Leni

One more finished object for 2019.

Leni.

This hat was such a treat to knit.  The pattern is well written and includes some thoughtful details.  To top it all off, I love the fit.  This one is destined to be a booth sample, but I will definitely be making one just for me.

The yarn is Lillian Jadeite and Shimmer Sea Glass held together.  You can see the halo from the Shimmer, and the combination makes an extremely cozy fabric.

As we get ready to head into the new year, it's a good opportunity to pause and reflect.

There are always ups and downs in life, but it's refreshing to wipe the slate clean every twelve months.  Here's to 2020!

Now for the Knitting

I've lost all sense of time with the midweek holiday, and today it feels like this whole week has been one very long weekend.

I cooked a lot of food and then I cooked some more.  My daughter helped with the baking, and we whipped up everything from cookies to stollen to pies.  We've had a relaxing celebration with family coming and going.  It's been a nice break.

All that cooking and baking cut into my knitting time.  Now that we're heading into the real weekend, I'm making time for my needles.

Since I have very few projects under construction right now, it's a good excuse to start a few new ones.  They're lined up, and I can't wait to get started.

This week's color inspiration . . .

Holiday red.

The Holiday Groove

Our holiday preparations have improved considerably since my last post.  After my trunk show on Saturday, I kept right on going.  No one in the family was committed to help pick out a tree, so I stopped and snagged one.  

The pickings were slim but not as bad as the year I waited too long. That time the tree lot was closed for the season.  Luckily for me they left the last tree as an orphan, and we happily gave it a holiday home.

The house has been tidied and cleaned.  We settled on menus for two days, so bright and early this morning my daughter and I went grocery shopping.  We hit three grocery stores and managed to forget only one item.  The tree is in the house and has lights.  Decorating is on the schedule for tomorrow along with cooking and baking.

Everything is coming together complete with a new snowflake ornament crocheted by a friend.

This time of year can be challenging, and I admit I was in a bit of a funk.  So much to do, so many expectations, never enough time.  The list goes on and on.  I'm in the holiday groove now with a promise to savor the moments.  Make the most of the season and enjoy the celebrations!

First Things First

This is what I did first thing this morning.

The holidays might be breathing down my neck, but I found a few minutes to wind this yarn.  I have a project coming off the needles later today, and I need something new to keep me entertained.

Let's be clear.  Time is tight right now.  I don't have a menu for the holidays or the birthday celebration we have this weekend.  Then there's all the grocery shopping that goes with said menus.  After that I need to spruce up the decorations around here (we still don't have a tree!) and generate a little holiday cheer.  It's nothing short of a holiday miracle, but it'll all come together.  It always does.

Just a reminder.  If you're in the Boston area and out and about tomorrow, you can find me at Stitch House.  Take a break from the mall and hang out with us at the shop.  

'Tis the season . . . this week's color inspiration.

Snow and ice.

Warning Signs

I knew I was in trouble the other day.  All the warning signs were there. I was just going to wind a ball of yarn and let it sit on the work table.

I didn't have a project in mind, and the winding was just in case an appropriate one crossed my path.  But I didn't leave it there.  I continued down that path and spent a little time on Ravelry.

Of course I found a pattern and that led to casting on.  I could have stopped there, but what's a few rows.  Just a few, I told myself.

Yes, there are more pressing tasks that need my attention, but I told myself that once this project was up and running, I'd put it down and get busy.  And I will . . . after I knit a couple more rows.

Monday Pattern Search

Which comes first, the yarn or the pattern?  I often pick yarn with a particular project in mind, but today this skein grabbed my attention and I'm running with it.

I'll be spending some time on Ravelry.  I don't have a pattern yet, but I've wound the yarn so I'm committed now.  I'm keeping it simple with one skein, but if I fall in love with a pattern that requires two, there's more where this one came from.

As an aside, this skein of yarn is the most festive thing in our living room right now.  The days are flying by, and I need to get in the spirit of the season.

Just the Bind Off

This week got off to a rocky start, and by midweek I wasn't sure I was going to make it.  The head cold that's been making the rounds in my house knocked me down, but I've bounced back.

I wasn't able to knit for a couple days (a sure sign that I'm sick), but I've made up for lost time.  All this cowl needs is a bind off, so it'll be ready for the Inman Holiday Market on Sunday.

Soundtrack Cowl.  

The yarn is Norma in Dusk and IPA.  I'll have bundles available in several color combinations.  If you're planning to stop by, you'll find me at the East Cambridge Savings Bank, 1310 Cambridge St, Cambridge.

This week's color inspiration . . . 

Birthday lights.

Knitting and Piles

After a busy weekend complete with a birthday celebration, I'm ready to make a dent in the yarn that has piled up.  I had a full dye schedule last week, and that means I have a lot of skeins to deal with this week. If you're waiting on an order, keep an eye on your email for shipping confirmation.

In the midst of everything else this weekend, I got this new project up and running.  

Soundtrack Cowl.  This pattern repeat is mesmerizing.  It was hard to put the needles down to tackle the boring household chores that needed my attention.

Being the efficient knitter that I am, I took this cowl along to the nail salon and worked on it there.  One of the other customers was also a knitter.  We had a lovely chat about knitting, and she grabbed the name of the pattern.  This cowl would make a great gift.  If you're still looking for ideas, check it out.

A Weekend at Home

I just updated the right sidebar with a couple events for December. There will be plenty more coming in January and beyond, but to keep me focused I'm posting one month at a time.

I'll be in Inman Square on December 15.  The Inman Holiday Market is a festive event and a good opportunity to support local small businesses.  This event is hosted at several storefronts in Inman Square.  I'll post more details when I know my exact location.

Since I'm not at an event this weekend, I'm going to make the most of my time at home.  We have a birthday celebration in the family, and I have mountains of paperwork that need attention.

And I also have a new project in the works to keep me entertained.

This week's color inspiration . . .

Sparkling sunshine.

Just One Row

I may need a do-over for today.  A sick dog and an emergency vet appointment have turned my schedule upside down.

Luckily I already have the perfect project on my needles, ready to keep me occupied while I wait.

A Good Scarf.

The same row back and forth makes a completely reversible scarf. Check it out if you need an autopilot project or a gift idea.  Use a special yarn and you'll have an irresistible scarf.

In Time for the Weather

A while ago I noticed my mitten collection was seriously depleted.  I probably could have made a couple pairs with orphan mitts, but there are times when I need to look more put together.

I cast on a pair of fingerless mitts and worked on them here and there between other projects.  When the stormy weather forecast for the weekend came in, I dropped everything else and concentrated on the mitts.

Maine Morning Mitts.  In case you're wondering the yarn is Norma in Paprika.  After I typed that, I discovered Norma isn't listed on the website.  I'll add it to my list of updates. 

These mitts are a staple, but I seem to have lost or misplaced all the pairs that I've made in the past.  These will come in handy as our wintery weather continues into tomorrow.  Since the season is just getting started and I have a bad habit of losing mitts, I need to cast on another pair.