Emma and I have been doing some spectacular knitting-walking amongst the wildflowers recently. It’s been a bit windy lately . . .
but thoroughly lovely this April !
Thought you might like to take a walk with us . . .
(click first image to go to slideshow)
Lupinus Albifrons. Known as just ‘ lupine ‘, it is one of the more populated native wildflowers of Northern California, and in April fills the mountain meadows, between grape vines in the rows, and trail-sides with deep blue & purple variegation. A small woody shrub when mature, however, where grass is mowed annually (as in the vineyard rows here on the mountain) and where seed is planted from the wind, you’ll see it popping up everywhere as young single stemmed flowers . . .
I luckily had just the perfect yarn handy when I became inspired from my walk of last week. I had a bunch of green which I over-dyed from grey wool which perfectly illustrates the ‘silvery’ grey-green leaves of the plant. The rich deep blue and purple played illusive games however with the camera, which wasn’t able to distinguish the two, and both came out as blue tones in most of the photos. But here it is , un chullo, for my brother’s birthday tomorrow!
I absolutely go wild photographing still-life knitteds ~~ its just one of the things I love doing, in every light possible , which enables me to make an assemblage of photos that catches different tones and characteristics of the yarns and knitted shapes . . .
The detail with which I experimented for the first time on this chullo hat, was to add a running crocheted chain just inside the typically chullo-esque double-crocheted edge, to neaten up the edge.
I love to make my chullo hats a bit of a hybrid with gnome hats by decreasing into a point, then finishing with a braid extending off of the top . . .
They blossom into a hat with a lot of character and playful whimsy . . .
The crocheted edges tame the curling tendency of the stockinette stitch. . .
Braid finishes being made on both ear flaps . . .
(the purple really pops in this photo below !)
Un chullo, inspired from the lupine flowers in the fields of Northern California. To be given to my brother tomorrow, and there could be nobody more appreciative than he, who wears them everyday , and who is also a botanical wizard !
NOTE : I have taken notes as I knit this one, so if anybody is interested, I could assemble a pattern of sorts from it.
Details on Ravelry HERE
Well, I’m off to walk the mountain with Emma, but I will leave you with a little slide show of the early morning walk of last weekend, from which this chullo’s lupine photos were taken . . .
I speedily uploaded photos from our walk up the ridge, and now I’m off to town !
Three of my spinner friends ~ Morrie, Debbie, and Susan came up to spin yesterday! I met them down at the main road, and we managed to fit three spinning wheels, all the bags associated with toting for the spinning (lots and lots of those). . . and all four of us . . . in my Toyota Rav. It was quite the wagon load and I wish I had my camera!. We then shuttled up the rocky road to the house. . . and we nested together to spin for the day.
It was great fun to say the very least.
Emma was well behaved, giving up her chair for Susan (above), and having *only* thieved one of Morrie’s spools of yarn, and one of Debbie’s shoes…
(Debbie made a little post on her blog about the day over here folks ! )
Debbie, I’m honored that you posted and that you had a good time ! Emma does have a taste for wool, doesn’t she? You know why? Because she is a shepherd ! :: laughs :: I hope you don’t mind too much that I stole this photo here, from your blog , looks like you’ve captured a glimpse of your spicy chocolate and Schacht wheel in action . . .
Thank you Spinners, for coming all the way up to my hermitage and causing a delightful commotion for Emma and I , from our otherwise quiet and uneventful day ! Such a room full to bursting with personalities !!! Lets do it again tomorrow , and the next day !
(( And I promise I will *not* try so hard to make the house too clean and tidy ))
Emma and I out exploring the mountain for a good long knit walk on Sunday morning . Observing moss dripping off of branches, devouring the old oaks. So much fog and moisture from the coastal weather pounding this inland ridge which divides Sonoma and Napa counties, before sinking finally into the Napa valley.
Close to the peak, we seek out our secret precipice . . .
Emma scouts the ridge along the peak, for her usual treats . . .
What is this bright blushing wooliness among the foggy forest ?
And the view , beyond the knitting, from the peak at 2600 feet !
