mind of winter: Marseilles Pullover: Back at it

January 23, 2007

Marseilles Pullover: Back at it

December and most of January were a period of slowing down for me - adjusting to the new pup, traveling for Christmas and battling several colds occupied the little spare energy that I had, and the knitting was restricted to work on a small item for publication (with a large dose of help from my knitting angel, Marnie). Now as the days are slowly growing longer and Zosia is becoming the wonderful companion we always knew she would be, I'm regaining my energy and embracing my knitting once again. The object of the most love and affection of late has been the Marseilles Pullover. What a treat. Miles and miles of cables that don't disappoint.

This is a sweater that Laura, my best friend from college, and I decided to knit together. I finished a sleeve and most of the back in a period of about 6 days, most of which were spent with Laura and my other college girlfriends in the Outer Banks. Then December hit with its many deadlines and the Marseilles Pullover got cast aside while I finished other projects and rested. Just recently I picked it up and found it mesmerizing once again. I'm now about one third of the way done with the front. Laura, being the prolific knitter that she is, finished hers long ago. I'll have to bother her for a picture of it to post to the blog.

One of the most interesting things about our twin sweaters is that mine is made using Rowan Cashsoft DK and Laura's is in Cashsoft Aran. Both are knit with US7 needles. Laura is a tight knitter and I knit loosely, but don't worry - that doesn't account for all the difference - our gauges are different. Laura's is pretty close to spot on, and mine is a bit small. Naturally, I made a few adjustments to my sweater. Laura's is in the smallest size and is cushy and cozy in the way that I usually think of a good Aran sweater being. Mine is in the next size up, and also adds a half repeat vertically. If all goes well it should have a bit of drape and elegance that will make it more office-appropriate. We shall see. It was nice to see the back pieces side-by-side and get a real feel for how differently the same pattern could be knit up changing only color and yarn thickness. I love both versions and may find myself needing a cushy cream-colored one for the weekends.

I know the dog-lovers out there will want a little update on the Zosia. I'm posting this picture because it is so darn cute, but you have to know that she is about two months older now and much bigger. She has reached her gangly phase, and is long and lean with big feet. I think she'll get even taller in the next month and fill out not long after that. I'll be sure to post some current shots soon.

Zosia on the trail at Griffith Park.

Zosh is absolutely amazing. For the first month of her stay here I really thought she was going to do us in with her insane energy levels and teething. Then when we went to Boston for the holidays she had an incredible transformation and somehow became the perfect dog. She fit in well with my in-laws' pack of three dogs and one cat, and she was wonderful with my nephew and nieces as well. The baby could crawl over her and take her toys without concern. Zosh is also an amazingly fast learner and has picked up commands and hand-signals quickly. If anything, we have to be careful of what we teach her, because if you slip and show her something naughty once, she remembers it and will repeat it in the same situation. She's become a member of the family, and I know if our sweet Caia were here she'd love her.

P.S. Thanks to Tola for the sweet comment on Marnie's blog. If you've read me for long you'll know that I take unannounced months off almost every year in the winter or spring as sunlight wanes, but I'm always back eventually. I couldn't miss my community of knitters for too long.

Posted by Julia at January 23, 2007 12:45 PM
In main | marseilles pullover | zosia

Comments

Marseilles is looking great! And I'm glad Zosia is fitting in to the family so well. :-)

Posted by: Kat with a K at January 31, 2007 11:34 AM

Phew! I was worried, figured I'd give you till the end of the month and then send you a personal email. So glad you're back and now I know that next year you'll take some time off. I can certainly understand. You give so much thought, time and energy to this blog.

Welcome back. I so happy that zosh is bringing you such joy.
Happy New Year!

sandy

Posted by: Sandy at January 30, 2007 03:02 PM

I'm glad you're back! Thank you so much for all the help you gave me when I was looking for a wheel. I bought a Rose and absolutely love it/him/her (no name yet)!!! I really appreciate the time you took to answer my many questions. :o)

P.S. The sweater looks GREAT!

Posted by: elizabeth at January 29, 2007 03:06 PM

Happy to see you're back, Julia! Marseilles is looking great and I love the pink color!
Zosia looks so lovely and cutie.

Posted by: Maartje at January 28, 2007 08:58 AM

so good to read ya again :)

Posted by: Moni at January 25, 2007 02:16 PM

Welcome back! What a wonderful transformation Zosia went through!

Posted by: Monica at January 25, 2007 02:13 PM

Happy to see you're back. And so productive! Zosia looks like such a cutie.

Posted by: Amy Boogie at January 25, 2007 11:46 AM

I saw that you vacationed in OBX last fall. My sister lives down there, (Kill Devil Hills), and I absolutely love it -- I go as frequently as I possibly can. Do you live in the mid-Atlantic region? I'm in Richmond, myself. So glad that your new pup is working out. That pullover is going to be gorgeous!

Posted by: Mary at January 25, 2007 09:16 AM

zosia is so cute. i'm so glad to see you posting again! the sweater is looking very beautiful.

Posted by: blossom at January 25, 2007 06:44 AM

Glad to see you back, with your fabulous knitting and lovely pictures. Love the sweater.

Posted by: Rae at January 25, 2007 06:07 AM

Glad you are back! The sweater looks great! Thanks for talking about the different weights of yarn, and it still knitting up well. I will add it to my swatch pile for some aran weight periwinkle yarn I am eager to cable.

Zosia is adorable. I'm glad she is doing so well.

Posted by: Brenda at January 24, 2007 05:39 PM

Yay, you are back! Can't wait for more Rose-themed posts, as now I have my own Rose and am trying to become a better spinner...

Posted by: mia at January 24, 2007 02:07 PM

SO glad youre back! ive missed reading.
XO

Posted by: Tola at January 24, 2007 01:57 PM

so glad you are back. it is a treat to see your pup growing up and it looks as if she is happy. hope we hear from you more often now. happy new year.

Posted by: mamie at January 24, 2007 12:16 PM

Hey, it seems that the last time I posted was the same day in November that you did. Sometimes doing other things just happens. You have inspired me, maybe after my run I will sit down and post a little post. Good to see you back.

Posted by: Teresa C at January 24, 2007 12:08 PM

What a lovely treat for the day--finding a new post from Julia filled with beautiful knitting, a beautiful dog, and a beautiful writing voice that has been missed recently. Happy New Year to you and your family :)

Posted by: kodachrome at January 24, 2007 11:45 AM

I was reading about your cables with interest, but all the while, I must admit that I was secretly wishing for a pupster picture..........she has such a gorgeous face! Welcome back. You were missed.

Posted by: christine at January 24, 2007 11:17 AM

I've been thinking about you for the past couple of weeks, knowing that you take extended times off from blogging, and was so excited to see that you've posted! Marseilles looks like fun, and Zosh is such a sweetie. I'm glad to see you back.

Posted by: Leslie at January 24, 2007 10:19 AM

yay, a Julia post! Zosia is the most adorable pup. Marseilles is gong to look great on you, that warm pink, those cables... they are SO Julia!

Posted by: Mary-Heather at January 24, 2007 09:31 AM

The sweater looks great and the photos of the cables are lovely.

Posted by: AmyP at January 24, 2007 07:53 AM

So nice to see you back! Your Marseilles is so inspiring. You're absolutely right about the different yarns and colors. Sometimes, it's easy for me to forget that knitted fabric really is that flexible and I can play with drape, hand (and duh, color) but wow! what a reminder. Thanks for the kickstart. I may have a Marseilles in my future...

Posted by: Elspeth at January 24, 2007 07:08 AM

I was so excited to see a new post from you! Welcome back...Your sweater looks wonderful and Zosia is absolutely adorable!

Posted by: Mandy at January 24, 2007 07:00 AM

welcome back julia!

Posted by: loriz at January 24, 2007 06:37 AM

Glad that you are back. I was getting worried.

Posted by: britt at January 24, 2007 05:46 AM

just saying hi, can't wait to see the completed sweater.

Posted by: Orli at January 24, 2007 12:26 AM

hey there ;) you sound like you've been busy. those cables are lovely. so very satisfying to knit, i bet.

zosia is just gorgeous - i love the gangly phase, full of tangled limbs, tongue hanging out, mischievous glints in the eye.. too cute ;)

miss you julia!

Posted by: andrea at January 23, 2007 11:21 PM

So good to read an entry. Zosh is a beauty -- so glad that you are enjoying her. You'll have to give us a spinning update, okay.

Posted by: Kathy at January 23, 2007 08:27 PM

I was so pleased when mind of winter lit up. I, like everyone else, have been missing you.

And Zosia is adorable.

Posted by: Donna at January 23, 2007 07:06 PM

I've been missing your "voice". Welcome back!

Posted by: Laura at January 23, 2007 06:28 PM

Zosia is way too cute - I love that spunky girl! I know you take a breather every once in a while...it's nice to have you back! I haven't been knitting much myself lately, but I'm getting back into it, too. I wish I had something as cabley as Marseilles to work on- it looks amazing! When are we going on our b-day date? ;)

Posted by: Nonnahs at January 23, 2007 03:53 PM

Nice to see you back again!

Posted by: Elli at January 23, 2007 02:58 PM

Zosh is a doll! And Cashsoft DK - yummmmy.

Posted by: Jennie at January 23, 2007 02:16 PM

welcome back miss mind of winter. we missed you! your sweater looks comforting and cozy.

Posted by: kat coyle at January 23, 2007 02:13 PM

Welcome back! Both Zosia and the sweater look beautiful.

Posted by: ami at January 23, 2007 02:01 PM

I've been thinking about you and am so glad to hear from you again! Thanks for the update!

Posted by: Cara at January 23, 2007 01:29 PM

It's so good to have you back! The sweater is beautiful and I love the color. Zosia is doll...what a wonderful companion.

Posted by: margene at January 23, 2007 01:22 PM

Howdy! So good to see a post; literally, I took a chance and here you are! The pup is cute and I cannot wait to see the FO, perhaps in person at some point.

Big smiles from Cleveland!

Posted by: Jen. at January 23, 2007 01:09 PM

Welcome back! Zo looks so content. I wish our girls could go hiking together. I guess that's one thing I really regret about moving; the girls can't play together whenever they want (and yes, I mean both the 2 and 4 legged girls)

Marseilles is looking great. It seems like it'll really suit your personality and style as well. And heck, it'll be something relatively warm to pack when you come visit me in Portland.

Posted by: Marnie at January 23, 2007 12:56 PM