skip to main |
skip to sidebar
I try to keep a positive attitude and look to the future. There's no sense in dwelling on the past or what might have been. The new year is an especially good time to pause, take stock, wipe the slate clean and plan for the coming months.
Thanks to Juliette Kayyem for #pacetherage. I've adapted it for my own mantra for these troubling times: Pace the rage and keep knitting. And so I'm going into the new year fortified with fresh projects.
There's a third one in the mix too. I'd share that with you, but the yarn is still drying. What are your projects for the new year?
This week's color inspiration celebrates light.
Happy New Year! Here's to hope and peace.
This week is the lull between holidays, and I'm making the most of the quiet time. The only things on my to-do list are paperwork and
knitting - although yesterday I think I did more knitting than paperwork.
First up . . . these mitts for my son, Kiko. He requested them a while ago. Whenever you can get to them, he said. These are really pretty quick . . . a sock cuff and leg with fingers attached. The fingers are a little fiddly, but they're so small that they're done in no time. I probably spend more time weaving in ends than knitting the fingers.
The other day Kiko dropped off another mitt that had a bit of a snag.
He's careful with his handknits and didn't want to wear this without getting it fixed. I'll give it a quick mend, and it'll be ready to go. The temps are frigid this week so I'm even more motivated to get the old and new mitts ready for him.
Apparently spend time on Ravelry is also on my to-do list. I have more mittens at the top of my queue (see above reference to the temperature) along with a couple other things that I have to cast on right now. It's a lazy week, but I'm still busy.
Yesterday I finished my grocery shopping for the holidays. I don't mind the cooking and the baking. It's the shopping that does me in.
Knitting breaks are important. After I survived the full parking lots, pushy people and long lines, a little knitting time was definitely in order. I also needed to regroup before tackling the cooking, baking and cleaning.
See that worsted weight blue? While I was knitting around and around on this cuff, I contemplated a new project. I don't have enough projects on the needles, and I'm plotting to remedy the situation.
This week's color inspiration is all about the season.
Holiday cheer if you're celebrating this weekend. May your festivities be merry and bright.
My shows are done for the year, and we celebrated our last December birthday last night. In theory I could put all my effort into getting ready for the holidays . . . clean the house, decorate the tree, bake some cookies, maybe wrap a gift or two. Instead I see a window of opportunity for more knitting.
This little project has been rattling around in the back of my mind. I pulled the yarn a couple weeks ago, and that's as far as I got. These are the color options, and I need to pick one.
I also need to choose a pattern. I'll start with that. To be fair, I'll also pull the cookie recipes. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone. Knitting and baking make a good combination . . . knit a few rows while the cookies are in the oven.
I had a little flurry of finishing the last few days.
Everyday Shawl.
This design features alternating stockinette and reverse stockinette sections that give this shawl texture.
The center line shifts and creates an interesting shape.
I tried to follow the math instructions based on percentages of yarn and hit a bit of a snag, but I was able to work my way out of it. I like the numbers angle and would do it that way again but would check and double check my numbers first. For those who aren't so inclined, there are also straight forward instructions that don't require any additional math.
I used a Lillian Gradient Bundle, colorway Sea Glass. This is a greenish color with a hint of blue . . . almost neutral but not quite.
Since I was on a roll, I also knocked out another Inclination.
I used Norma again. The colorway is March Sky. This is my new favorite cowl, and I'll probably cast on another one in the next couple days. Inclination is an easy, portable project. The pattern is so simple I can pick it up, and I always know where I am. If you're still in knitting mode for holiday gifts, check it out.
To wrap it all up, a mitten update from my friend Alice.
Another lovely pair from the Selbuvotter book.
This is one of my favorite color combinations.
It's too bad these mittens aren't my size because they match my current favorite hat.
You win some, you lose some.
I lost this one.
This is my Everyday Shawl. I'm knitting this shawl with a gradient bundle and wanted to use as much of the bundle as possible. The pattern includes directions for working the shawl based on percentages of yarn total. I thought this was a foolproof way to make sure all the colors would be equally represented. I crunched the numbers and cut back on one of the lighter colors so I would be sure to include the darkest color.
My numbers must have been off because I'm closing in on the finish line, and I've run out of the darkest color. I was working on this in the wee hours last night and resisted the urge to run the numbers again. It doesn't really matter at this point. I have the small ball of the lighter color that I had set aside, but I'm not about to rip back. I have more of the darkest color, and I'll keep going with that instead. So much for planning and preparation.
I captured this week's color inspiration as the sun was setting on Frog Pond.
Shadows.
Since a couple self-imposed knitting deadlines are looming large, the top of my to-do list says sit and knit. Usually I love to see this item on my list, but this time of year it can be challenging to sit let alone knit.
When I can sit, I'm bouncing back and forth with steady progress on these two.
Heads up to you sock knitters out there. The next round of Yarn Knot Socks starts shipping next month. This time the installments will include coordinated mini skeins. Think contrasting heels and toes or maybe a flash of color at the cuff. Follow the link for all the details.
And now I'm going to sit and knit.
In true Monday fashion, my plans for the day have been sabotaged.
I have to swap knitting for driving, and I'm feeling a bit frustrated that I can't do both at the same time.
Before I head out the door for my chauffeuring duties, I did a quick calendar update through January. See the right sidebar.
This coming Sunday I'll be at the annual Gather Here Handmade Holiday Market.
This event is taking over Inman Square with vendors in various locations. I don't know where I'll be setting up shop, but I'll post details as soon as I have more information.
I'll have a selection of hand dyed yarn and bundles.
One of my current favorites is the Cold Brew Collection, and I'll have bundles available in a variety of colors. Stay tuned for more event details and stop by if you're in the area.
Snow is headed our way, and I could easily hunker down with my knitting. Too bad there are other things that require my attention. We have a birthday celebration this weekend. At the very least I need to get some groceries.
After my recent cowl bender, I'm working with gradients again.
Everyday Shawl. Right now this looks and feels like a rumpled suit. I can't wait to block it, and that's my incentive to keep on knitting.
I found this week's color inspiration in a favorite Mexican restaurant.
Bold, bright and whimsical.
The cowls keep coming.
Inclination. Around and around with knits and purls . . . mindless and soothing.
The yarn is Norma, colorway Celestial. I'm smitten with this new worsted Merino base. It creates a cozy, squishy fabric. Sorry it's not on the website yet. Coming soon.
This project is perfect for on the go and practically knits itself. Based on Ravelry project notes, I started with four knit rounds and ended with four knit rounds. Other than that, I followed the pattern as written.
With the holidays right around the corner, Inclination gets my vote for gift knitting. There's also a bulky weight version if your time is really tight.
This cowl is one of my new favorites . . . I've already wound yarn for another one.
Knitting the Cold Brew Hat was so much fun of course I had to make the cowl too.
The Cold Brew Cowl offers more of the same . . . Latvian braid, corrugated ribbing, colorwork and stripes. The combination of worsted weight and an entertaining design made this cowl fly off my needles. Since I do so much knitting with fingering weight, worsted is my bulky weight equivalent. Instant gratification.
The yarn is Norma, a superwash Merino, and it creates a squishy, cozy fabric. I have kits in production in a variety of colors. This cowl is destined to be a sample, but I'm sure I'll make another one all my own.
There are a lot of good patterns out there and only so many knitting hours in a lifetime, but some patterns are worth repeating.
My second Portland Sequence is off the needles and ready to go. My first Portland Sequence is a personal favorite and gets a lot of compliments, so I didn't have to think twice about making a second one.
Sequence knitting is almost idiot proof, and this cowl was an easy
on-the-go project. I'll miss reaching for it in my bag.
This combination produced cheery pops of color - perfect for dreary winter days. If you're interested in the yarn (it has cashmere, by the way), this exclusive bundle is from KnitWit. Contact the shop to see if they still have it in stock.
Every once in while, I step back and hit reset. Usually it involves hanging out at the ocean. During these tumultuous times, I should do it more often. This week's color inspiration . . .
Blues and grays.
