Koolhaas 2
Coming back to the US after being in India for a while is always hard for me; coming back to regular teaching after research leave is proving quite hard too. Put the two together, and it’s resulting in quite a disaster for my work and concentration. The very thought of syllabi, prepping for courses and putting together reader packs is making me panic, procrastinate, and plunge for refuge into my yarn and knitting. I’ve been making up for a year’s absence by surfing Ravelry like a maniac, queuing and favouriting projects. Quelling all the guilt over the volume of work I am ignoring, I am agonising instead about whether I should buy some Black Water Abbey worsted now, or after I’ve finished making the Sidelines Top with this:
It’s Berroco Inca Gold in a new shade, Azul Marina. Isn’t it lovely? It’s a gorgeous navy-purple, the purple tones more visible in sunlight. I don’t have anything in this colourway in my stash, and I am really eager to get into it. How can a course pack possibly compete with this!
While I waited for it to arrive, I whipped up another Koolhaas hat for a dear friend, who had a run-in with some bad luck recently, and who had in the past, expressed a liking for the pattern. Here’s hoping this will cheer him up a bit, even if it is somewhat early for a northeastern winter!
I made one for myself early last year with Malabrigo, and thought it turned out a little small. This time I added 8 stitches (112 total) and one 8 row-repeat. It is, as a result, a bit more tubular, and looks rather like a tall fez hat on me, but am hoping it will fit the recipient’s head better. I used about 2/3 of a skein of New England Highland (same yarn I used for my BPT), which shows off the twisted stitches nicely. I was a bit torn at first between using a larger sized needle for more ease with the repeated twisting, versus a tighter gauge and fabric with a smaller one, but I finally went with ease, and used a size 7.
I wonder how long this feverish spell of knitting, sewing and blogging will last, because (sigh) I cannot procrastinate for ever. But there’s still a couple of weeks of summer left…
(Daku I hope you like it!)
Given the way our so-called summer has gone here in the Northeast, it may not be early by that much.
Lovely colour (color?), lovely hat, and I agree with Mel above. I also love the kurta btw — fabindia also? I’ve been following your sewing posts in awe btw; knitting is intimidating enough (I still have to start working with cables, I’ve got everything I need for the rangoli hat except the courage), but sewing? Wow. Just wow. If you come across any good Sewing books — basics, patterns, etc. — please to recommend!
And gosh I totally sympathize with putting off working on syllabi and course packages — I always get a tight feeling in my stomach when I start thinking of them! How long does designing a new course take you?
You really need that Black Water Abbey now, so you’ll have it in time for finishing the top.
I myself have never been as prolific as when I’ve been procrastination my masters thesis. Almost anything seems fun in the face of thesis work!
it’s perfect, thank you so much. will i get a new hat every time i nearly get killed?
That navy/purple yarn is gorgeous and the Koolhas is going to be well loved. Hope you find the perfect balance!
A little procrastination (within reason, lol) never hurt anyone!
yay procrastination – its producing such lovely results in knitting
Lovely hat. My husband was wearing one just like it when the police dragged him away for tax evasion and money laundering. Sigh…