I have talked about this subject before, and I know that many of you also experience this phenomenon as you are knitting a project:  the setting, the sights, the smells, the sounds – everything that happens around you as you are knitting becomes a part of the project.  A heightened sense of awareness – and subsequently you knit these memories into your project.  The project becomes a time capsule.

Sometimes the stitches take on the physical manifestation:  too loose or too tight because of how we are feeling at any given moment.  We knit through pain and we knit through joy.  We knit en route to a destination, or in a favorite location in our home.  We knit with others or alone with our thoughts.

My Aftur sweater will forever be remembered in my mind as my “Alabama” sweater.  I knit this project while Kris and I drove to visit my family in Alabama – hours of riding in the car, and then photos of the finished sweater after a Thanksgiving meal at my uncle’s cabin in the woods.  The love for my family is built into that sweater.  Perhaps that is why it remains one of my favorite knits.  My Verona shawl evokes these same strong emotions.

I started my Forrest Pulli on the plane ride to Seattle – back on March 11th.   The pattern is simple:  a v-neck pullover from Rebecca #33 knit in Kraemer Tatamy Tweed.  I saw it as a good piece for transitional weather – and the perfect thing to wear to and from yoga classes when I didn’t want a jacket.  With the long plane rides to and from, and all of the knitting I did there in Seattle, this project is nearly complete.  I wanted to get at least one blog post about it before I showed you a finished sweater!

This pullover is only 11 days old and it is already filled with memories…

Humor: …eavesdropping on the people in front of me on the plane:  “Bar none, best salad I have ever had!” (The guy said “bar none, best ___ I ever had” about five times)

Solitude and Quiet: Sitting in Jenna’s kitchen in the early morning hours knitting and purling.  I didn’t adjust to the time change well, so I was up super early each morning.  It gave me plenty of time to knit!

Joy and Contentment: Driving around the Olympic Peninsula in Jenna’s car.  Being with my best friends: Kris and Jenna.  Singing along to the music (our trio singalong of Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and Flight of the Conchords) and laughing at silly stories.

(sidenote:  look at all of our handknits! )

Overwhelming Beauty: The Olympic Peninsula of Washington truly took my breath away.  This one day will live in my mind for a long time.  I saw amazing sights and I was with amazing people.

[My Full Seattle/Olympic Peninsula Photo Set Here]

More Humor: You may recall my little fascination with vampire novels late last year.  Guilty pleasures and harmless fun.  As we drove through the forests of the Olympic Peninsula, we made it to Forks, Washington.  If you are familiar with the Twilight books, Forks is the setting of these vampire stories.  As we came upon the small town, I put down my knitting and I asked Kris and Jenna if we could stop to get some photos… neither of them have read the books (and they say they have no desire to) but they obliged and stopped the car for a photo at the city limits:

Oh Forks.  You knew not what you wrought.  Or what that author wrought upon you when she chose Forks as the setting of the books.  At least the small town has gotten an economic boost.  I actually had to wait in line to get this photo – right after the “Dazzled by Twlight“ tour bus pulled away!  We stopped in Forks for some liquid refreshment and ogled a bit:  we saw signs everywhere that mentioned the characters of the book.

• At the local inn:  “Edward did NOT sleep here.”  heh
• At a souvenir shop:  “When you live forever, what do you live for?  Duh-shopping!”  (I just had to shake my head at this one… marketing geniuses, these people.)
• At the bakery and the coffee shop,  themed foods and drinks:  Twilight coffee blend (special dark) and “Bella Berry” muffins.

We just had to laugh at the hilarity of it all.  We didn’t spot any sparkly vampires or werewolves (I was looking!) but we had a lot of fun making jokes and just enjoying the experience.

~

As I finish my pullover – second sleeve underway! – these memories stay with me.  Fresh in my mind.   These memories are a part of the fabric of this project.  Each time I wear this sweater, I will think of these things.   Making me smile and bringing warmth.

You know me well enough by now – and  you know that I never turn down a little yarny tourism in a new city.  Luckily I had my girl Jenna to help me plan for a fun evening of shop hopping.  And it was so much fun to meet up with a few Seattle friends, Rebecca and Laura!

FIRST STOP: Fiber Gallery in Seattle – a lovely shop with so many beautiful yarns.  What a treat to meet Jessica, the manager of the shop, and a fellow long-time blogger!

Rebecca is a shopper with a mission!  she picked up some lovely things in record time – while I was still waltzing around on yarny high, she already had yarn in hand and was at the register!  Jenna was instantly drawn to a cute little ball of single play variegated yarn (Zauberball!), and I poked around being indecisive for a good amount of time.  Of course, once I decided, I was very happy with my choice … see?

Malabrigo Lace in gorgeous colors: Tuareg, Verde Esperanza, and Bobby Blue

…next to Bad Woman Yarn to meet Laura!

A lone ball of Schulana Sojabama came home with me – a nice color match for the leftover ball I have from my Pintuck.

…and we wrapped up the evening with a quick trip to Weaving Works.  Unfortunately, our time was short – the shop was closing, and I had to make a decision fast.  Of course, once I saw the yarn, I knew it was for me right away… I wanted something unique and special to this location.  I found it!  …and finding this kind of made up for the fact that I didn’t get to look at any of the huge book selection or the weaving things.  Next time

Spincycle Handspun

We had a great dinner with Laura and Rebecca at a yummy Indian restaurant.  As always, I am always so pleased with how easy it is to find conversation and common bonds with online acquaintances.  Laura is in grad school and her classes sound like things that I would absolutely love – she shared a few of her required text titles with me   and Rebecca and I had plenty to talk about since we both love yoga!  So nice to meet you ladies, and I hope we have the chance to talk more soon!

At the Nordic Knitting Conference, there were several vendors selling beautiful yarns, and I picked up some lovely laceweight (hey, it packs pretty easily in an already-full suitcase!) in these muted tones.  I was thinking about a lightweight sweater – maybe with stripes.

Last weekend, Jenna, Kris, and I headed over to the Bainbridge Island and the Olympic Peninsula – we crossed the Puget Sound on a ferry!

That was a fun process in itself, and once we got to the other side (we passed under a rainbow to get there – what a great way to start the day!)  we headed a beautiful yarn shop on Bainbridge Island: Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.  And it seems like they knew I was coming… the whole display in the front of the shop was yoked colorwork sweaters!

Churchmouse had a nice little clearance bin going and I also picked up this old Rowan book and a shop scarf pattern.

My yarn odessey around Puget Sound was complete!

…but I do have some more Washington adventures to share…

Through this blog and through the web knitting community, I have met some wonderful Finns, among many other people all over the world.  I have learned more about Finland through blogs, posts, and photographs.  I already wanted to travel to Finland, but I have to say that after actually meeting a wonderful Finn, and learning even more about Finnish culture and textiles, I am ready to pack my bags!

The Nordic Knitting Conference was absolutely great.  Taking classes with Tuulia?  even greater!

Lucky Lolly had a full day with this knitter/designer extraordinaire.  Friday started with a long bus ride and my own personal tour-by-bus through Seattle on my way up to the Nordic Heritage Museum.  Once I got to building, I registered and peeked around looking for my classroom.  Tuulia and I talked a few times before class, and we read each others’ blogs (she is in Project Spectrum!) but this was our first time meeting.  I walked into the auditorium and there was Tuulia!  …and she was wearing this!  and I gasped! (yes, all of the drama is completely warranted!)

Seriously people. Get a load of that.  She knit it in a week specifically for this conference.  The stranding at the bottom is based off of two traditional Finnish mitten patterns with the added braids.  So she did that and just kept knitting until she had a beautiful skirt.  She sure can churn out the amazingness (check out her “Northern Lights” shawl!).  She designed even more things – like the two class projects!

The first class, Finnish Mitten Design, went so well.  Tuulia shared a table full of beautiful mittens in traditional patterns, and then unveiled the special mitten pattern for our class.  The patterning on the cuff is based on an embroidery design from the region of Karelia.  She framed this piece with vikkel braids in two colors, and then moved into the simple traditional stranded pattern for the main mitten piece.  Take a look at this beauty:

Tuulia’s class sample and my humble beginnings on the double pointed needles – knit in three colors of Knit Picks Palette yarn.

My classmate, Karen, knitting her mitten.  This was her first foray into stranded colorwork and she just jumped right in and had great results!

Oh vikkel braid.  I have read about you in Nancy Bush’s books – it is an Estonian and Finnish technique – and I had no idea how to do it until Tuulia showed me in class.  Now I want to try it all the time!

The mittens will take me a little while because I have several other projects on the needles.  I teased that this is more likely to become a knitted oven mitt since I am unlikely to knit two full mittens.  However, they are so beautiful that a pair really would be nice (but almost too pretty to wear!)

The afternoon class, Finnish Textile Traditions,  was more of a history and storytelling session about Finland, some elements of the culture, and lots of information about traditional textiles.  Tuulia talked about the sheep breeds in Finland, handspinning and the equipment used, weaving, embroidery and needle arts, ryas, and about knitting and crochet.  Like so many countries with early textile traditions, things were created for a function and a purpose, and it was not until much later that items took on a more decorative element.  Lace, stranded colorwork, special embroidery additions:  all of these things are known in Finland’s traditional textiles. My favorite part of Tuulia’s presentation was on her research of the Saami, the indigenous people in northern Finland and through Scandinavia.  She shared some of her experiences of working with the Saami as a historian.  It was so fascinating.  I hope we have the chance to sit together again, I want to hear more stories!

[Full Conference Photo Set Here]

One of my classmates brought in a handwoven textile heirloom for analysis.  Her family was Finnish and she wanted Tuulia’s opinion on origins.

Although I have not started on the class project for this class (alas, no picture!) Tuulia adapted a well-known Finnish pattern to a pair of ladies stockings.  She put together the pattern and I am looking forward to starting it in the beautiful green yarn I showed last time.  The lace stitching looks similar to dragon scales, so I think the lightly variegated green will be perfect!  You can see the finished socks on Tuulia’s blog.

What a wonderful day!  I felt so inspired after seeing her work and learning more about Finland.  Thank you Tuulia!  let’s meet again (stop by DC en route to Finland!)

During the lunch break, I walked through some of the galleries at the museum:

In the process of peeking, I spied a certain Ms. Nancy Bush   That was a nice surprise, and I talked to her and thanked her personally for the great interview I got back in 2006. I hear her classes went quite well – she did a series of Estonian lace classes on two days of the conference.

The Nordic Heritage Museum was a wonderful place, and they are planning to continue the Nordic Knitting Conference in the future.  There was some talk about moving the dates to the fall.  Either way, I would love to go again and learn more about this region of the world and the beautiful textiles that come from it.  As you know, I was already a fan of yoked sweaters and stranded colorwork – so I have plenty of inspiration to knit more and more of these Nordic patterns now!

…Even through the storms of winter…

There is still some green – some life, some vibrancy.

~ Ever green and full of life ~

Our trip to Washington was wonderful in every way.  I got to see my dear friend.  I spent time with my amazing guy.  I saw incredible and inspirational sights and took copious amounts of photographs.  I learned about traditional textiles.  In my book, this is about as good as it gets.

The Northwest came at just the right time for me.  Work has been extremely hectic, and I really wanted/needed a get-away.   The earth/air/water out there just pulsated for me.  Seeing the mountains and the deep green trees was soothing to my soul.  Jenna and I both commented that we saw Project Spectrum inspiration everywhere.  Trees laced with winter snow?  Moss-covered stones?  all there and all perfect.  The travel was pure Project Spectrum:  and to me, that means finding the beauty in every thing.  It is the consciousness of being in a new place and witnessing and observing and enjoying the present moment.  It is the spiritual and emotional layers of the creative process.  It is witnessing something that touches your soul.

~ e v e r g r e e n ~ v i b r a n t ~ t r u e ~

More photos of Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula to come, as well as more info on the Nordic Knitting Conference!  …and on this green – themed day, I say Happy Birthday to my sister!