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Raven Cowl

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I finished this cowl yesterday afternoon and promptly dashed upstairs to soak and block it out on my bedroom floor.  I had such fun knitting this pattern.  My modifications are few, I used the same size needles throughout figuring the blocking magic would fix minor variations in gauge (and it did!). As I stated previously, I'm not a fan of bobbles and avoid them whenever I can.  So for bobbles I replaced a simple yarn over knit two together.  Because of this decision, I saved a ton of yarn and had enough to execute the entire pattern. This pattern would be great for an adventurous beginner to learn new techniques and explore different stitch patterns. The next time I knit this cowl (and I will be knitting this again), I'll be using a yarn with less color variations.  Some of the stitch design gets lost with the dark and varying colors of this particular wool. This cowl would make a great holiday gift if you feel like starting early and most knitters have a

Weekends

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My Weekend daytrip to visit my daughter and son in law in Newark DE lots of car riding and car knitting! driving through country towns passing Amish buggies homemade lunch gathered around a table shopping! talking, laughing, walking the impossible elusive selfie all the family together my husband is really happy, really (maybe not in the mood for a photo?) ramen noodle soup dinner slurpie good how was your weekend?

Catch My Breath

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These days have been elusive and speedy, especially this past week.  Our son has been home on his spring break and I've been on the go every single day.  I'm either at the gym, at babysitting or out shopping with him.  The week has been bursting with activity. I'm happy to be doing lots of stuff with him, the years are numbered for when he graduates with his PhD and who knows where he will land when he gets his first job.  So I wake up, try to do my best with whatever pressing household chores that need to be done and then I'm off on adventures.  Next week will be quite dull and I can catch my breath and resume my creative pursuits.  Even though the snow is still here, doesn't it feel like spring?  Sort of?  Maybe?  I think it does.  The sunshine is at a different angle, the birds are starting to sing in the morning and we change the clocks this weekend!  My body has already started the time change with waking up at 4:30 am most of the week.  I&#

Knitting News

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Can you believe this is Ash Wednesday?  I cannot.  Time is flying by! I finally decided on a fingering weight cardigan using more of my quince and co wool in my stash.  I fell in love with the delicate yoke detail and the simple edging for the body and the sleeve cuffs.  I cast on over the weekend and as you can see, I have a ways to go for some progress. I am thrilled to have another sweater on the needles! My socks are slow going but isn't the color way beautifully subtle?  I keep thinking that I can't see the colors change unless I knit awhile and then I see it.  Sitting and knitting in a well lit room helps see the colors as well.  I have three books going as the same time- The first one is   House Rules by Jodi Picoult, I'm having a hard time getting into the book.  I fear the problem is reading this book before I fall asleep so maybe I'll be reading during the day to see if this helps. The second book is A Quiet Life in the Country by T. E. Ki

Weekends

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My Weekend celebrating husband's birthday - all the kids arriving for the weekend awaiting an impending snowstorm - flurries off and on carrot cake - chocolate - yarn winding settling on a new sweater pattern (yay!) - tons of laundry tons of dishes - a wintry walk with Frodo and family hot tea in a favorite mug - planning the busy week ahead creating a snowstorm-back-up plan for the week How was your weekend?

Meditative Stockinette Stitch

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Holly bats the elephant off the table daily, she tries to bat the metal sheep but it takes more effort  I had another one day work week instead of two days.  Usually I treat my unexpected days off as 'fun' days and do whatever I want.  This time around I treated the day as a 'work' day and did my continuing ed online.  I read a bunch of research papers then took tests online to receive credit.  I passed all five tests and the entire day was frittered away.  I'm thrilled to report I'm done with continuing ed until August (a self imposed deadline). If you are wondering or are a new reader, I'm maintaining my speech pathology certification just in case a dire circumstance requires me to really really work. new book read I'm mulling over the next sweater to cast on.  I'm getting close to a decision, but while I'm thinking about it I'm enjoying my two projects that are short term.  I'm leaning towards a fingering weight cardiga

Knitting News

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My knitting news is fast and furious.  So grab a cup of tea, sit back, relax and enjoy the knitting round up!  First off is my son's blanket and the steady progress I'm making on it.  I work on this project right before bed knowing that I can keep the simple stitch repeat going while watching TV without mistakes. The next project is my cowl  that does take some concentration and so I cannot read and knit at the same time.  The pattern and the variety of stitch designs I get to explore make this a fun knit.  I highly recommend the pattern. I started a pair of socks with some yarn I received as a Christmas gift.  I should have a pair of socks on the needles all the time for my grab and go project for babysitting duty.  I don't need to think much when I knit my memorized generic sock pattern that is burned into my memory. My last project is the wurm hat .  I've made this hat around nine or ten times.  And yes, I could make it again.  This hat sit

Weekends

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My weekend was quiet, nice and uneventful, just the way I like them. My weekend contained: reading books knitting time with the purple cowl finishing the wurm hat shopping for watercolor paper and finding it bookstore browsing rotisserie chicken pasta salad ginger cookies our son visiting a bit of sketching and painting day dreaming knitting with friends How was your weekend?

Embracing the Lull

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I've been embracing the lull that happens this time of year.  Winter is still here and the weather continues to be chilly, windy, cloudy and snowy.  Yet each day I witness a promise of the next season.  Have you noticed how light the days are becoming?  I open the blinds earlier each day.  Yesterday I did the dinner dishes with natural daylight.  These tiny events make February a great month. Holly and Frodo seem to be in a lull as well.  Our evenings are 'mostly' quiet and everyone's behavior is exactly as we predict it should be.  Frodo continues to run down the hallway around six pm and give a specific bark to her.  I think he's asking her to come out and play (which means he wants to chase her).  She of course completely ignores him, for now. Our furniture arrived!  My body doesn't know what to think about it.  I'm sore in different places but so far it's a good sore and nothing terrible is developing.  Every morning I walk into the family

Forest Fair Isle Sweater

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I'm thrilled to show you my finished sweater !  I already wore it on Sunday and I was comfy cosy warm while wearing it.  I could knit this sweater again and again.  I'm already planning another sweater from the same designer after a bit of a break. Okay, what I like about this sweater pattern : -lots of short row shaping for the back so there is a defined front when wearing it -love the wide neck icord edging -waist shaping that is flattering I used Quince and Co Chickadee which was a delight to knit with.  Also after soaking and blocking the sweater was buttery soft against the skin.  I highly recommend their wools. I was running short on the dark gray yarn and decided to do the cuffs in light gray instead.  I might have had enough (maybe) but it was too close to call and I didn't want to unknit anything.  Ravelry notes are here

Weekends

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This weekend we went out and bought a new family room set.  Yup.  We like to go to the same family owned furniture store and walk around and pick something.  Our set is over 10 years old and my back issues are more than likely caused by the current state of our old couch and loveseat.  I'll confess that buying furniture is a ton more fun than buying a new heating/cooling system.  Being the crazy person that I am, I vacuumed under the cushions for when they take away this set.  Lucky me found a knitting cable needle but I didn't find any money though.  Our new furniture arrives on Tuesday - I cannot wait! How was your weekend?  Mine was super sunny.  Because of the bright sunshine we went for a walk this morning.  The sun adds warmth on these chilly February days.  I looked for signs of spring and so far it's a little too early for snowdrops.  However, I hear the birds singing and their music has been missed.  Before you know it the robins will return.