watched-pot knits

A while ago, Leslie posted about knitting while standing at the stove fixing food and she wondered, "You do this, right?" Right! It makes me smile to know I'm not alone in what I call my watched-pot knits! Again, I'm in good company...

That's another square for the Barn Raising Quilt posing with some veggies for dinner prep. It's Lorna's Laces Sock in Bittersweet, an all-time favorite colorway. Now that my hands know what to do automagically, it's perfect for those minutes when I'm waiting for the pot to boil; I can put it down at any moment and not worry about losing my place.

Along the cooking goes with handwork lines of thinking, I've settled on a pattern for the Swap (but I'm not tellin'!) I'm playing around with colors, looking for some cheery combinations for the kitchen counters of my fellow swappers. I'm leaning toward colors that I've seen on traditional Mexican celebration dresses like these beauties. I'll show you the colors when the camera battery is feeling more energetic.

BTW, could someone please advise on carriage returns on my entries, I can't seem to get them consistently... thanks!

in good company

Lately, I have been keeping good company. Today, an old friend who's a new mom and a somewhat new friend who's a two-time mom and their respective daughters were at our house for a mom/daughter visit. Then there's the company I keep since I joined the Swap. Of course, there's you, the company I'm beginning to mingle with here on my blog. And then there's the company which is pictured above, the squares from my Barn Raising Quilt from Larissa's book Knitalong. I consider those squares company because they're comfort knitting, not demanding, simply beautiful, varied, just happy to hang out here whilst all the hustle bustle of life goes on around them, just like good human company!

My friend Sari and I started our quilts about a year ago. While we're each knitting our own squares, we're sharing yarn which will now be in both of our quilts, so there is some link to the knitalong idea. Some of the yarn is left from other projects, some was purchased just for our quilts, and some is from stash. Sari's quilt is finished, and it's breathtaking! I'm about half-way through my squares. (You might have noticed that I am not a one-project-at-a-time kind of girl...) I love arranging the squares, dreaming of how it will look in the end and remembering all the different occassions when I knitted them. Knit into each square is a playdate, a violin lesson, a coffee break, a visit at my folks, jury selection, a sleepless night, a pod-cast, a jr. high basketball game, a road trip, a parent meeting; all those times where I have had good company (well, maybe not during the sleepless night). When it's finished, cuddling under it will be so comforting just for those times which have been stitched into it. Ahhh!

I'm so grateful for the company I keep, and the company that keeps me!

tickled

I'm tickled that I'm hearing more variety in the birdsong, that some sweet crocuses bloomed in our garden, and that I've started a blog! So far, this blog has turned out to provide so much of what I was hoping for: comraderie, inspiration, motivation, and education. Education? Yes, I'm getting an education with our cameras, one a pocket digital and one an intimidating digital. I'm a novice, but I'm sure it'll be fun learning what there is to know.

I'm also a novice crocheter. I taught myself a few years ago for simple edgings on knitted projects, then came the snowflakes, then a mini-Babette for Hana's dolls, a few washcloths here and there, up there is the beginnings of a ripple afghan, and now I've joined the hot pads! and potholders swap (link thru that button over to the right). I'm deciding about colors and style now. I've got a healthy stash of Cascade 220, so that'll probably be the yarn, but to choose a pattern - yowsa! that's really tough. I've got my copy of 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton just like fellow-swapper Kathy (aka Grumperina), but there are 200! I just want to say that I feel like I'm hob-nobbing with blogosphere celebrities with my name alongside the names on that list! - also tickling me. ;-)

What tickles you?

glad for this

I knit this before the holidays, when I was feeling like it had been a long time since I made a full-size garment (for me!). I am so glad I did! It's perfect for these early spring days when a whole wool sweater seems stifling, and the colors really sing spring to me. There's purple, olive, grey, turquoise and black with flecks of natural white. It's Noro Silk Garden (color 272) which I hadn't used before. It was really nice to work with and it's lovely to wear; very lightweight and soft. The pattern is Design 26 from Noro Mini Knits book (check around for errata on the sleeve shaping). You can see more on mine on Ravelry.

I finished the bright Cap-Sleeved top over the weekend (knitting late into the night!), and it's been worn both days since. I think the yarn is so soft and lightweight that Hana sort of forgets that it's on. I think the pattern is brilliant in such a keep-things-simple way which is just how I like things! Perfect to keep her toasty while there's still a bit of chill in the air. I'll post some pictures soon...

Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to all the connections. I'm glad to have a spot here to think out loud. Oh, and Beth, you're a dear!

nudge

I'm doing my best to forecast spring here: a short sleeve knit top for Hana and a fresh spring tote for me in colors that blend right into the view out our back windows. Maybe if spring were to peek in at my handwork, she'd see the pink buds and take the hint that we're ready for some more colors outside too.

The little top is transition wear; yes, it's short-sleeved but to be worn as a layer with a long-sleeved tee. It's this pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/girls-cap-sleeved-spring-shirt and the yarn is Yarn Pirate BFL DK in Berry Sweet.

The fabric is by Heather Ross, the rabbits & race-cars line. I made myself a tote from Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter. The tote pattern has become my go-to pattern. I don't line the bags because they get an extra layer of fabric on the outside which serves as reinforcement and accent. So smart!

Oh, and I'm also on the receiving end of a nudge! My friend Beth, http://www.tangledskystudio.blogspot.com/, mentioned my little nest here on her blog, so I figured I'd better get blogging! Thanks, Beth!