The Wool Keeps Me Warm

The end of a beautiful year is upon us. In 2014, I had some wonderful adventures. I started a blog! I didn’t realize how awesome it would be to dive into the knitting blogosphere! I’ve read some awesome blogs (hop over to my Blogs I Read page for more…in fact I have a few to add) and had the opportunity to connect with some great people through the internet. I’ve been inspired to tackle all the knits. I’ve been encouraged when things aren’t quite going the way I want. And I’ve felt a huge sense of belonging to such a fantastic group of people. I knit my first garment(s)! Earlier this year, I blindly knit a top as a shop sample for McNeedles. I followed the directions and knit stockinette for miles. My only complaint? I couldn’t try it on because it was the smallest size! After I finished that bad boy up, I came across several posts on blogs talking about a “Summer Sweater Knit-Along.” I had to play along! I bought yarn, swatched, and then it hibernated. I was inundated with trying to finish baby blankets and didn’t even cast on the crazy “summer sweater” until August? Not to mention I didn’t finish those million rounds of stockinette until October. But I love my Whispers top and look forward to wearing it more in the spring! I moved to an awesome city! St. Louis has been magnificent! We are closer to family and have gotten to go to some awesome Cardinals baseball games and drink some of the tastiest beer. I was blessed with a new niece! My brother graduated college! And I’ve knitted my fingers off! I think I’ve finished like 35 projects this year! I’ve managed to whittle down my current WIPs to 8 and I’m nearly done with the Array Cowl. I can say that I’m incredibly grateful for such an awesome year and I’m definitely looking forward to the new year! I’ve got some fun new things I want to talk about in the upcoming year and maybe a few changes to the look of the blog. So Happy New Year to you and yours!

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Linking with Tammy for her Stitch Along Wednesday & Ginny for Yarn Along & Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On.

Follow Your Arrow to the Driving Range!

Happy Free-For-All Friday!!!! I feel like this week has flown by. Here in St. Louis, there was a terrible tragedy on Saturday when a young man lost his life. The rest of the week has been utter chaos. I’m hoping things will settle down here soon.

I bet you are wondering what the title is about…if you’ve been keeping up, you know I’ve been recently working away at my Follow Your Arrow Cowl…a Mystery Knit-A-Long from Ysolda Teague that I started in February…well…

I FINISHED IT!!! Yahoo!!!! I really, really, really need to block it, but here we go.

I love the edging. I love the color. I just love it.

I’m hoping with a good block this 100% Merino Ella Rae with grow a little. The shawl is a little small for me. I’m going to blame it on me being tall. With volleyball shoulders. Yes, that’s why 🙂

About the driving range…last weekend, I went “golfing” with my husband, his brother and his girlfriend (you follow?). I mostly drove the cart and knit, but I did get to hit a few balls. Man! It was fun. And frustrating since I didn’t know what I was doing. So, Tuesday, Jordan and I went to the driving range to work on my swing…We hit for about an hour. I left a little frustrated that I wasn’t just killing it.

So I went back. By myself. On Wednesday. I got the Medium bucket of 70 balls. And went to work. I was improving, but still, quite a few swing and misses…

So I went back. By myself. Today. I got the Large bucket of  100 balls. Much better…much much better. I missed less, I hit the ball straighter, and I can say that I’m hooked.

Anybody else do something once and get hooked? I guess knitting has been the same. A few stitches, a trip to the yarn store and BAM! Here we are 5 years later, juggling 3 different active WIPs and itching to cast on more 🙂

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

A Stash Dive on a Steamy Saturday

What a glorious Saturday!!! It’s definitely very warm outside, but the sun is shining and I couldn’t ask for more. Growing up in South Louisiana, I know heat & humidity. Bring it on, St. Louis 🙂

Today is a stash dive day! But before we get to that, let me tell you just a little about our morning adventure. My sister-in-law, Deana and the kiddos, Will & Nora, picked up Jordan and I this morning to go to the Soulard Farmer’s Market. It was huge and buzzing and full of delicious fresh produce. If you find yourself in St. Louis, Missouri, I recommend a trip.

We bought a huge watermelon, peaches, cucumbers to pickle, tomatoes, mangoes, green beans and even some fresh baked bread. The place was so busy and my hands were so full I wasn’t able to snap any photos of the market. But here’s our giant melon!

On to the stash diving! Today is sort of a cheater day as this is also a highlight of my most recent stash enhancement. Yes, that means that I did break the diet, but it is for a good cause. I was supporting my favorite LYS McNeedles on my  most recent trip to Louisiana. They did just add on to their shop and it is summer so yarn is not flying off the shelves as quickly as it normally does in the colder times. Plus it’s pretty.

See!? It’s Alegria by Manos del Uruguay in Columbina. I’ve used this before in my Color Affection Shawl, but this is a new (to me) fun colorway. Pam says it reminds her of Funfetti Cake. I couldn’t agree more.

Now the question arises, what should this become??
1. maybe some socks? Like moonrivercottager’s Painter’s Palate socks…
2. or perhaps a shawl like tracieknits’ Kvothe scarf…I love the dropped stitch design…
3. Or Newdknit’s Fairy Bread Cowl…I even already have this pattern in my queue and it could look super cool in the dotty colors.
4. mayhaps it could be a part of another design by Veera Valimaki (Color Affection) like the Happy Street pattern?

I just have about 4 more projects to finish before I can cast on something new…at least finishing four projects would make me feel better about casting on something new. We shall see. I’m going to continue to try to just pick up the computer 1 time a day to read blogs, play on pinterest, and make a blog post. So far this week it has helped me to knock out my secret project for my swap partner! It is blocking now! I’ll try to send it out Monday so I can post about it next week and share the fun with you guys 🙂

Until then, what would you do with one lovely skein of Alegria??

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Moving Madness

I started this post last week before we packed up. Then we were without internet and still are at home. I’m missing the blog world! And my friends I feel like I’ve made over the web in this crazy fiber world.

In big news, we have moved to Saint Louis, Missouri! Closer to family and friends all around 🙂 My husband and I both have jobs, and I’ve had a chance to reorganize my yarn!!!

Here’s a sneak peek of that…

I took my ikea bookshelf with glass doors and decided that after two rough moves, it may be better suited to holding my yarn. It was excellent therapy to go through all the crazy bags and the storage bench and load it into a display case. This way I can see it all! Being able to easily access all of my glorious stash is making it very easy to resist heading over to the yarn stores I have not visited in my new town. I’m sure I will mosey on over that way when the time comes, but for now, I’m happily ogling my “new” display.

I think this is all I’m going to talk about for now, until we get our internet installed tomorrow. Maybe then I can do a fun WIP Wednesday post!

 

v’s & bumps,

Jenna