Queen Bee Knits

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

A Day Early – WIP Wednesday (on a Tuesday)

Posted on June 16, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

I woke up pretty early this morning but I felt rested. Finally. Yesterday was a rough day energy-wise. Today is much better and I have been able to finish up the cleaning up before our family starts to arrive at the end of the week. The bathtub is scrubbed for our grandson’s baby behind, the house is vacuumed and floors and bathrooms scrubbed. The porch cobwebs have been knocked down, the windows (outside) washed and on and on. It’s a heck of an undertaking but it needs to be done at least once a year. LOL

I had a lovely call from my son today, too. Yesterday we had a facetime call from our granddaughter and her dad. It all makes our lives so joyful when we get calls from the kids. I can now say that I understand how my in-laws and my mom to a certain extent felt when we didn’t call them enough. I refuse, however, to complain to the kids or grandkids and I vow to call them when I miss them. I know the kids are all busy with their work lives and personal lives and I need to make an extra effort on their behalf because I know they’re not “ignoring” us on purpsoe. Heck, our lives are still pretty busy, too, and we have some weeks where we don’t even get to call them. I hope they all know (I think they do) that we love them more that they’ll ever know. And they will understand that statement when they are in their late sixties. (Damn! I’m in my late sixties! How did that happen!?))

After all the work we’ve been doing around the house … and for most of the afternoon yesterday, I’ve been knitting and working on my WIPs. I’ve made some good progress on my socks this week. I have reached the toe of the second sock and I will finish that today and, I hope, will get the heels in or at least on needles to be stitched. The most difficult thing about afterrhought heels for me is getting my stitches all from one row onto my needles. I tend to “drift” up or down a row. I am hoping that this heel will be a bit “tighter” than the forethought heel on my last pair. They turned out fine in retrospect but I had a gaping hole at both sides of the heel that I had to fix. We will see what happens when I don’t have any waste yarn to compensate for. Will the holes be bigger? Smaller? Non-existent? I’m hoping for the latter.

I have done several rounds on the granddaughter’s swing skirt, too. This is pretty boring to knit as it’s all stockinette with increases every seventh round. My mind tends to wander so my increases aren’t all perfect but they aren’t noticeable and that skirt will be swinging to much when she finally has it on, nobody will be able to see the stitches anyway. I can’t wait for the outfits to be put together with this skirt!

Since I last posted I haven’t made a lot of progress on my tabard or my easy folded poncho. And my daughter’s wrap sweater is still in time out. I really need to get back to that someday soon as she may be coming up in July if she can find a few days away from work.

I had a very good mail day yesterday, my new knitting bag arrived from Maika Bags. My bag is their Essential Tote and I love it. I went back and forth with wanting a bright, colorful bag and decided I would use a more neutral (dark) bag more so I bought their Nochi fabric print and I love it! The inside of the bag is as good as the outside. It has a sleeve so I can hold it on my suitcase when I am traveling and it has enough inside pockets so I can carry my notions and projects and my laptop or iPad in a padded pocket, too. I currently have four projects in it … and there’s room for my water bottle, too. It has handles and a shoulder strap in vegan leather so I can wear it across my body if I choose to. My knitting bag gets pretty heavy sometimes!

And now I’m going to sign off and find some yarn to play with.

Gone knitting!

A Busy Sunday After a Long Week

Posted on June 14, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

I had a three day week at the store after a busy day (volunteering) at school. My body would have liked to take the day off today but we have company coming at the end of the week and our house is a “disaster”! I just put the Christmas village away (and still have other boxes to put in the storage area) but it’s not in the living room any more. Even our granddaughter thought it was crazy that we still have a Christmas tree (it’s a small one) up in June.

I did sleep late this morning and we had coffee on the porch with a breeze so it wasn’t too hot. After coffee I took a spin around the yard a pulled some weeds. There are a lot more out there to be pulled. My peonies are blooming. They’re so tall this year and they’re less plentiful as last year but they smell so sweet. Our wild roses are also in bloom. One of them has gotten so big that we’re going to cut it way back after it blooms and hope it’ll come back. The vegetable garden just needs for me to take a “few minutes” to plant the seeds for peas and beans. I cut back my crazy big plant again and have begun the rooting process. And while hubby washed the outside of the porch windows, I vacuumed the downstairs and mopped the floors. I’m now all cleaned up and I’m ready to knit!

Top left, I am making good progress on my Easy Folded Poncho in a charcoal gray Rowan Felted Tweed. This is a great project for when I am tired at the end of the day or when I want to knit and visit with friends. I have inspired several knitters and friends to make this pattern because it’s a great piece to wear in the spring and fall. I will now have two.

I’m also making progress on my fabulous green Broadgate Tabard. I’ve gotten the knack of the textured pattern and I’m just knitting along at a fair pace. I need to get to about 14 rows fewer than the back (it’s finished) before working on the shoulder shaping and then it’ll be time to put it together. I’m excited to wear this piece over a tee shirt or a blouse. And I still love the green!

My second sock has been coming along. If I was to spend any length of time sitting and knitting, I’d get the sock finished. It won’t take long but I haven’t been focused on the socks. I do love the colors I chose and the pattern is really cute. I might make more shortie socks to wear with my sneakers this summer. There are so many good patterns out there!

And finally, I haven’t worked on my granddaughter’s swing skirt for several days. I find the sparkly yarns a bit splitty and this pattern is simple enough that it is almost boring … I am continuing on because I know she’s going to love it. Purple (and pink and blue) are here favorite colors and a bit of sparkle will make it a favorite.

I’ve put my daughter’s wrap cardigan in time out for a bit while I work on other projects but it’s still sitting out there. I need to finish the second shoulder and then wait to see if it’s going to be the fit that she wants. I’m not going to be eager to frog the mohair! Hopefully it’ll be all good. Fingers crossed anyway.

I’ve got so many things that I want to make. Several hats, mittens, and more sweaters, of course. How lucky I am to have time to knit and a decent stash to feed the addiction. LOL.

Gone knitting.

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!

Sunday At Last!

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

OMG! It’s a gorgeous (and warm) morning here on the lake. The first coffee on the porch morning where I can actually sit comfortably in my pjs. Yay! I may be on the porch all day long. I’ll start with a coffee and maybe end with a cocktail. You can believe there will be yarn!

We’ve been enjoying the spring visitors to our yard, too. We’ve seen the Baltimore Oriole, Red Breasted Grosbeak, Cardinals, and our “regular” birds, too. Our Hummingbirds are back, too. The Dandelions have popped and leaves are all budding out. We have one tulip and a bunch of daffodils and the bleeding heart is just about to fully bloom, too. I love this time of year when life in the yard comes back and it’s always a surprise to see what’s come back to life.

I’ve been working on several different projects this week. I’ve been so busy that it feels like I’ve only made a small dent in my knitting but some weeks allow more knitting than others. I’ve pulled out my Broadgate Tabbard in this gorgeous green linen. This pattern, however, is kicking my butt. I seem to have begun the knitting on the wrong side OR added a stitch that I can’t find. I’m going to take it to the porch today for one last chance at figuring it out. If I can’t, I’m going to frog it and start again. The green is a perfect green and I know I’m going to love the garment so maybe a fresh start will make it “easier” after all.

I’ve been working away, too, on a new pair of socks for my hubby. I’m using the new colorway of the new Arne & Carlos Socks and More yarn that I bought in Quebec City a few weeks ago. I’ve successfully turned the heel and decreased the gusset stitches on the nine-inch circular needles that I’m trying to learn to knit with. (Some days are more successful than others.) The new A&C yarn seems like a softer base than their old Regia yarn base. I like it!

I also cast on another tee for me (third photo above). I’m knitting the Salty Air Tee in On the Round Nimble Sock yarn in the Harbor colorway. I love, love, love the yarn color and the feel of the yarn, too. I have gotten to the start of the lace yoke knitting which will be fun and a bit of a challenge (counting is difficult these days) and lots of fun to watch it develop into a pattern. Once the yoke is done, it’s just stockinette stitch around and around! (The color in the photo above is not accurate, it’s a light denim-y blue.)

There’s no photo because it’s literally a huge stockinette swatch but … My “brainless” knitting is another Simple Folded Poncho by Churchmouse. I bought the charcoal Felted Tweed in Quebec City, too. Again, it’s going to be finished and then set aside for the summer … if today is any indication of how warm the summer will be, we’re in for a really dreadfully hot time. It seems we need to get the air conditioners out and into the windows!

I have one more little cast on to make and that’s a baby sweater for my daughter’s best friend from high school who is adopting a little girl who was born this week. I found the perfect yarn for an In Threes cardigan for baby Elise. I hope to have enough yarn to make a hat and mittens, too. They live in Atlanta so that will be perfect for the fall and winter in the south. I love good news!

And I want to make Knitting for Olive’s Swing Skirt for my granddaughter, too. I have the perfect purple sparkly yarn for it. Sized for fall when she goes back to school. The kiddo is growing like a weed and I haven’t been able to hug her (or her parents) in person for way too long. We have a trip to Tucson planned at the end of the month and then I am heading to NYC to see my kids. My son’s had a birthday, broken his leg playing soccer, there is a new grand-dog, and … it’s just been too long for this mama/yaya.

So, with that, I am going to gather my projects and head to the porch. I’ll update my calendar for the week after the sun goes down. The birds and flowers await!

Gone knitting.