Lovely Yarn Escapes : November 2016

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Wednesday's Yarn Along

Come join me at the "Small Things" blog and share what you are reading and knitting in "Yarn Along".

I finished my Elise's Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief today at a knitting group I go to on Wednesday mornings. That is, I did, and I took a picture. Then we discussed the roll of the stockinette at the end and how blocking might not totally get rid of it, so I ripped out a bit again. To not only make it right, but I also was just not ready to see it go. I loved working on it and the colors are so beautiful.

So I had extra yarn and I had extended the pattern beyond the final eyelet section and three rows. Hence the wider stretch of stockinette that rolled at the end. So I decide to rip back to 4 rows below the last eyelet, and add another eyelet row and end the shawl like the pattern does with 3 final rows. I assume with blocking I should get rid of any roll. Also the three rows of eyelet at the end I think will look prettier and more finished.

Malabrigo Arroyo Yarn in Marte

And secretly, I just wanted to knit on this just awhile longer. After all its my November knit, I have till the end of today!

I'm also reading a really good book, another Romantic Suspense by a Christian author and I find it interesting that the plots are just as riveting with suspense and just one kiss. Real clean and real fun, and what's nice is the tidbits of inspiration thrown in at points. So this week's book (which is free on Amazon for Kindle) is Gathering Shadows (Finding Sanctuary Book #1) Kindle Edition by Nancy Mehl. A review at Goodreads: Gathering Shadows. My last week's read (also a Christian writer) was Dangerous Passage (Southern Crimes Book #1): A Novel Kindle Edition by Lisa Harris (free on Kindle).

Please join us at Ginny's "Small Things" blog to share-

"~ 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, November 29, 2016

Tuesday's Knitting Away

Joining "Frontier Dreams" today and sharing my creations.

I'm literally on the last row of my Elise's Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief . I'll probably bind off tomorrow when I go to a knitting group I joined. I alternate knitting with a black hat I'm working on for Christmas and I need to move on with that, ( Bankhead Hat)

FYI- KnitPicks is offering a Free Pattern every week for 12 weeks. This week is a pretty set of Fair-Isle Sachets - Fun with Fair Isle Lavender Sachets.

Join "Frontier Dreams" to post your projects on Tuesday or later in the week.

Nicole says: "The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link" on her blog, link above.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Friday Fantasy Knits - Hat Patterns

Today I planned to start on a new shawl, have my Fall one completed and I ordered the perfect knitpicks yarn for it in fingering weight. Or so I thought. I bought a skein of Preciosa Tonal in Bonsai, which is a beautiful midnight green, dark green with bluish notes. A color that I felt reflected the evergreens of the Christmas holiday, a December hue.

Unfortunately I ordered the worsted by mistake and since the shipping cost is almost as much as the sale price my hubby suggested I just keep it and then just order what I need (it helps it's Black Friday and all their stuff at KnitPicks is %20 off!). So here I am with a beautiful skein of worsted and I just want to dream about what I might do with it. It really was a blessing I didn't get the right yarn, right now. I'm backlogged on Christmas knitting and I get sidetracked with my shawl of the moment. So this makes me focus and get caught up this week.

So here's some possibilities for this worsted skein of yarn. It's 100 grams and 273 yards and it's a single ply. I thought I wanted a Beret, but some of the other hats have caught my eye. But whatever I choose, I'm making myself wait till after I get caught up.

Vercana Hat

Wickerwork Hat - Free Pattern

Seathwaite - Free Pattern

Caramel Brulee

"Caramel Brulee is part of the Coffeehouse Hats collection!

Through Jan 8, 2015, use the code provided in pattern to receive 25% off the other hats in this collection.

Hot Toddy- by Thea Coleman

London Fog – by Bristol Ivy

Stollen- by Melissa Schaschwary"

Hot Toddy

Early Morning Beret

Simple Beret

May these hats be inspiration for yourself and for gifts.

by UneAllumeuse

Flickr

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Wednesday's Yarn Along

Today I'm sharing with Ginny and her friends at her "Small Things" blog; come join me and share what you are reading and knitting in "Yarn Along".

Perfectionism can be annoying. I want my Elise's Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief perfectly done, I've meticulously counted each row (after I ripped it all out before), but these last rows I got a bit lazy and I'm off a stitch or two. No big deal you say, just add a stitch here and there. But it bugs me, so I'm ripping just a few rows out as I'm nearing the very end. I can't help it, I've gone this far getting it right, it seems a shame to fudge now. Also this is my Fall knit and I wanted to last through Thanksgiving. I'm going to hate to say goodbye to this lovely yarn and it's amazing colors - Malabrigo Arroyo Yarn in Marte.

Making a pear reduction (cooking it down to mush) to be added to Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash for Thanksgiving.

I just got a package from Knitpicks and I ordered yarn for a December knit. It's a beautiful green I hunted high and low for. A Midnight green with blue notes. To be unveiled later.

I'm reading another free selection from Amazon's Kindle. I just started yesterday - Dangerous Passage (Southern Crimes Book #1): A Novel Kindle Edition by Lisa Harris. It's about a homicide detective and behavioral specialist named Avery who is trying to uncover a serial killer. There's romance entwined with the Medical Examiner and it looks like it'll be riveting. I'm enjoying the plot and characters and there are more "Southern Crimes" books after this to enjoy! Goodreads Review - Dangerous Passage

Please join us at Ginny's "Small Things" blog to share-

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Tuesday's Knitting Away

Joining "Frontier Dreams" today and sharing my creations.

With Thanksgiving just days away I'm starting my pie baking and prepping for my Sweet Potato and Butternut squash dish. Usually I mash them together with maple syrup and butter, but talking to my daughter this morning, who called to get pointers on family Thanksgiving recipes, I decided to change it a bit. She lives with my brother's family back East and he makes a similar dish but with pear puree. So I'm going to fool around with that and brown sugar this year and see what the result is.

My Elise's Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief is almost done and I'm on just the last rows. Still I'm not sure how far the yarn will go. I did rip out a few rows and opted to put in the last eyelet row and I figured I'll just knit till it's almost gone after that.

Join "Frontier Dreams" to post your projects on Tuesday or later in the week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 18, 2016

Friday Free Patterns - More Hat Patterns

Lars Leber Photography

As the first fall of snow happened yesterday here in Colorado, and the temperatures dipped into the teens, my thoughts turn to warm hats to warm the head, but also for Christmas gifts. I've been working on my Christmas list busily making hats! Here's some free inspiration:

Star Crossed Slouchy Beret - Free Pattern