Smatterings

  • in the eye of the beholder

    Symplocarpus foetidus..

    If you aren't afraid of getting your feet muddy, and maybe even your knees, take an early spring tromp into the wettest, swampiest spots you know and see if you can spot the graceful curve of the Skunk Cabbage spathe. 

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    The chartreuse and burgundy spikes peak up through mud and mulch, the only brightly colored plant brave enough to show itself this early.  It would be easy pickings if it weren't for its peculiar defense, the odor for which it is named.

    I found an interesting explanation for its early arrival on Wikipedia. 

    Skunk cabbage is notable for its ability to generate temperatures of up to 15-35°C above air temperature by cyanide resistant cellular respiration in order to melt its way through frozen ground, placing it among a small group of plants exhibiting thermogenesis.
    Although flowering whilst there is still snow and ice on the ground it
    is successfully pollinated by early insects that also emerge at this
    time.

    One of the memories I have of my Grandmother, is her use of skunk cabbage in her beautiful ikebana treasured it not for its strange ability, but rather for its lovely shape and colour. 

    4 responses to “in the eye of the beholder”

    1. Manise

      Wow! I have never seen a skunk cabbage in its spathe state nor realized it was a thermogenetic plant! That’s fascinating! Thanks for sharing that. I am also thinking you need to dye yarn or fiber in those colors.

    2. gayle

      That’s a really dynamic shape and color combo. I’ve never seen skunk cabbage – only heard the name.
      Our property has marshy areas – I’ll have to keep my eyes open for this.

    3. cyndy

      thermogenesis…what a great word!
      I didn’t know that it also provides a habitat for insects in a cold climate…can you imagine ?

    4. Chris

      Quite the interesting plant, if you can get beyond the odor. Your post prompted me to look into it a bit more and I found this post: http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Skunk%20Cabbage.html
      His review of it’s edibility is a good read.

  • Garter Yoke Cardigan

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    The day was warm enough to walk with only a swear and scarf.  A good day to finally get a picture of the Garter Yoke Cardigan.  Well, there were a few snow flurries that passed through.

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    I'd change a few things if I were to knit this again. 

    • First, I'd eliminate the waist shaping.  Especially with the extra length I had added.  The sweater would be more flattering if it were not quite so fitted, or… if I'd lose that 10 pounds I've added this winter.  After the picture was taken I walked a mile and a half. 
    • I would also make the button bands wider.  The buttons I used were big. I used only five. 
    • I'd make the yoke longer.  I like the yoke detailing and with my build, there is too much distance between the yoke and ermmm… my shelf. 

    Alterations that I made:

    • I shaped the sleeves.  From the elbow down I decreased two stitches along the inside "seam" every six rows. 
    • That waist shaping.. it would have been even more pronounced but I only did two decreases and spaced them further apart.
    • The neck.. it is higher than as written by about seven rounds. I also stepped down several needle sizes on the extra rows.  One thing about the neckline of this sweater, it is not easy to find an appropriate shirt.  A turtleneck would be perfect, but I rarely wear them.  Best choice underneath, nothing.  Seriously.  The drape is better as well as the neck line.  Not today, it was too cold to walk afterward without a coat or a shirt underneath.  I wanted to walk and wore a long sleeved tee.

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    The specs:

    • Pattern: Garter Yoke Cardigan, by Melissa LaBarre, in Knit1 magazine, Fall/Winter 2008.
    • Needles: #5 for the top yoke and cuffs, #8 for all the rest
    • Yarn: All Wool ( a yarn I trying out for Ball and Skein ), worsted wt., hand-dyed for this sweater.   I'm unsure of the yardage, somewhere in the 1250 area is my best guess.
    • Buttons: I have no idea were I found them except to tell you I had them stashed away in my button box.  They are tagua nut, carved and dyed. I absolutely love them.

     

    18 responses to “Garter Yoke Cardigan”

    1. Carrie

      I dunno, I think the fit is lovely, but if you don’t feel comfortable in it, that’s the main thing. Interesting – Norma just finished/modeled hers and said the same thing about the under-shirt. I hate layering, so I’d have to make it of something I would wear against my skin anyway…
      The yoke-to-shelf ratio is something I never thought of, but it makes sense. I’ll have to pay attention to that in future tops.

    2. grumperina

      Oh my goodness – you and Norma finished those at basically the same time! Such a gorgeous design and fit for both of you!

    3. Ingrid

      It looks gorgeous on you – the dye job is perfect for the pattern. I am trying to find a copy of that Knit.1 but it seems to be sold out everywhere. Might have to just download the pattern…

    4. Emilee

      That’s a beautiful sweater. The buttons are a really nice touch.

    5. Julie

      Those buttons are amazing! I love your mods to the cardi and ideas for further mods. It’s turned out just beautifully.

    6. Carole

      I love the color and I think it looks very nice.

    7. margene

      A very nice looking sweater and the color is exceptional on you. Wear it well!

    8. Anne

      Gorgeous color – it looks really beautiful on you. And I love the buttons too. I need a mini/paler version of just those exact ones for my Elizabeth cardi.

    9. cyndy

      Beautiful!
      … Your dye work really shines…
      …and perfect buttons!

    10. Paula

      Love the buttons, Judy. I agree, you could definitely use some more garter yoke than the pattern called for, but you still look like a million bucks as is. And once the weather is nicer, now that your foot is (I hope) feeling a lot stronger, you’ll walk more, and it will be like, 10 lbs? What 10 lbs? I wish I only had 10 lbs more to go, instead of 6 x 10 lbs. But I, too, expect it will be easier to shed when I can walk more. Going to Maine in April, and hoping I and my new hiking poles can log some real miles!

    11. Donna

      It came out great! I like the extra length. The last sweater I made was too short and I don’t wear it very much because of it.

    12. elizabeth

      I think you made a good decision to add rows to the neckline – it looks like this pattern hits at about the same place as the February Lady Sweater, which makes it awkward as to what shirt to wear underneath, and (as in Norma’s case) what jewelry to wear with it.
      The yarn is gorgeous – are you adding it to your line???

    13. JessaLu

      I love it! It’s on my ‘to knit someday’ list – once I find a copy of the magazine, that is.

    14. michelle

      The color is gorgeous! The pressure to knit this myself is overwhelming…I have not seen a bad one yet. I think I’ll be jumping on this bandwagon soon 🙂 Love your mods.

    15. Joan

      Stunning combination of yarn, pattern and buttons. I’m going to benefit from your experience and change the neckline as well, when I finally get around to knitting this pattern. Congratulations!

    16. Cookie

      I agree with Carrie about the fit. I love the neck on your version of this sweater. That neck has been a worry to me because I would want to wear something under it.
      Well done!

    17. gayle

      “The day was warm enough to walk with only a swear and scarf.”
      That sounds like Vermont… 8)
      Love the color, and the buttons are fabulous! Beautiful sweater – neckline, yoke/shelf ratio, and all!

    18. Kathy

      I really like it! You’ve given me some food for thought about the whole shelf deal.

  • tricked out

    Last November I wrote a post about Dave Paul and The Merlin Tree's newest addition to the HitchHiker line. The picture was of a prototype, first stage R&D.  Tonight, I get this from Dave..

    Custom Built DT HitchHiker – hand rubbed colonial red frame with
    spaulted maple accents, 4 ratios, noise dampening package, on-board lazy
    kate and needle-nose oil bottle.

    DT HH

    Saturday, Chris and I went through some of our spaulted maple pieces and found a beautiful piece to match the wood I'd already used on my custom HitchHiker.  Sunday morning we headed over to visit Dave and Kathy.  We had coffee and visited, catching up a bit before ending up in the shop.  Then tonight… Wow!  That was fast!  Someone's been playing around.  That drive wheel is not the 14:1 I left it with. 

    It still needs a bit of finish work.  What a pleasure it will be to see the details in that wood pop when the finish is rubbed on.  Thanks, Dave.

    7 responses to “tricked out”

    1. Carole

      How fun!

    2. cyndy

      Better than “pimp my ride!”
      Those are some good tricks!

    3. gayle

      Ooohing and Aaahing here! I’ve been fascinated with the Hitchhikers since I first saw a photo of one. When I see the Merlin Tree at festivals, I always stop and pat the wheels.

    4. Cathy

      Whoa….now I think I need a new wheel.
      Lovely!!

    5. elizabeth

      Cute! I’m with Cathy, I need a new wheel!

    6. Manise

      Nice trick!

    7. JessaLu

      So cool!!

“Our lives are dyed the colors of our imagination.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

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