It’s a gloriously sunny Sunday here on the lake and we’re watching the lake and shaking our heads. Today we have lots of vehicles on the lake … yes, I mean vehicles – cars and trucks. The ice can’t be much more than six inches thick. If it was up to me there would only be snow machines and ATVs but when the first car drove by recently, I decided it was time to post about my morning and this crazy activity. Ice fishing is a sport that I don’t have any interest in. Never have, never will. A day out in the cold, drinking beer and doing “crazy” things like driving your $30,000 vehicle on the ice is outrageous in my humble opinion. Lucky nobody asks me.
I’m about to take my knitting and see if I can walk on my new walking pad for ten minutes while I knit. My goal is to work up to 30 minutes a day for now. That’s a lot more than I’ve been doing. And I have to ask my daughter what kind of standing desk she has because there are a lot of them out there with mixed reviews. I’ll be buying one pretty soon so I can write and walk, too. (Lucky there’s a “seat belt” that stops the machine when you’re about to fall off. Ha! Ha!)
I’ve got the last load of laundry in the washer, I’ve washed a shawl that I wore last week that had something sticky on it, I’ve ordered my new coat from LL Bean and I’ve written the store newsletter and caught up on adding new contacts. I’d fallen way behind.
It snowed lightly all day yesterday and (the royal) we has shoveled and gone out for the NY TImes Sunday paper so he’s happily ensconced downstairs while I’m up in my atelier. I think today I’ll work on Baby’s blanket because it’s just about half done and it’s a quick knit. Next will be mitts for daughter #2 who has been wearing her favorite ones I made her that had her ex-husband’s initial on them. It’s time to get rid of them and get something new. She’s chosen her pattern and I bought the yarn.
I’ve got an order for two tams from a customer who contacts me every couple of years. I went looking for my pattern yesterday and it’s not available on Ravelry any longer and, of course, I’ve cleaned out all my paper patterns because I had them on Ravelry. I sure hope more designers don’t take their patterns off Ravelry … I’ll be furious because I thought, even if it was a free pattern, that I’d have them safely in my library. Not so. Luckily the designer responded to my message and she’s going to have someone email me a copy. Phew. I’ll get those on the needles soon so I can get them out of my queue.
So, for now, the ice fishermen are at it again. So much for our peace and quiet on the lake. Luckily they’re not in our front yard … yet.
I woke up late and it has been snowing all morning. Just a light snow but snow! Yay. This morning we saw our first ice skaters on the lake. The conditions are right for such a short time and it’s always fun to see. We had two skaters pass by heading up toward Oakland and just now had a family of four passing by heading toward Augusta. I wish I was brazen enough to get my skates out and try it.
The ice in front of the house … at least 4 inches thick
I spent the morning working on my Christmas puzzle and just got it finished. BUT there’s a twist to this puzzle. It’s made to be finished and then be “divided” into three parts, rearranged and have one more part to put together. Here’s what the first part of this puzzle looks like right now …
Christmas puzzle … iteration #1
What I’m really driven to write about today, though, is that I’ve finished my second WIP for 2025. This one is perhaps the longest WIP I’ve had in my knitting career. I’ve posted before that I bought this lobster hat kit back when Over the Rainbow Yarns was in business in Rockland, Maine. It was a kit including the pattern and yarn. (See my project page on Ravelry.) I started working on the hat as a gift to my daughter, Kate. It got put away in favor of other projects a bunch of times over the years and pulled back out, put away again, frogged a couple of times and then I found it again in December or so and decided that I needed to get this hat finished.
I have finished it and it will be too big for Kate but I think I will keep it for myself. I wore it to work yesterday and maybe if I wear hats more often I’ll decide that I like them. (And maybe not.) But I wanted to show you the final pictures.
I’m thoroughly tickled with it … more so, maybe, because it’s DONE! It’s off my needles. Eleven years in the making and I’m happy to have it be done. This is the perfect time to wear it. It’s so Maine.
So, there you go. Project #2 for me off the needles in 2025. And just in time to have a bunch of new projects to work on. Most of them are small but I’m going to make every effort to get them done before February 1 because I think I’d like to participate in MDK’s Bang out a Sweater event and knit a sweater in February. I know I can do it … but will I? Ha! Ha! Stay tuned.
It is a bit chilly today. When I woke up at 6:30am it was around 10 degrees and will only get up to 22-ish. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying a day to myself today. I spent the morning having coffee and relaxing as usual, cleaned up the kitchen and emptied the dishwasher, got dressed, and after my hubby went to work I started by Christmas puzzle. Turns our my puzzle attention span is very long because it was 3pm before I stopped and went upstairs to do some work.
It’s been a good start to the week. I got some baking done yesterday and my dear hubby made vegetarian chili at my request. I’ve decided that I don’t love meat much any more and I’m exploring vegetarian eating. I’m married to a guy who needs meat at every meal and who does the majority of our cooking … it will be interesting.
Easy No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls
I baked some pecan rolls. These are wonderful because they don’t include any yeast so they’re quick and easy to make. No waiting for the dough to rise! The one thing I do is I don’t mix the toasted pecans in with the filling because it’s more difficult to spread. I spread the filling and then sprinkle the nuts on it and roll away! The recipe is Easy No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls (New York Times Cooking). When it’s just the two of us, we don’t put the frosting on until we warm up a roll or two and then frost them … warming up frosted cinnamon rolls makes the frosting melt away. These are delicious!
I’ve been working on a couple of different projects. Yesterday I spent a good amount of time on my Hoodola by Laura Nelkin. I”ve gotten about a third of the rows knitted and I had to put it aside to eat a few Doritos so I picked up my New Year shawl, Winter’s Finery by Romi Hill. I had to go back before I went ahead because I had made a mistake on the spine somehow and decided that I couldn’t live with the way it looked especially since it’ll be at the top of the shawl. Frogged back a few rows and the reknit it. I even made a little bit of progress.
Hoodola beforeHoodola afterWinter’s Finerybefore blockingafter a light steam blockbecause you know you wanted to see the insideOn to the tippety top!
The lobster hat chart is complete and I’ve moved on to the sea weed chart for the crown. BUT before I started the crown I put the stitches on a strand of yarn and gave it a little bit of a steam block so I could see how they’ll look when finished. I’m happy to report that they’re going to be fantastic! I put the stitches back on my needles and continued knitting.
Today I spent hours working on my Christmas puzzle and then had to pay bills and my new walking pad was delivered so I had to try it out. Next I’ll be ordering a standing desk and I hope I can write these posts while I walk … preferably without getting hurt.
I woke up late this morning and knew that I had a phone call to make at 10am. Otherwise, the day was our oyster today. No plans at all. We spent the morning having coffee and I spent some time in my atelier straightening and puttering. Hubby made his weekly trip to the dump with our trash. And then we went to see the new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. We loved it!
I’ve got several projects already lined up for 2025. A hat for Sheldon who’s like a son to us. A couple of tams for a long-time customer, a blanket for our granddaughter’s Baby, pink and sparkly.
Hoodola by Laura Nelkin in Berroco Inca Gold
I also decided to join Laura Nelkin’s First Quarter KAL and am knitting her Hoodola pattern. I’ve got some Berroco Inca Gold, 3 hanks, from my stash that I’m using for the project. Today I cast on and got the first four sets of set-up rows done. I had to cast on twice because the first time I had waaaaay too much yarn left over after casting on and since my yarn and the required yardage are so cloes, I didn’t want to take the chance of “wasting” a yard of it. It’s a fun start and I hope it’ll be a “hat” that I will enjoy wearing. I need a hat for the cold days that are coming to Maine, I hope.
Yankee Knitter #29 Classic Socks in West Yorkshire Spinners yarn
But I couldn’t be loyal to only one project so I cast on the second Christmas sock and got a couple of rounds of the cuff completed. I also worked on my Lobster Hat by Mrs. Knitter. As I believe I’ve written before, this is possibly the longest WIP I’ve ever had dating back to 2014 at least. I bought it at the now closed Over the Rainbow Yarn as a kit. I started it in 2014, set it aside for a few years, brought it back out, frogged it and restarted it and then set it aside a second time. This time, I am determined to get it finished! I have six rounds of colorwork left on the chart and then the crown and it’ll be ready to block. It’s really going to need to be blocked. I’ll attempt to steam block it but it may require a wet block and a couple of days wrapped around a plate or a balloon. I’m excited to finish it and it will be my second WIP completed in 2025.
Mrs. Knitter Lobster Hat pattern kit from 2014 (or before)
I’ll be working to finish the hat tomorrow since I’ve written my newsletter for the store tonight. I love a slow Sunday morning!
I have started a New Year’s new shawl, too. I cast on New Year’s Day a one skein pattern by Romi Hill called Winter’s Finery in yarn I bought from Knit City Montreal. I love the colorway and I loved the shawl. It started off with a complicated pinhole cast on which I haven’t done for a minute and that Rosemary does a little bit differently than I had learned. Regardless, after a couple of tries, I got it and am making some progress on the first part of the shawl. Did I say I love the colorway?!
Winter’s Finery by Romi Hill in Mailles a Part yarn from Knit CIty
On the way home tonight from our movie the sky was a beautiful pink and when we got home, I had to head out to the porch and catch a shot of the remainder of the day. Gone Knitting.
Well, here we are. To me the New Year means a clean slate to create a year that I want to see; to be proud of, to enjoy, to bring people together, to celebrate, to strengthen relationships. All in a span of 365 days. There’s a lot of the unknown this year and a lot to be grateful for as our family grows again and hoping for health for all of us, too.
I’ve spent the last 24 hours cleaning up my studio/atelier and getting my new journal/planner ready to go. Today I get to start a fresh book, too. The old orange book will take it’s place on the shelf and the clean, fresh turquoise book will start traveling with me. It’s my “bible” that I count on to keep me all together. Calendar, record of business, keeper of notes and birthdays and more. I’ve been using a bullet journal for several years and while mine aren’t very creative, they are a bit of peaceful time each week where I can set myself up for success.
I also decided to cast on a new project today. I saw Romi’s Winter’s Finery yesterday. It’s a one-skein small shawl with a fun edging. I chose my yarn this morning and am using a skein I bought a couple of years ago at Knit City Montreal – Mailles a Part in the Maree colorway. It was hand dyed by a friend of a friend and is a special skein that is perfect for this project. I’ve wound the yarn and will pull out my needles when I finish this post.
I’ve made myself a cup of tea, set up my day for success and now, I can relax for a bit and enjoy some knitting.
And speaking of knitting, I want to report that I completed 63 projects in 2024. 11 pairs of socks, four Emotional Support Chickens, four Christmas stockings, two sweaters and a vest for me, a bunch of hats and mittens and lots of baby/toddler sweaters, mittens and hats and one toddler dress. Colorwork was very prominent this year. I also had a few commissions. It was a very good year.
On my needles (see details on my Ravelry page):
Jelly Roll Blanket: being knitted with scraps from sock yarns that I’ve been carrying around for decades! It’s maybe 1/3 done? This will be a long-term project. I work on it during zoom meetings and watching youtube podcasts.
Pink Embroidered Mittens: I’m challenged by the embroidery on knitted fabric but I really have to pull them out again and get them finished. Even if I don’t embroider both mitts. The color is so pretty and they’d be great driving to work mittens!
Fair Isle Gift Bag: started it after taking a class with Jeanette Budge on Fair Isle knitting and choosing colors for Fair Isle projects. I loved the class, got feedback on the colors from Jeanette and just haven’t prioritized the project.
Lobster Hat: Another old project that I just need to keep working on and get it done. This is a Mrs. Knitter pattern that I bought as a kit from Over the Rainbow Yarns a “million” years ago. It’s been closed for a long time. Thought this would be a gift for the lobster-loving daughter but I don’t think she wants it … I’ll give her first dibs.
Neds Christmas Socks & Christmas socks: two pairs. One for Ned, obviously. Worsted weight boot socks. I have one foot and toe to complete to finish them. The other pair is progressing down the first sock’s foot. One more to go. I’d like to make at least a pair of socks a month this year.
I have a sweater in time out for Sylvie. I want to make another Love and Light for my bonus daughter and her hubby. I have the lights. I have at least three sweater’s worth of yarn to knit for me and a couple for Ned. AND we have a new great-nephew arriving and a new grandchild, too. SO, lots of inspiration and good reasons to knit in 2025. (There ma be more that I’m forgetting about.)
I’ve promised myself that I will sew more in 2025. I have several projects started that I’d like to finish and I have bought a tunic pattern & fabric, two kits to make totes, and a pattern and fabric to make an apron for me and a pattern for pants for Sylvie. I know I have a paper-pieced quilt top started and there are likely more in the cabinet. Do you think I can commit one day a week to sew? I’m going to start there and see how I do. My friend Carol said that she’ll come over and help with the totes because they’re overwhelming to me … that will happen in February or in the spring.
I’m planning to teach a workshop at Yardgoods in January or February. I just have to find a date. It will be a colorwork class and they’ll steek their project (a cup cozy) at the end. My teaching is a really happy part of my life and I want to keep it going. I’m working to build the 3-5pm class on Friday but I may mix them in with my other classes and call it good.
Mostly, I want 2025 to include lots of family time. We’re planning a visit to my hubby’s girls in the spring and summer and I’ll try to get to see Sylvie in NYC at least every six weeks. Time in person is so important to building on the relationship we have already which is amazing!!! I adore that child. I’d like to get to Reno to visit my aunt and uncle and cousins there. They’re not able to travel east any longer so it’s up to me to get out there. I’ve also never been to my “new” sister’s house in AZ. If not in 2025 then for sure in 2026. Reminds me I need to get the new license so I don’t have trouble traveling. OK, I need to go sit and knit … this is getting overwhelming.
Happiest next 365. Wishing you health and cheers to filling the blank slate as we each see fit.
We got home from our Christmas trip yesterday afternoon and it was dark before I could sneak outside to take a photo of our homecoming. BUT suffice it to say that despite the unseasonably warm temps yesterday, the lake remains frozen. (It was not frozen when we left.) As with any time away, the laundry is up to the rafters, the mailbox was full, and there is a lot to “catch up” on. And then there is the end-of-year wrap up, bills to pay, projects to finish (or add to the list to transfer to the New Year), etc. It would be overwhelming if I allowed it to be. I’m not allowing it. I will take it bite by bite and not let the stuff get the better of me.
We made a trip before Christmas to Costco in Manhattan (it was packed!) to buy supplies for dinner on Christmas Eve and a few other things. We cooked a marvelous Christmas eve meal at my son and his fiancee’s house, we had a lot of fun on Christmas day at my daughter and her husband’s house and another great meal. We went to SOHO to get a bracelet at Catbird (mine was a gift from my daughter for Christmas). We visited Knit City on the upper west side and I bought a skein of yarn to make a Musselburgh hat.
We went to see my son’s Broadway debut. He’s a lighting designer/electrician and has worked hard (even with the pandemic) to become a member of the electrician’s union in the city. It’s quite a feat as you can imagine but he did it! He is operating the light board at the Manhattan Theater Club’s Friedman Theater in Eureka Day. We loved the show and the lighting, of course, was masterful!
We played with toys: dog toys and Sylvie toys. We gave her one of her big “wants” this year, a doll stroller for her baby (she’d been trying to “steal” them from other kids at the playground when we were in the city in October.) Her expression both verbal and visual was delicious and delighted this Yaya! I may have cried a little. We ate and drank and chatted into the wee hours.
We went to the art exhibit at the performance space where my younger daughter works: The Shed. The Luna Luna exhibit was also masterfully produced and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s re-constructed pieces of a circus that was created by famous artists that had been hidden away in storage for decades, recently discovered and brought back to life, so to speak at the Shed NYC in Hudson Yards. We spent over an hour walking through the interactive art piece. It was colorful and creative and fun for all ages. Bravo!
I did a little bit of knitting on the drive to NYC and after Christmas. I gave my husband an unfinished pair of wool boot socks. I’m nearly finished with them now … they’ll be my first FO of 2025. And I started a pair of Christmas socks to give me something that I didn’t have to think about to knit. I have a few WIPs that will be carried into the New Year again (and a few that I carried into 2024 that still have to be finished.) But I spent my energy over the week in NYC having fun with my kids and their families. We even got a chance to see my hubby’s eldest daughter and her husband who came up from the Washington, DC area for a couple of nights.
Subways, brunches, Lyfts, lots of walking, SOHO, Washington Heights, dog walks, Hudson Yards, coffee shops, lots of walking and stair climbing, all in a week in New York. We’re making memories!
Tonight we’re going to a neighbor’s house for a bit to celebrate the arrival of 2025. 2024 was a difficult year in many ways and a wonderful year in many ways. We are so grateful to be healthy and strong so we can babysit and travel and continue to work at jobs we like. I am grateful to the community that I’m building here in Maine and here online. Thanks to those who are following my antics here at Queen Bee Knits. I hope it’s entertaining and that you may have learned something about knitting or just about life and had a little fun with me along the way.
Wishing you and yours a healthy, creative, peaceful, love-filled 2025.
I’m having a case of the Mondays. The only problem is that it’s Tuesday! We woke up this morning to rain and since 6am EST the ice that covered the lake has broken up and disappeared. It looks like any spring or summer day here now. It’s amazing how quickly the new ice can disappear. And it’s a little sad if I’m honest. We really should have ice by now.
I’m slowly managing to get all of the Christmas shopping, wrapping, sending, etc. done. I mailed the three packages that I was responsible for yesterday on my way back from the store. I went in to help my colleague cut some netting for a customer and we took the time to restock the netting, too. When we are only one person in the store, it’s unsettling to spend time down in the basement restocking or gathering together an order for a customer because we can’t see or hear if anybody comes into the shop. We were going to get this done on Saturday when there were two of us in the shop but we had a different mess to straighten up (see my last post!)
Granola – first step
I made a new batch of granola this morning for the women I work with. I may need to make a second batch this afternoon because I’m not sure this will be enough to fill all of the jars. It’s down to the wire and I hope I have enough oatmeal left in my canister! I really am “off” if my baking cabinet isn’t properly stocked.
We had our Covid-19 booster and flu vaccine on Sunday and yesterday I started out just fine but I crashed in the early afternoon. I couldn’t even knit. This is what happens every time I get the shots. BUT I am glad we’re protected going into the holidays. The rest of the day is “free” which means I have time to vacuum my atelier and to double-check my lists. Tomorrow is going to be my last day for shopping and I don’t think I have enough to fill my dear hubby’s stocking.
#112 Children’s Bulky Top Down Pullover in Cascade 128
I’ve been thinking of ways to use up some of my stash and this was, I thought, an easy one. I have three hanks of Cascade 128 in this pretty almost periwinkle blue and I thought I’d make a larger sweater for my granddaughter. BUT when I knit the pattern according to the instructions, I didn’t like the fabric. It was too open. So I frogged back and started again on a US10 needle (seen here) and while I like the fabric better, the gauge is way off so the size is one that will fit her now – and she doesn’t need any more sweaters right now. SO … back to the drawing board. I am going to do this the right way next time and actually knit a swatch. I don’t often knit with bulky weight yarn so I’m not sure of my gauge and I need to figure out what the largest size I can make – I am aiming for a 3-5 year size – in a fabric that I like. I think I’ll try a US10 1/2 and see how the gauge matches up. On the US10 I got 3 stitches to the inch and the 4-5 size should be 28″ around the chest. Mine is more like 19 1/2 … not even the 26″ that the 2-3 size should be. Doing the math, I don’t think I can get 28″ even if I knit the largest size so I need to try a bigger needle. Good grief!
I also found a bulky hood pattern with a fur edge around the face opening. I can just see my little granddaughter in it so I’d like to make a hood that will match but, again, at a larger size so she can wear it next year or the year after. I’m going to have the same issue, I think.
I’ve not felt like doing any other knitting, and particularly not knitting that takes brain power. The projects that I have in progress are the fair isle bag from the class that I took, and a couple of pairs of socks. I really want to cast on a new project but I “should” knit a couple of sweaters to reduce my stash but I am not feeling motivated to do any of them. What’s a knitter to do?! I would also think about knitting a new shawl or another Musselburgh hat … but I can’t decide on yarn. Ha! Ha! So, I’ve been working on my Jelly Roll blanket and the watermelon shorties … both really simple projects. No pressure, right?
I haven’t shared with you that I had the red bump on my right eyelid removed a week and a half ago. It’s gotten larger over the years and, who knew!? We have an eyelid surgeon in Waterville, Maine. My eye doctor referred me to him and he’s surgically removed it. I think it was larger than he expected and he had to make two sutures. It’s never as simple as they say it’s going to be. So, day 1 and 2 it looked great. Day 3 I started to see red “bruising” around the edge of my eyelid. A week after the surgery black was added to the “pretty colors” and now it’s just a rainbow with some of the color collecting at the outside corner of my eye. BUT the bump is gone and the bruising will go away. It’s been an adventure waking up in the morning to see what color it would be. All kidding aside, I’m so grateful that it’s gone and there was no pain at all, and no infection. I hope you’re not squeamish because I’m going to share photos with you. Today the color is fading and maybe I’ll be back to “normal” for Christmas!
Today I think I may decide to knit a gnome or a little Arne & Carlos mini jumper without a number so it can be used as an ornament for a customer/friend. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
We woke up to ice skimming the lake this morning. It was a cool 16 degrees on the thermometer but my weather app said it was 12 degrees. Either way, it was cold. I look forward to the ice at this time of year. It’s like my lakeside neighbor said, “it’s another phase of life”.
I’ve been super busy again this week. I’m not sure if it’s the time of year or if it’s simply my life but I’ve been trying to finish up the shopping for Christmas and we sent our our Christmas cards, I had a Maine Arts Academy school board meeting – it ended up being virtual because of the crazy weather – and have had some “issues” to deal with surrounding being board chair and we’re looking at meeting dates/times, trying not to have a quorum at committee meetings to follow the rules, attending a board goals setting training, and there was some work and “normal” life stuff to do at home. Thank goodness my husband doesn’t mind (much) doing the cooking. Add the full moon into the mixture and my sleep has been wonky as all get out! I’m sleep deprived, overloaded at work (we had a roof leak this week in the afore mentioned crazy weather) and yesterday was my Saturday to work.
On Thursday I arrived at work to find this mess (above). The heavy rain and wind had caused the roof to leak (I think) and the spot in the front corner of the store that had leaked before had been totally soaked and one of the tiles had fallen to the floor but not before hitting the bookshelves below it. And the toys we have for our little visitors. And the books in the shelves, the free patterns, etc. I cleaned it up but being there solo doesn’t mean I could do much more than a basic clean-up. Yesterday I worked with my friend and colleague, Carol, and we got to dismantle everything around the leak and make sure there was no further damage. We had the “class” table covered with books, etc. and moved everything around so that area was free of merchandise until the roof is repaired. It took us the whole day to get it all off the table but the front of the store looks great. AND we were both pooped – the store was busy yesterday, too!
What a mess!
I have gotten to do some knitting this week. I finished my pink Lane’s Island sweater by Lori Versaci. I made this sweater in a slightly off-white colorway and I love it so much that I wanted to make another. Part of what I love is the Berroco Remix Light yarn that I used. The weight is perfect for a woman of a certain age who is usually warm and I loved the sweater design from the time I saw in (in horizontal stripes) on the front page of the Berroco pattern collection book at the shop. I made mine in solid colors, my new one is a size smaller than the first and I like them both. I wore the pink one on Friday without even properly trimming the ends after they were woven in. And it still needs a QBK label!
Lanes Island in Berroco Remix Light
I’ve been working on finishing the pair of shortie socks in King Cole Footsie for my granddaughter’s favorite aunt so they’ll be sock twins. I’m hoping to finish the second sock today. Fingers crossed.
Shortie Socks in King Cole Footsie
I cast on a new project (surprised?!) using some Cascade 128 in my stash that has been taunting me. I am knitting a pullover for my granddaughter in a larger size for a future year. Maybe. I got the knitting to the arm separation and didn’t like the fabric with the needles that were called for in the pattern. SO … I frogged what I’d gotten done and went down to a US9 needle and started over. I like the new fabric much better but the size will not be a 4-5, it’ll be a 2-3, I’m guessing which means she can wear it this year and/or next. I also found a hood pattern that I really want to make for her with “fur” around the face. Maybe she’ll put it on and keep it on? I also have a miscellaneous purl bump in the center front of the sweater (who knows why, but it’s not going to last forever and I can cover it with a bit of embroidery). It’s a quick project and the hood will be too.
I want to knit a larger pair of mittens for my great-nephew in Salem, MA. He loves the ones I made him last year (and they have to be a bit too small) so I bought more of the same yarn at the shop and will make a bigger pair with an i-cord string that can go in his jacket sleeves so they don’t get lost. I also have some stashed Raggi sock yarn that is wanting to be knitted up and will be work socks for my hubby. He works outside all year long and he loves his wool socks. He has quite a collection but can always use more. This is a grey/white marled yarn and I think they’ll have blue cuffs, heels and toes. He is likely to get a ball of yarn in his stocking because I don’t think they’ll be done before that time.
I found a lobster tam, design by Mrs. Knitter, in my cabinet. It’s already in progress and I pulled it out because it’s so close to being finished and the kit has to have been in my ownership for at minimum eight years. I bought it at Over the Rainbow Yarns in Rockland, ME and they went out of business in late 2017. I’ll be working on finishing that this week.
AND I will be winding up some yarn to cast on a new sweater … or vest. There was a pattern release for a DK weight vest this weekend and I really like my vests. BUT I bought enough yarn for another colorwork pullover in two shades of purple wool from the clearance section of the shop and I may cast on. If I can get the yoke finished before Christmas, it will be good mindless knitting over the holiday. I’ve also been dreaming of an Alpine Bloom hat for which I’ve purchased my favorite yarn in a light gray and a deep charcoal gray … Not sure which will end up coming first. There is also a gnome KAL happening that I’d like to join and I’ve got the yarn to make a few knitted animals for Sylvie … if I can part with them. So many patterns and so little time. I’ll be taking off a week or so between Christmas and the New Year so maybe I can indulge myself with some selfish knitting after I get gifts wrapped and ready to give.
It’s a good day for ducks! This morning was gray and cold after a little bit of snow overnight. The biggest news on the lake was the abundance of ducks. There have been a few around but today it seems like we’ve got tons! Flocks! I sure hope they’re enjoying the last days of the lake before the ice starts to come.
I have had a very productive couple of days in my atelier and have finished a fun, project – my Arne & Carlos 2024 MKAL Christmas stocking. The MKAL was written so that participants could knit six rounds a day (very manageable) but I didn’t keep up. So, I ended up knitting several days at a time, twice. BUT this weekend I finished the knitting, knitted the afterthought heel and then blocked it this morning. I love it and I really enjoyed knitting it.
The thing that consistently amazes me about knitting and colorwork, and in particular colorwork knitted in wool, is what happens when the project is blocked. Arne and Carlos recommend steam blocking the stocking with an iron and a wet towel. You place the wet towel on top of the item to be blocked and then gently hold the iron on top of the towel. The steam created by the heat of the iron and the wet towel blocks the wool – it miraculously makes all the little bit wonky stitches all even out.
You can see by the photos (above) that the photo on the left side, pre-blocking is fine but the stitches are a little bigger in some spots than others and the fabric is pucker-y in a few spots. The photo on the right is after blocking and the stitches have evened out the fabric is smoother. I think it’s a gorgeous stocking and I am very tempted to knit the one from 2023 now, too. The only thing that I am sad about is that we don’t have a mantel to hang them on. Blocking, suffice it to say, is an incredible tool!
I also did a little bit of much-delayed Christmas decorating today. I finished the Arne & Carlos Advent mini-jumpers (Advent Calendar 2021: 24 Mini Nordic Jumpers) a while back … in September of 2023. Last year for whatever reason, they never got hung up and used. Well, today I hung them up in our living room. Again, since we don’t have a mantel, I decided to hang them on the antique windows that we have hanging at the bottom of our stairs. They’re fantastic! I even filled them with the rest of the candies from our chocolate advent calendar so that we can finish the advent season using the mini jumpers.
Advent Calendar 2021: 24 Mini Nordic Jumpers by Arne & Carlos
I used the same yarn with the jumpers and the stocking so that the house isn’t in utter color chaos! I love the deep red and green and the creamy white together. And I am tickled pink with them! I think they are very festive, indeed.
We aren’t putting up a “real” Christmas tree again this year. We’re getting to be old bah-humbuggers I guess because we aren’t interested in all the work bringing out the ornaments and lights, decorating and then having to take them all off and put it all back away shortly thereafter. We were away for Thanksgiving and we’re not hosting Christmas again this year so when we finally do pull out the ornaments again, it’ll be like Christmas. LOL. We do have a small, tabletop-size, tree that lives in our stairway and we’re lighting it up for the season. We also have my Arne & Carlos star outside on the side of the boathouse and we’ve bought another two strings of colored lights for the evergreen that we planted out by the driveway when we re-built the house nine years ago. That’s enough festivity for us and we both get to spend more time doing things we actually enjoy doing.
That’s my update for today. I was so impressed with the blocked stocking that I had to sit down and write about it “right now” before I got onto another tangent … and I’ve sewn in my two sleeves, sewed up the pockets, woven in a lot of the ends and now I am going to go seam the sleeves and sides of my pink Lane’s Island pullover … with any luck I can wear it to work on Friday or Saturday because I’ll have to block it, right?
We woke to snow and a thin span of ice next to the shore around (at least out part of) the lake. The first sight of ice this year. It’s been really cold lately. But by 9:00am or so, the ice was gone and the snow had stopped. My DH ran the snowblower for the first time and cleaned up so we could get out … later this week it’s supposed to be warming to 50 and rain is in the forecast. It’ll either make the snow all go away again or it’ll turn everything to ice.
I have finished the colorwork on the Arne & Carlos 2024 MKAL. Today I completed the ribbing as well and picked up the stitches so that I can finish the heel. I’m going to rewatch how Arne does the heel decreases before I attempt it. The afterthought heels are not something I’m terribly familiar with as I prefer a heel flap and gusset on my socks … but I”ll do it their way this time and, since it’s a Christmas stocking, it’ll be quick and easy. I hope. I am excited to get the knitting done so I can steam block it and see it in all its splendor. Blocking colorwork, especially when it’s made with 100% wool, is such a miracle. Once the heel is done, I only need to make an icord loop to hang it with.
I’ve been busy ticking items off my ever lengthening list. Between Christmas and knitting this is a busy time of the year. I finished my last two Christmas knits and one is blocked, dry and labeled. The second one is nearly dry and the label is written. This may be the earliest I’ve ever been done knitting for Christmas. OR I’ve forgotten something. Ha! Ha!
I’ve got a pair of shorty socks on the needles for my daughter. They’ll match our granddaughter’s Advent socks. Should be fun for a few laughs at Christmas time. The first sock is finished and the second one is started, I’m about half-way through the heel flap so it won’t take too long to finish. Friday I seamed the shoulders of my pink Lane’s Island and the plan is to pick up stitches around the neck this evening and get the neck done. All I will have left is to sew in the sleeves and seam the sides. I am excited to wear it!
Our Christmas card list gets shorter each year but they’re all addressed and stamped and ready to go to the post office tomorrow. I’ve also done our laundry for the week … and then some and have been washing/re-blocking DH’s hats and fingerless mitts. Whew! They needed it. Changed a bed, bought some holiday-ish plants, and I think I’ve ordered all the Christmas gifts I need. Even my DH’s gift is ordered and I sure hope it arrives before Christmas. I’m crossing my fingers and toes.
We both got into the dermatologist last week after five years. I checked out and he had some pre-cancerous bits removed from his head. Bald heads are prey for the sunshine and my DH’s bald head seldom sees sunblock. He’s been lucky so far. And I’ve had the little red bump removed from my eyelid after decades of living with it. It was large enough to require two tiny sutures and they’ve caused some bruising but it feels good, no pain at all, and I hope the little bit of swelling and the redness will go away soon. The sutures will dissolve. So, we’re good to head into the holidays having done all we can to make sure we remain healthy and praying that the New Year is gentle with us all.
Queen Bee Knits 