I cannot stop taking garden pictures!  The garden will be at it's peak in about two weeks, but the waiting for that is pretty spectacular in itself.  Our perennial border is mostly hydrangeas, shasta daisies, roses, dahlias and daylilies holding up the rear.  The front is kept in annuals that I change out every year.  This year I did a mix of mostly pink, purple and white using zinnias and cosmos to bring in the big color.   Since my husband's retirement, he has been helping out so much in the garden, but I am still the one in charge of the flowers.  He does however, have a big say in the color scheme, and this year he said it's his favorite border, he loves pink.  The pink and purple is spectacular this year.

Our weather has finally broken and we are back in the 70s and 80s.  Big smile.  Last week we had temperatures soaring into the high 90s every day.  Blech.  Horrible, I hate hot weather.  On Friday we took the top off and caravaned with 8 friends to the coast where it was cold and foggy.  Lovely, I hadn't been cold in ages and LOVED it!  Knitters love to be cold so they can pull out their wooly sweaters. We had dinner at Sam's Chowder House, so fun there, there's an ocean view from every table and the food is great.  They also have a Chowdermobile that travels around the bay area for a convenient chowder fix, you can even rent it for a party! 

Back to last week, I fretted over the 90 plus heat, my poor garden, but the flowers and vegetables look as fresh as anything now that the heat wave is over.  I will be able to spend some more time out there, and while I don't mind the weeding too much, I'd rather be arranging flowers.  One of my favorite summer hobbies is to make beautiful bouquets from my garden. 

Zinnias in the foreground with hydrangeas in back.

Seashell Cosmos in the foreground with hydrangeas behind.

Cosmos Sensation in the foreground, Shasta Daisies in the back.

A mix of dahlias, daisies, roses, zinnias, cosmos and glads in my granddad's mustard pot. I like to make big arrangements when I have the flower power, this one is 2 1/2 feet tall!

A month ago we received the prettiest invitation that I think I've ever received. 


A few days before the party I received this email:  It looks like Himself and I ARE going to make it 50 years; if we break up this week, we'll keep it secret.  Dress is festive casual; bring layers for the later evening chill.  PLEASE no gifts--unless your name is Karl Lagerfeld, he may send me 5O Chanel bags. The rest of you: NOTHING.  If it rains, wear something chic to my funeral as I shall slit my wrists.

They are obviously FUN people, plus have a spectacular entertaining style and beautiful home, and I am happy to note that after a week of chilly weather, that one night, that ONE night, was spectacular and no one had to wear a second layer.  When Casey and Jack were married, the wedding colors were watermelon and white.  Now, fifty years later the same colors were used for the flowers and the table setting, and are still fresh and summery.  I was able to sneak a few pictures between eating, drinking and dancing the night away.  Goodness,  I do LOVE a good party.  Let me share a beautiful evening and setting with you...

Pink, Orchid and Yellow Doll Watermelon Salad with Watercress and Fresh Burrata with aged Sherry Vinaigrette

One day this summer I'll do a blog post on Casey and Jack's garden.  They keep bees, have a chicken palace, a beautiful rose garden and large vegetable garden and I think you would love to see it.

Belle

All the gorgeous new yarns and patterns for fall/winter will soon be released, and I realized that I'm not done with the things I wanted to knit with last years goodies!  Just need to show you some of the prettiest sweaters I haven't made...yet!  I love Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe.  My favorite way to use it would be in this cardigan above.  When I first saw this pattern I thought I'd make it in the round so the stripes would match, but then I thought, no, what I love so much is that it's not matching, that's now my favorite part!  It looks kinda crazy and circus-like, it's fun and pretty, right?  The color is "Cool".  I used that same color in my Kidsilk Stripe Wrap but may just have to use it again for this.  I love her bracelets too.  And her face.

KSH Stripe is a perfect example of a yarn that does most of the work for you.  The pattern should be kept pretty simple to show off the color stripes.   Look at Leya below, perfectly elegant and simple yet so effective.

Today I'm showcasing two pattern booklets that support this beautiful yarn.  These first three designs plus 5 more are from the booklet, Kidsilk Haze Stripe Collection.

Leya

Lily

The three patterns above are from this booklet.

Simone

Eva

Marja

Sylvie

Ruby

Stella

Today, July 4th, we celebrate Independence Day in the USA.  Americans feel very patriotic and social all week, lots of barbeques and parades.  When we first moved into our home, our neighborhood would host a big potluck complete with a square dance caller, a decorated bicycle parade put on by the younger children and end the evening with a fireworks display at the end of our culdesac.  We had a neighbor who would set up an enormous miniature train over his 1/4 acre front yard.  Quite spectacular with an old west town, a circus, an English village and a Tyrolean village just to name a few.  He kept it up all summer and miniature train enthusiasts from all over the world would come to visit.  He was a pretty smart fella and would deputize my son and all the other little boys in the neighborhood to "patrol" the train set-up and make sure everyone was just looking and not touching.  Of course, the little boys were the worst offenders but giving them an important job kept them from causing trouble.

This morning we will go to our church's 47th annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast and then in the afternoon we are going to a backyard barbeque.  Last night we were invited to Carole and Bill's house for a casual dinner.  I loved her table decorated with simple straw mats, red napkins and flags in the flower vase!  Hooray for the red, white and blue!

I love to test knit sweaters.  I've been asked how it works so I'll let you know my experience with independent designers.

When the designer has a finished and workable knitting project and pattern she (or he) is ready to have a few people knit it to give it a try.  She may give it to a tech editor and then send it out to test knitters or may bypass the tech editor all together.  Before receiving the pattern, the designer will tell the test knitter how she wants you to proceed.  She may ask you to use a specific type of yarn or not.  She may send you the yarn or ask you to provide your own.  She may ask the test knitter to stick to gauge and make no modifications, or she may not.  Designers know that most knitters will modify their pattern somewhat, if not for fit, then for style, perhaps changing sleeve length or omitting or adding a design element.  The designer will make it clear what they think is acceptable.  If I do any modifications, I ask first, but if I'm knitting a sample then there are no modifications.  You may get paid, but you probably won't.  Some designers require a contract and they will always ask for discretion in sharing their design before the pattern is published for sale and also prefer that you have the project finished prior to being published.  Start your test knit experience clearly knowing what is expected of you and you will have a very fun time.

The test knitter provides feedback on the clarity and accuracy of the pattern.  I jot down notes and email them back to the designer as I move along though the project.  I always give test knits top priority above all my other projects.  There are obvious benefits to both sides, the designer has an experienced pattern reader and knitter help work out any possible bugs, and the knitter has the fun of being first in line for a popular pattern from a well know designer, OR the joy of working with a brand new designer.  Working with both new and seasoned designers has been fun for me.  Another benefit for the designer is after publishing, wham, several knitters post their finished sweaters to Ravelry, Facebook and blogs creating a buzz over the new pattern which helps to spread the word for the designer.

I am test knitting two patterns now, both by seasoned designers, Thea Colman of Baby Cocktails and Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting.  One is a V neck pullover in Rowan Felted Tweed DK and the other is a hooded coat in Rowan Felted Tweed Aran.  I am very excited about both patterns and know they will both be well received.  That they are both being knit in Felted Tweed is just a happy coincidence as it is a favorite yarn of mine.   Felted Tweed is naturally beautiful and doesn't require the knitter to do too much to make a beautiful fabric.  FT is a very traditional tweed with a unique felty way of filling up the holes with bloomy bits.  Hard to explain, really, but soft and springy and lovely.  I've made many sweaters in the DK weight, it's beautiful in cables and eyelets and wears beautifully.



How do you become a test knitter?  You just ask!  I let a designer know when I am available, and if it's a pattern that I think I will enjoy and will look good on me, then I jump in.  I love test knitting and have had nothing but positive experiences!

Both these patterns will be published late summer and I'll let you know about them that very day!

Aww, here is my little granddaughter in her newest sweater, Clearwing by Amy Christoffers.  She lives in Southern California and this will be a great spring and fall sweater for her, even good for many Southern California winter days!  I loved knitting this, the pattern is dear with a pretty eyelet detail at the neck, simple shaping and 3/4 length sleeves.  This is her color, green accentuates her green eyes!  This is knit top-down and seamless with i-cord cuffs and hem.

The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cathay, discontinued.  I never know why a yarn is discontinued, certainly this can't be for lack of loveliness!  It's terrific!  It's very very soft and washes and wears well.  I've knit a simple V neck pullover from this before and love it next to my skin.  I machine wash in a lingerie bag with cold water and dry flat.  When it's almost dry I pop it in the dryer for a few minutes and it takes out any stiffness.  The yarn is kinda slippery and very splittty, in fact, it's so splittty I had to spell splittty with 3 t's.  But, for me, going down 2 needle sizes and using pointy wooden Knit Picks Harmonies helped with that pretty much.  The beautiful soft fabric is worth the inconvenience that the splittiness caused.  Sometimes you'll find a long discontinued yarn for sale at a shop or online, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this yarn again.

Annie and I had such a fun week.  After attending Vacation Bible Camp at our church for many years, this year she was old enough to be a junior camp counselor.  We led a team of seven 4 and 5 year olds for the week, then in the afternoon we lunched, pooled, shopped, my goodness, we fairly fell into bed at night.  She was here when my Rowan preview books and yarns for fall/winter arrived.  We oouued and aawwed over it all night and now she wants to become a Rowan ambassador too!  The Rowan fall/winter launch is July 15, but here is a sneaky peek of something I've already started, Homeland by Martin Storey from the Pioneer book.  Biggy big cables trailing all over the sweater knit in Big Wool, seriously gorge.  I cannot wait to share everything with you.  Rowan has some beauts this year, lovely new yarns (think suri alpaca, also angora) with beautiful pattern support.  Plus new colors in our favorite Rowan yarns, and a new twist on an old favorite, you'll be happy!