My Adventures in Knitting, truly my Yarn-escape!

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Tuesday's Eclectic Thoughts

I'm currently reading an awesome book on adventure stories published in Men's Journal, and it'd be a sin if it was reading just for men. Really enjoying it.


 How to write a blog post in the grocery store? There's no internet, but here or the library. So chocolate, soy milk, yes picture's on blog.....hummus, carrots, checkout.......and.


My current knit is a TGV Shawl and when I'm back to civilization I'll add all the correct links, but it's found in Ravelry.



If you want to share your read and knit check 
out "Keep Calm and Craft On" at http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/.


Shopping done. Blog done for now. This is where I read and knit yesterday.


Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Yarn Along on Wednesdays


I'm in a small cottage in the Adirondack Mountains by now, a family cabin and I'm alone for just a tad bit more before the family drives up and then it's my daughter's graduation this weekend.



     I have my Outlander book with me and several books downloaded so I can have a choice while there.  The fireplace is roaring and I'm sure I have a cup of tea and my knitting at hand.  I also brought several different knitting projects to choose from.  Sometimes I have to switch things out because I have a bit of carpal tunnel.  It's gotten better over the year, but the bigger the knit the easier on the hands.  But I do love the sock knitting.  So variety helps.




     One book I'm thinking of reading is The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club.  My husband bought me the book, but I decided I wanted an actual book and Outlander (despite it's size) had to go with me.  So I downloaded  The Beach instead for a couple of bucks and leaving the book to return to later.  Update, I came to my senses and downloaded Outlander.  So for the first time in my life I am without a book in my hands.  We'll see how that goes, but my tote carrying on to the plane was thankfully light!


Hope everyone has a good week and I hope to post this (even if a bit late) on the Yarn Along.


Join Ginny at Small Things on Wednesday and share your current read and knits in a picture with a link to your blog in her Yarn Along-


"~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading and I love sharing my projects and current reads here.  I would love for you to join me every Wednesday to share a single photo of what you are knitting (or crocheting) and reading too! "  Share with Ginny at Small Things.


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Tuesdays Eclectic Thoughts


I'm in the Adirondack Mountains by now, reunited with my oldest daughter.  She's got her last week in college and I'll be alone in the little cottage.  I love the cottage.  I know the knot holes in the ceiling where it slopes.  I remember the old lady I would talk to when I was my youngest daughter's age and she told me her two sons built the cabin I think in the 1930's.  Yes, I was into history then too and I'd actually remember.




My grandfather built the addition on the back, so there is an on-going argument with my Dad.  I remember the story of the old lady (that was so sweet next door) and I call it a cabin.  My Dad insists it's a cottage.  OK, not worth an argument, I just have to remember not to make a mistake.  Ode to the small things that seem so small that make trouble.  By the way if anyone is into praying please pray for me.  Being with family, especially my Dad is hard.  My Mom was always in my court and now she gone and, well, let's just say prayer will help!  My son is trying to come on the weekend with his girl and they are so nice.  Please, Oh God, may they be there!  All the way from Maine (during Finals week), a ten hour trip.


I have my cardigan- The Fearless Cardigan Frogged! almost re-made again.  I have the pieces with me and hopefully I can finish it in front of a fire with music I downloaded to my Tablet- a little Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Chris Botti and several reads.


I'll also be working on my sock. Based on Susan Anderson's How I Make my Socks pattern. Now I am actually at the JFK airport after a swift 3 1/2 hour flight from Denver, so since I left at Midnight, And with the two hour change difference, I haven't seen much sleep.  So this being anew tablet and me being an older user I have no clue how to add all links.  Been trying to link to FrontierDreams.blogspot.com so you all could share your knits there.  But the slow internet (with all these people I can't blame it) makes the link impossible. So there you know where to go. And you know when to go.  
Me, what I'd give for a soft pillow and a bed.
Dream on girl.
I'll be better when I'm with my girl and back at the cabin....beds.  Forget a fire, I'm looking for those blankets and a pillow.
Did you know when you fly East with a full(ish) moon off your window it travels with you the whole country. Strange.  Last time I flew West back home the sunset was out my window almost the whole time. It lasted for hours.
Flying with the moon  and Sun.




Monday, May 23, 2016

Monday Moments


     Just taking a few moments to post a picture of what I'm taking on my vacation in the Adirondack Mountains.  I'll be alone in a cabin with a fireplace, my knitting and a book.  I have packed several projects to pick from.  I found a circular needle the exact size I needed for the TGV (High Speed Knitting) by Susan Ashcroft.
TGV to Be-







I'm going to also bring one cotton skein to do a simple garter stitch washcloth for the bathroom up there.  I'll miss mine here and I want it smaller, so that'll be easy.  Tuesday's Eclectic Thoughts- A Finished Peachy Dishcloth.



     All easily portable and all packed.











Friday, May 20, 2016

Friday Finds


     I have a full plate today with traveling back East on Monday for my Daughter's graduation from college in Vermont.  I have this vague hope that I can pick up my The Fearless Cardigan (previously Frogged!) and it can be thrown together again because I think I know where I made my mistakes were and (I think) I know what I'm doing (notice the "I think").  But she graduates in Vermont and I am staying in a cottage in the Adirondack Mountains with no heat except small electric wall heaters and a fireplace.  I hear it snowed last week.  So, suddenly the idea of having a Bulky cardigan that's only negative comment on Ravelry was that it was too warm sounds oh, so good and snuggly.


  OK- so this is so typical me, I want to do one thing and what do I do all day?  I saw those cute little buttons and the ad link on our new host for the meme "Friday Finds" (Babs Book Bistro)  and I just had to get them!  Yup, I am tenacious, to a fault.  And they were stubbornly going in the wrong place, and haven't exactly been what I designed.  So I will try later.  I want my sweater.  We shall see.  So this wordy explanation is to say- I'm sharing only 1 book today because I can't spend more time on this.  But, I want to support the new blog.  One day I will figure out that cute app everyone else has that adds their TBR list from Goodreads or Pinterest, another day, another week.

My Book:


     I've read the other books in this series and they're fun.  They do tend to repeat the same formula, but I was on a "read all I could find of Kat Martin" fling and I decided the series was a once in awhile for when I just want a light, racy (in more ways than one) read.  So it's been a few years and instead of buying it I saw it was for $1.99 on Kindle and added to my tablet for my vacation in case I just need what I think of as reading candy- easy, light and just plain fun.  So I'm pleased with myself it's there.  It'll be read sometime this summer if not next week.


  If you are interested in learning how to knit socks- that is what I am doing this week for a knit-along, come check out this week's blog.  http://lovelyyarnescapes.blogspot.com/.  Even if curious come peruse my Friday Fantasy Knits- I Dream of Socks I Could Knit to be inspired.


  So enjoy your week's read.

  

Friday Fantasy Knits- I Dream of Socks I Could Knit

     I'm dreaming of socks this Friday Fantasy Knits.  Simple sock patterns that I could do as a newbie to socks.  A few more complicated looking, but still with simple lines.  I'm hoping I can make socks for Christmas gifts and these are going to be great inspiration to anyone newbie or expert in sock making.  All are free and linked with Ravelry to add to your own "Favorite" list for another day, or start today!  Enjoy.


       My last week has been focused on making my first sock.  Never done it before and I'm leary of small needles.  So far, so good and I'm actually enjoying myself.  To join in the Knit-along go to- Mason-Dixon Knitting  where you can either finish a sock started, grab some sock yarn and start a new sock or learn like me.  Beside Susan B. Anderson- How I Make My Socks which I am using for a pattern and instruction, you can look at the  Rye Sock by TinCanKnits- Free Pattern and tutorials below and use that pattern and they have great step-by-step tutorials for their Simple Collection (Free patterns and tutorials) where you learn how to knit something gorgeous.  Very simple, but lovely patterns.




A Simple Collection of Lovely Socks to Knit-






Wool, silk, nylon and mohair socks, how to define cosy and soft.


The name is just my cup of tea and the socks look lovely-









Pretty and versatile-



Vanilla Socks just sound delicious and the theory of knitting it from the other way sounds interesting.









The ultimate in luxury- Cashmere.













 Saturday Matinee Socks (half price May 20th)






I need a heavy men's sock for my son and hubby and this is made of worsted weight yarn which I was thinking would be a lot better for them.  Truly they would shred the little sock yarn on what I'm doing now!














Done in Black Current madelinetosh Tosh Sock