Know what this means? If you don't, you will. With the upcoming papal conclave we will see this image again and again in newspapers, tv, and on the internet as Vatican watchers anxiously await the fabled white smoke marking the election of the next Pope.
Well, despite my own cultural judaism, and Gromit's presumed adherence to the Church of England, we've adopted this symbol to announce the successful selection of a new knitting project!
As you would expect from any populist changing of the guard, it took a while to get to this joyous moment. It would have been sooner, but in a freak reenactment of the November US elections, the voting machines weren't functioning properly! Despite calls for a hand recount, candidates missing from the slate (anyone notice that "Air" didn't make it into the poll? Oops!) and attempts at ballot box stuffing (that means you Mom), we're going to stick with the electronic tally.
It's important that you know, unlike next week's vatican retreat, majority rules around here. At least in those cases where the majority agrees with me. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done if voting had gone against my own first choice, but I suspect it wouldn't have been honorable.
It looked like a slam dunk for awhile -- the Vittadini lace cardigan quickly pulled away from the competition. But a late surge of votes for the Cherry Tree Hill sweater threatened to close the gap. Sadly, it was too little, too late. Thankfully, the Cherry Tree Hill sweater was willing to go back into stash. It can bide it's time, as a wool/silk blend it wouldn't be worn until next Fall anyway.
After voting was closed this morning, the final decision was made in favor of the lime green, lacey frilly thing (sorry Mom)!
I hopped to it and cast on right away.
Ok, I cheated and cast on over the weekend. I'm ashamed, really I am. Please understand, I just needed something new to feed my project wanderlust.
With nearly three repeats done, I'm happy to report it was a great choice. With 12 rows in each repeat, it's keeping my brain occupied, but I've already been able to get a feel for how the pattern works as a whole. Perfect.
Charm is also moving ahead (back is done, and I'm six inches into the left front) -- this is now my travel knitting -- it's got an easy four row repeat, with only plain purl rows on the WS. The Vittadini's WS rows are all different, so you can't work on that one while carrying on a conversation, it requires complete attention. Can't wait until I try a few rows after having some wine! That'll be good blog fodder.
I'll leave you with a shot from Tuesday evening's Shipley School Charity Knit-In. Isn't this great -- there were teachers, students and parents -- some thirty strong! Thanks to the efforts of the Lower School Head and one of the Lower School Art teachers patients at the Fox Chase Cancer Center will be getting a bunch of chemo caps and scarves! They're even thinking about having another one before the end of the year for the Duulaan Project!
Way to go Ms. G. and Ms. G.!
I love me some Adrienne Vittadini designs. They're always so beautiful and taylored.
Posted by: Nik | April 14, 2005 at 06:49 PM
You are SUCH a cheater. A nice glass of wine and I may be persuaded to forgive you.
Posted by: Hope | April 14, 2005 at 09:02 PM
I keep coming back to your blog to look at that beautiful wrap. You inspired me to get out my new Alpaca Cloud yarn to knit a wrap. (Shh! don't tell anyone but I'm stealing your idea!) I love the beads on you wrap. I want to put beads on mine too. I'm trying to figure out how to knit them onto the individual stitches instead of suspending them between stitches. I don't want to pre-string the beads and then have to push them along the yarn. How did you knit your beads? Again, your wrap is amazing!
Posted by: LouVFS | April 15, 2005 at 08:05 PM
Hee hee hee.... I first read crazy Aunt Pearl from the link on your site... She is CRAZYYYYY!!! We are all crazy!!!!!!
I'm glad you stalked us both or we would never know you!
Posted by: Minou | April 16, 2005 at 02:48 AM
It's a very nice cardi! I'm glad to have found you too. Does the first bit about the smoke mean that each time we see that picture, we may start another knitting project?
About my blog, I'm afraid I'm a bit too lazy to do a word-by-word translation of my Swedish posts into English, I'll first ramble in Swedish, and then some in English. And hope everything will be covered in both languages...
Posted by: Liisa | April 17, 2005 at 07:45 AM
Beautiful color choice for your sweater. I love the lime green!
Posted by: Angela | April 18, 2005 at 12:41 PM