My Sister's Knitter

Regarding our yarn stash...

 

Hello there!

 

Pattern~ My Own Vanilla   Yarn~ The Loopy Ewe Legends in the color Michelle's Pretty Pink Cactus  Tea~ Stash Earl Grey.

Whoo hoo-it's Sunday.  How was your week?  Hopefully it went by fast and now you are enjoying a peaceful week.  My Sunday is off to a great start, a cup of tea and some knitting. Basically, every Sunday should kick off with knitting. ;) A little later I am going to visit my yarn stash and do a bit of organizing. I want to chat a bit with you about your yarn stash, but first I will talk about this week's happenings.

 

Pattern~ My own vanilla pattern  Yarn~ Knitpicks Bare dyed with Kool-Aid.

I finished my June socks.  These socks despite being plain vanilla socks make me so happy. Actually it is the yarn that makes me happy. The yarn is Knitpicks Bare sock yarn and was dyed with koolaid more than 8 years ago, during a knit night at my home with a few work friends. Basically this yarn is full of memories and brings me joy.

 

Pattern~ Emily's favourite socks  Yarn~ Circus Tonic Handmade Reverly sock in the color Galah.

Now here is where we have a chat about our stash. I know that for some talking about one's stash can be like talking or discussing one's weight. It can be a sensitive issue and even raise some mild debates.  Regardless I am going to ask you your feelings on the topic of your yarn stash.

 

 Dyed in the Wool Yarn Co.

My friend Jody and I have  ongoing conversations about whether or not she should buy more yarn. She will let me know that she got the latest KnitPicks ad and spied "this yarn" or "that yarn", that she really loves.  My reply will always be, "Buy it!". Yep, I am an enabler with no shame. My view is that we work hard and maybe rather than shoes, purses, books, or whatever some people buy a lot of, we buy yarn. Of course there is no judgment from me if you are like Imelda Marcos and have a yarn stash that matches it.

 

Great Lakes Tweed sock in the color Girl Power.

Part of the sensitivity of talking about our yarn stash may come from the fact that our yarn is not cheap (deservedly so), and the fear that others will think that we must have a lot of money to be able to be able to have all this yarn. I can tell you that I am by no means well off and there have been occasions where I forgo something, like professional hair cuts or dinner out in lieu of a yarn purchase. Not that we should feel the need to justify our yarn purchases, but we do and that's okay.

My stash is rather large and in all likelihood, will take me years and years to knit through it all, I am okay with that. There is no embarrassment when I tell others, " I am going into the stash". There are many articles and posts about minimalism and how we have too many things, I understand where they are coming from , but the desire to minimize my stash is non-existent. Would I like to knit more from my stash-absolutely? At the same time, I enjoy new yarny treats being added to the stash family if I see yarn that I makes my heart go pitter-patter.

 

I would love to hear your feelings on your stash size? Also, please enjoy a song and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi

 

Second Sock Syndrome battle...

 

Hello there!

 

 

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday I had the wonderful treat of grey skies and rain, which means that no matter what...my week was sublime. :)  I get that these sort of days may not be for everyone, but it is such a rarity here in Arizona that I can't help but feel grateful. 

 

Pattern~ Emily's Favourite Socks   Yarn~ Circus Tonic Handmade in the color Galah

Now normally these types of days lead to endless hours of knitting bliss, but for some reason it ignited my desire to clean all the things. If I were to over analyze (which I tend to do), I may come to the conclusion that I was avoiding my knitting because the desire to cast on a new pair of socks is strong and the I have too many single socks that need partners.

 

 

You may have noticed that sweet little tea bag stitch marker and I must mention that it was a out of the blue gift from my sweet friend Laura. It arrived attached to a super fat "mini" skein.

 

Pattern~ Cadence   Yarn~ Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in the color Summer Blooms

Alright back to the second sock syndrome issue I am having. Today after a quick visit to mom's,  I am going to focus on getting some partners in progress for all the lonely socks I have.  I notice that I suffer from SSS whenever my mind is a bit all over the place.  I just need to remember that knitting is something I have control over and that knitting in itself helps to clear my mind.

Do you suffer from Second Sock Syndrome? If so how do you battle it?

I will leave you now and wish you the best day today!

 

 

 

XO,

andi

Knit going ons and chats...

 

Hello loves!

 

 

Can I just say that there is nothing like coming home after a long week (very long), to the most delicious cup of tea and knitting? See this tea above, well it was a souvenir from the sister from London.  Why oh why does all my favorite teas come from overseas? Anyhoo...it is now the weekend and there is no whining allowed on my weekends. Except when the topic is weather related. ;)

 

Yarn~ Fondant Fibre Superwash Polwarth in the color Harmony.

Guess who finished her May socks? Can I just mention what a treat this pattern was to knit? Woodland Walk Socks is a pattern from Olivia of This Handmade Life. It is one of those patterns that where you are excited to finish each leaf and before you know it, you have a finished sock. I love those kinds of patterns. 

 

 

Now, I am not sure about you but one of the best things about finishing up a pair of socks is that it provides me with mini skeins. One of these will be saved for my "taking forever" blanket and the others I will swap with others.  If you are interested in a mini skein swap, there is a thread in the My Sister's Knitter Raverly group  where you can get your swap on. It tends to be quite during the warmer months, but if you post that you are wanting to swap, you will no doubt get a taker.

 

 

Okay so I mentioned the souvenirs that my sister brought me back from London. Tea and an adorable tea strainer. Seriously does it get better than that? Of course yarn would have been brilliant, but if you can believe it the sister did not visit any yarn stores. I did advise her that she may have to turn in her crocheter badge. ;)  Then again I am that person that dreams of going on an across the U.S. yarn crawl, one where I visit each state for the sole purpose of visiting the yarn stores there. Heh.

I am going to leave you with a sweet song and wish you the very best day today!

 

 

XO,

Andi

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

 

 

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

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

Knitting, it's a process...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

Hope you all had a good week. My week was good a bit slow but good. For some reason I had the song " Everybody's working for the weekend" in my head. :) This week found me knitting outside on my lunch breaks, something I hadn't done in a while, it came with all the usual questions from non-knitters.

 

 

How do you knit with those tiny needles? Is it hard, it looks too hard? How long does it take you to finish? Do you ever wear them, (as I am wearing hand knits socks)? How much would you charge to make (insert item here)?

Then the statements follow. I don't have the patience for knitting. I am not coordinated enough to knit. I am too active to settle down and knit. And my favorite... my grandmother used to crochet. :)

To these questions and statements I have the standard answers most of the time. This week my reply was, " It's a process". One that allows me an outlet for my creativity, stress, mindfulness and brain stimulus.  What is your response to non-knitter questions? I have to say that other than unintentionally rude questions, most of them are truly interested. Sometimes they come sit by me because they say it is peaceful to watch me knit.

 

 

Now to something totally random. When I was cleaning and organizing the home, I came across some treats from my mom. These gifts were given to me during my last hospital visit. Puzzles and books to keep my brain occupied during the late night hours where sleep is interrupted when vitals and blood work is done on the hour every hour. My favorite is the little monkey. My mom has a thing about little ceramic creatures, she like to hide them in me and my sister's homes when she visits. No surprise that one made it's way to my hospital table.

I have received lovely questions about my health. Thank you. I am doing better everyday and am grateful that I am given another day to heal when I wake up. Plus always happy for another day to knit. :)

I hope this last week has been kind to you. I know there are many of you that are dealing with snow and unyielding cold weather. If I could I would send you some of my Arizona sunshine.

Enjoy a song and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

Andi