Playing Those Mind Games

Posted on October 30, 2020 Posted in holidays, inspiration, knittingTagged advent, fall, Halloween, knitting, yarn13 Comments

I got a little too excited about fall this year and bought a few too many gorgeous skeins of autumn and Halloween themed yarn. I clearly didn’t have time to knit all the things.

To prevent myself from ordering a lot more fall and Halloween themed yarn next year, but to still allow myself a yarny good time, I am making myself a fall advent calendar with yarn I’ve already purchased! I’m including an appropriate pattern and each package includes a Halloween or fall stitch marker. My short term memory is so bad, I probably won’t remember what’s in each bag. Hopefully I’ll remember I did this. I know, I’ll put it on my calendar. The best thing about it is I know I will love every one!

I’m a genius! Or I’m crazy! I’m really excited about this either way. I’m allowing myself two weeks in between each advent bag to knit each project.

I do have two outliers. I didn’t include my Celtic Colours Mitts, which I still haven’t cast on. And there’s a skein of Accidental Autumn that I was thinking about knitting into a Barley Light hat. But I’m not 100% on that pairing and I’d kind of like to knit that skein up right away. I’m in love with it.

I will probably finish my Broom Riding Cowl tonight. Just in time! It’s Hocus Pocus night! Are you going to finish all your Halloween projects in time?

Nerd Alert! 🤓

Posted on October 20, 2020 Posted in art, holidays, inspirationTagged 614, art, mawcbus, mother artists, time team16 Comments

I received my official Time Team fleece! I’m thinking about dressing up like Mick Aston for Halloween. I have the white hair and stripey knit hat. I need some round glasses, and I will be all set.

Someday I hope they will offer all 20 seasons in a DVD box set. I watch them over and over again on YouTube.

Have you seen a carpet of wet leaves?
You probably have.

Here is a link to the art show. It’s all virtual this year.

Pie for Breakfast and a New Craft Room

Posted on October 13, 2020October 13, 2020 Posted in holidays, inspiration15 Comments

Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving, and Bob made pumpkin pie. So I had pie with eggs for breakfast today.

I got my craft room put together this morning. This is an open room near the kitchen, by the laundry room. It feels good to have my yarn and fabric out so I can be inspired to make things. I still have two large tubs of wool fiber, which I’ve stored in the laundry room closet with the dyes. It’s nice to be so close to the laundry room since the ironing board is in there.

My staycation is winding down, and I was not as productive as I’d hoped I would be. I did manage to totally decompress, though, which was badly needed.

Tomorrow is our anniversary, and I think we’re going for a final hike.

Staycation Castonitis

Posted on October 2, 2020October 2, 2020 Posted in inspiration, knitting, life, scarves and cowls, Works in Progress (WIPs), yarnTagged staycation7 Comments

It’s Day 1 of staycation, and I want to cast on all the things! I need to cast on my Halloween socks, as well as my Celtic Colours Mitts. And I want to join The Woolly Thistle’s Sweater KAL. And I want to sew my Halloween shirt! So what am I doing? I am painting my nails with The Woolly Thistle’s Castonitis color. If I paint my nails, I will have to sit and do nothing while they dry. And let’s face it. I really need to do a bit of nothing.

I am spending some time with By Hand No. 9: Nova Scotia and Shetland Wool Adventures Journal. I’m also trying pumpkin butter and plant milk in my tea for a PSL inspired rooibos concoction.

I ran 2.23 miles today at a new-to-me park, Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve. It was a beautiful run.

Here’s the progress on my Broom Riding Cowl. I think the yarns are too similar for the colorwork to show up. What should I do? Keep knitting anyway? Ok. I’m carrying more floats and not catching the yarn in the back unless there are five or more stitches. This is helping my tension. Once I finish the first chart section, if the design is not showing up, I will rip it out and knit something else with Slutty Pumpkin. Or I will save it for next year.

I just heard Annie Modesitt passed away. I’m heartbroken. I will always remember her fondly from the Knitters Review Retreat when we went to a vineyard and drank wine together. I was nobody and she was a published author and designer, but she included me (and a few others) in the outing and was so genuine. She was a truly lovely person.

A Virtual Tour of the Fair Isle Knitting Collection

Posted on September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 Posted in inspiration, knittingTagged fair isle, history, knitting3 Comments

If you are interested in the history of knitting and textiles, you might enjoy this virtual tour of the Fair Isle Knitting Collection at the George Waterston Memorial Museum of Fair Isle, posted by Barkland Croft on YouTube.

Throwback Thursday

Posted on July 2, 2020July 2, 2020 Posted in inspiration, life, sewingTagged emerson pants, farrow dress, linen, sewing14 Comments

Remember way back in 2019 when I sewed this Farrow dress and these Emerson pants? They look great together! I may sew another dress like this in the mauve linen from Lithuania in my stash.

In other news, I am back up to the weight and size I was when I made these. I haven’t dieted or worked out all year. So I signed up for a program that’s free with my health insurance to help me get back on track. I did yoga and pilates today! Now I need to find a cardio workout I can do regularly. The roads around here aren’t the safest for walking or riding a bike. I could go into town to the gym, but I’m a little wary because of the Rona. I think I will drive 6 miles to the nearest park trail tomorrow and see how that goes.

I hope you have some fun socially-distanced holiday weekend plans! We don’t do anything for July 4, but on Sunday we’re hosting my friend Laurel for a birthday dinner.

Saturyay

Posted on June 20, 2020June 20, 2020 Posted in inspiration, life, socks, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged country life, ohio6 Comments

This is my yarn closet and my sewing corner in my office. All my yarn and fabric fit in that narrow closet, but not all my fiber. I have two big tubs of fiber — mostly wool — in the hallway outside. Don’t judge me. Or do, I don’t mind. I have an art show in 14 months. I’m sure I will use most of it up. I have angora and silk as well — the angora from my old bunnies. What will I make?

Bob and I went to downtown Newark for gluten-free pizza for Saturdate! 2020. What a year!

We liked the face on this building. Green Man? Gargoyle?

Heel flap time on my Pride sock! I’d better get knitting if I’m going to finish these by July 1. Not likely, if I’m honest.

I just finished reading The Mirror & the Light by Hillary Mantel, the final book in the Thomas Cromwell series. It has been criticized as having too many words, but each word is so delicious, I didn’t mind savoring it.

I watched the fox kits in our back yard last night. I was worried about them getting enough food, they seem so skinny, until they rustled up some vermin from the compost pile. Human-Fox symbiosis! Their den is under our barn.

Tuesday Tidbits

Posted on May 26, 2020 Posted in inspiration, knitting, life, sewingTagged knitting, mental health5 Comments

I went for a walk in the ravine today. By myself. I think this counts as exercise. I’m really pleased with myself.

I wore my new shirt.

I saw this on Instagram but unfortunately I don’t remember who posted it. I had to search but finally found it on Etsy. (It was my birthday weekend so I treated myself.)

I want this hat. I can make this hat. I will make this hat. I don’t even need a pattern. Or fabric. This one is linen, but I may use canvas. I should have some scraps after I sew my pants. I’m going to need interfacing, though, that heavy duty stuff.

Are you ready to get back to work today? I’m ready to get back to work today.

Sunday Grace

Posted on May 17, 2020May 17, 2020 Posted in inspiration, knitting, life, lofty thoughts, shawls and haps, what makes me tickTagged hiking, knitting, life, ohio, Rhodes shrug, wool, yarn14 Comments

We went for a hike yesterday. I’m thankful for time in nature. And wildflowers.

Bob made soy custard berry tarts for my birthday treat. I’m thankful for Bob.

My boys came to share a birthday meal and treats with me. I’m thankful for my boys. Especially their intelligence and humor and ability to argue any point no matter how ridiculous. Is a bean bag a chair? A bean bag is an armchair but not a chair because a chair has legs. Puzzle that.

My mother always told me I would argue with a signpost. The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Soon I will have a new blue beanie to wear over my mess of white hair. I am enjoying this mindless knit.

I ordered some pink yarn to make this shrug. I imagine myself wafting over pink tile wearing this, but in pink. The designer says this stitch pattern is meditative. I hope so.

Speaking of pink tile, the lender ordered a second appraisal. We are in home-buying limbo.

It will be okay either way. Trust in the Universe.