A Case of Cast-On-Itis (or Welcome Charlotte!)

A Case of Cast-On-Itis (or Welcome Charlotte!)

After a night of tossing and turning, I woke this morning to this gargantuan web just outside my back door. And, I mean gargantuan – it is over 3′ in diameter, this was one busy spider overnight! Perhaps, I can borrow some of her mojo and I can join her on my upcoming sleepless nights.** Because I don’t have enough projects in process, today is clue 1 of Laura Aylor’s Sand Ripples MKAL. And, yes, I will be casting on. The first clues are always so deceiving with the amount of time it takes to complete them, amirite? I was asked to knit an item for a charity auction and this might work… I am not sure, I will have to see how the clues progress! But, to be safe, I will be tossing the fingering weight stash today to see if I have something that will work for this (and I am more than certain that I do!)

I did manage to finish something else this month, I completed Knit/Wit’s Kerameia Cowl. It was a bit of gift knitting and has been received by the recipient. I am working on a second cowl from the same yarn that will go in the gift basket. It is a great pattern and if you want to try your hand at color-work, this would be the perfect thing to start with as it is knit with a DK weight yarn. I knit it with Fibernymph Dye Works Bona Fide and I like the yarn despite it being superwash. It is super soft and not at all scratchy, so this should be the perfect thing to have around your neck!

In the caught-up category…I am happy to let you all know that the new washer (and dryer) is so outstanding, I have all the laundry caught up from being washer-less for over a week. I am sure that “new toy” feeling quickly wear off and laundry will go back to its normal status of “ugh, laundry”! Oh, and someone asked what is this amazing silent washer… we got an LG Top-Loading washer and it did not cost an arm and a leg. I know some of you are devotees of a brand I had never heard of. Well, maybe I heard of them, but do not recall ever seeing them in any appliance stores. I grew up in a “Maytag” household – and that washer lasted more than 30 years (no really, it did.) Nothing anymore does, however, but I am hopeful that this washer will last longer than its predecessor!**

Now, enough about my laundry joy and how about some links?

Carole has a new grand baby coming and I have been keeping my eye out for cute baby boy things and this week there were some AWESOME sweaters! Sloane Square and Little Roland… oh my gosh, I love them both… so much!! Although, Mary… you might need to knit these too!

Woman Must Make Her Own Arrows… I am absolutely enthralled by a pattern that says this:

“This is a recipe-in-progress, and you’ll receive instructions for general steps, shaping, several possible stitch patterns, and edging. This is not a line-by-line pattern. You should have a sense of adventure and some strong basic skills, such as knitting top-down triangles, working various increases and decreases, and mostly the ability to make choices based on loosely described steps. It helps to have a knitting friend who may be able to answer questions, and to use free online videos for techniques you want to incorporate.”

Veronika Cardigan (that doesn’t really look like a cardigan but is really beautiful!)

Bibbe… is it a poncho? Or a sweater?

Are you a Twin Peaks fan?

Interweave Knits Fall 2017 has an interesting collection of knits but I especially like the Angelina Pullover

Stroma is written for ANY GAUGE! Wait, wut?

And, finally… if you, like me, have at all been following Julia Farwell Clay’s journey (you can scroll through her IG feed and her progress) with this sweater then you will absolutely love the Eddy Wrap pattern! (I know exactly what yarn I am going to use to knit it, but you can get a kit here!)

That is all I have for this week! Have an amazing Friday everyone and I will see you back here on Monday!! I will leave you with the picture I managed to get with the spider in her web and she is impressive!

**When reality is so insane that literally the only thing I can do is laundry and knit.

Unexpected Goodness

Unexpected Goodness

This Monday morning brings the close of July is the most unexpected but beautiful way.

It was a great weekend! Friday night cocktails were accompanied by some light snacks as we wound down the week.

Saturday saw me heading out with some “yarn” friends to visit a few shops on the Pittsburgh Yarn Crawl and the weather was just perfect – not too hot at all as we enjoyed the day.

Sunday, the day started out beautifully cool but it warmed nicely and the in afternoon we spent time in the yard doing a bit of work, which feels like it is never-ending.

However, this “overnight” visitor was a most welcome sight first thing this morning!

I hope your Monday is filled with unexpected goodness, too!

Knit-sanity

Knit-sanity

The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success. – Bruce Feirstein

The knitting continues, despite not making my “goal” yesterday. I wanted to be done with the body and ready to pick up stitches this morning however, I did get to the ribbing. Twenty-one rows to binding off, seems like a manageable number, doesn’t it?

Today I would like to sit under the pergola but the rain will keep me (and Sherman) in the house. I do have Pat Conroy’s South of Broad to keep me company. And, perhaps indoor knitting will offer fewer distractions than the pergola.

I do have a Brown Wren update! My persistent little wren won over a mate! She finished feathering the nest and now I think there are eggs in the nest! Mr. Wren’s songs are even more ebullient, if that is at all possible!

Also…I saw my first hummingbird on Wednesday! Yep, there she was sitting on the “deer-proof” netting on the garden. And, speaking of the garden…baby tomatoes are popping up all over and it looks like we will have a bumper crop this year!

Now, how about a few links?

First up we have all manner of shawl-y things!! Starting with Avian Melody which is just gorgeous!

To satisfy your inner super hero, you just might need a Wonder Woman Wrap (or perhaps we all do!!)

Sari, not Sari… too cute. And what is not to love about anything knit with Hedgehog yarns?

Rift is simple and so beautiful.

Aurora Borealis from Svetlana… oh.my.

In the somethings other than shawls category, first up Flexi… “MAXIMUM FREEDOM! Your yarn. Your gauge. Your size.” Yes, really.

Old Shale Cardigan for ladies is very cute!

And, finally – put a mitt on it with Wood Sorrel

That’s it for me this week, I am off to work on success and avoiding insanity! See you back here on Monday with a finished sweater! (Hopefully!!)

 

When Monday’s are Saturday!

When Monday’s are Saturday!

Greetings from mid-weekend! I know! How awesome is that!

Some things to perk up your Monday:

  1. The Four Day Sweater KAL is in full swing – and Mary is just cruising along! Go, Mary, Go! I am beyond the Great Sweater Divide and will resume knitting on Thursday when Steve heads off for a 3-day work function. Yes, there is a method to me dividing up my time! LOL
  2. Speaking of Mary, she shared this lovely tidbit with me this morning! Yes, I’m still with her – and really, can we all be in a book club together? Perhaps new rules for Presidential candidates should include their reading list, and if they don’t have one – they are automatically disqualified!
  3. I have picked 7 zucchinis, 10 cucumbers, and up today is the first bean harvest!! Gardening FTW!
  4. We had some early sweet corn for dinner last night and yes, it was so delicious!

That is all I have for this Mon-turday! Except this, Monday I think this should be your new plan going forward – BE SATURDAY!

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