My Sister's Knitter

August loves...

 

Happy Sunday, love!

 

 

Hello there! Hopefully, for those of you in the U.S. you are celebrating Labor day with a long weekend- which means more knit time, right? Or maybe time with your family. ;)  This weekend has been very lovely quite a bit of knitting happened. Jesse (oocha) is hosting a Monstersockkal on Instagram and for some reason it became an obsession yesterday.

 

 

While I should have been doing chores around the home, instead I was knitting away on my scrappy socks with vigor. Get this- I am even weaving in my ends as I go. I know, "Who is this woman?". I was surprised to see how my color palette turned out to be quite mellow. I just grabbed some of my sock yarn remnants and put them in a large bowl. Pulling them out with no purpose.

 

 

My week was equally as wonderful as my weekend. Making it all the better, being able to sneak in a few rows on a sock WIP at my desk. :)

How about if we visit some loves from blogland?

• Love Cortney's take of being typecast into a certain type of knitting project.
• I ever I decided to knit another sweater for myself, I would only visit Patricia's blog. Despite not needing the additional warmth even in Arizona's winter, I am so inspired by Patricia's images.
• Since I don't travel much, I adore seeing all the travel pics. Despite Deborah thinking they are not all that, I could never see to many gorgeous pics of places around the world.
• Texture in knitting is bliss. I loved reading Steph's post.
• One of my favorite episodes from Michelle aka My So-Called Handmade Life is on how we connect. I watched it twice!
• Susanne fills me need to add new wooly travel plans to my bucket list. This post is so wonderful!
• Really enjoyed this post about coming back to blogging from Dances With Wool.
• A Stash Busting KAL? Oh boy, it is tempting because heaven knows I need to work through my stash.
• Knotions has had a makeover and it is amazing.  Talk about making a knitter's life easier. Go visit, you will see what I mean.
• I learn a lot whenever I watch one of Sari's Youtube videos. Love the sweater chronicles.
• I received an email from CDM Princeton about knitting for preemies. If you are looking for a place to create for a good cause you can visit Little Lungs.

 

Hope you are enjoying a long weekend! Please enjoy a lovely video and have the best day today!

 

 

xo,

andi

 

Method to the knitting madness...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

Hello, there!  How was your week? Mine was nice and calm, but that doesn't mean I wasn't looking forward to the weekend. Knitting has been all over the place. I think sometimes it helps me to feel a bit scattered, as it makes my feel unsettled. Primarily because I am not a fan of feeling settled and it forces me to stop and take note and focus.

 

 

Two socks were finished, but not from the same pair. So I immediately cast on cuff for the second one to avoid second sock syndrome.

 

 

Despite not being a monogamous knitter, even I have to have some organization to my knits. Maybe that is where the term, "Method to my madness", came from? Do you ever feel that way? Where if someone else were to look at your stash or projects and see chaos, while you know where everything is and what stage the projects are at?

 

 

A good mail day happened when this sweet package arrived this week. These little nuggets of joy come from my lovely friend Diane. Making is more special, she even noted how she watched a YouTube video on how to make mini-skeins.  Thank you, Diane!

While I get back to my knitting chaos, I will leave you with a lovely video on how knitting is good for our brain. Enjoy and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

Andi

Knit happenings and a giveaway...

 

Hello loves!

 

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

Here we meet again on another beautiful Sunday! Before I go further with my knitting ramblings, I have to say it was so wonderful reading your responses and thoughts on last weeks post. Thank you! Okay, now on to knit chat.  How did you do this week, were you able to sneak some knitting in?

 

 

I was able to get a few stitches here and there. Nothing finished, which is okay as sometimes life is busy and when it is, it can make those stolen knitting moments all the better. I must say that I felt a bit paralyzed when I caught a glimpse into my WIP basket. I could not decide what I wanted to work on.

 

 

Not helping with the distraction was a surprise early birthday gift from my dear friend Heather. She has singlehandedly provided 95% of my coveted Opal The Little Prince Series of yarns. It took great restraint not to cast on one of these lovelies, immediately.

 

 

Then another package came from my brilliant friend Jody. A "Just Because" surprise. I am telling you the fact that your friends think of you amidst their busy lives...well it makes this easy-to-cry-girl, cry. Not the pretty cry either. ;)

 

Wooly Wonka Rhiannon Sock in the color Forget-Me-Not  465 yards 75/25 SW Merino/Nylon

Then, it came to me. I have this gorgeous skein of yarn that the beyond talent dyer Anne of Wooly Wonka Fibers gave to me to gift to one lucky person...why not give someone else a chance for a great mail week. Because as you all know, I think of each and every one of you all the time.

So how about if you visit Wooly Wonka Fiber's Shop and come back her and tell me your favorite yarn in her shop. When you leave a comment make sure leave an email address when prompted (for your own protection don't put it in the email subject). This giveaway is open worldwide. The drawing will close on September 8th at midnight PST and  I will draw a winner via random number generator and announce on the blog on September 9th. Good luck!

I will leave you with a tune and wish you the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi 

Knitting negative self-talk...

 

Happy Sunday, loves!

 

 

Hello, there. How was your week? My week was filled with great work days and ample knitting time, which makes for an ideal week in my book. We have been having our usual Monsoon storms here, but as I was discussing with friends and family, the storms feel stronger and more frequent than the years prior. Are you noticing that your Summer storms have increased this year?

 

 Yarn~ Cosy Posy Yarn Co. color Emily Gilmore

Enough talk about weather, let's chat about knitting. There is something I have been thinking about for a little while now. It is a topic that comes up from time to time in comments here and on Raverly. I noticed that some yarnies making comments about what it means to be a "real knitter".

 

 

I have heard comments like, " I wish I could knit [this] or [that] type of project, but I only knit washcloths. Or maybe certain techniques like colorwork or brioche, hold them back from feeling like they are "real knitters". I have even heard people downplay their projects because of the yarn they use, for example if they knit something out of acrylic instead of wool or a wool-blend. At time I have even read people comparing themselves to knitters who pump out more projects, considering themselves less than because of it.

Not sure where all this negative self talk came from and I am sure there are those who say that it falls upon the individual who may put themselves down in all aspects of their lives, not just knitting. Maybe it comes from all the stunning and sometimes stages photos from Instagram or there about making them feel "less than" about their own knitting?

All I know is that knitting should bring us pleasure. We spend our days at work or in other areas of our lives being compared and accessed by our abilities, looks and productivity...let's take the time to not only say something nice to others, but to ourselves.

Please enjoy a sing and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi

Knitting project preferences...

 

Hello there loves!

 

 

Yay- it is Sunday! Time to sit, relax and chat with my peeps. Being able to sit and catch up with you all it a huge highlight of my week. How was your week?  Hope you are all safe from these crazy Summer storms the U.S. has been having. Other than dealing with unrelenting heat, I have no room to complain in comparison.

 

 

What does one do when they need a travel project, they cast on some vanilla socks of course. Traveling means for me work. :)  So I scooped up this yarn that my sister bought me for Christmas last year. A conversation between my mom, my sister and I got me thinking about how some of us gravitate towards particular projects and how others do not.

 

 

 

It is no secret that I like knitting socks, for a number of reasons. They are something I can wear for at least 4-5 months of the year in Arizona. The portability factor of sock knitting is always a factor for me. Socks are the first thing I learned to knit and the love affair has continued.  While I have knit blankets, stuffies, cardigans, shawls, scarves and hats, I admit 85% of my completed projects are socks.

 

 

The conversation that I mentioned went a bit like this. Mom and me~ During a phone call she asks me what am I knitting on. I say socks. She says, you should knit something else, you are always knitting socks. Sister and me~ Tell sister Mom tells me that I should knit something other than socks. Sister tells me, " Well, it is kind of weird that you just knit socks.".

I think my first reaction was to be defensive, but then I realized I do knit a lot of socks. Of course I know I knit socks predominately, I just had not ever thought they it may come across as odd to some people. Do you feel you have unintentionally typecast yourself into a certain type of knitting project and what is it about that particular type of project that keeps you coming back for more, (by project I mean shawls, socks, sweaters, etc.,).  Inquiring minds wants to know. :)

On to the giveaway that we had a couple weeks back. I have drawn a winner for this beautiful skein of Dyed In the Wool Yarn Co's skein of DK weight yarn...

 

#37-

Beautiful colors! I see fingerless gloves done with it.

Posted by: Joanne 

 

 

Congratulations, Joanne.  Thank you for all who entered. I will leave you with a wonderful maker video from Etsy and wish you the best day today!

 

 

 

 

 

XO,

andi

July loves...

 

Hello and happy Sunday, loves!

 

 

How have you been since we last talked? This morning finds me knitting on my Let it Shine socks with a nice cup of coffee along with very grey skies.  Bliss, I tell you.  Can everyday please be like this Sunday?

 

 

I finished some secret sample/test knit socks for Knotions magazine. Explains why they are folded in such a way, right?  Bonus, I have yarn coming in the mail for another pair of sample/test knits socks coming soon. Whoo hoo!

 

 

A wee bit of progress on my KAL shawl happened this week. Plans are to get in a few more rows today then to switch gears and work on the sample knit cardigan (pic below). So many things on the needles!

 

 

Overall, a very knitty week, just how I like it.  

We have already reached the end of July. Which means it is that time for July loves.  Hope you enjoy your visits around blogland and thereabout. :)

 

• There are those blogs where the stunning photos draw you in and the stories keep you coming back for more. Jean's is on of those blogs. Love her most recent posts on what is Yarnscape.
• Attending a knitting retreat is a long time dream of mine. Andrea shares a retreat she attended in my favorite state Colorado and I am in love.
• Over the last couple of weeks a few knitty friends of mine on Raverly have shared they are suffering from pain when knitting. Not being able to knit strikes at the heart of every knitter, so it was interesting when I read this article by Chloe Benjamin.
• Love this post from Shannon about how she is going to slow down her Summer. Sometimes we all need to step back and reprioritize our lives.
• I am adoring Leslie's What the Fade progress and those tassels equal insta-love.
• Enjoy doesn't even begin to cover how brilliant is has been to read through Helena's post about on the Jyväskylä Knit Festival 2018.  
• It is always a "Merry Meet"  whenever I visit Fin Folk and Oak and there are times I never want to leave.  
• I will never get enough of Autumn Geisha's progress pics, especially as they are primarily socks.  Tien is my sock and yarn muse.

 

Alright, I will stop monopolizing your time and ask that you enjoy a song.

 

 

 

 

Have the best day today!

xo,

andi

Knitting in the heat...

 

Hello loves!

 

Yarn~ S.R. Kertzer On Your Toes with Aloe.  Pattern~ Vanilla

Happy Sunday! With all these summer storms in the U.S., I hope everyone is safe and happily knitting away. Knitting is happening here, it is hot but that is not keeping me from knitting all the things. If anything I am having to hold myself from casting everything.

 

 

Case in point, I finished these loves earlier in the week and for some reason I kept telling myself that I deserved to cast on 3 more socks as a treat since I had an FO. Thankfully my brain took over and reminded me that I already have a million things on the needles.

 

 

These socks were so wonderful to knit. Yes, they are just plain vanilla socks, but those colors and stripes kept me going at full steam. Quick note about the yarn, this pair is my 6th finished pair of socks that I have knit out of Spinning Fates Yarn. I have 2 more skeins in my stash that I am hoarding but would really like to cast on. Spinning Fates was one of my earliest Indie dyers and obviously the love affair has never ended,(I am eyeing her colorway, Purple Reign big time).

 

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

Progress on my Emily's socks is still happening. I think if I keep with it, these will be done fairly soon. Excuse the dark lighting, sometimes Monsoon weather darkens things up a bit. But if you know me, the greyer the better when it comes to skies.

How has your Summer been treating you?

Enjoy a song and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi

To Knit-along or not...

 

Hello loves!

 

Yarn~ Spinning Fates Twisted Sisters in the color Lady Meux   Tea~ Taylors of Harrogate Sweet Rhubarb.

Happy Sunday!  whoo-hoo, we made it to the weekend. :)  The week flew and now thankfully the weekend feels like it is moving nice and slow. I am totally savoring it.  Some knitting has happened on my fraternal twins socks, as well as my sample knits.

 

 

A new KAL (knit-along) is starting in the My Sister's Knitter group today.  I really enjoy knitting along with people as for me it provides me with a feeling like I am knitting with a local knitting group. I am constantly in awe for how kind, supportive and inspiring the group members are.  While preparing for this next KAL it got me thinking, why do you knit along or why don't you?

 

Yarns~ Dream in Color Baby.

For me, KALs provide me with a knitting community that I don't have here in Arizona. The original reason I started the group in 2013 was because I wanted a way to expand my blog in a way that allowed me to connect on another level through knitting. Now, I say knitting but our KALs also include crochet, weaving and sometimes spinning.

 

Pattern~ Let it Shine   Yarn~ Neighborhood Fiber Co. in the color Victorian Village.

When creating the KAL is the group, I try to make them as open to all as possible so that everyone feels the project they create will fit into the theme. Of course this is not always possible, but I like to think that for the most part the themes are something everyone can join in on.

Your turn...do you join KALs?  If so, what do you like about them and what don't you? If you don't KAL, why?

Enjoy a lovely video that has me green with envy ( knitting and camping=my heaven), and have the best day today!

 

 

XO,

andi

Knitting chat and a giveaway...

 

* Thank you for all who entered! This giveaway is now closed*

Hello there!

 

 

Happy Sunday! Did your week treat you well? Were you able to squeeze in some knitting time? My week was good and yes, that is primarily because knitting time was made.  I was a bit all over the place with my knitting, a row here and a row there.  Progress on my Cadence socks is coming along. There is something about this pattern that makes it seem that it knits itself.

 

 

The original plan (if you could call it that), was that I was going to finish up the Cadence socks and work on the sample knits.  Then the postman arrived and all plans went out the window. A lovely friend sent me a surprise gift from one of my favorite dyers, Spinning Fates.  Pink and grey...they were begging to be cast on. The color is Lady Meux.

 

 

I took some advice from the recent post about Second Sock Syndrome and decided to knit these babies in unison. It is working and I think the fact that they are fraternal twins makes it all the more exciting.

 

 

On a totally different note, I had to share Carl with you all. My sister crocheted me this little cutie and he is everything!  I mean how could you not look at that face and smile?

Now, I have a treat for you all. One of my dear friends and very talented dyer, Vanessa of Dyed in the Wool Yarn Co. surprised me by asking if she could send me some yarn and she would include a skein for a giveaway.  Since I secretly wish I were Yarn Santa and able to gift all the yarn, I said yes!

So my friends thanks to the generosity and pure kindness of Vanessa...

 

this gorgeous skein will go home to one lucky winner.

Yarn details-

Darn it DK   Color is Birds of a Feather    250 yards    SW Merino   Weight- DK

 

To win tell me what you would like to knit with the gorgeous skein (you know my mind went to squishy  DK socks), in the comments. Make sure to provide your email address when it prompts you. Giveaway is open world wide and will close on July 31th at midnight. The winner will be announced on August 5th's blog post.

Thank you for all who entered! This giveaway has now closed.

 

I will leave you with a song and wish you the best day today!

 

 

XO

andi

June Loves...

 

Hello loves!

 

Yarn~ Neighborhood Fiber Company color Victorian Village   My favorite knitting notebook~ is from Lisa The Knitting Artist.

Welcome to Sunday (or whenever you read this)!!  It has been a crazy week filled with all sorts of things and all I can say it I was very grateful when this wonderful weekend arrived on my doorstep. One huge highlight of my week was reading through all the great comments about your stash. It was brilliant to read how each and everyone of you feels about your stash- so thank you!

 

 

As it was a crazy week, I pulled out the arsenal...tea and knitting. It worked! Speaking of tea, I have received questions about my favorite teas. While at times it can be overwhelming to choose because it is similar to picking a favorite yarn, I have displayed a small (very small) sample of my go-to- teas. One exception listed here is the NU TE, it was in a swap package that I received from a lovely friend in Switzerland and have been on the hunt for it ever since.  Let me tell you, that tea is amazing!!!

 

 

I don't have a lot of knitting progress to share as my projects this week have been focused on some sample knitting.  This huge bundle of yarny goodness is for a colorwork cardigan that I am  knitting for the talented designer, Anne Podlesak and is for The Yarn Guys shop.

 

 

This is all I have to show for it right now. I may be able to share a tad bit more in the coming weeks.

 

 

Then we have the second sample knit I am working on. This pattern has not been released so this is a sneak peek of it.  The test knit is for Knotions Magazine and the yarn is Wooly Wonka Fibers Rhiannon sock yarn in the color Forget Me Nots.

It may appear that I have no knitting happening for me this week and I don't, but I will be working on some side projects (probably socks), just to be able to have some knitting to share with you all. For now I will share my loves for June!

 

• I am really into Michelle's Zara Tee. It looks like the perfect knit for the warmer months. Also, in case you didn't know Michelle has a great podcast on Youtube. Win-win.
• One of my favorite things to read on blog is vacations. TinCanKnits is sharing Vol.1 of her trip to Iceland and it is pure joy to read.
• Amongst my mass chatter and ramblings about knitting, there are times even I forget that I used to crochet. Still enjoy it (although it has been a while), and it is nice to see posts about it on Kelbourne Woolens blog. Especially as my sister now crochets.
• I adore Steph and reading about her lost mojo and now found mojo woes, makes me chuckle. She is one of those bloggers that makes me laugh, relate and get inspired.
• After socks, shawls would have to be my second favorite thing to knit. Woolenberry's Passeggiata shawl is giving me all the feels.
• Knitting progress photos and stories are my jam. Love them. Katherine shares the progress and woes of her Incunabula Cardigan and I want more.
• I have a long time love for Tiff ( Dottie Angel) and reading about her on Fringe Association's True Confessions and Our Tools, Ourselves was fantastic.  
• If you are looking for a fun and challenging KAL, you may want to join up with my friend Tina for the Olive Knits Bee Keeper Cardigan 4 day Sweater KAL. If I didn't have so many deadline projects on my plate, I would be very tempted to join in.
• Oh fantastic yellow tweedy socks from aquatique's blog, Eternal Spring Socks.
• Looking for a fun sock along, how about Little Skein's 3rd annual Sock School?  It looks like serious fun.
• Brioche has really become something big in the last year (sort of like speckled sock yarn), and many who are interested may be afraid or confused on where to start. Knitosophy Designs has posted a great video tutorial on how to knit 2 color Brioche.
• Knotions Magazine has recently released a series of videos previewing the launch of their  June 2018 issue. Love it!

 

My last love is a Ted Talks video featuring the inspiring and creative designer, Kate Davies.

 

 

XO,

andi