Yarn Along

Now that school is back in session, I'm hoping I can find a new routine with blogging.  This is my last minute Yarn Along entry for today:

I'm working on a red version of this sweater.  I'm using Knit Pick's Swish Bulky in "Hollyberry."  I've also been working on a fingering weight sweater for my daughter, and it's astonishing how much more quickly bulky yarn knits up.  I'm finalizing the pattern for the cowl neck sweater and if anyone is interested in testing out a girls' size 12 or 14/16, please let me know.

I'm reading The Lost City of Z by David Grann .  I chose this book to read because I find exploratory journeys into the Amazon fascinating.  My most favorite historical non-fiction book is The Mapmaker's Wife by Robert Whitaker.  I read The Mapmaker's Wife several years ago.  It was one of those books that was so interesting, it kept me up late at night.  It chronicles the journey that an 18th century Peruvian upper-class young woman undertakes to find her French husband who has set off down the Amazon.  Imagine traveling the Amazon in the 1700s and starting off your journey in a silk gown.  I can't say enough how fascinating I found this book!

Thanks to Ginny at small things for hosting another Yarn Along.

Please share what you're reading and knitting.  Thanks!

new pattern in the works

Despite the 80 degree days, until just yesterday, and time still spent at the beach, there are hints of fall in the air everywhere.  The mornings are cool, pumpkins are popping up on doorsteps, and some of the leaves are even changing.

I've recently finished up a new design: a girls' sleeveless sweater with a textured cowl neck, worked from the bottom up with minimal seaming.  It's a sophisticated little sweater and cozy warm too.  Perfect for fall. Or not too cold winters.

I'm looking for some knitters to test the pattern for me.  And I'm in the middle of knitting up another one myself.  If you'd like to test  the pattern, you can sign up in the Free Pattern Testers forum on Ravelry.  Thanks!

Yarn Along (#?)

Yarn Along, oh how I've missed you!

I was doing pretty well this winter and spring keeping up with reading and knitting and participating in the Yarn Alongs.  But then summer vacation arrived and, well, I wasn't able to keep up.

So I'm back this week going back and forth between Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees and Jack Kerouac's On the Road.  The Bean Trees came highly recommended by two acquaintances randomly a few weeks back.  And I figured it was about time I read On the Road, given that I was an English major who focused on American literature.

I'm slowly making progress on Kate Davies' Paper Dolls sweater.  Between the i-cord cast on and the corrugated rib, the first 2 inches were very slow going.  But I love the effect of both techniques and I quickly got used to carrying both the pink and green yarns in my left hand while knitting and purling away.  I'm now into the body of the sweater and won't hit colorwork again until the yoke.  So I've got inches and inches of stockinette stitch ahead of me, in a sock weight yarn to boot.

I've got a long stint in a doctor's office waiting room ahead of me today, and I'm hoping this doctor has wifi so I can read all of the other Yarn Along posts.

I'd love to see what you're reading and knitting, so please leave a comment if you stop by.  Thanks!  And thanks to Ginny for hosting the Yarn Alongs.

it's here...

The Fall Issue of Twist Collective came out today!  I'm so honored to be a part of this issue.  This beret is my design, Plover.  It's an interesting knit combining cables and eyelets and lots of texture.

I poured my heart into this pattern from the gauge swatches I worked and reworked, to the samples I knit, and the charts that I learned to write.  This pattern has both written and charted directions and it was working this pattern that finally convinced me that charts are a life saver and really not all that scary.

This sample was knit with Miss Babs Yummy Monochrome Sport and Sock 3-ply in her Firecracker colorway.  I fell in love with this yarn the minute it arrived in my mailbox and it didn't disappoint.  Look at that depth of color.  How can you not love it?

Make sure to check out all of the amazing patterns in this issue of Twist.

Find Plover on Ravelry.

Photo courtesy of James Brittain and Twist Collective.

in anticipation...

I noticed this bird's nest in our lilacs earlier this summer.  I never saw a bird visit it, but I found it fascinating nonetheless.  Today it fell onto our patio.

I hate to think I took a several weeks break from blogging to write about a fallen bird's nest, but it has come to that.  I don't know how anyone with children home full time manages to do anything other than care for them or the flurry of stuff they leave in their wake.  I've had things I've wanted to write about, but no extra time or mental energy to do it.

But my motivation is this:  I have a new pattern coming out tomorrow!  It's named after a bird who finds its home on our beaches here in Maine.  I'm excited and a bit nervous to have the pattern debut tomorrow.

So stay tuned.  And I'll try to have less time go between this blog post and my next.

have you ever seen a rainbow's end?

My husband packed us a picnic dinner last night and just as we arrived at the beach, it began to thunder.  We decided to eat in the car given that lightning probably wasn't far away.  This is what we saw after about 10 minutes of rain...

I've never seen the end of a rainbow.  This one ended right in the ocean.  It was awe inspiring.  This world we live in is fascinating.

weekending 6.12

A few of the blogs I follow post along with Amanda at the habit of being about their weekends.  Since this last week had lots of milestones for us, I thought it felt like a good time to join in.

celebrated our daughter's second birthday with a big family party.  all of my worries about it being too hot and sunny for everyone in the back yard faded when we were faced with rain and 50 degree temps.  that will teach me to worry.

enjoyed watching 8 cousins under the age of 7 play together.  it got noisy and chaotic at times, but they loved it.

felt like a kid again when my husband rented a sno cone maker and we enjoyed blue raspberry sno cones.  remember we were worried about how hot it might be for the party?  we just ate them inside on the sun porch.

ate a rare dinner of steamed clams and root beer with my daughters for "ladies night."  we do this every time their dad has to work or is away for dinner.

started a hat for "hats for japan."  ripped out the neck of the sweater I was working on and will give it another try again soon.

teared up over my daughter's last day of preschool.  felt proud reading the notes her preschool teachers left her in her journal.  it's always a wonderful feeling to know that an adult outside of our family finds something to love about our child.

If you stop by to read this, feel free to leave a comment and a link to your post about your weekend.  Thanks!