Can't Stop Knitting On This

 Have you ever had a project that you are having so much fun with, that you just can't stop knitting on it?

Or a knitting book that is full of knits that you can't wait to finish one to start on another?

It has been awhile since I have had both, but for about a year now, I've been excited about several knits from this book. 

So when I finished putting another sweater into the blocking bath, I wanted another knit that was a no brainer, just lots of knitting.

And to perhaps use some yarn out of PYS.

And Viimein is fitting the bill. 

I can't wait to see how this progresses and use up some PYS yarn!

A Bit of Fun Knitting

 Sometimes a Knitter needs some totally fun knitting, or at least I do.  This Spring/Summer I want to use up as much of the season's yarn from PYS as I can.  So, I pulled out this Bamboo Pop yarn that has been in PYS for about 9-10 years.

I'm knitting the Tolsta Tee, from my library purchases last year.  It is a great project to knit out on the porch and I was planning on knitting on it when we are on the riverfront knitting, since it is not wool.  But, I have been having so much fun just knitting on it, that I doubt it will ever make the riverfront for knitting.

I am knitting 6 rows of the hot pink, and then 2 rows of the variegated as I knit along.  The fun part is that the variegated has pink in it so it looks totally random as to where the stripes are.  

It is a nice change from having to follow charts of late, for sure!  

A Project For Knitting At My LYS

So, I am wondering, do you have multiple projects on the needles and do you work on them in specific places?  For example, today's post is my knit for when we are knitting inside my local yarn shop this Summer when it is raining outside or too hot to sit by the river to knit.

It's a sweater for Fall and into the Winter, and both the yarn and the book from where the pattern came from is my local yarn shop.  The owner of the shop is okay with us knitting on non store yarns, but, I feel like sometimes, I need to be knitting on yarns that I have purchased there.

The yarn is Jody Long, Alba and the pattern is Helmi by Isabell Kraemer from the 52 Weeks of Easy Knits Book by Laine Publishing.  I purchased the body color way last year for a totally different sweater, but just have not been into it for what I originally was going to use it for.

The pattern is super easy, neckdown, with slip stitches for the yoke.  You have to look close for the little green nubbs to show, but after blocking, they will show just a little bit more.

 It didn't take long to get the slip stitch portion done of the yoke, so now, just a lot of knitting, which I am just fine with, as I don't need it til later this year and it serves a knitting purpose.

I am often asked how I finish so many sweaters?  I will let you dear reader in on the secret--

I have multiple sweaters on the needles, and so when they get finished it appears like I am a knitting fiend, but shhh, don't tell anyone.

Just A Little Half Finished Object

 I have to admit, I am having some fun this weekend with my knitting, read that as casting on more sweaters, but, I'll save those for later this week!

For now, I want to share a little half finished object with you with some gift leftovers I received about a year ago at the Meet-up.

Some shorty socks by Summer Lee, a first for me. The yarn is Desert Vista Dyeworks, Ireland Color way. 

And the pot in the background, is my Mother's Day present from my youngest grandson with a little rosebush, that eventually, I will plant, but right now just enjoying it as it is.

Hope your weekend was a sunny one!  

Finally Finished Friday

 

some finished objects!

First up, is The Daily Pullover which started last year as a thought that perhaps the Cobalt Blue Linen Quill would look excellent with a dress that I have had in my closet for a few years, it just needed something a little less formal to go with it.

Then I found the perfect semi casual shoes to wear with it and an ensemble was born,

It was a pretty simple knit and I am loving the v-neck for sure!

Second up, the Fluff! A simple shawl that I didn't use any fluff with, but rather a gift skein of yarn from Susan/Pink.  It is perfect for a couple of tops that I have to wear during the next transition season.

Have a good weekend, dear readers and may you be spending it knitting.

It's Sweater Week!

 I've been obsessed again with baking and cooking shows again, so it is no wonder that episode of the PJKnits Podcast is titled "IT'S SWEATER WEEK"!  If you watch the Great American or Great British versions of the baking competitions you know what I mean.

And lets just remember, I only really bake two things and those are at Christmas time, Oatmeal Raisin cookies and Date Bars from my Mom's recipes.  The peanut butter fudge too, but that isn't really baking.  Other than than, I don't really bake, I buy!

Anyway, that was a bit of digression, you can watch Episode 117 of the podcast by clicking here

Lets Do A Little Catchup

 You would think being several years retired, I would have lots of time to at least keep the blog up, wouldn't you?!  But, it seems I've been doing a lot of hanging out and knitting too, so lets catch you up to what has been happening at Chez PJKnits.

The weather has been semi decent, and I have spent a lot of time enjoying the view.

And knitting

And on Saturday of the long weekend (but for us retired people, every day is the weekend), it seems like I was on the porch a lot, having all the beverages

and knitting

On Sunday, it rained most of the day before turning into a really nice night, so I waited for the Indy 500 to finally be able to race, but still got some knitting in and even a gluten free beer

Monday was another beautiful day, that started out chilly, so a sweater was needed to start the day's knitting and cuppas off

And there we have it, we are all caught up!  Tomorrow is podcast day and I've got a sweater all done to show.  Catch you on the purl side!

Mornings On The Porch

 There are some mornings when you need to wear a Half and Half Wrap while knitting on a Half and Half.

The mornings always start with a reading, an entry into my journal, a cuppa, along with some knitting.

And then there are visitors to watch.

It is the best time of the day!

Summer Is Starting Up

 I got to go out to the porch early yesterday morning, to just enjoy everything about early mornings.  The sun, the birds, the semi quiet.

I took out what I am calling this Spring's knitting season on the porch project to sit and knit with in the early mornings, no thought required, well, almost none.  

I am hoping to have at least half of it done fairly soon, as it has been languishing a bit, but no worries.

It wasn't long after I headed in, that the clouds came through and brought rain for most of the day, so it was an indoor knitting day for the most part.  Until today, when the sun came out and stayed out and it appears that here in Central Illinois, we are going to have a bit of a warm up for a couple of days. Thats your weather report.

With that happening, I've just got one sleeve left to do on my Daily Pullover, then some blocking, which I am hoping to have that done tomorrow.

Because this dress is calling a sweater to be worn with it, when Summer decides to hit us full force.

Hope you are having a great weekend and the weather is perfect for you as well!!

Soap Boxes

 First up - even if you are a stand in Mom, they are super important too!

And now, back on my soapbox, Wear YOUR Knits!  Even if, like me, you are just going out to the porch to spend your Mother's Day knitting.

This knit is from 2021, Perfect Summer T designed by Janis Flicker.  I knit out of long time PYS in 2021 and really didn't realize how much it goes with a couple of things in my wardrobe until I was playing around a couple of weeks ago!

Don't save your knits just for when you are going to a knitting event or knitting with friends.  Put them on and wear them every day!  I'm going to!

My Summer Tees especially are just like T-Shirts, comfy and oh so fun to wear, for sure!

Puttin on the knitz!

Finally Finished Friday

 Totally forgot to post this Finally Finished project. 

 Finally finished because it has been two years in the making, sharing the front seat of my car(s) with me for just in case knitting.  Just in case of construction (yes, I have knit while waiting for cars to move) and trains (yes, I usually catch one coming or going for Tuesday/Friday knitting) 

It's the Musselburgh Hat out of Knitted Wit Watery Tart colorway that was a gift from my friend Kathy.  I was skeptical when knitting if it would fit my head, and was so happy when it did!

Now to cast on another one or maybe a different hat?

But of course, I did!  Happy Finally Finished and Start Up Friday!

Episode 116 Is Up On You Tube

 I've been doing some Spring cleaning and knitting, catch up on Episode 116 of my Knitting You Tube Podcast.  You can watch it by clicking here

Cinco de Mayo

 Brought me to finish a goal, the center square of my Hansel Hap for PJKnits Hap-A-Long

and a WIP of old for front porch knitting going forward, along with my beverage of choice for the Summer, Sangria!

So, how did you spend your 5th of May 2024?!

The Porch Is Open

 For Knitting, and for other things.

Finally, the weather has been nice to do a little porch knitting, although, the long term forecast is bringing some rain next week and then some cooler temps, but I'm taking advantage of every opportunity to get ut there and do some knitting.

I am working on my Hansel Hap center square right now on the porch and hoping to have at least that much done before the Hap-A-Long Zoom on Monday.  

What has been keeping me from getting more of it done, you ask?

Wave, from last Summer's Laine magazine cover!  But, only this much for now, as I have a couple of things in the queue ahead of it, but I just had to see what the knitting on this would be like.  

This is the start of the back and is on holders for now, while the fronts are to start next.  This is an interesting construction, for sure.

For now, it is back to my Hap and the front porch, have a great weekend.