Knitatation (Knitting Meditation)

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Star

Hi Dear Blog Readers!

Torrential rains here this week. I was able to make some progress on the socks.

The first sock is ready for the toe decreases. I'm afraid I will run out of yarn. I should have used less stitches. They are very stretchy because of the YO's. I put the stitches on a smaller needle and started the 2nd sock. I really really hope I have enough yarn to at least get to the point where I am at on the 1st one.

Pattern is Socks of Kindness. I love the yarn/pattern combo.

The second pair that I am working on has not had much progress. I knit a couple of rows a day just to keep in the rhythm of the pattern. I like it. Pattern is "Intersections".

After the green socks are done I'm going to whip up a pair of baby booties. Tiffany's friend is having a baby end of September and shower is mid-August. Don't know if its a boy or girl. Tiffany loved the booties I made Mason -- Easy-Peasy No Sew, Stay On Baby Booties. She used them daily.

Ruth is really moving along on her current sweater!

Yarn is Peace Fleece DK. Color is Blue Jay. Pattern is Morlaix cardi by Regina Moessmer. So nice, don't you think?!! She has made a lot of progress this week.

The STAR of today's blog is Martha's sweater - Oban by Norah Gaughan published by Brooklyn Tweed. The yarn is Logwood Sport by Lana Plantea Yarns. Rombiuollet and Alpaca. The knitting is done, now it's just adding the cute snaps.

Reminder she made a few pattern modifications along the way, plus used alternating skeins of yarn the whole time!

I love the smile on her face, you can tell she is so happy with it.

Beginning of snaps! Masterpiece for sure!

She has also been working on socks with Uneek sock yarn. 64 stitches. She did an afterthought heel so the striping would not be messed up. Love the colors. She got me some yarn like this in different colors. Ruth too. Ruth already made hers.

In other news:

My son-in-law's lettuce is growing like crazy. I should have tomatoes in a couple of weeks. They are getting big but not turning red yet.

Have a good week dear blog readers.

Stay safe and be kind.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Reasons

Hi Dear Blog Readers!

Update on my socks:

I have turned the heel on the "Socks of Kindness" and almost done with decreases. You would think I would have more done since there was no update last week. I had a lot of days with no knitting. It's a fun pattern and easy to do. These are for mom.

I had to take my dad to a procedure on Friday, and since mom was going to be there the whole time, I could not work on these socks, so....I started another pair. Super easy. No chart reading, just counting rows.

Pattern is Intersections from 52 Weeks of Socks book. I had the ribbing done on Thursday, and knit the whole rest of the leg waiting on Friday.

Yarn is Valley Yarn Charlemont that has a little silk in it. Not sure if I like the pooling, but it is what it is at this point. The pattern would obviously show up more on plain yarn. These are for my sister in law.

This pic was at 7:00 am before the rain started. Knitting, playing words and drinking coffee. What more could a girl ask for!

Ruth started a new sweater ! Yarn is Peace Fleece DK. Color is Blue Jay. Pattern is Morlaix cardi by Regina Moessmer. The shoulders are done. Lots of short rows. Now she's increasing for the sleeves. Interesting construction she said. I like it a lot!

Martha is getting close...oh so close to finishing her sweater. In her words:

Here’s the sweater or should I say coat? The collar is on the right. I have to knit 23” on the collar and am about 15” so far. I think I can finish the collar tonight. The underarms and sleeves I’m waiting to bind off, as per you, to make sure the length is to my liking. I’m ready to be done with this sweater but don’t want to rush and finish it poorly which, I always regret. This sweater is Oban by Norah Gaughan published by Brooklyn Tweed. The yarn is Logwood Sport by Lana Plantea Yarns. Rombiuollet and Alpaca.

If you look back on the blog, she has been working on this for a very very long time. It's really a masterpiece !

In other news:

Ruth, Martha and I traded flower pictures yesterday. It was fun. All so different.

Here is an enlarged picture of mine -- see the little chipmunk sticking his head out of the gutter....I wish I could transport him to Ruth's house! LOL

Here are Ruth's. She sent several but I'm just adding this one. She has a great perennial garden all around her house. She puts a lot of work into it.

Here is Martha's. She has a nice mix of colors!

Joe and Joey went fishing yesterday and caught a nice mess of perch!

I need to figure out which sock to work on. Maybe green on odd days of week and blue on even? or?

Have a great week dear blog readers. Stay safe and be kind.

Sunday, June 27, 2021

The Heat is On !

Hi Dear Blog Readers.

Oh my it is really hot here today. No air conditioning. Thank goodness we have the pool.

I worked really hard this week to get the 2nd giant size 13 sock done.

Yarn is Huntington from Valley yarns (Webs).

Size 1.5 needle. The heel is the two colors held double. When I finished up the heel turn, I switched the bottom needle to size 1.25 because it seemed too stretchy. Pattern is from Modern Daily Knitting Wanderlust - Double Eyelet Rib. The yarn was extremely splitty. It is soft though.

Started a pair of socks for mom. Pattern is "socks of kindness". I am going to concentrate on this all week. I have made this pattern before and like it a lot. Free on Ravelry.

Ruth finished up her sweater.

Liminal https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/liminal-2

She is not sure she liked the linen yarn. I think its super cute.

Martha reknit one sleeve cuff and is working on the 2nd. No picture this week.

In other news:

I'm so glad we have the pool. Not sure what we would do without it.

Oh and this is a great reason also:

Happy July 4th! NO blog post next week.

Stay safe and be kind.

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Father's Day 2021

Hi Dear Blog Readers

Happy Father's Day, 2021 Version.

I finished the Fern & Feather sweater! It was an enjoyable knit. I will post a final update once it's blocked. It's a nice fit.

Just finished decreases on 2nd sock. - Size 13 foot. The foot length is as long as the leg = 9". I'm going to focus on getting this done. I.Am.So.Sick.Of.It !

Ruth's yarn arrived and she is working away on her Liminal by Nell knits. Yarn is Euroflax linen. Mini skeins. I think it's super cute!

Martha is done with the sleeves on her Oban sweater but she thinks the 1st sleeve ribbing may have been done on smaller needles, so she may redo the 2nd sleeve ribbing. Once this is done, she can finish up super fast. She is almost done teaching school for the year then she can really concentrate on knitting.

In other news we had a Father's Day picnic at our house. Yes, another picnic. Fun was had by all. A small group today. Kids, mom, dad, brother and sister in law.

Mason has two teeth!

And a cute smile !

Joel and Vicky

The way he looks at her!

Love this, just missing me and Vicky

Joey can look at this and see his future...look so alike

Mason loved the little pool we set up for him. A big container with a little water

What 87 looks like - so thankful to have dad

Aweeee

Have a great week dear blog readers.

Stay safe and be kind...chat next week.

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Let's Catch Up!

Hi Dear Blog Readers,

Sorry for the absence last week. We had a party here and I was pooped !

I am sooo close to finishing up the 2nd sleeve on the Fern and Feather sweater.

Joe t old me the colors look Southwestern...I agree!

Maybe tonight? if you look close at the bottom of the sweater you can see where I started after I ripped and that new section is not blocked. Interesting to see it in pictures.

Last week my friend Laurie told me she was going to see her new grandson, Remy in Washington, DC this past Thursday. I had the sweater and hat ready for weeks but no buttons.

Finally decided on some plain green buttons. I like the little pop of color

I took the yarn and pulled it apart to use as thread for to sew the buttons on.

Omitted the top button, It would have been there at the top. Looked stupid because the pattern had you leave that opening anyway.

I'm happy with that decision.

I hope Remy's mom liked it. Laurie did!

Ruth started a new sweater! In her own words:

Pattern is liminal by Nell knits. Yarn is euroflax linen. Mini skeins. I originally wound the skeins in my winder. The balls exploded apart stitches would pop off my needle if I put it down. it was like knitting with wire. Not fun. I decided to get online to see if I could find any tips. Of course I could! tips said to wind balls by hand. Said to wash and if needed put the skeins in the dryer. Said to use wooden or bamboo needles. I did those things and knitting is going much better. Phew!

I like it a lot. Love the color changes.

Martha is almost done with the 2nd sleeve on her sweater! I bet she will be done or close by next week! Lovely!

In other news:

There are a lot of pictures. Blogger makes it difficult to add them now, and add in a certain order. So they might be a mishmash of things, but here they are:

I touched up some tables, chairs and planters with spray paint. They look so fresh!