Friday Finds!

My Espace Tricot package arrived last Friday!

This is going to be a purse.

A Double Needle Keeper to hold my project in place so they stitches don't pop off of the needles.

A new little box to hold "stuff".  Watch how it closes up.  Very portable.

A new book.  I like Cocoknits stuff, but not sure any of these sweaters are my cup of tea, but does have some info that has possibilities. 

And from last month, my Knit Wit friends went to Stitches West, and my friend Kendra shopped for me.  I am lovin these!!  Not yet sure what they will be, but I'll be thinkin on these real soon.

I love a good mail day, don't you?!

Spring Summer Sweaters

Ok, so today in Central Illinois, it rainy and thundery and the long-term forecast is cloudy and rain!  That great Friday last week is just a memory, but, I know that we are going to turn around really soon and the sun will be out, it will be warming up every day and the knitter in me is going to wish I had spent a few months working on Spring/Summer sweaters for wearing.

This past week in the car, I heard a great saying from Sally Melville on the Saturday Morning Breakfast Club podcast  http://knittingboutique.com/boutiquepodcast/  that I want to remember:
"Knit the sweaters you love, wear the sweaters you knit"

We, as Knitters, probably only really think about knitting sweaters for the late Fall and Winter for keeping us nice and warm when the temps are cool and the snow is falling.  And that would be me as well, but my need for Winter sweaters last year was very small.

Granted, with the list of all the things I want to knit, I should probably think about starting now for next Fall and Winter, but those gals over at Espace Tricot Episode 7 , once again have me thinking Spring/Summer Sweaters and their current episode (link above), have increased my favorites again.
You have to watch them, if you are not!!

I have been a fan of two of their free patterns even before I knew who Espace Tricot was.  Some may say that is obvious as to why I was a fan of the first one, the colors in it of course...and that may be very well true, but still I have loved it. 

This is the Ombre Tank Top.  It uses the same technique that my much beloved Heavenly Heathers Blanket has, using the base yarn with a new color in the stripes as it progresses.  The yarn is from Shibui and yes, may be pricey in some standards, but I think I am worth it.

Next up is the Double-Take Tee.  This is very reminiscent of a couple of weeks ago Fish or Cut Bait WIPS, except for more of a sleeve, which because I am a knitter I know how to extend that sleeve to cover those pelican arms of mine!    The sample is knit out of a Habu fingering merino/ silk yarn that I am sure if I searched for, I may find a nice substitute, but then again, lately, I have been a knitter who wants to try new yarns and the yarn the originals have been knit out of.

Before I can knit these two though, I have to jump on Espace's website and get my order together, which will give me some more time, to plan my Spring/Summer Sweaters out of.

What are you planning on knitting this season?  I would love to know, I am always open for more ideas.  And stay tuned for further Spring/Summer Sweater Knitting adventures and thoughts!

Wednesday WIPS

From my Ravelry project page, I can tell that the yarn for my Hitofude was purchased in January 2014 from Briar Rose Fibers.   The yarn is Sea Pearl and I like this yarn so much I've  got several different colorways and well, Chris is a friend from Knit Camp too.

A close up of the yarn now, shows more purple and steel blue then in the first picture.    The yarn is a fingering weight, with 800 yards to a skein so there is some pretty hefty yardage in one skein.  It is 50% Wool/505 Tencel/Lyocell. (I am fairly certain I heard Lori Goldstein on QVC last night talk about Lyocell fiber in her jeans) It is a shimmery yarn, I bought this colorway because I thought it would lend itself to a little bit dressier sweater for weddings and such.

And this Hitofude from the designer seemed to be just the style I was looking for!

I am in a mood to knit a Spring sweater these days and thought this might fit the bill to bring out a WIP and Evelyn (Irishmom1323 on Ravelry) enticed me to bring mine back out and knit a bit on it.  When I did, I discovered a safety pin in an inch or so holding what looks like a dropped stitch.  Funny thing though, I've got the number of stitches needed between the markers.

 This one is going to require some thought.  I'm not ready to cut bait on it yet, but I am not so sure that it is ready to fish yet.

You Tubing

This weekend, after the kids left, I spent some time catching up on some video casts on You Tube that I like and coincidentally have to do with knitting.  I thought you might like to catch them if you want some fun and knitting.

The Yarn Hoarder - Amber has a background stash that rivals mine

Kristy Glass Knits - for Manch, she is interviewing Man Knitters

Knotty Knit Wits - From the Northern West Coast, love their wit!

Kammebornia - I love her knits, but warning, this one is in Swedish, but there are English subtitles and the scenery, oy!

And finally, the last couple of days, I have been listening to The Yarniacs podcast while coming to and from work.  I am a regular listener to this one, but something that particular caught my ear and the you shawl wearers might be interested in is their discussion of how to wear shawls towards the end.  Their show notes also have some links.

I love You Tube for knitting podcasts!

What's On The Needles This Week?

My projects that are getting love this week are based on where and when they are going to be knit on.  That way, it gives me an excuse to knit on multiples, she says with a smile.

First up is the Hospice Blanket.  This one just cheers me up when I knit on it.  Obviously, it is the colors in, all the beautiful colors of the ocean.  There was a bit of a two minute window today in between drizzles that the sun came out and I could take a pic of it.  I am finally on the decreases of the blanket.  This one is my go to here at home while watching Food Network today and the Kids version of Chopped.  I'll work on it this week as well when I get home at night.

Fog is next up and by the time I got outside to take a photo of it, the sun was gone.  This is my knitting for at the local yarn shop.  It is two yarns I purchased there and easily portable and doable while visiting.

And lastly, this is my Knit Night knitting project/Saturday Panera knitting.  Mindless stockinette right now after the eyelet row.  Still able to carry it around in my Knitting is my Super Power bag for right now.

Amongst all the drizzle we had today and the cloudy skies, the Tall Guy picked this pretty out of our back yard and brought it into me.  It is a milestone, he has always bought me flowers, but never do I remember him picking them out of our yard for me.  

Even though, the weather reports say cloudy most all this week, there is some sunshine in my backyard!  How about yours?  And if there isn't, just knit some!  

And The House Went Quiet

Yesterday was drop dead gorgeous.  It was sunny and a perfect day for a visit to the Zoo.

The kids from Iowa were here and we had a great morning with them!  Mona Lisa was only impressed with zoo for a bit.

The big kids were more impressed than she was.

The consensus was among the big kids that we liked the giraffes the bestest.

She was having more fun hamming it up with her Uncle Baby Boy B and his girlfriend.

We had a great family dinner last night with everyone catching up and then this morning, the kids headed back, the house went quiet, and the rain came.

Friday Finds

One of the knitters I follow on Instagram, posted this magazine from the U.K.  They had me at the Faroe Islands!  I had to have this issue so I ordered it.  So cool - food, knitting, sheep, the land of the Faroe Islands, some good reading and great pictures!

From the Fringe Supply - all of their orders come in this muslin bag.

I saw these needles on the podcast Espace Tricot as an interchangeable set.  When I saw a post from Fringe Supply on Instagram that they were carrying the fixed ones, I thought I'd order one size of the fixed and see what they were like.

I cast on this past week a Boomerang Shawl on them to give them a try out.  The points are not super pointy, but for some straight garter they will be fine.  I am still a Chiagoo lady so I will not be converting to these from my faves.






Not because I needed any sewing up needles, but because I was intrigued by needles that were made in Hiroshima, I added these to my order.

My main reason for ordering was this Field Bag that I have read and heard quite a bit about lately.  It is a sturdy canvas bag with a very stiff drawstring to close it, which as I understand it after some use will soften up as will the one leather handle on handle on the outside.

The inside has pockets on both sides, one having grommet holes to guide yarn through.

What's On the Needles This Week?

 Girl from the Grocery Store Shawl from Leading Men Fiber Arts.  There are a couple of KALs that I'd like to enter this one in that end March 31st, so if I want to make that deadline then I better give it some knitting time.  A few rows here and there.

I love knitting on the Fog Shawl stockinette sections, but not crazy about knitting on the lace part.  Maybe it is because it has not been that long ago that I was knitting on my Find Your Fade that had some of the same lace type knitting in it. I really want to make this one a finished object soon.

My go to project when I just want to lose myself in the knitting is my Aise Shawl.  It is perfect knitting for Knit Night or Saturday knitting at Panera.  

I am just dying to cast on with this lovely yarn from my birthday!  It is a wonder I haven't already, but I told myself, I could not cast on it until one of the two above projects was a finished object.

I am not really a very patient person, have you noticed that?  

What A Beautiful Day!!

Oh my gosh, could it have been any prettier out today, the day before Spring?  Central Illinois was drop dead gorgeous, and I could not pass a chance to go out and on the porch and take some pictures of this week's on the needles!  It was a good thing that I took my phone with me, because I decided to sit down on the top step of two steps on the porch to photograph them.  When finished, I could not get up. Oy!!!  I wasn't super worried, I had several knitting projects with me, just in case I was forced to be there for a while.

All  I could hear is the Dr. saying, you cannot squat any longer.  I really didn't figure sitting on a step was squatting, but in the scheme of things of trying to right one's self up, I guess, I was pretty close to the squat position….there I sat in all the glorious sunshine and fresh air and could not figure out how I was going to get up.

Whatever did we do before cell phones?  The Tall Guy was inside on the second floor, way back in his room and would never hear me from where I was at.  All I could hope for was that he had his phone with him, which is not always the case.  Dang, I was lucky, because he did.  All I said, was can you come outside to the porch, I've got a little problem.  He came to my rescue, pulled me up and we had a little chuckle.

I hope you all had as beautiful day as we did today and Happy Spring tomorrow!  I love this time of the year, don't you?!

Saturday Humor

Happy St Patty's Day and Finally Finished Friday!

and not the emerald green of your typical St. Pat's Day, but more of a muddy green, the Luxury Shawl from a strand of Madelinetosh Prairie in Plaid Blanket and a strand of Filatura Di Crosa's Superior (70% cashmere, 25% silk, 5% merino), both from Espace Tricot in Montreal, is finished and has had two outings this past week for wearing!!

Have a safe St. Patrick's Day and I'll catch you on the purl side!

Foot Post - Skip If You Don't Want the Details

Not that the pics are all bad, but I wanted to document this surgery somewhere I wouldn't lose it.

The day of surgery.

The day the pins came out.

After pin removal - front

After pin removal - back

After pin removal and cast removed.  There was a lot of dead and wrinkly skin.

9 Weeks, but still in boot

10 weeks - woot woot tennis shoes

10 weeks - still wrapping toes

11 weeks - after showering

11 weeks - this is going to be my life.  Big toe fused with a plate, it will be stiff from here on out. 2nd and third toe will remain with a bit of lift in it.

From the other view.

And ta da, almost four months later, I've been sprung from the podiatrist.

No more walking on bone for me!

Side by side, left and right, still have quite the main scars and the foot is red a lot, but that will fade in time. 

Down side, I went through my shoes last night.  These are going to new homes at the South Side Mission. 

Some things will take a little more time, like swelling and a bit of discomfort.  But, I got the go ahead to shower standing up, barefoot as tolerate, start getting some exercise.   No shoes over 1/2" incline, no squatting and the big toe will not bend so there may be some things that are different.

Good news - the bunion will never come back like some who have had bunion surgery.  With my fusion and plate, it is not coming back.

Double good news - time to shoe shop!!!