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Knitting homework is the best homework.
This Saturday I'm teaching a Cold Brew Cowl class at Romney
Ridge Yarns & Wool. Everyone has to do a little knitting before
class - including me.
Latvian braid, corrugated ribbing, colorwork, stripes. This is my third cowl, and it's still a lot of fun.
If you're in the area and want to check it out, I think there are still a couple spaces available. Follow the link for details.
If you can't take the class and want to get in on the action, the Norma Bundles are now listed on the website with four color combinations to choose from. If you don't want to make a cowl, the Cold Brew Collection also includes a hat and fingerless mitts. The Bundle contains enough yarn to make any pattern in the collection.
After a couple busy weeks with shows and travel, I have a little breather. It's a good time to catch up on orders, paperwork and deadline knitting. I have more than one project that's on deadline, but yesterday I focused on this one.
Newfoundland Mitts. I've made these several times and really love the warm, cozy texture.
This time around I did some research. I dug a little deeper and started reading project notes on Ravelry. What a wealth of information! I came across several clever modifications. Now that I've settled on a couple adjustments, the knitting will be quick. Huge thanks to everyone who takes time to post their notes.
Not much knitting content today. I've had a topsy-turvy week, and I'm still finishing prep for tomorrow.
This is another random color combination. Note the bits of purple peeking out from the bottom of the heap.
If you're in the Boston area, tomorrow is Farm Fiber Day at the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market. Every Saturday this winter market is chock-full of wonderful food, and this week they're adding fiber vendors to the mix. One stop shopping for your food and fiber needs.
This is a fast and furious market. The hours are 10:00 - 2:00 so don't linger too long over your morning coffee.
I captured this week's color inspiration because of the texture and white and gray contrast. After I took the picture, I noticed a bonus.
Reflections.
In the flurry of knitting activity last week, I finished Alanis. This layering sweater looks good on a variety of body types.
This piece has sweet little details.
A split hem with I-cord edging.
Textured bands on the front.
And of course the little pocket.
The yarn is Clara, colorway Winter Sky. This 100% Blue Faced Leicester makes a cozy, comfy sweater. This Alanis is for display purposes only, but I'm determined to add one to my own wardrobe.
My head is in a fog after a busy weekend in Rhode Island. Knitting Weekend is always a blast, and the venue at Slater Mill is one of a kind. There's something cozy about being tucked away in the dead of winter with a bunch of knitters at a restored fiber mill.
I'm always intrigued with the mechanical operation of the mill - the water, the gears, the pulleys. Round moving parts are always fascinating, and I'm feeling inspired to have a sit-down with my spinning wheel. Here's a glimpse.
Thanks to everyone who came out. It was a delightful weekend.
Some things never change. It's the day before a show, and I'm scurrying to pull it all together. Yesterday I set up the booth at Slater Mill. Alanis is off the needles and blocking. I just realized I don't have many shopping bags, and I'm out of tape. I'll have to make an expedition to the outside world later on. First I need to make more coffee.
This is my focus for today.
Labels. In the process I'm making note of random color combinations. I kind of like that Wheat, Raven, Wineberry combo. I'll give it more thought another day. Right now I need to print labels.
I found this week's color inspiration on a chilly walk with the dog.
Icy patterns.
In the crazy process of scheduling shows and working with shops, sometimes I need duplicates samples. I don't mind - it's a good problem to have. Usually they knit up a little faster the second time around. Or maybe that's just my perception.
Right now I'm working on a repeat performance of the Cold Brew Cowl.
Fresh snow is a nice photo bonus. I'm half way there. This is my next finisher.
Recently a friend and I were discussing strategies for dealing with all our knitting projects . . . how to juggle them and set priorities. One approach is always have a finisher - a project you can concentrate on and get off the needles.
It's a great boost to finish something. It can be a project that's almost finished or one on deadline. You can work on other things too, but the focus is on the finisher.
As luck would have it, I have three projects that qualify as finishers because they're all on deadline. Over the weekend I focused on getting one off the needles.
This was the quickest of the lot. It's another Inclination. My third one. What can I say. The other two are in use, and I needed a sample.
Pink isn't my personal color preference, but it is warm and cheery. This is the Norma base in Piglet.
Complete with a bit of snow.
I recently discovered, quite by accident, that there's another Women's March on the horizon. It's coming up soon - January 20 & 21. I didn't march last year, and I didn't make a hat, but I did dye a lot of yarn for hats.
I can't march this time either because I'll be at Slater Mill, but I am making a hat.
Follow the link. Maybe there's a march in your area.
Candles are part of my wintertime routine and are this week's color inspiration.
Warm, cozy light.
So far, so good. My Alanis is coming together as planned. The way my luck has been lately, I have a feeling I might have jinxed this project with the mere thought of smooth sailing. I'm trying to stay positive.
This project is worked from the bottom up. I completed the front and back hems separately and joined the two pieces into one. Now I'm knitting around and around. There's a certain comfort in that.
I'm fast approaching the pocket and that means I have to make a decision about the pocket lining.
All I need is a few yards. Yesterday I posted some color options on Instagram, and today I've added another one to the mix. I could make the lining the same color as the sweater, but there's no fun in that. I've received some feedback - feel free to weigh in.
A few schedule updates. Knitting Weekend at Slater Mill is coming up January 19 - 21. It looks like there's still some class space available. Check it out if you're in the area.
On February 3 I'll be at Romney Ridge Yarns & Wool in Ipswich for a class and a trunk show. See link for details.
Finally, I've added the February Farm Fiber Day (try to say that fast) to the right sidebar. There's also a Fiber Day this month. This event is so much fun, and nothing beats one-stop shopping for food and fiber. It's a great way to brighten your winter days.
I try to roll with it when things are out of my control. It's an important survival skill. Late last week I ran into an issue with my yarn supply, and it forced me to adjust my knitting schedule.
I was cruising along on my Ticket to Ride and making great progress, but I had to set it aside for the time being. My order for more of this yarn base has been placed on backorder, so I'm shifting my sample production.
Next up on the list is Alanis.
I'm smitten with the little I-cord detail, and I have plenty of this base in stock. Full steam ahead.
Knitting can be such a soothing, relaxing activity, but not every project comes together without a hitch. There are plenty of potential pitfalls. There can be a problem with the pattern. Or the yarn can have issues. Or maybe it's a combination of the two.
Sometimes even the simplest project can hit a snag. Yesterday I was working on my third Inclination. This is a straightforward pattern that practically knits itself. I had a chunk of knitting time and was looking forward to making progress on this cowl.
And then this happened.
I hit a barfy mess in the middle of my ball. Usually I can sort these situations out and get back on track, but this one was particularly stubborn. In the interest of saving time, I decided to break my yarn and work from the outside of the ball.
My time-saving measure came back to bite me. Lo and behold I knit just a few stitches with the outside end and wound up back in this tangled web. Somehow both ends of the yarn are involved in this jumble.
Yesterday we had a healthy dose of winter, and we moved a lot of snow but there's always more to do. Today I cleared a path from the house to the street. I'm hopeful the mail carrier and UPS will at least attempt delivery. Now that my shoveling for the day is done, maybe I'll sit down and work on this tangle.
This week's color inspiration features winter white.
Snow magic.
Thanks to the Monday holiday this week is a bit topsy-turvy, so I'm taking the opportunity to ease into my regular work routine. Since most of my knitting is work related, that's the task I'm concentrating on.
This is my Ticket to Ride. I'm just a couple inches shy of finishing
the back. Mostly stockinette with a little seed stitch thrown
in . . . sometimes it's nice to keep it simple.
We have a major storm headed our way tomorrow, so today everyone is scurrying to get ready. Unfortunately we need groceries, so I'm off to the store - along with everyone else. Stay warm and safe, New England.
