February brings the rain, Thaws the frozen lake again. – Sara Coleridge
Rain. Rain mixed with snow. Snow. Snow mixed with rain. And now bitter cold. Yet, lengthening days and increasing birdsong hold the promise that spring is coming, even if it does not feel like it this morning!
Add in my shawl to this sad mess. I got to the point in my knitty math to add in the gold and what had been the most soothing knit suddenly became one filled with angst. A few rows in and that angst did not go away, so I listened to that voice telling me this was not working and stopped. I ripped back and now I am in a holding pattern while I ponder what to do. My inner voice is telling me this needs a cool color rather than the warm gold. I don’t think I have anything in my stash that might work, but I have not looked that closely. Fortunately, I am not a “solo project knitter” so my Pheasant Pullover got some attention instead!
However, despite the miserable weather and shawl angst, there were plenty of things to love this week, starting with Mr. Rogers. NPR shared some amazing photos of Fred Rogers here. The images are brilliant, and the words that accompany them are perfect! Just like he was!
I listened to a really smart podcast this week, Stay Tuned with Preet! He interviewed Dan Goldman, the conversation was fascinating and so informative!
I want to thank Mary for telling me about Poetry Unbound! Today was a special treat when Pádraig read one of Ocean Vuong’s poems from Night Sky With Exit Wounds. I love hearing what someone else thinks about a poem – a new perspective adds a new dimension to a poem.
Finally a bit of poetry by Edward Hirsch to close out the week:
I’m Going to Start Living Like a Mysticby Edward Hirsch:
Today I am pulling on a green wool sweater and walking across the park in a dusky snowfall.
The trees stand like twenty-seven prophets in a field, each a station in a pilgrimage—silent, pondering.
Blue flakes of light falling across their bodies are the ciphers of a secret, an occultation.
I will examine their leaves as pages in a text and consider the bookish pigeons, students of winter.
I will kneel on the track of a vanquished squirrel and stare into a blank pond for the figure of Sophia.
I shall begin scouring the sky for signs as if my whole future were constellated upon it.
I will walk home alone with the deep alone, a disciple of shadows, in praise of the mysteries.
Have a great, long weekend everyone. See you all back here next week!
February, fill the dyke With what thou dost like. Thomas Tusser, A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie
Friday’s in February will focus on finding things to love about a month that for me is an “in-between month” – it’s not quite spring and not quite winter, although those deliciously mild temps have given way to a full-on blast of winter here in the ‘Bergh, but despite that, my thoughts turned to spring! Funny how a few mild days does that, right?
I am really loving Marie Yovanovitch this week who shared these inspiring words: “It has been shocking to experience the storm of criticism, lies and malicious conspiracies that have preceded and followed my public testimony, but I have no regrets. I did — we did — what our conscience called us to do. We did what the gift of U.S. citizenship requires us to do.” Ambassador Yovanovitch provides the light of hope in the most beautiful way, and after this week I really needed that light!
I have recently felt the urge to declutter and clean out things. This led me to haul out some knitting bags that are filled with languishing projects. Most I have frogged, but one little gem was found in the midst of all the “what was I thinking” projects. My inspiration comes from Gale and her gorgeous take on KK’s Cladonia. Renewed love for a languishing project is a very good thing! I have a little bit of knitty math to do to figure out how big I want it, but I have a new “old project” that is calling my name!
There was lots of knitting temptations to love this week – in case you need a new project to love:
Finally, one of the best things this week was the love of friends. From messages from friends I have never personally met, a FaceTime call that brightened my week, to the most wonderful surprise that came via snail mail. I want to take a moment to tell all of you how much I love this community here at AsKatKnits, and how much I appreciate each of you. You make the world an infinitely kinder, lovelier place and my world is richer because of you! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
Happy Friday and my wish for you all is that you weekend is one of long slow days! See you back here next week!
Bis zum nächsten Mal, January! But, in actuality – you weren’t so bad! I was inspired by Katie to track A Year of Temperatures and I started on January 1 and I am really stunned at how warm it has been! In these past 31 days we had 2 days in the 60’s, 6 days in the 50’s, only 2 days in the 20’s, and the rest of the month rested easily in the 30’s to 40’s. A January Thaw on Global Warming! (Also, we did not have much sun in January… sigh.)
It’s Super Bowl Ad Weekend (for those of you who only watch for that aspect of the game!) Carole shared a great one this week and I am jumping right on that band wagon with one that I chuckled over. I live in an extremely Alexa-fied house and this really hit home!
I heard this fascinating piece on NPR this week and in case you don’t like either football or ads – streaming on Amazon Prime, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is so binge-worthy and yes… her outfits are to die for and I love every.single.thing.she.wears! It is truly a wonderful series and I highly recommend it!
In the I did not have enough to knit category – I have been oogling my daughters hat with some serious Hat Envy and I had enough of the main yarn to knit another one, but not enough KSH, but I did have some grey so I cast on and knit myself a hat in one day. Yes, yes, I did! It needs a bit of a soak and a pompom and it will be done. I really love how they are a warm and cool version of the same hat! Never fear, I have now returned to my Pheasant Pullover and will be dividing for the sleeves this morning!
Are you wondering what caught my eye in the knitting world this week? There were a few things that I did like:
Finally, the Lozenge Cowl, knit from Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool which is so pricey, but I think this would work well in any yarn with gradual color changes! (Also, this is a free pattern!)
That’s all I have for this week – have a great weekend and I will see you all back here next week!
This week felt like a turning point in a great number of things, but one that was most welcome was the gradual lengthening of the days which really became noticeable to me this week! Since Solstice our daylight has expanded a whopping 34 minutes here in Pittsburgh! That might not seem like much of a turning point, but boy it sure feels like one to me! In addition to the increased minutes of daylight, some other issues I have been struggling with have found turning points on their own. Which is a good reminder that sometimes, whether I do something or not, problems eventually work themselves out – so worry less, Kat!
Getting (it)
Although it took much longer than I expected, my finished Esme Tunic put a smile on my face! I have a good start on understanding the concept of what to do to get plaids to match. I have one more tunic to sew, and it will be on my list for next week. This fabric has more “lines” to match, which makes me a bit nervous, but I am going to dig out my walking foot to aide the sewing. AND I am going to do some basting before final seaming! Hello, Bust Darts…I am talking about YOU!
Finished Esme Tunic!
Side seams were so close!
Okay, maybe not that close.
Shoulder easing was much better.
On both shoulders!
I love how the inseam pockets turned out!
It works well with my grey Reagan cardigan!
AND, my Felix Cardigan!
Impeachment (trials)
I have spent LOTS of time this week listening to the Senate impeachment proceedings. I have been sort of shocked at articles like this – I mean, Senators, paying attention is actually your job! You all took an oath, and the rules state you must stay in your chairs quietly listening and taking notes! Although, I did love this suggestion and would LOVE to hear the gentle clicking of 100 pairs of knitting needles as they all listen to the House Managers. Speaking of those House Managers – I might be a bit biased – but they have done an incredible job, one and all! However, last nights closing by Adam Schiff was amazing (you can see part of his dynamic speech here): “Right matters. And the truth matters. Otherwise we are lost.” Exactly!!
Fair Isle(ing)
I am almost done with the second chart of my Pheasant Pullover (see above for dramatically increased knitting times) and hurrah for longer circular needles! I am absolutely in love with the beautiful details and the intricate color variations. At times it seems like I am creating a beautiful Pointillism art piece, each stitch alone is not much – but added together with hundreds of other stitches a wonderfully drawn, and most intricate motif begins to emerge. With each stitch I am singing an ode to the brilliance of Amy Christoffers – I am so in love with this pattern! (I am happy she is such a prolific designer because I have my eyes on Ipswich for a spring cardigan – I love the lace yoke!)
I love how the colors seem to merge into each other!
I am not sure why, but my tensioning is almost effortless with this yarn!
That is all I have for today; I wish you all a wonderful and relaxing weekend! See you all back here next week.
Winter has returned with a vengeance here in Pittsburgh! Most of the week our temperatures have been in the 50’s and this morning we have a dusting of snow covering that is covering a rather nasty bit of ice and it appears my YakTrax will get their inaugural use today!
If you are heading outside today, I hope you have lots of warm woolens to wear!
And, speaking of woolens – I got the loveliest package from Lerwick yesterday. I was amazed by the heady sheepy aroma of these yarns and this is the first time Sherman has ever been remotely interested in yarn! While that odor might put some off, I love the minimal processing of this yarn. I can feel the lanolin, and this will be a lovely wintery treat to knit with! I am not good at all at putting together colors for colorwork, so I defaulted to the colors that Amy Christoffers used for her Pheasant Pullover. Wow, I am so glad I did! This brown has the most incredible depth! As you can see, swatching has begun and I plan to cast on this weekend!
Do you ever feel “multi-project guilt”? You are not alone and I read the most interesting work around for multi-project rotation this morning – The Gideon Method!
That is all I have for today – I hope you stay warm and have some knitting to fill your lap! Have a good weekend and I will see you back here next week!
