Sunday, January 27, 2013

Counting My Blessings

If I were a more disciplined person, I'd keep a gratitude journal. And if that journal did exist, today's entry (like so many unwritten others) would focus on the blessing that is my daughter. Just look what Izzy was busy putting together this a.m. while she insisted I stay out of the kitchen.

breakfast

That's coffee, bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and her highly successful experiment: banana-cinnamon buttermilk pancakes. (Totally planning to crib that one.)

11 and countingThis past week marked our 11th homecoming day.*  While we celebrated the milestone on Monday, today I am once again reminded of just how lucky I am that this wonderful child was sent my way.


* On January 23, 2002, Izzy and I traveled home together from Guatemala.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

A New Favorite Color?

Back around second or third grade — after the standard adoration of pink — I picked blue as my favorite color. And loyal I was to all things blue for nearly 15 years. By the time I'd entered my 30s, though, green had overtaken it.

The other day I looked down at my WIPs and realized another change might be underway.

blue

Hello, blue, my dear old friend!

Since this is a knitting blog and patterns matter, the projects are (clockwise from the top): Peaks Island hood, a Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock (my first sock!), and a Fiddlehead Mitten (first mitten!).

I also have two other blue projects waiting in the wings — yes, there's another turquoise one, but the other is a lovely color named Robins Egg Grey.

I try to hold myself to no more than three active projects at any one time. It's an arbitrary number for sure, but one that keeps me from feeling like nothing will ever get done. Anyone else have a WIP limit for themselves? If so, what is your magic number?

Friday, January 4, 2013

Looking Back, Looking Forward

You could say I'm emboldened for having forged ahead with the Marin — and for actually meeting my 2012 knitting goals: three new items/techniques (baby booties, short rows, Fair Isle) and  "12 in 2012." Forgive me the following Ravelry documentation; it's just that a dozen shawls seemed so unlikely a few months back in the frenzy of the move and new job.

12shawls2012

What are my 2013 knitting goals? More venturing into that territory of new items and techniques. This year I'm tackling socks, mittens, and Fair Isle that's more than rudimentary. And since I acquired quite a bit of lovely yarn last year, including holiday gifts, I'm going to dive into my stash with glee. (Goal is to try to use up three stash yarns for each new purchase.)

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Final 2012 FO: Marin

This last knit of 2012 just may be my favorite — and not because it was knit practically straight through in the quiet days after the holidays. (Although, I definitely loved that.)

I've long admired this pattern and bought it soon after it was released... Then I looked at its charts and got scared off. When I found the perfect yarn pairing last month, I gathered up my courage. Can't tell you how glad I am that I did. I'm completely smitten with the FO.

MARIN-1

Pattern: Marin by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: TFA Purple Label in Rock

marin-2

Did I mention the yarn is 20 percent cashmere? Swoon.

marin-3

Best of all? It wasn't anywhere near as hard as I'd imagined.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Holiday FOs: Guernsey Triangle and Isla Wrap

Now that they've been unwrapped, I can post these two FOs from the month-long blackout between my last two blog posts. (I may not be blogging, but rest assured, I am always knitting! ;-)

First up, one of the lovely yarn and pattern combos from the 2011 Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club. This one had my sister's name all over it from day one. (Although I must confess, I wasn't sure until the end that I'd be able to let it go.)

Guernsey1

Pattern: Guernsey Triangle by Jared Flood
Yarn: TFA Red Label in Smoke

And second, a present for Izzy. She saw this yarn online right after Thanksgiving and asked for "something, anything" in it for Christmas. I was only too happy to oblige and found this nice little caplet/cowl on Ravelry. The color is actually somewhere between these two shots... Ah, the joys of snapping FO photos in winter!

isla-1

Pattern: Isla Wrap by Jessica Vinson
Yarn: TFA Red Label in Frippery

isla-2