Starting on the Spring Trail

Spring is just around the corner, and I realized at the beginning of March that I haven’t even started the next hat in my Trail series!  The Spring Trail Hat is due on the first day of spring:  March 20th.  Time to get started!

First, I have to pick the yarn.  I’ve had my eye on the green tonal Manos del Uruguay Maxima for a while for this hat.  I wanted a soft gray for the trail, and then had an idea to incorporate crabapple blossoms somehow.  Now, though, I’m looking out at the snow falling and realizing that I’ve missed one of the most amazing parts of our spring season – all the snow!

Spring in the Yampa Valley means snow and mud and light greens from those early leaves and soft grays from the little caterpillar-like fronds hanging from the aspens before their leaves come out.  By late May, the crabapples begin to blossom and pinks are added to our landscape and eventually the entire of Lincoln is covered with a snowdrift of white and pink petals as they fall from the branches to make way for the brightly green leaves.  However, we can still get snow until late June.  I’ve even lost veggies from my garden from snow on the fourth of July.

So, this is my inspiration, and now to choose the yarn for the hat.  I plunged into Sew Steamboat and began to search.

Spring Trail Hat Yarn

So there was the green tonal Maxima, but was stumped for a choice for the grey.  I wanted a soft grey, about half the weight of the Maxima so it could easily be worked back and forth without making a bulge.  I finally found what I wanted in a skein of the WZ-Felt Rambouillet Lopi.  It’s light enough to evoke both the soft grey of the aspens on the hillside and the color of the snow about a half-hour after it stops snowing.  I still haven’t completely decided if I want to add a third yarn to really bring the bright flowers of spring into the mix, but I’ve picked the bright candy-colored variegate Maxima that I already have in my stash.

And what other things can I do to make this hat say spring?  I want it to speak of the promise of leaves and flowers, so using a lace pattern would be a great way to go.  Lace, with its negative space, can show the promise of leaves while not actually showing leaves.  The promise of a flower while holding that space open for the flower to appear.  Those holes that lace creates also allows a little more venting for a more comfy hat to wear while we live through these chilly to warm and back to chilly spring days.  Plus, knitting lace with a larger yarn is fun!  I dove into my stitch dictionaries to find a pattern.

Dolce helps me find a good stitch pattern.

I love the idea of branching out from the Autumn Trail and moving in a different way to evoke spring for the Spring Trail Hat.  As I have moved throughout the year, I’ve been amazed at how the pattern has evolved.  Next week, we should have a new one!

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The Knitting Week in Steamboat

Learn to Knit – Thursday 4-6pm – Sew Steamboat:  Learn how to knit, purl, cast on, bind off, increase and decrease – all the tools necessary to make a pair of fingerless mitts and a hat!  Week 3 of 3.  Cost is $75.  Call Sew Steamboat at 879-3222 for more information and to make a reservation.

Sit ‘n Stitch – Friday, 4-6pm – Sew Steamboat: Mariana and Gayle create a fabulous atmosphere for conversing, learning and needlework of all sorts, so come on down and join us!

Yarn It! – Saturday, 10am-12n – Mountain Brew:  Come on down to Mountain Brew for a yummy beverage and tasty treat while knitting and chatting!

Moebius Technique – Saturday 3-5pm – Sew Steamboat:  We often talk about joining in the round being careful not to twist. Now, learn how to make the twist work for you with this cool technique to place a half-twist into your knitting!  Cost is $25.  Call Sew Steamboat at 879-3222 for more information and to make a reservation.

Knitting at the College – Monday, 1-3pm – Bristol Hall 2nd Floor Lounge at CMC: Join these fun folks to knit and laugh and have a good ol’ time. I swear, I’m going to make it someday….

Learn to Knit – Monday 5-7pm – Sew Steamboat:  Learn how to knit, purl, cast on, bind off, increase and decrease – all the tools necessary to make a pair of fingerless mitts and a hat!  Week 2 of 3.  Cost is $75.  Call Sew Steamboat at 879-3222 for more information and to make a reservation.

Beaded Lace Cowl – Tuesday 5-7pm – Sew Steamboat:  Class 2 of 3. Dip your toe into beauty with this beginning lace project. We’ll learn about knitting lace and inserting beads into your knitting. Yummy!  Cost is $75.  Call Sew Steamboat at 879-3222 for more information and to make a reservation.

Knitting Group – Tuesday 6pm – Yampa Public Library, 310 Main St., Yampa:  All levels are welcome. Bring yarn and knitting needles. For more information call 970-638-4654.

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At this time of year, a cowl never goes amiss, and the Moebius technique is a great way to play with the form.  Create your own infinity scarf for an elegant accessory any time of year!  My Moebius Workshop is on Saturday afternoon, and we’ll be having a great time doing the half-twist!

The elegant Arrow Lace Pathways scarf

Knit on!