Knitting, Fiber Art, and Lofty Thoughts
My orchids are blooming again.
Our neighbors gave us hyacinth for Easter.
I’m knitting another heel flap.
My coworker won’t get off my lap.
Our kids are sorta famous.
The ravine is greening and flowering.
This leggy human walks slowly so I can keep up and stop to take photos on our walks.
Amen.
She’s coming along. I ordered a new-to-me spider pin on Poshmark to wear with the sweater once it’s complete. I hope to make more progress this weekend.
Speaking of pins, I have a thing for vintage jewelry, especially holiday pins. I think it’s a holdover from my 80’s rhinestone jewelry collection. I don’t own very many now because I don’t wear them very often, but I’m thinking about starting a collection. The spider is my third pin.
The bird was a gift from my friend Laura. I found the millefleurs pin at a local vintage shop in the last few years, and I may have blogged about it.
I’ve decided I need a vintage Christmas pin. I am looking online but I might wait until quarantine lifts so I have an excuse to go shopping at my local vintage shops.
It’s official!
I finished one sock and cast on the second immediately as recommended by Blogville Knitters.
Yesterday I spent most of my day binge watching Outlander and casting on. My new Arachne yarn arrived and I caught up to where I had previously knit on my ill-fated first attempt.
I love it! This yarn is Quince and Co Chickadee Heather in Sabine and Hydrangea. I looked through projects on Ravelry and someone else had used this yarn for Arachne. It’s lovely and soft and didn’t break the bank.
I also cast on Deschain yesterday. Several years ago, when I started knitting again, this was the first project I wanted to cast on. I purchased the pattern on Ravelry through my local yarn shop, which I thought at the time was fairly miraculous. I had planned to use something from my stash, but I’m glad I didn’t try it. This is also Quince and Co yarn: Kestral in Ash. I’m sewing a lantern skirt in black linen to wear with it, and I’ll probably sew a black knit tank top to wear under it as well.
It’s official! I’m gothy.
I made it to Douglas Henshall’s entrance on Outlander. Let’s face it, that’s probably the only reason I am watching it. Does it have Douglas Henshall and knitting in it? I’m in. But if I hear “Coming Through the Rye” one more time…
This weekend I thought we could “lean in” as they say, and I talked Bob into watching The Stand with me. I thought it would tick my horror box and be amusingly ironic. I forgot how truly unwatchable it is. By the end of Episode 3, I had completely lost interest, laws yes. M-O-O-N that spells Stephen King. We’re going to try The Outsider today. We enjoyed Castle Rock.
It’s official! I went outside today (to take photos for my blog)!
It’s pretty out there.
Welp I twisted it. So I had to frog the whole thing. I also decided I don’t like this color combo, so I’ve ordered some charcoal with lavender for the spider web. I’m more likely to wear those colors. It may be a couple of weeks before I cast on again, but hopefully I’ll have the yarn in my hands for our next virtual knit along!
Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the first date of Bob and myself, and also the 8th anniversary of when Bob proposed. To celebrate, we watched a virtual tour of the Winchester Mystery House and ate mango sorbet. (We ate mango sorbet on our first date.) Did you know Sarah Winchester liked the spider web pattern and felt it was spiritually significant? She used it on many stained glass windows in the Winchester Mystery House, which brings me full circle.
It’s not perfect, and there was a fair amount of confusion and fudging on the gusset decreases at first. I hope it doesn’t make the gusset too short. Anyway, I’m glad to be able to put this down so I can cast on Arachne today. I like this pattern. I think they will be pretty clog socks.
With all the things going on in the world, I thought it was a good time to redeem my Fairlight Fibers gift card that Bob got for me for Christmas.
My main goal was to get the J&S yarn for the original Peerie Flooers hat colorway (center). I also splurged on some yak (left), tussah silk, and nettle blends (right) because I was curious. She has some great free patterns on her website too!
But right now I’m stitching on my Shetland Tweed Throw because no thinking is required.
I don’t know about you, friends, but I feel stretched to my limits. I am no longer capable of further complexity in my life. I made a silly mistake on my Farmhouse Cardigan and had to rip it out. I began some Wide Legged Pants only to be confounded by taping the pattern pieces together. It is important during these troubled times to recognize your limits, be gentle with yourself, and reach for what comforts you.
I decided patterns are a no go right now (although I wouldn’t turn down an oatmeal raisin cookie) and cast on a simple cowl. This is Knitpicks Swish Bulky in Saffron from my stash. It was a FibreShare gift. Sweet simple hygge bliss. I will make a hat to match! (And call him George and hug him and pet him…)
Why do we have a large hunk of quartz in our house? I think it was here when we moved in. Maybe it was meant to be a doorstop? It has migrated to the living room.
If you’ve watched a lot of Time Team, as I have, you will remember they find early medieval church altars made from quartz. Was this because it was believed to hold special properties? Was it because it was readily available and shiny? Did it raise the spiritual energy of the congregation? Do you believe quartz holds special metaphysical properties? I think I do believe it, as do many people of different cultural backgrounds. So what is the significance of this chunk of quartz in our house? Is it clearing out bad vibes?
Ooommmmm. I know you probably can’t tell what I’m doing, but it’s a face plant on quartz. There are definitely some weird things afoot at my house, and not just yours truly needing a mental clearing.
What’s bending our forks? Poltergeist?Misdirected quartz vibrations? Teenagers eating ice cream? (Or… aliens?)
I stopped by my LYS to show my support in these times of economic uncertainty. (It had nothing to do with me needing yarn therapy I assure you.) I did my patriotic duty and picked up the knitting game I’ve wanted since Christmas, plus yarn to match for good measure. It’s such a happy blue. Maybe another simple cowl and hat is in my future. At least there is some certainty to be found in knitting.
Sock it to me Monday
I started a sock! I decided if I don’t like knitting socks and everyone else does, then I’m probably not doing it right! I cast on a Blogville favorite, Hermione’s Everyday Socks. I am using some gorgeous Arrowhead Fibers Basic Sock from my stash, in Wintergreen. I started on two circulars as the pattern suggested, but switched to Magic Loop, which is slightly less stressful. There’s still a lot of needle flopping going on, but compared to stitch dropping on double points, maybe it’s ok? I’m knitting short socks for clogs and modified the ribbing. Keep me in your socky thoughts and knitty prayers.
Wednesday WIPs
I received the Chinook Fleece Artist in Jewel, my main color for Whit’s Foursquare Cowl. I cast on! This yarn is so soft and I think the colorways are perfect together. The variegated is my Celtic Colours yarn. This is a comforting and simple knit.
I cast on my Farmhouse Cardi in Black Welsh Mountain. This yarn has some VM in it. (That’s vegetable matter to us laymen.) I don’t mind picking it out. It reminds me this yarn is not far from the farm. It’s nice and squishy.
Still knitting on this Shetland Tweed Throw when I need something simple and chunky.
Friday FO
Oh yes I did! I finished my Seamwork Billie. It looks like PJs. It feels like PJs! It was a fun make. Next time I’ll pick a fabric that doesn’t make me wish I had a little red cowboy hat on.
Spooky Knitalong
Quiteayarnblog and mildlygranola are starting a knitalong for the Arachne sweater next month. I’m intrigued (or have FOMO) and if I frog and forget about The Oa, I could use this Cascade Sport. I could make a purple Arachne with green web, or a gray Arachne with charcoal web. I’m leaning toward gray because I’m boring that way. I have just under the needed yardage, so I’m not positive I’ll do it. I still love The Oa, but if I were going to knit it, wouldn’t I be further along by now?
Yes, there is purple in my hair.
Thursday always feels like going downhill. Like when Treebeard said in Lord of the Rings that going south feels like going downhill.
I am almost finished with Hans’ Tread. He wants an extra pattern repeat to make sure it covers his ears.
After that I will swatch for my Farmhouse Cardigan. I can’t wait to get my hands in the Black Welsh Mountain yarn. Maybe I will swatch for my Gryffindor Winter Ferns hat as well.
Then it’s Linen Stitch Cowl all the way to Kenya and back. Sounds like a trip to Naivasha is on the itinerary to meet the ladies with the wool!
Are you curious how I managed to afford the Black Welsh Mountain yarn? Basically I had $500 tied up in a savings account I didn’t have access to. I went to the bank and closed the account, moving the savings to our checking. And when I recalculated how much I needed for the cardi, it went from 1400 yards down to 1200, so that brought it down to $350. I still discussed it with Bob because that’s a lot to spend on yarn! But he agreed because it’s an investment in my happiness and cheaper than therapy if you divide it by hours spent knitting. I didn’t even have to use that last argument to persuade him.
It’s time to start thinking about the spring planting. Here’s a quiz from KathyB!
Have you gotten a seed catalog yet?
Yes, Seed Savers Exchange
Are you planning to plant by seed this year?
Probably, I usually do. Although last year we purchased some plants from a local urban farm.
Are you still giving away zucchini bread made from last fall’s harvest?
Nope, I didn’t grows Zukes last year.
When is the last time someone gave you flowers?
My Mother and Sister sent me a beautiful bouquet for my birthday last year.
Who taught you to garden?
My Grandmother
Are you months from these decisions, as I am, and just clinging to the rest of our blog pals photos of greenery and blossoms?
Since we may be moving, I’m holding off on gardening plans.
Did you know you can get gorgeous anemone in a flower bouquet?
I did not! What’s an anemonemonemeny? (Ok. Ok. Don’t hurt yourself.)
Have you ever knitted or crocheted a flower?
I don’t think so.
