Queen Bee Knits

Knitting, Living, Loving, Baking, Tips, Tools and Idle Chatter

Another Rainy Day

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

I went out this morning to take my “photo of the day” when there was a loon just sitting out in the lake … and just as I snapped this photo, it dove and it was too damp and chilly to wait for it to pop up again. Today is a good day for loons. Rainy and gray and damp but a well filler (we live on a well and are already in drought conditions) so I won’t complain … I have given myself permission, after a few crazy busy weeks, to do “nothing”. That generally means doing only what I feel like doing which today may be hanging in my atelier watching something on TV and knitting. I have another two weeks before life returns to “normal” (the boss is out of town for a month, adding to all of our work routines) and I need to stay healthy to keep up with the pace. I’m not usually at the store three or more days a week. None of us are. But when she leaves, it’s either we step up or … I’m not sure what would happen because we always step up.

This is the principal at Maine Arts Academy yesterday letting some of the artists/students add some bling to his face paint. This school, where I’m happily a volunteer and board member, is wonderful. I love being associated with it and truly believe it to be an example for public schools everywhere. Yesterday we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Maine Arts Academy with a brunch, awards, performances, and heart. It’s been a year in the making but the event went off without a hitch and it was fantastic from start to finish. I think I can speak for all of us that we are so glad to have it in the rear view mirror – all we have left is a review and thank you notes.

I have been having a challenging knitting week. It seems like everything I knit I un-knit. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m inattentive or what but I’ve been making all the silly mistakes. Knitting sure can humble you.

I’m working my way down the foot of my Escher sock #2. Somewhere along the line, I changed from using DPNs to a nine-inch circular needle and guess what? The gauge of the sock has also changed. So, having completed the same number of pattern repeats, I am still an inch shy of where the toe decreases should go. (The circumference is a bit narrower, too.) I like the fabric of the second sock better so I am going to finish it to be the correct foot length and I probably have enough yarn to make a third sock if I need to. I am also going to go ahead and knit the heel of the first sock (probably before finishing the second sock’s foot) and see how it fits. When they say that it makes a difference what needles you use, they’re so right! I certainly know better but I really did want to try the 9″ circs and when I happened to be at a yarn shop that had one, I jumped. Oh well.

I’ve also been working (and reworking) on my Hansel Hap. I stopped paying attention somewhere along the line and worked well past a row that needed to be a “lace” row and it would have affected the pattern had I ignored it and gone on. So, I frogged back a few rows and then re-knit. At the same time, I ran out of one colorway that I was using … most of the way across the second row … and had to adjust that, too. I tried to just change colors but that didn’t work and I ended up frogging back and changing the colorway entirely. Thank goodness the pattern is somewhat flexible with the color order. I am one row from doing the edge border and then it will be done … just in time for summer?

I’ve also been working on my roommate’s Vanilla Sweater and have finished the body and started the second sleeve. I was waiting for her measurement specifications before finishing the lengths of the sleeves and the body but now I’m on the way. I added a couple of extra rows of seed stitch to the split hem in hopes that it won’t roll up like mine does. The color is really lovely and the yarn is so wonderful to work with. I love working with wooly wool and spit-splicing the yarn so there are not too many ends to weave in at the end. This should be finished in the next week or so and blocked and sent off to Connecticut.

I’ve finished the two little purple crowns for my granddaughter and her little friend, Madeline. They’ll be sent off to NYC this week (or if I can figure out a way to get down there, I’ll carry them down.) I’ve also finished a gnome MKAL (mystery knit along). Sarah Schira is brilliant and I always enjoy her gnome patterns. This one is no exception. I am collecting quite a few of her patterns and have knitted a bunch including one in worsted weight so he’s HUGE! I have several that I have never knitted and this reminds me to knit more of them. Maybe I need to collect them all from my atelier and take them outside some day to photograph! Anyway, this one was another fun knit and I do love her – her name is Gneddy, according to the designer. I finally went out and bought a big bag of the poly pellets to weigh their little bodies down so they don’t tip over. I have put beans in before but I’m worried that the organic origin of beans may be problematic over the years. Isn’t she cute?

The day lilies are about six-inches tall now and the forsythia bush is still waiting to bloom. I did a little walk around the yard to see how it was going and the perennials are coming back and greening up. I discovered that our forsythia has sprouted a second plant that we’ll dig out and move after they bloom. They should bloom soon. Meanwhile, the Maple trees have popped and the leaves are opening. Spring is here in Maine and we are so grateful for longer days. (The full moon the other night sure did throw off my sleep! It was a powerful moon, big and bright, it lit up the whole inside of our bedroom!)

The windows need washing (again!)

Gone knitting.

Sunday. A Day to Rest

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

It’s rainy and gray today and I am utterly grateful for the opportunity to rest after a busy week (and ahead of another busy week!) We have put the hummingbird feeders out because we’ve heard that there are hummers in Maine. We hope ours will be here soon and don’t want to miss out on attracting them as they provide hundreds of hours of entertainment to us as we sit on our porch. After their long trip north, they’ll need lots of nourishment and our flowers, needless to say, aren’t blooming yet.

I’ve been busy at work; it was my Saturday to work this week. I’ve had a bunch of Maine Arts Academy meetings and a board meeting this week and I’m planning a workshop at the store for next Saturday. It’s also LYS Day next Saturday so I’ll be working and getting ready for it this week with “the girls” (LOL).

I’ve joined the Beary Cozy Gnome Mystery KAL which started on April 15th. I’m doing the KAL with my friend/co-worker Carol and we cast on at the shop together on Thursday. Mystery piece #1 was an early i-cord bobble which was interesting and challenging but Sarah, the designer, is so adept at providing videos and clear, concise directions, so Carol and I got through that. I don’t want to spoil the mystery part of the KAL so I’ll send you to my Ravelry project page to see the “parts” that we’ve done thus far. Piece #2 was two i-cord “arms” and piece #3 was a mystery pocket. Very clever, indeed. I’m looking forward to the third clue on Tuesday.

I’ve been working along on my three projects. Working to get them finished because I’m ready to cast on something new (of course, LOL). Here’s the update:

Vanilla Sweater in Rauma Finull Garn is coming along. My college roommate has given me measurements for the length of her pullover and the length she wants for her sleeves. While I was waiting for the measurements, I measured mine as a guide and made some suggestions. I’ll make the body 13″ total with a few more rounds of the border stitches so it doesn’t roll like mine does and the sleeves will be 15-16″ total. I’m getting very close. I’ve completed the sleeve decreases so I just need to knit to the desired length less one inch and then knit the ribbing. I’ll finish the body next and then do the last sleeve. Collar last and then block and off it’ll go. I hope she loves hers as much as I love mine.

Hansel Hap Half is also moving right along. I am loving the colors I chose which makes me happy. The Hansel Hap Half comes in three sizes and I’m making the medium sized one (that’s what I had enough MC yarn for … or I thought I had) and the size seems like it’ll be a good one, too. I really look forward to putting this shawl around my shoulders on a crisp spring morning or evening. I don’t have far to go before the lace edge border.

And last but not least, the Escher socks are coming along. I have found a 9″ circular US2 needle and am working on them, trying to decide if I love them or hate them. There are good and bad to both the circs and the DPNs and I’m not sure which needles I prefer … Yet. I’ve gotten to the colorwork leg on the second sock and would love to get to the heel this weekend. I hope I have time but I’m not going to stress myself out. Next weekend will be ok too. They’re really pretty, though. I sure do hope they’ll fit when they’re done. I have to knit the heel to try them on and I decided to knit both heels when the socks are finished. That may have been a mistake – but time will tell.

I tried some grown up press on nails this week. I tried the Impress brand from Walgreens, a french manicure look. I had no trouble applying them … well, one or two may not have been perfectly placed but they’re ok. If I hold them at arms length, they look pretty good. BUT they’re pushing back on my cuticles and that’s not comfortable and I can’t scratch my head. I think I’ll be taking them off this weekend. Maybe I’ll do it again for an event like the MeAA 10 Year Celebration on May 2 when I have to speak.

Geez, my hands are starting to look their age! Anyway, they’re fun but not what I think I want to have all the time. I like my plain old short nails for daily use.

I’m reading Theo Of Golden by Allen Levi and I am really sad to be nearing the end. I think I have another chapter, maybe two, to read. It’s a lovely story about art and giving and receiving and seeing and being seen. It really is a heartwarming story about welcoming a stranger and how he changes the lives of others by listening and encouraging. I highly recommend!

One of my students made S’mores Brownies and brought some to class on Friday. I think I need to make a batch today for my hubby. He’s out of everything sweet and granola, too. Lucky that my friends bring sweet treats to knit with me and think of him. It may be a blueberry muffin day, too. We’ll see how much energy I have … or it may be tomorrow. Ha! Ha!

Gone knitting.

FO and a new WIP

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

No fooling here today. I’ve been working on my spring cleaning and making slow but sure progress. It may take me a full year to get this house cleaned but I decided one cabinet or two at a time and that makes the bites more manageable. One or two days of all-day cleaning sounds horrible. I’ve gotten three filthy cabinets cleaned and have a few things to get rid of and that’s progress. Today I even found my dough hook that I thought I’d left behind when I moved to Florida in 2007. Woo! Hoo! I can make bread now. (Like that’s stopped me before.)

And I have a new FO. I finished my I’m so Basic Socks. The pattern is free on Ravelry. This is one of Summer Lee’s patterns. I also own both of her books and have had fun reading them. I’ve made a couple of other pairs of her socks, too. This pair used a sock set from Frabjous Fibers that I picked up on sale at the shop. I liked working with it well enough but I wasn’t wowed by the yarn. And the socks came out nicely. I followed the “large” sock size (72 sts) and they fit a little more loosely than I’d like. I actually like a bit of negative ease on my socks (I like them pretty tight on my foot) and these don’t have enough. Next time, I’ll cast on for the medium size … well, I’ve already done that.

Upon finishing the I’m so Basic socks, I cast on the Escher Socks, also by Summer Lee. These are a stranded colorwork pair of socks in her Sock Obsession book. I am knitting the medium size and using stashed yarn. The cream color is deeply stashed merino and nylon blend that I bought a bag of when I thought I might like to hand-dye yarn. The contrasting color is a ball of Crazy Zauberball that I’ve had in stash forever, too. It may be from one of the yarn selection bags that I got when I did the Year of Techniques classes with Jen Arnall-Kulliford back in the day. I took a photo of the outside and the inside. They’re really potato chippy (I can’t put them down! As a result, my left arm/hand is not feeling great and I’m trying to give it some rest, massaging the muscles and remembering to stop and stretch. It’s better today but I am being very careful.

I’m going to cast on my daughter’s sweater, too. Maybe today or this weekend. I am also signed up for two KALs. One is the Wooly Thistle Shawl KAL and the other is the Beary Cozy Gnome Mystery KAL. I’ve got a bag of fingering weight yarn left overs, bits and bobs, that I will share with my co-worker friend, Carol, who’s doing it with me. Care to join, dear readers? It starts April 15th, if memory serves.

I’ve decided that for the shawl KAL I’ll be knitting Gudrun Johnson’s Hansel Hap (half) which I have enough Jamieson/Jamieson & Smith yarn for in my stash (notice a theme?) I am going to have to fudge the main color just a bit. I have three 25 gram balls of a light gray for the MC/center section and I will need more of the MC for the border, too, and I found a different light gray that’s one of the natural colors. For my contrasting colors I’m using two blues, a white and teal/turquoise.

Gone knitting!

Hello, SUNday!

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

This photo is from yesterday although this morning looked very similar – I was just too lazy to get out of bed in time to take a photo. So, this one will have to suffice. Today we have a gorgeous blue bird sky and I am loving the sunshine! Sunrise is happening way down to the “left of center” again as the days lengthen and the air warms just a little bit. My bulbs are starting to dare to peek out; we are all unsure of whether winter is really done or just planning another April Fools Day prank. Time will tell.

We had a great day yesterday after a very busy week (again!) We went to the No Kings rally in Waterville, Maine where about 1,000 like-minded people who care about our democracy gathered to voice our concerns about where our government is taking this country … fewer rights for women, less healthcare, a war in Iran that wasn’t approved by congress, education dollars stripped from schools, prices of homes, gas, groceries going up while jobs seem to be going down. As an older person, I can’t stay home any longer. It was time for me to take the time and make the effort to be seen and heard. My hubby took a photo of me in my red hat and with my sign – made in part because my granddaughter loves Mary Poppins right now and it takes place in the era of suffragettes when women were not allowed to vote. And a sign that a friend sent to me from her rally in Pennsylvania, I think. We were thanking our lucky stars that the sun was shining because when the wind blew it was cold!

After the rally, I took off in one direction and my hubby took off in another. He went home and I went to Augusta to the spring concert at Maine Arts Academy where the Junior High and High School choirs and the High School Strings Ensemble put on a fabulous show. The performances were all based on a hope theme. Several students read original poetry and many songs were sung. It was a great way to end a very good day.

I’ve been working away on several knitting projects and planning a workshop at the store in mid-April. I wrote a newsletter for the yarn shop last week and will write one or two more before I hang up my newsletter writing days. I have too many other fun things that I want to spend my time on and maybe someone will pick up the account and continue or not. I also have plans with at least one of my friends at work to knit the next gnome KAL so I’ve been pulling out my yarn scraps in preparation for some gnome knitting. (There are so many I want to knit!) This year it’s a Beary Cozy Gnome and the first clue is April 15!

On Friday I worked almost exclusively on my socks. It’s time to make a commitment to them and get them off the needles. I got the leg finished, knitted the heel flap and turned the heel and started to decrease the gusset stitches … I’m now down to my original number of stitches and am knitting the foot … phew! That’s a lot of stitches! I hope to get them finished this week and cast on another pair. One of my students is knitting through Summer Lee’s sock books and I love the one she’s making with a Crazy Zauberball and a ball of cream colored yarn … I have both in my stash. Next socks? Time will tell.

On Thursday we had a special delivery at work. Our work friend, Bette, had her husband deliver the best surprise ever!!!! Chickens knitted for us! Aren’t they wonderful? Carol and I were so surprised and thrilled with this particularly wonderful, generous addition to our collections. Such fun.

I’ve also been working away on my college roommate’s Vanilla Sweater. I’m getting close to separating the sleeves from the body of the pullover so right now it’s just a mess of stitches crammed on a circular needle that probably could be a little bit longer but as soon as the sleeve stitches come off, it’ll be just right again. I’m using Rauma Finull Garn again for this project because I really like the warmth of the wooly wool and sport/dk weight of the yarn. The one that I made for me is perfect to wear indoors. Worsted weight sweaters are really too warm for me these days. I love the colorway she chose, too. As soon as the body is separated, I’ll cast on the sweater for my younger daughter, too. So much knitting and not enough time. LOL

I have so many plans for future knits. I had bought a couple of hanks of Emma’s Yarn in a deep teal-y blue for a shawl that I ended up frogging because the garter stitch was too boring. I loved the elegant look of the shawl but at that moment in time, it wasn’t something I was getting any joy out of so I frogged it and I’m going to use it to knit a tee. I have two options I’m considering. I have some black linen (or linen cotton blend) yarn with which I want to make a tee or a sleeveless top. Again, there are a couple that I’m considering for this project, too. The Broadgate Tabbard needs to be on my needles. I have some gorgeous green linen for that and it’s a perfect spring color. It does take some brain power and will be a knit it at home in my little bubble project … at least in the beginning.

In early April I’m heading to Quebec City with a knitting friend. The main purpose of our trip is to meet Arne and Carlos which will be happening on the 9th. We have tickets to an event with them at the Frontenac. We’ll be touring the Frontenac earlier that day and will wander the city as well, dining and shopping. We’ll be visiting the yarn shop that is hosting the event on our way out of the city after the event. I’m excited to see another Canadian city and they say it’s a little bit like visiting Europe. I want to bring an A&C project with me and it may end up being my wall hanging that I did with them during the pandemic. I’ve not shared it here for a long time (if ever) … it hangs above the tv on my studio wall and I love it. Despite the hardships that were caused by the pandemic and the daily trauma of deaths and isolation, the wall hanging reminds me that people can be kind and caring and that community is so important. My knitting community kept me sane! You can see my wall hanging on my Ravelry project page.

So, dear readers (wordpress says there are 106 of you subscribed), with that I’m going to close and wish you well in every stitch!

Gone knitting.