Some Yarn at Last, or, Asta Sollilja

Asta Sollilja

Beginning mid-December, I started this sweater, designed by Kate Davies, and available in her book Yokes.   Asta Sollilja is a sweater derived from traditional Icelandic sweaters, but with waist-shaping (not that I have much of one!) and short rows to make a distinctive front and back. Traditional Icelandic sweaters have neither, but are wearable in any direction, although with regular wear, take on, perhaps, more of the owner’s body shape.

I used Cascade 220 and changed the colorway a bit, cutting down on one color and using navy blue for the dark brownish color as well as the navy.

I just finished this sweater and was soooo excited, I just had to take pictures of it! I used Jeny’s Stretchy Bind Off, which is fantastic in that it is tidy, and stretchy, and can be done quite nicely with 2×2 ribbing at the neckline.  You can see the video here.

I still have ends to weave in and armholes to graft before the final wash and blocking – but this is the first Finished Object of the season – my New Year’s resolution – the BIG ONE – is to finish up my plethora of UFOs.

 

 

A Spot of Sunshine

A Spot of Sunlight

With the rare rains we have had, life jumps out in a wonderful abundance. In a local park, I walked in an area I had never before seen, and enjoyed seeing and smelling the beginnings of a California spring. In particular, this vine with its small white flowers caught my eye – tucked under the trees in a spot of sunlight, it just glowed.

Little Path

Little Path

The Descanso Garden in the Los Angeles area is the estate of an old newspaper magnate. The grounds are vast and known for the camellias which bloom there each year. Some friends and I took a trip there, to look at the camellias, take pictures, and just enjoy ourselves. It is not an area for dramatic pictures, but rather a place for peace and quiet, and for enjoyment of a lovely garden filled with tall varieties of camellias, old oak trees, and tranquility.