by Kat | Mar 9, 2018 | General
I have completed my swatching for the Lunar Phase MKAL. I am so excited about what I have learned about putting together colors in the past year or so. In my mind’s eye, I envisioned this shawl being like a water color painting – with subtle changes. My swatch has more of the pop of color than I think the MKAL will (after all, we only need 80 yds of the pop of color) and I think I have achieved the watercolor effect I was looking for. While this was not my outward intention, it very much reminds me of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
I have likewise spent much time thinking about the other little swatch. I think that swatch might be destined to become Find Your Fade I just need to figure out a few more colors to add in, more swatching will ensue. And, that does not disappoint me at all. I have learned the value of swatching, even swatching for a shawl. Yes, Gentle Reader, the swatch is your friend.
I discovered this week that I knit tighter at a smaller circumference, which is not a good thing at all. My sleeve on Strokkur is a much smaller gauge that the sweater body. Here is the stupid part of this: I realized this about 10-ish rounds in, but I ignored that little nagging voice saying to me “DANGER, WILL ROBINSON” and “THIS IS NOT RIGHT, STOP KNITTING” Some 50 plus rounds later, I finally listened to the yelling in my head and measured gauge. Yeah, when that voice speaks to you, you need to listen. Now, I am having a bit of a debate with myself – rip out sleeve one and start over or knit sleeve two at the correct gauge and then see how much yarn I have left with the hopes that I can then knit a 3rd sleeve at the correct gauge without ripping out sleeve one. The one good thing in all this…It has been snowing here for the past couple of days and wool knitting is all the rage when the snow flies! Ha.
I read a blog in the past week that has made me shake my head in confusion – the gist of the post was that they were all about the process, not about the finishing of projects and stated that they finished almost nothing in a year and that was okay. Wait, what? You want to make but not actually make anything? As my daughter would say SMH… big time! LOL I am not that at all, I am a PROJECT maker versus a PROCESS maker. Don’t get me wrong – knitting is my superpower; it is therapy, and when I am knitting, I am in my happy place. But, I knit to make. I guess that I what really makes me happy is a finished object that someone will love and, hopefully, wear often! I still don’t understand that post, but to each their own I suppose.
Now, how about some links?
First up, this made me cry – this was in the NYTimes yesterday for International Woman’s Day “Since 1851, obituaries in The New York Times have been dominated by white men. Now, we’re adding the stories of 15 remarkable women.” When I first read the line, I thought – so no women died? But, then I realized that a woman’s significance in life was nothing – in life and death. It is painful to think about and perhaps we need not a single day where we celebrate women, but we should celebrate every day.
Steve sent me a link this week that made me smile. Knitting can make you a Super Hero…
Up for a sweater challenge? Hannah Fettig has a Mystery Cardigan perking along and it is not too late to join in!
Carol Sunday’s Capture the Moment is awesome!
And, finally, Marie Greene has us turning our minds to spring with Lace Market. Oh man, I love it and am pondering yarn subs.
That is all I have for the week, have an awesome weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
P.S. The flowers above are from one of my Sunday School students. I am so surprised they are surviving as they are, I don’t have the best of luck with indoor blooming plants!
by Kat | Mar 2, 2018 | General
Yes, March has some lion-like qualities here in the ‘Burgh today. The mild weather we had been joyfully experiencing has been replaced with the rude return of winter. Snow, cold, and blowing winds are what my world looks like today!
However, there were some good things to reflect upon as the week ends.
It appears my fix on my Carbeth is a winner! I would have soaked and blocked it again – but this weather has pre-empted that because I am wearing her today!
Last week I had a visit with the optometrist who confirmed there is a change to my prescription… new glasses arrived on Wednesday and my eyes are rejoicing at all the things they can clearly see! (If you follow me on IG, I will post a photo of both the new and improved Carbeth neckline and my new glasses there later today!)
My forsythia has NOT bloomed yet, so I am hoping to avoid the catastrophe that happened last year when they bloomed and then the cold returned destroying all the flowers!
AND, the weekend is here! Which is always a very good thing! I will be heading to JoAnn’s for some Bear in a Bunny Suit stuffing…
There were some very good links this week as well!
First up, a new Sally Melville pattern: Necessary Neutral I really love this, and she is so right with this statement: “Whether or not we knit socks, we buy fingering yarns.”
Twisted Threads and Gravity of color wrap both caught my eye for different reasons. Both are a most wearable shape and they are both currently free.
As winter so harshly reminded me this morning, he is not quite ready to move on so perhaps some mitten knitting is a good idea: Long Reach Mittens or Dreyma Mitts
Oh My Sheep is about the cutest thing ever. Someone should knit one for Vicki’s new grandbaby!
Puddle Studies is also so cute!
Finally, Sarah Jordan has a new sock pattern out: Palestra
That is all I have for today! Have an awesome weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Feb 23, 2018 | General
The weather did indeed cooperate for a few brief moments yesterday and with that lull in the rain we scurried outside to grab a few photos.
Carbeth in all her glory! I absolutely love the tunic changes I made to the pattern, but the collar… not so much. I fussed with it all day yesterday and then I saw some of these examples (like this and this) without the fold over neck and an idea was hatched. THEN, Carbeth as a Cardigan was born! I love her idea of the fold over neckline, which will give it some additional stability, which my sweater needs I think, as she is a bit weighty. I love the length, I love the yarn, and once I change the neckline, it will be perfect! Now to figure out a yarn for the cardigan version! What a perfect “uniform” that is!
Other than that, it was a whirlwind week with too much stuff going on and I am more than ready for the weekend! And, I fear that it will just fly by as well with it being of a “normal length”! Boo!
Now, how about some links to close out this week?
First up, a new issue of Laine Magazine is out and it is filled with all kinds of great things!
I really love Harmony!
In case you, like me, have lopapeysa’s on the brain: Hjarta Lopi and Dreyma
Need a diversion to transition into spring? Romi’s Mystery Shawl begins April 6 and you can get a kit here, there are currently still a couple left!
Sudden Bliss is stunning!
Pussy Hat creator Kat Coyle brings us Evil Eye Gloves!
But Tiriltunge Newborn Onsie, Nyfødtbody takes the cake for cuteness this week!
That’s all I have for this week! Have an amazing weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
by Kat | Feb 16, 2018 | General
Yes, Gentle Readers, the sweater progression is moving rapidly along! Last night I joined the sleeves to the body and this morning I am ready to begin the decreases and I am going to take Ann’s recommendation on how to work them. This is such a fast knit, it feels like it is just flying off the needles! I am thinking that I might be done today or tomorrow. And, not that I am hoping for more winter, I do hope that I will have a few days that I can wear it yet this season!
It is a grey and rainy day here, perfect for knitting and watching some Olympics! I even have a few links for you all today!
These socks are so cute! (And, free!)
Dying for a Team USA Closing Ceremony Hat? (also, free!)
Hasukai Cowl (scarf?) Free until March 10! And, this would be a great accessory piece for the Uniform shift!
My obsession with Lopapeysa’s continues: Hjaltlandspeysa
I really love Quince’s Piper 2018 collection.
And, finally…a couple of weeks ago, Steve surprised Sherman with a BarkBox… to say he liked it would be an understatement. The toys are perfect, but the treats have been the biggest hit! You’d think we starve him because he sits and stares at the “treat cupboard” any time we are in the room!
That’s all I have for this week, see you back here on Monday! Have a great weekend everyone!
by Kat | Feb 9, 2018 | General
That’s right, Olympic Knitting starts now! Or rather at 6AM EST as Sprite so kindly advised me of. So, yes… I was up early and cast on, (not once but twice…grrr!) Above is my progress thus far on my Carbeth. I will be sitting down with Sherman Alexie and get some quality knitting time in today on this project. Also, the above photo is a much better example of the color of the color of my yarn. Kym asked me if I was making any modifications – and yes, I am! Because well… cropped sweater + mom-belly = super unattractive look (I am not saying Kym has a mom-belly, I am certain she does not, however, I DO have a mom-belly and I like to keep it covered, thank you very much!)
But, yes. I am making some mods to the knitting. Kym was worried about how this would look because the design is so perfect the way it is. So, excuse my poor rendering of where I am going… but I am doing less ribbing on the sleeves and shortening them a bit. And, I am adding 8 inches to the body…which for me nicely covers my mom-belly.
But, even with these mods, it should be a quick knit!
I am hesitant to share links today, because well… I am already knitting all the things! But, here go you!
Did you all see Rowan Denim Lace? Okay, I might have done more than oooing and ahhhing over this collection!
Also, the Spring Issue of Pom Pom Quarterly has some gorgeous designs!
Sarah Jordan has a new sock heel design that looks most intriguing!
If you need one more Ravellenic Project, Susan Ashcroft has one for you! Just Slip It (and it is free!)
This planned pooling is amazing
Svetlana’s Winter Story Mittens are so gorgeous!
And, finally… something to get us through the next season, Julie Hoover’s Hatcher
That is all I have for the week! Enjoy your weekend and go Team USA and Team Rules Schmules! See you all back here on Monday!
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