Fair Isle knitting

Okay, finally! I have time to spill the beans about the super exciting project I have on the needles.

Well, some beans. I can't actually show it or describe it, but here's what I can say:

Kathleen Taylor is working on her next pattern book, which is all singing all dancing all Fair Isle. And if you've ever had the pleasure of looking at one of her books, you'll know they are jam packed with patterns. I mean, tons of them. How can one person knit all those samples and keep putting fantastic new books out with such frequency? If you think about it, the answer is obvious, but since I often don't think much at all I was surprised as well as thrilled when she invited me to knit one of the pieces for this new one.

Then last week I got my assignment and it was for

gulp

an adult-sized sweater.

on very small needles.

So now I am knitting what I think of as 'Big Project Small Needles', and because I pretty much have to have it done in 5 weeks because of my own time constraints, I'm not knitting anything else. I'm carrying it with me everywhere, too, because it's taking me 12 minutes per row and there are a lot of rows in this sweater.

I don't care though because this is a gorgeous, gorgeous project with heavenly yarn in colours that are pure eye candy and Fair Isle is such peaceful, meditative knitting you can't help but be happy and calm doing it.

Another perk: about an inch into the chart I found my rhythm and after consulting the chart for the next line, I'm able to carry through logically without reference to anything but the fabric below my needles. So very satisfying.

And now that I've said all that I would like to introduce my new friend, The Sweater Cup:


The black part is how far I've filled it as of now. Let's hope I get a lot of knitting time this weekend, shall we?