One more post this week because I can and because I’m so happy with my newest FO (finished object.) I have just this minute finished and photographed Noah the Horse. He is completely done. Done!
This pattern is from the book Knitted Animal Friends by Louise Crowther. Let me tell you how well-written the pattern was; it was easy to follow and fun to knit. I am not one who loves seaming and assembling stuffed toys so it’s on me that I waited so long to get this (relatively) small project finished up. Now I can get it boxed up and mailed out to its new home.
I bought all of the yarn to make three of the animals in this book and Noah the Horse is the first one I attempted. The knitting was not difficult at all and he came together pretty quickly once I made the commitment to get it done. The clothes took just a couple of days and it was one morning to get all the buttons sewn on. And now he’s done and I am tickled!
To celebrate I’m going downstairs to make some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies before my next virtual meeting.
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!”
What a day! I “lost” my keys this morning after locking the door of my house. I didn’t know it and I went to work. I got to work and didn’t have any keys to get in. Searched my purse, my knitting bag, the car … and had to race back home where they were on the driveway. So, I opened the store a little bit late and the day did improve. I always like being in the store. I like the customers and the yarn (duh!)
It’s late and I wanted to just update you on my WIPs. I’ve been trying like crazy to finish the things I’ve already started. Geez, it’s hard. All I really want to do it cast on new things. LOL. Early this week I worked on Noah the Horse. I had all of his parts finished except the legs. It took one night to get them done and two days (or part of days) to get the pieces seamed and stuffed and assembled. I’m pretty pleased with the job I did. Now it’s time to knit his clothes and he’ll be ready to send to his new home. Last night I got one leg of his overalls knitted. I’ll work on the rest of his overalls tomorrow during class.
Tonight I’m knitting away on my socks. I’ve got another one to make but I’m making progress on the first one. This is a new pattern for me and I chose to trust the pattern (most of the time this is what I tell my students but I’ve knitted so many socks, I was hesitant to believe this pattern that wanted me to cast on 72 stitches for my size foot. Normally, I’d cast on 64 or 60 depending on the needle size. Anyway, I cast on 72 and that’s been taking a lot of time and it’s a lot of stitches! Tonight I had gotten far enough to try it on and it’s going to fit. Albeit with a little less negative ease than I usually have when I knit socks. It’s all good.
And one more WIP and one FO.
I cast on a second Vanilla Sweater for my college room mate in Rauma Garn Finull. I had to wait for the yarn to come back into stock and jumped as soon as I got the email. She chose a pretty heathered lavender colorway and I’ve cast on. I love knitting with this wool and my sweater is one of my favorites! I hope she’ll love hers, too.
I got to cast on the Vanilla sweater because I finished my Thistle on the Moor vest. I really like it – in fact, I like it so much that I sewed on the Queen Bee Knits label the other day and then put it on over the shirt that I was wearing because I needed another layer. It fits perfectly. I think I’ll wear it to work tomorrow.I used Berroco Lanas Light for the first time and I really liked the yarn and it has softened up a bunch after blocking. The pattern was fun with just enough lace up the front to keep it interesting and a lot of stockinette so that I could knit and watch TV at the same time.
When I finish the horse I’ll cast on the sweater for my daughter. BUT first I finish! I’m getting so close! One more WIP will be turning into a FO after overalls and a t-shirt.
Queen Bee Knits 