Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Lush Life

Through no merit of my own, I've been sprawled in the lap of luxury for the past several days. This is one of those spa hotels where the spa is a real spa, not a couple of beige, palm-infested rooms containing a second-rate manicurist and a broken jacuzzi.

The service is polite, prompt, and discreet. The food is excellent. There's an art gallery, a meditation garden, and the floral arrangements are superb.

lobby-flowers

The lounge affords a table–I'm sitting at it right now–that's the perfect size and height for work, with a view of the terrace and the little lake.

It would be paradise enow if it weren't for some of the other guests.

Most days I've been surrounded at this table by Ladies Who Lunch, though to be perfectly accurate I should write Ladies Who Drink. Another vodka stinger? Oh, Mister Sondheim–truly, you have no idea. You could float the Queen Mary on the joy juice this lot runs through before noon.

Just now I was unwillingly privy to a trio who were discussing the reasons an applicant to their garden club–newly arrived from another state–would not be admitted. Her sins included wearing the wrong shoes to a party, and using the Latin names for flowers when the conversation turned to gardening.

I'm a raging capitalist, yet I keep drawing little guillotines in the margins of my notebook.

Nevertheless, work progresses. I'm not here to drink and gossip, I'm hear to do what I usually do in the workroom and the coffee shop in a room with live plants, a harpist who takes requests, and what I'm pretty sure is an actual Chihuly.

The Tour de Fleece has ended, but my wrap-up for that will have to wait for my return home since that's where all the stuff is.

But the Victorian bathing drawers are here, and I've reached the point of adding the crochet edging to the leg openings. A glimpse, below.

bathing-drawers-crochet-edge

The crochet edge makes perfect sense. The design of this piece attempts in every way possible to combat the inevitable, horrid stretch that will occur when the drawers hit the water; and of course crochet stretches far less than knitting. This also helps to draw in the leg openings a bit and prevent the peekage I was worried about in the last post. Not to mention that it looks good.

Knitting and crochet: perfect together. When I wrote this for the Lion Brand blog I damn well meant it.

I've now been able to do a real fitting of the drawers, and I'll be  if they don't fit well and look rather cute.

No pictures of that just yet. And no pictures of me wearing them until the Nautical Knitting cruise. If you want to see them first, sign up to join Melissa Leapman and me in December...

38 comments:

Zenzele said...

I'd love to, but it seems to be sold out. :-(

Franklin said...

The early bird rate ($399) is sold out, but the other levels are still available ;)

Pam Sykes (aka Pretty Knitty) said...

I am sure they will be stunning! If I were a cruise kinda gal, I'd be there...with bells on even! As it is, I'll have to wait until you start showing up in the online tabloids. :) Or here...I like to see you around here, too!

Seanna Lea said...

Ladies who swim in a sea of Vodka doesn't have the same ring to it as Ladies who Lunch. Hrm. I hope you have a great time modeling your bathing drawers and that there is less wildlife to contend with than your times at Squam.

Leslie said...

I do *so* hope that you will test drive those drawers in the privacy of your own bathtub - with or without onlookers (of your choice) - before you subject the varied and sundry sensibilities of the Ladies Who Cruise to the malfunctions inherent when knit drawers get wet. Amen.

LostCityDenise said...

The flowers are lovely, and since we're forced to wait to see the bathing drawers, could you show us the Chihuly?

If you ever come to the current Capitol of Oklahoma (Guthrie was the first, which you probably already know) there is a wonderful permanent Chihuly exhibit at the OKlahoma City Museum of Art.

I hope the woman rejected by the Ladies Who Lunch does a bawdy dance when she finds out.

Erika said...

Hmm, I wonder if wool bathing trunks help prevent shrinkage?

The Foggy Knitter said...

I think you should wear the bathing draws in the spa (and possibly the lounge, your call on that one ;)

Katie said...

I'm thinking that the 'ladies who lunch' might be the perfect test audience for the bathing trunks. (Not that it sounds as though they really deserve to be first, mind you). But then, it does sound wonderful there and you might want to go back someday...

Patti said...

I'm with foggy knitter, I think the ladies who lunch slash drink need a good does of Franklin in Bathing Drawers.

Jamie Wang said...

There is an entire museum of Chihuly in Seattle (it's at the base of the Space Needle). My daughter saw it when she vacationed there earlier this month. She says it is definitely worth the admission price.

Do your best to ignore the unpleasant guests -- they sound just horrid!

Carol said...

May the lady barred from The Garden Club know that she has been blessed!

Janis said...

These things look fascinating, but honey you're going to need double-sided tape to keep from being arrested. The pattern looks more suited to women than men -- meaning folks who need a little less storage in the front.

Gawbless you for knitting them, though. You really are hardcore in the historical knitting thing. :-)

Leah said...

I believe the term you are looking for is "ladies who LUSH"

Lori said...

We have an amazing Chihully collection at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Next time you come to Columbus for TNNA you need to get over there. Easy to get to from the convention center as it is just east of downtown on E. Broad.

Carla said...

A knitting friend of mine who reads Japanese claims that the Japanese actually use the same word to denote both knitting and crochet, and have no qualms about combining the techniques in a single garment. I don't have much in the way of crochet skills, but I agree that it's a great way to put an edge on a knit garment.

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh high society. One more thing I'll never fit into ;)

Linda said...

Crochet stretches less than knitting? News to me. All those purse straps made of rug yarn that elongated down to my knees are contraindications.
Meanwhile, your spa stay sounds sybaritic.

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

Images of Lucille Bluth running through my head...

Unknown said...

SIGH! Too bad that I have to work for my vacation trips...because I so want to be on the cruise to Belize for the grand reveal!

Anonymous said...

peekage. giggle.

nice lookin' drawers, so far.

A vodka stinger could not be more wrong. A well crafted Stinger Royale is a beautiful thing.

jake

marjorie said...

The crochet edging should give some firmness around the leg openings. As would casting on and then casting off again right away. It can keep sweater neckholes from stretching all to heck, so it would probably work on the legs too. Those roses look absolutely lovely. May the Ladies who Drink end up with giant hangovers.

Unknown said...

Hard to believe there are still Ladies who Judge those impossibly meaningless things

Love the Victorian Bathing Drawers!

Florence said...

I'll just have to wait for the photos...:( Sounds like you are having a lovely time except for the lushes. :)

LisaRae7 said...

..."no merit of your own"...?? I beg to DIFFER!!

The setting sounds lovely; the inmates, not so much. :-)

Gail said...

Ah, but what if one of the ladies was Elaine Stritch?
( or La Lupone who did justice to the song ...)

JoAnn said...

Note for Susan Strong (above) -
There ARE no "Ladies who Judge those impossibly meaningless things", just small-minded women.

Jennyanydots21 said...

Re: the commenter who said that the words for "knitting" and "crochet" are the same in Japanese - I bought a set of tiny crochet needles in a Japanese department store called Daiso (which is amazing for bits and bobs), and the packaging cheerfully announces "You can knit smoothly with this crochet hook!" (As it transpires, I can't, but that's not the fault of the hooks!)

Kathy Put said...

Every post that references the Gentleman's Victorian Bathing Drawers has made me laugh until I cry. I have to be careful who is in the room with me so that I don't shock the delicate with my snorts of laughter. I shall be returning again and again to this saga when life smacks me upside the head and my balance needs restoring.
I am so looking forward to the big reveal.

Unknown said...

Classified Sites, Pakistani Classified Sites, USA Classifieds, Indian Classifieds, Entertainment Articles, Entertainment News, Entertainment Pictures, Bollywood, Hollywood and Lollywood Pictures and Videos, Entertainment Latest updates, Hot Entertainment News and Pictures Funny Entertainment Pictures, lol Pictures, Funny Pictures and Much More Fun Only on 1 Current Affairs Network
hotcurrentaffairs.com

Unknown said...

Make Money Online is very easy now, In Internet system we have now best earning system without any work, Just Invest some Money into your Business and Make Perfect Life time Earnings with this Business.
Join Now for Make Perfect Business and Earn Money online from home.
www.hotfxearnings.com

Unknown said...

Latest cars and vehicles, Latest Mazda Models, Racing Cars, International Sport Cars, Concept Cars, PS-Pod, Strange Vehicles, Nissan, Royce Corniche, Ford Concept Cars, Strange Vehicles, Mercedes and More Sport Cars and Vehicles with Pictures and Info
WorldLatestVehicles.blogspot.com

perkedel kentang said...

what a good design

Gambar Rumah Sederhana Type 36 said...

Hey nice site, simply looking round some sites, appears a a very nice theme you are using. I’m presently using Drupal for a few of my sites but seeking to switch one of them over to a platform very much like yours as a test site.

Accreditation GED Online said...

The information you shared through your post is functional. Look, I've just found some useful info at"

High School Diploma Online said...

Good post i have got here thanks a lot.

juegos de terror said...

Great post.
---
play game jogos online online and play game unblockedgames

Contoh Desain Plafon Minimalis 2018 said...

Just wish to say your article is as amazing. The clarity on your submit is just great and that i could assume you are a professional on this subject. Well together with your permission allow me to snatch your feed to stay up to date with drawing close post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the gratifying work.