Queen Bee Knits

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

Whew!

Posted on June 6, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

Today I’m heading off to Compton, Quebec for A Needle in a Haystack, a fibery event in a field next to a fromagerie. That’s about all I know … except that now I know they have a rainy day plan and I’m grateful for that.

Meanwhile this week has been super busy at home and at work. The store has been receiving new boxes of yarn and we are trying to find places for it to live. Carol and I spent the day Thursday reworking the sock yarns to add in a dozen new colors of Cascade Heritage and Heritage 6. When we were done, it was gorgeous and organized in weight-order (fingering … sport … worsted). My classes yesterday, with the exception of the morning class, were smaller than “normal” but it was a pretty day and the weather reports for the weekend aren’t promising. I’d have been planting my vegetable garden if I’d had my druthers.

I’m making such good progress on my tabard! I have reached the twenty-one inches for the front piece and now have to work the shoulders. I am not going to knit a big turtleneck, I will instead knit an inch or so of ribbing and call it done. SO … I think I’m going to start the back and get it to the neck shaping, if there is any, and then finish the front. I still love the green and I’d have said I wasn’t a green girl. I can’t wait to wear this “vest” and I hope I love it as much as I think I will. (I’m also eager to block it out to see how the size changes. I may put the front on holders and wet block it to see what happens. Stay tuned.

Broadgate Tabard in gorgeous green linen

And I have a FO! I have finished my Salty Air Tee by Samantha Guerin. I adore the color and the yarn that I used from Rachel at On the Round in Thomaston, Maine. The Nimble Sock yarn is so round and squishy and the colorway, Harbor, is the perfect grayish-blue. The size I chose is the perfect size and I am thrilled with the final product. I wore it yesterday and it was very comfortable, not to warm, draped well and fit was just what I had anticipated. The pattern was well-written and a relatively quick knit considering it’s a fingering weight yarn on US4 needles. I will wear this shirt a lot!

Salty Air Tee in On the Round Nimble Sock

So, that leaves a few projects on the needles and I’m planning to take a few with me to Canada today. I have my Easy Folded Poncho (miles of stockinette stitch), and I cast on a skirt for my granddaughter yesterday that is also a bunch of stockinette … but with increases every six rounds. She’s going to love it – it’s a deep purple with stelina sparkles and it will twirl! Pattern is Olive’s Swing Skirt and I’m using Plymouth’s Electra Light, a stashed yarn, that was on the clearance rack at the store.

I’ve also started a new pair of socks, shortie socks, from the Summer Lee Sock Project book. I’m playing with carrying the contrasting color on these socks so I don’t have a bunch of ends to weave in and so far, so good. This pattern uses an afterthought heel … I’ll report my thoughts when they’re done and I can wear them. I still like my heel flap and gusset best of all but I’ll keep an open mind.

My daughter’s Levitate Wrap sweater/cardigan is still in time out awaiting a try-on. I had hoped that I would be able to squeeze in a trip to New York City before our summer family guests arrive on the 19th but I’m not sure it’s going to work out for me. Boo. I will see some of the kids starting in mid-June and in early July and I hope that I can get into New York to see the other kids, too. It feels like it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen them. Not sure what that means for this “old” person who is “semi-retired” but I have been so busy and my calendar is way too full. Even for sitting on the porch and enjoying the hummingbirds!

I have been enjoying the yard and watching the flowers grow. The lilacs are gorgeous! I brought some indoors and they only last a few days before wilting. I don’t know how to make them stay beautiful … they make the whole downstairs smell wonderful! Our first iris are blooming and the day lilies are coming right along. They typically bloom around July 4th.

And I baked! I made my hubby’s birthday requested scones. I make the Levain Bakery recipe and they are delicious every time. We love, love, love them and because they have oatmeal in them, they’re heathy, right? I also made him a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. I’ve frozen half of the cake, cut in pieces, and the leftover frosting. He’s a happy man. This was making up for his birthday cake out of a box. Horrors! (Not really, it was delicious!)

I’ve “wasted” a lot of time writing this and I have to focus on packing my knitting and being ready to go … gone knitting!

Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on May 23, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

This photo is from yesterday … sorry, I’m too lazy to go back downstairs and then come back upstairs and the view today looks essentially the same. The swim float for the campground next door is in the water and that means summer is on the horizon. We’ve had a couple of hot summery days and now we’re getting more springlike weather again. Welcome to New England where they say if you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes. It always changes.

With the weather changes, though, the lilacs are blooming and the daffodils are fading. The grass is almost ready to be mowed. We do try to adhere to “No Mow May” in order for the early bugs and birds to have some natural food sources but the grass is getting tall and the side yard is covered, at least half of it, with dandelions. My father would have been out there deadheading them so they don’t spread. I think they’re pretty.

The little cardigan, In Threes, is finished. I bought buttons on Thursday and sewed them on after work. I just need a tag and to trim the yarn ends (I never trim the woven in ends until the sweater/garment is blocked just in case.) I’ll get those things done today and box them up to be sent to Atlanta. Baby Elise was born two weeks early and is a bitty little beauty. She won’t be wearing this sweater for a little while. (And it’s a bit warm for a sweater in Atlanta.) I am really pleased with this pattern and with the yarn I chose. It’s so soft and the colorway is lovely. It’ll be a total surprise to the mom and dad. Tee. Hee.

I made a lot of progress yesterday at work and last night. I got the yoke of my Salty Air Tee finished. I have four rounds to go in stockinette stitch before I separate the sleeves from the body. After that, I have inches and inches of stockinette stitch which will be perfect for plane knitting on the way to Arizona later this week for my brother’s 70th celebration. I am so excited to be with my family!

I also worked on my second sock for my hubby in the new Arne & Carlos sock yarn, Socks and More. I really like the new base, as I have said before and I’m getting more used to knitting socks with a nine-inch circular needle. I am working hard to find the blessings in these needles. I do believe that my tension while doing colorwork on the Escher socks, the second sock, was better than with my DPNs, the first sock. I have since washed the socks and I haven’t yet checked to see how they look now. I did find a couple of sweaters that I have to sew tags into – the back of the sweaters are marked with a stitch marker. Ha ha! That’ll happen today.

My goal is to do some knitting on the porch. I hope the breeze is manageable. At least today the sun is out and it’s pleasant temps. The rest of the weekend sounds less so.

Gone knitting.

A Perfect Saturday

Posted on May 9, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

It’s been such a good day today. Despite the fact that it’s now nearly 7pm, I thought I’d write about the day and bring you up to date on my knitting. I’m making a lot of progress and it feels really good.

The sun was out this morning and, although it was a bit too chilly to be out on the porch, it was sunny and clear. I always feel better when the sun is out! Today was one of those days. We had our coffee and decided to have lunch at a favorite street-side food truck spot, Ken’s. Really yummy fried seafood. I had scallops and he had clams. We both had french fries. Yum. I stopped by the bank on the way to lunch to make a deposit for work and we may have stopped for me to have some ice cream on the way home. I shouldn’t have but it was way too tempting.

We spent the next hour or two in one of our gardens. We call it “Helen’s Garden” because it was the only spot Ned’s mom seemed to have planted any plants. It had been taken over by ground cover and weeds before we built the new house but we did find some Lily of the Valley there. We’ve continued to try to re-grow Lily of the Valley with no success. Anyway, today we cleaned up the new garden, cut back the hydrangeas, cleaned out the leaves and weeds. It needs some mulch but we didn’t have any today and I didn’t take any new photos. Tomorrow.

I ordered some cedar-based tick and bug stuff (to keep them away) and it’s been in the front hall for days. I spread some of the granular stuff today all around the door yard and the corner of the house where we see little “sugar ants”. With a little time, we’ll see if this stuff deters them. Fingers crossed. AND I finally got the few plants that I had bought for our school event into a pot at the front door. Thankfully, after I got cleaned up, the weather turned and we had some good wind and rain and now all the plants are watered in and the bug stuff, too.

I’ve been knitting away like a crazy woman. It wasn’t very busy at work on Thursday so I had a chance to work on my new pair of socks. I’m knitting a plain vanilla pair based on my Yankee Knitter pattern and they’re for my hubby. I’m loving the new Arne & Carlos Socks and More yarn base. It’s softer than the Regia used to be and I am loving the colorway I chose. He’ll love the socks. I’m knitting again with the 9″ circulars and I’m going to try another forethought heel. I have to search in my (enormous) bits and bobs collection of fingering weight yarns for some heel and toe yarn. (More shall be revealed.) I’m just about at the heel now!

Today I’ve been working on the newest sweater on the needles. This is the one for my younger daughter. It’s the Levitate Wrap and I’m knitting it in Patagonia Organic Merino and Berroco Aerial both in a charcoal gray. Needless to say, it’s one that I’ll have to knit in good lighting. Ha! Ha! I was working my way down the right shoulder and front when my iPad died so I took a break (it was a sign, right?) and started a dishcloth as a palate cleanser. I’ll finish this one tonight.

Yesterday and the evening before I worked on my Hansel Hap Half. I am so happy with this shawl! I can’t think of the last time I enjoyed a project as much as this one … maybe because I’ve wanted to knit it for a long time? Anyway, it’s making me very happy. I am more than half-way around the edge with the border and it’ll be done before I know it. Maybe this week. I am really happy with the colors I chose and also happy that I am using some stashed yarn.

The yard is blooming like crazy! Buds are budding and my (our) daffodils are in bloom. They are such happy flowers. And we have one tulip. Only one. Quite a disappointment, frankly. We did have a bunch of them but the voles must have gotten them. I’d love to plant some more but I’ll have to figure out how to keep them safe from the critters.

And we’ve had some super special bird visitors. Our hummingbirds are back – they arrived Tuesday. I’ve seen a tiny female and a male. My long-necked female isn’t here yet. I hope she comes back again. And we’ve had a Scarlet Tanager and, today, a Baltimore Oriole. We both enjoy sitting in the back yard watching the birds and when the “special” ones arrive, ones that we don’t see often, it’s a special treat. Of course, we have the loons back and they’ve been visiting, too. Apologies for the crummy photo of the Scarlet Tanager … they’re quite timid and I didn’t dare step too far out of the front door.

So, it’s been a good day and we’re having a light supper tonight after our heavy lunch. Of course there’s ice cream for dessert! And tomorrow we have another day and it’s Mother’s Day so I hope I’ll get to speak to all the kids and the grandkids. At least two of our kids have planned dates to come for visits for which we are very grateful. We hope they’ll all get here before the snow flies again.

Gone knitting.

WIP Wednesday (and no FOs)

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

It’s the dreaded “tax day” today in the US. Ours are done and dusted and it’s a huge relief to get it off my to-do list every year. I totally stress about it every year (and we have a pretty simple tax return.) Today’s weather is damp and gray. We had more rain yesterday afternoon and I am welcoming every single drop as a prescription against wildfires. We heard about a wildfire in Naples, FL (my hubby’s hometown) on the news last night and I texted dear friends who we believed to be too close to the fire and we were right. They’ve got their bags packed and by the door in case they’re told to evacuate. This is a photo from their deck … the smoke from that fire is way too close.

I’m sending them thoughts for strong winds and lots of rain to protect their beautiful home. And I”m feeling incredibly grateful for our safety today.

I just wanted to update my progress on my WIPs since it’s Wednesday and all. LOL. Over the weekend and earlier this week, I’ve been working away on my three WIPs. I am committed to getting them finished in a reasonable time frame. I know I have a sweater to knit for my daughter and another one that I’ve committed as a donation to a silent auction at the Maine Arts Academy 10th Anniversary Celebration coming up on May 2. I also have a list of things I want to make … I will never be bored or lack a list of to-be-knitted items.

Yesterday I really worked away at my Vanilla Sweater for my college roommate. I believe I am close to being able to split the hem and finish the body. We chatted last night about lengths and she has measured a couple of sweaters she loves and I’ll knit a total of 13 inches for the length including the hem. Sleeves will be 15-16″. Now I can finish! It’s exciting when I get to this point and this sweater is so great for knitting while socializing because there’s really nothing to count. It’s just knit, knit, knit. Wonderful. And don’t you love the newest point protectors/stitch stoppers that I found at Les Laines Biscotte in Quebec City? A unicorn and Piglet! I’ve officially flipped for these little tools.

I also worked on my Hansel Hap Half and I have to say I am loving this pattern, It uses just enough brain power to pull me in completely and yet it’s not difficult. I’ve used all of the tools available for me – stitch markers at each lace pattern repeat on the border and spit splicing ten or so stitches before the end of the row before the color change (although I seldom remember this before I finish the row!) I am very happy with my color palette, too. If I had my druthers, I’d probably just work on this because it’s very satisfying right now. BUT …

I also have my Escher Socks (here showing you the inside). I’ve finished the first sock to the toe but I’m saving the heel and will knit both heels when I have finished both socks. I started the second sock and got the ribbing done. I’ve decided to try using a 9″ circular needle and I grabbed a US2 9″ circ by Knit Pro because we were out of the Chiao Goo at the store. I didn’t like it at all because the “circle” was just a little bit too tight. I bought a Chiao Goo US1 (oops meant to get a US2) in Quebec and I compared the two needles before I returned the Knit Pro …

Knit Pro 9″ circular vs. Chiao Goo 9″ circular

As you can see, there is a reason why! The Knit Pro tip is quite a bit longer when you’re considering the 9″ circle is finite. So, I’ll wait for the 9″ Chiao Goo to come in before moving along (or knit with my DPNs until then.) Anyway, the socks are quite pretty and I am excited to get them moving along so I can wear them and so I can start another pair.

In other news, my son broke his ankle/leg playing soccer this past weekend. He said he heard a pop and had a goose egg on his ankle, just above the ankle bone, almost immediately. He went to the doctor on Monday and it’s fractured so he’s off his feet and the soccer pitch for a bit. He’s lucky to have Doctor Gus always at his side.

It’s going to be a busy day today so I’ll sign off here. Hope tax day treats you well. Wishing you peace!

Gone knitting.

Monday, Monday

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

Whew! All day yesterday it snowed. Tiny flakes for an entire day … and left us with about 4 inches of snow. Hopefully the last of the season. You won’t hear me complaining, though, because the snow means that we’ll have water in our well this year. I’m so grateful to have the snow because it means we’ve had a winter and spring will come (even though it’s technically spring already.)

Yesterday was the perfect excuse to spend the day in my atelier knitting! And, for the most part, that’s what I did. I wrote a newsletter for the store (work) in the early morning and had breakfast with my hubby but the rest of the day was dedicated to being in my studio – catching up with calendar details, bill paying, flight booking and knitting.

I spent the majority of the day working on these little (and I mean little) overalls. These are part of a gift that I’m knitting for a very special person and glad that I am nearing completion. Today the overalls are blocked and drying, pocket and all. I’ll begin (and hope to finish) a little shirt to go under them today. Once this project is done, I’ll start another one. I just haven’t decided if I want to finish another UFO or start a new one. You’ll find out when I do!

I also started a sample hat in brioche stitch that I am considering for a workshop at the store. I spoke to the boss about it on Saturday and she’s good with me doing it (and just about anything.) I had a very successful stranded colorwork workshop and she’d really like me to repeat that but I’d rather do something different and I think a 2-hour, one time workshop based on a technique like Brioche will be a good one. This particular hat is a 2-color brioche but the technique is basically the same whether it’s one- or two-color.

Two-Color Brioche hat for a future workshop

My Friday morning class is interested in doing the colorwork cup cosy that I taught in the other workshop so I will offer it to them and will maybe do it again one day but … it’s time to learn something new, right? I’m knitting for the first time with Malabrigo Worsted and it’s lovely to work with and very soft. I’m not sure how the hat will fit me but it’s really meant to be a sample for the workshop and the store, too. Hats are such a manageable project and a good palate cleanser, too.

Today I need to get a few tasks done around the house … bake up a batch of banana bread (in muffin form) to use up the overripe bananas and the laundry is overflowing once again. While the hubby digs us out, hopefully for the last time, I’ll be in the kitchen. I may also roast a bunch of veggies for lunches this week. I love roasted veggies with some couscous or soba noodles for lunch – hot or cold depending on the day. Tomorrow I’m back to meetings and preparation for a big event at Maine Arts Academy in early May … my role as board chair is nearly over and it’ll be fun to hand the reins to another board member and become “past chair!”

Gone knitting.

Home Again, Home Again

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

Not a particularly beautiful welcome home weather-wise but it was so good to sleep in my own bed despite my snoring partner. LOL. I had a wonderful family visit in New York City, got to spend time with all of my kids and their significant others; the dogs, too! Nothing feeds this mama’s soul more than spending time with my adult children – they’re really terrific people and I’m so proud to be their mother! And now I’m home and this is a three-day work week for me as it’s my Saturday to work so I’m trying to get myself cleaned up and organized but also save some of my energy for the end of the week.

While I was gone, I finished my Thistle on the Moor vest. I am so pleased with the finished project! I knit this vest in Berroco Lanas Light, a sport weight 100% wool yarn with really great yardage (383 yards to 100 grams). I used only two balls for the fourth size thus making this project very affordable at $23.00. I will have to wear this to work on Thursday to try it out! The vest pre-blocking had some really wonky stitches but it’s gorgeous after blocking and it feels gloriously soft for a 100% wool that’s neither super wash nor merino!

Thistle on the Moor Vest on the blocking mat

I have also made a couple of purchases while I was away (or just before I left). I bought a sweater worth of Rauma Garn Finull in a beautiful heathered lavender for my second Vanilla Sweater by Corrine Tomlinson. This time it’s for my college roommate. I am excited to knit another version of this sweater and I love the colorway she chose.

I also ordered a total splurge yarn from Tribe Life Yarns in the UK. It’s a hand-dyed Art Yarns silk mohair with which I’ll be making a pullover that their Millie designed and it was free with the purchase of the yarn. The yarn was incredibly expensive, even for me, a self-proclaimed yarn snob, but I hope it’ll be a gorgeous sweater and a joy to wear. And I loved their packaging! The yarn is a creamy-white, blue, and shades of brown, beige, gray-ish and almost peachy. It’s quite different from any sweaters that I already have and if it’s really wonderful, I may have to buy some more! Oops.

I have ordered a new pouch to keep my bullet journal planner/calendar in, too. It hasn’t arrived yet but I hope it will be a favorite “tool” going forward. It’s by Soolla and appears to be a good weight of canvas with lots of outside and inside pockets where I can keep my pens, etc. A good way to carry those essentials that I need when I use my bullet journal. (And I never like to be without it!)

Last night I worked on my Frabjous Fibers socks again. I’ve turned the heel and completed the gusset decreases so I’ve just got to finish the foot and toe of the first sock and then get the second one started. I was pretty tired after my drive from CT to ME yesterday so I didn’t stay up late. I’ve got a bunch of chores to get done today and I’ll work on the socks and get the Vanilla Sweater cast on. I will be knitting a sweater for my daughter, too, this week. She’s asked for (and I’ve swatched for) Levitate Wrap by My Favorite Things. I’m excited to get started on another couple of sweaters.

I got home to some very dry plants and my Clivia up in my studio was covered in white mealy bugs. I gave it a good wash with some diluted soap and have done a shallow dive into how to treat mealy bugs on my Clivia plant … looks like I need an insecticide and some antibacterial dish soap so I’ll be back at it again today. Meanwhile, three of my four orchids are blooming and they’re being soaked in the kitchen sink because it’s been awhile! I’d best wrap this up and get back to it.

Gone knitting.

Hello, NYC!

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

I’m back in NYC to help watch our granddaughter while her dad is away on business and mom is working, too. It’s tough to be parents today. Both parents are required to work in order to be able to afford a decent life. Add raising a child … yikes! It sure does take a village.

I arrived here Saturday after spending a bit of time with my college roommate in Westport, CT. We’ve been friends for nearly 50 years. How is that even possible? The first couple of nights I stayed with my son and his partner and we had a family dinner on Sunday night. With all three of my kids in one place is the best place to be. Yesterday I moved over to my eldest daughter’s house and I will be here for the duration.

I haven’t been doing much knitting since I arrived. I got a few rows of my Thistle on the Moor vest done yesterday and a few rounds of my vanilla sock done on the train Saturday (I left my car in CT) but that’s it. I will get some knitting done tomorrow when Sylvie is in school but I’m making way less progress than I had hoped. LOL.

This morning was an early up and out to get Sylvie to school. I’ve got a couple of hours to prep for a board meeting tomorrow evening and get some laundry done. My daughter has the day off today and we are heading to the playground after naptime! It’s been beautiful weather yesterday and today but it promises to get colder again at the end of the week so we are taking full advantage and heading outside.

Gone knitting.

WIP Wednesday

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

The lake looked like the surface of the moon this morning. Fog across the lake and the sunshine on new snow. We are so lucky to live here. I went into town this morning after my hubby cleared the driveway to pick up some groceries. It’s actually warm this afternoon – 49 degrees! The snow is melting and I’m up in my atelier working away. I think I will open the window a crack and get some fresh air in the house.

I’ve been knitting like mad. What’s new? I have so many projects on my mind and in my Ravelry queue. I’ve also made a few yarn purchases. I told my co-worker friends on our girls day out yesterday that I’ve made an impulse buy for a hand-dyed mohair sweater for myself. I had to buy the yarn to get the pattern, so … I did. I’m going back to work tomorrow before I’m gone again to help with our granddaughter next week. I’ll earn the money back. I also ordered some yarn for a Vanilla Sweater for my college roommate, Carrie. She loved mine. AND I have bought yarn to make my daughter’s sweater. The mohair has come in and I can get ready but first I have to finish at least one of the WIPs on my needles.

Ranunculus #2 in Berroco Dulce

I have been working away at my second Ranunculus. I had hoped to finish it today and wear it to work tomorrow but maybe I can finish it Friday and wear it on the weekend. We shall see. This is the project that I’ve put most of my time and effort into. It’s a quick knit and if I’d made good notes on the first one, I’d be further along. But, alas, I’m winging it again. I’ve got the body length at 8 inches and have begun the ribbing. Meanwhile, I also started the first sleeve wondering if I will be able to make long sleeves before I run out of yarn. I think I have plenty. This yarn is very soft and I like the way it’s looking but the fuzz is obnoxious. I think the finished garment will be very wearable, though. I don’t have far to go on this one.

My Thistle on the Moor vest is also coming along. Believe it or not, this is still the first ball of. yarn that I’m working with. I have a few more rounds to go before I’ll have to add the second ball. I don’t think I’ll need the third ball at all. I’m almost two thirds of the way done with the lace thistle motif down the front of the vest and I have one more repeat of the chart to go. Can you see the thistle in the second picture? I love this! Berroco Lanas Light is a wooly wool but it’s not really rough. I am liking working with it for the most part. If I just had more days in the week, I could get this finished.

The third project is my vanilla socks. I’m using Summer Lee’s I’m so Basic Socks pattern just to change things up. I think these may be baggy socks because her instructions say I should cast on 72 stitches. I think I know better but I’m knitting on. We’ll see how they turn out. The yarn is a sock set, a 100 gram ball of speckled yarn for the main color and a teal blue mini for the cuff, heel and toes. I haven’t worked on these much this week. I’m the only one measuring my progress with my SISC (self-imposed sock club.)

I have one FO. My little cousin asked me to make her a beanie when we were in Reno. I found this cake of Lion Brand Mandala Watercolors in my stash (away from where I can see it) and I think she’ll like the color. Her room is pink. This hat knit up in a flash, I used the Daily Beanie pattern which is free on Ravelry and the bulky yarn. I used a US10 needle and knit the hat to 8 inches before I started the decreases. It’s super soft and will wash and dry well. All important things when knitting for kids.

Yesterday we went to Belfast, ME for a girls’ day and visited another Maine yarn shop, Heavenly Yarn which has switched ownership in the last year or so. I love the space that Heavenly Yarn is in, an old building with squeaky wood floors and I love the layout of the shop and the samples. I bought a couple of hanks of Harrisville Highland yarn because I have never knitted with it and I like to try different yarns. I think I’ll knit myself a new pair of snowflake mittens. As my friend Bette says, my first ones have yellow snow. I’ve been wearing them for ten years. There’s nothing wrong with them, I just “need” a new pair. One without yellow snow. LOL

A couple of days before I leave for New York … I’d best get knitting!

March. Already?!

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

February certainly flew by! This morning I woke up at 8:00 o’clock when my alarm went off … I could probably have slept longer. We were exhausted when we got home yesterday late afternoon. We got up in Denver just prior to 2:00am for our 5am flight – come to find this …

TSA in Denver International Airport doesn’t open until 3am but they suggest you get to the airport two hours before you are scheduled to board your flight. Our boarding time was 4:45. We got to the airport at 2:30 and not a thing was open. Ugh! AND TSA Pre-check doesn’t open until 4! Needless to say, we were among the first people to go through “standard” security. (And all of this was without coffee!) Once we were at our gate (after waiting for the trains to get running) we could only get coffee from a vending machine. What an opportunity missed – someone could have a small food cart with coffee and pastries or muffins or something and make a decent living! And the airlines could do a better job of communicating with customers on those early morning flights, too.

We started off a week ago with an overnight in Portland, Maine. Thankful we decided to drive down to Portland the night before our flight because overnight snow would have made the drive challenging. We took off after a de-ice around 5:30am and flew from Portland,ME to Baltimore, MD to Austin, TX to Reno, NV. Visited with my cousins and aunt and uncle who live there. My aunt is experiencing short-term memory loss and that was difficult to see. We’re going to have to do the travel so we can visit at least once a year. She is like my second mother to me and grandmother to my kids and it’s important to me that I keep the connection with her. On Sunday we toured the place where my aunt and uncle are living and then went out to Virginia City where the gold rush created the town way back when. There are original buildings and a lot of history there. In the right season there are gun fights in the streets and people dress in period clothes. We saw a couple of wild horses on a hillside on our way down the mountain. They also live in my cousins’ neighborhood! We had a big family dinner on Sunday night with my aunt and uncle, their two sons (my cousins) and their spouses and three of the five grandkids (my first cousins once removed?) It was fantastic to see them all and I look forward to going out again … and hope to be able to stay a bit longer next time! Getting to Reno was quite a challenge from Portland, ME. I’ll try from Boston next time. And we thoroughly enjoyed our visits to our western family!

Then we jetted off to Denver, CO to see our youngest and her family which includes our now 6-month-old grandson, Mac. Boy has he changed since we were there in September! He’s now a smiling, laughing, engaging happy boy and we loved spending time with the kids. We got to celebrate Amy’s 33rd birthday and Mac’s half birthday on Tuesday with carrot cake. I had an interesting time with elevation this trip, both in Reno and in Denver, but stayed well-hydrated and tried to get some good rest at night.

I brought knitting with me, of course, and did do some knitting on the way out. I have been working on my Thistle on the Moor vest and my second Ranunculus and I had a pair of vanilla socks. I’ve gotten most of the leg of the socks finished but I’m concerned they’re going to be too big.

I’m knitting Summer Lee’s I’m So Basic Socks in a sock set of Frabjous Fiber’s Mary Ann in a white/cream speckled main color with a teal cuff, heel, toe accent color. I like the hand of the yarn but the pattern told me to cast on 72 stitches for a 9″ foot circumference and I fear they’ll be too big – I always cast on 64 stitches for my socks on a US1. I’m going to put them on my leg and see how it fits before I go any further.

I worked on my Thistle on the Moor vest on the way out and I’m almost 2/3 done with the lace design repeats on the front. The rest of the vest is really simple stockinette stitch so it was good travel knitting. I am enjoying the Berroco Lanas Light yarn. It’s 100% wool but it’s not scratchy! I think it will bloom really nicely when I block it, too.

And I worked on my second Ranunculus. This one I’m knitting with Berroco Dulce in the gray colorway. It’s got a cotton core with alpaca fluff and the core has bits of peach and blue and maybe other colors but it’s very subtle. This version will likely be a more wintery version as compared to the silk one I made first. I’m not sure about how the yarn will hold up and I always feel like I have a bit of fluff in my eye but it’s very soft fabric and I’ve made good progress. I’ve gotten past the yoke and am working on the raglan increases and almost to where I will separate the sleeves. I have a very limited amount of yarn but I think it’ll be enough for at least 3/4 length sleeves. Time will tell.

I haven’t taken any photos of my knitting other than this one … taken while the baby was at his 6-month check up (getting four vaccines!) and the old folks and the dog enjoyed some time in the fresh air and sunshine. The weather was glorious but there’s no snow in Denver. I’m concerned for what that means for the summertime … this has been the least snowy winter in the last 40 years.

Today is for laundry and unpacking and settling back in. We are already missing the Reno and Colorado crew and can’t wait to get back out there. In the meantime, we have a week of “normalcy” and then I’m off to help my daughter with the granddaughter while her dad heads out to Las Vegas for work and mom is working, too! I’m looking forward to seeing the NYC family for a bit! My son-in-law was supposed to be going to Israel for a week, too. That’ may be cancelled because of the new war our government has entered into. Either way, I have to figure out if I want to drive my car, take the bus or train. So many options.

Gone knittng.

Rabbit Rabbit

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

HOLY COW! It’s February today! We’ve been wrapped in winter here in Central Maine. It’s been the coldest part of the winter thus far with temps dipping into the negative numbers and even the ice fishermen haven’t been coming out but they’re out today! I was at work the last three days and I’m enjoying a day at home catching up with all the stuff I’ve been ignoring – watering the plants, cleaning the air cleaners (is that really a thing?) … you get the drift. It feels good to have “all” the work behind me so I can escape to my studio to clean up a little bit and get some work done at my desk and on my knitting queue!

My orchids are blooming and I want to share them with you. They’re so pretty! I have one more that is working up to blooming but it’s not quite there. Two are in full bloom. I have to remember to mist them daily and they’ll keep their blooms for a lot longer.

I’ve been working on two of my WIPs this week. I’ve made a lot of progress on my Ranunculus sweater that’s knit on large-ish needles and knits up quickly in the worsted weight yarn I chose. I enjoyed working the yoke which is meant to resemble strands of beads/necklaces and then the rest of the body is stockinette stitch. Around and around I go. I believe that I’ll put the body on hold when I reach the required length and I will knit the sleeves before finishing the body. I want the sleeves to be 3/4 length, I think since this will be a summer-y sweater so I want to knit the sleeves to the right length, try the sweater on and then finish the body. I have decided that I don’t love me in cropped sweaters. I’d rather have it a little longer than the designer planned. I think I’ll have enough yarn to make it a couple of inches longer. We shall see.

I frogged back and started my Le Bandana scarf again on larger needles and I’m liking the fabric this time much more. It’s less stiff and I think, especially when blocked, it will drape nicely. The yarn is a collaboration between Lola Bean Yarn Company and Cece’s Wool in remembrance of the civil rights movement. The colorway is called “Good Trouble”. I have also started another pair of socks since I finished my hubby’s Christmas socks. This will be a vanilla sock so the “Paper” colorway can stand out. Doesn’t it look like the ruled paper we bought for school? I’m finished with the leg and am working my way across the heel flap on the first sock. Maybe I’ll spend a little time with this today.

I have officially finished my first sock of 2026. Hubby’s Christmas socks. I’m going to try to get a pair a month knitted from stash. This pair is from deep stash. I do have a bit more of it left, however. Hubby loves wearing this heavy wool yarn in the winter. These are the Thompson River Socks and they were from a magazine way back when. They were fun to knit and kept my crazy brain focussed when I needed it the most last month.

I still haven’t finished my little crocheted car key fob character although I have put it into service. I will get to finishing it eventually. LOL. It’s cute but it’s so fiddly. I probably won’t make another one any time soon.

I also finished my first “Melt the Ice” hat in Malabrigo Rios. It looks tiny but it fits pretty well when I don’t roll up the brim. Because my head is so big, it will eventually pop off my head. The next one I will make on a bigger needle, make the ribbing longer and I may add a few more stitches, too.

I’ve had a request for a purple, pink and blue scarf for my granddaughter. This will take priority for sure since her little neck is getting frozen in New York City. The little Sophie Scarf I knitted for her has gotten too small. I’ve got to go do some stash diving for this one. They like to have washable woolens because she’s apt to drag them around her day care or the streets of New York.

Gone knitting.