by Kat | Feb 10, 2017 | General
I am a firm believer that the week following an incredibly short feeling weekend should go equally as quickly. Score one for this week, because it did just that!
AND!!! Next weekend is extra-long! Yes, really. Friday the 17th is an unofficial (official) General Strike Day! I did not even have to twist Steve’s arm to get him to participate AND Monday is President’s (you are proud of) Day.
So a HUGE thanks to February for having two short weeks!!
We got more than the 4 inches of snow that they forecast (So Steve had a Snow Day yesterday…) However, they are saying it is supposed to be in the 60’s on Sunday. Snow today, gone tomorrow. This has truly been the year of No Winter!
We have absolutely no plans for the weekend, and I am just fine with that! (Outside of the Huddle we are going to on Saturday morning, that is!!)
Now, let’s get to those links!
One last thing I wanted to share with you – Michelle is having a spring Just Five Things Workshop and registration is now open! I really enjoyed this last fall and would love for you to join me on this spring journey!
That is all I have for this week – have an awesome weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Feb 3, 2017 | General
Oh, Friday – how the heck are you! And, why did it take you so long to get here!
Yeah, it was one of those weeks that seemed to go on forever.
On the knitting front – Cuff One of Sock One is done. Cuff Two of Sock Two might get started and finished on Sunday. I just love how these yarns are playing together. They are not the most vivid contrasting colors, but I am liking the way they are knitting up.
Way back in December, I was asked if I would review some Knitter’s Pride Needles – I said yes and this lovely set of needles arrived just before the end of the year. Knowing that Kirsten Kapur’s Sock MKAL would be starting in February, I waited to use the needles in this project to tell you all what I think. My go-to needles for sock knitting are Knitter’s Pride Karbonz – they are so fantastic, except when you are knitting with dark sock yarn, then even the brightest of light is not always enough to see the stitches clearly. So, when these 6″ Royales arrived I was happy to see they were very different. The US size range in the set is nice also; 0, 1, 1.5 (which I am using for the MKAL socks), 2, 2.5, and 3. The needle size is marked on each needle but the markings look like that of the Karbonz which has rubbed off with use. And while I am not certain I would ever use the size 0 needles, the other sizes will absolutely get good use. The Royales are not as stiff as the Karbonz so I am not sure how they will hold up in comparison, but if you found the Karbonz were too stiff and hurt your hands, these would be a very good option. The join of the metal tip to the wood is smooth and is completely unnoticeable, and the point on the Royale needle is identical to the Karbonz. This made me very happy and I have had no issues with the tips splitting my yarn at all in knitting. The wood of the needle is very smooth and the stitches slide easily along as I knit. There is no tugging and the wood is beautifully polished. I do not think these needles will snag your knitting at all. It is also great that they come in a nice storage pouch! If you are looking for a set of needles – I would highly recommend these.
Thank you to Stitch Craft Marketing for sending the needles and asking me to review them!
Now, how about some links?
- First up this week, Romi begins a new year in her 7 Shawls series – 7 reSizable Shawls This time however, her concept is very interesting – you can get the pattern book and you can get the work book. Both are available at a reduced price until February 27. And the first project will be released during Stitches West later this month.
- You knew this was coming… World War G{loves}
- Bargello knitting, wow.
- Loulou
- Finally, a couple of freebies! Squircle and Ice Maiden
That is all I have for this week, have a slow and relaxing weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!!
by Kat | Jan 27, 2017 | General
They say the first thing to go is your mind… and apparently, mine is well on its way.
Truth #1:
Yesterday, I confessed to being 57. However, as Steve so kindly reminded me yesterday:
Okay but, really – how the hell do you forget your own age. Well, because I do not have any issues admitting when I make mistakes – it is true, I am only 56. And, I really feel so much younger today because of it! LOL
Truth #2:
After a week of temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s – winter has decided to return…albeit gently which is greatly appreciated.
Truth #3:
My chives are very confused as to what season it is! (as are all the singing birds!)
This was taken this morning…
Truth #4:
I am so insanely glad that it is Friday – it seems like this has been the longest week ever – the cocktail hour cannot get here fast enough! I am thinking Margarita’s today to toast President Peña Nieto – that is if I can convince Steve to make them!
Truth #5:
Next week clue numero uno of Kirsten Kapur’s Sock MKAL arrives (on Wednesday, in case you still want to join in!!) My yarn is ready and I am eager to begin. Yarn choice? Deep stash diving (see above!) I am not sure who the brown yarn is from, but the lovely golden-yellow is some very vintage Kim Kaslow aka The Woolen Rabbit sock yarn in the Tupelo Honey colorway. Now, are you wondering how I can remember that tidbit but not my age – I am giving you some real insight into what is important in my life – yarn is obviously taking up LOTS of brain space! Haha!
Truth #6:
The LINKS are back! The LINKS! The LINKS!
That is all I have for this week – have a truth-filled weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jan 13, 2017 | General
I finished Steve’s Rob Roy on Wednesday and I am winding yarn today to cast on a second Rob Roy. I know…I am wondering what on earth is wrong with me also. However, it is a nice fitting hat and that is my story and I am sticking to it. Also, I kind of figured out a way to knit this blasted thing without following the chart with a gazillion different symbols. Maybe…
Gale has been distracting me with this hat and I confess that I have done some stash diving to see what I might have that would work. Swatching might have begun…
No progress has been made on sleeve two, see above…
Also – can I just say I am so thankful it is Friday? It has been a week of highs and lows and highs and lows – I am ready to get off the roller coaster that was this week. However, can next week be the LONGEST WEEK EVER?? (think the Jericho story from the Bible) I am wondering if I play Louis Armstrong really loud on the Sonos all week I might achieve success. Do you think that my Keen boots would work for marching boots in a pinch?
Meanwhile, back in reality – I am not going to the Woman’s March on Washington DC; however, I am going to the Sister March in Pittsburgh! If you are not going to Washington DC and you want to find a local march – you can find one here
But, really – are you ready for some links yet? I know I am!
That is all I have this week and I wish you a very happy Friday! See you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jan 6, 2017 | General
When winter arrives in Pittsburgh, it arrives with a vengeance. I was greeted this morning with the stellar temperature of 8 whole degrees. (although they are forecasting for it to be well into the 50’s by next Thursday so this cold will be short-lived – which is just insanely crazy and if I was not already coming down with something, you know I would by this time next week!)
But, when it gets this cold – I am so thankful for wool! And, as my slippers from last year have a hole in one heel and I have not tried to darn/mend it yet – I cast on a new pair of my “go to” slipper yesterday. I have one done and am onto the second – it should be done shortly and my feet will be so happy.
Once that slipper is done, I will be working on swatching for a sweater. I have some incredible CVM yarn from Sheepspot and this will be something work related (I mean really, how great is it having a job that requires you to knit!!) Anyways, I have two sweater ideas that I think might work for this yarn – the first is a simple cardigan from Yellowcosmo and the second is Kathleen Dames latest knit along sweater – Basic Cable. I will be swatching for both this afternoon and we will see which swatch wins! Either way, you will find an article about my swatching journey later this month on the Sheepspot blog.
Last month, Caffeine Girl Creates asked me about the size of my Peace Cowl and I wanted to share with all of you my thoughts on how the finished cowl wears. My cowl ended up 8″ x 68″ – so it is BIG! I went up a needle size because my handspun was a bit thicker than fingering weight and I did not want a dense, heavy fabric. Would I want this cowl this big if I were knitting it out of a worsted spun yarn? No, I do not think I would, so I might reduce it a few inches, however in my woolen spun Columbia, I simply LOVE it! It is light but so incredibly warm! I put it on yesterday morning and I wore it all day long. For not having a project in mind when I spun the fiber up, I’d say this was an excellent match of yarn and pattern!
I have some Dorset Down handspun that I was trying to use in another project which has been languishing on the needles as it is not a good match for a couple of reasons – my spinning was not very uniform and I am not sure I have enough yardage to complete the project. However, I think it might work well in the Peace Cowl pattern, so you can look for that to be repurposed in the coming month as well.
Now how about some links?
Tomorrow is Saint Distaff’s Day! So, if you have not used your spinning wheel in the New Year (or in a while…) this is the perfect opportunity to do so!
I am completely smitten with Selbu Norway. (And Selbu Mittens too!)
The OA and The Oa – I love them both!
Field Guide No. 2 is coming!
Water
Alien Trail
If 2017 is your year to try double knitting the Om Shanti Cowl is the perfect little project!
I love these Night Creatures Mittens!
That is all I have for this first week in January – I am off to have a bit of hot tea and to finish those slippers! See you back here on Monday!
