Mail Call

 I belong to a yarn subscription box that comes every other month.  Artistic Yarn by Abi.  This month's box was like, cast me on right now, and wait for it, cast on some socks with it.  And I have.

The theme, Reese's Pieces.

Half the fun of opening the boxes is to see what the extras are in the box.

Of course, the chocolate was gone in the first day, but the rest of the box, the yarn, the contrast color and the stitch marker, right on!

And I just cannot put this sock down, it is all I've been knitting on since last Wednesday!

Goodbye, September

 I do love the change of seasons, and thankfully, I live in Illinois where we get all the seasons.  Yes, I always am rushing the season for the next one, and unfortunately, the change of seasons reminds me, especially Summer and into Fall, how quickly time passes by.  

This month, a dear knitting friend passed away, way too soon. Another friend from long ago, lost her husband, and my niece lost her grand father.  These are the reminders that we should enJOY the time we have, the seasons and life!

So, lets look at life in September here at Chez PJKnits--

I love the weather we have had the last few days, sunshine and barely making it up into the mid 70s, but still warm enough to wear Summer sweaters before heading into transitional knitted sweaters.  This Magna Flora from earlier this Summer, and perfect for heading out to knit with friends yesterday.

A new Musselburgh was cast on, # 21, for my front seat project, just in case I forget to bring knitting with me, or if another realty of IL right now, construction waits all over the place.

A little cooler temps, and the sun setting earlier, brings out the cuppa, the candle (pumpkin scented), knitting on a WIP and a stroupwaffel, courtesy of my dear friend, Brenda.

September brings a new issue of Wool Gathering from Schoolhouse Press, and this vest is definitely on my list.  Many years ago at Knitting Camp, I tried on the pullover version of this vest, and I loved everything about it.

Even though, the temps were a bit warmer on the start of Autumn 2026, Snoopy was ready on his pumpkin, and yes, I started decorating my house appropriately.

Early morning from the porch, bring in some amazing skies, even if the sun isn't rising as early as Summer brought us.

A second Holiday Sweater cast on happened.  Not sure I will get this one done by our KAL  finish up at Thanksgiving, but I am hopeful.

I switched my original plan up and of course, ordered new yarn in very Christmas colors.  I am so stoked at my colors!!

I have finally made it to the sleeves on my Lujza!  I am so ready for this one to be done!! Why, because all the knits are calling me, are they you as well??

There is still Musselburgh #20 going on for knitting on the front porch, hoping this will get done before porch knitting goes away in November.  

I'll hold out taking the Spring/Summer off of the porch for as long as I can, because cool temps don't keep me from sitting out there even when there is a chill.  (I've got sweaters). I will take the cushions off and give them a good wash and dry later in October when the temps will dry them out.

And pumpkins will be on the door.

Goodbye September--today the last day, brought rain.  Oh well, see you in October.

Episode 169 Wisconsin Sheep & Wool

The lastest episode of PJKnits Podcast is up on Wisconsin Sheep and Wool from a couple of weeks ago, along with what I am working on right now.  And another Musselburgh!

You can watch it by clicking here

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.  

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.

What Do You Look For In a Post or a Podcast?

 That is the topic for Episode 168  of the PJKnits Podcast today.  You can find it my clicking here

A New Cast On

Several years back, and I do mean several, my oldest grandson, requested a knit from this book.

It took me a couple of years to knit his sister's pig, and almost as soon as she received it, he did mention if he was next.  And of course, I said yes, (that was at Christmas) and since then he has asked once about it.  So, I decided last weekend, it was time to get it cast on.

I wish you could really see the sparkle in the yarn, it is there, albeit pretty subtle.  

I also pulled out the skeleton head stitch stoppers for the end, thinking it is very appropriate for the Death Star!

I'm hoping to have it done for his birthday the middle of October, so I better be working more on it!

Clowing Around

Musselburgh Number 20 - 7 for this year is finished.  I am playing around with the Artistic Yarn by Abi subscription box this year for my Musselburghs.  I just love opening up a new box every other month, seeing what the yarn is, but also the fun stuff in the box. 

And the accent colors that come with it.  I am pretty sure her intention is for these to be socks, but, I can knit a hat so much faster than I do socks.

For the most part, these hats are not for me, but, rather for fun holiday parties where family can choose a hat from my finished hats.  I had better get moving on them if that is my plan for this year. 

This Is How It Starts

 When getting ready to do a PJKnits You Tube video, there is a bit of planning.

First I plan it out on paper, I may make a couple of versions, depending on the topic.  The morning of the taping, I will line up on my couch the assorted things I want to talk about, before finally making their way to my table to podcast from.

Today's Episode 167 is pretty much all about some Winter Sweater WIPS that I brought out to start knitting on one at a time.  You can check them out by clicking here

And stay tuned here, in the coming weeks, I'll be showcasing them here and on Instagram!

Birds As A Source For Sweater Colors?

Recently, I've been watching a lot of Wild Earth Safari on You Tube.  Not that I am ever going to go, nor do I really want to, but I do enjoy watching animals and animal behavior in the early mornings or late evenings.

What I have discovered is how much the birds in Africa have me looking at their colors for possible future sweater color combos.

I am seeing combos in them that I never would have thought would go together, while also finding out about birds a world away.

But, also colors I never would have put together, like these below in the Merops.  Beautiful green, orangey red and brown.

It is funny how sometimes, the color of the same bird comes up differently on the tv screen, but also gives color thoughts too.

This Blue Waxbill intrigues me with the sort of light turquoise and gray/brown combos.

So many color thoughts and more just keep coming.

While we are on the subject of birds, I finally found a hummingbird feeder that is bee proof and ant proof this year from Chewy. I have been having a hoot of a time watching a couple of hummingbirds come all hours of the morning into evening.

I, also, am paying attention to how long the water is out there and changing it often.  

Funny how the little things bring moments of Joy.  I hope you, too, are finding those moments.

 

Summer of T- Shirts

 I do love a good knitting tee shirt and when it is hot, isn't it the perfect top to wear when a knitted sweater just is too much?

Here are just a few of the collection I've accumulated over the years.

This one is so me. And I don't apologize for it, nor can I be shamed about the amount of WIPS/Unfinished Projects I have.  It's just me.  And a gift from my friend, Norma, many years ago.

Norma gifted me a lot of knitting t-shirts over the years.  This is another one.  And again, me and maybe you reader, especially if you are retired, and knitting is better than almost any other task I could do.

This t-shirt I bought.  So appropriate during the pandemic when we all were doing and exploring via the internet new things in knitting and in crafting.  And we made it to the other side and still knitting, me exploring avenues in knitting that I never thought I would.

Last, but not least of my t-shirts, this is another one I bought for myself.  Yes, I am a Grandma of five now, but, I don't think my knitting reflects the stereotype of Grandmas of old knitting.

Do you?

It's Summer Outside, But, I'm Knitting Winter Inside

 Yep, put my last Summer knit WIP away today and now it is all about Winter knitting!  In today's episode 166, I've started thinking of sweaters I would like to do and some swatching too.  You can hear all about it, by clicking here

Spending Time On The Porch

 I cannot believe we are at that time of the Summer already.  Kids here go back to school in just 9 days and my grandson starts kindergarten this year.  I cannot believe that is happening either.  It makes me a little sad, because there will be a lot more structure in his life, and less time for on the spur of the moment fun things.

But, with all of that, also comes Fall and then Winter, which I know I am rushing, but I am already working on my Winter knits, I have had enough of Summer knitting.  There are so many knits for the next season that I want to show here, but, that will wait for a couple of posts down the road.

What I am doing right now, is spending as much time as I can on the front porch, whenever I can, dodging hot hot weather when I can, and taking advantage when I can.

This weekend, I've played around with some swatching while casting on a new sweater.  Long story, short, it didn't work out like I wanted to, but it did provide me with a gauge swatch for what the yarn was always intended for.  

Except, I cannot restart it, until I finish one or two other color work projects on the needle.  Casting on a third, just to see it set there or take away from the other two, just doesn't get any of them finished.

It was nice enough this morning to turn the air conditioning off for a bit, and after I got some cooking done, I headed out this afternoon for a cuppa and look at the Anniversary Edition of Laine magazine I picked up at my local yarn shop, The Fiber Universe on Friday.

I've earmarked 4 or 5 that I would love to knit for this next season, mainly because they fit the kind of sweater I like to wear, and the yarns or rather the alternative yarns are easy to get via the United States vendors.  For now, they are on the wishlist, we will see what becomes of them.

Despite, it still being Summer and the weather can attest to that, I think I am done with my Summer knitting (only one Summer WIP still on the needle from 2025, I think I will bring it back out next year when I head to Florida and work on it then.