by Kat | Jul 28, 2017 | General
Some weeks I am extra happy when Friday arrives and this is one of those weeks! However, it is the last Friday in July… Yeah, how is that even possible!
We did get our trip to Michigan ironed out this week, so there is that!
I am thankful for Senators McCain, Murkowski, and Collins this morning. Well done and bravo to doing the right thing! Now, perhaps some bi-partisanship work can begin. I have my fingers crossed. Perhaps we can flood their in-boxes with some words of thanks, maybe it will start a trend? I am hopeful for adult-like compromise beginning. The “my way or the highway” form of governing is not working for any of us.
Now, how about a couple of links this week?
- Fellow Pittsburgher PAKnitwit has a new pattern out – Wynne. I really love this and have plans to make one with handspun!
- These next items are not new, but showed up in my feed on Ravelry and I was surprised that I had not seen them before… Yoga Shawl and Kingston Tunic both will be great for cooler weather (not that I am trying to rush the arrival of cool weather!)
- Need some quick gratification knitting? NoShow Socks might do the trick!
- And, finally Merel (which is free in the 2 yr old size) and part of a collection of really cute kids sweaters!
That is all I have this week! Have a fantastic weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jul 21, 2017 | General
Today, my little Genevieve is 2 years old and my daughter sent me these photos this week and I just love them. They went to visit a Lavender Farm and Genevieve had so much fun! (Well, at least until she fell asleep!) And, all that lavender is just crazy (and apparently works to relax you!!)
I cannot believe that she is two! Time is just going way too fast! But, Happy Birthday, dear Genevieve! May your day be as beautiful as you are!
Now, how about a link or two?
In the “you did not know you needed to knit this” category: Banana Sweater
This seemed most appropriate after last week’s Cat Shawl…
Laura Aylor’s Summer’s End MKAL looks interesting! Especially this:
Things this shawl is NOT/does NOT have:
Triangle-shaped
Crescent-shaped
A weird shape
Seams
Short rows
Picots
Stitches to pick up (can you believe that?!)
Things it IS/DOES have:
Big and cozy
A little bit of lace
A lot of stockinette
Engaging to knit
I love Fiddlefooted! And, sleeveless!!
Miss Babs has a new Fall Collection out – I especially like Amalgamation and Brickyard
2 Skeins of Heaven Scarf might be the best pattern name ever (and some pretty awesome yarn, too!)
Are Ewe Knitting Me? Hmmm, maybe? And, it is on sale until 7/29!
Simply Summer Sweater is cute, although I am not so sure about all that seed stitch…
Finally, I have been keeping an eye out for cute baby boy knits for Carole! And, Baby Jailbird Jammies certainly are!
That’s all I have for today! Have a great weekend – stay cool and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jun 30, 2017 | General
Today is CAST ON DAY for the uber-insane Sweater in 4 Days KAL!!
My yarn is caked, I have written this blog post on Thursday so know that my day will be consumed with casting on and knitting as much as I can before Steve gets home from work today. Then, the sweater will have a bit of a rest until next Thursday which will start the close of my knitting marathon.
I hope to get beyond the Great Sleeve Divide! Way beyond!
Now, I am really concerned that this is not at all possible, mainly because of the Bang Out a Sweater insanity… FYI that took me a total of 35 hours from start to finish (which is like 9 hours of knitting time per day… oy). But, I am ignoring that number and just going for it! Either that, or the summer heat has totally fried my poor brain. But, we shall see. I will be sharing progress posts via Instagram, so stay tuned!
OH!!! And Hello LONG weekend! It is a nice 4-day weekend here and poor Monday will actually get some weekend love in my house! Woo hoo!
Now, how about some links?
Protest is Patriotic Shawl is so great! Oh, and it is also gratis!
How many dolls (in your pockets)? I love it! LOL
If you did not hear, Gudrun is now a designer at Brooklyn Tweed! Congrats to you Gudrun!! And, I like Brora very much!
After seeing Mary’s test knit of A Twist to it, I think this will be something I cast on sooner than later! I really love how it looks, and especially how Mary’s turned out!
That is all I have for this last Friday in June! Have a fantastic weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jun 23, 2017 | General
Stillwater #1 is progressing, but it is obviously not a “4-day knit” for me, but I am moving in the right direction. I have one more repeat to do before I begin the bottom ribbing.
The rainy weekend we have on tap will enable lots of knitting time, which is a good thing so I can then get on to the sleeves and the front ribbing. This sweater needs to be done before I can cast on Stillwater #2. The Stillwater KAL begins next Friday, you still have swatching time!
I am going to swatch again with one larger size needle to see what that fabric looks like (bonus, if I like it, perhaps I can knit a smaller sized sweater which would help the speed of the knitting, right?)
I also need to work through Clue #2 for TTL MKAL. So, really, I don’t mind the rain at all!
I began listening to Lincoln in the Bardo today – so far, so much good!
There were a few lovely links this week:
I love when patterns have awesome names!
And, when they pair awesome name with multiple sizes (and awesome yarn!)
Quince put together a new collection of shawls. I especially love Beryl and Reiko.
A couple of cute cardigans caught my eye this week: Tanta and Hummelo
Fairy Dust is adorable!
Chest of Bone readers will love this collection. I especially love Larrimer’s Sweater!
Sometimes patterns evolve over time.
Did you love Peace Knitting? Do you miss it? Then you will be happy to see Eunomia! (It began yesterday, but I think you would be okay to begin today! AND, there is a discount code that will work through tonight!)
Finally, who besides me is like, how the heck is it the last weekend in June??? Umm, Summer? Can you slow down?? Please?
Here is to a long, slow summer weekend! Enjoy!
by Kat | Jun 16, 2017 | General
I had a few things to get done yesterday morning and then Steve and I took a bit of a walk out at Boyce Mayview. It was my first walk since my tumble and it went well, although a bit warm with the heat yesterday afternoon! And, I am happy to report that there are no ill effects this morning! Now if only my skinned knee and all the lovely bruises would fade away!
My reward for all that was to knit a bit last night. I did a few rows on Stillwater, but my main goal was to get KK’s MKAL cast on! I am through half of the repeats for the first clue. I hope to have this finished up quickly this morning so I can get back to that sweater!
For you Summer Knit-Alongers – how are things going? Have any of you like me, reset your knitting list? I do have one Montadale Sock almost done, the toe just needs to be kitchnered – the perfect thing to accompany happy hour, perhaps! Now, here’s the kicker – I know that I cast on with a different sized needle, however because I am so smart (NOT), I did not write down what I did. So, I will have to do a bit of trial and error in the casting on of sock two… Note to self: There are Ravelry notes for a reason, right?
Speaking of Happy Hour! I have a beverage to share with you all. Tonight, I am doing my take on this! Rather than bourbon, I am going to substitute Vanilla Crown tonight, I will let you know how it turns out!
Now, how about some links!
The Summer issue of Amirisu has some lovely patterns in it! Like this and this and this!
Corolla is lovely and on sale until Sunday.
And, finally this week, I was surprised that I had never seen any patterns before by Marie Greene (the Stillwater designer). I was pleasantly surprised with her selection in her ravelry store, but these really caught my eye:
That is all I have for this week, my knitting is calling! Have a great weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
