Dogwood Heather Stroll

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday evening I finished up the pair of socks I knit up out of KnitPicks Stroll Fingering Yarn in Dogwood Heather. This yarn was one of my February sale yarns, that I am getting around to knitting up.

They are very pink. I guess it is supposed to be similar to the color of the pink dogwood blossoms in the spring. At least where I come from, the pink dogwoods we have here tend to be a bit darker when they blossom. Though this color is definitely spring-y in color, which is fitting for this time of year since we are in early spring and the trees are starting to blossom.

I have been working on these socks for a good couple of weeks. I started them the week leading up to the ladies retreat I went on and had gotten to the foot, past the gusset of the first sock before I left, and finished that sock after I came home. I struggled with wanting to work on these socks, as pink is no longer my favorite color. I bought the pink yarn because it was on sale and I like having options. There may be a day where the pink socks will go with my outfit (not that I really care).

With the lighter colors, I worry about wearing them hiking, as they are apt to get dusty and dirty, and start looking dinghy. That, and I also prefer the neutral tones, the jewel tones and grey.

Call The Midwife

Hey Everyone!

I enjoy watching movies and TV shows while I knit.

This is the biggest reason why I have Netflix.

The past couple of weeks I have been watching Call the Midwife on Netflix. As per usual with all the good British period dramas, I am late to the party in terms of when I start watching them. Season 7 is airing, and I only just started watching seasons 1 – 6 (which are available on Netflix) in the past month.

After having seen Downton Abbey, Poldark, and Lark Rise to Candleford, it is interesting to see some of the actors from these other shows in the latest show I am watching.

Having something to watch while I knit helps me to stay on track and be more productive.

I enjoy both set in the present day shows, I also have a love for some of the older shows and especially for period dramas. That’s just what I gravitate toward.

When Local Yarn Stores Close

Hey Everyone!

Over the past three or four years, there have been at least three yarn stores that have closed up shop here in Portland. The most recent one being, KnitPurl, which is the biggest one I knew of in the city. My favorite yarn store closed about a year ago.

I hate seeing yarn stores close, as I love being able to go yarn shopping in person, where I can physically see and touch the yarn.

When I had heard that KnitPurl was closing, while I had never shopped there, I was disheartened. It is the largest yarn store I knew of in the city, and when stores like that close, it’s never a good sign for the knitting and crochet industry in a city. While there are other craft store that sell yarn (like Joann’s and Michael’s), they don’t carry the same quality (or local brands) that these other yarn stores do.

Spring is Coming!!!!

Hey Everyone!

I finished the pair of socks I had been working on in my previous post.

I had used Stroll Tweed in Marine Heather from KnitPicks for this particular pair of socks.

I came to the conclusion I have more than enough KnitPicks yarn for socks and shawls, and I really need to knit up what I already have. I really want to see my stash of sock yarn and shawl yarn decrease and my finished personal projects increase.

With that being said I did pick up some yarn yesterday at My local Joann fabric and craft superstore, for a project I am going to be working on once I get the projects I have in the works complete.

I am also wanting to get back to working on projects for babies and children in need. I have taken more than a year off already to work on personal projects, that I want to finish up using the yarn I have out that I purchased for personal projects and get back to making things for little ones who need warm clothes. It may be a bit before I start another sweater, but it is definitely still a project that is near and dear to my heart.

I started another pair of socks this morning, I am using one of the pink Stroll yarns I had ordered during the month of February beings that it was on sale.

Beings that Spring is right around the corner, we are starting to get the periodic nice day, which I am looking forward to. I have a couple pairs of socks that I would like to get washed and hang out on the line to dry.

Just what the Doctor Ordered!

Hello Fellow Crafters!

I am already on my second cup of tea of tea of the day, sitting in one of my favorite spots with one of my many knitting projects.

Even though it is turning out to be a beautiful day, I am stuck inside trying to get over my third cold of the year.

At least it hit now, rather than later in the month. While no time is really convenient for being sick, as long as it doesn’t get worse, I will still be able to follow through on plans I have a little later in the month.

I also want to get a couple hikes in before Oregon and Washington spring breaks occur. Oregon spring break is the last week of March and Washington spring break is the first week of April. Why do I care about spring breaks when I am not in school and don’t have kids in school? Spring break = more people to have to contend with where I want to go Hiking.

This is also a good week to be sick in terms of hiking because the weather is supposed to be better next week for hiking and I am waiting on a few things to arrive, for my new hiking boots to help protect them / help them to break in a little faster and to help make them a little more comfortable.

I am also waiting on some essential oils I ordered to arrive, I got ones to help support immune health (ie help you when you are sick and from getting sick) another to help to help with allergies and one to help with stress.

Like I mentioned previously, I am on my second cup of tea of the day. I had a cup of English Breakfast Tea earlier, and now I am enjoying a cup of Green & White Fusion tea.

This afternoon my goal is to get the cuff of the sock I am currently working on done and move on the preparing for the heel flap. I have the first sock of this pair done, and I am working on the second one. I am using KnitPicks Stroll Tweed in Marine Heather. It is similar to the Marine Heather Wool of the Andes, but it is a bit brighter and more blue, where as the Wool of the Andes is a bit duller. I am also currently using the Marine Heather Wool of the Andes to knit up a shawl, so I am able to do a side by side comparison of the colors.

While I am knitting I am catching up on a few YouTube videos followed by watching “Call the Midwife”.