A Pattern Phase

Seems I'm going through a pattern phase these days. It has been a relaxing, creative summer with time to focus on the patterns in my work.  There are days I look around and BAM there is a pattern that speaks to me.
I am not one to have only one project in the works-for me it is the more the merrier.  I'm making real progress on my cashmere shawlette-this is a cable & lace pattern with simple garter stitich, designed by Anne Hanson. Can't wait to wrap myself in this baby on chilly days.

I'm also working on another project with a simple pattern. This is a black baby alpaca scarf. A gift for a very special person, who happens to be very tall therefore lots of knitting, but the pattern keeps my interest.

The other day I was working in the kitchen and picked up one of my favorite pot holders-a gift from my daughter. It is a handwoven piece that she bought from one of the weavers in her weaving guild when she was living in California. Love this pattern-kind of reminds me of the black alpaca scarf.

One of my favorite knitting stitches is the stockinette stitch-knit one row/purl one row. I've made many  hand knit sweaters with that stitch. I'm close to finishing a project with that stitch using some beautiful yarn from the Hudson Valley.

This past week I had "patterns" on my mind and noticed that my stockinette stitch pattern was lurking in several places:

Our ceramic lamp-

And the old tractor tire at our CSA-

Patterns can really get into your head-especially if you're a knitter. Last week we were in the Adirondacks and went on a canoe ride -and yes, I had patterns on my mind. My favorite was the pattern made by the long grassy weeds in the river that we canoed over.

I checked out the definition of "pattern" in the dictionary and I like this one:" a style of marking of natural or chance origin".

As I sit here looking out at the patterns of nature in our woods, I chuckle at the pile of patterned fabric on the wooden table-waiting to be created with. Oh what project should I start now????