Wednesday, August 13, 2008

A Bolero for Fall

You may recall that this yarn was a gift from Mr Puffy last year. He's so generous with his meager allowance. I really ought to increase it.



I don't typically wear trendy clothes. But I do believe this little bolero is quite "in." Of course, it was Mr Puffy who gifted it to me, and we all know how style conscious he is.

Steve also really likes this bolero. He thinks it's the nicest thing I've ever knit. Let me stay with that for a moment. The nicest thing I've ever knit. Hum. This is not a man you send out to select china, if you get what I'm alluding too.

While that makes me smile, and I do not agree, I do feel fortunate to have such supportive men in my life. Really, in their eyes, everything I knit is the nicest thing I've ever knit. What's not to like about that.



And, it is a cute little bolero. I love the varying shades of blue with the black accents. As Jane in my knitting group observed, it looks like there are little bats flying about in the fabric which gives it a mysterious complexity. Maybe I'll take on an air of mystery when I'm wearing it!

It's also very soft and fluffy and for that reason alone I know I will wear it a lot this Fall. I can see it paired with a black turtle neck sweater on a cooler day.



I would describe this as an easy knit but for the weird shaping instructions for the front. I'm not at all sure that I did it correctly. The front shaping is accomplished with short rows and due to the difference in American versus European pattern writing conventions, it had me rather confused. At least, I hope that is the reason why I was confused.

It's hard to tell, but the clasp was supposed to be at the bottom of the bolero. However, that looked very strange with the weird shaping I had going on. So, I simply pinned it up more toward the top and I think it looks much better this way.

Specs: Phildar; Autumn 06/07; TenDANCes 32; # 456-T6-233; Horizons (colorway: Nocturne; 5 skeins); US 6 needles; downsized to XS. Be warned, it is an acrylic (91% acrylic) and has an unnatural feel to it.



I thought this was an unusual picture. No, it's not taken in some exotic place. It's actually taken across the canyon looking back just below our house. If you strain really hard you can see a pack of coyotes lounging about. While coyotes are prevalent in Topanga it's unusual to see them lying about like this.

Until you've heard a pack of coyotes celebrating a kill in the night, you don't know the meaning of blood curdling. I'm quite sure the druids never engaged in sacrifices that parallel the rituals engaged in by coyotes. I can't tell you what they are doing exactly; but it's done in a large group, seems to take a long time, and there is a tinge of the macabre involved.

Mr Puffy in particular is very troubled by these noises. He's so sensitive. What can we do. We lock the doors and pull the covers over our heads. Living up here is not for everyone.

23 comments:

Monika said...

Boy - this bolero looks so good on you! It's a lovely knit!
Don't be mad, but I love your picture of the coyotes even more! So great to see them in a group! I saw only lone ones around here, and that has been a while.

Anonymous said...

The bolero really cute- I love the colors of the yarn- and you look great in it. As usual, Mr. P has great taste.
Coyotes howling might freak me out a bit. We get the wild turkeys calling, and I think that's strange enough!

Sue said...

I love the bolero, it is quite cute and trendy and suits you so well too.

t does wool said...

beautiful and trendy,looks great on you also.I like it pinned that way. Claudia,and as for the guys-most men well,yeah-you know what I'm thinking :-) and the coyotes-celebrating the new knit,too???

Tracy said...

LOVE the bolero! It is very smart...And cute boleros have been in & out, so I'd say they're bordering on classic now :o) Great yarn, colors, nice shape, and it fits you so well! Buy coyotes...eeekkk...They are beautiful, slightly scary creatures...very odd to see them just lounging around...Maybe they were stunned by the beauty of your bolero?! ;o) Happy Day

CelticCastOn said...

Looks great but please tell me you are wearing that turtleneck just for the pictures??? It looks sooo nice and hot out!!!
Great Coyote shot, we hear the odd one here and there but never a pack.... least not that I can remember. I'm sure Moose has since he comes from the sticks!

Bridget said...

Oh, it's a beautiful FO - I do like the yarn color changes!

That Mr P - like our kitties, he can manage to do a lot with a small allowance, and usually so selflessly ... :-)

Love the canyon picture! As long at the coyotes aren't near Mr Puffy.

jillian said...

It's lovely on you! Yes, it would look dashing with a black turtleneck.

Anonymous said...

How Joel would love to see coyotes from his bedroom window! Think the howling may freak him out a bit though.

Your bolero is gorgeous btw! I think blondes tend to wear blues particularly well.

SissySees said...

Steve and Mr Puffy should do workshops and teach other dogs and men to be so supportive and to select great yarn...

It looks very nice, and I do love the way the yarn worked up.

Those coyotes are scarey. We're having quite the problem with them here, enough so that in his defenseless state, we don't leave Mugsy out alone after dusk.

Hilary said...

I love your bolero!! Mr. Puffy did a wonderful job picking out that yarn (it looks like the night sky -- with birds, not bats. :) ) and Steve DEFINITELY has good taste if he likes this. It fits you so perfectly, too!

Knitterary said...

Coyotes are getting to be a problem around here, too. They've taken a lot of the neighborhood dogs. Not good.

amanda said...

Beautiful bolero - it fits you very nicely, and I like the fastener where you have it.

Wow, that is quite a pack of coyotes. Glad they stay away from your yard, though. Keep an eye on Mr. Puffy!!

Anonymous said...

The bolero does look wonderful on you. Mr. Puffy chose a lovely color.

I agree that it is so nice to have supporting men in your life. Half the time I think Dan is more excited about my knitting projects than I am, which makes me feel wonderful.

raining sheep said...

So, I love that bolero. First, the color is really nice and will be so great with a pair of faded blue jeans. Secondly, the whole bolero thing is so in right now because of the layering trend. You can layer it with some great t-shirts and tank top. I really like the shaping in the front. Great knit.

Anonymous said...

I remember when Mr. Puffy bought you the bolero yarn. I was so impressed & hoped that maybe my furry family might be influenced to do the same:-). But, I do believe having a daddy helps Mr. Puffy do the right thing for his Mom. They both are such nice guys.

The bolero is very beautiful and I agree with one of the commenters ... it's a classic.

Wow, the coyotes are close to you. But, it's not surprising given your location. We've had them near me. Though it's wonderful that nature is so close to us, it's frightening when I have to worry about letting my little 7 pound Sammy out in my very small backyard. Not too far from here bad things have happened (I'll leave it at that).

TeaMouse said...

What a beautiful knit - the colour is perfect and it does look like it would be nice and cozy for fall.

Isn't it nice to have such wonderful support - my DH is my #1 fan.

knittingdragonflies said...

I am in love with this, it looks great on you and the blue is beautiful!
I agree with Mr. Puffy, I'll stay under the covers when the coyotes are talking.
Vicki

Anonymous said...

You knit so wonderfully and it fits you so well!

Firefly Nights said...

Didn't realize you had that many coyotes in your area. I thought maybe they traveled in pairs but didn't know full packs were common.

Doesn't that Mr. Puffy have a great fashion sense? So good of him to select a yarn that you like so much and I know he's proud of how the bolero turned out.

If only it would get cool enough to wear things like that. Come on, fall weather.

Denise said...

I know you already have this award but I nominated you too, you can see on my blog :)
Love the bolero, I thought I had already commented on it, but I don't see a post from me?

Ally Jay said...

Wow, not sure it's the nicest thing I've see you show, but it's definitely in the top five. It's so hard to jusge knitting as each piece is so indivivual. I love the colour, so interesting and those shades make it a versatile little number. I love it with the top you're wearing but black would look very sleek. I think the clasp looks about right where it is, I guess you could go with a Jane Austen look slightly lower down.

Windyridge said...

We had a fox sitting looking at us about 50 yards from the house. He was kinda cute. One of the boys walked over to the side of the house and you cold see the fox turn his little head and watch. He sat there for 10 minutes or so and then galloped off. I am pretty sure he was one of the cubs that were born nearby.