Kitty: Organic and traditional Cable goodness

Have you guys checked out the new camisole that Marnie posted over on her site? I really love the design. To me it makes me think of coral and seaweed.

I have really been into deconstructed, multiple abstract cables, and new colours lately. I have been reading up a lot about cables, Guernseys, Jerseys, and Arans.

A just picked up this book to the left Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys & Arans (Paperback) for by Gladys Thomspon. I absolutely adore this book! It is part history book, part knitting book, part travelogue, and hilarious to boot. It has a lot of authentic patterns for the different regions of Britain and tales of determined woman colleting the patterns from real fishermen.

As a norm I really hate books that feign to be vintage, folk, or historical. They usually are nothing more than clumsy knock offs. If you want to show me folk socks from Wales, I want my finished pair to be exactly like the originals. If you want to show me historical samplers, I don't want to be able to tell at first glance that this piece was done in 2006. I want to have to actual look at the construction, threads, and fabric to date the piece not the clumsy simple knock off design popular in this decade.

So after saying that, this book has the intricate charts of the '50's written for a time where tiny needles and tiny gauge were the norm not obscure oddities that are refereed to as "it takes to long or is too difficult". The black and white photos are of fishermen on their boats wearing their lovely sweaters. Dover once again doesn't fale to please.

I am not sure I will actual use the patterns, but the historical information is invaluable and the stories are a riot.

In a time where cables are making a rebirth it is definitely a treasure to hold.

On another note:

A friend asked what was the vendor that I was thinking about ordering from (The Wool Gathering Outing): The Weavers Loft She had amazing hand spun alpaca that felt like silk.