On Kim's Needles...

Accurate counts of your WIPs is kinda like being truthful about your weight or age. It's gotta be fudged a bit! Let's just say this post highlights my current favorite active WIPs... You can see I travel with at least 4 projects most days. 

I'll never truthfully admit (let alone actually count) the sheer # of wips (okay...it's probably high double digits....maybe? But some are really just "swatches"). Goal of freeing me to sit and knit at the shop on Friday Fundays is to give me time to maybe finish wips. Got off to a great start Day 1: Cast on a new baby sweater in Pluma......I'm calling it Baby Sweater in Pluma..... ha!  

But in my defense, it's a 3mo size so there's strong likelihood I'll actually finish it! Already got the back, R front and working on the L front now. That's an achievement for a pattern with the dreaded "L front: Just reverse R front" style instructions. 

Besides we needed a Pluma shop sample. When your newly arrived yarn is seen out and about on JLo...well....I rest my case. 

Yep! This furry gem is in Pluma! My rep sent the pic sweater JLo seen recently wearing. After a bit of sleuthing...she tracked down it was purchased at Bergdorf and a designer knit using this same exact Pluma yarn, from very same Italian mill,  with some sequins added. I'm guessing the sequins are what made it cost $4000+....? Because you can make yourself this same type of comfy pullover for way less if you shop at maisieblue! LOL Update: Look it's partially seamed now! 

Ready to seam the sleeves then this puppy is nearly done! Bonus: this soft, furry yarn hides a multitude of bad seaming moments..... ;) Going to grab bunch of colors in Pluma next time I've the urge to cast on a fast baby blanket with big colorful squares needing lots of seaming.....

What's Up With These Small Baby Sweaters?

My latest strategy to combat Chronic-WIP-itis Syndrome is to cast on 3mo baby shop samples. I have a greater chance of finishing a 3mo old baby sweater! See....here's another. I don't get bored as fast.

I fell in love with the Berroco Vintage Baby Trunk Show and immediately cast on Kirby for the shop. Granted, it's now languishing on Sleeve Island, waiting for me to finish those darn sleeves. But this is the closest I've ever been to actually escaping the island! But it's only a little stranding, not a "years' long version with only a soccer ball for company" kind of Sleeve Island.

Here's a tip: Use IC cords as the stitch holders! See those funny looking stoppers and cord? That's my nifty trick to avoid using waste yarn or metal, awkward stick-like stitch holders that are seriously annoyingly. And we have plenty of IC cords in the shop! Kinda went bit overboard ordering.

For this baby sweater I used two 16" cords. Put stopper on one end, screwed on the needle tip on the other. Slipped my stitches on, then swapped needle tip for a stopper. They hand nicely out of the way while I powered through the often boring Stockinette St Interstate Highway section. Which on this wee 3mo old sweater, was more like like the Cross-town Bypass from 99 to I5, rather than I5 to Bakersfield that seems endless.  

Another useful tip: Remember to change needle size when switching from flat to in the round sleeve knitting....like my pattern told me too....but I forgot and now my gauge on sleeves is definitely tighter! 

 

What else is the Current Favorite and Active WIP pile? Oh yes... there's what I cast on for Day 2 Friday Fundays..... The Spin-Stitch Scarf by Churchmouse. 

This little beauty is portable, but written for stole and 2 poncho sizes if you like bigger portable projects. Pattern calls for single strand of mohair on larger than usual needle. Main attractive feature: an awesome, easy new technique: the Estonian Spin-Stitch. 

Just a few days before I discovered the pattern a lovely customer showed me a picture of sweater with this beautiful wavy stitch pattern. At first thought maybe a cable on St st (no purls). But positive it's this Estonia stitch! It uses a dpn to literally "spin" group of stitches 180 degrees and then knit these out of order. Genius! Once you get the hang of it the pattern just flies off the needles. Such a Fun Project!!!

My version of course is bit different: I used Lang Alpaca Soxx held double with Ella Rae Silky Kid mohair and a bigger needle. The alpaca gives it bit of heft and ramps up the softness factor by 10! It's gorgeous. Plus using the smallest scarf size as written but pattern works up as a wider, more generous scarf....without having to have more stitches! It's working up fast. Mine will have to be a cowl (1 looper probably) since of course I've no more of the mint Silky Kid and pretty sure it's a discontinued color....

Another Friday Funday customer immediately cast one a Spin-Stitch Scarf. She chose a grey Alpaca Soxx paired with Aerial Color. The subtle multicolor effect is absolutely stunning. Which bums me out because now I really really want to cast on another using the Aerial Color! LOL  Update: Customer finished hers and it's gorgeous!

 

The other go-to WIP of the moment is my Color Explosion Throw using Jody Long's Alba. This is pure addition. I've never had a pattern I never tire of knitting. Usually rectangles are a death sentence and I often avoid. But this pattern is keeping my attention for  months....and that's a record I think. 

 

Blanket is 4 strips of the marled Box-In-A-Box stitch pattern. You hold two strands of Alba for each 26 or so row of the pattern. Then you look at chart to see which color combo is next. After the first pattern repeat it's a cinch and becomes awesome binge tv viewing knitting. Of course I "swatched" by casting on a Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo and Remix Chunky versions. The latter will make a fantastic baby blanket due to it's chunky and washable! Non-wool and recycled yarn a bonus too. Update: My Alba Color Explosion now up to almost 2 full strips done. That's half-way and a record for me!

I've shown great restraint in not casting on a 4th version in Juniper Moon's Herriot Fine....which has been a struggle. But I've not yet weakened. Probably because I'd need to wind up 11 hanks of fingering yarns. It's a good deterrent so far. I adore working with Herriot Fine and we have plenty of colors so will reward myself once I successfully finish up some more baby sweaters. Oh and my original Alba Color Explosion too of course.....

Ooops..... too late..... I've started a Remix Light version. This time I'm mixing it up and created a Log Cabin Gets Color Exploded WIP.... Designing it as I go along. Perfect tv knitting too. Think I'll keep palette limited to mint, denims, greys always held double with the creamy birch. Will make a lovely baby blanket eventually. Knew the Remix Light would make a perfect weight for cute little stroller blanket. Plus it's non-wool and wash-n-wear.

But I didn't cast on in Herriot Fine....so that counts for something, right? LOL My insatiable urge to cast on whenever the mood strikes met fierce slowdown in June. Thanks to a month-long battle with vertigo/meniere's/vestibular migraines I didn't knit a stitch for weeks!! Finally getting back to my neglected wips. 

Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into the world of my WIPs! 

Believe me....it's only the tip of the iceberg.......

Combatting the blahs....a wee ramble

I've lost track of which day it is of the Great National Shut In. Think it's going on three weeks now? Maybe more.... the days have a way of blending, blurring and merging.  

This week finding it harder to be energetic. Instead just giving into this new slow pace. My days consist of moving from various rooms. Here it's the Loft having tea and actually knitting on my Weekender Sweater! It's soothing knit in the round, St st. Maybe I'll finish it!

Today bit of panic when our router died! OH NO!!!! After few hours Jordi got it back up and I'm calmer now. Now is not the time for a router malfunction! Grateful Aaron could get a new one and within hours we were back to working internet. Whew.

Baked cookies during that big storm this week. "Made" brown sugar for first time. A cool hack. The cookies however don't resemble the cakey soft fluffy cookie I craved. These are more melted globules of sugar with chocolate chips and nuts....but family loved them!

Speaking of baking. A major family cardinal rule was upended thanks to this pandemic. Never, ever do we ever bake our Great Grandma's Nut-n-Raisin Cake outside of Dec. Ever. It's just wrong. It's the Taste of Christmas in our family. But dang..... yesterday Mosey baked us all our own cakes and OMG it was heaven!!

It's pretty much gone today and we enjoyed every single loving morsel. Extra-ordinary times calls for extraordinary, once in a lifetime measures. Self-care begins with our comfort foods and this Nut-n-Raisin Cake soothed my jangle nerves. 

 Sunny days are easier around here. I sit out in garden, reading with a pot of tea. Cloudy days find me outside too. Even if chilly. I just bundle up. Reading my way through the Lane Winslow Series by Iona Wishaw. Love it! Finally have the first book back in stock if anyone's wanting to read. I'm on #3 and each one better than the last. It's my new favorite series.

Cats tentatively join me for some fresh air. Admonish the one who insists on chasing bees, but he'll learn once stung bees are not for chasing. And I'll try to not laugh to loudly. Here's a rare pic of the two together. They're pretending to not like each other.

Before this started I planted a barrel of mescalin greens and seeds. Each night I carefully tuck them in (cover up with towels to keep from frost) and love looking at how pretty they've become. Too pretty to actually cut and use! Does anyone else grow lettuce to look at, or is it just me?

Few days ago saw the first Iris bloom. A beloved customer several years ago divided her abundant crop and shared. I can confirm that uprooted divisions survived benign neglect for at least two weeks (a week riding around back of car, forgotten) before I bunged them into the soil. Lo and behold years later they're flourishing! Each spring there's more flowers and they make me very happy.

Home made face masks are all the rage and becoming mandated public attire. I'm horrible at sewing so I keep sending my loved ones lots of patterns and videos. Mom's (who is awesome sewer)  tackled a pattern. Dad is wearing a lovely blue cotton poplin from her Spring 2020 Collection. I'm sporting a vintage hankie version. Literally this was one of Megan's baby hankies. She'd fall instantly asleep once she had a hankie over her face. But not sure how long I can wear it. Elastic are not comfortable!

Oh and it was Posey's 3rd Birthday! Here he is doing what he loves best: looking pretty! He had birthday wishes from his Parents and Brother. They are all just gorgeous! He's loving all the time his people are hanging out with him at home.

That's Nash (brother) Annie (Mom) ande Hank (Dad). We're so grateful for Posey in our lives! He is such a wonderful pup.

Last but not least......Megan finally getting chickens she's always wanted! It's the perfect family project too. I'm so excited watching the progress. Quickly ordered up books for Mosey.  

 

We've discovered Mosey is a builder!! Thanks to a bunch of old Ikea shelves I've hoarded for years, the chickens are going to have the best coop! I'm amazed at her inventiveness and ability with tools.

She's repainted a playhouse (looking very Tudor Style). Here's she's making their nesting boxes and a sweet ramp. I can't wait to pick out a chandelier and pick out curtain fabric! LOL

One final picture. Few weekends back I finally tackled a corner of our Loft. It was a real archaeological excavation. Found a basket of old WIPs. Many ask me just how many do I have? Well here's a small sampling. Just one baskets worth and surprisingly. most still had patterns. A few are destined for totally frogging but a few I might consider someday picking up again. Or not! LOL

Okay just two more pictures. While tackling my wip pile, found old photo album Mom made me years ago. Lots of fun memories. I'll close with a couple I love. My first perm and me with my Papa. 

Thanks for indulging me with this rambling post! It's therapeutic. Helps me try to find some motivation and normalcy at this crazy, surreal time.