Wishing For Pine Needles

Yarn Along ~ April 18

Yarning along with Ginny this week, slowly but surely!

Plugging away here ever so intermittently on the in threes baby sweater and loving how it's turning out! In the midst of the move and my seasonal evening job grading essay tests for the great state of Ohio, I'm finding myself fast asleep with the knitting needles in hand.  

But oh how I love having a project to go to when I do stumble across little bits of time! 

As far as reading goes, I have obtained a copy of the Hunger Games.  I just have to know what all the fuss is about!  (Truth be told, I haven't started it just yet, but I have heard that it's a hard one to put down so I'm waiting for just the right time.)

That's what I'm up to - how about you?

Yarn Along ~ March 14

The honey cowl is done!  I had some extra time in the car recently and finished this little number up once and for all.  I love, love, love this pattern and I'm sure I'll give it another go sometime.  (The wool is Quince & Co....fun stuff!)

The funny thing is that it was in the 70's when I modeled it...not great cowl weather.  But oh those honeycombs!

I've casted on for another baby cardi (because I can't seem to stop), thanks to Amy's recommendation.  I'm hoping to get it done in time for Easter, although at this rate with our crazy-warm weather we may be wearing sundresses by then!

I've heard so much about Organized Simplicity lately that I just had to pick it up.  And I can see why.  I'm only a couple of pages in and I'm ready to box up the whole house and give it away.  Well, maybe except for my yarn.  And my fabric.  Oh, and all those adorable baby dresses Lena has in her closet.  And my book collection.  (OK, guess I better keep reading!)

Hope you are having fun knitting and reading.  I'm linking up with Ginny today!

Yarn Along ~ March 7

Lena's sweater is done!

(OK, so maybe it's slightly on the big side for a 3-6 month size, but she really doesn't mind....)

Also, I never realized how many adorable buttons are in this world!  It was hard to choose between these cuties, but we ultimately settled on the sweet deer and hedgehog, she and I.

As for reading...well (ahem), I must say that I have foregone books this week to catch up on season two of Downton Abbey.  The episodes are only available for free on PBS for just a smidgen longer, so with that being said....gotta run.  (One more episode to go!)

Gladly joining up with Ginny for her weekly yarn along...happy knitting and reading!

Yarn Along ~ February 22

Still dutifully plugging away at my cowl and having a marvelous time.  I think next I will cast on for another baby sweater because I just can't help myself!

I'm reading A Fine Mess: Living Simply With Children this week.  It's a quick read with great concepts for simple family living and is written from a "been there, done that" perspective.  (Apparently the author has done everything from living in her car with children to a comfortable suburban home and lifestyle.  She seems to have struck her balance while living on a farm in Vermont.)  The book is interesting but has some typos, run-on sentences, etc.  Not enough to effect the message, but a bit annoying at the same time.  I say give it a go!

I'm linking up with Ginny this week.....what are you knitting and/or reading?

Yarn Along ~ February 8

Yarning along with Ginny again this week...won't you join in?

I have begun my honey cowl and I can already tell I'm going to love it.  I'm using Quince & Co.'s Lark in Carrie Yellow, and the color makes me so happy.  It's a warm, mustardy yellow perfect for winter wear.  I've enjoyed the rhythm of the *slip 1 wyif, purl 1* - it's very soothing and calms my end-of-day nerves.  Three cheers for that!

I'm enjoying watching this honeycomb pattern form as I go and am still amazed by the whole knitting thing.  I love how my fingers and some needles can turn yarn into something beautiful and useful.

I found this book in the clearance bin of the local grocery store and just couldn't pass it up.  An impulse buy if you will, but at least a practical one!  Besides, what's an extra 7 dollars tacked onto an already monstrous grocery bill?

Happy Knitting and Reading to You!

Yarn Along ~ February 1

Happy February, folks!

Yarning along with Ginny today, albeit a bit later than usual.  We have one down for the count with a stomach bug, and praying desperately that it doesn't run its course through the rest of us.

As for yarning along this week....

...the mittens are finished!  I do love this pattern - it's so cute and quick, and Tonya happens to give sizes that are all perfect for my crew.  And Hans loves them!  The only interesting part is that it is close to 60 degrees outside today which is well over normal for these here parts.  I suppose I'll take it over him being able to wear the mittens for any length of time.

As for my honey cowl, well, the balls have been wound and the needles bought.  That's progress, right?

Still reading Living Simple With Children and love it.  It's such a great reminder of the important things and an inspiration to keep our family centered and grounded in our faith and principles.  The book is filled with  great ideas - nothing particularly revolutionary - but clear-cut and fun.  Things I've heard over my parenting years and filed in the back of my brain, and I appreciate the challenge to pull them back out and put them into practice!

Happy Knitting and Reading to You!

 

 

Yarn Along ~ January 25

Joining up today with Ginny for another fun yarn along!

I had every intention of beginning my honey cowl this week, but I got distracted.  By a new pair of mittens for three-year-old Hans.  (A fun distraction I might add!)

This mitten pattern was posted on Tonya's blog a couple of months ago.  I thought it was quite sweet and knew then that mitten-knitting would be in my future.  These are made with fisherman's wool which I think is a tad scratchy for a scarf or sweater, but just right for mittens!

The pattern calls for a rib-stitched cuff, but for some reason I began in the seed stitch and just kept on going!  It wasn't until I cast on for the second mitten that I realized it.  But I kind of like it and I am  certain that young Hans won't care a bit!

I picked this up at our weekly trip to the library.  I feel like I have read it, or at least skimmed it before, but it caught my eye again.  A few simple yet creative ideas to take us through the rest of winter would be most welcome!

Happy Knitting and Reading to You!

Yarn Along ~ January 18

Joining up with Ginny again....you should, too!

This was a good knitting week as you can see by the smiling faces and completed hats below!

Two half-hour hats finished! The pattern was from this book that I got from the library.  (I may just have to click on over to Amazon, though, because I might just want it for my collection...)

My favorite part is that these two are still so easy to please!

Now, onto something a little more challenging with this gorgeous yarn.  I have always wanted a cowl and need a challenging beginner pattern.  Any ideas?  I am thinking of this honey cowl...has anyone tried it?

I am still working on the Anne Frank book, but will also begin The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges for my Thursday morning bible study.  I've heard of it often but have never read it, so I'm glad to finally have the opportunity.

Until next week.....happy knitting!

Yarn Along ~ January 11

Another week joining Ginny at Small Things...and a fairly productive week at that!  (Love it when that happens!)

Lena's sweater is done! I just need to sew up the sleeve seams and add the buttons, so I'll show you the finished project soon. 

I started the girls' hats.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love big needles and chunky yarn?

I ended up switching patterns at the last minute, mainly because I saw this one in a library book and was enticed by the title...

It didn't exactly take me a half-hour (longer!), but it has gone amazingly quick.  I have another one to do after this and I won't mind a bit!  The pattern in from a book that is perfect for my two big girls who are way beyond baby knits, but far from adult sizing. 

I have gotten into the Anne Frank book, and it is very interesting indeed.  The first part gives much background to Anne's mother and grandmothers, as well as a little about her father.  And while the details from these women can sometimes seem mundane, I appreciate knowing them because it is always so much easier to understand a person when you have a glimpse into where they came from.  I'll keep you posted as I get a little further into it.

Happy knitting and reading!

Yarn Along ~ January 4

After a short break, I'm linking up with Ginny again today.

Why the break, you ask?  Well, because I quite possibly might be the world's slowest knitter.  I continue to be amazed each week at the loveliness you all crank out.  (Really, is there some magic knitting dust that you're not telling me about?!)

I am quite happy to announce, however, that Lena's sweater is ever so close to being done!  Just about an inch more of garter stitch along the bottom, and then finishing the little sleeves.  I did find woodland animal buttons on Etsy - thanks for all of your recommendations!

(Pardon the strange aerial view....not sure what I was thinking.)

Next, I am moving onto some quick and easy hats for my big girls.  I found yarn to match their coats at Michael's...going with some less expensive yarn for these so I won't cry as hard when if they loose them.  I'm hoping to get them done sometime before Spring!

I picked up this book at the library just yesterday.  It will be the first book I read since Lena's birth, and it seems like it may be a bit on the heavy side.  But I couldn't resist.  I've been fascinated by Anne Frank since Jr. High. I read her diary twice. I visited the famous house in Amsterdam.  (All you history junkies out there understand, right?!)

Happy knitting and reading to you!