I keep making comments everywhere (by which I mean here and in the store newsletters) about how quickly time is passing. You might think I would clue in to this, and take steps to live more fully in the present. Steps to not waste so much time playing games on my tablet, or doom scrolling. After all, that is a plan for combating flying time. Do I follow my own advice? Mostly no, altho I did remove a puzzle game that threatened to pull me in big time. A partial success, eh?
In any event, it is the very last day of November and here I am, posting. This means that (so far) my goal of once per month this year is still met! Yay me!
We woke up this morning to a second wave of The Snowstorm the news media has been warning us about. There is a special silence that falling snow brings, and this time of year that silence is greatly appreciated. Of course, several hours later we are getting warmer, and the snow is slumping and melting. Oh well. It was glorious while it lasted. I sent photos to my family in Virginia and Arizona. They claim it is beautiful, but they do not miss it.
I have been knitting a fair bit, even tho I have not posted. As is always the case … We taught a Ranunculus class in the spring. I finally got mine finished … I did a gauge swatch, ran the math, and decided to make the third size, using Queensland United (Red Currant) and 3.75mm needles. Of course, I tightened up while knitting the actual sweater. I could wear it, but I would definitely feel like a stuffed turkey while doing so. Coincidentally, it is a beautiful colour and weight for my daughter-in-law living in Virginia. I will be getting it to her as a gift … one way or another. I am still pondering another Ranunculus … third time might be the charm, eh?
Another gift knit is for (cough) THAT holiday which is unreasonably close. I was doing so well through the year … until September. What you see is Sock #1 of my September socks. I still have 4 pairs to do for the grandchildren. Three of them are almost adult sized (ages 12, 10, and 9) but thankfully my little munchkin is only two. Tomorrow is her birthday, in fact. Sadly I am not out west for the event … I am hoping to be able to travel in January.
The project which has consumed my time is this afghan. Commissioned by a customer and made out of specially spun wool, it is big and time consuming. I had originally started in 5 strips as the pattern specified. Being the quick thinker I am, I realized that getting all 5 panels to end on the same row was going to be tricky. Add to that realization the sad fact that I would not have enough wool to finish properly … everything came out and I started over.
In addition to starting over, I removed some design features to make the afghan more narrow, and eliminated the bobbles. I should have realized the bobbles would consume the wool quickly and warned the customer but alas, that is all behind me now. I expect the afghan will be more throw-sized, as in 48 inches square. It’s all I have wool for, and no way of getting more.
I am enjoying the knitting, so at least it has that going for it. I am currently in the fourth ball of 12 …
Finally, I get to show off a finished object! We received a new King Cole wool called Cottagespun. It is a lovely chunky acrylic. The pattern I selected is Ice Moon from Laura Aylor. I wasn’t certain I had enough wool for the full pattern, but I cast on anyway. Turns out I did!
And this pretty much sums up my knitting adventures … well, my life adventures as well. No sailing, no biking, and no canoeing of late. A couple of walks down the road … Doug’s idea of a walk is walking a bit, chatting with neighbours, walking a bit, more chatting. It is getting a bit chilly for that!
Anyway, I am off to work on the afghan for a bit. What are you working on?
