Green!

While still pondering exactly what I'm going to do about the buttonhole situation on Marta, I have started my next project.  [I'm *thisclose* to doing the sewing machine buttonhole, but there's a reason I'm a knitter and not a sewing person -- (I just can't type "sewer") -- and that is that I am deadly with a sewing machine or needle. My heart rate increases, my blood pressure goes through the roof, my flight-or-fight response sets in, and I'm really terrible at it. It is truly a life-threatening exercise to place me in front of a sewing machine. Maybe I can find someone at JoAnn who dares -- and whom I trust -- to sew it for me. Or then, there's the EZ afterthought one.... I no longer own Knitting Without Tears; I gave it away. Blasphemous, I know. Perhaps I need to get another one.]  But I do love my Marta sweater...I might even make a Version 2.0 -- one with the mods I've mentioned -- I like it that much.  I wore it all day yesterday again -- two days in a row. And boy, that Mountain Mohair is THE perfect yarn for that sweater.  Perhaps another one in the lovely warm purple they have.....

But first, the new project:  I was certain it was going to be the Garter Yoke Cardi (Ravelry link here) in Lauren's Coral Peace Fleece. I got gauge.  I love the peachy-rosy hues of the Lauren's Coral, and felt it would be a sweet look ahead toward spring. 

But damned if I didn't pick up this instead and just start knitting (no swatching, which could come back to bite me in the behind, but life's short -- live dangerously, I say!) -->

It's Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran in Shade No. 033.  As I was in Row 5, I wondered, "Now, why did I do that?  Why was I so certain it was going to be coral, but now I'm working in green?"  (looks more blue in the photo than it really is) I thought and thought as I knit and knit. 

And then I remembered the great new pendant I got in Mexico:

Aha.  So that's what I was thinking!  The earth's stones, they really do speak to me. 

(The store people said this was malachite, and I believed it to be so, but I have since seen much more malachite to compare this piece to, and it is quite different, so I'm just not sure anymore. If anyone has any clearer ideas, please let me know.  In any event, I love it.  The shape, the stone, the silver -- all lovely.)

I'm up to Row 22 of the sweater and I love the way it looks!

Comments

[AnnaMarie]

Looks like Jasper, not sure which one but definitely not malachite.

Knitting to match Jewelry? Most folks do it the other way *lol*

[Heather]

Subconscious mind FTW. That really is a fabulous necklace!

Personally, it looks more like a sodalite set my mom had, but color is apparently not all that important in identification of minerals.
This site has a lot of identification information if it interests you (my kid had to study it). http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/identification.html
Whatever it is, it is going to look fabulous with that sweater.

[gayle]

Green always makes my heart go pitty-pat (though I've found myself reaching for the purples more often lately... especially deep plum and eggplant) so I'm in love with that yarn and that stone. Definitely not malachite, but definitely beautiful!
You always find the most perfect jewelry.

[Barbara]

Try "sewist". Fewer nasty associations. The sweater is beautiful.

[Carole]

If I lived closer I'd come over with my sewing machine and make that button hole for you.

[Freda Bromberg]

What about a fabric covered snap hiding under the button to close your sweater? If the color of the fabric covering the snap is close to the yarn color, you wouldn't notice it when the sweater is open - and you wouldn't have to worry about cutting a hole in your work. I'll be happy to provide more detail (or even the snap) if you're interested. Just email me :)
Freda in NH

[Adelaide]

If you decide to go the sewing machine route for your button hole, be sure knit up a swatch and make several practice button holes first. Consider using stabilizer, too. I think it would work.

[Vicki]

I can't even read or say sewer, it always comes out SEWER. How about "one who sews"?

That pendant is GORGEOUS!! I have no idea what it is, but it's gorgeous and the sweater will be perfect!

[marianne]

Mmmm, Lauren's Coral, LOVE those colours. (I knew what it was before I read what it was) I had a devil of a time finding that magazine but found it I did and the Garter Yoke cardi is on my list. Love the green and it makes perfect sense to me. You DO have the.most.beautiful. pieces of adornment :^)

[margene]

That pendant is YOU. You should make a whole wardrobe of sweaters to go with a whole box full of earth colored pendants. One for each day of the week (or month!).

[a simple yarn]

Feelin' your pain, sister, on the sewing.
Feelin' the love of the green.

[gale (she shoots sheep shots)]

What about a large snap under the button on Marta- more stable than the hook & eye, and less of a health-risk than the sewing machine?
Or I wonder if you could use embroidery thread that matched the sweater exactly and hand sew a button hole and slice it open? Maybe also not good for your heart. I'm looking forward to seeing it on you--I had it my queue for a while then worried it'd be clingier than I like.

[Peggy Ichinose]

How 'bout seamstress? Doesn't solve the button issue, but helps out with the other. Love the necklace & lurve, lurve, lurve your blog.

[Andi]

I agree that it definitely isn't malachite-I've never seen any that had red flecks in it. Its beautiful, though!

[kmkat]

Just call me the enabler:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Knitting-Without-Tears-9780684135052_W0QQitemZ120366263363QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Nonfiction_Book?hash=item120366263363&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

[Bex]

Maybe its the yarn? ...so beautiful with all of those subtle and not-so-subtle heathered colors. wow

[Sue]

I had the same idea as Carole - but if we lived closer I'd have you bring your sweater over to my house and I'd do your buttonhole. If you make it to the Chicago area soon, let me know.
Love the necklace and the new choice of yarn.

[Karlie]

I'm pretty certain it's neither malachite or sodalite. Both are very soft, and malachite is always brilliant green. Sodalite is indigo blue, ranging from dark to light, but it always has some white splotches, and I've never seen it with red before. I'm really not sure what it could be, it doesn't look like anything I've ever seen, even in my gemology class! Could it be jasper? I'm very curious now and I'd really like to figure it out!

[Cheryl S.]

Seamstress, of course!
Glad you found the right project to match your pendant.

[Doris]

I don't know what the stone is, but it is gorgeous. The shape, the color, everything about it. And won't it be perfect with that new sweater?!

[Visionsister]

I believe what you have there is Bloodstone. It's a lovely piece and will look great with your new sweater!

[Cookie]

I'm thinking onyx, but that may be my monitor and hag eyes talking.

Love the new project yarn.

[elizabeth a airhart]

the garter stich cardi is very handsome

ihad my knitted garments lined with ribbon down
the fronts then button holes at a yarn shop

many many years a go but it does work

[Alynda]

I'm with Visionsister..I also think it is bloodstone, which is green Jasper with spots of iron oxide.

http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/bloodstone.html

[Becky]

Definitely a beautiful Bloodstone. Will look gorgeous with your sweater!

[sandy]

I have to say that I am liking that green better than the coral. Yes, I suppose I could scroll back up the page to find out the exact peace fleece name for it, but...pfft. Coral it is.
Love your Mexico necklace! You must have a gem for every vacation spot!
xoxo

[Erin]

FWIW, Erin McKean, lexicographer and keeper of A Dress A Day, uses "sewist". :)