My Holiday Break Knitting

 

My Christmas vacation officially starts tomorrow. I'm so ready to have calmer days, less work, less commitments, just hang out with my crew and knit as much as I can! I usually pick a new cast-on for the vacation and this time I chose the Autumn Alpine sweater by Caitlin Hunter. You can never go wrong with Caitlin's patterns. They're fun to knit and to wear. I had a sweater quantity of Cascade 220 in my stash (saved for another sweater but this one won!) I am pairing it with beautiful yarn by Aster Fiber Co that was gifted to me by my friend, Sassy Karen. I won't have enough for all of the colorwork so I might use a different yarn for the flowers. Or, I'll treat myself and order another skein. We'll see!

Do you have anything special you work on over the holiday break? 

Last Minute Knits

My husband had asked me last month to knit some gifts for his co-workers. I've been doing this for a few years now and I completely forgot I was supposed to! The women he works with are wonderful and they look forward to the hand knits every Christmas. When he asked if they were knitted I panicked a little.

I knew I had to figure out something fast to knit. 

I came across this Cadillac Knot Ear Warmer pattern. 

It is knit with super bulky yarn on large needles. It's a simple brioche stitch with a clever way of "knotting it". I absolutely love them and want to knit one for myself. 

Do you have a go-to last minute knit for gift giving? 

In the December Groove

My Eaves Cardigan is coming along nicely. It was a slow start but now that I can work in the round on one long circular, I am cruising right along. I have had a lot of commissioned knitting to do this holiday. Too much. Next year I can't say yes to everyone that asks! I knitted too much and hurt my hand and wrist. Had to take a few days off. It's too much!!! I love to have happy customers but I definitely over extended myself this year. Anyway...it is what it is. Lesson learned!

I'm reading this book and really enjoying it. 

I have to admit I gave up on our book club choice. I just couldn't get into it!!!!!!

And a few pics of my cute animals just because :)

Shop Local!

The holidays are here. Christmas shopping has begun and this is my quick reminder to shop local if you can. Your purchases help your local economy, small businesses, moms and dads, farmers, grandparents, kids, you get the gist...

Our store is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11-4. We are thankful for every purchase people make. The profits go right back into the farm and the care of the animals.

Every purchase helps pay for feed, hay, farm upkeep, herd health medication, etc. 

I know Amazon is convenient (trust me, we all use it!) but if you have the time and few extra dollars, please consider your local mom and pop place :)

Here's a quick tour of our store from this past weekend.

 

Change of Plans

While wandering the barns and vendors of Rhinebeck (NY Sheep & Wool Festival), I spotted a woman wearing a beautiful sweater. I ran up to her, asked what it was and she told me the Oak Lane Sweater had just been released. I knew I wanted to make it. Later in the weekend I found yarn for the background at a little booth in the "up down barn" (as we refer to it). The booth was going out of business to the woman's health issues so I bought 4 beautiful skeins of her "Skippy" yarn. It's a fingering weight yarn made up of 50% Baby Doll Southdown and 50% Corriedale wool. I love it! 

Then I got home and went to buy the pattern. I looked at the project pages and paused. I absolutely love the pattern! It's a gorgeous sweater. But I started to think about the sweaters I have been wearing the most recently and I realized the all-over colorwork sweaters were the last ones I go for. I've been enjoying looser fitting sweaters (my Weekender) and cardigans like my Francesca and Quill. 

So, the hunt for a new pattern began. I ended up landing the Eaves Sweater by Kate Oates. I thought I would get a lot of wear out of it. It will take me most of the winter to knit between commissioned knits and farm store knits. It would be perfect. Then I casted on. Let me tell you, it's the weirdest construction I have ever done to start a sweater! I was ready to rip it all out and pick a new one. But I stuck with it. I'm on a roll now and onto the colorwork and I'm going to stick with it. This sweater has a bunch of new techniques for me and it will be great for our New to You MAL 2024. 

It's never a bad idea to have a change of plans if need be...

 

Hello, Holidays

And just like that, it's the holiday season.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I decorated for Christmas, enjoyed time with our middle son home from college, great meal at Homesick in Asbury Park, time with the animals, friends and family.