EZ's EPS on New Needles

Color work is not my friend. I love the look; I'm just not too crazy about the process. All those twisting yarns are against my OCD tendencies, I guess.

Call me crazy, but I got the hankerin' to try it once again. Maybe it will be better in the round? That sounds like EZ (Elizabeth Zimmermann for the uninitiated) to the rescue. I've been wanting to try her EPS system for knitting a sweater, so why not put the two together and make a fair isle yoke sweater.

It's always fun to knit without a pattern. It reminds me of my Grandma. She was a practical knitter--socks, hats, and mittens--and never used a pattern. She had made them all so many times, she could probably have knit them in her sleep. My Mom is the same way. I think it's the way all knitters should start out. Let's face it, gauge is tough, so why not adapt the sweater to your gauge rather than trying to match your gauge to a sweater? There would be a lot more beginning knitters who could wear their own creations rather than ending up giving them away to whomever they wind up fitting. (I know of what I speak.)

So, I knit a sample, did a little math, and cast on. And then round and round and round we go. Now for the excitement! The yoke.

I knit up another quick little sample to get an idea of where to place the colors, and took the leap. I'm not sure how it will all work out, but knitting fair isle in the round isn't horrible. (High praise, right.) It's easier to keep the tangles to a minimum and the pattern is always viewed from the right side. Since I haven't started the shaping yet, a row takes me a while to knit. Looks like winter isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so I can take my time and still have a chance to wear it before it warms up.

This has also been a fun project because it's the first time I've used my new needles. My old interchangeable needle set was one of the less expensive brands. It's served me well, but the joins have gotten a little rough.

After much research, I ended up getting the Addi Turbo Clicks. No one set is perfect, but this one came the closest. Between the two sets, I'm hoping my needle buying is behind me.

February Respite

oI really do try very hard (enough qualifiers for you?) not to let the weather dictate my mood. After all, there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it, so just to deal with it, right? But this week, even I was beginning to get a little bitchy about this especially harsh winter we're having. By the third below-zero morning, I'd had enough and was fantasizing about heading to the airport to get on a plane that was going anywhere where I didn't have to brace myself just to walk out the door. Come on! Enough!

And then, respite. Sure, it's pathetic that a measly 38 degrees feels balmy, but I'll take what I can get. Saturday afternoon's warm sunshine was just what we all needed. There were puddles. Puddles, I tell you. Water was running into the gutters. I didn't need mittens. Kids were playing outside. It didn't hurt to take a deep breath. It was heavenly.

Of course, we know this is not the end. More cold and snow is surely coming our way. But now we can take. We've been buoyed by a reminder of better days ahead. It won't be long and my garden will show life, and I'll be mowing the grass instead of chipping away at ice.

Super, Super Bowl