sweater - Knitting Notions

Spring stuff

I know it doesn’t look like much yet but I am excited about my little garden spot Jerry dug for me this past weekend.

We put in a tomato, a red bell pepper and a jalapeño pepper. Also some of the herbs I use most often in the kitchen; parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, and lemon balm.

An update on my knitting; I have completed both sleeves on the Wonderful Wallaby. I haven’t cast on for the body yet since I began work on one of my design ideas. More on that in a moment.

Now more on my new project. I have in mind to do maybe a series of designs, mainly baby and children’s stuff based on vintage designs. I want them to look like vintage, think WWII era, but with updated pattern directions and possibly construction. Usually older patterns are knit in pieces and sewn. I do like working that way and there are good reasons to do so, but for baby stuff seamless can make sense. Still not decided on that aspect so we’ll see.

So here’s the first swatch for a little cardigan. See the slip stitch diamonds? There will be two above those and one on the top. Then there will be some embroidery probably inside the diamonds. I am thinking lazy daisies but will try a few ideas out. The colors in the bowl are some scraps I will experiment with.

I have charted out the slip stitch diamonds after I knit this and will be testing that as I continue the swatch. I knit what you see without aid of my chart since I needed it knit in order to work out the chart. I should have some more to show pretty soon. 😍

Posted on April 15, 2021April 15, 2021 by yarnmama — 6 Comments

How is it already the end of May?

Yikes! Where did the spring go? How can it already be Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer? I guess time flies when you are busy (and old, LOL). I knew it had been awhile since I posted but I didn’t realize my last post was April 25th. Sorry about that.

I have been traveling much and basically checking in at home long enough to do the grocery shopping, launder my clothes and throw them back in my suitcase. :-) I have a bit of knitting progress on my Sprossling but it’s still not a sweater yet. I have the back almost finished. Forgive the lighting please; it’s in my hotel room.

When I AM home I have been enjoying the wildlife feeders we have in our yard. We see all kinds of critters and birds at the feeding stations. Here’s a feeder Jerry made for the squirrels (in hopes they will stay out of the bird feeder, LOL). Check out the one on the ground eating what the other one drops. :-D

I am in Wooster, OH at the moment for the Great Lakes Fiber Show. I hope to see some of you who are regulars to the festival. I am in my usual spot, for those of you who may be new to the show, that is Bldg. 39 booths 31-33.

I have always thought that the drive through Cincinnati is an interesting one. The way the city skyline appears coming in from the south on I-71/I-75. I decided to try to snap a quick shot on Thursday. I was kind of rainy, but still looks pretty cool.

The top image is the raw shot and the second is cropped to zoom in the perspective.

Well, I guess that will do for today. I hope I don’t leave you hanging for a month again. No promises, but I will try. There’s a new grand baby due in a couple weeks so at the very least you will probably hear from me then if not sooner. Thanks for hanging in there. :-)

Posted on May 26, 2017 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Sweater weather? Again?

What’s a guaranteed way to ensure a cold snap in late spring? Yep, you guessed it. Unpack and buy the appropriately seasonable clothing. It never fails that when we finally get everyone suitably attired for the season change, it changes back. So all you middle Tennessee folks who were cursing the chilly wet weather that began this weekend, you can blame us.

Speaking of cool weather, I did almost finish the Bel Air. I have the collar knit and the first sleeve sewn in. Yay! I took a couple self portraits that aren’t that great, but here ya go.

Here’s one with my head not chopped off, LOL, and a “laying on the porch” shot.

I will be casting on the second sleeve tonight. It would be awesome if I could get it finished for the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival.

On the reading side; I did finish Dragonfly in Amber and all I will say is it is hard to not pick immediately on the third book to see what will happen next. Will Claire go back to find Jaime? Will she take Roger and Brianna? What further role will Gillian/Geillis play? But I have also been waiting to start the Hunger Games for the last month and simply must read them now. They are so much shorter that I am sure the brief interlude will be a welcome change to these long novels. Don’t get me wrong. I adore long stories. It’s just that they take me so much longer to read than they used to. I like to dip into shorter stories in between longer ones. It’s kind of like with knitting; having a plain vanilla sock, a sweater and a lacy shawl going for the different complexities and time investments.

I am itching to cast on for Vonica with that blue Cascade 220. Remember that? Must finish the Bel Air and the Sprossling. Well at least the Bel Air. Then maybe a sleeve swatch. Who me?