by Kat | Sep 22, 2017 | General
Summer has apparently let fall know that she is not done yet. Even though every day the signs in opposition grow exponentially!
Take Boyce Mayview Park where Steve and I walk several times a week; when we were last there, the paths were clear. But now they are littered with fallen leaves and, sadly, the trees are showing evidence of the lack of water we had in the spring. They are dropping their leaves without them developing any fall color. I have seen one or two trees with bits of color, but this almost overnight leaf drop was surprising to both of us.
Our weather has been well into the 80’s all week, and it looks like that kind of warmth will be with us until we leave the next week to visit my kids! While we need rain desperately, I am not complaining about the warm weather at all!
But, I know cool weather will be here sooner or later and, Ponchetta is finished, I need to weave in ends and give her a nice soak and block her, but she is done! Photos coming next week!
I am also almost done adding some necessary length to Nekia. Up next, my 5-day Stillwater sleeves will get a little adjustment in sleeve length.
Now, how about some links?
Recently, several knitters in my Tuesday group have all decided to knit a Wallaby. Yeah, that is one bandwagon I am not getting on! But, then I saw the Sweatshirt Sweater! It is almost like a grown-up, more adult, and more flattering version of the Wallaby!
The Sermon, curious in a very good way. Inspired by Moby-Dick and Ad Reinhardt
The Slouches Collection – especially Slouch Cowl
Stillness Collection, so many great things there!
Knitty, Deep Fall came out this week. The last couple of Knitty’s fell flat for me so I was pleasantly surprised at the number of awesome, “Ooo! I want to knit that” patterns it has!
Tahoma – I love this sweater, but I am not so sure about the yarn choice. But, I am thinking about this in some lopi and liking that thought process lots! (Superwash in a seamless sweater seems like an epic failure, unless you want the incredible, growing sweater…)
Storm Clouds Shawl… great color choice and really lovely lacework!
Finally, for the kids: Aimee’s Rainbow and Lil’ Rosebud
That is all I have this week! Have an amazing weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
by Kat | Sep 15, 2017 | General
The knitting is inching along nicely. I have about 7 more inches to go on the body of Ponchetta. I finished the third season of Hinterland yesterday, which gave me about 3 inches of quality knitting time! I am not sure how much knitting time there will be this weekend, but there is for sure some Michigan football knitting time on Saturday and that should be good for at least another 3 inches – slowly but surely it is getting done! I am hoping that by this time next week it will be in the FO category!
On my to do list for next week is to round up all the full-sized sheets I have and toss them in the washer before I bring them to my son. Apparently, his sweet pup has been nibbling sheets while Sam is a work. Oops! We also picked up some fleece blankets from IKEA in hopes that will help…better that Bowser chews the $3 blanket than sheets!
The yard is in desperate need of some TLC and since the Yard Fairies have not shown up, that leaves it to us. Hello Grass Cutting, Bush Trimming, and Garden Bed Clean Up – I am so happy to see you! (Okay, maybe not, ha!) Why is it that doing all those things in the spring is greeted with great enthusiasm, but the same is not true in the fall?
How about some links? There are lots of good things this week!
That is all I have for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!!
by Kat | Sep 8, 2017 | General
So, as I previously mentioned, it seems that Autumn turned the lights out on Summer and is here to stay. Yesterday it was incredibly chilly and today is even more so. You know, it’s bundle up weather, sweater and all! And this cool weather reminds me that I have some knits that could use a bit of a bath so I will pull them out today to start that process!
Next, my 5 Day Sweater really needs the sleeves to be just a bit longer so I will be ripping them out and adding a couple of inches to them. So much fun!
Then, staying in the cold weather theme, I have a friend who knit a Ponchetta last winter and it is so cute, so I started one some weeks ago, but I got on the Sweater Crazy Train and it has been languishing in my knitting bag. I got it out last night because we leave for Michigan on the 30th and it would be the perfect thing to have finished for the trip!
And, finally, clue #5 (the final clue!!) of Laura Aylor’s Sand Ripples MKAL is out today. I am plugging away on clue #4 but I am at the point that the rows are getting shorter now, so I hope it starts feeling like it is going more quickly, but I have to say; the construction of this wrap is ingenious!
Now, how about a few links?
That is all I have for this week. Have a great weekend everyone, see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Sep 1, 2017 | General
Happy Friday, Gentle Readers! And, Welcome September – okay, maybe not welcome – it is just 50 degrees out this morning and decidedly fall like. Brrrr!
Blue = 5 star books; Orange = 4 star books
August closed out my summer reading on an incredible high point. I finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay on Wednesday and what a way to finish my book bingo! To say I loved Kavalier and Clay is an understatement – it is one of the best books I have read this year. I gave it 5 stars and if you have not yet read any of Michael Chabon’s books, this is the place to start! I deeply loved Rose, Joe, and Sammy.
This summer had an incredible number of good reads (thanks to so many of you for sharing such incredible titles with me!!) Of the 25 books I read for my cover all there were 14 books I gave 4 stars and 9 that I gave 5 stars. IMO that is just amazing. I discovered some new (to me) authors that I was fortunate to be able to read more of their great writing and I even spent some time with authors I already love.
Staying on books for a moment – I began listening to Pat Conroy’s Beach Music on Wednesday and I am completely enthralled. I mean what is not to love about someone who writes about more dysfunctional families than I had!
And the knitting! I am on clue 3 of Laura Aylor’s Sand Ripples MKAL – and wow! Just wow! I have bound off stitches on 2 sides of the square and now am knitting out from the sides that were not bound off. It is a fascinating construction and I hope to be caught up and start today’s clue this weekend!
Now, how about some knitting inspiration?
First up, some interesting shawls: Touchstone (and it’s a free download!), Balvraid Hap, and Sketch Shawl (I especially like this knit with Zitron Filigran)
Interesting construction with Wood Warbler Cowl and Warrior Cowl
If this weather keeps up you will need a sweater: Steampunk Pullover, New Berlin Gansey, Intrigue, and Brookings Crew
PSA: There are just 115 days to Christmas…if you plan on doing any gift knitting you better get started! Here are some easy gift knits to get you started: Elska, Ruschia Hat, Transitus, and Soft Washed Herringbone Mitts
That is all I have for this week! I will see you back here on Monday!
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by Kat | Aug 25, 2017 | General
It seemed like an inordinately long week this week for some reason and I am glad it is Friday!
I do have a Finished Object to share with you today (and this morning, I could have used them outside this morning as the temperature was a very chilly 50!) I finished the Ferryboat Mitts from the absolutely lovely Shepherd’s Lamb Rambouillet Yarn. What an absolute treat to knit with this yarn. Shepherd’s Lamb sent me undyed yarn, but they have some really beautiful dyed skeins and they even have a few plant dyed skeins as well! While I was limited as to what to make (besides a swatch) with just a skein or two, this yarn would make a lovely sweater. It is so squishy and soft. And, while this is a soft yarn, I think it will wear very well. This yarn is next to skin soft, so you could also make a squishy warm cowl with a couple of skeins. If you have never knit with Rambouillet, I highly recommend this yarn.
Now, how about some links?
That is all I have for this week! Have an awesome weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
