Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Roses and Ribbings

 We had just a touch of Fall the last couple of days...false hopes, as the temp has went  back up to Summer temps for a bit, but we have a promise of real Fall, possibly, in a week or so.  I'm so ready, mostly we could say, because, well, I'm a Knitter and I like Fall/Winter sweaters the best.

From my rocking chairs on the porch, I have two very contrast sights, one of a rose bush all finished up (if I was a better gardener, I would have trimmed it back some time ago, so there were new blooms right now), I wonder if it is too late?!

The other side is a fully in bloom rose bush, bringing me all kinds of wonderful flowers to not only enjoy, but also, cut for a couple of vases to have inside.  I didn't want to go overboard on the cuttings, although I could have, I have plenty of vases, and I may just do that next week, if there are still plenty of blooms.

My two hummingbirds are still flitting around, not drinking as much as I would have thought they would have, storing up for their migration later this month.  Maybe because of it being so hot, the water is not to their liking, so changing it up today was in order.

Last weekend, I spent a couple of days up in Wisconsin for the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool with my friend Debbie.  We had lots of adventures and laughs and the weather was perfect.  While there, I only took one picture and that was of a magnificent sunset the first night.  The rest of the time, my camera stayed in my tote, and I just enjoyed the time walking the booths.

That about catches this blog up for right now, hope you are planning your sweater knits, sweater weather will be here before we know it.  




Friday, September 04, 2026

Finally Finished Friday

 Ugh!  It's hot here at Chez PJKnits as it is in most of the Midwest.  And it doesn't appear that there is any cooler weather coming here any time soon.  But, that doesn't stop me as I have said before, because I am okay with knitting on Winter sweaters inside where it is nice and cool.

This edition of Finally Finished Friday, I started last year this time as part of KAL that I was doing with my PJKnits Zoom group, with a finish date of Thanksgiving 2025 to wear for the holiday season and into the new year with the Winter season.  But, that didn't happen.  So when the group decided to do another Holiday Sweater KAL this year, why yes, I wanted to cast on another one, this time Yule Do by Isabell Kramer.  But before I could do that I had to finish last year's sweater, Christmas Belle.

Ta da, it's done.


When I first decided last year on this sweater, I wanted a Christmas sweater that I could wear all Winter along.  I did not want it to scream Christmas colors, so I opted for Cascade Heritage in Pine as the body color, which is out of my normal color range, but I really am glad that I chose it.


For the color work, I used a PYS (Penny's Yarn Shop aka Stash) yarn, James C. Brett, Aria Double Knitting yarn,  It took less than a ball and for me, this was the highlight of this knit - the sequins in the yarn very subtly shining through with just enough sparkle for me.


The color work was super easy to do and kept my interest, but the body and sleeves were just plain ole stockinette, and frankly I was so glad to have this one done and ready for wearing.

I did make some mods, as I always do, and if you are interested you can see them all on my project page in Ravelry here

I know it won't be long and Winter will be here and then I'm ready for the Holiday season.