My friend reminded me that today is the Winter Solstice. Christmas really snuck up on me this year but I think I’m ready. We have simplified again this year. No real tree, we have a small-ish tree that I had to find new lights for but it’s lit and it’s fun to see in the living room. I also set up my Department 56 village for the first time in a long time and it’s a really fun, festive decoration. I did get out and buy some Poinsettias for the dining room table and one for my atelier. I also forced a few paperwhite narcissus and an amaryllis. They’re blooming now and two of my orchids are pushing out bud spikes, It looks like we will have orchids blooming again in the New Year. I’ve got to keep the humidifiers running if they’re all going to live for a long time.
I’ve finished all of my holiday knitting except for my hubby’s Christmas socks. He’s gotten yarn in his stocking before and I will be able to knit them out in the open once he knows.
FO first! This is the Jamberry Cardigan by Birchtree Knits. I knitted a size 4 in Berroco Vintage DK. I like the Vintage product for its washability. My daughter has asked for sweaters that she can wash and dry. Sylvie has been living in her other purple cardigan (at least the last time I heard) partly because she can put it on all by herself and she can button it up by herself, too. I hope she likes this one, too. It looks huge but she’s growing up so quickly!
Today I ran to town to get some last minute goodies for stockings. When I got home, it was time to get cooking. The kids all want my granola so I made a double batch and will divide it three ways. I also made two quiches (one sausage and one veggie) with shredded potato crust like the ones I made for Thanksgiving that were a big hit. Earlier in the week I made two different kinds of cinnamon rolls – one with nuts and one without – for my Friday morning knitting class’ holiday celebration. They were delicious (and I did make cream cheese frosting for them, too.) I made chili for dinner one night this week, too. I don’t cook much these days, my hubby cooks more than me, but it was good! I just wish I’d made corn bread to go with it. Next time.
I’ve been knitting every day. On my needles, I have a Stockholm Slipover in stashed yarn. I am really happy with the way it’s knitting up and I am almost down to the ribbing which means there is a bit of stockinette and some ribbing at the bottom, around the sleeves and neck and then I can wear it. I’ve also cast on a Musselburgh hat in a pink HuMade yarn that I got a Knitty City when I was in the city a while ago. I’m holding it with a strand of Berroco Aerial mohair/silk. I think I’m near the end of the increases and ready to hit the round and round of stockinette stitch.
I cast on the Broadgate Tabbard. I may set it aside for a bit though because it’s really a spring and supper project; I’m knitting mine in a stunning green linen that I bought after I saw it on Ravelry or Social Media. I’ve never worn a lot of green but this one just got stuck in my head and I had to buy it. I think I may knit an afghan for my brother instead. And a hood for his wife. They’re both very deserving and never ask for anything. I have green yarn for his blanket and a neutral deep beige/brown for the hood. Hmm. Maybe the hood will be my next cast on. I also want to finish the Noah the Horse that I have mostly made. And some pink mittens that need to be embroidered. I won’t go down that rabbit hole again. That kind of embroidery on knitwear isn’t my bag, But I do want to finish the project.
I have SO many projects that I want to make. And so much yarn that I have bought in anticipation of the projects. Ha! Ha!
I didn’t get a photo taken before I got to work this morning. And what a morning it was! When the store is busy the time passes so quickly. it was one odd situation after another today … one of THOSE days. LOL. One of the first customers was a woman who “came in with my daughter last fall and the owner showed her a book. I wonder what that was.” She went on to tell me that it was in a shelf at the rear of the store … the hint that cut the options in half … we have only ever had crochet books at the back of the store but they’re all moved to the front this past summer. And we have a full book shelf of crochet books. In the end she decided to buy a gift card for her daughter … after I had sold the last one we had in the store. (More arrived later in the day and it all worked out well but what a start!)
I have been getting quite a bit of knitting done and I have wrapped up several projects. It’s quite wonderful to finish a few projects and I am really happy with them!
I’ve been really excited to wear my Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns. I made mine in the Zinnia colorway of Rowan Felted Tweed. I love the yarn. I love the color. I love the poncho! To be honest, this is a boring knit … 50 inches of stockinette stitch. But it was a good project to work on when I was teaching and when I was watching television at the end of a long day. And the final result (the blocking was an experience, I had to use my blocking wires that I really don’t love) is wonderful and so wearable.
I found the sparkly hat on a youtube channel that I watch on occasion. I have actually knitted two and this one will be the one that I gift to someone who wants it. The other one, mine, is downstairs and has already been worn and shown off at the store on my teaching day. I found the sequin yarn over Thanksgiving at my favorite Marblehead yarn shop. When I got home I found some black alpaca and a mohair to match and the hat is knitted with all three yarns held together. Quick and very simple hat pattern and the yarn actually allowed me to make two hats. I found pompoms this week and tied them on. They are officially done. And I love mine! The pattern is called the City Lights Hat. Details are on my Ravelry project page.
I also finished the Nuuk Gloves that are actually fingerless mitts. These are going to be nice warm mittens and they’re long enough to wear in the winter in Maine when the mornings are chilly and the car’s steering wheel is chilly. You need mitts to cover your fingers so they don’t touch the wheel at least until the heater warms is up. The yarn is Knitting for Olive’s merino worsted held with a Knitting for Olive mohair. They’re knitted at quite a tight gauge which will make them extra warm. I bought this yarn on a “girls’ trip” with my coworker friends to a new LYS near us here in Central Maine. I like that it’s not a superwash. There, I’ve said it. I’m becoming a wooly wool kind of girl.
I have mostly finished our granddaughter’s Christmas gift sweater, the Jamberry Cardigan. All the duplicate stitch is done, most of the ends are woven in and I just have to sew on the buttons and give it a block. I’m quite pleased with the sweater and I know Sylvie will love it. This completes her little gifts. I’ll post a final picture when it’s actually finished. But the “hard” work is done.
I cast on a Stockholm Slipover by Petite Knits since I have finished so many little projects. It seemed fitting. Her sizing is a bit difficult for my body. One size is just about an inch of positive ease and the next size is almost six inches of positive east. One too little and the other too much. I basically threw a dart at the sizes and cast on. My gauge is good and pretty soon I can try it on. Maybe even tomorrow. I am knitting it with deeply stashed yarn. Three hanks of a clearance yarn from the store held with an alpaca/silk lace. I really like the way it’s coming out and I like the color but I fear that I have all blue, purple and gray knits. SO … in the future I need to change it up more. This pattern is really fun – it starts with the back and one shoulder and goes on from there. I’ve gotten to the point where the body is connected and I’m working my way down the body. I love knitting a vest – no sleeves!
Stockholm Slipover in Tenderfoot and Halo
I still have a pair of socks for my hubby to finish for Christmas. This week I will really focus on them during the days when he’s at work. I’m trying to keep them a surprise! I have a feeling I may get one of them made and then will finish them after the holiday – when they can be knitted in plain sight. Ha! Ha! I’ve made the gusset increases so I have a heel turn and a leg to make. I hope I can get ONE finished! Otherwise, he’ll get yarn (again) in his stocking. He’s used to it. And he loves handknit socks.
I baked this week! I haven’t baked since before Thanksgiving but I finally got into the kitchen and made some granola. We all love my granola and if I find some “extra” time this week, I will bake some for my kids for Christmas. Tomorrow my college roommate is making an appearance for about 24 hours and I want to make some blueberry muffins for her (and for my hubby). I’d love to make some rolls or something fun, too. I’ve marked several ideas for the holiday including pecan cinnamon rolls – a couple of batches will be good for Christmas morning. Yum! I also want to make some “salt dough” ornaments to decorate with the kids on Christmas eve. We are simplifying our holiday this year and doing a gift swap. We all have a secret person who we get a gift for – and we all submit a list of items we want! Easy. Time together is way more important than gifts. And I have decided I really don’t like shopping. This week, though, I have to get to work filling my hubby’s stocking.
Another couple of weeks to the New Year! I have my new planner and have begun getting it started. I love a good clean, empty book with so much to look forward to in the next months. I’m not a believer in resolutions but I do believe in having goals or hopes.
It may not be “official” but winter has descended on Central Maine! We had our first measurable snow fall this past week and have had several flurries. Snow overnight has “covered” my car. Yesterday we had the pleasure of watching a group of Bald Eagles and a crow eating something out on the ice. There were five or six eagles and our trio of eagles but only one was allowed to eat with the eagles. Mother nature may seem cruel but the circle of life is so evident here.
I’ve been busy without much of a break. School (volunteer) work has been active and continues to head in a positive direction. I’m heading to school tomorrow night for the winter recital in Maine Arts Academy’s newly finished recital hall/performance space. I’m excited to see my first performance there. I’ll also drop off my donation of books for the library and a donation for the law mower fund. (Charter School funding is not the same as the rest of public schools. We don’t get the school funding from towns that traditional public schools get which continually have us looking for money for basic needs. (Maine Arts Academy is a public charter school for grades 7-12 which means we accept all students who apply until our classes are filled. We have to follow all DOE standards of education, graduation, and in 2026 will have to have all our educators certified (we were allowed to have experts with a proven record of their expertise teach in the Arts areas. No more.) Can you tell I’m passionate about our school?
But I was going to write about my knitting and what’s been happening that keeps me busy. I’ve been pulling out Christmas decorations that I’ve not pulled out for years. Our fake tabletop Christmas tree lived on our stairway landing between the second and third floors for ages but we put it away last year. I just pulled it out of the closet and half of the lights are out – and nothing I do seems to fix them. SO …. I’ve pulled the lights off and need to find a new strand of lights. Where, if not shopping at Target or Walmart, do I find short strings of small lights? I need to give the tree a shower, too. It’s so dusty! I also pulled out and went through my Department 56 collection and put up my Dickens Village. I’m so happy to see it again! We’ve had it lit up for about a week and we’re really enjoying it. I have some random mismatched pieces that aren’t Dickens and I’m not sure what I’ll do with them (they apparently have no value today despite being very collectible 20+ years ago.) I also found a bunch of Swarovski crystal figures that my ex collected and gifted to me. What will I ever do with them?! AND I have a full box of Halloween light up houses. They’re still taped up since our move to Maine. Guess they can go, too, hun?
Much to my husband’s chagrin, I haven’t been doing any baking at all. I keep thinking about it but I haven’t made it to the kitchen yet. Maybe today. I was going to go to Costco for provisions but we have a meeting at 1pm and I won’t make it back in time if I leave now. Wednesday.
I have been knitting wonderfully irrelevant things not related to what I have to get done for Christmas – and that’s quite limited this year.
I have been working on an orange poncho called the Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Knits. I made mine in Rowan Felted Tween because I have this wonderful pair of boots and thought an orange poncho to match would be fun. I finished it this week and wore it to a funeral mass on Saturday and I was very happy with the result. I haven’t got a finished picture of it yet (I forgot.) But it came out very well. I chose to not add a cowl neckline to it because I don’t love stuff around my neck anymore. It was a good choice (and I have plenty of yarn to add one if I change my mind.)
Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns
Blocking the stockinette rectangle was a royal pain … because stockinette stitch naturally rolls, it needs to be blocked with blocking wires and it’s such a large piece (50 inches by 22 inches) I didn’t have a space to block it that wasn’t my studio floor. AND I didn’t have anywhere to pin the wires so gallons of water, some air-dry clay and a bag of unwrapped Christmas gifts worked as weights. Once blocked, you fold it in half and seam one side all but about twelve inches for the neck. It’s quite smart, really.
City Lights by Dina Mor
I have also been knitting the perfect black hat. I saw this one one a podcast and knew I had to knit one for me. I found sequin yarn in Marblehead at Thanksgiving and last week I bought some black alpaca and black mohair and the hat is knit with all three strands held together. The pattern is the City Lights Hat and it says it’ll fit an 18 inch circumference and my big fat Rockwell head is more like 23 inches. SO … I went up to a cast on of 96 stitches which means an extra 4 inches. Hopefully it’ll fit when I’m done (as you can see from the horrible selfie, it seems to be working.) The sequin yarn I found has tiny sequins on it which I love because they’re very subtle and I’m not really a sequin kind of girl. I have a few more rounds to go and it’ll be done. On Thursday at work I’ll have to buy a big black pompom for the top.
Thompson River Socks by Carolyn Kern
I’m working on a pair of Christmas socks for my hubby, too. It’s a tradition. I always put a pair of new socks in his stocking. These may or may not be done by then. I’m trying to keep them a secret but he hasn’t been working (his boss keeps calling it off) so I only have Friday to knit. This past Friday I worked on them for quite a while and then noticed I’d skipped a round somewhere in the chart and I had to frog back (rip it, rip it) several rounds before it was ok. I am now re-knitting them and have reached (almost) the end of the heel gusset. I’m knitting the Thompson River Socks in Raggi yarn that I’ve hoarded for all these years waiting to make a pair again (since the first pair was not perfect but that’s a long story.) These socks are toe up (not my favorite) but goals have been set ages ago and I’m meeting them this year.
Sylvie’s Jamberry sweater has been sitting in the project bag completely ignored. Maybe today I’ll get the duplicate stitching finished on the yoke and block the sweater. It’s going to be adorable and I have a feeling she’s going to love it but I am not a fan of all the duplicate stitch and wish I’d just knitted it in. (I wasn’t paying attention to the pattern, I guess, and I never read the pattern all the way through. Oh well. I just need to do it.
Nuuk Gloves by Pernille Larsen
I am working on a pair of fingerless mitts. A kit that I bought at a new yarn/needlework shop that the “girls” and I visited a few weeks ago. It’s a kit they put together for a pair of Nuuk Gloves by Pernille Larsen out of Knitting for Olive worsted weight wool and mohair (two strands held together.) The first glove is finished except for the thumb and I will work the second one to the same point and then add both thumbs together at the same time. The color is a new one for my pallet but I like it a lot. Not sure who they’re for but they’re going to be warm.
Stockholm Slipover by Petite Knits
I still have Noah the horse in a project bag in my atelier. And the Jelly Roll blanket. And the pink embroidered mittens. BUT I chose to cast on the Stockholm Slipover by Petite Knits. I’ve been wanting to cast on for this for a long time and I thought I had stashed yarn to make it and then doubted myself and then found the yarn again and dove right in. I am knitting with a fingering weight (EYC Tenderfoot) and a lace weight mohair which is actually a suri alpaca (Halo by the Alpaca Yarn Co) held together. The fabric is dense and on gauge so it’ll be a warm vest. I am choosing the rounded collar and if I like it I may make the v-neck, too.
So there you go! I’ve been gifted so many days of life so far and am grateful and hopeful that there will be many more. I lost a college classmate this past week and two of my friends/coworkers lost their mothers. Both lived long lives. But this reminds me that there is no generation between me and death. I am one of the old folks now. (I still can’t believe it and don’t feel like it!) My tea bag gave me a good message the other day and I wanted to share it here as a reminder – it may be my theme for the next year.
This was my morning view yesterday morning. I was heading from my son’s to my daughter’s apartment before heading home. New York City is so different from home but several parts of my heart live there and l am so grateful to have the flexibility to travel to the city when I am able. I went to help my daughter with childcare so that she could teach a master class in Long Island while her husband was away on business. An extra pair of hands is sometimes helpful. So, I drove down on Sunday morning and came home yesterday … I wasn’t sure I’d make it because of the forecasted snow but I got lucky! No snow until I got to just south of Augusta.
Wednesday afternoon, 3pm
I arrived home to a beautiful post-snowstorm lake. It was sunny and cold and I was so glad to be home. I’ll miss the kids and granddaughter but I brought a bit of New York City home with me – a cold. This morning was pretty rough and I called in the back-up at work so that I didn’t have to work the whole day and can hunker down and relax and get better. I’m drinking tea, staying warm and preparing to go to bed early. It seems like my decongestant and cough medicine has really helped.
While I was away (as usual) I didn’t do a lot of knitting except at nap time. I have been working on a sample for the store – a hair bow. We had a customer in the store last week who was knitting a mohair bow for her mother and we really thought it’d be good to knit a sample for the store. She was younger and we need some youth in the store. I had some left-over mohair in my stash and am using it. The pattern calls for using one or holding two strands of mohair together. It’s a quick knit unless you’re using dark yarn and dark lace weight mohair. LOL.
I have reached the decreases on the second “wing” of the bow. I’m going to switch to light-colored needles and knit on. Hopefully I’ll get it finished and into the store tomorrow or early next week. The pattern is Dahlia Hair Tie Bow. All the details are on my Ravelry page.
This is the delight that kept me on my toes for three days … she is two years old and very independent except when she gets stuck hanging on the bathroom sink and can’t get her feet back onto the toilet. “I need help!” She’s amazing. This grandmother is in love … she knows her numbers and letters, she sings lots of songs and has some very strong opinions. She loves to play in her room and depending on the day, she’s a good eater. Her vocabulary is expanding exponentially and I think her daycare is responsible for that in part. The adults in her life also talk to her all the time and take time to play with her. I love spending time with my family and watching them all supporting each other and loving this little girl. Her face isn’t allowed on the internet so I share these three pictures of our time … coloring, watching movies and insisting on putting her own headband in.
Today I’ve been knitting my Jelly Roll blanket. I’ve finished the fifth and started the sixth strip. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m following the Crazy Sock Lady’s changes to the pattern which makes it simpler to pick up the connecting stitches as you knit the strips together. I started this project thinking of using up all my left-over sock yarn scraps of which I have quite a few. I also had some white fingering weight yarn that I hadn’t used and started holding two strands together … one white strand and one scrappy strand. I’ve decided that after five strips I’m not using up enough of the scraps so I’m altering the “plan” and am using two strands of scraps for a while so they really get used up! It’s super scrappy! I have a feeling that it’ll be super cozy to sit under.
I have one stitch to finish before my Christmas socks are finished. I had dropped a stitch and could only pull it up so far before it would have made it really wonky. I will pull it through to the back/inside of the sock and using a length of yarn, I’ll weave it in and that’ll be good. And I hope to finish the hair bow tonight.
Tomorrow I will be casting on my Bang Out A Sweater project. MDK is hosting the event and the goal is to complete a sweater during the month of February. I love the cardigan they’re knitting but I think I’ll knit a colorwork pullover sweater that I have the yarn for in my stash. It’s been sitting in a cupboard for too long … and then maybe I’ll buy myself the yarn to make the cardigan. Or maybe I’ll make the Stockholm Slipover with the orange yarn. I don’t know … decisions are difficult. Regardless, I’m casting on Cardoon by Isabel Kraemer in Kingston Tweed by Fibra Natura. I have two shades of purple, one light and one dark, the contrast is minimal so it’ll be interesting to see the yoke when I get there.
I brought some crud back from New York so I’m staying home today and worked only part of the day yesterday. I don’t want to share germs with my Friday knitters but I’m really bummed because Friday is always my favorite day.
Queen Bee Knits 