SUMIDITY

So the best plan, then, is to complicate everything.

And start designing something from scratch, without any real visual aids or any known pattern to follow except a vague shaping reference to Kate Gilbert’s Union Square Market Sweater in Interweave (with her permission), and to work out a knitting pattern which is looking decidedly more complex than it is supposed to be, but that's often the trickery of simple stoic designs anyway. My sketches resemble complex joinery drawings, and there are many pieces of mathematical workings on scrap paper. Yes. I need to get out more.

And my husband stopped dead in his tracks when he found me knitting with Habu's version of fingering weight yarn (sewing thread to everyone else) and I think his expression was 'you can't be serious'. Well, yes, actually, I am. And in my defense it is double stranded and knit loosely, but after the last posts, most of you are probably thinking I’ve made things really quite difficult that don’t need to be difficult. You probably don't want to know that I spent my week making bread dough for pizza, calzone and foccacia (to freeze, so I don't have to cook so much this next week). Still I can't help thinking I should write a post for September now which says "still going on Habu jumper for Pia". I'll post it for September 2008. Working out this pattern has been the only adult thinking thing I’ve done other than fill in a trillion school application forms recently. If I give this up, I do believe my brain will turn to a vegetative state. If I get this pattern to work, then I will have achieved something, and I will feel a little more like a human adult. The socks, in fairness to the socks, can knit themselves, and that’s why we go to a fabulous indoor play centre for the morning where I can knit, and watch Max, Pia can sleep, and it’s a win/win situation for everyone and least of all I don’t have to concentrate on a complex sock pattern. And I have to admit it is truly decadent – in that ‘soaking in a hot bath with nice bath milk in there’ way – to knit a little something for my babe in a mixture of Merino and Ramie yarn. The Merino (bottom) is charcoal (a tiny weeny smidge off black), and the Ramie (top) is natural Sumi Charcoal dyed. It’s an earthier grey brown, but when stranded with the merino, the whole thing has a very natural look, feel and sheen to it which would work equally well with natural neutrals like white, cream beige (I’m thinking linen here), dark colours like charcoal, and against softer colours like Lavender and dusty greens and pinks. The textural difference between the merino and ramie give the material structure, and fluidity. Sumi and Fluidity. Sumidity.

Comments

[sw]

habu is fantastic. it's worth your time and work

[ali]

I can't even imagine how gorgeous this sweater will be...in those colors...and using Habu yarn {which I am completely in love with at the moment - could there be a more beautiful combination of colors + textures, even if some of it is as fine as sewing thread?}
Enjoy the decadence + savor the Habu {Pia is a very lucky little girl!}

[Sue]

What a great mum you are creating designer clothes for your daughter. She must have the best wardrobe in town. I cant wait to see the little cardigan/jacket that you knit for her too, even if we have to wait until 2008!

[Kirsten]

you are a classic! i so relate to that requirement for something adult and creative at the same time, though. tricky to find the space in a hectic life for such ventures so good luck to you. and i am also a big one for doing a big batch of a meal and ferreting it away in the freezer for another time. i look forward to seeing your sumidity results - sounds beautiful.

[Bel]

You crazy lady! Looks beautiful.

[di]

Sounds like a great plan- exploring possibilities. Sounds like fun yarn to be playing with.

[amisha]

there are those who think that knitting socks in itself is making things too difficult when they are so easily purchased (ahem, e)... sometimes difficult is better and worth it. i am intrigued by your habu experiments. structure and fluidity... hmmm... though i can't help thinking 'humidity' from sumidity, but that is because i live in florida and it's terribly hot.
ps did you say it would look nice with pink in the last sentence? there goes your color street cred... :)