New Addition And........A Hat

Knitting time will be precious indeed these next few weeks. Work is very busy, the kids have lots of activities, and we have a new addition to our family. Without further ado, please meet Chase Edward!

He arrived at our house tonight, sporting his new coat (he's almost too big for it already), and with only the tiniest of whimpers on the ride home (and no accidents if you know what I mean). He had a lot of loving all the way home though. My youngest daughter is camped out beside his crate tonight with her sleeping bag. It's the cutest sight. She picks him up and carries him everywhere.

And because this is a knitting blog, here's some knitting content.

Wood Hollow Hat - (Pattern by Kirsten Kapur)
Needles - US #7
Yarn - The Plucky Knitter Aran Cashmere, Colorway - Golightly
I love this colorway. It's named Golightly after Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Great movie!
Here's hoping you're having a great weekend!

Holy Cowl!

I know it's not an original title for the blog post, but oh well. You can't expect much from me after working this weekend, and being on-call for the past 4 out of 5 nights. The on-call rotation is my least favorite part of the job.

But since this is a knitting blog........
Here's a cowl that I knit for my youngest daughter. She thinks it's a bit too big for her, so until she "grows into it," I think I'll use it!
Specs:
Pattern: Burnished Leaves Cowl by Chrissy Prange (Ravelry link).
Yarn: The Plucky Knitter in MCN (Merino, Cashmere, Nylon) in Sport Weight.
Needles: US #5, or 3.75mm
Mods - I cut back by one pattern repeat, and it's still a little large. I consider myself a tighter knitter (I blame it on the "angst" factor), and it's still pretty roomy, even with fewer pattern repeats. Keep this in mind if you knit it!


BTW, you wouldn't believe the trouble I have obtaining pictures of my knitting anymore. I have the worst camera in the family. I also don't have any photography assistant, so self portraits are prevalent. I know that I look absolutely terrible in this picture with the dark circles under my eyes (see first paragraph of this post about on-call status). But honestly, I can't complain, because in this day and age, I have a job, my family is warm, fed, and healthy. And I have enough money to occasionally buy my yarn. And The Plucky Knitter yarn is like my new crack.......so gorgeous and tempting! Stop by for one of her updates soon on Etsy!

A New Year

A new year usually prompts many to take stock in their lives in various ways. Often times, reflection occurs, either personal or task-oriented. Resolutions are made, goals are set, and there is overcrowding at the local gym (ask me how I know).
I have been subject to this annual quest for quite a few years now. But this year is different. I’m not setting myself up for failure. The perfectionist in me won’t allow lower or smaller goals, because what is the point? This year I’m giving myself permission. Permission is a different monster entirely. By its mere definition, one can see the difference between permission (formal consent; leave; license) and goal (an object or end that one strives to attain; aim, keep score). Permission, in my mind, is the acceptance of something that you would not normally allow. Goal-setting requires effort and work. Its very nature is active.
This year, permission is key. I’m giving myself the license to knit what I please. I will not be driven to knit an object out of obligation. I want to knit for the mere satisfaction that the process brings me. I want to knit while I watch TV. I want to gift my knitting, and enjoy the smile it brings to the recipient’s face. I want to knit for people who don't expect anything from me. I want to knit with the pretty one-of-a-kind yarn that I’ve been hoarding for so long. What good does allowing the cashmere to languish in my stash do for anyone, I say? I’m embracing the spirit of knitting this year.

And if that sounds like a goal to you, well, don’t say anything to my perfectionist self. It thinks that I’m only permitting it to be on hiatus this year.

And now, because this is supposed to be a knitting blog, please enjoy two of my favorite Christmas gifts, gifted to my SIL’s. An Ishbel

A little close shot of the lace........It's knit in the lovely Plucky MCN fingering in "Blue Water Times"

And a Simple Yet Effective Shawl in Noro sock yarn. I alternated the skeins to make the stripes. This ia a great travel project, and the pattern works well for sock yarns that pool or stripe.
Happy Knitting in the New Year!