Another Bear Sweater ~

I am done with bear sweaters now.  Since this is number four to donate to our Seattle Knitters' Guild charity project, I am happy that the pattern was such a fun one.

Still have more of this purple and gold yarn left....but not going to knit another one...really, I am done...

Steps backward ~

You cannot tell from this picture, but I had to rip out the snowman as the intarsia was not being knit correctly. I thought I could fudge it, as I am so good at fair isle color work, but this intarsia business is oh-so-different.

Now the snowman's hat really looks like a hat, and not a sausage. This is a good thing.

Small steps ~

So far, so good.... as I can read the name on this Christmas stocking. Also, let me say that I am grateful that his name is not Alexander or Benjamin or Winchester, as they are lovely names but I am not sure how I would fit such names on a Christmas stocking!

After much discussion with several of my closest advisors, the votes are in and the snowman motif has been chosen for this Christmas stocking. Since his mom went through this pregnancy during one of the record-breaking snow fall seasons in Detroit, there should be a snowman on his stocking. Another good memory for this stocking!

Done early ~

What a great feeling to be done with a knitting project ahead of schedule. Does that ever happen? Not too often, so we should celebrate when the planets align and our knitting project is completed before the due date!

Here are the birthday socks for July, cast on during my birthday celebration day, so these have been extra fun to knit. She picked out this lovely yarn on our trip to college orientation for our oldest sweetie, so this yarn has super special memories of yarn shopping with my daughter, on an overnight adventure with my daughters!

Spring is here ~

I think that spring is finally here, as the grass is growing and the trees are budding out. The yarn in the shops are light and airy, and our knitting dreams are filled with Shibui Cloud scarves and linen blend cowls.

What to cast on first, as we need to be aware that if we cast on now we need to knit fast enough to be able to wear these spring and summer items before the autumn weather returns our knitting dreams to wool and alpaca blends.

Intarsia Time ~

Now that I know the name of our new baby, I need to get started on this project. If you were trying to guess what project it is, well, I can tell you now - it is a Christmas stocking for dear Connor. I am using two different patterns, one like my kids have and one that is similar in that traditional way.

 

I have never knit intarsia, and I admit to be a little terrified. Not the same terror as learning brioche with the brioche goddess, but a terror that goes with trying to knit a family heirloom that this baby might still have when he has babies of his own.

In other words, my Christmas stocking was knit by my grandma Agnes, an amazing knitter, and it is as beautiful and perfect as when she gave it to me before my first Christmas...many, many, many years ago..... what if Connor is about 7 years old and notices that his Christmas stocking appears to have been knitting by someone his own age?  No pressure, right?

The Best Day ~

If you could dream up the best day, what would it include?  My best day would have great friends who are delightful as well as creative and clever, plus at least ten yarn shops along a most interesting road trip. Let's say that each of these yarn shops would give away a free pattern and offer sales on their yarn. As a bonus, let's have one of the shops offer a crazy sale of all one can put into a paper bag for a flat rate of $50.

Complete the day at the best yarn shop of all, and do some serious knitting while all the creative juices of the day are running around in our heads so we can't decide what to cast on first.....Yes, this yarn shop crawl has been the Best Day!

Great Grandma Time ~

Another wonder for our family is that my mom is now a great-grandma.  Of course she is thrilled, and we can all see that in their first picture together.

Such joy and love and delight!  These two are going to have a lot of fun together!

Wee sweetie and hat ~

Another miracle has arrived for our family, and on his wonderful mother's birthday.  I remember when his sweet mother was born, the first baby in our family, my brother and his wife's first child. The first grand baby for my mom and dad. Rather amazing to think about the miracle of babies, and the hope, joy and love that surround them. As surrounded his mom all those years ago, so the hope, joy and love surrounds this wee one as well.

Born just after midnight, to be sure he arrived as a birthday gift to his mother, already showing himself to be a clever one as now they share a birthday and hopefully two cakes to celebrate their shared day!  At 3:00 that same day, this sweet picture of our new baby and one of the sweet hats I knit arrived with this note, "Great Aunt, I love my hat and can't wait to meet you!"  What a clever boy that he can send pictures and write messages already!

Mother's Day ~

Celebrating Mother's Day was excellent this year. My sweetie and kiddos made raspberry crepes for breakfast - major yummy!  With both kids home, it was extra special!

In the afternoon, I treated myself to spinning on a new fiber. This one is 100% Shetland Wool and so far it is pretty soft.

Curious if, when plyed, it will be soft enough for next-to-the-skin projects?

Hey Nineteen ~

Wow, can my first miracle be 19 years old already?  Just doesn't seem possible, as I recall that first "birth day" as clearly as if it happened last year. Such a delightful baby, growing up to be strong, tough and brave, yet full of love and joy. She inherited patience and grace from my mom, and a calm energy that goes the distance for whatever endeavor she conquers next. 

A kind heart combined with a delightful sense of fun, often playful and always amazing. Best friends with her sister, our second miracle, and when they are together the laughs and chatter never end. This is the miracle of our first born. You continue to delight and amaze me, just as you did when you were born!  Here's to another great year ahead!  P.S.  She loved her orange socks!