When winter arrives in Pittsburgh, it arrives with a vengeance. I was greeted this morning with the stellar temperature of 8 whole degrees. (although they are forecasting for it to be well into the 50’s by next Thursday so this cold will be short-lived – which is just insanely crazy and if I was not already coming down with something, you know I would by this time next week!)
But, when it gets this cold – I am so thankful for wool! And, as my slippers from last year have a hole in one heel and I have not tried to darn/mend it yet – I cast on a new pair of my “go to” slipper yesterday. I have one done and am onto the second – it should be done shortly and my feet will be so happy.
Once that slipper is done, I will be working on swatching for a sweater. I have some incredible CVM yarn from Sheepspot and this will be something work related (I mean really, how great is it having a job that requires you to knit!!) Anyways, I have two sweater ideas that I think might work for this yarn – the first is a simple cardigan from Yellowcosmo and the second is Kathleen Dames latest knit along sweater – Basic Cable. I will be swatching for both this afternoon and we will see which swatch wins! Either way, you will find an article about my swatching journey later this month on the Sheepspot blog.
Last month, Caffeine Girl Creates asked me about the size of my Peace Cowl and I wanted to share with all of you my thoughts on how the finished cowl wears. My cowl ended up 8″ x 68″ – so it is BIG! I went up a needle size because my handspun was a bit thicker than fingering weight and I did not want a dense, heavy fabric. Would I want this cowl this big if I were knitting it out of a worsted spun yarn? No, I do not think I would, so I might reduce it a few inches, however in my woolen spun Columbia, I simply LOVE it! It is light but so incredibly warm! I put it on yesterday morning and I wore it all day long. For not having a project in mind when I spun the fiber up, I’d say this was an excellent match of yarn and pattern!
I have some Dorset Down handspun that I was trying to use in another project which has been languishing on the needles as it is not a good match for a couple of reasons – my spinning was not very uniform and I am not sure I have enough yardage to complete the project. However, I think it might work well in the Peace Cowl pattern, so you can look for that to be repurposed in the coming month as well.
Now how about some links?
Tomorrow is Saint Distaff’s Day! So, if you have not used your spinning wheel in the New Year (or in a while…) this is the perfect opportunity to do so!
I am completely smitten with Selbu Norway. (And Selbu Mittens too!)
The OA and The Oa – I love them both!
If 2017 is your year to try double knitting the Om Shanti Cowl is the perfect little project!
I love these Night Creatures Mittens!
That is all I have for this first week in January – I am off to have a bit of hot tea and to finish those slippers! See you back here on Monday!
This is what I look forward to during the heat and humidity of summer – delightfully bracing days to wear (and knit with) wool and alpaca! I put my Peace Cowl aside for some Christmas knitting, but now I’m thinking about starting a second one out of squishy alpaca. Stay warm and stay healthy!
I walked in to work this morning wearing five handknits — a sweater, socks, a cowl, a hat, and mittens. My face was pretty much numb, but the rest of me was toasty! I feel bad at times like this for people who cannot wear wool, as I could not make it through winter without it!
Absolutely LOVE the slippers!!!
OMG Selbu Norway is gorgeous!!! Perhaps time for a visit…
I am (im)patiently waiting for Field Guide #2.
And your links. How can I knit it ALL?!?!?
Snowy earlier here today with more predicted for tomorrow. It’s wool weather for sure!
As usual, I love love love your links. The Selbu one …I am speechless, and super envious, which is rare for me
. I have been watching Lilyhammer so already Norway-obsessed ! We couldn’t finish The OA. Too creepy once the main story kicked in, though beautifully filmed and acted. I am a little bit of a wuss I guess (I can’t say more or I’ll spoil the plot for others). OTOH The Oa is lovely.
I feel your pain (it is very cold here today), but today the sky is mostly blue and I celebrate its color (until tomorrow). We were both sick over Christmas. My cold passed quickly, but Smith’s has gone on too long and he’s now on antibiotics. May you dodge the bullet and stay healthy!!
Your “slips,” as my niece called them when she was a toddler do indeed look warm and toasty…and I enjoyed looking at/oohing and ahhing over all the other projects…my Peace cowl is finally on the needles…waiting for me to continue…
Enjoy the weekend…
Cheers~
oohh, I love both those cabled sweaters. knitting “patterns” (but only with charts, thank you very much!) is my favorite kind of knitting. but I’m going to give colorwork a(nother) shot when my new field guide arrives. haven’t yet decided which pattern I’ll cast on… hope you finished that slipper… looks like it was the perfect weekend for some new wool wear!
Love that cardi pattern! Stay warm…we had -5 this morning!
I love the colors of the yarn in your photo! And you’re right . . . nothing like wool during these cold winter days!
XO
this is going to sound weird but when the wool is dk or worsted or thicker than that, I get neck pains from the weight or how it hangs on my neck. I think that is why I knit with fingering and lace so much!! I love your slipper, that colorway is delightful!