This is a tall order. But I’ve started with the yarn. It’s the perfect go with everything color.

The colorway is called Cloud Jungle, and it’s Dream In Color’s beautiful workhorse of a yarn Classy. I’ve heard this wears very well, so it satisfies the “wear a lot” requirement and the colorway is nothing short of genius. It’s kind of a smoky purplish grey. Kind of. But it has hints of browns in it. Which I adore, because that is one of my biggest wardrobe problems. Rich browns are good colors for me. But basically in my closet I have clothes you can wear with brown things and brown shoes and then another subset of clothing that only goes with black stuff. But with this being both grey and brown I think it will bridge that gap!

The Classy has a nice twist to it, and the little bits of other colors are so nice. There are hints of rose and plum and in some light bits of greenish brown. It really is the perfect go with anything chameleon of a colorway.

I’ve done some sketches and I’m thinking hard about what exactly I want this sweater to be. What do you think makes a sweater perfect?

]]> http://picnicknits.com/design/sweater-perfection/feed/ 1 http://picnicknits.com/knitting/wip-good-wednesday/ http://picnicknits.com/knitting/wip-good-wednesday/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:33:54 +0000 Corrina http://picnicknits.com/?p=2169 So I’m sweater obsessed right now. And I actually went and bought myself a sweater’s worth of Dream In Color Classy the other day. And as soon as I can get a picture of it where I can get the color right I will show you. I will master this photography nonsense even if it kills me. But I figured that in lieu of designing myself a sweater I might could break out one that’s already started.

This is indigirl’s Elsewhere in Malabrigo Worsted. Pretty, ain’t it? I’m working on the diagonal side panels now and then I will move on to sleeve city. The nice thing about this sweater is that despite the unique look of it, the pattern is not at all complicated and I can do a few rows here and there while waiting for other things.

I love the purl row detailing on this sweater. And I’m thinking it’s a great winter coat type sweater for Florida. That is if we actually get any more winter this winter. We had some chilly days here and there but now it’s back up the 80′s and it’s driving me crazy. I’ve been rocking jeans & tees & flip flops, but I might have to break out some capris if this weather doesn’t ease up!

So what are you working on lately?

But now that I am officially not sick I just have to get back into the swing of things. And things are swinging. The next 6 weeks the boys have so many activities that it makes my brain hurt just to think about them all. And I need to get back into properly managing my time around here. If I expect to get anything done I can’t be lollygagging through life. So I’ve set some goals. Important yarny goals.

I want to make myself a sweater. Out of that there Jaeger. I’ve had this yarn for years. And I’ve swatched a few things in it, but now I’d really like to knit with it.

And I want to make the perfect shawlette out of that. I’ve wanted that color forever and for my birthday this summer I finally got it. It’s Skinny Bugga in Dragonfly Tattoo. And I just know it will make something gorgeous, I just have to show it what to be.

The funny thing is, as I went through my paltry stash, those were really the only two yarns that jumped out at me. So either I need to buy more yarn, or I need to set up a new project so I can solicit some new yarns from indy dyers. Because I really loved working with the indy dyers on the Seven Songs. What yarns are you longing to work with?

So… for the next couple of days I am running a “Make Your Own E-Book” sale. Here’s the deal: You go to my pattern store. You add 6 patterns to your cart. Normally those six patterns would cost you $36. But then you add in the coupon code “ebook” and it takes off a nice chunk of change. So now, you have 6 patterns of your choosing for only $20! Quite a nice little bargain, eh?

And the beauty part of this is for this limited time, you get to choose exactly which six patterns you would like! So what would make up your dream PicnicKnits e-book?

By the time it hit me on Monday I was done for. No breathing, no sleeping, all achey, fever and chills. If I didn’t know better I would say I have the flu. It might have been. Today I’m still having a smidge of trouble breathing but it seems to be leaving town thank goodness. And so far it doesn’t look like the boys have it. Or the man. Perish the thought!

I’ve been working on sooper seekrit knitting – which goes really slow when you can barely keep your eyes open. But I managed to snap a few pictures with my new lens on New Year’s Day. I’m still learning how to work with such a small area of focus when I’m shooting wide open. It’s kind of cool to have new things to learn though!

One of my resolutions this year is to learn how to master this camera. Another one is not leave deadline knitting to the last minute. You never know when you are going to catch the plague.

Need a last minute present for a knitter? Ravelry has an awesome gift option where you can send a pattern to another Ravelry member! Of course I highly recommend gifting my patterns… but today is Christmas Eve, so I have a gift for you.

Use the coupon code “thanks” to get any single PicnicKnits pattern for free! Or, alternately you can use the code and get $6 off of Sideways Shawlettes, Seven Songs, or Blue Brim Hats.

I’ll leave you with my very favorite Muppet Christmas song – with apologies that I think I share this one every year. But the sentiment is worthwhile. I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a blessed and joyous New Year, and I hope that you are well and happy wherever you are and whatever you do.

But I’m feeling a little blue this Christmas. I was supposed to go home for the holidays but with the new house that just wasn’t in the cards. And I think this last minute louie shopping is cutting into my holiday spirit as well. So for today’s special half off of a few blue things with the code “blue”:

Auber – the sixth of the Seven Songs in Ever After Yarns

Esquiline – in ocean blues and greens in KnitWitch Yarns

The Frosted Goblet Shawl – ’cause Lord knows we ain’t getting any snow in Florida. I think it was 80 yesterday!

Kyveli – in gorgeous inky MadTosh

And finally Sixpence – something blue for a sweet bride in Little Traveler from the Sanguine Gryphon.

So for today’s (and tomorrow’s) Christmas specials I am offering $2 off any of these patterns which are some of my firsts in any given category with the coupon code “snowflake”.

Wormy Socks - not my first socks published, but the first ones I designed. And a shot out to my dear friend Kimber who could use some virtual hugs today.

The Alseid Hat – the first hat where I felt like I had really come up with something different and special.

The Gaenor Shawlette - my first sideways shawlette and my first real taste of success!

And the Debussy Shawlette – my first of the Seven Songs, and in one of my favorite colorways ever – Strawberry Crab Bugga.

So use the code “snowflake” and go and grab $2 off any or all of these firsts of mine. I’m going back to making cookies!

When it comes to Christmas music I am a sucker for all things Muppets. Especially the John Denver Muppet Christmas album. And I say album because we totally had it on vinyl. Yep, I am an old woman. A fact I am feeling quite acutely after getting my toes tangled in the tinsel in the Christmas closet and crashing down hard. The bruises are annoying. The overall achy-ness that comes from the fall and the fact that I did three hours of yardwork on Sunday is just ridiculous. When did I get this old? I really need to get in better shape – but that is a post for January 1st

Today we have something golden that is free. So for today and today only, the Cordelle pattern is free with the coupon code “golden”. Only four days left til Christmas. Yep, I’m sweating it. How’s your holiday preparations going?

So that’s Rachmaninoff up there, framed by the lovely geese-infested lake in my backyard. Actually it’s not that bad. Sometimes I will go weeks without seeing them. I think they call a number of little lakes around here home. But you can get a BOGO deal on any individual PicnicKnits patterns if you use the coupon code “geese”. So go, buy Rachmaninoff or any other PK pattern and get one free!

We will not mention how many days it is until Christmas or how much shopping I have left to do. I’m developing a twitch.