My Sister's Knitter

Sunday knitting musings and such...

 

Hello and happy Sunday!

 

 

How are you? Did your week treat you well? Mine was pretty good, busier than usual, but no less good.  Due to high temperatures here- the ice tea made an appearance.  Funny story-my sister is currently in London for the first time and my brother in law ordered ice tea. This ice tea order confused the waiter as  it is not like they had some brewed in back. :)

 

 Pattern~ Let It Shine Socks   Yarn~ Spinning Fates Toula in the color Party Cake

As you read my sister and brother-in-law are vacationing in London. Being the anglophile that I am, you know I am wicked jealous as well as super happy for them.  Since they are vacationing, I am babysitting my furry nieces (two dogs).  It has been pretty awesome. Now going from a pet-free home to one with two fur babies is fun. They let me knit and everything!

 

 

Despite having the weekend time to knit, I actually haven't made great progress on any one project. Maybe because I had the cast-on party last weekend? Funny how that works. ;)  Since I have nothing to show, above it my sock progress for 2018 so far. 

Thank you for all the truly wonderful responses to my question about how you organize your stash. It was so fun to read.  Now if only I could go into your homes and see your stash...nah, that would not be creepy at all.

As I am house and pet sitting this post will be a wee short.  There are lots of fun things that come with dog sitting (stuff like picking up poop), so I am off do continue on with my Sunday.

Have the best day today. To all the mother's out there happy Mother's Day. Maybe you are like me and have no children, fur babies, but tend to mother everyone...that counts. xo

 

 

XO,

Andi

 

 

Sock knitting and stash talk...

 

Hello there!

 

 

Happy Sunday!  Did the week treat you all kindly? My week was lovely, I was treated to nice cool temperatures and beautiful weather.  I took it all in as much as possible as today we are supposed to hit 109. :(  All I can say is thank goodness for air conditioning.

 

 

Cast on parties have been happening. For some reason I cannot seem to cast on enough socks. I tend to go through these periods and you know I do not feel guilty about it. Long ago I came to terms with the fact that I will never be a monogamous knitter.

 

Yarn~ Julianna's Lucid Dream socks in the color Carousel.  Gift from my dear friend Lynn!

Currently reading a great book that I saw my Goodreads/Raverly friend Jesse read. Warning it is a bit sexual and has language that some may find offensive. But if you look past that- this book is soooo good. Thank goodness I am able to read and knit or there would be no knitting this week.

 

Yarn~ Baerenwolle BAERfoot Sock in the color Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Then again, I do have lunch time knitting time available. :)

So I am thinking part of the reason for the cast-on-it is, is because I have been organizing my stash. You know how it is when you find those deep hidden gems.  Anyhoo- as  I was trying to figure out how my stash should be organized it made me wonder how you organize your stash.  My stash is in bins, but up until now there was no rhyme of reason to what was in each container.

Now all my yarns are housed according to weight. Probably the reason why I cast on all the socks this week because really who could ignore a bin full of colorful beautiful sock yarn? Not me.

How do you organize your stash? Color, weight, age...? Or maybe you don't. I would love to know!

Leaving you with a bit of Stephen West fun. Enjoy and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi

April loves...

 

Hello loves!

 

Yarn~ BAERENWOLLE BAERfoot in the color Lucy in the sky with diamonds   Book~ You by Caroline Kepnes   Tea~ Yogi Kombucha Green Tea.

Here we are- we made it to another weekend! Well done us.:)  It is going to be an amazing day, do you know how I know? Because my coffee tastes exceptionally good this morning- I view that as a sign.  Today the plan is to get in a bit of reading and of course some knitting.

 

 

I will apologize now as my projects lately have been all about the socks. May have something to do with our temps being near 100. Light projects that don't sit on my lap...priceless. The socks above are my Woodland Walk socks and there has been progress.  Not too much as I have had a serious case of cast-on-it is.

 

Pattern~ Socks on a Plane   Yarn~ Great Lakes Tweed Yarn in the color Surrealistic Pillow

I started this pair last weekend and they are done. I blame it entirely on the yarn. Great Lakes Tweed yarn was one I featured last year when I celebrated some of my favorite Indie dyers. I have been hoarding the above yarn and happy to report it has served it's purpose. To knit into some truly gorgeous socks that I cannot wait to wear this Fall/Winter.

 

 

A sign that I need some more of this yarn is in the fact that I cannot stop staring it at. :)  Then of course more socks cast on. Many more than pictured below...many more.

 

 

This yarn has been in my stash for almost 10 years. It is Knitpicks Bare and was dyed up during a knit night party at my casa. Experimenting in Kool-aide dying. Think it is about time to knit it up, right?

Alright, let's get to loves before I bombard you with all the socks.

 

• Woolen Wilderness has long been an inspiration to me. Her gorgeous projects have caused many of cast-on parties.
• Michelle has a wonderful podcast called My So Called Handmade Life. She is already on episode 9- which means, I am late to the game, but no less smitten. It is like her blog coming at you live.
• Not being one to swatch, ( because I knit mostly socks), if anything could get me to swatch it would be Michelle's gorgeous post.
• I haven't knit a stuffy in what seems like forever, but the sight of all these tiny knit dresses Little Cotton Rabbits designed for her stuffed friends has me rethinking that.
• Following along the process of Patricia's Birkin sweater in this post equals pure bliss.
• I am in constant awe of all you talented peeps who are multi-craftual. That is why this post by Melissa is one of my loves.
• I have seen some gorgeous knit models, but I have to say Simcha takes the cake. The cowl he is modeling is beautiful which is a good thing because were it not, it may just look like a handsome model wearing yarn. :)
• Despite being in the throws of sock knitting paradise, that doesn't mean my mind and eyes haven't been wandering.  Faith's Half Moon Oracle is one of those projects that makes me think that maybe a fun shawl would be something I could add to the menu.
• Leave it to Julie to come up with a wonderful feature, Knit Stories. Brilliant idea.
• Choosing a word for the new year is such a lovely idea. Julie has chosen the word adventure, packaged up mystery bags filled with yarn and patterns for shawls. Seriously, I want to peek into all her bags!
• Change...not one of my favorite words. I like things to stay the same, but wisely understand that change is inevitable. Loved this post from Karen.

 

Thank you as always for visiting with me. Enjoy this sweet video and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi

Reviewing my knitting goals...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Yarn~ Fondant Fibre Superwash Polwarth in the color Harmony. Drink~ Green Monster Smoothie.

While I am not one for New Year's resolutions, I do think it is a good time to set some knitting goals.  One thing I really wanted to focus on in 2018 was to participate in my own KALs. Knitting has started on my Woodland Walk socks for the My Sister's Knitter Mother Nature KAL.  If you are looking for a pattern that flies off the needles, this is the one for you. The desire to get to next leaf is strong. Side note: Do you ever have that yarn that has been frogged more times than you can count because the pattern wasn't working? Bonus I found the pattern that this yarn was destined for.

 

Yarn~ NanoStitch Laboratory Scientific Sock in the color Alkaloid.  

Look! Here are the socks that I finished for my mom for Mother's day. They were originally planned for my sister, but then something told me they belong to my mom. These socks met another goal I have which is to not hoard gifted yarn.

 

Yarn~ Knitpicks Imagination sock yarn in the color Damsel

Then if you will see here...another pair has been finished. Finishing these has been wonderful in so many ways.  I really wanted  to knit from deep stash in addition to all the new pretties. This yarn is KnitPicks Imagination sock yarn (now discontinued), a merino/alpaca/nylon blend was purchased more than 9 years ago. I know you call can relate how good that feels.

 

 

I mentioned last week that I would talk about this new publication from Knotions, ShawlStar.The reason I kept it to this week because it does relate to my 2018 goals. Many of us have a large library of knitting resources that for some collect dust, because it feels easier to buy a pattern and knit it. But something I have been wanting to do this year is use my resources for modifications.  By learning more about the construction of something, I can figure out how to alter the pattern to fit my needs.

I don't have a desire to design, but I don't think you need to in order to find this Ebook useful. For example, I love shawls I can wrap around me, but only want to use one skein of yarn. I can take my favorite pattern from a designer and work addition increased to make it wider thanks to understanding how shawl shaping works. I could really go on and on about how helpful ShawlStar is. Now if you do have the desire to design- this ebook is gold.

Feels like I have chatted your ear off while I sort of checked where I am at in my goals. So thank you if you weathered through it. Please enjoy a song and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi

 

 

Making me happy in my knitting world...

 

Hello, loves!

 

 

What a lovely week filled with hours of knitting time, a bit of cooking and reading. One of those weeks where you think to yourself there is so much to love in this little virtual knitting community in which I reside.  So much to be grateful for, to appreciate and enjoy.

 

Pattern~ Hermione's Everyday socks  Yarn~ Knitpicks chroma twisted in the color Dear Diary.

First up, I finished these socks. What an absolute treat to work with this yarn, it was soft in the way Knitpicks yarn often is and then you had the twist which made it almost feel like handspun. Bonus two of my very favorite colors in one skein of yarn...dreamy! A finished object always brings happy into one's day.

 

NanoStitch Laboratory sock yarn in the color Alkaloid.

These socks which I cast on about the same time as the above are finished. They are blocking  no photo yet. So that is two FOs in a week! 

 

Yarn~ Fondant Fibre BFL sock yarn in the color Harmony

A new project is going to be cast on today for the My Sister's Knitter's Ravelry group. Our current KAL is Nature themed. If you would like to join in on the fun come see us here. This group is something beyond my wildest dreams, if you are looking for positivity, encouragement, friendship this is the group for you. I may be biased, my it is 100% true.

 

 

One of my dear friends Jody, founder and editor of knotions has launched a wonderful new publication called ShawlStar. I will talk more about this publication next week, but it is being mentioned because it is Jody's birthday today and I wanted to send a shout out to her. You see despite Jody being one of my closest friends, we have never met in person. This is what I am talking about when I say how brilliant this community we create in is. Happy Birthday to you my beautiful, talented and strong friend!

Two podcasts that I have been enjoying this week and wanted to share-

Cocktail Hour at the Coop- hosted by  Leanne and Liz.  I know it has been said before, but I really feel like I am sitting in a knitting group chatting with dear friends. Don't even get me started on how much I love their accents.

Earthtones Girl podcast hosted by Denise. Talk about someone who exudes their wonderfulness via a camera. Denise is like butter talking about yarn, soothing and with great topics/projects.

 

I believe one could never be bored in this community. We have gorgeous yarns to play with while being able to support small businesses, podcasts to listen to for entertainment, a Raverly community that allows us to join group that cater to our likes (books, movies, cooking, sports, etc..,...).  I could go on and on about all the great resources we have within our reach, all dedicated to our craft. All this is what makes my knitting life so happy.

Please enjoy a song and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

Andi

Knit stitch here, knit stitch there...

 

Happy Sunday loves!

 

 

How was your week?  Mine was filled with lots of knitting. While nothing was finished,  I felt like all of the thousands of WIPs (exaggeration), got some knitting love. A stitch was put here and there.

 

Pattern~ Vanilla   Yarn~ NanoStitch Lab in the color Alkaloid

New projects were added to the WIP pile. Two more socks, one which is above. While these socks were cast on with the intention of going to my sister, there is a strong debate going on in my head as to whether they would be happier living with me. In all likelihood this argument will continue to the last stitch.

 

Pattern~ Banana Leaf    Yarn~ Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in the color Steel Oats

A new cast on is one that I visited once before in a different yarn almost three years ago, has caught my attention and heart recently.  I do believe that not only is there the right yarn for the project conflict, but also sometimes a project may not be the right time for you mentally. Luckily this pattern and yarn combo are fitting in to mental state right now wonderfully.

 

Pattern~ Hermione's Everyday socks   Yarn~ Knit Picks Chroma Twist in the color Dear Diary

Socks that I was working on in my last post, have also gotten the love from the needles. Side note- I have knit Hermione's Everyday sock pattern five times, and I honestly think there are going to be many more in my future. Do you have a pattern like that, one that you can knit over and over and never tire?

Hope you weekend has been kind to you. Enjoy a video and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

Andi

March loves...

Good morning and happy Easter!

Yarn~ Knitpicks Chroma Twist Fingering in the color Dear Diary  Pattern~ Hermione's Everyday socks

Hope this week treated you well.  My week was a little all over the place, but I always say it is always a good day when I get the privilege of another day.  There has been quite a bit of knitting going on as well as quality time with reading. I finished up In the Woods by Tana French and have started another, Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire.  I like Maguire's writing, I read Wicked what seems like a very long time ago and it was amazing.

 

Pattern~ Vanilla    Yarn~ Cauldron of Colours in the color Andi's Arizona Sunset

I mentioned knitting happened this week and will you take a look here...finished socks! Okay, tell me it isn't just me but the pattern/colors of this yarn make them look blurry, right? It is like an eye test. Then again it could just be me. :)

Yarn~ Knit Picks Felici in the color Gelato 

I also finished up my square for the Sister Survivor Blanket project that is hosted by The Thistle Hollow podcast.  5 inch squares were requested. I cast on 62 stitches on size 2 needles and followed this pattern.

Yarn~ Ilash designs in the color Spring Bouquet. A gift from my sister.

With projects off the needles, that gives me permission to cast on my April socks. I have a plan of knitting 2 pairs for the month of April. One using yarn that has been in my stash for a little while and then the other using gift yarn.  I did this for March and already well on my way for April.

Ok, enough about me. Let's go visiting blogland and enjoy some loves!

• I have been craving scarf knitting lately. Something about a large love scarf to wrap around myself this coming Winter sounds heavenly. Bethany seems to be on the same track.
• The Spring fever seems to have taken over my brain. Proved this to myself when I noticed that many of the colors I am attracted to right now are Spring-like, case and point this Rombik.
• The knits that come off Katherine's needles never disappoint. In March Katherine had 2 stunning sweaters that I would steal if I were as tiny as her and lived in the UK.
• Neon sock knitting bug is a thing, as explained by Woollen Wild. After seeing those gorgeous socks it may be contagious virtually as now I want to stash dive for all the neons!
• Adore Julie and this post. There are so many colors I love but don't knit projects for myself because I fear I can't wear the color. Reading Julie's post was eye opening.
• I am fully aware that I am sock obsessed and they are heavily featured in my monthly loves. I just can't help myself especially when Cortney posts her latest finished socks.
• Loves this video tutorial on how to fix your knitting mistakes. Even though I never make mistakes in my knitting  (heh), I can truly appreciate this. ;)
• I could read this post over and over again- The Solace of Finishing Things.
• Those who have read by blog for a bit know that I love pinks and greys above all. But lately Purples have been catching my eye, especially this Purple Starfall.
• Looking for those lighter projects now that it is Spring? Thanks to Susanne's post you may just find the right one for you.
• I like Spring, but not nearly as much as Winter. Not the type I have here in my part of Arizona, but more like Tien's. Throw in some gorgeous knitting on the needles and I may just faint from happiness.
• Sara's on a sock kick...enough said, I'm there.

 

High on my list of loves are videos from Little Lionhead Knits.  They are wordless, bit sized but full of inspiration.  Enjoy and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

Andi

Motivational knitting...

 

Hello!

 

Pattern~ Mary Margaret's Lace Tam   Yarn~ Luna Grey Fiber Arts in the color Charcoal.

Happy Sunday! Spring has officially arrived for us in the U.S., although I am sure my east coast friends are looking at the calendar in confusion with all the Nor'Easter storms they have going on. Not sure about you, but something about Spring has me stash diving for all the pastels or floral colored yarns.

 

Pattern~ Vanilla    Yarn~ Cauldron of Colour in the color Andi's AZ sunset

Before visiting the stash and sidetracking myself, the above socks needs to be completed. The reward for getting them done will be to cast on some bright "Spring-colored" socks. Do you have to motivate or reward yourself in this manner in order to get things done?

 

Pattern~ Knitted Patchwork Blanket    Yarn~ KnitPicks Felici in the color Gelato

Now there is a little bit of Spring colors happening on my needles, so that helps. This is the beginning of my square for the Sister Survivor Blanket project hosted by the Thistle Hollow podcast.

Here is a question for you all. As mentioned, I motivate myself to finish projects by dangling a new project and yarn in my mind. I get that there are those who finish projects because they want the end product, therefore this may not apply. But how about those who have all the projects on the needles and reside on WIP island? How do you motivate yourself to finish a knit before starting a new one?

Before leaving you with a song, allow me to thank you for all the well wishes for my new job. You guys seriously rock my world.

 

 

 

Have the best day today!

xo,

Andi

Sunday knit talk and happenings...

 

Hello there!

 

 

Happy Sunday! Hope your weekend has been treating you especially well. Heck, I hope your life has been treating you well. :) For me the week was lovely. I start a new job on Monday and I am so excited for this new venture.  It will be shiny and new, as well as a new opportunity to share with the muggles the love I have for knitting.

 

 

Quite a bit of knitting was accomplished, as well as some reading. Currently I am devouring, In The Woods by Tana French. Speaking of reading...thank you all so much for friending me on Goodreads. It has been so interesting seeing what you are reading, which has resulted in many new "To Read" books to my list. I have received a few questions about how I knit and read at the same time. My lovely mom gifted me a book holder for Christmas a couple of years ago and it is perfection. I couldn't find the exact one, but this one is very close to the concept.

 

Pattern~ Winter's Frost by This Handmade Life  Yarn~ The Wool Barn Tweed Sock in the color Sweetheart

See, I have been productive! I finished a pair of socks. There is something about a slight pattern that runs along the side of a sock that gets me every time. Not sure what it is but I tend to gravitate towards that if I want to knit something other than a vanilla sock. Bonus this pattern was absolutely lovely to knit.

 

Yarn~ Cauldron of Colours in the color Andi's Arizona Sunset

Now that one pair has been finished, I can focus on working on these loves.  My goal is to finish 2 pairs a month. Not a set in stone goal, just something I would like to accomplish. Stash diving is going to be a big part of my plans when it comes to sock knitting this year. Using yarns that have been gifted, rather than hoarding is on the sock agenda.

Since it is still early Sunday in my part of the world, I have lots of knitting plans for today. One of them includes knitting a blanket square for the Sister Survivor Blanket Project created by Evelyn of The Thistle Hollow podcast. If you are interested you can check out her video that explains it better than I can.

Leaving you now by sending you all much love and a song.

 

 

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi

 

Knitting rambles and more rambles...

 

Hello loves!

 

 

Well hello there. How was your week?  While my chilly temps were gone, friends on the east coast dealt with two Nor'Easter storms. Sending much love to you all who had to deal with them. Hopefully you are warm and safe. 

 

Yarn~ Cauldron of Colours  Colorway~ Andi's Arizona sunset

This week lots of knitting was done and if you can believe it I finished a shawl that has been on my needles since November, more on that in a bit. New socks have been started, actually two, and they are rather the perfect project to work on while catching up on my reading. I finished Eleanor & Park , which I loved and now I am on to a murder mystery, In The Woods. BTW, I am on Goodreads and I would love to see what you are reading if you would like to friend me.

 

 

Since  one pair of socks came off the needles in February, it is only right that two are cast on. Isn't that how it works? These socks are a dream knit as the pattern is just entertaining enough. Know what I mean?  The pattern is Winter Frost by This Handmade Life. The yarn is The Wool Barn Tweed Sock in the color Sweetheart and has been in my stash since 2015. I have been wanting to use up some of my "older" stash.

 

 

Now I am going to share with you my finished Ohra. It has been two years since I have finished a shawl. Whoot whoot! This shawl is a huge hug and I love it for wrapping up in during the chilly evenings or mornings. I have found that the larger the better when it comes to shawls. When talking to my friend Nessa ( Kiltocraft podcast) via Raverly she stated when it comes to shawl, Go big or go home. :) I agree.

I feel I have chatted your ears/eyes off. Thank you as always for visiting with me. Enjoy a song and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi