New self-discoveries!
It's okay to change your tune...
INSIDE: something I never thought I’d say, letting go of shoulds, my Mama’s beautiful influence, I have good news + trying my patience…
I'm really enjoying having two knitting projects on the go! Who would've thought? I've nearly always been a monogamous project knitter.
Since starting Fiber Friday, I've talked about planning to tackle more than one project at a time. Now, here I am!
I've been in awe of knitters who knit multiple projects and finish them in what seems like no time! I've been following my own advice and being kind to myself, knowing I'll finish these projects but without worrying about how long it takes.
One gift of aging is becoming wiser, hence my commitment to meditation, mindfulness, and looking around me when walking outside to experience joy.
I so admired my amazing Mama (grandmother) who lived until 101 and ¾ years. Now, she was a wise woman. I could always count on her listening ear, patience, sage advice, and acceptance of things as they were.
Mama taught me knitting, sewing, gardening, and cooking. She passed away 18 years ago, and I still miss her. What's so wonderful is I can still hear her in my mind, softly spoken with intention.
Mama wasn't one for gossip and was a lifelong learner, an avid reader and listener of radio programs that kept her mind sharp and always gaining knowledge.
Sometimes when stuck with an emotion or situation, I think about what she'd say. Her soothing words in my imagination are a balm and help me move on.
I've kept handwritten recipes, letters, cards, teacups, saucers, dinnerware, and doll clothes Mama sewed.
The doll clothes were a modern-day capsule wardrobe!
Presented on a birthday in a wrapped shoebox, neatly folded inside were a matching head scarf, skirt, lace blouse, purple satin skirt with dark ribbon, a quilted vest and skirt Mama had quilted herself.
The pièce de résistance were long-sleeved pajamas matching the child-size ones she'd made me, blue and white striped soft cotton with a solid blue yoke and lace appliqué butterfly.
I adored those pajamas and having my doll dressed just like me was special.
Making is in my DNA. I'm grateful for the skills Mama taught me and the deep connection I had with her in life and still have with her memory.
Do you have fond memories of makers who've influenced you? I hope so.
Please reply or leave a comment!
And I have good news… drumroll please!
I defeated the game of yarn chicken with the Muse yarn!
My cabled Conifer Cap has turned out fine. And I finished it just in time, with the cooler mornings we’ve been having recently!
I ended up going down a needle size for the crown section.
I skipped a few rows of the crown chart where it made sense, to maximize my chances of having enough yarn to finish it.
And as you can see, it worked! Hooray!
I’m still a while away from the halfway point of the Venezia Shawl I’m knitting with yarn chosen by my mother-in-law.
I should finish by the time the weather gets much cooler here.
It’s such a pretty pattern and the lace section is fun to knit! The Skein Sisters superwash merino fingering weight wool is so soft.
My latest yarn tasting is a hank of Knit Picks High Desert (100% American Wool, sport weight, 298 yards, 100g.) The colorway is Chanterelle, the same mustard yellow color as the the Chanterelle Mushroom.
I adore the shade, and the stitch definition is lovely!
I searched for projects I could knit with 298 yards of sportweight yarn, and I found Judy Marples’ Stone Croft Shawl. The lace design appealed to me and one of the samples was in yellow! So I knew it was meant to be. 😊
I’m knitting the small version.
The pattern is only charted and thankfully the pattern had instructions on how to read the chart. Right to left for RS odd numbered rows and left to right for WS even numbered rows.
I worked on a couple of swatches.
My first swatch was incorrect. I should’ve checked the suggested size first as I’d held in my mind it used a US 3 (3.25mm) needle. Wrong!
The size was US 5 (3.75mm.)
In my second swatch, the first section used that needle size but I had too many stitches, I went up a size to US6 (4.0mm) and still I had too many stitches!
I then tried a US7 (4.5mm) and I got 21 stitches over 4 inches and 7 rows in one inch. The pattern gauge was 28 rows in 4 inches.
I figured that’s close enough!
I’ve started the Stone Croft shawl a few times as I kept making mistakes. I’m hopeful I now have my groove and it’ll go smoothly. Fingers crossed!
High Desert has a rougher feel as a knit, compared with the Merino. It’ll be interesting to see how the final fabric turns out.
Talking about American wool…
Kelley from
is writing about her journey on a small farm to inform us about American yarns.She’s also in the process of launching a yarn dyeing business.
Kelley is a beautiful knitter and the knitted christening outfit she shared recently is extraordinary!
generously shares her life about all the goings on of being a shepherdess in rural USA.Recently it was shearing time and by golly it’s such hard work! Now it’s on to the massive job of coating the sheep.
I’m learning so much about what it takes to raise sheep!
And another question for you: Do you print out patterns or read it on your device?
Press reply or leave a comment!
Mystery Quote Of The Week
"There's great value to knitting or digging up your garden or chopping up vegetables for soup, because you're taking some time away from turning the pages, answering your emails, talking to people on the phone, and you're letting your brain process whatever is stuck up in there."
Who said this? Comment or press reply! No cheating! 😊
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s quote and author was…
“I love the way knitting brings people together.”
— Debbie Macomber
Comment below if you got it right.
Crafting Trivia Question Of The Week
What role did knitting play in the wars?
What’s the answer? Leave a comment or press reply! No cheating! 😊
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s question and answer was…
Who created a working radio made entirely from knitting?
Ebru Kurbak and Irene Posch created the 'Knitted Radio.'
Did you get it right? Leave a comment if you did!
We all change, and allowing ourselves to let go of self-imposed rules to grow is a great gift. We’re all works in progress!
What’s something you’ve learned about yourself in your crafting journey?
Leave a comment or press reply.
P.S. Don’t miss a relaxing read courtesy of Coco & Pepper, coming to you Sunday…
(Disclosure: Any purchases made through links may earn me a commission.)
Before you go…
I really enjoyed your post your mama sounds wonderful! My granny taught me to knit and make and I cherish those special times we spent together as I was only 9 when she died and I missed her terribly.
I print out my patterns (I’m 53 if that makes a difference). I use tech, however for knitting I like to go back to the basics. Pad and pen for counting rows. Written pattern to make notes. I enjoy getting lost in the moment and then wow, the backs almost finished!! Have a real problem motivating my see to sew everything together though. I tend to wait til the pile is ridiculous then allocate a day to “construct” everything. Never takes as long as I imagined and the satisfaction is immense. That day is currently looming. Thanks again for the post and have a great weekend
You have written such a wonderful tribute to your mother. Beautiful!
Thank you for the shoutout!!