Quarantine Socks!

Hey Everyone!

In the past two weeks (Weeks four and six of quarantine) I have finished up two pairs of socks. Both of these pairs were completely knit up during the six weeks I have been off from work due to the pandemic.

The first pair that I finished, back on the 18th, was the grey pair with purple flecks I shared in my last post.

This pair I knit up was knit out of bounce sock yarn from Long Dog Yarn, in the colorway “Freshwater Pearl”.

The second pair, I just finished up this morning.

For this pair I used the “Healer” colorway (Outlander Inspired), on the Fortitude yarn base from Forbidden Fiber Company. This pair was a little on the rough side to get knit up, but it’s done, and I am glad for that.

I found out last week that my furlough has been extended at least until May 15th, though it will likely last longer than that, as I don’t see my state reopening non essential businesses any time soon, and lifting the stay at home order.

I have fully prepared myself for the long haul, and not going back to work for a bit, as well as that even when I do go back to work, that there could be another peak, and then be off again for a while.

I have plenty of yarn, and books, so, should I be off for a while, I have plenty to do and work on while I am off. Knitting is one if the few things I can do, since there is no place to go and nothing to do besides stay at home and go for walks.

Opal Heather and Finnley Heather

Hey Everyone!

This summer has been somewhat busy, and things like gardening and making jam have pushed knitting to the back burner.

Now that summer is winding down, I can shift more of my focus back onto Knitting.

I have been slowly working on a couple pairs of socks in recent weeks. For both pairs I am working on I am using KnitPicks Palette yarn, in the colorways: Opal Heather and Finnley Heather. I absolutely love the Finnley Heather color. Grey has become my favorite color.

At the looks of things, summer is finally quickly fading. When it is hot I don’t have much in the way of energy and desire to work on knitting.

Finding my Zone

Good Evening to All,

I finally decided to invest in the first five seasons of Downton Abbey, hoping on the off chance that I would like the series. I had not seen any of the parts before purchasing the five seasons that are on DVD. I received them in the mail yesterday, and have so far watched parts one and two of season one. I have to say that i have not been disappointed.

After I get home from work, get dinner and make my lunch for the next day, I have been settling in to watch a couple vlogs on youtube, then watching a part (what each episode is called) of Downton Abbey. While watching the part I have been working on my knitting projects. It has been quite relaxing. Last night I worked on the baby blanket I have in the works for my cousin and his wife who are expecting a baby, and tonight I was working on the scarf I am working on for myself. The scarf is a new project. I am using Fishermen’s Wool in Oatmeal. I am knitting it flat, and then going to sew the ends together to make it an infinity scarf.

I have been facinated with Scotland for years. While Downton Abbey is set, and takes place in England, it is close enough for me to get my fix. Not to mention that the first series (season) starts off in 1912. Between the history, and the costumes, and the sets, and the Castle are all amazing, and I am absolutely loving it.

I love the combination of watching a historical fiction British TV show and knitting to calm my nerves, relax, and zone out before going to bed to then start another day at my day job.

Friday Night Knit Night

Hey Everyone!

This evening I spent inside working on my current series of knitting projects. Spending the evening watching shows or listening to music while working on projects is a relaxing way to unwind and calm down. Knitting is my creative outlet. It is also one of the things that challenges me, calms me, gets me excited, and one of the things I love doing with my time and my life.

It all goes back to the summer I was 10, and bored out of my mind by the end of June, and was ready for school to start again, with another month to go. I had asked my grandma to teach me to knit, and I have stuck with it ever since. Now I am glad that I did. I love the feel of yarn, and getting lost in the yarn section of the craft store, or spending hours in a yarn store dreaming up the projects I could make if I had the money for the yarn.

I love knitting, It is one of those things that is always on my mind, and dream about. Yes I do get out and go do things, and do take breaks from it, but even then I am thinking about it, or yarn. I am still trying to figure out a way to get paid to do what I love without having to own my own business.

I have three projects going at the moment, I have my mom’s Christmas gift that I am working on, I have a wrap that I am working on for myself, and I have infant leggings for a friend of mine who has twins, and wants leg warmers small enough for her little guys.

For my wrap I am using lion brand fishermen’s wool in oatmeal, and it is super soft. I am loving it. As some of you already know, Fishermen’s Wool is my favorite yarn for projects for myself. A lot of what I have made in the past few years has been made of Fishermen’s Wool. I got started using it about 2 or 3 years ago, I had been wanting to try it for a while before that, but I had been waiting until I had the money to buy my first skein. It was well worth the wait, and worth the money. Once I had made my first hat and scarf from it, I was hooked, and bought subsequent skeins, and have made many more projects with it. Beings that it still retains it natural Lanolin it is softer than other wool. It also washes and wears better than regular wool. The Lanolin is a natural water repellent which is helpful in the part of the country I live in, where most of the winter is gray and damp.

Seed Stitch Poncho

Saturday was a busy knitting day for me. I had pushed through and finished the Seed Stitch (British Moss Stitch) Poncho that I have been working on for a couple of months now. For this project I used Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool Yarn in Oak Tweed. I have to admit I had my doubts about how it was going to turn out, and if it was going to work the way I wanted it to, but in the end it turned out perfectly and beautifully. I knit it in two pieces and then hand linked the two pieces together.

I made this poncho for myself, and it will be nice to have once the weather starts really cooling off, and I want something a bit nicer than a jacket or coat, but that will still keep me warm. Especially with the weather we have around here, it is generally overcast, gray, and wet a lot of the time once the rainy season starts (usually in September or October and lasts until May or June). The fact that the Fishermen’s Wool retains its natural Lanolin, that helps repel and shed the rain. I love that is a mix of two of the different natural colors in the Fishermen’s Wool line.

Figuring out how to link it was the biggest challenge. I had done a little research during the knitting process, so I just went for it, and I love how it turned out. I was also a bit concerned that the neck hole would be too small, but was happy to find out that it is just the perfect size. This is a lesson in just going for something, trying something new, and not being afraid to try, because it will likely turnout just fine. I know I am overly critical of my own work, as are most people about their own work.

I will also be washing it. This kind of a project doesn’t really need to be blocked, since it fits well, and the pattern was free handed and something that I had come up with specifically for this project. I just want to get any chemical’s that the yarn may have been treated with or added to make it easier to knit with. I also like the idea of getting some of the sheepy smell (I like the sheep smell, but it can be overwhelming at times) out before I wear it. I use a lanolin enriched wool wash for all the wool garments I knit, and then lay them flat to air dry.

Working on Christmas Gifts

I have begun working on Christmas gifts. I figure if I start now, I will have a better chance of getting the gifts done before Christmas than being right up until the last minute and even then maybe not even having them done. I would be super happy to have all my knit gifts done by Thanksgiving, which is in November here in the States.

I have one part of my friend’s Christmas gift done, and I got started on my mom’s last night after making another trip to Joann’s since they are having a coupon event going on. They have 50% off 1 regular priced item coupons out. I was able to get the two skeins of yarn I needed to make my mom’s gift for the regular price of 1 skein, which was pretty awesome. I got two skeins of Patons Lace yarn in Mystic Teal, it is a really pretty color. I am using this pattern for the wrap that I am knitting up with the lace yarn I bought.

For the time being, since I still have a personal project that I am working on, as well as Christmas Gifts, my charity knitting projects are taking a back burner until I get these projects finished.

Personal Project Excitement

Hey Everyone! 

I am still working on my fishermen’s wool poncho that I have been working on for a bit for myself. I am using two skeins of Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool in Oak Tweed. I am knitting it in two pieces and then I am going to link the two pieces together. 

I have also started a pair of fingerless gloves for myself. I had purchased some yarn a while back intending it for one purpose but then deciding to not use it for that project. I finally figured out what I want to use it for. I found an easy knit flat pattern on pinterest that I am basing my gloves off of. I love trying new things, and making my own knitwear. I get a better quality garment for a lower cost. Beings that make this stuff for myself, the labor that goes into making items for myself is totally worth it for the money I save on buying the yarn and doing it myself. For these gloves I am using Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Collection Serenity Garden Yarn in Gems. 

Beings that today is the first day of school for the kids in the school districts here where I live. That gets me even more excited for the fall and winter projects that I am working on. As the weather is still warm/hot at the moment, I still have some time to get these projects done, but Fall is right around the corner. 

I have also recently been spending a lot of time on Pinterest looking at knitwear and getting project ideas and just seeing what other people have made. It is kind of addicting to a knitter. 

 

Working with Wool = Bliss

Hey Everyone! 

This past week I have been spending time working on my fishermen’s wool tweed poncho. I am definitely going to be making a two piece poncho, but how I am going to link the two pieces I have not decided on yet. 

I am going between two straight pieces linked on the top and bottom to create a rectangular poncho, or linking side to end to create a triangle poncho. 

Having warm projects in the works reminds me that fall and winter are coming again, which I am getting excited for. I love the cooler weather and the rain. I am totally partial to fall and winter fashion, and the warm clothes. 

Fishermen’s wool has become my favorite yarn to work with for personal projects. It makes warm garments without being super heavy, and it still has its own natural lanolin which makes it very water resistant. Having that water resistance where I live for in the winter is very important. 

Did not knit a stitch

Hey Everyone!

I still have my falling leaves wrap in progress, and did not work on it at all this past week. The past two weeks I have been really busy with church stuff that I have not had much time to knit anyway, so when I have been knitting I have been too tired to focus on this project so I have been working on my sweaters for kids in need.

Now that life is kind of back to normal, I will hopefully be getting this project done soon, so I can share it with all of you. I am actually excited to get it done.

Next week’s post should be more interesting, but thanks for reading this update!

Falling Leaves Wrap

I found this pattern while surfing ravelry for inspiration. I had purchased the yarn I wanted to use (two skeins of Patons Lace yarn). I am waiting until I have few projects going before diving into it. I have tried to start it several times, but I would get so far and then something would go wrong so I would frog it each time.

I want to start it when I have the time to focus on it, and actually make sure I do it right. I have found that I can’t do this kind of thing and watch vlogs/tv shows/movies at the same time.

I wanted to share the pattern with you all, and to see if anyone wants to try it along with me, to see how it turns out.