tryst

or the story of a few skeins of some discontinued Bainin.

When Littlest was in grade seven, I volunteered after school helping to start up a knitting club. The teacher had a bag of donated yarn to use and we started the first meeting by making knitting needles. 

While the kids glued beads on top of their homemade needles I had a look through the yarn bag. I think the teacher saw my jaw drop a few inches when I pulled a few skeins of Alice Starmore Bainin out from the expected bargain basement acrylic and held it up.

"Who donated these?" I asked.

"I have no idea. This bag has been kicking around for a while."

I looked through for more treasures, keeping the Bainin close at hand.

"Would you like it? That yarn you haven't released from your iron grip you're holding?"

The teacher was a beginner knitter and wasn't acquainted with the quality of some wool versus others. I wasn't going to inform her either, at least not at this moment. (Okay, I confess I did tell her about it but she remained unimpressed.)

She shrugged, "Take it"

So the Bainin ended up in my knitting bag and waited there for the right pattern for a few more years. It was clearly earmarked for a hat/scarf combo yardage-wise but it is not particularly soft until it has been washed several times and who wants a scratchy scarf?

So finally,

it became the Tryst Cropped Vest.

Normally I don't go near cropped patterns because I usually have to add a few inches to regular patterns - most are cropped on me. But something about this one stuck. I feel very Jane Austen in it (jeans not withstanding)

It is such a beautiful warm day for November that for once I am not freezing my toes taking photos outside.

Mother Nature has already brought us a little of this, for the first time this year.

Snow. So these days are not to be missed by staying indoors.

It was my wedding anniversary yesterday. I remember 23 years ago it was similarly warm. I had made a special off-white jacket to wear with my dress for outdoor photos and I didn't need it at all.

Well, off to the woods to gather more kindling to prepare for the cold, which is inevitably riding the heels of this unseasonably warm treat. One can never have enough vests or kindling.

Comments

[lynne]

LOVE IT! Merry Christmas, Elizabeth! I'm off all next week...we should try to get together in your country or in mine!

[daysgoby]

Hope you are well, and ready for Christmas!

[Lisa]

Helloooo:
I guess you have been busy. The cropped vest is divine btw. What a stunning colour!

I am having difficulty finding those biscuits you put me on to, the Chocolate Rounds from Sobeys/IGA/Price Chopper? I cannot find them anywhere. Have you seen them lately?

Hope your holiday planning is going well.

Lisa xx

[Vicki]

Wow, wonderful score. I love that. Love what you did with it, too!

[Cathy]

Hello Elizabeth
I can imagine all the thoughts going through your head as you held on to the yarn - do I tell her, don't I tell her lol
I do like the look of the cropped waistcoat/vest you are wearing - when I have a bit more time I'll have to look for it on Ravelry. Looks good on you:)
Came to you via gills blog - will be back soon for a longer browse
Take care
Cathy

[Gill]

a belated Happy Anniversary to you and your dh. I love your cropped vest.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Gill

[Norma]

SCORE! and you did the perfect thing with it. I stay away from cropped patterns, too, but this one, the way you are wearing it -- WOW. Nicely done.

[Rebecca]

and I forgot to add my belated anniversary good wishes, 23 years is a huge achievement and where oh where does the time go?

[Rebecca]

Oh it's lovely Elizabeth the cropped style is perfect the way you are wearing it and what a great story. I would have been similarly excited by such a treasure of a find.