A rainy weekend meant that I spent more time indoors (and got a jump on the week’s tasks!) But that is okay because have a bit of a pattern puzzle to put together and some tools to find! (Hello, grommet setter!)
So thanks to that weekend rain, my Monday is abnormally free!
Summer is just rolling right along and I am shocked at how quickly it is going. Too quickly, so last night I reminded myself that I have a summery top in process… I made some good progress while watching Dr. Death with Steve last night. Neither of us knew anything about this before watching but Joshua Jackson piqued our interest! We binged 3 episodes which helped me get closer to the Great Sleeve Divide on my sweater. I have an inch or so to go, so that should take no time at all (and can be my reward for putting my puzzle together! lol)
The only other “bonus” thing from the weekend was perfecting a cocktail Steve found. I thought it was too sweet with the Agave (and tasted a bit margarita-ish as well) But I am growing some gorgeous Pineapple Basil that is HUGE so I made a simple syrup that I steeped about a dozen basil leaves in. It is the perfect addition for the cocktail… with it it was not too sweet and the flavors pair beautifully with the cocktail. I think Thai Basil would pair well also!
And with that, I am off to begin cutting out my pattern pieces to put them all together! I hope your weekend was full of good things!
Today, you get an update on some top-secret Christmas knitting and my Year in Knitting review!
First up, I knit Steve a pair of Simply Skyp Socks. The yarn I used was a bit heavier than sport weight, but I love how they turned out!
I also made Steve a pair of those Woodland Loafer’s slippers – even with figuring out gauge to knit a men’s size 14 slipper, they went much quicker than that first pair did! If you are interested in the gauge for a much bigger slipper, you can read my notes here.
2019 was a very productive year for knitting! I set a goal to make 18 projects on Ravelry this year, and I blew past that goal with 27 28 completed projects! (somehow one pair of socks for Steve never got entered!)
It was a year for “repeat knitting” though! You know I made 2 pairs of those Woodland Loafers but there were many more multiples of things made! There were two Beneath the Rocks Headbands, two Velvet-y Cowls (and one mini Velvet-y Cowl so Vivi can match her momma!) There were two Screen Doors as well! And there was a pair of Bunnies for Genevieve!
A good pattern is one that you want to knit over and over and over again!
There were six sweaters knit in 2019 – a number I am most happy with! I have some plans for at least one sweater repeat in 2020 – I absolutely love my Regan Sweater and I wear it almost every day! I think a second one would be perfect (especially this mod!) and I have some yarn that I think might work for it. I have not swatched yet – but I will be as soon as I have finished my Evening Dew Cardigan which I think this can be finished easily in January and that leaves lots of winter left to knit another sweater! As you can see, I have roughly 2 inches of the body knit – just 12-ish more inches to go!
No book updates this week – next week I will share my Year of Reading!
If you wrote a post to share, please leave your link below!
I am so thankful for all your participation over the year and I hope that your day is full of the joy of Christmas, the love of friends and family, and LOTS of knitting time! XO
Late yesterday afternoon, I began the rhythmic process of carefully winding a skein of yarn and last night I began swatching for my Evening Dew Cardigan. I think I earned some good knitting Karma as well, because I appear to be getting gauge the.first.time!
Yes, that means that Tegna is finished! One super rainy, stay-at-home weekend meant lots of knitting time and a second finished sleeve! She needs a bit of a soak and some careful blocking to open the lacework at the bottom of the sweater and the ends woven in but stay tuned for glamour shots later this week! My first thoughts on her though…I am wildly in love!
I don’t have much on tap this week outside of my “normal weekly things” and that means I might be able to fit in some knitting time to work on my new project!
What about you? Any new beginnings for you this week?
P.S. See you all back here tomorrow as I join Juliann and share my October Focus update!
This year, I have really tried to be in the moment and enjoy the day at hand, rather than wishing for what comes next. I thought it might make the year feel like it is going slower, ha! I am sitting at my PC this morning wondering how on earth August is over, it is Labor Day weekend, and signs of fall are increasing daily.
Okay, so staying in the moment does not slow down the pace of days – however, it has allowed me to appreciate each day more and each season more fully! I think this might be the best summer of my life, not because I did all kinds of amazing things, but rather because I lived in each moment.
Thrilled —
This week, I finished and blocked my Morinne Short and Sweet. Oh my… this sweater is poetry. It fits perfectly, the yarn I picked has the perfect amount of drape and fluidity. The construction is brilliant – it is almost like a puzzle! You start and wonder how this will become a sweater and suddenly, before you know it (21 days from cast on to finish!) – you have knit a sweater! I posted more photos yesterday on IG and am making plans to knit another one!
Gathering —
I have been picking what appears to be the final tomatoes, beans, and peppers and that makes me a bit melancholy. I have loved the time I spend each morning in my garden. It has been the perfect place to also gather my thoughts each morning along with the produce and the recent thought gathering is full of blog ideas and fall morning routines. Stay tuned!
Inspired —
I recently read this post and it really resounded with me. I am going to spend some time thinking about how I can unplug myself one day a month – or at least unplug on my terms.
Finishing —
My summer of reading has been magical. I have read some of the most amazing books and if I can finish 2 more books by Monday, I will have read 55 books this summer…That is amazing to write and think about. I think I can do it because I am almost done with Bridge of Clay and more than halfway through Suite Françoise. I would like to thank Mary for hosting Book Bingo because it just might be my favorite part of summer!
That is all I have for this week. Have a great LONG weekend and I will see you all here next week!
Welcome to the “Beware the ides of March” edition of TGIF!
It has been a week and a half (or at least it certainly feels that way to me!) I guess a week with meetings, vet appointments, and an inordinate amount of phone calls will do that for you! But it is finally Friday and even though we had a huge slice of spring yesterday – we have that four-letter word in the forecast for this weekend. I am desperately hoping the weather persons are all wrong!
But, enough with the weather and way-to-long weeks… lets get this weekend started already!
Terrific, tremendous, and terribly wonderful!!
I have the front of Deschain completed! I love how it looks and I will get the back cast on this morning. I did one extra repeat of the pattern and I am very happy with the length. The only fiddly part of the back will be the short rows. I do have one question for you, Gentle Readers, what would you use to seam this up?
Game on –
The Madness begins on Sunday and I am really excited for this year’s tournaments. I will be filling out my brackets on Monday and spending some quality television time over the next couple of weeks! This also means quality knitting time!! The “First Four” games start on the 19th and the full tournament tips off on Thursday.
Ireland Forever (or Éirinn go Brách) –
That’s right, Sunday is also St. Paddy’s Day and my corned beef is all set to go! I am trying Andrew Zimmern’s recipe this year and, honestly?? My mouth is watering thinking about it! Steve has also been sending me links of things to make with the leftovers. Look for these Irish Nachos or these Brisket Nachos to occur sometime next week! We have plenty of Guinness on hand which will help me forget the predicted cold weather.
Fotography Friday –
Yes, I am joining kmkatt for her Friday Fun. The photo I have chosen is courtesy of timehop. I cannot believe that 10 years have passed since this photo was taken because in my mind it really seems like it was yesterday. It was a rare glorious March day which made it perfect to visit Lake Michigan! It was equally perfect and so amazing to meet the woman in the photo again. This woman holds a very special place in my heart and seeing her all grown up was truly a lovely gift.
That is all I have for this week! Have a great weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!