Pumpkin Sunrise

  The title of this post should be the 'non-knitting news'. Ha. I'm working on the same two projects ( Gray Matter Shawl and Moon River Shawl ) and my free time to knit has been quite limited this week due to all the socializing we are doing before the move. If I'm not socializing, I'm packing boxes. I want to continue showing up in this space as long as possible even if I've only added one or two rows.  What have you been working on this week?

  I have a morning routine that starts the day the best way possible for me. After pouring a cup of coffee in a favorite mug (there are many) I sit down and journal for one page, this might be about the day before or it might be about what's on my mind, it doesn't matter - I just write. Before I end my journal entry, I write what I am grateful for, usually it's the coffee in the favorite mug, the morning silence (my husband is a music listener during the day) and then always family and good health and new opportunities. Next up comes the praying. There are lots of prayers and I have a running list of who I'm praying for on a sticky note. I continue to read Magnificat and this year I read a Saint a Day.  I write a list of what I want to accomplish or what needs to be done in the next day or so in my weekly planner. I also try my best to squeeze in a meditation from the insight timer app (I highly recommend), I do meditate daily but morning time is best. Neither of the

  I've got my priorities right, there is ALWAYS room for knitting no matter how chaotic it is to be packing up a house. I look gleefully to 6 pm when I can sit and knit. So, onto the knitting update- The moon river shawl  is growing and growing. I'm enjoying this pattern and am contemplating grabbing some more left over fingering weight wools to cast on another one. Maybe. I probably should check to see if I like the shawl blocked, but as you know, blocking makes everything better and what would I not like? My second birch leaf shawl  is also making steady progress, I'll be knitting this until I run out of yarn and the skein has 880 yards (approximately). This shawl is easy for me because there are four lace rows and the wrong side rows are purling only. This knit is a pure delight! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning!  Boy oh boy did I have a time with my computer just now, what a bother. Anyways, all systems are up and running and I am ready to talk about knitting. In the midst of decluttering I still find time in my evenings to knit. I started a new shawl  project a few days ago. The left over fingering weight wool is a bit of a mystery since I didn't keep the tag with the yarn. I am enjoying this simple knitting project.  I finished the last Christmas stocking and the name has been duplicate stitched as well. I guess I'm getting better at duplicate stitch but I still despise doing it. This time I did not make any spelling errors, I felt quite proud about that. Last up is the second birch leaf shawl on the needles, I'm enjoying this soothing project and the repetitiveness of the pattern. I believe it has fantastic stitch definition this time around. What have you been working on this week?

  I'm going to be honest with you, I loved knitting this shawl and I am planning starting another one this afternoon. The ease of the pattern and the super easy memorizable directions were perfect for where I am in my attention span these days.  While knitting the bottom up triangle shawl (there is a side to side option), I fretted over how deep the triangle was, how silly.  Blocking the shawl gave plenty of width and a nice sizable lace weight shawl. The yarn I used is mystery wool, it was hand dyed by a blogging friend who lovingly gifted it to me. I know it's 100% wool and that is it. I'm thankful for the thoughtfulness and generosity. I haven't finished any projects in many months so this finished shawl made my week! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! My knitting this week is the same as last week and the week before that. However I've finished two Christmas stockings out of three total. On Mother's Day, I duplicate stitched the names on and -oh boy- did I have a time with that. Apparently I forgot how to duplicate stitch and even though I had the names charted out in front of me I continued to misspell names.  Gracious! I have big plans to make another birch leaf shawl as soon as this pink shawl is finished. I love how the pattern is memorized and I just pick up and go go go. Since I'm busy with other 'life' stuff (who isn't) I need simplicity in my knitting. What have you been working on this week?

  My knitting news isn't much since I've been exclusively knitting the same project for the past couple of weeks. That is what happens when a shawl is lace weight and on size four needles.  I love working on this shawl so much and I'm seriously contemplating another one in lace weight right after this one. This might be too much of a good thing and I might change my mind. What I like about doing another one is using up more lace weight wool in my stash and not thinking too deeply upon following a pattern since the stitch design is permanently memorized.  What are you working on this week?

  This past week I've been working on the same projects. As you can see in the above photo, I finished the first Christmas stocking and have started the second stocking. This is my zoom knitting because I do not have to think for most of it, just stockinette stitch around and around. The second project is the triangle shawl . I work on this mostly in the evenings, overall I love the pattern but the hand dyed wool tends to pool once in a while, I'm hoping that the pooling looks like a design feature. Unfortunately I was mid-row when I snapped the photo so you cannot see the triangle shape, trust me it is a triangle. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! Even though I have the mildest case of ennui with my knitting, I have been knitting faithfully on two projects and enjoying them both AND I am mulling over a third cast on in the near future just haven't decided on a pattern as of yet.  First up is the pink shawl in the above photo. This pattern is super easy to memorize (for me) and I just truck along row after row after row. There are two ways to knit the shawl - bottom up triangle (the one I chose) or an edge to edge construction.  Now about the Christmas stocking below, I wish the Past Me would have made better notes when I made these 5 years ago for my daughter and her husband and documented how much yarn I used. Sadly, the Past Me wasn't diligent. The Current Me is just hoping this takes one skein of red.  It's not a big deal at all, just something I am mulling about. I have two skeins of this red and would be pleased to get two stockings out of it. Somehow the unknown is thrilling and gives life a b

  It's only fitting to use a cat project bag for the wool that Holly nibbled on as a kitten when I was unawares she was a sneaky naughty cat. All yarns are safely tucked into progress bags or hidden into a closet.  I started a new project ! I know, I know you are wondering if I finished the sweater yet. No I did not but I am so close to being done that I could not resist a new cast on. So it goes. I chose a simply memorizable triangular lace shawl that will grow until I am done with whatever size I wish it to be.  What are you working on this week?

  I finished another project this weekend, I'm telling you - I am riding a knitting wave during these January days. This shawl was a fun knit and the kit was gifted to me by a knitting friend. The wool was delightful to knit with and because it is DK weight, the project was a fast knit. I loved the squishy wool and the speed of the knitting. The kit pattern mentioned that a few of the colors would be used up completely so of course I ran out of yarn in those two colors.  I just used other colors and solved my yarn shortage problem. I ran out of the gray and the indigo. I still think it looks pretty good and no one would know.  What are you working on this week?

  How are you and how was your weekend?  All of the photos are in reverse order because Blogger wants to vex me so.  We were crazy enough to take walks this weekend because the sun was out but holy cow was it 'brisk'. I put Frodo's little coat on under his harness. He doesn't like wearing it but I believe he was thankful for the added warmth. Isn't he just dapper?? Gosh, I love him so. Because of the mini deep freeze I'm going to make my husband a pair of mittens, of course inspired by the Bernie meme. There were a few patterns trending on Ravelry and I've chosen one. I'll take some pics later this week - I am not following the brown colors though - I'm going with a burnt yellowish green as the base. I also balled up six skeins of wool for my next sweater cast on. Stay tuned for that as well. I wore my sweater that I finished last week and it is WARM. I believe traditional wool is warmer than super-wash wool. It felt extra toasty warm during the day

  I know some of you are wishing for spring, my husband is wishing for summer! I, on the other hand, am in my winter glory. I love everything about winter. I sleep better, knit better and enjoy the days fully. Soon enough I will be yearning for some light jacket wearing but for now I am in my element.  The above photo is my art journal spread. I try to create one a week and then journal. The journalling is private but the layout is not. I used Tombow markers to create the dark gray background then used a white pen.  Yesterday I had three inches cut off the length of my hair. It was a long time coming. I kept the length for the wedding updo. Shoulder length is the best length for my hair and I am loving the cut. The sun was out and I almost was grumpy from the squinting. I caught myself and stopped the grump. Sunshine is limited in the winter! On the way home, I drove in silence just enjoying the light playing on the hills, trees and roadside buildings. I managed to pull out the noteboo

  Good morning! First knitting post of the new year - and I've been quite busy with my knitting. After a massive catching up on chores and tasks on Monday, I spent most of my Tuesday knitting which made me gloriously happy. The above photo is a new project using the shawl kit I received as a Christmas present from a knitting friend. As always changing colors and striping sequences can be addictive.  My other project that I decided to resume knitting is my languishing hat . I finished the four inch ribbing and started the fair isle portion of the pattern. I designed this hat many years ago and my chart has scant notes. This second time knitting it I'm trying to figure out what I did and write better notes. Thank goodness for Ravelry and the photos that are there of the previous hat! What are you working on this week?  Joining Ginny

  I had a busy weekend!  My nephew got married on Saturday and while they had to overhaul their wedding plans and scale down the list, we were excited to be invited and attend.  They had a lovely ceremony and reception.  My sister looked beautiful! I now am sitting in my house with a million things to do and haven't as of yet written my to do list.  It's going to be a LONG list.  In the car and when I had the free moment I worked on my nephew's baby-to-be blanket.   How was your weekend? P.S.  Yes I did make my shawl :)

  I'm thrilled to share with you the completed Wedding Shawl .  This is my favorite of all the Citron shawls I have knitted.  I loved the beads and how they clink on the table when you set the shawl down.  That is one of the most satisfying sound.  I also love how the beads add weight to the shawl. I decided against a beaded cast off because that would have taken forever and I wasn't convinced I had the resolve to do it and I wondered if the beads would be seen.  I'm glad I choose not to add the beads at the edge because the bind off was over three hours long. The wool is Shibui Knits Lunar and I highly recommend the yarn.  It is so very soft and a delight to have in your hands. Ravelry notes