We had a really pretty morning this morning despite it not being fully sunny – the super sunny mornings get really warm on the front porch! I woke up early and saw a colorful sunrise but went back to sleep. I know, lazy bones! To be honest, I had a second dose of a Shingles vaccine on Monday afternoon and I didn’t feel great yesterday so I was happy to sleep well and a little bit later than “normal”.

Anyway, I wanted to report on my WIPs this week and I have to say, I’m delighted with the three projects that I am working on. They’re all different and they’re all engaging me in different ways,

I’m still working on my Reverie Socks in Socks Yeah! yarn. I love everything about these socks! I love the color and I love the lace/twisted stitches! I’m almost at the toe decreases for the first sock and I will be so happy to wear these when they’re done. This is Summer Lee’s newest sock design and I’m knittng mine on US1 6″ Chaio Goo DPNs. I’ve tried the 9″ circulars … I still love my DPNs. I think we all have our favorite ways to do things and I have to say that I’m “old” and I’ve been knitting socks for 35 or 40 years (or more?) and we didn’t have short circs back in the “dark ages”. LOL I learned to use DPNs for sock knitting and I think that’s my favorite way because it’s what I’m used to doing. I’ve also tried two circs and magic loop … suffice it to say that I’d do the 9″ circs first but DPNs still win!

I had started the Jaunty by Andrea Mowry with my three hanks of yarn in two colors (one hank of one color and two hanks of the other) but I have since frogged it and restarted it. Here’s why … I started the Jaunty with one of the hanks and about three inches in there was a knot in the yarn and the color changed dramatically. And I mean DRAMATICALLY! It was striped. I thought it would be ok and I decided to alternate one skein and the other which continued the stripes and I really didn’t like it at all. SO … I frogged it and started over with the first three inches left out so it starts with a lighter purple and I’m going to knit it to the end of the hank and then decide if I will do the second colorway and then the first on again or if I’ll knit two of the first colorway and then the “odd” one. So that will be decided later. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the rhythm of the pattern and the eight row repeat (some may be more than eight because I was talking). It’s a fun pattern so far and the yarn is so squishy! I forgot to say that I’m knitting with Ewetopia Helix DK yarn. It looks a bit like Spin Cycle, it’s a 2-ply yarn. The colors are yummy and I’m really enjoying it!

AND last but not least, I’m knitting the Make Mine A Double “jumper” in my super special Artyarns Silk Mohair Ombre yarn. I saw this sweater on Millie from Tribe Yarns and I knew I had to make it. Again, I searched all over the place to find a yarn I liked just as well and it didn’t exist. So I ordered the yarn and it’s GORGEOUS! I’m telling you that it’s so much fun to knit with (except for the stickiness of the mohair) because the color changes and the colors are wonderful. My yarn started in a dark chocolate and has transitioned into a pretty medium blue. There’s also a peachy beige color in the ball/cake. I am having a ball knitting it and watching the color change.

What I’m not sure about is that I’ve decided to knit a medium size rather than the large because I don’t love having lots and lots of ease. Millie is cute and young and athletically thin and I am not any of those things. If I was to wear the sweater in the large size I’d have over 10″ of ease. The medium will give me 6″ … and that’s just fine. I am a little bit “concerned” that the yoke may not be long enough for my body. The good news is that I can try it on when I get to that point and see how it fits. I’l report when I get there … it won’t be long. This is my go-to in the evening when my brain is tired. It’s around and around with increases every so often. Easy peasy! It’s knit on big needles so it’s pretty fast knitting and I will for sure wear something underneath it (a tank or a tee).

I felted my blue/purple felted bowl for the second time today and it’s been blocked out and is drying on our dining room table. I am going to write up a pattern so that we can sell it at the shop (by that I mean give it away). It’s a quick knit on huge needles with super bulky yarn. The stitches don’t disappear completely but it’s stiff enough to stand up and I like the fabric. It only took a few hours to make, too. A good gift idea!

Tomatoes are coming along and I’ve been enjoying my tomato sandwiches. There’s nothing like a couple of slices of good bread slathered with real mayonnaise and a tomato fresh out of the garden! I add a bit of salt and some Zatahr seasoning. Yum! Fresh corn, too! We’ve made Ramen for dinner (the royal we) the last two nights with zucchini from our garden and fresh corn from the farmstand. I love buying fresh veggies (and they don’t make you sick!)

Gone knitting.