Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning! How are all of you doing? I'm doing great, my dad continues to improve in the hospital and that makes each day a fabulous day. The sweater I started a few days ago, is a sweater pattern I've knitted 5-6 times from an Ann Budd top down book. I wrote out my own specific instructions on a piece of loose leaf paper. I love when the past me helps the future me in knitting patterns. Yesterday while visiting my dad for the day in ICU, I made a lot of progress! I started another pair of socks for my husband in a green-blue color way. Those also come along to the hospital as well and I add a few inches here and there. Sock knitting is comfort knitting. The last project on the needles is the never-ending seashell shawl . I am so close to being finished but each row takes forever (feels like it). I believe this shawl will block beautifully once it's off the needles. What are you working on this week?

  This week I've been focusing on two projects that are the only projects on the needles. I've been resisting the casting on urge (the struggle is real). The first photo is a pair of socks for my husband which I mainly work on during the evenings. Last night I turned the heel and picked up the gusset. It won't be long before these socks are done. Below is a photo of the shawl that I started last May?? I've been working on this during the day for an hour or so while I catch up listening to my audio podcasts that were backlogged to December. Who knows when this will be done but I am enjoying the simplicity of knitting and purling. The shawl looks underwhelming to me so far but I'm sure blocking the daylights out of it will make is sparkle and shine. What are you working on this week?

  Well here is a project that is a blast from the past. According to my notes, I started this shawl on May 26th last year. I have repeatedly pushed this project aside for more important knitting. Once my scarf is completed which will be within 48 hours, I am focusing on this shawl. Of course there will be some newly cast on projects as well, I am a knitter and that is what knitters do!!  What are you working on this week? 

  Well hello! This week there hasn't been much knitting because what I thought was a terrible allergy attack over the weekend was really a nasty nasty cold (definitely not covid, I tested twice). I haven't had a cold since before the pandemic and was not really ready for it. However when are we ready to be ill? I am thankful to not be blowing my nose every second, sneezing my head off every second and being able to sit upright --  it's those little things we take for granted.  Since Sunday I have been marathon reading Stephen King's The Stand which is about a pandemic virus. I do love how he weaves a wonderful story line and his in depth character development. Also the tingly creepy feeling of doom. Above is the seashell shawl and below is the sweater I am working on. For the sweater I went down one size and really hope that was a good decision.  What are you working on this week?

  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 Friday and then forgot to soak and block it because of family visiting. However on Sunday I remembered. This is the second time I knit this shawl , it's a fun pattern and I recommend it.  Ravelry notes What are you working on this week?

  This week I'm sharing my impulsive cast ons that are both captivating. I enjoy working on both of them and the ease of the patterns. I can talk (well most of the time) during each knit and rarely make a mistake.  The above photo is the seashell shawl  that I saw trending on Ravelry a week or so ago. I promptly dug through my yarn stash, wound up some lace weight yarn and cast on. I confess it was exciting to be so spontaneous. Below is a photo of the confetti shawl . This is the second time I am knitting the Herald shawl with a variegated yarn from my deep stash. I'm loving the cheerful colors in this one! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! This week has been really nice. I was appointment-free all week long, a rarity. The weather is right back into the rainy season. Since I'm coming up to one year living here, I don't know if it always rains here or if this is unusually wet. Does it matter?  Since moving here, I've let my hair grow long and just let it be. Another freeing decision! Why fight humidity? Growing out my bangs was another-freeing decision made more than five years ago, I highly recommend it if you fight styling your hair and yet it does whatever it wants anyways. I love when Holly stuffs herself in the downstairs cat tower. She enjoys looking out the windows and watching the world go by. She's been playing with all of her stuffed mice and leaves them outside our bedroom meowing to us that she gave us a special gift in the middle of the night. Sweet! Yesterday while noodling around on Ravelry I came across a laceweight shawl  that inspired me to dig through my yarn stash, wind u

  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?

  I cast off this beauty last night so today I will block and photo and share next week. I loved the pattern so much I cast on another shawl, just because I can. 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?

  Good morning! How are you? Well surprisingly, we are back into cold temperatures and I'm not complaining. This past weekend was too hot for me. So once more, I'm wearing some wool apparel and am at peace with that fact. Summer is around the corner and there will be plenty of time to be hot. For today's knitting, I'm sharing with you a shawl I casted on a week or so ago.  Nestled in that squishy garter stitch are lots of yarn overs that will not be visible until I block the daylights out of the shawl. Seriously the instructions say this is so and I'm trusting the directions. Blocking usually does wonders to any lace shawl. The pattern is repetitive and easy to memorize and I'm happy to have this in my knitting tote bag. I am confident (??) that I will be sharing with you my never ending blanket that is on the LAST skein. Stay tuned. What are you working on this week?

  Well, well, well, will you look at that, I finished that never ending shawl ! I started this mid-May before the big move and then I worked on it off and on through the move and then adjusting to the move. I am thrilled with the blocking and the size of this simple lace design. I'm still learning where to take photos in this new house of mine and at what time of the day. I am getting better at it but sometimes it's a challenge.  Ravelry notes

  I have been religiously working on this project and only this project for a few days now. I have high hopes of finishing this by next week. I need space in my knitting bag for some serious holiday knitting. I perused my knitted gift box and there aren't many gifts to give that I've knit throughout the year - I'll blame the move. I'm happy to report that my knitting mojo is back and I'm thoroughly enjoying sitting down with wool in my hands and on my lap. I'm sure the change in the weather has helped me along the way. What are you working on this week?

  I've been reading a lot this week. I started 10% Happier by Dan Harris and it is really good. He writes about his personal journal into mindfulness and meditation, I've been captivated and squeezing in reading here and there during my day to gobble up the book. I highly recommend! I've been also reading a chapter a day/or every other day of Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn (revised edition), also a good book but jammed packed with lots of science and data so the reading is slow going - almost like a textbook but worth the read. The Madness of the Crowds by Louise Penny became available on my e-library loan request so I've set aside all the other novels to read this one in 21 days. Nothing like a deadline to make you rejigger your reading priorities. I love her writing and have read all of her books. I convinced myself that I did NOT need a Hobonichi Weeks planner until March 2022, then broke down and ordered the January start Hobonichi Weeks planner for 2022.

  I know I keep showing the same projects but that is what I'm working on. I'm longing (desperately longing) for a finished project. The shawl is chugging along and the baby blanket is over half way done. I'm also half way through the poncho that is not in the photos.

  I have three projects going at the same time and I am mostly working on the baby blanket which for me is addictive to keep adding repeats. The poncho for my daughter in law is coming along, I give this project at least one hour of knitting time a day.  This shawl have been on the needles forever, well it feels like forever. I give this project about an hour every day as well. I love how it's turning out! What are you working on this week?

  Over the weekend I was so lucky to be IN A YARN STORE. It's been over a year. We were in a neighboring town doing some shopping with the kids last weekend. My daughter in law fell in love with a knitted poncho sample displayed right when you entered. So of course I bought the pattern and some lovely wool to start a new project for her while I sit in my new house. There is miles of easy stockinette stitch. I'll have to scrounge around for the yarn tag that I misplaced when I balled up the skein in my super messy studio room. That room is beyond repair. I have too much stuff and no where to put things. That is another post for another day, right? I finished this shawl weeks ago but had no where to block it because of the move. I love how this turned out and it will be a Christmas gift, I think. I've folded it up and when late fall arrives I'll figure out who get it, me or someone else. I am behind in my Christmas knitting. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! After what feels like many weeks of not knitting but in reality maybe two weeks (that is many in my mind), I picked up my languishing shawl and knit for maybe an hour. What joyous elation. It felt like sitting down with an old friend. Speaking of old friends, I was unpacking my office/studio which is a huge huge mess and found my ball winder and swift. I was so excited! I've been wanting to wind up some hanks but packed those tools a long time ago. Now I need to wait for my desk to be brought to the studio room on Friday (family heirloom desk at my sister's house). I cannot wind without a table to anchor the ball winder and swift. These past two weeks I've been daydreaming of free time to sit and knit, to sit and go through my yarns. This move has taken up so much of my time and yet yesterday I had pockets of time - golden minutes to sit and relax. What are you working on this week?

 I'm excited to share with you the contrasting color added on my  moon river shawl . I just love it! I'm hoping I have enough yarn to finish the shawl as it is written (I think so..). I'm managing about an hour of knitting each night while we finish packing up the house and it's a blissful one hour! What are you working on this week?