Yarn Along

As always, I’m knitting along with Ginny of small things on Wednesdays.  I’m just a few rows shy of finishing my Birds in Flight Socks.  I should have the pattern posted sometime next week.

I should have had them finished them by now, but I got sidetracked by Nathan’s spring sweater, which doesn’t have a name yet.  Here are the two front panels blocking:

I'm a little meticulous about my knitting if you look at the number of pins I've used.  It would have been easier to just wet the pieces first, but I usually knit with wool and prefer to drape the pieces with a wet tea towel instead of dousing them.  I'll try the dousing method for the rest of the pieces to see if it speeds things along when working with cotton.  Note to self: Measure as you pin, not after.

It's Knit Picks' Simply Cotton Sport in Green Tea Heather and I reeeeeeally love the color.  It’s so springy and it goes with some of his springtime button-down shirts.  I can’t wait to try it on him, but I guess a lot has to happen before then.

I’m still reading Oprah’s unauthorized biography.  (Did I ever mention that I only read a few pages a night before I conk out? This one’s gonna take me a while.)  I’m also reading Amanda Soule’s Handmade Home, even though I don’t yet have a sewing machine or the time to learn how to use one.  I don’t think I could trade in knitting for sewing, since I don’t know how I’ll ever have time for both.  I’m also perusing Itty-Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson.  It contains a pattern for a bunny that would be perfect for Nathan’s Easter basket if I could get it done on time.

And finally, I’m trying to figure out what to do with the wreaths. They’ve been on my mind a lot during the last day or so, and that’s why I put them in the picture.  I made them myself from willow tree branches without a plan in mind.  Half of the willow tree came down in a storm, and the rest is being taken down tomorrow.  My wreath-making career is dead in the water, over almost as soon as it began.  The deer ate all the reachable branches, and I think I’ll be too embarrassed to run down to the tree guys and ask them for the usable branches before they get stuffed into the chipper.  So, I’m saying goodbye to my willow tree now.  How I hate to see him go!  Maybe these wreaths will become photo frames or maybe I’ll include them with my seasonal decorations.  Any ideas out there?  I feel like they’re the last of an era—maybe they’ll just sit on my craft table for a while longer.

Good knitting,

Kelly