It’s warm in London, but I’m still thinking about scarves. This one is particularly lovely (gleaned from Elle). I have some jumbo buttons I bought at Fabrications. Originally I was thinking they should go on a bulky cardi, but now I’m thinking scarf…

Another scarf gleaned from Elle. From a Max Mara ad. I’m wondering if the feathers have been inserted just for the photoshoot. I would never use feathers in my knitting, unless I gleaned them from the forest floor or something. Even then, I’m allergic. But I still love the way feathers look on garments, even if it troubles me how they got there. This scarf reminds me of a witch’s ladder I saw in the Pitt Rivers musuem– a rope stuck with feathers found in the attic of an old woman. It was said to aid in the stealing of milk and the cursing of enemies. I could use a scarf that stole (soy) milk and cursed a few people, yeah.

Gautier jumper gleaned from Elle. I’m intrigued by the panel insert here. And it’s of ingenious design– lovely and feral-goth-fey. I think I will have to knit something like it. It has a similar feel to the apocalypse blouse I knit for one of Edith Abeyta’s shows. I also like the use of angora at the sleeves and hip. I have some white angora which I don’t know what to do with. I think this cuts the potential “snow kitten” vibe rather well, especially with the asymmetry– the angora is on only one cuff. I mean, you either have to embrace the snow kitten and knit a fuzzy bikini or you have to subvert it.

I also like how this sweater is knit from the top down, with raglan increases in a tighter gauge on smaller needles (or maybe it’s also a different yarn) and then it’s picked up right over the bust and at the sleeves on bigger needles.. Or perhaps the inset is knit around, and the stitches are calculated based on the bust measurement, and knit as one big center-puckered circle which is seamed up the back. It looks like there might be a purl ridge right there before the switch. What a great idea. I am taking notes.