What Are You Working On?

Hey Y'all,
Spike here, checking in from Austin, TX, where we are having an utterly bizarre break in the weather. Usually it's pushing toward 100 degrees by now. And we did have a couple of borderline scorchers recently. But just for a couple of days now it's been downright cool and very wet. Not only is this weather so welcome in the land of perpetual drought, it also gives me an added measure of happiness because it SO REMINDS ME OF MONHEGAN ISLAND.

And how much do I love Monhegan Island? I love it so much that in addition to preparing for our big Knitting and Yoga Adventures trip there in September-- which will be my 6th with the group -- I also now go in June. That's when I take a group of memoir writers off to my HAPPIEST PLACE. We hang out with Holden. We have enforced quiet time. And we write to our heart's content.

Last year was the first year I did the memoir trip and folks loved it so much I immediately booked rooms for this year. We head up in four short weeks and I cannot wait. In the picture up above you can see I am working on the first of what is hopefully going to be a pair of socks. And those socks will hopefully be ready for the June trip. I say hopefully because, as is the case with so many of us passionate knitters, I always have Other Projects pop up that prompt me to set down whatever I'm working on for me so I can make something for someone else. It's not such a bad problem to have. For instance, take a look at this:

That's a baby blanket for my grand-nephew, Parker. Parker isn't even born yet, but he already has a name and not one but two color schemes. Really. Isn't that hilarious? I remember when my son was born in 1990. Color schemes were the last thing on my mind and it took me nearly a week to name him. But kids these days (I mean our adult kids and nieces and nephews) seem to be more on top of these things. And so Parker will get a cool blanket that matches his bedroom. Or his wardrobe. I can't even remember which now. I just know when my sister Kitty, who will be Parker's grandmother (or Mom-Mom as we say in our family) told me this color scheme, I rushed right out (any excuse) to my LYS, Hill Country Weavers, and scored some Blue Sky cotton and some Noro Tanabata. Yes, this is going to be the world's most expensive hand knit baby blanket and also it'll be hand wash only. Look, I didn't say I was going to make a practical gift. I said it would be exquisite.

I'm using a chevron pattern designed by Suzanne Middlebrooks, who owns Hill Country Weavers. It's one of those best-of-both-world patterns-- simple enough for me to memorize it but with enough switching around from stitch to stitch that I don't get totally bored. I have a hunch Parker is going to beat me and make his appearance in the world before I bind off. But that's okay. Because just on my side of the family he's got fourteen other great aunts/uncles, plus his grandparents. No doubt they're all getting ready to heap on the gifts, too. So mine can wait a little bit. Maybe I'll even set it down this week and do a few rows on my socks.

How about you? What are you working on? And will you be bringing it to Monhegan? If so, and if you haven't registered yet, here are all the details. 

See you in September,
Spike