There is always in February some one day, at least, when one smells the yet distant, but surely coming, summer. — Gertrude Jekyll
That day came this week in western Pennsylvania, because on Tuesday I surely smelled a hint of summer. And as I came home from Ash Wednesday services, I saw that glorious faint green glow of the start of leaves in some protected areas! Those hints will help me get through the return of winter weather and I hope that this cold spell does not settle in for long. It is hard going back to wintry days after having a taste of spring!
It’s Lent and Steve had seriously asked me make a spread sheet for the area Friday Fish Fry locations…really, a spread sheet… Thank goodness that I found about a million sites for the Fish-Fry-Extravaganza (and even maps!!) that began on Wednesday here in the ‘Burgh! It seems Friday Cocktail Hour will be overtaken by 40-days-of-fried-fish ::sigh::
I stumbled across a moving piece in The New Yorker Magazine yesterday and I was reminded of something Bonny said yesterday: “Sometimes we just have to search a bit harder and pay special attention to the delight.” Look no further, this piece is full of delight and, yes, bread pudding.
And, speaking of delight…this tweet caught my attention this week:
50 years ago this week, Ernie’s Rubber Duckie made its Sesame Street debut ❤️
I have been having the “great inner debate” over Romi’s Mystery Shawl: Should I? One color versus two? What color? But in the midst of the great debate, Larissa Brown’s Lunar Fade MKAL appeared on the horizon. Stash busting, anyone? I can tell you that I simply love my Lunar Phase wrap (and I even bought some denim material to make a Uniform Dress to wear with it… ok, maybe not just that wrap…but yeah. I really love it!!)
Anyways, I am thinking I will wait to see how Romi’s Mystery unfolds and then answer my questions and in the mean time I might have given my stash a good toss and found some yarns that just might work for a Lunar Fade!
Finally, Vera is always inspiring and yesterday was no exception! (And just in time because my socks are finished…in 12 days!! What???) So I have an empty set of sock needles…St. Paddy’s Day Socks anyone? I bet Vera never imagined that she’d be the reason for a little sock knit along! But, the pattern she picked is so cute… AND SPRINGY…and FREE!! So, grab some green yarn and join me knitting some Miss Lime Socks with her! And these are moving right along, when I set my knitting aside last night I was finished with 3 pattern repeats!
Grinch-y Green is not quite an Irish color, but I like this start!
That’s all that I have today! Have a great Friday and an even better weekend!
Any time, any time while I was a slave, if one minute’s freedom had been offered to me, and I had been told I must die at the end of that minute, I would have taken it. Just to stand one minute on god’s earth a free woman. I would. — Elizabeth Freeman (MumBet)
Black history month is flying by, and sadly with little notice on my part. But this week I watched a documentary produced by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after hearing about it on NPR. I learned so much, but these words by Elizabeth Freeman have made me truly stop and think. Those weighty words remind me that the ease in which I ignore the significance of this month should not happen. I can and should do better.
Vera shared this link this week and it is most worthy of being shared again! It is true that everything old is new again! Timeless knitting is timeless indeed! I absolutely love every single knitted item! And, those knitting machine images… how the heck??? Wouldn’t that be something interesting to learn!
There were a couple of things that caught my eye on Ravelry this week: Ooodles of love for Isabel Kraemer’s Night Groove and especially the short-sleeved version! And Romi’s Mystery Shawl… if I can get my Cladonia figured out, I think I want to knit this! First clue comes April 3 – so the lure of spring colors is calling me!
That is all I have for this week! Have a great weekend everyone!
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.
