Sunday Shawls

Remember almost 3 weeks ago when I posted about the shawls I was dying to start?

Well I did.

And I’m in love. It seems a little crazy to keep knitting all this neckwear, but when it’s the perfect project for a single skein or maybe two lovelies worked together it’s hard to resist…especially when it will be worn and shown off!

I keep thinking how lovely it will be to have these finished. How snuggly they will be. How warm. How beautiful the colors will be…

I started the Daybreak Shawl by Stephen West using some leftover gray from my 3 Color Cashmere Cowl (that I’m still weaving ends in on, very, very slowly) and some very peaceful looking Mini Mochi I received in a yarn swap last summer/fall.

The pattern is very intuitive, building the crescent shape upon itself. I love crescent shaped shawls. I feel like they are so easy to wear wrapped around shoulders or tied up like a scarf around my  neck. Sometimes I feel a little self-conscious when I wear them around my neck because the half circle can sort of look like you’re wearing a bib. Not trying to be a baby 🙂

I powered through the solid section to reach the stripes because I wanted to see the Mini Mochi stripe up. Only problem is when I got there, I felt satisfied enough to put it down and start this.

It’s “Passe-Partout” in the lovely Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend…remember the gold & dove gray. I also wanted to power through the first two sections of this shawl to see how the colors would really work together.

I’m so pleased with how they look together. Now I just want to work on this so I can wear it. I love golden yellows. I feel like its such a wonderful color all year round. In winter, it brightens up the day without being too loud. In fall, it’s the color of falling leaves. In summer, its the color of evening sunsets. In spring, its the deep color of blooming flowers.

 Who would have thought golden yellow was so versatile.

I’ve also got one other shawl on the needles…and it’s been there for quite a while. It’s my Cerise Curl.

I was initially so in love. The yarn with the purple, brown and sparkles. Yes, sparkles. I’m not usually a sparkly girl, hardly wear make-up or high heels, but a little sparkle in my yarn…why not!

I did struggle with the pattern in the beginning. It wasn’t quite as intuitive as the first Curl (Caesious) I made from Hunter Hammersen’s book. But it was gorgeous and open. I am sure I will love the way it blocks out and I love all the different ways to wear the Curls. I just need to power through. I only have like 15 grams of yarn left. Each row takes around 1.5 grams, maybe more…I should be able to knock it out.

Just thought I’d share some shawls I’m working on…they are great distraction from going into my stash every 5 minutes to start something new…I’m dying to cast on a sweater, rip out Turia, buy some forest green yarn and make SOMETHING (I’m super drawn to this color right now and just want to wear it)…so I thought shawls would be a good distraction.

How terrible that each time I approach my yarn cabinet, I have to think, “No Sudden Movements! Back Away Slowly Before Anything Else Gets Cast On!!” I guess it’s the arrival of September and the promise of autumn.

❤
Jenna

Fall is in the Air

Oh my goodness does it feel like fall or what!!! The weather has been wonderful and breezy for about 4 days. Maybe 75 degrees Fahrenheit outside, low humidity…so low that we have our windows open and the air conditioning off! And each time I get in the car to drive somewhere I open those windows too!

I always feel like fall arrives in a very quick fashion. I was still thinking that I was in the sweltering depths of summer, but with a few nice days, my hands are itching to knit. And to knit wool. Not the light linen of summer, but squishy, warm wool. And pumpkin. I crave pumpkin! Beer, bread, beer bread, cake, coffee…all sounds good right now 🙂

 

I finally attacked finishing up the heel on this sock.

It’s my Bootstrap Sock from Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture…so cool!

The Balbriggan heel involves working a heel flap and then kitchener stitching the bottom up…I don’t know what it’s called, but it was fun to practice that special technique that I generally avoid save for the end of the sock process 🙂

Now to pick up the stitches again and get on down the foot!! Then I can start the next one!

I’ve also picked up my Cerise Curl again…I tried to get more yarn, but the shop was out 😦 I really wanted a LARGE shawl. I’m a tall girl, I’m not dainty and I like a lot of wool to keep me warm and/or stylish. I am hoping that once I get it off the needles, it will block out substantially. There isn’t much yarn left, maybe 12 grams? I’m hoping by next Friday, I’ll have it finished.

Here’s linking up with some wonderful people! I’ve missed for a while now and it just feels right to get back into the habit 🙂
Yarn Along with Ginny @ Small Things
Keep Calm Craft On with Nicole @ Frontier Dreams
Whatcha Workin’ On with Beth @ iknead2knit
Stitch Along Wednesday with Tammy @ Life & Yarn

What is gracing your needles this week? Anything make you feel like fall is right around the corner??

❤
Jenna

Made it to Monday

So we made it to Monday, again. I’ve started a new job at a law office as a docket clerk. My days are filled with giant files and computer screens so the last thing I want to do is really come home and soak up more of the computer screen.

Instead I have been knitting. A. Lot. I’ve been giving a good effort at Stash Dash…I keep hearing the Knitmore Girls & the Prairie Girls talk about it. I love to listen to audio podcasts while I drive to and from work. It’s better than the radio with the same old songs and there is only so many times I can listen to the same depressing news on NPR.

So how about a look at my knits…

I’ve officially frogged the “Colour Change Scarf.”  The more I looked at it and the more I worked on it, the less I liked it. It was supposed to be a birthday gift for a friend…now it’s at least 2 years over due and it was looking less like what I initially had in mind. Now I’ve got 4 full balls of Silky Alpaca Lace…what to do with this goodness?

There is also all these bags that have been sitting by me on the couch for at least 48 hours. I keep bopping between bags, moving needles, notions, patterns around…it’s really a form of procrastination. But at least I am putting my hands on the projects.

I pick one up. Knit a few stitches. Get distracted by another pattern. Mostly I want to finish things, but I can’t decide which one I want to finish first so I keep picking up different things. It’s hard to see the progress, but my attention span is short. I don’t have too much left on this one…

Maybe I’ll focus and free up some needles. And the Curls book. So I can start another one. Since I fell off that KAL after my Caesious…but Cerise is lovely, especially in the Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Glitter Sock 🙂

How is your summer knitting coming? Are you procrastinating? Or do you genuinely have project ADD?

❤
Jenna

 

 

 

Getting There

So we knit and knit and knit, but sometimes the things stay on the needles! I can’t understand why even after all the stitches (I think) I put onto these lovely Technicolor Socks, I still feel like I’m a few rows from actually starting the toe decreases on the right sock!! I think the left sock is ready.

 

Maybe I’ll blame it on my long toes. Or on the US 0 needles.

Maybe I shouldn’t blame them at all. It’s so nice to have a mindless knitting project to cart around in my purse that’s not huge (here’s looking at you Turia)

or doesn’t need a book to travel with it (Bootstrap Socks that are ready for the heel)

or doesn’t need to be really looked at every stitch (Curl #2 Cerise)

or isn’t turning out like I think I want (Colour Change Scarf)

or isn’t a general pain in the bum (Skinty Stripe Scarf) with a kitty supervisor

or doesn’t need a chart, pencil, row counter and complete silence (Catkin Shawl)…

That’s all the current WIPs and most of them are not travel worthy…maybe I should just finish these socks and turn the heel on the Bootstrap Socks so I can have more things to travel with and some empty needles?

Or the alternative…

I could start something new! Maybe keep it in line with my Love Your Library Challenge and work on a Curl or another pair of socks from Sock Architecture? I could go and check out all the lovelies at Keep Calm & Craft On for inspiration…

What would you do in this situation, keep your nose down and finish or venture into the stash for something fresh and new?

❤
Jenna

Along for the Yarn

 

It’s been a day or two since I’ve connected here. I’ve been knee-deep in preparing a 7th grade math lesson for a job interview this week. Prayers, good vibes, and crossed fingers are all welcome 🙂

On to the yarn!

I’ve been working almost exclusively on my Cerise Curl, trying to finish by today for the KAL…obviously I didn’t quite make it. I’ve also been working on my Technicolor Socks. Just decreasing on the gusset. It’s taking a while because I’m using US size 0s and after picking up gusset stitches, I had 98 stitches on the needles and need to get down to 72.

I’m still reading some. I finished A Severe Mercy. A wonderfully moving story about loving a partner and loving God. Beautiful. I picked up Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light. I did not realize how little I actually knew about Mother Teresa and her amazing life.

Linking up with these wonderful communities:
Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along
Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm & Craft On
Tammy at Life & Yarn for Stitch Along
Beth at iknead2knit for Whatcha Workin’ On

❤

Jenna

 

Yarn Along

An online “yarnie” community I love being a part of is created by Ginny of the Small Things blog. Each Wednesday she invites everyone to share what they are working on and what they are reading on her Yarn Along link up post. She’s recently expanded to include those on Instagram using the #yarnalong .

I love being able to post my little button there and then visit all the wonderful people out there who have also linked up. I get so many new ideas for projects to start. I even make notes about what books people are reading and what they say about them when I’m ready to pick up a book again.

Until recently, I haven’t really been reading many books. I spent my time reading blogs, listening to podcasts, and the occasional audiobook (Game of Thrones is sooooo long). I was talking with my husband the other day and expressing some frustration over not knowing more about “things.” These “things” were money/investing & Catholicism. The money “thing” is something I feel I should know about because I am an adult. The Catholicism “thing” is something I feel I should know about because my husband is Catholic and it’s something I want to understand and one day, find my way towards.

Jordan suggested I read up on these things in my free time. So that meant cutting back a bit on reading blogs but I think it will be for the good of my brain and my relationship and my adulthood in the long run.

I am still working on my Cerise Curl. I realized the deadline for the little KAL running in Hunter Hammersen’s Ravelry group (Violently Domestic) ends April 15 for this one, not to mention another was started on March 15, totally missed that. I’m finally feeling the rhythm with the pattern, but I have to watch what I’m doing most of the time. I also started reading A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken. It’s about a couple’s journey to finding God. It’s been beautiful and thought provoking so far. I think I read about this book on Ginny’s blog? I also read Mark Shea’s This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence. This got the ball rolling around in my mind.

Anyway, here’s to a lovely Wednesday and hoping you are all finding yourselves well.

Here’s the link to this week’s:
Yarn Along post with Ginny.
Keep Calm & Craft On post with Nicole.
Stitch Along post with Tammy.
Whatcha Workin’ On post with Beth.

❤

Jenna

Dropping the Ball

I have definitely dropped the proverbial ball on Friday’s link up 😦 Let me stop and say Happy Easter!

Back to what I was saying…Thursday afternoon & evening was simply glorious. I spent some really wonderful quality time with my husband. We ran an errand or two and ended up at Four Hands Brewery in downtown St. Louis. We sampled some really delightful brews and had some wonderful conversation. I’d been missing it. We ended up meeting up with a friend for dinner and by the time we got home, just fell into bed. We slept in a bit on Friday, went to Good Friday Mass, had dinner, spent some quality time together again and with some family before I realized it was Friday and I’d missed the boat here.

Here’s to getting back on the wagon for next week. I am disappointed that it happened but there are worse things. I am hoping you guys were able to find some other wonderful Friday posts out there and check out everyone’s finishes.

I’ve been catching up some posts and came across one that I’d like to take part in.

G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y

{Sunday’s heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.}

This comes from the Wooly Moss Roots blog where Taryn takes the time to reflect each Sunday. Those are her words above and if you click on her blog title, it will take you to her page and the link up she has 🙂

Today I’m grateful for:

…seeing these darlings on a walk today, bluebells maybe?

…being married to a wonderful man.

…living in the same city as family.

…catching up with my mom 🙂

…finding these two getting along so well.

…playing in the kitchen to make something tasty.

…knitting on my Curl, Cerise out of some lovely Zen Yarn Garden in a one of a kind Jewel colorway.

…being able to wear my hand knit Squishy Socks with my fun mary janes to church today.

…appreciating how fingerless mitts keep my fingers just the right temperature while still allowing me to enjoy my mango manicure 🙂

…folding clean laundry.

…enjoying the Cards vs Cubs opening day game!!

…breathing.

You can click the link here to see what others are grateful for this glorious day.

❤

Jenna

Freshly Finished Friday #11

Welcome to a link-up party for your Friday Finished Object posts! In an effort to connect everyone who creates and blogs about it here on the web, I thought providing a place to link up and share your freshly finished creations would be a great way to see what everyone is working on. Please feel free to share ANY of your finished crafty pursuits from knitting and crocheting to sewing and scrapbooking.

I’ve been traveling this week to visit my friend, Brenna, in Salt Lake City, Utah. No worries, I’ve seen the insides of a few yarn stores, but nothing finished this week 😦 You’d think with the flight times I’d have some significant progress, but I’ve been stitching away on my 3 Color Cashmere Cowl, Turia sweater, and my Cerise curl all in turn. You can click their names to head to the Ravelry pages and see what’s been going on with them.

To join in the fun, click the link up below to see all the others participating in a Freshly Finished Friday! It will take you away from this page, but don’t worry, you will always be able to find your way back. It’s especially helpful if the linked up blog has a link back here. Please add your specific blog post link and remember to link back here in your blog so we can all be connected 🙂

 

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Lots of Random Things All At Once!

I wanted to put a “w” on the beginning of once…I just felt like it would be fun to say that way, but then you guys might really think I’m a little more nutty than usual.

First off, let me say a huge thank you to everyone who has been commenting on here the past month or so. I love reading your kind, thoughtful words. The excitement you feel over one of my projects or the advice you offer to the questions I ponder is so refreshing and helpful! I’ve been a little short on time to write responses to each comment, but I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to drop me a note 🙂

Especially all the comments from my Must. Have. Coffee. post last week talking about which domains you use to host your blog. Thank you!! Now, to do the research…I’d like to make the switch by April/May 🙂 That will be my 1 year blogiversary!

Next, I’d like to share a moment of great thanks to the world outside. It’s 75 degrees Fahrenheit here today and sunny. I’m not the only one enjoying to open windows and birds chirping.

Brother has claimed the high spot and Sis was left with the lower one. They seem perfectly content and have been napping for at least a few hours. What a life the kitties live!!

I’d also like to give a special shout-out to my neighbor, Lauren, who has shared this lovely stack with me.

I love to cook. That’s an understatement…when I’m not knitting, I’m cooking and vice versa. I love getting into the kitchen and whipping up something crazy complicated like homemade ravioli from scratch with marinara that simmers for hours to something super simple like a saute’d chicken breast on top of a salad. I love to make savory dishes because of all the crazy flavor combinations you can create and I feel like it’s a bit more forgiving than baking. I’m an ok baker. I like to do it, but I feel like I have to be much more precise in measurements and cooking time…and if I want to substitute something? Forget it.

I think the other thing I love about cooking is that I equate cooking for someone as a way to show love, caring, thankfulness. Its not just about creating something to nourish the body, but also to nourish the soul.

Anyway, Lauren shared this glorious stack of magazines with me. Now I just need to pull out my scissors and pull out the recipes I’d like to try…otherwise I’ll end up with this stack somewhere in my house, adding to the clutter.

Speaking of clutter, this is my mass of “hibernating” works in progress. Every time I see it, I want to pick up one of the bags and get working, but then I get distracted by one of the last few things I’ve cast on…

Like my Cerise!

I’m loving the way it is working up. Hunter Hammersen is a genius!! Things are a little tricky around the curling edge with yarn-overs and a few double-wrapped stitches. I understand why they are built in there, to give the piece a loose enough edge that it will curl and lie in a nice way, but it makes the pattern a little less intuitive. Initially, I really, really struggled to see the pattern and understand how the stitches would stack up on top of each other. With the yarn-overs, its a bit deceptive on the chart as to which stitches will sit on top of which stitches. Once I get going, I’m alright, but I do have to refer to the chart when I approach the curling edge.

I think that’s all I’ve got today. I want to take a walk to the grocery and pick up a thing or two. Normally I would drive, it’s about 2 miles away, but the weather is just tooooooooo beautiful. Wishing you all a happy Monday and a beautiful start to your week!

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

 

 

Needles Clicking

Since Monday, I’ve been knitting almost exclusively on my Turia sweater. I really, really want to be able to wear it soon and it’s just miles of stockinette stitch so I can read or watch anything while I’m working on it. I’m about to start working the 3rd round of decreases for the very subtle waist shaping.

I’m trying a little tip/trick I think I heard while listening to the knit.fm podcast with Hannah Fettig interviewing Amy Herzog on Episode 10. I was listening to this while driving on one of my epic trips, maybe the December one? I enjoy the knit.fm podcast though. It’s meaty. Lots of information and Hannah tends to have some really fantastic and knowledgeable guests to interview. Be warned, there is no fluff here unlike a lighter listen like the Knitmore Girls (also full of great information but a bit more lighthearted with segments like “When Knitting Attacks!!”).

Anyway, the tip I thought I remembered hearing was to do the waist shaping in the middle of rounds/rows instead of on the edges. I just went back and scanned the show notes from the episode to learn that Amy suggests doing the shaping in the back of the sweater. Oh well, we shall see how this one turns out and if it even makes a difference. Like I said, the shaping is very, very subtle. I’m alright with this since the piece is supposed to be relaxed.

In other news, remember I was talking about knitting the next Curl, Cerise, by Hunter Hammersen for my next cast on? Maybe? Well, I initially thought I wanted to use the Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Glitter Sock in the OOAK Jewel colorway.

But then, as I also mentioned, my yarn cabinet has been staring at me. I remembered I had some of this.

It’s Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk DK in the Coral Sea colorway. I’ve had these 4 balls in my stash for a good amount of time. I bought them at McNeedles before I moved away to teach school in 2011. And I’ve got 480 yards of this as opposed to the 400 yards I’ve got of the sock yarn. And it’s DK. I think it may make a bigger Curl and could be a really great, versatile weight since it is a bamboo/wool/silk blend.

What do you think? Should I stick with the Serenity Glitter Sock or go with the Panda Silk DK?

Linking up with these lovelies!
Emily for Love Your Library
Tammy for her Stitch Along Wednesday
Ginny for Yarn Along
Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On
Beth for Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday

Until Friday for our Freshly Finished post!!

v’s & bumps,

Jenna