Another Gloomy Day

 But, I just had to share some beautiful days from a week ago, that I know will be back soon.

So Long March!

Wednesday WIP

 I'm on a mission in 2022 to finish some WIPS.  Last weekend, I decided it was time to work on Chelsea's Cowl and get it done, before the real Spring sets in.  I may even get a chance to wear it later this week, since it is definitely NOT Spring yet.

Since I have basically moved my personal knitting space to upstairs last Fall, I've been trying to find the perfect place to house my WIPS after I have made a list of them in my journal.  For a couple of months, I had them hanging from my wire racks that house my yarn, but it was becoming a pain to have to look for yarn, along with the wire racks doing a bit of straining.

Then it hit me, I havr the perfect place that was not being used.  The bathtub. Yep, thats where some of them are being housed.  It's out of the way and since no one is using it, a great storage place.

My question for you, do have a place where your WIPS, assuming you have WIPS? 

Tuesday Trinkets

It was a fun morning at knitting today!  And fun things came my way. A new stitch marker to match my fave coffee place.  (It's the one place this past few months that has brought a smile to my face.)

And that's not really a complaint, it just was a bright spot when I would go through the drive through and be met with a smiling barista.

This stitch marker is just so app for my next knitting project.

And even has a cute little design on top.  Kendra knows me so well!

Our friend Victoria brought this from Florida for me.  It has the perfect sentiment on the card that came with it. 

 "Timeless - A symbol of the past, present and future.  Let this charm be your reminder of those special moments that are timeless treasures of the heart."

Anybody Else Spring Planning

 The weather here at Chez PJKnits has certainly reverted back to not so nice.  It's rainy, chilly and just plain gloomy!  And my voice is still kind of raspy and horsey if I talk too much.

But, in the meantime, I'm thinking Spring/Early Summer Sweaters, anybody else?

Yes, I have a couple on the needles, but one needs to be prepared, right, for when you finish one.

And I have some yarn, that I have been dying to cast on so it will be ready when the weather finally changes and stays warm.

Here are some that I was thinking about for this finger weight, Bel Visio that is Cotton, Linen and Nettle.  I picked it up last year at my local yarn shop and thought then that I might knit last Summer, but that kind of fell apart.

Contenders were The Lovely Tee by Kimberly Mcalindin, Lazy Summer by von Hinterm Stein, Lavender T-shirt from Sandnes Garn and Edie by Isabel Kramer.

But, then I threw another, Tegna, into the mix and removed a couple, along with adding a laceweight for the neck on the Lazy Summer.  Right now, I am leaning towards it, but it will require some swatching. 

The nice thing is the swatching will not be in vain no matter which pattern I decide on.  I am going to let the swatch tell me what it wants to be.

Spring Planning has begun, I hope you are!

It's A Scrappy Sunny Sunday

 It's going to be another sunny Sunday here at Chez PJKnits!  

And it's scrappy Sunday and I still don't have a voice, but I am feeling pretty good today despite it!

Hope you are having a Sunny Sunday too!

What I Learned

Last night, I was bound and determined to finish this collar on my Comfort Fade Cardi by Andrea Mowry.  I almost succeeded and got a few stitches bound off, before I decided I really should tackle the rest of the bind off today.

What I learned - 

the short row method in garter that Andrea used for the collar was magnificent.  And yes, it took several days to complete, but I totally love the result.

 is that I actually like Jeny's Suprisingly Stretch Bind Off that Andrea recommended in the pattern.  Having never done it before, I figured I give it a try and if I hated doing it, I would pull it out and do my old trick of going up several needle sizes to achieve a stretchy bind off.  Not only did I like it, it wasn't hard to do and I loved the edge finished of the collar.

I loved the DK yarns I finally settled on, three from Legacy Fiber Artz and one from  Cake Wool. Aquanet, Sea Glass, Kirk and Plumage.  I did have two fails on the final color way of the sweater, but I will add them to my stash for future projects.  I had the Cake Wool in my stash from last Summer, and it was just what my sweater needed.

I've leftovers from all of them, but see them as possibilities for a future project to be used together again.

My sweater is off to the blocking bath in the next couple of days, but I did try it on and I am so happy with the fit right now, that it will be a light blocking especially for the sleeves as they are just right as they are.

I have to finish by giving this an A+, the pattern, the yarn, and the fit.  It's going to be great to wear this Spring!!

 

Something About Holding It In Your Hand

After several days of sunshine and 70 degree weather, the weather has turned to more normal March weather, chilly, but not cold, and rain.

After an early morning appointment, and some mail delivery, I am going to sit and enjoy a cuppa and the latest issue of Wool Gathering from Schoolhouse Press. Wool Gathering comes out twice a year in March and September, and I so look forward to it each time.   

Although, I know I won't get it knit this Spring season, I am putting it in my journal for August/September knitting so I will have it for next Winter.  

I have the original pattern in The Opinionated Knitter, but will knit from this one as it is easy to put into my journal while I am knitting on it.

I have some Spindrift in my stash that this one is knit out of, but may need to reassess what I have for the main color, but I know I have onesie balls in the stash that I picked up several years back while choosing colors for a hat and mitt ensemble.

Half the fun is in the dreaming of colors to go together, isn't it?!

If it is raining where you are at, I hope you have some nice knitting mail to sit down with and a cuppa to keep you warm, while we wait for the real Spring to come.

☕️

 

I Did A Thing

 I bought some shorties and used them on a sleeve of my Faded Cardigan.

I was so surprised that I liked them so much.  I was worried that the shortness of the cables and needles would hurt my hands, and towards the end, they were starting to a bit, but I am not sorry I bought them at all. 

I'll be using them again.

3.14 It's Pi Day

 

Scrappy Sunday

 I'm actually posting this Sunday's scrappy square on Sunday!  Don't anyone faint!

And this next week, it looks like the weather is taking a turn and giving us no snow.  Shhhh!

I am feeling better, still a cough and no voice, but at least I'm feeling like knitting finally.

I hope you all are well and enjoying some sun and positive thoughts towards a Spring!

End of the Week Clean Up

 I've been missing in action since a couple of weeks ago and thought I would drop in and catch you all up.

It seems I caught a bit of a virus, starting late last Saturday and continuing on (not Covid per 2 at home negative tests and the APN saying it wasn't as well).  I have absolutely no voice and a cough that produces nothing, but I am feeling at least better enough to do some knitting.  

I haven't since last Sunday since I finished a square for my blanket.

I've been staying pretty isolated on our top floor this week and masking when I have to go downstairs, because I really don't want the Tall Guy to catch this.  By the way, on that front, he is building up some stamina, maintaining weight and is doing better each day.  We have one more appointment later this month, with the radiation doc (hopeful that will be the end of seeing him)  and then followups in May and continuing on for the next year, but for now we are grateful for each step along the way.

Before this upper respiratory stuff happened, I finished the first sleeve on my Faded Cardi, and I have to admit, I really am liking it.

Made some progress on my puzzle, working the knitting needles sections when I couldn't find pieces of the yarn to go together.

And another couple of inches of snow came down last night, but temps going to Spring next week, so it will all be gone by Monday.  I know real Spring will be here soon, and we are already making plans here at Chez PJKnits for flowers and some fruit trees.  If that doesn't make one feel better, I am not sure what can.

Don't forget to set your clocks forward Saturday night!  Catch you on the purl side!