I finished my Turtledove (Rav project page) and I love it. I was inspired to make it because Liz made two, she loves to wear hers so much. It was an easy, quick, straightforward knit, which I enjoy. And it’s my favorite color. Pattern is Turtledove by Espace Tricot (Rav link). Yarn is Cascade Eco in color Twilight.
I removed the background in this photo because it was taken on carpet. Let’s have some fun with that.
Saturday Sweater in a Starry SkySaturday Sweater on SnowSaturday Sweater with Sheep
There are many more fun things I could do with this sweater, like turn it into an Asteroids ship or have it rocketing to the moon, but that takes a lot of time and I would rather knit. Well maybe just one…
Shooting Star Sweater
I needed that. Here’s a photo of the underarm seams.
Not gorgeous but much better than I could do picking up stitches. I cast on six stitches on the sleeve side and used a mattress stitch to seam them.
Now I’m off to knit knit knit on my Water Shawl, and hopefully take a walk in nature this afternoon. What are you doing today?
In the before times, you wouldn’t have caught me with a phony fur pom pom on my head. Or, for that matter, speckles in my yarn or a fade on my being. But I can admit when I’m wrong. I was wrong about these things.
You know why? Because knitting should be whatever makes us happy. I think I was taking my knitting WAY too seriously, don’t you? So here’s my Kenora Toque in Rauma Strikkegarn with a pom pom! (Rav link)
Very happy and look how well it matches my duffle coat.
I’m also really, really excited to tell you I am now on the sleeves of my Turtledove! I cannot wait to wear this so I will probably focus on it until I finish it. It’s very soft and squishy. Also, I want you to know, that after knitting the Cocoknits method, I will never, ever try to pick up and knit underarm stitches again. I will (and did) cast on enough stitches on the sleeve to match the underarm, then I will seam it when I’m done. That way I won’t have those weird holes and ladders that I can’t unsee and pretend aren’t there.
Speaking of fades, I’ve decided to knit a Boxy fade (Rav link). I splurged on a yarn fade bundle from La Bien Aimee. It’s my first time ordering from her, but I’ve been drooling since Knit City.
I also ordered some really nice plaid flannel fabric that I had intended to make PJs with, but it is too nice. It wants to be a dress. So I’m sewing this raglan dress. I love it so much, I also ordered some beautiful blue cotton shirting to make a summertime one. I have a lot of projects to add to my Year of Projects list, don’t I?
I’ve been a little down lately, so I haven’t been blogging much. That probably explains all the splurging. I have one last splurge to share.
This print is from a UK artist who made this for Shetland Wool Week 2020. I’ve been waiting for her Etsy shop to be restocked. Now I just have to find a suitable frame. I will hang it in my studio and gaze upon it lovingly and sigh.
How are you doing? Are you okay? I haven’t really been that okay, and a friend recently asked me straight up how I was. It helped to just be able to say, I am not okay. We lost a family member recently, a dear “Uncle” who was technically not my biological uncle, but he was my Dad’s best friend, and my best friend’s Dad, and definitely an important Uncle to me. We were close when we lived in Oklahoma City, and he was there for me during my separation and divorce, and helped me get back on my feet financially. He helped us get back on our feet financially after my Dad died, too, though I was too young to understand that at the time. So, feeling sad but appreciative. Godspeed Uncle Jack. ❤
Also, I am feeling depleted. As I am sure many of us are after a year of living through a pandemic.
But how are you? Please spill your beans in the comments, if you like.
In other news, I sewed a manatee bag for my sister for her birthday.
I finished knitting my Kenora Toque for The Wooly Thistle’s Colorwork KAL.
I’m quite proud of my floats. It’s blocking now, and it’s a tad large as my gauge is 20 stitches to 4 inches instead of 22, but close enough. I’m waiting for a black pom pom to arrive to sew on. I’ll take another pic once it’s final final.
I joined The Woolly Thistle’s Colorwork Accessory KAL and I’m really enjoying this slipstitch pattern Kenora Toque. Look at my loopy floats.
I donated a handknit cowl made with the merino yarn I was given in Kenya to our fundraiser silent auction at work. The winner chose vermillion for the color (one of my favorite colors!) and I dyed the yarn today.
I sewed my project bag for our Water shawl KAL. I have enough fierce merpeople fabric to sew three more bags: one for Marilee, one for Bonny, and one for…? Even the fish are giving attitude on this fabric. I love it so much. I’m making a gradient bag for Sarah. I’m not sure what Laura wants yet. Am I missing anyone? Our KAL starts March 1.
When I look at the mermaid with the ship on her head, I think about the film Revolution with Nastassja Kinski. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that film, but I remember it having stunning costumes.
What are you making today? Are you watching any old films from your youth?
I finished my Lucky Number Cowl, otherwise known as the Litmus Cowl (Ravelry link). I really enjoyed knitting it, and I enjoy wearing it even more. It’s soft. It’s warm. It goes with everything. The colors make me happy. It doesn’t get in my way like bulkier scarves do. Yarn is Moondrake Co 2020 Advent. I have about half of my Advent yarn leftover. I may use it for matching mittens or a hat, or maybe I’ll just save it for a scrap blanket that will happen some day.
The orange and green stripe is my favorite.
It has been a bit of a rough week, but I’m looking forward to participating in The Woolly Thistle’s Colorwork Accessory Knit Along. Tomorrow is the cast on party. And starting March 1 is our Blogville Water Shawl Knit Along, which I’m really excited about.
What are you working on? Are you staying warm? Are you as grateful for warm, wooly knits right now, as I am?
I knit Bob a pair of socks for Valentine’s Day! 💙 Yarn is Barnyard Knits OOAK in Bob’s favorite colors. Pattern is a basic 72-74 stitch recipe with my own modifications to fit Bob’s feet.
So close! This has been such a fun knit. I can’t wait to wear it. Pattern is Litmus Cowl. Yarn is Moondrake Co Advent. I call it my Lucky Number Cowl, because there are 14 rounds in a stripe, and that’s my lucky number.
I am really loving my classes at KnitCity. In addition to Fair Isle Techniques with MJ Mucklestone yesterday, I took Combining Creativity and Culture with Francoise Danoy from Aroha Knits. I enjoyed learning about Maori culture and her design process. I asked her about cultural appropriation. She said she only shares Maori symbols that are okay for anyone to wear, and since she is of Maori descent, she feels supporting her with a purchase of her designs that feature Maori motifs is cultural appreciation, not appropriation, I appreciated her response to that, as it is a topic that comes up a lot in fair trade. I also fell in love with her Ocean Pathways Cowl (Ravelry link) which I’m going to add to my queue.
The happy hour with The Grocery Girls, GG Made It, and La Bien Aimee had over 500 participants! It was a lot of fun, and I think they did a good job trying to make sure everyone felt welcome and had a good time.
My Hansel Hap colors, although I’m using the russet color in J&S not Devonia which is a different fiber content. Except for the fawn katmoget Shetland hanks which I purchased from Ramsey Farms for Shave’Em to Save’Em, this is yarn from my stash and turned out to be perfect together.
Yesterday was Sheep School with Anna Hunter and Shetland Hap Overview with Gudrun Johnson. I learned a lot in both classes. I’m going to start my Hansel Hap soon, and maybe start my farm life in a year or two with chickens, which Anna calls “the gateway animal”. I also took a natural dye garden class with Caitlin Ffrench, and I learned I can use apple tree bark for pink – which I didn’t know – and our black walnut hulls and leaves in dyeing, which I knew but haven’t started collecting. These will be fun things to try that are already growing here. We’ve got a lot of work ahead already just clearing the woods and getting the garden ready for planting.
Today my classes are 5 Steps in Choosing Colors in Fair Isle Knitting with MJ Mucklestone and Wool Traceability with Anna Hunter. I’m sure they will be great. I’ve been really impressed with this event, the teachers, the content, and the professionalism of the event organizers and platform. Maybe some day I’ll be able to attend a Knit City in person!
Note to future Alissa: maybe take less classes next time? They are great but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. Today I may attend in PJs with the camera off.
I finally finished sewing all the curtains. Adding these to the living room allowed us to rearrange the furniture, which Bob likes to do fairly regularly to rewire our brains. I was glad not have to make panels for these, although in hindsight, panels look nicer. These block out more light, though, which is nice for TV viewing.
Knitting
I’m plodding away on my Lucky Number Cowl and Turtledove. And my list keeps growing. 😳
Fiber Art
Sneakapeekaloo
I hope to finish stitching on piece number 3 today. Then next week I can frame it and lay out piece number 4.
Today is our Blogville Knitters Virtual Knit at 1PM Eastern. If you are new and would like to join us by Skype, please DM your Skype ID to me on Instagram or Ravelry. You might also leave a comment for me to remind me to go check my messages.
