Pumpkin Sunrise

  I finished this l ovely cowl a few days ago and finally it's dry enough to give the project a proper photo shoot. If you haven't knit this heartwarmer pattern yet you should, it's fun. I did not change needles sizes for the different stitch patterns - I used size four throughout. I blocked this cowl to be wider than longer hoping there would be less 'bulk' around my neck.  I highly recommend this pattern and the wool, Knit Picks Twill was wonderful to work with! I have one and a half skeins left over for maybe a hat or a pair of mitts, how lucky am I? What are you working on this week?

  I think my computer is possessed by the devil. It's been a bumpy start to doing this blog post but I believe I am over the bump. You know it's bumpy when you think you might need to buy a new computer... How was your week? I've been doing lots and lots of reading both fiction and non-fiction. I'm enjoying the mixture of both, but I'd like to finish a book or two this weekend. The reading list so far: Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach Bury Me at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown (highly recommend!) Carry Me Home by Sandra Kring I just borrowed Tradition by Jericho Brown and hope to read it this weekend. My knitting has been slow and easy. I've been knitting in the evenings while watching some TV programs. During the day, I've been writing my daily haikus and sketching. Also I've been doing lots and lots of journalling.  I'm writing more - I guess reflective personal essays for myself. I'm in a reflective mood I guess. I continue to meditate twice a d

  Good morning! How are all of you? The weather has been snowy and so I've been knitting up a storm. First off is my fair isle hat that I have not worked on lately. I wanted to document with a photo and maybe it will spur me on to picking it up and working on it. Next project is my lovely cowl . I love working on this because the wool is squishy and soft. The color is one of my favorites to wear and I'm eager to get this done. However, I am enjoying the savoring of each delightful stitch. Last but not least is my new fair isle sweater that took four cast ons to get right. I am loving how the colors play together and every evening I am knitting away thinking 'just one more row'. It's a delightful headspace to be in. What are you working on?

Over the weekend I finished this cowl and since then I've been wearing it.  A dear friend gave me this skein for Christmas and I knew I wanted to knit with a pop of color during January.  I shortened some of the sections of the cowl since I only had 300 yards out of the 500 yards required.  I love how the cowl turned out and it fits nicely. I am sure I will be knitting yet another one since this is only my second time.  The first cowl became a Christmas gift.  Someone asked if this would be a great knit for beginners.  If you know how to knit - purl - cast on and off - increase and decrease - and have skills for using youtube tutorials, I think this could be a great project for sampling different skills. Ravely notes

My chili pepper cowl is an hour or so away from being done.  I was graced with some pockets of time during babysitting to add some rows.  I'm excited to finish this and wear it! Truly I apologize for the terrible photos of my sweater .  I worked a long day yesterday (babysitting) then had an appointment after that.  Needless to say by the time I was free to photograph daylight hours were over. Imagine my sweater in purplely goodness! I am now at the part where you split the front and back hem of the body of the sweater.  I will not make the back longer than the front as per instructions.  They will be the same length. So so so excited to be ever so close to sleeve knitting!!

Good morning and hello!  I'm sitting in my kitchen looking at a beautiful snowy scene outside my window.  I'm excited to share my progress on my current knitting projects. The chili pepper cowl is coming along nicely, I eliminated the bobbles in one section because I do not have enough yarn and I don't particularly like bobbles.  So I replaced the bobbles with a simple eyelet.  I took this project to babysitting and it was perfect for picking up and putting down without too much bother. Next up is my purple sweater .  I'm about an inch away from starting the edging and the miles of endless stockinette have been wonderful for reading the Grant biography on my Kindle.  Depending on how this sweater fits, I'll be casting on another one!  My last current project is a new cast on .  I chose the Aisling Shawl  pattern that has been in my queue forever.  I like how most of the knitting is garter stitch so I can work on this project while watching TV.  I hav

I know that I said that I wanted this cowl done by Christmas Day.  Well, the knitting was done by Christmas however the blocking did not occur until after the company left.  So it goes when the house is full of guests. I am thrilled with how this cowl turned out.  This is the fifth cowl (kept one) and honestly I see a sixth one in the midst.  I like that it doubles around the neck for some warmth and using a skein of soft special fingering weight wool is a treat to myself. Ravelry notes Happy New Year!!!

How was your weekend? I have my daughter and son in law here and tonight my son and his girlfriend arrive.  Each day is plotting out meals, gleefully loading a new dishwasher.  I'm sure the novelty of a new appliance will end but for now, I am loving the clean dishes! Holly sat this morning watching the machine as it made new-to-her sounds.  My skeptical cat wasn't sure what to make of the new addition to the kitchen. Yesterday we went to Mass and then later in the early evening went out for dinner.  It's been nice having them here for the holidays.  Whenever I have a moment I sit and knit on the cowl that is almost done.  I'd love to wear it to Christmas Eve Mass if possible. The presents are wrapped and the baking is done.  I am ready for Christmas!!

I've been knitting a little bit each day on all three of my current projects.  So the progress is minimal at best but I am adding rows! My first project is the pair of socks for my husband.  I'm using a sock pattern that is memorized in my brain and is my go to cuff down traditional sock with a heel gusset.  I think it's the best fitting sock all around.  For variety I am doing a little 2x2 ribbing for two rows in between four rows of stockinette.  This is so I don't bore myself to death with a plain sock. Next up is my sweater !  Oh I feel all the feels when knitting this one.  Is it too big? Is it too small?  Currently it's just right.  All the stockinette knitting curls under and makes the sweater look smallish.  I have one more row (or two) to go and then I do the body shaping.  I love the miles of plain knitting for reading my Kindle at the same time. Last up is this cowl .  The knitting is a treat so I am taking my time and enjoying the knitt

To be honest I haven't worked on my sweater for over two weeks, but to keep the blog info current, I'm throwing in a photo.  Let's pretend I've knitted a stitch or two, okay?  If you remember, I ripped out the first try and now I'm down a garment size and starting over.  I'm nearly caught up on the big rip out though. This is hat number THREE out of four!  Yes, I'm over half way over and I work on the hats every single night.  I predict that I will be done with all four hats by the end of November.  Phew!  They will be ready for tags and wrapping and stuffed into a Christmas stocking for my adult children. This sweet cowl has seen a row or two, but not much.  I'm saving this for holiday visiting coming up because I can knit and talk at the same time and not make a mistake.  That is valuable during the holiday season. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow if you are celebrating!! What are you working on this week?

How was your weekend?  Mine was somewhat productive, overall.  I had a blissful two days at home wrapping some gifts for extended family that I will be seeing soon.  I feel like I'm on top of my game, right now. Saturday morning I witnessed a beautiful sunrise and also the moon still peeking as the day slowly started.  I will never tire of early mornings and the silence that surrounds me knowing that the whole day is ahead of me and I can do lots. Sadly, I ripped out the hat and the sweater .  Yes.  Both were too big (who does gauge???).  I am very happy with my decision and know now that I am on the right track with both projects.  In my defense the sweater is a drop shoulder design which I haven't knit in decades....so I'm going to blame my rustiness on that.  The hat, well I have no common sense when I started a large knowing full well it was a large amount of stitches to cast on for a hat in worsted weight.  I have no hat excuse. With the ever so de

Last but not least is the scrappiest of cowls.  I finished knitting this cowl over the weekend, delighted to soak, block and photograph.  I'm ready to move onto something else to knit now that this last cowl is finished.  This cowl has the most odds and ends of various skeins, yet I made it all 'go' together.  I was at my most creative self! There are three maroon, two green and three purple left over skeins of yarn in the cowl.  My scrap fingering weight yarn bag is at the lowest level ever, that means casting on something new, right? Ravelry notes

My heart is overflowing with gratitudes.  Yesterday was our 32nd wedding anniversary - I cannot believe we've been together for so long and yet it feels like yesterday we were hanging out together for the first time laughing at each other's quippy jokes.  Of course it's all blurry when the kids came and we muddled through parenting without family around to help.  My wish for my kids is to have someone like I have someone and for much laughter in their relationship. I had my annual mammogram last Wednesday and managed to not have extreme anxiety!  I calmly went and did the deed.  It was only a mere 24 hours later that I received the passing letter.  Those 24 hours were LONG and testing.  I am not a patient person at all and last year I had to have a biopsy because I switched from 2d to 3d technology.  I'm weird in that I believe I have an entire year of freedom until the next mammogram.  I'm thankful. So far it seems that summer's clutch has let go