Coping with Technology Woes

I've been dealing with some technology headaches the last couple days, and the long weekend couldn't come soon enough.  I've fixed my tech troubles for the time being, but I know there are more issues to sort out.  For now, I'm going to walk away from the mess and focus on my knitting.

I have a sock project that's been languishing, so I bumped it onto the active list.

There's no excuse for neglecting these socks.  I'm enjoying everything about this project and plan to make some headway over the weekend.  Our weather forecast is cool and rainy . . . perfect knitting weather.

This week's color inspiration . . . 

Shades of Dunkin'.

For Baby

I haven't had much for show and tell.  I have several projects in various states of production, but I haven't finished anything recently.  Earlier today I realized I hadn't shared a little something I finished a few weeks ago.

Beyond Puerperium (Ravelry link).

A baby sweater is usually a quick knit and the perfect project for a shot of instant gratification.

This pattern offers a range of sizes in three different weights of yarn.  It's very versatile and easy to tweak.

The sweater buttons down the left side.  You'll notice buttonholes but no buttons.  This sweater was a joint project, and the buttons were added on the receiving end.

The yarn is Lucia DK in March Sky . . . because every baby needs a gray sweater.

Subtle Stripes

I do like stripes, and over the weekend I added more to my project mix.

This combination is more subtle than a lot of stripes that I knit.  It's fun to experiment with different effects.  I tweaked the edges on this pattern.  I spent a lot of time on trial and error, but I'm happy with the results.  More on that another day.

Coming next month . . . I have a couple in-person outings in the works.  I'm in the process of pulling together a schedule update, but I'm waiting on a few details.  Stay tuned for more information.

All Wound Up

I had a crazy day that involved a lot of running around, and by late afternoon, I didn't have much to show for my efforts.  This is how I salvaged the day.

Winding yarn didn't require a lot of thought, and it was the perfect way to be productive.  While I was at it, I wound two more skeins.  Now that I've accomplished something, I can call it a day.

Benji came home from the vet with a bandana and this week's color inspiration.

Orange cheer.

Chasing Post-Its

The wheels are turning with new project ideas.  I started with notes on post-its.  When I found myself chasing little pieces of bright colored paper around my office, I resolved to do better.  It's time to capture everything in a spreadsheet and come up with a plan.

While that process is running in the background, I did take a few minutes for this.

There's not much to show just yet, but this is another Livie.  This project will be even more relaxing the second time around.  As a bonus it'll take the edge off while I collect the post-its and work on that spreadsheet.

Livie

I had a productive knitting weekend.

Livie (Ravelry link) is off the needles and blocked.  I'm smitten with the combination of stripes, eyelets and garter stitch.

The yarn is Lillian in Byzantium and Pearl.

The shape of this shawl puts it in the easy-to-wear category.  I enjoyed knitting it so much the first time that I've already cast on a second one.

Random on Friday

Every once in a while a random pile of yarn catches my eye.  This one caught my attention the other day.

The work pace has picked up a bit the last few weeks.  I'm not anywhere near pre-pandemic levels, but the days are definitely busier.  I'm labeling and sorting more yarn, and that's the perfect environment for random colorful piles.  Sometimes they even spark future color combinations.

This week's color inspiration intrigued me with the texture as much as the color.  It reminds me of dotted swiss fabric.

Tiny dots of contrast.

Saturday Pop-Up

I've been knitting like a fiend and probably staying up way too late.  I'll have knitting photos soon.  In the meantime, I'm checking in with a quick schedule update.

This Saturday I'll be at Yarn's End with a pop-up shop.  The event hours are 12:30 - 4:30.  I might be outside.  Right now I think the weather forecast is favorable.  Stop by if you're in the area.

A Day Off

Mother's Day Weekend is usually a working weekend for me but not during a pandemic.  Since New Hampshire Sheep and Wool was cancelled, I took yesterday as a mandatory day off.  I stayed out of the kitchen, didn't plan meals, generally did as little as possible.

I put that time to good use.

My Livie is coming right along.  This has been an entertaining project with just the right amount of interest to keep things moving along.  I'm enjoying it so much that I'm already contemplating color combinations for a second one.

Jodi

Sometimes life is a battle.  It's been a crazy few days, but I made it to Friday and the weekend is looking good.

New on the website . . .

This is Jodi (Ravelry link).  Garter stitch, stripes, a wee bit of lace . . . a great combination for a relaxing, colorful project.  

Originally this sample was an exclusive complete with bundles for The Yarn Sellar.  The stint in Maine is over, and the sample is back.  Jodi Bundles are available on the website in several color combinations.

This weekend marks the second year without New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.  For many fiber enthusiasts across New England, this weekend is a traditional gathering place.  Even though we can't be together in person, I wanted to recognize this lively festival.  To celebrate the event, we're offering free shipping all weekend.  No code needed. 

Other vendors are posting weekend specials on the Facebook page for New England Fiber Vendors.  Check it out.

I've been watching the lilacs, patiently waiting for just the right moment.  The other day I snagged a few from my son's yard.  This week's color inspiration . . . 

Delicate purple with a heavenly scent.

Worth Casting On

I have a lot of patterns in my queue, and some of them have been there for a long time.  My queue is nothing more than a list of possibilities, but it can be a good place to test a pattern.  If a pattern has been patiently waiting for quite a while and I still like it, it's probably worth casting on.

That's what happened over the weekend.

I wanted to have a shawl on the needles, and I started with a fresh search.  I didn't see anything that really grabbed me, so I browsed through my queue.

In no time, I found just what I was looking for.  If you're wondering, this is Livie.  It must have been my lucky day because I even settled on the colors without too much trouble.