Drink the coffee, do the things, and knit!

 I don't typically have more than two projects going at once. I like to have a long-term project like a sweater on my needles at all times. I also like to have some quicker travel friendly projects, baby hats, etc., that I can sell in the coop or gift to people.

I have had a few custom baby blanket orders lately so I knitted up another Knit Four Points Baby BlanketKnit Four Points Baby Blanket. This time I used Lionbrand Mandala Ombre skeins. I picked two different color ways and set them up opposite of each other. This is a really easy and quick knit if you need a baby blanket gift. I knit it on big needles and the yarn is super soft. 

I also did some more knitting on my Jupiter Crop sweater. This project was sitting in a bag for a while because I ran out of the main color yarn. My friend Mandy had an extra skein in her stash and so kindly mailed it to me. Knitting friends are the best right?! The sweater is supposed to be short sleeves but I prefer long or 3/4 length. So I made mine to end right above my watch. I've heard people calling this "bracelet length" lately and I think that's a perfect way to describe it!

It is supposed to be worn as a cropped sweater and although I made it considerable longer than the pattern called for, it's still not me...I just don't look good in that style with my body type. One day I will learn!!!! SO, the plan is to steek it when I'm done with the sleeves. I think I'll get more use out of it as a cardigan. And my mom gave me so me pretty buttons for Christmas that will be perfect! So that's the plan.

I'm still working on my Mountain Mist sweater. I have an inch to go and I'll be ready to split for my sleeves.

Thank you for the kind messages and prayers for my sister's mother in law. She is day to day right now and not out of the woods by any means. It's heartbreaking, a rollercoaster of emotions and it's just so sad. But we have each other for support and we are praying for a miracle!  For now I will keep drinking the coffee, doing the things and KNIT!

I knit when...

I knit when I'm happy. I knit when I'm sad. I knit when I watch tv. I knit when I watch sports. I knit when I have a spare minute. 

But I REALLY knit when I'm stressed. 

When my mind is racing with worry, I knit. Even better, I cast on a new project. As my hands keep busy knitting, my mind and worries slow down a bit. Knitting is how I cope. It's what makes the hard times manageable. When my dog was sick over Christmas, I sat under the dining room table with him, knitting in hand. I knit and knit and knit.

We have had a very sad and emotional week over here. A dear family member is fighting for her life right now after battling illness for the past year. We all feel like we are in quicksand. Unable to function much and worrying every second of the day.  So I started one of my 2023 Rhinebeck Sweaters. Through my tears and worries, I have been knitting. Row by row, my stress has gone into this sweater. I pray for peace and healing. And as I do that, I will continue knitting. 

My Rhinebeck Sweater

 

How was your weekend?

How was your weekend?

I knitted a lot. I finished up a baby blanket, picked up my Jupiter Crop sweater and started back on the sleeves. Took Buddy for a nice long walk in Spring Lake and the beach. I helped out in the coop for a few hours (well, I don't know if I helped, but I hung out and knitted!) I also went to my friend's house for a pierogi making party. So much fun! We all sat around their kitchen island making his grandmother's homemade pierogis. I could only be there for 2 hours but overall they ended up making 280 of them! I went home with a bag and they were delicious. Saturday night, my sister and I hosted a zoom night for our New to You MAL. We had about 20 people and it was so much fun. We even had a special appearance from our friend Carrie that is volunteering at a dog rescue in Thailand! She called us "from the future"! It was morning the next day there. Technology is so cool.

Sunday was a farm store day for me. We took some photos of my son wearing some of the apparel. He's so handsome :) I also taught an intermediate knitting class to two women. Then I headed in the house to make football food and watch the playoff games. I snuck in some knitting time and also watched a cute movie before I went to bed. I watched Leap Year (well, almost all of it...I fell asleep!) It's an older movie but I think it just showed up on Netflix. So it's new to me! I loved what I watched. Very cute. I'll have to finish the rest tonight. Here are some pictures I took throughout the weekend....

 

Some Little Things To Do More Often...

Morning walks have become our routine. We have a few favorite places to walk but I try to never duplicate the route two days in a row. This morning we headed to the "silo" which we've done many times. But this time we walked farther to the pond. 

Mr Curiosity seemed to enjoy it.

This goofball brings me a lot of happiness. He's also starting to act like a defiant "teenager". Need to amp up the training again. He also thinks he is a tiny little lap dog...

I saw this list on Pinterest today and I liked it. So I thought I would post it.

WIPs and an FO

I'm so happy with this silly little project!!!!!!!!!!!! I made a hot water bottle cover. I did not own a hot water bottle, but I wanted one! As part of my New to You MAL, I learned three new techniques when making this cover. You read more about that in this post.

The cover has been done for two weeks but I wasn't having much luck finding the water bottle to put inside. I saw some on Amazon but I wanted to see it in person before I bought it to make sure it looked like it was the right size. Yesterday after going to the post office, I stopped in the little local pharmacy and voila, there it was! I went to buy it and the cashier laughed and said it was their last one and she needed to order more. She said multiple people have been coming in to buy them and have been asking for them. She hadn't sold many in ages! We agreed that people are sick of always being connected to a cord and maybe we should just go back to some old fashioned things. Well...here I am. A happy, dorky knitter with my hot water bottle and cozy cover. BTW, my family thinks I'm nuts :)

Here is a little baby blanket I am working on. I was asked to knit a blanket that would be good for a stroller or car seat. My friend Mandy suggested this Four Points Baby Blanket by Purl Soho.

I found an example that was smaller. It is a free pattern and I casted on 60 stitches. This is coming out as the perfect little blanket. I'm farther along on it then what is in the photo. I'm on the last triangle now.

I am definitely spoiled when it comes to working with high quality yarn. I guess I've become a bit of a yarn snob over the years. But a baby is messy. They can really yuck up a blanket! So I knew it HAD to be machine washable for the new mom. I went to Joann Fabrics and picked up these balls of yarn. For acrylic yarn, they're not too bad. The colors are nice I think...there wasn't much to pick from. I'm enjoying knitting this and I'm sure I will make more in the future when people ask for baby blankets.

Here is another WIP (work in progress). I am knitting the Nectar Blanket by Ysolda Teague as part of my New to You MAL. It's a pieced blanket and the cast on was new to me. You start in the center and work your way out. I tried it with the yarn I had but the first piece (top in photo) was too small and light in my opinion. For a blanket, I wanted something a little more squishy and cozy. I held the yarn double and made a second. That was the winner! I love it. I used a skein of yarn I had in my stash so I will need to order the yarn to make it. Not rushing into the purchase because I have a few other things in the works. 

 What are your WIPs or FOs? Hope you're all doing well!

-Leanne

Where the Magic Happens

When the farm turned from a small horse farm to an alpaca farm, this little shed became our farm store. Once a run down chicken coop, my parents and family transformed it. It's now known as "The Coop". A space that holds the merchandise, where people come to shop, where people come to visit, the place people walk into and smile when they smell the camp stove (our only heat source). It's a rustic little oasis in the midst of the busy stores and traffic that has invaded our farm town. 

It is also the place that we teach. I teach knitting. My sister teaches crochet. In the winter, lessons take place inside. In summer and fall, lessons take place outside at a table, under the big trees, within eye sight of the alpacas. It's a wonderful place. Last night, I brought two new knitters into the world one stitch at a time. It's a wonderful little place :)

Thank You, Mother Nature

 

Steek!

 A co-worker asked me to knit a baby sweater and bonnet for her sister's baby girl that is due to arrive in February. I showed her some of my go-to baby sweaters on my Ravelry page. While I was scrolling, she asked me to stop on this sweater. She loved the white detail in the yoke. But she asked for it to be a cardigan. So I went to look for a baby version that might be similar. 

Most color work sweaters are worked in the round and then steeked. I found this cute sweater in the ebook, Strange Brew by TinCan Knits. This ebook is awesome! So many patterns and tips on creating your own yoke sweaters. 

This sweater is in the round so I wanted to make it a cardigan by adding a steek to the pattern.

I casted on an extra 5 stitches on the front and off I went!

I picked up stitches on either side of the steek for a button band.

I made three button holes in the yoke.

I need to tack down the steek and reblock and then it's ready to be gifted!

Some knitting, coffee, and friends

 

Work has kept me from spending time with my knitters during the week. Booooo! Last week, my company was closed on Monday to celebrate the New Years holiday. My son had school (still not sure how that was possible) but it gave me time to go hang with my knitting friends at the local coffee shop. They meet every Monday. It was wonderful two hours with my friends, knitting, coffee and chatting. It perked me up so much and I realized that I need more of this in my life!

Today is Monday. I work from home on Mondays. I have a laptop. I don't have meetings today.....So, I packed up my computer and my knitting and headed to the coffee shop! Best of both worlds :) I knitted, worked, sipped coffee, caught up with my knitters and it was perfect. I'm going to do this as much as I can this year. 

I'm working on a little sweater for a co-worker's soon to be niece. She asked for a pink and white cardigan similar to an adult size pullover I made. I decided to knit the Compass Sweater by TinCan Knits. She wants a cardigan so I am going to steek it. You can see me pointing to where I will end up cutting it. I added five stitches to the front of the pattern. I'll sew it on either side and then cut up the middle. I've been making a little video as I go for our Patrons. Hopefully it will be helpful to those wanting to do something similar.

Ok...need to get back to work! Hope you are all doing well. -Cheers!