I love autumn. Although it's starting to get cooler and you start losing the daylight, it's also harvest time. Every gardener loves harvest time. All that time and energy spent for the past few months, means you can start reaping some benefit.
Now, I have always grown lavender since I have lived in the UK. I love the scent, the grey/green follage that stays all through the year, how low maintenance they are and how you can continue to enjoy the plant even after it's finished flowering. Harvesting from a lavender is something that I have always thought about but never did, until this year. My inspiration to do this, comes from Alpaca Woman, who grows the most delicious lavender and even shared some of the dried potpourri with me.
Lavender is supposed to help you sleep and in little sachets, it's great for discouraging moths. You can hang them up to dry, tied in rubber bands or alternatively, you can strip them and lay them out to dry in a warm area like the heating closet.
The best time to harvest them is when the dew is dry and before the sun comes out and dissipates the oils. Are you serious? I braved the bugs* only after breakfast to get my stalks.
Midwest Moonlight
I blame these stitch ya neck out gals, because I couldn't stand it anymore... I've started another project and a scarf, no less. Now, I would never had started this if Purly Whites hadn't finished hers and it is just simply gorgeous.
But man, don't you just love this pattern?
I'm doing this in a skein of silk that was given to me ages ago. I don't know the manufacturer, the weight or tension, but I just LOVE this colour. It's very soft and the scarf is going to be very light. I think that this would soften up even more after a wash and a block. I'm having a terrible time, keeping the edges straight and tidy. At the moment, I'm saying a prayer to the knitting goddess that blocking is going to solve all my problems.
* NB: I would be knitting now, except that I must have accidentally transported spider into the house with the lavender stems and at the moment, it's dangling over my knitting. So until the spider either relocates or the husband relocates the spider, I'm staying put .. in a different room!
Your Midwest Moonlight is certainly lovely! It made me remember that I have a half completed one behind my bed that I need to finish off!
Posted by: lynne at September 24, 2005 04:50 PMI, too, would love to know the source of that lovely pattern, please.
I try to move spiders out of the house, but if I can't, I go ahead and kill them.
Posted by: Vicki at September 22, 2005 03:16 PMThanks for the lovely lavendar tips. I didn't know lavendar discourages moths. how lovely.
Posted by: kathy b at September 21, 2005 02:51 PMWow - nice scarf! so delicate looking.
And I do need to make one extra cheeky comment - I've seen bigger butts on supermodels!
Braving the bugs for a wonderful harvest...Love the lavender. Beautiful silk scarf!
Posted by: eyeleen at September 20, 2005 02:56 AMThat scarf is absolutely beatiful! I have the strangest urge to try and make one for myself now.
Of course, that gets added to the List of Things to Knit Once All my Current Projects are Done.
I need a shoter list name.
Posted by: Winter at September 20, 2005 02:33 AMHave you ever tried making lavender wands? They are so elegant. I had 5 or 6 that lasted a long time...
Posted by: MJ at September 19, 2005 11:23 PMLove the lavendar! We have a tiny plant outside and the flowers are all dried out already... I guess I can pick those this year and do some baggies too! I love that pattern.. I need to finally buy the book so I can start making all those wonderful patterns! I also do love the color you chose :)
Posted by: Dani at September 19, 2005 08:59 PMI am strong for killing spiders. Do it all the time. Just bash the SOBs. Their bites are too painful for me to feel bad about killing them.
Love the midwest moonlight.
Your photographer obviously has a good eye. xoxox Kay
Posted by: Kay at September 19, 2005 06:28 PMI can't go in a room if I know there's a spider in there, either. Unless I arm myself with the vacuum cleaner, that is. If they dare to invade my home, I show them no mercy!
Midwest Moonlight never really appealed to me until now. But your close-up photo made me say "Oh yeah, now I get it." :-)
Posted by: Beth S. at September 19, 2005 04:11 PMI can practically smell the lavender through my monitor.
I do love that pattern, it's very unique.
Posted by: Rebekah at September 19, 2005 03:52 PMVery pretty, very Fall!
Posted by: Mary Beth at September 19, 2005 01:33 PMI counted up how many projects I have done this year, and felt quite pleased with myself as it was 3x what I achieved last year. But you, Miss P, I do not know how you do it! The scarf is beautiful and I love the colour. Shout if you think it needs a good home....
Sarah x
Posted by: Sarah at September 19, 2005 01:10 PM'it took me all night to do 7 repeats' - see, I SAID you never went to bed.....how can you do it so quickly.....
Posted by: Jill at September 18, 2005 10:23 PMCool scarf - what neat patterning!
I made lavender wands from my plants this year, so I can keep my hankies smelling nice. :) Now that I finally learned not to cut it back every fall, it's growing like mad here. Love it!
Posted by: Stasia at September 18, 2005 10:21 PMyou are knitting more like wendy everyday! that scarf looks lovely!
Posted by: jacqueline at September 18, 2005 10:04 PMLooks lovely - when the *** did you find time to knit that? Do you actually knit in your sleep? Send good vibes my way, I am about to start sewing in the ends for the sweater in time for it to be our anniversary present! Ax
Posted by: Amelia at September 18, 2005 08:15 PMMmmmmm !!! I can almost smell that Lavender!
When on earth did you whip up that scarf then?
Your scarf is so beautiful! It looks so much better than the picture in the book (Scarf Style). Honestly, I did not give it a second look when I saw it in the book, but after seeing this post, I went and looked it up and I think I have to make it. Great job!
Posted by: KT at September 18, 2005 06:39 PMThat pattern looks like a variant of the Garter Stitch Lace pattern, done in blocks instead of all-over.
Posted by: Thomas at September 18, 2005 06:36 PMThe tumbling ladder pattern is beautiful as a lacy scarf. May I ask the source of it?
Posted by: Lavender at September 18, 2005 06:26 PMYikes ... spider! You should be more careful next time ... good luck with the fast relocation of the spider!
I like the colour of your scarf too ... at least the colour I see on my screen! ;)
My Kiri is finished and boy it is beautiful. I hope my MIL would like it too!
The more I look at this pattern, the more I like it! You are doing a beautiful job. What is the source of the pattern?
Posted by: Dianna at September 18, 2005 04:07 PMYes, it *is* a great pattern.
Posted by: Colleen at September 18, 2005 03:33 PM