Yarn Along #5

I'm not sure why these Yarn Along posts seem to be the only kind of writing I can handle at the moment.  For some reason, there always seems to be something more pressing in the queue of things I need to do than to write a post here.  And yet I have so many things that I'd like to talk about!  Thoughts about trusting God when life is tough and the way is unclear; about "spring blues" and this curious feeling of apathy that's been dogging me lately; about the challenges and joys that an almost two-year-old is bringing to my life every day.  But the only thing I manage to do somewhat regularly is document my knitting.  I'm hoping that as the weather warms up (it's still in the 40's most days here, and I feel like it's been raining non-stop), it'll be easier to get my work done (because my husband will be able to take our daughter out for walks when he gets home from work), and thus I'll have more time.  I hope.  In the meantime, I try to remind myself that I am taking care of the more important things, and that if writing here is truly important, from an eternal perspective, God will give me the time to do so.

Now: what's on my needles!

I'm still working on my Shalom sweater from last time around.  However, it's mostly done: probably less than six inches of stockinette and then an inch of garter stitch left to go, which shouldn't take me long at all.  I think I'll have it done by the end of the weekend, if not before, since we'll be traveling (this gives me a chance to knit in the car).  Then I just have to pick out a good button, and also fudge close the two extra buttonholes that I worked in and have now decide I won't need or want.

I have to say, I've been loving this revival of my passion for knitting.  I just ordered yarn for a couple more projects, which should keep me busy for at least the next several weeks.  The best part of rediscovering this particular hobby is that it's so wonderfully portable; I can pop my latest project in a bag and bring it to the doctor's office (if my daughter isn't coming, anyway), or knit in the car, or when we visit either set of grandparents.  I'm enjoying the process, and also enjoying the end results.  The next step is for me to branch out into different types of yarn; I've mostly been a "wool only" person (I raised sheep - go figure), but I'm intrigued by the variety of other natural fibers (cotton, modal, cashmere, etc).  And I've really been enjoying learning some new techniques, as well.  It's all made me very thankful for the solid skills that I learned as a child and teenager (thank you, Mom and 4-H), because it's now pretty easy for me to attempt fairly complex patterns.

As for the book accompanying the sweater: this is the book that I would be reading, if I could just find the time to read.  Actually, I have found time here and there (i.e. when LW will let me, while nursing) to flip through it at least.  It's called Honey for a Child's Heart, and is an absolutely lovely annotated list of children's books, which includes a lovely dose of Great Books philosophy.  I've been looking through it to see what books I might want to get for LW for her upcoming birthday; she's finally hit an age where she just loves to be read to, and it's time to expand her library a bit more.

Anyway, that's all for today, folks!  Have a blessed and holy Triduum, and a most joyful Easter!

As always, be sure to check out all the other Yarn Along links over at Small Things.

Yarn Along # 4

What a crazy busy day it has been. All three of us were scheduled to have doctor's appointments today, although my husband eventually canceled his chiropractic one so that he could take our daughter to the dentist instead.  Dental visits are a huge trauma for both her *and* me - and I think it went easier, this time, because I didn't go.  All day, though, I've been thinking "it's Wednesday!  I've been knitting!  I want to post my Yarn Along!"  I'm sliding it in, just under the wire, and in the five minutes I have before my computer battery dies.

Anyway.  Picture time!

Here's what's currently on my needles, and on the side table being read:

It doesn't look like much yet, but it's the beginning of a Shalom sweater for me.  I liked the one I made for my daughter so much that I had to start one for myself.  The yarn is Cascade Yarns Eco Wool (in a natural chocolate brown), and the pattern can be found on Ravelry, or at Involving the Senses.  The yarn is pretty soft for being bulky and non-Merino, and I'm loving the lofty feel of it (and already imagining how nice the finished sweater will feel).  I also loved that one skein, which is almost 500 yards, should be enough for the whole project, and only cost $15.

Actually, I had the sweater completed all the way through the yoke yesterday, before trying it on and deciding to rip it all out and go up a needle size.  What you see here is what I was able to redo while waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more at the doctor's office today.

The book is one of my very favorites: Friends for the Journey, containing thoughts and dialogue on friendship by Madeleine L'Engle and Luci Shaw.  Love it, for more reasons than I can count, and it's hitting the spot right now.  It's making me realize, though, that I need to start being more proactive and try to find more friends.  Friends really do make the world go 'round...

Also, an update on my last project: I finished LW's Bloom dress!

I absolutely love how it turned out.  The K1P1 ribbing in the bodice has a ton of give, and I can tell it will fit LW for a long time to come.

The diamond lace pattern is just so perfectly pretty.  Plus, this project has definitely gotten me over my intimidation about lace knitting.  I'll be doing more projects like it in the near future, I'm sure!

Best of all, it fits LW well - lots of room to grow in to, but should be perfect for Easter.  I just need to decide on a ribbon color - white or darker purple - to finish it.  And she even (when she's not trying to take it off, that is) likes the dress (don't mind the trash can and recycling bin in the background.  When trying to catch a very active toddler on camera, you have to take whatever shot you can get).

That's all for today, folks - the battery is about to go.  Be sure to check out the Yarn Along roundup over at Small Things.

Yarn Along #3

What with one thing or another (illness, busyness) I didn't have a chance to post my "Yarn Along" the last two weeks.  However, that doesn't mean I wasn't knitting! 

Currently In Progress:

I stole an idea from Josee at Through the Thorns to the Stars and started an Easter dress for my daughter.  I'm using the "Bloom" pattern on Ravelry, by Georgie Hallam.  I love her patterns - they are so clearly and cleverly written, and so girly and pretty!  The yarn is Knit Picks Swish DK in Sugarplum.  I started this about a week ago, and it is knitting up quite quickly.

Other Projects I've Completed Recently:

Remember the fingerless gloves to match my hat?  All done, and I'm getting great use out of them as spring lingers late in the northeast (in fact, it's rumored we're going to get hit with another snowstorm on Friday).  I'm sick of the cold, but at least my hands will be warm!  It's amazing how comfy fingerless gloves are; I find that I want to leave them all the time, and I can, because my fingers are still free.

Also, in the interim, I made a toddler-sized Shalom Cardigan.  Sizing was a stab in the dark, because I couldn't/didn't want to figure out the math for what gauge I should be shooting for, and really didn't want to adjust the number of stitches.  The adult-size pattern called for US 10.75 (7 mm) needles and bulky weight yarn; I subbed DK weight yarn (Knit Picks Swish DK in the discontinued color Periwinkle) and used US size 6 (4.25 mm).  I didn't adjust the stitch count at all, although I did add two extra button holes and slightly reduce the number of stitches cast off into the sleeves, thus increasing the bodice size slightly so that the cardigan could close for those two extra buttons.  It turned out so perfect!  My next project, after I finish LW's dress, will be to make one of these for myself.

Here's LW modeling it (actually, I distracted her with bubbles so that she'd hold still for pictures)



"Bubbles!"



"Done with the bubbles.  Take this sweater off NOW"

and what it looks like from behind (pardon the dark shot)

What I'm Reading:

A couple of random books arrived in the mail earlier this week.  They were addressed to me, but I hadn't ordered them, and was baffled as to where they had come from.  Turns out my cousin was sending me birthday gifts from afar.  One of those books was a volume of poetry: Red Bird, by Mary Oliver.  I'm very much enjoying it (as I could have guessed I would - my cousin has excellent taste in books).  I'm also finding myself reaching for Perelandra lately, to re-read it for about the hundredth time.  It's a great book for Lent, because it explores the nature of sin, grace, paradise lost and paradise retained; it's also a great book for any time when the future is a little bit unclear.  I'll leave you with my very favorite quote:

"He gave me no assurance.  No fixed land.  Always one must throw oneself into the wave." - C.S. Lewis, Perelandra

Happy knitting, everyone!  As always, be sure to head over to Small Things for the Yarn Along roundup.

Yarn Along # 2

Time for another Yarn Along!  Find a ton more Yarn Along posts over at Small Things.

Wow, the week flew by.  But I was right, thinking about Yarn Alongs did prompt me to start another project right away.  It also started me searching through the endless archives at Ravelry, and making many plans for projects to come.

Currently on my needles:

One finished fingerless glove, and a mate for it just started.  I made these using the Vancouver Fog pattern on Ravelry, in the same yarn to match my hat from last week.  I did tweak the pattern slightly - first, using smaller needles, because I knew I'd need to in order to get gauge, and second, to add "fingerless fingers."  I prefer that to having just the "sleeve" around my hand, because I think the short little finger tubes keep the whole thing in place better.  Anyway, I'm pleased with how the first turned out, and being a quick knit, should have the second one done in time to use them a bit before spring arrives.  Given Monday's snowstorm, I guess it may be awhile anyway.

Currently in my head:

Kitten's First Full Moon.  My daughter LOVES cats.  She really, really adores them.  We can't wait to be able to get her one of her own, but in the meantime, we keep a steady stream of cat-themed books coming into the house.  This is her latest favorite.  The illustrations are lovely (black and white), although I am personally more partial to the sing-song rhythms of her last favorite, So Many Cats ("we had a cat, an only cat, it was a sad and lonely cat...")

Take Three Tenses.  I've been on a Rumer Godden kick for awhile now, and am enjoying this novel that I hadn't previously read before.  Not quite as much as I enjoyed China Court and In This House of Brede and Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy, but still thoroughly enjoying.  She wrote such lovely novels, and as a literary geek and T.S. Eliot fan, this one has extra appeal, because she weaves portions of Eliot's poem East Coker throughout.

Currently on my heart:

Lent starts today.  Actually, I'm writing this Tuesday, which when I post it will be yesterday ("time present and time past"!), so that I can just log in, post my draft, and go back to observing a quiet day.  I don't have grand plans for this Lent, just little ones, but I'm hoping that through little things God's grace might make big changes in me.  As such, I'm turning my heart thoughts towards the transforming power of His spirit, and delving into a book that my mom bought me awhile back, which I hadn't really worked my way through yet: Choosing Beauty.  I'll let you know how I like it, after I've read a bit more.

That's it for today!  Stay tuned for upcoming thoughts on 1) thinking about starting a Mom's group, and 2) learning to trust God's plan in whatever circumstances your life is currently offering.

May you have a blessed Ash Wednesday, and a holy journey this Lent, finding Christ through His Cross, so as to merit the glory of His Resurrection!

Yarn Along #1

I figured it was high time I jump on the Yarn Along bandwagon.  I've actually done quite a lot knitting this winter (a lot, at least, given my current responsibilities), but I haven't documented most of it.  I'm hoping doing Yarn Alongs will motivate me to keep knitting into the summertime, when historically I tend to forget about warm, woolly projects.

Anyway, here's my latest project - I just finished it this past weekend.  Technically the second time I'd made it - I knit the whole hat over my Thanksgiving vacation (a couple of days), then tried it on and found it was a little bit too big.  I tried to rip it out from the bottom to take an inch off, but found that it's nearly impossible to rip cables out from the bottom up.  It was such a mess that I had to unravel the entire thing and start over... live and learn, I guess.  I did cast it back on (with smaller needles) and knit a couple of rows immediately, but I just didn't have the heart to go any further for awhile.  So I finished a hat and gloves for my cousin, hat and gloves for my husband, hat for my brother-in-law, and then finally picked this back up three weeks ago.

I used the "Tuppence's Aran Cloche" pattern by Danny Ouellette, found here on Ravelry.   The pattern directions were pretty easy to follow (I loved that there was both a cabling chart, and written instructions).  The yarn is Paton's Classic Merino in (I think - I can't find my yarn wrapper at the moment) Jade Heather.

Here's a closeup of the cabling pattern:

I'm such a sucker for cables.  I love all things Celtic, and Celtic knotwork is no exception.  When I was 16, I made a whole sweater out of these sorts of cables - it took me nearly a year - and like the hat, turned out just a bit too big for me.  I didn't have the heart to unravel that project, so my Mom got a nice new sweater.  You'd think I'd have learned my lesson about needing to do a gauge sample, but no... I still can't be bothered.

A gratuitous pic or two of my little hat model (it's sized for me, so definitely too big for her, but cute nonetheless)

As for what I'm currently reading: I've been switching around a lot, but A Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh is what I'm primarily reaching for, with Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy (by Rumer Godden) falling a close second. 

Find more Yarn Alongs over at Small Things.

Have a great day everyone!  May you be blessed with ample time to knit and read!