Queen Bee Knits

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

I’m Not Ignoring You!

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

Lilies of the Valley

I don’t want you to think that I’ve been ignoring you. I just can’t believe how busy my life has been since we’ve moved to Maine.

Mother Nature has been working double overtime to make everything around us green and blooming. The pollen has been like snow at times but it is beautiful when the wild flowers start to bloom in the woods. I saw some lilies of the valley on my walk a few days ago and our yellow iris down by the rocks at the edge of the lake are blooming profusely.

We have been to bed early and up early and have seen some beautiful sunrises. We are reminded with each one how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place. Even when it’s really, really early!

All three dogs are adjusting to living in the little guest cabin and to the noise that is our home-building destruction and construction life. Little Boq has had some wicked hot spots but we seem to have them under control again. The little dogs have been to a new groomer and will feel so much better now that they’re groomed and bathed.

I have been knitting a little. I’ve managed to finish the little pink zebra footie socks for my mentee in South Florida. She is turning 14! Yikes. I am hoping they fit and I have another whole ball of the same yarn to make one more pair to her specifications. She loves pink and zebra stripes, I thought the yarn was perfect!

Pink Zebra Low Socks

Two Dishcloths … one good, one not so good

I have also finished a couple of dish towels for my daughter. She sent me the yarn and I knitted her some cloths. One, I love. It’s Grandmother’s Favorite and it’s an easy knit and I love the way it came out. The second one was supposed to be a paw print. Ya know … I’ve knitted many paw prints before and must have used a different pattern. This one I do NOT like. It’s huge and not a good image of a paw print. I’m sending it anyway because she can use it for her dog’s muddy feet or something. But it will go with a note of explanation. (I wasn’t going to frog it after it was done but I’m not happy with it.)

I have chosen the third pattern for my Seacolors Yarn sweater and I think I am going to like this one much better. The pattern I am knitting is called Driftwood by Isabell Kraemer. I will not be making stripes but rather blocks of color. I’ve started with the peachy-orange shade and then will change to the green for the bottom of the body. I’ll see what I have left over for the sleeves. I’ll use the blue yarn for the edging and probably most of one of the sleeves. I’ll keep you posted!

I wore my cotton tunic to work yesterday. I love the color and the cotton yarn is perfect over a t-shirt or blouse. BUT I have always thought the straps were a bit too long. So, this morning I’m pulling the straps apart and shortening them. I would like to be able to wear it without a shirt under it if I want … when I’m done, I’ll be able to. I got quite a few compliments on it and that always feels good!

I feel so blessed and grateful to be able to live here on our beautiful lake in Maine. It’s really a dream come true. The love of my life and I are building our home and all is right with the world.

Gone knitting.

Sockhead Hat #2 … My Way

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

The love of my life has no hair on his head. It never occurred to me that these men who are folicly challenged need a hat even when it seems warm to me. His little head is cold. Who’d have thunk it!?

I’ve knitted several hats for him and some with greater success than others. His current favorite is a beautiful silver-gray worsted weight cap. It’s perfect … when it’s a little cooler than it is right now. So, he needs a lighter-weigh hat. We’ve looked at many (MANY!) patterns and pictures and we’ve settled on a “shorter” less-slouchy version of the Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure or a one-color version of the Scraptastic Hat by Jane Tanner, both free patterns on Ravelry.

We also went through the sock yarn in my stash (remember, I’m on a serious yarn diet!) and found a pretty red/blue/purple Cascade 150 Paints Sock Yarn (Bordeau Blend – out of stock in most places – Color #9768 Lot #1454). It’s a lovely soft merino and nylon mix (75%/25%), it’s washable and I’m positive it won’t be itchy. And the yardage is fabulous. I think I may still be able to get a pair of short socks made after the hat is finished or a pair of fingerless mitts.

My Maine friends were surprised to see me knitting a hat with sock yarn but they’re thinking winter hats and I’m knitting a spring hat. Men without hair have special needs!

Gone knitting.

New On the Needles

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

Worsted Boxy

I started my Worsted Boxy by Joji Locatelli on Sunday when we were driving to visit my nephew in Massachusetts. I’ve had this beautiful Seacolors yarn (in three colorways) for two years. It was knitted into a free pattern for a cardigan that came with the yarn but I really didn’t like the way the sleeves fit (or didn’t fit) into the body of the sweater. You get what you pay for, after all. Anyway, I frogged the cardigan and have waited all this time to knit something new. I loved the Boxy sweater and, lo and behold, there is now a worsted-weight Boxy on Ravelry. We’ll see how it goes.

A Gift in the Mail

At long last, the yarn that my daughter sent from Chicago to Florida AGES ago, has been forwarded to me and has arrived in Maine. It was postmarked in mid-April, for heaven’s sake! I’ve promised her that I’ll make her some dishcloths or washcloths with it … and I’ve cast on for the first one which will be Grandmother’s Favorite which is free on Ravelry and a very simple, quick knit. What I like about this pattern is that it’s not fussy and it holds up to abuse.

I’ve still got two sweaters to knit – one a tunic/dress and another that I haven’t figured out what pattern to use (yet!) I’m still working on using up some of the stashed yarn that I’ve collected over the years. I will be pulling out the yarn and starting on the afghan squares as soon as the dishcloths are finished.

Gone knitting!

Two Fewer UFOs

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

This weekend I have finished two projects!

Graffiti Socks

My Susan B. Anthony socks in Gale’s Art Wonder Sock in the Graffiti colorway are finished! I had to frog back the toes of the first one because the knitting gremlins talked me into making the foot seven (rather than seven and a half) inches. My feet are not nine inches long. They are nine and a half inches long. So, for a half inch, I frogged back and re-knit the toes. They’re much better and I am a happy camper. This yarn was amazingly wonderful to work with and I love the way that the colors change. I probably have enough yarn to make one more sock. I may do that … or not. Regardless, I have one more pair of hand knit socks to add to my sock drawer!

Frontenac (front)

I have also finished my Frontenac tunic vest. (This photo is not the finished one, it’s a reasonable facsimile.) It must be a vest since it has no sleeves and I sure do hope I’m going to love it as much as I think I am. I loved this pattern and the yarn is very soft and cozy. That said, the yarn also sheds like crazy. I’m hoping that a good wash and block will change that a bit. Time will tell. This was a very simple knit and only two seams (on the sides) and tiny pockets to attach. The edge of the sleeves were very well designed and I think this will be a garment that I knit again … after I get all the other knitting that I want to do done.

I’m nearing the end of several other projects as well and that means that I can cast on some new ones. I think I will cast on another sweater – this time in the yarn that I bought at the Maine Fiber Frolic two years ago. It has been the pieces of a sweater once before but the pattern was so poor that the sleeves didn’t fit into the arm holes. So, rather than make a sweater that I knew I wouldn’t love, I frogged the whole thing and put the yarn aside. I have found a couple of patterns that I could use (I think) and one of them will be starting soon. I am also casting on a pair of pads/tennis socks for a special girl’s birthday in June. I imagine they’ll knit up super quickly and the self-patterning yarn is amazingly perfect! I also have a bunch of aran weight yarn that my sister-in-love was gifted and she’s not a knitter and gave it to me. I think it will also want to be a garment. Color blocks of ivory and deep purple. I’m seeing it as a longer cardigan, perhaps without buttons.

I brought all the yarn that I bought several years ago to make the Great American Aran Afghan … it’s another huge yarn commitment that I made a long time ago and never finished. Maybe I’ll pull that out and get working on that!

Gone knitting!

Wednesday Night Knitting

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

Last night was my first knitting night with some of my favorite ladies in Maine at the Yardgoods Center in Waterville. I’ve knitted with the Wednesday night group for several years (since 2007) and have enjoyed every one.

Last night was no exception!

There were some new ladies who joined this group since last summer ended for me. What I love most about knitting groups is that we all get along. While we may never be “besties”, we all enjoy a commonality that we can chat about and laugh about. The stories are not all about knitting. Last night Deb shared that she’d found a full set of false teeth when she was cleaning up her yard. We laughed about it and wondered whether beer was involved. How does someone lose their teeth? Even if they were lost in deep snow, wouldn’t you choose to look for them?

Frontenac (front)

Frontenac (back)

I’m nearly done with my Frontenac turtleneck tunic that I bought on the Yarn Crawl in Orlando. I’ve sewn in almost all the ends and have just the side seams left to go. I can’t wait to wear it! I can probably wear it to knitting next week! The yarn is so cozy and soft, I’ll bet this will be one of my favorite sweaters to wear.

I’ve been working on my two pairs of socks, too.

Graffiti Socks – two toes to go!

I frogged back the toe on the Graffiti socks because they were a tad too short. The yarn is hand-dyed and as such they’re not matchy-matchy at all. I still love them. This yarn is one that just makes me happy to look at. I need to get cracking and finish these so I can cast on a new pair (a birthday gift for a very special girl).

Patons Socks

My Patons socks are coming along. I confess that I haven’t worked on these since we left Florida but I’ve finished the first sock and will get the second one rolling … I love the colorway of these socks. I can’t wait to wear them.

I’ll finish both pairs soon. I can wear them up here in Maine … socks are a necessity in late April! I sure wouldn’t have been wearing them in Florida right now!

Churchmouse Yarns Mohair Stripe Wrap

I’ve worked a little bit on my mohair striped wrap and I’m going to love this next winter. Mohair by nature is a very light fiber but because it’s “fuzzy”, it’s also very warm. I know I will be living with this around my neck when it starts to get cold in the fall. I’m about half to two-thirds along on this. I have the better part of two and a half skeins of the yarn left. It’s such a simple knit project and it’s a good one to take to knitting group because I can chat and knit at the same time.

Next up is another sweater … a cardigan, I think. I have the most lovely yarn from the Fiber Frolic here in Maine about two years ago. I had it all knitted up and the sleeves didn’t fit in the arm holes. I frogged it … that’s what happens when you use a free pattern sometimes. Makes spending money to buy a pattern worthwhile when you have to frog a whole sweater. Typically, purchasing patterns means that they’ve been test-knitted and checked for accuracy! Also, I will be knitting some wonderful peds (short socks) for a special girl’s birthday in June. I have a beautiful blue yarn to knit a dress/tunic with also. I’m eager to knit up some wonderful garments to keep me warm in the fall! I gave away most of my sweaters when I moved to Florida!

Gone knitting!

I’m a Mainer Now!

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

Welcome to Maine!

Well, we did it! We moved to Maine. Our house in Florida is sold, we have driven forEVER (four days) and we are here in our happy place.

The cars are unpacked, all my yarn is in totes and bags and boxes and is ready to have me knit with it. But first I have to do a little settling in … find some clothes to wear, clean the kitchen for use the next couple of weeks, clean the guest house cabin where we will live over the course of our house-building process and then move our stuff up there.

We have to do a test sleep up there because I recall that the bed we bought for the guest house was reported to have a sink hole in the middle of it (one person slept there?) and I absolutely refuse to fight an uphill sleeping battle for three or four months! My sleep is too important to me to sleep in a less-than-perfect bed!

Tomorrow night is my knitting group and I’ll be happy to see the ladies! And there’s a tea party at my LYS this weekend. Best get my work done so I can go relax and visit and knit!

Gone cleaning!

All my Yarn is Packed

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

Of course this isn’t all my yarn!

It must be an unwritten rule that knitters (ok, fiber people?) pack their yarn first when going on a trip. I know that’s my process for packing. So, when preparing for a move, the first thing I did was plan what yarn I would take and with what patterns. Makes sense, right?

My yarn is safely packed in the car with my swift and winder and all of my needles. My WIPs are on my desk, just in case there is some time today for knitting. I will make some time.

Movers arrive at 8am.

We’re moving to Maine!

Gone knitting. (OK, I’m getting dressed and drinking some coffee.)

Extra Large Box (of yarn)

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

You may know that we are moving from Florida to Maine later this week.

So, this weekend is focused on finishing our packing. We’ve packed our master bedroom closet except for the clothes that we’ll take with us. I will have one suitcase full of my hand knits, of course!

Next on my packing agenda was my atelier. When the yarn is in its bins, it doesn’t look like a bunch. But what I forget is that the bins lie! I filled one “extra large” moving box full of my worsted and bulky yarns. I have another big plastic bin of fingering weight and several bags and boxes of the rest. It’s going to be like Christmas again when I get to sort the big mess back into their bins!

I dare not think about what I have invested in all the yarn! I’m going to try to stick to my strict yarn diet and knit from my stash for awhile more. I’ve pulled out several sweaters worth of yarn for knitting this summer and some socks and various other patterns and yarn. I just know that my Maine knitting friends are going to have projects that they’re working on that I want to knit … and all my stash will be in storage.

I’m eager to get started with the move to Maine and the building of our house so I can set up my new atelier!

Gone knitting.

A Wonderful Gift

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

I taught my ~~next-to-last~~ last knitting class on Saturday and at the end of the class, Anne, the owner of The Black Sheep in Orlando wanted to give me a gift. A beautiful “little” skein of big yarn.

What a Wonderful Gift!

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to teach knitting in this wonderful shop and for the friendship that we’ve enjoyed. Who knew I’d meet such a great friend in a puppy training class?

I can’t wait until you come to Maine!

Gone knitting.

Private Lessons

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Queen Bee Knits

Sock Anatomy … I love teaching knitting!

Yesterday I taught one of my knitting friends how to knit socks (on DPNs.) She was apprehensive at first and cast on with a death grip on the yarn. Row 1 was a bit easier but not natural yet.

“Keep at it, the muscle memory will come. I promise”, I coached.

And it did! By row two or three she got it! Yay!

I can’t wait to meet next week and teach her to turn a heel!

Gone knitting!