Pumpkin Sunrise

  I've got three projects going on at the same time and they each fill a niche in my life. First off is the Grandson's Christmas sweater that is almost done. I love how this is turning out and those sleeves are speedy knitting. I am thrilled to be working on December gifts so early in the year.  Next up is this seashell shawl that is my tv knitting or talking knitting. I can do both at the same time and not make a mistake. I love picking this us and knitting on it, it feels so very soft. Last but not least is this blue pullover sweater for me that is using up some gift yarn from my sister. One of her clients was decluttering her stash and so I inherited this yarn. This project is also a multitasking project. The yarn is a bit rough compared to the above shawl. I also do not know if I have enough yarn for the sweater - you know I love a bit of mystery while knitting. I figure once I use up one entire skein, I will have a sense of whether I have enough yarn or not. Also I can

  I finished this shawl last weekend and once it was off the needles I started another one because I loved the mindlessness of this simple pattern. I did not aggressively block the shawl but I probably could have to make the eyelets pop a bit more.  This pattern is so easy to memorize and it's the kind of pattern you can talk and knit (at the same time!) and not make a mistake.  The wool is MadelineTosh Merino Light, which is a lovely soft fingering weight, but lately I've not been a fan of single-ply because of the slight fuzz that appears and the increased chance of the yarn spitting while knitting with it (I used to be okay with this 5-10 years ago). This skein has been in deep stash for quite a while so I enjoyed knitting up the shawl and using every inch of the wool! Ravelry notes What are you working on this week?

  Buckle up! I've got lots of knitting to show you this week. First up are these quick and easy wash clothes I whipped up as a little gift. I used left over worsted weight cotton and enjoyed immensely how fast they knitted up. Wash clothes are the palate cleanser of knitting for when you finish a big project (the never ending blanket) and want something that is instant gratification. I stared a gift cowl in one left over skein from my sister's sweater. This is knitting up fast!! And finally a much better photo of the shawl I am currently knitting that has eyelet rows galore. I know when this is blocked this will look fantastic. I rather enjoy the knitting (reminds me of the hitchhiker pattern - addictive) and I have another skein of variegated wool wound up and ready to cast on maybe when I finish this one or maybe before I finish this one. I'm in a 'cast on' mood. What are you working on this week?

  As promised, here are the photos of the never-ending blanket that has ended! I need a ticker tape parade (hopefully you all know what that is). I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the blanket and the middle was taking forever. I am taking a break from blanket knitting until the fall. The yarn is wool-ease which is hard on my hands. The pattern is Old Faithful - feather and fan stitch which I've mentioned before reminds me of my mother who loved this pattern and made this as baby blankets for many babies in her lifetime. Ravelry notes What are you working on this week?

  Well I finished yet another baby cardigan this week. This one is another gift for a friend's baby-to-be. I believe I'm done with the baby gift knitting for now! The yarn is greener in real life and I'm pleased with the way this cardigan turned out. What have you been working on this week?

  Good morning! Today is going to be a beautiful day and hopefully I will be sitting outside this afternoon on the back patio making the most of it before the rain returns once more. Sigh.  I finished the baby sweater ! It's the same pattern I knit over and over again. I am starting another one for another friend's baby to be. After that I will be taking a break from baby making things until mid to late summer when I start knitting for my grandson. What are you working on this week?

  This weekend was a stay at home do nothing weekend and it was glorious. I will not talk about the snowflakes I witnessed yesterday morning, instead I will focus on all the daffodils blooming and the possible tulips that are trying their best to survive whatever is eating them (deer? rabbit?). Spring is arriving and I'm patient enough to wait for it. I managed to really really clean the house. The dusting and the vacuuming that I love to procrastinate on until it's unbearable is completed until the next time. The house looks so tidy!  I worked on the baby sweater and am nearly ready to cast on one more baby sweater for another gift. Also, I dusted off my paint set and did a little sketch. In between I marathon read some books and abandoned one book which was liberating! How was your weekend?

  Well well well. I finished this gift cowl over the weekend. I am thrilled with the color striping and the fact that I barely made it with the gray and white yarns. I used the same three skeins from the first cowl here  changing the order of the yarns used. There is nothing as exciting as winning at the yarn chicken game. If you look closely, I did have to stripe the lacy section to officially make the gray yarn last. What are you working on this week?

  Hello! Believe it or not  I have started a new project this past week. I have a few friends that in their family they are expecting some babies.  As you know I like to knit new babies a simple cardigan. (According to Ravelry this sweater is number thirteen!) I've knit this pattern so much it's sort of memorized and my print out is tattered.  What are you working on this week?

  I finished two hats early in January. The first one is the huskadoo hat  which turned out lovely when it comes to stitch definition. If I made this one again I would go up a needle size since my knitting gets tighter whenever I work with cable patterns. A lovely pattern and a lovely knit for a quick project! Oh and this hat is for ME. As I mentioned before I wanted to make a backup hat for the replacement hat for my son in law. I chose a muted pumpkin color for the backup to the backup hat. I hand delivered this hat while we were visiting them in Cambridge earlier this month and he loved it. What are you working on this week?

  Now that the gifts have been gifted, I can share with you my last two knitted Christmas gifts. The above headband  was for my sister. I used left over super-wash Malabrigo Arroyo wool in the hopes that the wool would not feel itchy on the forehead. I await her evaluation. The only modification I did was to add two stitches to each end of the garter stitch edges since my yarn was thinner that the pattern called for. This was a fun and quick knit! Next up was a hat for my brother in law. I enjoyed knitting this and I did the striping on the fly. I liked how it turned out and it was fun to just decide last minute where to add some color and stripes. All of the wools were left over and I knew my green was a limited amount. I'm happy to report that I did not run out of any colors, phew. What are you working on this week? Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I will be posting again on next Monday and taking some time to enjoy the holidays over the next few days.

  Good morning to you! How have you been? Are you almost ready for Christmas? Around here it's been a little full in the days with running around but I continue to find my pockets of peace whenever I sit down and knit. I'm grateful for that always. The house is decorated and most of the shopping is done. I finished my Christmas gift knitting (yay). I saw my new rheumatologist again earlier this week - I adore her immensely, she is kind, funny and oh so knowledgeable. After a multitude of blood tests and asking questions I've never ever been asked before by any of my previous arthritis doctors (the questions were long and mighty), she has diagnosed me with Sjogren's Syndrome . I first presented arthritis symptoms in 1997 but was never in a specific category. I was told back then I did mostly rheumatoid arthritis and a little bit of lupus. Back then the blood tests weren't specific either compared to current bloodwork being done. This new doctor is switching my medici

  Good morning! How are you? Can you believe it is December 1st?? I'm thrilled to report that I've knit up another two pairs of the peekaboo mitts and I am done (well I think I am done) with the mitt knitting frenzy. There is a slim chance that I will knit one more pair for my husband but I will convert them to traditional mittens....that is still marinating in my little old brain. I did not make a new project page for these two pairs of mitts but added them to a project page for the previous mitts I made. I believe I've knit up five pairs of mitts for this holiday season. What are you working on this week?

  I finished another Christmas knitting project last week, isn't this the cutest set ever? I love them, they are for my grand-nephew. I've knit this hat a few times and love the way it comes out especially the earflaps. The construction is fun and those wee little bear ears just about kill me every time I look at them.  The mitten  pattern was recommended to me by Jane a few years ago and it is super easy and comes in a large range of sizes. Thank you Jane! Thank you all for the birthday wishes, I had a great birthday celebration. Just a note that I will not be posting on Friday, I'm taking the day off to be with family. So Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who are celebrating! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How was your weekend? My weekend was my birthday weekend!  To be honest though I've been celebrating for a few weeks. Why not? My sister and brother in law came over on Saturday for dinner and apple cake. Of course I opened presents as well.  Below in the photo are some of them. My sister crocheted the red basket and I received some books and pens from my husband (how did he know??). I also received some new rain boots to slip on and off quickly when I take the dog outside and a new tote bag.  I put up the little tree yesterday since our son and and daughter in law will be visiting mid week! I'm assuming Holly will not bring it down, fingers crossed. How was your weekend?

  I started this little wee hat and finished it within 48 hours - now that is a fun satisfying knit. This bonnet is for the grandbaby-to-be and it matches the little sweater that I knit a few weeks ago.  I finished another set of fingerless mitts to be given as a Christmas gift. I have the pattern memorized in my brain so that gives for even speedier knitting. I definitely have one more pair to make - possibly a few more after that if I haven't burned out from making them. What are you working on this week?

 I know, I know you all are just stunned that I am finishing so many holiday knits. I've finished two pairs of mitts for my daughter and son in law for Christmas. This mitt pattern ( peekaboo mitts ) is a very fast knit and I've already started the third pair as I type this post up this morning. After the manic mitt knitting I intend to switch to hat knitting (also speedy knitting). What are you working on this week?

  This cowl is really sweet! I found the pattern  while noodling around on Ravelry and thought it would be a perfect present for gift giving. If I were to knit this again I would go up a needles size because my knitting is slightly tighter than average. (I did not do gauge, I like to fly by the seat of my pants). Blocking the cowl really makes the mini cabling pop! As you know I 'm knee deep in Christmas knitting, and so far I am motivated and enjoying each project which is a really good place to be. What are you working on this week?

  I started two new projects this weekend. First off is a smaller baby blanket for the grandbaby-to-be in a soft gray cotton yarn. I'm not sure I have enough yarn but I think I can rejigger the pattern to accommodate my 10 yards missing, wish me luck! My other new project is a cowl for a Christmas gift, let's hope I finish this by Thanksgiving because that is when I am gifting it, ha. The yarn is from stash and the pattern has a simple cable design that I thought looked nice. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning, how are you this fine Wednesday morning?  My knitting has expanded a wee bit with a sweet little baby cardigan for a friend's first grandchild. I do love this yarn and I over-bought on the yellow, it's always better to have too much than too little. I like to make the February Baby sweater by Elizabeth Zimmermann - a true classic! I omit the gull stitch pattern for the body and just zip along in knitting bliss. Apparently this is the eleventh time I've knitted this sweater on Ravelry. What are you working on this week?