Queen Bee Knits

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Saturday is for Adventures?

Posted on November 7, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

I know we need the rain but I need some sunshine. This is the time of year that I begin my struggle with SAD (seasonal affective disorder.) I quite literally feel like staying in bed all day long and force myself to get up and go but struggle with energy enough to go for long. So, I’ve pulled out my sun light and have it on in my atelier and I just have to sit in front of it! It does seem to help. We woke up to rain and gray this morning and little has changed all day. We decided to go on a little adventure today – hubby wanted to do breakfast at Dysarts on the way to the coast and so we did. It was a delicious breakfast and we did head over to Belfast for a bit. I visited Fiddleheads fabric shop and Heavenly Yarns and picked up a few little things – some little gifts for my daughter’s stocking and snaps for me to finish her sweater. I think I’ll send it home with my son after Thanksgiving.)

Anywhooo … you’re here for the knitting, right? I had a horrible knitting day on Thursday and so I’ve got a two stories to tell to make YOU feel better about your knitting! There are two. First, I am working on a beautiful hooded scarf for my nephew’s girlfriend. The pattern is The Hooded Scarf by Shaina Bilow and I’m knitting it in a luscious Malabrigo Mecha “Ceresa” colorway. I had finished the first half of the scarf part and cast on and started the second half but I felt like the width of the second part was “off” and when I compared the two, I was right. I had cast on the pattern number of stitches for the second half but I had cast on the pattern number of stitches plus ten for the first half. Ugh! I really like the wider scarf, fortunately since that was done, so I frogged and re-started the second half and I’ll figure out how it all goes together when I get there. I’m just about at the half-way mark on the second side after working on this for about 4 hours yesterday.

Next, on Thursday evening after work I cast on to begin the second of my Reverie Socks in some stashed yarn. I’m really trying to use up some of my (extensive) sock yarn collection. I went ahead with the cast on after checking the number of stitches and began the ribbing. I’d reached the point where I had a couple more rounds to go and looked at it and thought I’d done something different to the first sock. Yup. I was right. The first sock was a 2×1 rib and I had started the second sock with a 2×2 rib. So, that was frogged and restarted, too. Ha! Ha! I am so grateful for the ability to laugh at myself. Knitting has really taught me humility! I completed the ribbing and the first repeat of the lace pattern on our drive today. Progress. Not perfection. That’s my goal.

I have also been working on a little winter hat for our grandson, Mac. He’s getting a little ear flap hat, the pattern is Knitting Pure and Simple #253. I’m using Berroco Vintage in a light oatmeal colorway and I’ll be adding little ears on the top of the hat. I finished the hat on the ride to the coast and now I just have the ears to knit. I am going to wing it with my own “pattern” here and I hope the hat is big enough because this little guy has a big head! I can hardly wait to see him in it! He’s the most adorable little guy.

I’m also working on a little cardigan for our granddaughter’s doll, Baby. I made a cardigan to Sylvie last year in this lavender yarn by King Cole (Denim?) and she loves lt because she can put it on and take it off by herself. I am hoping to make the same sweater for Baby. This past summer she spent a lot of time undressing my knitted doll, Dolores by Franklin Habit. I think she’s gotten big enough, Sylvie not Dolores, to be able to put the sweater ON her doll as well as take it off. We’ll see.

I have a new gnome project going, too. I’m knitting the Gnumpkin half of Gnumpkin and Gnettle with bits and bobs leftovers from socks and other projects. I love these little stuffies! We also made a shelf for my growing gnome collection that sits above my atelier window … just big enough for the gnomes made with fingering weight yarn. I am hoping to make more (I own a ton of patterns) to complete the collection and fill the shelf which is about half full so far.

That’s five WIPs if anybody’s counting and the shefl is a FO. Ha! Ha!

We have ordered our Christmas cards and they’ve been delivered. Last week I addressed through “o” and I’ll get to some more this week. I need to stamp the return address and stuff them and then buy some stamps. I love the time of year when you get cards in the mail and I love to send some love out, too. I also have my new Bullet Journal for 2027 out and I am moving all the really important stuff over slowly but surely. I like a paper calendar/planner and this one gives me a little room to be creative though I’m not nearly as creative as some people are … but I’m also not late for meetings and such.

I have. new procurement, too. I can’t remember how I won but I won a $50 gift card to LolaBean Yarn Company just before Rhinebeck happened and I used it to buy two hanks of a sport-weight LBYC yarn! They arrived yesterday and they’re super yummy! I don’t know what they’ll become yet but they’ll likely be something to wear around my neck because it’s 100% merino wool. So soft! AND I love supporting a woman-owned, black-owned business! If you don’t know about LBYC, check them out on social media or their website.

It’s now seriously zero-dark-thirty (at 5:15pm … gone knitting!

Yeah, I Know it’s Tuesday

Posted on November 3, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

I know it’s Tuesday and this is going to be (mostly) about my WIPs and maybe I should save it for WIP Wednesday but I simply feel like writing now and I don’t want to wait until tomorrow … or maybe I’ll have more to say tomorrow. Who knows! Happy Election Day! I voted a week or so ago and my hubby voted on the last day of early voting here in Maine. I have no idea if our local poling place will be super busy with lines out the door but we chose to vote early. I hope you’ve voted today, too. It’s so important to let your voice be heard! I saw a meme that said something to the order of if you’re on an airplane and 5 passengers don’t vote, three vote to crash the plane and two vote to land safely, you’re still going to crash. I feel very strongly that if you don’t vote, you’re still voting … just for the one you probably don’t like! My father was a huge proponent of voting and he raised us all to prioritize voting. I can’t miss one! Especially one as important as this!

I’ve signed up to knit every day in November for the American Cancer Society so I’ve been knitting every day. Today it was such a gray day that I couldn’t get myself motivated to do much so I decided to head up to my atelier and work there.

My daughter’s Levitate Wrap is done! All I have to do is find a big snap for inside and sew on my Queen Bee Knits label. The snap holds the inside front part to the outside front so it won’t just hang down awkwardly. I hope I can get one tomorrow when I have to run into town for dinner. This was a very fun knit and it’s a beautiful sweater. I hope my daughter loves it and wears is a lot. I did make a change and knitted the first part of the tie onto the bottom border and I shouldn’t have. I was showing the finished sweater to my college roommate who was here for the weekend and I had an AH! HA! moment where I realized that the ties can’t both be at the ends of the bottom border, they need to cross and tie at the side. SO rather than frog the whole thing, I cut the misplaced tie, bound off the stitches left behind and then grafted the tie onto the right spot. I wasn’t sure it was going to work but it did.

I put my DPNs on each side of where I am going to cut the yarn and then carefully cut one strand and unraveled the yarn. The last shot is the two pieces now living apart. LOL. It was a success! I have been using the Italian Sewn Bind-off and it’s gorgeous for this project. Today I took the tie that I cut off and grafted it onto the body of the sweater near the side. I’m so pleased with the success of this surgical procedure! Yay, me!

WIPs … I’m making a hooded scarf (The Hooded Scarf by Shaina Bilow) as a gift for my nephew’s girlfriend who has moved from Georgia to Boston and doesn’t have a lot of cold New England weather clothes. Her favorite color is red. I’m knitting with Mecha by Malabrigo and the yarn is so soft and lovely to knit. I have finished one side of the scarf and have cast on the second side. This is a very simple pattern with larger needles and bulky yarn. It’s moving along pretty quickly.

I’ve cast on the Gnumpkin gnome a couple of nights ago when I was feeling I needed a new project. I love knitting gnomes and this one is such fun so far – the hat is so cleverly constructed. I am using left-over yarn which is good, too.

Today I cast on a new hat project. A winter hat for our grandson who takes off all of his hats (and he may take this one off, too.) This one will have a tie and ear flaps … time will tell. I’ll be making some little mittens for him too for the cold Denver winter days. I’m using Vintage by Berroco because it’ll need to be washed and it’s soft enough to put on those precious little ears. I’m using the Knitting Pure and SImple #253 Basic Hat and Mittens pattern. I’m making the smallest size which is for a 2-4 year old (he’s got a big head!) My plan is to add little ears to the top of it so he’ll resemble the teddy bear that he is.

I finished the first of my gray Reverie Socks last night before I went to bed. I love this pattern and I needed some singly-color socks to wear when I want to be “fancy”! I’ll be casting on the second sock later today or tomorrow so I can get it going and finished before November 14th when the LYS where I work is starting a Fall Sock KAL with a “cast on party” at the store. Several of us from the staff will be there to kick off the KAL and I hope I can get a pair of Christmas socks knitted for my hubby’s stocking. The goal is for everyone to finish before Christmas and we’re going to have prizes to incentivize our knitters.

I voted for her (them!) I hope you voted today!

Gone knitting.

How Did we Get Here?

Posted on October 20, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

Yesterday our granddaughter officially turned four! I am not at all sure how we got here! We arrived home yesterday afternoon from being in the city for a couple of days … a couple of days of driving and a couple of days with the kids and granddaughter. I think we are both tired but very glad to have made the effort to be there for the birthday party and to celebrate our first grandchild yet again. The kids did a wonderful job planning the party. This year the theme was purple dragons (only our girl could come up with that one) and it happened at the Irish bar/restaurant just up the street from their apartment. There’s a party room upstairs and it was perfect for the family party and comfortable for the little kids running around. I think Sylvie was pleased with her party and playing with her friends was her favorite part (though I didn’t ask.) We tried to call her yesterday after school but she wasn’t in the mood to chat or even let us sing Happy Birthday … better luck next time, I guess.

While we were away, I frogged the Christmas Elf Hat because I found some fun fur yarn in my stash that I want to incorporate into the hat. I am designing this one and crossing my fingers along the way that it works. I started with the white “fur” yarn for about an inch and then changed needles and went to the worsted weight yarn and nearly doubled the stitch count. Now to knit 4-row stripes to the end of the hat. Meanwhile, I’m decreasing every 4 rounds and then every other round. I don’t want it as long as a “stocking cap” hat but am hoping it won’t stand straight up either. Time will tell. I did take a minute to try it on to make sure it wasn’t too big or too small and it will fit this year and perhaps next year, too. That’s fine with me!

I’m using one hank of Sirdar Alpine and one each of pink and purple in Cascade 220 Superwash. I believe there will be a pompom. Anyone who buys “good” yarn knows the costs are rising across the board. I have around $30 invested in yarn for this hat. I’ll have some left over with which I hope to make a matching sweater. I have another four skeins of the Cascade yarn in two colors set aside in my atelier. Maybe the sweater will get a fur collar? Anyway, my point being that when you see a handknit garment, think about the time and skills that go into making it. Knitters pay themselves too little, in my humble opinion. As $6-7 per hours for my time, this hat should easily be valued at $90-100. I’ll step off my soapbox.

I have also been working on the hats for my customer. Judy calls me every year at around this time and asks me to make her a hat … or, this year four hats. Two black and two navy blue hats in the same design that I’ve been making for several years. I should count the hats! I have finished three of the four and I will likely have the last one finished by the end of the week. It’s a simple project, bulky yarn on large-ish needles in an open, lacey pattern. The photos are never super exciting but I’ll photograph them all when they’re blocked. Suffice it to say that I am grateful she asks me every year. It’s lovely to have a happy customer.

You can see where I started on the hat on our way down to New York (way above) and where it stands now (above). I have to pull out my DPNs to get the rest of the knitting done. I still have several rounds to knit but with double decreases every other round, it should move along pretty quickly now. I’ve been using a new-to-me technique to make the stripes line up better, aka a jogless join. I’ll endeavor to explain it in photos another time but I’m quite satisfied with it and I think once blocked the joins will be mostly invisible.

Last night I worked on the gusset of my gray Reverie sock. This is still the first of the pair because I’ve been focused on knitting my daughter’s Levitate Wrap and having some fun with the hats and the Sweater Weather Gnome KAL. My little gnome sweater is blocking as we speak and as soon as it’s dry I can knit the hands and then get it finished up. The last clue came out while we were away and I knew I had to block the pieces first – which I did last night before I went to bed. I think it’s going to be a fun one! No pictures yet per the KAL rules. Sorry. But they’ll be posted soon soon.

The last photo is our granddog, Gus, all snuggled up in our bed in New York, in the sun where he loves to be. We have lots of granddogs and with the exception of the newest one, they’re all boys. Gus is a covid dog and we are so lucky to have him. Can you believe that someone returned him to the shelter? My son got so lucky that day!

This week I’m playing catch up at home and trying to be ready to head back to work on Thursday. Laundry is in process and there is food restocking the kitchen pantry and ‘fridge. I ran to Target today to get a couple of things (a soap dish being one) and I was shocked at how empty the store shelves were. Where there were tons of sheets and blankets, etc. there is none or very little. I hope it’s from a seasonal switch and not from the tariffs that we’re being saddled with or shipping delays because of the Straight being closed off to shipping. Whatever it is, I was shocked. (I don’t shop much.)

Our heat is fully on in the house on the lake. Morning temps are consistently in the 30s and 40s. Our trees are probably past their peak but it was a gloriously colorful fall with the oranges and yellows really showing off. There were some breathtakingly brilliant spots that I’ve passed as I’ve been running around. How lucky we are to live here!

Gone knitting!

WIP Wednesday and one FO

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

It was a bee-utiful morning albeit a bit chilly for sitting on the porch … 38 degrees! We have pulled out the plants in the veggie gardens, cut back our wild rose (It’s grown way too big for it’s spot), and we are pretty well ready for whatever the weather brings. We’ll keep the cushions outside for a bit longer just in case there is a good sunny morning but daylight is shorter on both sides of the day and my SAD is starting to kick in. Time to get out my sun lamp!

I have an FO that I promised in a prior post to show you and to talk about my mods. I have finished and am wearing my Make Mine a Double by Milli from Tribe Yarns. The pattern was included with the kit I ordered and this was my backup colorway. I really wanted the bright pink that she was wearing when I first saw the sweater but it’s been sold out and I was too eager to make it to wait. Typical knittier. I ordered two hanks of the ArtYarns Double Mohair Ombre yarn and the pattern came with. The yarn is exquisite on it’s own. Softer than I had imagined and the color is magnificent fading from a deep chocolate brown to blues to beigy-taupes to peachy cream.

Make Mine a Double … at least this shows the color changes!

I had planned to make the medium-large but after getting most of the yoke finished and connecting the body/separating the sleeves, I was afraid it would be too tight so I frogged back to where the sleeves were separated and added another increase round so I was at the XL size. (After finishing the entire sweater I still have ample yarn left over.) The result is a boxy fit but I think it’s good and the sleeves are a little long but I’ll be wearing this as a “dress” sweater to work, etc. so I’m happy with it (and I can always frog back a bit and shorten them if I change my mind. Frogging mohair isn’t always a fun thought.

I cast on a new project. I signed up to do the Sweater Weather Gnome KAL with Sarah Schira. The first two pieces are mystery pieces and I got them done to the last bit without problems … but jeez! Picking up the 48 stitches around the edge was quite a process. I pulled my stitches out more than once in part and in full but I finally got them all done and I’m ready for clue #3. I won’t show any photos because it’s a mystery KAL and I don’t want to ruin the surprise for anybody who might be knitting along, too.

I’ve been working on my daughter’s Levitate Wrap and it’s coming along. I did frog the entire front edge when I got to the end of it because I missed one sentence of the pattern originally. That was that it should be a provisional cast on of the 11 sts. Oops. I couldn’t figure out any way to unknit the cast on edge of double knitting to make it work and decided that time-wise, it’s easier to just frog it and reknit it. So, I’ve done that and I’m working my way back around the front right edge/neck/left edge … and then I’ll be on to sleeve island before I do the bottom edge. I can see the forest through the trees at this point. I’ve worried that it’s too cropped but I measured 18″ from my neck and I think it’s going to be find once the bottom edge is added. (Cross your fingers.) Interestingly, one of our sort-of-local yarn shops here in Maine is making this sweater as a knit along. They’re all using much heavier yarns which is interesting. I’m not sure how they’re getting gauge but it’ll be interesting to watch their progress, too.

My socks are also coming along. This is the second pair of Reverie Socks by Summer Lee that I am knitting and this time in stashed gray sock yarn. It’s still an enjoyable lace pattern with a little bit of columns of twisted stitches and it’s easy to memorize for the most part. I recommend this pattern! I am also a shorter leg convert. At least for these shoulder seasons where it’s not super cold or hot and some skin can be exposed to the elements. I’m knitting the 72 sts. size and the fit is perfection. I’ve got the first heel turned and I’m ready to pick up the gusset stitches next.

I’ve got four hats to knit as a commission for a repeat customer. I picked up the yarn at the shop earlier this week and applied it to the credit that I have after returning unused yarn from previous projects that I wasn’t going to use. If nothing else, this was a good reason to go through my yarn stash and clean it up and clean it out. I found quite a bit of yarn that didn’t have any friends left over! I’m requiring myself to get the Levitate Wrap close to or done before we head to NYC for our granddaughter’s 4th birthday party. It’ll be a very (too?) quick trip and I’m already struggling with having not enough time to eat up my little love bug. I may have to take a bus home and let my dear hubby drive home alone so he can go to work … TBD.

Gone knitting.

It’s Fall, Y’all!

Posted on September 27, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

The equinox has passed so it’s officially fall in Maine! I am departing from my norm of posting a photo taken on the day that I post and am posting a photo from the evening a couple of days ago. It was the most spectacular sunset sky we’ve had in ages. It seems that it was all over the country, too. My kids saw pink skies in NYC. It just reminds me of how lucky we are to live here!

It’s been a busy week (again) and I have been working on a whole bunch of stuff, some old and some new, so I’ll try to share it all … if I can remember!

I cast on Gnettle of Gnumpkin and Gnettle by Sarah Schira in advance of the new KAL that she’s started called Sweater Weather Gnome. I have tons of little bits of fingering weight yarns and it’s the perfect place to find colors for gnomes. As an aside, last week when I cleaned up and cleaned out my atelier I pulled out a bunch of gnome colors for the fall. I plan to knit Gnumpkin, too, just not right away. I have finished Gnettle’s body and am working on her legs and feet one leg is partially done. These are so much fun to knit and my hat’s off to Sarah for designing these brilliant characters. One foot to go on the first leg. I love her already.

I have finished the body and I am so close to finishing my Make Mine a Double pullover sweater. I tried it on at work on Friday and I think I will like the fit (and I’m glad I went up a size). The sleeves are both partially done because I decided that I wanted to go back and forth with the last hank of yarn so the sleeves were almost the same and mostly in line with the body of the sweater color-wise. I am happy with the way they’re turning out and hope I get to some cream before they end. I may have to bypass some beigey brown to get there but I’m going to make it happen. I can even wear the sweater this coming weekend if I get it done.

I finished my striped socks and have cast on a pair of gray ones. I found an almost full ball of gray sock yarn in my stash and decided it needed to be knitted up. I may give this pair to my daughter who likes to have handknit socks. I am going back to the Reverie Sock pattern by Summer Lee because I liked knitting my pink pair and thought I’d repeat the joy. I’ve already caught myself missing one yarn over but I’m knitting on. Perfection is not my goal … joy is!

As I’m writing this morning we are waiting for the “huge” Nor’easter to hit Central Maine. It’s not done much for us as yet. I was hoping for a lot of rain at minimum to make us feel better about heading into winter with a full well. I guess tomorrow is the day we’re forecasted to get a lot of rain but I wouldn’t be surprised if we get some today, too. It’s dreary and cool enough to be wearing a sweatshirt. My hubby is entertaining his camp friend this weekend. Last night another camp friend joined us for dinner and the three hadn’t been together for 53 years. They enjoyed visiting while I was at work yesterday. The “boys” are upstairs watching a movie and I’m happily ensconced in my atelier! After working the last three days, I’m happy to be home and knitting today. I’ve paid to be a Shetland Wool Week virtual member and I’ll join the opening ceremony at 2pm EST. I’m working on getting an idea of what it’s like to be there with the thought that I may like to attend next year. I’m even considering casting on a SWW hat in honor of the occasion. I may choose to knit my sleeves instead.

Gone knitting.

Spam Spam Spam Spam

Posted on September 5, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

It’s a bit cloudy and a bit chilly this Saturday morning! I am happy for both. We desperately need the rain here in Maine as most of our state is under drought conditions. We have a well so it’s a serious issue that needs our awareness. We have stopped watering the gardens and have put our water conservation efforts in the house on high! We’ll be fine. Hopefully.

This week I got several lovely, thoughtful comments on several posts from a “man” named John Smith. I almost always check profiles before accepting comments on my blog and I am grateful that I stopped to look … it’s an AI platform and, I suspect, an AI response which, upon my review was more a summary of what I posted than a thoughtful human response. I won’t approve them and I may choose to mark them as spam. Progress is a double-edged sword.

I’ve had a busy and quite wonderful week! I started out the week with meetings, meetings, meetings and then finished the week with my teaching gig. In between was a lot of house cleaning, knitting, some stitching and even some baking. I was able to chat with almost all of our kids and am looking forward to seeing some of them soon.

I have a FO! One of my wonderful students pointed out Summer Lee’s new sock pattern to me and I loved it so much I immediately went to my stash to find some yarn to cast on. I have loved knitting these socks (despite the mistake I made on the first round of the first sock.) I am wearing them today because without the sun it’s a bit chilly and my feet are very happy. I knit these in some stashed Socks Yeah! yarn in a pale pink colorway. The lace repeat was easy enough to memorize and I am tickled with the result. I really like the shorter leg length even if that leaves me with more bits and bobs of fingering weight yarn.

Once I finished my Reverie Socks, I immediately went back to my stash to find some more yarn. I forgot that I bought this self-striping yarn that is packaged in two half-skeins so that the socks are identical. My husband had already gone to bed when I started caking up the first hank and (despite the fact that he can’t ever hear me) he complained that the swift was too noisy. I’ll wind the second bit today. LOL. I love a good self-striping sock. I think I have decided that I’d like to find a contrasting color to make my heels and toes … I’ll search for that today. Heaven knows I have quite a collection of bits and bobs. I’m using the Yankee Knitter and Summer Lee and maybe other patterns that I’ve used before. I did about an inch of 1×1 rib and then I’m just going to knit the leg. I’ll do a heel flap and gusset in a solid colored yarn and then knit the foot down to the toe and change the toe color, too. I could use more than one color, too … thoughts? I’ll show you what I choose!

I had to frog back my Jaunty this morning … only about an inch but I found a spot where I switched my knit belows and purls and the pattern looked off. It was almost something I could ignore but I decided it was only a few rows back and I decided to fix it instead. I’ve now got the stitches back on the needles and I’m ready to move on down the last part of the project.

I’ve really enjoyed knitting Jaunty! I am loving the yarn and the stitch pattern. I chose to knit with Ewetopia Helix DK in two different colorways because I thought I loved the purple one best and we only had two hanks in the store. BUT the blue colorway had enough purple that I thought it would also work and give me enough yarn to make the large sized Jaunty. I was right and I am very happy with the whole project. Well, not so much with the silly mistake I made but it’s fixed now and I can move on toward the end of the project. Maybe I’ll have another FO by the end of this coming week (or sooner). (And please note the cute sock on my foot!)

So, I know have my Make Mine a Double to figure out and I have had several helpful comments on that. Thank you. I think I’m going to rewind the hank and wind off the chocolate (dark) brown color and use the blue/brown/taupe medium colors on the first and then the second sleeve, breaking the yarn in between. It’s not my first preference, I’d love the yarn to be all one thread BUT I do think that the sleeves need to have some consistent color and I think that’s the right thing to do. I’ll finish them both with the lighter beige into the creamy color so they’ll “match” the body of the sweater (sort of). I am almost to the ribbing … there’s two inches of it … but I have to try it on again to see if it’s long enough to wear with my jeans. No midriff revelations at my age! Ha! Ha!

Early next week I’ll be seeing my daughter and she can try on her Levitate Wrap cardigan to make sure it’s going to be a good fit. I didn’t have her in my house to measure so we have guessed, albeit an educated guess, at her sizing. The sweater is supposed to be a boxy fit and I am on gauge so I am hopeful that it’ll be a go. I hope to make some good progress on that next week after the fitting. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I’ve read two good books about relationships that I thought I’d suggest here. The first one is Ann Patchett’s Whistler. I read this for my summer book club. We all loved it and I think I may have to re-read it because after our discussion I may be able to notice more details. Ann Patchett is an incredible writer and it’s a wonderful read. The second book was initially the book club book but was changed (to Whistler) and I missed the memo because I missed the first book club meeting. Anyway, the second book is Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. Both books are pictured below. Crossing to Safety is an older book but I still enjoyed it .. even with a brief break to read the correct book club book, I wanted to go back and finish it. And now I’m going back to the first book club book which was Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I took a break from Braiding Sweetgrass to read Crossing to Safety … well, you get the idea. I have to finish Braiding Sweetgrass, too. Worthy of a read. I loved learning more about the cultural beliefs of the native Americans, in particular.

Ok, it’s Saturday and I have a lot of ideas on what I want to do today beginning with lunch with my favorite hubby. We’re heading into town to try a new Chinese restaurant that’s not far from work (and there’s another few restaurants we need to try, too.) Neither of us loves to leave “campus” when we’re home on the weekends so this is a stretch but we also realize we don’t get out much. We’re trying.

Gone knitting.

Monday. Feels like Sunday

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

Aaaaaand just like that it’s September tomorrow. Yikes! Today I had intended to do the laundry and change our bed and I did that but I also pulled apart our closet … my side of it anyway … and pulled out a bunch of things that I haven’t used in ages. It’s time to consign it or donate it or throw it away. I now have a big bag for Goodwill and a big bag for the consignment shop (if they’ll take it!) And the bins are put away in their places, and I vacuumed all of my shoe shelves and straightened it all up. I’m ready for fall and the change-over from summer to fall/winter clothing when the temperatures turn.

We have also had a fruit fly infestation in our house. The kitchen has been buzzing with the annoying little buggers. Today I did a good cleanup in the kitchen, too, and baked the over-ripe bananas into muffins. It was 3:00o’clock by the time I had some food in my belly and a cup of herbal tea. I got sucked into a cleaning frenzy. LOL

I’ve been knitting away on my three WIPs: Make Mine a Double, Jaunty and Reverie socks. I’ve gotten the heel turned on the second Reverie sock and I’m really excited to wear them. They’re super cute!

I’ve reached the half-way point on my Jaunty and am now working decreases instead of decreases. I’m loving this project. The fabric is so squishy and the yarn is magnificent. I may have to buy another hank of the bluer coloway when I’m at the store on Thursday because I’m liking the blue more than the purple but I’m giving myself the time to get the knitting done and see how it looks when I’m closer to the next yarn change or addition. I am enjoying this so much that I’m thinking of making another one in fingering weight yarn … it may be a bit premature but who knows.

And I am working my way down the body of the Make Mine a Double pullover. I am really close to the last color in the ombre change which is a peachy cream color. I have also caked up the second hank of the yarn and am trying to figure out what I want to do with the sleeves. I am tempted to stop where I am and start the second ball of yarn with the darker colors … or reverse the cake and wind off the creamy color to the blue and end with the blue and brown and make both sleeves more in the beige and cream … I have to sit with it a bit before I decide for sure. More will be revealed!

I’ll have to take another photo of the sock, I don’t seem to have one but here are the other two. My finger is pointing at the “bump” where I stopped increasing and started decreasing on my Jaunty. And the lighter bottom of my Make Mine a Double. The second cake starts with the dark chocolate brown again … if you’re reading this, what would you do?

Gone knitting!

Flexibility is Key

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

All of a sudden the yard is covered in these little yellow flowers. I don’t remember having them ever before and I can’t say that I’m unhappy about them. I love yellow and a perfect lawn is impractical here at the lake because no chemicals can be applied. So, we just accept whatever we get … it’s a good life lesson, frankly. Acceptance.

In knitting this week, however, acceptance wasn’t the thing. Not at all. I’ve written about my impulse buy of some lovely Artyarns degrade silk mohair hand-dyed yarn that I bought because I couldn’t get the sweater out of my mind. Well, I am waiting for my daughter to try on her sweater and in the meantime I cast on the Make Mine a Double pullover in the Artyarns Double Mohair Ombre yarn. It’s luxurious, 2-ply silk mohair and the colors are incredible. I chose to make the Medium because I didn’t want a lot of ease (12+ inches). However, when I got to separate the sleeves and just knit the body stitches in the round, I tried it on and I didn’t think I had enough ease. SO … I frogged back to before I separated the sleeves and added one round of increases to get to the number of stitches I needed for the Large size and now I’m knitting down the body again.

I am so pleased with the yarn colors and this neutral-ish colorway will go with so many things! I now have to decide how long to make the sweater. The designer wears a lot of cropped garments but she’s young and has a cute figure. I’m not young (at least chronologically) and my figure, well, let’s think about acceptance again … I am truly working on it! My best guess is that I will wear something under this sweater because I think it will be too see-through for my liking and so I am thinking to make it a “normal” pullover length but I will keep trying it on with my jeans and see what I think. So far I’m still using the first hank of the yarn and I will have both sleeves to knit. Again, the designer used one hank of the yarn so she knitted the sleeves first (to her prefered length) and then finished the body. I am going to go ahead with the body and then knit the sleeves. ALTHOUGH, now that I’m looking at it, I might like to have the body be more of the blue and chocolate brown and the sleeves be lighter … hmmm. I may have to cake up the second hank before I continue.

Truth be told, this is a lot of fun. I’m enjoying the challenge of creating the sweater that I will like to wear and be comfortable in partly because I spent a lot of money on the yarn and partly because I love to wear comfy clothing! It’ll be interesting to see where it ends up … and I am not afraid of frogging another couple of inches of mohair if I really need to. It’s a booger to frog but it’s worth it to make a garment that I really love. Stay tuned!

I’m making progress on my Jaunty this week, too. I’ve got it to about 30 inches and have started the second ball of yarn. I have three … the pattern suggests using 45% of the yarn before you begin the decreases and I suspect that I’ll follow her advice so I don’t run out of yarn at the very end. I’m not a big risk taker. *shrugs shoulders

I love the squishy fabric that this scarf is made of and I can hardly wait to block it because I suspect it’ll be even softer and squishier! I chose two different colorways because I wanted a big scarf that I can wrap around my neck a bunch of times and I like the two together so far. The first ball is more purple and the second one is more blue … we’ll see how the third one works in (or doesn’t). We do have another hank of the blue colorway that I may have to put away just in case and I can use the purple one in another project if needed. The stitch pattern is fun and easy to memorize which makes this a good evening project or a good one for when I’m teaching (and with that said, I did un-knit two rows yesterday because I lost track of my pattern).

I’ve completed the first sock and last night I turned the heel on the second sock. What good progress I’m making! I have really enjoyed this pattern and I still love the Socks Yeah! yarn. It’s wonderful to knit with; not at all splitty and so soft but wears well, too. I’m liking the pink colorway and the lace! Again, the pattern is easy to memorize so it’s not bad to knit when I am watching TV with the hubby at night or teaching on Friday or riding in the car. I’ll enjoy wearing these soon when the weather cools a little bit.

And that’s all she wrote for today. I may be headed into the shop this afternoon because we think it may be busy as it’s the last Saturday of the summer yarn sale. It’ll be good to get back to “normal” at work. (If any of you know the store I work for, you’ll know we aren’t like your normal yarn store. LOL)

Gone knittng!

WIP Wednesday

Posted on August 19, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

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.

WIP Wednesday

Posted on August 12, 2026 by Queen Bee Knits

Well, I finally got a WIP Wednesday post on a Wednesday. It seems that I don’t sit down to post often on a Wednesday but I have a few minutes before I have to leave for a board meeting and I thought I’d show you what I’ve been up to.

I have three projects on my needles (WIPs/ Works in Progress) right now that I’ve been working on. I am having a ball with the Reverie Socks by Summer Lee. This is Summer’s most recent pattern and I have knitted one other pair of lace socks that I love so I decided to cast on these. Bought the pattern and grabbed some light pink yarn from my stash. This is another stashed Socks Yeah! yarn and it’s still one of my favorite sock yarns to date. I love working with it. The stitch definition is perfect, the colors are pretty and it feels so good while I’m knitting with it. I’ve already turned the heel, decreased the gusset to the original number of stitches and I’m just working my way out the foot.

I resurrected my daughter’s Levitate Wrap from time out yesterday. It turned out that my plans for the morning changed and I decided that I didn’t want to “do” anything. SO … I just cleaned up the kitchen, and our bathroom and bedroom, did a couple loads of towels, felted my sample for the store (more later) and spent the majority of the day on the screened in porch knitting in the breeze. It was a good day. But I digress, I have finished both sides of the first part of the sweater which is a wrap sweater. I am going to wait to have her try it on because it feels like it may be a bit too short to close up the arms and start knitting the body and I have intentionally not knitted three or four rows on the front (and I can’t remember where the back was left off or what the measurement was supposed to have been.) Anyway, the fabric is nice and I hope this is a good size for her. I’ll be seeing her in early September so this is going to have to wait about a month.

I cast on a new project, too. I have been wanting to knit a Jaunty by Andrea Mowry to show my support of her design success. Apparently she’s being “bullied” for being prolific and successful. Why can’t we just be happy for her and lift her up? I do not understand the mean-spirited methods of people now-a-days. It’s easier and so much healthier for us all if we be kind! Anyway, a friend is also casting on a Jaunty and we’re going to knit together early next week. Meanwhile, I couldn’t help myself and had to cast on and see how the pattern worked. I think I’ve got it … and I’ve got two different colorways of the same yarn, Ewetopia Helix DK, so I’m alternating skeins in the first part of the scarf. It’s a fun pattern and it’s so squishy!

I have two FOs, too! I have finished my Sabai Top and both of my great-nephews’ vests are blocked with ends woven in. I also felted the bowl that I am making for the store as a sample hoping to sell some of the super bulky wool yarn by Brown Sheep. The variegated colors have been discontinued and are on clearance but the solids would be good for felted bowls, too. It was a quick and fun knitting project and it felted up quickly in my front-loader. I do have very hot hot water. I did have it go through the cycle twice but I am happy with the results. It’s rather large and I hope we can use it at the store. The photo shows it un-felted. Suffice it to say that it’s now felted. I’ll take another photo one of these days.

And with that, I have to run … I wish I was going to knit!

Gone knitting.