed, but in different colors.

Somewhere is this knitting/shopping frenzy, I realized that I was supposed to be knitting a blanket for a wedding gift! I wrote about this is a previous blog, so I will just give the highlights:  Ravelry — blanket patterns — Kex Blanket by Stephen West in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarns — buy pattern — buy yarn (in colors pictured in pattern) — swatch and knit!

So, now?  Well, I do not have 4 sweaters and a cardigan, exactly, but I have the very high likelihood of having them sometime in the reasonable future (when the directions are all laid out for you, it helps keep things moving!).  And I have discovered some inspiring designers, some new techniques and design elelments, some new yarns.  

I am still working on some design projects (okay, don't start counting my projects and shaking your head — or, well, go ahead, if you want to….).  But there is a lot of simple knitting involved in most of the projects I am working on right now…emphasis on "a lot" (as in 14" of stockinette, for example!).  And I am highly motivated to get some summer garments done as our weather is warming up.

As for shopping the knitting catalogs, I think I am pleasantly satiated for now.  But, oh, when the fall issues start arriving….!