On to the Sleeves

I have been zipping along on my Naima sweater. I did order another skein of yarn, because I misread the yards versus meters requirement. I am so used to having yards come first, that I didn't pay attention. I have the right amount if I was using meters, but not enough yarn for my project since I ordered based on yards. Why oh why can't we just use metric. Oops!

This sweater has been a quick knit for me. I hope to have it complete by the end of the month or soon after. I am getting much quicker at purling and am even able to read while I knit again. It helps that I have had blocks of time to work on it. Eamon and I spent some time at the comic book store this week, which meant I could read and knit while he played Magic the Gathering. I finished We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. It started well, but had a bit of trouble in the middle and ended a bit abruptly. I also read a bit of The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds while waiting for Eamon. It is for our homeschooling co op and quite good. Back home, I chose Men Explain Things To Me and Fangirl from the large stack of books I have here. I figure they offset each other. I started both yesterday but did not get very far. Have you read anything good lately? I spend a bit of time making lists after reading and knitting along with Ginny.

My Competitive Side

I have been furiously knitting this year inspired by a contest called the Yarnathon at Eat Sleep Knit. I have purchased on and off from ESK, but this year I am spending my whole yarn budget there. I am not planning on finishing the yarnthon (a marathon with yarn), but I love the added features this year. There are 12 KALs (knit alongs) to go along with the contest, which I love! There are also badges for knitting achievements like casting on over 400 stitches, knitting while binging watching a show, alternating skeins of yarn in a project, crocheting, spinning, and a whole host of other challenges. So far I have completed nine of the KALs and am well on my way to a tenth. I also have enough badges to reach silver status this month. It is all crazy fun, and this program touched on my competitive side dragging me out of my knitting slump. I love it.

The tenth KAL for me is a sweater free for all. I left it toward the end, because it seemed like a bigger project. Despite the oppressive heat of summer, I find I enjoy knitting sweaters at this time of year. I think it gives me hope that cooler temperatures will return some time in the future. A little bit of summer dreaming for me. I decided to knit the Naima sweater in Cascade 220. I love the pattern thus far. There are design elements to keep it interesting. I am currently finished with the body shaping and moving onto some short rows. I look forward to the pocket lining which incorporates a bit of color work. It feels like I am more than halfway through the garment, but I know the sleeves still remain. 

I took the sweater camping with me and was able to make a bit of progress on the drive. I appreciate all the stockinette, because I can usually read too. While sitting on the dock watching Dave and the kiddos kayak, I alternated between knitting and reading The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion. The book is nothing new, but is a great reminder of what I already know. I had a lot of should in my life, which I am gradually shedding in place of my truths. I appreciate the author's recognition that one still needs to have shelter and eat, so incorporating must into your life doesn't have to be all or nothing. The idea that sometimes a job/career/employment allows you to pursue your must is very true for me. The book is more of a journal and is visually appealing utilizing color, art, and font for emphasis. I would recommend it.

Shades of Arizona

I finished my Nordic Wind shawl last week. It was late in the day, so I couldn't block it in the usual spot - my bed. I decided to try something different after soaking it. I hung it up on the clothesline to dry. The next morning when I went out to check on my shawl, I was surprised to realize the colors in it were the colors of Arizona. With our recent day trip to the sheep bridge fresh in my mind, I found this photo from that day. The shawl and the Arizona landscape are a perfect complement to one another.

 I was quite pleased with my blocked shawl. So pleased I went inside and changed my shirt so I could wear the shawl immediately. I have yarn to make another one, but firs I have a few other projects in the queue. For now I am enjoying these gorgeous spring days and my Arizona shawl.

Finished and New Beginnings

I finished up the Hermione Socks last week. I made the foot a bit tighter than usual, because the socks were for Dave. The tighter gauge seems to work better with the shoes he wears daily to work.  I finished that pair just in time to start another one. I mentioned last week that I wanted to participate in the Through the Loops mystery sock. I received the first clue and quickly put my empty needles to work. I like how the clue is working up. I am using Miss Babs Yummy 2-ply in the Squash Blossum color way. It is much more yellow than the first photo depicts (it is a bit better in the second one). I am eager for the second clue which will be released tomorrow.

While waiting for the second sock clue to be published, I am working on a Nordic Wind shawl. I chose green and browns for the shawl and plan to use all of the skein in each color. I decided to add a fifth color after I started. I am not sure that was a great idea, because the fifth color is darker than the others. I am hoping the result is still a big, warm, cozy shawl. I am almost done with the third ball of yarn. I hope I can finish this by next week! I feel like my fingers are flying.

Admittedly with all the knitting, there hasn't been much reading. Although it is a good book, I am still working on Nora Webster. Maybe I can finish both the book and the shawl by next week. Then I would have two new things to share on the Yarn Along and the Craft On!

Stolen Time Socks

My socks are progressing quite quickly, much faster than my reading. I am hoping to steal a bit of time today to finish them. I only have another inch before the toe decreases. Two weeks for a pair of socks isn't too bad.

As I knit the foot, I have been plotting my next project. I am trying to decide what yarn and pattern I most want to knit. The evidence of this process is currently piled on my desk. I am planning on joining the Nordic Wind KAL a bit late. I really like the subtle shifting colors used in the basic triangular shawl. I also will be casting on for the Through the Loops Mystery Sock beginning tomorrow. I have joined each year and really enjoy the process. I also want to knit a sweater for Aine out of some yarn she selected last month. I am planning on making the new Shirley Temple pattern. And then I want to make a sweater for myself. So many ideas and such a tough time deciding!

I finished All the Light We Cannot See a few weeks ago. It was such a good book. I enjoyed it so much, I even recommended it to a woman at the library who was looking for a new read. When that was done, I picked up Nora Webster. It took a bit to get into it, and I ended up needing to return the book to the library. I promptly put it back on hold and was able to pick it up earlier this week. I find the main character quite interesting. Her emotions and reactions resonant with me in the dealing with my mom and discussions of widowhood. I hope to find a bit more time in the next week to finish it.

Joining back up with Ginny for the Yarn Along.

Increasing the Output

December was a fairly good knitting month for me. Despite a rather bleak knitting year, I was able to finish a few projects before the year closed. I wanted to make a "mama-made" gift for each of the kiddos, and I accomplished that. I knit Eamon a pair of slippers and Aine a sweater-the only photo I have is above. (Benton eschewed my knitting ideas, so I sewed him a fox per his request).

In addition to the gifts, I finished Eamon's stocking. It had languished in the queue too long. I didn't finish it before Santa visited, but I did get it finished just in time to be packed away with the rest of the holiday decorations. He was quite pleased! A pair of socks came off the needles as well as a mystery shawl.

The momentum has continued into the new year. I immediately cast on a pair of socks when I turned the calendar. I am turning the heel on those and plan to keep a pair of socks always at the ready. To keep me going, I am joining Kirsten Kapur again for her mystery sock along. I will be making another sweater for myself as soon as the socks are finished as well as a shawl or two. I hope to get back to creating and making more this year. I am a much better person when given time to create.

Combining Opportunities

Hermione's Everyday Socks on Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Buckingham Fountain color way

A new year brings a lot of reflection for me. What have I accomplished? What contributes to my happiness? What hinders it? How can I improve? What do I want this next year to be for me and my family? A lot of the navel gazing ends up positive. I like who I am and where we are. I do, however, want a bit more. Mostly I want more time. Often I miss those random chances for more time throughout the day. I forget to grab onto them and make them bigger. Either I don't notice them at all or I make excuses that there just aren't enough of them. But truly all those random chances combine into amazing opportunities. If I remember to use them, I can knit a sock, a sweater, a gift. I can read a book, practice yoga, write. I can do so very many things if I notice my chances.

A Little Knitting

Bond Street 

Halloweeny Socks

I didn't knit much this summer. I just didn't feel like picking up the needles. Initially I wasn't sure what to make. Then I realized my list of knit-worthy gift recipients is shrinking, and I have enough wool sweaters and socks for my climate. I just lost my mojo. One night I was traipsing through the inter-webs and arrived at ravelry. Inspired I decided to cast on a new project. A few weeks later and my knitting resolve has returned. I finished up the Bond Street Shawl and quickly cast on for a pair of autumnal socks. I finished the first sock in four days. The second is taking a bit longer, but it soon will be off the needles. My list of "want to knit" is quickly growing. First, since I cannot resist a mystery knit along, I am again playing along with Stephen West and his mystery shawl. After that I am not sure. I have a few shawls queued, a stocking to finish, and I think we just may need new hats.

And since I haven't played in a bit with Ginny and her Yarn Along, I may as well include my reading. My reading has been eclectic. I finished Anatomy of a Misfit. It was part of a group read here in Arizona. I found it a bit lacking even taking into account the YA label. I have a pile of books to read next. I started The Sea as well as March. I am not usually one to read multiple books at once, but I didn't have my current read while out and had to substitute. The kiddos and I are also reading When You Reach Me together. It is for our boo group. We only have about 40 more pages to go. They really like how it references A Wrinkle in Time. I am curious to see how it ends.

The Perfect Buttons

I finished this little sweater for Aine several weeks ago. It is the Bulle pattern made out of Cascade 220. Although the knitting was complete, I could not count it as finished until we found the right buttons.  Aine and I looked together at first, but I was unable to reconcile myself to her picks, and she disliked most of mine. I decided we would look again for buttons when the whole sweater was complete. This weekend that chance arrived. Eamon helped me instead of Aine. He was certain she would dislike whatever we found. I assured him that we would pick two options, and she was sure to like one.


I was right. Aine was delighted with one of the sets of buttons we found. I thought she would when we spotted them. She has a big place in her heart for sparkly buttons. The light blue buttons match the contrasting pockets perfectly. Once the decision was made, I hurriedly sewed them onto the pullover . The sweater is now set aside to be worn on an upcoming trip to colder country. She cannot wait! I am glad we were able to find those perfect buttons.

Sweater Season

It began a few years ago when I joined a summer sweater knit-along. Truly the whole premise defies logic. It is hot during the summer. It should be the time for lightweight knitting - socks, tanks, wraps. It isn't the time to knit sweaters, let alone wool sweaters. That first summer I knit three sweaters - Shalom, February Lady Sweater and Frances Revisited. I loved welcoming fall with new wool garments. Since then I have noticed I tend to crank out sweaters in the warmer months(Modern Garden Cardi and Que Sera last year). This year is no exception.

This summer began with my Camp Cod sweater. My first foray into the world of cotton garment knitting. I really liked the result. I thought cotton and linen might be good choices for me here in the desert, but then I catalogued my yarn. It was a bit disconcerting. I have a whole lot of wool and quite a few sweater quantities of the stuff. So, I made a plan to knit those sweaters.

Next off the needles was a Nanook. This sweater was actually started last summer, but for some reason I never made it past the initial cast-on. The yarn for Nanook was bought a year or two ago, and I thought I had enough. I remained in denial until that last skein reached its end yet the end of the sweater was still a ways off. Luckily a fellow knitter on Ravelry came to my rescue. With that additional skein, I was able to finish the cardigan. I love the result. It hits well and is rather elegant in its simplicity. I am hoping I can wear it when we visit colder climes this fall and winter.

While I waited for the final skein for Nanook, I cast on a quick knit. Mud Season caught my eye, when it was first published, for its simplicity, and the fact it was free. Coupled with some Cascade Ecological wool I scooped up on clearance from Webs, it seemed like the next logical knit. I am going to make the sweater short sleeved as instructed, and I hope it will work well here with our mild winters. It is zipping along which is good, because I have plans for a couple more sweaters. I have yarn for at least four more adult sweaters and a couple for the kiddos. (They are starting to give me looks for all the mama knitting I am doing). In the queue are Umbrellas, Paper Dolls, Tea Leaves and Narrangesett as well as Bulle and a newborn Vertebrae. That should keep me busy for quite a long time.

Finished

I couldn't stay awake last night, although the story was so very good. I have read the book many times, and each time it grips me. I always gain something different with each reading. When I woke up this morning, I gathered our copy and my workout clothes. Normally I try to head out early to run, walk or strength train, but this morning I just had to finish the last 20 or so pages. I had to find out what happened to Jem and Scout. Again I was reminded of the ending and the brilliance of Harper Lee. That little book is full of so much goodness and insight. She crafts the tale with humble words and speech creating such a treasure.

I am taking an online course right now with Amanda of The Habit of Being entitled Write Now. The class focuses on the habit of writing daily and truly observing; crafting those tales we encounter throughout our lives and noticing the little things we can easily miss. One piece that struck me from the prompts was the belief that good writing comes from reading good works. I truly believe Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a good work. Recently I also read a bit of Steinbeck. Somehow I had never read his work as a youth or in college. After just the first paragraph, I put it down. It was just so good. The imagery and the information provided in just that one group of sentences was profound. I even paused to share it with Dave.

There are many great works available, but I am continually drawn to older tomes. I even prefer many of the older children's works for the kiddos. So, although I still love to power through current fiction of questionable literary merit, I intersperse those reads with a return to the classics.

Another return to the classics is this sweater I recently finished. The pattern is Cape Cod from Thea Colman, and I love it. The sweater is perfect for throwing over a tee with a pair of jeans. The slight boatneck collar adds a touch of femininity to the raglan when combined with the lace panels in the front and back. I used cotton yarn this time, since I am finally accepting that Arizona is hot, and wool is only so practical here in my climate. I enjoyed working with the yarn, but I am not totally happy with the ribbing. It seems loose although I tried several different needle combinations. I think I may try a twisted rib next time.

Cooler Weather

Yesterday I woke up and ran in 77 degree weather. This is not typical August weather for Arizona. Usually the lows hover in the mid to low 90s, so it was a welcome treat even if the humidity was in the same range. With such cool weather, the kiddos and I spent a lot of time outside. They set about washing the wheelbarrow, which led to much fun with the hose in the sprinkling rain. Bikes, scooters and roller blades were pulled out of the garage. Each kiddo did laps around the park while I mowed our little Arizona lawn with the push mower. I then sat for a bit to knit while they ran some more. I am working on my third project for Camp Loopy. I chose a sweater this time and am actually accepting my climate and making it out of cotton. We shall see how this works.

Rain and increasing temperatures moved us indoors after a bit. I soon closed up the windows, but it was such a nice time letting the cooler fresh air into the house.

Inspired

Last weekend I spent a bit of time organizing and documenting my stash. I created a new plan, since I had accumulated a lot of yarn while my normal stash was in storage. It now seems like I have two big piles. Once combined the amount was quite large, so I have pledged to myself to refrain from yarn purchases at least until the end of the yarn and maybe into next.

While sorting through the pile, I noticed three little skeins of cotton yarn left over from the baby blanket I made my niece last year. After I photographed and entered them into ravelry, I set the yarn aside for a quick little project. I saw the Rachel Bag on Lori's blog and instantly loved it. Now that I had the yarn in my stash, I knew I wanted to make it and make it soon.

And that is exactly what I did. The little bag came together so quickly. A few hours for each side and another for the finishing. I dug through my fabric and found a bit of coordinating cotton for the lining. I love how it turned out. I initially thought the bag was for me, but I soon decided I needed to give it to a friend. It is not really her color. I think she favors more of the bright pinks and purples, but I hope she will like this one. She is such an inspiration. In the past year she has lost a significant amount of weight, after she was diagnosed with diabetes. Not wanting to take medication, she took control of her life and changed her outcome. Now most days she pedals like crazy at spin class each morning and eats sensibly. She also is caring for three children, one of which has epilepsy. She has handled her oldest child's illness with such grace. His seizures are more severe and happening with regularity, but she remains calm on the outside. After much testing and more to come, she supports him, her husband and her girls. I always knew she was a remarkable person and now I have a little something to give her.

{this moment}

{this moment} - Joining Amanda in a Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Keeping Busy

I have been busy lately. Not the busy of running around town or hitting the lake. Summer in Arizona is similar to winter elsewhere. The little time spent outdoors is usually in the pool. Most of our days now are spent inside enjoying cool air conditioning. My busy has been in establishing new routines and rhythms. We had been busy exploring our new library, taking quick afternoon trips to the nearby museums, visiting friends who live just blocks away and staying up late. The last few weeks have been ones of finding our niche and relishing it.

The new house is becoming more of our home each day. Little things are added like the construction paper chain adorning our dining room, added by Aine in a fit of creativity. We are coming together again as a family to see and do. Part of the time is spent on the computer creating new code, exploring minecraft mods or watching documentaries. Other time is spent at the table eating meals together, entertaining and laughing, or watching the dog owners, just out the window, exercise their pets in the evening hours. Much more of our time now is spent creating, pulling out long forgotten mediums to create and enjoy.

This creating and settling into our home means a bit of knitting too. I seem to have found my mojo again. Last week I finished a shawl. I used a pattern that has been in my queue for years. I finally decided it was time to make one after seeing so many gorgeous ones through the Yarn Along. It is the Citron pattern from Knitty, however I added as many repeats as I had yarn. I used Kauni in a gradient colorway. I really love the colors, but the yarn is a bit more rustic than what I usually use. Once blocked it did soften up. I had it hanging in the doorway for a few days, and my mom happened to visit. She mentioned how pretty it was, so I gave it to her. I looks beautiful on her. I hope she wears it and enjoys it.