One Giant Cast-Off Done, One in the Works

I am so thrilled to be back here!! I’m finishing up my online class…this is my last week! I’ve found a teaching job that I’ll start in August…YAHOO! 6th, 7th, & 8th grade math with a couple religion classes as well. I will be busy! But back where I need to be 🙂

Until then, I’m trying not to melt in this heat! The hard part is wanting to knit all the things, but I can’t bear to sit under them while I do so. I guess it’s very lucky that I cast-off this monster the other night!

It’s my Inside Out blanket for my friend Krista’s first baby girl 🙂 It’s really Stephen West’s Akimbo Blanket pattern. I knit it out of Berroco’s Weekend yarn in 6 different colors. I followed the pattern for the most part until I got to the border. I just repeated each color twice.

Now for all the ends to weave in!

Then it just needs a good soak and it can go on its way to keep baby Palmer warm…just in time for summer!!

I also uncovered my Foggy Sunset shawl…also a Stephen West pattern, but this time it’s his Daybreak Shawl. I’m using some leftover Vice Yarns and the lovely, slow-changing Mini Mochi by Crystal Palace Yarns. I received this in a yarn swap I participated in a couple summers ago. It’s so soft and the color changes are so beautiful.

I have no idea how many stitches I’ve got left on here, but I know I need to knit one more row then I can cast-off. Wish me luck!

Then I’ll have to go dive into the other WIPS I’ve got…even though there are 4 more babies on the way that all need something from my needles!!

❤
Jenna

Promised Pictures

I told you I’d be back with the pictures I promised 🙂

So I have been actually working on my Turia Sweater…I attached the sleeves and have a little bit more knitting for the yoke before I decrease any. I am loving the way it looks and even though the needle squenching isn’t totally flattering, it is a fantastic piece. I can’t wait to wear it!!

On to the needle-squenched project number two…its my Foggy Sunset shawl. It’s truly the Daybreak pattern by Stephen West and I’m using some lovely leftover Vice Yarn Paradigm in the Wet Concrete color from my 3 Color (Sorta) Cashmere Cowl and some Crystal Palace Mini Mochi. I’ve got one more gray stripe before the border in all Mini Mochi all the time!

And then there’s this…this is yarn, Knit One Crochet Too’s Ty-Dy Cotton I’ve reclaimed from a scarf and cowl gone bad plus the leftover gray Berroco Weekend from Leigh’s Chevron Baby Blanket. This wants to be a Harvest Cardigan for my niece Nora…I’m thinking of using the rainbow color for the button band/collar and to stripe the sleeves with it and the gray for the body of the cardigan. Now I just need to cast on. I know she would love it…the rainbow colors are so her! And I think I have just the right amount…

And this is the cutest project bag ever that my friend Korey gave me a week or two ago…it’s so perfect and it’s so true! And it’s my slogan here on the blog (and in my life!). Just a reminder of how much friends are truly a blessing…and so is yarn!

Ah…it feels good to stretch my legs again here and catch up! I’m on point with my blog roll too right now! Looks like everyone has been busy 🙂 I’ll try to get up to speed here with  my finishes from the last month like the Hammrhavn Test Sock, the Chevron Baby Blanket, The Antler Toque, my Autumn Shawl…All in due time!

Can’t wait to cruise around and see what you’re working on! Drop me a hint in the comments…or even better, drop in a link 🙂

❤
Jenna

The Hard Knit Life

The Hard Part:

So I’ve been waiting to write. It’s harder to come back the further you get from the last post…funny though, because I keep working on projects or come across an Instagram post full of inspiration or catch little windows of time to listen to a podcast and I think about how I want to be writing on the blog and connecting will all the wonderful people I worked so hard to connect with over the last 18 months.

I’m going to take about 4 lines here and just acknowledge my excuses: I’ve been working too many hours, I haven’t had time to blog, when I have time I just want to sit and knit, I am trying to spend more time with my husband, I’m trying to spend less time in front of a screen…yada yada yada.

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, even here 🙂 So enough with those, lets just move forward.

The Knit Part:

I spent the time from finishing the Skinty Stripe Scarf until shortly after my birthday only working on selfish knitting. Yes, you read that right, the Skinty Stripe Scarf is done! It’s living life in a happy new home. My sister-in-law loves it! And it is just her style.

When I was able to free myself from one of my oldest WIPs, I thought I’d take the time to try and finish up my other WIPs which all happen to be on the needles for me. I finished up My Autumn Shawl (Passe-Partout) out of Manos Silk Blend. The stitch definition on this single ply yarn is dreamy. I can’t wait to wear it!

I say finished, but I really mean I finished the knitting. Not the end weaving or the blocking.

I put in a bunch of rows on my Foggy Sunset (Daybreak) shawl. I’m about 3 more stripes away from starting the border. But it will have to wait. Sorry for the serious needle squenching.

I volunteered to test knit a pair of socks (Hammerhavn) designed by Pia Juulsen. She used to blog at nogetuldent.dk and now she’s on her own site, P. S. Juulsen. She’s a new mom. a loving wife and a knitter extraordinaire! I’m not sure how much I can say about the socks so I’ll just show you a minor tidbit. I’m using some Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in the Tangerine colorway…this photo is a bid washed out…the orange is brighter, almost a peachy orange.

The Life Part:

You guessed it, I’m still working at the law firm. However, we are approaching hiring season within a lot of the private schools and my Tennessee teaching license will be expiring in August so I have a little bit to do on that front if I ever want to get back into the classroom.

And I do. I just need to put on my big girl panties and get going! I’ve always thought of myself as a taskmaster…in that I like to get things done. I make lists and find immense pleasure in being able to cross things off the list. Ironically, I’ve also got a pretty hefty dose of self-doubt & avoidance mixed in…meaning if I don’t really think I can accomplish something, instead of trying & failing (a very healthy way to learn!) I avoid the task, keep it of the list…keep it hidden.

I recently received some very heartfelt advice from a friend’s mom. She told me to put those things on the list and just do them. I know I’ve heard this from all of the people I love for the last few years, but maybe it was just the right timing.

Here’s to being back and off to a great start this new year!!

Can’t wait to catch up and reconnect! I’ll be perusing the blogosphere to catch up, but if you’d like to connect please leave a comment, even if it’s just a link to your space so I can know what’s going on with you!

❤
Jenna

First Day of Wool Season

I mean fall. It’s the first day of fall today. Let’s be honest, this translates to the first day you feel the strong desire to touch all the wool, wear all the wool, knit with all the wool…

At least I do! Actually, my office is so cold at work, I’ve been wearing wool socks almost every day. And I feel like I need more wool…so I’ve started a lot of things. Let me show you…

Those are my knobby ankles poking out of my first pair of toe up socks! They are the Strie Socks from Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture.

I love the textured stitch pattern. It’s so lovely with the variegated Zitron Trekking XXL.

And those are cuffs of the sleeves for my Turia Sweater! I bit the bullet and I’m just going to finish it. I’m going to trust the pattern, trust my measurements and just knit it!

Plus I just keep thinking about how awesome its going to be to wear the thing and I can’t wear it if I don’t knit it! Right?

And if you remember these are the Bootstrap Socks from Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture. I started these back in March on my trip back from Utah, did a little ripping, did a little reknitting and even did a little Kitchener stitching already on these babies…

Good thing the Mountain Colors Crazyfoot is up to the challenge…so much twist, so much energy! I think these are going to have a nice long foot life ahead, if I can ever get number one off the needles and get number two on there 🙂

And my lovely “Passe Partout” shawl…coming along. Truthfully, I haven’t hardly touched this in at least a week. Not because I don’t love it, but you’ve seen all the ones before this and you’ll see the ones after…it’s hard to budget my limited knitting time!

The Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend is a dream to work with, and the stitch definition!!! The singles are workin’ hard to look so good.

And this is a new cast-on…it’s the Fish Hat (Dead of Alive). My cute nephew William loves fish and his birthday is approaching, so what better than a hat that looks like a fish!!

I’m using odds and ends from other projects and I’m looking forward to seeing it develop…hopefully in the next couple weeks since his birthday is fast approaching!

The last one…my Daybreak. I love the subtle color changes in the Mini Mochi…and it’s lovely that it’s not too stark a contrast from the gray main color.

I keep thinking this one will be so nice to wear and go with so many things…then I remember I wear so much gray, hopefully it won’t just blend in!!

Anyway, Linking up on this lovely Wednesday with some fantastic folks. Click over to check it out!!
Tammy at Life & Yarn for Stitch Along Wednesday
Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along
Beth at iknead2knit for Whatcha Workin On Wednesday
Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm & Craft On

Please share what you’re working on!!
❤
Jenna

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

Weekends are Most Needed

This back to work thing has really, really made me appreciate my time at home on the weekend. My husband went out of town and I had the house to myself. I swept, mopped, dusted, vacuumed, laundered, cooked, drank tasty beer, and of course, knit a good bit while watching the Cardinals play baseball!

I’m sure you’d all love to see my cleaner house, but I’ll spare you. I’m sure you can look at your own lovely homes and see the freshly swept floors and the stacks of freshly laundered towels…but what you can’t see is my lovely projects.

This is all the yarn I have left…last time we spoke, I was still trying to bind off my Catkin shawl. Fantastic news! I’ve finished it, but I’m trying to decide if I should save it for this coming Friday so I actually have something to show for myself. I believe I will wait 🙂

So since I did finish something, I felt like I could start something new…or maybe a few new things 🙂

I’ve been dying to knit Stephen West’s Daybreak since I participated in a swap last summer. During that swap, I received the most beautiful Mini Mochi by Crystal Palace Yarns. It’s in these beautiful muted purples, blues, and greens with long color changes…I just know that it will look fantastic in the Daybreak pattern. I’ve held off this long to cast on and I can’t wait any longer!

And I may have wound up some yarn for this lovely Passe-partout in some Manos Silk Blend. The golden color, 300x, has been in my stash from 2012 when I visited my friend Brenna in Tuscon and picked it up at The Tuscon Yarn Company…and the soft gray is Dove I picked up yesterday at Knitorious…I’ve been keeping an eye out for about a year for the perfect shade to complement my golden yellow since I didn’t feel I had enough yardage to really make a big enough piece to wear. When I stumbled upon the Dove, I knew it had to come home with me.

Anyway, here’s to a wonderful week ahead full of work, volleyball, and (hopefully) lots of knitting! Any new plans you have for knitting?

❤
Jenna

Enable Me Please!!

Monday I mentioned that fellow bloggers have been oh-so-kind and generous lately. I thought I’d share just what their favor has brought me…

First up, Kat at Knittin’ in the Sun ran a giveaway for her 100th post!! She was generously donating a pattern of your choice under $10 on Ravelry. Kat very kindly gifted me the Daybreak Shawl pattern by Stephen West. I’m planning to make this with some Mini Mochi I received in a swap package back in August paired with some Tibetan Cloud Fingering.

Next, Christina at Feel Good Knitting interviewed Sashka Macievich of SashkaKnits for the Indie Gift-A-Long. Christina and Sashka very kindly donated a pattern to one lucky commenter and it turned out to be me!! I love Sashka’s Auberge Shawl and am definitely looking forward to searching the stash for a lovely to knit up 🙂

 

Maybe the Holiday Flock Sock in Queen of Hearts red…or the Susquehanna Sparkle Sock in the Trumpet colorway which has a nice strand of shimmer running through the peachy pink..or maybe my most recent purchase of some Dyeabolical Tenacious Sock in the Raja grey color. Any of these would make a gorgeous Auberge shawl…I just have quite a few WIPs to finish and needles to clear up before I can start something new.

Last bit of generous bloggery, Sarah from A Little Knit just posted about some of her favorite blogs to read here and I made the cut!! Sarah says, “Jenna’s blog is full of tasty looking yarns and the intricate projects that she is working on.” So kind 🙂 She also highlights Pia of Noget Uldent, Tahnee of Woollen Wilderness, and Nadia from Abso-knitting-lutely.

If you haven’t had the chance to check out Sarah over at her blog, A Little Knit, I highly recommend it. She is a self-taught knitter and crocheter who is so relatable. I love reading about her fearless adventures into pattern modification on the fly and the challenges she works through on her super cool patchwork blanket. She’s definitely someone I enjoy hearing from and find her work super cool and inspiring 🙂

Since it is a WIP Wednesday, I thought I’d give you a quick update on the thing I enjoy working on the most…I’m about 2/3 of the way through the garter portion of the shawl and I’m absolutely loving it! Behold, The Settler Shawl!!

Pair these sweet giveaways with all the sales going on around the internet for the holidays and you’ve got yourself a habit…the habit of spending too much, casting on too much, and reading blogs too much.

Enjoy 🙂

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams, Stitch Along Wednesday over on Life & Yarn, and Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday over on iKnead2Knit.