Knitting, Fiber Art, and Lofty Thoughts
I have been busy with work, and then sick the last two days, so I haven’t been blogging or knitting. But here are some updates.
You can see I’m just about ready to cast off the hem and pick up and knit the sleeves on my lilac heather cumulus blouse.
Celtic Myths border is coming along.
I made it past the ribbing on the back of Staghorn.
I hope to catch up on your blogs today!
I’m making a little progress on Staghorn from A Fine Fleece. I decided I want to try to finish it before Celtic Colours so I’m making an effort to work on it more.
Celtic Myths is also coming along. If I stick to my goal of knitting two chart repeats of the border every week, I should be done by October. The mussel shell bug is a handmade treasure from my stepdaughter. As a rule, cockroaches are something I cannot abide, but these are charming. Probably because they don’t move unless I move them.
Lilac Heather Cumulus Blouse is also growing. This is great TV knitting.
I ordered some new cotton yarn. The Nature Cotton is my favorite and I used to design with it, but it’s now discontinued, so I bought up what I could find. The multi is Tolhuaca and worsted, but I think if I knit with two strands it might match the gauge of the bulky. I’m planning to type up one of my old designs and put it on Ravelry. I already have photos and everything, so I’m hoping this is a good baby step for me.
Today is my birthday and I have decided not to go to the gym this morning and do this instead. Four more rows.
I have taken a few days off, and every day Bob asks me what I am going to do today. Every day I say, “Finish that damned sweater.”
It sounds like I am not enjoying it, which is not the case. But I am ready for it to be over so I can enjoy some other projects.
Maybe I will go to the studio and sew today!
Yep, it’s a shriveled up sweater, AKA lace. Cricket Hitofude is coming along. I hope to have it finished by this Saturday so I can wear it when I meet the Mayor of Indianapolis.
Yep, it’s a garden. We put in new beds and went to the heirloom plant sale today. They are a little wilty from being transplanted. So glad to have something of a garden, even though it’s smaller than I’m used to. I’m too busy to take care of a proper garden.
Yep, it’s some flick carded Romeldale CVM. I’m able to keep the natural colors more distinct this way. I won’t start felting it until next week.
More travel this week. Homestretch!
…is not like the other. I was cruising along on my seamless raglan cumulus blouse and noticed one of my shoulder increases was a mess. What did I do here? Increase next to the wrong stitch? Knit with the increase leaning the wrong way?
Next question… To ripit or not to ripit? Try to fix it with a crochet hook?
I might try the latter first but it feels a little unwieldy to do so.
Or leave it and pretend I don’t notice it? Nobody else will.
I have connected with a few of you over on Instagram, and you will already know I’m sporting a shiner right now. Yesterday I thought it was funny, but today I am over the novelty of it and feeling sorry for myself. It’s nothing exciting. Sty + vomiting = shiner.
I fell off my spending fast when I saw this gorgeous lavender wool and cotton yarn from Cestari while I was at Broad Ripple Knits in Indianapolis on Thursday. I got four skeins, enough to make a spring pullover. I had trouble finding a suitable pattern, but Instagram to the rescue. Someone posted the Cumulus Blouse, and although this pattern is categorized as lace, it’s knit with two strands together and the gauge is perfect for my new yarn at a looser, drapey gauge.
I’m currently trapped underneath my cat which is why she is a prop in my photo.
I’m making good progress on Hitofude. Only four repeats left and the sleeves will be done.
I looked at my Hollywood Pants pattern and realized I am too big for it now. Instagram overheard my dismay and presented the Emerson Crop Pant pattern. $12 later and I’m happily taping together the pattern pieces. You may remember I have some linen waiting to be sewn at the studio. I may make these full length instead of cropped. We’ll see.
I hope you have a wonderful Saturday full of crafty goodness. I have a little work to do, and then Bob and I are putting together new raised beds for Satur-date. ❤️
And of course I will squeeze in as much crafty self-care as I can!
When I get too busy to knit, I get a little weird. My brain works better when my hands are moving. So this morning I made sure to get a round of knitting in.
I got my first Shave’em to Save’em sticker for my passport! If this blog had smellovision you would be able to smell lanolin and sheep butt. This is going to be a wet felted art piece, but I have to wash the fleece first? It does get washed during the process, so I’m not sure, honestly. I might try felting it raw just to see what happens.
I travel every week this month.
I look forward to catching up on everyone’s blogs soon!
Last week was a travel week for work, but I still managed to accomplish some things.
I finished my PJ pants.
I started a dress. You can tell I was in an Eastery mood. I’ve had this material for ages – a gift from my friend Laurel – and today I decided I need a spring dress. (I’ll probably wear it over jeans though.)
I sold “Meditations on Wholeness” today to my friend Harvest, someone I know will treasure it as much as I do.
I pulled this little dude out of storage and fluffed him. He’s still in pretty good shape!
I went to Craftin’ Outlaws and had a lovely time. I saw someone selling her hand block printed textiles and it got me thinking about fair trade textiles from India that are block printed by hand, like my pillowcase, and how the desire to make beautiful things by hand spans all cultures.
I also bought these earrings.
I drank wine and talked with old friends and shared my plans to start a podcast, which will hopefully bear some fruit soon.
I am plugging away on Hitofude!
It will look so pretty with my new dress. Must! Knit! Faster!
The boys and I left Oklahoma a day early to trek east to see the Heavener Runestone.
My oldest especially wanted to see it. It was a beautiful spot, and while there have been some questions about its authenticity, I do believe it is possible that Vikings could have come to this location via the route suggested. I wish they would excavate the cave site because I think it could be enlightening. Regardless, we had a lot of fun!
We stayed over at a bed and breakfast in Mount Vernon, Missouri. On the way through St Louis we stopped at a wonderful fair trade store – Zee Bee Market – and the store manager got a great pic of us!
I’ve had plenty of time to knit as the boys have shared driving duty with me, but this is all I’ve managed.
And that was the best pic I could manage of the knitting on my lap in the car. Still, it won’t be long until I’m on sleeve island!
