Life's a Stitch

I love the summer. Now, if the weather would cooperate. This Pacific Northwest summer is right up there with the one first week in July when I watched my kid’s swim lessons – me in Goretex under an umbrella, and them, in swimsuits. That might have been the year when Bryant’s swimming lesson report card read "It was a pleasure having Bryant in the class, looking forward to next year when maybe he’ll get wet."

The living was very easy this past weekend in Bellingham. Our biggest decision was weather related – if it’s over 70 degrees at cocktail hour we decided on white wine, under, it was red.

It was fun teaching the visiting 14 yr old the love of knitting. She told me I didn’t fit her image of a knitter. I was glad to part of her reality check; she doesn’t fit her image of a knitter either. I think she likes her knitting goth combination. It sets her apart from others her age, which seems to be her goal for this part of her life. I tried to teach her the concept of process knitting. If you’ve made up your mind that you like to knit, and you’re going to do it on a regular basis, it doesn’t matter what you are knitting or how long it takes to finish a project. In fact sometimes, you even go backwards. I was a good role model with Marina.

And of course there was the shopping. Here are my finds, all rationalized by being discovered in the clearance bin of Hellens, where I met up with Dorothy of Missouri Star:

1. Quite possibly the softest yarn I’ve ever felt – Classic Elite Miracle, alpaca and tencel (made from wood fibre). Destined to be mixed with a ribbon for a fancy shmancy shawl.

2. Grignasco Top Print, another alpaca, with subtle self striping! Another shawl.

3. Grignasco Top Print for a scarf.

4. Berroco Suede for moccasin baby booties – so cute.

And the best part – all but the Suede were in the clearance bin.