Along with the change in smells, we've had very subtle weather changes. It's not really cool here yet, per se, but there's a little breeze and the mornings and evenings do have a certain crispness to them. Enough crispness that I feel it's time to send my new shawl pattern out into the world, because I've been wearing it every moment it hasn't been too warm for the last week.
Beurre - $5 via Ravelry (no account required)
Beurre is a crescent-shaped shawl with a subtle ruffle, rows of eyelets, and plenty of garter stitch. It is worked from the bottom up (so you get the bazillion ruffle stitches out of the way first), with short rows giving the shawl its shape. I've provided helpful photos in the pattern for anyone new to this type of short row construction, as well as detailed instructions on how to make the wrap smaller or even larger, if you so choose.
Beurre was absolutely and completely inspired by the yarn it's made from. This was my first time working with Anzula's silk/camel blend, Oasis (clever name, right?), so I plopped some of it on the needles and let it tell me what it wanted to be. I swear it knit itself into those garter eyelets...I don't even remember brainstorming. I just kind of followed directions.
And I'm in love with this golden colorway, Butter Toffee (thus the name Beurre - French for butter). It evokes warmth and comfort and coziness and a bit of sweetness, which is pretty much how I felt the entire time knitting it, as well as when I'm wrapped in it drinking a cup of coffee in the morning.
The specs...
Size: 60" / 152.5 cm along top edge, 19" / 48.5 cm height at center
Yarn: Anzula Oasis (70% Silk, 30% Camel; 375 yds / 343 m per 114g); 2 skeins in Toffee, or 700 yds / 640 m of a DK or light worsted weight yarn
Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) circular needle, at least 40" / 100 cm long, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 20 sts & 24 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Stockinette St; 15 sts & 30 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Garter St
For more information about Buerre, please visit its page on Ravelry here.
*I learned the reasons for this phenomenon in Mr. Julien's Honors Biology class Sophomore year, but now I've unfortunately forgotten. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the crops around here. Sorry, Mr. Julien.
8 comments:
Ooh, gorgeous and I love the toasted caramel color your sample is knit in.
This is so beautiful! Is it Anzula from TNNA?
I absolutely know what you mean about the seasons and smells changing. It's just happened here too. Even though it's summer temperatures during the day, the sunlight looks different somehow, and there's that special autumn deliciousness in the air :)
This pattern is a beauty!
Beautiful! And you're so right about the smells. When I moved back to town, it was so comforting to smell the "right" smells at the "right" times of the year :)
About the onions...I don't know what Mr. Julien said (ahem, I'm sure I was much to busy studying the person I was convinced I would marry), but my grandpa said it was because of the onion processing plant in Atwater...that when the wind blew a certain way during the winter, it carries the smell up the valley. Who knows...
if you're still in contra costa, it's the onions in gilroy (we used to swear we could smell tomato sauce when the garlic was picked!) your patterns are beautiful, and as a "Spitzer" spouse, i love to hear about the astronomical influences!
Thanks so much, everyone!
And, Anonymous, I'm in Turlock (Central Valley) now, but I think it's a similar situation...my friend Margo pointed out that there is a nearby onion processing plant that's probably causing the smells.
And you're married to someone who works on Spitzer? Cool! I bet we know people in common. :) During the 10 years I worked on SOFIA, it always felt like Spitzer (or SIRTF, way back in the day!) was kind of our "sister" project...yay for infrared astronomy! Also, I don't know if you know Patrick Lowrance, but his wife gave me my first job out of college...which is what ended up leading to my job on SOFIA. Anyway, thank you again!
I totally thought that smell was a scientific indication of rain, until I wondered it aloud one day here in Santa Barbara and got...um...a lot of weird looks :) The atmospheric pressures changes usually roll in from the west, which makes Gilroy the perfect culprit. Oh, I miss that smell!!!
I love your shawl! It looks cozy and elegant, two things that are hard to pull off at the same time. I love your hair, too!
I live far, far away from where I grew up, and whenever I'm back, I notice things that I only know because I grew up there. Like the sound of birds, or the color of the tree trunks or definitely the smells. I guess that place will always be a part of me in ways that new homes will never quite be.
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