While running through the haunted woods behind her house, the author’s shawl gets hung on tree branches. Should she turn and rescue it? Or keep running? What is she running from? Is it the Blair Witch? Hold on… Wait a minute… She IS the witch! Stop running, witch! Put your shawl back on and go home.
I started knitting this last October, but realized pretty quickly I was not going to be able to finish it by Halloween. I was also annoyed that I had to take the stitch marker off every right side row and move it. Fast forward to July 2022: I loved knitting this! It was great TV knitting, intuitive and repetitive, and the whole stitch marker thing became part of the rhythm. (I guess I was more grumpy and stressed last year. Funny how that works.)
As much as I love a good wrap, let’s face it. I’ll be wearing it more like this.
I managed to get out into the garden this morning to weed and noticed it’s time to harvest the tansy! Tansy is one of those dye plants with natural tannins like indigo, so it doesn’t need a mordant. I decided to test a Hapazome print on the edges of my remaining indigo printed Virginia cotton.
I’m pleased with how this came out. Now I need to decide if I want to continue to print on this fabric, or order more. I think I will order more, as I want to experiment with black walnut leaves and iron mordant.
I may also kettle dye some Virginia cotton and wool yarn with tansy this week. Since this blend of fibers doesn’t take readily to acid dyes or fiber reactive dyes for plant fibers, a natural dye pot may be just the thing it needs!
My flax is also ready to harvest. There are a few stalks that are already too far gone with ripe seed heads, but most is still ok. So that’s another fiber art project this week.
Knitting
I’m super close to finishing my Halloween Livie shawl. One more section then bind off!
Sewing
I should finish my Gather dress and Bob’s Marvel shirt this week.
Spinning
Since I came down with Covid, I didn’t spin for the last week of Tour de Fleece. I need to oil my wheel and get back to spinning.
My newest yarn mystery box just dropped! The Volunteer Sunflowers colorway emotes a sea of emerald green foliage complemented by deep blues and pops of sunny gold. The Glow Box includes 100% cotton yarn from Virginia hand dyed here at Chestnut Hills Studio, summer sun skin care from Haven Herbs, and a glass progress keeper by Ann Tudor! The Shine Box also includes a handmade project bag, sewn from Virginia cotton canvas that has been Hapazome dyed by me with indigo leaves, and a knitting pattern to go with the yarn.
Everything is delicious. It’s surprising how red the raspberries made the switchel. We’re learning about Robert Burns by watching a BBC documentary on YouTube.
I’ve reached the point on Freya’s Musselburgh Hat where it’s round and round in stockinette. This is going to make great relaxation knitting. I can see why this pattern becomes addicting for some. I also learned the pinhole cast on, which is pretty great.
I am making good progress on Arrowhead now that I make sure to knit one row per day. I thought I would treat you to a photo of where the steek will be cut when the time comes. I love knitting in Lettlopi and will definitely use it again.
I’m going to spend more time practicing my spinning today. It’s been a couple of weeks. I’m going to use up my wool top that came with the wheel before trying a new fiber.
Burns Night Supper Prep
Last year, Liz sent me a link to a virtual Burns Night event. I had never heard of it, but I’m all in for a holiday that’s basically an excuse to party in January. I decided this year to do it our way — in front of the TV with food.
Bob will make vegan sausage with neeps and tatties for dinner. (Neither of us is interested in vegan haggis.) I’m going to bake gluten free oat cakes and as Bob doesn’t drink, and I don’t drink whiskey (or any hard alcohol) I’m going to try to make a raspberry ginger switchel with Bob’s homemade apple cider vinegar. We’re trying to find a way to watch the movie Red Rose, as neither of us really knows anything about Robert Burns. If we can’t find it, we will look for a documentary. Also, we will be wearing tartans (flannel shirts most likely).
Bob says he remembers being taken to a Burns Night Supper as a kid and being bored to tears with the poetry readings. I definitely dinna want a rrrepeat o’ tha.
Hello. I have too many holiday projects I want to knit. I thought I would list them here so you can commiserate with me. All links are Ravelry links.
Image copyright Stone Knits
1. Christmas Pudding Socks. I ordered the solid yarn last year to make these, but then decided tonal yarns would be prettier, as shown in the photo. So I ordered some tonal yarns. I could be casting on by the weekend. I love the design, and it’s a good mix of colorwork and stockinette.
Image copyright Jamie Lomax
2. Holiday Doodle Cowl. I love the look of this, but it is allover color work. I have the yarn, which I ordered last year. I’m not sure I have the brain capacity for this one this year. Also, she’s updated the design, and I think I prefer the original version, which I have printed out.
3. Aurora Borealis Cowl. Work in progress. After I started it I realized how much I hate wearing one-sided stranded colorwork cowls because the floats on the back show. Not sure if I should forge ahead or frog a hasty retreat.
The yarn and needles for my first mitten ornament.
4. 12 Days of Christmas Mitten Garland. As I have constructed an entire advent ritual around this, I will definitely be making it. They’re tiny, too. I’m sure I can produce one mitten in an evening.
And then there’s my red Ranunculus. I’m on the stockinette now, so I should be wearing it by Christmas Eve!
Any tips on managing too-many-projects-not-enough-time syndrome? Project number three will probably be frogged. I’m thinking one and two will end up back in the drawer for next year. Or maybe one for Christmas in July?
You may have noticed I’ve been experimenting with backgrounds in my photos. I’ve been using the backgrounds I use at work for product photos, but I don’t want to continue to use them as I’m afraid I may damage them. So I’ve got some reclaimed barn wood heading my way for my small photography shots. Photography is for me part of the art of blogging, and a big part of my enjoyment.
I tried really hard to get a good photo of my fabulous outfit. These are the linen Emerson Pants I made a few years ago. This outfit is so comfy. I feel ready for summer!
I had to share this one because my hair is fabulous and I look like a Breck girl.
Vacation is going well so far. I work on art in the morning. Then in the afternoon I knit. I’m going to knit a chart on Celtic Myths each day so maybe I’ll be finished by the end of the week. I cut out some PJs, but Bob is working this week and the sewing machines are too loud to use during the day. Bob and I walked yesterday after he got off work.
The garden is doing well. I’ve cloched the tender annuals for a few days until temps get back up in the 40s overnight. I have a few extra plants. I gave two to my oldest who is trying gardening this year.
Mother’s Day was lovely. My kids were here. We ate Mexican food. Bob made a custard tart. The kids will be back on Saturday to celebrate my birthday with me.
See you tomorrow for Sock It To Me Wednesday! I’m mixing it up for vacation week. Woo! Living on the edge!
Just a reminder that our Water shawl (Ravelry link) knitalong starts in about a month. In case you need to buy yarn. (Of course you do!)
I will be sewing a water themed medium-sized project bag for all participants who complete their shawl between March and June. The bag will be the same pattern as my winter solstice project bag.
Each bag will be cotton and/or linen, fully lined, with a wave ribbon. I’ve already picked out the fabric for my bag!
I realize Merpeople with attitudes may not be for everyone, so here are some other mix and match options.
I hope someone loves manatees as much as I do.This is a pretty gradient with a teal linen base, lined with a gray watercolor.Same but lined with teal watercolor.
If you have a preference for your bag, let me know in the comments. There’s a yard of each fabric so I can pretty much make any combination.
Marilee will be making stitch markers for participants who complete their shawl as well. I’m so excited! She makes the best stitch markers.
I feel that water is a great March to June theme, as the ice of winter melts into water and flows into spring.
headknits 