March 31, 2021

March has come in like a lamb, and true to the adage it is leaving like a lion.  We have had raging high winds for the last couple of days, along with rain and grey skies.  Every once in a while the sun will peek through the clouds and the world lights up.  Moods also lighten with the sunshine.  After the year we have had with Covid-19, quarantines, restrictions, lock-downs and uncertainties, any excuse to lighten our moods seems like a good idea. 

To that end, it seems I was jonesing for a Playstation 4.  My eldest son and his family have one and they have had great fun playing games on-line with my other two children.  The grandsons especially enjoy playing with Uncle and Auntie.   And now they can play with Mama Carol.  I am an inept player at best, so my character frequently needs rescuing and reviving.  The boys are great for telling me what to do, where to go, etc.  They also are enjoying that they get to teach me how to play. 

My eldest grandson has been having school on-line this year.  It has been a challenge but he seems to have risen to the challenge.  His teacher recognizes that his academic skills are above grade level and is recommending him for the district’s gifted program.  

Youngest grandson has been going to the babysitter since his kindergarten program was cancelled.  This worked quite well, until the babysitter’s family were diagnosed with Covid-19.  My son and family all  tested negative, thankfully, but it meant that the younger grandson had to stay home with his parents.  Upon seeing big brother doing schoolwork, he insisted that he also needed schoolwork.  Now the little guy reads, writes in typical for his age scrawl, and handles double-digit arithmetic quite easily.  Wow! My son and his wife have their hands full!

I have been knitting a fair bit.  I am almost half-way through a test knit afghan.  Since it is a test-knit, no photos at this time.  The designer is hoping to release the pattern this fall.

Last post I showed a picture of Flax, by Tin Can Knits.  The photo was not great, so I have taken a couple more.  This first is the completed sweater!

 

I used two balls of ComfortWolle Gala Tweed.  (Please note this link will take you to a wholesale site, and sales are not to the general public.)  This wool is a worsted weight starting as a solid colour and transitioning to a tweedy effect.  I really enjoyed working with this yarn, and am sorry to see it has been discontinued. 

 One design feature of the sweater is the garter stitch panel running down each sleeve —

Such a nice effect, and saves the project from being totally boring.  Since the sweater is worked entirely in the round, it also means you must pay attention to get the garter stitch working properly.  If you forget which row you are on, or are operating on auto-pilot, the mis-step is glaringly obvious and you really do have to go back to correct the error.

I have also finished two pair of socks.  They were sent away already, and I forgot to get photos.  Perhaps when they come to visit I can get a shot. 

 I am continuing to work on my Forest Mosaic shawl, using one skein of Urth Yarns Fingering in colour no. 3025 and Sandnes Garn Baby Lanett white.  I am about halfway through the second diamonds chart, so fairly close to half-way finished. 

There is also a project on needles using Pollock from Juniper Moon Farm and an Elizabeth Lavold pattern.  I am going to save those pictures and updates for next time. 

 And see?  This is twice in one month, and a third post in one quarter!  Progress!

This about all the news I have, so I will say good-bye for now.  Hope your knitting is treating you well and you are staying healthy and safe.

Taking stock

 Now that I have blogged once in February and the calendar page has flipped to March, it must be time for a new post.  Just for fun, let’s review that list I posted way back in November ...

Dropping to the bottom of the list, I see that I was knitting a shawl for my daughter.  I finished it, and blogged about it in November

I also showed a picture of the Advent Cowl, being worked in Gathering Yarn Brook Farm.  It is finished! 

I used colours six colours, as requested in the pattern.  It was getting to be plenty tall, so I stopped about 30 rows before the chart ended, repeated the border section, and called it done.  This yarn comes in tiny balls, maybe 20 grams at a reasonable price of $6 each.  I am pleased with the overall project.

I have started knitting the Juniper Moon Farm Pollock into a lovely design from Elsebeth Lavold, “Jasmin,” from The Summer Breeze Collection.  I am loving this yarn, and how it is working up.  There was an error in the pattern that required some tracking down.  Once the correction was obtained, however, this has seen lots of love and time.  I will get the entire sweater from three balls of yarn, something I am quite enjoying.  

I have started the raglan shaping and lace section, so maybe 3/4 done with the front.  The sleeves are plain, so should be quick to knit. 

I also finished the afghan my mother left behind.  

The other nine projects?  Still waiting. 

But wait — there are more finished objects!   

Bernie Mittens, from the pattern named Vermont’s finest.  My daughter-in-law was over the moon to receive these.  

I am making a pair for my son since I have plenty of left over yarn.  I used four colours of Estelle Worsted, an acrylic and wool blend.  I mostly followed the pattern, “Vermont’s Finest,” found on Ravelry.  The only change I made was to work 15 rows of ribbing instead of the suggested 12.  The ones I make for my son will have added length.

What?  Are you saying there are more finished projects?  You would be correct.  I used two balls of Comfort Wolle Gala Tweed to knit “Flax” from Tin Can Knits.  I played with the gradient a bit for the arms, but otherwise just cast on and knit.  This was a lot of fun to knit.  That garter stitch element on the sleeves keeps it from being a total bore. 

Hmm.  The colour is not great, nor is the garter stitch visible.  I will try again. 

Turns out the children were disappointed that there were not Christmas socks ... so I have also been knitting frantically in an effort to rectify my oversight.  These are Berroco Comfort, a 100% acrylic, that wears like iron.  

Two of family members will be happy. 

And finally, another work in progress.  At the store we have started a Knit-A-Long of the Forest Mosaic Shawl.  

Mine is on the right.  I am using Sandnes Garn Babyull Lanett for the main colour and Urth Yarns Merino Sock for the contrast. I am really further along than the photo shows ... but I am saving THAT pic for my next post.

I am still awaiting the call for my Covid-19 vaccine.  I urge everyone to have one so that the world may enter the After Times.  I can’t wait!!!