Knit'nat: Inspiration

One of my resolutions this year was to learn colorwork. I've got a few things in my knitting queue that would help with that -- an Olympics hat, a Canuck hat, even some mittens. The thought of casting these on has been tickling at the back of my brain, but I've been on a lace kick recently, and just haven't had the true urge to forge ahead with stranded knitting.

Enter Adrienne Martini, she of Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously. Adrienne and I have emailed back and forth a few times in preparation for her visit to the shop, and when she visited us last Friday, I immediately felt that I'd known her all my life. This is the person you want not just in your knitting circle, but also in your circle of friends. Funny, compassionate, fearless (as far as I know -- shit, she knit the Mary Tudor sweater! That's enough for me to label her fearless!), and knowledgeable. Who wouldn't want her in their circle? And may I also add, inspiring.

Because you see, before I had met Adrienne in person, before I'd actually held the Mary Tudor sweater in my own two hands, before I'd read her book, I could have cared less about Alice Starmore and her designs. I'd heard the rumors and knew her books were out of print, but didn't understand all the fuss. Then, as I said, Adrienne came into my life, and my perspective changed.

Through dumb luck, I've had two Starmore books (both in mint condition) fall into my lap: Pacific Coast Highway and A Scottish Garland. I haven't really looked through them, I've just kind of had them tucked away. To be completely honest with you here, I was going to sell them. (Actually, at one point I had listed them on the Book Stash/ISO group on Ravelry, was quite beaten down by a few people over not posting a price, and then had to ask the mods remove the posting because I just couldn't take it any longer). I probably will still sell them -- I don't think anything in the books is in my size anyway. Today, though, I decided to browse through Pacific Coast Highway. I thought, maybe there's something in here I can make. Then I saw it: The Point Reyes Baby Blanket. It's colorwork. It's knit in the round. It's a little bright, by the looks of things, but it's a baby blanket. It doesn't take much yarn, really. By knitting this, not only will I learn colorwork, but I'll also learn to steek.

I haven't made my mind up yet. I might not do it. But then again...well...I just might. The more I dwell on it (and trust me, I'm dwelling on it), the more I want to knit it.

eep.