My Sister's Knitter

The knitting is a constant...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

Good morning or afternoon where ever you are in this big beautiful world.  Despite all the sadness and humans inflicting pain on one another this week...the knitting is a constant. Which brings a question how do non-yarnies process all the devastating things that occur in the above mentioned big beautiful world?  

 

 

I believe the human spirit is strong and some how we all cope with whatever tools we have. In our case it just happens to be with knitting needles, spinning wheels or crochet hooks.

On to happier things, thank you for all your wonderful words of wisdom about how you "beat the heat" of the Summer months.  I am still making the best of it by feasting on Summer veggies and plenty of ice water.

 

 

Of course hot tea isn't far behind as I doubt I could ever give it up completely. Thanks to my dear friend Emma in the UK I now have some of my beloved Rose Lemonade infusion and a new addiction, Sweet Rhubarb.  Oh my, Emma may have created an even bigger addict to this particular line of beverages.

 

 

Duck watching has continued. I think the ducks read last weeks post about how only a few of them stayed in  Arizona and wanted to prove me wrong.  So during my morning walk all these new ones showed up and my Mohawk duck is present again. 

 

 

When I am not out visiting the ducks I am hiding from the sun indoors with this scrappy blanket. It is definitely a table only knit as any other option is not an option. No warm wool on my lap as I am not a strong enough person for that.

In a few I will be heading out to meet up with a friend for a mini knit together with breakfast. A rather wonderful way to start a Sunday, am I right? What are your plans for your Sunday? Did you make the most of your weekend?

I will leave you with a video that makes me cry happy tears because despite the sadness in our world, there is still quite a bit of love.

 

 

 

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi

Merry month of May loves...

 

 

Hello there! Happy Sunday to you!

 

 

 It is a beautiful Sunday and a day I very much look forward to as I get to visit with you all. I have been late in replying to last week's comments, but this will be rectified today. Thank you all so much for the wonderful recipe ideas! There are quite a few I am going to try and will let you know about them when I make them. 

 

  Wren House Yarns in the color Beatrix 

 

Summertime knitting usually means sock knitting for me. I find it hard to want to knit on anything but socks. So I love it when a yarn screams Summer to me. 

 

 

 

Being able to choose the next stitch marker from a sweet tin topped to the brim with all the wonderful knitting jewelry.  Fun but at the same time hard to choose. :) 

 

 

Select my next knitting companion from all the treats above~ insta-love.  

During the month of May I find many knitter's mojo seems to dwindle, I know that I struggle a bit. This month's loves focuses on projects and other things that inspire me to knit. 

 

• Jorth's beautiful Pebble Beach is perking my shawl knitting desires. This beautiful color could brighten anyone's day. 
• Olivia's pictures could wake a knitter from the deepest of sleeps.  Her Farmhouse is stunning!
• Despite warm temperatures, Ella's Crofthouse Yoke is making my needles happy. 
• While Kylie's project is not finished, there is something about gorgeous works in progress that get me excited. 
• The sock temptress does not disappoint with these self-patterning loves. Dee is always good for making me want to knit all the socks. 
• Knitting for others, especially when they are wee ones is always fun.  This post from LunaKnit is chalked full of all the wonderful little knits. 
• I mentioned that WIP pictures get my engine started, right? It will be no surprise that Karen's Hey Now Shawl is a love. 
• During the Summer months most of us try to avoid anything big and bulky on the needles, this yummy hat on Hunter's needles is the ticket. 
• Need knitting inspiration, just go visit Michelle. Her latest test knit is out of this world. 
• Beautiful projects of course can inspire, but let's not forget the tools that get us there. 
• Who wouldn't want to cast on a fun pair of socks when paired with a Bunnies & Flower bag? 
• Then there are those yarns that you can't get out of your mind, thanks to Dyed In the Wool Yarn Co., I actually had a dream about this yarn last night. For real, Vanessa dyes yarn that dreams are made of. ;) 
• Ice cream stitch markers...oh yeah, bring on the project. Too much fun! 

 

Hope the links inspired your needles and more importantly that you had fun visiting! I know that sometimes all it takes is a beautiful video so enjoy Nicole's intro to her new podcast. Is it odd that I can watch this over and over again? 

 

 

 

Have the best day today,

XO,

Andi 

April loves...day late edition. :)

 

Hello there! Happy Sunday!

 

Tea swap with lovely Judy. Tazo Japanese Sakura = yum!

There are no enough words to thank you for your well wishes last week. I am positive that it helped me feel better. :) You all are miracle healers.

 

Pattern~ Blueberry Waffles Socks Yarn~ Tale & Tendril in the colorway Nymphadora.

Despite having the case of the ickes, I was able to get some knitting done this week. Yay I finished my Nymphadora socks! There have been many Harry Potter KALs happening on Ravely so it has been fun to  knit with "theme" yarn.

Good mail days are always day brighteners, right? I must show you some truly wonderfully thoughtful packages I received, not as a way of bragging but because peeps are talented in their swap and love gifts. Makes me think I need to step up my swap packages game big time.

 

 

From sweet Corey.

 

 

From brilliant Jeannine.

 

 

From beautiful Maya of The Wool Barn.

 

From sweet Jules. This package was received a while ago and I realize I never showed off it's loveliness with you all.

How could anyone ever feel poorly with friends like you all? Great messages, good mail days, and wonderful input about an upcoming socks series.

Let's get to loves around blogland. Pull up a chair and your favorite morning beverage. Let's go visiting!

 

• I have mentioned Mari-Liis before on my lists of loves and for good reason. The Pattern Duchess is constantly generous with her time and knitting knowledge. This time she asked me and a few other wonderful knitters to chat about knitting cables. The post is full of awesome photos, tips and tutorials.
• Amanda has served as a source for inspiration for a long time. Her recent post, Knitting Lately is something to ooh and ahh over.
• You may not know that my dream is to live in a cabin in the woods, where there is a perpetual winter. Because of this love whenever someone takes us along on walks with them, my heart soars. Thank you, Home Hum.
• I believe that being grateful is one of the best gifts someone can give themselves. That being said, I love Candice's post of things she is grateful for.
• This beautiful test knit by Ramona is stunning. Her color choice and pattern combo is making me one step closer to needing to cast on this Spring Shawl.
• Congratulation to my friend, Erin! Erin along with Andi Satterlund and Monica Kirby have created a new Magazine, Stranded.
• I have followed Nicole's beautiful blog for what feels like forever. I love her aesthetic and every project she creates, no wonder when I saw she started a podcast I had to sit and watch it immediately. Everything that her blog is...her podcast it. Pure delight!
• Alina is wonderful...that's all. No really, she is wonderful in everything she does, I love this informative post on How to Knit a Perfect Edging.
• Kat takes us along with her on her knitter retreat via a mini series of blog posts. Brilliant for those of us who have yet  to have the change to go to one.
• Window shopping takes us to Knitting a Love Song's Etsy shop, I won't test your intelligence with linking the yarn I love because you know it is pink. :) Another great shop for project bags and knitting bling is AnniePurl.

 

That was quite a bit of visiting. Hope you enjoyed your time. I will now leave you with a fun interview with Kaffe Fassett.

 

 

 

Have the best day today!

xo,

Andi

Talkin' Socks...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

How about if we have a little chat about sock knitting? I have been receiving a few questions lately about the socks I knit, my favorite needles and all that jazz. I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorite things as well as hear about yours. 

Starting off  with my go-to sock book. The first book that I bought when I was really learning to knit socks was , Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd. This book I recommend to any and all because I think it is perfection.

 

 

The knitting needles. You may notice from my pics that I am all about the DPNs. I have tried magic loop as well as two circs, but I love DPNs. How about the brand? Knitting needles are all about the individuals preference and yarn.  Here are some of my favorites:

• Hiya Hiya Steel
• KnitPicks
• Knitter's Pride Karbonz

 

Getting to the actual sock knitting techniques. I begin with cuff down. Not a fan of toe up. I like the long tail cast on as the stretchiness is spot on for me.

 

 

Favorite patterns:

• Hermione's Every Day socks
• Simple Skyp socks
• A Nice Ribbed Sock
• No Purl Monkeys
• Cadence Socks

On to the heel. After knitting many pairs of socks I  have begun inserting my own favorite heel flap, a simple slip stitch rib.

 

 

Heel turn for me equals Dutch heel:

Row 1 (RS) K21, SKK, turn

Row 2 (WS) Sl 1, P10, p2tog, turn.

Row 3 (RS) Sl 1, k10, SSK, turn.

Row 4 (WS) Sl 1, p10, p2tog,turn.

Repeat rows 3-4 until 12 stitches remain.

 

We knit and knit and end with a toe,  I like a classic round toe. Here is a great video tutorial from Knitting Blooms ( she has many great tutorials).

 

 

 

 There are many great posts for us sock knitting addicts from the community.  

 

• Glenna is one of my sock knitting heroes. It is not hard to find a brilliant post about socks when visiting her. Here is an wonderful post for beginning sock knitting.
• Staci is another sock knitter that inspires me to no end. Her sock drawer is a thing of beauty and her instagram page make me want to knit all the socks.
• Then we have Mina, of the Knitting Expat podcast. In the month of January she had a knit-off with Fairy Little (also a podcaster)  seeing who can knit the most socks. Gotta love this trailer that Fairy Little created for their competition.

 

 

 

 

 Now to you...are you a sock knitting addict? What are some of your favorite techniques, patterns and general loves about sock knitting?

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi 

 

 

Good time to be a knitter...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Book~ Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng   Sock~ plain vanilla  Yarn~ A Homespun house Xenophilius explains the deathly hallows

Everyday I tried to get a bit of knitting in. Good days, busy days, stressful days all end with a nightcap of knitting. From your comments on the blog it sounds like most of us try to squeeze in at least a stitch a day to help keep the grumpies away.

 

Yarn~ Wren House Yarns

Often times when reading your comments or interacting via Ravelry one thought comes to mind, what an amazing time to be a knitter.

 

Pattern~Plain Vanilla  Yarn~ Yarn Pirate in the color Pink Ribbon

The communities we have created like Ravelry, Blogs, Podcasts, Youtube channels, Etsy shops, Knitty, Knotions and many others. At times it feels like the world belongs to the knitter! :)

 

Project bag made by wonderful friend Julia Yarns~ All the Spring colors at the ready. )

Many of my best friends have been made thanks to this blog and Ravelry. Young Andi would have never dreamed any of this was possible 20 years ago.

I know that this knitting world we create in isn't always perfect. My opinion (of course I am biased), is that for the most part yarnies are some of the kindest, most generous and intelligent peeps out there. All which makes our knitting era so fantastic.

These are just some thoughts rambling around in my head this week. I will leave you with a fun video from We Are Knitters- enjoy and have the best day today!

 

 

 

XO,

Andi

Knit chat mostly about socks...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

You don't know how often as I am pouring some tea that I wish I could share a cup with you all. How lovely would that be?

 

 

Many of you know that I am working on knitting many socks in 2016. February socks were tedious as the first pair the yarn wasn't working, the second pair got lost on the lightrail, the third pair the pattern and yarn combo didn't work (frogging in process above).  I am glad to say that the 4th time in this case was the charm.

 

Pattern~ Pin Striped socks Yarn~ Perchance to Knit in the color Drama Queen

Whew...now I can work on the March sock with a clear path. :) The above socks are for a friend and I think she will appreciate the wild colors, but I am going to make sure to make her some "calmer" colored socks soon.

 

Opal Little Prince in the Lamplighter colorway. Vanilla pattern.

Oh and I did sneak in a pair of socks for me. I think if I could have a drawer full of this Opal Little Prince line of socks I would be super happy. I love the Little Prince and the fact that as knitters we can have themed knits is rather brilliant.

Many of my socks are going to a wonderfully deserving friend this year. On the topic of knitting for others there are a couple happenings around blogland that are geared towards gift knitting. Beautiful Tracey is organizing the ultimate virtual baby shower. Also lovely Steph is asking for donations for SCI (Seaman's Church Institute). Such thoughtful and wonderful ladies!

I will leave you with something fun. Arne & Carlos have an awesome Youtube channel. I adore them and all their projects which ranges from knitting, crochet and even gardening. I want to share a cup of tea with them as well!

 

 

 

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi

 

 

Scheduling your knitting...

 

Happy Sunday to you!

 

 

It feels like forever since we had a proper chat. First off, how are you and how was your week?

 

Pattern~ Impossible Girl Socks Yarn~ Knitpicks Stroll Handpainted in Make Believe.

Did you squeeze some knitting into your days and nights? I did because I put myself on a sort of knitting schedule.

 

 

For some life is busy and yarn-time is hard to come by, sometimes to the point where maybe late night knitting comes into play. I have the opposite problem. While I do have a 9-5, I find myself having to rein in my knitting time. What a problem to have, right? When I get home from work, I could easily sit down and knit till bedtime, despite things like laundry and dishes stacking up. So I came up with a plan to treat my stitches as a prize where if I do all my "chores", I can then sit down and let the needles to click away. Then there are projects that tend to monopolize my knit time like the sock yarn blanket, and in cases like this I make it my Sunday only project which can be worked on after housework has been completed.  Sounds like a plan to me. :)

Do you ever find yourself having to schedule your knitting time into your non-knitting life?

 

Enjoy a lovely video and have the best day today!

 

Windworks by Merel Karhof from Merel Karhof on Vimeo.

 

XO,

Andi 

The love of yarn...pass it on

 

Hello and happy Sunday!

 

Pattern~ Low Country by Judy Marples Yarn~ Neighborhood Fiber Co in the color Sheridan Circle

How are you since we last talked? Good week for me as you can see above I started a new project for the My Sister's Knitter KAL. You may be thinking, but wait I thought you were focusing on one project at a time. I am, so that means I finished the hat I was knitting for the sister last week. Yay!

 

Pattern~ Traveling Cable Hat by Purl Soho  Yarn~ Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK in pale blue

Who is this girl who has two finished projects in the month of January. Granted socks and a hat aren't garments...but I will take it. :)

 

 

Speaking of the sister, will you look at what she made. I may have not mentioned it before, but the sister has taken up crochet. It may have something to do with the fact that it has been a very long time since I made her a crocheted item. It would seem she got tired of waiting. I tried to teach her how to crochet a while ago, but as I am not the best teacher it didn't click. So the sister took it to learning on her own and has quickly become a crochet champ!

 

 

These gifts the sister made me, got me to thinking how cool it is to pass on the love of yarn. Seeing peeps like Stefanie, Tracey , and  Tin Can Knits teaching loved ones to create with fiber is such an amazing gift.

While I wasn't able to teach the sister to crochet (mainly because the sister is older and doesn't want to be told what to do by her younger sister- ;) ),  I happily unloaded all of my acrylic stash on her. Obviously I get tremendous joy from sharing my love of our craft with her, yet the biggest joy is hearing her say, " If I am sitting I have to be crocheting or else I don't know what to do with my hands." or " Playing with yarn de-stresses me".  Ah- she gets it and more importantly she gets me!

I found this fun video series on how to learning to knit. I haven't been able to peak the sister's interest in knitting, but maybe someone else can? Then again, I am not really ready to share my wool stash with the sister, so maybe not. :)

 

 

 

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi

Knit, stretch, repeat...

 

Happy Sunday!

 

In my tea cup this week ~The Republic of Tea Caramel Apple.

As you know my only knitting resolution or goal is to savor my knitting. To slow down and take the time to enjoy my stitching. While we are only into the new year by a few days, I think I am doing a good job. I have avoided the startitis, which has been big for me.

 

Sock Pattern~ Simple Skyp Socks  Yarn ~Socks That Rock Lightweight in the color Pink Granite

It will come as no surprise to those of you monogamous knitters that by me focusing on one project I am close to completing my first pair of socks of 2016. I am fully aware that you are all yelling at me, "Duh- Andi! "  I know I deserved that. :)

 

 

Although I am not being entirely monogamous, as I do attempt to knit at least a square an evening on my scrap sock yarn blanket. 

 

 

Adding to my desire to work on the blanket is fun swap mail received from a lovely friend, Stacy. Made extra thoughtful as she is not a tea drinker, but included some little packet of the elixir for me.

My journey to slow my knitting  hasn't been as painless as I expected.  I find that by not switching between a million projects has caused a bit of sore wrists from repetitive stitches. Do you do stretches to help alleviate these? Do you take breaks as you should, like getting up and walking around?

I found this video on stretches for peeps like us who knit and crochet and it seems to help quite a bit. I figured if I am going to be more mindful of my knitting, I also need to make sure that I am mindful of the physical stress it can place on our extremities.

 

 

 

Have the best day today!

XO,

Andi

Holiday stress~ keep your knitting close...

 

Hello there and happy Sunday to you!

 

Tea~ Yogi Tea Kombucha Green Tea.

With Autumn months come the holidays. While the holidays are something I look forward to, there is an underlying stress about them. The gatherings, the gifts, the possible making of gifts (unless your are like me and way behind in this area), the preparation of foods, all while the regular day to day events like jobs are still happening.

 

Pattern~ Vanilla sock pattern  Yarn~ Peepaloo Field in the color Wishing Well

It has been said over and over again about the health benefits of knitting. It just seems a little harder to fit in during these times, at least it is for me.

 

Pattern~ Vive shawl  yarn ~ Neighborhood Fiber Co. in the color Charles Centre

Although I do make sure that even if it is only a row a day, the tension seems to be held at arms length.

 

Andi Panda Crafts sock yarn in the color Elliot

Of course there is something to be said about the benefits of retail therapy as well.

 

Opal Little Prince Series in the color The Lamp lighter.

Who wouldn't rather open the mailbox and find yarny goodness as opposed to bills? But then again, I love Christmas cards. :) Do you find it hard to fit in your knitting during the holiday months?

 

Hopefully you are remembering to squeeze in a wee bit of knitting time today. Oh, and thank you ever so much for all the loves books recommendations from the last post. You guys are truly the best.  Enjoy a video about the knitting therapy and have the best day today!

 

 

 

XO,

Andi